DNA of color....

Of what?  COLOR...the DNA of color!  Use it to be sure your color scheme will harmonize.

After attending a class on color I got all excited and will write 3 different posts regarding this.  Think about how we perceive color...no 2 people see or react to the same color the same way!  Why, because of emotional and biological factors.  (Maybe your time-out sofa was mauve growing up and now you hate that color...almost get sick seeing it...enough of a visual?)

Before we get too far into this subject, consider harmony in color.  In order to do this, we must break down color into its "DNA form" or its most basic parts.  What colors make it up?  By that I mean, how much of the primary colors are present?  Blue, yellow and red. And, how much of each are in it- or it's undertone.  (We are not talking about whether the color is a warm or cool color here-we will save that for another time.)

Basic Color Chart

According to an article titled "Color Decoded", (published on www.kbbonline.com and written by Feras Irikat), before we get to far with the DNA of color or it's undertone we must first consider that a color can only have a blue or yellow undertone.  No red, but why not?  Our eye can recognize red as a full color, our rods and cones(inside our eyes) cannot recognize it as an undertone, therefore our eye moves to the next dominating primary DNA, blue or yellow.  If colors share alot of DNA strands they will work together harmoniously.  If they don't share these same DNA strands or undertones, will vibrate with each other.  With common DNA or undertones in the colors we are using together, the easier it is on our eyes to transition visually from color to color. 

The citrus colors and the purple are more lively here!

The article goes on to say that this does not mean you should never use "vibrating" colors, because some situations may require them.  They also quoted Michel Eugene Chevreul:  "In order to change a color, it is enough to change the color of its background." 



This room has a less jarring color scheme.

The next blog will go more in depth with color undertones and characteristics of people who prefer one undertone or the other.  Where will you fit in?

1983 Tri-level gets a 2011 RockyMtn Update



AFTER- ALL NEW ENTRANCE

What do ya do with a 1983 tri-level with grey vinyl siding to update it?

Actually a multi-level home meaning there are 4 levels, but from the outside it appears to be a tri-level.  Still, what do ya do with it? 


BEFORE-OLD HOUSE SIDING and
 BRICK

I am pretty sure my husband will never let me update a home again....we might as well built a new home for all of the updates it has led to...and as I have blogged before, this all started with the need for a new roof!   AND my attending Interior Design school...because then I knew what was possible...

SIDNG REMOVED to prepare for NEW ROOF

And boy, did it cost my husband...but boy does it look great!  This chronicles the changes to the exterior of the home as far as the siding, rock, etc. goes.  But, now we are contemplating the installation of a paver patio and filling in with some greenery where it got run over by contractors or died because we had no sprinklers.  (Sprinklers came at the end-I will mention them later.)

SHED ROOF ADDED above FRONT DOOR

So, because we needed a new roof, I said it would be a perfect time to add a new shed roof to the front to change the 1983 looks of the house in general.  (Believe me, vinyl siding in our hot/cold climate do not go together! Weed eaters eat them in the summer and freeze breaks it in the winter...))  So, off we go to an architect to get plans drawn up for the shed roof (that is the new overhang above the new door) and I wanted to add some columns of some sort-which he did and I truly love!

SHED ROOF, DOOR and COLUMNS during construction

So, new roof shingles meant a new shed roof needed to be constructed first, and if you are adding the new shed roof, we probly ought to change the front door as it was an oak door that the finish bubbled from the heat and had an old ugly storm door atttached. 



HUSBAND REMOVING BRICK(I hauled it to the trailer after it was down)

Do you see where this logic is going?  From there we had to decide what to do about the siding at the front door....you may not be able to tell easily from the posted pictures but there was brown brick from the ground up to the roof  across the main level and then as a wainscot on the taller side of the house.  To install the front door the brick had to come down...so we ended up siding the whole front of the house-AFTER we took the brick down and built an apron under the bay window. 

BUILDING NEW APRON UNDER BAY WINDOW

Now, if we were going to "rock" the front of the house, columns included, we need to "rock" the fireplace as well.  Again, do you see where this is going?  Yes, we built a new fireplace inside and had it rocked at the same time.  (Those pictures will appear later in an interior blog.)

FIREPLACE BEFORE

AFTER ROCK INSTALLATION

AFTER-NEW SIDING and ROCK

It took 2 years to get the siding finished, not because of contractor delays but because of the budget.  Several things, like 32 foot walls were removed inside and a sprinkler system installed, in addition to the roof, siding, rock and fireplace.  Interior changes will show up in an interior post to this blog.

I am actually taking a bookmaking class and plan to make a book of the whole remodel process and update of this home.  I will be able to use it for my business and have a record of what it looked like before, like a "look what I can do" book.



AFTER-NEW BACK DOOR AND SIDELIGHT(don't look at the deck, that is another project)

Our next stop on this remodel rollercoaster will be to show interior updates we have made so far. 

Check out my new facebook page titled: www.facebook.com/VernaVuckovich@v.v.Design
I share an interior design quote there every weekday- just to inspire you...AND if you are inspired but aren't sure where to begin with a project, give me a call.  Maybe all you need is a 2 hour consultation to get on the project started or if you need more help I can provide color renderings of the project, items to use in the project,  space planning( how much and what kinds of furniture would fit in a space), and kitchen or bath cabinet plans.

I hope the moral of this story is that you really don't have to build a new house to get a different look..yes, it may have been easier to build, but we loved the location, neighbors and square footage!  Happy dreaming!  I can help you do it!

Marble in the Kitchen???

Yes, marble in the kitchen!
One of the classes at the Montana Tile and Stone Summit covered just this subject.  The teacher, Vincent Moiso, is "certified" in marble knowledge!  You can get more information from www.marble-institute.com if you so please.

You have probably heard that it is too soft...I will discuss some of the myths surrounding marble use in the kitchen. 

Myth #1: Marble is prone to staining.   Well, think about this, all stone, granite included, stains.  Be sure to get the proper sealing to help with this.

Myth #2: Marble etches when used in a kitchen.  Same as above, even granite can etch, but there are harder marbles than others.

Myth #3: Marble is too expensive.  The location of the quarry and kind of marble will determine this.  So it follows, the more rare the marble, the more expensive it will be.

Myth #4:  Marble, granite, and natural stone emit radioactive radon.  To be clear here, everything that comes out of the ground emits radon.  Usually it is only a trace amount.

Some history:  Michelangelo used marble when he created the Statue of David, marble was used before granite, and it keeps dough cool for bakeries and restaurants.  The United States is the largest stone consuming nation, especially for all applications....imagine that! LOL

A little about where marble is harvested.  Italy has huge quarries of carrera marble, and calacatta cremo, among others.  I saw where there is Chinese marble, and even some out of Danby, Vermont.  Danby is where Martha Stewart gets all of her marble for her numerous homes...yes, I said numerous homes.  In fact all of these pictures are from the Danby, Vermont quarry, which by the way is the largest underground quarry worldwide.  You can visit the website at www.vermontquarries.com to viewmore varieties and colors of marble.

Think about this...marble from Danby, VT called calcutta "Imperial Dandy" costs 1/4 of what it would cost from Italy....with similar looks to them.  Transportation across an ocean WILL make a difference.  (Ya think?!?!?)

Some things to consider when buying:  Compressive strength(weight it takes before the stone breaks), abrasion resistance(scratching), and absorption rate(of water).  I will not go into this in depth, but a side note is that the Vermont marbles absorb less than the granite.
***The whiter the marble- the denser it is.  Also, do you want it to have a honed finish(that is more of a matte look) or polished( more of a shiny finish)?  If you care, Martha likes the honed marble from VT.

Honed marble has a more muted color, but the undertones will still be there, it doesn't dull as easily because it is a matte finish, and scratches show less.

Marble has 4 grades and this refers to its wearability.  You can look this up also...

Most water based sealers work well- make sure it is food safe.  Wipe spills as soon as you can, if something is missed try a poulstice solution to get the stain out.  Don't use ammonia or vinegar as these will strip the finishes off-use a ph neutral stone cleaner.

So, what do you take away from this?  Take a look around at all of the restaurants who use marble, even ice cream stores...magazines have lots and lots of kitchens with marble in them!  Well I would say to NOT be afraid of marble if you love the look!!!

 Here are 2 of the marbles from Danby, VT.

DANBY GREY

Verde Cavendish



Tile Summit in Bozeman, MT

SYZYRGY Tile

Woo hoo!! I got to go to a tile summit!  Loads of cool stuff....
Last week I attended a tile and stone "summit" held at the awesome store in Bozeman, MT called Montana Stone and Tile. Price, Emily, Doro, Michelle, and  Ari at Montana Stone and Tile carry exquisite products like the German fixtures by Dorn Bracht and unique handles. 

We had classes on the use of marble in the kitchen, grout and mortar and backer for tiles and stone, the history of the bath "rituals" dating back to ancient Roman days, and took a tour of the fabrication department. They have the most fabulous lines tile (like these pictured) made by Metamorph Bronze and Syzyrgy. They also carried Italian tile that was exquisite! Linen looks as well as "perforated" looks..it had little circles that varied with the size.

METAPHOR BRONZE Tile: Molding

METAPHOR BRONZE Corner

SYZYRGY Tile

Another line of tile I fell in love with was Island Stone Glass.  There are 3 surfaces to choose from: textured, matte and gloss with lots of great colors to choose from.  Look at all of the wonderful stone and glass options they have available.  They also have some great ideas for placement.  www.islandstone.com

 

ISLAND STONE-Linear glass tile



Back to the marble issue...alot of people think that marble (and soapstone for that matter) may be too soft for the kitchen...we will talk about this issue next time!

 

Remodel update:  Siding is finished-YES!!! new patio door to back yard along with a side light to keep more view of the garden.  I am looking to paint some more trim around these new doors.

KitchenRenoAdvice...Been there Done that

Planning a kitchen reno in the near future? I am sharing helpful advice from others who have been there, done that...

RULE #1 for any remodel, not just kitchens...No matter how much time the contractor estimates to get the job done- always double it! Yes, double it or even triple it! It always takes longer, costs more (because you never know what might be hiding behind those walls), and changes your routine..

One big piece of advice is to find space somewhere else to cook while the kitchen is out of commission. Could you move the microwave to the dining room or basement and fix meals there? Those of you with mini bars in the rec room have a step up as there usually is counter space and maybe even a small fridge or microwave. Another thought is to purchase small toaster oven- these not only toast bread, but can cook pizzas as well.

Do you have a slowcooker? These can be a great help and you can start your dinner before you leave for work. Recipes for a slow cooker can be found online or cookbooks.

Try to set a routine...get the slow cooker ready before you leave for work..cook your weekend breakfast of pancakes and eggs every weekend...or change up the menu a little to accommodate the remodel.

Plan for your shopping trips- boiling water for pasta may be too hard or non-existent, so decide ahead of time what you can cook. This will make the shopping easier to plan.

Try to spend time with your friends or family. Even if it is at your home ask the others to bring food so you aren't doing all of the cooking. It might be a great time to take a vacation or day trips...although I wouldn't leave my reno unless I trusted my contractor to do the job the way it was planned.

I love the cleaner, more modern look to the kitchens pictured here. As most of you know, we are in the planning stages of a new kitchen for our home, and I am always looking at kitchen ideas. What would you like to put in your kitchen? What would you change for your lifestyle?

With the current economy, more people are remodeling where they live rather than build a new home. And that is where we are at with our home- why build when I have lots of square footage with neighbors who have beautiful yards and keep things maintained, etc. We know there is no guarantee that we will recoup all of our remodeling money spent, but know that updating always pays off in some way. Could you update a few things without having to spend too much? Things to ponder...

Remodel update: Siding is going up on the 3 remaining sides of the house. (It was amazing to me just how many people didn't realize that for the last year our house had 2 different sidings on it...the new Hardie cement board khaki colored siding on the front and the old gray vinyl siding on the other sides...new patio door to be installed soon! Kitchen cabinet builder to visit soon also!

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Design by the Numb3rs

Measurements to live by?? Yep, there are a few numbers you should remember. The top 10 measurements you need to decorate with are listed below. Of course we learned all about these in design classes, and the July/August issue of House Beautiful included them.

1. 36" The easiest 1 for me to remember is that a dining room chandelier should hang about 3' above the dining table. This prevents light from shining in anyones eyes.

2. 36" Light switches should be installed 36" above the floor and 1 1/2 to 2" to the side of the door trim.

3. 1 : 1.62 Forever and ever, the golden ratio or perfect proportion is 1 : 1.62

4. Mount curtains as high as possible to give the room more height. If you want them to break at the floor allow 1 1/2" extra length.

5. Size of an overhead light fixture is the sum of the length and width of the room in feet. Then turn this into an inch amount. So a 10 X 12 room would use a 22" fixture.

6. 400 sq. ft. That is the amount of paint that 1 gallon of paint will cover 400 sq. ft.

7. 38" high. Kitchen islands should be 38" so that food prep is easier. Other countertops are usually 36" high.

8. 36", 48", 60" The 36" round table to great for conversations, a 48" round table seats 6 and the 60" round table will seat 8 standard dining chairs or 10 ballroom chairs.

9. 2 1/2 to 3 times. The extra width you should multiply the window width by. Buy a rod 10 to 12" wider than the window frame for the stack back and to make the windows appear wider than it is.

10. 14 yards of 54" fabric. The amount needed to reupholster a standard 84" sofa. Add 2 yards for a skirt.

Wondering what the pictures are all about? I found them on the Better Homes and Gradens website and loved them all instantly! Purple seems to be showing up in alot of different places!

Remodel Update: New back door, new siding, and new sprinklers...starting today! I know that may not sound exciting to all of you, but it sure is to us!

It's August- ice cubes and breakfast nooks!

What's with the pictures? Just some bling in case you are thinking about a breakfast nook for your own home or even future home. I found them on the Better Homes and Gardens website. Whether you have space for a breakfast nook or not, take in the colors used in each space. They are inspiring to me in that they are refreshing and/or calm to start and maybe end your day with! Think about what you might use...

Okay, this may be a departure from my usual blog, but I thought it was such good information that I am including it this week. What is so exciting? Well, maybe not exciting, but useful...

new uses for ice cubes....yes, you read it correctly, ice cubes...these hints are from RealSimple magazine, written by Julia Edelstein and Ashley Niedringhaus in the August 2011 issue.

First, use it as a soup skimmer by putting ice cubes in a metal ladle and skim it across the top of the soup. The fat will stick to the bottom of the ladle.

Second, use them to water your house plants slowly so you don't have to drain them in a sink. Third, use the corner of the cube to smooth the edge of caulk to leave a clean edge without sticking.

Fourth, and this is for the girls, rub a cube over your eye brows a few minutes before you tweeze them to numb the skin. Also use it after the tweezing to reduce redness.

Fifth, throw a handful of ice cubes and a pinch of baking soda through your garbage disposal to get rid of built-up grease and smell.

And sixth, place a piece of ice on the underside of your wrist to slowly drop your body temperature as the blood flows through that chilly pulse point.

Did you learn anything? I know I did...

Remodel Update: Sprinklers installed in yard 2 weeks ago, last 3 sides of house siding installed starting Monday. New carpet for great room area was delivered-more on that later.

Design Quote of the day: "You should have a picture of yourself as a kid in your home so that you remember where you came from."—Musician John Mayer, September 09 Elle Decor Magazine