Crown Molding Tips and Tricks

Crown molding is an often overlooked part of home remodeling efforts.

In the world of trim, crown is king. Lording high over casings, chair rails, and baseboards, it cuts an impressive profile with elegant curves and distinguished angles. It also elevates a room's stature, drawing the eye up to the ceiling and echoing design motifs seen in other moldings to create a cohesive and polished look for the space. [ read more ]

"All About Crown Molding" by Sal Vaglica, This Old House Magazine

Choosing colors? There's an app for that. Actually, at least 10.

Whether it’s coordinating a new color with an existing color in your home, or it’s finding an all new color palette, choosing decorator colors can be fun - if you have the eye or the tools to help you. Here are 10 iPhone apps that will help make the color choosing process easier.

10 iPhone Apps to Help you Choose the Perfect Home Colors by Ronique Gibson

Secrets Of The Sixth Wall

Think of a room as having six walls: the obvious four walls, the ceiling, and the floor.

While we spend much time agonizing about the right color for the walls and ceilings, we should spend equal amounts of time thinking about the floor materials, color and finishes.

There’s so much to choose from:  hardwoods, engineered hardwoods (distressed, wide-plank, etc.), natural stone, ceramic tile, stained concrete, wall-to-wall sea grass and so much more. Once the flooring is selected, we have another important decision to make – choosing the rug that is going to go on top of the floor!

I often use oriental rugs for the more formal rooms of clients’ homes but this isn’t always an option due to the project scope or budget. I want to share some ideas for rugs that are wonderful and won’t cost an arm and a leg. [ read more ]

The Floor: The Sixth Wall by Julie Risman

Concrete: The New "Go-To" Material For Home Remodeling

Concrete is frequently the material of choice in many of the home remodeling projects I am currently working on.

Concrete used to be exclusively considered a construction material for sidewalks, foundation walls and driveways. These days concrete comes in a variety of colors, applications and uses, and looks nothing like it did in years past. Concrete in your home can beautify your space with bold or subtle detailing.  Creative applications of concrete can be used as your kitchen countertop to your bathtub material. Concrete can be formed into almost any shape and it relatively inexpensive to purchase, compared to stone and granite materials. [ read more ]

How Concrete Can Beautify your Home by Ronique Gibson

Tips for Selecting Two-Toned Wall Colors

Two-toned wall color schemes add contrast and sophistication to your interior decorating efforts.

While some do-it-yourselfers cautiously pair Soft Beige with Linen White, professional colorists favor bolder combinations. Rooms with chair rail offer a perfect opportunity to create less-expected pairings. “Use lighter shades above the rail to pull the eye up and darker ones below to ground the room,” says Susan English, a color consultant in Cold Spring, New York. “One reliable strategy is to pick two shades from the same color family or even from the same paint strip.” [ read more ]

Four Paint Schemes for Two-Toned Rooms by Deborah Baldwin, This Old House Magazine

Tips for selecting proper seating for a kitchen island

Selecting proper seating for a kitchen island is an important aspect of any kitchen remodeling.

Kitchen island seating allows the cook to interact with their guests as they entertain. It also enables smaller homes and apartments to fit seating where they can’t fit a full dining room table. Depending on the amount of space you have and your entertaining style will dictate your seating for your island. Here are tips for how to choose seating that suites your kitchens needs. [ read more ]

How to Choose Seating for your Kitchen Island by Ronique Gibson

Secrets for Enlarging Space with Mirrors

Effective use of mirrors is an essential element of any interior design project.

Mirrors are a great way to give the illusion of space. They enlarge the room and they trick the human eye into feeling an expanded living area and they are affordable too.  If you’re tired of your space feeling cramped, use these helpful tips to enlarge your space using mirrors.

How to Enlarge Your Space Using Mirrors by Ronique Gibson

Secrets for Choosing the Right Range Hood for Your Kitchen

Selecting the right appliances - including a range hood - is an essential part of any kitchen remodeling project.

Your kitchen stove or range is an integral part of your kitchen. Most likely if you’re an avid cook you use it several times a day and for the novice cook a few time a week.  Regardless of the frequency, your range hood above your stove helps filter out smoke, grease, moisture and odor.  The decision on how to choose one for your cooking lifestyle and the style of your kitchen could be a hard decision.  Here are tips on how to choose the perfect range hood for your kitchen and for your family. [read more]

How to Choose the Perfect Range Hood for your Kitchen by Ronique Gibson

A Pro's Guide to Painting a Floor Medallion

Many home remodeling projects contain the challenge of transitioning two types of flooring. A painted floor medallion is one way of accomplishing this.

When two types of flooring meet, a painted pattern can ease the transition. Here, an existing oak floor abuts an addition's heart-pine floor whose boards run perpendicular to the oak. An open cloverleaf, squared off and anchored by painted borders and solid circles at the center and in all four corners, softens the area's angles and echoes the curve of the arched passageway. In a longer rectangular space, a row of circles or smaller cloverleaf designs would work equally well. [read more]

How to Paint a Floor Medallion by Deborah Baldwin (This Old House magazine)

How To Increase The Value Of Your Home

At the end of the day, interior design and remodeling is all about increasing the value of your home.

In the this recent economy of falling house values and unstable housing market statistics, every home owner should know how to put more value back into their homes. Although making home improvements is not a sure-fire way to increase the value, it will at the very least make you more competitive against your competition.

1) Update kitchen appliances: The most sought after room in your home is the kitchen. It is worth the most per square foot and will make the difference of your home appealing to buyers or not.  If your appliances are more than 3-5 years old consider updating them to the comfortability of your wallet. A newer model, a more designer finish, or more features will help home buyers take a second glance at your kitchen.  For top of the line appliances consider stainless steel and professional series lines.

2) Kitchen cabinetry makes the look: When you walk into a kitchen the first thing you notice is the cabinets. Cabinetry is at the top of the percentage of kitchen costs, but also shows the most return.  Opt for wood over laminate surfaces and add custom features like crown molding, wine racks, glazing, and custom woodworking to set your kitchen apart from your competition. Reface cabinets and add door and drawer hardware for less expensive updating.

3) Add value by upgrading your countertops: Any room you have countertops – kitchen, bathroom, bars, or utility rooms the more money you can spend into a higher end countertop the better. Plastic laminate countertops are considered the lower end grade, solid surfacing, concrete and granite is considered to be the higher end grade. Consider overlay countertops that are made from composite granite/resin combination for the look of granite at a fraction of the cost.

[more tips on how to increase your home's value]

15 Best Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home by Ronique Gibson

More Secrets of a Successful Kitchen Layout

Space planning is such an important part of any kitchen remodeling project. This is the continuation from a wonderful article by Ronique Gibson.

The way your kitchen is laid out will make a difference in how you enjoy and use the space.  If you find your current kitchen isn’t efficient, try to layout another option, it may not be difficult to alter your existing plan.  If you are in the process of moving, think of these tips when looking at kitchens.

Here are the pros and cons of each type of kitchen layout:

1. U Shape

• PROS: This plan offers three sides or walls for the work triangle to be efficient. The cook can maximize their time in the kitchen and won’t get distracted by traffic walking through the kitchen.
  
• CONS: Multiple people working in the kitchen at one time may be difficult.

L Shape

• PROS: This plan allows for more space saving because two of the work triangle functions are on the same wall. This plan is also easier to entertain from, since it is open up to the adjacent room on one side.
  
• CONS: Ample counter space room should be given in the crook of the L for maximum usage.  If not, the kitchen will work less efficiently due to less room to prepare and cook the food.

Galley Shape

• PROS: In this plan the walls are parallel with all of the work triangle functions. It is very efficient due to less area to travel and is ideal for space saving.
  
• CONS: This plan isn’t ideal for a lot of people in the kitchen because the traffic area is also the cook preparation area.  This plan can also be difficult to entertain from, unless one wall is open to an adjacent room with a seating bar for example.

How to Layout an Efficient Kitchen Floor Plan by Ronique Gibson

Secrets of a Successful Kitchen Layout

Space planning is such an important part of any kitchen remodeling project.

The kitchen is the space that most people like to entertain in and enjoy spending time with family.  The aesthetics are important, but the function of how your kitchen works is even more important.  The way your kitchen is laid out will make the difference in how quickly and efficiently you use the kitchen.  A poor layout can result in retracing your steps and spending more time in the kitchen can be a turn off to enjoying cooking.

• Layout work surfaces: A work surface, or countertop area should ideally be located between each of the work triangle areas.  Therefore, between the refrigerator and sink, and between the sink and stove/oven, a countertop area is ideal. In smaller kitchens, a work area in each space may not be possible due to space.  The more working areas you can provide yourself, the better. Consider using multifunctional work areas if space is an issue. For example a raised countertop adjacent to a dining area, can serve as a seated bar for eating as well as a preparation work surface for cooking.
• Kitchen islands: In large kitchens a kitchen island can cut down on excessive travel to each part of the work triangle.  Consider placing one or more of the work triangle functions at the island. Having a sink in the island will prevent you from walking from the refrigerator to another remote area constantly. Kitchen islands for a small kitchen can be on casters or wheels for temporary use.  An island can be used for storage below, and also serve as an additional work surface.  Consider using a movable kitchen island for convenience and roll out of the way when more people need to fit in the kitchen.

How to Layout an Efficient Kitchen Floor Plan by Ronique Gibson

A Master Of Hardwood Floors

Floors are the often overlooked "6th Wall" of interior design and remodeling projects.

Hire Charles Peterson to work on your wood floors and you'll never look at them the same way again. The 48-year-old owner of Connecticut-based CP Wood Floors has gained national attention for his ability to transform plain-Jane floors into works of art using little more than pieces of wood cut and precisely fitted into colorful medallions, sinuous borders, and geometric parquet.

Peterson's love for wood began when he was a kid building furniture alongside his grandfather. In college he worked for a curmudgeonly flooring installer whose only advice was "Shut up and keep working!" Nevertheless, when Peterson quit his career as a nuclear engineer, he decided he'd rather deal with floors than repair power plants.

Charles Peterson dedicated his life to learning the trade. "I read every book I could find on the subject, traveled all over the world, and studied with people whose families have been doing floors for five generations," he says. [read more on a master of hardwood floors]

American Craftsman: Charles Peterson by Keith Pandolfi, This Old House magazine

The Colors Of Technology - Modern, Vibrant And Youthful

The second of four color themes in Sherwin Williams’ Colormix 2011 forecast is called “Bold Invention.” 

We’re surrounded by technology at work, play and in our homes.   These are the colors of technology–thoroughly modern, vibrant and youthful.   Perfect for the pre-teen and teen room or the urban loft.  These are great colors to pair with the modern, clean stainless steel and nickel finishes found throughout the home in appliances, electronics, light fixtures and hardware. (read more)

The Inside Story Design: San Antonio interior design and remodeling

Cork: the Ultimate in Eco-Chic Flooring

Cork flooring is an increasingly popular choice in interior design and remodeling projects.

In a modern day home, it isn't unusual to see a family that spends a lot of time 'living' on the floor. Small children play on the floor, teens will sprawl out with friends to do homework or play video games on the floor and homeowners often use the floor as extra seating for casual eating when couches and chairs run out during a 'girls night in' or an impromptu family get-together. The floor is also used to set up intimate, romantic champagne evenings by the fireplace or as a place to exercise, stretch or do yoga.

With the amount of time that today's families are spending on the floor, it is even more important that flooring should be comfortable, durable, hypoallergenic, healthy, stylish and highly functional. Cork flooring, one of the hottest trends in design and décor today, fulfills all of these requirements, and offers much more.

Cork is a very comfortable hard surface floor. It is softer to walk on and easier on the feet then ceramic tile, hardwood or laminate. Cork is more than 50 percent air, which makes it lightweight, a natural sound absorber and highly resilient. Consequently, cork often doesn't show dents or grooves the same way wood flooring can. It is also allergy free and easy to maintain – great for a healthy, safe home. Cork is a unique product that is completely renewable, 100 per cent natural and recyclable. Incredible inherent properties, including sound and temperature insulation, cushioning and water resistance provide a dazzling array of uses for cork.

Style Meets Sustainability; Cork Flooring is the Ultimate in Eco-Chic from MarketWire

Exclusive Interior Design and Remodeling Resources

Where can I go if I want to decorate my home with one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories? How can I find the best tradesmen for the remodeling work that I need?

As an Interior Decorator, I have relationships with artisans and craftsmen who can design and produce truly unique creations that will perfectly enhance your new decor.  I have access to to-the-trade dealers, manufacturers and distributors who offer:

• Exclusive accessories
• Original artwork
• Exotic fabrics
• Custom-fabricated furniture
• One-of-a-kind lighting
• Luxurious rugs, hardwoods, and other flooring
• Unique bathroom tiles and fixtures

 (more interior design and remodeling tips)

How To Design Your Own Oriental Rug

Interior design and remodeling projects are much easier when you can see what the end result will look like before starting work.

High Country Rugs offers a tool where users can quickly and easily design an oriental-style rug. As they say, it's "a revolutionary new concept for an ancient trade."

Oriental rugs often have complex patters with many different colors in them - it can be tricky to know what will work in your space. This tool makes it easier because you can play around with different colors and styles, and ultimately create the one that's just right for you. It's completely free with no download or sign in necessary.

Design Your Own Oriental Rug by Lauren Flanagan

Updated Vintage: Hard Times Call For Soft Colors

The first of four color themes in Sherwin Williams’ Colormix 2011 forecast is called “Gentle Medley.” 

These colors have a vintage feel without a pastel sweet “shabby chic” look:  they evoke more of an updated vintage feel.  I seem to be finding these colors in accessories, art, fabrics and fashion everywhere I look. (read more)

The Inside Story Design: San Antonio interior design and remodeling

How to Read a Review of an Interior Design Software Package

Interior design and remodeling projects are much easier when you can see what the end result will look like before starting work.

There are many things that you need to look for when you are reading an interior design software review. It is important that you can pick up key signals as to whether the interior design software review is quality or not. By looking for these keys you will be able to better determine whether the interior design software review is of value or not.

The first thing I always look for in my interior design software review is who is writing it and what are they doing with it. While experts can be a useful resource, I actually prefer everyday typical people when reading my interior design software reviews.

I also try to avoid any reviews that are placed on web sites with revenue streams dedicated to the products. I find these reviews almost certainly to be biased towards what they sell, and generally are not all encompassing. They have a tendency to overly focus on the products they carry but stay away from ones they do not, except possibly to talk about them in a negative way.

The other thing that always sets off red flags in my mind is when you read a review that is all one way or the other. There is always something good you can find about a program, and by the same token nothing is ever perfect.

Things To Look For In An Interior Design Software Review by HelpNets.com

The Coming Recovery In Residential Remodeling

The outlook for interior design and remodeling holds promise after almost 3 years of declines.

A recovery in home improvement spending will soon be underway, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, a measurement of homeowner spending released last month by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Remodeling spending is expected to increase on an annual basis by the end of the year, and the LIRA points to growth accelerating to the double-digit range in the first quarter of 2011.

Market Gains Foreseen, Though Caution Rules - Kitchen & Bath Design News

How Green Remodeling Benefits You (tag: interior design, interior decorating, remodeling, green remodeling)

When it comes to interior design and remodeling, "thinking green" is good for the planet - and your wallet.

Eco-friendly remodeling has numerous benefits for homeowners. With green home improvements you can slash your energy cost, increase the value of your home, and reduce your carbon footprint. Statistics show that home buyers actually seek out green homes. Home buyers are also willing to pay more money for Eco-friendly and energy efficient homes.

One easy way to start greening your home is to invest in energy efficient appliances. Energy star appliances are great because they have been tested and proven to have high recoup values. With energy efficient appliances you can greatly reduce your energy cost.

 

Green remodeling also includes the materials that you choose to build with. Locally available products require less energy to ship and produce. This makes them a great green choice for your home. When it comes to flooring many homeowners are now using cork and bamboo flooring. Both are terrific, Eco-friendly materials.

Green Home Remodeling: How Greening Your Home Can Benefit You by Susan S Cruise

How to Build a Dirt House

If you think that your interior design and remodeling project is messy, trying building a house with dirt.

My cousin and his family are in the process of building a house from home-made earthen bricks. Really. This is a seriously old-school - building technique that has been around for thousands of years. In addition to "dirt cheap" building materials (I tried, but couldn't resist...), these homes are incredibly well insulated: cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.

To practice our earthen brick-laying and plastering techniques, we built a well-house. Our rock foundation, about 5 x 7 feet on the inside, rests on top of a concrete foundation that we dug by hand. The first layer of earthen block is always the hardest to lay, because you have to line up and level each block. It’s not so easy to do when your foundation was made by amateur stone masons.

We prevailed in the end, and built the walls up to the point where we wanted an arch-shaped opening. Shaping and then laying blocks around the arch was a challenge. But again we prevailed. We put up the first of several plaster layers. Next week my cousin Jerry will pour a bond-beam (reinforced concrete) on top of the walls, and then he’ll build the well-house a roof.

You can follow the progress of building an earthen home here.

3D interior design and layout programs - all free!

Interior design and remodeling projects are much easier when you can see what the end result will look like before starting work.

There are plenty of free online 3D virtual programs that will allow you to plan, design, draw and view your space.  Depending on your skill level, what your objective is, and how you want to present your final drawings, there is a program perfect for you.  The next time you want to play around and daydream or you have a home that you want to build to your personal specifications, review this list of top 10 best free online virtual programs and tools.

10 Best Free Online Virtual Room Programs and Tools by Ronique Gibson

Top 5 Interior Design and Remodeling Investments

Any interior design and remodeling project is an investment in your home. Which ones have the best return?

The bursting of the housing bubble has depressed real estate values, and made it much harder for homeowners to sell and move up to a larger house with more amenities. This has made renovating a popular option, because the odds are good that it will increase the value and marketability of the home in the long run.

But some renovations have a better payback than others, and the amount will depend on your specific location. So which home renovations are worth your time and money?

 

Siding ($4-$21 per square foot) - Recoup: 87%: The return on siding is high because of its relative cost to the value of your home and its ability to make your home look new again. Another attractive feature is that there are sidings available that are zero maintenance.

Windows ($25-$60 per square foot) - Recoup: 85%: In addition to sprucing up your home's exterior, new windows can substantially improve the energy efficiency. This is a big selling point, as the cost of heating and air conditioning has continued to soar.

Bathroom Remodel ($5,000+) - Recoup: 70-85%: While a coat of fresh paint will do wonders for the interior of a house, there's no way to cover up old sinks, bathtubs and fixtures. Today's buyer is looking for molded sinks, marble vanities, ceramic tile, whirlpool baths, unique lighting and modern fixtures.

Kitchen Remodel ($7,500+) - Recoup: 75-80%: If you're on a limited budget, the choice between remodeling a bathroom or kitchen should probably be based on which one will give you the most pleasure and satisfaction. You will recoup roughly the same percentage of your cost on either one.

Master Bedroom Suite ($115 - $200 per square foot) - Recoup: 75%: Older homes benefit the most from this addition, whether you are remodeling an existing bedroom or adding a new one. In many cases, a master bathroom will be added at the same time because of the cost efficiencies that result.

"Top 5 Home Renos For Your Money" by Michael Sanibel

A “Primer” on Colors

Seems that one of the things that every one of my interior design and remodeling clients ask me about is “what designer colors are ‘in’ right now?” 

I must admit that I do have my favorite “go to” colors, but there are so many factors involved in color decisions:  the lighting of a space, the colors already in the room that can’t be changed, the homeowner’s favorite colors (often the colors found in their wardrobes), and many other factors influence which colors work and which ones don’t.

Sherwin-Williams regularly publishes a list of their most popular colors, which is an interesting way of learning what colors other people are using.  The most popular SW colors of 2009 were:

Dover White	Kilim Beige	Antique White	Navajo White	Softer Tan
Alabaster	Pure White	Latte	Nomadic Desert	Divine White
Macadamia	Interactive Cream	Moderate White	Believable Buff	Biscuit
Creamy	Ivoire	Blonde	Sand Dollar	Snowbound
Accessible Beige	Whole Wheat	Bagel	Camelback	Basket Beige

Lots of beige and cream – all good colors.  And, of course, we are now enjoying a resurgence of all things gray – it’s the “new black,” so to speak.

"A 'Primer' on Colors" by Julie Risman

2011 Color Forecast: Hard Times Call For Soft Colors

Want to know what colors will be "in" next year? Check out Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 before beginning any interior design and remodeling project.

Gentle Medley: Fresh. Airy. Innocent.

Hard times call for soft colors: the hint of green in a spring leaf bud; the chalky blush of a seashell; the time-etched beauty of a vintage fabric or photograph. Fashion has turned a romantic, nostalgic corner, bringing pastels and parchment-pale neutrals back into the palette. The hues are innocent without being sweet — flirty, yet not feminine. They reflect not just a yearning for youthful innocence and gentler times, but also a refreshing honesty and lack of pretension that are thoroughly modern.

Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 - Gentle Medley