1 Paint Your Fireplace.
An easy way to give an old fireplace a clean, modern look is to paint
the surround black. The black surround gives the illusion of a larger
firebox, and shows off the mantelpiece to its best advantage. Be sure
to consult your paint professional for the right type
of high-temperature paint. Another (albeit more costly)
option is to install black granite over the existing material. If your
fireplace's hearth is paint-friendly, paint it black as well for an
even more streamlined look, as Linda did in the remodel of this
San Francisco condo. (For before-and-after photos of this room, see Linda Applewhite's Architectural Interiors, p. 149.)
3 Put On A Skirt.
Linda turned this apartment’s small and lifeless bathroom into a
romantic dressing area with a few simple tricks. First, she covered the
exposed plumbing under the sink with an easy-to-make skirt. Allow
enough material to cover the width generously when it’s gathered, sew a
hem at the bottom, and attach it under the counter using Velcro. The
skirt not only hides the ugly pipes, but also provides a bit of storage
for this small room. A pretty white window shade and a charming
chandelier were inexpensive home store/catalog finds that add a touch
of glamour for not a lot of money!
5 Paint A Bookcase.
This dramatic look can be achieved with a simple coat of paint –
another easy weekend project. Change your old, dull wood bookcase into
a bright, bold focal point and see how it transforms the room and
creates opportunities for accessorizing. Paint the whole thing – inside
and out – and let it dry completely before replacing your books. The
vibrant shelves bring out the different colors and textures of
your books, making them part of the lively and colorful design. (See another view of this room in Linda Applewhite's Architectural Interiors, p. 114.)
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It's
2010!
Why not give your home a
HAPPY NEW YEAR, too?
The holidays are over and your home is back to its normal state. Maybe even too normal.
It's not as hard as you think to shake things up a little by making a resolution to change one thing in each room this year.
From
puck lights to lampshades, here are six tricks Linda
uses that can easily and inexpensively be replicated in your home to
update, enhance and enliven your spaces. Whether you have
a tiny apartment bathroom, an outdated fireplace,
or boring bookshelves, you can still add color, drama and
good design to create looks that make you feel good about the most
important place in your life - your home.
Happy New Home!
And remember, everyone deserves to live in beauty!
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2 Replace A Lampshade.
Choose a fun print with warm colors such as gold, pink and apricot
to make even energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs glow. There are great
lampshade choices in the home design and discount stores, so you don’t
have to have one custom made. Bringing your lamp to the store works
best, or choose a few different shades to take home, then return the
ones you don’t use. If you’re handy with a glue gun, it’s easy to add
fringe or tassel trim, and top it off with a whimsical new finial. In
this bedroom, a striped shade coordinates with the bedding and frame,
and turns a dark corner into an cozy reading spot.
4 Use the Vertical.
The gray, low-hanging cabinets in this apartment’s kitchen made it feel
small, somber and depressing. Linda painted two walls bright orange for
contrast and added large accessories in red and orange to make the
walls pop, and black and white ones for contrast. Drawing attention to
the vertical space over the cabinets brings your eye up, and makes the
room look and feel larger. Use fewer large accessories in varying
shapes and textures instead of a lot of small ones for a clean,
uncluttered look. (See another view of this room in Linda Applewhite's Architectural Interiors, p. 116-117.)
6 Light A Cabinet. This
is not as difficult as you might think, as long as you have an
electrical outlet nearby. A lighted cabinet or display case draws
attention to itself, and is a great way to show off a collection or
other treasured objets. In the armoire above, puck lights
were installed at the top, and glass shelves allow the light to
shine through. If you have wood or other opaque shelves, you can run
thin strips of lights up the inside and across the top of the piece.
For maximum impact, paint the inside of the cabinet a color that
reflects the light and contrasts with the wall. (More views of this room in Linda Applewhite’s Architectural Interiors, p. 92 & 94)
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