Mr & Mrs...... a chic one-stop shop for brides.....

We were very, very excited when we were approached by the very chic and fun, young duo of Ashley Hotka & Jennifer Fyffe about the opening of their original wedding boutique called "Mr. & Mrs."

But this is not an ordinary wedding boutique.....

What is Mr. & Mrs?

It's a boutique where every part of a wedding is available in one place and there are people that fit all design aesthetics and budgets.  Great right?  That's what we thought!!

The look we wanted to create was an obvious ode to regency but since that has been done out the wazoo lately, we are adding a juxtaposition with modern elements.  Not to mention, the budget is......well, let's just say, it's pretty tight. 

The girls are first time business owners with a brilliant vision (and obviously great taste in designers).  And basically, the girls are putting everything on the line to take the risk.  How can you not cheer them on and want to help!  But a small budget to make a huge aesthetic impact.......okay, at times it has felt near impossible.  Diamonds out of coal, diamonds out of coal......how do we make that money go far????

Well, it's taking lots of creativity, lots of kindness & patience from contractors and lots of using every day resources like Craigs List and Ikea......okay, maybe they're only every day resources for designers.  But these sources are reality for a lot of people who are trying to decorate their homes on a daily basis in an economy where everyone is struggling!

 

It's not a new concept to paint things......but it's still always so much fun!!!  YAY for Craig's List!!!

So since budget was tight, color through the use of paint and found objects are our secret weapons of choice!

The fabulous coffee bar that led us to Dale from Redeux Home....

This coffee bar will be on casters and was seriously our best Craig's List find EVER!!!

Why is it the best find you ask?  Because we actually met Dale of "Redeux Home" after he bought it out from underneath us on Craig's List and we were so obsessed with the coffee bar that we tracked him down......little did we know how lucky we were to find him......Dale is a master of using found objects and creating functional pieces out of them.  He is a believer in color, doing things for the love of it, and has a passion and philosophy similar to ours........

Always enjoy what you're doing, take the right risks, always think outside of the box, and nothing is impossible......

A headboard, a vintage fireplace mantle and hard work by Dale and it is starting to come together....still more to come!  Jen will do some painting on the inside opening of the fireplace.  It's going to be fabulous!

Lighting plays a large role in the story of Mr. & Mrs. 

We bounced between the whimsical and the modern and have a constant push and pull in all the right ways. 

The hallway boasts large globe pendants that create a party atmosphere......

We found these lights through the very helpful local company, World Wide Energy.

We are so in love with these lights!!!  We would love to do a whole ceiling in a massive grouping of varying sizes!

Besides the hand painted murals that Jen is doing which is always a fun punch of color, we have brought in murals from the fabulously fun and flexible company Murals Your Way.  And by flexible, we mean that they will customize almost any of their murals to fit your needs.  (change colors, etc.)

Jen's mural that she is hand painting....It's all about scale!

For those of you who can't free hand paint (and that's totally okay!!!), you can order a custom mural through a fabulous company called Murals Your Way.  (We don't get paid to say this!!) 

The beginning of a consult room.  http://www.muralsyourway.com/ 

Another fun consult room with a wall mural from Murals Your Way

http://www.muralsyourway.com/

So as you can see, the project still is underway.  But get excited because it's going to be the best place that will make you smile just from looking at it!  Keep checking back to see the progress!  Oh, and yes, we are for hire.....  (hint, hint)    :)

Happy Designing!

jen & jules



Get Excited...........it's Symphony Showhouse Time!!!!

Here's a SNEAK PEEK  of what you may want to know about the two spaces we are working on!  


1.Which rooms are you doing?  

The downstairs screened porch, as well as the upstairs porch off of the master bedroom.  Two outside areas........how exciting!


Here's a peek of them in mid-process........you'll have to come see them when the Showhouse opens to see just how far we took the design concept!  (Isn't design SO much fun!!!) 

2.  What features did you like or dislike?

We loved that the screened porch space was a combo interior/exterior space.  And that it could really serve as an entertaining space.  That being said, it's easier for people to take risks and have fun in areas that are not a part of our main living areas.  We hope though that people are inspired to let a little bit of whimsy influence the rest of your house!


And as far as the upstairs porch is concerned, it's nice to stage an area where someone could start and end your day. 

3.  Were there any difficulties you had to overcome?

There are a few……


In the screened porch, one side is stucco and paneling and the rest is all windows.  So how does one create interest when your “wall” space is not the norm.  Go check it out and see if we pulled it off!

4.  What are your favorite New Features?

*Living Wall Panels  (Ours are Faux Living Walls to make our lives easier since we don’t live in the house.  However, it can be used in any home even with small living walls that contain your “go to herbs”!

*Swings--  We thought what fun to have swings in this space.  It reminds you that you should always approach a space with a sense of fun and wonderment. 

*The Bar.   The cabinet is raised off the floor for a splash of whimsy and to visually lessen the weight of everything being lower in the space.  Eventually there will be a chunky piece of wood for the bar countertop and a mirror behind the spirits (aka alcohol).  And did I mention
the table base is a bunch of books colorblocked?  I know......fun, right?  Life's too short
not to think outside of the box!!!

*We used old and new items.  Our vintage items are our chandelier from the River Market Antique Mall, our painted cabinet, and chairs we re-upholstered around the Carrera marble table.  Our new items include items such as our fabulous Missoni ottoman, Missoni pillows (from Scandia Down), pillows (“ooh, la, la” and “let’s make out”) that are hand made from an artist and are available at the Leawood store, "Stick Sisters".

 

 

*Living Arrangements created by landscape artist Sara Antin………they’re great b/c the actual arrangement lasts so long and it’s created so the flowers can be easily changed out.  It’s very smart to buy things that have sustainability!!

*Artwork on Living wall----  created by Jennifer Bertrand  J

5.  Did you use any New or Unusual techniques?

*Floors---the concrete was altered with Skimstone.  A product that is trowelled on and gives the concrete a higher-end feel.

6.  Anything else you would like the public to know about your room?

Just that you should always, always have fun with design!!! 


If it starts to become un-fun, stop and take a step back for a moment.  Sometimes we all have to pause and regroup to gain design perspective. 


And most importantly, the best design perspective is learned by making mistakes.  But if you do your research it can save you from having costly mistakes! J