Outdoor Room Series: Serene Screened Porches

Written on May 22, 2013 at 5:00 pm , by Kate

Part two of the Outdoor Room Series continues today with a look at a variety of beautiful and comfortable screened porches. As we saw with the beginning of the series and the focus on open air covered porches and patios, having a space that combines the comfort of the indoors with the pleasure of the outdoors is a bonus for any homeowner.

My brother has a screened porch at his home in Savannah, Georgia and during our visit last year we spent every night enjoying beverages and playing games in that cozy and comfortable space, while a few neighbors stopped by to say hello and linger in the conversation.

Screened porches are wonderful in any area where insects are active during hotter weather and can be used for dining, entertaining, or simply relaxing with family and friends. Dress up yours with a sectional that includes bright colored fabrics to welcome both comfort and good times.

Like with open porches, you can always incorporate decorative or textural elements into the design plan – think planks of wood on the ceiling and fans for circulating air.

It’s fun to be fearless with color in these transitional spaces. Spray paint your furniture in unexpected bright colors and include cushions in vivid fruity shades from orange to pink to yellow.

Or decorate around a favorite summer holiday in red, white, and blue to embrace the Fourth of July.

Screened porches are a wonderful place to grow potted botanicals since they receive ample sunlight.

Be playful with your lighting and furniture choices too – why not a whimsical chandelier or a curvy rattan piece you’ve freshened with spray paint!

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Outdoor Room Series: Covered Porches and Patios

Written on May 19, 2013 at 6:00 pm , by Kate

The urban dictionary defines a “staycation” as a vacation spent at one’s home enjoying all that one’s home environment has to offer. Transitional outdoor rooms than include the comforts of the indoors and the pleasant atmosphere of the outdoors are one of the most desirable spaces in a home. Covered porches, sunrooms, converted sheds, or screened porches are all examples of sheltered outdoor rooms that extend our living spaces and also our hours of leisure at home.

Because they are protected from sun or unpredictable summer rainstorms, the covered porch, patio, or loggia has the benefit of circulating fresh air with the bonus of a roof that provides shelter from the elements. Ceiling fans are a smart addition to a covered porch or patio and provide necessary air circulation, especially in regions where temperatures can creep above 100 degrees.

Covered porches are an opportunity to use furniture just as you would indoors since their surfaces are protected from direct sun or moisture.

Consider the addition of a bright swash of paint to your porch ceiling like these planks coated in a cheerful yellow also repeated in the fabric toss pillows below.

To encourage lingering among guests, or create a space where you wish to spend many hours relaxing, invest in furnishings with deep seat cushions in stylish outdoor fabrics.

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Decorating With a Tan Sofa

Written on May 16, 2013 at 11:00 am , by Kate

Last year I wrote an article tackling the topic of decorating with a brown sofa, a practical choice of furnishing in many homes. Tan sofas are another popular choice because of their neutral color which is why most retailers offer them for sale in tan fabric! Here are a few inspiring ways to decorate with a tan sofa to avoid an overdose of beige and instead have the piece be part of a space that is cozy and collected.  

Bringing color into the living space can be done in an afternoon by painting the walls. Pick a hue that is soft or vibrant, then repeat it with decorative pillows or throw blankets arranged on the sofa.

Area rugs ground a sitting space and are another opportunity to add pattern under a pale or tan sofa. Consider modern geometrics or more traditional motifs to pull a variety of colors into your living room.

Partner your tan sofa with upholstered chairs in colorful solids or patterns and repeat the color or pattern on the chairs in the form of decorative accent pillows for a coordinated look. 

Neutrals look livelier when there are several textures or metallic tones present. Include organic surfaces in your space design, such as a set of woven chairs or faux fur accents and incorporate warm or cool metals in the form of brass, pewter, nickel, or bronze.

A tan sofa in a classic shape is a smart and timeless choice for a living space – with it come limitless opportunities for decorating around it. Layering a space with artwork, textiles, colorful accents, and wood finishes will result in a room that feels collected over time. 

How do you decorate around your tan sofa?

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Ten Things to Hang Above the Bed

Written on May 10, 2013 at 3:00 pm , by Kate

It’s a common dilemma when decorating a bedroom space, what thing or object or accent is the right choice for that space above the bed? In my master, I’ve chosen option number one, but there are nine other ways to get creative with that zone above the headboard or bed frame.

1) Mirrors   A popular choice for their sculptural or textural frames that act as a focal point above a bed, mirrors also have the benefit of reflecting light around the room.

2)  Artwork  Large scale paintings are a perfect jumping off point for a bedroom’s palette and also provide a serene backdrop. 

3) Folding Screens Intricately carved or detailed folding screens can replace the headboard – use them to make a dramatic statement in a bedroom.

4) Fabric   Beautiful fabric frames a bed and adds both softness and pattern to a sleeping space. 

5) Framed Photography or Prints   Use a series of prints or black and white photographs to turn the bedroom into a mini art gallery. 

6) Decorative Plates  Whether your style leans colorful and eclectic or traditional, plates are another way to add movement and pattern.

7) Wallpaper   Modern wallpapers were made popular once more a few years ago, continue the trend in your bedroom by choosing a soft botanical or graphic geometric. Paper one wall, the entire bedroom, or simply a small section above the bed. 

8)  A Cornice or Canopy  This traditional treatment is a way to use fabric to envelope and separate the bed from the rest of the room.

9) Window Panels   For those whose bedrooms don’t have the luxury of a blank wall or prefer the natural light above, placing a bed under a window is another way to  frame it in soft fabric panels.

10)  Nothing   A statement bed or headboard can speak for itself and needs no embellishment above. Suspend a dramatic light fixture above the bed instead!

Or choose nothing at all to give the eye a place to rest. 

What decor is hanging above your bed at home? 

Have you chosen to keep it blank, or are you still on the hunt for that perfect focal point?

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Decorating with Animal Print

Written on May 7, 2013 at 3:49 pm , by Kate

Animal print has gone through different periods of popularity but always been present in home design. Lately we’re seeing animal prints reinterpreted in large scale abstract giraffe motifs and in colorful leopard and zebra prints. 

We’ve all seen those exaggerated rooms filled with animal print that’s way overdone and the crime that occurs from overuse. Animal print is best used in small doses and smaller pieces of furniture or accents, or to make a dramatic impact with a rug or fun upholstered piece. It’s a bold move to upholster a sofa in an animal print, but it’s graphic nature makes a stunning statement.

Go a little less wild with chairs and ottomans – they’re perfect candidates for playing with animal print in traditional motifs, but consider colorful ones too since many fabrics are now available in recognizable patterns printed in bright colors. 

Animal print will always inject a graphic element and the recognizable patterns make for fabulous area rugs in leopard, zebra, and giraffe skin prints. 

For those craving the exotic nature of animal print but in smaller doses, an accent pillow or lampshade will always do the trick!

I rounded up a few favorites available in stores for adding a touch of animal print to the home in several motifs and colors.

From top left: Sommerset Wing Chair, Horchow; Green zebra rug, Z Gallerie; Giraffe 4 x 6’ rug, Bed, Bath & Beyond; Pink leopard 3 x 5’ rug, Bed, Bath & Beyond; Orange needlepoint, Bellacor; Leopard duvet, Urban Outfitters; Oval chair, Kmart; Giraffe print pillow cover, EastandNest on Etsy; 19; Gray zebra ottoman, Z Gallerie; Zebra Toss Pillow, Target; Animal print lamp, Lamps Plus, $80

Do you use any animal print in your home?

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Accessorizing Built-Ins

Written on May 3, 2013 at 4:00 pm , by Kate

Built-in cabinets and bookcases are one of the most desirable architectural accents in a home. Sought out by buyers and valued by homeowners, built in shelves and cabinetry add practical storage and a place to showcase your personality. The trick is how to style them so that they look attractive yet also serve the purpose of storing your necessities and keepsakes. Here are some inspiring images I rounded up, with helpful tips on accessorizing built-ins in the home.

The five best built-in bookcase fillers will always be 1) books 2) decorative boxes or baskets 3) ceramic or sculptural objects 4) artwork and/or photographs and 5) favorite mementos. 

When you combine several of these categories and stagger them between shelves, you’re sure to end up with a stylish display.

The key to a well balanced presentation is proper scale and careful editing, and the incorporation of color, pattern, and texture through clever repetition. Fill smaller cubbies with singular objects and larger spaces with stacks of books, patterned boxes, or baskets.

Take a cue from this simple yet stylish sitting room and fill shelves with framed family photographs in black and white in a gallery style. Couple them with a few small sculptural objects and favorite artwork.

Hanging framed artwork on the front of your bookcases is another way to add interest and also showcase favorite prints or unique paintings in large or small scale.

Painting your built-ins something other than white is guaranteed to bring drama to your home. Deep charcoal adds a sophisticated touch to a home office, and blue glass front built-ins add both color and storage in a family room.

Wood finishes are warm and inviting – highlight the unique beauty of the wood by purposefully leaving empty space around collectibles so that the grain is visible, and choose objects in lighter colors and sculptural shapes that stand out against the stain.

Do you have built-in bookcases or open shelving in your home? What strategies do you use to fill them with style and personality?

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