Design Ideas

Casual Dining at Home

Counter Height Set by Coaster

A common problem these days is that so much time, money and effort is invested into the formal dining room; a space that rarely gets used. Even for those who entertain regularly, not ever gathering is likely to be a formal dinner party. So, we usually end up with a large, beautiful space that we tend to ignore. Meanwhile, the breakfast table or common eating area is often neglected and basic in design. The space in our homes is far too precious to waste. As with a number of modern furnishings, there are pieces that can multi-task and solve our design dilemmas. The Counter Height Set by Coaster is such a piece. This dining set has features perfectly suited for both casual and formal dining. The oak veneers with a rich cappucino finish infuse the set with elegance while the counter height and mixed seating keeps things from being too formal. If it's possible to serve all of your dining needs with one set of furniture, why not maximize the rarely-used space in your home and use it for another purpose? A library or an office would work well in the space. Unless you throw dinner parties on a regular basis, consider re-purposing the room to fit what it is that you do.

Unusual Painting Tools

Take a stroll down the aisles of any hardware or home improvement store's paint section and you'll see a number of different brushes, rollers and the like; all design to create a different effect on the finished wall. As with many objects, techniques and materials, there are almost always alternatives to the most commonly accepted methods. Specialty paint brushes, sponges and rollers are no exception. There are a number of everyday household items you could use to achieve the same effect. While the items aren't unusually expensive, they just aren't always necessary. Besides, it's a lot more intriguing to dig around the house and finding your own objects to use. Items that will provide different effects are everywhere. For starters, check the bathroom, kitchen and garage. Any item with a distinct shape, pattern or layered texture will create an one-of-a kind finish. Even the brushes you already own can be altered to achieve different strokes. Using scissors, trim the brushes at an angle for varying outcomes. Bath sponges, toilet brushes and even the plunger (all clean and/or new, of course) will provide unique shapes and patterned effects. As with making anything your own, remember that there are no rules. Especially when it comes to paint. Don't like it? Wait until it dries and paint over it. Just have fun.    

Summer-Inspired Designs - Part 2

Sandtiques Pedestal End Table by Ultimate Accents

Warm weather, cool breezes and cold drinks. What more could you ask for? Well, for those who just can't drop what they're doing to hit the beach, you could ask for a vacation. If you don't get one or it happens to be a while from now, you can always bring a little summer to you with these design ideas. In the first Summer-Inspired Designs, we covered how to transform family photos, create aquatic centerpieces and how to give candles the summer treatment. Here are a couple more ideas you can try out: Nightstand Runner Purchase a woven beach mat and drape it half-way over the nightstand. Rest items like the lamp, vases and frames over it in order to keep it from falling. By draping it halfway, it actually provides a bit of cover for items below if the nightstand features open shelving. The woven beach mat gives the feel of grass skirts and will only increase your urge to get to the sun and sand as soon as possible. Summer Reading Area Why wait until you're at the beach to read a good book in beach chair? Add a little whimsy to your life by purchasing an outdoor chaise lounger and bringing it indoors. Purchase some beach-themed throw pillows and let your imagination take you the rest of the way.

Occasionally Square

Matrix Occasionals Collection by Homelegance

The individual that loves math and art equally is truly a rare creature. This is because both require different parts of the brain and most of us are hard-wired to be either analytical or creative; rarely both. Ironically enough, the best designers are the ones who can incorporate order through patterns, arrangements, layouts, etc.; even if it's only implied. As free-spirited as some of us claim to be, there is still an order to the way we do things and how we live. Our lives would be chaos without it. The Matrix Occasionals Collection by Homelegance uses side panels in order to help infuse geometric patterns throughout the room. With varying styles that can sometimes be all over the spectrum, furnishings that stylishly incorporate lines and order subtly restore balance. This collection includes a cocktail table, an end table and a sofa table; all of which have glass insert tops. Unlike many occasional tables, the Matrix collection isn't cumbersome because its narrow lines, cut-outs and glass top allows the eye to see both through and around the piece. If you lean more towards the creative, free-spirit side of design, try incorporating geometric patterns through rugs, paintings, accent pillows and more. The broad range of colorful variations these patterns are available in actually help to make geometry cool.

Modern Nurseries

Cotton Candy Changing Table by South Shore

The days of nurseries simply being rooms to change babies and rock them to sleep are far behind us. Design standards have improved significantly and many nurseries are rooms so well-designed that anyone would be happy to spend time in one. There are some essential things to consider when outfitting your nursery. Although the new addition to your family will be receiving a significant amount of your attention and cash, you'll want to spend as much as necessary in order to get the most comfortable gliding chair you can get your hands on. During those late-night feeding sessions, it's vital to your sanity that you be as comfortable as possible. If you're going to dedicate a room to be a nursery, the least you can do is try and get the most out of the space. This is especially true for smaller rooms. Items like the Cotton Candy Changing Table by South Shore effectively pair abundant storage with a changing station. However, this changing station is prepared to grow with you and your family. As the child gets older, the above changing station can easily be removed and the piece transforms into a standard chest.

Weekend Warrior: Spruced-Up Wicker

Outdoor Bay Harbor Lounge Chair by Padmas Plantation

As the weather warms up, we're looking for more and more reasons to spend time outdoors. Warmer weather also means the Weekend Warriors are clamoring to get back out there, roll up their sleeves and dive into a project. Well, here's one that will allow you to do both. Wicker is one of the quintessential warm weather materials. The problem is, it can often come across as dated and old-fashioned. Manufacturers had begun to feel the same way and started creating beautiful wicker furniture like the Outdoor Bay Harbor Lounge Chair by Padmas Plantation. The chair's all-weather construction incorporates a dual-tone weave that closely resembles natural wicker. For this particular project, however, be sure that the paints you use are suitable for outdoor use (UV protection, water-resistant, etc.). If not, these chairs may be better suited for sun-rooms or indoors to give your home a light, summer feel. This quick technique is also much more friendly on your wallet, as the chair pictured here retails for $2,500. Here's What You'll Need:

• Spray paint (color of choice)
• Drop cloth
• Masking tape

Steps:

1. In a well-ventilated area, place the chair on the drop cloth
2. Brush off the chair to remove any loose dirt, dust or debris
3. If the legs are not wicker, wrap them in the masking tape
4. Using several light coats (to prevent running paint), spray the chair
5. Allow to dry thoroughly

 

Summer-Inspired Designs

Bearrific Photo Mirror by Pulaski

Summer temperatures are becoming a mainstay now and while most of us aren't fortunate enough to experience seaside living every day, that doesn't mean we can't update the look of our homes to feel like it. Look on the bright side, with an interior designed with a summer theme, we get to feel seaside while maintaining our cool with air conditioning. Here are a couple of projects you can take on to infuse a little bit of sunshine into your home: Candlelight Wrap plain glass candle holders with decorative papyrus secured to double-sided tape. To mimic netting, wrap waxed linen thread around the papyrus. Front and Center Looking for a dramatic centerpiece? Bring summer to the table by filling a vase with blue-tinted water and placing split-leaf philodendron leaves and other bundled foliage. Family Photos Using a computer software program, convert your favorite family beach vacation photos into sepia tone and print them out on deckle-edged, watercolor paper. Apply artistic paper like papyrus to cork tiles. Place the cork tiles into ready-made natural wood frames (remove the glass). Using decorative thumb tacks, pin the photo to the cork. The beauty of this is that photos can easily be interchanged whenever the mood strikes.  

Low-Cost Ways to Liven Up a Bedroom - Part 2

Tia Bedroom Set by Coaster

Money is pretty tight these days and spending a ton of cash in order to renovate a bedroom isn't high on many people's to-do lists. Thankfully, however, there are a number of ways we can update our bedrooms without breaking the bank. Many of the techniques cost relatively little to no cash. The first 'Low-Cost Ways to Liven Up a Bedroom' covered balancing neutrals with bursts of color and incorporating textures in order to inject life into the bedroom. Here are a few more low-cost ways to liven up your sleeping quarters: Accent Pillows Make the Difference Accent pillows are the quintessential cheap way to immediately change the look and feel of a room. By mixing bold patterns and striking colors, these pillows can tie in alternative colors that fit into the bedroom's overall color scheme. Starts with the Head Swap out the factory standard headboard that came with the bedroom set for a vintage or re-purposed piece. The sheer unusual nature of the piece will ensure its dramatic effect on the space. It will become the focal point of the room. Can't Beat the Sheets New linens in commanding colors and patterns paired with a new comforter that is equally as impressive is one of the simplest ways to liven up the bedroom. The good thing is that they're available in every price range.

How to Arrange Your Art

Divided Medallion Wall Art by Max Accents

While tastes in and types of art can vary widely, ways to arrange it and place it throughout the home is fairly universal. Many people enjoy observing art as well as the process of buying it. Figuring out how and where to place it, however, can be another matter altogether. The process can be daunting and stressful. The time and money spent acquiring the art should be enough, right? Now you have to become an interior designer too? Don't worry. We've got some tips and guidelines to help you get the best placement for your new art. One of the most common mistakes people make when placing art is hanging it too high. Consider places like museums, who display things to stay in business. Art is typically hung at eye level so as to be easily viewed by visitors. Use the same guideline for art in your home. Keep it eye level so you and your guests can view the piece without straining. Perhaps the best place to hang a large piece of art is above the sofa. However, scale is very important. The space will look awkward if the art is either too small or too large for the space. A general rule of thumb is for the art to be at least two-thirds the size of the sofa.

Wall Storage - Part 2

Bookcase by Coaster

Many of us find ourselves running out of space to properly store, display and utilize our goods. So we're sharing some creative ways to get the most out of the space we have in order to prevent having to let our items be forgotten in the attic. The first installment, 'Wall Storage', covered how to maximize rooms with tall ceilings, how to take advantage of narrow stretches of wall and how to place open shelves on the upper part of blank walls. A unique wall-storage solution is to use wall-mounted baskets designed to hold flowers as multi-purpose storage in children's rooms. These baskets rest flush against the wall, which makes them great for toys, games, books and more. Being fairly inexpensive, buy one for each purpose in varying sizes to maintain visual interest along the wall. Sometimes what we would need to store isn't physical at all. Find a blank wall in a visible, high-traffic area of the home and use it to store information. Find some interesting frames and transform them using chalkboard paint. Boards like these are great for posting chores lists, schedules, grocery lists and other valuable family information. In areas like kitchens and hallways, try carving out sections of the wall between beams at eye-level, refinishing them and turning them into recessed storage. Using this technique, there is a ton of in-the-wall storage going unused in between the frames.