MK Design Interiors & Events

Doodle Time

megan — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 03:53:32 +0000

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Am I the only one who feels like this holiday decorating is coming quicker every year? Seriously! I felt like I was the last person in my neighborhood to get the outside of my house decorated..and it was STILL only November.

But here we are, December 1st, and we were busy getting ready for the next big holiday. Now before you start wondering if my house is actually decorated yet, I wanted to share with you a quick and easy tip for getting a different type of holiday chore done. HOLIDAY CARDS! Well, first step is to multi-task. I brought mine to a 6:00am hockey practice. If we HAD to be there that early, might as well be getting something done…right?!?

Depending on how old your kids are, you may remember about 7 years ago when aquadoodles were all the rage? We had several, and even though my boys don’t play with them anymore, I found a pen in our “junk drawer” (yes, I really do have a junk drawer) So here it is, my secret weapon, STEP TWO…

Seriously, the BEST way to seal your envelopes! I know, I know…I’m pretty sure they have something specific to seal envelopes, but there is something about the shape and size of the Aquadoodle pen that make the job much easier. Oh, and since you might have one of these lying around your house, it’s even better.

Now if I can only get them addressed, stamped, and in the mail!

I’m Thankful For….

megan — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 22:00:09 +0000

BURLAP (among other things of course) But seriously I am always thankful for a fabulous utility fabric that you can use over and over again. This year, I started with a simple white linen table cloth and overlaid it with a few yards of beautiful silver sage burlap (in that fab color…still only $3.99 a yard) paired it with a flannel tartan for an elegant fall tablescape. Did I mention that I didn’t sew ANYTHING?!? That’s right, a couple of yards of flannel fabric with a built in “cut here” line.

The inspiration for this Thanksgiving table setting came from the Blue Moon Squash I found at Idylwilde Farm last week. Did you see my post on facebook? In all honesty, this was to be my first dinner party at our new dining room set (I totally feel like a real grown up now) and I wanted the colors of the decor to match said furniture. Nailed it!

New Squash Meet New Chair

My “newly retired” mom (congrats Peg O’Toole) is in the process of downsizing again, so I inherited her wedding china as well (see what I mean…total grown up territory!)

And here is a close up of a super simple flower arrangement. Hydrangea & Flowering Kale, are some on my favorites for fall centerpieces!

Don’t forget to add moss around the bottom of the hurricane candles for texture!

I was just so happy with how the whole table came together…and the food, well that’s another story for a different sort of blog!

And are you wondering about the numbered pumpkins? Truth be told, this isn’t really my Thanksgiving table…in fact, I’m not even hosting this year! (But don’t totally put it past me to set my table weeks in advance) This post was inspired by a dinner party I was hosting. As each of my guests arrived I had them pick a number which corresponded to seat for suppah! Although some couples actually ended up sitting net to each other, it was a fun way to let fate decide how the night progressed. (And some chairs were clearly more comfy than others).

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

It’s Do-Ovah Time

megan — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 13:36:46 +0000

Do-Ovah’s are my favorite part of the job! They really educate and motivate my clients to be able to do something creative with their spaces on their own. I feel like such a proud momma when I hear from them that they completed what we talked about and they love it. The downside of the Do-Ovah for me is that I don’t always get to see the finished product. But sometimes, a client finishes it AND sends me proof. Here are just a few do-ovah’s from the past few months…

DO-OVAH #1 - Concord, MA

This do-ovah was for a client who was moving to the area and had to make all the decisions from several hours away. She hired me to help out with the kitchen & family room area that had a confusing layout and clearly dated built-ins.

BEFORE

Her style is light and bright cottage feel, and we went through her Pinterest Boards (best design tool eva) to see what ideas she had for the space. It was not in the budget to rebuild the bookshelves, so we had them painted white and added crown molding at the top to lose the scalloped edge for a less 70′s feel. The trim around the windows was also painted white and the walls were painted in Benjamin Moore Sliver Sage 506. They are thrilled with the transformation…now onto the furniutre options. I hope they keep me posted!

AFTER

DO-OVAH #2 - Acton, MA

This client lives in a beautiful historic home with lots of charm. They hired me for several rooms in their home, but for their dining room in particular they wanted to give it a whole new look, but didn’t really want to paint. Um, yeah about that…

BEFORE

Often times people think that if they have the dark woodwork in historic homes they shouldn’t paint it (I’m one of those people) but here’s the thing, you don’t have to choose light colors to make it look good. In fact, I think yellow is one of the worst options because it doesn’t enhance the tone of the wood…it competes with it…making it look too orange! Luckily, my client is someone who will take design risks (YIPPIE!) and didn’t completely pass out when I suggested to paint it PURPLE!

AFTER

Benjamin Moore Kasbah AF-640 to be specific. The furniture did not change, but doesn’t the room look so much more pulled together? It’s so soothing!

I love how the beautiful woodwork just pops against the new color. Seriously, is that door amazing or what?!?

Oh, and speaking of the door, we were also working on the master bedroom and they said they needed a new headboard! Rather than purchasing a new one, I suggested that they use an extra door and paint it then hang it horizontally…and guess what…they did it! Doesn’t it look stunning?

Note to self: Do not go up to your son’s Lacrosse coach in front of a bunch of other Mom’s (none of which were his wife / my client) and say how much you really love how his headboard turned out. Um, yeah, we got a few funny looks! I guess that’s just the part of my job…RUMORS!

Houzz is in the House

megan — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 02:55:18 +0000

So excited to have one of my favorite websites as a guest blogger today, welcome Houzz to Do-Ovah.

Hello everyone! My name is Becky and I’m a contributor at Houzz, a home design site focused on helping design professionals and homeowners manage the remodeling and decorating process. Thanks so much to Megan for having me!

So, I’m here today to talk about kitchen trends. No, not Carrera versus Calcutta marble. Not marmoleum versus bamboo flooring. Not stainless versus enamel. Most of us don’t have kitchens like we see in magazines, the ones that are bigger than my entire first floor. The trend I’m loving is paring down and storing wisely, so you can work with what you’ve got and turn your existing kitchen into your dream kitchen on a budget. This trend includes all of the brilliant and efficient storage solutions currently on the market and what you’ll be able to do with the space they save.

First, relax and imagine a light, airy and uncluttered kitc hen and think about how you and your family will use it. Next, pare down. Pull everything out, cabinet by cabinet, drawer by drawer, and place like items together. Ask yourself some not-so-tough questions: Did you know you had three identical barbeque sets? How many omelet pans do you really need? Do you have to keep five different sets of china or do you want a bright kitchen that feels larger than it really is? Do you want to hang onto that bread maker you got as a wedding gift ten years ago and used once or would you like a window where you can watch your kids play in the backyard? With all of these things in mind, start sorting everything into “keep,” “throw out” and “donate” piles.

Next, head over to Houzz and seek out storage solutions that work for you and the stuff you have left in your “keep” pile (more on how to do this below; I promise it’s easy). If the pile is still too big, watch a few episodes of Clean House and Hoarders. Nothing makes me want to drive a carload of stuff to Goodwill like watching Hoarders!

Contemporary Kitchen

Total Elegance

Here’s an example of how to use Houzz. I entered “kitchen storage” into the search box and then selected “photos.” I can then scroll through the photos, and click on “Add to Ideabook” when I see one I like. I can create as many different ideabooks as I like from there — for example, “Kitchen Storage,” “Ideas to Show Contractor” or “Favorite Backsplashes.” Some people like to get very specific, while others like to make one giant ideabook containing all things kitchen-related.

Fab Tile

Once you’ve pared down your kitchen items and found the smartest and most efficient storage solutions, you’re ready to receive your reward! While our natural instincts tell us to cover every inch of kitchen wall space with cabinets, your hard work means you’ll no longer need to. Instead, you can add art, windows or one of my favorite kitchen trends, extending the backsplash from counter to ceiling.

Another reward for losing the clutter? Replacing bulky and dark upper cabinets with light-colored open shelving.

Open Shelving

This move makes everything look so much larger and brighter. This is a very attainable and inexpensive makeover for any halfway-decent DIYer. If you do choose a layout like this, there are two rules you need to follow:

1.) Play around until you find a pleasing composition of your china, serving pieces and glassware.

2.) Be aware that this will require some extra dusting. Store your stepladder near the kitchen and place pieces you use often on the shelves so that they will be washed regularly. When one little area is clear, take advantage of the opportunity to give the shelf a wipe down there.

I hope I’ve inspired you to find some storage solutions that will make your life easier and your kitchen dreamier!

Find more kitchen storage ideas from Boston kitchen and bath designers and more design professionals at Houzz.

Sailing off to Brimfield

megan — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:38:05 +0000

It’s finally here, the week I’ve been waiting for…the excitement of the hunt, networking with designer friends old and new, and rubbing elbows with fancy designers like The Novograts and Cari Cusksey (Thanks to the amazing organizers of the #Brimfield Tweet up event) it’s Brimfield Fair week at MK Design. I’m sorta new to the whole Brimfield game, but over the past few years I’ve gotten a little experience under my belt. You might remember my Suzy Said post about the ins and outs of Brimfield (Yes, I can negotiate with the vendors & No, I still haven’t found that lunch box). This year I am on a mission, and that mission is BURGEE FLAGS! Dunno what those are? (Don’t worry, I just learned the technical term myself)

See, you’ve seen them before, the adorable little sailing flags!

And for me, the kitchier the better!

Why am I hunting for burgee flags you ask? Well, I’m getting ready to launch a new home decor line, MK Coastal! Don’t worry, you’ll be hearing lots more about it soon, but in the meantime I need to find flags.

There is so much Brimfield ground to cover and so little time (although one could argue that two days with no kids in tow is like an eternity). So, if you are out in the fields and see some burgee flags and other nautical stuff PLEASE Text me, Tweet me, Call me…whatever…just give me a shout! Like my fellow blogger over at Everything in 3′s, (yes, I will be on the lookout for your vintage signs) let’s work together. And as my little boys remind me Team work doesn’t seem work! See you in the fields people, what can I help you find?

Lordy Lordy…

megan — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:34:40 +0000

Over the past month and a half I’ve put together SEVEN (no joke) parties. Some were small, some where humongous, but this one…the last of them…was the funnest of them all! Lordy Lordy my hubby turned 40.

To say my husband likes blackjack is putting it mildly, and no card counting here, but man he is good! So to have a Vegas themed birthday party was perfect for him. Of course, I went all out with the decorations, and I promise that I’ll share everything with you eventually, but today I wanted to show you the front door!

WELCOME TO FABULOUS…Salvation Army!

Yup, that’s right…that beautiful frame and canvas was thrifted for only $7.99, and as much as I loved “dottie’s flowers” I had bigger plans.

Believe me now?!?

I simply popped Dottie’s masterpiece out of the frame,

and used spray adhesive on the canvas and attached the little somethin’ I whipped up on Photoshop.

For a total of $28, my front door was ready to greet our guests!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

(Side note: those two little ones were sent home with Nannie after a few lessons of roulette, black jack, and craps. Look out world, we’ve got a couple of sharks on our hands!)

Luck O’ the Irish

megan — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:27:08 +0000

OK, so this didn’t really take much luck, but as the daughter of Peg O’Toole I always think of how nice it will look come mid-March when I decorate with green!

I purchased this piece for just over $600 at Jordan’s furniture. And by purchased I mean I ran frantically through the store to find a sales person to sell this to me before they realized they miscalculated the price by $1,000. I was stunned…that price for the top AND bottom? For Real?!? I had been eyeing this EXACT SAME piece at Pottery Barn for a mere $1,600. I may have even left the store like this.

When I get it delivered, I’m psyched! But I felt it needed a little pick me up!

I bought these curtain panels for $4 at The Christmas Tree Shop. I was planning on making some throw pillows with them, but had another idea.

How cool would it look to line the back of the shelves with this? Such a fun pop of color! I started my measuring and cutting cardboard to fit snugly against the back of the hutch between the shelves.

After I had all three pieces cut I laid it onto the fabric. If the fabric you chose has a pattern, you want to make sure the fabric is straight and the pattern is lining up when you cut it for the boards. (Yup, I learned the hard way)

I wrapped the fabric like a present and taped it to the cardboard.

This “pop of color” should pop right in! No nails, glue, or tape necessary. (Hence the use of cardboard rather than mdf, it has a little give)

Just like that it’s done! And trust me, it was filled up quickly. Books, photos, bowls, antiques, but I’ll save “filling the bookshelves” for another how-to post!

Happy St. Patty’s day and I hope you appreciate the green in your home today!

Out From Under the Pin

megan — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:18:41 +0000

Have you missed me? I can’t believe how long it’s been since my last post, and let me tell you why! It has absolutely nothing to do with school vacation week, several new clients, planning both of my boys birthday parties, planning my hubby’s 40th birthday, oh and running the school auction, nope nothing at all to do with that. What is DOES have to do with is my new addiction…

Are you on board with your boards yet? Have you been “invited” (let’s just say that the exclusivity of the invitation is GENIUS, cauz everyone wants to be part of something where they need to be invited…but for real…anyone can get on the Pinterest Who’s Who list!)

OK, let me back up, for those of you who don’t have a clue what I’m talking about. Pinterest is the greatest thing since…well…facebook! It’s the incredible universe where everything you’ve ever seen on the interweb and thought, “Oh I’ll totally remember where that was” can be organized all in one place. Seriously, anything and everything! Oh, and you can follow other peoples boards too, so whether it’s your bff, your favorite designer (me) or a celebrity, you can check out their inspiration and pin it to your own.

So maybe it’s a new must have outfit for the summer

or party planning inspiration

maybe you need something fun for the kids

or something from MK Design to impress your friends at a cookout

and sometimes you just need a good laugh!

Let me know if you need an invite to the greatest internet party evah.

Happy Pinning!

Fall In Love With This!

megan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:37:33 +0000

So you already know how much I adore ‘lovey dovey’ Valentine’s day projects, so here are two more simple decorative crafts for you to share with the love in your life!

Let’s start with the painted milk jars. Such an easy and inexpensive way to create a personalized piece on your table! When you see how easy it is, you’ll agree that you could get creative for any occasion, the possibilities are endless.

I started by tracing the heart shape onto the contact paper and then I cut it out and adhered it to the center of the jar.

I used my trusty Frog Tape to create a band around the glass.

The project is prepped to begin painting…

I picked up some Acrylic Paint in Engine Red. This stuff is made for glass and ceramics (seriously, it says ceramics, clearly someone at paint headquarters loved the early 80′s) but for reals it’s pretty awesome! I used my paint dabber (I only use technical terms here) and dabbed two coats around the whole jar.

After I finished the second coat I removed the frog tape and the contact paper heart. You can see the one in the back…the heart has not been removed…and that’s the tricky part. You want to remove it before the paint dries so you don’t peel dried paint off with it! So the trick I used was a little push pin to lift off a corner then I pulled it off. It’s that simple!

Now onto the platter…

While shopping at Home Goods (love that place) I found one of those vinyl wall saying that was perfect for this party and only $9! It took me a while to figure out exactly what to do with it, but this $8 platter from The Christmas Tree Shop was the perfect solution.

I cut the saying to fit on the platter with the proper spacing then I followed the application instructions. After the quote was adhered to the platter I hopped into my time machine and used the acrylic paint for my “ceramics” and painted three little hearts to finish off the piece.

So what are you doin’ for your little love bugs this year?

A Little Love Song

megan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:50:11 +0000

It’s party time again! Time to share an event I’m working on that I just LOVE! I heart Valentine’s Day, and for this post I’m going to show you a super easy craft idea I used to decorate a mantel.

I’m always thinking about the budget when I’m decorating for an event, so of course I head to the dollar store to start my shopping! For this project I picked up some wooden letters, a canvas, and some spray paint.

I laid the letters on the canvas and went wild with the spray paint! (OK…not really wild…but rather three light coats)

And then it looked like THIS! Once the paint is dry you can pick up the letters. Great thing is, this craft is like two in one, as I used the pink “LOVE” letters to decorate a different area of the room.

So, maybe there was some truth to going “wild” with the spray…cauz you can see how some of the letters look a little fuzzy. Well, if your wooden letters have staples in the back, take them OUT before you spray paint, or your end up with teeny bits of paint under certain areas of your letter. (Clearly, there was no staple on the back on the V) But I’m crafty, I can fix it, so I came up with another plan that I loved even more than the first. I decided to call this piece “Love Song” and Modge Podged my way out. Happy accidents are my favorite!

I popped open the piano bench and dusted off some of my favorite tunes. (See Mom…I can still read music!) Don’t worry, I didn’t wreck the book, I made photo copies.

I traced and cut out the letters, well most of the letters, I thought it looked pretty to leave my perfectly painted one white! I worked some decoupage magic and it was done. So simple and so pretty!

I hope cupid finds his way to your home this year!