Before and after bits

Yesterday, I talked about moving things around.  I showed you a shell shelf in the pool bathroom.  It had a plate on it that I really didn't care for.  I leave things there for a while to see how I react to them.  Just as I told you the other day.  The Wow Factor!  Here is my before and after:

 

Don't know if I love either one.  I will live with this for awhile.  Perhaps, I will find just the right thing.  The vase is very Art Deco with a gold inside.  It probably would be better appreciated down low.  I will keep you informed.

 

As I was reading a Better Homes and Gardens Magazine this morning, I saw something of great interest to me.  It was on organizing.  I am always organizing.  If I didn't have so many projects going, I wouldn't have to constantly organize.  They took a square canvas box and filled it with brown paper bags.  They inserted different items in the bags, probably related and wella!, things are organized.  I have my own thoughts on that.  I like the idea of the square canvas box.  I have to look and see what is available, and maybe something that will allow rolled up paper to set in.  I have used a large wastepaper basket, rolled things up and they were well organized.  If I could find some type of plastic cylinder, it would keep them neater.  I usually use paper clips to keep them rolled.  See this is what I mean.  If you discover something, see if you can't expand upon it.  Waste paper baskets, the Rubbermaid type, work the best for me.  You have to be careful in Florida with cardboard as it draws silverfish along with the dampness.  They are attracted to glue as my bug man told me.  I have gotten rid of all cardboard.  They like books also.  These are a few FYI.

 

As I go through my house, after almost 2 solid months of company, I am starting to notice things that have happened , like little nicks here and there.  So let me tell you how to take care of most of them:

Old English, makes a polish for wood that covers scratches, not so much dents.  For that, you need a professional.  For the most part it works pretty good.  The Home Depot, Lowe's , Menards, And Ace Hdw. are a few that have sticks that match colors, or little touch up paints.  Shoe polish is another great trick for wood.  One reason is that you can shine it.  I have a black cabinet it the pool bath, it has some nicks I noticed yesterday and a crack from lack of humidity in the house, a common thing in Florida in the summer.  Black paste shoe polish will work just fine.

 

For tile, I bought some Porcelain fix at one of the same stores above, and being a color expert, I buy  a bottle of cheap acrylic paint at Joanne's or Michael's.  I mix it on a piece of wax paper and paint a dab on.  It works perfectly.

 

Another great tool of mine for doing these projects is wax paper or foam paper plates.  Easy clean up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

A bit of confidence!

The other day, I read several articles about confidence.  My reading goes in all directions as I teach also, and want my students to develop confidence.  That isn't something I can give you, but I can help you work up to it.  This is almost anything you can or try to do.  "Never Give Up".  When all else fails seek expert help.

I am surprised that no one who reads this blog ever asks a question.  As I write, I have questions for myself.  I write them down immediately.  I come across words that I can't either pronounce or know what they mean.  Plain English is what I know, not words that become fancy, and are used in connection with the design world.  Sometimes in my blog, I give you the definition of a word so you know what it means.

Today, I would like you to do me a favor and send all your friends my blog site: www.nancysdesignbitsandpieces.blogspot.com .  That may help me along.

For today, I want to talk about paint again.  I have a project that is copper.  By the way, copper is the new canvas for some acrylic artists.  I want to try it, but right now I am committed to other projects.  It is a copper pole that is attached to a ceiling fixture that had a black rustic look.  The copper had to be added to give the fixture length.  The thing is, it now needs to be the same color as the light fixture.  Upon hunting, I found a no prep metal paint by Deco Art.  It is black and as I paint it on and rub it off, it matches perfectly.  A little digging and you can find exactly what you want.

Back to confidence, If you just buy some poster board, and try some faux painting, you gain confidence in what you need to do.  It may also, make you totally give up and try something else.

There is a book, " Drawing on the Right Side of The Brain".  That is your creative side. I have read that there really are people who can teach themselves to be creative.

I am a firm believer that if you set your mind to do something "YOU CAN DO IT".

Let's jump back to design.  Take a room, any room in your house, and find a show stopping piece that fits in that room.  It could be nothing but a beautiful vase with fresh flowers, or a wow picture that you have found.  Set it down or hang in up, what ever and leave the room.  Do not go back until you need to go into that room.  Does it still give you the same effect?  Then start there.  If it doesn't, try another piece.  I tried a blue and white plate on a pedestal.  It has been there for a few weeks and it does nothing for me.  I need to try something else.  Today is that day.  I need to hunt the house first, then perhaps buy something.  I would love a beautiful piece of glass.  Just thought of something.  It is up on a plant shelf, it is a cobalt blue blown glass vase.  I will try it later.

Here is the plate on the seashell shelf:  I think it need height!

 

See the shelf above the picture.  This picture appeared in a previous blog.  Tomorrow, I will show you what it looks like before and after.  With the onset of computers and cameras or smart phones, we can do this so easily.

 

Tomorrow, before and after shots.  And maybe a little craft lesson.  I am so involved in so many things, that I will do bits and pieces of all the artistic world in blogs to come.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inspiration "Bits and Pieces

In my" bits and pieces", I get inspired everyday.  Today as I was going thru some things, I found some other pictures of things I have done.  I may have put them on one of the past blogs, but here they are.

I talked about striping.  This guest bath was striped in 1993-94.

 

This is an old camera photo, so it didn't scan in great.  First let me explain a few things.  First of all, I first painted the walls white, and let them dry a good week, then striped in in an old color, a Ralph Lauren color that is no longer available.  It had a shimmer to it, although I no longer remember the color.  It had silver in it.  If ever I remember, I will let you know as it was beautiful.

 

I have always been a blue and white person, and I love to add different colors to it.  This particular one was a sunny yellow.   This pattern was popular in the early 1990s.  The fish above the towel rack was purchased at an art fair, and it now hangs in the guest bath in the house I live in now.  Since the towels matched the shower curtain, I left them with the house.  The shell  on the commode is made of wood.  It is a piece that goes anywhere.  It is even great on a table setting.  I think at the moment it is on the lanai here.  In the mirror is a reflection of some koi fish I did in the early 1990's and is above the commode in my guest bath today.  So things do travel well.  " If You Really Love It, Buy It, It Will Fit Somewhere."

 

Here are the same pieces used today:

 

 

 Here is the same fish.  It really can go anywhere, and it is blue and white.   This is in the guest bath.  Remember, we talked about the framed mirror previously, and the lighting.

 

This is the koi fish picture that I painted years ago.  See how much blue and yellow is in it.  Then orange is added which is the compliment to blue.  You can see in the fish ceramic piece above the top of the bottom picture frame.  They are together on the same wall.  this is also wallpapered, that you can see in a previous blog. This painting is for sale, but please contact me about it.

 

 

 Here is the same sea shell used as a table decoration.  To me all of these things are usable everywhere.  I love to change things.

 

What can you change?????

 

 

Pieces of a lot of things

Today is the 72nd day of my blog.  It seems like it was only a week ago.  It does take time and planning. 

Yesterday a client e-mailed me about some colors she had chosen.  I favor, Sherwin Williams paint as I have used it forever.  Her painter also likes to use those paints.  I didn't have my fan deck with me, so today, I ran to Sherwin Williams and picked out her colors.  Too late, her painter started painting the bedroom and she about freaked, it looked neon.  Some colors do that.  When I saw the chip, I knew she would hate it.  She now choose a beige color.

Sometimes it is good to seek help.  then a mistake is harder to make.  As designers or decorators, we are not mistake proof.  Things happen.  I love to read what all the different designers say about what they are doing.  Only once in my life did I have free reign.  It turned out glorious, but that is not the norm.  Most of the time, you guide clients.

Some designers love texture and color so much, they develop a "More is More" attitude.  the more of anything you use, the more you like it.  Again, this is a matter of preference.

We've been talking about foyers.  The foyer should be an inviting beginning to your home.  I agree, but I believe the entrance should be the inviting thing to your home.  Porches are becoming so important in homes today.  Pay attention to the front entrance leading to the foyer.  Outdoor areas can have some furniture, hanging lanterns, flower pot gardens, even today, programmable candles.  I just bought one and am going to try it out.

  Inside, minor things such as pictures, mirrors, faux painting, wallpaper ( this used to be the thing to do, and is now the thing to do), area rugs, light fixtures, and ceiling trims or moldings can change an area very quickly.  My favorite is crown moldings.  They are expensive but add that elegant, important look to any room.

Dark colors make a wall recede.  sometimes that is great in a foyer, if you want to push back a wall.  They are not a lived in room, they are an entrance.  Make it smashing.  Large pattern wallpaper can make the area look grand, making it look finished without anything else needed.  I love mirrors o dark areas or bright paintings.

 

Title: Bromeliads

Size: Unframed 22' ht. x 15" w.

Price $450.00

Original Watercolor

>

 

A painting like this in the foyer as colorful as it is, is a real attention getter.  The dark background, sets up the color.  I will take it out of the gallery and have it framed and put into the foyer, for you to see.  Who knows, I may love it there.  Perhaps I should start a "Rent a Painting".

 

Study the area, and jump in with both feet.

A funny thing happened this morning as I was reading an older issue of Better Homes and Gardens.  It talked about " if you love it, you will find a place to use it".  Almost my motto, "If you love it, buy it".  I always find a place somewhere for it. 

Lately, I have been moving things around and came across a few things that I even forgot I had.  These wonderful little fish carved out of teak.  I bought them probably 20 or so years ago.  Now they look darling outside on a table, next to my programmable candle. 

I would like to develop a technique to make my acrylic paintings work outside on my lanai.  I found a beautiful art deco green leaf at a resale shop.  It is the same type as some Florida leaves.  I want to paint a picture of these and use it with the dish outside on the lanai, over the grill.  I am messing around with some things.  Will let you know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New insight to a few pieces

I read a very lot of magazines and to the trade magazines and things related to design all the time. 

Almost every magazine I look at talks about color all the time, mirrors, space saving ideas and clutter.  Just reading some of these articles, any one gives a person a new insight or feeling of something to do.

Several weeks ago I showed you a room of stripes that I did.  Actually the first room I striped was in the 60's in my daughter's nursery.  ( Yellow Stripes) I told you about the hall I was just starting and showed you the chandelier that has been hung.  I told you it would be a shade of white with pale blue stripes.  Yesterday, I read in House Beautiful, July/Aug 13 issue:  " Trick your eye-give wall and floors the stripe treatment to expand the sense of space".  Not sure who the author was.  It was in a space saving issue.  I love to use quotes as they just reinforce all the old tricks and adages that have been around forever.  Remember "What goes around comes around", there is only so much out there that has to be reused.

The latest recession, seems to me the worst I have ever been through.  In the design business, I saw many businesses fail, companies that I had dealt with for years close, fabrics, etc. taking longer than usual to receive after ordered, an actual slowdown in the design business for the average person. Television programs on DIY showed up on all types of things.  Some were good, for the recession.  a lot of ideas are out there.

The programs on T.V., sometimes are amusing to a designer or decorator.  They are using things straight out of the old books.  So, I am trying to tell and show you things old and new, a lot straight out of the old books. (Not literally, but what is in my mind).  I love to interject things out of present day magazines, and the publishers should be happy, because you may just go out and buy their magazine.

Mirrors and glass expand your space.  Chandeliers and objects hung high, tend to draw your eyes upward.  In talking about entrances ( foyers) the other day, I mentioned several different things, but here are some pictures ( that visual thing) of a foyer:

 

Even though there is a lot of light coming thru the French doors, I choose a mirror to bring in the dining room with it's wonderful pedestals into the picture.  On either side, are crystal candlesticks with glass candles filled with oil in case of a blackout. They can also be used them  formal dining along with other candles.  The large blue and white vase serves  as a place for canes.  It is really a vase but can be used as an umbrella holder also.  Also notice a niche that the mirror is hung in.  I can always change that out and put a painting in it.  I have to be careful with a painting as light will affect the color and fade many of them.

 

 

This is the opposite side of the mirror with a sconce with ivy and a blue and white vase to carry out the theme with my blue and white.

This is the light fixture, believe it or not, it is quite large.  It is stained glass and really doesn't mimic any of my other things, but it looks grand there.  See all the curves in the architectural plan.  They add so much interest.
So here again, we have a mixture of old and new, reproductions, crystal an the iron in the chandelier.


This is a before picture of the inside of the door color.  They are new and have not been painted yet.  They will be just white.  I am a great fan of white woodwork.

I talked a little bit about Feng Shui, so I am going to pint my front door red, first it matches and second, I want to change the look of my front entrance.  The door has to be painted anyway.

Look at your foyer or entrance way, see if you can find a way to enhance it.  There are my before pictures.  So layer look for my after ones.

Til tomorrow, Ta,Ta!!!!!!!!!

Bits and Pieces of Everything

A quote by Billy Baldwin " Decorating is never successful unless it is personal".

Since I don't know your home, I must just present basics.  There is a place to ask me questions at the end of each blog.  That is when I can make it more personal to you.

My hairdresser  asked me today about the colors for her home on the outside.  We talked a little, and I gave her my professional opinion.  She said that was a good idea. If she hadn't asked, she would not have had any professional input.

Today I learned something new.  I was at Lowe's and looking for a type of paint for my refrigerator door handles.  They are $189.00 to buy.  Looking at them, they are made of a hard rubber.  What kind of paint do you use on rubber to make it last?  Go to the pros.  Anything that you paint that is used all the time should be totally clean before it is painted.  He said clean it with alcohol first, then spray it.

I will let you know.  I have alcohol and white Rustoleum.  If it works, it is virtually free.  If it doesn't work, I guess step 2 is buy a new one.

In several blogs, I talked about mirrors.  Today I went to my studio, and wow!  It doesn't even look like the same place.  It is so light.  Great for painting. Yesterday I told you it was done so today was the visual part.  I love, love, love it!!!

Mirrors are the oldest decorating trick there is.  First they double the space as they reflect all the light.  My little room is not huge, but today it looks humongous.  If I had glass top tables in there, the room would look larger, as glass and acrylic tables or even Lucite, allow the light to go through as though they aren't even there.  Myself, I have several glass top tables in my living room and my dining room table has a glass top.  Even though the ceilings are 12', they make the space look larger than it is.

That is why good mirrors in  bathroom are as important as the lighting.  We all love pretty lighting, but make sure it is functional.  I love hand mirrors on the counters as they let you look at the back of your head.  Many art or craft fairs have stained glass places, or you may have a studio close to you, I love the stained glass hand mirrors as they are functional as well as pretty.  I have one that looks like a pink flower on the back.

Another great thing in bathrooms are the rugs.  If you find one that is multi colored, carry one or more of the colors through the bathroom.  A lot depends on the size and width of the room.  Also whose bath it is.  Children's baths are fun to do.  There is so much out there these days, that you can really be creative.  I have noticed in the stores the bright colors that are available, it is fun to mix and match.  Let the children become involved as it is there room.  Don't put your fancy things in there, put their things in there.

One of my friends decided to make one of her bathrooms look like a tropical island. She used I will probably spell this wrong (tatuage), they are a sticker type decor and really are quite attractive.  I will have to check with her on the spelling.  Anyways, she has sea weed and fish on the shower door,  A large palm tree, sea type accessories, and it is very whimsical.  I will see if I can get pictures of it.

I find it hard to imagine how much there is to use today even compared to 10 years ago.  I'd love to hear from you as to something you have used.