What To Do When Space Lacks Full Function

All indoor space is prime real estate.  It’s what you do with it that really counts.  Utilizing the underutilized maximizes your square footage and can create more function where there was once blank space. 

A home office is on the wish list of many future home buyers.  Yet a room set aside for work and technology is not always an option.  When you still need a designated place for that work space, think smaller.  Some linen and hallway closets are not living up to their full potential, but instead hold more storage-related items, coats that never see a cold day, or sheets and towels that do not get used.  By cleaning out those shelves and adding document cases for paperwork storage, bins for office supplies, and a home base for a laptop, you just added a functional space, minus the need for more square feet.

The layout and design of some homes leaves little areas that seemingly serve little purpose.  Wider areas of hallways, cutouts in a room, landings, and some bay windows can all make you wonder just what to put there.  Consider incorporating what is referred to as a reading nook: a stand-alone chair with a floor lamp or small table and lamp.  Set apart from a main living room seating arrangement, a reading nook can be cozy and inviting and can add additional colors and dimension to a room.  With room for a small bookcase, you also add new surfaces for storing books and magazine files and displaying a collection or decorative pieces. 

In small living spaces, offering a multi-functional guest space can let an area do double duty when needed.  A chair and a half can double as a comfy pullout bed in a tighter space for a single overnight guest.  Additionally, using a room as half home office and half guest room can be accomplished easily with the right furniture and arrangement.             

Look around and see what space is lacking function in your home.  A little rearranging or adding a few small furniture pieces can create a whole new room or new purpose where there once was none.   

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 29th.  

From the Ground Up: Roles of Rugs

Whether you are trying to catch dirt before it crosses your threshold or soften your steps while standing at the bathroom sink, rugs play some pretty important roles across the floors in your home.  Ensuring they are functional, attractive, and well-fitted for their spaces just takes a little knowhow and planning.

Area rugs in living room seating areas and under dining room tables can be costly but well worth the investment, since large rugs are not items changed out very often.  Choose a rug that blends well with the surrounding flooring.  It does not have the match it of course, but should be either another shade of a neutral at its base or a pop of color that highlights the seating arrangement.  Whether you stay neutral or choose a bolder color, consider the longevity of its staying power should you decide to change any furniture pieces.

When sizing large rugs, consider that the edges should be under each piece of furniture in your seating area.  A rug that simply grounds your coffee table and then is not large enough to extend under your couch and chairs is too small, and thus will not act as the appealing unifier it should be that anchors your furniture in a cozy, inviting fashion.  At a dining table, each chair should be able to be pushed back for dinner guests to get in and out and still have the back chair legs on the rug.  This creates the most unified look.  Plus, the frequent movement of chair legs could otherwise damage or scuff floor surfaces beyond the rug area.

For small rugs in entryways, at the kitchen sink, and in the bathrooms at the sinks and toilet base, think about the backing.  If your rug backing tends to be dried out, damaged, and crumbly when washed and dried, you would likely be better off with a more modern small rug that has no backing.  Instead, many rug options now are rugs on both sides that perhaps just have two different textures.  This way, you can machine wash them frequently enough for them to be fluffy, fresh, and clean and still in good condition. 

Just because they let you walk all over them doesn’t mean your home’s rugs don’t need a little TLC when choosing and maintaining them.  After all, quality interior design usually starts from the ground up.     

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 22nd.

10 Things: Easy Updates for Early Spring

1.  Restock your guestroom and bathroom.  Now that holiday travelers have come and gone, make note on your next grocery list what items need refills and backups – hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, new toothbrush packages, candles, and the like.  Do that now, and you will be set for your next set of guests without the last minute rush to prepare their space.   

2.  Frame the family.  Despite the prevalence of photos mainly online, framed family photos are still nice at home.  If you had a stand-out Christmas card photo taken or now have a good group shot after the holidays, print a large version and frame it to display on the mantel or as the center to a grouping hanging on a wall.

3.  Revamp the pantry.  Without all the extras you hauled in for your plethora of recipes last month, your pantry may need a little makeover to get it straight and organized.  And if 2012 is starting out on a health kick, now is a good time to purge the sugary treats now off-limits and stock with go-to meal options.  Why tempt yourself?

4.  Try a new living room arrangement.  If “the more, the merrier” in December showed you your home could use a new arrangement or traffic flow, enlist the help of some heavy lifters and try out new orientations with your seating and tables in your living areas for a fresh start.  

5.  Clean up the desk.  The thought of delving into 2011 taxes may be too taxing so early.  But you could give yourself a head start by ensuring your most recent files are in order and you have a refilled supply of office necessities like pens, paper, stamps, and so forth.

6.  Back up the family computers.  While you’re at it, use an exterior hard drive to back up every family member’s computer or laptop.  Name your hard drive folders with the computer owner and “January 2012,” and be assured you’re covered should there be any system failure in the near future.  Doing this quarterly is a safe idea to secure your important files.

7.  Cash in those gift cards.  Do not let your Christmas gift cards go to waste or be forgotten.  Make a list of things you want to replace, update, or add, and get shopping.  General gift cards can get you great new sheets, throw pillows, wall art, and contemporary accessories on someone else’s dollar.

8.  Set the table.  If your dining table now looks pretty sparse, put together a centerpiece that will carry you through spring.  Use natural elements like branches, stones, moss, and water for simple and easy décor.  Or focus on the next holiday and pepper your table with some pink and red as you look ahead to Valentine’s Day.

9.  Highlight your front door.  Minus wreaths and yard decorations, the front entry can look a little bare in January.  Arrange some taller potted plants or topiaries around your front door.  Throw down a general welcome mat.  Maybe even give your door a new coat of paint to spruce up your curb appeal.       

10.  Make your own list and check it twice.  Santa’s on vacation.  Put pencil and paper to planning ahead for your spring cleaning.  Take stock now of projects you could work in over the next few months so you can prepare a budget and set aside time.  Consider things like adding to your spring flowerbeds, getting your carpets professionally cleaned, fixing any household repairs in need, and painting inside or out.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 15th.

What Will Heat Up in 2012

Hot decorating trends abound at the start of each New Year.  What’s hot, what’s trending, and what will be “all the rage” indoors for the next 12 months in particular is something to brush up on now if you like to stay current.  So here is the scoop I’ve gathered . . .

 The most popular colors for paint, linens, and household accessories seem to be darker, rich shades this season: deep coral, peacock teal, emerald green, and ruby red.  Their cooler counterparts are light gray, bright butter yellow, camel brown, and bright white and beige.  Whether painting fresh walls, updating bed linens or window treatments, or adding new decorative elements, these shades are some to consider. 

Luxurious finishing touches also appear to be popular for 2012.  Marble and granite, dark slate tile, and glass bar tile in everything from a spa-like clear finish to shades of brown, green, and blue will accent kitchens and bathrooms alike.  Textures and layers will cover beds, tabletops, and seating area flooring.  Glossy surfaces of furniture and decorative accent pieces will be favored.  Mixes of materials – shiny with wood, silky with textured – will add depth and dimension to easy, eclectic style. 

Light will be an accessory of choice, with the use of large mirrors on open wall space and metallic decorations of silver, glass, and crystal.  Eco-friendly materials and products will continue to be popular choices when building, remodeling, and revamping this year. 

What is always in style is personalizing your space to let it reflect you.  There is something truly classic about using the shades, the materials, and the accessories that show off sides of your personality.  So let yourself shine in 2012.  That is one design tip that will never go out of style.  

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 8th.    
     

In With the New

“Out with the old, in with the new” is a statement most fitting for today of all days.  As 2012 is upon us and lists of New Year’s resolutions are being written out everywhere, there is no time like the present to contemplate things fresh and new for your New Year.

January is the perfect month for organization projects throughout your home.  Since Santa is usually very good, making room for new gifts should involve some of that “out with the old.”  If you were given some new small appliances and kitchen gadgets, what can now be removed to clear some counter or pantry shelf space of older items?  If you were given decorative items and household accents, what could you put away so your new displays can be featured solo?  Since the kids were likely given the latest and greatest of the toy department, what can you consider donating to teach them about giving and reclaim your storage structure at the same time? 

To add to your list making, what around-the-house projects would be perfect to get going on this year?  Paint a room or two to liven up your living area.  Switch out some lighting fixtures for more modern shine indoors.  Replace dated flooring for economical, easy maintenance options.  If you plan on moving this year, enlist some trusted outside opinions to start gathering ideas about making updates to add value and real estate appeal to your home over your future competition.     

Those things are thinking on a bigger scale.  But what are the little things that can make your 2012 fresh and new?  Add flowers to your home from time to time.  Build a date night into your schedule.  Treat yourself to a little something new and special, whether that be ordering that tempting dessert occasionally, or indulging in a house cleaning service quarterly for “the big stuff” in particular. 

Whatever appeals to you, make room in your home and your days for the new, the creative, the energizing for a revitalizing 2012.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 1st.  

Christmas . . . By Design

Today we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The design of God’s plan of sending His Son to earth as a baby at the perfect time in world history continues to inspire and change the hearts of the people He came to save.

The right king had to be on the throne.  The right mom-to-be had to have the precise past.  The right man had to choose her for his wife despite the speculation.  The right government decrees had to be handed down at that specific time.  The right place had to be available for a humble birth to take place.  The right heavenly bodies had to align to be the ultimate guiding light. 

The design set in motion before time began culminated in God’s flawless timing for the modest start to the life on earth of our Savior.  That life on earth would end in the greatest sacrifice that ever had or ever would exist.  And yet, He lives.  Today, we celebrate love.  We remember the journey of a virgin birth to the growth of a young man to the message of salvation He spread that continues to pass from generation to generation.  He could have come with all the pageantry and grandeur of a king.  But instead, he was born in a stable and was laid in a trough for the animals, just as God designed. 

God chose a most unique entrance for Jesus.  And we are invited to choose Him as the Lord and Savior of our lives.  He offers the free gift of salvation every day of every year.  No boxes.  No wrapping.  No bows.  No tags.  No need to place it under our Christmas tree.  The greatest of gifts is extended to you today.  All you need to do is open your heart and receive it.  That is the ultimate message of Christmas . . . by design.      

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 25th.

Personalizing Your Christmas Party

Treat your Christmas guests to a little something special by adding some simple, personalized touches to place settings around the dinner table and unexpected extras along with your holiday party buffets.  Let your family and friends know you are happy to host them personally this Christmas season.

The standard fold-over place card can be upgraded by accessorizing.  The mission is the same: designate each chair with a name to suit your planned seating arrangement.  But a little flair can go a long way.  Print name cards and tie them on to Christmas tree ornaments, setting them alongside each place setting.  Use a ribbon strand in place of a name card, using sticker lettering to spell out the names of your guests.  Tie each on to your napkin rings or run each through a decoration at each place, like a pinecone or a small wrapped box.  Tie decorative flag-style pieces of paper with each name onto candy canes or Christmas straws standing in the glasses at each place.  Pierce a few cranberries or other pieces of fruit with wooden grilling skewers, topping each off with a name card on the top.  Stand each in a drinking glass or small glass filled with dried fruit or pebbles and place beside each charger. 

For a little takeaway gift for each party or dinner guest in a more casual setting, spread your monogrammed accents throughout your buffet serving area, drink station, or on a foyer or sofa table.  Use the flag-style name markers on the sticks in cake pops or sticks you place in the center of cupcakes.  Serve them up on a decorative cake stand.  Fill a short cylinder vase with coffee beans and use it as a base to stand other little labeled goodies in it like whimsical holiday lollipops, rock candy, or tall candy canes.  Fill small favor boxes with mini chocolates, and add each guest’s name on gift tags or sticker labels you print out. 

Whatever small token you choose, let all those who gather around your Christmas tree know that special attention went into your guest list this year with your own personalized touches. 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 18th. 

                

Christmas Cards on Display

Your kitchen counter, foyer table, or storage basket may runneth over at this point as a series of Christmas cards and holiday photo cards have arrived and will continue to be special deliveries in your mailbox over the next few weeks.  Families can go all out with attractive Christmas cards worthy of display that can compliment your Christmas décor.  As more guests parade through your home this season, share with them the holiday cheer that has been so graciously extended to you by putting your Christmas cards on display.

String some thin ribbon back-and-forth or around-and-around a hanging mirror or decorative picture frame, securing points along the sides.  Secure cards and photos to intermittent sections of the ribbon with clothes pins, tape, or even paper clips.  For a back-of-the-door display, cut three or four sections of 2½ inch Christmas ribbon that run about ¾ of the height of your front, back, hallway, or bedroom door.  Spread the ribbon out evenly and secure the top of each piece to the very top of the door using thumb tacks.  If the ribbon is curling up, attach the end of each piece to the door with some double sided tape.  Again, use clothes pins or paper clips to affix Christmas photo cards along each strand. 

If you have a staircase, you can punch a hole toward the top of each of your selected cards, run a piece of thin ribbon through the hole, and string each up, tying them to sections of your banister.  For a tabletop display, fan out a bundle of dried branches from the craft store in a cylinder vase and use them like branches of a Christmas tree fit for ornaments.  Use clothes pins or ribbon to hang your photos and cards from branch sections, thus decorating your dried natural arrangement. 

A stack in a pile or basket does not allow you to look over your growing collection of Christmas photo cards again and again.  Pick your favorites, and give them center stage instead.  By using some simple supplies and a wall hanging, door, banister, or arrangement, you create a gallery to show off seasonal snapshots of your family and friends and celebrate the passage of 2011 and all the warmth and happiness it has brought us. 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 11th.

A Christmas Chandelier

Chandeliers do not always have to come straight off of a showroom floor.  At Christmas time, you can create your own to accent the places family gathers and add some sparkle and shine at the same time. 

Lighting fixtures over kitchen and dining tables and in high ceiling foyers can become anchor points for a homemade chandelier featuring beautiful Christmas ornaments.  Now, the tree is not the only place to showcase all those baubles and trinkets.  You need a few things to get you started on making your own chandelier: a plan, a collection of ornaments, thin ribbon, scissors, and potentially fishing line and hooks, an open picture frame, or even a decorative tree branch. 

First, pick the right lighting fixture in your home to build around.  If you have a longer fixture over your dining room table that runs with the length of your table, you may be able to construct using ribbon alone.  If your lighting fixture is more of a single pendant style over a table or in your entryway, fishing line and hooks can help you create your base using a suspended picture frame.  If the structure allows, string ribbon through the loops in the top of a series of ornaments and tie at varied heights directly to your lighting fixture structure.  Create an artful focal point in the way you string up each piece in your arrangement that produces a spiral, a traditional chandelier shape, or a “rollercoaster” of a silhouette. 

From a pendant style fixture, use fishing line and hooks to secure an open picture frame to hang below it to give you a surface to string ornaments from.  Always make sure the weight of what you intend to hang can be easily supported by your base.  To take it a step further, suspend a decorative branch directly from the ceiling using ceiling hooks and fishing line.  Hang your ornaments on ribbon strands along the branch, fashioning a real conversation piece for your guests throughout the season.  

Peruse some design inspiration online, and start building your own masterpiece to take your Christmas décor up, up, and away for a holiday that is even more merry and bright.       

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star December 4th.

The Christmas Switch

Every family’s traditions differ for the weekend following Thanksgiving.  You may have spent your weekend continuing to entertain holiday guests, stood in line in the dark and waited patiently for the best shopping deals, or moved on to Christmas with a whirlwind of decorating.  Can you guess which of these I did?

The faux pumpkins are packed away, and all is merry and bright!  If your home now has decked halls and walls, you’re all set for a new month of winter cheer.  If Christmas decorating is on your to-do list, here are some thoughts about getting the ornaments rolling.

If your table centerpiece for fall was built around a series of glass vases, the winter season can be highlighted using the same foundation pieces with new accessories.  Swap out the tablecloth for a shade that goes with your Christmas theme.  Empty the glass vases and give them a good wash-and-dry.  Stagger them down the table’s center again, and fill with ornaments.  If your Christmas tree has taken on a new theme or color scheme in recent years, using your older ornament collection or keepsake ornaments within your tablescape is one way to keep them on display without hanging them on the tree.  Fill in around the vases with another layer of holiday accents, which could include small loose ornaments, mistletoe or holly sprigs, or even a sprinkling of faux snow from the craft store. 

Replace your fall chargers, napkins, and napkin rings with winter versions.  That could be as simple as going from gold to silver chargers, from chocolate brown to white cloth napkins, and from warm-toned metal rings to jingle bell napkin rings instead.  Take down your front door wreath and hang up a Christmas wreath that features bells, shatterproof ornaments, or seasonal ribbon strands.  Replace your guest bathroom hand towels with whimsical Christmas hand towels, and add a new bottle of winter pump soap alongside the sink.      

When your fall décor started with some easily-transitioning pieces, making the switch to Christmas can be as smooth as swapping out accessories.  This makes investing in decorating staples that much more worthwhile.  And it makes getting to that warm Christmas feeling that much simpler.  

 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star Sunday, November 27th.

My Christmas tablescape:

   

The Hostess Diary: Preparing for Gobble Day Guests

As your food preparations will really heat up in the next week, turn your attention now to prepping your home for your Thanksgiving guests.  If family is going to be taking up residence in your guest room, get a jump start on making their holiday stay as comfortable as your post-turkey nap. 

Start by making your space for guests feel like a space for guests.  If they will be sharing a room with an office space or craft area, pare down on what is on display that speaks to work and not rest.  Clear your desk, put away displayed supplies, and store as much as possible out of sight in storage boxes under the bed or on closet shelves.  If your guest closet is doing double duty as a whole-house storage space, provide your company with an over-the-door hook stocked with hangers to hang on the outside of the closet door for their clothes.  Clear drawer space and let them know they are welcome to unpack.  If there is no room for a dresser, add a folding suitcase stand like those provided in hotel rooms.

Consider all the comforts of home and more that you can provide to make their stay cozy and enjoyable.  Layer multiple weights of covers on the bed to suit a variety of temperature preferences.  Provide blankets and additional pillows in a trunk or chest at the foot of the bed.  Add a serving tray to the nightstand alongside a good reading lamp that holds a water pitcher and glasses, a clock, and a box of tissues.  Provide some seasonal magazines in a nearby basket for perusing before bed.        

Outfit the guest bathroom with hotel amenities.  Provide new shampoo and conditioner in the shower, along with some fragrant fall shower gel.  Clear a drawer for guest supplies like individually packaged toothbrushes, travel size toothpaste, new razors, cotton swabs, and other necessities like a small hairdryer.  Keep guest towels in plain view, along with easy access to replacement rolls of toilet paper and boxes of tissue.  Provide a basket designated for used towels, and transfer them to the laundry room frequently. 

It can be a combination of little touches that ensures your overnight guests know they were thought of and very welcome in your home for your collective Thanksgiving feast.  

 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star November 20th instead of November 13th.

Christmas Zazzle Designs

Get a jump on Christmas photo cards and stamps to send out next month!  Here is a peek at the different Christmas designs used in my holiday collection. 

Find your fit.  There is plenty of winter whimsy to go around.
My Gallery

Soften the Season with Feathers and Ribbon

To incorporate a range of materials into your fall tablescape and decorative groupings, merge some softer textures in with your sturdy fall standards.  Feathers and ribbon are two modern materials that can bring a supple touch and polished finished look.

Fill a vase with a large bundle of tall feathers in lieu of flowers or branches, placing it in the center of your dining table, on your side buffet or hutch, or on the coffee or end table.  Hang an alternative to a wreath made of leaves or vines by creating your own feather wreath.  Use a styrofoam wreath ring as your base, and hot glue layer upon layer of feathers, completely covering the base and fashioning a full and fluffy end result.  Add a peacock feather to each place setting by tucking one into each folded napkin or affix one to each place card for your family’s Thanksgiving feast. 

Use slim ribbon strands in a print, pattern, or shade that matches your table’s décor, and wrap them around mini pumpkins, gourds, large acorns, or pinecones.  Secure one end over the other with some double sided tape.  Fill a large glass pedestal bowl with your collection.  As an alternative to dressy napkin rings, tie a ribbon strand around your gathered cloth napkin at each place setting.  Or fold each napkin to create a pocket for your silverware, placing a napkin on the charger at each place setting, wrapping each in ribbon.  You could add a decorative embellishment to the center of the piece of ribbon like a button, small fall leaf, or dried berry using a spot of hot glue.  For a casual table runner, run different widths and patterns of ribbon down the center of the dining table.  You could also run cross sections of ribbon across the width of the table connecting the place settings across from each other, generating a stylish grid system.

Soften the season with feathers and ribbons to enhance your autumn style.  You may just find the smooth touches add another dimension to warm your home from your doorstep to your dining room.         

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

Alternative Plans to Wrap Up Halloween

For a family that wants to keep their distance from the spooky, creepy elements of Halloween, there are plenty of alternatives to still have fun and make smart choices.

 Treats and sweets can originate in your own kitchen and not just in the candy bag today.  Make an afternoon activity of baking fun by dipping apples or making popcorn balls.  Both are seasonal favorites that can be enjoyed during the preparation just as much as the consumption.  Give kids other hands-on options like frosting cupcakes or drizzling chocolate over pretzels that can result in simple, thoughtful treats for them to give to a neighbor to turn the day’s focus on getting on its head. 

 For a crafty project, get the family involved in prepping for the next holiday by arranging the table and buffet or other side tables for Thanksgiving.  A handful of small to medium pumpkins, clear glass vases, white pillar candles, and bags of candy corn can create a visually interesting, whimsical centerpiece.  Alternate the pumpkins and vases down the table’s center.  Place a 3 or 6 inch pillar candle in each vase.  Fill in the base of each vase 2 to 4 inches high with candy corn.  It’s that simple.  If you want to go a step further, scatter autumn leaves at the bases of the pumpkins and vases you cut from a craft store vine or swag.  Lay out some chargers and cloth napkins at each place, and you’re well on your way to hosting a turkey feast around your table, and you’ve gotten the kids forward-focused with a positive project.

Wrap up the evening with a family comedy movie night, perhaps accompanied by those popcorn balls for a sweet alternative to a movie’s best snack companion.  Whatever you choose to do with your day, enjoy it.  Tomorrow rounds out one of the last weekends before the hustle-and-bustle, travel, and family gatherings really pick up during the holiday season.  And unwrap more than just candy. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star October 30th.

The Frames of Fall

To take fall décor up and beyond tabletop surfaces, you can use frames in creative ways to feature simple touches of the season.  Whether on the wall, situated on the mantel, or even suspended from the ceiling, picture frames can highlight more than treasured family photos.

Backless frames can be used in a variety of ways to construct appealing and uncomplicated displays to showcase any theme of your choice.  For autumn, use other elements like leaves, ribbon, acorns, pinecones, and craft supplies to put together structured collections.  Gather a few frames of varying sizes, keeping their exteriors similar – wood tones, metallics, or glossy acrylics.  Take individual faux fall leaves and space and affix them to a string of ribbon in a coordinating color or print.  You can use hot glue, needle and thread, or decorative tacks or pins.  Attach the ends of the ribbon to each side of the frame by tying or tacking.  Do this for each of your frames, and then arrange them standing up on the mantel, foyer table, or buffet. 

 For another variation, tie narrow ribbon strands around acorns or pinecones, and suspend them from the top of the open frame.  Stagger the materials and heights to create a modern spin on the concept of mistletoe in a doorway on a smaller scale.  You can also take small craft foam balls, pin a ribbon end securely into the center, and glue on small leaves, dried beans, or ribbon pieces, completely covering the foam.  Hang these from a backless frame and either display as recommended above, or, to take it a step further, securely suspend your frame or frames from hooks you anchor into the ceiling over a dining table or fireplace.             

A little crafting know-how and a willingness to think essentially inside the box can provide quite an attractive finished product.  Add some structure to textured pieces that represent the season with ease, and you will have a collection fully fit for display in the frames of fall.  

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star October 23rd.