In the cooler winter months, bring out your warm throws in jewel tone colors to warm up a room. Add draperies or at least fabric panels on the sides of windows. Velveteen options for draperies are available for inside and out. There are wonderful outdoor textured fabrics now for a warmer, comfortable look.

Rugs added inside or out make for a warmer more comfortable look.

Are you adding an outdoor seating area around a fireplace? You need to allow just as much space as you would for a sofa and chairs in the interior spaces – 14’ x14’ minimum.

 

Restoration Hardware is having an impact on the furnishings industry as a whole! At recent lighting seminars I attended, the reps were talking about their fixtures compatibility with the Restoration Hardware look. Scottsdale has a gallery. Others are in Boston, MA, Santa Monica, CA and Corte Madera, CA and Houston, TX. Their target market is luxury furniture buyers. The grayed tones and weathered woods are everywhere. I bought a John Widdicomb bombe chest in the ‘80s and have found the finish easy to live with and incorporate.

Remember there are health benefits to living plants indoors! Add some for the season that will last for a couple of months. Orchids and colanchos both last and the later can be moved outdoors, trimmed and they will reflower. The local nurseries have indoor plants and suggestions for your exposure. Local interior plantscape companies are great if you want to have more permanent installations that will thrive with your exposure.

Family photos are the most personal part of your home. If you enjoy having some out, here are a variety of ways to use them:

• They are typically in the private areas of your home – shelves added in the master bedroom, hallways to bedrooms and large master bath and closet areas are all great for these photos.
• If the frames are all the same color and the photos are large enough to see the subject they make a nice hall family wall.
• Old photos can now easily be enlarged to showcase interesting family history.
• While framing all at once would be easier, they can be framed with different framing if the color is consistent. Frames can be painted as well.
• For a contemporary look, it is interesting to use 3-5’ sections showing your children all at the age of 2 or 3 in sepia or gray tones.
• Silver frames grouped together are always a great look.
• If you want to have the option of not always having them on display, then a open cabinetry section with bi-fold doors which allows you to close them off for a business meeting or large function.
• Photo albums can be stored nearby if you are constantly shifting new photos in to the frames.
• Snap a picture with the smartphone app Instagram then use Instacanvas to print your photo onto stretched canvas!