WHY IT WORKS - Making an Entrance

Happy Monday everyone! Our inspiration room for this week comes a blog I recently discovered, Cape 27 Blog. This room caught my eye because I love how Jessie was able to "create" a beautiful entry in a very open concept room. A lot of homes have open concept rooms where the moment you walk in, you have a hallway and an open space either on your left or right. Often, it's challenging to figure out how to create a nice landing spot when everything is so open. Here's how I think Jessie successfully did it! 

WHY IT WORKS:



(via cape27blog.com)
Click here to see more photos of Jessie's beatitful home



• Rug/Runner. This visually creates a nice landing spot or path and naturally invites you into the space. I would do one or the other. Having a rug and runner might be too much.
• Coat Rack. We have a coat rack in our front entry too. So practical and welcoming. Without any words, it just says to your visitors, "Take your coat off, relax, and stay awhile". :)
• Console Table. Without a doubt, console tables are my favorite pieces of furniture ever. There are so many things that can be used as a console table; a desk, dresser, sideboard, bench.  The more creative the better!

INSPIRATION:

• Rugs.  Use rugs to create spaces within a space.  I love how Jessie used a runner for the entry area and another area rug to create a visual border for the living room space. 
• Furniture Placement.  This arrangement works great!  It keeps everything nice and open.  You can see a bit of an armchair opposite the sofa.  Another possible option is to put a small sofa or pair of armchairs opposite the console table.  This would more formally create 2 distinct spaces.
• Accesorizing the Console Table.  There are a few tried and true things that always work.  A mirror, a great lamp (you don't need a pair), potted plant or fresh flowers, photographs, a tray or beautiful dish as a catch all and baskets for additional storage. 
• Bench/Hooks.  Another option for console table is a bench and hooks for coats/bags.  This might be more practical for your space and works just as well in creating a beautiful landing spot.  Pottery Barn has some great ones as inspiration.

LASTLY...

I notice I post more on entrys than any other room in the house.  It's because I believe entrys set the stage for you and your visitors to exit THE world and to enter YOUR world.  You want to open your front door and say "Ahhh... I'm home!"  It sets the tone and is the first and last thing you and your guests see.  This is probably why I'm so big into invitations.  It's the setting of the tone and wetting the palette for more to come.  All this to say, don't neglect your entrys.  Often they become just dead space and just pass throughs, but they really are so much more than that.  Invest the time to bring your entry to it's full potential!  :)  You'll find joy in it every time you leave and enter your home and isn't that what "elevating the everyday" all about?  :)

WHY IT WORKS - A Green Room

Happy Monday!  St. Patrick's Day is coming up on Thursday and I thought it would be fun to use it as inspiration for our WHY IT WORKS for this week.  Green is one of my favorite colors, gray is up there too.  Green never goes out of style.   It's the color of spring, freshness, life and to me, joy.  Here's a lovely home I saw over at House Beautiful and it showcases several good design principles that we can all use.

WHY IT WORKS:

• Window Treatments.  There are so many options for window treatments, almost too many options.  I know I've been paralyzed as to which one to choose as they are expensive and you don't want to make a mistake !  This photo showcases a good option; woven shades.  Woven shades add a natural element to any room whether it's modern, contemporary or traditional.  Any room feels more inviting with a bit of nature tucked in.
• Wall space and art.  When looking for places to hang wall art, consider the space between your windows.  Whether wide or narrow, many times these little areas are just the right place to hang art.  With the framing of windows on either side, you already have naturally symmetry and a focal point.
• Floating furniture.  We've heard this from designers over and over again.  So many of us make the mistake of pushing all of our furniture up against the walls thinking it's going to open up the room.  In many cases, it just makes rooms feel disjointed and uninviting.  Take a look at our inspiration photo.  It's a large room and imagine if all the furniture was placed along the perimeter... it would really leave the room feeling empty and cold.  With the furniture floating inside the space, it feels full, cozy and comfortable.

INSPIRATION:

• Ok.  Let's review.  Consider woven shades for window treatments.  It's a timeless choice that is versatile and gives texture and life to a room.
• Wall art.  Reconsider those spaces between your windows or on the side of your windows.  Could they work for you?
• Float furniture.  Don't be afraid to experiment and move furniture around.  In my experience, often you can't really tell unless you see it and feel it.  All it takes is some man (woman) power.  :)

Why It Works and Happy New Year

HELLO!  Hope you all had a Happy New Year!  We ended the year on a somewhat odd note... My husband and I both caught the stomach flu on New Years Eve so we skipped out on a get together with friends.  Then after dinner, our power went out so we packed up the whole family and spent the night at my in-laws.  Everyone was in bed by 10.  :P  Thank God for family and thankfully we're slowly recovering!

My Why It Works for this week comes from House and Home's 2010 Show Home.  House and Home has become one of my favorite decorating magazines and this home is gorgeous.  Check it out.


WHY IT WORKS:

• This one of my favorite rooms of the house.  What caught my eye immediately was the color palette.  I love that fresh chartreuse color and what a great contrast with the light walls and dark floors, and dark couch.
• Fire place.  What drama!  I really love the idea of extending the stone/tile work around the fireplace all the way up to the ceiling.  It creates drama, a focal point and really sets the scene for a gathering place.
• Simplicity.  I love how the accesories in the room are kept simple.  The mantel is accesoried simply as is the coffee table.  I know editing is hard, but it makes such a difference.

INPSIRATION:

• Color.  If you're debating on wall color or flooring.  My go-to is dark floors and light walls.  I just think the contrast is stunning and timeless.
• Furniture placement.  This room is a great one to use as a model for furniture placement.  If you're can accomodate all this furniture, this is a great arrangement.  If not, a couch facing 2 chairs would also work too.  It really makes for an inviting conversation area, rather than all attention focused on a tv.
• Pillows.  I love how simple and coordinated the pillows are, they really help to bind all the colors together and finish off the room.  I really like using 2 pillows on each end of a couch and maybe a lumbar in the middle too.  Designers can often get carried away in using too many pillows.

Here's some more photos and click here to see the whole gallery.

An Eclectic LA Living Room

WHY THIS WORKS

• Texture. I love the softness of the room. Notice the woven shades, the woven armchairs, and the cozy blanket.
• Live plants. Plants add so much life to a room. The fern, palm and fresh flowers really add freshness to the space.
• Furniture placement. Many people have a similiar room to this one, including me. This is a great way to arrange seating to encourage conversation.  All you need is a sofa/loveseat and 2 armchairs.

INSPIRATION

• Plants. Even if you don't have a green thumb, adding low maintenance plants to a room really adds life to a room, literally. Go to a nursery and tell them what the light is in your space and they can help you.  There are many low maintenance house plants available.
• Furniture placement. Is your furniture pushed up against the wall? Bring them into the room to create coziness and conversation areas.
• Texture. Do you have any natural elements in your room? Baskets are a great way to add texture and they can do double duty as storage.

This room is a prime example of looking at a room and taking inspiration from it, even if it's not your own personal style. Personally, I wouldn't put a stuffed goose on my mantel, BUT... I could copy that same arrangement with a mirror plant and another large focal point. 
image from House Beautiful