Shauna Oberg | Interior Design, Decorating & Organizing

Basement Progress {Framing and Electrical}

May

2012

Although we’ve only completed the framing and rough-in electrical work of our basement renovation, I can get a pretty good sense of how the rooms are going to look. We’ve made some adjustments along the way, but careful planning beforehand has definitely paid off. Our original plan looked something like this sketch below. (I will post a new sketch with the revisions at another time, but this at least gives you a sense of our basement layout.)

The entire room that you see at the bottom of the stairs will be our media room. The wall to the left is where we will mount our TV and speakers. We’ve added extra support for the mounting bracket and created boxes to recess the speakers. In addition, all the wiring has been integrated to keep it hidden once drywall goes up.

Color Crush {Tiffany Blue}

May

2012

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I have always been a fan of Tiffany blue. Not only do I think it’s the shade of sophistication, but I love how it immediately freshens up a room and brings new life to tired looking furniture. Even the slightest pop of this iconic color can add a touch of elegance to a room or give it a retro vibe.

{via Style at Home}

{via French Silver on Etsy}

{via Rue}

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Filed Under: Decorating Tagged With: Color Crush, Paint Colors, Tiffany Blue

Basement Renovation Finally Underway!

May

2012

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As I hear clanging and banging coming from the basement, it’s a good sign for me. We’ve been planning our basement renovation for several months now and it’s finally underway. Yesterday everything was mapped out on the floor and the rest of the week will be framing, with the electrical work starting on Monday.

Although we’ve put a lot of thought in to the design, there are always obstacles that come up in any renovation. I’ve already had to make some quick decisions about door placement and exactly how high we want the flat screen TV mounted on the wall. With my husband being away on business this week, I’m feeling a little pressure and I’m crossing my fingers that it will be in the right spot.

One feature we want in the media room is a snack bar (similar to a wet bar, but without the sink). We decided the best place for it is within the niche below the stairs and it will serve as a place to store a few snacks, some glasses, bowls and beverages. We’ve decided to install a stainless steel beverage fridge (which I’ve already changed from my previous basement post as I didn’t like the quality when I took it out of the box), as well as a base cabinet with a drawer and door. What we’re still determining is whether or not we want open shelving up top or a cabinet with double glass doors. This will influence the placement of the lighting as well, to either overhead or under cabinet.

Here are some photos I’ve pulled inspiration from:

I love the cabinet paint color, as well as the backsplash of this wet bar configuration shown above via Decor Pad.

If we decide to go with glass door uppers, I may paint the cabinet interiors a pop of color like these via Better Homes and Gardens.

Satori Blog Updates + Guest Posting for Cre8ive Motives

May

2012

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Are you looking for new ways to advertise or promote your shop/site? There are several opportunities available at Satori Design for Living including monthly sidebar sponsorship, giveaways, product reviews and more! You can check out the Sponsorship Information page to inquire about any or all of these opportunities.

NEW! Starting this month, I’m seeking and scheduling shops for a new sponsorship opportunity called Fab Find Deal. Every month, I will do a post that showcases up to four shops that provide a discount code exclusive to Satori readers for one fabulous product or the entire shop.

Here’s how it will work:

Fab Find Deal {Aya Designs}

Fantastic deal this month on Aya Designs! Aya’s shop has beautiful jewelry pieces handcrafted with the best quality stones, pearls and crystals.

Enjoy 30% Off the entire Aya Designs online shop by entering coupon code Satori30 at the checkout. Ends May 31, 2012.

Note: Aya volunteered her shop to demonstrate how Fab Find Deal will work in the coming months. The coupon code is indeed valid for Satori readers, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity and start shopping. Thank you Aya!

If you’re interested in reaching a new audience and partaking in an upcoming Fab Find Deal, please contact me for more information.

To switch gears a little, today I’m guest posting over at Cre8ive Motives. Mandy’s blog is full of interior design inspiration, as well as impressive DIY projects.

Come check out my formula for adding interest and personality to a room with decorative pillows.

{via Look Linger Love}

A “Certain” Quote

May

2012

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Earlier this week, I was listening to a radio show while I worked in my office. This particular show was one of my favorite business women speaking with a spiritual author I have recently become familiar with, Gabby Bernstein. After listening to what she had to say, one of the quotes really stuck with me.

“Those with the certainty of an outcome are willing to wait, and wait without anxiety.”

Gabby spoke about knowing she would become a published author. It was something she believed down to her core, even when others were doubtful and often pessimistic. She was clear, kept her courage and knew it would come to fruition.

Have you ever had that feeling? Have you had the knowing that something would happen for certain, even if it took longer than you hoped for?

I’m sure if you took a moment to reflect, there would be a long list of these occurrences. Perhaps it was becoming a mother for the first time or finishing your master’s degree. Or, maybe it was putting your feet in the ocean for the first time. Whatever these moments are, did you know that someday they would happen for certain?

For the longest time, my husband and I have dreamed of having a cottage by the lake or a cabin in the mountains. We speak as though it will happen for certain, with no thoughts of anything getting in the way. We can picture spending time there in the summer with friends and family and eventually our grand children (yes, we are thinking that far ahead). I think that’s why Gabby’s quote stuck with me so much. It’s thinking about an outcome I want to happen, but not trying to force it. I believe that eventually everything will come together to make it happen. We’ll meet someone, or get a nudge to take some sort of action…you know how it goes.

In the spirit of our future cottage, I’ve created a file folder of magazine tear outs, as well as a Pinterest board called Ideas for the Cottage. Here are some of the items I’ve pinned so far.

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Filed Under: Inspiration, Life Tagged With: Inspirational People, Quotes

Shopping for a Sectional Sofa

May

2012

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As mentioned earlier this week, I’ve turned my focus to finalizing selections for our basement renovation. Basically the plan is to create a large media room and storage room, as well as a finished hallway with doors leading to a potential bedroom and bathroom. We’ve opted not to install the bathroom or finish the bedroom because we don’t require the extra space for just the three of us. However, we do plan on building in the next few years, so we wanted to make sure a bathroom and bedroom could easily be finished if the need was there for a potential buyer.

The main piece of furniture in the media room will be a sectional sofa. For the size of the room, it just makes sense to maximize seating, as well as provide the all-import comfort factor. After visiting my sister over Easter, I realized just how much I liked cuddling up with everyone watching TV and the extra sleeping space it provided.

There are a few things I’ve had to consider while sourcing a sectional. Because we have a wrap-around staircase, there are restrictions to what will actually fit down the stairs. In addition, we want a style that is comfortable, but still classic in design. Lastly, the fabric needs to be as durable and stain proof as possible. It is a TV room and, as my son says, “There will be spills. I’m only human!” He’s right and it could very well be me.

Here are some of the options we’re considering:

{Stylus Metro}

{Stylus Tofino}

{Pottery Barn Comfort Roll Arm}

Our Basement Renovation {an update}

Apr

2012

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How was your weekend? Mine flew by and I cannot believe it’s Monday already! On Saturday my husband and I went and checked out some of the new showhomes that opened up in town in an area called Mountainview. Sounds beautiful, but the lots that are currently available don’t have what you’d call a mountain view. Those lots won’t be available until a later phase. We also drove through the mud to check out a series of new acreage lots just outside town that have recently opened up. Many of these have beautiful views and certainly peaked our interest. We definitely have a lot to think about!

Back to the current task at hand…

While we were going through homes, I was also looking for ideas for our basement renovation. Construction is going to start in one week and we still have a few decisions to make. I’m still determining whether we want a completely smooth ceiling or a knock-down texture. I have been advised that smooth ceilings show every mark (from fingers, balls, etc.) and, although I like the look, I’m worried about the maintenance. I think I’m willing to chance it and I figure if it works for Sarah Richardson, it will for me. (I just need to have faith that my teenage son and his friends will take it easy!)

{via Sarah Richardson Design}

I’m also not sure what type of carpet I’d like to install. Unfortunately our basement doesn’t have heated floors or I’d probably go with a solid surface floor instead. I’m leaning towards a patterned low-pile mix of loop and cut. I want to select something that is family friendly and resilient, but also doesn’t show footprints like so many carpets do. Any suggestions?

{via Shaw Floors}

Where I Shop for Deals

Apr

2012

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Over the past few years, I’ve seen the accessibility of designer furniture and accessories increase to the general public. This is especially true for online shopping, which seems to be more popular than ever. Since I introduced E-Design to my list of services starting this past September, I’ve discovered a whole new list of amazing web-based shopping resources.

I still like to get out of my office and shop local stores on a regular basis. I love seeing the unique and interesting ways retailers put displays together and nothing beats being able to see a color in its true form or being able to feel the texture of an item with my own hands. I also like being able to interact with shop associates who can give me the low down on products and upcoming trends, and allow me to bounce ideas off them for projects. However, the flip side is that goods at many retail stores are pricier, can be expensive to ship and require more time to find. As a result, many of the items I use in designs end up coming from an online shop.

I typically reserve my list of resources for clients, but after receiving emails from readers asking where I find my decorative items, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites. Let’s face it, most of us have a budget, but we don’t want to sacrifice quality and design. These online shops are a great balance.

Joss & Main is a daily collection of unique items including wallpaper, area rugs, storage solutions, pillows and so much more at discounted prices.

I love their ‘Curator’s Collection’ where they ask designers and bloggers to select a grouping to display for sale.

To shop Joss & Main, it’s as simple as signing up for a free membership. If you’re not already a member, here’s a link to a personal invitation from me to get in on the deals.

Join Our Upcoming Outdoor Link Parties

Apr

2012

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Hello all! I’m so glad that warm weather is finally upon us and I’m thrilled to be spending more and more time outside. To celebrate outdoor living, my friends Amanda, Tiffany, Jean and I are all planning a round of outdoor link parties.

Although it’s my first time hosting, I’ve taken part in many link parties since I started my blog. I’ve stumbled across amazing blogs and projects as a source of inspiration. As a bonus, many people have found their way to Satori and I’ve made many new blogger friends.

We encourage you to join the party too! Be sure to mark your calendars- dates and themes are below. Remember it’s outdoor projects, so starting working on them now. We’re talking gardening, outdoor lounge areas, lanterns, fences and more. I have a few fun DIY and decorating ideas to share as well and I can’t wait!

See you there!

Filed Under: News & Updates Tagged With: Amanda Carol at Home, Flower Hill Design, Link Party, Living Savvy, Outdoor Extravaganza

Designer Challenge: Which Chair? {Part Two}

Apr

2012

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Welcome to Part Two of the Designer Challenge- chair edition! I’m thrilled to welcome Anna of Directions Not Included. I discovered Anna quite recently when I read ’My Favorite Things’ gift exchange she did with our mutual blogging friend Tiffany of Living Savvy. I knew I wanted to get to know this gal when I saw the care and detail she put into selecting just the right items to send. Since then, I’ve been reading posts about her home remodelling projects, transforming what she calls the UGHLY to pretty. I can’t wait for you to see what she did! (If you missed Part One, be sure to catch up on the three chair options and find out what Shandra put together.)

Hi there! I’m Anna from Directions Not Included. My husband and I are busy renovating an original 1950s Florida home so I’ve been documenting our renovation, decorating and crafting projects along the way. I’m excited that Shauna asked me to be part of this designer challenge. Designer challenge? Me? I’m not exactly confident in my decorating skills but I’m flattered. It might have made me blush when I got the email ;)

When Shauna sent through the choices for this month’s challenge I instantly was drawn to the Blake Grey Wash Lounge Chair. It seemed like the perfect fit for a nice sun room or sitting area with big open windows.