The Art of the Silhouette

When you hear “silhouette” in the context of home décor and immediately think of those old, framed family cut-outs in black of everyone’s profile that always seems to include the girl with the pronounced ponytail, you need to be introduced to the modern silhouette. She’s quite a beauty.

Silhouettes are all the rage in current design concepts, and they are popping up on walls as decals large and small, in frames that would rather display furniture profiles over those of people, and in all matters of paper products. If you would like to see them casting some shadows on your walls, you are just a few suggestions away from implementation.

Wall decals (which are essentially big sticker murals) that display the silhouettes of tree branches, chandeliers, candelabras, birds, and furniture may rank at the top of the list of the most popular and can make a big visual art impact. You can search for near-countless varieties online, and more and more selections are showing up in-store as well. The process of adhering them to your wall is not as daunting as you may think. A good eye, a steady hand for burnishing, and some patience can turn a plain living room wall or bedroom backdrop into a focal art piece without ever lifting a paintbrush.

Hanging a collection of framed silhouette art is gaining in popularity as well. If that self portrait isn’t your style, you may consider adding in silhouette art featuring furniture or accessories, right down to lamps and high heel shoes. One thing I really like about small-scale silhouette art is the ability to add something you admire to your home that regularly comes with a huge price tag, such as Louis XIV chairs and dangly chandeliers covered in crystals to the hilt.

Apply the same principles to modern invitations, note cards, and stationery. Using silhouettes of anything applicable to the theme, whether wedding, shower, or birthday in nature, conveys your message and can add a simple elegance to your future event from your first mailing. If you just want a great set of note cards for yourself for your personal correspondence, look for options that can add your initial or name and one graphic that truly reflects you and your style.

Silhouettes have a brand new take in today’s home. Whether you dress them up or dress them down, this shadowy art element can be used in limitless ways to add unique personality and flair to any room in your home.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 27th.

Turning Dated Items into Today’s Decorative Elements

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is an age-old saying that may be harsh, but it can definitely have some truth to it. In the spirit of spring cleaning and (hey, why not throw in another famous saying?) “out with the old, in with the new,” here are some ideas to turn garage sale finds and items seemingly lost in storage into fresh, functional home décor items.

Repurposing everyday items into bold statements can make big decorative impacts. Old doors, ceiling tiles, and window frames or shutters can end up on walls as modern art. Whether you pull old pieces out of storage, the family barn, or someone else’s yard sale, giving new life to a staple from yesteryear can decidedly bring it into today with a got-to-have-it feel. Wooden doors can be sanded and painted or refinished and hung as wall art, turned into a twist on a bed’s headboard, or connected together with multiple hinges and used as a louvered room divider. Antique ceiling tiles, whether simply cleaned up like new or spray painted with a glossy acrylic finish, can be turned into an eye-catching design item when hung in a cluster on the wall or assembled as a grouping on a mantle shelf. Window shutters or frames can serve as “framed” wall art or be turned into a side or coffee table with added legs or another base.

The same goes for side tables, benches, occasional chairs, and smaller items like serving trays, picture frames, and ceramics. Replace elements that are no longer functional or safe. Refinish and renew surfaces with some elbow grease and the appropriate mix of bold paint choices, fabric batting, and upholstery fabric to make an outdated piece nearly unrecognizable and yet totally desirable. What once graced your grandmother’s porch can be turned into a stylish entryway bench. A dated ceramic bowl can be reinvented and now hold a collection of jewelry on a dresser. Think about giving something new life and putting it to work in your home before you just give it the ol’ heave-ho.

Putting a fresh coat of effort on countless items that have seen their better days can make adding decorative pieces or furniture to your home a DIY budget saver. Look at pieces that may otherwise be headed for the trash with a creative eye to feel out their potential. Now what can you do with some basic tools, some paint, and some fabric?

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 20th.

“How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways...”

To pay tribute to Valentine’s Day, let’s ponder the many ways in which we love design.
Design can make us marvel at architecture • stare at display windows • try on shoes we can’t afford • line up more throw pillows on one bed than we have fingers on one hand • paint multiple swatches on a wall to pick the perfect shade • need designated closet space to store purses, plural • measure twice and cut once • value the concept of having “one in every color” • dedicate long weekends to small projects • flip through magazines and take notes • want the perfect layout when arranging furniture • willing to put our monogram or initials on just about anything • notice the difference a font can make • buy a laser level with an ingenious built-in measuring tool • see that new couch as an investment • anticipate the words “sale” and “red tag clearance” with delight • explain almost any purchase with “but I wanted one” • want to press our noses up against glass display cases; but it just doesn’t seem appropriate at this age • free to choose and choose again • have too many favorites to count • think of IKEA as an amusement park for adults • see a bold print or pattern and immediately wonder what we could do with it • love the changing of the seasons for all the different table centerpieces they offer up • know the difference between turquoise, teal, and aqua • put chocolate brown with just about any other color and make it work • feel as if the space we live in is a real representation of us • spend 20 minutes in an aisle full of lampshades • get over a burn from a hot glue gun because the finished project seems pretty worth it • think about how addresses will look on a custom rubber stamp first when house hunting • salivate over the creativity of products on Etsy • debate the pros and cons of leather-versus-upholstery very seriously • find new meaning in “shop ‘til you drop” • sacrifice comfort for the style we so highly value • cook something just for the tools and dishes we’d get to use doing it • know there isn’t just one shade of white • get serious with a pair of scissors • rearrange to our heart’s content • take pride in making our home our haven.
We love design because it can mold us, distinguish us, and create for us an environment of our choosing. Here’s to a very Happy Valentine’s Day and all that we love so much.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 13th.

Bringing the Outdoors In for Spring

If you have been more cooped up indoors during our colder spells this winter, you may be looking forward to the changes that a little spring weather will bring. To turn over a new leaf in your home now that involves more than ensuring the Christmas decorations are all stored away, consider adding some earthy, outdoor touches inside when things start to warm up.

Some of the simplest ways to bring some spring inside is to mix in some outdoor elements to your indoor spaces. This could add a whole new twist to “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Buy ornamental grass decorations in small metal containers, vases, or table runner centerpieces. One of my favorites is a square or rectangular plot of faux wheat grass. Line up 3 to 5 containers down the middle of a dining, coffee, buffet, or sofa table for a striking, modern centerpiece or add to a kitchen or bathroom window sill or countertop for a touch of green without the maintenance.

Dried naturals are another popular and cost effective decorative tool to wield throughout the home. Tall vases with dried natural or curly branches in large bunches add height to dining, buffet, or foyer tables. Fill a decorative glass or wooden bowl with natural twig ball decorations that come in a variety of sizes and colors, and set it on a coffee table, or add a medium-size glass vase full to a guest bathroom. You can purchase a mixed set that also include small seeds, twigs, and decorative pieces. Use a colored set to pick up the shade of throw pillows, wall art, or accessories to add more pops of color to a room, or use white or natural for a retreat-like feel.

For larger impact statements, think big(ger). Area rugs come in natural weave jute and woven rush grass that add textural and natural elements that are eye-catching seating area anchor pieces. For something more whimsical in certain settings, a plush carpet grass rug really does bring the outdoors in. Top your tables with place setting chargers made from wooden beads, bamboo, or river rock stones, and there will be no need to head outside for a picnic setting.

Take things you like about nature and add their components into your decorations, tableware, furniture, and accessories to meld the division between indoors and outdoors. You might just put a little more than a spring in your step.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 6th.

Warming Up With Spring Designs

Thinking ahead beyond this frigid weather to the warmth of spring, here is what my Zazzle gallery has to offer in spring-forward designs for invitations, announcements, and custom note cards in a variety of colors:

My Zazzle Gallery