It's a Prize Post, it's a test, it's advice for Cara

Christine,

Good afternoon!  I was thrilled when I stumbled upon your blog.  My husband and I were married 3 months ago and recently moved into our first home.  Because we are in our early twenties, neither of us have much furniture to contribute to the house.  All that to say, we are trying to take it project by project and room by room until our dream house is complete!  :)

Here are a list of design questions I was hoping you could help me with (pictures are coming in separate emails because I had to use my iPhone...sorry!):

• There's a lot of empty space (wall space included) in our family room.  Ideas?
• I don't like the current light fixtures on our fireplace.  I'm not sure if I want to replace them with new fixtures or take advantage of the fact that electricity already runs behind our fireplace and do something altogether different with the light.
• Should I add a mantle to the fireplace?  If so, what do you suggest (height, depth, style, color, etc.)?
• I've seen pictures, online, of people putting candles different sizes and heights in their fireplace during the non-winter months.  Do you like that idea?
• We are planning on selling the current couch and coffee table, but I'm not sure what kind of furniture I want to buy next.  We have the issue of the fireplace and TV competing for the spotlight in the room.  What kind of furniture (placement included) would you suggest?
• Do you like the arrangement of frames, books, and nicknacks on the media stand?  If not, what do you suggest?

Thanks SO much for your ideas and time.  You're a lifesaver!

1.   First you need to start with your furniture arrangement.  This split focal point of the TV and fireplace is such a disease in homes these days. I would start by walking around the home and looking at every room with fresh eyes- can you move the TV to an entirely different room?   That would be my first suggestion.  An ideal arrangement would have no TV in there at all.   Now is when I am starting to feel like I have addressed this before- which I have- check out this post.  My advice for you is the same.

2.  I saw this photo on pintrist and thought of you.  I especially liked it because it showed the look with sconces.

Now to address the question- "Should I add a mantle to the fireplace?  If so, what do you suggest (height, depth, style, color, etc.)?"   

Let me list some considerations.

1.  Height- well- if you are going to use the area over the fireplace for a television- you are going to want to make sure you are not too high.  You also don't want it to be awkwardly low in an effort to give you a comfortable television height.  Determine what your comfortable height is, and decide if you should have one from there.

2.  Height if there is no television to consider.  I would then select my art work first, decide the optimum height to hang it, centering the sconces as best as I could, and that would determine your height.

3.  Depth.  Now- if you are hanging a television- keep your depth minimal.  If not- consider how you intend to decorate the mantle.  If your mantle is not deep enough, you won't be able to do a lot of layering with your accessories. It will be more simplistic.  I have seen many times people who have a shallow mantle, try to put a lot of accessories on it, but if it is too shallow- they end up in a little row, instead of nice layered arrangement. 

Long time readers of my blog have read my addressing this before- so instead of regurgitating, I thought I would give you all a little test.  I will post some different fireplace photos.  I want you to determine which are poor examples, and which are good examples.  See- I am turning you all into interior designers.  Don't be fooled- just because the photo is clearly from House Beautiful- doesn't mean it is a good example.  When you have learned all I have to share with you- you will be better designers than those being photographed in popular magazines. 

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So- I have fourteen photos- seven bad and seven good.  To study up- you can look at these posts for guidance.  Is this too much work?  Is anyone going to take my test?  Someone out there humor me and take the test!  Forget your plans for the day and spend it picking apart fireplace mantle arrangements.  Tell me that's not more fun than what you had planned!  For a little encouragement- I will send the winner the latest copy of Elegant Homes magazine.  It is full of fabulous examples of great design.  (FYI- the number of each photo is ABOVE the photo.)

My 500th Post- Prize Post

This is my 500th post!

I like to comment on movie interiors- and the movies that I have seen recently have given me nothing to talk about- (interior wise)- First there was The Squeaqual- which I took my daughters to... Dave does have a charming place- and I like his little neighborhood... But does is warrant a post??? Not really- then last weekend I saw New Moon- more ferny forests than interiors- with one horrible bedroom. I don't even want to mention how bad Jacob's place is- of course- the Cullen's place- although briefly shown is fabulous. Then there was Avatar- the glowing plants were cool- but still- not a lot to talk about interior- wise. So- I'd like to go back- WAY back- to 1958. No- I wasn't alive- but have made it a point since to see a lot of Carey Grant movies- and one that has really fabulous interior is Indiscreet with Carey Grant. So- for my prize post- I will be giving away this DVD.

I really love her living room- her art collage is wonderful.

The colors are also beautiful- such great blues and reds. Have you seen the movie? Did you like it? Just leave any old comment to put your name in the hat for the give-away.

Thanks for reading my blog everyone!

I guess I never said when the contest would end- but- ta dah- it just ended- I printed the comments, cut them in strips and selected one- the winner is Rachel from Indiana. I checked out Rachel's blog- you should too- you can tell from her smile that she would be a fun friend to have. Hey Rachel- just e-mail me your address and I will send you your new flick. Hope you like it as much as I did!

- Christine

Kim's Giveaway

Kim (catch up with Kim here, here, here, and here) at Charmed I'm Sure is having a clock giveaway sponsored by CSN who carries everything from clocks to mattresses. Stop by before 11:59 pm Mountain Time on August 28th and enter to win.

Go check it out for a chance to win- I'm headed there now myself...

So- just how much does it cost? Prize post

Above is a picture of a job that I am working on. A new home purchase- a blank slate. Just what does it cost to decorate a room? I have a plan for the room below:

Everyone seems to be concerned about money. When I meet with clients most have no idea what their budget is a on a project. It is hard to know just what it costs to decorate a room or a home. I will tell you - What does it cost? $13,872.00. I want you to guess how that money is divided. :) In your comment- list these items- with what you think the costs are to come up with $13,872.00 Let's see who is the closest :)

Bainbridge chairs
Madeline sofa
art
coffee table
fabric for drapes
rug
credenza
set of two botanicals
mirror
photo collage

Set of two faux greens on the mantle (uttermost)

Art - for above Fireplace- by Minerva Tiechert- entitled Zion Ho I'd get a 32 x 36 on canvass. I might need to frame it when it comes in???? I like the casual wrapped canvass look- but I don't know how the edges look. Let's price it without the frame- I really like the idea of the more casual look.

Madeline Sofa By Nathan Anthony- Field fabric: Tegola Gold with pillows in Caney Creek Spring
Fabric for chairs Fabricutt # 3384902. (I don't know for sure about this fabric- I keep changing it---)

Two Bainbridge Lounge Chairs from Palecek

Havanawood Coffee Table from Palecek Duralee pattern #2361- made into drapes for her slider. I am pricing just the fabric- the client is a seamstress- like Tamlynn :)Classic Home Patterned Jute Area Rug -8 x 10.Credenza by Decorize - for a media cabinet- 80 inches wide (this is a large piece).
Du Chateau Hardwood Floors - not included in the price- as they spread into other rooms...

48 x 48 mirror from Uttermost

Photo Collage from Uttermost

So- what costs what? I will let you know in a couple of days. I will give a prize to whomever is closest. Don't get TOO excited- not a huge prize- but I will give away a decorative picture frame to the winner. :) You can guess multiple times if you like.

Oh- and are you wondering about the walls... tune in on Wednesday. :)

And the Winner is...

D2 (Fancy Nancy Fan) picked a winner for me- and the winner is... Aly Sun! E-mail me your address and I will send you your decorative balls.
Thanks everyone! I am back in town- more later- :)
Christine