Designer Secrets

I swear it takes me the whole month to read a magazine.  I love shelter mags because they can be a source of inspiration and entertainment.  Tonight I'm reading the latest issue of House Beautiful. "101 Designer Secrets" by Lisa Cregan caught my eye.  I'm often asked what the "rules" of home decoration are and people seem happiest with answers involving numbers.  I'm not saying whether I agree or disagree with any of the following, but the article was full of such answers, so I'll share some with you:

Hang artwork 63" on center above the floor for perfect viewing height.


When framing artwork, specify a mat with 8-ply thickness to create an impressive bevel.


A bed should be no higher than 23" off the floor.


A bench at the foot of a bed should be at least 2" shorter than the width of the mattress.


No more than 6 pillows on the bed.


Mount 5 robe hooks 68" high instead of a towel bar.


Dining room chandeliers should hang 60"-66" above the floor.


End tables should be no less than 30" high.


Bedside tables should be 36-38" high


A rectangular table should be 36" wide.


Give yourself at least 36" of space between the dining table and wall to pull out chairs comfortably.


Wall sconces in a bathroom should be installed 66" above the floor to the center of the fixture.


Drapery panels should have a 1/2" break at the floor.


Put light switches 36" off the floor and 1 1/2" - 2" off the door trim.


When ordering fabric, add 2 yards so that you never run out and you can replace a ruined cushion.


15 watt bulbs simulate candlelight.


Sofas should be 6.5'-7' long.


Install an outlet 28" high behind a console table to allow a lamp to be plugged in with no unsightly cords dripping off the top.

Hope you enjoyed those numbers.  Read the whole article in the May 2012 issue of House Beautiful;

Ciao,
Anne

This House is Beatiful!

I started flicking through the June issue of House Beautiful last night--it's a good one!  Page after page of great ideas and sources and some really nice examples of stellar interior design.  The resource theme of this month is the hardware store.  Places like Ace, Lowe's Home Depot, etc.  I am a lover of hardware stores--much more comfortable there than at the mall.  The imagination can really soar in a hardware store and all kinds of wonderful solutions can be found.

So I went on the HB website to grab a few pix to show you.  Please remember that you don't have to be a fan of the particular style of an interior to get great ideas out of it.   Designer Ann Wolf  is featured for a home she worked on in Houston. She did a spectacular job and here are some ideas for you to enjoy:

It's the ceiling I want you to notice.  Love that blue!

That stone fireplace on the screened porch, with the super simple mantel is fabulous.  It's the artwork of the room.

Looky here.  She made a children's reading nook out of an unused space in the house.  Love how the grommet curtains are hung from the ceiling.  Kids space, but grown up fabric on those curtains--that's how we all coexist with each other.  And don't kids just love cozy spaces where they can hide away from us?

This picture really looks better in the magazine.  Look at the ceiling--isn't it a beauty?  Why do we ignore ceilings?  And this is a great use of gray, my least favorite color, unless you get it really right, which she did.  Not cold, not depressing.  Soothing, neutral and providing a great backdrop for the daffodils on the nightstands (which, you notice, do NOT MATCH).

One more.  Nice office space. Roman shade on the window is gorgeous to gaze upon, cobalt blue lamp reminds me of the water, hardware on the built-in cabinetry is just lovely. And the peacock wallpaper lining the back of the bookshelves is a wonderful, deluxe look, but, if it's the wallpaper I think it is, then it's just for show and won't really stand up to books being shoved back and forth.  But I love it all!

Ciao,
Anne

I like this room makeover!

House Beautiful, February, 2011

I just finished reading the new issue of House Beautiful and found this great "One-Day Makeover" in it's pages.  It's got lots of good ideas.  Above you see the "before" room.  Large but narrow space, good light coming in.  What the homeowner was doing was using 2 sofas, back to back.  So we're looking at the blue sofa, but there's a white one right behind it.  It makes for difficult conversation and narrow aisles on each side of the room.  Poor use of space.  Kind of boring.

Room by Healing & Barsanti

So here's the "after" shot.  Love the new floor plan. Not sure if you can tell, but there's a dining table and chairs at the far end of the room.  Great use of space.  Love the vibrant artwork on the left wall and the purple lamp.  I like how the white coffee table gives the eye a place to rest amid all the color.  Not sure I'd have chosen those drapes, but I'm quibbling.  They pulled blue and purple throughout the room and that's one of my all time favorite color combinations.  That tie dye rug is delicious and all the furniture looks useful and comfortable.

It's not a boring room anymore!  Very liveable and attractive.  This is a room that would make me smile!

Ciao,

Anne



Hey! That's MY slogan!

For almost 8 years, I've used these words on my websites and other promotional materials--"Does your house make you smile?"  I know I don't own the words, but then again I kind of feel that I do.  So imagine my displeasure when reading through a copy of "House Beautiful" yesterday and seeing this;

Humpf (did I spell that right--humpf?)!  I guess what I'm saying is that no one else can use the word "smile" in connection with "house" or, in this case, "home" (cause it's the same thing).  Don't worry, I hear how I sound.  I'll let it go.  Detach with love.  First I need to pout a bit.  Thanks for your indulgence.

Ciao,

Anne