interior styling Archives - Quinlan Design Co

One Room Challenge Week 5 – Lighting with Crystorama

Throughout the process of designing and executing the master bedroom, naturally, a few things have changed along the way. One thing that did not however was my vision for the lighting. I knew from the moment I received them they were going to be unique elements that balanced out the overall aesthetic I was going for.

When I scrolled by the Doral 2-Light Renaissance Gold Wall Mount I knew I had found the perfect replacement to the old existing sconces. They were modern, dainty, a touch funky, and brought the hint of gold/warmth the room needed. I was even more obsessed when I held them, the brushed gold was everything, the rings were so dainty and framed cute round bulbs perfectly.

I think the safe play would have been to pick a ceiling light that coordinated with the sconces. I just don’t do the whole matchy-matchy, stick to one style of design, thing. I like to see how I can make different styles work together, so even in the lighting alone, I mixed it up a bit. With the Jessa 3-Light Burnished Silver Ceiling Mount, I was able to incorporate that taste of boho without being too relaxed. The hemp style detail, cork ball hanging in the middle, and the way the light casts through to the ceiling added to the feeling in the room, just in a different way than the sconces.

It’s safe to say I am over the moon with Crystorama’s light pieces I chose for this space. The quality is impeccable, the designs are stunning and I must also include their customer service is bar-none. I’m already eyeing a few more lighting styles I can’t wait to install in the rest of the house.

Speaking of the rest of the house, we are so so close to finishing the bedroom completely. There’s a couple of pieces taking f o r e v e r to arrive because of delayed shipping (as I’m sure everyone’s aware of) but a reveal of some sort is coming this week!! Then there’s the hallway and front entryway that we decided to tackle at the same time as the bedroom that we are finishing up as well. So, stay tuned for some fun and finally (almost) complete updates!

This post was a gifted partnership with Crystorama lighting.

One Room Challenge Week 4 – Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Bona Natural Hardwood Floors Bedroom

If there is any post in this series that you can actually learn something new, it’s this one. I know because it was a learning experience for me, and I think fairly new to the interiors world, or, at least new to the residential/DIY world. I’m going to try to keep it brief without skimping on the important details of how we refinished our hardwood floors while keeping the natural color of the wood.

When we started sanding off the old finish in the closet I knew right away it was the color I dreamt would appear beneath the dark orangish-brown stain currently covering the entire second floor. It was a light, natural oak. I loved the old skinny flooring true to the home’s character, but the natural color seemed to bring a modern flair the house very much needed. So, as we went about refinishing the floors I started to stress over figuring out how to keep the beautiful color that they are.

Removing the Old Finish

As for the refinishing-of-the-floors-part, let me tell you that was no easy task. I feel as though we are not experts enough to explain step by step how we did it. I think every flooring job would be different. The grit, the number of times you sand with each grit, which machines would work best, could all vary. To give you a brief synopsis we sanded with 60, 80 then 100. We used a drum sander, edge sander, orbital sanders, and detail sander. It took long days and long nights. Lots of vacuuming. Lots of cleaning. Lots of bending over.

The main tips I can give you are:

If you can, move all of the furniture out because if it is in the same space it will get covered in dust.
Have a plan, and this may change as you dive in, but try to stay organized with your process.
Rent the proper equipment, do your research, be prepared.
Seal off the areas being done from elsewhere with plastic sheets.
Cover all vents or turn off your heat.
Clean/Vacuum with shop vac as you go.
Change the sanding pads often, more often than you’d think.

Now, on to the good part.

How We Kept the Natural Color of 120 Year Old Hardwoods

I was stumped as we tried various stains and finishes, all of which altered the color of the floor. I knew the best method to avoid giving the wood that golden, darkened look just had to be out there. Through some research, I learned that any finish with oil in it will penetrate the wood and change the entire look. So, I researched to see if there was a way to seal the floors without an oil-based product. This is when I learned of Bona.

It is a water-based polyurethane system that technically is sold to be purchased by professional contractors. However, it has reached the not-so-underground market that is Amazon. We found a local seller of the product that allowed us to buy the combo we were looking for.

We started with the “Bona NaturalSeal” sealant, which is technically the part that will ultimately decide the coloring of the wood. This one has very little white pigment to keep the floors light as moisture is added. We applied one coat of this using the technique we learned in this video. Next, we finished with the “Bona Traffic HD”. We did two coats as recommended. I was in such awe as it went on how it simply just brought through the original, natural highlights and tones of the old oak boards. I was even more floored (no pun intended) when it was dry and they weren’t too slippery or too rough and still beautifully oak-y! They just felt like original, true hardwoods should.

You can view a quick little video of our experience condensed to a couple of seconds here.

I just felt like this system is such an underrated, undiscovered secret that I had to share. I’m happy to answer any questions you guys have about it too. It was definitely more expensive but 1000% worth it! It made me so excited to continue to finish the second floor, and especially the bedroom.

Up Next: Lighting

Since we did the entire second floor, and are also now painting the entire second floor, the bedroom is taking quite a while. I appreciate the patience and if you’ve kept any interest at all I appreciate you more! That being said, we have two weeks to finish it so now we are feeling the pressure both to finish the room but also share more about it with you.

You guys are going to die at the next update. I am so excited to partner with an amazing, stunning lighting brand that we used to replace the hardwired light fixtures in the room. Stay tuned for this blog post coming soon!

One Room Challenge Week 3 – Closet Clean Up with Beadboard Wall Paneling

Yikes, writing this I’m realizing how behind I really am on updates to the Master Bedroom I’m featuring for Better Home & Garden’s One Room Challenge. Week 3’s update is about the closet, an add-on part to the bedroom itself. It’s a huge part of the overall finish of the Master and I thought it would be a great opportunity to offer some tips if you want to add beadboard wall paneling in your home.

The Before

The closet was a mess, to say the least.

Beadboard Wall Paneling ORC After moving everything out and stripping it down to the crappy wire shelving a previous owner had installed, we realized there was quite a bit of work to do to clean it up. The old shelving required two screws for every connection to the wall. After removing them all there were 60+ holes to caulk and sand two to three times. Another thing we realized was how uneven the baseboards were. We decided to replace them entirely. Removing those gave us yet another hurdle, the walls didn’t go to the ground. There was about 6″-9″ between floor and end of the drywall. We could see right through to the studs so we knew we had to find a solution without having to replace the walls entirely.

First, to essentially bring the “wall” to the floor we had to cover the gap. Putting on new baseboards along would mean they would have to be extremely high, and I just knew it wasn’t the right look. So, I came up with wall paneling. We could attach it to the wall and then finish with a simple baseboard, connecting wall and floor with no gaps or spaces. No one would ever be able to see how the old drywall/plaster wall is basically floating behind it.

After measuring, planning and getting the right tools we got to work.

How We Installed Beadboard Wall Paneling

Watch a quick TikTok Video of how we did it here, or read a more specific step-by-step process below!

Step 1: Purchase finishes and gather the correct tools.

For tools and products we used:

Measuring Tape
Level
Brad Nailer
Drill
Compound Miter Saw
Circular Saw
Wood Filler
Caulk
Caulk Gun

Finishes we purchased:

Paintable White Bead Hardboard Wainscoting Panel from Home Depot
1/2″ x 5 1/2″ Boards for the Baseboard
1/2″ x 2 1/4″ Boards for the “Chair Railing”
3/4 in. x 3/4 in. PVC Interior Quarter Round Molding for the Corner and Baseboard Trim

Note: We measured the walls prior and planned how we were going to cut down everything at home based on the tools we had.

Step 2: Nail beadboard paneling to the wall.

We decided on a height that we wanted the chair rail to sit at. Marking the same distance from floor to that height periodically around the room we then used the level to try to make it as straight and parallel as possible despite the irregular measurements an old house brings.

After cutting our paneling to the correct sizes we nailed the pieces to the wall using 2″ brad nails.

Step 3: Install chair rail.

Again we measured, drew leveled lines, and cut all of the pieces to the appropriate lengths to go wall to wall. We then made 45-degree beveled cuts so the pieces met to make 90-degree angles in each corner.

Step 4: Install baseboards.

We repeated the same process here with the thicker pieces on the baseboards. However, we did not have to level as precisely since we just wanted them to be flush with the floors.

Step 5: Install corner and toe-kick trim.

We used 3/4 in. x 3/4 in. PVC Interior Quarter Round Molding for the Corner and Baseboard Trim.

Step 6: Wood Filler.

Next we filled in all of the nail holes with wood filler and let that dry.

Step 7: Caulk.

In each corner, space, gap and hole left we caulked. You’ll want to get into a rhythm with the calk gun, getting used to how much and how fast it spits out the caulk. Have a paper towel or rag in hand to wipe away excess.

Step 8: Paint.

Finally, we painted all of it. I chose to keep it simple and test out the baseboard as being the same color as the walls and I love it. Once the paint was on and the caulk and bumps were covered up I really couldn’t believe how pretty a closet could be (LOL). It was perfect and ready to install a closet kit, which I’ll circle back on soon.

The Finished Product:

Beadboard Walls with Trim for Closet in Bedroom

Coming Soon: The Closet System

I simplified it big time but YouTube and the right tools made the biggest difference in being able to do it ourselves. It was a huge leap because this DIY job gave us the confidence to do so much more to the house. It taught us that things can be a bit imperfect, that they are fixable, or that once finished not to be too hard on oneself.

Can’t wait to share the install of the closet system I designed with Ikea’s Boaxel System! Stay tuned!

One Week Challenge Week 2 – White Paints

Hi all! I’m here, I’m late, but I’m back with a post for the One Room Challenge. It’s a mix between progress updates but also talking about one of the hottest subjects ever in the home design world right now: white paint colors.

Quick Update

Before we go there, let’s get an update on the lovely new master bedroom to-be. Actually, to be fully transparent, we started with the paint weeks ago. I felt like I couldn’t even think or be in there with the current state of the walls (let me remind you with a before picture below). So, we quickly refreshed the room to get the creative energy and drive to do the dang thing. From there, we’ve now tackled the closet (halfway) and floors.

Painting has been the easiest part thus far. Uneven walls, tricky moldings, old trim, scratched and worn floors, have been our enemy these last few weeks, but we are slowly triumphing over each one.

Bedroom Before Paint

White Walls

Our process for painting was to start by picking out a warm but not yellow, bright but not blinding, slightly versatile white for the walls and closet. Then, we touched up all of the trim in pure white, which turned out to be tricky even finding the right sheen. Okay, I know you aren’t here for those kinds of details (we went with semi-gloss in case you were). I know, get to the good part, which white we actually chose!

Swiss Coffee Benjamin Moore Paint

If you follow my personal account on Instagram you may have seen weeks ago I mentioned that we were painting with Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. Needless to say, we loved it immediately. We also sampled Steam, Cloud White, and Icicle. Though they are all beautiful colors, they were either too cool for what I wanted or too close to pure white. We really wanted to see a difference between the trim and walls. The house is older, less modern, and has details on the windows and trim that deserve to stand out. So, Swiss Coffee it was.

Swiss Coffee Benjamin Moore Paint

My Favorite White Paint Colors

I promised to share my top 3 favorite white paints, and where I think they work best so here we go.

Pure White

One word to describe it: Modern

Yes, pure white is what you should use for trim and ceilings but I will recommend it from time to time as a paint color for walls too. If you have a modern home with clean lines, minimal trim, very little millwork detailing, and high ceilings it works magic.

Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore

One word to describe it: Clean

If you’re going for the bright white aesthetic but using an actual shade or color with an actual name, this one’s it. It’s still clean and modern and bright like pure white, but it’s also a bit softer. It catches the light in more of a glow than a shine and works with both neutrals and colors.

Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore

One word to describe it: Moody

But not in a weird, shadow-type way. I say moody because it sets a mood of warmth and calm that the other two don’t. It’s something that needs to be paid attention to when selecting your lighting fixtures and even lightbulbs. You can’t go too warm, or the walls will look yellow and you can’t go too bright because then you’ll wash the tone of the color away. It’s definitely the most finicky of my favorites, but if you get it right, it’s absolutely perfect for most living areas, bedrooms or even cabinets.

Some Other Favorite Whites:

There’s so many options out there but a few more of my favorite white paint colors are below. It’s all about the space, the lighting, and truly your preference. There usually is no wrong answer.

White Dove – Benjamin Moore

Snowbound – Sherwin Williams

Alabaster – Sherwin Williams

Cloud Cover – Benjamin Moore

Greek Villa – Sherwin Williams

Aesthetic White – Sherwin Williams

Wrap-Up

Here is a quick before and after of our Master Bedroom. What a difference right?! It gave us the right push to continue fixing and re-doing the space. Stay tuned the rest of the week as I play major catch-up on Master Bedroom posts. I promise there will be way more content from the QDC Blog in the coming months. We have some AMAZING projects we are working on and we can’t wait to share!

Bedroom Before Paint

February 13, 2021

olivia@quinlandesignco.com

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Cozy Home Decor Ideas for Winter

It’s about that time again folks. The leaves are falling (fast) and the daily temperature even faster. With our first snowfall this week and a “record-breaking arctic blast” ahead I bring you my list of 8 cozy home decor ideas for winter that I try to implement every year. I say take the bull by the horns, get ahead but also make it a positive thing. If you’re like me bringing in some new home decor pieces is always a good time. So, pull your quilts out of storage and get your home feeling cute and cozy for the long season ahead.

FUR BLANKETS & PILLOWS

I’m big on boho, so textures are always a thing for me. However, it’s become extremely popular to add the texture of fur to any space and get a warmer, cozier feel for the winter season. Whether it’s a throw or a pillow it adds “volume” to a space. It’s a heavier texture but doesn’t necessarily overfill the space. Alright, I’m getting too technical here.. just grab all of these below and you’ll be good.

HEAVIER CURTAINS

Velour. Velvet. However you want to say it, do it. Oh my gosh, the difference this makes. I’m obsessed and plan on doing it in our living room. They’ll 100% keep the cold out more but they also give off that cozier vibe with the texture itself.

DRIED FOLIAGE IN VASES

This may be unexpected when it comes to cozy home decor ideas for winter because you think flowers in the house during spring and summer. But whether it’s pampas grass, eucalyptus, berries, or leaves, dried foliage is ideal in the winter months because it brings nature and earth inside without it feeling too rich. It’s a representation that the earth is just asleep, dormant. Someday soon the warmth and freshness of spring will be back, but for now, just enjoy the stillness dry foliage brings.

FANCY RED WINE GLASSES

It’s red wine “season” for those that don’t drink red year-round (btw, mistake). But really, make sure you’re prepared with fab glassware to drink it out of, somehow it just tastes so much better!

VINTAGE FEELING ACCENTS

Even if you tend to drift towards more modern spaces, that vintage feel (like in these products below) is making a comeback. You’ll still be staying within your taste, vibe, style etc. A sense of comfort comes through “old” pieces and you’ll see examples of this in other categories amongst the list of cozy home decor ideas for winter.

SMALL TEXTURED AREA RUGS

The faux fur throws are amazing because you can use them on chairs or as small area rugs. I am also really into anything that has a unique shape because it brings dimension and the ability to layer on more straight and structured pieces.

BRASS & WARM WOOD ACCENTS

This technically isn’t seasonal because brass and wood are acceptable, anytime, year-round. If your palette is typically very grey or white and you don’t think you can add more wood and brass you are VERY wrong. Adding these into spaces that are cooler will bring in the much-needed warmth for the season. Plus, there’s a specific warmer wood tone with the brass/gold that is ideal for winter. Implementing the perfect combo will do wonders to aspace. Once again, I repeat, mixing greys and cooler wood tones with brass and warm wood tones is OKAY. I’ve shared this wood tray on my Instagram many times!

TAPERED CANDLES CANDLESTICKS

Vintage or modern or just plain quirky, candlesticks are a symbol of romance. This is the trait you should be aiming to bring to any space in the winter months. Candlesticks in any room do the trick, yes even the bathroom too. This is probably the easiest on the list of cozy home decor ideas for winter to bring all the perfectly cozy vibes.

What do you plan to do for the coming season?! It makes such a big difference to switch up your home, your space with each season. Winter is especially important because it’s the dreariest, longest of them all. Expanding on last year’s popular post on how to Equip Your Home to Survive Winter, hopefully, these specific finds will bring your home to maximum cozy. Your home is your haven, and the goal is to design your life intentionally. Design the life you want. Design a life you love.

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