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Take a fun style quiz and WIN!

Nov 17, 2009

PHOTOS: Time, Inc. Magazines.

I've noticed that my readers and Facebook fans love style quizzes! I just discovered StyleScope, and it's good! It nailed my style: Earthy Modern. The quiz is written by Deborah Needleman, former editor of the now-defunct-but-always-fabulous Domino magazine. I want to know what your style is—and I'm offering a prize to one reader.

HERE'S HOW TO WIN!

1. Take the quiz here.
2. Become a fan of Inspired Room Design on Facebook (Also open to current fans—love you all!) Don't forget to invite your friends. :)
3. Post your result in the comment thread for the Stylescope link.
4. Get a chance to win a $50 gift certificate good for any of my eDecor Plans or in-home services. Winner will be chosen randomly on November 23, 2009.

Click "Become a Fan" on Facebook:

Inspired Room Design on Facebook

I'm eager to see the variety of styles everyone represents. And I can't wait to help you express your style in your home. Check out my range of services for homes anywhere! —Diane

TAGS: contest win giveaway gift certificate discount stylescope homegoods style quiz

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Easy DIY: Plates as Wall Art (the new way!)

Nov 16, 2009

Here's an easy, inexpensive way to create interest on a blank wall. Plates! Sound kind of old-fashioned? Well, there was Granny's way of hanging plates on the wall. Usually it was a matching set. They were decorative (as in, never to be used as actual plates and may have had an imprint of "Franklin Mint" on the back). Then there was the proper rack that lined them up, all straight and symmetrical. My own grandma bought a plate from every state she visited and displayed them on a rail near the ceiling all around the kitchen.

But check out these fresh, new ways to display plates and follow a few guidelines to keep your display looking up to date.

• Use 3M Picture Hanging Strips to safely mount plates without damaging your walls or cluttering up the look with wires and twee racks.
• Go for an asymmetrical arrangement. No need to measure, just make it pleasing.
• Let the arrangement flow. Don't restrict yourself to straight lines or grids.
• Don't use a matching set. Go for a completely mismatched mix, or group plates with a few similar colors or similar themes. Just don't let it look like a set.
• Mix different sizes for more flexibility and interest in the arrangement.
• Break rules. Overlap plates, wrap them around a corner, display them in a bedroom. The unexpected twist makes them worth noticing.
• Let the display be decorative and useful. Consider this a storage option in a small space.
• Let it grow. Hang plates as you find them, in antiques stores, thrift shops, or flea markets. Maybe you don't want Grandma's 114-piece set, but one plate is a nice reminder. —Diane

Images, from top, courtesy: bluelines, Living Etc., Marimekko, remodelista, Sunset Magazine/J. Cross.

I can help you do this in your own home! Part of my "Work with me, here" service includes helping you display things you love to make your home more you. You might not even realize how great your [fill in the blank] collection could look on the wall. And, I'm offering $30 off a session through the end of the year. Email me to secure a slot!

TAGS: plates dishes hung wall decorative

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Craving: Amber Glass

Nov 13, 2009

Thanksgiving is two weeks away! I hate how it always gets the short end of the stick. It's a really good holiday, and frankly, I'd much rather look at warm, spicy colors than red and green, which has always struck me as an unfriendly color combination. So I'll hold out as long as I can with the harvesty look. One thing I've been especially drawn to lately is amber-colored glass. Here are a few ways to bring it into your home (and let it stay until the first week of December!)

1| Lava Glass Glossy Amber Mosaic Tiles, $20/s.f.

2| Amber Glass Panel Accent Lamp, $80

3| Aurora Glow Solar String Lights, $66

4| Amber Glass Lantern, $20

5| Amber Glass Goblets from Gump's, $50 for four

6| Amerock Cabinet Knob, $6

7| Harris Marcus Home Amber Swirl Charger, $30

8| Stained Glass Panel by Dobby Stained Glass, $34 (!)

What are you craving lately? Tell me in the comments and I might turn it into a post just for you! —Diane

TAGS: amber glass home accessories tile lighting hardware stained glass

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Style Steal: Accessories for the
Serious Fireplace Fanatic

Nov 12, 2009

PHOTO: Via Creative Commons license from flickr user sagebrush7.

Before you festoon it with garlands and gild it with glitz, pay respect to your fireplace with accessories it can wear proudly year round. During this bare-branched, frosty-morning time of year nothing is more welcoming than a well-dressed hearth. Here are some finds that are heavy on style but easy on the budget. —Diane

Owl Andirons with Reflective Glass Eyes, $45

These woodsy wisemen make me think of a cozy study filled with the scent of pipesmoke and old books. They pack a big visual punch for this price.

Hammered Fireplace Screen, $42

Utilitarian and sleek. The owner of this fireplace wants nothing to interfere with his flame-flickering experience.

Dark-stained Bellows with Stud Detailing, $46

Yes! Bellows without a "brass" eagle! I love the rock n' roll vibe of the leather and studs.

Panacea Log Tote, $12

Tote with carrying handles slides right into place on the steel stand. In-stalled!

Panacea 5-piece Fireplace Tool Set, $31

No messin' around! The beauty is in the simplicity of this set with spare design and wooden handles.

Gathering pieces with a similar (but not matching) look creates a feeling of effortless style. What's your style? I can help you figure out what it is and put it all together on a budget. Here's how.

TAGS: fireplace accessories tools budget stylish owl andirons bellows log tote

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Inspired Question: How can I make the most of my small space?

Nov 09, 2009

Jessica and Alex, grad students, recently emailed me asking for help arranging the small apartment they share. They aren't quite ready for an eDecor Plan, so I told them I'd turn this into an Inspired Question and give them some space-planning advice that will help them make the most of what they can afford right now. Here's Jessica's email:

I am wondering if you can help me arrange a 500-square-foot apartment. Our budget is tight, so I don’t want to waste money on buying new furniture that doesn’t work! Not only is our place small, but the living room has little usable wall space and we need a large desk/work area. I just don’t know where to put the furniture!

We’re going to have to buy a few main pieces we really need (sofa) from someplace cheap, and then adopt everything else from family and friends. So I think it would be ideal if you could design sort of a “best case” space plan. That way we can see what sort of sizes/shapes to look for when we get a new sofa, or desk, and can work in smaller pieces if they fit into the space.

Here's the floorplan:

What we have and want to keep:

•Queen (60x80”) bed

•42” TV (about 38”W 20”H )

Can use or not:

•One large desk (measuring 61"L x 23"D x 30"H). Half of this length is drawer space, so it really only works for one.

•One mission-style futon (about 84”L) This thing was a hand-me-down from my sister that wasn’t supposed to last even this long.

What we need:

•Workspace. I can send a picture of the desk if you want, but it’s not ideal for two grad students to share. Is there some way to fit workspace for both of us?

•TV/book/game storage. Bookcases against a wall, under the bar?

•Sofa! The current futon is seriously lacking and I can spend (Ikea) money to get one now. Have been considering Ikea’s Karlstad and Knihult, but need advice on appropriate size and placement. 

•Maximum seating. We like to have lots of friends over for poker/football/movies, but have nowhere to seat them. Is there any way to solve the above problems and still have room for party guests or an occasional chair?

It’s definitely a lot of functions for such a small space to serve, but I’m hoping with some creative thinking you’ll be able to get us on the right track. —Jessica

Challenge accepted. Here's what I'd recommend. Since you're going to be looking for some secondhand pieces, use the suggestions as a guide while you hunt for affordable (or free!) used pieces. (Click plan to enlarge.)

1. Your space is too small for the luxury of double doors on the bedroom. They are causing a big problem with the arrangement of your living room. Use only the left-hand door. Hang a drape above the right-hand door that covers it and extends all the way to the edge of the living room. This will add color and warmth, and create "wall space" where you had none. Put the TV here, preferably on something that provides storage. Think beyond media units. You could use a small dresser, a dining buffet, a trio of same-height filing cabinets.
2. You might be surprised at this recommendation: get a bigger sofa than the ones you were considering. Ikea's Klippan seats four in less space than a 2- or 3-seater sofa with a separate chair. Klippan is long but still fairly shallow. Place it on the wall opposite the bedroom door.
3. Always think about multi-function furniture in this space. Instead of a coffee table, buy four of these rolling storage ottomans. These will be worth every penny ($118 each, free shipping) when you consider that they act as a coffee table when grouped, four seats when separated, and they provide a good deal of storage space that's perfect for books, DVDs, and smaller games.
4. Use your bar for dining space. Normally in a small space I would suggest backless stools, but in this case, go for something upholstered with a back like the Ikea Henriksdal. That way you can use the stools as comfortable guest seating in the living room, too.
5. Look for a set of nesting tables. Three tables in the space of one means that when guests come over you can separate the pieces and scatter them so everyone has a place to set a drink.
6. Your existing desk will fit nicely in the bedroom next to the window. Then move the bed slightly off-center and add a 24-inch-wide side table with storage. Look for something with a cabinet, shelving, or drawers. Avoid anything with "dead" space underneath.
7. Look for a second desk that is 44 inches wide or smaller. This will go in the living room to the right of the balcony.
8. For additional storage, think vertical. A desk with hutch shelving above would work. A tall cabinet such as one designed for a pantry, or a tower of open shelving will fit next to the desk.

This plan preserves a comfortable traffic pattern while allowing you to:

• Eat at the bar or the sofa.
• Seat as many as 12 guests (including desk chair) in the living room.
• Each have separate study spaces.
• Store things within pieces that serve multiple functions.
• Invest in the sofa and ottomans. Find other pieces secondhand.

Thanks for your question, Jessica. —Diane

Do you have a space-planning dilemma? A color conundrum? That's an Inspired Question. Email it to me with visuals, and I may answer it here on Room for Inspiration.

Click here to become a Facebook fan and get a once-daily hit of affordable decor, great design advice, and fun home-related ideas. Or follow me on Twitter: @aninspiredroom

TAGS: space planning small room plan apartment furniture arrangement multi-function furniture

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