New Use for Scrapbooking Paper!
July 19, 2010 by Priscilla
Filed under cheap, free & easy, feature
Re-Arranging Your Space for a New Look!
August 10, 2009 by Priscilla
Filed under cheap, free & easy, feature, home
Are you stuck? Here’s a room with great colors, beautiful floors, classy leather chairs, but something was missing. My client wanted something that really caught your attention – and this just didn’t cut it.
This is a nice arrangement but it’s very predictable. Interior Redesign isn’t about creating something different. It’s about creating the perfect arrangement for the person who lives in the space!
Here are our problems with the arrangement of space in the room pictured above:
1. Predictable arrangement
2. Artwork that doesn’t fill the space (Notice the space between the pictures – stretching your artwork just looks like… you’re stretching it, not like you wanted it there)
3. Accessories that aren’t appropriate scale (Notice the lamp).
4. Furniture that doesn’t relate to the pieces around it (Notice the small table between the chairs).
By targeting problems in your space, you can create a plan to correct them when it’s convenient for you! Take a look at the room now that it has been rearranged and all of the problems were addressed.
This new arrangement of the chairs will encourage conversation, and instead of a table, we used an ottoman. Perfect for a more casual setting! Now the artwork fills the space and I moved the existing lamp into another room and an adjustable lamp was purchased to accommodate reading.
Can you think of a room in your home that doesn’t feel right to you and ask yourself why. What do you want to do while in this room? Does the arrangement of furniture accomplish what you want it to? Is it too formal? Too casual? Don’t be afraid to give something a try – you’ll never know how it might turn out!
Decorating with Popular Wall Textures
July 25, 2009 by Priscilla
Filed under Inspiration, home
When I’m meeting with a client and we’re discussing color during a remodel, I get asked, “What texture should I use?” So, I thought I’d share some popular wall textures with you. I know in some areas of the country, no texture is used. In the areas I serve, textures are very popular. By no means is this list exhaustive, but here we go!
French Lace or Spanish Lace
This texture is said to be popular in Florida. Got any Floridians out there? Let me know if you agree! This is a hand texture and this application – hand application – seems to be the thing to do. Depending on your preference, this can be applied to give a light to heavy finish.
Santa Fe
This is another hand applied texture that is popular in the southwest. It’s a heavy texture, so it covers all your blemishes! Definitely a plus!
Splatter
This application requires the drywall compound to be first sprayed onto the drywall in varying thicknesses depending on the nozzle on the sprayer. Then, a hand trowel is used to flatten out some “blobs” to create flat areas. Like my technical terms?!
A splatter technique, Orange Peel, is a common application in my area. Often times, this is applied to the ceiling with an accompanied hand trowel technique applied to the walls. It’s coined orange peel because once on the wall, it looks like….well, an orange peel. Go figure!
Knockdown or Skip Trowel or Splatter Drag
This is applied like orange peel but with a larger nozzle opening – to create larger “blobs” of drywall compound. This is a slower application, so something to consider when planning your project. This can be applied light to heavy as well. As a rule, the heavier the texture is the more paint it will take to cover the wall or ceiling. Also, the lighter the application is the more subtle the effect will be. If a subtler effect is desired, a glaze can be applied to highlight the groves in the texture to give the wall some dimension.
Whatever you do, please NO Popcorn texture! I am an unofficial member of the PAPT (people against popcorn texture) group. HA!
Also, as I was researching, I found that the names and application varies depending on who you are talking to but I hope this information helps you when communicating to your clients or painters. Happy texturing! As always, tell me what you think!
Sittin Pretty
July 18, 2009 by Priscilla
Filed under Inspiration, shop
On my last Weekend Warrior project, my mother-in-law and I removed wall paper and scraped popcorn texture off my guest bath ceiling. (By the way, kitchen spatulas aren’t bad tools for removing ceiling texture! I’m sure it would have worked better with the correct tool!) We then textured the walls with a Priscilla’s surprise texture technique – meaning, however it turned out, that’s the way it was supposed to turn out. I selected Sherwin Williams “Dewy” for my wall color – a color from my very own handy-dandy Custom Color Perfect Palette.
I’m gradually updating this bathroom. There’s still more I’d like to do, but the color really made a huge impact! Whispering… in my haste to get started, I forgot to take before pictures. I know, I won’t let it happen again.
Sooo, I was in my local Home Goods store. I found this really interesting piece of wall art that would look great above the “potty” in my bathroom.
It’s a birdcage shelf, so it gives me another place for accessories. I had some extra ribbon that I had used for trim on my daughter’s dress several years ago that was perfect for hanging the grapevine wreath. It’s hard to see from this photo, but if you look closely, you’ll see the back of Jane Austen inside the cream frame. I was inspired by Kelly -I, too am a Jane Austen fan -o.
I also added my whimsy! The other photo is of our aunt’s donkey, Jasmine. I’ve added a zebra rug, so I guess Jasmine is our zebra?
What are some of your projects? I’d love to hear about them!
For more inspiration, I like to watch Weekend Warrior inspiration.
Bring Back Balance with a Redesign Touch Up
July 17, 2009 by Priscilla
Filed under Inspiration, feature, home
Take Photos
A good rule of thumb is to take pictures before you relocate an item even if it’s only temporarily. For example, in addition to Christmas decorations, prior to painting, take a photo to reference when it’s time to put everything back. Even the best of us can forget where the gold finial was- was it to the left or right of the decorative box?!
Focus on One Room
If you relocated an accent chair to your master and are trying to decide to put it back in the family room or leave it, decide which room you want to address first. Work on one space at a time. Believe me, this can be challenging! If you decide to put your family room back in order first, move the accent chair back there. You may realize at this point that you really liked having the extra seating in your master. Create a wish list for your master bedroom. Then, you can add a chair at a later time.
Simplify
You may feel that after the excess of your holidays you want to have less in your space. Go through your room with your handy dandy plastic storage tub near. Remove a layer. If you had Great Aunt Bessy’s bowl displayed while she was visiting, pack it up. Pack up your kids craft gifts or display them in a more appropriate location. Recycle old magazines to free up space on your coffee table. It’s always good when we can think green! These simple steps will breathe new life into your space.
Room Resolutions
To help your room find it’s new self and keep it’s New Year’s resolution without breaking the bank, add a layer. Refer back to your shopping list that I left with you. What’s next? Items are budgeted, so find your available price range and buy in increments. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing! You will be pleased with your new items and proud of yourself that you stayed within your budget!
Schedule an Expert Redesign Touch Up Service
If you love your space but want to fine tune your room after the holiday shuffle, give me a call. Occasionally, your cleaning crew may do a little “decorating” for you, and you wonder how it was before. Whatever your situation, DecoratingSpaces can give you your beautiful space back for only a portion of your original redesign cost!
Here’s a good example of a hole left after the Christmas tree is gone. The other side of the room is heavier due to use of color and furnishings. If left empty, the room would feel off-balance.
Decorating Discoveries with Apothecary Jars
July 15, 2009 by Priscilla
Filed under cheap, free & easy, feature, home
Do you love containers? I love containers but sometimes I ask myself, “How many apothecary jars does one woman need?!”
Well, I decided I can have as many as I want! The problem is…what to put in them? I want something different and cool.
This past weekend I went to Buchanan’s. If you live in the DFW area and you love unique finds, put it on your calendar. It’s an antique show that comes every month to the Dallas Fairgrounds. Go to http://www.buchananmarkets.com/ for more info.
Here are some great decorating discoveries you can use for your next apothecary jar!
1. Dice. It would lake a gagillion dice to fill a decent size jar. Instead, place a piece of foam in the center of the jar. Then, fill the rest with dice.
I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly finding miscellaneous game pieces. I can’t get rid of them because you know the next time we play the game, we’ll need the piece. Why not stick them all in a jar at your game table? Practical and pretty!
2. Buttons. The same technique for the dice applies to buttons. It looks great if they are all one color, but you can do different colors and sizes too!
3. Gears. These are the old insides of clocks. They come in all different sizes and in varying shades of browns and grays. You could throw in a couple of vintage skeleton keys on top. OOOOoooo.
4. Doorknobs. These are my personal favorite. You can use doorknobs that are still connected and they stand vertically in your jar or you can use individual knobs to fill the jar. These range from crystal to metal to wood and come in all colors.
5. Jewelry. You can use chunky cheap bracelets, necklaces, pins. This would be so very cute on a bathroom vanity. You could even choose pieces that went with your color palette.
What are some decorating discoveries you’ve made with your containers? Share! Share! Share!
Hanging Artwork
July 14, 2009 by Priscilla
Filed under Inspiration, feature
When you’re deciding how to hang your artwork for your home or staging your home or a listing – think outside the box! You want to create a space that is memorable if you’re the client or a potential home-buyer is the client.
Here’s one alternative to just hanging artwork. This was an area that didn’t have alot of wall or floor space – it was dead space or as I like to say, it was a decorating opportunity! Easels – ok, is it easles or easels?! Thank goodness for spellcheck!
With these easels, we accomplished adding layers (window treatments, small easel, large easel). We filled the space – this was what you saw as soon as you walked into the room. We also created highs and lows or created a nice flow. Gotta get that decorator lingo in, you know!
What are some out of the box ideas you’ve used in your space? Do tell! I love hearing from you!
Go forth and decorate!
Accessorizing that reflects your style
June 5, 2009 by Priscilla
Filed under cheap, free & easy, feature
A friend – client called me to redesign her mantle. She liked what she had but didn’t know what to do with it. It just wasn’t working for her. Her style is whimsical, colorful, and casual. The current arrangement she had was too symmetrical.
By grouping her pieces together and creating a high point on the left – an asymmetrical arrangement, the arrangement now matched her style. This took very little time, so instead of just her mantle, I was able to finish out her accessories for the room and rearrange her furniture!
I would like to say that I don’t normally recommend mirrors for the mantle. Usually, they reflect the ceiling fan or the air vent or something else just as unattractive. The two mirrors I used here reflect the pretty green vases. This little trick helps expand the candlesticks and makes them appear larger.
It doesn’t always require a huge amount of time to fine tune your accessories. Do your accessories reflect you?
Decorating: What Floats Your Boat?
During the summer months, my family likes to go out on the lake in our boat. My husband grew up boating and water skiing. I, on the other hand, did not. It is a lot of work to go out. There is a lot of preparation. I can’t hook up the trailer. I can’t back the trailer. Although, I did provide some entertainment for the men at the boat ramp while attempting to back the trailer into the water. They found it quite amusing. The job that fell to me that I could manage was making sure the plug was in the boat, so we wouldn’t take on water. Well….you can guess what happened. I forgot the plug, and we began to sink. You might ask, “What does this have to do with decorating?!”
Is your space more of a challenge than you had anticipated? Did it just not turn out like you had planned? Is your room sinking?
Recently, an associate of mine, Beth Batke with Finishing Touches Redesign, wrote an article after she had seen an episode of the Rachel Ray show. On the show, a fashion stylist took 3 different women in black dresses and gave them 3 different looks. Hmmm….Beth suggested this is what Interior Redesigners do as well!
I decided I would go by Second Home Furniture, a local furniture consignment shop in Lewisville, to play. With their permission, I used one sofa and gave it three different looks. Everything used was from the store! Here are three ideas to get you afloat.
Option 1: For the Texan in us all!
Option 2: Traditional in Style and Complimentary in Color!
Option 3: Funky and Fun!
If you like what you see, go by the store and tell Stacy and Barbara I said, “Hi!”
Second Home Furniture
1288 W. Main Street #132
Lewisville, TX 75067
Personal Artwork
May 22, 2009 by Priscilla
Filed under Inspiration, feature
I wanted to fill an empty wall in my office with artwork but didn’t want to spend a fortune. I spend a lot-o-time in this room, and I want it to be pretty!
A few years ago, my hubby and I went to Mexico and took some great pictures! It was sooo beautiful! I decided to blow up our pictures for my artwork. The two pictures on the left and right are actually our footprints in the sand! This isn’t something I’m going to find in every home on my street.
It’s personal.
It has meaning.
So, when I’m working I can glance over and remember how it felt to have the sand in between my toes…aahhh.
Don’t limit your artwork to what you can find in the store!
Another great idea would be to copy your own photos in black and white. This is a really dramatic look.
Priscilla is a Flower Mound decorator with Decorating Spaces. She writes about how to make your space more beautiful at Unlocking the Possibilities.
