wanted: industrial organic chic

Hope lives in a classic Victorian apartment in San Francisco. She recently wrote to me about her small bathroom, and the design challenges it poses. She needs privacy from her neighbors, the sink is unsightly in more ways than one, and the space lacks the pulled together look she wants.

While Hope and her husband prefer different decorating styles, she used the words "industrial organic" to describe the aesthetic they both like. Splashes of earthy browns, warm oranges and leafy greens are found throughout their home. They favor contemporary over shabby chic. So, here's my input on how they can achieve the look they are after in their bathroom.


Let's start with a big design statement. The Amanda shower curtain by Bliss Living boasts a graphic but organic pattern in green and brown. Its modern punch provides a great counterpoint to the classic claw foot tub.

A design this large in scale tricks the eye and expands the space. Like a work of art, the functions as the room's focal point. The browns in the pattern will actually complement the hues on the sink, helping it recede, rather than stick out.


For the windows, I would suggest making a fabric panel the same width of the window, and half its total height. Hang this from a suspension type curtain rod at the middle of the window, like a cafe curtain. Use plain white cotton or linen, which will provide privacy, but still let some light in.

Make a similar panel to cover the whole open self situation above the sink. Keeping the look clean and tidy. Maybe you could even mount a large rectangular mirror on some hinges and make a vanity door?

Pottery Barn's organic bath linens come in a great pale green, lending a pop of color to the bathroom. The towels run from $8-$24. If you don't want to spend quite that much, I have found that Target offers a nice variety of soft greens in their various towel collections.

The storage cabinet that Hope currently uses looks and functions just fine, but reads more traditional, as oppposed to clean and contemporary.

Replacing it with one of West Elm's teak bath towers would add that organic element Hope and her husband like. The open shelves keep things breeezy.

Wire baskets by CB2 would help contain smaller items, with an industrial edge. Alternatively, scrounge antique shops for the authentic versions in different sizes.


To complete the updated and natural vibe in the bathroom, put a jute runner on the floor to tie all of the elements together. This chunky design by Pottery Barn fits the need perfectly.


These pieces work together to add warmth and edge to the bathroom. Good luck Hope! Let us know what you think!

tiny rental kitchen

The tiny kitchen in Tiffany's cozy apartment, for rent in Bremerton right now!

A friend of mine, Tiffany, just bought a cute little house in Bremerton with a newly refurbished basement apartment. It looks like a great, cozy little space to live, but Tiffany is having a hard time deciding how to make the tiny one-butt kitchen look more appealing to prospective renters.

There are nice, new appliances, and a new sink, counter top, and base cabinet, but it is still tiny. Just not much room for stashing cooking essentials and pantry basics. Well, what can be done? Conventional stock cabinetry is too cumbersome and limiting, so I had to think outside the box.

Mainly, I would suggest open shelves above the sink for storage of dishes and glass ware. Maybe you could provide some heavy duty baskets or bins the renter could use to hide pantry items. Mount the shelves about 15" above the counter top to allow for any small appliances. Perhaps you could fit some shelves in that little corner under the counter as well?
this photo by Paul Costello, found on dominomag.com

Speaking of appliances, a microwave would hog up most of that precious counter top. A free standing unit near an outlet, just outside of the kitchen might be an option. Otherwise, maybe there is way it can fit on the shelves above the sink?
this photo found on apartmenttherapy.com


For storage of pots and pans, I liked an idea I found on apartmenttherapy.com. A peg board with "S" hooks, ala Julia Child. You could even paint it a fun accent color to add some vibrancy to the space. Mount a narrow spice shelf right above the stove, and you have yourself a convenient little cooking station.


Great shelving options are available and cheap at IKEA.
The Utby kitchen island would lend storage and style, just outside the kitchen.


The Grundtal series has a variety of flexible accessories for the wall.


Lack shelves in green would standout against the neutral walls next to the window.


I found lots more inspiring photos on apartmenttherapy.com, where they have dedicated an entire micro site to apartment kitchens, kitchn.com. Here are a couple of more shots of really small kitchens. Check out the site for more ideas!



Good luck Tiffany! Send us photos when you have your solutions in place!

making do with mustard

Poor Carrie. Starting out a new adventure: a fantastic new job in a new city, should be exciting. It should be something to get you inspired, make new goals, and rethink all of the great aspects of your life. Unfortunately, Carrie's new apartment in Nashville has a bad, bad bath and an unsightly kitchen and she's got to figure out how to deal with it.

Not updated since the 70's Carrie's new pad features a mustard yellow bathroom and kitchen. Here is her description of it:

"Our new apartment is fine, and it meets our needs, and it has a dishwasher (which I've not had since moving out of my parent's house and am sooo excited for) BUT the kitchen and bathroom are both a 1970's dirty mustard yellow color (cabinets, sink, toilet, the works). Any tips for how to handle this without throwing up on a daily basis? " (Nice visual Carrie!)


Well Carrie, your only option is to embrace it. My suggestion would be to pair it with neutrals. In the bathroom: use greys and white. For the kitchen, black and white. Try to keep the decor simple and fresh, possibly with a retro modern approach. Here are some items I found online that might get you moving in the right direction.



Bathroom:
Try a graphic but neutral shower curtain such as this really simple classic from West Elm:




Or something more funky and fun like this white one with grey dots from Ikea:



As far as linens are concerned, stick with bright white. These Hydrocotton towels from Pottery Barn look amazingly soft:



Keep your accessories understated and clean looking. I found these on West Elm's site as well:



In the kitchen, go for bold.

I am loving Ikea's Seveje rug. This would look great in front of the sink.

This lacquer tray from CB2, kept on the kitchen counter, would provide a sassy looking gathering spot for bar essentials.


Also from CB2 these black and white plates would look amazing hung on the wall:

A set of black canisters from Linens and Things would look smart on the counter top as well.

Good luck Carrie! And please, please send us before and after pictures. Do any of you have suggestions for Carrie's decorating dilemma? We would love your ideas.

wood floor primer

Image from myhomeideas.com

Kerry from Portland, recently asked me a big question: Where do I start when contemplating installing hardwood floors? I say that it is a big question, because as I began to sift through all of the information out there, I became overwhelmed too! So, Kerry, good question.

The boring basics first: a great place to begin is with some measurements. You won't get very far into the process if you don't have a general idea of how many square feet of carpet you are going to rip up and replace. If you will be installing the floors yourself, it might make sense to do it in stages, which will ultimately help you budget the project as well. Prioritize which spaces need the most immediate attention, and tackle them room by room. (Just in case: To find the square footage of each space, just multiply the length of the room by its width.)

Now, onto the fun, visualization part: to help you focus your search for the perfect type of wood, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

What kind of look am I after? Cottage or modern, warm or dark, glossy or satin?
In thinking about that first question, take into account your furnishings, rugs and accessories, the period of your home, etc. Look through magazines for inspiration, since it is hard to imagine how fabulous those floors are going to be when what you're staring at right now is boring beige carpet.

Where will I use the hardwood? Will the area sustain heavy traffic? If so, you'll probably want to rule out softer woods like pine and fir. Want it in the bathroom? You may want to use laminate to get the look, instead of the real thing, which will expand and contract quite a bit with excessive humidity.

Is this my forever house? Yes: choose a wood that is classic enough to stand the test of time. No: maybe you can save some money by using a laminate option instead.

Try checking out this article from Martha Stewart's website, it has some great information on selecting the right type of hardwood for your flooring needs.

Different types of woods featured on Marta Stewart's site.

Next you need to consider your budget and time constraints. Undertaking a home improvement project which will ultimately add tons of value, not to mention charm, to your home is a big investment. Projects like this usually take more time and money that you originally plan for.

Once you have narrowed down a few types of wood you might want to use, it would be smart to get quotes from several resources. Just to give you a general idea on pricing I found the following information on Home Depot's website(if you are installing it yourself):



Engineered Hardwood: $60-$120 per 19 - 24 sq. ft. package


Brazilian Cherry

Wood look Laminate Flooring: $40 - $90 per 19-24 sq. ft. package


Whitehall Pine

Some other sites for helpful tips:
This Old House has a website that is loaded with video relating to flooring, and there is one about choosing reclaimed wood for flooring, which is a great option if you have the means.


Doityourself.com also features a lot of valuable information about installing hardwood floors on your own. There are step-by-step instructions on where to begin and how to do it.


My Home Ideas is great site for inspirational images to guide you in choosing the look that suits your desires.


Any flooring store should be happy to answer any questions you have about the process and investment of adding hardwood floors to your home. Maybe an outing to a couple of places in your area should be your next step.

Well, Kerry, I hope that gives you a place to start, and offers a little insight for any other readers that might be contemplating the same project! Let me know how it turns out!

aimee's deck re-deco

Aimee's hip urban dwelling in Chicago's up and coming Roger's Park neighborhood has a6'X 8'6 deck that needs a little TLC to ready it for summer. She needs color, plant life, privacy and shade. Lets start with the color palette. I would paint the door a brilliant, snappy red like Benjamin Moore's "Geranium" (#1307) or "Moroccan Red" (#1309). Use high gloss exterior latex based paint for the most durable finish. To counter the heat and intensity of the red, spray paint your existing chairs with Krylon's Indoor/Outdoor paint in Bahama Sea (a rich deep blue) or Peekaboo Blue ( a perky and saturated light blue). Pop a couple of Ikea's "Hedda" ($6.99) or "Unni" ($14.99)cushions on the chairs to soften them and add pattern. Ground all of this with Ikea's "Lavaro" ($39.99)outdoor friendly rug.

For margarita and tapas parties I would suggest bunching two of Ikea's "Bollo" tables ($39.99 ea.) together. When you are not entertaining, you can fold one up and store it out of the way. The "Bollo" folding chairs($19.99 ea.) offer the same stylish convenience. Or, simply drag a couple of your dining room chairs out to the deck for additional seating as necessary. Hanging Target's capiz shell light strings ($9.99 ea.)from the banister of the deck will add subtle ambiance.



A couple of suggestions for privacy: a climbing vine and some casual curtains. Plant "Ernest Markham" clematis in 2 large red pots. Its gorgeous crimson blooms in summer will support the color scheme. Create a grid for the plants to climb using fishing line and screw eyes along one of the patio's sides. Keep the pots moist with well draining soil, and plant a shallow rooted ground cover on top to protect the roots from the sun. Monrovia's website can educate you further on proper plant care.


On the other side of the patio, use Ikea's "Deka" curtain hanging system ($4.99) with clips included, and several white "Annolill"($4.99 ea.) curtain panels to screen your space from peeping neighbors and block the sun. Tie curtains back with wide red ribbon when you don't need the privacy. Use this image as inspiration. I found it, along with many others on myhomeideas.com


Pot some bright red geraniums and deep purple petunias with sweet potato vine and ornamental grasses to add more color and plant texture. Place these in groups on the small tables you already have,which you could paint red like you door. Tuck the tables into the corners of your porch! These are just my suggestions... Stay tuned to see what Aimee actually does to transform her outdoor space into a private, shady,and color infused refuge!

northwest coastal cottage

This is how my friend and realtor Jeri describes her decorating style. That relaxed coastal vibe is so characteristic of this area, and I love it. Whether you have a house on the water or not, you can apply some simple decorating aesthetics to create that beach access, sound view, waterfront feeling.

Jeri's question specifically was, how to deal with her wall-to-wall carpet, which was necessary to install, given her home's uneven flooring. Could she still give her rooms the beach cottage look, without the hard wood floors that dominate the breezy carefree vignettes in Coastal Living magazine? My answer: yes definitely. There is no reason why you can't place a nice textural sisal or jute rug on top of pale green carpet. How about a simple but colorful striped cotton rug to ground your living room seating group? In either case, be certain to use a rug-to-rug pad in between the layers to keep that area rug from bunching.

I would also recommend interjecting a little wicker or rattan into your seating area or at your dining room table to lend an earthy touch. As far as upholstery, go for slip covers or light, linen-y textural neutrals. Casual is key in generating a lived-in, sea weathered look. Color palettes for a northwest beach look would mostly likely include a great basic khaki (C2's Hummus), a watery blue (Ralph Lauren's Shoreline) and a warm, light loving white (Ben Moore's Navajo White). A few touches of slate gray will add contrast and evoke the image of the NW's rocky shores. Add an artful grouping of apothecary jars full of shells and beach rocks or sea grass on your bookshelf, and voila, instant seaside getaway.

You might consider other elements to add texture like bamboo blinds and woven baskets to tighten the look, but not make it too cliche. Popping in plant life will add the layer of another natural color and bring the outdoors inside. Use fabrics like linen and cotton in soft shades of blue, ivory and green on simple drapes or to cover throw pillows. The main idea is to add natural and textural items and colors, but don't try too hard, or it might end up looking like you did!

mixing wood tones

My friend Candace recently visited the blog and asked the question of mixing wood tones on older peices and newer pieces of furniture. She asked if there were any rules. My repsonse has always been that there are no rules. However, the common misconception is that you should choose one finish and stick with it. I disagree for three reasons: 1. Your home should be a reflection of who you are, and you should feel free to bring home furniture you love without needing to "match" something that you already have and may not love. 2. You can always adjust accessories, finishes, and furniture arrangement to create a cohesive look. Lastly, #3. How boring!

So in Candace's case her new pieces have that great rich espresso finish, while her existing furniture is light blond. While there may not be "rules", you can use some basic design priciples to bring it all into balance. You are looking to blend the pieces and have them complement eachother. Pull out the tones in both wood finishes through accessories and add dashes of a favorite hue to tie it all together. For example, if your coffee table is dark, seek out a large woven bowl in a lighter finish for magazines or decorative green seed balls. On the lighter dining table place three dark wood pillar holders with light green pillar candles. If the buffet or server is dark add a piece of colorful green art glass or a vase and hang a mirror over it to reflect the whole scene.

If you want to favor the dark finish, maybe stain the dining room chairs to match or paint them black to add a third element. In your dining area, consider an enexpensive chocolate brown sisal rug to ground the light table and express the darker finishes as dominant in the setting. For later down the road, keep your eyes open for a painting that incorporates a contrast of light and dark with the accent color and a few new hues to add interest. And of course, you can always use pillows. Try a couple of solid espresso brown ones grouped with a green and gold patterened one. As for sources for such accessories on a budget try: TJ Maxx (art glass and art work),Target (pillows) and Cost Plus (mirrors,woven objects and rugs). A great link for inspirational rooms is via Cottage Living's website. Good luck, you can do it!