The benefits of using an interior designer.

AFTER

As the senior designer for Touch of Tradition, I see many people facing design dilemmas. I serve as a sounding board and provider of advice and this is what I've found to be true over the years: Interior designers add value in many ways than simply through aesthetics. When you make a decision to remodel or update your home, and bring in a designer, it WILL change your life in the best ways. Making an investment in your home should be done wisely.  Even if you just spend a few hours of time with a professional interior designer, the results will be years of satisfaction and  enjoyment of the spaces you change. With the plethora of materials, products, advertisements and samples available for home remodels and updates, the choices need to be made wisely. Rather than struggle through agonizing weeks with plans, surface materials, fabrics, dimensions and "what-if's", using a professional designer will bring timely satisfaction, creativity, and perfection to your project. Don't make a mistake! We will help solve your design and construction issues so everything runs smoothly.

BEFORE

I've rescued clients from bad furniture purchases, the "nightmare" they lived through with a bad contractor, the poor selections of  floor coverings and paint colors that they made, and throwing their hands up at a poorly designed kitchen or bath. Don't waste your money or your time. We know codes, space-planning, color, products, technology and more. Our expertise is having the experience, resources and knowledge to recommend everything to finish and furnish your home. Keep what you can and update it, re-purpose, and re-new.  With access to new products, technology, trends and creative ideas, your time with us will be well-spent. 

When want to you love the results, meet your budget, and nail your style, the decision to hire a designer is always right. At Touch of Tradition, you can browse the fabric and furniture collections, purchase from what's in stock, or order a custom piece with the right dimensions and finish for your home. From July 1  to August 1, 2012, purchases from the shop or on-line will be supplemented with a gift certificate to use or give to someone special.  Come by and bring your home decor and design questions.

Your remodel- Do you start over or rework?

It’s a common problem. You want to move. Your home's elevation has curb appeal, but the floor plan behind it has grown stale and will ultimately turn buyers away. Do you have to scrap the entire design and start over? The expense, the challenges with permits and the length of time needed will all be factors. To save time and work within a strict budget, a more economical approach would be to redefine the existing plan within the same (or close to the same) footprint. Going this route allows you to keep the part of the program that’s working and maintain a construction approach that is more or less familiar. Looking at the home below you can see what doesn't work and how it was modified in the same footprint, saving over $120,000 from a plan to tear down and restart. The floor plan has too many jogs and corners, a small and inefficient kitchen, and a master suite that fails to exploit views of the backyard, and a poorly designed entrance, but the overall space works for the property.  It's too divided - the spaces aren’t conducive to togetherness. Some other details to note: Because the laundry is a cut-through from the garage, its functional work surfaces are limited.  The patio is shallow and tough to furnish, and access to the interior living spaces is awkward.  A corner closet makes the master bath difficult for two people to use at the same time.  Having a master bedroom that is visible from the foyer isn't ideal for privacy.  By rethinking this plan’s master suite and communal areas it will improve the home on several levels. A revised plan creates view corridors, frees up space for a larger, more usable rear patio, and trades an isolated formal living room for a multipurpose area in the heart of the home. Located just off the kitchen, this new space provides a room for laundry, homework, computing, and art projects. It can be public or private.

Before

After

The resulting floor plan opens the home, making it appear much larger. Using the same roof structure yet creating an outdoor porch really helped in reducing costs. That freed up dollars for exterior upgrades and nicer finishes thoughout the home. It's always best to spend money where it can be truly appreciated. The finer points of the plan:

• Focusing more on workstations than a work triangle, the revamped kitchen provides room for several cooks at once. Its cleanup area is out of the main flow of traffic.
• The original laundry is replaced with a mudroom between kitchen and garage for dropping off groceries, jackets, and school bags. It also contains pantry space and electronics chargers.
• Courtyards and patios must be large enough to be furnished outside the primary circulation path. This one now accommodates a seating area.
• A laundry/hobby room encourages shared chores and family bonding. When bedrooms are too private and well-appointed, kids never want to come out.
• The new master bath trades the big tub for an oversized shower and a better defined dressing area. The closet has room for a dresser.

Small space design - open plans are great!

With the advent of apartment living, builders chose to separate rooms. The resulting apartments had multiple small rooms and long narrow hallways connecting them. Today, with the need for more effective function and the desire for more space, open floor plans are desired. My clients in New York and Philadelphia love their neighborhoods but realized that their spaces were all too small.   How did we accomplish the remodel to get maximum living space and functional privacy?

1) Create private spaces first. Bathrooms and bedrooms need walls.  Whether they are solid, sliding closed as needed, or other partition walls, these spaces were first to be determined. Glass walls that can become obscure with the flip or a switch are a great way to accomplish privacy yet maintain an open feel.

2) Make things function in more than one way.  Creating walls with cabinet storage on one side and shelves on the other provides separation. Since they don't reach the ceiling they maintain the open feel of the space. Keeping surfaces clear and providing function below - roll out stools, cutting surfaces or other features - helps.  Dual duty structures include bench or ottoman seating that also provides storage and rotating partitions - as in the bedroom/living room wall that flips for using the television in either space. 

3) Raise things up. In high-ceiling apartments, elevating spaces defines them as separate functional areas. You can place furniture or carve out storage space under raised sleeping or office areas.

4) Lighten up.  Literally.  Carefully selected layered lighting along with mirrors, can completely change the apparent space. Be careful with what the mirror reflects!  Dress windows lightly but don't sacrifice privacy. Remove interior doors when possible to create a floor-through impression. Use glass inserts to brighten spaces if walls must remain.

Why use an interior designer?

AFTER

Interior designers add value in many ways than simply through aesthetics. When you make a decision to remodel or update your home, and bring in a designer, it WILL change your life in the best ways. Making an investment in your home should be done wisely.  From a few hours of time spent by a designer, comes a many-year enjoyment of the spaces you change. Rather than struggle through agonizing weeks with plans, surface materials, fabrics, dimensions and "what-if's", using a professional designer will bring timely satisfaction, creativity, and perfection to your project.

BEFORE

I've rescued clients from bad furniture purchases, the "nightmare" they lived through with a bad contractor, the poor selections of  floor coverings and paint colors that they made, and throwing their hands up at a poorly designed kitchen or bath. Don't waste money. Don't waste time. In interior designer knows codes, space-planning, and had the resources and knowledge to recommend everything to finish and furnish your home. With access to new products and creative ideas, your time with a designer will be well-spent.

When want to you love the results, meet your budget, and nail your style, the decision to hire a designer is always right. 

Tips for making a space seem larger.

We need to live with the spaces we have, whether they are an apartment, a dorm room, or a small home. To make them seem larger and help make them feel less crowded, try one or more of these ideas.

Lighting, glass and color play a part making this two room apartment feel larger.

1) Lighten up.  Yes, light does make spaces seem larger. If you use up-lights under large pieces of furniture or in dark corners, the illusion is that more space exists.  Rather than leaving corners empty, try adding a table and lamp.  Mirrors that reflect natural daylight are a great way to 'add' space as well. Even if you don't have windows, place a lamp in front of a mirror on the darkest, largest wall and see how it brightens and enlarges the space. Using glass table tops, insets with lighted shelves for cabinets,  and even remove doors to rooms to allow light in.

2) Arrange furniture wisely.  A few ideas on this topic work well in small spaces. First is scaling the pieces to work in the space. Don't purchase large, rolled arm sofas when you have a 10' x 10' room. Instead, opt for a loveseat and even armless chairs; you add seating without mass.  Two, floating furniture away from the walls DOES make it seem as though the room is larger. It allows you to walk around and through the furnishings giving a grander apparent space.  Third, angling furniture on short walls - placing pieces together can help like a table backed up to a loveseat - since your eye sees a longer wall dimension, hence, space.

3) Color counts.  If you can keep the largest pieces in the same tone as the walls, they will blend in and make a room feel wider.  Lighter colors do tend to make spaces look larger, although breaking that 'rule' works if other elements - lighting, scale, and accents - help the eye travel around a space. Monochromatic schemes in neutral colors work well, adding back an accent hue to draw attention to points around the room.


4) Raise things up.  Even if your ceilings are only 8' high, there are several tricks to give the illusion of height in a room. Place window coverings above the windows so they seem taller. Use moldings and other architectural elements to raise the eye up - a crown, medallions for hanging fixtures, tall shelves to the ceiling.  Hang light fixtures slightly higher, and do the same with artwork. 

5) Make things function well. Need a desk, a table, some storage? Find or make a piece that performs all three functions and save space.  In dorms and apartments, a work desk usually becomes a dining table, and placed on a wall - possibly perpendicular - allows you to add shelving for books and office 'stuff' and still make the desk feel like a table. When looking for ways to divide a space - say the bed area from the sofa area - use open shelving that can house a TV, lighting, decorative and functional items, and look good doing so. Console tables can make ideal desks, and even dining tables. Backed up to an open backed sofa, creates a great dining area with instant seating. Using benches for seating around tables adds storage for quick access.

Build it in or not? Storage and shelving solutions.

Simple construction with 8 x 10 boards can be DYI.

I love to collect things. My clients love to bring back memorabilia from trips. When you have a variety of collectibles, you need a place to store and display them. Do you purchase shelf units or have them custom built? 


The answer to that question has several facets:


1) What is your budget and time frame? You can purchase and install a less costly product, faster than if you order custom shelves. 

A great ready-made shelf unit that looks great against a wall or as a divider.

2) What are the dimensions of the space? If the area to cover is challenging - a niche or unusual configuration - a custom unit may be the only option. If you have a large wall to cover, ready-made may fit perfectly.

Fully custom for the TV and storage with touch-latch doors.

3) Is there a style and finish you need for the space?  Store bought items are better left in the finish they come with...painting melamine is difficult and the durability is low. If you love the color options from a store then try that  route first. If you need a specific stain, grain, style and paint color, custom is the better option.

Store bought, hung differently- WOW!

4) What is the expected life cycle of the shelving?  While I disagree with throwing away any unwanted furniture, a short life span in shelving for a child's room may be better addressed with a non-custom option.  If you consider long-term use, custom is a viable option, particularly when shelves for this application need to be durable albeit adjustable as the child grows.

You can purchase pre-made modular units and fit them together in a custom design. To further customize pre-made shelving, add moldings to tie them together and them to tie them to the architectural details in the room.

Custom but worth it

Floating shelves are easy to purchase but challenging to install, so be prepared to do it right or hire someone who can.  No one wants a shelf to fall from wall.  

Ready made shelves installed by the homeowner - NICE!

If you have experience, AND THE TOOLS, you might try your hand at fabricating shelving from hardwood.  When you have doubts about doing more than handing over a credit card, even assembling some of the store-bought versions may be too challenging. 

Fully custom to conceal the TV  and uniquely sized books.

Whatever you opt for, I hope that these images inspire you to design the best shelving system for your space.

Small space design. Five easy tips to use today.

We all want to maximize our spaces so we can be comfortable yet cozy.  Here are five ideas for small rooms.


1) Downscale the furniture.  Rather than purchasing a large sectional, opt for a smaller loveseat and armless chairs. You will have more opportunity to arrange the room well, and the smaller scale will keep the space open. If you can't buy new, try swapping smaller pieces from other rooms to use in a tight space. When you re-purpose furniture it gives you pleasure and often improved function. Dual-duty pieces like these storage ottomans can  be used as a table, seat, footrest and hold daily newspapers. The chest holds platters and is a great place to add extra table lamps and accessories.

2) Use color.  You may have been drilled with the idea that white makes a room larger.  True and false. You can use color as an accent - even on a wall - and keep a small room feeling larger. A great way to add bold color is inside shelving, as a throw on a sofa, in accessories that are grouped together, and on the floor as area rugs. When a room is monochromatic - beige, white, etc.. - the use of color adds drama, a focal point, and allows the eye to move to the color and away from elements that make it seem small. 


3) Add light.  An easy favorite solution.  Mirrors that reflect natural light are wonderful. You can use a mirror as a 'window'. If there isn't a window to reflect, add a table lamp or pendant in front of your mirror, to double the light. You can brighten a dark corner with an uplight behind a piece of furniture, and accent dark shelves with LED rope lights, pucks and even clip on  fixtures. Using LED will keep the energy use down yet add focal points of light. Changing the shades and globes on fixtures can help add light if they are dingy or dark.





4) Use storage wisely.  If you have an 8' x 8' living room, using many tables and chests will crowd the room and use floor space. Instead, use shelves to store items, place lamps on, even hang art from.  In spaces that can tolerate larger pieces, use armoires to hide work spaces like desks and televisions, benches to do double-duty as storage centers and seating, and even chests to hold games, nick-knacks and items you need but can reach for. This bench is a seat, a storage container for platters and vases and a room divider in this small condo.











5) Hide and clean it.  While out of sight is definitely out of mind, it can create a feeling of peace and relaxation.  For items that you DON"T need daily ...store them.  Even in a kitchen or laundry room that you may not use daily, cover the appliances with flipper doors for a sleek look.   Under-bed storage for extra items is easy and accessible.  Keep things you do need in containers, boxes, etc...that are easy to access and look great with your decor.  A great wicker box looks good on the dining table, and can store mail, a laptop, mail and much more.  Clean windows do let in lots of light as do sparkling glass globes on light fixtures! Dust free surfaces allow them to reflect the light.

Apartment therapy....small space ideas.

I lived in a small apartment in NY before moving to California. It's not easy to update a single room - on a budget - without having someone handy to help.  Here are some ideas for space planning and decorating that you can try.

1) Movable "walls".  Do you have a dresser? A headboard? In a single room apartment, they can serve as a room divider. Even your dining table can separate the kitchen from the bedroom - perhaps with a bench seat on one side instead of chairs.  If you have a budget, use folding screens. Second-hand windows, doors and shutters can make a great screen depending upon your style. For the do-it-yourself expert, you can build a divider from shelves, blocking off some of the openings for more privacy. If a wall is more your style, build one that can be removed, inserting tempered glass or plexiglass to keep light moving through. To separate my kitchenette from the rest of the space I had my dad build a tall cabinet then added a top shelf and a table at 28" that attached to the wall. It kept the space open, added great storage and I eliminated needing a full table and chair set. While they are expensive, room dividers that revolve storage and the TV from one side to the other, are a great solution.





2) Let the light in.  Privacy is key in a big city, but small spaces NEED light.  A transparent or open-weave room divider can keep your bedroom or guest sleeping area private from the public space.  Leaving windows un-dressed (no drapes or hard treatments) using window film is another option and easy to install. For simplicity use frosted effect films, or for drama use patterns and textures. Literally add light to cabinets, shelves, moldings and surrounding art and large pieces of furniture:  LED strips and ropes provide light without high energy use!

3) Uniformity is best.  To make small spaces seem larger, unifying the color scheme is best. Monochromatic color schemes in neutral colors will help make walls and floors seem larger. Accent the space with colorful artwork and large scale accessories. If you have many collectibles, group them in one area to keep the space looking open.








4) Store it.  Having a clutter-free space is attractive as well as provides peace of mind.  For that dual-duty kitchen table/desk, find some great wicker or paper boxes with lids and 

5) Open it up.  In apartments with many small rooms or long hallways with rooms off to the sides, removing doors (store under beds if you can) is a solution to keep spaces flowing together.  Are you an owner? Try opening a wall and creating a pass-through or even add glass for a window effect. Here, the wall was partially removed and stained glass insets added for privacy and a fabulous artistic element.

DECOR FOR THE SMALL SET

 Great design should be accessible to all ages. Try these short-term decorating ideas that result in long-term solutions for growing children:

Build a fully integrated bed and storage unit along one wall - or into an available niche. It will serve as storage space forever and can be 'dressed up' into an entertainment center as the child grows. With under-bed pull out drawers, side cabinets or shelves, this unit saves space and keeps rooms organized. Make it colorful and fun your younger child with bedding and toys or sleek and sophisticated with posters, a sofa styled bed and great wall art for teens. Have need for more than one bed per room? Bunk beds work well in this configuration too. 

Children need change as they grow. Keeping floors and storage pieces the same will save money. Change bedding, lamps, window treatments and area rugs for quick and inexpensive updates.

Use peel and stick decals, paints (oops paints are great money savers) and themed bedding to make small changes that have a big impact. We love WALLNUTZ for their creative designs for kids, teens, and even your living room!

   Cabinets and closets should be age appropriate.  Fit bath vanities with pull out drawers in lieu of fixed shelves to encourage putting toiletries and bath toys away. Children like their own drawers especially in shared baths. In closets, lower the rod height by hanging a secondary rod and install easy to pull out drawers and bins. 
     As children grow older, they accumulate more… good storage planning can take them (and you) from infancy to teen years!