Introducing Our Newest Design Assistant.

Please meet Oxford Chamoun,  Heidi Chamoun Interiors' brand new design assistant.  He admires the finer things in life, like blue Chinese pottery, brass hardware, and the occasional monkey squeak toy.  

He has an affinity for (chewing on) gorgeous rugs.

He works with stripes, buffalo checks, and the most stunning ikats.  

Often found asleep on the job, we keep him around because, well, he's just too darn cute to fire.  

You try letting go of an employee with paws like that.

For those of you still reading this, thanks for indulging me.  We're pretty excited about our new addition in these parts.  Back to regular posting tomorrow.   Happy Monday, from Heidi and Oxford!

And Off We Go...

We're headed to Columbus to pick up this little guy and we couldn't be happier.  

Driving the speed limit has never been so hard.  Please excuse me while I fill this crate.  

   

Garland and Lanterns and Candles, Oh My!

Such a pretty holiday set-up we pulled together at a client's house on the fly.  

And that Beni Ourain doesn't hurt either!  

P.S. Do you see that sofa fabric in the background? #Jealous #ClientsHouseIsCoolerThanMine

Our Christmas Tree.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We had a great one filled with tasty treats and the ones we love.  And we even squeezed in an early feast a few days before, in honor of husband's favorite holiday.

In other news, it's official.  The day after Thanksgiving might just be the best one of the whole year.  And forever more we get to celebrate it as not only the first official day of the Christmas season (yay!!), but also the anniversary of our engagement.

Here's how we spent our Black Friday this year.  Only one purchase, but a very special one!

DIY Chalkboard Makeover.

A $7 estate sale investment got the royal chalk paint treatment 

(frame and all).  

Added bonus: the frame acts as a tray for favorite photos and chalk- 

helping us stay organized and pretty.   

Happy weekend everyone!  Hope it's warm and cozy.   

Our Painted Piano and DIY Malachite Bench.

If our piano growing up was peach or lemon yellow I bet I would have practiced a lot more.

Before, a sad empty living room corner.  

And the movers bringing in what they lovingly referred to as "the heaviest piano ever."  I joke. 

I found this beauty on Craigslist for next to nothing.  She was worse for wear when I found her, but nothing some green paint couldn't fix. 

Even though there was no doubt I'd be painting the piano, this decision was solidified once we got her in the space.  This finish just didn't do her justice.  #lifeistooshortforabrownpiano   

As for the bench, it sat in its original state for quite some time.  I finally decided a monochrome, green-on-green look would be fun and decided to make things interesting with this faux malachite technique I'd been dying to try.  It was so easy and instantly gratifying!  Such a fun way to inject some pattern to the otherwise solid piano.  I would definitely recommend this DIY.

I think this is really a lesson in living with what you love.  By no means am I a technical player, so for us painting the piano wasn't terrible from a sound / quality standpoint (I'm sure some of you serious musicians out there cringe at the sight of our painted instrument).  But we really love it.  This little corner of our house brings me such joy now, whether the piano is being played or just sitting silent.  And I'm such a proponent for a happy home!  So I say if you want to paint you piano (or do malachite walls or paint your ceiling blue or layer a rug on a rug on a rug) do it!  You won't regret it, I promise.  

I Know You've Done It, Too.

That's right.  Bought something for a client.  And then seriously considered keeping it for yourself.

It happens to me alot, which I like to look at as a good thing.  Must means I only put pieces in clients' homes that I'd put in mine as well, right?

Cue yesterday: I stumbled upon an estate sale (those things find me, I swear) and I found these amazing old brown jugs.  Very weird, because the day before I was thinking about styling a clients fireplace with these same things, only I didn't have them yet and wasn't quite sure where I'd find them.  Then BAM!  Into my lap they fell (which, Design Gods, I'm all for, incase you're listening - Keep the goodies coming!!).  But then I got them home, added candle sticks and realized they looked happily at home right where they sat.

Let's be real.  I have enough accessories floating around this little house to style out at least three other residences.  So to the client they shall go.  But it won't be easy.

Before you go, do tell....

Do you ever keep things you initially picked up for a client?  Have you at least thought about it long and hard maybe once or twice?  Don't lie.  We're all friends here.

Client Work: Fresh Elegance.

This living room is sharp and pulled together, yet fun- just like the young couple who lives here.  An undeniably sophisticated space as perfect for entertaining as it is for watching Real Housewives marathons (thanks to the super comfy Crate & Barrel sofa with chaise lounge).  

  

Can't wait to get started on the next room in this beautiful home!

Sneak A Peak Color.

I'm all about creating a happy home, for myself and clients.  Nothing new there.

Elle DECOR

So why not paint the inside of a cabinet in a hue that feels "so you"?!  It will make you smile every time you reach for that chipped ramekin all the way in the back.  I promise.  I'm off to find the perfect tomato red for a similar little project I'm conjuring up over here as we speak.

Happy weekend friends!  Glad to be back!

We Tied The Knot!

And we spent the rest of the day doing this.  More photos to follow as soon as we get them from our photographer, the wonderful Alicia Boch.  You should see the Polaroids she snapped.  Complete stunners.  Cannot wait to share!

Speaking of Countdowns...

Oh, you know.  Just your average chalkboard-door-wedding-countdown.



Only as of today that baby reads "22".  Twenty-two days until we are married.  Hitched.  Tie the knot.  Say "I do."  Yikes! (In a good way.  A really good way.)  

Mackinac Island Wedding Countdown.

Well hello, lovelies.  Do you believe it?!  In less than four weeks, Jason and I will be getting married! The ceremony and reception will take place on Mackinac Island:  the land of horse drawn carriages and fudge shops galore, where each view is prettier than the last.  See for yourself, if you'd like...    

To think in 24 days we'll be standing in that little church reciting our vows to one another. 

 Boy does that blow me away!  Literally counting down the days.

Can I Be Honest With You?

I haven't been blogging much lately, and boy does that make me sad.  So here's to putting an end to that.  Rather appropriate on this beautiful Friday, as I sit beside fresh picked wild flowers and a sun shining bright through open windows.

To tell you the truth, all this planning has kind of stopped me dead in my tracks in the creativity department.  "I should be blogging" has been running through my mind often, but every time I sit down to create a post I feel overwhelmed.  I drown in the "thinking" of what to write instead of simply documenting the millions of creative thoughts that dance through my head daily.  And that just seems silly, right?

So here's to getting back to the authentic, original content.  The fun stuff.  The reason I started this blog in the first place.  And while we're being honest, can I share something else?  After a long day of designing, often I still want to talk about design and decorating.  But some days, I'd rather discuss other things I love.  Like fashion.  And food.  And drinks (cheers!  It is Friday after all).  And dates.  And travel.  And photography.  And.  Well you get the point.  The focus of this blog will always remain interiors, because that is my first love, but starting now I want to share all of me.  All of the things I love.  All I have to offer. 

All in favor, say "Aye"!! 

Running Out The Door.

Seems like I've been doing a lot of that this past month.  There's no way it's really May!  

I just had to share this ikat slipper chair I found at Homegoods.  Someone please hire me to do a room around this little lovely.  It hurts me to have no more room in my inn for such a great piece.   But really.  Here's my email address:  Heidi.atlsdesign@gmail.com.  Contact me if you want such beauty living within the four walls of your home.      

  

My Bar Cart.

How cool is this piece I stumbled upon at a secondhand furniture store?! Old ice box...

...turned bar cart.

Such a fun addition to our living room. Hope you're having a beautiful Monday!