Barbara Turner Design

To find the right combination of colors start with a favorite print.

The print might be a piece of artwork, upholstery fabric, wallpaper, drapery fabric, floor medallion, or an aria rug.

When choosing your print consider, what the print will say about the room?

What style is the print, Traditional, Country, or Contemporary?

Will the print be casual or dressy; does it have texture, or sheen?

What color tones are set by the print?  Usually there are three.  The basic (many times background), contrast color and accent color.  Accent colors should be used as a little surprise.  As a rule of thumb, the accent color should show up at least three times in the room.

Don’t shy away from using a color wheel to select coordinating colors.  These can be purchased at any art supply.

You can keep it simple by following some basic rules.

Try using the following ratios of color, 2/3 to 1/3, or 60-30-10.

Here are three recipes to create a balanced color scheme.

Toning Schemes, these are made up of tones of a single color.  With no sudden color changes these monochromatic color schemes can create an impression of space and light.  They give a feeling of calm and quite.  Use them to make small rooms look lighter or dark areas more open.

Harmonious Schemes, use color, which are found next to or close to, one another on the color wheel.  For example combine Lilac, blue and aqua, or yellow, apricot and orange.  They create a calming and soothing atmosphere.  Use them to create a fresh, spacious look.

Contrasting Schemes, these are achieved by using opposites from the color wheel. They create different effects depending on the strength of the colors.  Contrasting strong creates drama, excitement, and energize.  They will give your room a vibrant, upbeat feel.

Remember color can create a mood and change the energy of a room.

These are furniture pieces, usually wood, glass, metal, or a combination of all three. Trying to match these pieces is too limiting; great rooms are full of complexities and contradictions. 

The trend these days is towards more versatile pieces, because these pieces can reinvent themselves in that room, or in other rooms around the house.

Furniture Placement

Upholstered furniture is used to create a conversation area in the room.  Try arranging these pieces in an L, U, or X shaped design

Here are a few tips for furniture placement.

A coffee table should be placed with in 15” of a couch for using a cup.

 

Try to keep traffic lanes 3 feet wide, with a minimum of at least 2 feet.

 

Remember that physical comfort promotes psychological comfort.

 

Balance or Symmetry is formal, asymmetrical is more casual.

 

For eating center allow 36” form the back of the chair to wall if so you may pass around the table.

 

For eating center which allows for walking around the table allow 44” from the wall.

 

Allow 21” minimum space per person at a breakfast bar.  Seating four people comfortably requires 84” of space.

 

The stool height for a 36” high counter is 24”.  With a 42” to 45” high counter you will need 30” to 32” bar stools.

You will find that there are three different types of lighting.

General Illumination - this is also called ambient lighting.  It could be table lamps, chandeliers, recessed lighting or track lighting.

 

Task Lighting is a reading light or the light above your stove, or a sink.

 

Accent Lighting - these lights could be everything from the lights in your cabinets, wall sconces, wall washers, or any lamp with less than 60 watts of light.

 

Here are some tips for lighting your rooms.

The chandelier needs to hang a minimum of 30” above the table and have a minimum of 150 watts.  If your ceiling is higher than 8’ raise the chandelier slightly.  Scale is important.  An open airy chandelier will fit into a small room where a heavy, ornate chandelier will need a larger room.  Chandelier guidelines, 10x10 room 17 to 20” diameter.  12x12 room 20 to 26” diameter.  For a 14x12 room you will need a 24 to 30”.

 

Try to eliminate shadowy corners because they will shrink the room.

 

For a good reading light, the bottom of the shade should be at eye level, when seated

There are many choices available for wall treatments.

Wallpapering can range from inexpensive to expensive, and may require some prep work.  They can be made from Textiles, paper or vinyl.

 

Paneling can range from inexpensive to expensive.  This treatment isn’t as popular as it used to be, but is still used in libraries, offices, or family room.

 

Wainscoting is also a nice choice for living and dinging areas.

 

Chair Rails and Crown Moldings can also add drama and interest to your walls.

Hints for beautiful walls:

To add some contrast do just one wall in a different color.

 

Contrast looks best 1 and 3, never 2 & 3.

 

Add a Chair Rail to divide to colors on a wall.

 

A Chair Rail typically will be installed 28” to 32” up from the floor.

 

Drop a Crown Molding down and extend the color of the ceiling down to the top of the Crown Molding.

Using hard and soft accessories will give your room your personal style.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.  One of the most fun areas of decorating your home is adding the accessories.

Hard accessories are pictures, mirrors, shelves, lamps, crystal, etc.  Soft accessories are fabric, candles, and floral Arrangements.

You need to find a balance of hard and soft accessories in the room.  Too may hard accessories will look very masculine in character.  Too many soft accessories will give the room a very feminine, and somewhat frilly look.

Hints on how to accessorize:

Pictures should be positioned no more than one foot above your furniture.

 

Test possible arrangements on your wall, before you commit.

 

Generally speaking larger and darker pictures look better if placed toward the bottom and center of an arrangement.

 

Symmetrical arrangements tend to be formal whole asymmetrical is more casual.

 

Try and make the center of the artwork being at eye level.  Because of that – artwork in the dining room should be hung lower than in the hallway, where it will be situated height at standing, eye level.

 

Larger heavier framed artwork needs more “breathing space” while skinny framed pieces can be placed closer together.

 

The center of a grouping should be at eye level.  Odd numbers in groupings tend to look better.  Try cutting out the sizes of the items to be hung out of newspaper.  Then tape the newspaper up, stand back and take a look.

 

Soft Accessories include things like pillows, tablecloths, draperies, runners, throws, floral arrangements, plants and candles.

 

You will find that fabric accessories soften the room, and can add lineal lines.

 

Candles and fire will raise the emotional temperature of a room.

 

Floral arrangements should have the right proportion to their container.  They look best when rising up above the vase by one and one half times the height of the vase. Try adding some visual interest to an arrangement by adding marbles, rocks, or fruit to a vase.  Try floating cranberries in a clear vase.  Remember adding an aspirin to water can make an arrangement stay fresh longer.

 

To create a table arrangement unit themed items, vary the height to create interest.  Unify small items in trays or boxes.  Odd numbers of items look more interesting than even numbers.  Elevate those items that you want to have status.

The final touch is adding your personal style.  This is where your house becomes your home.  Add your personality to every room; this is where your home gets its soul.  You do this by adding your personal photographs, collections and don’t forget the scent.

I hope you have enjoyed this site, and picked up a few tips that you can use in your home!

Questions to ask yourself:

What are your needs for privacy?

What direction does the window face?

Do I need single or dual function window coverings?

Do I need cordless, or child proof window coverings?

What most important decoration versus function?

What is my budget?

 

Suggestions for best results:

Hardly anyone is not on a budget.  For all the reasons above window coverings are a necessity for your home.  When considering the options, keep function and versatility in mind.

 

Stay with the neutral colors.  If you change the wall color, you won’t need to change the window treatment.  Choose a product with a good warranty.

 

Consider how your window treatments look from the outside of your home.  Your window covering should be contributing to your curb appeal.  It is always best to stay with a uniform color facing out.  You don’t want your house to look like a patchwork quilt.

 

Measuring your windows should always be done with a rigid tape measurer.  Measure once across the top of the window where the head rail might get installed, then across the middle of the window and then across the bottom.  Then take a final measurement of the length of the window from top to bottom.  Keep in mind there is no such thing as a perfectly square or rectangular window.  Windows can and often do, bow in or out, even in a new home.

Types of floor coverings include Wall to Wall Carpet, Hardwoods, Laminate Flooring, Tile, Stone, Vinyl, and Area Rugs.  Making the right choice for these Items is very important.

Before choosing a floor covering, ask yourself these questions:

How many people will be living in the home?

How many children do you have, what are their ages?

Do you have any house pets?

Do you have any allergies?

Will you be installing a pool?

What type of entertaining do you do?

What type of work do you do, will you work from home?

What hobbies do you have?

Is there something in your current home that works well for you?

Wall to Wall Carpets are typically made from four types of fibers: Nylon, Wool, Polyester, and Olefin.  Of these 100% Nylon and Wool are by far your best choice.  They will outlast and they are easier to keep clean than the Polyesters and Olefins.  Nylons and Wools are typically more expensive, but worth the difference in the long run.  The price of carpeting depends on the fiber, the face weight, style, stain protection, and overall construction of the piece.  If you have someone with allergies in the home, carpet may not be the best choice, as they can loose fibers and trap dust, but low pile carpets are the better choice for people with allergies.  Also the lower pile carpets hold up better on stairs.  If footprints bother you, stay with a loop, loop pattern good, or very short pile with a very tight twist to the fiber. Although loop and short piles have a tendency to show seaming more, a good installer can usually had these quite well.

Remember choosing the right pad for your carpet is important as well.  There are many types of pads out in the market place.  Most important is the weight and the height of the pad.  Different heights work better for some styles of carpets than others.  Loop pile carpets work best with a lower profile, or height pad, usually 3/8” or under.  The weight of the pad is determined by how much a square foot of the product weighs, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 lb. are typical.  I prefer using a pad in the 8-10 lb. range.  After you have determined the right height for your pad by the style of carpet you picked, then try placing the pad sample under your carpet sample on a hard surface, and put your knees on them.  Your knees are more sensitive than your feet.  If this feels good, it is the right pad for you!

Area rugs are great for defining a space, or creating a conversation area.  They will frame or anchor your furniture.  Typically these are made from Nylon, Wool, Silks, Synthetics, and Grasses.  A sculpted or rug with a design shaved into the fibers, can be a beautiful choice as well.  The price of the piece is determined by the fiber, face weight, and how they are made.  The hand knotted rugs are usually more expensive than the machine made.  These hand knotted products are usually made from Wool or Silk and can last for generations with good care. 

Here are some tips for choosing your area rugs.  It is a good idea to take two colors from the rug up into the room.  When buying a rug for under a dining room table, the rug should allow for a chair to be out enough to sit down easily and still be on the rug.

Hardwoods can add beauty, warmth and a luxurious look to a room.  There are two main types of hardwoods: wood planks, and engineered wood floors.  The wood plank floors are often a finish in place product, but may also be purchased pre-finished.  Wood plank floors are usually a little more expensive, but can be refinished several times over time.  The engineered hardwood floors are typically crisscrossed layers of hardwood that add strength to the floor and help to prevent warping and cracking. Engineered hardwood floors may be resurfaced as many times as you like, but typically can only be refinished, or sanded two to three times.

Either of these two products can add to the value of your home.  Wood is a commodity, and usually increases in value right along with your home.  When a house is listed for resale they will often list that the house has hardwood flooring.  These floors should never be wet mopped, and may not be the best choice for homes with younger children, or pets weighing over 35 lbs.  Removing your shoes is also a good idea with hardwood floors.

Laminate flooring generally speaking is less expensive than real hardwood floors and is the answer for families who want the luxurious look of a hardwood without the upkeep.  A laminate wood floor is the answer for families with young children and pets.  When choosing this product be sure to pick a manufacturer who will guarantee that the dye lot can be matched at a later date if you need to order more for making repairs.  It also good to keep any leftover pieces for the same reason.

Sheet Vinyl is another option for an inexpensive yet beautiful way to cover your floors.  They are also very easy to clean, for that reason they can be a good choice for a hobby room floor, or for a children’s play area.  I suggest that you go with the styles that look like stone and shy away from the sheets that look like hardwood.  When selecting your vinyl be sure and check the warranties.  If you have a sunny location look for one that has a good UV protection.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Flooring has been very popular for the last ten years.  You see this type of flooring used more in warmer climates because they have a tendency to be cold.   With proper care they can last a lifetime.  This is one of the reasons I suggest that you stay with the neutral colors for these floors.  The best ceramic tiles are made from porcelain.  Porcelain is very strong and more resistant to chipping and cracking.  Avoid a tile that repeats its pattern too often, as this can cheapen the look.  Go with either a stone look alike, or a nice terracotta look tile.  The real terracottas can be very soft and show wear, unless that is the look you are going for.  Typically the stone look tiles are more formal, and the terracotta look is more casual.  This is another good choice for families with young children and pets.

 Stone Floors are a trend, and add an unmatched luxury look.  They require more care than their porcelain look alike tile. You just can not get the depth of character from porcelain that you can from a real stone.  No two stones are alike; every piece is a masterpiece on its own.  Typically stones are cut by laser or water jets giving them a very uniform edge, so they can be set with a tighter joint.  They can vary in height, so it usually takes a highly skilled installer to do a good job.  You will find that stones vary in price from inexpensive to very expensive depending on their rarity and density.  The heavier stones are more expensive to ship.  Blue is one of the least occurring colors in nature, so any stone with blue is usually more expensive.  Stones need to be sealed before use, and will show wear through the years.  Softer stones should be either avoided in high moisture areas, or very well sealed.  With time water will wear away a softer stone.  Stay away from a black or green marble in wet areas.