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 *

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! *

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 *

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 *

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! *

Question: I have 2 transom windows in my living room (measuring 47 x 18). The sun comes through them in the evenings and makes it impossible to sit on the couch because, for about an hour, the sun is in my eyes.  Any ideas on how to best dress these windows? –Joan

Answer: Hi Joan, Transom windows are tricky because using traditional window treatment styles can cover up their beauty and functionality. I would suggest applying a window film to block the glare and filter out a large percentage of damaging UV rays (this will also protect your furniture from fading). One product that may work is 3M Sun control window films. You can purchase this product locally at Climate Pro.

* Need professional help? Take a look at our design services: Interior Designer San Francisco *

SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL ROOMS. Do you ever look at a room in a design magazine and immediately love it but don’t know why? A big part of my job is figuring out what my clients are drawn to. Beneath all the details lie the principles of good design. Read on as I reveal four of the key elements used to create successful interiors.

Proportion/Scale. As far as design rules, this one will get you the biggest bang for your buck. Paying attention to the scale of your room is vital. Most people don’t think about how high their ceilings are when they are looking for a new bookcase or armoire. Consider the following factors when purchasing furniture: Width, depth, and height. A feeling of balance will be created if the pieces relate well to each other and are in correct proportion to size of the room.

Smaller scaled upholstery pieces are proportional to the space.

Balance. Balance can be achieved in many ways. It’s more traditional to use symmetrical balance, but it can be more fun to create balance using asymmetry. Grouping smaller pieces of artwork together to balance a larger piece is one trick. Pay attention to the furniture placement, as well as the location of splashes of color and pattern in a room.

Harmony. This is a little harder to define, but harmony is achieved when all the elements in a room work well together. Focus on repeating patterns, shapes, tones or textures throughout a room. According to the gestalt theory of visual psychology, “viewers are actually looking for some sort of organization, something to relate the various elements” within a space.

Harmony is achieved by repeating the use of dark woods, natural textures, and pops of color.

Emphasis. Creating a focal point in a space will attract the viewer’s eye and provide contrast and visual emphasis. Be aware of your current focal point. You may not be too pleased to find that 1970’s fireplace tile is attracting the most visual attention in your living room. Try to highlight the room’s best attributes or your favorite pieces.

NICHE NEWS: I’m proud to announce my status as a Certified Green Building Professional! This knowledge will help create healthier homes for you and our planet.

* Need professional help? Interior Designer Bay Area *

PaperStone countertop made from recycled paper

FURNITURE

San Francisco Antique Mall: Save waste and energy and buy antique or vintage furniture instead of new. 701 Bayshore Blvd, San Francisco. 415.656.3530

www.sfantique.com

Verellen Upholstery: Organic cottons and linen fabrics and sustainable wood frames. Ruby Living, 180 Townsend St, San Francisco. 415.541.9206

www.rubyliving.com

The Wooden Duck: Furniture made from reclaimed wood. 2919 Seventh Street, Berkeley. 510.848.3575

www.thewoodenduck.com

FLOORING, REMODELING & BUILDING MATERIALS

Ohmega Salvage: Reclaimed building materials. 2407 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley. 510.843.7368

www.ohmegasalvage.com

Heritage Salvage: Reclaimed building materials. 1473 Petaluma Blvd So, Petaluma. 707.762.6277

www.heritagesalvage.com

The Green Home Center: 1812 Polk Street, San Francisco. 415.567.3700

www.thegreenhomecenter.net

FLOR: Recyclable carpet tiles

www.flor.com

PaperStone: Countertops made from recycled paper

www.paperstoneproducts.com

Plyboo: World’s only formadelhyde-free FSC-certified bamboo flooring

www.plyboo.com

** Click here for an in-depth look at the principles of green design! **

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