Collection Perfection

If you’ve got it, flaunt it.  That’s what we’re told.  When you’re dreaming up new ways to enhance your interior spaces, you may have some options already on hand that could take to the walls and beyond.  If you’re a collector of fine things – or simply fun things – consider showcasing them in a whole new light.

Putting like items together with purpose can take some scattered finds to an eye-catching collection.  It is all in how you display.  Take, for example, your jewelry.  It can stay in a drawer, waiting to be worn.  Or it can dress up your bathroom or bedroom on a day-to-day basis.  Bulletin boards upholstered in simple, ironed pillowcases or push pin boards in decorative frames can be hung on the wall just like art, making attractive backgrounds to pin up necklaces and bracelets.  Use clear or fancy push pins and hang pieces in neat rows by color or size for an organized look.

Living so close to the coast, you may have some boxes or jars of shells, sand dollars, and other beach-combing finds stored away.  Bring them out front and give them a spot on a shelf or side table.  If you have unique collections on paper, like postcards from cities visited, paper menus, play bills, or items where your monogram is displayed prominently, frame them in a similar fashion and hang as a cohesive wall grouping.  If you have another type of wall art item spread throughout the home, like several small to medium mirrors, wrapped canvases, or nature photos, hang them together to provide a gallery feel in one room. 

Line living room shelves with your glass bottle collection.  Use plate hangers to group your plate collection on the dining room wall instead of having them stacked in storage.  Use a shadowbox with cubby holes to display a teacup collection or a set of small figurines.  If your hobby lends itself to a collection, like a music lover rounding up old guitars or a photo buff gathering cameras through the decades, mount them up on the wall or on shelves where you can show them off proudly. 

Sometimes all it takes for a fresh look is taking what you already have that has value to you and letting it shine like the grouping is worthy of an admission ticket.     

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 26th.

 

  

Go Big. Go Bold. Go Home.

The saying “less is more” can actually work in a big, bold design premise when it comes to quantity.  Some people find layering little trinkets and accessories too fussy for their style or skill level.  Instead of trying to master the perfect arrangement of many pieces, focus on larger statement items to make your rooms pop.

To give a more subdued furniture arrangement some life, let a graphic printed rug make a statement from the ground up.  Or hang drapery panels from the ceiling height in wide stripes or another large repeating pattern to draw the eye up.  Instead of a cluster of smaller frames or canvases you select for a wall grouping, hang an oversized wrapped canvas with a simple, large scale image on it on a blank wall space.  If your “builder beige” home leaves the backdrop in each room a little too muted, paint an accent wall here and there in an attractive accent color, which will enhance anything you hang in there, large or small.     

Within a more plain bedroom design, throw in a surprising end-of-the-bed bench or ottoman, or add a comfy side chair, all in a stand-out pattern.  To dress up a blank entry or hallway, position a chest of drawers or buffet in a painted color instead of a standard wood stain finish.  If outfitting a dining room table with layers of linens and dishes and centerpiece components is not your norm, let design be served up in that room every day of the week with beautiful upholstered dining chairs with some eye-catching color in their fabric.

Trying to really give your home a fresh look amid a simpler canvas can be overwhelming if you think your shopping list may very well drag the ground.  Instead of thinking about quantity, look into some quality pieces on a large scale that can make big impacts where you choose to place them.  Area rugs, draperies, upholstered and painted furniture, and big wall art all take up designer space in style.   

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 19th.     

 

      

What Your Mom Taught You

Have you ever counted the things you do a certain way because of how your Mom did them?  It’s funny how household traditions both large and small can carry on from one generation of ladies to the next.  In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s recount some of those tried and true home ideas that only Mom could have instilled. 

To get your mirrors clean and streak free, spray on glass cleaner and wipe them down in big circles with newspaper print instead of paper towels.  •  When you put clean sheets on the bed, tuck in the ends using “hospital corners” for a neat look that stays put.  •  Vinegar, baking soda, and cola can do more good at cleaning countless things than we could have imagined without her.  •  A little salt in the water adds flavor and helps keep noodles from sticking together in a pot of water on the stovetop.  •  Run a hard-to-open jar lid under hot water and tap it with the handle of a butter knife to make it easier to open.  •  When adding fresh flowers to a vase, pour in some Sprite or Gingerale with the water to help keep the blooms fresh longer.  •  Hang all the shirts and pants in the closet in a uniform way and in the same direction, making pieces easier to see and neater to hang back after laundering.  •  Make up the bed every day, whether you’re in a hurry or not; you never know when someone might drop in.  •  Write and send thank you notes for gifts you’re given.  •  Don’t let clean laundry just sit and wrinkle in the dryer; keep your loads moving.  •  Pull out Grandma’s recipes from time to time to keep them in circulation and pass them on to the next generation.  •  When getting ready for a party or a holiday dinner, set the table and lay out the serving pieces the day before in the interest of time.  •  Keep a consistent schedule of cleaning the bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming, and doing the laundry so as not to fall behind.  •  Use a checklist when packing for a trip so you don’t leave something behind.  •  Test baked goods in the oven to see if they’re done by sticking a toothpick in the center and seeing if it comes out clean.  •  Used towels belong on hooks or bars and not on the bathroom floor.  •  And don’t let the dirty dishes sit in the sink overnight.    

Happy Mother’s Day to the special women who have taught us, led us, molded us, and set us on the path to where we find ourselves today!      

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 12th.

 

With Mom

Kandice Duke • Melanie Krenek • Krystal Stenseng 

 

   

Light. Bright. Beautiful.

Bright, light, and airy.  Sounds cheery to me!  When you need to lighten up your space without considering a remodel, think about these bright ideas to do just the trick.

You cannot go wrong with lamps.  Whether you add a floor lamp to the corner of a darker room or add two standard lamps to a sofa table or buffet piece along the wall, bringing your lighting down from the ceiling level with add both light and warmth to your space.  And going beyond the one lamp on the living room end table will add more lighting diffused throughout the room.  Update your bulbs to brighter daylight versions and lighten the material of your lamp shade choices to create even more ambiance. 

Use part of your wall space to hang mirrors, which visually open up a room while reflecting light back from windows and doors.  A large portrait-size mirror on larger, open wall space or a cluster of smaller decorative mirrors both offer form and function, brightening and decorating at the same time.  Positioning them in well-lit spots helps carry their lightening effects around the room.   

Light reflecting accent pieces like side tables, trays, benches, wall art, and accessories with metallic finishes can also help bounce your lighting around a given space.  Mirrored legs, glossy frames, and shiny surfaces in gold, silver, champagne, and nickel finishes all contribute to a brightening enhancement.  Consider this method for your living room seating area, a dining room sideboard, a narrow entryway, and any shelf or surface in need of a boost. 

Light a few candles and relax in a space that can easily be lightened and brightened without any drastic or harsh steps being taken.  Soft, warm light generously reflected can be a beautiful, glowing thing to soak up.  

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 5th.