The Key to a Cozy, Comfy Living Room

25 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

Tags

comfort, Country Living, cozy, design, floor plan, furniture, home, interior design, living room, Simple Country Wisdom, Susan Waggoner

Being a designer, I can’t help when I am in someone’s home and my mind is racing with ideas. I usually pick out a few things that aren’t working, which is normal because not everyone has the eye for design. I find that most people have issues with layout and not understanding the space. This is the most important key in creating a cozy and comfortable home that not only you love but others love being in as well.

I am currently reading Country Living’s, Simple Country Wisdom and it has so many great ideas and advice. Its a great book to run through for helpful tips and ways to simplify your life. Author Susan Waggoner hits a lot of good points and includes so many beautiful photos. I just came across the section on how to stage a room and it reminded me how many people get this wrong. I had to write about the issue so my readers can learn how to create a fantastic space they love. Even if you have layout figured out, you can gain some inspiration.

I think the number one problem with living rooms is ignoring the center. Having a small space can be easier to figure out but when you have a large room, it gets tricky. As Waggoner states, “the bare space in the middle of a room becomes an alley people want to pass through as quickly as possible, because there’s nothing to keep them there, no objects of interest or comfortable places to perch.” I think we’ve all been in a space where the furniture lined the walls and the middle of the room was like a black hole. You’re far from the TV, far from the other couch or chairs, and everything is just laid out without any thought of people actually living there. And its funny because the resolution is easy!

All you need to do is focus on the center of the room. This is where your furniture should be along with a coffee table and side tables, if you have them. This will enable all foot traffic to stay around the edges where it belongs. It also helps you create clusters of little areas where people can relax, talk, or just admire your belongings on display. I like how Waggoner mentions, “life takes place in the center of the hut,” which is how it has been for hundreds of civilizations such as the Vikings, Native Americans, and villages in Africa, to name a few. This creates coziness.

The room below isn’t really cozy. The warm colors in the space help but with the furniture so far apart, it seems a little bare. By bringing in another 122DESIGN chair, adding a small table in between them, and shifting the pieces a little closer, it will surely be cozier. The addition of a small rug will top it off nicely. It’s always good to have an anchor in the room so your furniture doesn’t look like its floating.

Photo Credit: Shelterness

This next space may look a little cozy, thanks to the colors and textured rug, however, it seems very museum like. There is at least two feet between the couch and the table, so the spaces seem like aisles. This is not cozy in my book. I think the room would be more successful if it only had one large couch and maybe a smaller one across from it. The space is so airy and lofty, it’s screaming for cozy! Focusing on the middle of the room would do the trick.

Photo Credit: Home Interiors

To successfully pull this off, its good to draw up a floor plan and play around with different scenarios. Pay attention to the scale of your pieces. For example, if you have large furniture, don’t crowd lots of pieces in the space. Let everything breathe. A good thing to keep in mind is what Waggoner suggests, use the letter H to guide you. First, start from the center. Then, arrange two large pieces {sofas, a sofa and chairs, etc..} across from each other acting as the two parallel lines of the H. Adding a coffee table in the middle links them together.

Photo Credit: They Call Me Domesticate

Arrange seating in the space so that they are facing each other instead of just next to each other. This also helps create an inviting and more friendly environment. With the open space you now have around the room, you can dress up windows and have a corner or two to create another cozy cluster. Who doesn’t love a reading nook? And finally, with the addition of textiles, accessories, and wall decorations, the space will feel much more comfortable, inviting, and whole.

Here are some good examples for inspiration.

Photo Credit: Ohua 88:Interior Design Resources

Photo Credit: Country Living

Photo Credit: Houzz

Photo Credit: Country Living

Photo Credit: Indulgy

Photo Credit: Country Living

Photo Credit: Home Decor Interior Ideas

Photo Credit: Country Living

Creative Introductions

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art & Design

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art, design, elementary, Game of Thrones, Hannibal, music, opening credits, The Walking Dead, TV, Vikings

I’m not a huge TV fan but I have to admit I’ve been watching a lot more of it lately. You just can’t deny the great shows that have been gracing the screens within the past few years. Most of the time you feel like you’re watching a movie, which I love. And the connection you build with the story and characters as each season passes is something, I feel, TV has been missing for some time.

One aspect of television, as well as film, I always look forward to are the intros. The opening credits is where art & design and creativity come together to showcase the “feel and style” of the show as well as feature the actors who play important roles. Over the years, these have been getting better and better and I wanted to share a few of my current favorites. Some may overlook these few seconds before the show starts but not me. I think they set the tone for the next hour and prepare you for what’s to come.

These next creative introductions are from series I love and watch every week. Not only are they unique and expertly created, they truly are inspiring in many ways. From the design elements to the music its paired with, you can gain a lot of insight by paying attention. Enjoy!

Elementary
This show is smart, different, and mature in its style. The New York feel is graciously featured throughout each scene from the old brownstone the main characters live in to the attitude and personality of the cast. I have always loved Jonny Lee Miller so when I saw he was in this show, I had to watch. He fits the part perfectly. I am drawn to the darker neutrals showcased as well as the sophisticated combination of vintage elements and modern thought. So it is no surprise I thought the intro was awesome. The music flows so nicely with the rolling ball sequence and they did nice job of blending the credits in. All in all, a winner for sure.

Game of Thrones
What can I say about the genius composition and art direction of this series’ opening credits. Simply amazing. The music is dramatic and fits the time period of the show well, and the idea of the 3D maps is smart because there are so many areas and kingdoms involved in the story. I feel the visual aspect of this opening not only gets you pumped for what is next but its also a nice lead in to how beautiful the scenery and landscape is. It’s sort of interesting to think of the show as a game, as it appears in the intro, and then realize that its based off real life.

I love how Game of Thrones is fearless in its writing and acting, nothing is held back. I think in order for the show to truly be successful, it has to be. Although some scenes are a lot to handle, its a major top pick in my book.

Vikings
If you love Game of Thrones, then Vikings is right up your alley. Raw and undeniably smart, the series explores the history of the vikings with an amazing cast and astounding landscape. The show is badass for sure. I specifically love the details and style of the wardrobe and rustic natural setting.

The opening credits are simply beautiful. With music by Fever Ray setting the dark and gloomy tone, the imagery flows with perfection. I like the focus on Earth’s elements, water and fire, which are both extremely important to the viking people. The lighting is superb, the color choices in saturation and shade are striking, and the art direction is genius. It totally goes with the mood of the series and certainly inspires the unleashed in all of us.

Hannibal
I am so happy this show just started. The minute I saw the commercial I knew I would love it and I certainly do. Such a smart rendition of the story, with unique and creative artistic elements. The cast is superb and the scenes are intense, as if you are watching a film. And how can you not appreciate the writing?

The second episode got my attention even more with the opening credits because they weren’t shown during the first one. A simple title was featured after a few scenes had already went by, which was a smart to do. It added a touch of sophistication to the show. But then the awe of the blood filled skull, flowing so elegantly, so quickly. The moody sounds of grandeur playing as the face slowly turns to look at the viewer. Short, sweet and full of perfection. I am looking forward to see how this series unfolds for sure.

The Walking Dead
I’ve always loved the opening credits of The Walking Dead. Now that season 3 is over, it was nice to see the adaption change. The score is one of my favorites, staying true to the emotional sadness and thriller-like setting. It flows through with elements of the show, the characters past, and exudes the gritty rawness of their current world. It puts you in the proper mind set for the show, that’s for sure.

Inspirational Room Design: Monet’s Impression, Sunrise

06 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, The Home

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art, color, color scheme, design, Impression, Inspiration, interior design, monet, mood board, Sunrise

In 1892 Claude Monet gave rise to the Impressionist movement by creating Impression, Sunrise. The paintings used long brush strokes to create a perfect color combination of green, blue, yellow, and orange.

Inspiration comes in many forms. When I am looking to design a room I try to focus on one particular piece and center my inspiration for the room on that element. This could be a piece of art, a tapestry or custom rug, or even a favorite decorative accessory. Not only does decorating with art give you a chance to express your personal style, it also creates a conversation piece for guests.

Inspirational Room Design: Monet's Impression, Sunrise

Here are some tips on how to incorporate a focal piece of art within a room.

First, use the 60-30-10 Rule. When decorating a particular room, divide the colors into percentages:

60% dominant color – i.e. the walls
30% secondary color- i.e. the furniture or upholstery
10% accent color- i.e. accent pieces

After you have chosen your colors, take a picture of your accessory or painting and center it on a mood board. Collect paint samples, pieces of fabric, pictures from magazines, and anything that might catch your eye. Pin all your inspirations on your mood board and see how they come together. You would be surprised how many color and style combinations work. The example mood board below shows how the colors in Impressionist, Sunrise can work together to create a calming and beautifully put together room.

Inspirational Room Design: Monet's Impression, Sunrise

Once you’ve chosen your pieces arrange your furniture so that everyone who sits in the room can appreciate the focal piece. If you want to draw attention to your focal point, minimize the other decorative elements nearby. If on the other hand you would like to minimize the impact of your focal point, carry the same balance of colors as the art throughout the room.

{This article was written by Ariel Dagan, co- founder of MyCustomRug.com. Ariel is a design enthusiast from New York who specializes in creating Custom Rugs for homes and small businesses. He blogs regularly about the history of rugs, how they are made and incorporated into the design of a home. }

Inspiration Photo Friday: Hiatus

05 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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art, career, design, destiny, fate, Inspiration, journey, life, money, path, stress, travel, work

Sometimes in life you have to really take a look at what is making you happy and what isn’t. When stress takes over, it can seriously disrupt all aspects of your life. I am a true example of this. Stress has played a character in my story for way too long. And although it was due to many different reasons, the main cause has been my career and money. I am sure a lot of you can understand that scenario.

My career has been my focus my whole life. It’s impossible for me to be happy unless I have the time and space to be creative and continue to do what I do best. Art and design has been my life since I was a child and the only thing I truly know for sure is I was destined to be in the field. It took me a good 6 years out of school to establish myself as a freelancer and have sufficient client work. It was a long and tiring road for sure but I appreciate the good things that have come my way. I never thought it would become a problem in my life.

Now that I have started Gray Star Design, I feel like I am cut in half. Essentially, I am running two businesses, which has been sadly running me into the ground. Gray Star Design is my heart and soul and I promised myself I would focus on it and give it my all. This is what I eventually want to continue doing, and nothing else. So I am trying to set up my future and of course there has to be issues. Nothing can ever be simple.

My dilemma is just never having enough time to get GSD truly off the ground. There are things that you need to do when starting a business and yes, I have done a good amount, but there is plenty more to do – and I need full focus to get them done the right way. That means no distractions. I have already decided to not take on new clients but I do have a few I continue to do work for on a regular basis. I don’t want to cut these clients off, as I enjoy working for them, but something’s got to give.

So, after months of being stressed and having this issue take its toll on my life, home, and marriage, I have come to a decision. It’s time to take a hiatus. I have chosen to take some time off from all work and make sure Gray Star Design gets all my attention. This will allow me to have the time to get things done as well as have the creative space I need to bring new designs to the table. It’s the worst when you have so many ideas and no time to actually work them out. It’s pretty much torture, if you ask me.

I am happy my husband agrees with this decision as well. We both feel its the best thing to do right now. Not just for my career but for my sanity as well. It’s time to take control of the situation and do what is best for me and my future. Starting next week, I will be on a hiatus from client work till June. I think this will be sufficient time for me to get back on track. You don’t know how excited I am about doing this. It’s a long time coming.

I wanted to share my situation because I know there are more people out there that go through stuff like this. It doesn’t have to be about your career or money, everyone has their own issues. I hope to inspire you all to take control of your life and do the best for you. No one else is going to do it so don’t wait too long to make a move. Feeling like your everyday is a whirlwind is not healthy, mentally or physically. Take a stand and don’t allow it to negatively impact your life anymore. When you do, its the best feeling in the world.

I chose this photo for the post because it illustrates my message. It was taken in PIE on our honeymoon this past September. It may be a long journey down the path you know you need to take, but eventually, when you get there, a new journey awaits. You may not be able to see how it plays out now, but just know it will be inspiring and full of surprises. Get moving!