CALICO CORNERS CONTEST TOP 10!

Ok, it's here - the finale of sorts to the Calico Corners $200 Gift Card (Redeemable Online) Contest sponsored by Color Outside the Lines. Sorry for the anticipated wait, but this was not easy to put together!

I've been in awe with some of the submissions to this contest, and I've had a hard time picking the top 10. However, I think that the entries below are examples of good taste, creative use, and inventive color pallets:

First, Allison's entry. Allison has a large formal living room with very little interest or textures. She'd like to take 4 of the jupiter square ottoman's and cover them in the kiss (olive) silk. She would also take that fabric, as inspired by the curtains in the Town and Country example Calico Corners has on their website for the curtains in the room. (All 12 of them). The other fabrics pictured (from top to bottom, left to right): Brandywine Duck (Natural), Hewitt Herringbone (Olive), Genesis (Amethyst), Kiss (Olive). Allison would like to cover the walls in the Genesis fabric with a light batting underneath for a richer feeling. Her hardwood floors would be rug-free. Finally she would use the Brandywine Duck and the Hewitt Herringbone as pillow covers for four decorative pillows she would place on the ottomans.

Second, we have Melissa's entry. Melissa was also inspired by a Calico Corner's Collection fabric, and by the blog. She writes: "When I saw the picture you posted of the bedroom using the plantation turkish fabric by bloomcraft, I knew that I had to have the bed and the chair, no offense to the turkish fabric you chose (which looks fantastic on your dining room chairs)." So, Melissa would like to create a more soothing, monochromatic room for her Master Bedroom. The fabrics as shown (right to left, top to bottom): Linton Beige, Brandywine Duck (Natural), Tree of Life Tone on Tone. Melissa would use the Linton Beige to upholster a headboard for the room, Brandywine Duck as the duvet cover and Euro Shams, paired with a white sheet set, and the tree of life fabric on a chair, as shown in the inspiration photo.

Third, we have the entry of Shari (susiehomemaker)[RMS]. Susie recently had a child "fly the coop" and she's turning her bedroom into an office/guest room. The room is in the planning stages, so she didn't include a photo of where she is but she plans on taking the walls a soft yellow (Waverly Home Classic's Soft Cream) and ordered the bedding you see above and will layer a soft yellow matlesse quilt at the end of the bed to bring the yellow color from the walls in. She'll combine a few other pieces, such as the desk/hutch from BallardDesigns in antiqe cherry, and the nightstands pictured, which she painted and distressed herself. Her CalicoCorner's fabric choices are for a parson's chair to use as a computer chair. Centered in the set, she has decided on two, to be narrowed down later: Cadence (Wedgewood) and Comet (Wedgewood). The choices of fabrics will compliment her bedding nicely, and she has begged to save her french country inspired bedroom from the ever-so-not-trendy office chair her husband is going to force in the room if she doesn't win this contest! It's up to the readers now Shari - but you're one step closer to that Parson's chair you dream of!

Fourth: Robyn's entry. Robyn was very expressive in her e-mail entry, and so I've copied it here with minor editing: "Since I have to purchase all new furniture I am choosing a sofa and a loveseat in their new collection. It is more affordable for a single mom on a dental assistant's budget. I would go with the recessed panel arm, the knife edge back, the 2 cushion straight, and the turned leg in mahogany. I want something different than what I currently have. My previous loveseats have skirts, english arms and tailored backs. I need two accent chairs. I am leaning towards Nancy's chair and ottoman. I am a shorty and the size would be comfortable for me. Then I would also add Nicole's chair. My front windows bow out from the floor and have 2" wood blinds in antique white. The window trim is oak (a darker gunstock shade). The livingroom is open just about on 3 sides. It is hard to change the furniture arrangement, we had the furniture placed every which way and this seems to be the best. There are two stairways that come into the room (it is a five level home) one from upstairs and the other from the foyer (which also has a 5 foot railing on that side). The diningroom is open with a large archway which is also the traffic flow.

I had a hard time choosing fabrics because there so many nice ones. I kept changing my mind. I would love Nancy's chair and ottoman in Cadence Buttercup checks with a Popsicle Banana Split accent pillow. Nicole's chair in Stockholm Sungold with offwhite wood accents, the sofa and loveseat in Cranston Lime with lancaster outdoor canary pillows and popsicle banana split pillows. Window treatments are hard because my window bows out, you can walk into the bow, but the top ceiling area is only seven feet. Maybe a valance would not close it off and if so I would like a combo of comet buttercup and and cadence buttercup and stockholm sungold with cranston lime accents? The walls are the never ending type that flow into each room. I have one real accent wall. I would paint it a soft pear green. The other walls are navajo white. I am keeping my existing pine 36" square coffee table and end table, and my round three legged table - all made by my Dad. I have a bookcase/desk that I am painting creamy white with a chocolate glaze. I also am keeping an end table that is a small chest of drawers that consists of 9 small square drawers. It is painted a parchment color with a dark glaze. My Dad made that for me also. I have a very large round clock, a copper metal sculpture of some sunflowers (made by Dad), and 4 prints of various birds (canary, cedar wax wing, a Robin of course, and a Rosebreasted grosbeak) that I am hanging in a four square pattern. I have 3 lamps. One a twisted stick lamp in Mahogany, another wooden lamp that is turned in offwhite, and a copper floor lamp with a birdnest twist in the stem. A small green wood turned lamp with an apple green checked shade on the writing desk. The floor is carpeted in a sandy brown plush that flows up and down the steps so I cannot change that at this time. I would love hardwood. That is what I have in the adjoining dining and kitchen. (But my son is now in braces, so that will have to wait).I also love this garden shop toile floral fabric, I told you I couldn't decide."


Vicky Darnell, who kindly leaves comments and reads my blog everyday, put together this amazing story board for the CalicoCorner's entry. She chose her master bedroom in her 80's Ranch Style home. She writes: "I decided to go with an Old World, French look. In any decorating project I always start with the "bones" of the room. So I would start by removing the wall to wall carpet and laying wide plank, dark stained, pine flooring. Then I would plaster the walls for the old world feel and paint them a straw color. The next project would be to add old Cedar beams to the ceiling, as well as, an antique Crystal Chandelier."

The story board may not be clickable, so I will do my best to list what Vicky has so carefully put together. Her fabric choices: I would update the chair in the room to this French-style, Calico Corner, Jennifer chair covered in a Tussah Linen fabric (fabric sample shown to the left). I would then add one throw pillow (as seen to the left) using the Comet Buttercup fabric chosen for its brightness to top the look off. U-Domicile fabric was selected for the Isaac's bench that will be placed at the end of the bed.

Window treatments should be kept simple and functional. Flat Panel Draperies in a solid Shannon Chili fabric will be used on rods and rings. I would keep my original bed and headboard, but would use the Brioche Straw fabric for a duvet (as seen pictured to the right) mixing the Torrence Plaid Topaz fabric for the bed skirt and Euro pillows. I always use crisp white linens and turn down the bed, so that the fresh linens show, placing three throw pillows on top, covered in a Shannon Chili and Comet Buttercup fabrics for a finishing touch.

Next, we have Bridget (Blgeee)[RMS]. B, as I affectionately refer to her, G, as some others, sent me this great work she created herself. I'm hoping you can click on this to expand it - but in case it reads: Bridget's Guest Bedroom Project, room has ivory walls, furniture, and ivory bedding. Clockwise from top: Samos Poppy accent fabric for small pillows on the bed, Palace Bamboo Trellis fabric for dust skirt and pillow shams. Traditional art, crystal lamps, existing quilt for foot of bed, Kola Damask fabric for window seat cushion accent with pillows from trellis and coral.

Next, Jessica (JessicaTaryn)[RMS]. Jessica also had a lengthy email with vivid explination of her plans: "I am new to all of this designing as we are in our first house, but I am starting to stretch my wings and am having a great deal of fun. Unfortunately one thing I have found is that my ideas tend to be bigger than my budget. :-) I would definitely like to take part in the contest!
Here goes nothing... I spent a great deal of time perusing through the vast selection of fabrics at Calico Corners trying to find just the right patterns and material for my guest bedroom re-do. I envisioned my guest bedroom to be an inviting, relaxing retreat with softly scented lemon-chamomile linens and charming French Country inspired toile prints. I found a truly inspiring Tulip Toile print which would be perfect for a duvet cover. I like the idea of the duvet because it gives me versatility in selecting the appropriate warmth of the bedding as dictated by the season. There is nothing I love more than cuddling under a down comforter and I would like my guests to be as cozy. The Tulip Toile would be continued onto the curtain panels with thick tufted rod pockets to allow for elegant draping and pooling of the muted print. Just behind the Tulip Toile would be roman shades in Astoria Alabaster. The shades would be lined with coordinating linen to give them an even greater room darkening quality -- what guest wants to be awakened by the 6 AM rising sun? The Astoria Alabaster would bring out the darker hues of the Tulip Toile while providing some soft contrast with the Oatmeal colored walls (not yet painted in the room but soon to be). Toile would also appear as piping and a secondary fabric to the Astoria Alabaster fabric on the pillow shams and throw pillows (ranging in size from 18"x18" to 12"x19" toss pillows, and 22"x22" box pillows and of course one charming bolster to set them all off). The bedskirt will be a straight line skirt in Astoria Alabaster with one small slit at the center point on each side. On the bakers rack, to replace the contemporary black and white photographs I would place a collection of slightly distressed black frames with mattes similar to the print of Tree of Life Tone on Tone (which would also make for some lovely decorative pillows for the bed ensemble), with select few other coordinating accessories to grace the shelves. The distressed black of the frames will tie in with iron bed and bakers rack that will remain in the room, which provide an eye catching element to the otherwise softly muted color palette. To finish off the room I would add two petite skirted slipper chairs in Montaigne Aqua/Beige with small round ivory table just to the right of the entrance to the room to provide a seating area and a place to sit back in thick white waffle weave robes and enjoy morning coffee and an in-suite country breakfast - with nothing other than Tulip Toile napkins of course! Only the best for my guests!"

Jessica - I love the tulip toile, and on-sale at Calico Corners now for just $17.99/yard, it is certainly a good fit for any decorator budget!

Then we have Bella: "Hi Artie, Here is my entry into your awesome contest :) I would love to win, so that I could dress up my iron work wall, for the changing seasons/holidays. Here is how it looks now, all ready for Fall, Halloween & Thanksgiving:

Here is the fabric I would buy for Christmas/Winter (so bold and fun, I love it! It reminds me of Candy Canes and I really need CHEERY colors around me in the winter time, can't get more cheeier than this!): Stockholm Cherry
And for Spring/Summer (back to a solid, subdued color, but that's ok, I will bring in fresh flowers from my garden to display on my foyer table, in front of the wall): Splendor Robins Egg

If I have more $ left over on the $200 credit, I would purchase fabric for my kitchen chairs, with 2 boys and my hubby, the fabric on them can get pretty grubby, pretty quick!!"

And of course, we have Marian who we also know as 'D' of D's DayDreams. Marian writes:

"First I'd like to explain to you what I've tried to do in this family room. My idea, was to decorate this room using a more masculine theme. My husband had recently retired and I wanted to create a room that would feel comfortable to him, but still adding a few of the things that meant something to me. I think I've succeeded because he spends an awful lot of time in there. But the time has come to spruce things up and change some of the colors, especially the walls and drapes. Below are the fabrics I've chosen for drapes and I'll also make some new pillows to replace those out- dated ones that we use now.This first fabric, that I've chosen, is part of the Ralph Lauren Collection, from Calico Corners, and is called Moghul Paisley Champagne. I believe this will look great with all the pieces that will stay in our room and add a great deal to the decorating pallet. I intend to use the lightest gold, from this fabric, as the new wall color.

Lauren's fabric, called Leopard Sand, is what I would like to use for trim on my new drapes. It will also go well with the pillows and throws that I already have in the room."

D is having her leather sofa's reupholstered (only in the tufted area's) with a checked plaid fabric that I think will look lovely. For more photo's and information on her whole room transformation, make sure to check out her blog!

And last, but certainly not least - we have Kathy. Kathy wanted to change up her dining room. She put a lot of thought into her fabric selections, and even dragged her husband along to the CalicoCorners store to look for the perfect fabrics. I've included a snip of her e-mail:

"What a fantastic idea of yours to have a Calico Corners contest. Here is a photograph of our final choice of CC fabric, we went to Calico Corners this weekend and after spending hours searching through hundreds of patterns we decided on this one, hubby likes the richness of the paisley (Ascot Cordovan) and I think it will bring in the warm and inviting feel we want in this room( especially now that thanksgiving and Christmas are not far away). Calico Corners let you bring home a bolt of fabric and we have draped it over the rods so we can see what it looks like at different times of the day (Excellent!!). We still need to chose trims etc. but the best thing about our choice was that it was only $20 a yard and they were having a sale with 50% off, so it's down to an amazing $10. The large middle photo is our dining room, you can see that it is very blah and boring and it needs to be finished off. The chandelier has to go it looks awful and the light it gives off is just terrible. Photo's 2 and 7 are the chandeliers we would like to use.
Photo 1 and 11 is the paisley fabric we have chosen, both close-up and wide shots. Photo 3, I found this on the web and just love all the warm colours and would love to have something like this for our autumn/thanksgiving table scape. Photos 4 and 6 are the other fabrics we have in the adjacent Living Room, that need to flow with this room and the choice of fabric was chosen with that in mind. Photo 5 Is a photo of Gollum's great room drapes, I love the ingenious way Gollum has created her drapes over her shutters, I think it looks so elegant and I would love to try this in my Dining Room.I think probably the reason why our DR was never finished was because we could not find a suitable way to have shutters (which we love the look of) and yet also be able to soften them with fabric. Photo 8, The wall on one side of our Dining Room is very bare and we love the look of these frames grouped like this, we would use our own prints from our travels and use dark frames and maybe double mat them with cream and red. We also love the colour on the walls and are considering painting the walls. Photo's 10 and 12, more accessories for the tablescape, candles of course and pretty napkins. Photo 9 From this angle the dining room looks warm and cozy, but as you can see from the big picture it is badly in need of some FABRIC!!!. Calico Corners has thousands and thousands of beautiful fabrics to chose from at incredible prices and we are hoping that we can at last turn our (nice) dining room into a warm cozy and most important an inviting FINISHED! space. We will also buy a new lamp for the console table, and use the chosen fabric to make a table runner and napkin rings. It has been a fun project for me and we have discovered Calico Corners thanks to you. Best wishes, Kathy (Have suitcase-will Travel)."

So now it's up to you! Get out there and start promoting your vision's people! The readers vote, so to the right of the page you'll find a "ballot". The poll will close on Friday, September 26, 2008, and the winner will receive the $200 Calico Corners Gift Card (Redeemable Online)!

GOOD LUCK!