Interior Design

Simple Ways To Add Charm And Character

December 29, 2017

Even a serial modernist can’t help but acknowledge that older homes have charm and character. There’s something special about architecture from years gone by, not to mention the wood work and unique details that were more common in the everyday homes of the earlier 20^th century and further back along the architectural timeline.

You don’t have to buy a historical home to enjoy living spaces that have charm and character. All you have to do is personalize your own a bit, and throw in a few extra details that make guests take notice and feel more like they’re in a Home.

Here are 9 examples of what I’m talking about:

Re-vamp your foyer. When’s the last time you took a good hard look at your foyer or entryway? A welcome mat and a mirror are not enough to make guests feel welcome, nor will they tell us anything about who lives here. Eliminate clutter, clean things up and then re-vamp your entryway with a few extras that express a little bit about you, your tastes and your interests. Read, The Entryway, to learn more entryway design tips.
Dress up those windows. Sheer curtains are lovely, but they can also be bland. See if your windows couldn’t be framed a little better with curtain panels, or a valance, that highlights your color scheme or adds a bit of texture with its subtle or bold print. You’d be amazed at how different a room’s energy will feel with the right window dressings.
Show off those collections. Are your collections hidden away in boxes or a storage unit? Or are they cluttering up a few squashed shelves in your den? Get your collectibles out into the open using stylish display methods and your living space will be infused with personal charm.
Finish off those unfinished or unused spaces. Do you have a window seat that’s dying to be transformed into a reading nook? Is there are blank corner that could be put to work housing a gorgeous potted plant or tree? Look at those unused or unfinished nooks and niches in your home and get them settled into official “somethings” once and for all. They’ll add character, color and interest to the room.
Trim it up. Wood trim does wonders for living spaces. Take a peek at the trim that adorns your windows and doors, your baseboards or the top of your walls (if there is any). Then, begin perusing the array of moulding and trim out there. It might be time for some replacements or additions. Even the simple addition of a chair rail around your dining room wall, along with a new coat of paint (or a half-wall’s worth), will make it seem like you’ve had a total room remodel.
Change out your light fixtures. Did you move into an already-built home? Unless you’ve done a total remodel, odds are you have a light fixture or two that was chosen for you. If they are the standard versions that came with the home, I’ll bet they are they’re totally boring – and/or not your cup of tea. Get online or out there at flea markets and look for fun, unique or stunning light fixtures that will enhance your interior design and are worth taking the time to look up at.
Is that wood underneath that carpet? Many homeowners take their carpet for granted, and have no idea their older home may have stunning wooden floors underneath the carpet. If the wood underneath is a little beat up and you can’t afford to refinish or replace it, you might think about painting it. Let me begin to count the ways wood flooring trumps carpet: looks, character, resale value, less allergenic, more sanitary, etc. etc. If you are one of those older-home owners whose neglected to learn what lies beneath the carpet, do your homework and find out. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Decorate your ceilings. The ceilings are a much-overlooked piece of the interior design puzzle. In most cases, it’s like a big, blank wall staring at your from above. When clients decide to paint their ceiling, install coffered ceilings, or trim their ceilings with wood or woven fabrics, it adds a tremendous amount personality.
Look for that perfect vintage or antique piece. Find a piece in your home that is boring, out of place and/or made cheaply. Now, your mission is to scour flea markets, antique stores and craigslist for its vintage or antique counterpart. That one swap out will make a difference. Repaint or refinish your replacement if needed, but don’t forget that the right type of wear-and-tear can be quite charming on its own.

Stuck on how to incorporate a little more charm or character in your Bay Area home? Schedule an in-home consultation with what you have and then work from there.

Budget Friendly Tips For Re-Decorating Your Kitchen

December 25, 2017

While a full kitchen remodel might sound nice, the current budget may not accommodate your vision. Does that sound familiar? If so, you’ll appreciate these 10 easy and budget-friendly tips for redecorating your kitchen.

10 Tips to Redecorate Your Kitchen on a Dime (or two…)

Consult with an interior designer. Interior designers are just as happy to be paid for a few hours of design consultation as they are to orchestrate a full remodel. This can be a great tool for running your ideas by a professional as well as gleaning a few ideas and tips.
Switch out your light fixtures. Do you have an outdated suspended light fixture over your dining nook or island? Switch these out for contemporary replacements. You can get stunning light fixtures for pretty cheap and they will update your kitchen in a matter of minutes. It may even be worth it to get a quote from an electrician for wiring pendants, if you don’t already have them. That type of work is typically pretty affordable.
Make-Your-Own island. Rather than paying for a more costly built-in island, you can easily convert an old dresser or table into an island instead. In some ways, this is an even better idea because its position is flexible and it can be moved out when/if needed.
Consider cabinet refacing. Refacing your cabinets is typically half the price of building new ones. Your cabinet boxes will be reinforced and will look brand new when complete.
Pick one thing. Which thing needs to be updated the most? Spend the bulk of your budget on that and use thrifty fixes for everything else. For example, replace your countertops and then repaint your cabinetry and replace the hardware over time. In most cases, the results will be just as good as a full remodel.
Just add paint. A new coat of paint, especially if you select a new and improved color, will go a long way. Typically, a single can will be enough to do the trick since your cabinetry covers the bulk of the wall space. Speaking of cabinets, repainting your cabinets is another way to get a new lease on one of the most significant features in your kitchen. Consider using a two-tone approach for a designer-worthy finish. Try using a darker paint on lower cabinets and a lighter one on the uppers. Or, paint your kitchen island a different color than the perimeter cabinetry.
Do an accessory overhaul. Look around on your counters. Are your accessories in the “20+ Years Old” category? Replace them with high-quality updated versions and donate anything that can be used or repurposed by someone else.
Add open shelving. Contemporary and modern kitchen designs typically incorporate some type of open shelving. It is a clean look and gives you the opportunity to add a splash of color or interest based on what you choose to store there. Have an unused section of blank wall in your kitchen? Give it that fresh coat of paint and then install an open shelf or two.
Remove upper cabinet doors. Like the idea of open shelving? You can remove the cabinet doors on some or all of your upper cabinetry for a completely different style. Fill any screw holes, repaint the boxes, and you’ll have an updated look for a very affordable price.
DIY Fridge integration. Integrated refrigerators are all the rage but involve expensive new cabinet materials. If you’re at all handy, you can do-it-yourself. Check out the instructions (Q. #12) at theoldpaintedcottage.com.

How To Choose And Hang Curtains

December 16, 2017

If it were just a matter of picking a color or pattern, selecting window curtains would be a relatively simple choice. Alas, there is so much more involved to have a clean, finished and stylish look.

Choosing curtains that accomplish the intended purpose(s), and look great while doing it, requires a bit more time and effort.

Answer These Questions Before Choosing Curtains

Reviewing the following question and comments can help you along your way. Plus, I’ll throw in a few tips to help your curtains look as good as you pictured them once they are installed.

What are the curtains for? If the curtains are purely decorative you have way less to consider than if they are required for privacy or to block the sun at particular times of day.

Decorative: These curtains can be made from just about any fabric and do not require a liner. However, if the curtains will be exposed to a lot of sunlight – like in windows with western or southern exposure – a liner is a worthwhile investment to prevent fading.
Privacy or Darkening. In order to make sure people can’t see into your windows or that the sun is fully blocked, you will need curtains that are heavier in weight and include a liner.
Insulation. If you have older, less-efficient windows or have a room in the house that is particularly drafty or cold, a liner or a special insulation layer will help to keep things more comfortable. In most cases, insulated curtains require custom-orders as they are less common in ready-made panels.

What fabric is best? Often, the answer to this question comes down to your home’s style: traditional, modern, formal or casual. Heavy silks or velvet are thicker and provide a more formal look. They are also ideal for insulating and blocking sunlight. However, these fabrics need to be dry cleaned. If you prefer lower-maintenance option, look for panels made from cotton sateen or rayon blends that can be thrown in the washer and dryer. Cotton and wool blends are versatile. They provide a crisp look that can go more formal or casual, depending on the patterns and colors you select.

Keep in mind that curtains are a great way to add texture to a room so think about what texture is least represented in your room’s current design and narrow your fabric choices from there.

Color or Not to Color? There are two options with curtains when it comes to color and pattern – to blend or pop. If you choose to blend, peruse colors or patterns that match the wall color, but are just a few shades darker. You can also blend by picking a subtle color from an existing pattern and pulling it out with complementary panels. Popping requires a more bold choice with bright colors or wowing viewers with a stunning pattern – always keeping in mind that brighter colors are more prone to fading.

How to measure and hang? The rule of thumb with curtain hanging is that they should just touch the floor or the windowsill, depending on the look you want. If a radiator is in the way, then they should come just above the top of it (being careful to use non-flammable fabrics).

Curtains that open should be 2 to 2 ½ times the width of the window, if they are simply used to frame the window then 1 ½ times the window width will be sufficient. Always round your measurements up because curtains can always be hemmed to fit, whereas curtains that are too short in either direction can’t be helped.

The curtain rod should be installed just above and just beyond the upper window trim or molding. However, in smaller or shorter rooms, consider mounting them 4- to 6-inches above the molding to add the illusion of height.

When in doubt, work with a professional interior designer who can assist you in selecting the best fabric, styles and colors for your design.

Mix Wood Types And Finishes Tastefully In The Same Space

December 11, 2017

If you’re like most of my clients, you have a mix of wood types and finishes that aren’t perfectly matching sets of furniture and furnishings in every room in the house (good for you). The good news is, things aren’t boring.

However, it can also be tricky to mix-and-match furniture with different wood types and finishes, grain patterns and finishes without looking cluttered, chaotic or a little too eclectic for your taste. The same can be true if you’re working with furniture that is painted different colors.

Think in terms of wood undertones

If you pay careful attention, you’ll notice that wood has undertones. Maybe it’s a deep brown, luminous gold or rich red, for example. By paying attention to undertones, you can include multiple pieces in the same space, even if actual stains or wood types are different. In fact, using this technique can deepen the effect of your beautiful assortment of wood furnishings, creating rich, layered textural contrast.

Use contrast to your benefit

Speaking of contrast, use it to your benefit when working with various wood types and finishes or colors. For example, a darker finished piece can become the focal point of a room, while lighter finishes live on the perimeters. If your wood pieces are only slightly different, choose a contrasting, monochromatic color for the room’s walls and flooring.

Use the birds of a feather rule

While there are variations of a sort (like the pattern difference between standard and bird’s eye maple), most wood types have similar grain patterns and colors. Keeping to the same wood family will create a more cohesive look.

Think more about the furniture’s style rather than finish

Sometimes, the finish is the least of your problems when it comes to using different wood types or finishes in the same room. The issue is actually the architectural style of the piece itself. For example, trying to mix a light, wicker beach house chair in the same space as an imposing, dark-stained Victorian hutch might pose a problem. On the flip side, either of those pieces might look right at home sharing a space with a rustic or distressed piece in the right hue. In this case, its style – not finish or color – that matters most.

Use an area rug to transition floors to furniture

Perhaps the biggest challenge isn’t getting the furniture to blend together, it’s getting the furniture to blend with the hardwood flooring. Dining and coffee tables are the most notorious for creating this visual dilemma.

The area rug – or throw rug – is your greatest ally here. Just as a backsplash creates a transition between contrasting countertops and cabinets, or between two cabinets that are finished or painted different colors (more on that next), you can choose an area rug that includes both wood tones in its color scheme or pattern. That way, it matches both the floor and the table and forms a transitional bridge to balance them. Now your eye won’t even be bothered by the difference in wood type or finish.

Make the most of different wood types and finishes or tones in the kitchen

Your new kitchen will have beautiful cabinets – and odds are there will be a fair amount of them – especially if you have a larger kitchen or an open floor plan. Be careful if a wall or two has wall-to-wall cabinetry with little interruption. This can wind up looking overwhelmingly blah.

By choosing two separate finishes for the top and bottom cabinetry, or on the perimeter cabinets and the island, or using a fun accent color on the island, you can create a more interesting effect. It also gives you more room to play with other colors and finishes in the current design, as well as when you want to change things up again in the future.

Re-think your house-wide furniture placement

Sure, the dining room table belongs in the dining room, and a couch of some type belongs in the living or family room. Sometimes, however, I find clients are stuck in furniture ruts – placing the same pieces, in the same rooms, in the same configuration for years on end or even in different houses.

Perhaps it’s time to re-think furniture placement throughout the house. Maybe you’ll find that a small end table in the living room would look better in the guest bedroom and that a small trunk from the guest room would make a fun and eclectic replacement for said end table. Look at ways you can rearrange your furniture for more stylish and blended arrangements from room to room. If you get serious about it, it can feel like a free home remodel. Inviting a design-savvy friend over for this chore can create a delightful afternoon and a whole new look and fee.

Which pieces are ready to be repainted? Or reupholstered?

If you have an abundance of wood furniture, why not convert a piece or two, or three via a fresh coat of paint? It’s hard to cover up beautiful wood, but if you can’t find a solution to your rainbow-of-finishes issue, it’s time to either trade some in for new pieces or paint the ones most ready for a little TLC.

Reupholstering is another option for wooden chairs. Not does upholstery add color, pattern and comfort, reupholstering leaves only the legs exposed (or the backs, if you only cover the seats), and that might do the trick when it comes to mixing those pieces with others in the group.

You’re always welcome to contact me at Kristina Wolf Design. I can help you via single, in-home consultation where we brainstorm together for a whole new look. Or, you can hire me to do the mixing and matching of your various wood types and finishes for you. Either way, I guarantee we’ll find a way to ensure there’s a place for every finish, and every finish will find its place.

Get Inspired With Pantone’s 2015 Color Palette

January 15, 2015

If you aren’t a fashion or design aficionado, the word Pantone may mean nothing to you. But for those of us who are in the design industry, Pantone is a Mecca of sorts. Each year, the forward-thinking folks at Pantone predict the colors that will trend in the fashion and design world for the following year. So while they have just released 2015 Spring Palette they are already hard at work on the palettes that will be released for 2016.

Check Out Pantone’s 2015 Spring Color Palette to Inspire Your Future Interior Designs

In fact, one of the most exciting moments for those who are gaga for color is the announcement of Pantone’s “Color of the Year.” Once that press release hits (typically sometime in December, so keep your eyes posted), bloggers and designers go crazy, looking at how they can implement that particular shade in the homes and businesses of their clients.

We’ll let you know when the 2015 Color of the Year is announced. In the meantime, we are allowed access to the Spring palette and I have several ideas of how you can incorporate them into your home.

Look to the neutrals. Of course, every home decorator is looking for ways to enjoy an interior design that doesn’t require an overhaul each and every time Pantone releases a new color spread. That means creating a neutral palette and letting the easily-changed textiles, accents, art work and objects do the trendy color splashing. This spring, Pantone has selected a gorgeous Toasted Almond and this shade will look wonderful on walls, floors or large furnishings and will be just as attractive in five to ten years.

If you prefer cooler shades, the Glacier Gray is an equally appealing base color and will work well in modern designs. In this modern Craftsman, we used a similar gray on the wall and look how nicely it pairs with a canvas splashed with Tangerine – another of the Spring/Summer colors.

Make way for greens and blues. Perhaps one of the most notable things about this next season’s colors is their more understated hues (consider that last year’s Color of the Year was Radiant Orchid, which was about as vibrant as it gets!). In this newest palette, the greens and blues are present but they are all somewhat earthy and toned down, making them easier to integrate into homes that are less apt to use bold splashes of color.

Both the Classic Blue and Aqua Marine can be used in traditional interiors as well as their more modern counterparts. I can see them in window coverings, accent pillows or upholstery on your accent furniture pieces. If you like a little more life and energy, you can migrate into the Scuba Blue or Lucite Green departments. Look how a cabinet in a distressed-version of Scuba Blue adds a pop of color in this mostly neutral bungalow.

Warm up your home with a spring blush. Again, we see the even the blushier tones in the palette have a bit of earthiness to them, providing a more mature aesthetic. On the lighter side of the spectrum there is Strawberry Ice, which sounds like a cooler pink but still has enough warmth to work either way. On the darker side, Pantone offers Marsala, which they consider to be the foundation of the Spring/Summer palette. We used Marsala accents in a San Francisco living room design to add warmth and depth to the interior.