Many seats for a small space

These days we tend to have informal gatherings of friends and family hanging out in the family room. Many times they are standing or sitting on the floor, because there isn't enough seating.  It is so nice to create places to sit in the family room to accommodate as many people as possible.  Even if it is just for friends to come over and watch television.  This family room is beautiful with it's beachy white walls, sofa and rug, but it also has seating for 8 people.  Everyone will be engaged in this close conversation area.  The smaller scaled chairs and ottomans allow for a lot of seating without crowding this small area.  Function and beauty will keep friends and family coming back to hang out in this home.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com. Also, like www.facebook.com/dottywymandesigns.

Contemporary Farmhouse Style Kitchen

This is a kitchen remodel I worked on last spring with a client.  She had lots of exciting ideas and was willing to expand the existing footprint of the kitchen.  The most challenging part of this project was fitting together cohesively all of the elements she wanted to include.  We successfully collaborated to create a new welcoming, more efficient kitchen the whole family likes to use.

The group of before pictures, shows a kitchen footprint that a family of four used every morning and evening together.  The table in the center was added for additional counter space, but took up valuable square footage and created a narrow passage through the kitchen in front of the refrigerator.

The client wanted a new larger kitchen with a contemporary farm house style.  First, the kitchen was bumped out 6 feet and a large new window was added over the sink.  The desired design was achieved by adding painted cabinetry, exposed beams, a large rustic black hammered metal hood and soapstone counter tops.  The cabinetry has inset doors which is a classic style for older built-in cabinets.  The rustic hood is the center of attention and is enhanced by the tiled wall behind it.  The open shelving on either side keeps your focus on the beautiful hood.  We opted to use recessed lighting, so the look of the beams would not be interrupted.  Finally, a long center table was added for more work space.  The base is made of reclaimed wood and the top is covered in stainless steel.  This kitchen now has the style the client envisioned and it is functional for her family.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.    Also, like www.facebook.com/dottywymandesigns.

Decorating Dining Room - Accessorizing (8)

Finally, I have accessorized my new dining room.  I am happy to say, the last couple of months have been busy, so I haven't had much time to work on my own space. 

The accessorizing step of a design project is extremely important for providing the room a finished and pulled together feeling. Since the walls in my dining room are chocolate brown and the furniture is mahogany, I wanted to bring in some bright pops of color. I am able to do this with brightly colored glass bowls and vases.  Some of the artwork on the walls has white matting to add lightness too.  Without these accessories the room would look dull and uninteresting.

Accessorizing a room is time consuming.  Many times items that look great in the store, don't work as well in your home.  The goal is to have accessories that fit the room's new design and that you like them.  Also, in my project I wanted to reuse some of the items in the room, because these pieces had special meaning to me and my family.  Items that appeared dated were stored away.

My dining room isn't 100% complete.  I plan to add the mirror, pictured below, to the wall above the chest of draws and some type of throw on the dining table.  Please write me any comments or questions you may have about this redesign project.

 

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.

Redecorating Dining Room - Paint and more (6)

The dining room project is once again moving along.  When the rain came, so did the painter for some interior work.  He called me on Tuesday last week and was there on Thursday to start the job.  Since I had already selected the colors for the room and ordered the wallpaper, he could come even on such short notice.  The work to replace the baseboard moulding, wallpaper and paint was completed in two days.  They accomplished everything I requested.  There were only 2 small changes to the original estimate, which the painter confirmed with me prior to starting.

A view of the overall look of the walls

The picture above shows the rich brown paint on the upper portion of the walls which is balanced with the bold striped wallpaper below the chair rail.  The 2 3/4" baseboard moulding has been replaced with 7 3/4" moulding (the same height as the heat registers) and all the trim has been painted with a fresh coat of white paint.  I decided to paint the ceiling a golden yellow color (pictured below).  I thought the color on the ceiling would give the room a more contemporary feeling and it was an opportunity for me to introduce the yellow color from my design inspiration photos into the room.

Below are a few more detailed pictures of the walls and ceiling.

The 7 3/4" baseboard adds a strong architectural detail

The baseboard heat has also been painted white to blend
with the baseboard moulding

The yellow painted ceiling is unexpected and helps to
accentuate the crown moulding

The dining room redesign is almost complete.  The window treatments are the next step in my project plan.  I am in the process of making the drapes and I have ordered the decorative drapery rods.  

Please write me any comments or questions you may have about this redesign project.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com. 

Redecorating Dining Room - Upholstry (5)

I am back from summer vacation and ready to complete my dining room redesign.  Plans for the dining room remain in place and I have made only a few minor alterations.  I have experienced a couple of delays, but nothing serious.  One of the chair fabrics was on back order for a few weeks, but has since been delivered.  Also, the painter I have hired has been doing a lot of outside work and asked if he could do the painting in a few weeks.  Since I am not in a rush for this project I agreed to the extended delay.

My dining table chairs and large upholstered chair went out to the upholsterer the first week in August.  All seven chairs returned a week later finished.  They look great.  The seat cushions were done with a self welt around the bottom of the cushion and the fabric is tightly stretched without any puckering.  The unique shape of the arm chair really shows off the print fabric and the multiple colors  bring everything in the room together.  I will make a pillow for the large chair as an accent as well. 

Hint:  the chairs were upholstered so quickly, because summer is usually a slower time for the upholsterer.  As we approach the fall they will get busier, so if you have a piece to be reupholstered before the holidays get it there soon.

Reupholstering is a wonderful way to update an existing piece of furniture and make it work with your new interior design.  Below I have included a few pictures of the reupholstered chairs.

Large upholstered chair

The large scale pattern and bold colors add
interest to the room's overall design

Dining table chair

The traditional chair has a little more of a pop with this fun dot fabric

The cushion welt adds an additional layer of detail and finishes the
edge of the chair cushion

Things are really starting to come together.  Please share any comments with me and I will write again about the next stage of design the project.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.

Redecorating Dining Room - Hiring Trades People (4)

The next step in the design process is to hire the trades people for the project.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, I need to hire an upholsterer, painter, finish wood worker and possibly an electrician.  I am making the window treatments, so I will not need to hire a window treatment service.  Hiring trade professionals can be an overwhelming task, because you need to trust that they can do the work needed for your design project.

I'm sure you have heard it before, but a great way to hire someone is through word of mouth.  You have the opportunity to look at their previous work and get the real scoop from someone who has already worked with that trades person.  Don't worry, if you need to hire unrecommended trades people, just make sure you get a few different estimates and check their references. Quality of work is important, but so is showing up on time, cleanliness, accurate cost estimates, time needed to complete the work and trustworthiness.    The other important factor is to communicate your expectations clearly.  The trades person needs to know specifically what you want and your time constraints.  The more details you provide about the project and the more questions you ask, leaves less of a chance for problems due to miscommunication. 

I have hired the upholsterer and as soon as all of my fabrics have been delivered I will have him pick up the chairs.  The painter I contacted is willing to do the small amount of finish carpentry.  This will eliminate the extra work for me of trying to find a finish carpenter to do such a small job.  I am still on the fence about adding additional lighting at this point in time.  I will let you know what I decide.


Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.

Redecorating Dining Room - Planning (2)

The planning portion of any design project is the most important.  Start by identifying the scope of the project and your budget.  These two steps are critical whether you use an interior designer or do the project yourself.  The scope of my design project includes painting and papering the walls, replacing the window treatments and reupholstering the chairs.  Things I also am considering to replace are the base moulding and adding recessed lighting.  My budget is $4,000.

Below I have outlined my project plan.  These are all the things I want to have accomplished before I have any tradespeople come to my home or order anything.  Remember this is a design plan and may change as the project evolves.

Project Plan for Dining Room

1. Identify scope and budget - above
2. Identify date needed - If you want a project completed prior to a special event try to start it early, 2 to 3 months prior.  Design projects always seem to incur delays.  Lately, many fabrics are not carried in stock and the waiting time to get them can be 8 weeks.  I would like to have my project completed over the summer.  I am in no rush, but want to set a deadline for myself.
3. Select finishes - I like to have most or all new finishes and fabrics selected prior to purchasing anything.  This allows me to coordinate and see how everything works together.  Also, if a finish is no longer available you have the opportunity to change several of your choices if needed.  For example, if the paint color is based on the fabric that is now out of stock, you can get a new fabric and adjust the paint color to match.  Your choices can't always occur in advance for large projects, but for my dining room project I believe it is the best approach.
4. Hire trades people for each job - I will need to hire a carpenter/painter, electrician (if needed) and an upholsterer.  I am hoping the same person can do the painting, wallpapering and moulding replacement, since it is a smaller job.  I will use the same upholsterer and electrician I have used in the past.  As a designer, I have contact with trades people that I trust and have seen their work.  Make sure you hire reliable people with references.  I will make the window treatments myself, but have factored their cost into the estimated budget. 
5. Timeline for project task completion - Most design projects need tasks to occur in some type of order, because they are contingent on the prior task.  The painter/carpenter need to come first, then I can install the window treatments.  The upholstery can be done any time (no contingency).  If I decide to add recessed lighting, the electrician will need to come first.  They will make the biggest mess and the painter can repair any damage.
6. Execute the plan - Purchase fabrics, paint, wallpaper.  Have your room ready for the trades people to do their work.  Communicate with tradespeople what you want.  It's hard to fix something that is already completed.

 I am starting to get a good sense of where my interior design project is going.  I now have my inspiration, my project scope and the design plan in place to get started.  My next step is to start moving on the to do's created in my design plan.  I look forward to sharing my fabric, paint and wallpapber choices.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.

Redecorating Dining Room - Inspiration (1)

I am going to give my dining room a little bit of a face lift and wanted to give you some insight about the process from beginning to end.  The plan is to give the dining space a bold new look without replacing everything in the room.  The big ticket items such as the dining room set and oriental are staying put.  I will work with these pieces, because I like them and they have classic designs.  I will accomplish this new look by changing the walls, the fabrics, drapery hardware and a few different accessories.

I have not done anything to the dining room in over ten years and it is due for a change.  The draperies have faded, the curtain rods are dated and so are the fabrics.  The positives about the room are the hardwood floors, the detailed crown moulding and the 8' ceiling height.  The space is good size for a dining room 13.5' x 14.5', so there is plenty of room for the large scale furniture. 

My first step is to find an inspiration for the room.  This could be anything from a piece of artwork you want to build the room around or a room you saw and want to recreate it in your home.  I was inspired by the lobby of the Winn Hotel in Las Vegas for my dining room.  The lobby has a sophisticated harlequin theme with dark walls, luxurious fabrics and playful colorful accents sprinkled around.  I want to incorporate some of the same rich fabrics, dark walls and colorful accents they used, but tailor it for my home.  Included are a few pictures of the Wynn Hotel lobby.

Now that I have my inspiration I can pull together a plan for the redesign of my dining room.  I will go over planning in my next blog.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.

California Closets - My experience

Recently, I attended a charity auction and bid on (and won) a $500 gift certificate for California Closets.  I wanted to learn more about their closet systems and the company.  The closets always look so organized and perfect in the brochures, but I wanted to know if it was really worth it. 

Below are a couple of pictures of what the closet looks like now.  The wire rack system works and makes pretty good use of the closet space compared to a single wood pole.  I don't like the wire shelves.  Items don't seem to sit well on them, especially shoes.  Clothing is hung up in 12" section, so you can't slide you clothes to see what you want to pull out.  Many items need to be stacked on top of each other which makes it difficult to get at them.

A week after the auction I called the California Closets sales person about my closet project.  I explained, the need to redo my daughter's closet to accommodate her hanging clothing, shoes, her fathers off season shirts and piles of stuff on the closet floor.  I met with Nancy a few days later to discuss my options.   She put together a computer drawing for me to see during our meeting.  She easily made adjustments to shelf  heights and widths.  When she left I had the closet layout and the price.

Once I confirmed the closet layout I scheduled an installation a week later.  Prior to the installer arriving I had to empty the closet and take down the wire rack system.  Removing the racks and screws from the wall only took me about 1 hour.  I have yet to Spackle the holes left, so I still have to do a little more work.  They would have done it for me for an additional cost.  California Closets called to confirm the appointment the previous day.  The installer arrived on time and completed installing the closet system in a little more than an hour (I thought it was very quick).  The closet system seems very sturdy, strong and used every inch of space.

My overall assessment of Tori's new closet is positive.  I really like the solid lament shelves.  It allows more items to be up off the floor and at eye level.  Most of the hanging clothing is easily accessible on aluminum poles.  The upper right bar for clothing is a challenge to reach, but this area is great for items you don't need to get to everyday.  The new closet system does not allow us to put more stuff in the closet (same amount went back in), but the items there are more organized and can be accessed more easily.  This is a pricey investment.  It cost $1,030 to do the entire closet, including installation.  After saying that, I received excellent customer service and the closet is guaranteed for life.  They made it so easy from my initial call until installation.  If you want that extra attention, convenience and quality then this could be a good option for you.

Closet is filled and every shelf is used

Not as perfect as the brochure, but
everything fits and I can close the doors

http://www.californiaclosets.com/

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.

Add some Spring indoors

Spring is here...sort of.  I know it isn't that warm out, but we are all itching to do a little something with our homes to spruce them up from the long cold winter.  Outside you can see the plants sprouting and the trees budding.  There are lots of ways you can bring this new growth into your homes and make it feel refreshed.

 One option is to bring budding branches into your home.  Branches have a much different look than a vase of flowers and they will usually last longer. Branches have a variety of shapes.  They can be long and straight or others are crooked with lots of little branches attached.  Long branches can be arranged in floor vases to make a dramatic impact in your foyer. Or a large arrangement can be placed on a dining room table to add a more organic look. These branches work well in any home, but they are especially suited for contemporary and transitional interior designs that are currently so popular.

Branches are available to everyone.  Your local florist can provide them or you can cut them yourself.  For example, Forsythia is a bush or hedge and is native to New England.  Most of the year it is green, but in the spring it produces thousands of small yellow flowers.  They grow very quickly, so there is no worry of cutting off to many branches.  When I was a kid, every spring my mother would bring in large bunches of Forsythia, Pussy Willows, apple blossoms and some times Dogwood branches throughout the season.  She would cut them prior to the buds opening, put them in water and wait.  Once the branches were warm inside the house, the buds would start to bloom.  She called it forcing the blooms.  The florist has access to more specific looks that may not be available in your yard.  

  

The wall sconces pictured are a great option if you want to change their look every few months.

Natural elements are easy ways to enhance the look of your home.  I don't have much of a green thumb, so these types of arrangements are right up my alley. 

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.

Consignment Shopping follow-up

I got some terrific feedback regarding my blog on consignment shopping.  People really like getting unique quality furnishing for their home without going over their budget.  Several friends have mentioned that they have found things recently or in the past, at consignment shops. 

Consignment shopping does require some patience.  You will need to review online websites with pictures or stop by the shop periodically to find what you are looking for.  Some enjoy the hunt for that perfect item.  It is not for everyone, but it allows many of us to keep things fresh and interesting.

I have taken additional clients to consignment shops to search for unique things that we just couldn't find at Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel or other home furnishing stores.  Many times a newly decorated interior can look too perfect if the client doesn't have aged items of their own.  Used accessories add a little personality and depth to the space.  I find when I go to the Boston Design Center many of the shops sell antiques or used items as well.  Designers look at the shape and scale of an item.  They can update it with paint and/or fabric for today's use.  It's all about blocking out the ugly and finding the perfect item.  Just because it isn't an antique doesn't mean it won't look great in your home. 

A few popular consignment shops in Southeastern, MA are listed below.

Go Simple (within Floral Scents Florist)
515 Washington Street
Canton, MA
 (781) 821-5500 ‎
http://www.gosimple.info/

Boston Consignment
238 Needham Street
Needham, MA
(781) 449-0900
http://www.bostonconsigns.com/

Furniture Consignment Gallery
756 Washington Street
Hanover, MA
(781) 826-5114
http://furnitureconsignment.com/

Remember consignment shops are a great option if you want sell quality furniture or accessories.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.