Space Planning For Your Home

Julia's Girls

Interior Design 101 Lesson 1: Space Planning or Furniture Arrangement Have you ever noticed that there are certain areas in your home where you love to be, and others you avoid? Where do you go to read the mail or a good book? Are you comfortable where you eat breakfast? Is your bedroom a haven, or do you try not to notice how it looks, and just crawl in to bed at night? Some rooms we take the time to design thoughtfully, and some we just throw together to meet the functional needs of our families, without taking the time to make them beautiful. The goal of an interior designer is to make a space beautiful as its functional needs are met. Space planning, or furniture arrangement, is a good place to start. Look at your room from the perspective of someone entering the room. A room must have a traffic plan—a way to get around, unobstructed. Thinking of the activities that will go on in the room, plan around the path you will take to reach the activity center, as well as to closets, windows and adjoining rooms. In California, our floor plans don’t vary too much. Builders have decided we all like to live just the same way—we have nothing to store, we can fold laundry and sort mail in thin air, and we like small family rooms and breakfast areas, but large living rooms and dining rooms. Since most of our homes here are not custom, we adapt to the space we’re given—my sister has a music room where the dining room was meant to be; my friend uses her family room as a gracious dining area in her home so that she can expand her family room the full length of the living and dining area. It works! Once you really understand how you want to use a space, you can begin to place the furniture. Scale is an important element of design here. If your room is small, use small scaled furniture—you don’t have to, and I hesitate to even hint at a rule when it comes to design—but generally speaking, use the right scale furniture for the room. A lot of small scaled furniture in a large room looks just as ridiculous as huge stuff in a small room. (But I will say, if you want to try it the hard way, we designers can help you pull it off—it’s not impossible!) Claudine and I both love to mix styles of furniture. In days gone by, when Penney’s and Sears were the main sources of home goods, people would purchase a bedroom suite or a living room suite of furniture. Everything matched perfectly. Then the draperies and pillows and bed spreads and bed skirts would come—all in the same fabric. It was all so organized and easy to choose, but BORING. Just like donuts, if you get too much of something you love, you don’t love it for long. So, though it’s more complicated, mix it up a little. You’ll love it longer! Claudine and I can help you get the right mix. We want you to be able to walk into any room of your house and feel the need to stop and sigh in the doorway because the beauty of it takes your breath away. (Please note that this is lesson 1. This is by no means the end of the road. Arranging the furniture to satisfy the function of a room is only a start—the room may look just terrible still! The beauty comes in the colors, textures, balance, and all the other elements of design…but that’s to be blogged in the near future, so visit often!)

Julia Dapper

CHRISTMAS DECOR: Christmas Hospitality Tour (Fifth and Final)

Here is the 5th and final installment from the holiday tour.

My Christmas decor. House #9 - Claudine

I love to bring the colors and welcome of Christmas to my home

starting at my front courtyard and walkway.

The black iron urn is the focal point as you walk up to the door,

so I usually change the plants in the urn to reflect the season.

I used a large red and white poinsettia plant

(I wanted to used just white, or the pink and white striped plant, but couldn't find them in good shape). The courtyard already had a touch of red with the vintage lawn chairs,

but I added poinsettias here as well, and votive candles.

Here is a close up of the urn.

I wrapped the base of the plant with garland (impervious to rain)

and added a sparkly pick of Christmas greens and berries.

Across from the wall fountain in the entrance is a wooden bench.

I made Christmas pillows made from felt placemats

(find placemats in double thickness that can be separated easily in the middle -

some placemats have interfacing in the middle that glues the two thicknesses together and makes the placemat stiff and unsuitable for pillows.) Simply open one end of the placemat (unpick the stitching)

and and stuff with polyester stuffing.

Stitch the end back up and you have a great little pillow).

I added red cyclamen to faux greens in a wire planter

and red wooden lanterns with candles for a further punch of red.

 

My 'find' for the season was this pair of old ice skates

which I found at Country Roads antique mall in Orange, Calif.

I hung them from my front porch light, with greens, ribbon, sparkling berries and glittering snowflakes.

I made the wreath on the door from a plain snow-tipped green wreath I picked up at Michaels.

I love the soft luminous subtle green of the ribbon and carrying the theme along, I also added picks and berries with a frosty sparkle.

The Christmas tree is the focal point of the living room. When my husband and I married nearly 30 years ago, we started collecting ornaments. Each has special meaning and marks a milestone in our lives together. Obviously our Christmas tree just wouldn't be the same without our collected ornaments each year - and my family expects to see them. 

 But...as a decorator - I like to change things up from time to time. I am able to change the look of the tree each year by adding different colored ribbon, picks and inexpensive ornaments. This year, the ribbon was a bronze-y gold wired ribbon and I added sparkling icy picks and glittering snowflakes. Over the last few years I have also added ornaments in glittering, crystal or metallic tones to bring more sparkle and shine to the tree.

You can never have too much sparkle!

 

In the front entry, more of the red cyclamen in an antique English iron planter.

The antique french bonnetiere is topped with garland and my theme of icy picks. Inside, a touch of Christmas with a Santa jar in red pottery.

I love to use antiques in a different way for the season.

 Here an antique wooden dough bowl holds pinecones.

The old pine shelf holds old flow blue china, with vintage flocked santa boots and is topped with garland and picks. I'd say that I love picks for the variety they give me. They can be used in so many different ways. Get substantial branches - the tiny picks really don't make much impact. Find ones that are in different hues of greens - to show up against the garland and create volume and dimension. Add some with glitter and some with snow for a plush look.

These picks were particularly long and draped so beautifully that I had to use them atop this mirror. I added shiny oversized silver ornaments.

The stairway is an important focal point in any home - and a great opportunity for a beautiful arrangement of ribbon, garland and in this case, berries, pine cones and icy crystal picks. This looks especially elegant because of the beautiful ribbon - a subtle shade of green with a frosted design.

I found the amaryllis with bulb and roots at Shinoda after seeking inspiration at Rogers Gardens a couple of years ago. They had beautiful faux amaryllis arrangements for around $100. My amaryllis cost $8 each and I already had the urns.  The red is again echoed in the red pillows on the pine bench.

 Seasonal touches were added to the iron piece over the door with garland,

red berries and the 'be merry!' sign.

The photo doesn't do justice to this garland on the family room mantle.  I used extra large pine picks with pinecones and added picks with red berries and sparkling ice crystals and long snow-covered pine branches. This is nice and full and adds richness to the mantle. I used white plastic covered cup hooks (screw hooks) to hang the stockings from the mantle.

I have a small but growing unique santa collection. This santa was a find at Home Goods. The Christmas inventory starts to arrive in October. 

I love the vintage feel of this santa - and his beard.

This santa (above) was a gift from my hubby. The roly poly santa below is another inexpensive find from Home Goods.

  

I have a collection of snowmen - vintage style - displayed in the family room. 

 I added a small artificial tree here to brighten this room.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. There is nothing that warms a house more. I love creating beauty, using beloved collections, and making memories. It was a very great pleasure to host this Christmas tour and I hope to continue this next year and visit more of your beautiful homes.

Best wishes.

Claudine

CHRISTMAS DECOR: Christmas Hospitality Tour (Part 4)

I did not get photos of Betty and Lynette's holiday decor this year

 (sorry for the oversight - I got so wrapped up in our tour I actually forgot to snap photos).

I do, however, have photos from last year - since I decorate their homes each year.

House #7 - Lynette

Lynette and her husband are empty nesters. Unless you count Drake, their dog. Each year Lynette's house goes through a delightful transformation, starting at her front door - which is welcoming year round, but magical at Christmas. Lynette's decorations have been collected over the years, with a few new things added each year. Her color scheme never varies - red, white and silver being the theme - but we make changes in where decorations are placed. Lynette and I usually go to our favorite shops for inspiration at the beginning of the season - such as Rogers Gardens, Tai Pan Trading, Willow Manor or Shinodas.

I used a plain green wreath and added frosty green picks, silver and white berries and red ribbon for this front door welcome.

In her entry, I used garland on the oval mirror and created a vignette with glittering trees, topiaries and a sparkling red and white house.

We decked out her chandeliers with red berries and glittering stars.

Her tablescape was created with faux narcissus on a red runner. Small beaded red wreaths were hung from her cottage style chairs.

We created the garland on her staircase with a base of plain green garland, and stuffed in picks of glittering ice, red berries, frosty pine and white hydrangeas and poinsettias.

I created this floral accent with a silvery urn and another faux narcissus, combined with greens, berries and artichokes. A touch of ivy on the birdhouse and some glittery red candles complete the tablescape.

To dress up the table beneath the family photos, we used an existing vase and arranged greens, berries and ivy.

Another vignette - this one of a dickensian village and red amaryllis wreath.

The focal point of the family room is the fireplace. I made the stockings from red velvet and faux fur. Each is a little different. Note Drake's stocking on the far right. Thank you to Lynette for letting us visit your delightful home.

House #8 - Betty

Betty and her husband recently renovated their home -
adding warmth and elegance with deep wood tones and natural travertine flooring.
Betty and I usually travel to our favorite shops for inspiration
 to choose her color theme which changes each year.
We choose new ribbon and sometimes add new florals or accents such as feathers.
She adds one or two ornaments to her collection each year as well -
and they seem to work well, no matter the color scheme.

The first room you see upon entering is the dining room (prior to the renovation, this room was the formal living room). She is a gourmet cook and entertains often.
 The little used formal living room is now well used as a dining area.
 I create a new, fresh, centerpiece for her each year.
This one had fresh pine boughs surrounding a red ceramic elephant. Another view of the dining tablescape.

Her staircase takes center stage with full green garland, pinecones, ribbon and accents of coppery poinsettias, pheasant feathers, and metallic berries. It looks especially elegant with the dark wood bannister and black wrought iron railings.

People laugh when I tell them that this started out as a little artificial Charlie Brown tree. It was seriously spindly and forlorn, but the only tree left that was pre-lit.
We place it in the urn each year, and pack the bottom with stones and moss.
When I add the ribbon and the ornaments, an amazing transformation takes place - it becomes beautiful!

Another featured spot is the top of the antique china cabinet.

A large lighted wreath hangs in her front window.
It starts as a plain green wreath each year, and I add ribbon, picks and berries
to tie it in with the theme of the decor.

The family room holds Betty's nutcracker collection, which she adds to each year.
The collection serves as festive accents throughout the room -
 paired with ribbon, garland and sugared fruit.

Much thanks to Betty for her gracious hospitality in allowing us a peek of her lovely home.

 

CHRISTMAS DECOR: Christmas Hospitality Tour (Part 3)

More photos for you! Our next two homes:

House #5 - Molly

Molly's children are all young adults now, but she still decks the house out each year.

When I asked her to tell me a little about her decorations she told me she LOVES Christmas.

We could tell the minute we entered her festive house.

In her entry, this beautiful display of santa and sleigh. 

Molly put garland on her staircase with ribbon and strands of beads for a lovely effect.

 A nativity is displayed beneath a beautiful picture depicting the Holy Family

Every room had a Christmas touch. Us 'Flakes' loved this cute plaque over her range in the kitchen.

Family room fireplace and garland was particularly welcoming. Sorry for the flashback on the mirror -

Thanks to Molly for sharing her holiday cheer with us!

House #6 - Heather

Heather is a busy mom of three growing children.

 I neglected to take photos of her lovely decor - but fortunately Heather took a few.

 I wish I could show you the magnificent porcelain Santa that Heather made with the help of her mother, a master dollmaker. It was the hit of the night.

It is easy to see that Heather loves red. She created a dramatic sparkling welcome with this beautiful wreath of red berries and poinsettias.

We thought her tree was rather gorgeous, too. According to her husband, she goes to great lengths to find the 'perfect' live tree each year.

Heather's sparkling tablescape was vibrant in gold and red.

We liked this creative treatment for hanging the kid's Christmas stockings - using a shelf - it's adorable.

A sparkling pick adds dramatic charm to a shelf.

Heather's family nativity was spectacular on her entry chest.

Accents of red throughout - paired here with green atop a mantle.

The top of a cupboard gets a festive touch as well.

Sparkling red berries and bejeweled poinsettias create a beautiful candlescape.

I love the way Heather brings a touch of red to every corner of her house.

I am so happy that she took a few photos.

Thank you to Heather, for being so generous and letting us come see your home.