It's Time To Come Home ~ Accessories

Photo courtesy of Ballard Designs

Home décor accessories run the gamut from mirrors in an entry to those cute little knick-knacks on side tables. The problem with accessories comes in when it seems more is more, rather than less is more, and you can’t enjoy the pieces for themselves because there is just too much stuff.

As a tip, when adding an accessory to a room that is already accessorized, remove one other item. You don’t have to get rid of it, but store it and bring it out in six months or a year for a fresh look, or find a new home for it in another room (but remember, if you do that, you should remove one item from that room).

Photo courtesy of Ballard Designs

Some items that fall into the accessory category are:

Florals/Greenery
Mirrors
Art
Pillows
Throws
Vases
Statues/figurines
Picture frames
Books
Decorative bowls
Decorative plates
Small footstools
Candy dishes
Clocks
Trays
Plaques

Accessories should work with the décor that you already have going on in the room. They also allow us to express our personality in a room that is basically a box with furniture in it.

Accessories tend to look better visually when grouped in odd numbers; usually threes. However, if you decorate in a traditional sense, and prefer things to be symmetrical, you will be more apt to prefer, for example, a pair of candlesticks at each end of a mantel rather than three grouped together at one end.

Photo courtesy of World Market

Accessories can also be used to tie in the colors or patterns used in other rooms in your home. For instance, if you use red towels in your kitchen you can transfer that red to pillows in your living room, a throw in the family room and cushions in your dining room.

Photo courtesy of Ballard Designs

Ultimately, the accessories you choose to use in your home should reflect you and your family. Items that have meaning to you, that you love, that bring back a memory are some of the things that make your home a home.

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are based on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign and more. Please visit our website at http://www.creativehomeexpressions.com/ for more information on our services and fees.

Valentine's Day ~ Make It Romantic

• Instead of dining where you always do, choose a new spot. Move a small table in front of the fireplace or into the center of your living room. If the weather permits where you live, go out onto a porch, patio or deck. The beauty of the out-of-doors will add an ambiance that no amount of decorating can top.
• 
  Create a romantic atmosphere with music wafting through the room. Dim the lights or turn them off, use the glow of candles to not only enhance the romance factor, but to add that attractive glow to your own face.
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  When setting your Valentine table, use your good linens, dishes, silverware and glasses. A small vase of flowers and candles on top of a mirror placed in the center of your table will reflect the candlelight as well as the flowers.
• 
  No fireplace, no problem. Get the "Ambient Fire: Ultimate Video Fireplace" for 10.99 at Amazon.com, with 9 different fireplace scenes to fit your mood.
  

• Scatter rose petals or heart-shaped confetti over the table's surface to add to the décor and romance of your meal.
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  Drape clear, white, or pink bead garlands in your chandelier. The clear beads will reflect the light adding that starlight quality to your surroundings.
• 
  Visit Omahasteak.com, or visit your local stores, for prepared meals that only need heating up in the oven. Or arrange for a take-out meal for two from your favorite restaurant. Not having to spend hours on preparation will allow you to have a more relaxed evening.

With everyone strapped for time (and cash) these days, you can offer your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other a romantic, enjoyable, and relaxing evening. What other way to show someone you love them then to take the time to make an otherwise standard dinner a romantic affair!


Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

It's Time To Come Home ~ Window Treatments, Part I

Photo courtesy of Smith & Noble

Due to the abundance of information on window treatments, this post will be in two parts.

Window treatments -- besides "color" these two words alone can strike fear into the hearts of homeowners. When you think about all the choices to make about window treatments - material, fabric, color, size, options and hardware, it's not surprising that many new homeowners still have paper shades on their windows five years later. However, if you break it down, deciding what kind of window treatments to use on your windows can be a stress-free decision.
Let's start with some basic prerequisites: privacy, light control and style.

Privacy - If your property backs onto a wooded area or you have no neighbors behind you, you may not need window coverings for privacy. Even then, some people feel more comfortable having their windows covered at night. If you have a bathroom window that looks directly into your neighbor's hallway, you need privacy. If your dining room looks out onto your front walkway, or an area where people can easily look into your windows, you may want to use window coverings.

Some good choices for privacy include:

Fabric or Roller shades generally offer complete window coverage. Most roller shades are made of vinyl or fabric, that is usually opaque, while fabric shades (such as Roman or Balloon), are lined and usually custom made to exactly fit your window measurements.


Roller shades Photo courtesy of Smith & Noble

Curtains and Drapes when closed will also close off the view. Lined curtains and drapes add to the opacity and durability. Curtains and drapes can also be helpful in keeping drafts out in winter and block the sun in summer. Most fabrics can be used in the fabrication of curtains or drapes.

Pleated and Cellular shades have full glass coverage for privacy. Many styles can be ordered with a "top down" feature so a portion of the glass can be visible at the top of the window to let in light and have a view. Cellular shades also have insulating benefits.


Cellular shades Photo courtesy of Smith & Noble

Sheer curtains and draperies may afford a bit of daytime privacy, however at night most will turn practically transparent with indoor lighting. If you love sheers, but want privacy, then use shades underneath for privacy after dark.

Drapes and Sheers Photo courtesy of Smith & Noble

Mini blinds, wood blinds and shutters will all provide a nearly private environment. Be aware however, that with each of these there is a small possibility of seeing through the slats at certain angles.

Light Control - You want to keep glare down when someone is sleeping in the daytime, or when watching television, or working at a desk near a bright window. UV rays from bright sunlight will adversely affect fabrics, furnishings, flooring and artwork in your home. Full sun can quickly fade expensive upholstery and rugs, eventually causing some fibers to break down and rot.

As with privacy, window coverings can be used to control light. Consider these possibilities:

• Light blocking treatments can be installed for rooms that need to be fully darkened. Look for room darkening roller shades as well as light blocking linings (usually blackout lining) for fabric shades and draperies.
• Metal or wood blinds can be tilted to keep direct sun out of your room, while still affording some view and light.
• Natural blinds, such as bamboo and matchstick, will filter the light and cut down on much of the glare, and can be ordered with an exterior privacy lining.
• Cellular shades in non-sheer fabrics will cut down on light.
• Window tinting in areas of very strong sunlight, where a film is attached directly to the glass. This will reduce UV rays and is available in several levels of tint.

Style - The fun part of window treatments - choosing the fabrics, colors and styles that will add some interest to your room. If you've gone neutral in furnishings and wall color, adding a colorful or patterned window treatment can be just the touch you need to bring some interest into the room. You can repeat fabrics and colors used in other parts of your home for continuity throughout the house. You can add to solid or plain window treatments with contrasting borders, cording or fringe. The unique touches you add to your window treatments are a reflection of your personal style.

Photo courtesy of Greenhouse Design

Draperies have options in rod styles with tab tops, tie tops, many types of pleats, grommets, rod pockets (large or small), flouncy tops or plain rings.

Valances can be gathered, pleated, shirred, swagged, bundled, formal, casual, scalloped or flat.

Valance Photo courtesy of Pate Meadows

The possibilities are endless and custom made window treatments allow you to pick your own unique design.

This series of articles is intended for entertainment purposes. Any resources listed are not an endorsement, but resources I have researched personally and professionally for ideas, trends and client projects. I welcome comments, e-mails or questions about the articles, or even your own home décor dilemmas.

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are based on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign, color consultations and much more. Please visit our website at www.creativehomeexpressions.com for more information on our services and fees.

It's Time To Come Home ~ Color

Now that we've discussed the applications available for your walls, let's look at colors - not only for use in those applications, but also in the other accessories you may bring into a room. It is not unusual to ask a client what colors they feel good wearing, because you can translate those same colors used in clothing lines into the home. Color is an emotional choice and chances are if you are happy wearing certain colors, or think you look good in certain colors, you will surround yourself with those colors in your home. Also look to accessories like pillows, bedding and area rugs for color inspiration.

Some of the color trends being seen in paint, wallpaper, fabric, bedding, accessories and furniture are:

Reds will be split between the strong blue based and yellow based hues.

Orange continues to show up with brown-downed shades, but also include a brighter tangerine and an updated coral.

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

Yellow will range from bright to antique golds.

Green continues to be widely used, in all hues, taking its influence from nature. Greens create a cool, calming feeling and give you that outdoor connection.

Blues are a constant. While robin's egg blues are declining a bit, there are softer tints of blue along with bold bright blues. The newer versions of navy are considered on the formal side.

Purple as more of a red based raspberry like hue, as opposed to the blue based purples that have been previously popular.

Brown is getting a little bit lighter with sand and tan colors. As with the greens, the nature inspired browns are still being used.

Long term, the trends are forecasting neutrals, the spa-like blues and nature based greens, although they are grayed-down and earthy.

Some basic color vocabulary includes the following terms:

Hue - Hue identifies the general family of a color, such as red, yellow, blue or green. The traditional color wheel is made up of 12 color families: red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue, red-violet, violet and blue-violet.

Color Wheel - Colors on the opposite side of the wheel from each other are called complementary colors. In combination, these colors create striking contrasts. For less contrast choose colors next to each other on the color wheel.

Warm or Cool - Different colors in the same family may be described as "warm" or "cool". Colors with yellow undertones will seem warmer, while the same color with blue or red undertones will appear cool. Cool colors - blue, green, violet - invite relaxation and thought.

Warm colors - red, orange, yellow - encourage conversation and play.

Value - Value describes how light or dark a specific color may be. On color strips, lighter values are at the top, mid-tone value is in the middle and darker values are at the bottom. When you combine colors from a single color strip, you are creating a monochromatic color scheme - perfect for creating a sophisticated, spacious look in a single room.

For color, there are a few simple rules to keep in mind.

1. The most important aspect of selecting color is not so much "what matches what", but what colors make you feel comfortable in the space.

2. The fun part of adding color is how you can use it to showcase or correct architectural elements. You can change the visual perception of a room's size, shape and personality by the use of color. You can make a room seem larger, smaller, taller, shorter or even airy, all with color. For example, to make a small room seem larger, paint walls and ceiling the same color. To make a long, narrow room feel more square paint the end walls the same darker color and the side walls lighter. This will advance the end walls, which will make the room feel less bowling alley-like.

3. Dark colors do not necessarily make a room feel smaller. Rooms that are oversize or in need of more furniture will benefit from a deep warm color on the walls. It will give the room a feel of coziness and also completion. Damaged or flawed walls will look best when painted with a warm dark color, as they will absorb light helping to hide the imperfections. Do not use a glossy finish, as this will accentuate flaws. Dark colors also make for a great backdrop for an artwork collection.

4. Neutrals can create exciting and interesting spaces. Wide stripes in neutrals as opposed to narrow stripes in high contrast colors will make a space feel larger. The key is to eliminate strong contrast and excess visual starting and stopping points. Small rooms will feel larger by using the same color on the walls and ceilings. This eliminates a visual stopping and starting point, which give a room the illusion of size.

Photo courtesy of Thibaut

Once you think you've decided on a color or colors that you are considering for your room, it is best to purchase a sample and paint it on a sample board or a wall in the room itself. Each paint manufacturer now offers sample pots of their paints, and they range in price from $2.00-$5.00. Well worth the investment.

Another way you can bring color into your home is with accessories. Throw pillows are an inexpensive way to change out your decor and bring different colors into a neutral space. Consider repeating the color in your accent pillows to a nice, soft throw or other decorative items, like pictures, vases or floral arrangements.

Repetition of color represents a simple way to unite open concept spaces. Repeating the same hue throughout an open space is a simple way to join connecting areas. This can also be done with accessories.

Some other color tips:

Looking up - if a ceiling seems too high, and it would make the room cozier to bring it down a little, try using a color that's a shade or two darker than the wall color. To visually raise a ceiling, use a color that's a shade or two lighter than the wall color.

Looking for more - light colors and cool colors (blues, greens and purples) make a room seem larger. Try these colors in long narrow hallways or small bathrooms.

Looking for less - would be the opposite; dark colors and warm colors (reds, oranges and yellows) make surfaces pop out into a space.

This series of articles is intended for entertainment purposes. Any resources listed are not an endorsement, but resources I have researched personally and professionally for ideas, trends and client projects. I welcome comments, e-mails or questions about the articles, or even your own home décor dilemmas.

Photo courtesy Calico Corners

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are based on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign, color consultations and much more. Please visit our website at www.creativehomeexpressions.com for more information on our services and fees.

It's Time To Come Home ~ Walls

Walls - they are what enclose your home from the outside world and separate rooms within your home. The dictionary defines walls as “a vertical structure forming an inside partition or an outside surface of a building.” For the purposes of this article, we will be discussing the interior walls of your home.

This part of the series will be broken down into Paint, Wallpaper, Faux Techniques and Other Options. I hope you will visit some of the websites listed to get more of an in-depth idea of these different treatments. (To keep the length of these articles within reason, I will not be going into, for instance, how cool or warm colors affect a room, and the like.)

Paint ~ Paint is probably one of the least expensive improvements you can do to a room and really get a large impact from it. You can change the whole feel of a room just from paint. However, if you take nothing else away from this section, please take this: do not buy paint for a room just going by the little paint swatch you’ve picked up from the paint store. Please invest a few dollars in purchasing samples pots/cans of the paint color or colors you have narrowed your choice down to. It will be much cheaper than having to buy gallons of a new paint color because you just hate the way your first choice turned out.

What I do, and what I suggest to my clients, family and friends, is to paint your sample colors in square sections on all four walls. Each wall receives different amounts of light during the day and evening, and this affects how the color appears. You may find that you hate the color you loved on the paint swatch once the sun hits it. Or the one you felt was your third choice may turn out to be the winner once it is actually on the wall.

Choosing a color can be as easy as looking at what you already have in your home – an area rug, a picture, your furniture, your bedding. Paint a color that makes you feel good and that you enjoy being around. You can get some ideas from Sherwin Williams’ Color Visualizer (http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/paint_color_palette/), but note that colors vary from monitor to monitor and may not be accurate.

Wallpaper ~ Wallpaper is becoming popular once again. Although, you may not want to wallpaper any room if you are planning on putting your house on the market, wallpapers can add color, texture and pattern to any room in your home.

Photo courtesy of Thibaut

Thibaut (http://www.thibautdesign.com/default.aspx) carries collections of wallpaper and fabric that work together in either an exact match or to complement each other (i.e. a stripe and a floral). The website shows wallpapers and fabrics in room settings, features new collections and decorating ideas. The current wallpapers have large scale patterns with colorways that can work in any home. Again, choose your wallpaper based on what you already have going on in your home as far as décor.

Photo courtesy of Thibaut

I have found that apartment rules vary, so if you are renting and would like to do wallpaper, check with your landlord first. They may be okay with it as long as you return the walls to the condition they were in when you rented. As an alternative, see some of the options listed in Other Options that may appease your desire to do something different in your apartment.

Faux Techniques ~ Faux techniques can range from applying plaster treatments to evoke a Tuscan feel to painting a wall to look like marble. There is also wood graining, ragging, sponging, faux leather, color washing, and the list goes on. This is another area where, if you are planning on selling your home in the near future, it would be best to stay away from. These treatments can also extend to crown and base moldings, changing your everyday basic wall into something magical. Make sure you discuss with the faux painter you choose what your vision is for the room.

Photo courtesy of Susan Gonzalez

Murals fall into the faux technique category. There are different types of murals, tromp l’oeil (which look “real”) and pictures (such as cartoons) painted on your wall. These can take up all four walls or just one as a focal point. They are sometimes done on canvas for easy application and removal. The picture above shows the work of Susan Gonzalez (http://www.paintmywalls.com/). My thanks to Susan for the explanation on the differences in murals.

Other Options ~ The following options will work well for those who call an apartment (or even a dorm room) home. These items are removable, which makes it easy for you to return the walls to their existing condition.

Wall Words (http://www.wallwords.com/) is where you can have your favorite quote made up in the font, size and color of your choosing, or choose one of their quotes, and apply it to your wall. The website has the easy directions for applying your quote. Removal is simple enough with tweezers (possible heat from a hair dryer if they have been up a long time) and some Goo Be Gone or rubbing alcohol to remove any residue.

Photo courtesy of Wall Words

Wallies (http://www.wallies.com/) carries pre-pasted cut-outs and murals, vinyl decals and murals, dry erase and chalkboard. They are removable by applying water to the cut-out or decal and peeling off. The adhesive is water soluble. They can not only be applied to walls, but to tables, chairs and lampshades.

Photo courtesy of Wallies

This series of articles is intended for entertainment purposes. The resources listed are not an endorsement, but resources I have researched personally and professionally for ideas, trends and client projects. I welcome comments, e-mails or questions about the articles, or even your own home décor dilemmas.

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are based on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign, color consultations and much more. Please visit our website at www.creativehomeexpressions.com for more information on our services and fees.

It's Time To Come Home ~ Series Introduction

Photo courtesy of Sienna Plantation (Texas)

http://www.siennaplantation.com/homes.php



Whenever something happens in the world that affects us, the one place we can truly feel relaxed and comfortable is in our homes. As 1930’s former film star and interior decorator William Haines said, “The only real freedom we have is our home. Only there can we express anything we want.”


This year I plan on writing a series that will assist you in making your home the welcoming sanctuary you can retreat to at the end of the day. The basic foundation of the series is the message that “It’s Time To Come Home”. You will be able to adapt the information in the articles to your “home”, whether you are currently renting an apartment, own a home or are planning on putting your home on the market in the next year or two. The articles will be broken down into specific titles, such as “Color”, “Window Treatments”, “Flooring”, and many others.


The first in the series will start with that part of your home that physically and mentally shields you from the outside world – the walls of your home. This will address the myriad of ways you can dress up your walls, whether it be paint, wallpaper, or faux techniques.


I hope you will join me in this journey. I welcome comments, e-mails or questions about the articles or even your own home décor dilemmas.



Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are based on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign, color consultations and much more. Please visit our website at www.creativehomeexpressions.com for more information on our services and fees.

Top Ten Decorating Mistakes~Sherwin Williams, Port Jefferson Station

Creative Home Expressions and Sherwin Williams of Port Jefferson Station, New York, present The Top Ten Decorating Mistakes.

This presentation will take place on Thursday, December 11, 2008, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., at the Sherwin Williams in the HomeGoods shopping center, Nesconset Highway (Route 347), Port Jefferson Station, New York.

Registration is required. Seating is limited. Admission is free.

Contact Brian Meyer at Sherwin Williams at (631) 331-3330 to register.

Spring Decorating Tips

Spring is coming, Spring is coming! Thursday, March 20, 2008, to be exact! (Daylight Savings Time starts March 9th, which will certainly help too!)

Is your home still in Winter mode? Use these tips from interior decorator, Kathy Passarette of Creative Home Expressions to freshen up your home for spring.

To freshen up your living areas for spring, and while doing a good spring-cleaning, move some of your collectibles around to give you a fresh perspective and appreciation of your belongings.

Keeping your décor simple adds to the relaxed feeling of the season and readies you for the summer months.

Use colors a couple of shades lighter than the existing colors in your rooms. This way you are not disrupting your color scheme, just giving it a lighter, more airy look.

Remove thick, and dark colored, area rugs. If you must have an area rug, use a natural fiber rug in its place; sisal, sea grass and jute are just a few of the many options available.

Take down heavy drapes, and replace with sheers or unlined curtains. They come in all colors and textures, so there is always something to match your décor.

Clean out your fireplace, but don't leave it bare. Fill it with a display of varying heights of candles, a floral arrangement, or white birch logs stacked neatly. Or you can display a decorative fire screen, one you've made or purchased to fill the space.

Lighten up your mantle by leaving it decorated simply; a vase or pot of spring flowers or flowering stems (like forsythia) will add some color and fragrance to the room. A simple painting or mirror with a couple of votive candles is all you need.

Trade out dark colored throw pillows for light colored florals or stripes. If you want to sew your own pillows, today's outdoor fabrics are being used indoors now for ease of cleaning and durability.

Slipcovers in denim or cotton duck fabrics look clean and crisp; they also wash up easily.

Finally, a fresh coat of paint, whether on your walls or to update some tired furniture is the least expensive thing you can do for the most impact.

Copyright 2008 Creative Home Expressions