Month: July 2019

July 29, 2019 Fireplaces

10 Perfect Pairings of Lamp and Reading Chair

When the weather looks and feels just like autumn, there is nothing I need to do over curl up with a book in our reading chair under the warm glow of our curved lamp. Separately, the chair and the lamp are effective soldiers in the living room, but collectively, they are a match made in decor heaven, making reading well into the night a cozier affair. Listed below are a few handsome, stylish duos which should whet your reading and decor appetites.

bnl-interiordesign. com

A classic floor lamp paired with an overstuffed Holly Hunt sofa chair and ottoman transform this tight corner right into a cozy and glowing reading nook. The black piping and nailhead trim of this chair back add a little bit of drama to the set. A monogramed throw leaves the seat warm and inviting.

Mary Prince Photography

Here, the vintage reading lamp and chair coupling adds interest to some quirky-eclectic library.

Incorporated

This set isn’t for everybody, but for a Manhattan mom having a love of layouts and colour, it’s just right. The broad leather armchair out of Anthropologie appears and feels buttery soft; it contrasts nicely with the austere stand and base of this Excel floor lamp.

See more of this wildly exhuberant Residence

Brad Ford ID

An all-white backdrop enables out this midcentury modern reading lamp and chair stand from the scene. The matador seat’s colour picks up on the room’s organic tones.

Kristen Rivoli Interior Design

I’m not sure I could focus on any reading with this city view facing me, however at nighttime,Arne Jacobsen’s lamp light and Ray Eames’ iconic leather seat (and ottoman) could pave the way for hours and hours of reading Cloud Atlas.

Kristen Rivoli Interior Design

Following is a closer look at the Scandinavian-American decor twosome, made all the more delectable in this scene with a cup of tea.

Wen-Di Interiors

This contemporary glider and also low-light lamp make for a hardworking and handsome couple. Low-light lamps, rather ones with dim attributes, should be staples in any nursery. On long nights with a fussy baby, the light casts a warm, unobtrusive glow and lets the parent lounge on the glider with a great book while the little one sleeps.

Grace Home Design

In a room brimming with patterns, this lamp’s simple silhouette does its job without much flair — and that is the purpose. The celebrity of this reading chair and lamp pairing is definitely the soft, indigo seat.

Amy Lau Design

The irregular shape of this oversize, modern reading chair and the lamp’s bowl shade and amorphous neck support add unique touches to a mostly neutral bedroom. The seat’s roominess lets you spread out with comfort, making it a winning reading chair layout in my book.

Bring some fun back to reading by thinking beyond the box with your reading chair choice. Herea homeowner takes the beanbag from their kids’ room and pairs it with a floor lamp. The beautiful duo lets you sink into the beanbag for hours on end as you turn through magazine pages out of a nearby stack.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

A Louis XV-inspired chair plus a drugstore lamp placed next to a soaking tub add functionality and class to a bathroom. The few rounds out this perfect little sanctuary, letting you read a couple of pages while the children splash around neighboring, or to sit and indicator point-and-slide your way through a tablet whilst drawing a warm tub.

See related

July 27, 2019 Additions

Spire

A spire is a spear-like roof decoration, most commonly seen on church steeples, towers or cupolas. It may take a sharp and pointy defensive stance or be more of a celestial mark to signify reaching for the heavens.

Canyon Construction

Spire design varies greatly. Spires can be simple elongated cones or more ornate, with scrollwork.

Torre Construction & Development

Spires are able to look defensive, showing strength, like this short spire in the shape of a blade.

Eskuche Design

Elongated spires traditionally symbolize reaching for heaven, and also create church rooftops unique and recognizable to out-of-town visitors.

Beckwith Interiors

Masonry spires have a pyramid shape and are reminiscent of medieval and revival architecture.

E. B. Mahoney Builders, Inc..

The profiles of pointed roofs topped with spires possess a royal and conventional look.

Reuter Homes

Spires may also be found on weather vanes, finials or other decorations.

See related

July 24, 2019 Eclectic Homes

Just-Right Realism in an Eclectic Family Home

Yes, this is my residence. I opted to include it not because I think that it’s perfect, but because it is an ongoing project that comes with lots of DIY, a sensible budget and one major remodeling project.

We purchased the house, in San Francisco’s Sunset District, in 1998, and it was a total dump. The linoleum was duct taped to the baseboards, the entire place was covered in white wall-to-wall and the garden has been empty except for weeds and puppy poop. We didn’t find until later we moved in that there was not any hot water in the kitchen. We paid $302,000 for it.

It was the height of this dot-com flourish, and we were actually being priced out of the housing market by the day. We purchased in a blind panic, and on the day we signed the paperwork, I cried my eyes out. It was definitely not my dream house.

We fixed it up as best we could with no money (we spent all of it buying the area), ripping out carpet, refinishing floors, and painting and replacing warped and mildewed doors. And then we lived in it pretty much as it had been for ten years, attempting to use decorating flair to cover for its own shortcomings. Additionally, we added two people to our family, making the place look even more compact compared to its 1,100 square feet.

Then, in 2011, we finally remodeled, opening up the entire first floor and gutting the kitchen entirely. The place is still little and imperfect. Nonetheless, it is our house, and also reflects our own life and personalities perfectly.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Me; my husband, Pete; our 6-year-old twins, Magnolia and Oliver; 5 chickens and 1 goldfish
Location: San Francisco
Size: 1,100 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms
Next big project: Adding a separate room and toilet into the back of the garage

We knocked a wall down to open the kitchen into the living room. A table and a hanging globe light demarcate the dining room area between them. My dad painted the canvas about 1967. I discovered it in my mom’s garage, cleaned it up, repainted the frame and voilà. I discovered that the ’60s-age ladder chairs on the sidewalk first 1 morning — my best street find ever.

I wished to keep the color palette in the brand new kitchen fairly earthy and neutral so I could have plenty of vibrant accessories. Also, as soon as your living room looks to the kitchen, it is wonderful to keep it simple.

My inspiration for those stuff was a creek bed: timber, stone, water and forest (that’s the green you can view out both big windows in the last photograph). The countertops are Caesarstone; the top cabinets are quarter-sawn oak in a slab style. The lower ones are a color named Truffle, in a Shaker style.

Besides accessories, this is the sole wall color on the entire first floor. It is barely noticeable, but I think that it adds some warmth. The moment I painted it, the entire place seemed more “done.”

All these are custom shelves that I had our builder build. My inspiration was this photo from . I wanted a little flourish in an otherwise modern and clean-lined room.

The yellow sofa was an impulse purchase, and I love it. I love color in a large, white space. I had the cushions made from a Otomi embroidery I got in Mexico.

The carved Indian table is from a local import store, and the chairs were bought out of an early property office which was going out of business. I planned to re-cover them, but the black has sort of grown on me.

This attorney’s bookcase is in the same defunct property office. As it’s such a beautiful display case, I use it for knickknacks as much as for novels. The toughest things to choose in the entire remodel were that the sconces. I ordered and returned three places before I discovered these geometric milky glass ones.

I adore the look of old and new together. This is my collection of miniature modern chairs next to my collection of old etiquette and homemaking novels.

I covered the backs of those shelves with bits of Woods wallpaper using double-stick tape. The bookshelf looked too thick and dim in the first, and the paper helps lighten it up.

This is right across from the living room couch. More mixing of old and new. The mirror is out of my great-aunt; the photos are by San Francisco photographer Thomas Chang. The low console is from Ikea; it retains kids’ toys and games. The white basket is full of construction blocks.

A detail of the stuff on my console. I adore these yarn flowers, because they never expire! I’ve yellow ones in the bedroom.

Our house’s previous owner turned the linen closet to a water closet. For years we all had to walk across the hallway to wash our hands in the primary bathroom. Then we discovered this toilet-sink combo, and we finally have a fully working powder room. It also saves a ton of water.

I traded a buddy a little table with this bookcase. I then painted it that the brightest, reddest pink I could find after realizing that I have a lot of red, pink and turquoise in the art here.

Down the hallway, reverse the pink bookcase.

Our twins share a space so we can have this combination TV room, office and guest room in our bedroom. It also houses all our novels and also my husband’s closet. It is a very crowded room. A sleeper couch is a must-have for small houses.

The shelf above my desk (in the same third bedroom). There’s a magnetic strip below the shelf so that I can hang inspirational bits and ephemera.

Our small bathroom. There are not any windows, but there’s an opaque skylight for natural lighting. I hung a large full size mirror on the wall next to the sink to try to create a sense of space.

The kids’ room, courtesy of Ikea. The only way to get two 6-year-olds into a very small bedroom would be to utilize loft beds which can accommodate furniture underneath. In our case this means a dresser, a desk and a toy storage tower for each kid.

Most pictures of kids’ rooms allow me to sigh, because they are unrealistically neat and clutter free. The truth is, kids are natural collectors and hoarders. I openly acknowledge that this is as clear as this place gets.

See related

July 21, 2019 Decorating Guides

Harvest Farmhouse Style to Freshen a Fall Home

My family makes several trips each fall to a nearby farm to take part in the seasonal rituals of pumpkin picking and apple cider producing — and without fail, every year I’m drawn in by the healthy warmth of farmhouse style. In the fresh, bright colors and perspectives of wide-open spaces into the reminders of honest hard work and a connection to the past, there is a lot to be inspired by.

By weaving together the bits and pieces that talk to you and mixing them into your own private way, you can tap into the soul of farmhouse style wherever you reside. Have a look at these 15 fresh examples of farmhouse design, along with ideas for integrating the important elements into your own house.

Dona Rosene Interiors

Keep it easy. The fantastic thing about farmhouse design is its utter simplicity. Workable basics like ladder-back seats and farmhouse tables build the base, while a fresh wall color and oversize art add personality and provide enough interest that you can go without a lot other adornment. When picking art, you can’t go wrong with paintings or prints featuring horses, cows, sheep and other farm animals.

Wall paint: Palladian Blue HC-144, Benjamin Moore

Going Home To Roost

Create a cozy nest with patchwork quilts, raw wood and individual treasures. Classic quilting is a can’t-overlook accent, providing immediate farmhouse style to a bedroom (or some other room). Throw in something produced from raw, unfinished wood (such as the DIY pallet headboard shown here) to make rustic heat, and customize your space with a meaningful word spelled out to the wall. Fling a necklace over the corner of your headboard or sip photos to your mirror — that is your most personal space, so just do what makes you happy.

Etsy

Geometric Quilt, Bricks by B Perrino Quilts – $325

Find your perfect modern quilt. If folksy quilts in primary colors are not your style, there might still be a quilt for you. Many artists today are giving this age-old handicraft a contemporary appearance with crisp geometric designs and complex color palettes.

Barbara Perrino, whose work is shown here, and Denyse Schmidt are two of my favorite maker-designers.

REFINED LLC

Add history to a new build with sliding barn doors. If you want you lived in a rambling old farmhouse but have to make do with a plain-Jane contemporary house, consider adding a salvaged wood barn door — this one modification can modify the appearance and feel of your whole residence.

Cary Bernstein Architect

Lighten up with the perfect white wall color. Using lots of white is a fantastic way to open up a room and make the most of the light — but it can be unbelievably hard to choose just the right shade. All of the ceilings and walls in the area featured here were done in White Dove out of Benjamin Moore, a crisp and clean white that looks great in natural light.

See more white paint picks

Stephmodo

Fresh ideas for farmhouse blossoms. Farmhouse blossoms should have that wild, just-pulled-from-the-garden appearance, so keep the styling minimal. If you have a big armful of fall flowers, just plunk them into a galvanized pot or wax and then call it a day.

For smaller posies, which can be even more charming, split flowers among an assortment of bud vases and place a grouping of vases of different heights down the center of your table. You might even offer a single tiny container more presence by anchoring it inside a bigger bowl and basket, as shown here.

Arkin Tilt Architects

Recipe for a magical kitchen. If trimming is in your future, consider adding a remodeled classic or vintage-look stove along with a classic farmhouse sink into the mixture. A small chalkboard is an affordable accent anyone can add, perfect for keeping a running grocery list or menu ideas handy.

Mary Prince Photography

Budget finds out of your farm-inspired makeover. Farmhouse classics, such as barn lights, painted cabinets and butcher block counters, are hot, authentic and extremely inexpensive. Repaint existing cabinets to save even more cash, and whether the flooring are appearing shabby, paint them or cheer them up with a vibrant braided rag rug.

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc..

Hang pots and expose beams to add space overhead. There’s something so comforting about the clatter of pots in an overhead rack — and this setup is a great space saver, to boot. Exposing beams generates a higher ceiling, which may make even a small kitchen feel more spacious.

Produce kitchen essentials a part of the decor. Glass storage jars and wooden boards on a rusted metal cart are a simple way to bring a really beneficial touch of the farm into even a city flat.

Mix textures and finishes. In this gracious entryway, a weathered barn-wood mirror hangs over a smooth-polished drop-leaf table to good effect. If a room is feeling somewhat flat, try adding a feel that’s missing for comparison — wood or rusted metal in a room full of gloss may be welcome surprise.

Tammara Stroud Design

Soften a contemporary kitchen with vibrant farmhouse accents. The kitchen shown here appears friendly and warm with its mixture of contemporary finishes and fixtures along with low-key farmhouse furniture. Painted chairs along with a base table sit atop that most humble of accessories, the braided rag carpet, while a galvanized pail of sunflowers adds a cheerful note.

Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

You can not have too many white dishes. Lotion or white platters, pitchers and dishes are quite possibly the perfect farmhouse decor. They’re useful and practical, and they fit in almost everywhere. Try lining up white pitchers and platters on open shelving or create a plate screen on a wall, as shown.

The best way to hang plates on a wall

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Get cozy with a woodstove. Nothing else can match the homey comfort of a blazing fire in a woodstove. Simply add thick socks, a good book and a mug of warm tea or cider, and you will not be able to resist relaxing for a charm.

Learn about clean-burning woodstoves

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Open shelves are equivalent parts pretty and practical. An open china hutch filled with pretty and useful things is so much more comfy compared to typical glass-front version. White wall cladding gives the whole space a fresh cottage appearance, and baskets of bountiful produce on screen are a welcoming touch.

See the rest of the home

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Inform us What elements of farmhouse style appeal to you?

More: How to Get the Modern Rustic Farmhouse Look

See related

July 18, 2019 Fireplaces

Modern Homes Play a Frame Game With Landscapes

Frames, be they windows, doors or other openings, can serve various purposes, one of which is to limit the extent of an opinion. This can create a place of focus, bring in daylight by a specific side and angle, or enlarge a space by providing a perspective to the area beyond. These outside spaces all have frames connecting them to other spaces. This subject was covered previously on , yet this ideabook looks at some recent additions to the site in the modern/contemporary vein I prefer.

Studio Green

One means of framing the landscape is through a breezeway, which can be a gap between interior spaces, often in buildings. The breezeway in the conclusion of the walk looks to the trees beyond. It’s an interesting element in a home, one which acts like a bridge across a ravine.

Studio Green

An opinion from the side of the breezeway demonstrates it sits over the landscape; a glass guardrail provides safety. There’s also an opening, along with the framing occurring through the breezeway.

AR Design Studio Ltd

Here’s a contemporary box which uses stone walls to define the outside area by the pool and beyond. On each side there are rectangular openings which make the walls less barriers and much more portals to what’s on the opposing side.

AR Design Studio Ltd

A view from another side shows how the frames operate both ways, giving glimpses of the trees in the garden. I could imagine looking through these openings, which can be put at head height, on a walk toward the front doorway.

Davey Smith Architects

A similar tactic can be found in this home in Ireland, in which two openings cut into stone walls framework views of the areas beyond.

Bushman Dreyfus Architects

The walls past the glassy boundaries of the home’s interior reach well into the landscape; the one on the right also rolls the neighboring pond. Small openings in the walls are evident even in the distance.

Bushman Dreyfus Architects

This view is much closer, but from the opposite side of the home, where the formality of the structure is echoed in the terracing of their yard. The portal provides a glimpse into beyond, all of the while providing some much-desired privacy.

D’apostrophe design, inc..

D’apostrophe’s design for a home on New York’s Long Island carries a small pool, a terrace and a pavilion. This view starts to hint in the opening between the two ends of the pavilion.

D’apostrophe design, inc..

A straight-on view shows the perspective that’s framed from the opening, a view that would be especially nice as you’re soaking in the tub. The comparison of the weathered wood against the green landscape is especially strong.

Irwin Fisher, Inc..

Framing via an opening isn’t confined to yards or solid walls in a yard; it can also work in much more intimate spaces. This patio definitely looks toward the right, however a small opening on the side provides a view of the hills that might otherwise be concealed.

Paul Davis Architects

A horizontal opening, divided with a chimney, is visible on the side wall of the home. From here it looks like the opening functions a roof patio.

Paul Davis Architects

From the roof, the opening helps to link the home to its neighbors and supply breezes across the seating area. From that vantage point we see the rooftops beyond, but from the seats the view framed is all sky.

Where is the portal inside this fairly complex contemporary house? It’s on the right side of the photo, in an otherwise good stretch of the wall.

From the previous photo we can determine a view from the terrace is centered on the opposite wing of the home throughout the pool.

With the square opening in the wall, which contrasts with a roof expansion for shade, views of the horizon are reinforced. I also like how the tree trunk is observable in the opening.

Wheeler Kearns Architects

This last example demonstrates that even a doorway can serve to frame the landscape. To the side of the garage door is a large pivoting door that provides access to the home’s courtyard.

Wheeler Kearns Architects

When the large door is open, it helps frame a view of the trees throughout the street. The doorway is parallel to the adjoining wall, so this direction is reinforced. But since it’s a doorway, the owners could just as easily close it for privacy and for focused views of the foreground trees and sky.

See related

July 13, 2019 Decorating Guides

About Trend: Home Decor That Draws the Line

White and black. It always brings to mind images of text drifting along with a creamy white page of my favorite Sunday newspaper. Or the beauty of high-contrast photography, such as that of Ansel Adams. The combo of those two colors (or noncolors) has a long and varied history.

The most recent fad in black and white turns toward an abstract lineup. Picture, bold and full of angles, this trend is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re tired of brightly colored interiors, this may be the best way to switch up your style without going back to beige. Or, take a more moderate approach. Insert a few black and white elements to an present space — individuals will still sit up and take notice.

Iacoli & McAllister

Large-Frame Light Cluster Chandelier – $3,995

Clustered pendant lights are all the rage today. This version is one of those few that focuses on geometry.

Jamie Laubhan-Oliver

Wire-frame baskets, white and black artwork and frames, and also a black table give the exact same high contrast without losing the heat.

Art.com

Eva Carter’s printing provides a solid nod to one of those first abstract expressionists, Franz Kline. Her softer (and more affordable) painting provides more colors and tones into your room.

Eclectic Chairs – $425

This chair is reminiscent of baskets,’60s graphics and my high school doodles. A pair would be stunning against a white table.

Regan Baker Design Inc..

Bold and picture can nevertheless have a natural mindset. Stark white and black branches in a little bathroom add a lot of movement to the room.

Eclectic Chandeliers – $5,500

Just like a hard-line drawing of a beautiful stone necklace, this chandelier seems back on convention in a contemporary way. At the exact same time, it would fit well in an older Arts and Crafts house.

Rubie Green

Habibi Fabric – $90

Use a big print to re-cover a boring old wing chair, and you’ve got an ideal marriage between this daring, linear trend and your own style.

Urban Outfitters

Folding Library Bookshelf – $279

The lines of this bookshelf are so fascinating, I would hate to see it filled with books. Leave some open space on those steps, maybe using organic vases and succulents to split it up.

m.urbanoutfitters.com

Abstract Shower Curtain – $24

Bathrooms are a terrific spot for moving a tiny layout mad, and also this energizing shower curtain doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it may help wake you up first thing in the afternoon.

Etsy

Wave Bracelet by Nervoussystem – $80

Three-dimensional printing is taking the design world by storm. This bracelet is a fascinating example of what is possible: blending organic forms and contemporary lines.

See related

July 11, 2019 Eclectic Homes

An Florida Bungalow Gets Brand-New Polish

Perhaps it had been the dune and the beach leading to the gulf. Perhaps it had been the warm gulf breezes. Perhaps it was just one of those beautiful Florida days with heavy blue skies and puffy white clouds. Whatever it was, I immediately fell in love with this wonderfully renovated bungalow on the Gulf of Mexico. Certainly part of my passion for this home comes in the narrative of its renovation.

Recently bought by only its fourth owner in the century since it was built, the house, now called Idlewild Cottage, had dropped into quite a lot of disrepair. Let’s face it, a century on Florida’s gulf coast can be demanding for any construction, particularly after the likes of the Tampa Bay Hurricane of 1921 came barreling through. In fact, since it was first built by Angel Cuesta (of Cuesta-Rey cigars) in 1919, Idlewild Cottage has witnessed its share of hurricanes.

But the home’s less-than-perfect condition didn’t deter the new owners. Having played on the beach in front of the home as a child, one of them couldn’t wait to undertake the renovation. And it would have been much cheaper to have torn down the house and built new. But renovating the old residence and keeping those memories alive was the right thing to do. As Ed and Julie, the owners, have said, people walk by and thank them for saving the house. Surely a cost can’t be placed on that — particularly as so several of these wonderful Florida bungalows have contributed to much bigger homes and condominium buildings.

So thanks to Ed, Julie, architect Andy Dohmen of Design Styles Architecture and builder Steve Perry of J.S. Perry & Co. for maintaining Idlewild Cottage secure for future generations to enjoy from the beach nearby.

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..

The renovated porch is a great location for relaxing and enjoying the noises, scents and sights of the beach and the gulf waters. Having a salvaged brick floor and a tongue and groove timber ceiling, the porch is in keeping with the historic nature of the house. Electronically controlled roll-down displays keep this a fantastic spot for hanging out just about every single day of the year. And you can find speakers for when the party moves outside.

A large sliding glass door attracts light and views to the inside, and also the glass not only is impact resistant to withstand hurricanes, but it’s also turtle friendly. You seethis glass has a unique treatment that prevents the turtles from getting confused when they are migrating to put their eggs.

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..

In the beach side of the house it’s apparent the remodeled home is a party of the Florida lifestyle. In the huge patio with an integrated spa to the porch area to stay from sunlight and rain, the home provides a range of outdoor spaces.

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..

The rebuilt entry side shows off a number of the job’s sustainable features, from deep overhangs to shade the windows in the Florida sun to fiber cement siding to barrels to capture rainwater for irrigation. Actually, renovating the house to add sustainability was one of Ed and Julie’s requirements.

The upstairs master bedroom is a small room, just 12 feet square, with windows on three sides (you may see two of those sides ). With all those windows and the view from the gulf, the room is like an airplane cockpit, says Julie.

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..

Just because it’s an old house doesn’t mean it has to live old. Several inside walls were eliminated, and an entirely new structure was installed to create an open living room. This wasn’t all that simple to perform. That gorgeous floor is the first timber, but the structure supporting it had to be rebuilt. Builder Steve Perry and his crew pulled up the flooring and rebuilt the structure, then relaid and refinished the flooring.

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..

With built-in appliances, custom cabinetry and a glass tile backsplash, this kitchen is all about convenience and fashion. My favorite aspect of this kitchen other than the wine cooler, of course — is your colour palette. Soft grays and blues echo the sand and water just outside.

Before Photo

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..

The house stays exactly the exact same dimensions and appears much as it did before the remodel. But don’t let that fool you. New siding, windows, roofing and a great deal of new framing create for a brand-new old residence.

Click photos for larger views

Before Photo

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..

The original structure had sagging beams, rotted timber and termite damage and has been almost completely replaced.

Before Photo

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..

The inside had a different kind of 3-D result: dark, damaged and obsolete. Now the inside is a celebration of light and relaxation.

Tall ceilings enable tall windows, which makes this room a excellent location for kicking off shoes, catching a drink and watching the gulf waters.

See related

July 7, 2019 Decorating Guides

8 Steps to a Greener, More Peaceful Bedroom

Would not it be lovely to put in your bedroom at the end of a long day to find a clean, tranquil oasis of calm instead of a tangled disarray of dirty laundry and piles of clutter?

If that looks like a stretch, then you are not alone. It could be simple to put off decorating and sprucing up this personal zone, but because sleep (and by extension, quality of life) depends upon it, it is worth it to create your bedroom a location you can not wait to relax.

The following steps cover simple tasks (most of that may be finished in a weekend) that will make your bedroom cleaner, fitter, less cluttered and more serene — a gorgeous, harmonious space where you are able to let go of daily.

1. Envision a deeply restorative area. The best way to begin any design project is using a clear vision of your hopes for the final result. Have a moment to ponder what your ideal bedroom area would look like and how it would feel — that the odor, the textures, the noises. Create as clear an image as you can, and hold that in your mind while you move forward with the project.

Incorporated

2. Wash the air. Air quality affects health and wellbeing, and poor air quality may affect sleep. The easiest way to clean the air in your bedroom is just to open your windows. Dedicate to letting fresh air in your bedroom for 10 or more minutes every day, and the air quality is sure to improve. To take it a step further, you might choose to add several potted plants and an air purifier.

Incorporated

3. Limit technology and remove emotional jumble. Once you visualized your ideal bedroom, I’d bet it was not full of clutter or the tangle of wires dangling from your notebook. Giving yourself a break from technology apparatus during the night will help promote deeper rest and is probably a good idea healthwise too.

Additionally, take a moment to consider the situations you have saved on your bedroom. Are there any boxes of bills and paperwork that make your stomach knot every time you see them? Piles of clothing that no longer fit, workout tools you don’t utilize or photos of friends you’ve got a tense relationship with? Each of these things can give rise to anxiety and sleeplessness, so out they need to go.

4. Clean thoroughly and naturally. Often our bedrooms fall way down to the base of our cleaning to-do listing, just because not many others have to observe these personal spaces. But keeping your bedroom tidy and dust-free is essential for creating a healthy, restful atmosphere. It is time to stop procrastinating and break out the cleaning materials.

Working with an all-purpose natural cleaner hot water and a microfiber cloth, wash bookshelves, windowsills and baseboards, where paint dust and chips have a tendency to collect. In case you’ve got a hanging light fixture or fan, mirror, mantel or window shades, give those a wipedown too. Vacuum floors and mop (for hard floors) or steam wash (for rugs).

A+B KASHA Designs

5. Leave your shoes at the doorway. Now your bedroom is clutter-free and wash, it is time to devote to keeping it that way. Start a no-shoes plan — in your entire house if it is possible, but at least in the bedroom. Put a basket or table outside your bedroom door to remind one to drop work materials, cell phones and other gadgets before entering your new zone of tranquil.

Organic Chamber Pillows – $29

6. Create an organic bed. If you’re in need of a new mattress (and can afford to spring for this) by all means go for a few of the wonderful organic versions in the marketplace today. However, if not, this doesn’t mean you can not green up your mattress. Consider topping your mattress with a natural mattress pad and adding organic pillows and sheets. Organic goods are so mainstream now, they may be found at all price points.

West Elm, for example, is a great source for organic bedding basics, such as the organic cushions exhibited here, and enjoyable sheets at a affordable price.

A+B KASHA Designs

7. Consider the walls and flooring. While it does require more effort than any of the prior measures, addressing your walls and flooring is an important part of creating a more ecofriendly bedroom. If you’re looking to change the wall color, seek out paint comprising low or no volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). In case you’ve got older, peeling paint that may contain lead, use caution and seek professional advice for the best way to cover it.

For the ground, I suggest picking hard flooring over wall-to-wall carpets, which is notoriously hard to wash and will contain VOCs. If you already have wall-to-wall carpeting set up, you may opt to have it removed or just cover a lot of it using a natural fiber area rug.

The Couture Rooms

8. Pick the right color palette to suit your needs. Can you find it even more difficult to get to sleep at night or to get going in the morning? Should you need help unwinding during the night, picking cool colours such as blue, lavender, silver and gray can set you in the ideal frame of mind to relax. On the flip side, if you conk out through the night and need to hit the snooze button multiple times before pulling yourself out of bed, you might choose to place warm, energizing tones, such as stone, honey and sunshine yellow, to work for you.

Tell us : What would your ideal tranquil bedroom look like? Dish on the details below.

See related

July 4, 2019 Eclectic Homes

Balloon Shades Float Into Fashion

Within the family of window treatments, the balloon color is the opulent, maybe not- so-distant cousin of the Roman colour. Substantial balloonlike puffs are made by inverting pleats in the fabric and repeating them several times across the expanse of a window, allowing the substance to scallop at the base.

The balloon color delivers on softness and texture, but it remains more of a decorative element than a practical one, as it requires fluffing and washing. Consider using balloon shades in rooms that are traditional in design and need little change in light to keep maintenance to a minimum.

Siemasko + Verbridge

Formal Balloon Shade

Every fantastic room deserves excellent window treatments. An arched window opening is the best setting for this very tailored balloon color with bottom bullion fringe.

Style suggestion: Should you desire an even more formal texture, decrease your balloon color farther. The more fabric that is exposed, the more appropriate the window therapy seems.

RSVP Design Services

Conventional and Casual

The accumulated top heading generates more of a flouncy look on this balloon colour. The imperfect scalloped bottom adds a relaxed note, while the fringe is just the ideal touch to complement the chandelier.

Style suggestion: Rather than fitting the fabric of the window treatment exactly to other upholstered pieces, coordinate over the general color palette for a more casual look.

Classic Symmetry

The perfect symmetry from the reversed pleats of the balloon colour has a more streamlined and classic appearance. The very best banding is an up-to-date strategy that ties from the yellow of the banquette fabric.

Style suggestion: Apply a contrasting band in a coordinating color to incorporate your general colour story throughout the space.

Harper Design from HarperCollins Publishers

Eclectic Edge

though balloon shades are very traditional in design, this set succeeds in creating a contemporary look. The geometric design of the fabric, together with the playful vertical ties, adds to the element of whimsy that’s often found in eclectic spaces.

Style suggestion: Save money by producing your own balloon color — vertically gather one, ordinary curtain from top to bottom with ribbon.

Cabell Design Studio

Dazzling Duo

A window behind the mattress may be awkward, but maybe not in this bedroom. A balloon color done in the exact same fabric as the swag over the mattress is the ideal mix.

Style suggestion: though the window is arched, the balloon valance has a straight top. Think about trying multiple techniques with these colors — there’s no exact formula, and what looks good may surprise you.

Jamie Herzlinger

Toilet Solution

You need both privacy and light in a bathroom. In this room, a dual balloon valance provides a spectacular example of two purposes within one layout. The rear balloon color is a sheer fabric that may offer solitude but let in light, while the forwards balloon color can block out light if needed.

Style suggestion: The longer inverted pleats you enhance your balloon color, the more fuller and more tasteful it becomes.

JMA INTERIOR DESIGN

Camouflaged Treatment

This elegant balloon color, done in a complex toile fabric, disappears to the fitting wall covering. Repeating the design of the wall covering on the window therapy emphasizes the tiled bathtub opening and adjacent cabinetry, maybe not the colour.

Style suggestion: This effect works just as well with solid colors. Choose a fabric in a color similar to your paint colour to emphasize other architectural components in a space.

Kelly Mack Home

Playful Style

This balloon color is the ideal complement to this fun wallcovering. The balloon color design has a shirred (a couple of rows of gathering) top that enriches the fabric’s playfulness in the body of the window treatment.

Style suggestion: Contemplating making a fitting balloon valance for a topper into your shower curtain for a coordinated look.

Interior Styles, Inc..

Layered Lesson

Use your balloon shade for a background for additional treatments on the same window. Here we have a balloon color flanked by a set of drapery panels and finished off with a decorative valance — layering at its best!

Style suggestion: To get a slightly lighter appearance, consider forgoing the side drapery panels and letting the balloon color shine on its own.

Side-by-side

Sheer balloon shades cover half of the window whilst filtering soft light to the space. Four symmetrical drapery panels offer additional texture and function along with the gathering of their bedskirt.

Style suggestion: If you put in the perpendicular lines of drapery panels into some window treatment ensemble, ceilings will look taller than they actually are.

See related

July 1, 2019 Patios

Clash Course: Design Comes Outside to Play

Outdoor spaces benefit from precisely the same design philosophy as our insides: Add the sudden, keep it entertaining and reimagine the distance. From creative display methods to sumptuous colour and texture and unusual lighting, these exterior spaces are exercises in perfecting the art of the clash.

Risa boyer structure

Everything looks better against a dark shade, and if you restrict the colour, your space will seem cohesive but edgy. Add a jolt of this sudden — the fantastic pink seat in this case — and you have mastered the art of clashing.

Zack Benson Photography

Get creative with your display methods. This very simple block construction playfully displays succulents in an abrupt and picture manner.

D-CRAIN Design and Construction

Exactly enjoy the inside, our outdoor spaces actually pop with a layered lighting program. Hung in the shrub, these pendants create a stunning effect that superbly combines outside and interior design conventions in an unexpected manner.

More about choosing outdoor lights

Amazon

Play fabric: drape awnings; pay your desk for special days; toss down a rug. All these elements mechanically fight (in the best manner) with our conventional comprehension of the outdoors, and will make certain you are as comfortable outside as you are in.

Thom Filicia Inc..

Soften your deck with sheepskins and remain loose on your seating arrangements. Let yourself discover fresh ways of experiencing the outdoors.

Churreria Photography

Take it to the floor. Burlap pillows speak into the industrial view, and the jolt of red lifts this rooftop to fresh heights.

Shannon Ggem ASID

Restrict your colour palette with attachments, such as the the headboard and vase in this particular shot. Pay attention to detail also — the window frames the trees and the faux-green bud joins the spectacle together to provide this outdoor space a critical wow element.

Ojanen_Chiou architects LLP

Do not be afraid to organize objects artfully outdoors. These pebble-look cushions accumulated at one end of this seat create a textural sculpture that retains the spectacle playful.

Escale design

The organic nature of the patio is improved by a semi-transparent display that softens the view. Using its entertaining shapes combined with a restricted color palette, this distance hits all the ideal notes when it comes to decorating. It’s a comfortable elegance that speaks to character.

More:
Modern Outdoor Spaces: Blurring the Line Between Indoors and Outdoors
DIY: Turn Your Carport Into an Outdoor Dining Room
Interview: 10 Secrets to a Beautiful Outdoor Room

See related