I have a large arched window in my living room.  I have no idea how to treat it with drapery.  Do you have any tips or rules for working with arched windows?

Thanks so much!

Donna

Harrison, TN

A.   Dear Donna,

Arched top, or Palladian, windows can be a real challenge.  And just like many things in design, there area always exceptions, but I do have a few guidelines I like to use when deciding how to treat an arched window.  These guidelines are independent of whether your style is traditional or contemporary.

• I never like to create a “tepee” design.  We’ve all seen this done before!  The rosette at the top and a swag on either side . . . seriously!  This looks like putting a triangle on a circle.  It totally hides the beautiful shape of the window.  So rule #1:  never create a drapery treatment that hides the beautiful style and curve of an arched window.

• Next, many people want to stop the drapery treatment below the arch, at what is referred to as the “spring line” of the arch.  This look generally bothers me because most of the time it makes the window look short and squatty.  Plus it looks like the arch has been completely left out of the design and a bit “naked” and exposed.  I generally like treatments that emphasize and bring focus to the arch design, not cover it up or ignore it completely.
• 

So how do I approach draperies for arched windows?  There are about as many ideas as there are shapes and sizes of windows and each window presents its own set of opportunities and challenges (is there a view?, do I need privacy?, are there other windows in the room?, etc.), but  here are a few of my suggestions -

1. Simple full length drapery.  This treatment frames the arches without overwhelming them or covering them up.  Clean, simple, classic.
2. Window shades.  In this room we used simple shades on the lower portion to allow the arch window radius to stand out.  The shades coordinate with the adjacent standard window and provide a cohesive look.
3. Highlight the arch.  This room presented a real drapery challenge which we handled by creating cornice boards that flank and follow the curve of the arch.  This treatment draws your eye to the arch, but again lets that beautiful window remain the focal point.
4. Finally, sometimes it is best not to have a treatment at all.  In this bedroom, we created traditional, formal treatments in the 2 regular windows (even playing homage to the curve in the top of the cornice) but with the room’s beautiful Palladian window we left it without fabric.  To cover up all that beautiful wood trim and moldings would have been a crime!  We simply added blinds for necessary light control and privacy.  Sometimes the right drapery treatment is no treatment at all.

If you would like to pose your own design dilemma for Haskell to address, just post it on our FB page http://www.facebook.com/haskellinteriors or via Contact Us on our website www.haskellinteriors.com. He will select one to answer each week.

This year’s fashion show, sponsored by Belk was a big hit with the crowd.  There were numerous local area businesses, including Haskell Interiors, there to support this important cause by showcasing products and services available to both women and children.  We enjoyed seeing many familiar faces and meeting many new people during this 2-day event.  And we look forward to seeing you again next year.  For more information about Styleworks and the Siskin Children’s Institute, go to their wonderful website at www.siskin.org.

I want to update and redo several rooms in my house, which I haven’t done in about 20 years.  I LOVE animal prints and have them on many items in my home.

Can I update my home and my look and still use animal prints?  Or are they “out of style” now?

Thanks.

Maria

Dalton, GA

A.   Dear Maria,

Of course you can use animal prints in your updated designs!  I love animals and animal prints (just as long as we are talking prints and faux leathers – no real animals, please!).

The key to any updated look is to take a classic and put a fresh spin on it.  Back in the 1980’s & 90’s animal prints were a big rage and those produced were made to look real.   Thus most animal prints then – and I assume those in your home, Maria – were tans, browns, blacks, oranges, etc.  All the true colors found in the animal kingdom.

     If you want an updated animal look think of new, exciting color ways – pinks, greens, and blues, mixed in with your traditional animal patterns.

Today’s animal prints trend – and it is a hot one, even appearing in the fall runway shows – brings the drama of nature’s patterns, but mixes it with the fresh color palettes of 2012.

So think about adding pillows, a cool side chair, or even a wallpapered accent wall in animal, but this time in an updated color.

     That way you can enjoy your animal prints while still being on the very edge of the current trend.

If you would like to pose your own design dilemma for Haskell to address, just post it on our FB page http://www.facebook.com/haskellinteriors or via Contact Us on our website www.haskellinteriors.com. He will select one to answer each week.

I am spending my week in the Windy City at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, the world’s largest kitchen & bath event.  Each year over 1,000 exhibitors from around the world spend one week showcasing the latest products and most innovative design trends to kitchen and bath designers.  This year’s theme is “renewed optimism about the future of the kitchen and bath design industry”.

Here is the banner that greats us each day at the entrance to McCormick Place in Chicago.

I  am  seeing many wonderful products and ideas.  Keep watching for another post in the next few days where I’ll be sharing some unique tidbits from the show.  With so many wonderful products and ideas – one “Notes from KBIS” is not enough!

My husband and I recently bought an older home.  In the foyer, living room and dining rooms there is parquet oak floors but in the family room there is carpet.  We both want to change the carpet to hardwood.  Is parquet out of style and do we need to remove it or can we just add new wood floors in the den but use regular 3” wide planks?

Thanks so much.

Rachael, Signal Mountain, TN

A:  Rachael,

Great question.  We find a lot of older homes around our area featured parquet floors; especially those build in the 1960’s – 1970’s.  The parquet’s popularity in recent years waned and many homeowners used 3” – 5” planks, but in the last few years I am seeing a rebirth of parquet.  I like the pattern and find it adds visual interest to a room.  Another benefit is that the pattern hides life’s daily little dings and scratches very well.  Parquet flooring can mix very well with traditional styles as well as with today’s transitional, clean style.

I would not replace the parquet.  You may want to clean or refinish the floors, depending on their conditions but the look can easily be incorporated in today’s style.  As for the family room, you may want to investigate adding parquet there as well.  But if you want to switch styles and/or finishes you certainly may.  There is no rule that states all wood floors in your home need to be the same, especially if it is in another area of the home.  If your style for your family room is more casual, you may even want to look at the new prefinished options available in 5” – 6” wide planks that are antique or handscraped as a way to add character to your room and can be installed in a single day with very little mess.

Good Luck!

If you would like to pose your own design dilemma for Haskell to address, just post it on our FB page http://www.facebook.com/haskellinteriors or via Contact Us on our website www.haskellinteriors.com. He will select one to answer each week.

Hardware: like jewelry – change it and the whole room can take on a different feel.  Think about changing your kitchen or bath hardware from plain to terrific or from brass to a wonderful antique finish to give your cabinets character.

Lighting/Lamps:  the light in a room is critical.  The fixture can give your room style.  Changing lamps or even a hanging fixture is so easy and can make a huge difference.  Consider a bold glass colored lamp or even a modern chandelier to update your space.

Faucets:  we use them every day.  But why be stuck with such plain style.  Jazz up your bath with new faucets to give a big style impact.  Matching bath accessories – towel ring, towel bars – can be purchased to match the faucet as well.

Mirror:  have a blank wall?  Try a mirror!  Mirrors can give great style to a room or entry, without committing to color, as art does.  Mirrors today come in all shapes and sizes as well as many unique and exotic materials.

Whatever you do, just surround yourself with things that make you happy.  And remember:  your home is never “done” – it is a canvas to try and use different things.

By using an upholstered headboard, you give yourself the opportunity to mix-up the furniture pieces, perhaps from an existing matching group you purchased years ago.

Today’s upholstered headboards also are available in very tall sizes which are great and comfortable when you want to read and watch TV in bed, while adding drama to your space.

An upholstered headboard also allows you to use a great fabric that you love, in a small controlled way.  A great patterned headboard can allow you to make a statement with your bed without having to use busy patterned linens.  My rule of thumb: the more exciting the headboard, the simpler the bed linens can be.  Contrast cording or nail head trim can add some interesting detail as well.

So if you are thinking about giving your bedroom a facelift, consider what a new bed can do.  And think upholstered headboard this time for a fun and interesting way to add style, comfort, and interest to your room.

I have an older house with an outdated kitchen and really ugly cabinets.  I want to get new cabinets to update the look of our kitchen but my husband says we can just refinish and save money.  How do you decide whether to buy new cabinets or keep the old ones and just repaint?

Thanks!

Melissa,Monteagele,TN

Melissa,

Today you have options.  Yes, you can of course completely buy new cabinetry and it will completely transform your kitchen, but it is expensive.  On the other hand you could just repaint or stain, but while inexpensive may not hold up well and is more than a weekend  do it yourself project.  But, before you make your decision, ask yourself these two important questions.

1.Is the layout of my current kitchen functional?

2.Are my cabinets in good condition?

If you answer yes to either or both questions you may be a good candidate for a new type of cabinetry makeover: a cabinetry renew.  Many times it is the outdated look that bothers people the most.  If your cabinets, especially the interiors, are in good shape and the basic layout of the kitchen works for you, then a cabinetry renew might be the answer.  This solution is a process where the door and drawer fronts are replaced and new material is applied to the cabinet’s front and exposed ends.  But because the cabinet boxes remain, the cost, the mess and the downtime are greatly reduced.  Many times we can even add or replace a few new cabinets and perhaps add a new island but this approach still costs less than a complete redo.  New countertops, hardware and appliances can be added as well to achieve essentially a brand new kitchen.

With the renew process we employ, you can also add new interior upgrades such as rollouts, spice drawers, lazy susans and tray dividers to help increase the functional aspects of your kitchen.

You can see illustrations below of just how dramatic the Renew transformation can be using the same cabinet boxes, the same layout, but with brand new fronts and trim.

 Here is an example of that old kitchen we have all seen!  Dated cabinetry, obsolete appliance and bad hardware!

Here is the layout of the kitchen wall, as seen above, in computer layout.

We removed the old range, the cabinets above the range, as well as a cabinet and base cabinet to make way for a larger appliance.  Many times we can add or delete a few cabinets to much improve function.

A beautiful new hood with full venting was added.  We also added new veneers to all exposed cabinet boxes.

New cherry doors and drawer fronts are applied to round out the cabinetry renewal.

New granite countertops, mosaic backsplash and appliances make this incredible transformation complete.

As you can see Melissa, both you and your husband can get what you want.  A cabinetry renewal is a great way for many homeowners to have a new kitchen look and function while staying on a budget.  So before you start into a total kitchen remodel, call us and let’s discuss what a kitchen Renew can do for you!

If you would like to pose your own design dilemma for Haskell to address, just post it on our FB page or via Contact Us on our website.  Haskell will select one to answer each week.

For the last few weeks we have looked at some interesting and fun facts about color.  So far we have looked at red, blue and yellow – the primary colors. And the secondary colors of orange and green. Today we will wrap up our series about color facts by examining the color purple.The ancient source of purple dye was Tyrian, a dye extracted from certain sea snails.

  It was scarce and highly valued because it did not fade and actually became more brilliant from sunlight exposure.  Since one snail only produced a couple of drops of dye, its scarcity made it greatly prized.  Thus it was used by emperors and royalty as far back as the Roman Empire.

  This sense of scarcity and rarity has extended into modern age with the color of purple denoting royalty, luxury, wealth, and sophistication.

Chromatherapy, which has been practiced for centuries, is the therapy of using colored lights to heal the body and mind with different colors stimulating or relaxing various parts and organs.  Purple combines the blood warming effects of red with the cooling treatments of blue.  It is beneficial for soothing eye strain and the central nervous system.  It is stimulating without being harsh and can help even out your mood.

There is some confusion concerning the color names “purple” and “violet”.  Purple is the mixture of blue and red light; violet is its own unique light spectral color – it is its own wavelength of light.  Purple is not a true spectral color, but is the mixture of blue light and red light.  Originally purple did not exist on the color wheel, although it now appears on the modern version, between red and violet.

A few fun facts and observations:  Purple is perceived by many people to be romantic however in parts of eastern Asia, such as Japan, purple is the color of death (much like our color black).  And for those of you who are not fans of the color purple, you may be suffering from porphyrophobia, – or the fear of purple.

I enjoy using touches of purple in a room as it is a rich color, adds drama and uniqueness with even just a few touches, and just as in ancient times, adds an air of regal sophistication to any space.

Last year we had storm damage.  As a result, we had water leaks in our upstairs game room.  Our house is 80 years old and the crown and ceilings are plaster.  Although we have fixed the leak, we are left with a ceiling that is cracked, stained and in bad shape.  It would cost a fortune to rip it out and repair, as well as make a big mess.  Do you have a creative solution?  The room is approximately 20 x 25 and has 9 ½ foot ceilings.

Thank you!  Meghan, Signal Mountain, TN

A:  Dear Meghan,

With that kind of damage and the fact that we are dealing with a large area with nice taller ceilings, I have a solution.  One that will look great in a game room or family room and can be done in a day with minimal mess.  Consider installing a drop ceiling or suspended ceiling.

Many companies today offer styles that look fantastic and can even add a great architectural element to the room, particularly in keeping with a home of your period.   Today’s systems allow for the grid itself to be hidden for a wonderful “coffered ceiling” or “tin ceiling” look.

 You will lose 6 inches or so of height but this can also be a great time to install some recess lighting or even run speaker wires, etc. because they can all be hidden in the area between the old and new ceiling.

For inspiration go to http://www.armstrong.com and look under design ideas.  They offer lots of great options.   Also you can check out the ‘big box’ stores as well for some basic styles and systems.  Good luck and send a photo of the finished project!

If you would like to pose your own design dilemma for Haskell to address, just post it on our FB page http://www.facebook.com/haskellinteriors or via Contact Us on our website www.haskellinteriors.com.  He will select one to answer each week.