Accessories

Humans have always brought a little bit of Mother Nature indoors – from fresh cut flowers as a kitchen table centerpiece to bundles of dried herbs hanging from the rafters; the reality is that our species derives a sense of peace and connection when we integrate nature in our living spaces.

One way to do this is to have potted plants and trees in every room of the house. However, there are other, more creative and unique ways to integrate greenery into an interior design.

Unique Ways to Integrate Greenery into Your Home Design

Here are some of my favorite ways to use unusual greenery into your home.

Arrange Willow Branches in a Vase

This time of year, willow trees are just beginning to bud. Have you ever noticed how precious those tiny buds are? They sit like rounded-cones, in proportional distances, along the graceful, winter-bare branches – and each bud is covered with a soft, velvety fuzz.

Here’s the great thing about willows – they contain a plant hormone that promotes rooting. You can stick a cut willow branch into water or soil and roots will begin to sprout within a matter of weeks. Thus, if you make a clean cut, you can pop your beautiful willow branches into a large vase with water – and enjoy them for weeks and weeks – and then they’ll begin to grow roots.

In large, clear vases, your willows will stand tall and proud – looking beautiful on an entryway table, standing in a corner of a dining room or living room, or you can set them in your home’s nature corner. Once you – or they – are ready, transplant each one into gallon pots and keep the soil moist. Voila! You have a willow tree to plant in your own yard and you can give some away as gifts.

Surprise yourself and your guests with air plants

Air plants are pretty trendy these days, but no wonder! It’s like magic to see a plant, thriving in nothing but – seemingly – air. In the “real world,” these adaptable, alien-esque plant forms make themselves at home just about anywhere in and around rain forest canopies. Using just the barest amount of organic material and ample atmospheric moisture – they thrive.

In your home, you can place air plants in an old piece of driftwood on a shelf, in those air plant-specific glass containers – or just about anywhere you think one will look good. Give it a generous mist from a spray bottle once a week or so, and your air plant will thrive. If you’re able – a little peat moss at the base helps to anchor them and give them something to sink their mini-root hairs into.

Plant a bulb and watch it grow

Remember when you were a kid, and the teacher passed out clear plastic cups, soaked paper towels, and a few beans? You lodged the beans between the wet towel and the cup sides, put the cup in the window and watched the bean sprout.

Old or young, it’s pretty neat to watch something go from seed, to sprout, to plant and then flower. You can do the same thing – in a very adult way – with a single plant bulb and a cup or jar of water. Bulbs that work best include daffodils, crocus, tulips, grape hyacinth, snow drop, iris, and hyacinth. The key is to grow it in a vase or glass that is as tall below as the flower will grow upwards since this is the amount of space its developing root system will need.

Be Re-purposeful and revel in succulents

Succulent gardens can be propagated just about anywhere, old teacups, ceramics, terrariums, dangling from other potted planters and so on. To step it up a notch, I recommend making succulent wall panels. These can be built easily using old picture frames, knick-knack shelves or a weathered window frame. All you need is backing, hardware cloth, and some moss. Once it’s rooted (takes about a week or two) the entire thing can be hung on the wall. These make a beautiful greenscape and they’re a fantastic option for rooms that lack a nice view – they serve as a substitute window. The panels can be as small or as large as you want so don’t be afraid to be bold.

Here’s a tutorial on how to Make a Living Succulent Picture, and here’s another fun DIY project for a ladder/hanging succulent garden.

Potted plants are great, but I recommend getting fresh inspiration this spring – using greenery in a whole new way. You’ll appreciate the overall effects. Happy greening!

As an interior designer, mirrors are more than a reflective surface or decorative bonus – mirrors are problem solvers. They can become just about anything a design needs such as open, brighten, sparkle, redirection or focus. It’s all in how you use them.

Can Mirrors Be Incorporated into Milk Glass Decorations?

Can mirrors be incorporated into decorating with milk glass? Absolutely! Mirror accents can add a touch of elegance and depth to your milk glass decorations. By strategically placing mirrors behind or underneath milk glass pieces, you can create stunning visual reflections and amplify the overall beauty of your decor. So, next time you’re sprucing up your display, consider adding mirrors to take your milk glass decorations to the next level.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Here are some of my favorite ways to use mirrors as tools, even when they’re acting as a feature.

To make a small room look a little larger

When I was a child, I was amazed at the effect certain mirrors had in a room. When placed just right, a mirror became an optical illusion, and I could swear it was possible to walk right through into that mirrored world – through the looking glass, so to speak. This is the case when a well-placed mirror reflects just the right opening or angle of a room. The effect will make a smaller living room or sitting area feel much larger than it actually is and it adds visual interest to boot. The mirror in this quaint, San Francisco bungalow does just that, and it does double duty, acting like an extra window.

Add a window where there isn’t one

In the case above, the room is already nicely lit, but the window echoes the adjacent window’s lines so beautifully that it acts almost like a match. I also like to use mirrors in rooms where there isn’t a window – or only a single window – to be had. They trick your eye into believing there’s more of a view than there actually is. Mirrors also reflect light, mimicking a window’s effect. This works in any room, and is also a smart consideration along the sides of an interior hallway, especially in combination with well-placed sconces or suspended light fixtures.

At the end of a long hallway

As long as we’re speaking of hallways, a mirror is a welcome addition at the end of a narrow hallway because it bounces an image back at you, shrinking the length a bit. It also harnesses any available light and becomes a focal point for the eye. Similarly, mirrors are a smart installation in most entryways. Since entryways are often narrow or abrupt, the mirror makes it feel less cramped. Additionally, guests enjoy the ability to check their appearance upon arrival and before departure.

To capitalize on something beautiful

Be thoughtful when hanging a mirror to ensure it reflects something beautiful. Ideas include a work of art, a beautiful suspended light fixture (you benefit from improved lighting here), a picture window or some greenery. The mirror will become a “scene” in the space, so to speak, so you want to make that scene as desirable as possible.

In furniture

Mirrored furniture is a great way to leverage all the benefits of mirrors with the added benefit of functionality. Not only does mirrored furniture add a little sparkle and glimmer to a space, it can also create “see-through” effects – which open up small spaces, funky corners or difficult design areas.

Add color and square footage

Rental or no, you can add both color and square footage with mirrors. They are portable, so there’s no need to worry about anything more than a dab of spackle when you leave, but they’ll reflect your design back to you. This can be a good way to get a color boost without using paint. I like using extra-large mirrors, propped up against that was, rather than hung, to provide a powerful design pop. It reflects almost the whole space back to you, literally echoing your colors, patterns, and accents.

As a focal point

While frameless mirrors are popular in modern design, there’s something to be said about a beautiful mirror frame. Often, the right frame makes the mirror look like a work of art itself. Then, when hung opposite something beautiful, the effect is multiplied. Do you have mirrors hung for “no reason?” Try looking at the room with an objective eye and see how things could be rearranged so you capitalize on the mirror’s effect.

• Trick of the trade: Of course, the key to enjoying your mirrored effects is to keep mirrors free of dust, fingerprints and pet smudges. I recommend purchasing an eco-friendly mirror cleaning product and some lint-free cloths. Spray the cloths – not the mirror – to protect the lifespan of its frame.

When I first sit down to consult with new clients, I rarely hear, “We just can’t wait to show you what we have planned for the shelving…” Shelves are one of those items that fade into the background of renovating, selecting paint colors or wallpaper, re-designing layouts, flooring, and all the other “big ticket” items. However, shelving is an integral part of most home designs. On one hand, as is the case with open shelves in the kitchen or bookcases in the living room, they are completely functional. On the other hand, their design has a big impact on how all the other parts of your remodel  look as a whole. Here are some of the questions you can ask yourself as you consider which type of shelving makes the most sense for each space in your home.

How Can I Make My Shelves Stand Out and be the Focal Point in a Room?

When it comes to making your shelves stand out and become the focal point in a room, there are several tips you can consider. First, choose unique shelving designs that catch the eye, such as floating shelves or asymmetrical arrangements. Second, opt for bold and contrasting colors to create visual interest. Lastly, strategically place decorative items and personal mementos on the shelves to add personality and make them truly shine. With these ideas, your shelving will undoubtedly steal the spotlight in any room.

What Kind of Shelving Are You Looking For?

There are shelves that are required to hold hundreds of pounds worth of items, and there are shelves that are simply decorative in their own right and may only hold a picture or two. Therefore, the shelves’ function will drive the materials and support you need.

• Shelves with a job to do. If you are designing shelves that have a job to do, we’ll want to make sure they are sturdy enough to do the job. For example, bookshelves should be anchored via studs and internal structural support elements so they don’t rip out of the sheetrock. If they will house a collection, you’ll want to make sure they include an outer-edge lip, mid-shelf grooves, or other features that make the collection more secure.
• Shelves to continue or accent your home’s style. Then, there are shelves that are designed for decorative purposes. Perhaps you want some open shelving in the kitchen to open things up and add a bit of color via displayed dishware. If that’s the case, your shelves will be styled in a way that complements the kitchen cabinetry. You may want to install a shelf in a bathroom, bedroom, or living space to break up an expanse of empty wall. In these scenarios, your shelves may appear similar to the wood trim or other decorative elements in the space.
• Shelves add texture and contrast. On the flip side, you may want to use shelves in order to add a bit of texture or contrast. For example, a sleek, modern design might benefit from some rustic, reclaimed lumber shelves that add a little bit of rough-hewn texture and wood grain pattern. Look how these metal and wood shelving units add grounding, earthy elements to an expansive entryway. Maybe you are looking for an easy way to add color to a monochromatic design. Painted shelves are a great way to do this, with the added benefit that you can always change their color or integrate them back into a monochromatic palette with a fresh paint job.
• Shelves made from repurposed materials. In this era of eclectic design, even the highest of high-end home renovations are enhanced with repurposed shelving materials. I’ve seen many unexpected materials or gadget converted into clever and eclectic shelves including old wooden ladders, produce crates, or even the body of an old, dysfunctional piano box.
• Shelves that help you save space. Finally, you may find yourself in a bind if you live in a smaller home or apartment that doesn’t have much square footage to spare. If this is the case, consider recessing your shelving into the walls. Most interior walls have a good 12-inches of usable space in them. Work with a designer or contractor to determine which areas of the interior wall space could be used for this purpose. It’s a smart way to gain much-needed storage space without using the room’s existing air space.

Don’t just hang, purchase, or build shelves for shelving’s sake. Make sure you do it with a purpose and such that it enhances both the function and form of your design.