Off Topic Sunday Post- the Familiy Photo

We spent Christmas in St. Thomas this year with Stephen's family. Family pictures- for me are a necessary evil. Sure- you need to do them. Of course. But when kids are young- it is absolutely a miserable process for me. Not to mention that the perfectionist in me is always terribly disappointed. My hair would do nothing but frizz on the island. Sidney's dress is not the right color- at all. (The large family picture had all shades of blues- I wasn't even thinking about our smaller family- nor did I have much of a choice in summer dresses in December.) Notice the lack of shoes and wet pant legs on the boys... Natalie and Lincoln are not looking at the camera- Ethan is scowling- and this was the best one...

Kathy's Fabulous View

Today's post is a continuation of yesterday's.

Hi Christine,

I built this house and just moved in in June. I think some of my choices have been good so now I'm terrified to ruin it with the decor!! Several concerns but the main one is the great room. The view out the sliders is awesome. It's a protected marsh with tons of wildlife activity and changing vegetation so I didn't want to put furniture in front of the sliders...The problem is I also have the fireplace focal point and the tv wall. Maybe the sectional should have been a sofa? (your sectional is good.) I like the style with nailheads, etc. but what do ya think? I think I still have 30 days to decide...


The rug will go. I was thinking of perhaps a huge round braided rug?? Very very open concept, so do another of the same in the dining??

There is another weird wall between the kitchen and dining room. I'm returning the painting you see there because I think it's too pizazzy and orange for my taste but I could be talked into it. Your thoughts?? Maybe a photo wall template there? The ficus is pathetic I know.. may come back but not sure!!

For the windows I was thinking woven wood for the back dining room, and possibly off white shutters on just the bottom half in the breakfast. Notice the stained glass panels in the top half... Then my question is, should the two angled windows in the kitchen be the same as the breakfast nook or woven wood like the dining? For the sliders do you think just curtain panels? A woman from Budget Blinds came today and left a few samples see attached. Oh yeah, does the foyer window need to match the sliders? Roman shade there?

Hope this isn't way too much to take in. I'd love any tidbit of advice on any of these questions that you choose!!

Thanks,
Kathy

Hi Kathy,

I'd like to start with your rug. First of all, I want to say that I love the idea of the braided rug, and I love Capel. They are a great manufacturer. With that said, I don't like the mostly red with your leather color. I didn't include all of the fabric samples that you included- but I will say that I didn't really like them either... (hopefully I am not telling you this after you already had drapes made...) Your view is amazing!!! (the picture above is her view!!!). I would keep my interior colors pretty neutral- and play up the color of your view. I also thought your fabrics that were shiny were all wrong. I would stay with the feel you have going now- which is very nice- more casual. I also thought that a square or rectangle rug would be better than the oval. (most of their colors come both ways.) The rug I selected for you is below- from Capel- in a square.

Should you have all the same rug throughout? Most of the time I say- absolutely not- but with braided rugs- you could if you want to- but still don't have to. The rug I selected for you below is also from Capel. You could do something like this in your entry or dining area. You want consistency in style- as in casual- not formal----- BUT- you want it different in style- as in don't have multiple braided rugs that are all different colors... So- does that make sense? The same style- but different styles. I am sure that is coming off perfectly clear.

For your drapes- I suggest panels- Check out the plaid below from Lee Jofa. I think it is beautiful. See how subtle I am creating the color pallet?

I am not a fan of the leather ottoman right by the leather sectional. I would re-upholster- just the top of it. I know that leather is very practical- but textural variety is more important. :) This black fabric below from Robert Allen is my suggestion for the top of the ottoman. It would not have a stark contrast with the sides- and brings in the browns. The plaid above brings in some black- so we are all tying together here.

I selected a new floor lamp for you- Uttermost- there is more texture needed in your room. Your room is too smooth.

Good call returning the art- it is a cool piece- but I wouldn't select it for your place. Below I have a few wall decor ideas for you- from Uttermost.

Overall you have a great look going- work with it- not against it. Remember that your focal point is your view. Your other items should add interest and texture- but not try to compete with the view.

Thanks,

Christine

The Large Awkward Media Wall

Hi Christine,

You are an absolute riot! You totally crack me up. I am so lucky to have found your blog. I wish we could do this in person! Love your style. I noticed you have become increasingly popular so I am sending this real quick before you become the next Candice Olson and are way too busy for lil' ol' me! I wanted to wait until the house was in perfect order and all clean but the fairies never came to magically make that happen for me. Darn them!!

I was thinking I should raise the tv up and put it on the wall. Then a tall espresso colored bookshelf on the right side of the entertainment center?? Floating shelves above it all? A huge painting or one of the photo wall templates you posted to the right of it?

Thanks so so much in advance! Enjoy the holiday season. Oh yeah!! That reminds me! WHERE THE HECK SHOULD I PUT MY CHRISTMAS TREE TOMORROW?? (I'm sure I'll have it before you reply but I'll move it if you say to!!)

Thanks,
Kathy

Dear Kathy,

Where should you put your Christmas tree?? Hmmmm.. In the attic. Sorry- but I have quite a pile of questions to respond to. I really like your home. Your view is amazing. I cut your questions up to respond in different posts. I wanted to focus on the TV wall today. I have the perfect plan for you.

The wall needs to be and have two things.

1. Functionality. You need the TV to stay pretty close to where it currently is.
2. Scale. We need the wall decor on this wall to have better scale in relationship to the wall itself.
   
   My solution? Start with a very long media cabinet. The one above is 86 inches long- from Global Views. I liked this one not only for the length- (I don't have your measurements- but you might want one even longer) but also for the colors in the teak. They would be perfect in your place. The TV would be hung on the wall- on the left. To the right- go with your idea of floating shelves. Keep in mind that- now that you have a piece of furniture on the wall- the relationship we are concerned about primarily is the wall decor to the furniture. We actually have two relationships here- the furniture to the wall and the wall decor to the furniture. Got it?
   
   

These shelves are from Pottery Barn- not the right color- but I wanted you to get the visual. You can have your wall decor extend a little on either side of the console- but keep it pretty symmetrical- and keep the decor on them simple. You want to maintain the clean simpe lines of the room. I would do three shelves.

Don't worry- I am sure that I can get to your other questions before I take over Candice Olson's job. ;)

Thanks for the compliments though. :)

Christine

Kristi's Fireplace Re-do

(remember Kristi?)

Dear Christine,

Our biggest problem is the fireplace. We have lived here for 7 years and have tried to love the brick, or even just like the brick, we really have. But we hate it. We've considered lots of options to reface it, even consulted a tiler in hopes of covering it with limestone tiles, and we're told it is a big (read: expensive) project given the arch detail, etc. So we are now considering (with trepidation) painting it, as a way to do something inexpensive now that will bring it into the color scheme and make it not so...ugly! What do you think? Is painted brick horrible? If not, what color and finish should we use? Also, any ideas for a mantle are appreciated. I was considering commissioning a dark walnut mantle with overmantle (a bit narrower than the current surround) to go up to the ceiling from my father, who is handy with wood and could do such a thing. We have used a decorator in the past who told us by building out an overmantle it would fix the awful scale of the current fireplace surround.

Thank you so much,
Kristi

Kristi,
Thank you so much for the before and after on your paint- you did a very nice job.

I have a plan for you on your fireplace. If you have a handy father- this won't be terribly expensive. You do not have the height in your room to have an overmantle. What really needs to happen- is to cover the brick- and replace your current- "way too small and has no style mantle."


I found an example of exactly what I am suggesting for you on Decor Report. Go to their site and check it out. Below is a shot of the room- done by Debbie Travis. Once you add the wood surround- your area of brick is much smaller- this makes it much less expensive to cover in stone. If you have a waiting period before that fits into the budget- I would paint it- the color of your kitchen table looks good. Keep it light and neutral- you do not want to draw attention to it. Go with the dark brown chocolate finish on the wood. Now- that will be a great before and after as well- send me pics! :)
You are doing a great job!
Christine

Media Rooms to Drool Over

Anyone having a Super Bowl Party? I thought I'd show you a post on some media rooms made for entertaining. These are all taken from Home Entertainment Magazine. I started with my favorite. I like the mixture of black and white with earthy browns. The room has an enormous screen- but still has charm and style.

It is always so much nicer to not have a split focal point in a room. The TV above the fireplace look is much easier to have optimal furniture arrangement than having the two on separate walls in the same room.

Here's one for Will's great back patio- who needs to go inside to watch a show? You'd need a pretty good security system to go with that...

Here is a theater screen that comes down during the show, and goes away for every day. A nice alternative to a theater room.

Here we have that split focal point... I feel like this room was photographed before it was decorated also. I want these guys to hire me to come finish it. We need some pattern and softness in here.

Right now- I wish I were in this tub. What fabulous windows!!!

Here is the "entertainment center" style. I really like that area rug- and great windows again.

This room showed a creative way to cover the modern screen in a traditional room.

Ta Dah! There it is- covered by a tapestry. I feel like the room in general has some scale and design issues with its furniture though.. I bet that rug was over $30,000.... Very nice built-ins....

Have a favorite room? Having a Super Bowl party? Who is in it this year? :)

- Christine

Beverly's Bedroom

Hi, Christine!

Found you through my friend Nicole. I am sending you some pictures of my master bedroom which I am in the process of redoing. The first set of pictures (to the pic of the bedding) are befores. Those after the pic of the bedding are what I've done so far. The room is about 12x16 (if I remember right). There is not an unbroken wall in the room. We live on a busy street, so the ceiling fan is almost a necessity for noise control. The new paint color is Benjamin Moore Wilmington Tan, which I love. I want the room to have a casually elegant feel. A couple of things I've done but have no picture of: rehung the mirror over the dresser and rehung the window curtains so they are now about 6 inches longer on each side--now the window appears much larger. I can't go higher with them as they're on the floor now. I need a valance or cornice or something. Any suggestions you can give would be much appreciated. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!Beverly

Hi again, Christine

I sent you several pictures of my master bedroom the other day and meant to send this one as well. My first attempt at using graph paper to rearrange furniture. This is how I was considering placing the furniture.

Thanks.

Dear Beverly,

I would like to focus our efforts on three things:

1. Scale


2. Distractions


3. Focal Point
   

First of all, you have multiple scale issues. Your nightstands are WAY too small. I don't even know why people make night stands that small. They should be three times that size to go with a queen size bed. See the chest I posted at the top of the post. ($285 from Overstock.com) Replace them with something that is not only larger, but has some style. Your lamps are also way too small. Find some that are at least 34 inches in height. Those little lamps are accent lamps that belong on a console table.

Secondly, your room is filled with distractions. We want one common color pallet- one common style to the room- you are all over the map. You should have fewer pieces of furniture in there. Get rid of the trunk, the little floor candle holder and move your hamper. (Lower the mirror above the desk and slip cover the chair while you are at it.) Your burgundy carpet is a big distraction as well. If carpet replacement is not in the budget- get a large area rug that tones it down- like the one above from homedecorator.com.

I also find the bright white closets to be quite a distraction. Paint your closets and trim a darker warmer tone. Use your fabrics in selecting the paint.

You also have distractions in all of your small accessories. Remove them all and then deliberately invite a few back into the room. Don't have things on display simply because you have them. You should have them out because they are the right height, size, color, style, etc.

Your bright white chair does not go with your new bedding at all. Move it to the patio- I included a corner chair at the bottom of this post from Uttermost. You need something more sophisticated and more subdued.

And lastly- you need a focal point. This should be the headboard wall. Find some nice art work for above the bed- like the three piece set above from Uttermost. Should you rearrange your bedroom with the headboard on an angle? No. This is almost never a good solution in a bedroom. Then your focal point is what? A corner? I prefer it to be a wall. Add some greenery. I don't see any.

Sorry if I sounded a little harsh- my husband is in the same room balancing the checkbook and he keeps asking me - "what was this?" "what was that?" So- perhaps I took it out on you... :)

XOXO

Christine

Knob Selection

I have a client that is making a knob selection. I am posting them here for ease- and you help her decide- have a favorite collection? These are from Top Knob USA. Have another brand that you have used and liked in the past? What do you think?

Allison

Hi Christine.
Before marrying my husband (who has traditional taste), I would say my style was contemporary to almost modern. Now as I age, my taste is changing to traditional contemporary. I love decorating and with a one year old, I really do not have time to do the things I wish I could these days. This wall started with 2 pics....all black of white. I sort of patterned it after Pottery Barn sort of collection of black and white frames. I am torn...I think now it looks like a big mess and need some order....I know how, but honestly, I love my artwork and photographs and need help picking and choosing.
Also, should I stick one style of frame?
- Alison

Dear Alison,
You have four issues with your wall- relationship, scale, repetition and overlap

1. The wall decor above furniture should have a relationship with the furniture below it. You have a good 15 inches between your lowest frame and the sofa. Lower everything.
2. I told Laura this same thing- You need some large scale items. Why? You are not in a hallway. There needs to be some items that can be seen from more of a distance- because of the size and nature of the room.
3. I don't like the single shelf. Repetition is important. If you are going to keep the shelf- get a second one and stagger them. Maybe a smaller one of the same style. (I know that my picture has one clock. I am allowed to break the rules. You are not. :)
4. Overlap. I have said this many times- but you should have some pictures a little behind that lamp. There should be some overlap.

Don't worry about hanging every single picture that you want to hang. Hang the number and size of pictures that will look the best. Should you have just one frame style? No. Not from what I can see of your home. That is the more "modern" look- but your home is more "traditional modern", as you said, and for that- the mismatch collection is better. Draw it all out on graph paper- OR- lay it all out on the floor with some painter's tape showing where your walls and furniture are. This keeps you from too many mess-ups with the nails. You don't want your wall to look like a "drive by shooting".

The wall decor and clock is from Uttermost.