6.10.13

Decorating A Family Room

Does your family room desperately need a makeover? The optimal word when decorating for a family room is “Family”. It should exude warmth and openness as well as be extremely functional for your lifestyle. The entire family will enjoy the new family room makeover by choosing new colors, smart furniture choices and organizational solutions.

Designer, Ellen Grasso & Sons balanced an adult sophistication with family-friendly atmosphere. This is done by adding plenty of crisp colors and different patterns in your family room. Different patterns will inject a designer’s vibe in the room and bright colors are adored by both kids and adults. You can also include things like outdoor fabrics that are more durable and stain resistant or slipcovers that are easily washable.

Photo by Jean Allsopp

Wide and open living space can promote family togetherness and family bonding. For instance, kids can play in the living area or do the homework on the table while the parents are working in the kitchen. You can keep these distinct areas together by using a uniform color scheme throughout as seen in Lisa Powell’s design. Furthermore, you can also divide the activity zone by interesting furniture placement.

Dark colored furniture is stain resistant and withstands spills better than light colored furniture. Therefore, you can create an airy atmosphere by painting the walls a light color to balance the room out. Harrell Remodeling chose to pick up the colors in the art work by painting a focus wall to add some interest to the room.

Keep all the items whether of children or adults in easy access but stored away to keep an uncluttered atmosphere. It is better to use furniture that can multitask to avoid clutter and overcrowding of the space. For instance, you can use an ottoman that can double as coffee table for adults and toy storage for kids. However, keep in mind, you should use desks or cabinets with low shelves for kids’ toys and books.

 

In your family room, you want to be cozy and comfortable and therefore you should purchase furniture and arrange for your comfort and ease. In this regard, deep couches are perfect for lounging. Consider the size of each member and keep that in mind when you are trying out furniture in the stores. It’s okay to pile them with plenty of cozy pillows so that family members make themselves comfortable while sitting, cuddling and lying.

I would be completely remiss if I didn’t make mention of these amazing windows by Frameless Glass Curtains. I mean WOW! Locati Architects really nailed this one!

Hardwood floors are no doubt beautiful but not ideal for family rooms. Therefore you need to use an area rug to define the perimeters of the family room and allow the hardwood floor to shine around the room. A soft rug also feels very comfortable beneath hands and knees when kids are playing. You can use a gripper mat beneath the rug to prevent tripping and displacement of rug.

 

You need to pay special attention to pathway and traffic while placing furniture in family room. You need to make it simple for kids to play and move from room to room. For instance, you can place the sofa away from the wall to make access to the door easy and move around furniture without cutting the main conversation area.

It is important to decorate your family room in such way to please all the members of your family. You need to care for individual needs and interests in order to create a family room that is perfect for every member of your family.

I’d love to know how you decided to decorate your family room! Please do share!

Should you have any questions or are in need a design consultation please contact Interior Designer, Melanie Langford of All About Interiors.

Filed in: Decorating A Family Room
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5.27.13

Interior Design Trends That Make Us Cringe

Here’s a list of some of the design trends that make us cringe, whether they’re old-fashioned or entirely on-trend: If you want your home to go the distance for being in style for more than a few years, read on!

Your home is a mirror of who you are as a person. Your style, your tastes and the lifestyle you live. It should reflect your personality and aesthetic taste.

And while newsstands are piled high with magazines that will tell you about every new trend and exactly which color is hot this season or which poof you need, some interior ideas are best left forgotten.

Some styles have gone out of style along with the rotary phone, but many of them can still be found in both hip urban lofts or posh suburbia. They’re either hard on the eyes or just too hard to pull off in real life.

All-white and utterly impractical

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There was a time when it seemed like a crisp, all-white room was the icon of luxury. It was like (insert any rich and famous person) was your best friend and you were just going to go hang out with her on her couch and sip Evian. But an entirely white-washed home is no fun if you enjoy drinking coffee, red wine or… living. Plus, experts say you should avoid all-white, so bring on at least some color!

Mid-century modern designs that will probably kill your children

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A railing on your staircase? Pfffft that looks so cluttered you may argue. There’s a blog dedicated to bringing to our attention how the minimalism and sharp angles associated with mid-century dream homes will, for sure end up with your kid being transported to the emergency room for stitches. While advocates of clean lines may dispute, it’s probably not the best idea for a house with small children, pets or the naturally clumsy.

Pretty much anything associated with the 1970s

Source: Google

Here’s a rather depressing fact: the 70′s, the decade responsible for such horrific trends such as macrame, faux-wood paneling and shag carpeting in boring brown and bright orange, has made a slight comeback. I say, please leave the all lemon yellow bathroom tile, furry sofas and nausea inducing patterns where they belong – furniture graveyards.

DIY saturation meets poor Martha Stewart skills

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DIY projects sound good in theory but for all the Modge Podge and hammer skills most of us have, unless we have a pinky’s worth of the amazing talent that Ms. Martha Stewart has… you’d be better off not trying this at home.

Princess Rooms and Man Caves

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I get it, little girls LOVE Disney Princesses. But REALLY? Too much on one personality can go terribly wrong in a room. That also goes for testosterone heavy man caves as well.

Oh so-cozy carpeted bathrooms

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There was a period of time where having carpet running through the house felt welcoming and cozy. So people went carpet crazy and covered absolutely every inch of their home with it. Although it’s toasty for the feet and muffles sound, it absolutely doesn’t belong in a kitchen or bathroom. Enough said.

If you would like some assistance in decorating your home with style and class that will look great years down the road. Contact, CT Interior Designer, Melanie Langford of All About Interiors to make a “Rent A Designer’s Eye” Consultation.

 

 

 

Filed in: Top 5 Most Common Interior Design Mistakes | Trendy Trends
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5.20.13

Bedroom Bliss

Bedroom Bliss, can be easily achieved with these few decorating pointers, furniture ideas, and design tips. Bedroom Bliss is achieved when your bedroom feels calming, restful and a place that makes you want to retreat to at the end of a long day or linger in the morning when you awake.

 

Use Color and Pattern to Create Mood: A soft pillow and comfy pattern may offer you some “Z’s” but bedding that whispers a sultry invitation to come snuggle can be just as effective.

Source designer unknown

Vary the scale of the pattern for interest, and stick to a single palette for a unified look that’s easy on the eye. Make sure each pattern features the same primary hue to make mixing and matching a success. Select cool or neutral hues to create a room that exudes serenity and calm.

 

Make the Headboard a Focal Point: Evoke new heights of fashion by creating a focal point with your headboard.

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Dress the Windows for Privacy and Style: Bedroom window treatments help set a room’s overall style. Bedroom windows generally need room-darkening window treatments that block light in the morning and provide privacy at night..

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Furnish for Comfort and Function: You’ll find your bedroom beckons to you to linger longer in the morning and retire earlier at night when you make the space about more than just sleeping. Pair a chair or two with a side table to create a cozy reading spot. Or make use of the often-wasted space between two windows with a writing desk or a vanity.

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Now this is a little slice of boudoir heaven. I love this sunny little seating area and the fabric on those chairs is fantastic!

 

Introduce Glamour with Mirrors: Beyond beauty, mirrors can serve a practical purpose by reflecting outside views and light that can help small bedrooms feel larger. A room that sparkles and shimmers radiates soft romance and high-style luxury.

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And there you have some basic decorating tips to create your own bedroom bliss. Choosing the right items is so important. They must work within the space. If you would like some assistance in choosing the right pieces to go into your bedroom, please contact CT Interior Designer, Melanie Langford of All About Interiors.

Filed in: Bedazzling Bathroom Designs (let’s go to bed | Bedrooms
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5.13.13

Moms Are Heroes

To all of you mothers, this is why moms are heroes:

To you, perhaps the weary mother who wants to lock herself in the bedroom and have a good cry over the frustration of the day but can’t even pin down what exactly made it so frustrating. To you, the mother with munchkins who need an additional 4 hours in a 24 hour day. To you the mother, in whatever stage of motherhood you may be in who needs a reminder about what it is to be a mother. To you, the mother, who might question if all of this mothering stuff really does make a difference in their lives.

Well, it does. And here is a small reminder of why.

Photo via Sutton abc

You need to know, you are an amazing being. You get up before the birds and go to sleep well past the setting sun. Often, you stay awake through out the nights - Only half sleeping to listen for the cry of an infant or the pitter patter of a toddler’s feet who awoke with a bad dream or up waiting for the teenager to return home safely. You, even though you’re exhausted, wake each dau and put a smile on your face and look at those little ones who kept you up through the night and whisper to them I love you. It’s a love that isn’t dependent on sleep or looks or agendas. It’s a mother’s love.

You cook and bake and clean and do it all again. And again. And again. So often when there’s nothing in the fridge you can work your magic and pull a meal together that usually gets little compliments from those sitting around your table. But you have thick skin - often the meals are met with noses turned and eyes rolling and little ones telling you they really don’t like whatever you lovingly prepared. And then, dear mother, you start the battle of negotiation and bartering and set limits and hope that they eat at least two bites before they wash it down with the diluted half milk half chocolate milk mixture.

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You are the chief problem solver. You can mediate any argument - whose turn it is to unload or load or if one kid is picking on the other too much. You have restrictions on name calling, yelling, fibbing, and teasing. You have mastered the art of counting to ten - in a row. You often know when to step back to let it go and climb the stairs and sit on the floor in the bathroom and count to one hundred and then come out with a improved disposition. And even if you don’t have you just push through. And sometimes, it means peanut butter & jelly or pancakes for dinner - and then your kids think you’re the coolest.

You budget for bills and drive all over town and clean. And laundry? You breathe it. Day in and day out and day in and day out and then repeat all over again just when you think it is all done. Those missing and long lost socks are no match for you the sorter, folder, and organizer. And even when you get behind and it sits in the laundry room, you still joke about the mountain of clothing even though really, really you wish for just one week where you didn’t have to fold all of those clothes. But, deep down, hidden in there, you know that this is fleeting - unbelievably fleeting - where the onesies, blankets, size 2T dress, soccer shorts, and leotards get to be in your wash. So you breathe deep and try to remember the importance and sweetness of these brief years while you fold the stack of wrinkled PJs.

You dear mother, are remarkable. So often you compare yourself to all others and then you measure yourself with a stick that is much too short. You’ll look at all they do and overlook the extraordinary things you do. No one knows your children the way you do - their habits, sense of humor, and how to finally get them to stay in bed. You know when to use selective hearing and keep on talking. You know them. You go to bed exhausted and wake up tired and yet you still give and do it the next day because you love the ones who call you mom.

You need a reminder today, a reminder of your greatness. And so today, to you the chief bill payer, problem solver, clothes folder, rocking chair rocker, temperature taker, night watchman till the teen gets home, boo boo kisser, sweeper, toy organizer for the tenth time in a day, listener, cab driver, chef, house cleaner, medicine giver, tamer of the laundry, repeated story reader, and giver of self you need to know that what you are doing today makes a huge difference.

It matters.

Motherhood matters greatly. The little ones or middle ones or bigies in your home look at you. Their mom. They see the good - the way you give unselfishly, the sweet things you do, the meals you make - and they love you. You have earned that love. And sometimes, sometimes they forget to tell you. Sometimes they yell at you, disobey or say mean things like I hate you. Those things don’t define you. Instead of throwing in the towel you just keep going. You go through sleepless nights, tight budgets, cranky kids, stress about tomorrow, homework being completed, times of sickness, more sleepless nights, and all of the above plus more. Those tender hugs from years passed matter just as much today, as do those moments where you want to shout I quit but instead, keep going.

That is my definition of a hero.

picture via Google

You are a hero.

Every single day. When you get up each day and love on those children and give of self. Don’t ever listen to the misconceptions of the world that tell you that you are only a good mom if you do x, y, and z. Motherhood isn’t defined by the number of craft projects completed, or clever facebook status updates, or perfect birthday cake you hand made, or the number that appears on the scale. Motherhood isn’t this scientific thing - it’s not judged by everything you accomplish, but rather is a beautiful example of giving selflessly and loving even when the reserve tank is on empty.

Your heart gives everyday.

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So you, sweet mother, today I want you to progress through your day - no matter how your day is - and remember that you are making a difference. Those kids who seem forever young will grow. And you, you are the one blessed with today and the time to enjoy their journey of growing up with them. In all roller coaster of a ride, no matter what, you are their mother. And that is something to be absolutely proud of and celebrated today.

Grab your cape.

Superheroes need them.

Because that is exactly what you are.

Happy Mother’s Day.

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I take no credit for the content of this blog which was so wonderfully written by Rachel Marie Martin. Verbiage is altered to avoid copying.

 

 

Filed in: Uncategorized
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5.8.13

Outdoor Decorating Ideas

This is the month that you should take a look at your backyard and start thinking about outdoor decorating ideas for your summer living. Summer is all about entertaining, back yard barbecues and summer fun. It is imperative to have an outdoor living space that will impress your guests and have them eager to return.

Outdoor living should be comfortable, practical and as colorful as nature itself. You can go as grand as adding professional landscaping, a water feature, fire pit or outdoor kitchen or your outdoor space can be very simple, warm and inviting with just a simple designated seating area. Backyard bliss doesn’t always have to break the bank but it should be as warm and inviting as your interior.

A few simple additions can make all the difference. Colorful outdoor pillows added to a comfortable outdoor seating area or decorative planters with beautiful plants and flowers to enhance the area are just two simple, inviting outdoor decorating ideas.

This picture from HGTV’s backyard makeover project only cost $200.00 with thrift store finds. The bright colors and beautiful plants make this outdoor living space into an amazing retreat, don’t you think?

I am posting a few additional outdoor decorating ideas that will hopefully inspire you to start sprucing up your outdoor living space.

Everyone loves to sit around a fire pit in the evening roasting marshmallows and swapping good stories. This is a ready to assemble fire pit from Necessories that would be a huge bang for your buck at only $406.00.

Or if you want to make a fire pit your main focus of your backyard, here is a grand scale one that is truly impressive.

If a simple and comfortable look is what you are going for, this back yard seating area is just that. Source backyard photo of thistlewoodfarms.com

Outdoor spaces don’t need to be expansive. This oasis by Busybee Design is proof you can make a comfortable living area with small square footage as well.

However if you do have the space and the budget why not go backyard bliss? I will leave you with one more amazing backyard decorating idea for inspiration. Cozy isn’t it?

Amy Bergman and husband Bret with children Cole and Claire on the back porch. For more information on this photo click here. This little backyard paradise has it all, a comfortable and intimate seating area, an amazing fire pit and beautiful stone flooring to tie it all together.

Contact CT Interior Designer, Melanie Langford of All About Interiors for assistance in decorating your outdoor space.

Sources: Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 Picture 5 Picture 6

Filed in: Decorating | Outdoor Living Spaces
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