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The Power of Paint - PT 2

4/14/2020

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Welcome back to our series, The Power of Paint. In the first part of the series, we talked about how wall color can really transform a space. We showed you several client before and afters, see here if you missed it!

Today we're going to dive into transforming furniture with the power of paint. The exciting part about today's topic is this is something totally achievable for a weekend project or during quarantine. 

All of the pieces below were refinished using Amy Howard's Chalk Paint line. We carry this at The Mill if you're looking to rehab some pieces now! If you've never used Chalk Paint, you are missing out.

It really is as simple as:
  1. Clean your piece. Use a degreaser like Simple Green to remove any build up or residue. If there are any rough areas, gently sand those down. You DO NOT need to sand off the existing finish, you just want to create a smooth canvas.
  2. Shake. Shake. Shake. Before you open your can of paint, make sure you shake it really well. You want to make sure the chalk base mixes really well with the pigment. 
  3. Apply 2-3 THIN coats of chalk paint. Depending on the color of the paint you are using and existing finish, you can apply 2-3 thin coats. You will be able to tell if you need another coat. This paint dries pretty quickly and you will be able to tell when it is dry because you'll notice a very chalky finish. 
  4. You can either leave it the chalk finish (it is completely fine like this) or apply a wax or sealer. If you are going for an antique finish, I would recommend light antique wax all over and dry brushing dark wax in areas it would naturally distress. 
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Displaying several examples below

Black Glossy Finish

Not all chalk paint finishes have to be "Shabby Chic." For this space below, I did a simple sleek finish to tie into this modern, lived in space. 

What I did: Black Chalk Paint, Gloss Sealer. 
We also reupholstered the cushions in a textured black leather. 
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The Works

Amy Howard finishes can be as simple or as complex as you want. For this fireplace below we refinished EVERYTHING, tile and all in Amy Howard. This was a bit more complex and something I would recommend after you've done a few smaller projects.

What I did: Refinished the mantel with Black Chalk Paint, distressed with light antique wax, dark antique wax, dust of ages, liming wax to give a little more depth and gilding on the details. For the tile, I refinished in a light gray chalk paint with a darker gray glaze to give a marbled look in the crevices and sealed with gloss sealer. I feel like I could do an entire post on just this mantel, it turned out great!
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Easy Peasy Distressing

This is our most common refinish. It is simple and can be tackled in an afternoon or weekend.

What I did: Refinished the frame in a gray chalk paint, covered with light antique wax, distressed with dark antique wax and dust of ages to give a antiqued look.
We also reupholstered the cushion to give this chair a whole new life. 
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Grab a chair, side table, or a chest of drawers and let's get to painting!
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Have questions about refinishing? Leave a comment below so others can see too. 
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The Power of Paint - PT 1

4/1/2020

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Welcome to our new series “The Power of Paint.” Over the next several posts we are going to dive into just how powerful paint can be when transforming your space. We’ll talk about the power of paint on walls and refinishing furniture/accessories in your space.

Getting a little cabin fever? These are all things you can tackle when in quarantine. 

We’re kicking off this series with a dramatic start. This post is going to show you how paint can drastically transform a space. Paint has the ability to make a space feel closed in and busy but it also has the power to make a space feel much larger, brighter and fresh. 

Let’s dive in to a before and after in one of our client’s homes. ​

TV Room

This is a super fun space for little girls but what happens when those girls grow up and want a more neutral space to hang out. Simple. Slap on a few coats of fresh paint. Now that the girls are grown, we wanted to visually clean and freshen up this space. So, we updated this space using a neutral color on the walls and adding a few new pieces to really tie it all together.
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Guest Room

I know in my home, the guest room sometimes gets the leftovers and that's A-OKAY. Luckily, paint is one way to make your guest room feel intentional and new. In this guest room, you’ll notice we kept most of the existing furniture and just updated the color palette with new window treatment, textiles and paint. I think this room proves how a few new elements can really elevate your existing furnishings and space.
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Master bedroom

Wow. Isn’t it crazy how much brighter, larger and more luxurious this master bedroom feels with fresh new walls. While we did so much more than just paint the walls, this Master feels like a completely new space. 

In this space, we updated the wall color, lighting, window treatment, furnishings and decor.
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Where in your home could use a facelift? Find a neutral color that plays well with the rest of your home. Pro tip: make your home a fluid continuation space to space. Meaning in most scenarios, carrying a color throughout the home will help with the flow and make your space seem bigger and more finessed.

We look forward to seeing you guys in the next part of “The Power of Paint”
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The Mcgough Home

10/22/2019

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We bought a house!

As a young interior designer, one of the things I’ve looked forward to the most is having the chance to be my own client. Before I was married, I couldn’t make myself commit to a home or invest in pieces because I knew at some point I would have to mesh those with my better half. Now, as newlyweds - we are so excited to be homeowners! My husband is a civil engineer so he’s all on board for a little renovation and can see (and execute) my vision…match made in heaven.

Having myself for a client will likely be the hardest challenge yet. But I am so excited for this experience to be on the other side as a client and in turn, learn so much to better myself for my clients. As we go through this process, I want to share some of the behind the scenes of our design. We just closed on our home a few weeks and are doing a few things (like painting) before we move in. During the house hunting process, in order for a house to speak to me I had to have them designed in my head to really sell me on the home (ridiculous, I know). But this house spoke to the both of us and we have a vision that I can’t wait for you guys to see.

To kick off this series of #themcgoughhome - I’m sharing some inspiration for our new home!

Kitchen

Even though I am not much of cook, a kitchen is an extremely important feature in a home. It holds a lot of value in resell, is a place to gather and is where a lot memories are made. Thankfully, Nelson is like my personal chef - so he also sees value in a well designed kitchen. 

One of the first big projects we will take on in our new home is the kitchen. So I’m sharing below some of the styles that are currently speaking to us and are on our vision board. 

We have another surprise coming (more on that later), so we will likely live in the house for a bit before we do the kitchen remodel - eventually we will take out the wall dividing it from the living space. While updating the home, we want to ensure we keep the charm and character that attracted us to this home to begin with.
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Gather Home
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Design Love Detail
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Jen Ferrandi
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Pinterest

Master Bedroom

This space is great and cozy. At first, it’ll just get the touch of cosmetic things like furniture, art, lighting and accessories. But in the future, we’re thinking about a master bath renovation.
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Pinterest
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Pinterest
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Eche
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Apartment Therapy

Living Room

This is the space that really stole my heart and I can’t wait to share it with you! You’ll see so much of The Mill : Design + Home translated into this space. ​
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My Domaine
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Rip & Tan
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Pinterest

Nooks & Crannies

This house isn’t perfect and there are some design challenges I can’t wait to take head on. We’re ready to take every nook & cranny and work magic on it. ​
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Domino
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Three Birds Renovations
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Fieltro
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Pinterest
We want to know… who is interested in following along on this journey for #themcgoughome?

Follow along at @macycarlisledesigns and @themilldesignhome for more behind the scenes.
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House Tour | The Adelaide

9/2/2019

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Join us for a peek inside one of our favorite clients’ home. That vacation feeling right at home. #ClientSoFreshAndSoCleanClean was all about that clean, oasis feeling. Through the use of muted colors, textures and bright spaces that oasis was brought to life. ​

Living ROom

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Powder Bath

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Mudroom + Flex Room

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Kitchen Details

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Interested in learning more about our Interior Design Services? Contact Us or complete our online inquiry.
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Current Favorites | sofas + Sectionals

8/26/2019

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Rounding up of some of my current favorite sofas + sectionals to spec for clients. A nice neutral leaves room for a statement piece. I love adding chairs or tables that really say “wow.” Every now and again, you’ll find me sourcing a green velvet sofa, but in most instances - sticking to a neutral brightens the space and creates the ability to transition in the future (let’s just say throw pillows are a lot less expensive than a new sofa). 
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In the market for a sofa, leave us a comment below or shoot us an email. We’re currently taking on new Fall clients.
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How TO Style | Coffee Table Books

8/19/2019

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If you’re at all interested in home design or looking for inspiration for spaces like that empty corner in your study, you probably hop over to Instagram or Pinterest to check out your favorite bloggers and soak in all of the design inspiration you can. While this is a great outlet to really dive in for creative ideas, there will always be something appealing about flipping through a beautifully designed coffee table book for a conversation starter. We’re sharing a few styling tips and some of our absolute favorite selections that will make your coffee table the most chic
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  • Stick to odd numbered grouping for books (3 or 5, depending on size) 
  • Keep it simple. For bigger or square tables, leave your books in a clean stack on a corner and nothing else.
  • For round tables, think of the table top as a triangle. To keep things interesting, use our oval eye-tracking technique. Stack your books in one corner with a vase of fresh florals on top and a simple candle or glass beads to add dimensions in front - to balance it out add height on the opposite side of the table. ​
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  • Remember your coffee table is being viewed from all angles. Instead of a picture frame that someone could see the back of from a certain side of the room, opt for a vase or sculptural object instead that will look great from all points.
  • Pair book jackets that compliment one another, even consider removing the jacket all together to just use the bare book cover.
  • Play up texture and dimension by adding height with vases or sculptural objects. Flat surfaces can be visually boring - guide the eyes with different heights.
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Luxe Tray - $340
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Demijohn - $63
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Onyx on Stand - $294
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Graanmarkt - $69.95
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The Finer Things - $60
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The Intangible - $90
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Vintage Mala Beads - $42
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Apollo Torso Sculpture - $448
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Dido Sculpture - $78
Styling isn’t everyone’s forte but it sure is our’s. We’ll be happy to style your home to a T. Give us a call for information on interior design and styling services.
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Wedding registry essentials (and engagement gifts)

8/9/2019

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When it comes to being a newlywed, you are bound to throw a party or two for your friends and family post wedding. Sitting down at your computer or walking through a home goods shop selecting for your registry can be extremely overwhelming with styles and colors, not to mention the seemingly endless selection of accessories you need for your home with your new partner. We’ve pulled together a few things that are wedding registry must-haves to make sure you’re getting exactly what you want and need!
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step into sustainable | Upcycled denim

6/26/2019

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Now more than ever, it is so important to be taking mindful steps towards sustainable living. Upcycling is essential to minimize environmental impact and it decreases the amount of waste that goes into landfills. With an all new collection from The Beach People, these 100% upcycled denim pieces will add a light and airy feel to your home while also taking a crucial step towards sustainability. ​
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Each Denim Upcycled piece from The Beach People is handmade by a father and daughter company out of Central America. These high quality textiles are made from 100% sustainable eco-cotton yarn after the factory collects pre-consumer industrial waste from textile mills. These scraps are ground back into fibre and spins them to fabricate new yarns, as well as woven and knit fabrics.

ABOUT THE FACTORY

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With a manufacturing process that is chemical-free, dye free and uses minimal water and energy, they refrain from using synthetic fibres, meaning all of their products are 100% natural and biodegradable 

Their production is based on eliminating the concept of waste, even their own waste from their upcycling process is later donated to coffee-growers to use as compost to grow specialty coffee in the highlands of Guatemala.
Not only is the final product high quality and amazing to look at, it’s luxuriously soft to touch and oozes texture and detail. We can’t wait for you to try it for yourself… ​
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CUSHIONS

Made from 100% upcycled denim material with an insert made from recycled plastic bottle tops, these cushions are as sustainable as it is chic. Luxurious and oh-so soft,  you’ll want it on your lounge or bed all year round.
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Pinstripe Denim Cushion
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Light Denim Cushion
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Dark Denim Cushion
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Textured Denim Cushion

THROW BLANKET

Our upcycled denim throw is soft to touch and will keep you cosy and warm on those cool nights. Beautifully weighted to suit the seasons, our denim throw is luxuriously soft to touch and adds a beautiful textural element to your lounge or bed.
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Check out our favorite home decor pieces over at MacyCarlisle.com, or stop in 
The Mill : Design + Home 
Tues - Fri | 10 AM - 5 PM
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trend i'm loving | All Things woven and Cane

5/14/2019

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There’s one trend I can't get enough of, all things woven and cane. This is one of those instances when trends in fashion and interiors really collide. 
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via pinterest
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via @cerealmag
The touch of this natural texture adds so much dimension and interest to an outfit or space. It’s these types of elements that make neutral spaces feeling cozy and not sterile. 

In fashion, we’re seeing these textures in hats, espadrilles, belts, jewelry and bags. 
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via @collagevintage
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via janessa leone
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via rahya jewelry design
And in similar style, we’re seeing the same thing in interior design. From lighting, rugs, chairs, casegoods, and accessories - these natural elements are stealing the show. And I’m totally on board with it.
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via m.elle
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via serena & lily
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via domaine home
If you’re like me, this is a trend you definitely want to dabble in. Here are some of my favorite pieces all available for purchase through The Mill. Interested in purchasing? Click here to receive more information 
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Indoor PLants 101 + Plant Lady Profile

5/7/2019

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A downtown loft tour with our very own, Reagan Gibson. This plant lady is sharing the 4-1-1 on keeping indoor plants alive. 
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I was so excited when Macy asked me to do a post on house plant care and what specific plants I recommend! I always try to give each of my plants all the TLC that they need, but letting them be the subject to an in-home shoot to show them off really reminded me how rewarding it can be to get these botanical beauties in your home and have them thriving. A lot of questions and comments I get from friends are them generally feeling like they don’t know where to start with houseplants and they’re so afraid that they’ll die so quickly. There are so many house plants that are low maintenance and are nearly indestructible, so the best way to get started is to do just that — start! Here are a few house plants that I think are great ‘starter’ plants and will have you wanting to fill your home immediately. ​

Devil’s Ivy (Pothos Vines)

I cannot recommend Pothos vines enough! These vines are so easy to maintain and can thrive in pretty much any lighting condition and water schedule. However resilient, too much sun can cause their leaves to yellow and ‘burn’, so make sure to have these guys away from a window sill. Pothos usually prefer to be completely dry between watering, so I would recommend watering once every week to week and a half, depending on your pot size and soil completely drying out. Pothos also LOVE to stretch their limbs out. If you see that your vines are getting long and a bit tangled, gently hang their limbs on a few tacked pins around their growing space and you’ll have beautiful vines growing around your walls in no time.

If you’re interested in taking it a step further, these vines can also completely grow in water! If you’ve got some extra jars laying around or even a betta fish bowl (completely safe for betta fish!), trim a few clippings from your Pothos plant and clip the leaves also, so that you can submerge the vine nodes down in room temperature water. You will see how quickly these roots will grow just from changing your water out weekly. Keep them in water for as long as you like, or repot them in indoor nutrient rich soil to start your new Pothos vine!
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Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera Deliciosa)

You’ve probably seen the Swiss Cheese Plant’s iconic split leaf all over your social media feed, whether it be the plant itself or a piece of artwork for your walls. If you’ve got the space for a plant to have its own corner in your home, these tropical plants can grow anywhere from 5 - 10 feet tall and leaves can get as big as 12” in diameter! Swiss Cheese plants cannot handle full sun, so place these plants in a part of your home with partial or full shade. Also, some plants tend to collect some dust if they’re kept in their corners for too long. While dust won’t hurt the plant entirely, it is healthier for the plant (and aesthetically pleasing to plant lovers) to gentle wipe their leaves every now and then and mist their leaves with a plant mister. This will assure that not only are your roots getting the water they need, but also your ever growing leaves as well. ​
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Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Probably one of my favorites plants has to be the Rubber Plant or Rubber Tree. This particular variegation produces the most beautiful, lush green leaves and are so easy to maintain. Rubber plants prefer bright, indirect light, so place these near a window with some sheer curtains to assure their leaves to don’t ‘burn’. A watering schedule for Rubber Plants are super easy but does require some attention. During the warm Spring and Summer months, be sure to water every 7 days or so, while in the cooler winter months you can cut back to about once every week and a half to two weeks.  An easy way to check the moisture in the water is to check the top two inches of soil. If you see that it is bone dry, go ahead and water!
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Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The Peace Lily is a very common house plant due to how easy they are to maintain and how quickly they grow! These tropical beauties typically grow on the rainforest floor, so try to mimic those conditions by keeping your soil moist (watering at least once a week) and misting a couple times a week. With enough light, your Peace Lily will produce bright white blooms so place these on a well lit shelf near a window to get some bright, filtered light. It won’t hurt your Peace Lily to skip the misting as much, but definitely keep these in your weekly water schedule to make sure they’re staying happy and healthy!
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While I only have a few plants listed here, there are so many wonderful house plants that are great ‘starter’ plants that are so easy to maintain! Pop into your local green house or garden center to have a look around, ask someone about the plants I have listed here, or get their opinion on some great house plants and how to care for them. Save our graphic below for a quick reference guide to these plants, or as a print to hang up in your bedroom!
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