Pattye Duffner's Blog

Walls or ceilings???

Some recent inquires about wallpaper… My stand on wallpaper is that it is a great option for the right application.  I myself have wallpaper in our home.  On the ceiling of the children’s rooms. It comes from York. I love it and the little ones love it too.  Everyone always comments on the ceilings…”is that wall paper?”  If you have ever removed wallpaper you may think there is no good place for wallpaper but in the recycle bin.  Here is my favorite source for handmade wallpaper.  You may recognize this from my HGTV

presentation on Design Star.  Fromental makes

amazing and one of a kind wallpaper.  If you are in the market for making a statement this is where you would look.  Another paper that is more eco friendly would be a woven fiber paper like straw or bamboo.  Give that a try!

Cabinet Character

An abundance of solid cabinet doors can overpower a kitchen.  To create visual relief and architectural interest, mix it up with a few stylish departures.  One strategy is to vary the heights and depths of the cabinets.  You also can change out solid face cabinets with racks that store dishes or wine and open shelves for displaying collections or storing cookbooks.  Or transform upper doors by adding glass inserts.  If you prefer that people do not see your peanut butter, use glass that is sandblasted or reeded so that the contents of the cabinets are obscured.

SOLAR LANTERNS

HANGING SOLAR LANTERNS:   Love, love, love this.  Grab those solar lights from the driveway and hang them  high up on the trees.    Use metal hooks from th e hardware store (normally used to hang bird feeders) and let the lanterns glow in the trees.   During the day, they charge in the bright sun; at night, they cast a soft sheen.   You can also line sidewalks with lanterns, too.  Just let them rest right on the ground to guide guests through the dark.  Another idea is to hang them inside the kids play area so that they can see at night as well!

Balancing Act

  Bedrooms require a bit of a balancing act when it comes to scale.  Look at your bed, and you will see that it introduces a large horizontal surface to the space.  Your bed deserves focal-point attention, but you don’t want it to seal all the glory.  Then consider the bed along with the ceiling, the floor, and side tables- a whole lot of horizontal surfaces.  That’s why I flip some of that expanse to the vertical so that the attention is evened out.  Try an extra tall headboard, an armoire and plush window treatments to do the trick!

Spa Shapers

Along with a beautifully designed bathroom made up of stone, wood, paint, mirrors and lighting here are some items to bring into your bathroom to enjoy a spa experience at home:

 

• Thick, whiter, terry-cloth towels.  The fluffier the better.
• White terry-cloth robes.  These are wonderful to slip into after a hot shower or a long soak.
• Music.  Select mellow tunes to help you relax.
• Candles.  Purchase soothing fragrances and light the candles with you bathe.
• Oils, salts, brushes, etc.