BDG Art Tips

I recently read somewhere in one of those "decor trends for 2013" articles that people will start to pay more attention to artwork in their homes this year.  I hope this is the case!

 

When it comes to art...there really are no rules.  Art is so subjective and therefore so difficult to judge whether a piece looks right or wrong in a space.   That said, I do have some basic guidelines I naturally follow when selecting or framing art for clients. 

 

Tip 1:  Size

I am a lover of proportion.  I think a small piece on a big wall looks off.  If the piece you have is much smaller than the wall it is on then it needs to be mixed with other pieces in a gallery type display.  There are also a lot of interesting framing techniques to make a piece appear larger.  You just don't want to have a beautiful piece lost in a sea of drywall!

 

 

Tip 2:  Work with what you have. 
Re-use, re-frame or re-think

I think it is always nice to start with artwork that has meaning to you or your family. Passed down vintage art is irreplaceable. Once you have filled your home with meaningful art and photo galleries searching for new pieces that flow with your interior can give your home that "finished" feel. 
I recently installed art work in this California home (pictured above).   I started this process by first, having the client lay out all of her existing art in one space. I separated a few things that were usable as is and a couple that needed to be re-framed to fit the new interior style.

When I had everything we would re-use organized, I walked around the home trying to find new spots for these pieces.  From there, I made a list of dimensions of pieces that I would like to see on specific walls.  Once I had an idea of the amount of wall art I needed and preferred sizing, I took my list to a couple different Home Goods before I jumped into the higher price points.  This takes me to my next tip...

 

Tip 3: Mix high and low price points

It's nice to find inexpensive ready-made items to mix in with some custom framed show stoppers!
 For this project, I took my list of ideal dimensions, and shopped around some local and online retailers.  I noticed this simple image (below) at the local Home Goods.  It was the perfect size behind the chair in the Family Room.  I texted my client the image to make sure she liked it (the colors where great) and purchased.  Custom framing is expensive and I wanted to "rob Peter to pay Paul"...'Paul' in this case being the giant staircase that needed some crazy big art! $$$

 

I also really liked the floating frame this piece was in.  It was a bargain and I love the way it looks in this corner. 

 

 

There are so many other great resources on-line to find artwork.  Etsy, is often times the first place I look.

 

photo by:  Ashlee Raubach

For my San Clemente project, my client found this great piece from an artist on Etsy.
I took it to the framer and had it framed to make it large enough to make an impact above the fire place.

Another great resource I love for art images is:

Art.com makes it easy to search for what you are looking for.  I have purchased several items from this site!


west elm

West Elm always has a few interesting options that are affordable.

Flea Markets, Estate Sales and Art Galleries/festivals are some of the best places to find artwork!


I hope these simple tips will help you on your search for Artwork. 
If you have any questions let me know and I will do my best to answer!

Have a great week!
 

My Favorite Window Treatments & Tips

Custom Window Treatments can be pricey!

The labor involved and the amount of fabric required really add up.  They also need to have lining and whatever type of hardware needed per treatment.

However, they are a beautiful addition to any space and well worth the investment.

I put together a little round-up of my favorite window treatments I designed the past couple of years.

design by BDG

This kravet fabric is one of my favorites!  I love the way it works up as a simple grommet style panel.

design by BDG

What I love about this stacked roman shade is the fact that it brings in the splash of color this neutral dining room needed.  The print is gorgeous it adds to the simple elegance of this dining room.

design by BDG

This simple roman shade in white with a solid color band looks clean and simple but brings in a splash of color.  I love all things that contrast and this roman is a favorite!

design by BDG

design by BDG

This roman works so great in this nook area because the room really needed a print and color.  With the wood table, chairs, buffet and flooring, the patterend fabric really softened the space.

This Schumacher print is also a long time favorite.

Not everyone can afford to bring in custom treatments but there are so many great semi-custom shades and panels on Etsy that can give you the look for less.  I have used pre-made treatments in many homes and they also add a beautiful touch. 

Take the time to look around at different options.  Also, be sure and check out this popular post on Drapery tips.

Have a great week!

Tips on Building a Custom Home...

The Idaho Home tour has come to a close. Today, I am posting my Q & A with my client about the process of building a custom home.  I think there is some helpful tips here and interesting details about the process.  I know this will help some of you considering this route with their next home. 

Q:  What was your favorite aspect of building a custom home and your least favorite?

A:  My favorite aspect of building was being able to customize our home to fit my family's specific needs. For us, it was really important to really use the space we had wisely. We are not a very "formal" family and I'm not a fan of formal living and dining rooms that rarely get used. Because of this we were able to eliminate space that people might typically dedicate to formal spaces and expand the areas we spend the majority of our time in. 

I also have to say that I really enjoyed working with our contractor, Richard Hanks and his sub-contractors. It was fun to get to know such an eclectic group of people! I actually miss seeing and talking to them!

My least favorite part was probably just the stress of it all (mostly self-inflicted). Luckily, my husband and I agreed on 99.9% of things so when certain parts got too overwhelming for me, I was able to hand them over to him him and vice versa. 

Q:  Was the overall process worth the outcome?

A:  The overall process was definitely worth the outcome! 100%!!!

Q:  What was the most helpful resource to gather ideas for your new home? Did you tour other homes, pull pictures from the Internet, etc?

A:  The most helpful resource for gathering ideas was definitely the internet. Specifically websites like Houzz, Pinterest (which is where I found Alison!) and different interior design websites and blogs.

I asked people to tell me things that they liked or disliked about their homes. I would take polls among my friends about things like whether or not they liked their central vacuum systems, built in sound systems, different hardwood floor types, laundry systems, etc. I got some great feedback and avoided a few mishaps and mistakes by just talking to people.

I also have a friend who has built a few houses that gave me some great advice as far as layouts, floor plans and window placements. People who have been through the process a time or two are great resources!

Q:  What was the biggest lesson you learned with this process?

A:  I guess the biggest lesson I learned was to make sure that you are communicating with people that you are working with constantly. We had a few surprises along the way that were due to unclear expectations and lack of understanding. I guess I learned to ask a lot of questions even when it was uncomfortable for me to do it.

Q:  What would you do differently if you had to do it all again?

A:  I don't know that I'd do a whole lot differently. There are a few minor changes here and there but overall, I think I'd probably just try to tell myself to relax and enjoy the process a little more.

Q:  What tips/advice would you give someone who is thinking of building a new home?

A:  -Find a contractor that you trust! We were lucky to have someone who has been building homes in our area for over 30 years with a great reputation. His experience, knowledge and connections in the community were invaluable throughout the whole process.

-Be prepared to visit the job site almost daily if possible. If you are building a custom home, there can be a lot of misinterpretation and miscommunication.

-Always make sure you know ahead of time what's coming next in the building process. You don't want to be scrambling at the last minute to find the perfect bathtub or light fixture and end up settling for something you're not 100% happy with.

-Don't cut too many corners. Doing it right the first time saves money in the long run. 

-Be organized! I kept a binder full of notes, pictures, receipts, reminders, etc. with me all the time. 

-As far as the design process, know when you're in over your head and hire a professional if you're able to. We absolutely love everything Alison did and it took a huge load off of my shoulders. It was money very well spent as far as I'm concerned!

-If at all possible, do not work with close family or friends! If something doesn't go well, it can get really awkward.

-Know that you might make some mistakes and be OK with it (this was a hard one for me).

-Take your time, don't rush the process. 

-If you have a budget, be prepared to go over it.

A BIG thank you to my client for taking the time to answer these questions and for the beautiful photographs!  I had a great time with this project!

From my experience working with new construction I have to say interviewing several contractors and working with referrals is imperative!  Also, expect to pay more than you planned and for it to take longer than you expected.  It is a process that requires patience, communication, research and Xanax! haha!  The end result, however, is worth it!

Design Idea: Mixing Up Your Bed Sheets

I hope you all had a great weekend!  I spent this weekend (like most weekend's) buried in laundry and while I was folding our sheets this blog post came to me.  The idea of mixing bed sheets.  I think this is something most of us do when we are in a pinch and just grab whatever is folded and ready to go but I LOVE the intentional mixing of our bed sheets. 

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I love mixing patterns and prints in general so the idea of mixing things up with bed sheets is a no brainer.  Tone-on-tone patterns and prints work great if you want to keep it simple. 

  

via

I am a fan of all white bedding in the Master Bedroom but I love mixing and layering the white's.  A solid white duvet with a patterned white top sheet and a striped white fitted sheet, etc.  Mixing up white's is a beautiful thing.

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Switching around your bedding is a simple way to bring in some change.  Look in your linen closets and play with what you have. 
Who knows, maybe you'll even sleep better! :)

INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS: ADDING WINDOW CASING

The great part about design is that sometimes simple details can make a huge impact.  One element that often gets overlooked is "dressing" up your windows.  Adding window treatments is definitely a great way to do this but sometimes just the addition of window casings is all you need to give the polished look you are seeking.

Adding window casing is an inexpesive (relatively) and can be done on your own (if you own a miter saw) or by hiring a handy man.  

Here are some pictures showcasing the impact of window casings.

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The casing provides a stunning detail in this kitchen and provides a clean edge to run the backsplash tile into.

{before casings}

{after}

 {before casings}

{after adding stained casings}

 I love the way the dark casings frame this soft roman shade

We are in the process of adding casings to our windows.  Most of them are finished we just haven't painted them yet.  It only took a few hours and has made a big difference!

my resident handy man :)

DESIGN TIP: SELECTING PAINT COLORS

Where to begin.........

Selecting paint colors for your home can be overwhelming!  

I think deciding on a wall color is just as hard as finding the color you decided on!  Here are my top ten design tips to hopefully help you in your next painting endeavor!

photo: Alison Royer 

1.When re-modeling selecting your paint color should be the LAST thing you do NOT the first.

 

2.  Try not to blindly walk into a paint store and pick a color because you like it (you might not when it is on the wall).  Instead, find fabrics or artwork around your home that you like and place the paint chips next to the color in the fabric or art.  It will help you pull out the color you are most drawn to.


{For this room I selected a green wall color from the lighter shade green in the pillow fabric.}

photo:  Ashlee Raubach
interiors: Belmont Design Group

3.  Consider how the color will look in the lighting of your room.  Natural daylight shows the truest color.  Incandescent lighting brings out warmer tones and yellows.  Fluorescent lighting casts a sharp blue tone. 
 {This is where painting a sample on the wall is especially helpful}



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4.The paint colors you chose should complement the room's permanent features, such as fireplaces, cabinetry and flooring.  Hold paint chips next to all of these permanent fixtures to be sure the colors do not clash.

5.  When selecting several colors it is nice to select tones that flow nicely together from room to room. 

photo:  Alison Royer

6.  Think beyond traditional colors for rooms.  
i.e. girls (pink) and boys (blue) 



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7.  Play up monochromatic schemes to create a soft variation. 
 Layer colors.
{I wanted this Master Bedroom to feel calm and cool with an interesting focal point.  The soft gray paint layered inside/outside the moldings added a simple and soft backdrop}

photo: Ashlee Raubach
interiors:  Belmont Design Group

8. Use high quality paint.  My standard favorites are Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams.  Farrow and Ball and Serena and Lily are also amazing!  The quality does make a difference!

9.  Cool colors make a room feel larger and warm colors make a room feel smaller.


10.  Get creative!
Accent walls, stripes (mixing high gloss with flat in the same shade), etc.
After all.....paint is easy to switch out :)

STYLISH FAMILY HOME IN LADERA RANCH

Some of you may have seen a few of these pictures on my website but I wanted to add the entire series from the photo shoot of this home with Ashlee Raubach.

I love the burst of Orange in this color scheme and the fact that the "Great Room" is stylish yet comfortable for this family of 6!