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Painting Furniture: 3 Kitchen Tables Get a Makeover

Laura Fenton — 2011-04-15T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Projects, Fun Stuff, Crafts & Projects, Furniture

Three bloggers share their painted furniture success stories. Get ready to be inspired.

While many homeowners are fearless when it comes to painting their walls or the occasional chair, redoing a major piece of furniture like a dining table can seem daunting. Many people are scared to paint their dining table because they are afraid they might ruin it. However, it's a lot easier than you think and the results will give your dining room a whole new look.

Christie Kauffman's table before and after a paint job. Photos: Christie Kauffman/Just Beachy

Blogger Christie Kauffman, of the blog Just Beachy, had a good-quality dining table with a nice shape, but she felt the honey pine stain was outdated. So, like any good DIYer, Kauffman decided to take a paintbrush to her table (and the coordinating dining chairs). Of her decision to paint it, Kauffman says, "Painting pieces to suit your style should be considered: It gives you limitless options." Plus, she adds, "You can't ruin something that is ugly to begin with."

If seeing Kauffman's results has inspired you, follow her advice to prep your piece well for a lasting finish. Kauffman cleaned and lightly sanded her table before applying an adhesion primer (she recommends Zinsser 123). Allow the primer to cure for a few days, then paint it with a latex paint using a foam roller for the top and brushes for the legs.

Matt Pierce redid his table with a coating of black poly urethane. Photo: Matt Pierce, Wood & Faulk

Another intrepid blogger, Matt Pierce of Wood & Faulk is no stranger to table makeovers. The dining table above is actually the legs of one table cobbled together with vintage fir boards to form the tabletop -- hello, crafty! Matt first tried staining the table (several times), but he didn't like the looks, so instead, he opted to paint it with opaque black polyurethane.

After struggling with the stain, Matt was a little nervous about the next attempt, but everything turned out beautifully when he painted on the black polyurethane. Matt notes you shouldn't be put-off by stumbling blocks in a project like this. "It's just about sanding/stripping and trying again!" he says.

Photo: Jessica Cumberbatch

Our very own blogger, Jessica Cumberbatch decided to give a humble IKEA BJÖRKUDDEN dining table a makeover in a bright shade of turquoise. Like the others Jessica prepped and paint carefully to achieve a lasting finish. Says Jessica, "I have a habit of painting things and when I saw the smooth, unfinished wood this table came in, I knew it was the perfect subject for my next project." The results are a custom-finished table at an affordable price point.

Feeling crafty? Read on for more DIY ideas:
- DIY Bedroom: A Church Pew Turned Headboard
- From Books to Wallpaper

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24 Hours to Chic

Laura Fenton — 2011-04-08T14:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Projects

We've got ten chic decorating ideas to make your home feel fresh and fun -- in a day.

The thought of redecorating is a daunting one: The money, the time, the stress, everything. However, that shouldn't prevent you from trying to make your home as stylish as possible. In fact, with just a few simple changes, you can take your home from ho-hum to so-chic in just 24 hours. Here are tips and tricks from the pros that will make a big impact with just a small investment of time and money.

Photo: Alamy

1. Invest in matching lampshades. "Simple white or black paper versions are inexpensive and go a long way to unify a bunch of mismatched lamps," says interior decorator Nick Olsen. "Ditch the ugly synthetic fabric shades that came with them!"

2. Paint your doors. "It takes so little time, but a black or chocolate brown door takes only a small can of high-gloss paint and makes such a graphic impact, especially in a neutral room," says Olsen.

3. Replace your towels. "Fresh towels in a powder room or bath are always a nice treat," says interior decorator Tracie Butler, who notes that they add a crisp vibe for little cost. "It's fun to get an old tray or basket and roll your hand towels and place them on the counter for your guests," she adds.

West Elm's new Washed Linen/Cotton Pillow Covers are just $19 each. Photo: West Elm

4. Add throw pillows. "Throw pillows are a fun way to make your place look lively and fresh, since you can find them with so many different colors and patterns," says Butler, noting that there are pillows to match every style. "It's great to mix them up and have them not be too 'match-y' -- that gives a chic, eclectic look," she advises.

5. Remove ugly window coverings. If you're still living with the landlord-grade Venetian blinds on your windows, it's time to break out the screwdriver and take them down. Leave windows bare for a minimalist look or opt for affordable, off-the-shelf matchstick blinds instead.

Pops of orange make this interior sing. Photo: Libby Langdon

6. Add coordinated pops of color. "Change out old accessories for ones in a single bright color - you can add lamps, throw pillows, throw blankets, vases -- just remember to pick one color and stick with it!" says Libby Langdon, interior design expert from HGTV's "Small Space Big Style." If you have accessories like vases, bowls and trays that you are tired of, Langdon recommends spray painting them in a single hue; she uses Krylon Fusion Spray paint, which she says adheres to everything with no sanding is necessary.

7. Improve your lighting. While CFLs are earth-friendly, Olsen notes, they "cast a hideous green light." He suggests 60-watt or less incandescent bulbs in place of Extra Soft White; Langdon also suggests homeowners "bring in lots of candles in various sizes and shapes" for a natural glow.

Matching shades, like these simple models from Pottery Barn, make mismatched lamps feel coordinated. Photo: Pottery Barn

8. Add vintage style. Butler suggests incorporating vintage or antique accents into a room. "Throwing a vintage scarf in an antique lace, animal print or silk over a lampshade or window can look chic and be a great conversation piece," says Butler. "I've also been known to use a vintage champagne bucket as a trash can in a powder room - it's fun and unexpected!"

9. Bring the outdoors in. "Fresh flowers are always chic," says Olsen. If you're lucky enough to have a garden, snip some blossoms from your own yard. For an affordable fix from the florist, Olsen says that little bunches of solid-color carnations placed in a bud vase instantly freshen up any room.

10. Clean. The simplest and most effective way to achieve a state of chic is to clean up. Ditching clutter and cleaning every nook and cranny can have a surprisingly stylizing effect on any home. So, stop making excuses and finally tackle cleaning the grout in your bathroom - trust us, the results are priceless.

For more great ShelterPop stories, don't miss:
A Dramatic Modern Kitchen Makeover
Moving In Together: My Girlfriend Took Over My Apartment
Conflict at Home: How to Talk Bad Habits

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International Home + Housewares Show 2011: Cupcake Couture and More

Laura Fenton — 2011-03-14T09:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Kitchen, Your Home, Design, etc, News & Trends

What's new at the International Home + Housewares Show 2011? More celeb chef lines, eco-friendly cups and, yes, a fresh take on the cupcake pan.

Every March, the International Home & Housewares Show showcases the latest designs in dining, cookware, housekeeping and personal wellness markets -- both practical innovations like single-serve coffee makers and surprising inventions like a CitiKitty Cat Toilet Training Kit. With over 2,000 exhibitors from around the globe, this show is a great place to spot trends in the home and housewares markets for the coming year., so we took a look around. Here's what we found.

Chef Cat Cora at the International Home + Housewares Show Photo: IHA

Chef's Choice
As in past years, celebrity chefs continued to be a presence at the show, both in person and through licensing deals. Show attendees were particularly a-twitter about Mario Batali's new wares for Dansk. Other chef lines included Cat Cora for Starfrit, Top Chef's Fabiano Viviani for Bialetti and three new partnerships for Emeril with Sterling Home, Viking Culinary Group and Zak Design. While chefs rule the show, we hear that a line of Twilight-themed hairdryers made its debut at the show -- really!

Photos (clockwise from left): Design for Living, ALEX Bottle, Elevate Brands and KOR

Water Works
Eco-friendly and re-usable housewares have been a trend for several years, but 2011 seems to be the year of the water bottle. Many manufacturers displayed innovative spins on the water-carrier. Design for Living exhibited Stackable Water Bottles with square sides for easy fridge storage. KOR Delta set out to tackle many common water bottle mishaps with their easy-to-open, push-button cap, ergonomic handle and safety-latch-enhanced sipper. Elevate Brands' Sip N' Go is a foldable reusable water bottle that folds up to a pocket-size. The ALEX Bottle is a new design that unscrews into two parts and packs inside itself from pro-snowboarder Gretchen Beiler.

Photos: Vynebar (left), ZEbag (right)

Oenophile Design
When it comes to new wine-related design, manufacturers seem to have an attitude of wine not? Wine racks, carriers and even wine glass cozies were on display this year. Among the most stylish was the ZEbag, a geometric wine tote/rack new to the U.S. market that should retail for about $65 when it hits stores. Meanwhile, Vynebar is a wall-mounted wine rack that turns your wine collection into wall art. True wine buffs might scoff, but when you want to keep your white wine cold, you might try out an Original Woozie(R) -- that's right, a koozie for your stemware.

Photos: Bella Cupcake Couture (left), Chicago Metallics (right)

Cupcake Mania
Foodies may be predicting that whoopee pies and macaroons are the new baked goods du jour, but cupcakes paraphenalia were everywhere at the Home + Housewares Show. From fancy wrappers to specialized baking cups, these mini-cakes were center stage.

A very clever Surprise Cupcake Pan from Chicago Metallic lets bakers place fillings (small chocolates, cherries, meringue, etc.) on posts inside each cupcake opening so each cupcake has a filling. Zak Designs showed a cupcake-shaped Confetti Cupcake Tray in the company's signature, speckled plastic. Cupcake wrapper couturier Bella Cupcake Couture was also in attendance with their gorgeous cupcake wrappers. One company even offered a cupcake pan that made soccer ball-shaped cakes!

For more great trend stories, don't miss:
Kitchen Trends 2011
Bath Trends 2011
Trend Spotting: 2011's Hot Color Combos

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Secret Source: Skyline Furniture

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-17T08:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Bedroom, Your Home, Living Room, Furniture

What's not to love about Skyline Furniture's modern upholstered pieces? Photos: Skyline Furniture

Skyline Furniture, a 60-year-old furniture manufacturer, is many retailers' best-kept secret -- and a budget decorating dream.

The Source
Skyline Furniture

The Goods
What do Walmart, Target, Urban Outfitters, JCPenney, CSN Stores and Garnet Hill all have in common? They're all vendors of Skyline Furniture's affordable home furnishings. The family owned and operated business was founded in 1948 and continues to manufacture furniture "to the trade" today. Much of the company's furnishings are still made here in the U.S.A. -- a rarity in this day and age -- though Skyline has expanded to the import business, as well. The look of their pieces is clean-lined, often with modern silhouettes and contemporary-looking upholstery.

Additional examples of Skyline's pieces. Photos: Skyline Furniture

The Secret
Skyline isn't a name brand you can ask for in a store. In fact, their goods rarely make it into stores. Instead, Skyline's furniture is sold online. In fact, Skyline's furnishings are appealing to retailers because they are easily shipped directly to customers via UPS or FedEx. Skyline says that most pieces ship within two weeks and some ship as soon as 48 hours. (For those of us who have waited months for a sofa to arrive, the timeline is nothing short of miraculous.)

Things to Know
While you can't buy directly from Skyline, you may start recognizing their wares once you take a look at their site. Some vendors never mention Skyline by name, while others, like CSN Stores, will let you browse by brand. Also worth noting: While they are family-run, Skyline is a big business. In an average week the company ships out about 2,000 piece of furniture!

Want to know more of our Secret Sources? Read on:
Secret Source: Vintage Bathroom
Secret Source: MUJI
Secret Source: Jayson Home & Garden

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Charlie Sheen's Houses: Which is Better? (And How to Get the Look)

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-15T10:09:00 00:00

Filed under: Famous Homes, Celebrity Homes

UPDATE: Charlie Sheen just bought a new house. Check out the photos then take a look back at his stunning former home.

Our friends at Curbed have the full scoop -- as well as some thoughts on remote properties he should have purchased.

Charlie Sheen's house: The living room. Photo: Realtor.com.

Charlie Sheen's house: The bathroom. Photo: Realtor.com.

Charlie Sheen's house: The bedroom. Photo: Realtor.com.

Charlie Sheen's house: The kitchen. Photo: Realtor.com.

Charlie Sheen's house: The pool. Photo: Realtor.com.

Charlie Sheen may be in home rehab at his Los Angeles estate, but his former house in Los Feliz, California is still on the market for $3.5 million. And if this is the way the home looked when he lived here (and not just really good home staging), he's got a flair for eclectic global style worth copying.

Throughout the subdued 1927 home there are touches o]f faraway lands, like djembe drums in the living space and Buddha figures in the entryway. (We wish that all of the nods to Buddhism would have helped Sheen find a way to channel some inner calm.) While the home is not an over-the-top star pad, it does have its touches of glitz: The dining room is wallpapered in gold damask and furnished with gilded chairs.

Get the look of Sheen's home with these look-alike furnishings:

Photo: AP (inset) | As Seen on Realtor.com

This grand staircase is surrounded by sunburst mirrors and small figurines of Buddhas: The result is an entrance to the home that feels both calm and worldly.

Photos (clockwise from left): Overstock.com, Home Decorators, AllCraftsOnline.com

Get the look:
Handcrafted Brass Buddha Bust (India), $49.50, Overstock.com
Sunburst[TM] Antiqued Gold Wall Mirror, $319, Home Decorators
Gold Plated Sun Ray Mirror, $13, AllCraftsOnline.com

Photo: As Seen on Realtor.com

Sheen's dining room is glam in a Wall Street kind of way -- with lots and lots of gold. Create a similar look with a gold, damask wallpaper and an oversized Venetian-style mirror.

Photos: Graham & Brown (left), The Well Appointed Home (right)

Get the look:
Desire: Gold-Mustard Wallpaper, $75, Graham & Brown
Extra Large Horizontal Venetian Mirror, $1,220, The Well Appointed House

Photo: As Seen on Realtor.com

While there's no easy way to fake the charm of Sheen's wood-beamed ceilings, you can copy his living room style. A white, shaggy carpet and white, leather seating add up to a sleek looking living space. Add in some touches of warmth with accessories like a pair of African drums.

Get the look:
KARLSTAD Chair, $549, IKEA
Flokati Rug, $50 to $200, PBTeen
Djembe Drums, $65 to $78, Overstock.com

Want more cheap chic style ideas? Read on:
Cheap Chic Ideas From Jane Fonda's Home
Cheap Chic Ideas From Gwyneth Paltrow's Bedroom

For more decorating ideas, here's a video on designing a cozy sitting area.

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Best Airport Hotels for Romantic Getaways

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-14T13:01:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, Architecture, News & Trends

Think staying near the airport means sacrificing stylish quarters? These three hotels may inspire you to plan a romantic rendezvous.

The phrase "best airport hotel" shouldn't fill you with dread. Sure, there are plenty drab, ugly hotel rooms we could all stay in for the sake of convenience, but a new breed of airport hotel is changing the experience to include high design and occasional touches of luxury. Hopefully the rest of the lodgings based near major air hubs will take note of the trend!

Here are three travelers' lodgings that offer high design in addition to a place to rest your head:

The lobby of the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare. Photo: InterContinental

Hotel: InterContinental O'Hare Airport (shown above and below)
Airport: Chicago O'Hare
The Scoop: Hip and attractive, but not so cool that it would turn off the average Joe business traveler, the InterContinental is an attractive place to lay your head. With a lobby art gallery (above), a live music venue and three restaurants all on-site, InterContinental isn't just concerned with improving airport hotel design, they want to change the whole experience.
How Close: Just five minutes from O'Hare, the InterContinental offers its guests 24-hours shuttle service to the terminals.

One of the rooms available at the new InterContinental hotel. Photo: InterContinental

Hotel: The Inn at Oyster Point (shown below)
Airport: San Francisco International Airport
The Scoop: Recently re-designed, The Inn At Oyster Point is a seriously cute airport hotel inspired by the designs of Dorothy Draper -- think bold floral patterns, chinoiserie accents and a palette that includes lots of red and green.
How Close: While not located at SFO, The Inn at Oyster Point is just a few minutes away -- and they offer complimentary airport transportation for guests from 7 am to 10 pm.

The lobby of the Inn at Oyster Point. Photo: Inn at Oyster Point

A guest room at The Inn at Oyster Point. Photo: Inn at Oyster Point

Hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel (below)
Airport: Zurich Aiport
The Scoop: Known for his modernist, cutting-edge hotel design, it may come as a surprise that Italian architect Matheo Thun's recent projects include an airport hotel: His Radisson Blu Hotel is located steps from the departure gate of Zurich airport. The look here is sleek and modern with iconic mid-century furnishings in the public areas of the hotel.
How Close: The Radisson Blue Hotel is in the airport, and it's the only hotel with a direct link to the terminal.

The lobby of the Radisson Blu at Zurich Airport. Photo: Radisson

Check out more great Valentine's Day stories!

And for more great ShelterPop stories, don't miss:
Your Biggest Couples Cleaning Problems: Solved!
Til Bed Do Us Part
Living in the Other Woman's House

This video shows you how to decorate your bedroom like a modern hotel. Check it out!

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Secret Source: Temporary Wallpaper

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-09T09:01:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Projects, Design, etc, News & Trends

Two set designers decided wallpaper should be super easy to hang and take down. Their creation is a truly temporary wallpaper.

The 'Skotti' and 'Alto' patterns. Photos: Tempaper Designs

The Source
Tempaper Designs

The Goods
Tempaper Designs offers self-adhesive, re-positionable temporary wallpaper. This vinyl-coated, self-sticking wallpaper is a great option for renters who can't use traditional wallpaper and decorators who like to change their look frequently. Plus, the patterns are decidedly fashion-forward, with a Art Nouveau look to many of the available prints. There are also three children's patterns in the Tempaper Tots collection.

Two colorways of the 'Edie' pattern. Photos: Tempaper Designs

The Secret
Magazines are constantly touting wallpaper as a fresh way to makeover a room, but it's a lot of work to install! Plus, many wallpapers are available only to the trade or take weeks to arrive. The founders of Tempaper are set decorators, so they had first-hand knowledge of these frustrations. Instead of forgoing patterned walls, they decided to create re-positionable, temporary papers to fill a hole in the market.

Things to Know
Tempaper may use new technology for its adhesives, but the printing process involves old-fashioned gravure or intaglio copper plate engraving techniques -- resulting in a traditional look to the prints. If you want to see the prints before you commit, the company offers 5" x 7" samples of almost all of its patterns for $3.95 and ships them at no charge. Tempaper is also available in select retail locations across the country.

Stay tuned: In March 2011, the company will be releasing a new Tempaper product and new colorways!

Want to know more of our Secret Sources? Read on:
Secret Sources: Where to Buy Lucite Furniture
Secret Source: MUJI
Secret Source: Jayson Home & Garden

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Clean Fast: A Room by Room Guide to Conquering Clutter in 10 Minutes

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-07T11:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning, Storage & Organization

Pick a room, take a few minutes -- that's all you need! -- and tackle the clutter.

It's early February and many resolutions have already fallen by the wayside, but that doesn't mean you can't meet your goals to get organized in 2011. One of the key steps to achieving organization at home is to tackle you clutter. Don't worry, you don't need to address the whole mess all at once, just pick a room, take ten minutes and weed out some excess stuff.

Photo: Flickr/sal de mar

Get a head start to your de-cluttering: Gather every member of your household for an initial sweep through the house. Set a timer for ten minutes and tell everyone to go through the house looking for items that aren't in the appropriate rooms. Toys go back to children's rooms, the stack of cookbooks on the coffee table go back to the kitchen, etc. In just a short amount of focused time, you'll have everything back into its designated room and you'll be better able to sort through clutter with this done.

ENTRYWAY/MUDROOM:

Remove the non-essentials. If you don't need an item to get out the door, find another place to store it.

Hang small hooks next to the door, and hang up your keys every time you come inside. Once you get in the habit, you'll never waste ten minutes searching for lost keys again.

Store seasonal items. If field hockey is over until next September, there's no reason your daughter's shin guards and stick should be in the entryway.

Create an inbox. Place a bin or a letterbox near your entry for incoming mail and place mail there until you have time to sort through it.

LIVING ROOM:

Alamy

Recycle every old magazine or newspaper -- if you haven't read it yet, you're probably not going to. Trust us, you won't miss them.

Buy a bin or basket to hold new magazines. As soon as the bin fills up, it's time to do another purge.

Lose the CD and DVD cases. The packaging for CDs and DVDs takes up a ton of space, especially if you have a large media library. Toss all the plastic cases and put the disc into CD sleeves in a binder. Say hello to your newly cleared shelf space.

Designate a home for all of your remotes -- a basket or even a small bucket -- and train your family to put them there!

Donate excess toys. This one is hard -- we know. Explain to your child that he'll be giving his old toys to a child who is in need; it may help him part with that Lego set he never liked anyway.

KITCHEN:

Alamy

Eat through your pantry. Intentionally run your pantry "dry" by eating everything -- even dry items like pancake mix and pasta. It's a great way to give your cupboards a fresh start. Plus, you'll save money in the weeks you are creatively eating what you have on-hand.

Toss the plastic bags -- once and for all. Everyone has it: The bag of bags. Get rid of all those plastic bags you have been "saving" and start a new stash, but limit it to just a half a dozen plastic bags at a time.

Eliminate duplicates. Yes, kitchenware is always useful, but there's no need for two vegetable peelers or four paring knives. Narrow down your tools to one of each item to get your drawers in check.

Store rarely-used items. If you only use your food processor once in a blue moon and you're short on counter space, consider storing it elsewhere to free up space. Ditto the bread maker and the panini press.

BEDROOM:

Remove non-sleep-related items. The bedroom is for sleeping. Clear out anything that doesn't relate to your nocturnal life. Give it a try. You'll probably sleep better once you do.

Give yourself a hook (or two or three). If you're guilty of throwing your clothes on the floor (or over the Nordic Track machine, chair, etc.), hang a few over-the door hooks to catch your garments instead.

Optimize your bedside storage. If you don't have drawers or shelves on your bedside table, consider placing an attractive, covered box beneath it to hold books and magazines.

BATHROOM:

Alamy

Get rid of products you don't use. All of them. Most people have dozens of skin care and beauty products that never get used. Toss them or find a friend who might want to try the lotion you weren't crazy about.

Streamline the formulations you do use. There's no reason each family member needs to have his or her own set of shampoos, conditioners and washes: Get your brood to agree on no more than two types of each item, and don't buy any new ones until the old ones run out.

Invest in organizers. Makeup, hair clips and other small items can easily get disorganized, invest in small bins, dividers and or containers so that every item you are planing to keep has a designated spot.

Hungry for more advice? Take a peek at ShelterPop's Storage & Cleaning archive!

For more help on organizing your clutter check out this video!

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How to Choose a Lampshade

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-07T09:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping, Bedroom, Your Home, Living Room, Projects

Follow these tips for picking the perfect shade for your lamp.

Anyone who has ever gone shopping for a lampshade can tell you that choosing a shade can be surprisingly difficult. There are seemingly endless variations of colors, size and style, not to mention the various pieces of hardware you can adjust to hold the shade. Some websites will give you complicated equations for measuring base height to shade height, but there isn't really a magic formula to determine the size and shape of your shade. In the end, it's really a matter of taste. Here are some tips and tricks to get the right shade for your lamp:

These lamps from Shade of Lights show some of the common shade choices available. Photo: Shades of Light

Find a specialty store. Shopping for lampshades in a store like Target or Bed Bath & Beyond severely limits your options. Instead seek out a shop that specializes in lamps and shades where you'll have more choices and an expert on-hand to give you advice.

Bring your lamp to the store. Shopping for shades is like looking for a new outfit, you want to try it on to see how it fits. Bringing the old shade isn't a good substitute for the lamp itself.

Pair like with like. "Repeat the shape in the lamp body in the shade shape," suggests Harrison, president of Shades of Light. "Square lamps look best with square shades and round lamps look best with round shades, likewise a shapely lamp can take a shapely shade."

Use the current harp as your guide. When determining shade height, you can use the lamp's existing harp as a guide (the harp is the wire frame that holds the shade onto the lamp base). The shade should be at least as high as the harp. However, you can also change the harp size to accommodate a larger (or smaller) shade to suit your tastes.

Make sure the harp fits. If you change the shade, there's a good chance you'll have to change the harp, especially with flared shades. "The more flared the shade, the shorter the harp you need," notes Harrison.

Fine-tune the height. If your current harp is a close fit, but not exact, add an extender, which is called a shade riser. The extender will raise the height that the shade sits on.

Spitzmiller's classic designs are topped with simple, tapered drum shades and not one spec of hardware shows beneath them. Photos: Christopher Spitzmiller

Don't let the hardware show! "Absolutely no hardware, except for the finial should show," cautions Spitzmiller. Make sure you don't end up with a shade that's too short - the saddle and socket are meant to be hidden!

Tapered drums are fresh. "Regarding style, I'm happier to see boxier shades being used more," says lamp designer Christopher Spitzmiller of the trend towards tapered drum shade (like the two shown on Spitzmiller's lamps above). "They look really modern now, and they're a really great timeless shape."

Have fun with simple bases. "The more basic the shape of the body of the lamp, the more varied styles of shades it can take," says Harrison.

Keep things in proportion. According to Harrison, the height of a shade should be approximately 2/3 to 4/5 the height of the lamp's base, and the diameter shouldn't exceed the height of the base and should be within two inches of this dimension.

Go with your gut. When it comes to the exact size and style, it's your own tastes that count. For example, while you might prefer a bell-shaped shade, your sister might like a wider straight-sided drum shade -- neither style is "right" or "wrong." "It's a matter of personal preference, there's no real answer," says Spitzmiller, "Trust your instincts on proportion or size."

Mottega's Sophia lamp base can coordinate with a variety of shade styles. Photos: Mottega

In the market for a new lamp? Read on:
- On the Hunt: Floor Lamps
- On the Hunt: Eco-Friendly Lighting

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Best Wallpaper Patterns for Kids Rooms

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-03T18:28:00 00:00

Filed under: Color, Your Home, Projects, Design, etc, News & Trends

Skip the blue or pink paint. Here are ten of our favorite wall coverings for kids rooms.

Decorating kids' rooms is a chance to have some fun with decor, especially when it comes to the walls. While most of the rooms of your house probably maintain a certain degree of seriousness, a child's room can be purely playful. That's not to say that you should turn your daughter's room into a floor-to-ceiling Disney theme park. It does mean that you can take some risks you might not normally take in, say, the dining room or the living room.

Children's wallpapers are a wonderland of whimsy, some of it good and some it very, very bad. The key to picking a wallpaper pattern for your child is to choose something that both of you like. Avoid cartoon characters or any over-the-top themes, but don't be afraid of fun: A robot or a sailboat motif are among our picks.

Photos: Farrow & Ball

Say Stripes
You can't go wrong with a classic stripe in a child's room. Stripes will remain age-appropriate as your child grows older and most stripe patterns are fairly gender-neutral, so you won't have to worry if the paper will work for another child down the line. Farrow & Ball's Broad Stripe is a handsome 5¼"-wide pattern available in 37 combinations of the company's signature hues.

Photos: Aimée Wilder

Hipster Cartoons
Skip the expected cartoons like Dora the Explorer and opt for the infinitely chicer Robot pattern ($156 per roll) by Aimée Wilder. Your child will love it simply for the robots, and you'll appreciate the quirky pattern for its surprising colorways and adorable details.

Photos: Jonathan Adler

Happy, Happy Walls
We first spotted Jonathan Adler's wallpaper for kids when he revealed his Jonathan Adler Junior line at last year's New York International Gift Fair. Now you can purchase the papers for your own home. The retro-feeling Junior Sun Wallpaper ($195 for a jumbo roll) is covered with sun-like images and cheerful faces in both a cool, masculine and a warm, feminine palettes.

Photos: Urban Outfitters

A Lesson in Fun
A world map mural is a classic choice for a child's room -- plus, it does double duty as a tool for geography lessons. Urban Outfitters is offering an easy-to-install, 8-foot by 13-foot World Map Wall Mural ($140) that's sure to be the focal point of any space you choose to hang it.

Photos: Ralph Lauren/CreativeWallcovering.com

Daydreams Encouraged
Leave it to Ralph Lauren to create preppy-chic wallpapers that feel timeless. The Northern Hemisphere - Midnight Blue pattern (left, $52 per roll) and the Maritime - Lake pattern (right, $52 per roll) both look like they could have been used in a 1950s summer house, but still feel fresh today.

Photos: Blonder Home/Sherwin-Williams

Pink, But Not Too Pink
Little girls like pink. Period. Indulge your daughter's love of rosy hues with a delicate pattern that isn't too pink. If you opt for a simple repeat on a neutral background like these two patterns from Blonder Home, Alphabet Soup #SW1BR9101 (left, $58.50 for two rolls) and Animal Crackers #SW4RF9501 (right, $54.00 for two rolls), you can mix and match different patterns with the print. (To purchase, go to Sherwin-Williams and search by pattern number.)

Photos: Jenny Wilkinson/2Jane

Paint Your Own Wallpaper
For something unique, splurge on one of the patterns from Jenny Wilkinson's 'Wallpaper-By-Number' collection. The papers are printed with a pattern that is numbered just like a traditional paint-by-number painting -- you (or your child) gets to paint the pattern in. The Pineapple pattern (left, $120 per roll) has been partially painted, while the Tilly the Flying Dog pattern (right, $120 per roll) shows the papers as they come.

For more on kids rooms, don't miss:
Best Paint Colors for Kids Rooms
Kids Room, Nothing Kid-Like About It
Posh Tots: Over the Top Beds for Kids

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Jennifer Lopez's Home in Veranda

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-02T16:22:00 00:00

Filed under: Famous Homes, Celebrity Homes, Cool Homes

The superstar's California home is glamorous, sophisticated and surprisingly understated.

We're happy to report that Veranda magazine, now overseen by the ever-talented Dara Caponigro, keeps getting better and better. Case in point: Veranda shared a sneak peek of their January/February issue with ShelterPop and boy, were we wowed. The issue's coverline "American Glamour Now!" is a nod to all the homes in the issue, but the highlight is the stunning story on Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's California home.

J. Lo's glam style doesn't stop on the red carpet; Veranda magazine tours her home in their Jan./Feb. issue. Photos: Veranda (left), Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage (right)

While J. Lo's personal style often errs towards the sparkling and synthetic, her home is an oasis of low-key, natural charm -- with a few hints of sparkle. Designed by interior designer Michelle Workman, the space is sophisticated and glamorous without being showy.

"It's sort of Jennifer in a nutshell," says Workman. "She has a romantic streak. Jennifer wanted to go modern and streamlined but retain the sophistication and stylishness. It's tastefully glamorous, like Jennifer herself."

Here's a peek at some of what you'll find in Veranda:

This polished space is a glamorous spot for J. Lo to entertain. Photo: Laura Resen/Veranda

Soft gray-blue walls are the perfect backdrop for feminine furnishings in Lopez's living room. We love how Workman and Lopez have mixed varying neutral tones with metallic finishes for a fresh look.

This corner of Jennifer Lopez's kitchen is as elegant as her living room. Photo: Laura Resen/Veranda

The cool toned palette continues in the kitchen area where built-in cabinets are painted to match the walls. Elegantly upholstered dining chairs surround a black pedestal table for a chic place to eat a quick bite -- though with her svelte figure, we doubt Lopez is eating too many of those gigantic red velvet cupcakes on the table.

Jennifer Lopez's bedroom is a sweet retreat. Photo: Laura Resen/Veranda

Cast in soft, feminine tones of peaches and cream, the bedroom looks more J. Lo than Marc Anthony to us. Designer Michelle Workman says, "We wanted it to be graceful, with just enough sparkle."

Want to see more of this gorgeous home? Pick up a copy of the Jan/Feb issue of Veranda, which features additional photos of J.Lo's home.

Go inside more celebrity homes:
- Bristol Palin's Arizona home
- Celebrity Bedrooms Have Us Drooling
- Cheap Chic Ideas From Gwyneth's House

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Cheap Chic Ideas From the House of Color

Laura Fenton — 2011-02-02T09:21:00 00:00

Filed under: Color, Design, etc, House Tours

Get style inspiration from this colorful Dutch bed and breakfast.

Many people dream of buying an old farmhouse, fixing it up and turning it into a bed and breakfast. Floriene Bosch and her husband actually did it -- sight unseen, no less! More than a decade ago, the Dutch couple was living in the U.S. looking for property back in the Netherlands. A realtor faxed them a listing for a farmhouse in the countryside near the village of Beuningen, and the photos were so charming that the Bosch's bought it from thousands of miles away.

However, despite its charms, the property was in need of some TLC.

Bosch loves paintings of flowers -- in fact, some of them are her own! Photos: Bed of Flowers

Thirteen years later Bosch has completely renovated the farmhouse, outbuildings and surrounding grounds and turned it into Bed of Flowers, a small bed and breakfast. Looking around the perfectly styled retreat, you might guess that Bosch was a stylist-turned-innkeeper, but her knack for decor is merely the result of a personal passion; prior to opening Bed of Flowers, Bosch worked as a nurse.

Bosch's style is like shabby chic with a kick: She loves bright, bold colors and floral patterns. While you may not be as brave as Bosch is, you can steal some style inspiration from her cheerfully decorated home. Here's how:

Vintage porcelain is used as decor. Photos: Bed of Flowers

Collect what you love - and display it. Bosch loves flowers and collects them in many forms, including paintings of flowers (see top photo) and porcelain pieces with floral motifs. Rather than let her china hide in a closed cabinet Bosch has displayed hers on the walls and on open shelves.

Dare to think beyond pastels. Photos: Bed of Flowers

Be bold with paint, but not too bold. Bosch isn't afraid to experiment with color: Bright turquoise, pink, yellow and green all figure into her decor. However, Bosch knows to balance her daringly-painted walls with crisp white trim and neutral floors. In the bedrooms Bosch has painted the walls behind the headboards bold colors but left the remaining walls white for a more tranquil effect.

Go ahead, upholster it with confidence. Photos: Bed of Flowers

Have fun with upholstery. Many people who embrace the chipped-paint-and-vintage-chandelier aesthetic opt for white upholstery -- on everything. Bosch knows that white isn't the only option, using white for some of her sofas and playing with upholstery on others. An armchair becomes a focal point when covered in a pretty cabbage rose and antique dining chairs pop with acid green upholstery.

Bosch is a sucker for a vintage chandelier. Photos: Bed of Flowers

Embrace chandeliers. The many vintage chandeliers throughout Bed of Flowers give the casual, feminine furnishings a little bit of glamor. If dripping crystal fixtures seem too serious to you, follow Bosch's lead and place little fake birds on top for fun!

For more Cheap Chic Ideas, don't miss:
Cheap Chic Ideas From Jane Fonda's House
Cheap Chic Ideas From Gwyneth Paltrow's Bedroom
Cheap Chic Ideas From Jimmy Choo's Founder -- Tamara Mellon's House

To learn more about how to use color in your home check out this video!

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Decorating Tricks From the SoHo Beach House

Laura Fenton — 2011-01-20T09:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Projects, Design, etc, News & Trends

What you can learn from the luxury beach hotel that's putting an end to Miami Beach's reigning style of white-on-white decor.

I remember the first time I walked into the Philippe Stark-designed lobby of Miami's Delano Hotel: All I could think was, "Wow, this is Miami," and indeed Stark's aesthetic was mimicked by many other designers. The all-white look reigned supreme for years. However, a newcomer on the scene proves that South Beach can have more than one style.

The recently opened SoHo Beach House (a private members club, hotel and spa) is a delightful surprise for Miami. The space is decorated in homage to 1940's Cuba and Latin America with gallery walls of eclectic art, dark woods, upholstered club chairs and vintage furnishings. Not only do we love this new hotel for shaking up the Miami design scene, we love it for its easily copied decor ideas. Here are twelve ideas you can borrow from this elite hotel:

The SoHo Beach House's lobby. Photo: SoHo Beach House

Lesson 1: Take a cue from the SoHo Beach House's lobby design: Instead of upholstering sets of chairs in identical fabrics, opt for different hues of one type of yardage.
Lesson 2: You can never have too many throw pillows. We love the more is more attitude of covering all the lobby's couches with more decorative pillows than convention allows for.

A desk in the lobby of the SoHo Beach House. Photo: SoHo Beach House

Lesson 1: Wood paneling adds instant character. An adventurous DIY-er could re-create a similar look to these dark-wooded walls with panels of plywood stained in a dark hue.
Lesson 2: A gallery wall gives a room major character -- the quirkier the art (skulls, anyone?) the better. Don't worry about getting it "right," this look is all about the haphazard feel.

Hemingway would have felt at home at this subtly Cuban-looking saloon. Photo: SoHo Beach House

Lesson 1: Light fixtures immediately set the tone for a room. Here, the vintage (or vintage-looking) milk glass pendants give the bar area a retro feel.
Lesson 2: Tiles aren't just for kitchens and baths. The Mexican tiles in this bar area prove that a tiled floor is chic in many rooms -- especially when sand and salt water are just outside the door!

The beach is just steps away from this chic patio. Photo: SoHo Beach House

Lesson 1: Mix and match dining chairs. A dining table on the SoHo Beach House's patio is surrounded by an eclectic mix of wooden chairs for a funky, boho vibe.
Lesson 2: Use greenery for privacy. If your yard or patio is prone to prying eyes, consider copying SoHo Beach House's tactic of creating a green screen between your space and the outside world.

One of the bayside guest rooms of the hotel. Photos: SoHo Beach House

Lesson 1: A loveseat is the perfect piece for the foot of the bed, especially in guest rooms, whether it is in a hotel or it's where you plan to house your in-laws when they visit.
Lesson 2: Beach-y decor doesn't have to mean white-painted and blond wood furniture: Dark wood is a surprising and chic choice, especially when paired with a sea-colored scheme.

A beach-side guest room is a chic mix of patterns. Photo: SoHo Beach House

Lesson 1: Don't be afraid to mix patterns. Here, a boldly patterned floor is paired with a large-scale print fabric on the headboard and bed frame for great visual impact
Lesson 2: If you keep a television in your bedroom, a pedastal TV stand is a chic alternative to the usual console-style table -- it also takes up less floor space and eliminates the hassle of wall-mounting.

For more drool-worthy hotel spaces, read on:
- Say Aloha to a Fun Hawaiian Hotel
- One Night in Paris at the Seven Hotel
- A Fun Texas Hotel

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