before + after: red with blue family room (the power of an hour)

before:

i had worked with this client before on their living room, and they were looking for a "refresh" of their family room and adjacent breakfast room. they opted for the pinterest board + phone call consultation.

they were wanting to update the overall look of the room, but needed to keep the major furniture pieces and wall color (for now).

what we discussed during our hour long phone call:
*replacing the chairs in the breakfast room to add some color and life
*creating stronger art layouts on both walls of the living room---adding a structured gallery wall of their favorite beaches from their travels
*replacing the rug with something more modern
*recovering the club chairs in a lighter color with contrast welt to allow a break from all of the warm/tan tones in the room
*updating the side tables and lamp
*adding some blue to the space with the beach pictures and ottomans and dining chairs

after:

the rug really helps to break up the carpet and walls, which are similar in color. the chairs feel totally different with fresh upholstery and contrast welting.

adding blue to the room with some new pillows, ocean photos and ottomans helps break up all of the warm tones in the room!

the patterned drapes add another layer of softness to the room, and will look even more beautiful once the room is painted (a project that will be happening when they tackle an upcoming kitchen and main floor remodel).

the new dining chairs add another pop of color and interest to the rooms!

many thanks to my fabulous clients for following though on the "hard stuff" of the e-design process, (ordering items, hanging art, dropping stuff off at the upholstery shop, etc....) and for sending me after pictures and allowing me to share their before pictures!

interested in working together to refresh a space in your home?
i am now taking clients for april and have a few spaces available for late march.
email me at autumnclemons@yahoo.com to get started!

affordable find: wood top metal accent table

these two side tables aren't identical twins, but they could definitely be fraternal twins. if you are after the LOOK of a round metal accent table with a wood top, and want to save some cash, you could probably spend the $270 you will be saving on something spectacular, and not even miss the extra width and bottom shelf of the pricier one!

cylinder side table
$329 (currently on sale for $279)

metal accent table with wood top
$59

3 things you can learn from an ikea showroom

sometimes when i make a run to ikea, i actually have time to enjoy a stroll through the showroom. i am always impressed, and yes, inspired by the layouts, lighting, and styling of their mock living spaces.
there are a few things that an ikea showroom does especially well...
they layer their lighting, take advantage of wall storage, and aren't afraid to use dark colors.

top #1:
layer your lighting:

when i was in college, getting my degree in interior design (a million years ago), i had to take a lighting class. quite honestly, that class was REALLY boring, and the professor who taught it was incredibly hard to follow. (as in...i think she might have been a little bit coo-koo.) amidst all of the calculations for lumens and foot-candles (UGH!), i learned two things that will stay with me forever. the first: if you feel you need to shield your eyes when you are in restaurant (or any space for that matter!) then the lighting is too harsh. the second: every room benefits from different layers of lighting.
ikea does this SO well.

in this area, they have overhead lighting, as well as lighting above the storage cabinets and bed,


the clip-on wall lights make this long storage piece pull double duty as a work area.


most every dining room have overhead lighting...ikea has also added another layer of lighting under the wall cabinet.



tip #2:
take advantage of wall storage:

a picture says a thousand words, right?
so take a look at these....









the showrooms in ikea are FULL of room vignettes where cabinets are mounted above beds, sitting areas, desk areas and even eating areas. every inch is used to maximize storage space, which also frees floor space, which is at a premium in small spaces.



tip #3:
don't be afraid to use dark colors on your walls:

i STILL get asked all the time..."but won't painting the walls dark make the room feel smaller?"
the answer is no. of course there are exceptions to this, but most of the time, using dark colors on the walls makes the walls recede visually, which tricks your eye into thing the space is bigger than it actually is.


i thought this particular vignette in ikea was well done. there are a lot of dark items in the space...not only are the walls dark but so are the sofas, rugs, dining chairs, and all of the large storage pieces. there are just enough light and reflective items to create balance.

once of the things i love most about interior design is that i am constantly learning and refining my idea of beauty. small details seen in a hotel bathroom or shopping mall or magazine can inspire anything from a color scheme to a furniture layout. don't you feel the same way...you enjoy seeing and reading things that make your mind work and perhaps challenge the way you see beauty? taste evolves. our idea of beauty evolves. and when we take risks, and stretch ourselves, we are often rewarded with a broader understanding of how to bring that beauty into our everyday lives.

design plan: family room with blue abstract art

having an artist as a friend of the family has its perks....in this case, my clients were receiving a large, 2 piece abstract painting as a house warming gift, and wanted to spruce up their family room in preparation.

they wanted to work with a few existing pieces to create a welcoming, family friendly space. here is the design plan that i came up with:

interested in working together?
i am now taking clients for march and april!
email me at autumnclemons@yahoo.com to get started.