DECOR Advice 101

This is the living room in our current house, a 200+ yr-old cottage/farmhouse in coastal Maine. My husband cut down an antique table from a workshop that we had been using as a kitchen table/island in a previous house to make the coffee table.

This is a picture of our bedroom in our previous house. Sage green toile duvet cover & pillow shams w/matching toile drapes. Drapes were curtains intended to go on a rod, but I used black clip-on curtain rings instead to make the drapes hang neatly and open and close more easily. Queen bed is a hand-made reproduction made of tiger maple.

MOVE IT OUTDOORS.

Get-togethers with family and friends are great. But keep in mind that those get-togethers don't always need to take place indoors.

If you have outdoor space where you live; perhaps a little area under a tree or a nook tucked into a corner of your yard, drag your table and chairs outside, string some twinkle light in a tree or shrub and maybe bring out those sterling silver candelabra you never use.

Mix a little rustic with something a little elegant and make your outdoor dining and get-togethers really special. These are memories you will long remember.

A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT SISAL RUGS.

Natural sisal rugs are beautiful in just about any setting. But BEWARE! They STAIN and the stains are impossible to remove. And if you have pets - you should probably opt out.

I purchased two beautiful sisal room size rugs for our house. Our Chihuahua (who often has p*e p*e "accidents" in the house) ruined one. I tried every recommendation on cleaning the p*e spots, but to no avail. It just made the stains worse. We eventually had to throw the rug out.

The second rug is near an exit, so the goings in and out with wet shoes also leaves water stains on the rug. One day, someone with muddy shoes walked across the rug - more stains.

What's the Answer?

Well, if you don't have pets and are extra careful about not dropping or spilling anything on the sisal rugs, you should be fine and yes, they are beautiful.

Another option is . . . indoor/outdoor rugs that look exactly like sisal but are impervious to stains. You just taken them outside and hose them off. And they're a lot less expensive than real sisal. We have since replaced our family room sisal rug with and indoor/outdoor one and I am so glad we did.

But if you're still insistent on buying sisal rugs, I recommend those made by Safavieh - available at Overstock/Bed, Bath & Beyond as seen in the attached photo. You can also purchase some nice indoor/outdoor versions by Safavieh at the same place.

Over the top? A step too far?
What exactly does that mean. It means exactly what it says - that you took a really nice thing and overdid it. For example, look at this picture. It's a very nice, well done room, but . . . . the decorator when a bit too far with the checks.

I would eliminate the checks and the hem of the table cloth and on the chairs and the left and right. The checks are fine on the upholstered or slip-covered parson's style chairs. I would also eliminate the lacy white table topper - it's just "too precious." Instead, I would like to see a full length table cloth with a plain white square table topper.

Of course, you will say "to each his own," and yes, that's true. But from a good decorating standpoint, less is often more. So, when you approach a room, try not to get carried away with a good thing.

To all my followers:
I'm sorry my posts have not been up-to-date, but I've been in the hospital at the Cleveland Clinic and will be going back again soon. But I promise to catch up when I'm back on my feet. Don't give up on the site. There's a LOT more to come. Ruth

PAINT IS YOUR FRIEND.

So many people are reluctant to paint wood trim in their homes. “Oh, it’s beautiful wood. We can’t paint it,” they say. Wrong! Yes, you can paint it, and in most cases, it needs to be painted to bring things into the 21st century. And oh, by the way, the same is true for brick fireplaces.

First of all, the wood trim in many homes is an inexpensive wood and is not very attractive. Secondly, leaving the wood trim unpainted creates a rather chaotic look. Your eye has nowhere to rest. It just sees all that wood trim. This does not contribute to a smooth, peaceful, cohesive look.

I know, I know, there are those of you who will argue with me, but I’m sticking to my opinion. Unless you’ve got an historic, drop-dead gorgeous library with glorious chestnut wood trim, paint it. Paint it and leave the house for an hour or so and then come back in and you will immediately notice how much more peaceful and pulled together your rooms look.

That’s because you are not now focusing on that wood molding that used to stick out like a million sore thumbs. Now you can focus on the room’s décor without competing with that unsightly wood trim.

WHAT COLOR?
Sure, there are lots of options when in comes to wall paint and trim colors, but if I were you, I’d stick to something neutral. Opting for colored trim can have the exact same unsettling effect that the natural wood had. It’s best to stick to white. White looks especially good with walls of a different color. If you’re going with a off-white, cream-colored wall, you can go with the same color trim.

Trust me people, it’s been my experience that even the most beautiful wood moldings look 100 times better painted. Painted wood trim quickly turns your sad-looking, depressing, aged house into a brand new, happy-looking home.

Fireplaces:
The same is true for fireplace brick. I’m talking about the exterior brick on the fireplace – not the interior. Very few fireplaces were built using beautiful brick, therefore, it’s no crime to paint it. Once again, a natural brick fireplace can be an eyesore, but once painted, it becomes a lovely part of the room. The same is true for your fireplace’s wood trim. Paint it! You can also opt to use a white-washing technique when painting the fireplace brick, leaving a little of the brick showing trough – giving it a blurred look.

Avoiding painting wood trim and fireplace brick because our parents, friends and family shudder at the thought is no excuse. I have no doubt you’re going to love your new, updated look.

LAMPS.

I cannot stress enough the importance of choosing the right lamp for your space. The first thing to consider is the size of the lamp. Where will it be used. If it's too small or too large, it won't work.

For an end table lamp in the living room a height of between 27" and 30" usually works best. When seated next to the lamp, you should not be able to see the light bulb or the hardware.

But size is not the only concern. The shade is probably the most important part of the lamp equation. Avoid a stark white shade as it will cast a very harsh light - unless, of course, your doing an ultra modern theme and want a stark white light.

Opt instead for a shade in a soft, warm creamy shade of off-white, oatmeal or burlap. Texture also helps add warmth.

Try to find a lamp with a 3-way switch so you can control the brightness in the room. There are times when you will want more light and times when you will want a dimmer light for cozy get-togethers. I like lamps with two bulbs (if you can find them) like the one in this picture.

Avoid lamps that are too trendy or old-fashioned - like those Tiffany-style colored glass lamps. Ugh! Stick with something neutral and pleasing to the eye that you will still like a year from now. And whatever you do, please avoid colored lamp shades. There is nothing pretty about about a red or blue lampshade. If you're considering a black lampshade, then you should have some good decorating experience - because that's a difficult look to pull off - and the shade should be Kraft paper and not silk or another material - and the shad needs to be lined with gold.

I suggest that you gather lots of pictures of lamps you're considering and look at the pictures over a few weeks before making a decision. While lamps may seem like a small purchase compared to other items in your room, they are one of the most important purchases, so don't rush into anything.

I am not a lover of those LED light bulbs. Period! The light they cast is very unnatural and harsh, so I'm sticking with the old-fashioned incandescent blubs for better ambience.

Happy lamp hunting.

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What to do with a tiny bedroom? GO BIG!
Use one dramatic piece of furniture that will be the centerpiece of the room. In this case, the beautiful iron bed dressed in bright and flowery girly fabric. This adorable bedroom is so cozy and well done that guest won't even notice its small size.

YELLOW! Yes, yellow. Nothing can perk up a small space like yellow paint and a litter wallpaper and this lovely bathroom wears it well. The secret in using yellow is to choose the right shade. In this space they have used a mustardy shade of yellow which is subtle enough not to tire of, but bright enough to wake up the room

How many of you change your home around, change your decor from winter to summer?

MODERN FARMHOUSE is all the rage. But how do you actually pull it off?

Here's how . . .

EXTERIOR HOME DECOR? YOU BET!

If you're a homeowner, remember that the entrance to your home and the gardens in front of your home and near your entrance are part of your exterior décor.

I'm not suggesting that you put up a lot of silly gnomes and decorative items, etc. What I'm referring to is the path/walkway to your house and surrounding gardens.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Remember - first impressions! Go outside your home and take a few pictures of your house and front entrance. Does your home look attractive and inviting? Are your gardens well manicured and beautiful? If not, spring is the perfect time to revamp your home's entrance area.

DOORYARD GARDENS: I'm a big fan of dooryard gardens, an old term used to describe the gardens surrounding the front entrance to your home. I'm also a huge fan of some type of low fencing around your dooryard gardens, and I'm not referring to those cheap little picket or trellis-type "fences" that are nothing more than "borders" that are sold at Home Depot. No, not them. They look tacky.

I'm talking about actual fencing. It could be a low white picket fence, a low fence with two broad slats, etc. You can purchase them pre-made or, if you or your spouse is handy, you can make them yourselves. Keep in mind the fencing must be low - as in 2' to no more than 30" tall. You also need to consider the style of your home when choosing dooryard fencing. The fencing style needs to compliment the style of your home and not fight with it. Whether to paint the fencing white or stain it depends on the style of your house.

My husband and I live in in a 200+ year -old cottagey farmhouse. When we purchased this house all the front gardens had been torn out to do some foundation work, so we were left with nothing but dirt.

I will post some pictures of the evolution of our dooryard gardens. The two smaller gardens (one on each side of the walk to our house) have been fenced in with a painted white fence which my husband built and installed. The other long garden that extends the length of the house is not fenced in.

The first thing we did was to plant some evergreen foundation plantings along the foundation so that there would be greenery all year long. We also planted a conical-shaped evergreen near the entrance on each side of the door. The rest of the gardens are comprised of perennials which turn into a striking and fragrant display in the spring and summer.

If you plan on planting a garden, just post a picture and I'll be glad to give you some pointers.

What would you like this site to address? Any particular concerns?

THE IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT LIGHTING

Lighting can make or break a room, so it's important to pay careful attention to the lighting in your home. In general, old fashioned overhead lighting is a big no no, unless we're talking about recessed ceiling lights that are on a DIMMER - or kitchen lighting. And by the way, absolutely NO fluorescent lights - not even in the kitchen. There are exceptions to the no overhead lights rule, but those are for the experienced decorator. I'm referring to those old, ugly ceiling lights from the days of yore.

1. There should be several sources of light in a room from table lamps to stand lamps.
2. Be sure every corner of the room is well lighted.
3. Us low wattage, soft light bulbs or put them on a dimmer.
4. Pay attention to your lamp shades. In most instances, avoid black or colored lamp shades and stick to a soft ivory colored shade.
5. When you walk into your room, the lighting should create a soft, cozy atmosphere - no harsh or too bright lighting. Bear in mind that your living room is not an office or commercial space and should not be lighted as such.
6. If you need "task lighting" in a room for reading, etc., use a three-way light bulb or put the lamp on a dimmer.

Now, turn on your lights in a room and give it a walk through test in the evening. Does the lighting make you feel welcome? Does it make you want to sit down and chat? Or does it show off every defect in the room? Now go ahead and get to work fixing your lighting. Good luck.

SHABBY CHIC, ANYONE? Take that barely used porch, extra room or even a shed and turn it into a cozy, private sanctuary. Gather up a few old pieces of furniture, add some paint, some interesting fabric, a few plants and pillows and suddenly that useless space becomes your own private getaway.

IF YOU LIKE TRADITIONAL, this bed is for you. Nothing says traditional like a pretty toile fabric and this bed treatment is top notch with a French flair using soft shades of blues and yellows.

Adding interest to the design is the mixing of stripes and checks with the toile. Put a big, fluffy duvet int he duvet cover and this is a bed that says welcome.

WHAT DOES THIS PICTURE TELL US?

It shows us how we can make the most out of small spaces and it contradicts a few decorating myths. One is that large patterns in small spaces doesn't work. Not true. Two is that dark colors in a small space will make it look smaller. Also not true. As you can see, this bed is tucked into a corner with large scale wallpaper with a dark background and a dark table. And yet, the room looks wonderfully soft, cozy and inviting. The takeaway is, don't believe all the old decorating myths.

I am going to temporarily shut down this page and restart it as a group. I will send out new friend invites when the group is ready. I apologize for the inconvenience.

My Apologies. My article on interior lighting which I had planned on posting here has somehow disappeared from my computer, so I will have to re-write it. Hang in there. :)

What to do with a Nook? Build in a cute little window seat, top it with a cushion and some pillows and maybe a lighting fixture and it might become your favorite place to read a good book.

Think Spring! It's easy to make a decorating statement outdoors. Simply find an old bench, add some plants and a watering can and there you have it.

What NOT to do. Here's an example of pillows on overdrive. Too much of a good thing in an otherwise pretty room with beautiful bedding.

COMING SOON . . . The Importance of Indoor Lighting. Watch for it.

When dark paint really works. This is an excellent example of an area where dark walls really work and add dramatic impact. Notice the importance of the large, ornate gold-framed mirror. Without it, this scenario may not work. Also notice the antique wooden drop-leaf table and the carefully orchestrated arrangement on the table. It may look casually thrown together, but it's not. I'm sure that a lot of thought went into the placement of each item.

What, if anything, can you find wrong with this bedroom décor? To me, nothing. it is a good example of country/farmhouse décor.

A NICE MIX of modern-day contemporary and a bit of rustic.

This room could be perfect except for one thing. Can you find it? Too much "signage." There is a sign over the bed and a pillow on the bed with writing on it. One is quite enough, ladies. Pick one and move on.

FRENCH COUNTRY
THIS IS A FINE EXAMPLE of country French dining room décor. If this is your style, be aware that there is a big difference between country French and overly ornate, often opulent, French decor.
Yellows and blue typically prevail in country French decorating, along with chandeliers ranging from rustic wrought iron to ornate crystal. Note the simplicity of the rustic dining table and the typically French country style chairs, navy checked curtains and easy-going rustic decorative pieces.
This style décor is easy-going and casual, warm and welcoming and not a bit intimidating and uses a old, often time-worn antique pieces of furniture.