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Habitually Chic Redecorates: Making Progress

by habituallychic

09 . 27 . 08
After – September 2008

Before – March 2008

It’s been a whirlwind week of painting and redecorating at Casa Chic and serious progress has been achieved. I’m so happy with the wall color, Benjamin Moore Cedar Key (OC-16) and White Dove (OC-17) trim. It better reflects my style now and coincidentally my closet. I repainted the television cabinet in Midnight Dream (2129-10) which pops off the tan walls now. I like how the black television disappears in it so I am debating whether to put the doors back on. I may look for new knobs though.

I also moved my computer to the other side of the room in order to have space for a new bookcase (Ikea Billy $59.99. Gotta love it!). I own a million books and needed more organized storage space. I also now have room for magazines and storage boxes for my tear sheets and work projects. Of course, after I styled the whole thing two new books from Rizzoli arrived today! More about those later. I still have more to do including hanging all my artwork and priming and painting all the trim in the bedroom. But now I think I might take a nap! Decorating is exhausting!

27 Comments
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  1. Ivy Lane September 27, 2008 | 11:34 pm

    You MUST put some of your energy in a bottle and share! Looking fantastic! Mmmm… how’s the Bachelor Pad coming along??

  2. Habitually Chic September 27, 2008 | 11:50 pm

    Ivy Lane – Ha! Everyone says that but there have been plenty of days when I’ve sat around watching reruns of The Hills and Real Housewives!

    Did I ever mention that the Bachelor started his own finance related company earlier this year and works on Wall Street??? It’s been a stressful two weeks for everyone in NYC so I’m leaving him alone. We are waiting for the living room chairs to be delivered and then I need to get the new dining area light fixture installed and finish accessorizing. Hopefully it will be done soon! Keep your fingers crossed!

  3. Ivy Lane September 28, 2008 | 12:23 am

    I simply cannot imagine you sitting around doing anything! To me..you’re always ON THE GO!

    Oh my.. okay..we’ll ALL have to leave you and he alone until the dust settles.. I get it.. I am a Realtor..The whole AIG and the WaMu thing..bad bad bad…

    If you are really bored.. check out my blog!! you and Cote de Texas, and Beach Bungalow 8 amoung others were my inspiration!

    Have a Great Weekend!
    Ivy..aka Poppy…

  4. Ms. Wis. September 28, 2008 | 1:43 am

    Looks great! I especially like the repeated touches of red-orange and teal.

    I just added new bookshelves to my guest room/office and now all my garden books are in one place. But I am still not used to their new locations and keep having to search to find the title I used to be able to find blindfolded.

    I got bookshelves that have a set of doors on the bottom two shelves knowing I will always be desperately stashing something in there to clean up the space for guests.

    I have been curious as well about the bachelor pad — sometimes it’s easy to forget that real people are involved here, not just furniture. It is so worrisome everywhere but it must be awful in NYC!

  5. tracey September 28, 2008 | 11:04 am

    Hi
    I have loved your blog for awhile now. I would love you to look at my new blog and give me any advice you can. Thanks
    Tracey
    liveafabulouscreativelife.blogspot.com

  6. Anonymous September 28, 2008 | 2:56 pm

    Love it. Where did you get your Hermes orange file folders?

  7. the glamourai September 28, 2008 | 3:20 pm

    i always believe that your decor should match your wardrobe! you know if it looks good ON you, you will look good IN it!!!

    http://theglamourai.blogspot.com/

  8. Habitually Chic September 28, 2008 | 5:34 pm

    Ms. Wis – I’m still not used to where my computer is located now! I still keep going back to where it was out of habit! But there is a lot more room now so it was worth it.

  9. Habitually Chic September 28, 2008 | 5:35 pm

    Tracey – your blog looks great but my only suggestion is larger photos. You want them to grab your readers attention. Other than that, you’re on your way!

  10. Habitually Chic September 28, 2008 | 5:37 pm

    Anonymous – they are made by Bigso Box of Sweden, http://www.bigso.se/. I bought mine at Gracious Home but I’ve also seen them at AI Friedman and Sam Flax. They come in great colors and are very sturdy!

  11. Anonymous September 28, 2008 | 8:59 pm

    It looks great! I think it’s more sophisticated now. I love that chair.

  12. M.A. Breuer September 28, 2008 | 9:44 pm

    How about painting the back wall of each shelf of book case the same color as your wall?

  13. Habitually Chic September 28, 2008 | 10:10 pm

    Anonymous #2 – thanks! There’s a funny story connected to that chair. I was living over on 58th between 6th and 7th and I saw it sitting outside Whiskey Park broken. But all it needed was one bolt to fix it so my boyfriend at the time and I carried it back to my apartment. I don’t know if it came out of the bar or the Trump building on the corner but it’s a great chair and took less than $2 to fix!

  14. Habitually Chic September 28, 2008 | 10:12 pm

    M.A. Breuer – I tried that! The paint wouldn’t stick to the back and I should have tried the other side but I was too tired and frustrated so I just put it on as is. I almost wish I had left the back off but it’s too late now. I have another smaller bookcase on the other small wall that I painted out in White Dove and I did leave the back off of that one. Of course, I need to buy the little shims to put under it because apparently the floor on that side of the room is uneven so it leans a little. It’s always something!

  15. Brilliant Asylum September 28, 2008 | 11:32 pm

    It looks great. I like being able to see what’s in your library too.
    : )

  16. Cathy September 28, 2008 | 11:59 pm

    For a moment I thought I was looking at my own apartment: same blinds, Billy bookcase, blue Foo dogs from Pearl River, Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. Great minds…

  17. Anonymous September 29, 2008 | 1:01 am

    Peace. Been an avid reader of your blog ( a great escape from my analytical job sometimes ) and im in the process of fixing my place. Just got inspired by the benjamin moore paint (which is not available in the Philippines, sad to say) but i guess the wonders of the internet, i can live vicariously through your experience… thanks for the wind of inspiration!

    chris

  18. Emma September 29, 2008 | 1:23 am

    Where did you get the shade for your window? I’ve been looking for something similar for my living room windows.

    I guess that’s something I could find at Janovic, haven’t looked yet.

  19. Habitually Chic September 29, 2008 | 1:28 am

    BA – there is nothing I love more than peeking at other people’s bookshelves! You can learn a lot about a person that way!

  20. Habitually Chic September 29, 2008 | 1:29 am

    Cathy – that’s too funny!

  21. Habitually Chic September 29, 2008 | 1:30 am

    Chris – You’re welcome and thanks for the sweet comment! My blog is all about inspiration!

  22. Habitually Chic September 29, 2008 | 1:31 am

    Emma – I actually bought them at Bed Bath and Beyond! They have a pretty large selection at great prices!

  23. The Skin Care Shop September 29, 2008 | 2:12 am

    Rizzoli…are you going to the book signing Oct 1st… Barry’s new book?

  24. natali September 29, 2008 | 9:58 pm

    Great job with the update. I enjoy your blog immensely.
    Btw, where did you get your leaning book case? I’ve been looking for something similiar, without much luck. 🙁

  25. ~me September 30, 2008 | 1:59 pm

    Hi,

    Where did you get the deak where your laptop is? I love it!

    thx,
    ~me

  26. Habitually Chic September 30, 2008 | 3:24 pm

    The Skin Care Shop – I have another party on the 1st so I won’t be at Rizzoli unfortunately. Have fun!

  27. Habitually Chic September 30, 2008 | 3:25 pm

    Natali and Me – the leaning desk and bookcase were from Crate and Barrel. I think they still make a version. I wish I had known you liked them before I gave them away!