Wallpaper Wednesday- Jill's Kitchen Part I

Hi Christine,

I just found your blogsight last night and am so impressed with your suggestions to others so I'm asking (begging) that you please help me as well. I am open to any & all suggestions. Need a fresh eye.

Could you please take a look and give me suggestions on how to improve the kitchen/dining room so it looks cohesive & beautiful? I suppose my style leans towards traditional, clean cottage. I'll let u be the judge as I have a tendency to mix & then it begins to overwhelm me. I like my dining chairs. Would like to work with existing pieces-not totally opposed to painting them again (dining room area).The wall color is the 2nd color since we added part of kitchen on in 08. Although it seems to ground the cabinets, it tends to feel dark at times. You are so good with color-looking forward to suggestions to pull it all together. I recently purchased SS appliances (fake SS for fridge) so if you can imagine that rather than the white. Please email me with any questions and I so look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you.

Jill

Dear Jill,

Let me start by saying that you have a lot going on that is great. First of all- let me compliment you on your decorating of the hutch in the second picture. Very well done. You have a good eye for scale and are a terrific "overlapper." :) You have done a good job adding greenery.

You are also right that the area lacks a cohesive "finished" feel. It is in your walls. You have a traditional home, and yet you have very little pattern, and not a lot of texture. You are perhaps "playing it safe." Your wall color is nice- although perhaps a little dark, but I do not see it duplicated anywhere. There is no repetition. I would wallpaper the walls. This will make all the difference. There are a number of different ways you can go with this. Check out the paper at the top of the post. These come in a million different color ways- find a color that goes well with your rug.

Even a very simple wallpaper- like the one above- is a great way to "marry" the white and beige in your room, as well as adding pattern and interest.

This paper would require a different rug- but I thought it was a beautiful paper- and felt like the style was consistent with your furnishings.

I love a classic toile. The paper in the background above would go right into your place perfectly.

Which direction should Jill go?

1. grasscloth
2. simple floral
3. blissful blue
4. traditional toile

The grasscloth is from grasscloth.com; the rest of today's papers are from York.

Wallpaper Wednesday Hand Painted Paper

Today's wallpaper is from Michael Rogers Wallcoverings. This look reminds me of Wallteriors- as it comes in squares for a more organic look. They do all custom work- so you can tell them which style you like, and then give them a specific paint color and they will make your paper for you. The custom aspect really makes possibilities endless. There is also a look and feel about a hand painted paper that is really fabulous- and impossible to see on a computer screen. I really like the smell of it too. :) What do you think?

Form and Function

Christine,
I saw your design blog and wanted to enlist your help. I have a space in my entry way that I want to decorate. I'm also limited on space in my house so I was hoping to make it functional as well. When you walk in my front door you see our stairway that curves around and the white wall below it. The first picture shows the wall from the front door. In the 2nd picture I've turned around showing you the front door with the stairs so you can get a sense of the space. I was planning to put some kind of table with plant/decorations on the wall below the stairs it but what I really need is a place for coats/boots etc. I have six kids and the house has no coat closet. We live in Utah so we use coats or jackets a big part of the year. I thought maybe I could put a wardrobe there but that seems so boring and I have no idea where to find one. The wall is 5' wide and 63" high from it's lowest point going up to the 2nd story. I want the entry way to be inviting but I also need the space to be usable. Do you have any ideas? Thanks for being so generous with your time,
Michelle

Hi Michelle,

Let me start by saying that that your entry has a lot of potential- but it is untapped potentential. The wall with the entrty door is very symetrical. Remove the picture- and go symetrical on your wall decor- with two matching mirrors. The one above from Uttermost is 30 x 60. This would also be a fantastic location for two generously sized sconces.

I found a storage chest from Decorize that had a lot of "functionality" for you. But with more style than an armoire. This is the first look that people get of your house- this is your focal point. Also- armoires are usually more like 80 inches in height. This piece could give each child a spot for mittens and hats, as well as an "inbox" for paperwork. The small door could house a stray coat or pair of boots.

Your walls are really putting me to sleep. I selected some wallpaper for you from York. This deep bluish gray would be beautiful.

For your rug, consider a "runner" size. It appears that you have the length for it, and whereas the entry is not deep, it is also not small, and the little rug is out of scale for the room. The rug above is from Momeni.

It will be gorgeous!

Wallpaper Wednesday

I wanted to show you a beautiful paper that I saw in my new Elle Decor magazine. It is from DeGournay. The treatment is a hand painted silk. While we are looking at the room- I absolutely love the brass table. The table is custom made and the chairs are late 19th century antiques- really the perfect combination. I have mentioned before, and want to bring to your attention the difference that fresh greenery makes. The simple arrangement of cut branches really brings this room to life. Imagine the room without it- big difference, huh? Go cut some branches from your yard and bring them inside.

What do you think?

Melinda from Texas

Today- my comments are in terracotta. :)

Hi Christine,

Reading your blog is my guilty pleasure as of late. After years of watching Divine Design, subscribing to House Beautiful, and following Phoebe Howard, I'm finally realizing that I know just enough to be dangerous. That said, I'm hoping you can help me with my family room/breakfast nook dilemma. Our home here in Texas is two years old and we love it, but after owning two 50+ year old homes with tons of character, I must admit I'm a bit stuck on how to jazz this place up without painting all the walls.

Specifically, I'm wondering if you have any suggestions as to what I should do with the two recessed areas above the built-ins on either side of my family room fireplace. We've tossed around lots of ideas - having shelves put in, Yes- they look a little awkward do me- like built-ins were started and not finished. I would add shelves that match your lower cabinets as much as possible. adding recessed lighting of some sort, I like the hidden rope lighting put on the inside lip of the shelves. Otherwise- only your top section gets lit. Skip the lighting in the TV area of course. painting or tiling for visual interest, Painting is OK- but I especially like to actually change the wall surface in niches. Check out the "stone" wallpaper below. hanging complimentary paintings by a local artist, This is not a place that I would display art- something small on an easel perhaps- but there is too much shadow- even if you do add lighting- it is not the best place to display art. I would be very simple, and very deliberate- ceramic vases- chargers- cool boxes or baskets. Don't get items that are too small- and don't get too many items. etc. If you have any other suggestions that don't involve a complete remodel (including why I can't seem to properly outfit my mantle), I think your mantle itself is out of proportion to the stone fireplace- I would get a larger one. The mirror is reflecting your ceiling fan... This is your focal point- and it is a reflection of a ceiling fan. Mirrors are only as great as what they reflect. The painting at the top of the post is my suggestion. It is 54 x 47. (I don't know your dimensions- but I am guessing that this would fit- and really fill the area.) This will give you overlap with your accessories. The vases can stay- they will be in front of the painting- which I would have sitting on - or very close to the mantle. But I would just remove the frame- it is too small to go up there. I'd love to hear them. My second question has to do with our windows in the breakfast nook, which you can see from our living room. We currently have woven wood R78uoman shades with nothing to soften the look. Do you think a fabric valance or cornice is the best option since there is limited space between the windows for a panel? No- your look is too clean to have valances- and I almost never like cornices. The area needs something- it is a little on the dull side- although you have made nice, tasteful selections. Add a table runner- I like this one from Crate and Barrel. Then replace your small bowl with a large tray like this one from Crate and Barrel. You can put fruit in it- or keep it empty. I would add a couple of matching drapes- like the ones in the family room- in your larger areas- on the far right. The panels do not need to be between every window. I can't see well enough- but fly me to Texas and I will tell you exactly where to add them. Another thought- if you don't feel comfortable with the drapes- your spacing does seem a little odd on the windows- you can jazz up the area with some vinyl decals- like the paisley ones below. If you go that direction- don't use too few- get a generous amount. OR- in your area there on the left where the ceiling goes higher- you could do a simple plate collage. Plates like this one from Crate and Barrel is what I imagine. I'm also interested in switching out the builder's light for something a little softer. I'm in love with this one from Room and Board: http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19707 In an open area like you have- start with consistency. You have some cool grayish blue drapes- and have repeated the color in the pillows- but you need more repetition of that color for it to really be a presence. If you want to add terracotta- or other colors- do it after you have a more established pallet. With that- I like the style- but go with a gray or bluish gray- something that further establishes your first pallet. What do you think? Am I on the right track at all or do I need as much help as I think I do?

Thanks,

Melinda

You are doing great Melinda- Your furniture arrangement is good- and your large furniture choices look very nice. Below is the stone wallpaper for the niches- and the vinyl paisleys.

P.S. I never know how to describe my style, but I love decorating with natural materials (maybe a little too much) and probably fall into the transitional bucket when it comes to furniture. Love clean lines and minimalism kept in check, but have some traditional furniture, as well.