Fresh Interiors For 2011

After The Holidays . . . One Step At A Time!

If your holiday decorations have made their way back to storage, you might be experiencing withdrawal from all things sparkly and bright.  It could make you feel a bit turned upside down!

The great reason for continuing to have all of those “pretties” placed about could be to distract you from some of the household “to-do” items you may have missed back in the fall.  (I have seen decorations left up until Easter!)

 

Now that the New Year has arrived, are you feeling a little challenged by the notion of adding one more thing to your list of resolutions?  How about considering this option?  Create a “love” list instead!  Isn’t it time to make 2011 the year of “Loving The Home You’re In?”™

 

I’m here to share with you how simple it can be by taking small steps, which add up in a big way.  You can lead a well-designed life! 

Rather than have you immediately focus on big areas or big projects, in the next couple of weeks, I’m going to share small steps to help you better embrace those projects when you’re ready for them. 

Here’s a good “Love List”, to start:

1.  Start with one room or a small cluster of spaces.  Getting one area completed not only makes for a positive impact, psychologically, it’s allows for a better focus of how the dollars are invested.  Trying to spread a one room budget, throughout an entire home, still leaves for projects unfinished.  Of course, expansion to other areas is totally up to you!

2.  Clear the clutter.  While this might seem obvious, clutter is not only about “junk”, but unless something serves a purpose, is a true treasure, or enhances the room, it’s hard to see the proverbial forest for the “stuff”.  This doesn’t mean you are 100% permanently removing those things, it just allows you to start with a fresh perspective.  For example, I’ll often have clients strip down bookcases, before I arrive, place the items on a table in a dining room, and we’ll “shop” in there, first, before eliminating or deciding to add or update the shelves.  The transformations are always amazing!

3.  Take a room assessment test.  Now that the room has been somewhat cleared, take a look at what’s going on in the background.  Do the floors or floorcoverings need attention . . . cleaned, replaced, or a new area rug?  Are the walls and trim scuffed and in need of touch-up or repainting?  Does the ceiling show stains from leaks?  Without lamps, is the room dark and relying on one lone ceiling fixture?  Do you have any trim molding details which are not in proportion to the size of the room or any molding at all?  As a designer, I take a good look at the bones of a space.  I can often tell if the homeowner is spending more dollars on furniture and accessories, in effort to compensate for some missing architectural definition or function.  Temporary or cover-up solutions are only band-aids and don’t necessarily address what the “design doctor” might really need to order.

No matter the style of your home, when completed, there are certain items that will make it sparkle and shine!

I’ll continue to share some special tips and advice, throughout the month, along with some regular posts.  I’m in the process of practicing what I preach, so the Horton household has been receiving some attention to the little things, as well as some business housekeeping.  A new logo, an updated website, and even a name tweak is in the works!  (Thanks to Aimee O’Boyle, at Creative Montage for her amazing talents!)

Stay-tuned!  2011 is going to be a great year for “Loving The Home You’re In”™ !

All my best! ~ Wanda

Design Projects Are Under Construction!

Thankfully, my desk isn’t quite this bad . . .

. . . but it’s a reminder of how important it is to stay on top of the management of interior design projects.  Interior Design is more than the “pretty” selections we make.  In fact, the behind-the-scenes or the “during” process can be downright unattractive.  Most people are anxious to get from point A to point Z, in the blink of an eye, but aren’t interested in managing the work that takes place in between.

Sometimes it’s difficult to have a concept of how the whole process will come to completion.  I’m glad I have my “virtual design vision” to rely upon.  Of course, I appreciate all aspects of design.  I actually thought my client’s “before”, framed-out-dome was quite beautiful.  The fellow who did this was an artist, in my opinion!

Okay . . . This might be the scary stage for some!  In order to arrive at an aged, metallic copper finish, the dome had to be base-coated in a pumpkin color.  For the folks, in my area, who are Clemson Tiger’s fans, this color could have been cheering them on!  Beauty can be in the eye of the beholder.

Each additional layer brings the room closer to focus.  Remember, if you have any doubts, be careful in pulling the plug midstream.  If my client had done so, in the “pumpkin” phase, we wouldn’t have made it to these glorious results.  Having a professional designer by your side, during all of the project applications, gives you peace-of-mind . . . and a hand to hold.  (And a big Thank You goes to my fabulous decorative artist, Whitney Preslar Bayer ,for her consummate professionalism and talent, on this massive home project.) 

Now, the table is ready for setting and for receiving guests.  (And for the professional photographer!)  We left the chandelier a little higher, if she decides to use a taller arrangement for special events.

I’ve been working on my “Designing A Room At A Time” series.  It’s still a work-in-progress, because, aside from being a Design Blogger, I am first and foremost, an Interior Designer.   Client projects are under construction so they’ve been needing my time and attention.  Just like any project I undertake, I want to make sure my list is complete in order to allow for the best outcome. 

In the dining room, shown above, here is the list for creating this room, from floor to ceiling:

1. Review plans with architect.  (In this case, we swapped the dining room space, for a living room.  The original dining room was to be in an area with a 24’ foot high ceiling and a glass dome.  There would have been difficulty in placing a chandelier in the glass dome, maintenance issues, and we wanted the room to feel a bit cozier for guests.)
2. Space planning, based on meetings with architect, builder, and blueprints.
3. Meet with framer to design dome size, dependent on depth of room space above this ceiling.
4. Meet with woodworker to determine molding profiles, size of crown mold, and flex molding for dome base.
5. Select cast stone base mold.
6. Meet with electrician to review layout of outlets, switches, positioning of chandelier, and wall sconces.
7. Meet with smart home wiring company to determine placement of security sensors and audio speakers.
8. Select flooring – polished and honed marble combination with inlaid stone border around the perimeter.  Meet with installer to review placement.
9. Select door styles, (not clearly shown in photo), wood species, stain color, finish type, hardware style, and function.  (May want to open to loggia or keep fixed.)
10. Get specs for windows to begin the window treatment design process.  Pay attention to where attachment may be needed to decide if board mount is better.  Discuss options with workroom.
11. Pull color palette together for walls, ceiling, dome, windows, and chair seats.
12. Source fabrics, trims, hardware, furniture, and future accessories/artwork.
13. Double-check all measurements, post completion of construction, for accuracy against blueprints and changes.
14. Create quotes, order product, coordinate deliveries, and installations.
15. Be available to oversee all processes.

Today’s interior designer wears many hats.  While some may specialize in certain areas, we all still must be involved in the project management.  The wise client will select someone who can be a team player and act as the liaison for translating the pieces of paper to a real life experience.  Rooms just don’t pop off the magazine pages or the internet screen!

Back to my “construction site”.  I’ve got more lists to make into reality.  What project do you have in progress?  I would love to know more about it!

Perfect Pairings In Design

High Point Market ~ #Details in Design ~ “Shorts” #1

Upon returning from the High Point Spring Market, I’ve had a lot of inquiries about I what I thought might be trending.  There is so much to cover, one post can’t do it all justice, so I’m going to pop in what I’ll call, “High Point Market Shorts”.  I promise to “keep my long stories short”, as I know visuals are always much more fun!

Back to this pairings post . . . I noticed, as I went from showroom to showroom, there were lots of happy couplings – and no, I’m not talking about reps who had been working way too many hours together!  Lamps, vases, pictures, tables, chairs, loveseats and sofas, shelves – just about anything imaginable had been neatly placed, side-by-side.  While designers might think we should be challenged to find a different way to display or plan a space, I think we are simply looking towards make rooms feel less cluttered, more balanced, and well . . . even more intimate.

  (This perfect “couple” greets you in the entryway!  - Councill Showroom)

So, without further adieu, I’ve created a little video for some of my market photos.  I hope you’ll keep checking back, as I’ll be posting more of my observations.  (You can turn off your sound, if you prefer to view in silence.)

Cheerful Pairings to You!  Wanda

Successful Interiors start with Space Planning

The header of my newsletter this month is hot pink (for Valentine’s Day). Because I wanted to coordinate the first photo with the colour of the header I ended up featuring this short post I wrote about Small Space Layout; Sofa and two chairs vs. a loveseat. This got me thinking about space planning which is the first step to any successful interior!

Yesterday I was consulting in a beautiful home with a stunning newly renovated, contemporary kitchen and an addition with 2 bedrooms (one was a guest room).

Ralph Lauren

My client’s living room is potentially large enough to accommodate two seating areas. She already has a wonderful, cozy sectional (and 2 chairs) from Living Space and just assumed (as most people would) that the furniture should be arranged around the fireplace. However, the obvious way to position the sectional around the fireplace did not work for them, so they ended up splitting it up and flanking it on either side of the fireplace, this left one longer than the other and it looked awkward.

Image source

However, the more important focal point of this room are the large floor-to-ceiling windows (at the back of the living room) overlooking trees and a private garden and this arrangement did not take the garden into consideration whatsoever. My client has a great sense of humour and she told me I was not the first person to walk into her house and say,’Can we talk about how the living room is arranged?’

Not her house but this is the feeling of the garden (flickr)

Once we moved it to where it should be (back together as a sectional) and closer to the windows (and the view) it immediately became a more inviting space and the furniture we need to buy is now much more defined. Five hours later, we had also made decisions on millwork in the playroom/media room, chosen a colour for the front door as well as discussed the furniture plan for the entry and guest room. (Sorry I only have an ‘after’ picture of the living room and it’s far from being finished, so that photo will have to come later).

This is the calm feeling she wants in her guest room

So back to space planning, What if you have a flat screen TV that needs to be installed directly into the wall? Gone will be the days when you could re-arrange your living room on a whim. Once you install the TV into the wall, you could go for years without being able to move it!

The biggest piece of advice I could give you is to move your furniture away from the walls. Nate Berkus said it best once on Oprah, “When you have all your furniture lined up against the wall it looks like it’s under arrest”. Let it breathe, and create a conversation area. You should avoid an arrangement that forces you to walk through the room to get to another room or the patio doors (if possible).

Jeffrey Bilhuber

And if you are still not having an ‘aha moment’? Best to hire a professional to organize it for you. Then you can go shopping armed with the confidence that you are buying the right pieces!

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Great Beginnings – Part 3 – Thinking and Creating “Inside” of the Box

During the month of January, I’m continuing my Great Beginnings series with a post I think is so appropriate for this time of year. While we are in the midst of winter, and may be feeling a little lackluster about our immediate surroundings, it’s a great time to take stock of interior projects and to begin the process of planning, before spring’s arrival, and the outdoor living spaces begin to divert our attention.  (And the local craftsmen!)

(While not always the “pretty” part of design, detailed measurements let you know what you can and cannot create, “inside of the box”.  This is how I began the design for a client’s bonus room.  I later added electrical and trim detail notes.)

First, it’s imperative to take a good analysis of a particular room or space to determine how it could be optimized.  There might be areas you can identify as problematic because of traffic flow, space use, inadequate lighting, high maintenance requirements, energy inefficiency, or discomfort.  Do you wish you had the ability to push back the walls and open up the areas in order to be able to “breathe”?  Or, maybe you have the opposite problem of feeling as if you have to shout from one chair to the other, in order for someone to hear you speak.  Perhaps, there’s an “it” factor missing and you can’t identify what the “it” is.  I have a fascination with how our immediate surroundings make such an impact as to our sense of well-being, focus, or boost in energy – or – a lack, thereof.

(If I can see several solutions, I offer them as part of the overall package.  We all love to have a choice!  This was option 1 and showed a sleeper sofa for extra guests, as there is a bathroom off this bonus room.  The pool table, football table, bookcases, and TV were a must keep.)

Interior refreshing and remodeling can be a way to accomplish several goals, at one time.  Many solutions may not necessarily require a major overhaul of your space.  By having a professional interior designer take a good assessment, an inventory of the room, and by really facing the quirks or challenges, you can team up to create a smart plan, literally, from the ground up.  Having a function and priority list on hand, makes it so much easier to bring in the aesthetic desires, too!  As mentioned in a previous post, utilizing multi-functional furniture may confirm you don’t need to bump-out wall space, as you might eliminate a piece from the room’s footprint.  In making wise investment selections, you no longer have the burden of hanging onto a “white elephant” purchase because of the impulse of a “good deal”.  You’ll be able to make confident, quality decisions, and with a professional’s guidance.

(This was the 2nd option and the one my client selected.  The television had to stay where it had been originally placed, and having the full view, from the sleeper sofa, was even more important than playing a game of pool.  You can see, if we didn’t have this directive, extra furniture pieces would have been unnecessarily purchased.)

Retrofitting an area – meaning – keeping the existing footprint but reworking it “inside of the box”, will amaze you with the results!  It’s always beneficial when clients allow me to offer this experience to them.  Sometimes, it’s as simple as removing a door, never used for privacy between rooms, and creating a wider, arched opening.  On other occasions, we’ve reworked cabinets, changed furniture layouts, or added a larger, cleaner piece of furniture, rather than multiple little ones.  I often get positive feedback on how window treatments can make a space seem larger, rather than smaller, if done correctly.  The bottom line is, the more cohesive and complete the overall room plan and implementation can be, the better the outcome for the client. 

Cheerful beginnings to you!  Wanda  

Text ‘Haiti’ to 90999 to donate to the American Red Cross – Click on below, for more details.  Thanks for giving them a new beginning.

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Great Beginnings

I do love the Christmas holidays and all of the trimmings.  I also love that feeling when all of the “extras” have been put away and I can begin the New Year with a sense of calm because I’m not spending double-time trying to put my hands on things or where I feel as if I’m going to stump my toe on a misplaced object.  During my holiday break, I’m tackling my office, first.  It always seems to be the natural place to start as I work on my year-end paperwork.  (Sigh!)

Start the organization process in one drawer.  One small space can make a huge difference in your feeling of accomplishment!

If you have ongoing projects, a linen board, a magnetic board or a corkboard keeps things in site for inspiration but the desktop clear.  This one is from Pottery Barn.

Sometimes a den needs to go to double-duty as a home office.  A simple base cabinet with added doors provides for both.  (And baskets allow for easy access for carrying items to your desk top.)*

I’ve used this file drawer trick for a client in her “Mom’s” office.  We utilized space, under a window, and between two bookcases.*

Even though I’m an interior designer and my business isn’t focused specifically as an organization firm, I do seem to wear many hats and I can tell when someone’s life is out of balance and when they need to create better spaces and functions, within their homes.  One of the first things I do, before addressing any area with an interior design application, is to take an “inventory” of the space and find out why it’s not meeting the client’s needs.  Space planning is part of the organization process, as well as making cohesive design decisions.  Aside from “making a home pretty”, I need to lessen the potential for chaos and clutter to allow for a healthy lifestyle.

During the month of January, I’ll share some ideas for achieving this goal, if' it’s on your New Year’s checklist.  If you could use some “design and organization coaching” to get you heading in the right direction, I would be happy to schedule a consultation visit.  After all, don’t you deserve a great beginning?

New Year’s Cheers to You! ~ Wanda

*These photos were the courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.

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Small Space Layout; Sofa and Two chairs vs. a Loveseat

Space Planning. It seems like such a simple offering on a designer’s list of services; however there are many people that go without furniture for years because they don’t know which pieces to buy and don’t want to make a mistake. Space planning then becomes critical and highly worth the designer’s fee.

Interior Design by Samantha Pynn

So, if you are not sure which to buy? Here’s the tip of the day:

Only one person can comfortably sit in a loveseat so unless the room can accommodate a sofa, love and 2 chairs—buy 2 chairs and a sofa instead. Also easier if you are renting, and move to a new place. You can always move one chair into a bedroom if you run out of space but if you have a loveseat, it has to go!

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Compact Cuisine

“Life imitates art far more than art imitates life”, according to Oscar Wilde, a famous novelist. In the case of the movie, “Julie and Julia”, those lines are somewhat blurred, as Julie Powell, a New Yorker, frustrated with her job, decides to write a blog about Julie Child and embarks on cooking all 524 recipes in Child’s book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Movies, while having some influence over the latest fashions or trends, may also be a reflection of current societal modes and explore our lifestyles, on the big screen. I think this movie may do a little of both. We are reconnecting with friends and family and spending more time doing so, over meals. From comments I have heard, since “Julie and Julia” was released, people are pulling out their favorite cookbooks and recipes, including Julia Child’s, and are expressing their affection for the art of cooking and for those with whom they are sharing the bounty.

I thought it would be interesting, to also layer in another direction we are witnessing in design . . . the direction of scaling down and scaling back in our interiors. A gourmet kitchen does not have to be of the footprint where one might need a pair of skates to navigate across from one counter to the other. I would imagine, in fact, due to NYC real estate being quite precious, Julie Powell’s kitchen was of a more diminutive size. NYC chefs, being some of the best in the world, have often commented about their apartment kitchens and how they best utilize the space they have, without waxing poetic of someday cooking in a gargantuan one. They seem to revel in efficiency.

For those of you who may be thinking you need to knock out a wall to enjoy the experience of the gourmet lifestyle, please enjoy the following photos and notes. Bon Appétit!

Manhattan Chef, Michael Lomonaco, creates his own personal best in this “right-sized” kitchen in his apartment. Nothing overly fancy, just clean lines and a cleared counter to allow for food prep to take place. Everything is stored within an arm’s reach.

Miele offers several dual purpose appliances for functional efficiency. This oven is a microwave and convection oven rolled into one.

Conserving precious counter space is what this LG micro/coffee brewer is all about. You can heat up your morning muffin and keep the coffee mug full with its six-cup capacity pot.

Galley kitchens can be the epitome of efficiency, but that doesn’t mean they need to be lacking in style or charm. Having great lighting, via a combination of natural illumination from the windows, with recessed and under cabinet “z” strips, make for an airy view. Keeping cabinets light, with a contrasting stone sink and counter, as well as great design “bones”, prevents a small kitchen from seeming less than luxurious.

This kitchen fools the eye with its perception of space. There is the smart U-shaped cabinet layout, the continued openness of the windows with glass door fronts and the light mosaic backsplash, which pushes the walls outward, visually. The farm table gives a great island-like work space without closing in the view to the cabinets. Everything you need, in the most modern of appliances, is here to create the best of cuisines.

If you can’t spread out your kitchen space, go deep! So much great storage can be lost behind conventional cabinet doors. Look how much food they were able to place in a pull-out shelving unit!

Make drawer storage count by going deeper, here, too. It’s less strain on the back to reach in for some of your heavier cookware.

This may not be a kitchen built for a huge family, but if you have a vacation cottage or a carriage house/guest house, there is no need to sacrifice function or style with a kitchen tucked under the eaves of a roofline. Refrigeration, microwaving and dishwashers are now manufactured in the form of a drawer . . . easy to tuck into the base cabinets to maximize the spaces above. - And to the right, a restaurant style cooktop/oven combo brings the “Cordon Bleu” right to your home!

With a name like “Viking”, who would have imagined they could create a “mini-me” of their larger cooking ranges? Good things do come in small packages!

No matter the size of your current kitchen, I hope you leave with some ideas for making your culinary experience an even more pleasant one!

In memory of Julia – Cheers to You! - Wanda