Basic Bedroom Design Elements

January 22, 2020 by Suzanne Lasky Leave a Comment

Below is a guest posting that talks about some basic bedroom design elements that can make your ‘nest’ more comfortable and enjoyable. Once someone asked me what defined ‘luxury’ for my personal world. My answer was high quality, unwrinkled sheets and pillowcases on my bed daily. Probably not the answer most would give to that question, but a comfortable bedding situation can make or break how you sleep.
Some of S Interior Design’s clients feel this way, others are more interested in the color and patterns for their bedding. As the phrase goes “to each his own”. Here is a photo of a master bedroom that S Interior Design did the design work for. The client now calls it her sanctuary.

MASTER BEDROOM DESIGN — MASTER BEDROOM BY S INTERIOR DESIGN, LLC

Simple ways to add comfort to your bedroom

Everyone should take time to relax. One of the most personal spaces in your home is your bedroom. It should be the coziest and most comfortable place in your home. Your personal preferences and tastes will influence how you decorate it. For an old-fashioned look, use antique furniture and décor. Or choose something new if you prefer a modern or chic look.

The bedroom is where we spend time relaxing, reading a book being in our own comfortable space. It’s the place where we open our eyes early in the morning and close our eyes at night for a good nights sleep. Every bedroom has essential items like a mattress, bed frame, down pillows, bed sheets, comforters, blankets, and more.

Pillows:

Pillows are one area where the selection is vast. Consider down pillows to avoid neck and shoulder. Down pillows are available in a variety of firmness options. Choose a firmer option if you’re a side sleeper or a less firm option if you are a stomach or back sleeper.

Here are a few ways to add comfort to your room:

Picture Frames & Art:

We all have memories attached to our past. Cherish those memories with photos from your important family events to make your room feel like home. You may hang your pictures on the wall or place them on a table or shelf.

Shelves for Décor or Books:

Many of us love reading a book. It’s a good habit. It can relieve stress and in transport you into a new world. A bookshelf in your bedroom can be used for books or for photos and keepsakes.

Lighting and Lamp:

When designing a room, don’t forget that light is in an important especially if your room is in a portion of the house where sunlight does not pass. There are a variety of lighting options including fixtures, ceiling fans with lights, or floor or table lamps to match a wide variety of styles.

Mirrors:

Adding a mirror to your bedroom is always a good idea. A mirror reflects light and it makes your room look larger and more bright. A mirror is also useful when getting dressed to make sure you’re looking your best.

Linens and Bed Sheets:

Many use cotton bed sheets as they are an affordable and comfortable option. Consider different types of cotton for improved comfort, Egyptian or Pima cotton has a tighter weave and can give feel of staying in a luxury hotel.

Furniture:

While adding furniture into your bedroom keep the size and amount of space. Oversize furniture works well is a large room where smaller furniture is a better option for smaller bedrooms with little space.

Color Scheme:

Something else to keep in mind when designing a room is the color scheme. Pick a color scheme that coordinates with the rest of your decor. Lighter colors generally make a room feel larger and work well in rooms that don’t get a lot of natural light. Darker colors bring a more relaxed vibe and work well in rooms with lots of natural light.

Storage options:

To keep your room organized and tidy, consider storage using shelves or a chest of drawers. You can also add organizers and shelves to closets to increase the efficiency of your space there.

Conclusion:

The bedroom is the most personal room in your house. Design it according to align with your preferences. You can spend a lot or find budget ideas to make your room perfect. Overall, you should be happy and comfortable in your bedroom and it should reflect aspects of your personality and things that are important to you.

Tips To Improve Curb Appeal With Your Garage Door

October 10, 2019 by Suzanne Lasky Leave a Comment

Below is a guest posting on how to improve your home’s curb appeal by the look and design of your garage door. Here in Phoenix many homes have front facing garages and they can sometimes distinctly define the look of a home; for better or for worse. This makes it very important to have a garage door design that compliments and enhances your home’s elevation design.

First impressions are absolutely important, especially when we’re talking about your home. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when people stop, stare, and marvel at the way your house looks. More importantly, that first impression matters when you’re thinking about putting your house on the market. House-hunters will surely want to call your real estate agent with just one look at the front of your home.

That impressive look, of course, can be achieved when you make an effort to enhance the curb appeal of your home. There are many ways of improving curb appeal, but did you know that your garage door can play an instrumental role in bringing fresh excitement to your home’s façade?

Admittedly, a garage door can look incredibly bland, which isn’t surprising since many homeowners just concern themselves with keeping it functional with maintenance and garage door repair. But with a little creativity from your end, your garage door can do so much more, especially when it comes to improving curb appeal. Here are some tips on doing just that.

Paint your garage door.

If the color of your garage door matches the paint of the exterior, then it’s time to do some repainting on it.

As it stands now, your garage door will tend to disappear into the walls. So pick a color that will contrast to the rest of the house in an attractive way. The best color for your garage door would be one that is a few shades darker than the paint on your home. A house painted a light tan, for example, would look great with a garage door with light brown paint. The point is to create a contrast that isn’t too stark.

Do some accessorizing.

If your garage door already came with handles, windows, patterns, or side arrows, then you’re all good on the accessorizing front. However, if your garage door is a little on the simple side, you can enhance the way it looks by adding accessories around it.

Consider placing potted plants on either side of your garage. For added flourish, you can have shrubs, tall plants, and other kinds of greenery close to the garage doors. If you can incorporate some decorative stonework on your driveway, then that would make your garage door pop nicely.

Add lighting fixtures.

When installed in the right spots, exterior light fixtures almost instantly make everything look great. Put up exterior lighting with the garage door as a focal point, and you can be sure that they will enhance curb appeal.

A wise choice is overhead and side lights. They provide much-needed illumination and security, and make the garage door look stunning at night as well. Of course, you have to make sure that the lights you install complement not only your home’s color tone but also its overall style to make the overall look of your home stand out.

If you have a big enough budget for more lighting, then you can go for ground lights that point upwards, preferably towards the trees and tall plants around your garage door.

Balance everything with the front door.

It would look odd if your garage door is all spruced up and your front door isn’t. So whatever enhancements you did with your garage door, it would be a great idea to do the same for your front door. It will make the look of your home more consistent and balanced.

Garage doors don’t have to look dull. Follow the tips above, and your garage door should be able to contribute significantly to the overall curb appeal of your home.

Thinking of Remodeling Your Kitchen?

May 15, 2019 by Suzanne Lasky Leave a Comment

Below is a guest post focusing on the back splash design element for the kitchen. When S Interior Design works with their clients on kitchen remodels, we generally select the larger design elements such as counter tops and cabinet style before selecting the back splash materials. There are however situations where the ‘perfect’ back splash material guides the design direction and we build from that design element. The article below is easy to read and provides guidance on how to select the best material for your back splash taking not only looks but functionality into consideration.

How to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Backsplash

A great kitchen backsplash is not only functional, protecting your walls from grease and dings, it’s also beautiful, a design statement that adds to the beauty of your home and the character of your space.

The options for style, materials, pattern, and color are endless, so the task of choosing one can be overwhelming. In order to help you choose the right one for your kitchen, here are six questions to ask when choosing the right kitchen backsplash for you.

1. How much do you want to spend?

The first question you should ask yourself is how much money you want to spend on the project. The size of your budget will affect the quality and brand of material you are able to buy. It will also affect whether you will be able to hire a professional to do the installation or whether you will need to take on the task yourself.

Before you start shopping, identify your budget and stick to it. You’ll be more pleased with the result if you don’t stretch your funds beyond their limit.

2. How often do you cook?

If you cook regularly, you’ll want to make sure you choose a backsplash material that is durable, stain resistant, and easy to clean. Classic subway tile is stylish and versatile and is very easy to clean. Brick is classic and durable, but it’s tough to clean and will show grease stains over time. Stone, however, is one of the most durable materials you can use for your kitchen surfaces, but it often comes at a steep price.

Whatever you choose, the rule of thumb is that the more often you cook, the tougher, more heat-resistant, and long-lasting the material should be.

5. How much space do you have?

The amount of space you have for your backsplash will help determine whether you should go simple or busy with your backsplash design. This will also affect how much you have in your budget to spend on your backsplash material. You can make a great statement with an interesting material, pattern, or color across a small and concentrated space.

Keep in mind that busy tile patterns, when applied across a large area, can overwhelm a room and grow tiresome over time. The larger the space, the simpler the pattern should be.

3. Do you want to install the backsplash yourself?
If you choose a backsplash material or tile that requires intricate designs or hefty cutting materials, you may be better off hiring a professional to handle the installation.

Most DIYers can handle simple running bond or stack bond tile patterns, but herringbone and parquet-inspired styles may be more of a headache than they’re worth, so calling in the pros may save you a great deal of time and frustration. How much you’re willing to spend on the project will affect whether you can afford to hire a pro, of course.

4. What is the style of your kitchen?

Do you like sleek and modern or traditional and timeless? Is your home rustic or minimalist? Trendy or classic? The style of your home and especially the style of your kitchen will affect the type and style of backsplash you choose. Fish scale tile says trendy and playful, marble says stately and tasteful, subway tile says classic and sensible. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to coordinate it with the style you love.

You’ll also want to make sure that your backsplash coordinates with your countertops, cabinets, appliances, and flooring. If you need help picturing the finished product, try a design app that lets you take photos of you space and try on new styles.

6. How do you want your space to feel?

Once you’ve decided on the style you’re going for, you should then decide the way you want your kitchen to feel. Do you want to convey simplicity and function or are you looking for luxury and decadence? Do you want to reflect light into the room or create a sense of comfortable warmth?

If you want to create a light and airy feel in your home, then choosing a light-colored or transparent material is the way to go. Avoid dark soapstone and marble and heavy brick.

If you want to create a feel of luxury and indulgence, then heavily veined marble or sturdy granite might be the right choice for you (granite is very durable and heat-resistant as well).

Exciting New Tile Options

February 28, 2019 by Suzanne Lasky Leave a Comment

As a designer of 17 years time, it seems to take a bit more each year to make me say ‘WOW’. Last night I was invited to an A.S.I.D. meeting at a Scottsdale Arizona vendor – The Tile Shop for a special presentation of the latest product introduction from Ann Selke. Ann Selke is a renowned designer of furnishings including textiles via Pine Cone Hill bedding and area rugs via Dash and Albert. Now she has introduced her custom tile and decorative glass products.

Annie Selke

Consisting of over 200 tiles, the Annie Selke for The Tile Shop collection pushes the boundaries of technology to bring the look and feel of popular Annie Selke textiles, prints and artwork to life. Reflecting the texture of rugs, the sheen of metallic fabrics, the softness of dappled watercolor paintings and more, this inspired collaboration ranges from feminine to bold. Mix and match within the collections to maximize cohesion within a space and from room to room.

I needed to share! A breath of fresh air in the tile world. Besides standard porcelain and ceramic tile, she has coordinated a line of large format glass panels to go along with the tile options if desired.

Of course while I was at The Tile Shop I took the time to look at their entire inventory of fabulous tile options. I was happy to see new dimensional tiles, use of color and patterns along with the natural stone classics.

Black and Textured
Colorful and Geometric
Cement Look Encaustic
Textural Limestone
Not Your Father’s Subway Tile!

Now that my creative juices are flowing I am eager to embark on a new client project that I will hopefully be able to use some of these wonderful new tile finds in the design plan!

RED-The Energy Color

July 27, 2017 by Suzanne Lasky Leave a Comment

Some think a little red goes a long way. Other’s cannot get enough and feed off the energy that the color red evokes. S Interior Design was surprised and happy to see that one of our living room designs that features red as the accent color was chosen to be a part of a recent design article published by Shutterfly.

Just remember, red is not only for use in your interior design at Christmas time!

The Color Red

Red is the color of energy, passion and action

The color red is a warm and positive color associated with our most physical needs and our will to survive. It exudes a strong and powerful masculine energy.

Red is energizing. It excites the emotions and motivates us to take action.

It signifies a pioneering spirit and leadership qualities, promoting ambition and determination.

It is also strong-willed and can give confidence to those who are shy or lacking in will power.

Being the color of physical movement, the color red awakens our physical life force.