To illustrate this point, check out the recent photos from a home we staged in Bexley, Ohio.  This project uses only existing furniture and accessories.  Ideally, the homeowner would give approval to paint another room or two and bring in a few updated accessories like lamps and artwork, but this is one example of a client only using what they have.

Do you – or someone you know – need help getting their home ready to sell?  If so, call me.  We can do as little or as much as is necessary.  And vacant homes must be staged to bring in the most money, people just can not visualize their stuff in an empty space.

Living Room Before

Living Room after

Living Room after

After, this red chair was in the garage! I'd love to have a nice piece of art over the fireplace but this still opens up the secondary focal point.

Master Bedroom Before

After Staging the Master Bedroom with existing items in the owner's closet and a rug that was formerly in the dining room.

Before staging, the china hutch hid valuable square footage.

After shows how we removed a leaf from the table and the hutch, keeping the sideboard, switching out area rugs and changing direction of table.

Before staging the kitchen.

After staging the kitchen appears clutter free and larger.

Ideally, the homeowner would paint over the dated sponged wall but this is reality.

The after is clutter free. I'd love to remove the shutters too but the homeowner preferred they stay.

Before staging, the bed is placed in a way that shrinks the room.

After it is staged the room seems more spacious to potential buyers.

Before, the first thing you saw upon landing in the basement was the pool table.

Now you see a large open space that turns into a tv viewing area to the right.

Before people missed out on what potential this space had for added entertaining.

Now the pool table is in the room just past the TV wall.

Before shot of bedroom turned office.

After, by moving the desk and using larger scaled artwork, this bedroom turned office appears larger.

Recently, I saw a Rachel Ray show featuring the ladies from one of those train wreck reality shows – I think it was Mob Wives.  She challenged them to a make under; toning down the sexy clothes, the huge hair and the caked on make up.  The results were no short of amazing – the ladies looked so classy, fresh and genuinely prettier.

This made me think of the many homes I’ve visited as an interior decorator and home stager in Columbus, Ohio that were also in desperate need of a make under.  If you want to sell your home, my following advice is a MUST. But these tips are for anyone looking to simplify and harmonize life in your home.

How do you know if your home needs a make under?  Do you often lose or misplace things?  Do you have stacks of papers, bills, coupons piling up?  Do you keep adding accessories without removing any?  Can you see out of your windows or are they covered with heavy window treatments?  Are your potted plants turning into a jungle?  If you answered yes to any of those questions, it’s time to give your home some room to breathe.

Color:

• A high contrast color scheme is not a good idea if you are looking to sell or de-clutter your home.  The fewer colors used will create a more spacious feel – and this applies to the carpet as well as the walls. Try to keep your carpet one consistent color throughout your home.

  

  This high contrast color scheme shrinks the space. White paint would work wonders.

  Patterns:

• Overall, the patterns used in any given space are important.  To keep a nice clean look, avoid too many competing patterns on draperies, area rugs, pillows, upholstery and on walls.  One large scale pattern in a space is usually enough.  If you need help mixing patterns, it’s best to call a decorator for guidance as it can be done well.

Kitchen:

• Counters should be almost devoid of all small appliances if possible.  If your home is on the market, keep plastic bins handy and place the small appliances in the bins prior to showings.  Try not to have items on your counter that you do not use on a daily basis.  The coffee station and toaster are two items that can stay, but I even keep our toaster in a cabinet.  The stand mixer is a big, functional piece that can also stay if the attachments are placed out of sight.
• Reign in buying more kitchen gadgets.  This is a BIG challenge in my house because both my dear husband and I love to cook and really think the latest gadget will make life easier.  In reality, having all that stuff can actually add stress to your life and limit valuable kitchen storage.  This hit home when we moved and I came across Ronco Pasta Machine, the Jack LaLanne Juicer and the George Foreman grill that we don’t use!
• Cute accessories – other than a strategic homage to the pending holiday, it’s best not to decorate your kitchen with items that are not edible or functional.  A bowl of green apples is a stunning display and it makes sense.  A bowl of potpourri or a stuffed animal has no function and only clutters your kitchen.
• Refrigerators doors are NOT walls and should not be used to hang art, potholders or family photos.  If you want to display your child’s latest work of art, rotate them in a frame or two then store them away when a new one arrives.
• Small area rugs.  If you are selling your home, remove all postage size mats from your floor.  It’s best to use one nice runner along the sink counter than to clutter the area with a separate rug for every major appliance.

Cluttered kitchen

Living/Family Rooms:

• Media areas can overwhelm us with their cords, remotes, game controls and DVD’s.  Storage is super important in these areas.  There are lots of options for storage cocktail tables, cube ottomans or baskets slid into bookshelves.  If you have a flat screen TV just “sitting” on your mantel, coffee table or similar piece of furniture, invest in either installing it on the wall for a super clean look or purchasing a media console that has a depth of about 18-20” to free up floor space.
• Family photos are great but here is where the mantra “less is more” really pays off.  Create a gallery wall by placing your most important photos in like frames with like mats.  Place all the little photos in an album or storage boxes.  And if your home is for sale, remove ALL family photos.  I know it sounds harsh but it’s a proven fact that people need to visualize themselves and their families in a space before they make an offer.
• Carefully edit your plants, candles, and collectibles.  If they are dusty, dead or nearly burnt throw them out.  Group like items together in odd numbers – no more than five.

Dining Rooms:

• Window treatments.  You can not go wrong with a pair of pinch pleated drapery panels hung close to the ceiling.  If your house is on the market, you’ll want to let as much light in as possible.  If you plan on staying put and you want a make under, remove heavy top treatments that cover large portions of a window.  Sheers on a traverse rod provide an illuminating solution to those bothersome sliding patio doors.  A good decorator will help design treatments that complement your style and home, yet be on trend with the “less is more” theme.
• Chair rails and below should be in a white or lighter shade of the wall color to create the feel of a larger space.  Dark colors beneath the chair rail had its day and is no longer in vogue.
• Chandeliers can age a space.  If you know your chandelier is dated but don’t want to invest in a new one, you may just need to remove glass hurricanes, change out the shades or spray paint over the metal to bring it into this decade.
• Bulky china cabinets are major space eaters.  The trend today is to remove the top china hutch portion and keep the sideboard beneath to create a lighter feel in your dining room.  Add a nice mirror and some tasteful buffet lamps to create a pleasing focal point in your fresh new dining room.

Bathrooms:

• The tips you use for reducing clutter in your kitchen hold true for the bath.  You want your counters as clean as possible.  If your home is on the market, a nice guest towel and a glass apothecary jar or two filled with cotton balls, etc. are all the accessories you need.
• Towels and shower curtains should be of a similar color scheme.  I’m of the school of thought that white or ivory towels convey purity and always look good hanging in a bath.  Busy or dark towels create visual clutter in the smallest space of your home. Another thing people notice is the condition of your shower rings.  Silver ones with the little ball bearings function and look great.  The clear plastic ones covered with years of grime, not so much.
• Remove toilet seat/tank carpets… I have one word for those YICK!  The area around the commode should be easily sanitized and wipeable.
• Reading material in a bathroom is another thing that grosses people out.  If you live alone, that’s fine.  But if you are selling your home or having a party, kindly put them away.
• Medicine cabinets.  For safety sake, every six months go through your cabinet and discard any expired medication.  If your home is on the market, it’s best to remove any prescriptions and put in a safe place.  It’s sad, but it’s a sign of the times.

Crisp white conveys cleanliness to potential buyers and declutters any space.

Bedrooms:

• Make the bed.  It’s fast, free and simple but you’d be amazed how many people don’t make their bed.  The bed is the largest visual piece in your room and if it isn’t made your room will look messy.  If you’re not into a fancy bed, just keep it simple.  Like in the bathroom, white will go a long way to create a clean space.  Two colored shams, a white duvet and a colored blanket or comforter folded at the foot of the bed will look crisp and neat.
• Can you see the surface of your dresser or nightstands?  You can only read one book at a time, so remove the stacks of books and take all those dust collectors off your dressers. If your home is on the market, you do not want to have a jewelry box on display, so tuck those away
• Drawers and closets.  Every one is nosy.  If your home is on the market, people will look in every closet.  If you can’t shut your drawers, ask yourself, “Do I need this, have I worn it in the last 2 years, does it flatter me?”  If not, donate.  If you’re serious about selling your home, out of season items can likely be boxed up and saves you from having to do it in the long run.
• Lampshades need vacuumed on a regular basis because the heat from the bulb naturally attracts dust and pet hair.  If your shades are out of style or damaged, it’s a cheap and easy fix to just buy a new shade.  You’ll want ivory or white – stay clear of dark colored lamp shades.

So, rather than tackle spring cleaning the way our grandmothers did, think in terms of making under your home. Remember, “Less truly is more” and you’ll love the sense of peace you’ll feel as a result.  If all else fails, you can always consider renting a POD or an off-site storage unit to free up valuable space.

We all know that there is a psychology to color.  The color green is most closely associated to nature and all things lush, growing and organic.  The word “green” has even evolved to mean environmentally conscious.

There are studies out there that say green improves reading ability and can help the sick and wounded recover more quickly.  Does “hospital green” sound familiar?  That means green would be a wonderful color for libraries, schools and even offices.

Another psychological benefit to green is that it can calm our mind and body… making it a wonderful color for bedrooms and bathrooms.

And in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, the color green has ties to money, wealth and good luck.  Can you imagine a little orange leprechaun?  It just wouldn’t work.

Green is also a color of permission and positivity; as a child we learn that “green means go.”

Now that I’ve made the case for decorating with green, how do you pick the right shade?  First, determine how you want your space to feel and function?  Do you want to create a restful retreat for your master bedroom or perhaps a baby nursery?  Do you want a fresh, crisp color for your kitchen?  Or do you want to create a handsome and cozy den?

Once you’ve determined how you want your space to feel, pick up your paint deck.  Do you prefer warm, neutral shades – what I refer to as “realtor colors.”  One of my favorite neutral greens is Svelte Sage by Sherwin Williams.    Here is family room I recently designed using Svelte Sage.

Svelte Sage adorns the walls of this family room.

Perhaps you prefer a bit more depth but still want a warm shade of green.  Check out Tansy Green by Sherwin Williams.   I’ve used this color in both contemporary spaces (with shades of black and white) and in traditional ones (with warm gold tones).

And if you lean towards cooler colors or are decorating with kids in mind, there’s a green for you too. Maybe you want a vibrant, citrus green to offset white kitchen cabinets.  If so, check out Dancing Green by Sherwin Williams .

From DesignDazzle - this illustrates how vibrant green pairs well with black and white.

Every room and it’s occupants will benefit from adding a little green.  Even if it’s in the form of a house plant, real or faux.  And as always, if you need some guidance, I’m a certified color expert and can easily help you navigate your way through the paint deck to find just the perfect shade of green for your space.

I always use restraint when decorating with themes as it can easily get of hand.  I recall my teenage years when many homes were taken over by the goose theme, do you remember that one?   UGH!  However, using a theme in decorating is the best way to convey a “feeling” in your space.  It’s just like with everything in life, less is more and moderation is key.

If you would like to create a nautical feel in your home, here’s my top tips:

1.  The color blue. The power of navy blue combined with white is a classic and immediately registers the nautical theme in one’s mind.  Think of our US Navy’s uniforms, sails billowing in the wind a story sea.  And navy is HOT right now in home decorating – Ralph Lauren has always done the nautical theme well and is shown below.

2.  Flat weave area rugs.  Dash & Albert sets the standard as far as I’m concerned for bringing that East Coast, Hamptons’ feel to any decor.  And even better is that many of their patterns are available for indoor/outdoor use and are quite economical.  So, you can bring a blue and white runner into your kitchen or anchor your patio in a denim striped area rug and really deliver a lot of a bang for your buck.

3.  Moderate Nautical Accessories. Like jewelry, it’s tacky to wear it all at once so try to limit your nautical accessories.  Using one large ship’s model on a sofa table combined with some sailboat artwork would be all you need, when combined with the blue color, to create a tasteful nautical room. One ship’s steering wheel under a piece of glass would make for a memorable table top.  An apothecary jar filled with sand and seashells from vacations past is a fun project for the kids.

4.  Slipcovers. A beach side retreat is home to many guests and no one wants to worry about protecting expensive upholstery fabrics when there is so much fun to be had.  So, a slipcover is a great solution and is an excellent way of bringing new life to an older, but structurally sound piece of furniture.  The best fabric to use for a nautical inspired decor is twill, cottons and denim.  Ivory twill with a contrasting welt in navy would be stunning.

5.  Stripes: Big, and bold or thin and subtle, stripes abound in nautical scenes.  Again, it’s about the contrast of other colors against that navy blue.  Whether paired with a marine blue, yellow, white or red, navy blue is the must have ingredient.

Now that you know how to create sea-worthy spaces, I hope you feel inspired.  I recently started designing a nautical inspired guest room (of course my launching point was a Dash & Albert rug) in my own home and will post photos soon.  I’m still looking for just the right accessories.  Have fun!

Stripes abound

A Dash & Albert rug anchors the nautical living room

A Dash & Albert rug again appears in Elle Decor!

Ralph Lauren uses one large ship's model as a focal point.

Love the oars in place of window treatments

Black & White row boat art by Uttermost

Fabricut's Pattern in shades of navy and tan would make beautiful drapes!

Lately, I have seen spindle furniture popping up in many design magazines, the blog world and in furniture stores.  I believe some of the trend is attributed to our quest for re-purposing or to at least decorate in a style that looks like it’s vintage.  If like me, you are of a certain age, I’m sure you remember the famous Jenny Lind bed or crib.  Named after a famous Swedish opera singer, many homes in America had one.  Here is bed offered by one of my favorite furniture vendors, Kincaid, that looks just like the one I remember:

Vintage inspired Jenny Lind Bed

Here is a substantial, spindle sideboard by Arhaus:

Valencia sideboard by Arhaus

A stylistic approach to the classic spindle base, can be found in this contemporary console table by Global Views.  Love!

Stylized Spindle base for this contemporary console table

Check out this beautiful spindle chair offered through Horchow.

Suzani Spindle Chair by Horchow

As your leafing through your design magazines, keep your eyes out for the spindle furniture trend.  It’s one I want to incorporate into my designs soon.

Where do you start?  I tell my clients to attack the rooms they entertain in most – the compliments you receive from friends and family will motivate you to continue in other spaces.  Set aside a keep, pitch and donate area or container.  Stand back, look at your room objectively – do you really like what you see?  The first place the eye goes to when one enters a room is the right corner.  You want that area to pop.  If you’re tired of looking at it – toss it.

Pitch those tired, dusty floral arrangements, that art work you’ve had up for years and update the photos in your picture frames.  Minimize the accessories you display on tables and countertops using the decorator’s rule of grouping like with like in odd numbers.  Keep a few larger accessories and avoid displaying a lot of small items or the surface appears messy and makes it harder to dust.

Bookshelves grow clutter easily.  Obtain a cleaner look by taking off the jackets from your hardbacks and removing at least a third of your books.  Unless you want that library look, bookshelves look best when books aren’t lined up vertically.  Stack some horizontally then bring in some artwork, accessories and greenery to add visual interest.  Once you are happy with your shelves, you can deliver even more drama to your work by installing some inexpensive cabinet lighting.

Our economy and our environment make it charitable to bless others with our mess!  My personal favorite is Bargain Box, an annual rummage sale of sorts sponsored by The Junior League of Columbus.   Many non-profits or shelters are thrilled to accept your architectural salvage, gently worn furniture, linens, and clothing.  Or, if you want to try to make a buck (perhaps to apply towards new décor), sell your items on Craigslist, EBay or at a local consignment store like Grandview Mercantile Revue.

For environmental reasons, please consider recycling – not just your magazines and newspapers but household items, appliances, cabinets, carpet – even outdoor landscaping plants can be recycled through great resources like Habitat for Humanity’s Restore or the cool website www.freecycle.org. Most of the time they will even come to your home and remove the items for you – how easy is that?

After you have finished your space – take in a deep, cleansing breath and enjoy your streamlined surroundings.

Add unique focal points to your tree

If you’re like me you love creating a beautiful holiday setting in your home to welcome guests and family members each year.  However, coming up with the creative inspiration can be daunting.  So, here I am reposting by request,  the designer tips I use when decking my halls and trimming the trees of my clients.

Real or Fake? As a decorator, I prefer artificial trees and garland as they hold heavier items better than fresh evergreens and allow one to wrap and bend the branches to hold items in place. Trees today look so real, last for years, are good for those with allergies and are more flame resistant than their real counterparts.

Lighting: If you don’t have a convenient pre-lit tree, and want to store the tree in pieces you can light each section of the tree in pieces. Start near the trunk on the bottom row and make a slipknot out of the lights, securing it to the branch, pull tight. Bring lights from the center of the tree all the way toward tip of branch, wrapping it around twice at the tip. Then, wrap lights around every other green working towards the tip for moderate lighting. For intense lighting, wrap every green. I use a formula of at least 100 lights per foot of tree. There is an art form to lighting the tree properly – it takes time, but is well worth it. Start on the inside at the base of your tree and wrap the branches with the lights. This will prevent the unsightly green cords from showing so profusely.

Focal Pieces: Place the large statement piece deep enough into the tree so they are fully supported. Place smaller ones near the top and larger ones near the base of the tree.

Ribbons & Fabric: People have been using ribbon for years – the decorator tricks are to use plenty of it, only use wired ribbon and anchor it inside the tree – never on the tips. You can place ribbon in several patterns:

• Vertical: You can run the ribbon down the tree vertically for a symmetrical look. Start a little ways down from the tree top to allow room for your top decoration. Anchor the beginning of the ribbon by wrapping a branch around the ribbon. Then make a half loop and drop down about one foot before anchoring it to the rear of another branch – never the tip. End with a pretty tail for a finished look.
• Double Hurricane: This is one of my favorites. Lay two ribbons on top of each other folding the doubled ends over to create a loop. As in the vertical style, attach the doubled loop to to the tree by bending a branch over it, the pull the ribbons slightly apart highlighting the two ribbons. Next, continue on a diagonal, making half loops every foot or so as you work down the tree – spreading the ribbons apart so you can see the tree through the space between them.
• Freestyle: This is an economical use of ribbon scraps. Randomly place the strips in your tree in half loop patterns, securing with branches as you go. This tricks the eye into thinking you have yards of ribbon swirled in your tree.
• Frame: Create one or more triangular shaped frames around your statement piece. You can add more drama by placing bows at the top and edges of the triangle. Use the same half loop, anchor to branch technique as in the other methods.

Fabric: Lightweight fabrics like tulle, satin or lame make dramatic tree trimmings. You would use this in place of ribbon. The formula needed is two yards per foot of tree. Fold the fabric on top of itself to create a rose shape and secure with floral wire. Then attach it to the tree similar to the vertical ribbon pattern – making sure the fabric loops are full and billowy. For more drama, pool the fabric under the tree as the skirt.

Garlands: Made out of everything from popcorn and cranberries, to paper snowflakes, feather boas, to plastic beads and tinsel, garland should be hung before adding ornaments. For a seven-foot tree, use 48 to 60 feet of garland. You can either tuck the garland a little deeper into the tree for more depth or hang it in a wedding cake pattern, where the garland drapes near branch tips – you will need a few more strands to do this properly. Start at the bottom and attach garland by twisting a branch around it, drape the garland horizontally, be sure to space it evenly. You can use garland of one color or combine two colors and bead sizes.

Ornaments: Now it’s time for ornaments – the options are limitless today. Use the proper hooks or floral wire for the weight of the ornament. Think dimensionally – meaning, apply the shiny ornaments deeper in the tree where they will reflect light. A classic decorating mistake is to hang the ornaments on branch tips.

Fillers: These space fillers like angel hair, birds, feathers, fruit or floral picks complement your theme. You can insert a pick directly into your tree or wire it to a branch with floral wire. Place picks as you would find them in nature – don’t hang a bird upside down for example.

Treetop: It’s best to stick with your theme here but a tree topper tends to be a very personal item – some insist on the same angel they’ve used for years. That’s fine just jazz it up with a large bow or some finials or a cluster of crooked branches for dimension. Scale is important – a large tree calls for a large treetop, narrower trees look better with smaller toppers.

I hope you received at least one new idea for trimming your tree this holiday season. Let me know how it goes – I’d love to see photos!

1. The Casual Style
2. The Traditional Style
3. The Formal Style
4. The Modern Style

The casual style suits most families

Knowing which style appeals to you most can help you when you shop for home products or when you work with your designer. You can even mix the styles brilliantly within the same space.  The trick is to choose most of your elements from one major style, and to add or accent that style with elements from another category.  Just make sure you have something that ties it all together, such as color or the historic era represented.

 The Formal Style is elegant and stately. Furniture is often tall and stained in dark, polished finishes.  Heavy trimmings adorn window treatments and upholstered pieces. Accessories use materials such as crystal, marble, and porcelain, and they frequently show up in pairs to create balance. Antiques and fine reproductions work well in these spaces. The overall feeling is one of grandness. 

The Traditional Style is a perfect blend of the casual and the formal styles. It reflects understated elegance.  Furnishings have classic lines and simple detail. There is often a mix of dark wood finishes with medium-toned pieces.  Jacquard fabrics are used on upholstery and window treatments.  Leather is common, as well.  Accents include brass and porcelain items, painted plates, leather bound books, and timeless pieces. The overall feeling is one of classic sophistication.

The Modern Style is urban, fresh, and slick.  Clean lines are used as a design tool to distinguish items from their background.  Space is deliberately placed around items so they appear to be “on display.”  Furniture upholstery is neutral in color, and fabrics are pulled tight.  Pops of color and pattern are used sparingly for effect.  Accessories are few – but always artistic in nature. The overall feeling is clean, sophisticated, and edgy. 

Choose your favorite style as a base for your design, and accent your space with items from a different style, remembering to tie it all together with a common element.  And if you need help, be sure to call us - we’d love to help!

I love doing children’s rooms.   I don’t do them very often but I really have a good time selecting those whimsical elements that speak to the child’s imagination yet can easily be replaced by more grown up items as they age.  Last week I presented the following three room designs… which one do you like?  They all incorporate Pottery Barn bedding and in some cases their lighting. 

My “client” in this case was very involved in the entire design process – he even helped hold the tape measure for me and offered his screw driver in case I needed one.  Too cute!  I will post photos in a couple of months when the room is complete. 

A Classic Boy's Bedroom

A T-Rex Madras Bedroom

Boy's Camp Bedroom

How Does it Work?  First, you need to decide whether you want to tackle the project yourself or bring in a certfied interior redesign expert.  An outside expert will always think of things you won’t as they are seeing your space and it’s contents with fresh eyes.  When I walk into a client’s home, I treat it and the contents as though I am shopping in a store for the first time — something that’s almost impossible for the homeowner to do since they’ve lived amongst their belongings for years.  Obviously, there is a cost involved when bringing in a professional — usually $300- $500 per room depending upon the size of your room - but it’s typically less than purchasing a piece of furniture and you don’t have to do all the grunt work!

When I do a redesign, I still apply all the elements of good design; honoring the focal point, creating an optimal conversational grouping, addressing all three decorating zones of your space and completing the look with lighting, art and accessories.   To save you the most money, this is all accomplished using your own things — just in a way that WOW’s! 

At the end of a redesign, your redesigner may deliver a list of recommendations for any pieces that he or she feels you need to achieve that magazine look desired by most clients.  For example, I may have taken a lamp from your bedroom to illuminate a newly-created reading corner in your family room.  So, you’ll likely want to get another lamp so you have your bedroom lamp back.   Then you can go out and shop for those items or some redesigners, myself included, will shop on your behalf for a fee.   Having the expert shop on your behalf takes any guess work out of selecting the proper item in terms of color, scale and style.

If you plan on doing the redesign yourself, the first thing you should do is measure your existing furniture pieces and create a floor plan before you start moving furniture.  This is the step that professional always do but homeowners rarely do – which leads to costly and timely mistakes. The internet is full of helpful floor plan tools or, you can invest in a magnetic or static set like E-Z Decorator. Really shop your home, examine all of your pieces, including ones in other rooms of your house and in storage.  That trunk you have in the basement may just make a great cocktail table for your family room. I once turned a wine cabinet into a towel rack.  It’s fun to think outside the box and breathe new life into existing furniture.

You should purchase some furniture slides so you don’t break your back when moving furniture.  Then, empty your room as much as possible – including all the accessories and artwork.  Group like pieces with like in another room.  Then bring in the area rug first.  If you don’t have an area rug, then bring in the largest piece of furniture and place it where it honors the focal point.  Then work from there, bringing in your smaller seating pieces, then your case goods.  Once the furniture is in place then you can bring in lamps and accessories.  Leave the artwork for last.

Sunroom Before

The client was going to discard these sofas. They have since been reupholstered in a flax linen and she is thrilled. Angling the furniture allowed for connectivity to the family room and freed up space for the bistro corner.

We created a lovely spot for morning coffee with a wicker bistro set.

Before shot of family room.

By moving the TV next to the fireplace, we created a combined focal point. Angling the rug and furniture created interest and movement in the square space.

Another viewpoint of the after

This reading nook pops - love that the red in the artwork coordinated with the chair! Tree was found in the office.

By grouping the client's pottery collection, we created more interest and less clutter.