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Color Love: The Name Game (for paint)

Oct 09, 2009

Have you ever chosen a paint color based more on its name than on its spectral merits? Be honest. Sands of Time sounds a lot more interesting than Familiar Beige. Emberglow versus Naive Peach? Picnic or Vegan? (These are real!)

Paint names are intriguing. I've often thought that naming colors full time might be a great way to make a living. While perusing Apartment Therapy yesterday, I was put to the test! And it was so much fun I thought I'd share it here. This online game by Cal Henderson assesses your ability to match paint names with their corresponding hues. It's harder than it sounds!

Check it out: 

The Paint Game

So how did you do? I got a measly 5/10. Since when is an ice storm dark grey? Oops, gave one away! —Diane

Need help choosing a color for its visual qualities instead of its name? I do color consultations in person and online. Email me!

TAGS: choosing paint colors color names game hues

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Transformed: Vintage Entry Bench

Oct 08, 2009

I know I'm lucky to have a real foyer— something so many modern homes lack. When I designed our house I built a jog into the wall just right of the front door to hold a small bench, tucked away out of the traffic area. I figured it would be a nice place to sit and take off shoes, a good spot for guests to toss a purse. But it took me more than two years to find the right bench to fill the space. Size requirements were one thing that held me up, since the nook was only 15" deep by 30" wide. And I wanted a vintage or thrifted piece, not only for design appeal but also for environmental reasons.

So the search carried on. (Mind you, the search is half the fun for me!) Multiple visits to my usual haunts around town, spontaneous visits to roadside shops, scrolling through pages of not-quite-right benches on Ebay... couldn't seem to find what I wanted. Then I stopped into one of my favorite TC shops, Reclectia, which carries mostly vintage furniture and accessories. (No website: check it out at 1132 South Garfield Avenue, Traverse City, MI. 231-929-0022). There was this perfectly sized handmade footstool with sturdy plywood construction, simple lines, and the ugliest upholstery ever. You know that spongey fabric they put on the ceilings of cars? Yeah, that. In brown. I knew it would be an easy job to paint and reupholster. Search over, project phase begins.

My next dilemma was choosing a fabric from my overflowing stash. I only needed about a half-yard to do this project, which meant that, unfortunately, just about every fabric in my collection was fair game. I narrowed it down to these four.

This upholstery remnant was a $2 Goodwill find. I think it's a DesignTex fabric. Probably $80 a yard new! But not quite the hit of color I was after.

This graphic floral cotton duck was a serious contender, but in the end I decided to save it to cover the seat of a chair that was still sporting its original gold naugahyde. The color scheme fit better in my guestroom where the chair lives.

I've been holding onto this fabulous chunk of 1950s barkcloth for years. I would have had enough left for another project, but I felt the large pattern wasn't being displayed at its best on this little seat.

So finally, I settled on this piece of heavy-weight vintage cotton with a woodsy wildflower print. Burst of color, graphic pattern, natural influences... perfect. And I liked how the white lines picked up the color of the baseboard trim. The only problem was that the fabric was so close in tone to the wood, but I fixed that with paint.

Here's the finished project. I spent $30 on the stool. Paint was left over from painting our garage doors (Sherwin-Williams Black Bean semi-gloss), and fabric was probably $2-3 back when I bought it at an estate sale.

how to shop for vintage furniture

• Shop frequently. Antiques stores and thrift shops restock often.
• Always carry a tape measure (and your required measurements). I keep a keyring-sized retractable metal tape in my purse.
• Overlook fabrics and finishes. Those can easily be changed. Focus on line, form, and scale.
• If you aren't good at visualizing, carry photos of pieces you like, and compare.
• Carry cash. It makes bargaining much easier.
• Don't dismiss homemade pieces. They're often made with rock-solid construction and simple techniques that result in clean-lined furniture.
• If you can't decide, take a picture. The camera on a cell phone is good enough as a visual reminder. Then ask the dealer to hold the item for 24 hours. —Diane

Do you need help envisioning a makeover for a piece of furniture? Sounds like an Inspired Question to me. Email me a photo and I'll give you ideas here on the blog, for free!

TAGS: vintage furniture makeover revamp recycle reuse thrift store find trash to treasure repaint reupholster bench stool footstool fabric foyer before after

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Clear the Clutter in Your Closet

Oct 07, 2009

Unless you're blessed with a huge closet, change of seasons means time to switch out your clothing. It's a good time to get rid of things you no longer need and let your closet breathe again, but that's easier said than done. Here's an 8-step process that works.

Above: Inspirational image via flickr from Laura Cattano, a professional organizer who has an informative blog filled with useful organizing tips.

 8 Steps to a Clutter-free Closet

1. Ask a close, objective friend to help you evaluate what you currently have in your closet.
2. Set out three boxes or bins. Mark one "Trash," one "Donate," and one "Unsure."
3. Take everything out of your closet and ask yourself three questions about each piece: Do I wear it? Do I love it? Does it flatter me?
4. If you say no to any question, place the item in one of the boxes. Damaged items that cannot be easily mended go in the trash box. Items in good condition go in the Donate box. If you are unsure whether you should keep the item, it goes in the Unsure box to revisit later.
5. The real keepers are the pieces that you wear and love and that look good on you. Set these aside. Now revisit your Unsure box. Ask your friend for her honest opinion on which items are outdated, ill-fitting, or unflattering, and trust her! Try things on and be honest with yourself. Chances are, you're holding onto these things for the wrong reasons: you paid a lot of money for them, they remind you of a time when you were younger/thinner/happier, you think they will fit again someday. Wouldn't you rather donate them and free up space in your closet for pieces that really look good on you?
6. When the closet is empty, assess your need for additional shelving, rod space, or other forms of closet organization. Consider outfitting the closet with a closet organizer system. Even an inexpensive DIY stock kit can greatly improve the functionality of your closet. Take it one step further with matching wooden hangers. Recycle wire hangers at your dry cleaner and donate plastic hangers. Wooden hangers preserve the shape of clothing and create a uniform appearance in the closet.
7. Hang these items from traditional hangers: dresses, coats, shirts, blouses, jackets, blazers. Skirts and pants should be hung from clip hangers or space-saving cascading hangers. Fold and shelve knits, sweaters, jeans, and t-shirts. Place shoes on shoe racks or on shallow shelves.
8. Organize hanging clothing by type: long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts, tanks/camisoles. Long pants, cropped pants, skirts. Dresses, jackets, coats. Within each category, arrange by color. This arrangement will speed morning outfit coordination.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NEWFOUND SPACE

1. Once your closet is decluttered, adopt a new rule: For every item that goes in, one must come out. Place a printed reminder inside the closet.
2. Take a close look at what's left in your closet, and next time you shop, buy items with similar colors or lines. Avoid buying unflattering clothes in the first place by understanding what looks good on you.
3. If space allows, consider turning a walk-in closet into a dressing room with a full-length mirror and small chair.
4. Some items to keep in or near your closet for an even smoother morning routine: lint roller, small pair of scissors, safety pins, bleach pen, shoe buffing sponge.—Diane

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Juxtaposition: Leather & Metal

Oct 06, 2009

Contrast is an important part of my design aesthetic. I like the way two different shapes, colors, or textures complement each other. This Juxtaposition post is all about leather and metal. I'm using minimalistic examples, because I think leather can really warm up a sleek, modern design. Now, I didn't call this post a Style Steal. Some of these items are very… shall I say, dear. But if this look catches on, more budget-friendly examples are bound to start showing up. —Diane

Atlas Homewares Paradigm Collection. Knob in chrome and black leather, $23. Towel bars in brushed nickel and washable suede, $131 for the 18" model. A tactile, unexpected touch for the kitchen or bath. The knobs and pulls would instantly make a thrifted piece of furniture look expensive and designery.

Avery Modern Table Lamp with Leather Base, $159. Masculine and marvelous!

Global Views Leather Magazine Rack with chrome frame, $415. A softer take on Bauhaus.

Turnstyle Designs Chestnut Leather Bath Accessories. TP holder, $229. Soap dish, $179. Towel ring, $123. I love the way the pieces recall vintage luggage. I can picture a whole bathroom designed around these!

1940s French Maple & Brown Leather-wrapped Metal Desk, (sit down!) $67,500. A girl can dream. I'd love to make this the centerpiece of a small but open home office space.

What about Faux leather?

If you're vegan or just not keen on using real leather, a lot of faux leathers are quite convincing. Used in small amounts or on pieces that aren't often touched, you might not even know the difference. So aesthetically it can work. Just keep in mind that faux leather, usually made from PVC vinyl, cannot be considered a green choice even though it is an alternative to an animal product. Read more about it here.

Do those bath accessories have you dreaming of revamping yours? My "Spiff it up" eDecor Plans for kitchens and baths are 20% off through October 31. I can give you a vision and a plan to create a kitchen or bath that's all about you for only $320. More info here.

TAGS: leather metal juxtaposition atlas homewares paradigm bath accessories magazine rack desk antique vintage french luggage

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Inspired Solution: Storage in the Studs

Oct 05, 2009

Have you run out of storage space? Maybe not. Think about adding storage between the studs in your walls. There's a lot of empty space in there for storing items that don't require a lot of depth. In the bathroom, medicine cabinets can be inserted into the wall rather than hung on it. It's a great idea for spices or canned goods in the kitchen. Pool cues, small collectibles, barware, DVDs … if it's small, put it in the wall.

I used this trick when I designed our bathroom. Instead of the typical over-sink medicine cabinet, I wanted an open feeling with mirrors flush to the wall. Plus, I wanted large mirrors, and that would have meant a large medicine cabinet, which was more storage than I needed. There was a 17-inch slice of wall opposite the sink where the shower came into the space, so I decided to tuck a narrow medicine cabinet between the studs there.

It's a tiny space, but this between-the-studs cabinet makes the most of it. The flush door design and interior hinges keep the look clean. Adjustable glass shelves inside make the storage options flexible.

The resulting storage space is 9 inches wide, 4 inches deep, and 33 inches tall. The long-but-narrow proportions mean there's no need to saw into the studs to install. It can be an easy DIY project on interior walls. Just make sure there are no ducts or pipes inside the wall in your desired location.

My cabinet (above) was built by Chris Lambdin of Line Upon Line Cabinetry. There are also a lot of stock choices from a company called In Wall Cabinets. They carry a wide line of cabinets designed for various purposes, all made from maple or oak and all designed to fit between common 16-inch studs.

Pantry cabinet, bar cabinet, and fireplace tool cabinets from In Wall Cabinets.

If you have basic carpentry skills, make a cabinet yourself. Here's a good step-by-step tutorial.

Check out more home-style blogs at the HomeDigz Blog Party.

Do you have a creative storage solution you'd like to share? I'd love to feature it here on Room for Inspiration. Email me. —Diane

TAGS: cabinet between studs cabinetry inside in wall creative storage solutions in wall cabinets line upon line cabinetry bathroom kitchen

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