Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Shiny Pebble Designer Challenge OR Please, Make this Pebble Shine Again!


A few days ago, I stopped by American interior designer Amanda Burdge's blog, AB Home Interiors.  I love reading her blog because she actually explains the whole designing process and freely shares insightful information and tidbits about the designing world.  It is almost like being in class, watching a lecture from a very cool professor.  Well, I just think she is great and she made it to my daily read list.  This day I  asked her on a whim for some tips about updating my five year old, traditional dining room.  How could I make it more hip?  Amanda, then, generously offered to write a post on it.  Well, I jumped at the opportunity.  Wouldn't you?  She came up with the most fantastic design, based on very little information from me. When you have a chance, please go check her post here.

Amanda is a personable gal, so it seems are the rest of the blogosphere.  I have made some lovely friends in the short span I have been here.  We send little messages to each other now and then discussing one thing or another that we would like to delve into further...  we share experiences and ask for guidance.  We even discuss our plans or ideas that just pop up here and there.  The whole concept of blogging is based on this sharing of info and knowledge.  My plan all along when I started blogging was to create a forum where ideas were exchanged and we all learned from each other.  I thought I was being so innovative... pfft...

Charlotta Ward from Space for Inspiration is one such friend - a smart little cookie, Swedish and mother of two.  A former marketeer turned artist, living in Sydney, Australia.  We were corresponding about all of the different points of view in the design world and an idea emerged.  Wouldn't it be fun to have several designers come up with their own interpretation for my dining room?  So we agreed I would contact a handful of designers whose styles I thought were distinct and ask them to participate in this challenge.  They gracefully agreed and let me just tell you how impressed I was with each one of them, who within sometimes minutes of looking at the pictures I had sent them, had already formulated a look for the room.  These are very talented folks, you all!

Together Charlotta and I, with the input of the four other designers as well, spent the next couple of days working out the rules of this fun game and agree that:
  1. This is not a competition, it is an opportunity to showcase YOUR (the designer's) style in a Virtual Makeover.
  2. There is no budget, but don't spend a fortune and don't make it cheap either.
  3. Use the current furniture if you can, but DO NOT compromise YOUR style.
  4. Put together a visual concept along with your thoughts.
  5. Have fun with it.
Each designer consecutively will submit a guest post that will be published here every Wednesday.  All previous posts will be linked up to the most recent one so that you all, the readers, can easily hop from design to design in one spot. How much fun is that?!

Here is the line up of the fabulously generous designers who are helping me kick off this party and will be featured in the next few weeks:

4/21   Raina Cox, If The Lampshade Fits
4/28   Christina Fluegge, Greige
5/5     Beth Connolly, Chinoiserie Chic
5/12   Amy Forshew, Pemberley Style
5/19  Charlotta Ward, Space for Inspiration

I will keep this schedule over to the right and update it as needed.  I am also asking the designer to be featured to post the above badge at their site, if they wish to.  Wear it with pride!  :)

But wait, there is more, I'm opening an invitation to all designers who would wish to participate in this challenge.  Please, contact me at theshinypebble@gmail.com so I can send you some material and we can set up your guest post date.


Now I will leave you with a few shots of my dated dining room.  Try not to cringe...

I bought this furniture 5 years ago, in a hurry in order to fill in the dark, Victorian looking home I had moved into.  The dining room was the very first room you saw as you entered the house.

The buffet was in the entryway at the other house and was bought separatly from the dining table, chairs and china cabinet
This chair used to be in a sitting room off the entryway.  At the new house, I have tried to stay away from the greens, reds, and golds from the previous house.  My new color scheme throughout the new house is browns and blues.
That little bench and painting were also in the old sitting room
I hate it that all of my walls in this house have this yucky shade of beige on them, which always photographs pink.  Wouldn't this wall look great with one of those stressed gray/gold finishes on it?  I guess I will find out...

Mark your calendars and I'll see you all here next week, when the multi talented, super funny, crazy creative, Raina Cox from If the Lampshade Fits will be featured. I can't wait to see what she comes up with, can you?

You can see all of the designs related to this post by clicking on the Designer's name on the top right corner of this blog.

38 comments:

Marija said...

Totally excited to see what Raina does. Very cool idea, Catherine! Should be fun as much fun for the readers as the designers!!

Leigha said...

This is absolutely fantastic! What a great idea...

Allie and Pattie said...

Lucky you! What a fun idea! I'm loving the bones of your room so it'll be fun to see what they all come up with
xoxo Pattie

Coryanne Ettiene | Kitchen Living with Coryanne said...

Really excited for the next few posts, stunning idea my darling. I just adore the painting you have, our next project is to buy more art-- only hubby likes modern and I love the traditional oils...hmm who will win?

Doing a new Fabulous Nest Friday blog hop, pop over tomorrow and read all about it.

Sandra said...

Such a great idea! I'll be watching.

A Perfect Gray said...

wonderful idea you and Charlotte have cooked up. so much fun - can't wait to see...

Mary Ann said...

another exciting adventure, something to look forward to,innovative idea... it is going to be fun for sure and i am loving it! take care...maryann

Herself said...

Yay, C! How fun, is right! Go girls!!!

My Galveston Cottage said...

I can't wait to see!!
Great idea. Have fun, -s

The Shiny Pebble said...

Thank you all for the encouragement! I do think this will be lots of fun to follow. If you have a designer whose work you want to see here, please, let me know, and I will go beg them to join. :D

Spread the word.


Hugs and Kisses!
Catherine

nelya said...

No I can't. Wait, that is. My mind is positively reeling with all the possibilities. This is going to be so much fun and I just have to say, that is an incredible line-up of talent you have managed to snag. Let the games begin! :0)

Mindy said...

Hey! I am new to your blog. What a cool idea! I can't wait to see the makeovers.

Cindy said...

How fun! I think your dining room looks beautiful so I can't wait to see whats to come!

Pauline Wiles said...

I really enjoyed Amanda's suggestions and look forward to seeing the others!

OneCraftyFox said...

Oh hey this is a great idea!

Anonymous said...

How exciting!!! I had forgotten about your Wed. announcement until now, so rushed right over! I can't wait to see all of the photos and styles and designs. What a brilliant idea! I'm not a designer, but for now, maybe angle your dining room table instead of straight on. I've done that in the last two houses and love it. Adds interest and it's unexpected. Leave your rug as is, and angle just the table and chairs. Try it... ;)

Dena said...

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving your kind words. I'm glad to have found your place. I will be checking back to see how your weekly challenge goes.

PS. I love your taste. I have also found myself with furniture and odds and ends that I one loved but need a good update.

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

fantastic idea! I will be here to join in on the fun.

Anne said...

I am intrigued. This will be very interseting to witness. I found your blog through Charlotta, and am really looking forward to seeing what she does. How exciting!
Anne

Splenderosa said...

Oh, you crafty devil!! What an absolutely splendid idea this is!!
I'm immediately going to their blogs and become a follower because I know you know what you're doing. Catherine, this is brilliant. The only thing I can contribute to this is choosing an outfit for you to wear and giving you my jewelry. You rock, girlfriend! xx's Marsha

Splenderosa said...

Oh, and...forgot to tell you with all the excitement...your home is beautiful, C. It really needs nothing, you know? M

Unknown said...

Thanks for the oh so kind words! Good luck with your challenge, sounds so excitng and glad I could be a part of it!

Cher said...

We've always known you were a Designing Diva! God gave you a gift of grace and beauty that extends to your surroundings...never intimidates, always welcomes. You GO GIRL!

Millie said...

What a fab idea! Of course when MOTH sends you his submission Catherine, you'll need to be firm in your rejection of it. Just because he's renovated 3 rooms (under my explicit instructions) he thinks he's the big expert. And he's colour blind too, so that should seal the rejection deal for you!! Looking forward to seeing the Guest Posts.
Millie ^_^

Charlotta Ward said...

Posted the announcement over at my little blog corner.

Yay - this will be so much fun!

xx Charlotta

Unknown said...

this contest is one of the many reasons why i love your blog. check out mine today when you get the chance — i left you a little something!

Unknown said...

COOL! I love Raina...this should be good!

Charlotta Ward said...

Thought I already left a comment but must have imagined it.. The brain of a mother is always cloudy! :)

Am seeing the word spread.. yay. Our little 'viral marketing campaign' is working and this is going to be so much fun!

Scanning the web for inspiration for my post.. so difficult but exciting all at the same time.

Can't wait to see the first one revieled and am so thrilled you teed up Christina and Leigha - love these girls. Their take on style is great!!

Kisses

x Charlotta

P.s. Hope you are catching up on some sleep! x

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

Exciting and so adventurous! I love your rooms and what fun to have new ideas implemented!!!

Unknown said...

Sounds so interesting. Can not wait to see who will end up to be the winner. It is amazing how many talented people live in Blogosphere.:-)

Christina Rose //floresdelsol said...

what a wonderful Idea... i look forward to it!

The Shiny Pebble said...

Hi everyone! I have been busy in the past couple of days having to keep track of all that is going on online and in my real life. :)

I love you all's support. And appreciate all of the talented designers that helped to kick off this program. More talented folks are joining in.

I have enjoyed reading all your comments and know that your favorite designers will not disappoint. I already have in my hands quite a few of their ideas and I cannot tell you how fabulous and well thought out each one of them is.

Hugs and Kisses
Catherine

Acanthus and Acorn said...

Have a ton of fun with this! It is such a great space...one that many of us would love to work on in real life!

You chose a wonderful variety of bloggers and I look forward to seeing all the "afters"!

Gwen Driscoll said...

Catherine,

So excited for you! It's going to be just great. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. And, can't wait to get my nail polish! You're the best.

G

CLAIRE WATKINS, ASID ALLIED said...

What a great idea and it will be fun to see different designers interpretation. Just this week, Desire To Inspire featured a living room that a designer gave a whole new look to using just paint. The transformation was impressive and inspiring. I look forward to your 'party'.

Also in regards to your question about the pillows, I don't have a lumbar pillow in outdoor fabric in my current set. If all goes well with the first batch I am thinking of doing more for an online store, so stay tuned. In the mean time, Frontgate has some super cute options out there in the lumbar shape!

Tonia Lee Smith said...

I can not wait to see what Raina does!

pve design said...

Love to join the fun, I am not a full fledged designer but I do love dining rooms and I have some ideas of my own that I would love to share in a sketch format, Can you tell me your favorite colors and show me your "china?"
Thanks for the etsy order, the numbers on the awning are found on european florists - for contacting them so that is what the numbers are supposed to convey - a posh european florist.
pve

Unknown said...

what a fun idea! can't wait to see what everyone comes up with

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