My Home Redux

Decorating with Wine Corks

The popularity of wine goes into home decor. While wall hangings and art have included wine bottles from some time, now the actual corks are getting into the decorating act.

Drink up and save your corks. Use them to make wreathes or just put them into a vase or large snifter.

You can also buy candles that look like corks. Recycle your favorite wine bottles for a trendy, casual look that's not just for Italian restaurants.

Wine ... so versatile!

Decorating with Vintage Mirrors

Mirrors are a wonderful decorating accent or focal piece. Vintage gilt mirrors can be used in any decor. Check out this article and other lovely pictures here.

[Photo credit: Kip Dawkins as seen on Elle Decor.]

Kitchen Makeover for Less than $1200

Here's a great example of how you can completely transform your kitchen on a tiny budget. Paint, hardware, and flooring can go a long way if you're willing to do some work yourself.

See how this kitchen was transformed for only $1200.

[Editor Note: Photo from www.freshhomeideas.com]

Top Decorating Colors for 2011

The overall top color for this year is Vintage Wine, confirmed by Benjamin Moore and shown here in this photo.

Benjamin Moore also presents their 2011 color palette which offers bright earth tones.

Another color featured this year is a rich yellowish green which ICI Dulux celebrates here.

Finally, Pantone offers it's color of the year. First it is shown in fashion, but decor follows fashion so you're likely to see this bright Honeysuckle appearing in accents, linens, draperies and more soon.

These colors are certainly showing a transition from the deeper golds and red earth tones of a few years back, adding more clarity to the colors and more vivid shades.

How to Make Your Refrigerator Look Like an Old-Fashioned Ice Box

The key is in the hardware which you can order online from specialty hardware sites like this one specializing in ice boxes. The hardware on top of custom cabinetry panels completely transform this refrigerator into a 20th century ice box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo shows the detail more closely.

How to Combine Different Decorating Styles

This topic was suggested by a reader who wrote:

Dear Julie,

I am trying to blend a old world wine country style and an arts and crafts kind of style in my kitchen and dining room.  My home was decorated in the more Mediterranean look and I inherited the arts and crafts items from a friend.  I have tried to incorporate the two but it looks choppy.  Any ideas? Thanks for any help.

Sincerely,
Shelley

Sounds baffling at first, doesn't it. But not really.

First, you need balance. To avoid one piece in the room sticking out like a sore thumb, you need a balance between the two styles. A weighting close to 50/50 is probably best, but you could also skew it up to 80/20. You just don't want one lonely piece by itself. So mix and match your pieces and furniture.

Second, you need some unifying element. Color is the easiest. You could have a neutral throughout the room and then one or two accent colors. Use these colors with all pieces - on both chairs of mixed styles. Or put a red throw pillow on the Mediterranean chair and red runner or picture frame on the arts and crafts table. Now, the red becomes a unifier bridging the gap between the other two styles.

In this case, if you don't use too ornate Mediterranean pieces but rather a bit rustic with wood and iron, you should be able to blend them. I wouldn't throw in a third style, though, like a modern glass table, for example.

At some time or another in life, we need to blend styles, just remember to balance them and find a unifying element. Might be appropriate to dealing with different types of people too, eh?

Kitchen Backsplash Ideas

Veteran reader of My Home Redux and long-time friend, Terri, asked about kitchen backsplash ideas to go with her granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. She was especially interested in glass tiles but didn't want something so trendy that it would go out of style right away.

Glass tiles are beautiful  As long as you use a non-scratch cleanser, they're easy to maintain.  To avoid becoming the backsplash equivalent of an avocado refridgerator, just stick to classic designs and colors. The colorless (tends to look like green) and bright blues will likely show their age before more traditional and conservative colors. Also, be sure to coordinate the tile with your countertops for a harmonious look.

Here is an excellent site that gives tips and hints and many links to see glass tiles and designs.

Also, here is a photo gallery of various backsplashes - glass tile, stone, and more - from HGTV.

These two sites are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

[Editor Note:  Photo is from homeimprovement.lovetonow.com.]

Kitchen Color with Oak Cabinets

Kathy wrote in to ask about the paint color in her kitchen.

Hello there, 
 ... my dilemma is I have a cathedral ceiling kitchen with still nice looking honey oak cabinets. I am not ready to paint them . My kitchen faces north ,so in the winter it is not very bright . We are thinking to add windows on the west side. I believe you my have suggested red for the walls but I do not think that look is right with the oak . I have too much of the same oak all over the kitchen, cabinets, floor , fireplace kitchen, table and chairs . I have white appliances. Presently my walls are a light yellow  which is not rich enough for the size of the room. At one time it was painted a grey green shade that was too dreary. Now I like golds , greens , taupe . The room is separate from any other room but it is 24x32.I am thinking of a rich color on the windows or even just going with white of light beige to make the room airy . Any suggestions. The rug under the table needs changed as well. Thanks for any thoughts.
~kathy

I wrote back:

Kathy,
 
I can see what you mean about the red. It may be a problem but may not be, but let's go in a different direction.
 
You have a light gold now. You're right, that won't provide enough contrast with your oak cabinets and floor. Here are two popular tones right now that are between gold and orange. They're warm and rich. They'll give you contrast but won't fight the oak.
 
One is Benjamin Moore August Morning. See here:  http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/bm/cms/ContentRenderer/ContentRendererController.jpf?np=imagerepository/public_site/article_images/Interior/Living_Room/IA_lvrm004&lang=en_US
 
and here: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=fh_color_hiddenPage&np=public_site%2Fapplications%2Fcolor_collections%2FEnvisionColor2010#/view_interiors/fresh_room_3/2156-40/
 
Even darker is Onondaga Clay. See here:  http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/bm/cms/ContentRenderer/ContentRendererController.jpf?np=imagerepository/public_site/article_images/Interior/Fireplace/IA_fireplace003&lang=en_US
 
If you went with the second, you'll need to be sure to have curtains, drapes and accents that bring the white from your appliances into it. So the fabric for the curtains would need to have the clay color, the oak, and white. That may be a little harder to pull off.
 
In either case, your curtains, drapes, and rug now need to reflect and complement this new color.

Let me know what you think. Good luck.
 
Julie

[Note: Pictures are from www.BenjaminMoore.com]

Create custom lamps, wallpaper, fabric

A representative from a website wrote in about a blog interview. So I checked out their site. Turns out it's a very cool, interactive site that lets you design your own lamps, wallpaper, fabric, and lamp shades. Since it's all custom, it's not inexpensive, a bit pricey, actually. But you pick it all out. The options trend more modern and contemporary, but they do have some traditional and floral options.

The site is Alluminare.com. Check it out.

What Color for a Rattan Chair

This question came from Mollie:

I purchased a new soft red sofa and purchased black/beige check curtains.  I have a rattan chain that I would like to paint, it's dark green now.  Should I leave it green or paint it black or do you recommend another color.  I live in an apartment so painting the walls is a no way.  The carpet is beige.  I would like to get another side chair but am unsure what type. I have looked at the armless chairs but unsure if they would be comfortable enough for people to sit in.  And what color should they be or could they be a print.  As you can see I have a lot of questions?  I hope you can help me.

Thank you,
Mollie

Here's my response:

Mollie,
 
I'd paint the chair black. Then create a cushion with fabric that is predominantly red but has beige and black in it too.
 
For the second chair, I'd get whatever is comfortable in black too.  Add a throw pillow in the fabric of the cushion or pillow you used on the rattan chair that uses all of the colors:  red, black, beige.
 
Thanks.
 
Julie