De-Cluttering Your Kitchen!

One of the biggest interior design related complaints that I hear from people is that their kitchen counter tops are chaotic. Too often, we rely on our gorgeous stone surfaces to act as a landing place for items we don’t know what to do with. Maybe your counter tops look more like an appliance garage instead of a convenient place to prepare your meals? I’m going to give you some tips on how to minimize the clutter and maximize efficiency in your kitchen. After all, the kitchen has been said to be the new living room in the sense that it is where everyone loves to gather – it should showcase not only your culinary abilities, but your design skills as well.

Naturally, the first thing I’m going to talk about is organization. It is literally ALWAYS the first step of good design. You will be amazed at how cupboards and drawers that are bursting with items can easily be turned into accessible places with room to spare. Storage boxes and bins will be your new best friend when it comes to organization. Take your pantry for example (or cupboards that store your dry goods) – organize your items into categories. For example, bread items can be a category or baking items, paper goods and so on – whatever makes sense to you. Get numerous bins, such as these milk crates from Target and use them to store each category of items. Label that bin with a stick-on label (chalk board labels work great) and you’re good to go! It is easier to store away square containers than it is individual odd shaped items, I promise you’ll save space! There are so many options of bins in a variety of shapes, colors, sizes and even prices.

Now that we’ve opened up some room in our areas that are not in plain view of the public eye, we can focus on the areas that our guests do see…like our counter tops. The next step is to minimize items – what do you really need here? Are you sure you’re using that blender or crock pot enough to justify it taking up space on your counter? Whatever appliances you are not using daily, or even 3-4 times a week, it’s time to put it away. Yes, it can be a nuisance to get it out when you need it, but is that really more irritating than looking at it every day and taking up precious counter space? Take the time to really focus on what you do use and what you don’t. One item that you may not know about that can really clear up some room is a wall mounted paper towel holder that you can mount under your cabinetry, like this one from Bed Bath & Beyond. Have a knife block taking up space? Check out a wall mounted magnetic knife rack! Not only do these save you space, but they are easier to keep clean and make you look like a professional chef.

If you’re anything like me, you have enough coffee and coffee gadgets to start your own brew house and yes – you use it every single day. Something to think about is creating a coffee station! Do you have a buffet near your kitchen that you can convert the top into a station for all of your caffeinated needs? If not, maybe there is a space nearby that could host a cute console table that could act as your coffee station. If you get a console table with drawers, you can even store away all of your different filters, sweeteners and add-ins. How convenient to have it all in one place! Plus, every time you use it, you’ll feel like you’re at a fancy get-a-away spot.

Let’s talk about the items that should be left out on your counters. We all use spatulas, spoons and the like and it’s important to have them in reach. Get yourself a crock and filter out the ones that you want displayed. I personally have all of my wooden spoons and stainless steel tools in my crock, while my brightly colored, mismatched spatulas are stored away in a drawer.

Next, get yourself a fruit bowl to place fruits and veggies in. Not only does this make you look like you know what you’re up to in a kitchen, but it promotes the idea that eating these items is good for you! Most people are more likely to eat a piece of fruit if it’s in their face and they don’t have to search for it.

Along the same lines as the produce bowl, try leaving out your herbs – depending on the herb of course. For example, cilantro doesn’t stay well if not refrigerated. But Basil or Parsley thrives when it’s left out on your counter in a vase with some water. Keep your fresh herbs longer and it will remind you to use them in your everyday cooking! If you really have a green thumb, you can plant these herbs so they will continue to grow even after you’ve used some. Live plants in a kitchen can’t help but give off a healthy vibe! It’s even more of a bonus if they can bring your dish to the next level!

Lastly, think about the storage containers that you’re using for some of your displayed items. Feel the need to leave out your sugar and flour? Get coordinating containers for them, maybe a metal scoop if you’re feeling fancy and stick a cute label on the outside so you know what it is! I personally like the clear jars with wide lids so I can easily reach in to get what I need. Clear items tend to take up less space visually as well. Salt and pepper still coming out of the store bought containers? Invest in a pepper mill and shaker and turn your kitchen into a space suited for a chef!

When your kitchen feels like a space that you want to be in, you will be amazed at how willing you are to spend more time in it and try new things!

Hosting for the Holiday!

Interior design can be incorporated into just about anything, especially hosting an event such as a party. With the holidays coming up, many of you will be hosting gatherings of friends and family! Follow these tips and tricks for hosting a cohesive event that will be sure to leave your guests with a lasting impression!

The first thing to focus on is your invitations. Not only do invitations explain the details of your event, they can also set the vibe of your party while giving a personal touch that goes above and beyond the norm. There are numerous great options available for all budgets. One is of course to send a physical invitation via snail mail; this invite can be purchased from a store or designed yourself for a small fee from an online site such as Vistaprint. If you choose not to spend money on invitations, there are still some options for you! The easiest option would be to create a Facebook event page, which is free and a great way to extend information and communicate with your guests as your event approaches. Last but not least, there are many great websites that allow you to send a free customized digital invite – check out evite and choose from your favorite template!

Now that you have your guest list and invites handled, the next thing to consider is what you’ll be offering at your party. Consider a menu and specialty cocktail to really spice things up – although be sure to offer nonalcoholic options as well. Will you be following a theme such as traditional holiday foods, a Mexican fiesta or a small plate tasting party? Pick a theme and stick with it – it’s easier for you to plan and easier for your guests to know what to bring. Small details such as card holders to be placed by your dishes will make it easy for your guests to know what you’re offering!

Here’s where interior design can really play in to your party – the décor and general ambiance of your space. First and foremost, make sure that your space is tidy and clutter removed. This means hang up your coats in a closet, remove the shoes from the hallway and make some counter space! Guests coming into your home means that they are bringing their items with them, and you will need some room to store their things! The key to any good interior design is prepping your space first.

Next, if you choose to get festive, think about adding some holiday décor to the space! You can get as extravagant as decorating the whole space, or you can be as simple as creating a nice tablescape. Don’t feel like spending a ton to make this happen? The great thing about this time of year, is that nature offers us TONS of free decorations as long as you have a pair of clipping sheers! Sticks of berries, twigs in general and evergreen make for beautiful classic décor.

Let’s not forget about the rest of the ambiance – I personally believe that great design appeals to all five of your senses. We’ve taken care of the visual and tasting aspects but what about the rest? Set the mood with some music – keep it at a level that your guests can hear but don’t have to yell over. Try lighting a candle if your space doesn’t already smell delicious from the food that you’re making. Try a holiday scent such as pine, cinnamon or anything that smells like it was freshly baked!

The last of the senses that we haven’t accomplished yet is touch. Have you thought about a giveaway for your event? Not only is this something that your guests can physically touch, it’s something that will make you the host/hostess of the year! This doesn’t have to be something that breaks the bank – it’s the time and consideration that matter most. One batch of homemade cookies divided into cute holiday bags can take care of an entire guest list!

Use these tips and tricks to ensure that you host the party of the year! Happy holidays! 

Happy Harvest!

It’s that time of year again where the leaves are turning color and the search for everything pumpkin begins! Everyone starts feeling just a bit festive and what better way to celebrate than to immerse your home in all the fall feels? I’m going to show you two different ways to spice up your home depending on your style.

Firstly, we have our harvest lovers. I love using things that we can find just outside our doors as decorations - this means pressed leaves, bunches of sticks, twigs of berries, pine cones, feathers, and gourds. Natural elements this time of year offer such an awesome array of colors, it’s not hard to find what you need! The great thing about harvest décor is that you can elevate it to bring a sense of coziness and class into your space!

When using this décor style, I like to remind people not to forget about green and white. We’re so used to the bright greens of summer that it’s easy to just focus on the red, yellow and orange colors of the fall. Try using an olive green or a creamy white to really set off these colors and bring some color contrast into the space. Feeling glitzy? Use metallic spray paints to give those décor elements a bit of pizzazz!

Have an old sweater that you’re looking to get rid of? Re-purpose it by making wraps for your candles. I recommend using an LED candle, not only for safety reasons but also because you can set timers on most of them – convenient! Looking for something more rustic? Corn husks also work great for candle wraps!

One of my favorite DIY accessories for this style is a wreath made from book pages! Check out the tutorial here.

Next, we have a style for fans of all things spooky and eerie. When using this decor, I like to really get into the Halloween spirit and imagine what the interior of a haunted house would be like. Maybe you would like to transform your space into a witch’s den for the season?

The important factor of this style is to use things that are believable without being stereotypical “scary”. Creating that believable factor will be what makes everything so creepy. This means maybe leaving out the clown masks and the paper cut-outs of vampires and Frankenstein. Instead, create your own old fashioned apothecary full of potions! Pick up some distressed or crackled candle pillars, black lace, and accessorize with bones and spiders…the fake variety of course!

You can’t forget about that stretchable spider web material that you can pick up at any Halloween store - this stuff is the BEST when it comes to spooky décor. Think about all the corners, mantels and light fixtures that this can hang from. A helpful hint for this material is that the more stretched out it is, the more real that it will look!

I already gave you a harvest style wreath DIY activity, so naturally I have to give you one for this style too! One of my favorites can be found here.

Having guests over to admire your haunted house? Appeal to another sense and play some eerie music as they’re wandering through! Try Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, it’s a winner every time!

There are a variety of ways that you can dress your home up for the season –  just make sure that it fits your style and you’re sure to be a success!

Battle of the Sexes!

I think it’s safe to say that couples don’t always agree on everything – and this can also be said when it comes to couples deciding on how to design the interior of their home. It is certainly not uncommon to have one side of the party looking for the warm, organic curves of a feminine touch while the other wants the cooler, bold and geometrical feel of a masculine touch. This is a situation that needs to be approached with compromise since everyone deserves to love the space that they are in! I have found that in order to make everyone happy in this situation, the best route is to go gender neutral. This does not mean that you have to give up that leather mid-century modern chair or that antique crystal chandelier.

The key to this solution is balance. Of course there are some tricks to this gender nullifying solution that we will get into – but the main key to remember here is balance. For every excessively feminine object you use, you must balance it out with a masculine one. Who knew that interior design had a checks and balances system too?

The most important trick that I was talking about earlier is choosing and agreeing upon a color scheme. I suggest keeping it neutral and then throwing in some pops of color. Neutrals keep the majority of people happy and it makes your home easy to change color schemes within your accessories. I like to have a variety of color tones – for example if you choose all cool colors like black, blue and grey you will end up with a very masculine feel whereas a selection of all warm colors like pink, yellow and orange starts to get feminine. Variety is the key to success when creating a gender free zone!

When it comes to picking actual pieces to fill your space, it’s easiest to separate them into large and small pieces. I consider your large pieces items to be sofas, large tables, large rugs or chairs. Small items would be things like pillows, blankets, lamps and really any piece that you would use as an accent. I like to keep my large items neutral and get crazy with my small pieces. Why? Interior design is constantly changing – trends come and go. You will find it much more cost effective to keep up with fast paced changes if you keep your large and expensive pieces classic and change out the smaller, less expensive items to stay trendy.

Going along with our relationship theme – it’s important to remember that opposites attract. Maybe you love the style of a French Bergere chair but it’s just a bit too “girly” for your significant other. Try keeping the organic style of the Bergere frame but changing up the fabric to something more masculine. Or maybe that beloved leather and wood lounger he loves just needs a fun throw pillow and blanket tossed on it with a vase of flowers nearby. We’ve already been working with this concept in fashion – ladies are wearing boyfriend jeans and guys are wearing skinny jeans. Opposites can work!

I can’t stress enough how important compromising will be in this situation – each of you will need to step outside of your comfort zones. Maybe she gets the accent wall done in her favorite floral patterned wall covering but he gets to accent with brass throughout the space? Even some of my favorite light fixtures are a compromise – think about wrought iron fixture frames with crystal pendants on them. As long as you balance things out correctly, you can get as extreme as you want and everyone will feel like they are winning!

Lastly, there are certainly some items that you should make sure that you do together. Take art for instance – art is full of such a personal pieces that should take some serious consideration and mean something to the both of you. If you truly can’t agree on your pieces, then think about it in a different way. Art doesn’t have to be a painting of something or a sculpture – try using photos of the two of you and your friends or maybe patterns or textual art is something that is more your style? Take some time to choose some pieces that you’re both happy with so you always have something to agree on!

Weathering the Summer!

Now that we’re in the warm months of summer, most of us are spending more and more time outdoors. This means that we should start thinking about creating outdoor spaces and making them not only our own, but long lasting. There is a reason why we have indoor furniture and outdoor furniture and they aren’t exactly interchangeable. I’m going to give you some tips on what types of materials you should be looking for when it comes to purchasing outdoor furniture; with these tips you should have the key to creating a long lasting outdoor oasis!

First we’ll talk about the metal options – wrought iron and aluminum being the most prominent in outdoor furniture. Wrought iron can be found in a more traditional setting but can also be incorporated into some contemporary designs. The great thing about iron, is that it is perfect for a windy area as the furniture is usually quite heavy and doesn’t blow away easily. Having wrought iron furniture will require some maintenance; occasionally applying a coat of liquid car wax to your pieces will prevent water and Oxygen from deteriorating the surface. However, if cared for properly, your iron pieces can be left out all year long. There are some downfalls to iron, such as it not being the most comfortable material to sit on or that similar to leather, can get extremely hot or cold. This problem can be avoided with outdoor appropriate cushions.

Aluminum furniture is perfect for the more contemporary to modern settings since they tend to have a more streamlined design. Furniture pieces made from aluminum can even be made to resemble other materials such as wicker. Similar to iron, a light layer of wax will help your pieces last a lifetime, but aluminum pieces don’t require it like your iron pieces will since it is already corrosion resistant. Aluminum furniture also tends to stay at a constant comfortable temperature and therefore doesn’t require a cushion. However, due to all the benefits that this metal has to offer, this makes it more high end and therefore more expensive. Aluminum, and even other metals such as stainless steel, can be powder coated for the outdoors. This is a finish that offers incomparable durability, designed to withstand extreme temperatures and to protect against rust and fading.

Plastics are yet another very common outdoor material and are also great for contemporary to modern settings. Since plastic can be easily molded into just about any shape, those of you looking for something unique, should definitely look into this material. Plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene can be found in not only furniture pieces, but softer goods such as outdoor rugs. What makes these materials so great is that they are fade resistant, can be used year round and can be washed with something as simple as a hose. Some other benefits to plastic pieces are that they are usually stackable, easily transportable, and is usually the most cost efficient option; of course, there is a range of plastic furniture from low end to high end.

Wood is yet another common material for outdoor furniture – especially teak, and Ipe. Both of these woods are durable, insect and decay resistant making them great choices for outside. Also, as both of these materials age, they get a beautiful silver patina, making their aged versions highly sought after. The main difference between these two woods is that Ipe is about four times harder than teak and has a fire rating similar to concrete and steel, so it’s great for dry locations. Other woods can be used outdoors as well such as pine, cedar, eucalyptus and redwood. Hardwoods are preferred for outdoor use as they can last from 25-50 years while soft woods, if treated can last up to 20. Be sure to treat your wood however, as wood has a low resistance to rot. Lastly, another great benefit of wood is that this material also will not hold the suns heat making it quite comfortable to sit on during a hot day.

While there are still other hard materials that can withstand the elements of nature, I definitely did not want to leave out fabric. Probably the most common outdoor fabric is Sunbrella, but when looking for outdoor textiles, you’ll want to make sure that the fabric is weather resistant and this means that it is protected with a finish such as fluorocarbon. A weather resistant fabric will ensure that your new cushion is stain, water and soil repellent. Choosing a fabric with additional UV protection not only prevents fading, but is scientifically proven to protect those lounging on it from harmful UV rays. Not only are these outdoor fabrics with additional finishes long lasting, highly durable and super easy to clean, they also come in a wide variety of patterns and colors guaranteed to coordinate with your space!

With these tips you should be ready to go out and find all of the furniture/accessories that your outdoor space needs!

Make Your Man a Man Cave!

Firstly, with today being a special day, I’d like to wish all of the mothers out there a very happy Mother’s Day! The holiday sparked an idea for me…what is a gift that could benefit not only the lady in your life, but that lucky man too? Enter the man cave. If you started now, you could potentially create a space for your man by our next holiday, Father’s Day. It’s important for both men and women to have a designated spot in a shared space to claim as their own.

There are tons of benefits to having a man cave - giving your guy a personal place to unwind and rejuvenate, a place to display his things that he loves and it creates another space that could double for entertaining guests. Man caves don’t have to lack a sense of style and house lawn chairs and blank walls except for the occasional poster here and there. There is an up and coming trend in the design world that involves creating masculine, debonair man caves that are worthy of being a part of any home!

You may be thinking that you don’t have the space for such a cave – sometimes it just takes a little rethinking. Do you have a large garage that could be reworked to house such a place as well as a car? How about a spare bedroom, basement or even a storage shed? Of course, whichever space you pick will determine the size and therefore the type of amenities your cave will have.

The first thing you will need to do when deciphering what type of man cave yours will be, is to decide which sorts of activities will be done in the space. Perhaps your man is a music lover with a collection of records and guitars and needs a space to jam and display his items. Is he a movie guru in need of DVD storage, a big screen and a home theater set up? Let’s not forget about our sports fanatic with loads of memorabilia in need of an at home sports bar and game room! There is no right or wrong idea for a man cave since every man is different, his cave will be too.

The key is to stay comfortable, stay masculine and get creative. Typically, men don’t follow the feminine rule of who cares how it feels when it looks good. Just think about four inch heels – we only tell ourselves they’re comfortable when really, it’s just the opposite. Men are not about to choose a stiff, dainty chair when they can choose their soft, over sized chair that consumes them at the end of the day. Comfort is so important to keep in mind when creating your cave, so a finished floor is a must – nobody likes to feel like their space is an unfinished after thought. Even if you’re sticking with a concrete floor, can you stain and seal it and throw some area rugs on there? If you’re planning on putting your cave in a basement or garage, make sure enough heat is reaching the space too!

Staying masculine means that floral and feminine prints are out – stick to geometrical or textured patterns that evoke strong feelings of masculinity. Hard textures such as metal, concrete and wood are going to be huge hits in your cave. Leather, tweed and other knobby fabrics are good ideas for your softer goods – but keep in mind that leather can tend to get really cold or hot depending on its atmosphere, so doing all of your furniture in leather is not the greatest idea. Staying masculine doesn’t mean to forget about pillows and throw blankets – I’ve never known a man to turn down a fluffy pillow and fuzzy blanket. It does however mean that they probably don’t need your six decorative pillows on a sofa, just the essentials will do.

Getting creative is important when creating a man cave – it’s a great way to bring personalized touches unique to your man’s personality to the space. Maybe you can create a pouf out of some rope and a tire for the car enthusiast in your life or sew up some pillows out of his old flannel shirts? There are tons of do it yourself options out there to help you create a personal touch for the space. The majority of people, men included, tend to like a space with “home” touches and a sense of warmth, so it is essential to help bring these additions to your cave.

There are endless options and possibilities for creating a man cave. Be sure to do some research on the types of options out there and get started building! As for giving a man cave as a gift, this is a guaranteed hit!

The Importance of Line!

Last month I talked about understanding the basics behind color theory to help you with your fresh 2015 spring palette. This month, I’m going to talk about another important element of design that is equally if not more important; line. We use line in every type of design out there – industrial, graphic, interior, furniture, etc. You may have a feature in your home that you just love or can’t get to look right and don’t understand why…the reason behind this love or hate relationship probably has to do with the use of line. There are a huge variety of line types, but the three that we focus on in interior design are literal, implied and psychic.

Literal lines are the most familiar since they take two points and connect them to make shapes such as vertical, horizontal, diagonal, zigzag or curved. How does this play into decorating your space? Vertical lines lift the eye and mind upwards, so you can use them to make a room or object seem taller; this makes them great for small areas like a foyer. The vertical line can evoke feelings of strength and security. Beware of over usage as this type can make one feel confined and overwhelmed.

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Horizontal lines can visually expand a space, making an area seem longer or wider. It’s why we love them in interiors but not so much in fashion. Similar to vertical lines, they can evoke feelings as well. In their case, they can make a space seem tranquil and stable, unless overused and in that case a lack of interest or boredom can be felt. For instance, if you painting an already long wall with horizontal stripes, the space would seem lack luster. This is a scenario where you would want to balance out the already long space with vertical stripes to add some height.

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Diagonal lines suggest movement and action and therefore tend to capture our attention the longest; because of this, do not use diagonal lines in a space that you want to relax! Imagine trying to fall asleep in a room that is constantly stimulating your eyes. Zigzag lines derived from diagonal ones and are great for accents – you’ve seen them become popular over the last year with patterns such as chevron and herringbone.

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Lastly in the literal line category, we have curved lines. Curved lines are organic and therefore give off a softness and provide relief and balance. They can be elegant, natural and if placed in a series can even suggest movement. Over usage of curved lines can result in a very feminine feel, whereas the overuse of straight lines can give off a very masculine feel. Try to use both for a balanced feel and to create a gender neutral space.

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Next up is the implied line. An implied line is created by positioning a series of points so your eye automatically connects them. Think of a dotted or dashed line; the points suggest a general direction, even though they are not connected. In interior design, we use implied lines when hanging picture arrangements. We also use it when deciding on heights for objects. For example, bedside table lamps can be placed to either continue the line of our headboard or to draw our eye higher or lower than the headboard but at the same height as each other. This creates an implied line. When we have layers of stacked shelving with a decorative object such as mirror above it, we have created an implied line that suggest an upward or vertical movement. This is why if you are using objects as a series of points and just one is misplaced, it can make the entire vignette seem off.

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Lastly we have the psychic line, which is not so much a line that is seen but is felt. It is a mental connection that exists between two elements. The best way to describe this type of line is in a photograph, if the main character in the photo is looking downwards and to the side, you will also look downwards and to the side. Or if a figure is pointing in a direction, you’re almost guaranteed to look in that same direction. This type of line is probably the most powerful and is the least in your face.

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Line and color are just getting you started when it comes to the basic elements and principles of design. Understanding them will help you get on your way to making great design decisions!