Matters of Style

May 2011

Greetings,

Welcome back to Matters of Style, a periodic newsletter from

To a T Interiors. In this edition, the path for a newly designed room does not have to be expensive or time-consuming; read about our two-step makeover with feedback from the client. Also, do shelter magazines lead you to paralysis? Don't let that prevent you from getting the look you want in your home.

Happy Decorating!

In This Issue

Shelter Magazines...Inspiration or Paralysis?

Two Simple Steps to a Successful Makeover

Shelter Magazines: Do they lead to

inspiration or paralysis?

I am often of two minds as I flip through shelter (aka home decorating) magazines looking at all the glossy photos of beautiful, well lit rooms.

Photo Courtesy of Angie Hranowsky

It is always fun and sometimes inspirational to view these rooms done by named decorators and a great way to pick up ideas for colors and trends. But I wonder if most homeowners can identify with the decor they are seeing in terms of budget and livability?

Photo Courtesy of Style at Home

For example, I love looking at the rooms pictured here; they are fresh and crisp with clean lines and pops of color against white or cream walls. But are they practical for families with kids and pets?

My experience suggests no. Often the rooms featured in many decorating magazines are too stylized and impractical for the average homeowner. And by average I am referring to those homeowners with the above-mentioned children and pets that also have existing furnishings that add meaning and define home for the individuals living there. Also, clients may not have the budget to start from scratch or interest in handing over creative control to an interior designer.

So don't let those glossy photos in the shelter magazines paralyze you. The answer for getting the look you want may be as simple as proper furniture placement, updated window coverings, or changes to the color scheme through new paint and/or accessories that add accent and pop but not additional clutter. Sometimes it takes just a few tweaks and a few hundred dollars to get a room that feels brand new. We guarantee you'll love your new room(s) and that the after photos will be published (if not in House Beautiful, then we've got the inside track to the To a T Interiors Facebook page:).

Two Simple Steps to a

Successful Makeover

I recently got a chance to visit Martha C, a client in Potomac, MD to view the effects of the new paint color we chose for her Living and Dining Rooms (Benjamin Moore's Carlisle Cream). We redesigned Martha's living room in February and chose the paint color to blend with her existing Dining Room wallpaper, which she wanted to keep.

Martha shared that she is very happy with the new paint and feels that it flows perfectly with her kitchen and entry hall colors that border the living and dining rooms. I asked Martha to provide her thoughts on the redesign process and outcomes.

Before

After

When asked what she liked best in the redesigned room, she mentioned how happy she is that the highboy chest is now a focal point because it is one of her favorite pieces. Martha also noted that her first function after the redesign was a book club gathering and the living room felt intimate, with the layout more conducive to conversation.

Before

After

Martha was impressed with the redesign process because we achieved the results so quickly (completed in 3 hours), plus she did not have to buy anything new as we simply used her existing furnishings. Getting into the spirit of redesign, Martha was inspired to find new homes for displaced items (i.e., a coffee table at the end of her bed for a reading bench).

Before

After

To recap those steps again--redesign then paint. It's that easy!

As always, if you need help making your home the inviting, comfortable space you envision, call To a T Interiors. We can help you select the perfect paint color, find solutions to corral the clutter that accumulates for busy families or redesign your living spaces to enhance the beauty and function for the whole family.

Susan

To a T Interiors

301-467-3563
www.toatinteriors.com

Q & A Corner

Q. What is your favorite accessorizing tip?

A. I love accessories that look good and serve a function, for example, a decorative tray.

I often find trays are hidden away in client's homes and love to surprise them with unexpected uses: corral magazines, remotes,and coasters on a coffee table, hold rolled-up washcloths in the bathroom, keep bar accessories handy on a sideboard, hold napkins and S&P shakers on the kitchen table or showcase a collection of small items. Tray's are a great way to group everyday items attractively and help keep clutter at bay.

__________________

Do you have an interior design dilemma? Send us your question/issue and we'll provide the answer.

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We promise you won't have to wait for next month's newsletter; we'll get back to you right away but may use your Q&A in a future newsletter.

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