Doors

Today is packing and shipping day at le petit a.p.t. So there will be lots of doors opening and closing, slamming, lots of racket going on inside (sorry, neighbors!). It's sort of like what has been going on in my head recently! But then, soon enough, there will be silence. So crazy how quickly it can all happen! (Five hours, apparently?). 

During these past few weeks (and for many future weeks!) as I transition my design business from being NYC based to being Bay Area based, it has been emotional to leave behind projects and clients who have been so wonderful and supportive!

One in particular really made my day when she shared this writing with me. It had helped her with a cross-country move in the past, and she was kind enough to think of me and pass it along. It came to me at a particular time of chaos and was extremely soothing and reassuring to read. It's a great metaphor to live by. Not only for moving but for going through any type of transition or life change. 

So, in the spirit of sharing, I wanted to pass along this along to you, in hopes that it may help you pass through any doors in which you might be lingering on the threshold!

Walking Through
When Doors Open

When a door opens, walk through it. Trust that the door has opened for a reason and you have been guided to it. Sometimes we have a tendency to overanalyze or agonize over the decision, but it is quicker to simply go through the door and discover what's there as that's the only way to know. Even if it doesn't seem right at first, opening this door may lead to another door that will take us where we need to go. 

Doors open when the time is right for us to enter a new space, metaphorically speaking, and we can have faith that walking through is the right thing to do. Sometimes we linger in the threshold because we are afraid of leaving our old life for a life we know nothing about. We may have voices inside of our heads that try to hold us back or people in our lives saying discouraging things. These voices, internal and external, are known as threshold spirits, and they express all the fears and doubts that arise at the beginning of a new life. Nevertheless, none of these voices can hold us back, and they will fall silent as soon as we cross the threshold. 

There are many doors that open in the course of our lives, leading us into new relationships, jobs, friendships, and creative inspirations. Our lives up to this point are the result of all the doors we have walked through, and our continued growth depends on our willingness to keep moving into new spaces. Every time we walk through an open door, we create a sense memory that encourages us to move into the new fearlessly. When we enter the new space, we almost always feel a thrill and a new feeling of confidence, in ourselves and in the universe. We have stepped across the threshold into a new life.

This was originally seen on DailyOm.com, and can be found here. 

~L.S.

Pretty with Pink

Happy Friday everyone! Super excited to share a quick read on how to style a bookcase via the Laurel and Wolf blog.  I entered this "Styled By" Designer Challenge for fun, never thinking I'd win! I love putting together digital designs, and since they are often all over the country, I never actually get to see them come to life or photograph them which is one of the most satisfying things as a designer.

For those who know me, I can't resist styling a good bookshelf! I've been known in my past to eagerly volunteer for this task during installations, and have spent hours and hours studying and perfecting the etageres in our petit a.p.t. This was such a fun challenge and a bit outside of my comfort zone, though.

We were given this shelf to accessorize with a budget of only $200.

World Market "Emerson Shelving", $399

Not a whole lot of cash monay to fill up this big boy! Also, the style is pretty industrial/rustic which isn't always my go-to (although I'm warming up to it!). Nonetheless I decided to take my chances and give it a little LS Interiors spin. 

It was so exciting to find out that my "shelfie" would be re-created, professionally photographed and featured on the Laurel and Wolf blog along with two other very talented designers. Here are the results!

Photo by Dustin Walker

What do you think? I love how they added the textiles and I'm happy with the gold boxes I sourced as a replacement for the original boxes which sold out. I think my favorite piece though is actually the pink book set, which I found on Etsy for $23! (Similar here.) Just goes to show, you don't need a huge budget to make a big impact.

To read the full article and see the other awesome winning #shelfies, check out the Laurel and Wolf blog here. 

Have a Stylin' Weekend!

~L.S.

Project Reveal: Pied-a-Terre en Ciel

So excited to reveal a project I've been working on for about the past six months. You may have seen a few of my postings on IG under #projectpiedaterre . I finally finished and photographed this beautiful petit a.p.t. in the sky. 

I-Phone 6 Photo via @lindsaysaccullointeriors Instagram.

A referral from an old colleague, when I first met this couple, I liked them instantly. He is originally from California, and she from Mexico City, with their home base now in Connecticut. They purchased a one bedroom one bath in a Columbus Circle high rise as a pied-a-terre. Such a great place to relax after a long work day in the city (and not have to commute home on the train!), enjoy on the weekends, and use as a possible future apartment for their two college-age sons.  It's a beautiful full-service building (I have become besties with the doormen, porters and super over these months - they're wonderful!) but it's the large windows and beautiful views of the Hudson River and city that really seal the deal on this place.

I know, right? Just stunning. 

First things first, we had to rip out the pre-fabricated "floating" wood floor which had become bouncy and creaky underfoot. Also the color was pale and lifeless (just like my winter skin in the photo below!) and could not be refinished, so it had to go. 

Buh-bye, pale pre-fab!

Hello to some brand new beautiful white oak. (Yet to be sanded and stained in the pic):

Phew! Such an improvement already, even unfinished. (And maybe I'm a little less pale?) It was definitely worth the extra money to put in new floors to add value, durability and beauty to the space.

The rest was easy! The clients requested a neutral yet warm palette and simple yet elegant furnishings, with the main focus being on the breathtaking views. I put together a scheme of warm beiges and creams (and successfully convinced them to get some signature LS gray in there!).

Since it's a small space, we didn't want to "over-furniture" so the floor plan was simple as well. A few of the pieces have dual purposes to maximize the small space. Below are the results! 

A "skinny" yet functional console table in a warm leather sits in the entry. The drawers add function and the space beneath is perfect for storing bags and shoes upon arrival.

Two shallow (yet stunning!) shelves adorn a small wall between the kitchen and the entry and provide additional storage and display, without projecting into the room too much.

My client's weren't too in to area rugs, because they have adorable little pups who like to piddle on the carpets. But I was able to convince them to go for some smaller sized inexpensive rugs to define areas within the space and add warmth and texture.

This sofa is by far the most comfortable sleeper sofa I've ever come by. And the pull out mattress is Temperpedic. No more uncomfortable thin mattress springs to interrupt sleep! The darker gray fabric is durable and forgiving.

A burled-wood credenza by the window adds interest and provides a good amount of storage. It also provides another surface area and frames the beautiful view nicely with minimal/sleek accessories!

I'm in love with the client's original art (by a famous Mexican artist whose name escapes me at the moment!). It happened to blend perfectly with our scheme of warm beiges and grays and fit perfectly as a gallery installation over the sofa.

The mirrored coffee table is a modern parsons-style with a touch of tradition in the champagne giltwood accents and antiqued mirror. It's long and narrow, mimicking the shape of the room, and also bounces additional light around the room. We had two custom ottomans made to fit perfectly under the coffee table to provide additional pull-out seating while looking pretty as well!

We loved the mix of brass, glass and wood on these end tables, and the fact that they had a shelf to provide additional storage.

The bistro table is sculpturally stunning and the glass top is easy for cleaning, which my clients liked a lot! The glass top also helps it not to feel too heavy in the smaller space. 

I fell in love with this modern greek key fabric and klismo style chairs, so I'm glad my clients did as well!

Before, with the previous owner, this room was just an empty white box. Layers of texture and a simple floor plan provide warmth and create a cozy escape. 

These mini accent tables were the perfect size for nightstands in the somewhat confined bed area. Just a little surface area with a drawer. The taupe lacquer and brass accents blended very well with our neutral + mixed metals scheme. The reading sconces with individual controls provide light without taking up surface space on the night stands. (And the greek key motif is a little nod to our favorite fabric in the dining area!)

The textured grasscloth wallpaper with the ultra-suede bed make for a cozy combo.

The desk was previously at my client's CT residence, but happened to work perfectly in this scheme and floor plan. 

The kitchen is a mix of Carrera marble (a personal fav!) and beige and white lacquer cabinetry. As a nod to the gray in our living/dining scheme, we painted the wall gray. It pulled everything together, as the kitchen opens into the living space. 

So, there you have it! I love how this all came together. Do you? I'm so grateful that the clients trusted me to design their space and that it turned out like the neutral, functional little jewel box I had envisioned! It was such a pleasure working with these lovely, super easygoing clients. Truly the best kind. Maybe they have some friends in SF!?!

How do you pied-a-terre? #goals.

~L.S.