Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Laundry Rooms

Laundry rooms were once utilitarian spaces with no character or life to them - that ship has sailed! Quite often there is a room or space devoted exclusively to laundry with room to sort, iron and fold. Many laundry rooms are even equipped with televisions, chairs or stools and are a place of relaxation for some.

A well designed laundry room serves it purpose well with room to hang delicates, sort dirty clothes, as well as room to fold and iron clean clothes. A sink to clean those hand wash only garments is a definite bonus. Ample storage for laundry soaps, detergents as well as extra household items like towels and face cloths, toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning products. Not all storage has to be closed, many laundry spaces utilize open storage by using baskets and decanting detergents into beautiful jars.

I am a big fan of white laundry rooms. This room has a gorgeous deep sink, lots of storage space and a large island to fold clothing on.

Laundry contemporary laundry room

You don't have a room to dedicate to laundry? This niche is a wonderful alternative and by making horizontal lines on the walls it helps to visually widen and lengthen the space.

Laundry Room eclectic laundry room

This laundry room also serves as an entrance. I like this room because it shows how one can make a space serve more than one purpose through thoughtful design.


fresh laundry traditional laundry room

Often times the laundry room is a space to experiment with bold color or pattern that one would not use in any other space in their home.


The Container Store > Platinum elfa Laundry Center contemporary laundry room

                 (All photos by Houzz)


Do you have a laundry room or a space dedicated to laundry? What features do you like or wish you had in a laundry room?

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Lighting Finale!

Alright, so you have patiently waited for the ending of this series so you can get some great lighting tips and tricks for your home. You have looked at a few of my favorite types of lighting and perhaps thought of a few of your personal favorites. Your wait is now over-the last post in this series has arrived and as Abigail would say...Ta Da!

1. Mirror it up!

You've heard it before I am sure, but adding mirrors to a space helps to reflect light which in turn makes the room appear larger and brighter. For optimal light reflection place the mirror opposite a window.



Ballard Designs

 
2. White is your friend!

Did you know that the most reflective paint color is white? When looking to brighten a space in your home, choosing white or off- white will help to reflect light in your room so those spaces with poor lighting conditions or little to no natural light will seem more spacious.


                                                        Apartment Therapy


                                                                Elle Decor


3. Virtually anything is reusable!

You can turn basically anything into a lamp and include it into your decor. You need an electrical wiring kit that you can find at a hardware store and a container that suits your fancy.


                                                               Pottery Barn


4. Dimmers are a must!

I would put a dimmer switch on every light in my house if left to my own devices! If you can only put one light on a dimmer in your home I would recommend your dining room. Lights that have the ability to dim really help to set the mood for your entertaining and quite frankly who wants a florescent light glaring down on them?!


                                                          Sarah Richardson


Lighting Types

General Lighting: This type of light is your main lighting source in the room and may be in the form of a chandelier, flush mount light or recessed lighting. Quite often this type of light is on a dimmer so you can increase or decrease the intensity of the light.

den  family room

                                         Houzz

Accent Lighting: You quite often will see this type of lighting used to highlight a valued piece of artwork, a vignette in a room or mounted in cabinetry to highlight prized collectibles.

Stairs contemporary staircase

                      Houzz

Task Lighting: This type of light is used throughout the home in various ways such as a table lamp on a bedside table, a desk lamp with a manipulative arm to place light precisely where needed or in the kitchen in the form of pendant lighting over an island.

White Kitchen Black Island traditional kitchen

                                  Houzz 

I hope that you have learned some new info with this series and have really given thought to the lighting conditions in your home. Remember that it doesn't have to be expensive and labour intensive to brighten your space. A well lit space is not only a more pleasurable one to be in but it is also a safer one to work and relax in.








Wednesday, November 17, 2010

It's All About The Sconces and Floor Lamps Baby!

Howdy friend! Hope you are having a great week so far! Today's post is part 3 of my 4 part lighting series ( check out part 1 here and part 2 here). This post is going to focus two different styles of lighting - floor lamps, and sconces.

A good floor lamp is really an item every home should own. They are so versatile in decor as well as function. Check out a few of my favorites below.

 Pottery Barn


Pottery Barn

Ballard Designs

Sconces have come back in a huge way! They are being used in bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms- all over the home! Here are a few personal favorites.


 Pottery Barn

 Pottery Barn

Overstock.com

Stop by next week for the conclusion of the series and lots of lighting tips and tricks to help make your home a bit brighter!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Pendant Crazy!

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend! It rained here all weekend-hopefully the rest of this week brings us some great weather!

Anywho, this is the second of my 4 part series on lighting. Didn't read post numero uno? Check it out here.

Pendant lighting is a great source of light that really fuses two elements together - decor and task lighting. The Rustic School House is an open concept home and we chose two pendant lights for over our island in the kitchen. They illuminate the island and they look great in the space. In my view that is what a great light in any style is all about-design and illumination.

Check out a few of my faves.


Home Depot


Home Depot


Home Depot


Pottery Barn


Pottery Barn


Ballard Designs

Aren't these great lights? Do you use pendant lights in your home? What's your favorite pendant light?



Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Eye Candy!

Hi friend, hope you are a having a fabulous day in your neck of the woods.

This is the first of a 4 part series I am writing on lighting. Lighting is one of the most important elements in good decorating and design. Good lighting can really change the mood of a room and how it is perceived by yourself and your guests.

During the month of November I am going to be posting pics of different types of lighting for your home. At the end of the series I am going to write tips and tricks to help you have the best light possible in your home.

The first of the series is table lamps. There are so many beautiful designs on the market today that fit basically any decor and budget. In many cases you can buy the lamp base and shade separately so you can mix and match to your preference!

I love a good looking lamp! I wanted to share a few of my personal favorites with you today, so grab a cup of tea sit back and enjoy the eye candy!



pottery barn

pottery barn

ballard designs

ballard designs

sears


 overstock.com


Do you like any of the above pictured lamps? Do you have a favorite that you think I might like? Let me know! I'd love to see them.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Collections

Many of us are collectors. We may collect one like item such as pottery or glass. We may have several collections throughout our home. I wanted to share some tips about how to display your collectibles in a meaningful and organized way.

Design Sponge Online

Collections tell a story about a person, couple or family and items that are of meaning should be given a place of value and respect in the home.

New Gallery

I am a collector of glass bottles. I love their history, shape and color. I am also the mother of a two year old and as such most of my glass collection is stored away for obvious reasons.



However, when I bring my collection back out  for display I am going to give the bottles a more prominent place in my home after all, they have meaning to me.




  1. Less is more. If you have a large collection you don't have to put it all out at one time. You can divide the collection in to quarters storing 3/4 and displaying 1/4 - rotating seasonally. This way your display always seems fresh.
  2. Place your collection in groupings and display them through out your home. If your items are grouped together they seem more important, organized and will be noticed by your guests.
  3. Small items such as stamps or postcards can be matted, framed and hung on the walls throughout your home. You can add them to a gallery wall or devote a single wall only to these items.



Postcards

beach vintage

I hope I have given you a few ideas to help you organise your collection, cut down on the clutter and display them with confidence!

What do you collect? How do you display your collection in your home or office?

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

J'adore Orange

As I type I can see our beautiful oak tree with its beautiful, vibrant orange leaves swaying in the wind. What a glorious fall day, and what inspiration for a post!

I love the color orange- in small doses. I find orange is one of those colors that can be overpowering. I think one of my reasons for loving fall decorating so much is for the hit of orange it gives my home- otherwise it is an orange free zone. As I looked at pictures of rooms infused with various hues of orange it has caused me to rethink the use of orange in my home. I might just have to add me some orange!

I want to share a few photos I have found that show a great use of the color orange:
color combos - orange

How beautiful is this room? The orange is the absolute perfect shade for the room. I love how the orange plays off the green on the walls and curtains.

color combos - orange

The room is one with a very neutral palette but the shot of orange really brings energy to the space in an unassuming way.

color combos - orange

The color palette in this room is AH.MAZ.ING!I love the watery blue tone on the walls with the hit of orange on the drapes and pillows.

Hermes Orange Staircase (via Colour Me Happy) eclectic staircase

By adding the orange to the stair case it took it to a whole other level don't you think? How bold!

Noe Valley Three contemporary living room

Another option, if you really like bold color is to paint an entire accent wall in orange like you see here. By keeping the rest of the room neutral, the orange didn't overpower the room. Great use of color!

A few tips on decorating with bold colors such as orange:

  • add hits of bold color in your drapes, pillows. area rug, art, lamp bases, or picture frames. Try to use the color at least twice in your space.
  • If you are nervous about buying a large item in a bold color, add it in an inexpensive way like on a vase, bowl, or blanket. That way you don't have to invest a lot of money and if you decide you don't like the color anymore you can easily change it out-guilt free!
  • If you are someone who is not afraid of color add it to an accent wall or above wainscoting in a room. I love the look of a vibrant color against crisp white of mouldings.
  • Add black or deep brown to the space in some way to ground your eye otherwise, the room can appear busy or loud. You can achieve this in the furniture, lamp bases or even picture frames.
 Do you have any orange in your home? What is your take on orange? Love it or hate it?

Monday, October 18, 2010

Organizing Is A Beautiful Thing!

I am in the process of gathering inspiration for my office makeover. One thing that I will be adding to my space is a bulletin board. I am re-using a board that has been in our garage at The Rustic School House for a while and let me tell you, this board is not tiny! Since we all know how U.G.L.Y bulletin boards can be - in my mind they are a great item to have, so I wanted to show how a little imagination and some fabric can turn a regular bulletin board into a piece of art.

Check out my ideabook on Houzz by clicking on the following link:

Houzz Ideabook by Kelly Day Interiors

Do you have any bulletin boards around your home? Have you jazzed them up or do you like the look of them in their original state?

Saturday, October 16, 2010

White in Design

I really love the color white. Before I became an interior decorator I though white was white. Little did I know how wrong I was! There are so many variations on the shade of white. Depending upon the shade of white you choose for your space, your room can have a cool feel or a warm feel.

Check out the following link to my idea book on Houzz. The photos I have included show that a space does not always have to be infused with bold, vibrant color to make a statement.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/103928/list/White-in-Design

What is your take on white? How do you use white in your space?

Is Your Ceiling Boring?

Most of our ceilings are white and lacking in architectural detail. I am going to show you a few personal favorite ceiling styles that I hope will give you some ideas to vamp up your ceiling.

I like to look at a ceiling as a fifth wall. Quite often when we are designing a room we put so much effort and thought into the color for the walls, the type of flooring, style of draperies, etc. and the ceiling doesn’t even enter our thought process. We paint the ceiling white-there done! But there really are so many other options for us to consider. In design we are seeing some really beautiful detailed ceilings everything from coffered to textured even mural paintings!

Drop Ceilings

Drop ceilings are also known as suspended ceilings. You see these types of ceilings primarily in commercial spaces however they are being used more often in residential. My house has this type of ceiling. If you read the “about” section of this site you’ve read that my house used to be a schoolhouse. We did the renovation ourselves, Mr.RSH is a carpenter by trade and since we knew we couldn’t hang a drywall ceiling all by ourselves we chose to install a drop ceiling which we could (and did!) install ourselves. I really like the unique look it gives our home. Yes its white, but it has texture and pattern, it’s not your basic drywall ceiling.



Coffered/Tray Ceilings

I am totally smitten for this type of ceiling, it is so beautiful. What a unique architectural feature these type of ceilings give to a home.






Barn Board Ceilings

You cannot beat the rustic nature of barn boards. I love them used as an eco-friendly flooring option and I love them as a unique ceiling option. I’m a nature girl at heart so I would love to have barn board anything! Maybe in our cabin??







What’s your take on the great white ceiling debate? Do you have a unique ceiling in your home?