Sometimes it's the little projects that take the longest to tackle. For us it was a set of boring and bare bookshelves inside the Bergen Mama offices. We knew they needed to be filled with chic, stylish, and conversation-starting pieces, but every time we tried to figure out exactly what those were, we came up with, well, not much. Enter our home decor dream guy: Ryan Day.
We gave the Bergen County-based owner of Ryan Day Interiors a $500 budget, let him do his thing, and wow, did he come through. He found all of the shelves' fabulous fillings from budget-conscious-but-still-really-awesome vendors like Amazon, Gilt, and, of course, HomeGoods (save for one piece he got at a Montclair boutique), which ensured we'd stay below budget.
"I think bringing mixed materials of fresh flowers, candles, books, natural items such as agate geodes or raw crystals create interest," Day says about the project. "I also believe in getting beautiful frames and filling them with photos that are meaningful or that make my client happy."
Basically, Day is the guy you want in your corner when it comes to a heavyweight bout between you and a potentially harrowing home design project, whether it's just accessorizing shelves or completely renovating your whole kitchen. He's got zillions of great resources, and can tip you off on everything from where to find cool coffee table books at designers' discounted prices to which is the absolute best HomeGoods in the state (um, that would be in Wayne). Day's motto is "It's the small details that make the big project," and it's his appreciation for beauty combined with his know-how of the nuts and bolts of design that help give him the perfect perspective. And he always makes sure to sprinkle a few unexpected pieces that symbolize sensitivity and humor that reflects who's living in the home. "I want each space to be personalized with your own style," he explains. "Not mine." Check out the before and after photos of our fab office below. Hopefully you'll get some inspiration to take on your own spring design project!
Check out our messy undone shelves before the redo
And then voila! $500 and Ryan's vision turned our office shelves into this...
