Home Sweet Home: Dining Room Redesign

30 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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cabinet, country, crates, design, dining room, entertaining, furniture, home, interior design, makeover, modern, rustic, table, wood

I’ve been waiting to post another room in our home and since the dining room is finally done, I had to share. At first, this space was just a room you needed to walk through to get to other rooms in the house. Although it had tons of character, there was nothing really special about it yet. But now that it is all put together I have to say it is one of my favorite rooms in the house!

So here is what the dining room looked like before. The worst part was the rug. Not only was it ugly but it was everywhere in the house. I give credit my husband Dan for pulling up every single one himself. It was tough job for sure. Other than that, we knew the chandelier had to go too. The risers in the corner had to stay so I just figured we would cover them somehow.

The elements of the space we loved were its character and style. The decorative ceiling and rosette around the chandelier were definitely a plus. We both actually love the toile wallpaper so that was a keeper. I knew once I did my magic, this room would look spectacular. Although we didn’t have a big budget, I did my best to find items I loved at great prices and in some cases waited till they were on sale or found them somewhere else for less. Smart shopping is always key.

After the rugs came up there was an astounding difference. Then all I had to do was paint the woodwork and scrub the wallpaper. Not so bad. Then go searching for the perfect items to fill it up. So after about 4 months or so, it finally came together and we couldn’t be happier. I was going for country modern with a rustic touch. I wanted it to be perfect for formal entertaining but comfortable enough so it wasn’t stuffy. With a combination of dark brown, cream and blue, the dining room was transformed into an updated space that has vintage appeal.

The cabinet piece I purchased at Ikea for a great price. You can’t go wrong at $135 for a cabinet. It’s a new item they just started selling and I am very happy with it. I am also happy I waited instead of dishing out more money for something that would be double the price!

The table, oh how I love my dining room table. With buttercream and dark brown cherry wood, it brings that country modern feel I was going for to a new level. I had bookmarked it before we even moved in the house and waited till we had the funds to buy it. It’s a good thing I did because I got it $100 cheaper than the sale price. At $815 with shipping, this was one of the best buys we made. For a 7 piece dining room set, that is really good. Thanks Overstock.com!

The Home Sweet Home picture was a quick thing I made to fill in a vintage frame we had. I think it fits nicely for now. Not bad for 5 minutes of my time. The vase I already had, it used to be my mother’s, and the dried cotton was something we had used in our wedding so I figured I would continue to use it somewhere in the house. It found a perfect home in my mother’s blue vase.

The blue plaid curtains were a great find as well. I knew I wanted plaid because it goes so well with toile so the challenge was to find a pair that worked in the space and were selling for a good price. I found this pair on Overstock.com as well for only $28!

The chandelier brings so much style to the room. I first saw on it on a popular website but after some searching I found it on a random lighting website for a lower price. I wound up paying like $80 or so for it which is awesome. You would never know! I plan to buy small shades for the lights too. I found a nice wicker pair at Pottery Barn I just might have to get. I think they would look so cute.

The framed photograph is one I took while Dan and I visited Maine two years ago. We already had this piece and I pretty much knew it was going in the dining room. The pitcher and bowl were great finds at a local antique shop I couldn’t resist buying. Especially, since the set was only $15.

The cabinet was the second piece of furniture we bought for the room. I found it at Country Door.com for $250 and simply adore it. What a great piece. I switched out the knobs for vintage glass ones the previous owners left behind. They added so much charm and character, as if they were meant to be. I am glad they were left behind and it makes me happy to have a little piece of history remaining in the space.

Love this chair. We found it a few years ago at a garage sale for a few bucks. This is the second in our collection.

I decided to stack the crates we had in front of the risers to hide them, which worked out really well. Not only can we showcase our collections but now this corner adds that rustic element I wanted in the space. The vintage birdcage is what we used for our wedding to hold all the card from guests. It’s nice to have it showcased in our home.

The cotton braided rug is a mixture of gray, blue and brown that go well with the color of the hardwood floors. I think it helps the buttercream stand out as well. I found it on Overstock.com for $112 with a special code. I love it.

All in all, this space proves you can have a beautiful room and not spend thousands to put it together. With a little creativity, some DIY knowledge and research, you can find items you love without going broke. For under $1500, I was able to design a dining room I absolutely love and it makes me even more happy to say I did it all on a budget.

Coastal Cottage

19 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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antique, beach, blue, botanicals, coastal, color, cottage, decor, decorating, design, flowers, gray, green, interior design, ivory, lavender, nature, nautical, neutrals, pastels, pink, plaid, purple, rustic, shabby chic, style, texture, vintage, weathered, wood, yellow

Summer brings the warm sun and nature’s beautiful colors. It also brings a breathe of fresh air to a lot of people who love the heat so beaches, parks and lakes are most popular during this season. I personally love beaches, just not in the summer. I always thought the cooler months really brought out the beauty in coastal scenery. When its hot, some of the personality that clear skies and cool breezes brings out in the water and the surroundings is just hidden.

When I think of the water and the vast sea, usually the first thing that comes to mind is relaxation and a calmness. The bluest of nature is the star. When I think of some styles of decor, there is only one that comes to mind that I feel is comfy, soothing and natural as nature and nautical surroundings. That is surely cottage style.

It’s not surprise I love this style. Not only do I represent it in every room of my home it clearly is showcased in a lot of my design work as well. Over the years I have grown to love this style with all my heart. It is where I feel most calm. So I combined my two loves into a style Mother Nature would love herself – Coastal Cottage. Such a great combination.

To successfully create this style in your home there are a few things to remember. When you are choosing colors, let nature lead the way. Pastel blues, greens, pink and purples are just a few of the many hues that are popular. A sunny yellow in the kitchen, a lavender in the bedroom and a blue inspired by dusk for the living room are just a few examples. Always include darker tones that are inspired from nature to help weigh down the space such as warm browns and cool grays. These all help to maintain a peaceful environment.

When deciding on furniture, look for unique pieces that tell a story. Vintage finds play the perfect role in a cottage style space. Warm woods, soft and comfy cushions, patterns and subtle texture; these all help bring the style together. You want your pieces to feel weathered and rustic while showing craftmanship and strength. This allows them to bring character and personality to the space and help it feel lived in and comfortable.

Accessories are very important because they allow for a cohesive design and help bring your personality to the table. You want them to feel handpicked and important. Textiles such as curtains, tablecloths, blankets and upholstery are key elements here. By showcasing plaids, stripes and botanical prints the cottage style will come alive. Don’t forget to include plants of all types. They will add that natural touch every style needs.

Be careful about bringing too much nautical in because you don’t want the room to feel like you are the captain of a ship or the preppy kids took over. If so, you can kiss the cottage mix goodbye. You also want to watch the colors you add to the space because using too many reds, blues and greens may bring in that Americana feel. And although that is somewhat incorporated into the cottage style, its not the star. It can easily overwhelm the space and give it a completely different look.

And for all the fun details in between, have fun and make it yours. These next few photos are great examples of this style. Get inspired by this unique look and let it fill your heart with glee. I do everyday.

Understanding How Color Affects Your Space

03 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art & Design, Color Inspiration

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color, color theory, color wheel, complementary, design, interior design, texture

Color theory lessons are intense and long. When I was in art school, the course was divided into two sections and each were seriously hard. I think we had five or more assignments due each week! Combine that with four other courses of BFA work, and it’s enough to make you go nuts.

However, as much as there is to know about color theory, there are a few tips that can help with everyday design. It is essential you understand the basics of color in order to create a finished and beautiful piece of work. Whether it’s interior design or a painting, color is one of the main, if not most important, element of the complete design.

The Color Wheel

Remember the color wheel? Well, it’s a nifty little tool to help with all types of design work, especially when designing a space in your home. It’s good to know which colors compliment each other, so understanding different palettes is essential. A good way to teach yourself is to use objects in your home. By using items you’re familiar with you should pick up a sense of color in no time.

How Do Colors Make You Feel?

This is a very important element when creating a design. Colors are an extension of who you are and express emotions with clarity. What do you want out of the space? Do you want to evoke energy or have it more relaxed? Is the space for everyone in the home or just you? Knowing whom the space is for is the first step, then using color to create a personal palette of style is next.

Warmer colors like reds, oranges and yellows create intimate spaces that, although may be bright and colorful, are homey and alive. These colors bring energy to the room so they’re good for living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms where people often gather to eat, play games or hang out.

Cooler colors like blues, greens and purples are best at creating relaxed spaces that are soothing and calm. They work great for bedrooms, kids rooms and bathrooms since you sleep and relax in both. However, if you are like me and love to have a crisp, cool and open space, then cool colors are your best bet. If you’re worried the room will look too cold, there are many ways to warm it up with textures, furniture and accessories.

Both warm and cool colors can open a space but in different ways. Cool colors help give a space a clean, airy and modern feel. With the help of whites, it’s refreshingly brightened. Warm colors stimulate a space so the energy they create make a room appear larger than it is. On the other hand, they can also make it seem smaller if the room is already tiny because it adds weight to the area.

Color & Extra Elements

Once you have chosen the main color palette for the room, it’s time to figure out other colors that will go. You do this through window treatments, rugs, furniture and accessories. This is the fun part, but it’s important to know how colors react when they are together.

Mixing warm and cool colors is fine as long as you do it successfully. This is when complimentary and analogous palettes come into play. Complimentary colors like yellow, purple, pink and green are opposite each other on the color wheel.

Analogous, on the other hand, are colors side by side such as yellow, green and orange.

So if you have blue on the walls, whether light or dark, to keep it cool you can use grays, whites, browns or greens. These neutral colors will accent the space but not change the feel you have created. Adding pops of orange, black and pink will bring more energy into the space.

If warmer colors surround the room, then darker neutrals like browns and greens will work. Adding whites will allow the space to pop even more while dark blues and oranges spread the energy throughout the room. An easy color scheme to work with is picking one color you love, say blue, and then just add white. Using different tones of the main color will add depth and interest without creating friction.

Accessories: Textures & Patterns

Use patterns to bring in style and personality. Have fun and get creative. Whether it’s stripes, plaids, floral or illustrative design, adding these elements will complete the space. Adding colored pillows to a white couch warms it up while a rug can add weight to a room. The lampshades on lamps, curtains or blinds and fabric on seating can all make a big difference in a space.

Adding texture to a design is important. You don’t want a room to feel flat or dead. Texture can be found in window treatments, rugs, fabrics on furniture, blankets and accessories both on the wall and throughout the room. Just don’t overdo it because too much texture can feel stuffy. You want just enough here and there to add depth and warmth.

So, get a better understanding of color and you’ll see how your world changes for the better. Living in a space that is poorly designed can really take its toll, even if you don’t realize it. I’m not saying everyone has to be an amazing designer, but with a few easy tips and practice, you can proudly say you designed your home with confidence.

Just remember color creates life and energy, but it can easily make a space feel dead and cold. By using different tones and hues, you can experiment to see what you like and how colors make you feel. The most important thing about a house is that you feel like you’re at home.

Easy Wall Art

02 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Crafty Ideas

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Tags

art, color, crafts, design, frame, interior design, magazines, wall art

Showcasing fine art on your walls doesn’t have to be hard. It’s easy to pick something from your favorite artist or from photographs you love, but creating something of your own is a little more impressive. You don’t have to be an artist for this project. Anyone can do it. It’s easy, ridiculously affordable and takes no time to complete.

{Materials}

X-acto knife or scissors
double-sided tape or craft glue
a frame and images of your choice

First, you want to decide on the image or design you want to use and how big you want it. Depending on the room, try to have it blend in with the decor. Just remember to have fun with it. This is where you can express your style and showcase your design skills. I’m choosing to go with a pattern for mine.

A good place to find images and inspiration are magazines. The pages also have a nice quality that will be noticed so keep that in mind. I recommend design magazines, like Elle Decor, because there is so much to choose from and it has an array of patterns that are inspiring. You’ll find something for each room in just one magazine.

However, there are tons of cool choices out there, so whatever you have lying around the house will work too. If your magazine collection is a little sparse try wrapping paper or scrap book sheets if you find a really cool pattern!

Once you have your image, it’s time to decide on another image you’re going to use. The idea with this project is to play with shapes and outlines. So if you have stencils around the house, this would be a good time to experiment or draw your own design.

Being a graphic designer, I have tons of stock illustrations and vector images to choose from, so I’ll look to my collection to help me out with this one. But I know not everyone has this privilege, so here’s a website I highly recommend you check out: vecteezy. Just click on browse and search their gallery. I’m sure you’ll find something really cool.

Now that you have your second image, trace it over the first one. Then, cut out the outline using an X-acto knife or scissors. Put it to the side and get your frame ready. Now, the only thing left to do is frame your piece. Use some double-sided tape or glue to adhere it to a piece of paper. You can use white or any other color you like. Put the frame together and you’re done! Hang your new creation up for everyone to see and I’m sure it will spark some conversation.

You can really get creative with this project. A cute idea for a kids’ room is to use the initials of the child’s name. Another good idea you might want to try is outlining your family in a photo or individual members and showcasing them in a new and modern way. Any way you choose to go, be proud of what you’ve made and remember anyone can DI, so go ahead and give it a try!

Here are some other cool ideas for easy wall art: