What Does Style Mean?

I was reading my magazine while camping last week and read a great article about Style.
Style means, expressing yourself... taking risks... looking for the unexpected... adding color... and mixing it up!
So now how do you do that?
There are so many different ways to express yourself in your own home - something as simple as adding new throw pillows, a piece of custom art or a new rug is a great basis to start. When you are out shopping and you spot a fun funky pillow, don't hesitate! BUY IT! it will add a little of your personality to your couch or chair.

Changing out lighting fixtures in a room is a great way to express yourself, like you do with jewelry and accessories for your wardrobe you have to look at designing your home with a similar eye.

Lighting can be eye candy in a room. Here are some great fun funky lights that don't put too much strain on the pocket.

These little drops will add a little style to a dark corner or a shelf in need of some TLC

Can you picture how outstanding your dining room will look with this chandelier above your table?

It is important that when you are designing your home that you only worry about what you like! You do not need to worry about what other people will think. Working with clients I have heard comments such as I don't know if so and so will like it? Do they live here? NO! You want to express yourself not them.
Do you need to put a label on your style? Only if you want to - make it fun! Traditional with a flare for global chic. World Traveler meets Miami ( hmmm that one could be interesting).
What about showing your style while your kids are growing? They have style too, right?
A great quote from The Novogratz - "don't wait until your children are grown and out of the house to decorate. Live in the moment and enjoy your home with your kids."
The Novogratz are a fun funky family with amazing talent. I was talking with a friend the other day about redesigning her kiddos bedrooms and I want to make it a space that the kids can feel comfortable. We talked about letting them do some of the work and being able to express who they are in the rooms. It is a special place for children and adults, so why not maximize the possibilities. Kids grow fast so designing with a budget and transitional possibilities is also very important. As for the rest of the home - don't be afraid of living with your kids, there are very creative and stylish units for storage and great family pieces that will help bring your family together.

                                                                       

The most important thing to remember when you are designing your home - is to have fun with it, ask for help from a designer if you get stuck and take your time. There is no reason to rush perfection!

Happy Designing!

Creating an Outstanding Picture Gallery in Your Home

Rainy day got you down? Head out to your local store and buy some new artwork for your home and brighten up your day.  Okay so don't run out and purchase all new, open the closet and take out all the ones you have, but got frustrated when trying to hang them.  In all the magazines and on all the shows you see designers hang pictures in groups and make really great galleries and arrangements, they make it look so easy! I can help you do it too so it looks so easy!

1.       Always hang pictures at eye level! What is eye level exactly? The center of the photo for the average person should be level with your eyes. Depending if you are standing or sitting? Best rule of thumb is, if the room is used for sitting a majority of the time than you should base your eye level off of sitting. If the room is typically used for standing then use standing eye level. Example: your bedroom, you are majority of the time sitting (sleeping) but in this room you would want to sit. Rooms such as your bathroom, entry, and kitchen should have artwork placed at a standing eye level.

2.       When hanging pictures over a sofa, do not leave a lot of room between the sofa and the picture.  Keep the distance well balanced at about 3 to 6 inches. If you have too much space the eye will be drawn to the blank spot and your artwork will be lost.

 THIS ONE IS AN IMPORTANT ONE!

3.  Make templates to help you decide where to place pictures. Simply trace the outside of the frame on butcher paper and secure it to the wall with painters tape. (it will not damage your walls) Do all your measurements on the butcher paper, and even secure your anchor and hook with the paper in place. This makes it easier to hang items in groups, and to find the center for eye level. With making the template you can leave it at paper for a couple days before the commitment of making holes in the wall to be sure that is exactly what you want.

4.     Frames and groupings? When choosing the frames for the grouping they do not need to match. The just need to be compatible. The frames should be around  the same color. Some can have a pattern and others can be plain.  If you find a frame you love but it’s the wrong color; just simply paint it. The matting in the frame should also be the same for every frame. If you a designing a gallery type of look going with white matting will help to create a uniform look. If using a big chunky mat for one then using a chunky mat for the rest would be recommended.

5.      Patterns for groupings, this is where tip #3 will help you out. Once you have all of your templates made try mixing small and large pictures together. You can make a grid formation or a free flow formation. You don’t always have to have even numbers in your groupings 3, 5 even 7 is OK as well. Arrange your templates until you have it just the way you want then use your template as a guide to place hooks and such to hang.

6.       Use paint to make your pictures pop. Section off an area with painters tape and paint the inside of the box with a darker shade of your wall color.  At a local art gallery in Manchester they use this idea to show off the artist pieces so why not do it in your own home.

Gallery look with just a little paint

   7.       Pay attention to the colors and subjects in your pictures. Black and White photos can be very dramatic when grouped together.  When using pictures with colors remember that they should have a similar color scheme . You want the pictures to work together not against one another.

8.       Where are you hanging the pictures and what type is important to consider. Know the environment. For example you would not want to hang an oil painting over a heater; the heat coming up from the heater can damage the surface of the painting. Be careful with sunlight as well. Make sure you have a proper glass that will help prevent fading.

9.       If you have a plate collection and want to hang them, where would be the best place to do so? The kitchen or dining room of course. When hanging plates and platters more is best. Your plate display doesn’t need to match, but there should be some unity in the theme. Hang your collection above a focal point, a large side board, fireplace or cozy kitchen dinette.

picture from silive.com

  10.   You have a ton of photos and pictures that you need framed, when you go to your local frame shop, be sure to bring snap shots of your room. They will be able to help you decide what size frame and frames that is appropriate for your space. Here are 2 links that can  help you with framing needs: casualcat.com in Amherst, NH. or your local Michael's Craft store michaels.com.

Now you have a guide to help you get those pictures, painting, and wall hangings up... so get to work! The sun will be out tomorrow so what better thing to do today!

Fabrics Fabrics Fabrics - DIY Projects !

What in the world to do with all of these fantastic fabrics you see. I know I have a hard time not wanting to buy a yard of everyone that I fall in love with. Okay so say you do buy a few yards of all kinds of fabrics? There are so many pillows you can have with out looking like the pillow isle at Home Goods.
I decided to make a list off the top of my head that you could do as a DIY project for fabrics.
 * fabric headboard
 * fabric panels
 * add fabrics to the back of shelving units
 * line the back of cabinets
 * make pillows
 * lamp shades
 * coasters
 * picture frames
The best part about using fabrics is that you don't have to use fabrics that match perfect. Just find fabrics that compliment one another. I will give you a list of sites that I check out to see DIY projects.
I made a fabric headboard out of old cabinet doors, double sided tape, fabric of course and 3M command strips.

My headboard

 I think the total cost of this project came out to 12$.
Here are a few images that I snagged to show you some other projects you can do!

How easy does this look? Simply attach your fabric scraps to the back of the frame with hot glue and there you have instant artwork!

What a great way to show off all kinds of fabrics! This DIYer bought cheap painters canvas from Michael's and covered then with fabric using a staple gun!

The headboard by far is one of the classic DIY fabric projects. There is so much you can do. Using a great fabric then adding toss pillows will give you an out of this world look. Think about how many different fabrics you could use!  I found that centsationalgirl.com has the best DIY tutorial for how to make a fabric headboard.

As I have always said in the past, find your inspiration and then make your design follow it. The possibilities are endless with fabrics, using solids and prints and different textures can give you a successful design that all your friends will be jealous over.

other sites that I visited for photos and directions are:
 apartmenttherapy.com
 craftideasweekly.com
 DIYhappy.com
 areallygoodname.com
 countryliving.com

Have Fun creating! and designing!

Seems to be a trend...

Busy summer has been leading to only one post a week! Sorry Followers. I am actually headed up north today to hike my 4th 4000 ft. mountain. I can not express the beauty and inspiration that comes from hiking these natural wonders.
Some ideas for blogs that I have coming up: How Food and Design Work Well Together, You Bought a New Home; Now What?, Rules to Combining Patterns, and There Are So Many Fabrics - What Can I Do With Them?
Look for these and more coming soon!
Happy Designing and Happy Monday!

Moving Day Stress! A Few Ideas to Help Make it Easier -

I was thinking over the weekend what I would write about this morning. I am moving and what a better thing to write about. Moving can be a very stressful time and confusing time in your life.
Really your taking everything you own and putting into boxes. The hard part for me is... what if I need that one thing that I put into a box that is on the bottom of the box but not only on the bottom of that box on the bottom of 10 boxes.  Yup! that is what goes through my head. I try to only stack the boxes 2 high, then I have walls and walls of boxes. Its a catch 22.
Here are my thoughts on trying to cut down on the stress of moving and to help keep it organized.
1. rent a truck - it will make life so much easier and save gas and time to consolidate into one truck rather than multiple cars.
2. try to keep all your boxes the same size and shape. Easier to stack in the truck and move.
3. just because it will fit, don't put in the box if it is too heavy. Its okay to only have one or two things in a box. I would rather have 5 lighter boxes than 2 super heavy ones.
4. make sure you have people to help you pack. This way while packing they can help you sort through things that you do not need.
5. great time to make donations to local charities with your items you don't use.
6. label your boxes - living room, bedroom, GLASS!
7. if possible to have access to your new location before moving day, take advantage of it and go clean your new place, have it ready for you and your helpers to feel comfortable using the rest room
8. its hard but try to make it fun
9. keep the boxes stacked in your old place up against the wall, try to keep limited heights so you don't feel "boxed" in. If you can stack in one room and just use that room for all your boxes than that would free up the rest of your home.
10. little at a time, typically you know about 30 days prior to moving. Do not try to pack and move in one day, pack a little every day and it will go smoother for you.
11. Home office? this is my big stress - pack only the things you will not need! then on the morning of the move pack all the rest. Label your boxes and understand it is okay to turn off the computer for a day.
12. When you get frustrated with all the things in your home being in boxes and out of place, take a walk and regroup remember all the positives about the move and get fired up for a great change.

Hope this helps give you some ideas on how to help make the move a little easier, as I sit in my office with 80% in boxes ( might be time for a walk). Its only temporary and it will be worth it in the end.

Once you are into your new home, take time to unpack, relax a little bit and enjoy the accomplishment of a successful move. Don't forget to treat your helpers to dinner and beverages!

Happy Moving.