John Rocha Black Cut Tumbler from Waterford, Elizabeth Blue Chandelier from Posh Living, Momeni New Wave Ecofriendly Rug from Rugs Direct, Chloe Chair in China Blue Linen from William Sonoma Home, Laura Kirar Nightstand from Baker, Arabesque Mirror from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Lopez Sofa in Black Velvet from Klausser
Monthly Archives: January 2009
Inaugural Room
1
Filed under Friday Collage
John Rocha Black Cut Tumbler from Waterford, Elizabeth Blue Chandelier from Posh Living, Momeni New Wave Ecofriendly Rug from Rugs Direct, Chloe Chair in China Blue Linen from William Sonoma Home, Laura Kirar Nightstand from Baker, Arabesque Mirror from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Lopez Sofa in Black Velvet from Klausser
Create Conversation. Lose the Runway.
Filed under Individualized Advice
I have been getting a lot of questions lately. The holidays are over and thoughts are back to the home, I suppose.
Denise,
Where should I place my area rug? In front of sofa or love seat? Both are against a wall with an entrance between them.
It sounds to me like your arrangement needs to be reworked. An entrance between in the center of a grouping is a sure conversation killer. Do you have your furniture up against opposite walls? Move them so they are perpendicular instead.
Perhaps the sofa can remain on the wall and the love seat can be move to one side of it to create an L. It now becomes obvious where the rug belongs. Place it in front of the sofa. (Hopefully it is large enough to have at least the front legs of both pieces on it. If not, consider replacing it.) The rug serves to designate the space as one for “sitting together”. Notice, too, how welcoming the room feels when you enter. The new arrangement calls you in by providing a cozy seat in your line of sight.
Before:
After:
The Rear Endcap 1/14/09
Filed under The Rear Endcap
Today’s specials:
At LaDifference, the best store in Richmond: Lola Pendant $39.99 from $52. I think this is a value at either price.
Flor carpet tiles are great, but can be pricey, so it is good to get them on sale. I love the Lane Change Stripe, even if the colors are “so last year.” $4.99 each.
And for our under ten bucks item, the Flower Coat Hook from Arhaus is so cute. Hang it low on the side of the coat closet so the littlest ones learn a good habit. Only $8.
Target Gets Better by Adding Orla
Filed under Look What I Found!
It’s all over the blog world. I first saw it here, who saw it here and again here.
Orla Kiely is coming to Target. So now we have another reason to love.
I have talked about Orla Kiely before. I am taken with her retro-meets-feminine-Irish shepherd look. Her colors are mine–lots of redhead flattering oranges and olives. (Go Figure. She is Irish.)
Here is the rest. (Thank you to Apartment Therapy New York for the images.)
Entering In
Filed under Color, Design Principles, Foyers and Entryways, Individualized Advice, Rooms
I received an email from a reader in Ohio who asked for advice.
Denise,
My Foyer and Mud Room of our new home are both visible from the Kitchen and Family Room. I would like to paint them the same color. I was thinking of purple, because I love that color and my sectional is a taupe with purple pillows. All of our walls currently are builder beige. Our Kitchen has maple cabinets and Kashmir Gold granite counters.
Congratulations on your new home! Choosing to paint the areas first visible when you enter is a very good idea, because the project is very doable in a weekend, and will make a dramatic welcoming statement every time you come home.
I agree with your choice of purple, but why use the same color? I think you will be happier if you choose two similar colors instead. Keeping a color scheme tight, especially when the rest of the house is yet unpainted, will prevent the other walls from looking neglected.
I suggest a very sophisticated yet dramatic tone for the Foyer. Try Enigma from Sherwin Williams. This color has a perfect balance of gray and purple. If there is room, hang a mirror with a wide silvery frame in this space. If you can fit a small table beneath, place a collection of scented candles on top. Choose varying heights and sizes in different shades of purple.
For the Mudroom, go with a shade take contains more red. This will harmonize better with the maple cabinets and the golds in your granite. Try Reddened Earth, also from Sherwin Williams. Black accents will work nicely here. Since Mud Rooms can be the family Landing Strip, be sure to configure any cabinetry or furniture that may be in there to suit your needs.
Let us know how it goes!
It’s a New Year
Filed under Friday Collage
Webster’s Reference in Fashion Colors from See Jane Work, Office Storage Bins from WestElm, Flort Sholder Bag from Ikea, One Year of White Pages from Design Within Reach, MoMA Plastic Evo Pen from MoMAStore.com, , Semikolon Striped Document File from See Jane Work, Paperweight Clock from Pottery Barn, Retro Handsets from Chiasso, Inmodern-Surfin Magazine Rack from 2Modern
In the Beginning…
Filed under Creating a Sense of Place
Yesterday I gave a presentation on the importance of creating a haven. For personal reasons, last night we discovered as a family just how important it is to have a place to snuggle and grieve.
The key points to getting started:
Focus on Function First. Does the room suit your lifestyle? If not, fix it. Not every house needs a formal Dining Room. Maybe a game room would work better at this stage.
Kill the Clutter. Kill the Clutter. Kill the Clutter.
Start a Design File. Pictures are powerful motivators. Make a college, fill a folder or use an online resource.
Make a Concrete Commitment. Having a place that is uniquely and perfectly yours is easy, but won’t happen without a decision to make it happen. This is a new year. Improve your life by improving the space around you.
Introducing “The Rear Endcap”
Filed under The Rear Endcap
I had an idea for a new category for Design Strategies. Inspired by the back endcaps of each section at Target–you know, where all the stuff is with the red stickers–I thought I would highlight some super cheap deals available online. I have a category called Best of Sunday Circulars, but I quickly ran out of steam writing for it. Every week the newspaper ads were basically the same, so it got boring to write and I am sure, boring to read. Hopefully, since the web is so endless, this category should have staying power.
This week:
Edie Planters at CB2 are only $2.95. I love their retro vibe. Everyone needs a REAL plant in their space.
The Emerson Sidechair at Pottery Barn is deeply discounted. $59.99 from $249.99! Gray is still up and coming, and the timeless design makes this a no brainer. Pick up four for around a small white table or one for a foyer.
Everyone blogs about the Astrid Chair from Anthropologie. The sale is on the Libuelle upholstery, which, being black and white, is one of the more versatile. Marked down to $749.94 from $1498.
All quantites are limited so hurry!
Books By the Foot
Filed under Accessorizing, Color, Design Principles, Look What I Found!
In yesterday’s post I mentioned that I plan to read more actual books this year, as opposed to reading web pages. This resolution partially comes from my visit to Strand Bookstore in New York City a few weeks ago. My friend, Kirk, warned me that I was going to freak out when I went in there and he was so right. This store is heaven right here on earth.
In preparation for yesterday’s post I went to their website and I discovered that they will sell books by the foot. Did you hear that?? Books by the foot! The intention is to create instant libraries. From their site:
“Strand Book Store should be your first and last stop. We assemble decorator collections in any subject, including art, biography, reference, law, music, theater and classic literature. We’ve put together libraries for hundreds of clients, including the Plaza hotel, Steven Spielberg, and Polo Ralph Lauren. Working with you, we will custom design a library that is sure to be a perfect match for any home or office space, one that will please the eye and satisfy the mind.
Designing a film or theatrical set on a tight schedule? Contact us right away. We are the experts, with a long tradition of sales and rentals to the entertainment industry. We guarantee a 24-hour turnaround on most orders, and will arrange car delivery to locations in New York City.”
The most expensive antique leather books will set you back $400 a foot.
But for only $30.00 you can specify a color choice and they will pull books that meet your needs. (Can you imagine how interesting this could be? Think lime green books and grape walls on a dark bookcase or fuchsia books and turquoise walls on open steel shelves.)
The cheapest, Bargain Hardcovers, are $10 a foot. New Art books are $250 but used Final Sale Art Books are only $75! I am so tempted.
What do you think about this? Is it cheating? Or is it just another decorating strategy?
Back to the Rat Race
Filed under Trend Spotting
It is Monday morning. Listen…. The house is quiet. The girls are back in school. No more beeping cell phones, no slamming refrigerator doors. No more squeals of sibling squabble. The sky has that “I’m thinking about doing something annoying” look. Across America bloggers are sitting down at their computers to write about….
RESOLUTIONS
Why should I be any different? Every year I make the same pair of resolutions: To eat less and exercise more. Just like about a billion other people. This year I will still make it, but how about a few others? A few that I can handle?
- This year I will read more on paper and less on a computer screen. (I read two books over break. My Stroke of Insight and Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You. Both were wonderful and served to remind me how much I love books.)
- I will update my database in a timely fashion. Weekly would be good.
- I will respond to emails within 24 hours. Even if it means typing on those dreaded tiny cell phone keys.
- I will take better advantage of networking opportunities. I will have more One To Ones with my business associates, attend more Chamber events, and support activities at the Workhouse.
I read an email from a friend who said that this year, instead of throwing her list of resentments and grudges into the New Year’s Yule fire, she lit a flame to herself. She said instead of looking back, she decided to look forward and resolved to walk into the future with the light of hope.
That about covers it, don’t you think?