New year, new home!

“As you grow older, you’ll find the only things you regret are the things you didn’t do.” Zachary Scott

Here comes the New Year and there is no time like right now to rethink, refresh and redesign your home!

These days, like many people, you are probably staying in more often.  It may mean you’ve had a chance to notice that dingy paint in the kitchen or made more aware of that door that won’t close right.  Back when the economy was booming you might have thought to sell your home, but now it is likely your going to stay put.  Why not feel great about that?  

Small changes in your home now mean that you’ll be able to enjoy your home more (you won’t believe what a fresh coat of paint can do) and also means you’ll be in a great position to sell your home if and when the time comes.  All those little, nagging projects can get front seat priority now.  And with the job market so tight, you can have your pick of great contractors and possibly even get great deals on materials.

"We're in an era where, rather than stretching for a trophy home, we can think about ways to modify the houses we're already in to make ourselves happy," says Daniel McGinn, author of House Lust, a book about how America became obsessed with McMansions, vacation houses, and "investing" in real estate during the boom. 

If you are ready to chat with us about redoing some aspect of your home, all you have to do is contact us!

For more reasons to put time and money into your home now, check out this article by “This Old House.” 

Painting your bedroom with dark paint

“Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark, or the man afraid of the light?”

Maurice Freehill

If you want to create an instantly dramatic room, consider painting it with a dark, moody color - nothing says bold and dramatic like a stormy midnight grey or a deep metallic charcoal! Dark colors are also a natural choice for a room that needs to have some masculine energy, and the strength of that deep, masculine color can be balanced with soft creamy fabrics if it’s a ‘his and hers’ room.

Did you know that it is much easier to make a room feel finished and anchored with dark walls and light accessories? Starting with white or light walls, most people just end up adding lots of clutter trying to make the room feel ‘done.’ A room with a bold color needs very little ‘stuff’ to make it feel complete. Yet many people hesitate to paint their walls dark for fear it will make a room feel small and gloomy. The trick is to pair that dark paint with bright linens, art and even furniture; the high contrast actually makes the white seem even brighter and draws your eye to the light things in the room!

If you do choose to paint with a deep color, I offer four suggestions:

1. Consider starting with a tinted primer. Primer is less expensive and can not only mean fewer coats of the higher cost paint, but it will also even out the wall imperfections so that your finished product looks better.

2. Try a little bit more expensive paint. I frequently use Aura by Benjamin Moore when painting a dark color because it never needs more than two coats.  A dark color will highlight a bad paint job, so make sure you finish the job!

3. Choose the least amount of sheen (how shiny the paint is) you can get away with in the room. If it’s an adult’s bedroom or guest room, go flat/matte. Dark paints look best with little sheen.

4. Be generous. If you are going to do just a single coat using standard paint, don’t bother. A poor paint job looks awful - if you are going to put the time in to decorate your home, put in the extra couple of hours you need for that second, or even third, coat - it’s worth it!!!

So take a risk, and as I remind all my clients, it is only paint. It’s not really much of a risk and might just give you incredible reward!

A primer on paint - what sheen should I choose?

Not only do you have to decide what color you will paint your walls, you also have to decide the sheen of the paint. The "sheen" is the shininess of the paint and has a big effect on the look and durability of the paint job. It also affects coverage (how many coats you'll need).

In general, the less shiny the finish, the more sophisticated the final look. However, the inverse is true for durability - in general, the more shiny, the more durable and washable. You should also know that the sheen can change how a color looks to your eye and may appear darker or lighter with a glossier finish.

There are four basic levels of sheen: flat or matte, eggshell and satin, semigloss, and gloss. With some manufacturers, they have both eggshell and satin (eggshell having slightly less sheen) and some also have a high gloss in addition to the standard gloss.

Flat Paint

Also called "matte," this finish is generally non-reflective (though many top quality flats still have a very slight sheen) and is the most forgiving in that it can hide surface imperfections, including scratches and small dents. A flat paint also has the greatest hiding capability allowing for fewer coats of paint.

Flat paint is a good choice for large interior ceilings and for walls in living areas that don’t get a lot of abuse. It is not recommended for areas with high humidity and water exposure. My favorite matte finish paint is Aura by Benjamin Moore - it looks like velvet in the darker colors!

Eggshell or Satin

Both eggshell and satin paint have slightly more sheen than flat, satin having more sheen than eggshell.

I use satin or eggshell on kid’s room walls, kitchen and bathrooms because they have better stain resistance than flat paints and can be scrubbed more vigorously. It also resists humidity well, though your bathrooms should still have good venting.

Satin can be a nice choice for trim if you don’t want it too shiny, and it is a great choice for exterior use since it readily sheds water and resists the effects of the sun.

Semi-Gloss Paint

The next highest sheen, semigloss, is even more resistant to dirt and scuff marks, and easier to clean. It’s traditionally used in kitchens, bathrooms and on trim, windows or doors. As satin paints have improved I don’t tend to use semigloss on walls any more because it looks a little too plasticky to me and really highlights imperfections in the walls, so I reserve it for trim, windows and doors. Still, it can be a smart choice for a kid’s bathroom.

Gloss Paint

Gloss paint it highly reflective, very tough, more stain resistant and easier to clean than any lower paint sheen. Because of its highly reflective nature it will really highlight surface imperfections. Gloss paint can be used on trim, doors and windows, but choose it carefully as this type of paint will produce a "plastic" coated look on smooth trim and doors. That can be great if it is the look you want.

Other notes

This information all refers to water based paints. Some people really prefer to use oil paint for doors, windows and trim as it is more durable and because it dries more slowly, brush marks have time to even out. Bear in mind that oil paint is much more toxic and must be used in a well-ventilated area, and that it must be cleaned up with spirits instead of just water. Anther option for that higher durability is to choose a latex "enamel" - these have more binder content than other types of finishes and so are harder, more stain and scuff resistant ,plus are more washable than other interior finishes.

This information is also meant for guidance on painting the interior of a home, but each paint sheen is also available for exterior use. I recommend a satin sheen for exterior walls because it sheds water well, but still looks sophisticated. Just keep in mind that the shinier the paint, the more it will shed water and resist dirt pick-up. For exterior trim you can stick with satin, or go to a semi gloss or even a gloss.

The ability for a paint to hide an existing color is directly affected by the sheen of the new paint. In general, flat paint covers the best, gloss the worst. So, say it takes two coats of flat paint, you’ll want three or more coats of semi-gloss or gloss for perfect coverage.

Remember that every manufacturer will have a slightly different definition of each sheen, so be sure to look at the samples for the specific brand you are buying before committing to a given sheen. The samples on paint chips are usually given in a flat sheen.

Happy painting!

Someone's going to love your stuff!

“How many things are there which I do not want.” Socrates 

After my divorce a good friend gave me some wonderful advice when I was trying to decide what to do with my wedding ring. She said that I needed to get it out of my home in order to make room for all the good things that were waiting for me to make space for them.

That really hit home because without realizing it, by holding on to that token of my past I was keeping myself from opening to new love.

Now I work with clients trying to make fresh starts in their own lives, and I always share that wisdom with them. Every time we start I hear the list of excuses why they CAN’T get rid of Aunt Ann’s chair, the second set of dishes, the broken mirror, the dusty records in the attic, etc... At this point, after reminding them that they are trying to move FORWARD in their lives, I gently remind them that instead of hoarding the stuff out of fear and guilt, they can let someone else use and enjoy it! Not only will the stuff have a new life, but there will be room in their home and heart for things that will bring them joy to look at and use.

If you are ready to tackle your home and lighten its load, here are five helpful tips to focus the project:

1. 1.Contain the project. Choose one half of a closet, one quarter of a garage, or one box of papers. Make it an area that you can finish in an hour or two.
2. 2.Get comfortable and prepared. Have a chair or pillow to sit on, have water on hand, and have boxes ready for the things you are keeping, the things you are letting go, and the things that need further consideration.
3. 3.Set a timer for one hour. During that one hour do not answer the phone, wander to the fridge, or otherwise get distracted. When the timer dings, take the box for Goodwill to the donation station immediately. Move the Craigslist items to a corner and post them within 24 hours. Action is the key!
4. 4.If you are going to sell your items through Craigslist, decide how you want to use the money you make. Write down that goal or post of picture of it in the workspace you are organizing. By posting a picture nearby of what you DO want then as you hold each item you can ask yourself if it supports the life you WANT or the life you have.
5. 5.Unless you are focussing on paperwork for the hour, NEVER read, sort or file the papers you find while decluttering. You’ll NEVER finish because either you’ll drown in nostalgia or get overwhelmed. Instead, have a small box on hand, toss the papers you find into it, and make that a separate organizing project.

Once you finish an section, celebrate. Imagine how much closer you are to having the life and home you want, and smile!

Create a "Conversation Room"

“I find television to be very educating.  Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book.  

Groucho Marx

Long Live the Living Room

Home stagers, TV advertisers, and greeting cards companies make their money selling a fantasy.  They sell you a make-believe world in which friends come over to your home to linger over a cup of tea and celebrate the ups and downs of life.  They convince you that this home, this brand of coffee, this holiday card is the missing ingredient, the key, that will give you a life filled with friendship and meaning.  

Of course, that’s a bunch of hooey.  There is no magic product that will create a meaning-filled, love-filled life.  The “secret” is, in fact, that any house can be a home, any cup of coffee can give friends a reason to stay a little longer, and any  sent to a loved one shows you’re thinking of them, even a halloween card sent at Easter.

There is, however, something you can do to increase your chance for a a magical, meaningful life.  It has to do to with creating a place amenable to conversation, a space in your home where distractions are limited and the focus is on the human being in front of you.  What started long ago as the parlor and then morphed into the now unused living room I’d like to reintroduce as...

Before, the focus of the room was a giant TV.  That TV is still in the room, but now the focus is on gathering and talking.

“The Conversation Room.”

It all started with the parlor, a pristine room where guests and host met over tea.  As cultures became less formal parlors fell out of fashion and living rooms took over.  They were less formal than a parlor, but still tended to be a grown up space.  

As we started focusing more on involving children in every aspect of our lives, and as the TV became a bigger and more important fixture in our homes, many created a separate room to play in as a family, aptly named the “family room”.  Soon the formal living room became a sort of museum; polished, pristine, and unused.

Finally, the family room devolved (yes, I am biased) into a media room, a room completely centered on, focused on, the TV.  As a result, now when our friends come over they all crowd into the kitchen!  Why?  It’s the only public room left in the home where it’s polite to talk (admit it, if the TV is on, it’s generally considered rude to talk - amazing how the TV program gets precedence over human interaction!).

But I say you CAN have the magic they show in the coffee commercials?  All you need to do is create a conversation room in your home.

How do I create a conversation room?

A conversation room can be created in your old ‘formal’ living room, or even created out of your current family/media room (if the TV junkies are open to the idea).  Of course you’ll want the room to be attractive, the furniture comfy,  and the colors to look well thought out, but those are details; the key is in the *furniture arrangement*.

Flip through a magazine and look at the images of inviting living rooms - unlike many family rooms you see today with the furniture all directed towards the TV, the seating in these rooms faces other seating, making it easy and natural to talk.  It’s kind of like tree stumps in a circle around a fire pit.  That’s it.  That’s the key!

So here, along with that most important furniture arrangement key, are:

Five tips for creating a great, living, conversation room.

1. Make it intimate.

This is that first key - make sure the furniture allows for easy conversation.  No one should have to overturn their head to chat with a friend.  Equally, no one should have to shout to be heard or struggle to hear the conversation.  Of course a conversation room can be created in a great big room, but it should still be broken down into small conversation spots, small enough for two to gossip, and large enough for four friends to pass an afternoon. 

2. Make it comfortable.

Forget stiff and formal living room furniture.  And lose the old futon that swallows your friends.  The furniture should be comfortable and inviting - and that means not only the right level of “squooshiness” but also that it should be neither so clean, nor so dirty, that people are afraid to sit.  Also make sure that the temperature is comfortable; have a couple of throws in easy reach for friends who might feel chilled. 

3.  Make it private.

A conversation room should feel “safe” for sharing secrets.  It’s not meant to be the center of attention, or right off the kids’ play area, or next to the main phone in the house.  It should be free of distractions friends can come together and plot their next conquest and commiserate over their latest lost love.

4. Invite a little distraction.

While it is important that there be no TV in the conversation room, or if there is, that it has a very good cover that conceals it and that the furniture is *not* oriented towards it, you still want a little distraction in the room for those comfortable pauses in any conversation.  Light music, a garden view or interesting painting, and a few good books on the table will do.

5. Make it stylish.

Give the room a theme or style that inspires you to sit and stay a while.  Prefer a clean, open, contemporary look?  Or a cozy, country feel?  Maybe a fascinating global adventure?  Play with it, but give it a distinct personality; it shouldn’t feel like a forgotten or catch-all room.  Give it the honor that you want to give to your visiting friends.

It’s time to reclaim a LIVING living room - good luck!

PS - for a little help accomplishing this design mission consider hiring an interior “redesigner” - their focus and mission is to decorate using ‘what you have’!  

Finding Your Design Style

“Her hat is a creation that will never go out of style; it will just look ridiculous year after year.” Fred Allen

Finding your ‘style’ may feel impossible as you flip through the pages of home design magazines; there are so many beautiful rooms and furnishings!  With my clients I use mood boards that reflect five general styles; this eliminates some of the confusion and reduces the number of overwhelming options created by all those pictures.

Instead of confusing my customers with the intricacies of what might differentiate a French Country room from a Neoclassical room, or fussing over whether a Ming Dynasty vase belongs in a Japanese-influenced room, I keep the categories simple and broad so we can get down to the business of creating the new look.

Let’s begin with what we’ll call the “Classical” style.

CLASSICAL style feels timeless and honors history and tradition.  A classical room looks balanced and polished, features rich, luxurious fabrics and finishes, and exudes an air of quality.   You might like this style if you enjoy a clear feeling of antiquity and balance, and prefer old world treasures and marble floors with luxurious draperies.

Next consider the “Contemporary” style.

CONTEMPORARY style feels clean and open.  A contemporary space leans toward a minimalist feel, shunning clutter in favor of clean, crisp lines and a few key features that focus the room.  In contrast to the Classical style this leans towards the modern and new and tends to have an edgy, avante-garde look.

Perhaps you enjoy the natural, well-traveled look of the “Global” style.

GLOBAL style honors the world traveler and cultural collector.  A global room features natural fibers, varied textures, and colors common to nature.  It invites the viewer to take a journey.   This style can reflect one culture (such as a japanese-styled dining room or african-styled family room) or reflect a more general feeling of global travel.

For the fearless, perhaps a “Dramatic” style. 

DRAMATIC style feels fearless.  A dramatic room is far from ordinary and always leaves a lasting impression.  Built through drama, theme, and color, it is ‘extreme design’ and not for the faint of heart.  A dramatic room frequently begins with one of the other design styles, but that style is pushed beyond the ordinary to the spectacular.  This style is where theme rooms come into play - maybe a medieval castle for your basement media room, or an adventure filled jungle room for the kids!

For the hearth and home, “Country” style.

COUNTRY style speaks to tradition and family.  A country room embraces visitors with warmth and might feature family treasures, flea market finds, and cheerful, patterned, often mismatched fabrics.  It invites the visitor to sit and stay awhile.

And finally, you might find that you feel most suited to a combination of all the above.  This has become a very common in decorating, and we call it “Eclectic” style.

ECLECTIC style feels fun and vibrant.  Within an eclectic room all five styles may coexist harmoniously.  A well designed eclectic room showcases collected treasures and creates a jewel box of a room.

I find that while any room can reflect a given personality, an eclectic room will most fully represent its owner.  This style of room is most like a treasure chest and is filled with varied objects that may not all ‘match’ but that each speak to it’s owner I find that while any room can reflect a given personality, an eclectic room will most fully represent its owner.  This style of room is most like a treasure chest and is filled with varied objects that may not all ‘match’ but that each speak to it’s owner on a personal level.  The eclectic style is also well suited to the modern concerns for ecological friendly design because it allows for a viable combination of already-owned furnishings, consignment store finds and antiques, and new purchases.  

These are very broad categories, but are a wonderful starting point for figuring out the kind of room and home in which you’d like to live.  Try applying these style categories to the rooms you are drawn to as you flip through the magazines - you might be pleasantly surprised to find a common theme, and then suddenly you have a starting point for your new design!