Although TVs are getting larger all the time and they are a major part of everyone's life these days it would be more relaxing if they weren't always so dominate in our rooms.
1. How about disguising the TV inside a paneled wall? In this picture the wall also disguises an angled ceiling created by the staircase behind it.
2. This example of hiding the TV shows a closed bookcase but there is a surprise inside ...............
3. The shelves pivot around to disclose at TV on a swivel so it can be seen from various angles!
4. When you have a fabulous view that you don't want to disrupt you could use a TV lift in furniture at the end of the bed. This also works if you have a very large room and the wall for the TV is too far away from your viewing spot.
5. Beautiful furniture pieces can be used to hide the TV when you aren't using it. This works well in small room or in a bedroom where you don't want the TV to be dominate.
6. Armoires also add visual height and weight to a room while doubling as a place to hide the TV
7. Sliding doors on a built in piece of furniture hide the TV when moved to the center and cover the shelves when slid to the sides.
8. The TV is not exposed in the wall of cabinets of this bedroom but are easily opened when viewing is desired.
9. The creative use of wall to wall curtains here is inspiration for hiding a TV on what looks like a wall of windows. This could be effective with full height draperies as well.
10. TV screes that drop down from the ceilings have been around for a while and they are still good options in circumstances when you want a really large screen. They disappear when not in use.
11. Seura makes a full line of TVs embedded into mirrors. When the TV is off all you see is a mirror. They are available in several size screens.
12. A Seura TV is shown here with a projected picture on it. That's a great way to have ever changing art.
13. Your TV monitor or computer monitor can be stacked above the oven for a neat look so it doesn't stand out but is easy to see from anywhere in the room.
14. This is a family room I recently completed that shows how I disguised the TV by mounting it on a beautiful dark colored granite. The granite becomes the focal point of the room and the TV disappears.
15. When the TV is on the swivel chairs makes it easily viewed by everyone in the room.
OK - I'm off for a little TV entertainment so have a great day!
Leave your ideas and pictures in the comment box below.
Please call if I can be of any help!
408-369-9801 or email me
accentondesign@yahoo.com
Lila Levinson, ASID, CKD, CID, NCIDQ, IDG
Today I have some beautiful fireplace designs to spark your creative juices. Fireplaces come in many shapes and sizes but how they are finished can make all the difference in how the room comes together and reflects your style.
1. This modern linear fireplace is tiled in a way that makes the whole wall a piece of art.
2. These large rustic stone slabs create the perfect hearth and header for the fieldstone fireplace pictured. It's a casual cozy place to warm up by the fire.
3. Metal is a beautiful surface for fireplace surrounds. Here the copper is asymmetrical to accentuate the modern feeling of the room.
4. Speaking of metal - this one is rusted steel with exposed brads for a textural touch in this casual room.
5. Brushed stainless steel is used effectively here to frame the corner fireplace.
6. Concrete surfaces are showing up a lot these days and this simple fireplace has lots of impact because of it's angular shape and simple lines. Concrete comes in many colors and textures.
7. This is not quite your traditional marble fireplace. It is created by covering the whole wall with slabs of Calacatta Oro marble. Wrapping it around the corner increases the visual bulk and impact.
8. For a more casual stone application, you might prefer this stacked ledger stone fireplace, which requires no grout.
9. Of course, a hand carved marble fireplace fits perfectly in some homes to add a touch of elegance and Old World charm.
10. This cast stone fireplace with overmantle makes a very strong statement. When a room has tall ceilings the fireplace needs this bulk and height.
11. The fireplace pictured here has the look of a large fireplace but actually only uses a small amount of travertine tiles for the hearth and surround. Drama and height was added by framing the over mantel out of sheetrock and painting it all to compliment the stone tiles and painting the surrounding walls a dark color. The large crown at the top is raised above the room crown to further give the feeling that the fireplace is all one large unit.
12. Last but not least, how about a functioning fireplace that allows you to still enjoy the outdoor view! The full height glass lets in plenty of light and makes the room seem much larger.
I hope this article lights your fire if you are wanting to reinvent your fireplace!
Please call if I can be of any help!
408-369-9801 or email me
accentondesign@yahoo.com
Lila levinson, ASID, CKD, CID, NCIDQ, IDG
1. Decorating with fresh flowers this time of year is easy because there are so many beautiful ones available. If you are lucky enough to have them in your own yard, all the better!
2. You can arrange them as a casual bunch of all the same flowers or a switch it up with a variety of blossoms.
3. For more formal arrangements you can add other items to your structured floral arrangement like branches, seed pods, etc. Some foliage cascading down one side is always a nice look too.
4. Try floating large blossoms in a low dish filled with water for a refreshing flower arrangement.
5. Bud vases and other small containers like these wine glasses are the perfect way to display single blooms like roses and tulips and they can be displayed at individual place settings or in a group on a shelf (always group in uneven numbers) as a decorative accent.
6. Have you tried putting fruit or rocks in the bottom of your vase for more interest? It's a favorite trick of Interior Designers and Florists.
7. Using unique containers for your flower arrangements is fun and eye catching too. You can use pitchers, cans, boxes and even teacups - just look around the house for something different as a container.
8. Here is a beautiful table centerpiece that uses vegetables as well as flowers - be creative!
Your local Farmer's Market has a large variety of potted and cut flowers for sale so splurge and buy some every week to keep your home fresh!
Please call if I can be of any help!
408-369-9801 or email me
accentondesign@yahoo.com
Lila Levinson, ASID, CKD, CID, NCIDQ, IDG
When you walk into a room there should always be a focal point that draws you further in. If there is none the eye is confused and doesn't know where to focus.
In this foyer the entry is framed with a stone surround and columns so the eye is drawn to the center table.
A beautiful staircase might also be the focal point of the entry.
The large contemporary art and bench immediately draw your eye and are helped along by the inset mirror in the ceiling. The grouping of three at the end of the entry is good Interior Design.
Sometimes it's the outside view that draws you into the room.
Fireplaces are often the focal point of a room and in this case the two sculptural lamps frame the subject.
Color can be used as a focal point in a neutral room and in this space blue chairs draw your eye first and the secondary feature is the antique mirror.
One bold element like this rug can create the focal point and the gold throw further brings the eye into the room.
Here the paint color of the back wall serves as the focal point, adds some zest and anchors the room.
Lighting can also be the focal point, as in this hallway where you are drawn through it by the light fixtures. This lighting design serves two purposes.
Our eyes are also drawn to any light source so here the dramatic backlighting creates drama as the focal point of the room. It's another example of how good lighting design impacts a room.
Take a look at your rooms now and see if you have effective focal points for your own space and see what Interior Design tricks you can use to improve it.
Please call me if I can be of any help!
408-369-9801 or email me
accentondesign@yahoo.com
Lila Levinson, ASID, CKD, CID, NCIDQ, IDG
Are you designing a new bathroom or planning to remodel a bathroom? You may be young and healthy so you don't think this is an important issue, but grab bars come in handy for all of us at one time or another.
The elderly who are frail come to mind when you mention grab bars, but they are helpful for children who may not be steady on their feet, for someone with the flu or some other temporary illness and people recovering from surgery also.
If you are remodeling a bathroom, I strongly urge you to install backing (solid wood between the studs filling in the area where they will be mounted) in the wall for future grab bars. You never know when the need may arise and if you are prepared, the installation will not be difficult.
I also strongly urge you not to be tempted to get by with the suction type that do not get permanently installed. They will not be able to handle the dead weight of an adult and may give way when you need them the most!
Your grab bars should be rated for at least 250 lbs. You do not want to risk the safety of your loved ones by skimping and although they may look like grab bard, towel rack are not a substitute and will not hold a person's weight.
Vertical Bars: are mounted at the front of the shower so the bather can steady themselves getting into and out of the shower. They come in lengths of 12" to 24" and the bottom of the bar should be mounted at 32-36 inches above the floor.
Horizontal Bars: are mounted at the back and sides of the shower so the bather can stabilize themselves. They should be mounted 36"-38" above the shower floor. If there is a seat there should not be a grab bar behind it.
Diagonal Bars: helps the bather raise and lower themselves from a bath chair or tub. The slope helps accommodate people of different heights and reduces stress on the wrists. This bar is mounted on the back wall and the bottom of it is 6-10" above the top of a tub in a tub shower combination or 18" above the seat if there is no tub. It may be necessary to install a horizontal bar also so the individual can transfer from the diagonal bar to the horizontal bar before getting out of the shower.
These simple precautions can keep our families safe for years to come.
Please call if I can be of any help!
408-369-9801 or e-mail me
accentondesign@yahoo.com
Lila Levinson,ASID, CKD, CID, NCIDQ, IDG
Lots of people think that no window treatment is the best treatment, but that is not the best solution for many rooms.
There are functional issues to be addressed such as privacy, light and heat control, softening and warming up the looks of a sterile room, enhancing the architectural features and balancing the furniture and color in the room.
For privacy, blinds or shades are the first choice because they can be used alone or under a drapery or valance. We use them alone when clients are starting the decorating process and need to address heat or privacy but the rest of the room hasn't been designed yet. We can layer the finished treatment over them when we are ready. They come in sheer fabric, opaque fabric, wooden slats, metal slats and grass and woven wood fabrics and they can be mounted inside the window sill or outside.
Plantation shutters are still popular and offer light and privacy control and a more architectural look.
Roman shades are a decorative shade that is used alone or in combination with other treatments and can be operable or purely decorative. There are quite a few styles available and they can be mounted inside the window or on the outside. They should always be lined.
These Roman shades operate from the bottom up to offer privacy while still letting in a lot of light.
These Duette shades are often used in a bathtub so privacy can be addressed without sacrificing natural light. They can be motorized so you won't have to climb in the tub to operate them!
If light control is a concern we recommend black out lining in both Roman shades and draperies. This lining also helps insulate and keep out heat and keep the room heat inside. Be sure that the window treatment extends beyond the glass so there is no light leakage at the sides. That also includes having returns on the sides of draperies so the light doesn't peek out from the sides. Draperies should always be lined unless they are sheers.
Don't be afraid to use draperies because they will be too dominant in the room - you can always use a fabric that is the same color as the walls to help it blend in but still create a soft frame for the windows.
If you are looking for a luxurious look have your draperies interlined (an extra layer of a specific fabric that increases insulation). This is often done on silk draperies to give them body. There is no other way to get that full beautiful draping and it has the benefit of adding extra insulation as well.
Full height draperies can be used to frame a view and draw attention to it. They can be operable if needed for privacy or sun protection or just as stationary panels for decorative purposes. They also add to the formality of a room, where shorter curtains are used in less formal spaces (kitchens, kids bedrooms, family rooms). They can also be used to enlarge the look of windows that are too small for the room or uneven in width. By extending them well past the ends of the windows they give the impression that the windows are larger than they really are.
Top treatments can be used decoratively or to balance uneven heights of window in a room as well as add a decorative touch. By mounting them all at the same height the windows will appear to all be the same height from inside the room.
Bow and bay windows usually look best dressed with some type of window treatment. Bare bow or bay windows in a living room for instance, make the room look unfinished. Depending on the type of treatment you select, they may require special rods or custom valances but the finished result will greatly enhance the looks of the room. This room has Silouettes in the windows, a valance to hide the Silhouette when it is fully open and drapery panels flanking the window. Notice that the bay window panels are mounted higher than the ones in the adjoining room in order to emphasize the tall windows.
Solar shades look great in a more contemporary room and also cut the glare and help keep out the heat of the sun. The advantage to them is that they are minimalistic and don't block the view when down and can be raise all the way for a full unobstructed view. There are several light densities and colors available. The darkest ones offer the best visibility.
Vertical blinds are another option, although I have never liked them. The newer sliding panels on a track are much more attractive and don't give the room that sterile look. They come in many different opacities and weaves.
Windows coverings are often the finishing touch for a room so have fun with them!!
Please call me if I can be of any help!
408-369-9801 or email me
accentondesign@yahoo.com
Lila Levinson, ASID, CKD, CID, NCIDQ, IDG