Posts
In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either
sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him
standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed
both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many
people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms
and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost the buyer more..
Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.'
(Artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Heritage Square Museum
Heritage Square Museum....this is a little of what we did. The idea was that each home was set in a different time period. This house was built in the late 1800s but we were given 1930 as our time period. There were a lot of constraints because of the historical element. This little nook was wonderful and the PERFECT place for the tree. We updated the draperies which were sorely needed. As light was an issue, we kept sheers on the windows but this little nook just screamed for some extra attention. We used silk drapes to dress the nook and interlined them to add some body and elegance. Interlining is one of those "design secrets" to beautiful drapes. They usually don't do that in readymade draperies. Lining on draperies is very important and often overlooked. It affects the "hand" of the draperies or how they hang. You want to make sure that you pay attention to the lining, especially when buying "off the rack". The lining will protect your draperies from sun damage and it can also lower you heating and cooling costs by limiting the elements coming into the room. Draperies aren't just pretty, they are functional on many levels. Look at your needs, a little extra money could save you money in the long run and improve your quality of life.
Monday, December 21, 2009
designer tree or memory tree
How to decorate your Christmas tree can be a big decision. You go to the store and you see those magnificent trees and think...why can't my tree look like that? I guess I just don't have any talent. Not true.
The secret to those trees is that they are made up of similar ornaments. All the parts of the decoration are selected at the same time. Most people don't do that. You get ornaments as presents, one will speak to you here or there and you buy it. Your tree is a memory tree. Hallmark has done a great deal to encourage these kind of trees by creating ornaments that resemble those memories.
It is much harder to add to a "designer tree" year after year. I actually set out a few years ago to have a designer tree. I fell in love with some gold plated leaf ornaments but there wasn't enough for a whole tree so we bought a smaller tree that year. As the years have gone by, I have found things that add to it and now it's a beautiful tree and full height- well, at least as tall as me...lol. That's tall enough. If you are going to do this though you need to concentrate on keeping similar colors and themes in order to make it work right. There's no room for little Johnny's homemade ornament though.
Memory trees are wonderful too and a great place to put those handmade ornaments and gifts from treasured friends. If you are a teacher, ornaments are a common gift and a great way to remember how much impact you have on your students.
Remember it's your Christmas, celebrate the way you want to. Put memories on your tree or dress it up to the 9s in designer style. But enjoy it either way.
The secret to those trees is that they are made up of similar ornaments. All the parts of the decoration are selected at the same time. Most people don't do that. You get ornaments as presents, one will speak to you here or there and you buy it. Your tree is a memory tree. Hallmark has done a great deal to encourage these kind of trees by creating ornaments that resemble those memories.
It is much harder to add to a "designer tree" year after year. I actually set out a few years ago to have a designer tree. I fell in love with some gold plated leaf ornaments but there wasn't enough for a whole tree so we bought a smaller tree that year. As the years have gone by, I have found things that add to it and now it's a beautiful tree and full height- well, at least as tall as me...lol. That's tall enough. If you are going to do this though you need to concentrate on keeping similar colors and themes in order to make it work right. There's no room for little Johnny's homemade ornament though.
Memory trees are wonderful too and a great place to put those handmade ornaments and gifts from treasured friends. If you are a teacher, ornaments are a common gift and a great way to remember how much impact you have on your students.
Remember it's your Christmas, celebrate the way you want to. Put memories on your tree or dress it up to the 9s in designer style. But enjoy it either way.
Friday, December 18, 2009
beautiful bed
This lovely British Colonial Bed is filled with squares and Xs. Squares ground a room and diagonals create drama. The mix of these two create a wonderful restrained drama. It has a modern feel to it but is very elegant as well. It's fun to be creative with your bed, just use elements that you love to make it work for you.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
christmas trees around the world
You may have seen this in your email but it was so pretty I wanted to share.
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Friday, December 11, 2009
your home reflects your lifestyle
It's amazing what you learn from people by looking at their homes. What we have or don't have in our homes tells about what is important to us and how we live our lives. I found this great article about a couple living in Manhattan and the choices they made to live there. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/cozy_crazy_couple_makes_tight_studio_R15ToNFTaJE3c17zkw4efP/1
They found a place that used to be a maids quarters and turned it into their home. They have a bed and a tv, catpost and pretty much not much else. They like to eat out so the miniscule kitchen is not a problem. They don't like to entertain too much which isn't a problem here. They are very busy people, they work and they play all outside the home so they are only there to sleep - which is about all they can do there. It keeps them from getting overcluttered. Small spaces are nice for that...on one hand it doesn't take long to clean them, on the other just a few things out and it looks messy so you want to clean it more. Their studio will be paid for in two years which will then allow them to enjoy the excitement of NYC life even more. It's definitely a city that likes to play and it also allows them to build some cash for the day they may decide to move.
There are many choices you make when you look at a house....how much time do you spend at home? How much entertaining do you do? How much stuff do you have and how much of it do you really need? Ever hear of the 80/20 rule? Well it works in our homes as well, we use 20% of our stuff 80% of the time. It's great to have the big Turkey platter but we really only use it a couple times a year. I just moved one of my clients and helped her pack up. So many things we tossed out, so many things she still packed and doesn't know where to put them when unpacking. It's hard for us to give up some of these things, they are memories. Everyone has their own clutter level that they must keep. For some, it's minimal, for others, they have to have a lot. Finding the balance is hard. But the effects of living in a space that FITS your needs and FITS your lifestyle are worth it!
They found a place that used to be a maids quarters and turned it into their home. They have a bed and a tv, catpost and pretty much not much else. They like to eat out so the miniscule kitchen is not a problem. They don't like to entertain too much which isn't a problem here. They are very busy people, they work and they play all outside the home so they are only there to sleep - which is about all they can do there. It keeps them from getting overcluttered. Small spaces are nice for that...on one hand it doesn't take long to clean them, on the other just a few things out and it looks messy so you want to clean it more. Their studio will be paid for in two years which will then allow them to enjoy the excitement of NYC life even more. It's definitely a city that likes to play and it also allows them to build some cash for the day they may decide to move.
There are many choices you make when you look at a house....how much time do you spend at home? How much entertaining do you do? How much stuff do you have and how much of it do you really need? Ever hear of the 80/20 rule? Well it works in our homes as well, we use 20% of our stuff 80% of the time. It's great to have the big Turkey platter but we really only use it a couple times a year. I just moved one of my clients and helped her pack up. So many things we tossed out, so many things she still packed and doesn't know where to put them when unpacking. It's hard for us to give up some of these things, they are memories. Everyone has their own clutter level that they must keep. For some, it's minimal, for others, they have to have a lot. Finding the balance is hard. But the effects of living in a space that FITS your needs and FITS your lifestyle are worth it!
Monday, November 16, 2009
what is modern anymore
Back in school they told us that design fluctuates with economies. Design has many influences from movies, to singers, to politics. Typically they say that when times are bad, tastes go more traditional. People are attracted to what they know, what feels safe. They often go back to a time or place where they felt safe, maybe it was childhood, maybe it was grandma's house.
Lately I have noticed some changes in this theory. Years ago when we started the war with Iraq, bright pink was everywhere. Pink is innocence and maybe that resonated with the innocence we felt by being attacked. Pink is also calming and maybe that was part of what we were craving, although the colors were so bright, I am not sure how calming they were.
Today the recession has a lot of people worried but instead of going back to "traditional" furniture, we have had a resurgence in the 1950s and 60s modern style with some 70s mixed in. There are a lot of reasons for this I think. First of all, some of these styles are what grandma had for some of these people. Also, the people being raised with these types of furniture are going back to their memories for inspiration.
Life has become very busy with cell phones, blackberries and other electronic devices that let work follow you 24/7. Politics has been very agitated, there doesn't seem to be any meeting place between the parties. You are either for or against and that's it. People are wanting simpler times. The elegant simplicity of that "modern style" has become a source of comfort. It's familiarity, it's straight forward and beautiful. No wonder we are attracted to it.
Lately I have noticed some changes in this theory. Years ago when we started the war with Iraq, bright pink was everywhere. Pink is innocence and maybe that resonated with the innocence we felt by being attacked. Pink is also calming and maybe that was part of what we were craving, although the colors were so bright, I am not sure how calming they were.
Today the recession has a lot of people worried but instead of going back to "traditional" furniture, we have had a resurgence in the 1950s and 60s modern style with some 70s mixed in. There are a lot of reasons for this I think. First of all, some of these styles are what grandma had for some of these people. Also, the people being raised with these types of furniture are going back to their memories for inspiration.
Life has become very busy with cell phones, blackberries and other electronic devices that let work follow you 24/7. Politics has been very agitated, there doesn't seem to be any meeting place between the parties. You are either for or against and that's it. People are wanting simpler times. The elegant simplicity of that "modern style" has become a source of comfort. It's familiarity, it's straight forward and beautiful. No wonder we are attracted to it.
Friday, November 6, 2009
sarah's house
Hello fellow design addicts,
Today I thought I would tell you about my new favorite TV show. It's called Sarah's House. It's a Canadian show and on the DIY network.
As a designer, I get bored of the "let's renovate your room for $1000" shows or other ones that do it for a fraction of the price. Not that they don't have good ideas, they do. And I am happy that they inspire people to work on their rooms but they just aren't always accurate. They have tons of tools and the labor is free. IF you have ever renovated anything in your home, you know that the biggest expense is labor. People watch those shows and then come to me and say, can you do this for $1000? Yeah I can, but that means you have to do all the labor and that doesn't include my fee.
So anyway, Sarah's house is about a designer in Canada and she buys houses and renovates them and I presume sells them although that's not said. She decorates it to suit her needs and makes it beautiful. Turning basements into guest rooms, knocking out walls to make bathrooms bigger or adding a master closet. Each episode is one room and she goes through all the rooms of the home.
She uses mostly offwhites for walls and punches of color in her fabrics and pictures. You know I love a little more color but that is my style. Her designs show a great deal of creativity and she does what we actually do as designers. She will "splurge" on a high impact item and budget other items. This is really how we work. You've got to have something that wows you in a room. For instance, in a bathroom, make the floor a "wow" piece and let the shower just accent it. The floor is usually a smaller area so you can afford to go with more expensive tile there but then you can do something cheaper on the shower it will still have an incredible look. It's not about how much money you spend, it is about WHERE you put your money. It's easy to design on a budget and come out with a beautiful place if you follow this rule. Find out what your wow item is, what is going to have the most visual impact, and also what is most important to you and how you use your home.
If you want a whirlpool tub or a toilet that has a heater and bidet with it, that may be your splurge item. It depends on what is important to you.
Design is all about making decisions about what is most important to you. How do you want the room to function, how do you want it to look. You can splurge on the important items and budget more on the less important items. Each room needs something that is the focal point and that is often your splurge item. You can have the room you want, just think about what is most important to you.
Today I thought I would tell you about my new favorite TV show. It's called Sarah's House. It's a Canadian show and on the DIY network.
As a designer, I get bored of the "let's renovate your room for $1000" shows or other ones that do it for a fraction of the price. Not that they don't have good ideas, they do. And I am happy that they inspire people to work on their rooms but they just aren't always accurate. They have tons of tools and the labor is free. IF you have ever renovated anything in your home, you know that the biggest expense is labor. People watch those shows and then come to me and say, can you do this for $1000? Yeah I can, but that means you have to do all the labor and that doesn't include my fee.
So anyway, Sarah's house is about a designer in Canada and she buys houses and renovates them and I presume sells them although that's not said. She decorates it to suit her needs and makes it beautiful. Turning basements into guest rooms, knocking out walls to make bathrooms bigger or adding a master closet. Each episode is one room and she goes through all the rooms of the home.
She uses mostly offwhites for walls and punches of color in her fabrics and pictures. You know I love a little more color but that is my style. Her designs show a great deal of creativity and she does what we actually do as designers. She will "splurge" on a high impact item and budget other items. This is really how we work. You've got to have something that wows you in a room. For instance, in a bathroom, make the floor a "wow" piece and let the shower just accent it. The floor is usually a smaller area so you can afford to go with more expensive tile there but then you can do something cheaper on the shower it will still have an incredible look. It's not about how much money you spend, it is about WHERE you put your money. It's easy to design on a budget and come out with a beautiful place if you follow this rule. Find out what your wow item is, what is going to have the most visual impact, and also what is most important to you and how you use your home.
If you want a whirlpool tub or a toilet that has a heater and bidet with it, that may be your splurge item. It depends on what is important to you.
Design is all about making decisions about what is most important to you. How do you want the room to function, how do you want it to look. You can splurge on the important items and budget more on the less important items. Each room needs something that is the focal point and that is often your splurge item. You can have the room you want, just think about what is most important to you.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween!
It's a dead man's party who could ask for more, everybody come and leave your body at the door....
This time of year is filled with Oingo Boingo, The Monster Mash and of course, we all know who you gonna call....Ghostbusters!
Decorating for Halloween is no different than the other holidays. Odd numbers and varied sizes are always important. I believe in decorating that we don't ever want to make something disappear unless you really don't like it. The trick is to blend. But if you are going to put up molding, you want to SEE it, don't paint it out. Our eyes like to be led, they like room to enjoy what they see.
There needs to be a focal point and then things that lead up to it. Size and scale are important too.
Check out my youtube page for an amazing Halloween makeover!
It's a dead man's party who could ask for more, everybody come and leave your body at the door....
This time of year is filled with Oingo Boingo, The Monster Mash and of course, we all know who you gonna call....Ghostbusters!
Decorating for Halloween is no different than the other holidays. Odd numbers and varied sizes are always important. I believe in decorating that we don't ever want to make something disappear unless you really don't like it. The trick is to blend. But if you are going to put up molding, you want to SEE it, don't paint it out. Our eyes like to be led, they like room to enjoy what they see.
There needs to be a focal point and then things that lead up to it. Size and scale are important too.
Check out my youtube page for an amazing Halloween makeover!
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Odd Couple
We have all laughed at the antics of Felix and Oscar of the Odd couple for years. It's funny but part of why it's funny is because it's so true. Ok, they are caricatures of reality maybe but we all know someone who is very neat and very particular about things and we all know someone who couldn't care less about those details.
However, every couple has to combine the rituals they know with those of their spouse. Do you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning or afternoon. There are all kinds of different traditions. Do you clean up your dishes right after you use them or leave them in the sink and clean them up before going to bed. Maybe you like to do them in the morning. Do you pay bills every week or only once a month. We have all had arguments over leaving something out or keeping something clean or not.
You see we all have our "clutter quotient". We aren't comfortable unless there's a certain amount of clutter around us. Some people like lots of accessories, some are minimalist, some are somewhere in the middle. Some people never throw anything away, others are brutal and throw it out if you haven't used it in 3 months.
Each person in the couple may have different "clutter quotients" and you have to figure out what works for the two of you. Be patient, discuss it quietly and you won't be calling each other Felix and Oscar.
However, every couple has to combine the rituals they know with those of their spouse. Do you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning or afternoon. There are all kinds of different traditions. Do you clean up your dishes right after you use them or leave them in the sink and clean them up before going to bed. Maybe you like to do them in the morning. Do you pay bills every week or only once a month. We have all had arguments over leaving something out or keeping something clean or not.
You see we all have our "clutter quotient". We aren't comfortable unless there's a certain amount of clutter around us. Some people like lots of accessories, some are minimalist, some are somewhere in the middle. Some people never throw anything away, others are brutal and throw it out if you haven't used it in 3 months.
Each person in the couple may have different "clutter quotients" and you have to figure out what works for the two of you. Be patient, discuss it quietly and you won't be calling each other Felix and Oscar.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Bob Vila and Ty were right!
You've watched Bob Vila say it on This Old House, you've seen Ty say it on Extreme Makeover. Every carpenter you've ever seen or met has said it....Measure TWICE, cut ONCE. It applies to everything you do. It's also important to READ the measurements carefully. My client, Ann, just had a very expensive mistake. She ordered an 18" window. She thought that the glass area was 18". The 18" included the frame and the glass area was only 12". She got it installed and hated it. She had to have the contractor remove it, order a new bigger window, make a bigger hole and install it again. That's a very expensive mistake.
This is also important in space planning. An acquaintance of mine mentioned using my design services and never did. She felt that she could save some money by doing it herself. Six months later she came to me and asked if I knew someplace she could sell some chairs. She apparently had bought too many and now had purchased items that didn't fit in her home. Had she hired me, she would not have had this problem. The chairs were expensive and cost more than my services. It's always a good idea to measure whatever it is and make sure it works on paper first before you spend a lot of money or have to redo it all together. As the only saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So listen to your favorite carpenter, he knows what he's talking about.
This is also important in space planning. An acquaintance of mine mentioned using my design services and never did. She felt that she could save some money by doing it herself. Six months later she came to me and asked if I knew someplace she could sell some chairs. She apparently had bought too many and now had purchased items that didn't fit in her home. Had she hired me, she would not have had this problem. The chairs were expensive and cost more than my services. It's always a good idea to measure whatever it is and make sure it works on paper first before you spend a lot of money or have to redo it all together. As the only saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So listen to your favorite carpenter, he knows what he's talking about.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Julie and Julia
I saw Julie and Julia this weekend. What a wonderful movie! A very powerful woman about a powerful woman and such a wonderful love story!
But as I often do I notice things about the decor. It is not uncommon for me to rewind a commercial or something on TV to look at a chair or a wallpaper or something....One thing you couldn't help but notice was that Julia's kitchen in France was way too short for her. She was a tall woman and most kitchens are built for someone shorter than her. "HER" kitchen, though, the one that she used for her TV show was built up to fit her. I have done several kitchens and it's very important that the kitchen height FITS the cook and what they like to cook. If you are short, having your counters lowered a few inches can make cooking way more fun. Did you see the remodel of the Roloff's kitchen on Little People Big world? It was dangerous for her to cook in the old kitchen at her height, having to use step stools all the time. They did a great compromise, there was an island that was built for mom and other parts were normal height to fit the taller people in the house. The kitchen is one of the most used parts of the home and it's important that it fits the people living in it. If you are rebuilding your kitchen, make it to fit you, unless you KNOW you won't be there long. You will have more fun and enjoy your kitchen more if you do.
But as I often do I notice things about the decor. It is not uncommon for me to rewind a commercial or something on TV to look at a chair or a wallpaper or something....One thing you couldn't help but notice was that Julia's kitchen in France was way too short for her. She was a tall woman and most kitchens are built for someone shorter than her. "HER" kitchen, though, the one that she used for her TV show was built up to fit her. I have done several kitchens and it's very important that the kitchen height FITS the cook and what they like to cook. If you are short, having your counters lowered a few inches can make cooking way more fun. Did you see the remodel of the Roloff's kitchen on Little People Big world? It was dangerous for her to cook in the old kitchen at her height, having to use step stools all the time. They did a great compromise, there was an island that was built for mom and other parts were normal height to fit the taller people in the house. The kitchen is one of the most used parts of the home and it's important that it fits the people living in it. If you are rebuilding your kitchen, make it to fit you, unless you KNOW you won't be there long. You will have more fun and enjoy your kitchen more if you do.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Restoration hardware -antique and modern
I got my normal stack of mail yesterday, filled with catalogs and post cards all related to interior design. One of the pieces I received was from Restoration Hardware. I sat down to see what was new. I didn't get very far before I was really surprised. There in Restoration Hardware was a swan chair.
http://image.restorationhardware.com/is/image/rhis/prod1613201_av1?$av$
It is called a "swan" chair because it resembles a swan from the side.
The swan chair was originally the invention of Arne Jacobsen in 1958 and has a very modern feel to it.
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-84813622970253_2070_3572430
We are now calling this style "retro". We have rediscovered the clean simple lines of previous decades and the punches of color that made them stand out. What is interesting about this restoration hardware translation is that they upholstered it in leather, thus "antiquing" it a bit.
It fits in well with the rest of the picture that they show. It just goes to show you how much far this "retro" look has come, if stores like Restoration Hardware are adapting it to fit their style, it's a "new" style that here's to stay.
http://image.restorationhardware.com/is/image/rhis/prod1613201_av1?$av$
It is called a "swan" chair because it resembles a swan from the side.
The swan chair was originally the invention of Arne Jacobsen in 1958 and has a very modern feel to it.
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-84813622970253_2070_3572430We are now calling this style "retro". We have rediscovered the clean simple lines of previous decades and the punches of color that made them stand out. What is interesting about this restoration hardware translation is that they upholstered it in leather, thus "antiquing" it a bit.
It fits in well with the rest of the picture that they show. It just goes to show you how much far this "retro" look has come, if stores like Restoration Hardware are adapting it to fit their style, it's a "new" style that here's to stay.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
keep what you love
This is an issue that has come up a lot lately. Many people are downsizing. The kids are gone, they don't want to keep up the big house anymore. A question I often have to deal with is "what do I keep?" Well there are several things I look at when I help a client choose what they want to keep.
First and foremost, do you LOVE the item? You gotta love it. We are often given gifts or inherit furniture that we don't really love but when it's time to downsize you have to take all that away and decide if you love it. The next thing to consider is what does the new place NEED? You need to ask how you are going to live in that space....are you finally going to have time to entertain? do you want to entertain formally or casually? inside or outside?
Many people find it hard to go through that stuff, even a receipt for aspirin may bring back a memory, old pictures, old clothes, they all hold memories. That is why it is often easier to bring someone in to help you with these decisions. They are not attached to your memories and can be a mirror for what is good and what isn't for you. Having an organizer is a big help, turn those files into piles. Create better systems for storing your stuff. A designer is helpful because they can help you to decide furniture plans and what pieces work best in the new environment and which of your accessories are going to enhance the place. They can help you make the best use of the space. Often when downsizing, it's hard to get used to having less space so it's imperative to have it space planned well.
So take a good hard look at how you live, what you use, how often do you entertain and make sure that your furniture, art and accessories reflect that and help to improve it.
First and foremost, do you LOVE the item? You gotta love it. We are often given gifts or inherit furniture that we don't really love but when it's time to downsize you have to take all that away and decide if you love it. The next thing to consider is what does the new place NEED? You need to ask how you are going to live in that space....are you finally going to have time to entertain? do you want to entertain formally or casually? inside or outside?
Many people find it hard to go through that stuff, even a receipt for aspirin may bring back a memory, old pictures, old clothes, they all hold memories. That is why it is often easier to bring someone in to help you with these decisions. They are not attached to your memories and can be a mirror for what is good and what isn't for you. Having an organizer is a big help, turn those files into piles. Create better systems for storing your stuff. A designer is helpful because they can help you to decide furniture plans and what pieces work best in the new environment and which of your accessories are going to enhance the place. They can help you make the best use of the space. Often when downsizing, it's hard to get used to having less space so it's imperative to have it space planned well.
So take a good hard look at how you live, what you use, how often do you entertain and make sure that your furniture, art and accessories reflect that and help to improve it.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Heritage Square Museum
Heritage Square Museum is having a designer showcase house to combine with their annual Christmas event. You may have driven by these houses on your way down the 110 to go to LA, I know I have driven by many times and always said "I must go there someday". Well, "someday" finally came about 3 months ago, I took my nephew to see them. He loves history and architecture, he's definitely been under my influence. ; ) They houses are amazing. They have 3 homes that are fully furnished and restored beautifully. The details are exquisite. Too bad we don't make homes like that anymore. They also have an Octagon house. There aren't very many of these left in the United States. The fact that they have one is quite a coux for them. They are still restoring that one but there's enough that you can imagine what it would be like to live in it. There are other buildings there as well, including a church and a train depot. Every year for Christmas, they do a special event and turn the homes into living museums with actors in period dress, and dancing and discussing important events of the day. This year they are adding something extra, they have a group of designers who have volunteered to add their special touch to these festivities. Yours truly is lucky enough to be one of them. We can't compromise the authenticity of the building but there's a lot we can do. Put it on your calendar....This is your "round tuit" It will be a great event. htttp://heritagesquare.org
Thursday, September 17, 2009
redesign - make what you have better
Redesign is an industry term that you may or may not have heard of before. Basically what it means is that you are using what you already own.
Often times the furniture you already own can be reused or moved to create a better, more comfortable space. Accessories are very personal and we all have them. Accessories are the icing on the cake of your room design. The right accessories can make your room really shine. The right placement of accessories can bring a room from boring to beautiful just like that.
One of my clients hired me to do some redesign for her. She had been stuck with her living room and just didn’t know what to do. I walked in her house and knew immediately where the problem was. She had two sofas and a rocking chair in her living room. One of the sofas was right in front of the door and blocked the way into the room. We walked around the house so that I could get a feeling for it and “listen” to it a bit. We walked in her daughter’s room and there were two easy chairs. I was very excited to see those chairs because I knew it would solve the problem of her living room. After walking around the house, I asked her some questions about the sofas and which one they liked better. I suggested that they put the one that they didn’t like so much in the garage or give it away to someone. They take the two easy chairs and put them on either side of the sofa in the living room and bringing the rocking chair into the baby’s room where you needed it anyway. By making these simple changes, it made more room in the baby’s room to move and for her to play. The living room became more open and inviting. I suggested some storage cubes so there was now a place for the baby’s toys.
By using what she already had, we were able to make better use of the space, she was able to get a whole new look to her house without spending a ton of money.
They now are able to entertain more and their friends enjoy coming over often. They love coming home now as it welcomes them and makes them feel good when they walk in the door instead of feeling crowded and congested.
Often times the furniture you already own can be reused or moved to create a better, more comfortable space. Accessories are very personal and we all have them. Accessories are the icing on the cake of your room design. The right accessories can make your room really shine. The right placement of accessories can bring a room from boring to beautiful just like that.
One of my clients hired me to do some redesign for her. She had been stuck with her living room and just didn’t know what to do. I walked in her house and knew immediately where the problem was. She had two sofas and a rocking chair in her living room. One of the sofas was right in front of the door and blocked the way into the room. We walked around the house so that I could get a feeling for it and “listen” to it a bit. We walked in her daughter’s room and there were two easy chairs. I was very excited to see those chairs because I knew it would solve the problem of her living room. After walking around the house, I asked her some questions about the sofas and which one they liked better. I suggested that they put the one that they didn’t like so much in the garage or give it away to someone. They take the two easy chairs and put them on either side of the sofa in the living room and bringing the rocking chair into the baby’s room where you needed it anyway. By making these simple changes, it made more room in the baby’s room to move and for her to play. The living room became more open and inviting. I suggested some storage cubes so there was now a place for the baby’s toys.
By using what she already had, we were able to make better use of the space, she was able to get a whole new look to her house without spending a ton of money.
They now are able to entertain more and their friends enjoy coming over often. They love coming home now as it welcomes them and makes them feel good when they walk in the door instead of feeling crowded and congested.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
amazing glass techniques
WOW, I just saw the most amazing pics from my friends Janet and Rafael Calvo at http:/www.ticotech.com. They do things with glass that go beyond most people's imagination. The are an incredible duo and have amazing imaginations by themselves and when they work together, it's incredible. I read someone once that creativity was God's expression of Himself on Earth. That part of us that we connect to is how He speaks to us. Well these two are definitely doing what they were set her to do. And there is something magical in what they do.So they just posted some pics of some louvered windows that they did. You know those boring dated old ugly louvered windows that exist in some houses. What do you do with them? Replace the window all together, throw curtains on them or blinds to block them out. Nope. Take a look at this masterpiece. The beauty is in the details and there is no detail left out in this piece.
Go to www.ticotech.com for more incredible glass uses
Monday, July 20, 2009
the color of friendship
Colors can agitate, colors can make you hungry, feel more romantic, make your food taste better, help you learn, wake you up or help you sleep.
It's important for everyone to agree on a color in a house. This makes it more difficult the more people live in a space.
One of my clients had a beautiful painting in their living room that they loved. She asked me to come over and select a color for the walls. She had selected some peach colors already feeling that it highlighted the flowers in the painting. I reached for my paint deck to begin the process. However, she stopped me and asked me to choose from the colors she had chosen. I selected the best of those and she painted it that weekend.
Very soon afterwards, her roommate stopped talking to her. Several months later, the roommate finally divulged that she just couldn't stand the peach walls, that she hated it and it was the source of their lack of communication. My client remembered that I wasn't in love with the peach color she had selected, and asked me to come back. We looked through my paint deck and found a calmer, softer gold color that actually highlighted the painting even more than the peach had. The room was painted that weekend and their relationship was back on the path to healing. They started talking again and it was a much happier household.
It's very important to select colors that make people feel good and encourage them be more at ease in their environments. If there's peace at home, it's easier to go out into the world. If home is crazy, it makes facing the outside world much harder.
Embrace some color and see how many friends you can make.
It's important for everyone to agree on a color in a house. This makes it more difficult the more people live in a space.
One of my clients had a beautiful painting in their living room that they loved. She asked me to come over and select a color for the walls. She had selected some peach colors already feeling that it highlighted the flowers in the painting. I reached for my paint deck to begin the process. However, she stopped me and asked me to choose from the colors she had chosen. I selected the best of those and she painted it that weekend.
Very soon afterwards, her roommate stopped talking to her. Several months later, the roommate finally divulged that she just couldn't stand the peach walls, that she hated it and it was the source of their lack of communication. My client remembered that I wasn't in love with the peach color she had selected, and asked me to come back. We looked through my paint deck and found a calmer, softer gold color that actually highlighted the painting even more than the peach had. The room was painted that weekend and their relationship was back on the path to healing. They started talking again and it was a much happier household.
It's very important to select colors that make people feel good and encourage them be more at ease in their environments. If there's peace at home, it's easier to go out into the world. If home is crazy, it makes facing the outside world much harder.
Embrace some color and see how many friends you can make.
paint cures 911 nightmare
Paint has such a huge affect on us in so many ways. Paint is all around us and we take it for granted but it does affect how we think and how we feel. I had a very profound experience with a child. The child was 9 years old and scared to sleep by herself. She was sleeping in her parents room. She had been 4 or 5 when 911 hit and watching the buildings fall had a huge impact on her. Her mom had previously done her room, she wanted it to be a fun and exciting room for her child. She used bright colors and wide stripes. It was a very active room. The problem was that her child had dyslexia. The bright colors were antagonizing her vision, and the wide stripes were giving the child nightmares. The child couldn't focus on the stripes properly and they appeared to always be shaking, and were a constant reenactment for her of a bad memory. Yellow is a great color to help with learning. We selected a soft calm yellow. When I selected the color, the mother said...."oh that's almost the color in the living room and she practically lives in there, she won't come in here at all" The child had gravitated toward her cure on her own. Mom painted the bedroom and they all were able to sleep in their own rooms.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Your House Whisperer
Every house has a story to tell. Not just about its own history but about its owners, past and present. Every detail liked or disliked says something about the owner. The house is a mirror of its owners
I have been nicknamed the “House Whisperer” because of the way that I look at design and its relationship with clients. The first thing I do is “listen to the space”, looking at the original architecture of the building and other historical information. Then I look at how the client lives in a home. Just as every home has a story, every item in a room has a story, and gives more information about the client. “Whispering” to a house is about balancing the needs of a building with the needs of those who live inside.
I look at the colors, textures, accessories to get a feel for the client’s personality. I look at the client to see if the client is comfortable in that space. Every room emotes a mood, we look and listen to see what that is, has it been accomplished and is it one that is enjoyed by the owner and the house.
Sometimes, the house makes certain demands. I once had a client that struggled to find the right hardware for her kitchen. It was easy to find hardware she liked, but the kitchen still wasn’t happy with the choices. When I found the hardware that the home ‘whispered’ to me, it became the instant favorite of the house and the client.
It is important, to take into account the needs, desires and style of the client. The goal is make the house comfortable for them first and foremost. The house is a mirror of the client and we want to look in that mirror and to see the best attributes of each member of the house, to create a space that is comfortable, peaceful, and restorative for that client. How is a place restorative? Well, there are many ways, the easiest to explain perhaps is color. Some people like loud bold colors, if you put them in a quiet colored room, it will unconsciously disturb them and vice versa. The trick is to find the color that gives them joy and makes them feel more like themselves. The same can be said for styles of furniture. Another way is in the amount of “stuff” people have around. Everyone has different comfort levels there. One person may like things really ornate, with lots of details and lots of accessories, another person may want it to be really modern and very sparse and there are lots of comfort zones in between. This is another aspect we look at when assessing a house. There are many more but these are just a few examples.
Sometimes when creating a design, we will just look at the room and imagine what could be in it. I think this is one of the ways the nickname really came into being. I would be sitting quietly looking at the room, as intently as you would listen to your best friend’s secret and come up with the idea that would work in the space. When asked, the best way I could explain it was that “it was what the room wanted”. Hence the name, house whisperer.
Being an interior designer isn’t just about making things pretty. It’s part sociologist, part historian, part psychologist. Sometimes I think being psychic wouldn’t hurt. It really is about listening to the client, not just with your ears but with your heart. At Chasworth Place, we want your home to be a grand expression of you and If, as Shakespeare wrote, “Life is but a stage”, it is our mission to provide the backdrop for you to create life’s great performance.
I have been nicknamed the “House Whisperer” because of the way that I look at design and its relationship with clients. The first thing I do is “listen to the space”, looking at the original architecture of the building and other historical information. Then I look at how the client lives in a home. Just as every home has a story, every item in a room has a story, and gives more information about the client. “Whispering” to a house is about balancing the needs of a building with the needs of those who live inside.
I look at the colors, textures, accessories to get a feel for the client’s personality. I look at the client to see if the client is comfortable in that space. Every room emotes a mood, we look and listen to see what that is, has it been accomplished and is it one that is enjoyed by the owner and the house.
Sometimes, the house makes certain demands. I once had a client that struggled to find the right hardware for her kitchen. It was easy to find hardware she liked, but the kitchen still wasn’t happy with the choices. When I found the hardware that the home ‘whispered’ to me, it became the instant favorite of the house and the client.
It is important, to take into account the needs, desires and style of the client. The goal is make the house comfortable for them first and foremost. The house is a mirror of the client and we want to look in that mirror and to see the best attributes of each member of the house, to create a space that is comfortable, peaceful, and restorative for that client. How is a place restorative? Well, there are many ways, the easiest to explain perhaps is color. Some people like loud bold colors, if you put them in a quiet colored room, it will unconsciously disturb them and vice versa. The trick is to find the color that gives them joy and makes them feel more like themselves. The same can be said for styles of furniture. Another way is in the amount of “stuff” people have around. Everyone has different comfort levels there. One person may like things really ornate, with lots of details and lots of accessories, another person may want it to be really modern and very sparse and there are lots of comfort zones in between. This is another aspect we look at when assessing a house. There are many more but these are just a few examples.
Sometimes when creating a design, we will just look at the room and imagine what could be in it. I think this is one of the ways the nickname really came into being. I would be sitting quietly looking at the room, as intently as you would listen to your best friend’s secret and come up with the idea that would work in the space. When asked, the best way I could explain it was that “it was what the room wanted”. Hence the name, house whisperer.
Being an interior designer isn’t just about making things pretty. It’s part sociologist, part historian, part psychologist. Sometimes I think being psychic wouldn’t hurt. It really is about listening to the client, not just with your ears but with your heart. At Chasworth Place, we want your home to be a grand expression of you and If, as Shakespeare wrote, “Life is but a stage”, it is our mission to provide the backdrop for you to create life’s great performance.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Free Design Guide
5 Decorating Mistakes You Can Avoid That Can Change Your Life
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