Inspiration found through Color.
Part 4….
Trend 4: Treasure Trove
We all have our own personal treasures that we want to display in our homes. They usually take the form of furniture, fabrics, paintings and objects that have been passed down through generations, as well as vintage clothes and objects found on holiday or when browsing in antique markets. These are the things that we want to preserve and admire. Intense, deep colours such as opulent gold, rich burgundy and bold teal; lavish and glittering, concealing our keepsakes and priceless pieces. It’s a colour palette that forms the backdrop to our own treasure and is guaranteed to bring out the inner magpie in all of us. Not ideal for every room in a home, but great in Living Rooms, Studies and Guest Bedrooms.
Living Room
Reminiscent of an old Country Manor. Alternates to the heavy wood paneling on the walls could be paint in a deep chocolate brown to make it cozy, or a pale yellow-green to make it feel brighter and more spacious.
Bedroom
Deep earthy shades are ideal for a bedroom due to the mood the room transcends. The result? A welcoming space that you’ll feel relaxed and cozy in.
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic Design, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles
Inspiration found through Color.
Part 3…
Trend 3: The Recycled Look
Head out to your favorite flea-market or vintage store and rummage through to find pieces to compliment your design. Whether edgy, subtle, minimalist, cluttered or over the top, you are sure to find that… “one person’s trash is another’s treasure”.
Living Room
What’s good about this look? Essentially, its eclecticism and its eco-friendly attributes. What it’s telling you… get yourself down the local antiques/junk arcade and rummage…
Bedroom
So, rummaging isn’t your thing? The key… choose a dominating colour that has a faded look, furniture that isn’t the same style, and think out-of-the-box for placement. Take this room as a great example. The bed is upholstered in a dove grey, while the throw’s colour is a faded version of the bedside table. The bedside table itself doesn’t match the rest of the room, and is really a side table, yet it works within the room because it’s colour ties into the beds throw.
Kitchen
Ideal for a kitchen, simply choose units painted in faded shades, recycled worktops (like Cork/ Bamboo/ recycled stainless), rustic style tiles (mismatched/ hand-painted/ vintage) , match it with furniture that’s recycled rather than brand new and, finally, pick wall colours to complement, adding splashes of bolder shades in accessories.
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic Design, Home, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles
Inspiration found through Color.
Part 2….
Trend 2: Femininity With A Hard Edge
This is a more dynamic trend, which includes pretty yet powerful colours, from their palest to most dramatic shades. Think of peonies that burst into colourful life and then slowly reduce in intensity as they fade. Imagine delicate whispers of texture from vintage lace and silk, offset by hard modern ceramics and metals. You could sum it up as femininity with a tough edge. While not ideal for every room in the home, this does work best in living rooms and bedrooms.
Paint Colours
It might be that you choose a white or pale green background colour for your walls, then add a touch of ‘wow!’ with stronger shades of the accent colour like, raspberry or periwinkle with accessories and soft furnishings. This scheme does not need to be dramatic, if you want something easier to live with, try something a little more understated.
Wallpaper
Just as choosing a paint color can be difficult and tiresome between a man and a woman…ditto for wallpaper! Go for soft, feminine shades as a base, add sharper (or more masculine) tones to pep up the scheme.
Living Room
This room, with all the tendencies of a more feminine room; also, sways toward the masculine with the finishes and shape. Find this look a little heavy? Keep the wallpaper, but swap it for a lighter colourway and change the flooring to a pale, soft carpet…
Bedroom
The idea of a pale lilac bedroom would turn most men’s stomachs, but this one is edging into grey, while the contrasting colour – mustard yellowy green is a fabulous foil for the walls soft tones. Add to that the contrast of white furnishings with a single high gloss black piece and you’ve got femininity, masculinity, light and dark all in one space. Brilliant.
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic Design, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, interior, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles
Inspiration found through Color.
Part 1….
Trend 1: Nature Inspired.
What a relief for lovers of neutral color schemes – everyone agrees this year that understated room schemes inspired by nature will be one of the strong trends for 2009. Designer’s have been inspired this year by everything from rich ochre colors to the simple beachfront homes with bleached cream wooden shutters, weathered and worn woods, and stones in warm hues, punctuated by cooler tones of blues and greens to create a natural balance of colour and texture that is warm and embracing.
Elements of the natural world have also inspired Wallpaper palettes such as this colour palette and is combined with flame red for an injection of vibrancy. Combine the ever popular greens with fresh yellow’s and add a touch of raspberry and mint green for a unique combination.
Being “Eco-Conscious” or “Green” is a deciding factor for many when decorating. In 2009, the will be slightly more subtle. With people moving less frequently, look for fresh and bright to become increasingly more important. Expect to see “New-Neutrals” take root, as the year continues.
Natural tones will also be an enduring popular choice for furniture, with wall colours being chosen to echo the tones of the upholstery.
Living Room
Inspired by nature doesn’t have to mean “No” color in a living room ! You can choose anything from deep dark browns to rich ochres, mustard yellows, pale greens and blues. When incorporating patterns… using something light and airy as opposed to heavily patterned choices creates a visually pleasing environment.
Bedrooms
Natural schemes doesn’t mean feminine and traditional – you can give a nod to the trend within a contemporary scheme too, as in this bedroom. Combine wood panelled wardrobes or walls with natural floor coverings and furniture in woody tones, and add texture with throws and cushions in deep earthy shades. Combine with a bold accent color to add a “Punch” to the area.
Kitchens
When making selections for your kitchen in the Natural trend, think sensibly and long term. Walls can always be painted and Accent your Kitchen with unique objects such as lighting, accessories, rugs, stools and window treatments to add flair….
Dining Room
This is a particularly good look to go for in your dining room. And, if your dining room is part of your kitchen area -like in an open plan – a Neutral scheme is a must to create a relaxed and cohesively calm space.
Kids’ Room
Design a neutral scheme for a kids’ room is easy and sustainable for the long-term (not having to change the scheme every few years is easy for the wallet as well). So, whether you’ve got a baby or a teenager, hit this trend in a big way…
Bathroom
Space is always a factor, but any bathroom can be given the natural touch easily. When looking for a new bathroom cabinet, choose one in real wood. Flooring, choose a natural stone. Wall tile, choose something light and airy with some visual texture. On a budget? Paint the walls a soft shade of green or blue.
Tags: 2009 home trends, Advice, choosing colors, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic style, home decorating, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles, paint colors
Some Ideas for those… “Do-it Yourself” people.
Fixing a “botched” Paint Job
Have you ever felt the urge to whip out a paint can and try to tackle those walls in your Living Room? You can’t stand the current color. You’ve chosen a few swatches from the local paint store, grabbed a few rolls of “blue” painters tape and some brushes, prepped from the paint job and slapped that paint on the wall.
1st mistake….put the tape in the wrong spot on the ceiling and pulled it off only to find that you have spots of the old color coming through because the tape wasn’t on the ceiling, but also on the wall. UGHHH!
2nd mistake…the swatch looked great, but the color on the wall sure doesn’t.
If you put the tape in the wrong spot….fear not. They have great edging tools out there today that you can use once the tape is gone and will leave you with a crisp clean edge.
available at most Walgreens.
If you feel you chose the wrong color for the wall (too dark or too light) think about adding a pearlized glaze to the painted wall. Most paint stores have them and you can add it straight on top of the finished color. Think about using a rag, a drag brush or even some old grocery bags to add a bit of texture when applying the glaze. It softens the color and gives a nice depth to the walls.
check out your local Ace hardware or Home Depot for a variety. Benjamin Moore has a great variety of colored glazes to use.
Right the Wrong Floor
Do you have hard wood floors and there is a large water stain where a planter once stood? Find a fun, small area rug to create a conversation area. Put the rug over the spot, add a small table and a floor lamp. No one will ever now there is something under there, that shouldn’t be there.
Too Much of A Good thing….
When decorating a room…. always think of it like you do when you are getting dressed. If you are worried about too many accessories…. Use the rule “take on off” or in this case “remove an item” from the room. Another way is to remove all the accessories, artwork and area rugs from the area, pick out your favorite ones and start with those. Remember…. You don’t have to use everything! Put the other items away or see if there is another area in the home that is lacking and see if the items will work there.
Layers of Lighting
The classic lighting goof is trying to make one or two lights do all the work in a room. Luckily a goof is easily fixed. Add three-way lamps (with 150- watt, not 60-watt, bulbs) to tables and dimmer switches to overhead lights. Add accent lighting to a plant or painting. What you want is light coming from several places and directions. It’s that mix of directions that’s visually interesting.” Of course, the first step is to know what you want to see .
A Piece of the Past
Bringing in something new, heirloom or not, can be tricky at best, a sore thumb at worst. Don’t just add one new thing to a space. Add accents that complement it. For instance, with this antique china cabinet, think not of it having to be in the Dining Room if it doesn’t work. Use it in the Foyer or in a hallway. Pick a color that you want to use as an accent from it and accessorize the piece to coordinate. That’s easy to do without breaking the budget.
Musical Furniture
The new sofa and chairs arrive and you hate them. Before you relegate them to your next garage sale, try a little rearranging, right into the next room, if necessary . It changes your mindset. Maybe the room’s off balance, the furniture’s too far apart or one piece is out of scale with the rest (i.e., the heirloom bookcase). The best arrangement is a U-shape made with a sofa and two chairs. “The worst is the L-shape with a sofa and loveseat.
Add a bit of YOU to That Trendy Look
You’ve opted for the ethnic, bohemian look that’s all the rage, but now your living room looks like a ’60s dorm room, or a page out of a catalog. What to do? People try too hard to create a statement. They think Bohemian’s laid back and so they buy the look, the sound, the smell. That’s a big faux pas. A little bit of bohemian adds a nice ambiance, but then pull in pieces from your past, like old photos. Design is about personality. Pull something of yourself into the space. That’s how you set it apart.
Think of walls as a blank canvas
There may be nothing wrong with your furniture. Your walls may be closing in on you. Sometimes people have art hanging on every inch of space, even tiny walls. But you have to pick and choose. In the winter, put up black and white photos, in the summer pastels. But don’t feel compelled to hang everything. Otherwise your eyes have no place to rest.
Rules to live by
Most designers can’t even get their minds wrapped around hiding mistakes because they are so bent on preventing them in the first place. Below they come up with a list of sure-fire ways to minimize post-decorating moans.
- Proceed slowly. You’ve just moved to a new apartment and haven’t decided on your color scheme . Instead of a hasty decision you might regret, opt to slipcover two new chairs in inexpensive white duck cloth. You can dye them or paint them with fabric paint and have some fun. Eventually, upholster them, but now take the time to decide what colors and fabric you want.
- Make a plan. This is perhaps as close to a mantra as decorators get. If you have no organized plan, you will soon have a collection of garage sale items. You need a floor plan and a color scheme . Then you can shop the sales and pick up quality pieces. Keep a “What I love” notebook. Tear out magazine pictures of rooms you love. Start a “favorite things” box that includes materials, pictures, wallpaper, even cards you’re drawn to.
- Get some help. You don’t need a professional to decorate the whole thing. But have a designer come to your home for two hours to make some suggestions. They may suggest things you haven’t thought of: a new conversation area, a different traffic pattern, how you can use the room .
For more tips visit www.affordableinteriordesigners.com or email pcdesign@mac.com
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, Do's & Don'ts, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design
With an overwhelming response to last weeks blog….here are some more “affordable” tips to revitalize your home for Spring & Summer.
Give your windows a temporary face-lift:
If you have “layers” on your windows (panels and sheers), take the panels off and give an airy feel to your space with simple sheers, allowing light to flood in and give a beachy feel to your home.
from heavy…
to breezy.
Lighten up your bedding by removing the heavy comforter and adding a light weight blanket or coverlet that highlights a brighter or “sunnier” color from the comforter. If it’s a solid, find something with a pattern or floral with bright “Juicey” colors to change things up.
Change out the pillows on your sofa….
Remove these dark wintery pillows….
and add these bold, beautiful Summer pillows.
Accessorize with clear glass bowls with floating candles, white vases with a single brightly colored flower and bring the outdoors…in. Flowers, reeds of grass, cattails, single bud flowers, floating magnolia’s and potted Gerber daisy’s. Anything will work as long as it doesn’t give the feel of being too heavy.
For the kitchen:
Change out dish towels, soap containers, table linens, centerpieces, chair pads and wall display to something light and lively.
hang these on the wall for a summery change.
For additional ideas email pcdesign@mac.com or visit www.affordableinteriordesigners.com
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Decorate on a budget, Do's & Don'ts, Home, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, interior, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, modern design
Ideas for “Affordable” Spring Home Makeovers…..
“Juicey” Spring Colors
Spring Color ideas to paint the walls, or the floor, windows, pillows, vases, furniture, etc….
The Blue Hues
- Palace Blue— a favorite amongst designers which takes a navy undertone and makes it sparkle. A cross between a sky blue and strong navy. This is a color which works with almost any other, pink, yellow, lavender or green.
- Lavender— the regal purple of fall has been adapted to a softer lighter lilac, feminine and romantic, and slightly mystical.
- Rose Dust— a pale pinkie blue, which is a welcome break from traditional neutrals. Almost a white-washed lavender, this is one of the coolest colors.
- Slate Gray— a cool and calming nuanced neutral which provides a backdrop to any of Pantone’s 9 other colors and is a perfect pairing to lavender hues.
The Red Hues
- Fuchsia Red–—Vibrant yet seductive, powerful and robust. Fresh and dazzling, fuchsia features heavily in nail polish and lipsticks too.
- Salmon Rose— Mixing a soft salmon pink with the subtleness of oranges which is flattering to most complexions and gives a warm healthy glow.
The Green Hues
- Vibrant Green— a mossy mid-green which is bright but not harsh
- Dark Citron— a calm, almost olive color which blends perfectly with this season’s lemon tones.
- Lucite Green— a clean, subtle, soft green which adds a slight shimmer
Yellow
- Super Lemon— brings a fun, optimistic outlook to the Palette,” states the Pantone Spring 2009 report. “Its luminosity is determined to evoke a smile and attract the roving consumer’s eyes.”
Under $100……unique “Artography” at an “Affordable” price.
Upload your own photo’s for a unique visual “Artography” session.
Find a photo of something you love…You, your spouse, family, pet, building, place, etc….
Decide on the effect you would like it to have and let the world of computer magic takeover.
Check out www.photofiddle.com to learn how to create your own “Artography” collection.
Are you afraid to make a comittment to your walls?
Check out www.whatisblik.com. They have whole wall size graphics, lettering, patterns, decals, kids & adult designs for you to choose from.
Grandfather clock graphics Graphic lettering
Sphere design graphics
Looking for something on a larger scale than peel & stick decals?
Try whole wall mural sheets for under $100.
Babies nursery Dinner in Paris
Vegas... Bamboo forest (View of whole wall in room)
You might just feel like you are actually on vacation with these life like murals.
Visit www.decorplace.com for a huge selection of ideas or a few to create your own.
And finally….to add a few accessories here and there to and a punch into your spring and summer decor…check out Target.com for great priced accessories like the one’s shown below.
$9.99 for the set of votive holders Set of 4 Damask porcelain plates $27.99
$19.99 for the base…add a bold shade! Bright and bold picture frame $6.99.
Coordinate these items together or create your own palette to work from.
For these and many more ideas……visit www.affordableinteriordesigners.com/blog.
Tags: accessories, Advice, affordable decorating, Budget Design, colors, Decorate on a budget, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior Design Tips, modern design, shop at target, Target, under $50
Follow these tips to create a good home environment and making everyday life easier.
1. Home Interiors are ALWAYS a work in progress.
Keep things fresh and loose by changing things up. Perfection stifles creativity. No, one item, has a specific place.
Change out pillow covers on your sofa or in your Guest Room in the Spring and Fall (or anything else movable and easy to store for the season).
In the winter…use candles for a warm feel; and in the spring….use fresh flowers to bring the outside in.
2. A home isn’t a Museum.
Use every room for fun and gathering. If you have a room that is only used for special occasions (maybe 6-10 times per year), what do you use it for for the other 340 days?
3. Don’t over accessorize..
Follow the rule for getting dressed…. get completely dressed, then, take one item off. A space with too many items in it will look cluttered and junky…even with the most expensive of items on display.
4. SURPRISE!
Just like when you are looking in a store and you turn the corner and see a great display….that’s a surprise.
Add spontaneous items out in the open. If you are working with a neutral palette in a room, add one bold, unique looking item that will make someone say “WOW” and people will take notice.
5. Don’t think in terms of Feminine and Masculine.
Stay away from overly ruffled items, bows and too much lace. Think in terms of “soft” or “glamorous” when wanting something a little more girly.
6. When shopping for furnishings….
It doesn’t matter where it came from, YOU, just have to love what your living with.
7. Fabulous Finds.
In today’s world of “Going Green” recycled items are a must. If a friend offers something to you, that they are tired of, do a trade and (provided they don’t want the item back) re-purpose it to coordinate with your interiors or add a “WOW” spot to your home. ANYTHING old….can become new again!
Wood floor planks to Wine Rack.
Toothbrushes as wall hooks for kids.
Old armoire turned game center.
8. Think outside of the box.
Think of all the business out there and what the possibilities there products hold. Download a picture you like online and cut-out a pattern to create your own stencil. Go to a tile store and ask for their discarded or damage products (some will be greatly discounted, others might even be free) and revamp an old side table you are looking to spiff up. There are tons of mosaic ideas online. Go to a produce company and ask for their fruit crates and create vintage storage containers. Use wide, colored tape, to create stripes on the walls in a small area .
Old milk jug...turn to table base or bird bath.
Industrial Coils turned barstools.
9. Party in a Closet.
Impromptu party? Keep everything you need stored (and organized) in a closet. Bar napkins, containers of peanuts, cups, plates, candles, wine and more. You don’t want to have to run out and shop at the last minute before entertaining. When you start running low, replenish.
10. You get what you pay for.
This is tried and true! When you find good people to work with, make it worth their while and yours. It will reflect in the work and maybe…get it done sooner, rather than later. And by the way…don’t forget to tell them how much you appreciate them….It goes a looooooooooooooong way!
Want to find out more? Visit: www.affordableinteriordesigners.com.
Tags: Add new tag, Advice, Affordable, Budget Design, Budget interior design, Decorate on a budget, Do's & Don'ts, Home, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior Design Tips
As an Interior Designer, I know the trepidation people have when they are deciding whether to hire a professional to help them with a Home Design Project.
My best advice to you, the client, is to find one that you click with, that you hit it off with during the first visit. If you feel apprehensive after the meeting………take that as a No, to that particular Designer. Take a look at your budget. Can you afford a few extra dollars for some advice to head you in the right direction, keep you on track, give you ideas for the area being re-designed? In the end, doing this will help you avoid costly mistakes that could happen during a home project.
Here is a list of somethings to think about if you are still unsure:
- Write down a list of your home priorities.
- Create a workable budget (keep in mind that you need to have an additional, 10% of the budget, incase of delays, project overruns, additional items needed, etc.).
- Don’t get after all the “Trendy” designs. You can incorporate some, with smaller items, but keep your larger pieces simple (such as your sofa and coordinating seating pieces). They will last much longer, style wise, in the end if you go with classic instead of Trend. Plus……you will blow your budget, FAST if you decorate in trends; especially when you get tired of that trend!
- Shop for items in regular stores, department stores, discount stores. No one knows where you shop unless you tell them. You’ll probably get more bang for your buck when you go to the discount stores as well.
Wait for sales to get your larger pieces (sofa, chair, dining table, armoire). Most stores have large sales 2 x’s per year to turn over their merchandise for the new one’s coming out on the scene. The stores are more willing to bargain when they know they have truckloads of merchandise coming in and don’t want to pay to warehouse them
- Prioritize the rooms you are re-doing. Only get 2-3 rooms in shape, depending on your budget. Make those look “WOW”. Most people don’t have the big budget to redecorate all at once, and most Designer’s will tell you that they don’t recommend that anyway. Your taste could change after you live with a new design in one room and give you ideas for the next.
- A Designer can help you scale down on what you have before redecorating. Think of it as purging all the bad, to bring in the new, more exciting items. The Designer can be the bad guy, making it easier for you to make the decision on what should stay or go. There is also a way to collect some additional funds by taking the items you are getting rid of to a consignment or
thrift store. Another possibility is hosting a yard sale, or even a neighborhood sale. Some neighbors might even want to “trade” items, giving you a whole other avenue for shopping.
And finally……….if you were experiencing stomach cramps, doubling you over in pain, would you treat yourself or go see a Doctor?
Do you see my point?
Contact PC Design LLC today with all of your Design questions.
Tags: Advice, Budget Design, Design professionals, Do's & Don'ts, hire a decorator, Hire a designer, hire an interior designer, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design
High End Furniture Look, on a Tight Budget.
High-End Furniture furniture makers aren’t swayed by the Economy today, but the average furniture buyers are.
Here is an example of taking a Designer look and re-creating it, at an affordable price!
Barbara Barry Collection High-End Collection Discount “Look-a-like” Collection
Approximate Cost $28,000 Approximate Cost $3000
Wow!!! A $25,000 price difference and the look is practically identical. And most of the items in the “look-a-like” side are shipped free as well.
Wouldn’t you like to makeover your home with a High-End Designer look for a fraction of the price? Any look is reproducible………
Contact PC Design LLC at pcdesign@mac.com.
Tags: Advice, budget decorating, Budget Design, cheap but chic, cheap decorating, cheap interior design, Decorate on a budget, Design on a dime, Home makeover, inexpensive furniture, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, reproduce a furniture look, repurpose
