Picking the Perfect Paint Color

Helping my clients select just the right designer colors is one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of a home remodeling project.

It begins simply enough. The living room needs a new coat of paint, perhaps a fresh start for both of you. But what about something different this time? No more off-white. Maybe a color that is bold and creative, but also educated, witty and ironic.

There’s the high-style and pricey route, like that English company, Farrow & Ball, and its Evelyn Waugh paint names like Dead Salmon, Arsenic and Churlish Green, for $90 a gallon.

Or there’s the mainstream route of the American brands, and their own winking-at-you names, like Townhouse from Ralph Lauren, and Love Affair from Benjamin Moore. A trip to the paint store seems as if it might help narrow the choices, too, until you stand before the wall of infinite paint shades. The feeling sinks in: the horror of the fan deck.

Eve Ashcraft calls this anxiety the “vortex,” and she has spun it into a thriving business as a color consultant who can, in spite of her low-key Midwestern manner, name-drop some of her clients. (read more)

 

The Paint Doctor Is In By Penelope Green (New York Times)

Three Keys to Preparing for a Successful New Home or Remodeling Project

I've recently been doing a number of remodeling projects in the last few weeks, and this article by Richard Taylor absolutely hits the nail on the head. Enjoy!

You have some sort of picture in your mind of how you want your house to look, to function, to feel. How do you communicate that to your Architect, and to the people who’ll be building the walls and installing the countertops? The key to success in a new home or remodeling project is making sure all parties – you, your Architect, and your contractor - all fully understand that picture in your mind. Here are a few ideas to help you make your vision crystal clear:

1) Collect and Organize

Whenever you come across something that appeals to you for your house, take a photo of it; tear the page out of the magazine; or print it from your computer. Even if the photo or drawing only has a tiny thing you like, get it on paper. (read more)

Three Keys to Preparing for a Successful New Home or Remodeling Project by Richard Taylor

Retro Remodeling

This website is a wonderful resource for those planning a "Mad Man Era" kitchen remodeling.

With no idea how to go about decorating the pink bathroom in the midcentury home she and her husband had bought in Lexington, Ky., Judi Forston typed “1959 Ranch” into Google. “I thought I’d find something architectural and scholarly about houses built in that era,” Ms. Forston said. Instead, she found retrorenovation.com.

Since Ms. Kueber started her Web site in 2007, it has become the epicenter of a small but devoted group of mid-century design enthusiasts, a go-to destination for homeowners who spurn the latest décor trends in favor of re-tiling their bathrooms in turquoise mosaics from the Eisenhower years or installing Dishmaster kitchen faucets whose bulky forms recall those of a late-model Studebaker. (read more)

Restoring the Retro House by Steven Kurutz

What is good design? Experts weigh in

I am honored to have been asked to contribute to a Houston Chronicle article on interior design:

Modernism shook the world with its radical departure from classic and traditional styles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The modernists brought their attention to craft and "less is more" and "form and function" mantras to the masses, along with the concept that through an improved built environment, we could improve our lives. Out of that philosophy has grown today's sustainability movement, which focuses on conservation, reuse, adaptibility and our relationship to the natural environment.

The next movement has yet to present itself, so meanwhile, we asked a few Texas designers and architects, "What is good design?"

Julie Schaff Risman, furniture and interior designer, owner of the Inside Story Design, San Antonio; www.insidestorydesign.com:

Some of my guiding principles: Follow the rules of scale and proportion. Don't use small furniture in a large room with high ceilings. Better a few larger items than many small ones. Expensive purchases (furniture and rugs, for example) should be classic and enduring; other, less-expensive items can be more trendy — think pillows and accessories.

Mix materials and style to create interest - wood, glass, stone, metal and fabric. Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes a room interesting and not predictable. All of one material or style creates what I call the furniture showroom effect.

Your home should tell your story. Art and artifacts from your travels, collections and artful photos turn a house into a home and prevent the model-home look. Always add an organic element to a space: plants, fresh flowers, seagrass, shells and salvaged items breathe life and warmth into a space. Edit - if in doubt, leave it out.

( read more )

By Melanie Warner Spencer Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle

Decorating a Luxury Bathroom

Luxurious bathroom remodeling is one of the things that I most love to do for my clients here in San Antonio.

Luxury bathrooms have become one of the hottest trends in home décor in the last few years. Now more than ever bathrooms are becoming spa-like retreats where people go to unwind and relax after a hard day. To make your bathroom a luxurious retreat that will make you feel like royalty, check out some of these tips and ideas.

Lighting

Task lighting is important in any bathroom, but for a luxury bathroom it's also important to include ambient lighting. To create a romantic, rich look consider including a chandelier and possibly sconces. Look for materials like gilt and crystal to amp up the rich look. And most importantly, don't forget to include dimmer switches on all the lights.

Vanity

If you're starting from scratch and you need to put in a new vanity consider purchasing an antique marble-top chest of drawers and putting a sink in it. You'll lose some of the storage because the plumbing will need to be accommodated but depending on the chest you should still be able to get a drawer or two (this also works with old cabinets and buffets). This idea isn't for the faint of heart because once you've altered the piece you can't go back, but the results can be well worth it. [ read more ]

Decorating a Luxury Bathroom by Lauren Flanagan

Tips for selecting plumbing fixtures

Selecting the right fixtures is an essential - and challenging - aspect of any kitchen or bathroom remodeling.

Plumbing fixtures come in varying metals, faucet types, and control options.  There is a style to match your decor, and your family’s lifestyle. From faucets that turn on with a slight touch, to fixtures that cascade water out in a waterfall, there are ones that are perfect for your home. Here are tips to choose plumbing fixtures that will enhance your sink, tub or shower area, and be a joy to use every day. ( read more )

How to Choose Plumbing Fixtures to Match your Decor Style by Ronique Gibson

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