by Andrea Lauren Interiors | Jul 4, 2010 | Decorating Tips, Seasonal, Themed Decor |
There’s something special about summer, isn’t there? It’s the season of the Fourth of July, poolside parties, family reunions, and informal entertaining. It’s also a time to have fun with your summer décor! To help you plan, I’m providing you some inspiration for those upcoming festivities. I love these ideas for summer celebrations: When you want elegance, use hurricane lamps for centerpieces and candlelight. These are glass pillars originally made to protect lighted candles from the wind and they come in varying sizes. For casual get-togethers, string paper lanterns on the porch or around the pool. Pick a theme, and add touches through dishes, glassware, tablecloths, and accessories. The beach is a natural inspiration at this time of year. Place gorgeous shells on the serving buffet and tables, and coordinate tablecloths and napkins in shades of coral, sea green and blue. On the Fourth, it’s time for red, white, and blue! For an imaginative look, mix in a variety of shades of blue. Glassware could be light blue or turquoise, for example. Also, choose pretty tablecloths with a pattern of red or blue on a white background. Or use single-color natural fiber placemats – set the table by alternating red mats and blue mats, and top with white dinnerware or sturdy white paper plates. For backyard barbecues, use decorative plastic plates instead of paper, and real silverware. Your guests will need plenty of napkins – stack extras in easy-to-reach baskets and it will be a snap to get more as needed. If you’d like a professional touch to make your home a standout party venue,...
by Andrea Lauren Interiors | Jun 21, 2010 | Colors, Decorating Tips |
A newly married couple may be deeply in love – but hate their partner’s taste! I’ve seen this happen, which is why I offer design consulting and solutions for creating a home environment both can enjoy. It’s possible to combine opposite visions of what makes an ideal home. Really! Let’s start with an example: He loves all things modern and trendy. She loves traditional styles and antiques. He prefers bold colors. She likes a neutral palette. I’d recommend they don’t choose one style over the other. In other words, refrain from insisting on minimalist furniture and deep blue paint (his style). The same goes for wanting nothing less than vintage pieces and all white window treatments (her style). When two design styles clash, it’s best to create a transitional style that combines the two. This is more than randomly selecting pieces and hoping for the best. A transitional style is a complementary look. Diverging styles can be blended – and look like they’re made to be together! For instance, our modernist husband and antique-loving wife might choose upholstered furniture with clean lines, then blend in antiques. They might agree on neutral upholstery and walls, spiced with bold furnishings and accessories along with colorful art. I’d also recommend that couples take an inventory of belongings when they are ready to decorate. It’s likely that each will have pieces the other isn’t crazy about. This is the time to decide what to let go and when to compromise. My advice is to keep the items that are of the highest quality or have the most sentimental value. Items that should be...
by Andrea Lauren Interiors | May 18, 2010 | Decorating Tips, Organization |
When you clear the clutter, your home gets an instant design boost. But it’s no surprise this can be easier said than done. It’s easy to accumulate a mountain of “stuff” that eventually turns into clutter. Consequently, it’s also easy to lose track of all that clutter. Instead of dreaming about a completely organized home – and then being overwhelmed by how much you’ll have to do – take on clutter-clearing one step at a time. You’ll need a purpose and a plan. But don’t worry. You can do this. Considering it’s spring (and nearly summer), this is a good time for a spruce-up. When your environment is organized and relatively clutter-free, it’s easier to keep rooms tidy and clean. Your home becomes your haven. Let’s get started! First, think about how your living space is used. Say, there is a pile of books on your bedside table, along with a stack of magazines, not to mention the clock radio, water glass, tissues, and papers. You need some serenity in your bedroom, and this is anything but serene. Find a place for all those things, according to how you use them. Get an attractive basket to store the books and magazines and keep it near the bed. (And remember to cull, cull, cull. A good rule of thumb is to keep only the current issue of magazines and clip any articles you’ll need). Put the tissues in a drawer – they’ll be there when you need them. The water glass can stay on the bedside table, especially if it’s pretty. But put it on a small decorative tray. Suddenly,...
by Andrea Lauren Interiors | Apr 19, 2010 | Decorating Tips, Seasonal |
Enjoying our Florida spring weather? So am I. And I’m thinking about how an outdoor room makes the season even lovelier. An outdoor room is more than a patio or deck. It is stylish, comfortable, and elegant – the space that ties the inside of your house to the beauty of your garden or swimming pool. When decorating your outdoor room, think of plush furniture, lighting, rugs, accessories, and even artwork. You want to apply the same attention to detail as you would when decorating any room of the house. We can thank changes in outdoor furniture and other key elements for the increased potential of outdoor rooms. Gone are the days when wrought iron chairs with thin cushions were the only choice for seating. New outdoor sofas look like they belong in the family room, with the same amount of comfort. Weather-resistant area rugs could hold their own in dining rooms. When planning your outdoor room, you’ll want a place for dining, relaxing, and conversation. A water feature or fireplace adds to the ambience and provides a natural gathering space. Including a sleek outdoor kitchen makes entertaining friends even easier. For atmosphere, add candles and the right mix of lighting. Choose accent pillows and accessories. A sheer curtain can add a billowy touch in the breeze. Through functional design and attention to detail, a beautiful outdoor room will be enjoyable for years to...
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