Does a mirror make a room look bigger?

A mirror is only is good as the image it reflects.

I wanted to share this image with you of a room designed by Barry Dixon, hung with a beautiful mirror, as seen in the September 2011 issue of House Beautiful.  Three of the things that make this vignette so successful are that 1) the mirror is hung at a natural height for a person to look in to its center, 2) the mirror itself is a lovely piece of art due to its oval shape and ornate frame, and 3) that it is reflecting a beautiful piece of art and a well chosen hanging lamp and medallion.

Room by Barry Dixon as seen in House Beautiful Sep 2011

In my work I have encountered dozens of mirrors that were meant to 'open up a room', often hung over a fireplace.  But if you hang a mirror over your fireplace and all it reflects is your white, bare or (gasp) popcorn ceiling, then all you've done is add more unsightly space to the room.  It may seem bigger, but is that the 'more' that you want?  That was the case for the client with the living room in the photo below - when I first came to their home to redesign this living room with their existing furnishings they had just that, a large, unadorned mirror reflecting a lot of white ceiling:

They wanted a new tv so we removed the mirror and hung the tv over the fireplace, and also rearranged the furniture and replaced the too-small rug with the larger rug from the dining room along with new paint and updated lighting and window treatments.  While I would have loved to put a piece of art over the fireplace, function for the family is always a first priority!

When choosing to hang a mirror consider what it will reflect when you look at it from all parts of the room.  If it reflects a beautiful view or piece of art that you love, go for it!  If it's hung so high that it just reflects white ceiling you've lost an opportunity to add to your space.  Same goes for reflecting a long dark hallway - who needs more hallway?  In those instances consider, instead, a piece of art, maybe with a natural theme like a forest with dappled light coming through aspen trees or a sunny desert vista. 

And remember, if the room feels 'dark' but a mirror will only reflect more of that dark room, add real light with table and floor lamps.

If you have questions about when to hang a mirror or how high to hang it, don't hesitate to send me an email with a picture of your space and your question, at design@rivalee.com.  Happy decorating!

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!

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’!  

Mood Boards: A great communication tool

After your interior designer has a good idea of what you have in mind for your project, they will put together a design concept for your home.  One of the tools they might use is called a 'mood board'.  A mood board is a communication tool that uses visual language to make sure everyone is on the same page regarding the colors and 'mood' wanted in the newly decorated room.  

Mood boards are not meant to be interpreted literally.  There is no need to nitpick the board and say that you don't like the arms on the chair or that you don't actually own (in the case of this board) a chocolate lab with it's own set of pearls.  You want to step back from the board and decide if the feeling, the essence it suggests, is the feeling and essence you want to live with in your new room.

This mood board was created to communicate the feeling of a 'vintage chic' style. 

The next picture shows one of the areas in the home that grew out of the mood board's concept.  Can you see the relation in the color scheme and feeling between the board and real life vignette?

There is no reason why you can't create a mood board for yourself, too!  If you are planning on working with a designer, most will welcome the advance time and thought you put into the dream and vision you have for your room.  And if you are paying your designer by the hour, you save money, too!  Don't worry about making it perfect, or even about things matching.  It can be a pile of clipped images that may not seem to relate; your designer can often distill your design style from vary disparate images.

On the other hand, if you are do-it-yourselfer, a complete mood board is a great tool for making sure that as you are out shopping you don't stray too far from the feeling you want, and you are more likely to end up with a cohesive, finished room than if you shop without this kind of a map and just buy on impulse.  Impulse shopping usually just leaves you with more stuff and a still unfinished room, crying out for cohesion.  So try your hand at a mood board.  Let your imagination run wild with the room you'd Love to have.  Clip images from home magazines, off the internet, from your own photos, and even from travel, fashion and cooking magazines.  This is about setting a mood with texture and color - the details of the arms on the chair will be worked out later.