Blog - Page 2 of 74 - FunCycled - Interior Design, Kitchen Cabinet Painting, Furniture Repurposing in Upstate NY

Posted on September 10, 2024September 5, 2024 by Meg Booth

Prepping Your Home for Fall in Upstate New York

Hi, friends!

Now that we are approaching cooler temperatures, it ‘s a good time to review some steps to get our homes ready for the next season! Today, I want to give you some practical guidance as well as some design inspo to set the stage for a happy and safe season ahead!

First, I want to share a check list for getting your home ready for fall. If you are a list maker, this is right up your alley, but I assure you, even for our “let me go where the wind blows me” sort of friends, this list is brief and quite doable! Here you go!

PRACTICAL TO-DO’S

clean gutters
clean up shed or storage area for storing pool & other outdoor equipment
tidy the garden and make a plan for fall planting or landscape changes for spring
paint exterior areas: window trim, garage door, or front door
schedule inspection or routine maintenance of your fireplace (it’s not too early for this! Anyone remember October 4, 1987?!)

FUN THINGS THAT MAKE IT FEEL LIKE FALL

My guess is you may already be sipping your fav go-to fall drink (Pumpkin Spice Latte, anyone?), but in case you have never paid attention, not only do our drink choices help us welcome in fall but there are also some routine go to design elements that bring on fall and help us get that cozy vibe we are looking for!

I have found a couple of inspiration photos to share with you. What I love and appreciate about these living room designs is that they are decidedly NOT over the top and actually serve as good examples for designing your space to allow for change with each new season. And, even though the design styles are different, each exhibits warmth and creates a cozy atmosphere. Let’s break it down.

Warm Hues – Okay, before we go any further. This does NOT mean you have to abandon your main color palette nor change out large items in your room. If you want to do this, okay, that’s fine. But that may not be practical for most of us, and truthfully, I don’t think it’s necessary.

Adding warm caramels & tawny browns, as in the first pic, or pairing muted burgundy with light beige tones BOTH add that touch of warmth to each of the spaces. Here are some options you may want to consider for your home

20″ Textured Pillow Ahttps://amzn.to/3MwuNSCmazon

Cozy Textures – woven poofs and baskets along with chunky, knitted blankets

Natural Botanicals – dried flowers, such as hydrangeas or gypsophila (babies breath) add muted color and natural texture to a vase or piece of pottery. Here is a little inspiration for you that I found on Pinterest:

Photo: Jeff Herr c/o Better Homes & Gardens

Layered Styling – yup just like your wardrobe right now (anyone else leaving the house in the morning with a jacket and then ditching it by the afternoon?!), so, too, should your styling be. Check out this inspiration!

Try propping pictures in front of a mirror
Layer books and place a treasured heirloom or vintage piece on top
Plants add natural warmth and serve as great anchors when placed toward one side of your display
Add seasonal finishing touches like these cute little pumpkins

And below is a go-to for me when I am styling a counter or shelf in the kitchen. Grab a beautifully patterned cutting board, turn it on its side, and add a plant (say some herbs) in front. It’s lovely and practical!

Rustic Elements – adding elements like stone or pottery is a huge trend right now. And even if you can’t find or don’t have the real deal, there are some really great look alike options. A really practical way to do this is with your lamp choice. Below I have linked some options for you.

Cream Textured Lamp with Beige Shade
Amazon

TRENDS THAT ARE COMING & STAYING FOR FALL AND WINTER

Below, I have detailed some other fall trends that are popping up right now. The wonderful part about these is that they will have staying power! I hope to share more about these different design elements in a future blog, but for now, let me share this photo to inspire you! Guess which one of these I just love (oh, and I have been doing for years!)

Curved Lines
Vintage Accents
Handcrafted Items & Natural Materials
Jewel Tones Mixed with Warm Neutrals

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture at the top of this page.

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations.

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do.

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

Posted on September 3, 2024August 30, 2024 by Meg Booth

Dirty Kitchens are the Latest Design Craze!

Hi friends!

I hope you had a great weekend and Labor Day! One thing I love about this time of year is getting things in order for the year ahead. Last week, I shared some tips on getting your kiddos and home ready for the BACK to School season and staying organized for the year ahead. If you missed it, you can check it out here. In conjuction with getting organized, I like the idea of planning out my house projects for the year, and back to school season is a great time to begin this process.

In this Tuesday’s Treasure, I am sharing about a new design craze that people are adding to their list of home projects: Dirty Kitchens. That’s right! Your eyes are NOT deceiving you, I am here to talk about Dirty Kitchens. While I am sure many of us can relate to the words, dirty kitchen (especially coupled together), let me clarity that I am not talking about the tidiness and cleanliness of your kitchen. We can all relate to the mess that seems to find its way to kitchen counters, overfull sinks, and ….. That, my friends, is just part of living!

So what do I mean when I say Dirty Kitchens are the latest design craze? Well, let’s begin with defining what is a dirty kitchen. According to a quick Google search, AI defines a dirty kitchen as “a secondary kitchen that’s used for food preparation, cooking, and cleaning, while keeping the main kitchen clean and tidy” (AI Overview, 08/22/2024). This type of space may also be referred to as a back or mess kitchen, a working butler’s pantry (a little different than a butler’s pantry), or even a modern scullery kitchen-not that anything with the word ‘scullery’ in it sounds remotely modern! Ha! But nonetheless, there you have it, dirty kitchens defined!

Examples of Dirty Kitchens

In my search, I found these three beautiful examples of dirty kitchens, found on House Beautiful’s website. Most noticeably, is the overall design aesthetic, ranging from the bold and rich green to the warm mid-tone taupe to a bright and classic white with striking gold accents. Each has a unique character just like a main kitchen. But upon closer review, each of these kitchens is laid out a little differently, indicating they may function differently. Hmmm…makes me ponder….

Photo by Eymeric Widling c/o House Beautiful

But What is the Purpose?

You might be thinking, “but I already have a kitchen…why would I need another one?” The answer to this question is maybe not as straightforward as one might think, but simply stated, having a second kitchen takes the stress off of the main kitchen–a room which (in our modern era) has grown to be a function as a cooking space while serving as as a place to gather and entertain! When I consider this, I actually find great value in having a second kitchen (even if just a zone) to help take some of the stress off…become more of a gathering space than

but I already have a kitchen…why would I need another one?

How Can I Add this to My Home?

So for many of us, we may not have the budget to add a whole second kitchen (dirty or otherwise!) into our homes, so what options might we have to help alleviate the pressure we often experience in our main kitchen area? Well, I think the first step to tackling this is to identify what it is…ask ourselves, “what is it the becomes the proverbial cog in the wheel?” Consider evaluating these questions:

Is it dishes being piled in the sink?
Is it because I have too many pots and roasters going at one time and my kitchen can’t accommodate all of that?
Is my challenge that I just simply don’t have enough storage?
Do I need additional counter space for prepping?

Tackling the Issues

Even in the examples above, we can see that our needs vary and therefore, there is no one right way of tackling this issue. Let’s consider ways to tackle the challenges

Too many dishes piled in the sink? Find a spot for an additional dishwasher or another sink to at least take the edge off. This could be in a hallway or pantry area near your kitchen or maybe consider (don’t throw something at me!) removing a section of cabinets and adding in a compact dishwasher (or a full size one). Here are some portable sinks that can be stationed in another location. I like the one on the left because it’s TOTALLY portable. It can accommodate a water tank right below the sink-pretty clever! Or, if you have the capability of connecting to a waterline, the option on the right is a great, practical (and attractive) option.

General storage issues?. Find a nearby wall, potentially only serving as a pass through, and add a supplemental pantry cabinet. This could be next to an eating area that adjoins your kitchen or even a wall that connects the kitchen to the next room-whatever that might be. Here are a couple of options that really look nice!

This cabinet is versatile with drawers (could be used for pots/pans or for trays) and adjustable shelves good for canned goods, appliances, or serving dishes. I wanted to share it with you displayed in a couple of different ways.

Amazon Cabinet
Connecting Kitchen to Eating Area

This next cabinet is specifically designed with kitchen storage in mind, so it is not as versatile. But it does come in 2 heights (displayed below) to accommodate your space.

Not Enough Prep Space? The easiest way to tackle this is to add a portable kitchen island to your kitchen or adjoining room. I like the options below because they both have a trash bin (easy pull-out) as part of the design-perfect for scraps! Depending upon your room and layout, this feature is on the side or on the front. I point this out because it is something that should be considered.

My Final Thoughts

1 – Okay, so dirty kitchens are not necessarily essential, but they can be really helpful. If I had space for one, I think I would add one!
2 – Adding a dirty kitchen is not feasible for everyone. The good news is there are ways to add “dirty kitchen functionality” in our homes without putting on an addition (or breaking the bank).
3 – If after reading this and doing your own search (even if just to drool over your dream dirty kitchen-haha!) and you conclude that having a whole separate kitchen in your home IS the right decision, I can help! Maybe you have a spare room near by or you can consider converting your basement or garage. The right design could help lighten your entertaining and cooking load!

Adding Style to Your Kitchen

Below is a design board that I created for a client earlier this year. The design was for my client’s main kitchen, but it could serve to inspire for any kitchen.

I love this design! The soft green and rich, gold accents add an elegant touch to a kitchen. If you would like to have help designing your kitchen, I would love to help you create a space that functions well and is a perfect reflection of you and the home you want! To learn more about design appointments, visit our Interior Design Page.

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

Posted on August 27, 2024September 3, 2024 by Meg Booth

Let’s Get Organized for BACK to SCHOOL!

Hi friends!

We just got back from a beautiful week away with my family, sneaking in one last quick hurrah before the new shcool year starts! I love this annual trip, and I am so thankful for the memories we make!

With the start of school upon us, I wanted to share some helpful design ideas and organizational tips for getting back into the groove of a new school year. Even if you don’t have children in your home, there is something unique about this time of year that can bring a smile to our faces and energize us to get organized for a new routine! Today’s Tuesday’s Treasure will share ideas mostly geared toward keeping our kiddos organized for the school year routine, but certainly, we can all take a few hints and tips that translate into any home! Enjoy!

MUDROOMS & ENTRYWAYS

One really cool idea for your entryway or mudroom are is to convert a closet into a mudroom or entryway station. I love this idea for two main reasons. NO. 1 – because for many of us, we have limited amount of real estate to designate for this purpose, so using a closet means we don’t have to find a new place. We really only need to rethink the way it is used! NO. 2 – using a closet means we have the option of having closed in storage. This is HUGE for many of us because we know that entryways and mudrooms often house a lot of clutter, so just keep the doors in place OR as is shown in these examples, install a barn door to create visual interest and save on space! If you don’t find a barn door that will match what you need or are looking for, FunCycled can do that for you! Check out our Custom Built Barn Doors.

Hall Trees – Another option to consider is adding a hall tree to an empty wall area inside your entrance. Whether at the front or back of your home, whether a big or small area, there are several options and varieties of hall trees. Check out these two great options. When considering what to purchase, be sure to think through hooks for small bags, scarves, etc. as well as a place for shoes and shelving which can be used to hold baskets for tucked away storage or even display a special tchotchke!

STORAGE SOLUTIONS

The key ingredient to keeping things organized is to have the right storage solutions. A variety and sizes of baskets is a great plan, and I have pulled together some picks that serve a variety of purposes.

Baskets

Freestanding Shoe Storage

Baskets are just one part of the organization and don’t account for one of the biggest culprits of clutter (not to mention a major tripping hazard!) For this reason, I would also suggest considering your shoe storage. As seen above, this is something often “built into” the hall tree, but the number of shoes that can be accommodated is somewhat limited with this. I like the options below. Both are compact and fit easily into an entryway!

With either of these shoe storage solutions, you could put a calendar or bulletin board above to house reminders or important paperwork for school or even for work!

I also saw this cool idea for the shoe storage. In the image to the right, you will see how one mom used a drawer to hold binders and notebooks for her kiddos to have at the ready to grab for school! Such a great idea, right?! I love thinking outside the box : )

Wall Hooks

A quick note on wall hooks. Most of them are not designed to hold a full backpack. So if you intend to have your kiddos put their backpacks on a designated hook, make sure the backpack is NOT full. I strongly recommend you use cubbies or oversized baskets for backpacks and let the hooks hold coats, scarves, and lighter weight items! Here are some hook options that are clean and streamlined and allow the colorful coats do all of the talking!

Finding Their Names

There are many options for signage, but I like the simplicity of custom metal names to help designate zones and let’s your child find their name and keep all of their stuff together! Look at this nice option, totally customizable on Amazon.

WORK ZONES

Okay so when considering work zones for kids, the KEY to this is organization! It is a must – everything has a place and everything in its place (thank you, Benjamin Franklin, for coining this important mantra!) In keeping with the idea of unused or hidden spaces, converting a closet into desk and work space for kids is a great option! Check out this inspiration photo below.

Of course sparing a closet for this may not be possible in your home, so here are some other ideas for capturing unused areas and turning them into a work zone.

NO 1 – A small or narrow landing area
NO 2 – A small corner or alcove area
NO 3 – An unclaimed wall that only serves as a pass through for traffic

Small or Narrow Landing Area Photo courtesy of Decor Pad

If you have this kind of unclaimed space and want to convert it to a work area, check out these floating desk options. Floating desks are functional and they help preserve floor space which is a critical factor when considering small space work zones. And because of their smaller scale, they can work side by side if you want a “line” of desk areas.

Desktop and Wall Storage

This is always an important component. When purchasing and planning, keep in mind accessibility. The options below are great because they are compact but can hold a lot of things and can function in one designated section even if it is an area that has to be shared with others!

Lighting

Wall sconces are the way to go for adding lighting to a work area. Here are some good options to consider. Keep these things in mind when planning and purchasing:

Compact
Direct lighting
Whether you can hard wire or need something that has to plug into the wall
Make sure the “on/off” functionality is easily accessible (I like the pull chain on light option 3!)

KIDS ARTWORK

Well, it likely goes without saying that our kids can generate an overabundance of artwork throughout the school year. Keeping up with it, organizing it, and evaluating what can be displayed is altogether overwhelming! While there are a few good solutions, I want to share the solution I found to be super user friendly, fast, and streamlined for my kid’s artwork!

Artkive– this is a great option for “saving” your children’s artwork throughout the school year without having to actually save it! Simply snap some pics, upload and select from Mosaic Artwork or an Art Book. I love that it is not overcomplicated. Below is an example of the Mosaic Artwork and the Art Book.

Well, I know we looked at a lot today and this blog post is certainly not a comprehensive review of back to school organization, but I do think having a few ideas to inspire and encourage is important as we look to another school year season! As you embark on a new season and routine, remember to have grace for yourself and for your family because even the best of organizers may have a moment or two of disorganization! Have a great year!

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

Posted on August 20, 2024August 19, 2024 by Meg Booth

Green Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Clifton Park, NY

Hi Friends!

It is so exciting when I get to share with you stunning makeovers that display the correct way to add color to a home! This summer, I have focused on incorporating color into your design which I know can be a scary or intimidating idea. That’s why I am glad to share today’s kitchen makeover story with you. Julie and her family reached out to us knowing they wanted to update their kitchen but needed some guidance on making the right selections for their project. Thanks to our team, we were able to completely change the look of their kitchen while keeping the cost down.

Here are a few before photos of Julie’s kitchen. This kitchen is what I would call a busy or disjointed kitchen. There are 2 different colors of wood tones between the cabinets and island, 2 different countertops, and 2 different colors of hardware used throughout the space. The good news…everything was in good condition, so we knew we could use the existing cabinets and drawers.

Here are a couple more photos

Next we determined that Julie and her family were going to keep the counters and backsplash. Yes, the two different counters were mismatched, but they are solid surface and in really good shape. As for her backsplash, it actually contained all of the colors that were present in her heavily veined granite counter AND the even, streamlined dark gray countertop. Now, we just needed to make all of the elements tie in together.

Here is a close up of the backsplash and the paint swatch we decided to use for the cabinets.

It was great that their tile actually contained ALL of the elements that we needed to pull together a cohesive plan. Plus, it helped to confirm our color choice!

This color is by Behr. It’s called Black Evergreen. It is a rich, deep green and can be used to add a dramatic element to a room or to provide a moody space that helps warm and welcome a room.

And here is the beautiful outcome with our cohesive design plan!

In addition to selecting the right paint color, we decided to paint the underside of the cabinets. For Julie’s kitchen, this was an important component in achieving a cohesive design plan. It’s a good idea to do this when you want to ensure the visual appearance is not interrupted and the colors are evenly spread out around a room. Choosing the right color, ensuring a continuous visual presence, and selecting matching hardware were the essential

See how well this paint color works with both counters?

Look at how well the color works with both counters…and check out the rich tone of the deep green next to the movement of the granite on their island. Isn’t is just stunning?!

And the last detail to complete the cohesive plan was to ensure we used the right hardware. Sometimes using one kind for your doors and another for your drawers is a good idea, but since Julie’s kitchen plan was to pull everything together, we decided the best option would be to select all of the same hardware. And to add just a little more interest, we decided on these black and gold handles. Here is the link where you can purchase them: Black and Gold Cabinet Pulls.

We just loved completing this project! Thanks, Julie, for working with us and for trusting FunCycled with your design plan!

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

Posted on August 13, 2024August 8, 2024 by Meg Booth

Charming Troy Kitchen Makeover with Brand New Cabinet Doors

Hi friends!

I hope you had a great weekend! My family and I are continuing to enjoy being outside and enjoying the days of summer!

It has been a while since I shared a kitchen makeover story with you, and today, I certainly will do that! But as I do, I want to make sure that I help explain (and show some good examples of) knowing when upgrading your cabinet doors is the best decision for your kitchen refresh. Typically, with most of our kitchens, we are focused on upcycling the current kitchen cabinets and giving them a refresh by painting them and changing out hardware. However, sometimes when evaluating the whole kitchen project, the best decision is to change out the cabinet doors. It may surprise you, but this not only gives a fresh look to really outdated or beat up cabinet doors but it also can often be the most cost effective option when considering repair costs or labor costs to ensure the right outcome.

Today’s kitchen features the story of Patricia and her husband who were moving into a new home and part of their plan was to include a refresh to their kitchen. When we met, there were a few challenges to talk through. First the color or their kitchen was a dark black. Black cabinets can be an elegant option, don’t get me wrong, but the cabinets in Patricia’s kitchen were in rough shape. doing that thing that many of us do…we know we need to get things updated, but we are really trying to stretch our dollar and make sure we make the best and wisest decision for our families. When I first talked with Patricia, she mentioned that she was concerned the doors in on her kitchen cabinets When we met with Patricia, she brought one of her ca

Here is a picture of the kitchen before our FunCycled team was able to work our magic

It might be hard to see because I had to zoom in on one of the before photos that our client had taken of her kitchen. The cabinet doors were in pretty rough shape. A previous owner had them painted with heavy duty deck paint. This kind of paint is COMPLETELY WRONG for cabinet doors!

As we reviewed the condition of the cabinet doors, we determined that the number of hours to get these doors to a smooth surface (in order to help the paint adhere) would be well beyond the cost of building new doors for the project. Not to mention, we were not even guaranteed to ever get them fully smooth and could not really guarantee the paint would full cure and adhere to the doors.

Here are some more photos that we took the day John installed the new doors. Take a look at that rough texture! As I said before we probably would not even able to get a smooth even finish to repaint these doors and the process of attempting to do so would prove costly. The better option here is to select having new doors built. Another thing to note is that this texture and paint were on BOTH sides of the door.

Here are some photos of the new doors that we took the day of install. These new doors are a shaker style door. Shaker cabinet doors are very classic and work with just about every design style, so it will work in most homes no matter what other decor you may have. Notice how much smoother the cabinets are. Isn’t that so much better? Plus by changing the doors, Patricia and her husband were able to upgrade the hinges. So rather than having to keep her hinges which were really old and not in the best condition, she was able to upgrade to new soft close hinges. The hinges we like to use for our kitchen projects when a client asks for soft close option is linked here.

Here are the before and after photos of sections of the cabinets. Notice how much better it is to have the cabinet hardware NOT in the middle of the doors?

The color of the hardware is somewhat skewed in this bottom photo. They are a rubbed oil bronze finish which coordinates with the tones and colors present in the counters. And the color of the cabinets is Benjamin Moore Seashell.

Seashell is a neutral, warm white with beige undertones. Benjamin Moore describes this color as a luminous off-white. You can see a swatch to the right. If you are interested in this color, it has 2 codes. You will find it filed as #OC – 120 or #926…just a little tip for you!

And, of course, here are some great after photos which shows the whole kitchen. What a difference!

WHEN TO UPGRADE CABINET DOORS

Rough Texture – if the surface of the doors has so much texture that it will become hard to smooth out, it could interrupt the ability for paint to cure and bond with the surface of the door and lead to peeling
Damage – if there are large parts of the door that have been heavily damaged, this could be water damage or major dings and dents that would impair the process of creating a smooth surface
Splitting Wood or Materials – there is no good way for major splits in doors to be repaired to a place that will allow for
Outdated Doors – if your doors are really outdated or have odd lines and features, even a coat of paint may not provide the kind of update you are looking for
Looking for New Style – if you know you are already seeking to change the look of your kitchen, when evaluating options for paint colors, discussing new door fronts may also be the best choice. I would recommend considering this if you know you are already going to update your backsplash and counters. You are already making an investment and by changing the doors, you still save money but you will be able to change the look and style of your home easily and will feel like you have a whole new kitchen!

Thank you, Patricia, for choosing us to be part of this special project and for hiring FunCycled to do the kitchen cabinet painting! What a wonderful transformation! We are so glad you decided to upgrade your cabinets.

If you’d like to see how we paint Kitchen Cabinets, click here to check out our video on YouTube.

Could your kitchen use an update? We’d love to help!! We can help pick out colors, finishes, product and do the cabinet painting, tiling, add new hardware. You can use our Contact Us form to request our design services or a quote for painting your kitchen. Please check out other kitchen projects on our For Sale page. We’ll need to see a picture of your kitchen, a list of how many doors and drawers there are, and where you are located to email you an estimate. This change ups the value of your home and gives you a whole new look at a fraction of the cost of new kitchen cabinets!

Broken to Beautiful by FunCycled

I am also excited to share that we are launching our Broken to Beautiful initiative again. Broken to Beautiful is FunCycled’s way of sharing love and kindness. Saying thank you to our customers and community! We want to bless someone in the Capital Region by upcycling a furniture project for them for FREE!

Submissions are being accepted from August 1, 2024 to August 15, 2024. If you would like to submit a project for consideration, fill out this form: Broken to Beautiful Submission Form.

To learn more, visit Broken to Beautiful by FunCycled blog post.

We can’t wait to see what is submitted!

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture.

In addition to kitchen cabinet painting, we offer interior design, custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do.

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )

Posted on August 6, 2024August 30, 2024 by Meg Booth

French Provincial Design with One of FunCycled’s Vintage Dressers

Hi friends!

How are you? Let’s welcome the month of August with joyful anticipation of sunflowers and colorful zinnias ahead! There is nothing like simply every day enjoyments! : )

Today, I want to share one of our latest before and after stories with you. If you follow us on social media you have already been introduced to these beauties, but if not, get ready to be inspired! The thing about this before and after is that you may not be able to appreciate the outcome without really understanding a bit more about these pieces of furniture and how they fit into one of the most beautiful design styles: French Provincial Design

Here are the after photos, beautifully glammed up and painted in Lincoln Cottage Black.

What is French Provincial Design Style?

Sometimes design styles are hard to define. But if you’ve ever heard the expression “a picture is worth a thousand words,” then you might know the best way for me to answer the question ‘what is french provincial design style?’ is with pictures! Before I get to all of that, I want to share some of the elements that have proven essential to this design style. Oh, and my best definition…french provincial design is a romantic style that strikes a balance between rustic elements of the countryside (of France that is) and the elegance and grandeur of Paris.

Elements of French Provincial Design

Rustic Woods and Finishes
Furniture with Curved Lines
Gilded Accents
Natural Fibers
Mixed Mediums
Touches of Romance

Some Examples of French Provincial Design

Photo: Anita Joyce
c/o Architectural Digest

As you can see from above, French Provincial design includes a variety of textures, incorporates layers and soft edges, and can be characterized by low or high contrast. What I love most about it, though, is that French Provincial design is not limited by “doing it just one way.”

I have put together a curated design board which features one of our very own black French Provincial dressers. I absolutely love this combination! I decided to maintain a color scheme rooted in neutral tones (a common choice with French Provincial design), but I wanted to mix it up with items that have a high contrast, so the dark dresser and the light chair for example. I would love to help you implement this beautiful bedroom into your home!

To purchase either of these beautiful vintage black dressers, you can go to our SHOP page where you will find the Tall Black Dresser and the Long Black Dresser

Below you will find links to some of the products I selected for this design! Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

If you are interested in all of the products seen in this design board, I would love to share them with you and help talk through general color and style selections with you at a design appointment! Reach out to me today by visiting our Contact Us page. To learn more about my Interior Design Services, click here.

Broken to Beautiful by FunCycled

Submissions are being accepted from August 1, 2024 to August 15, 2024. If you would like to submit a project for consideration, fill out this form: Broken to Beautiful Submission Form.

To learn more, visit Broken to Beautiful by FunCycled blog post.

We can’t wait to see what is submitted!

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

Posted on July 30, 2024July 31, 2024 by Meg Booth

New Design Trend: Introducing Biophilic Design

Hi friends!

I hope you had a great weekend! The longer days of summer sometimes fool me into thinking that time stands still, but as I write this, I realize that the month of July is nearing conclusion. I love summer, from start to finish! And, technically speaking, we still have over 7 weeks of summer still to go! : ) Well, what on earth are we going to do with all that time? For me, I will do what I love to do most…keep designing spaces!

Part of my process as an interior designer is to keep learning new ideas and finding ways to inspire and encourage us as we create and design spaces we can call our own. Today, I am excited to share a new design style with you! This style is called the Biophilic Design Aesthetic. First, I love the word biophilic–it is soft yet intriguing. When I first heard it, I was drawn in and wanted to know more, and I am so excited to share all of this with you!

What is biophilic design?

In my digging, I learned that biophilic design is actually not a new idea or emerging concept. As a matter of fact, architects have been employing this design and approach as a means of creating building plans focused on connecting people to the natural world.

What are some examples?

Here are a couple of examples of Biophilic Architectural Designs. These photos are care of Render4Tomorrow Studio and are credited and linked below.

Jewel Changi Airport
Photo: Matteo Morando

Another great example of this is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the house designed for the famous Kauffman family of Pittsburgh in 1935. His design was considered “organic architecture,” but it falls within the vein of biophilic design.

What does all of this have to do with designing your home?

The examples I have given above likely feel outside the scope of a typical project that you and I would be able to incorporate into our homes. But just because we may not see how to replicate something on that scale, doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to introduce some elements of biophilic design into our own spaces. And the best part is that right now, we are seeing design trends that embrace a biophilic approach and aesthetic into everyday home design, and the outcome is beautiful! Here are some inspirational pics, reflective of this trend, from Better Homes & Gardens. Photo credits linked below.

Photo: GABRIELA HERMAN c/o Better Homes & Gardens

How can you incorporate this into your home?

I would like to share some ideas and tangible ways for you to add a biophilic touch (or even a few) to your home. But before I do that, here are some key elements of biophilic design that you should prioritize if you want to get this look: maximize light, feature plants, consider more organic shapes, and use natural materials. Check out the tips below along with product links to create this look for your home, too. Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

MAXIMIZE LIGHT

Be sure to allow as much light as possible. This might be totally forgoing anything on your windows, or maybe it’s really minimizing your window treatments. Rather than having full drapes, just use sheer linen panels like those shown below.

If you live in an apartment and would like to maximize the lighting in your environment but have limited natural light, select a glass lamp with a rattan shade, like this simple design below. Oh, and don’t forget to select a light bulb that is labeled “daylight.”

MAKE PLANTS A FOCAL POINT

There are plenty of ways to add plants (or even the idea) of plants into your home. Here are some ideas to help you figure out the best way to add this element into a biophilic inspired design in your space.

Using live plants is the most ideal way of employing a biophilic approach, and an easy way of adding live plants indoors is to create a propagation station on a wall. Look at these fun examples below!

Propagation Tubes withhttps://amzn.to/46mRylf Wooden Casing – Amazon

If growing plants is just not quite your thing, or if you live in a place that makes growing live plants a challenge, why not “add” plants in another way. Add botanical wallpaper or enlist an oversized faux plant. Both can add that touch of nature even if it is not quite the real deal!

INCLUDE ORGANIC SHAPES

Sometimes we get stuck in a rut with the kind of shapes we have in our homes. We may be tempted to think squared off edges or perfect spherical finishes are the only options we have, but when embracing a biophlic design, you are freed up to let that go! If we are seeking to add some touches of nature into the home, the shapes we select should include soft and organic lines. I love these examples below.

EMBRACE NATURAL MATERIALS

Think wood, stone, linen, leather, etc….In keeping with a biophilic approach, being mindful of the materials we choose is essential not only to the look and feel of this type of design but it is also a way of actively choosing items that are more sustainable – an important consideration for us at FunCycled!

I hope you have found some new inspiration and have become more curious about biophilic design in reading this blog. I have really only scratched the surface here, so if you do a little digging yourself, I would love to hear from you, too. What other things did you learn? What ideas did you come up with?

Take the time to really consider some of these suggestions. I think you will find a good jumping point! Of course, if you aren’t sure where to begin, I would love to help you! You can check out more details about our Interior Design Services.

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture.

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

Posted on July 23, 2024July 22, 2024 by Meg Booth

Designing My OWN Backyard Retreat: an Update on the Repurposed Ideas House!

Hi friends!

Last Spring, after completing all of the inside projects at our farmhouse (lovingly referred to as our Repurposed Ideas House), we embarked on the outside portion of the house. I love this old farmhouse which was built in 1802, and I love that our home is situated on 2+ acres of land. In January of 2019, we bought this house with a 5 year plan in mind. We were going to renovate everything top to bottom (essentially flipping it) and then sell it. Well, last spring we finished renovating everything, including a small portion of the outdoor area, but there was one problem…We fell in love with our little homestead!

Since we decided to stay put for now, we made the choice to add onto the outdoor patio and do some extra work on the exterior that we probably wouldn’t have if we were just flipping it. The land is beautiful, but we weren’t enjoying it because there was no real space to do so. It was time to create a space where our family could enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and take full advantage of the serenity that comes with our property. Well the project is NOW complete, and I can’t wait to share it with you! Here it is!

To see more about our Repurposed Ideas House and the projects we have completed over the last five years, visit here.

So we added a stamped concrete patio, gazebo, outdoor dining, and my husband, John, built an outdoor fireplace and kitchen area. He did such a fabulous job! I’m so impressed by what he can do without ever having done it before. Was it worth it?! Yes

We have already enjoyed teen worship nights, a party in the rain with over 75 guests, intimate convos with groups of friends, and Saturday morning breakfasts or mid week dinners with just our little family of 4. There’s something magical that happens around the fire! Take a look at the detail of the counters.

Oh, and our oldest chicken, Rosemary, kept getting in the pictures, so I decided to give her a little solo shot there, too! She’s a diva, and we all love her!

I don’t have a full before photo (one that was taken before we put the patio and gazebo up last Spring), but I do have a picture of phase one-last year’s outdoor patio and gazebo. Check it out below. Oh, there is our sweet June, making an appearance!!

Because we have done this project in phases and some of the items were purchased as sort of “one of a kind” items, bought at Homegoods, or have since been discontinued, I don’t have exact product links to share with you, but I have pulled together some similar items and shared them below. Note, some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.

I’m so happy with how this turned out, and I hope it inspires you to get outside and enjoy the outdoor space at your home!

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Posted on July 16, 2024July 15, 2024 by Meg Booth — 2 Comments

White Dove Hutch Makeover for Loudonville Home – Tuesday’s Treasure

Hi friends!

I hope you had a great weekend! Maybe you have been doing some traveling, or maybe you are currently on a little getaway! Every year, my family and I go away during 4th of July week to a local campground where we can just relax and get off the grid for a bit! I love the simplicity of it and being a little more intentional and quiet with our time!

At FunCycled, we love working with clients to help restore and breathe new life into old pieces of furniture. Whether it is a chair, a side table, or bedroom furniture, taking something that is tired and refreshing it truly brings life to me and my team!

For one of my clients, Darcy, she and her husband were in the midst of selling one house and making the move to a new location in the Capital Region. As part of their plans, Darcy and her husband wanted to find a way to incorporate a special piece of furniture into the design of their new kitchen. When we met with Darcy to talk through her ideas, Darcy shared some photos of the total the kitchen renovation taking place in her new home and talked about how she was hoping to make her oversized secretary hutch to work with the design. Take a look at some before photos below. The photo in the middle is from our studio as we began prepping to paint!

What I love the most about this type of project is seeing the true craftsmanship of furniture! For Darcy’s piece, there is something extra about it though. I love the scale of it and the fact that it has shelves above enclosed behind detailed glass and ample closed in storage below–all surrounding the desk & accompanying compartments which live at the very center of the piece! To me, it could boast a million uses, but I guess its intent is to remain for exactly its purpose in Darcy’s new home! If you want to know more about the history and origin of secretary desks (sometimes I just have to scratch that curiosity itch!), I found this really cool article: What Exactly is a Secretary Desk and What is it Used for?

For this project, we used Benjamin Moore’s White Dove on the whole piece. I love the warmth of this beautiful white!

And here are some after photos, including some close ups of the detail work on this hutch. See what I mean about the craftsmanship? It is so stunning! You will see that Darcy decided to keep the original hardware for this

And some additional close ups of the beautiful detials!

Bonus: How FunCycled Does Hutches Secretary Desks

I have pulled together some of our hutch and secretary desk upcycled projects over the years! Take a look and be inspired!

Below I have pulled together 3 inspiration photos to share with you in case you are looking to have a beautifully painted hutch or secretary for your home and you would like to see some other offerings that maybe we have not shown above! I would love to take on any of these inspirations for you!

A huge thanks to Darcy or hiring us to do take on this furniture project. We loved breathing new life into this special piece for your new home!

If you have a hutch or secretary desk (or plan to get one soon!) and would like us to restore life back into it, contact me today by visiting our Contact Us page! You can also learn more about our process on our Custom Furniture Painting Page.

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture.

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )

Posted on July 9, 2024July 8, 2024 by Meg Booth

Design Trend 2024: Adding Color into Your Home

Hi friends!

I hope you had a great Fourth of July!

In today’s Tuesday’s Treasure, I want to help guide you through one of the biggest design trends we are seeing right now: Adding Color to your Home! Certainly, incorporating color into our homes is not a new idea, but embracing this idea can be overwhelming. First, let’s get one thing straight…I am not really an advocate for embracing a trend just because it is a trend! Trends should never define nor dictate who we are as people! But also please don’t mistake me, I am also not suggesting that trends are bad and you should avoid them. I see a lot of positives when we take time to evaluate trends. Trends can help shape new parts of ourselves and give us a push to think outside of our comfort zones. In a sense, trends can be viewed as opportunities to grow!

Okay, well now that I have waxed philosophic (I think that’s how the expression goes!), let’s get back down to it. Today, we’ll tackle incorporating color into your home! You may have seen on my social media channels (and perhaps others) that adding color to your home is currently on trend. Beyond shades of blue which delightfully have had staying power since the beginning of 2024, we are seeing this color trend is not limited to just one hue. From deep and moody earth tones to bright and bold greens and corals to calming and rich blues, the gambit is full! I also think that we will continue to see this trend stick around for a while, so go ahead- get bold and try out something new!

Here are some colors I would like to suggest:

You might not know, but my go to paint is Benjamin Moore. I love the quality of the paint but I also love the color options that have been added to their repertoire over the years-such longevity! Here are three options that hit three trends happening now:

Benjamin Moore Regent Green for deep, monochromatic designs
Benjamin Moore Blue Nova (actually the color of the year) in keeping with the blue palette popping up everywhere
Benjamin Moore Dark Salmon to add bright coral tones for a 2024 beachy vibe

Here are some ways to incorporate this:

Painting Walls

Featured here is Benjamin Moore’s Regent Green. I think what works really well with this a deep, moody color is to go ahead and paint your trim the exact same color as the walls. Notice the richness and depth that is created with this!

Painting Furniture

Furniture that is tired and already searching for a new lease on life is just asking to be painted! Why not consider selecting a bold color to add bright and maybe even surprising moments sure to bring a smile to your face every time you look at it! These are some of our past furniture flip projects and can be a source of inspiration to you!

Adding Pattern

One great way of adding color is by adding a colorful area rug to your room. Similar to adding or changing throw pillows, selecting a rug with a multicolor pattern keeps your design changeable. I have selected a couple for inspiration for you. Large geometric shapes in complementary colors will serve as a statement piece, so when making this type of choice for your room, make sure you the other patterns and colors you choose serve to complement the rug, not take away from it.

A second rug option for inspiration is this braided rug. What works well when adding color is that the background of the rug is actually just a neutral tone but it has bold colors woven throughout. Even though this rug has several colors represented here, the pattern is subtle and it will allow for other colors and patterns to take the focus if you decide you want to add even more color into your room!

Here is how I have incorporated color into my designs:

Mixing bold patterns that share a color palette.

In one of our Airbnb designs, we chose this gorgeous wallpaper as our feature and then selected subtle patterns to support and reinforce the statement of the room! If you want to see the whole story of this Airbnb transformation in downtown Schenectady, click here.

Adding rich tile for a kitchen backsplash.

In another Airbnb design, we selected turquoise blue as a theme color throughout the space. This photo features the geometric tile in a rich palette of turquoise and aquas to add depth and character to the kitchen area. I love how the pattern and color create the illusion of waves, making something so bold feel really organic! For the full transformation of this Schenectady, NY Airbnb, click here.

Swapping the white backdrop for my art gallery for a deep and moody wall painted black.

Ahh…I love this wall! It holds some of my most treasured vintage art which serves as the backdrop for our living room! Oh, and a bonus, here, I have my turquoise sectional–love it! But for now, I want to focus on the moody black wall. Although the white certainly works, making the change to black elevates the look and feel of this room! When given the chance to add a dark moody color into your home, I say go for it!

I hope that you have found some inspiration in how to add color into your home! If you take the time to really consider some of these suggestions, I think you will find a good jumping point! Of course, if you aren’t sure where to begin, I would love to help you!

If you would like me to help out with your next design project, check out more details about our Interior Design Services.

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture.

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Examples of Dirty Kitchens

But What is the Purpose?

How Can I Add this to My Home?

Tackling the Issues

My Final Thoughts

Adding Style to Your Kitchen

Broken to Beautiful by FunCycled

What is French Provincial Design Style?

Elements of French Provincial Design

Some Examples of French Provincial Design

Broken to Beautiful by FunCycled

What is biophilic design?

What are some examples?

What does all of this have to do with designing your home?

How can you incorporate this into your home?

Here are some colors I would like to suggest:

Here are some ways to incorporate this:

Here is how I have incorporated color into my designs:

Sarah Trop