Working beyond the usual triumvirate of furniture, wall color and window treatments, we are adding some unique touches to the structure of their new home. Texture is a key element in creating a warm and cozy space, especially in homes with larger square footage. Their home has upgraded elements such as picture frame molding in the Second Floor Hall and in the Dining Room, and while these are beautiful on their own, we decided to kick it up a notch.

The upper section of the Hall, above the chair rail, was painted Tavern Taupe from Sherwin Williams. Normally I am a fan of leaving the entire lower area, moldings and all, high gloss white, and we did this in the more formal Dining Room. But the Upstairs Hall needed that all important texture. Unconventionally, I chose a lighter shade, Stone Lion, for the bottom beneath the chair rail. And here comes the fun part: JoDee, at my suggestion, upholstered the framed area with batting wrapped in burlap.

Although I have yet to see it, here is what she said as she sent these photos from her iPhone. “Perfect!” “AMAZING!!!” “You have GOT to see this!” Yea, I think she likes it.

Great Room

The Great Room was designed to showcase a view.  We discussed treatment options for large bank of windows looking out the screen room viewing the pond and the new landscaping with gorgeous lighted palms.  Neighbors have fabric covered verticals which Roseann really likes.  My recommendation was to have window film professionally installed and then address if treatments are still needed.

A new shelving unit had been designed and recently installed.    I accessorized with family photos and added orange pieces with intention to collect more.  I decided not to accessorize the fireplace as the speakers and television are already crowding the space. New accessories were purchased for the sofa table.  Two huge ceramic spheres and a long row of tea lights in the same two colors follow the horizontal line of the table with texture, color and drama.  We purchased four large metal platters with hammered designs to hang on the siding in the screened room.

Concerning the large empty area to left of fireplace, Roseann loved a photo of a basket display in Pottery Barn catalogue.  We used this as inspiration and purchased a wonderful array of highly textured woven trays and shallow bowls and hung them in a pleasing, random pattern.  The arrangement will look less harsh once the walls are painted Ralph Lauren Crab Apple, a very complex taupe.  We still need to procure a long low bench for this area to ground the basket display and to hide the sub-woofer.  The bench will be easily moved to the conversation group when Jim and Roseann fill the house with neighbors and margaritas.

I designed a tile pattern to be installed on the wall area under the bar using colorful glass tiles and matte ceramic squares.  I tried to convince Jim that tiling the entire 70 square feet of an angled and awkward wall visible upon entry with glass tiles would be completely amazing.  My rough-estimated cost of 3K combined with the permanence of it seems to have overshadowed my enthusiasm.  (Trust me–IT WILL REALLY ROCK!!)

Dining Room

After much searching, we decided to purchase a colorful, graphic wool rug at Pottery Barn.  Roseann was very unsure, as her taste is more traditional, but loved it once it was in place with the Dining set.  (The Dining table, chairs and buffet were some of the only pieces to come from the Woodbridge house.) 

The rug set the tone for the accessories.  We found a wonderful squat glass vase in a gorgeous orange.  I filled it with oversized tropical fronds.  The perfect giclee canvas presented itself in our shopping frenzy for a crazily discounted price of $15.  We found a small wool rug in a perfect mustard for the Foyer on clearance.

We ordered a beautiful new chandelier from Ferguson sight unseen.  It’s partner, a carriage light, was on display and we all immediately fell in love with it and decided it would be exactly right for the foyer.  We felt a bit of economic desperation at the store and received both at a fantastic price.

I chose silk striped panels at Pottery Barn for the pair of windows.  I advised them to wait for an inevitable sale.  The colors in the stripes are lighter, slightly off versions of the paint I chose. 

Jim has an irrational phobia to wallpaper.  (…Which has absolutely nothing to do with the miles and miles of square feet I forced him to remove in the old house…)  Texture is necessary in this space so I chose Ralph Lauren River Rock in Sandstone Cliff for under the chair rail.  The rest of the Dining Room and shared wall in the Foyer will be Benjamin Moore Adams Gold.

Tomorrow:  the Den and the Kitchen.  And Drama over Plates!!

We are having our first snowfall in over a year, so my later appointment to work on basement window treatments was postponed.  So instead I draw from my inbox. 

I received an email from a reader asking me for help with her decorating dilemma. 

Denise,
Can you help me with the design for the front door in my living room? I have no foyer and the room is long and narrow.
Thank you,
Jill in Mass

I assume from your note that when you enter your home, you walk directly into the Living Room. This is an awkward setup visually and well as functionally. I am going to assume that there is a coat closet nearby.  But I realize that here in the metropolitan Washington DC region there are hundreds of thousands of townhouses with entrances directly into the living space and no coat closets whatsoever.

Tidiness is of the upmost importance here. Use the closet to hang coats and place a basket on a shelf for hats, scarves and gloves. And add a small cabinet to house any miscellaneous items and place a tray or another basket on the top for items often dumped at the door, like keys and mail. Whatever you do, tame the beast that throws coats on the sofa!

Since your Living Room is long and narrow, paint out a foyer. Use good quality painters tape to mask off an area near the door three or four feet on either side. Paint this “Faux Foyer” an accent color. Choose something bold and dramatic. Just be sure your color harmonizes with the current Living Room scheme. This could be the perfect spot to try a graphic wallpaper.

Consider purchasing a console table. Try something like the Pia Table from Crate and Barrel, which looks attractive from all sides. To create a visual break, place it perpendicular to the wall at the edge of the painted out area. Avoid placing a lot of items here, but fresh flowers or a potted plant will add life and energy.

Finally, paint your door and add it to your cleaning routine. Because it is a visible element in your living space, it must be maintained like any other structure there.

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!

A simple set of hooks can be enough to provide a spot for items usually dumped on the nearest piece of furniture. 

 Have a designated hook for each family member.   Filigree Monogram Hooks from Ballard Designs suit a more traditional scheme. 

The Gum Hook, from Design Within Reach, suits a more contemporary decor.  It is made of soft silicone that grips the item and prevents it from falling off. 

The Traditional Amber Glass Hook is acceptable for most tastes.  It is available at Restoration Hardware. 

 About ten years ago when my kids were small, I put four Restoration Hardware hooks on a scrap board I found in a heap of trash at Lowe’s.  The board still had bark on it and was kind of green with what looked like moss or algae.  I used it for years, in three homes.  I had to leave it in our former townhouse because it was lug bolted to the studs–by then we had heavy backpacks–and I had wallpaper put up around it.  I remember my friend, who was also interested in design, had tried to copy it by beating a board with a hammer.   Yikes. Let’s just refer to that as the Early Rustic Years…

The Brady System creates a space for each family member, but requires quite a bit of floorspace.  It is conceivable that a system could be placed in a garage right next to the door. 

The Samantha Corner Bench and Shelf will work if the only room available is a corner.  This is a good solution for townhomes short on entry space.  But get it now; it is on clearance. 

The Entryway Dog Bed Cubby surprised me by its functionality.  This is a great idea, and the baskets create a tidy look.  I wonder if a pet would really use it?

Here is Virginia, school starts in two weeks.  And with the busier days comes messier houses.  An excellent way to contain some of the back-to-school madness is to create a landing strip. 

A landing strip is the space at the most frequently used entrance to the house where items tend to collect.  The easiest way to control the inevitable clutter is to analyze the exact problem.  Children drop backpacks in anticipation of an after-school snack.  Families with pets end up with leashes and water bowls blocking the path out the door.  Sports equipment turns to an obstacle course.  Mail and keys are frequently pitched and forgotten. 

Carefully consider your space and your household habits.  Frequently used items should find a permanent home near the door.  Add a piece of furniture to the entrance of your house if ample room exists.  A console table with deep drawers is recommended so that clutter can be hidden away, but a small simple table can be outfitted with a basket or a box for keys and mail.  Reorganize the nearest closet with baskets or shelves for each family member. In some cases, all that is needed is a hook attached to the wall.

Using your landing strip requires dedication at first.  But before long, placing everything in its dedicated space becomes habit.