Bedrooms Designs

Simplicity, tranquility, good cheer, these should be your goals in a bedroom makeover project. Your room’s size, naturally affects its decorating possibilities and its capacity to serve other purposes. 

Here, as in other rooms, strive for a harmonious relationship between color, form and space.  If your bedroom isn’t restful and restorative, then change it! 

First and foremost in your plan should be sleeping accommodations, but  inevitably, your bedroom typically becomes the chosen place to accomplish those things which require privacy – reading a book, writing letters, pursing a hobby, watching TV or contemplating plans for the next day. With clever planning your bedroom makeover project can accomplish all those tasks and more! 

Choosing a bed – Your bed is typically the most dominant piece of furniture in your room. Your bed must be comfortable to you, so I encourage you to make whatever investment is necessary to get absolute comfort!  Fabulous sheets can add that luxurious touch to your haven!

Night tables - Minimally, it’s important that the top space is adequate for a lamp, book or magazines, or clock.  A little drawer storage is an added bonus! 

Floor Coverings – This product should always be selected with consideration for bare feet in winter. Wall to wall carpet is the choice for many but other options are available!  A hardwood or tile floor with a large sized, decorative area rug is another popular and practical choice. The proper flooring choice can control the temperature and noise in a room adding to the comfort level.

Window Coverings – Of course, the finishing touch in any room are the window treatments and they are especially important in a bedroom!  Is privacy your main concern? Are room darkening treatments your priority? Or, do you prefer to let the sun shine in? Be sure to share your thoughts and functional requirements with your decorator. There are several window covering options available today and of course, we want to find the perfect one for your retreat!

LOVE Your Home Again!

“I want to redecorate, but don’t know where to start!  HELP! “  I hear this all day long at the Home Show and everyday when meeting with clients!  It’s time to love your home again…here’s how to get started!

Since decorating mistakes can be very costly, and time consuming, I always urge my clients to do their homework before undertaking any redecorating project.

What kind of homework?  Well, start by collecting brochures and magazines featuring pictures of various design products and styles that you particularly enjoy.  Once you start becoming aware of colors, designs, and various products available to make your design dreams a beautiful reality, you’ll find your decision making is much easier.  Keep all the pictures you like, no matter how diverse, and share them all.  Together we will discover color and style information to make the house YOURS!

Next, take a personal inventory of your likes and your dislikes.  I find that most of my clients have a much easier time knowing what they DON”T like.  Whatever the case may be with your preference, we will benefit from this knowledge.  Perhaps the sun comes in at an odd angle and you need a different solution for sun control, or a family heirloom needs to be included in the room.  All of these things should be considered when redecorating your home. 

And, of course, working with a professional is definitely the right way to go.  With custom decorating, most designers and product manufacturers stand behind their products.  Remember, if you take your own measurements and they are incorrect, your purchase cannot be returned.  Nothing is more disheartening than finding that beautiful sofa you just had delivered is totally overwhelming your room, and not as comfortable as you had hoped it would be!  As a professional, I have access to many more products then the average homeowner…even with the internet!  Once we take a look at your homework together and determine what look and feel you are working towards for your project, I can show you things you may not even know are available!

Be sure to weigh all your options, take your time, do your homework, and most importantly, call a professional!   I look forward to making your decorating dreams come true!  Let’s get to work!

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!

Whether you’re about to begin a decorating project, or are in the midst of one, it’s a good idea to take stock and consider the following questions:

• Does your home – and the decorating products you’ve selected - reflect your personality?
• What kind of statement does your home make about YOU!

It’s my belief that your home should indeed say something about you – your personal interest – the area in which you live – your culture – your talents – your loves. In other words, your home should look different from a showroom in a furniture store. Don’t make the mistake of copying someone else’s design, instead of pursing your own personal style.

Of course, you will want to consider current trends and fashions, but try not to use what’s “in” to the exclusion of decorating for your individual taste. If you decorate with a personal touch, you will be happy with your choices two years, or even 10 years from now. Once you’ve learned the basics of good design it’s easier to filter through new looks and the multitude of choices available to you.

One decorating myth that has been discarded in recent years is that good decorating must be limited to only one interior design style. It’s not unusual these days to see several different, compatible styles within the same household. For example, some of the most exciting home interiors might include a more formal living room and dining room, a contemporary kitchen, a country family room and a romantic Victorian-inspired master bedroom.

If you’re starting a project, give serious thought to your family’s personal preferences, current trends, and budget. When making major purchases, such as upholstered pieces, floor coverings, and window treatments, you should buy the best quality you can afford, as these pieces will be with you for a long time. Resist becoming too faddish in shape, color and pattern, and you’ll be able to live with your choices for years. Add drama to your rooms with paint, area rugs, pillows and accessories. And by all means, consider consulting with a professional decorator. I would be happy to guide you through the process to make your decorating dreams come true! Give me a call or drop me an email!

Have Fun with Color!

Today’s home furnishings, fabrics and designs are often color coordinated to help you take the guesswork out of your next decorating project. Fabrics, wall coverings, area rugs, bed linens, accessories, and yes, even lampshades feature a wide variety of motifs and patterns….all designed to work in harmony as you create a new “look” in your room.

No matter the design, motif or pattern, the common denominator in successfully creating the look you want to achieve is COLOR! 

So how do you begin selecting color for your next project? Why not start by playing favorites – and selecting colors you already find comfortable. Even if your favorite colors might not work as a major player in your new room, you could consider using that favorite color as an important accent shade.

Here are some tips for helping you “hone in” on your perfect color selection:

1.  Take a look in your closet! What colors do you see in your wardrobe that you particularly enjoy? Pastels? Dark jewel tones? Neutrals? Bright, lively shades?

Doesn’t it stand to reason that the very colors you’re attracted to in your wardrobe, might be the perfect shades to consider in a room?

2.  Take a look around your room. Is there an accessory, piece of art, even an area rug that “speaks” to you? Entire room designs have been beautifully accomplished by focusing on one simple multi-colored vase.

3.  What’s your personal style? Do you enjoy a more casual lifestyle? Perhaps the contemporary style is more “you”. Knowing your style will give you an important clue as to the color options you might want to consider!

Once you’ve done your homework and decided on your perfect color palette, be sure to select one dominate color, a maximum of three adjacent hues, and a dramatic accent color to complete your overall color scheme.

If you find that color selection boggles your mind, feel free to give me a call!  Doing it right the first time can save you money in the long run!

Lights! Camera! Action!

When the sun sets and the lights are turned on in your rooms, do you see dark corners, or too much brightness? Lighting is a functional yet wonderful way to accessorize your room. But the amount of light needed to make the room useable – by day or night, is often a homeowner’s greatest dilemma.

Interior lighting falls into three basic categories. Mixing these types of lighting into your room’s overall design plan will definitely add drama and ambiance.

General lighting: This type of lighting is considered “indirect”. Lighting such as track lighting, or chandeliers would fall into this overall category. This type of lighting bounces off walls and ceilings and provides an overall, general illumination to your rooms.

Task Lighting: This type of lighting does exactly what it says – provides the necessary illumination for specific tasks or jobs you enjoy doing in your rooms, such as reading, cooking, hobbies, or computer work. Pendant lamps over a kitchen countertop would be a definite asset if cooking is your passion. An attractive table lamp would be the perfect choice for the avid reader. 

Accent Lighting: This type of lighting is purely decorative. Perhaps a uniquely designed torchiere lamp would provide the perfect “up” light for a dark corner. Accent lighting is generally placed in a room to call attention to the room’s appealing aspects.

With the myriad of lighting choice available today, there is simply no need to be in the dark about lighting. With the right lighting plan you can make even an average room look spectacular, disguise flaws, and emphasize assets.