Kristina Wolf's House of Design

Interior Design, Accessorizing, and DIY Tips

Outdoor Design

The Perfect Color for Your Homes Exterior

the-perfect-color-for-your-homes-exterior

In an effort to save costs, modern subdivision contractors often use a two-color exterior color palette: a base color for the main field and a complementary color for accent and trim pieces. Period. In fact, your home’s exterior can have up to four or more different colors, depending on its architecture and era, to highlight and complement the home’s features and surrounding landscape.

Tips For Choosing Your Home’s Exterior Color Palette

While nobody can say, “Here – use this palette” for your home without an on-site consultation, there are general rules and guidelines designers use when assisting clients in choosing an exterior paint palette.

Opt for three or more colors. Usually, the most attractive and notable homes use at least three colors: one for the field (the main body of the house), one for accents (the main features on the home like window frames, railings, shutters) and one for the trim (this is almost like eyeliner and is often the most bold color used). And, of course, don’t forget to highlight the front door – which may be a stand-alone fourth color.

Consider the architecture. Everyone’s familiar with San Francisco’s Painted Ladies, and those color palettes are amazing. But, put those same colors on a Craftsman Style home, or a modern architectural design and they’ll probably look completely out of place. If your home’s architecture is more or less period-specific, you are best off working with period-friendly palettes.

This doesn’t mean you are restricted by that period’s colors, but you can work within the same number of field/accent/trim color options and choose modern versions of antiquated hues. This will allow your home’s colors to exist in context.

Work with architectural elements that can’t be changed. Odds are, your home has a feature or two that can’t be changed. Perhaps you have a partial brick or stone facade. Your roof shingles or tiles are a specific color that can’t be altered without re-roofing the house (impractical, to say the very least). Thus, the sub-set of the above “consider the architecture” is to find color palettes that complement the shades inherent in unchangeable structural features.

Are those features’ undertones on the warmer or cooler side? Brown or grey? Blue or green? If colors aren’t your thing, a professional consultation is imperative because choosing the wrong colors will look terrible, and you will be stuck having to re-paint all over again – an expensive and frustrating endeavor.

Take a look around the neighborhood. While matching neighborhood houses are certainly boring, there is something to be said for a cohesively colored neighborhood. If the rest of the homes on your block lean towards brighter, bolder or more creative color palettes and you go earthy and subdued, your home may look a bit out of place. Conversely, if your neighborhood largely consists of neutrally painted stucco homes and you go the Painted Lady route, the effect will be comical rather than stylish. And, of course, there are always the Home Owner’s Association’s CC&Rs to contend with.

Imagine your year-round landscape. One fun option is to add an accent color tailored to your home’s landscape design details in a particular season or two. Think about the color palette that exists as your landscape comes to life in different seasons. If there is a tree that changes to a particular shade of crimson in late-summer and fall or a spray of gorgeous blooms that erupts across your landscape in spring or early-summer – these notes may be able to exist in your home’s exterior palette for a dramatic echo.

Having a hard time choosing your home’s paint colors?

Preparing Your Backyard For Spring

Winter is the season for focusing on the interior of your home since darker, colder, and wetter days keep us from our favorite outdoor activities. Once spring is on the horizon, however, that balance begins to shift and it’s time to focus more on the outdoors.

7 Steps to Get Your Backyard Ready for Spring

For many Bay Area homes, the backyard is an extension of the interior living spaces during the late-spring, summer and fall months. This means you should place equal attention on sprucing up your backyard space so it welcomes you and guests outdoors, and provides a comfortable space to relax, unwind, play and dine.

  1. Spring cleaning. Take that spring-cleaning itch outside and put it to work in your backyard. If you don’t have time to do it yourself, contact a reputable local landscaping company and schedule a spring cleaning day with them. This will ensure all those old leaves, twigs and branches are moved up and out of the way. They will eliminate early weeds from the plant beds and can amend the soil and prep flower beds for your upcoming spring planting.
  2. Fertilize. Your lawn, shrubs and trees can’t wait to sprout, bloom and grow but they need nutrients for that. This is a good time to fertilize the soil in these areas, creating the foundation for lush foliage and blooms that will transform your outdoor spaces. For the lawn, consider using a fertilizer with crabgrass pre-emergent to stop unwelcome crabgrass before it can get a tenacious hold on your lawn. Once it’s established, crabgrass is difficult to eradicate.
  3. Give patio furniture the once-over. What’s your patio furniture looking like these days? Sometimes, the changes that happen right under our nose are the hardest to see. Thus, the fresh new patio furniture you bought last year may have faded a bit over the summer without you even noticing. Take an objective look and decide if perhaps some repainting, oiling or refinishing is in order. Maybe it’s time to purchase some new cushions and pillows for a more vibrant look as well.
  4. Trim and Shape. Make your way from bush-to-bush, shrub-to-shrub and around any ornamentals you can safely reach. Trim and shape them once their growth is established enough to take the hit. Use YouTube as an ample source of pruning advice from the pros. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes when those unruly, fast-growing branches and shoots are trimmed back into shape. Hire a professional arborist or tree trimmer to tackle the taller, more established trees.
  5. Update outdoor lighting. Your outdoor lighting plan is as important as your indoor version. Only in this case, safety takes a primary spot on the considerations list. Make sure that all steps and pathways and uneven areas of ground are well-illuminated after sunset. Use a combination of up- and downlighting to create ambience and to showcase hardscape and landscape features. Don’t forget soft twinkle lights and colorful strings of lanterns or stars around trees and the main gathering spots.
  6. Use container gardens to your advantage. Container gardening is an essential element for the busy homeowner. Not only are containers smaller and easier to plant and maintain than regular planter boxes, containers can be selected for color and pattern as well. This means that empty container you haven’t gotten to quite yet will still provide beneficial visual impact to the landscape. Vary sizes, shapes and colors for extra interest.
  7. Add that fire and/or water feature. If you don’t have these already, it’s time to invest. There are plenty of affordable, portable options if you’re a renter or simply aren’t ready to spring for a permanent version. Fire and water features add loads of atmosphere to outdoor spaces and when accompanied by comfortable seating, they provide endless hours of enjoyment, relaxation and conversation-centric zones. Another benefit of a water feature? It adds welcome white noise for homes located along busy streets or adjacent to noisy neighbors.

Could you use a little dose of inspiration getting your backyard or patio space ready for spring? Please give me a call here at Kristina Wolf Design. (510) 848-8773.

Making Your Porch Scream Autumn

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Decorating the porch is a great way to welcome any seasonal change. Autumn is a favorite season for many here in the Bay Area since we get to enjoy the best of both worlds – warm, sunny days and crisp, cool nights. Adorning the porch with fall decor is a nice way to get inspired.

7 Ways to Make Your Porch Scream Autumn

  1. Find or make a fall harvest wreath. Wreaths are relatively simple to make. You can Click Here for directions on how to make a simple, fall harvest wreath or Here if you prefer something a little more Spook-tacular. If crafting isn’t your thing or you simply don’t have the time, look online or at your local home furnishings shops for high-quality, seasonal wreaths that can be packed away in between seasons. Do pay more for a better-quality wreath so it can withstand weather fluctuations as well as multiple years’-worth of storage.
  2. Use pumpkins and gourds. If you have smaller children, take the time to purchase and carve pumpkins, and then set them on the porch or line them up along the walkway to show off your family’s talents. Yes, pumpkin carving is a messy business but the fun memories and photo ops are worth it. If you don’t have kids, or prefer a more “upscale” look, select pumpkins in various shades and sizes and arrange them to taste.
  3. Twig pumpkins with LED lights. For a natural twist on the pumpkin theme, check out these Pre-Lit Twig Pumpkins from Balsalm Hill. They’re reusable and enhance your curb appeal by day and by night.
  4. Drape your door with an Autumn Splendor Garland. In truth, and with a little effort, an autumn garland is easy to make on your own using colorful autumn leaves (real or fabric) that you collect on your own. Otherwise, this reasonably-priced version from Plow & Hearth will do the trick – and can be used around your front door, across the top of an entrance gate or along the top of your fireplace mantel.
  5. Update your landscaping. Odds are your summer blooms have long since faded. Deadhead as advised per species to keep perennials in good shape for next season. Remove dead foliage and then plant a few fall annuals that will add autumn color and interest to post and planter beds. Examples that do well in our climate (mostly Zones 14, 15,16, & 17 depending on where you’re at) are mums, asters, violas, and pansies. As long as you’re out there, plant spring-blooming bulbs while you’re at it to proactively plan for next year’s post-winter blooms.
  6. Tuck-away ghosts. If you like to decorate for Halloween, try making a few sweet-faced ghosts using an old sheet or white fabric, newspaper to stuff the head, and twine to tie it off with. A black sharpie or black fabric paint can be used to add black ovals or circles for the eyes and mouth. Suspend tuck-away ghosts from eaves or nearby trees using invisible fishing line. If you feel particularly adventurous, use a pulley system you can activate from inside the front door when it’s time for trick-or-treaters – simply release it to send the ghost swooping across the walkway or porch, then pulling it back up between visitors.
  7. Re-paint your front door. Some of my favorite front door colors – red, burgundy, hunter green and blue – not to mention vibrant yellow or orange – all work well with autumn decor. If your front door needs a pick-me-up, this is a great time to do it. In addition to adding fall interest, it will also help to weather-proof the door for the upcoming winter.

Does Your Porch Need A Summertime Spruce?

does your porch need a summertime spruce

The summertime is in full swing here in the Bay Area and as I drive over the Golden Gate bridge – watching all the out-of-town tourists shivering in shorts, flip flops and hoodies – I’m reminded that summer comes later – and stays longer – here in this nook of the state.

By the end of July, and into September and October, we finally get to enjoy warmer afternoons and evenings. That means porches and patios should be whipped into shape. If your household doesn’t take advantage of serious porch sittin’ time, you’re missing out.

9 Ideas for Sprucing up Your Front Porch for Summertime

Once you start spending more time on the porch, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve missed. From friendly chats with neighbors and passersby to wildlife observations, there’s a whole world going on out there and it’s easy to miss it when you hole up inside, riveted to screens and gadgets.

Make this the summer you and your partner and/or family commit to spending more time outdoors, being social the old-fashioned way.

Repaint the exterior and/or trim

Once you really spend time on your porch, you may notice the trim and railings are a bit worse for wear. In addition to making a porch look shabby, peeling or chipped paint leaves structural supports more susceptible to moisture damage. Maybe it’s time to branch out and try that exterior paint color you’ve dreamed about.

Hang some bloomin’ pots or baskets

Every year, our neighbor’s son makes her hanging baskets of impatiens for her birthday – and he hangs them on hooks that are pre-tubed with drip irrigation. These vibrant and colorful baskets of bloom thrive from late spring, all the way through to the first frost – and they love a shady environment. The whole neighborhood now looks forward to their annual arrival, and we’ve all copied her style in our own way – using flowers that complement our exterior colors and style. Whether you’re a fan of impatiens, or opt for other floral combinations, hanging baskets of flowers add color, life and a huge dose of cheer to a porch facade. People will stop to ooh and aah.

Throw down a throw rug

The interior of your home isn’t the only place that benefits from throw rugs. An area rug anchors the furniture and adds a homey touch. You’ll appreciate the rug, even more, when you start to use the front porch more often. It’s softer and warmer on your feet on a chillier evening, kids are happier to play on it and your dog and/or cat will enjoy a softer space to lay down.

Add some “real” furniture

I’ll admit that patio, porch and outdoor furniture has come a long way in recent years, but I’m still not completely sold. When it gets down to it, it’s rarely all that comfy. Instead, embrace summertime and scour flea markets, garage sales, craigslist and other used furniture havens and finding high-quality, indoor furniture with good bones. Have the pieces refinished with an outdoor-grade finish and upholstered with stylish, outdoor fabric. Now you have furniture that can weather the outdoor climate and is truly comfortable to sit or lay on.

Hang some art

I love when homeowners hang art on the exterior walls. Both porches and patios benefit from this idea, which can range from canvases to sculpture. You can always bring them in when severe weather commences, but until then you gain a more creative and interesting space in which to relax and socialize.

Install ambient lighting

If you’ve never thought of your porch as an outdoor living space, odds are your porch has standard porch lights, safety illumination for the stairs and flood lights. This is great for safety and they serve as general, nighttime beacons – but they don’t offer much in the way of ambiance after the sun sets. Instead, think about adding sconces with decorative shades or find some table and floor lamps that add style to the mix – dimmers are always a bonus. Now you have light guests will want to talk, hold hands, smooch or read by after the sunlight fades.

Install a ceiling fan or have upright fans at the ready

On a warm summertime day – or when the mosquitoes come out to play – a little air circulation goes a long way. If you have the space and height for it, install a ceiling fan. Otherwise, an upright fan will do the trick.

Add the extra accessories that make all the difference

Accessories make the home, so why wouldn’t the porch be included in that idea? Add accessories for color, a little pizzazz and to continue that “outdoor living room” feel. Accent pillows are a comfortable and colorful addition for furniture as well as to accommodate overflow if someone’s sitting on the floor. Additional priorities would be potted plants, candles (or mock candles for safety’s sake), tchotchkes for end tables and coffee tables and some throw blankets in case you need to take the edge off the chill.

Create an outdoor bar

Here’s a great place to use that tea or serving cart that has been stuffed in a random corner. Wheel it out, dust it off, polish or refinish if necessary and then create a portable porch bar. Since the bar’s on wheels, it can be moved out or in as desired and after-hours porch sitting will be even more lively.

May these tips inspire you to take your porch to a whole new level of existence during the summertime. Inspire the neighbors and make porch sitting the desired evening activity. Need help with some interior or exterior design ideas? Contact me at Kristina Wolf Design and I’ll be glad to lend some professional expertise to the mix.

5 Interior Design Principles You Can Use In Your Backyard

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The lines between indoor and outdoor living spaces continue to blur. Where backyards once consisted of a poured patio, a furniture set and a lawn space, modern backyards are like extensions of the home. Landscape design companies are flourishing these days, and while there are some differences in how we work (they may know more about soil composition, while I specialize in artistic motifs and color wheels) – the basic tenets are remarkably similar.

The following are 5 tried-and-true interior design principles that you can implement in your backyard:

  1. Be True To Your Design Style. Often, there is a notable disconnect between my clients’ interior and exterior spaces. While they implement their favorite colors, furniture and accents inside the home, they simply maintain whatever was present in the backyard when they moved in. While you don’t necessarily have to replace all of the hardscape features and landscaping, do work to incorporate your own design style. Add seasonal blooming plants in your favorite colors, choose patio furniture that matches your modern or more traditional taste, rip out any plants you don’t like and add more of the ones you do. Incorporate art or sculpture (See #4) that catches your eye. Slowly, but surely, your backyard design will begin to reflect your personal tastes and lifestyle.
  2. Use a Thoughtful Lighting Design. Think about the time and effort that (hopefully) went in to your home’s interior lighting design. You and your designer discussed who does what when, where and how often. From this information, she helped you create lighting design that balanced task lighting, safety lighting, and ambient lighting – and then you chose your light fixtures accordingly. Unfortunately, most backyard lighting designs are completely bereft of any forethought or planning. There are a couple of porch lights and perhaps a string of leftover twinkly lights from the holiday light collection – and that’s that.Instead, think about where you cook, dine and converse. Where do people enter and exit your backyard spaces? Are there pathways and stairs that need to be illuminated at night? If you’re completely redoing your backyard, you’ll have the luxury of hardwiring any necessary lighting additions. Otherwise, take advantage of high-quality solar options that come in a wide variety of aesthetic options. Don’t forget about the magic of a fire feature, which adds both lighting and ambience to the mix.
  3. Add Art and Sculpture. Use art and sculpture to guide the eye and add interest outdoors the same way you do indoors. Have a large expanse of exterior wall that’s visible from the patio or an outdoor seating area? Consider installing a large piece of art. It can be fun to hang art outdoors, and then surround it with plants and blooms that echo the shapes and colors found on the canvases. People aren’t used to seeing art displayed outdoors, which makes it that much more of a treat for your guests.
  4. Think About Profiles, Shapes, Colors and Textures. Instead of thinking about your favorite plants, which are certainly important, start thinking about plant colors, shape and textures. Just as a flower arranger carefully balances the heights of plant/flower stalks in a vase, the colors that sit in the forefront or foreground and the various textures of petals, stems and foliage – you can design a garden space that is just as thoughtful in its plant placement. If that isn’t your forte, sketch a proportional diagram of your backyard or plant beds, including the heights and dimensions of adjacent buildings and hardscapes. Bring it with you to for a consultation with a landscape designer and you’ll glean a wealth of information and suggestions about what would look best where. This will add considerable dimension, interest and appeal to the exterior landscape.
  5. Break the Backyard or Patio Into Zones. Large family rooms and/or most open floor plans need a little help when it comes to structure. We do this by creating obvious zones, that are divided up via furniture and area rugs. You can do the same thing in your backyard patio or garden using tall container plants, furniture and/or area rugs. Create distinct spaces for socializing, playing, dining and relaxing.

Turn a designer-esque eye towards your backyard this summer and wait for inspiration. Using a few basic design tenets will make your outdoor space more visually appealing, while simultaneously enhancing its functionality.