Coffee Shop Inspiration

• Tomorrow, I'm supposed to meet with a friend/client of mine regarding interior updates to a local coffee shop/gathering place.  I am donating my time because I love this place and it means a lot to our local community.  I thought I'd google a few design images for inspiration before meeting with her and share them with you as well.  These are all google images of  "coffee shop designs"-none of which I can take credit for.  These are strictly for reference and inspiration. 
• • Love the idea of the silhouettes on the wall!How incredibly cute! Look at the coffee pitchers hanging from the ceiling. Of course I love the organic look of the walls and reclaimed pine tables.Okay, hands down, this is my favorite. (below) 
  • Love this too! So clean and fresh looking!
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    • Easy and inexpensive way to display menu items.  
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    • • Completely over budget and out of the question, but I love it! (below)
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        • I love this cut out logo above.  I'm going to see if we can have our local sign-maker (Kurt from Zeeland Graphics) do a similar mock-up of the cafe's name and branding. 
        • Cute and functional display (below)
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        • 
        • Here's another image of my favorite one: (below)
        • I'll let you know what we come up with! 

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Fitness Studio

This is the home fitness studio of a new client of mine.  I actually remembered her from my workout days many years ago at JCI.  She's not just an incredible fitness coach, she's an energetic, inspiring person to be around. 

She called me in to offer cost-effective solutions to update her studio and make it more functional and efficient for herself and her clients.  

Her entire lower level is designated as the 'fitness center' and immediately upon walking down there, it feels just like that...a workout studio-not a basement. I wanted to forget the consult and grab a spin bike but thought I'd better offer a few suggestions first. 

This "foyer" area is at the bottom of the steps.  She discussed needing an area where clients could take off their coats/sweatshirts (and shoes-if doing yoga) and sign in.

This served as that area.

BEFORE:

Again, here's that wall before: 

This is that same area after a few inexpensive changes. 

 Does that striped wall look familiar? We had originally picked a cool graphic wallpaper for this whole small room, but the sticker shock of covering that small space had us looking at a more economically feasible plan B.  I talked her into striping the wall herself to save money. (You remember I did this a while ago in my dining room)? 

It's crazy that in this picture, the wall adjacent to the striped wall looks, blue, but it is the same color as the darkest stripe! Crazy, right?! (It's actually a charcoal grey, but in the stripe in this pic, it looks taupe). 
We also had a contractor come out and give us a quote for built in lower cabinets, but that too came in over the top. Solution? A reasonably priced side table from World Market, which JUST fit next to the counter-sized fridge. We had a large sheet of galvanized metal cut and will be framing that above the buffet to be used as a magnetic message center for upcoming classes.

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

We acquired the almost 100 year old wood header (beam) from a neighbor and Ken mounted hooks on it and hung it for her, (much to his dismay...he detests helping me accessorize). 

He also built this simple shaker style bench for clients to use when they are putting on shoes or removing them for class. I painted it a buff color. ("Hush" by Ben Moore)

Here's the opposite angle of the adjacent room/studio overlooking the backyard. It was a pretty light blue which we simply switched out to gray.
Ugh! I don't think I have an after shot of this angle. 

 Here's a 'before' of the wall that houses product.  I suggested that she purchase three urban style shelving units from World Market to make this area look a little more staged looking, a little less storage-looking.

BEFORE

 AFTER

 They fit perfectly in that space and are able to contain so much more equipment and product. 

I wanted to show you how the wall meets up with that entry area.

Here's the 'before' wall of the spin bikes.

 AFTER

 Such a subtle difference in wall color (in this pic) but in person it took away the beachy vibe and looks a little more refined but still airy and calming. Again, we used that same wood to add texture and make a functional display for her exercise bands.

 I highly encourage you to look Amanda up online.  It's AV Wellness Fitness.  She offers online videos and personal training.  She also holds small group classes in this studio so you can see our collaboration first hand. 
Great way to start the new year-with some wellness goals! 

 We are still waiting on some artwork and large framed mirrors, but we're getting there! A little change sure can go a long way.

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HApPy nEw yEaR!

Happy New Year!!

It's 2014 and like many of you- I am wondering where all of the moments of 2013 have gone.  The older I get, the faster the hands on the clock keep spinning.  

And also like many of you, I resolve at the start of the brand new year to slow my life down and to try to really be present this year. Will you hold me accountable to that?

My teenage daughters' friends on Instagram have been posting 'year in review' videos (Flip-a-grams).  I'm not that tech-savvy but I did grab a few snapshots of 2013 that inspire me to live more in the moment and treasure my clients, friends and family. 

Kennedy's theater productions and the support of Aunts, Uncles and cousins and Grandparents.

 My  Thursday morning Bible Study Chix and the service projects we've been blessed to be a part of.       Habitat Build 2013

 My patient and unconditionally loving husband--(family train trip to Chicago)

 My ever-evolving teenage daughters. I don't deserve the happiness they bring me. Always thankful for God's grace.

 Brecken's sporting events.-Cross Country fall of 2013

Cityside Basketball team

 High school rites of passage-Kennedy-homecoming 2013

 My nieces, nephews and extended family-Annual March Birthday Get-a-way.

 Girl fun with  Boeve Cousins-Christmas 2013

Time with Grandpa and Grandma Boeve-Christmas 2013

 And lastly, precious moments I've spent with my Mother in Law witnessing her strength, fight and determination in her battle with breast cancer this past year.

Would you join me in praying for her (Marge Boeve) this week? She has her mastectomy surgery this Tuesday, Jan. 7. We are cautiously optimistic that 2014 will be a year of hope and healing. 

May 2014 be a year of 'being there'. 

For yourselves and for your loved ones. 

Must be present to win. 

So, so true.

A happy, holy, healthy new year to all of you!

-Christy

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Custom Signs

Merry Belated Christmas and early Happy New Year Wishes to all you amazing Changing Room Champs and Chums!  

It's the day after Christmas and the stockings around here are no longer hung by the chimney with care. In fact, most of the decorations are dismantled, tinsel taken down and halls are no longer decked. 

Part of me breathes a sigh of relief when it's all over. Is that disrespectful or sacrilegious to say out loud?

This year especially. 

I just wasn't 'feelin' it'. 

It's been a long year with lots of people I know really struggling with some hard stuff and somehow the commercialism of it all this holiday made me struggle too. 

I'm optimistic that 2014 will be a year of HOPE. 

I promised to post some signs that were custom Christmas gifts for some clients this year. I only took pics of a few. 

They were fun to do and you always keep me guessing as to what styles and sayings you'll request. 

 Awwwww. So presh.
This old barn board was taken from my friend Jamie's great Aunt's 100 year old barn(?) Her daughter Kirsten surprised her by bringing it over to me and asking Ken to cut it, put it together and then have me stencil a quote that she saw on Pinterest. 

There were 6 long boards all different widths and lengths. He cut them down to this:

 Here's the stencil.

It didn't show up very clearly but the "BE THE GOOD" was in a light buff/tan and the other wording was in white. In person, it's more pronounced.

This sign below was actually a leaf from a dining room table that Haley (new friend and DIY-er) brought to me after she had painted and distressed it. She wanted to surprise her Mom for Christmas by painting the name of the lake their cottage was on. I cut a stencil for it and filled the entire leaf with wording.

This one was another Pinterest 'knock-off'. They showed it online in black with white lettering and a slightly different font. We flipped the colors and Ken built me the slatted wood frame. I stenciled it for a client who lives in Colorado who wanted it for above her bed in her master bedrooom.

 This one is touching to me and I don't even know the whole story.  My friend Peggy, who's battling breast cancer right now ordered it for Christmas for her husband. We'll go out for lunch soon so I can hear the meaning behind the two dates (I have an idea) but I think the phrase says it all. For better or for worse, right? 
All in. 

 On the back:

 This one was for the mother in law of two of my clients. A great reminder of the love of a family this time of year and always. 

I haven't been painting in my garage (other than sign making) but I will be starting back up in January. I have a waiting list right now, but hope to make some headway and crank up the heaters for some more furniture transformations.  Usually January is a slow time for me with clients, but you've already been emailing me the day after Christmas with your remodeling requests, so it might be a busy new year! Can't wait to see some of you again and meet some new Champs in 2014! 

BEFORE

 AFTER

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