Back Porch Livin'

I just finished up a screened porch I've been working on since the spring.  Not that we were doing anything extraordinarily custom that would require this long, it just took my clients a lot of time to make decisions and commit to ordering.  In their defense, they warned me up front this would be the case, so I'm not complaining.  I'm so happy with the finished result I wanted to share the project details with you.

The clients had an existing dining table they wanted to use and great light fixtures already installed.  I put together a floor plan to give them a place to eat, as well as a conversation area.  Their porch is very narrow, but I was able to fit in everything they wanted.  I found three furniture collections that worked well in the space and with their existing dining table.

They selected the second grouping and then we were set to finish off the rest of the room.  We ended up changing the dining chair cushions to red ones which gave some much needed accent color in an otherwise all blue space.  I then found some great accent pillows for the sofa.

We decided not do a rug as it defined the seating area too much and closed it in.  Instead, we added curtains around to really help soften it up and give it a feeling of a real room.  The clients are using this space more often than ever before, even in the heat of Tallahassee!  Here are few final photos I took after the draperies were installed.  

If you are ready to create an outdoor space of your own, give me a call!

Thanks for reading,
Jennifer
  

Kids come with too much stuff!

I'm working on a project where I've been asked to design three spaces that we all use on a daily basis - especially if you have kids!  A laundry room, drop station and kid's playroom.

I have one son (he's 9 and amazing) and what he brings through the door each day is mind boggling...jacket, backpack, lunchbox, a toy he found in the cushions of the car, etc.  He walks right by the super cute hooks I installed by the garage door and heads for the kitchen with all his stuff.  Then, the papers start to come out of his backpack and fills the counter.  What's a mom to do with all that CRAP?!?

My current solution is a drawer dedicated to his school supplies, a large tray on the counter to hold all the forms, newsletters and mail I need to keep and a recycling bin in the pantry for all the paper.  But now, back to my client.  Here are some great inspiration photos I found for the new spaces I'm working on.  

Creating storage under the washer and dryer is a great idea.  Looks so much better than the pedestals you can purchase from the appliance manufacturer.  (Photo Source)

 Utilizing the corner in this laundry room is genius and would be a great idea for my client.  We wouldn't get as much space on the left wall, but definitely an idea worth pursuing.  (Photo Source)

What a great idea of putting lockers in the garage.  This is the place most people have the room to spare.  I also really like this layout.  A top shelf for things you don't need every day, two rows of hooks and a large basket at the bottom for shoes.  (Photo Source)

Another corner arrangement, but this time it's at the back door.  I'm a big fan of this layout and really like the deep drawers along the bottom and the extended seat.  (Photo Source)

I really like this idea of a corner desk for the kid's playroom.  When space is tight, you should definitely take advantage of a corner.  (Photo Source)

This is a perfect solution when you need more than one desk space.  Instead of everything lined up against the wall, you come out into the room with the desks.  Suddenly you can utilize all three sides.  (Photo Source)

These desks have so many wonderful things happening.  The cork boards, the layout and the lights...love it all!  I'm even smitten with the blue door.  (Photo Source)

By using a leg, instead of a side panel, this desk space feels more open.  I really like this for my project.  Plus, the cork board on the wall is very smart!  (Photo Source)

I promise to update you on the final products as I go through the designing process.  I've already started some cabinetry elevations that I promise to share, but I need to show them to my client first.

If you need help getting organized, give me a call!

Thanks for reading,
Jennifer 

We are live!

After months of thinking I could put together a web site myself, I hired a professional.  Then, I hired a photographer to take some decent photos of a few projects I've finished and finally...we are live! 

www.jennifertaylordesign.com

There are lots of tweaks and text changes I'd still like to make, but I'm confident enough in how it looks to tell everyone about it.  The photos have been the most challenging as I don't have a lot of completed projects quite yet and it didn't seem right to use photos from my previous employer, so the portfolio will be an ever evolving part of the site.

I want to thank my great photographer (and sister), Hannah Hill.  I drug her around Tallahassee for an entire day, filling her with Starbucks and Hopkins, to keep up her strength.  She did a wonderful job on the shots and I couldn't be more happy with how they turned out.  I did have to include a few of the ones I didn't choose.  I guess you can call these the "bloopers" of Jennifer Taylor Design...

I can't believe I didn't see that crooked lamp shade...and that stupid cord!

This was just a "test shot", but I love the little toys on the floor and the crooked bar stool.

Beware of lurking vacuum cleaners...

I can't believe I'm even showing this one!