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I recently merchandised a new model home and had the opportunity to work with a local artist for all of the wall art.  I was pleasantly surprised by the life these paintings added to the space.  To look at the space with just the paint on the walls, I thought that it looked good and I was excited about how the furniture was going to layout.  Given the time frame of the project and frankly just how it worked out, the wall art went in first and WOW.  It gave the room excitement and life without the furniture.  What I want to share with you is that the furniture does not necessarily have to come first when decorating and arranging a space.  If you have a great piece of art, a photograph or other wall décor that you are partial too and love, you can highlight and enhance those pieces with the furniture.  Locate the wall piece or pieces in a place where others will see them and that is the focal point of the room.  Arrange your furniture around them so that they are complimenting the art.  Accent sofa’s and chairs with complimenting pillows and blankets bringing out some of the color in the wall pieces.

We often hear of people saying “I want to bring the outside in”.  Well, typically what that means is that they are trying to create an interior environment inspired by nature.  What we can sometimes forget, is that the exterior of our homes can give people a glimpse of what they can expect on the inside.  The architectural style of a home is typically a reflection of what style the interior will be or should be.  With that said, how many times have we seen the outside of someone’s home and found it to be completely different that what we were expecting on the inside?  If you are building a new home be aware of this and be sure that your exterior façade is a good representation of what people will find on the inside.  If you are doing some spring clean up or are preparing to sell, curb appeal is very important.  Take a really good look at the exterior of your home including the landscaping and ask your self a few questions?  Does my trim need a new coat of fresh paint?  Am I highlighting and taking advantage of my architectural details?  Is my landscaping in tip top shape and I can I make any improvements?  Here are some tips to bring the inside out.  Details that can easily get lost but have the potential for high impact and great curb appeal include; front door, brackets, columns, trim and other adornments.  Often times I find that you can give an exterior a new character by painting some of these features a coordinating accent color.  You want to choose a color that fits with the architecture and your other siding products but you also want to choose a color that coordinates with your interior style.  For example if you have a more fun and funky interior a red front door may be a great compliment.  If your interior is more traditional and classic, then more neutral browns/earth tones highlighting brackets or columns could be a good way to go.  Landscaping and having a well kept exterior is also extremely important.  If your yard is a mess and it is not well cared for (especially if you are trying to sell your home) this can set a negative interior expectation.  Remember your exterior is a reflection of your interior.

As kids grow so do their personal tastes and styles.  How do we keep up with this and still allow them to add personal touches to their spaces.  This actually can be pretty easy.  Keep paint colors in bedrooms relatively simple.  Now that doesn’t mean the room has to be white or beige, quite the contrary. Choose a paint color that will work with all kinds of different styles.  A transitional color that is still fun but not overwhelming a color that will work with a variety of looks.  Now if sunset orange is their new it color and they “have” to have it.  You may consider using it on an accent wall that can easily be repainted without having to re-do the entire room.  Accessories, bedding or throw pillow may also do the trick.  Another great way to add some flair and excitement is thru wall art.  Now, the first thing my husband would say is “I don’t want a bunch of holes in the wall”.  Well, now you don’t have to have any holes.  Wall decals are a great way to make bedrooms and baths really fun!  Flowers, picture frames, bubbles, butterflies, soccer balls and other sports are just a few of the great decals that are currently out there.  They even have posters that are peel and stick.  Check out your local craft stores to get some ideas.  This is a great way to add character and personalization to your kids bedrooms and baths.  It is easy to do, easy to change, inexpensive and most importantly no holes in walls.  

What is the old saying “out with the old in with the new”?  Well, that is the way many of us start to feel in February.  Well, new stuff can be a budget buster so if it is new furniture that you seek consider breaking out some spray paint.  Wicker, wood and metal furniture and accessories can be some of the easiest pieces to give a “new” look thru a good coat of paint.  Consult your local paint stores of course and get advice on how to prepare surfaces and find out what paints are the most appropriate.  Remember you yourself with a little advice can get “new” furniture without having to buy all new pieces.  Some of the latest and greatest in trends is the classic look of a hand made, hand painted furniture piece.  So whether or not it is a can of spray paint or can of regular paint that will get the job done, use good judgment and get yourself some “new” furniture.  If you are dealing with a fabric piece, this can be trickier.  Start with keeping it simple and changing the look by adding a throw pillow or blanket.  Depending on the piece you may be able to easily recover a seat cushion, replace it or add a coverlet to it, giving it that “new” look.  Most of all have fun!  It is a great satisfaction to create something on your own especially if you are doing it for a great price.

Feeling the gray days of winter?  Well, me too.  Being a person who loves the outdoors and nature I decided that if I couldn’t have the warm beach and green trees that I would at least try to bring some of that feeling into my home.  My personal solution was to get some indoor plants.  I am not much for artificial trees and or greenery although they are appropriate and serve purpose in some instances.  My personal preference is definitely for the real thing.  After purchasing my new plants I strategically placed them in my home where they would first receive the most light but also where my family and I could see and enjoy them.  They are a reminder to us why we love the spring and summer and add some life to our interior environment.  As for you, you too may find inspiration through adding some real greenery into your spaces and you may consider replacing an artificial tree or plant with the real deal.  You can also consider switching up some paint colors.  The latest and greatest colors for this year are incorporating softer and fresher tones giving spaces a more natural and brighter feel.  Consider pale blues, greens, honey colors and pale yellows as a great way to change a space and make it more uplifting.  A word of caution always be careful with yellows, depending on the orientation of your home and the direction of sun exposure it receives yellows can get really bright, really fast.  Be sure to use a color that won’t have a neon effect.  I learned this the hard way.

In a recent interview I was asked the question, how do I arrange my furniture so that my small space feels larger?  I found this to be a really great question that opens up a very broad topic.  Where do I start when arranging furniture in a space?  My response, determine how you are going to use the space and then find your focal point.  Many of you are probably saying what does this mean?  Well every space will have a focal point and some are more obvious than others.  A focal point could be a fireplace, a grouping of windows or let’s face it where the TV is going to be placed.  Even if you have no intention of having a television in a space (like in a bedroom) and you are struggling with furniture placement you can use still use the cable jack location as your focal point.  This will at least give you a starting point.  Example, when staging a great room (a.k.a family room) I start by determining the use of space and the focal point.  Once I have determined this, furniture placement becomes more obvious.  If your television is in fact the focal point, start with placing seating pieces trying to maximize the view for each seat.  Build the rest from there using function as your key component to determine where tables and lamps should be placed, your flavor and personality can then be added through your accessories, don’t be afraid to mix it.  When arranging and placing furniture always keep in mind, less is more do not over do it.  If you use too many pieces, (especially if they are over sized) they will crowd the space.  Keep it simple.  I can not tell you many times I have been in a home and quite frankly there is just too much stuff.  You do not need furniture and accessories in every corner, over decorating will definitely make your space feel smaller and cluttered.

 

In the midst of winter we need to take advantage of those all so rare and important sunny days.  Inspired by this, I recently decided to take on a “spring” household task and clean my windows.  Wow, what it a difference it made.  I cleaned all of windows inside my home and couldn’t believe how much it brightened everything up.  It made the entire space feel more open and brighter.  With this new sense of revitalization I started to evaluate my window treatments.  Ask your self, are these too heavy (visually more so than actual physical weight), are they still in style, can I simplify the look and give my space a brighter and lighter feel.  First off it is more likely than not that if you have had your window treatments awhile that they could use a good cleaning or at least a shake out.  Start with this.  Take them down and clean them up, this in and of itself can make an impact.  Then start looking at the pattern and actually material, it may be time to replace.  If you come to this conclusion do some homework, there are so many stores now that carry great curtain rods and fabric panels at good values.  Window treatments are a highlight to any space and can make or break it be sure to compliment your other décor and don’t over do it.  Unless you want your windows to be the focus of your space, compliment your other décor with curtains don’t dominate it with them.

 

Are you tired of the same old same old?  Well here is an easy tip to shake up things up.  Refresh by re-arranging the existing.  Take some of your accent pieces (i.e. vases, pictures, candles, accessories) and move them around.  A forgotten piece that is in your bedroom could replace a tired piece that is in your living space.  It is amazing how switching things up can make a space feel revitalized.  I keep a variety of pieces including floral stems, pillows, vases etc…. that I can rotate around with the seasons constantly giving my home an updated look.  Often times we are too quick to think we have to replace when in fact the current piece is really great, it just needs some “love” to make it feel new.  Try using your inner creativity before breaking the bank.  If you have a vase filled with flower stems that feels dated, replace the stems not the vase.  Choose stems or reeds that are different from what you currently have and be sure to give the vase a good cleaning.  If it is a lamp that feels old and tired, ask yourself what if I just change the shade.  Many retail stores sell great and fun lamp shades that fit on a variety of different styles of lamps.  Lastly, if it is a chair that needs to be more exciting try adding an accent pillow or throw blanket.  Use a contrasting color that will add some pop and life back into the piece.

Whether you are trying to refresh your current space or are starting with a clean slate, AskAnnie.net is a top resource for all of your design related questions and fun advice.  I am Ann Wierengo (a.k.a. “color girl”) the Interior Designer for Eastbrook Homes and bottom line I have an absolute passion for my profession and design.  It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to share some of my insights and tips on how to help make all of your spaces fabulous.  Join me and put forth your design questions and concerns and let’s see how we can create a new style just for you!

Welcome to the Eastbrook Homes Home Creation Studio!  Please take this opportunity to take a short tour with yours truly through our state of the art design studio.  You will be wowed and knocked off your feet.  Well, maybe that is a little dramatic but I can guarantee that, at the very least, you will be impressed.  Our HCS (as we like to call it) is a great resource that we offer to all of our buyers during their building process.  It is where creative genius comes to life.