Recently in a showroom, I overheard a woman saying to the sales assistant – “I’m looking for a bright ceiling light. I mean, REALLY BRIGHT!“ She went on to tell how bad the lighting in her living room was, and how tired she was of sitting in the dark. And off they went to find […]
Tag Archives: interior design
IS MY KITCHEN TOO NARROW FOR AN ISLAND? Understand the measurements and basics of kitchen islands
(Feature Image Source) “Our kitchen is so awkward, how will we ever fit an island? I can’t imagine living without one!” My dear client recently bought a new home in an old part of town. They were so excited about this great old house with its many beautiful features and lovely garden. But the kitchen […]
5 MISTAKES YOU ARE MAKING AT YOUR DESK THAT ARE BAD FOR YOUR BODY – And a healthy way to sit that will totally surprise you!
Do you sometimes get up from your chair at the end of the day with back pain? Maybe you have a numbing pain in your shoulder that lasts for days? I do. And I know why. Sometimes I’m simply not paying attention to how I’m sitting. I plonk down in my chair, get busy, and […]
HELP! SHOULD THE TV GO ABOVE THE FIREPLACE? What you should know & how we found a solution
∞ This is a question we get all the time. Should the TV go above the fireplace? Or Where is the best place for the TV when there’s also a fireplace? Some time ago, I wrote a blog on this, and it stays one of the most read articles. If you’ve read it, you’ll know […]
6 STEPS TO CREATING A HAPPY HOME OFFICE – Designer tips you need right now
Recently I’ve put together a list of things I look for when we’re developing an office space for someone’s home. It was published in the Sunday edition of THE SEATTLE TIMES. You don’t want to miss out on these great tips. The image above of the lovely home office is by Gina Sims Designs – […]
RAW BRASS IS BACK, BUT WHAT THE HECK! What you need to know when that box arrives…
(source) This is the first of a two-part post – there’s simply too much brass for one siting. Last night I received a distressed email from an adorable client – her long awaited, custom ordered bathroom fittings had finally arrived from the manufacturer, and she had just opened the boxes. But… THE BRASS IS ALL […]
HOW TO SELECT TIMELESS FINISHES FOR YOUR KITCHEN REMODEL – DON’T MAKE THESE COMMON MISTAKES
(Image) “I don’t want to choose finishes that will be out of style soon” That is the thing I hear most when people are looking for finishes for their kitchen or bathroom upgrade. Because, let’s face it, a kitchen renovation is no small exercise – it’s demanding, it’s a lot of money, and a hell […]
7 Secrets to Choosing the Right Color for your Walls
(Image Source) How do you go about finding the right color for your walls? When you think you need to do something about the looks of your place, painting the walls is most certainly going to pop into your head – because everybody knows painting the walls is such an easy change and quick fix […]
NEVER PICK A COLOR BASED ON ITS DELICIOUS SOUNDING NAME
(Picture source) Nothing refreshes a room like a lick of paint on the walls, right? YES! Except when you get it wrong. Because there is nothing more depressing – after all the agony, the money you spent and the drama to get it done – to end up with a room that looks worse than […]
MAKE YOUR ROOM LOOK STYLISH BY ADDING 1 SIMPLE THING
(Source) Last week I guest-posted this article on Decorated Life. Thank you, Christine, for posting it on your blog. We recently moved countries, and I want to tell you what I did just after we moved into our new house – but I’m interrupting myself with something about the Far East first. Did you know that […]
How to mix styles you love AND pull it off like a pro.
(Picture via Pinterest) I don’t know about you, but I dread that question. What’s your style? It’s so hard. First of all, it’s a weird mix of things, and then it morphs and grows all the time. I look at my house now, and I think back to my first apartment. Wow, is it even the […]
THINK LIKE A PRO. 3 Steps to making an odd piece of furniture shine in your room
(Picture via homegirllondon.com) I was at a friend’s the other day. In the corner of her entrance and in part of the living room were cramped together some odd pieces of furniture that didn’t look like they were very happy there. They belonged to her mother, and she wasn’t quite sure what to do with […]