Designer Looks for Less

This week I thought I would talk about getting a designer look for less. I found some awesome wine barrel side table in the Restoration Hardware catalogue, but alas they were $695.00, so I put the thought on hold and continued to look. One day at Target I spotted a similar table for a whole lot less. These were regularly $79.99 and on sale for $59.99. I bought 2 of them as I know that end tables usually don’t take a lot of wear and tear- other than setting your drink down on a coaster. I am always trying to find a bargain and have great success putting items together that I have bought because they were on sale. I keep a list of sizes, if my space is limited, and am always looking for that special piece…on sale…hopefully!
**I do want to say that if the item will get quite a bit of use, like a sofa, recliner or dining chair, I would get a better quality piece and spend more money on it.
I guess the point here is that if you look around you may find something close to the original for alot less. Maybe constructing your own(like the ottoman) can be an option as well.






Can you tell which one is the Restoration Hardware item? (It is the one on top.) Slight difference, but the general shape is great. If I wanted the Target table to look closer to the other, I could paint it.



Another tip I have used to get a designer look for less is to rethink how an item can be repurposed. For example, I was going to donate a suede skirt, but then decided to save it to cut up and make a table runner or pillow cover. Several years ago I bought a black vintage dress that looked as if Jackie O should have worn it, the zipper was broken, and a few beads were missing, but I knew it would make a beautiful pillow someday. It is still waiting for the perfect interior to go into.
A few years ago, I needed an ottoman for my recreation room, but didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg. Therefore, I recruited my husband to help me build one the perfect size for my furniture and room size. It has leopard print upholstery, tufting, and a long hinge on 1 side that allows for storage inside. Note to potential ottoman builders: An automatic staple gun and the long upholstery needles were essential for covering this box! I did pay a local upholstery shop to cover my buttons (for strength), but found instructions online on how to tuft. And yes, I have upholstered my own couch and chairs, but had not tried tufting before this project. We are still using this ottoman today and it has withstood the test of kids and dogs who like to sleep on it.



Above: first ottoman I ever made. It is still in use today!

An inspiration came from: dry stack rock on castles of long ago…My new rock (from Harlowton, MT), was laid or put up on the side of the house and fireplace in the same pattern you would see on a castle from centuries ago. I like the newer look of the stacked stones but I felt that the date that the rock was installed could be figured out just by how they were laid. Another tip about rock- don’t let anyone you like use the cultured stone as it will fade drastically within about 10 years. Yes, it does cost less for cultured rock, but the savings will show when the color is faded. Real rock does not fade and is even enhanced with a sealer every 5 years or so. The other pet peeve I have about some of the cultured stones available is they have a shinyness to them..like fool’s gold?!?!?





The top picture is the old "fake" fireplace before the remodel. The middle picture is the drystack style of stone I thought I wanted, and the bottom picture is the stone style inspiration from castles.

Remodel update: Knobs should not be that hard of a choice, but in my case it is! I love knobs and know just how much they can transform a space…the choices and prices are limitless. I had ordered some knobs (actually handles) from the kitchen department at Johnson Madison Lumber, but knew I wanted some more generic knobs for the laundry room cabinets, so I went to IKEA for those.
Design quote of the week: “Beauty is the quality of harmonious relationships. A formula to produce it does not exist."- Frank A. Parsons

FLASH SALES and an INSPIRATION

Are you always looking for a deal? I wanted to talk about “flash sale” websites such as www.HauteLook.com or www.OneKingsLane.com. If I cannot find an item in Great Falls, I will watch these websites for various items. These websites offer retailers a place to sell their wares at (sometimes huge) discounts for a very limited amount of time and are free for us to join. The time period can be just that day or 4 days, counting on impulse buying I am sure! But you may not have 4 days to make a purchase as items can and do sell out fast! The websites are updated frequently and sometimes list items that are on hold or in another shoppers’ cart. (For instance, the shopper only puts the item in their cart, but doesn’t decide to purchase, so you still have a chance.) Both of these websites will send an email on Sunday or ahead of time to alert you to the brands they will be offering that week. The purchase is actually made from the company itself, not the website. Like I said, if you are interested in an item, you had better act fast as they can be “SOLD OUT” in minutes. Some items I have perused were Seven for All Mankind jeans, rugs, and home accessories. The rug that got away for me would have been perfect, but alas I did not act in time and the sale expired.
So what if you see something, don’t buy it, then regret it later? If you remember the company offering the item, you can usually go directly to their website or you can google it. Keep in mind that it may not be on their website as it was a closeout and the price is almost guaranteed to be higher. I find this very helpful as amazon.com or nextag.com may show items you’re interested in. Put as much information as you can in the search box and it will pull up anything close. I used google.com to find my new house number plaque.
Another hint for getting a discount or free shipping is to sign up for email notifications from your favorite companies. They sometimes send out email only discounts or specials. Many times I will have my eye on an item and will watch to see if it goes on clearance or will wait for an email discount or sale. You do run the risk of the item getting sold out by the time a discount or sale comes along.
Whether you buy from these “flash sale” websites or not, they are fun to peruse and even just wish from.

Remember my new section on inspirations?
An inspiration came from… a trip to Seattle I saw a baby item with a giraffe skin print, so I decided I needed 3 giraffe skin paintings for my own home, after all I had a 12 ½ foot long wall and knew it would be awhile before I could afford a landscape by a local artist that I love(James Bason.) After looking on the internet for patterns I painted my own in 3 different colors: teal/aqua blue, gold and green. I wanted a little bit of a surprise and a “oh…I get it” from visitors and I think I get that… I have included a picture of them.

Remodel update: I am still searching for the perfect arrangement of furnishings, driving my husband crazy by asking him to help if any of it is too heavy for me to move myself. Second, we finally have house numbers on the front of the house. I shopped online for a mission style plaque and found one on www.etsy.com from georgiegirlstudios. I am also working a custom doorbell. Pictures will follow when that is complete.

Design quote of the week: “Nothing is passé if you really love it.”—Interior designer/antiques dealer Rose Tarlow, June/July 94

Introducing a new addition to my blog...and Parade of Homes Attributes

The new addition to my blog is a piece on WHAT INSPIRES ME when I am in the middle of designing my own space or someone elses. This week it was the fall Ballard Design cataloque and their use of finishes ad fabrics that evoke an antique, lived-in feel. I was inspired to go to my stash of metal ceiling tiles and cabinets to create artwork and and endtable(still in progress.)

End table in the making???

old ceiling tile w/ aqua paint

metal border tile in olive

It was well worth the $7 ticket price if you attended the 10th Annual Parade of Homes this past weekend in Great Falls! The homes represented all price points, from a NeighborWorks home built for financially qualified owners AND built by our very own high school students, to a million dollar plus priced home. Several design styles were represented- craftsman details, formal with lots of millwork, modern cable rails on the stairways with stained concrete floors, to tray ceilings in a master closet. This home also had a beautifully tiled wall in the shape of an arc and a soaking tub situated in front of some gorgeous picture windows overlooking the Missouri River!
If you are just looking to see what is new in the home building industry or want to get ideas for a remodel or new construction project-the Parade of Homes is the open house of all open houses! A couple of things caught my eye: the Neighbor Works house was staged by the current senior class of interior designers at MSU-COT as well as one other middle priced home was staged by a local interior designer. (I was asked to help in the project by choosing a room, but we had prior commitments and I felt that the time constraints were too tight to do a show my style properly.) Staging a home can only enhance its attributes and maybe even help sell them for you- or just give you ideas for your own home.
Another high point for me was the Whispering Ridge Hallmark home. It was a mix of contemporary/modern and traditional design ideas. The moldings were simple with a basic 1 X 6 (???), the windows were not trimmed with a traditional molding, they just had sheetrock bull-nosed (a rounded edge) up to the window sill. The basement floor was stained concrete- and yes, the floor did show some cracking , but it felt like it was part of the staining. The designer of this home had a clear idea of what he wanted to do and it was very appealing to me with no clutter, simple lines, fresh contemporary, dark cabinets, some curvy floor design to designate the living area from the kitchen/dining area. The stair rails were made of metal and cables. The walkout basement bathroom, where bedrooms were located, had an extra sink outside of the full bath along with extra storage. I liked this detail especially if your kids need the bathroom at the same time in the morning, etc. Modern design seems to be slow in acceptance for most Montanans but this was tastefully done.
I also wanted to comment on the Wilkinson’s Craftsmen style home out in the Spring Tree area: gorgeous! A private water feature out front drew you into the home.. Unique items were the travertine tile floors cut in random shapes and sizes…I mean up to about 3’ by 5’ pieces that was also used as the stair treads. Glass tiles were used on the basement fireplace, master bath details, kitchen backsplash. (This was the home mentioned above with the tray ceiling in the master closet and the arc wall adn soaker tub in fron tof the windows.) Windows everywhere!! Of course with the best views…my only drawback was the possibility of snakes getting to my dogs or me!
In years past the parade of Homes has had at least 1 remodeled home that the owner used to display her high-end bath products and tile. It was fun to see how the creativity using glass tiles, metal island support, and cool sinks really updated this generic home. I have been thinking about using my own homes remodel as an entry into the Parade of Homes to highlight my interior design talents. (Of course we would wait until phase 3 of the remodel is complete..master suite, backyard, kitchen replaced.) What do you think? Many people go through in a couple of days…

CONCRETE COUNTERS

Remodel update: I am including a couple of pictures of the concrete countertops that we had installed next to the fireplace. The colors may not be a true representation of their beauty. I chose a deep bronze, charcoal and sand coloring to pull out these colors from other areas of the remodel design. I also wanted a matte finish and slightly rustic so any kind of pock mark or blemish was okay by me. If any of you are interested in my contractor or wants to see the tops themselves just give me a call. We have decided to wait on the kitchen cabinets-I am looking for a certain type of upper cabinet and will relish the extra time to make sure it is just right! We have a lot more space to change it up.

Design quote of the week: “To take an edge off a white ceiling, always add 10% of the wall color to the ceiling paint.” -Sandra Nunnerly in Architectural Digest

Autumn trends

DESIGN QUOTE of the WEEK:
“Rent a Dumpster and prune, prune, prune! If you take a day and actually look at the things in your house, you’ll realize that a million of them can be tossed.” Jonathon Adler, Designer
REMODEL UPDATE:
Well, what an end to summer we have had. We started in July with the first of 5 weddings to attend and just now finished with that. We traveled to Port Orchard to watch our oldest McCall participate in her first triathlon AND took our son Chris along for an old-fashioned family vacation. The only disagreements were about the music playing on Sirius radio…he finally plugged in his iPod for the “good stuff”. (At least there were no speeding tickets this trip.) Another highlight was the Sage Fly Rod factory tour on Bainbridge Island. If anyone reading this is a fly-fisher person you would appreciate the tour just to see how it’s done.
As far as the remodel goes, we have the details left: latch on the pocket door, trim the back door, build a mantel, install the surround sound, and whole house music components, and phase 1 will be done!!!! Yes, I said phase 1…we have decided to wait to do the kitchen cabinets, along with some of the siding, and maybe the back patio until next year. Phase 3 will be the master suite and extra bath in the daylight basement. No new pictures this month..next time!

On to the real reason you read this and that is for the design content….right!?!?
How about autumn trends? I haven’t thought much about autumn trends myself, but I came across articles with information that you may want or absolutely need. Take note that these trends will probably last far into the future just like all of the other trends/changes in design. Some of you may have already picked up on this from your catalogues or magazines: the less is more strategy(i.e. de-cluttering) is very prominent, along with the use of neutrals and natural materials.
Some of the trends mentioned included the use of vintage accents such as French-burlap, aged or color-washed wood accessories, and even oversized accents. Linen is also being used for draperies as they are simpler and available in many colors-no more heavy or overdone window treatments!
Fall designs are showing neutral color for walls and the basic furniture but bolder colors to add visual interest for the accents. For variety, these brightly colored accessories can be changed out with the seasons.
Another trend involves rugs: any size, shape, or color you can imagine is available. Layering them with an area rug on top of wall-to-wall carpeting. These also can be changed out with the season as well.
Did I mention wallpaper? Yes, it is back! Actually, I am not sure if it ever actually totally went away...I visited a home on an open house 1 sunday a few months back-it had been flipped, but the owners chose to keep the grass cloth from lots of years prior-it just looked so traditional, yet, modern. I knew I had to have some and feel that it will last alot of years as well. Oversized designs, easy to apply and remove glues are the newest innovations. And yes, I did just put up some grass cloth above the fireplace for a textural look. Oh, and there is even eggplant colored grass cloth that is to die for!! And, grass cloth with printed designs on them, like damask. See the pictures of the fireplace in the August 1st blog entry.
Artwork should be something you love- it doesn’t have to be expensive, just has meaning for you or your family. Think a serene peaceful landscape of the French countryside because you visited there or of the ocean or forest because of your travels or cabin.
I have read about trends in design changing with the economy and tend to believe we maybe subconsciously DO just that. It could be the design companies who are influencing this as they seem to be promoting the less is more and recycled look for items. (Restoration Hardware.com and Ballard Designs.com are 2 examples.) I for example had been accessorizing like crazy, up until this remodel, and now want a fresh start, less clutter and visual junk. I now am de-cluttering like crazy with the surviving accessories being collectibles like my antique oil lamps, copper containers, and glass collection of spheres and vases, ceiling tin pieces, and stained glass windows remaining.
Less is more in the bedding department. Use neutral basics again with a simple duvet and top blanket. If you must, maybe only use 2 pillows in front of each sham.
Speaking of pillows…these budget friendly accessories can be changed out with the seasons…have a set for fall, Christmas, spring, etc.
And I save the best for last, remember brass? Well, now they are antiqued and are showing up on everything from drapery rods to knobs and figurines. Gold is a very warm color (as it is close to yellow- you knew that!) I just don’t know if I can give up my oil-rubbed bronze and copper stuff!!
Well, have a great day…until next time!

I Love to Paint!

I have been thinking a lot about paint these past couple of weeks, mainly because I have had to choose for my own house remodel. I should preface this blog with the statement that I LOVE to paint. It is very rewarding and not that hard to do. I can be fussy with the preparation and tools used- I definitely have my favorites!
As most of you know, you used to have to choose between latex or oil-based paints. At least in the past, the oil based was more of an option; one that I chose more often than not. Now it seems the paint companies are doing away with oil-based because of its’ environmental impact. In addition, they are combining paint with primer and lowering the VOC’s for their current offerings. VOC’s are volatile organic compounds, and are the stinky part of paint. I am very pleased with this new development as I have sinus problems with the smell of paint and chemicals.
In the past, if I was painting cabinets, trim, in a bathroom or somewhere that would require frequent washing, I always chose oil based paints. Now the companies have changed even their latex paints, omitting the oils almost exclusively- so choosing semi-gloss latex is just as washable as any oil-based paint was in the past.
Back to one of the newer developments- paint with primer combination. I have tried 2 brands and have really liked what I have used. They cover well, usually in 1 coat, but have had to use 2 coats most of the time as I was covering a really dark color or was painting on bare sheetrock. I cannot say there is no need for primers anymore, as you must consider what you are painting over. Also, consider the rule that you may not cover oil-based paint with latex because it will not stick. My example is a laundry room that was painted well over 8 years ago (and did not really need to be repainted but we added some sheetrock that was taped and mudded) with an oil based paint, so in my opinion, the walls must first be primed. The paint sticks better when primed properly.
A note about picking paint for your home: try to create a “flow” from room to room. I mean to carry a color or theme from room to room. If you carry a color throughout, it does not have to be the same color, they could blend or an accent color is repeated from room to room. I try to keep the colors intensity the same; 1 room is not bright and the rest of the rooms are subdued. Even keeping the trim color, the same throughout the home can help create this “flow”.

Update on the house remodel: We have the direct-vent fireplace installed with a designer view surround (picture frame style) and glass instead of logs. The glass is bronze in color and looks very cool- AND there is a remote to start and stop the flame! The cabinets for each side of the fireplace were delayed (some salespersons tell you what they think you want to hear), which in turn dela

yed the concrete countertops and rock for front of the house and fireplace. But, they just finished with all of that last week…no more contractors and having to be glued to the house! Grass cloth was hung above the mantel area by myself…and I survived…we are currently tiling the half bath and laundry room, staining the columns out front, waiting on copper caps for the columns, and finishing the details…before phase two?!?!? Yes, there will be a phase two...kitchen cabinets…then master bath, more siding, patio, 4th bath to be finished (finally, after 17 years of living here)…Of course I have no prediction when the list will be completed(hopefully before they carry us out of here!) Stay tuned...

Pictures: Rock just finished on fireplace, sea grass up on mantle, rock on front of house.

DESIGN QUOTE of the WEEK:
“A house has to evolve and change.”—Furniture designer Julian Chichester, November 06

MORE lighting?!?!? Never enough...

MORE LIGHTING?!?!?
More lighting?!?!? Think you have had enough? I just don’t want any of my friends, family or clients to forget the lighting….and of course I will only cover these topics briefly, so ask me for more details or find an expert in your area. (If you live in Great Falls, Mt, remember that Scott at City Lights is pretty awesome.)

Last blog, I gave a rule for determining the size of a chandelier and I will add these 2 rules: the diameter can be determined by adding the width and length of the room in which it will be placed(12' +14'=26')-convert this sum into inches (26") for the diameter of the fixture. In a dining room with the fixture to be hung over a table, the chandelier should be about 12" less than the table width.

Last week’s blog was about lighting and I want to follow-up with a few mistakes homeowners can and have made with lighting.

1. Not taking advantage of dimmers with halogen and incandescent bulbs as this will lengthen the bulb’s life and use less energy. A dimmer is available for low-voltage lighting, but is more expensive.

2. Don’t forget to have side –lights, such as sconces, and not just a down light at a bath vanity. It is more flattering and realistic to have lighting at the top and sides.

3. Don’t forget to use the 3 types of lighting, ambient, task and accent, in your space. Ambient is the general lighting for moving around and talking. Task lighting is for a more concentrated task such as chopping veggies or reading. The accent lighting is to highlight artwork or tile you’ve chosen.

4. Installing recessed down lights everywhere is one of the most common mistakes lighting designers see. Usually the recessed cans are inexpensive contractor grade and are not very efficient at shedding light on vertical surfaces. Remember that installing these recessed down lights in a high ceiling can leave your space feeling dark as they do not have enough “oomph” to get the lumens to the areas you need it in. In other words, the light will spread and not be sufficient to light what you need lighted.

5. Don’t forget task lighting in the kitchen. These can be xenon, LED, or fluorescent and be installed right under the wall cabinet. IN ADDITION, buy bulbs with a better CRI (remember this term from last week?) for a more pleasing light.

6. Remember to have separate controls for the different types of lighting in the space. You can do this with switches, or more advanced systems that allow you to control the lighting from your laptop or a programmable wall box.

7. Use more lighting sources or more wattage in your lighting if choosing darker surfaces for the space as darker surfaces absorb more of the light/lumens in the room.

8. Choosing light fixtures just because they “look good” or “match” can end up wasting energy or getting poor light output. There are so many different lighting manufacturers that there is bound to be a fixture with the perfect options for your space.

*** Remember, to avoid these mistakes be sure to consult a designer or lighting specialist to help make choices.

DESIGN QUOTE of the WEEK: (My husband hates this one!LOL)
“A house has to evolve and change.”—Furniture designer Julian Chichester, November 06

Pictures: Siding off-new cabinets next to fireplace-new siding

Remodel update: Last week we finished the floor, starting to install trims, cabinets have arrived with the bases installed, the concrete countertops have been templated and I am trying to put closets, décor and cabinet contents back in order. I am picking out tile for the ½ bath and laundry room. Siding should resume tomorrow, with a new walk-in garage door added. We are certainly looking for the end! And, we will have another trip to the dump...although I have donated everything possible, some items were just too dilapidated to keep in circulation.

Lighting, Lochsa, and "laws" for good lighting...

Remodel Update: Front door is stained a deep cherry stain (and we are getting alot of positive comments from passerby-ers, neighbors, and friends) and some of the front siding is up. (I know it is hard to see from this picture.) New flooring is being installed by my wonderful hubby-it too is a beautiful warm color; you can see we are about half way...it should be done by this weekend! YES!!! Trim is next...

The three L's...lighting, Lochsa and "laws" of lighting...

Happy second week of June! Last week I was fortunate enough to whitewater raft on the Lochsa(LockSaw) River(with 9' of water) with my family and now am getting down to work. This week I wanted to talk about lighting. During our remodel we moved or replaced 14 light fixtures. I was able to add some low-voltage lighting above some cabinetry that will just set it off! I have been searching for a pendant for above my dining table that is part-modern, part-rustic, part-traditional...some would just say "transitional". I have found some interesting sites with totally customizable shades and am including a couple of examples of colors I chose...I am matching them to an amber glass pendant for above the new island. Of course, I have found some awesome lighting that is very modern, just not quite right. I truly believe that someone will design the perfect light for me at a reasonable price-in the mean time I can play with the custom sites. So far the prices have ranged from $800 to $299...whew!

Check out the http://www.lampsplus.com/ website, as well as the http://www.stonegatedesigns.com/ website, and http://www.alluminaire.com/ where you can design your own drum shade versions, wallpapers and fabrics, all to match.. LampsPlus.com Design Your Own Custom Lighting: "I created my own lighting design ... check it out!"

Not sure how to size your lights(light fixtures)? or how about choosing a light bulb(lamp)?

The size of your dining light/chandelier is dependant on the size of the room: measure diagonal across the room, take that measurement and convert it into inches. For example, if the room is 24' wide diagonally, the light fixture should be about 24" diameter. How high do I hang the dining light above the table? Usually 30" above the table top or roughly 5' AFF.

A couple of words about low-voltage lighting versus high-voltage lighting: first, the low-voltage fixtures cannot have any insulation touch them, so they must be protected. In my case, the fixture is 4 3/8" round, but the box that surrounds it is about 12" x 18". Sound like overkill?!?! They will be accent and task lighting for cabinet areas. Now, how about dimming them?

Yes, you can dim low-voltage fixtuers, but they must have a special dimmer that is magnetized, and therefore more expensive, of course. High-voltage fixtures are actually what most of us had in our houses all along, they run on "normal" wires and use incandescent bulbs. What you may not know is that eventually it will be against the law to use incandescent bulbs, (2012 I think) and you will switch to CFL, which is short for Compact FlourescentLighting. I usually cringe just thinking about CFL bulbs as I remember the old bulbs with the cool, washed-out look. But we can already get CFL's with a better CRI(color rendition index) than the early CFL's, you may just pay more for them until the demand is better. And, of course I can't forget to mention the LED's (light emitting diodes) bulbs and the fact that they are being developed for uses in lots of places. Even televisions are using LED lighting. I predict their cost will go down as well.

Have a great week!

DESIGN QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“The drama of this interior doesn’t come from the obvious; it comes from the strength of the point of view. The rooms are sets—not for theater, but for living.”—Interior designer Vicente Wolf, August/September 01