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

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Inspired Solution: The Skirted Console Table

Aug 12, 2010

Short on space and storage? Here's a quick and easy idea for turning a table into concealed storage space. Or just let it dress up your room with a little color and texture.

Skirt a console table. It can be fancy or ultra-simple, as you can see in these examples. You don't even need a real table, for that matter. A couple of boards placed on top of cement blocks, crates, or whatever you have around the house will create the structure. It's all going to be covered up, anyway.

This "table" covered in a bold ikat fabric is actually an old bookshelf. Look around your house for a piece that doesn't get used because it's just, well, ugly. This is the perfect solution. Read more about this project at The Little Green Notebook.

This skirt is a bit more refined, edged with wide grosgrain ribbon. It's a nice way to add major color impact to an entryway without a big commitment. Photo: Domino Magazine.

This shot shows that even though the idea of a skirted table sounds fancy, the look can still be simple and a bit rustic. This design by Phoebe Howard plays up texture in a neutral color scheme and adds life to a long, blank wall with a symmetrical frame arrangement.

Here's the easiest way to do it, if your table is worth of showing off. Add tension cafe rods to the front and sides of the table. Hem the edges of your fabric and sew a rod pocket at the top for accessible but concealed storage. Photo: DIY Magazine.

Have you created a clever storage solution on a budget? Did you DIY your way to a designer look in your own home? Tell me about it and I may feature it here on Room for Inspiration. Just email me. —Diane

TAGS: skirted console table diy do it yourself how to make ideas extra storage space concealed small space solutions room design on a dime

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Gettin' it done: Tips for tackling the to-do list.

Jun 22, 2010

If you own a home, chances are you have a to-do list that doubles or triples in length this time of year. I know mine did. Tops on the list was a daunting project: repainting the lower half of our house's exterior. "Lower half" is a bit deceiving. Our house has a walk-out basement, which means that the west side required paint at a height of about 20 feet. The paint job was adequate and holding up, but the stock color from the siding company was never exactly what I'd wanted. And worse, I'd chosen a flat finish that attracted all of nature's dust bunnies and then left marks when I tried to scrub it.

I did the part of every job that I seem to be good at: buying supplies. Four gallons of Sherwin-Williiams Duration in the perfect bluish-black (Blackjack, matched from a Benjamin Moore chip) and a satin finish sat neatly in a box in the garage just waiting for our ambition to blossom. The two of us worked for about 13 hours from Friday through Sunday, and it's done. Crossed off that long list. And you know what? Finishing the biggest job has given me fresh energy to tackle the rest of those smaller, easier projects.

Here's a look at our crisp handiwork, and the daunting west side. Ladders on slopes, what fun.

PHOTOS: Diane Kolak, Dwelement Home Design, LLC.

Here are a few tips that help me get past the concepting, dreaming, supply-buying stage and actually get things done. Here's hoping it helps you shorten your list, too.

How to Get Things Done on the Home To-do List

Set deadlines for each project. Individual deadlines seem easier to accomplish than one big deadline for the whole list.
Schedule the projects on your calendar. And make sure everyone involved does the same. That's how we finally got out the stir sticks with our painting project. We chose a relatively event-free weekend, prayed for good weather, and inked it in.
Make the list do-able. Long lists of things to get done "someday" are overwhelming. Be realistic about what you can accomplish.
Buy the supplies. They will serve as a visual reminder to work on your project. Leave them in a place where they're in the way. You'll be reminded of your financial investment, too.
Break down the job into stages and write them down. Keep a separate list of steps for the current project. The entire project might seem like too much for one rainy Saturday, but maybe you can knock off stages 1 and 2.
Know when to H.I.D. Hire It Done! Some jobs really are best handled by professionals. Consider your time, your skills, and your deadline. The cost often pays for itself when you consider time off of work, equipment rental/purchase, and the cost of redoing things that don't turn out right the first time. Not to mention domestic harmony.
Just do it. Sometimes remembering how good it feels to accomplish something is enough to spur you on for more. It's mental momentum.
Have a party. There's no better reason to finish projects than the prospect of visiting friends, and it's a fitting way to celebrate your accomplishment. Cheers!

Are you a do-it-yourselfer who needs some creative direction? My services are perfect for homeowners who like to complete projects themselves. I'll assess your needs and your personality, then make design plans and recommendations that you can execute on your own time, as you can afford it. Whether you need a complete design plan for a room down to the last detail or just a little advice, there's a way I can work with you on your budget. Check out my variety of interior design services in the Traverse City area and anywhere in the world with eDecor Plans. Just email me. —Diane

TAGS: to-do-list how to complete finish cross off accomplish self-discipline tips when to hire a professional sherwin-williams duration exterior paint benjamin moore blackjack black jack

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Inspired Solution: How to Buy a Rug Online (and know it's the right color!)

Mar 24, 2010

I'm finally finished rug-shopping! The rug in my living room has always been too small for the space, and it was time to get it right. However, as usual, I was looking for a major bargain. That means I didn't have the luxury of designer showrooms with hundreds of samples at the ready. I'd been shopping locally for the right rug for a year or so without any luck, so I started combing through online liquidation sites in the hopes of finding just what I wanted for a fraction of the usual price: 100% wool, around 8-by-10 feet, plush and comfy, and a very specific color scheme of taupe/ivory/brown/gold/aqua. A little plum would have been okay. But it had to be under $400. Crazy, right?

I stumbled upon this steeply discounted option at Overstock.com. It fit all my criteria… apparently. I say "apparently" because the big variable with online shopping is color. Photography discrepancies and monitor variations meant that if I ordered the rug I was taking a big risk. If I had to return the hulking thing, the shipping charges would really eat into my budget. Most liquidation sites don't offer samples. They won't tell you manufacturer names so you can research or get samples elsewhere, and their idea of a color description in this case was "gold, beige, and blue." Even though Overstock only charge $2.95 to ship anything, I'd have to pay the going rate to return it if I didn't like the colors.

Sorry, no "installed" photos because I'm currently housebreaking a puppy. It'll have to wait!

How to order a sample when they don't offer samples

I thought of a solution. I searched the name of the rug and saw that it was offered in many sizes. The smallest was 2-by-3 feet. I ordered it. It arrived 3 days later, and I instantly saw that the colors were right, and looked much more appealing than in the photo online (see dramatic difference above). It turned out to be a Safavieh rug, much to my pleasant surprise. At this size, Safavieh rugs retail for $1,400-5,000 (!). I quickly ordered the big rug, knowing how fast things sell out on Overstock. Today the UPS man trudged up my walk, threw down the big bargain, and walked off with my tiny return package for $7.90. Small price to pay for color insurance! —Diane

Need some color insurance in your own home? I do color consultations both in-home and online, so it doesn't matter where you live, I can help! $75 first room, $30 per subsequent room in the same house. You could spend that much on a couple more gallons of paint after you mess up the first time… Check out my services here. Or just email me.

TAGS: rug shopping ordering samples online bargain tips tricks safavieh rodeo drive collection wool discount

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Easy Ways to Make Your Guestroom More Welcoming

Nov 23, 2009

This is the week we all either become guests or host them. Here are some tips, tricks, and solutions that will make everyone happier under one roof.

Test out the guestroom yourself for a night. This is the best way to figure out what's missing, what's inconvenient, and what's downright uncomfortable. Then fix it!
Stash various pillows and blankets, and plenty of towels in the closet.
Keep a couple of one-size robes in the closet, especially if guests have to leave their room for the shower. Slippers are nice, too.
Provide good bedside lighting for reading and some good magazines and books. Regional magazines with stories about local attractions and things to do are helpful.
Stash a basket of oft-forgotten items in the bath: shampoo, toothpaste, new toothbrushes.
Invest in a decent mattress. If your old mattress kept you awake, it will do the same for your guests.
Make sure there's a convenient place for a suitcase, either a bench or a luggage rack. No one likes bending to the floor.
Keep the space open. The guestroom shouldn't be your "extra" storage room. Leave a couple feet of closet rod open, and keep surfaces relatively uncluttered.
Furnish a bedside table with an alarm clock, tissues, and a drinking glass.
Leave a few local postcards, prestamped, on the table for guests to send home.
Provide a list of your home's "quirks" so you don't forget to tell guests about the tricky toilet flush, the security system, or the wireless password.

If you give your guests independence in your home, they'll feel more comfortable and so will you. Here are a few simple but inspiring guestrooms I wouldn't mind staying in. —Diane

Brown and white gives this room a crisp, luxury-hotel feeling. Fresh flowers are always a nice touch.

PHOTO: Dominique Vorillon via Time Magazines, Inc.

A bed set into a niche is always cozy, and simple wooden chairs are a simple stand-in for bedside tables.

PHOTO: IPC Images via Time Magazines, Inc.

Classic styling and all-white linens mixed with warm wood are a welcoming combination.

PHOTO: John O'Hagen via Time Magazines, Inc.

This room reminds me of a 1920s Norman-style resort in Nova Scotia where I once stayed. It was the coziest "hotel" room I'd ever seen. The formal setting here is toned down with reed shades and casual drapes. The layered pieces on the mantel keep it from looking too austere.

PHOTO: Paul Whicheloe via Time Magazines, Inc.

Does your guestroom need some help before the guests arrive? I can turn around an eDecor Plan in about a week, sometimes sooner. And if speed is your priority, I'll recommend solutions that involve minimal work for maximum impact. Email me for more details or browse my site to download samples of my eDecor Plans or see photos of my work.

TAGS: how to create a welcoming guestroom guest room design preparing for guests

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Inspired Solution: Dress Up a Boot Tray, Clean Up Your Entryway

Oct 21, 2009

It's almost boot season. At the very least, it's sloppy shoe season. This year, get a boot tray and never step your stockinged foot in a cold, wet puddle again. I use one year-round in the mudroom because it contains sand and dirt as well as mud and slop. This time of year I put one out at the front door, too, for guests. It prevents that pile-up of shoes on the entry mat.

So, problem solved. But leave it to Martha Stewart to find a way to dress up something as mundane and functional as a boot tray. I have to admit, I love this idea. Line a plain old boot tray with small- to medium-sized stones. It's not all for show; the water will drain down, leaving your soles nice and dry. Love the artfully sprayed water in this shot. Of course, in reality the boots and the stones will look a lot grungier, but it will still look nicer than a mud-encrusted tray.