Free and Easy Updates

I love to refresh my rooms.  Small things work well, so I like to start that way first....otherwise

it can get out of control!  My favorite way is to create a new look by moving furniture in the room to new positions. If I can't set the largest piece - like a sofa - on a new wall, I try 'floating' it in the room. Angled pieces work nicely to create the illusion of more space. Moving a large piece to a different wall can change a room's character.  What about taking a piece from another room?  I swapped my guest room dresser - since it's not used all the time - for an end table. Loved the result!   Even changing the art on the walls is free, easy and will give you a new look!

Adding an area rug is also easy, fast and usually around $100. You can usually move rugs from room to room if your colors are cohesive, so that purchase will get lots of mileage and update many rooms! It's nice to use  area rugs in your outdoor spaces too -  warm it up for early evening dinners - with an outdoor rug (be SURE it is rated for outdoor use or it could mold or disintegrate).

My third favorite way to make big changes is to swap accessories from room to room or season to season.  It can really change a room. Using baskets from your kitchen in the living room will make it casual and warm.  I like ceramic vases and shaped containers since I find it more interesting to move them around than to buy new ones.  Sometimes finding an inexpensive new accessory is what works for you. Mix it up then. Instead of traditional vases and candles, try statuary. In lieu of ceramic or porcelain, experiment with glass. Change the color scheme of accessories. Remember that fewer and large pieces will create impact.  Yep, pillows are an accessory and with so many discount store (Marshalls, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Ross) you can find interesting patterns and colors for under $20.  I sometimes buy one nice form and then swap only the cover.

What our designers do...

If you ask people what an interior designer's job entails, you'll probably hear: Space Planning. Decorating. Placing furniture. Selecting tile.  

That's only a small sampling of what we do.  The responsibility for a fabulous space that's functional, safe, and innovative, falls to interior designers. Love the coffee shop that you visit? A designer created that space.  Want technology, aesthetics and function in your spaces? We'll nail it.  Designers are lifestyle advocates and bring many elements together to create fabulous spaces for you, for your life, for your style.  From creating the design for your new home to selecting the right fabric for your windows, we take care of what you need.

We know what inspires you to create a style you love.  By bringing out the best in each space we can make it look larger, taller, use odd angles and nooks, and make it work for you. Interior designers, like the team at TOT-Home, evaluate the mechanics of every space - scale, dimension, lighting, and more - and then work with your desires and requirements to maximize the space, how it functions, what's in it, and create a design  that reflects your personality, grounds you, and fulfills your needs.   When it comes to personalizing your design, we're experts at mixing styles and periods to create atmospheres that are inventive, vibrant, comfortable and don't look decorated.  

  

Contact us for our Design In A Day program, an hourly consult, or a full project package!

A weekend update for your kitchen.

We all love to renew our homes and do so on a budget, in a timely manner. Here are TEN do-it-yourself ideas to re-new your kitchen in one weekend.

From drab oak wood to fresh ivory paint.

1) If your wooden cabinets are in great shape but your kitchen looks dated or tired, new paint is the answer. I recommend Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams paints and primers. 


2) New hardware for the cabinets make a tremendous difference so swap your old knobs and pulls for a new style and finish. If you're painting cabinets, you can fill holes and go from knobs to pulls.

3) Add or change your backsplash.  If you have only drywall, adding a backsplash is easy.  Many big box home centers have weekend classes on installing tile.  You can remove the dated ceramic tile and install new, or try beadboard for a new look.

New pendants and under cabinet lighting.

4) Update your lighting.  Try www.lampsplus.com for well-priced kitchen pendants and flush-mounted fixtures. Install  under-cabinet lighting.












5) Swap some cabinet door panels with glass for a great style. Use reeded glass - have  a glass pro cut to the right size - for some obscurity, and clear when you want to display what's inside the cabinet. Can't cut out the panel? Cover with fabric, a great decal, or other creative idea.








6) Remove some doors and expose the shelves.

7) Swap your faucet for a new style. Take out your old chrome faucet and install a new stainless one with a spray head for under $100. Check out the prices and styles at your local big box hardware store.



8) Paint. For a really quick change, just paint your walls. A bit braver, paint the floor instead of replacing it. You can even cover old ceramic tile with the right paint.


9) Remove a cabinet or two.  If you have a joined family/kitchen space, you may have ceiling mounted cabinets dividing the two areas. Taking them down will open both spaces, adding pendant lighting will make the space task-oriented and gorgeous...just be sure you can remove the storage.

10) Add a furniture touch.   Adding moldings, legs, corbels and other furniture details can transform existing cabinets.

Jewelry for your doors and drawers makes a fabulous statement.

Whether you are updating a kitchen or bath, refurbishing a piece of furniture, or just looking for a change,  using decorative hardware will make a custom design statement.  These are some of the pieces we love, and they are available at A Touch Of Tradition Home & Garden Shoppe in San Diego. Many come in 6 or 7 finishes - chrome, nickel, brass, oil rubbed bronze, silver, antiqued, and black.

Sophisticated polished nickel pull for cabinets and furniture.

The right hardware can often set the style for your space even if very little else changes. For example, you can change a kitchen whose cabinets are in good condition by using pulls in lieu of knobs.  Make them a different style from the existing and enjoy the transformation.  

Glass and chrome - artistic yet classic.

Available in 5 finishes, this knob is elegant and traditional.

Dressers and chests whose style is dated in your home, can be updated with new pulls or knobs.  Antique pieces are ideal for hardware changes, since they will dress up the furniture yet be removable if the piece needs to be sold. Schaub Hardware has several lines of decorative, traditional hardware perfect for this application.










Linen closet and other hallway storage cabinet doors and drawers reap benefits from new hardware. What was a wall of doors can become a work of art with hardware like pieces from Vicenza Designs.  Even simple hardware from a big box retail or hardware store can have a huge impact on cabinets and closets.

Add appliance pulls to larger pieces of furniture. Try adding an element from nature - like these textured bamboo pulls - for a casual yet enduring style. 

Bamboo textured, casual and classic. 7 finishes available

 Have a specialty area in your home like a wine cellar?  Use an elegant pull with a theme, to create a stunning, custom space.

Satin nickel and granite for a modern kitchen.

To update a casual kitchen, try these pulls with a brushed metal finish and a stone center. The metals will add sophistication and the granite will provide elegance and artistry.

Lions head style for a European look. 6 finishes.

A wonderful themed knob in nickel.

Should you use stone or not?

When selecting surfaces for your floors, walls and counters, also consider the long-term cost of maintenance. With a huge variety of color and size options, the cost to purchase install your surface, as well as costs to maintain should be the determining factors for selection.  Here is a brief guide to surfaces and their care:

 Recommendation from the designer: Porcelain tile and Quartz counters are two of the most durable, easy care, competitive cost alternatives.  For both, the selection of colors, ways to use, and overall performance are fantastic. The options in porcelain tile sizes and styles are ever-increasing, with trim tiles to finish edges. I prefer porcelain and quartz to their natural stone counterparts.

1) Granite: Porous, igneous stone. Tile and slab available. Must be sealed annually in baths, more often in kitchens. Stains and etches. Don't let oils or vinegars sit on surface too long. Great heat resistance. Be aware that some colors have radon. Not impervious to bacteria. Clean with stone cleaner to avoid removing sealer or dulling shine. Don't use acidic products or shine can be dulled.

2) Quartz: (Silestone, Cambria, Caesarstone, etc..) Stone-epoxy composite.Tile and slab available. Non-porous so no sealer required.  Heat and stain resistant. High durability. Often embedded with antibacterial compound. Clean with almost any household cleaner. Some versions by Silestone are 'green'. Colors can be stone-like or unique in pattern and particulate.  This bath uses a fossil-like quartz in a soft white. 

3) Travertine-limestone-soapstone-marble-slate: These are all porous stone products that can be used on counters, floors and walls. Tile and slab available. They MUST be sealed often so water and products don't penetrate.  All are stainable and prone to scratches. Soapstone has good heat resistance. Requires regular cleaning with stone cleaner or neutral non-abrasive cleaner.  Products for ceramic tile may NOT be used on these stones. Soap scum is difficult to remove. Special products are available to help remove stains.

4) Porcelain: A subset of ceramic tile. Highly durable surface for floors, walls, and even counters. Generally through-body color with a glazed surface. No porosity. Clean with nearly any household cleaner. Recommend that you seal grout after installation for best stain resistance in high use areas. Patterns, colors, and sizes nearly limitless. Unique stone-like patterns available for more durable, easy care surface than real stone.

5) Ceramic: Made from clay or other inorganic materials, hardened by oven firing and usually coated with some kind of glaze.  Ceramic is easy to clean and doesn't harbor germs.

6) Solid surfaces (Corian, Corinthinan, Wilsonart, etc...) : Solid, manufactured with plastic or acrylic. Durable, non-porous, stain and bacteria resistant. Not heat resistant. Through-color and easy to buff scratches or make repairs. Often has integrated sink options. Seams are inconspicuous.

Favorite decor for June

I love to change accessories seasonally, especially when I prepare to use outdoor spaces for eating and entertaining. Here are some great finds for indoors and out to start your summer fun!

1) Lighting. This is a nice departure from traditional metal lanterns. Made of glazed ceramic, these lanterns can be hung, placed on a surface, and strung along the eaves of a covered porch. The light is soft and diffused and looks great against the tabletop or wall. From Pottery Barn.

2) Furniture: This is a great bench from Ballard Designs. It's scaled right for a narrow hallway or the foot of a bed.  In black and ivory, it works with most traditional decor. 

3) Planters: A treat from Horchow, these are incredibly nice and lightweight. Most poly planters are matte and in solid colors. These have a realistic ceramic-looking glaze and are light enough to move the pots around as your plants grow or the sunlight changes.

5) Accessories.  For summer, I love to introduce coral and cream. The seaside motif is a bonus since I think coral reef patterns are timeless classics.  These pillows are from WS Home. The wooden beads on the sand dollar pillow are really nice, and I do use them on a covered patio where there is no direct sunlight. Check out the pillows with a Seaside theme for other colors and patterns you may love.

 

6) Entertaining:  This is a fun set for any style home.   I'm the hostess that puts the condiments in individual bowls so I never put the remainder back into the bottle. These are brightly colored, look like the right size for a party, and they can be used year-round.

7) Tabletop: From Kim Seybert who is an extraordinary designer of luxury table linens and napkin rings. Since coral (the organism) is indicative of seaside and summer, setting the table with these napkin rings is both seasonal and elegant. Paired with all white dinnerware, you can be flexible with napkins or table runners.  Available in multiple bead colors.

Part 2 - Ten more ideas for updating your decor.

Last week I posted a list of ten ideas to update your decor, bring in a new element, or just to re-fresh your rooms.  Some are very simple and some for advanced do-it-yourself fans.  Here are ten more ideas to try for every room in your home. 

1) Add flowers.  There is something about a container of flowers that is refreshing.  Using a single type of bloom - whether they are orchids,  carnations or lilies - makes an elegant statement and really dresses up a room. The container you use, from a glass vase to a ceramic urn, will add to creating a new statement in your space.












2) Make a lighting change.  I always like to add light to rooms to vary how they feel. A simple candlestick lamp on a small table can brighten a dark corner.  One fabulous floor lamp keeps your tables clear but gives new life to your seating group. How about dropping a pendant over one of your tables? It does require wiring - or a swag cord -  but the effect of lifting light and not cluttering your surfaces is wonderful.




3) Create a focal point.  A new wall color in your room can make a bold or subtle statement and add a great element to the space. How about painting the "L" shape in the entry with a rich color that hints of the accessories that you use in the adjoining rooms? This taupe wall - with its floor mirror - is perfect for the clean lines of this living room.

4) Add detail.  Molding is a quick way to dress up doors, walls, windows and ceilings.  From hardware stores and lumberyards,  moldings are as inexpensive as $0.30 per foot. Creating a framework on a large wall, adding a chair rail to a dining room, and emphasizing a great window or fireplace with trim, will add drama and interest. Beef up the moldings you may have for a richer effect.

5) Blend your colors. For a dramatic change, remove multiple colors from your room by taking away bold pillows, accessories and other large items. Keep the colors remaining similar - even in accessories - for a great new look.  Monochromatic doesn't mean white and you can use shades of the same hue. Take a look at the warmth in this entry -living room in hues of orange-gold. 

6) Store it with finesse. Why have a piece of furniture with one use?  Instead of multiple chairs at a table, add a storage bench with a lift-up lid to tuck in the extra large bowls, napkins, and even summer dishware.  In this eating nook, a storage ottoman is also used as seating and as a tabletop with a tray.  

7) Create drama. In neutral rooms, add vibrant color in small doses.  From a piece of art on the wall, a collection of vases on a tabletop, or a great area rug, change a bland room in minutes. Here the neutral taupe and cream of this kitchen is a great backdrop for the lime green stools, accessories and lighting.

8) Re-purpose your pieces. Have a great old chest in your bedroom that you're tired of? Use it in an entry or hallway with new hardware.  With a coat of crackle paint and an apron added to the tub, this  bathroom was turned cottage chic with an old dresser. Even the top was kept and urethaned to protect from splashes.  Turn an old sewing table into a great powder room piece and add a vessel sink.  How about using the drawers from an old dresser as shelves?  You may have 2 pieces you can put together that will serve as the base for a new table or desk.

9) Bring outdoor elements in.  Plants make wonderful room decor and there are many living varieties that require low-light and little watering. Even a grapevine wreath pr a collection of faux topiary could work. I hesitate to recommend some fake plants since they look fake.  This space used plants in several areas, even as a room divider. They are a wonderful color and soft accent for this small space.

10) Create a new display. Using simple glass containers in a bath or kitchen to display necessities is a great look.  Purchase inexpensive glass apothecary jars for the bath and fill them with cotton balls, soaps, and bath salts.  The right cruet looks nice to hold bath gels. In the kitchen, Mason jars and old jam and jelly jars hold flour, salt, oatmeal, rice, etc. 

Part one - Ten Ideas for updating your decor.

We all like to make changes to our homes and apartments. It grounds us, gives us new perspective, and the changes we make are pleasing. Try a few of these ideas to change your decor.

1) Change your bed. A dramatic change to a bedroom is to add a headboard (see Blog 5/30/11 for ideas) for storage, interest and an architectural element.  It creates a great focal point, can be a place to use a new fabric in the room, and changes the feel of the space.

2) Re-arrange your art. We love to see personal collections but when you group styles and colors together, it creates a dramatic focal point. Have lots of family photos? Keep the colored prints in one area and the black and whites in another. Similar frames work to create continuity; it enables a gallery feel which is elegant yet enjoyable.

3) Add some elegance. When sprucing up a room, adding a bit of elegance can dress up the space and often highlight the style you have. Bring in an orchid plant for a large console or the coffee table. Have a great old bowl? Plant it there, allowing for plenty of drainage with gravel or decorative stones. A great candelabra can dress up a table or counter-top. Try a lace table runner on the kitchen table in a country home or a textured linen for a traditional space.

4) Bring in light. Add a great mirror to an entry, hallway, over a chest or dresser, and swap out a flat glued-to the-wall bath mirror with a framed one. This small change can have a huge impact.

5) Warm up the windows. Have drapes already? Add an organic feel with a natural woven blind. They can be elegant, casual and are wonderful to filter light. Change out your blinds to Roman Shades. It adds fabric, softness and an entirely new look.  Love your blinds? Add a great solid silk panel. Dupioni is not expensive, adds great texture and warms the windows instantly. 

6) Neutralize your fabrics. I love to see variations in prints, scale and colors but to create a real change, try a neutral look. Remove the print pillows and use textured ones in the colors of your sofa fabrics. Swap out colored pillows from your bed for all white. If you cannot tolerate solid colors, try stripes and dots, but keep them all in the same color palette. This bedroom was blue, green and beige and the change to blue was easy and dramatic.

7) Update your bedside. Get rid of the clutter and create an elegant, restful vignette. Store those books and magazines in a lidded wicker or printed paper box. It can tuck under the bed or nightstand for a clean look. Add a small plant - real is best - like an orchid, jade plant or small philodendron that is easy care and attractive. Stash your jewelry and other objects in a small box. 

8) Add some sparkle. In almost any style home, there is a place for some crystal beads, a pair of glimmering silver candlesticks, and even a collection of mercury vases. Try adding crystal votive holders, a collection of sparkling gemstone rocks, and even an assortment of glass jars filled with found objects. 

9) Dress up your coffee table. A great room opener and furniture reviver is to add glass or a mirrored panel to the center. It creates an entirely new look.

10) De-clutter. Rather than having the things you drop onto the kitchen counter, dresser top or entry console on display, collect them in a basket, tray, bowl, or other container that makes them easy to reach and more attractive to behold. Keeping mail and newspapers in a box or basket makes them easy to gather and transport to your office or reading chair, and contains them nicely.