You CAN afford design advice.

When you're doing a remodel  can you afford not to hire a designer? Whether it's a small project that you want done right or quickly, or an overhaul that affects your lifestyle - and even the equity in your home -  turning to a design professional is saavy and budget conscious.  We work daily with vendors, contractors, architects and anyone who provides a product or service  for your home.   Our extensive knowledge is learned, developed, and executed and we know the possible pitfalls and wrong turns that happen. Take advantage of that before you end up making costly mistakes. 

Avoid these problems:

• A good idea was found after the project was done
• You're overwhelmed by the choices and don't know the right one to make 
• The best solution wasn't discussed since you didn't know about it
• You don't know how to solve a problem that's come up
• You forgot to add a feature that would make your bathroom better 
• The job drags on since no one can coordinate properly 
• You are experiencing delays since you weren't told when products needed to be ordered 
• The contractor didn't know about a better product
• Costs escalate as changes are made on the fly
• Using the space was not considered as highly as "getting it done" and there are problems 
• There isn't good light or control of too much light 
• Room wasnt left for things you need to store or display
• Door swings go in the wrong direction
• There isn't enough storage space
• The paint colors aren't  right
• Your layout "could have been" spot on 
• Some furniture doesn't fit 

The best use of your time and budget is for everything to be right the first time.  If you plan for things to go well they will. 

Bring a designer in to give you ideas, 

Use a designer to review your plans

Get help selecting the right products 

Design Rules

There are many aspects of design and decor that are flexible.  Scale is one of them. Balance isn't.  Here are my top 5 rules of thumb that make interior spaces dynamite instead of droll.

1. Area rugs should be balanced in a room.  Place all of the furniture in your room either all off your rug, or all on.  Having some pieces on and some off looks, well, off.  I like to leave at least a foot of floor showing, even in small rooms, so the area rug remains an accent piece rather than looking like wall-to-wall carpeting.

2. When hanging a chandelier over a table, install it about 32-36" above the table surface.  Too high and it looks 'lost', too low and it's not balanced in the room or functional when dining.
















3. Artwork can be its own focal point, but can be grouped with furniture to create an overall vignette. I like to have odd numbers in my group, and hang pieces of similar composition, color, or with 'like' frames together.  The closer you hang art in your vignette to each other, the more impact your grouping will have.

4. How large is the right cocktail table?  Two-thirds the width of the sofa is always right
















5. When mixing fabrics in a room, you should designate your color scheme and work within its varying hues and complementary colors.  I generally select one main pattern - floral, damask, paisley, etc...- and work in smaller scale prints, stripes, plaids and tone on tone so that each fabric has a purpose and is balanced in the overall space.  A good rule of thumb is to use 60% of one color in varying hues and patterns, add two equal amounts of accent hue to get 30%, then one bold or dramatic color is the remaining 10%.

Trends for the long-term.

What defines a trend? Take a look at the latest design magazines. You'll notice a 'new' classic is developing  It's called transitional style.  Furnishings and finish materials are being made with new design details, color and shape. A clean-lined style with an easy-care sophistication is the result. The details come from classic lines, updated patterns, use of bolder fabrics, and a new scale. From tile to seating to lighting, this is a trend that is here to stay.

             

From classic Hepplewhite oval back chairs in a new form. The attention to leg and back detail and use of crisp ivory fabric with a slight sheen, gives a stunning aesthetic and fabulous function.

A sleeker version of a traditional sofa, with squared-off arms in lieu of rolled, and tapered block feet. Classic and sophisticated yet very updated. With a textured green fabric that's not standard sage....gorgeous!

    

Silk drum pendants are more often replacing multi-armed chandeliers for transitional styling. The brushed nickel fittings and frosted glass diffuser add elegant detail.

A change for the better from wood burning to bio-fuel fireplaces. They provide warmth and a fabulous aesthetic with an eco-friendly benefit. With no special venting required, and a variety of sizes and materials, they can be installed in indoor and outdoor spaces.

Porcelain tile has come a long way. With elegant patterns and sheens, new sizes and trim pieces, and a huge array of colors and textures, US and Italian porcelain tile manufacturers have given us a new classic surface.

Making faucets lead-free, water saving and with universal design in mind, form does follow function. New finishes are luxurious and easy-care...what a great combination.

Certified woods are being fabricated into strand forms that are as elegant as they are eco-friendly. Luxurious color and grain, along with wide scale planks, make these floors right for nearly any style decor.

What's your style?

Arts and Crafts style. Clean lines, natural elements.

In order to be successful in selecting the materials and items to be used in your interior, you should know what your personal design style is. When you don't have an idea what you're looking for, frustration and confusion set in. For interiors that we don't change often, selecting the right products and styles, enriches your life, satisfies and grounds you, and reflects who you are. You will save time, save money, and have a home that provides rest, rejuvenation, and happiness. Use these tips to help define your style.

1) Look at professionally designed rooms:  Buy magazines and clip out rooms you like. Go the your local bookstore and browse the home and design section.  Look for things that please you; the color of the room, the feel of the design, a specific light fixture or piece of furniture, the way the room looks overall. Is there something that grabs your attention? The elements of styles that you like will become clear and help you add them to your design.

Cottage style. Casual and classic with, bead board, white hues, warm woods.

2) Visit furniture shops and walk through the room arrangements noting what you like.  Ask questions of the sales representative or take brochures about the arrangements to help identify specific items.

3) Take a design style quiz.  These are more superficial but do guide you in overall style.  Putting a name to a style can often help you during shopping trips when you are able to ask for "a Neoclassic style lamp." Do back-up research on-line through blogs, furniture and design web sites, and image searches. Identifying styles with names such as "Classic Bohemian" are of no use, however, because there aren't common elements associated with made-up names!

Traditional living room with antiques, rich hues, classic furnishings.

4) Attend local design shows, lectures, and events.  Your local chapter of ASID - The American Society of Interior Designers often schedules lectures on design for the public. Is there a show house nearby? Are there Home & Garden shows you can attend? Visit them and take notes. 

5) Call a local designer and schedule a consultation. To really hone in on your style and get immediate design advice, sit down for an hour or two with a design professional. It will set you on the right path and give you peace of mind when you start your project. At www.tot-home.com we provide in-home, in shop or on-line consultations for every client!

Beautiful bedroom update ideas.

Need to refresh your bedroom? With so many products and options available which do you choose?  Here are three bedrooms with directions for making the changes.  

  

    

Some simple changes transform this casual bedroom into a sophisticated guest retreat. The walls, once a pastel green, were refreshed with a light blue hue, and the white ceiling became a soft blue. Crown, base and doors moldings remained white. Adding a transitionally styled iron bed frame was the most significant change.  Draping inexpensive sheer fabric (less than $15 per yard) over the frame creates a soft, inviting place to sleep. Instead of the two-drawer nightstand, an end table - the same height as the mattress - provides a landing space, shelving for books and a clock, and its new open style fills the void next to the bed with just the right element. Adding a deeper toned area rug beside the bed rather than in the center of the room makes the room seem more open, and is better underfoot for guests. White big box store bedding, a yellow throw and brightly colored pillows in blue and complementary orange, finish the bed. Lighter artwork, all in the same transitional versus cottage style, refreshes the space and provides the finishing touch.

While this room looks significantly different, there are some shortcuts to be considered.  Purchasing ready-made shelves from a discount store, and tying them together with molding, is the largest change. They create a headboard with storage, end table function and additional space for lighting. Warm tones of beige on the wall and an area rug in the same hue, provide a warm backdrop for the new white trim and doors.  The doors, while hinged French doors instead of sliding wooden doors, can be created without the expensive price tag. Using reclaimed doors from a salvage yard is one solution, sustainable and cost-effective.  Another is to apply molding over inexpensive mirror squares to a slab door. Hinges are required here since the added dimension would not allow the doors to slide. Bedding remains white, but as with the accessories, the addition of blue accents, is the ideal contrast to the beige and white. A simple wooden bench completes the transformation.

Re positioning the bed in this space was key to the change. In front of the window, the bed took up less space in the room and the open weave headboard does not restrict light from entering.  The walls went from pale yellow to a deep ivory. Blue was the accent color in the 'before' space and became the feature color in bedding, bed drapes and pillows. An inexpensive "found" headboard separates the window and bed and enables pillows to be propped up, adding dimension and texture to the bed.  A Roman Shade lets more light in than the prior sheers and is tailored and neat.  The bed drape was constructed by nailing MDF trim to the ceiling, and applying the fabric at all four corners.  The large scale damask fabric contains the ivory wall color and a soft blue that is used again in the tailored bed skirt. Ivory bedding is ideal for many spaces, and maintains the neutral backdrop to keep the small bedroom from looking crowded.  Adding a bolster pillow in a solid blue with ribbon trim, and a patterned blue lampshade, completes the transformation.