Here we are at the One Room Challenge Week Five and to say it’s crunch time is an understatement. My photo shoot is in two days and I am frantically styling and tweaking. Being a perfectionist, I struggle with declaring the room finished as I always think it can be better. I could spend days moving things to the right and then moving them back, adding in things, taking them out.
One thing that I haven’t shared with you is that I have been struggling physically with completing my room. My neck, which I have had problems with my entire adult life, has acted up big time. I have been in such chronic pain over the past couple of weeks that by the end of the day I feel like I have an ice pick is embedded in my head. It’s gotten so bad that the pain is running down both arms. I’ve had an ultrasound and see another specialist in a couple weeks. I’m sure stress has aggravated my neck but the timing could not have been worse. Because of my limited ability to lift, I had to call in the cavalry.
I don’t know what I would have done without their help. I can’t even raise my arms without pain so completing my room was going to be a huge challenge. My friend Nirma went above and beyond and spent three days helping me unload heavy boxes of book and accessories. She even used her super power of speaking in her native Spanish to help me over come a language barrier with the maintenance crew.
So…One Room Challenge Week Five and with my Calvary’s help my pied a terre is finally looking real. The rug from J D Staron is down and it looks beautiful. The guys were very patient as I called out, “More to the right, now more to the left, no the other left, I see a bump in the middle.”
In design, things don’t always go as planned.
One thing I have learned in my relatively short time working in the design field is that things often don’t go as planned. It was no different with my One Room Challenge. Some last minute liability issues resulted in two show rooms backing out of promised furniture. I have also learned that panicking or making a scene is not helpful. Since I had no control over the situation I worked with what I did have and re-figured the floor plan right there on the spot.
Final Floor Plan
I lost a two chairs, an ottoman, the second bookcase and a big round table. To fill the space I decided to float the settee in the middle of the room and use two chairs in front of the single bookcase on the opposite “wall”. Now that everything is in place I think it might have even worked out for the best.
Final Furniture Acquisitions
Even though I lost some pieces, I gained some others. I was happy to get a big cocktail table and two end tables from Century. If you are a Boston Designer that works with Century you know what a nice guy Al is. He was so accommodating to my furniture requests and I am very grateful.
table from Century
Table from Century
You’ll have to excuse my poor photography but I only took quick shots in the showrooms to show the movers what they would be taking.
Century furniture
Gary from the Boston showrrom Duralee, had a fabulous saffron yellow settee made for my space. He also loaned me two of these black and white houndstooth chairs. I love the open arms and tufting detail and I have a client ordering two of them in a different fabric.
Styling Accessories
My plan was to style my pied a terre with my personal belonging so that would space will “feel” like me. However, since my husband and I recently downsized and gave away two thirds of our stuff, I was worried I would be short on styling props.Thanks to the One Room Challenge sponsors I secured a few additional accessories to add to my own things.
This turquoise pillow and white throw is from Company C but was donated by One Room Challenge sponsor Bellacor. Did you know they carry tons of items besides lamps?
If you remember, Bellacor also donated my modern floor lamp which I am totally in love with.
Couture Lamps, another One Room Challenge sponsor also has plenty of items besides lamps. From Couture Lamps I chose these beautiful malachite book ends and box.
I also chose these cool rubber wood and resin balls from Couture Lamps. IT’s always good to have a group of three of something when styling a bookcase or coffee table.
I have now showed you almost everything that is going into my pied-a-terre. I revealed the items one at a time over the past five weeks for a reason. This is how I was loaned or received things, one at a time, piecemeal. I would NEVER recommend decorating a room this way but in my case it was the situation so I dealt with it as best I could. My challenge from the beginning was to put everything together and NOT have it look like a hot mess at the end. Next week at the reveal you will be the judge if I pulled it off or not.
I have some exciting news as well. If you are local and would like to see my room in real life, please stop by the Boston Design Center next Wednesday May 9th at 2pm.Details are below. I’ll be there and would love to see you!
You can follow all my progress up until now by reading Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four
Be sure to check in on how the other nineteen participants are doing with their One Room Challenge Week Five and on Thursday all the link up participants.
Apartment 34 | Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive
Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design
Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators
Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Bisou Style
Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC
In case you are new to this wild event called The One Room Challenge, I will quickly get you up to speed. Now in it’s thirteenth season, the One Room Challenge was started by Linda of the blog Calling it Home. The One Room Challenge is an online event in which participants have a short six weeks to completely transform a room. Twenty featured bloggers (of which I am one) update their progress each Wednesday until the week six reveal. Hundreds of other bloggers “link up” to the event and blog about their progress the following Thursday.
You are an example of grace under fire, Linda. This is going to look amazing. Your choice of rug is truly daring and an inspiration! LOVE the houndstooth chairs.
Thank you so much Amy! I sure hope so because this whole process has nearly done me in. Looking forward to seeing the progress on your she shed tomorrow!
This will be fabulous Linda like everything I’ve ever seen from you Always is. Hopefully your neck issues are resolved very soon! XO
Absolutely grace under fire Linda! It’s looking beautiful! Can’t wait for the reveal. Sending prayers your way for your neck.
Thank you Lori. I wished you lived closer and could come see it in person.
Looking good! I am so excited to see the gallery wall, Susan has such great pieces! Love the houndstooth chairs and I can’t wait to see everything next week! I love the new floor plan, too!
and, like the song says…..”you can always count on me!”
xo
Meredith
Thank you Meredith from the bottom of my heart!
Linda, what an inspiring space you have created! I’m honored to be a small part of it and cannot wait to see the full reveal next Wednesday❤️ (But so sorry about your shoulder).
Looks amazing already, Linda! You are such a professional … I know the final reveal with be all that you hope for and more! Hope you’re feeling better once the weight is literally off your shoulders : )
It’s looking great, Linda! That rug is such a perfect grounding for your space. Can’t wait to see it finished. It’s going to be huge success!
Amazing…can’t wait to see the end result especially the gallery wall!
Suffering for your art! You’re knocking this one outta the park. Can’t wait to come see it. Take care of yourself!
Looking good, Linda! You can do it! I can’t wait to see what you finally put together – it’s going to be awesome. Keep up your awesome attitude – things will happen unexpectedly and just handle it with grace as you always do and you’ll be a success! XO
Thanks Jeanne! It’s funny but I have thought of you multiple times during this process. Compared to what you just accomplished I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I don’t think many could have pulled off what you did. It’s spectacular, a huge congratulations to you!
So sorry to hear about your pain. It looks like it’s coming along nicely. Take care of yourself and I hope you feel better soon.
One more week…one more week. We can do it!1
Linda, this room is going to be stunning. As they say “no pain, no gain”, but I am SO sorry to hear you have been struggling. Glad to know you have so many willing to help see this through!
Can’t wait for the REVEAL and hang in there 🙂
Thank you so much Tracey. I think you are right, no pain no gain and yes, I am so blessed to have such good friends. Hope you’re hanging in there too!
Omg,Im so terribly sorry Linsa about your neck! Bad timing indeed, but thank God you had friends who could step in and do what you couldnt do. The neck sounds painful and the room sounds amazing! But its not worth the cost of your health, so I hope you’ll get that looked at and take some time off after this.
I cant wait to see the big reveal!! Wish I were there to attend the event. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and amazing creativity and then rest. So happy for you!! Xo ❤
Can’t wait for your reveal. I live in Boston (Charlestown) and wonder if I can come and see the space at the Design Center in real life?
Amy, yes you can come and see the space. Wednesday May 9th at 2pm it will be open to the public. Please stop by!