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How much is too much for an outdoor room?

Aug 16, 2010

This morning is cool, sunny, and breezy in Northern Michigan— perfect weather for doing just about everything on the porch. But seriously. This?

PHOTO: Lisa Romerein for Coastal Living.

I'm all about blurring the indoors and out for three seasons a year, but part of the charm of a porch is that it's a mini-getaway from the day-to-day stuff. Like kitchens and TVs. Not to mention fancy-schmancy stuff that needs to be fluffed and vacuumed and dusted. This is merely a room without a ceiling. I don't know how they deal with rain— Coastal Living didn't address that in the caption. But don't you wonder? Upholstered seating, wood floors, framed photos… none of this belongs outside.

And there are more …

PHOTO: Emily Minton Redfield for Southern Accents.

PHOTO: Lisa Romerein for Coastal Living.

The more stuff we seem to require to relax and be entertained, the further we drift from making the simple connections to the outdoors that refresh our spirits. Enjoy your outdoor space on this beautiful day, and keep it simple. —Diane

Have you seen my new eDecor Plans for Exteriors? Just last week I unveiled the first one, completed for clients in Houston, Texas. I gave Angela and Dan lots of ideas for sprucing up their aging bungalow. Read all about it and download the eDecor Plan here. How can I help you? Just email me. There's never an obligation.

Angela and Dan's Inspiration Board from their eDecor Plan for Exteriors

TAGS: outdoor rooms spaces decorating design patio porch keep it simple edecorating e-decorating for exteriors house home plans design architectural color advice consultation

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Celebrating Dwelement's First Year

Aug 13, 2010

{Short & Sweet Friday}

It's already been a year since I started this interior design / edecorating / blogging / budget decor website! One year ago, the business was called Inspired Room Design, I had about 12 Facebook fans, and I was bursting with ideas. Since many of you have discovered the site since that time, I thought it would be fun to run links to some of the best posts from my first month in business, August 2009. Some of this stuff is too good to bury in the archives.

Have a happy weekend, and start it off with some inspiring ideas:

IDEA: Buy vintage home decor.

An interview with the owner of Etsy's The Best Things, and my vintage-loving friend, Kelly Nogoski.

IDEA: Paint your cabinets.

See how Theresa transformed her dated cabinets with a two-tone finish.

IDEA: Let me help you transform your room without buying a thing.

See how Ellen and I worked together in Traverse City to bring her fireplace out of hiding.

IDEA: Decorate with your garden.

A beautiful and long-lasting combination from the shady side of the house.

IDEA: Learn how to mix vintage and modern furniture.

See how I did it in my guestroom.

IDEA: Reduce chemical usage in your home.

These two inexpensive ingredients will replace multiple commercial cleaners.

IDEA: Discover my favorite resource for home decor fabrics at huge discounts.

You'll want to reupholster everything!

IDEA: Make a clever Mondrian-inspired message board.

And add some artful color to your room.

IDEA: Have fun with a trend. But don't spend much on it!

Equestrian is still in… in fact, it's even more in than it was last year. And I still love my Look-for-Less equine accessory.

Thanks for following me during this first year of business. The biggest compliment you can give me is to refer me to a friend or share my blog or Facebook page. Stay tuned for many more ideas! —Diane

TAGS: edecor edecorating e-decorating dwelement home design diane kolak interior design traverse city northern michigan home design blog budget decorating

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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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Announcing Dwelement's New Curb Appeal Design Service!

Aug 11, 2010

I'd been thinking for a while about putting a twist on my eDecor Plans and offering a service for home exteriors. And then the incentive I needed came along in the form of an email from Angela in Houston, Texas. She stumbled upon my site and wondered if I'd be willing to work some design magic on her corner-lot bungalow. She sent a photo with this first email, and I thought to myself, "How hard could this be?" The place already had a lot of built-in charm and the benefit of a beautiful lot. So I said yes.

The process went quite the same as it would for an interior room: Angela and Dan took my design questionnaire, sent photos of the house and neighborhood, and sent some photos of houses she admired both in her neighborhood and from online sources. Then my work began.

I decided that a hand-drawn sketch of each street side of the house was the best way to approach this project. After drawing the suggested architectural changes, I applied three different color schemes to the drawings. I also designed a loose landscape plan and made some suggestions for trees, shrubs, and flowers native to Texas. (Native gardening has been a passion of mine for 10 years now.) Then I put together an Inspiration Board just like I do for rooms, but this one included suggestions for materials, hardware, outdoor furniture and accessories. The eDecor Plan, as always, included a To=Do List to help Angela and Dan accomplish all of the projects as their schedule allowed. For their convenience, I also included some local sources where they could get quotes for some of the jobs that would require professional help, like stamped concrete.

Here are a few visual highlights of the first Dwelement eDecor Plan for Exteriors. Click to enlarge these photos, or to get the full-screen effect and play with all the live shopping links, download the complete plan.

The graphic above shows three spreads from the eDecor Plan. I did a hand drawing to illustrate the architectural changes, then colorized it three different ways to give Angela and Dan options. Then I mailed them 8-by-11-inch samples of all the paints so they could see them for real (not distorted by a computer screen).

This is the landscaping plan. While it's not as detailed as what you might get from a landscape designer, it shows the basics of placement, proportion, and color. I included several suggestions for plants native to their area, links to two local nurseries that specialize in native Texas plants, and some inspiration images of landscaping styles they can imitate.

And here's the Inspiration Board that shows the materials, hardware, and small touches that will make the house look beautiful. I included a few splurges (like the mailbox) but also gave tips on how to make $3 flower planters look custom.

Dan and Angela were really happy with the results. She says: "We are beyond-thrilled! We love it. I love the way you showcased the front entrance with the different siding and color. And your idea to camouflage that weird roofline on the side of the house with the standing seam metal is just brilliant! The fence layout with the additional walkway is exactly what I wanted but just didn't know how to say it or plan it. And on top of it all everything seems so accessible and easy to implement. The to-do list is very helpful and gives us just the direction we need. We are very happy!"

I'd love to make you happy, too. Indoors or out, how can I help? —Diane

Download Dwelement's first eDecor Plan for Exteriors.

Want to improve the curb appeal of your own home? I can give you do-able ideas that maximize the impact on a minimal budget. Plans are $400 for as many as two sides of your home. Find more information or order here. Or just email me.

TAGS: curb appeal makeover house home exterior color consultation design plan edecorating e-decorating architectural advice landscaping plans online virtual renovation improve curb appeal

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Inspired Question: What kind of inexpensive backsplash would look good in my kitchen?

Aug 05, 2010

Alisa wrote:

"I am stumped by my kitchen backsplash. We just put in new Venetian Gold granite counters and planned on doing a tile backsplash. We have honey oak cabinets. Lately I've been trying to find a less expensive option than tile. I have fallen in love with beadboard as a backsplash but can only find examples of white beadboard with white cabinets. What is your opinion? Do you have any examples of beadboard used with oak cabinets that you can share?

Thanks for your help!
Alisa

Here are some photos of Alisa's unfinished kitchen:

Hi, Alisa.

You're on the right track thinking that beadboard is a good, inexpensive backsplash if you want a traditional or cottagey look. And based on the design of your cabinets, I think it would work well. Here's a photo of white painted beadboard with cherry cabinets:

Keep in mind that even though it's most often seen in white, beadboard can be painted any color. And in your case, I think white would be the wrong choice. You have very warm tones in the oak and the granite counters: orangey reds, gold, brown, and warm grey. I would recommend hanging the beadboard backsplash and painting it a warm taupe like Sherwin-Williams Brainstorm Bronze (SW-7033). Then I'd coat the walls with a warm color, too. Try Bagel (SW-6114). It's a tan with gold and slightly reddish undertones. This color will tie together the reddish tones in the wood with the golds in the counters. The dark backsplash will give the space some substance and balance, because of your dark floors.

You might even consider putting beadboard on all the walls, right up to the ceiling. Kitchens like this with high ceilings but without the custom cabinets to reach them can look more deluxe and cozy with this technique. If you have an open plan, you can edge the beadboard with a piece of half-round moulding where you want it to stop.

Hope that helps you create a beautiful room that fits your style and budget! If you need any help integrating your new kitchen with the adjacent rooms, please check out my eDecor Plans. They're $50 off during August! Want to see some plans I've done for other clients? Download them here.

Diane

Do you have an Inspired Question? It's a dilemma that can be summed up in a few sentences and 2-3 photos. I'll answer your first question for free and share it here on the blog. Email me your question and photos. —Diane

TAGS: kitchen backsplash budget inexpensive painted beadboard cottage traditional oak cabinets sherwin williams brainstorm bronze bagel color scheme edecorating edecor e-decorating designer answers questions

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