May

Now that the warmer weather seems to actually be here (although, I’m still leary about putting my snow shovel away.) it’s time to think about the outdoors. I don’t necessarily mean just the plants and flowers you’re going to purchase, but also how you’re going to live outside. How do we bring your living room outdoors?

Outdoor Living Furniture 

The realm of possibilites for outdoor furniture is immense. Teak, metal, black, natural.  In some ways we almost have more choices for outdoor than we have for indoor....until you consider the outdoor elements.  Always keep in mind where you will be putting it during the season, if you want to move it during the warmer season and if it needs to be stored.  Once you consider those, it almost becomes difficult to account for all the other factors that we don't think of when buying indoor furniture.  Don't fret.  I'm going to give you some of my favorites.  I'll base them on Style but don't forget to consider the above mentioned factors to get the best purchase for the purpose you want it for--enjoying the great outdoors!

Classic Syle

Find this beautiful chaise set and table set at Country Casual Teak

this one is from Thos Baker

This table and chair set is from the KNF Designs / Nielle Olson Set at Howard Lorton located on the corner of Lincoln and 12th Street.  There are different varieties of mosiac tops.

A bit more contemporary with still a classic look

www.summitfurniture.com

Contemporary Cutting Edge Pieces

Ready for some wild furniture?  Here you go..

find the daybed shown here at www.vondom.com

Is rain a problem to your furniture? Check out this site below.  This furniture can be washed off and dry in 15 mintues.  Now there is no reason to cancel the party.

www.sifas.com

Let's not forget to ward off the sun on those particularly hot days.  Some of the sites above also have umbrellas but this site sells only high quality umbrellas - not a bad investment for the hot, dry days of Colorado. Find this umbrella at Santa Barabara Umbrella  or sbumbrella.com

Indoor / Outdoor Rugs

Rugs are a great way to ground an area and create a room without walls. They aid in defining a space that helps to bring the atmosphere of the indoors outside. They also help create smaller conversation areas on a large patio just as they would in a large room.

Another point to think about, don’t be afraid to use color and pattern outside. I often encourage clients to use rugs with little or no pattern in their homes. This is to keep the room from becoming too busy or loud. When you use a rug outside you can go with as loud and bright a pattern as you want. It won’t detract from the rest of the room.
Find this classic piece in Room and Board’s Cyclo set.

Always one of my favorite places for furniture is Room and Board.

Find this classy piece in Room and Board's Cyclo set.

Transitional - Transitional Native American Pattern with Trendy Color Scheme

For some great graphics and shapes, look here.

Vondom.com has the oddly shaped and bold patterns

Have fun with color and pattern.  Outside, you can break some typical interior design rules.  You are outside for goodness sake.

The Forgotten Element of Outdoor Living

Are you brainstorming what the "forgotten element" might be?
Read more to find out if your hunch is right .  Do you have your own ideas of what should be in here?  If you read it and don't agree, let me know.  I'd love to hear your thoughts of what you think is something we often forget when we are planning our outdoor spaces.

If you guessed storage or covers, you are right.  Of course, there are a lot of correct answers but I've found that folks often forget about furniture covers and storage in their flurry to get the best furniture.  Remember to protect your investment and plan for how to store it or cover it during the off-seasons.  Doing this will bring you more use and less shopping.

Find this one at www.thosbaker.com

And for those outdoor pillows and other smaller items..

Doors

The door is the first impression you get of a building or room.  Enter a set of colorful doors and you expect a creative or airy space.  Enter a highly engraved wood door and you might be entering a santuary or historic building.  An extravagent building with a non-descript door, well, it just isn't as splendid anymore.  Doors are the introduction to the story of your home.  Read on and pick the right first impression for your home or project.

Importance of Doors

photo by Paul Evans

We know they help delineate one room from another. Doors can also create a sense of privacy or protection from the outside world when closed. Have you ever thought about the fact that doors set the tone of your home even before you’ve crossed the threshold?

It’s one of the first things people see when they pull up in front of your house helping to create a sense of curb appeal. Or, if you live in a high rise, it’s the dominate feature in the hallway when you exit the elevator. And once you’re inside the home, the combination of doors, trim and hardware are three elements that help define the overall style.

Drive down any suburban residential street and what typically makes the houses look different from each other? Paint colors, shutters, brick or stone and doors. I even met a couple who based the purchase of their home on the front door. I’m sure there were other factors that went into the decision but they told me the front door sold them. (It was pretty spectacular.)

Photo by LDa Architecture & Interiors

I mean, doors are important and interesting enough that entire coffee table books and calendars have been based on them. I suppose the same can be said of shoes but that’s a different industry newsletter.

Photo by Cummings Architects

Three Types of Front Door Construction

Taking into consideration the weather and elements that your door will face (southern sun exposure, rain, snow, etc) and your budget, here are three types of construction to consider for your front door.

Trustile. TMIR6080 in Mahogany with Espresso stain and ½″ Bright Stainless Steel inlay.

photo by Joshua Hibbert

1) Wood – The classic and most expected door construction, a solid core wood door creates a sophisticated sense of home instantly upon sight. The natural beauty of wood offers versatility and strength to the entryway. It can also stretch your budget.

steel

2) Steel – If safety is a concern, steel is the way to go. It is more economical than wood and tougher than both wood and fiberglass. It won’t warp and if you need to touch it up you can use an auto body touch-up kit. Steel, however, is not great where high humidity and salt water come into play. Stay away from the ocean with this construction if you want it to last longer than 5-7 years.

Fiberglass or Steel Entry Doors by Pella

3) Fiberglass – Is possibly the most popular door in Colorado because it is the perfect combination of wood and steel. Many of them are designed to look like real wood with moulded graining and various dyes. They don’t expand or contract due to humidity, they have great warranties and can last up to twenty years with virtually no maintenance. Additionally, they are lightweight while being very strong and holding up about as well as steel doors do to intruders. The interior space in the door is filled with foam insulation making them excellent for energy savings. They’re kind of the Goldilocks of doors.

Door Styles

AD1030 in LVL with Square Stick (SS) sticking, Flat (C) panel and Gingko Thatch resin

Most people are familiar with the most common interior door styles, flat, 6 panel and 2 panel, but did you know there are thousands of other options or variation on these styles? Here’s a great website from one of my favorite door manufacturers that shows all of their options, Trustile.com. Make sure to check out their Authentic Designs under the Design & Planning tab.  It’s a great resource for understanding styles and design periods a little better and it really emphasizes how a door can truly carry the style throughout the house. Thus, allowing the furnishings and art to add to the style rather than fight against it.

Trim

If you’re changing out your doors you’ll also want to consider updating your trim - door, window and floor. I know that’s a lot to change but if you’re going from flat doors from the 1960’s to a more traditional 6 panel door, why wouldn’t you update your 1960’s two inch trim to wider trim that matches your new doors? These decisions need to be considered as a unit instead of just updating one without the other. You wouldn’t lay new carpeting without pad - they just go together.

Metrie is another manufacturer of high quality doors and trim. Their website has a fun page called Room Styler, where you can select different styles of doors and trim to see what they look like in a room. Not your room – a room. You select the style, room and colors and then tell them what you want where. If social media isn’t your cup of tea and your looking to kill a good 30 minutes, check it out. It’s kind of fun.

Hardware

I’m asked on at least a weekly basis what I think the next “Big Thing” will be in design. Oddly, people never like what I tell them and then 5-7 years later they’re doing it. A few years ago, my answer was gray. I wasn’t sure how people would use it but I knew gray was “it”. People scrunched up their faces and said, “Gray?! That’s so depressing!” Now almost every project I work on has gray as the predominate color.

So, what’s the next “Big Thing”? Same thing I’ve been saying for about 5 years now – Satin Brass Fixtures. If you’re over 35 you’re most likely scrunching up your face because you’re picturing the shiny brass of the 1980’s that you grew up with. You’ve probably even gone to great lengths to change out all the hardware in your house to satin nickel. Well, if satin brass isn’t for you, consider black or pewter. Oil rubbed bronze is still popular in rustic designs but I’m seeing less and less of it.

Satin Rubbed Brass – take a deep breath, hold it, exhale. It will be ok and you’ll eventually like it/get used to it. Satin Brass Door Hardware

Emtek is a quality manufacturer of hardware. They have many styles and designs that will fit your needs for almost every situation.

If you’re running around your house switching out the door knobs - don’t forget the hinges!

Patrick Wernerr      720-327-6442     tpdub@yahoo.com

Looking for a unique, one of a kind door?

This is one of my favorite local manufacturers of slider doors.

His work is custom and a real piece of art.

Lighting

Let’s Talk About Lighting.  Lighting is key to setting the mood for any room and layering adds depth, interest and warmth.  What is layering lighting?  It is the term designers use for using the three types of lighting to work together.

Three Types of Interior Lighting

Traditional Bathroom by Denver Interior Designers & Decorators Red Chair Designs

Ambient – is typically thought of as general lighting. It is uniform lighting throughout the room, and in most homes, is what is turned on when you flip the switch by the door. It also often lights the pathway
through a room.

Craftsman Kitchen by Denver Interior Designers & Decorators Red Chair Designs

Eclectic Kitchen by Denver Interior Designers & Decorators Red Chair Designs

Where do you hang lights?

Chandeliers

Hanging above a table

Contemporary Dining Room by Mill Valley Architects & Building Designers Sutton Suzuki Architects

• The width/length of the chandelier should be about a foot less than the width/length of the table at its widest point.

• The bottom of the chandelier should hang between 30″ – 36″ above the surface of the table when there is an 8′ ceiling. For higher ceilings, you can hang the chandelier up to 3″ higher for each additional foot of ceiling.

• This last measurement applies to pendants over an island as well. Just make sure it is sensible for the height of your family. Hanging with no furniture beneath (entry way, living room, etc):

• To determine a good width for your light fixture, measure the length and width of the room in feet and add those two measurements together – the number that you come up with is, in inches, a good approximate width (For example, if your room measures 10 feet x 15 feet, add 10 + 15 to get 25. A 25″ wide fixture would be appropriate for this space.) For rooms with high ceilings, you can add up to 6″ or more to the width of the chandelier.

• To determine a good height for your light fixture, multiply the height of your ceiling (in feet) by 2.5 and by 3. The height of your fixture should be, in inches, somewhere in this range. (For example, if you have 8 foot ceilings, 8 x 2.5 = 20 and 8 x 3 = 24. An appropriate height for your light fixture would be between 20″ and 24″ when measured from the ceiling to the bottom of the fixture).
• An overhead fixture that will be walked under, such as in the entry, should hang 7 feet or more above the

Table, Floor & Wall Mounted Task Lighting Lamps for reading while seated:

• When the bottom of the shade is above eye level, the lamp stem should be about 10” behind the shoulder – near the corner of the chair.

• When the bottom of the shade is at eye level when seated, the shade should be at approximately 40” – 42” off the floor.

Nightstand Lamps:

• When the lamp is beside a bed, the bottom of the shade should be 20” above mattress.[/vc_column_text][/tab][tab title="General Lighting Tips" id="1461089391369-0-3"][vc_column_text]

General Lighting Tips

Light it up and then dim it down

I worked with a lighting designer early in my career who told me to make the room as bright as possible and then place everything on a dimmer switch. This allows for every option possible. If someone losses a contact, they can have it bright to find it. If they only want only enough light to show the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night, they can dim it down.

3-way Switches

How many times have you gotten to the end of a staircase, hallway or large room only to realize you had to go back to the other side to turn the light off. Stubbed toes and rogue Lego pieces are only a couple of the dangers. When in doubt, 3-way it!

Contemporary Closet by Los Angeles Closet Designers and Professional Organizers Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

Lower lighting for your closet

LED Edison bulbs

Did you know they now make LED Edison style light bulbs? A few years ago, some of my clients and friends purchased lighting fixtures that featured the interesting look of the Edison bulb. Then when the incandescent bulb went the way of the dinosaur they had trouble replacing them with appropriate looking bulbs. Now that problem is a thing of the past as well.

As the weather changes you can go get a touch of spring in a succulent planting class they’re holding in April. They are great for unique gifts as well.

Check out the tabs here to see a client painting question and how we solved it

The Client Question:

Should I paint my brick fireplace surround?

Contemporary Family Room by Edmonton Architects & Building Designers Sarasota Homes Ltd.

They were excited by the decision that was made and were ready to do take on the elbow grease needed to complete the task. Then they went to get the supplies...

At the paint store, they were assisted by a gentleman who was helpful in guiding them to the necessary products that would allow them to achieve the desired outcome. This gentleman also gave them a huge dose of hesitation. The paint store employee was more concerned with the fact that the paint would never come out of the brick than he was with the look my clients were going for in the first place.

Why do I bring this up? To hopefully give you courage in your decisions. If you know the overall look you want to achieve and you've discussed this with an expert, or you've done significant research, and you hit a road block that comes from someone else you consider an expert, remember this -

The person at the store doesn't have a full understanding of your situation. They have talked with you for 10 minutes. Most likely, they have never been in your home and never will be. Photos don't fully express what your home feels like, how it functions or what you want it to look like, no matter how much you talk with your hands.

What finish should I use?

Eggshell, Pearl, Satin   These are the most used on walls because they wear well and clean easily. It comes down to personal preference on sheen at this point. Eggshell has the least sheen and Satin has the most of these three.
Semi-gloss  This is often used in high traffic areas where lots of hands will be touching it. Many people use it in kitchens and bathrooms as well because it resists water penetration more than the first three finishes.
High gloss  This is the most durable of the finishes so it is used on doors and trims. It is easiest to clean and holds up to moisture and grease so is highly recommended for bathrooms and kitchens.
Flat  Production home builders use flat because it hides a multitude of sins. I feel it is, in and of itself, a sin to use it on the walls of a house. It doesn't clean. Ever. It will hide poor workmanship but it will not hide finger prints, smudges or the general wear and tear of living. The only time I would use a flat finish is for a craft project.

Other paint options

Heat Resistant Paint  There is a heat resistant spray paint, available at your local hardware or paint store, that was created specifically for painting over the brass part of your 1990's fireplace insert. (Right. Specially for that.) Use it. Spend the "$10" on the can instead of hundreds of dollars to replace your perfectly good fireplace. (Or even your not so great fireplace)

Chalk paint or milk paint  This is not chalkboard paint. This paint is used on furniture and it doesn't require stripping of the existing finish before being applied. Just clean the surface, paint and finish with a coat of wax. The wax hardens as it dries creating a lovely finish. In addition to wonderful colors, there are several ways in which to layer the colors that create rich, aged looks. There's a little more to it than what I described but not much. You can check it out at www.anniesloan.com.

Ceiling color  My go to move with ceilings is to paint them the same color as the wall. The eye isn't drawn to the line where the different paint colors meet so it actually gives the impression that the ceiling is higher. Not always is this a good idea but 9 times out of 10 that is my recommendation. Sometimes I even suggest painting the ceiling an entirely different color than the walls. Here's an example of a room where the impact color is on the ceiling.  I've been referring him for almost a decade and my most selective
clients have been pleased with the service he provides.

My resolution in the title looks like two but it isn’t; it’s just one.  I want to restore creativity to my personal life and in order to do that I need the space to spread out and create.  Read More in next tabs

Resolution: Space to Create and Purge in 2016

My resolution in the title looks like two but it isn’t; it’s just one.  I want to restore creativity to my personal life and in order to do that I need the space to spread out and create.  I already covered a bit of the process in my blog, but now you get to see the results.  Nothing earth shattering.  And, maybe nothing memorable--for you, however, I can see the floor. And the desktop!  I started out saying it is my craft room and now I’ve decided to call it my creativity room.  I am not limiting myself to crafting but rather, creating; creating beautiful things or creating peaceful rest.

I admit, the room isn't done. But, now I have the space to really use the room.   Projects like this take time.

Where did this mess come from?

It happens slowly.  We don't buy a home or move into an apartment and say, "I'll use that room to sleep in, that room to work in, and hmm, that room I'll throw random boxes and put stacks of magazines over there and over there and there but I'll do it haphazardly."  For some it is just a drawer and others, like me, it is a room.  I think one of the important things to remember is to do a quick evaluation as to how it got there, consider avoiding those pitfalls again but to move on.  Start purging.

The "Why"

For my project, I had a specific purpose in mind: my creativity room.  For some, purging needs to be done to simplify life. Or, is the room changing it's function--converting a closet into a bathroom, office into a bedroom.

How and where do I start?
Here's some different methods to help you decide what is best for you.

• Take everything from a category, ie: books, and go through them all at once.  One well-known author, Marie Kondo, says to look at each item and determine if it gives you joy.  Keep only what gives you joy.  That is a great whole house method but I needed just one room.  So that wouldn't work for me in this situation.

• Change the process.  Start a new process-knowing that sometimes it is the process that needs to change, notice the small things that don't get put away and do it right away.  Over time you will see a difference.  I couldn't use this one.  I needed a space and I needed it quick. (But it is something I plan on using in the future in order to keep organized.)
• Set aside a day or weekend and tackle all at once.  It is hard to come by that much time but if you can, the results are more dramatic.  But if it is the whole house that needs it, you may not get to the whole house using this method.  Or, if time like that is easy to come by, then getting the whole house done will be super fast.
• Follow a list.  There are lots of lists out there.  50, 100, 200 things to consider purging that may've made it to our countertops, closets and drawers.  This can be fun to pick a few at a time.
• Make a timeline goal:  5 day, 31 days, month by month.  If you are the type of person who sets a timer and does as much as you can in a set amount of time, check out these methods.  Being on a deadline works to your advantage.

• Room by Room.  This is the method I chose for obvious reasons--I wanted the room.  I wasn't purging for purging sake.

In all cases, set-up boxes or containers labeled : trash, giveaway, redistribute

Have you made a resolution that leads to purging?  Or, are you purging just to take back your home?  I'd love to hear back.  Post on this month's blog here. 

Ruthie Corona is a professional organizer who will help you get organized, maximize your space, as well as de-clutter and purge unwanted/unused items.  She will also assist with the packing and unpacking part of your moving process.  She has successfully run OCD previously in Chicago, and is currently continuing to share her years of experience and natural knack for organizing with the residents of Denver.  Call her today to see how she can help make your life more organized!

Design Discovery

In this meeting, we discuss your goals  of the project.  We look at the function, the feel you want when you go into the room and the style you want to reflect.