What Is It Good For?

Items around the house, though typically designated for specific purposes, can often be repurposed for a variety of different uses.  Thinking through your options and putting some to new uses can make the tools you have that much more useful.

Let’s start with an easy one.  An abaca media basket is shaped and sold to hold DVDs in an organized, attractive form.  But take the same narrow, rectangular basket and let it hold a loaf of bread, snack items, boxed meals, or canned goods in the pantry.  On a bathroom counter, one can store rolled hand towels, wrapped decorative soaps, cosmetic products, or extra toilet paper rolls in the cabinet.  In a child’s room, media baskets can line up books on a shelf, diapers and wipes on a changing table, or small toys or puzzles in a cubby system.

A kitchen serving tray or cocktail tray can serve a meal away from the table or glasses of punch at a party.  But place one on a coffee table and corral your remotes and coasters in one orderly spot.  Make a tray on your foyer table the first stop for mail, car keys, and sunglasses when you walk through the door.  Use a tray in the home office for stacks of paper to restock the printer, magazines and catalogs for perusing, or a pretty collection of stationery, envelopes, stamps, and pens.  Stacked trays of the same size in the cabinets of a buffet or entertainment center can keep sets of placemats and napkins separated and neat.  A tray on a guest bed nightstand is a resting place for reading material, tissues, and an alarm clock.   

And the list doesn’t stop there.  Picture frames can double as trays, small bowls or tea cups can hold earrings and bracelets, cake stands can be risers for table centerpiece components, and flat sheets or tablecloths can double as drapery panels.  Decorative drawer pulls can be mounted as wall hooks, magazine files can also be an office filing system or craft paper sorters, and a metal beverage tub can turn into toy or sports equipment storage.

Repurpose everyday items to put what you have to good use.  Decorations and household goods can often have a storage component to them.  Playing double duty can bring form and function into the stylish mix. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 14th.

 

 

 

A Grand Garage

Your days attached at the hip to the lawn mower have gotten more frequent.  The potting mix grounding those bright blooms is leaving a trail to the backyard.  And the tools needed for your latest home project are not as handy as you’d like.  Now that spring has sprung, your maintenance command center – also known as your garage – could use its own overhaul.  Tackling this project can be a sweat-inducing undertaking, but it’s far better than a garage that always looks like a hot mess.

Most garages end up being the household catch-all.  The first step to a garage makeover is to remove the excess.  If you have unused items that could be donated, round them up and let them move on.  If you are storing items, such as seasonal decorations, that could go in sight-unseen storage like your attic space, gather them, contain them properly, and carry them up the fold-down ladder.  Let the garage do its job: hold the family vehicles, sports gear, and tools related to all sorts of home maintenance.  When you pare down, you open up a lot of space saving possibilities.    

Because space is limited, use that perimeter around your parking spaces to the best of its ability.  That means taking things vertically and maximizing your storage space from garage floor to ceiling.  Shelving systems you put together can be lined up next to each other and provide shelf after shelf of storage space.  Back the cars out and use the open floor area to sort your keeper items into categories before filing in your shelves.  Stack the paint cans together.  Use breathable bins to house bottles and bags of weed killer, insect granules, potting soil, and the like.  Keep your cordless tools in their carrying cases with bins next to them for all the accessories like drill bits and battery chargers.  Use clear plastic storage containers with lids to hold extra paper towel and toilet paper rolls to free up the laundry room cabinet space.  Use mounted wall organizer strips to line up tools like your broom, mop, rake, and other garden tools.  Roll up extension chords and garden hoses in individual bins to avoid tangles and knots.  Mount racks to hold sports equipment up on the wall and use open air bins or large crates to keep sports gear rounded up.  Save designated areas for larger items like the mower, edger, large ice chests, trash container, and recycling bins.         

Find a place for everything and keep everything in its place with the right tools for your tools in an organized, compartmentalized garage fit for showing off each time that double door raises. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 7th.

 

 

As We Gather Around the Table

It’s fun to gather the family around the dining room table for a special meal as we celebrate holidays, milestones, and distinctive events.  As you set the table for Easter, add those extra touches that help set apart the day as anything but ordinary. 

There may be no such thing as overlaying when it comes to setting a “wow” table.  You can toss the rulebook that said placemats were for bare tables and chargers were for tablecloths.  If you have ‘em, why not stack ‘em?  Lay down an ironed tablecloth.  Position placemats at each place setting.  Top those with chargers, followed by dinner plates.  If you can serve your meal around the table or off of a buffet in the room, you can skip the informality of an in-home buffet line through the kitchen today.  If you save up the cloth napkins for “special occasions,” then today’s their day.  Anything from a simple, rectangular fold to a dressy flair inside a napkin ring will do for napkins you place on top of each dinner plate.  Or, you can fold them to create a long bar and tuck them around your chargers, creating another layer like a table runner between each charger and dinner plate.    

If your guest list has grown beyond your everyday table diners, spruce up each place setting with place cards.  Simple, folded cardstock works, but you can get creative with cursive names written on real or plastic eggs or little marked bags of candy for a pre-dessert.  Lay out all the silverware your meal calls for, including salad forks to the left and a dessert spoon or fork at the top of each place setting.  If you have tiny tasting dishes, you can even serve salt and pepper at each place, offer individual dipping oil for bread, or later serve small dessert portions so guests can splurge and try a variety without the heavy portion.  Beside each tea glass, make like a restaurant and provide a water glass, complete with a tall glass bottle on the table or buffet primed with chilled water at the ready. 

Make some extra effort to make today dressier than the everyday.  Because today is a special day.  Today, we celebrate how much God loves us and how He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place and rise victorious over death so we could have the opportunity to accept the gift of salvation and spend eternity never parted from Him.  And there is nothing to be more grateful for than that as we gather around a beautiful table and bow our heads in thanks this Easter Sunday.

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 31st.
 

Congratulations to those selected for the 2013 Royal Algodon Court, which is announced today!   www.AlgodonClub.com


Happy Easter!

How to Mix Patterns and Prints

Some rules were meant to be broken, as they say.  But some are not.  When it comes to mixing fabrics with different patterns, prints, and textures, it’s a pretty safe bet to stick with the rules for the most attractive layered results.

 If you want to try your design hand at layering prints and patterns to spruce up your rooms, first start with color.  Choosing a color family as a jumping off point gives you a foundation to build on.  You want to select shades within a color family that blend well together, but without a matchy-matchy hang-up.  As a secondary step, you want to choose a contrasting color to throw in the mix.  A non-monochromatic look will give you the most bang for your buck for the most varied, layered look. 

 The next element to consider is scale.  You want to mix your scales to avoid visual confusion.  The best blend incorporates a large print with both medium prints and small prints.  Stick with one main large print and build around it.  You can select multiple mediums and smalls to add in.  When you have some selections in front of you, whether fabrics on the bolt or items in a store, stand back and look at them as a grouping.  If you like each piece individually and as a part of the group, you’re probably on to something that could work for your space. 

Variety can be the spice of your look.  Don’t be afraid to experiment with layered solids, stripes, florals, and geometric prints, along with mixing in different textured fabrics and finishes.  Just stick to the points of main and contrasting color selections, varied scale, and a cohesive blending of pieces you love.  Incorporate this concept into a collection of the same item, like several throw pillows on the couches or on beds, or in layered decorative elements like drapery panels, lamp shades, upholstery fabrics, and rugs in the same room. 

You can lay it on thick and love the finished product when you decide to experiment a little with varied patterns and prints.  Why not have more than one for a look that is simply much more fun?       

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 24th.

 

 

      

Home Accessory Shopping List: Check

When you’re out and about, certain items can catch your eye, making you stop in a store aisle and wonder if they should just hop right into your cart.  If you want to add some current accessories to your space to update or add some seasonal color, keep an eye out for stylish items on this shopping list:

Wall Hooks – They come in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes, and they double as form and function hanging in an entryway, mud room, or hallway for bags, jackets, and umbrellas. 

Wall Clocks – They’re not just for an office setting.  Pick a bright and colorful one or a large, formal piece and throw it into the mix of what you display in frames and on canvas. 

Pitchers, Stoneware, and Vases – Both glass and ceramics continue to be great additions to little collections on display in clusters in a variety of spots, especially when they add pops of color to a room.

Lamps and New Shades – Gourd and pendant lamps are pretty popular now, as are drum shades.  Flank two lamps on a sofa table or buffet, or replace a dated tapered shade with its modern cylindrical cousin. 

Starburst Mirrors – Fanning out from the standard round or rectangular styles, starburst mirrors become reflective pieces of art all on their own when hung in any room.

Accent Tables – These contemporary side tables are scaled down from the typical four-legged versions and include sculpted metal and ceramic drum and stool versions.  Many are not really big enough for a regular lamp; just set them beside a side chair and offer a coaster or short stack of books topped with a small arrangement.    

 If you’re in the market for some larger pieces:

Leather Ottomans – In larger sizes, they take the place of a standard coffee table while still offering a foot rest and a kid-friendly soft edge design.

Mirrored Foyer Tables or Nightstands – Add some glamour to your entry or bedside with these neutral pieces that blend with many décor schemes while reflecting light and style into the space.

X-Bench – Two of these make the perfect resting spot at the foot of the bed or in place of a regular bench in your living room seating. 

Parsons Table – With sleek lines and an unfussy look, a parsons table is a classic choice for a new dining room table or even a slim table for a home office space or as a foyer table. 

 It’s always good to have a list to go by when you intend to shop.  Keep your eyes peeled for good deals and hot buys that can both update and dress up your rooms.  New style – check it off.  

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 17th.

 

 

Decorating Trends for Spring 2013

With Easter just three weeks away, now can be the time to start ushering in your spring décor as the weather warms and the kids are primed for Spring Break.  Let’s take a look at what spring décor themes will be trending this season.

Bird nests are big right now.  In different forms throughout the decades, nests have been pretty classic.  But modern spins have nests displayed in clusters empty, attached to a greenery backdrop like moss ribbon, and with pale shades of eggs in tow in faint blue and champagne shades.  They can be built into table centerpieces, rested on top of a stack of books on the coffee or end table, or added into a topiary, whether flanking a front entryway or sitting on top of a foyer table. 

Pale shades in general are hot this spring.  Taking a detour away from the more traditional pastel colors of pink, green, blue, and purple, spring is taking on more of an upscale neutral feel with the incorporation of gray, white, champagne, muted blues, light coral, and faded sage greens.  Incorporate these in table linens, guest hand towels, couch throw pillows, and decorative knick knacks. 

Decorative accents like painted metal lanterns, birdcages, and glass and ceramic dishes will be featured displays as well.  Back-to-nature naturals like tins of grass, boxwood topiaries in both pot and pom forms, and clusters of blooms like hydrangeas will make soft, attractive additions to counters, tables, and shelving.  For fun twists on spring staples, use children’s rubber boots as outdoor planters for a favorite potted bloom, fill a bright ceramic pot with clean garden hand tools for a patio table centerpiece, or stash early Easter candy in a pretty vase usually reserved for a bouquet. 

Find ways you can put some spring in your home’s step for a fresh, bright start to the new season.  Whether traditional or modern is your style, there are countless options out there for incorporating some seasonal flavor in your home, sweet spring home.   

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 10th.

 

 

        

Filling Your Decorating Tool Kit

As the calendar turns a page toward spring, we naturally turn toward thoughts of spring cleaning, revamping, and seasonal makeovers.  You may not want to be focusing on the deep cleaning projects around your home just yet, but we could ease into it with a restocking of your decorating tool kit. 

Power tools may be the go-to for the typical tool box, but savvy home stylists need some other tricks up their gloves.  Think versatile and handy.  Painter’s tape covers doorframes and edges you want to keep paint free.  But it also marks off areas of a wall to act as a gallery border, allowing you to hang up frames, canvases, and other artwork with the outside edge clearly labeled.  Once each piece is hung, simply peel off the tape and admire your clean lines.  If you’re moving around furniture for a new look, painter’s tape can also mark off the corners of to-scale furniture pieces on the floor after you have done the measuring to give you a visual about what will and won’t fit where, all before sliding heavy items.        

Clip rings are a great little tool to have on hand.  They make hanging, moving, and changing out drapery panels quick and easy.  Without having to ensure fabric panels are custom fit to each drapery rod, you can change out what borders your windows with flat (ironed) sheets in a style you like, fabric-by-the-yard you have hemmed, or any packaged drapery panels.  No loops or pockets – just clips that chomp down on the fabric’s edge and a ring that slides onto drapery rods – can help you take fabric wherever you want it displayed.  That can include making fabric room dividers or creating your own extra closet space behind a fabric cover. 

Cleaning wipes can be a tool you want to add to your repertoire if you haven’t already.  They make cleaning up countertops, fixtures, and other surfaces quick and simple for not just cleaning but picking up around the house.  Storage baskets in various milk crate sizes go beyond a storage solution to decorative accents when used to hold remotes, magazines, toys, towels, and more.  Brass picture hangers that use two small pin-like nails for each piece of hardware give you a leg up on getting wall art level the first time, helping to reduce those second hole attempts.  Keep a candle lighter on hand in the drawer by your kitchen scissors to light a candle or two for quick home fragrance and a little dinner ambiance. 

Though not part of what we ordinarily consider “tools,” you can use these and develop your own list of go-to materials to help out around your home to get things neat, straight, and decorated to your liking.  Keeping the right supplies on hand can be the key you need to make such a big job a little simpler. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 3rd.

 

 

Things We Love: Food

How could I round out a series on what we love without including a passion for food?  Food is more than the spice in life; it can be some inspiration to enhance your living space. 

Italian and French cuisines are two popular décor themes for kitchens.  You can easily find a slew of wall art pieces, figurines, and dishes that showcase European flair where you cook and eat.  If you want to take it a step further, Italian style kitchens can be accented with stonework countertops or backsplashes, cooper cookware, and an oversized stove vent that is a focal point of the room.  French style kitchens often feature wood beam ceilings, off white cabinetry, and plates, molds, and platters hung directly on the walls.        

For smaller scale décor items, attractive wine bottles, copperware, displayed platters, and grapevines can create little vignettes on top of upper cabinets.  Footed cake stands and serving bowls can hold fresh fruit like apples, oranges, and citrus on a countertop or kitchen island.  Fresh herbs like basil, thyme, rosemary, and mint in small pots can be grouped together in a kitchen windowsill for live plants you can use in your cooking.  Oversized, decorative flatware, pizza peels, and dishes can be featured as wall hangings.  Foodies can frame the covers of food related magazines and hang them as a collection.  Even nice knife blocks, storage canisters, and upscale spices on display add to the look of your cooking space.

Sometimes setting the table with restaurant practices in mind can be a sweet addition to a good meal.  Cloth napkins do not have to be reserved for a holiday.  Use a saucer for dipping oil and some dried minced garlic to go with your bread.  Pass the salad bowl around instead leaving it in the kitchen.  Light a candle or two in the center of the table.  Buy a couple of tall, pretty glass bottles, fill with filtered water, and keep them in the refrigerator to be able to serve cold water at the table during mealtime. 

Secretly or not, most people love food.  So why not let that be shown in our kitchens and around our tables?  We can dress up more than our plates with inspiration from the foods we crave as we really lay out a mouthwatering spread.           

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 24th.

 

 

   

Things We Love: Travel

Pack a bag, get away, and bring back more than a souvenir.  That is what we can do when we really take in the scenery, the culture, the atmosphere when we travel.  Traveling can have a huge impact on design, whether that be what we fill our homes with, how we dress, and what we serve up around the kitchen table.  

Where we travel often says a lot about what appeals to us already.  Avid beach goers, for example, who enjoy the sand and surf, could easily be drawn to the use of light blues and khaki shades, white woods, and shells and grasses in their décor scheme.  So whether you rack up airline points, are a road trip veteran, or simply enjoy other locations vicariously, tune into what appeals to you and see if any of those elements could find a home in your home.

Metropolitan ventures could leave you wanting sharp lines, leather finishes, nailhead detailing, and the use of metals.  A coastal cottage retreat might inspire some natural jute rugs, indoor/outdoor accent pillows, Adirondack chairs, and white wainscoting on the lower portion of the bathroom or dining room walls.  An escape to the Far East could be filled with bold colors in jewel tones, elaborate fabric prints, ceramic figurines, and the use of lattice in lanterns or room dividers.  A European excursion might bring back a desire to create an alfresco dining space, display a museum-quality piece of local art, or make some countertop upgrades in your kitchen.  Some time away to relax in a spa setting may leave you wanting to deck out your own bathroom with plush, white towels, dimmable lighting, teak accent pieces, and pretty serving trays for soaps, a rock display, or rolled guest towels. 

In addition, really going somewhere could bring home photos aplenty that could be framed as a collection or turned into wrapped canvases for display.  When you love the look of an area, remember to take photos that do not feature people.  Use scenery and cityscape photos as art.  Take a stack of souvenirs, like brochures, coins, ticket stubs, maps, or trinkets, and arrange them in a shadowbox to hang on the wall, stand in a shelving system, or lay on a coffee table. 

Use a love of travel and destinations to inspire some elements of design and décor in your space.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a world traveler or a travel magazine enthusiast, you can still bring home a little piece of the world at large with some larger than life designs.       

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 17th.     

 

      

 

Things We Love: the Movies

Ah, the movies.  Just a touch of old Hollywood glam or a moving love story, and women swoon.  Or if you’re like me, you feel inspired, too.  Just looking at a Nancy Meyers movie set design makes me want to shop.  And decorate.  The movies can be a prime place to get inspiration that can in turn impact the look of our home.  So pass the popcorn, and pay attention to what you would deem motivating that could add a little flourish to your space.

Set designers, with all the resources at their fingertips, can create warm, beautiful scenes of inviting living rooms, posh master bedrooms, and vacation spots you would want to frequent.  We can’t necessarily match their finished product – or their budget – but we can pull elements from what turns our heads and apply that at home.  The next time you sit in a theater or have a pajama Saturday with a string of your favorite DVDs, get inspired for some redesign or revamping.

What draws your attention in a movie scene set in a home, restaurant, business, or other location?  It could be paint on the walls, a style of cabinetry, a stand-out piece of furniture, eye-catching fabrics, lighting, fixtures, wall hangings, rugs, or a general décor theme.  Now there’s a difference between loving it and loving the idea of it in your own home.  If you feel inspired by something you see on the big screen that you could picture in your space, figure out a way to incorporate a similar element.  That may mean picking up a paint brush or recovering some cushions.  Or it could mean splurging on a planned purchase or just keeping a theme in mind when out shopping for knick knacks. 

Movies can transport us for a couple of hours.  But there is also something a little magical about how a really good movie can impact us.  And I love that we have the opportunity to peer into someone else’s world in a movie and bring a little something back.  And for me, that played out yesterday in my own love story as I went from Miss to Mrs.  That’s right: the design I have in mind now is joyfully wrapped around all the ways in which a newlywed can make his house their home. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 10th.

 

 

 

 

                

Things We Love: Personalization

In honor of the upcoming celebration of love, Valentine’s Day, we’ll devote February to acknowledging those things we love most that influence the look and feel of our home and our sense of design.  This week, let’s give a nod to what makes us unique – the ways in which we personalize. 

The possibilities are limitless when we consider all the ways we can add our own touches to our homes.  Some pull ideas from television, magazines, and online, and some just have that creative flair to institute their own concepts in décor.  Whatever the motivation, personalization is expression.  It reveals something about you in what you put out there, so let YOU shine through.  Use a color palette that reflects your favorite shades in anything from wall colors to fabrics to dishes.  Put your own stamp on things by incorporating your monogram or initials on decorative pillows or shams, or bath towels or welcome mats, and have a custom address stamper made for a consistent return address on outgoing mail.  Play up your curb appeal with larger, modern house numbers installed on a stand-out color door to set you apart from the neighbors.   

Change some lighting options in your home by adding in more lamps for warm light or turning current fixtures into lights that dim.  Lighting expresses mood in a room, and having options never hurts.  Show off your hostess skills by decking out your guest bathroom and bedroom with more amenities than non-hotel guests expect, like dressy shower gel, black washcloths for eye makeup removal, allergy sensitive pillows, and a soothing sound machine.      

If you have an artist side, devote wall space to your own artwork or photography.  If cooking is a passion, be known for setting a beautiful table with scrumptious dishes for a regular weeknight and not just a special occasion.  If you are an avid reader, display your hardback collection proudly by using stacks of books throughout your home in decorative settings instead of filling one stuffy bookcase. 

You know what makes you stand apart from the rest.  Now revamp the ways you can let that show in how you decorate, organize, and run your day-to-day home.  Celebrate your many options for personalizing and loving the space you live in.  

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 3rd. 

 

Fabric by the Yard

You walk through the fabric section of a craft store, and inspiration can just jump out at you.  All those bolts of fabric are home projects all wrapped up and ready to measure and cut.  Whether you are a crafty sort that can sew anything you desire or the perfect delegator willing to turn over large and small projects to someone who can, fabric has the power to really dress up your home.

Let’s start big.  Reupholstering can be a big and pricey project depending on what you want to recover.  You can take a sofa or a side chair with good bones and update either with a contemporary fabric.  You can take a dated headboard and do the same.  You can build a new headboard with the right wooden structure and padded look you want for a bed and customize it with fabric to coordinate with your bedding.  This scale of project is well suited for a professional, but there are plenty of smaller jobs for a weekend DIY project enthusiast. 

If you can work a sewing machine and a needle and thread, pillows are something you can crank out pretty handily.  Throw pillows made from fabric selections you love can take a seat on your sofa, occasional chairs, or atop every bed in the house.  Pillow shams in both the standard and Euro sizes can round out the look of your bedding with a custom touch.  You can also add a matching throw blanket to the end of the bed or over the arm of the couch. 

If you can never seem to find a tablecloth or placemats you love, you can take fabric by the yard and create your own look for the dining table.  If you think that’s doable, making coordinating chair cushion covers would not be a stretch.  Measure for your own custom window treatments, and a simple hemming job can produce window panels ready to hang from ring clips.  To turn one of your selections into another decorative element, frame sections of fabric to create wall art or cover the base of a wooden serving tray for a visual upgrade. 

There are countless ways to use fabric by the yard to update the look and feel of your home on both a large and small scale.  For both the do-it-yourselfer and the hire-a-pro homeowner, a little yardage can go a long way.

 

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

 

      

A Closet Case

If you’re sticking to “get organized” on your New Year’s resolutions’ list, consider upgrading your storage materials to make your lofty job that much easier around the house.  Your closets and shelves just might thank you.

If closet space is tight, you could consider a splurge on “skinny hangers.”  Sold in packs, these thin hangers take up less space and come in slip resistant material.  Hanging belt, tie, and scarf keepers get these thin items out of drawers and up on the rack in a narrow space, allowing you to see what all you have at once.  Boot inserts allow tall knee boots to stand up and not fall over so they can stand together on a closet floor or upper shelf.  If your lower hanging rod has a shelf over it, divided jewelry trays can slip right in below your upper hanging clothes for concealed storage at hand while you’re dressing.

For a storage closet, utilizing all the space at your disposal can keep supplies easily accessible.  Hang an over-the-door pocket system for a variety of materials like arts and crafts supplies, batteries, small tools and picture hanging supplies, or gift wrap accessories.  Install a short cleaning tool rack to get mop and broom handles up on the wall so they don’t tumble every time the door opens.  Line your shelves with storage bins for anything from files to seasonal decorations to special dishes.  If wall space is open in a walk-in or reach-in closet, hang up hooks for reusable shopping bags or dog leashes.  To keep the floor of the closet neat, use boot trays for a tidy shoe arrangement and clean floor. 

Whether you hang it up, hook it up, or line it up, creating that place for everything will put every inch of your shelving, wall, and floor space to tip-top use, giving you the ability to retrieve and return your supplies with organized perfection.  The right supplies, however simple or extensive, can make all the difference when you really want to keep things straight.  That’s a closet case you can be proud of.  

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

   

Little Showoffs

A little updating can go a long way.  When you want to toss some new [small] pieces in the mix without bursting the bubble of your budget, some creative purchases can add a renewed sparkle to your decorated space.

Attractive storage boxes like those with a glossy paper coating, matching lid, and paper label insert on the front, can take storage to center stage.  Whether you really use them to store photos or trinkets or leave them empty, stacking and scattering a few small storage boxes on shelves or end tables amounts to organized décor.  Additionally, lacquered boxes in various shapes, sizes, finishes, colors, or prints make nice toppers to a stack of books or a partner to a lamp or floral arrangement. 

Let the kitchen loose in the rest of the home by displaying pitchers, decorative bowls, platters, or trays.  Sometimes you see cute kitchen accessories in stores that do not necessarily “go with” your pieces at home.  No bother; buy a stand-alone item and show it off on a coffee, sofa, or entry table or entertainment center shelving.  Vases can play the same role.  No flowers are required to allow a grouping of cohesive vases to decorate the center of your dining table or buffet. 

Artwork can be small and simple and certainly not carry art gallery price tags.  You can hang little groupings of framed art or wrapped canvases to make a larger art statement on a chosen wall.  Or you can even use individual pieces off the wall by leaning them against the wall over the mantle or sit them on a bookcase shelf as a backdrop for a little cluster or scattering of small decorative items in front.  Small knickknacks can go from clutter to catchy simply by arranging them properly and can top off a display perfectly.

Little finds can equal big surprises.  The next time you see one of those affordable “gotta’ have it” items, don’t stress about how you could use it to the point of leaving it behind.  Take it home and pick a spot to put your find on display.  Chances are, you’re going to love it.    

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

Tips and Tricks for New Year Flair

For a little refresher to jumpstart 2013, here are some tips and tricks for maximizing your design know-how and boosting the look and appeal of the space you call home. 

To increase the surface space you have to display decorative items, swap an end table for a short, open bookshelf alongside your living room seating or in a room that serves multiple purposes, like a guest space and home office.  You keep the tabletop you need for a lamp and add extra layers for displaying books, décor, a throw blanket, or bins of office supplies. 

In a larger room, put two matching area rugs together for a more economical option for floor covering than one oversized rug.  With a repeating pattern, place the two rugs right together for a visual extension.  For another option, place two non-matching rugs near each other to add a textured, layered look to the space. 

Instead of built-in seating below an empty windowsill, try adding a wooden or upholstered bench.  This added decorative layer can hold a couple of throw pillows for an inviting seat or a stack of books for a multi-functional bookshelf.  When space is limited, use a backless stool or cube ottoman in place of a desk or vanity chair, allowing you to push your seating completely under the furniture piece. 

As an alternative to a mirror or large scale artwork over a bed, hang two square or rectangular mirrors behind the bedside lamps directly over the nightstands.  This adds depth to the room and a classy element for a hotel-style feel.  For a little variety in the wall pieces you buy, choose pieces and mirrors that can hang vertically or horizontally to be able to switch their positions and move from room to room.

In a wider entryway, forego the narrow sofa table against the wall and opt for a round table in the center of the foyer.  When layered over a runner rug beneath the room’s lighting fixture, you have a nice focal point just past your front door.  To highlight your wall art, draw the eye toward a cohesive grouping by hanging pieces with one primary color scheme.  This mix can be created with a blend of framed art, wrapped canvases, and framed or decorative mirrors. 

Whether you swap one item for another or use your design eye to choose multifunctional pieces, your stylized placement of both large and small items can be the difference between just being fine and truly having flair. 

 

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