Posts

Tips on Hanging Artwork

/in /by

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

/in /by

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.

News: Are You in the Market for New Upholstered Furniture?

/in /by

Miles-accessorizedI just got back from Norwalk, OH from the Norwalk furniture factory and wow, was I impressed. Norwalk has been transformed, cleaned up, and streamlined into a #1 US custom-made furniture option. Under new ownership and new vision, this company is another one of my favorites.  The employees just gleamed  with pride as we toured the factory, where we witnessed fine upholsterers and seamstresses putting the final touches on their product. It was such an honor to see each phase of the upholstery process.

After 25 years selling fine furniture, I have an even greater appreciation for what goes into the final product. I have just gotten a new chair in my studio, the Quincy chair,  and would love to share more about Norwalk with you. If you aren’t able to stop by,  be sure to check out the Norwalk Web site. It is well worth your time. I especially love the Copley Square collection as it fits almost everyone, but the new Elise Chair is a beauty. And if comfort with a flair is for you, take a peak at the Milford.

Have fun with Norwalk. They have really taken a step in the right direction.
Photo Credit: Norwalk Furniture

Janine’s Tip of the Week#5: Arranging Dining Room Chairs

/in /by

When thinking about your new dining room, consider a special chair for your host and hostess or maybe even the whole group.  I love these ideas from two of our favorite furniture companies called CR Laine and Jessica Charles, don’t you?  Wouldn’t it be nice to step out of the box and sit a little more comfortably? These beautiful chairs add a zip of color and set the stage for a beautiful new dining room.

Your friends will be talking about the new trend setter in the group and you will start using that room that has been sitting vacant and boring for way too long! These chairs add a little fun and flair to that once stuffy room and transform it into a modern social gathering space that’s long been forgotten. Why not have a little fun with your dining room?

SA_Pg20_0309_Full

Décor Double Take: Something’s Gotta Give

/in /by

kitchen-adI saw the movie a long time ago, but to all my movie going friends out there, another great designer-friendly movie that I will never forget is Something’s Gotta Give. How wonderful was this family room? Doesn’t it just make you want to sit down and relax? Oh, how and I could go on about how fantastic the kitchen was with all that great white cabinetry. The overall theme screamed vacation. Wouldn’t it be fabulous to have a beach home that felt this rejuvenating? It was a beach home that we all long for—I can almost smell the ocean air and not to mention the views! And Dianne Keaton and Jack Nicholson were quite a pair. It just feels good to see love can happen at any age.

living-room2-ad

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures

Janine’s Tip of the Week #4: Look at the Big Picture

/in /by

decorativetouch3I just spent the weekend taking part in the Kansas City Home and Garden Show at Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City.  It’s quite an event and many re-modelers, home improvement suppliers, lawn and garden suppliers bring out their newest and best displays for spring inspiration.

While at the show, the questions I was asked most was “When do I get you involved in my project?” Let me just say, it’s never too early to consult with your designer. I spoke with over a thousand folks this weekend who thought that they might not talk to a designer or decorator until they needed the furniture or paint for the project. Please let me warn you to look at the bigger picture.

If you are thinking about any remodel, building, or updating project in your home or office, you really should consult a designer first. Designers add so much to the process–we actually help you see the project as a larger picture before you start looking at the smaller pieces. What you choose for tile, carpet, paint etc., can only be made by knowing which direction to take and the overall goal of the project. Unfortunately, many people think about one small part of the project, such as “I want to retile my bath” and forget how the tile will affect the walls, window treatments, bedroom off the bath, and so much more. So, before you select the first item in your “remodel,” think BIGGER. A designer can help guide you on the whole picture. There is more than one item in any give remodel and certainly more in every new construction opportunity and every selection fits and connects with the next. It’s like a giant puzzle. Does yours connect?

Janine Terstriep

More About Me: How Did I Decide to Become a Designer?

/in /by

0_0_0_0_250_373_csupload_15892677Well, it kinda just happened!  I was one of those crazy kids that when my mom would leave the house, as young as I can remember, I would start moving the furniture around, so that by the time she got home…ta da…everything was different!  Before long, she put me in charge of all the holiday decorating and whenever company was coming, I was her right hand girl at preparing the tablescapes and getting things shaped up!

I have had the “knack” my whole life and when I go to the movie theater and the rest of you actually watch the movie, I am focused on the layout of the room: the wallpaper, the light fixtures and the entire scene of the home or restaurant, not so much the actors. A sickness you say, a passion I say.

I am incredibly blessed to truly “love” what I do for a living and I get as much of a “thrill” completing a clients dream as they do. There is nothing I would rather do for work. In fact, most the time it doesn’t feel like work. It feels like I am helping someone complete something they could never do without me. It’s pretty awesome.  The ultimate reward is seeing that smile on their face and satisfaction and 5 or 10 years later having them call for the next project.  That says I am doing my job.

Janine’s Tip of the Week #3: Creating a Retreat

/in /by
The Decorative Touch

The Decorative Touch

I get asked: I want to begin a new Master Bedroom, but how do I create that retreat?

Master Bedrooms are truly the sanctuary of your home. It’s the one place I find that my clients want to shut out the rest of the world. And yet, I think it’s almost the most ignored space in the home. How sad is that! You deserve to spoil yourself in the master suite. I suggest that you start with deciding how you want the space to feel. This should be a true reflection of your “couple” personality, which means choosing options that are not strictly feminine or masculine.

The great news is bedroom furniture is not like our parents furniture! There are amazing leather headboards, upholstered headboards, and beautiful over-sized iron beds. And our nightstands can be totally different than our beds.  The days of everything being the same wood are over. Great design allows you to be a little playful with your furnishings.  Now if that is not in your comfort zone, no problem.  Instead, be more creative with your fabrics.

First, find fabrics that just feel good to you and you can’t wait to sink yourself into. Something that really just says “comfort.” Remember, this is your place of rest, relaxation, and tranquility. With all the beautifully bedding choices out there, something should grab you and just say ahh… I would suggest looking at Eastern Accents.com or Legacy Linens.com, both lines are great and a good starting point.

Next, paint color comes from your bedding choice, and don’t be afraid to consider an accent wall behind the bed for wallpaper, faux paint, or another great texture. Maybe try a drapery treatment. Bedrooms are all about textures. Drapery, privacy treatments like woven shades, or room darkening roman shades are going to be important as well. This is your cacoon so to speak, so don’t let mother nature in too early!

Again,  look to the experts, there are loads of great master bedrooms in magazines, so do your homework. Don’t settle for ordinary in this room,  it’s the one space in your home that you spend a great deal of time in.  It should reflect your personality; however, I would suggest you hire an interior designer before starting your project.

Janine Terstriep

Spring Palettes: Turquoise and White

/in /by

With spring fast approaching, it is hard not to notice all the spring decor that is popping up in the stores. What is really hitting the scene now is turquoise and white. Together, these two colors are bright and fresh, just perfect for spring. Check out this great image from the Color me Happy blog. What a lovely guest room this would make, don’t you think?

Click here to check out more spring palettes on the Color me Happy blog.

image_thumb[19]

Colour me Happy blog

Décor Double Take: The Blind Side

/in /by
blind side-www.imdb.com

The Blind Side, IMDB

Have you ever been watching a movie and have fallen in love with the décor? If you are anything like me, you notice the set design before anything else. So, speaking of a great movie, I would highly recommend The Blind Side. Not only is it a wonderful story, but if you are a crazy designer like me, you will love seeing the scenes in Sandra Bullock’s home.

It is a lovely home from the outside, but the decor inside is very well done, too. Sandra Bullock plays an interior designer in the movie and some of her scenes are easy for me to relate to–especially how much I talk on my cell phone…it is constantly connected to my ear! But seriously, don’t you just love the living room and that gorgeous sofa that Big Mike sleeps on? The movie is not only a good one for those who are design obsessed like me, but husbands will enjoy the show, too. On a side note, I do wish there were more good people in the world like the folks in this show. You just walk away feeling better.

By Janine Terstriep