dwellings and décor

In my last post I suggested adding a screen into her space to fill in that empty area behind the media console so you can bring the TV closer to the sofa. Screens are so functional because they can create separate spaces like dressing rooms, or a bedroom in a living space. I live in a loft and the upstairs bedroom isn’t completely closed off I just have a railing and I think adding a couple of screens would make the space feel more private and I can close them during the day so I can get a better air flow up there. Some of the screens I have shown here are completely closed off or partially closed off so it gives you that feeling of separation without completely closing the area in. Which one is your favorite?

1. Chiasso 2. Horchow 3. Pier 1 4. Kemble Interiors 5. Room Online 6. Kerry Joyce 7. Oly Studio 8. Emmerson Troop 9. Farm Designs 10. Boca do Lobo

Q. I’d like to get some help with a furniture layout for my living room. It is incredibly long and narrow and the front door opens right into it. The room is also our “family room” where we watch TV. I am clueless as to a layout of the furniture. I don’t want to re-use a single thing that we have in there except for the flat screen TV that we have. I’ve attached some pictures for you. Please let me know your thoughts.

A. I have attached three different furniture layouts. I decided that I needed to put it in 3d for you to fully visualize the space. The first layout has a nice walk through into your space and I have created two separate areas. The area on the left is more for watching TV and the area on the right is for sitting and relaxing by the window. This layout has the TV where the cable outlet is so I think this may work the best. I have added a shoji screen because the table that the TV would sit on needed to be moved away from the wall. The shoji screen fills in that empty space. The second layout has the TV above the fireplace. I am not sure if this is too high for you but it lets you create a one unified space. I am wondering if you could replace the mantel with something smaller so you could bring the TV down further. The third layout is somewhat a mixture of layout1 & 2. It also has a shoji screen and it is more one unified space. You would unfortunanlty have to get an electrician to reroute your cable to other side of the room.

Her Response:

Hi Rachel-
They look great! I think I like the one with the TV over the fireplace best. The fireplace, I think, is the problem. I like the type of fireplace you have in the 3D models. If we were to take out the stone fireplace I currently have and change it to a wall version (for lack of a better description) and get rid of the stone hearth, that would look much better and also, without the hearth, it would add several inches to the floor space.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress. I really appreciate the quick turnaround!!!

There has been many posts about yellow interiors in the blogosphere lately so I thought hey why not do one too. Yellow usually reminds us of sunshine and brings a sense of warmth to a room. It can remind us of being at the beach so I think it works perfectly well for a wet location such as the bathroom. When designing yellow in a bathroom I think it should be your main and possibly your only color. It works beautifully with white toilets, tubs and sinks and I would definetly go with stainless or chrome fixtures and not gold. If you are thinking about using yellow in your bathroom consider how much yellow you want to use. These interiors show the many ways of implementing yellow into your bathroom whether you want to tile all four walls or just add yellow decorative towels. Enjoy!

Clockwise from top: 1. Anyway Artists 2. Pierce Allen 3. India Mahdavi 4. Living etc.

Clockwise from top: 1. Phoebe Howard 2. Robert Kaner ID 3. Eric Roth Photo 4. Pietere Stersohn

When the sunlight hits these midsummer white interior items it creates beautiful shadows. The photo on the top right shows that the inspiration for these great products is vintage crochet. The first image on the top left is called the Midsummer Light. It is made out of paper and the designer used no glue. The three products at the bottom is actually made out of handmade crochet cotton held together with an epoxy resin. I just love how unique these products are and they blend a nice style of vintage and modern together.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Tord Boontje 2. Irina Graewe 3. Moooi 4. Marcel Wanders 5. Moooi

The Desire to Inspire blog featured dwellings and decor on last week winks! If you haven’t already you must check out there blog for wonderful interior inspiration.

There is something so magical about these interiors with multiple hanging light fixtures. Lighting is too often an afterthought for people and it can be very difficult to create the right amount of light. You will notice in these interiors that the design has been carefully thought out. The first image has multiple chandeliers that sparkle when sunlight hits from the large glass skylight. The second image down is a retail store and the designer used the same light fixture in different sizes but hung them at different heights to give it a more scattered feel. I love that there are so many and it still feels subtle and it gives the space a nice glow. I think this idea of multiple hanging light fixtures may work best for events and special occasions. It can really give you that drama that your looking for.

From Top (left to right when there are two) 1. Shoot Factory 2. KWID 3. Martyn Lawrence Bullard 4. Little White Dress 5. D Wiseman 6. Event Design Group

Here are my top ten favorite stools. I love how functional these are. You can use them indoors and out and you can also use them as side tables. I tried to give a mixture styles ranging from modern to traditional to Asian and also Moorish. Enjoy!

1. Modern Dose 2. Bond and Bowery 3. Pier1 4. Maisons du Monde 5 & 6. Horchow 7. Cottage and Bungalow 8. Boca do Lobo 9. Tracy Porter 10. Cottage and Bungalow

Q. I just bought a beautiful true red sectional for my living room. I want it to be the only red because it is big. My furniture is dark brown by Broyhill. What color should my walls be and what do you recommend for curtains/drapes?

A. Congratulations on your new purchase. I have attached two collages to show you a couple of color schemes I would go with. The first one is more neutral and I chose a dark brown drape with a tan color for the walls. (tatami tan from Sherwin Williams in nice) The second collage has a light blue gray for the walls and a burgundy drape. Hope this helps and good luck.

I recently came across this first tropical living room image from EKB Interiors and it made me want to go through my large library and find other blue and green spaces. Blue and green are my favorite colors so naturally I am very drawn to these dwellings. I especially like when blue and green are with white; it gives the room such a clean and fresh look. You will notice many of these interiors have a tropical style to them but not all of them. Blue and green can work beautifully in traditional settings as well. In fact I think when you add blue and green in traditional style interiors it gives it more of a playful feel instead of feeling too stuffy or pretentious.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Scott Sanders 2. EKB Interiors 3. Anyway Artists -Paul Whicheloe 4. Domino Mag

Clockwise from top left: 1. Keith Scott Morton 2. Megg Braff 3. David Hicks 1970 4. Light Locations

Clockwise from top left: 1. Frank Roop 2. Wish.ca 3. DPS Interiors 4. Timothy Kolk

Add some tropical flair to your space for the summer with these bright and beautiful decorative pillows. The first pillow on the left hand corner has a retro look but keeps it tropical with the blue and green leaf motifs. I also really love the modern and clean look of the top right image and the image on the bottom left. The pillow on the bottom right hand corner is more detailed and I love the abstract leaf pattern. Pillows are such a great decorative piece because you can change them out so easily and cheaply. If your one to change your space quite often its best to keep the large pieces like a sofa neutral and then you can change out your decorative pieces seasonally for a fresh new look.

Clockwise from top left: 1. 2Modern 2. Horchow 3. Tracy Porter 4. Pottery Barn

When architects make a beautiful old building into a stunning new building you cant help but notice the character, warmth and class that it gives. Below are images from a villa in Positano, Italy. The villa was first built in the eighteenth century and was reconstructed in 2004 by Lazzarini Pickering Architteti. You will notice that the floors, walls, and ceiling are all neutral but there is still so much color and texture in the fabrics and furniture. What is most striking to me is the large ornate wood piece that extends from the living room into the dining room and into the kitchen. It can be rare to see such exquisite architecture and interior design in one place.

Images from Yatzer

I have collected ten lounge chairs that I believe to be quite unique and more interesting than your standard looking chair. Traditional to modern these chairs can give you that wow factor you may be looking for. Which one is your favorite?

1. Williams Sonoma Home 2. Conran USA 3. Anthropologie 4. Architonic 5. Godoy Lab (Eco-Friendly Product) 6. Tonic Home 7. Jennifer Delonge 8. Fredrik Mattsson 9. Room and Board 10. Design Within Reach

A popular trend in interior decorating is to hang dishes on the wall. So bring out your hidden plates that you probably don’t use much or purchase new plates. I have some tips and steps for you to get started along with some ideas and inspiration on how to arrange them.

What you will need: plates, plate hangers, measuring tape, nails, hammer and an eye for balance.

Steps:
1. Figure out where your dishes will look best in your home. I would not choose to hang dishes in a bedroom or bathroom. A good place to hang them is in a kitchen, breakfast nook, dining room or hallway. Make sure to coordinate the dishes with your style and color in your space.

2. Either use dishes that you already have or buy new ones. I would choose only your favorite and most beautiful ones if you have quite a collection. Remember less is more.

3. Decide how you want to arrange them by setting them on the floor or making a sketch. Consider balance in scale and color.

4. Purchase plate hangers from a hardware, department, antique, or craft store. You can also buy them online. Here is one from amazon. Click here for link.

5. Hammer away and hang!

Tips:
1. Just like framed artwork you want the plates to be hung at eye level in most cases. Consider balance; if it doesn’t feel right, move it.

2. Don’t hang plates in areas where people might bump into them, especially if your plates are valuable.

3. It helps to have someone with you to make sure the plates are looking balanced.

4. Have fun with it!

Most of us are spending a lot more time outside lately because of the warmer weather. When decorating your outdoor area it can be quite lovely to choose neutral colors and natural looking furniture and decor. If you have a view of the country hillside or the ocean keeping it neutral near the home can enhance your view because your eye will be more drawn to the vibrant greens and blues of nature. Neutral fabric also wont fade as easily from sun and rain. I hope these images will inspire you to do something beautiful with your outdoor space.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Tom Scheerer 2. Maison Cote Sud 3. Caroline Vesey

Top: William Hefner Bottom: Matheus Phototography

When I first came across this beautiful lace umbrella by Conran USA on the bottom left hand corner I knew I wanted to do a post on pretty outdoor umbrellas. Not an easy task. Come to find out most outdoor umbrellas are pretty simplistic and plain. If you know any good sites with more interesting designs please leave a comment with the link. The first one on the top left hand corner is from target and it is definitely less decorative but I love the subtle touch of the tie backs. It gives it a pretty appeal probably because its similar to a ruffly skirt. The one next it and the one on the bottom right hand corner are from The Urban Garden. They are also very beautiful but I am not sure how well they would hold up in a tropical storm.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Target 2. The Urban Garden 3. The Urban Garden 4. Conran USA

Here are some links to other fun and interesting outdoor umbrellas.

Tuuci

Warp Weft & Co.

Nicamaka

Jardinico

I was shopping for new Interior Design Magazines and I wasn’t to thrilled on alot of the American issues but when I came across this french magazine Cote Sud I was ecstatic. This article on a french artists home caught my eye and it is the reason I bought it along with many other fabulous finds. I love how there is spats of vibrant color throughout like on the dining chairs and large canvases. It is almost as if her home is a clean white canvas and so when adding furniture she can go with traditional Louis chairs and crystal chandeliers plus modern Bertoia wireframed chairs and Saarinen tables. Love Love Love this space!

Having a tall living space can give you a feeling of grandeur but often times it can be difficult and intimidating to decorate. Being able to create a nice sense of balance along with making it feel cozy is the hardest part. I have gathered up some tips and suggestions to inspire you to decorate your large open space below.

Furniture: Large in Scale

• Tall Armoires, Bookcases & ET Centers
• Oversized Sofas with High backs and feet Large Area Rug to make the space feel “grounded”
• Pedestal with Plant
• Decorative Screen
• Baby Grand Piano
• Large Floor Lamps

  

Paint & Trim: Warm and Dark

• Warmer colors will make the space feel cozier
• Adding a wainscoting or chair rail will break it up
• Darker colors on ceiling (1-2 shades darker than wall)
• Large Crown Molding (small will feel out of place)

  

Wall Decor: Large and Balanced

• Hang artwork and décor in relationship to the furniture
• Large Tapestries or Rugs
• Multiple shelving
• Ironwork Art
• Large Mirrors or Clocks
• Mural
• Multiple Framed Art scattered around wall in a tasteless fashion

  

Image Sources from top: 1. Halley Resources 2. Edge Reps 3. House to Home 4. Eric Roth 5. Big Blue Photography 6. Jeremy Samuelson 7. Ingrao

I came across this inspiration image from Pure Public the other day. (website found via Desire to Inspire) and I just fell in love with the soft colors and the feeling of closeness to openness. This photo makes you feel like you could be there walking into a European courtyard. When deciding what furniture and décor to use for this bedroom I went very literal. The thick iron gate made me want to find a headboard in a similar fashion. Thinking about laying on the grass and reading a good book made me want to choose grass green bedding with a leafy pattern. The orange terra cotta color from the image was a must for the wall color in this bedroom and a wool pebble rug completes the look. See below for links to these fabulous pieces.

Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

Clockwise from top left: 1. Crate and Barrel 2. Paint Color 3. Gracious Style 4. Nova 68

Today I wanted to post interiors that are summery and fresh looking so I decided that green and coral interiors would be a good choice. I love the feeling of the two colors together because they create a nice balance for the space. The serene and peaceful green with the vibrant and lively coral red makes these spaces feel balanced emotionally. You will notice that in all of these interiors that green is the main color for the room and the coral is an accent color. The designers of these spaces did this intentionally because when using coral or red tones in abundance it can make for an unpleasant environment. So when decorating with red tones make sure to use them as accent colors like in pillows, artwork and rugs. When people are looking for paint color advice and they want to use red on the walls I always recommend to only use it as an accent color. A lot of Red in a space can make your heart beat faster and cause other emotional feelings like anger and rage but adding red in small amounts can be great for a space because it can uplift your mood and bring energy and cheeriness.

What I like most about the selections of these interiors is that they all bring a different style. The first image on the top left hand corner has this funky tropical country feel to whereas the one next to it on the right is more clean and minimal. (Check out the filled in fireplace behind the bed.) The image in the middle is much more contemporary because of the stripes in the rug and bedding. I am enjoying the playfulness of the interior and it is a perfect bedroom for that active teenager. The image on the very bottom is more modern because of the clean lines in the bed and abstract artwork. I hope you enjoy these great images and please comment below and tell us what you think.

Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

Clockwise from top left: 1. Scott Sanders 2. Civility Design 3. Real World Houses 4. Timothy Kolk

Bamboo has been a popular trend in interior design lately mainly because of its environmental factors. We are making bamboo flooring and bamboo furniture and even bamboo sheets. Bamboo is a renewable resource meaning that it grows fast and plentiful and it is even biodegradable. Although these light fixtures are not biodegradable they are inspired by the shapes and curves of bamboo. The first floor lamp on the top left hand corner is from Eurofase and I love how modern and clean it is but it also has character because of its curvy lines. The second one from 2b mod is called the Legna table lamp and it is designed by Jeff Designs. You can purchase it in teak or zebra wood veneer and it comes in a variety of styles. The third layered linear floor lamp is called Stacking D and you can purchase it from Ecosta. I like the different varieties that Rockwell Group designed. The last image on the bottom left hand corner is from Leucos and I love the color composition of the white, gold mirror, tobacco, and white gold mirror. Click on links below for more information.

Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

Clockwise from top left: 1. Eurofase 2. 2b mod 3. Ecosta 4. Leucos

Happy fourth of July everyone!

These vibrant and striking lighting designs can give your home the burst you are looking for. They make your eyes go straight to them just like fireworks on the fourth of July.

Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

1. Room Online 2. Plug Lighting 3. Gnr8 4. Rian Rae

As a designer it can be difficult to decorate a room for all seasons. I always try to avoid designing spaces that are christmas tree green and Santa Claus red and the same goes for the red white and blue flag colors. These interiors have used red white and blue but in more subtle tones and they look absolutely fabulous.

Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

Clockwise from top left:

1. Flores Vianna 2. Glenn Gissler Design 3. Thom Filicia 4. M Design Interiors 5. Domino Mag

Below is the inspiration image from Judy Casey. This image is inspiring because I saw many things that I could use for an interior. For instance the women’s beautiful dress inspired me to choose a vintage pink shower curtain and the wrought iron gate inspired me to choose a wrought iron scrolled mirror. I also decided to use an Acanthus crown molding because of the Corinthian style columns in the image. I decided to replicate the tile floor and the tiny blue tile in the pool for inside the shower/tub and base trim. The rug is inspired by the column texture and the faucet is also inspired by the gate. I think this design can work for a girl at any age because although its pink it still has a mature look to it.

Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

Image from Judy Casey

1. Anthropologie 2. Target 3. ifloor 4. Enkeboll 5. Ann Sacks 6. Anthropologie 7. Anthropologie 8. Moen

Bathroom Designed by Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

Q. I have white appliances which I like, I dont like stainless steel appliances. My walls are cream yellow and I have honey laminate floors, I have santa cecilia granite and oak cabinets. I like the white contrast. I want to stain my cabinets, I want to go darker, but dont know how dark I can go. I like a tuscan look, and have white shaker bar stools. I like the honey woods, but a cherry sounds good too.

A. If you want to go darker than I would pick out the darkest brown color in your santa cecilia granite. See image attached for color.

Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

A dark blue Living room can be a great place for relaxing and meditating and it can also enhance the same feeling that you get from the ocean and looking up at the sky. Cooling and calm blue can balance beautifully with rich wood tones like mahogany and cherry and work great with reddish leather. When applying blue to the walls you want to make sure you are getting enough sunlight into the space because it can feel depressing if not used properly. More than any other color blue is affected by the materials it surrounds. For instance reflective materials like glass can intensify blue and shiny materials can make blue look frosty. Blue is also a very mature and timeless color so it works with traditional to modern styles. It is especially used in coastal homes because it helps bring that calming feeling from the ocean into the home.

Rachel Mallon
www.roominabook.com

Clockwise from top left: 1.House to Home 2.Domino 3.Metropolitan Home 4.Preston Lee Design