Painting the Bedrooms: Before & After

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Kate Snyder

Master Bedroom (before)

Master bedroom (during)

Let me caveat this by saying that the word “after” isn’t accurate, as this is really just the beginning. Design for me these days is a work-in-progress. I had painters tackle the two bedrooms and the bathroom (I drew the line at those bookshelves, and my back thanks me). They did an awesome job (PaintYourApartment.com) and left me with a nice canvas of neutral. The grey in the master bedroom is taupe-ier than I expected (Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore), but it works. More putty, less pewter.

Master Bedroom (after, accessorized)

I brought some life into the room but I know I’ll have more tweaks to make, by bringing more texture and layers. For now, I’m going with a green/brown/natural theme because, well, I had a green blanket handy. I had planned on pulling teals and reds in from my living room, but once I started to set up shop, the room had other plans. It’s funny how that happens. The green from the trees outside fought to come in. So hunter green + warm accessories = my new palette! Who knew. And let’s not forget my new #biggirlbed that arrived this weekend. Huge change for me considering I’ve been sleeping in the little bedroom on a full bed for months. I guess you could say I’m comfortable in small spaces…

Speaking of, the dark paint in Bedroom #2 did wonders: Days’ End by Benjamin Moore. Out with the orange, in with a rich palette that moves from navy to gray to black depending on what time of day it is.

Second bedroom (before)

Second bedroom (after)

Many people think painting a dark color in a small space will only make the room look smaller. I think the opposite is true, and I’m loving the results: the dark walls bring some drama and play nicely with the white trim and walnut floors.

Housing Works Hustle

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Kate Snyder

One of the challenges of moving from a studio apartment into something a bit larger is “filling in” the space. And doing it in a way that feels organic versus rushing to accumulate lots of accessories at once. The biggest project will filling up my shelves. What once seemed like a respectable book collection now looks pretty darn paltry on the open white space that’s swallowed them up. I’ve collected some special accessories over the years (hello favorite seltzer bottles!) but it’s time to hunt for more.

Luckily, I love the hunt. And I’ve never been one to rush things. (You’re welcome to apply this analysis to my love life. I certainly have). Anyway, rather than scooping up an “instant” accessory spread at a West Elm or elsewhere, I’d rather build an arrangement over time to add a patina that matches the age and character of my place.

I’ve always loved scavenging through stores like Housing Works and Vintage Thrift for good finds, but it’s hard not to pick up too much “junk” for someone like me who both loves a good deal and refurbishing random stuff. I’m trying hard to be ruthlessness in my editing; if I don’t absolutely love something, it doesn’t make it through my front door. I got lucky today at Housing Works in Chelsea and found the pieces above, all at what I’d consider a bargain ($47 total). Yahhtzzee!

Candlesticks

The candlesticks I’ve incorporated onto the mantle, and the trash bin I’ve repurposed as an umbrella holder by my front door.

Painting Prep

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Kate Snyder

If any of you know how decisive I am (I’m not), you’ll know how easy picking paint colors is for me (it’s not). So I did what any gun-shy homeowner would do: put up an array of colors and stared at them obsessively for a few weeks. (OK…months). In my defense, I was trying hard to enjoy summer here without the burden of a big project and commitment.

But it’s almost fall, the humidity is fading, and it’s time to breathe some new life into these walls and permanently tone down the bright colors I’ve lived with since moving in (see pumpkin orange, below).

For my bedroom, I played around with a few grays and opted for Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore (upper left):

It’s a warm gray thats a bit deeper than my living room. I’m thinking of doing a hand-painted accent wall behind my headboard at some point.

For bedroom #2, I wanted to go dark, with pops of color, brass and white. An informal survey of approximately everyone who’s been to my apartment has about 1% of them supporting me in this decision. So naturally, I’m even more excited for the project. I’m going with Day’s End by Benjamin Moore (not shown) Will it be a nice jewel box or a dark goth cave? We’ll see! I love a good challenge.

Refurbished Wood Frames

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Kate Snyder

Before

I bought these two frames a few years ago at Housing Works, one of my favorite second-hand stores in my old Gramercy neighborhood. Their frames were clad (ironically) in wood-patterned Contact paper. But otherwise they were in good shape and well-priced at $25 a piece, and I had to take them.

I stripped them using some wood thinner and good old elbow grease, and repainted the mats a bright white, then ordered two photographs from Etsy. I gravitated to both of them not just because of their seaside motifs, but because of the red and teal colors. There’s something nostalgic about them: a crusty old ferris wheel, an old-fashion lifeguard stand. . It wasn’t until I was playing around with dark gray paint samples for my bedroom that I found a good shade for the frames: Days’ End by Benjamin Moore. The frames are now taking on a new life and pack more punch, hung over my living room mantle.

Getting My Green On

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Kate Snyder

This gallery contains 5 photos.

With all of my talk about gardening, I figured I’d better step up and plant some stuff. Earlier this summer I was lucky to have my parents come up to help out, and we spent a Saturday stocking up on … Continue reading →

Bookshelves: Before and After

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Kate Snyder

Layers of dingy cream-colored paint coated the old built-ins that line the west side of my living room. I could go nuts painting my whole place right away, but I’ve decided to start here: it seems less daunting than taking on something that requires working around some of the more intricate crown molding in the other rooms. So this will be my first solo paint job. Here are some before pics.

And after:

I used a Decorator’s White by Behr, a semi-gloss latex. The fireplace took about four coats to conceal the ash that had built up over the years. But it was worth the time and labor and immediately breathed life into the space. And I’ll admit to fantasizing about styling my books. By color? Genre? Vertical or horizontal? I started with cookbooks (below). Oh the things that keep me up at night. #nerdalert

Bookshelf after - 2

Outdoor Aspirations

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Kate Snyder

Deck

My journey to Brooklyn started about two years ago. I remember being camped out on my couch in my studio, the din of my laptop mocking me. “You, and your dark little apartment. Get out of here! Go find some trees!” After living in Manhattan in 4 apartments over the course of 10+ years, my yearning for outdoor space had grown stronger, and I realized I needed outdoor space if I was going to stay in the city with my sanity in check. I had gotten tastes of the outdoors over the years, but they all had a catch: a patch of fire escape? Dangerous. Gramercy Park? I had to cross the street and be dressed. The deck I shared with my roommate Marley? 6 flights up! Having a few square feet of ones’ own though seemed like something worth working hard for.

Maybe it was that. Or it may have been the 9-year-old me that planted a [sub par] tomato garden in my parents’ backyard who pleaded with me to make it happen. So I listened to her, and found myself looking for a place I could container-garden my heart out.

I also listened to 85-year-old Kate in all of this (if you haven’t met her yet, you will). Her advice was to just do it already, because you’re more likely to regret the things you don’t do in life. Hokey? Yes. But what came out of these internal monologues was this: I stopped pussy-footing around and bit the bullet, and found my patch in the sun.

My favorite spot (and mug)

Addressing a raw space can be daunting (such a wide-open palette! so little time!) but I’m ahead of the game here: the previous owners repaved the deck a few years ago, and also left a cool swing and some planters. Score! The furniture is from Amazon; it’s bamboo, so it’s both inexpensive and sustainable. The rest is yet to come.

I’m getting there. And soon enough, my tomatoes will be too.

Good bones. And a hallway!

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Kate Snyder

One of the best things about my space is the hallway. It may seem like an odd thing to value, but coming from a 450-square-foot studio, having a connector space that hallway that separates the living space seems like pure luxury (dust off the roller skates!)

There are also two bedrooms, a living room (room for a real table! City dwellers will understand…), a small kitchen and a deck. So while there’s lots of space to decorate, I don’t want to detract from the building’s great bones. In the next year though, the goal is to turn some of the below “befores” into some good “afters”…

Kitchen - before

Closing day.

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Kate Snyder

Today marks just about 3 months to the day since I closed on my new place. Although I remember it like it was yesterday. My broker took this picture me on the stoop post-inspection, and I remember beaming because I was at the finish line after months of waiting. By that afternoon, paperwork would be signed, the keys would be in hand, and a flurry of ideas would be swirling in my head on how to make this my home.