Difficult Spaces: The Hallway

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The hallway can be a challenge to decorate. Often they are long and narrow, which makes placing furniture difficult–if not impossible. A great way to make the most of your hallway is to use it as a gallery. The long lines of the hallway make it an ideal space to display family photos or your favorite artwork. Not sure how to place the photographs? Consider a grid-style configuration like the one in the photo below. Also, by placing photos in the same style of frame, the viewer is drawn to what’s in the frame instead of the frame itself. Who wouldn’t stop to look at the photographs when walking through this hallway?

Jennifer Aniston’s Stylish Platform Bed

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Sometimes I run across something so interesting that I can’t wait to share it with you, and this is one of those moments. A friend who follows this blog sent this to me and this bed is such a beauty. This is Jennifer Aniston’s very-own platform bed, just was featured in the March issue of Architectural Digest. Isn’t it great?

What really makes this bedroom so great are those oversized lamps and the tile headboard. The bed is enormous, so you would have to have a large enough bedroom to accommodate such a large piece of furniture, but it sure makes a stunning focal point. A bedroom like this is clean and sleek, without the look of old-fashioned “matching” furniture. It’s just another way to think about the bedroom as a true haven!

Janine

Janine’s Tip of the Week#7: No Space for a Dining Room?

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After having recently read this post on Apartment Therapy, it reminded me of a project a did a while back for one of my clients. My client wanted to create a dining space, but just didn’t have the room for a formal dining area. To modify the client’s small space into a more functional dining area, I had a contractor build-in a long bench that could accommodate more people at the table. My client’s breakfast nook was wide but narrow, so we built in a 10’x18″ bench that also doubled as a great storage unit. The contractor made it with 3 compartments that have hinged openings that she can hide any rarely used kitchen items, and it really created a win-win solution. Now her kitchen table nestles into the nook, and she has 4 other seating spots around the other sides and a large “bench” that could seat as many as 6 in that family. The finished result? A functional dining area that this family can really enjoy!

Janine

8 Kitchen Decorating Tips

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Having an airy, well-organized and well-decorated kitchen does not only complete your home’s total look, it can also help improve your home life. If you love to cook then it really makes sense that you create a kitchen that helps you enjoy the time you spend cooking.

Here are some of decorating tips for your kitchen:

1. Buy the most beautiful and expensive kitchen tools you can afford- if you do a lot of cooking at home, make sure you invest in the finest kitchen tools. They will not only help you prepare the best meals, they will also add to the beauty of your kitchen. Cheap kitchen tools will make your kitchen look cheap. And if these kitchen tools don’t last long enough for you to get the best value out of them then they will cost you more money in the long run. Always go for quality.

2. Have a designated space for everything- make sure you have ample storage space for food, cooking utensils, towels and other items. Keep your kitchen organized. This will help make your kitchen appear bigger.

3. Use cookbooks as kitchen displays- if you have hardbound cookbooks, you can use them to decorate your kitchen. Place your cookbooks in a closet with glass display if you have that.

4. Consider putting up decors that go with the holidays or the seasons- put up carved pumpkins during Halloween, place a small Santa on your counter during Christmas, use pretty curtains during spring and put up other small decors that can help you get into the spirit of the season. This can be extra fun in homes where there are little children.

5. Decorate your kitchen with small plants- plants can be a lovely addition to the kitchen. A small herb can be placed near the window or on the counter. The herb can also be used for cooking so it serves dual purpose.

6. Group items according to function- when organizing your kitchen, you can put items in clusters based on their functions. Like baking tools in one area, bread toaster and coffee maker in another. Clustering can help a kitchen stay organized.

7. Buy items that complement each other aesthetically- make sure that the items in your kitchen match. These days with so many brands available, it has become so easy to buy kitchen items that match the theme of your home.

8. Think about the lighting of your kitchen- lighting is a key element in design. Make sure you put good thought into your home’s lighting including the lighting in the kitchen.

Janine’s Tip of the Week#6: Designing the Basement

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I just saw this blog post on Colour Me Happy (one of my favorite design blogs out there) about basement design and thought I would share some of my own thoughts about decorating the basement with you:

When doing a lower level, darker is definitely better! Remember that you generally have to turn on the lights anyway, so why not be a little more adventurous with your color scheme? Just go for it. Why not try something that may be out of your comfort zone? One step darker then you might usually go for, or even darker, makes the space seem cozy will be more like an extension of the upstairs vs. a regular ol’ basement.

Keep in mind that the basement is one area you can bring out your inner “designer” and go for it!! You will be glad you did. Here are a few tips to get you started:

  • Adding mirrors will help expand the space, and be sure to incorporate the all-important TV for the relaxed viewing pleasure.
  • The basement is also a great area for the “man cave” with a woman’s touch. (He may get the 60″ television, you have to love being there, so the fabrics should be a reflection of both of you!)
  • Another way to create some ambiance is to install dimmers. Dimmers make the space cozy, which is perfect for movie viewing and entertaining.
  • Forget that cold cement slab. New flooring can also add some interest to the space. Carpets can really go from standard to fun here and could even be the starting place of your design theme.

You want your guest to walk in and say WOW, right? So, think a little “out of the box.” Remember, comfort, warmth and function are your goals here, so have fun with it!

Janine

Alternatives to Sofas and Chairs

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When it comes to picking out furniture for your home, sofas and chairs are probably a couple of the first things people pick out. The more you shop around, the more of the same you may begin to find. For those of us who are creative and yearn for a different comfortable environment to kick back and relax in and on, there are some alternatives to the norm.

More and more designers are taking an alternative approach to the sofa and chair combination. You may want to look into an oversized floor cushion. They are surprisingly very fun, especially when you might have a few children running wild in the house. Floor cushions are able to sit below your sight line, so you can park it in front of the television for the kids, while having a loveseat further back for you and your spouse. This way everyone has a perfect sight-line while having a family movie night. They are informal and highly comfortable, making it the perfect fit for a relaxed family. They aren’t for everyone though. I doubt when you have the grandparents over, they’ll want to plop down onto it.

Floor cushions also have the ability to draw attention to the floor covering and the present colors in the pattern and coordination. Sitting on one can be isolating, since it’s not the same height as normal furniture. This is why another great place for the cushion is in a child’s bedroom. Put it in the corner and you got yourself a little reading nook for your kid. Cushions can be pricey, but are a worthy alternative.

Another alternative is a long upholstered free-standing bench, also known as a day bed. Purchasing a couple daybeds to face each other with a narrow coffee table in between to put in a small room sets a great scene for a conversation area. If you ever have a small group of friends over, it’ll be a classy and simple area for your conversations. Sometimes these daybeds are even a good choice for a grand bathroom. They can also be a good foot-board at the end of your bed in the bedroom.

If you go with one of these setups I’m sure you’ll appreciate the unique quality that it brings out to your home. When it comes to comfortable sitting don’t be afraid to go the non-traditional route. It’ll be exciting and it could leave you very happy.

Tips on Hanging Artwork

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Hanging artwork or pictures around the house may be the most popular way to decorate a home. Doing that however can sometimes be the scariest, due to having to put a nail into the wall. It seems so permanent so there’s always that fear that you may be doing it wrong. Here are some tips to remember when it comes to hanging artwork.

Always be sure to first figure out what weight limit the nails will need to be. Do this, but at the same time, try to avoid using larger than necessary nails. Those kinds of nails always leave bigger holes in the plaster and there’s a chance you’ll find the top of the hook peaking out over the frame of the artwork, which never looks good. Having your nail hook showing is a big distraction to have. Always go with the smallest nail possible.

This may seem stupid, but always note if the artwork says “do not hang on a wire.” If it says that simply don’t hang it on a wire. You’d be amazed how many people do so anyway. If the piece of artwork comes with two hooks on the back while saying don’t hang from a wire, here’s what you do: use a laser level or yard stick, make sure it’s level and come to terms with putting two tiny holes in your wall. Trust the manufacturer, and don’t put wire between the hooks!

When it comes to measuring, if the artwork is small and light, there is no need to find a stud. Studs are only needed for the larger pieces of work. Try to measure up from the floor or down from the ceiling. There is no guarantee that the wall, floor, or ceiling are straight and even, but it’s always worth a shot.

A good tip is to never center the artwork between the piece of furniture and ceiling. This generally results in the artwork being hung much higher than necessary. The large, heavy frames generally used in traditional settings or with oil paintings are best to be hung with the bottom around six inches above the back of the sofa. It’s been recommended that skinny and small frames to be hung so the bottom of the frame is 10-to-12 inches above the sofa. If the artwork appears too small or large when these measurements are used, then perhaps your artwork is not the correct size for the space at hand. You can solve this by grouping artwork together in the space.

That’s all I got. Just remember to relax and don’t fear messing up!

How To Create an Eclectic Decorating Scheme

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Decorating your place can leave you with many questions. One of the biggest questions is: “Where do I begin?” You can get a good start by deciding on a style. Starting here will allow you to begin envisioning the space as it will be and allow you to begin estimating cost. Here are just some ideas for an eclectic style of design:

Let’s start with a little color – If your furniture and accessories have a variety of colors, you may want to go neutral with wall color to ground or tie in the other pieces. Since your furniture doesn’t match in eclectic style, trying to match one of the pieces you love with your wall color may result in a color clash of another item.

Turning to furniture – There are some furniture styles that can be combined and some that shouldn’t. Look for common elements in furniture to mesh together the styles. Use the lines, materials, colors or upholstery to keep styles on track. Your contemporary sofa will mesh nicely with an Asian table for example, as both have straight, clean lines.

Don’t forget the accessories – Some accessory styles clash and some don’t. Formal Victorian with rustic pieces can actually blend together quite well. What won’t work is a modern piece of artwork next to an antique lace runner. There’s nothing to tie the items together. Be sure to have accessories that are varied, but related in some way – color, theme or texture. You get the idea. Your prized piece of carved wood African art can be placed with a rustic wooden bucket by virtue of both being wood. So there is a way to work in your prized possessions or travel souvenirs.

To bring the eclectic style in your living room, you may need to make a few small changes to get the look that works. You don’t need to completely makeover your room or break your budget – as eclectic room can incorporate so many design elements, just be sure to take steps to define the eclectic style in your living room. There are no hard and fast rules for eclectic living rooms, but combining elements for harmony help define one.

Creating The “Guest-Friendly” Layout

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One of the great things about owning a home is the ability to entertain several guests at a time. Having a large living room becomes essential for those of us who like to have people over to sit around and converse.
The worst thing that could happen during your conversations with friends is the easy distraction of another walking through and getting in front of you. That is why designing the proper layout is ever so essential. Most people know of the perfect layout, often referred to the “conversation circle.”

This layout is often found in living or family rooms. You accomplish this layout by setting up a sofa with two chairs on the flank, or perhaps a loveseat. Then you may put a television in front of the sofa on the wall. A chair may be even angled next to the television set. Another way to go about all this is by having two sofas face each other with a coffee table in between.

You want to set up the furniture so it allows for multi-functionality. This way guests have an easy time, say, to set their food and drink, flip through a photo album placed on a table. Set it up so there is a multiple of ways to form entertainment.

A new layout catching popularity is having four larger-sized and comfortable chairs circled around a circular cocktail/coffee table in the middle. This allows for activities such as a board game or puzzle while socializing. Pottery Barn has been showcasing this layout lately in their catalogs.

Other areas where you may need to create a conversation-supported layout are dens, dining rooms, studies, or possibly even an oversized bedroom. Don’t forget to bring the conversation circle layout outside and on to your patio for those beautiful days. Follow the same basic layout and maybe add a fire pit nearby for some added warmth on those cooler summer evenings.

How do you all go about preparing layouts that are guest-friendly?

How-to: Decorating on a Dime

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If you’re in the boat with most people around the country these days, you are looking for any and every way to save money. Home decorating may be one of the last things that you think of as an essential, but studies show that being in a relaxing, cozy environment can reduce stress and promote good feelings. This could seriously help with those days you come home from the office totally wiped out.

Decorating your apartment can actually be done on a pretty mild budget, especially if you choose to follow some of these decorating on a budget ideas.

First things first, you need to know what kind of décor style you want in your pad. Look through some home decorating magazines and such for ideas. Keeping a scrapbook of which styles you like is a great idea to take with you when doing your shopping. Compare styles you like with the features in your apartment to make sure they’ll work. You’ll want to start small, so choose one room to do first.

Shop second-hand! This may not be your first option, but there can be some real treasures that others don’t want anymore. I recommend your area’s Craigslist website. I always find a plethora of options at great prices! Another place to check is the classifieds in your local newspaper. If you’re like me, run up to the Salvation Army or closest thrift store and check out what they have on hand there. I wouldn’t be too worried if the item isn’t in the best shape. A fresh coat of paint or handmade slipcover can do wonders for older furniture.

Shop at discount stores, such as Big Lots, Marshalls, or whatever local discount store you have around. Department stores and such send their unsold items to discount stores, so you’re getting the same quality product at a massively reduced (and awesome) price!

Add some color to your room. Painting can be an inexpensive way to create a dramatic change to a room. You can also decorate your walls in alternative ways, such as applying vinyl wall décor or hanging fabrics.

Create your own artwork! I am impartial to this idea since I am constantly making art already, but try it out sometime even if you don’t feel you are “artistically inclined”. It could be as simple as creating a paper collage or painting leaves to arrange and frame. The process of making art can also be therapeutic and help you clear your head. If you really feel you don’t want to try your hand at creating artwork, buy a cheap calendar of images you enjoy and frame them.

DIY projects There are an overabundance of ideas for do-it-yourself home decorating options that you can find on the internet or in decorating magazines. Look out for a future article about such ideas to help you livin’ up your living space.

What are you favorite decorating-on-a-budget tips? Please share (I personally desperately need it).