Templates Make Planning Easier

Pictures of Templates Are Coming

Whether you are adding a new room or doing a room remodel, or re-working a room into a different function, templates can help you both visualize the changes and determine exactly what your new space can accommodate.

For years, I have used templates to get a feel for the space I’m working with, and find that many clients feel more comfortable once they can “stand in the space” they expect to have once the walls are up or down.

Templates can be made from large pieces of cardboard.  You can find the cardboard at many grocery stores, as well as large discount stores where patrons often unpack boxes too large for their vehicles, and leave the boxes behind.  Of course, you can always purchase large pieces of cardboard wherever they sell boxes, but free is better.  With with a little tape and a box cutter, you are in business-- a good way to recycle.

Once you have your cardboard flattened out and taped together to match the exact size of your available space (be sure to accommodate the depth of walls, studs and plumbing needs), you are ready to imagine how to arrange any fixtures, such as sinks, showers, toilets, cabinets and appliances or that special piece of furniture you have been saving for, like a pool table.

I like to chalk off where the door openings and windows are or will be.  You can then add whatever fixtures your space requires.  It is a good idea to have a list of sizes you will have to work with; for instance most kitchen cabinet bases are typically 24 inches deep with about an inch overhang; bathroom cabinets are a little more shallow at 21-22 inches deep.  Depending on the type of toilet you choose, you will have plumbing to account for, so be sure to take careful measurements before you begin plotting your space.  I like to use chalk for marking for marking fixtures as well, as it is easy to erase and easier to see than a pencil line.  You can use butcher paper to cut out your fixtures and cabinets and then simply shift them around on top of the cardboard, as needed.

You can take this exercise one step further, depending on your ability to visualize 3D space: take more cardboard and “build” your cabinets and other fixtures up to the height you wish, and lay butcher paper over the top to give you a real sense of space these pieces require.  This exercise is a good idea if you have a very large space to deal with; smaller ones will be fairly easy to see with just chalk lines.

If you are working with a contractor, he or she will be able to guide you regarding plumbing issues as well as electrical restrictions with which you have to cope.  It is always a good idea to orient your cardboard template in the north, south, east and west positions of the actual space, which will give you a good idea of what kind of light you will have once the extension or build-out is complete.  Removing walls usually affords you more light from an adjoining room, which is always nice.  I like to “borrow” light from wherever I can, and that might mean adding a narrow, glass, fixed window at the ceiling level, to add light to an otherwise dark room.  This technique is not something that every space can benefit from, but sometimes, it is a good solution.

Engineering Vanity Drawers

When you are considering using a piece of furniture as a bathroom vanity, there are a few things to consider.  Drawers were the major concern with the sideboard piece we selected for our vanity in the new construction bathroom in the vintage house about which I have been writing.  Drawers also may be a consideration for you, but you may have more drawer space to spare than we did with the sideboard, which was limited to two drawers.

We did consider the drawers when we first looked at the piece and hoped we could have some use of at least one of the drawers.  The engineer was able to allow for partial use of both drawers-- an added bonus. 

Once the vessel sink, and the faucet set arrived, the engineer was able to collect the various plumbing pieces needed and worked on construction of the drawers.  Using plywood, he was able to build a series of boxes that would accommodate the necessary plumbing and still allow for some interesting drawer space.  As you can see from the pictures, both drawers were compromised for the plumbing, but there is still quite a bit of useable space for useful storage.  With some modular vanity boxes for make up or jewelry, these drawers will function quite well.  

The two cabinets on either side of the drawers will store a hair dryer and various curling irons and other necessities the lady of the house will need.

The sideboard was not the least expensive part of the project, but it was a close third.  The vessel sink was quite affordable, and looks great.  The knobs were re-purposed from the kitchen and original to the house, so they cost nothing.   A few shiny new screws and a good clean up was all that was needed to make the knobs sparkle and add a touch of history to the piece.  Without a doubt the faucet set was the big expense; but in the end, it is so elegant it was considered, well worth the price.

The vanity was installed last weekend and it looks stunning; all parties are pleased with the outcome.  There are some practical things to consider with this piece, first of all, having a wood top is not the ideal surface for a vanity, a stone top would be more durable.  This homeowner knows the problems associated with a wood top and it will be up to her to maintain the surface by making sure any water drops are quickly wiped up.  While there are many, many coats of finish, it is still a good idea to keep the surface dry; I suggest a wipe up towel inside one of the cabinets for easy and quick access.  The vanity is certainly the showpiece of this lovely new bathroom.

Change is a New Start

Every New Year brings an opportunity to make changes in our personal and professional lives.  We may make our goals public or keep them private, but we all make them to some degree or another.  Traditionally January is a month of new promises, often in personal improvement which may include gaining some ground on the organizational front.  Decorating is more fun when you can see the results and enjoy them, and that fun usually begins with rethinking your needs and goals.

Even experienced decorators and designers need to revisit their own spaces; what once worked well, may not function as well now as it once did; everything changes.  I try to keep my thinking in a more mobile state than a lot of people do; in other words, even when a task is done, it is not permanent, there is always room to change.

This is a good time to reassess a room in your home that has worked well enough until now, but might function better.  Remember, the hallmark of good design is form follows function.  A table, desk or chair that has been in another place in the home, might be more interesting, functional and attractive elsewhere; give it a try.  

Do not be afraid to rethink the use of a piece of furniture.  Reupholstery, painting and cutting down are all ways to re-use a piece of furniture that has been hanging around the house-- too good to toss out or give away, but not quite living up to its potential.  Old trunks can become coffee tables and end tables; old fashioned tea carts make great drink trollies.  Don’t be afraid to use something from another era that can add character and interest to a room, can give the room a sense of history or at least a story.  The same is true about artwork; move it from room to room and see if it doesn’t give another space a lift.

One of my biggest problem pieces is a large roll top desk, a nice piece, but too large for the small office it currently occupies.  It is not really old, or lacking in character, but it is a difficult piece to pass along to someone else who might have the same space problems.  What to do?  My first suggestion-- if you cannot use it in another part of the house-- is to donate it.  I don’t mean just turn it over to a consignment store or thrift shop.

Check out restaurants; they often need to create an entry or waiting area before patrons enter the dining area.  A large desks with character can function well in a restaurant, holding menus, pens, flashlights, or items that may have been left behind by patrons.  Churches are another place where these large pieces could find a good home.  Think outside the usual channels to find a good home for a piece that is still quite functional, but not for you.

Small changes can make a big difference.  I always recommend starting projects that will end in success, so start small.  In the weeks to come, I plan on sharing the transformation of a child’s small wardrobe into a more adult storage piece.  Give your home a little boost for the new year and change something for a new look, even if it just a small change.

Make a Eucalyptus Tree for the Winter Season

Every year, I see so many clever and creative Christmas decor ideas that embrace traditional styles as well as traditional with a twist.  While I love new ideas in the world of decor, I am traditional at heart.  Here is a tutorial on a completely original design I created more than 30 years ago: a lighted tree with natural eucalyptus leaves, and topped with your favorite tiny tree topper.

While this is on the easy, it is tough on your fingers, so you may want to use a thimble.  

You will need:  

Styrofoam cone (white or green)

Short string of 25-50 small electric lights (white or green wires)

Hair pins, not bobbie pins ( find them in beauty supply shops)

Eucalyptus branches

Thimble

Scissors or garden clippers

Small beads, either multi-colored, red or white or natural seeds from your garden

Tree topper, a small bird, angel, bow, or star, whatever you wish.

First, open your short (25) string of lights and begin winding at the bottom of the cone, securing them with the hair pins.  Continue winding them fairly close together until you reach the top of your cone, leaving one light near the top of your tree.  You should have a length of cord at the bottom to plug into an electric outlet when you are finished.  It is always a good idea to test the string of lights to make sure they are in working order.

Once your lights are secure, begin cutting (using garden clippers or strong scissors) the eucalyptus branches into short stems; I use the two leaves on opposite sides of the stem securing the stem by pushing a hairpin into the cone.  You can use a glue gun instead of hair pins.  Use the larger leaves on the bottom of the cone and gradually smaller ones the smaller ones as you go up the cone to the top of your tree.

This is a fairly long process, and this is where you may want to have a thimble to help push the pins into the cone.  As you get near the top of the cone, the pins will be too long to go straight in, so angle them downward, so they don’t stick out of the sides of the cone.  You will soon see how the leaves fit around the lights, covering the cords and filling in the cone.  You will want the leaves to be close together for a full look.

Once you are satisfied with the density of the tree, you may begin using your beads, pods or tiny decorations to adorn the tree; this is a very subjective process, so place them as you wish, again using the hairpins.

Your tree topper is the last piece to add, so use your hairpin to secure it.  Find a table top, or corner for your lighted creation and enjoy the fruits of your labor and the season.

This tree creation can be a winter fixture, by using natural seeds or just white beads, or red, like you see in nature.  I keep mine up through January, or throughout winter to brighten the gloomy days of winter.

Where to Save and Where to Splurge

The new-build bathroom is taking shape.  The next thing to do is install the tile on the floor and shower and, since that will begin next week, I thought I would talk about some of the saves and splurges, what to look for and how to save.

In this particular house, there was a custom window in the bedroom space where we wanted to put a pair of French Doors.  Trying to save as much of the budget for other things, we decided to re-use the window in the bathroom--a big save.  It is a rather large window, but it overlooks a particularly pretty floral garden and patio, so we felt it was a good move.   My client had to purchase a custom window for a wall in the new bedroom extension to match an existing window, and not having to buy two custom windows made good sense.

Having a large window in the bathroom made for some challenges for the vanity, described in earlier articles; the placement had to be fairly low to be level with the height of the vessel sink.  The length of the vanity also had to match the width of the window, so this furniture piece turned out to be truly perfect fit for a vanity.  The cost of the vanity was another big save.

Finding an acceptable faucet set for the vessel sink turned out to be more of a challenge that expected; after all, vessel sinks seem to be quite popular.  However, we did not find anything that met the criteria in the home centers, so we explored higher end retailers.  This purchase turned out to be one of the splurges we had been saving some of the budget for; but beauty has its price. 

Since the vanity is the real focal point of the bathroom in this instance, my client wanted it to reflect a certain elegance and grace.  The shower fixtures, while important, will not be so much on view as the sink, so those fixtures were a little less spectacular in both cost and aesthetics; however, they are made of a good quality metals instead of more standard plastic that most of the home centers offered-- another save.

​A special feature was the accent tile in the shower.  Since this house is of an older and  particular vintage style, we headed to Mission Tile in South Pasadena and, decided on a classic design in custom colors that will remain timeless.  While this could be considered to be on the splurge side of the ledger, the area was small and the cost was minimal.  Of course, we could have chosen something from the home center, and the cost would have been less, but the effect would have been less as well.

There are still a lot of details to attend to before we can call the job finished, but the major expenditures are in or nearly so.  Hopefully, this project will be finished in the next couple of weeks, and I can share with you some of the photos of the completed bathroom.  

The Search Continues

The build-out for my current client is not limited to a new bathroom, but also a seven- foot extension of the master bedroom.  Having the additional space in the bedroom allows for a cabinet on the other side of the bed for some much needed storage and surface space.

The need for this furniture piece took us back to the Rose Bowl in search of a hefty bedside cabinet.  Not wanting a matched pair made the search both easy and more difficult as sellers are less likely to break up a set; although it is always a good idea to ask, you might get lucky.

This time we planned to paint the surface so we were less concerned with the species of wood and its condition.  I am always surprised to see “shabby chic” still popular, but it does not alter our goal for a painted surface.  

The piece we settled on had some pretty feminine applique details that I mistakenly thought would be simple to pry off with a putty knife.  Apparently, a century ago, the glues they used were pretty strong; in addition,  the appliques were secured with tiny brass pins.  We needed to resort to heavier tools than we found in the pink tool box; we needed a man’s tools for this job!  The appliques came off but not always cleanly; some of the oak splintered off leaving more to sand off with an electric sander.

My client chose this piece  because of its size and storage capabilities and because of the secret compartment!  When making choices from flea markets, one needs to be certain the piece will fit the space and needs; it is wise to be careful, and always carry a tape measure since such pieces are not returnable.  Getting the furniture from the stall to one’s vehicle is the task of the buyer.  We were not well prepared for this part; the oak was much heavier than we anticipated, and we were without a strong guy to carry the for us.

We struggled carrying the awkward piece through the crowds, having to stop and rest periodically.  At one point, we had the great good fortune to stop in front of a stall where the kind owner offered to loan us her homemade dolly if we would leave a driver license.  She apologized for needing to keep something of value as she had been burned by people in the past not respecting her generosity.  My eternal thanks to this wonderfully kind woman.

To make a simple portable dolly requires on a couple of 2x4’s nailed to form a platform and covered with a remnant piece of carpet.  Four heavy duty casters attached with some screws to the underside, and one is in business. 

Finding the Perfect Vanity

Grimy Find

The search for the perfect bathroom vanity set my client and me on a journey to the flea markets at Pasadena City Collage and  the Rose Bowl, into Orange County’s antiques streets and up to Main Street in Ventura.  Along the way, we were able to fine tune exactly what was needed to fit the space available and satisfy my client’s aesthetic sensibilities.   Keeping an open mind helps you find something and adapt it to your needs as opposed to having something custom built and incurring the additional cost.

It is important not to become discouraged when you head out on your search, because what you have in your mind’s eye is not likely to be found in the world of existing products.  My client had established the hard surface finishes, which are stone and tile; so she was looking for some warmth in natural wood for her vanity-- that is, not a painted piece.  Of course, a found, usable vanity could be stripped and refinished if otherwise worthy. 

We didn’t have any success at our first weekend out, which is not unusual.  However, when we hit the Rose Bowl, we were amazed to find a great, aesthetically pleasing dresser at the first stall we saw.  We especially liked its large, round mirror; usually mirrors attached to dressers are oval.  Even the color was perfect, had she wanted a painted piece.  The design added to its feminine appeal.  We assessed the piece with a practical eye: how much work it would take to add a vessel sink and the necessary plumbing, and how much drawer space would need to be sacrificed.  The vendor took our cell numbers and we moved on. 

Rennovation In Process

Our second find determined that a dining room server or sideboard might be a better choice.  We determined the central top drawer might be sacrificed for plumbing,  but the side cabinets would be perfect for keeping curling irons and a hair dryer for easy access.   We especially liked the turned legs of the piece adding to the feminine quality.  Unfortunately, detail work lost over the years needed to be replaced by a furniture restorer, ultimately adding to the cost.  The last problem was that the piece was painted; beautiful mahogany wood, but the missing detail work was key, so we moved on.

Our last option at this site was a pretty Bird’s Eye Maple dresser.  We loved the wood, but the piece was pretty plain and the top was damaged, so more work or a stone top would need to be added, increasing the cost.

The search continued the following week into Orange County.  Because we had little time and had honed in on what we wanted, we looked at a more limited number of pieces;  we found only one piece to seriously consider, but it was costly, and  reviewing our “option” pieces, we passed on it.

The next day we headed up north to Ventura, and BINGO!  We found the perfect server piece.  A previous owner had cut the legs down, so it was low enough to accommodate a vessel sink and, we didn’t have the anxiety of doing it ourselves.  It is  narrow in depth, which suits the available space nicely, and was not painted.  It did have decades of old stain and no doubt a variety of oils and grime on the surface, but that just means it needed to be stripped.  

The stripping down part was going to be messy and time consuming, but the price was negotiable, and that made it very appealing.  Unfortunately, the most effective stripping agents have been eliminated by the EPA over the past several decades, so the process is more lengthy.  If you do not do it yourself, stripping can be very expensive.

Completed Vanity

In the end, the search process was fun and, as usual, educational, as we fine tuned what would work best.  The stripping continues, but we are convinced that the search was successful, and it will become the perfect vanity.

Designing a Bathroom from the Ground Up

My current client project will be an ongoing one for some time; it is a bathroom addition from the ground up.  There are many things to consider when choosing finishes for a bathroom; there are so many choices and a tight budget can be constraining.  Making the right choices for a project depends largely on the individual and of course, on available funds.

First is the need to determine who will be using the bathroom:  is it a main bath for a family, a powder room for guests or a master bath for the homeowner?  Still, there are  many considerations, space being the biggest factor.  Is there room for a tub and a shower?  Will the commode be in a separate room?  Will there be a single or double sink?

My project is for a master bath for an older home, so keeping the new features in line with the age and style of the home is paramount, thus lessening the finish choices and, in this case, limiting the size of the working space as well.

Having limits is a good thing, but the choices of wants verses needs are dictated by budget and available space.  These limitations force consideration of what is most important and where best to spend dollars to maximize goals.

Early on, the client wanted simple elegance in a small space with room for only a three piece bath, and a shower was the third piece, since the original bath has a tub/ shower combination.  Stone was high on the list for must haves, setting the tone for the room challenging the budget with regard to the rest of the finish choices.

Choosing stone and tiles that will not overwhelm a fairly small space is important, and scale is paramount to getting it all right.  The next consideration is color.  This project is an expensive endeavor, it is important to keep it classic while resisting the urge to go dramatic or follow current trends.  We have all seen the results of that mistake, when you can determine the age of a bath by the color of the fixtures.  Who can forget the Avocado and Harvest Gold of the sixties and seventies, or the pink of the fifties?  

While style is important, function must reign; and keeping those two elements in balance requires careful planning.  For this client, the shower is the most important element, so it will be the focus for space and money as well as placement in the available space.

To maximize the appearance of more space, the floor and shower floor will be the same marble pattern.  Since the marble pattern is small in scale, it will be safe and suitable for the shower floor and, with a full glass door, it will appear seamless.  The client considering a variety of larger tiles to use as a border around the bathroom for added interest, a part of the on-going part of the process as homeowner has not yet determined what that detail will be.

Stay tuned.  Next time, I will discuss the hunt for the perfect vanity. 

All Season Outdoor Lighting

One of Southern California’s best assets is the weather, allowing homeowners to enjoy many months of outdoor living.  Add an outdoor fire pit, and you can have smores nearly all year long.  While lighting is an essential necessity inside, it is an added benefit outside to increase the ambience of your outdoor space.

Having mood lighting installed is often an expensive endeavor, especially if you have a large area to cover;  but you can select a small social area and create your own lighting, if only around a small fire pit with some comfortable seating.

If you have an established patio area with covering, you are nine-tenths of the way there already.  All you need is a little mood lighting to finish the space.  A pergola can be fitted with a simple string of clear lights.   If set on a dimmer, they are especially useful for different activities; board games require more light than enjoying a glass of wine on a summer’s eve.  

Add some pendant lighting above a table, and you can add additional light and opportunities for capturing the right mood.  The example I have here is one that you can make on your own with a little skill and some caution while handling the sharp edges of the pressed metal.

Sheets of pressed metal can be easily obtained at your local home center, and you will find a variety of patterns from which to choose.  Again, I caution you to wear gloves when you are handling at these sheets as they are extremely sharp and cut like a knife with unless your hands are protected.

It is best to have a professional install an exterior socket unless you are experienced in working with electricity.  Once the electrical box is in place, it is fairly simple for a homeowner to purchase a pendant kit from the home center and hang them from the roof or ceiling of your pergola.

Creating a metal shade requires cutting the metal sheets with an angle grinder or similar tool.  A rigid, 90-degree edge is necessary for the shade.  We created a shade using a piece of one-eighth inch thick, right-angle aluminum stock as a bending edge and anchoring it on the edge of a workbench with clamps. to form a sharp angle for the edges of the shade.  Then we gently hammered the material into a right angle bend.  Next, we determined the size of the shade.  We used three different sizes for aesthetic reasons.  Once you have formed three of the bends, we brought the two remaining edges together and clamped them.  We applied epoxy glue to  hold the edges together.  For the top where the socket goes, we used the metal frame from an off-the-shelf paper lantern from IKEA.  We discarded the paper part of the lantern and simply epoxied the metal shade to the lamp frame.  We used one-hour epoxy, and the shades have been in service outside for more than a year, with no problems.

Hanging or pendant lighting can be an asset outside in many places.  Think of highlighting an area under a tree--which might require some clever electrical work, and add a bench for seating.   A lantern overhead in an arched trellis at an entry to a garden would be particularly inviting to guests arriving or leaving your home.

All you need to do is take a walk around your property and see where you could imagine having a special seating area and add some light.

Mixing Patterns is Okay

Most people consider mixing patterns too daring. Many see it done in magazines and see that it works, but have a hard time accomplishing it in their own home.  Mixing designs is all about color and scale and of course the homeowner’s comfort level, which is why neutral rooms are so comfortable for most people and why decorating out of catalogs is so popular.

People that like change are more comfortable with bold moves and color choices;  If you think decorating is done only once,  and you never to change the decor, or at least not for change for several decades, read on; you may be intrigued enough to make a change or two.

Rooms that are painted different colors can avoid the “rainbow” effect, by unifying the rooms with a similar color or the same color in a different value or intensity.  The same is true for mixing patterns.

People that feel bold color is too stimulating for them, can still mix patterns, but in more subtile colors and thus create texture.

The rooms illustrated here are a good example of color and pattern.  The common color used in these two rooms is bold blue in the rug under the table and in the seating on the left, but the blue is not overpowering, as it is not on the largest surface, the walls.   A calm sage green in the living room allows the sofa to be a bold accent, and the rug with the pops of color, including blue, continue to unite the room.

Moving to the dining room, the same blue is repeated, but in a different pattern, a trellis pattern.  The walls are a warm golden color, which is repeated in the circles of the rug in the living room, along with a pillows on the sofa.

The previous rug in the dining room was darker and hid a myriad of sins from pets, but  it didn’t make the dining table stand out, even against the colorful walls.  Now the table stands out as well as the painting, that relates to the rug under the table as well.

The large pieces of furniture are not patterned but solid, allowing pattern on the floors to work, nor does the floor dominate the room because it is typically below eye level.  Patterned pillows relieve the solid pieces giving them a little notice and allowing more color relationships.

Additionally, this room is clearly a mix of periods: the architecture is 1930s complete with arches and rounded edges.  The furnishings have a decided contemporary feeling, but the only contemporary piece is the sofa, the club chair is from the 1950s and the dining table is from the 1920s, and the coffee table is from the 1920s, but they all work in harmony because of color and scale.

You can make small changes using less bold colors to begin with and build on your design as you feel more comfortable.

Chimney Pots add Personality

Chimney pots date back to the 13th century in many countries around the globe; while we tend to think of them as traditionally English, they were found in India, Australia and of course in America.  Their function was to increase the draft up a chimney thus removing dangerous noxious fumes and soot out of the house.

Here in the states, chimney pots were part of the “norm”, until about the 1920’s when oil burners replaced coal as a main source of heat in the home.

Today, chimney pots are are mostly an architectural element while still achieving the function they were originally designed.

While many homeowners are satisfied with the style of their home, there are just as many that look to make them more individual and a chimney pot might be just the ticket.

If you live in a housing track that allows only a couple of facade variations, you might be able to add some personality with a fanciful chimney pot.  Not only are chimney pots interesting and unique, but functional as well.  If your home is already “not like the others”, you can still add additional customizing with a fun chimney pot; in communities with ridged CCR’s, you will have to check with those governing bodies to determine if adding a chimney pot would be acceptable.

There are as many chimney pot styles as you can imagine and you can truly make your house a stand-out on your block.  A chimney pot will add age to your home, if it feels a bit too “new” for your esthetic.  You do not have to go back to “Middle Earth” to see a variety of chimney pots, just take a drive through some older neighborhoods  in the LA area, you will be treated to some truly interesting shapes and designs.  Older neighborhoods in many communities will sport them, you will be surprised.

In Victorian times there were folks that made a bit of a sport of “pot spotting”, assigning points to identifying a certain number of pots.  As with most sports, the activity was quite competitive and an amusement on Sunday’s after church.  Points were categorized by size, color, and individuality.  It is believed that the funny phrase of yesteryear, “completely potty” came from this pursuit.  As folks were some competitive and often named the pots themselves; thus creating some controversy and then as competitions offend end in fisticuffs.

No matter your feelings on chimney pots, it’s an interesting pass-time as well as a great opportunity to add to your individualism.  Take a stroll through your memories of homes of your childhood and books you’ve read to reestablish this old architectural marvel, that might just make a come back in your neighborhood.

Stripes Add Interest

 I find that stripes add interest in many different mediums throughout the home, from pillows to upholstery and carpet-- I don’t mean just area rugs, but broadloom carpets as well.  Stripes can be bold, or soft and subtle by using neutral colors, and still add interest and energy to your living space.  Not only will they add to your decor, but they tend to hide a myriad of traffic wear and just about anything else an active family can inflict.

The infusion of stripes to a decor of either plain or printed fabrics helps break up the predictability of solids and patterns--adding a bit of a surprise, if you will.  Keeping color as the unifying element will give your room the cohesive look that you need for good design.

Stairs lend themselves to stripes in a most interesting way.  Take a plain, straight staircase, mostly hidden from the public rooms, usually closed in with walls on either side, essentiality a hall straight up to the upper living quarters. Carpeted stairs are always more quiet, and should be considered with an active family.  By adding striped carpet to just the staircase, you can easily be coordinate two disparate carpet styles or colors, if the stairs connect to carpet on both upper and lower levels.  Of course, if you have hardwood, tile or laminate in the room at either end of the stairs adding, carpet of any sort will not be much of a design issue.

Adding a striped carpet will give your room an energetic boost while keeping the appearance of stairway wear and tear to a minimum.  Keep in mind that carpet warranties do not cover hallways and stairs; so adding striped carpet will disguise the wear and tear an active family imposes on such such a highly used traffic area.

Subtle stripes on walls is another easy decor addition that can be achieved with either wallpaper or paint.  Painting wide vertical or horizontal stripes using the same paint color or similar but changing the finish to one set of the stripes will give a room a touch of interest without overpowering the rest of your design.  Of course if bold is what you are after, that too is easily achieved.

Striped bedding, drapes, shades and upholstered pieces can  give a room the same energy as flooring and wall color.  Always vary your scale when mixing prints, and stripes and remember to keep your colors related in some way for a cohesive look.

Make an Entrance

I have been house shopping with a friend and have become aware of how many houses, old and new-er, open directly into the living space-- be it a dining room, kitchen or living room.  I find it much more pleasing to open a front door without exposing the living space to whomever is on the other side of the door.  

It is simple enough to create a “foyer” feeling from the front door, especially when the front door is off set from the center of the room into which it opens;  the homeowner thus has a bit of space in which to put up a screen or something to distract the eye, which protects the privacy of the home.  A simple piece of furniture can do the trick, creating a bit of a barrier between your living space and the person outside your door.  You can set up a hall tree or a table or a screen to add to the privacy. 

If you want to create such a screen, there are so many materials you can use, and you may have them around the house already.  Shutters that are no longer in service can be adapted into a useful screen by joining two or more together with reversible hinges; you can connect shutters that are the same width to make them taller as well.

There are plenty of uses for decorative screens, not just at the front door to make an entrance more private.  Screens can make a serve more than one purpose without the benefit of floor-to ceiling walls. A large room can be divided easily into multiple service areas with the clever use of furniture, screens or even sliding panels that attach to the ceiling.

Large sized cube-type book or storage units make great room dividers, and the open cubbies can be filled with useful baskets or containers for last minute items you need before heading out the door, like gloves, hats or scarves.  You also can fill the cubbies with decorative items that suit your decor, an especially good way to display collections you may have as long as the scale is in keeping with the size of the cubby; remember tiny objects can become lost in large spaces.

Hanging a long fabric “screen” from a rod in a ceiling of a loft is an excellent way to create rooms within a large space.  This division can be achieved with a long drape, with a beautiful colorful piece of fabric, or a great textured piece, as simple as bamboo.  Lofts offer you lots of ways to create clever separations while allowing your space to remain open and airy, which after all is one of the great appealing factors in loft living.

A strategic chest, table or area rug can give a room a boundary, thus making the room feel more comfortable and oddly enough more spacious.  It is a misconception that placing furniture around the perimeter of a room will make the room feel larger; actually the opposite is true.  Floating a table, chest or folding screen will allow you some privacy at your entrance and actually might make your space feel a bit larger.

Show Your Personality in Unexpected Places

There are so many places in your home in which you can show off your quirky or whimsical side.  I prefer the less obvious places where these little touches are subtle and give people a chance to determine if they really did see something odd or not.

My son has been going through his 1970s house and making it more about him and his lifestyle rather than about the very ordinary style of the previous owner.  When my son asked for some ideas for his outside lighting, I sent him a fairly large variety of styles that would enhance his exterior.  When he saw the Gargoyles, he naturally loved them, but thought, “this must be a test”; after looking over all the choices, he selected a few and sent them back to me, but asked about the gargoyles: was I really serious or was it a test?

While we appear to be a fairly plain and possibly dull family, we have our quirky side and express it differently;  Gargoyles are part of that quirky side; you will find several around if you know where to look.  When my son posed the question, I told him to go for it; it suited him, and with a click of his computer mouse, he purchased a pair for the front of his house.

I did caution him not to overdo it, and to limit the Gargoyles to the pair.  He chose something similar for some other areas that needed lighting at the front of his house, but the back deck is completely different with a different vibe going on there.

Lighting is very important to a home’s function and style.  Most overhead lighting is not particularly useful for tasks that we need to perform in a given room.  Table, floor and desk lights are more suitable for performing tasks, while track lighting is great for a dark hallway where you want to create a gallery wall of art or photographs, or just light the way in an interesting fashion.

Track or cable lighting is also useful in small rooms where there is limited space for table or floor lamps.  These inventive lights come in hight and low intensity, and they are very directional, giving you light where it is most needed.  Track lights can be very unobtrusive as well.  Cable lighting is particularly good in spaces where there is concrete construction, like in old loft spaces or newer condos.

Chandeliers have become big business in recent years, and people are using them in more unexpected places.  I applaud their use, but make them fit with the style of the room; and make sure they give you the light you need.  For instance, a pretty chandelier in a powder room is perfect, but in a bathroom where you need to shave or apply make-up, you will need more serious task lighting.  Add some sconces to either side of the mirror for more effective lighting.  By all means, add sparkle and whimsey whenever you can.

Privacy, Light and Etched Glass Windows

The desire for both privacy and light often work at cross purposes to one another, but sometimes you can have both.  If you treasure the beauty of light in your home but need a little privacy, etched glass or etched glass film might be a good solution.  Keep in mind that etched glass is permanent while etched glass film is not.

While many folks in the country do not live as close to their neighbors as do city dwellers, privacy can still be an issue.  If you have a great view, why not take advantage of it as much as possible, with a bit of a twist to conventional window treatments?

Privacy can be achieved in many ways, and most homeowners go straight to window blinds or draperies.  Both covers can be great insulators of heat and cold; but if you prefer a more minimalist approach, etched glass might be just the thing for you.  Etched glass is not new, and it is not difficult for the average person to obtain.  Most craft stores carry etching compounds; and, with adult supervision there are plenty of child-safe craft ideas out there, but I digress.  

If you have sidelights to your front door that are clear glass and you feel a bit too exposed, or even the lower portion of a double or single hung window, consider adding an etched film, you can purchase at your local home center.  If you are more creative, you can create a design yourself and make your own stencil, but there are plenty of film designs available.  Simple designs will give you a more modern feel, while something botanical will give you a more cottage feeling.

Another good use of etching compounds is to change the look of mirrored closet doors.  While these doors are common in many households, they are not always a favorite of homeowners, and are usually merely tolerated.  While they do reflect light and that is a good thing, you might not want a total reflection of the room.  One idea is to run bands or stripes of etching across the bottom third or two thirds of the closet doors, giving the doors a more designer look.  Or also can defuse just half of a full length mirror on both sides of a double closet or only one side of the double closet door. 

Windows that are difficult to reach are equally difficult to treat, this is an ideal application for an etched glass or film.  Expensive fan shaped wood blinds or pleated shades are usually the only option, while a simple and fairly inexpensive etched film might be a better idea, even if privacy isn’t an issue.

French doors that separate private rooms from more public rooms is another good use of etching without the heaviness of blinds or drapes, while still allowing the light to come through day or night.

If one of your windows has a less desirable view, the window becomes another good candidate for either etching or film on the window without sacrificing valuable light.  Think of the possibilities.  

Got Tile?

Do-it-yourself or DIY folks are rarely at a loss with what to do with left-overs from a recent, or not so recent, remodel project.  For example, there are so many uses for a piece or two or three left over tile, and the following ideas are suitable for the most basic skills for nearly all ages.

Clearly the easiest of all to do is place a 12”X12” tile on top of a simple garden pot stand you will find at the local home center.  Easy, nothing to it, and this little side table will serve you well for an afternoon cup of tea or an evening glass of wine while enjoying a lovely summer evening.

Another use for a tile is a simple trivet that requires a little cutting of 1/4-inch plywood, some molding, four wooden drawer pulls for feet, and a bit of wood glue.  A trivet is a great way to showcase a special tile you may have collected on a vacation or while prowling through a salvage yard or second hand store.  You may want to use a left over piece of tile or stone from a counter top or floor job.

If you do not have any tiles at hand, simply go to a home center and purchase one or more pieces to make as many trivets as you wish.  You can create a large trivet using four tiles and placing them on a larger piece of plywood.  Tiles that make a pattern when placed with the four pieces intersecting to make a pattern and will make an especially great trivet for larger casserole dishes.

The following idea is a bit more complicated.  I used an old umbrella stand with very rusted tin plates on which the end of the umbrellas once rested; it was important for its size.  This piece became an end table for my crocheting many decades ago; my basket of yarn sat on the bottom shelf created by covering the openings where the tin plates were with a thin piece of plywood and covered with tiles.  The mid-shelf was created by using a couple of L-brackets and a cabinet grade piece of oak finished to match the rest of the wood frame; this shelf held any number of needed items.

The top shelf was created by placing a plywood base over the original holes for the umbrellas and affixing matching tiles to form a top shelf for glasses and a beverage.  Today this same end table sits beside a chair in the family room and is the dropping off place for my husband’s keys and other things he needs to pick up on his way out of the house.

The bottom shelf is a good place to store newspapers until they get recycled or used for painting projects in our household.  Again, that mid-shelf can hold just about anything that might be needed on the way out the door.

 A friend of ours tiled the top of some inexpensive bedside tables for the guest room,making them nearly damage proof; guests can leave a glass of water and not worry about leaving a ring on the surface.  These are just a few ideas; there are a many more just waiting for you to think of them.

Contrast Adds Drama

While it is true that high contrast will add drama to a room, it is wise to consider how you use contrast.  A painted accent wall is fairly easy to change should you decide you cannot live with the drama the color created, but a floor or a tiled backsplash or shower enclosure is a bit more complicated in terms of expense and time invested.

When you are considering changing something more permanent in your home, like flooring and counter surfaces as well as backsplashes and tub/shower enclosures, try less contrast.  You will be living with these changes for a long time and a classic surface in these areas will serve you better.

Think of all the homes built in the early to mid-20th Century; for the most part, these homes were built with hardwood flooring.  Over the years, as wall to wall carpet became popular, these floors were covered with soft, colorful carpet.   Today, that carpet is considered undesirable and old fashioned.  Carpets in older homes are routinely being  pulled up, exposing those now treasured hardwood floors.  If the wood is in good condition, a simple sanding, staining and fresh coat of polyurethane to preserve its beauty for another half century or more.

Choosing a new color for the floor will be important and fairly permanent.  While it may be tempting to add or stain a border or pattern, think in terms of long term use and how you will feel about such a contrast as a wide, light or dark border verses a solid-colored floor.  An exception to this rule, would be if the floors cannot be successfully refinished, but can be painted instead; then I’d say, go ahead and paint a fun harlequin pattern or boarder.  While the traditional black and white pattern is always popular, you can use softer colors for less contrast, like shades of grey or spa colors like blues and greens; even shades of beige would be a calm and peaceful color combination. 

Tile and natural stone is an expensive and fairly permanent surface for kitchens and baths.  Tempting are the bright colors and fun patterns, but again, consider how long it will be in style, staying classic is wiser.

Unless your home is clearly in a particular style like a Spanish Revival or Spanish Colonial, the use of colorfully patterned tiles might be a bit risky.  Adding cute “accent tiles” to a kitchen backsplash will date your renovation very quickly and reduce its value at resale time.

If using these colorful and playful tiles is something you have your heart set on, use them in less permanent ways.  For instance you can make tile trivets and hang them on the backsplash to add some personality without risking the need to tear it out once you tire of it.

When considering high contrast, think about how long you will live in this home and consider the home’s style.  High contrast will give you high drama, but you can enjoy soft contrast too and it is often easier to live with in the long term.

Destination Breezeway

If you are have a detached garage and it is connected to the house with a roof, or pergola you probably don’t think of it as anything except a utility; a pathway between the house and garage.  When in fact it might make a great destination point.

Take a careful look at your space; determine what possibilities lay ahead with a little creative thought.  For instance, how it connects to your landscaping can become a good space for a bench or plantings to enhance the area.

Stucco, wood siding or smooth plaster can all be great canvasses for art expression.  If you have a budding artist in the family or neighborhood, consider letting them paint a design, mural or even just add some metal sculpture to one side of the breezeway.

Depending on how wide your breezeway is, you can use both sides of the space for art, think Trompe l’ oeil, or to fool the eye.  Using a perspective drawing, you can add depth to the space, imagine sitting on a bench on one side of the breezeway and looking at a wall mural that shows a window with a view or a path to a favorite place in your travels, or somewhere you’d like to be.  You could have a field of flowers, mountain, sea or desert scape.

This technique is used in many places you may visit on a daily basis, and you only need to think of how you can use it in your home.  The sides of garages tend to be fairly boring spaces, and if your view out of a  kitchen or bedroom window is just that, think of what you’d like to see and imagine it as a destination.

Breezeways that are narrow may not allow you to have seating, but they need not to be boring, you can get creative with paint.  Think geometric shapes and colors, or stripes, bold or subtile, vertical or horizontal, even a wide zig zag with subtile color variation would be more interesting than plain beige.

By making your breezeway a destination point, it can give your existing landscape a boost too.  By incorporating your landscape design into your home structure, including your breezeway, you create a connection that is seamless and cohesive.  Choose colors from your landscape to enhance your breezeway.

The space between a home and a garage that isn’t covered, creating a breezeway, can still be more interesting, by employing some of these ideas.  Add a more decorative path, with paving stones and plantings and even seating.  In the future, you can add a covered structure to connect the two spaces.  

This space may be something you have not given any thought to before, but it might be a lost opportunity too.  Take a look at restaurants, theaters, bookstores for inspiration and imagine something similar to perk up your otherwise untapped space.

To Paint or Not to Paint

For many of us, painting natural wood is considered either difficult or forbidden; these views are understandable and have been handed down for generations.  In the past, people did not paint furniture of good quality and workmanship; it took valuable time and resources to do so; in Victorian times, it simply wasn’t done.  As furnishing were passed down, they may have been revered as family treasures, and to paint them would be to dishonor them.  As these pieces were passed down further, such feelings became less important and more distant; and painting was more acceptable and in vogue.

Not much has changed today.  Pieces that hold fond memories from a favorite aunt or grandmother still may be left untouched.  However, if you have such a piece, have grown tired of it, but still can’t part with it, and know that the next generation is not interested in it, why not consider giving it new life and paint it?

Painting often is dismissed as a solution because it is considered time consuming and difficult; thoughts of stripping the piece are shunned.  It is true that painting is time consuming, but painting is not so difficult; taken step by step, it is really quite easy.  If you consider it boring, plug in a book or your favorite music on your CD player; being entertained while doing a task you have been putting off, makes it enjoyable and a new hobby might be born.

Once a piece has reached the end of its life cycle for me, I think first of reusing it in another way or place in my home or yard; doing so usually involves recovering the fabric portion or painting the piece, sometimes removing or adding ornamentation.  If  I can’t reuse the piece, I offer it to a family member; if there are no takers, I move down the line, friends, associates and charities.

I remember my mother-in-law telling me how exciting it was when painting furniture was in vogue.  Living with furniture from previous generations was oppressive; such furniture often was dark and dated, and the freedom to paint it gave the family a lift, like coming out of a depression.

The pendulum swings back and forth in both fashion and interior design.  We experience it daily in print and television shows, as we see what was old is new again.  Take, for example, the renewed interest in Mid-Century Modern and the juxtaposition of a Victorian piece, or the mod-textile prints popular in the 1970’s, placed in a more contemporary setting.  In some cases, a little paint and color can go a long way.  Today there is a plethora of colors as opposed to what was available a few decades ago.

Dormer Windows Offer Interior Opportunities

The charms of an exterior ornament can be a decorating challenge for the interior, but the ornament also can also be a true asset when viewed with an open and imaginative mind.  For instance, dormer windows or slanted windows in some architectures will add interest to the outside of the home and welcome light on the interior.  While these attributes are welcome, many find the decorating or furniture arrangement more than a little challenging.

Take the customary trio of dormers in many homes—lovely to look at, but what do they offer on the inside?  Depending on the spacing between the dormers, there are lots of options.  One of the first things that comes to mind are comfortable window seats.   If the windows open, you have the additional benefit of good air circulation in an attic space that has been converted to a bedroom.  Window seats can afford great storage containment that can be left open or closed--an excellent use of space.

Another option would be a writing or computer desk for.  Usually on the second or third floor, these spaces may offer great views for inspiration or just a great place to read for your own enjoyment.

If your dormer or slanted walls are generous you might consider adding an alcove bed--an easy way to add extra sleeping space without taking away from the room’s intended use, be it a TV room, office space or a well-organized storage room or craft/hobby room.  The possibilities are endless.  To find a bed to fit your alcove is not difficult and custom is not always out of your price range.  You simply order a bed from a sleep shop--one size larger than your opening--and give the shop measurements you need your bed to become.  It takes about two weeks and your custom-sized mattress is ready for pick-up or delivery.  If you build a low box below to serve as the boxed spring, you can use it for storage.  Build the box a little higher and you can have more useful storage with full extension pull-out shelves for linens, pillows and extra blankets.  This will have a captain’s bed, look, which is fun for children and teens.

Making the best use of your space is always an asset to your home’s value and your enjoyment.