What to do with that television niche...

Question I was emailed today...

My husband and I just bought a new house and we’re working on decorating it(which is challenging because we have completely different styles!)  Our biggest dilemma right now is the TV Niche above the fireplace.  We have a huge TV that we couldn’t possibly fit in that space, so it’s just empty.  I am so lost as to how to decorate it.  Any suggestions? 

It’s about 2 feet high and 2-3 feet deep.

First of all I would like to sympathize with you, this is a common issue in homes. Home builders were trying to do something great for our living spaces, but now days with our new age tv's this has just added a challenge to our room layouts. What do you do with that hole?

The best thing to do is cover it up! When you try to fill the hole with decorative accessories it just looks forced. There is no way to decorate that hole to make it look as if it were meant for anything other than a television. No matter what style your space is, try using a mirror or artwork. Make sure to cover the hole completely on all sides. This will give the illusion of a solid wall.

Since you and your husband have different styles, try meshing them together. For instance lets say you have a contemporary style, while you husband is traditional. Try taking your living space and adding a contemporary sofa with a traditional wing chair. Some of the best designed rooms come from a blend of styles. 

I hope this helps and thanks for asking me! I would love to help you with anything you have questions about.

How do I know QUALITY furniture??

Quality furniture is hard to find, and while it is nice to have lower price points; where is all the good furniture? Think back to our parents and grandparents furniture. That stuff seemed indestructible, and it was! It was QUALITY! Something the furniture industry has for the most part forgotten about. So in your quest for good furniture here are some things to know and look for…

A. Dovetail joints : This type of joint is important in case goods. Dovetails are the strongest of all joints. The joint is made up of interlocking wedge-shaped elements called pins and tails that resist the forces applied to the joint. This joint looks attractive and, if well made, the decorative quality can be used to enhance projects. In other projects the joint can be hidden completely. Dovetail joints work best when in tension. For example, the most common application of the dovetail joint is in drawer making as the strength of the joints tails and pins resist the pulling forces applied to the drawer. Dovetails are so strong it is rare to see a drawer that has broken as a result of joint failure, even when put under frequent stresses.

B. Look for quality veneers. There is a huge misconception about veneers. Veneer is a thin layer of solid wood that is adhered to the surface of another product. While there are cheap veneers the term “veneer” is not a negative thing. A quality veneer is going to be a superior layer of wood with beautiful graining and color. Many beautiful woods are soft in nature, so applying it to a core makes it a much stronger product. Therefore you are getting a durable case good. However, to tell a quality veneer for a cheap veneer its all about what it is attached to. You want to see a crosshatched core. Crosshatched is a layering process of wood.

C. Cushions: there are many types that furniture manufactures use. (spring down, goose down, standard, and firm) They are commonly made from a polyurethane foam or latex. Both being good options. So how do you know a quality cushion from a cheapo? Unzip it! Seriously, when shopping for furniture lift one of the cushions and unzip it. You want a cushion that is encased , not stuffed directly into the fabric. Quality furniture cushions might also have channels sewn into the actual cushion. This is wonderful! It prevents the cushion from crushing or moving from one area of the fabric to another.

D. Frame: The frame to upholstered furniture is very important. This is an area that is hidden to eye, and manufactures can get away with cutting corners. However there are tricks to tell a good frame. Run your hand across the back of a sofa or chair. In a quality piece of furniture you should barely feel the wood frame through the fabric. This shows you the manufacture took the time to wrap the wood frame with a foam to prevent the wear of the wood on the fabric. The best frame is made out of kiln-dried hardwood. The process of kiln drying removes all moisture from the wood, enabling it to retain its shape and stability over a long period of time. A frame made of green wood can shrink or crack. Knotted wood can also cause cracks. In a good quality frame, special attention is paid to the joints, which are glued, dowelled and screwed. The corners are further strengthened by corner blocks. These provide extra support. Generally plywood and particleboard frames are inferior, especially if they are held together with staples. However, additional layers of plywood may help reinforce the frame, so construction matters as much as material. In case you have to choose a sofa with a plywood frame, make sure it has 11- 13 layers of plywood and not fewer.
　
These are just a few things to look for in a quality piece of furniture. If you find all these qualities in the furniture you are selecting, everything else is icing on the cake. Most furniture manufactures that offer these qualities will also offer drawer stops, corner blocks, and wooden glides. Below I have put pictures corresponding to items A-D. Happy Shopping!!!

Quality Furniture



A. Dovetail joint



A. Dovetail

B. Veneer

B. Veneer construction

B.  Cross layered wood

C. Encased cushion

C. Non encased cushion

D. Good frame construction

Rugs! Rugs! Rugs!

Rugs! Rugs! Rugs!

                                                      

Think of the rug as the foundation for the room. The rug should be big enough to anchor the furniture grouping, however area rugs should not be used as wall-to-wall floor coverings. If you want to make the room seem as large as possible, choose the largest rug that your room can accommodate. Of course, leave a nice proportion of hardwood or flooring around the rug.

The perfect size of a dining room rug is one that is four feet larger than the width and length of the table. If the rug is large enough to move the chairs away from the table without them moving off of the edge, the rug is the right size. Any surrounding furniture such as a china cabinet or serving pieces should be on the floor, not on the rug.

When using one large rug in a living or family room, make sure that there is an even border of flooring around all four sides once placed, or at least so that borders of flooring opposite each other are even. Don’t place a rug so large that it touches the baseboard of the wall. Try using two rugs in one room to define different areas or functions within it. They don’t have to match. In fact, it’s more interesting to see coordinating area rugs that display some of the same colors, but vary the scale of the pattern and alter the design.

As a general rule, put the front legs of furniture pieces on the rug and the back legs off. It is more important, however, to make sure the rug is placed in a balanced fashion in the room, and the furniture can rest either on or off of it. Think about color when choosing your rug. If possible take wallpaper and fabric samples with you to see how the rug will work with the room décor.

Few things are nicer than stepping out of bed directly onto a rug! In addition to the wonderful tactile experience, a rug in the bedroom also dampens sound. A bedroom is a restful place, and a quality rug helps keep it quiet and comfortable.

Remember that your hand-knotted wool is virtually indestructible. Professional designers are increasingly calling for these rugs in kitchens, active family rooms, hallways and foyers. Younger couples with small children are using rugs for just this reason. Few types of floor covering can withstand the wear and tear that comes with a growing family. The sturdy construction and the all wool pile of our rugs means you need not be overly concerned about the rug wearing thin, or becoming stained and discolored over time.

Check out these rug brands...Jaunty (traditional), Oriental Weavers (traditional), Karastan (traditional/contemporary), Surya (contemporary), Nourison (traditional), Trans Ocean (indoor/outdoor), and many more.

Check out www.hanaleirugcompany.com and http://www.rugdecor.com/ for ideas, tips, and a great selection!

Design in the Garden

Need a creative way to store your garden items? For those of us who do not have the luxury of having a greenhouse, we run into the issue of where to store everything. So here is a creative solution I made out of a repurposed storage drawer. I bought the drawer at a consinment store for $5. Filled every other slot with cacti from a local garden store. They were $2 a piece. I then took my sheers, garden towels, vases, pots, and shoes, and creatively placed them in the remaining slot. This is my final product and it looks great on a patio table, in a sunroom, or in a mudroom.





Ceramic vs. Porcelain

Okay,
I have been asked the question "Which is better...?", several times. People seem to have a misconception that porcelain is a better product than ceramic. This is not always the case. Ceramic and porcelain are both made from a clay. Here is a little run down on these products.

Ceramic is a red bodied tile. It comes in an amazing array of colors and styles to fit any design. Ceramic is very stain and fade resistant. It is a wonderful choice for areas with moisture, such as, kitchens and bathrooms.

Porcelain is what we all think of as tubs and sinks. However, porcelian is a flooring product as well. It is a type of ceramic, but the make up of the clay allows it to be fired at a higher temperature. This makes it a denser tile. The high density allows the tile to absorb very little moisture, and is used in commercial institutions for this factor. It is also a color bodied tile. This means it is typically the color through and through of the image on the surface.

Now you know a little about both styles of tile. When trying to make a selection for the home I would not worry about wether to select ceramic or porcelain. The qualities which both tiles possess make either a durable selection for a home. If you are looking for a tile to go outdoors check out the PEI rating. PEI stands for porcelain enamel institute. This is a rating given to every tile for its durability and slip resistance. If you live in a cold climate I suggest selecting a tile with a high PEI rating to prevent the frost and snow from cracking the tile. Here are a few examples of ceramic and porcelain.

Ceramic tile body

Porcelain tile body

Ceramic

Porcelain

What style fixtures are in?

This is a question I was asked tonight by a follower.
Question for you.  7 years ago my husband I remodeled our home and installed oil rubbed bronze door knobs, fixtures and faucets throughout.  We’ve recently sold our home and are remodeling a lake home, 16 years old.  We still like the oil rubbed bronze look, but, want to stay up to date.  What is the latest “trend” and ‘up to date” style for door knobs, faucets, and fixtures; Gold?  Silver?  Oil bronzed?

To be honest with you none of the above are out of style. When it comes to fixtures good design depends on what flows best with the style of the home, or the look you are trying to achieve. However if you want to be on the cutting edge of trends here it is ...

When it comes to faucets and fixtures Copper is in! There are many styles of copper. There is the standard copper look as well as an antique. The antique is dark and very similar to the oil bronze look you like. Door knobs are becoming very trendy. People are resorting back to the ornamental knobs. The antique metal or glass knobs are very very in. Without knowing the overall style of your home it is hard for me to select the color you should go with. If you are renovating you are working with a clean slate, and it is entirely your prefrence!

Hanging pictures/artwork in a stairway

Okay,
First step is to pick which side of the stairs you want to hang the photos (only hang photos on one side of the stairway). There are two ways of doing this. When dealing with the same size and style frame you should install pictures at least four-six feet off of each stair (eye level is the goal). Measure from the stair to the bottom of the frame. By using each stair as a measuring point you are more apt to get an even look when you put the pictures up. Follow the stairs when you hang pictures. Do not hang pictures all in a vertical or horizontal row over one particular stair. This vertical hanging pattern will not be as aesthetically pleasing as a horizontal pattern that ascends with the stairs. Following the flow of the stairs prevents straining when viewing the photos or artwork.

The second way of hanging pictures is dealing with an eclectic mix of photos. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to hang an eclectic array of photos. The only guideline to follow is to go with the flow of the stairs. You want to mix the size and styles in a cluster effect. A little trick is to make a templete of each frame and arrange the templetes on the wall with a piece of tape. This allows you to visualize the overall effect prior to hammering into the wall. I have attached some photos to give you some ideas. Try differnt things!

 



original condition prior to restoration



day 1-bringing natural wood color back



Personal Project

Okay, so currently I am renovating an old dolly into a coffee table. These old dollies hit the scene about 12 months ago. Companies like Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn have reproductions, but for those of us who like authentic items this is a perfect do-it-yourself project.

So the tip I want to pass on is how to make old weathered wood lose the gray and bring back some color....you can achieve this by bleaching the wood. When bleach is applied the gray is essentially eaten away and the natural wood color comes back..It might take a few sessions of bleaching, but you will see results after the first round. Once you get the color you desire, seal the wood. However if you are wanting to restain the wood you need to use an acidic wood cleaner this opens the wood to allow the stain to take.
Here is what the dolly currently looks like. I will post a finished product soon.

Welcome!

Hi, I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy putting it together!!! Thanks I hope you become a follower!