Freshening Things Up: The Decorative Oomph

The decorative oomph, the parallels between writing about interior design and decorating, and working with interior design and decorating aren’t as different as you may think.

At least four times a year I go back into the blog dashboard and select blocks of posts to reread for the sake of relevancy.

I look at my foundation design and decorating advice as the good bones of the post and keep it squarely in place.

Images and sources aka the accent pieces of the post are what’s up for creative and decorating reconsideration.

Freshening things up applies to design and decor everything.

When you get down to it, do we, as decoristas, ever really place the period at the end of the design and decorating sentence?

A comma perhaps, but never a period.

New seasons, new reasons, and new phases of decorating life bring about new ideas and arrangements.

If interior design, decorating and fashion magazines churned out dated and tired information it would be time to cancel the subscription.

My mother-in-law taught by example the importance of rearranging, re-positioning, and refreshing the look of a space in order to achieve a very important element of design and decorating, the decorative oomph.

the decorative oomphTraditional Home

“It is always the simple
that produces the marvelous.”

—Amelia Barr

Now, I’m not suggesting a costly and/or timely undertaking.  What I’m talking about is applying the principle of musical chairs.

There are several definitions for the term, and the confusing, rapid and all over the place definition does not apply here.

What I’m referring to is this:

musical chairs

noun

• a series of changes or exchanges of position

An affordable solution to the decorative doldrums is to rearrange and redistribute items.

Some of my best moves, decoratively speaking, have come about from actually sitting still long enough in the space and studying the entire contents of the room.

Sit down.

Look at the accents, art, accessories, etc…

Identify decorative accents ripe for the let’s move this to another spot picking.

Do items deliver a different look from one position or visual level than another?

Do you notice the decorative oomph?

gold-coffee-table-styledPinterest

I bet there’s not a single one of us who hasn’t moved this over here and that over there at one time or another, often with a “that looks so much better there” result.

I call these design and decorating V8 moments.

double-socket-lamps

Antiques auctions provided Hopefully Classic and Places In The Home with a rotating inventory.

There was a whole lot of updating going on at the shop and at the house.

Good and stylish times.

Like a moth to a flame, my eyes and bid card would lock on decorative lamps in need of TLC- total lighting care.

white-pink-light-bulbs

Rewired and ready for double decorative duty as part accent, part task lighting, these double socket treasures would be fitted with one soft white light bulb and one soft pink light bulb.

The result is visually pleasing and creates a surprisingly balanced look- the decorative oomph.

the-decorative-oomph

 

Is this piece new?

No.  It was in the __________.

As a frequent player of the musical home decor game, I have been asked that question or a variation of it a couple of hundred times.

 It seems the biggest decorative impact is made when I move art around.

FARRAGOZ gold art

FARRAGOZ

A quick rearrange of a gallery grouping or swap around is as near an instant response of is that new that I can guarantee.

Art Print Blue Interior 9x12 on 11x14 - Blue Chairs by David Lloyd

Art Print Blue Interior – Blue Chairs by David Lloyd

Behind almost every piece of art in this house is a positive testimony to the wonder of nail hole filler.

Here’s a tip: fill in a small nail hole(s) with white toothpaste.

We’ve been doing this for years, and it works like a charm!

Incorporate the decorative oomph into a space by executing a series of changes or exchanges of position.

It’s a great way to rejuvenate the look, feel and personality of the space, and an easy way to balance the scales of space and design on a dime.

Love your style!

A Most Fetching Friday 9: October

This week’s Fetching Friday features impressions and inspirations associated with the star of the moment, October.

fetching-definiton

fetching Friday 9

Hello, October.

I’ve been anxiously waiting your arrival.

ff-tureen-and-apple

Berthe Morisot Tureen and Apple

Cucurbita_pepo_small_edible_White_Pumpkins_9.16via

ff-blanketsStyle Me Pretty – Photography by Judy Pak Photography

Seatings and settings.  

Crisp evenings set the tone and texture for seasonal tablescapes with attention to cozy details.

rolling-pinRustic Olive Wood Rolling Pin

Currently craving.

ff-apple-pancakeApple Pancake

I hope you have a most Fetching Friday.

Love your style!

Patience In Design and Decorating

Want, need, seasonal availability and patience in design and decorating lined up over the weekend.

It was hard to contain my excitement when Dave the Builder emailed me the picture below of this display live and in person from our local Lowe’s garden center.

couleur-pumpkins-lowes

One white pumpkin, one greenish blue pumpkin, one ornamental cabbage and one vintage dough bowl later…  well this isn’t exactly the look I had in mind.

The build up to perceived pumpkin perfection may have been better than the actual great white pumpkin purchase.

As it sometimes goes in the world of design and decorating, what we initially envision doesn’t necessarily translate well to space, palette, placement or in this case, pumpkin.

patience in design and decorating

If at first you don’t succeed, design and decorate again, and again, and again.

I think it is safe to assume all great, beautiful and stylish design and decorating does not come straight out of the box that way.

I’ve lost count of the projects I have started over at the beginning, in the middle of, and heavily tweaked at the end.  If it doesn’t feel right how can it look right?

I know.  The client knows.  The client knows I know.

You know?

Adding to, taking away from, switching up or a simple re-positioning is often the missing piece of the puzzle that brings forth the “that’s it!” look you were going for in the first place.

Tenacity, coupled with patience in design and decorating, is the power tool of the trade.

fall-hydrangea-pumpkins

You’ve got to roll with the punches when it comes to the creative process. It’s a work in progress- an exercise in patience and pumpkin.

coffee table decor

What presently doesn’t work will eventually come together for the next phase of the extravaganza aka Thanksgiving decorating.

I am gingerly practicing pumpkin caution with these fall decorating beauties of the moment.

Here’s hoping they will at least look presentable for an upcoming Thanksgiving staging session.

It’s not looking too good for the one in the above image, but hope is on the table.

I always take out a decorating insurance policy in the form of classic core pieces, accents and accessories.

ff-go-greenPumpkin Centerpiece How-to Guide from POPSUGAR

That’s what I love about working with a good foundation and why I preach classic pieces.

Strong lines, good bones, great pieces and patience in design and decorating are the tried and true hallmarks of great and lasting design and decorating.

Love your style!

Fall Has Made Its Presence Felt

Fall has made its presence felt!

I am thrilled to finally be able to welcome fall in with open arms, doors and windows!

fall wreathBetter Homes & Gardens

Although fall officially began yesterday, its long awaited arrival is perfectly timed for optimum enjoyment of the season’s first cold front, a hot cup of tea, and warm carrot apple muffins.

living room with fireplaceCountry Living

My eye was immediately drawn to the color palette in this bedroom featured in Traditional Home.

This palette choice hits a decorative high note with warm tones, a balance of traditional decor, and a tip of the hat to two orange and brown.

traditional decor

I snapped this colorful reminder of seasonal things to come from our backdoor Saturday morning.

The rain soaked patio is the remnant from the heavy rains that fell over the weekend.

I didn’t mind the rain at first, knowing full well it was the trade off for the cooler weather we would wake up to on Sunday morning and the first day of fall.

I had to keep reminding myself of that as I drove in the storm to pick up a stranded Dave the Builder.

Dave’s back tire chose to blowout right as he topped an overpass.

The rain was so heavy it was difficult to see three feet in front of you.

Believe me, it was not our idea of a fun Friday night.

We’re dry and safe, Dave’s truck is outfitted with two new tires, and fall has arrived.

Blessings!

fall is here

Have a great Monday and enjoy the fall of it all!