Modern Fence Concept: Hedge

Walking down Deleware Street through the River Market this morning and noticed Max Kaiser's Shop sells Ranka...lasting greenery that looks great! Also known as faux boxwood, or faux ivy. More expensive than the real thing, but it's one and done. No need to trim or water this baby. Just do the quarterly rinse off with the hose to get it shinin' again! 

I think it would make a fine privacy fence. Don't you? 

Now I'm wondering, at the end of the day...how would it price out compared to a cedar fence. Probably more...but if I do the math I'll letcha know.

(Ranka via Max Kaiser, buy online, other modern fence concepts with greenery)

Interior Design Tips: From My Home to Yours

Tip #6: It all comes together in the details.

Pretty simple topic here. Each of these living spaces have mixed color, pattern, and texture well. Yes, they started with good bones. Meaning the sofas have nice shape, tufting, colors and patterns. But I want to draw your attention to the details. The accent pillows, the framed art with objects mixed in (second to last photo), books, bowls, trays, flowers, driftwood, that little bronze squirrel you found at the flea market...the details...ya know?

I would encourage you to do this. Take a photo of your own living room. Then examine the photo. What do you think? Could it use a few more details? Think pattern, texture, color. Does it need a shiny object, a textured pillow, or a patterned rug?

P.S. I am helping a friend redo our "Mama's Sofa," the nursing mom's room at our church. This weekend we are on the hunt for a sofa, and hopefully some of the details to make the room feel like home.

Interior Design: Small Bathroom Solution

What do you think of these open shower concepts? If you're modest, I'm guessing you may feel too exposed and much prefer to be more enclosed when washing those 2000 parts. I think I'm into them. Shower curtains are lame-o, in my opinion, and shower walls are just there for squeegee-ing. When using this concept, the whole bathroom would need to be more water resistant. It is a nice solution for a small bathroom, via the first and third photos. These narrow spaces don't feel so cramped when the shower is open. 

Whatever shower solution you've got, the important thing is to use it. Hygiene is very important for your health and well being. The real question is how often. This article suggests that showering too often can have a potentially damaging effect on your skin. They also say that if you've got the time, it's best for your skin if you air dry. Go ahead and give it a read. And don't forget to light a candle. Especially you hardworking mothers with small children. I've realized that anytime I can create a "spa-like" atmosphere for myself, I'm more calm and relaxed. 

Kristyn

P.S. Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle has become our most recent go-to body wash. It's quite nice.

Interior Design Tips: From My Home To Yours

Hi there. It's me again. I won't say it's full speed ahead, but I didn't forget about you. Our main goal of the holidays was to truly relax and that's what I did. But we are back into the routine, and I am feeling good about the new year. As you may know, something I'm good at is daydreaming, especially when time allows. Lately it's been home remodeling ideas...and I've come to a conclusion. Drumroll please.

Tip #7. One key element to a fantastic home is it's connection to the great outdoors. Taking the inside out, and the outside in. These connections, these indoor/outdoor rooms, walls full of windows or bifold doors all connect the home to the outside. Nature. The place where we go to get a breath of fresh air, hear birds sing, feel a cool breeze or get warmed by the sun. 

How can this be accomplished? It depends on your own space of course, but here are some ideas.

-Take out the single back door and put in glass sliding or French doors. 
-Replace a small window with a larger one. (We renovated a 1920s bungalow attic into a master bedroom and the highlight of the room was the 4' x 6' window we installed to replace the 2' x 2' window that was there previously. It was beautiful to watch the seasons change out of that window.)
-Or go all out and add a sunroom or wall of windows. 
Here are some homes who have made this connection quite exquisitely...

These photos aren't so practical or design on a dime projects, but think conceptually about your space. What is your connection to the outdoors? I mean, just because you don't live by the ocean doesn't mean you can't spray Ocean Breeze and gaze at your large photo of the ocean now does it? Dream a little. It'll do you good.

(photo links and photo.)

Interior Design Tips: From My Home to Yours

Hello. It's Monday. Let's get this week started with a drumroll, please. (Holy cow, I meant Tuesday. It's Tuesday. Monday was so good I wanted to do it all over again.)

Tip #8. 

Take drapery floor to ceiling and puddle it.   

Put that curtain rod up high and let the fabric drape down low. How low can you go? Can you go down low? All the way to the flo? Below are some examples and good sources with more detail on the topic (Note: I wish I had more time to discuss all of these tips/topics, but I've linked some good posts on drapery and puddling below!) :

Puddled drapery. 

Works well in a formal setting. (This length is more of a trouser than a puddle.)

Puddling also works well in a casual setting. 

These drapes barely puddle and I love their minimal track style mounting. 

Big puddle. Very casual and cozy.

Puddling also works in patterned drapes. 

I love this inexpensive and lovely way to hang drapery. Piping, rope, and gauzy twin sheets! You have to see the rest here.

I Dream of Drapery - check this out for simple tips and photos with dimensions.
Ragen has good tips on drapery types and fabric + details.  
Roses and Rust - good post on puddling.

Good day to you whether you're living in a Monday or Friday mentality,

Kristyn

Interior Design Tips: From My Home to Yours

Drumroll please. 

Tip #9.

Do not transition paint colors on an outside corner. Do you know what I'm saying? No? Okay, then I drew up two little rooms to show you what I mean. This first one here shows the walls all white except for the blueish wall paint accent. What this dear couple wanted was an accent color in the room. What they didn't realize is that they should have wrapped the blueish paint around the outside edge of the room. See the orange arrows. This is the transition I'm speaking of. This fine couple should treat the walls not as 2D planes but more like 3D objects. Think of keeping one object one color. Photo two, with the paint wrapping the edge makes for a much more finished look. The blueish paint edges get to hide out in the corners and not be fully exposed as in Photo one. 

(Click here in case you missed Tip #10!) Oh, and I must this. First, this fine couple could use some art/mirrors on their wall and a few chairs to complete their room layout (but hey, I'm drawing on a tight time schedule here...all the kids are napping!) And secondly, I do admire their sweet sofa. (its still my fave!)

Thanks and stay tuned!

Much love from your designer friend,

Kristyn