Archive for the ‘Interior Redesign’ Category

The Seven Elements of Creating a Beautiful Room!

When you’re creating a room, there are certain aspects to consider. Using these seven elements will help you achieve a well balance room.

1. Balance: Have you achieved balance?  Horizontally? Vertically? Color?
(Three Zones?)Texture? ( all same finishes in your accent pieces?)Metal?
(all brushed nickel? bronze?)
2. Harmony: The way the rooms flow together. Do they tell a story or is it chopped                        up?
3. Proportion: The way things relate to one another. Ex: Is the lamp the best                                   proportion to the table?
4. Scale: The way things relate to the room. Ex: Is the sofa the right scale for the                           room? Or is it too big? Too small?
5. Color: Does it hit the 3 zones? Function, power and skyline?
6. Style: Does it have the flair and have you honored what it is you are trying to                             achieve? Does it pull the elements together?
7. Rhythm & Flow: Keeps the room moving. This is where you’re going to repeat                           things. Be true to the form.Ex: Round table has round table mat, round                                         accessories. Doesn’t mean everything in the room has to be round!

If you need help putting together a beautiful room consider using the services of Abella Home Staging & Redesign. They can help create the room of your dream!

Power of Pink, according to House Beautiful “Use pulsating hot pink. You will walk in and feel incredibly happy”. So does that mean pink is “in”.  Well according to Pantone “Colors for Spring” Honeysuckle is their color choice for the year, and 15% of the designers are using this color. So who/what is Pantone ? Pantone is an “innovative system for identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community”. It is the world renowned authority on color. So it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about color.

What does this mean to you? Well if your going to redecorate your home you might want to consider pink! You may not want to paint your walls pink but hot fuchsia pillows can give you that pop of color . Did you know that the Moroccans and the Venetians have been using pink for centuries? I can remember when I was a little girls and pink was popular, as a matter of fact my dad had a pink shirt. It has recently resurfaced  again. Pink and green a classic combination. Think outside of the box and don’t be afraid! If you would like to update your home but need help, contact me!

Color made easy. Many people fear picking out colors. Hopefully I can take that fear away. Most people are attracted to the level of saturation (Intensity of that color) and not so much with the color. Think blue and how many variations of blue there is. You many like one shade of blue but not the others. When picking a color there are many things to consider.

1. Visually- what are you attracted to?
2. Saturation- it’s the saturation of that color that matters most, not the color itself (Think shades of blue).
3. Col0r ratios-using the 60-30-10 ratio in a room will pull the room together. And add different values for interest.
4. Use color three times at different levels.
5. Adding a contrast wall actually shrinks a room.
6. Create balance-a room that has all the furnishing near the floor tends to be bottom heavy. Don’t forget adding visually interest near the ceiling (wall art, drapes).
7. Stay within three values of that color. When looking at a color strip go up or down the color.
8. Are your color current-like food, design has an expiration date. Has your’s expired?
9. When purchasing major items like sofa go with neutral and add punches of color. It’s easier to replace pillows then a sofa.
10. Love the color you choose-or you won’t be happy no  matter how great the room is!

If you need help in pulling together a room, or afraid to get started, give Abella Home Staging & Redesign a call. We can get started and give you the rooms/home you desire!

Kitchen cabinets with a spice of color, is this the new trend? Lately I’ve notice a lot of kitchens that have painted cabinets in unusual color combos. It would seem to me that the latest trend is painting your cabinets and not just your standard black or white, but in vibrant colors! I’m all for painting kitchen cabinets when selling you home, especially if you have old and outdated cabinets. However, I’m seeing a trend in new cabinets that have been painted a very bright color.

This old House

This kitchen is done in what looks to me in lime green and black. Unusual to say the least!  As you can see this is not an old outdated kitchen. The shaker style cabinet and the clam shell knobs all signified an updated kitchen.

Here’s another one. Pale yellow and light sea foam green.

Handy Man of Charlotte

This one is done in light turquoise!

Although I do like the brightness and versatility painting your cabinets can bring to your kitchen, I’m not sure most buyers would appreciate this look. Will this look become mainstream? Maybe in time, but for now I believe this is a trendy look. Not something I would recommend when staging a home.

Kitchen cabinets with a spice of color, what do you think?

Rust-oleum cabinet transformation, is a do-it-yourself cabinet refinishing system. It is sold at Home Depot. It is a great way to refinish your cabinets without spending a lot of money. Although I’ve never used the product, I was impressed by the color selection and the easy of this product. It comes in dark color kit and a light color kit. The dark color kit has 24 tintable colors and the light color kit has 11 tintable colors.

This could be a great way to update your kitchen when you’re looking to put your home on the real estate market. As we all know kitchen and baths sell a home. If your kitchen is looking out dated, this could potential be a great way to update it. As a home stager  in Long Island NY, I am always looking for way to save homeowners the cost of remodeling or refacing.Rust-oleum Cabinet transformation could be the answer people have been looking for!

Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformation

Granite Vs Quartz: Who wins?

Granite vs Quartz: Who wins? Granite has been all the rage for the last 10-15 years in kitchen and even in baths. Here on Long Island, New York, granite has very popular with real estate buyers. But recently the has been a shift towards Quartz. Why?

1. Contrary to popular belief. Granite has to be resealed every year.
2. It can be chip if you hit a corner or a vein.
3. There is less radon in quartz because quartz, although a natural stone is mixed with polymers, making it the best of both worlds, engineered and natural.
4. Quartz is less porous than granite making more resistance to bacteria.
5. Quartz is available in more colors.
6. Quartz has increased in popularity by 13% in the last year, while granite only %5.

In my opinion, while granite is unquestionable beautiful, I think it quartz is the new “Trend”. It will continue to raise in popularity, while granite takes a back seat. They say it take ten years for a trend to come in and go out. Since it’s been about 15 years for granite, I say its long over due for a new stone to take its place and that stone is quartz!

Granite

Quartz

Making your bedroom serene!

Making your bedroom serene doesn’t mean you have to lose style. A soothing bedroom doesn’t have to be boring. Here are some easy step to achieving the bedroom of your dreams!

1. Imperfection-don’t try to fight it, instead embrace and work around it.  Long narrow horizontal   windows can be a problem but if you get floor to ceiling curtains, that will give the illusion of wider windows.
2. Matchy, Matchy-this is one place you can and should match. Matching nightstand , lamps these will give the room a symmetric look and feel to the room. This will enhance that soothing feeling that we want to achieve.
3. Fabric-use fabric that can withstand stains
4. Color-when choosing sheet for your bed, my rule of thumb is to match the bedspread. Too many color  are jarring to your sense.
5. Be practical-don’t try to have a high fashion bedroom that only looks good but is difficult to live in. Be practical and make it livable.

Remember this is your bedroom, use items that will appeal to your sense. Limit the amount of furniture (over crowding is a huge problem in bedrooms) and if you can at all help it, don’t put your office in the bedroom. Think 5-star hotel feeling and you won’t go wrong.

There is a new look to curtains. Gone are the days of heavy drapes!! Nowadays more and more consumers want a light and airy feel to window treatments. I couldn’t agree more. Custom made curtains are taking a backseat to store brought window treatments  (the new look to curtains) making it easier to change out or update the look in any room.

There are many window treatment styles to choose from. And even the hardware has a new updated look with many different finishes. From wood, which now comes in different shades of color, to metal with oil rubbed finishes.

There are a few things to remember when choosing your window treatment.

1. Style-Your window treatment should enhance the the style of your room.
2. Fabric-Certains fabrics will influence the feel of the room. Loose weave or sheers will soften a contemporary room. Brocades and velvets give a more formal look. So chose you fabric according to the feel and style you want your room to have.
3. Hardware-Matching finishes whether wood or metal, guarantees a polished look.

There is a new look to curtains! Window treatments can accentuate a window’s shape or conceal it’s faults. It can frame a beautiful view. But even the most beautiful room will fall short if the the window treatment isn’t right. So choose carefully and keep these tips in mind.

Bay window curtains

Macy's

Laminated floors, what are the pros & cons? Laminated floors have exploded into the general public and with good reason. They are much more affordable then natural stone or wood and most homeowners can tackle the job themselves if they wish too.

So what are the pros?

1. Installation. Many have a “click-lock” design. It comes with glue already on it. You simply activated with water and wipe off excess. The new laminated stone tiles can be applied by using glue. You can even grout them so they look like natural stone.
2. Moisture resistance. They’re great for basement and even bathroom. Solid wood would expand and warp with moisture. Although neither solid wood or laminated floors can withstand pools of water.
3. No Defects. Unlike solid wood or natural stone which may come with defects, laminated wood or tiles do not.
4. Easy to clean. Laminated wood floors don’t need waxing or refinishing. Laminated tiles don’t chip like natural stone. They don’t need to be sealed either. Use damp mop and you’re good to go.
5. Durability. Unlike wood which will wear out and scratch, laminated floors don’t. Laminated tiles don’t crack or chip like natural stones.
6. Resist Staining. Laminated floors resist stains. If you have pets, that is a huge benefit. Imagine what pet urine can do to your wood floors!
7. Easy to replace.Tired of your natural stone look?  Unlike laminated tiles, removing natural stone is a huge undertaking!!

So what are the cons?

1. Not real wood or natural stone. Lets face it nothing looks richer then real wood or the beauty of natural stone floors.
2. Resale value is not the same as real wood or natural stone.
3. Not Refinish-able. Unlike wood where you can sand the finish down and literally change the look by changing the color of the stain. With laminated floors you can’t.

When it’s all said and done, I think laminated floors are a great options to homeowners who want that look without the expense. Years ago if you couldn’t afford natural stone there wasn’t much choice.Today are so many options out there and the price is very reasonable.

Laminated Wood Floor

Laminated Stone Tiles

Going “Green” in the Kitchen!

Going “Green” in the Kitchen is the newest trend. Not only here in Long Island New York, but world wide. It’s also the best way to add value to your home. If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, here are some suggestions to incorporate going “Green”. Not only will this be eco-friendly, but it will be great for resale!

1. Appliances-with the tax incentives, buying Energy Star appliances will save you money in the long run. Yes, they do cost more money to purchase than other appliances but the savings and resale value will more then make up the cost.
2. Flooring-Did you know that bamboo is a fast growing natural resource? It grows in abundance, almost like weeds. Because of this, bamboo flooring is a wise choice when going “Green”. And it looks beautiful as well.
3. Windows-Don’t scrimp when purchasing new windows. Energy saving window will save you a small fortune when it comes to paying your utility bill. Buy windows with argon gas between the panes.
4. Lighting-Use fluorescent lighting as oppose to incandescent lighting. There is talk that incandescent lighting will be banned in the future. Also, use sky light to let the natural light in. If you don’t have the room or don’t want to incur the expenses, use solar tubing. A much more affordable option then sky lights.
5. Countertops-Recycled glass is an excellent choice for counters. The colors are dazzling and it’s quite durable. Another choice is concrete. It comes in array of colors. Concrete , like glass are in abundance supply.
6. Paint-Using low or no VOC paint. Thses paints have no volalite organic compunds that are hazardous to your health. They cover just as well.

There are many more ways to go “Green”. These are only a small sample of what can be achieved. When it’s time to remodel your kitchen, do your homework and research your materials. But most of all have fun experimenting, that’s what good design is all about.