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Room Redesign: Karin's Bayview Beauty
Jul 27, 2010
I was lucky to be asked to help Karin redesign her living room. Lucky because a) she has an amazing view of West Grand Traverse Bay, b) her room had "good bones" to start with, and c) she is a professional photographer and provided all of the photos you see here. Of all the rooms I've spiffed up in my 2- to 3-hour Room Redesign Sessions, this one was probably the closest to being almost there. So it's a good example of how small tweaks can make a big difference.
Here's how the room looked when I arrived:
BEFORE
BEFORE: The furniture was spaced too far apart and the pieces seemed sort of scattered. The rug looked too small for the room, and there was no way to easily sit and appreciate the view.
BEFORE
BEFORE: The colors weren't relating well to each other. Read on to see how we improved that without even painting.
BEFORE
BEFORE: The shelves flanking the fireplace had been a source of frustration for Karin. I helped her rearrange and rethink the accessories to make the items stand out and look better as a whole.
In a nutshell, here's what we did:
- Rearranged furniture to cozy up the fireplace area and create a separate seating area for enjoying the view.
- Switched out the coffee table with a longer, narrower one from the basement.
- Brought up a family antique from the basement, a drop-leaf table that serves as a console table behind the sofa.
- Brought in two small accent tables from other rooms.
- Swapped the gigantic plant for one of a more manageable size.
- Accessorized with pillows and textiles Karin had stored elsewhere.
- Cleared out and rearranged the shelves next to the fireplace.
AFTER: The view from the kitchen. We had placed Karin's only matching pair of lamps on the console table during the session, but they were a bit dated and large, so she went shopping for these smaller-scaled orange cuties. The color picks up on the rug and a runner that we brought into the room.
AFTER: We turned the chairs around completely, to create a nice spot for enjoying the view.
AFTER: This wedge-shaped accent table was designed just for this use. Perfect. This photo was shot with the bay under a haze, but on a clear day you can see all the way to Charlevoix.
AFTER: I really reworked these shelves. Karin let me wander the house gathering pieces from other rooms. She had a lot of interesting things that were hiding unseen in out-of-the-way places. These niches will get a new coat of paint. I recommended Dried Thyme by Sherwin-Williams (SW-6186) to help tie together the color plan. The pheasant feather was a contribution from Karin's 6-year-old daughter, Lauren… I thought it was a brilliant addition to this layered vignette!
AFTER: To bridge the gap between the bright, saturated colors in the rug and the neutrals in the hearth and walls, we raided Karin's large stash of pillows and placed a few on the hearth. They create more comfortable seating and also help carry some brighter colors through the room.
AFTER: This 1960s table had been banished to the basement, but I wanted to use it because its shape was more suited to the proportions of the sofa and fireplace. Its top was worn, but we pulled this runner out of storage to cover the faults and further emphasize the brighter color palette.
So there you have it, another room redesigned in 3 hours. And all Karin bought was a new pair of lamps. —Diane
All images ©Karin Willman of A la Carte Photography.
Want me to help you work some magic in your own room? Email me to set an appointment for a Dwelement Room Redesign Session in the Traverse City area. Only four more days to take advantage of my July special, $50 off! More information here.
TAGS: interior redesign design traverse city northern michigan use what you have decorating home staging budget decorating inexpensive design affordable interior decorator edecorating e-decorating
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July Special: $50 off a Room Redesign Session!
Jul 26, 2010
Heads up, Traverse City: this doesn't happen often. I'm doing a special on my Room Redesign Sessions during July! Book a morning or afternoon appointment in July (yes, I do weekends!) and get $50 off. Most sessions take 2 to 3 hours, making the regular price $150-200. During July, pay $100-$150. The time depends on the size of your space and the extent of rearranging required.
What is a Dwelement Room Redesign Session?
It's a fast and inexpensive way to make your space more functional, more inviting, and more appealing. We don't buy a thing— I just make the best of what you have, and every time I walk out the door, clients are amazed at how good their old stuff looks. The session begins with a discussion of your needs and wants for the space. Then we take a walk through your house. The whole house: basement, garage, storage areas… because we're going to think out of the box and swap, rearrange, repurpose, and reinvent. Then we rearrange furniture, declutter, refresh and refine the room together. I'll probably suggest using things in ways you never considered. The session finishes with a wall color recommendation for the room.
The session illustrated below utilized pieces from the spare bedrooms, the basement, and the storage area. See more before-and-after pictures and details of this Traverse City Room Redesign Session here.
BEFORE
AFTER
Company's coming, right? It's a great time to refresh your home with me. I bring an unbiased and constructively critical eye to a room you see every day. Email me to book now for any session in the month of July 2010 and get a $50 discount. And hey, don't bother cleaning up for me… I've seen it all! —Diane
TAGS: room redesign interior design use what you have decorating home staging traverse city michigan mi leelanau grand traverse benzie frankfort suttons bay glen arbor empire elk rapids
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Look for Less: How to Get a Designer Look in an Average House
Jul 21, 2010
You know that person… the one who hits thrift stores once a week and seems to always find the good stuff? And they have a fabulous house full of stuff you'd swear came from a high-end antiques store or a slick catalog, but they say it all came together naturally, on a dime? This photo could well have been taken at the home of such a lucky person. But is it luck or skill? A bit of both, but usually more of the latter. Understanding some basic design principles is the key.
Let's use this room as an example and dissect it. It looks pretty "designery," right? It's the kind of place you'd take pause to notice.
Photo: Jessica Linn for Canadian House & Home
Analyze it and you'll see that the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts.
Architecture: This room does have a fireplace. But outside of that it's pretty architecturally average, and it's small. So it doesn't have any advantages in that department.
Color: Again, nothing shockingly special or "designer" about the color scheme. Basic cool neutrals with a little grey, gold, white and plum.
Flooring. Points for nice, neutral hardwood. But hardwood flooring is no longer a luxury: With popularity comes lower prices.
Furniture and accessories. Look at each piece. A lot of it is pretty standard. I see things that could have come from a discount furniture store, Ikea, Grandma's house, the thrift shop.
So how did these normal pieces come together to make a room that has that finished feeling? Some basic design principles are at work here.
Balance. The room looks grounded in this arrangement. One side is not visually heavier than the other. Using pairs of items can help achieve this. One pair of chairs sit together, another apart but symmetrically arranged around the centerpiece, which is the coffee table. The lamps are not identical, but their shades are.
Proportion. Pieces are scaled appropriately for the room size.
Direction. The fireplace is the focal point, and the eye is led to it by its color and proportion. The furniture arrangement hinges on creating visual direction toward the fireplace. Even the mantel arrangement has a leading line toward its high point.
Contrast. Monochromatic schemes can be beautiful but take a skilled hand to execute them correctly. It's safer to choose dominant tones and then throw in some contrast. Here, the dark colors of the fireplace are repeated in the narrow stripes on the armchairs, and black drapery hardware and picture frames add a little "eyeliner" to the room.
Unity. Look at each color and see how it's sprinkled pretty evenly throughout the space. White on the drapes, tables, armchairs. Gold in the sofa, rug, baskets, and books. Plum on the wooden chairs, artwork, and sofa pillows.
Surprise. All it takes is a piece or two that are full of personality and style to put your stamp on a room. Here, the Chinese garden stool makes a statement and personal accessories lend warmth.
How to Spend a Lot of Money on a Room that still doesn't work
To contrast, I'm sure you've seen rooms like this one, decked out with mouldings and fancy windows, filled with expensive designer furniture and still lacking a feeling of cohesion and warmth. Which room would you rather relax in?
The Design Don't: What's wrong with this room? Pretty much everything. It's imbalanced, way out of proportion (furniture and fixtures too small), has no direction toward the natural focal point (fireplace), lacks contrast, and is devoid of surprise and personality.
Need help seeing your own old stuff in a new light? I have services both local and online to help homeowners anywhere find a new love for their old stuff. Online, try my Mini Makeover eDecor Plan for $95. In the Traverse City area, I'll visit your house and we'll work together for 2-3 hours to rearrange, repurpose, and reinvent a room during an Interior Redesign Session. Book an appointment in July and get $50 off! More details here. Questions? Think your room is beyond all help, short of a sledgehammer? Just email me. (Hint: It's not!) —Diane
TAGS: interior redesign room redesign use what you have decorating designer room on a budget dime thrift store discount furniture finds accessories basic design principles
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Inspired Idea: Adirondack Desk Chair (not a typo!)
Jul 20, 2010
Today is sunny and mild with puffy white clouds dotting a blue sky and a light breeze blowing through the trees. Stuck inside at a computer? Never fear… clever, prolific, and down-to-earth designer Todd Oldham has tweaked the classic Adirondack chair to make working outdoors just a bit more tempting. And, he shares a complete how-to in ReadyMade Magazine. Maybe you can't whip this thing up in time to meet your next deadline, but in the meantime, seize this gorgeous day. Even if it means getting a neck-ache from working on the grass. —Diane
TAGS: adirondack desk chair todd oldham readymade magazine how to
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Inspired Room: Helen's Fresh Start
Jul 19, 2010
Here's a peek at one of my recent eDecor Plans, designed for a Traverse City condo near West Bay. Helen was ready for a complete change in her open kitchen/dining/living area, which is the first space one sees upon entering her home. A few "before" shots show a space that was designed with a nautical theme in the late 90s and later partially updated. Helen had a need for storage and entertaining space along with a strong desire for a fresh look with touches of her vibrant personality. She had already replaced some of her original furniture and was headed in a color direction based on a detailed rug and burgundy leather seating, but the rest of the space wasn't working with it. I needed to establish a color palette and plan solutions for updating the entire combo space on a fairly tight budget.
BEFORE: To the left of the entry, a small dining area lacked definition.
BEFORE: The living room was off to a good start with a beautiful rug and great light. The furniture was a bit overscaled for the space, and a matching set doesn't exhibit the charm and personality that Helen was craving.
BEFORE: Helen wanted to upgrade to a flat-screen, so this space becomes available for a semi-custom storage solution.
BEFORE: The kitchen was dark and dated, but Helen doesn't need to gut it to bring it up to date.
Here's a look at some of the design solutions shown in 3D illustrations, built on a foundation of warm colors and a transitional look with a rich mixture of finishes. (Click any image to enlarge.)
3D VIEW, AFTER: Here's the angle from the front door: a mixture of warm neutrals, coppery hues, and rich reds.
3D VIEW, AFTER: The kitchen gets a cosmetic update with paint, copper backsplash, new fixtures, and new countertops. 3D VIEW, AFTER: Wall colors, lighting placement, and furniture arrangement emphasize the different spaces while keeping the open feel. 3D VIEW, AFTER: A cut-away view of the whole space. Dwelement's 3D Views can show any angle of a space and even remove walls or ceilings for a better look at a smaller space.
I included Helen's existing sofa leather, rug, and flooring on the Inspiration Board. They are the given elements of this design. I designed a custom-looking storage unit with out-of-the-box bookshelves. And I found the most amazing deal on a beautiful MinkaAire ceiling fan for $62! (Sorry, it's gone now, but Helen grabbed one right away since I marked it with a "Buy It Fast" badge.) I like to give options, especially when a significant investment is involved. Here I show two faucet options and two countertop options, a Zodiaq engineered quartz top and a simple but rich-looking laminate. Helen can choose which option works for her when she's ready to replace the counters. I also provide local sources whenever possible for items that are best purchased in person. Helen's existing barstools and tile flooring are the given elements on this page. I design the space down to the small details— like china and flatware, in this case. I also provide real samples whenever possible. Helen received samples of the fabric, countertops, and extra-large paint swatches. To get a real feel for how a Dwelement eDecor Plan works, download Helen's Refined Revamp magazine-style PDF: A well orchestrated design plan makes the difference between a room that looks packaged or disjointed, and one that truly reflects your personality. I take the time to get to know you, whether you live down the street or around the world. Interested in what I can do for you? Just email me. There's never an obligation. —Diane
The 3D Views from Helen's plan help her visualize the finished result. The rest of the eDecor Plan is a guide to every step and every piece and material required for her renovation. Here's a look at the extensive Inspiration Board, which shows how all of the pieces and materials work together. (This plan covers a combo space, so the Inspiration Board is four pages long. My standard single-room eDecor Plans have 2-page Inspiration Boards.) In the magazine-style PDF file that each client receives, the item descriptions link directly to the item's webpage for easy shopping. It's a visual shopping list. Or it's an inspiration for shopping secondhand and revamping existing pieces. Use it how it works for you! Try it yourself by downloading Helen's complete eDecor Plan at the bottom of this blog entry.
Download the plan and experience the efficiency of eDecor yourself
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