Ballard Design Style Hutch

While I thought I would avoid sharing how or what I have transformed, as it slightly could take away from my shoppe.

BUT I so Love to share what I am working on, and how I do it, so Ill just have to risk it.

I was searching high-low for a china hutch with some unique character and style, it took me several weeks to come across this gem.

Not totally wanting the gold etching on the glass, I scraped each line/cross line off.

No Matter the piece I work on, I like to make it differ from the original state I find it in, so this Hutch, I wanted a differ. back on it, so I took off the back.

Always wanting to use what I have already, I found this piece of Wainscot/Bead Board, that was left from building something else, and as you can see, it had become a drop cloth for painting on.

So I re-painted it a soft white.

Added the new piece with molding to the back of the newly re-painted China Hutch, giving it a Nice Clean Lined Style, similar to what I love at Ballard Designs or Pottery Barn..

For the Holidays I added a boxwood wreath and silver bow..

At the point of picture taken, the inside was not totally decorated with the shiny silver yet..

But still, just Love It..

Chidrens Aprons

With the Holidays in Full Force, I have had quite a few requests for Aprons at the shoppe..

One of the things i enjoy most is designing and making each one unique and personal to the customer.

This little darling I embroidered the little girls name on it, added two pockets, used a bright cheery green and red mini check fabric, added a bow & some little jingles.

Wanting each one to be Different and Unique to each of the kids, i changed up the way i did the trim & with this one added the jingle bells to the middle of the bow.

Well, for the little guy in the group, i used a small green gingham print, and red, green trim, then put the jingle bells in the corner of the pocket.

 How cute these little ones will look in there Festive Aprons baking cookies for Santa.

Vintage Settee!

Here is the Beautiful Vintage Settee, I previously posted about.

In it's original state.

         This is after I Re-Upholstered it, The Customer wanted a dark Linen,as she will be using for Photo sesssions.
      (Please excuse the background- this is my sewing room, and i just couldnt carry outside for a better background)

    The Customer wanted me to leave all the original tacks in place, so that is some of the riviting you see.

    When ever I do a piece for someone, I try to add my personal touch in there some how, so for her I made an embroidered pillow with her initials for her new studio w/ another burlap matching pillow.
Hopefully she takes many photos with this piece Thank You for the opportunity to work on this beautiful piece Eliza Russo Photography

Decorating !

While I am finishing up re-upholstering this Most Exquisite Vintage Settee for a Customer, I wanted to share what I just Love so Much...

The Mixing of pieces, Taking this Beautiful Vintage Piece that is a little tattered & worn, all of which I believe makes it all the more amazing,

And pairing it with this Romantic Gold & Crystal Italian Chandelier.

Within Every room you are decorating having a statement piece & making it a piece you adore and just can't get enough of.

While there is always a grand piece there should always be mirrors as well, however you display them is find, But a Mirror is inviting & reflects the other beauty in the room.

I truly believe you can't go wrong with Black, Black is classic, this beautiful Black Distressed Vintage China hutch-in which ill do a posting on later, is a grand piece for any room.

Displaying china, portraits, silver or even your linens.

White will never go out, as it is as antique and lovely as ever, all shades of white give off a settle but sweet charm, this piece shown has crystal hardware giving that innocent but Darling Touch it needs to tie a room together.

I always suggest find the piece you love, and have someone upholster it to your liking, no piece is garbage, and better to save heirlooms than toss.

A vintage wing back I upholstered in a very soft velour in a pale pink giving it a Sweet look.

All pieces are available at shoppe.

Picture Perfect!

Every Year we Drive up to the Hills to cut our Christmas Tree down.

This year we choose Placerville, Ca.

The Best thing about Northern California is 2 hours you can drive to the Ocean, 1 hour to the snow or stay in Sacramento and enjoy the sunshine and brisk air.

This was the beautiful drive up hwy 50 with autumn leaves lining the road, sun shining down.

Then slowly the road became wet

 And to our Delight, we started to see snow, We have never cut a tree down in the snow.

 A sweet moment, our 15 1/2 yr old son, making a a snow angel

(I'm sure he would love me showing this)

The Girls attempting to do the same.

Then we decided to take some pictures- But with no-one anywhere near us- We had the kids take turns on taking pictures with (mom-dad,giving each an opportunity to have a photo with them only and us.

Now if we could just get the teenager to Smile Normal..

(he'll regret not smiling one day)

Next our daughter.

Then the little one

Hiking up the hill with the fresh tree.

When we went to pay, we realized we could of asked a worker to take our family picture.

(and i think a smile from our boy)

And one of me & my husband..

While I was paying for tree, the family decided it would be best to put TREE inside the car, verses the roof??

A week later and still finding tree bristles everywhere, small spiders, dirt particles.

(But I guess a great reminder of a Picture Perfect Day)

Hallelujah, Front Windows!!!

Hallelujah!!!

Finally Front Windows to decorate..

And just in time for my Most Favorite Holiday, & Why i think God put me on Earth

(To share-spread Holiday Cheer)..

I so so Love Christmas!!

The front windows of all the little shoppes on the Street are getting judged on their Holiday Window Displays,

while designing it, I wanted a window display that would make you want to come in.

I wanted to make sure the Window was different from the others.  Vintage, Classic, & Reminded you of Christmas.

(true to the nature of  shoppe & what is offered & in line with my style)

The 2nd Window, I was inspired by a window I spotted on a blog

(sadly can not remember, to share with you)

But using dress forms and hand made hanging card stock that spells out (Joy), hand Made gold fancy Hostess Aprons, a Vintage wrapping paper holder ,ribbon- paper with hand made glittered stars in window, with a vintage glass window frame in the back, the opposite side (inside) is shared with Woof-Poof collector stuffed animals, and added the (snow) for an added winter touch.

(I will make a cover for the far right dress form, that is not as modest at the others)

Here a few more pictures of the inside,and some vignettes.

As you can see my Love for Vintage, goes on and on, with the many pieces I have in the shoppe.

Using Vintage Drop Leaf Tables for display (always for sale as well),

Old Windows, Mirrors.

At this new Front Location, I am blessed to share this amazing space with a good friend who offers Stella & Dot vintage inspired jewelry

You can see, I brought with me my Wood fencing from my old shoppe, we took a lot down, and put up more here, one of my favorite design details, adding a texture,and different element to shoppe.

Many of you might remember my Plea for Help with my old ceiling(funky ceiling tiles-that i wasn't allowed to take down)

Please admire my new Ceiling , Fabulous Wood Planks (That I Adore)

We took out the trellis, and i hand painted the (whole) ceiling, giving it a white washed look, & added several chandeliers.

The Shoppe also offers a variety of new soaps-candles

(just in time for Christmas)..

Thanks for letting my share My Love, It is like waking up on Christmas morning (everyday i get to go to work)..

I loved my old shoppe, but I Adore my new place, high wood ceilings, Front windows, Parking right in front, my own bathroom-kitchen-storage area- LOVE IT!!!

xoxo Karryann

Before Shots!!

As the big move up the street to the new location is quickly approaching, I wanted to share some Before Shots..

The 1400 sq.ft shop, has cement floors (which i love) giving a rustic-industrial feel.

If you really look, you can see rock in the back on the left, also a little outdated, hard to tell but there is a big opening surrounded by rock, that looks into the rock cave area.

The left side has lattice on ceiling-with lighting that has to go.

The right side has the amazing paneled ceiling that i love, but out dated lighting that will have to be swapped out.

The Walls are a light beige color.

This is the view from inside looking towards front door- a little dark for me, there is also this formation of wood along ceiling,that we think was for a division of the 2 sides-as it was once a coffee shop,on one side and a retail shop on the other.

You can see the 2 windows (yeah)..

Ill be able to look out the window, and see the people, the cars, the weather...

At the moment the shop is called (Sutter St. Boutique) So the stuff inside will be gone by next weekend.

    Here is another Picture of the front of the building (as you can see undergoing construction STILL) but the building will be painted beige-black, an awning will be built, sidewalks are suppose to be done Monday-Tuesday of this week, some old fashion light posts will be in the front-,with some trees and a bench.. 
AND THE BEST Part if I haven't said before- PARKING, right in front of shoppe, right next to and right across the street...
all of which i lost at my current location- they built ramps out front, and now cars can not park in front the building- customers have to park down the street or around the corner to walk up-making the furniture bus. not so good..

Antique Faire..

Before I opened shoppe today, I headed out to the

Sacramento Antique Faire.

Located under the w/x Freeway on 21st,

and held the 2nd Sunday of Every Month,

Only $3.00 to get in.

There were so many different vendors, lots of Vintage Christmas, Antiques, Vintage Tools, Rustic pieces, Vintage clothing, lighting and just so much more.

This is one of my Favorites, these tins are amazing, so many uses,

on the ceiling, just decoration, or outdoor.

(love it!)

Great Furniture

Look at that Amazing Chandelier, a True Italian Beauty.

This Painting was Just Stunning.

I Could not pass this one up...

         So many of the vendors, had their displays set up so beautiful,
Love all the Inspiration & seeing so many pieces with such history..