Blog

Choosing Paint: Pick the Perfect Neutral

Neutral paint may sound blah and boring, but it’s far from it.  It can be a backdrop for your artwork and furnishings, complement more adventurous colors or make a statement all its own.  Picking a perfect neutral color is not difficult when you know what to look for, but picking the wrong color can indeed look a bit blah.  Still, there are so many neutral paint options that it can be a bit dizzying trying to pick one.  Here are some helpful suggestions to make the experience a little less painful:

Do Your Research
Go to your local home store where they have a larger color and brand selection of free paint swatches to choose from. Even if you don’t plan on getting the paint there, any store will match a competitor’s color.  Load up on every possible variation you see. Tip: colors look darker on the little chips then they will look on the wall. If you’re not sure, choose the darker one.  Get test quarts or 2 oz. testers of the colors you picked. Paint them directly on the wall so you can see them in different lights, both artificial at nighttime and in natural daylight.

Consider the Existing Space
Sit in the space you plan to paint and fan out the colors. You will notice a huge variation in shades. Some beige’s will have green tones, others pinker, gray or brown.  It will also help to look around your room. Is there a predominant color or tone? Very often, without even realizing it, we pick up colors in certain shades while rejecting others. You may see many shades of green and sage around you, or peachy warm tones. Pay attention to this because these are the colors that make you feel good.

Start with the Living Room
The living room is where the color scheme for your house is typically determined. Consider the color of your floorings, sofa, window coverings, etc. The largest pieces in the room will naturally dictate the neutral you end up with.  Aim to choose one that matches your overall theme. A warm tan neutral for dark, masculine furnishings, or a sunny neutral for a lighter, yellow toned decor. Or you may want to complement your decor by choosing a neutral with cool gray undertones to set off the warmer colors already in the room.  Both of these choices are great; it just depends on what works for you.

Take Extra Steps
Don’t be tempted to skip the extra step of trying the right on the wall. It will be insurance against getting nonreturnable paint in a color that doesn’t look the same as the swatch. More than anything else this will help you pick the perfect neutral paint!

A Living Room Makeover: Tips on What You Can Do Now to Improve the Look

Your living room is the focal point of your house.  It should accentuate your beautiful interiors and designs.  If you feel like yours might need a little work, it might be time for a makeover!  Giving your living room a makeover can be a fairly simple project, but the results can be drastic and satisfying if you do it right.  Changing the look can do a lot for your mood and make the room more inviting too. Take a weekend to achieve a completely new ambiance, or take on some of the ideas one at a time for an evolving project.  Most of these ideas require minimal do-it-yourself skills.   Change is good. Why not look around your home and see the possibilities?

Re-Arrange the Furniture
Make a wide open space feel homey by arranging chairs and sofas close together and away from the walls. Just make sure you include plenty of space for traffic flow. Add a central piece, such as an area rug, to help define the area and eliminate “floating” furniture.

Re-Paint
Painting the living room is a big project in terms of time and effort, but is actually quite inexpensive. Two or three gallons of paint will do for even a large living room that requires two coats. Add some accent colors, brushes, rollers and paint trays, and you’re set to go for under $100. To make this idea really effective, choose colors other than off-white. Look at some of the colors you have used in your decorating and find one intense color that you really like. Use it on one wall and select a complementary color for the other walls.

Re-Cover
Today’s wide selection of slipcovers makes it easier than ever to change the look of a room. The fabrics, colors and designs can fit almost any size couch, love seat or chair you may have.   And once you decide on a color scheme, changing your throw pillows is next. This can be done simply with pillow shams that can slip over existing throw pillows. If you would prefer new pillows, you can do that as well. Maybe you can recycle your living room throw pillows by using them in another room.

Quick makeovers can also be accomplished by changing the window coverings. The color of the blinds, curtains or whatever you have on your windows can totally change the mood of the room. Curtains can be as simple as two rectangles of fabric attached to a curtain pole with rings. If you want to be a little more creative, line the curtains with a contrasting color and add curtain tie-backs. When you pull the curtains back, the lining will show, adding interest to the window treatments.

Add Accessories
Dress up a neutral room with accessories.  Look for statement pieces, such as a wall sculpture or mirror, to create a sophisticated vibe.  Keep furniture simple, but accent it with a boldly patterned rug.  Color accents will add a punch of color that may be needed, but don’t distract from the statement pieces.  Art can also make a huge difference.  What do you have hanging on your walls? Maybe you are getting tired of the look you have going and switching the art work will completely change the look and feel of the room.   And don’t forget to think about pieces that you currently have in other rooms.  Maybe you want to swap them out into your living room. That is always another way to give the room a new look.

Consider Your Space
Prevent a small living room from looking cramped by choosing the right furniture. Exposed chair legs and airy coffee tables make even the smallest spaces look larger. Keep accessories simple so they don’t overtake the delicate feel of the furniture.   If you have a wood floor, clean and polish it to a high shine. Have your carpet professionally cleaned or use an off-the-shelf product to do it yourself. Add an area rug to define the conversation area. If you don’t have a conversation area, make one by arranging a sofa, a coffee table and one or two chairs in a space small enough so that you can easily hear someone sitting anywhere in the conversation area speaking in a normal voice. Try to coordinate the colors of your walls, rug, curtains and upholstery with each other.

A room makeover can be drastic but a change for the better. If you need assistance with a makeover for any room in your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help!

Decorating with Pattern: Fun and Inspiring Ideas

Getting creative with pattern is an inexpensive and fun way to breathe life into your home environments.  From wallpaper to towels, there are endless options to explore in order to achieve the look you want.  Many people like to play it safe by having one pattern with all solids in a given room. but I urge you to experiment by bringing in different kinds of patterns to create unexpected and unique combinations. Prints and patterns are also a fun and creative way to express your taste and personality.  Here are some important things to consider so you can decorate with patterns like a pro: 

Mix Patterns

Designers like things in odd numbers, especially the number three. Whether you’re combining colors, patterns or decorative objects, three is often the magic number that just works best.  And it’s no different when working with patterns in a room!  When selecting patterns, pick a large scale pattern that will make the strongest statement in your room.  For the secondary pattern, select a very different pattern that’s half the scale or size of the first pattern.  If your first pattern is a large floral, the second pattern should not be a floral but should include some of the same colors.  And the third pattern can be similar to either of the other patterns and use two or three of the colors in the other patterns.  Don’t let the fear of mixing three different patterns leave you perplexed.  Just remember: large scale with many colors, medium scale with some colors, and small scale with just a few.

Photo: Pinterest

 Photo: Elle Decor

Limit Your Color Scheme

When you decide to add some pattern to your decor, remember to limit the palette of colors and designs you are using.  Patterns can be quiet dominant in terms of color and appearance.  For example,  if you combine two floral patterns, be sure that they are not overpowering each other, but rather complimenting one another.  Mixing patterns should achieve a balanced look.  Don’t mix pastels with primary colors, or muted with vibrant jewel tones.  A large floral, a smaller floral, a stripe and a check will work together if they are made from the same set of dyes in the same hue.  Also, using related colors is what will tie the patterns together.  Try choosing obviously different patterns, such as a wide stripe and a paisley, in the same palette and it will look intentional and not mismatched.

 Photo: Jonathan Adler

Photo: Pinterest

Consider Fabric Feel

Be aware that there’s more to a fabric than simply color.  All fabrics have a personality or a feel and some don’t mix.  Most people would identify damask, for example, as a formal fabric.  While most would  agree that stripes or plaid are casual, informal fabrics. These levels of formality should definitely come into play when you’re mixing patterns.

 Photo: House Beautiful

Create Balance

Avoid putting all patterned pieces together on one side of a room as they may throw off the room’s balance.  Distribute solids and patterns smoothly throughout the room to create an aesthetically pleasing look.  Also consider that other elements of the room, from the fireplace to paneling, contain patterns that should be considered as part of the grand scheme.

 Photo: Elle Decor

Think About Function

Pattern can have a big impact on how a room feels. If you’re trying to pull a space together and create harmony, think larger patterns. If your goal is to draw attention to one part of a room, smaller patterns will do the trick. Also think about pattern personality. A busier pattern will up the energy level in a room, while a simple or pale patterns will promote a feeling of calm.

Decorating for Dudes: Designer Advice for Creating a Handsome Home

Masculine details in home interior design are clean and simple in appearance with rich colors, strong designs, and an absence of excessive detailing.  It’s something that everyone should think about when decorating the home, as the masculine aesthetic is truly appealing to both the sexes…whether women realize it or not! A warm, natural look is very “today” and here are some tips for incorporating it into your home:

Colors
Go with darker tones!  Rich color schemes such as chocolate brown, black, grey and deep blue are one of the most effective ways to impart a masculine look in your home design.  When it comes to upholstery- stay with the darker shades as well. If you go with a smoky color on the walls, go with a darker, chic brown leather sofa.  Color has a great impact on household style. If these colors provide the majority of the backdrop, you can add subtle splashes of color and texture to give the room some depth.

Functionality
Ask any man what the most important factor should be when designing a masculine room and they’ll likely say it’s the electronics.  Make sure you plan for this in the design stages.   The most important electronic- the television- should be in a location that is comfortably orientated to the furniture.  You don’t want to be craning your neck to watch your favorite show!  Also consider a stereo or gaming system as a room won’t work for men unless gadgets are integrated into the design. These should be hidden in a cabinet as to keep with the clean and simple style of the room.

If you have a fireplace- make sure to include it in your design!  Don’t let it be an after-thought as it’s an element that will add to the masculine feel of the room unlike anything else.  Configure the furniture around it as best you can. If you main seating area is focused on a television, create a separate seating area around the fireplace.  Trust me- you’ll use it!

 

Furniture and Lighting
Careful consideration of furniture is essential for a masculine and comfortable room. It is important for that the couch looks good, but it must be comfortable enough so that the man of the house can curl up all afternoon when he wants to watch a football game.

As for tables, chairs and other pieces of furniture – the pieces should be strong and solid. Items that are extremely ornate with floral carvings should be replaced with pieces with strong lines, elegant curves and simple accents. Consider a reclaimed wood piece such as a coffee table to add texture to the room. The key does not lie in making the room a masculine room, but rather, avoiding a style that is too feminine.

Lighting is also very important, as we’ve blogged about many times.  Make sure you follow the basic rules and have multiple sources such as recessed lighting and table lamps, but consider adding an industrial element such as exposed lighting. Having fun with details like this will make for a handsome home that everyone will appreciate.

Accessories
When it comes to other props and ornaments Look for items that are interesting rather than merely pretty – international ornaments like Chinese lacquer boxes, African tribal bookends, Moroccan candlesticks. etc.

And when it comes to the vast array of wall art available today, men, stereotypically, like animal prints and woodland scenes. Women tend to gravitate to garden and cottage landscape scenes. If a landscape cannot be agreed upon, consider a seascape or a coastal scene. Architecture and city scenes also make good compromises and anything abstract will look right at home.

Make Your Home Happier: Tips to Create a Cheerful Space

A cheerful home is one that makes you feel happy, energetic and uplifted. If you feel like your home could use a little love, there are many easy and cost-effective ways to brighten the appearance, while cheering up your family in the process!   From fresh coats of paint to sunny lighting schemes to lively window treatments, small changes can have a big impact. And some projects can be tackled in just one short weekend.  Here are some simple tips to make your home cheerier and more inviting:

Brighten Things Up

One reason color is so important is because it has the powerful ability to change your mood.  Liven up rooms by selecting a bright color scheme.  Use colors that are associated with cheerfulness.  Bright, sunny colors like orange, yellow, gold, apricot/peach, rose and blush are good options.  Vibrant hues tend to lift our spirits the most because their intensity naturally produces energy. However, any color or color combination that is not considered routine can make us smile.  White is also a good option.  A bright white kitchen is definitely going to be a happy place in the home where everyone congregates.  Remember, dark colors can absorb light and make rooms darker, so avoid those unless that’s the look you want to go for.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Lonny Mag

Photo: House to Home UK

Let the Light In

To achieve a cheerful energy in any space, tap into as much natural light as you can.Large, open windows are ideal. Enable the light to pour in at all times during the day. By literally letting more light into your home, you can make your days more cheerful. Also, make sure to avoid anything too heavy by way of drapes or blinds. Try replacing heavy drapes or dark colored shades with translucent curtains or blinds. This way you let in natural light while keeping your privacy in place. Another trick is to make use of mirrors to bring reflection and brightness to the room. Mirrors reflect light and color to make a room feel cheerier.

Photo: Lonny Mag

Photo: House to Home UK

Choose Happy Accents

Using striking colors and patterns can create a room that makes you smile.  You can add warmth as well as color by layering on pillows and throws to accent favorite pieces of furniture.  And something that you may not consider is that lighter woods and furnishings will make the room feel happier. Avoid dark furniture if you want a lighter, brighter room because it can tend to suck up energy and make the room feel darker as a whole. And an easy touch that anyone can do to instantly see an improvement is to add paintings or other artwork that have cheerful themes and lots of color.

Photo: Lonny Mag

Photo: Pinterest

Add Some Life:

Plants can bring a bit of the outdoors into your indoor space, which is always a good thing! Pleasant smelling and brightly colored flowers can work wonders in making the space livelier. A plant on the window above the sink, pink tulips in the bathroom or an indoor herb garden in the kitchen are some other suggestions.

Give Your Mantel a Makeover

Even when it’s not in use, the fireplace is a natural focal point in a room that can’t be ignored. And the mantel is a great vignette that you can redecorate as often as you’d like!   It’s a wonderful place to incorporate your room’s overall design scheme and a simple adjustment can change the feel of the entire space.  Determining what to showcase and how is often times a challenge for homeowners.  Design is very personal, and the mantel is no exception. Whether you prefer contemporary or traditional design, here are some ideas for giving your mantel a little makeover:

Pick A Color, Any Color
Use your fireplace mantel as a place to showcase color.  Be bold with layering and position a small piece of art over a large piece. Or, for a splash of color, warm up a neutral mantel with a colorful painting.

Go Eclectic 
Be confident in an eclectic style by incorporating a few repeating elements, which will create a chic, not disorganized, look.   Create visual interest by selecting a collection of objects.

Keep It Simple and Symmetric
A classic look relies on simplicity and balance.  In a traditionally decorated space, keep your mantel decor simple and uniform.

Layer it Up 
Layering allows you to show off a variety of objects without creating a cluttered look.  The variety of shapes and sizes allows for an interesting pattern within a consistent overall look. Incorporate other striking objects that add height and contrast to your core collection.

Make A Statement 
Use your mantel to showcase a single, showstopping piece. An obvious choice, because it works so well, is to hang a large mirror above the fireplace. Whether your style is simple and modern or antique and ornate, it’s sure to make a statement.

Feminine Florals
We love to use the mantel to present changing displays of flowers. The flowers are not only a sign of the season, but reflect your personal style and taste as well!