Complementing Stone Floors: 5 Favorite Elements

Stone floors can be a gorgeous way to achieve a contemporary, earthy look but they often also have a “cold” feel. Warming up the floors with complementary pieces can take some creativity, but the work is well worth it. Here are my five favorite additions that are sure to warm up your home:

Eco-Smart Non-Vented Fireplaces: This is the most streamlined  fireplace I’ve come across that maintains the earthy feel of a stone floor. These fireplaces burn denatured ethanol alcohol and are naturally clean burning. Not only that, but the government offers incentives: Up to 30 percent or $1,500 in tax credits for the purchase of these fireplaces!

 

 

Chester Grommet Curtain: The Chester Grommet Curtain is a great option for softening the rigidity of stone floors, but maintaining a contemporary style. Grommets are in brushed silver or iron, to coordinate with the color of the linen.

 

 

 

Dover Artist Studio Rug: This contemporary rug comes from India and is made from 100 percent New Zealand wool. The stone-like circles are a nice contrast to the rigid lines of caulk stone floors sometimes have.

If this rug doesn’t match your style, consider how you can pull the subtle colors from your stone into a rug with contrasting colors. Many stone floors are darker, so lighter colors can both soften and better define areas of the room.

 

Cornice LEDs: LEDs are not only energy efficient, but they add the right amount of soft light to lift the textures of your stone floors. LEDs on top of a cornice gives the room a comforting, even romantic lighting effect. If you already have cornices, consider adding LEDs.

 

French chandelier: This chandelier dates back to 1920’s France. This total splurge (priced at $2,400) is a dream lighting piece. The ambient lighting is an earthier-feeling option than the contemporary style of the cornice LEDs.

I Love Contemporary Patterned Rugs, but How Do I Make It Work?

Do you find yourself in love with a patterned contemporary rug but uncertain about how to incorporate it in your home? You are not alone.

Contemporary rugs look awesome but can be hard to work with. The large scale patterns and multiple colors might clash with other pieces in the room. Might I recommend trying to pair a large printed contemporary rug with a solid colored sofa?

Solid Color

Now, the best part about contemporary rooms is that the sofa doesn’t have to be the typical beige or white. It can be a vibrant solid color; green, red, black, etc. Pick one color found in the majority of the rug and make that same color your sofa fabric!

When using chairs in a room, I would typically recommend a patterned fabric. However, this might pose a challenge when working with a patterned rug. Instead, try repeating the same solid color fabric used on the sofa. Popping the colors in the rug with patterned throw pillows on the sofa and chairs can be a great accent.

Common Patterns

Always use patterns that correspond well together. Keep everything geometric or swirls or circles; otherwise the patterns may start to fight each other.

Artwork for Accent

Next, why not repeat the same type of pattern and colors found in the rug with the artwork. But here is where you can start to bring in some other elements into the space. For example, some contemporary flower prints will work great with a geometric patterned rug!

Mirrors

If more than a couple pieces of artwork are needed in the room, why not try a contemporary mirror? There are some really neat mirrors out there, such as what I call the “sunburst mirror,” a small, round mirror with pieces of metal coming out from the center. Some will even have tiny round mirrors at the end.

Simple Accessories

For the finishing touch, keep the accessories simple, such as large coffee tables books, a simple floral in a contemporary vase, picture frames or a large bowl with fillers such as coffee beans and candles.

Do you prefer a contemporary or traditional design for your home? How have you blended patterns and color?

When to Use a Solid Colored Rug in Your Living Room

Do you have a hard surface floor in your living room? Need a rug to add some coziness? Deciding on what the best rug is for your room can pose to be a challenge for many, but here are some simple tips to use when deciding if a solid colored rug is right for you:

Popping Out

Solid colored rugs can have two major effects on a room: they can either add a pop of color or blend in. When working within a modern style living room with mostly natural colors, a pop of color in the rug can do wonders. For example, if the majority of your room is cream colored, adding a vibrant red rug or green rug can have a dramatic effect.

The key to making this element work is to repeat the same color throughout the room in the wall art, throw pillows or accessories. But be careful not to add too much because it can take the effect away. At the same time, adding too little can leave one wondering why in the world there is a vibrant colored rug in the room.

Texture can play an important role to the effect the rug can have on a modern interior. Shaggy rugs are often used, which will add a comfortable and soft feeling against the straight edges and solid colors.

Blending In

For the opposite effect, a solid colored rug can blend into the room. In many coastal and classic traditional homes, we often find ourselves not wanting to draw attention to the floor but to the furniture pieces themselves.

Coastal homes and classic traditional homes are known for having sisal rugs. Sisal rugs will give the solid colored and natural texture often needed in these types of environments. We often find the plain white or cream sofa with decorative pillows to add a pop of color. When pairing these smooth fabrics with a sisal rug, it creates a nice balance throughout the room.

Traditional, classic homes have furniture with clean lines that tend to draw your attention in the room; the sisal will not take away from this but will actually add the texture difference needed for a more powerful impact. In coastal homes we often find tropical prints, strips or soft plaids. Again, the sisal won’t compete against these. Besides, what better type of rug to have that hides the sand that will come in off the beach?

What do you prefer: a blend or a pop?

How Do I Make that Oriental Rug Work in my Home?!

Often we have a love-hate relationship with oriental rugs. They are comfortable, add an eclectic pattern to dull areas, but can remind us of our Grandmother’s house. So, should you go with the oriental rug or not?

First of all, look at the color. Many antique rugs are in fashionable colors we can still use today – black, burgundy, green, navy, gold, plum, etc.  I would recommend getting rid of the light blue, mauve, and pinks from the 80’s and early 90’s. Most often, the areas in the home where oriental rugs work best include the foyer and hallways, dining room, living room or study.

Foyers and hallways are often simply decorated. Naturally colored walls or grasscloth are most commonly used in today’s homes. If any furniture is placed in these areas, they are often large casegoods and decorative chairs. There isn’t much of a chance to bring in pattern and color, so oriental rugs are a great pairing in these environments. They add interest, color and cover up the bare hard surface flooring beneath our feet. Florals, artwork and accessories are a great ways to repeat the colors found in the oriental rug throughout the space.

Another perfect spot for oriental rugs would be the dining room. Large wood or glass tables are the focus of this room. Secondary to the table would be the dining chairs, which may have upholstered backs and seats; this is a perfect opportunity to repeat the colors in the rug. If a buffet or china cabinet is found in this room, placing dishes, glassware or linens in or on these pieces with colors from the rug will move the guest’s eye throughout the space. To add the finishing touches, repeat the colors on the table centerpiece, in the artwork and draperies.

We often find oriental rugs in living rooms and studies. If you would like a more masculine feel to this space, I would recommend pairing the oriental rug with leather sofas and heavy, dark wood furniture. What better way to pop the solid leather color and wood than with a busy rug? Repeating these colors in the artwork, pillows, accessories and lamps can tie the room together with a dramatic effect.

Do you like the look of oriental rugs? How have you added them into your home?

Celebrating Your Shower Drain

I recently returned from a trip to Europe (my first adventure across the Atlantic) and while I was there, I came across a few “ah-has” in regards to different methods and application of interior design elements. These were all really small, common applications to the people I was visiting but they caused me to pose the questions to myself “Why aren’t we doing this in the United States?”

The first was an incredible discovery in a place where many good ideas are spawned – the shower. How often is ceramic tile rectangular? Most likely 95% of the time, right? So why do we make the drain protectors in the US round as a standard? I know the initial reason is because the drain pipe itself is round, but think about it…we could save some time in having to cut square tile to fit around a round drain cover. Why not just make the cover square?

In addition to the discovery of the square shower drain in regards to function, it got me thinking, why don’t we celebrate shower drains? I know that I myself find myself sluggishly walking into my shower every morning (especially Monday’s) and looking down thinking about the long day ahead. I know that I have tendency to have a “Polyanna” outlook on things, but why not make one of the first sights in the morning better looking?

We already spend big bucks on the actual tile, so we might as well spend a little more for an appropriately beautiful shower drain. I found one company, California Faucets, that had some great solutions. They have a little bit of everything, from Craftsman-style shower drains and faucets to very modern looking patterns with a variety of finishes from bronze to satin steel.

These types of covers could even be used in commercial spaces and in public spaces such as changing rooms and at your local gym in the locker room.

So next time you come across a restroom design project, why not add a little European influence that adds style and practicality for installation!

Have you ever noticed a small, unique design that made a big impact? What was it? Share your ideas here!

Do You Need Looped or Cut Pile Carpet?

So it’s time to replace the carpeting in your home or office. Going into a flooring store can be slightly overwhelming if you are not sure what you are looking for or need. Most commonly we see cut pile carpeting in our homes, but there are several other choices available. How do you know what’s right for you?

Cut Pile - Cut pile is the most common carpeting found in our homes today. Standard cut pile carpeting is a level cut loop, which means all the fibers are the same height. This creates a casual feel to the room.

Textured Plush – Textured Plush is most likely what you will find in most new construction homes since it hides footprints and vacuum marks easily. This is a great carpet to put throughout your home.

Frieze – If you are looking for a slightly different look without sacrificing the durability, I recommend trying a frieze carpet. The fibers are twisted and then crimped, which actually bends the fiber. This carpet construction will hide footprints and vacuum marks while also extending the life of the carpet.

Cut-Loop Pile – Perhaps you would like a variety of surface textures that give off a sculptured effect such as squares? Then cut-loop pile is the right choice for you! This carpeting is softer than a level loop or multi-level loop but hides soils and stains very well.

Velvet Cut Pile – Or maybe you are one of those people who love the look of vacuum marks? Then plush (velvet) cut pile is what you need to buy! It is a dense and luxurious carpeting. Be sure to put it in low traffic areas; otherwise you may go crazy with the amount of footprints that will be left behind!

Level Loop Pile – Another carpeting that gives off a casual look in our homes is a level loop pile. The loops are all the same height but still give off a textured look while hiding footprints and vacuum marks. It is great for durability and often used in hallways and stairs.

Multi-Level Loop – Are you looking for a durable carpet that creates a textured pattern effect such as diamonds or swirls? Then look no further than to multi-level loop carpeting. This carpeting combines two to three different height loops to make up a pattern or textured effect while also hiding footprints and vacuum marks.

Which sounds like the right carpeting for you? If you’ve tried different kinds, what is your favorite option?

Finding the Right Carpet Fiber for You

Are you looking to replace your carpeting in your home? There are several types of carpeting out there and it is important for you to know exactly what you are purchasing.

Make sure you are going to a reputable flooring dealership and working with someone who knows about the construction of the carpeting. The majority of us find ourselves on a budget when replacing this expensive item in our home and there is definitely budget friendly carpeting. But what might surprise you is that it could cost you more in the end. A large cost of carpeting is the installation and if you cut costs on the carpet product, you may find yourself replacing it a lot sooner than you had thought.

If you have any intention of keeping this carpeting more than several years, then stay away from olefin. Olefin (also known as polypropylene) does not have good retention when it comes to traffic pattern wear. In fact, as you walk on it, the fibers actually “crush” beneath your feet. Can you imagine what this is going to look like in a couple years? Also, when something heavy is dragged across it, the fibers can actually “melt” and result in a large mark across your floor. The benefits of olefin are that it resists fading from sunlight, chemicals, and generates low levels of static electricity. Since it is also resistant to moisture, this is most commonly found in indoor/outdoor carpeting.

Nylon is the most common fiber used in carpeting. For your normal residential and commercial applications this is a great solution. It is known for great abrasion resistance, resiliency, and wears well with all types of traffic flow. The added benefits of nylon are that it can withstand heavy weight and movement of furniture and can be easily cleaned with a professional carpet cleaning solution.

If you have extra money or would just like very good carpeting, then wool is the right choice for you. Wool is natural, which makes it durable, resilient and self-extinguishing when burned (wow!). It is known for its softness, which will feel great when you walk across it in your bare feet! Since it is a higher cost, it is often found in smaller spaces or where there is a less traffic.

With these three standard choices, one of them will be a great solution for you. Enjoy your new carpeting!

What is your favorite fabric for your carpeting?

What Is That Retail Designer Thinking?

Have you ever been in a store and wondered “How in the world is this display getting me to buy the products?” You are not alone my friend! Retail designers are trained to learn what will attract the customer to certain areas of the store.

First of all, window displays can be an important part of retail design when the windows are located in an indoor or outdoor mall. What the customer sees when walking by will determine if they will come in and shop. Bright colors are a must; our eyes are attracted to them! Most likely some sort of metal might be added in with jewelry, lamps, appliances, etc. Ah, they’ve grabbed your attention now!

Once inside the store, the displays are set up so you will walk into them and look at the products. Also a “pathway” of sorts is laid out so you can easily walk from display to display and not get caught in a “dead” zone. Now that means you won’t miss anything, which is great for the retailers to make more sales!

Lighting can be an added advantage – with the right amount of light focused on an item, our eyes are drawn to the display. When products are placed on shelves, shadows can take away from the coloring. To prevent this, lights are placed above the shelves to keep our interest.

Finally, color inside the store is a huge factor in keeping you inside. This might mean through the products themselves or with coloring on the walls. When color is used on the walls, the fixtures themselves tend to “disappear” so your eye will concentrate on the bright color you are most likely walking towards. Often you will find the bright colored walls towards the back of the store or near the sales counter. This will unconsciously lead the customer to the back and hopefully they will buy more if they walk through the entire store.

Some stores like to keep the walls, flooring and fixtures very neutral. Most likely this is so the store doesn’t become “dated” or clash with the color trend of the season. It is then up to the visual merchandiser to be able to pop the products by their color. Often you will see this in clothing stores, souvenir shops, or furniture/accessory stores.

Have you noticed anything that attracts you to certain stores more?

Grey Is Out, Stain Is In! Stained Concrete

Last night I was out to dinner with friends and I was discussing my latest blogging venture. The question came up “Well, what do you write about?” My response used the example of what was beneath our table. Stained concrete.

You probably see it everywhere and it never fazes you – used in large showrooms to small coffee shops and area restaurants. Stained concrete is a great inexpensive solution to flooring. Indoors or out, there is no excuse for that gray concrete slab. New techniques, finishes and color options are being improved to make concrete look less like concrete.

One method is stamped concrete. By using stamped concrete in stairways and pathways, you can introduce a stone-like affect with pattern and texture but not color. Stained concrete embodies your concrete with a huge variety of colors.

Stained concrete is a misnomer. Often when you think of “stained,” I think of a glass of wine spilling on a white sofa. But concrete stain is actually a chemical reaction between the acid stain and the cement within the concrete mix. This bears emphasizing. Concrete is made of both aggregate (rocks) and the binding cement. Because concrete stain works through a chemical reaction between the stain and cement, the aggregate will not stain.

Concrete staining is done on cured concrete and believe it or not, it can be done by you! Here are some simple steps that you may want to test in your basement or garage before you dabble in your backyard pathway or front stoop.

First, you will need to clean the surface. You’ll want to use an organic degreaser at medium strength. Note that because concrete stain is a chemical reaction, surfaces previously treated with acid or otherwise acid-etched cannot be stained. Concrete stain is not going to cover up existing imperfections in the slab, but it may embrace time depending on the style you are after. Rather than selecting one color, you may want to consider a “splattered effect” and select a couple of complimentary colors to lightly splash in areas to make it appear natural or rustic.

Concrete stain can be applied in many ways (mops, brushes, rollers). Depending on the size of the slab, you may want to consider spraying on with an ordinary sprayer such as you might use for herbicides. This provides for a wider, smoother continuation of the concrete stain.

Allow it to dry for eight hours before you walk on it. That is the general curing time, which is much less than a traditional stain that you would use for a wood floor…quite nice to see the time reduced! It is a money saver and if completed properly, it is a wonderful look for an otherwise dull grey concrete slab!

Have you ever stained concrete?  How did it turn out?

Is “Party Ready” One of Your Buying Criteria?

I know one on the first things I look for in a new living space is the ability for that space to house a gathering of my favorite people. Now, mind you, looking at a house versus looking at apartments is a very different scenario. However, I think the interiors can have very similar “party friendly” attributes, no matter how big or small of a space is in question. So here are a few ideas that I have gathered throughout my years that I think make space “party ready”:

• The flow: The flow of a space is critical to party atmosphere. For instance, if there is a back patio or backyard to the home, you should check for the ease of movement from the front entry of the space to the back. Also at this point, for upkeep reasons, check what type of flooring is along this path. If you are lucky enough to get hard surface flooring along the way you will be happier in the long run. Also, hopefully along this path there is the kitchen or a space kitchen adjacent, so the food and goodies are easily accessible.

• Restroom availability: For a while in my life I lived in a 1929 tutor where you either had to go up or down a flight of stairs to find a “potty.” I know that this was a big pain when people were over, especially when planning a family affair and you may have a lack of mobility in some visitors. So you are in good shape if you are looking at a space that has a bathroom on the main living level.

• Know your assets: What you already own, I think, is a big factor in buying/leasing a space. For me, it’s my extendable dining room table. It has multiple leaves that can get pulled in and out to accommodate a larger party or a small group for playing cards. So I know having a space to house my dinner parties is very important. If you have a large sofa or sectional that can fit many people, but takes up a large footprint, just be sure to plan for it ahead of time.
• And finally, the layout: In order to meet all of the criteria I have listed above, your best bet is to look for a home with an open floor plan. By limiting the amount of small, broken up rooms, you will give yourself a more fluid flow, furniture reconfiguration space and possibly a single shared wall between your kitchen and bathroom.

So if you are like me and being “party ready” is a space asset maybe some if these ideas can help. What do you think is your most critical criteria when looking for a new space?

Next Page »