For a long time, ceilings were always painted white and that was that! So it doesn’t surprise me that many of you STILL don’t think to consider the ceiling when decorating your homes.
Ceilings are the 5th wall. The right treatment can bring a new dimension and take the room to a new level. So if your ceilings are being neglected, here are some ideas to consider.
Painting
Painting is the easiest, fastest, most economical way to treat the ceiling. In fact, ALL ceilings should be painted in a shade that complimentsthe room’s decor. A good rule of thumb is to paint the ceiling in the same color of the walls, only 2 or 3 shades lighter. But there really aren’t any rules….darker, lighter or a different color altogether.
In fact, how about stripes….
Gold or Silver Leaf
For a more formal space, gold or silver leaf can be very dramatic and elegant. It’s perfect for a dining room or foyer.
Decorative Painting
A good artist can paint almost anything on the ceiling, so the sky’s the limit. You can go overboard or keep it simple, either way, decorative painting is a one-of-a-kind work of art.
Wallpaper
How fun is this! Today’s wall papers are gorgeous…many bold, fun and updated patterns to choose from. Its a great way to bring pattern to the room without wallpapering all the walls.
Beadboard
I love bead board. It’s huge in achieving the biggest bang for your buck. It’s easy to install, economical and perfect for hiding the “popcorn” in older homes.
Wood Flooring
Yes, I said flooring! Installing wood flooring on the ceiling is not a new idea. There are hundreds of styles and shades to choose from, including bamboo and cork.
Tin
I love tin ceilings! And I am anxiously waiting for one of you to decide that you can no longer live without one! Tin (referring only to the “look”) can be installed with tiles that are available in chrome, steel, copper, brass and paintable white, to name a few.
I hope these pictures have inspired you to think of the possibilities. And if you need assistance or more information on any of these treatments, just send me a note or give me a call.
Decals are fun, unexpected and definitely out of the box! I think you’ll be surprised at the variety that are available. They’re no longer just for the nursery.
Isn’t this a stunning living room border?
I love the placement of this life-size Blue’s Brothers decal. It would be perfect for a media room.
For the dining room, cutlery is always appropriate, and in this case, the larger the better. Usually, the larger the decal, the bigger the impact.
Of course, bedrooms see more decals than any other room.
Decals can help create atmospheres ranging from tranquil to energized. They’re a fun alternative to traditional wall art. A single monogram creates a big statement in this room. It’s a perfect complement to the classic simplicity of the decor.
Children’s rooms andnurseries are particularly fun environments for wall decals.
If you Google “wall decals” you’ll get many sources and options to choose from. Most websites have a video showing how to install their decals. So if a particular area in your house has been lacking pizzazz lately, consider adding a decal.
The color red stimulates me. It’s bold, cheerful, energizing, powerful and hot! I’ve used it in my decorating a million times….and in just as many ways. Here are some of my favorit ways to infuse red in your decor.
The sofa. How can you not love ared sofa? It’s definitely a statement piece, but the level of FUN that a red sofa brings to the room is more than payment for any commitment you may feel.
This is what I mean about FUN! Doesn’t this sofa make you smile?
I love these chairs. They show that going reddoesn’t mean that you have to go BOLD.
As I’ve said before, the chest of drawers is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture EVER! They can be at home in ANY room…making it the perfect piece to bring in some RED.
Here’s a “trick-of-the-trade”: To make the kitchen island look like a stand-alone piece of furniture, paint it a different color than the cabinets. In this case, red. Stunning!
And not just the island, in this kitchen, paint alone makes this cabinet appear to be a stand-alone….again, done in luscious red.
Sometimes, a splash of redis all you need. When using any color as an accent, a general guide is that it should appear in at least 3 items in the room.
The throw pillow is one of the simplest, most economical ways to infuse fabric and color into any room…and the perfect way to test out red in your space.
Second only to the sofa in boldness…window treatments in red!
FLOR is a creator and marketer of modular carpet tiles. For years I’ve been receiving their catalogue in the mail. Maybe you have too. But I’ve never been able to touch and feel…until now. Last month, FLOR opened their 5th retail location right here in Dallas.
The Dallas store is located at 4528 McKinney Avenue, Dallas (214)520-6363.
The carpet tiles are a wonderful flooring option for a variety of applications. I just loved their versatility. Here are just a few of their features and benefits…
19.7” sq tiles can be configured to suite any space…from a runner to wall-to-wall.
They are for use on hard surfaces like wood, tile or concrete, indoors only.
The tiles are recyclable, and FLOR has a return/recycle program in place.
90% of the product is made in the USA.
FLOR is stain resistant, anti-bacterial and mold resistant.
The carpet squares can be quickly and easily washed with gentle soap and water, dried and put right back into place.
When FLOR gets stained beyond repair, you can replace individual tiles.
The design possibilities are endless…
There are many styles, textures and designs available…your imagination is your only limit.
From bedrooms and garages…
…to kitchens and nurseries.
Dallas store manager Mike McKay demonstrates to IDS members how easy it is to custom design a rug using their-user friendly software…
…but chances are, you’ll be able to SEE and build your sample rug from the well stocked sample room.
The Sample Room
So if you’re thinking area rug, check out FLOR…it’s a fantastic option!
Many thanks to the Dallas staff. I was very impressed with them too. They were all very friendly, helpful and most importantly, very knowledgeable about the product.
For more information, visit their website at FLOR.com
Sales Consultants (L-R) Sean House, Jessica Hasten, Kelcie Bryant and Store Manager Mike McKay
As our host, Arizona Tile treated us to an informative presentation and a tour of their Dallas facility.
John Contero of Arizona Tile giving our members a presentation
The showroom is filled with samples of beautiful tiles.
I was very impressed with their beautiful sample room. Look at how neat and organized it is. It’s obvious that they have a lot of respect for their product!
The Sample Room
The granite yard is an impressive sight. Gorgeous slabs stacked row after row. The flags that hang from the ceiling represent the countries where Arizona Tile purchase their product.
The Granite YardGorgeous granite slabs
A special thanks to Showroom Manager Tamara Morin and Sales Rep Lindsey Ward.
Here’s a “formal” living room that I recently completed, and had a blast doing so. My client wanted a more updated look that was clean and simple, yet comfortable and casual.
Everything in the room would go except for the ficus tree and console table. THAT made the room essentially an empty canvass with a high potential for a major change.
And that’s exactly what we got. To accomplish that, we created a new focal point…a fireplace. Ok, a faux fireplace, but still real fire and real heat! The firebox was purchased online at Electric Fireplaces Direct.com The illusion is created with paint. Two floating shelves serve as the hearth and mantle.
I absolutely love the 2 chairs with the large contemporary pattern. But the “fun” factor was brought in by the unexpected Drum Coffee Table. Both were purchased at I.O. Metro, one of my favorite stores.
Texture and pattern played a large role in the success of this room.
My clients love it!…THAT’S the real success.
As always, I hope I’ve inspired you to love your interiors…
In my March 2011 newsletter, “5 Unique Decorating Ideas”, one idea was about hanging a picture gallery. A couple of months ago, during a consultation with a wonderful client of mine, I suggested this idea to her…and she just ran with it! I took this picture on a recent visit back. Her gallery is on a long wall that is partly a hallway, so this placement of the frames is perfect because it follows the shape of the wall. It looks STUNNING!…clean, cohesive and organized.Not at all cluttered and chaotic. Great job!
To display a successful picture gallery, you definitely need to do a little planning and a little measuring. They need to have a defined shape or flow. Otherwise, they can appear haphazard and contribute more to clutter than the decor. Here are a few other suggestions for picture galleries.
As you can see, the frame is the unifying feature. They don’t all have to be identical, but they DO need to be similar…all black, all silver, etc.
Of course, a picture gallery can be more than just family pictures. A collection of sketches.
Fortunately, there are companies out there that make this look very easy to achieve. Like The Perfect Picture Wall. It’s an all-in-one system that includes the template AND the frames. If you watch Candice Olson, you’ve seen her use this type of system in her designs. It’s as easy as 1, 2. 3!
So if you’re considering a family picture gallery, or even if you have one already, take the time to change out the pictures, maybe paint the frames all the same, and try something different. A fresh configuration can go a long way in energizing the room.
Recently, I completed this family room for a dear family of four whom I have known for a few years now. Their family room had not changed in the last seven years and, although it was functional and comfortable, it was certainly not cohesive. Plus, they were totaly ready for a change…
The new design had specific requirements:
Substitute the existing “Traditional” style to a more “Transitional” look.
The design had to be casual and most of all, comfortable for daily living.
The design also needed to accommodate both reading and watching TV.
It needed to be practical with more storage.
The results:
Two paint colors were used; a dark gray and a light gray. Gray is a perfect backdrop for the semi-monochromatic color scheme.
SW7024 Functional GraySW7025 Backdrop
The sofa and two chairs are upholstered in microfiber, making them very practical for hearty living. We kept with a neutral color scheme, which helps make the room feel calm, then added a splash of terracotta that was picked up from the floor.
Since storage was a requirement, all tables and cabinets were chosen for maximum storage options. A custom, built-in TV cabinet provides even more storage.
Natural woven Roman shades were outside-mounted and placed all the way to the ceiling making the windows appear taller. They provide texture, necessary when color is limited.
If you’ve ever picked up a catalogue from Restoration Hardware, you’ll recognize the “look” immediately…white-washed, distressed woods in tones of grays, taupes and tans…with an unmistakable Industrial Flair. Today, this look is EVERYWHERE!
As a designer, I yearn to design a room around this look. I love it’s vintage yet modern and classic feel. And I’m particularly partial to monochromatic schemes. They tend to be very soothing. But you don’t have to go total industrial to incorporate this look in your home, a few furniture pieces and some well-chosen accessories can give you that vintage flair.
Industrial decor is inspired by elements found in warehouses and factories, featuring metal, casters and wheels.
Of course, I am very drawn to this gorgeous desk and chair from Restoration Hardware. Vintage Aviation…riveted sheets of metal softened with luxurious leather. How stunning is that!
The Vintage Toledo Barstool, also from Restoration Hardware, is a perfect reproduction of a vintage draftsman stool. Man-made of industrial steel and a tobacco finish wood seat. Each piece is unique.
Here are 2 perfect examples of integrating this industrial look into your existing decor. An unmistakably industrial coffee table gives a touch of color and interest, to this otherwise drab room.
Even though this room is filled with classic traditional furniture, it’s been given an updated feel with the use of industrial elements: light, distressed woods, tans, taupes and grays…not to mention the plank coffee table with metal wheels.
Yes, I would LOVE to go industrial…so, if you’re out there, and have decide to update YOUR home, and incorporate a touch of this industrial look, DO give me a call. 🙂
