Bookshelves

Bookshelves

They are either functional...

Or decorative

Bookshelves are revealing.   They speak volumes of your life, your personality, the things you know or want to learn, places you've been and people you love.   When I go into a home, I love looking at the bookshelves.  They may just be my favorite thing in anyone's house. 

Bookshelves are often the center of a room or tucked in a quiet, unsuspecting corner of the house. 

Whatever you want your bookshelves to say about you, here are a few simple tips to consider when decorating all those fabulous shelves.

• The goal of a decorative book shelf is to keep the eye moving from one shelf to the next
• If the shelves are movable, try going for an asymmetrical look rather than lining the shelves up
• Go bold when mixing accessories with the books. 
• Keep collections and like items with like items, especially if your collection is small in scale
• Remember to keep the shelves balanced.  Don't let one shelf hold heavy, overpowering items while a shelf below is dainty and sparse.
• Decide how you want to arrange the books, mix it up.  Stand some upright with an attractive book end and stack others
• Don't be afraid to use books as risers to place an attractive accessory or small picture frame on. 
• You can arrange books according to color, size or genre. 

Join me on Wednesday for some really cool book shelf ideas.

Dressing your table

The kitchen table.  What does yours look like?  Is it a fancy, rare wood from a far away land or the same table you bought as a newlywed couple, now looking a little worn and well used with a cornucopia of great memories surrounding it?

Regardless of the size or style of the table, new or old you need to dress it!  A dressed table helps to complete and anchor a room. 

Here is a really great DIY project you can do for pennies and under 10 minutes!  Seriously.  It will take me longer to explain it than it will for you to make it!

I found these really cute place mats at TJ Maxx for $3.00 in the clearance area.   I loved the crisp white and bright yellow.

I laid them all out to make a table runner then used fabric glue to attach the petals together

Done!!!  Sorry, I couldn't get this picture to load correctly but if you tilt your head just right...

Here is another table runner I made quite some time ago.  I love the story behind it.  My grandma, when she was little, use to sew her own clothes.  With the scraps of fabric, she would make a yo yo.  She had taken all these little yo yos and sewn them into squares.  After that, she put them in a trunk and forgot about them.  A few years ago, I came across them and she let me take them.  I sewed each of the squares together and it has been my table runner for a number of years.  It's bright and adds so much to the table. 

Here are some more ideas of table runners you could easily make.

Table runners don't always have to run the length of the table.  It's fun to switch it up.  (photo courtesy of sdoople.info)

How about this for a rustic look?  Little slices of wood!!!  Tons of work but really fun! (photo by thisnext.com)

I love this idea.  So often we have heirloom pieces but we stash them away in an old box and never look at them again.  Imagine the stories and history in a table runner made from Grandma's old doilies?  Vintage tea towels would be awesome as well.  (Photo by apartmenttherapy.com)

Now, go and dress that table!

Monograms

I love the idea of a monogram collage for a large space or even a small space, on a bookshelf or a floating shelf, even hanging on your front door.  I love monograms!!  Here is some inspiration to get you excited about adding your letter to define your little corner of the world.

The blank wall

Oh, the dreaded blank wall!  First of all, not every wall in your home has to have something on it.  Sometimes, the open space and negative space is just as important as the space that houses something decorative, just keep that in the back of your mind. 

Here are some great ideas on how to fill up that space on the wall that is just begging for an accessory.

• Keep whatever you place on the wall in balance with the size and shape of the wall. 
• If the wall space is huge, don't hang one little picture, it will just get lost.  If the space is small, placing too big of a piece will overpower the space and create an awkwardness.
• Consider mirrors.  Mirrors are huge this year and create an openness to any space large or small
• Art is easy to do on the cheap.  Think about framing calendar pictures, flowers pressed between two pieces of glass, floral arrangements, DIY canvas paintings. 
• Floating shelves are a great idea to fill up a space.  You can place family pictures, antiques and other collectibles on them.
• Plates!! Huge this season are brightly colored and patterned plates
• Add some molding to dress up a wall
• Stencil a pattern and let the wall speak for itself.  Stencils are big and easily acquired. 

Floating shelves.  Creates a strong presence and impact

Mirrors are a classic for anyroom and any style

Plates are so fun and create such a cool collage.  If you are really handy, you can paint your own plates

Get it together

Being a parent is hard work.  It seems the work is never done whether you work outside the home, have a home business or are a stay at home mom.  There are so many distractions in a day that pull us in all sorts of directions.  Online media is the worst.  We sit down to check in on our Facebook friends and before we know it, an hour or two is wasted. 

I recently found a great tip to get things accomplished whether at work or at home.  Carl White taught about the 60-60-30 rule.  Carl is a marketing mogul and teaches how to get more done in less time.  I loved this principle and have started applying it in my own life. 

Here's how it works.  The night before or first thing in the morning, establish the top three things that need to be done.  It could be anything, anything that will improve your home, your family or move your company ahead. 

First thing in the morning, set a timer for 50 min and work on the first item on your list.  Don't check Facebook, emails or answer the phone.  Work hard and focused for 50 straight minutes.  For the next 10 min.  take a break and walk away from your task.  Get some fresh air, get a snack, play with the kids but again, don't be tempted to check emails or Facebook. 

After 10 min. start on the next '60'.  Set the timer again for 50min.  Work on the 2nd and 3rd top tasks.  Work in a focused manner.  Again, after 50 min, take a 10 min break and start your 30 min break for a total of 40 min. away from work doing something else.  After your break, start another block of the 60-60-30 rule. 

It's amazing how much easier it is to stay focused and productive.  Some days, my to do list if finished by the time I reach my 40 min. break.  It is surprising how distracted we can get and then wonder where all our time went. 

Give it a try then let me know how it worked for you!

The world of peel and stick

Are you a DIYer?  I can manage a few simple things around the house but the big things that I really want to do require expensive tools I don't have and can't just run out and get.  I would love a new backsplash in my kitchen.  Actually, I don't even have a backsplash so it would be nice to have a nice stone, mosiac or glass backsplash. 

I recently came across this sweet new product for people like me who want the look but can't afford to hire it out.  Let's be real, that costs an arm and a leg by the time you by the backer board, mud, grout, tile and all the tools and then, let's hope you know what you're doing!

Welcome to the world of peel and stick tiles!  They are real materials, not a vinyl though you can buy vinyl if that's the look you want.  They come in all materials and shapes.  Here are few examples.

They typically come in larger squares like 11x11.  Just paint a primer on your wall, and stick up the tile and you're done!!

Metal tiles cost a fortune.  These Aspect, metal peel and stick tiles are less than $20 for a box. No mess!

This is an example of how a mosaic peel and stick tile would come.  Just lay them side by side.

Aspect peel and stick tiles.  What a great pattern for a modern, clean look!

 I can't wait to try this in my kitchen.  You know what else?  They make larger, decorative tiles you can put on a wall.

Honesty is the best policy

When it comes to decorating your home, honesty is the best policy.  Your home decor should reflect who you are.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, your home should tell a story, YOUR story.  It shouldn't reflect the latest trends unless you really love the latest trends and they happen to be what you're all about.  

I find that people are always second guessing themselves when it comes to decorating their home.  I have met with some amazingly creative people who lay out for me their choices and it's brilliant.  They just need that validation that they are on the right track. 

Here are 5 decorating rules according to me...

1.  Your home should reflect the people living in it.  I had a dear friend who passed away last year.  In every nook and corner of her home were little collections of hedge hogs.  She didn't strike me as the hedge hog loving kind so I was intrigued and asked her to tell the story behind the hedge hogs.  She had a wonderful story to tell that reflected so much love from her friends and family.  The hedge hogs, though not a trend, were a part of her style and it seemed to fit just perfectly. 

2.  Your home should be a refuge.  It should be comfortable and inviting to those who live there and those who visit.  What I'm saying is, there is more to a home than the knick knacks or furniture pieces that fill the space between the roof and the floor.  There's a spirit or feeling to a home as well and that should speak through the comfortable and inviting decor.

3.   Fill your home with things that you have a connection to.    Create a place where stories are told.  Where each little thing you hang on the wall, or place on a shelf has meaning.  It doesn't have to be a big, dramatic story just something that inspires you.  Just because someone gives you something, doesn't mean you are obligated to display it.  Then again, some things we stash away in a box are really meant to be out for everyone to enjoy.

4.   If you create something you need to live up to it.  If you choose to decorate your home in white lacquer, white furniture and high maintenance floors and you have 5 kids under the age of 6, then be prepared to maintain that look.  If you don't like cleaning, then you should really reconsider your choices so...keep it real.

5.   Create a space that is universal so everyone can function well.  The kitchen is a great example of this.  As parents, we often expect our children to help out with chores.  Give them lists but have you ever watched a little 6 or 7 year old struggle to empty the dishwasher.  They end up scaling the drawers and teetering on the counter in order to reach the cupboard where the glasses go or they leave everything on the counter for you to put away later.  Consider a kitchen with lots of deep drawers so that everything is at an accessible level.  It's called Universal Design and it works.  That's just one example but there are many ways we can change the way we function in our homes to create a more functional dwelling.

New for Kitchens

There are some amazing new design trends for kitchens.  Check them out.

Drawers for baking supplies.  You can design them with or without the glass front.

Refrigerated drawers.  You can really customize a kitchen to suit your needs.

I love placing the microwave in the base cabinet.  Smart idea, safe for kids.
(photo coutesy of remodelista.com)

Who said a sink needs to be square
(photo courtesy of kitchen clan.com)

A great way to make those corners more functional

Even appliance garages have come a long way.  I love the idea of a breakfast counter similar to this.  Below you could add a refrigerated drawer for milk, orange juice, yogurt and other breakfast items.  Store cereal in deep drawers along with bowls, plates, spoons etc.  Everything for breakfast in one place then close it all up behind one large door.

Here's another reason to sneak down to the kitchen for a midnight snack...catch a late night talk show while snacking on that leftover chicken.

Another way technology is integrated into common kitchen appliances. 
(Photo courtesy of This Old House)

The sky is the limit when it comes to kitchen design.  Are any of these new trends part of your dream kitchen?

Kitchen Design

Kitchens are the heart of the home.  It's the gathering place for family and friends.  A Kitchen should be efficient and beautiful.  I've mentioned before that the size of the kitchen isn't  nearly as important as the design.  I have designed kitchens as small as 7' by 10' and some as big as 20' by 15'!  Both were functional and served the needs of the family and that's what counts. 

Before designing your new kitchen or remodeling the one you have, you need to assess what your needs are.  Do you do a lot of cooking and baking?  When entertaining, do you enjoy having people mull around the kitchen while you prepare a meal or do you prefer to work alone?  Do you have young children?  A disability or handicap?  There are many things to consider.  Hiring an Interior Designer will assure that these questions are asked and answered in a good design. 

Below are pictures from one of my favorite projects.  This kitchen offers so many great features.  A great kitchen should have 4 major areas-

•  Prep area which includes, the fridge, a sink, knives and other items commonly used in the preparation of meals.
•  Cooking area- stove, spices, pots and pans, spoons and other utensils
•  Mixing and Baking area- flour, sugar and other baking ingredients, cookie sheets and cake pans, mixers, beaters etc.
•  Cleaning area- this area includes the sink, dishwasher and storage for towels and cloths. 

Notice the island in this kitchen contains a sink.  This is the prep area and in close proximity to the fridge.  Food is taken from the fridge and prepared on the island.  Not shown in the picture is a microwave drawer that sits to the left of the prep sink.  So functional especially for kids.  It's much easier to get food in and out of.

The cooking area is self explanatory.  I love deep drawers.  They are perfect for storing pots and pans as well as their lids.  These should be stored right beside the stove for easy access. 

The mixing and baking area is to the right of the stove.  An appliance garage houses blenders and small appliances.  The drawers below are lined in metal and hold 25 lbs of flour, sugar and smaller compartments are filled with other baking ingredients like baking powder, chocolate chips etc.  Everything is within an arms reach.

The cleaning area is almost the most important area.  Glasses, plates and silverware are stored in deep drawers at the end of the island, closest to the dishwasher.  It makes unloading the clean dishes a pretty easy chore because of it's proximity. 

There are so many new design ideas out on the market.  Come back Friday for a line up of great new kitchen products.

One of my favorite kitchen design projects

I love the brick wall in the eating area.  The brick is repeated in the arch going into the family office and mud room/laundry room.

Sitting area in the kitchen. I love this idea! 

Mom can curl up with the kids and read a book by the fireplace.  Friends and family can relax and visit while dinner is being prepped and yet they won't be in the way of the cook.  So many layers of inviting interest.

Home Buying

Summer is a busy time in the Real Estate Industry.  If you are in the market for a new home, here are a few things to consider before signing up for 30 years of home ownership.

Overall, look at the function of the home.  Will it realistically fit your family now and is there room to grow?  Don't settle on the space.  Try to leave your emotions at the door.  I have seen so many people buy a house because they were impatient.  They thought they were in such a big hurry.  I heard them say things like, "Well, the living room isn't ideal but we will make it work."  "The bathroom is a little small but that's not a big deal, we don't spend that much time in the bathroom." "The kitchen isn't what I was hoping for but the view is great.  We can always remodel."

Famous last words, We can remodel. The truth is, remodeling is expensive, time consuming and stressful!  If you think things through before signing the paperwork you can avoid alot of frustration and disappointment down the road.

Check out the kitchen.  Does the cabinet layout make sense?  Is it easy to get around in and have plenty of storage and counter space?  Are the doors and drawers in good working condition?  Can more than one person work in the space?  Where is the kitchen located in relation to the front door or family room.  No one wants to come to the door and peer right in to whatever is going on in your kitchen.  Kitchens are the heartbeat of a home, it's where we spend all our time.  Keeping the worksurfaces out of direct view from visitors at the front door is an appealing feature and will make your life less stressful. 

Another thing to consider are the materials used in the kitchen ie. backsplash, counter tops and the cabinets themselves. Will they be easily maintained?  Where are you going to put that big stew pot?  Often people will excuse a few flaws in a home just because they are already emotionally invested but that's not a good enough reason.  As soon as the house is yours and the honeymoon with it is over, you will be cussing the fact there isn't a place for all your things. 

Bathrooms are another huge selling point, especially the Master Bedroom Suite.  Most people look for extravagant bathrooms.  Bigger is better, or so they say.  Size has nothing to do with the function of a space.  I've seen some pretty big bathrooms with lousy space planning.  That translates into a pretty useless piece of real estate you just wasted.  Look for features like compartmentalized toilet rooms and showers.  This way, more than one task can be taking place at a time.  I had some clients who bought a home and the bathroom vanity was in the master bedroom, about 5' from the bed!  The toilet and bathtub were in a room behind the vanity.  They are now trying to figure out how to change that without spending a penny because when the husband gets up early for work, the lights and noise wake the wife up.  That's just poor planning.

Speaking of design...good design doesn't have to cost a lot of money.  You can still live in an affordable home that has good space planning, you might just have to look a little longer.  It's not a bad idea to take a designer along with you to look at homes.  They can be your unbiased eyes, without emotional ties and point out design flaws you may have overlooked.

We will look a little closer at some ideas and design features you should look for in specific rooms of the house.