A bit of everything, including foyers

To make a house a home, you really have to live in it.  I tell clients who want to paint, wallpaper, and by everything before they move into a new place, live in it.  Now if it really needs painting, then do minimal work, as you can very easily change your mind after you move in.  You need to get the feel for your home.  To me houses speak to you.  They tell me I'm happy, I'm tired, I'm old and so on.  How much time have you spent listening to your home?  Does your house speak to you, or are you doing the talking?  Do you say, I hate or dislike my bedroom?  my bathroom?  my living room?  Then it is time to do something about it.  In the past blogs, I have told you many things about what you can do.  Start with traffic patterns, comfort, light, and use.  We have gone over all of these previously, and I will keep coming back to these.

I have talked about other paint companies, but Glidden has come out with" Picking a Color can be a Beast".  I love the color ads in the magazines and on television, now even the animals are getting colored.

A back up a little to Feng Shui, I have decided to paint my front door red as I told you.  I want a big Splash when you enter, and my front door does fast directly East.  So I am trying my first bit of Feng Shui , after I submit my color to the architectural board.  Funny, how today it seems that everyone has a say in your life.

 

This is the first thing you see as you enter my front door, as I showed you I think yesterday, I showed you the entrance.  I wanted you to be aware of the texture, and look back at yesterdays blog and see how much is packed into an area.  The sofa fabric offers a lot of texture, the wood adds warmth, the glass adds reflection and the lamp, (that has a very small wattage bulb) adds drama at night.  The blue hydrangeas, pull the blue from the vases that are on opposite side of the entrance.  Unfortunately, there is a step down from the foyer to the floor.  Very bad architectural plan, there should never be a step down when people come into an area, especially an entrance.  Steps are different.  It just so happens that the whole back wall is a window wall with French doors, and look directly onto the pool area and the lake behind.  If you are looking at the pool area or whatever, it is a very dangerous step down.  We have chaser lights and put signs on our front doors so people hopefully will take heed.

 

This chandelier is also very visible from the foyer, and can you believe it is over 4' high.  You can tell by the paintings behind it that are stacked one on top of the other.  Again, one is a giclee' of one of mine and the other is an original by another artist I know.  We will talk more about this later when we get into dining rooms.  As you see, I like to mix everything.  My adage, "If you love it, Buy it".  You can see some of my paintings on another blog: www.riverviewartstudios.com.

 

Buy the way,  I did tell you that using a lint roller on lamp shades cleans them wonderfully.  It is great to use on chandeliers such as this one. 

 

From the Traditional Living Magazine, Feb/March, 2013, an article by "Ann Omvig Maine", interior designer," what families are craving it seems, is not a Showplace, but a Shareplace.  A light flooded home with fabrics you don't have to fear spilling on, pet friendly spaces and chairs so cozy they practically wrap you in hugs".  This would be my favorite use of Sunbrella fabrics.

 

Let your rooms serve many purposes.  Especially your Living room, it has never been a used room.  Use it for reading, chatting with a friend with a cup of coffee or tea instead of the kitchen.  Have tea served there.  Use it for grabbing a nap or  quiet place for a little me time.

 

Sounds like a good plan for a rainy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!