Outdoor Rooms

With fall approaching, it might seem like a strange time to talk about outdoor spaces, but I love fall and when the air is nippy, I love hanging out outside, even if it requires a blanket! This past weekend we ate at a restaurant that had a wonderful patio with a waterfall and great lighting, the weather was great for outdoor dining and there is just something so wonderful about the atmosphere of outdoor spaces that makes the food and conversation better. Fall is also the best time of year to be outside, it's not too hot and the bugs aren't swarming!

In my current place, I have a balcony about 5'X14', so outdoor space is precious here.  You approach the balcony through a six foot slider from the living room and a standard french door from the bedroom, so placing furniture is difficult without blocking the doorways. I'm looking for ideas on how to make this space functional and cozy for sitting outside in the afternoons or for coffee with my hubby on Saturday mornings.

As I started my quest for function and flavor in this new place, I thought about my outdoor space in my last home in Las Vegas. I want to share my backyard makeover with you. Not everyone thinks of outdoor spaces as needing designing or decorating, but you can have "rooms" outside that increase the living, dining and entertaining spaces in your home. And the design and planning are done in much the same way.

Before

When we bought our home in Vegas in 2007, we were looking for new construction, because we'd bought an older home before and spent the entire five years we lived there remodeling and redecorating. We had just finished the kitchen when we found out we were transferring for my husband's job and I never even cooked a single family dinner in the new kitchen! So, this time, we wanted it all done, new and fresh so we could just live there and not work there... (some of you know exactly what I mean). 

Before

So, we got the beautiful new home with new carpets and freshly painted walls, everything was brand new down to the last appliance! But the backyard would take us over half the time we lived in the house, to complete! Now, that doesn't mean that we worked in the yard that entire time, it took almost a year to complete the plans and work out the details, but the planning is always the hardest, most time consuming part of the job... right?!

After

We wanted to make sure we had a space for cooking, eating, lounging and "sun worshipping", this is the desert after all and there is a lot of sun to be worshipped. In these photos you can't get a feel for just how big (or small depending on where you live) this backyard truly is. It measures a 65' wide by 29' deep, that is large by Vegas standards, and that berm is nearly 6 feet high. One contractor estimated that it was about eighty-five tons of dirt that had to be moved in order to give us backyard spaces at all!

I added individual patios for each "room" I wanted. I used the same materials for each, but in different patterns to make the "rooms" have their own character. As in every room, the space had to have a focal point, and I put a fountain on one wall to act as that focal point. It is visible from every part of the backyard and is spot lighted so that it becomes an even more important feature as the sun goes down. The sunning spot is a semi-circular shaped patio done by cutting brick shaped pavers and laying them in a fan pattern off the existing concrete patio.

After. 

The color scheme, (just like any room would have), consisted of the red brick wall, which we had to work with, gray of the existing concrete and the tan stucco of the house. I repeated that scheme in the rock wall, pavers and even the furnishings I chose. With the greenery from the trees and flowering plants all with blooms in red, purple and white the yard had a great cohesive feeling, just like the spaces inside the house.

The major point here is this; you can have outdoor spaces that add to the overall function of your home and you use the same design steps as you do for indoor rooms. 1) decide the function you need; 2) take stock of what you have to work with; 3) if you still need a direction, choose some inspiration; 4) make it your own!

I'm going to spend some more time developing my plan for my tiny balcony, I'd love to see what you all have done with your outdoor spaces. Send photos, post comments, give me your ideas!

"Adjectives" (Accessories)

 Accessories are what give a room it's personality, they set a tone and maybe even a theme to a space. Like adjectives, they are the descriptives to a room, (or an outfit)!  I am a huge lover of accessories and love changing accessories with the season or just for a change of pace. By changing a lamp or pillows in a living room, you can create a completely new vibe.

As a home stager/interior re-designer, I have seen how accessories can transform homes. I wanted to share with you today some photos from a cabinet showroom that I "staged" for an open house. Now, these aren't drastic make overs, they are just about accessorizing. The most drastic change I made to any of the spaces was to switch out knobs, everything else is subtle, but made some bold differences in the displays.

"Cafe" Kitchen before

"Cafe" Kitchen after

"Cafe" ~ I loved the striped wallpaper they had used with this display, but felt that the white knobs were not "accenting" this kitchen in the best way possible. I replaced the knobs with black metal ones and brought in very few simple accessories, but I think the space looks completely different! I placed glassware in the cabinetry, centered in each panel, for a symmetrical and clutter-free look.

"Peaches" Kitchen before

"Peaches" Kitchen after

"Peaches" ~ This kitchen is a bit outdated in finish, but is still shows a lot of the cabinet options that this company offers, so my job was to use accessories to enhance what I had to work with... actually, isn't that the job of accessories in every space? What was here didn't match at all, and a great deal of thought wasn't put in to placement.

I simply added a bowl of peaches, two bottles of lemonade, a plant and cookbooks, but what a difference! This just goes to show you that "staging" is powerful! Am I the only one who sees it?

"B&W" Kitchen before

"B&W" Kitchen after

"B&W" ~ This is one of my favorites! The most imaginative thing about this display was the wallpaper, and I loved it. I just happened to find plates with a very similar pattern on them and used them to add color to the simple black and white palette. I chose to use red, but you could add any color to this space and make it look completely different.

I, also, added clear canisters with rice and black beans and a decorative infused-oil that repeated the black and red color scheme. Again, basically four accessories, but changed the look drastically.

Now, this is just a showroom, and no one has to live in these kitchens, but the same accessorizing ideas can work in your kitchens too. Never underestimate the power of changing hardware. That one little change can make a huge impact on your design. It is one of the easiest things to do and probably the least expensive way to change and update your cabinetry. What do the accessories in your room say about you, or how you live? Try putting new "adjectives" in your rooms today!

Starting with Inspiration

I've written several times about using inspiration pieces to start your room design, and Amber from Atlanta has taken this suggestion and designed a beautiful master bedroom using her wedding rings as her inspiration! ( I only consulted on this room, she did all the work!) The room isn't complete, and when it is I will share the before and after photos, but for now, I want to talk about how she translated her inspiration.

Amber's Engagement Ring

First, let's take a look at the ring and think about the characteristics that can correlate to a room design. Amber told me that her decorating style was a little bit modern or contemporary and that her husband liked more traditional. So, since this is their most intimate shared space, it is important to make sure that they are both represented; and they wanted it to feel romantic. Here's how we broke down the details.


Traditional -  Wedding rings are all about tradition, and become a part of the history of, not just a couple, but their family as well. Their home is an historic home with traditional details like plantation shutters, crown moldings and original hard wood floors. It is a place in which they are building the "history" of their lives together. They have dark wood, very traditional furnishings with matching night stands, a triple dresser with matching mirror and a beautiful large bed. So, having taken stock of what they have, traditional is covered!


Contemporary -  The yellow diamond is contemporary, the styling of the ring is contemporary, so we set out to find the contemporary details for the room. Amber found beautiful bedding with pin-tucked pleating in a slate gray color, very contemporary in style and fabric. The color palette which is yellow (for the center diamond), gray (from the color of the white gold) and white (isn't it obvious?), is very contemporary and extremely popular right now. We found  lamps with a chrome finish which are contemporary and also translates very well as the metallic finish of the rings. They have glass accents and beautiful silvery gray shades which deliver a little bling and continue the color story! The walls, she painted yellow and has added yellow accent pieces and a wonderful zebra printed rug. (you can't wait to see pictures can you? me either!)

Romance - It is a master bedroom, that should be romantic no matter what! and, there is nothing more romantic than an engagement ring! The color palette and fabrics are soft and romantic. By choosing very personal accessories, like the hair-piece she wore in her wedding in a shadowbox, photographs of the couple or other special moments for them, just enhance the romantic theme. 


Now, that you know how we've "translated" an inspiration piece into a room, keep checking back for the progress and the final outcome. If it could only get done as quickly as I can write about it, that would truly be a magically "romantic" room, right?




(When choosing bed linens you should always get the very best you can afford. Remember that you will spend more time in these than any other single article of clothing you own, they should be the most comfortable and durable fabrics in which you spend time.)

Reading...again (and another broken rule)

So, today I was reading and looking at pictures on HGTV.com  Designers Portfolio, and I realized that the rooms that welcome me the most are the ones with less color. I think I'm one color off from being "monochromatic"! Or, as my Aunt Judy would say, "booorrrriiinngg!".

my wardrobe!

Then I took a look in my closet and my entire wardrobe, and think, it's not quite monochromatic, but it is pretty boring, at least to some people! What I really like about fewer colors is that, it's easy to get dressed, everything matches and for the most part black and white can be dressy or casual. It's about being simplistic and classic and in such a simple palette, texture goes a long way.

 Now, I don't just decorate my spaces with black, white and cream, although that is all I've shown you so far I think, but I could easily do so. I've heard designers say that picking color for your space is like picking color for your clothes. The colors you feel most comfortable dressing in, you'll feel comfortable living in as well.

My living room now. Do you see my "broken rule"?!

So, I took a look around me to see if I really am boring in my new space and what I decided is that I'm not! I think it goes back to the living in small digs, and needing less visual clutter in my own space, because in my house in Vegas I have lots of color!

Well, after I checked out my space more I realized it's not color that I don't have, it's pattern. With my dark purple wall (which I've totally ignored) there is actually tremendous amount of color here, but with the solid sofa, solid colored pillows and chair, it does feel less visually stimulating.

What you might notice, if you've followed my blog for long, is that I have used the same accessories over and over. I love changing things up regularly, and since I can't rearrange furniture, I rearrange accessories. I once heard a decorator friend of mine say, "A well appointed house is one where you can take furnishings and accessories from one room to another and they work beautifully". She is sooo right! It's the same with the wardrobe, mix and match every single piece! This again goes back to a simple color palette and knowing your style.

So, what is all of this about really? Well, it's this: take a look in your closet for inspiration on your style and color palette; remember that color and pattern are not equal when thinking about how to add them to your room; and use magazines and the internet to help you find styles you like and get a feel of what you'd be comfortable in! You might just find that your space fits you like your favorite outfit!

(The "broken rule" is the height of the art over the sofa, and I have to say it is a pet peeve of mine. However, when I hung them the sofa wasn't there and I was trying to make them about a hand's width above where I thought the sofa was going to be. Because they each require two huge anchors to hold them, I decided to leave them where they were! My landlord will be glad I didn't put more holes in his walls!)

Designing a New/Old Kitchen

As you all know, I've been working with my parents on their house. Well, we're at the point where it is time to rip out the old kitchen and start over! This has to be the biggest and most dreaded part of the house to remodel/redesign. This is where all of the things I tell you about where and how to start come in to play. I'll take you on a little journey with me as this all gets done.

First, let me tell you that the room is not very large, and at the current time has a set of stairs coming down one wall that land and turn out into the kitchen, they are going! There is also a storage area under the stairs that is no longer needed due to the large pantry we added on. So by removing this two-in-one feature, we are creating a lot more space. However, we are having to move the desk area out of the living room so we are building in a "home office" in that space. Having said all of that basically means that the footprint of the kitchen is remaining the same, so the goal is to make it much more functional!

So, to start off with my first step, taking stock of what we have to work with! Ok, the room is 14' 4" X 17', there are only three walls as one side is open to the dining room. There is a door to the deck in the corner and a window on the shorter wall over the sink. That window is going to be replaced, and we have not yet decided whether to add the same size or double it up (Momma and I say, double it up). Adding more window is great, more light and more view, but less cabinet space, so it's a toss up.

We have three large unfinished armoires which I put five shelves in each, two of them will serve as office supply storage, as well as the CPU and printer, craft supplies and books, the other will store dishes. They will make up one wall and will also serve as the ends of a desk top that will be fitted between them. The desk will also serve as a place for sewing, so the plan is to put a flat screen computer monitor on the wall over the desk, reserving the surface for other tasks. We will paint these armoires white, to tie them to the other cabinetry, since we have not selected the cabinetry yet, the color and hardware will be the common thread here.

"rough draft" of kitchen, but on the right track!

I've been working with the kitchen planning software on the Ikea website. I haven't yet figured out how to attach the plan to the blog, but when I do, I'll send it along. Of course, it is subject to change as we find obstacles to the plan. (This feature on Ikea's site is awesome, you can actually look at the room from all sides and angles, but this still image will have to suffice for now.)

Right now, we have all of the appliances except for the dishwasher and microwave, however, Daddy has been shopping for these in the "scratch-and-dent" sections of his favorite appliance stores. He has gotten some incredible deals on high-end appliances. Some of these were just purchased and then didn't fit in the spaces and returned, but because they weren't in new packaging, they mark them down tremendously! So, we're on the look-out for a dishwasher, microwave and great stainless sink!

As we search for materials and ideas, I'll keep you posted, and would love to hear your thoughts and ideas as well. Remember, this is a project on a tight budget and will be reusing, repurposing and recycling as much as possible. This isn't just about saving a dime, it's about saving the environment as well. We want to be true to the style of the house and still have modern conveniences. So creatively using materials and finishes is going to be the key to making this old kitchen new!

Reading & Writing

So, I was on Amazon.com today looking at decorating and home design books, (there are 5,899 books that come up under that search) and it got me thinking... why are there so many books about this subject? I think it's because so many people are intimidated by designing and decorating. I have heard so many people say, "I don't know where to start" or "I'm just not a decorator". Well, most people aren't decorators, but it can't be that hard, we all know what we like, right?!

When designing (or decorating) a space, I always start by taking stock of what I have to work with. It might just be an empty room with a window or it could be a room full of furnishings, either way, I look at the space and what is in the space and try to get an idea of what I want the outcome to be.

Outcome, for me, is about the function as well as the look or feel. For example, if it is a bedroom, it's pretty easy to decide the main function, but what if you don't have a home office, yet you need a place to pay bills and check emails, etc. Then we need to "build" in to the function of that room a space for a desk or at least a place to organize bills and mail.

In my current space I have a sofa table that is functioning as my desk. The desk that I have (and I love) is huge, it is nearly the size of a dining room table, so it definitely wouldn't fit in this condo, however, the sofa table is almost the same width, but not as deep and still has 3 drawers that keep my necessaries neatly organized. It is not ideal for long-term use (because I have 2 printers and right now can only fit one), but it works fine for me, for now.

Getting back to the point... knowing what functions you need from the room will help to decide layout, furnishings, lighting, color, finishes, just about everything! That seems like a simple thing, but sometimes it's hard to think of every single use you might have for a space.

Common functions for a den, for example, are TV watching, family gatherings, kids playing, even video games and usually a place for the family computer. That is a lot of function for a space that for most of us, isn't typically all that large. It requires a lot of seating, comfortable, durable finishes and furnishings, good lighting, but not too bright or it interferes with the TV, and enough floor space to play the Wii without smashing something! Right?!

A dining room needs a table and chairs, but what about space to store linens or dishes? And wouldn't it be nice if there was a space to set up a buffet or display desserts during holiday gatherings? This is a pretty easy one to figure out, but what about finishes and colors? This is where it gets in to what you like!

There are certain colors that invoke certain psychological reactions and it would do well to use those colors if you are looking for a certain reaction to your space. For example, the color red in a dining room increases the metabolism and stimulates the palate, thus encouraging energetic conversation, lively parties and gatherings. Think of a large Italian family gathered around the table... you know the colors would be bold and so would the food and fun! Green is a calming to a space; so if you like your meals quiet and relaxing, this is the color for you, would work great in a breakfast room, to wake you gently.

My best suggestion for a starting point is finding the inspiration piece. Maybe it's a piece of furniture or a color or a piece of art that you love, you can use anything! Ladies, have you ever designed an outfit around a pair of earrings or shoes? It's the same concept, only larger!

One other thing that I think helps when you just don't know where to start is thinking outside the box. Now, I've talked before about using furniture in ways that they weren't originally intended, but here it is again. When you are needing a buffet for your dining room, think about a dresser in a bedroom that you aren't using. You can also use extra dining chairs in a bedroom if you don't use them all the time. Try a drop-leaf table for a desk in the corner of the den, you can put the leaves up for more work surface and then fold them back down when you need the space. I love armoires, and I use them for everything from storing clothing, hiding the TV, a "desk" (because I can close the doors on my mess) and I've even used one in a hallway for a coat closet for guests. 

I like using old things, and repurposing so I love this book about Flea Market Decorating. Anyone can do it, it doesn't take a lot of money to be creative. It's about thinking out side the box, about recycling, reusing, but it's about having things around you that you love! It might just be that you can find inspiration from something old to create a new space!

So, what of all of this book writing and book reading on the subject of decorating and design... Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, and there couldn't be enough books written to describe every taste out there, so read the books (or blogs) and take advice, but write your own story in your space!

Time to Reflect

I have just spent the last couple of hours writing a new post and adding the photos and captions and clicked one wrong button and deleted all of that work! How frustrating! So, here is the photo "story" of my parents upstairs bathroom!

As I spent time traveling the past two days (13 hours in airports and planes on Monday and 7 hours in the car driving yesterday) I had time to reflect on some of the work I did at Momma and Daddy's. Most of the work is not visible because it is inside walls and beneath coats of paint, but we did the finishing touches on both bathrooms and the pantry.

This bathroom is on the second floor and has some funny roof lines. Because of the odd shape the only place for the shower was smack dab in the middle of the room. To the right of the shower is the toilet and sink and to the left is the laundry room.

Daddy added this room on a couple of years ago and it has functioned fine, but the finishes weren't complete until last week. I caulked all the trim, we painted, added shelves and then the fun part, decorated!

After

Before

There was very little storage because of the limited space and pedestal sinks. So they decided to add shelves to the shortest wall next to the sink. Because of the steep pitch of the ceiling, the space was not usable for anything else and yet it was too much space to waste.

We found the perfect bins to use for storage in the office supplies section. These bins are used for file storage, but worked so well here because they are square all the way to the bottom. (most baskets we found were narrower at the bottom and didn't utilize the space as well) We left the top shelf open for towels and since she uses only white towels, it looks very clean and organized!

I'm not going to pretend that we knew this would work out so well, but when we got home with the bins, they fit perfectly!!! I mean it was as if the shelves where built to fit them! What luck!

We used an antique metal kitchen canister for laundry detergent. And where this new addition met the old house there was an odd little niche that we closed in and made space for one more bin to store additional laundry supplies.

It is amazing how some carefully thought out storage made a tremendous difference in this odd space. The bathroom is actually quite large in floor space, but because of the odd angles of the ceiling, the space feels much smaller. The layout, use of every inch of space we could cut out for storage and the clean crisp color scheme, keep it from feeling cluttered. When it comes to organization and storage, think outside the norm. We found the best solutions in office supplies and antiques!