EMILY HENDERSON'S SHINY HAPPY MAKEOVER ENTRY

The Emily Henderson Shiny Happy Makeover was offered in conjunction with DecorView Window shades. I definitely need new window treatments and a bright make over formy 30 foot long "living room." Here's the story I submitted (fingers crossed!):

I can personally attest that having the wrong window shades can kill. Well, not actually kill, kill. But kill a date. Kill joy. Kill a morning. I have had well intentioned house guests try to “surprise” me with a morning wake up call. They attempt a joyful “rise and shine!” while trying to gleefully pull my 9’ wide rollershade up and jump on the bed. Usually, they pull the wrong direction, and the whole shade comes tumbling to the floor. I have learned to omniously warn, “Don’t attempt to open the shades. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.” Still, most visitors choose to ignore this warning. So when I hear a tell-tale creeking chain noise in my deep slumber, I yell, “Nooooo!!!….” I am usually too late. The roller shade comes crashing to the ground, my friend/date shocked at the disaster and the tears welling up in my eyes. Yes, rise and shine indeed. Once the shade falls, it requires two ladders, two people, and a good amount of effort to get it back up.

It all started innocently enough. I have 3 huge windows. Wanting a minimal, unobtrusive window treatment in my new loft, I opted for a custom solution (from an unnamed, but local LA source.) I called in the specialists. They came, they measured, they sent a (big) bill. Patting myself on the back for making such a sophisticated choice, I waited dutifully for several weeks for the custom product. I taped a bed sheet to the window with duct tape (yes, very classy) as the right shade was worth waiting for. So, I waited.

Now two years later, the shades have fallen, the chains have broken. I have wept, stressed, yelled, pleaded. It’s definitely time to buy a new shade. It fell again last week. 4 for the shade, 0 for me. Somehow I managed to hang the roller back up from the last battle with the ground, not minding the dirty smudges and creases. “Drapery,” something whispered into my ear. And so, the battle continued. I visited stores and web sites, collected swatches, and became utterly overwhelmed by pleated versus pinched. I started looking for the perfect shade of gray. Wool blend or cotton? I'm still waiting.

I live in Los Angeles. Playa Vista. A “soft loft” as the realtors like to call it. I like to call it a big open space that is a big challenge to decorate.  It is super long and narrow, with windows on both sides. I’m a graphic designer with a penchant for bright and bold patterns. It’s somewhat easy to do this on my graphic design work, much harder in a space. 

I fully appreciate someone who has the ability to put elements together in a casually chic way. Since following Emily’s style - so bohemian! so chic!, so LA! - I realized what it was that I have been looking for all along. Art is hung on pretty gallery walls. Fig leaf trees stand next to well groomed beds. Every charm, leaf, rug and plate looks perfectly imperfectly matched together. I have a few great pieces I invested in, but feel lost when it comes to pulling it all together. I’ve repainted my wall several times from home depot orange to gray to yellow. I even referred to Emily’s “Ryan Gosling’s Shades of Gray” post when picking the next color. But, I admit I need the extra magic touch. Which planter to go with that fiddle leaf fig that I hope to buy? Which new queen size bed frame to match the rest of the furniture? How much is too much of the same espresso wood not be too matchy-matchy? I need details and  the big picture, the magical ‘pull it all together’ touch. Yes, I’ve spent more on a few mirrors from CB2 than on my entire my bed. Yes, I have a closet dedicated to my duvet addiction. I would love to win this amazing opportunity, and have Emily’s incredible talent and vision transform my space into a big, bright and bold home. And, most importantly, I hope to finally win the war with the rollershade.