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Kilim rugs repurposed as pillows
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WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN
Making the most of what you already have
by Eleanor Lee Yates
You love your home and all its quaint charm. You also love your furniture — or are unwilling to replace it just yet — but want to update your look a bit. How can you give old rooms new life with the furnishings you already own? Here are a few tips to get you started.
A new coat of paint
“The most dramatic change you can make in a room is the paint color,” says Ryan Williams, owner of R.L. Williams Interior Design Center in Apex. “It is the single thing that makes the most impact, but it can also be the most challenging.”
While some choose a dramatic color for a change, paint in a light or darker neutral also can be effective. Whatever the new color, it should be a completely different hue to make a difference in a room's appearance. |
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Green, melon and other hues of orange are solid options for accent walls to punch up a room.
“I love kelly green and the new avocado green is a lot less 'harmful' than it was in the 1970s,” says Alison Steele of A+S Design in Chapel Hill.
Make the switch
One of designer Minta Bell's favorite tips for a room facelift is rehanging all artwork, such as trying out art on different walls or in new variations. To take this concept further, Bell, owner of Minta Bell Design Group in Chapel Hill, recommends rearranging furniture throughout the house.
“Consider the architecture of the room and the room's function before trying to place furniture,” she notes. “It's easier to see it drawn to scale on paper than it is shoving the sofa around.”
To create height in a room, look around the house for furnishings that can achieve this. According to Williams, the smaller the room, the more challenging rearranging it can be. To achieve an entirely new look, try numerous furniture placement options, always keeping scale in mind.
Less is more
Another option when changing a room is to edit it.
“I find that it is often a matter of subtraction instead of addition,” says Amy Depew, a designer with Minta Bell Design Group.
“It is helpful to completely unload a room and very slowly and deliberately add pieces back in,” she adds. “Often, we find that spaces feel fresher and more organized with this technique.”
Depew says clients often discover that they prefer having fewer accessories and clutter, and the spaces appear fresh and new as a result.
“By editing, people can completely transform a space,” Steele adds.
Check the attic
Look around the house — and the attic in particular — for family antiques or other items that can be displayed in new and innovative ways. Collections of antique purses, quilts, fine linens, plates, and other items can bring more meaning when displayed creatively. For example, wooden tennis rackets and distinctive fishing lures can add interest to a den or family room. It also might be time to organize old photos and display pictures of family and friends along a hallway or staircase wall.
For one client, Steele converted small Turkish rugs into large pillows to brighten up sofas and add extra seating.
Depew also uses throw pillows regularly as a way to add new sizzle to a room.
“Changing throw pillows can have a dramatic effect without making any big changes,” she notes.
Buy something new
If you're still feeling like something's missing, heed Bell's words of caution.
“Inexpensive accessories are a waste of money,” she says. “Spend money on one very nice, timeless item such as a great painting, a piece of wonderful pottery or sculpture.”
Steele agrees. “Introducing something that has a lot of power, such as a rug or an upholstered piece, can offer a lot of punch with a minimum (cost),” she says.
“One new piece can bring a lot of life to existing furnishings.” WL
Eleanor Lee Yates, public information officer for Durham Technical Community College, also is a freelance writer and editor of several newspapers in North Carolina and Virginia. Her work has appeared in national magazines such as Parents, Coastal Living and Georgia. |
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Designer tips
Here's a cheat sheet for ways to spruce up your interior look without buying all new furniture:
• Choose a new paint color for the walls.
• Rearrange artwork
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• Move furniture around — but draw sketches first to make sure everything will fit.
• Empty a room, then add pieces back slowly.
• Search the house for family antiques and heirlooms to display creatively.
• Try throw pillows.
• Display family photos in a new way.
• Purchase one timeless item, such as a great painting, sculpture or rug. |
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Millenia 20 Trio |
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THE DIGITAL HOME, DEFINED
Affordable systems make way for star-quality entertainment
by John Gaudiosi
When it comes to creating the ideal home-theater system, the Triangle has seen an influx of new customers seeking out digital homes from area businesses such as Audio Advice and Audio Designs, Raleigh-based providers of audio and video solutions.
While many area residents are adding a layer of luxury to their homes by creating personal movie theaters, others simply are upgrading to take full advantage of the lower-priced, high-tech offerings available today.
The great thing about technology is that it's guaranteed to go down in price over time. When high-definition plasma televisions (HDTVs) were introduced into the American marketplace in 1999, a 50-inch TV cost more than $20,000. Today, a solid 50-inch plasma TV can be purchased for $4,000, while big-box retailers will sell third-tier TVs of that size for as little as $1,500.
However, when it comes to technology, consumers definitely get what they pay for. Leon Shaw, chairman of Audio Advice, warns that Vizio TVs might seem like a bargain, but the picture quality on standard-definition broadcasts can be poor, and warranties might not cover as much consumers would expect. “Big-box retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City are all about selling products,” notes Chad Lunsford, sales manager of Audio Designs.
“Smaller retailers know every product inside and out, and we can recommend a particular TV based on whether or not it will work within your home. Two TVs of equal price might not both offer discreet codes, which means a universal remote control won't work easily with both.”
That's a key differentiator in the booming high-end audio-video marketplace, which is benefiting from the price drops of HDTVs, as well as new technologies such as high-definition DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, and projectors.
A new universe
The heart of today's digital home is a universal controller. Depending on the package and set-up, this can be anything from an iPod Touch or iPhone to a portable notebook PC. Installers literally can have everything in a home — from lighting and audio to security and heating and air conditioning — available at the touch of a button.
Universal remote controls such as the Harmony line from Logitech have been handling TV, DVD, TiVo and videogame consoles for years, but these new remotes are part of an entire-home automation system, whereby users can arm their homes and turn off the lights as they pull out of the driveway using their iPhone or laptop.
“More companies are coming out with more affordable home-automation systems to control everything inside the home,” Lunsford says. “A 3,000-square-foot home-automation system today will cost about $15,000, but in the next few years that price will drop to about $7,000, which is a big deal.”
There already have been major price drops on high-end control systems, which cost approximately $45,000 today, down from $100,000 just a few years ago. Lunsford says home-control systems will become more affordable in the near future, making them as ubiquitous as flat-panel HDTVs, thanks to low price points.
Trends on the rise
The new digital home is completely wireless, which means that parents can watch shows or movies that have been burned to a central movie server or taped on a central digital video recorder in their room, while their kids can watch other burned shows in their rooms.
Audio Advice recently launched a network division to set up wi-fi networked homes using Cisco gear. According to Shaw, many families want both a secure wireless network and a public one that guests with laptops can access easily. He says more homes also are adding central storage systems, which generally are made up of three to four HD digital video recorders that store all of the movies and TV shows a family watches. These can be accessed at any time and anywhere within the home.
Additionally, Shaw says more homes are asking for networked DVD playback, where an entire library of DVDs are burned onto a hard drive and can be accessed anywhere in the home. Many top-tier packages offer this service.
Shaw adds that the price drops in HDTVs have increased the amount of flat panels his company currently installs. The average home currently has four to six HDTVs installed, including in locations such as covered porches. For high-end clients who want the latest technology, there's a 42-inch, outdoor, weatherproof HDTV for the pool or back yard that retails for $8,000.
“We're also seeing a lot of the early adopters who were the first to buy the HDTVs in 1999 and 2000 coming back to upgrade their TVs with better flat-panel options,” Shaw adds.
“The dramatic price drops of HDTVs in recent years also has allowed customers to spend more money on better sound to better replicate the movie-theater experience.”
Star quality
Home-theater rooms — once something only Hollywood stars or professional athletes could afford — now can be created for as little as $15,000. According to Shaw, in the recent past users couldn't even get a decent home projector for that price.
Now, though, they can get the projector, screen, cables and chairs. Chairs can run from $1,000 for La-Z-Boy home-theater seats with cup holders to $4,000 and up for more high-end chairs.
More homes also are opting for home-theater acoustic treatment, which is a combination of fabric panels on the walls made from dampening and reflective materials to eliminate echoes. Depending on the size of the room, this can cost between $4,000 and $30,000.
According to Lunsford, the average projector and screen set-up Audio Designs installs costs $6,500, which includes $5,000 for the projector, $1,000 for a 92-inch screen and $500 for cables. Screens can run as large as 147 inches for $2,500.
“Not everyone has a suitable room for a projector system,” he explains.
“Traditional living rooms don't work because they're too bright. Bonus rooms and basements work best. In the right room, a $9,000 projector looks better than any flat-panel monitor out there.” WL
John Gaudiosi, a Triangle-based freelance writer, covers technology, videogames, entertainment and sports for outlets such as The Washington Post, Playboy, Wired and ESPN. He also has a local Gaming Guru blog at www.wral.com. |
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Going digital
For more information on home-theater systems and going digital, contact the following resources:
Audio Advice
Raleigh
Phone: (919) 881-2005
Web site: www.audioadvice.com
Audio Designs
Raleigh
Phone: (919) 571-3373
Web site: www.audiodesignsonline.com |
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Kitchen after with inset of before
photo: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
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TIPS TO SURVIVE a Kitchen and Bath Remodel
by Eric Phillips
Wouldn't it be nice if we could skip all the pain and heartache of a kitchen or bath remodeling project? When undergoing heart surgery, patients are placed under sedation so they will not experience the painful procedure.
Imagine telling the contractor, “Just wake me when it's over.”
Unfortunately, there is no way to fully escape the stress, disorder, noise, and debris caused by a kitchen or bath remodel. But here are a few ways to minimize the unpleasant side effects of “surgery” on the heart of your home.
Set a schedule
Obtain a schedule of events, and set up a communication method. Be sure to establish agreed-upon methods of communication before the project begins. Will you and the contractor communicate via e-mail, telephone or message board? Ask the contractor for a schedule of events ahead of time that will outline what happens when, as well as the responsible party. This way, you will know the logical progression and timing of each task during the project.
As tasks are completed, they can be marked off. A written schedule helps communication, especially when it might seem to you that everything is going much too slowly and that no progress has been made for days.
Notify neighbors
Let those living near you know that they will be seeing construction vehicles at your house for a specified period of time. People will be more forgiving of the noise and inconvenience of construction when they are informed ahead of time and know approximately how long the project will last.
Prepare your home
Empty all drawers and cabinets, and remove small appliances, items of value, paintings, wall hangings, drapes, rugs, and furniture from the construction zone. Ask the contractor for help in setting up a makeshift kitchen by moving the refrigerator to the garage, or by creating a temporary sink or area for a microwave oven. Coffee pots, hot plates and crock pots can be relocated elsewhere in the house.
Discuss the project with your family — even small children — so that everyone knows what to expect from construction workers, as well as what is expected of them. Both children and adults must understand the dangers that construction tools, exposed wiring, and removed sheetrock or flooring can present. It is also important to keep pets at a safe distance from the construction area.
Plan for some time away
Be sure to budget for dining out, primarily because your family will be eating out more during the remodeling process. Consider taking a vacation or long weekend away from home. Go to the movies, library or mall — any activity outside the home can help you and your family cope with the upheaval of a remodel.
Expect the unexpected
Even the best schedule cannot anticipate the unforeseen effects of opening up a wall and discovering that major piping and wiring is behind it — and shouldn't be. While the contractor should make every effort to follow the agreed-upon timetable, it helps to be flexible with the construction schedule.
The contractor should protect your home through the use of drop cloths, plastic room dividers and air scrubbers, but be aware that construction dust is almost impossible to control completely. Be ready to dust furniture more often during and immediately after the remodeling project.
Preparation, good planning, a mini-vacation, flexible attitude and sense of humor will all go a long way in helping you to survive a kitchen remodel. Similar to any “surgery,” the experience has an unpleasant side. But the benefits will far outweigh the negative aspects, and you'll be able to enjoy your beautiful new kitchen for years to come. WL
Eric Phillips is vice president and general manager of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of the Triangle, a full-service remodeling company located in Apex. For more information, call (919) 821-9005 or visit www.dreammaker-triangle.com. |
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Maximize your advertising dollar with the targeted marketing of Wake Living Magazine. For advertising information, call (919) 870-1722 |
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Weiss & Hughes Publishing, Inc.
189 Wind Chime Ct., Suite 104, Raleigh, N.C. 27615
(919) 870-1722 (919) 719-5260 (fax) |
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