Blending Design Elements

When recently touring a designer-friend's home, I found myself admiring many of the furnishings and decorative items she had around the house.  Not surprising, as she is well-known for her home fashion sense.  What I wasn't expecting, however, was that my conversation with one of the area's best-known decorators would go like this: 

Me: "I love that chair!"

Her: "Oh that.  It came from a junk shop."

Me: "And the coffee table?"

Her: "Secondhand,  I added the detail fringe."  

Me: "And, such a lovely painting. "

Her: "It was being thrown out by a neighbor of my aunt's. I said, do you mind if I have it rather than seeing it go in the trash?"

This goes to show that good design doesn't always take a lot of money.  Sometimes, high fashion is found in the simple things.  Not only did these decorative items look great, but they gave opportunity for conversation.  Even small pieces such as a decorative candle holder on the dinner table, or a beautiful glass wine bottle, can add interest and design to a room inexpensively.

Decorating with art and accessories takes time if you want to add a piece of yourself in every decorative detail.  Though it is much easier to walk over to your filing cabinet, pull out a bunch of catalogs or magazines, and place your order, than to put on a pair of shoes and go out and find it yourself, there is just no substitute for what your own time can add to the aesthetic of a project.  You can create the best decorative looks by spending time versus money; by visiting shops and antique stores, or just making things and being in touch with who you really are.  Taking the time can lead you on an adventure in which you discover that "just right" wall sconce or the perfect, old oil painting that reflects your room's decor with its unique shape, color and "personality."  If you take the time to make something with your own hands, regardless of quality, that item will forever remain a testament to your hard work and creativity.

What makes people interesting is that we are all different.  We might paint, collect art, raise kids, play an instrument or appreciate historic architecture.  It is not about where we work and collect our paychecks.  It is our hobbies and interest that brings life to interior design.  Details, although usually small items or accents, are the hidden link to bringing your decorating scheme together. 

Walls, windows and floors are physical elements in a room.  The way they are treated conveys subtle messages about you.  If walls are busy with patterns, for example, they will give off an exuberant feeling.  Each element in a given space relies on the other for unity and must be compatible in color, texture, and scale.  If any one of these basics is not harmonious, new features should be introduced.

When adding art to a room, consider your wall color.  Each picture, painting or photograph you hang should say something special and should accent the overall color scheme in the room, so that others can fully appreciate the wall art.  When you take pictures to a framer, bring snapshots of your rooms.  Pictures will help you and the framer determine the appropriate frames and matting.  When choosing a picture frame, it is important to distinguish between significant works of art, pictures and prints, drawings and black and white photographs.  There should be some sort of dialogue between the frame and what is inside it.  Once you have decided on the frame you must address the mats, size color, double or French.  Paintings of merit are traditionally hung in frames appropriate to the period in which whey were painted. Use silk mats for formal, classic photographs, sometimes adding a bead of gold on the bevel to imbue the print with a reflective quality.  Choose a thick, 8-ply mat board rather than 4-ply.  A deeper mat creates a window for the art.  For black and white photographs, match the color of the mat to the paper the photo is printed on. Also, use photo white for new photographs and antique white for old ones.  The best framers have an artistic eye and a craftman's concern for quality.  

When hanging your wall art, buy a good quality measuring tape. I prefer metal. Cloth is too flimsy and won't lie flat on walls. Use a pencil to make markings, as ink will leave perminate marks.  A level is a must for facing frames, mirrors, and brackets.  Select a sturdy hammer when actually hanging a picture.  Hold the hammer lower on its handle, and the nail will go in smother than choking up on the neck of the hammer.  Most importantly, hang with a friend as it is good to have an extra pair of eyes.  The most common mistake people make is hanging a picture too high.  The old rule about putting them at standing eye level does not work because people are usually sitting. When in doubt, hang it three inches below what you think. 

When grouping pictures on a wall consider the overall composition.  There should be a consistent spacing factor between each picture.  When arranging your art, arrange small to medium size frames in groups with no more than six inches of walls between any two pictures.  Do not hang anything near a swinging door, since favorite art work can be broken when the doors open quickly.  Do not hang pictures any lower then ten inches above the top of the sofa.  If a picture is vertical, increase the distance between pictures to make the whole look more squared.  As a rule, the bottom section of a mat is slightly deeper about ¼ to ½ inches to counteract the optical illusion that makes the top seem heavier.

Mirrors can be a plus in a small room.  They make a room look larger and bring additional light into a room.  When hanging mirrors over a fireplace, hang them low enough to see yourself - it also makes ceilings appear higher.  Never hang mirrors less than two feet above a sofa.  When hanging sconces near a fireplace, consider the mantel width.  In general, sconces should be placed 68 inches from the floor to the electrical box.  If your fireplace is wide, sconces should be hung over both ends of the mantel, not way off to the side or too close together.  A good rule to remember is that when sconces are near fireplaces, sconces should be about eight inches from the sides of the opening.

General rules used to decorate with art and other accessories are explained further below for each room; however, there are some rules that apply to all rooms when decorating with art and accessories:

• Do not over  do it! 
• Cleanliness is next to godliness. While accessories give a room character, they can also leave a room cluttered.
• Do not spread accessories around evenly.  Always group them to tell a story.  On side tables, in a bedroom or den, keep it neat. Only place necessary items: for example a lamp, a saucer, a box or small sculpture.
• A good rule is to decorate in threes or odd numbers and heights.
• Candles are always romantic, but be careful where you place them. 
• Display things that you love and have meaning.
• Honor favorite family members' photos with good frames.

Detailed below are a list of rooms and some ideas that might help get you started, as you add the final touches sure to make the biggest difference in your home.

A hall is the route one takes to get from one room to another.  Usually, it starts at your front door, and runs into your home's interior.  From the moment you walk through a front door, it is the hall that gives you an insight into what will follow.  Remember: first impressions count.  Small spaces and minimal use of furniture mean you can use details to their best advantage, but do not be temped to clutter the space.  Less is more.  A single picture can be more effective than lots of little pictures on the walls.  To complete the look, you might add a scented candle.  Nothing can be more inviting that a delicious scent when entering a home. Hall furniture should be practical and clutter free.  Few soft furnishings are required in hallways, unless the room has a dual purpose.  To bring light into a hallway, add a full length mirror.

A kitchen is the heart of the home.  Take your leads for details from the style of kitchen cabinets and tiles, the most expensive and permanent parts of a kitchen.  To add a sense of age, slate flooring can be used.  Add stained glass windows; they do not all have to match.  Instead of conventinal kitchen cabinets, add a collection of antique hutches and side buffets.  For a decorative touch, choose to use your favorite piece of ceramic.  Go shopping and look for basic kitchen utensils and other items to coordinate with your color scheme.  A picture or ornament can make a kitchen appear less functional and more decorative.  You could also update your kettle or blender.  Herbs growing on a window sill in decorative containers can bring a fresh, green herb garden into your home.  A small kitchen produces its own challenge.  If a small kitchen can spare the space, a bowl of fruit or a colorful bouquet of flowers are both useful and will give color accents to the disciplined design scheme.  Beautiful wine racks always add detail and points for conversation.  A bulletin board will also help you stay organized and will give you lots of opportunity to add personalization and color to this key room.

Dining rooms are an asset to any home. Careful attention must be paid when planning a dining room -- there is a lot more involved than just buying a table and chairs.  Accessorize your table by decorating it yourself.  Try to have china that complements your color plan.  Hanging plates and platters only makes sense in rooms where you might be dining.  More is best.  Your plate display does not have to match, but there should be some continuity of theme.  Hang your collection above a focal point, like a fireplace, buffet, or large console.  A plate collection mounted on a dining room screen adds an interesting dimension.  When entertaining, little touches such as carefully chosen napkin rings and candlesticks add interest and diversity to an occasion. Choose pictures that encourage conversation and work with your color scheme.  As far as placement of dining room lanterns or chandeliers, always place them over the center of the table. From the table top to the bottom of the fixture, there should be 30 to 36 inches, no lower. For those who move their dining tables around to make room for buffets and more guests, use an 's' hook on the chain to lift the fixture up five or six notches to accommodate people walking under it.  Keep a bowl of potpourri or fresh flowers in the room when it's not being used.  It will make it feel lived-in at all times.

Living rooms are no longer rooms that are never used.  They are now for entertaining.  So decorate that way!  Accessorize by using the old mixed with the new.  An old piece of china can look great next to a modern vase.  Living rooms can have a lot of wall space, so consider combining a large painting on one wall with groups of smaller ones.  Pictures of a similar size but of various subjects can be reframed with matching or tonal picture mounts to create an interesting combination.  Personal craft items can add interest to a living room.  A tapestry, painting or drawing from a member of the family can produce a wonderful look when framed.  A decorative throw or quilt can add color to a natural setting.  A writing box and a vase can complete the look on a desk.

Bedrooms are the most used rooms in your home.  It used to be that popular bedroom designs reflected floral images.  Traditional floral designs are now thought of as old fashioned.  Recently, contemporary designs are becoming more popular with the younger generation.  Always use your bed as the focal point when accessorizing.  With the bed as the focal point, the design theme can be taken from your choice of bedding.  Do not be tempted to clutter your bedroom with too many accessories.  Photographs add a personal touch, and pictures represent your favorite places.  If you want to install swing arm laps by your bed, they should be anchored 42 inches above the floor and about eight inches away from the headboard.  Higher beds might require a slight increase to these measurements.  If you place brackets over your bed, you will definitely want to fun-tak or hot glue the vases, pots, or urns you display on top of them.  To add a final touch, add a favorite scent.  

Bathroom