Contemporary Furniture Design Highlight: Studio Dunn
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
I recently came across the website of Studio Dunn, the furniture manufacturer based out of Rhode Island that recently took home the ICFF 2010 New Designer Award. [International Contemporary Furniture Fair]
Studio Dunn Coventry Stools, $320 each
Their Coventry stool ($320) caught my eye (I want one!) and I was pleased to read more about their focus on conservation — Studio Dunn only uses solid American hardwoods sourced from sustainable forests. Although their product line is still minimal, I see great potential in this emerging company. Keep up the good work!
Cumberland lamp, $130 each
Newport table, $1,250 each
* San Francisco Interior Designer – Niche Interiors *
Tags: contemporary interior designer san francisco, ICFF 2010 new designer award, interior designer san francisco, modern interior design san francisco, new contemporary furniture designer, studio dunn
Posted in Furniture, Online Retailers | 1 Comment »
San Francisco Color Consultant: Tips for Choosing Interior Paint
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Selecting interior paint colors is an overwhelming and stressful event for many homeowners. This one area of decorating seems to give grief more than any other. After giving it some thought I narrowed it down to 3 main reasons why this is the case, and corresponding solutions to help you tackle this process.
Bold, saturated colors work well in smaller rooms with generous moldings.
1. Selecting paint colors for your walls is a big commitment. Walls and ceilings make up a huge amount of visual space in your home; if you choose the wrong color it’s very hard to ignore those 8 foot walls screaming at you every day!
Solution: Test strips! Narrow down your paint selections to 2-3 top choices. Purchase small sample bottles and paint 1 foot squares on various walls in the room. Live with these samples for a few days and see which one you gravitate towards. This is the easiest way to avoid partnering with the wrong color.
2. Paint is elusive. Colors change with every minute of the day depending on the lighting; one color can look completely different in another room or even another wall.
Solution: Take notice of how your paint strips look during different times of the day. If a color looks slightly too dark try using the next lightest paint in that color family.
3. Noticing color saturation and tones is a learned art. If you don’t select paint colors for a living chances are that you will be drawn to paint colors that are too saturated and bold to live with on a daily basis.
Solution: Start with the color that you initially are drawn to, then go down two squares to on the paint sample to a lighter version of this color. While you may like a very saturated color in general, it doesn’t always translate well to interior walls. You can use brighter and bolder versions of this color in accents such as pillows, artwork etc. For more on selecting colors for each room see Niche Interiors’ San Francisco interior design newsletter from February.
* Still need professional help? Niche Interiors offers color consulting services in the San Francisco Bay Area! *
Tags: apartment interior decorator san francisco, choosing paint colors for the home, color consultant san francisco, interior color consultant bay area, interior designer san francisco, paint color selection tips
Posted in Paint & Wallcoverings | No Comments »
Decor Mag Highlights: April 2010
Thursday, April 15th, 2010
Usually I find inspiration from a few different projects. This month I was primarily captivated by the London home of Christine D’Ornano — featured in Elle Decor’s April issue. All I can say is WOW! Take a peek at my favorite images below…
Those Serge Mouille light fixtures are to die for.
Industrial light fixtures + long farm table = Winner
This bedroom almost convinces me to approve of matching wallpaper and headboards. Almost.
* Need professional design help? Interior Designer San Francisco – Niche Interiors *
Tags: decor magazine highlights 2010, elle decor april 2010, interior design inspiration, interior designer san francisco
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San Francisco Interior Design Newsletter: Get Organized!
Friday, January 1st, 2010
It’s a new year and the perfect time to address what has been nagging at you in your home. Is it that pile of clutter in the corner? Here are some tools to get you started on the path to an organized and comfortable home.
Storage baskets tucked under a bench help maintain an uncluttered feel.
ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE. We all have that friend whose living room is always pulled together – not a piece of clutter in sight. The secret to a clutter-free space is: every item in your home should belong somewhere, whether it’s a specific drawer, shelf, or cabinet. If you find that there just aren’t enough homes for your things, you should re-evaluate and pare down your possessions. If you can’t let go, then it’s time to introduce more storage solutions! The following pack the most punch.
Drawer organizers. Easy and affordable, these will prevent your drawers from becoming chaotic junk collectors.
Expandable acrylic drawer organize.The Container Store, $19.99 each.
Coat hooks. Often overlooked, these are great for narrow entryways to hang coats, or in your bedroom to keep handbags, belts, or anything off the floor.
Anthropologie Wild Kingdom Deer hook, $20 each.
Attractive boxes to hide clutter. With technology comes cords, remotes, and clutter. Use boxes on your coffee table, desk, and bookshelves to hide unsightly gadgets when they are not in use.
West Elm wood boxes with lacquered lids, $16-29 each.
* Check out our Professional Services: Interior Designer San Francisco *
Tags: Design newsletter 2010, interior decorator san francisco, interior designer san francisco, organizing tips for home, san francisco interior design advice, san francisco interior designers
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Holiday Decorating Ideas for City Dwellers!
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Crystal chandelier with vintage ornaments & metallic ribbon
Many of us city dwellers aren’t blessed with family rooms or sitting rooms to display Christmas trees. This surely doesn’t mean we can’t get in the holiday spirit! One of my favorite ideas for the holidays is decorating your chandelier instead of a tree. It’s mess free, doesn’t require watering, and can look just as chic. To read the full article go to my Examiner page.
*Check out more decorating tips from a San Francisco interior designer! *
Tags: christmas decorating ideas for small spaces, holiday decorating city dwellers, holiday decorating for apartment, holiday decorating tips, interior designer san francisco, san francisco interior designer
Posted in Affordable Design, inspiration | No Comments »