And It Is Wednesday....

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This week started with a date to report for Jury Duty....

I thought that I would report to the courthouse, and probably spend the better part of the day sitting, reading, getting busywork done, and perhaps being called for consideration for one trial. I mean, I was only a standby juror--maybe I wouldn't even have to go at all??

But no, I was needed and by 10:20am on Monday was told that I had been selected for a two day trial. Wow!

What a unique experience to be on a jury...and I am so glad I was able to serve. It was such a small inconvenience, and I am very proud to have been able to be of help. I only wish I hadn't felt so conspicuous in the lobby of the courthouse, because I would have loved to share with you all of these cool pictures I framed in my mind's eye of that lovely building-- I was just too self-conscious there waiting in the security line to get out my iPhone and snap them.

Now it is Wednesday. My son is home sick with a high fever. Poor guy. It is his second day out of school--yesterday his father had to take the day off to be with him--and I am sitting here in my office, getting some work done, but having to rethink and reschedule everything on my calendar for the next few days, since nothing this week has gone as I had expected!

The bobble head corgi pictured above was a gift from my son this past Christmas, and it is happily wagging its head (it doesn't have a tail to wag, afterall!) as I type this...and has drawn my attention to the view outside my office window. I have been meaning to hang my bird feeder out there...perhaps today is the day!

But who knows?? ....

The Black & White of Picking Paint Colors

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Painting, inside or out, is truly one of the fastest ways to totally transform your house. But to fully take advantage of all of that bang for your buck and achieve the transformation that you want, colors are needed that will pull everything together and make the materials of the building or space sing in harmony.

 

Sounds daunting, doesn't it?

 

It is really tons of fun, and one of my favorite things to do!!

A few months ago, I was asked to select the exterior colors for a client's house--you may remember the interior renovation of the same house I showed you a little while ago.....

 

As you can see, the house's facade had stone detail with BRIGHT white siding and black trim, which was stark and cold next to the earth tones of the stone. I was excited that they were going to extend the renovations/changes to the outside, and knew that we could achieve a much more cohesive and inviting look...

Using the tones in the existing stone, we worked to pull out the warmth and depth that was already there....

Even with new vinyl clad windows finished in bright white, I felt it was important to choose a different trim color for the other "white" areas of the facade (porch trim as well as window casings, etc.) that didn't just match, but rather gave depth to the bluish white of the new sashes. The warm white of the trim would smooth the visual transition from the new materials to the old in a subtle and graceful way.

 

It may be hard to see in this photo, but the trim around the windows is this warm white, which adds detail and richness to the overall look. Going with the bluish white of the vinyl would not have had the same results...

The door color was chosen by pulling out a dark grey green tone also found in the stonework...

& the same color was used for the garage doors as well...

Now that the colors and materials of the house's exterior are working together, the house has a more unified appearance and extends a warmer welcome to all!

Some Things Around Here....

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Just before Christmas, my husband and I stumbled across a beautiful vintage light fixture in one of our favorite new stores. We both scratched our heads and wondered if it could be "the one" we had been looking for for quite some time.... You see, the room that is now our dining room used to be our living room. We switched things around, and love the way it functions and looks in our house (you can see some pictures of it during the holidays here) however the room did not have one of the key features for a good dining room: a chandelier.

SO, we took a chance, brought the item home, and after much work this past weekend on my husband's part, it is now wired and hanging beautifully above our table. Get ready for some ambience!!

On the inside, we noticed a small tag that seems to indicate it was made in Austria. NEAT-O. I am guessing that it is most likely from the early 1900's?

When it is lit, it is lovely to see the way it glows in a darkened room, and how the hand painted detail shows so well...

I will have to circle back and take some more pictures so I can show you how great it compliments the things in the room (if I do say so myself!). We are very pleased with our new addition that looks like it could have been a part of the room all along!

The Art Of Making An Entrance

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This week has been exciting working with some clients on improving their entryway--a project that is really coming together now, and one that I look forward to showing you pictures of very soon. Because I have been focused on foyer functionality these past few days, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of the key things that can make or break this very important space in each of our houses....or businesses too!

Just as we can be unaware of the impression given by some of our clothing choices, or unconscious of facial expressions belying our true feelings, we can also be blind to how the approach and entryway of our homes and/or businesses affect those entering it. 

Fair or not, we do make judgments and assumptions...oftentimes without even being conscious of it. When we approach a house or place of business, all of our senses are giving us clues about how those who are inside feel about us paying them a visit.

Is the front light on? Which door should I go to? Are they expecting me? This path is awfully hard to walk on... What is that on the porch??--a bag of trash waiting to go to the curb? Does the doorbell even work? 

It is easy to forget that how our visitors are welcomed when they arrive sets the tone for whatever event or exchange is about to take place. So is your home's entrance more like a warm smile with hand extended, or a disinterested glance over the shoulder accompanied by a gruff grunt?

 

Author and architect Sarah Susanka, in her book Not So Big Solutions for Your Home, states it so well:

"The Key is to think of entry as a process, not a thing. A good entry is a sequence of places, not simply a door...A well-designed entry provides a gradual transition from the outdoors to the indoors, with attention paid to visitors at every turn...is there a place for them to stand, to take off their coats, and to adjust to being inside before they step into the living spaces of the house?"

Because the entrance is, by its nature, a transitional space, it is often a dumping ground for things that were brought in through the door, but not needed once inside--boots, coats, keys, paper, mail, backpacks, sports equipment--you name it. Outside it is often easy to overlook leaning brooms, piles of leaves, dead flowers, cobwebs, and tattered welcome mats. Look at all of these things honestly and take a few minutes to spiffy it up. It can make a huge difference.

As the person who comes through that door every day, it is most important that the entrance is welcoming and functional for you. Do you have a place for all of those things that are dumped upon entry? A table for mail, a hook or dish for keys, a hanging spot for your coat? Do not take up precious storage space here for things that aren't used frequently or needed as you walk out the door.

 

Take a few minutes and think through what you want guests to experience when they come to visit. How do you want them to feel as they enter your home? Cut flowers and/or a special piece of art can be a welcoming addition to the space that also shows a bit of your family's personality.

 

If you own a business, creating a warm welcome can directly impact your bottom line--when people can graciously transition from outside to in and feel good about what they expect once inside, they will feel comfortable. When they feel comfortable and welcomed, they will want to come back again and again.

Ezine images this week: 1, 2,& 3