Show Off Your Art...at the Right Height

If you want your home to look like a designer was involved then one of the simplest things you can do is hang art, or decorative wall hangings, at the right height. You might read on the Internet that the rule is 57” on center above the floor.  That will work well with some things but certainly not all.   The measurement 57” from the floor to the center of the artwork is not the height you will experience in an art gallery, a scenario where you are standing to view art.  The 57” is based on an eye level that is somewhere between sitting and standing which makes sense in a home where you are likely to be doing both.

Here some general ideas:

If there is no furniture below a piece of art then the above rule is often applicable. The 57” even applies if you are hanging more than one piece.  Use the 57” measurement to the center of a grouping of two or more pieces.  That may position some pieces rather low, but that will give you a truly professional and dramatic look.

We do break the standard rule all the time, however. One instance is when positioning art over furniture. Let the artwork “connect” with the furniture piece below it instead of floating feet above it. Depending on the height of the furniture piece, a space of 4”-10” above it is plenty. Keep in mind when doing this that it is important to keep the scale of a piece of furniture in line with the scale of the art. For example: if you are hanging something above a sofa, whatever you are hanging should be at least 2/3 the visual weight of the sofa. 

Don’t Disregard these Dimensions

Some rules just make things better! Like traffic rules. We all get around a little easier because of them. Similarly in the home there are some general dimension rules for furniture distance that make a room feel and look better and indeed allow for better foot traffic flow.

Apartment Therapy makes a case for sticking to the rules in this link…

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dimensions-to-follow-proper-furniture-spacing-basics-149156 

Apartment Therapy gives a general range for the optimal distance of a chandelier over a Dining Room table.  Another tip is that a smaller chandelier should hang higher over a Dining Room table -

Architonic / Robson Rak / Photo: Brooke Holm / Marsha Golemac

While a larger one should hang lower, closer to the table - 

In addition, larger scaled rooms or furniture look better with more generous spacing in some areas, like walkways.

Keep walkways open for free movement within and between rooms, a minimum width of 36 inches when possible. If you’re thinking rules, rules, rules! Here is one you can break. If there’s a natural path that leads from the Front Entry immediately to a back door, break that up with a centering table or sculpture, something delightful that encourages you to linger and enjoy your beautiful home before rushing right back out!

Powder Rooms - Go Big in these Small Spaces

At first glance the Powder Room is simply a necessary, functional, small space. But in terms of designing the space within the context of the home as a whole, think twice and you’ll realize it is a big space when it comes to design potential! You and your family won’t be the only ones to benefit from the design love you give to the Powder Room.  It is a space that many of your guests will see too.

It is exactly because of its small size that you can make adventurous design choices there.  The only rule, if any, is that is should tie together in some way to the design of the house as a whole.  But in that, the capacity for interpretation is broad! This is especially liberating if you are not particularly adventurous in the main spaces of your home.  So have fun and go bold,

Go colorful,

Go minimal.

Try dynamic tile flooring, from sources like Cement Tile Shop or Clé Tile,

http://www.cementtileshop.com / https://www.cletile.com/collections/cement-tiles

Splurge for that stunning surface you’ve been eyeing,

Or go clean and contemporary, perhaps explore sustainable. 

Of course, as with any space there are parameters and functionality concerns that will guide and inform decisions.  After those have been addressed, let the fun begin!

"...black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony." -Coco Chanel

We have a great excuse to highlight this Coco Chanel quote in our blog this month.  It is a tie-in to the title of the upcoming article featuring us in The Seattle Times, “Dreaming in Black and White.” 

Check out the article, written by Sandy Deneau Dunham in this Sunday’s, January 8th, Pacific NW Magazine.

If you love design, you rarely need an excuse to consider the timeless team of black and white.

Whether they are included as part of a greater scheme,

or are the plan for an entire space, Coco Chanel’s words ring true again and again. It is as true for simple spaces with clean lines

as it is for spaces filled with pattern and variety.

Black and white are gorgeous alone in their complementary purity as well as when they are accented with color.  

In any case, there is no doubt that “the perfect harmony” of black and white in interior design as well as in fashion is just as timeless a duo as the singular lady who spoke these words to describe them.

Finding Center - the Kitchen Island

It's happened to all of us.  We invite friends over or the whole family will be together and we prepare our home for a group.  When everyone arrives we all gather around the Kitchen Island as if it’s a magnet drawing us in. The other areas of the home are left quiet or at best sparsely attended.

We've finally stopped fighting it! Now we embrace the Kitchen Island as The gathering hub. And the results are delightful.

Whereas the fireplace used to be the center of the home, now it is the Kitchen Island. And it’s not just in the case for special gatherings. If you have a large family, it may be an ongoing natural hub.

How does this influence the choices we make when designing an Island and/or the Kitchen as a whole? Seeing successful answers to that question can help. 

For example, creating a larger Island around which more people can stand or sit,

increasing the empty space around the Island,

or including more than one Island!

Opening up the floor plan so the Kitchen and the Dining Room or Breakfast areas merge is another possibility. This can be equally successfully when designed with a contemporary concept-

or with a more traditional one.  Among others.

In an open floor plan the Island can separate the Kitchen from the other areas while keeping them connected.

And in a Hyde Evans Design project in Eastern Washington, a bar height counter provides equally comfortable seating or standing and serves to block the Kitchen work surfaces from the other areas.

The gist of it is that we can break out of the traditional Kitchen floor plan if it no longer reflects the real way we live and interact in the space and now customize our Kitchens and Kitchen Islands for the way we actually use them.

Cheers and Bon Appétit!

“Now, where’s the remote…”

We’ve answered the perennial question that concluded our October blog, “Now, where’s the remote…”

It’s in the cute box on the table, of course!

Coffee tables need accessories, so you can skip the drawers in the table and add an eye catching design element instead!

We found four cool, inexpensive options at the antique market at Pacific Galleries in downtown Seattle.  If you look closely, a few have the prices on them. 

Happy viewing!

How to Make a TV Work

Let's face it; television screens can be a bit of an eyesore in a room.  They can often grab your attention and become a focal point even when they aren't turned on.

Though TVs are far sleeker then in the old days, they can still cause a big black hole that takes away from the beauty of your room. If you have a Media Room, Family Room or TV room, you can skip the TV in the Living Room.  Lucky you.  Your Living Room design will encourage conversations or playing a family game, etc.

However, if you have a Great Room (combined Kitchen, Living, and Dining areas) or the Living Room is the only place to fit in the fans when watching the game, there are ways to make it work.

If possible avoid mounting the TV above the fireplace for two reasons.  First the fireplace should be the focal point.  Do you really want the TV to compete with it? Second, it places your TV at an uncomfortable viewing height.  The optimal height is seated eye level.  This placement will save you a lot of neck strain. 

Position the TV off to one side of the fireplace, if you can, or elsewhere in the room.  If the spot above the fireplace is all you have, then figure out a way to hide it when you have guests over for holidays or family nights.  There are great ways to do that: a screen, artwork, doors that fold or slide to cover it, etc.  That's a whole blog post in itself.  Since the TV will be high, move the furniture back a bit.  Make your viewing distant 12' instead of 8' and spare your neck.

If you are positioning the TV on or against a wall, disguise it.  And, I don't mean with a mustache and glasses.  Paint the wall dark so the TV blends in or surround it with art. 

Bookshelves make a great surround for a TV, especially if they are a darker natural wood or painted a rich color.

Now, where’s the remote…

Saving on Your Remodel

Remodeling is at an all time high.  It is quite obvious in our office.  We are getting calls to handle Kitchen, Bath and other remodels everyday.  We now have 20 years of experience doing remodels and new construction.  This qualifies us to do remodels not only well, but also cost effectively. We would like to pass along some tips. 

One thing that will drive up the price of a remodel the fastest is something that professionals call "scope creep".  That means adding additional items to the job as you go along.  Planning ahead and really knowing what you want at the beginning of the job will save money.  Adding an area later in the job is far more costly.  For example, bringing in someone to dry wall twice.  Preplanning is very important.  Make all your decisions up front.  Changing your mind or delaying a job because you can't make up your mind can be very costly.

Get good help.  The right professionals can make all the difference.  You may pay a little more for their time, but they will save you from expensive mistakes.  Make sure you have checked your builder’s references and reputation.  If you are moving exterior or support walls, work with a reputable architect or hire an interior designer who does interior architecture and has plenty of experience.  

Our clients are almost always surprised at the overwhelming amount of decisions that must be made.  A professional designer knows what decisions need to be made up front and can help you make all the selections before you even start.  They will work with your builder to make sure they have what they need before they need it, so the job goes quickly and smoothly, which means more money stays in your pocket.  Most importantly, you will avoid ripping out and replacing something because it is not done attractively well the first time. You can just imagine what that does to your bottom line.

As I said, remodeling and new construction is at an all time high.  Getting the best help may mean you are waiting in line.  I promise you, it is well worth the wait.

Mixing it Up with Texture or How to Save a Living Room

A couple of years back, Hyde Evans Design got a call from potential clients that wanted us to "fix" their living room. When I walked into the room, it was instantly obvious to me what had gone wrong. It had a sofa, coffee table, a pair of comfy side chairs and a nicely shaped single armchair in the seating arrangement. All good things. The drapery was fine, just hung a little low, and the color scheme needed some adjusting. But those weren't the real problem.

All of the upholstered pieces had been covered in chenille. The coffee table was casual, in wood. And it all sat on top of a handsome wool area rug. Even the accent pillows were some kind of plush. It was soft and cozy alright; so much so that it felt like you could fall in but never make it back out. My new clients thought texture was a good thing, and it is, if it is varying texture.

Every room needs a carefully thought out mix of plush and rich, smooth and shiny.

It's that juxtaposition that makes it work.

To make this living room amazing, we moved the rustic wood coffee table to the family room. We replaced it with a polished metal-based table topped with glossy walnut. We reupholstered the single chair in a heavy cotton fabric and added silk pillows to the other pieces. The crowning touch was painting the walls a glossy, rich blue. (Of course, we also raised the drapes and finished them with a contrasting boarder fabric to add length and interest)

Success! Suddenly stunning.

I wish we could share the photos with you rather than making you use your imagination, but we can't. The clients would rather we didn't, and our job is to keep them happy, even if our blog suffers. In lieu, we'll share some rooms that got the texture right.

Sizing Up Your Rugs

Here are the ABC’s on your 8x10s, 9x14s, etc., for your Living Room that will help you get the size right.

Ideally, a rug extends beyond your furniture with the entirety of each piece sitting on the rug. But, it’s not a perfect world so there are alternatives that will work well. 

If you can’t have the entire footprint of furniture on the rug, it can be a little smaller, but it should capture at least the front legs of your furniture. 

But what if you have a dot of a rug that you love? A good option is to purchase a larger, plainer rug (like natural, jute, or natural colored wool) that accomplishes one of the two size options above.  Then place the small rug in the middle.  It has to be big enough to at least capture the coffee table with a couple feet to spare.  The layered look is fun and makes great use of a rug that might not work elsewhere.

Don't let your Draperies be Off-the-Shelf Curtains

Nothing brings a room down more than wimpy window treatments.  If you can't do them right, and I mean custom, leave your windows bare.  Bare can be beautiful, especially if the view is right.

Source: Architectural Digest

If you need to have privacy then this is where you put your extra bucks.  

Be generous with your curtains.  You'll find that readymade panels are too narrow, sometimes 48" to 52".  A sin!  At least 70" wide per panel.  AT LEAST. (Actual dimensions dependent on the window width and height.)

Source: Architectural Digest

Unless they are sheers, they must be lined.  Off-the-shelf options are usually not lined and when hung they disappear against the wall or window.  Why bother?  We often line them with off white, but you need to consider how that works with the exterior.  For certain projects a color or even another pattern might be appropriate on the backside, but interlining will need to be used.

Don't let them puddle.  There was a time when that was in, but not in years. We call it "breaking" at the floor.  Also, never cut them off at the bottom of a window unless there is something built in below the window.

Source: Architectural Digest

Proper hemming, on the sides and bottom, will make them hang right.  No rippling at the sides and enough weight at the bottom to help them hang in lovely pleats.  Only in the most casual of circumstance, like a tent or a tree house (yep, we've decorated those) have we not used some type of pleat at the top of a drapery panel.  We often even add pleats to our shower curtains for a finished look. 

Source: Studio William Hefner

Now, here's our biggest drapery treatment pet peeve:  hang your drapery rods high, at least 10" above the window frame, if you have the room.  In most cases, hang as high as the architectural features in the space allow.  The added benefit will be the height it brings to the ceiling.  If you have low ceilings, drapery panels are the first thing we will add height to the design.

Source: Elle Decor

Bringing the Outside In

Seattle is in the midst of a record-breaking hot Summer and although we are not complaining, sometimes we just want to stay inside and enjoy the cool breeze from our air conditioning. Here are some tips for how you can bring the outside in - for those times when you want to stay cool from the comfort of your couch:

Incorporate natural objects, such as branches, shells, or coral, as highlights to your interior space.

Embrace floral wallpapers and tile patterns.

Open your blinds (and wash your windows!) to let the natural light shine through your largest windows.

Explore natural fibers, textures, and patterns in your interior spaces such as linens, wood patterns, and bamboo and cotton fibers.

Switch up your bedding and pillows to something more light and fresh - opt for white bedding!

Stock your space with plenty of fresh flowers and houseplants. Not only do they improve air quality in your home, they also can help brighten up your mood and your space.

Open those windows! Once it’s cool enough to turn off the A.C., open those windows and let your house air out to get ready for the hot day that’s sure to come tomorrow.

SUMMER DESIGN EVENTS IN THE CITY

Although Summer vacations are a must, it's always fun to explore design events right here our beautiful city of Seattle. Here is a list of some of our favorite upcoming local events:

GRAY MAGAZINE'S THE SORRENTO SESSIONS - July 9th and August 20th

Gray Magazine’s 5-part panel discussion series at the historic and newly updated Sorrento Hotel. Although 3 of the panels have already happened, there are 2 left that should not be missed! On July 9th the discussion will be about Art, Landscape, & the Public Realm here in Seattle. August 20th’s panel will discuss the Next-Wave Graphic Design & Branding. Design panel + The Sorrento’s cocktails = fabulous summer evening. More information and tickets can be found here: http://www.graymag.net/news--events.html

BELLEVUE ARTS MUSEUM ARTSfair - July 24, 25, & 26

Bellevue Arts Museum hosts the largest, award-winning arts & crafts festival in the Northwest. They are committed to supporting national designers, artists, and craftspeople and you can shop from over 300 of these different vendors. The marketplace highlights modern, traditional, and emerging work so there will be something for everyone. More information here: http://www.bellevuearts.org/fair/index.html

SEATTLE DESIGN FESTIVAL BLOCK PARTY - Sept 12 + 13

This year, Seattle Design Festival’s Annual Block Party will explore how design can contribute to a more equitable society. The party takes over Occidental Park in Pioneer Square for 2 days with a number of installations and art pieces that will explore the ideas of Design for Equity. A great outdoor event that can be followed by cocktails or a meal at one of Pioneer Square’s lovely restaurants. More information here: http://www.designinpublic.org/program/seattle-design-festival-2015/

ART WALK IN PIONEER SQUARE - First Thursday of each month

Another Pioneer Square event that is especially enjoyable in the Summer. Walk through the neighborhood that has the largest concentration of art galleries in the city, all of which open their doors open until 8pm or later. New artists and exhibitions are featured in the oldest Art Walk in the USA. More information on galleries and parking here: http://www.pioneersquare.org/first-thursday-art-walk

FRYE ART MUSEUM + HENRY ART GALLERY

Both the Frye Art Museum and Henry Art Gallery are spots that we like to frequent, especially in this hot weather to escape the heat and enjoy the air conditioning. Some of our favorite current exhibitions at the Henry are the Sculpture = Experience and the Trouble in Beauty exhibits. Some current favorites at the Frye are Structure and Ornament and the always interesting Frye Gallery Room. More information about each museum can be found here: https://henryart.org/ and here: http://fryemuseum.org/

The Year Ahead

It's here!  2015.  And with it Hyde Evans Design's Trend Report, the list of the current home looks for the coming year.  Take notes and don't be left in the years past.

Black and white: the ultimate in contrast for entire rooms, heck, entire homes.

Blue, every shade.  Still the leader in home color trends but watch out, green is fast approaching.

And, grey.  It works with everything.

Industrial is taking a bit of a backseat to midcentury and eclectic looks, but it isn't dying yet.

Traditional style continues it's cleaner vibe.  Patterns are mainly on wall, floors or accent pillows.  

Midcentury's influence shows up in every style we do through 2015: Leggy furniture with low horizontal lines, Free-form shapes, walnut and teak, clean lines. Saarinen and Eames.

Light fixtures of extreme scale.

Subway tiles are STILL happening but with black grout.

Freestanding tubs. Showers for two.  French door ovens.  Retro and Vintage anything.  Marble and marbleized. 

Brass: it's back, so ditch the nickel habit.  Brass is it.

Moody.  Glam.  Shine and texture. 

Kitchen Design Tip

We design a LOT of kitchens around here.  And this time of year, we find ourselves in kitchens much more.  So we wanted to touch on one aspect of a kitchen if you have plans to remodel.   The backsplash.  No it’s not glamorous, but it’s an important part to kitchen design and as we all know, kitchens sell houses!

Here’s our advice:  Stay neutral and go all the way.

You love color?  Great, put it on the walls.  Paint is easy and cheap to replace.  Tile or stone on a backsplash?  Not so simple. And remember, an easy way to date a kitchen is by the materials so keep it simple, keep it classy.

And please, please, please, whatever material you decide on using, use it from the top of your countertop to the bottom of the upper cabinets for a complete backsplash.  Most of the time one row of tile, or a 4” high backsplash looks like you ran out of money to finish the job.  Plus, spaghetti sauce is much easier to clean off tile than paint.

Light Reading

Tiny tip today.  I’d like to shed some light, pun intended, on lamp positioning.  Let’s say you have a big bedside table or chest, and a little lamp.  How do you make that work?  Don’t put the lamp in the center.  Put it off to one side, the side closest to the bed.   Same rule applies to a lamp on a table next to a sofa or chair.  

What Makes a Room ‘Real’

I love antique furniture, for several reasons.  Nothing gives a room more of a 'lived-in' look then adding an antique.  And very few things can add as much interest as an antique.  Lastly, nothing can make a room look more 'real' then something that looks like you inherited it from your grandparents, or great grandparents.  That says 'family' which, hopefully for most of you, says 'love.'  And, who doesn’t want love in their home!

Learn from My Mistakes

Early on in my career, I made a couple of serious paint selection mistakes.   Yes, HED has made mistakes, but it was long ago.  We’re perfect now of course.  The first mistake was with an acidic, lime-green color, or what was supposed to be an acidic, lime-green color.  On the walls of this waterfront home it was, as the client said, “Banana Yellow”.   How embarrassing, and expensive.  I paid to repaint it.  And, as if that wasn’t enough to teach me a solid lesson, I made the same mistake again.  A room that was supposed to come out grey/blue, came out baby blue.  

Why did this happen?  Well, here’s where the learning part comes in:

Do NOT select your paint by looking at a tiny chip, or even a big chip, in the store, or as in my case, in my office.  Choose it carefully in the room in which it is going. Consider the fact that the color will intensify as it bounces off the walls and even the color outside the room will affect the selected color.  If there is blue painters tape on the windows, I’d suggest removing it.  It will alter the color tremendously.  Once you’ve made your selection, paint a sample on the wall in at least a couple places where light conditions differ in the room. 

NOW, you can make the right decision.

Groupies

Here at Hyde Evans Design we believe in sticking together.  We think it's important for friends, family and furnishings.

First example: Art.  Please don’t spread out your framed artwork in a room... one on this wall, one on another, and definitely not one on each wall!   Hanging them together makes a bigger statement.  And an easy trick is to layout the art on the floor before hanging.  That way you can determine how your grouping with look without putting holes in the wall.

Accessories follow a similar rule.  Having a grouping of items is much more appealing than single items repeated throughout a room.  A coordinated group will draw the eye and make a big impact. 

In this case, more is definitely better.

Reduce, Reuse, Recover?

Here at Hyde Evans Design clients often ask about the pros and cons of reupholstering furniture. While reupholstering might seem like an easy way to be kind to both the environment and your checkbook—it isn’t always the right decision.

First of all, it’s not inexpensive to reupholster furniture.  Fabric and labor costs can add up fast.  So if you have a Pottery Barn sofa and have tired of the fabric you’d be better off, financially, getting a new sofa rather than reupholstering. It is just not worth doing the work on a poorly made piece of furniture.

A good alternative to reupholstering a sub-par sofa, or purchasing a brand new high-quality sofa, is to find a high-quality used sofa at a consignment store. You can easily check what a new sofa from a high-quality manufacturer would cost you today and see if purchasing used and having it recovered makes sense. It frequently does!

Of course, if you already own an A. Rudin Sofa, or even a Lee Industries piece, then it makes perfect sense to reupholster and we say go for it. Remember, the cushion fill, and often even the shape of the frame can be changed. In other words, you can get a whole new look to your sofa (not just new fabric) for a fraction of the cost of purchasing new.