Designing small spaces is a unique challenge. Like all good design, function, appearance, and comfort are all supremely important, but in small spaces, every inch counts.
Read MoreHome Sweet Office
With the advent of technology and our increasingly interconnected society, the possibility and plausibility of working from home is rapidly rising. Documents can be shared and worked on cooperatively in cloud applications, and meetings and brainstorming sessions can be held via video conferencing. Even if a home office is not a primary work space for you, it is likely at least a part time work space and a location from which to manage personal finances and household activities. There are many advantages of an office at home, and let’s face it, you can’t beat the commute!
But all offices, whether at home or in a commercial setting, should be both functional and inspiring.
Read MoreEasy Ways to JumpStart Spring around the House
Spring brings with it spring cleaning, a season of holidays and entertaining, and the reminders everywhere of renewed life. And yet, here in New England it always seems to take forever to arrive! SO, while we are anticipating the ACTUAL arrival this glorious season of warmer days and fresh breezes, here are a few ways you can bring spring to your home even before the weather cooperates!
Read MoreSeen Around Town: Fabulous Area Rugs
Area rugs. They are the foundation for almost any room design. We recently went in search of the perfect area rug to complete a sophisticated, warm, neutral living room design. One of our favorite haunts for area rugs is
Read MoreTrade Secrets: 4 Ways to Transform your Space with Paint
Well, it's groundhog day and apparently we have 6 more weeks of winter. Honestly, no matter what the furry rodent says, we in New England KNOW that winter weather is capricious right up to (and sometimes into!) May. But spring is coming...eventually!
The good news? Trapped inside during winter is the perfect time to spruce up your house in time for the spring flurry (no pun intended) of activities. And one of the most effective ways to make changes is with paint.
There are many places where new paint will make a big difference:
Read MoreFresh Year, Fresh Start
The holiday decorations are finally all packed up until next year. And now is the time to turn our attention to organizing and freshening our homes. Here are three small changes with big impact that will breathe new life into your rooms:
Read MoreTips for Beautiful Holiday Packages
It's no secret that I LOVE the holidays with all the beautiful lights and decorations and wonderful food! But as a designer, color is one of the first things my eye sees and I have a need for my holiday decor to blend seamlessly with my home decor. I addition to the tree, garland, and wreath ornaments and ribbons, I also like to color coordinate my packages under the tree. Beautifully wrapped packages are a lovely holiday tradition, and thoughtful packaging is as important as the gift inside!
Here are some suggestions for upping your gift packaging game:
Read MoreSeen Around Town: Occasional Tables
Recently, we have been investigating living room tables...that backbone of creating a functional living space...a place to put your drink, or book, or remote control, or table lamp, or whatever makes the room work for you!
We have come across an interesting variety of cocktail, end, wine, and console tables. Many have a mix of finishes that make them not only interesting pieces, but a nice opportunity to tie in other elements in the room for a more cohesive feel without the boredom of 'matched to death' suites of furniture.
Read MoreSeen Around Town: Stunning Chandeliers and Lanterns
For many of our design projects, we need to specify new lighting. Recently, we have been on the hunt for chandeliers and lanterns and wanted to share some of our finds!
Trying to avoid another fussy crystal or ubiquitous barrel stave chandelier we found these classic alternatives to be a refreshing change.
Read MoreThe Well-Designed Room
A well-designed room is alchemy…part science and part art.
Sure, we want our rooms to look good, but more importantly, we want them to be comfortable – to LIVE well. And the essence of comfort in a room is feeling good there. Comfort is about more than the cushion fill in the sofa. It also includes the convenience and functionality and welcoming FEEL of the space. Good design serves the occupants of the room, not the other way around.
Whether starting from scratch or reworking existing spaces, here are a few essential processes and principles:
Read MoreHigh Style, Low Maintenance
Low maintenance…we appreciate it in our relationships, but we adore it in our interiors! As long as we can get great style, low maintenance versions of natural materials are an enticing alternative.
I love natural materials but they require extra care – they are susceptible to staining, fading, scratching, and wear. Sometimes we just don’t have the time or patience or lifestyle (or house denizens!) to accommodate the care often required by natural products.
Luckily, technology is keeping pace and there are now products available that imitate nature well, but are MUCH easier to keep looking good.
Here are 3 of our favorites:
Read MoreTrade Secrets: Do's and Don'ts for Hanging Draperies
Trade Secrets: the do’s and don’ts of hanging draperies
It has come to my attention that in the wonderful world of decorators, most have jumped on the bandwagon of "hang ‘em high". I refer to, of course, the trend to hang the curtain rod for drapery panels well above the window to elongate the proportions in a room. And this does, in fact, work. BUT… like most things, this cannot be applied universally willy-nilly.
The advice is grounded in the notion that a longer line creates an unbroken vertical that makes the perceived height of the room taller. And while this is absolutely true, there are caveats.
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