Cinde and I have worked together for many years. She originally hired me immediately upon our meeting at a Chamber of Commerce function. Only a few days prior, she had closed on a beach house still under construction and she had some pressing decisions to make regarding the cabinets and counters. So our meeting was fortuitous. Since then, we have done many projects together.
Her family room is the latest. We chose the paint colors at least a year ago. A deep sage covers three walls, and the far, fireplace wall is a russet.
I gave her these two options.
Option 1: Sofa Chair Rug Drapery Panel Media Stand Coffee Table Console Pillow Vases
Option 2: Sectional Chair Rug Ottoman Side Table Media Center Pillow Pillows Vases
Design Notes: the DWR Newsletter & Blog
I put this here using the little icons at the end of the article, which I thought was pretty cool and super easy. And while this article does support my political leanings/belief system, that is not the reason I have posted it…’cuz People! This is a Design Blog! I shared it because of the picture of the book shelf with color coordinated books. We just talked about that… Weird, huh?
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An email from a reader:
Hi Denise
I have noticed a lot of photographs lately on the decorating blogs of books displayed by color on shelves. What do you think about this? Thanks for taking the time to answer, Jesse
Well, Jesse, I’ve seen a lot of this, too. We must be reading the same stuff! This picture made the blog rounds many times. Whoever did this certainly caused an uproar!
I decided to go around my house and take random pictures of a few of the millions of stacks of books I have. It is hard not to notice that I tend to do this. Not as rigidly as the picture, mind you, but certain colors tend to–congregate. I can’t really help myself.
*tap tap* Hello? Anyone out there?
I know, it ’s been me that has vanished. Sorry for the unexplained absence. I got so tied up with the musical production that I couldn’t even lift my fingers to type. When it all finally ended, aside from sinking into a mini depression, I realized that I had been writing quite religiously for an entire year. A blog vacation was in order.
So today I will begin with baby steps. I don’t want my fingers to cramp from lack of use.
Here are some fuzzy pictures my client put on my Facebook. (Obviously taken with a phone…sorry.) Somehow we were inspired by the vast collection of pictures stacked from the move in her basement and we determined that a collection of empty frames would fill a blank wall space without closing it in.
These frames were purchased on a family trip in South Carolina. JoDee texted me during the process, so the transcript is gone, but I believe they came from a flea market. Looks wonderful, doesn’t it?
I felt like I was participating in an episode of America’s Top Decorator Design Idol Top Design. I confess I’m not a big reality show watcher. But to the point, I spent my weekend on a tight schedule helping my friends prepare for the huge gathering they were having in their home to celebrate their registering a civil union.
The painters were leaving as I arrived on Friday. The Living Room walls were now clean and glowing in the palest pink (Benjamin Moore Wild Aster 1240). The first and immediate task was positioning the furniture to accommodate guests and heaping trays of food.
You may recall my series on this gorgeous home. The owners have upset the cosmic balance of talent by remaining together for 18 years; Kirk is an artist and Arijit is an architect. They have piles of art. Literally. Piles in baskets and stacked on the floor. It was my job to display it.
Here are some photos.
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?
I do things at my job that I never dreamed of when I planned the operation of Decorate Your Space. One thing I didn’t imagine was how many times I would hang and rehang pictures.
I spent a long day hanging portraits of board members for a government office. I was hired to choose and order the frames and the information plaques, designate a spot for them, and arrange them.
But aside from such obvious hanging jobs, I often find myself rehanging the pictures in clients’ homes. And in the majority of cases, I’m simply moving down the nail.
Note to all potential hangers: It’s probably too high!!
Most sofas spend their existence sitting against a wall. But it needn’t be this way. Sofas look wonderful in front of a bank of windows. Mine floats perpendicular to the fireplace.
But since in most homes the sofa is in its expected place against the largest open wall, there is an area above it that needs addressed. A large picture will suffice. Or a collection of smaller prints, grouped as one large.
Rebecca purchased a wall system from At Home America. I worked with her yesterday to hang it. We incorporated a large clock from their collection. Two of the rods have clips that will hold four yet to be bought black frames.
Coincidentally, when I got home I had an email from a client who has been working with me on her apartment. She sent me a picture what she had just done with her blank space above the sofa. She hung squares of Amy Butler fabric on canvases. The colors are wonderful and give life to the white walls.
Consider the scale. A huge wall of shelves can handle, well, a huge wall of books. But a petite unit or an individual shelf requires restraint.
Choose a purpose for the shelf. Is it the most common reason–to house books? Valuables and collections, mementos and keepsakes are popular items for display, and many people love to showcase family photos.
Choose a Theme. Color, texture, subject matter and style can be themes if all the objects coordinate.
Narrow it down! Step back and squint. Can you see a clean shape formed from the objects? Then you have been successful.
What is with interior designers pushing ostentatious window treatments?
OK, I actually know the answer to this. But I ask the question because I wonder if it is a little embarrassing for my competition to showcase designs with swags, jabots, valances, panels and sheers when they are so obviously out of style. Browse books recently published, read current shelter zines, watch TV. Flounce is out, even here in stuffy DC.
To answer the question with a bit of history: I began Decorate Your Space and Design Strategies in response to having worked for a firm that made me feel a little like showering after consultations. Because here is the secret: Fancy Windows Means Lots o’Cash for the Designer. So you have these innocent clients, desiring a functional, beautiful space and ending up with tasseled and festtoned windows and white walls. Nothing more, for the elaborate treatments broke the bank.
Let me stress that I do recommend well covered windows, especially if the client so desires, and I have many wonderful connections to great window experts. But I will always choose tasteful and restrained over excessive any day.
So many retailers are offering excellent silk panels. I recommend them often:
Here are some of custom treatments in my clients’ homes:
