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design | products | green | seasonal
The principles of interior design can be overwhelming to some. But with a little guidance from our professionals, and some of the tips outlined below, we can partner to create the beautiful space you deserve. Here are some general rules of thumb we try to follow, of course there are exceptions but the do's and don'ts below are a good place to start.
design tips
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Do take the time to do a space plan of your room. Meaning take and record the room dimensions, window placements, special features, etc., and plan your room layout on paper before you begin anything else.
Allow for natural pathways when doing a space plan of your room. Remember, form follows function, or in other words a good design will be as functional as beautiful.
Discover your personal style by reading design magazines, attending home shows, streets of dreams, window shopping online or in stores, or even just looking around your home at the pieces you already own that you love.
Take the time to come up with a concept for your space. This should cover both the general and specific needs of the room. Deciding ahead of time how you want the room to function, feel and be styled will give you a road map down the road when making decisions. It will allow you something to go back to and measure your choices against.
Identify the focal element in the room as well as which items will be secondary focal points, tertiary focal points, etc. There should be a hierarchy to your design. Not every piece can, or should, be a signature piece.
Inspiration can come from a signature element, it may be a vintage light fixture, a beautiful area rug, those wooden beams, whatever inspires you. Don't be afraid to be inspired by what you already have.
Patterns in a room should vary in scale from large, medium to small. If you are using pattern it is important to select an appropriately scaled pattern for the piece it is on and to use many different sizes of patterns in a room.
A successful lighting plan will make or break your design. Plan ahead, and use at least three different sources of lighting in your design. Also, be sure to cover ambient, task, and decorative lighting needs.
When using the principle of repetition as part of your design concept, integrate it into the shapes, colors, fabrics, and/or patterns of a room. That single red pillow may look out of place all alone, but could be perfectly balanced by a red stripe in a vase across the room, or some red trim on the draperies. It doesn't have to be everywhere but when done appropriately it will enhance your design.
If texture is going to be a key part of your design be sure to spread it around the room. Use a multitude of different textures wherever you can. For example if you want to do a mono-chromatic scheme, texture is a great way to keep depth and interest in your design.
When contrast is a design principle being used, it can certainly add interest to a space. Using contrasting fabrics and materials will help each item stand out against each other. This can be done on a large or small scale.
The design principle of line can help accentuate a room's features or can help hide a room's problems. Adding horizontal lines to a space will help emphasize length, while vertical lines will add height or volume, and diagonal lines will be a dynamic addition to the room. This principle is often used along with repetition so that one horizontal, vertical, or diagonal element does not look out of place in the room alone.
Try to keep conversation areas within 8 to 14 feet across, a nice distance to keep conversations going.
Place side tables and lamps appropriately in conversation areas. It will help you and your guests feel more comfortable if they have a place to set their drinks or easily turn on a light to read a book.
Anchor furniture in open floor plans with area rugs or by grouping furniture together. A sofa table behind a floating couch is a good way to do this.
Generally, though not always, symmetry equals formal and asymmetry equals casual.
Don't be afraid to add architectural accents and features to a room. If your room is plain and simple, try adding some crown moulding, wainscoting, ceiling articulation, etc. to spruce it up.
Remember that there is a psychology behind every color you select. If you are trying to create a sanctuary you wouldn't paint the walls a bright orange. The same will go for the selections you make in furniture, fabrics, accessories, and so on.
Most importantly speak up. Your home is just that, yours. Make sure you are voicing your thoughts and opinions honestly and often when working with our designers. There are a million ways to solve a problem and when designing your space we want to choose the solution that is right for you!
products
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Take your custom design package with you when you shop. Having something tangible in front of you when you talk to shop owners, or sales people, will help you stay on track.
Coordinate your major choices before you purchase anything too costly, and choose exact paint colors after some decisions on major pieces have been made.
Purchase large elements first (rug, upholstered furniture, draperies, flooring, etc.) and use those elements to build and layer your subsequent choices.
Pick your paint last. You can have paint mixed to match any color nowadays, never mind that it already comes in any color you can think of. Select some of the big ticket items first and then match your paint accordingly.
Test a sample of your paint! Put a hearty swath of paint on at least 2 or 3 walls in your room and live with it for a while. Look at it in the day and at night to see how the color changes. Samples are cheap when compared to the time wasted repainting a room.
When selecting furniture, purchase the highest quality of furniture you can afford. You will spend less money in the long run by purchasing furniture that will stand the test of time.
Invest in classic pieces not on trends. We've heard it time and time again, trends will come and go, so put your resources towards pieces you will have for a long time. Leave the trendy stuff for the less expensive items, like a small table, a lamp, or accessories.
Your accessories should reinforce the design and style of the room, not compete with it.
When accessorizing, bigger is better. Even though it looks big in the store it will feel smaller in your home (most times). It is best to have less large accessories than a multitude of small ones. You'll thank us when it's time to dust!
Accessory groupings should be paired in odd numbers. Place items hierarchically from high to low in an imaginary triangle for best effect.
Side or end tables should be equally as tall as the arm of the sofa, loveseat, or chair that they are next to. If the piece does not have arms, use the seat height as a baseline for your table and keep the height of the table only a couple of inches above the seat height.
Coffee or cocktail tables should be appropriately sized for the furniture and room that they are paired with. Try to match the height of your coffee table to the seat height of your upholstered pieces.
Place your coffee or cocktail table 15”-18” away from the central piece of furniture and center it on that piece. All other pieces should be at least 15”-18” away or farther from the table.
Upholstered furniture in one furniture grouping should all have the same seat heights. For example, you should try to buy seating that is all at a 19” seat height if that is what your existing furniture is at.
When purchasing furniture with legs or feet (tables, sofas, etc.) try to match the leg styles between piece types. It doesn't have to be exact but if your sofa has square feet, your loveseat shouldn't have round ball feet.
Draperies should start and end at an architectural element on the wall. Either start at the top of the window casing or the top of the wall. Likewise, end the draperies at the sill (if you don't have an apron), the bottom of the apron, or a couple of inches from the floor.
Design is in the details! Paint on the walls, great planning, and beautiful furniture does not complete your design. Remember to save about 25% of your budget for accessories, lamps, art, and the other small items you'll need to complete your room.
Know that all colors have undertones. Think of all the shades of blue, from that almost purple to the almost green. Look past the main color to see what the undertone is and try to coordinate with colors that have the same undertones. Also, keeping their intensity relatively alike will help you coordinate as well.
Fall in love before you buy! You won't learn to love it just because it was 20% off, and if it seems a little big for your room you won't be able to squeeze it in. Design is hard enough the first time, don't make snap decisions you will regret later. Think about it, measure it, think about it some more. If you are still in love with it and it meets all the qualifications then it is the piece for you!
green
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Use what you have! It sounds simple but buying new does not equal a better design. Sometimes we can fall in love with a piece all over again just by re-upholstering, painting, or even simply re-purposing it.
Energy efficiency! Whether that is accomplished through fluorescent light bulbs, new windows, energy-star appliances, or any other method, you and your pocketbook will be glad you took the steps.
Select materials made from renewable resources. Some of these materials include kirei board, bamboo, fsc woods, cork, linoleum and many more.
Also, selecting fabrics that are natural and sustainable is another great way to protect our precious resources and use something that can be more readily produced such as linen, cotton, silk, wool, and so on. Ask the salesperson questions, it is their job to help you find the best product for you and that includes helping you find a sustainable solution.
Look for recycled content in the fabrics that you select for your space. Every little bit helps!
If the kitchen or bathroom is the room being remodeled, then choose low-flow plumbing fixtures that will save water and money on your water bill.
Ask your furniture supplier if they offer soy-based foams and fillings. This is often an alternative to petroleum based foams and fillings that emit toxic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) into the air.
Ask your furniture supplier where they receive their woods that they use to make their furniture frames. FCS woods and rapidly renewable woods are a couple sustainable sources.
Recycle! One person's trash can truly be another's treasure. Go antique and vintage shopping. After all, the greenest thing you can purchase is something that already exists.
Support your local economy by trying to purchase items manufactured within a 500 mile radius of your project. You will be helping to save valuable fossil fuels by not having your item transported thousands of miles before it reaches your home.
When remodeling a room with existing tile, see if there is any opportunity to cover your existing tile with thin overlay tiles made specifically for that purpose. It will keep your old tile out of the landfill and it will save you time on the demo of the old tile.
When you decide to get rid of something in your home and replace it with something that will suit you better, find a way to keep it out of the landfill. Craigslist, the Re-Building Center, and Portland Metro Recycling are just a few of the resources that can help you do just that.
More important than any advice we can give you is to remind you that as consumers we have the opportunity to change how business is done. Do your research, find out where things come from, what they are made of and how that will affect the environment. Small things can lead to big changes!
seasonal
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Fall is a time for feasting. With the eyes, ears, nose and soul. gorgeous changing foliage, crisp air, bringing in the summer's harvest, candied apples, and dinners of plenty with those we cherish.
What are some simple ways to pull that feasting spirit into our homes you ask? Glad to oblige. Here are 7 quick remedies to fatten up your style this fall:
7 Ways to Make Your Home Fall Fabulous
1 - Rearrange the Furniture
Have a great view of the colorful leaves? Embrace it. Turn your furniture towards it. Maybe the fireplace is the focus this winter but before you get all bundled up, sit down and look out your window to gaze out on the changing of the seasons.
2 - Splash that Color on the Walls
Maybe it's a coat of new paint around the whole room. Or perhaps it's just that accent wall you've been meaning to paint. Whatever it is try it out and see how it refreshes your outlook on your room and the season!
3 - Pillows and Throws
Check out your local stores for new pillows and throws with a fall twist. Save your old ones for when the seasons come around again or donate them to your local Goodwill or other charity. Like they say, one man's treasure...
4 - Organize
Pick a room in your house, a cabinet, or a drawer and clear it out. Don't worry, its not Spring cleaning! Just a quick chance to clear out some of that crazy summer clutter and maybe even find some fun new baskets or storage pieces to help you out.
5 - Shop Your Own Home
Remember what we said about one man's treasure? Well that treasure might be lying in your own home. Switch your photos around, or your accessories. Heck, take that bench you don't know what to do with and place it at the end of the master bed. You might love it somewhere else!
6 – Bring the Outdoors In, Literally
Grab a clear vase, one of those oldies but goodies stashed in those way high up cabinets. Take it outside and fill it with pinecones, mini-pumpkins, acorns and other beautiful things that will make you smile when you see them. Paint them, or not, either way it will make a fun focal point!
7 – Slipcover Wonder
If you need a new look but not a new sofa, try a slip cover. Or perhaps the dining chairs would look nice with a neutral slipcover tied just so with a rich fall inspired ribbon. Whatever the case feel free to add layers to your furniture as well as your wardrobe.
