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!