Blog

3 Ideas for a Sophisticated Front Door

2012-05-22T16:14:49Z

The front door area of your home does create that ever important first impression to guests. What you make of it is a truly a “window” into your imagination. We often consult with clients throughout central Indiana who are wanting to present more of a sophisticated, custom look to the outside of their home – and have the exterior be more of a reflection of their homes’ interior.

After years as a painter and consultant on color with designers and homeowners, there are a few tips of the trade that can provide the outside of your home with a truly sophisticated, custom look without spending a lot of money. More often than not, it is simply a question of choosing the right color paint to work with your existing home and keeping it simple.

Here are 3 ideas that have worked well for us throughout the Village of WestClay -- bringing a bit more sophistication through color to home exteriors.

1) Choose the “right” color for the front door. We all know that the front door needs to stand on its own from the structure and be the focus to the front side of your home. For the door to stand out, this means that trim color, siding color, etc. may compliment but never match the color of the front door. Often, the color or material of the front door in only used once as with a stained wood doors, painted black or red doors, etc.

In this picture, we took the house color and went two shades darker with paint on the front door and side window panels. The subtle tone variation provides the sophisticated pallet that the homeowners were seeking and a wonderful backdrop for seasonal plantings. Painting out both the door and side panels (not door trim) not only put emphasis on the door but exaggerated the size of the door.

2) Choose a color for large accent items. Just as you put thought into what shade of color your sofa was going to be in your living room, so should you think out what color for outdoor accent items such as furniture, planters, etc.

In this picture, we painted the rocking chairs a darker, richer grey color. The chairs work well with the black front door and the tone-on-tone quality of the painted front porch provides the entire house a crisp, clean look. A welcome pop of color with these nautical pieces and this casual, yet sophisticated, look is complete.

3) Choose one or two colors for trim and details. Particularly in the Village, homes are adorned with beautiful trim detailing that often is overlooked. Often, playing up the homes’ trim and detail can make the front door area really stand out.

In this picture, we painted the details surrounding the front door area in two complimentary colors. Highlighting the detail on this home made all the difference to the entire structure and well beyond the front door. The tip here is to keep the trim and detail pallet simple by using shades of a similar color and never go beyond two trim colors. The black front door turns out to be the third color to the front door area and completes this sophisticated look.

Get more great ideas on painting and decorating on our blog at www.ArtandTex.com or call Art & Texture anytime at 317.846.5433 for an appointment.

Cleaning vs. Polishing Wood Furniture

2012-03-28T18:03:11Z

Wood furniture is one of the largest investments that people make. As consigners of fine furniture, we are constantly being asked for “tips” to care for and enhance the beauty of wood furnishing. In particular, how should fine wood furniture be cleaned and should you use furniture polishes?

In general, wood furniture should be dusted preferably with a fine furniture dusting cloth most often found at local hardware stores. These clothes are a great investment since they can be washed repeatedly and are found to be more efficient than spray products. Feather dusters – well, your mother was right – only scatters the dust which resettles back onto the furniture and is not recommended.

Customarily, polishing furniture once a month is desirable. In fact, over polishing is the primary cause of damaged finishes. Always use an absorbent, soft, lint-free cloth and work with the grain of the wood following manufacturers’ recommendations.

Remember, all furniture polishes are not created equal. You will want to verify that your furniture polish does not contain wax or silicone solvents.

Wax Polishes

Avoid regular use of a wax polishes. These polishes may result in a wax built-up on the surface of the furniture. Streaks and smudges commonly result when built-up wax picks-up dirt, smoke and other pollutants in the air. Wax build-up hardens over time and makes it difficult to remove from the furniture’s finish.

Silicone Polishes

Manufacturers often create a high sheen on furniture using silicone oil in the furniture polish. Silicone is quite difficult to remove and silicone products should be avoided.

Occasionally, you may be maintaining on an older piece of furniture and you will find it necessary to remove the old wax and polish. This can be done easily and safely with a professional wood cleaner. Remember to follow this step with a good furniture polishing.

7 Great Tips to Care for Wood Furniture

2012-03-14T18:03:18Z

To begin, most wood furniture has a varnish or lacquer finish. This finish adds to the beauty of the wood and protects it. Finishes have sheen (gloss) that range from high to low and with regular care can last for generations. You always want to make sure that your wood furniture is protected properly..

The following are 7 common sense tips for maintaining wood furniture:

Frequently dust with a lint-free, soft, dry cloth.
Furniture polishes protect fine wood finishes. Polishes should be used once a month and applied with a lint-free, soft, absorbent cloth.
Sunlight fades wood furniture. Avoid placing in direct sunlight.
Spills need to be addressed immediately and should be blotted and not wiped up.
Wood furniture expands and contracts with humidity. Humidity that is too low or too high can cause glue to fail and wood to warp.
Wood furniture should be arranged away from heating/cooling registers and radiators whenever possible to avoid extreme temperature changes.
Avoid dragging objects across surfaces. Always lift and place objects.

Finally, one best practice - there are ingredients in rubber and plastic that often react to wood finishes – always protect wood surfaces using a cloth or pad.

3 Room Color Selection Fundamentals

2012-02-17T22:11:34Z

Yes, it’s only paint. But when selecting a color to paint a room, often people are overwhelmed by the selection process. They have a difficult time visualizing what the color on the chip would look like throughout a room. The fear of making a mistake and having to live with it for years seems unbearable. Not to mention what the neighbors might think about a poor color choice.

After years in the color consulting business, here are my 3 fundamentals I consider when starting the color selection process for a client:

1) Look for that which will not change. Look for colors such as the stone of a fireplace, color of carpet or the tone of the kitchen cabinets. These elements can steer you into the right color family. Color can also be effectively used to define a space and showcase architecture.

2) When in doubt, pull the exterior colors inside. Inspiration is often found from the exterior of the home and surrounding landscaping. Color of brick or stone can be repeated or accentuated by using complementary colors. Consistent color palettes inside and out provide continuity to a home and, consequently, a sense of openness.

3) Start with samples. To better ensure that a color selected is the right color for the room, I am a firm believer of paint samples. That doesn’t mean paint directly on the wall either. Use poster board to make samples so you don’t have to prime over your samples before you begin to paint. Live with those samples for a few days and make sure to check out what that color looks like on the wall morning, midday and night. Light directly effects how a color is perceived. Make sure you take into account what time of day you typically use that room.

There are countless opportunities to add color to a room. Keeping these three fundamentals in mind will undoubtedly make the process of selecting a wall color less challenging. And, of course, as the painters say,”it is only pain.”

The "Make It Work" Coffee Table

2012-02-02T16:31:40Z

“Make it work,” as Tim Gun says, is one of our family’s favorite lines.

When working and refinishing furniture, I am asked to “make it work” a lot by clients. Recently, clients asked us to work on a brand new, high end hardware store coffee table. They had been seeking out the perfect coffee table for years. This table was ideal in every way except it was only 13” high. Whenever you sat near the table traditional scaled furniture, you had to lean down.

Starting from the ground up, I built up the base an additional 5" matched and further detailed the gold leaf finish, and finally applied a wax finish to enhance the look and for durability. The client was delighted with the “make it work” plan for this table which was now truely ideal.

Learn more great ideas for making the most of your home at www.ArtAndTex.com or shop our consignment studio anytime at www.BackroomAtWestClay.com

Consignment Furniture: Purchase Function over Look

2012-01-30T16:02:05Z

As someone who has refinished furniture for years – updating wood furniture finishes, changing the metallic finish on the hardware, etc. -- I have learned that the functionality of a piece of furniture gives it its value – not necessarily how pretty it is. A bookcase, for example, is often hard to purchase used since we need bookcases everywhere in our house and we will pass them down from generation to generation until they eventually make it to the garage.

Yes, what the furniture looks like is important when considering purchasing or refinishing a piece of furniture. And, of course, if the construction of the furniture is not worth investing in then walk away. But, a black lacquer coffee table that fits so perfectly in the family room can be affordably refinished now a day to look like a contemporary hammered metal coffee table – so keeping an open mind to furniture’s potential is where you can come across great finds.

Functionality is completely different and is an all-or-nothing proposition to me. If the coffee table is 13” tall – that is a functionality and practicality concern if paired with a modern day chair or sofa height-- that would have you leaning over. Practicality has also made some pieces of furniture obsolete like the television armoire that has no value in a world of flat panels hung on the wall.

Like my mother’s very low, velvet, living room sofa – if it’s not practical to use then you will live around it and not live with it. Consequently, I recommend that people select furniture that is attractive to the eye but, most importantly, focus on furniture that is will constructed and overall practical.

Learn more great ideas for making the most of your home at www.ArtAndTex.com or shop our consignment studio anytime at www.BackroomAtWestClay.com

Tips When Purchasing Used Wood Furniture

2012-01-27T19:44:50Z

You have fallen in love with a piece of used furniture, but reluctant to purchase it. How can you tell that its good quality and worth purchasing? Over the years, I have learned to look for 3 things when considering such a purchase:

1) Does the furniture appear to be well constructed and in good condition? Well constructed furniture is physically heavy and sturdy to the touch. Always take the time to determine a manufacturers’ name if possible. Famous makers often have their names appear on the back or underside of the furniture or on the inside, side of a top drawer.

2) Are doors and drawers properly aligned? Moving pieces should open and close properly and smoothly. Wood furniture expands and constricts over time especially when kept in areas where there are temperature changes. If drawers don’t pull out easily and seem to stick, they might need

3) How is the overall finish of the piece? Check for imperfections in the finish by wiping your hand across surfaces and feeling for rough patches. Small scratches can be easily removed but replacing wood detail and address surface issues can be costly.

Learn more great ideas for making the most of your home at www.ArtAndTex.com or shop our consignment studio at www.Backroom AtWestClay.com

Selecting Wall Colors to Showcase Your Room

2012-01-27T17:25:01Z

When selecting wall colors, I have learned that over the years to start with one question – what do you want to showcase in the room?

All great rooms have a focus – is it the craftsmanship of the woodwork, the scale and color of the walls, or the beauty of the furnishings?

* Wall colors not only imparts your personal stamp, but can also visually alter your room. In these budget conscious times, changing your wall color and applying wall texture remains one of the most affordable and practical ways to establish your personal style and make your house your home.

* Next, to showcase the craftsmanship woodwork, stress the architectural quality of a space by using contrasting colors on walls and moldings. Nothing makes woodwork pop like a contrast to the wall color. Using paint with sheen will also provide dimension.

* Focusing on the walls, decorative painting in niches, pillars and accent walls can showcase the best of your home.

* To spotlight furniture, use pale hues on walls to make dark wood furniture stand out and away from the walls.

Learn more great ideas for making the most of your home at www.ArtAndTex.com or shop our consignment studio anytime at www.BackroomAtWestClay.com.

4 Great Tips to Camouflage Your Home

2012-01-27T16:53:00Z

Not all rooms are created equal. If you have an odd shaped room or have walls that will never be smooth, there are some tricks of the trade that I have learned over the years to make the most of that space.

1) Rooms can seem larger. Simple tricks such as selecting the same hue throughout a space will make awkward angles less obvious and spaces transition better.

2) Ceilings can seem taller and rooms bigger. Stripes can go either way. On walls, horizontal stripes make a ceiling seem higher while vertical stripes or diamonds can make walls seem wider.

3) Imperfect walls can disappear. Upholstery and plaster on walls can address worn surfaces. Often, it is simpler and less expensive to simply apply a texture over cracked walls.

4) Dress up the space. Chair rail and panels define a dining area or hallway area and gives it a level of sophistication all its own. Stark white pillars near your front door, try a marble finish – I prefer beige tones – to define the space and create warmth.

Learn more great ideas for making the most of your home at www.ArtAndTex.com or shop our consignment studio anytime at www.BackroomAtWestClay.com.

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