Dwelement's Room for Inspiration - Design Ideas - Budget Decor - Solutions

Posts by Date

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

permalink Comments(0)

Like this post? Please share it:

90-minute Redesign: Linda's Woodsy Living Room

Apr 19, 2010

I'm always amazed at the stuff people have in storage when I show up for a room redesign session. (What is Dwelement's Room Redesign Service?) My latest example was no exception. Linda called me, ready for a change in her living room. She had just purchased a new sofa and wanted to give the living room a fresh look to go with it.

Her driveway wound through the pines and led me to a veritable antiques storehouse. Lots to work with! The living room is open to the front entryway, very visible upon entering the house. Here's how it looked when I showed up:

The new leather sofa (from the Latitudes Collection by Flexsteel at Golden Fowler Home Furnishings) joined a collection of chairs: brown leather recliner, blue leather recliner, a neutral floral antique armchair and an off-white antique rocker. The focal point was surely the fireplace, but the furniture arrangement wasn't really reflecting that. A set of hunter green tables, an antique child's desk, and a beautiful Shaker-style bookcase rounded out the room.

There were lots of accessories—and lots of options for rearranging this large room. Right away I noticed that we needed to improve traffic flow, allowing direct passage to the dining area from the bed/bath hall without passing through the kitchen.

Linda took me on a tour of her house so I could see what she had to work with. Each bedroom and the basement were filled with possibilities, many of them interesting antiques. Then we rolled up our sleeves and set to work rearranging just about everything. The TV and bookcase stayed put because they were already in their best locations, but everything else moved, and a lot simply moved out.

My main goals were improving flow, enhancing the focal point, creating cohesion amongst the pieces, and decluttering to create more emphasis on the best pieces. The room immediately started taking shape when we turned the sofa 90 degrees and created a seating grouping with it and the brown recliner. From there, the ideas kept flowing and this is the final result, after just 90 minutes.

The new arrangement directs traffic around, rather than through, the living room and kitchen. There's plenty of space to pass from the hallway behind the sofa to the dining room. We removed the blue recliner and arranged the remaining seating into two groups. The sofa/recliner grouping is connected at the corner with an inventive side table arrangement, and the two antique chairs with their similar coloring now flank the bookcase.

The old coffee table was chunky oak with a painted wood base. Its style didn't blend with the look I was trying to create. I wanted to showcase many of Linda's beautiful pieces that were hidden in bedrooms or in storage. The new coffee table was actually a little-used game table set up in the basement. The height is adjustable, and its larger scale and round shape perfectly complement the new seating group.

This view (below) shows the new direction of traffic flow behind the sofa. This arrangement also creates more definition between the living and dining spaces.

Linda loves sitting in the sturdy and comfy antique armchair. Now it's in a better place for reading with its own lamp and a side table made from a repurposed piece she brought out of storage.

Any guesses what's hiding under the "tablecloth"?

It's an antique piano stool! The wood-and-cast-iron base has tons of character, but the red velvet and gold fringe were a little too "saloon" for the space. Linda brought out an old striped curtain that blended beautifully with the floral upholstery on the chair, and I folded it to drape over the stool. Then for stability of items on top, I capped it off with an antique tray I found in the dining room.

Still solving the table needs, I came up with this a quirky, yet elegant, solution for replacing the chunky oak side table that had no storage. Linda had a set of delicate and clean-lined bedside tables, one in a bedroom and the other in storage. We dusted them off and placed them right next to each other for a new side table that has both concealed and open storage.

The mantel just needed a tweak, and it was waiting right there in the same room. I picked up some nautical-looking metal lanterns off the floor near the bookcase and grouped them with the theme that was half-started with a boat painting and a vintage sailboat sculpture. The mixture of metals contrasts nicely with the oak mantel without looking like a matched set.

Once last corner deserved some attention:

The tiny desk and chair were no match for that tall wall. We cleared it out and replaced it with a desk more suited to the space, "stolen" from the guest bedroom.

This turned-leg desk fills the space just right, and the dark wood helps tie together the other antique pieces we brought into the room. A cast-iron lamp from the other bedroom and a large mirror found in the basement add needed height to the arrangement. A few accessories culled from the living-room mix add interest and character.

And that finished it, in a record 90 minutes. Thanks, Linda, for choosing Dwelement to help with your furniture quandary, and for being so helpful and open to new ideas! —Diane

Interested in seeing these kinds of results in your own home? Contact me for an appointment. Rates are $100 for the first hour and $50 for each subsequent hour. As you can see, I can work pretty quickly and achieve a big impact for as little as $125. Sometimes you don't need new stuff, you just need a new outlook! Email me for an appointment, or just to find out if a room redesign session is the right solution for your design challenge. There's never an obligation.

TAGS: room interior redesign work with me here dwelement traverse city interior designer grand traverse benzie leelanau interior designer michigan before and after photos living room antiques flexsteel sofa affordable decorating advice help

permalink Comments(5)

Like this post? Please share it:

Room Redesign: Emily's Slabtown Spiff-up

Sep 23, 2009

What started as an experiment has turned into one of my favorite parts of my new business. The idea began coming together in my mind in July, and I put out a call to my friends to see if anyone was willing to be my guinea pig to try out what I now call "Work with me, here." The idea is pretty simple: you spend 2-3 hours working with me to rearrange, revamp, and repurpose a furnished room. We buy nothing. You end up loving your room and your stuff all over again. My friend Emily eagerly volunteered, saying she needed help adding some sophistication to her large L-shaped living/dining room. It sounded both challenging and fun. But would it really work? I had no idea, but on a sunny morning I showed up at Emily's to find out.

Emily and Lou have a really cool place. They rent a historic house in the Traverse City neighborhood known as Slabtown. The white clapboard house with cast-iron gingerbread in the windows sits on a pleasant corner surrounded by their lush organic gardens. I arrived to a pot of strong black tea, bandonio music coming from Lou's practice studio upstairs, and this scene:

The large living room had plenty going for it: great windows and views, hardwood floors, a painted brick fireplace, and beautiful light.

Right away I could tell that rearranging furniture would help, but would there be enough raw material here or elsewhere in the house to really make the place sing?

We dove in. My strategy was to divide the large space into zones. As it was, the space did not foster comfortable conversation and looked pretty empty even though there was a lot of furniture. We moved the big red sofa to the center of the room, close to the fireplace. The rug and coffee table cozied up, too. Now traffic from the front door would flow outside the seating arrangement. Much smoother.

Fifteen minutes into the process, we had moved the sofa and coffee table and the room was already taking shape.

The TV was in a good spot but needed a more substantial base. Emily said there was a longer coffee table in the basement, and it turned out to be the perfect size (before and after below). The new table is a little lower, too, which allows more of the window to be visible.

Yes, this perfect table was hidden in the basement!

We covered up the mess of cords beneath with a drape we found in a box in the garage. It belonged to Emily's roommate who wasn't home at the time. Better to apologize than ask permission, right?

Speaking of drapes, the makeshift curtains in the living room weren't doing those gorgeous windows any favors. When Emily told me that there were shutters for all the windows, there was no question that reinstalling them would give the room a huge boost: more light, more architecture, privacy from the street. Screwdriver, please.

I rejoined two matching lounge chairs (below) and turned them into a reading nook by the back window, which has a gorgeous view and an almost-outdoors feel.

A storage chest from Emily's bedroom topped with a throw pillow became a footrest.

A side table that Emily made in Girl Scout camp (for real!) finished off the comfy arrangement. Its spare lines blend beautifully with the modern chairs.

Next we addressed the dining area (below). The table was a bit small for the space, and the chandelier was wired into an off-center spot.

Emily mentioned that there was a larger table in the garage that she'd like to put to use. Out it came, but its matching chairs stayed put in storage. The existing bentwood caned chairs would tie better with the living room and look less matchy. We threw down a rug that had been rolled in a corner and placed the table closer to the window, almost directly under the chandelier. Still plenty of room to move around it, plus a window view for dining. But now what about the big gap between the dining and living spaces?

We repurposed the former dining table as a laptop desk (before & after, below). Its drop-leaf, gate-leg design allowed it to snuggle against the wall. This placement not only gave the open space a purpose but also showed off the interesting X-shaped design underneath and hid a bit of damage on one side. Above it, we hung several black-and-white photos and drawings that were already framed, just waiting to find their place in the home. Witness the power of grouping artwork. The larger pieces anchor the arrangement, and the smaller pieces break up the shape so it isn't too symmetrical. This arrangement is easy to grow, and there's plenty of space for more.

To finish: a bit of decluttering, a larger entry rug, a swapped floor lamp, and a color consult to make the most of the upcoming painting project (hotly anticipated as evidenced by the blue painter's tape in the dining room). A pale color will make the most of the gorgeous light that bounces about the space. We chose a very soft grey-blue (Topsail by Sherwin-Williams) and an accent wall behind the piano of either Moody Blue, a deep blue-green, or Foxy, a sort of pomegranate shade. Emily wanted to get samples and live with them before deciding.

A few more "after" shots:

No more light-snuffing drapes.

The new traffic pattern moves around the conversation area.

Comfy for watching the TV or the fireplace.

This red woven chair moved from the dining room and paired up with an ethnic lamp from the bedroom.

The bookcase looks more settled in the corner.

Ella supervised the whole time. Now she's headin' to the kitchen for a snack!

Just goes to show you— sometimes you don't need new stuff, you just need a new outlook. I was privileged to work with great raw material here and some open-minded clients. Thanks, Emily and Lou! —Diane

Do you have a furnished living room, family room, dining room, entryway, or bedroom that doesn't feel right? Can't put your finger on it, huh? Just email me and I'll make the most of what you have, with your help. "Work with me, here" is a fun 2-4 hours of collaborative work in your space. When I'm finished you'll have a room that works, a new love for your old furniture and accessories, and a color recommendation for the walls if you desire.

Email me for a "Work with me, here" session in your Traverse City–area home. It's a use-what-you've-got, make-it-work makeover! $100 first hour, $50 per additional hour. 2-3 hours typical. Just think, you could have a whole new love for your space and your style in an afternoon.

More about "Work with me, here."

Check out some other cool home-related blogs at HomeDigz.

TAGS: traverse city michigan interior design decorating use what you have makeover before after room pictures photos work with me here budget decor solutions space planning home staging decluttering

permalink Comments(4)

Like this post? Please share it:

Room Redesign: The Case of the Missing Fireplace

Aug 21, 2009

Ellen and Rick live on a hill above Long Lake near Traverse City, Michigan. The first thing you notice when entering their living room is this gorgeous view: blue water with a diminutive island smack-dab in the middle.

(Click pics to enlarge!)

The large windows make good use of that view. Problem is, something else we love in Northern Michigan is warmth, especially when it comes from a fireplace. In Rick and Ellen's room, that fireplace happens to be set into the wall opposite the windows. Pair that challenge with the narrowness of the room and its function as a path between the kitchen, porch, and bedrooms, and you have a space planning challenge.

Because the family didn't use the fireplace much, they blocked it off by placing the sofa against it, facing the windows. Two chairs faced the sofa, backing against the windows. In all, the small room contained a large sofa, two oversized chairs, two side chairs (removed before I remembered to take "before" pics—oops), four tables, a bookcase, and a buffet. While the seating often was used when entertaining, the room wasn't cozy and didn't allow easy flow from the adjacent spaces.

Ellen and I rolled up our sleeves and started clearing the room. We turned the sofa 90 degrees and placed it a few feet in front of the buffet, very close to the window. That set the rest of the plan in motion. We removed the floral chair and the burgundy chair and brought in a dark leather chair from the family room and a long ottoman that works as seating or as a coffee table with the addition of a tray. Removing the floral chair broke up the set for a more sophisticated feel, and Ellen was growing tired of the print, anyway. The chest formerly used as a coffee table became a side table, as it was a more appropriate height for that use.

A broken floor lamp and two very tall candlestick lamps were removed. We stole a simple lamp from the bedroom that had better proportions (in the lower right of the photo above). Ellen and Rick read in the living room in the morning when bright sun comes in the window, so Ellen felt that two lamps were adequate. Candlelight is often used in the evening.

Now that the fireplace wall was cleared, some unsightly outlets and vents were exposed. I moved a narrow basket from under the buffet and filled it with throw pillows and a fabulous grey cashmere throw that Ellen brought from the bedroom. The cozy addition improved the look of the fireplace wall without getting in the way of traffic. We brought out a fireplace screen that Ellen had put away in the basement.

Accessorizing was fun because Ellen had a lot to work with. Lots of swapping and repurposing happened at this stage. We brought in hardcover books and removed their jackets to make the bookcase look good. A couple of baskets were filled with children's books, and I found some small woven boxes in the kitchen that I turned upside down to give some height to a candle arrangement on top.

Ellen and Rick loved the results. The room now has better flow and better arrangement for conversation, the view is still the main focal point, and we found the missing fireplace. Thanks for working with me, Ellen! —Diane

Do you have a furnished living room, family room, dining room, or bedroom that doesn't feel right?

Can't put your finger on it, huh? Just email me and I'll make the most of what you have, with your help. "Work with me, here" is 2-3 hours of fun, collaborative work in your space. When I'm finished you'll have a room that works, a new love for your old furniture and accessories, and a color scheme for the walls if you desire.

Email me for a "Work with me, here" session in your Northern Michigan home. $100 first hour, $50 per additional hour.

permalink Comments(1)

Like this post? Please share it:

Work with me, here.
Revamp a room using the stuff you already have!

Aug 15, 2009

For clients in Traverse City, Leelanau County, Frankfort, Cadillac, Charlevoix, Petoskey

Northern Michigan is a sweet place to live. My eDecor service allows me to live here and design rooms anywhere, but I still love working with clients in and around Traverse City. So many of us have great views of the water, woods, meadows, and small towns out our front doors. There's a real appreciation here of unspoiled space and the natural beauty around us. Yet I've encountered a lot of locals who don't feel as enamored with their indoor spaces. Even after carefully choosing furniture, art, and accessories, sometimes a room just feels uncomfortable. You can't quite put your little finger on it. :) (That's an Up North inside joke.) It's pretty important to love your space when winter lasts six months!

I can help. "Work with me, here" is a unique home design service that involves using only what you already have. You'll set aside a couple of hours, roll up your sleeves, and have a lot of fun working with me to get your room "unstuck." I start by evaluating your space, talking about your needs and desires, and casing out whatever spaces in your home you decide are ripe for pillaging. Then the fun begins. We'll move furniture, swap pieces, re-purpose items, clear out, haul in, whatever it takes to make your room function effectively and look great! All it requires of you is an open mind and a willingness to help me where needed.

I'll take care of every detail in the room and leave you with a new appreciation for things you already had. After all, you bought them because you liked them, right? I'll also give you recommendations for purchases you might consider and choose paint colors if you wish.—Diane