BEFORE & AFTER: THE RIGHT KIDD FOR THE JOB

THE JERRY MCGUIRE MANIFESTO #13: A LITTLE HELP FROM A FRIEND

BEFORE & AFTER: THE RIGHT “KIDD” FOR THE JOB

These are the wonder years at Tiger Lily’s and we get by with a little help from our friends. I love colloborations and believe in the idea that by giving you receive, by sharing you get more.

Truth be told, the idea of giving to get more was not a gut instint for me. At times in my life, I admit that I operated from the perspective to keep what I earned, found or discovered to myself  exlcusively. Hello! My name is Samantha Knapp and I am recovering non-sharer 🙂

I have come full circle from that perspective and it is why I am now so passionate about sharing what I know and who I know as I plot my future path and campaign on Rockethub to write a book.

THE SHARE:

Mitch Kidd from Wellbuilt Co. Here’s his website ( http://www.wellbuiltco.com). Here’s his work below. The pictures tell an amazing BEFORE & AFTER transformation of a guest rooms statement wall in a New York City apartment. Kidd’s team did a brilliant job, creating a rustic space in an urban enviornment.

AFTER:

I am thrilled to share the transformation of this space complete with the built in light fixtures in chrome. Together we styled the room, launching from the vibe the rustic wall created in the space.  Wellbuilt Co is growing into the Greenwich, CT market and I look forward to more opportunities to work together.

It true what they say about colloborations. They truly set the right energy in motion.

When it comes to working with others I have learned many things, in part to Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses where incidentially I met Kidd of Wellbuilt and had the opportunity to learn from Mori Taheripour faculty at the Wharton School of the University Of Pennsylvania.

Taheripour excels at understanding bargaining and leverage. Those who bargain the best come to the table with Goals, Targets and a Bottom Line. The exercise in the Positive Bargaining Zone and  Shared Interests in partnerships.

So I leave you with this quote:

BC Forbes said this: “The bargain that yields mutual satisfaction is the only one that is apt to be repeated”

Do it right folks, seek out friends, network and understand that by coming together for common interests and sharing in that place you can indeed come out with more. Respect balance and it will continue to introduce to new areas of level playing fields.

##ONE LOVE

BEFORE & AFTER: CASTING A SPELL IN THE FORM OF A HEX

CASTING A SPELL IN THE FORM OF A HEX

BEFORE & AFTER: CASTING A SPELL: IN THE FORM OF A HEX

I wanted to do something new. Something that I had never seen done before. The definition of Hex is to cast a spell and bewitch. I like the idea that something can be so appealing to the eye that it literally cast a spell and becomes a must buy. It was fitting to start with the shape of a Hexagon.

BEFORE:
HEXAGON BASE IN RAW STEEL

Working with a shape in mind, I then backed into some simple math to get the height, shape and angles to work. I wanted a standard finished height near 19.5″. I had my welder mount inside brackets for concealed legs and positioning to mount the upholstered seat.

AFTER:
FINISHED BASE WITH UPHOLSTERED SEAT
MONGOLIAN SHEEP PELT

Once we had the shape and the seat set, I brainstormed fabrics to cover the upholstered seat. My design style is always deep in contrasts so I went for organic hide against manufactures’ metal, deconstructed finished against measured angles. To unify the juxtaposition, I kept the elements joined in neutral gray tones.

HEXAGON OTTOMAN
BUY ME:
http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com

When opposites attract only good things come of a space. The finished product of the hexagon ottoman is that magic spell, I was trying to achieve when I set out to create the shape. I love the way the piece fits in this contemporary Westside Apartment. The play of textures and materials adds balance to the neutral tones that are layered in the living space.  Andy Warhol said, “The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet.” I like the way that sounds and how it develops when we set our minds into creating new forms and pieces that are sculptural perhaps like art, but on which you plop down and have a seat.

#ONE LOVE

BEFORE & AFTER: A VANE LITTLE VANITY

A VANE LITTLE VANITY

BEFORE & AFTER: A VANE LITTLE VANITY

BEFORE:

Call it vane, but this little vanity wanted to look good. It’s a little treasure I discovered at a little antique store North of Greenwich, CT. I give away a lot of little secrets but my super special stomps are a secret I still need to keep!  What I will scream and shout,  is the price of  this bad news bench. I got it for $55.00!

BEFORE:
BAD NEWS BENCH

I thought tired teddy bear when I first brought it back into the workroom at http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com. It had stuffing coming out and was all sorts of browns. The first thing I wanted to do was lighten the frame up. I decided to paint.  To paint or not paint is generally an easy answered question. When the frame has nice decorative details, I always say yes. Carving in wood can conceal mistakes and adds elements where highlights and lowlights in your painting style can be achieved. The piece had great lines, especially the fluting in the legs.

FRESH LOOK STARTS WITH A COAT OF PAINT

The paint treatment is has a few steps involved. I started with a white-wash, then sanded down to reveal some of the original wood. I then focused on the carved details and when in with a golden artisan finish paint. Using a small brush and wiping excess as I went, I brush on the finish then wiped it back off. It the old “wax” on “wax” off from the original Karate Kid.  

PAINT TIP:
KARATE KID STYLE
WAX “ON” WAX “OFF”

The  bench was then gutted and reupholstered in China Seas New Batik in Turquoise.  The entire piece took one yard of fabric with the medallions centers on the seat and back.

UPHOLSTERED:
CHINA SEAS NEW BATIK

China Seas in an amazing and fairly exclusive brand. The minimum order on most fabrics is five-yards and each piece is printed to order with the richest and vibrant colors available in textiles.

AFTER:
WWW.TIGERLILYSGREENWICH.COM

AFTER:

I shot a few different angles of this vanity bench. Webster’s defines vane as “Excessive pride in or admiration of one’s own appearance or achievements.” I think in this case rightfully so! The bench deserves to be seen and celebrated as something that was truly transformed from old to new.  Vanity isn’t a bad thing!

VANITY:
BABE LOOK AT ME NOW 🙂

 

I leave you all with a quote as I close most of my BEFORE & AFTER blogs with.  From Gunter Grass in The Tin Drum comes this: “You are vain and wicked- as a genius should be.” When it comes to design, take the good, the bad and the ugly. With a little creativity or genius you can create something to boast about. So what if people call that vanity!

 

BEFORE & AFTER: I DON’T WANT TO GILT YOU BUT….

GILT HOME SALE FEATURING TIGER LILY’S
GO BUY: http://www.gilt.com/home/sale/furniture-77435632

BEFORE & AFTER: I DON’T WANT TO GILT YOU BUT….

I don’t want to Gilt you but… Go buy!  Here’s the link: http://www.gilt.com/home/sale/furniture-77435632.  It is a proud moment when a powerhouse like Gilt Home choses your furniture to highlight on thier One-Of-A-Kind Furniture & Art sale and it sells. We do a lot “Before & Afters” at http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com. Most of the pieces we highlight are vintage, antique or special to someone at sometime. When the furniture arrives at the store our focus is revitalization, renew and reuse creating something that has new life.

BEFORE:

There is another side to what we do. The “Before” starts in my head. This is another special part of my interior design business which centers on the fabrication of my creative exclusive designs into home furnishings.

BEFORE:
AN IDEA ON PAPER

Ottomans and benches are my favorite way to add flare and character into your home. You can have fun, add texture and the risk is small. As a designer, I have seen a lot of different takes on ottomans and benches. I set out to do something I have never seen. I started from the bottom up  with careful attention to the base. I created a triangle base. To get the proportions right, I had the piece scaled on Autocad.  I decided on metal for the base  and added triangle inspired design on the sides to play up the shape. The design is created by a laser.

AFTER:
PAPER TO PRODUCT
BUY NOW: http://www.gilt.com/home/sale/furniture-77435632

AFTER:

It is an exciting moment when paper idea turns to a product. The bases were fabricated by a dynamic artisan couple who live in Brooklyn (http://gospad.com)  I finished the top with deconstructed  cowhide upholstered seats. I love accomplishing goals and seeing an idea or an experience through to the end. It is the way that I live my life.

It is icing on the cake that our products at tigerlilysgreenwich.com are celebrated beyond our workroom and Greenwich storefront  to e-commerce websites. On this platform I can share my designs and ideas on a larger front. Check out our sale on Gilt Home ( http://www.gilt.com/home/sale/furniture-77435632)

Before searching I leave you with this:

“All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination, Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning mind energy into accomplishment and wealth.”
Napoleon Hill

BEFORE & AFTER: I G-OTTOMAN!I maybe single but…

BEFORE & AFTER: I G-OTTOMAN!

I maybe single but “I G-Ottoman!” The ottoman below came into the http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com workroom as a giveaway. You can get a sense of why given the stains and the dated fabric.

BEFORE:
I G-OTTOMAN

As a single girl living in the city and working in the suburbs, I like to keep my options open. Everything and everyone I see has potential. It is the old glass half-full trick. I liked this giveaway ottoman immediately.

BEFORE:

The appeal was the tufts and the wooden legs with castors.

TUFT IN MUSLIN FIRST
ADD FABRIC NEXT

Even with the tufts already in place, we still take every piece down to the frame to ensure the quality of the interior foam, dacron and webbed seat. This is where you begin to see the difference in quality of what you buy. In this particular case, there was no muslin between the fabric and the base. That is the first indication of a cheap job. Or in terms that relate to dating, it like going out for first cocktails with a guy only to discover he is a recovering boozer who doesn’t drink. This is how everything and everyone gets weeded out 🙂

LAY OUT THE PATTERN
THEN CLOSE THE SIDES

I chose a think natural Belgium linen to reupholster the ottoman with. When you are working with deep tufts, it is up to the upholster to fold the fabric evenly, make sure the sizing on the tufts are the same and pull evenly across the frame.

HAND TUFTING
TIP OF THE TRADE
“MEASURE THE FOLDS”

This takes time and experience and when complete you can clearly distinguish between hand & machine tufts. Inside the tuft we finish with a button in the same fabric as the face.

The outcome is stunning. Back to the dating analogy or perspective its that moment that makes you smile when you leave thinking, “I am glad I gave that guy a shot.”

TUFTS FINISH WITH BUTTON

IN YOUR FACE BABY:
SQUARE TUFTS

AFTER:

How do you know which and what everything and everybody is meant for you? I say it is in the details and what people but forth that makes it special and unique.  I finished this ottoman with a french natural nailhead design that connected a string of squares. We centered the pattern on the center tufts and worked out way out in a measured repeated line.

AFTER:
TUFTED OTTOMAN WITH SQUARE NAIL DETAIL
BUY ME: http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com

I like to finish the blog with a quote and I think after looking at this after, It feels like I should kick up my feet and do just that. “I g-ottoman” just not a man. Dating ladies and gents is tough, so I leave you with this:

“Life is hard enough as it is without choosing someone difficult to share it with”
― Greg Behrendt, He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys

#ONE LOVE

BEFORE & AFTER: THE DISH ON DINING ROOM CHAIRS

THE DISH ON BUILDING A CHAIR

The beauty of custom is that it is built for one person. It is exactly what they want, not researched number crunched market researched and predetermined to suit a general wide margin taste.

These are dining room chairs for an elegant circular table where Hunts Club meets Sophisticated Home.

BEFORE:

We start with the frame. This is a rolled back, rolled arm, parson dining chair. When upholstered it will have a tight seat, tight back and skirt. The legs will also sit on rolling castors that will be concealed by the skirt.

From frame, we add webbing and soft foam around the base. We pictured out crew at Tiger Lilys (www.tigerlilygreenwich.com) in different stages of the build out. What I like most about capturing the moments of the build out is that from 10-chairs each one is done differently.

LETS DRESS THIS GIRL
FOAM BLUMMERS!

There is consistency and continuity in the production but how they are approached makes them an artisan craft. After webbing and foam, the inside batting is covered in muslin to hold the materials in place.

MUSLIN COVERS ALL MATERIALS

This is where you know quality exists. In a world where things are made cheaper, and factory’s bang out product at a fraction of the cost, one always questions how do they cut costs? Remarkably and I can tell you from experience, a #learned trick of the trade is that many companies go from foam to fabric, cutting out this critical step.

You don’t actually see it so what does it matter? Good question I presented myself and here’s the answer that follows. It makes a difference in how the piece will wear long term. Adding a layer between the materials and the fabric creates a protective coat. Consider the friction for example of wear and tear on your favorite jeans and how they fray at the knee.

Once the bones are in place or the furniture is dressed, we can add the accessories. When it custom that can mean anything from bullion, tape or nails. In this case it is a combination of two.

 From this point the skirt is then fasted to the frame of the chair and applied. There is a skinny welting to transition between frame and skirt.

For information or questions log onto our website  www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com.

MONDAY MAKEOVER: BEFORE & AFTER: THAT’S MY BOO

MONDAY MAKEOVER: BEFORE & AFTER: THAT’S MY BOO

BEFORE:
LAYERS DEEP

Laura at Tiger Lily’s (www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com) uses “Boo” to describe her “Boo.” Boo is the nickname for her boyfriend Brandon Deaderick. They are adorable together. He’s playing ball for the Jacksonville Jags down South and she’s up here in Greenwich, CT helping me in the design studio and custom workroom and helping me get a handle on slang. Boo means boyfriend folks over 25. For a while there, I had a Boo too!  Laura programmed JT into my phone with that name, until he broke up with me. What can I say but BOO-HOO.

BEFORE:

So my new Boo. I am talking Bamboo. When I got this table it had layers upon layers of white paint. It actually was hard to distinguish if there was actual wood and grain beneath.

BEFORE:
THAT’S MY BOO

I brought the table into http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com and hit it with paint thinner and a striping agent. The layers were so thick I needed both chemicals. The trick is to wait it out and let layers peel back. I only wish I could say the same about my relationship. That relationship was only surface.

BRUSH WITH PAINT THINNER
WAIT AND LET LAYERS PEEL

Once the layers start to peel you can take a blade and scrape the paint away. When you are working with chemicals it is important to use gloves and a face mask. Paint thinner smells fierce and burns your skin at raw touch.

USE PROTECTION WHEN YOU STRIP

AFTER:

I keep some of the paint for intergreity to show the history of this piece. I like the combination of the paint layers positioned against the natural texture of the revealed bamboo. Just like relationships, the golden moment is when the core personality or structure is revealed. For love to be right, you have to appreciate and cherish what you see. BAM! That’s my take on love. Now where’s my  Boo 🙂

AFTER:
PUTTING THE “BAM” IN BOO
BUY ME: http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com

I end most my blogs with a quote. From the art of doing to the art of love.

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
― Vincent van Gogh

 

If you want more, you’ve got it… Fund my campagin on Rockethub. I am trying to write all this down in a book 🙂

http://www.rockethub.com/projects?query=sam+on+the+scene

ONE LOVE##

BEFORE & AFTER: “BUTT” It sold!

BEFORE & AFTER: BUTT IT SOLD!

BEFORE:

The perfect little bench for a small little “Butt” or trim “Tush.”  The carving alone is worth a makeover. It is like looking a face without make-up and seeing a bone structure that you know with a little highlight, blush make a strong statement.

Pretty worn and tattered, he came to tigerlilysgreenwich.com for a makeover.

BEFORE:
BUTT SIZE BEAUTY

First we took off his rags. When we get old pieces I like to go down to the bones and build new. A piece like this cleans up nicely with 3″medium density foam, dacron and a muslin cover.

From muslin we move to fabric.

FABRIC FIND:
SMALL SIZE: LARGE SCALE

I chose a print from Travers. It is a large scale with soft neutral colors. To make a small piece look bold, I like to go with a big print. It adds size and scale that otherwise would be lacking with a solid or neutral.

This fabric retails for $258.00 a yard. We only need a yard of fabric, so this is a perfect place to splurge.

FABRIC SPLURGE:
Travers: $258.00

We finished the piece with a whitewash that got a second scrub with sandpaper to bring out some the natural hue. I finished the wood with a diluted treatment of gold in water, then clear wax.

AFTER:
BUTT IT SOLD!

AFTER:

“Butt It Sold,” The day I bought this out to our 154 Prospect Street showroom,  it got two inquiries. The next day it sold. I love a good ending.   I also love to end with a quote. Sit down and think about it, but remember to get up quickly and start moving in the direction of your dreams.

ONE LOVE

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world“

Anne Frank 

BEFORE & AFTER: I LOVE YOUR GUTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEFORE & AFTER: I LOVE YOUR GUTS

I LOVE YOUR GUTS

What are you really made of? What’s deep down in your guts? If you peel back the layers do you like what you see. Who you are on the outside is a manifestation of what you are in the inside. Love me love my guts!

It starts with a simple frame. The bones have to be strong. Ours all wood, while cheaper versions rely on press-board.  Once it arrives at Tiger Lily’s (www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com) we work with the good solid bones, the kind that drink Milk and build strong components around the shape.

SPRING INTO ACTION

Our sofas have hand tied springs. Commercial quality sofas, the kind you GASP… get from places like Pottery Barn & Resto have factor compressed springs or webbing. Let me put this into terms most body & health conscious people understand. We are talking about the difference between filling your body with saturated fats and organic foods.

THE GOOD STUFF

Once you have got the good stuff,  it is time to layer and protect, that is the layer of muscle.

FOAM LAYER COVERED IN MUSLIN

You have to feel good inside. That’s the truth. That is advice that relates to the insides of the sofa and the insides of the soul.

On a personal front, I can say from experience that you need layers of protect over your good stuff. Everyday something comes at you… Maybe you try for a job and the answer is no. Maybe you tell someone you love them and the reply is that they don’t feel the same way. Maybe you want something that is forever out of reach. A good soul, good foundation and protected foundation are the only way to combat all those things.

GET THE GOODS INSIDE THEN COVER THEM

Once you establish the person you are inside, you fortify, protect then cover with the shield of who you want to be. When you do it right the outside exactly matches the inside. When you do this right in upholstery you have clean, solid inside guts covered in muslin then covered in fabric.

 

FABRIC IS THE FACE

The fabric is the face you give to the people. The fabric is what you want people to know about you. This guy’s solid. This guy’s strong. This guy is all blue. Blue is the color of the sky, the sea and represents heaven on earth. I personally like that skin. It is thick and inviting but doesn’t penetrate.

That’s how you own skin should be. The world can throw punches and shake your foundation, but you’ve got to have thick skin. You have got to be able to put things in perspective, not take defeat personally and go at it again. Celebrate get stronger and show off who you are. It is the differences in your personality that make you special and make you shine.

CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL

A few things in life make you who you are and make you special. Celebrate that. This sofa has decorative tufting, a waterfall skirt and decorative tape. It is special. It is not for everyone. It is for someone. It is ONE LOVE.  Just one person has to love it and until that person pops up, it has to be strong enough, down to its guts to take every moment that comes in between.

AFTER:
BUILT TO LAST
BUY ME: http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com

AFTER:
Built to last. The Grateful Dead sang it strong.

“Three blue stars set on the hill
Say no more now just be still
All these trials soon be past
Show me something built to last”

 

Thanks & Gratitude.  I see you all on Rockethub supporting my Dream. I see it everyday!

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/22909-sam-on-the-scene

 

 

BEFORE & AFTER: LET’S FACE IT-MAKEUP GOES A LONG WAY

 

BEFORE & AFTER: LET’S FACE IT-MAKEUP GOES A LONG WAY

BEFORE:
PREPS
SAM ON THE SCENE

BEFORE: 

I am all about the before and after. This time it is me! This is my before. This is how I look on most days, especially following three straight of burning the midnight oil. I am working hard lately to grow my business. When it comes to operating your own business, days and night go into the “before.” How do you impact growth? How much of what you are doing adds to the bottom line?

BEFORE:
MAKE ME OVER
http://www.mymakeupartistvictoria.com

 

Winston Churchill once said,  “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”  A successful business has give and get. Victoria De La Rios and her team at http://www.mymakeupartistvictoria.com, is helping me here. Both of us donating time and energy to the 8th Annual Taste of Hope, benefitting the American Cancer Society. It is held every year at 82Mercer.

IT TAKES AN ARMY
HAIR & MAKEUP TAG TEAM

AFTER:
FINISHING TOUCHES

AFTER:

It is amazing how you can start the day off one way and with a little help, hair and makeup, transform into something entirely different.

AFTER
READY FOR THE WORLD

Taste of Hope is the American Cancer Society’s signature culinary, wine and spirits event featuring some New York’s most popular chefs, restaurants and beverage vendors. Here’s a freeze frame  from the quick interview with Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster and Food Network Fame.

I watched him touch the heart of a cancer patient. It took her a good deal of strength to walkover and talk to him.

 

I asked her about the experience. When I get the video together #neednewintern #rockethub I promise to share  her inspiring story with all you.

In the end we celebrated more then Taste Of Hope. It was the American Cancer Society’s 100th Birthday. We closed on a strong note. When I close, you can expect a sell. This one is a pull on the purse strings for the American Cancer Society. Money raised on this night go to the goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Together we save lives and create a world with more birthday’s.

 

If you got this far and wonder about my need for an intern. That still exists! For more information on our blog, you can check out the website, tigerlilygreenwich.com.

 

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

Dr.Suess