It's Hip...To Be A Stylish Square

Squares, Checkers, Boxes, whatever you want to call them, they exist and we know what they are. But the idea of being a "square" has always had a negative connotation. Huey Lewis and The News on the other hand embraced the "square" lifestyle in their "It's Hip to Be Square" single.

So if we're not a square, what should we be? A triangle? A circle? A pentagon? Maybe even a do-decahedron if we're feeling fancy. My philosophy is to embrace what you know, as long as it doesn't hurt you, or your design.

The square, (or we can even stretch it to rectangle) shape has been more than prominent in many designs throughout history. Things like floor plans of homes, started off with cookie-cutter boxes...plain, but it had four walls, a floor, a roof, and multiple rooms inside, which completed the family home, and the edges to the six-sided square, known as a cube. Yes, plenty of strange homes exist, and they are definitely amazing to see, but when it comes down to it, the basic square has flourished in design through many different eras of creativity and designers.

Why not make your art exist around squares? Or even a wall, maybe a floor, be daring and go for a piece of furniture while you're at it. We shouldn't be afraid of the geometric shape, yes it's not some gorgeous silk floral design, or bright whimsical toile piece...but no one said it had to be boring.

The luxury about geometric design, is the mathematics of it. You can't change the design of a square, it's four sides with distinct 90 degree angles. You can turn it and move it all you want, but it's still going to be a square. So make it a sexy square design to be adored by all.

Below I have some examples of square designs that should be more than pleasurable to the eye:

turot collection high rust artwork

photo from dwellstudio

checkered sofa

photo from casasugar

checkered floor library

photo from haynesroberts

neutral checkered wall treatment

photo from azstylez

brown and white checkered wall

photo from windemereinteriors

checker board wall decal

photo from accentwallcustoms

And going along with the sexy square...earlier last month at Paris Fashion Week, the lovely square/checkered design strutted out on the runway as if it had time-traveled right back from the 1960's, and is still fabulous and chic as could be. Many models were wearing Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton's 2013 Spring/Summer collection, which consisted of checkered outfits in a myriad of lavish and bright colors.

Pictures from Paris Fashion Week seen below...

fashion week photos

Whether it be design, fashion or a combination of the two, nothing that existed in history has to necessarily stay in history, the ability to bring back old looks and make them new is what makes great design. Yes updates to adapt to the times are always necessary, but if it works, let it work!


Happy Square Styling!

Designing Through The Times

Today is October 11, 2012, also referred to as 10/11/12. A numerical sequence in fact. The last time such an event happened was on September 10, 2011 (09/10/11) and after today it will happen again on November 12, 2013 (11/12/13) and then on December 13, 2014 (12/13/14). But after 2014, it will not happen again until the year 2103.

Is this very significant to daily life? Not necessarily, but it definitely peaks the interests of a decent amount of people around the world. It's a day to look forward to for some, especially if your birthday happens to fall on one of these days. It's also a way for people to notice how time goes by, and what time in general can mean to an individual.

Time always relates to design...there are so many different styles of design that have occurred throughout the years. Plenty of differentiation exists between various decades of design influences. And the design practices of today still use influences from previous years of design expression. So today I decided to celebrate 10/11/12 by taking the change of time quite literally.

Check out my list of 12 clocks below for some inspirational pieces that can help spark a design concept for your space!

1. starburst clock (etsy)

2. wheel clock (stardust)

3. flock of butterflies clock (stardust)

4. palette clock (momentoitalia)

5. ultra flat wall clock (allmodern)

6. metal design clock (archiexpo)

7. thru-block wood clock (etsy)

8. streets clock (fluid forms)

9. blank wall clock (allmodern)

10. silk acrylic clock (contemporary heaven)

11. modern wall clock (cafepress)

12. fan clock (momeld)

Happy 10/11/12!

What Kind Of Junk Do You Have in Your Trunk?

Yes, the juvenile yet comical saying (in this blog's title) usually takes many people off guard, but it does get their attention!

Trunks have been around for ages in terms of storage for a plethora of items, whether it be clothes, shoes, housewares, etc. They all open, and they all store something, but does the trunk itself have to be plain? No, there are plenty of fun options for trunks to spruce up any area of your special space. Instead of storing children's toys in a toy chest, try a vintage trunk, and spruce it up with a fun color. Your kids will love it, and you still might look like a civilized adult during cocktail parties, and not like Elmo's gatekeeper.

See below for trunks in fun colors and some with vintage written charm!

military trunk

photo from krrb

turquoise trunk (overstock.com)

photo from overstock

Trunks can also be used as replacements for "typical" case goods throughout the home. You could use a decent sized trunk as an end table or even a coffee table, potentially even by stacking a couple of smaller trunks on top of each other.

See below a few examples from Pottery Barn on how trunks are used as end tables and coffee tables...

trunk end table (pottery barn)

photo from pottery barn

trunk coffee table (pottery barn)

photo from pottery barn

And for the high rollers see some of the fancier appointed trunks below, and see which ones are appealing to you...

faux croc trunks

photo from kaboodle

vintage louis vuitton steamer trunk luggage (ebay)

photo from ebay

goyard trunk

photo from luxist

Everyone needs storage, and as neat and clean as you want to make your space, you're always going to have clutter, so why not stash it in style?



Happy Trunk Hunting!

Accessorizing Abstract Expressionism

When it comes to interiors, many people get caught up in the accessorizing process. Yes it's what makes your space unique, but it can also clutter your space beyond repair, as well as cause much unnecessary frustration. So when does too much accessorizing occur?

It's all in the eye of the beholder, but in many ways, artwork is a room's best accessory. Speaking of artwork, a few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting a lovely home out in the country farmland of Virginia.

Besides the gorgeous sprawling 70+ acreage of land that I stumbled upon, I also had the luxury of viewing a lovely Mark Rothko piece of art on the wall in the living room. 

The artwork of Mark Rothko is quite a statement piece, especially in terms of the abstract expressionism market of the art world. The two distinct colors of this piece stand out together, and apart. But by placing more artwork on the wall accompanied by this piece takes away from the remarkable presence of this work. Yes artwork is important in any room, but to have competing artwork is never the way to go.

So, if you happen to casually have a Rothko of your own sitting at home, don't over think what else you can put on the walls, instead think about what objects you can accessorize with to enhance such a phenomenal piece of art.

Potential accessories for this space could include the following:

iittala - toikka red cardinal

photo from 2modern

ferm living - squares blanket

photo from 2modern

chevron crewel pillow cover

photo from west elm

hemingway nesting trays

photo from rain collection

stainless steel balls

photo from cb2

degree vase

photo from crate and barrel

faceted vases - black

photo from dwell studio

Instead of adding more items to the wall, try adding more items around the room. It's a great way to spread the colors from the Rothko throughout your space!

Happy Accessorizing!

And The Next Home Goes To...

The majority of last weekend I spent in the New Jersey suburbs of the Greater Philadelphia region, where I spent most of my childhood years growing up.

During this trip to South Jersey, I had the lovely chance to go house hunting with a family friend, accompanied by an amazing realtor who really showed us some great listings in the area, a baker's dozen in one day to be exact.

When it comes to house hunting, many first-time homebuyers find it to be more of a chore rather than an ultimately fun experience. They also expect everything on their wish list to be included in all of the homes they see, or at least a decent amount. Unfortunately, everything on that list is never usually compiled into one home. But a lot of the items on it can be combined into an almost amazing home. The upside of not finding the perfect home that fulfills all of the wants on your list, is that over time, you can fix those imperfections into something even better than what you had wished for during your initial home search.

If a home has the space and layout that you're looking for, but the cosmetic features that make you dizzy, that's fine. Cosmetics are an easy thing to fix, structural layout, not so much. If you found the perfect home, at a decent price, but it happened to have horribly tacky wallpaper in three of the bedrooms, would you let it go? That's a question I can't answer for a buyer, but honestly, there's no reason to take if off your list. A cosmetic fix is not going to break the bank as much as gutting a kitchen will.

Also, remember to ignore the taste and decor of the current homeowner. Those are things that will be leaving the house, you're not purchasing their stuff, (unless you offer to buy the house furnished) so why should their ugly dining room table matter to you when looking at the place? Make sure to walk into a space and ignore the potentially gaudy furnishings and accessories, and try to envision your own pieces in the space. Think about what you would change to make it your own home, and not the soon-to-be former owner's house.

One of the houses we looked at seemed like quite the contender, besides the small backyard. It had a gorgeous kitchen, with only minor cosmetic adjustments needed, a finished basement, and priced well within their budget. And with my insight on how to make adjustments to the backyard, including replacing the old oversized wooden deck with a smaller patio made up of pavers, (adding more green space to the yard) and by clearing out the awkwardly shaped brush area to put in a nice outdoor fire pit accompanied by a lounge seating area, the current bland backyard could ultimately be the entertaining backyard of their dreams!

House hunting is a process, and can take several weeks, months, or even years, but if you look at the house as a whole, versus the tacky pink carpeting in the living room, finding that almost perfect home could be a much easier, shorter, painless process. And the only way to find that next future home, is by opening another door...hopefully the door to your new H-O-M-E.

Happy Hunting!

Faux Accessorizing

Last weekend I had the lovely opportunity to go up to the Big Apple with a couple of friends. On my journey through Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea and Midtown, I stumbled upon a great little restaurant with a wonderful afternoon happy hour. Who doesn't love a great happy hour with friends and a lovely atmosphere? Especially one with a tasty menu and tasteful decor!

Speaking of taste...many people have the pre notion that accessorizing with anything "fake" is just taboo. I tend to disagree. It all depends on how it's used in the design setting. I personally love classy faux flower arrangements because I think they are a great way to bring pops of color into a space, without having to deal with the necessary maintenance that living plants require. It's even better if the decorations look like they could be mistaken for real floral arrangements!

While enjoying my stylish cocktail at the massive centrally located bar inside of the restaurant Pounds & Ounces, I turned to my left and witnessed a statement floral piece. At the end of the bar was a massive colorful floral arrangement, and the second I saw it, I knew I needed a picture of it. Yes, it's not a residential setting, but it definitely makes a monumental statement in this Chelsea restaurant!

(delicious shareable cocktails)

(the statement floral arrangement)

The spherical arrangement of the varied pink and orange flowers really gives a great punch of color to the multiple dark colored walls inside of the establishment. And the best part? You never have to water them!

Don't fret the faux!

How Do You Zigzag?

Pattern play is always a fun element to use when it comes to design, but overdoing it could be worse than not even trying to do it in the first place. But why?

Being a very mathematical person myself, the thought of geometry in any form of a design scheme makes my heart patter. But we must not abuse it.

A particular mathematical design I always seem to love is the coveted zigzag pattern. I partially believe it's because of the letter Z, but who knows? Anyway, using such a pattern is a great way to bring geometry into your space, as well as a multitude of colors. The actual Z shape could include multiple colors, and doesn't necessarily just have to be a single solid.

Ways to incorporate the zigzag into your space include painting your walls in the geometric pattern, putting up zigzag wallpaper, using zigzag pillows, zigzag rugs, or even zigzag art. Some great examples are featured below!

Zigzag Wall Treatment

Here are two examples of zigzag pillows:

Jonathan Adler Cotton Zigzag Navy And Natural

photo from jonathan adler

Urban Outfitters Crewel Embroidered Zigzag Pillow

photo from urban outfitters

Here are two examples of zigzag rugs:

Pottery Barn Hayden Zigzag Rug - Porcelain Blue

photo from pottery barn

Urban Outfitters Zigzag Rug - Blue

photo from urban outfitters

And the addition of any type of tasteful zigzag art is also a great way to bring punch to your space! This can be achieved through colorful block prints, or even a lovely abstract painting, or anything else that uses the zigzag flare!

Just make sure that you don't overdo it. Using too much zigzag in a single space will be too harsh on the eye, as well as way too busy for the space. Decide on what piece of your space you want to have that geometric spark, and stick with it. Think simple.

Happy Zigzagging!

If You Give A Chair A Purpose...

...You might save a valuable piece of furniture from the dumpster. 

Yes, day after day plenty of homeowners dispose of their previously cherished furniture the same way they dispose of their large pizza boxes...but why? Getting rid of furniture is usually due to the purchase of new furniture, which is a logical response to such a situation. But what if you had a way to reuse that piece without having to put a ton of effort into it? Would you do it?

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting Chartreuse & Co. in Frederick, Maryland. It is a lovely barn filled with amazing furniture, fashion and design finds! The barn is usually open the third Friday-Sunday of every month. Make sure to check it out if you get the chance!

While visiting the barn, I found a chair that indeed had been given a new purpose. The find was a wonderful rocking chair, formerly used for sitting, but now transformed into a chair planter for the garden. It was a simple yet creative way of saving a wonderful piece of furniture from the dumpster. 

This is definitely a great way to salvage the old and give it a new look...without breaking the bank.

All you really need to get started on this project is chicken wire, coconut fiber, potting mix, and probably a fresh coat of paint to start reusing your old furniture!

Make sure to check out this Better Homes and Gardens article entitled Chair Planters for pictures as well as simple tips on how to make your own chair planter!

Happy Crafting!

LIGHT vs. PAINT

How do we pick the perfect paint color? We don't. We look through fan decks of paint samples searching for the ultimate shade of blue or green or...beige...but who's to tell us that we made the correct decision? No one really, but a decision that relates the color of the walls properly with the lighting in the room is definitely a better answer.

Below are two snapshots, one of a living room before painting occurred (the walls were in an aged yellow color) and one after a new coat of paint had been applied. Which do you prefer?

For this project, lots of paint swatches were pulled, and viewed under many different types of lighting sources (incandescent vs. fluorescent vs. LED, etc.)

In theory many people skip this step, but in actuality it is very important. Colors are viewed differently under varied types of lighting. It is a simple concept, yet sometimes not emphasized. But once you see the comparison, you will be glad you did. Trust me.

All that being said, the new paint color chosen for the living room was a nice blue grey paint called "Misty Surf 740E-2" by Behr.

Paint is just another way to brighten up your space and make it your own H-O-M-E.

Hope you enjoy it as much as the homeowner!

Measuring T-I-M-E

Taking correct measurements of any space is always important, it helps you in the long run in more ways than one.

Taking measurements in all the nooks and crannies of any space might seem annoying to some, (I tend to enjoy numbers in general, so measuring is usually enjoyable) but all of the measurements recorded are definitely a necessity when it comes to design.

For example, if you are working on a project and trying to figure out what size club chair can go into the living room or what piece of art can hang in the bedroom or even what size a new vanity must be to fit into the bathroom, and you do not have the measurements needed, you might run yourself into all sorts of problems. And most of those particular problems in actuality could have easily been avoided had you measured.

Minimize the potential for problems…cover your tuchus. 

Spend the extra time and take the measurements, it makes a world of difference when it comes to space planning. Doing things correctly the first time will help you de-stress, and avoid a cluttered mind as well as a cluttered room in the long run.

H-O-M-E

How do you spell home? However you like. Just make sure you spell it correctly. It's your HOME, be it a 500 square foot rental in Dupont, 2100 square foot townhouse in Shaw, or a 9000 square foot estate in Georgetown. Home is what you make it. Make it right.

Yes this sounds simple, but it isn't necessarily always the easiest process to tackle. To make a place your home, you need good structural bones, a great layout, and a focused design plan, among many other things.

The spelling journey begins...H...O...M...E...