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9 Colors That’ll Make Any Room Feel Larger

November 25, 2019

9-colors-that'll-make-any-room-feel-largerHere in the Bay Area, people get used to living on a smaller scale. Apartments and homes can require ingenuity in order to make them feel spacious. Fortunately, there are “tricks of the design trade” that can make a smaller room appear more spacious. This is typically done with color and furnishing size.

9 Color Choices and Tips To Make a Small Room Feel More Spacious

Today, we’re going to focus on color and how the colors you select can make a room feel larger and more spacious than it actually is. Here are 9 ideas to try in your small rooms.

  1. All white. We’ll start with this one, though it’s often the only choice people think about. White is bright and open, which is one reason why it makes a room feel larger. There is another reason though; an all white room is monochromatic, and monochromatic palettes can make a room seem bigger because they blend the edges and keep it from looking compartmentalized.
  2. Opt cool over warm. If you are thinking about adding color, especially if it’s a darker color, opt for cool shades over warm ones. Warm tones jump out at you. So, if you have warm red, orange or yellow walls, the walls will seem “closer”. Cooler colors, like green, blue and violet will have more of a receding feeling, which opens a room up a bit.
  3. Stiffkey Blue. Want to be a little more daring? Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue is a rich blue color that will take you far from the idea of all white or all neutral palate. Ideal for a living room or bedroom, it creates a soothing ambiance.
  4. Appalachian Brown. This one might surprise you given the fast-held belief that small rooms should always be painted light colors. Benjamin Moore’s Appalachian Brown is a rich, dark hue but it still manages to make the room feel bigger because the color is so saturated, blending a room’s dimensions. Consider using a high-gloss finish for light play and movement, and paint moulding/trim in the same shade with a slightly different finish. Don’t paint them white or it will chop it up and make the room smaller again.
  5. Cut in a white ceiling. If you have a particularly small room and you choose to put color on the walls, cut in a white ceiling which will help to raise it a bit and give a sense of extra space.
  6. Horizon. Benjamin Moore’s Horizon reminds us of a beach sky when the sun is hidden by the clouds. It will work with any of your furnishings and accents. The muted gray looks almost white until you put it on the walls where the softest blue peeks out.
  7. Select smaller furnishings. You don’t have to go miniature here, but smaller (always comfortable, though!) furnishings will be more proportioned to the room, making it feel larger. Consider a love seat and svelte arm chair rather than a sectional or oversized sofa.
  8. Curry Yellow. We mentioned yellow as a warm color, and typically it is. However, you can also find cooler shades that will make your room appear larger while still feeling much warmer than the all-white option. Porter Paint’s Fresh Curry is a good yellow option.
  9. Shades of Spring. This is a two-for-one tip. Look out your windows and take palette cues from there. Using a shade from the outdoors will connect your interior with the exterior, making it seem larger. Benjamin Moore’s Shades of Spring is a lovely green to consider.

Filed Under: Interior Design Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, paint, patio, professional designer, professional interior designer, wall color, wall paint

Decorating with Love

November 2, 2019

decorating-with-loveAh, Valentine’s Day. February is the month that makes hearts pitter-patter and you can take advantage of it by adding a little Valentine “love” into your modern interior design. Perhaps one of the best things about Valentine’s Day (from an interior designer’s perspective) is that it is the last of the full winter months and a time when a little burst from warm reds and pinks is most welcome.

6 Modern Decorating Tips for Valentine’s Day

While you don’t have to go crazy with hearts and flowers, there are plenty of ways to add Valentine warmth to your living spaces. Here are 6 simple ideas for your home.

  1. Decorate the mantel. Use your mantel as a focal point and shower it with attention. You can do something as simple as an arrangement of pillar candles in red, pink and/or white or you can go all out with heart motifs as well. Here is an example of a Valentine mantle from BHG. The heart wreath is fun, the heart garland was made by hand using cardstock hearts and tissue paper. Perhaps my favorite element is the family photo. Odds are that was taken for the holidays but the red shirts and fashion accents work equally well for Valentine’s Day, allowing the family to show it off again.
  2. Frame the word L-O-V-E. You can do this anyway you want. You can type it in a script you like from left to write and print it out. You can arrange the letters in a square, with “L” in the top left and concluding with “E” in the bottom right corners. You can print each letter individually and hang all four in an arrangement of your choosing. These can be done in color or black and white. Once framed, this one little word becomes a conservative but apropos accent for the season.
  3. Simple centerpiece. Create a simple centerpiece for a table by using a glass vase filled with red hots or a Valentine-themed candy. Use this for the foundation of your flower arrangement. You can also use this idea with candles. Larger and smaller vessels (filled with Valentine candy of your choice) can be used in a cluster or set around end tables too. Now, you just have to keep your hands out of the candy jars!
  4. Hang a Berry Wreath. Wreaths are a wonderful front door welcome for any season, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. This X and O wreath is made from dried berry stalk and is a more natural and minimal expression of the typical “floral explosion” version. I found this one on Etsy and the artist makes other beautiful versions as well. Etsy, by the way, is a fabulous place to find handmade Valentine’s decor if you aren’t the crafty type yourself.
  5. Trade roses for tulips. Roses are traditional, but if you’re a modernist, you may want something a little different. How about trading the roses for tulips this year? Once Valentine’s day is over, you can round out the red/pink/white motif with additional fresh spring colors.
  6. Create a unique shadow box. Here’s a fun and easy project you can do with little ones and still end up with an adult-worthy decoration. Purchase a shadow box and cut a series of red hearts from high-quality construction paper. You can use any color you like. Glue some of the hearts whole and others only by  half so you can fold them a bit. It creates a fun and fluttery Valentine’s Day shadow box.

Filed Under: Seasonal Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, holiday decorating, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, patio, professional designer, professional interior designer, valentines day

12 Ways To Pretty Up Your Patio

June 27, 2019

12-ways-to-pretty-up-your-patioIn the past, a bistro table and chair set with a few hanging plants was enough to call your patio complete. Now, patios are being designed as social centers, extra living space and retreat spaces where residents and guests can make the most of the outdoors.

12 Ways to Make Your Patio a Perfect Oasis

This trend was partially started when the economy crashed, gas prices went up and “staycations” became more popular. Now, everyone realizes what a treat it is to have an outdoor space that is inviting, comfortable and attractive. The following are 12 ideas for creating the perfect patio.

  1. Get comfortable furniture. If you’re on a budget, blow the bulk of it on comfortable patio furniture. Everything else can be pulled together on a dime. However, if your furniture isn’t comfortable, the patio will sit unoccupied and there is no point in that.
  2. Invest in at least one space heater. Spend the money on at least one outdoor space heater so your patio – or an area of it – can be used year-round.
  3. Learn to be a container gardener. Container gardening is a simple way to adorn your patio with life and color. Visit your local nursery and discuss which plants do well in containers, which season they bloom (so you can divvy them up to gain year-round interest) and which ones attract bees, birds and other pollinators that will make your patio come alive and provide hours of contemplative entertainment.
  4. Think about privacy. As long as you’re at the nursery, talk to them about the hedges, plants, trees and shrubs that will help you create privacy from the neighbors. Even a simple lattice screen can suffice.
  5. Get in indoor/outdoor area rug. Area rugs help to anchor a seating area or designate a certain area for a specific task. They also add color and style. Placing an area rug or two on your patio will give it a more homey feel.
  6. Consider your theme. Approach the outdoor realm with similar consideration to the way you think about your interior spaces. Think of a theme, vibe or color scheme you want to create and then build on that.
  7. Think about lighting. Just as your heater(s) will allow your patio to be used year-round, the right lighting plan will make your patio as inviting in the evening hours as it is during the day. Include task lighting as well as ambient lights – dimmers are always a bonus – so you can control the mood.
  8. Add a water feature. The sound of running water is soothing but it also helps to mitigate ambient sounds like the neighbor’s music or traffic on a busy street. There are water features of all sizes and types or you can easily build your own.
  9. Hang some art. I love when clients have art hanging outside. It’s unexpected but so appreciated. It helps to provide that indoor-outdoor feeling in addition to adding style and color.
  10. Create different seating areas. If your patio is large enough, I recommend creating different areas – one for dining, one for lounging or napping, a conversation corner, etc. Create focal points for each one.
  11. Include an outdoor bed. There are many different versions of outdoor beds. If you don’t have space for the full-size version, look for porch swings that have outdoor mattresses as the seat so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
  12. Let there be shade. Provide shade coverage of some sort so you and your guests will have a reprieve on hot summer days.

Filed Under: Outdoor Design Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, patio, professional designer, professional interior designer, relocate, remodel

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