NEW SITE!

I have a new site- go here. ;)

Kim's Display Area

Christine,

Here is the fireplace. The fireplace was designed for a TV on the left, but it is problematic, since it is not centered with the furniture. Once our game room's done we may move the TV there though. Neither of us want the TV to be to the focal point of the living room.

- Kim

FYI- Kim is an old college roommate of mine. She and her husband live about 6 states away - but via my blog- I am going to give her some advice on her new home.... The picture at the top of the post is being framed- and will go above her fireplace.

So- with what you said, of course, we will leave the TV where it is for now. Your picture is beautiful- and will make a great focal point. I have a couple of suggestions.

1. Add hardware to the cabinets. Use a dark brown metal- similar shade as your leather.
2. Your picture is going to help give the area some depth- but we need more. I would paint the back of the bookcases an accent color. This will give you some much needed contrast. I see way too much of the same color.. walls, floor, cabinets... I know it is not the exact same- but too similar. Ideally- I would also line the backs with beadboard. This brings in not only a different color- but more textural variety as well. Your color pallet is still pretty much open- so you have some options here. Given what I see- go with dark brown.
3. Add picture lights to the top of the two bookcase banks.

Arrange your display areas. In a setting like you have here- these are display areas- not bookcases. That is not to say you cannot use books in them. But, in my opinion, a bookcase like you see below- is fabulous. It is in the quantity and diversity of books that you make the magic. It is like having a stand with 20 cupcakes, or a table filled with 500 cupcakes. Is that a weird analogy? Try to picture it though- the large quantity makes it amazing. You don't have enough bookcase storage here to get the magic with books. (I know Kimberly- and I know she loves books and is an avid reader... so I am treading lightly... :)

You can get some great woven baskets- and store books in them- but for this area- what I would do- is just use hardbacks- just the pretty books. Now- with that said- do you see the books on the upper left that are from a series? I would just use those books- OR I would remove those books and find another place for them. Do you see how they don't go with the others?

Check out the lights in this photo- that kind of light- or similar would work great. I like how the common theme of RED was used in these built-ins. Using a color theme helps things to come together.

I like the look above. A mixture of sculpture, vases, pictures. See how the back color is an accent color? Do you see how it is a darker color, and a lot of the accents are light? I also like how it is not over-cluttered. You mentioned that you wanted your room to have reds, golds and blues. Perhaps you could sort out all of your books that are reds, golds and blues.... or just the reds... If you don't think you are so great at this type of detail decorating- find an example you like- and simply copy it. Look at the examples in this post, read the advice in this post, look at the way the dark bookcase is displayed in this post. That gives me another thought- you could put a dark stained wood finish beadboard on the backs of the display areas.... (I like that idea!) And for sure look at this post.

So there you go- add some hardware- add some lighting, add some style. Get a great wall to turn into a vast bookcase somewhere else in your home- if you don't have one already.

Photos from Elle Decor.

Carla's Window Treatments

Christine,

Curtains -- I need these, but I don't know what to choose for fabric, color, height etc. How to deal with the arches over the windows? Do I just ignore the arch, and go straight across at the highest part of the window? I have a feeling this is what is desperately needed to pull the rooms together, but I'm afraid of screwing it up. Help!

- Carla

Hi Carla,

I remember at my old firm in LA, where I worked- I had an entire book of different ways to treat arched and Palladian windows. The problem was, I didn't like any of the options. I keep it straight. Almost always. Let me give you some ideas.

Look at the lovely textured roller shades in the kitchen above. They are a more subtle treatment than a Roman shade. (these might even be faux.) These can be used on all or some of the windows- Check out these from the Shade Store.
I like to treat arched windows like this- go above the arch- straight across. In most rooms, the longer the better. Long drapes give a feeling of softness and opulence. Take it to the ceiling, like was done here- not just to the top of the arch. In your areas where the ceiling is really vaulted- just keep the drapes the same height as the areas where there was a ceiling- like in the dining area.
Selecting between pinch pleat, rod pocket, different kinds of drapes- really depends on your budget. The first question you would ask yourself- is- do I want to have these custom made, or am I hoping to find some pre-made drapes? If you are going for pre-made- I would select them by the fabric- this will limit your options. If you are OK spending a minimum of $200/ panel- you can have them custom made- and your options open up quite a bit. If this is the case- let me know and I can go over those options with you.
Another option is to have drapes that are not functioning- just decorative- like the panel above. Adding a few of these throughout the area can keep you from having quite so many panels- if you don't intend to have them be operating. This is one way that it would be just fine to follow the arch- if you chose to.

So- the question of the day- is pre-made or custom ? Answer that for me- and I can give you more dirrection.

Today's post is a continuation of this one- for Carla's home.

Photos from Veranda

A Fresh New Look

OK- so I want everyone to have an open mind.

Are they open?

OK.

My friend Staci, from college once told me, "whenever I am bored of my car- and think I need a new one, I get a new car stereo- then I love my car again."

Are any of you out there bored of your sofa... want a new one... but your sofa is in good shape- or a new sofa is simply not in the budget? OK- so- this is my solution. Perhaps what you need are some new pillows. Now- here is where I want you to clear your mind. For those of you that have a mental max of $39/ pillow- get rid of that idea. A $39 pillow is not going to make you love your sofa, if you don't already. Maybe what you need is a really great pillow- or two. I found these pillows in today's post at Jayson Home and Garden. They area a little over $$39- but less than a new sofa. ;) ($450, $195, $275)

The sofa at the top is from Room Service- pillows on it - $70/ each.

A Weekend Away From a More Beautiful...

The Weekend Challenge.

Friday is here. Let's do something to make our homes more beautiful this weekend. Not this week, or month- what is a project that you can start and finish in one Saturday....

Update a bathroom. Do you have greenery in your bathrooms?

Get new bedding for a neglected bedroom. Many times it is not new bedding that is needed- but rather the bedding is simply incomplete. Beautiful bedding is found in the layering- not just the top layer. Need a refresher on bed making?

Do you have uplights in your house? Wherever you have a floor plant- add an uplight-put in on a timer. Create some ambiance.

Is your nightstand a mess?

Take a before and after photo- it doesn't have to be a big deal- we are busy people- do what you have time for.

Personally- I have a picture light that I have been meaning to install above a tapestry that I inadvertently hung upside down. (it is abstract enough that no one can tell.) However- it was at least a year ago- I think it's time for me to fix it. What about you? What is your project?

P.S. This is why the rug has to move....

This post is answer to some questions asked from my last post- where I told Rose to change the direction of her area rug- without an explanation.

Let me start by explaining about the direction you should install your hardwood floors. As you walk into the house- you should be walking WITH the wood planks- not against them. Even if your entry is wider than it is long- you still would install your flooring with your entry. (That does not mean that you might not change the wood direction at different points in your home- but this is the entry that I am addressing.) Why? Subconsciously it is more comfortable and welcoming to walk in with the grain. Yes- we do this for the subconscious benefit of peace and comfort. It FEELS better.

The same principle works with an area rug in the entry. It feels better subconsciously to walk in with the length of the rug. This is not to say that I would never break this rule - especially if an entry were extremely shallow and very wide- etc. However- if I were to be working with such an entry- I would go with a pattern that did not accentuate the shape of the rug- such as an all over random pattern- or a sisal- that kind of thing.

In Rose's entry- I can tell that she has the space to move the rug the long way. For those of you out there that want a practical reason rather than my psychological reasons- you also get more steps to walk off dirt- and it would give you cleaner shoes in your home. :)

Will it ever get to the point where people will just believe what I say- and need no explanation other than "I said so?"

Photo from the Rug Goddess

Rose- I just noticed that your wood floor is installed the wrong way- don't worry about it- what's done is done- I am sure your subconscious will still be super happy in your new home!

Rose's Sitting Room

Hi Christine!
I love your decorating blog and have been a frequent visitor and asked you some questions in the past. :) WELL ... we have moved and now I need some decorating help with our front sitting area!
Here is a video of the room. I tried to go slowly so the camera would not be too blurry:http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b147/rkinkead/Sitting%20Room/?action=view&current=MOV07031.mp4 The sitting room is a small room, not sure what to do in there for furniture and decor. I would love your help!! Let me know if you have any questions that I can answer. SOOO excited to get your input.
Thanks in advance!!
Rose

Hi Rose,

Thanks for writing in.

First of all- before we start- go move the rug in your entry to the other orientation. It should go the long way- coming off the door.
Thanks.

Now- let me tell you what NOT to do. Do not get a sofa and put it on your long empty wall. Why? You need to ask yourself- what is the focal point of the room? Well- it doesn’t have one yet- but- when you have one sofa in a room- what that sofa is facing is generally the focal point. That one sofa would be facing the exit of the room. It in no way is creating a cozy sitting room atmosphere. All of the energy of the room is directed right out the door. We are trying to create a living space- not a leaving space.

Four chairs- with a circular table in the center

A small sofa with two chairs

Two love seats- or small sofas- brought out into the room- not against walls.

Your focal point is going to be one of three places.

It is perhaps going to be a case piece- cabinet or table- that you put on the long solid wall.
It could be the window- provided you like your view.
It can be the center of the room, using one of the arrangements that bring you to the center- Get a fabulous lantern or other cool light- (like the one in the photo below) and really bring the eye to the middle of the room. You could not ask for a better conversation area than a center based arrangement.
Your room is almost square in size- keeping your furniture floating and centered in the room keeps a square room balanced.

What else would I do? On the long wall- get a piece of furniture- like I mentioned before. This is where your fireplace would be- if you had one in the room. Add a couple of lamps to the piece. Don’t forget lighting- you should have at least five sources in the room- like I talked about in this post. Over the furniture piece- put a large mirror. To give your wall décor good scale- get a set of four pictures- put two on the right- stacked- and two on the left.

Add drapery panels to your window- and then add two sconces to finish off that wall.

On your wall that shares the pocket door- add a few wall shelves.

On the wall that shares your entry door to the room, add a collection of baskets, plates, photos- etc.

What do you think readers? What arrangement should Rose select for her room?

Photos from Country Living- except the four toile chairs is from House Beautiful.

What to do with extra wallpaper...

Hi Christine,

I recently had wallpaper installed in the powder room! You said to start small so I did, and I love it!! But: I did end up with an entire double roll leftover which I can not return anymore...Any ideas on what to do with it? I don't want to paper another room in the same paper so it can be unique to the powder room but I hate to see anything going to waste, especially since I love the pattern...

Sonia

Hi Sonia,

First of all- may I say that we want to see the bathroom! Before and after pictures please :)!

So- what to do with the leftover? When I was young, my grandmother used old wallpaper for gift wrapping. I remember unwrapping the thick heavy paper. I am sure I never appreciated how cool it was at the time.

I did a little hunting- combined with a little thinking- and here are some ideas for you: First of all- I found this great post from the decorologist- (photo above)- that had some charming ideas.

I found this seller on Etsy that covered light switch plates in vintage wallpaper. The same seller covers drum shades- (you could even do smaller chandelier shades)- and also tissue holders.

These vintage wallpapers made great frames- from Kate Jones Unique Finds.

Southern Living September 2009 had this article on framed wallpaper. This is also a good way to use wallpaper in an old discontinued book- or you can order large samples from a lot of books for $5 each- and select a variety of patterns for a similar collage.

I found this Cheerio box garbage can idea on this cute craft blog.

Some other thoughts:

1. cover boxes of any kind.


2. line the bottom of trays


3. re-cover old books


4. cover soup cans to make pencil holders


5. cover bookshelves- or any wall shelf


6. line your drawers


7. Mod Podge a piece of furniture- or part of a piece


8. make greeting cards


9. use the paper in scrapbooking
   
   

So- anyone else have some ideas we can add to the list? I have said before- that I am not the handy crafty type- rather the hire the right person for the job type- but I am a little inspired to Mod Podge a piece of furniture! I wonder if the inspiration will last long enough to actually do it...?

You might also find that there is a re-sale market for extra wallpaper- if you aren't the craft- making type- but have the paper- sell it to someone who is.

Wallpaper Wednesday- Subtlety

I love the subtlety of this paper- The pattern that the wallpaper gives to the wall finishes the room in a way that no paint color could. The subtlety of the effect is truly understated beauty.

Photo: the little book of secrets

I thought this combination of wallpaper and plate collage was a charming combination. The neutral plaid paper adds a pattern, enhancing the provincial feel- without overpowering the room and wall decor.

photo: it's mary ruffle