Designing Diva Interiors

Unless you live under a rock (a well decorated one since you read this blog religiously!) you are no doubt being inundated with calls to make New Year’s Resolutions. Personally I’ve never been a fan. Why make positive changes in your life just one time a year? But the call to action does have its benefits for homeowners who will be using January to kick off long awaited projects. For my household that means installing new trim and crown moulding. For you the job may be much smaller or much more grand; either way, there has never been a better time to start creating a new look for your home. Why? Motivation is at an all-time high in January for everything from weight loss to quitting smoking. Why not use this universal momentum to get the master bedroom repainted? Additionally, prices on the items you will need for your home’s new look will be delicously discounted as retailers try to make up for decreased profits during the holiday season. This is also the time of year when many home furnishings stores clearance out their inventory to make room for shipments that will soon arrive from market.

You may be asking yourself “Where to begin?” and the answer is undoubtedly, “nowhere unless you’ve done your due diligence”. Side effects of your new burst of energy may include a desire to jump in with both feet… without looking for rocks first. Below is my simple guide to tackleing a new project in the new year without falling short of your own expectations.

1) Budget. Whether the project be large or small, some money will be involved. Know what you want your end result to be that way you can research the cost of what is involved. This is similar to “never go grocery shopping while hungry”. If you don’t know what you really want you are more likely to overspend and end up with unecessary  extras. Even if you are just organizing all the closets in the house it is helpful to know how many containers you will need for each space. You may find that you need 24 clear boxes with lids and each box costs $3.00 for a total cost of $72.00. When you know the cost of your project ahead of time you get only what you need and you can (hopefully) avoid using credit cards/financing to get it done because you have had time to budget it in.

2. Measure. Now measure again. There aren’t too many projects around the house that do not require at least a rough measurement. Painting a room? You will need to know how many gallons to buy so you don’t get half way down the hall and need to rush to the store, paint brush in hand. Organizing closets? Measure the depth, width and height of each space to make sure you get the right size containers the first time. Buying a new duvet for the master bed? You may be tempted to pick up any package that reads “King” but your measurements may show you that you really need a California King so that your bedding reaches all the way to the floor. Get it?

3.  Do your homework. As with #1, doing some research on your larger jobs now will save you a lot of time, money and headache later. If you want to add a kitchen island have a kitchen designer draw up some sketches for you first to make sure everything will fit and match your family’s needs. You may find that you have room for a larger island than you first thought or that it involves more than you are able to do yourself and the help of a pro is required. For reputable kitchen designers I recommend RenovateKate (www.renovatekate.com) or Amanda Harolds AKBD, both of Oklahoma City.

4. Get thrifty. You may think you need new lamps (and maybe you do) but it could be that a new shade is enough to freshen up the entire room. New lamps could cost hundreds but buying new shades or recovering your existing ones with a stylish fabric is only a fraction of the cost. Paint the base (make sure to use wood paint for a wooden base and metal paint for a metal base!) and you can create a very different look on a small budget and not much time. Think outside the box with various rooms to see what small changes you can make to create a whole new look.

5. Be willing to admit defeat.  This may sound like the worst advice ever but when it comes to your home (especially when it comes to your home) knowing when you’re in over your head is the difference between getting the job done right and spending a month in a hotel while contractors work to finish the mess you started. Do-It-Yourself has become such a household name (I blame HGTV) that many people simply never met a project they didn’t like. It is true that you can save yourself a lot of money this way but there may be a few things on your list that are better left to the experts. Electrical and plumbing projects top the list. One mistake here and your new New Year’s resolution is to simply move rather than deal with the disaster you’ve created. Other home improvement projects that make a huge difference but may need a pro: installing new flooring, expanding a room, adding an appliance and any carpentry work. Designing Diva Interiors, LLC has a list of local home improvement experts for each of these topics and would be glad to refer you to one that meets your needs.

According to the furniture industry we are currently in what is called “Dining room season”. This is the time of year when folks suddenly realize just how much family they have… and that they’re all coming for Christmas dinner. Rather than putting up card tables in the living room many people choose to use this season of sales to upgrade from hand-me-downs and buy that quality dining table they really want. But hold it, right there, Hostess with the Mostess.  Before you hit up every store within 30 miles and spend a lot more time (and possibly money) than is necessary, let’s go over some basics to help you determine what kind of dining table is right for you.

First off, are you an apartment-dweller or do you take up residence in a spacious two-story? Maybe somewhere in between (like me)? If your dining room is about the same size as your closet, opt for a smaller table with barstool height. Having a taller table will make your room seem a bit larger. On the flip side, going super low could have the same effect. Japanese-style tables are coming back in a big way but are for a more casual diner. See photo below.

If you live in a larger home your possibilities are extended, obviously. Here’s how I go about finding the right table for my client:

DURABILITY: If smaller children are in the home go for something durable and nothing too high. If you intend to use your dining table for more than just dining (say, as a crafts area or as a workspace for your home office) you may prefer a glass top over a wooden top that may be easily scratched.

WOOD v. GLASS TOP: Again, it boils down to practicality. If you eat at the dining table daily, cleaning the glass so often could get tedious. If the glass top is the look you crave but the maintanance is not, you may like a table runner or place mats to keep finger prints to a minimum. Wood tops tend to look more formal when stained; casual when painted.

SIZE DOES MATTER: Dining tables come in shapes and sizes galore: Round, rectangle, oval, square. Some come with leaves, some do not. To determine the shape that is right for your needs, look at your room. Is it long and narrow? A rectangle shape will fill the space to scale; just make sure you don’t get a table so long that the people on one end cannot speak with those on the other without yelling. Is your space smaller with lots of straight edges surrounding it (cabinets, countertops, etc?) Round tables soften the room as it offers contrast to all those hard-looking surfaces. If you like to host intimate dinner parties, a round table lends to easy conversation.  Oval tables are also ideal for entertaining and elongate the overall appearance of the dining room.  

To determine the size that is right for you, consider what that table’s purpose will be (again, will this double as a workspace?). If you’re shopping for a family of three who only entertain once a year, a 72″ round table may be overkill for you. Sure, it looks grand on Thanksgiving day (and can comfortably seat seven) but on the other 364 days a year when its just the three of you, you will be reaching and talking across a huge space. I caution against getting swept up in the beauty of the table alone; many are made from fine craftsman and the detail can be exquisite (I prefer the hand-carved Jason Scott collection found at Bruno’s Home Furnishings  for massive spaces) you could easily be disappointed later that you spent cash on a huge table that goes unappreciated 99% of the time.

BASE: There are also a variety of bases you will see now that you are actively searching: pedestal, four legs, triad, square, iron, etc. You may know right away that you love the look of an iron base but need a glass top. Use this outline to help you make your shopping list of requirements and you’ll be enjoying dinner at your new table by tomorrow night! 

 Not sure what your style is? Now that you know the basics, allow Designing Diva Interiors to help you find the perfect table for your home or apartment! Modern, transitional or rustic, DDI can save you time and money in locating the perfect piece.