Living Room
Get the height right. In general, experts say ceiling fans are at an optimal height for air movement when they are 8 to 9 feet above the ground (and at least 12 to 18 inches from the nearest wall). They can be higher, but the blades shouldn’t be less than 7 feet above the ground, for safety. Personal preference, in addition to ceiling height and slope, can affect the mounting type you choose for your ceiling fan. Ceiling fans for low ceilings. For ceilings less than 8 feet tall, choose a hugger or flush-mount ceiling fan. These fans mount next to the ceiling and help maintain the recommended minimum 7-foot clearance between ceiling and floor. Ceiling fans for standard-height ceilings. If the ceiling in your room is about 8 to 9 feet tall, you can most likely use the standard 3- to 5-inch long downrod, the pipe that connects the ceiling fan to the ceiling mounting and that comes with the fan. Ceiling fans for high ceilings. In high-ceiling rooms, longer downrods can bring the fan closer to the optimum hanging height. These extended rods sometimes come with the fan itself or are sold in kits. Lengths range from several inches to several feet. As the downrod gets toward t...
Consider the number and angle of the blades. With today’s models, there isn’t necessarily a right number of blades for a ceiling fan. It’s more of an aesthetic preference than a practical one. When it comes to airflow, the motor and the blade pitch are most important. The American Lighting Association recommends a 12- to 15-degree blade pitch for optimum air movement, although plenty of companies offer ceiling fans with steeper blade angles. “The steeper the pitch, the more air the fan can churn, like a mixer or blender,” Halcovich says. “Where the number of blades does come into play is with some of the very large eight-blade fans that have been introduced to the market in the last couple years,” Mokhtarei says. “The goal of these fans is to gently circulate air in the room, rather than to create a cooling breeze.”
Pick the right ceiling fan size for your room. Size is important. If your ceiling fan is too small for your room, it won’t move air efficiently or effectively. If it’s too big, it could create the feeling of being in a wind tunnel. Room size is the main factor for determining what size ceiling fan you need, although ceiling height can affect it as well. (With taller ceilings, you may want to size up or use multiple fans, as the fan will need to circulate more air.) The following ceiling fan size guide from the American Lighting Association can help you determine which size is right for you. Rooms up to 75 square feet: 36 inches wide or smaller Rooms up to 144 square feet: 36 to 42 inches wide Rooms about 225 square feet: 50 to 54 inches wide Rooms larger than 225 square feet: an oversize fan or multiple ceiling fans How to measure a ceiling fan: Ceiling fan measurements come from their blade span, which is the diameter of the circle their spinning blades create, also called their “sweep.” For a ceiling fan with an even number of blades, measure the fan’s diameter to determine its span. For a ceiling fan with an odd number of blades, measure from the center of the...
Create Maximum Contrast For the full effect of this classic color combo, set pure white wood against a rich, deep blue. This works particularly well if you have decorative millwork or architectural features. The dark hue on the walls of this living room, for instance, really showcases the crisp detailing on the white fireplace, cornicing and paneled cabinets. Glassware on the white shelves creates sparkle without detracting from the design. A sprinkling of lemon and lime adds a little zest.
Thornton added animal prints throughout the home. “The best way to mix animal prints is to mix them with other prints or colors that are strong. You can’t dip your toe in. You’ve got to really go for it fearlessly; otherwise the animal prints will look too bold compared to everything else,” she says.
If I replaced the wicker chairs with leather. . Sprinkle in some luxe accents. Maybe you don’t have the budget or desire to upgrade your patio furniture, but want to give it a bit more life for the season. Invest in high-quality outdoor cushions (check that they’re moisture- and fade-resistant) in bright colors or patterns, and bring out a few cozy throws from the house for cool evenings. Place accents like lanterns or pretty pots on side tables and an outdoor rug on the ground, and the space will feel more luxurious overall.
Add drapery for privacy, sun protection, softness and drama. Drapery panels are effective at softening the harsh rays of the sun as well as making your patio a bit more private and cozy. They’re also more flexible than shades, allowing you to shift them left to right as needed. Use an indoor-outdoor fabric, such as Sunbrella, particularly for areas that are exposed to the elements. Also look for panels with weighted bottoms so they don’t blow into your barbecue if it’s a breezy day. You’ll need to anchor them to an overhead structure, like the underside of this patio overhang.
Hardwired sconces. For a wire-free look like in the space seen here, you would connect the sconces to your home’s electrical system behind the wall. (If you aren’t experienced with this type of wiring, it’s best to call in a licensed electrician.) Plug-in sconces. Portable, plug-in wall sconces give you freedom to quickly mount them on a wall yourself. You would plug their wiring into a nearby outlet, typically just above the baseboard or floor. Many plug-in sconces are designed with cord disguises, or the cords are part of their design
Unlike, say, hanging an art piece (whose midpoint should typically be at eye level), when it comes to wall sconces, you or your designer will place them where they provide optimum illumination and look good to your eye. “We don’t follow a standard rule of thumb, but instead look at the big picture,” Harper says. “Art, furniture, ceiling height and the function of the sconces themselves are all taken into account.”
What’s the Most Common Mistake People Make? Being too safe and not having enough pattern. Often the larger pieces in a living room, such as the sofas, are blocks of neutral color. If the throw pillows are neutral too, you’ll end up with a whitewashed effect.
Luxe feel. The sheer scale of a large rug brings a sense of decadence to a space. And, as this lovely living room illustrates, an oversize rug shouldn’t be restricted to big areas. In fact, where a little rug might make a room feel choppy and therefore small, a large design will have the opposite effect. Moreover, think how a rug like this will protect you from floorboard drafts in the winter. Bliss.
Bamboo shades for the living room.
18 inch blue and white porcelain vase from Ballard Designs $179. Need two.
Blue and white on top of the TV cabinet. I was looking for two large, but why not a collection? They could all be different.
Would make great pillows!
The animal print pillows on white sofa - large plant.
The simply framed pictures on each side of the bed. Like the black frames with large white mats and the pictures with lots of blue and gold.
Navy French door.
Accent wall. If you have a small amount of paint and want to make the biggest impact on your home’s design, then an accent wall is your best bet. Choose a wall in your living room or master bedroom that you want to highlight, such as the area behind the sofa or bed. Once it is painted, hang coordinating artwork on the accent wall to finish the design.
Denim
Love this Navy L142386
Kind of cool - Cabana Blue
Another custom order - fabric is Lake
Custom order so I'm sure it's more expensive
Matching ottoman
$739 from La-Z Boy and has an ottoman to match, but not sure of the price.
Love the turquoise, large leaf in big pot.
Amazing throw from Peacock Alley $215
Liking these shear draperies - white with black rods - nice.
pale blue lumbar pillows.
The three pale blue pillows!
Unfortunately the Scalamandre pillows are $949! But they were shown on a white sofa with deep navy blue smaller pillows. To die for!
Company C
I LOVE those chevron drapes! And with the bamboo shades.
Love the green boxes and how everything is organized. Something about green makes it look fresh. Use containers to keep like items together and prevent toppling. For example: Store makeup brushes upright in a jam jar or mug. Make finding the right nail polish easy with a clear acrylic container. Corral hair accessories and products in a lidded box. Stash extra makeup and skin-care products in a zippered pouch.
Animal prints on the white chair and blue rug. The soft yellow and blue.
From Rugsusa
White cushions on the bench with lots of navy - love the bougainvillea. Love the use of jute. The turquoise in the back. Mix of white, wood, navy, and pink!
Tall plant in the corner if the palm doesn't work.
The Chinese chairs, indigo painted chest of drawers, bird prints. The green chest would look nice indigo and the Chinese chair could benefit from a white cushion.
All the blue and white. Pops of orange - coral would work similarly, the grouping of bird prints - which could be botanicals as well.
These custom painted panels are nice. I could use one of the scrolls instead? Especially in the dining area where I need something large to balance things out next to the credenza.
The painted side board - maybe the gateleg table? Love the rug.
Indian toran valance would look cool instead of bamboo shades in the living room. Maybe not this one, but there are tons on the internet. Maybe coral or yellow. Unfortunately a lot of them are one of a kind and I would need two.
I would love to paint the gateleg table.
Coffee table vignette
Love the rug and pillows. The white cushions on the wicker.
Ikat rug, but way too expensive at Williams Sonoma. Might find it somewhere else.
Perfect print (maybe if it were green it would be better. Love the white vase, the trunks, baskets, use of tray, brass, and the birdcage.
$146 from OKL
Love the simple plant with the blue books. I could see this plant in the brass bowl on the gateleg.
From Target $172 for 5x7 or $389 for 8x11 Which may be too large.
Lulu and Georgia $300 5x8
Like the print pillow in between the animal print ones. Like that it spreads out over the whole sofa instead of bunched at each end!
Q