An interior design blog with furniture reviews, interior decorating tips, DIY projects, and home furniture guides.

Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Soul Mates – Furniture Pairs that Just Belong Together

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

It’s easier to make a splash with some pieces of furniture than it is with others. But when you pair certain pieces of living room furniture together, say a fireplace and a club chair, you not only up the room’s “wow” factor, you also add another layer of comfort and functionality to your living space.

A club chair or a recliner parked beside an accent table instantly forms its own grouping separate from rest of the living room. Just add a lamp and you have your own personal space for reading the latest bestseller or catching up on the evening news.

In a living room or family room, pairing a loveseat with the Butler Specialty Plantation Cherry Wood Nesting Tables increases your options: it allows you to have a meal in front of the television; a place to put two different bowls of munchies while watching a movie; and when entertaining, you can move the nesting tables around the room to wherever else they are needed.

Placing an unusual mirror above a console table in a foyer makes a statement about your personality and the home you’re welcoming people into. Whether the mirror is an attention grabber or not, pairing a console table and a mirror together is a practical combination – you can set down your keys or purse to check your appearance or fix your lipstick just before you go out the door.

To create a conversation piece and punch up the room’s visual impact, include pieces of furniture that are typically found in other rooms, such as a dresser in the dining room instead of the traditional sideboard or a baker’s rack in a hallway in lieu of  the standard console table.

I have stayed in places where there was no nightstand by the bed; it always causes me minor annoyance at the realization that I have to now get out of bed to turn out the light just as I feel I could easily drift off to sleep. A nightstand or a bedside is the perfect companion for any type of bedroom, from a master bedroom to a guest room to a child’s room. If you want to ramp up your bedroom décor replace the standard night stand with a hand-painted accent chest or a bachelor chest, which is slightly wider than a nightstand but not as wide as a dresser.

Pairing furniture pieces in such a way as to increase the room’s functionally is just good sense. You can also make your furniture pairings stand out and grab attention by selecting living room, hallway and bedroom furniture pieces that are unique and striking.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Country Living Cottage Style – Cottage Living Room Ideas

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Cottage style is an ideal choice for a living room because it is laid-back, inviting and comfortable. It creates the feeling of welcome; of time passing without the watchful eye of the clock; and of being “lived in.” Cottage style, in many ways, shares similar elements with casual country. Both styles are eclectic in nature, relaxed and unpretentious and display a folksy warmth that is very inviting. Where these two styles differ, cottage style themes and motifs tend to be centered around water; reflecting lifestyles lived near a lake or by an ocean. Today, we’ll begin a new a series called “Country Living Cottage Style” and talk about how to create that cottage style look for your living room.

A cottage style palette reflects nature, especially water and sky. Pure whites and creams are a good place to start for colors for windows, doors and baseboards, and even the walls themselves. But whether the color in the cottage style living room is added to the walls directly or introduced through the furniture and when accessorizing, it should also incorporate soft, pastoral shades such as pale forest greens, tranquil shades of blue and the yellows found in summer roadside flowers.

Cottage style definitely has that country air, but lines a simpler, colors are brighter and while wood finishes are lighter, like casual country, they tend to be distressed. Cottage style living room furniture typically has decorative detail like turned legs, a milk-washed finish or louvered or beadboard panels. Fabrics and textiles for furniture and window treatments commonly make creative use of plaids, nubby wools, ginghams and small checks or floral patterns.

The sofa should have a wide, comfortable seating area, with an overstuffed backrest and rolled arms. It should be upholstered in homey fabrics that have an “arts and crafts” feel, like a quilted finish, a nubby cotton or florals. Sofas that include organic elements like wicker accents or rattan frames will also work well in a cottage style living room. When selecting accent chairs, an armchair or a recliner, keep in mind that they don’t have to match. Here is where the eclectic aspect of cottage style will manifest itself.

Tables should have a casual, yet charming appeal. Look for end tables, a coffee table, a console table or a set of nesting tables that have a distressed or washed finish; are painted white or cream with tabletops in a lighter wood finish like pine, cherry or oak. Accent chests and accent tables can have turned legs, stenciling or hand-painted designs.

When accessorizing, choose casual table lamps with checked, striped or plaid shades. Shades with in a gingham or floral print are also good choices. Lamp bases will often include organic elements like wicker or terracotta. Framed pictures should reflect the region, such as photos of the lake or prints of local attractions. Don’t forget those classic cottage accessory standbys like hurricane lamps, pillar candles on stone or ceramic candleholders and a hand-made quilt or hand-knit throw as added protection against a chilly night.

Next week, in the second part of the series, we’ll take a look at the cottage style bedroom.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Japanese Style for a Relaxing Dining Experience

Friday, May 28th, 2010

A Japanese style dining room takes the best of east-meets-west by combining the minimalist principles of traditional Japanese design with contemporary western lifestyles. The result is simple lines paired with warm earth tones; rich wood finishes married to lighter organic elements and dining furniture artfully arranged to create balance and harmony. Shape also plays an important role in Japanese dining room design: it’s important for each piece of furniture to work in concert to create a calming and tranquil space that is appealing to the senses.

To create a Japanese style dining room that is soothing and harmonious, start with a color palette that reflects natural elements. Choose soft grays and greens for rocks and leaves; earth-toned yellows for sand and sun; washed-out neutrals for waterfalls, mists and clouds. In a traditional Japanese style room, the walls are typically free of decoration, but one featured print or a choice grouping of smaller sized photographs would be acceptable in a contemporary Japanese dining room design.

When selecting furniture for a Japanese designed dining room, choose furnishings that have a definitive purpose. While esthetics certainly play a role in Japanese interior design, practicality is equally important. No furniture piece should be picked solely for its esthetic or decorative value. In fact, Japanese style dining furniture generally has no or very little decoration. The furniture should stand low to the ground, be made of wood and arranged in such a way that “empty space” is featured in room’s décor as much as the furniture is. It is this “push-pull” effect between empty and occupied that creates contrast and visual interest.

In Japanese interior design the proper lighting is important. Any available natural light should be made the most of and used to its best advantage. Lighting can be softened by rice paper, silk or white glass shades. When accessorizing a Japanese style dining room, adhere closely to the essentials or things that have a specific purpose, such a glass vase, candles or shoji screen-like window treatments or room dividers. The overall effect should be not too bare and definitely not cluttered or cramped. You might have to experiment to get the right balance, but it will be worth it in the long when your dining room is a tranquil and elegant example of Japanese interior design.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Mosaic Table Tops: How to Make Your Own

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

I’m the first to admit that when it comes to DIY projects, I’m not the handiest person on the planet. But when I told a girlfriend of mine about this collectible dinner set that my family had hung on to for some reason, and was now worthless because almost every single piece had been broken and glued back together, she suggested we break the plates again and make a mosaic table. As long as I had DIY guide, I was willing to attempt something crafty. Besides, it sounded fun and it actually did turn rather well (if we may so say ourselves).

Start with an old table in need of a transformation. We chose a round one but any shape or size will do. Collect a variety of broken or found objects such as tiles, plates, colored glass, mirrors, beads, seashells, stones, etc. To create as smooth and flat a tabletop as possible, the more level the pieces, the better.

Tools and Materials You Will Need

- Tile Adhesive

- Tiling tool

- Grout

- 1” paint brush

- Super strong glue (WeldBond works well)

- Enough square tiles to surround the outside of the table. (Tile size is determined by this calculation: tabletop +  thickest mosaic piece + 1/16” polymer = total thickness)*

- Thin cardboard, cut the same height as the tiles for the perimeter of the table, enough to go around the outside  (Cardboard from cereal boxes works well)

- A level

- A polymer compound such as EnviroTex Lite (Amount will vary depending on how big your table top is and how thick you want the top coat)

- Spray paint or stain for the base (optional)

- Tile cutter (optional)

Prep Work

- Wash the table

- Paint the table in a well ventilated area

- Level the table (If the table is wobbly, you can buy levelers at a hardware store)

- When breaking plates, glass, tiles, etc. make sure you protect your hands and eyes with gloves and goggles

- Make a sketch of your pattern or practice on the floor first

Creating the Mosaic Tabletop

- Cover the table top with tile adhesive

- Arrange broken/cut tiles in desired pattern

- Let dry

- Measure the tabletop width and the biggest piece on your mosaic, decide how thick you want your top coat and add these 3 numbers together. (i.e. tabletop 1” thick + 1/4” mosaic piece + 1/16” polymer = total thickness of 1 5/16”)*

- Cut cardboard into total thickness measurement

- Fill in the gaps between mosaic pieces with grout

- Leave to dry as per grout instructions

- Clean the tabletop with a damp cloth or sponge

- Glue cardboard to the perimeter with super strong glue, creating a level mould to pour Polymer compound in, be sure there are no gaps or holes for polymer to leak out of*

- Mix polymer as per manufacturer directions and pour into card board ring or paint onto surface (Save about 1 cup for the last step)

- Check for any leaks.

- Remove bubbles and let dry as per instructions

- Remove cardboard

*NOTE: This step can be skipped if level tiles are used OR if the table top is not meant to be level. In these cases only a thin layer of Polymer is painted onto the table top surface.

Finishing Touches

Paint the sides with tile adhesive. Then glue the tiles to the sides of the table. Let it dry thoroughly. Fill in with grout. Then let this dry. Paint polymer compound all around the new tiles to seal the tiles on the side (or sides) of the table.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in How To & DIY Furniture, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

From the Design Files of Heather B – When You don’t have a Guest Room

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Design Question

 What can I do to make my townhouse extra comfy for my 12 year old niece coming over in the summer? She is from England and it’s just me, my dad, and my cat. I have never met her and neither has my dad. She is coming alone I think. I don’t know how long she is coming for.

It’s a 2 bedroom so she is going to have to sleep in the living room. I was going to buy a sectional couch and put the sections together to form a bed. (I don’t have a couch so I was going to buy one anyways).

What little touches can I do to my house to make it extra comfy for her? Thanks

Design Answer

There are ways to make a guest comfortable when you don’t have a guest room. A sectional is a good choice, as long as you select one that includes a pop-up trundle unit or a sleeper sofa (also called a sofa bed). A sectional with a trundle will convert the available sleeping area from twin size to full size. More room equals more comfort.

 Since you intend on purchasing a couch anyway, there are other dual-purposes sofa/bed options worth considering. A futon is designed to be used as a sofa by day and a bed at night. Sofa beds have a pull-out bed that is part of the sofa; it can be unfolded from inside the couch and then retracted when not being used as a bed. A convertible sofa is like a futon in that it can be used as both a couch and a bed, but you don’t have to purchase a separate mattress for it as you would for a futon sofa.

If either you or your dad is in the habit of watching late night television, put a small TV in one or both of your rooms. This will give your niece the freedom to turn in when she wants.

Especially since you don’t know how long she’ll be staying, when visiting someplace you’ve never been before, there’s nothing worse than having to live out of a suitcase. If possible, rearrange the closet closest to the living room as “her” space. Make room for her clothes; add a small dresser or chest of drawers in the closet so that she can conveniently store her things. If there’s room, include a hamper for her laundry.

Are there two bathrooms in your townhouse? If possible to share one with your dad, give her the other one. If not, clear out a drawer and/or part of a cabinet that she can use to store her shampoo and other beauty products.

In the event that you also need to buy end tables, select ones with a combination of drawers and at least one shelf. End tables that can function as nightstands will make the living room feel more like a guest room. It will also allow your guest to keep the things she uses the most close to hand. If there are bookshelves in the living room, place baskets or storage trays in a section of the bookcase or shelving unit to give your niece a handy place to tidy away articles of clothing, souvenirs and her camera or other electronic devices.

I’m sure you’ve already done so, but check to see that your niece is not allergic to your cat. If she is, plan on vacuuming the living room on a daily basis and keeping the cat off of the sofa.

Since she will be sleeping in a “communal” area, anything that you can think of that will create the illusion of her own room, will make her feel all that more welcome and comfortable.

Have a great visit with your niece!

Keep sending me your design questions, and especially if you’re asking for advice regarding wall color, tips on rearranging a specific room etc., include pictures if you can.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Coastal Living no Matter Where You Live

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Coastal style evokes easy living, blue ocean, sunny skies, breathing warm, salt air and feeling the pounding drum of the waves on a smooth, sandy shore. Recreating the perfect seaside vacation or a weekend escape to a coastal resort has become a popular interior design motif for those of us who have fond memories of the ocean but don’t live anywhere near it. Because many of us find the sound and feel of water soothing, it’s an appropriate theme for decorating the one room in our homes that most of us regard as a sanctuary after a busy, hectic day. It is also a great way to decorate a second bedroom, creating an instant holiday mood for your guests.

Coastal décor definitely reflects a specific region and mindset, from the moody grays of the Eastern Seaboard to the vibrant, tropical flavored colors of California’s Pacific Coast. Coastal style bedroom furniture is truly eclectic: it can take on the appearance of cottage country chic, the flowing lines and intricate, decorative accents of traditional design or anything in between. The style emphasis isn’t as important as feeling as though everyday you’re waking up at the beach. Coastal style is a blend of nautical themes, colors and materials culminating in a look that is casual, relaxed and fresh, creating a year-round vacation for the soul. And it’s easy to bring coastal living into your bedroom with these few simple design ideas.

Paint by Nature

Coastal style palettes range from vibrant hues like the Lexington Long Cove Middleton Night Stand to earth-toned colors, depending on which coast it takes its inspiration from. Marine blues, sky blues, sandy creams and beiges, sea greens, turquoise and white are common colors for furniture, walls, bedding and accessories. Lighter colors are favored over darker ones but pieces with medium to dark wood finishes are often used as accents or focal points to create visual interest. Painted finishes such as white, lemon and cream, bring a sunny day spent by the ocean into your home, while creating a relaxed environment. Since there are such a range of coastal style palettes, choose one; to give your bedroom a cohesive and tranquil feel, mix and match from different coastal palettes carefully.

Organic Elements

When designing a coastal style bedroom, select natural or organic materials for the furniture pieces in the room. Wood is a good place to start. Bamboo, teak, wicker and rattan are other popular materials for coastal style bedroom furniture. The Home Styles Queen Cabana Banana Natural Woven Bed in Cocoa Finish is certainly an ideal way of bringing a relaxed coastal mood into the bedroom.

Coastal Style Design Elements

Nautical stripes, anchors, shells, coastal birds and starfish are time-tested motifs for accessories and furniture decoration. Tropical flowers and trees are common patterns for bedding and fabrics. As demonstrated by the Stanley Coastal Living Louvered TV Door Deck, shutter or louvered detailing is a popular accent for anything from beds to nightstands to armoires.

The overall appearance of a coastal style bedroom should be relaxed and comfortable. Nothing makes a bed more inviting than a variety of pillows in different shapes and fabrics.

Window treatments should be made of lighter weight fabrics.

Going coastal can be as simple as pairing a dark woven mirror with a lighter contrasting dresser.

Accessorize with care; spreading your shell collection and other nautical-themed knickknacks around the room can make it appear small and even cluttered or cramped.

For that timeless, lived-in appeal, choose furniture that has a distressed, “worn” or antique look.

Because coastal style can be eclectic, furniture pieces might vary in size and proportion. When purchasing pieces for your coastal style bedroom, make sure that they match one another in scale.

Coastal style can be as casual or as sophisticated as you want it to be. Choose the mood for your bedroom that’s right for you.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Showing Off – Displaying Collectibles to their Best Advantage

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Antiques, memorabilia and collectibles can be anything from a few treasured postcards to antiques to a hug (a collection of teddy bears). Sometimes though collecting can snowball, becoming problematic by taking up too much of your living space. Whether your collection is small or large, a “museum” approach is best; what you view in on display in museum is only a portion of its entire collection. By displaying only a few choice pieces and storing away the rest, you can showoff your treasured keepsakes to their best advantage. It will also give you the option, as in a museum environment, to change the display from time to time, according to the season, a special holiday, a specific occasion or just because you want to. Getting into the habit of rearranging your collection from time to time also helps to better integrate your “museum pieces” into your living space.

There are many ways to showoff your collections. A collection of teapots, decorative plates or antique jugs would be best displayed in the kitchen or the dining room on the shelves of a sideboard with a hutch like the Somerton Villa Madrid China Display Cabinet in Dusk Brown Finish

or a baker’s rack such as the Steve Silver Madrid Bakers Rack. Whether it’s a wood bakers rack or a metal bakers rack, bakers racks with open shelves are the ideal way to display and store collectibles or decorative items in a kitchen, dining room or even a family room.

Curio cabinets are cabinets specifically intended to showcase collectibles and other treasured keepsakes. Because of their unique design, a curio cabinet such as the Pulaski Chocolate Cherry 46 Inch Wide Curio Cabinet typically has mirrored back as well as glass sides, so that each piece in the collection can be viewed and appreciated from all angles.

Wall cabinets with glass doors or specially designed wall mounted curio cabinets like the Howard Miller Edmonton Wall Display Curio Cabinet are perfect for putting the spotlight on smaller collections of ornaments that might not require a standard sized curio cabinet but still need to be protected from dust and the environs (including curious little fingers).

Bookcases are another ideal way to make a special place for your treasured keepsakes. The Jesper Collection 16 L-Puzzle Shelf has a versatile and distinctive design. It can be used as a single unit on a tabletop or a sideboard or you can use two or three to customize it to your showoff your collection to its best advantage.

http://www.morebookcases.com/Jesper-Collection-16-L-Puzzle-Shelf-230-X.htm?src=FADIBlogOrnaments, trophies, a collection of dolls, antique jugs and other family treasures are important additions to interior design because they give our homes personality as well as a comfortable, lived-in look. Because no one else has the same collection, it also makes your home totally unique to you.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Making a Royal Statement – Traditional Style with a Twist for the Living Room

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Today in part two of our series, we’ll discuss how to create a regal looking living room that will be fit for royalty – and you and your family too. Window treatments should be made of richly draped fabrics such as velvets and damasks. Accent pillows and cushions will have gold braid and gold tassels. Area rugs are opulently patterned in classic Oriental style. Grand and stately, all the living room furniture in the room should be traditional style pieces that are oversized and impressive, designed to make a statement with their stunning presence. It’s all about creating a space that possesses timeless beauty combined with contemporary functionality.

Royal Colors

Royal Living

The two colors most closely associated with royalty are purple and red. Any tone of these two colors will you’re your living a luxurious feel. Jewel shades such as ruby, jade, sapphire, amethyst, topaz and emerald are also good choices for a traditional style living room, especially one with a Victorian ambience. Deep, muted shades (from Benjamin Moore) are the best for emphasizing the sumptuous wood finishes of the traditional furniture made of mahogany, walnut, teak or cherry.

 Royal Furniture

Generally, when choosing living room furniture for your castle or palace, select traditional sub styles that have a royal ring like Queen Anne, Louis Philippe and Victorian. The most recognizable features of Queen Anne style furniture cabriole legs, the pad foot and shell or fan carvings. Victorian style furniture is typically opulent, “heavy” and lavishly decorated with detailed carvings and intricate scrollwork. Louis Philippe style furniture is distinguished by pedestal bases, bracket feet, do decorative motifs and smooth lines with rounded profiles.

The Office Star Queen Ann Traditional Blood Sofa has the signature cabriole legs, rounded back and delicately rolled arms.

If you prefer the dramatic and ornate styling of Victorian furniture, choose the Distinction Leather Tufted Chesterfield Leather Sofa. It possesses classic, oversized rolled arms, tufted upholstery and bun feet.

The Distinction Leather Tufted Chesterfield Leather Sofa has the framed, “squared-off” profile characteristic of the Louis Philippe style.

The American Drew Bob Mackie Nutmeg Coffee and End Table Set definitely displays Queen Anne sensibilities, with its cabriole legs and fan motif carvings.

Should you wish to add a bookcase in the Louis Philippe style to your living room, the Louis Philippe Cherry Bookcase perfectly demonstrates cabinetry set on a pedestal base with bracket feet. Note the rounded corners of the molding.

No contemporary home can be without a TV. Give your home theater or entertainment center a touch of royalty Victorian style with the Parker House Grandview Deluxe X-pandable Plasma Entertainment Center.

Accessorizing Royally

Especially if you have chosen Victorian style for your royal living room, Victorians are well-known for their penchant for excessive accessorizing: in a well-appointed Victorian parlor, literally ever surface would be covered by doilies, embroidered runners, figurines, heavy brass or silver candlesticks and ornately decorated lamps. Large portraits or landscapes in elaborately carved wood frames would decorate the walls. However, luxurious accessorizing, although not to quite the extent as in a Victorian style living room, also applies to Queen Anne and Louis Philippe styles. When making a royal statement, layer the room’s look by including different textured fabrics; don’t forget to mix nubbed wools, course tweeds, embroidered seat cushions and accent pillows with velvets and brocades in reds purples and dark greens.

Come back next week when we will be discussing how to design a traditional style dining room that will definitely make a royal impression.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Living Room Furniture & Design, Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Farmhouse Kitchen Reinvented

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

The farmhouse kitchen was literally the heart of the home. It was designed as a place not only to cook a lot of food for a lot of people, both immediate family members and farmhands, it was also the place where the meals were eaten and everyone would gather to catch up on news and socialize. It typically displayed exposed ceiling beams, wood floors, large stone, tile or porcelain sinks and hanging utensil racks. With a rustic charm that still resonates today, the farmhouse kitchen is the ideal kitchen interior design for a country, mission or even contemporary style home since it evokes a simpler time of hearty, home cooked meals, freshly baked bread and warm fruit pies, especially apple.

Farmhouse Kitchen Walls

The color palette should be as warm and inviting as possible. Deeps reds, grass greens, sunshine and lemon yellows, creams and mochas are popular colors for farmhouse kitchen walls, window treatments and area rugs. Other commonly used colors are the ones that closely resemble the shades and tones of spices.

To recreate the walls found in farmhouses of yesterday, walls are often made to look weathered and aged by specific painting techniques like ragging, sponging and other faux finishing methods. Stenciling is also used to decorate walls; common patterns used include farm animals such as roosters and cows; trailing vines; and fruits and vegetables.

Farmhouse Kitchen Floors

Pine wood, unfinished with a scrubbed or bleached appearance, is the premium choice for the kitchen floor in a farmhouse. Stone is also a common flooring material. A great alternative to a stone floor is simulated stone tiling; it’s easier to keep clean and not so difficult to maintain. Since the farmhouse kitchen is also a place where meals are eaten, round braided rugs or woven rugs with a country theme are used to add warmth and charm.

Farmhouse Kitchen Windows

Traditionally, farmhouse kitchen windows would have curtains in plaids, ginghams or florals. Window treatments are often paired with wide, draping tie-backs and swagged or ruffled valances. Tying back the curtain to let as much light in as possible was especially important in a farmhouse kitchen.

Farmhouse Kitchen Furniture

Pine furniture reigns supreme in the farmhouse kitchen. Tables are solid and square or rectangular in shape. Chairs have rounded backs. Wood finishes are whitewashed or lighter in color, often distressed to create an aged appearance. Often the dining area resembled a picnic table because the table had benches instead of side chairs.

Cupboard doors and door and drawer knobs are typically made of pine. Kitchen hardware and decorative accents made of brass, bronze or copper are also popular. Backsplashes are usually made of ceramic tile in beige, cream, taupe or other earth-toned neutrals.

Farmhouse Kitchen Charm (accessorizing)

Hang an oversized utensil rack or pot rack over the main work table or food prep area.

To uphold the integrity or spirit of the farmhouse kitchen, modern conveniences, such as a stove hood, can be “hidden” by disguising them behind cabinetry of white washed exposed grains or wainscoting panels.

Oversized accent furniture pieces such as a sideboard with a hutch are ideal for displaying a collection of jugs, teapots or other country-themed collectibles.

Choose table linens in berry colors or playful plaids. Placemats, runners and chair seat pads with a rooster or hen theme are ideal.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Kitchen Furniture & Design, Uncategorized | No Comments »