How to Visually Enlarge Ceilings

How to Visually Enlarge Ceilings

• When you feel comfortable at home, you probably feel more comfortable in general. But when there is a space problem, like a low ceiling, you can feel cramped and out-of-whack instead. Just trick your eye into thinking your ceiling is much higher and larger than it is.

Colors

• We've all heard that painting a wall or ceiling a light color makes it look bigger. There's a reason that this advice has stuck around for so long: it works. Lighter colors visually recede, meaning that our eyes see them as being farther away. Cool colors, or colors in the blue, green and violet family, have the same effect. That means that a lighter ceiling in a cool tone looks bigger and farther away, even if it's small and low. You can go with any color as long as it is cool and light, but of course white is always a good standard. 

Transitions

• A light ceiling will only get you so far. If you have dark walls and a light ceiling, the abrupt transition between one color to the next makes the size of the ceiling stand out in the same way that a frame creates a defined edge around a picture. Avoid this effect by painting the walls a semi-light color and painting the ceiling a lighter version of that color. For example, paint the walls grass green and the ceiling light chartreuse. Or, take it one step further and paint the walls and ceiling the same light color.

Illusions

• For some ceilings, the light paint trick just isn't enough. That's when it is time to pull out the big guns. Paint the ceiling a light color and the top third of your walls the same color. You can paint the bottom two-thirds of the walls a different color, or you can install wood paneling, like wainscoting, in that space. This method creates the illusion of a much larger ceiling because the point of transition exists beyond the actual ceiling line.

Tips

• Stick to matte or eggshell paint on the ceiling because semi-glossy or glossy sheens tend to reflect light, which makes the ceiling look closer. Avoid using overhead lights or fans because they draw attention upward -- and you never want to draw attention to a problem area. Use table and floor lamps to illuminate the room instead.

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Fabulous Thanksgiving and Fall Decorations

Fabulous Thanksgiving and Fall Decorations

• This fantastic and atmospheric chandelier is one of the most perfect Thanksgiving and fall decorations. 

• Suspend it over the table to set the scene for a spectacular Thanksgiving feast. The chandelier is lusciously adorned with colorful autumnal leaves on a simple grapevine wreath.  This gorgeous seasonal chandelier is illuminated by tea lights that fit inside miniature pumpkin holders.

Thanksgiving and Fall Decorations – How to make a Pumpkin Wreath Chandelier

• Suspended from your ceiling this autumnal chandelier will provide a cozy rustic atmosphere to the thanksgiving table. Alternatively it could be hung outside  to decorate your front porch.

To make this you will need

• A wreath made from a grapevine
• A wax pencil
• 6 miniature pumpkins
• A small or serrated knife or carving tool
• A spoon for removing the flesh from the pumpkins
• A length of chain
• Coupling links to join lengths of chain.
• 25-gauge annealed iron wire(this is a soft but strong construction wire)
• An S hook
• Florist’s wire
• An awl piercing tool
• Votive candles
• Leaves and berries for embellishment 

STEP 1: Using a tea light as a template, mark a circle in wax pencil on top of 6 miniature pumpkins. Cut these out using a sharp serrated knife. Remove the pumpkin tops and scoop out the flesh using a spoon or scoop. 

STEP 2:  Make a hanger to your desired height using three equal lengths of chain.  Fix the brass couplings to each end of each chain. Bring the three chain ends together and slip an ‘S’ hook through the couplings. Link the other ends of the chains to a wreath made from grapevine. Do this with the florist’s wire passed through the couplings and wound around the wreath form. Its important to space the chains at equal distances around the wreath. 

STEP 3:  Using an awl piercing tool, make two holes, 2.5 cms apart, through the bottom of each pumpkin. Bend the soft iron wire into U shapes then peg these through the pumpkins from the inside. To secure the pumpkin lanterns, wrap the iron wire pegs around the wreath form, and twist these in place. Once safely wired in place, insert votive candles inside the pumpkins. 

STEP 4:  Finally decorate your wreath by twisting in the stems of colorful autumn leaves and berries. The example illustrated here shows maple, pear and oak leaves, with bittersweet berries.

Important tip: To ensure that your chandelier hangs evenly, use three equally spaced suspending wires. 

• These lovely Thanksgiving and fall decorations will stun your guests so the time taken in making it will be well worth the effort.

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How to Plan and Prepare for Home Landscaping

How to Plan and Prepare for Home Landscaping

Your landscape design can mean the difference between wowing your guests with curb appeal and making your house stand out for all the wrong reasons. A balanced design with features proportionate to the home's scale is the basis for any home landscape design. Including variety while repeating certain elements, such as color and texture, creates an interesting, unified look to your home's exterior.

Analyze Problems and Needs

• Long before you start picking out plants or patio materials, you need an idea of what you want for your outdoor space. Walk around your property to figure out what you like and what creates problems. Erosion, lack of shade, uneven ground and poor drainage are examples of problem areas in the landscape. Check out your property from different angles, including from across the street, to see how your current landscaping looks. Identify the areas that lack curb appeal, seem out of proportion or don't fit the style of the home. 

• Decide how you want to use different areas of the yard. Examples include outdoor dining, a child's play area, gardening or general entertaining. Choose the areas that best match each activity. A spot that receives constant sunlight isn't ideal for relaxing or dining, as you won't get any break from the heat. Conversely, a shady area won't work well for garden veggies that need lots of sunlight.

Choose Your Features

• Keeping the general purpose in mind for each area, you are ready to nail down the exact features and plants you want to include in the design. Start with hardscape features, such as patios or raised beds. Choose the location and size of those features. Marking the areas with biodegradable spray paint, flour, stakes or an old garden hose in the yard itself gives you a visual to help plan the other elements. 

• When choosing plants to complement the hardscape features, consider their mature size, not the size the plants will be when you buy them. Plan any supplemental water outlets and equipment you'll need for irrigation, and consider that native plants save on irrigation needs and are resistant to local pests and diseases. Identify existing outdoor electrical sources as well as the need for any additional wiring and fixtures needed for landscape lighting.

Put It on Paper

• A scale drawing of your home's exterior helps you check the balance and proportion of your landscaping features. Take measurements of your home and your property. Use grid paper to make the scale drawing easier, or investigate free online landscape design programs. Draw in the features you plan to add to the home's exterior, such as patios and water features. 

• Add in plants you want to include to help determine how many of each type of plant you'll need to fill the space. Use colored pencils to indicate the colors of any flowers you plan to include to help balance the color in the planting beds. Use your drawing to make a materials list for your projects. If you plan on building a patio yourself using pavers, for example, you can calculate the number of pavers you'll need based on the dimensions in your drawing.

Clean the Slate

• With your landscape design in place, you're ready to prepare your outdoor spaces for the renovation. It's best to start with a blank slate for your new designs. Work carefully around any existing landscape elements that you plan to keep so they don't get damaged. Clear out any debris and old plants that you won't reuse. Demolish any hardscape features you don't plan to keep, such as old patios, fences and raised planters. Correct any problems that interfere with your new landscape design, such as uneven ground or poor drainage, before you start planting and building new hardscape features. 

Keywords: How to Plan and Prepare for Home Landscaping

9 Stylist Tricks for a Decorator Look

9 Stylist Tricks for a Decorator Look

• You don’t need to be rolling in cash to pull in compliments for polished, eye-pleasing rooms, just check out these 9 stylist tricks for a decorator look! 

• The impeccable style of rooms featured on Houzz and elsewhere can seem unattainable even for those of us with lovely, well-organized homes. But many stylist tricks don’t require much effort or money. Try these nine simple ideas to make your home ready for its close-up. 

Conduct a color inventory 

• When a particular room is feeling blah, start by looking at the colors in it. Does one hue dominate? (Yes, brown counts.) Is every color a neutral? If so, liven things up by pulling in one or two bold colors through accent pieces. 

• There’s no need to break out your paintbrush and drop cloth to bring in color; get creative with things you already have. Place a bowl of bright red apples on the kitchen counter and a squeaky clean red pot on the stove, as in the kitchen here. Or set a beautiful bouquet of blue hydrangeas on a side table to echo an azure coffee table book.

Create a Comfortable and Stylish Scene with Throw Pillows

• A medley of throw pillows in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures and patterns adds casual polish to sofas and chairs. Pillows are a great tool for that because they can be relatively inexpensive to change out and freshen up a space.

• I love mixing sizes [of pillows], but 20 inches is usually my standard, and then sometimes I’ll layer an 18-inch in front. I save the big ones, 22 to 26 inches, for beds or daybeds. I also love lumbar pillows for chairs.

Use greenery to create height

• Branches and tall blooms are elegant ways to create dimension in small spaces or enhance a heigh ceiling. Set your cuttings in a clear vase and allow them to spread wide to fill the space.

Corral bathroom clutter

• Store countertop essentials in decorative trays to keep clutter under control. It’s an easy way to keep go-tos at your fingertips without their spreading messily all over your countertop.

Add Some Texture with a Throw

• A cozy blanket throw draped on a sofa, chair or bed instantly adds warmth and texture. Don’t be afraid to play with placement; folding a throw is totally OK.

 Mix up your trios 

• By now you probably know that accents look best when grouped in odd numbers, but identical objects can appear boring. Vary the size and color of pieces in a group for interest.

 Use firewood as decor

• Stock up on firewood early in the season and stack it neatly in an empty alcove. It’s an inexpensive way to add rustic warmth while ensuring that your wood will be seasoned when it’s time to use it.

Add a chalkboard 

• A chalkboard is a great way to infuse your kitchen with personality, whether you write inspirational quotes or grocery lists on it.

Use white towels and candles

• The only time you’re likely to see a colored candle in a magazine spread is during the holidays. White candles create a feeling of serenity.

• The same goes for bathroom towels. Choose towels in interesting textures to add interest in an all-white or neutral space.

Keywords: 9 Stylist Tricks for a Decorator Look

A Punch List for Party Decorating

A Punch List for Party Decorating

• Of course, food and friends are the only essentials for a holiday party, but a few special touches really turn up the cheer.

• When planning a party at home, decorating can easily slide down the to-do list as more essential tasks (like menu planning, shopping and cleaning) take priority. But isn’t much of the fun of a party the feeling that things are a bit fancier than the everyday? A few well-placed, non-holiday-specific decorations can dress up parties from now through the New Year. Hit these seven decorating hot spots, and you’ll know your home is party ready.

Draw attention to the front door

• As guests arrive at the front door, they should feel a sense of occasion; even one special touch can do the trick. 

• You can’t go wrong with a seasonal wreath — it’s simple and elegant, and should last for several months. 

• If you live in a warm climate, why not embrace the weather and choose a wreath featuring dried citrus fruit instead of fall leaves or winter berries and greens?

• For an even longer-lasting display, a pair of stately topiaries flanking the door makes an elegant first impression.

• Or place a few sturdy lanterns on the ground beside your doormat for a welcoming touch. 

• Avoid a potential hazard by placing battery-operated candles inside instead of the real thing, and turn them on before guests arrive.

Polish up the foyer

• The place where you greet your guests deserves to be gussied up a bit at party time. 

• Pick and choose between these festive accents that can work for any party, holiday or not:

• A pair of mini topiaries on the entry table

• Lit candles with a beautiful fragrance

• A pretty bowl filled with candy

• A silver mint julep cup filled with freshly cut roses.

Set the dining table

• When you are having a dinner party, having the table fully set before guests arrive not only makes things less stressful, but the set table becomes part of the decor. 

• A table setting like the one shown here looks extremely polished but takes less effort than you might think. 

• Follow these steps to give it your own twist: 

• Cover your table with a tablecloth or runner in a natural material like linen, burlap or wool tweed. Or, if you have a pretty wood table, leave it bare!

• Form your centerpiece by arranging dried moss down the center third of the table, and top it with antlers or driftwood. Nestle in a few fresh “ingredients,” like mini white pumpkins, succulents, persimmons, pomegranates or pears. 

• Set the table. If you want to use chargers, try a metallic hue that matches your flatware or use natural wood slices. Top each plate with a piece of the same fruit or veg used in the centerpiece. 

• If you want to use place cards, try tying tags to the stems of fruit or mini pumpkins. Or collect fallen leaves, and write the name of each guest on them using a metallic gold paint pen. 

• Even if you won’t be using the dining table during a party, it’s still a good idea to dress it up. A cluster of large decorative gourds like the ones shown here would look stunning through the fall. In winter try a cluster of mini trees or potted rosemary.
• Of course, there can never be too many candles at a party — fill a long tray with lit candles (real or battery-op) and place it in the center of your table. 

• If you are using a credenza or bar cart in the living room as the drinks table, call attention to it by placing something with a bit of sparkle or light on top, like the branches shown here. Another easy but high-impact way to light up the bar is by coiling a strand or two of battery-operated string lights inside a large glass jar, and placing it on the bar.

Create a drinks table 

• Another great use of the dining table during nondinner parties is as a bountiful, self-serve bar. Make it festive by setting a few large-scale objects — like the urn and vase of flowers shown here — near the center. 

• If you are using a credenza or bar cart in the living room as the drinks table, call attention to it by placing something with a bit of sparkle or light on top, like the branches shown here. Another easy but high-impact way to light up the bar is by coiling a strand or two of battery-operated string lights inside a large glass jar, and placing it on the bar.

• For hot drinks, like apple cider or hot cocoa, setting up in the kitchen makes more sense. Inviting guests to serve themselves hot drinks in the kitchen is a great way to get conversations started! Create a convivial mood by hanging bunting or a wreath, or setting out a vase filled with branches. 

Gussy up the mantel

• If you have a beautiful mirror hanging above your mantel, simple candles may be all you need to make the room feel dressed up for a party. 

• Moss-covered balls set atop candleholders look elegant, and you can leave them up all season.  

• To take it a step further, hang a seasonal wreath above the mantel (you can also hang it over a mirror) and place seasonal fruit or gourds in front. 

Style the coffee table

• You will likely be ushering your guests into the living room, so give them something pretty to look at on the coffee table. 

• A good formula is a simple vase with flowers plus a stack of books with an object on top. 

• For a long coffee table, try placing the flowers in the center, with a stack of books on either side.

Primp the powder room

• Fresh hand towels and soap are a must. 

• If you have pretty embroidered hand towels, use them! A tiny posy of flowers in a bud vase on the sink is a welcome touch. 

Urrutia Design

For a bit more formality, set out a stack of neatly rolled white hand towels, and provide a basket to place used towels in. For any party, offering hand cream, a stain remover stick and a candle (with matches) on a pretty tray is a nice touch.

Keywords: A Punch List for Party Decorating

Great Decorative Alternatives to Curtains

Great Decorative Alternatives to Curtains

• Filter light and views while drawing the eye by dressing windows in specialty glass, artistic screens or snazzy shades

• One way to add pattern to a room is at the windows. This is typically done with fabric, whether it’s voluminous swaths of drapery or tailored, functional shades. Both are excellent options, but there are other possibilities as well.

• The windows themselves can form interesting patterns. Leaded glass and stained glass are traditional solutions, but industrial windows and doors can create a similar effect — though in a much more contemporary way. And then there are etched glass, screens, awnings and more. These not only manipulate the light coming in but create shadows as well.

Leaded glass

• These beautiful leaded glass windows lend a moody, dramatic air to this Arts and Crafts–style room. 

• Though these kinds of windows aren’t for everyone, they are a wonderful example of how the design of a room can be incorporated into the windows. 

Metal screens

• Water jet–cut aluminum screens cast swirling arabesques of shadow and light on these floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Sculptural screening

• An algae-inspired sculpture hangs in front of a window wall like curtains here, adding interest and texture to this bright loft space.

Privacy patterns

• This intricate stained glass pattern not only provides privacy in this very traditional room, but it softens the harsh sunlight to protect the delicate woods and fabrics.

Ethnic roller shades

• Roller shades printed with a Moroccan zellige pattern add ethnic interest to this spare loft, while assuring privacy from neighbors.

Metal-framed doors 

• Factory-style metal doors take a no-nonsense, geometric approach to fenestration. 

• The raw metal frames are reminiscent of Mondrian paintings.

Round stained glass

• A contemporary, colorful stained glass oculus is the focal point of this very white space. It’s a bold choice and a successful one.

Patterned shades 

• Tucked behind full-height ecru draperies, a patterned shade adds just the right touch of interest to this serene bedroom. 

• Note that it doesn’t match the link-patterned carpet, but is an equal companion to it.

 Laser-cut panels

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  This is a bold new take on the classic café curtain: laser-cut wood panels that slide over the windows to provide privacy and light control. 

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  Roll them onto the blank wall and they become art pieces.

Awesome awnings

• This boldly striped awning is a witty alternative to the typical valance.

Screens

• Lacy screens have been used for centuries in hot desert climates to create cool, sun-dappled interiors. 

• The same approach is used to great effect in this dressing room and closet. 

• The Delia solar shade filters the light and provides privacy.

Bottle glass

• Colored glass rondelles fill the windows of this wine room, echoing the shapes of the vintage bottles nearby. 

• The effect is not only beautiful but practical as well, since the wine is protected from direct sunlight. 

More: Woven Wood Shades Tie Rooms Together

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