Beautiful Habitat

Love it or Leave it | Black Walls

2012-02-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

Black - the darkest of dark colors. In many cases it's a staple - a stable and safe bet. In other applications it's bold and daring. Would you paint your walls black? Would you dare cover the largest surface in any room in black? Black walls - do you love it or would you leave it?

Let me know your thoughts - love it or leave it?

Maybe black is just too much for you, or not your color. Check out my previous post Interior Design Trends: Dark Blue Walls. It's lovely.

Timeless Floral Decorations for a Modern Home

2012-02-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

Choosing the right floral decorations will add the perfect ambiance to a modern home, and can turn any room from ordinary to extraordinary. Bring pictures of each room in your home with you to the florist. The visualization of each room will help a person and the florist order flowers in the shapes and colors that will accentuate a special space and style. While the florist is busy designing a floral masterpiece, a person no longer has to wait around until it is created. Most will choose to have their flowers delivered, a convenience that is very much appreciated in these busy times.

Modern Home Flowers and Design Choices

Elegant flower choices like orchids, gerber daisies, bird of paradise, and calla lilies will beautifully compliment a modern aesthetic. Choose vases and containers with sleek, clean lines. Bold metal containers will add drama and sophistication to a flower creation. Once a person selects the perfect flowers and container, the arrangement should be displayed so that it becomes the focal point of the room. If the interior colors are white or tan, choose florals or containers in bold, dramatic colors. An interior decorated in bold colors would look beautiful accented with light or pastel colored florals.

Floral Decorating Ideas for Modern Interiors

Place a line of bold, square vases across a fireplace mantle or at the center of a long table. Fill each vase with clear marbles and water, then add a single flower to each vase. Calla lilies are a great choice for single flower arrangements. This timeless floral design will add warmth to a modern design, while complimenting the style and decor of the room.

A bird of paradise flower arrangement in a bold metal container will add a dramatic look to an entryway in a modern interior, and it is a great way to welcome guest as they enter the home. If the entryway is large enough, place a bird of paradise floral decoration on each side of the front door for a bolder, eye-catching look.

Beautify a bathroom by placing a small square vase on the sink or at the top, center of the tank. Cut the stems short so that the flower heads hit just above the vase. Tie a bow matching the flowers around the center of the vase. Add a drop of potpourri oil to the arrangement water. This is a natural and unique way to add a lovely aroma to a bathroom.

Fruits mixed with flowers is a floral design that would beautifully compliment a dining room or kitchen in modern home design. Place a flat bowl or basket filled with fruit on a table or counter. Lay flowers on and throughout the fruit for a bold, stunning look. Another design option is to have the flowers placed at the center of the flat container, then frame the florals with the fruit pieces.

Every room has an awkward space or small corner that needs that little something. A tall vase with a dramatic floral arrangement would be the perfect decor choice. Choose vibrant colored flowers placed in a clear vase, or select a colored vase with ivory or soft colored flowers to make the space pop.

A candle centerpiece is another floral decoration that would beautify any room with modern decor. Place some moss inside a large flower pot. Place a trio of pillar candles in the center of the moss, then make a border with roses around the edges of the pot. This floral decoration looks stunning on a fireplace, entertainment center, or a corner in the room that needs a decorative touch.

About the Author

Patricia Hall works part-time for a florist and flower delivery but loves to surround herself with flowers at any given point of time. Even in her free time she loves to involve herself with everything flora and fauna.
'To me there is nothing more beautiful and global as the language of flowers - it is the easiest to understand all around the world in the same way. That is one reason why I truly admire flowers for what they represent in some ways - unity of all mankind!'

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Modern Take on the Barn Door Look

2012-02-01T09:05:00.001-07:00

I recently completed this project and am so pleased with the results. It's unlike most Beautiful Habitat projects that I feature here in that it is a design for my own home. This makes it part Beautiful Habitat "work" and part DIY project. To be fair, The design was all me, the build was all my husband. I'm so happy that he's handy!

First, let's define the goals of the project.

We are incredibly blessed to live with dedicated open space behind our home. Privacy is not an issue, and we also have great views. Therefore, we want something that can provide some privacy, light and heat control, but still provide some visibility.
We have a more modern or urban aesthetic, yet lifestyle of the suburbs. We enjoy creating ways to urbanize our suburban home.
Both as an Interior Designer, but also as an individual, I am drawn to unique things and I especially wanted an original and creative way to treat the standard sliding glass door.

The Project:
The first and most important step is always a good design plan. This included a number of sketches to work out the design and the measurements. The door had to be large enough to completely cover the sliding door and window above, 6' W x 8' H.

One of the longest parts of the process was staining the boards, particularly because a bitter cold front moved through Colorado, forcing me to move the staining into the basement... We also went with a 2 step staining to get the warmth and aged-look we wanted.

Next came the layout and actual build.

The door is done! Now time to get it hung...

Hardware

We chose hardware from a company called Real Sliding Door Hardware.

We made the door handle from pieces of plumbing pipe found at any hardware store.

It followed the urban and industrial aesthetic that we wanted
Because the door is 6'x8', the handle needed to be substantial to feel balanced with the door size. Finding a substantial handle is difficult. Finding one that doesn't cost a fortune is nearly impossible.

On to hanging... This was the most stressful part of the project!

Once the hardware was up, it was time to stain again. Why didn't I stain this with the other boards? The cold Colorado weather prevented me from staining in the garage. The 12' L of this board prevented it from going down to the basement. Therefore, staining in place was the best option.

Modern Barn Door Is Complete and hung!!

Above, the door is closed.

And a view with the door open.

And partially open. Maximum functionality here!

I hope you've been inspired to think out of the box in your home! What project would you like to try?

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Valentine’s Day Decorating Ideas | Guest Post

2012-01-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you may be making dinner or hotel reservations or picking out a new dress for the occasion. Make Valentine’s Day that much more special this year by decorating a room for the holiday.

Flower Arrangements, Bouquets, and Centerpieces

A simple, floral centerpiece could add an extra boost of color to your dining table, if you’re planning a special Valentine’s Day breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Of course, pink or red roses are the Valentine’s Day go-to but they can be softened with a pale blue, art nouveau-esque vase that would accentuate their sensuality. We prefer shades of pink and white over the stereotypical and sometimes harsh red bouquets.

Candles

Nothing ignites the flame like decorative candles, which cast a flattering glow on the faces of lovers and friends. Wood and other rustic candleholders can add a flame to the dining table or bedroom, without looking over the top or strictly seasonal. We love the idea of flipping wine glasses upside-down, then placing scented candles on their base, too.

Banners and Wall Hangings

For the crafty among us, a heart banner, comprised of individually crafted valentine hearts, could blend perfectly in the eclectic home. Pink-tinted doilies can hang on invisible string over a dining table for a Valentine’s Day party.

Whether you’re throwing a Valentine’s Day party or planning a dinner for two, decorate with flowers, candles, and hearts galore to celebrate romance this holiday.

About the Author: Ryan is a guest writer and interior designer who specializes in seasonal trends, especially in houses for sale Austin TX and Florence homes for sale.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Obituary for the 100W Bulb (and tips for real efficiency)

2012-01-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

Full Text of Atlantic Electric Supply's Obituary for the 100W Bulb:

Lamp, Hundred Watt

The light of Hundred Watt burned out on Jan. 1, leaving the world a little darker but with more energy. Hundred Watt was eliminated by an industry in which he was once revered despite last minute congressional efforts to save him.

This venerable member of the Lamp family was always a welcome guest and brightened countless lives for more than a century. Known to his friends as 100A, Mr. Lamp was also referred to as "the filament" by his detractors. He was often compared to Santa Claus in his ability to deliver smiles and light.

Born in 1879 in Menlo Park, NJ, to the late Thomas Alva Edison, Hundred Watt grew from a dim carbon filament to a bright tungsten Lamp. He leaves behind three siblings: Forty Watt, Sixty Watt and Seventy-Five Watt, all of whom suffer from terminal low lumen efficacy syndrome. (that's lighting-industry speak for "not energy efficient")

Hundred Watt is also survived by his son, Seventy-Two Watt-Halogen, who bears a striking resemblance to his father but is not quite as bright. In addition, Hundred Watt is survived by a nephew, Twenty-Six Watt CFL, whom many find slow to warm up.

I thought this was cute, so wanted to share with my fabulous readers. Lighting is incredibly important to creating beautiful interiors. I'm sure that you've noticed the difference in paint colors, fabric, or makeup when you move from one light source to another. Not only do Interior Designers learn a lot about lighting, there are many that specialize only in Lighting Design. I do agree with the need to improve energy efficiency, but I don't agree with the banning of incandescent light bulbs. There are many roads to better energy efficiency, but this is not a good one. Just blindly banning incandescent (to be followed by halogen) bulbs is not a solution and will leave us all with the bad color-rendering, slow warm up times, and poor dim-ability of CFLs. Yuck

Other Roads to Efficiency

Thee are other means to reach energy efficient lighting in your home. The best long-term solution is adding dimmers. Dimmers are an easy DIY project and dimming your incandescent or halogen bulb by just 10% will double the bulb life. That's right - DOUBLE. And this becomes exponentially more efficient as you dim it lower and lower.

"Dimming your incandescent or halogen bulb by just 10% will double the bulb life. That's right - DOUBLE. And this becomes exponentially more efficient as you dim it lower and lower."

If you are a lover of good lighting, like myself, and want to know more, you don't need to take a lighting design class. I recently stumbled upon a book Losing Edison. A book review is available on the Blog Freedom Light Bulb.
Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Exciting Patterns for Every Room | Guest Post

2012-01-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I’m Susi and I write as a guest blogger for DesignShuffle.com, a fabulous social media site that promotes interior designers from around the world and their work. My writing focuses on things I'm passionate about: interior design, home furnishings, gardening and art. I'm lucky enough to have a background in art history, auctions, and antiques, and a passion for decorating ideas. Plus, I get to look at gorgeous things all day and write about them. What a fantastic job!

This week I'll be looking at ways to add exciting patterns for every room in the home. From bold patterned tiles to graphic towels and linens, don't be afraid to bring patterns into your home. Patterns add interest and style to any space. Be bold, mix and match, and have fun with pattern!

DE Design Coop via

Patterned floors in the kitchen, bath or entry add an extra style element to these rooms. Tile layed out in interesting patterns or a herringbone wood floor are interesting twists on these traditional materials.

Coco Cozy via

Patterned tiles... for the bath or kitchen add color as well as pattern to these spaces. Use them on the floor or as a backsplash. Moroccan style tiles are very popular now.

Bedding Chic via

Bold patterned bedding is a smart way to add pattern to the bedroom design. Mix and match it with solids to break up the pattern, or choose a patterned coverlet or duvet.

Design Sponge via

A bold pattern area rug is a smart choice for adding pattern to a dining room, entry, living room, bedroom or even a bathroom design. Indoor/outdoor rugs can add pattern to your porch or deck.

Apartment Therapy via

Wallpaper is the big trend for adding pattern to walls today. Available in a range of patterns, colors and sheens, wallpaper can work in small spaces, like powder rooms, and larger rooms like dining rooms.

Shore Dreams and Beautiful Things via

Colorful patterned bath towels, like these from Amy Butler, can liven up your bath or guest bathroom. Patterned tea towels for the kitchen are a hot trend right now. Other interior design ideas to think about, might include colorful tea towels as guest towels in a powder room.

Rent the Runway via

Curtains in the living room, dining room or bedroom can be the perfect place to add pattern. And they are easily changed if you decide you don't like the pattern anymore.

Pepper Design via

Pillows, like these ikat patterned pillows from Fabricadabra, are the easiest way to add patterns to any room.
Pattern will add excitement to your décor and your life, start adding it today!
Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Love it or Leave it | One Pattern Everywhere

2012-01-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Some argue that using one pattern on multiple surfaces in a room creates an optical illusion of spaciousness. But I want to know, would you Love it or Leave it? Do you have a tiny room? Would you try this to create spaciousness?

All Photos via Pinterest

What are your thoughts: Love it or Leave it?

Check out other Love or Leave it Ideas and Posts

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

2012 | I Choose Happiness

2012-01-05T11:22:00.002-07:00

Happy New Year!

I have honestly never been a fan of New Year's Resolutions. I prefer to think that if you want to make changes in your life, don't wait for a specific date on the calendar. However, this year I have taken some time to reflect on the year that has passed and what lies ahead. This reflection has raised a desire in me to strengthen a belief that I already have: to always choose happiness.

Many people tell me that I am a positive and happy person - and I am glad and grateful to hear that message. However, in our culture it is so easy to get sucked into the negativity that permeates modern life. Like anyone else, I can often feel the pull towards negativity, doubt, blame, judgement and ultimately unhappiness. But I have seen time and time again that feeling this negativity, and expressing it outwardly toward others, does nothing more than make me feel bad. So I always try to remember that in any moment of my life I have a choice and I'd like to Choose Happiness...every time.

In 2012, I've like to continue to strengthen this belief - and the frequency that I am able to choose happiness in my life. I'd like to cultivate happiness wherever I go, because it is a constant within me. In 2012, I Choose Happiness. I hope you will, too.

What are your goals for 2012?

A little video on Choosing Happiness: Choose Happiness

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

2011-12-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

I've said it before: ceilings are the most neglected surfaces in any room and in the realm of Interior Design and Decorating. Think about it - have you ever painted a ceiling? If so, did you paint it anything other than white? Hove you ever even thought about your ceilings from a decorative aspect? You should - and I'm going to help you! There are several benefits to treating your ceiling in part of your interior design plan. If you've got a shorter room or low ceilings, adding ceiling interest can draw the eye up and make the room feel taller. (Find an example in this post: Designer Tips: Using Bold Wall Color). Conversely, if you've got a very high ceiling, a darker paint or more dramatic treatment can help to bring the ceiling down and add a cozier feeling to the space. And simply by adding interest to your ceilings, you just add something special and unique to your rooms and your home.

Painted ceilings

I've blogged before about the most simple ceiling treatment: a coat of paint that is anything but white: Painted Ceilings

Here are some additional inspiring paint options.

Papered Ceilings

Wallpaper and metal leafing are great options for adding interest and texture to ceilings.

Special Treatments

Whether with paint, paper, other materials, or a combination, here's where we get really creative with ceilings. I'm so inspired!

And, my personal favorite of this particular collection, with both coffers and a special design treatment:

If you'd like to see even more of these great ceilings, or to get additional information on those ceilings featured here, check out my Pinterest board appropriately titled Ceilings Need Love Too.

If you'd like advice on where to start with your own ceiling project, read these previous posts with Interior Design Tips: To Paint or Not to Paint... The Ceiling. Before & After: Choosing Wall Color, Designer Tips: Using Bold Wall Color.

And if you do add some interest to your own ceiling, please do share it with us! You can email me directly, share here, or share on Facebook!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

2011-11-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is life’s fast pace, coupled with the economic downturn, or simply the need to take refuge from it all, that has shifted interior design’s focus to what matters most. Accordingly, there has been a return to appreciating natural products, comfort and functionality, and revamping what is at hand to reflect current longings. A keen awareness of sustainability and eco-friendly attitudes also now influence decision-making when adding anything new to the home, from light bulbs to appliances. Here is a look at five important principles guiding 21st century design and how they can be applied to personal living spaces:

Furniture With Uncluttered Lines and Simple Designs

Modern furniture is sleek and simple, with geometric lines replacing overly intricate curves or fancy wooden legs. Conversely, large boxy-shaped sofas and easy chairs invite sinking into ample cushions of leather, suede, velvet or other smoothly finished fabrics from nature’s color palette. Bold patterned pillows and throws supply interest and pull a room together. Functional ottomans in the same shape and fabric can be snugged up for resting feet or used for snack tables or game and magazine rests, with the emphasis on usage and flexibility.

Thus, if replacing sofas and chairs, utility and comfort should be of primary concern. Look for simple designs with soil-treated fabrics that will hold up to wear and tear, yet be inviting enough for everyone. Similarly, if reupholstering comfortable pieces, choose from fabrics that echo nature: beiges, soft blues and greens, terra cottas, warm browns, muted grays. These are restful to look at and will be the most harmonious when adding accessories. Using pillows to add decorative touches allows seasonal enhancements, and keeping a few special ones on hand for entertaining ensures freshening the look in a jiffy.

Walls That Do Not Detract

21st century design de-emphasizes overly decorated walls, following the same minimalist approach as furnishings. Walls are increasingly free of wallpaper, borders, or other distracting elements, instead acting as quiet junctures for interesting, similarly uncluttered windows and doors that provide natural light. Moldings and baseboards are simplistic and non-ornamental, often painted the same or complementary colors as walls. Moreover, tray ceilings with depth perception provide uncluttered upward interest for lighting arrangements. These often include recessed swivel bulbs that ensure light falling where most desired, on artwork or over reading areas. Dimmer switches create atmosphere.

While walls are plainer, they radiate charm and warmth through artwork in various genres. Large oil or acrylic paintings on canvas are often the focus of soaring floor-to-ceiling spaces without windows. Moreover, they are just as apt to be frameless, giving the appearance of floating rather than being confined. Mirrors or glass displays also offer breathtaking dimension, especially when reflecting outdoor scenes or unique lighting fixtures hung over tables or central locations.

Selecting art with modern themes and strong colors will give soft-hued walls personality. While paintings or replicas are always stylish, rooms often dictate other possibilities. A bright art deco poster in a simple metal frame will make any kitchen or family living area seem more alive, while smaller prints with ample color and design are well-suited to baths, bedrooms, dining areas and any walls interrupted by windows or doors and not as spacious.

Kitchens With Eco-Friendly Functionality and Centralized Design

Kitchens have been the heart of the home forever, always family friendly though sometimes crowded. Modern kitchen design has magnified the gathering concept with much more space to enhance mixing eating, socializing, and food preparation, too. Furthermore, while once designed to blend in as insignificantly as possible, modern appliances now sport a new boldness. Stainless steel and other metal finishes formerly relegated to restaurant kitchens grace home appliances, their commercial looks underscoring function and practicality rather than pretense. Designed to take on big jobs nowadays, more relied upon than ever, there is no attempt to hide them. Additionally, their eco-friendly operation requires intelligent engineering and design that makes saving energy a daily kitchen feature.

Thus, no-nonsense appliances are as large as space permits. Remodeling a kitchen, then, should revolve around enhanced spaciousness for family and friends to gather in, but also the accommodations needed by state-of-the-art appliances that double as energy savers through modern engineering. The natural crushed stone and granite products characterizing today’s kitchen workspaces and countertops continue the same functional feeling. Well-placed artwork and colorful rugs, cookware and dinnerware provide warmth.

The Bathroom As An Oasis

As 21st century designers have embraced comfort as the key to home living, it is unsurprising that bathrooms have emerged high on the revamping list. Not only inspiring remodeling projects, they have spurred new home designers to rethink how this room is used. Once the purveyor of simple functionality, prone to being cluttered with frilly curtains and bath accessories, the modern bath now more resembles a luxurious spa, a comfortable oasis for relaxation.

Consequently, fixtures have been designed for ease of use, with modern, eye-appealing lines. Footed or sunken soaking-tubs may be centrally located or backed by a cozy fireplace, while showers can accommodate more than one with larger enclosures and multiple showerheads offering streaming massages. The release of steam only provides another spa-like quality in this home retreat.

Updating a bathroom by replacing old fixtures and faucets provides modern functionality. New vanities and countertops with crushed stone looks, larger floor tiles in neutral tones, and walk-in showers are further ways to accomplish 21st century appeal. Rugs and towels in natural colors and textured fabrics will extend this aesthetic. Also, replacing fluorescent tubes with eco-friendly light bulbs in soft bronze or satin nickel light fixtures imitates natural light where most needed, around mirrors and vanities; adding a high window or two encourages soaks in natural daylight in even the oldest tubs.

Windows And Doors Add More Than Light

With the impetus behind eco-friendly light bulbs in mind, natural lighting is now in vogue as well. Likewise, more attention is paid to window and door design and placement. Once regarded as challenging to conceal while simultaneously allowing light inside, most concealing now is reserved for evening or personal privacy. Thus, windows and doors are in the spotlight, equipped with energy-efficient glass and better insulation and mobility for easy cleaning. Sourcing natural lighting, preventing drafts and damaging sunrays, while also looking nice, is a major plus. And when it comes to privacy and window coverings, less is more. Blinds and shades of natural textured materials are popular, as are any treatments allowing maximum exposure but ample privacy. Once again, an appreciation for nature surpasses unnatural-looking solutions.

Similarly, doors have been given more design prominence. Replacing a section of wall with double French doors or paneled sliders not only allows increased light, but a distinct outdoor connection as well. Using large plants or small trees in painted ceramic pots by the door’s interior allows the release of beneficial oxygen for healthier living. Moreover, doors with a lot of glass make a room feel larger - a clever way to expand when space prohibits it.

The above elements of 21st century interior design and how they can be applied are a testament to simple, uncluttered living. Establishing a home environment that focuses on simple luxuries, personal comfort, colorful relief and the unparalleled presence of nature and its many gifts is the goal.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

via Craftily Ever After

Gratitude

I love Thanksgiving! I love the meaning behind the holiday - a day to reflect on and celebrate the abundance present in life. It's a beautiful day and way to live. This year the holiday is touching me in a more profound way. I feel an enormous sense of gratitude for the life I live and the people with whom I share my life. This is certainly influenced by my recent trip to Africa. And before I ramble on with the meaning of the trip, I'd like to pause there. I feel gratitude for the ability (physical, spiritual, financial, etc.) to travel across and experience this amazing world in which we live. AMEN.Traveling to Africa was certainly a reminder of the abundance in life. I was heartbroken by the extreme poverty that we witnessed. Yet I was also struck that the people of Tanzania seemed so genuinely happy. It's quite a contradiction to what I see so often in our own country - people whose lives are so abundant with stuff, yet they are so deeply unhappy.

I don't have deep philosophical thoughts to share on the subject. I'm not suggesting that anyone give up their possessions in order to find happiness. It was simply a contradiction that I observed and has really stuck with me.Yes, I'd love to eradicate hunger and create lasting World Peace. I believe that we can.Today, I am simply starting with a deep and genuine sense of gratitude and thanks.

I am immensely grateful for my family and friends, who make my life the rewarding, vibrant and adventurous existence that it is. I am thankfully to my wonderful clients, who trust me with their homes and dreams, while simultaneously helping me to live my own dream. I am grateful to you for joining me today, and any day, to read this blog and find inspiration for your own home and life.

Thanks + giving

Following my gratitude will certainly be giving. I have ideas and I'll be sharing them with you during the season of giving. Will you be giving this year? Do you have a favorite way to share the abundance of this world? Share with us.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Happy Colors | Pink

2011-09-28T10:17:00.000-06:00

Yes, we are still having fun with Happy Colors here at Beautiful Habitat! The Facebook survey revealed the mother of happy colors - pink. Yes, pink was voted most often as the color that just makes you feel happy. This post features several beautifully designed and decorated pink spaces to inspire you to incorporate your happy color into your interiors and your everyday!

That's a whole lotta pink...

Here is a fine collection of spaces that go all out with pink - walls, floors, furniture and more. Do you find your inspiration here?

Jonathan Adler

And how about Pink Hotel Rooms? This one is the May Fair Hotel in London.

Pink Kitchen! Could you do it? via Kitchen Clarity

I can hardly feature a pink kitchen without a pink bath. This is a modern update from the pink bathrooms of the early 1990's. Mauve toilets are not a good way to do pink bathrooms... ever. via Grant K Gibson Interior Design

I vote Designer Betsey Johnson as the queen of pink. Check out her home!

A little less pink, please

These well-decorated spaces have incorporated a little less pink, but still pack in the glamor and fun that pink provides.

If you've visited the Beautiful Habitat blog before, you know that I have a love of painted and papered ceilings. This room is certainly unique with pink ceiling and moldings to accompany white walls. Quite an interior design statement! via Apartment Therapy

Here is a great example of punching up a neautral room with color. Adding just a pink rug and pink pouf to an all-white bedroom makes an interesting and fun design. via Ohdeedoh

Following the white and pink room is a similar concept of adding pink to gray. This is a beautiful and feminine bedroom design! via Country Living

Why confine your happiness to the indoors? Take your decor, and pink, to the great outdoors. via House Beautiful

If you're not ready to commit to pink, or it doesn't work with other selections that you've made for your home, you can always get a shot of happiness from some fresh pink flowers.

Let's go all the way!

If you truly love pink and want to go well outside of the box, how about a pink Christmas? This room, via Toby Fairly, is not just a pink holiday, but on top of a very bold interior decorating plan of pink, pink, pink.

For more on the Happy Color Series, read on:

Is your happy color missing? Drop me a line about the color you turn to to brighten your day, wardrobe or interiors, and I'll be happy to include it!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Trends: Dark Blue Walls

2011-09-16T12:15:00.000-06:00

A trend that I am currently loving is that of dramatic dark blue walls, typically paired with white furniture. Sometimes a splash of the light green or yellow is included for a fresh color palette. The blues range from navy, to deep turquoise to dusty denim. The result is always dramatic, yet the rooms can feel crisp and fun or elegant at the same time.

I admit I am a little biased when it comes to loving this trend because I did it for a client last year. This is the home office/guest room of a beautiful 1930's Bungalow in the Sloane's Lake area west of Denver, Colorado.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design and Decoration

What do you think of this trend? Would you do dark walls in your home?

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & www.beautifulhabitat.com

2011-08-31T11:40:00.000-06:00

I have always been fascinated with lighting design. As it was so astutely stated by famed Interior Decorator Ruby Ross Wood, "There is one fundamental fact about lighting: Where there is no light, there is no beauty." Lighting is an important element to a successful Interior Design. However, we've also elevated the light fixture beyond a functional necessity into pieces of artwork.

The Mother Chandelier from designer Baran Baylar at Hudson Furniture, is lighting, jewelry and art mixed into one amazing fixture. I admit that I am in love.

The frame is made of laser cut rings, with jewelry-like chain details hanging down and adding a balance of drama, elegance, and edginess.

The Mother Chandelier is available in Nickel, Black, Bronze and Polished Bronze finishes and sizes can be customized.

In addition to the Mother Chandelier, Hudson Furniture has several similar offerings with equal glamor and drama, but even larger in scale.

Dragon Chandelier in Black

Atlantis Chandelier in Nickel

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Happy Colors | Red

2011-08-24T10:30:00.000-06:00

The next color up on our list of Happy Colors is Red.

Lots of Red

via Etsy

Red lacquered cabinetry would be a very bold move on it's own. Add red lacquer to the appliances, walls and ceiling and you've got a statement-making space.

via The Kitchen

Red walls make a great backdrop for lighter colored artwork.

Source Unknown

via Apartment Therapy

This bold bedroom design uses both a vibrant and more muted red tones along with graphic patterns. See more of this room here: Love it or Leave it: Red Patterned Bedroom

Mary McDonald via Veranda

Black, White and Red

Red is a perfect accent to schemes that are black and white, or to schemes that are gray. Yes, you could place any color in these rooms and it would really stand out as an accent, but there is just something special about red in these rooms...

via Decorpad

via House to Home

And I couldn't post without including another banquette, this lovey red banquette adds a great pop to a dining nook and overall gray room. I love banquettes and you can read more about them here: An Ode to Banquettes

Source Unknown

via House Beautiful

Red Accents

While red is stunning with Black & White, or gray, it is also a great accent with other color schemes, in large and small doses.

Source Unknown

via Domino Magazine

via House to Home

via Beautiful Habitat

And what says Red and Happiness as much as a red wagon?

Via U Create

For more on the Happy Color Series:

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Happy Colors | Yellow

2011-07-26T09:08:00.001-06:00

It's hard to dispute yellow as a Happy Color. Yellow is associated with joy, sunshine, warmth and freshness. Just look at any child's drawing and you're likely to see a bright yellow sun or a yellow happy face. I love yellow and have used it in both my own, and client's homes. And this is certainly not the first time I've mentioned yellow in the Beautiful Habitat blog.

Yellow is a big bold happy color, so let's start with the boldest of yellow rooms.

Whole Lotta Yellow

via tumblr

via The Style Files

via Canadian House & Home

via Eddie Ross

Even when not used as an overall color or on walls, yellow still makes a big impact in rooms and interiors.

via Day Design & Decor

via Pattern Hound

via Coastal Living

Yellow wallpaper makes a great statment on it's own

via High Street Market

or as a backdrop to other artwork

via Belle Maison

And if that's too much yellow for you, remember that it does make a great accent color in more neutral decor.

Yellow Accents

Starting with a lovely yellow banquette. I love banquettes and you can read more about them here: An Ode to Banquettes

via Palmer-Weiss

Lovely Bedrooms, both via SAS Interiors

via CB2

A wonderful room for a girl, via Douglas Friedman

ia Shelter Interior Design

An easy DIY accent via Brooklyn Limestone.

Have you used yellow in your home? Or maybe you've been too intimidated to try this bold hue? Share with us here, or on Facebook!

For more on the Happy Color Series:

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things | Rubber Vase

2011-07-22T13:15:00.000-06:00

I recently came across this great product for homes with smaller children - the rubber vase. Created by designer Henriette Melchiorsen, these family-friendly vases are available through Emmohome.com. They prove that kids and beautiful interior design can and should live harmoniously together.

From Emmo Home: "The rubber vase is both fun and unusual: in the right setting it is amazingly stylish – with its black, red and brown colors, close up the material can give the impression of fragile ceramics. But the dazzling lime and pink colors leave no doubt that this is a funky product made from a unique material – cutting-edge design for those seeking something completely different and modern, or just an extremely practical vase to have where there are small children around."

The rubber vase is available in two sizes. The small vase is quite small, with a 4.33" diameter and height of 5.12".

The large vase has a diameter of 7" and is 8" high.

The rubber vase comes in several colors to match both modern and more traditional or transitional interior decorating schemes.

A great option to decorate lower surfaces, including coffee and end tables in your home without fear that it will be broken by rambunctious or curious kids.

Have you seen other family-friendly, yet attractive products for the home? Share with us.
Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Happy Colors | Lime and Apple Green

2011-07-13T12:05:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago I asked on Facebook and Twitter "What color makes you happiest?". It was meant to be just some fun on a Friday afternoon. However, the responses inspired me to write a series of posts featuring these happy colors in beautifully designed rooms. My interior design philosophy has always been to live with the things and colors that you love. Afterall, your home should make you happy and feel good. My hope is that these post will inspire you to incorporate your own happy colors more into your design and decorating plans.

Our happy colors series has already featured Purple and Orange. Today we are going to focus on lime and apple greens. Much like with our previous colors, there are so many ways to incorporate greens into your home. You can use small splashes to large doses and in hues ranging from light and sweet to super bold and intense.

Let's start with large doses of green in different intensities.

This green-on-green wallpaper makes a bold statement in this kitchen nook decor. It works so well on the tall wall and is a piece or artwork in itself.

via HGTV

This apple green kitchen is adorable. The custom painted cabinets are not overwhelming because of the frosted glass panels, which helps to break up and soften the green. I love the use of different cabinet sizes taken all the way to the ceiling - it's smart kitchen design and use of space.

via My Home Ideas

Below is another kitchen that uses large doses of green without overwhelming. The green here is more of a lime green. This bold color is well balanced in this kitchen because it is only on the walls and softened by (and warms up) the stainless steel appliances and industrial cabinets.

via Design Sponge

And now, for the super bold in lime green walls... These rooms take lime walls to the extreme. If you'd like this look in your home, choosing the correct shade of green will take some time. Find tips here: Choosing Paint Colors or hire an expert to save you time and money.

A very bold and bright nursery. This super bright and intense shade of lime is balanced with white and an equally bold turquoise. It's certainly not shy, but in my opinion, it works.

via Ohdeedoh

This bathroom also has a very bold and intense shade of lime green. Powder rooms are a great place to go really bold (also dining rooms and foyers). You don't spend a lot of time in these spaces, so won't become overwhelmed or tired of the color as quickly, Yet your guests will visit these 3 spaces, so you can really make a statement.

via Country Living

Green does not have to be applied is such large doses to create an impact and make you happy. Here are some more subtle and suggestive ways to use green in your interiors.

This bedroom balances lime green, chocolate brown and white for a beautiful and restful retreat.

via Better Homes and Gardens

This Dining Room by Jonathan Adler is another wonderful balance of lime and chocolate. The lime brightens the room and definitely adds the "happy".

An accent piece of furniture is a great way to add color to you home. Below is a beautiful painted chest - great DIY project. Also below is the Forest chair, which adds interest with it's green color and unique shape.

via Interior Stylist

via Burostoel

How about a lime green vintage bathtub? It's the perfect statement piece is an otherwise white bathroom. If you're not feeling so bold, you could just opt for the lime and white towels in your bath.

via Feedly

For a perfectly balanced living room that incorporates green, use it on curtains, a small stool or chair, and other accessories.

via Decor Pad

Have you used lime or apple green in your home? Share with us here or on Facebook.

Have I featured your happy color, yet? If not, tell me about your color and I'll be happy to add it to the series.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Happy Colors | Orange

2011-07-06T09:41:00.000-06:00

Continuing on our topic of colors that make you happy, today we are on Orange. I love to use orange in rooms and agree that it is a happy color. It’s a warm and vibrant color that combines the happiness of yellow with the energy of red.
One of my favorite interior design plans features orange and has been seen in the Beautiful Habitat blog before in Spring Inspired Rooms.

Like last week’s post which featured purple as our happy color, orange can by used in different intensities for very different results.

As a wall color paired with neutrals.

via Classic With a Twist

via Bright Bazaar

As a bold accent color

via Beautiful Habitat Interior Design & Decoration

via Martha Stewart

via A Blonde & a Brunette

via My Home Ideas

via House to Home

via FLIK by Design

And rooms that just go all out with Orange

From Sixx Designs via Desire to Inspire

via House to Home

Older Posts that feature Orange Interiors and Decor:

Have you ever used or considered using orange in your home decor? Share with us here, or on Facebook.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Happy Colors | Purple

2011-06-24T12:18:00.000-06:00

I recently asked the Beautiful Habitat Facebook friends “what color make you happiest?” It was meant to be a Friday brain-break, but the answers inspired me to include their happy colors in a few blog posts. My philosophy has always been to follow what you love to inspire your interiors. If a color makes you happy, use it in your home. This can be intimidating, but I hope these Happy Color posts will inspire you to find ways to incorporate your own happy color into your home decor.
Today we’ll take a look at purple in interior design and decorating.
A Little Purple
Purple is a great accent color. Try purple in throw pillows, vases and accessories, artwork, window treatments, or perhaps a small table or accent chair. Use it to spice up neutrals, or in combination with another bold color.

Both above via Belle Maison

via Colour Me Happy

A Lot of Purple
Purple works equally well in large doses. These rooms take purple all the way. Here think wall color, bedding, and larger furniture… or all of the above.

via Afflatus

Via House Beautiful and also featured in the previous post An Ode to Banquettes

via Afflatus

via We Heart It

via Design Sponge

In reality, you may be living with someone that doesn’t love your happy color as much as you do. But there are still ways to bring in that happiness with out a huge commitment. Try some purple flowers in any room.

What color makes you happiest? Do you use it in your home? Share with us on Facebook and look for more Happy Colors posts coming soon.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Love it of Leave it | Patterned Bedrooms

2011-06-20T13:49:00.000-06:00

I have long been a fan of Interior Designer Mary McDonald. I admire that she takes risks and is bold in her work and, as a result, the interiors that she creates are absolutely stunning. In this particular room, she breaks all the conventional rules of bedroom design by creating a space with bold red on red color and pattern on pattern.
We read it, hear it and see it all the time – a bedroom should be a soothing sanctuary. Calm colors, muted patterns. Restful. This room is the absolute opposite.

Red is an energetic color. Green is also used in the room and is opposite of red on the color wheel, making it a complimentary color. Using complimentary colors together traditionally creates even more energy in a room.

Then we have pattern on pattern with bold stripes and the geometric wallpaper. These features combined, make for a high energy, but still aesthetically pleasing room.

All the rules have been broken in this bedroom, but I want to know what you think. Do you love it or leave? Could you and would you sleep in this room?

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Framed Objects as Wall Art {Guest Post}

2011-06-08T14:37:00.000-06:00

Many of us can’t help but frown at an empty wall yet struggle with what to nail upon it. Family photos and copies of a Van Gogh have their merits, but the latest trends in framed art lean more toward the abstract.
DIY nuts and flea market aficionados can rejoice, since few things—aside from Mona Lisa—look better in vintage frames than vintage finds. For example, one can arrange children’s vocabulary flashcards with one’s tongue in cheek or to quote Shakespeare. The effect is stark but retro. Alternatively, old skeleton keys make great accessories—think necklaces and key ring charms—but they also look great hung on walls or arranged in a frame.

Credit: Design Sponge

Credit: Design Sponge

Three-dimensional objects may not suit a glass-covered picture frame, but they take abstract home décor to a new level (dimension?). Seashells suit anyone living near the shore and flowers in vases add a touch of living beauty to any room with vintage appeal.

Credit: Susan of Seaside Shells

Credit: thinkofthe

Before there were color photographs, there were family silhouettes. Rather than displaying plain black shadows (and risking blowing in an eerie air to an otherwise elegant space), consider buying silhouettes made from pretty wallpaper. Victorian designs produce a delightfully quirky effect. Making your own is easier than you might believe.

Credit: Design Sponge

In this fashion, handmade paper art can add flair to a room that no print or copy from a museum or exhibition can. Consider the array of butterflies—cut from pages of an old book—on Jennifer Rizzo’s wall and the neatly arranged paper (and button) hearts by Nicolette Tabram.

Credit: Jennifer Rizzo

Credit: Nicolette Tabram

For multi-media art, these shadow boxes provide plenty of wiggle room. Place anything from an old deck of playing cards to a stack of poetry books inside with one quirky flea market find and you’ve made art. These, from Design Sponge, are made with wine crates.

Credit: Design Sponge

Bio: Tracy Sitchen is a veteran coupon clipper, stay at home, and aspiring writer. While she loves shopping, she loves the chase of the deal even more! She’s recently been writing on Heinz ketchup coupons and printable Friendlys coupons over at her blog where she shares deals and discounts to help every day people save money.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Green Home Design in Denver

2011-06-08T11:44:00.000-06:00

Each year, HGTV searches for a leading “green” community and local builder to showcase the latest and greatest in sustainable home design. This years Green Home is in the Stapleton redevelopment area of Denver, Colorado. Being a Denver Interior Designer, I was in line to see the home as soon as it opened up to tours last week.
Before we get to the highlights, a few quick notes about the Stapleton redevelopment area for those who aren’t familiar with Denver. Stapleton is the old Denver airport, which was replaced by the Denver International Airport in 1995. In 1990, the Stapleton Redevelopment Foundation was created to determine best uses for the 7.5 acre site. The vision: community as a “Neo-Urban Lifestyle.” A blend of the best of the urban with the best of the suburban: convenient, accessible and cultured along with safety, outdoor space and a clean, family community. 30 percent of the space would be reclaimed into open green space, parks and nature preserve. And, town centers with grocery stores, restaurants and retail would crop up next to homes, making for a walkable and outdoor-driven community. For more visit StapletonDenver.com or HGTV.
What’s green about the Denver HGTV Green Home?

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certified by the US Green Building Council. (LEED Platinum is the highest green certification out there).
HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score of 38, when most homes built to code today score 100 (lower is better, in case you hadn’t already sorted that out)
Energy Star certified
Significatn recycled and reclaimed content including beetle-kill wood and pieces recycled from the former airport
Built with locally sourced materials whenever possible
Solar energy system providing 75% of home’s electricity
Most furniture and accessories made with eco-friendly fabric and materials
Most artwork is original work by local artist and purchased at local shops and galleries

Now the highlights of the interior design and decoration…
Entrance/Front Yard
My favorite piece here is the retaining wall. Not only does it add an interesting texture in the landscape design, but it is made from the blast screen that used to be between the old airport and the highway. That is clever and beautiful reuse! Other Eco-friendly features include the xeroscaping and a permeable walking surface that captures and redistributes the water.

Great Room
The overall interior design of the home is smaller, with a focus on natural light and smart, functional, and multi-purpose spaces. Do more with less. The living room, kitchen and dining rooms are all open to each other. It’s compact, but very functional design. The interior decorating is fun, with a focus on eco-friendly products all sourced from Denver resources.
Yes, that is a chair made of reclaimed radiators. No, I was not allowed to sit in it and do not know if it is comfortable. If not, at least it’s interesting artwork and 100% recycled.

“Do” Room
This multi-purpose room features laundry, and three separate pull-out, hide-away work stations. Again, it’s a compact, but highly functional interior design plan.

Upstairs Loft
The upstairs loft area is another comfy family room with great natural light and views. It’s an ideal place for kids or adults. Great local Denver art adds fun and color to the interior design plan.
There are 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a loft and a nook/office space upstairs. Check out the online tour for more photos of the spaces not seen here.
Master Suite
In place of a traditional headboard, the entire wall of the master suite is clad with pine beetle-kill wood. It doesn’t feel rustic, but adds a great reclaimed natural element to the room. All Interior doors in the home are also reclaimed beetle-kill wood and they are beautiful (see below).

My Favorite Design Element
This door is to the master bath. Look closely and you’ll see a motion detector in the upper corner of the door opening. This motion detector senses when the bathroom door closes, then starts heating the water for the mater bath. No waiting for the hot water to reach upstairs, wasting gallons and gallons each day. Brilliant! From the decorating standpoint, I really love these sliding “barn-style” doors and the frosted glass, which continues to let natural light flood the whole home.

Outdoor Spaces – Front and Back
Both the front and back yards feature large seating areas to enjoy the Colorado weather and views.

If you can see the home in person, it’s well worth the time and money and all proceeds go to a Denver charity, Urban Peak. Urban Peak helps homeless youth and those at risk of becoming homeless to overcome real life challenges by providing essential services and a supportive community, empowering them to become self-sufficient adults.
Can’t see the Green Home in person? Take the virtual tour.
What’s your favorite part about the Denver Green Home?

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Designer Tips: Using Bold Wall Color

2011-06-03T13:53:00.000-06:00

Most people shy away from bold wall colors. They can be intimidating. They can also be truly striking and take a room that is “nice”to one that is absolutely jaw-dropping.
House Beautiful magazine is covering the transformation of the Bee Cottage, focusing on a room each month. The Guest Bedroom Makeover provides a great example of many tips and tricks that Interior Designers use for selecting and using bold paint color. The guests who stay here will be blown away by the beauty of the room.

One surprising fact is that this room is tiny – about 9′ x 12′, with 7′ ceilings. Conventional rules say that painting with a dark color will make a room feel smaller. Obviously, this room breaks that rule in a glorious fashion. So, why does it work here? From House Beautiful, “Deep tones absorb the light, decreasing shadows so the space appears seamless and therefore larger.”

Another important key in this room is that the ceiling is painted in the same color as the wall. It’s no secret that I am a big fan of painted ceilings. In this particular bedroom, painting the ceiling makes it virtually disappear. Look at the room again and just imagine the ceiling white. Your eye would immediately be drawn up to the ceiling. A white ceiling would make the room feel small and low and would emphasize the awkward angles of the space.

Another tip in the success of this Interior Design plan is the balance of color. The walls and ceilings are the largest surfaces in the room and are in the bold turquoise-y color. The second largest surfaces are the floor and furniture. These have all been kept very neutral so as not to compete with the wall color. The result is a balanced space that does not overwhelm.

The addition of a few bright red accessories adds a perfect level of interest to the room. Without this punch of color, it would be just a little flat. The red could have easily been replaced with yellow, green, orange, or any other color. For a great example of a room that employs these same Designer tips with a turquoise and tangerine scheme see the post Now That’s How You Use Color.

The Bee Cottage guest bathroom got an equally bold paint treatment. Without changing the flooring or fixtures in the room, the addition of paint on the walls and ceiling breathes new life into the room at minimal expense.
Before

After

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Interior Design: Small Details for Big Looks {Guest Post}

2011-05-18T16:19:00.000-06:00

It was American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who once famously said, “God is in the details”, and it is hard to argue with such great logic. In fact, pick up any home décor magazine or surf any interior designer's website and you will notice that it is the smallest of details, and not the superfluous design elements, that make a difference to its surrounding environment. So for that added panache, one needs to shop for suitable and beautiful home accessories like an eye-catching lighting fixture, an exquisite antique photo frame, or a luxury throw cushion. Listed below are some easy decorating tips that will make your home beautiful and be the talk of the neighborhood.

Flower Vases (via)

Vases by the Fireplace (via)

Nothing brightens up a room than a gorgeous arrangement of flowers. However it is not just the flower arrangement that makes a difference, as the vase is equally important. You can purchase different sized flower vases and then place them strategically on a mantle or next to the unused fireplace.

Art Attack (via)

It doesn’t matter if you prefer modern, pop or classical art. The point is to create a focal point in a room. If buying artwork is not too appealing then make your own wall art décor (like the polka dots/red and white circles pictured above) and unleash the creative genius inside you.

Light Up (via)

When it comes to selecting light fixtures, one is spoiled for choice, as the market is flooded with beautiful pendant lights, table lamps, and desk lamps. A clever alternative to traditional lamps are tea light candleholders since they look charming and have an unique appeal.

Make A Splash (via)

Brighten up any room and inject a touch of vibrancy by experimenting with color. However, subtlety is the key here. For example a room with a monochromatic color palette can be made more appealing by throwing in some colorful and quirky knick-knacks.

Picture Perfect (via)

A home without family photos is incomplete and incorporating them in your décor is always recommended. Wall mounted picture frames or even digital photo frames will add a touch of warmth and make your décor more personal. The black table lamps in the picture above are a nice added touch to this lovely seating area.

Lead A Cushy Life (via)

The simplest way to enhance any space is to buy beautiful and quality throw pillows. The throw pillows can be scattered casually around the house to achieve a casual chic look. To achieve an instant makeover, experiment with different patterns, textures and sizes and group them together in odd numbers.

Content provided by Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality lighting fixtures at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Inspiring Images - Budapest

2011-05-05T10:05:00.000-06:00

Last week I left Denver to visit a dear friend that now lives in Budapest, Hungary. The city contains beautiful and unique architecture that can be a great source of inspiration for your own interior design and decoration projects. I hope you’ll be as inspired by the beauty of the city as I was. Enjoy!

There are several copper and bronze statues in the castle hill area on the Buda side of the city. I love the way the metal has aged and gained patina into the beautiful turquoise shade. It’s great inspiration for using metals in your outdoor spaces and leaving them exposed to the elements. Or perhaps you could use this particular patina turquoise as an interior paint or accessory color.

These beautiful gates and the Chain Bridge could be another great point of inspiration for your interior design plan. I find inspiration in both the combination of metal and stone and the detailed pattern of the iron work. It could be inspiration for interior or exterior railings or perhaps a fabric or wallpaper pattern loosely based on the scrolling iron work.

Finally, I would have to say that my favorite point of inspiration came from the cathedral roof tops in Budapest. I have traveled a lot throughout Europe and have noticed that each culture puts their own flair on the cathedrals. The Hungarians have added a charming and unique touch with colorful glazed roof tiles. The obvious inspiration here is in using glazed tiles to create interesting patterns. Other uses could be in using glazed tiles in an unexpected application, perhaps a design on a table top. Or creating similar patterns in fabric or paint.

And a look at the Buda side from the Pest side of the Danube. Look at those beautiful roof tiles.

Have these images inspired you? What can Budapest bring to your interior design project?

Want more Inspiring Images? Check out these Inspiring Images posts.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Spring is in this House

2011-04-28T10:21:00.000-06:00

Spring is in the air! I’m feeling inspired by lighter, fresher rooms. I often feel this way at this time of year. Here is a Spring-inspired-interiors post from last year.
Recently, I found this home in the Bahamas to provide the fresh feel I’ve been looking for after a long winter. This home was featured in Luxe Magazine. While the overall look features a bit too much pink for my taste, I still love the overall feel you get from the spaces: light, fresh, breezy. Enjoy!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Paint Your Ceiling

2011-04-16T19:22:00.000-06:00

The ceiling is the most neglected surface in any room. The ceiling is rarely thought about and even more rarely changed from the standard white paint. Yet changing the ceiling color, even very subtly has a more dramatic impact than any changes to the walls or flooring. Afraid of ceiling color? You certainly aren’t alone. This post is full of inspiration to get you thinking about your ceiling with options ranging from subtle to extremely bold.
Starting with the subtle…
In previous posts, I shared my favorite ceiling tip: use the wall color at 50% strength on the ceiling. I use this particularly with bold wall colors and stained-wood built-ins as the bold colors and white ceiling usually clash and draw more attention to the ceiling. The result is subtle and adds a sophistication to rooms. For more on that tip read: To Paint or Not To Paint…The Ceiling.
A subtle option from House Beautiful, This ceiling is such an interesting feature that it absolutely deserves to be highlighted as a focal point. This room would lose so much character if the ceiling were white.

Yes, the room above is obvious because of the interesting architecture of the ceiling, a feature that most of use do not have in our own homes. A paint, wallpaper or other treatment can still have a significant impact in rooms with “plain” ceilings. The bedroom below features a serene blue paint on a plain ceiling, from Apartment Therapy. This small color change adds a lot of interest to the bedroom and could remain if the orange accessories were changed out for another color.

Now let’s step it up a notch with bolder colors featured on the ceilings and rooms where the major color impact is found on the ceiling.
From Apartment Therapy, this work space received a dramatic and uplifting ceiling color. The white walls keep the room feeling light, but the ceiling adds energy and interest to the space.

Another from Apartment Therapy, a bold orange ceiling color to enliven an otherwise traditional and formal living room. Again, the ceiling is the primary color source in the room.

Now let’s go extremely bold with ceiling paint! The next two rooms use the ceiling color and design to literally take the spaces to a whole new level.
From House Beautiful, this pea-green gingham painted ceiling makes a huge statement when coupled with the green kitchen island. The two sources of green create a wonderful balance in the room. The ceilings are also quite high in this kitchen. The paint brings them down, again adding to the sense of balance. What a fun place to be everyday!

From Interior Designer Albert Hadley, featured in House Beautiful, an iridescent ceiling in his personal study. A very bold choice, but it works well in this small space.

I hope these have inspired you to think out-of-the box when it comes to the most neglected surface in a room. Have you painted a ceiling? Have you seen other painted ceilings? Share your photos with us here or on Facebook!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Rivets Wall Coverings

2011-04-08T14:52:00.000-06:00

To my regular readers, it’s no secret that I absolutely love both polka dots and nail head trim in Interior Design. As if answering my call, Phillip Jeffries has a new line of wall coverings called Rivets and it appeals to the polka-dot, nail-head loving designer in me. Phillip Jeffries has long been a creator of beautiful textural wall coverings and Rivets combines the look of nail heads or industrial rivets with the texture they are known for in the interiors industry: grass cloth.

From the Phillip Jeffries website: “Adding another dimension to wallcoverings is the RIVETS collection. Hand crafted by artisans, a raised relief pattern made with pearlized inks is hand applied to our natural Manila Hemp, Glazed Abaca, Linen and Jute wallcoverings to create the look and feel of authentic nail heads. Strong and bold, this pattern of 11.3” squares is available in nine unique color combinations that are truly riveting!”

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Trends in Tile: Large Format, Large Pattern

2011-04-06T18:53:00.000-06:00

Continuing on with the Latest and Greatest in Surfacing Trends, today the focus is big, big, big. Both larger format (size) and large pattern tiles are gaining presence in Interior Design markets and showrooms. It’s no wonder that larger format tiles are gaining popularity, particularly in more contemporary interiors. The larger the tile, the fewer grout lines and a more even, continuous surface. Another trend in tiles is the use of more rectangular and plank shapes in place of traditional square tiles.

For an example of these trends, the best place to look is Italy. Italian manufacturers have long been on the leading edge of stone and porcelain surfacing materials. When it comes to all things getting larger, Italian manufacturers do not disappoint. The examples featured here are from Florin Ceramiche, particularly the Casa dolce Casa porcelain products. The particular tiles featured here are from the Nera line. The Nera tiles meet all three trends of larger sizes (up to a full 4 feet!), a variety of rectangular and plank shapes, and large patterns. The tiles are available in 6″X4′, 1′X4′, 2′X4′, 4′X4′ sizes.

Larger scale patterns are also being seen across the surfacing and Interior Design world. Pattern is nothing new to tile, but manufacturers and designers are simply blowing up the scale for a much more dramatic impact.

Large Format

Above we see the 4ft x 4ft tiles across the floor. It creates a beautiful streamlined interior without the distraction of grout lines.

Large Scale Pattern

Above, the simple geometric and monochromatic pattern is dramatic because of the large scale. I must admit that I just love this floor and would happily add it to my own home.

Large Format and Pattern

Above we see both applications with the floor and wall tiles. This interior is absolutely stunning, with the wall tile extending up two stories with that large and very bold pattern. The Nera images pages will give you a better glimpse.

These products are available in Colorado through Interior Designers and the Decorative Materials showroom.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Ribbon Glass Surfaces

2011-04-01T14:18:00.000-06:00

Continuing from last week on the latest and greatest in tile, stone and coverings, today’s post is all about Architectural Glass Surfaces (aka glass slabs), particularly a product called Ribbon Glass. It is amazing and I hope it inspires you to use innovative products in your own Design or Decorating projects!
Glass surfaces are nothing new. We’ve seen glass tiles, particularly in tile mosaics, trending for the last several years. Other decorative glass applications have been around for a while, including glass countertops. Even glass blocks have been in and out of style for interiors since the 1930′s. However, Ribbon Glass is something new and it’s very cool. For those looking for a more modern, artistic or unique surface, or those who are tired of granite as the go to luxury countertop, Ribbon Glass may be the perfect alternative for you.
Interstyle Ceramic and Glass are behind Ribbon Architectural Glass Surfaces. Made with 33% recycled content, the Ribbon surfaces are created by fusing layers of glass in a kiln. Being 100% glass, the surfaces are non-porous and stain-resistant and therefore great for countertop applications in the kitchen or bathroom. But it’s the color and texture that really make the product innovative and eye-catching.

Ribbon glass is versatile and each piece is hand made to specification up to 48″x120″. The custom nature lends the products to unlimited interesting applications beyond kitchens and bathrooms. I can envision this product as a mantel, wall art (especially if back-lit), room partition, or in furniture applications as seen in this table. How would you use Ribbon glass?

Each piece is a hand-crafted original. The company offers the color selection below, and custom color blends are welcome. Available in Denver through Interior Designers and the Decorative Materials showroom.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

The Latest & Greatest in Coverings

2011-03-25T11:10:00.000-06:00

I did not attend Coverings 2011, the premier trade show for all tile, stone and other innovative covering materials. I did, however, get a fantastic update at the Decorative Materials showroom in the Denver Design District last night as part of the National Kitchen and Bath Association meeting. The knowledgeable staff at Decorative Materials gave us an overview of the trends and very innovative new materials and techniques coming in tile, glass, and stone. I’m happy to share them with you here and I can’t wait to use them in the right design project. Many of these tiles are so innovative that they call out for a use beyond the kitchen and bathrooms. How about an entryway or dining room? I hope you will find as much inspiration in these posts as I found at the meeting. A quick overview of hot items in Interior Design Coverings:

Dimension, Geometry and Texture
Larger format tiles (think 12″x24″ or 18″x36″)
Glass slabs
Large Patterns
Water jet cut stone and glass
Rectangle and plank formats

Today I’m going to focus on Dimension Geometry and Texture, with examples from Artistic Tile. Enjoy!
Ambra
Created by an Italian artisan, Ambra is inspired by the fundamental elements of nature – Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Hand-crafted, the sculptural, three-dimensional stone tile was designed with an undulating pattern using an original finishing technique that gives Ambra the appearance of two separate stones by combining matte vs. polished finishes.

Jardin
Jardin collection embodies realistic renderings of organics within nature with elegant, dimensional patterns that interlock and repeat for a seamless installation on an interior wall. The intricate designs in ceramic are highlighted with hand-painted detail to accent the dimensions. Each pattern is available in a variety of color ways blending soft, warm earth tones.

Ziva Inspired by nature, Ziva is a sculptural, three-dimensional stone tile designed with an undulating pattern that gives Ziva its unique appearance. Each tile is hand carved and uses a combination of a polished and a honed finish.

Stay tuned for posts on the other tile trends next week. Do these inspire you? How would you like to use some of these tile and stone products in an Interior Design Project? Share your ideas and creativity!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Coco Tiles

2011-03-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this very cool environmentally friendly product for numerous interior design and furniture applications: Coco Tiles. These tiles are from Kirei, a company specializing in environmentally friendly and green building materials.

The Coco Tiles are made from reclaimed coconut shells, low-VOC resins, and sustainably harvested wood backer. And they are simply beautiful; creating texture and movement in a room! They can be used as decorative 12″x12″ tiles or 48″ x48″ panels and both vertically and horizontally.

Although they look very textural, they can be smooth to the touch. The tiles can be ordered as unfilled or filled in with a lacquer to make a polished surface, suitable for wet areas.

About Kirei: “Pronounced ‘Key-ray’, Kirei is the Japanese character signifying ‘beautiful’ or ‘clean’. We have chosen Kirei as the name for our company to reflect our dedication to the principals of
elegant, sustainable design”.
“Our goal is continual introduction of new materials while improving our production and business practices to be as low-impact and sustainable as possible.”

Want to see them locally? Visit Ellie’s Eco Home Store in Boulder, CO.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Ombre Wood Furniture

2011-03-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Ombre: n. A French term meaning “shaded.” Usually a multicolored stripe, with colors graduating from light to dark. The color effect is woven into the fabric. Generally produced by arranging different tones in the warp.
Ombre is no stranger to the Design world. We’ve seen Ombre in textiles for fashion and interiors over the last several years.

Now, the clever designers at J. Robert Scott have found a way to add Ombre to wood. With four different Ombre shades, the J. Robert Scott team “has translated a dreamy impression of shades and gradients to wood veneer. The proprietary finishing technique results in furnishings which are truly one-of-a-kind. Each piece is an original artistic expression, and as individual as a fingerprint”

Above is the Cabriole Cabinet in Ombre Storm.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Small Changes Can Make Big Happys

2011-03-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

I’ve recently made some small functional changes around my home and, although I knew they would make life feel better, I didn’t realize how happy they’d actually make me. While I don’t normally blog about me and my home, I think many people can relate to this story and draw inspiration from it. Allow me to be your case study for no longer settling for the little things that annoy you around your home!

Change #1: The Shower Head
About 2 months ago, we changed out the shower head. The old shower head had terrible water pressure and was a little leaky. It had gotten worse over time until a shower felt like this…

After one particularly low pressure and unpleasant shower, I had had enough and marched myself to the bathroom showroom. After about $100 in an upgraded shower head and 5 minutes of labor, my next shower felt like this…

I’m not exaggerating. It was wonderful. The new shower head made me ridiculously happy. The actual change is really more like this…

Change #2: Sofa Cushions
The current sofa is something we purchased prior to my embarking on the design gig. It’s before I had access to all the lovely showrooms and manufacturers that I now bring to my clients. It’s from a well-known retail store. While it looks nice and has a well chosen fabric, the quality is not of the highest caliber, particularly the cushions along the back of the sofa. Below is a cushion insert. It is a just bag of loose fiber-fill. The result was a cushion that drooped and looked sloppy and, more importantly, was unsupportive and uncomfortable.

For $200, I had new inserts made for the sofa back by an upholstery supply company. These are made as a good sofa should be – with a supportive upholstery foam, envelope-wrapped in a down or fiber-fill.

This little change has made me love the sofa all over again. The cushions now sit upright and look tailored and the proper back support makes it comfortable.

The shower and the sofa were two little things that annoyed me a little bit each day. Those little annoyances start to build until you are no longer enjoying your home. And your home is the one place in this world you should never be annoyed, but should find pure joy, peace and relaxation. For $300 I was able to resolve these nit-picky items and fall in love with my bath room and family room again. These small changes have given me big happys in my home again.

What’s bugging you in your home? I encourage you to change it. It can enhance your life and your daily routine. And if I can help you with those changes, you know where to reach me.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Beautiful Habitat in Homes & Real Estate Weekly!

2011-02-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Habitat was recently interviewed by the Longmont Times-Call Weekly Homes and Real Estate section. The article is Instant Upgrades: Add Luxurious Touches to your Home. Check it out for some great ideas!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Big Changes at Beautiful Habitat

2011-02-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce some changes here at Beautiful Habitat.

First is my shiny new beautiful and functional website. Please check it out: beautifulhabitat.com. It been a labor of love between my talented web designer and I. (It was very interesting to be on the client side of that relationship, too). There will be additions to the website coming soon including videos and photos of projects that are in the final phases now. Stay tuned!
In the mean time, the beautiful habitat blog is also directly on the website and via wordpress. If you don't mind the extra effort, I'd appreciate if you switched your feed to that page at beautifulhabitat.com/blog. However, being the busy creatures that we are, I understand if you don't have the time and energy, or if you are particularly fond of blogger. In that case, the beautiful habitat blog will continue to be right here where we first met.
Thank you for joining me in the journey. Stay tuned for more fun. And please let me know what you think about the new website!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Black, White & {insert color choice}

2011-02-18T11:41:00.001-07:00

I am always drawn to rooms that are a strict color palette of black, white and one other color. The contrast makes the spaces so interesting. Here are a few such rooms for your to enjoy!

A Black, White & Red scheme from Designer Kelley Proxmire. I found this room at Desire to Inspire.

From Kelly Wearstler's book Hue, two rooms featuring Black, White & Yellow.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Jonathan Franc Funriture

2011-02-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

I was recently introduced to Jonathan Franc Furniture. These pieces are so beautiful and unique that I had to share them here. Having recently been sold only out of California, now these gorgeous pieces are available in Denver. Jonathan Franc furniture are the creations of Interior Designer and Furniture Designer John Bossone.

The Jonathan Franc collection consists amazing combinations in wood, acrylic, parchment, mica, gilt wood, shagreen, bronze and nickel. His ability to fuse acrylic and wood so seamlessly in his designs makes these furnishings quite unique.

Burnel Chest

Peony Acrylic Chair

Melrose Desk & Seren Chair

Polaris Chest

Francesca Table

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Inspiring Images - Egypt

2011-02-10T13:10:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I've had an Inspiring Images post. In case you haven't seen one before, they stem from my belief that inspiration for your home can be found anywhere. If you love a place, a culture, a food, a plant, a book or movie, piece of art, piece of music, a sport or hobby, etc - you can find creative ways to incorporate it into your interior spaces, without being a "theme". For previous posts: Beautiful Habitat: Inspiring Images

Given the recent headlines, I've had Egypt on my mind. I was very fortunate to have visited Egypt in 2007 and found plenty of sources of inspiration. I certainly hope that the Egyptian people can find a peaceful resolution to the recent unrest. When they do, I highly recommend a visit!

**Note: I've left in a few touristy shots, mostly so you can grasp the colossal scale of the ancient temples and monuments.

In Cairo: the bazaar

The architecture

The Nile

The Sunsets

And, of course, the many temples of Ancient Egypt

** See the guard in the doorway above? Gives you an idea of the scale.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Interiors of The Kings Speech

2011-02-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

Have you seen The Kings Speech? It lives up to the hype and more. The story is inspiring, the acting is brilliant and it absolutely deserves the numerous awards and nominations.
While I love the movie for it's story and acting, the sets were also beautiful and gave us a flavor of decades of British Interior Design. We see everything from Victorian to Art Deco and Art Nouvea and even a little Regency.I hope you'll find inspiration in this beautiful mash up of period interior design.

The office and speech therapy room of Lionel Louge. This room features a beautifully patina-ed wall finish, a huge carved wood fireplace, amazing leaded windows and vaulted leaded-glass ceiling, late Victorian lighting and a gold-gilt settee. What's not to love?

The home of Lionel Louge is equally stunning, combining both Art Deco and Art Nouveau elements. The wallpapers were the first thing to catch my eye, with a definite Deco flavor.

Nothing says Art Nouveau quite like flowing forms in leaded glass. The doors in this scene fit the bill perfectly.

And, of course, the various interiors of the Royal family are mean to be awe-inspiring.

Here, Westminster Abbey in preparation for the King's coronation.

A young Duke and Duchess in one of the palaces.

Buckingham Palace with it's Regency period decor of bold colors, white painted wood and gilded gold.

King George IV after his 1944 broadcast

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Lighting Inspiration

2011-02-03T15:21:00.001-07:00

I recently found myself inspired by lighting shown in the Dec 2010/Jan 2011 issue of House Beautiful magazine. It's wasn't a lighting issue, but the homes featured had some unique lighting and unique uses of standard fixtures. Here are my favorites from the issue. Enjoy!

From Designer Thomas Hamel and a home in Florida, the kitchen and dining room below have fabulous lighting options. They certainly inspired me to think out-of-the-box.

The use of different pendants at varying heights over this kitchen island is nothing short of stunning! The individual pendants become one unified feature and make such a statement in the room. Brilliant!

This globally-inspired dining room is just a beautiful room. Period. My favorite feature is the custom laser-cut screens. However, I am also intrigued by the use of the modern chandeliers in the setting. It's a perfect eclectic balance.

From a Georgian Utopia, Serenbe Community, this home has used traditional chandeliers in some not-so-traditional locations.

First, the large chandelier over the kitchen island. It's an unusual place for this fixture, but it works perfectly for the size and style of the room.

Secondly, a crystal chandelier in the hallway. If your ceilings are tall enough for a chandelier - it's a great way to make a statement.

Oh, and they also have a banquette!! JOY!

If you missed my obsession with banquettes, please read: An Ode the Banquettes.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Porcelain Wood

2011-01-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

Like most people, I love the look of wood floors. But the reality is that I live with 2 large and active dogs, whose nails are brutal. I also do not particularly love "patina". While somethings look better with time and age, I just don't like scratched wood - on flooring, furniture, or cabinetry. It's the perfectionist in me...

So Porcelain "wood" is a wonderful solution if you're like me and love the warmth and beauty of wood flooring, but crave more durability. It is a porcelain tile made to look like wood and manufactured into planks to mimic wood. It's the look of wood with the scratch, stain and moisture resistance of tile!
These products are popping up with different manufacturers, but Porcelanosa is one of my favorites. A selection of their WoodTec Products are highlighted below. Enjoy!

Would you have known those are tile if I hadn't told you? A beautiful replication, don't you think? Would you use these in your home?

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

An Ode to Banquettes

2011-01-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

ban-quette, noun
\baŋ-ˈket, ban-, 1b is also ˈbaŋ-kət\
a. a long upholstered bench
b. a sofa having one roll-over arm
c. a built-in usually upholstered bench along a wall

I love banquettes. They provide a function seating area, with more interest than your typical sofa or chairs. While often built-in, they can also be an armless sofa at the dining table or simple window seat. Enjoy this collection of a few of my favorite banquettes.

A New Orleans home, by designer Melissa Rufty, cleverly uses the space under the staircase with a custom built-in banquette. So much more inviting than a sofa! House Beautiful Magazine.

This breakfast nook by Mary McDonald,features a bench/window seat style banquette. As she says, "It brings a nice feeling to any place where you're going to want to sit and get cozy" Veranda Magazine.

Not a built-in, but definitely qualifies as a banquette and an interesting seating arrangement. Celerie Kimble, House Beautiful Magazine.

Banquette at Old Charm Bed & Breakfast in PA. Read about it at Michael, the Innkeepers blog, Inspired by Charm.

Above and below: this tiny apartment has brilliantly adapted the banquette to maximize use and space. It serves as a sofa (above) and a dining area (below). Read more about this little purple gem at House Beautiful.

Above and below - the Colorado Home of the Year 2010, by Andrea Schumacher at O Interior Design, features 2 banquettes in the dining room (above) and nook (below). Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine.

Above and below: the Banquette that inspired this whole blog post. Designer Tobi Fairly added this very dramatic tufted banquette as comfortable alternative seating in this dining room. I'd say that is as interesting as any art piece, and more functional. House Beautiful Magazine.

Do you notice anything else wonderful about these banquettes? How about those mixed up pillows?

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Mix up Those Pillows - Texture & Pattern

2011-01-18T12:01:00.002-07:00

My last post was all about mixing up the color, texture and pattern in your throw pillows for a bigger impact. Mix up Those Pillows.One way to create an impact, in what some may call a more "sophisticated" or formal way is to stay within a similar color scheme, but really play up texture and pattern.

This beautiful blue room by Tobi Fairley creates interest with faux fur pillows. House Beautiful

Two above photos are by Hallberg & Wisley from Veranda.Both are great examples of pattern and texture adding interest in a neutral palette.

Great textural pillows from David Lawrence in House Beautiful.

An energetic monochromatic scheme, using a variety of pattern by Frances Schultz, House Beautiful

For more tips on using pattern in fabrics and upholstery, see the post Making a Statement with Upholstery

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Mix up Those Pillows

2011-01-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

Multiple throw pillows in contrasting colors, patterns and texture add more interest than just one matched set of pillows. Mix it up!

Very often people order a beautiful sofa and it arrives like this. It's a lovely shape and nice color on the upholstery, maybe even an interesting texture or pattern, but boring with the matching pillows. Even option 2, with contrasting pillows, lacks a wow factor.

So mix it up with pillows in different colors, textures and patterns. Here are rooms of beautifully mixed up pillows to inspire you!

Room by Melissa Warner in House Beautiful

Above and below (2) rooms by Andrea Schumacher, O Interior Design and featured in Colorado Homes & Lifestyle.

One of my favorite designers, Mary McDonald mixes up pillows in room with a strict color palette, from Veranda.

And some mixed up pillows from Beautiful Habitat.

Find more tips on fabric and upholstery.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Wishing you a Happy New Year

2010-12-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

I wish you happiness, health and prosperity in 2011.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Make a Statement with Upholstery

2010-12-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

Customizing your upholstery is a great way to add personality to your home, whether you are ordering a new piece or reupholstering an existing item. Too often people play it safe and select an overall neutral for their upholstery. This is "smart" in that the piece will be timeless. However, you can still have a timeless piece, while taking your upholstery out-of-the-box. Here are some tips for just that.

Tip 1: Use two fabrics on the same piece

This photo is from House & Garden UK magazine and features dining chairs with 2 fabrics - a timeless look, but more interest than one overall fabric.

Below is a Before & After of an antique fainting couch from a Beautiful Habitat project in Louisville, Colorado.

Before:

After:

We used both a solid black and a contemporary print from Kravet to customize the piece.

Tip 2: Use a Small Pattern
Small patterns can look like solids from a distance. This can be a "safer" alternative if you aren't ready to go bold. You'll still have interest and uniqueness in the piece, but it will not be too trendy.

This project is a home I worked on in Broomfield, Colorado. Here, the sofa fabric is actually a gray-on-charcoal dot pattern. It adds fun to this contemporary decor, but reads as a solid from a distance so it doesn't complete with the artwork and other fabrics.

Tip 3: Use a Big Pattern
A large and bold pattern can still be timeless. Here, elegant dining chairs have again been upholstered in two different fabrics. This time a large embroidered pattern has been centered on the chair backs of each chair. The result is truly stunning.

This is from House & Garden, UK magazine May 2007.

So think out-of-the-box with your upholstery and have fun!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas (US) and a very Happy Christmas (EU)! Whatever phrase you use, I hope your Christmas is filled with joy, love, family, friends and beauty!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Holiday Entertaining - Setting the Table

2010-12-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

As Holiday Entertaining gets into full swing, I find myself inspired by some amazing table designs. Your table setting and decoration is a great way to set the tone for your holiday gatherings and to create parties to be remembered.

First a quick primer on *proper* table settings. To be followed, or completely ignored as YOU see fit for your own party...

Starting with your dinner plate, which looks more lovely and festive when layered over a place mat, charger, or both. A salad plate or bowl can be layered on top of the dinner plate, depending on your planned courses. Don't be afraid to mix styles, colors or vintage with new - get creative. Place cards are a great touch to a dinner party. Think out-of-the-box, use fruit or foliage, or a small gift.

Next - forks to the left of the plate, knife and spoon to the right. Place silverware in the order of it's use, working from the outside in.

Glassware is at the top right of the plate. Water glass first, followed by white wine, then red wine glasses.

(article and photos from House Beautiful Magazine's Entertaining Issue)

And now some simply beautiful and creative table design and decorations that are inspiring me this holiday season. Courtesy of House Beautiful.

Michael Devine, Fabric Designer

Miles Redd, Interior Designer

Jan Barboglio, Home Furnishing Designer

And a final image from BBBCraft Sisters c/o Design Sponge. I love the incorporation of pomegranates and evergreen into the table.

Do you have a beautiful holiday tablescape? Share it with us! You can send me a link via the comments on the blog, or upload to the Beautiful Habitat Facebook wall.

Happy Holiday Entertaining!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Easy Holiday Decor - Ribbons

2010-12-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to spruce up standard Christmas decorating is with ribbon or tulle. Both can add texture, shimmer and color to your holiday scheme.

Use it on the tree.

Use it on the mantel.

Use it with the nativity.

Add it to any greenery, wreaths or garland.

And to take it up another notch - use the same ribbon or tulle throughout your home, then use it in your gift wrapping.

It makes a beautiful statement and takes your Christmas decor to a new level. The best part is you can reuse the ribbon for many years before it wears out! The amount of average household trash increase by 25% during the holidays. You'll be doing your part to reduce that, while making your holidays beautiful.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Pecan Pie Cookie Recipe

2010-11-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

I don't usually include recipes on the Beautiful Habitat Blog. However, this is my very favorite holiday recipe and is much requested by family and friends. I felt the best way to share with everyone was right here. If you like it, recipes just may find their way onto the blog more often.
These have long been made by my grandma and mom for the holidays and have been my favorite cookie for as long as I can remember. I hope you and your family enjoy them as much as we always have!

Pecan Pie Cookies

CookieDough
1C butter, softened
1/2C white sugar
1/2C dark corn syrup
2 egg yokes (retain the whites)
2-1/2 to 3 C flour (I need 3 cups in Denver's altitude, but less may be needed elsewhere)

Cream butter and sugar together on low.
Add syrup and egg yokes and beat until well blended.
Stir in flour gradually.
Chill at least 30 minutes.

Pecan Pie Filling
1/2C powdered sugar
1/4C butter
3T dark corn syrup
1/2C pecans, coarsely chopped

Combine butter, sugar and syrup in a saucepan over low heat.
Stir occasionally until it reaches a full boil.
Remove from heat and stir in pecans.
Chill

Bake it
Preheat oven to 375
Grease cookie sheets
Beat egg whites
Roll 1T of dough into a ball, flatten slightly on the cookie sheet (degree of flattening required varies with altitude and flour).
Brush with egg whites.
Bake for 7-10 minutes, the dough should fluff, but not start to brown.
Remove dough from oven.
Roll 1t of filling into a ball.
Press the filling into the center of the cookie, making it look just like a mini pecan pie.
Return to the oven until dough lightly brown.
Cool on wire rack.

This recipe can be doubled - and usually is in our family. Enjoy!

I wish I had a photo to add, but the batch I made for my November book club are long gone. Guess I'll need to do another batch just for the photos...

Do you have a favorite holiday recipe? Share it!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Setting Your Thanksgiving Table Round up

2010-11-24T11:37:00.001-07:00

I have seen so many wonderful blog posts about setting your Thanksgiving Table. Here is a round up of my favorites in case you need some last minute inspiration.
Send us photos of your amazing Thanksgiving table!

Before you begin to make a beautiful table, here is a quick Dining Etiquette 101 from Sun-Sentinel.com.

And on to the Decorations:
Thanksgiving Decorating with Gratitude! from Irene Turners blog "Little Bits of Beauty"
Thanksgiving Table from your truly at Beautiful Habitat
Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas: Blossom & Branch from Design Sponge
Thanksgiving Table Inspiration from Habitually Chic
Interiors to Inspire:Thanksgiving Edition from Coco & Kelley

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Long overdue!

2010-11-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

Are you feeling neglected? I certainly don't blame you. Let's just say it - I've been a terrible blogger and my posts are about as consistent as the Denver Broncos this season. For that, I do apologize. Unfortunately Beautiful Habitat is a one-man show and I'm feeling like this lately.

On the bright side, when I haven't been posting to the Beautiful Habitat blog, I have been working with some wonderful, fun, and adventurous clients. Their stories, needs and the process we take in their homes will make for great posts in the near future. In the mean time, I've been terrible at providing content to you, my wonderful readers whom I appreciate so much. I promise this trend won't continue.Stick with me :)
If you are looking for a Beautiful Habitat fix, you can find daily tips and advice on twitter and Fabcebook.Please join me at both!
Thank you for your continued support and look for posts coming very soon!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Home Office Design 101 - Going Beyond Function

2010-11-02T12:57:00.002-06:00

In my last post I covered the basics of creating a functional home office. In brief summary:

Adequately-sized area with some privacy
Adequate work space with comfortable and supportive seating
Adequate storage space
Good Lighting

Once you've covered these, you should certainly have the makings of a functional home office that will support your business and personal needs. Some people don't even get this far and settle for a less-than-functional space. Many others stop at these four functional basics. But a home office can be much more. Home offices deserve good design, too.

"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union." ~ Frank Lloyd Wright

What can you do to take your home office to the next level? Start asking questions and work with your answers.

A questions that I ask every client of every room we design: Does this room help you to be the right self at the right time? Do you need to be energetic? Creative? Focused? Professional? Or, if you work in an office during the day, perhaps you need a relaxing home office space to unwind. What things can we build into your office space to help you be that person?

What motivates you? How can we build in motivators in the space?

The office makeover that I've been featuring was predominately functional. However, we did go beyond function. My client is retired, so did not need to have strong work or professional cues. However, she does have motivators - family. So we ensured that there was plenty of room for family photos.

And a vital element of home offices that is often missed is transition. You need cues to help you transition from work to home and home to work. Sometimes this is a simple as closing and opening a door.But perhaps you need more and the transition can be the formality and tone of the room, wall color, or other cues to help you be the right self at the right time.

Look for future blog posts that incorporate these functional and other elements into the design to create wonderful home offices!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Home Office Design 101 - Function

2010-10-13T17:55:00.001-06:00

"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union." ~ Frank Lloyd Wright

Home Offices are first and foremost functional spaces. I believe they can be more than just function, and we'll be talking about that in the next post. However, without function, a home office really does fall flat. Let’s cover a few basics that you need to have in place for a functional home office. I’ll be using examples from a client home office project to walk us through the needs and some possible solutions.

The Project:

Before:

My client used a small corner of this music room/library as a home office.

The problems:

Not nearly enough work space.
Storage was inadequate and hard to access.
Room located just off of the foyer in a very public area of the home.
Inadequate lighting.
Confusing purpose of the room (for more on the changes to the music room, see this post).

After:

My client, an empty-nester, had 2 childrens' rooms turned guest rooms in the home. She has frequent guests, but rarely used both guest rooms at once. We decided that saving a guest room for 2 nights per year while she suffered with an inadequate home office for 365 days just didn't make sense. We moved the home office into the smaller of the bedrooms. What about the guests? We placed the furniture against the walls so that a queen air mattress could be used in the center of the room to easily accommodate extra guests.

Functional Needs in a Home Office

Let's break down some of the functional needs in a home office and look at the solutions we found for this particular space.

Functional Need 1: Adequately-sized area with some privacy

Functional Need 2: Adequate work space with comfortable and supportive seating

Functional Need 3: Adequate storage space

We included a generously sized desk that can accomodate multiple functions at once. An attractive filing cabinet is next to the desk for often used papers and supplies. Infrequently used items are stored in the closet.

Functional Need 4: Good Lighting

This room has wonderful daylight with 3 large windows. Unfortunately, the night lighting was poor with no overhead fixture to provide lighting. We had to create specific lighting zones to suit the functions. At the desk, we installed an over-sized swing arm lamp. It adjusts in 3 places, so can easily be directed toward the task as needed. We also added a floor lamp with 5 different settings at the reading area.

And finally, if you are fortunate to have a large home office, it's nice to create areas for functions other than a desk and some filing cabinets. This might include a hobby or craft area, or a reading nook.

A reading nook should include a comfortable chair, with extra back support, if needed, a table for drinks and books, and good lighting.

The next post will look at adding on to the functionality of a home office with how it looks and feels.
Stay tuned.
Other posts in the Home Office Series.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Home Offices Deserve Good Design, too!

2010-10-11T11:25:00.000-06:00

Home Offices are more important than ever before. Between home-based businesses and telecommuting, nearly 60 million Americans work from home at least part time. With additional office and general computer use apart from work, the need for a functional home office is very evident. However, the reality is that often home offices are not truly functional, and are very rarely beautiful. Why don't more people believe they should have a space that is functional, comfortable, looks great and inspires them?

House Beautiful Magazine, Designed by Craig Schumacher and Philip Kirk.

Home offices are very under served by Interior Design magazines and books. They are not thought of as one of the beautiful rooms of a home like master suites and formal living rooms. Home offices are functional afterthoughts, hidden away like the garage or laundry room - necessary, but ugly. Many people “make do” with either the location and space or the furniture for their offices, using hand-me-down furniture or spaces that aren’t really comfortable or don’t support the functions to be accomplished.

This seems so counter-intuitive to me when we spend so much time in our home offices. I would venture a guess that the home office logs more hours than all rooms except the bedroom. Of course, if you work from home, the home office may well be the most used room in your house. So you deserve to have function, comfort and beauty. Hence the beginning of a Beautiful Habitat Home Office Series, where I’ll be covering tips and topics to improve your home office with examples from some recent home office makeovers.
I scoured months worth of multiple home decor magazines to find only a few home office images to share with you to jump start theHome Office Series. I hope you'll fis some inspiration in them for your own functional and beautiful home office space.

Luxe Magazine, Winter 2010, Designed by Clodagh Design.

Luxe Magazine, Winter 2010. Designed by Kevin Spearman, Bellacasa Design Associates, Inc.

House Beautiful Magazine, designed by J Randall Powers.

Have specific home office questions or issues? Send your questions to me and I'll add them to the list of topics to cover in the series.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

23rd Ave Sculpture in Denver

2010-10-05T11:40:00.001-06:00

I have recently started working with a new client in the Sloans Lake area of Denver. It's an adorable 1939 home that you will hear much more about in the coming weeks. While driving to client meetings, I pass an eye-catching sculpture studio. After a meeting with my client last week I decided to stop in and check it out. I was not disappointed!

Welcome to the 23rd Avenue Sculpture Studio and Gallery at 3500 W. 23rd Ave, Denver, Colorado .

The studio is owned by Dennis West and features his work, along with several other artists that work out of the studio. They are rough looking group of metal workers, but were more than happy to show me around the studio and explain the various pieces and artists. Below is just a sample of the various treasures that I found while wandering.Customers are welcome to purchase anything in the outdoor or indoor galleries, or the artists will happily do commissions and custom work.

A great outdoor bar area. There are also outdoor seating and fire pits available. John "Wild" Mann, one of the artists, also informed me that they would take my basic outdoor metal bench and spice it up with some custom accents. I intend to take him up on that offer next summer!
They also offer metal sculpture classes and monthly wine tastings at the studio through Toast Wine and Spirits.

Many of the pieces are made from reclaimed pieces of metal - great for art and the environment!

Dennis makes custom gates and railings for indoor and outdoor use.

Copper Sculptures

They have little pieces...

...and large pieces

A hand-forged iron music stand.

A mobile - yes, it rotates in the wind.

Custom Door hardware

I love supporting local art. Of course, I couldn't leave without selecting a few hand-made creations of my own. I picked these two sculptures, which have a base built to go in flower pots. These are perfect for me - the lazy gardener. I haven't planted flowers in those pots in 2 years. Now I don't need to - I have sculptures!

So check out the 23rd Ave Sculpture Studio in Denver and support these local artists. There is not currently a website, but I do have an email and phone number for the studio. If you are interested, contact me and I'll share those details with you.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Drawer Liners

2010-09-21T11:47:00.002-06:00

Often times it's not the clearly visible aspects that make a design great, it's the hidden functionality of a piece or the flow of a well design floor plan. And sometimes it's a little something that speaks to other senses. One of my favorite little things are drawer liners by Hammocks and High Tea. Drawer liners became a necessity when we added some built in drawers to the master closet. We went with the less expensive option, which left exposed particle board on the inside of each drawer - yuck. After installation, my first thought was "this was a snag waiting to happen". So I did a little research and found some fabulous drawer liners to protect my clothes. After 6 months, I still love them. In fun prints and lightly scented, they make the simple act of opening drawers a multi-sensory experience and a nice way to start the day.
The drawer liners are currently available in 2 prints and each print is available in multiple scents, including unscented. The scent is light, so not overpowering to your nose or your clothes.

Hammocks and High Tea also carries Sachets in fun Organic Cotton fabrics. As H&HT says - "use them wherever you need a scent boost".

Enjoy!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Love it or Leave it - Animal "Inspired" Area Rugs?

2010-09-16T10:14:00.000-06:00

Most people already have a strong love or hate opinion when it comes to animal prints and particularly on the large scale of animal print rugs (both real and fabricated). But what about animal "inspired" designs that look anything like the real thing. Do you love it, or would you leave it?

Jaguar Rugs, available in 3 non-animal colors, designed by Susan Kasler for Safavieh.

Tiger Rugs in Blue & Green and Pink & Blue, are by Carini Lang.

Colorful reptilian designs can be found at Designers Guild in the Bernadini Rugs, available in Moss and Damson.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

To Paint Or Not To Paint ...The Ceiling

2010-09-02T12:12:00.001-06:00

While we're talking about painting tips and tricks this week, I'd like to share a favorite tip - adding color to your ceiling. I love adding a color to ceilings. It adds dimension and depth to a room. More importantly, however, it softens the harshness of a very white ceiling. Case in point is this music room, where the white ceiling absolutely shouted and detracted much of the attention from the beautiful and unique room.
Before:

Our solution was to paint both the wall and the ceilings a different color. However, had we wanted to keep the red walls, the ceiling could have been softened with a complementary beige or gray. (If you'd like to know why we changed the color to a golden beige instead of the red, that is a whole other set of tips on paint colors. It's explained in a previous post Before & After: Choosing Wall Color.)
After:

A technique that I use very often is to choose the wall color (read this post on Choosing Paint Color), then have that same color mixed to 50% strength to use on the ceiling. This technique was used in the above photo of the music room and also on the bedroom below. The ceiling slopes upward and the lighter color is used in the center most ceiling section.

Why a 50% tint?
First, you know that the colors will work together and you won't have to worry about the undertones and selecting coordinating colors. Also, it is important to paint the ceilings a lighter color than the wall color. First, a lighter ceiling does help a room feel taller. Secondly, colors on a horizontal surface will always appear darker than on a vertical surface, particularly with the way that interior lighting hits walls and ceilings. Again, looking at the music room, the ceiling paint is a 50% tint to the wall color, but it looks the same as the wall color in this lighting. Had it been a 100% tint, the ceiling would have appeared darker.

The 50% does not work well with very bold colors such as reds or blues, however. A 50% tint will give you pink or a light blue ceiling. In these cases you are better served by finding a neutral beige or gray to compliment the wall color. I'll be looking for more beautiful rooms with painted ceilings to share with you.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com