Posts Tagged ‘Furniture arranging; space planning; design on a budget; no cost decorarting;’

One of the first questions I ask a new client is “How long do you expect to live here?”  My design advice differs If you plan to sell in less than 2 years versus staying longer.  Homeowners should decorate their home for themselves unless the move is imminent.

1)  If a sale is in the near future, fresh paint is the easiest and cheapest way to update the house.  I’m an advocate of color, but a potential buyer won’t be able to get past bold turquoise or burgundy walls.

2)  Arranging furniture is difficult for most people and impossible for the seller.  The biggest and hardest thing the seller has to do is downsize.  Grandma’s antique chair (or hutch or table or whatever) may be a beloved favorite, but if it’s taking up space, send it to storage.


3)  The buyer’s first impression should be “wow, look at how big this room is!”  That will be achieved when the clutter and excess is gone.


4)  The furniture should be arranged toward a focal point.  That could be the fireplace if there is one.  Otherwise, the view or a beautiful piece of artwork or even the TV.


5)  A furniture plan should allow for easy mobility and separate the seating area from the walk path or the front door.


6)  If the home has an open plan, there should be some distinction between the areas.  The dining room should be separate from the living space.


7)  Cleanliness and neatness should be the first item on the to-do list for the seller.  Potential buyers can overlook paint and carpeting, but will run for exit if the first thing they see is dirt and disorganization and chaos!

8)  Of course curb appeal can kill a sale before the potential buyer gets in the door.  A well maintained yard is a must.  Make sure there isn’t any peeling paint or shutters or gutters in disrepair.

Miss Muffet would be jealous of this fabulous chair!

I have had this great little bistro style chair hanging in my shed since last fall.  I should say my husband’s shed.  I get the house and he gets the shed.  He doesn’t touch my “stuff” and I don’t mess with anything in his 4500 square foot garage.  It’s the perfect trade off!  I do all the interior design at inside and he does all the outside work!   I do, however, store a few items in there once in a while.

A cut little bistro style chair in it's original yellow paint and vinyl seat

This chair for instance.  It was a great find for $9.99 at Goodwill.  I wanted to do something very girly in hot pink, so my 7 year old niece Kayla became the inspiration and recipient.  I knew it would be perfect for a child’s bedroom.

The glitter really sold me on this tulle!

I was very excited when I found this glittered fuchsia tulle and a floral fabric and embroidered trim to go with it.

Green paint really updates the look of the chair

A little sand paper to rough up the finish and a can of neon green spray paint updated the chair from the 1970’s.

The old seat batting was in good shape.

The black and white vinyl seat was stapled on and easy to remove.  Then I cut a piece of the fabric 2” wider than the seat and attached it with a staple gun.

A staple gun is the handiest tool when covering chair seats

I gathered a double layer of tulle by hand and stapled it to the seat making the gathers even all the way around.

Never cut off the excess fabric until you are satisfied with the fullness.

Instead of cutting off the excess netting, I folded it up for extra fullness and sewed it in place.  You could glue the trim to the fabric, but hand stitching is neater (no mess) and you have greater control.

The floral trim is the finishing touch

Miss Muffet would have loved this chair

I happened to find the lime green pom-poms in my stash that were a perfect match.  It turned out so cute and just right for a girly little seven year old.

A chair fit for a little princess (or even a Queen)

Adding  style and design to any room can be as simple as a trip to a resale shop and fabric store.  Go ahead, brighten your home with color!

Tis the season for wedding showers.  Although it is all about the bride, if you are hosting the party, you want to welcome your guests to a fun, friendly and beautiful atmosphere.

The best advice for planning any party, big or small is to plan a theme and choose a color scheme.  This is especially a good idea with a shower.  Just like any interior decorating project, a theme and color idea will keep you focused and simplify the process.

If you don’t want to do the same-old/same-old bridal thing, you gotta think outside the box.

For something truly different, choose an “Initial” theme.  Although you can find lots of things with letters, vintage hankies are unique.  Up until the last few decades, women used to carry handkerchiefs with them at all times.  Now that we don’t do that anymore, you can find tons of hankies at antique shops and flea markets. Ask your grandmother for hers!

Handkerchiefs come in all sizes, colors and initials

The best thing with hankies is they become the party favor and place setting all rolled into one!

Once the guest list is set, you will know which letters to look for.  What you can’t find, you can embroider on an old plain one.  If you or your friends don’t sew, look for an iron-on letters at the craft store.

They can be found in every color and style

If the hankies are big enough and in good condition, use them as the napkin.

If the hankies are big enough, they can stand alone as napkins

Chances are they won’t be, so pair them up with regular napkins.  Use a napkin ring or ribbon.

If the hankies are too small or fragile, fold them up with regular napkins

Use a simple napkin ring or ribbon to hold the two together

White hankies can be paired with your color theme

Or wrap them around a pair of candles…

Candles are great party favors

Or soap!  Two party favors in one!  Be sure to use unscented soap so it doesn’t compete or over power your lunch!

Initial hankies make personal party favors

Tuck in a silk flower for added color

Have your guests find their place at the table, by looking for their initial.  Sort of a grown-up musical chairs (except everyone gets a seat)!

Next time,  invitations!

A quick way to update an existing lamp shade is to add trim.  The addition of gold cord and tassels to this simple red shade makes it more formal and stately.  Have fun; there are lots of fabulous, colorful trims you can add to any shade.  A hot glue gun is the only tool you need to go from plain to regal or funky!

Dress up a lamp shade with trim and cord

Anna Quindlen said, “I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consist of mostly building enough bookshelves.”

Although I love books, read every day and collect various works, book shelves aren’t just for holding books.  In fact built-in or free standing shelving can solve all sorts of display and storage issues.

An old store shelving unit is perfect for display

The patina of worn paint gives the piece character

It even has wheels in case I need to move it.

It took me a lot of hunting to find the right shelf to fill an empty corner in my family room.  Fortunately I’m very patient when it comes to furniture.  I would rather do without than to settle for something I don’t love.  This white shelving unit probably came from a store of some sort.  It’s sturdy, has wheels and with just enough chipped paint to give it some charm.  The size is perfect for my empty space.

Displaying collections can be a challenge.  Remember the rule that things have a greater impact when grouped together instead of spread around the room.  So, throughout the year I will re-do my shelf to give you tips and ideas on how to display your own collections.

I had not idea I had this many wood boxes!

The simplest display is to group like items.  I didn’t start out collecting wood boxes, but when I pulled them all together, I realized I had enough to show-off.  I rearranged and played around with them until I found an arrangement that looked good.

• I placed the heavier trunk on the bottom.  Had I put it on the top shelf, the whole unit would have felt top-heavy.

Put the heavier items on the bottom shelves

• Stagger pieces; pull some forward and others behind.  Overlapping items gives depth and dimension.

Stagger the boxes for depth and dimension.

• Pay attention to height.  None of the items should be the same height on a shelf.  Stack them up to create height or use risers (like books!).   I placed the painted box on its side so the design is visible.

Separately, each box has its own shape, color and texture, but together they tell a story.  The collection makes an impact.

The shelf becomes a focal point with a single collection.

I can't pass up cute little doll house chairs.

I also have some miniature chairs.  Anything this tiny is much more difficult to display.  They would get lost if I set them on a shelf all alone.  But when paired with a couple of boxes, they stand out.

Use the same display principles for the chairs.

Pair of traditional dining chairs in miniature

Even little items have a big impact when grouped together

Voila! In no time I created an interesting display.

Go hunting in your own house.  You might be amazed at what you’ll find.

Once my Christmas decorations are down and packed away, I’m ready to tackle a new design project.  As usual, I want instant design gratification—I want something new right now.  The house is rather dull and dark after a month of light, color and holiday spirit everywhere.

The easiest, fastest and no cost decorating idea you can do is to replace the soap in your bathrooms.  Chances are someone gave you new soap or bath products and lotions as a gift.  Get them out and use them right now!  What are you waiting for?  Put them in a new dish and you are ready for guests.  Put them in a fun container in your own bathroom.  Soap is meant to be used not saved.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in someone’s home to see a dish of lovely soaps for display only!

This soap is divine! Even the box is charming.

I love anything French or lavender scented.   My mother gave me box of dainty French milled soaps.  Another friend gave me soap from Italy. They both smell wonderful. I have enough to share (some for me, some for the guest bath!).

These French soaps look really cute in a snowman candy dish.

I found this Homer Laughlin dish at an antique store for a couple of dollars.

A basic white vintage soap dish

A basic dish is a nice contrast to a fancy soap.

You can use almost anything as a soap dish. Try an appetizer plate.

My Italian soaps are perfect for the Paris plate!

Perhaps someone gave you a hand made pottery dish.

Rustic soap is the perfect compliment to a hand-thrown bowl.

You can use almost anything for soap. This pewter pedestal dish looks really elegant.

Pile a large pewter bowl will all kinds of soaps, but be sure to use them!

Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean you have to pack away all your decorations.  Snowmen and snowflakes are great for the holidays, but they can also brighten your home during the long winter months.  I live in a northern climate  where we get lots of snow, cold weather and more dark than daylight.   Snowmen are the perfect indulgence for this endless season.

• Take them off your mantle and tuck them into little nooks and crannies.  Just by moving them around the house, you’ve created a something new.

Don't pack the snowmen away just yet, move your collection to the bathroom or guest bedroom

When grouping the snow people together, vary heights, sizes and texture for a more interesting display.

• Move part of your collection to the bathroom or bedroom.

This snowman candy dish is perfect for fancy soap in a guest bathroom.

• If you’re expecting guests this winter, display them in the guest room for an unexpected touch.

• Set the table with snow friends.  Position one at each place setting at a winter party.

• Gather your men with a little quilters batting or fake snow on a tray for a centerpiece.

JI just love this snowflake plate my kids gave me for Christmas. I can use it all winter long.

Group your snowman collection on a pretty plate

• Make paper snowflakes (or have your kids do it) to hang in the window.  Line the snowmen on the window sill.

• Fill the empty corner in your kitchen with snowmen.
  

• Don’t pack away the snowmen dishes you used at Christmas time.  Fill them with appetizers at your next football party.

You can’t fight winter, might as well enjoy it!

Here’s a simple last minute napkin ring project you can do in a snap and your kids can help too.

Set a festive table with this quick and easy craft project.

• Start with a paper towel tube and cut into 1 ½” pieces.

• Cut a plaid or other pretty ribbon to fit.

Be sure to add ribbon to the inside for a professional finish!

• Glue the ribbon to the tube.
  
• You can either wrap it around so the inside is covered or simply apply a piece to the front and the inside.

• Glue sticks work best.  If you use spray glue, be sure to spray in a paper bag to avoid getting glue everywhere.

• Tie a bow around a little bell with 1/8” ribbon and glue to the front.

Select matching ribbon and a bell to embellish the front.

Voila!  You have an instant festive touch to your Christmas table.

Red and green may be the traditional colors of Christmas, but why not try something different?  Blue and white are perfect for a Hanukkah meal or New Year’s Eve late night dinner as well as Christmas brunch.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas right at my table.

This would be a fun setting for a Hanukkah table.

Start with at pale blue snow flake table cloth.  Add snowflake dinner plates and a salad plate or soup bowl in a coordinating pattern.

Snowflake plates were a lucky find at Goodwill

Keep the monochromatic scheme going with blue glasses.

Let your guests take home the snowflake and little ornament as a memento.

The napkin is an ikat design tied with a snowflake and little ornament.  I love to incorporate little gifts for my guests at the table.  They can take them home as a remembrance of a lovely time.

Or you can set the napkin on the plate for a different look.

The centerpiece has white pine and poinsettias, but giant snowflakes or paper whites would work too.  Just stick with blue and white.  A sparkly garland looks just as festive on the table as it would on a tree.

An all white centerpiece keeps the monochromatic color theme going

Enjoy your holiday by sharing your time, your table and a meal with family and friends.  It doesn’t get any better than that!

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”

Burton Hillis

Patrick’s bedroom was finished just in time for his party.  (We were hanging his posters as guests were arriving!  Who doesn’t work best under pressure?)

Pat's new bedroom has more color and personality.

My husband wasn’t sure about the gold paint on the walls, but will admit it was a good choice.  The color is in the bedskirt fabric and makes the red chair and navy bedspread really pop.  Everything doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy.  Get a little daring when picking paint.

The red chair, a quilted throw and another movie poster make this corner very cozy.

But the walls needed something more than posters, so horizontal stripes turned out to be the perfect solution.  I taped off random widths and bought small paint samples in navy, red and green (also found in the fabric).  Painting stripes is a putzy job, but the results are worth it.

Horizontal stripes add dimension and color to the room.

It took me a while to come up with an idea for the valances.  I ordered cellular shades for the windows, so privacy and sunlight weren’t a concern.  They needed to be masculine and simple.  I used the red quilted fabric and added a strip of the paisley at the top.

Masculine window treatments were in order.

Instead of the usual drapery hardware, I went to a big box hardware store and bought two 40” lengths of galvanized pipe.  Instead of the usual drapery rings or a shirred header, I went with grommets for something different.  I poked around the electrical section of the store until I found some fittings that worked as finials.  Pat has a unique drapery treatment and that cost only a few dollars.

Grommets and galvanized pipes are inexpensive and manly!

Who says drapery and hardware has to be the usual poles and balls? The hardware store has all kinds of fun things you can use.

His bed and desk/TV swapped places in the room.  We had to buy a new desk since the old one sort of fell apart as we moved it.  We chose a desk instead of a TV stand because a desk is taller.

We originaly had the TV on the right side of the desk, but Pat preferred it this way (less glare).

A few coordinating throw pillows, his movie posters and closet door handles and the room is complete.

I found rugged industrial handles for the closet doors.

These Indiana Jones posters and the red chair started the whole redecorating project.

Pat bought this poster during a trip to San Francisco with the band.

Pat's Grandma made him this quilt several years ago and it's very special to him.

The quilt was made by his Grandma a few years ago.  The colors are perfect for the new room.

I wouldn’t have put his two DVD shelves next to each other, but it’s Pat’s room and that’s where he wanted them.

Pat wanted both DVD stands next to each other. I would have put one behind the chair, but it's his room...

I think I will  look for a floor lamp and give it to him for Christmas.  Also a bulletin board for his calendars and notes.  A room is never really done, it’s a work in progress and that’s OK.  Rooms should evolve and change as people and seasons do.  But it will be sometime before we make any changes (quite sometime!).

The room turned out just as we wanted and Pat is very happy.

Patrick is really comfortable in his new room.