Working With Your Rooms Body Type

After answering two viewer questions on WFMZ 69 News (click here to see the video) this morning, I thought I would share them with you since they are GREAT questions:

Q: My living room is long and narrow.  What would you suggest to make it feel less like a runway?  I want to create a warm welcoming space. 

A: The secret to designing a fabulous space is to understand its body type.  That’s right-body type.  Don’t you choose your clothing, hair cut, and accessories, to compliment your body type?  I mean how many different cuts of jeans alone are there for you to choose from?   Well, once you understand your rooms’ ‘body type’, you will be able to layout your furniture and style it up to look fabulous!

For a long and narrow body type, the key is to concentrate on the wall farthest away.  That is your focal point and where you place your boldest color.  This will pull that wall towards you so it doesn’t feel like a runway. 

Here is an example of how to deal with a long and narrow room:

Look at the photo and find its focal point.  You would think the focal point should be the fireplace for its architectural interest, large scale and beauty, BUT for this rooms' body type, building that wall up with decor, color, etc. will only make the room feel narrower.  Instead our focal wall to work on is actually the wall farthest away.  We want to build it up with color and texture so it feels closer to you when you walk in.  

First position your furniture into a nice conversation area.  For this space I moved the sofa off the back wall and pushed it about three feet into the space because it was too far away to enjoy a conversation.  I took that opportunity to place two tall lamps behind it on a sofa table to brighten up the back wall and give it more life, again creating that pull into the room.

Try out a few colors on your wall.  See how your lighting affects it before committing to one, just like you would try on those jean options in the dressing room. 

AFTER:

Once your paint is up on this wall layer it with interest.  Use a gallery of photos and an inviting sofa to create an amazing focal point. 

Q: My home is broken up into small rooms.  I am so afraid of using color on the walls because I don’t want them to feel even smaller.  What can I do? 

A: For a small room body type, you want to push the walls away from you.  You can’t knock them down physically so here are some tricks.  You want to wrap the entire room in the same color so it equals the walls out.  But that doesn’t mean you should keep the room feeling sleepy.  Play with texture and pattern.  I love using horizontal stripes.  

In fashion, for many of us, thick horizontal stripes are a big no-no because they make us look wider.  BUT that is exactly what you want to achieve in small spaces.  Try large horizontal stripes (remember I did not say vertical-no no) all around the room like this one: 

Use two shades of a neutral airy color, or use the same color but play with the sheen.  Add an oversized mirror to reflect light and again create the illusion of a larger space, a large piece of artwork, an open and airy furniture with glass, high legs-not heavy feeling pieces, and a lightly dressed window.  Lighting is key but this time make sure you have tall lamps so the space feels tall.  The higher the lamp base the more light shines through.  Here is my rhyme to remember this:  ‘Between the shade and the base, there is more space.’ 

Don’t clutter up small spaces because complicated walls create confusion in the head in a small space and you may end up having queezy house guests.  They will be so dizzy from looking at everything going on and having no where to go with it.  Keep this in mind in bathrooms.


As part of my news segment I also discussed a DIY project I just completed-I will blog about it later today.

Don't Miss Me on WFMZ 69 News at Sunrise Tomorrow

Hi friends,


Tomorrow morning at 8:40 am I will once again be on WFMZ 69 News at Sunrise chatting it up with Eve Tannery about home design and decorating.   This time I will be answering two viewer questions- How to make the most of a long narrow space and how to work with a small space.  


I will also show you how I turned a second hand buffet into a fun new bedroom dresser.  If you miss the segment please come on back to my blog and I will have the details, and the video of the news segment.  


If you are not a follower of this blog, become one and you won't have to worry about coming back to get ideas, they will come to you via email!


I can't wait!!!!!!!!!


Shosh

Thanksgiving Memories & Hot Kitchen Stools

Three things I don't do - shop at Wal-Mart in my pajama bottoms, bedazzle my shoes, and have the ability to whip up an artistic edible meal on a wing and a prayer.  Yet I am home today cookin’ up a storm!!  I love food and I do make dinner most nights but when I am in the kitchen I am like an ape throwing it all together, then dancing on the island while it bubbles in the oven.

So why am I slaving over one recipe?  Because it is Elaine's Yam and Apple Casserole that I am so honored to make.  Elaine is my mother and we have been re-creating this sweet dish every Thanksgiving since I was a true brunette (and that was a long time ago my friends).  I am testing out a few variations so I get it right on Thanksgiving.

 For me Thanksgiving is a holiday that hands down, is my favorite because my mother rocked it every year.  Growing up on Long Island, she introduced my sister and I to the NYC Macy's Day parade, and simultaneously created the ultimate feast we all gathered for and enjoyed with our extended family (and anyone else because my Mom had an open arms policy).  My memories of Thanksgiving are leg warmers, the smell of my Dads turkey, and my Mother humming to the jazz playing on the radio while cooking.  My task was always to make my Mom’s Yam and Apple Casserole because that was my favorite, and to set the table which I loved doing.  It was an all day affair ending with watching my sister scientifically pull apart her slice of the Mrs. Smiths custard pumpkin pie (per my sister, only this particular pie will do) crust, then pound the pumpkin part down with a fork before gobbling it up.  There was a lot of sitting around, laughing, and, as usual, watching my Mom fiddle with her coffee cup as she sweetly hung onto every word we would say.

Three years and four months ago my Mom passed away from cancer.  

(My Mom holding my daughter right after she was born)

My Mom and I were really close.  Losing this incredibly remarkable woman in my life, who was my biggest fan, conspirator of fun, and, favorite person hands down, still hurts.  And I find myself pondering daily life, asking an invisible person how my jeans look, humming out of no where, and enjoying coffee suddenly-something I never liked before.  And when I make Elaine's Yam and Apple Casserole, those glorious Turkey Day memories with her come flooding back.  So let me tell you what is so amazing about this casserole....It is filled with ingredients that make me happy....sweet potatoes, apples, brown sugar, and marshmallows!  Thanks for letting me share a little about me.                      Happy Thanksgiving!!

__________________________________

Let's Talk Turkey about Hot Kitchen Stools

Make room for more family in style using one of these hot stools! Since Thanksgiving is all about gathering together, I made a little list of kitchen stools that would add some character and fun this holiday season. Some are on the high end and some are good buys.  Just click on the captions below the pictures to go to the product link.

For a more traditional look the curvy detail in the legs are lovely.

Start your engines!

Love the natural feel with woven rattan seat.

A sleek style that looks comfy.

This modern square back will make a big statement in this yummy hydra blue colored leather.

Add a bit of animal! 

This stool has that modern appeal we are seeing a lot of.

Funky!

Like sitting in a little egg.

I definitely have a 'thing' for this blue color.

Hi Mickey Mouse!

And for those of you who have an upholstered stool already but looking to give it a new life, re-upholster the seat.  Now you may think this would be a big job so to prove how easy it is check out Transforming Home blog who shows you her step by step process.

Remember to catch my news segment this Wednesday on WFMZ-TV's 69 News at Sunrise at 8:40 am.  I will answering two viewer questions and sharing a DIY dresser project I recently completed.

Fresh Fabric Color Palettes I Am Using

I can't believe another week has gone by; I am a hot mess in three inch red pumps. I just walked in from my last presentation for the week and as I unhook my coffee IV I realize I meant to blog about something, anything, since Monday, but way too fast it turned into Saturday! Now I have whip flash and a need to share a tiny bit about the projects I am working on that have kept me busy.  So below are the color palettes I put together for each client because, well, I love 'em and maybe you will too! 

 Blue and tweed with touches of pink for a fresh, young and fun family room.

 Dramatic copper and large print wallpaper for an elegant and definitely eye catching dining room!

 Tailored hues of yellow, green and rich soft chocolate is a good choice for a grown up family room.

Tribal print and ice blue for a bold glam dining room!

(took the wing back chair you see above and covered it in the red and orange vine print to the left)

Rust orange, cappuccino browns and patterns for a family room with a kick!

Cool gray blues and bright white tiles on the wall and flat river rock under your feet create a calming master bath.

I accomplished a lot this week.  I also had some good finds along the way......

Tuesday I purchased this fabulously large necklace from Kohls for under $9.  I never realized they had a fun selection of jewels.

Wednesday I fell head over heels for these funky pillows from Target......goes great with my necklace!!

Thursday I had 2 epiphanies: 

1. After going through Dunkin Donuts drive thru two times I said "Shosh, just get the larger size coffee-you know you will miss it when it is all gone."

2. At midnight, after finishing off a box of cereal and still salivating, I decided I am no longer allowed to watch Just Desserts, Chopped or Iron Chef while working late.

Friday I  re-arranged a bookcase for a client:

BEFORE

AFTER

I did nothing except re-arrange their sentimental collection of photos and books.  Took just a few hours of moving things around, adding a few decor items from around the house, and now the shelves tells a story of where this family has been and what they are about.  

 CLOSE UP OF RIGHT SIDE

Have a great Monday everyone!!!!

Want To Be On TLC's New Home Decorating Show & Live In The LA Area?

The Casting Producer for TLC's new show "Our House" asked me to pass along this info.  If you try out, good luck!!!!!!!

TLC SEEKING COUPLES FOR $25,000 HOME MAKEOVER

The TLC network is looking for fun, outgoing couples who live together in the Los Angeles area for their new home makeover show “Our House.”

The concept: We give you $25,000 and three weeks to do whatever you want to your home’s interior. You can re-floor, re-furnish, break down walls, install extreme fixtures and make it your dream house! And you have to do it all YOURSELF! (with a little help from your friends and the occasional plumber).

We're looking for married couples, dating couples, new home owners, long-time residents, couples who are strapped for cash and couples who just need a change. Whatever your story -- as long as you own your house and want TLC to pay you to re-invent it -- we want to hear from you!

Please send an email to OurHouseCasting@gmail.com with both of your names and ages, a phone number, your house’s location, photos of you both and a brief explanation of why you want to makeover your home.

EMAIL PRODUCERS TODAY!

Pink Living Room Becomes a Classic Library

I am sitting back on my sofa with my computer on my lap.  Next to me is a giant slice of pumpkin pie that I made  earlier tonight with my daughter (we used the easy recipe on the back of a can of Farmers Market Organic Canned Pumpkin I picked up at Walmart while getting Halloween candy (p.s. i used a pre-made graham cracker crust-mmmm & easy).  I am blogging and catching up on all the Nate Berkus Show segments I missed.  Nate is my long time crush and I am so impressed with how many wonderful ideas and creative designs he showcases through fellow designers, decorators, and DIYers everyday.  If you haven't seen his show, it deserves your attention.   Even if it is just to check out his 'sweet as sugar' smile.

Speaking of grins, I wrapped up a living room renovation for a client, transforming it into a library that makes me so happy.  This room has been through so much.  This wasn't just a face lift; it was a head to toe surgery going from a traditional front living room that was never used, into a room that feels the love everyday!  If you don't have a purpose for a room it becomes a dumping ground-poor room.  

I had so much fun working with Linda and Wayne on this project.  Afterward Linda and I sat in the library and chatted for a long time.  The comfy seating, the glow of the fireplace and the ambient lighting made me want to stay, perched in the wing chair, then the leather sofa, all day.  During the reno process I blogged about the materials used- click here to see the materials used "We Are So Over Our Living Room".  

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

The inspiration for the room became the oversized wingback chair floral fabric.  When it came to designing the window treatments, I did not want to use anything that would compete with them.  So we brought in these gorgeous powder blue criss cross chanille pattern fabric drapes with medallion fringe dot embellishments.  Then pulled them back with 14" jeweled tassle tie backs.

A giant personal touch in the library is the display of beautiful plants photographed by Linda and Waynes' daughter.

This space needed to be fitted for the gas fireplace so it was really important to add architectural detail around it so it felt like it had always been there.  When it arrived it was long and had a 2' mantle BUT the niche we created above it fills in the emptiness and adds drama.  The water feature was something Linda and Wayne always wanted.  It is all the little soothing touches like this, the variety of lighting, the warm tones of the wood, and softness of the furniture, that makes you want to be in this room......and feel mmmmmmmm.

Dior, Decor Questions & My Dads Disbelief

Friday!! Friday!! Hows your Friday!  Mine is so much better now that I have breathed in John Galliano's fall-winter line for Christian Dior.  I am blown away by the bright color, beauty and light weight feel of his line.  And I have fever for his new shoes!  

I am not working this weekend (well, not seeing any clients at least).  I am going to sleep late, have breakfast in bed, and then be told I won the lottery and that Dior wants to donate their 2011 line of shoes to my closet (size 6 please)-:)  Check out more of from the Dior runway by clicking here. 

So you know that monthly segment I do on WFMZ ch 69 News at Sunrise?  I forgot to tell you last week that through WFMZ I will be giving advice on any home decorating/design questions during my future segments.  So if you have a question, please email it to sunrise@wfmz.com, along with any photos, and who knows, I may use your question on air.  I am excited about this and I think I will blog about the people I answer to share the results because lets face it, someone else out there is or will be going through the same dilemma.  

Also I am writing a new blog entry that will show you how I recently turned that room in the house that never gets used-the living room- into a classic warm library.  I am always blabbing on and on about re-using a space traditionally meant for something that doesn't fit your lifestyle and re-designing it into a room that does.  

Wow, this week has been jam packed for me with late into the night appointments. Last nite I was on my way home at 10 pm, pitch dark on the highway, and barely missed a van that had hit a deer and spun around into the guard rail, then I barely missed the deer they hit-it really shook me up.  

So Dad, who still tells how surprised he was that I passed my drivers' test on the first try-take it back man!!!!

xo

Decadently Yours,

Shosh

Shosh's 3 Favorite Tips For a Happy Office

Today I spent my morning with Eve Tannery and the super smashing team at the WFMZ-TV station.  If you missed it click here to see the 2 part video. I have been looking forward to sharing my take on creating a happy office.  In todays business world, we can spend as much time if not more, in our office, as we do in our home.  And it doesn't matter whether you commute out side of your home or down the hallway in your fuzzy slippers, the office environment can really impact the value and volume of work you do.  An inviting and personal office creates a desire to be at that office and a functional one lets your mind concentrate on the task at hand.  

And for all the employers out there, studies show that a well designed office is one of the easiest and cost effective ways to retain workers and make them more productive.

My Secret- As shameful as it is, below is an an example of a very unhappy office, my office way back in the day, before I became an Interior Decorator. I could have been the leader of the Dysfunctional Office Association. I suffered from stock piling, lack of order, and blahness. 

I worked in NYC at a beautiful building in midtown in a nice sized office, but it became so unorganized, so chaotic from paperwork build up, using the wrong office organizers and situating furniture wrong.  I lost so much work time just trying to find what I needed to get moving on my projects.  And I literally drove me out-And it was such a shame because look at the beautiful view of Park Ave.

Time to break bad habits! I want to share my three favorite ways to create a Happy Office:

Tip #1 – Reinforce your Brand

Tip #2 – Don’t Think Horizontally; Think Vertically

Tip #3. – Express Yourself

Tip #1 – Reinforce your Brand

You know that saying ‘dress for the job you want not the job you have’?  Same goes for your office.  Your office should be the face of your company demonstrating the spirit of your work.  The color, comfort and style will motivate you and anyone visiting your office. 

Here is an example of Reinforcing the Brand using an office I just redesigned for the Associate Head of the Cherry Blossom Montessori School in Flagtown NJ to reinforce their brand.    This was the office before.

This office works hard as a place to do important work in, and as a gathering space for meetings with multiple parents and staff.  A wall of windows showcase the office to the open hallway.

To Reinforce the brand of the school I wanted to create a warm welcoming environment that showcased what the school is; where everyone who looks in and enters the office feels relaxed, welcome and connected to the school.

AFTER

  To achieve this we chose relaxing colors on the wall and added a new carpet. Re-arrange the furniture and choosing pieces that functionally worked better, was key.  The back wall that looks into the open hallway is now filled with a growing gallery of fun student memories.  

Here is another view of the office before:

The position of the desk does not allow any privacy for the person working in this office because it faces a large group of windows that look out into the hallway. This can  really be distracting for anyone.

 AFTER

The furniture was old and not as stable as it used to be so we replaced it and repositioned it to give more privacy.  We added a few touches that again, reinforce that welcoming friendly environment. 

TIP #2 – Don’t Think Horizontally; Think Vertically

The more desk space you have the more you put on it.  So to keep organized and uncluttered, utilize wall storage so everything is put up and away without crowding your working area. This is also a smart tip for small offices.  Bookcases, wall shelves, filing cabinets and wall mounted file organizers are great space savers.  Another great space saver is converting a closet into a mini home office. 

I was hired to create a hard working office out of this basement space.  Part of my plan included turning this closet into more useful space.

AFTER

By adding cabinets, shelves and a counter top for more working space including a fax machine, right in the closet, we have a clean desktop.  Yeah for vertical space!

TIP #3 – Express Yourself

Add personal touches that inspire you; show off your achievements-Trophies and awards, photos of and by your children, an artful chair, colorful artwork.   By infusing into your office, a bit of you, you form that connection with it and look forward to being there.  This also tells visitors that you are well rounded.  

Speaking of well rounded, I love circles (they are a symbol of infinity and have no sharp edges which is soothing to me).  So I expressed myself on one wall in my home office  using another love of mine, turquoise.  Its a fun place for me to work and get inspired, and of course, I get a lot of comments about. 

Here’s the story behind it-My friend Tracy came over with the biggest pizza I had ever seen.  We were joking about all the things we could do with the box.

That night I was in my home office staring at my wall and like deciding to go to blonde, I just leaped into it.  To see step by step instructions click here. I cut it into a giant circle and traced it over and over again on my wall.  And painted it.  It was actually very therapeutic. 

To sum up, you are a rock star and your office should represent how you rock!!!

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