Monday is Answer Day: Economical Tile Solutions

Today's question comes from a reader who is about to embark on a bathroom remodel, and has become a little confused by all the tile options that are available. The other concern is cost. She doesn't have a big budget so is looking for ways to create the most impression for a modest outlay. Well I have a few ideas that you may want to try, that I think are both beautiful and economical solutions to the home remodel drama.

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  First thing to keep in mind is, if you are trying to operate on a tight budget, do not go for big splash, it will end up looking like you are over reaching. There is a lot that you can do with not a lot of money, but trying to look expensive is not one of them. So keep your color palette simple, and your design straight forward, you will come up with a much better end product.


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  Having said all that, e creative. In the bathroom I show above, budget was a big issue, so I found some of the least expensive colored tile that I could, then laid it out in the faux gingham design that you see. The unusual layout creates the interest that I wanted, without blowing the bank.


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  Another approach is to find a tile that you really like and use nothing else. It will keep the design simple and elegant, so don't be afraid of a monochromatic scheme, if you choose the correct tile it can be beautiful.


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  Try to go for a quiet, classic approach, avoid if possible strong colors, as they will date your room quickly, and you will grow tired of it.


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  If you are going to splurge anywhere in the Bathroom, spend the money on the faucets. The things that you touch every day will ultimately create a more pleasing effect, over time, the backgrounds will disappear to your eye, but every time you turn the faucet it will remind you of your great choice. I have written about one of my favorite companies on Resource Day a few weeks ago (http://markcutlerdesign.blogspot.com/2007/07/thursday-is-resource-day-california.html), you may want to check that out.

There is also another post I did on freshening up your Bathroom, that may be of help (http://markcutlerdesign.blogspot.com/2007/06/bathrooms-some-fresh-ideas.html).

Monday is Answer Day: Color

Today's question comes from a reader in Miami, who, ironically has an all white apartment. The reader tells me that while the apartment is a modest size, that the all white scheme feels too antiseptic. Originally he thought that it would make the space feel cleaner and more spacious, but now feels like it is dull and lacks any punch, what should he do? He had the idea of buying some new furniture or repainting his whole home, I think this might be a little drastic.

It is my feeling when working on a place, to try and bring out the personality of the people who live there. If your concern is light and cleanliness then maybe an all white scheme will work for you. The thing to remember though, is that an all white scheme does not necessarily mean that EVERYTHING has to be all white. I suggest that you take a look at one of the major walls in each room and give it a shot of color. Often one concentrated injection of color will make the white brighter and give a lot more depth to the scheme that you have going on.

As far as what kind of colors to use, as a rule of thumb, I think that stronger colors would work in the main living space, maybe a deep bronze color, that way the scheme can still stay pretty neutral, or if you want something a bit more daring try paprika or a pepper red. I would suggest staying away from sage and other muted tones, you run the risk of it getting to look like a bad office scheme.

In the bedroom, try something that is soothing, what about a very soft pale blue, or even a very very light camel could be pretty too. I think that a warm dusty pink, could also be great, but some guys may be a bit shy about using that. The point is, in the bedroom, use a quiet, soothing color that will encourage quietness and romance.

I hope that this was helpful, let me know how it works out. Remember, each Monday is answer day, so if you have any questions about your decor, write and let me know.

Monday is Answer Day: Lighting

Today's question is about lighting. Lesley wrote in and she is building a new house, and she is wondering about lighting, whether or not there is much of a difference between recessed lights and surface mounted lights, and how she should design with lamps in mind as well.

This is a very interesting question, because lighting is a great passion of mine. It becomes pretty clear as well if you really think about each of the different types of fixtures. Recessed lights basically will shine light onto the floor, or any horizontal surface, but will put almost no light onto walls or other vertical surfaces. It is that light, (on the walls) that helps you perceive depth in a space. To help balance out the light I like to mix in some surface fixtures, whether they be hanging on the ceiling, or mounted on the wall (sconces). The combination of these two types of light will provide a nice visual texture to the space and helps to bring it alive.

In the image above, you can see where I have combined recessed light (used to light the floor) and surface light (used to light peoples faces as they come to the door), to create a vibrant space.

I also have introduced a table lamp a well to create a brighter area at the table, which helps to draw attention to it, and to help enhance the sense of entry.

One final word, be sure to use dimmers as much as possible and also put everything on different circuits whenever possible. You want to be able to raise and lower the levels of each light in relation to each other, depending on the situation.

Lesley, good luck with your project, I hope this helps.

Answer Day: Swingset?

Todays question comes from Rachel who faces a problem that a lot of parents face. She has a couple of young kids but a back yard that is a thing of beauty and in which she takes great pride. She is worried that the swingset will ruin the way the backyard feels, so her question is aesthetics or swings?
Most people face this dilemma whether its in the backyard or the Living Room, and I have a point of view on this that may surprise a lot people. When it comesto things like this I think that the kids should take a top priority, good design and children are not mutually exclusive.
So my advice to Rachel was, "put in the swingset", but find one that works with the style you have going. accomodating children means finding a middle ground, whether that is aswingset that fits with your landscaping style, or baskets for toys in the Living Room that matches the rest of your decor. The thing to keep in mind here is that good design comes from an honest expression of who you are and how your family lives, so if that means swingsets toy baskets so be it.

Answer Day: Drapes and Cats

Today's question, came from another designer, who is working with a client at the moment who is a cat person. The problem she is facing is how to deal with window treatments that will withstand the affection of her feline friends. I really appreciate this kind of question, because good design is all about solving peoples individual design problems in an elegant, sophisticated way. Here are some thoughts that hopefully will lead to beautiful windows and a happy cat.

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  Obviously, declawing the cat is not an option, it would seem then that you will need to find a fabric that can hold up to Kitty's affection. I would suggest that you use an ultra suede. It is a synthetic fabric, made to look like suede. Because it is not a woven fabric, it doesn't really give the cat a way of getting hold of it. Also for the same reason, you don't even need to hem it, because there are no threads to come undone. This fabric will give a clean, modern feel, as it it too thick to pleat at the top, so you will need to use grommets instead.




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  Another idea is to use roman shades on the windows. If you use a loose Roman, you can still get almost the same softness as a drape, but it will be safely out of reach (if it is a window, not a french door).




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  A wooden Venetian blind is also a possibility, but becomes a little "drier" than you might be hoping for. You could always add a valance or cabot, but that would work mostly with a more traditional style.




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  If you want to block the view but still need light, there are a variety of companies that provide adhesive sheets that stick onto windows and provide privacy, but still allow light through, and give some tidy pattern too. http://www.surfacematerialdesign.co.uk/
  

I hope that these ideas help, and good luck with your design.

Answer Day: Wicker

Today's question was posed by a woman, who is a big fan of wicker furniture, but also has young kids. Her concern is whether or not she can incorporate wicker into her home, without fear of the kids ruining it. The short answer to that question is yes, and no. It really depends on the pieces you have in mind.

Like all types of furniture, wicker comes in a variety of qualities and styles, and this will determine it's suitability for your home. The classic designs that we are all used to seeing on the Southern Porch is large with lots of loose weaving, is probably not the best choice, as it has a lot of fairly unsupported pieces that give it it's decoration. On the other hand, there is now a whole group of wicker furniture that is a little simpler in design and works well in almost any situation. The image of the sofa above is a good example of this.

There are several manufacturers that build this furniture too, and like most things, the less expensive the items are (Pier 1 and World Market), the less likely the piece will hold up to lots of stress. I have always had success with Walters Wicker (www.walterswicker.com), they have a great selection of product, that are reasonable in price, but with a quality that I feel good about.

Now, the other option that you have, especially if it is the more decorative kind of wicker that you had in mind, is to choose pieces, other than seating. A decorative plant stand, or occasional table will probably be safe from the onslaught of most kids, but will still give you the look that you are after.

I hope that this has helped, let me know what you decide on.

Answer Monday: Open but Private

Today's question was posted while I was away, so I apologize for taking so long to get back with an answer for you on this. The question is: "I love opening windows and doors in the summer as well but I live off a busy major street and I have great big windows in the living/dining area but it faces the street and I hate opening it up for the entire world to see inside. Even if it were a one way screen I don't like seeing people walking and driving in front of my window every second either ... any suggestions on how to open the space up? "

This can be a fairly tough dilemma and one faced by a lot of people whose major rooms open up to a public area. I think one of the best solutions is to try and create a buffer outside, like a small hedge or some planting, perhaps even a small fountain if there is room. The goal here is two fold, the first is to create a view for you, other than the street, and the second is to create a privacy screen from the street that doesn't force you to limit your view.





If at all possible, a small water feature will do wonders by really creating a sense of luxury, as well as the sound of the trickling water will really buffer you from a lot of the noise and clutter from the street.





If a planting buffer is not possible for you then perhaps shutters would be a good solution. I personally, am not a big shutter fan, but they will certainly do the trick of filtering the outside for you. Exterior shutters can really be a nice architectural element to, that really will add some richness to your home.

Answer Day: A Small Entry Hall

I had an intriguing question sent to me during the week by Rebbecca, who says that since they moved into their house, traffic patterns have changed and they now greet most of their visitors at the tiny landing at the back door. She wants to know, short of Architectural changes, what can she do.

Well Rebbecca. there are a few things I can suggest:

• Take a look at your Garden, is there a way you can change that up a bit to encourage visitors to come to your front door? You can use lighting, plants, even a brighter color, can draw attention to the front door, which can help guide people there.


• A less subtle approach is a nice sign, directing people to the Front Entry.


• If these approaches don't work, embrace your new smaller entrance. There is s lot you can do to make it more warm and inviting.


• Try to make it feel larger, by using space outside, treat the garden area, almost like its own little room, so its almost an antechamber. Put in a small bench, light it well, some flowers too, this will start the Entry feeling even before they get to the door, creating a larger sense of space.


• Inside, you can make a space feel larger by using a deeper color. I think chocolate makes for a great Entry color, everything looks so dramatic against it.


• Use mirrors liberally too, this will help to make the space more vibrant.


• Cut the clutter, there is nothing worse in a small space than lots of "stuff", clear out all but the essentials.

I hope that these tips help.

Answer Day: Closets

Today's Answer Day is about closets. I have a very good friend who refers to her closet as the "room of chaos and shame". This is obviously not a good thing, and in fact with a few tips your closet can be every bit as tidy and organised as the rest of your house. Although most of us do not have a closet as large as the one I designed that is shown here, it encapsulates a lot of ideas that you can use in even a much more modest space. So here are some ideas that I hope will help:

• Group your clothes by usage, exercise clothes together, work clothes together etc, this will make putting together outfits a lot simpler.
• Have somewhere in the closet where you can sit. It is so convenient to have somewhere where you can try on a pair of shoes or lay out a suit. Even if space is of a premium, you could use a folding stool for this purpose.
• You will feel better if it looks tidy and clean, so spend a few minutes each week, just straightening things out. You can see we installed little drapes above the hanging shelves to hide the boxes etc, it makes the space feel much neater, and creates a space where you enjoy spending time.
• This is the room where you want to feel good, so pick a very flattering color, but keep it pretty neutral, so it stays bright and allows you to see real color.
• A skylight is a great idea, but make sure you get a good u/v filter installed or all your clothes will fade.

I hope this gives you some inspiration.

Answer Day: Lighting

I received a question during the week, asking me to share some thoughts about how best to light a room, and what kind of fixtures were best to use. I like this question because I have very definite feelings on the subject, and I hope you will find this illuminating (sorry I couldn't resist).

Fundamentally, there are two types of light, one that falls on vertical surfaces (walls, artwork etc) that provides depth to a room, and light that falls on horizontal surfaces (floors, tables etc) that provides drama to a room. You can use different types of fixtures to provide the different types of light. For instance, a recessed ceiling light will provide almost exclusively light on horizontals, while a wall sconce almost all the light falls on vertical surfaces (remember that when people are in the room, you are usually vertical, so this kind of lighting is good for rooms where you entertain, and is considered flattering).

So the short answer to the question, is that you want to create a mix of different light sources, so that the room has a good dynamic feel.

Here are some tips you might find helpful:

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  Start with the light on horizontal surfaces, use it to create a visual path through the room, it will stop the space from feeling too chaotic.


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  Fixtures that provide this kind of light include recessed lights, ceiling lights that are very close to the ceiling, not hanging low, and table or standing lamps with opaque shades.


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  Remember that the ceiling is usually part of the horizontal surfaces in the room, make sure you place some lamps in a way that will get lighting up there too, it will make a huge difference.


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  When adding lighting onto vertical surfaces, pay attention to where people are going to be sitting and standing, you don't want light falling directly in your eyes.


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  Try and create one or two focal points on the walls around the room, that can be lit a little brighter, this will make the space feel larger and provide some depth.


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  When there are other spaces leading off your room, be sure to pay attention to their light, you don't want black holes!


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  Lastly experiment with bulbs of different wattage and color, it can make a big difference too and enable you to create warmer and cooler spots more easily.

I hope this brightens your day :)

Monday is Answer Day

I have received a few questions this week, asking suggestions for window treatments in bedrooms. The questions have varied from, how do I create blackout conditions and still have a beautiful window, to, what can I do as an interim solution, till I can afford what i really want.

Well the first question is a little easier to address: I am a huge fan of layering window treatments, by combining drapery with shades of some sort. This technique creates a detailed, finished feel and gives you the benefit of flexibility. You can use the drapes to create blackout conditions, and the shade to filter light at times when you want some privacy, but not darkness. In the first image above you can see that i did drapery that provided blackout, then layered that with a bamboo shade that provides filtering of light when needed. There is the added benefit of using the shade to help improve the scale of the door too. Also you can see in this image that i used wooden shutters on either side of the bed, as another way to control the light. I like to use different techniques, depending on the situation. The second picture shows a similar idea but using a fabric shade.

The second question is a bit more challenging, what to do if what you want is not within reach now. Well there are several companies that provide "drapes in a box" Silk trading is one of them, as well as a few other large catalog companies, these are usually good resources that can be affordable. One thing to keep in mind, since these are temporary, maybe you try out some ideas that stretch your design concept more. For Instance if you go for an inexpensive venetian blind, try it in bright orange or another strong color, that you wouldn't be willing to try on your permanent stuff. Sometimes the best design happens in those unexpected places.

Good Luck! let me know how it works out. Remember Monday is always answer day, so if you have any questions or design dilemma, post it here and I will try and help with suggestions.

Answer Day

As promised, Monday is Answer Day, where I try to offer creative solutions to design dilemmas. If you are facing a design problem, please feel free to post and i will try next Monday to offer you a solution.

Today's query comes from Holly, who has a small landing at the top of her stairway, leading to a second floor, where there is a window seat and a fairly large bookcase. She is looking for ways to keep it tidy and organised and attractive, without going crazy with knick knacks. She has already tried taking off all the dust jackets (btw,,,, great start) but is looking for a way to tame this beast.

Well, Holly, the first thing is get some really cool baskets or boxes to house your magazines, they will never look tidy if left exposed and its also a great way to keep them organised and together. They can be kept perhaps on the bottom two shelves, and their solidity will give some nice balance to the book cases.

The next thing to do is take all the books out of the shelves, and decide which ones you really want to keep, and if there are any you can do without. Once you have your pile of keepers, try to categorise them. As much a fan of the aesthetic as I am, it is crucial that your books are organised in a way that make sense to you, so you can find what you need when you need it. I have almost 1200 books and have so much trouble keeping them in order that I have three copies of John Saladino's book so that I will always be able to find one copy (not a solution I recommend).

Once everything is categorised start putting the books back in the shelves. Start with the category that you use most often and put that at eye height (the most convenient spot) and work to the extreme top and bottom. Always leave lots of space for accessories ans expansion. I like to stack books vertically as well as horizontally to create a nice rhythm.

Now comes time to accessorize! You mention you have some art glass, try creating groupings, instead of one vase here and another over here. Another thing to try is a small lamp in amongst the shelves. I once did a home for a well known film director and she had a great collection of early Californian lamps, we had a huge floor to ceiling bookcase built in her Living Room and scattered the lamps throughout, it takes a bit of work to get the wiring but the effect can be dramatic. Another thing to keep in mind is depth, keep some of the groups of books toward the front of the shelves and others towards the back, its a small thing, but once again creates a pretty visual texture. Lastly think of hanging a painting on the face of the bookcase, it creates a whole new layer that can really bring the look alive.

I am attaching a few images, not all of them are my work, but I hope it gives you some inspiration.