Here are some tips for quick organization from my friend and colleague, Kristen Hart of Toss ‘n Tidy. She wrote this for the Design Strategies newsletter last January.
#3 The Quick Cover-up
Life happens, junk mail multiplies, and you have company coming in 15 minutes. Create a family collection point in a location near the family entrance and in an area that can be quickly hidden without disrupting the collections. A roll-top desk, armoire, large boxes or cabinets make great spaces to collect yet contain the pieces of life that follow us home daily.
#2 Accessibility
Resources that you use daily should be at waist level or eye level. Items only get put away if their home is convenient. Rearrange shelving in the kitchen, and office so that objects you need to find or file away often are within arms reach.
#1 Go Vertical
Would you start a paper avalanche by adding one more sheet? Are you sure the note you need is buried in the middle of the pile? Well, turn the clutter on its ear and file vertically, rather than pile horizontally. Using desk file racks, accordion pockets and other divided organizers, stand paper and folders on their side. In addition to stability, you will also gain accessibility to what is in your pile.
Mary’s guest bath was featured last month in my newsletter. Since then, the wonderful Master Bath has been finished. Weeks ago still a jam-packed closet, it now illustrates how texture can make a tight color story exciting.
The colors in the bathroom are many, but all are within steps of each other in tone. This slight differentiation serves to further accent the textures. A mosaic tile listello repeats each color, and borders the tile pattern on the wall and serves as a bridge between the deeper tone on the tub surround and the lighter tone on the wall.
Slick Granite, oil brushed bronze, smooth porcelain, and rich warm woods. All the textures dance together and the colors become secondary, creating a relaxing spa.
My daughter returned from London with just one major purchase—a bottle of Pucci perfume, exclusive to Harrods. She says she chose it only on the merits of the light sweet scent, but I would love to credit her with recognizing the gorgeous bright graphic pattern on the lid. Call it a mother’s influence.
Emilio Pucci gained fame in the late 40s for his bright and flowing jet-set fashion, and made a huge contribution to mid-century interior design. His striking geometric patterns became a trend in fashion that carried over into home furnishings.
You can buy a wonderful chair upholstered in authentic fabric for a mere 5 grand. And, of course, a chair like this deserves an entire room designed around it. Sigh…someday…
I have never been much of a secondhand shopper, but today I learned that I have been mistaken.
My friend and colleague, Kristen, called me while I was in Ohio to let me know she found boxes of decorating books at an antique store/auction house. Kristen knows I am addicted to books and it was kind of her to remember me.
Mom’s Memories is in Woodbridge, on 123 at the intersection of Route 1. The place is packed with furniture, some very old, some more recent. I found a few items that looked interesting (besides the 3 crates of books I got for $52.) Only a few pieces to satisfy my mid-century passion, but I was assured that stock arrives constantly. As a matter of fact, a moving van was unloading as I shopped.
I noticed these interesting chairs. Perhaps too banged up, but what color!
I love cork floors.
A sustainable substance, cork is environmentally friendly. Durable yet soft on the feet, cork maintains an even temperature and is sound absorbing. It is being used in condos as an under layer because of its sound deadening ability.
Best of all, cork flooring is beautiful. It gives a room subtle, deep texture. I recommended it to my client, Sharron, last year. I viewed it Thursday and was amazed by how rich a straight forward foyer can become. Not surprising, I knew it would be the perfect treatment for the 1962 split level home I worked on today.
Today’s product, perfect in yesterday’s construction.
Color Scheming lies at the heart of business branding. Around the world, yellow arches signifies McDonalds. Hopefully, my four squares are recognized as Decorate Your Space colors.
I met Chris Finnie a few days before she purchased a gift shop in Old Town Manassas. Entering into a new business which lacked attractive planned design was weighing on her, so she likes to tell people that meeting me was like an omen. Only a day or so after the space was hers, we met there and discussed the way she wanted the store to feel and the impression she wanted to make on her customers. Chris had a very solid vision. She wanted it to be a pleasant, clean space that would be a destination for anyone needing a unique, quality gift for all ages. She wanted the space to be fresh and to have designated product areas.
I knew we had to incorporate her favorite shade of green, and that became our launch. From here we worked out sections of the store in complementary shades all grounded by a strong taupe upon entry and a neutral throughout. We used more shades than would be used in a home, ending up with about ten. But the effect actually serves to sort the eye into natural divisions.
The space looks much cleaner than it did when it was solid white. “Everyone that comes into my shop thinks my colors are happy!” Chris said she hears this again and again. Visit her at 9070 Center Street and see if you agree.
Eggplant and Sea Glass Blue. Striking, unexpected and wonderful. This combination says “Beach” in the subtlest way ever.
Pale Yellow and Black. No bees here, only freshness grounded and brought to earth.
Teal and Brown. Move away from the overdone Robin’s Egg and Brown to deeper Teal for originality.
Gray and Purple. New York City sophistication.
Terracotta and Lime Green. Leave them bright for energy or brown them down for respite.
Paint Palette Problems
Obviously, a well designed home is one that functions as well as it looks. However, it may be surprising to hear that a home with a discordant color scheme can actually cause discord. Just as a lovely song cannot overcome sour singers, a haphazard color scheme can ruin a design plan.
The easiest way to avoid paint palette problems is to plan! Coordinate your home by choosing a color palette for the entire house, entire floor, or at least the entire room. Choose two main colors and three accents and use these in different tones and values throughout your home. Many of my clients like the idea of using one favorite color in some way in every room of the house.
Certain color combinations work:
- Monochromatic uses different tones of the same.
- Analogous schemes use colors that lie next to each other on the color ring.
- Complementary schemes use colors opposite each other on the color ring.
A tight scheme can be accented with “pops” of color, but again, the key is in the planning.
By the Book
The proliferation of “shelter” catalogues, paired with the popularity of home decorating television shows has contributed to a heightened awareness in decorating trends. Certainly, increasing desire by Americans to create stylish interiors is good for business (both for mine and for the companies who ship the glossy tomes every month) but I have seen a negative side to this as well. My Top Decorating Dilemma # 11 is not terribly common, but when it occurs it is just that: terrible.
A few of my clients have taken a favorite catalogue image, and have duplicated it exactly in their own homes, down to the tininess accessory. Why is this terrible? Well, aside from the obvious lack of creativity , magazine and catalogue displays are not made for USE. The picture is taken in a way that best highlights the item for sale without any regard for how practical the plan is. So when I see a home that looks exactly like a scene out Pottery Barn, I inevitably see a homeowner unhappy with the functionality of the space.
Thankfully, the solution is simple. Rearranging the furniture to improve traffic flow and accessorizing with a couple of items that have meaning to the client are easy starts. Avoiding this dilemma is even easier. If the urge to recreate a scene hits—RESIST—no matter how perfect the scene may appear. Tear the page out and add it to an idea file instead.
Size Does Matter!
Face it, its true! One of the most common problems I encounter with my clients is dealing with furniture that doesn’t fit in its space. My solution is usually to move it, but this doesn’t address the root of the problem.
Before tackling any decorating project, MEASURE TWICE! Clients are just as likely to purchase furniture that is too small for a space as too large. Although it may seem tedious, it really does help to draw out your room. Use grid paper and draw your room to scale. Be sure to draw it large enough to work with. Although it is not conventional, I like to use one graph square for every 6 inches. When arranging your furniture, remember to add comfortable distance between walls and objects. Allow 24 inches for traffic flow but keep seating close enough to allow conversation.
Choosing furniture in the appropriate size is crucial to its appear-ance and functionality. Always measure the space around the item, and I even recommend measuring out the space a piece will fill right in the furniture store.
In good design, planning is the key it success.
