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.

Shag carpeting is back

Shag carpeting is back and of course with a new twist.  It's not the same shag I grew up with in the 70's, with all the bright colors and long strands.  Today's shags have lots of lush texture, a thicker pile and the strands are a little shorter.  The colors are more neutral and multi-colored for today's homes.  I was surprised to see how many options and price points that were available as well. 

Shag carpeting has a cut pile, the yarns are slightly twisted, with a much less twist than the frieze. The individual yarn strands are longer and spaced further apart.  The shag gives a "grass type look" because the strands lay in a different directions.

A client of mine is redecorating her family room.  We are changing the paint color, selecting fabrics for window treatments and pillows, and purchasing a new carpet.  This large family room has beautiful oak hardwood  floors, but we wanted to create a fun casual and comfortable feeling.  The shag rug is a great solution.  We plan to treat the shag carpet as an area rug.  It will be cut to size and bound around the edges.  The thick plush shag will stand out against the hardwood creating tremendous impact for the room.  I really like using the shag carpet as an area rug.  It keeps the rug from overwhelming the room and it keeps things looking fresh.

A few tidbits I learned at the carpet store;  Shag carpeting is easily seamed without needing to match a pattern.  This allows for very little waste and a cost savings to the consumer.  The seams are undectible creating an even more beautiful rug.

Please send along any comments I would like to hear from you.

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

Consignment Shopping

Have you ever considered shopping at a consignment shop for interior design items for your home? 

Recently, I went into the Canton consignment shop "Go Simple" and was pleasantly surprised with the selection they had to offer.  The owner, Janet Conroy, had many decorative items, as well as, serving pieces for your kitchen or dining room.  You do have to hunt for the right pieces, but the rewards are big and the price tag is small.  This is a place where it is easy to take a risk, since items are usually sold at a fraction of their original cost.  She has lamps, clocks, glassware, prints and furniture pieces.  I liked this shop, because it wasn't all furniture or large items.  I was able to purchase a working marble lamp base for $20 that just needed a little cleaning up and a shade.  I think the lamp will work well with the new lamps my client has purchased over the past several months.  Another item I saw was a grandmother clock.  This is a beautiful decorative piece that will add tremendous interest to a room.  This is something no one else will have and looks like an heirloom that has been passed down.  Consignment shopping can be a great way to find unique items that add character and age to any newly decorated space.

I plan to go to some other consignment shops in Needham and Hanover.  These shops focus more on furniture.  I will let you know if there are any interesting decorative pieces to be found.

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

Kitchen remodel completed

The kitchen remodel project is nearly complete and I wanted to share some before and after photos with you. As mentioned in previous blogs, this kitchen remodel consisted of replacing the gray tile floor with oak hardwood, adding molding and painting the existing oak cabinetry, replacing the white tile backsplash with marble subway tile, painting the walls and ceiling and upgrading the stove and sink.

 The first pictures are views of the refrigerator and small counter area.  The microwave was relocated to this seldom used counter space and was given a built in appearance with side brackets.  Notice the large moldings that were added to the tops of the upper cabinets and the molding on the sides of the cabinet boxes (upper and lower).  These additions make these cabinets look more custom.  Feet have been added to the toekick  as well.  The black granite and the tile add to the traditional and timeless feeling of the new kitchen.

The next two views are of the kitchen sink and cabinetry around it.  The crown molding and molding along the bottom of the upper cabinets add detail and they become a focal point for the kitchen.  These pictures show more of the movement and color changes in the marble tile.  Marble is beautiful, but it can stain.  Using it as the backsplash allows you to add it to a new kitchen without the worry of damage.

 The black stove has been replaced with a white one that blends in seamlessly with the painted cabinets and now matches the other appliances.  We moved the microwave next to the refrigerator, opening up additional counter space in the important work area of the kitchen.

The desk was transformed as well.  The crown molding adds architectural detail and interest to the upper portion of the desk.  The glaze settles into the ridges and makes them more defined.  The feet at the bottom make it look more like a piece of furniture.  The final change was replacing the formica counter top with a white marble that coordinates with the marble backsplash.  Since this is the desk area there is less chance for it to be stained.  You can see the oak flooring and taupe walls in these pictures which makes the desk look great and warms up the kitchen.

 

Finally, I have included a few close up pictures that show some of the detail added to the kitchen.  The corbels under the extended island top adds the appearance of support for the granite overhang.  We added molding to the top of the cabinets, but also added 7 1/2" baseboard molding to the floor.  This a great detail and helps to disguise the radiators.

I hope these before and after pictures of this kitchen remodel have inspired some ideas for your kitchen.  Please send me any comments you may have.

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