Power strips are hidden. Sinks and ranges are integral to the counter. Allmilmo makes a counter top that slides open to reveal the sink and cooktop below. Berloni’s 2-in-1 kitchen furniture contains the functional needs of cooking and cleaning on one side, while the other side functions as a work desk and for relaxation. (This concept works particularly well with open-plan homes.) Poggenpohl has a walk-in professional kitchen with decorative panels that conceal the kitchen when not in use.

Stainless steel appliances continue to be a favorite, as they integrate so wellwith a variety of cabinet finishes. Ariston’s ovens feature controls designed right in the handles. Ellea has a series of extremely compact, jewel-like ventilation systems.

Many of these concepts are available in American products, but all can be obtained in America, regardless of where it was manufactured.

Remember, your surroundings need to fit you like a favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe …FIT?” If not, give us a call. We are the licensed, awarded design company that specializes in creating surroundings to fit YOU.

How many times homeowners move into this lovely home, but become more aggrevated with time because an architectural detail doesn’t align with other things! Here’s an example, and some solutions. The shallow niche in this dining room wall did not align with the center of the room. The chandelier and the bay window were aligned. So as you sat at the dining room table,  the niche seemed oddly placed & disturbing.

Typically, the table would be centered along the axis of the room, but this emphasized the misalignment. So I suggested some alternatives. The first was to break up the niche by adding both a high boy cabinet as well as a lower small serving table or buffet, or even an easy chair or rocker.

The second suggestion was to move the table perpendicular to the window and niche, to somewhat camoflauge the line of axis by the strong table line going in the opposite direction.

The third solution, our preference, was to put the table on a diagonal in the room. A strong diagonal line will always take attention from other things, in this case visually obliterating the axis line of the architectural elements. The accent paint was taken off the niche wall, as we didn’t want to call attention to it; accent paint was put on the large wall across from the entry so upon entering the home, one’s attention would be drawn across the room, with the diagonal table pointing in the same direction. This accent wall would be a good place for artwork.

Good space arrangement will always improve a problem. Remember your interiors need to fit YOU like your favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe….FIT?  If you need some help, contact us. We are the interior and exterior space specialists that have helped hundreds of homeowners, and given hundreds of workshops and programs on design.

Our homes generally have some harmony built in, which is a help to us. “Most” of our rooms have 90 degree corners, rectangular walls, doors, and most of our windows are rectangular……..So is most of our furniture (sofas, chairs, many tables, even some area rugs)  Harmony might come in the form of a certain color being repeated often, such as a light tone on the walls, a deeper tone in some upholstery, perhaps in a stripe, or part of a print. If our furniture and accessories are all of a certain style, we also have harmony. You’re getting the picture. See if you can find elements of harmony–and elements of contrast in the sketch of a home office.

Harmony is a good thing, as when a space, inside OR outside has harmony, we feel calm. There is orderliness to the space. It settles us.

Have you noticed, though, that most newer homes have a arched window, some of the walls are curved, or running into other spaces creating a shape NOT rectangular. Oval and circular area rugs are common. And a color may be in several pieces, but we usually like using it in varying tones of that color (values), and in stripes or prints so everything isn’t the same. You see, we need harmony—but we also need a little contrast so we don’t become bored with too much of the sameness.

How you create harmony with a little contrast depends on your personality and how you live. Your homes, inside and out, need to fit you and your life  like your favorite shoes. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…FIT?” If not, give us a call or write about your problem on this blog for an answer. I always welcome people sending in problems. We’ve been giving unique solutions for people’s spaces for decades. We are the Total Space Specialists.

HOWEVER, we have a special treat for apartment and small-space dwellers today and also in our next blog of November 30th.  This fall “Rachel” called me for an in-home interior design consultation, and expained she lived in a tiny apartment. She said she really needed help to enhance it on a budget. She hated the all white walls and wanted to give some mood and style to the place. She also thought it appeared too cluttered. The apartment consisted of a living area, dining nook, and kitchenette all open and flowing into each other (plus a private bedroom & bath.)

First, we looked at the scale and amount of the furniture. The sofa was the main piece;  there was a coffee table in front of it, a side table on either side of it, and a console table directly across from it that held Rachel’s entertainment components. A  trunk sat under the side window that could also be used for seating. I asked Rachel if she really needed all 4 tables. She loved the coffee table with it’s convenient shelf underneath, and one table was near the entry door, where she could put things on as she entered. So we removed the opposite end table, found a floor lamp to put in it’s place, and created a more spacious corner. The taller floor lamp also better illuminated the room.

A larger sized piece of modern art on the wall, hung off center to create asymmetrical balance with the lamp, completed the wall. The openness of the artwork allows the viewer to see through sections of it, rather than having an overpowering solid piece in this small space. Taking out the area rug would have visually expanded the area, also; but the soft color and it’s large size gave definition to the “living” space. We decided to keep it. Notice how the accessories are mainly tall and thin, with vertical emphasis, rather than horizontal, which takes room space.

Next blog, we’ll tie in wall color (in a rented apartment!!) for Rachel. See you then! 

If you have an interior or exterior design problem, feel free to contact us. We are the Space Specialists that make YOUR space fit YOUR way of life like a favorite shoe. Look around your space  and ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…..FIT?”

Actually, eclectic is NOT a little of “everything,” or it would never look great together! It is a difficult achievement when it does happen. However, we can create the look by combining several nationalities of furniture and art that are all of the same character. Country French, old Polish, and USA country can be combined because they are all a folk look. Andy Warhol has created some very original (and now valuable) works of art, but his famous repetion of soup cans, perhaps in a chrome frame, would not fit in with the folk furniture we’ve collected.

Notice I mentioned the frame as well. The frame of an artwork can often be a big help in transitioning the art to the style of the room. In the case above, the chrome frame might look well in a city loft or a modern home, but is too sleek to fit into the crafty look of the furniture. The right piece of modern art,however,  in the right frame, might look nice with this folk-art furniture. And an antique furniture piece, surrounded by modern, can give an area a spark of warmth, and originality. Picture a very modern room with an antique desk.

So where do you find such things? Antique shops, second hand shops, and garage sales can all carry unusual and well-built furniture and accessories, Good prints of art are far more desireable on a fixed budget than poor originals. Look for limited editions of a well-known artist whom you admire, as the value may appreciate over time. However, there is no enjoyment  in buying a well known artist’s work that you don’t care for.  Go to local and vacation artfairs and see what appeals to you. There will be many choices, all at reasonable prices.

Remember, your surroundings need to fit your personality and lifestyle like your favorite shoe fits you. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…..FIT?” If you need some help, contact us, the total space specialists.

1: Unpack Essentials First like a few days clothing, toiletries, tools, pet supplies. Put them in their rspective rooms.

2: Wipe out shelves, clean windows, & mop under appliances before putting things away. Plan ahead where to place certain items, like putting dishes & glassware in the cupboards above the dishwasher. Decide what goes where before unpacking.

3: Plan where to place furniture before putting it in place. Make a sketch of the room, and locate furniture on the sketch. Easier to erase a sketch than move a heavy piece of furniture.

4: Focus on unpacking one room at a time. Unpack the items most-used first, like shower curtains, toilet paper, soap, kitchen glasses, silverware, dishes. Set-up the beds, and make them with fresh linens.

5: Unpacking the living room can be done by everyone living there, as it will contain lots of items & several electronic hook-up. Use a surge protector when setting up computers or stereo equipment.

6: Have the garage set up with shelves & hooks for tool placement, yard supplies, and sports equipment.

7: Make your house feel like your home.  Hang window shades, blinds, or curtains. Consider painting some rooms a different color. Add new knobs to cabinets, and/or refinish the cabinets. Hang family pictures, artwork, and mirrors. Add potted plants.

8: As you unpack boxes, take inventory to see that nothing has been lost or broken.  Remember insurance claims need to be filed within a few days of moving, and damaged items need be kept as evidence.

9: Collapse each moving box as it is emptied, and set aside for storage or recycling.

10: Start of list of home repairs & maintenance that needs to be done; and create a shopping list to make sure you have everything you need.

Before you know it, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your new space! Remember, in order to be functional for you,  it should fit you like your favorite shoe fits.  After you are in, ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…..FIT?” If you need some  help, give us a call; we’re the interior & exterior space experts.

Space for circulation is often overlooked in our involvement with styles, colors, room focus, etc. We forget to really analyze how much space we need in order to get around in an area. Oh, we leave “some” space–maybe a foot or so.

In kitchen areas, we can generally expect more than one person to be moving about, at least some of the time. Cabinet and appliance doors open to narrow a passageway. Stools are pulled out into the passageway. Likewise dining room chairs must be pushed from the table to allow us to get into them and up from them.

A standard rule with designers is to leave a minimum of 3.5 feet space in a kitchen aisle or around a dining table for circulation. Coffee tables and sofa’s need about 2 feet of space between them for leg room. To enter a conversational furniture arrangement, again use the 3.5 feet rule as minimum. Of course, one “can” get through in a smaller space–however, it is awkward and appears cramped. People are more comfortable with the extra space.

Your existing hallways  or corridors may not be 5′, but if someone in the household is walking down the hall with a laundry basket, and someone else is approaching  from the opposite end with something at his side, they will wish the hallway WAS 5 feet wide. (Even wheelchairs can turn around in a 5′ space–a definite consideration should there be an accident or an elderly in the home.) Typically, we say a minimum 3 feet of width for a passage that only one person will walk through, and a minimum of 3′-6″ where there may be two people passing from opposite directions. (Odd?? yes! How does that second person fit into a 6′ space?–Both people have to slide a bit sideways!)  If you are building, just make the halls 5′ wide. You will be very glad you did–as will every owner of the home thereafter. 

Remember, your spaces need to fit you like your favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe….FIT? If not, feel free to contact us, Breay Design Associates, for help……You’ll be glad you did!

Asymmetrical balance

Last posting we discussed symmetrical furniture, and/or accessory arrangement as being great for a formal style of space, having a mirror image or 50/50 balance. But what if you don’t care for formal, and it’s somewhat predictability?  You still need balance in the arrangement of elements to have a feeling of assurance to the  space.

Aysmmetrical balance is for the more casual style. Instead of a 50/50 mirror image, as symmetrical balance of elements, aysmmetrical is more like 65/35. It balances, but not as a mirror image. It’s a little like many of our lives in this day and age. We may work extra long hours for awhile; then take off time to be with family to balance our life. 

An example of an aysmmetrical furniture arrangement would be the sofa having a chair or two perpendicular to it, with  a table and lamp in the corner, between the sofa and chair(s). Think of an “L” as an example of symmetrical balance.   

Accessories look great arranged aysmmetrically; perhaps one item taller, with one or two small items on one side, and three or four small items on the other side. For interest, we wouldn’t align the objects in a straight row. We’d put some forward, some back, something a bit in front of the larger item.

Aysmmetrical arrangement is particularly pleasing in architecture that is also non-traditional, non symmetrical.  It often works well with the architecture of western homes. If in doubt, walk outside and look at the front of your home. Are windows and other features  the same on the right as on the left? Is the door centered in the front view? If so, you have symmetrically balanced architecture, as opposed to aysmmetrical.

And remember–if your surroundings don’t fit “you”  like a favorite shoe, you need a little redesign!  –Sharon Breay,    Does the Shoe….FIT?   design programs & workshops

Symmetrical balance occurs when things are arranged the same on both the right and the left, somewhat like a mirror image. My Mom used to have her sofa against a wall, with matching end tables on either side of the sofa, and matching lamps on each end table. There was a 50/50 split to the arrangement. This is symmetrical balance. Another example would be to place a loveseat on either side of the fireplace, facing each other. This principle can also be applied to a group of wall hangings, as one large piece in the center, with a smaller piece on either side.

So what does it matter? Just as we feel more relaxed and assured when our lives are in balance, we feel the same when coming into a room with the elements balancing each other.  Symmetrical balance presents a somewhat formal and reserved look to a room. This is worth considering. If you wish a formal look to an area, simply arranging the furniture will help you achieve your goal. If the architectural style of your home is formal, this is the type of furniture and accessory arrangement for you.

But what if you are more casual? What if you don’t care for such predictability? Can you still get a balance of elements in a space? Join us May 30th for the next discussion of furniture and accessory balance.              And by the way, which do YOU think is easier to attain?  Home Interior balance, or   Life Balance???

And remember–if your surroundings don’t fit “you”  like a favorite shoe, you need a little redesign!  –Sharon Breay,    Does the Shoe….FIT?   design programs & workshops

 What does Happiness have to do with Design? Aren’t we referring to colors and furniture?  Well we are, but good design is much more than colors and furniture. Design is very much based on psychology. Applying our own personal psychology to a space can contribute greatly to our happiness. We do need to follow good design principles, but we must equally take into consideration the personalities of the inhabitants of the space.

 The other day my husband wanted me to look over his new website for his stamp dealership. The header had a large background of very deep gray that gradiated down the page. My personal opinion was that it looked gloomy, even depressing. And yet the graphics person working so closely with my husband apparently didn’t feel the same. I also thought back to a recent hotel stay where there were lots of coral colors, plants and sunshine. It gave me a feeling of being in the tropics, and made me feel very happy. What colors and things make you feel happy? What themes of rooms make you feel happy?

Lighting has much the same effects on our happiness. Very bright lighting throughout your home could easily make you feel tense, jittery, and grumpy. Yet soft colored, low level lighting would probably make you feel relaxed, even secure.

 One of the first steps in applying the Chinese philosophy-religion of Feng Shui (the placement of furniture & accessories to bring you wealth & happiness) is to eliminate clutter.  A harmonious flow comes from having only a few favorite items setting out. It seems our minds have quite enough to thing on.

Bring in natural light and fresh air. Have house plants that purify the air, such as fern and ivy.

It is not the trends and latest TV show designs that we need to follow. We need to follow our heart. Use good design principles, but don’t overlook your own personality. If you need to GET AWAY!–you may wish to address the happiness your own home design gives to you.  Think of your home as a shoe, and ask yourself, “Does the Shoe….FIT?”