28. February 2008 by Parker.

The rolling hills of Tuscany and the call of the earth seem to have imparted their presence into the minds of those who saw Under the Tuscan Sun. After all, Tuscan style is inspired by the elements of nature. Crumbling stone walls, wrought iron accents, sun-washed hillsides, rustic stone farm houses, and vineyards are just some of the images of this wonderful decorating style.  In fact, the key aspect of this style is rustic, worn, and lived-in.

Elements such as wood and stone incorporate the beauty of nature within our homes. Natural woods have a true elegance of their own especially when they are burnished to glow. Wide plank floors partially covered with a worn rug or untreated exposed wood beams give a room the charm of Italy.

Tuscan décor brings us back to the salt of the earth.  Natural stone and rock, along with clay bricks, bear evidence of this style.  Typically used in foyers, kitchens, and bathrooms; this natural element makes a powerful statement.  So take your time and research the qualities of each stone to insure its physical qualities are perfect for your project. Most notably, granite, limestone, and marble are used.  Granite is strong, long-lasting, and heat resistant whereas Limestone is extremely absorbent and stains easily so it is not recommended for high traffic areas.  Finally, Marble is very soft and porous so use it for a foyer or bathroom and keep it unpolished if you want to stick with true Tuscan style.

Remember that the core concept behind this décor is harmony with the earth.  So when you start searching for furniture and accessories, make sure any metals purchased are natural and unpolished. Wrought iron is by far the most popular accent metal, while copper and pewter are often incorporated in pots, chandeliers, or pot racks. Furniture should be sturdy as well as pleasant to the eye and supple to the touch.

Typical Tuscan interiors are actually dark as ceilings are low and rooms are small. Natural light is considered to be the most desirable so keep your window coverings minimalistic. Use a mirror in the room to reflect light and utilize candles and fireplaces for a subdued and inviting ambience.

Warmth and intensity fill this color palette. Try adding some color to your walls as the best way to warm up a space is to tone down the whites. Think of the mustard yellow hue that glows upon your wall near sunset, a delicious chocolate shade reminiscent of your morning coffee, or an intense shade of red. You can also treat your walls with color washing, faux painting, or Venetian plaster for a true lived-in feel. Other earth tones such as coal black, pool blue, and hints of olive are blended into this style to create a perfect compliment.

Using any or all of these elements in your space can create the Tuscan appeal of simplicity. By combining comfortable, old world, and tattered pieces; a room becomes warm and captivating. There is no attempt at pretense here as this style welcomes the inhabitants and friends in for a longer stay. So sit back, relax, and enjoy your peaceful new setting for years to come.

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20. February 2008 by Parker.

My husband and I are once again back to the drawing board. House Hunting! Making a list of all the attributes we want our new house to have, what aspects we could possibly do without, how much land we want, et cetera. During the search, I found this home that is completely out of our price range but had the coolest back porch area. Fully screened from deck to second floor, the entire length of the house. Behind this screen is a heated pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, and dining area. WOW! I would never leave my porch. Too bad we can’t afford it….

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14. February 2008 by Parker.

We’ve all been there. The moment when we realize we have tapped out. We’ve used up all our local go-to stores and arsenal of catalogs only to discover we still cannot find that perfect piece for the agonizingly empty corner of the living room.  Designers are no different. After hitting  50 or more stores, sometimes we need to seek out the new and undiscovered.  The following is a selection of my favorites.

Artwork: A single piece of artwork can change the entire look of a room, so it is imperative to find the right piece. Ballard has a knack for carrying some true gems that are not typically available in the mainstream stores.  

Accessories: There is no accounting for good (or bad) tastes. If you are looking for some abstract accessories, call on Urban Outfitters. Mostly known for their trendy clothing line, they now carry a variety of knick knacks for the home that are eye catching, quirky, and unique.

Carpets: Whether you are looking for a traditional oriental carpet or a more contemporary design, this site offers thousands of options to compliment your style. Some will even be in stock locally so you can check them out in person too.  

Childrens : While I don’t have any kids of my own (yet),  I already know where I’m going to buy their furniture. At Powell Furnishings they have a great selection of children’s furniture for whatever theme you are aiming for. They give furniture a playful feel using adult shapes and a variety of wood choices beyond MDF (Multiple Density Fiberboard)

Curtains: Drapery options have expanded greatly in the last 20 years and the current selection of prefabricated curtains on the market are a prime example. Anthropologie caters to the young and hip homeowner who wants a bright pop of color or an off kilter fabric to set the desired mood for their room.

Furniture: This local store is one of the coziest places in the ATL to shop for truly eclectic finds. You can see everything from dynamic lighting to extravagant bedding, all showcased with a sly wink of sophistication.

Lighting: The on line store  I start with to find all my lighting choices has thousands of shapes, sizes, styles, colors,  and price range options. Bellacor embodies a plethora of choices for the discerning consumer.  

Linens: We spend roughly one third of our lives sleeping, so why shouldn’t our linens be soft and luxurious? With warm color palettes and high thread counts, Yves Delorme offers a niche selection of towels, bedding, and pillows.

Paint: There are an innumerable amount of paint companies in the world today. To top it off, each of these companies offers a large variety of color swatches to choose from. Before tackling any paint project, stop by this site and take their quick quiz to determine the color palette which is best suited for your personality.

Tile: Most showrooms are typically restricted to the trade only. However, Renaissance has a wonderful selection with a wide range of patterns and materials. Best yet: they are open to the public.

Wallpaper: Back in the 80’s, wallpaper was all the rage. Horrific floral patterns and textured metallics were glued to the walls with what now seems like superglue. Today there are plenty of vibrant patterns to accent the smallest of areas which will adhere to your walls as easily as it can be removed.

The Internet has blessed the Do It Yourself (DIY) homeowner with a constant green light to tackle any home project. Take a few minutes, and a leap of faith, to search beyond your ‘safe’ stores and reliable catalogs to unearth something truly original for your space. You may just be surprised to find out how much buried treasure is out there waiting for you.

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12. February 2008 by Parker.

I started this blog talking about how many catalogs I receive on any given day. Since then I believe the number has doubled. And I don’t know about the rest of you but I get tired of trying to flip through all them each week; especially when the merchandise is all the same. So if you want the opportunity to relieve yourself of all the waste of materials, go to www.CatalogChoice.org and fill out the information box. This site allows you to determine which catalogs you want to get through to your mailbox and which ones you don’t. It’s that simple.

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11. February 2008 by Parker.

As a previous post had mentioned, I am a sucker for stray dogs. They seek me out.

I was getting ready to go to play practice tonight when these two wandered onto my property and into my garage for safe keeping. Luckily one of them was wearing a collar and I was able to find their owners within a half hour and half mile from here. So I took Lola (tan) and little Cosmo (brown) home for safe keeping.

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9. February 2008 by Parker.

Everyone does it. Whether we are single or married, have pets or none…we all display photos throughout our homes of friends and family. Here is an interesting way to showcase your fav pics with some character.

Digital pictures can be sent in and made into a paint by numbers canvas for you and your loved ones to paint yourselves. So they not only give you a work of art but a fun project you can do together.

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7. February 2008 by Parker.

Auditions were held this evening for The Curious Savage and I got the role of Miss Fairy May! A sad young woman stuck in a mental institution who believes she is beautiful, when she clearly is not. She is in her mid twenties but has the mental capacity of a twelve year old so she tends to say whatever pops into her little head which gets her in trouble most of the time. Oddly, it is the perfect role for me. If anyone is interested in coming to see it, show dates are 4/18 - 4/20 and 4/24 - 4/26.

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5. February 2008 by Parker.

This has to be one of my favorite finds this year. A company (The Sarut Group)with an eye for the odd and genius designers that create some of the most memorable items out there. Here are a few of the ones I have purchased.

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3. February 2008 by Parker.

It is no surprise that home staging has taken the real estate world by storm over the last several years. After all, builders have been doing model homes forever with the knowledge that a welcoming home will always sell better than an empty or cluttered space. A staged home merely highlights the strengths and downplays the weaknesses to prospective buyers. So tap into your inner designer and give your home a face lift with these 10 staging tips…

Exterior: This really is your one and only chance to make a first impression on a potential buyer. Even those who drive neighborhoods looking for sale signs will make a snap judgment just by what they see from the comfort of their car. Also the outside is usually a good indicator of what befalls the buyer within the home. So let the walk up from the driveway or curbside be just as welcoming as the inside.

Walls: Painting has always been the easiest and most affordable way to liven up your home. If you have plain white walls, now is the time to add some distinction to each room. Dark hues can make a space feel cozy and intimate or, when used as an accent wall, create a focal point in the room. If you are scared of using too much color, try a new neutral of a mocha or golden tone. The truly color shy people in the world should reevaluate their accessories by adding a burst of color with pillows, vases, and draperies.Just remember to keep a base color in mind to anchor each room. White furniture and trim emit a relaxing feeling whereas black pieces tend to feel more slick and modern.

Floors: It’s time to look down again. Is there a missing tile on your bathroom floor or do your hardwoods need refinishing? We get very comfortable in our homes over the years so it becomes habit for us to overlook some of the larger items that need repaired. However home buyers are inspecting everything down to the last floor board, so take a peek at those carpets you’ve been treading on and see if they need professionally cleaned or replaced. If you don’t have the money to invest in refinishing or tiling, buy some low cost rugs and make the space more visually appealing without trying to hide the eyesore completely.

Lighting: First and foremost, take a look at your window dressing situation. Do you have heavy drapes hanging in summer or lightweight sheers in mid winter? Always let the season dictate the pattern, texture, or color or find one that works all year round. Lighting is key to selling any home and natural sunlight creates a warm, open space so make sure your draperies are pulled to the side. You can also mount your rods a foot away from the window so that is feels larger and allows more light in from the actual opening.

While on the topic of lighting, make sure you have ample light fixtures in your home. A good rule of thumb is 100 watts per 50 square feet of space. This allows for plenty of light when buyers are reviewing your home on a cloudy day or at night. Also keep the rule of three in mind when developing your lighting plan as well. There should be ambient overhead lighting, task or reading lights, and accent table lamps in every space. By staggering rooms with many light fixtures, the overlapping shadows create a sense of depth and interest.

Clutter: Most of us own way too much stuff and have it crammed onto shelves, inside closets, and in boxes in the garage or basement. When you are ready to sell your home, it becomes time to purge your belongings. Go through all those plastic totes, unmarked boxes, and overflowing closets. Decide what you can get rid of, what can be donated, and what you actually use. Believe it or not, furniture is another way people clutter their homes. They line the walls with piece after piece, pushing the limitations of the room to suit their needs. Look around each room and find the one piece that doesn’t belong, never gets used, or is the catalyst that thrives with tabletop clutter or stacked coats. Your home will feel bigger with less furniture and easier to keep clean. Note the basic rule of thumb is 2 -3 pieces of furniture per wall.

Space Planning: Many decorators now have a common belief that furniture should float in the middle of the room and not line the walls. This is indeed a good idea if, and only if, you have rooms large enough to support this belief. However, if your home is older or rooms smaller, it is imperative to group furniture along walls in order to have any space at all. On the other hand, if you have a more spacious home, group furniture together in a figure eight or H configuration, with clear traffic paths to and from rooms and seating areas. Also area rugs are a great tool to draw the eye to a particular section of a room and open the remainder of the space for natural walkways.

New Placement: Do you remember going to your grandparents house when you were a kid? Remember how it never changed? People are creatures of habit. We tend to find something we like, buy it, place it in our home, and there it will stay for years, if not decades. Give your home a breath of fresh air and move things around, try something different. Move furniture and accessories from different rooms and create a whole new space for absolutely free.

Purpose: It’s easy to throw items into rooms and never really take a good hard look at the space and determine exactly what it is used for. If you have a formal and casual living room in your house, consider adding book shelves with tons of books into one and calling it a library or reading room. Or purchase metal lockers and rubber flooring and create a home gym or workout room. It’s much easier to envision what a space can be once it has a purpose.

Accessories: Without a doubt, every designer practices the visually appealing presentation of items in threes. Whether there are three of the same item in a line or three varying pieces in height arranged in a triangle formation. Threes are key. Also remember that the eye tends to travel a room from left to right so vary your heights throughout the room to give fluidity to the space.

As far as artwork is concerned, try alternating heights and display style throughout the home. All artwork at the same level can appear flat and insignificant so develop some unique hanging patterns such as diagonals or squares. Use the shape of the room to determine the style as well, by following the line of the dormer window or the arch of the doorway.

Plants: Having a black thumb is no longer a good excuse for the lack of greenery in a home. Today, there are tons of amazing silk plants and flowers to cover your home in foliage. Tall plants are perfect for filling in empty corners that are too small for furniture. Floral arrangements in colorful vases can make a fantastic statement in a foyer or on a bathroom counter. So get creative with the forgotten places throughout the home that could use a little life.

When you are done tackling your home with all these changes, you just might find that there really is no place home.

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