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26July   {Home Tour} FOF Design Expert Janell Beals Offers Tips and a Tour


FOF Janell Beals is a true jane of all trades. She's a skilled painter with a BFA from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, holds a degree in Fashion Design, and even launched her own highly acclaimed women's clothing line, Janell Beals Clothing.  When she finally took a break to raise a family at 40, she found it impossible to keep her creativity at bay. Four years later, she began working with clients as an interior designer. In 2008, she and her husband bought a 3,100 square foot outside of Portland, Oregon, and started documenting her remodeling process on her blog, Isabella & Max rooms.  The blog became so popular (with 5,000 page views each day) that Janell launched House of Fifty, a full-service online magazine full of helpful tips for re-decorating, DIY projects, inspiring success stories, and more. "The name and concept for the magazine came about after being turned down for another opportunity based on my age,” says Janell.  “I wanted to create something that celebrated the fact that women can live inspired lives at any age." Here she shares tips on easy ways to redecorate your space without breaking bank, and leads a “virtual” tour of her breathtaking home!

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Can you offer some simple and inexpensive ways to redecorate?
Lighting fixtures and paint can go far when decorating a space. It doesn't have to cost a lot.
You can [change light fixtures] easily with a conversion kit. Take a recessed light [with] a $10 kit from Home Depot. Once you install this, you can hang light fixtures from it. [It] helps to create that unique and interesting statement in the room. (See Janell's step-by-step guide here: how to convert recessed light to hang a chandelier).

How can you keep your home decor up-to-date without overspending?
Accessories. If you've got the basic pieces, the simplest way to update things is with pillows, or by layering rugs over carpeting. Texture and pattern and color on pillows and drapes, even lampshades can transform a room.

What pieces should you splurge on?
[Splurge on] beds--it's key to your well being that you get a good night sleep, and what could help that more than a great comfortable mattress? Sofas can [also] be so expensive, and it's tempting [to save], but in two or three years you'll have to replace it, whereas if you invest in a decent sofa that is well made you can have it for 10-15 years. When the material wears out you can get it upholstered.  Invest in a solid wood dining room table. I would often [try to get away] with veneer tops, but they just doesn't stand up to the wear and tear of everyday life.  In the long run, investing in quality pieces that you can experiment with is the more affordable way to go.

What stores and websites do you shop at?
I like to shop at Ikea, HomeGoods, Ethan Allan occasionally, Restoration Hardware, and Mitchell Gold.

What blogs do you visit for inspiration?
Censational girl is amazing. It really focuses on affordable decor solutions and most of them are DIY. She really finds the best projects. Thrifty decor chick has great tips on decoration and great portfolios on her site.  [I also like] the nester.

How do you strike a balance between the pieces that you craft, and the pieces that you purchase?
It's important that there be a mix. If everything in my home was DIY, it would look that way, even though I try to make them look as upscale as possible. Sometimes you do need to spend some money. [You need] that mix of high and low--a couple of quality or interesting standout pieces, whether it's an antique light fixture or blinds or a nice table, sofa or chair, elevates the whole look. If your DIY projects are done well, the mix is going to be interesting.

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1

Dining Room


Light fixture: Crate & Barrel, “It was a steal at $300--it was a floor sample! I added brass bobeches and hung crystals from them, which I found at Antique Lamp Supply."





Table: Restoration Hardware





Bench: Overstock.com, “I completely redid it. It was covered with a dark brown faux leather. I removed that and recovered it with an ivory faux ostrich skin from Calico Corners. I sanded down the legs and applied Briwax, then applied the oversized nailhead trim to accent the sides."





Wall: “I treated it with a stencil from Whitewall & Co.





Chairs: Van Gogh Furniture. "I made slip covers [for them] using cotton drop cloths from Sherwin-Williams--they become a beautiful durable fabric when you launder them well."




3

Dining Room


Oriental worn chest: “Was a gold yellow tone that really clashed with the flooring in the house, so I painted it an ivory color.”





Birdcage: Pottery Barn (on clearance). “I mixed together some paint colors I had on hand to get this shade of pink to bring in a pop of color.”




4

Dining Room (corner)




Chair: Found at an auction, “I re-finished the frame with ivory paint and a bit of Rub 'n Buff and reupholstered it.”





Painting: Lulie Wallace. “I had just finished an article on her work for House of Fifty and was so taken with her work I just had to treat myself to a painting of hers as a little gift!"




5

Breakfast Nook


Table: “It was [originally] a dark tone and visually heavy against the dark floors and lighter cabinetry in the kitchen. I painted it a soft gray/green color to give it a new life.”





Chairs: “Were originally black, and got a fresh look with a coat of ivory paint.”





Curtains: “It's hard to find curtains that are wide enough to look good when pulled closed, so I made these from Calico Corners fabric. I placed the brown panels on the sides to anchor the space."





Light Fixture: “I covered a drum lampshade with lengths of bamboo painted ivory.”




11

Kitchen


Cabinetry: "I worked with a builder on these."





Backsplash: “Beveled subway tile."





Message board: "The lines are based on the door casings in the house, the chalkboard is painted on."





Lights: "From another DIY project where drum shades were covered with fabric."





Stools: Dania Furniture




6

Living Room


Deer head: Z Gallerie, “I painted it a glossy ivory.”





Walls: “I handpainted the trellis pattern, transferring the pattern onto the wall, and then hand painted in the design."





Lamp: Mitchell Gold sample sale.





Orange chaise lounge:  Mitchell Gold sample sale. “One of my favorite pieces. The more worn it gets, the better it gets.”




10

Family Room


Mantle: "I had a tradesman come in and build one that resulted in a custom, high-end look."





Coffee Table: “A barter with a client.”





Sofa: Van Gogh Furniture





Pillows: Pottery Barn, “They are basic linen pillows dressed up with a band of fabric.”





Lamp: Pottery Barn





Knick knacks: Family heirlooms.




7

Office


“Hoosier” Cabinet: “It was originally in my grandfather's workshop, where he did a lot of woodworking. I refinished it and repainted the body for a worn look and stained the top with a walnut tone stain from Minwax.”





Wall: "Painted with chalkboard paint and hung a collage of my husband’s favorite photos. I left a couple of frames empty, providing a place to write notes."





Picture Frames: Michaels





Chair: Crate & Barrel (“On clearance as a floor model.”)





Lamp: Target





Rug: Ikea




8

Isabella’s Room


Drapes: “I made these from a coral geometric fabric from Calico Corners.”





Bed: eBay. “I covered it with blue linen fabric from Calico Corners.”





Lamps: “From my grandmother. They have hand-painted flowers on the porcelain bases.”





Shades: Pottery Barn





Duvet: A homemade rag quilt. "I cut squares and sewed them together with the seams facing right side out. When the seams become frayed, they add a fun texture to the surface."





Night stands: Home Goods.




12

Max's room (“The Ikea Project”)


Bedding, light fixture, drapes, and rug: Ikea.





Chairs: "They were my grandmothers. I made slipcovers from fabric found at JoAnn Fabrics.”





Lamp: "HomeGoods. [I] painted it with primer and chalkboard paint. The lampshade was also covered with a fabric from Ikea."





Chalkboard: "Painted onto the wall with chalkboard paint."





Maps: "Painted freehand on the walls."




2

Master Bedroom




Headboard frame: Built with 2x4s and sheets of plywood, then covered with high density foam that was then wrapped in batting material and covered with “Bocca” fabric from Calico Corners.







Lamps: Home Goods, “They were originally cobalt blue and had a really ugly shade, so I spray painted the lamp bases with a gloss finish.  I covered the lamp shades with a chinoiserie fabric from Calico Corners and attached some green trim along the top and bottom edges found at JoAnn Fabrics.”




9

Walk-in Closet


Dresser: “This was a piece that sat in my grandmother's bathroom for years. I fixed it up as a tutorial for HGTV. I used chalkboard paint from Hudson Paint.





Lamp: Home Goods





Mirror: Home Goods





Vase: A family piece





Carpet: Target




14

Master Bedroom


Light fixture: "A pagoda-style [fixture] I found in an antique store."





Sofa: Ballard Designs





Picture frame collage: Aaron Brothers and Michaels. “I added in an "M" and an "I" for our children, using paper mache letters from JoAnn Fabrics, painted to look like worn metal."



  

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29 Comments

  1. Pingback: Flicksware Movie Memorabilia » Leg Avenue Women’ S 4 Piece Flashdance Bodysuit

  2. Cheryl @ OldChicBoutique

    Hi. I came by from Janelles blog to check out your site. Loved this interview and I’m really looking forward to reading more of your blog!

    Reply
  3. barbara@hodge:podge

    I have adored Janell and her blog for quite some time! It was her blog that was one of the first that I started to read and she inspired me to start my own on 2009!

    Reply
  4. Bethany {at} Powell Brower Home

    I just love Janell’s sense of style and spirit. thank you for featuring her. she never seems plastic and always really ‘real’

    Reply
  5. Deidre

    What a gorgeous home! I too am still rocking in this fifties club! Great interview,Wonderful blog thank you!

    Reply
  6. carol@houseandhomedefined

    I just discovered you through Janell’s blog, and I’m so glad I did. Celebrating the best years (I’m in the club in two) always catches my attention, and I continue to be inspired by Janell. Now, off to read more of this fab blog!!

    Reply
  7. Janell Beals

    Thank you for having me at FOF, you know I think the fifties are pretty fab and it was a pleasure working with you!
    Janell

    Reply
  8. Kim @ Plumberry Pie

    Hi! Stopping by from House of Fifty to check out this fantastic interview;)! Great site!

    Reply

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