Decorating Archives - Satori Design for Living

Outdoor Brunch Tablescape

May

2013

With the warmer weather finally upon us, we’re finding ourselves dining outside as much as possible. The fresh air and warm sun are at the top of my favorites list for sure . When we added the cedar partition to our deck a few years ago, it gave us the privacy we were seeking, and it created the perfect outdoor dining space. Normally we invite friends over for dinner, but this summer I’d like to mix it up a bit and decided to create my go-to outdoor brunch tablescape. Planning ahead means we’re ready to go at a moment’s notice.

The jumping off point for my decorating scheme was these yellow, teal, and green tea towels I found at Target’s opening in Calgary. I love the graphic pattern, and thought they’d be a nice alternative to typical napkins.

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Filed Under: Decorating, Gardening & Outdoor Tagged With: Outdoor Decorating, Plants & Flowers, Tablescape, Target

Light Fixtures for Open Concept Dining Rooms

May

2013

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One of my current client projects involves a decorating plan for an open concept living room, dining room, and kitchen at the back of the house. As gorgeous as these spaces can be, decorating them involves careful consideration to achieve a specific mood or feel for each area, while maintaining a cohesive and balanced look throughout the overall space. Selecting the right light fixtures for these types of spaces is particularly important in order to create a sense of flow and interest.

With the dining room smack dab in the middle of the living room and kitchen, it’s important to get this light fixture right. Too heavy or cumbersome, and the sight line will be impeded from one side of the house to the next. However, if it’s too small or insignificant, it won’t give the dining area enough presence, and the table could appear to be floating in the middle of the space.

Aside from these considerations, it’s also imperative to think about the style and size of the table in the dining area. We have already discussed a few options for the space, and my client is leaning towards a Salvaged Wood Trestle Table.

Typically the light fixture in your dining room should be about one-third the length of your table. If the table is 84 inches long by 42 inches wide (as in this case), the lighting fixture should be about 28 inches in diameter. Another rule is to take the width of the room and multiply it by two. The number you get is the approximate measurement in inches that would be ideal for your space. For example, this dining room is 11 feet wide, so the light fixture diameter calculation is about 22 inches.

Of course these are only ballpark figures, and size of the light fixture can be adjusted up or down depending on the openness of style or heaviness of color or material.

For this particular dining room, there are several options I can see working very well. The first that comes to mind is an open cage chandelier which always seems to be the perfect balance between traditional and modern styling. I love that it has presence, but the openness of the design makes it a great choice for these kinds of spaces.

Open Cage Chandelier- Light Fixture for Open Concept

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Filed Under: Client Projects, Decorating Tagged With: Dining Room, Lighting

Dining Room Furniture {An Eclectic Mix}

May

2013

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More and more I’m seeing dining room furniture sets being broken up and replaced with an eclectic mix of styles and/or colors. The matchy-matchy concept first started to fall by the wayside with living room furniture some time ago. Remember the leather sofa, love seat, and chair that seemed to be common in most households? Not so much any more. Current dining rooms appear to be following this trend, and I can say I’m totally on board with the updated look.

My interpretation of eclectic is a curation of unexpected furnishings and decor that reflect a homeowner’s personal and unique style. For instance, this dining room with settee, metal chairs, and teak table would likely speak to someone with a modern country aesthetic. However, eclectic style is broad can be interpreted in many different forms.

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When putting together a mix, it’s important to have at least one element that ties everything together so it doesn’t start to look garish. The linking factor of materials seen in this marble table with rustic wood base, upholstered reproduction chairs, and slipcovered stools is color.

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Filed Under: Decorating Tagged With: Dining Room, Eclectic Style, Furniture, Trendspotting

Our Entryway Design Plan

Apr

2013

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I mentioned at the beginning of April that I ordered a new blue ombre rug for our entryway. It finally arrived, and I’m feeling relieved because the bold color is exactly what I wanted to wake up the space. Like many makeover projects, the rug is only the jumping off point. Sometimes new accessories are all you need to refresh a space, but in this case, our entryway design plan requires a whole lot more to create a welcoming first impression.

If all goes well in regards to timeframe and budget, these are the steps I believe we need to take in order to give our entryway an updated look:

Remove the linoleum and replace with tile.

From the moment we moved into this home I have despised the flooring. Not only is it lifting, but the pattern and colors are terrible. I don’t care how beautiful an area rug is, it’s never going to camouflage this ugliness.

Although I haven’t finalized the tile, I’m leaning towards a charcoal slate floor.

Decorating Crush {Blue & White}

Apr

2013

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Every once in a while I seem to be drawn to certain look, and lately it’s the combination of blue and white. Perhaps it’s because days at the lake are a stone’s throw away (let’s hope), and blue and white is a palette that always reminds me of summer. I’m so ready for the sun to wash down on my face (sunscreen smeared, of course) while I’m taking some time to hang out with friends and family. Are you with me?

Let’s take this blue and white bedroom that’s simplistic in design, but so refreshing. The best thing about this color palette is its purity and the need for only a tiny bit of texture to be mixed in for it to look finished.

If I didn’t have a messy dog, busy teenager (with slough of friends), and a coffee-spilling husband in the house, this living room with white upholstered sofas and blue accents could be a contender in our new main floor decorating plans. Perhaps the next house…

Porcelain definitely comes to mind when I think about blue and white. I adore how this collection of plates adds a pop of color and creates interest in an otherwise neutral kitchen. So granny chic.

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Filed Under: Decorating Tagged With: Blue, Decorating Crush, Decorative Accessories, White

10 Ways to Decorate With Glass Cylinders

Apr

2013

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Glass cylinder vases are one of the most versatile accessories in decorating. With their simple and classic shape, as well as accessibility at a variety of price points, it’s no wonder they’ve become a favorite amongst decorators and a staple in decor. If I think about how many glass cylinders I have in my own home, I’d have to say there are at least half a dozen. Some of these are always on display, and the others are pulled out from time to time for seasonal decorating or entertaining.

I thought I’d gather together some of my favorite ways to make good use of glass cylinder vases in almost every room in your house. Chances are you have at least one or two sitting around.

Use one small glass cylinder within a larger one to create interesting candle holders with items sandwiched between. This wine cork candle holder is perfect for a table centerpiece.

Showhome Tour {A Few Highlights}

Apr

2013

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Although we planned on making our way to visit our new baby niece this weekend, freezing rain forced us to stay fairly close to home. I was itching to get out of the house for a bit, so my husband and I decided to check out a few showhomes we hadn’t been through yet in our area. Although there are few homes I walk through that I absolutely fall in love with, I often find there are parts of homes or certain features that give me ideas for client projects, our current home, as well as the one we plan on building within the next couple years.

The first home we visited had great flow, and we particularly liked how open the kitchen, breakfast area, and living room were to each other. It would be the perfect space for entertaining. We also liked how the stools tucked neatly under the island.

The warm color palette was also appealing for the snowy/rainy day we were having. Although I tend to like light and airy spaces, they can feel cold in our Canadian climate. Achieving the perfect balance can be tricky.

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Filed Under: Decorating, Inspiration Tagged With: Backsplash, Bathroom, Ceiling Finishes, Dressing Room, Kitchen, Lighting, Living Room, Paint Colors, Showhome

Decorating My First Apartment {A Look Back}

Apr

2013

20 Comments

My son is on Easter Break this week and we’ve been working on registration for his post-secondary classes next year. It seems like not that long ago we were buying kindergarten school supplies, but that’s the way it goes. When I think back to my first year of college, I remember it being an exciting time. I shared a two bedroom apartment with a friend, and I was thrilled to “set up house” for the first time. It’s a memory that’s still so clear to me.

Back then finances were tight, and my decorating budget was basically nothing. If it wasn’t for garage sale fix-ups and a few items purchased by my parents, our living room would’ve been empty. My grandparents even helped out by going through their cupboards and closets, and giving me the stuff they never used (at least that’s what they said). I still have a set of sheets from back then and the odd pot and pan kicking around (some things just aren’t made the way they used to be).

The following years at university continued to test my skills as a decorator, as frugal living became the norm. I bought sheets on a major discount and sewed them into curtains, I painted my own artwork, and recovered a chair or two.

Decorating Your First Apartment- Create Your Own Watercolor Artwork

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I also began to “rescue” furniture from the side of the road and the odd dumpster. I guess I was repurposing and upcycling before I even knew what that meant.