Matters of Style       

September                   2011                  

Greetings,

 

Welcome back to Matters of Style, a periodic newsletter from  

To a T Interiors.  In this edition:  ways to conquer clutter in your primary living spaces, plus ideas for high impact design projects to get your home ready for holiday entertaining.    

 

Happy Decorating!

 

In This Issue
How to Conquer Clutter?
Countdown to Holiday Entertaining
How to Conquer Clutter?

For some, it's a never ending question, however, the answer is simple:   have a place for everything and keep everything in its place.   If you have a clutter problem, break it down and tackle the worst zones first.   For many families, those are the entry way, kitchen and family rooms (e.g., a home's high traffic and gathering areas).  Once you've sorted the piles and thrown or given away what you can, here are some tips to obtaining clutter-free living in these spaces.

   

1. Recognize you need a holding spot for daily items: purse, wallet, keys, backpacks, shoes, sports equipment etc. Whether it's a dedicated room or a stretch of wall inside the entry door, the key is to have a place for all the things you bring in that don't need to go any farther into the house.  Inventory the items you need to solve for and create easy-access storage for each near the door. 

 

 

Kitchen beforeIf you don't have space to group it all together, designate individual spots for each. Think out of the box to creatively use your existing space: place a large bowl on the kitchen counter to collect keys/wallet, install hooks for purses and backpacks, and use baskets to hold shoes and equipment.

 

2. Store things as close as possible to where you use them. The exception is for rarely used items that need to be kept.   Those can be stored in an out-of-the-way spot, such as in the basement, on high shelves in the in a closet, or in the back of a corner kitchen cabinet.  

 

Kitchen After

3.  Kitchen counter tops should hold only things you use on a daily basis. Create a designated storage spot for everything else, including small appliances.  

 

4.   The kitchen or dining table is often the place where family members spread out projects. With the right organization, it can still be ready for dining at a moment's notice. Designate a bin for whatever tends to find a temporary home on the table. This can be permanent storage or a way to move things to their rightful room.

    

5.  Once you've cleared the table and counters, don't let side chairs and other surfaces become towers of stuff in need of a home. Track the things that stack up over a week, and find permanent places to keep them.

 

   Family Room Before

6. For things that need to stay, look for attractive storage containers or re-purpose a tray, bowl or basket for frequently used items.  

 

 

 

 Family Room After

 

7.  If your home office is not near the entry, designate a holding space for important mail and papers.

 

 

 

8.  Avoid jumbled messes in drawers and cupboards with dividers, bags, and caddies for frequently used items, such as silverware, utensils, lids, measuring spoons, etc,  Most cabinet manufactures have good options for pullouts, shelf inserts, hooks, and other kitchen drawer organizers.

 

9. Whenever you buy gas, take a few minutes to throw out any trash in your car.  Use a re-usable shopping bag for toting items that don't belong in the car into the house. Take the time to put them away and then place the bag near the door to return to the car.

 

Countdown to Holiday Entertaining 

If you are you planning to redo a room in time for year-end holiday entertaining, I've got some bad news.  You're not likely to pull off a complete custom redo for your major entertaining spaces as we are already at T minus 100 days for a mid-December completion.  

The good news?  There are a few high impact projects you can do with time to spare:   

Create an Entrance with Distinction: You know what they say about first impressions. 
Kansky Redesign
Rec Room Entry After
Kansky Redesign
Rec Room Entry Before

As soon as visitors walk through your door, they are forming an impression of your home.  The good news is that it  does not take a lot to make the entry space inviting.


The standard recipe is console table, art and accessories, plus seating (if you have the room). Other than that, there are few rules as to what you can use in this space.

So, be creative and use art and accessories that you love to set the stage for the rest of your home.

Change the Room's Dynamic through Furniture Placement:
Family Room After
Family Room After
 

Furniture placement is the key foundation of good functional
design.

Done well, it can create visual interest, foster conversation, and provide balance and flow in a room. 



Family Room Before
Family Room Before

Alternatively, it can be the reason that a room just doesn't feel right.  So, don't be afraid to play around with furniture placement to create a new look for a tired room.


Refresh with Paint:
  You've heard it before but it bears repeating:  paint is the easiest and least expensive way to makeover a room.  Pick a new palette that blends with the colors of your furnishings and provides a refreshing change from the old.

Redesign Through Art and Accessories:  Art and accessories are what make a room feel like home and give it personality. 
Living Room After
Living Room After


With that in mind, you can change a room's dynamic just by alternating the groupings and placement of your art and  accessories. 




Liivng Room Redesign
Living Room Before

Creating new and visually interesting tablescapes, vignettes and art groupings is a great way to make a new statement in a room. 
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
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Q. I have to repaint my home before putting it on  the market.  Can you recommend some attractive neutral colors to use? 

  

A.  A good place to start is Benjamin Moore's  historical palette because these colors are time-tested and enduring.  They regularly show up on BM's top seller list (click here).  A few of my favorites on the list include:  stonington gray, putnam ivory, monroe bisque, edgecomb gray, and shaker beige. 

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