results for one room challenge 2016

The “X Bench” Style It Challenge

Styling an incredibly versatile bench in my living room
February 6, 2015
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Living

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Decorating with blue & white, Waiting on Martha. Rustic White PhotographyDecorating with blue & white, Waiting on Martha. Rustic White Photography Decorating with blue & white, Waiting on Martha. Rustic White PhotographyDecorating with blue & white, Waiting on Martha. Rustic White Photography Decorating with blue & white, Waiting on Martha. Rustic White PhotographyDecorating with blue & white, Waiting on Martha. Rustic White Photography Decorating with blue & white, Waiting on Martha. Rustic White Photography Decorating with blue & white, Waiting on Martha. Rustic White Photography 

Late last year I was asked by one of my favorite designers, Julianne Taylor, to participate in a little “X Bench Style It Challenge.”  The rules were simple; 5 bloggers/designers would customize her most popular TBH X Bench and style it in any room, and in any way they see fit.  The customized X Benches and room reveals would then go up on One Kings Lane’s site for two weeks where individuals would be able to see how each blogger/designer styled the bench in their home and could buy one (or two or three) of the benches for themselves.  And at the end of the two weeks a winner would be crowned and awarded a Room Refresh courtesy of TBH and OKL.  So now that you know the rules, let me tell you a little bit more about my X Benches. 

When it came to designing my benches I’m not one to really play it safe so I knew I wanted to do something a bit more on the bold side.  I had been eyeing Cotton & Quill’s foo dog fabric for some time now, and if you’ve ever seen a peek into my home you’d know I have a thing for foo dogs and anything blue.  While it may seem like a somewhat wilder choice in fabrics, don’t let a print ever scare you.  Mixing prints and patterns is one of my absolute favorite ways to decorate.  When done right it adds interest and a personal touch to any room, and if you’re scared of mixing it up just follow my golden rule; mix within the same color family.  And just remember these benches will be a staple in your home for years to come but that doesn’t mean you have to live with your fabric choice forever.  You can always have them re-upholstered and let them evolve with you and your decorating choices.

Another reason I adore benches in general is because of how versatile they are.  A good bench can be used as an extra seat, a foot rest, or an end table and these benches in particular are the absolute perfect size.  Not too big, not too small.  In fact I’ve moved them into several different spaces within my home and while you see them styled here in my living room I think they may end up actually living in the entry way.  How perfect would they be for a seat to throw on your heels before going out or to drop your bag and everything else you need on a daily basis?  Who knows though, that’s why I love decorating, it’s always changing.  

So tell me, are you feeling our bold benches?  Happy Friday Loves!  Truly, MKR

Photography, Rustic White  

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…AS SHOWN…X Benches, Taylor Burke Home  |  Rug, Loloi  |  Sofa, Custom (similar HERE)  |  Sofa Pillows, Lacefield  |  Top of Aspen Moutnain Photo, Gray Malin  |  Fiddle Fig Sea Grass Basket, World Market  |  Blue & White Plates, collected (similar HERE)  |  Console Table, Bobo Intriguing Objects  |  Ghost Chairs, All Modern c/o  |  Trina Turk Ghost Chair Pillows, Bloomingdales  |  Large Size Brass Starbursts, WOM  |  Foo Dog Lamps, Barbara Cosgrove  |  Coffee Table, Restoration Hardware  |  Extra Large Bone Dominos, WOM  |  Muse Bowl, Jonathan Adler  |  Faux Python Tray, WOM  |  Japanese Calligraphy Brushes, collected (similar HERE)  |  Gold Rhino, WOM  |  Paper Weight, West Elm   |  Books;  The Hermes Scarf, Louis Vuitton 100 Legendary Trunks, The Louis Vuitton Cup, The Joy of Decorating, Jasper Conran County, The French Dog, The NYC Dog, Daniel My French Cooking, Vogue Living Houses & Gardens, The Big Book of Chic, Preppy, Allegra Hicks An Eye For Design

*This story was in collaboration with One Kings Lane, Taylor Burke Home and Cotton and Quill.  Brands I LOVE, adore, and count as friends.  Opinions, styling, and design are 100% my own.

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The One Room Challenge Week Six

The end is near!
November 8, 2017
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Living

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With week six here I’m starting to feel a bit like a broken record.  I just don’t have a lot to share since last week.  In fact, I’m actually writing this from a hotel room in Chicago crossing my fingers that I’ll arrive home tomorrow to box upon box of the remaining items and 130 yards of custom draperies complete. Fingers crossed.

In all the years that I’ve participated in the ORC I’ve never been this far behind, or had this many delays that are totally out of my control happen.  So what have I learned?  

First, create a game plan well in advance of your due date.  I’m known for procrastinating. I’ve convinced myself for years that I do best under pressure, and love burning the midnight oil.  But that’s complete crap.  Procrastination does nothing for me except stress me the hell out. And procrastination only works when the only part of the puzzle is you.  But when you have to depend on PR firms, designers, and factories procrastination just doesn’t work.  A good rule of thumb is 6-8 weeks ahead of your design due date, but if there’s any custom work than plan for 12 weeks out to be on the safe side.  

Second, control what you can control and let go of the rest.  This has been a message that has been drilled into my head this past month.  Is everything I do at WOM important; of course it is.  But, at the end of the day I’m not curing cancer.  There are going to be delays out of my control, out of the vendors control, designers control, etc.  It’s bound to happen.  And if those delays are being felt in this ORC and not the past four I’ve been a part of then I should consider myself lucky!  I mean last year I decorated two full apartments in six weeks!!

Lastly, plan for a Plan B.  While this may feel contrary to what I just said I’m a big believer in hoping for the best, yet preparing for the worst.  Again, mistakes are bound to happen, it’s all about how you react to them.  Don’t get frazzled, take a breath and get back on track or forge a new track.  I have a feeling when next week rolls around you’re going to see my Plan B/New Track path in action.

Anyway, that’s where I’m at.  It may not be pretty, but it’s truthful.  I will however be sharing lots of behind the scenes snaps tomorrow, when I’m finally home, and please do click through below to check out the rest of my participants.  I guarantee they have more interesting news to share than I.  Truly, MKR

 


 

BOXWOOD AVENUE | COCO & JACK | DESIGN MANIFEST | IBB FOR DWD | THE HOUSE THAT LARS BUILT | LITTLE GREEN NOTEBOOK | THE MAKERISTA | MAKING IT LOVELY | OLD BRAND NEW | OLD HOME LOVE |  THE PAINTED HOUSE | MEGAN PFLUG DESIGNS | PINK PAGODA | ERICA REITMAN | SACRAMENTO STREET | SIMPLY GROVE | JILL SORENSEN | SUGAR & CLOTH | VINTAGE RUG SHOP | WAITING ON MARTHA

MEDIA PARTNER HOUSE BEAUTIFUL | TM BY ORC

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One Room Challenge…Week 5

October 29, 2014
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Ideas & Inspiration

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Waiting On Martha's OfficeWaiting On Martha's OfficeWaiting On Martha's Office Waiting On Martha's Office, Drapery Detail

Oh week five, how did you get here so fast?  This ORC week was filled with high highs, my drapes are in and they are fabulous, and low lows, furniture delays…major furniture delays.  But lets focus on the highs first.  The drapes were installed at 10:00 pm last night and I couldn’t be more in love.  The mango-peach velvet pop of color is what dreams are made of and the tassels, well everything is better with a tassel.  They completely softened the room and elevated my office’s overall look plus they’re the perfect compliment to my modern Thibaut Tanzania wallpaper and horned sconces.  Drapes, done and done.

The second big progression this week was my AllModern Blu Dot Strut Desk which I’m equally loving.  The simple white desk is the perfect size and doesn’t distract from everything else going on.  However, because the desk doesn’t have drawers I did need to purchase a small rolling file cabinet from Ikea.  Also to keep my desktop clutter free I flanked the desk with my favorite Tini Table from Oomph to hold a few necessities.  And on a total side note I’ll be working with Oomph soon to create an exclusive, limited edition Tini Table so if you have any colors or shapes you’re dying to see please holler at me below in the comments!

Okay the bad-I-don’t-think-we’re-going-to-make-deadline-news.  A few of the major pieces of furniture, specifically my table and other shelf has been delayed.  The Knoll Tables are custom made and it looks like we’re a week or so out.  I only have myself and my procrastination to blame.  So next week at the final reveal, we may only get a partial reveal and have to take the ORC to week seven.  Chalk it up to the joys of design!  Truly, MKR

…AS PICTURED…Balloon Dog, Waiting On Martha  ||  Stacked Book Towers, Hayneedle  ||  Brush Stroke Lamp, Jana Bek via Waiting On Martha  ||  Blu Dot Strut Desk, AllModern c/o  ||  Panton Chair, AllModern c/o  ||  Tini Table, Oomph c/o  ||  Blue Acrylic Charm Bowl, Alexandra Von Furstenberg  ||  Acrylic Pencil Holder, Waiting On Martha  ||  Embrace Nude Print, Minted c/o  ||  Skull Print, Made By Girl  ||  Wallpaper, Thibaut Tanzania  ||  Horned Sconces, Waiting On Martha (email for details)  ||  Books; My Greek Island Home by Claire Lloyd, Manners by Kate Spade New York, The Kinfolk Table by Kinfolk, The New York Dog by Rachel Hale McKenna, Summers in France by Kathryn Ireland, In With The Old by Jennifer Boles

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…THE PLAYERS…Abby M. Interiors  ||  Because It’s Awesome   ||  Bijou & Boheme  ||  Chinoiserie Chic  ||  The Decorista  ||  Design Chic  ||  The Design Daredevil  ||  Design Darling  ||  Design Indulgence  ||  Design Manifest  ||  House of Turquoise  ||  Jana Bek Design  ||  Jill Sorensen  ||  Maddie G. Designs  ||  Mimosa Lane  ||  A Piece of Toast  ||  The Pink Pagoda  ||  Stone Textile  ||  The Zhush  ||  Trademarked by Calling it Home

*All images original to Waiting On Martha

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