What is the 'Bully' in your room?

When I was working with clients on this living room makeover there were many decisions that needed to be made in order to update the room and give my clients the look they desired.  One element that they hadn't considered changing was the dated fireplace with its' hand painted Portuguese tiles.  

My clients fireplace before the renovation

Because these tiles had such a strong presence of yellow, green and pink flowers they would've dictated the room's overall style and colour palette if they remained within the space.  My friend and fellow interior designer Debra Nicholson of Debra Nicholson Design says it best when she describes an element such as this as 'The Bully in the Room'. 



When to stand up to the bully and when to ignore it?

 

So how do you determine if you have a bossy element that you need to work around or get rid of?

 

The first thing to do is decide what you love about the room you wish to redecorate.  Consider the fixed elements as priority because they are more likely to eat into your budget should you decide to alter or remove these structures altogether.  Do these elements have features that shout 'Look at me, I won't be ignored!'  Or are they more subtle in nature and therefore can be worked around easily?

 

Awkwardly placed columns wrapped in distressed wood veneer are made into a feature rather than an eyesore

Fixed elements are fixed to a space rather than 'floating furnishings' that are easily interchangeable or that can be moved around. Some examples of fixed elements are:

Countertops and Backsplashes



Depending on how intense these features are will affect how you decorate around them



Flooring 



Flooring can have undertones that you need to take into consideration

 

Fireplaces



Source



Let's say your fixed element is a stained glass window you absolutely adore that compliments the character of your home. Although the stained glass may impact your colour palette, if you really love the window then chances are you will probably decide to leave it unchanged. An element like this is less likely to be the bully but rather take on a quieter role as a charming accent within the space.

 



Some stained glass can be bossy but this one is quite sweet



Also, consider the function of a structure to decide if it's meeting your current needs. Would taking down a (non load bearing) wall open up your space to provide easier flow of traffic or help with the problems you may be experiencing with furniture placement? Or do you have a teeny tiny island in your large kitchen that would be more functional if it were extended to make it easier for meal preparation and while entertaining guests?     



 

Pretty and functional is best

For 'floating' furnishings (non-fixed elements) the decision to love it or leave it doesn't have to be as complicated.  A client that I am currently working with has an oriental rug that is in fantastic condition.  The only problem is that its' colours are dated - again with pinks and greens - and I've advised her that she needs to decide first if the area rug is going to stay (and be the bully that we work around) or if it goes so we start with a clean palette.

 

I love area rugs, just consider if you love yours enough to have it be the one calling all the shots

 

As a decorator it my job to advise clients on the best way to move forward with a project in order to achieve the results they are seeking.  Some outdated relics - mint condition or not - need to be retired or upcycled if they are holding you back from the decorating scheme you are dreaming of.  

 

Not your style? Change it or sell it but don't let it bully you!

 

If a hideous dining room set with a matching china cabinet has been passed down from old Aunt Milly, don't  feel that you have to hang on to it (unless it's an amazing antique!) to please others.  That's like a miserable married couple staying together for the sake of their children thinking it is what will make everyone happy and  it doesn't!

Get the look you desire, you deserve it!

 

Bear in mind that floating furnishings can be easily moved to other areas of the home, relocated to the cottage or passed down. Maybe for now you need to ignore these elements and address them at a later date.  When your budget allows, make the changes you want and don't be pushed around by the bully in the room!

Need help standing up to the bully in your room?  I can help you create a space that you are happy to come home to, share with your family and entertain in with friends.  E-mail me at: claire@creatingcontrastdesigns.com

Why more than one Accent wall can be boring

When considering what colours to use in a space it can be daunting  to decide on a bold hue or wild wallpaper pattern for an entire room.  Over the years accent walls have become a popular way to add hits of colour to a home's decor, but knowing when to use this application is key to getting it done right without going overboard.  

I am loving this room

This week I met with a previous client for a colour consultation in her new home. She just bought a gorgeous rustic styled house in the country and wanted help deciding on colours for her main floor.  She is not afraid of colour (yay!) and was thinking of a dark hue in her dining room/entry way.

I suggested Mysterious AF565 by Benjamin Moore for an accent wall to give her the fix she was looking for.  One reason I advised going with an accent wall rather than painting the entire room that colour is because it  would've been too dark when we considered all the other elements within this space -the major consideration being the lack of natural light. 

This is the only accent wall that I recommended during the consultation and this is the reason why:

Wall Colour Mysterious adds gorgeous drama to any space

Although accent walls are a fantastic way to add drama and create a focal point in a room, if repeated more than once within your main living space the concept can lose its appeal quite quickly. I have been in homes where every room in the house has had an accent wall. The first time you see this it's fun and interesting but after the third room it becomes tiresome and for me, a disappointment.

What little girl wouldn't like a splash of pink in her room?

Kids bedrooms (and more private rooms in general) are a different story and you could get away with having a wall highlighted in each of these rooms if you really wanted to.  Afterall, it's often the case that if you do something for one child, chances are your going to have to do it for the others too!



This unique accent wall adds a rustic coziness to an otherwise modern plain room.

The thought of having one bold colour or wallpaper print on all your walls for long periods of time can seem like a lifetime commitment that you may not be ready to make.  If this is the case for you then going with an accent wall could be the way to go.

If you love surrounding yourself in colour then why not paint all 5 walls (the 5th being the ceiling) in a hue you love and makes you feel happy?  I dare you!  If your a bit more on the conservative side remember that there are other ways to inject life into a rooms design.  With the current colour trends options are limitless for colourful accessories, patterned draperies, painted furniture, funky rugs- the list goes on. 

So what about you, have you got an accent wall in your home?  Some people think that accent walls have been overdone and are old news, what do you think?  I'd love to have you share your thoughts on this topic.

What everyone should know before Renovating

Prior to commencing any renovation project there are several things to consider while you still have the time and ability to do so.  If you are framing, insulating and drywalling, it is before this work is done that you want to think about the layout for the room.  By paying attention to the details from the start you will know where to place electrical components such as outlets, pot lights, light switches, light fixtures, phone jacks, tv cables etc.

Stair lighting is a nice added detail.

If you are installing built ins think about what you want to place on the shelves.  If there is an opportunity to showcase decorative accessories, add over head or under mount lighting to really emphasise these items.  The design of a room may be such that there are unsightly structural elements that cannot be covered up, however by highlighting other objects in a room you shift the focal point to a more aesthetically pleasing area.  

  These appliances blend in seamlessly with the surrounding cabinetry and the lighting is soft.
The design and decor show this space more as a living room rather than an in law suite with a kitchen.

I recently consulted with a couple who purchased a new house that will be ready in summer 2012. Often builders advise how many electrical, cable and telephone outlets they provide and let you decide where to place them.  These decisions should be thought out with much care and consideration.  We discussed location and size of elements like windows, doors, solid walls, half walls, vents and pillars which are all huge factors in determining where furnishings can be placed and therefore where outlets should be installed.

The family room in this floor plan has little in the way of solid walls and the dining room has no window. These are both key points to think about when deciding on furniture placement and lighting.

Always take into account where to place the larger furnishings in a room first.  For example, in the family room look at your options of where to put the couch.  If a couch has to sit in the middle of a room due to the lack of solid walls, placing a sofa table behind it with accessories softens the look so you are not looking at the back of a couch when entering a room.

This sofa table is doing double duty as a desk and gives a cohesive look.

In bedrooms the foot of the bed should ideally be facing the entryway, although it isn't always possible when dealing with the structure of a buildings' design.  There are times that you can go against the norm, its just knowing when and how to decorate successfully when breaking the rules.

In this Traditional styled bedroom rules are thrown out the window, because that's where the fabulous view is!

 I believe the investment for a consultation of this type of advice is value for money.  If you are purchasing a new home the builders should have their own Interior Designer to assist you with these kinds of decisions.  However, if you would like to make sure you have ticked all the boxes please contact me for a second opinion.  Your better off doing it right the first time and save yourself disappointment, future renovations and most importantly, money.