Dorsey Designs

DIY and Interiors by Sarah + David

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Home Tour

Our rental in Pismo Beach, CA! We spent 2 years making it our own, one DIY, budget friendly project at a time. Currently, we’re moving around for work -so we’re personalizing our rental in Tennessee during the week and renovating our home in Maryland on the weekend! We sold almost everything, so stay tuned for more DIY projects and a new home tour!!

ENTRY

Walking into our unit we have a pretty tight entryway. To maximize storage and space, we created a demilune table from a round table, perfect for holding keys and mail. The small size and round edges are perfect for our entryway because it doesn’t take up a lot of space!

Moving upstairs, we have DIY ombre frames with custom prints.

Our folded rope dome light has been one of my favorite projects to date!

 

Click to read more about: ombre console table, folded dome rope light, ombre frames, 
diy gold leaf lettering print
The second level has two bedrooms and two baths (while the living room/kitchen is on the third). Weird, right? The second level has practically no view, and the third has a great one, so the main living area is up there.
MASTER BEDROOM
I adore grasscloth wallpaper and nailhead trim! After wanting to use it for a while (and constantly living in rentals) I decided to make a removable feature wall incorporating grasscloth, nailhead, and trim. This way I get the custom look of wallpaper and nailhead, but with minimal (fixable upon moving) damage to the existing walls.

The bright coral upholstered headboard adds a pop of color and the custom curved arms repeat the edge of the nailhead design.

We built two nightstands with bamboo legs and a Skubb drawer from Ikea. We also painted dated brass lamps with white spray paint and made a removable white shade cover.

 

 

 

 

The writing desk was one of our first refinishing projects.
Click to read more about the grasscloth + nailhead feature wall, headboard, writing desk + chair, draperies, bamboo nightstands, coral chalk paint dresser, removable jersey lamp shade cover, painting dated brass lamps, adding a drum shade over a chandelier, chevron border stencil draperies, and trellis stenciled wall
GUEST BEDROOM
Our guest room was primarily repurposed from our previous master bedroom, mixed with my favorite diy mirror.

 

We made a fabric wrapped parson’s table from two hollow core doors. The fabric was the perfect way to hide minor imperfections in the doors. We also upholstered two Ikea Lack tables with a moroccan fabric.
Click to read more about: the headboard, painted glass diy mirror, dresser, fabric wrapped parsons table, Ikea Lack upholstered ottomans, bedskirt, round table to demi lune table, greek key pillow shams

Moving up to the third floor, we have two more landings. Did I mention that it is really hard to move furniture up here? 🙂

The first has a tall ombre gallery wall

and the second has a custom stenciled wall with frame shelves.

The third level has one long room that we use as an office and living room. Our DIY Schumacher Zimba inspired draperies on both sides help pull the space together and give it a pop of pattern and contrast.

OFFICE

 

The first important change was adding a credenza to hold all of my printers and papers. Getting all of my office clutter off of the ground and behind doors that could be closed when I was done for the day really helped. It’s amazing what a little organization can do!
March we made this statement chandelier from a fluorescent diffuser for Creating with the Stars. We also added stripes to the ceiling and trim attached with small finish nails. It didn’t go with our office at the time, but I loved it so much, that I decided to make it work 🙂
The round table was a roadside find – we added crown molding to the base, painted it and stenciled the top.
Then added a few large scale prints that read as one quote. I love the impact that the large font has! Even more, I love the price! I had them printed at Staples as engineering prints for a few dollars. Free download for text here.
Finally to finish the office, I added this large black and white abstract painting. I’ve changed this wall 4 times and finally found a good mix of scale and contrast! I feel like this finally pulled the office together, it’s amazing how one piece of art can do that!
Click to read more about: the desk, eames chairs, diy schumacher zimba inspired draperies, statement pendant light, abstract black and white art, round stenciled table, chevron credenza
LIVING ROOM
Our living room is shared with the office and divided with our minty blue open shelving unit. Using mostly materials from Habitat Restore, we were able to build it for only $35!
The living room seating area is grounded by a painted offset stripe rug. This was probably our quickest project – only taking a few hours!
and on top – our most time consuming project (by far my favorite too!) the herringbone driftwood table. David milled strips of wood from beach driftwood using a chop and table saw and constructed a metal base. I get tired just thinking about how much time that took! BUT so worth it, now we’ll always have a memento from our time here.
We painted a set of nesting tables white and added a key stenciled top. The lampshade was also stenciled with a greek key. Stenciling is one of the cheapest ways to add pattern to virtually anything!
Click to read more about the chartreuse caning chair, tv stand, long turquoise ottoman, 10 minute pillow shams, greek key pillow, custom cornice, custom shelving, driftwood herringbone table, and offset striped painted rug

 

Comments

    • Thank you! The walls were painted when we moved in so I'm not, but they are close to Sherwin Williams Dover White. Let me know if you have a specific piece of furniture you were interested in 🙂

  9. I love your home! So fresh and elegant! Question: where did you get the fabric on the pillows and the lamp shade in the guest bedroom? I saw that same fabric in one of my magazines and would love to find it to use in my master bedroom. Any help would be appreciated!

  11. I hope I'm not repeating any questions, but I love the group of 4 photos (initial, state, dog, etc.), where did you get the state pic with your exact colors? I need something like that for my home!

  12. I love your bedroom! I was wondering where you got your bed skirt or did you make it?
    Thanks,
    Brenna

    • Hi Erin! I took some Graphic Design classes in my undergrad, and got a lot of practice in grad school since most of my projects were digital. David (my husband) minored in Graphic Design, so he has taught me a lot too!

  14. Love the DIY Rope design Pendant light. I like the way you built a "Jig" to keep all of your shapes consistently sized. You made it look very easy but also do-able. Also love the mirror with the old glass chandy panels. I often see those and wonder how they could be used. Just Fab!

  15. SO awesome. I love every bit of your space. Girl after my own heart, because I love adding nice bright colors into my rooms as well. 🙂 You've done it so well!

  16. Hey Sarah!
    You have a great site, you are so creative. I love your style. So glad I fell upon your blog.

    Cheers from Canada,

    Alexis

  19. your home is so pretty with so much character! I can't figure out what I want to pin first!!!really love all your diy touches, especially your ruffled curtains in the bedroom and your stenciled walls.

  22. I loved browsing through your home! Just simply lovely! I found you via East Coast Creative. I'll come back for a visit!!

  23. Your designs are really a treat for the eye and a temptation for every home owner 🙂 Yellow, blue and green pastels in such delightful patterns – this is certainly a must-read for everyone who wants to be in stride with the latest trends in interior design!

    Yours sincerely,

    Margaret

    Please contact me at Fantastic Carpet Cleaners at Melbourne

  27. Hi Sarah! Your home is truly an inspiration. I am moving into an apartment with off-white walls and I'm trying to figure out how I can make it look colorful and bright in there without painting, although I'm allowed to if I want to. I just love all your colorful pieces and different patterns! I was wondering if you made your bed skirt yourself, and if so, did you post a tutorial?

    • Hi Caitlin – the frames in the bedroom are SW Anew Gray. Let me know if you meant another set 🙂

  29. I can't begin to imagine what you would do with a house you actually owned! You're very creative and your DIY doesn't LOOK DIY.

  31. HOLY MOLY! I just found your blog and im literally IN LOVE! I swear my house has the same color scheme and everything Ive seen so far is my taste to the T! My eyes came to tears because FINALLY some else gets me 🙂 You and your great taste in design made my day so much better. INSPIRED !!!!!!!!!

  35. I was wondering about those lovely gold side tables in your master… would you mind sharing where you found those?

  36. Dear Sarah:

    I thing that your blog is a truly inspiration, I love your desings and style, the brightness and combination of colors looks lovably!! please go on with the blog.

    Jorge Ramirez

  37. Your house is absolutely beautiful! I love how light and airy everything is, with pops of bright color! Also what kind of camera do you have? Your pictures look so pretty!

  38. Hi Sarah! I recently started following your blog and I love what you do! I am currently looking for a new couch and am considering the Karlstad. I was wondering how you feel about it, and also where you got your slipcover? I didn't see that option on the ikea website, but am looking for something in a lighter grey. Thanks so much!

    • Hi Christine, thanks so much!! We've had the Karlstad for about 5 years and for the price, it's held up great! We got the cover about a year ago at Ikea, it was discontinued, so unfortunately I don't think they have any left. Wish I could be more helpful!

  39. wow, wow, wow!!! happy to have found your blog via pinterest! your home is ever so lovely! you've done an amazing job.

  40. Sarah-I love your home, you have an amazing eye for design and making beautiful solutions when it comes to decorating your space! I'm a big fan!!!

  43. Amazingly beautiful!! Just found you via Jennifer @ Dimples & Tangles. LOVE your unique ideas and your use of color. Could you please come & help me? 🙂

    Pat

  45. Sarah I really love your home and all the colors! Can I ask where you collect all your pillows from?

  50. Your are amazingly talented! I've recently discovered your blog and cannot stop reading what you have been posting. Looking forward to more great stuff!!

  56. I found your blog on Pinterest 🙂 I'm on the search for a sofa that I love and I'm in love with the sofa pictured in your living room. Where did you purchase it? Hopefully I can find a similar one!

  57. I've read many blogs, but love love your house. It's the perfect mix of color and patterns. I live in Dominican Republic and your decor totally works here.
    P.S. Pardon my english, it's not my mother tongue.

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