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| Courtesy of Coastal Living Magazine
Mid-season is a great time to change things up a bit in your home. If you're happy with your wall paint color, but something seems missing, maybe this could help.
Adding a little color to a space can give you the feeling of a new space, a new look and a new start. You don't always have to 'reinvent' the wheel to gain a new perspective on your home. For instance:
New chair cushion fabric color may be all you need to give your day a great start! Maybe a zippy print design is enough to wake you up in the morning. Or, instead of table and chairs, use a banquette. Contrast cool white surfaces with warm wood pieces. Add a new light fixture over the table. New placemats are the easiest way to get a new look.
In other words, shake things up a bit,
be brave, and try something different
for a change!
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Showing posts with label #interiordesignnj. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #interiordesignnj. Show all posts
Need a Lift to Brighten Your Day? Try this...
Adding This Can Change Your World
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| Photo courtesy of Leonie Freeman / Hardie Grant Books |
One of the most talked about words I can think of is - color. Maybe it's because I'm a designer and I select colors almost every day for my clients. Yet, I notice at parties, events and chats with friends, that color almost always comes up in the discussion.
We could be discussing colors for the upcoming wedding, the color of a sunset or the color of a new puppy. We select fruit, vegetables and even meat, fish or poultry based on how the 'color' looks.
However, one color I never seem to wear is the color 'green'. I think it goes back to years wearing a green school uniform. It's not that I don't like green (our bedroom is a forest green), it's just one of those things with my wardrobe.
In our home though you can find lots of green as an accent color. Mostly it's the green of the hydrangea leaves or the green of a large fern in a basket. I can't imagine not having plants in our home. The most beautiful homes I've visited have plants like orchids with their wide leaves, or ficus trees with shiny leaves, or beautiful rooms with leafy design wallpapers. Plants 'complete' a room just like jewelry completes an outfit.
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| Photo courtesy of Thibaut |
Beyond the beauty of the plant is what it does for your emotions. According to NBC News the article states that "Studies have also proven that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15 percent!), reduce stress levels and boost your mood — making them perfect for not just your home but your work space, too."
Imagine that! You can bring some beauty into your home, reduce your stress level and boost your mood at the same time with the addition of plants.
Today add a plant to your desk or cut some stems from your garden. Visit garden centers like Terrain to get inspiration you've never experienced before.
Mary Alice Smith - 732 608-7583
Residential and Commercial Interior Design
Allied Member ASID
Website: http://masmithinteriordesign.com
Serving Coastal New Jersey homeowners and businesses for 20 years
Are you stuck with your renovation project's to-do list?
It's true - somethings never seem to change - like your to do list. But if you're like many of my clients, there comes a time when you just have to go ahead and get your project going.
But where to start? You can start here by reading a few posts written for people just like you.
A little confirmation helps you to know you are not alone. So here are some ideas for you to read to get you started. The link below is a short piece about the need to block out time and make a commitment to get started. It might start with contacting a contractor, builder or architect or you might start by visiting home centers and kitchen and bath stores.
Start here first
Great, now you're warming up to moving ahead. But you still have questions or concerns about building or renovating. The more you understand the building process, the better you will be when the time comes to find your kitchen and bath cabinets, plumbing, appliances, tubs, etc.
If you're in a coastal area, you want to make sure that your home will be built for longevity.
Now read this
It's really that simple. Once you understand what's needed in the construction process, you can jump to the fun part - design and decorating. However, before you head back to Pinterest to get ideas, let's take time to discuss how you plan to use the room you are building or renovating.
This part will make you relieved and ready for a great change
In the end, your project is about creating your vision of the best home. Home should be a place to be comfortable in with everything that pulls at your heart strings. And by the way, I value this quote from The One Thing book that says "Perfection gets in the way of what is possible". In other words, it's okay to want something wonderful, but don't let the fact that it isn't "perfect" (nothing is here on earth you know) keep you from enjoying all the wonderful things about your home.
If you're still frozen, consider calling an expert to help you make decisions and who values the things that you love.
Mary Alice Smith - 732 608-7583
M. A. Smith Interior Design
Residential and Commercial Interior Design
E-mail: masmith@masmithinteriordesign.com
Allied Member ASID
Website: http://masmithinteriordesign.com
Serving Coastal New Jersey homeowners and businesses for twenty years
The Most Important Advice For Decorating Your Home
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| Keep it Clear and Simple |
I captured this image on one of my morning walks. What I like about it is its clarity and its simplicity. It's the same thing when you hire people to help you decorate or renovate your home. To have a successful design project, you must have clarity about how everyone in the project will work together and who, when, where and how things will be accomplished.
It’s as simple as that!
It’s as simple as that!
Here are some of the ways to make your renovation successful:
Collaborate: Getting along with everyone is a win-win attitude. (Being pushy or demanding will only render a lot of push-back = slow progress)
Communicate: Roadblocks to communication stifle creativity and progress. There are so many ways to communicate today - text, email, phone or in person. Do whatever works for all involved in your renovation to keep the momentum going.
Finally and really important: Be ready to go to Plan B, or C, etc. Sometimes the best ideas need some time to appear. Your redesign will get done. So having an 'open attitude' is the key to success.
It's simple!
After years of working on interior design projects, I've noticed that having a ‘yes’ attitude makes all the difference. It's okay to communicate your needs and wants, but keep your mind open for new ways of solving a problem.
For professional help, for a nudge to get started, for the best year ever,
call Mary Alice at:
732 690-2030
1288 Beauchamps Place, Toms River, NJ 08753
Allied Member ASID
Member of Kiwanis of Greater Toms River
Blog: Coastal Confidante Blog
Blog: BestDesignCoach.com
Serving New Jersey and Metropolitan New York City
How to Change Your Dining Room from 'Blah' To Beautiful - Part 1
You've seen amazing dining rooms on Pinterest or TV. But if your dining area looks more blah than beautiful - start here first.
While the trend these days is for 'open plan living' versus a separate dining room, we all have the same dilemma. The dilemma is how to enjoy our dining table and chairs and keep them looking fresh and new.
So, do you have a Dining Room chair or Dining Room table dilemma?
We may have children, or grandchildren enjoying meals or it could be just the two of you - or just you. Either way, the table and chairs get a lot of use over the years. So, there are a few things to consider when looking to refresh or purchase your dining furniture. Let's start with the dining chair fabric.
Here's my quick and easy 'cheat sheet' of suggestions for Dining Room chair fabric:
- Look for fabrics that are easy to clean and maintain. If you have a boatload of kids or messy adults, consider using Sunbrella or other outdoor use fabrics. Kravet Performance Fabrics 's Soleil fabrics offer not only durability but a great variety of patterns in scrumptious colors.
- Consider the shape of the Dining Room chair cushion and the design of the chair back when choosing a fabric pattern. For instance, if the chair is simple in design, perhaps the fabric could have a bold pattern or lively and lovely fabric color as shown below.
- Not sold on outdoor fabrics for your Dining Room? Go ahead and take a chance on that gorgeous fabric, but make sure it can keep it's good looks by adding Fibreseal protection.
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| Chair courtesy of Maine Cottage
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In Part II, we'll talk about dining tables and the why's and wherefores of selecting one type of table over another.
For professional interior design for your home, office or commercial project call:
Mary Alice Smith of M. A. Smith Interior Design - serving New Jersey, including Ocean and Monmouth County, the Jersey Shore.
To schedule an appointment call: 732 608-7583 or email me at masmith@masmithinteriordesign.com
Why Just One Step is the Best Way to Get Your Renovation Going
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| Schumacher's Monarch's March |
Ugh - those dreaded tasks to get the house ready for the seasons ahead. Where to start, what to do first? Trust me, I'm there with you. If you own a home it's guaranteed that every season "Somethings Gotta Give" you frustration. So many lists, so little time.
In our home, we've got a list for every room. We have busy days and mostly weekends left for our to-do lists. So this weekend instead of moaning the lack of time to get a project done, I looked at it with a new perspective. I think I've found a way to make this work for our project and hopefully for yours too.
Instead of looking at how 'much' you need to accomplish, do this. Look at the smallest one thing that needs to be done. For us, it was to remove the doors on our built-in TV cabinet. Next, I emptied the contents and either threw away the old papers, etc., moved items to another room, or moved the items to be dropped off and donated to places like Habitat for Humanity.
And by the way, that's how it works in new construction or any renovation project. It's all done in little steps.
You can do this!
Feeling Discombobulated Lately? Join our De-Cluttering Challenge Today
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| Photo courtesy of House Beautiful and Ikea |
More Clothes and Less Space?
After the holidays were you given wonderful new outfits, purses, scarves, etc.? All is well and good till you try to add them to our already cramped closet.Or, maybe you threw yourself into cooking over the holidays and have added spices, new pots and pans to your cramped pantry.
While Architectural Digest is not coming to inspect your home, you know you'd feel better, more in control and even lighter if you could organize your spaces.
Enter this year's challenge. Pick one space you would be so happy to see organized.
Schedule it in your calendar to tackle.
Tell us your plan or challenge.
Send us photos when you are done and you will have more praise than you've received in a long time.
What's your organizing challenge?
Part II - Designer's Best Kept Secrets to a Successful Project
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| Renaissance at Manchester NJ new Lobby's Installation Day |
The process starts with gathering information as I discussed in the last blog post. We discuss how a room is used or will be used. What do you like or dislike when you think of the room as it is now. And, what changes in the room would make you happy.
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| (The former Lobby before updating) |
We expanded the carpeted area to the rear of the room and shortened the carpeted area in the front of the Lobby. This created a more open feel and direct access from one hallway to the other.
The intent of the space is to add seating arranged for conversation.
However, the space is not meant for lengthy meetings, so we left out the use of side tables next to the sofa and armchairs.
The result is a more updated, open and airy lobby that is a great departure from the former layout.
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Yes, floorplans are helpful. But sometimes a 3D drawing gives our clients an image they can understand.
We stayed on course with the committees' request to keep the traffic flow around the seating area and within the seating area easy for residents to use.
So now you know this designer's secret to successful projects - start with information gathering and design spaces that are comfortable to use for all.
From new construction, renovations and room refreshing, we work a plan and plan your design around your life, your family and your budget.
Part I - Designer's Best Kept Secret to a Successful Project
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| Photo courtesy of Urban Electric Company |
Did you look at the photo above and immediately start to think about your own living room or family room? Maybe the paneled wall attracted you or the amazing wall sconce. Perhaps the throw pillows are something you've been meaning to add to your sofa. All those thoughts are so important. You see, you need to have a vision first, if you want to achieve anything in life or in designing your home.
As I mentioned in the last blog post : I always ask my clients - "How do you want to use the room or space (indoors or outside)? Do you need more seating, less seating, more space for entertaining perhaps?"
Simply put - it's function first. Yes, I know you have numerous Pinterest Boards (as I do).
But, before we get excited about that sofa or dining room table, let me hear from you how you use the room now and/or how you'd really like to use the room.
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| The view from my office to the Dining Room (formerly the Living Room) |
In our home over the last ten years, I've asked myself that same question - How do we want to use the room now?
We had a Living Room and a Family Room. But since the family is all grown up, did we really need two rooms for seating?
Perhaps the former Dining Room would serve better as my home office and perhaps the former Living Room would allow more seating for our Dining Room table.
Let's start the design journey with questions. Let's be open to ideas that you would never imagine before.
What area of your home could be reimagined into the most wonderful space you never imagined before?
What area of your home could be reimagined into the most wonderful space you never imagined before?
The 5 Most Important Questions I ask my Clients
The 5 Most Important Questions I ask my Clients
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| Photo courtesy of Copeland Furniture - made in Vermont |
I definitely need a new look and a new perspective in autumn. And, just like my clients who hire me to give their homes a new look, I also need to change up things inside and outside our home.
But in order to change, you first need to know what needs changing. It's hard to prioritize and decide what should stay, what should go or what look in your home needs a re-boot.
So I have to pretend I'm my own client in a way. I have to ask myself the same things I ask my clients. For instance:
- How do you want to use the room or space (indoors or outside)? Do you need more seating, less seating, more space for entertaining perhaps?
- What are the things you love about this room? Is it the light, the fireplace, the colors used on walls and furnishings?
- What are you most dissatisfied with the room? Is it too small, too large, too plain?
- What rooms in Pinterest, House Beautiful or Architectural Digest have you consistently loved? Are you a fan of Ralph Lauren, Miles Redd, Restoration Hardware?
- What is your budget? Are you ready to renovate to the extent of changing floors, opening up a room, or is it more cosmetic with new furniture and new paint colors on the walls?
To help you make a change, I'll share with you my journey in my own 'Autumn Refresh'. I'll start with the first question on the next post. See you then!
Five of my Favorite Myths or Secrets about Decorating your Home with Paint
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| Photo courtesy of Country Living |
- Dark paint colors make a room look smaller - wrong! Dark paint colors give a small space the oomph it needs to look important. There is a warm and enveloping feeling that you can't always get from a pale shade of paint.
- Trim has to be either stained or painted white. Please give this one myth up ASAP! In our own home we used a medium shade of gray on our formerly lackluster white interior doors.
- Gray paint is not a warm color. Wrong again! Yes, some grays are cooler grays, but there's a warm gray for everybody. We used Benjamin Moore's Edgecomb Gray on our hallways and Foyer. It's a beigy/soft/greige that changes throughout the day. It's perfect if you want to be 'engaged' but not commit to gray.
- Everyone in the house has to love the color I choose. Trust me, not everyone has the faintest idea of what paint can do for a house. For instance, if your toddler craves purple, would you respect her choice and paint your home purple? If you're unsure on what color to select, look into hiring an interior designer to help make the best choice of color.
- All paints are the same, so buy less expensive paint. After twenty years in the business of interior design, I can speak as an expert. Do buy good paint, it will look and last better than cheaper paints.
Lastly, (as much as I love my painters) let them do their work but save the color selection to you or your designer. Not every color looks the same in every house. I've seen paint colors in my clients homes that I would have loved in my home. But, we have different light, floor color, furnishings and all that can change how a color looks.
Mary Alice Smith of M. A. Smith Interior Design - an interior designer serving New Jersey, Ocean and Monmouth County, the Jersey Shore and metropolitan New York, CT
To schedule an appointment call: 732 690-2030
masmith@masmithinteriordesign.com
Allied Member ASID
Puzzled about designing your Home?
Today is like any other day as as interior designer. With a variety of projects to work on, it can feel overwhelming every once in awhile. It's like working with a puzzle. You have the finished work in mind, but it takes patience and concentration to pull it all together.
I found this quote that explains the 'puzzle phenomenon' that can apply when decorating your home or to life in general.
"Life isn't
about finding pieces
of a puzzle.
It's about
creating
and putting
those exceptional
pieces
together"
Glenn van Dekken
So it's a good thing that I love puzzles! I love finding the pieces that bring my clients' vision together. And like working on a puzzle, it takes time and thought, patience and courage to finish the project.
It's not any one piece of the 'puzzle' that is important. Every piece is important. For instance, it's not just a sofa that will transform a room. It's a medley of a number of things orchestrated together to give a room life, that will give it its soul.
So, be patient with yourself (or your designer). The best things in life take time!
5 Tips to the Best Decorated Room in Town
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| Benjamin Moore colors with an accent color for the chairs |
How To Have The Home You Love
If you're like me, you are often (or always) thinking about updating your home.Whether planning on a change in a room or an entire home, follow these important concepts, so your end result looks like your home and is reflective of your lifestyle:
1. Have a clear idea of how the space will be used.
For instance, if you plan on entertaining more than before in a dining room, decide on the total number of dining chairs and table length you need.
2. Create a budget for the new furnishings.
Dining tables can be anywhere from 'free' (used) to thousands of dollars. What your budget allows will be the starting point for where to source your new table.
3. Understand the elements of great design.
When you see beautiful rooms in Pinterest or Houzz, they were created with the concepts of balance, proportion and scale. They were most likely created through a well-trained eye and/or a professional interior designer.
4. Know what decorating style suits your lifestyle best.
Are you a traditionalist, a minimalist or a lover of mid-century design. There is much to choose from today in the furniture world. In the 'before' it was expected that if you were into a more traditional look, you would avoid contemporary furnishings. However, today it's acceptable to have a mix of traditional with contemporary furnishings.
5. Plan a color scheme for your home.
Try the idea of connecting rooms with one color that is repeated in the other rooms of your home. For instance, one room could have a blue-green color on the walls and the adjacent room could have a blue-green rug with soft white walls.
For professional help, for a nudge to get started, for the best year ever,
call Mary Alice at:
732 690-2030
1288 Beauchamps Place, Toms River, NJ 08753
E-mail: masmith@masmithinteriordesign.com
Allied Member ASID
Member of Kiwanis of Greater Toms River
Blog: Coastal Confidante Blog
Blog: BestDesignCoach.com
Analysis Paralysis - Why Your Home Decorating Is Going Nowhere
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| This could be your bathroom! (Photo courtesy of Avalon Flooring ) |
First of all, the good news is that you are reading this post. You're reading it probably because you have all the intentions of giving your home a new look, but somehow nothing gets done.
Life, home, family - everything is calling for your immediate attention. Plans to paint the rooms, find new sofas, rugs or revamp the 90's kitchen and baths are on hold. Days, weeks and months (maybe years) go by and nothing gets done.
Even though I am an interior designer, I am faced with the same dilemma. Truly my clients projects are my first priority during the workweek. There's little time to spend on the updates that are calling for attention in my own home.
So, you're wondering, how does this designer get out of the Analysis Paralysis roadblock?
Simple - just start with small decisions then action. For instance, here is a portion of the list I used to get our Master Bath renovation started and done:
- Create a floor plan to show if the shower area could replace the tub.
- Determine an approximate budget for the project.
- Go to resources like Artistic Tile or Waterworks or Avalon Tile and review tile selections. Select the tile and furnishings for the floor and walls. (Ok - I'm used to doing this for my clients, so it's easier for me. But I still had to do this).
- Go to my local cabinet shop with the tile sample and select the vanity.
- Return to the tile or fixture store and place the order the tile, grout, etc.
What you may notice above is that I use steps to follow that make sense. First, I had to know that a shower could actually fit in the old tub space, before I got too excited about having a zen-like shower to enjoy at the start of my busy days.
At some point, things will get done when you start the journey. I worked on the floor plan on one day. Another day, I visited the tile store. The point is that it takes action. Thinking about what you want to do is great, but nothing gets done unless you do something, anything!
So, leave Analysis Paralysis behind - start today with just one small thing. Call a friend, call your Mom or call a designer to get the home you've always wanted, the home you deserve to enjoy.
Call for professional help, for a nudge to get started, for the best year ever:
732 690-2030
M. A. Smith LLC Interior Design
1288 Beauchamps Place, Toms River, NJ 08753
E-mail: masmith@masmithinteriordesign.com
Allied Member ASID
http://masmithinteriordesign.com
Blog: HouseZenGarden
Blog: BestDesignCoach.com
Serving New Jersey and Metropolitan New York City
Call for professional help, for a nudge to get started, for the best year ever:
732 690-2030
M. A. Smith LLC Interior Design
1288 Beauchamps Place, Toms River, NJ 08753
E-mail: masmith@masmithinteriordesign.com
Allied Member ASID
http://masmithinteriordesign.com
Blog: HouseZenGarden
Blog: BestDesignCoach.com
Serving New Jersey and Metropolitan New York City
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