Interior Insights by Julie Meyers

'Tis the Season for Redecorating

2010-12-02T12:21:00.000-06:00

Well, the annual rush of "Black Friday" is behind us and the Christmas season has officially begun. As you dive into fulfilling Christmas wishes for your loved ones, what's on your wish list this year? Could it be that 2011 is the year for "Redecorate my home" to be at the top of that list?

If your desire is to see some minor but impactful sprucing up of your home's interiors, you can still achieve that before the jolly old elf descends your chimney. If, on the other hand, it's time for some major changes within, this is a great time to begin planning for redecorating projects that can be implemented right after the holidays. Your first step is to determine what you want, and what needs, to be done.

Clients often ask me to help them determine if it's really time to redecorate, and if so what the scope of that project should be. My first advice is to consider your interior spaces with the same eye that you evaluate your wardrobe each season, asking yourself the following questions....

First and foremost, when I look around my home, does its appearance bring me joy? Does it evoke feelings of welcome and comfort? Does it also make me feel rejuvenated and energized? When I walk into my home after being away, do I really see and experience the colors, textures, surfaces and furnishings in my home, or are they 'just there'? If you were critiquing your wardrobe, this would equate to the "Do I still really LOVE that jacket?" question.

Next comes the question of "Does it still fit me?". Do the spaces in my home function the way I need for them to? Or, have time, technology and the stage of my life changed how those spaces should work for me?
And finally, as you would stand in your closet thinking "Is it still in style, and is it still my style?", think about this: How does my home's appearance affect others who come into it? Does it send a message of hospitality to all who enter? Does it reflect my personality? Do I want it to be a showcase reflecting formal tradition, my family's history, or cutting edge style and sophistication? And does it do that?

As with the clothing that we wear, the way that we dress our homes needs to change over time, as styles and our needs change. Once you've decided that it's time to update, you can then move on to determining the scope of that project.

If it hasn't been very long since you last decorated your home, you may find that just some new paint and updated accessorizing is all it takes to give it a fresh look. Those are the kinds of things that you could even get completed before your Christmas guests arrive.

If your most recent decorating scheme was put in place before the first Bush administration, however, then it's time to treat yourself to a more major overhaul. Now is a great time to meet with a decorating professional, evaluated the changes that need to be made, and develop a plan for implementing those changes.

Your design professional can assist you not only in deciding what to change and in making choices so that everything falls into place in a timely manner. If contractors are needed for structural alterations, he or she can also facilitate getting on their schedule now, so that they can start their work as soon as the holidays are over.
Does making the decision to redecorate seem like a really big deal, or even a little bit selfish? Certainly, it shouldn't be undertaken without careful consideration, but it's also important to recognize when it's time to do so, and if done right can be loads of fun. It just might be the best Christmas gift you ever give yourself!

At a Glance: High Point Furniture Market 2010

2010-10-28T12:53:00.000-05:00

Late last Friday night, I returned home from a week at the High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina. It was an exhausting but very beneficial trip, and I am excited about all the new product that is hitting the market!
Here's just a glimpse into my week at market........

*psst* Wouldn't one of these beautiful pieces just love to make an appearance in your home?! ;)

Defining your Decorating Style

2010-10-21T12:49:00.000-05:00

If you were asked to succinctly define your decorating style, could you do it? What about the prevailing color scheme in your home? How would you describe the way you want your interiors to "feel"? Would you say that you have successfully achieved that style, that color scheme, and that overall feeling in your home?

Almost everyone has a general sense of direction when it comes to decorating their home, however they may feel at a loss when it comes to the details of making their vision play out. By far the most common need that I hear expressed by clients is the need for assistance in "getting it all the hang together".

Taking all the pieces of the decorating puzzle and getting them to fit together in a way that looks good, feels good, functions well, fits the budget, AND can translate well from one room to another in your home is, to say the least, a tricky undertaking.

Begin by making sure you have a good handle on your preferred decorating style. Whether your style is traditional, transitional, or contemporary, it needs to be consistent throughout your home. By no means does this imply that every room in your house should be a carbon copy of each other, but by keeping a consistent style from room to room, you will be keeping them compatible as a whole. Then, vary the degree of formality among your rooms to provide variety and suit their functions.

Secondly, rely on one of the most useful tools in your bag of decorating tricks, your color scheme. If you are starting from scratch, play around with paint chips until you find a combination of five or six colors that are really pleasing to you, and use this as the basis for your entire home's color scheme. Then, choose one of those colors to be the predominant one in each room, another to be your secondary color, and the remainder as accent colors.

In your mind's eye, switch out which color will play which role in each of your rooms. As long as you stay within your basic color scheme, you can create very different looks in each area of your home, but still have them complement each other and maintain a feeling of flow from one space to another.

Today's wide open interior spaces can be especially challenging when it comes to creating an interesting but still unified look. A common example of this challenge is in great rooms, which often encompass kitchen, dining, entertainment and relaxation spaces all in one.

By utilizing at least one key element, such as a certain motif, texture or fabric that is common to each of those spaces but played out in several different ways, you can achieve a look that is unified but not boring. For instance, don't dress all of your windows in exactly the same window treatment. Instead, use the same fabric or fabrics, but change the design from one space, or one window configuration, to another. Or if you choose metal and glass for your occasional tables in the sitting area of your great room, repeat the metal in your choice of barstools for the breakfast bar. Similarly, try carrying the fabric from your sofa into your kitchen area, by using it as embellishment on a valance over the sink, or as cushions on your kitchen chairs.

The key to making your decorating scheme feel like it hangs together and flows from room to room is to make sure that at least one element or "piece of the puzzle" is carried over from each of your rooms into the next. That element could be color, pattern, texture, or all three. When done carefully and with imagination, you will create a wonderful flowing feel throughout your home.

Stop Energy from Escaping Through your Windows!

2010-10-14T13:06:00.000-05:00

This week, we are addressing a popular topic--energy efficiency in the home. With the changing season, there's no better time than now to re-evaluate how energy is used (and wasted) in your home. Did you know that up to half of what is paid for heating and cooling utility bills pours through windows?? It is time to stop throwing money out the window! Read on to learn how to you can save lots of energy AND money!

Sit by a bare window on a sunny day, and you'll feel the sun's warmth. Sit by that same window on a cold, windy night, and you'll feel chilled to the bone! With today's economic concerns, smart homeowners are continually searching for ways to cut expenses and save on their monthly energy bills.

Naturally, the best place to start is to be sure our homes are well-insulated. But all too often, while overall home insulation is a priority, windows seem to be neglected. No matter what your climate, bare windows are a primary spot for energy to escape. In cold climates, heat naturally moves toward the cold to escape. And in warmer areas, outdoor heat moves toward the windows of our air conditioned homes.

Since windows make up 20% of a typical home's exterior, and 40% of contemporary home construction, numerous large uncovered windows can break your energy budget! This is especially true when those windows face a cold northern exposure in the winter or a sun-saturated west wall in summer.

It's important to know that many window treatment products have actually been assigned an R-Value. Building materials are assigned R-Values according to each product's ability to resist heat movement. The higher the R-Value, the better it insulates your home. Most windows have an R-Value of 0.9 to 3.0, and can be responsible for 40-70% of heat or cold transfer for an entire home.

Using multiple layers at your windows, including cellular constructed treatments, can actually increase an R-Value by 1 to nearly 5 points!

So let's look at a variety of window treatment options to help you create cozy spaces, and cut energy costs at the same time. What could be more perfect?!?!

Learn more about the Federal Tax Credit for energy-efficient window coverings

Duette® Honeycomb Shades: These soft, elegant looking shades actually increase energy values at the window by 25 to 175%, depending upon single, double, or triple thickness in the air-trapping construction. Available in nearly 300 colors, and a variety of styles, the R-Value for Duette's® can reach as high as 4.8 for the triple honeycomb shade. They're durable, easy to clean, mildew resistant, and require little to no maintenance.

Vertical Blinds: Available in hundreds of colors, textures and embossed patterns, vertical blinds can increase window insulation by 37 to 123% AND block 95-99% of ultraviolet light. R-Values reach as high as 3.92 for vertical blinds when closed over double-glazed glass.

Vignette Shades: These beautiful shades feature the gentle look of a fine drapery, but are made of generously contoured folds of rich fabrics. They provide a 49% increase in window insulation value and can block 99% of UV light. They boast an R-Value of 2.63 when closed over double-glazed glass, and are available in over a hundred fabric/color options.

Because there are numerous shade options available on the market today, here are three questions you should answer before making your specific product selection: Do you need special insulation protection? Which direction do most of your windows face--sun or shade? What treatment/product will work best with the rest of your room's design direction?

Most importantly, talk to a professional decorator! They not only have a vast store of knowledge on which product would work best for your individual situation, but they'll be able to add that all-important decorative element to your overall window treatment design.

Click here for more information about current Hunter Douglas promotions

(New) Fall Colors.

2010-09-28T14:30:00.000-05:00

Isn't it funny how a change in season seems exciting and new each year?
When I finally get around to putting all the Christmas decorations away (beginning of February, usually), I say to myself, "Next year I'm going light on holiday decor!" But...10 months later, there I am again, searching for the latest and greatest in holiday collections and accessories. Somehow, it just happens...

We had a (mostly) lovely, hot and wet summer here in Iowa. As one can imagine, I welcome the approaching season, and I'm ready to pull out the first sweater, go pick apples, pumpkins, spice....create a whole new scene.

When it comes to color, fall is the perfect time to change up your 'look', as we prepare to spend LOTS and lots of time indoors during the winter months. Typically, we think of maple red, green, brown, and orange this time of year. However, the colors I'm noticing (and loving) this year are far more creative! There seems to be a new color consciousness, breaking away from the norm with unexpected combinations.

Here are 4 of our color favorites for this season. Hope you enjoy them, too!


Try one of these soft dark colors in a bedroom, using light colors (white, light gray, etc) in accent pieces, such as bedside tables, a desk, or bedding. Colors like Benjamin Moore Galaxy, Deep Space, and Deep Caviar are great choices for a bold, fresh look.


Benjamin Moore Hasbrouck Brown and Branchport Brown are also great options for a bedroom (or any other room in your home, for that matter!). Pair a deep chocolaty brown with a bold brick red for a winning color combination!


Our third color family for this fall works great in any room, and with just about any decorating style. Taupe, taupe, taupe. We've been hearing many a mention of this color in the design community. For one, it pairs wonderfully with all the violet shades we're starting to see. Benjamin Moore Lighthouse Landing, Sierra Hills, and Mohair are excellent choices this fall.


And last, but certainly not least....ethereal grays/blues. Pair one of these spa-inspired colors with white trim for a soft, clean look. Check out Benjamin Moore Sabre Gray, La Paloma Gray and Stone Harbor if this is the look you're trying to achieve.

Have fun this season experimenting with these *new* fall colors! Let us know if you've discovered a winning color combination for your favorite season!

A Tasteful Teen Room Makeover

2010-09-16T11:37:00.000-05:00

One of the most fun, albeit most challenging decorating projects, is doing a room makeover for a teenager. As a parent, it’s often difficult enough to find mutually agreeable middle ground on small everyday issues, so tackling an entire room makeover can be a real adventure.

However, if executed with careful planning, strategic decision-making and good consensus-building, it really can be a fun and rewarding undertaking for all parties involved. This week we take a look at one such project.

In general, creating a plan for decorating a teen’s room usually presents three major challenges: pleasing the tastes and desires of both teen and parent’s, making decisions which will stand the test of time (or at least until the teen ‘leaves the nest’), and doing so without breaking the bank. This project was no exception.

The bedroom pictured here was actually at one time a second-story sun porch, with windows and /or French doors on three of its four walls. Having been transformed to a year-round bedroom many years ago, it still boasts wonderful natural light from all those openings, however was in desperate need of a decorative update and transformation to accommodate the needs and tastes of its new, fifteen-year-old female resident.

Before

We began with the selection of a layered neutral color scheme, which works well with the existing carpet that was still in good shape. A fresh coat of paint on woodwork, walls and ceilings utilized Sherwin Williams’ Utterly Beige, Realist Beige and Everyday White colors and created a soft warm canvas for the room.

Addressing the budget issue, the existing furniture needed to stay. A pine pencil post bed was a good foundation piece for the room, and presented the opportunity for some fun, dramatic bedding treatments.

Again keeping in mind our needs for economical and age-enduring decision, we dressed the bed in a solid cream-colored duvet and tailored black bed skirt.
The pizzazz factor is, of course, pretty important to teens, and was added in the form of animal print pillows and bed scarf, against a backdrop of deep chocolate brown Euro shams at the head of the bed.

After

Crowning the bed and making it a true focal point is a creatively designed tailored canopy. Simple fabrics keep it practical, while color, texture and some funky tassels at the corners give it personality. In addition to its unmistakable drama, the canopy adds softness to the room without appearing fussy or too juvenile.

Windows were all dressed in simple pinch pleated draperies, in a fabric matching the bed’s canopy. Decorative rods, finials and drapery rings painted a crisp white help to draw the eye upward, and insure that these won’t be mistaken for your grandma’s pinch pleateds. For now, they offer sleek sophistication to our teenage girl, and will still work well with almost any style this room takes on in the future.

With all the window and door openings in the room, furniture arrangement can be tricky. We repositioned the bed to one of the outside walls, where it is framed perfectly between two sets of windows.

Wall-mounted swing arm lamps were placed strategically for reading and studying, and create a wonderful warm glow within the canopied space. A funky round mirror completes the bed’s tableau.

Situated underneath the adjacent window is a blanket chest that can double as a new bedside surface for the alarm clock, tissues, books or other necessities. A small, newly reupholstered chair and table in the opposite corner were rescued from another underused room in the house, and provide a cozy spot for reading or talking with friends.

All in all, we ended up with a space that pleases both teen and parents, and should continue to serve both well for many years to come. That, they both agree, deserves the label of “Mission Accomplished!”.

Creating a Cozy Country Kitchen

2010-09-09T10:59:00.000-05:00

This week, we look at what can happen when imagination, courage and commitment combine to transform a dreary country kitchen into a space that is crisp, inviting, and worthy of being considered the heart of the house.

Confined for many years to a small, boxy farmhouse kitchen, these clients were ready for a major makeover. And, realizing that such a project would dramatically increase the time and enjoyment that they spend there, as well as the resale value of their home, they expressed that they were open to consideration of changing just about everything in the room.

We began, as always, by identifying these clients' functional needs and their decorating tastes. It was determined that they wanted the kitchen to become more family friendly, able to accommodate casual dining for up to six people, and with plenty of space for everyone to gather and socialize while meal preparation takes place.

Furthermore, we settled on creating a casually elegant atmosphere in a European Country style. Our clients commented that what they were hoping for a look that would be "very classy, but never stuffy". Once we had identified the overall look and function that was desired, it became easy to select the elements that this room needed.

The biggest piece of this remodeling puzzle was replacement of all the old cabinets. Traditional styling, a crisp white finish, and furniture-like detailing, as well as generously scaled crown and surface moldings provided the basis for new cabinetry which really sets the tone for this new kitchen. As you can see, they absolutely provide a huge 'bang for the buck'.

Note that we also chose to combine painted and stained finishes, by wrapping the new island in a beautifully rich dark cherry finish, and then repeating that finish in the dining table and chairs. This is a very strong trend in interior decorating today, and when done carefully is extremely effective.

After

Once the cabinets were selected, we focused on the surfaces of the kitchen. A beautiful granite in tones of warm neutrals was chosen for countertops. The floor was distressed in ceramic tile, which repeats lighter shades of the mottled tones found in the granite.

Sherwin Williams' Hopsack was the perfect color for the walls, and plays well off of some of the darker tones in the granite and floor tile. Finally, crisp white tile adorns the backsplash and visually unites the wall and base cabinets.

The new dining furniture is traditionally styled, but not too formal, in keeping with the clients' tastes and lifestyle. Sage green seat cushions add visual softness and comfort to the space.

In accessorizing this room, we wanted to keep the look uncluttered, but a few key pieces really finish it off. The island pendants and chandelier over the table exude elegance without appearing too fussy, and the oversized clock above the cooking area is both functional and attractive. A few fresh flowers, a few cookbooks, and some stainless steel culinary equipment were all that was needed to complete this homey atmosphere.

Before

Although hard to believe when you look at the before and after shots of this room, there were no structural changes required for the remodeling project. At 13' x 18' the room is not enormous, but with a careful design plan we were able to increase its function and create a much more spacious feeling without moving any walls.

By taking part of the cabinetry all the way to the ceiling and creating varying heights for the eye to rest on, the room takes on a more expansive feeling than it previously had. In addition, installing the ceramic floor tile on the diagonal makes the room feel less boxy. And finally, careful planning of the cabinet components enabled us to create very efficient storage in the space we were given, which there white finish also visually opens the room up.

Re-Defining Spaces in Your Home

2010-09-01T15:15:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year when our thoughts return to the indoors in a big way. We're marking those "last time of the summer" events, as we recognize the end of the grilling, mowing, and camping seasons, and anticipate the beginning of the cocooning season. This is also the time of year when many of us are facing a nest that is emptier than it has been in the past. With all of these factors in mind, it's a good time to re-evaluate the space usage in your home.
For empty nesters, finding yourself with a recently vacated bedroom presents the opportunity to make use of that space in ways that were, up until now, a luxury. Perhaps you'd love to have a charming room created just for overnight guests, a home office, a quiet library area, or a room that will accommodate your special hobbies. For many of us, we'd like all of those!
In converting an old bedroom to new uses, start by making a list of what you'd like it to do for you. Keep in mind that, although it may no longer need to be a full-time bedroom, your children will likely return for overnight visits, bringing others as well when they have families of their own.
Consider appointing this room with furniture which will multi-task. A day bed or futon, which can function as both sofa and bed, is very handy. Daybeds will even accommodate a trundle underneath, to increase sleeping capacity in the room. A well-planned home office united can also double as hobby and storage space, and segues well into a small, quiet reading area.

If you are passionate about one thing in particular like reading or music, or have multiple hobbies such as scrapbooking, stamping, and sewing, here is your chance to dedicate a space just for that. In such a case, you might even consider decorating your room in that theme utilizing novelty fabrics, wall coverings and accessories which highlight that favorite activity. Really tap into your imagination and creativity, and have fun with it!

Those who don't have newly available space in the home would still do well to use this time of year to critique how the current space is working.
Does the onset of cooler weather call for rearranging your furniture, orienting it away from the outdoors and more towards a fireplace? Might you need to bring the rocking chair in off of the porch and add some cozy cushions for additional wintertime seating?
Or, are you attracted to the idea of bringing a warm outdoor feeling inside for the winter? If so, think about finding a previously under-utilized space which could be transformed into al fresco-style dining with an outdoor table and chairs. Finish it off with floor plants, bright cheery fabrics and accessories, and you'll have a little corner of 'summer' to see yourself through the cold winter months.
The harried lifestyles of our society today often lead us to yearn for a peaceful space to unwind. Although you may not have an entire room that you can claim as such, look around your home for even a small nook which could be transformed into a quiet corner. Almost all of us have a spot in our homes that has become more of a forgotten catchall than anything else, and herein lies potential!
In your mind's eye, empty this space of all of its current contents, and imagine re-furnishing it with a soft area rug, fresh color, and just enough furnishings for an inviting little retreat that will beckon you to relax and refresh at the end of your day.
Taking a fresh approach to the space usage in our homes is a great way to prepare for the cold months ahead, and can actually make us excited about spending them indoors!

Sink Your Toes into Something Wonderful

2010-08-25T09:44:00.000-05:00

Close your eyes for a moment, and imagine the feeling that you get from the soft, velvety grass of a putting green under bare feet on a beautiful summer day. Now, think about your warmest, most comfortable sweater wrapping its arms around you when it's cold outside. Lastly, envision the feeling of sinking down onto a luxurious feather bed at the end of a long, hard day.
The sensations you've just imagined can be similarly evoked by a seemingly unlikely element in your home: your carpet. When we cover our floors with carpet, we should be able to expect that it will provide us with the same softness, warmth and cushion underfoot as what we get from that putting green, sweater and feather bed,.
In addition, however, our carpets have to wear like iron and resist soiling, even though they are subjected to the harshest wear of anything in our homes. Now, picture that warm fuzzy sweater, being trod on dozens of times each day!
Today's carpets are softer, have more variety of style, and are more durable than ever before. They offer not only tactile comfort underfoot, but important visual warmth, texture and style to your rooms as well.
New technologies in the manufacturing process have enabled the creation of carpeting that has an unbelievable "hand", the design term referring to the actual feel of carpet or textiles. In the past, such a soft hand was attainable only with fibers which were either exorbitantly expensive or which didn't hold up to normal wear. Look for carpet fibers with the trade names of Tactesse, Caress, or EveryTouch, and you will be amazed at the difference in softness from those that don't use this new technology.
The style of carpet that you choose for your home is a critical factor in achieving the look you're going for, but also in performing the way you need it to.
Traditional cut pile carpeting has always been and always will be a good standard style. It works with every decorating style, from casual to formal, and is available in the widest variety of colors. If you are bothered by seeing foot prints, traffic patterns, or vacuum marks, however, be aware that cut pile may not be your best choice.
Freize ("free-zay") is a style of carpet that debuted about 12 years ago. It offers a cut pile construction, but with more tightly twisted, somewhat curlier yarns, which lend a more casual appearance and less showing of traffic patterns or vacuum marks than traditional cut piles.
For those of us who lived through the seventies, freize carpets initially may remind us of the shag style from that era, but don't let that dissuade you from choosing them! Freizes look great, feel great and perform great in almost any style of room.
Another exciting development in the carpet industry has been the recent explosion in variety of loop piles, commonly referred to as berbers. For years, berber carpets have provided us with a great option in carpeting that is casual, durable, and resistant to showing traffic patterns. However, its downside has been that it was not very soft, and its casualness didn't always translate well from room to room.
With today's newer styles in loop pile, berbers can go from ultra-casual to refined, and with the softness of the latest fibers they offer almost as plush of a feel as a cut pile. Do be aware, however, that carpet seams will be more detectable with loop piles than with cut.
Once you've decided upon a carpet style for your home, pay attention to fiber content. Polyesters are economical, olefins wear like iron, and wool is awesome, if your budget allows it. The most commonly chosen fiber, however, is 100% continuous filament nylon, which will give you great wear and great value for your money.
Nearly every client that I work with on a floor covering project asks the question: "Which carpet will be most durable, and won't mat down in high traffic areas?".
What most of us refer to as "matting" or "crushing" of carpet is similar to what happens to our hair if we go several days without shampooing. It's important to remember that carpet is made up of fibers, just like our clothing is. When subjected to soil accumulation and constant pressure from being walked upon in the same spots, those carpet fibers simply lay down and stay there!
So, there are three factors which will go a long ways toward having your carpet look fresh and new for as long as possible. First, purchase the best quality product that you can. Look for specifications which reflect high face weight and high density. These are indications of how much yarn is used per yard of carpet, and how densely it is woven.
Secondly, choose the highest quality carpet pad you can. Your pad is to your carpet as shock absorbers are to your car, and it will pay for itself in the long run. Do not just settle for the "free pad with purchase," as those won't be of a quality which will enhance the life of your carpet.
Lastly, regular vacuuming, at least once a week, will go a long ways toward maintaining that like-new appearance, just as shampooing our hair or laundering our clothes does, by removing the soil and fluffing the fibers.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors

2010-08-17T10:27:00.000-05:00

One of my fondest childhood memories is of sitting on my grandparents' screened-in front porch on summer evenings, relaxing in their big old oak rocking chairs and watching the traffic go by, while Grandpa listened to a Cubs game and Grandma crocheted. They lived in a town of only 500 people, so 'traffic' was rather a relative term, but nevertheless, the front porch was the place to be.
From our vantage point on the porch, we could observe just about all of the town's goings on. We knew who was out and about, and all who were, knew to glance toward the Anderson's porch to see if Harold and Ino were available with a glass of lemonade and time to chat.
Back in those 'Mayberry RFD' days, folks spent much of their summer leisure time outdoors because it was cooler there than inside, and because it connected them with their neighbors. Screened porches and rocking chairs were the staple of outdoor living.
Several decades later, our outdoor living habits are significantly different. Most of us have moved from the front porch to the backyard, and with that move we've brought along much more than just a couple of rockers and the portable radio.
One of the strongest trends in the design industry today is toward creating outdoor living spaces which provide many of the same amenities that we enjoy inside our homes. Truly comfortable areas for dining and conversation, as well as outdoor kitchens which accommodate full meal preparation and lavish entertaining, are becoming quite common.
A real driving force behind this trend is the desire of many people to create an escape from the busyness of life. We're liking the idea of having a space where we can feel separate from the rest of the world, where we can enjoy the outdoors and the absence of the phone, computer and television. But, of course, we also want to be comfortable!
When I was in the 'dreaming' phase of creating our ideal outdoor living space, this is what my vision looked like:
Creating defined spaces in the great outdoors is a good way to accommodate entertainment of large groups, especially when varied ages are involved. In addition to our existing two-tiered deck, I wanted to see a patio on the ground level, next to the garden. Besides providing for a visual connection between the deck and the garden, this will allow for multiple activities and age groups to enjoy the outdoors together.
Comfortable furniture is a must, and the options today go far beyond a wicker rocker or webbed folding chairs. All-weather metals, wickers and even some woods provide the basis for furniture which is beautiful enough to do double duty indoors, and fabrics which resist moisture, mildew and fading allow cushioning to be practical as well as comfy.
I was thinking a sofa, two chairs and a couple of occasional tables would make a great conversation grouping around my portable outdoor fireplace. And for dining, a coordinating table with a market umbrella and chairs for six will be quite nice. Because this is Iowa, a portable outdoor heater near the dining area will allow us to use this space almost until the snow flies.
Outdoor kitchens run the gamut from a simple grill, to a more elaborate set-up complete with sink, refrigerator, warming oven, food preparation area and cabinetry. In my dreams, that would be really fun to have! However, I'm perfectly fine with a nice grill and a little prep space...and with the money we'd save, we can more easily justify building a pond and babbling brook next to the garden!

Speaking of which, water features are a great way to add to the ambiance of your backyard living space. Although not to be undertaken on a whim or without doing your homework, they can provide both visual and auditory beauty for your enjoyment, to say nothing of attracting flora and fauna that you might not otherwise have.
Now that our outdoor living space is complete, we could not be more pleased with how it turned out. We have created a place for family to come and gather, where we can sit back, relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

You may think that creating such outdoor living environments isn't realistic in a climate where cold weather monopolized our calendar, but the truth is that most years we can enjoy spaces like this at least occasionally for almost eight months out of the year. In fact, Grandpa used to listen to both the first game of the season and the last game of the World Series from his perch on the porch.

Stay Cool With These Summer Decorating Tips

2010-08-10T15:14:00.000-05:00

With the scorching heat and humidity that we're currently experiencing, there's no doubt that it's August in Iowa. There is something about this kind of weather that always takes me back to memories of my childhood....early morning berry picking in Grandma's garden, long days at the city pool, the welcome sound of the ice cream truck, slushies from the Dairy Queen.

It's funny how memories of hot, humid summer days in childhood seem pleasant and make us nostalgic for those times, however those same weather conditions in the present tense are mostly just plain miserable. And most often we're even surrounded by cool, conditioned air, now!

When the weather is steamy outside, there are a number of relatively easy changes that we can make to our interiors, which will go a long ways toward making us feel more psychologically refreshed.

Think about how even the sight of a warm fuzzy blanket in winter makes us feel all cozy inside. In the heat of summer, you can use that same concept to get a wonderful sense of coolness, by placing pretty sheer draperies at your windows.

The vision of those light, ethereal fabric panels gently blowing in the breeze (even if that breeze comes from your air conditioning vents) conjure memories of waking on a cool summer morning in Grandma's farm house, with her curtains gracefully fluttering at the windows.

Speaking of those summer sleeping memories brings to mind the childhood habit of frequently flipping our pillows during the night, to temporarily experience the cooling sensation of the pillow's other side.

Playing off of that idea, try switching out your bed linens for summer. Strip your bed's dressing down to the bare minimum by storing everything that isn't needed right now for warmth.

Then re-dress the bed in some fabulous, crisp new sheets and pillow cases. Treat yourself to linens that not only look beautiful in and of themselves, but whose fabric has a really great 'hand', high thread count, and light, summery color too. These will become the basis for an entirely fresh summer look on your bed.

Next, remove the comforter insert from your duvet cover, fold the cover into quarters or thirds lengthwise and place at the foot of your bed for a very stylish new 'bed scarf' look. Add matching pillow shams and throw pillows at the top of the bed, and you're good to go.

In your living and family rooms, think about creating more of a pared down look for summer. Consider putting area rugs into storage, as well as dark or heavy-looking accessories. Swap your winter throw pillows for some that are lighter and brighter. Move large houseplants outdoors. Wherever and as often as possible, accessorize for summer with fresh flowers.

If you use candles, remove them from heavy candlesticks and place into a bed of sand on a platter or in a bowl, then scatter clear florist's stones or sea shells around. Alternatively, float candles in water with decorative stones in the bottom of the vessel.

We can create more of a cool, breezy feeling not only by making visual changes in our homes, but by alternating our other sensory input as well. The previously mentioned fresh flowers are one obvious and wonderful way to bring summer aromatherapy inside. You might also want to utilize scent diffusers of one type or another, choosing a light fresh air or linen scent.

Appealing to your sense of sound, place a really nice wind chime outside near a window where it will catch gentle breezes, and fountain indoors where you can enjoy the very therapeutic sound of trickling water.

No doubt about it; it's hot outside. Thankfully, most of us do have access to air conditioning at least much of the time, and by making some minor changes to our interior decorating scheme we can cool down our psyches as well. And, soon enough, we'll be thinking of ways that we can 'cozy up' our homes for the winter season.

A Casual Dining Area is the Perfect Fit

2010-08-04T18:30:00.000-05:00

Certainly one of the most hard-working rooms of our home is the kitchen. By virtue of all that takes place, and the amount of time that most families spend in their kitchen, it truly is very important to create a pleasantly designed environment there.
But for all the time we might spend in this heart of the home, and all the importance we might place on making it pleasant, most kitchens present some interesting design challenges. This week's featured room makeover is a prime example.
Our homeowner was faced with the challenge of a kitchen area which was part of a generously sized great room, but in and of itself was really quite small and previously not very well defined. In addition, harsh architectural lines made everything feel a bit too angular, and there was no real focus to the room.
As with any design project, we began by identifying how the client needed this space to function. Aside from the obvious food preparation and storage needs, the family really wanted casual dining space, but their table and chairs seemed overwhelming in the rather small bay area beyond the kitchen's work triangle.

Although the great room as a whole is quite large, the kitchen area just felt sort of 'squished' to one end of it. We needed to better define the kitchen space, while also creating more of a sense of flow and unity to the rest of the great room. And, we needed to make it feel a whole lot more bright and cheerful.
Without doing anything at all structurally, this room now looks like an entirely new space. The real secrets to making it all work better are the use of properly-scaled furnishings, color, pattern and texture, and the all-important addition of visual softness to the room.
Where colors were all neutral before, a vibrant cornflower blue has been used on the walls. Completing the color scheme with a sunny yellow, now upon entering the room the clients say they experience feelings of both cheerfulness and calm; very pleasing!
Marrying our two colors together and providing the pattern in the room is a bold buffalo check fabric, which is at once classic and casual. This fabric was used to create a tab top valance with cute button embellishments and bottom banding, mounted upon crisp white decorative rods which follow the shape of the bay. To create further softness and vertical eye movement, stationary side panels with coordinating tie-backs were the perfect choice.
When deciding how to dress the windows, we had to face the challenge of the disparity between the upward angle of the vaulted ceiling, the bow of the walls here, and the straight horizontal line created by the tops of the windows.
We chose to follow that horizontal direction with a straight topped treatment, to accent the bow by our choice of the mitered white rod, and then to play up the angled ceiling separately, by use of the bold blue wall color. In so doing, we've accomplished many things: bringing color, pattern and cheer into the space, adding softness, and visually defining the kitchen and eating areas.
To achieve a sense of flow, now, it was important to carry one of our kitchen colors into the rest of the great room. Sherwin Williams' "Bee" color was the perfect way to do that.
Furnishings were the next important step, and two new pieces provided just the right touch. A petite iron and wood bistro table and chairs provides for dining, while still keeping the space from feeling too crowded and closed in.
Its European Country styling is repeated in a complimentary bakers rack, which repeats the wood tones but picks up our crisp white accent color. The placement of the bakers rack, just around the corner from the bay, draws our eye into the rest of the great room and creates a real feeling of continuity.
Now, instead of feeling "cramped, blah and dreary" in their kitchen, our clients tell us it brings a smile every time they walk in.

Tackling a Challenging Great Room

2010-07-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick little decorating quiz for you...What do these three things all have in common: really big rooms, really small rooms, and indoor traffic patterns? The answer is that all three of these present challenges to the process of furniture arranging, and as a result nearly every home has at least one room for which finding a comfortable, attractive and functional furniture arrangement is difficult.
Today's architectural styles, often incorporating very sizeable great room configurations in their layouts, are wonderful for achieving a sense of openness, as well as for accommodating many activities and functions in one large area. The challenge inherent in great rooms, however, is in arranging your furniture. It can be a tricky thing to play up the spaciousness of these rooms, while still fostering a sense of coziness and comfort.
Big open spaces typically have much less wall space than did the rooms of years past. So, gone is the rule of thumb that many of us grew up with, which seemed to dictate that all of our furniture was lined up along the outside of the room. The new standard of furnishing a great room is to float at least some of your furniture in the center of the room, rather than against a wall.

Begin by figuring out what spaces you want to define in your room. Create a conversation grouping of comfortable upholstered furniture which is centered on the room's focal point. This can effectively be accomplished by floating a sofa in the middle of the room, facing the room's focal point, whether that be a fireplace, an entertainment center or a wall of windows with an incredible view.
Next, add secondary upholstered seating, such as a couple of easy chairs and an ottoman which face the sofa, and then plug in occasional tables. Think about having one of those be a sofa table, which can be situated behind the floating sofa to create a more finished look and provide space for accessorizing.

Before leaving this area of your room, check to make sure that each of the seating pieces can gracefully face all others, to allow for comfortable conversation. Also visualize where the walking patterns will be, and make sure that you have allowed a minimum of 18-24" between furniture pieces in the traffic areas.
Now that you have the major conversation grouping established in your great room, it's time to consider the other activities that will take place there. Consider a table and chairs that can accommodate casual dining, game playing, homework and bill paying. Or, is this the place that you want to have a computer center or music area?
The key to furniture arrangement in great rooms is to identify the activities that will take place there, the furniture that will accommodate those activities, and the traffic patterns that will be generated by them. Taking each of these into account, then thinking outside the box to decide where each piece of furniture should fit into the puzzle will lead you to an arrangement that will suit your home to its best potential.
Once you have your basic furniture arrangement determined, it's time to consider a few other elements that will give your great room an awesome finished look. Whether you have hard surface flooring or carpet, area rugs in your conversation grouping and dining areas can add color, pattern, and a much-needed visual center of gravity to further define these spaces.
If, as in many great rooms, you have wonderful expanses of windows, dramatic window treatments that accentuate but don't dominate those windows are certainly called for. Be sure that they are properly scaled. A window treatment designed for yesterday's typical 72" wide by 84" high windows will look silly adorning today's much larger openings.
Lastly, make careful choices of accessories that will put the finishing touches on your room. Especially if you have high ceilings, make sure that you do the architecture of your room justice by choosing appropriately proportional accessories, artwork and organic elements, and by placing them in such a way as to create graceful eye movement through your entire room.

Social Networking Decorating

2010-07-21T09:41:00.000-05:00

In so many ways, I’m such a dinosaur. Despite being fully engaged in a business and personal world where technology is both pervasive and indispensable, my baby boomer brain finds it a constant challenge to keep up-to-date on how things work, to say nothing of how to deal when they don’t work the way I expect them to.

As much as I hate to admit it, there are plenty of days when I lament that things might have been easier back when my primary tools of life consisted of pencil, paper, a phone that was connected to the wall, and our simple old 3-channel TV.

But even if I am a dinosaur, I don’t really mean that I want things the way they used to be. All of today’s technology, albeit challenging for someone like me to master, really does make life easier, and in many ways more fun.

In fact, two of my favorite technological developments in recent years are ones that, in a way, take us back to experiences from my childhood, which had sort of fallen by the wayside in our busy lives

With the advent of very sophisticated media systems which are actually affordable and accessible to the average consumer, the new popularity of beautifully appointed media rooms in many peoples’ homes has brought back movie night, without the wait in line to purchase tickets or popcorn. This week’s featured room is just one example of how much fun such rooms can be to decorate.

Finally having the space to accommodate a true media room in their new home, our clients asked us to create an environment which would evoke memories of Saturday night at the movie theatre, and would be comfortable for groups of up to a dozen or so to watch movies or sporting events.

We began by developing a color scheme of rich chocolate brown, black, warm honey and deep plum. Whereas in most rooms our clients are reluctant to use many dark colors because of a fear of visually closing the room in, media rooms allow us to embrace the dynamic of cozy and cocoon-like. Chocolate brown covers the ceiling and our plum color graces the walls of the entire room, and both are enhanced by classic, wide crown molding which draws the eye upward and accentuates the architecture of the space.

Further lending a traditional, classic look to the room, we painted and framed out accent panels on the bump-outs along both side walls. This is a clever but relatively inexpensive way to bring a very custom look to a room, and allows us to combine our colors in a way that’s not too overwhelming.

On the floor, a beautiful black and gold patterned carpet certainly brings visual movement to the space, and is reminiscent of the very type of carpet you might find at a real movie theatre. Having first created an elevated space for our second row of seating was an important step to making this room really function the way we want it to, as well.

Once our major surfaces had been determined, the real fun began. Furnishings in a room like this can be very simple, even though they are critical to the comfort and enjoyment of the space. Today’s theatre seating consists of luxuriously built recliners which can be joined to each other in almost any configuration desired, and are complete with cup holders in the arm rests.

We chose to have ours upholstered in a beautiful soft deep brown leather. Not only are these chairs even more comfortable than those at the Cineplex, but they are also spaced so that annoying little kid behind you won’t be kicking the back of your seat!

Framing out the front wall of the media room, a sophisticated paisley print fabric falls softly in the form of pleated draperies, which are held back by rich, thick, traditionally tassled tie-backs.

Along the adjacent walls, we avoided overkill of pattern by switching out the paisley fabric to a textured solid in warm honey, again made into pleated drapery panels with tassel tie-backs. Underneath those draperies, though, lies the real surprise factor in this room….custom roller shades which completely block light and glare during showtime are fabricated from a material that replicates a starlit sky.

Soft, indirect lighting above and on the walls lends romantic illumination to the room and yet doesn’t interfere with viewing the projection screen.

At the back of our theatre room, we situated a furniture-style wet bar, which also houses a small refrigerator and storage for snacks, and coupled that with a real, old-fashioned popcorn machine. Our clients report that they absolutely love using their new media room, and have found that it’s really brought their family closer through shared experiences there.

So, what’s this old dinosaur’s other favorite technological development? Much as I never thought I’d embrace it, I now admit to being a convert to the world of social networking. As today’s version of the old neighborly visit over the fence, this new electronic form of being in touch has allowed us to have frequent conversational contacts with many, many people that we previously would have only seen or talked to on a rare occasion, if at all. Why not visit with us ‘over the fence’? Check out our Facebook page for updates on some of our projects, promotions, workshop opportunities and blog posts, at 'Decorating Den Interiors—Julie Meyers (Iowa)'.

Home. It's where the heart is.

2010-07-14T12:13:00.000-05:00

I had occasion recently to visit some old friends in the small town that my family and I used to live in, and to drive past the house that was our home there for several years. Over dinner and a glass of wine, we spent hours reminiscing about all the fun times that we'd had in that house.
Built in 1883 by a doctor who was moving from Boston, the place was, as local lore had it, erected as somewhat of a bribe for his wife, who was reluctant to follow him west. It stood as a massive sentinel on a small hill overlooking Main Street, and when we moved to the community, I was quickly convinced that that house had my name written all over it.
It was 3200 square feet of old hardwood floors, crown molding, heavy paneled doors, original glass windows....and layer upon later of peeling paint and really old wallpaper. The place hadn't been touched, decoratively-speaking, for over 60 years.
Although they've heard it a dozen times before, my friends humored me and listened again as I told about how that big old place, with all of its historic charm and character, had been my 'dream home'.
There were stories about perching atop the kitchen cabinets in the middle of the night, wallpapering during the few hours that my four small children were all quiet, and having a neighborhood party so that we could corral enough strong, willing guys to lug the old cast iron stove up out of the cellar because I wanted it displayed in our dining room.
My friends reminded me about how many hours we'd spent talking and laughing over lunches on the sun porch, while our kids would be running laps around the double staircases or playing hide and seek in the old house's many nooks and crannies.
These stories led to more reminiscences, and soon we were all sharing memories of our childhood homes as well. One woman told about how the basement in the home of her youth, because it was so huge, had been the designated hangout for all the kids in the neighborhood. She said that when she recently revisited that house and went into the basement, she was amazed that it was really very average in size, to her now-adult eyes.
We also heard memories of a little girl's summer bedroom in her grandmother's farmhouse, with its sturdy oak furniture, a white chenille bedspread and filmy white curtains which blew softly in the summer breezes.
Another of my friends vividly described the details of her old bedroom from the 1970's, with red and white, candy cane-striped curtains, a red and white eyelet bedspread, and the obligatory white wicker hanging lamp that nearly everyone seemed to have back then.
Mostly, though, she remembers the perfect window seat overlooking her backyard, where she recalls spending many hours curled up with her books. She says that was her very favorite spot in the entire house, and the first place she gravitates to when she goes back home.
So, prompted in part by my visit to our old town, and even more by the past few years of natural disasters when so many people have lost their homes and belongings, I've found myself thinking a lot lately about the very concept of 'home'.
About the massive property losses, so many times we've heard it said, "They're all just things, and they can be replaced, as long as everyone is safe," and that is definitely true.
But it's also true that so many of those 'things' represent experiences, memories and emotions for us. And those experiences, memories and emotions are what really make a house a home. When those 'things' are taken from us, whether by wind, water, or simply relocation, it's okay to grieve their loss for a little while, and then good for us to commit them to the 'fond memories file' in our brains and move on to the next phase of our lives.
Critical to every phase of our lives, however, is the feeling of truly having a 'home'. No matter where you live or how long you've lived there, ask yourself what it is that makes, or could make, your dwelling place a home for you.
Is it a certain look or style that uniquely reflects your personality, and makes you feel good that it projects "This is who I am"? Is it a special spot that beckons you to sit and savor a moment of relaxation? Or, perhaps it's simply a space where you feel comfortable, and can create memories with friends and family. Whether you find yourself in someplace new, or somewhere that you've lived in for a very long time, give yourself and your family the gift of creating the experience that all of us need and deserve: to open the door, walk in and say to ourselves "Ahhh, I'm home."

Grandma's Guest Bedroom

2010-07-06T14:29:00.000-05:00

In the same way that certain smells can suddenly evoke olfactory memories from our childhoods, I awoke on one of our recent beautiful summer mornings to the crisp, cool breeze blowing through open windows, and was immediately transported back in time, to the guest room of my grandmother’s house.

As if I’d been there yesterday, I could see the cuddly white chenille bedspread on her old iron bed, feel the big feather pillow beneath my head, and in my mind’s eye watch her crisp eyelet curtains dancing on the morning breezes. It’s funny how those images, stored deeply in my subconscious, are key to my memories of summer days at Grandma’s house.

A recent client of ours must have had very similar childhood memories, prompting her request for a guest room makeover which would facilitate visits from her two young granddaughters. She asked us to take a nondescript, underused sewing room and turn it into a cheerful, welcoming guest room that the girls could consider their home away from home.

As with any decorating project, our first step was to identify both our objectives and the challenges that we needed to address.

The room needed to be able to accommodate two little people for sleeping, story reading and playing. As much as possible, we needed to utilize furniture that our client already had. The finished look needed to appeal to the little girls, but be able to grow with them and suit Grandma’s tastes as well. And, we had to accomplish all of this within the room’s 11’ x 12’ space.

The makeover began with an inventory of what we had to work with. Because this room had seen little hard use over the years, its neutral carpet was still in good shape, and provided a nice soft playing surface for little knees and bottoms.

An antique gentleman’s chest, an old dry sink, and a wicker chair and ottoman were retrieved from storage and pressed into service with new finishes and cushions.

A sleigh-styled daybed with trundle underneath provides a space-efficient way to house two people, while doubling as a sofa during the day. The bed was really the only new piece of furniture needed to complete the room, leaving most of our budget available for bedding, window treatments and accessories. These were the elements which would really give this new guest room personality!

In creating the color scheme for this project, our suggestion of marrying two of our client’s favorite color combinations of black and white, and periwinkle blue and yellow, was at first a bit outside of her comfort zone. Seeing how this eventually played out, however, was a pleasant surprise to her.

Benjamin Moore’s “Blue Lapis” on the walls created a vibrant but soothing backdrop to the room, and is a color that our client’s granddaughters love.

Set against that cool periwinkle hue, the new black finish on the gentleman’s chest adds a bit of drama, while a petite black and white polka dot print and periwinkle ball fringe at the windows lend a whimsical touch to the space.

Balancing the polka dots out with the addition of three complementary small prints, utilized at both the windows and on the daybed and toss pillows, lends a subtle French Country feel to the room, and the sunny yellow floral fabric of our pillows adds just the right punch of brightness.

Accessorizing in a room like this can be a bit tricky. Over-accessorizing would cause this small space to feel cluttered, and wouldn’t be amenable to little peoples’ activities. Under-accessorizing, on the other hand, would leave it feeling unfinished.

Carefully chosen and placed, however, our swan figurine and potted plant atop the amoire help to make that piece feel complete, and the vignette created at the old dry sink lend a real “Grandma’s room” flavor to the space. Finally, a vintage-style mirror above it all visually expands the room and provides the perfect finishing touch.

Now that our client’s guest retreat is complete, she reports that her granddaughters just love having what they consider to be their own room at her house, and she enjoys knowing that they will have great memories of the time that they spend there.

There is Magic in Illusion: Camouflaging Problem Areas & Emphasizing Assets

2010-06-29T13:33:00.000-05:00

It's swimsuit season, the time of year when many of us spend a lot of time and energy trying to figure out how to make our human forms look at least a little bit different from what they really are.
How many articles have you read and so-called experts have you listened to, who espouse advice about "drawing the eye" in one direction or another? Do this to camouflage that problem area, or try that to emphasize this asset.
Would it surprise you to learn that the same sort of techniques can work in your home? Dressing your rooms carefully and deliberately, with an eye to both their problem areas and their assets, will give you great results every time.
So, how might that work? Start by analyzing your room, much the same way that you analyze yourself when trying on a new swimming suit. Then, keep in mind that in both cases, it's all about a deft execution of three principles: eye movement, balance, and illusion.
What are the areas that you need to de-emphasize, and what elements do you want to draw more attention to? Are there pieces of your room's puzzle that you'd prefer looked completely different than they really do, when your room is 'naked'? This week's featured living room is a good example.

Just for a moment, envision this room completely empty. Not much going on, is there? It's an OK size, but not fabulous. Nice fireplace, though it sort of screams at us from the center of that wall, with nothing else around it.
The crown molding is a nice touch, which is good, because there's not much other architectural interest in this room. And there's lots of natural light from three windows, but they're disproportionately short for the room's height.
So, our clients and their interior decorator began by identifying exactly those elements, both assets and challenges. In addition, they talked about their needs: comfortable seating for four to six people on a regular basis, a television, a furniture arrangement that would accommodate both children playing and adults entertaining, and a soft contemporary style throughout.
Next, choices were made about specific furnishings and their placement, which would perform exactly the magic that a perfect swimsuit does for the less-than-perfect body type.
For the major furniture pieces in the room, warm neutral fabrics were selected, along with frame styles which are clean-lined and tailored. Straight arms not only play into our soft contemporary styling very well, but also lend a more spacious feeling to the room than big, bulky profiles would.
Balancing the straight lines of the sofa and chairs are the gracefully curved legs of three occasional tables.
To maximize space usage, the flat screen TV is mounted on the wall, rather than being housed in a bulky entertainment center or console.
Though very functional, placing the TV that way could create somewhat of a 'one-eyed monster' effect, so it was balanced by eye-catching, dramatic artwork on either side. The rest of that wall was then fleshed out with a beautiful, well-accessorized demilune console table, an accent chair and ottoman.
Of critical importance to this room is the way that the windows have been dressed. Richly colored and textured woven wood roman shades provide great privacy and light control, while horizontally striped sheer drapery panels add both softness and contemporary interest to the room.
The clever placement of the window treatments, however, is of the utmost importance. By mounting the woven woods several inches higher than the actual tops of the windows, the eye is drawn up, and the illusion of taller windows is effectively accomplished.
Additionally, with the installation of the drapery panels nearly to the ceiling, our attention is not only drawn to the crown molding, but the entire room enjoys enhanced visual height.
Now, rather than a stark, moderately-sized boxy room, we see one that is not only functional, but stylish, welcoming and very attractive.
To be able to translate how it got that way to your own rooms, think about those three important principles, which are very similar to those you use when finding the perfect swimsuit:
The way that your eye moves around a room is critical. You want to achieve a graceful visual flow, which your eyes drawn to several different levels in the room, and without abrupt starts and stops.
Balance is your friend. Balance soft and hard surfaces, visually heavy and light elements, and straight and curved lines.
There is magic in illusion. If your room has elements that are less than ideal, employ creative design techniques to make them look that way.

'Going Green' from Floor to Ceiling

2010-06-23T13:00:00.001-05:00

Daily news reports about the tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have once again reminded us about the fragility of our environment, and have renewed the fervor with which many people believe we need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

Whether in response to specific environmental disasters like the current oil spill or out of a general concern about the physical condition of our world, many Americans are moving toward an acceptance of the need for more environmental responsibility on all fronts.

But while becoming a more environmentally responsible society is an attractive concept, it may seem to fly in the face of one of the things that Americans do best, which is consuming products. While we may say we want to “be green”, most of us are not willing to give up everyday conveniences and creature comforts to do so. The good news is that we don’t have to.

Within the home furnishings industry, environmental responsibility directly correlates to how products are created, transported, consumed, and if possible recycled later. And over the past several years, many manufacturers have implemented dramatic changes to those processes which will benefit us all in the long run. In general, such changes involve utilizing materials and practices which have as little impact as possible on the environment.

So, how does this affect each of us, as red-blooded American consumers who want our homes to be beautiful and comfortable? Actually, with so many products and design options now available, being “green” when it comes to decorating your home can be a relatively easy undertaking.

Take a look at just a few of these exciting options:

Furniture. The utilization of materials which either can be rapidly replenished, such as rattan, bamboo, or abaca, or have been harvested only from responsibly managed plantations rather than old-growth forests is an important trend within the American furniture industry.

Additionally, new types of adhesives and lacquers allow the building and finishing processes to be done with less toxic chemicals. The most environmentally friendly manufacturers are also diligent about how byproducts and waste materials are disposed of. When shopping for furniture, look for manufacturers, designers and retailers who have become certified by the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), an organization which promotes development and education of green practices.

Lighting. There is an ever-growing array of attractive and energy efficient options within the lighting industry, so that there is almost no reason to not make “green” choices when it comes to your lighting. If your local retailer doesn’t offer what you’re looking for, simply ask….demand will create supply!

Fabrics. Believe it or not, gorgeous decorative fabrics are being made from a myriad of eco-friendly materials, such as recycled plastic water bottles and even bamboo. Oftentimes, these fabrics are also treated and finished with only water based or environmentally approved dyes.

Wall Finishes. Paints now feature low odors, faster drying times and stronger durability, all while still maintaining high environmental standards. If repainting is in your future, be sure to ask if the paint you’re considering has a low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) rating, so that you can do your part for environmental stewardship. Natural grass cloth wall covering is another way to add warmth, beauty and texture to your wall décor, while maintaining your green focus.

Floor Coverings. As with furniture, look for hardwood products which have been responsibly harvested and finished. The easiest way to determine this is by looking for manufacturers with FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certification.

Also consider flooring options which are created from naturally-occurring and easily renewable materials such as clay (ceramic or porcelain tile), linseed oil (genuine linoleum tile), bamboo or cork. Even wood laminate products can be considered green, as they are created from byproducts of other wood manufacturing processes. If you’re shopping for carpet, look for products which use fibers produced from recycled plastics or plant-based oils, rather than petroleum.

Finally, don’t forget to give major consideration to how your home furnishings have reached their destination. The impact of transportation practices on our environment is way beyond what most of us can even imagine, so whenever possible choose products which have been produced domestically, rather than those that have required an ocean liner to get to you.

Adopting more environmentally responsible consumer practices for our homes really doesn’t have to be difficult, ridiculously expensive or devoid of beautiful options. All it really requires is some exploration into the exciting changes that are underway, and a little education about how each of us can do our part to become more eco-friendly consumers.

To learn more, make plans to attend our “Decorating for Sustainable Living” seminar at Decorating Den Interiors in Waverly, on Thursday, July 8 at 7:00 PM! For more information and to reserve your spot, call 352-1379, or contact us on Facebook at Decorating Den Interiors—Julie Meyers (Iowa).

Designing for the Sexes

2010-06-16T13:58:00.001-05:00

Several years ago, I began working with a husband and wife who were embarking on the construction of a new home. They had been planning and saving for years for this project, but when it came time to really hammer out the details of how the home would take shape, they found themselves stymied to come up with a vision of how it would all come together.
Differences of opinion about what is attractive weren't the only challenges, but were compounded by their differences in thought processes, decision-making styles and the ability to envision a home that didn't even actually exist yet. Although an exceptionally well-matched couple in so many ways, these people found themselves terribly frustrated by the difficulties of facing so many design decisions on which their individual thoughts were contrary to each other.
The issue of "Designing for the Sexes" is only partly about gender, and a lot about melding the likes, dislikes, and thought processes of two different people. The stereotypical assumption is that women generally want what I call 'frou-frou' styling, consisting of floral patterns, ruffles, lace and other very feminine elements, while men will go for plaids, stripes, dark colors and animal mounts on the walls. Although that stereotype sometimes bears itself out, the reality is that conflicts in decorating more often arise from husbands and wives differing about whether their home's overall style should be casual, traditional, or trend-setting, not just feminine or masculine. In addition, the process is made significantly more complicated when, as is very often the case, one party is a 'right-brained thinker' and the other is more 'left-brained'.
People who are predominantly right-brained thinkers tend to be very creative, are attracted to things that are unique, prefer asymmetry, and can easily envision how something will look before it actually exists. Strong left-brained thinkers are much more analytical, often unsettled by 'too much going on' in a room, and even though they may have a myriad of product samples right in front of them, will have difficulty imagining how those things will look in their room. Neither of these types of thinking is superior to the other; they are simply different.
My husband and I are textbook examples of the challenge inherent in 'two personality' decorating. I'm not sure if I'll ever fully recover from the time when I stripped wallpaper in our 120-year-old living room and found underneath it the signature and date of the designer who had done the room sixty years earlier. I was elated at my discovery, and immediately planned to leave that small area untouched, surrounding it by my new wall treatment but framing out this little bit of history as a small focal point. My very practical husband, arising early the next morning and intending to be helpful, diligently scrubbed what he saw as an obnoxious bit of graffiti right off of that wall.
So, if you are a couple who have differing tastes in overall decorating style, AND completely different ways of thinking through the decorating process, how is that going to play out in your home? First of all, you need to analyze where your similarities and differences lie. Then, begin to formulate a plan for the room(s) you will be decorating. Thirdly, recognize if it would be helpful to enlist the assistance of a professional interior decorator, and if so choose someone who will really listen to both of you, who understands the psychology of the decision-making process, will work hard to coordinate your preferences, and guide you expertly through the process from start to finish.

(before)

(after)

(Even with two very different decorating styles and tastes, we were able to make this room beautiful and functional for everyone to enjoy)

There are three keys to making this work and ensuring that both parties will end up satisfied: incorporating some elements from each of your decorating preferences, creating a good balance and coordination of both, and of course some compromise on both of your parts. It's not an easy task, and must be done carefully in order to end up with rooms that have an overall pleasing appearance in addition to incorporating the tastes of two different people. However, it can be done, and if done well will result in not only a great look, but a real feeling of personalization in your home.

Outdoor Living.....Indoors

2010-06-09T14:31:00.000-05:00

Summertime draws us outdoors for so many varied activities and, especially here in the Midwest, we relish the few short months when we can really do a majority of our living outside.

Not every day is conducive to outdoor living, however. Each year, there are several days when it is much more comfortable to be inside with air conditioning, and soon enough the cold weather months will also have us seeking our climate-controlled spaces indoors.

If you're lucky, your home may be blessed with a sunroom that could provide the best of both worlds: the comfortable, airy feeling of relaxed outdoor living year-round, no matter what the weather is like outside. This week, we take a look at one such room.

Decorating a sunroom typically involves creating a space that's a bit more casual than other rooms of your house, however it's still very important to maintain a sense of flow and continuity from the rest of the home.

In the room featured here, our client requested a transitionally-styled space, in keeping with the rest of her home, however needed to keep a few older furniture pieces which swing toward the traditional. By selecting new elements with classic clean lines and simple tailoring, we were able to give her a very cohesive, updated look, while still keeping those special pieces from the past.

As with any decorating project, skillful use of the elements of color, pattern and texture help ensure a great outcome, and all three of those elements play vital roles in this room.

We've taken cues for our color scheme from the client's adjacent family room, in which chocolate brown and rich terra cotta are the predominant colors, and a deep, soft blue-green the accent color.

As that color scheme is translated in the new sunroom, lighter tints of the blue-green and terra cotta have taken center stage, with chocolate brown as our accent. These lighter tones allow us to have plenty of color interest, but maintain an open, airy feeling in the room.

Pattern is important, but we don't want it to be overwhelming. A visually soothing botanical print is perfect for the lounge chair and ottoman, and very importantly repeated as splashes on the sofa in the form of toss pillows. Picking up our terra cotta color, a crisp stripe adds just a bit of punch there as well.

Bringing visual warmth to the room is a nicely coordinated variety of wood tones. From the rich coffee tone of the wicker, rattan and woven wood shades, to the lighter fruitwood finish on the coffee table and occasional chair, our eyes drink in warmth throughout the room. And, the homeowner's wise choice of variegated hickory for her flooring provides just the right "glue" to hold all of those wood tones together.

Next, texture is played out here in a variety of ways. By selecting a luscious chenille fabric for the sofa and an extra soft cut-pile area rug, we've set the stage for this to be a "kick off your shoes and relax awhile" kind of room.

Numerous plants not only bring a bit of the outdoors in, but also provide wonderful splashes of texture throughout, while wicker on the chairs and a rattan accent table inject just a bit of a tropical feeling to the room. That feature is further enhanced with the woven woods on the upper windows.

Speaking of which, the way that you choose to treat the many windows in a sunroom can be critical to your room's function, as well as its look.

The beauty of a sunroom is, of course, the fabulous natural light that streams through your generous windows. That light, however, can also devour your energy budget, be very damaging to your furnishings, and can at times be uncomfortably glaring. You simply must utilize some type of energy-efficient light control treatment, but will want to select one which will 'disappear' when you don't need it.

In this room, we opted for Hunter Douglas' Silhouette shadings. Silhouettes provide the perfect combination of privacy and light control, softly diffused lighting when we want to see out but still cut the glare, and will completely disappear up into the headrail when unneeded. Topping them off, our woven wood valances draw the eye up and across the room, add casual interest, color and texture, and still allow us to see through to the beautiful blue sky.

All in all, this sunroom now provides the perfect spot to cool off after working in the garden, or to enjoy just a bit of a tropical feeling on a cold snowy day. Our client says that it's become her new favorite spot in the house!

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FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, Hunter Douglas is offering our clients $50-$100 rebates (*per unit) on Pirouette, Silhouette, and Luminette sheer window shadings! LET THE SUN SHINE IN. ON YOUR TERMS. Transform sunlight into a magnificent warm glow and pull it deep into a room without sacrificing privacy or your view of the outdoors!

Mirrors Reflect Savvy Decorating Style

2010-06-03T10:13:00.001-05:00

Most of us are keenly aware of the concept that our homes are a reflection of ourselves. What we surround ourselves with, in the form of everything that is a part of or furnishes our living space, reflects our personality and lifestyle.
But have your ever given much thought to how you actually use reflection itself in your home? From their most basic form, the simple plate glass above a vanity or dresser, to the more unusual and unexpected, mirrors are an extremely valuable tool to include in your interior decorating plan.

The most obvious use of mirrors greets us each morning as we brush our teeth, shave and get dressed for the day. Although their need is obvious and their styles relatively easy to select, the mirrors in our bathrooms and bedrooms certainly shouldn't be glossed over.

Be sure to choose mirrors that are appropriately sized for space and function. Consider whether more than one person will need to use them at the same time. Be cognizant of their position relative to the room's lighting, as well as making sure they are installed at a height that's appropriate for the people who will be using them.

In bathrooms, carefully measure the space between your vanity top, backsplash if applicable, and your vanity's light fixtures, also taking into consideration how much space you have between the wall and any shades that might be directed down towards the mirror from those fixtures.
Don't get lazy and make do with just a naked plate glass mirror, which makes no style statement at all. A good designer can outfit even your existing bathroom mirror with a beautiful custom-sized frame, giving your bathroom a much nicer, finished look and rewarding you with great bang for the buck.

Throughout the rest of your home, mirrors can be the perfect solution for so many situations. They can visually enlarge a space, increase the sense of light in a room and add pizzaz where other types of accessories don't work.
A beautiful mirror above the fireplace mantel is classic, but don't forget to accessorize the mantel itself. A set of candlesticks of varying heights, coupled with some pretty pottery or small sculptural pieces and visually tied together with greenery and white lights is just one way to create a very nice tableau which will be seen twice as it is reflected in the mirror.

Do you have a spot that seems to need something, but is either of an awkward size or position for traditional artwork? A long, narrow mirror could be perfect hung horizontally if you have an empty space between fireplace and mantel or over the buffet in your dining room.
Consider a pair of the same, this time hung vertically to either side of a piece of artwork. This will visually increase the scale of an otherwise undersized print.

One area of many homes that is famously difficult to accessorize is that huge wall over an open stairway, in a high-ceilinged foyer or a great room. Manufacturers have provided us with a great selection of beautiful mirrors which are perfect for spots like these. One of my favorites is over six feet tall and 40 inches wide, created of a smoky antique-looking glass and finished out as if in an aged, arched frame.

Even on horizontal surfaces, mirrors can add sparkle and dimension. Try placing a mirror tile underneath a pretty candle arrangement and some sprigs of seasonal botanicals for a simple but beautiful tablescape with double the impact of the plain Jane variety.

If your decorating style swings toward either Art Deco or Contemporary, take a look at some of the mirrored furniture--you read that right, mirrored furniture--that is currently so popular.

From occasional tables to bathroom vanities, these pieces are actually constructed of wood but covered in mirrored glass and are truly striking to behold. Although not terribly practical for use of areas where fingerprints or potential breakage would pose a constant frustration, they could provide the perfect piece d'resistance in just the right spot, such as a powder room or guest bedroom.

Wherever you look in your home, there is potential for the placement of a beautiful framed mirror or mirrored surface. And, whatever your decorating style, there is a great selection of mirrors to complement it. Have fun exploring how you might use them in both traditional and novel ways. Just keep in mind this one cardinal rule: Wherever you place a mirror, make sure it will reflect something you want to see twice!

Eclectic Accents

2010-05-26T10:50:00.000-05:00

Many of us grew up with pretty simple rules of thumb which dictated the ways in which we learned to decorate our homes.

Window treatments were, for the most part, traversing pinch pleated draperies, and were hung, on the window trim, at 84” off of the floor. Furniture was almost always lined up along the outside walls of a room, and everything matched.

A typical living room consisted of matching sofa, loveseat and chairs, matching end tables, and matching lamps upon those tables. Most bedrooms looked like they were created from the same mold, with a bed that matched the nightstands, that matched the dressers, and so on.

Well, times have changed! Decorating styles today revel in well-chosen variety, and the results have made our homes so much more interesting, to say nothing of being far more reflective of our individual personalities.

A major factor in this trend is the preponderance of wonderful accent furniture. Conveniently, with the addition of today’s array of unique accent pieces, you can work around many of your existing furnishings to spice up your home’s décor, and still achieve a wonderfully fresh look in your home.

Although a supporting player for years, accent furniture has recently taken the spotlight as a real star in home décor. Certainly, it still serves the purpose of providing interest in an already functional room, but more often these days designers are using accent furniture for many more of their furniture needs.

Gone are the days of the matching suite’s dominance. In fact, the prevailing consensus holds that the matching suite of furniture is a somewhat dull design option. Intriguing designs in a wide range of price points make accent furnishings the perfect choice for those homeowners seeking a change.

If you usually play it safe by having everything match, now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and dare to be eclectic. In the living room, if you have matching tables, chairs and lamps – divide and conquer.

Remove one or two of your wood tables and replace with a glass-topped, iron-based table. Add a single ottoman or a chair covered in a dramatic animal print. Eliminate one of a pair of table lamps and substitute with a stately floor lamp. If all of your upholstered furniture sports the same fabric, break the monotony by recovering one or two pieces.

When stuck with a suite of bedroom furniture, you can make a striking difference by changing the bed. Introduce a sumptuous padded headboard or an impressive iron canopy bed. Break the set of night tables and replace one with a rectangular skirted table, a round-tiered table, or a painted chest.

In your dining room, replace the two end chairs with fully upholstered ones that are of a different style and color than the side chairs. Or eliminate the breakfront and replace it with a beautifully printed buffet and a grand mirror.

Foyers are also an ideal area in which to have some fun with accent furniture. Choose a gorgeous round foyer table on which you can showcase a dramatic botanical arrangement, or a unique console table with shelves to display some treasured collectibles.

Wherever you choose to experiment with a little more variety than you’ve had in the past, allow yourself to step outside of the “everything must match” box. Let loose with a little whimsy, drama and eclectism in the use of accent furniture; you’ll be glad you did!

Painting 101: 8 Simple Steps

2010-05-19T10:05:00.002-05:00

Well, the robins have been back for several weeks now, and the bullfrogs are once again providing us with daily music from the backyard pond, so spring must truly be here to stay. It's time for many of us to fling open our windows and let the fresh air in.
For many of us, that means it's also time to put a fresh coat of paint on some of our winter weary rooms, so let's take this opportunity to brush up on our Painting 101.

Painting a room is a relatively easy do-it-yourself project, but it's important to know and follow some basic guidelines in order to ensure good results. We can fairly easily summarize these guidelines into eight steps.

Step #1: Know what you're getting into. Although painting itself isn't difficult, you need to take into consideration the size and configuration of your room, the condition of its walls, the associated disruption of the room's arrangement and function, and the time that you have available to do the job.
Also, understand that 50% of your work is going to come before you ever open your can of paint, and another 10% comes after you close it. For most people, the fun part is that middle 40%. If what follows doesn't seem fun to you, stop right now and consider hiring a professional.

Step #2: Select the right materials. This step includes color selection, primer and paint type (brand name, quality level and sheen level). Keep in mind that not all paint products are created equal, and that you really do get what you pay for. Understand as well, that sometimes you're paying for the advice and expertise of the person who is recommending and mixing your paint, and that can be money well spent.

Step #3: Select the appropriate equipment. At a minimum, you'll need a paint pan and liner, good quality brushes and rollers (appropriate to your wall's texture), a drop cloth, and painter's tape. If it's a very large job, you may also need power equipment and scaffolding.

Step #4: Properly prepare your walls. This is the biggest part, and the one that most people try to cut corners on. Begin by protecting the surrounding area. If they're not brand new, clean your walls thoroughly with TSP, and rinse. Be sure to read all instruction on any of the products you're using, and pay heed to recommendations for proper safety precautions.
Here's the part that I personally dread. Next, mask off anything attached to your wall that you don't want painted (woodwork, light fixtures, etc.) The pros can do an amazing job of 'cutting in' around these adjacent surfaces to your walls without taping them off, but I don't recommend trying that yourself, unless you have plenty of experience, patience, and steadiness of hand.

Step #4.5: If your walls are new, stained, or have had a dark color on them, you'll need a primer. And if they're damaged, you need to repair problems before priming. Do not skip these things, or you'll regret it later. If your new paint is a bold color, ask your paint retailer to mix a tinted primer for you.

Step #5: Now, you finally get to paint! If you're a novice, start in an inconspicuous corner until you get the hang of loading your brush or roller just the right amount. You want to have enough paint to cover well, but avoid dripping and splattering. Use your roller for the wall's large, open areas, and a brush or pad for cutting into the corners and other tight spots.

Step #6: Paint again. Once your first coat is thoroughly dry, look carefully to see how well it covered. For new walls or bold colors, a second coat is almost always needed, and most often will improve the look on even lighter or neutral walls. Follow directions on the can with regard to your product's drying and recoating times.

Step #7: Clean up. This step isn't my favorite, either. I love all the disposable brushes and roller covers that are available and can make clean-up a breeze, but unfortunately they're not very good quality, so this step alone is a good enough reason for me to hire the job done.

Step #8: Touch up. Conduct a final inspection of the room when all the paint is completely dry, and touch up any areas that got missed, or where your color went where it shouldn't have. It's a good idea to store at least a small amount of your new paint somewhere handy, so that future nicks can be touched up easily and quickly.

Now, enjoy your new look and the freshness that paint brings to a room!

Spring 2010 Top Ten Design Trends

2010-05-12T16:55:00.001-05:00

If you are thinking about doing some decorating in your home this year, you may be interested in the hottest home fashion “must haves” from last month’s High Point Furniture Market. More than ever, homeowners are looking to their home as a haven and want it to reflect their individuality, so here are this spring’s top ten design trends in the home furnishings industry, to help you accomplish just that.

1) ECLECTIC ACCENTS. The #1 Direction in home furnishings, eclectic accents bridge the gap between the elegance of traditional and the informal comfort of transitional and soft contemporary styling. This is done by mixing various elements and accessories from different periods and styles, rather than being confined to one definitive “in the box” style. Versatility was evident in all the showrooms, with something for everyone who is looking for fresh choices.

2) SUBSTANTIAL AND MASCULINE. “Tall, dark and handsome” would be an appropriate description for the plethora of home furnishings with a bold sense of masculinity. Clean lines and chunky proportions prevailed among furniture styles. Leathers, tweeds, plaids, oversized ottomans and handsome recliner chairs were in abundance. Leather covered armoires and desks were particular standouts.

3) BOLD BEDS. No matter what design—four poster, canopy or sleigh—bed proportions are predicted to be bigger and better than ever. Elegant bed coverings were featured everywhere, as were large plush chaise lounges. The strong trend toward cocooning was definitely apparent here.

4) HI-HO SILVER. The Midas Touch has turned to silver, replacing gold as the #1 choice for a luxurious finish. Silver will be more prominent in the traditional areas such as accessories, but look for it to pop up in fabric weaves and trimmings as well. Bronze and copper finishes were also strong, especially in antiqued and distressed finishes.

5) BLACK IS BACK (AND SO IS BROWN). Always a fashion favorite, black is back in a big way. A touch of black was evident in almost every showroom in lampshades, tabletop accessories, frames and bed coverings. Black and white in harlequin diamond patterns and in French toiles were seen everywhere. Rich warm browns in all coffee shades made a strong showing as well. Paired with the metallic touches mentioned previously, the look was irresistible.

6) MIXED MEDIA. Accent and occasional tables were an exciting mixture of materials which made each piece seem distinctive. Leather and iron, wood and glass, woven reed, hammered silver, stones, and even papers---all combined for the intriguing look of eclecticism.

7) TOUCHABLE TEXTURES. Highly textured solid and woven fabrics, chenilles, tapestries, velvets, supple suedes and leathers have overtaken prints as the newest ‘feel good’ fabric trend. Even the cottons are ‘sueded’ to impart a look and feel of comfort and luxury.

8) PIZZAZ WITH PATTERN. As a result of texture being more prominent in fabrics, pattern is taking off in floor coverings and accessories. From needlepointed, hooked and chain-stitched area rugs to patterned and beaded lampshades, there seemed to be no end to the variety available. Animal prints were still in evidence, but to a smaller degree than in recent years. Ethnic touches were strong, with exciting accessories from all over the world featuring vibrant colors and patterns from Morocco to India, China to Turkey.

9) MIRROR-MIRROR. Mirrors are popping up everywhere. On table tops, on walls, even on armoire doors; it seems we just can’t get enough of ourselves. Small mirrors on easels for table tops to huge framed mirrors that rest on the floor and soar towards the ceiling were all interestingly framed in myriad materials and shapes. Even tiny mirrors embroidered into silk fabrics sparkled to catch the eye and the imagination.

10) DECORATIVE HARDWARE AND TRIMS. Dramatic and innovative, decorative drapery hardware featured a variety of unusual metals and themes which add tremendous visual interest to window treatments and upholstered furniture. Tassels and trims were embellished with beads and crystals for additional elegance. Pillows and lampshades were enhanced with feathers, chenille fringes, and carved wooden beads.

As the largest furniture and accessories market in the world, High Point is a fantasy of the latest products and design in the home furnishings industry. Look to the direction and forecasting from High Point to ensure that your investment in home décor will be on target and timeless.

A Guest Retreat

2010-05-05T17:18:00.000-05:00

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The ornament of one's house is the friends who grace it." Whether the friends who grace your home as overnight guests are a beloved set of grandparents, an old college roommate, or a friendly out-of-town business associate, it's likely that you want to be able o provide them with a wonderful guest room getaway. Creating a welcoming retreat which will make your guests feel comfortable, relaxed and pampered goes a long way towards ensuring that their visit will be enjoyable for both of you.

How you decorate and appoint your guest room is a very personal choice. It can be an enjoyable undertaking and a confusing experience at the same time. The best way to start, as with any decorating project, is to define the style that you want to use and the overall feeling that you wish to evoke in the room.

If you find yourself having difficulty getting started, consider things that make you feel relaxed and nurtured. Look through wall covering books, magazines, and fabric swatches for inspiration and color direction. Think about your favorite rooms, either in your own home or someone else's, and figure out what it is about those rooms that appeals to you.
Decorating a guest room presents the perfect opportunity to do something that is a little more unique, thematic or whimsical than what you are inclined to do in the rooms that are used on a daily basis. It's a chance to express your passions and share the things that bring you joy.

Do you have a favorite tropical vacation destination? Bring a bit of that home with you, by creating the look and feel of that paradise in your guest room. The resort look has found its way into homes not only along the coastlines, but inland as well. Popular for its relaxed style and a touch of British Colonial formality, rooms in this genre appeal to visitors. Bamboo furniture and palm frond motifs found on accessories and fabrics exemplify the look. Soft sage greens mix with neutral beiges, and a sprinkling of clear reds, blues, corals and earthy browns tie together a tropical color scheme. Resort-style rooms are light on accessories and rely on one or two strong pieces of art to complete the look. Rich pillow trims and small wicker pieces can add a touch of sophistication.

Guest rooms are also the perfect place for showcasing family history and heritage. Choosing a historical theme not only inspires a gathering of heirlooms and photographs, it also invites guests to learn more about you and your family. This about this: What collections have family members accrued? Are there garments that hold special meaning, such as a great-grandmother's wedding gown or a favorite uncle's military uniform? Think about displaying these in the guest room, then add a treasured chair or table along with photographs which can tell the story of your family's culture or adventures.

Would you prefer to treat your guests to a step back in time and across the ocean, by creating an Old World retreat? The look of a European getaway can be achieved with a dramatic bed canopy, tassels, faux-finish wallpaper, and a bold Jacobean print accented with at least five different complimentary prints on the bedding, pillows and window treatments. Mount a dramatic architectural element such as a fountain, plaster relief, or a piece of decorative iron on the predominant wall for maximum impact and a real touch of Old World class.

Whatever decorating style you decide upon, it is paramount to keep in mind the need to convey a welcoming feeling, comfortable accommodations and amenities that will make your guests know you are glad to have them in your home.

Creating Comfort Outdoors

2010-04-28T09:17:00.000-05:00

The past few weeks have really brought the wonderfully welcome changes of spring to our world, and most of us would say that it’s not a moment too soon. Living in an area where we spend a good portion of our year cocooned inside our homes, spring offers exhilarating opportunities to get back outside and relish the fresh air, sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Nearly everywhere you go these days, you can see people outside enjoying this glorious time of year. Jogging, walking dogs, playing in the park, and riding bikes are all clearly popular pastimes.

But have you really considered how you spend your less active time outdoors, as well? Creating truly comfortable, stylish outdoor living spaces is a huge trend in the home furnishings industry right now, and new introductions among every category of furnishings make it so much fun.

Gone are the days when our choices for outdoor furniture materials consisted of nylon webbing, hard, hot metal or plastic! Today’s outdoor furniture, appliances and accessories are oftentimes hard to distinguish from what we use indoors, giving us the capability to multiply our living spaces by extending them beyond the boundaries of our traditional walls.

The process of creating an outdoor room begins with site selection. The most obvious choices include a spacious porch, patio or deck. If, however, you don’t have any of those, you can certainly choose a favorite area of your yard just as effectively. Find a spot where both sunlight and shade can be enjoyed, as well as one with a pleasing view.

Outdoor living spaces can be as simple or as elaborate as you want to make them. The basics, however, include comfortable seating and a place to set a beverage or book.

In the old days, that would mean a few folding lawn chairs and a folding metal side table. Today’s outdoor furniture, however, offers so much more.

New advances in the materials that go into outdoor furniture now give us the luxury of fully cushioned seats, upholstered in beautiful fabrics which stand up to the elements and foam which allows rain water to drain right through it.

All-weather framing materials may look like yesterday’s rattan and wicker, but now resist drying, cracking, and mildewing, and never need painting. Figure out how many people you’d like to be able to seat comfortably in your space, and then have a ball selecting some beautiful chairs, or even an outdoor sofa or loveseat.

Beyond the basics of seating, your outdoor room should also include coordinating occasional tables within easy reach. Did you know, however, that you can now add the finishing touches of outdoor lamps, artwork and rugs as well? All of these and more are available to be used outside, giving us the ability to truly create a “room” outdoors!

Most of us love to dine outdoors in the summertime, too, so incorporating some type of dining table and chairs is a great idea. Once again, the comfort and aesthetics that are available today far surpass the utilitarian options of years ago. Don’t lock yourself into the old standard styles and materials; explore all the options!

If you’re a really avid fresh air and outdoor cooking fan, you might consider creating an outdoor kitchen. Take a look at the endless possibilities among grills, refrigerators, even beverage coolers that are designed for the outdoors, and let your imagination go wild with ideas for how those might be incorporated into a wonderful space for cooking and entertaining.

Outdoor living is a true joy for many of us, and a more-than-welcome alternative to the months that we spend indoors much of the year. Whether you choose to make your outdoor living space simple and functional or out-of-this-world and elaborate, the key is to have it be comfortable, inviting, and reflective of your personality. And then, to take the time to sit down and enjoy it!

Bathrooms are Hard.

2010-04-21T17:10:00.004-05:00

Bathrooms are hard. Hard to get motivated about, hard to decorate, and full of hard things, literally.

And yet, your bathroom is so important, in so much more than just a functional way. It’s both the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing before going to bed. It’s the place where your mood for the day is established, and where your wind-down to sleep begins.

For many of us, however, our bathrooms have become the forgotten child in our home’s decorating scheme, and are far too often a room that we simply fly in and out of in our haste to get on with the busyness of life. This week’s featured room makeover showcases just such a bathroom, one that is very typical of what we so often see here in the Midwest.

We began with this very moderately-sized, outdated master bathroom in a 1970’s ranch home, and a directive from its owners that the footprint of the room needed to remain unchanged, but everything else was fair game.

These empty nesters were more than ready for an update, indicating that they yearned for a space which would be reflective of their new, more contemporary decorating style, a space that would feel serene but with a definite ‘wow’ factor.

For starters, we established a new color scheme of soft grays and blues, warmed that up with some creamy beige elements, and then punched it up with generous doses of crisp black and white. It’s the way that this seemingly incongruous combination of colors plays out which established the basis for this room’s successful finished look and feel.

Underfoot, the new natural stone floor tile provides real warmth to the room, both visually and literally. Its golden undertones dramatically warm up an otherwise cold color scheme, and the worn, tumbled texture of the stone adds a visual softness to the room. Literal warmth comes, however, from the radiant heat that the homeowners chose to put underneath the tile, which is a welcome gift to their feet on chilly mornings!

Next, our walls were stripped of their old ‘80’s wallpaper, newly textured and bathed in soft gray-blue paint. This color is what provides the serenity factor to the room, and balances out the crisp drama of the black and white elements which will be added later.

The old double vanity, mirrors and light fixtures needed to go. In their place, a sleek furniture-style vanity and trough sink are now set against a backdrop of glossy white subway tile, accented with an inset border of glass tiles in our featured colors.

Completing this wall is a clean-lined, contemporary mirror paired with new energy-efficient light fixtures. Now, this room is really beginning to sing a new song!

Opposite the vanity wall, the old tub and shower surround were given new life as well. The bathtub was refreshed with a simple and relatively inexpensive reglazing process, and removing the fiberglass surround gave us a clean slate upon which to repeat our subway and glass tile combination. A custom shower curtain, in the grey-blue and beige colors, brings another element of softness to the room.

With the major functional areas of this bathroom established, what remained were the finishing touches of a window treatment and accessories.

The old traversing draperies at the window were replaced with a Hunter Douglas Silhouette shade. This not only functions beautifully to provide the privacy needed in the bathroom, but also lends visual softness and complements the contemporary look that we’re going for.

Brass towel bars and tissue holder have been replaced with sleek contemporary polished nickel ones, and a floating glass shelf and black glass-topped table now provide handy storage. Soft blue and white towels and a few carefully selected pieces of artwork add the finishing touches to this bathroom, which finally resides firmly in the 21^st century.

Having developed and executed a careful plan that incorporated just the right balance of color, softness and drama, our homeowners say that their new bathroom certainly doesn’t seem like a hard thing to face each morning now!