Black, White and Orange Rooms

Source

I've always loved the look of a room completely decorated in black and white with touches of one bold color. The ultimate bold accent color to use with black and white? Orange. You do have to be careful to avoid creating a room that smacks of Halloween when combining orange with black and white. However, if the right shade of orange is selected you can create a room that is more treat than trick .

Source

Via Apartment Therapy

Via Decorpad

Via Cococozy

Via Decorpad

Via Decorpad

source

Via Decorpad

source

Not Your Grandma's Family Tree

Source

Researching your roots and recording your findings in the form of a family tree is nothing new, people have been doing this for generations. After the countless hours of research that goes into an endeavor such as this it seems only fitting that you'd want to display your work in some fashion. If your design sense is less than traditional there are plenty of options for creating a family tree that will add a personal touch to your home.

A Silhouette Family Tree

source

Hand-Lettered Family Tree

Precious Diamonds

Heirloom Family Tree in a Glass Dome

Birds of a Feather Family Tree

With Thanksgiving approaching, what better time to gather your relatives and make the creation of a family tree a group project.

Finding the Perfect Accent Chair

Is anyone else head over heels with the Spool Chair (pictured above) from Hickory Chair? When I saw it on the cover of House Beautiful my heart went a pitter-patter. It fulfilled everyone of the must-have's on my check list of the makings of the perfect accent chair. It was stylish, looked comfortable, didn't look too trendy, etc...I tore through the pages of HB, getting several paper cuts along the way, to get to the resources section in the back of the magazine. I had to know who made the chair and, more importantly, if I could afford one. Alas, my beloved spool chair was a little (a lot!) outside of my budget. My hunt for the perfect accent chair continued.

What makes up the ideal accent chair for you? Is there some quality it must have in order for you to pull out the credit card? What are your deal breakers?

A classic style that can be reupholstered in the future for a new look?

A fun fabric?

Interesting detailing?

A style that is of the moment?

Tufting?

A unique shape?

Above Images Via Hickory Chair

While I was prowling for my perfect chair my checklist looked something like this:

1. Must be extremely comfortable

2. Must be sturdy and have quality construction

3. Interesting design, not too run of the mill

4. Upholstered in a fun pattern that isn't too trendy

5. Wouldn't be too expensive to reupholster in the future

6. Husband must be in agreement

and most importantly!

7. Within our budget



I'm happy to announce that last weekend we ordered our perfect chairs. The floor model at the store was upholstered in a light color that allows the detail of the chair to be highlighted, we choose a different fabric with a geometric pattern. There was a pretty stiff upcharge for the fabric (big shocker, right?) But we hope to keep these chairs for a long time. Of course I took pictures in the show room. (I think the salesman thought I was a caaa-raaazzzy!)

Side view

Rear view

The chairs are tres comfortable and, with only two upholstered cushions, would be fairly affordable to have recovered in the future or even have a second set of covers made if I wanted to switch out the look seasonally. I'm glad the hunt is finally over. We should have them in time for Christmas, yea!

How about you, what do you look for when buying a piece of furniture?

Designing for the Senses

Soft pillows, a throw blanket, candles, and a roaring fire provide a feast for the senses in this room.

source

If you had to name the most important elements of designing a space, what would you include? Color might come to mind first, after all, our eyes naturally rest on colorful pieces and pass over more neutral areas. Some of us are inspired to plan a space entirely around a single colorful piece of art or bright fabric with an interesting pattern. Beautiful rooms should be a feast for the eyes. But imagine for a moment if you didn't have your sense of sight. What would you include in your room that would make the space every bit as pleasing to you and your guests? What objects or details would you include that rely on your other special senses to make the space enjoyable?

Touch


Houseplants can provide texture in a room.

Child development specialists often recommend that parents include items with varying textures in the rooms that their child will be spending time. Even the smallest children are attracted to objects with texture. Adding a multitude of textures makes a room more interesting. For example, picture elements like grass cloth paper hung on the walls of a bedroom, a faux fur blanket draped over a leather chair, a velvet sofa or a grouping of sleek ceramic vases. Each type of texture draws you in and makes you naturally want to run your hand over the surface.

Adding a textural throw to a sofa is a quick way to appeal to the sense of touch.

Sound

When designing a space, sound may not be the first thing that comes to mind, maybe you feel it doesn't play a role at all, but don't be so quick to dismiss this sense. When you are spending time in a space, sound does play a role. For instance, if you have hardwood floors or ceramic tiles throughout your home, you will need to address ways to absorb sound. The same applies to homes with high ceilings and open floor plans. If you live in an area with a high volume of traffic, masking extraneous noise must be considered as well. Adding area rugs and curtain panels allows some of the noise to be absorbed.

Fun look, but better be sure the clocks are noiseless.

The addition of pleasant sounds can add to the enjoyment you get from spending time at home. Most people are drawn to the sound of music. While it can be expensive to have your home wired for full-house sound, inexpensive docks for MP3 players are readily available so that you can listen to the music of your choice anytime you please.

A white noise machine like this one for just $18 can help block out unwanted sounds.

Keep in mind that sounds that are pleasing to one person can be very annoying to others. While some may find the sound of water dripping from a portable fountain relaxing, others find it less than pleasant. The same can be said about wind chimes that many people include on sun porches and decks. Think about who will be using the space and for what purpose. If you spend a good deal of time reading, nix the idea of adding a clock that chimes on the hour or emits a loud ticking sound.

Taste/Smell


Lavender, dried or displayed in bunches adds a soothing scent to any room.

Source

A first time visitor to my home made the comment, "It smells like Christmas in here." I had just lit a cinnamon infused candle. Scents have a way of conjuring up memories, both good and bad. I love the scent of cinnamon. It reminds me of Thanksgiving, my favorite day of the year. To me, Thanksgiving is all about sharing good food and good times with my family. There is none of the rushing or stress that accompanies Christmas, it's about relaxing and enjoying yourself. Throughout autumn and winter, I regularly light cinnamon scented candles to give me the comforting feel of the warmth that I feel around Thanksgiving.


Williams-Sonoma offers a variety of scented candles, soaps, and lotions in fragrances that are subtle, not overwhelming. They are perfect for adding a pleasant aroma to the kitchen and baths in your home. Keep your eyes opened for bargains on WS products at HomeGoods and TJ Maxx stores.

Williams-Somona's candles are a hostess gift that anyone would enjoy receiving.Other sources of a delicious aroma are bowls of scented pinecones , reed diffusers, potpourri, or light bulb rings with scented oils. For a no cost solution to making your home smell fabulous, place a small pot of water on the stove and add orange peel, cinnamon and cloves. Bring to a simmer and your house will fill with a wonderful scent. Simply opening the windows and letting fresh air circulate throughout your home can remove unpleasant odors as well.

A decorative pedestal bowl filled with fruit or vegetables would add color and the sense of taste to any room. I'd place the one below on an entryway table or as a centerpiece in the dining room.

The sense of taste may not seem like an element that needs to be addressed when designing your home. However, the sense of taste is so closely linked to the sense of smell that one can hardly be discussed without including the other. When you smell fresh baked bread or chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven you can almost taste how delicious they will be when you take a bite. In the kitchen and dining areas of your home, adding elements like bowls of fresh fruit or vegetables in the summer makes visitors want to dig right in. During the holidays a crystal dish filled with peppermint candies brings back memories of trimming the tree with candy canes. In the spring, it could be a bowl of lemons in a crisp white bowl that makes your house feel like a home.

This stand from Chiasso is sculptural in design, a perfect way to display fruit and add that sense of taste to your home.

Do you decorate with all five senses in mind?

Farewell McMansion, Hello Togetherness

source

A few weekends back my husband and I attended a local parade of homes. While we aren't in the market for a new home, I love visiting the newly constructed homes in search of decorating inspiration. In the late 1990's I looked forward to attending the parade of homes which generally consisted of 10-12 homes on the same street in a new development. Back then the parade homes were a design enthusiasts dream come true. My friends and I would attend the parades ready to oooh and ahhh. The wall treatments were inspiring. You could count on seeing the latest trends in window treatments, furniture and accessories. I would leave with my head full of ideas for styling my home. If truth be told, I'd sometimes return home, take a look at my own home and want to burn it down. My house couldn't compete with the fancy schmancy ones I'd just seen.

Well, it ain't 1999 anymore. In the past few years, since the housing bubble burst, the Home Builder's Association in my area has hosted a "scattered site" parade instead. Parade goers are given a map and description of the participating builders' homes and can drive from house to house. This year a few of the builders included the same home that they had showcased last year, likely because last year's home hadn't sold in the past 12 months.

The homes featured this year tended to be much smaller, most well under 2,500 square feet. It was clear that the builders no longer have the budget to hire professional interior designers either. Some homes listed as "partially furnished" included nothing more than a dinette set in the kitchen, a bed in the master bedroom or a few random accessories. Those homes which were fully furnished did not appear to be professionally decorated. The latest trends in fabrics and accessories were no where to be found. Most likely, the builders took responsibility for staging the homes themselves.

Nice room, does anyone use it?

While the days of the McMansion with may be gone, there is a silver lining. With less money to spend, people are buying or renting smaller spaces and that's not a bad thing. My husband and I purchased our first home when we were pregnant with our first child. It was a brick ranch, just 1500 square feet. We stayed until our second child was 2 1/2. With just one large family room/kitchen to spend our time, the four of us spent every evening together. When we moved to a larger home with both a living room, family room and finished basement that started to change. With all of that space available, we had options about where to spend our time. Our kids liked playing with their toys in the basement-and I didn't mind having the mess contained there either! My husband and I no longer had to watch those heinous Barney the Dinosaur videos along with the kids, we could read or watch the nightly news in peace. But with this new found peace there was a downside, less time together as a family.





Last week I was reminiscing about our days in that first, tiny house as I was sorting through our family pictures. I miss the days when the four of us would curl up on the couch and read picture books together or sit on the floor and play Candy Land for hours. The house was tiny, there wasn't nearly enough storage space to tuck away the kids toys and books and craft supplies, but that tiny house was full of love.

Should It Stay or Should It Go?: Black Walls

Source

It's been a while since we've had an installment of Should It Stay or Should it Go? For those new to this series, this is where we pick apart a design trend and weigh in on whether we love it or hate it, whether we want that or want it to go away. Up this time, black walls.

A week doesn't go by when I don't see a room painted in black in one of the many design magazines on the market or featured on a blog. Black walls bring the drama big time, but would you really want them in your home? You may want to read about my experience with black paint on your walls before answering.

via Arhzine.com

When we moved into our home I decided that our first floor guest bathroom, painted in a boring shade of tan, needed a little lift. With my budget for decorating our new home being $0, I decided to use some of the leftover white paint to add two floor to ceiling diamonds on the one blank wall in the room. It wasn't long before I got tired of the diamonds and got a brilliant idea-paint the diamonds black!

Finally, after years of looking at the heinous shapes on my wall, I decided to cover them with a coat of primer and paint the walls. Naive girl that I am, I thought a coat or two of primer would do the trick. Oh no, I had to paint 6, count them, 6 coats of primer to cover the black walls.

Who among us is without decorating sin? Don't judge.

I can only imagine how long it would take to prime over an entire room painted in black.

Source

If you hate painting and priming, you better REALLY LOVE black walls.

Source

If you don't mind priming and painting but aren't wild about projects that take days to complete, may I suggest an accent wall instead.

Room by Laura Ashley

The wall below looks like it may be upholstered. While fabric is expensive, you can apply it with liquid starch. Unlike wallpaper that is difficult to remove, fabric applied with liquid starch comes off clean with a few tugs.

Source

Another choice would be to create an accent wall with a fabulous black wall covering. Of course, if you despise the job of removing wallpaper, again, better love that black wallpaper or you're in for a day of steaming and scraping.

Source

My vote: I love the look of black walls, but only in other people's homes. I don't love them enough to paint a room in my home black knowing the work that awaits if I grow tired of them down the road.

Your turn, would you paint your walls black? Do you think they shout "drama" or are they screaming "Trick or Treat"?

The Do's and Don'ts of Growing Orchids

Source

Look through any shelter magazine and you are likely to spot orchids placed throughout the rooms featured. Orchids add a touch of sophistication to any space. Contrary to popular belief, orchids are not as difficult to maintain as you may think. According to Doityourself.com, if you know a few facts you can easily maintain your plant.

Watering

People tend to over water their orchids when, in fact, they only need to be watered every 7-10 days.

Orchids accept moisture through their leaves, not their roots. (Who knew!)

Water in the morning so that the leaves dry before the evening.

Love this non-traditional color palette and presentation for the holidays

Source

Light

The most common type of orchid, the Moth Orchid, does best with bright light from a window or indirect light.

Never expose an orchid to bright mid-day sun, it can scorch the plant.

If the leaves are turning yellow, the plant is receiving too much light.

Humidity

Orchids love humid conditions that are not likely available during the cold weather months.

To add humidity, place the pot on a layer of gravel and add water. Never put the pot directly in water, it needs to be elevated.

Fertilizing

Orchids are one plant that does not need to be fertilized often. Fertilizing once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer will do.

Black leaves are a sign of over fertilizing.

Temperature

Keep your plants at a temperature around 70 degrees during the day and don't let the temperature dip below 55 degrees in the evening.

Never place orchids in areas where there are extreme cold or warm conditions like near a window or radiator.

In warm months, misting or placing the plant in a shady spot can keep the plant cool.

This orchid was too large to sit on my entryway chest. It now lives in my dining room.

Do you have any tips for growing orchids?


*All information pertains to Moth Orchids, a common household orchid.