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Painting Wood Paneling: It's okay.

Aug 29, 2010

Whitewashing is a big trend right now. In fact, according to the latest House Beautiful lying rumpled and tea-stained on my favorite porch chair, it's one of the top five current trends in home decorating. In all the shelter mags and blogs, we're seeing pale paint looking really good. But there's always a certain chunk of the population who hold fast to the tenet that wood (or even its ersatz equivalent) should never be painted. Here I offer visual evidence to the contrary.

Got paneling? Paint it. Hate your knotty pine? Get out the brush. The time is now, the look is classic. You won't be sorry.

I saw this amazing transformation on the blog of Kansas City designer Jill Tran. She modernized this staid living room while keeping some of the major furnishings. Even in a room like this with rich-looking wood, paint can make all the difference. Read all of the details and see more photos on Jill's blog here.

BEFORE: Dark paneling makes the room look dated.

AFTER: Jill Tran's off-white-and-gray color scheme modernizes the space without losing the traditional look. Drapes are used effectively to visually expand small windows, and symmetry lends focus to the space. Notice how the same sofa looks more expensive in the new space.

BEFORE: An adjacent sitting room looks a little lonely, and the yellow paint is too bright and contrasty to work with this paneling.

AFTER: The softened color scheme and consistent window treatments tie the space to the living room. Check out the refurbished bench and armchairs. You don't always need to start over for a completely different look.

This before-and-after comes from the blog of home stager Judy Heinrich. Look how her recommendations made this knotty pine living room come to life.

BEFORE: Uninviting and monotone.

AFTER: Sunny, fresh, and up to date with a coat of Sherwin-Williams Softer Tan (SW-6141). Less wood on the walls makes the flooring stand out as an asset.

Still hesitant to paint wood paneling or trim in your home? My eDecor Plans contain multiple three-dimensional views of your finished space, so you don't have to wonder if you'll like the result— it's all in front of your eyes before you spend a dime on renovations. Very few online decorators or e-decorating services offer this feature, and those that do come in at a higher price point than Dwelement. Check out some samples to see the level of detail in Dwelement's eDecor Plans. Then email me to get started! eDecor Plans are $50 off for two more days, through August 31, 2010. —Diane

TAGS: painting wood paneling trim white whitewashing pale paint color trends knotty pine oak mahogany fake faux wood panels before and after photos inspiration rooms edecor edecorating e-decorating

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August Deal: $50 off eDecor Plans!

Aug 27, 2010

Been thinking about working with me to redesign your space? Now is the time. During August 2010, I'm offering a $50 discount on the following eDecor Plans:

Keep It Simple, now $450 (rooms 500 square feet or smaller)

Live Large, now $750 (combo rooms or rooms larger than 500 s.f.)

Spiff It Up, now $350 (cosmetic redesign for kitchens and baths)

Want to see some examples of eDecor Plans that I've designed for other clients? Click here to download actual plans in PDF format.

One of four Inspiration Board pages I created for Helen's Refined Revamp, a kitchen/dining/living room eDecor Plan. Read all about it and see more of the plan here.

To receive the discount, please email me. Questions? There is never an obligation when you contact me. Or check my FAQ page.—Diane

TAGS: edecorating e-decorating edecor discount sale deal room design plans online virtual long-distance decorating diane kolak interior decorator designer

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Style Steal: Furniture from JCPenney Studio

Aug 27, 2010

{Short & Sweet Friday}

JCPenney just launched Studio, a new line of home furnishings and decor items that they're calling "Relaxed Modern." I perused the whole set yesterday, and overall it's pretty nice for the price. Some of the pieces are trend-tired and a little copycat looking and others seemed over-priced, but there are a few gems that meet the Dwelement Style Steal criteria: A Style Steal must have a remarkable appearance of style and quality that belies its low price.

Here are a few pieces that made the cut.

Studio Modern Console, $110

Studio Swivel Bookcase, $110

Paris Director's Office Chair, $199

Studio Metal Magazine Stand, $24

Happy Weekend! Don't forget, just a few more days to get $50 off an eDecor Plan. If you've been hemming and hawing, now is the time. Just email me. —Diane

TAGS: jcpenney jc penney j.c. penney studio furniture bedding home accessories style steal look for less edecor edecorating e decorating

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Creative Homework Spaces

Aug 26, 2010

Back to school… that means time for homework! I don't have any kids grumbling about it myself, but plenty of my friends dread the task of getting their children to do homework. Here are some inspiring examples of spaces designed to make homework easier and more fun. Read on for ways to adapt a space for homework when you don't have a dedicated room.

Make Space in the Kitchen

If you have a built-in desk, dedicate it for homework space.

Photo: CWP Kitchens via Gold Notes by JG Kitchens

Under-stair Desk Nook

This space is often underutilized or turned into an awkward storage space. Open it up for an out-of-the-way desk space.

Photo: via Apartment Therapy

How About the Hall?

A wide hallway can be fitted with a desk and shelving to make it more than just a passageway.

Photo: via Remodelista

Best DIY Homework Table!

I first saw this project in Fresh Home Magazine, but the instructions are also online here. If you have basic woodworking skills and equipment, this multi-purpose, space-saving design could be the perfect solution for a lack of homework space (or dining space, bill-paying space, whatever). Folded down, it's a bar-height table for two. Folded up, it's a beautifully framed chalkboard!

Photos: via Home Magazine

Desk, Seating, and Storage in One Small Space

This storage bench tucks neatly beneath a sunny window-facing plank set between two bookcases.

Photo: via Martha Stewart Living

Keep it Simple

This is a great idea when you need space for multiple kids. A long, narrow counter with magnetic boards above is nothing fancy. When the kids outgrow it, turn it into a buffet space for entertaining.

Photo: via Remodelista

Need a little help rearranging a kids' room to accommodate homework/sleeping/storage/games/friends? I can help make the most of a small room with creative space planning and projects that are do-able and affordable. And I'll pull it all together with a look that satisfies you and your kids. Just email me.

TAGS: homework spaces desks kids rooms work space home office fold-up table diy design desk under stairs back to school interior design solutions

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Design Critique: House Beautiful's Kitchen of the Year 2010

Aug 19, 2010

Every year House Beautiful magazine teams with a big-name designer to showcase their Kitchen of the Year in Rockefeller Center. It's a way to showcase current design trends and new innovations in kitchen appliances, fixtures, materials, and finishes. Here's a look at the 2010 House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year, designed by Jeff Lewis, house-flipper extraordinaire from the show Flipping Out on Bravo. His taste tends to be clean and masculine, and this kitchen is no surprise in that regard. He calls it "California Modern." It's quite different from past Kitchens of the Year with its solidly modern look.

Modern, for sure. Clean lines, crisp corners, contrasty palette. It's a little difficult to judge this the same way you'd size up a kitchen in a real house. It's a theoretical space designed for lots of foot traffic. A real kitchen wouldn't have such wide-open spaces. The space between work zones, in particular, looks too wide. I think the floor (by Mohawk) helps warm up the space, but overall it looks a little cold. Current trends on display here: large islands, open shelving, metal backsplashes, thick countertops.

The dark, simple cabinets are KraftMaid. Plumbing is Kohler; the unusual faucet is their new Karbon articulating model that pretty much eliminates the need for a separate spray nozzle. The wall mount keeps the counter nice and clean-looking. But I like a view while doing dishes!

There seems to be an awful lot of bar seating in this kitchen, and none of it looks that inviting. I much prefer a standard-height table in a dining space. Perching on a sleek stool seems to hint at fast eating for convenience's sake rather than a comfortable, drawn-out meal. The chandelier, the Dione model by Licht im Raum, is very cool. See below for The Look for Less… similar chandeliers at a regular-people price.

It does give off a nice glow on the salvaged wood table. Idea to steal: use runners across the table as double placemats!

At the other end is a seating area divided by a shelving unit set on the diagonal, designed to hold bottles. This, I do not like. At all. I get that it's kind of like a huge wine rack, but It reminds me of that cheap trellis material people slap under their porches. Plus, the function is very limited by the aesthetics—never good. I would have chosen a simple grid of shelving or a sleek reeded-glass divider. Better yet? An actual wall that can hold art and bring some color into the space.

See more photos and get more sources at House Beautiful's website.

The Look for Less: licht im raum dione chandelier

Try as I might, I could not find a price for the Licht im Raum Dione chandelier. Suffice it to say that it's "price on request," which translates to: very expensive. Here are a few ways to get the look for less! Click through to buy.

Sputnik Chandelier from Shades of Light, $350

Very similar vibe, complete with "dipped" bulbs.

Lite Source Marble Collection Modern Chandelier, $393

I can see a pair of these working nicely for a long dining table. Use it as a focal point in a modern entry way, or a shocking contrast in a very traditional space.

Axis Chandelier from Z Gallerie, $429

This is my favorite. I like the nod to tradition with the candle bulbs, but the rest is all modern. Exposed rivets add a touch of industrial flair.

Are you dreaming of a new kitchen? If your funds are limited or if you just need to refresh your current cabinetry, fixtures, and finishes, I can give you a creative plan that reflects your style. And then you can get the work done as time and money allow. My Spiff It Up eDecor Plan for kitchens and baths is a comprehensive cosmetic redesign plan for kitchens or baths. My do-able ideas can give your space just the lift it needs without gutting and replacing everything. Through August 31, get $50 off the Spiff It Up eDecor Plan or any other plan $250 and over. Questions? Just email me! —Diane

TAGS: house beautiful kitchen of the year 2010 jeff lewis fliipping out bravo modern monochromatic black white kitchen design trends what's new design critique analysis licht imraum dione chandelier light look for less discount sale price

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