Style
Mood Makers: Small Rooms, Spacious Feel Make a small room feel more open with these decorator tricks for visually expanding the space
Mood Makers: Luxurious Looks on a Budget Want a high-end look in your home but feeling choked by your budget? Try these pro decorator tips to give your rooms a luxe look for less
Houzz Guides: 12 Ways to Decorate for Less Who says you need wads of cash to have loads of style? With these skills under your belt, you can get amazing results on a budget
Budget Decorating: How to Decorate Smart and Slow To make the most of your decorating dollar, forgo the disposable stuff, think vintage and free first and give yourself a splurge
A Beginner's Mini Guide to Buying Antiques Experience the thrill of the hunt without ignorance ruining the spoils, with this guide to antiquing for novice buyers
Let's Put a Price on Art: Your Guide to Art Costs and Buying We paint you a picture of what affects an artwork's price — plus a little-known way to take home what you love when it's beyond your budget
A Beginner’s Guide to Original Art and Limited-Edition Prints Get the basics on investing in art for your home
Masculine, moody and elegant aspects. Not all eclectic kitchens have to be a study in mixing and contrast on every level; some are more quietly eclectic. I love the simple mix of the dark lacquered modern cabinets and ethnic patterned tile on one full wall (how it's meant to be done.) And the antique brass hardware is a wonderful accent that many would overlook and just default to silver.
Eclectic is a term that is often used when a person has a hard time pinpointing his or her own style — or anyone else's for that matter. Eclectic done right has a sense of effortless confidence, even though this is one of the hardest looks to achieve. Eclectic done wrong is somewhere between a chaotic mess and a train wreck. Sure, it's your house, and if you're a total rebel and really don't care if things work together, then by all means, go for it. But if you want to look like a rebel with a cause — you want your home to look like it's been casually collected over time with effortless ease — here are a few things to consider. Warning: If anything that doesn't match makes you crazy and feeling short of breath, continue at your own risk.
Get to know the rating systems. For in-duct air filters, look for the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) to tell how efficiently they pull particles from the air. MERV values range from 1 to 20; a system rated 7 or higher is about as effective as a HEPA filter. True HEPA filters, which have MERV values of 17 to 20, are not typically installed in HVAC systems. However, some newer homes may be specially designed with in-duct HEPA filtration.
When to choose a whole-house air cleaner: If you have a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in your home, you have the option of having a whole-house air cleaner installed right in the ductwork. The benefits of a whole-house system are that all of the air is cleaned and there are no bulky appliances to deal with. In-duct systems are expensive, and they must be professionally installed and maintained.
Allergies How air purifiers work. There are a few different types of air purifiers on the market, and not all of them are especially effective or safe. It is important to know what you are buying, so read the fine print on your air purifier before purchasing. The main thing to check is how the purifier cleans the air. It will likely use one or more of these methods: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter: This is the most common and one of the most effective methods available. Activated carbon: Usually used with a HEPA filter or another filter, activated carbon can help reduce pollution by attracting some chemicals, which bond to the surface of the carbon. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) cleaners: These use a UV light to kill viruses, bacteria, allergens and some molds. UVGI cleaners may not reduce allergy or asthma symptoms, because typical home cleaners have limited effectiveness. Electrostatic precipitators: Particles entering the purifier are given a charge and then trapped on oppositely charged plates. These machines create a small amount of ozone, which is a lung irritant and pollutant itself, so this type of purifier is probably best avoided. Not effective ...
Allergies to Dust Store only clean, dry items in closets. Putting away clothes or linens that are still slightly damp can create the perfect environment for mildew and mold to grow, while dirty clothes and blankets attract fabric-eating moths. Keep your closets fresh and bug free by washing and thoroughly drying items before storing them for the season.
Allergies to Dust Steam clean; don't shampoo carpets and area rugs. If you really want carpeting, vacuum it regularly with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter (see above) and deep clean with a steam cleaner. Most rented carpet shampooers do not get hot enough to get rid of allergens, so consider making the investment in a real steam cleaner to keep at home.
Consider function. What will you be doing in the room you are working on? A palette can often be determined by function. Are you working on a child's room, nursery, playroom or breakfast room? Here is your chance to have some fun. Try color combinations that are cheery and whimsical, yet cohesive. You may not want this look all over your house, but it's OK to let loose in a room, especially if it suits the function.
Start with one great fabric. Have you ever stumbled upon that one great fabric that made you declare love right then and there? I have, and that fabric is now a great starting point for a whole room palette. Use it to select paint, rugs and art. The colors don't have to match, just complement one another.
Use restraint with bright colors. I love color; however, a room can suffer if there is too much of a good thing. Bright colors are best shown against crisp white details like casings or curtains. Note the neutral furniture that allows the paint color and vivid art to set the cheerful palette.
Save: Discount Linens While window treatments demand some customization, basics like bed linens and towels come in standard sizes and rarely need to be purchased at full price. Keep an eye out for sales, nabbing basics whenever you can.
Splurge: Elegant Drapery Some items in the home come in standard sizes (such as bedding). Unfortunately, windows are not one of these things, which means getting a perfect window treatment will require at least a little tailoring.
Save: Fun Side Chair Once you have a great sofa anchoring your living room, you can add oodles of interest by mixing in inexpensive side chairs and accent tables. Look to vintage and secondhand shops for pieces that will work with your sofa without exactly “matching” for a relaxed but sophisticated look.
Splurge: Investment Sofa A great sofa needs to be a lot of things: comfortable, stylish, and able to hold up to serious wear and tear. Getting all these things usually means investing a little, but it can be well worth it. If you spend a fair amount of time unwinding or entertaining on your sofa, it makes more sense to invest in one that will last. Do you spend more time working at your home desk or entertaining at the dining table? Maybe a fabulous chair is a better fit for your life. Think about what piece of seating you use the most, and splurge a bit on quality construction and fabric.
Save: Minimalist Vanity My client and I splurged on the tile shown here, then we looked at balancing the budget through our vanity choice. In bathrooms, I often use relatively inexpensive vanities. Units with clean contemporary styling like this one work well in virtually any space, and they don’t have to cost much while delivering sleek style. Porcelain is a go-to, making a functional vanity
Splurge: Splashy Faucet An eye-catching faucet doesn’t have to be an outrageous splurge, but spending a little extra to get something above off-the-shelf grade will make the whole bathroom feel more special. Plus, a good rule of thumb is that it makes sense to splurge on things that you touch or interact with the most.
Save: Classic Tile I won’t pretend that I haven’t designed homes with high-end tile. This can be a splurge area at times, with gorgeous results. But it’s also possible to get incredible looks with humble, classic subway tile, leaving plenty of your budget left over to put into other areas.
Splurge: Quality Countertops How much you’ll want splurge here will depend on your tastes and budget. However, if you’re replacing or installing countertops, it makes sense to invest in a quality material that will stand the test of time so you can recoup some of that investment in the future. Select a durable stone like granite or quartz, a hardwood that has been properly treated or a mix of materials.
Functional Dining Table A dining table is an important piece of furniture, but that doesn’t mean it has to be ridiculously pricey to do its job and look great doing it.
1. Splurge: Statement Pendant Light When renovating for resale, lighting is often seen as a place to save. Style preferences vary, so for-sale homes often stick to simple and functional lighting where possible. But when it comes to beautifying and personalizing your own space, a dazzling chandelier or pendant goes a long way toward elevating the look of everything else in the room.
I can live with Saffron.
Tailored and sophisticated, neoclassic or midcentury combo
Color Blocked Wall & Statement Mirror
More Message Art
Message Art
Over-Sized Art
Tone-on-Tone Paint Palettes
Color-Blocked Wall Paint
Ombre Wall Paint
Knit and Crochet Texturized Furniture, Storage, and Accessories
The Pocket-Size Room Pick a color. This may seems counterintuitive, but painting a small room a favorite bold color can create a snug sitting area that people will gravitate toward. In the penthouse sitting room seen here, the high-gloss finish adds to the luxurious feel.
Throw in some curves for inclusiveness and comfort. Curves are intuitively more inviting than rectilinear shapes. Rounded and soft, they tend to make us feel more protected and comforted.
I love this shade of purple!
I love this shade of purple!
I love the color of the door. Add a little more yellow, and it'll be perfect for me.
When deciding where to stop the color, there’s no right answer. Paint just the door, the door and sidelights, or go all out and paint the door, sidelights and trim. Such is the case here, with Benjamin Moore’s Midnight Blue making a dramatic statement in this entry.
Here’s an entry that’s simply bursting with happy personality, thanks in large part to the color of the door. Just imagine if the door was white —much of the impact and charm would be lost.
Bookcases Go all the way up. If you want to add dramatic floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, make your dreams a reality. Add a library ladder to reach the highest levels while creating a classically cool look.
Another option besides centering the artwork is aligning it with a seemingly unrelated architectural detail. In the example shown here, the top edge of the painting aligns with the corner of a perpendicular wall surface. If the painting were otherwise moved up or down, the relationship with the corner would look bothersome.
Singles Only What is it: Hanging up a single large artwork. Benefits: A single artwork creates a strong focal point or zone in a room. It’s also easier to hang one piece than align several pieces, such as in a grid arrangement. Size of wall space: For a large artwork, you’ll need ample wall space — enough for the piece and breathing room around the perimeter so it doesn’t look cramped. Limitations: You’ll need to take into consideration the weight of the artwork and how to anchor it into your wall material in the desired location. Logistics are tricky too — is this something you want (or are able) to tackle on your home stepladder, or do you need professional help? Most large single artworks are centered either on a wall, as shown here, or in relationship to another component, such as above a fireplace.
If you like the leaned look but aren’t sold on the floor idea, place the art on a piece of furniture against the wall. Just make sure it’s nothing you use frequently and are liable to bump, like a make-up vanity or bar cart.
Leaning Against a Wall What it is: Placing artwork on the floor and leaning it against the wall offers the same flexibility as the shelf approach. However, it does have a somewhat calculated sense of casualness. Size of space: You need enough wall space and floor space clearance to accommodate the piece.
On Shelves What it is: Pictures aren’t hung on the wall but leaned on an architectural feature, such as a shelf. Benefit: If you like to change your artwork frequently, but aren’t handy with a hammer or have space constraints, this is a good choice. The shelf approach also offers an added opportunity to layer smaller frames in front of larger ones.
Grid What it is: Pictures are hung in precise rows and columns that emphasize order and symmetry. Benefit: Similar to the linear approach, the grid configuration also lends itself to artworks of the same size and with the same frame. The grid method works especially well for collections with numerous pieces. A grid installation is particularly striking
A clustered configuration is freer; artworks are arranged within a loosely defined, more organic space. Although asymmetrical, a clustered configuration is still balanced. Benefit: A clustered approach is ideal for artworks of various sizes and with various frame finishes. It’s also possible to add additional pieces without dismantling and rehanging the entire installation.
While a linear style works for identically sized frames, it’s not imperative that the frames be the same size. Here, designer Bria Hammel overlapped frames in two sizes.
Pay equal attention to what you don’t like.
Consider your dream destination.
Look to Your Wardrobe
List the sort of things you’d choose if price were no object.
Photograph Your Most Cherished Objects
You can also highlight one wall or part of the wall, such as the area above the wainscoting in your dining room.
Q