Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tranquil Details

By Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

To create a subtle Asian design, RMS user Yorokobi integrated calming hues of sage and beige while combining modern and antique-inspired accessories. The most eye-catching piece in the living room is the stone art trio depicting different Chinese warriors, which immediately emits strength and power. Offset in the room, a stone statue of Kuan Yin, the bodhisattva of great compassion, serves as a calm and comforting symbol of Buddhism, while adding a strong, cultural element to the space.

Check back for more ideas and enjoy the tranquil details in your space!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Private Sanctuary

By Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

Just off the master bedroom, this sanctuary room is truly a unique in-house getaway. The most dramatic and eye-catching feature of the room is undeniably the ornate, hand-carved reclaimed ceiling from Ecuador. Venetian plastered walls in a fresh ivory hue serve as a soft complement to the ceiling detail and reclaimed ash wood flooring. Mirroring the elaborate ceiling designs, designer Lori Venners added a custom sake wood hearth as a welcoming accompaniment to a simple tiled fireplace. No home sanctuary is complete without an oversized chaise lounge ideal for reading, relaxing or taking an afternoon nap. Dark wood French doors open to a private balcony, providing sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and lake. Architecture by Thom Oppelt. Image courtesy of Gene Northup of Synergy Sotheby's International Realty.

Check back for more ideas and enjoy your private sanctuary!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

La Cuisine Kitchen

By H. Camille Smith

Hi Friends,

Combining rusticity with refinement, French country kitchens continue to be the go-to style for designers and homeowners alike. To get the look, opt for painted cabinetry that has been distressed and aged for a timeworn look. Choose handmade hardware over sleek pulls and top cabinets with a countertop that will stand the test of time like marble, granite or butcher block. Design by James Howard

Check back for more ideas and enjoy La Cuisine!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Think Outside the Kitchen Triangle

By Abigail R. Esman

Hi Friends,

From work zones to Feng Shui, our experts weigh in on the latest trends in kitchen design.

From Triangle To Zones
The work triangle has inspired kitchen design since the 1940s. Placing the sink, stove and refrigerator at opposite points saved on building materials and allowed the cook to move from storage and cleaning to cooking with a simple step-and-turn. As kitchens have evolved into multipurpose rooms, says Lee Stahl, a New York-based designer and owner of The Renovated Home, the kitchen triangle has given way to zones, where family members can work without bashing elbows.

Jeff Schwartz of Newton, Mass.-based J. Schwartz Design says that changing cabinet styles has encouraged the shift. "With the movement toward less uniform cabinetry and a more freestanding furniture feel," he says, "there is the opportunity for discrete separate zones for prep and cooking, baking and cleanup."

Doubling Up - Or Separating
The kitchen triangle was built around the single cook, but families are more likely to share the load now. Setting up kitchen zones gives everyone a task and space to do it. For example, Jeff often creates a two-sink arrangement for his clients: one for prep and one for cleanup.

In a growing trend, homeowners are installing multiple refrigerators: the traditional standup model and one in a bar or island. Hosts can chat to their guests while mixing a drink or the kids can grab an apple without getting underfoot.

Separating the cooktop and the oven is another option Jeff recommends. Since most people don't bake as often as they use the cooktop, getting the oven out of the way (mounted under the counter) makes smart use of space.

Small-Space Configurations
Jeff also offers a variety of inspiring options for nontriangular kitchen zoning in smaller spaces. "A galley works great," he says, "even if only on one wall. The opposite wall can be open to an adjacent living or dining space, or be set up as floor-to-ceiling storage or casual dining space. At each end of the galley, you could have large openings or glass partitions opening up to views, artwork, other living areas or the outdoors: a look that works well with contemporary cabinetry and finishes, or with a mid-century modern aesthetic."

A similar option could be the aptly named "efficiency kitchen," with fridge, sink, countertop and stove in sequence. This set-up allows you to use all the kitchen's features while barely moving a single step. Talk about efficient.

Jeff votes against islands that anchor cooktops or sinks. "One mistake we often see - and that we have to undo - are islands that block traffic and functional lanes." However for a galley configuration, a parallel island can be useful for eating, storage and prep.

Promoting Harmony
In some cultures, the kitchen triangle is thought to create imbalance because it places the cook in a vulnerable position. The principles of Feng Shui, for examples, recommend placing the stove in the center of the room.

Mary Mihaly, a certified Feng Shui practitioner based in Cleveland, Ohio, says, "When you stand at the stove, you should be in the 'command position,' which means you can see all entrances and most of the room itself. If it's necessary that the stove be against the wall and the cook's back would be to the room, the cure is to put a mirror or other reflective surface above the stove, so the cook can see the entire room."

Check back for more ideas and enjoy

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

6 Furniture Arrangement Tips

By Mark McCauley, ASID
Design by Rebekah Zaveloff

Hi Friends,

Where you place your furniture in a room sets the tone for how you’ll live in that room. Here are tips for arranging spaces for chatting, watching TV or relaxing.

Most homes are filled with furniture-arranging challenges. Follow these simple tips to turn your design dilemmas into successful arrangements.

1. Take Measurements

The first step in arranging a space is determining its size. Use a tape measure to get the dimensions of a room. Or, a quick tip: measure your foot and then walk heel to toe across the room. It's an easy way to estimate the basic size, and counting your footsteps will give you a rough measurement before you shop for furniture.

Always check the dimensions of the hallways, stairs and door widths leading to the space. This is the eternal challenge for the homeowner, being sure the entrance and egress of the room is large enough for potential purchases.

2. Estimate Volume

Every object has a height, depth and width. For added visual interest to any space, add varying furniture of varying characteristics. If you are going for a serene, unchallenging area for rest or recover, keep the furnishing volumes in a room similar.

3. It's All a Matter of Scale

The size of pieces relative to one another and the size of the space is their scale. Again, similarly scaled pieces are more serene when used together, but a nice balance of pieces creates a harmonious atmosphere, utilizing the differing physical qualities of height, depth and width throughout the room. When furnishings are out of scale, you'll notice that it just won't feel comfortable or right.

4. Create a Healthy Relationship

The relationship of items to one another to form a pleasing whole is termed balance. There are two forms of balance — symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Bilateral symmetry is like the human body: there are two of everything. Asymmetry refers to an imbalance, such as two candles of slightly different sizes next to each other. Symmetry is very restful, while asymmetry is used to add visual motion and excitement.

5. Paint Your Room

Look at your space as a painter looks at a work of art. There are visual tricks that painters use to create the appearance of depth in a space. You can use these tools, too.

The first trick painters use is "triangulation". A basic example of triangulation used in interior design is the placement of two end tables on either side of a sofa with a painting over the sofa. If you can imagine this scene, it is lower on the corners with the apex of the view just above mid-center at the top of the painting.

The second trick painters use is the creation of depth in artwork, which is a two-dimensional medium. Paintings often have a foreground, mid-ground, background and vanishing point. Stand at the threshold of your room. Place a chair, perhaps at an angle, in the foreground closest to you. The cocktail table will provide a mid-ground and the sofa with the wall behind it, the background. A window in the scene will give you your vanishing point. Or, the vanishing point can be within a work of art placed above the sofa.

6. Think Gestalt

All furniture arrangements have a certain gestalt, or "totality," a "form". Large rectangular spaces can be dealt with by dividing the "form" of the space into another form. A long narrow living space, for instance, can be split in two by creating zones of function. Say, one half is for the sofa, or the function of conversing, and the other half is for a dining set, or the function of dining.

This helps you take the bite out of large rectangular rooms by dividing them into squares by zones of function. Humans tend to feel more comfortable and less formal in square furniture arrangements versus rectangular.

Check back for more ideas and have a cup of coffee for me in your newly arranged sitting space.

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Live well,
Yvonne

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2012 Friends,

Over the past year we have had the pleasure of sharing some of our most creative and cost effective ideas for decorating your homes and personal spaces. We have also been honored to hear from you and appreciate all your comments and ideas which we have shared with this special community.

Moving forward, we plan to continue to share and save you big bucks and invite you to continue to share your ideas and plans for new or renewed spaces.

Wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012 and beyond!

Check back for more ideas and enjoy New Year's Day with family and good friends.

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!






Live well,
Yvonne