interior design

Making Your Porch Scream Autumn

December 21, 2017

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.

It’s Time To Get Cozy

December 14, 2017

Transitioning the home from summer to fall is more about aesthetic color, mood and theme. Between fall and winter, climate comes more noticeably into play – grayer skies, rainy (or snowy) weather, truly c-o-l-d temperatures that make you shiver – – those require more than just visual changes.

True winter weather requires extra steps to make the home – and its occupants – warm, welcome and cozy

9 Cozy Steps For a Winter-Ready Interior

Yes, I’m an interior designer – but home design is not just about looks. It’s very much about structure- so you’ll notice that some of the tips below have to do with weather-prepping the home, as much as they are about deco or cozy textiles.

Seal the envelope. This step always tops the charts for home improvement websites and now you’re going to read it on this interior design site. If your home leaks, it’s impossible to stay warm. There will always be a draft and we won’t even talk about the cost of heating a home with air leaks. If you’re a DIYer – a little caulking and weather stripping is all you need. Read 8 Easy Ways to Seal Your Home… from houselogic.com. Otherwise, contact your HVAC contractor to ask if they perform the service, or request a recommendation for a licensed professional who does.
Invest in throws. In a perfect world, throw blankets would adorn every chair, sofa and bed in your home. Once you’ve gotten into the habit of reading, watching TV, napping or curling up under a throw, you always feel a bit chilly without one. They are also a wonderful way to warm up a leather couch, which can feel cold to the touch on a cold winter’s morning.
Install heated floors in the bathroom. If you feel up to it, add heated flooring throughout your home. It’s an energy-efficient way to maintain a constant, interior temperature – although it’s best left for when you’re ready to commence a larger home renovation project. In the meantime, installing heated floors in the bathroom(s) is a fairly straightforward task (not to mention a good excuse to install new flooring…) and you will be amazed at how warm and cozy it keeps your bathroom spaces – no more cold, hard-surface flooring on warm bare feet in the morning, middle of the night or after a steamy, shower or bath.
Use essential oils and a diffuser. There are a myriad of diffusers on the market. A simple Amazon.com search turns up hundreds of results with a seemingly infinite array of styles. In the wintertime, the added humidity is a welcome change to dry air, especially for those who use their wood burning stove or fireplace as a heat source. Blending cinnamon, clove and a little vanilla or putting together a wintergreen mix will infuse traditional seasonal spices and scents into your living spaces whether something’s cooking or not. Make sure to use 100% pure essential oils to keep your home free of unwanted chemicals and overpowering scents.
Set up a winter tea station. High-quality carafes are sold at virtually any restaurant supply and high-end kitchen store. Purchase one and keep it filled with steaming hot water. If you’re a coffee drinker, fill one with coffee. Set it up on a serving cart and put out a basket filled with a variety of teas, cider and hot chocolate. It’s fun to have easy access to some of your favorite winter beverages while working from home, online holiday shopping or enjoying a rainy weekend movie (or reading) day. Do it up coffee shop style and you’ll wow guests when they realize this is how you cozy up every winter day.
Think about color. For those with homes that have stunning exterior views, monochromatic color palettes work well because the landscape outside is so vibrant. However, at this time of year, Mother Nature herself decorates with a more monochromatic palette so you might find bringing a little color indoors helps to lift your mood a bit. Rich reds and chocolatey browns are always a good choice. Or, if you’re someone who craves the sun, try using vibrant yellows and oranges. An energetic color boost inside can make up for the lower-energy hibernation that occurs naturally this time of year.
Add a terrarium or nature-inspired art. Speaking of things we miss from nature, adding indoor plants, a terrarium or nature-inspired art can be another way to soothe the soul when everything outdoors look lifeless. Terrariums are a fabulous rainy day project to do with your kids or you can have a terrarium tea party with a group of friends. All you need is a clear vessel of your choice, a little potting soil/moss and either small terrarium-friendly plants or succulents. An occasional mist will keep your mini-ecosystem thriving through the winter and beyond. Of course, nature-inspired art is another way to bring life into your home on a more permanent basis, and it’s always nice to support your local artists.
Eliminate the clutter. Part of what makes for a cozy home has nothing to do with a specific style or the interior temperature – it has to do with the energy of a space. Cozy homes make us take a deep breath and sigh, “aaaaah” when we walk in the door, even if we don’t exactly know why. Clutter is one of the most prohibitive factors to coziness. It is cramped, busy and stressful – rather than open, clear and spacious. Do what you can to eliminate clutter…especially before you add holiday décor to the mix. I remember one busy year when I waited longer than normal to replace the items I put away to make room for traditional holiday décor. By the time I got them out again, I realized how much I didn’t “need” most of them after all. That year, I donated a rash of items that no longer served my living spaces the way the spaciousness created by their absence did.
Shag up those area rugs. Often, homeowners choose low-profile area rugs for a more sleek and modern look. This time a year, I say add a shaggy and textured area rug or two into the mix. It will literally provide more insulation between the floor and your air space, and will feel great on your feet to boot. Plus, the aesthetics are warm and comfie, which is the current goal after all.

Need a little help cozying up your Bay Area home this winter? Schedule a consultation with the nearest interiort designer and work with what you have or come up with something new, depending on what your goals and budget call for.

5 Interior Design Principles You Can Use In Your Backyard

December 14, 2017

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.