Georgia Interior Design

Sunroom decorating ideas-before and after

Here’s a fun before and after.  I want to show you how fun and easy it is to take a blah space and make it a vibrant part of the home.

One of our favorite clients had this mostly empty sunroom that was adjacent to the breakfast area and kitchen.  She wanted to furnish it in a way that allowed the room to be used on its own but also be able to accommodate an overflow crowd when entertaining.  She found a magazine photo that she liked which we used as a reference.  The photo had antique style occasional pieces surrounded by fresh and bright upholstery that kept the room from looking dated.  The client likes greens and golds with pops of red and these colors flow throughout the house.  Given the open nature of the floor plan, we had to select fabrics that would blend nicely with the nearby living spaces.

Suzanne, our design consultant on the project, suggested the bench seat in order to accomplish the goal of seating in the room that also allowed seating facing the kitchen during parties.  The paprika bench with barley twist legs is fun, functional, and does not block the view of the open room.  You can’t see the doors on either side, but the bench can be moved against the wall on the right, between the drapery and the door, if the client wants to open up the room.  Click here for a full size photo.

The rug is a banded grass cloth, which keeps the room casual and is consistent with a sunroom theme.  The lamps on the rich walnut console table are shabby chic, with distressed bases and contemporary brown shades.  The side tables are available for drinks or books and complete the desired eclectic look.  The client didn’t want the room to look “matchy matchy” (a designer term!).  The nonfunctional drapery panels are intended to add color and frame the windows without heaviness or blocking the view of the outdoors.  They are hung on wrought iron poles that bring in a touch of black but do not draw the eye up or conflict with the molding.  The chairs are covered with a large scale apple green contemporary botanical which also reinforces the sunroom theme.  Notice the little leaves?

The client is thrilled with the fun and casual yet elegant results, and come to think of it, the room really reflects her personality.

To learn more about Suzanne, click here.

Wool vs. synthetic area rugs

We were working on a living room for a client recently and as I have mentioned before, many designers start the process with the selection of an area rug.  Our clients showed some concern because in their own shopping they discovered that most of the nice rugs they saw started around $3,000.  Veronique found a nylon rug with the look they wanted for $800 which made them feel a lot better about the overall budget.  This allowed the husband to have an Irish antique reproduction coffee table we showed him, but he insisted that it be delivered with a bottle of Bushmills in the drawer.  Good man.

So, what’s the difference between a wool rug and a synthetic rug and why do the prices vary so much?  

A nylon rug is obviously made with man made materials and put together by a computer and a machine.  Zip zip, done.  The advantages of nylon rugs are they are cheaper, shouldn’t shed, are good for people with certain allergies, are recyclable, provide a greater range of colors, and allow a lot of creativity in pattern and texture which is why most contemporary rugs are made this way.  They can be considered disposable, as they are less expensive and don’t last as long, so your rugs can easily be changed with your taste.  You can get a lot of look for the money with a synthetic rug.

If green design is your mission, the fact that synthetic rugs are recyclable is cool, but the process of making them is not.  Chemicals, and toxins, and petroleum, oh my!

Traditional wool rugs can be broken down in three categories:  power-loomed, hand tufted, and hand knotted.  Power-loomed rugs are made by machine, just like the nylon rugs.  Hand tufted rugs have the little pieces of wool yarn shot with a hand held device through a fabric template, kind of like paint by numbers…with a gun, and then have a canvas backing glued on.  Hand knotted rugs are just like you would imagine; some guy with gnarled fingers, in a village on the other side of the world, knotting each piece of yarn one at a time.  Some of those rugs take up to six months to complete and each will have its own unique characteristics.  You can tell a hand knotted rug by flipping it over where you should see the individual knots.  Also, the fringe will be an extension of the rug and not sewn on as an addition. These rugs hold their value, last forever because of the springiness of the natural fibers (your grandkids will be thrilled), provide a certain prestige, can be professionally repaired, and tend to feel luxurious underfoot.

A ‘very fine’ wool rug will have over 167 knots per square inch.  Think about that for a second!

Why are some wool rugs much more expensive than others?  Lots of reasons, but certainly the complexity of the pattern, the number of colors, and the quality of the wool will have a lot to do with price.  Some dye processes are crazy.  Weeks in a series of vats out in the sun, etc.  New Zealand wool is generally accepted to be preferred.  The wool is the purest white, which accepts dye and represents colors best, and is shaved from the chests of live sheep which is where the soft wool comes from.  Wool from live sheep also has more oils which provide a natural stain resistance to your rug.  The super cheap wool rugs you see sold from the back of a pickup on the street corner, well, if you consider the good rugs are made from the chest wool of live sheep, then just think the opposite.

Design Sleuth-Whimsy

Adding whimsy to your home decor can be as simple and inexpensive as sticking planets and stars on the ceiling in your child’s room or buying a cool accessory, to something more expensive such as purchasing a funky piece of furniture or hiring an artist to paint wall art.  If you’re in the mood for fun, DOTI at John’s Creek is a great place to go.  Besides having lots of fun pillows—mentioned in a previous blog—they also have some wonderful fun furniture and neat accessories. Lucky for you, there is often at least one designer or more in the store, so if you see something you like but you’re not sure how to use it or where to put it in your own home, there’s usually someone around who would be happy to provide creative assistance and help you think outside the box.

For example when I was in the store recently, Alan, the owner, pointed out some beautiful hand-painted chairs. They were gorgeous with bright colors and strong designs.  Looking at them, I was able to imagine a couple of ways to use them to liven up a home interior, but thought I would still ask Alan for his input.  Immediately, he began to rattle off at least ten design possibilities, and probably would’ve listed another ten if I had given him a few minutes to think about it!   So, if you see something in the store you really love but you’re not sure what you’d do with it or where to put it, don’t hesitate to ask Alan or one of the designers for suggestions.  I’m sure they’ll be able to give you lots of great ideas.

Designer Nathan enjoys using animal prints and patterns to add fun and drama to a home interior.  “I’m working with a client now who has modern tastes in decor and furnishings but just moved into a more traditionally styled home.   Rather than replacing all of their existing furniture, we’re working together to find ways to blend the two styles together.”  One way he is doing that is through the use of rugs.  “One of the suggestions I have for a rug under the dining room table is a bold zebra print,” he said.  “It’s fun and contemporary, but can also work well for a more traditional home.”

In later blogs we’ll talk more about adding whimsy to your home.  I’m planning to interview some of the local artists that DOTI at John’s Creek works with to create fun and magical environments for its clients. This Thursday, Nathan shares some of the things you need to think about when you’re designing a family room around kids and pets.  See you then!

Deborah
A.k.a. Design Sleuth