Design Inspiration: Lonny Magazine

The editors and contributors at Lonny Magazine have produced yet another gorgeous issue that provides oodles of inspiration.  You can view the entire issue here, but I have put together some of my favorites that I wanted to share.

This room while beautiful, illustrates how a breakfast nook can be created in a very small space.  Design is so much about problem solving and finding a way to live in a home that you love.

I love the aesthetic of this room in general, but the faux moldings really make it pop.  These details are easily achieved using painters tape to mask the area and create the look of expensive mouldings.

I love this classic chair and it is perfect for one of my design clients.

I love the colors in this office, but I also am inspired to use tag boards in my own office to hand fabric, paint and wallpaper samples.

I love the graphic patterns and am contiually obsessed with sunburst mirrors.

This dresser is a very close match to the Ikea's Edland 5 drawer chest.  With a little bit of paint it could be a very close match, but at $299 for the Ikea version is a bargain compared to this $4940 price tag for this piece.

I hope my inspiration provides you with inspiration as well.

Painted Furniture Made Easy

Painting existing or purchased furniture can be a great way to save money and get exactly what you want.  

In this case we used an IKEA Liatorp coffee table that we purchased for only $199.  The lines of the table were perfect, but the white color was not going to work.  The price of the table allowed us to spend more on other more important elements of the room.

 

After attending a Benjamin Moore color trends seminar for designers last spring, I learned about a great new paint that would be the perfect choice for this project.  

It's called Advance and it provides all of the great qualities of an oil based paint with a easy water clean up. 

We began our project by removing the glass from the table and setting it aside in a safe place.  We then sanded the table with a fine grit sand paper and wiped the table with a damp cloth to remove any sanding residue.

After the prep work we were ready to get started painting.  It is important to use a good quality brush when using oil based paints to insure a smooth and desirable finish.  A great trick to get the right amount of paint on the brush is to place a rubber band around the paint can.  This allows you to dip the brush in the paint and easily run the brush against the rubber band to remove excess paint.

The paint itself went on extremely well.  Any brush strokes created during the application smoothed out as the paint settled and dried.  In around two hours our first coat was completed.

We let the piece dry overnight and applied another coat which provided a uniform finish.

Paint is a great way to make a statement with furniture, but also can be used to unify various pieces in a room in order to give a cohesive look.  I hope you feel confident and inspired to try this paint on your own project.

Luxe for Less

Would you believe you could take a $79 IKEA dresser and make it look like this?  Well that is exactly what you can do with a great new product called Overlays.  Overlays are fretwork designs that are made of composite material that can easily be applied to a variety of furniture pieces.  Overlays can be used to embellish new IKEA pieces or to "upcycle"an existing piece of furniture or a flea market find.  The results are impressive and the options are endless!

Check out this stylish copy of a classic Dorothy Draper Dresser.  The 1940's original (below) can cost as much as $4,000.  With a little time and effort you too can have the Luxe look for Less!

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Ten Tips to Take Ten Years Off Your Home

It seems like every time I pick up a fashion magazine there is an article about how to look "10 years younger", and like many, I am a big believer!  I realized that this really holds true for homes as well.  So I compiled a list of all of the things that a homeowner can do to make their home appear more youthful and up to date.


Interior:


1. Replace your kitchen and bathroom knobs:  This is a quick and inexpensive update that       can really refresh the look of a space.  


2. Replace out of date door handles:  They should be simple in design and either brushed nickle or antique bronze.  


3. Get rid of any shiny fake brass:  This can be solved with a quick can of black or bronze spray paint.


4. Make sure your paint colors are up to date:  I have listed good paint colors to use in other posts.


5. Update your lighting:  New lighting is available at many of the big box stores and can be easily installed over a weekend.


6. Get rid of large plate glass mirrors in the bathroom:  Builders often put these in because they are inexpensive.  Taking them down is usually easier than you think, and your can find great inexpensive framed mirrors from places like Homegoods or Lowe's.


7. Minimize natural Oak:  This finish is out and has been out for a while.  If this is on a banister for instance paint it black.  Cabinets can be either painted or refaced for an updated look.


Exterior


8. Replace exterior lights:  Often another place builders will save money.  Change out these babies and you will not be sorry.


9. Put a new coat of paint on the front door:  This freshens up the look even if you stay with the existing color.


10. Power wash all exterior walk ways:  If you don't own a power washer you can rent one for the day.

Pantone 2012 Color of the year

Pantone has recently announced it's choice for 2012 Color of the Year.  For those of you who are not familiar, Pantone is the world-renowned authority on color.  In 1963, Lawrence Herbert, Pantone's founder, created an innovative system for identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community.  This innovation allowed those in creative fields, especially digital, to have a true match for colors across the board.  Each year Pantone chooses a color of the year and that choice effects trends we as consumers see in fashion, interior design and digital technology.  

The 2012 color of the year is Tangerine Tango.  It is a spirited reddish orange that inspires energy and vitality.  Expect to see this color moving forward in the next year and perhaps consider how you might incorporate it into your own home.  Pillows, bedding and table top accessories are all great options for ways to use this fun pop of color.

Creating a Fall Tablescape

With the changing temperatures, now is a great time to think about fall entertaining.  Today I wanted to offer a bit of inspiration on creating a fall tablescape.  I remember Martha Stewart once said that she never set the same table twice.  Well of course she didn't, but not all of us have a dish room!  Here I have used folliage and accessories to expand on a table setting that starts with white dinner plates.  Table runners, chargers and napkin rings can be used to easily transform what would otherwise be an ordinary place setting.

Centerpieces can be expensive and often distract from dinner conversation.  In this case several low containers create one continuous presentation.  To ovoid excessive cost, use items that you have on hand.  For this table I gathered fallen acorns to add to existing hurricanes and placed fall hydrangea blooms in silver julip cups.  The whole look creates a soothing autumnal backdrop for a cozy dinner party.

The Look for Less

I am always excited to share a good bargain.  Today I want to pass along a great find that I have had fun using in some of my interiors.  Recently, Mongolian Lamb pillows keep showing up in all sorts of chic interiors.  I like to use these pillows in bedrooms to add a sexy softness, or to any room that I think needs a little luxury.  

Here you can see I have used one of these pillows in a model home I staged.  In this case I think it just takes the room up a notch and adds some unexpected softness to a modern aesthetic.   Always trying to keep budget in mind for my design clients as well as myself, I wondered if there was a way to get this same look for less. 

These pillows are regularly seen for $54 on up.  But I found a bargain look a like floating around target for only $14.99, and if you shop online right now it's only $11.99! 

I am happy with the quality of the target pillow too.  Just recently, I was shopping in the gifts department at Nordstrom only to find an exact look a like to the target pillow with a $58 price tag.  Check it out and add some chic to your space!