Class Discussions: Interior Decorating 101
- Barbara Bell
- SheridanKH
- Barbara Bell
- muncrief
- Barbara Bell
- SheridanKH
- Barbara Bell
- muncrief
- Barbara Bell
-
Jo Murphy
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» Barbara Bell - Re: Livingroom / my guest room
In response to message posted by muncrief:Thanks, Bren! I hope my next group of students are as enthusiastic as you!
Here is the photo of Brenda's friend's windows, with my suggested window treatment added by using Adobe Photoshop tools. First, look at the windows the way they look now, in Bren's earlier message. Then look at this one, to see how dramatically different the 3 windows look, and how they would now be a focal point for the room:
I didn't see the second recliner in your photos, or I would not have suggested some of the changes. However, your friend will really benefit from moving some of the art work and decorations to other rooms or "blessing" family and friends with them as gifts! The room will seem more spacious and she actually will have more options for change than she has now.
Good luck! 
-- posted by Barbara Bell
» SheridanKH - Re: Re: Livingroom / my guest room
In response to message posted by bici:You know, I'm wondering how it would work if you did try the sofa and the love seat across from each other, but using the two recliners side by side instead of the love seat. I really like the set-up you've got -- but it makes me sad to see a married couple sitting so far apart from each other while they watch TV!
I've got a little website set up now, but all I have on it is a picture of my wee one I'll get some more pictures of the house and get them up here -- hopefully by the weekend.
-- posted by SheridanKH
» Barbara Bell - Re: Re: Re: Livingroom / my guest room
In response to message posted by SheridanKH:hi, Sheridan! I can't wait to see your pictures, of your little one, too.
-- posted by Barbara Bell
» muncrief - Furniture in guest room
We finally made the time to rearrange the guest room. It will all have to come out or something when we paint, but that's not for another month or so I think. Anyway, here's what we came up with. Nothing on the walls yet except the roses and one little plaque. The chest of drawers is a close fit. The bottom drawer won't open in this configuration. That's fine, though, because we never use it.The most striking difference is that this room feels so much cozier and it feels more like part of the rest of the house now. I can't explain it. We put the quilt rack by the window. I tried it at the foot of the bed, but it just didn't work. I may remove it completely and go with nothing there.
<img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~suitebren/gue..."width=160 height=120>click to enlarge
<img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~suitebren/gue..."width=160 height=120>click to enlarge
<img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~suitebren/gue..."width=160 height=120>click to enlarge
<img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~suitebren/gue..."width=160 height=120>click to enlarge
<img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~suitebren/gue..."width=160 height=120>click to enlarge
-- posted by muncrief
» Barbara Bell - Re: Furniture in guest room
In response to message posted by muncrief:Wow, Brenda! I'm impressed! It's really important to view these in the enlarged versions, though, because then the space issues are more obvious.
I think the reason the room now feels like "part of the rest of the house" is that psychologically, the bed in its former position was forbidding: the footboard seemed to block entry, almost intimidating the person viewing it from the doorway. Now, nothing prevents you from wanting to come into the room. It's very welcoming.
This is actually the first time I've ever seen photos of a room rearranged with my suggestions! I've advised literally dozens of readers, and none has ever shown me the results! LOL!
I'm still trying to think of a better way to place that dresser, however. Bren, I don't remember that quilt rack in the "before" photos. It seems to match the room well, but also takes up a lot of space.
When you get ready to paint the room, check back here with us, and we'll brainstorm on that dresser while you have all the furniture out of the room. Maybe we can come up with a solution!
-- posted by Barbara Bell
» SheridanKH - *sigh*
In response to message posted by bici:I need to get a digital camera.... I take pictures, but then the roll only has 4 or 5 pictures taken and I don't finish it up for weeks. And after a couple of weeks, I've forgotten that the pictures are on there...
I'm having fun watching Brenda's progress, though
Sheridan
-- posted by SheridanKH
» Barbara Bell - Re: *sigh*
In response to message posted by SheridanKH:I agree that a digital camera makes a world of difference, Sheridan. I'd be lost without mine! I've been doing some research on a camera for my sister, who has very specific criteria but a limited budget.
E-Bay has the best prices, but be sure the camera isn't missing any cables or software that came with the original. You can also do some comparison shopping and find out about different models, on the Net. RitzCamera.com seems to have the lowest retail prices, better than Wal-Mart!
These days, having a digital camera is a must for working online.
-- posted by Barbara Bell
» muncrief - *Serious work has begun!
Hi Barbara! Well, my little bit of redecorating and painting has gone big time! It started out innocently enough, as I'm sure it always does. It was time to paint exterior surfaces which means eaves, overhangs and gables. I suggested we price vinyl siding to become basically "maintenance-free" on the outside. We got a bid, and decided to go with it. When the siding guys came to start, they discovered some pretty bad rot problems under the windows in the sunroom. They packed up their tools, left the siding in the side yard, and told me to call them when the rot problem was fixed. I got on the phone immediately and began to get bids for the work on the windows in the sunroom. One thing led to another, and now we have all new windows, new French doors, all new wood on the outside surfaces of the sunroom, and will install gutter when the siding is finished, which should be next week.
Now the fun starts!!! The new doors will have to be painted on the inside, and I opted for new trim around them since the old was going to have to be recut anyway. We went this afternoon and picked the trim, bought paint and primer, and a few other odds and ends. Of course, this is in the sunroom which I had already painted pale daffodil yellow and ultra-pure white, so I am going back with those same colors on the doors and door trim. I went ahead and bought a gallon of primer and white paint, because I plan to use the white throughout the house on the woodwork. Now comes a question for you.
If you'll remember, I've decided to go with basically French country colors of blue, yellow, and green with a bit of mauve thrown in here and there. I'm thinking I'll paint all the woodwork in the Ultra-pure White. Currently, it is a nasty old dark walnut color. I plan to clean it, prime it and then paint it. Is white a good choice for the trim in all my rooms? I plan to paint the walls in blues, yellows and greens.
You have such wonderful ideas, so any advice you have to offer at this point will be very much appreciated.
By the way, that coffee table I bought when I was taking your class is still one of my favorite purchases of all time, and gets many compliments from most everyone who visits the house.
I think all this painting is going to take quite a while. I will do one room at a time and not be in a big hurry, but I will be glad to keep you posted on the progress.
Thanks, Barbara!
Bren
-- posted by muncrief
» Barbara Bell - Re: *Serious work has begun!
In response to message posted by muncrief:This is what I call the "Domino" Theory of Decorating! LOL! It must be so exciting to have so many changes going on, offering opportunities to refresh and revitalize your living space!
A similar thing happened to my living room this winter - water damage on the inside wall from ice dams on the roof outside. When all was repaired (so that it looked like nothing had ever happened!) I painted the wall in the same color as the rest of the room - no change there. But I needed new curtains to replace the ones that had been damaged. The new ones are very different: a soft brown and beige leaf print. It looks almost like a William Morris print.
I then changed the artwork to two prints that have the same colors, and added a new chenille throw in the same soft brown. The furniture was rearranged, using pieces from other rooms (requiring some changes in those rooms, too!), and different lighting brought in.
The difference is amazing!
Yes, I think white woodwork is both appropriate and practical. You will be able to change the wall color as often as you want without having to change the woodwork. You might want to distress the finish on the doors and/or other molding, and pick that up with furniture that is slightly "aged" in the same way.
-- posted by Barbara Bell
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