EASY HOME DECORATING

           Quick Home Decorating Ideas

Display a Great Collection on a Dining Room Table

In the living room of an Atlanta house by designer Beth Webb, an elm plank table from Clubcu, which often doubles as a dining table, dramatically displays a collection of Chinese porcelains. "The pieces don't have to match, but they do have to play together well," Webb says.

Hang an Interior Curtain

In the kitchen of the same Atlanta house, a linen curtain runs on a track spanning the room and can be pulled "to conceal the mess of preparation," Webb says. Steel-and-glass casements frame views of the pool and garden. KWC Gastro faucet.

Mix and Match Your Bedding

"We call this 'the sailor room,' because we went all out with the nautical theme," designer Ken Fulk says of a bedroom in his Massachusetts vacation house. "The mix-and-match nature of the patterns and faded batik prints make it feel like it's a collection of old textiles brought back from a journey at sea." John Robshaw bedding. Antique cage lights hang from an antique metal four-poster bed that belonged to the previous owner.

Put an Antique in the Bathroom

The guest bath in Fulk's vacation home "feels authentic to the period of the house, but also clean and modern," he says. Pedestal tub and fixtures from Sunrise Specialty.

Paint an Inexpensive Piece of Furniture White

This Kansas City house's dining room, a former loggia, is "light, bright, and airy," homeowner and designer Zim Loy says. "I accomplished that with lots of white paint." She bought a beat-up old $60 table at an estate sale and gave it a fresh new look by the painting the base high-gloss white. Its curves echo the arms of the Barbara Cosgrove chandelier.

Cover a Wall with Plates

Loy discovered Hackerware on eBay "there's tons of it, and it's so cheap!"  and started collecting it for the dining room. Covering the whole wall with plates has the same effect as "one big piece of art."

Wallpaper Your Vinyl Window Shades

"I had a roll of wallpaper in my office that was left over from a photo shoot we did, and I was about to put it in the trash when I thought, 'No, I can do something with this,' " Loy says. "Then I thought of the vinyl shades in our guest room. So I wallpapered them. You gotta go for it." The vinyl shades are papered in Pierre Frey's Espalier. The canopy bed was painted black to show off its 

Dress Up Hallways with Turkish Runners

In the second-floor hallway of a California house, designer Betsy Burnham overlaps Turkish runners from Rugs & Art, drawing the eye to a Moroccan-inspired reading nook. The vintage carpets "can transform a plain hallway into a decorated space," Burnham says. "A really faded, tattered rug is instantly Bohemian." The window seat is covered in Tibet woven silk from S. Harris. Pillows by Hollywood at Home; garden stool from Rolling Greens.

Move Seating Away From the Walls

"Float furniture away from the walls: It creates more intimate seating," designer Betsy Burnham says. She did just that in the living room of this California house. The console table separating back-to-back sofas is decked with vintage goddess figurine lamps and Chinese monkeys "for a Tony Duquette, William Haines flavor." Sellarsbrook rug, the Rug Company. Rectangular Cocktail Table, Baker.

Reupholster Furniture with Old Curtains

"Everything in this room has a story," designer Podge Bune says of her Hamptons cottage's living room. "The easy chair is covered in my old dining room curtains, a Designers Guild fabric they no longer make."

DECORATION

       BLACK AND WHITE DECORATION

                                        Bold Bedroom

The bold horizontal stripes in the guest room in a San Francisco Victorian  are "playful and modern," designer Ken Fulk says. What he calls "Rorschach inkblots" on the furry stools and rug loosen up the geometry. French silhouettes of children hang behind the Pottery Barn daybed.

                                          Graphic Patterns

Graphic patterns extend from the foyer in a Washington D.C town home through to the kitchen. "We both like snappy architectural solutions  like the patterned floor and striped wallpaper   that give black-tie panache to small spaces," designer Jeff Lincoln says of the house he designed with Hillary Thomas. The black and white of Montgomery 1 marble floor tiles by Ann Sacks and Block Print Stripe wallpaper byFarrow and Ball is reminiscent of Dorothy Draper.

                                         Outdoor Stripes

The starting point for a 1939 Regency-style brick house in Beverly Hills was black and white. "In the original Regency period and in its Hollywood revival, black and white was de rigueur," says designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. "It defines the architecture and creates the foundation for the rest of the color palettes." He covered roll-arm sofas and chairs in Perennials fabrics for a black-and-white outdoor living room.

                                            Bathroom Stripes

For a client who "wears lots of colors, and even more black and white," designer Stephen Shubel painted the walls of the master bath in bold black-and-white stripes. They complement the black-and-white master bedroom in the San Francisco House.

                                       Dorothy Draper-Inspired

Designer Carleton Varney created a "young and snappy" kitchen in a 1929 Wisconsin cottage by using a black-and-white color scheme. Walls painted Benjamin Moore's Decorator's White set off by Unity and Embrace baskets made in Rwanda, from macys.com. The table was made by H.J.Martin and Son, the nationwide interior contracting company owned by the homeowners, Edward and Terri Martin. Catalina chairs from Ficks Reed. 

                                          Tent-Like Terrace

"I love a tent room. The black and white stripes are a simple play on the look," says designer Mary McDonald says about the back terrace of this Los Angeles house. She carried the theme onto the porch's walls and trim with Ralph Lauren Paintt's Bone Black and Atlantic Winter. Cabana Stripe Lagoon by Editions.

                                         Edwardian Kitchen

                                      Traditionalist Foyer

"I'm a traditionalist at heart, and this is my David Adler foyer," says Windsor Smith, who chose statuary marble and Bateig Blue limestone for the floor of her Los Angeles House. The Entry Round Settee, from Windsor Smith House, is upholstered in a Rogers&Goffion silk. An old Venetian lantern and a new Venetian mirror add a glint of silver. The paint on the walls is Benjamin Moore's Titanium.

                                        Lacquered Walls

In a Houston House with Georgian bones and siren allure, the drama begins in a foyer swathed in Philip Jeffries's Lacquered Walls in Eyeliner — a long-lasting vinyl that mimics lacquer and "fools everyone," designer Rob Southern says. For theatrical contrast, the shield-back English hall chairs are painted Benjamin Moore's White Dove. "If you're living in a neutral house and you have one black room, that room can anchor everything," he says. "Here, the black foyer and white stairwell allow you to live with all this color, all this pattern, without it feeling like a big confetti box."

                                   Black and White on a Budget

Designers and owners Craig Schumacher and Philip Kirk avoided an extensive kitchen remodel by painting existing cabinets Benjamin Moore Brilliant White and installing inexpensive black and white tile on counters and backsplashes. An extensive iron stone collection overflows from shelves to walls. Schumacher and Kirk collected enough quarters in the three ginger gars to buy a new flat-screen TV.

COLORS

                  HAPPY PAINT COLORS

                                          Lavender

"I started out as a painter, and I'd always add purple to other colors to give them depth and richness," designer Peter Vaughn says. "Lavender reflects light well, which is why you see it all over Scandinavia. In the depth of winter, it's a very cheerful color to walk into." 

                                                Pink

"You never think you could get away with a color this strong, but here's how. Don't paint the entire room—just one wall," designer Suzanne Kasler says. "This is a gorgeous peony pink, with a bit of raspberry in it. That undertone is what keeps it from looking sickeningly sweet. It's a happy, cheerful color that makes everyone look younger. 

                                               Turquoise

"What makes this color happy is how saturated it is," designer Suzanne Kasler says. "The depth and intensity of the turquoise gives it a chic, European look. It kind of takes you to a different place. And because we painted both the moldings and the walls, it becomes less decorative and more architectural." 

                                              Soft Green

"This reminds me of green grass, green trees," designer Katie Ridder says. "It mimics nature, so it has a soothing effect. And it's happy because it's a real color—it's not grayed down. The light streaming in makes it more yellow during the day, and when the sun goes down, it becomes more blue. Green is fascinating—it's warm and cool at the same time." 

                                                White

White walls lifted a dark 1820s New Orleans cottage to light and cheery and give the house a buoyant, happy feeling. "White reflects light, so it sends off a wonderful energy, a prism of color that you aren't necessarily aware of," says designer Susan Noble Jones

DECORATION

               DECORATING SECRETS REVEALED

                              Don't Design with Cliches

Timeless design is restrained, balanced, and doesn't give in to the obvious. "When you're in Florida, you don't have to have wall sconces made out of seashells. If you cross the line, your home can become a theme park," says architect and designer John Saladino. Instead, he choose a sophisticated sandy palette for the beachfront living room of this Spanish-style house. "I like to imply rather than be explicit," he says. "When you do that, you're hopefully designing something that won't embarrass you in 30 years."

                         Don't Be Afraid to Mix Design Styles

Mixing humble materials with more luxurious ones is a contemporary approach to great design. In the dining room of the same family home, Saladino slipcovered chairs in washable vinyl, then placed them around a 19th-century walnut trestle table. "An antique table is appropriate here because it's a non-intimidating surface. Children can spill their food on it, or drop their flatware on it, and they dent it – so what?" he says.

                                Do Hang Artwork Together

   Grouping framed pieces together makes a strong, lasting impression, like in the family room of this Palm Beach home by designer Meg Braff. "By hanging six prints in a grid over the family room sofa, I got the impact of a much larger piece of art," she says.

                               Do Skimp Where You Can

Want to redecorate a room for less? Balloon shades are a smart alternative to traditional long curtains. Braff used them to create an affordable, romantic look in the home's master bedroom. "That's three yards of fabric per window instead of 10, so they're less expensive," she explains.

                                  Don't Divide a Small Space

Designer Carolyn Roehm wrapped her bed in the same floral fabric as her walls in order to unify the tiny space. "I didn't want to chop it up visually. It's the same with clothes when you're short," she explains. "And I like to turn small rooms into a cocoon."

                          Do Consider a Monochromatic Palette

Want to create a serene space? Try using quiet neutrals, like designer Benjamin Dhong did throughout this San Francisco home. "I like the biggest furniture in the room, my sofas, to disappear or blend into the walls," he explains. For pop, he added white accessories. They keep the room from feeling too bland, while still keeping the mood peaceful.

                                Do Incorporate Side Tables

Intimate spaces make for a warmer, happier home, according to Dhong. The key to getting one right? Make sure that every chair or sofa has an accompanying side table. "When you walk into a room and you see a little table or a stool pulled up to a chair, you immediately imagine curling up with a cup of coffee or a drink," he says. He did exactly that in this home's cozy master bedroom, with a wood block table placed next to a French settee.

                                      Don't Hide Your TV

Have a sleek flatscreen television? Put it on display. "We no longer have to measure out niches or construct hideously huge mechanized ottomans at the foot of the bed that lift up the television like Dracula's coffin lid," says designer Markham Roberts. Newer models, like the one on this family room's bookcase ledge, look just fine out in the open.

            Do Understand that Mixing Patterns Takes Practice

Making busy prints work together isn't effortless, so go easy on yourself if you don't get it right on your first try. In this dining room, Roberts choose similar colors to tie the rug and wallpaper together. "You just have to pull out your swatches, try things out, and trust your eye. If it's hideous, try again." Still having trouble? This is why there are pros.

                       Do Make a Small Space Work for You

A tiny kitchen didn't stop contributing editor Frances Schultz from purchasing her dream home. She made the most of the narrow space by extending cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. Glass fronts make it easy to spot specific items, as do deep drawers in lieu of lower cabinets.

KITCHEN DESIGN

2010 modern kitchen designs

KITCHEN DESIGN

                                     A Truly Tiny Kitchen

       This tiny New York City Kitchen has a place for everything, says designer Stephanie Stokes. "After designing so many kitchens for other people, I knew exactly what I needed and what I wanted," she says. A mirrored backsplash, an electric cooktop that doubles as countertop, and simple cabinetry help give the illusion of grandeur.

                        California Kitchen with a Dramatic Flair

            The owner of this Napa Valley house is very involved with the arts, according to designer Erin Martin. In the kitchen, architecture and applied ornament conspire to make the the room lighthearted and a touch theatrical. Artist Michael Duté's blue and white design brings walls and even the barrel-vaulted ceiling to life.

             

                      Texas Kitchen with a French Connection

            This Dallas kitchen has a little something extra on the walls. "It's old reclaimed tile from France that was probably on the floor of some château," says designer Shannon Bowers. "I wanted the feeling of an old-world kitchen."

                                        Tranquil Kitchen

               Susan Ferrier designed the kitchen in this tranquil Alabama townhouse "You don't want the eye to stutter in a small space," Ferrier says. "You want it to move naturally from one thing to the next, from similar color to similar color, from shape to shape."

                                           Oak Plate Rack

              The Pilaster plate rack in oak is one of Smallbone's signature pieces. Dishes and glassware used every day are within easy reach.

                                  French Fantasy Kitchen

           This St. Louis house, a tiny 900 square feet, is a take on a Norman château; the galley kitchen is an example of big things that can be done with a little space. Designer Chris Welsh adapted the diamond shapes and tones of golden parchment and golden taupe from an antique Gustavian sideboard.

                                        Mirrors Work Magic

A mirrored backsplash in this shabby-chic Manhattan apartment gives the illusion of more space. "The kitchen opens up to the living room on one side and the family room, where we eat and watch TV, on the other," says designer Faye Cone. "The idea was that it should be an extension of both these spaces."

                                   Twin Farmhouse Sinks

               These pristine farmhouse sinks and Julia faucets are from Waterworks. "I like two sinks side by side," says the house's owner and designer, Susan Dossetter. "One becomes a receptacle for dirty pots and pans while you keep working in the other, and I love the fact that it's so deep you can't see the dirty dishes from across the room."

                                 A Kitchen for a Collector

    

              The antique oak cabinet, originally made for a French store, is perfect for a collector. Designer Susan Dossetter found the reproduction Windsor chairs in Nantucket and had the table made to work with the chairs and the cabinet in this kitchen Co-designed by Andrew Skurman.

                                     Brazen Bronze Sink

              Natural materials with a patina of age lend this California kitchen a distinctly antiqued feel, and the sink helps do the job. Ann Sacks's Zeus sink with an antique copper patina is paired with Kohler's Vinnata faucet in Vibrant Brazen Bronze.

                               Practical Table and Chairs

                In this Nantucket cottage, the solid blue fabric on the chairs, Romo's Linara, "is practical for sticky little hands because it has a lot of texture, a lot of weaving," says designer T.Keller Donovan. Table and chairs from John Andrew. Featured in May 2008 issue.

                                 Classic Kitchen Color

              Architect Ken Pursley converted an exterior porch in this home into a family-worthy kitchen. "[Kitchens] should have at least two doorways, so they're part of the circular flow of the house. Plus there is room for the family. The color on the walls is sophisticated but doesn't take away from the standout features of the room."

                                       Colorful Cabinets

           Darker colors can really open up a smaller-sized kitchen. Try painting the cabinets a color like Benjamin Moore's Great Barrington Green.

                                    A California Kitchen

Nothing says California more than sun, so why not bring the sun indoors through the paint? For a similar look to the one at left, try Benjamin Moore Golden Honey 297.

                          A Simple Yet Beautiful Kitchen

The cleanup sink opposite the stove is a Shaws Original, made of fireclay, which is softer than porcelain and less likely to chip your dishes. To its right, one real drawer and, beneath it, three faux drawers that mask a trash pullout. Designer R. Roman Hudson also took down a wall to open the kitchen to the breakfast room.

                                  Pantry Essentials

     In the pantry, an under-mounted stainless-steel sink by Franke is set into a Lagos Azul limestone countertop. The wall-mounted faucet, with a separate sprayer, makes for easy cleanup.

                                     Try Open Shelving

        Open shelving and no upper cabinets help this Hamptons cottage kitchen, designed by Leslie Klotz, look larger than it is. Viking range and hood.

                                       Casual Feeling

Designer Ray Booth wanted to give the kitchen an aged, casual feeling, with distressed finishes. The ceiling is made from pecky cypress, and the center island is oak treated with ammonia and wire-brushed to pull out the grain.

                                         Space Savers

Cabinet doors in this Japanese-style kitchen slide open instead of swinging out, which takes up less room.

                                       All-White Kitchen

Designer James Radin chose the black Windsor chairs for contrast — "like a punctuation mark" — in the creamy, all white kitchen.

                                  High-Ceilinged Kitchen

Although this Saratoga Springs kitchen isn't big, it has a 10-foot ceiling. Designer Nancy Boszhardt thought it would be cozier with a "strong" ceiling that would minimize its verticality. Instead of using bead board, as she did in the rest of the house, she left the boards open and added old-fashioned fixtures

                                    Kitchen Chimney

      A massive stone chimney ties the kitchen to the family room while shielding it from view. New honed granite countertops, a Dacor stove, and bronze farmhouse lanterns elevate the kitchen to the living area's level of sophistication. Designed by Healing Barsanti.