Archive for the ‘Art’ Category
Dream Tile, Sensational Style
Wednesday, August 8th, 2012
Are you as fascinated with mosaic tile as I am? This ideabook is full of luxurious ceramic tiles and amazing mosaics that will have you mesmerized.
Tags: Art, Bathroom, Ceramics, Design Tips, design trends, Flooring, Interior Design, mosaic tiles, mosaics, tile, tile application, wall application
Posted in Art, Bathroom, Bedroom, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, DIY, Design Tips, Flooring, Interior Design, Wall Treatments | No Comments »
Pangaea’s thoughts on Art: The Unexpected
Friday, November 18th, 2011
What do a pack of dogs, a swimmer and shirts with too much starch have in common? Somehow all of these became unique, artistic and decorative elements in people’s homes. Check out how the unexpected can add fun and show stopping excitement to your home décor.
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Tags: Art, artistic and decorative elements, Bathroom, Bedroom, Design Tips, design trends, Dining Room, home decor, Interior Design, Kitchen, Living Room, loft, Lofts, modern design, wall decor
Posted in Art, Bathroom, Bedroom, Colors, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, Design Dollars, Design Tips, Dining Room, Fireplace, Home Office, Interior Design, Kitchen, Lighting, Living Room, Lofts, Sculpture, Top Ten, Trends, Uncategorized, Wall Treatments | No Comments »
Pangaea Interior Design’s 20 Alternatives to Fine Art
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
So you’re telling me that you can’t spend half a year’s salary on original art work for the hallway? That’s okay. There are many alternatives for great wall decor without breaking the bank. Get creative with fabrics, found objects, natural elements, texture and even fish — oh yes, I did say fish! — to add your own personality and charm and fill your home with your unique style.
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Tags: Art, Bathroom, Bedroom, color, Design Tips, design trends, Dining Room, fabrics, Fireplace, found objects, hallway, Interior Design, Kitchen, Living Room, loft, Lofts, modern design, natural elements, texture, wall decor
Posted in Achievements, Art, Bathroom, Bedroom, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, DIY, Design Tips, Dining Room, Fireplace, Home Office, Interior Design, Kitchen, Lofts, Mistakes: Avoiding & Fixing, Pearl District, Shopping, Space Planning, Storage Solutions, Top Ten, Uncategorized, Upholstery, Wall Treatments | No Comments »
10 Design Strategies for Art Lovers
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
If you are an art lover, you know that buying and living with art is so rewarding! But did you know that what you do with your interior decor can actually boost the impact of your art?
Tags: Art, color, color palette, Design Tips, furniture arrangement, Interior Design, interior design portland
Posted in Art, Colors, Design Tips, Furniture, Interior Design, Lighting, Sculpture, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Interior Design: Redecorating With What You Already Have
Friday, July 16th, 2010
I read a lot of blogs. Most of them are Interior Design blogs, but some of them are on other topics of interest to me. One of the blogs I like is called The Calm Space and the topics are about Happiness and Serenity. Yesterday the writer, Vitania M. Liscio posted an article that is all about using what you already have to redecorate your home and freshen it up. It fit my sentiments exactly! After all, my work in Interior Design is really all about helping my clients be more happy with their homes. It isn’t all about buying new stuff (although that is fun!). But if the things you already have can be arranged, changed and displayed to improve the feel of your home, then that’s a great way to get started on making your surroundings the best they can be. Plus, she gives great tips, so I thought I would share it with you.
Happiness is Wanting What You’ve Got!
~~photo is of one of my paintings displayed in a penthouse I staged~~
So, how do I redecorate my own home with what I’ve already got? Well, I enjoy painting as a hobby, plus I buy a lot of inexpensive and colorful art for my work in home staging. When I need a change, I rotate my art, bringing out pieces I haven’t seen in awhile and putting others away. It is an easy way to change the whole look and color palette of my home without having to buy anything new.
Interior Designers usually refer to this rearranging and re-purposing of your furniture, art and accessories as “Re-Design” and it’s one of the services I offer. One great bonus is that this is a very sustainable way to redecorate because you don’t have to find a place to get rid of your older things. It’s also a thrifty way to allocate your design dollars.
Do you love the idea of re-designing your rooms with what you have, but just can’t imagine where to start? After living with your belongings in one arrangement for so long, it can be tough to imagine them any other way. A fresh pair of eyes can be very helpful. If you’d like help with re-designing your space, pick up the phone and give me a call. I’d love to help! 503.816.4394
Tags: decorate, Interior Design, redecorate, redesign, the calm space, Vitania M. Liscio
Posted in Art, Cool Ideas, DIY, Design Dollars, Design Tips, Fireplace, Home Staging, Interior Design, Sustainable style, redesign | 1 Comment »
5 Quick & Inexpensive Pick-Me-Ups For a Tired Kitchen
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Are you living with a kitchen that has seen better days? I certainly am! My house – purchased almost 5 years ago – was built in the 70′s and the kitchen had not had updates of any kind. Eventually I will remodel. But when I do, it will be the kind of remodel that includes knocking down walls, moving windows, adding an exterior door and will cost tens of thousands. Business is getting better all the time, so hopefully the day is not far off when I can have the sleek and modern kitchen of my dreams like this beauty by Bulthaup.
Maybe you are living with a kitchen that is outdated, or even a new construction home with a kitchen that is bland and boring. If you aren’t ready for a full blown remodel, it doesn’t mean you can’t inject a fresh feel into your kitchen and do it affordably. In the meantime, why not make some quick and relatively inexpensive improvements that will make your kitchen more enjoyable and livable for now?
Today I’m sharing 5 ways to freshen up your kitchen without a remodel. These quick and lower cost improvements are also great for people who want to make their home look it’s best before putting it on the market.
1. Lighting: Just a few improvements in your kitchen’s lighting can make a dramatic impact in how warm and beautiful it looks and make your kitchen more functional. Under-cabinet lights are available in both plug-in models you can install yourself or hard-wired versions that will require an electrician. Getting ones that have a low and high setting means you can set them to bright so you can see to cook, and then turn them down to a soft glow for ambience when you are entertaining. This is especially nice in open plan homes because it makes great accent lighting. Placing them toward the front of the cabinets gives the best light over your work area. In the kitchen below, the under-cabinet lights cast a beautiful glow on the tile backsplash and light the countertop beautifully making it easy to see what you’re doing.
via Gardenweb
Updating ceiling light fixtures is another quick way to improve lighting. Removing an old dropped-ceiling fluorescent fixture and replacing it with track or spot lights gives a more contemporary look and better light. If you have higher ceilings in the kitchen, consider a chandelier to replace a nondescript ceiling light or ceiling pendants above a breakfast bar or kitchen island.
2. Backsplash: Changing your backsplash is a quick way to add interest or color without all the work and expense of changing out your countertops. In the kitchen below, the single row of 6″ x 6″ glass tiles adds shine and complements the color of the painted cabinets. Although glass tile is not cheap, you don’t need much to do a simple backsplash like this.
via HGTV, designed by Beth Haley
This beautiful stainless steel backsplash below is done in peel & stick tiles that require no grouting. They are carried at Lowe’s and are manufactured from 60% recycled material. When adding a new backsplash, take care to choose a material that relates to something else in the kitchen. The glass tiles above relate in color to the cabinets. The steel tiles below relate in finish to the cabinet and appliance hardware.
via Lowe’s
3. Paint and Paintings: Giving the walls a fresh coat of paint in a new color will give you an instant transformation. But an even easier way to add color and interest to a kitchen is to add art. Just as in other rooms, be sure to use art that is large enough for the wall to really make an impact. In the 50′s kitchen below, the bright orange countertop didn’t go well with the gold linoleum. This home was going up for sale and the client didn’t have the budget to change flooring or countertop. So the large colorful art with oranges, golds, reds and greens pulls together the disparate colors in the room.
You can incorporate art even when there isn’t much wall space. Inexpensive printed giclee canvases are easy to wipe clean, so they can be placed anywhere. Here I used art above the backsplash and below the wall cabinets to add a bit of color to this bland kitchen. Colorful accessories continue the color scheme.
4. Flooring: Kitchen flooring takes quite a beating. If your kitchen flooring is looking shabby, and it is different from the rest of the flooring in your house as is often the case – then changing it can be a relatively inexpensive project with big results. If you have old wood floors that are beyond refinishing, consider painting them. Painted checker board patterns are popular, but the kitchen below is very contemporary. I know this is unusual, but the dramatic black floor and charcoal wall work well against the white cabinetry and yellow tile behind the stove with a bright yellow chair as accent. Light colors like soft aqua or muted yellow-green work well in a kitchen too. Again, just be sure to relate the color to other finishes in your kitchen.
via apartmenttherapy.com
Other great flooring options are cork, or Marmoleum. Cork and Marmoleum both come in tiles and can be handled by an experienced do-it-yourselfer. Linoleum comes in a great range of patterns including ones that look like stone. Installation of the large sheet material is better left to a pro.
via apartmenttherapy.com
5. Hardware: If you have that shiny brass hardware from the 80′s – RUN – DON’T WALK, to your nearest hardware store! Your cabinet drawer pulls and handles and kitchen plumbing fixtures are like jewelry for your kitchen. Updating them is like getting a new tie to wear with your favorite suit, or a new necklace to wear with that classic dress you love. And just like a new tie or a new necklace, new hardware will change the look of your kitchen equally as effectively. But before you are tempted to pick the cheapest ones you can find — let me say this: hardware is something that you touch everyday. It should feel good in your hand and be of a good quality.
Choose a style and finish that works with the rest of your home. With thousands of styles available, you can create any look you want — from simple traditional or contemporary styles — to highly decorative statements. Although it is possible to successfully mix metals in your kitchen, the finish should relate to other things in your home such as your light fixtures or other metals found in adjacent and visible rooms. In the first two photos below, these simple hardware styles complement the style of the cabinetry. The turquoise glass knob echos the color of the aqua glass inserts in the cabinets, while the ornate tree shaped pulls work well with the elaborate leaf design carved into the wood.
With so many choices available, it can be overwhelming. But just choose one of the above five steps to get started. For most people, the kitchen is the heart of the home, so making it more appealing will give you a big payoff in enjoyment for yourself — or in speed of sale if your house is going on the market.
If you still aren’t sure which changes would be the best for your kitchen, I can help you decide your first step. Give me a call or email me today to set up an in-home visit or online consultation.
You may also like:
Painting Kitchen Cabinets: Which Color Would You Choose?
Home Staging Success: Portland Home Sold In One Day … See How
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Tags: Art, backsplash, cabinet hardware, cabinet knobs, cabinet pulls, faucet, Flooring, Kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen remodel, Lighting, paint, plumbing fixtures, stainless steel
Posted in Art, Colors, Cool Ideas, DIY, Design Dollars, Design Tips, Flooring, Home Staging, Interior Design, Kitchen, Lighting, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Serving Up Sustainable Style: Eco-Friendly Serving Trays
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
During the holidays, if you are the type who loves to entertain, serve up your refreshments on sustainable and stylish serving trays. Whether you use serving trays to place on an ottoman in your living room in lieu of a coffee table, or you want a convenient way to get your hors d’oeuvres (yes, I had to look up the spelling) from the kitchen to your dining table or buffet, these trays will make a design statement while being kind to the environment. I hope you see one that will work with your decor. I’m a fanatic about detail and color coordination, so I have different trays to complement my color palette and design style for the living room, family room, dining room and my bedroom. One of my personal indulgences is to have coffee in bed every morning. It’s enticing to have a beautifully set tray and an inexpensive way to add a little elegance and style to your entertaining.
This first tray will complement even the most minimal modern decor. The Enos serving tray produced by Staach is hand made in the USA out of solid maple from domestic wood from certified sources . The bottom is lacquered in clear, white or red and the top is finished with food safe mineral oil. I think it is destined to be a classic design icon. Found at 2modern.com.
The Ibride Tray is made from reclaimed wood and totally rocks in an eclectic decor. Hang this up on your wall as art in between use. Found at Clio-Home.
And for you DIY types, here’s a fun project. Find an old cupboard door and use paint, handles and a little creativity to make your own serving tray in any color or style you like. This one is from Craftynest. It would be very fun to do a collage on one of these if you don’t have painting skills. A great way to recycle and re-purpose. Remember to use zero VOC paints, adhesives and finishes.
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Tags: 2modern, Art, color, Dining Room, DIY, do it yourself, entertaining, environmentally friendly, green design, modern design, portland interior design, serving tray, sustainable, sustainable materials, sustainable style
Posted in Art, Bedroom, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, DIY, Dining Room, Kitchen, Living Room, Sustainable style, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Decorating With Art: November Artist of the Month
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
This is the first in a new series of posts about decorating with art. Although there are many ways to find a point of inspiration for your decor, my favorite starting point for interior design is art that you love. I know that many people are nervous about starting to buy art, thinking about the investment and also sometimes concerned that they don’t know what is “good” art. Worried that they will make a mistake. But I believe in buying what you love and not worrying so much about whether it will appreciate in value. If you see a piece of art and it gives you a good feeling — you love the colors, or it makes you smile, or possibly brings up happy memories — then that would be a good choice for you. By far, the most common reason people buy art is because it has some connection with their life. I think those are all excellent reasons to buy art. Selecting and displaying art is a great way to express yourself and to really personalize your home. And whenever possible, I would prefer to find furniture that complements the art … not art that goes with your furniture.
So, to help my clients find art that will work for them, I’ve decided to post an article each month about an artist whose work I like. I hope these articles inspire you to take the plunge and add some artwork to your home.
This month’s featured artist is Victoria Taylor-Gore.
Her work is done in soft pastels. Personally, I love her color choices and the lighting in many of her pieces. My favorite time of day is the very late afternoon, sometimes referred to as the “golden hour”, when the sun’s light is coming from very low in the sky. It casts long shadows and is very golden in color making everything appear very saturated with color. Her work depicts “simplified architectural and landscape forms in a distorted perspective”. The forms she chooses carry universal symbolism which really connects on a deep level with people. Take a look at her website. She also blogs about her work so you can learn more about it.
Tags: Art, color, Victoria Taylor-Gore
Posted in Art, Colors, Design Tips, Interior Design, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Metropolitan Home Magazine Being Discontinued
Monday, November 9th, 2009
I could hardly believe my eyes today when I saw that Metropolitan Home Magazine is being discontinued. It knocked the wind out of me! Being an interior designer, you might think I subscribe to dozens of magazines, but I don’t. I subscribe to just three … Metropolitan Home, Dwell Magazine, and Interior Design Magazine. For years I have loved Met Home for it’s elegantly sophisticated interiors. Their style has been characterized by modern interior design that is warm and graceful. Exactly the type of warm contemporary interior decor that most informs my own aesthetic. It was full of wonderful interior design ideas using the latest innovations and materials in a way that felt classic. I found out about many artists whose work I love by first seeing them showcased in a fabulous living room, an innovative dining room, or a bedroom that was a haven of serenity.
This is a sad day. Met Home, I will miss you!
Hachette Closing Metropolitan Home
Posted in Art, Bedroom, Dining Room, Interior Design, Living Room, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Art: Interior Design Starts With an Inspiration Piece
Sunday, October 11th, 2009
Today I just want to share one thought. By far, the biggest challenge for interior design clients coming to me is “where do I start?”. The answer is to find a point of Inspiration. My own preference for a place to begin is with a piece of art that inspires you. In my internet wanderings I found this computer generated artwork and it just made me FLIP!! I think it is exquisite. I have written to the artist, John Haggerty, to find out how much for this piece. But in the meantime, here it is.
A beautiful piece of art like this gives you a starting point for your color palette. These paint colors are all inspired from the art. From here, upholstery, carpet, tile – pretty much anything you want – has a reference point.
If you found this article helpful and inspiring and would like help finding your “inspiration piece” and pulling together your decor, I’d love to help.
Tags: Art, color palette, Design Tips, inspiration, Interior Design, John Haggerty, paint color
Posted in Art, Colors, Cool Stuff, Design Tips, Interior Design, Uncategorized | No Comments »