A Token Summer

Sometimes all you need is a familiar touch of those time-honored seasonal elements to keep things cool indoors while the summer temperatures continue to climb in the great outdoors.  For simple, easy additions to give your rooms a little sizzle, keep it updated while giving a nod to the traditional.

 Navy and white is the quintessential nautical theme, which pair perfectly for some summer flair.  Quick ways to add in navy and white, even if they are not part of your everyday décor, are placemats and napkins around the breakfast table, a printed runner rug in the hallway, a swapped-in coverlet for the guest bed with all-year white shams, and a handful of bright, printed throw pillows for the living room seating.  These two neutral shades accompany other colors like coral, aqua, lime green, and pink, which also lend themselves to this season’s look.    

Sand, shells, and starfish say summer supremely.  Say that six times fast.  Cake stands or glass cylinder vases with little beach scenes make quite the view down the center of a dining table or highlighted on a buffet or foyer table.  Layer sand, seashells, and other dried sea naturals for small vignettes that lend a breezy feeling to your space.  For the same type of layout, consider collections of lemons, limes, and oranges for a fresh and fruity arrangement instead. 

Other naturals that can make their way indoors include both natural and faux grass decorations, little potted herb gardens, and river rocks.  Whether accented on a coffee table, lined in a window sill, or filling a bowl on a night stand, earthy elements also provide small settings inside that represent their seasonal spots outdoors.  These can also be great souvenirs that will call up the memories of your summer vacation well into the fall. 

Taking it back to basics and putting your own modern spin on traditional tones of summer can feature some new decorations in your home without any hassle.  Quick, simple, and true-to-type decor can offer you a truly token summer.          

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

    

 

We Go Together Like . . .

Timeless duos: macaroni and cheese, peaches and cream, Bonnie and Clyde.  Some things just go together.  Design is no different.  Powerful combos add to the look of our homes, our wardrobes, and the styles that let us shine.

Colors combined show flair and visual interest in how we paint our walls, outfit our furniture, and stock our closets.  You can never go wrong with the classic black and white.  It’s traditional and yet always contemporary.  A twist is navy and white, which is a classic combo this time of year with its nod to the nautical.  Other popular pairs include navy and aqua, coral and turquoise, spring green and pink, and gray and butter yellow.  Think along these lines when picking new paint, upholstery fabric, bedding, rugs, invitations, jewelry, and handbags. 

Layering patterns together has gone beyond the old philosophy of one-at-a-time.  Put a lattice design, with its wide geometric print, with a tighter, more intricate pattern like a modern paisley or floral.  Mix a zig zag print with sunburst dots, or an animal print with a brighter solid.  The power of two is in letting each shine in its own individuality while making a unified statement together.  Think couches and throw pillows, rugs and drapes, sheets and comforters, and even accent wall wallpaper and headboards. 

Storage and organization go hand-in-hand.  Oh, you knew I had to throw that in.  Even great decorating can take a back seat when a home has an overall feel of clutter and chaos.  Meld organization techniques right into design by using attractive storage solutions: dark woven baskets, linen boxes with lids, fabric bins, and acrylic cases.  “A place for everything and everything in its place” is an organization motto to adhere to in order to keep your chosen design style in the spotlight.    

Good things can be better together.  The right pairings come together to make bolder statements than the individual pieces convey alone.  Take the Noah’s ark approach and move forward two-by-two to double up on style. 

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

A Sift-Through Summer

Summertime is a great time of year to get to some of those passed-over organization projects that the rest of the year seems too hectic for.  And while trying to beat the heat, staying indoors can pull double duty.  Here are some simple areas to tackle if your storage space could use some sifting through. 

Books – With the increasing use of eBooks, their paperback counterparts are not the only option anymore.  If your book collection houses selections you do not deem classics or read-again worthy, pull out the excess and donate or resale them to free up some storage or display space.

Movies and CDs – We all have movies that do not get watched again.  VHS tapes take up space, and not every home still has their player attached to their entertainment center.  DVDs are sometimes bought but are not considered real keepers.  And CDs are likely transferred to computer music files.  Old VHS tapes can be sorted through and donated.  DVDs and CDs in their original cases can be sold online for some easy extra cash.    

Toys and Games – Toys mount in a home like seemingly no other item.  Some board games are just taking up cabinet space but do not make the rounds of family fun night anymore.  Paring these down is a good family project that can free up space better used for more active household goods.  Toys and games make great garage sale items that can add money to your vacation fund.          

Seasonal Serving Pieces – Those melamine trays you bought a few springs back have not seen a backyard cookout since.  Your corn skewers are red with rust.  But they all still have a home in your kitchen.  Sort out the keepers from the pieces you will not pull out again in front of guests and free up some cabinet and drawer space for “the good stuff.”

Luggage – Take stock of the suitcases and bags you have in the closets, under the bed, and in the garage.  Those that are showing wear signs of having seen more than their fair share of trips could use replacing, especially if you typically pass them over when packing.  They are too big to stay home year after year.     

These or any categories that are pertinent to the things you store at home can make straightforward to-do list items to mark off, organization style.  Gather, sort through, and decide: keep, toss, donate, or sell.  Clean up, clean out, and kick back, satisfied with your productive self this season. 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star July 16th.

Let's Take This Outside

To add a little curb appeal or a splash of design to your back patio without outfitting your space with a complete patio furniture set this summer, consider setting a smaller scene instead.  A little can go a long way with the right placement and accessories. 

More than just windows can frame your front stoop.  Establish a welcome entryway by placing one outdoor chair alongside a small metal side table next to your welcome mat.  Chances are you may have these sitting around in the garage in all their old, rusted glory.  This is a perfect opportunity to give them new life.  Clean them up, sand the surfaces, and give them a fresh coat of paint fit for outdoor furniture use.  You can choose clean and bright white, a modern gray tone, or even a brighter pop of color like a sunny yellow.  Add one printed outdoor pillow to the chair’s seat and top the table with a potted plant.  Your mini seating area can add real charm to the look of your front door. 

The same game plan can also go for your back patio door.  Add a few battery-powered candles to the table’s center for nighttime use without a breeze blowing out regular candles.  If you have flowerbeds nearby, stake a garage sale find like a couple of tiki torches or metal lanterns on stands in the dirt.  Dress up the area with a bird feeder or bird bath or some large garden stones.  String some outdoor lights to the underside of your patio cover to provide a soft light for your evening backyard time the whole season long.  For a different or additional small seating area, place a bench on your patio or within a garden setting.  Toss on a couple of patterned throw pillows and a coordinating seat cushion to add some color and softness.      

Other summer-perfect outdoor accessories are inexpensive, plastic Adirondack chairs for lounging; glossy, square potted plant holders for seasonal plants or an herb garden; a lacquered serving tray for a thirst-quenching break from the heat; and even an outdoor rolling cart to house some board games and cards, garden-tending tools, or extra bird seed. 

Repurposing some old pieces or nabbing a bargain at a summer yard sale can add a fresh style on a small budget to dress up your front door or backyard hangout.  Perhaps a little paint and some simple accessories can say more than your welcome mat does on its own.    

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

    

A Sparkling 4th of July

It’s not too late to pull off a talked-about 4^th of July party for family, friends, or your neighborhood bunch.  The clincher is to carry out the patriotic theme in everything you serve up and set out.  Think red, white, blue, and bountiful.

Keep the drinks sweet and simple, such as lemonade, iced tea, and an even combination of the two, known as an “Arnold Palmer.”  Serve a punch in a red shade or a fruit juice you tint blue with some food coloring.  And keep the ice coming to chill down the evening.  Fruits can also play a key role in a simple fruit tray appetizer or rosy dessert.  A tray of strawberries, cherries, and blueberries with a fruit dip can tide the crew over until the main course comes off the grill.  To take it up a notch, use a star cookie cutter to cut out decorative pieces of watermelon or pineapple as well.  A strawberry or cherry cheesecake, cupcakes with tri-colored sprinkles over icing, or a layered gelatin dessert with whipped topping would polish off the night perfectly. 

A backyard barbeque featuring hamburgers and hotdogs is classic and can be easily outfitted with all the trimmings to dress up your casual meal.  Serve toppings and spreads in a buffet of white dishes and trays that showcases a clean, streamlined look.  A build-your-own style accompanies this type of set-up well when you allow guests to add their favorite toppings, allowing you more hands-off time to relax and chat.  Chips or French fries served in red, white, and blue tissue paper cones are portion-perfect sides.  Paper plates and plastic utensils and cups in the three colors make set up and clean up as easy as can be and continues to carry out your casual theme. 

Keep décor simple, like red and blue candy in groupings of small, white dishes, and even use fireworks or – more my style – sparklers arranged into centerpieces that will be used to end the night with a bang.  If you have tiki torches or paper lanterns stored away, this would be a great summer night to get those out and put them to work to light your after-dark space. 

Turn your backyard or your family’s dinner table into a gathering place for a fuss-free, breezy evening spent around some all-American dishes with a flair for the thematic.  And celebrate the 4^th of July with some true, patriotic sparkle.    

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

Designer Touches for a Sizzling Summer

As the mercury climbs up the thermometer, find ways to cool off your summer while still turning up the heat on style.  Here are some ideas to do just that. 

• Serve up a casual ice cream bar with a self-mixing twist.  Instead of the standard candy additives, offer up a variety of summery fresh fruit pieces that will freeze when you stir them into your icy dish of ice cream or sherbet.  A tip: lime sherbet with fresh raspberries is a tasty seasonal combo that is already icing down my summer.  

•  Instead of soda or your regular iced tea for weekend dinner guests, mix up three different kinds of lemonades, limeades, or flavored teas and serve from frosty carafes.  Toss in thinly-sliced lime or orange rings for added flavor and a fancy drink top-off.

•  Using regular ice trays or the slender straw versions for plastic bottles, fill with a couple of blueberries, raspberries, or mint sprigs per section, top off with sparkling water or juice, freeze, and drop your decked-out ice cubes in tall glasses of chilled tea or punch at a gathering, showing you really pay attention to detail when entertaining.

•  Go all-summer with a dessert selection, opting for popsicles and watermelon wedges instead of heavier brownies or cake to accompany a backyard barbeque.  Fill smaller metal or plastic tubs with crushed, shaved, or tiny ice, and stick popsicles and watermelon wedges right in just before serving.  Don’t forget the napkins nearby!

•  Skip the stovetop, and feast on a selection of cold salads: pasta, potato, chicken or tuna, garden, and fruit.  Lay out your spread with crackers, and enjoy, minus the heat. 

•  When roasting corn on the grill, go beyond butter.  Why not go the way of the baked potato and offer up a “corn bar” with butter, cheese, crumbled bacon, chives, sour cream, and the like?  Have a serving area prepped for cutting corn off the cob (it’s harder to eat on the cob in front of others, isn’t it?), so all those decadent mix-ins can really blend in.

•  It doesn’t take a wedding reception to enjoy a “candy bar.”  Serve your own version at a 4^th of July party or other summer gathering.  Serve loose hard candy and retro favorites like rock candy in a scattering of plastic beach pails instead of dressy apothecary jars, scooping with small plastic sand shovels into little takeaway baggies.  Skip the chocolates for an outdoor event.  Why melt?

•  Go carnival for a weekend and rent a popcorn popper and a snow cone machine for a party - one for your appetizer and one for dessert.  They would make perfect bookends to a memorable night in the backyard, giving your guests a little throwback to summers gone by.

Beat the heat and stay stylishly cool this sizzling summer! 

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

In Honor of Dad: The Man Cave

In honor of Father’s Day, today we’ll tip our hats to that elusive area of a home that you may or may not make room for: the man cave.  When a guy gets that satisfying space to himself in a home to watch sports, display memorabilia, and not use coasters, that’s called a man cave.  To ensure any designated man cave in your home still has swagger, don’t pass on the style.

A man cave typically centers around a television and the entertainment it provides.  Now, the backdrop of this scene in my mind is not light and airy and bright; it’s darker, bolder, more masculine.  Painting this room or alcove a dark shade of gray or espresso can set the stage for proper sporting event viewing.  The seating should match that vibe of relaxed comfort.  A leather sofa and side chair in chocolate brown or ebony is a winning combo and does not need any fluffy extras.  A metal or lacquered coffee table that allows you to put your feet up can anchor the seating area.  Window treatments can stop at dark wood or faux wood blinds and skip the fabric panels and still keep the glare off the big screen.    

Blocky side tables can be great anchors for masculine metal lamps with clean white or dark drum shades.  Memorabilia – trophies, medals, souvenirs – can be displayed on thick floating shelves in solid wood finishes.  Picking favorites and cutting down on displaying too many pieces can keep a shelving area looking sleek and can highlight special pieces.  Work small stacks of books into your display, some standing up and some stacked up on top of each other.  To show off your showcase, can lights in the ceiling or track lighting can do the trick.  For memorabilia like sports’ jerseys, hanging them in frames gives them more purpose and gives your lighted walls a gallery feel.

A man cave can avoid descriptors like “slopping, messy, and dirty” altogether.  Keep DVDs and CDs organized in bins or specialized storage pieces, and then store them in entertainment cabinets or shelves.  Hide chords to sound systems or other entertainment or gaming equipment for a streamlined look.  Store magazines in magazine bins or baskets alongside your seating area instead of scattering them about.       

The ultimate point is to give a man a space of his own, minus the floral prints, paisley pillows, and feminine touches.  Bold and solid can be pulled off in a smaller space that still has that comfortable feel, perfect for your go-to weekend retreat.  After all, Dad deserves an opportunity to kick back and relax.

Happy Father’s Day!

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

Unity: A United Homefront

Unity, our last and final design principle, “is the feeling of harmony between all parts, creating a sense of completeness.”  Unity wraps up every principle of design we’ve covered so far and essentially says to put them all to work in your space for a harmonious end product that is the place you call home. 

 To me, completeness in a home is about layers.  When you look at a style magazine spread of a beautiful home setting, and then peer over the page at your own room in jealousy, the difference can often involve those extra “layers” in a professionally designed space.  Minus their high dollar price tags, you can put on your professional designer hat and think of ways to up the ante on your home’s style factor.  

Recall all of the design principles – balance, emphasis, movement, pattern, repetition, proportion, rhythm, variety, and now today unity.  Pick out something in each room that expresses the meaning behind each principle to create the most unity in the space you live in.  Find balance in the way you arrange your living room seating, maybe opting for a new configuration that highlights the pieces as a whole even better.  Choose a key color to emphasize that carries through different parts of a particular room.  Use your patterned fabric choices and wall hanging layouts to chart the course of how your eyes roam through an area.  Bring life into your décor through savvy selections and rearrangements that play off of each other well.  Plan out your space from the top of your crown molding down to the center of your flooring so that interesting and important things show themselves off on every layer. 

Ultimately, you are the best judge of how unified your home feels to you.  What invites you to gather your family around the dinner table and stay and visit awhile when the meal is over?  What calls you to curl up and rest in your living room with a movie or a book and gives you that space to just breathe and be at home?  Stark, stale, and uninviting is not what you want your home to project.  I believe we would all prefer to open the door to a home that instead expresses a feeling of welcome, calm, and warmth.  How you create that for yourself is entirely up to you on your united homefront.           

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

  

Variety is the Spice of Your Home Life

Variety, design principle number 8, is defined as “the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the viewer’s eye.”  It is your use of lines, shapes, forms, space, colors, and textures that adds those dashes of variety to your living area that creates visual interest aplenty. 

Variety can be enhanced by the art of the unexpected.  Think you need to stick to one pattern or print in an area?  Not necessary, actually.  You can mix a shower curtain with a curvy geometric print with clean-lined striped towels and solid colored bath mats.  Zig zag curtain panels can be paired with a multicolored, flecked rug and upholstered occasional chairs with a floral twist or a solid leather sofa with throw pillows of varying designs.  Layer different patterns to slather on the variety. 

When hanging a grouping on a wall, mix the shapes, sizes, and materials to create an eclectic blend with art gallery flair versus a streamlined grid of the same frames.  Hang round or sunburst mirrors with square and rectangular framed art or photos alongside unframed canvases or retro ceiling tiles.  When setting up a general season table centerpiece, vary the heights of candle holders, combine clear glass vases with solid ceramics, and blend wispy grasses and florals with smooth rocks or stones.  When you take in the complete scene, it is the melding of the different pieces together that makes it an appealing collection.

Variety is also displayed through a mixed bag of furniture pieces.  You can buy a set right off a showroom floor.  Or you can pick and choose a slew of pieces from different lines or sources to add a different flourish to the space.  A clean line couch next to a small, round end table, along with a loveseat or side chairs with feminine, curvy lines and nail head details gives a room personality.  In a bedroom, an upholstered headboard with a wavy shape to the top, plush, mini ottomans at the foot of the bed, and a masculine, blocky dresser keep the room from being one sided, but is diversified instead.

Variety can be the spice of your home life when you boldly mix and match and layer different shapes and colors and textures to ensure each area of your home expresses parts of your style in unique, creative ways.   

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

    

Get a Rhythm

Rhythm is number 7 on the principles of design list.  We define rhythm as being “created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organized movement.  Variety is essential to keep rhythm exciting and active, and it creates a mood like music or dancing.”  Now, the elements of design are the tools – lines, shapes, forms, space, colors, and textures.  We have put them to use in our previous principles.  And now it is time to dance. 

One way to offer up a rhythm vibe in a room is to layer textures.  Silky bed coverings paired with embellished accent pillows and crisp, white linen shams keep a welcoming bed from being a one-note wonder.  A smooth leather ottoman atop a fuzzy, thick area rug next to an upholstered sofa brings variation to your seating area and visual appeal to your space.  An ornate lighting fixture hanging in an entryway that is greeted with the sleek lines of a modern foyer table and the repeating pattern of a rug flush with the front door threshold provides those spice notes that meets your guests with swooning applause.   

Using color to hit all the right notes also adds that rhythmic element to your home.  Rhythm obviously joins with Movement to bring layers of design into a space.  Repeat your chosen colors in interesting ways to generate that beat.  Pick up a soft tone from your fabrics in a living area or bedroom and paint your ceiling that pale shade in lieu of the standard white.  Take an accent shade from a rug and use it again in printed pillows, drapery panels, wall canvases, and accessories on shelves.  Paint your walls the color of your sofa or other seating, and then let the smaller pieces be more muted while the big elements pop.    

March to the beat of your own drummer and find the rhythm that works for the space you reside in.  And for you Johnny Cash fans – you know I had to go there – you can get a rhythm so you don’t get the blues.       

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

        

Proportion: Sizing You Up

Number six on the list of design principles is Proportion, which says it is “the feeling of unity created when all parts – sizes, amounts, or number – relate well with each other.”  This principle of design draws on some old staple rules of home decorating that still ring true today.        

When hanging pictures or other artwork, odd numbers look more cohesive, with three and five being the most popular collection numbers.  Occasional seating chairs usually come in twos, providing a nice balance alongside a sofa or fireplace.  What is hung over a fireplace mantel is usually large, such as a sizeable mirror or portrait, as it compliments the size and opening of the fireplace itself.  A lighting fixture over a dining table will likely be larger than other lights in the home because it is in proportion to the size of the table arrangement.  On the other hand, lights over a kitchen bar can be slender pendant styles to coordinate with the individual bar chairs.  What you hang above a bed’s headboard should not be too small, as the bed’s size would overpower it.  Instead, a large mirror or framed art, or a series of small to medium-sized framed or canvas pieces together works with the largest item in the room instead.    

Tabletop and shelf decorations need proportion as well to look pulled together.  You would not place a floral arrangement alongside a lamp if they were the same overall height and size.  But a short, compact vase of flowers beside a taller lamp with a broad shade would couple well together.  A tiny coffee table in front of a large couch is going to look too off balance, but pair a substantial table or upholstered ottoman with your sofa, and it adds to the warmth and inviting feeling of your setup.  Consider a similar plan for pillows on your seating arrangement.  The mixing of shapes and heights of throw pillows can fill in and add more dimension to any sofa. 

Vary the size and number of items in a furniture arrangement or decor display for a cohesive appearance.  It is how you compile pieces together that gives a space a unity that builds the right proportions with visually appealing elements.  With the goal of creating rooms that look polished with a professional touch, focusing on proportion can give you a sizeable advantage in the design department.    

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

Pattern and Repetition: Play It Again and Again and Again

Pattern and Repetition make up the forth and fifth principles of design that we can apply to the look and layout of our homes.  Because they go hand-in-hand, we’ll cover them together.  Pattern “is the repeating of an object or symbol all over,” while repetition “works with pattern to make the artwork seem active.  The repetition of elements of design creates unity.” 

A little secret: these two design principles can be pretty easy to pull off, because they can come home with you rather ready-made.  Consider some fresh ways to integrate a little pattern and repetition into the rooms of your home.  An Oriental rug is traditional, but you can take a 5’x7’ floor space and kick it up a notch by rolling out a chevron, zebra, lattice, houndstooth, or paisley printed rug instead.  The repeating pattern of each can make an art statement all by itself.  Pick up a similar or complimentary pattern in a fabric selection in your seating, lamp shades, and wall art to create that activity element and repeat a pattern in another spot in the room. 

Wallpaper is the time-honored use of pattern and repetition.  Except now, it is used as more of a bold focal point than a muted backdrop to a room.  Wallpaper in stripes, a lattice pattern, or a repeating geometric print can accent a hall bathroom, dining room, entryway, or one standout wall behind a headboard in a bedroom.  Repetition can also play out on your walls in the way you hang mirrors with unique borders or a series of similarly framed pictures or even swatches of fabric or sheets of printed paper.  It is the collection and arrangement of simple items that make them a unified work of art that brings a liveliness into a space. 

Take simple items that display patterns and prints that you like, and put them together to create attractive displays in your home.  It can be as easy as selecting a new rug, some pillows or drapery panels, a lamp shade, blanket, or framed pieces.  Take it a step further by adding in a weekend DIY project, like hanging some wallpaper or making your own custom art.  Ultimately, if you’re looking for a fuss-free way to incorporate more design into your rooms, playing on pattern and repetition is a no-sweat, high-reward route to take that plays on and on.

Happy Mother’s Day! 

Next week: Proportion 

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

Movement: On a Roll

Movement is the third design principle.  When it comes to art in particular, movement is defined as “the path the viewer’s eye takes through the artwork, often to focal areas.  Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color.”  So this week, we’re not just focusing on what we emphasize in our home decor, but how we ensure that others look from area to area in a flattering fashion.

Think up, down, and across.  No, not crossword puzzle directions.  But rather, examine the visual flow in each room in your home.  What causes us to look from spot to spot?  Let’s start with “up.”  Stairs come to mind first.  If you have a second story or just a few steps up to your front door, consider different colors or surface materials for steps versus risers.  Some paint their stairs, using one color for the steps and a different color for the risers, such as espresso and white.  Stair steps can be covered in carpet, while risers remain a painted or stained wooden surface.  The eye catches the variation differently than a solid block of color or single material, causing that visual tick up. 

You can hang floating shelves in clusters to display framed photos, artwork, or some decorative items like pottery, vases, shells, or metals.  When the edges of the shelves are in contrast to the wall color behind them, you can create movement from line to line in your collection, whether they are one lined up on top the other or hung in a staggered pattern. 

Another popular design today is a chevron pattern, the repeated pattern of zigzag lines, alternating usually between white and a bold or bright color.  A large chevron area rug can create movement in a seating arrangement or under a dining table, as if to welcome you into that space. 

Round décor, whether wall art, frames, or a collection of mirrors or old ceiling tiles, can be hung together to create a whimsical flow that draws the eye through a space with fluid movement.  A grouping without rigid edges remains loose and visually flowing from piece to piece. 

Incorporating movement into your living space is all about adding or rearranging elements that help the eye keep traveling through the space.  What makes you look across your walls, through your displays, and around your furniture?  Keep the ball rolling by having precisely positioned pieces that keep the eye moving.  Now you’re on a roll.

Next week: Pattern and Repetition

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

Emphasis: The Eyes Have It

The second principle of design is emphasis, which is “the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention, usually denoted by one area standing out by contrasting it with other areas.  The emphasized area will be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc.”  Good home design has emphasis on something in each room or each area of a room that can be deemed important or special.  Your emphasis is your pop, your focal point.  So what do you choose to focus on?

Tables are easy, because your emphasis is typically on what you put in the middle.  A floral arrangement on a foyer table draws the eye in and adds a splash of color and life to your entryway.  A seasonal centerpiece shows emphasis through its size and height, and it usually incorporates pops of color or decorative items that take center stage. 

Wall art shows emphasis by either being a large, singular focal point, such as a mirror or painting over a mantel.  Or, it shows emphasis by being made up of a collection of smaller pieces that come together to create a unified whole that is the main focus of one wall or area of a room, like a collage of similarly framed photos, decorative canvases, or framed art. 

The emphasis of a solid couch can be the bold fabric choice in the throw pillows at each end, just as the emphasis of an inviting bed can be the arrangement of shams, sleeping pillows, and throw pillows atop a billowy comforter.  Your focal point can also swing high and low by being a grand lighting fixture in an entryway or in a bright printed runner out in front of a neutral washing machine and dryer. 

The phrase “a wondering eye” takes on a different meaning when you plan out your visually appealing focal points of each room.  What do you want to garner attention?  Use color, different dimensions, and a shift in size to catch some glances and compliments alike.  Look from surface to surface, wall to wall, and decide what needs to be the main attraction, and then give it the platform it deserves by letting it shine while its background becomes the supporting cast.  After all, when it comes to what’s emphasized, the eyes definitely have it.    

This marks DesignInMind’s 100^th column! 

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

Principles of Design: Tipping the Scales of Balance

It feels like a fresh time for a new column series.  So we will spend the next few weeks reviewing the principles of design and how we can incorporate each into our living spaces.  Those principles are balance, emphasis, movement, pattern, proportion, repetition, rhythm, variety, and unity.  So put your thinking caps on and pull out that notebook and pencil.  School is in session. 

Balance is defined as “the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space.”  Balance gives a space stability.  There are three main types of balance in design: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial.  Symmetrical balance is my favorite, and it simply means that what you do on one side, you copy on the other, creating two equal halves.  Asymmetrical balance has two sides that are different, but they still look balanced.  Radial balance can be depicted in a tire – everything is arranged evenly around a center point.    

When you consider balance in home design and decorating, furniture and large accessories are major factors.  A room with a lot of furniture on one side and sparse on the other can look odd because it lacks balance.  Walls with artwork that lacks some continuity can disturb the visual balance.  Instead, visualize that legal scale in your mind - the one that teeters back and forth as weight is added to each side - when you arrange pieces of furniture, position lamps and small tables, and hang up wall art.  Decide which path you want to take – parts of a room that are equal, close, or that radiate out from a central point. 

For symmetrical balance, think of an arrangement that allows your seating to mirror each other, placing couches, love seats, and occasional chairs in a copycat fashion across from each other.  If you hang a large mirror on one main wall, add something of similar size to the wall opposite it.  If a sofa table has a lamp on it, add a matching one to the other end.  For asymmetrical arrangements, you can be less matchy-matchy but still balance that scale in your own way; it does not have to be about exact proportions, but an overall feeling of evenness.  Think of this when you spread a color or a textured fabric throughout a room.  For radial symmetry, let your placement generate out from a fireplace or entertainment center and be less angular and a little more curved instead.  In wall art placement, hang a larger center piece and other framed items around it.

When you peer into a room, an overall feeling of welcoming balance and purpose should greet you.  Visual weight in a room or on your walls pulls a lot of weight when it comes to how complete a space is perceived to be.  So get to sliding those furniture legs and accessories around and tip the scales of balance in your creative favor.  Next week’s principle: Emphasis.     

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