Okay, not to call anyone out on this seemingly minor detail, but, how much attention do you give to selecting the correct size and shape basket or pot for your indoor plants?
Before we address this dilemma, Continue Reading
home decor
Bring on Spring! and Let’s Decorate..
Welcome to the first day of spring (March 20th) – a purrfect reason to celebrate!
Just wanted to share a few quick tips on how you can bring the spring feeling into your home: Continue Reading
Want Your Own Relaxing Master Bedroom Retreat?
Working with wonderful clients is really what my business is all about. Today I’m sharing the story of a master bedroom retreat, designed for a lovely couple who really wanted a change from their circa 1980s bedroom!
Hanging Artwork, How High is too High? -Fast Fix Friday
As a design professional, I can say this is one of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) when talking to my clients! And therefore, I am so happy to provide you with an easy to follow guideline Continue Reading
5 Easy Steps to Your Next Awesome Room Makeover
Want to put the “Wow” factor back in your living room space? Are you wondering how you could ever do it on your own? What if I told you, you can makeover your room and you can do it Continue Reading
3 Timeless Decorating Tips for Incredible Interiors
Design trends come and design trends go. For many people (maybe you?), decorating your space consists of looking at current design magazines and/or searching online for photos you like. Next you try replicating that image to recreate the design in your own home. That process can and does work sometimes. However, what if I said you can all but eliminate the potential pitfalls encountered with this strategy by following these three timeless decorating tips. Continue Reading
Creative Techniques to Inspire Your Dazzling Living Room Design
Are you ready to get inspired and have some fun? Okay, good!
With any new design project, it’s always nice to start with a clean slate; in your mind, that is.
Get a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and take a good look at your room. List out all the permanent features in the space. The doorways, the windows, sliding door, fireplace feature or other architectural details. These are the foundation elements of your space. Now, close your eyes and visualize your room totally empty!
Before you start to go crazy with ideas, it is important to write down the measurements of your room. Also include how high your ceilings are. This will eliminate a multitude of mistakes because it tells you how much space you have to work with.
As with most people you probably enjoy flipping through magazines or going online to sites like HOUZZ to look at pictures of spaces that appeal to you. This helps you to:
• narrow down the style you like
• identify color combinations you are attracted to
• find interesting furniture and accessory pieces
I call this the stage of euphoria, since it appears that anything is possible!
Well, almost anything really IS possible with a little “How to” guidance.
One of the best tips I can share with you when decorating a living room space is to start with the largest piece of furniture and work around it. And, keep your room measurements with you at all times so when shopping you will know if the piece is going to fit in the space!
But let’s back up for a moment. As fun as it is to shop for new furniture, you will want to have a good idea of what style you like and what the color story is for the room before you try to make a furniture selection. So, take your time going through photos and keep a small folder of the designs that truly inspire you.
Here are some examples of mid-century modern furniture pieces which have stood the test of time. They are known for their classic, timeless style.
Figuring out the furniture placement is sometimes a puzzling and stressful job for some people. One of the easiest things you can do is get a roll of blue painters tape and place it on the floor using the dimensions of the piece you want to use in the designated area. You will know right away if it’s too big or too small and also, how much space you have left for other furniture. Once you know the general space layout you can feel confident about making that high ticket purchase.
Creating your dazzling space is like building upon several layers. You will start with your foundation piece and design a conversation area around it. Some of the usual combinations include:
• A sofa and two chairs
• A sectional with one chair
• Two sofas facing each other
With your primary furniture pieces in place, your next layer is adding the coffee table and end tables or accent tables. If you have hard surface floors, you will want to consider anchoring your seating arrangement with an appropriate size area rug. This extra layer softens the space and also helps to reduce the echo effect caused by all the hard surfaces in the room. The next step is to select proper lighting. Preferably you will have overhead or ambient lighting, then add table or floor lamps, and lastly some accent lighting to highlight artwork, plants, sculptures, etc. The last and final layer to finish off the space is to hang your artwork. There are numerous configurations for hanging artwork or if you like the minimalistic feel, a single large piece of wall art and be very stunning.
You might be thinking, why didn’t I mention anything about window treatments? Well, that’s because window coverings are a whole separate subject on their own and deserve a full conversation at another time.
So, do you feel empowered to create a design for your own living room?
Or maybe you are struggling with a design dilemma in your space?
If you crave more detail and guidance on how to design your own unique space, click here to be added to the VIP list – you’ll be the first to find out when I release my upcoming “How to” e-book series for sensational home decorating.
Comments or questions are welcomed!
How Big is Your Small Space? Three Steps to Making it Work
Most of us will experience the dilemma of downsizing at some point in our lifetime. Maybe it’s after the kids move out, or you are combining households, or my favorite reason, you want to simplify your life. When faced with the reality of downsizing, many people feel anxious about how much space they are loosing. On the contrary, it’s not how much space you have, but, how you use it that counts!
The first key step to making it work is space planning. Before you move into your new place, take measurements of the rooms and start to define the functionality you will require for each space. Multi-use areas are your friends. For example, if you have a combination living room/dining area which is popular in many homes, you can create a comfortable conversation space and substitute the dining table for a stylish work space. Your dining area can be re-directed to the kitchen, utilizing any built-in features such as an island or breakfast bar. Set up a small kitchen table and chairs if space permits. For entertaining larger crowds, open up your patio or deck for extra seating. Thinking of your outdoor space as extra living space is a huge plus.
The second key to success is proper furniture placement. When setting up your furniture, always think about using the space efficiently, meaning use all the space! Yes, you want to create traffic flow patterns, but avoid the urge to place all your furniture against the wall. You end up with a big empty crater in the center of the room which actually makes the space feel smaller than it is. Also, placing your furniture on an angle when you can, tends to open up your space, especially in a square shaped room.
The last step to consider in making your small space work is creating built-in shelving. If your home has standard reach-in closets, consider installing floor to ceiling shelving for extra storage. Using the vertical square footage in a closet can exponentially increase your storage space vs. the conventional hanging rod and single shelf option. This technique can be applied to any architectural niches in your home whether in the living room, family room, or bedroom. By thinking out of the box, you will be rewarded with extra square footage you never knew you had.
For additional help and guidance with decorating your awesome space, please contact Re-Style Interiors.
Your “How To” Guide When Company Is Coming
Can you believe the calendar says it is September already! The kids are going back to school, your schedule is getting re-adjusted, and the nights are getting longer. My clients usually experience an “Oh Wow” moment this time of year when they realize the holidays are only weeks away and there is so much planning to do!
So what do you do if company is coming? May I suggest a bit of an interior re-fresh. This could be as simple as changing out your linens and throw pillows to reflect the fall season. Or, if you are looking for a more dramatic change… Make a huge visual impact by updating your living room or family room space. It is easier to accomplish than you may think.
This simple guide entitled, “Where Do I Put the Sofa?” gives you a step-by-step outline on how to create a warm and functional space that will both welcome and “wow” your holiday guests. You can access it by clicking here.
Or, let your holiday anxiety melt away and enjoy the season to its fullest!!!
Schedule your design appointment with Re-Style Interiors today at 714.878.6867
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How To Make Your Home Fall Fabulous
What thoughts cross your mind when thinking about fall season decorating? For many of us it’s the time when we cozy up our space, ready the fireplace for cool nights to come, and bring out the fall décor. Are you are looking around, feeling a bit overwhelmed and wondering where to start?
If you need a little help giving your home that fabulous fall feeling follow these simple tips:
Clear out the clutter – with the holidays approaching you can use all the extra “found” space
Divide and conquer – by organizing your space into functional areas, you can keep that clutter from re-appearing
Make room for the tree = Christmas tree that is! If you typically set up a tree for the holidays, it’s not too early to identify that space.
Lastly, feel free to embellish your accessories. This is that time of year to bring in the bling!
If you are thinking I don’t have time to do all that, remember, professional designer help is out there. You can get your home Fall Fabulous without breaking the bank. If have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy Fall Decorating!