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?

Wow, Look at the Mural!

Do you have a large wall in your home and just don’t know what to do with it? Maybe it’s in your entrance foyer, or a curved wall that aligns itself with your staircase? Do you find yourself wondering how in the world you are going to hang wall art on that? Or is it a wall in your bedroom, living room, or dining room?

A large span of wall can cause us frustration and can leave us confused. In order to fill the large space with artwork, you will need to come up with a theme, find all the items to purchase and then finally hang everything up. Is it really worth it? It may not be. And if this is the case, my recommendation would be to think about having a mural painted in your home.

Murals today aren’t like the murals we used to see 10 or 15 years ago. They can be creative, simple, complex, vibrant in color or black and white. That’s right! Today’s murals might be as simple as a favorite quote painted on the walls of a long hallway with small illustrations.

Possibly your child’s room needs some added pop and you don’t want to hang artwork in there for various safety reasons. What about an animal mural on the wall above your baby’s crib? Or do you have a little boy who loves sports? Illustrating their favorite team’s stadium on the wall behind their bed is sure to bring a smile to their face! If this doesn’t fit your child, maybe you happen to have a little girl lost in the world of fairies and princesses, what about painting a fairytale forest theme on the wall across from their bed? This way they can fall asleep dreaming of becoming a princess or having a fairy godmother that grants all of their wishes!

Is the children’s bedroom not what you are looking for? How about a mural of a favorite vacation spot, such as the ocean, a village or a building? Large entrance foyers can be a perfect place to have a mural such as this painted because we typically find a large span of wall in a foyer and do not have enough artwork to fill it up!

One final place you may be looking for something on your wall would be in a large family or living room. Why not try a simple modern mural of a tree, building, or an abstract in black and white.

Murals are a creative, one-of-a-kind way to express yourself in your homes. Find a local artist to help illustrate your dream for many years to come.

Do you have a mural in your home? Did you paint it yourself? Where did you place it? Share your stories and ideas here!

Wow, Look at that Sink!

Are you thinking about redoing the sink or vanity in your bathroom? What about your powder room or half bath? This is typically the bathroom that all of your guests use when visiting your home. Selecting a decorative vanity or sink is a great way to impress guests. 

Artwork

When walking into a half bathroom, the first thing you typically see after the wall in front of you is the sink. Start by selecting a beautiful piece of artwork to hang on that wall and then concentrate on what you can do with the vanity or sink.

Pedestal Sink

A typical powder room or half bathroom may have the sink of the side of the door swing and a toilet located behind the door, when it is open. If you focus on the sink, the answer is easy – select a decorative pedestal sink! I recommend choosing one with just a little bit of room on the sides of the bowl? There is nothing harder than trying to put your makeup on or doing your hair without a place to put items down on. Some pedestal sinks today have built-in decorative towel bars.

Pedestal Bowl

But maybe you would like more of a vanity. Wood is a great choice here, but make sure there are cabinets or drawers built in. If there is not, you will have to find creative ways to store toilet paper, tissues, soap, etc. Today the majority of people select a vanity where the bowl is recessed inside the cabinet. Consider a pedestal bowl. They look really trendy, but beware when trying to get ready in the bathroom that those high sides of the sink could get in the way. If you are simply going to be washing your hands in there, it is one of the most fashionable choices available!

Cabinet

When selecting a recessed bowl, I suggest an antique wood cabinet base. The decorative details on the sides or doors will provide an impressive effect from the moment guests walk in. Often the counter and bowl will be a slate, tile, or granite material to offset the decorative details in the base cabinet.

How have you spiffied up your bathroom sink?

Creative and Inexpensive Recycling Projects for Interiors

I think one of the healthiest things you can do to better the environment is using what you have to create something new. Why recreate the entire wheel when you can simply patch it? As garage sale season is around the corner, it’s about time we discuss a few recreation techniques. These are just a few ways to turn a recycling project into a critical part of an interior.

One of the greatest “finds” can be old paintings. These could come from a garage sale, but why not your grandma’s basement? Anywhere you can pick up there are multiple parts that can be used from one find. The actual canvas can always be repainted, but if you are not a Picasso, there are other solutions for reinventing the canvas.

You can always try strip pasting on for size. You could use newspapers, old wrapping paper, paint samples – anything that you can cut into strips and has color. After cutting strips that vary in size you then layer them on the canvas and use simple glue that dries clear. You brush it on in layers until the entire canvas is covered in the desired material. You can either reframe this masterpiece or hang it with no frame.

The frame can always be reused as well. An easy repaint job can make a world of difference. If you are lucky enough to find multiple frames that have different sizes, shapes and textures, you can make them more uniform by painting them the same color. A neutral in a metallic, black or white would work best.

So, now from one “found” piece, you can create many inexpensive new art pieces for your space. Maybe even an entire accent wall! Old mirrors with frames could be used as part of this collage as well. It all depends on what kinds of garage sale finds are available this season.

Another neat piece to keep your eyes peeled for are old records (LPs). Old records, I think, can make the coolest accent wall. You will need many of them, and make sure you are not just going to hang a Beatles White Album on your wall without a frame like I am proposing. Depending on the size of your wall you will need quite a few albums, so if you can find them for five cents a piece you are in good shape. Use goop off or another sticky remover to take off the label.

Pick out some nice looking screws or nails, meaning the head is a good size and attractive shape. From there just arrange them on the wall and make sure all the edges touch. The neatest part about this design is the negative space versus the positive space. Meaning the space between the albums can become the focus, the skewed diamond shape.

Depending on who holds the garage sale, you should be able to take recycled objects and make them something worth while. How have you used recycled objects in your interior?

Ways to Impress Your Guests From the Start

First impressions can be extremely important throughout your lives. This includes you home! The entrance into our home is the first place your guest sees when they arrive. If its family, friends, your boss, or you are trying to sell your house, this is a key area!

Always keep this area picked up! Nothing says “Hello” like a pile of papers, shoes, or clothes that are waiting to be taken upstairs and put away.

Rugs: If you have a grand foyer, there are several options that might work for you. Most importantly, select a nice entrance rug. This is the very first thing that someone will see upon entering your home. Make it a nice. I would recommend darker colors so the dirt doesn’t show.

Seating: Give your guests a place to sit down and take off their coats and shoes when they arrive. Appropriate seating in a foyer will vary according to your space. If it’s a large open area, try fully upholstered armless chairs – this allows for comfort and flexibility. If the space is smaller and tighter, try a wooden dining chair and add an upholstered seat to soften up the space.

Console: I highly recommend a console. This is a great location for dropping your keys, mail, and other misc items you may have in your hands when first arriving home.

Artwork/Mirrors: Hanging a large picture or mirror over the console can make a grand impression. Make sure the picture or mirror doesn’t hang over the edges of the console – this will make the weight of the room seem uneven and top heavy! I personally prefer the mirror for last minute hair and make-up checks before leaving the house.

Lighting and Foliage: A lamp on the console would be great in the evenings when you may not want the chandelier on but would still like to be able to light the space.

Accessories: Try offsetting the lamp with a floral – for some reason they look really good in an entrance. Maybe it’s because flowers are often brought as a sign of appreciation for loved one. Offset the remaining space on the console with a small mint dish, picture frames, a book, or figurines. For the finishing touch, try a decorative coat rack so your guests do not have to search around in the closet.

How have you decorated your foyer? What do you think is the most important room in the house for impressing guests?

Versatile Working: Home Office

Many of us dreamed of staying at home, answering emails in our pajamas, getting to spend more time with our families, and now it is becoming a reality. Entrepreneurship has grown tremendously in the last 10 years. When you have a home office, how do you separate the home from the office?

For people working from home, a common issue is the need to double up the use of the dining table as a desk. The main challenge is to find a way to clear away and store the clutter of your day’s work quickly so that work does not prey on your mind while relaxing. This can be achieved with a sideboard style cart that can be swiftly wheeled out of site.

I have a small office in my home where I can spread out and not worry about it being tucked away when I am entertaining, but because it is my home and my workplace, I have built a small collection of office materials that make me smile! Rexite offers a line of office accessories that are so clever in their form that they give my office space another dimension of creativity.

While Rexite often selects and makes products with a slight touch of humor, the company makes a point of careful choice of materials as well as ergonomics. From my stapler that looks like a modern alligator to my tape dispenser that doubles as an elephant and a paper weight that resembles a frog, I believe that my day is slightly more enjoyable because of these small frequently used objects!

Although they offer a great line of what I consider desktop accessories, Rexite also has a full line of office products ranging anywhere from a versatile desk that can be dropped down and wheeled away into a closet if needed. All of their products give the average piece of office equipment a voice of their own and they are designed in such a creative way that they double as unique pieces of art.

Rexite has reinvented the world of colors, and even traditionalists enjoy the charm of it’s bold designs in that regard. Given their choice of materials, colors and finishes, Rexite allows creating a functional yet highly personalized environment.

Often times people have offices that may serve the function of a guest room or den. In this case it may be important to use each piece of furniture in a few different ways,. For example, purchase a short file cabinet that may only contain two file drawers. This may not seem like much, but when draped in a table cloth, it can be considered an end table or a night stand.

Consider purchasing an armoire cabinet that contains your desk and work area. This way when it is not in use, you can escape mentally from your office by closing it up and relaxing without having to stare at your office on your own personal time.

Try to establish your office in a part of the house with a door. If a door is not an option, place it as far away from the “living space” as possible within reason.

I think that it is incredibly important to define your time in your home if it is also your office. Make time for yourself. Do not spend your free time sitting at your desk. And always try to make your office time as enjoyable as possible! Check out the Rexite line and let your home office be an extension of your expression of style in your home.

If you work from home, what are some other ways you have established the difference between work and home life?

Fashion Trends to Home Interior Trends

How many of you watched the Oscar’s last Sunday evening? Did you watch the stars stroll down the red carpet? What colors did you see the famous actresses wearing?

Did you know that trends tend to start in the street and percolate up through fashion into home furnishings? In fact, the experts say that it takes less than 1 year for fashion trends to move into our market! That is very fast and not easy for all of us to keep up with. Here are my predictions for next spring based upon what I saw on the red carpet….

Purple was everywhere! Mostly the tones were in the lighter purple to lilac range. It’s been a long time since we saw this color was in the trends; it’s about time it cycles back in. Purple is one of those colors many associate with little girls, so let’s keep it simple here. Possibly paint the walls a light purple – my suggestion would be Benjamin Moore’s Inspired AF-595 color. Pair the walls with a white or a beige sofa, pop the color again on the accent pillows and maybe bring in some greenery with purple lilacs on the cocktail table. Another great suggestion would be to have a beautiful bed frame with a white duvet cover, some purple accent pillows and then accentuate it in the rug and artwork! This will be enough to make you feel at home in a purple room without the overkill!

My next prediction is navy. Navy is a classic that we see coming back again and again. It’s hard to go wrong with this color. Navy is often associated with a coastal décor. Navy can be very powerful so I’m not so sure you want to paint your walls that color. May I suggest a beige instead? Navy looks beautiful on pillows with light colored sofas, try repeating the color on the fabrics that go on the corresponding chairs. Bringing navy in through artwork is fairly easy to do, such as with lighthouse paintings. Try repeating the color on the rug and in large picture books on the cocktail table.

While these are two colors that were seen on many dresses that night, I would watch for a couple other colors that I believe are trying to sneak in to become a trend. Several actresses had on light yellow, light pink, and red (going almost to a fuchsia/purple). Chocolate brown and gray were seen on many and I believe they are here to stay for a while. Although only time will really give us the answers to how long these colors will stick around!

What do you like to see be the next fashion/home interior trend?

Coastal Design

Coastal design can bring the feeling of summer home all year – even when you’re miles from a beach. The light and airy look creates a peaceful environment, perfect for both relaxation or comfortable productivity. Coastal design has been around for many years. While the trend evolves and changes slightly over time, for the most part it stays along the same idea. One color scheme many of us are familiar with is the typical blues and whites. But lately there has been many other color schemes coming into fashion!

One of these color schemes might be light greens and yellows. A great way to start with this is to use floral artwork prints. For an ocean feeling interior, you may want to bring in the colors on your upholstery and add pops of color to the throw pillows, such as palm leaves.

Painting your walls a light green or yellow can be a very relaxing and pleasant feeling. Might I suggest Sherwin Williams SW 6415, Hearts of Palms? For those who are going for a cottage theme because they live on the lake, may I suggest light green painted wood? Pair that with a beige linen sofa, colored throw pillows, some lakeside prints and you are on the right track!

Coral is another great option. Coral is well-paired with white, light blue or light green. A beautiful white or beige linen sofa will pop any coral used on the throw pillows nicely. Finding some actual artwork prints with coral on them would be a great way to incorporate the color throughout the room.

Complete the look with accessories. Taking a glass bowl or ceramic charger and filling it with sea shells you find on the beach is one inexpensive way to personalize the theme! For the all of the northerner’s out there, the same could be used with stones.

Remember to keep the windows light and airy; we do not want to distract from that beautiful view you are paying for! Plantation shutters, white painted wood blinds, or light linen shades might be the perfect solution for your windows.

Finally add the sail boat accessories, rope accessory balls, and a light summer floral for all the perfect finishing touches on your new coastal room!

How do you feel about coastal design – love or hate? Send in photos of your own designs!

Simple Ways to Spruce Up Your Bathroom

Often the bathroom is a room in our home that gets forgotten about. But why? We are actually in there for a decent portion of our morning routine…well, at least us women are! Bathrooms can easily become one of the most gorgeous rooms in the home without a ton of thought.

Color: The majority of our bathroom fixtures are white – they just come standard that way. So the easiest solution would be to paint the bathroom a color! Color pops great against the stark white fixtures. I might suggest a green, purple, or a blue.

Shower Curtains: For a more upscale look, purchase a fabric shower curtain verses the plastic ones. They won’t show the mildew that can form overtime and you can wash it. What could be better than that? Did you know there are also fabric curtain liners? These can be washed, are more environmentally friendly and don’t stink like plastic when you take them out of the package for the next month of your life.

Towels: To really make the color pop on the walls, buy a striped towel that has your paint color in it. This is the easiest way to bring in multiple colors and the towel designer has already figured out what color coordinates with yours!

Accessories: If there is room on your vanity, try placing a floral or candle arrangement on the counter to give a relaxing feel.

Storage: Placing baskets on the floor is an easy and fashionable way to store toilet paper, rolled-up fresh towels, shampoo and soaps that will impress your guests.

Artwork: Artwork that pops your color scheme can really make an impact in this small room. Just be careful to select one that will not be damaged by moisture. Try hanging it above the toilet to fill the open space that usually exists.

Light Fixtures: Many new construction homes have simple strip lighting fixtures with bare bulbs above the sink. I don’t know about you, but they really hurt my eyes if I look at them first thing in the morning. Go to your local Home Depot, Lowe’s or lighting store and find a new lighting fixture. This can usually be found for under $100 and if you are at all handy when it comes to electricity, it can be easily replaced. Buy one in brushed silver or bronze with frosted glass shades to give your bathroom an updated look and be easy on your eyes in the morning. Don’t forget to use compact fluorescents in your new fixture, now you can save money on your electric bill too!

I bet the start of your day will seem a little brighter when you start it off in a great looking bathroom!  How have you designed your bathroom to give it a softer feel?

Creating an Organic Feeling Environment

Organic, Natural, Environmentally friendly, these are all the buzz words we are hearing today. But what can you do to bring the organic look into your home? In the ideal world, a large open area with lots of windows would be a great way to bring in the organic look.

Now some of you may have this and some of you may not, so let’s start with the background color. This can make or break the overall feeling in the environment. Make your color scheme consistent with the colors of nature; beige, brown, white, light blues, light greens, stone, and grays. I recommend picking one of these colors for the paint on your walls. Possibly light beige, a color that might remind you of sand. Now, what to do with the rest of the room?

For a dining room, I recommend light colored or painted white woods. The area to pop the other “nature” colors might be on the seat fabrics. Bringing in light greens and blues mixed with white and browns are ideal to make the room pop. Try a beautiful oil painting of a water scene over a buffet or on an open wall. Keep the window treatments light and airy; possibly not use any at all! Soft linen drapes in a white might be a perfect solution, but do not use this color if it is the same color of your walls because a soft contrast is needed here. Repeat the soft colors used in the room through the dishes, glasses and/or vases. And most importantly, don’t forget the table centerpiece! Some soft greens foliage, a bowl with sea shells or stones, possibly even candles may work perfectly here.

As for the bedroom, I would recommend light colored wood, painted white wood, bamboo, or wheat board for the furniture. The bedding would be the perfect opportunity to bring in the beautiful blues and greens found in nature. Texture can also add to the feeling such as using linen or soft cottons. Wood, bamboo, or tile floors would look great in here with a sisal rug. Wall art should be simple with a skinny frame or even frameless, but don’t forget to make sure there is some color! Keep the lamps light, possibly with a glass base and a white shade without any details. Simple picture frames, greens, or candles would be the perfect finishing touch for the nightstands.

Finally for the living room, always look at the largest piece of furniture you will need. Typically this is the sofa and is a great start to building the atmosphere of your room. A beautiful crisp white sofa will bring a light organic feeling to an environment. Then placing colored pillows in blues, greens, beiges, stone or grays is a great start to bring in the colors of nature. For the coffee, end tables, and entertainment console remember to keep the wood light colored or painted in light colors. Simple accessories that remind you of nature are great for adding to the feeling to the room. How about some large coffee table books with photographs of the ocean, lighthouses, or the outdoors? Simple candles can be placed in a large charger with stones or shells covering the bottom. Bowls are a great place to add natural textured accessory balls. Finally, finish off the room with a beautiful seascape painting, photography of outdoor places, or flower prints.

Enjoy your Organic Feeling Room!

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