Details : Rope

Laura and I were out shopping the other day and found some nautical inspired items. As usual, it caught Laura’s eye!  I think of Laura when I see nautical inspired home decor. So Laura, this one is for you: clever uses of rope as interior detail.

Staircase by Pursley Dixon Architecture

Shelving by Niche Interiors

Contemporary Staircase by Interior Designer Joel Snayd

Modern Bathroom by SB Architects

 

Contemporary Bathroom by Greenbelt Homes

Traditional Kitchen by Atlanta Interior Designer Yvonne McFadden LLC

Living Room by MB Jessee

Family Room by Interior Designer Cristi Holcombe

Click on the above images to learn more about the designs!

Conversation Starter : Stately Tables

Here’s something fun for today: Stately Tables. The tables are made of repurposed barn wood, carved into YOUR home state! Select the table leg style, soy-based stain and size. You can even pick the city where you would like the sterling silver star to inlaid. This is a great conversation starter piece to add to your home!

Click on the above images to learn more about how to order your Stately Table!

April showers bring May flowers: Floral Decor

Well, April is drawing to a close and May is almost here!  I can’t believe it!  Soon flowers will be in full bloom.  Floral artwork and accessories are quite popular and can really add that pop of color to your space.  And for those of us lacking a green thumb it’s a way to bring nature indoors.  Sometimes a floral upholstered piece looks great too!  Let’s take a look at a few examples:

Contemporary Kids by Mexico City Interior Designer Silvia Garcia Interior’s

Contemporary Dining Room by Los Angeles Interior Designer Sara Ingrassia Interiors

I love how these floral chairs add just the right touch of whimsy!

Contemporary Dining Room by Kelowna Interior Designer Begrand Fast Design Inc.

Notice how the artwork ties in several colors in the space.  Sometimes starting with the artwork and working backwards will give you a great color palate.

Traditional Family Room by San Francisco Interior Designer RANERE DESIGN GROUP

The vibrant colors in the rug really add life to this room.  I love the dark walls!

Traditional Dining Room by Boston Architect Jan Gleysteen Architects, Inc

Check out this funky room! The floral wallpaper becomes the rooms artwork.

Happy May Day tomorrow!  Perhaps some flowers will brighten your day!

Yellow : Accent Pieces

After taking time off to say a final goodbye to my wonderful Grandmother, I have returned and began to poke & prod at my creative brain. It’s been a little hard, but I found inspiration today: I have a beautiful new arrangement of yellow and orange flowers next to my desk. Yellow was my Grandmother’s favorite colors… so here’s how you, too, can use yellow in accents! How cheerful!

Traditional Kitchen by Heydt Designs

Bedroom by New York Interior Designer Tara Seawright

Bedroom by Tara Bussema

Exterior by Beverly Hills Interior Designer Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

Modern Home Office by Pizzigati Designs

Home Office by Portland Design-build New Energy Works Timberframers

Modern Bathroom by De Meza + Architecture

Click on the above images to learn more about the designs!

Before and After : Home Staging

Home staging is an excellent way to showcase features or important rooms of a home. Whether or not you are selling your home, we can help you use furniture you already own to make your space inviting to guests or potential buyers. Below is a before and after of a family room in a single-family home. The Before photo was the family room while on the market in 2010. The After photo was the family room as it was staged, on the market in 2013. Keep in mind, this was the first impression of the home to everyone who entered. What is YOUR first impression?

BEFORE: The home was occupied by a single renter, leaving most of the space unfurnished. The windows had vertical blinds for window coverings, which left them visually unbalanced. The wall color was a pale yellow which continued into the adjacent kitchen. The light flooring and remaining white walls washed out the space. As shown, the home was on the market for almost 6 months.

AFTER: Obviously, the homeowner occupied the home while on the market in this case. Floor length curtains replaced the vertical blinds. This made the ceiling look taller and balance the windows much better. The walls were painted a warm khaki color. A collection of  world maps framed in a collection helped fill out the space on the largest wall. Lastly, I recommended the homeowner to remove clutter, dog bed pillows, personal photos, etc. As shown, the home was on the market for 20 days.

Even if you are selling a home without furniture (due to immediate relocation, vacancy, etc.) you can still improve the appearance of an empty room with window coverings or paint.

Let us help you with these updates that make major difference! It will greatly improve showings of the home!

Sectional Sofas : Dos and Don’ts

Sectional sofas are fickle pieces of furniture. They can be very practical and fit well in a family room. Many times, they are sadly misused and not properly placed; a pet peeve of mine! Thus, I gathered a few examples of what to avoid and how to use a sectional in an attractive setting. Maybe this is a post to share with a friend with sectional sofa issues!

Family Room design by Kendall Wilkinson Design

DO: This plush sectional works well in this space. The back of the sectional is a lower profile. This is important to avoid the sectional visually taking over the space. It is also longer on one side and shorter on the other. This still provides additional seating, but it keeps the sofa from swallowing the room whole!

DON’T: This is an example of a sectional sofa swallowing the room whole! It’s simply too much furniture, yet there is only 3 pieces: one sofa, one very small ottoman and a modest end table. Each side is equal length, which directs your eye right to the corner of the sofa (lovely blue pillow collection).

Family Room design by Kendall Wilkinson Design

DO: When a sofa takes up so much space horizontally, it is best to prevent it taking up space vertically as well. A lower height sofa back is the solution. The asymmetry keeps you from focusing on the corner. The vast amount of windows keep a feeling of openness, which is important in a room with a sectional.

DON’T: The back of any sofa is not particularly attractive. A console table would be an excellent solution when the back of a large sofa is exposed. Though, I don’t think any console table can compete with this sectional. It is simply too massive for the space and makes the room feel much smaller. Two separate seating options would break up the space.

Living Room design by Tom Stringer Design Partners

DO: A clever twist on a typical sectional. Many sectionals have the chaise option which makes for some good book reading and lounging! It still provides comfort, relaxing and gathering of family. The placement of the sectional keep the windows exposed. Visually, this sectional works perfectly. Now I’m going to go get an afternoon cup of tea and pretend I’m lounging on this sofa!

Click on the photos to learn more about the designs!