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http://cincychic.com/content/view/2771/10044/
Select the link above to read this recent Cincy Chic article by PC Design
| discount: 75% | regular price:$200 |
| discount: 75% | regular price:$200 |
Many styles are reworked every few decades. Does the 80’s sound familiar? Think; ruffled “Pirate” shirts (or Seinfeld’s “Puffy Shirt” episode). What was popular 30 years ago…. is back again, in a more updated form.
The same goes with Designing around the Home.
Today’s popular home decorating style is Baroque. According to Wikipedia…. Italian Baroque interior design refers to high-style furnishing and interior decorating carried out in Italy, during the Baroque period, which lasted from the early 17th to the mid 18th century. Rococo (less commonly roccoco; pronounced /rəˈkoʊkoʊ/, /roʊkəˈkoʊ/) also referred to as “Late Baroque” is an 18th century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly more ornate, florid, and playful. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings.
Modern, Baroque furnishings, design elements and accessories are available everywhere and you might even find that you have something in your home and didn’t know it.
Target, has a whole line DwellStudio at Target geared towards this style; affordable for everyone.
Feminine Baroque
Create a soft feminine bedroom with this combination of Modern and antique Baroque style.
Traditional style Baroque Design
Traditional style Living Room with gilding and heavily ornate furnishings (characteristic of the Italian Baroque style)
Modern Style Baroque Design
Hard graphic prints designed with classic Baroque style and clean edges.
Baroque With a Southwest Flair
Mixing in traditional southwest colors with the classic yet simple Baroque style shown below.
For more information on this and any other style or design….
Contact PC Design llc or email pcdesign@mac.com.
Built-in, Custom and Free-standing bookcases are multi-functional pieces of furniture; and aren’t just for books anymore!
Bookcases anymore should be considered a visual piece of art unto themselves. They create atmosphere, personality, contrast, and visual pleasure; amongst other things.
From wall mounted bookshelves
To Free-standing bookshelves
To Custom-built-in’s
Bookshelves give the ability to represent past, present and even….future.
They offer harmony to a room’s decor, character in an old home, and function in modern design. Bookshelves can also act as a piece of ART…
Whether you color coordinate your books…
add a Modern Flair….
Incorporate…
Or use a traditional item…. in a non-traditional way.
Styles range from Modern…
To transitional…
To traditional…
You can use a bookshelf as a station for your home office.
As a piece of furniture to sit back and read.
In your Living Room as an entertainment storage bookcase with a 2-in-1 fabric cover/projection screen.
and…Bookshelves can be used to for traditional purposes such as displaying; art, photograph’s, collectibles, lighting and foliage.
For more information on how to incorporate bookcases into YOUR design…. Contact pcdesign@mac.com.
If someone asked you to name the kind of decor you like, could you do it? Or would you stumble and mumble, mention a few stores, and look off into the distance in search of the right adjectives? You’re not alone.
But the thing is, articulating your style is the key to creating a room that really reflects it. If this sounds esoteric, have no fear: We’ve have some simple steps to help you identify the look you crave, a few visual tutorials to make you a mini expert on design, and dozens of sources to let you shop your style and bring it home. So whether you’re overhauling a mishmash of furniture bit by bit or doing a rapid-fire redecoration, you’ll learn how to make great choices and get cohesive results that you’ll love.
Decorating is an extension of your personal style, but so much better, because it comes without the concerns of sizing and fit. That should make it fun, but for a lot of us it’s incredibly stressful — a too-blank canvas that involves big commitments and potentially pricey mistakes. Aside from the money part, choosing a sofa is not all that different from picking a pair of shoes: It’s all about who you are and what you like on a gut level.
Finding your decorating groove depends on getting in touch with that; We’ve created a plan geared toward home decorating. Here’s what to do.
1. Tour your home, and really look at your furniture.
With a pad in hand, walk from room to room examining your belongings and make two truthful lists: “Love It” and “Wish I Could Replace It. Catalog everything you can, including art — and be real, even if it’s difficult. It’s all based on how things make you feel. Maybe you come across a piece of art that bugs you, but you’ve kept it around because it was your grandmother’s. Pay attention to that — and categorize accordingly. You can also photograph the room, print out a copy of the photo and cross out what you don’t like and circle what you do. You can think of that photo, as a bouncing off point and use it as reference when shopping or getting advice.
2. Pull together small items you love, including clothes.
Check the top of your dresser, your mantel, your bookshelves, your china cabinet. Sift through collections and mementos. Make a pile of favorites on your bed. Then pull special clothes from your closet. Focus on the items that make you feel beautiful and joyful, the ones that inspire you to stand tall. Take the same eye to your jewelry and accessories. Open your closet doors and see what colors pop out the most. You can see which color dominates and use that as a reference point for the “colors” that you are drawn to.
3. Tap your memory and your imagination.
Get comfortable, then close your eyes and think about places you love to be and why you love them — from a local cafe to a faraway beach. Recall paintings, movies, and books that have stuck with you for some reason. Then go into fantasy mode. Imagine that real-world constraints don’t apply. Picture your dream home. If you could live anywhere in the world, would you choose a loft in New York? An English manor? A tree house in the tropics? Then think outside of home: If you were invited to the Oscars, what would you wear? Include jewelry and shoes. This moves you beyond the limitations of your own lifestyle and budget and into a new realm of creativity. Jot down your answers.
Now for the hard part. Look for common threads — design, colors, shapes, materials, vibe — among the things you love. You may find yourself attracted to a blend of styles rather than just one. Notice which features appeal to you and which don’t. This will help you translate your taste into smart decorating choices.
4. When all else fails, call an Interior Designer.
An elegant blend of refined traditional furniture, jewelry-like accessories, and pale hues. Patrician old-world elements pair with cleaner Art Deco shapes. The look evokes a more formal lifestyle. Think Grace Kelly, Tiffany & Co., and Charlotte from “Sex and the City”.
FEATURES
Delicate furniture pieces with feminine lines and tapered legs.
A palette of neutrals and soft colors.
Grand chandeliers.
Luxurious fabrics, like silk and velvet.
Rich dark woods with polished veneers.
Luxe accent materials, including metal, marble, and glass.
Symmetrical floor plans.
A warm, traditional look made for relaxing with family and friends. Draws on English and early-American furniture designs, as well as laid-back country, cottage, and farmhouse styles. Weathered, low-maintenance furnishings are easy, inviting, and built for daily life. Think golden retrievers, fuzzy slippers, and just about any movie by Nancy Meyers.
FEATURES
Plush upholstery, often slip-covered, with roll or square arms and skirts or ball feet.
Indestructible tables with turned legs, trestles, or substantial pedestal bases.
Warm wood tones with rustic or distressed finishes.
Natural fabrics, like cotton and wool.
Solid textiles, simple stripes, or unfussy floral’s in muted colors.
A fresh, fun, contemporary look that combines urban styling (imagine a downtown loft) with edgy, colorful elements and mid-century design. Simple furniture forms balance out bold accents and patterns. Think the Museum of Modern Art, Frank Lloyd Wright, a Rubik’s Cube.
FEATURES
Furniture with clean lines and no extra adornment.
Blocks of saturated color.
Boxy upholstery with plain legs or skirt-less bases.
Lacquered finishes and a mix of woods, both light (birch, oak) and dark (walnut, mahogany).
Geometric or abstract patterns and Pop Art–inspired accessories.
A rich, layered look combining flea-market finds, furniture designs from various time periods (including Victorian pieces and 18th-century French styles), and a diverse collection of accessories and artwork. Dusty colors, timeworn or handmade textiles, and collected objects create a lived-in feel. Think Paris flea markets, Granny’s teacups, the film Grey Gardens.
FEATURES
Furniture with shapely, feminine silhouettes, intricate detailing, and weathered finishes.
Jewel tones mixed with washed-out, chalky shades.
Antique and vintage elements interspersed with newer, offbeat items.
A varied mix of fabrics (on pillows, upholstery, and window treatments), including Jacquards, paisleys, ethnic tapestries, folk motifs, botanicals, and florals.
Crystal chandeliers and embellished lamps.
Abundant art and decorative accents on walls and surfaces.
For more information regarding these and other styles, contact pcdesign@mac.com.
After reading a recent article Benjamin Moore published on their website, I began to think how many homes I’ve been in that had “Ceiling White” on the Forgotten 5th Wall.
Too often, little thought is given to a ceiling’s contribution to the overall room design, which is typically just coated in some ubiquitous white paint.
Look at your ceilings from a new perspective. Color, sheen, pattern, and texture (not the stipple or popcorn texture that contractor’s use because they are too lazy to finish a ceiling properly) on the ceiling can transform the entire look and feel of a room.
Create a warm… cozy environment…
If you have a large room with high ceilings, consider using a darker, deeper color up there. Use this theory if you have a lot of darker furniture and need to balance out the “bottom” of the room – considered the floor, with the top, so it creates a balanced effect.Take a look at all the furniture that occupies the floor and the fact that there is nothing to draw your eye upwards. By creating a darker ceiling effect, you are giving your eye a smooth transition from top to bottom.
Adding Jewelry….
Most women won’t leave the house without their “face” on. Why would you leave the ceiling, or the “5th wall” bare as well? Just because the 5th wall is located up from the other’s doesn’t make it any less important. Remember…. you want to consider the whole room from TOP to bottom!
When you add a chandelier, think about adding architectural details around like a double crown moulding,
or add a ceiling medallion situated around the chandelier mount that is proportionate to the size of the chandelier and the room.
Keep in mind that these can be painted to match or coordinate as well.
Try using a a glaze mixed with the ceiling paint.
You can create a metallic/pearlescent finish and a nice design element by adding this to the paint and a little bit of “Sheen” to the ceiling as well (which will also draw your eye upward).
Plaster is also something you could add, but consult a professional before trying this yourself, the experiment could turn out horribly wrong if not applied correctly.
Wallpaper
Tin
Fabric
Mirrors (venetian, colored, distorted)
A very affordable update is to replace your cabinet’s hardware with one of today’s popular options: vintage-look glass, burnished bronze, antiqued copper, pewter and shiny or matte nickel. This simple change can make dated cabinets look new. Tip: To ensure that new pulls and knobs match the existing holes, remove one of each type and take them with you when shopping.
Sink faucets have come a long way in recent years. Current models offer detachable sprayers, hidden soap or lotion dispensers and touch-sensitive, knob-free operation. Faucets also come in a wide variety of finishes and styles, from formal Victorian to ultra modern, making it easy to coordinate the faucet with your home’s decor.
Painting your existing cabinets is an inexpensive update that even a newbie DIYer can handle. Some sandpaper, paintbrushes and a few gallons of primer and paint are all you need to give your kitchen a fresh, new look.
Every kitchen could use more storage. This cleverly concealed drawer provides the perfect place to keep cooking necessities within easy reach of the stove. Built-in storage like this can be a costly addition. To keep costs down, check your local hardware store for pull-out storage kits and drawer organizers that will fit your existing cabinets.
In addition to improving the overall look, the right lighting also makes a kitchen more functional and appear larger. Brighten up by adding under-counter illumination, task lighting above work surfaces and ambient lighting, such as recessed lights. This kitchen uses all three to great effect.
Adding a tile backsplash, even trendy glass tile, is a relatively simple DIY project. Many home improvement and tile supply stores offer free, hands-on classes to teach you the basics.
New flooring can change the feel of your kitchen. Hardwoods lend a warm, traditional look while natural stone, such as marble or travertine, adds a polished vibe. This kitchen mixes the two for a modern finish.
An island provides additional cabinets, a handy location for a sink or stove and the perfect spot for a casual meal or keeping an eye on the kids while they finish up homework. This cottage-style kitchen beautifully combines vintage-style details with a modern, open-concept layout.
Appliances are more than just your kitchen’s workhorse, they also add to the overall look. Professional-grade stainless steel continues to be the most desirable. Also hot are retro-look appliances from the ’20s – ’50s.
Replacing the kitchen cabinets offers a great opportunity to customize them based on your lifestyle. This built-in hutch and buffet provides an attractive space for displaying treasured dishware in the glass-front cabinets while the countertop below can be used as a buffet when entertaining.
If your budget allows, a complete kitchen remodel is the way to go. New flooring, electrical, cabinets and plumbing allows the opportunity to create a more functional layout. Although it can be costly, removing walls separating the kitchen from adjacent living spaces is a popular option for those desiring an open floor plan.
http://www.hgtv.com/kitchens/kitchen-updates-for-any-budget/pictures/index.html?nl=HGDeco_v065_60
To read more stories related to this article by HGTV.
Top 5….Famous “TV” KitchensWe often get so comfortable with our favorite TV shows that we don’t really notice their surroundings (even if their kitchens are only partly surrounded). But there are kitchens on certain TV shows that have some great concepts that could be incorporated into your own kitchen (in reality). So look no further than reruns to get your next kitchen idea.1. Seinfeld.Jerry rarely cooks or eats anything but cereal, but he has to have a stocked kitchen for Kramer and, well, mainly just Kramer. The Seinfeld kitchen is spare, but effective: plenty of storage space for dozens of boxes of cereal. (Bet you didn’t even remember Honeycomb existed.) His work triangle (sink, stove, fridge) is darn near isosceles. While at first glance you might think this style would only fit a cereal-eating bachelor who never has dinner parties, and you are correct. (Your thin-slicing is remarkable). But if you remember the episode where Jerry has the kitchen remodeled to add more cabinets, it ruined the flow of the apartment and worse, the flow of the gang. It had to go. TV Advice: If it ain’t broke, don’t break it. Seinfelds new kitchen 2. That 70s Show.While the basement is more the hangout than the kitchen in this show, there is some wisdom in Kitty’s Kitchen. First is that the style of the 70s is only to be made fun of. It was, and is, terrible. Second, this is a kitchen for the home that doesn’t like to entertain in the kitchen, and while weird, this is the way some people want it. If you’re one of those people, follow in Kitty’s steps and make this function in the way you want. Kitty doesn’t have many tall shelves that she can’t reach, a layout that isn’t very expansive. When people come into the kitchen, they get what they need and get out of your way. Don’t doubt Kitty’s wisdom. TV Advice: Get a kitchen that suits your everyday family needs. Not that elusive dinner party you might someday have. That ’70s Show: Another Bacon Scene 3. Will & Grace.This kitchen is the most modern of all the kitchen on this list, plus it’s the only galley kitchen. There are a few things that Will does well. First, his kitchen is a step up from the rest of the living space. No clue why this is smart, but it just seems to be. Next, he has a very modern, sleek style that fits his tight T-shirt wearing self. While apple pie might seem out of place in this kitchen, sushi, wine, and expensive desserts will feel right at home. TV Advice: Make sure that your design style matches the kind of food that you enjoy. This sounds crazy, but it’s true. So true. Will and Grace 4. Friends.Monica is a chef for crying out loud, of course this kitchen is perfect in every way. Sure, they spend most of their time in the kitchen hanging out around the table, but the room still seems large enough to function well. Monica does a great job of keeping everything nice and organized – barking orders at people along the way – but it makes their apartment kitchen bigger and sleeker than any apartment kitchen should be. Brightly painted shelves and trim add some character to an open-style kitchen and give it plenty of personality. Plus, it kept Joey fed for like 10 seasons. No easy feat. TV Advice: Organization is king. Also, don’t let Rachel cook. Ever. FRIENDS (Rachel’s Trifle) 5. The Cosby Show.This is the life we all want. Big family, great house, funny, and they put on a great musical show a lot of the time. But the kitchen is a place where they play cards, have big meals, and talk. There’s even a fireplace in there. What’s great about this kitchen is that it’s all self-contained. Podium stove, island bar counter, and a kitchen table. You could have big meals right there without being more than a few steps from the sink, stove, or fridge. This is a kitchen that is tailor made for a large family or even a smaller family that is a hub of activity. If you have lots of friends and have them over often, this is a kitchen to consider. TV Advice: Sandwiches are the best. Don’t take away my sandwiches. Thanksgiving at the Huxtables |
Follow these steps below to find out what your desire is.
Look through magazines, go to trade shows, shop local kitchen design studio’s or even your local Home Depot or Lowe’s.
Create a file to keep all of your images in and throw in some color & fabric swatches, appliance brochures, wood finishes that catch your eye and anything else you can think of that will help round out the process.
First, come up with what you CAN spend. Then, as seeing that number isn’t difficult enough, add 10% more on top of that for “over budget” encounters. This always happens! Your job will never come in at that number that you have in your head, and rarely, if ever comes in lower. It’s better to be prepared then shocked at the end, when you hadn’t budgeted in for over-spending.
It’s always good to meet with a few to see who you click with the best. Whether you are just working with a Contractor or a Contractor AND Designer, you want the experience to be a pleasant one and the people that you will be seeing on a daily basis for a few months are bound to get on your nerves, but remember the qualities that drew you to them in the first place.
Also, when hiring just a Contractor to do the job, keep in mind they are trained to “Build”, NOT design. It’s always good to have someone who can pull it all together in a pretty package, rather than using design basics that may or may not go together, or items that look like the job the Contractor just finished up before yours.
Let PC Design llc help you find the right option. Email pcdesign@mac.com or visit www.affordableinteriordesigners.com
How often do you cook? Where does your water come in? Do you need big workstations for rolling out dough? Are “to-go” dinner’s your norm? How many people will be eating in your kitchen nightly? Do items need to be accessible to small children? Left or Right handed? Do you need to be able to clean out large stock pots in the sink? Porcelain or Stainless? Granite or Corian? Wood or MDF? Look vs. Function? These are just a few questions to ask yourself….. there are more!
Single Line Kitchen
L-Shaped Kitchen
U-Shaped Kitchens
Galley Kitchen
Island Kitchens
Let PC Design llc help you find the right option. Email pcdesign@mac.com or visit www.affordableinteriordesigners.com
Wood, Granite, Vinyl, Stone? There are as many flooring options for the kitchen, as there are for your Foyer. You need to think about how much you will be standing while cooking. Do you need cushioning where you will be doing most of your prep work? What type of flooring surrounds the areas leading to the kitchen? Clean-ability? Is there a door to the exterior that is often used, especially by children, or coming in from the garage/mudroom?
What kind of budget are you working with? Do you have good sturdy cabinets that just need a face lift. Are your cabinets falling apart, off the wall, moldy, too small???
There is a lot that goes into replacing cabinetry and sometimes people have a good structure and just want to update, or improve them, a little. That’s where refacing comes in.
If you are dealing with cabinets that are too old, moldy from moisture, coming off the wall, the wrong style for the design of the overall home, too small, don’t go all the way to the ceiling, etc… consider replacing your cabinetry.
There are too many options of things you can do to cabinets (painting, re-styling, changing the doors, adding glass, opening up) to go into all the options for refacing.
When replacing cabinets, make sure you buy from a reputable dealer or kitchen supplier and make sure that when they are being installed you follow directions closely or hire someone with expertise in this area.
Step 7. Buy Appliances That Match Your Needs
Stainless, black, white….. Oh my!
These aren’t your only options as you may think.
Do you prefer gas? Electric, double oven, convection, convention, double sided fridge, top bottom fridge, double or single bowl sink, arched faucet, spray faucet, and more…..
Do your homework before you purchase and think what is most effective for your home and not just what is stylish. There is nothing worse than purchasing a major appliance and then not being able to figure out how to use it, or realize, maybe you really didn’t need it all.
Let PC Design llc help you find the right option. Email pcdesign@mac.com or visit www.affordableinteriordesigners.com
These days selecting Countertops can take as long as picking out all of your appliances. There are so many choices out there ranging from Eco-friendly to High-End designer looks.
Here are just a few samples of what you are able to choose from:
Keep in mind when making your selections that some surfaces may not be suitable to what your needs may be. If you cook a lot, you might need something that can handle heat, moisture and a lot of abuse like granite or stainless. If you are looking to update with something sleek looking but your budget is middle of the way, a low priced granite that is readily available maybe another option. If you decide you like the wood, or butcher block look, keep in mind the process to keep it in good shape on a yearly basis. Bamboo, Tile, Glass & Marble are all very pretty, but the durability isn’t as good as using a Granite, Corian, or Stainless. This is where your design professional will add great value and alleviate any misconceptions you may have toward one product or another.
There are so many types of faucets you can choose from that you can go crossed eyed from just trying to tell the difference. Here are a few to give you an idea:
There is nothing more important in your kitchen than proper lighting. This is the only room in the home that can’t have TOO much lighting.
There are three types of lighting you will need:
General: The lighting that is coming from the center (ceiling) of the area offering the overall lighting source for the room.
Accent: Lighting that illuminates cabinetry, creates an “Effect” in the kitchen. Shows of design, creates an almost artistic aspect to your kitchen.
Task: Specific purpose lighting. A light placed strategically over the sink for washing dishes. Lights underneath cabinetry to highlight areas on the counters. Pendant lights are Task lights for an Island where you would generally find that people gather, food is placed, or even to dine under.
If you feel overwhelmed by all the options, selections and details involved in Remodeling your kitchen, contact a professional. In the end, it will likely save you endless hours of worry AND costly mistakes.
Contact pcdesign@mac.com or www.affordableinteriordesigners.com for more information.
