style blog
final touches — how to stay true to you
August 1, 2011
Your accessories are supposed to be a natural expression of your personality and taste…so why are they so hard to shop for?
It can be hard to resist the impulse to snap up collectibles while on vacation, or to buy an unusual antique simply because it has a great price or an interesting shape. During these moments of weakness, it’s important to ask yourself whether the object truly reflects who you are…or if it’s going to stick out like a sore thumb when surrounded by your other accessories.
Here are some tips to help you buy things that truly reflect you and tell your story:
- Stick to a specific theme, such as wildlife, or a specific style, such as mid-century modern.
- Build on the color scheme you have already established, or use your accessories as the color story, and work back to your flooring, walls and fabrics.
- Keep your impulses in check to avoid buyer's remorse-once you've bought that chartreuse art deco clock, it's yours.
- Play with proportion and vary the heights and textures of items within a theme-such as collectible plates, clocks or candle holders.
- You can always go to a home furnishing store to buy accessories, but make sure what you get follows your story and is meaningful to you.
In an upcoming post, we will talk about arranging and balancing accessories to compliment your flooring, walls, and fabric.
mixing it up – finishes and fabrics
July 5, 2011
Color and texture are what make your interior finishes shine — walls, wood, stone, tile and of course your fabrics and accessories. It’s always a good idea to mix it up and do something unexpected, even if it’s in the less-trafficked areas of your home, such as the corner of your living room or a half-bath. With a little consideration, the colors and texture you choose can bring depth and visual interest to your space and really make it pop.
Here are some tips to help guide your choices:
- Choose an unlikely color combination or mix of patterns that you saw in a magazine.
- Get inspired by a favorite master painter. For example, Gauguin worked with some especially exciting colors and textures.
- Even jewelry is a good resource. If that hot, new bracelet in your latest fashion rag catches your eye, take note. Gemstone colors can be translated into flooring and finishing choices.
- Snag a wildly colorful flea market painting and hang it up. Now you’ve got a centerpiece to guide you in a fun, new creative direction.
- Pick a color scheme, such as celadon green and tomato red...or sky blue and mustard yellow...or dusty pink, black and cappuccino brown. Then use a variety of multicolor printed fabrics to represent your colors.
- You can use one of the colors from your new scheme for the floor or walls, and use the rest for accessories, such as fabrics, wood tones, wall accents and collected tchotchkes.
Follow your instincts and have fun! You won’t be arrested for trying something new…and your family might be pleasantly surprised.
making arrangements
May 23, 2011
Have you ever jumped into the exciting task of rearranging your living room or bedroom, only to find yourself frustrated and stuck two hours later? Perhaps you’re one of the many who have chosen to downsize. How do you tackle the challenge of arranging a smaller space and still have room for yourself?
Here are some tips to help you make your home a more livable and interesting place – without running into a wall, so to speak.
- Pick smaller pieces of furniture instead of larger bulkier ones. This will give you lots of versatility and freedom to play around.
- Make sure you have at least 30” between different pieces of furniture so everyone can get around comfortably.
- If you have a square room that lacks architectural detail, consider putting your furniture at an angle to make it more dynamic.
- New ideas can breathe fresh air into rooms that seem dormant. A long bench can give you extra seating for those unexpected visitors, or it can serve as a great coffee table.
- Vary the height of your furniture to give your room a more relaxed and interesting look.
- Have some fun with textures and patterns. Mixing them up can bring a boring room to life.
- Plan ahead with paper – cut out pieces of your furniture to scale, then play around with your room arrangement. This is an easy way to get a glimpse of what it can look like without having to do any heavy-lifting.
the power of color
May 5, 2011
We all have colors that we like and dislike. But did you know that colors can actually affect how we feel? They can make us feel calm, excited and everything in between. The color of a room not only sets the tone for how we interact with each other, but it also affects how we feel when we come home.
Colors can be broken down into three different mood-setting categories:
- Active colors are on the warm side of the color spectrum and include reds, oranges and yellows. They are advancing colors, meaning they meet us head on. They inspire us, stimulate us and make us feel like taking action. These colors are a great for rooms where family and friends gather, such as dining rooms, kitchens, living rooms and entryways.
- Passive colors are the cool ones – the blues, greens and purples. If you are feeling stressed out, anxious or worried, these colors will soothe you, much like the smell of lavender at a spa. They are calming and restorative, and a great choice for your bathroom, bedroom and master suite.
- Neutral colors are the many shades of white, black, charcoal, brown and beige. These colors are neither active nor passive. They are the workhorses of the color wheel and will cooperate with whatever accent you choose. Use them as an overall theme or as the basis for your wood tones and architectural finishes. The darker the neutral, the more toned down your accent colors will appear, and vice versa.
your floor is your canvas
April 29, 2011
When it comes to picking a carpet, most people choose to play it safe. They pick a carpet that is neutral in color and can stand the test of time. It’s a smart choice in many ways. There’s no need to worry about it going out of style, and it will complement most other home decorating choices – artwork, furniture, fabric and wall color.
That said, most people don’t have a lot of colorful belongings to spark up their neutral shades. Their carpet blends in with the room and everything in it. Not very inspiring.
When choosing a carpet, first decide whether you are going to use your carpet as your backdrop or your star. If you are using it as a backdrop, make sure to cast something else as the star. This could be colorful curtains, an interesting rug or a sofa that makes a statement.
If you want to be adventurous, or have a theme in mind for your room, consider a colorful carpet. You can then coordinate your furniture and build your room around your selection.
If you have a hard time deciding which way to go, you can always get the best of both worlds: a neutral, low-profile wall-to-wall carpet topped off with a colorful patterned area rug!
beautiful inside and out: how to make more of
your living space
March 29, 2011
Whether you've downsized to a new place or simply want to do more with the space you've got, taking advantage of an outside area can be a great way to extend your usable living space.
Porches and patios - covered or open, large or small - can provide all kinds of practical benefits. They're visually pleasing when viewed from the inside living space, and they can provide an extra area for lounging, dining and family time. From the tiniest basement townhouse patio to the grandest of sprawling yards, all outdoor spaces offer plenty of possibilities to explore.
Choosing your priorities
If you live in a colder climate, there are two things you may want to consider: First, think about how you and your family would like to use the outside space when it's warm. Secondly, imagine what you'd like to see through your frosted window in the wintertime - a snow-covered gazebo, perhaps? Those lucky ones among us who enjoy warmer weather year-round might consider a water feature, such as a fountain, or even a rug to create an "outside interior."
- Create comfort - Every home deserves a personal retreat for relaxation.
- Choose a focal point - Use texture or varying heights to create a visual point of interest.
- Embrace color - Use a bright scheme or a one-color/monochromatic scheme to keep things visually unified.
- Think green - Incorporating sustainable products gives you yet another reason to feel great about your new space!
lighting and color: how to make them play
nice together
March 25, 2011
The color you choose for your walls and floors can have a big impact on the quality of light in your home. What's more, the type of light in your home, both created and natural, can determine whether your chosen colors look exactly as you hoped or…not so much.
The colors of your walls, carpet, upholstery or any other accessory not only interact with the light, they also change as the natural light shifts over the course of the day. Turning on your overhead lighting or lamps can create an additional effect. Keep in mind that the dyes and pigments that are used in home furnishings don't always change in the same manner as those in wall paint, as the dyes are produced differently.
Ultimately, your challenge is to select colors that continue to be compatible with one another as they change. Sound daunting? Don't worry - these simple tips can help you navigate your choices:
- Look at your collection of finishes together.
- Look at your paint chips, a piece of your carpet and your fabrics side by side.
- Look at all of the above next to the windows on a bright day and on a gray day.
- Lastly, look at them under artificial lighting, both during daylight and nighttime.
If the colors remain compatible and there are no weird surprises, you are good to go. Enjoy!
color psychology – how colors make us feel
November 22, 2010
Color does have an influence on our mood and even our well being. Just for fun let's look at what the color psychologists say about how color affects our id.
- White = Relaxing
- Blue = Peaceful
- Yellow = Optimistic
- Red = Dynamic
- Green = Soothing
- Purple = Mysterious
- Orange = Energizing
Variations of these hues; values, tints, tones and shades can be intimidating but understanding our own color comfort level and exploring that element is even more important to using color in our home.
Remember the use of color applies to all the elements in your home; walls, floor, furniture, accessories and even what we see outside from the inside. It is the successful combination of colors that dictates how we feel personally.
it's all about you – finding your personal style
October 22, 2010
Understanding what we like and don't like should be obvious and here is where we start to zero in on our personal style. Often, however, we are not always the only person in the equation and if you have a family, considering their needs and what they enjoy is probably important to you as well. Therefore it is not always about you, more likely it is up to you to create a great home.
So what do you and your family like and do?
- What do you collect?
- Where do you travel?
- What are your hobbies?
- How do you interact with your family and others?
Your home is a reflection of you and your family…take time to understand who you are and you will get pleasure from your most valuable investment!
