Online Progress Journal

Similar to Candice’s room… sorta!

cindybluntnntmh — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:25:45 +0000

Candice Olson's room

my room

One of my favorite designer is Candice Olson. I was looking through some basements she had done and found this very similar paint color she had used in her project! I had looked before I stated NNTMH to see if I could find some inspiration from her work, well of course! I didn’t however, find this, or anything she had done in this color. In fact, I didn’t find anyone who had used this red-orange color (I only had a few days to look though). I’m not sure if its a good or bad I didnt find this project first.. I probably would have been more inclined to create a space more like hers.. rather than my own. I’m happy with the things I found, and I worked really hard to find them. Possibly if I had more time and money it might have looked a lot different… but I really really like it how it is! I might not have won the $25,000, but I finally had the chance to do something DIFFERENT!! How fun is that?

A little about me..

cindybluntnntmh — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:22:31 +0000

I wanted to tell you a little bit about me since it’s not posted anywhere else (our bios were posted in the beginning but now no where to be found!)

I was born and raised in Wilmington, NC. My dad is a foreman and carpenter for a really high end construction company.. like their houses take like 3 years to build, yea – that much detail. My mom loves all kinds of design things, art work and gardening/yard things. If you watched my hello America, you saw that I’m not like most designers that would tell you they grew up rearranging their rooms. Growing up around that kind of stuff I really didn’t want much to do with it.. but I also didn’t like shopping either! Anyways, I guess you can say I kind of grew into it… and then started really liking design stuff. Plus I was pretty good at art.

I went to ECU for 4.5 years and they weeded out almost everyone. I’m happy to say I made it out of there with a degree! I highly recommend their design program.

Since, I have worked for 2 kitchen designers, an architect, a builder and a design firm. I’ve had a range of experience, but have never had the chance to do a project on my own (except for picking out color and furniture for friends, family and myself). So- NNTMH has been such a great experience and fabulous opportunity for me!

I currently am a home owner, I have a wonderful boyfriend, Chris and am a part time owner of Cammie, our Pomeranian! She lives with my parents but loves to stay with us a lot too. I like to surf, garden and watch the news (yep gotta keep up with what’s going on!) I also love dogs and have been fostering as much as I can. I would love to donate to local rescues if I won the grand prize.. well either way I would donate, just more if I won!

I am usually pretty quiet (until I have some coffee!) I am pretty laid back too, but also voice my opinion often – probably too often. I love friendly people, of course, they seem to bring out the best in me.

Today is actually the last day for voting, this is a good thing and sad thing! I’ve been getting everyone I know to vote, but this has actually been very hard! In the beginning you may remember there was a designer challenge to win the chance to pick which model home you get. Well I told everyone at that time how important it was to vote. Well now I feel like the girl who cried wolf, because now everyone thinks they already voted for me to win the grand prize!

Anyhow, I am thinking about what I will do after the competition is over. Not sure what I’m going to do with myself. If I get enough clients from the competition, I might actually have to open my own business. That’s a scary thought though. I might wait and see if there is any chance I win the grand prize. Another thing that would be great- is the developer is picking a designer to design all the amenities for Compass Pointe! This would be a sweet deal, not only to get the work, but because Compass Pointe will be amazing when its finished – with the golf courses, shopping, club houses, fitness center… that’s a big undertaking for a designer, and wouldn’t be anything less than spectacular when finished.

All that might be wishful thinking, but at least the odds are way better than winning the lottery! For now though, I will just have to wait and see.

If you have any questions about ANYTHING, please let me know! You can email me cindyblunt@gmail.com

Thanks for reading!!

Style Guide

cindybluntnntmh — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:54:14 +0000

So Nation’s Next Top Model Home printed out these great style guides for people touring our model homes. I wanted to share this online so everyone can have a chance to see where I got EVERYTHING from! Everything in the room is from somewhere you can shop, not just designers. Please let me know if you have any questions, you can contact me at cindyblunt@gmail.com

another sofa and a TV? I wish!

cindybluntnntmh — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:26:24 +0000

I have gotten a lot of responses about my space, like “I would rather have 2 sofas in there” or “where is the TV going to go”? Opps, forgot those – haha, I wish! With a small budget, all of us designers had to choose between spending our money on multiple sofas and chairs for comfort, or concentrating on pulling off a “look”. So while for a homeowner who requires function over form would prefer the plush (well, who wouldn’t?), my particular goal was to add as many special things as possible, without doing same old, same old. That being said, the best thing about my space is that when someone does live there, they can add a love seat (and there is a matching one available) and use the chairs else where. Everyone’s happy!

Humm, and the TV. TV’s are such a personal preference, that it should really be a per-client choice. One client might prefer the tv upstairs, in the bedroom or in the sunroom. Another might want a tv that pops up out of a console and still another one might want it over the fireplace.

Check out this great idea to conceal your wall mounted tv:

http://vutec.com/artscreen_systems/

Try this for an empty wall

cindybluntnntmh — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:24:48 +0000

So my 5 mirrors in a row seem to be a big hit! It’s simple and can be inexpensive. I found these mirrors at Kirkland’s for $14.95 per 2 pack. First you always want to group things that are (exactly) the same in odd numbers. You also don’t want to over crowd your space, so make sure you have plenty of of room on all sides of your focal point, in this case your mirrors. When you hang things like a pair of pictures (like the ones in my dining area) you will want to hang them around 7 or 8 inches apart. The more you have, the closer together they should hang. I hung 5 mirrors and they are about 1.5 inches apart from each other, you could go up to 3 inches. Another great look, is 3 square mirrors hung in a row. Make sure they aren’t too small, unless you create a grid (see Amy’s doorknob photo’s in her entry way for example). Be aware of your architectural features, such as the door way next to my mirrors. I purposely offset the top of the mirrors so they wouldn’t line up with the doorway… especially because of the slanted ceilings. You want your decor to blend with the architectural elements, not compete. One of my big rules of thumb is to keep your artwork hung at eye level (an average person’s height if you are tall or short)! Unless you are emphasizing over the fireplace or perhaps an awkwardly tall wall. Wall decor is great because it can be moved around and might only cause a small hole in your wall if you mess up!

Don’t like the color?

cindybluntnntmh — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:05:52 +0000

I have received very positive responses about my room! Well I imagine no one is going to tell me to my face they don’t like it, but I can certainly understand that my paint color might make some feel weak at the knees. Easy solution… change the paint color! Yep, with some good primer and under $150.00 in paint, you can pick one of many colors that would go awesome with the decor. My favorite 2nd choice would be Benjamin Moore’s AC-08 Butte Rock, a soft gold – similar to the gold bow pillow in the chair. A nice blue would be beautiful, Sherwin Williams’ SW 6218 Tradewind or you could even throw some green accessories in there and paint a color like Sherwin Williams’ SW 6415, Hearts of Palm. Even if you do like the paint color, which by the way is Benjamin Moore’s Aura, Salsa Dancing… You can change it after a few years… after all, it’s only paint!!!

Designer Meeting @ VIP party

cindybluntnntmh — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:15:37 +0000

Take a look @ this brief clip of the designers behind the scene! Feel the love!

Photo Shoot

cindybluntnntmh — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:24:15 +0000

It was a lot of fun getting to watch the photographer take pictures of my house! check out this shot I caught with the photographer’s big umbrella flash going off!

Check out Harry Taylor's work @ http://www.harrytaylorphoto.com/

Thanks ACP! Aspect Metal Tiles

cindybluntnntmh — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:45:12 +0000

So I wanted to reveal my source for these great “peel and stick” metal tiles I used for the back of my book case! So beautiful and easy! you can visit the company website at http://aspectideas.com/ . The colors are available in Brushed Champagne and Brushed Stainless and of course the color I used, Brushed Copper. They are available in a 3″x6″ tile and are available in long and short grain. You can also get 4′x8′ sheets. They are available through select Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. So perfect and so easy!

I used a herringbone pattern in long grain for added interest.

Love it! Looks like a million bucks!

Finally Finished!

cindybluntnntmh — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:19:37 +0000

Wheew!! Finishing a few touches just as the photographer gets there… talk about last minute! Setting up my feature piece… my BAR! Yep bar, with wine and liquor and champagne. The party is at my house and it is the perfect house for entertaining. Harry Taylor the photographer took so great photographs. So go check them out and vote Saturday!

Bar & dining table