Design Dilemma #1: Artwork

As an interior designer, it is my job to make your home look good.  Many people have the impression that they can not hire a designer because we cost you tens of thousands of dollars.  While that can be the case, often times my job consists of fluffing and rearranging what you currently own.  Clients realize something is askew in their room or are wanting a change.  Hire a designer for an hour consultation and watch the magic.  You are under no obligation to continue using them or implement their ideas.  Sometimes just having a fresh pair of eyes in your space is a wonderful idea.  


I'm going to start a little series of things I notice when I go into homes that would be simple and quick fixes to put a designer's stamp of approval on your room.  It really is a list of my decorating "pet peeves", but that sounds negative.  I will give you the "dos" after I discuss the "do nots," I am here to help after all...


First on my list is artwork.  I love artwork... I think people get a bit intimidated about art.  Don't be scared of it.  If you are really drawn to a piece of art or it says something to you, Buy it. Obviously it should relate to your home, but you can always make it work by tying in the colors with accessories and other items in your home.  


One of the biggest errors as far as art work goes that I have seen is that it is hung too high.  I believe this is because typically the wife has the husband hang the art.  

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No, no little pieces of artwork come closer to the sofa and talk to him!

While the internet gives varying heights as to where the artwork should be, the general consensus is the center of the piece should be at eye level.  This is typically 57"-60" from above the ground.  Keep in mind this is the center of the painting, not the top of the frame or the bottom of it.  


In the images above, not only are the pieces crazy high, they are not relating to the pieces of furniture below them.  A rule of thumb if you are hanging art above your sofa, it will be about 10" above it.  This allows you to rest your head back and not get knocked out.  

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This image of a Hickory Chair Furniture seating arrangement shows that the center of the artwork grouping is hung at eye level.  

When it comes to hanging art above tables, consoles etc. the same rule of thumb applies.  They should hang about 10" above the surface.  There will be cases when this will not be the right height.  For instance above a desk, you may want it lower to allow you to view it while you are working.  

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This artwork is hung proportionately to the console beneath, as well as, hung at proper height.

You want your artwork above your pieces of furniture to not only relate to it spatially, but also in proportion.   Your artwork should be 2/3 the size of the furniture's width.  The image above is a good example of this rule of thumb.  

If you are going to create a collection of images, they should also relate together.  Keep them a few inches apart.  The distance will vary due to the size of the artwork.  Typically 4" is a good distance. 

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Artwork relates to the sofa in proportion and distance to the bottom.  The pieces are also hung at a nice distance from each other.  Plus they are really cool!

There are plenty of websites showing you how-to hang your art.  Better Homes & Garden had inspirational ideas for working with your blank walls.  Or you can try SAS Interiors.  Here's a little video.  The general gist of hanging art is to create a template of what you are wanting to hang by laying them out on the floor, then tape up the template on your wall before you put nail holes on your wall (I am definitely guilty of having Swiss cheese walls!). 

I'm not sure how I feel about gallery walls.  I love them, but then I also get so overwhelmed by them.  I think it is very important to surround yourself with things you love, but I also am a big proponent of symmetry.  Gallery walls sometimes drive me insane. The key is to keep them close together and have similarities.  Either in subject matter or frames.  

Style at Home has an article about gallery walls.  Here are their steps to create balance in your collection.  

1. Place the largest piece in the center.

2. Evenly space the works with the darkest subject matter.

3. Use a cohesive palette.

4. Before hanging, arrange your pictures on the floor and move them around until you have a combination you like. 

5. Then hang the pieces, judging the placement by eye and replicating the arrangement as closely as possible.

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 I can not handle these two images.  I would be way to afraid to stand in these rooms for fear of falling pictures.  The first image probably drives me more crazy because of the sofa pattern + the lamp + all the art.  The hallway image has consistent black frames, but the art should not go floor to ceiling.  You lose the importance of each image when it is so much in your face.  Given the fact that you only have a 3' viewing space in the corridor, the amount of art should be limited.  

I don't mind these gallery walls because they have symmetry and shape.  

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Black and white keeps it unified, as well as, the rectangle shape.  This is a gallery wall I can handle.

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Just the right amount of images and I like the diamond shape of the collection.

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Unfortunately the art doesn't look centered above the headboard.  And I would like for it to go up a few inches, but there doesn't seem to be space.  But I can handle this gallery wall due to the matching gold frames, color palate, and shape.

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So much impact with repeating shape and color.

Matching frames and rectangular shape.

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This gallery wall is starting to go a little on the crazy side for me.  I think the white frames help keep it more airy than the hallway gallery.  

Take a look at your artwork.  Do you think it is hung higher than most eye levels?  Does it relate to your pieces of furniture beneath it?  Are they too spread out?  

What about gallery walls?  Are you a fan or are you a bit timid like me?

Don't forget to consider hiring an interior designer to give you a fresh perspective on your space.  Many furniture stores offer hourly consultations for their customers.  

Violet, You're turning violet!

Purple is my favorite color.  I have taken a picture of all the purple items I have in my closet.  And keep in mind, I only have summer clothes here on the Island.  It doesn't include all my purple sweaters and long sleeved shirts.  As I am typing this, I am wearing a purple shirt, purple earrings, and drinking out of my purple Nalgene.  

 

My purple wardrobe, including four purple bathing suits... a bit excessive I know!

While I love purple, I don't seem to decorate with it.  My own home in Charleston was greens, creams, and blues.  I did manage to throw in a blue/purple/gray guest bathroom (Daydream by Sherwin Williams).  Next time I am able to decorate, I am going to throw in some purple.  


Like all colors, purple has quite the range in the decorating scheme.  You can go for a soft lilac (my favorite) to a deep aubergine.  (Don't you feel so fancy when you say aubergine?)  Purple mixed with gray makes it more masculine, while when it is mixed with red it becomes softer more feminine, or it can sometimes go "kiddy."  


Why is it that so many people have an aversion to purple?  Everybody likes blue and red right?  (Well not me, I do not like red.)  But when you mix them together it creates such a pretty color.  I have found that men especially have an aversion to purple. Perhaps they imagine Barney the dinosaur when they think of purple, or they think it is too feminine.  I am including a few rooms to show that purple can look masculine.  Luckily Steven enjoys wearing purple so hopefully he will like it in our house.


Purple was one of the "hot" colors last year.  While I would never tell someone to decorate with the trendy items and color of the year (by the way, this year Pantone's color of the year is Tangerine), I do think it is important to decorate your house with colors you like and make you happy.  If you are struggling with color in your home, get inspiration from your closet.  If you only have blue shirts in your closet, you need to decorate your home with blue.  


I digress... back to my original topic, Purple.  Here are some great rooms with purple.  

Such a pretty dining room featured on House Beautiful's cover.  If only I could be as bold to paint my doors a rich glossy indigo!! (source)

This room was featured in a showhouse in SoHo inspired by the movie Girl with the Pearl Earring.  John Saladino, the designer, was able to mix purple with many natural textures in the room- leather, nail heads, rattan, chenille, wood, and stone.  The purple hues look very elegant and contrast nicely against the neutral backdrop. (source)

This is using purple in a feminine way with lilac paint and lilac fabric.  To make it work for your husband, keep the purple fabric but use a richer color on the walls and a more structured window covering.  It does, however, make a pretty guest room.  (source)

House Beautiful made sure to let you know that this is a "hockey dude's home."  They gave him a super comfy looking mohair purple sectional.  Adding the rustic coffee table and grass cloth walls brings in texture and masculinity.  (source) 

While I love purple, I don't think I could commit to purple floors!  I could do the pretty purple napkins and the paint. (source)

This is an intriguing room, don't you think?  There are so many different styles, textures, and colors incorporated.  It has a masculine feel, but also uses pinks and purples.  I really like the gray purple velvet on the sofas that ties in with the curtains.  (source)

Look at this pretty bedroom from Crate and Barrel!  The bedding is gorgeous, the upholstered bed is perfect, the art is great, and the walls are a subtle smoky lilac.

Don't forget to add a splash of Purple outdoors.  Isn't this a fun collection from Crate and Barrel?!  

Here are some ways you can add Purple to your home: 

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These are the shades of purples I can handle for wall paint.  If you aren't brave enough to paint a whole wall, why not paint inside a closet or the inside of a cabinet?

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Seriously who knew Target had wallpaper?  These are all absolutely wonderful wallpapers.  They are bold prints so think small, like an entry way, powder room, or an accent wall in a bedroom?  You could always do a half wall and put up a chair rail and paint the bottom white.

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If anyone has a spare $6000+  buy me the Aquasilks rug.  I love their collections so much at ABC Home.  You would be the coolest kid on the block with that rug.  However, for $1000 you can get the same size rug from Surya and they are pretty great options too. The tie-dye rug would be fun in a playroom.

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You can spruce up your sofa with a pretty purple throw or these great block printed pillows.

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If you want to make your own pillows or have curtains made, the above fabrics are pretty great.  It just takes a little bit to really liven up your space with pretty purple!

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I love these pieces of artwork so much.  They could work in any space.  Or how about flanking your sofa with two pretty purple lamps?  I would! 

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The least expensive way to add your touch of purple would be to go the accessory route.  Pick up some amethyst glass at the flea market, or pick some lavender or hydrangeas, buy a purple picture frame, or how about adding splashes of purple in your bookshelves?

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Don't forget about your dining table.  Wouldn't these items be like little jewels on the table?  And just look at the Le Creuset tableware!

All these items have reaffirmed my love for purple.  Hopefully it has started a spark in you for your own home.  If it has, I would love to be able to help create a wonderful space for you to call home.

Our Bathroom

We currently rent a small apartment on Spotts Beach.  The apartments were built in 1980 and ours hasn't been touched since then.  In case you are not aware, that was not the best year for decorating.  While the furnishings, small space, and musty smell aren't our favorite, we chose it for the view.

Our screened in porch

We are on the second floor with the ocean as our backyard.  If we lived on the popular Seven Mile Beach here I can't imagine how expensive our rent would be, but instead we are on the quiet Spotts Beach in Grand Cayman.

On my days off, I enjoy relaxing on Our beach, just steps from our apartment. 

Below is the little gem of a bathroom we use.  It is located downstairs and we use it for the shower, and I use it in the morning to get ready.  The bathroom connected to our upstairs loft bedroom is used to brush our teeth.  If I owned this home I would be so embarrassed to show it.  No, I am still embarrassed to show it!  Pink bathroom tile and that awful dirty green/yellow paint color.  Gross.   I know, I know, paint is inexpensive and getting a crisp white shower curtain wouldn't hurt either.   It is easier for me to put blinders on when I go in there.  I told Steven I was going to take pictures of our pink tiled bathroom and he said pink tiles?  He didn't even notice they were pink!  I don't see how he does not notice it everyday. Every time I take a shower I look at the stupid flower tiles that are sporadically placed in there and cringe!  

Our very offensive bathroom with pink tile.

I can't help but imagine a gorgeous master bath in my dream house.  Fixing up our Charleston master bath was on our future to-do list.  Now we have renters, hopefully, happily enjoying our home with their two dogs (EEK two BIG dogs at that!!).   Perhaps if we go back to Charleston I will prepare our dream bathroom.


My Dream bathroom, according to my Pinterest photos, consists of white marble galore.  (If you look at my kitchen pictures they consist of the same!)  I guess I am a big fan of simplistic, timeless style.  When it comes to such a big undertaking and expense as tile is, keeping it clean simple and white, truly is the smart way to go.  Marble just happens to fit that bill.  Marble can fit into your home regardless of style, from traditional to modern, just have a look at these examples.

 This image shows several applications for marble.  I am usually a fan of marble with less veins, such as Carrara, but I do like the basketweave floor tile. (source)

This is a great example of using marble in a modern way, while using touches of traditional elements like the wallpaper and chandelier.  The application in the shower is very interesting. (source)

Clean, simple, modern marble everywhere. (source)

I love this bathroom.  It is so elegant!  The marble basketweave floor, marble counter tops, marble tub (!), and beautiful wallpaper, and just plain everything! I wonder what the husband's side of the bathroom looks like?  (source)

Another great example of using marble in a modern way but mixing traditional elements with it.  Really like the chevron stripes and the marble mosaic border around the mirror, oh and the pretty little chandelier. (source)

Marble and what seems to be teak wood.  Keeping it simple and earthy.  (source)

 I will always remember this image from House Beautiful.  Truly a luxurious bathroom fit for a castle!  Marble floor mats for his and hers and pink towels!!  (source)

Mixing mirror and marble looks so beautiful.  I would take this in a heartbeat!  Not sure how my Monsieur would enjoy it.  (source)

This is quite a creative way for using marble as a shower wall.  It is the only image I have seen like that.  You could easily use that it a modern bathroom as well.  (source)

Absolutely gorgeous bathroom by Walker Zanger.  

Marble is always gorgeous in every application (in my eyes), but it can get pricey.  If I was doing my own bathroom, I wouldn't apply it on all surfaces as most of these images show.  I would use it on the floor, or as accents in the shower or both.  You can find mosaic tiles in marble and only a few square feet would be needed to do a border.  Our kitchen backsplash in Charleston was a 2x2 marble mosaic from Home Depot that they kept in stock and it was not expensive!  Or you could find a remnant piece at your granite yard for the counter top.  Typically you save at least $10 a square foot when you buy a remnant.  Many ready made vanities have marble tops standard on them.  Pottery Barn had a few vanity options, but on the pricier side. 

Now getting back to our current rental bathroom... I would love to be able to redo it for our owner by getting things inexpensive.  I would chose simple white subway tile.  This is usually a few dollars a square foot (perfect!).  I will need around 70 sq. ft. for the tub surround.  I would save a few bucks and keep the picky beige floor tiles, toilet, and tub.  Pick up a ready made vanity with counter top at our local hardware store for under a $1000, keeping it clean with white.  Plenty of storage is a must because we have none, so maybe a medicine cabinet could be used as the mirror.  Paint the walls blue, we are in the Caribbean after all!  Add a sparkly accent border in the tub.  New stainless steels towel bars are a must.  I think all these could easily be done for under $2000.  

Here's what I would do:

1. Nantucket Fog   2. Medicine Cabinet    3. Vanity    4. Glass accent tile    5. Waterworks Subway tile ($15 a sq. ft. but can find cheaper)    6. Towel Bar

I have been working on bathroom renovations, so I have them on the brain.  Looking at Walker Zanger's catalog has made me VERY jealous and wanting everything.  I have saved tons of their images as inspiration for future projects.  I will post about this bathroom renovation as it gets closer.  We are looking to install in May.  Pretty much everything has been selected, just need a few more odds and ends.

Hopefully these images have inspired you to take another look at your own bathroom.  Just remember if you keep it simple and timeless, you won't get sick of it ten years down the road and it won't look dated.  

Babies, Babies, and more Babies

My best friend had her little bundle of joy last week. And in honor of baby Charlie,  I am going to feature some of the great nurseries found on Pinterest.


There are a few necessities that a nursery must consist of.  It should have first and foremost a crib that is easy to get the baby in and out.  A place to sit and rock the baby, preferably a glider.  Don't forget to get one that has the right height to lean your head back for late night feedings.  Plenty of storage for all things baby.  Curtains, shades, or anything to help block out the light, so you can catch a few zzz's while your baby is fast asleep.  And don't forget some sort of surface to serve as a changing table. 


A nursery should flow with the rest of your home's design scheme, not to mention be able to grow with your children five years from now and beyond.  From what I hear, having babies is tiring, down the road you don't want to scrap off the Winnie the Pooh decals you put on when you were pregnant. Before you know it, your kid is in eighth grade and still has them.


The images I have found will easily transition as your child grows. They are not "cutesy."  However, they all provide elements of whimsy and fun, but they still could be appropriate if it has to function as a guest room later on. 


"I don't know nothing about birthing no babies..."  I currently do not have children, I am solely basing these rooms on their beauty and design.

Love the aqua and green color palate, not to mention the light fixture!  Not sure how well the white flokati rug will hold up to the inevitable red marker incident.  (source)

Very classy room, nothing screams baby.  Take the crib out and you have a good looking sunroom!! Great mix of patterns and of course love the curtains!  (source)

This baby is only going to expect the finer things in life after growing up in this Charleston nursery.  (source)

Has a very vintage feel with the furniture and color combination. Very pretty.  (source)

I really like the wallpaper accent wall.  Keeping everything else neutral really helps it to pop.   Did you notice the bird cage chandelier?  (source)

Stripe accent wall provides interest with the gray and orange combination.  Same white flokati rug as the first image hum... I guess it is a requirement now.  (source)

This room is for a future globe trotter!  What great texture everywhere.  And instead of a white flokati, this baby gets a real zebra skin how nice!  This is how you do a theme nursery without looking like Noah's Ark.  (source)

This room doesn't seem very baby "friendly," but it sure is purty. Every element could easily be in any other room of your house.  Great details.  (source)

Gray chevron stripes this time, standard flokati rug.  I just like the yellow and gray combination including the cute bedskirt. (source)

Another sophisticated nursery with a tiny flokati rug.  Great rug, nice painting above the crib and love the bed skirt fabric!  Can I move in? (source)

Really cute little girl's room with plenty of texture, pattern, and just the right amount of pink. (source)

Great idea with framing children's books.  They bring so much color into the space.  Dash and Albert rug, cute curtain fabric.  (source)

A nursery is a wonderful room to have some fun and bring in whimsical touches and to be creative.  You want to create an inspiring room for your child to grow up in.  Hopefully you mothers and mothers-to-be were inspired by these pictures.  My favorite room was the small safari theme nursery.



Which one is your favorite nursery?