DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION ARTICLES Frequently Asked Questions
Moving into a Smaller Space
Question: I'll be moving into a new apartment that is considerably smaller than my house. How do I arrange all of my furniture into the smaller space without having it look cramped?
T.G. Philadelphia,
Moving is such a hassle, let alone moving into a smaller apartment! But like all of life's challenges, it can be done if you approach the situation as if it were an opportunity…you know the old saying "when life throws you a lemon, turn it around and make lemonade!" When it comes to the problem of residential downsizing, the lemonade part will be smooth if you keep an open mindset and seriously consider these suggestions. And for those of you who haven't heard the lemonade saying, or have not yet experienced the problem of residential downsizing, here's a few ways to take the "I'll never be able to fir ALL of my things into that horribly small apartment and change it to "WOW…my old stuff never looked so good as it does in this well organized smaller space!" Start by taking a long quiet walk through the new apartment before you move in. Let you imagination run wild and imagine yourself as a world famous decorator with an unlimited budget. Now start mentally placing the necessary furnishings within the rooms…a twin or full size bed here, a small quaint chest there, a cozy loveseat here…see a pattern? YEP…that's right, it's smaller sized furniture. Now look at the traffic flow and available seating areas within the smaller space. Remember you're still thinking like a confident decorator so be bold and daring in your thoughts. Simply arranging the furniture up against the walls will not get it! Instead, try mentally re-arranging the main seating group so that the loveseat / sofa is situated close to the center of the main room and slightly angled so that it seems to define the conversation area and takes full advantage of all available floor space. By scaling the furniture to fit the smaller space and also by positioning the sofa so that it's not in the same predictable up against the wall location you've accomplished two things. The first is that you now have a better understanding of what size furniture it takes to fit into a small apartment and also the creative positioning the pieces will have to assume in order to make the space WORK! The second, is that because of this mental exercise, you now should be able to see the apartment in a new light and hopefully see the potential (remember I said to keep an open willing mindset) But now you're saying GREAT IDEA but what about my real life furniture and accessories?? Well the answer lies in the personal strength and courage of our ability to get organized. Confused? Well don't be, just read between the lines and take charge of your life by adapting your decorating style to suite that of your new square footage. To put it bluntly, get rid of any and all furniture that will not fit comfortably in your new space. Just because you've had a large 12-chair dining room table and full china buffet doesn't mean that you have to have the same configuration for the rest of your life, (see this is where the courage comes into play). It's okay to sell your furniture or to put it into storage until one of the relatives asks to "borrow" the piece. And just think, if you sell your larger items you can now afford to purchase new smaller scale pieces that will work better in the new apartment. After all, haven't you worked hard all of your life and deserve a few new things? And just think, by selling your larger items, another family will get to enjoy their "NEW" furniture and you'll know that your possessions are really appreciated instead of just cluttering up your new apartment lifestyle.
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Play Up Your Modern Kitchen
Question: I am building a new house with white kitchen cabinets and black impala granite counter tops. I am considering stainless/black appliances, a white sink and full backsplash using the same granite. What do you think about the appliances, sink and backsplash I am considering? I look forward to your reply.
Yes… sleek and modern with just a touch of comfortable country! And to really play up your soon- to- be great looking kitchen, be sure to furnish the space with warm toned distressed woods and heavily textured fabrics… and be sure to invite me over for lunch!
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Stay Away from Stenciling
Question: My kitchen is all white & I would like to jazz it up a bit. My family room is off the kitchen & I have a vine type stencil applied to the room around the ceiling. Now, I'm wondering if I should have had the stenciler apply the same vine around the kitchen to make it all coordinate. Plus, my backsplash is painted - no tile or anything. Is there anything in this area that I could to do brighten things up? Would it be best to stencil & let the backsplash go, or forget the stenciling & put some color on the backsplash? I'm really at a lost! My colors are hunter green, cranberry & navy.
Stenciling is a great way to add a bit of country charm to any space but only in small amounts… so forget adding more stenciled vines to your kitchen. Instead, my recommendation for a design savvy kitchen and coordinated family area is to add a few touches that you would not normally associate with the kitchen – wool patterned area rugs and runners in the kitchen, rag rugs scattered across the countertops and oversized art work on the walls. And once you paint the backsplash area a deep but vivid cranberry color, your dull white kitchen will simply sing with pizzazz! Here's how: Select a paint color in a satin eggshell finish in a deep maroon purple based cranberry and apply the paint using a dry brush technique. Then, once dry, apply two coats of POLYSHADES by MINWAX in the maple color . This will add a deep richness to your backsplash and since the MINWAX contains polyurethane, it will help to protect your walls behind the countertops. Then shop for a black based hooked area rug featuring a comfortable country design such as fruit or chickens, and select a runner that you will position in front of your sink – normally a 2'6" x 8' works great, and a larger rug in either a 8 x 10 or 9 x 12 size and position this rug in your family room . Next pick up a small rag rug from the local Target or Pier 1 in the colors found within the wool runner. Then simply angle the rag rug across your countertop beneath a few baskets and cook books that are positioned in a dark corner on top of your countertop. And to finish your "pulled together look" be sure to add a few artificial silk vines to your countertop arrangements and what ever groupings you happen to have on top of your kitchen cabinets.
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A Decorative Solution to a Safety Issue
Question: I'm searching for an alternative to your typical white plastic/wood baby gates'.I'm looking for a solution to keep children and animals out of our formal living room...but I want something that has style and a touch of class...and compliments a formal living room. Any ideas?
A formal living area poses several problems especially when you are trying to add a feature such as a protective baby gate to a space that, by it's very nature is suppose to be aloof and above such practical design as well as safety minded features . To solve the dilemma, look to the past and the ornate styles of the by gone Victorian era to create a perfect baby gate for your formal living area. Here's how: Start by locating a decorative iron gate that is close in size to the width of your door way opening. Then simply attach two 1 x 2 hardwood strips to the existing casing and mount the gate as it was originally intended. The two strips will act to give additional support to the gate as well as fill in any gap that might occur in tying to match the width of an aged gate to a modern wooden opening. Then just apply a protective polyurethane satin coating to the gate and voila… a perfect solution to a formal challenge.
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Coordinating Kitchen Ceramic Tile
Question: My husband and I are building a new home and trying to select upgrades to enhance each room. I'm having a difficult time deciding what color ceramic tile floor to put down in my kitchen. This room is quite large and I want to go with an 18 x 18 or 20 x 20 inch tile. My cabinets are a nutmeg color, my granite counter top is called Amazon Uba Tuba and my appliances are stainless and black. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you very much.
It sounds like you will be creating a wonderfully design savvy space…love the UBA TUBA granite and black appliances…really classy! Since your floor will also play an important role in the overall look of your newly remodeled space, be sure to select a tile that is NOT white or even OFF WHITE! Instead go for a deep toned green based natural slate with copper highlights. When you couple this floor treatment with a black or brown grout , and the tiles laid on a diagonal rather that a straight running bond pattern , you will have created a space that will rival any design magazine layout … be sure to send me a finished picture!
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Update to an Old Fireplace
Question: I have a fireplace with three different bricks going through. They are reddish rust,black, and then some white. I don't know what furniture color to use and I am at my whits end. The room is empty now. I have cream walls and all medium oak floors.
Please help
PA
Sometimes when faced with a challenge like this you have two options. You can paint/camouflage it or you can accentuate it to make it look like this is what you wanted to do all along. In your case, the best bet is to paint the bricks. Don't panic! It's an easy process and will look great! However, don't be surprised if your husband "balks" at first, but once the guys see the difference it makes they are sold.
To paint the bricks on an inside fireplace (not the firebox bricks) first begin by cleaning the bricks with a powdered cleaner or powder dishwashing soap. After this dries wait about 24 hours and apply one coat of KILZ (a shellac based primer). Then apply two coats of quality oil base (alkyd) paint in a color to match your wood trim. Then get ready to step back and reap the compliments!
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Coordinating Your Color Scheme
Question: We now have too many colors in our home. Blue and pink (mauve) in the family room which is open to the kitchen, peach and blue (working out the burgandy) and our formal living room is blue and light yellow. How can I make them all work together?
So many times in our rush to "do" a space,we select a wall and accessory color combination that is the "in" color of the day without regard for the continuity of the overall residence. To pull all of your rooms together and make your home a truly comfortable place to call home, I'd recommend that you start by selecting ONE color that you have the most of: accessories, nick knacks etc. This and only THIS color would then be your accent color...Sorry, but if you are really serious about pulling your house together you'll have to get tough and assign all other items to the yard sale or charity box. Now for the easy part; selecting a single color to be used throughout your entire home. Begin by looking at a typical paint sample chart and select a color in the middle range. If your accessory accent color is blue, I would not recommend that you select a wall color in the blue family, instead go for a warm earthy yellow gold tone or even a medium green family of colors. By selecting a wall color that will compliment your accessory accent color you will then begin to unify your home, thus getting rid of the schizophrenic approach to decorating. Okay, now begin your wall color placement challenge by painting your kitchen the medium shade of whatever color you select. Then paint your family room the darker shade along with the master bedroom and all guest bathrooms. Every other room in your home can then be one shade lighter than the kitchen or even any one of the darker shades it does not matter as long as you only select the wall color from the ONE chart. For your trim, be sure to paint it the shade of white that is usually found at the top of the sample chart and don't forget to paint your ceilings....to add a sense of decorating pizzazz, select a paler version of your accessory color. In other words, if your accessory color is blue and the wall colors are in the warm earthy yellow tones then be sure to paint your ceilings a pale browned blue...see it's easy to create a whole house color scheme once you slow down and begin to think and work like a pro!
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Fun Things with Decoupage
Question: I am interested in using photos and newspaper articles to decoupage on my wall. Any suggestions or where can I find some really good instructions?
Thanks for you time
Patty
Well it sounds like someone's imagination is running on HIGH...What a great project! Although I can't help with probviding a web address with detailed instructions I have done it before and had wonderful results...here's how:
Prime the wall with a good quality wallpaper primer
Paste the backs of the newspaper articles with a spray adhesive and apply a sheet of black construction paper to each article. Next you need to apply wallpaper paste to the black backing and then apply to your primed wall.
Next add the photos in a scattered pattern using a spray adhesive. (spray adhesive seems to work best).
Finally, apply either a clear coat of polyurethane or a tinted "blotch" coat of a stain/poly mix. I really like to use Minwax "Polyshades" for a great looking antique finish.
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Spruce Up Tips to Sell Your House
Question:We will be placing our home on the market this Fall and plan to repaint the kitchen. Currently the walls are covered in a grimy film and there is a dark yellow ring around the ceiling. Any suggestions for color and for getting the paint to stick?
A. K. Chittenango
It's not the paint color you should be concerned with, but rather the preparation BEFORE you paint. In any room where there has been poor indoor air quality habits such as cigarette smoke, heavy use of candles, and hours of frying foods, you're going to end up with walls and ceilings that are crying out for special attention. Here's how to prep the walls to ensure your painting efforts will "stick" :
RUB WITH THE GRAINS You'll first need to wash the walls and ceiling using a granulated cleaning powder. A cleaning product like Spic & Span or TSP works well because it is slightly abrasive and leaves no soap residue. Don't try to skip corners here and use a liquid cleaning product, the sudsing agents in these types of cleaners will only smear the grease and cause the paint to 'slip'.
COVERAGE INSURANCE Next you'll apply 1 coat of a shellac base sealer. This is a fast drying, opaque primer that ensures complete coverage and prevents 'bleed through' if applied properly. Most paint stores carry several brands, but the industry standard is a product called KILZ. Since this is a shellac based product, and not a PAINT, please remember to read the label carefully for clean-up and pay special attention to the indoor air quality safety instructions; unlike paint, shellac based primers stink and the denatured alcohol used in the clean up of the primer can be toxic if not properly handled and ventilated.
PAINT WITH STAYING POWER To ensure a perfect paint job and to make your kitchen irresistible to perspective buyers, use only a high quality paint in either a latex enamel or alkyd semi-gloss finish.
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Individual Style
So many times throughout my career, I've been asked the following same three questions; what are the hottest color schemes? Where is the best place to buy furniture? and finally, why are decorative accessories SO expensive???? Well, the answers are many, all of which are dependent upon the individual circumstance. Sounds like a "beating around the bush answer"? …Well it's not. The fact is that with good design (not just trendy decorating for the sake of sprucing up) answers to those questions are VERY different dependent upon the following criteria: household income group, career/employment sectors, social status within the community, family size and interpersonal relationships between family members, personal preferences for a comfort level, family and personal spending habits, perceived value of a comfortable living environment, actual value of the residence, and last but not least, expectations for the finished project. Hey, if all of these points sound like an evaluation form for a psychology profile, YOU'RE RIGHT! When you think about it, what is good design if not but ALL of these factors figured into creating a truly comfortable and attractive location we call HOME. And what is home if not but an extension of ourselves? As a professional, I've been trained to seek answers to those criteria factors prior to making my recommendations for that perfect design project. Most times, I don't even have to actually ask the questions…the answers are in plain view, all I have to do is just OPEN MY EYES and look around and REALLY listen during my initial interview. Most folks will share this info through many ways other than direct response to my questions. The manner of dress, the taste and expense of the environment they now call home, the family travel, entertainment and vacation habits, interactions between family members, and general attitudes towards design and decorating. All of this goes into the big "consideration pot" so that, in the end, good design prevails (read this as-everyone is happy and the project FEELS like the folks who live there and not just a cookie cutter decorating job). So as far as the top the questions most asked, well, I have to say that I've had many different answers to many different people…I guess that's what the term individual style is all about!
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Painting Cathedral Ceilings
Question: Our living room /dining room is an L shaped room with a cathedral ceiling that meets in the middle of the two rooms. We would very much like to paint the room a moss green/grey with white on all the baseboards and trim. Our dilemma is whether to paint the ceiling the same color, leave it white or go with a lighter tone on the walls. When sitting in the living room, the dining room ceiling seems to become the focal point.
High vaulted and cathedral ceilings are wonderful design features that accentuate any room style, but pose an especially difficult challenge when selecting paint colors for the walls. Numerous questions but the one most pressing …..how do you know where to start and then stop the wall color since there is usually no crown molding to act as a definitive guideline for changing the color from the wall to the ceiling ? Well the answer is simple : in rooms where the ceiling line is a visual part of the wall, always select a color that is a few shades lighter than the wall color . Another pro trick that is guaranteed to work especially in rooms where the walls are painted a pale-pale pastel color, to a gallon of white paint add 2 tablespoons of the wall color and mix well. The resulting color will be a sweet blush of the wall color with just a kiss of color .
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To Much Space Can Be a Problem
Question: Our home is around 5000 sq.ft.I have a large family room which has various functions. There are just too many focal points in the room to give it the classic formal-feel which I crave. There is a wall of books , a wall with a fireplace and antique fire mantle, and a wall which has an antique bar running the length of it . The last wall has windows and a sliding glass door which leads out to a raised deck. Lastly the ceiling itself is a focal point because it is a wide bead board vaulted ceiling. I really need some decorating advice to help me manage the room while pulling off a savvy look. Help! I look forward to your reply.
Sometimes in design too much space is NOT a good thing! And it sounds like that in your situation your oversized room is too full of large and very impressive "focal "points or areas that will naturally draw ones attention as we walk into the space. For your situation, I would recommend that you consider looking at the space with "fresh eyes" in order to be better able to assess the situation. By that I mean really taking the opportunity to evaluate the room from the perspective of a first time visitor who has been hired to criticize and critique the space. You can do this by simply taking a minimum of 24 photos of the room from all angles and then really examining the finished prints looking for dangling cords, too cluttered shelving areas, undersized artwork etc. By doing so you will then be able to go back into the actual room and begin to get rid of the blur of decorating activity you are experiencing whenever you walk into the room. Once you have evaluated and then corrected the focal point areas, you can then begin to concentrate on your seating groups.
For any space that is surrounded by many focal points, it is always best to treat the space as if it were a hotel lobby. By that I mean, simply positioning the furnishings in a small 'conversation convenient' arrangement located in the center of the room away from the walls and by making sure all of the upholstery fabrics are of the same color and style. By keeping all of the upholstery the same color you will create another focal point but one with more IMPACT than all of your other areas thus bringing the attention away from the TV wall, entertainment center and antique mantels etc and into the main center of attention… the seating areas where your family actually lives.
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Picture Hanging Problems
Question: My husband and I disagree and need assistance. We need to hang pictures on the wall behind our sofa. We have a group of seven. The sofa is not center between the two windows. Do we center the pictures between the windows or use the sofa to center them?
A: Aren't disagreements fun?...yeah right!
Anyway, here's the answer to the situation at hand. Since the sofa has now become your focal point due to it's sheer size and girth, the artwork will need to be positioned above and around that object. IN other words, hang the artwork above and in balance with the sofa and just forget about the windows.
Here's how: Begin by pulling the sofa away from the wall 6 to 8 inches to create as sense of interest and importance within the room. Next remove the throw pillows and only place 3 pillows arranged on the sofa on the left hand arm only ( the side closest to the greater distance to the window ) Now position the largest picture directly over the mid section of the sofa no more than 10 inches above the back of the sofa. Now just arrange the rest of your artwork as I demonstrate in my videos or describe in my book ( available on http://www.deborahburnett.com ) See that was easy!... now with the asymmetrical positioning of the artwork and the mismatched arrangement of your windows, the entire room will seem more balanced and comfy !
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What Colors Are In?
Question: What is the current color trend for interior walls of living rooms and dining rooms
A common question I'm asked nearly every day " What color is in ?" is one of the most confusing questions to address since my answer is dependent upon the individual homeowners design style, income range and geographic location. For without the knowledge to these questions , my answer to the original question of what colors are in would be akin to guessing how many grains of sand are on the beach… in other words, there is no ONE color that is considered the latest IN color for everyone in every location of the world. So with that in mind , here's a few color schemes that are considered trendy in various locations throughout the country:
For upper middle class homes in the North East , a palette for most traditional styled homes consists of deep shades of green, muted reds and colonial golds, while contemporary styled homes in this region shine with a color scheme of bright orange, stark white and intense black. If your soft contemporary styled home is basking in the warmer climate of the South East but yet located AWAY from the shoreline , the current color trend is for walls to be painted a medium toned sage green with accents of rusty reds and warm tobacco browns . And for those vaulted ceiling homes sporting a close address to the sea, the color trend remains with the new vitality palette of cool green blues and crisp whites accented with splashes of intense orange, vivid aqua and bright lime greens. While the Mid west is considered the heartland of the nation, upper middle class homes in this region simply glow with a color scheme consisting of rich clear reds, sugared browns, earthy golds and comfortable greens . Homes in the South west can look their best when interior walls are color keyed to the surrounding landscape; sun baked browned golds, buttery yellows, wildflower greens and carefully selected touches of lavenders, purples, blues and red based clays. Western mountain homes are always in style when an inviting palette of deep greens and red based browns are tempered with touches of vivid reds, intense black and soothing creamy whites. And for those contemporary homes along the Pacific North West, for the latest in color trends, consider brown based grays, creamy whites and sophisticated blacks to be the best bet for showcasing your glass filled homes. And last, but not least, is the wide open area of design known as California; the one section in the country where every combination of color is consider trendy and IN ! For California modern styled homes with open and spacious floor plans, be sure to try the latest color palette scheduled to hit the rest of the country in 5 – 8 years ….HOT pink and crisp white injected with bold dashes of black and gray.
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Rules for Drapery Hardware
Question: s there a rule of thumb to use regarding the size of a decorative rod? In other words, I recently purchased a decorative rod which is 2 inches in diameter and I plan to put a tab top valance on it for a window measuring 35w by 70L. Is the rod too large in proportion to the window treatment?
Selecting a window treatment to compliment your home's architectural styling and decorative furnishings is a tough challenge especially with the many options available today . However the basic rule of scale and proportion apply in this aspect as well and plays an even more important role in determining your finished 'decorative style' By that I mean the feeling or flavor you experience when walking into the room for the first time. Ie. Is the space giving off a comfy country feel or a relaxed country French flavor. And the best way to accentuate this feeling or styling is to use decorative drapery hardware that compliments your decorative style. By using a drapery rod that is oversized in proportion to the size of your window automatically gives the room a more relaxed flavor … the hottest look going today! In order to make your treatment really stand out in the WOW department make sure to measure for the rod to extend past the window casing ( trim) by at least 4 inches on each side and THEN add the oversized finials .
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Colors for a Small Space
Question: I have small kitchen and wanted to know what colors to use in order to make it appear larger. Also do I paint the ceiling the same as the walls or use a different color.
Painting a room to make it appear larger is always on the top of most folks list ….if it were only that simple! Whenever we are faced with a space that is too cramped or under sized for our needs, the first reaction is to think- if only it were bigger instead of how do I make the most the most of this smaller space.
By simply rethinking the perspective on the smaller space , you are better able to see the soon to be designed JEWEL BOX of a small space. First begin your project by doing a de-cluttering and cleaning NO HOLDS BARRED assault on the contents of your kitchen cabinets, storage area and countertop areas. You will be amazed how much larger and cleaner feeling the entire kitchen will appear once you have pared down the kitchen "junk" to only the bare necessities. Now , once de-cluttered, you are then able to step into the space and THINK! Like I've always said, you can't expect to have a successful decorating project unless you first take the time to OBSERVE the situation and let your mind simply quiet and let the thoughts come gracefully. Now you are then ready to mentally DECORATE. By that I mean , letting your mind and imagination begin to imagine several color possibilities while still standing in the middle of your now de-cluttered kitchen instead of rushing out on a decorating whim of today's HOT colors! . Once you have an idea of the direction you'd like to take, THEN AND ONLY THEN go to the store and begin to check out the many paint offerings. Since you have now mentally pre- selected a color that would speak to your decorating soul, be thoughtful and do that color justice by buying a paint color in the next deeper shade then what you've imagined. By doing so, you'll be ensured that the paint color that goes on the wall will be appear to be the color you've originally liked since all colors get LIGHTER once on the wall . And for the ceiling don't be afraid to add a splash of interest by painting the ceiling as if it were a fifth wall and another opportunity to add a hint of color to bring about the total transformation of your cramped kitchen.
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Getting Down & Dirty
Question: We are remodeling our home and we would like to put tile everywhere downstairs. Is this a good choice? We have a older home and I would like to make it look like one of the new model show homes you see. We like real wood also but is that alot of up keep?
Remodeling an older home is always a rewarding project but one that is filled with frustrating decisions , numerous " I should haves" and endless murmurings of " what ever possessed me to begin this project " And the most challenging time spent in the remodeling process is the time spent in determining the flooring materials to be used . And whenever considering flooring options for an older home remodeling project , the first step is to get down and get dirty! By that I mean checking out the underlying sub floor and supportive floor joists for any rotting wood, loose boards or incorrectly spaced joists. So before you consider a heavy weighted flooring system, such as ceramic tile , for use throughout the entire first floor of your older home, be sure that you have a good strong 16" on center 2 x 12 floor joist construction UNDER your first floor … then by all means…. Go with the design savvy first choice for timely and easy to keep flooring - ceramic tile!
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Is It Real or an Illusion?
Question: How can I give the illusion of a higher ceiling in my new 1940's colonial home, using paint, trim, etc?
Visually lowering or raising a ceiling is a tough challenge; one that requires a 2 prong approach. To visually raise your 8' ceiling with paint, first consider your wall color scheme. For a color palette in the gold tones; a typical color scheme of the 40's try painting the walls a medium deep brown toned warm honey gold. Then install a thin 1 ½" flat molding about 5" down from the ceiling line. Paint this molding and the space between the molding and the ceiling line about 1-2 shades lighter than the wall. Then to complete the paint technique simply paint the actual ceiling a color 3 shades lighter than the wall color and paint all molding and trim (except the thin 1 ½" flat molding and any existing crown molding) a very pale off white in the same color family as the wall color.
Now to really give your room some visual height, be sure to install oversized and tall furnishings. Sofas at least 38" in height, chairs 42" and over etc. By over-sizing your furnishings and accessories you'll bring into balance the overall dimensions of the room and make the ceiling line seem higher than it appears to be!!
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What's the Best Choice for Cabinets?
Question: I am trying to make a decision regarding options for our new home in Florida. I am struggling with the decision to use white, soft white, or pearl cabinets. A number of people have told me they are trendy and will not be popular long term. Would a nutmeg or mocha cabinet kitchen be a better pick?
Wow what a frustrating situation … everywhere you turn you see white cabinets but deep down inside you know in your heart that wood toned cabinetry is the best choice…or is it?
So many folks are facing the same situation as yourself and rest assured that there is no right or wrong answer, however wooden cabinetry is always a good choice for a home that will remain comfortable and up to date from several years to come . Now with that said, here's the low down on white and pearl toned cabinetry: ever popular, the lighter colored cabinetry has been trendy for several years because it offered a much needed switch from the heavier richly stained woods of the jewel toned era . However, just as with all trends that has reached the end of their time , the lighter cabinetry is now starting to give way to the much more interesting wooden cabinetry with applied glazing finish . With this current finish option you can have the best of both worlds; the lighter look of the white cabinets but the long range sustainability and ever popular choice of solid wood. With that in mind, I would recommend that a warm nutmeg or mocha glaze over cherry or maple cabinets would be a better choice over the white or pearl toned cabinetry.
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Using Geometric Shapes in Decorating
Question: I have no idea how to decorate the sitting room of our new home. It has a bow window with 5 very narrow windows that go floor to ceiling. The dimensions are about 12 feet long by 4 feet wide. How would you suggest I decorate the area?
Thanks!
Sometimes, when faced with the challenge of decorating a new home, rooms that start out to be a frustrating decorating headache actually turn out to be the best feature of the entire house once you know how to approach the space like a pro! Here's how :
For any curvilinear space such as your tall windowed bow shaped sitting area , the smart design tactic is to add other geometric shapes to the mix. For your space I'd suggest that you consider installing a long rectangular shaped console table directly in front of the window center and then position a proportioned rectangular shaped love seat in front of this. On top of the console table, in addition to your other decorative accessories such as books, plants, lamps and a clock be sure to include a large round platter or decorative circular shape so that once positioned on a display stand it is visible over the back of the loveseat when viewed from the adjoining living room. Next, be sure to include at least two tall vertically shaped palm plants in oversized containers on either side of the loveseat. When you add a really cool looking oversized coffee table in front of the loveseat you will have created a wonderfully comfy and great looking space in which you and the family can gather and relax in the beauty of your 'best spot in the house' sitting room.
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What Can a Designer do for You?
Deborah's interview
Mountain Living Magazine
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Deborah Burnett appears regularly on HGTV, National TV and worldwide radio with design ideas and decorating tips. She is a nationally recognized health and wellness design authority and keynote presenter bridging the gap between science and evidence based epigenetic design which explores how the body and brain are affected by the interior environment. As a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine she specializes in research and design pertaining to how color, light, sound and daylight affect sleep.
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