Tchochkes

Dutch designer Inke Heiland’s recycled wallpaper kit is both resourceful and uber creative.  I love her hand cut designs made from vintage and new wallpapers. The kit comes with a brush, glue and hanging instructions, how much easier can it be… Unfortunately, she does not ship to Israel but she does have representatives in other countries including the U.S.

This is one of Inke’s designs, a giant wallpaper giraffe.  This pattern ships in three pieces and costs about $100.00.   

These birds come in packs of 2 for $24.00, I can see placing these birds in a row to create a decorative wall boarder.

Wallpaper tree by Inke

DIY:

What a great way to decorate a room.  If you can’t find a way to get these here but love the idea, why not adopt the concept using your own patterns and local wallpaper resources.

I had never heard of a ”furniture arranging kit” before I wrote this article.  I found this product to be interesting, especially for my profession in Feng Shui which focuses on furniture placement in the home.  I may even purchase one and try it on for size!

* I don’t think they ship to Israel

The kit includes a series of templates like the ones shown here.  You can select which rooms you are interested in planning and the buy the templates based on that.  You are a candidate for this product if you are : an interior designer or interested in design, moving into a new home, involved in Feng Shui like I am or anything in the area of floor planning.

Paper dolls for grown ups… what fun!

This new trend in wall decals is everywhere. I have seen it in current publications, in designer collections and also at IKEA. For what it is worth, this is an easy way to dress up a room without much effort. By adding a vibrant wall color, it makes this product look like a million bucks!

I can see a teenager just “flipping” over these designer circles and how about some bamboo decals for the office or studio?

Wall decals are here today! 

That’s right, there are rules in the world of interior decorating.
Are you familiar with the “60, 30, 10 rule“?
It’s really pretty simple.

look at a photo of the room you are
decorating and divide it up.

Rule:
60% of a dominant color
30% of a secondary color
10% of an accent color

Rule translation:
60% wall color
30% upholstry
10% accesories/ other color

This room shows a clear example of this rule.

60% yellow
30% cream / white
10% orange

The result is a balanced, visually pleasing room whth just the right amount of everything.

Let’s do another one...

60% Khaki walls
30% White couch & trim
10% black accessories

This one is a challenge…

Since the outside is very dominant, you have to consider it as a part of this scheme.

60% lavendar (I am banking on there being a lot more unseen wall)
30% Blue & Green
10% White trim

What do you think?

Basically, Eclectic design style is a combination of everything including the kitchen sink!It is one of my favorite styles in interior design. This style allows the designer to work with all things, old and new.

The photo shown here is easy to understand, there are not too many unusual items combined in one place. I catagorize this room as “70’s eclectic”.

Here is another example of an eclectic living room. This one is a bit more “traditional eclectic”.

The design elements here are definately more straight forward. The couch is borderline IKEAish and the furniture could be from grandma’s house…

And here is the “standard eclectic” kitchen. If it were not for the old style refridgerator and table mixer, this kitchen is a relatively modern mix of design elements.

Overall the things to consider when going eclectic are:

* Keep the colors minimal, it is best to use mostly neutrals and one
or two accent colors. The combination of already exisitng furniture
and accessories will bring it all together with a punch.

* Look at what you have and what needs to be added (or thrown out).

* Decide how you want the room to feel: clean lined, lived in, artsy…

*Use one element to find your inspiration. It can be a pillow, artwork,
rug and anything that you love.

*Be sure to use a balanced mix of color, pattern and texture.

* This is a good style for starter projects, you can’t really get it wrong!

Decorating a room is easy!
All you need are a few tips to get you started.

Here is how I do it:

1) Decide what will stay and what will go in the room you are decorating.

2) Make a list of the things you will need to buy.

3) Draw up a budget as a starting point.

4) Consider items that will give you the “most bang for your buck”. Paint, slipcovers and accessories can make a dramatic impact.

5) Generate ideas by collecting inspirational materials. Fabric swatches, paint chips, wallpaper, paintings, photos and magazine tear sheets.

Next, Take a look at the items that you have collected and consider the folowing:

1) Are you drawn to warm colors (reds & Yellows) or do you prefer Cool colors (blues & greens)?

2) Do you like a lot of colors or various shades of one color?

3) Are you looking to create a calm environment or a energized one?

4) How does your color selection work with the other elements in the room?

Summing up:

*Consider the size and the light cinditions in the room. The larger the space the more color there will be.

*View your samples in the room. All the elements in the room have an impact on each other.

* Repeat colors in other elements in the room, carpet, draperies and pillows are all important way to tie in color.

Finally: Take a look at the work you have done; You should love all of the colors, fabrics, patterns and textiles that you have chosen… you are on your way!

Small room, no big deal…
This bathroom took three days to finish,
I had no idea!

Wallpapering a small space can be a big challenge. Working in cramped quarters with limited lighting and lack of air can test the boundries on this home renovation project. Don’t despair!

The “How To” list below will help anyone
who is considering a project of this kind.

1) Gather all needed materials beforehand and set aside a work space.

You will need:

* new wallpaper
* a comfortable work surface (a fold out table) to cut the paper on
* I suggest buying the wallpaper kit at Ace or Home Center
* wall cleaner (removes the old paste)
* wall sealer (seals the wall and adds glue to the surface)
* scrubbing sponge and bucket
* a sturdy ladder
* drop clothes to cover all surfaces
* additional clip on lighting
* patience (you can’t buy it anywhere)

note:
If you are papering a room that has not had paper before,
then the time for this project will be cut in half.

Lets go!

step 1:
Remove the old paper and start washing the walls. Some spots may require
washing twice depending on the old glue. Let the room dry out for a few hours.

step 2:
Apply the sealer to all surfaces that will be papered and let dry.

step 3:
Fill the bathtub with three inches of water.

step 4:
Start at a corner and work your way around. Measure the space to be papered first.

step 5:
On the work table, measure and cut the paper to size. * Samller patterns
will be easier to match (they are more forgiving). Stripes are a pain in the neck
(match them and make sure they are straight).

step 6:
Roll the paper with the pattern facing out and dip the roll into the tub.

step 7:
Roll it out and apply it to the wall.

step 8:
Do this until the room is fully papered!

IKEA hacker is exactly what it sounds like - he (or she) finds all of the great IKEA hacks on the web and posts them.

Living in Israel is expensive, and typically our money is spent toward things like food, shelter, and transportation - so decorating becomes a low priority.

Reader ‘L’ and I have been having an email conversation about all of this:

Boy I wish I had tons of money for all these lovely designer ideas in my head. I could really make a palace for myself. *sigh*, writes ‘L’.

Having less money doesn’t mean you can’t have a wonderful flat. It simply means you have to have more creativity (and hopefully some basic DIY skills.)

My favorite place to find free stuff is on the streets of Tel Aviv at the beginning of the month on moving day. People just leave the stuff they don’t want on the street. Doors from an old closet (assuming the closet is unsalvagable) can become shelves. A regular door from a ’shiputz’ (renovation) turns into a table with legs from IKEA. Chairs are often left out in perfect condition.

The nicest thing about this option is that you are getting something typically old, less common, and you are recycling. The one detractor is finding someone to help you get that old chair, closet, or table up four flights of stairs to your flat. (I lived in a walk-up back in the day).

The picture above is a chair that I found on the streets of Tel Aviv 7 years ago. The cushions will be re-done as soon as I find a fabric that I like (they used to be covered by some great pillowcases when it was in my office - but my husband didn’t appreciate the Ralph Lauren chintz pattern). The drawers next to it was a garage sale find that I brought with me from the US. It’s also been painted.

The table on the left is a door on legs from IKEA.