Stylish Spaces

Since a majority of our clients have young children and pets, I wanted to share with you some techniques for designing homes to be practical, functional and kid-friendly. You don’t have to sacrifice great design – I promise. Keep the following in mind and you will be in great shape:

1. Storage. Buy items that offer concealed organization. You will never get all the toys and games out of your living room, so make sure there is a place to tuck things away. Storage ottomans, trunks for end tables, closed door cabinets in your media center, and coffee tables can offer hidden storage. Benches and window seats are also great places to conceal pet paraphernalia and extra blankets.
2. Safety. Ottomans are a great alternative to tables in a family room. They provide extra seating, storage, and a soft crashing place for little ones. They can also soften the look of a room with hardwood, bead board, or other hard features. If you must have a table, a round one will be easier on the little ones. Use floor lamps instead of delicate table lamps, since they’re less likely to be knocked over by your excited pets. Upholstered headboards are beautiful and won’t break any bones – even when jumping on the bed!
3. Flooring. Believe it or not, oriental & hand-made rugs are more durable and easier to clean than their inexpensive machine-made counterparts. And don’t skimp on a rug pad, which makes rugs non-slip and preserves the rug. Don’t have the budget? Try natural fibers like sea grass or sisal. These, as well as outdoor rugs, are available in many colors and styles and are inexpensive. Pet accidents and juice spills clean up easily. Hardwood is easier to clean than carpet and will help you avoid allergies. If you must have carpet, buy Stainmaster®, or consider a carpet tile like FLOR® so you can replace stained tiles instead of your whole carpet.
4. The Right Upholstery. Chenille is a durable, easy cleanup fabric, but even better looking is leather. Unless your kids run around with knives and scissors (I hope not!) it’s pretty hard to ruin leather surfaces, especially in darker colors. Worried about your dog’s paws? Try a very light color or a distressed leather finish, which looks better scratched. Love white? Try slip-covered furniture. White cotton slipcovers can go in the washing machine with a splash of bleach and look brand new – a gorgeous casual look for sofas and dining chairs.
5. Color Choices. On fabrics & rugs, light colors show dirt and wear, dark colors show hair and lint. Medium tones are best for rugs and furniture items. Use lighter or deeper colors for walls, window treatments or accessories. If you have kids, try Benjamin Moore® Pearl finish. It is so cleanable but doesn’t shine excessively.
6. Invest in Quality. Invest in quality furniture, rugs, and fabrics. The better the quality, the more likely it will endure and save you money in the long run. Buying discount furniture only means you’ll have to replace it sooner or suffer a tired look for longer. Ask for upholstery that is made of kiln-dried hardwoods and is 8-way hand tied.
7. Add Some Elegance. A romantic window valance will not likely be touched by your kids or animals. Open shelves and displays high on the wall are out of reach places to display your fragile collectibles, frames, vases and accessories. Invest in custom pillows – they are made so that the covers are removable and washable – but be sure to buy a washable fabric like cotton, poly or linen.

Your kids will be young and your pets around for a long time – so don’t wait until you’re ready to retire to design your space the way you want it. When you need help navigating the options for surfaces, materials, and storage, give us a call. We’ll make sure your whole family is thrilled with the results. Take advantage of our experience to make sure your buying decisions are great ones, the first time around.

Happy Decorating!

Mona

What exactly is eclectic design? Simply put, eclectic design incorporates elements from different styles, periods, and places to create a layered look. The foundations of today’s traditional interiors are easily found in eclecticism. When Europeans began traveling to Africa and Asia and bringing back treasures and souvenirs, they incorporated these items into their designs and made them into conversation pieces. While often ethnic-inspired, eclectic design can just be a juxtaposition of items from different styles and periods, such as contemporary fabrics with traditional furniture.

To have your eclectic space look thoughtful and well presented, here are some key things to consider:

1. Opposites attract. Put things that are very different next to each other to highlight just how different they are. For instance, a sleek mirrored cabinet looks great next to a rustic, distressed leather sofa. Placing décor items adjacent to their opposites better emphasizes their best characteristics.
2. Use a unifying element, like color. Everything in the space is bound to be unique in terms of line, shape, and texture – so select complementary or coordinating colored items. Don’t be afraid to paint an item to make it relate to your design scheme.
3. Use global accents. The key to a great eclectic room is to make the space feel worldly – as if your space was a collection of things you acquired while travelling. Think about combining an Asian shoji screen with a Southwestern rug, European oil paintings, and Moroccan lanterns. Gorgeous!
4. Use rhythm or repetition. Repeat shapes, colors, or items in the space to establish some similarity. Think 5 framed photos on the wall, 3 vases in a bookshelf, or the same fabric for accent pillows and draperies. When displaying multiples, remember that odd numbers are most appealing to the eye.
5. Use symmetry in the design. Think matching end tables balanced around your sofa, two candlesticks on either side of the mantle, and arranging furniture symmetrically around fireplaces, windows, and columns.

Today, eclectic interiors look beautiful in any home – an Oceanside cottage, a Colonial home in the country, or in a Downtown city condo. And eclectic spaces blend seamlessly into other rooms in your home that may feature another design style.

Eclectic design is not for everyone, but when you need help sourcing the perfect combination of furniture, fabrics, and accessories to create your eclectic or non-eclectic space – give us a call. We pride ourselves in working within your budget to create just the perfect style and function for your home.

Happy Decorating!

Mona

One of my favorite activities is hosting dinner parties. For those of you thinking ahead about getting rooms ready for summer and holiday entertaining, here are some points to consider:

Seating

If space is tight, you might be better off using another space for some of your dinner guests. Even if you can cram everyone into the room, it doesn’t mean you should. Your guests will still be uncomfortable if they can’t easily get up and use the bathroom, or tend to a crying baby.

If you’re going to split up guests, rent or buy a round folding table and dress it up with beautiful linens, flowers and china, so no one feels they’re at the “kiddie” table. There are very nice upholstered seat folding chairs on the market now, which I highly recommend.

If you do have the space in your dining room for all your guests, make sure your chairs stay on the rug when pulled out, and there is plenty of room to walk around the table when everyone’s seated. Buy tables with leaves, and look for rectangular tables with a pedestal base. Benches along a side of the table are also gaining popularity. If you want guests to linger, select fully upholstered chairs. Try an indoor/outdoor fabric for easy cleaning.

Chairs at the table don’t all have to match. These days, we are doing matching end chairs and different side chairs for a more interesting look. You can do upholstered head chairs and wooden side chairs, or all in the same frame, but upholstered in different fabrics. Another fun idea is to do some chairs in leather – it is so easy to clean! Slip covers are also a great option in casual and country dining spaces, and are so easy to wash. Want to refresh your dining room, but your dining set is in great condition? Just reupholster the chair pads, or only add new head chairs, change out the window treatments and the rug. A quick and much less expensive makeover.

Serving & Displaying

If you don’t have room for that large china cabinet, buy a long server. Servers are equally beautiful and practical, providing ample storage for your linens, flatware, and extra dishes. And, they double as a buffet for dishes that don’t fit on the table and a place to keep drinks handy during dinner.

Buffets that come with marble tops are inherently heat resistant, so you don’t need hot plates. If your buffet doesn’t have one, you can get your granite or stone dealer to make you a custom one – or a less expensive option is to ask your local glass store to cut a custom top. This protects the wood from heat and splatters. You can do the same for your dining table, too.

Many dining rooms are better off without a traditional china cabinet. Try displaying your items on the wall in open shelving, or hanging your decorative plates directly on the wall. Many dining rooms don’t take advantage of corners, so you may prefer a corner etagere, curio cabinet, or hutch for display.

Table Decorating

Table decorating can be pricey. China can run you over $100 a setting, and let’s not forget linens, mats, napkin rings, flat ware, serve ware, candle holders, etc. I periodically raid yard sales, antique stores and discount stores for those fun items you can use to spruce up for get-togethers in your home. Buy these items off season and you will save big. At the end of every season, I visit stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and Pier 1 armed with coupons to see what’s on clearance.

Matching all your place settings will cost you a fortune for just a few days a year. I like to use earthenware on top of fine china for salad plates, or alternate fine china and everyday place settings. Pick up on a color in your china and mix other less expensive items in. Colored glass plates and drink ware are also inexpensive and coordinate with everything.

Hopefully these suggestions will help you entertain beautifully and make educated decorating choices. The options are endless, so use your creativity – not your credit card – to get you through entertaining.

And when you need help updating your entertaining spaces, just give us a call. We will make your dining room the envy of your family and friends. We guarantee we will save you money with the best rates on authentic oriental area rugs, and the most competitive prices on custom window treatments. We can also help you prepare for large dinner parties or functions in your home. Just call us today for your free consultation.

Happy Decorating!

Mona

As designers and professional organizers, we understand your organization struggles. Whether it be kids’ toys, an unruly master closet, or an office decorated with paperwork, where there’s a will, there’s a way. And while there are so many products on the market today to help you keep your rooms organized, at the end of the day, the most important aspect is setting yourself up for success. The key to staying organized is understanding your working or living patterns, and then designing your storage around those patterns.

Here is our high level process for organizing your space – we hope you find it useful.

1. Catalog – do you know how many dolls your daughter has? If it’s not a specialty collection, you shouldn’t have more than 4-5 of any given item. This is especially true of toys. Write down everything you have and then ask yourself what value this brings to your or your child’s life. If you don’t read books twice, give some to the library, the school or a friend or co-worker who might enjoy the read.
2. Reduce and purge regularly – understand that space is finite. Try to detach emotionally from each item and ask yourself: have I used or looked for this item in the last 6 months? In an office, only if you need it for tax or legal recordkeeping purposes should you keep it beyond 6 months. Unless you are going to stop buying your kids toys or buying yourself clothes, you need to donate something each season. Don’t hold onto things you might fit back into. Tell yourself that if you lose the weight, you’ll treat yourself to a new outfit instead. Store only seasonal and maternity wear if you might have more kids. Encourage your kids to help others in need by giving away some of their toys. This is a great moral lesson for them, and a tax deduction when you donate excess wardrobe items, too.
3. Store belongings in your work/life pattern – now based upon what you have remaining, ask yourself how often you need access to it. If you need it daily, don’t hide it away in a drawer or cabinet, because it will never stay there. If you only need it once a month or so – store in a box, on a high shelf, or in a drawer. Put things close to where you will use them – for instance, paper near the printer, and bedtime story books near the bed.
4. Create areas and categories – if your room has multiple functions, arrange your belongings by function, i.e. your computer workstation, the craft area, and the media center. If it’s a single function room, categorize each item. For kids’ toys, you can sort by size, whether or not the toy is electronic, or the age appropriateness of the toy. Make sure your criteria are easy enough for kids to follow when they put things away.
5. Label clearly – don’t be afraid to put big signs on belongings reminding you what your categories are! This will help you adjust to a new system and avoid old stashing habits, like shoving papers in a drawer. For instance, a huge sticker on the wall above your client files will remind you not to put personal files there. Another example is to place labels on each hanger in your closet detailing each pair of slacks or blouse by description, so when you put them away, you have a very specific place for each piece of clothing.
6. Use the right tools – don’t put things where you have to dig to get at them, because what happens is everything ends up out of place when you look for something. It’s not about hiding things away where guests can’t see them – that will not be maintainable – it’s about storing intelligently. Put everything in a bin or compartment that’s easily sort able.
7. Maintain regularly – while maintaining your space may not be something you have time to do often, put a time and date on your calendar for regular cleanup. Maybe you can do it once a week, maybe once a day, maybe once a month. Have family members and co-workers help out. The important thing is that it be routine, something everyone who uses the space can do, and done as religiously as possible!
8. Have a backup system – if you can’t get to filing this week, make sure you have a “To be filed” pile or bin. Have a chest or box in your kids’ rooms for “put away later”. Have a separate hamper in your closet for clean laundry you’ll hang up. Have a magazine rack just for publications you need to go through to sort and store. When you do your regular cleaning, go through this pile first. And since you won’t have the whole space to do, or several different piles, it will be quicker and easier than you’d ever imagine.

None of it sounds like rocket science, does it? But there isn’t any magical tool or solution to your space’s clutter challenges. These are tried and true methods that work for us every time.

When your project is so daunting that you just can’t seem to get started, or when you’re just too busy to do it yourself, give us a call. We’ll be glad to come and help you overcome your organization challenges. Our rates for organization are affordable, and we can often complete a large space in a single day with some guidance from you.

Happy Organizing!

Mona

As designers, we are often asked by clients and potential clients how and where to use accent walls. The most popular question is where the home owner can use a contrasting paint color on their walls. An accent wall is better known as a “feature” wall or an area that is meant to create or highlight a focal point in a room.

Some examples of great walls for accenting are the wall behind a headboard in a master bedroom, the fireplace wall in a great room or family room, a backdrop for a dramatic art piece, or entry wall of a foyer (i.e. the first wall you see when you enter a home). Another good location is to set up the most substantial piece of furniture in the room. For instance, put an accent treatment on the wall behind your desk or entertainment center.

Accent walls are best used in larger spaces. If you have a 5×8 bathroom, this is probably a place to keep your wall treatment uniform, or add interest the wall with a chair rail or wainscoting. If your room is pretty much square, it can be hard to do an accent wall, unless there is some defining feature of a wall, i.e. it features a great view, supports a unique piece of furniture or art, or the wall is used for a special function. If there are a lot of architectural features in a room, such as elaborate crown moldings, jut-outs and niches, it’s probably not a good idea to use an accent wall. The overall look can be too fussy and can cause you to lose visual focus in the room. When using other wall adornments like wainscoting, dramatic moldings, bead board, and even large pieces of accent furniture, feature walls can be distracting. The goal of an accent wall is to create drama and to complement the remaining design elements in the room.

Accent walls are great ways to bring in brighter, more adventurous colors and textures to your space. Have you always loved a busy wallpaper pattern, but afraid it will be overkill? Have you ever wanted to experiment with glazing or faux finishing? It’s often best to use bold colors, patterns, and textures in small quantities — an accent wall is a great vehicle.

Make sure to tie your accent wall in with other elements in the room. If you use bright red on your accent wall, make sure that color is repeated elsewhere in a small quantity at least. How about red silk throw pillows? A red border in your area rug? Red trim on the window treatments? A red vase on the bookshelf? If you use silver wallpaper on your accent wall, use a coffee table with chrome legs, or shiny chrome and crystal lamps or window hardware to tie the design elements together. These are all ways to make the room feel unified and enhance the appearance of your accent wall.

We use accent walls to create drama and visual interest in a space and to make it feel more unified and cohesive. Don’t feel the need to put an accent wall in every room. This starts looking a little ridiculous and formulaic. You don’t want your home to be a one-trick pony!

There are many different ways to add interest to a wall. You can use wood work, paneling, moldings, wainscoting, murals, decals, and other effects such as painted on stripes, and faux finishes to add interest to your walls without necessarily having a feature wall. Sometimes we love to treat walls between windows with an extension of the window treatment to add drama. Other times, we treat walls plainly and let the furnishings, fabrics and accessories speak louder. Another way to change the feel of your room is to paint your ceiling or trim a different shade (yes, you can paint them something other than white). Personally, I love a light pale blue on the ceiling of bedrooms — it looks like a sky and is so soothing.

And of course, if you find yourself confused, seek professional advice! Stylish Spaces is here for you. You would be surprised how many consultations we do that just involve us helping our clients choose the right wall treatments! We can also draw up a 3-D rendition of your room with different colors on each wall so you can see how it will look.

We hope you’ll use these ideas to explore new design elements with us — or on your own.

Happy Decorating!

Mona