All posts in Interior Design

spring decorWinter is gone and warm weather is here to stay! If you’re feeling that irrepressible urge to change some things up for the season, you’re not alone. Clothes, food, hair, whatever floats your boat. We change up the beer to something a little lighter and brighter and wear swimsuits to work. Just kidding, no one really wants to see us in swimsuits…

 

When it comes to your house, we would normally try to talk you out of following trends (trendy remodeling is tough to resell a few years down the line) but, done right, seasonal refreshers give you all the variety you crave without costing you on the backend. Below are some simple spring decorating ideas for you to try. Just remember to pay attention to the fixed elements in each room (furniture, flooring etc.) to be sure that your seasonal changes don’t clash. Read more…

Small Bathroom Blues

total home small bathroomSometimes I think that new home builders add bathrooms as an afterthought. “Should we add a closet here? Oh wait, we forgot the bathroom! I’m sure it will fit in this crawl space…”.
 
If you’ve ever had a standard 6×8′ bathroom (or even smaller) then you probably learned to cut your grooming time to record speed. Most of the older designs leave you with a tiny rectangle of standing space, dim overhead lights and an overall sense that the bathroom is just plain small. It’s not fun, especially if you have to share. So here are our tips to combat the insensitivity of home builders (stick it to the man!). Read more…

So, one of the common phrases around Total Home is “think outside the box”. It may sound cliche, but we actually do try to approach everything from new and unusual directions, just to see what will happen. You have to be open to the possibility that some of your ideas won’t work, that’s just the nature of that whole “trial and error” thing. But once you get the hang of it, crazy, rule breaking ideas will come together in ways you didn’t expect and, heck, you might even start a trend!
 
When I found this article, I just couldn’t pass it up. It screams creativity and, well, Total Home… Read on:<--more-->
 
1. HAVE AN OFFICE THAT INSPIRES YOUR CREATIVITY

Perhaps the best way to feel creative in your work space is to not follow any of the unnecessary “design rules” you’ve heard. Have mismatched chairs & sofas, no matching finishes, lay carpets on carpets. Perhaps this is the best way to open up your thinking?
 

 
Interior design Ruthie Summers
 
2. USE TWO DIFFERENT FABRICS ON YOUR DINING ROOM CHAIRS

This can often be done with great effect. Sometimes it’s the perfect approach to tone down a pattern you love, or sometimes it’s just for fun.
 

 
Interior design Katie Ridder
 
3. ADD SLEEPING SPACES IN WEIRD NOOKS

Create a dreamy and fun sleeping wall in an odd shaped ceiling space.
 

 
4. YES IT’S OKAY, PUT THE BED UP AGAINST THE WINDOW

Sometimes there is no perfect wall to put your bed up against so don’t worry about it, just put it up against the window.  How about that natural reading light?
 

 
5. DO CLASSIC WITH A TWIST!

Just because you like classic interiors doesn’t mean there’s no room to play. Lacquer the front door in a classic hue, use a classic wallpaper in a punchy color, and mix in some animal print.
 

 
6. USE A WALLPAPER THAT TRICKS THE EYE

Life can be too serious so why not?
 

 
Interior design: Kelly Wearstler
 
7. PILE ON THE TEXTURES!

Sometimes the play with texture is all the character you need.  


 
Interior Design Katie Ridder
 
8. DECORATE WITH EVERYTHING YOU LOVE

Dark walls- Check, patterns-Check, bright colors-Check, animal prints-Check, painted ceiling-Check, vintage suitcases-Check, shells-Check.
 

 
9. LEAVE YOUR TROUBLES AT THE FRONT DOOR!

There is no better way to come home than to something that lift your spirits. So re think “normal” and create something that shifts your mind from worrying to enjoyment the second you enter!
 

 
10. SAY NO TO BORING DESKS!

Get rid of that plain old wood desk. Live a little, write your to-do lists on an awe inspiring desk.
 
 
Originally posted at blog.livelikeyou.com.

Kitchen Cabinet GuideWinter means more indoor time, right? Well, that goes for remodelers too. When the tempurature drops, we tend to find ourselves skipping the windows and siding and instead, knocking down walls, tiling bathrooms, updating staircases… well you get the idea. So we figured, while we’ve got interiors on our mind, we’ll just share a few pointers to make your remodeling a bit easier!

 
Today is all about kitchen cabinets. What style, how much do they cost, what materials… these bad-boys are a major decision and nailing them down (no pun intended) can be a headache if you don’t know where to start. Read on:

 

 

Read more…

Total Home kitchen remodel ideasKitchen inspiration! Ah, how we love remodeling ideas, it just gets our imaginations going… Here are some great thoughts for kitchen design this year. The list is a compilation of practical, trendy and just plain fun! Be bold and try something new this year! Just remember, if you do decide to go in a trendy direction, make those parts easy to update (paint, chairs etc.). You don’t want to be stuck with them when their popularity has taken a flying leap…

Article originally posted on angieslist.com: Read more…

tarrazzo recycled glass countertop total homeIt’s time to replace your countertops and your options are laid out before you. Granite, marble, tile, wood. Lower cost options like laminate and engineered wood are there too, but nothing is really jumping out at you. You want something interesting! Something other than what everyone else already has in their kitchen! Don’t worry, there are other options! We put together a few to get you started but this is by no means comprehensive. Read through our top picks and then look around to see what other options you find. The sky’s the limit!

Broken Glass
Tarrazzo, Broken Glass or Recycled Glass countertops have a great unique look. Read more…

kitchen island and sinkJust like fashion, cars or any other major industry, remodeling has noticeable trends each year that are generally seen throughout the country. Sometimes these are based on popular fads and are only worth following if you plan on changing things up pretty regularly. But since the economy took it’s downturn a few years back, remodeling trends have had a marked emphasis on practicality and wise planning. If you’ve got a remodel project in your near future, take a look at the following article (originally posted on houselogic.com) to see if any of them apply to your lifestyle, project or tastes: Read more…

Renovate that Basement!

Total Home basement renovationAs houses get smaller, maximizing space starts moving its way up the priority list. And one of the most obvious places to start is the dungeon beneath your feet. Of course, your basement may not have unfinished block walls and raw wood studs complemented by exposed concrete foundation and that lovely mildew aroma, but if it is, you’re missing out on a giant chunk of usable, livable space!

Identify the positive features
Take a good hard look at your basement, exactly as it is. The fewer structural changes you make, the less you’ll have to spend, and that can make it easier to get a good return on your investment. Read more…

There are a lot of options when choosing flooring for your kitchen, and the sky is really the limit. Below, we’ve broken down a few of the most common choices by their benefits to try to help simplify the process for you. Once you know where your priorities lie, picking your flooring will be as easy as tossing back a beer.

(Note: A few beers before your shopping experience will help make the decision process quick and easy, but remember, in addition to your hangover, you’ll probably realize that the sunflower-pressed tile you ordered is 3 times your budget and doesn’t match your colors. Not recommended…)

We’re focusing on practicality here, so if you’re looking for tips on design or appearance, give us a call and we can help you down the right path.

Ease of Cleaning
If low maintenance is a high priority for you, you’ll want to avoid flooring that requires regular treatments or special mopping chemicals. While those kinds of floor materials can have other benefits (mostly in the aesthetic arena) you will regret it when you find yourself giving up yet another Saturday to coat your needy floor. Read more…

Window treatments come in many shapes and sizes, as you may have discovered if you’ve ever looked into updating or dressing new windows. This straightforward guide will help you wade through the options and choose the perfect treat for your viewing portals:

Article originally posted by designcarolinas.com

1. Drapes

window treatments

Drapes, along with their country cousins, curtains, are probably the most common and traditional form of window covering. Typically constructed of fabric, drapes can be as simple as a single panel hung from clip rings to an elaborate multi-layer affair. Drapes are available “off the rack” for standard sized windows, or can be custom made to order. They are also an easy DIY project. Read more…