Colorful Room Styles/Part 1 of 2

Nature offers the ultimate color palette. When designing outdoor spaces, keep colors simple and let the beauty of nature take center stage. In this space, mariaferlo mixed white drapes and cushions and added soft color with pillows.Keep your furniture, floors and walls neutral if you want to highlight colorful artwork. RMS user shortcar hung bold paintings high on the wall,...

Read More

Styles of Lighting

AmbientAmbient is a hidden source of light that washes a room with a glow. It flattens an interior and creates very little shadow. A wall sconce is an example of ambient lighting, as are paper lanterns. Use of a dimmer can also provide ambient light. Design by Troy Beasley. AccentDirectional lighting or lighting that adds interest or highlights a certain object or unusual...

Read More

Bedside Lamps

Glass EleganceThis clear glass lamp and white shade are perfect for a soft color palette.  Bold GoldA unique lamp can make a bold statement. This circular gold bedside lamp offsets the black floral wallpaper and dark wood nightstand to expand the pale colors of the headboard and bedding. Design by Erinn Valencich.Thin and SimpleA simple stick table lamp works perfect...

Read More

Minute Makeovers

This is for anyone who doesn't have to have a perfectly symmetrical sofa ensemble. Place two of the same square pillows on one end, and toss a wool throw on the other because it gives the sofa a casual, please-sit-here attitude. Consider contrast when choosing pillows and throws. These larger chocolate brown velvet pillows allow the smaller cream felt ones to really pop. Put...

Read More

NH Lakefront Cottage Renovation

One of our recently completed projects is the renovation of a lakefront cottage on Pleasant Lake, New London, New Hampshire. The property was subdivided and had originally had two cabins on it. A cabin on “The Point” was torn down to open up the lake view from the other cottage. Some of its materials were salvaged for use in the main cottage renovation.The new cottage serves...

Read More

Updates In Minutes

Break Up Dining Chairs Unless you seat 8 to 10 people at your dining table every week, your chairs probably don’t get much use. Steal two from the dining room, and use them to flank a console table in your entry, a dresser in your bedroom, or the sideboard in your living room. Update Your Lampshades Outdated lampshades can make a room feel stale. To give your space a more...

Read More

Creative Home Decor

Choose Pieces with a MeaningWhen Jason and Jill Williams hired a firm to design their home, they clearly stated that the theme was "sparse."They did not intend to buy things to simply fill the house; they wanted to acquire pieces over time that had meaning, complemented their lifestyle, and reflected their personalities.While the theme was "sparse," sleek and modern wasn't...

Read More

Quick Style Fixes

Group Shot Rehang your art. Group small pictures together for maximum impact. It can give your room an instant facelift. This is easy to change and fun to arrange! Also, it's much cheaper than buying a large piece of art. Musical Chairs Rearrange your furniture. Assess what’s blocking the flow of traffic through your house and move it to a more convenient location. This will...

Read More

Design Cures

Home Rehab Designer Phoebe Howard of Mrs. Howard and Max & Company worked her magic on this coastal space -- to rid the condo of light-barring walls and cramped, cheerless spaces.The Quick Fix: Infuse life into a small room by combining a variety of textile patterns in similar tones -- like the polka-dot, honeycomb, and geometric fabrics shown here. Custom Kitchen Island...

Read More

Decorative Napkin Rings

Linen Lessons A simple, ruffled red ribbon makes a holiday setting even more festive. Roll the napkins, secure them with ribbon, and place them on a simple cake stand so that guests can help themselves. Natural Sparkle On a plain linen napkin, tie a bow with sheer metallic ribbon and attach "bells" of milk chocolate kisses. This will give family and friends a sweet treat to...

Read More