COTE DE TEXAS: My Design: The Eleria House

My Design: The Eleria House

 

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The Dutch Door House with its Eleria curtains.

When I first toured “The Dutch Door House”  HERE (interiors by Lyndon West) I fell madly in love with the linen fabric in the master bedroom.   I begged the homeowner to find out whose fabric it was and she obliged, emailing later to say it was a Robert Allen fabric, Eleria HERE.  It turns out the Eleria is actually a very popular fabric, available in two colorways, Biscotti (above) and Green Tea.   I ordered the different colored samples and waited for the perfect client to use it.   I didn’t have to wait long.

A few months ago, a client of mine moved from her large, contemporary house in Bellaire to an inside the loop, traditional townhouse.   Years ago, she had hired another interior designer when she first moved into the Bellaire house.   But, some time later,  I stepped in to help with small redecorating jobs - a study, a powder bath, and a  master bedroom - each time trying to tone down the contemporary décor into something more traditional.    After moving to the townhouse this summer, my client wanted to continue the shift from contemporary to traditional.   When deciding what to take from the Bellaire house and what to sell – the decisions were easy:  her old chenille covered sofa and love seat had seen better days and her glass coffee table was too contemporary.   Her area rug was a beautiful wool patterned rug that, also, had seen better days and needed to be replaced.  The modern looking end tables would meet the same fate.   

 

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BEFORE:  At the Bellaire house, the chenille sofa and love seat were showing their age, as was the rug. 

The glass coffee table was too contemporary, as were both end tables.   Everything in this picture was sold, except for the lamps and candlestick.

 

In deciding on a decorating scheme for the new townhouse, my client asked for warm and cozy, specifically, she wanted dark walls.  And, she wanted to plan everything around two bergeres she owned that were upholstered in a brown and cream print.   We decided on a dark taupe for the walls – Pratt and Lambert’s Toasted Wheat , a color I have used many times before.  For the Hien Lam  custom made slipcovered sofa, we used Pindler’s #1766 Vernon in Maple, a copper brown linen adding raspberry velvet pillows to pop color.   After much begging and pleading, my client agreed to curtains and textured shades.   We were on a tight budget and she didn’t want the extra expense of something that was not really essential.  But, I firmly believe that window treatments are important to a design scheme and most interiors look better with them.  The Eleria was the perfect choice for the curtains since we needed major yardage to cover all the windows and, for a linen, the price couldn’t be beat.  Because the breakfast room is open to the living room, we also covered its pretty bay window with the Eleria. We then chose a brown textured shade to hang behind the curtains.  

To end the last bit of contention – my client agreed to cover up her beautiful hardwoods with a custom cut seagrass rug that left just a few inches of the gleaming wood showing.  I know, I know.   But, if you want warm and cozy, nothing gives you that atmosphere more than seagrass.      In the dining room, I chose another Pindler and Pindler linen, a stripe, #1767 Casablanca in Truffle, to slipcover the rush seat chairs.  The dining room has no windows, so it needed some fabric to soften up all the hard edges of the wood table and chairs.   I purposely chose overly detailed slips to add just a bit of femininity.  Since we were on a strict budget, using all Pindler and Robert Allen fabrics helped tremendously to keep costs down.   There are a few things still to be decided on – a mirror or art work over the sofa, and a buffet in the dining room.  But for now, here’s the work in progress.

 

 

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BEFORE:   This is how the townhouse looked when my client bought it.   The walls were a dark dusty rose and the curtains were a chintz.  Fortunately for her, the former homeowners took all the curtains with them – but left the costly rods and rings.  Now, all I had to do was convince my client that she needed to invest in window treatments, something many people think of as an unnecessary luxury.  Here you can see how pretty the room is – arches lead to the long entry hall and stairs.  The dining room is through the arch on the left of the fireplace.  The kitchen is through the other arch at the right of the fireplace.  Upstairs are two bedrooms and a study.   The third story is a large bedroom.

 

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AFTER:   The custom slipcovered sofa has mutton legs and a triple arched back.  The fabric is a Pindler and Pindler brown linen.   The two bergeres were the homeowners and she wanted to work the entire scheme around their brown and cream upholstery.    Yet to be decided on is art work or a mirror to go behind the sofa.  

 

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At the windows, we used 2 widths of fabric to create the full, lush look of the curtains.  One width just doesn’t give you that beautiful fullness. 

Curtains and shades by Custom Creations by Monica HERE

 

 

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I bought the coffee table at an import store in the Rice Village.  The antique gateleg table was moved from the study, while the antique French desk on the right came from a Cote de Texas sponsor – Bonnie Neiman HERE.  To update her iron lamps, there are new burlap lampshades from Boxwood. 

 

 

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You can see into the breakfast room on the right side of the fireplace.  

 

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I brought out some oversized accessories to update the décor:  a lantern from Olivine and alabaster grapes.    The homeowner has some beautiful antique boxes inherited from the mother and grandmother which we also used.  To keep the room from looking cluttered, we stored away many smaller accessories. 

 

 

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The dining room has no windows, so I covered the rush seat chairs in slips to make the room softer.  The Pindler linen stripe has the same colors as found in the living room to tie both rooms together.

 

 

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The homeowner’s mother made the dining room table out of used bowling alley wood!   Still to be ordered is a buffet for the back wall. 

 

 

 

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BEFORE:  the kitchen has a small bay window in the breakfast area. 

 

 

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AFTER:  Since the breakfast room opens to the living area – we used the same Eleria fabric here.  The curtains dress up the area and make it seem more like a room, rather than a kitchen. 

The antique table came from Eloquence HERE.  The chairs are from Zentique.  Both, to the trade.

 

 

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Lastly,  the round table opens up to a larger oval shape.  The glass cloche and cake stand came from Indulge.

 

 

FINALLY:

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I want to take the time to personally thank all of you who so kindly donated to Woodbourne’s Christmas Wish List. 

For those who still wish to make a donation, there is time left do so.  Please go HERE to read the details.

 

 

 

84 comments :

  1. Beautiful Joni! I especially ADORE the slipcovers on the dining room chairs, those are wonderful!!!

    Merry Christmas!! xo

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  2. Joni - quite the transformation! The Eleria looks lovely in both the living room and breakfast area, totally agree with you about the seagrass and love the oversized lantern!

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  3. Joni - it all looks so beatutiful!! way to go!

    jenny

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  4. It to you a science.

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  5. Absolutely stunning, Joni! Love it all, and the brown linen on the sofa is so beautiful.
    Teresa

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  6. I want to move right in ...
    love the little french dining quarters


    and oh those wreaths in every window!!!!

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  7. Joni can you share your source for the lovely sofa and lantern? Great job.

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  8. oops, if I had my glasses on perhaps I could have seen the source for the lantern. If you have the source for the sofa, it would be great to have. I love the beautiful rose colored pillows against the neutral brown.

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  9. Dear Joni,

    YOU DID A GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!

    Dean Farris, Naples, FL

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  10. A very good job Joni...the "colouring" is just right!

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  11. The room looks beautiful Joni! I love the drapes, the sofa and the pink cushions.

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  12. *** Joni dahlink~

    I feel like you just offered me a lovely APPETIZER, and then took it away before I had a chance to FINISH EATING IT it!!! (TRANSLATION: Can't WAIT to see the END results... so hurry up, ok? Looks charming so far!)~~~

    Warmest ,
    Linda *

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  13. Great improvement on the coffee table. The raspberry velvet pillows are so fresh and I love her boxes.
    Mary Ann

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  14. Joni,
    I've been meaning to ask for a while, who do you suggest for slip covers for arched back parson's chairs? I'd like to use linen and have interesting detail on them? I'm in Georgia, so hopefully someone that could easily ship!! Also, why seagrass over sisal/jute for rugs?? LOVE all of your work!! Feel free to email me directly at kelleypyron@comcast.net.
    Many thanks,
    Kelley

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  15. I could move right in. I even have a beautiful painting in storage that would be perfect for over the sofa.

    Thanks for showing us this sample of your work.

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  16. Very nicely done, as usual. I would also love to know the source for that sofa - it is EXACTLY what I'm looking for for our new home!

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  17. Joni, I am so glad you talked the client into adding curtains. They make the room! Everything is beautiful.

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  18. Joni, what a gorgeous redo. When I finally get my home in Southampton, will you help? (Especially now that I've seen a great alternative to the ubiquitous white slip-covered sofa!). How did you know the drapes would make the rooms? LOVELY!

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  19. So beautiful! That drapery fabric really is fabulous! I can't wait to see what artwork ends up on the walls!
    xo
    Maria

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  20. Can you share which Rice Village store the coffee table came from? It'd be perfect for my own family room project!

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  21. You did a great job joni! Love it . Thanks for sharing.

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  22. Fabulous ! all is exquisite.

    PS Some pictures are not displayed. I do not know if I am alone to have some problems with the pictures of your blog and it takes long time to open. Maybe some of your pics are too heavy ?

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  23. Great Job Joni+grand photos. xx peggybraswelldesign.com

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  24. Joni, I particularly like the warm rich colors you used here. A very successful renovation. Merry Christmas.

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  25. Just beautiful, Joni. I know they are loving it for the holidays.

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  26. Joni,
    What a transformation! I love it and it truly is inviting and cozy...great job!
    Karen

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  27. Congratulations Joni!! I love the curtains, I love the slipcovered chairs, I love it all!!!
    xx
    Greet

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  28. Beautiful redesign Joni, I like the traditional design better as well.

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  29. Great new updates Joni. Love the warmth of the coffee table and the scale of the lantern on he coffee table. Everything looks omfy and cozy as well as elegant and sophisticated.

    Ruthie

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  30. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. Also want to add: I talked myself into adding some drapes to a temporary rental and it made everything else come together and the place feel like home. And since they were a standard size, I know I'll be able to reuse them. Good for you for talking your client into those beautiful curtains.

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  32. Oh Joni, wonderful job! I adore all the different fabrics, but especially the Eleria. (I'd love it for my dining room curtains actually!) Also, the way you slipcovered the chairs in the dining room...fantastic! Your client must be thrilled!

    H.H.

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  33. Thanks everyone!!! wow - not ONE negative comment yet. That's a first. hehe.

    the sofa came from Hien Lam
    www.hienlamupholsterers.com

    they have many different frames and can make any shape you want.

    Thanka again everyone!! so much!!

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  34. Nicely Done Joni! I think the coffee table needed to go, and I love the slips in the dining room.
    Also love the pairing of that table with the Zentique chairs...Maryanne xo

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  35. The sofa is gorgeous!!!!!!! The slips: a d o r a b l e!!

    Great job, J! I'm sure your client was ecstatic!

    xoxo,

    Andrea

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  36. Beautiful job Joni, I love the feeling of the Living room so relaxed yet elegant. Love that fabric I have been eyeing it since I love peackock motifs :)

    My Best!
    Edyta

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  37. It looks wonderful, Joni. So glad you talked her into the draperies, they really make the rooms !

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  38. Joni, it's all beautiful, but then again, I would expect nothing less from you. What great after pics. Happy Hanukkah to you!

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  39. Joni, Hope your family enjoys the Christmas traditions with Ben's family and happy belated Hanukkah to you. Another year of fabulous posts.

    My Best,
    Penny

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  40. Warm and cozy - - just beautiful! Well done!!

    Jennifer

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  41. Joni really fabulous design work, your thumbprint is all over this home!!

    Joyeaux Noel!

    I have a new giveaway from My Sparrow, do come and enter!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  42. Everything is looking beautiful! Love the new living room and I'm sure your client does as well. Funny how you decorated it around the 2 chairs for your client. Thank goodness they were pretty chairs right. lol You did a wonderful job so far and I can't wait to see more of your work!

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  43. Joni, you always find the prettiest altar candlesticks. Any suggestions on where we can find them?

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  44. I think I used to live in one of these townhouses-- near Goode Company BBQ!

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  45. I, too, love slipcovers, just not the "messy/wrinkly" look that generally accompanies them! The Solution? Are you ready for this: DG-Home Brand Wrinkle Releaser. A few spritzes, and a little gentle smoothing by hand on the wrinkly places, and voila! Where, you may ask, do you find this miracle product? DOLLAR GENERAL (hence the 'DG') stores, yes, the same Dollar General stores which you pass along any country highway anywhere in the South. I have no affiliation whatsoever with this store/product, but just wanted to pass along a fabulous little secret, which was given to me by a decorator friend.

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  46. Joni a question, please:

    When using a linen fabric on a chair or sofa, do you recommend backing the linen as you would if using silk?

    Also, while you have explained the use of the same window fabric throughout the living/breakfast area, would it have been possible to pull one of the many beautiful colors from that fabric so that the client would have another different design element? I don't mean this critically, I am simply curious.

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  47. Wow!! What an amazing difference. Warm and cozy as requested. Beautiful!!.

    Laura Hardy

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  48. I always love seeing your projects, Joni!
    This one didn't disappoint. Although I love everything, I do have to say "What a difference a beautiful window treatment makes!" Wow!
    Great job.

    xo xo
    Brooke

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  49. The curtains just make this design. Such beautiful fabric and I love the way they lay on the floor, also the way you took them and the blinds to the crown. Love the large lantern on the coffee table and the use of a few well appointed accessories vs. clutter. Your clients have to be very, very happy with the transformation. Always fun to see your work. Mona

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  50. Love it all but really love the details on the slips in the dining room!

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  51. Joni! It is just beautiful! What a transformation! My favorite part? The pink pillows on the sofa. They add just the right amount of unexpected punch!

    Sending you wishes for a beautiful Holiday Season!

    Katie

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  52. so beautiful Joni!! I think my favorite posts are when you share your projects.

    Looooove that fabric & especially the pink velvet pillows on the brown linen sofa. gorgeous.

    xoxo,
    lauren

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  53. Joni,
    I've been meaning to ask for a while, who do you suggest for slip covers for arched back parson's chairs? I'd like to use linen and have interesting detail on them? I'm in Georgia, so hopefully someone that could easily ship!! Also, why seagrass over sisal/jute for rugs?? LOVE all of your work!! Feel free to email me directly at kelleypyron@comcast.net.
    Many thanks,
    Kelley

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  54. Once again Ms. Joni has worked her magic. You are truly wonderful.

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  55. What a gorgeous makeover. I love the slipcovered dining chairs - are they custom? I am looking for some for my own dining chairs. Thanks, Alexandra

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  56. Amazing transformation! I'm glad you talked her into the birds. I love them! Also, love the color in the pillows.

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  57. Joni, I love the headboard and the bedskirt. Are they custom? Or perhaps Restoration Hardware?

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  58. Joni, first of all I love the new layout of your blog and congratulations on the many sponsors, well deserved. The project is beautiful too, now the townhouse is elegant and cheerful at the same time.
    All the best.

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  59. It's so nice to see your own work featured here! Very nicely done! Your client must be so pleased with the transformation of style and textures...perfectly cozy!

    Thanks for sharing,
    Linsey

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  60. Nice bedroom, so big and look clean. The living room is great too the stuff is additional set for house.

    Just like to share with you a quote...

    "Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk." - J.C. Penney

    You can get more quotes at http://quotelandia.com

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  61. Gorgeous! Thank you for the tour!

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  62. So beautiful and warm and welcoming looking! That sofa looks like the perfect place to curl up and read a book. Terrific job, Joni and what lucky clients!

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  63. Joni, it's such a treat to see your work in progress! I couldn't agree more -- dollar for dollar, unless we're talking about really stark ultra-modern interiors, you get the most bang for your buck from custom window treatments. More so than any other splurge in the room, more than the carpet, the artwork, or the furnishings, draperies done right will completely transform the look and feel of the room, as your project illustrates beautifully. Love your Robert Allen drapery fabric, too -- I'm going to have to order those Eleria memos before I forget about them, too!

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  64. I completely agree that window treatments are as necessary to a room as every other furnishing. I don't believe a room is complete without them. That fabric -- I've seen both colorways and adore that one. What makes it work so gorgeously in your photos for me is not only the volume of fabric but the slight puddling. I'm ready to move in! Happy Holidays!

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  65. Thanks for the peek at your gorgeous work, Joni!

    Happy happy holidays, may they be warm and bright!

    xoxo

    Kit

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  66. This is a nice article, Definitely it has a good content. Ground shaking content i get form your blog .

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  67. Ah dear Joni, your wonderful project has just confirmed to me that a room without great curtains is like a day without a really good smooch - terrible! Thank you for another year of fabulous posts, a smidgie of controversy & your warm & giving heart. Happy holidays to you, Mr. Slipper Socks & the gorgeous Miss Elizabeth.
    Millie x

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  68. You are so talented! Your rooms always have this "pitch perfect" quality to the color tones--they are so painterly and subtle and uncontrived. Please share more of your work wtih us!

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  69. Gorgeous makeover. I love the bedroom and those slipcovered dining chairs are so charming..adds a lot of personality. Your blog is such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your talents with us. Merry Christmas!

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  70. Evergreen trees and twinkling lights have nothing to do with God or the birth of Jesus Christ.

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  71. Joni, you just crack me up! My husband is not Christian but he is over the top when it comes to decorating for Christmas!

    This makeover was spectacular but my favorite was the kitchen. Wow!

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  72. Joni, we want to introduce you to By the Glass. We take our inspiration from the built urban environment and laser etch our abstract designs on lead-free German crystal. Our New York line is in the permanent collection of the New York Historical Society. Our Houston line is sold at Kuhl-Linscomb and on line. Please check out bytheglass.com. Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks much. John Ehrlich & Ulf Henricsson

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  73. Great job! Thanks for sharing a detailed description of your project. I love everything, the sofa, coffee table, drapes, wall color, dining slip covers, all look so rich and inviting.

    Kudos to you for working with existing furniture. Unfortunately the two bergeres have tired "stuffing" in the seat. They're not plump like the wonderful sofa--they look flat. I know the client is on a tight budget: sometimes you can "cheat" by just wrapping some batting around the cushion... Everything else is so perfect, it caught my eye. I hate to say anything negative, might not even be noticeable in the room, it just looked flat in the photo.

    Just AWESOME work!

    Happy New Year and congratulations on your awesome, and time-consuming blog.

    Natalie

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  78. Those dogs are a great fit for that bedroom.

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  79. Ooooh, that scrumptious master bedroom with the blue and white! Soooo comfortable looking and filled with light. love it!

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