Giving your home some TLC doesn’t have to cost a fortune or become a long and arduous process.  Here are some very simple and highly effective ways to freshen up your home just in time for fall.

The images posted below are from 5 highly talented Interior Designers…and dear friends!   (Enjoy the eye candy).

1.  De-clutter it! (Degree of Difficulty – easy)

Photo via Jonathan Legate Interior Consultation        Designer: Jonathan Legate

We build our lives, save our memories, and document every nuance of our children’s growth.  The next thing we know we’re inundated with stuff we’ve accumulated over the years and can’t part with.  Living in a home that is cluttered and disorganized will immediately drain your energy – without even realizing it.

To eliminate the mess and get you to a peaceful resolve start by going through every bin, shelf, drawer and cabinet.  Gather all the papers, old toys, books and back issues of magazines you haven’t used in a year – and get rid of them!  Don’t shuffle the clutter from one side of the room to the other.  Purge and remove everything from the space.  Only once everything is cleared away will you able to design, decorate and appreciate your space.

2.  Re-arrange it! (Degree of Difficulty –easy)

Photo via Richard W Herb and Associates                 Designer: Richard W Herb

Once you’ve de-cluttered your space start moving things around.  Take inventory of the furniture throughout your home and start experimenting.  Maybe your adorable bedroom chair would look even better in the living room, and those pair of table lamps would revitalize your bedroom ambiance.  Relocate the foyer chandelier in a sleek finish and re-introduce it in the dining room.  And don’t be afraid to swap out the accessories from room to room – you won’t need to spend a dime.

3.  Paint it or Paper it! (Degree of Difficulty – easy to moderate)

Photo via Leslie Fine Interiors               Designer: Leslie Fine

Invigorate your outdated family room and energize your bedroom with one of the new hot color trends of the season.  A fresh coat or two of paint can instantly change the mood, ambiance and energy of a room. Just remember when selecting paint colors for your home its imperative to know what mood you are trying to achieve, how you intend to use the space and more importantly which colors you really love.

Create a jewel box at home by installing wallcoverings in a favorite space.  Whether you choose to introduce subtle textures or bold patterns – wallpaper instantly infuses detail and character to your space.  The endless selection of raffias, silks linens and metallics are striking in both traditional and contemporary settings.

4.  Welcome it! (Degree of Difficulty – easy)


Photo Via HGTV Canada      Designer Meredith Heron

Enhance the front entry of your home by exuding a positive energy and flow into your home – for health, happiness and prosperity. Sound good?

Start by simply creating a focal point or vignette somewhere in your foyer.  Perhaps a simple console table with a favorite piece of art hanging above, highlighted by a sophisticated table lamp – will evoke a positive feeling each time you walk through your door.  Take it a step further and add a small water element or a mirror on the wall perpendicular to the door.  This will help in create a well-balanced, healthy and prosperous life.

5.  Flower it! (Degree of Difficulty – easy)

Photo via Nest by Tamara              Designer: Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

Adding fresh flowers to your home décor or party table is the piece de resistance in any design project and an instant pick-me-up!

Next time you’re shopping for groceries or at your local farmer’s market pick up some fresh flowers and create some fun and unique arrangements. You don’t need to spend a fortune, just look for what’s in season, well priced and colorful enough to enhance your mood.  Place them in colorful glasses, pitchers, bowls or pales and sprinkle these arrangements throughout your home.

I do this as a weekly treat to myself – fresh flowers make me happy.

Stay Inspired!

Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Today I thought I would premiere a new video series I am calling “Lori’s Renovation Realities.”  This series will give you valuable tips and inside information when renovating and re-designing your home.  Who out there would like to avoid the REAL reno disasters? Well then take it from me and watch!  Would love to know what you think?

…..and stay tuned for more of Lori’s Renovation Realities….

Stay Inspired!

Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Interior architecture and design is a continually evolving industry.  Just like fashion, we can’t help but notice the ever-changing design trends of the season particularly when magazines, newspapers and television shows keep us abreast as to what’s hot and what’s not from one year to the next.   Technological advancements together with popular culture tend to set the stage for these new trends in the home design industry.  Implementing every newest craze into your home renovation or design project isn’t what’s important – the goal is to incorporate those trends that have the staying power and that become the new lifestyle standard without ever appearing dated.

Whether you’re building a new home, renovating a charmer, or adding some extra space, homes are becoming smarter, smaller (than the Mc Mansions of years past) and simpler.  Easy maintenance, high quality materials and integral smart systems make for an easy transition for the changing family.  In many instances homeowners are adding some extra space in order to meet the needs of aging parents (or for themselves “aging in place”) and re-designing their home’s overall layout by incorporating subtle Universal Design principles. Creating more open and flexible floor plans with wider doorways, main floor master suites, and user-friendly kitchens and baths are becoming increasingly important to the Baby Boomers.

Kitchens are the core and heart of the home. And the truth of the matter is according to a recent survey conducted by General Electric 60% of homeowners are eating out less and spending more time dining at home – and more than half of them are actually cooking six to ten meals per week for friends and family.  This speaks to the overwhelming trend in creating the entertainer’s kitchen that is well designed, impeccably detailed and beautifully appointed.  So if you’re one of those serial entertainers and are planning a kitchen renovation, then its time to transform your kitchen into the hottest new restaurant in town!

The current scene is definitely green.  You can go all the way and completely reduce your carbon footprint or simply introduce energy-efficient windows, lighting, appliances and tank-less water heaters in your home renovation project. Utilizing recycled and sustainable products has never been easier to incorporate into your home remodeling plans.  Keep in mind that the green scene is here to stay and eco-friendly homes are important to Baby Boomers and GenXers alike.

This is a new era in the home building and renovation industry.  Keeping abreast of the home renovation and design trends and incorporating these new standards into your project – will keep your home in good standing should you ever decide to sell.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

As a Designer it’s so important to be well versed on all upcoming home design and renovation trends – from building trends to paint colors and everything in between.  Benjamin Moore’s 2011 Color Forecast was released to Architects and Designers last month – and I wanted to share their findings with you.

Each year the color expert team at Benjamin Moore declares their predictions for the upcoming year by tracking the more recent social, cultural and political conditions and how they directly impact fashion and design trends.  What they discovered was an overwhelming desire for a sense of balance coupled with four underlying themes: The Farm, Order, Escape and Tribe.

1.  The Farm
There is a major focus on hearth and home for obvious reasons and most are anchoring themselves within a new reality.  Earthy colors straight from the farm will be dominating interiors this year.  Just take a look at your local Farmers Market for inspiration.  From earthy browns, buttery yellows and milky whites – to tomatoes, pumpkins and greens.

Also look for handcrafted fabrics, burlaps, tea-stained materials, and all types of petrified, bleached and natural woods – which suggests a return to life’s simpler things.

2.  Order
We are craving a sense of balance and order from the chaos of the past couple of years.  This is interpreted by infusing red, blues, yellows and greens to juxtapose with more monochromatic variations of black, white and gray.  Geometric patterns with crisp stripes, dots and spirals uplift our spirit and improve our mood.  These days it’s all about making ourselves feel happy.

3.  Escape
The world has been a little harsh lately so escaping into a dream world full of hope and optimism for the future– is extremely appealing at the moment. The dreamy glamour of sheer draped fabrics, metallic finishes and softened textures coupled with a more pale, frosted and opalescent color palette can be just the remedy for overcoming adversity.

4.  Tribe
A focus back to our ethnic communities and much like the farm, we are aching to return to the simpler things in life yet in a more soulful way. The spicy color palette of the land such as rich berry, cinnamon, saffron and fire orange are anchored with bronzes and charcoals.  There is a huge focus on patterns, stencils, hand embroidery and beading,

So how will you seek that order and balance in your life?  Will you be returning to the hearth, escaping into your dreams or focusing on your community when gathering your home design inspiration for this year?

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Planning the perfect closet is never an easy task particularly when you have to share with your spouse.  Often one partner has more “inventory” shall we say than the other and rarely are they willing to give up an inch of linear space.

In one of my projects the layout of the master bedroom – simply said just doesn’t make sense.  Currently the original dark, dingy and window-less walk-in closest is located on an exterior wall, which faces the beautiful lush back yard. The single windowed master bath looks directly onto the neighbor’s house.  From a planning perspective it only makes sense to flip the master bath/closet layout in order to maximize the lovely view to the lush yard from a new master bath – and plan for the new closet/dressing room where the old bath was located.

Gutting and shifting the walls to create a bright and spacious master bath and his-and-her closet and dressing area will take this master suite from the ordinary to the extraordinary.  It’s about creating a perfect blend of practicality and luxury in the master bedroom suite.

Keep these ideas in mind when planning the perfect closet for two:

• Don’t feel you need to use up every inch of wall space by sacrificing natural light.  Adding windows or skylights will display your wardrobe clearly.
• Strategically position full-length mirrors to reflect some of that natural light – and to catch a good glimpse of yourself.
• Keep as much inventory as possible in plain sight.  Make sure its well organized, color coded and easily accessible.
• Separate the his from hers – and provide enough space to meander through the shelves and racks.
• If space allows provide an island for plenty of extra storage.  It’s also a terrific surface area for changing out your handbags and organizing accessories.
• Provide a make-up vanity area preferably near a window for natural lighting.
• Don’t forget good general lighting coupled with recessed lighting to highlight your hanging wardrobe.  Using dimmers will add that extra touch of ambiance as well.

Whether you’re planning a closet/dressing room that takes your breath away or a highly practical well-organized closet for two – use these principles to help guide you through the planning process.

Committing to a specific style of kitchen can be an overwhelming decision to some.  It’s not only an expression of your personal style it is also a reflection of the overall architecture and design of your home.  So when you begin the process of selecting the style of your kitchen, make sure it fits in seamlessly to its existing environment.  In other words – an old-world Tuscan style kitchen would stick out like a sore thumb in a sleek and streamlined contemporary home.

Since the kitchen is the hub of all activity and tends to relate from one space to another it’s very important to consider how the kitchen materials, details, shapes and cabinet styles relates and transitions from one space to the next.

Smaller kitchen spaces tend to call for cleaner lines and less detail and ornamentation in its design style – where a larger more spacious kitchen area could definitely tolerate more detail.

I always advise my clients to research all the kitchen design magazines – on and offline – and to focus on the specific styles of kitchen cabinets, counter tops, backsplash materials, flooring and appliances that really speak to you.  Creating that inspiration file will serve as your starting point – in fact, you’ll begin to see your design style begin to emerge.

So how do you know which kitchen style best suits the style of your home?

Consider these guidelines when doing your research.

Colonial Style Home:

• Shaker, country or traditional style cabinetry – stained maple or painted wood kitchen cabinets in green, blue, cream or grays.
• Keep the cabinetry design simple and avoid heavily decorated embellishments.
• Wood floors, and fireplaces are characteristic of Colonial designs.
• Natural countertop material such as soapstone, limestone (dense) and butcher block will lend some authenticity to the kitchen.
• Simple backsplash tiles without patterns.

Colonial Style Kitchen

Classical Style Home:

• Country and traditional style cabinetry – stained or painted woods of birch, maple and pine.
• Rectilinear design and slight ornamentation keeping symmetry in mind.
• Can be an unfitted kitchen with free-standing furniture, balanced by natural materials and warm neutral colors of cream, browns and greens.
• Stone or wood floors were indicative of the classical style.
• Wooden butcher-block counters are also indicative of this period.

Classical Style Kitchen

Arts and Crafts Style Home:

• Stained or painted flat panel and bead board (inspired by the Shaker period) styled cabinet doors constructed of oak, maple and ash are characteristic of the period.
• Introduce plain glass or colored glass to lighten up the darker stained cabinetry.
• Stone materials with similar characteristics and tone to limestone or soapstone will lend credibility to the Arts and Crafts style.
• Oak and slate flooring were typically used in these kitchens and are still perfect for today.

Arts and Crafts Style Kitchen

Mid Century Style Home:

• This is where the fitted kitchen is at its best – with long runs of base and upper matching cabinetry with integrated appliances.
• Can take the design a little retro incorporating either painted or wood slab doors and drawers.
• Clean lines and simple ceramic tile or wood floors.
• Backsplashes can be finished with clean machine cut tile, brick, stone or even stainless.

Mid-Century Style Kitchen

Contemporary Style Home:

• Crisp clean and sleek rectilinear lines inhabit this kitchen.
• Wood cabinetry either natural or stained a deep rich tone adds warmth and drama to the simple lines.
• Woods, stainless steel, glass, and quartz countertops are characteristic of this style.
• Typically cooler and more neutral tones but a jolt of color adds some added drama to the space.
• Texture and interest is created by a combination of materials and surfaces.

Contemporary Style Kitchen

Whether you’re traditional or contemporary always pay attention to the integrity and the architectural style of your home – and borrow elements from a few of them to represent your kitchen style.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

I had a meeting yesterday with a potential new client at her Mid-Century home in the Hollywood Hills.  This home, built in 1954 is quaint, charming and measures just under 1500 square feet.  Living there just shy of a year, the homeowner now has a keen sense of the changes she needs to make in order for this house to feel like her home. The ultimate goal here will be to work within the existing footprint to remodel and restore it – lighten it – and brighten it all in effort to reflect the homeowner’s creative and charming personality and design style – while maintaining the integrity of the home’s architectural style and history.

Having the famous “Hollywood” sign in front of the house is a perfect setting and backdrop when nestling into the hills– wouldn’t you say?  In fact, you can see the sign as clear as day from the window in the guest bath.  (In all the years I’ve lived here in Los Angeles I had never been so close to the Hollywood sign…. I felt like all the other tourists – snapping away making sure I captured just the right shot).

Classic Mid-Century homes have distinctive characteristics and are historically important in the evolution and history of architecture.

• The style was very much influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and his principles of organic architecture.
• Exteriors evolved from more severe flat roofs to gradual roof pitches, with post and beam construction and many times glass walls.
• Expansive windows allowed for a more direct relationship between the interior and exterior – and typically created a more casual and relaxed style of living.
• The rear of the home became the family retreat and circulated around the pools, patios and barbeques.
• Celebrated the open floor plan where living spaces flowed easily from ones space to another.  It was a departure from the more compartmentalized traditional homes and provided the homeowner with greater flexibility in determining the living/dining zones.
• Mid-Century homes were typically smaller in scale and square footage.

These architectural gems are the perfect home for today’s downsizing trends.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Sometimes the simplest changes can create the greatest impact in your home – and adding mirrors to your design scheme is one of them. I’m not just referring to wall hung mirrors – although they are always beautiful – but introducing strategically placed mirrored surfaces in your foyer, kitchen, bath, living room, dining room or bedroom.  Reflective surfaces brighten a space and create that extra layer of sparkle and texture, at the same time visually increasing a sense of space.

Here are some stunning ideas for adding that spectacular look to your room.

Foyer

• Mirroring the adjacent wall to the entry with a large oversized frame will transform a dark and dingy foyer into a bright and spectacular space.
• Or take it a step further and adhere some beveled-mirrored tiles to the entire wall with a beautiful glass chandelier suspended from above.
• If large mirrors aren’t for you then consider a mirrored chest at the entry with your favorite piece of art above highlighted with a crystal or glass table lamp and finished with an exquisite arrangement of fresh flowers.

Kitchen

• Add some instant light and reflection in your kitchen with a mirrored backsplash.  Do you have a killer view of the ocean or a spectacular English garden?  What better way than to highlight it and integrate the interior with the exterior for a panoramic view.
• For added texture apply either glass or mirrored mosaic tiles to the backsplash and you’ll still achieve that shimmer and shine.

Bath

• The use of multiple mirrored surfaces will open up a small space and create a sense of elegance and glamour. Consider mirroring the entire wall from the top of the countertop material all the way to the ceiling.  It will visually double the size of a smaller bathroom and reflect the natural light.
• A mirror placed across from the bathroom window also adds depth to the room.
• Reflective backsplashes also work and will create a similar effect or antique mirrored tiles.

Living Room

• In a more traditional home apply mirrored sections on the walls in framed in molding and paneling for a crisp classic style – enhancing your furniture and creating a bright beautiful space.
• For a more contemporary flair introduce a crisp and cool fireplace surround to double the glow of the fire when lit.
• Or add some beveled mirrors or tiles with glass rosette insets for a more traditional style.
• Free standing glass screens will definitely add some drama along with a mirror mounted over a mirrored surface to provide you with a greater sense of detail and depth.

Bedroom

• Whether you have a built in closet or a French wardrobe, mirror your closet doors to not only expand the light and space but to also provide you a sense of elegance
• Introduce mirrored nightstands by adding glamour to your storage.

Incorporating mirrors into your interior design plans is an easy way to add light, space and airiness to your room . For larger rooms, it adds a new dimension to the space. Play around with different mirror shapes and reflective surfaces.  I know you’ll find the perfect solution to spicing up the ambiance of every room in your house.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Back in February of this year I wrote an article entitled: The Top 10 “Must Have” Features In Today’s Homes. The results were based on a survey taken by Market Watch a consumer group at the Las Vegas Home Builder’s Show.  Number one on the “Must Have” list was Large Kitchens With Islands.

No matter how many islands I have incorporated into my kitchen designs over the years– no two are ever alike.  It’s my job to ensure that each one takes on a personality of its own and compliments the kitchen and the overall architecture of the space.  Depending on the overall floor plan the island can be designed in a multitude of shapes, sizes, levels, and finishes making it truly unique to your home.

A Kitchen island is a valuable asset in today’s homes.  It acts as the central meeting place within the kitchen itself, which we all recognize to be – the heart of the home.  This multi-functional piece of furniture wears several hats over the course of the day.  It can act as a food prep zone, family gathering spot, homework center and mobile office, just to name a few.

Typically my clients expect these islands to meet a specific set of criteria.

Here are the most common requests.

• Uninterrupted surface area for food prep space.
• An additional sink with disposal.
• Extra storage drawers and doors.
• Location for warming drawers.
• Double sided storage accessible from both sides.
• Comfortable seating/stools for 4.

Kitchen Islands can be successfully incorporated into many types of layouts – of course depending on your overall space.  Islands tend to work best in these 3 types of kitchen plans:

• A Galley Kitchen. In a smaller galley-type kitchen, removing a wall and opening it up to a neighboring space will allow for a perfect island application.
• An L-Shaped Kitchen. A very popular layout for the work triangle and is a perfect layout for adding an island to your kitchen plans (If you have the luxury of space).
• A U-Shaped Kitchen. Again providing you have the space between counter tops and is open to another room, the U shape kitchen is a very efficient layout and an island would only enhance the overall function of your kitchen.

I want to leave you with a few last minute tips when re-designing your kitchen and incorporating an island into the plans.

• Utilize different materials, surfaces and cabinetry on your island – creating a more unique piece of furniture and focal point within the space.  It keeps the eye interested.
• Island sizes range from +36” wide x +72” long – depending on the space you have.
• If possible allow for at least 42” between countertop and island counter top.  (36” is minimal – but work-able if you’re tight on space).
• Also allow 42” clearance for aisles and traffic patterns.
• Island heights can vary as well and be multi-leveled.  They can be designed at counter top height of 36” with a dropped eating area of 30” in height, or an elevated bar area of 44” high.  The choice is yours.

Renovating your kitchen and implementing an island into your space will undoubtedly increase your home’s value and could yield you a return on investment of 75% – 90%.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Dining spaces can be formal, casual, or a combination of both. Many traditional homes have both a formal dining room and an informal eat-in kitchen.

When planning for a remodel of this area, whether you’re converting an existing space or adding on, consider:

• The size of your family
• The number of guests you typically invite to dinner parties
• The types of occasions when you’ll use the room.

These facts will help guide you in planning the size of your dining space, the layout, and the furniture you’ll ultimately choose. Also consider traffic flow and especially the proximity to the kitchen for serving meals.

Your dining room is also a great space to store extra-large serving pieces that don’t typically fit in your kitchen. Whether you incorporate built-in cabinetry or individual storage pieces, make sure to provide enough clearance for cabinet doors to open fully. When planning lighting, consider all the uses: dramatic enough for elegant dinner parties and bright enough for your kids’ birthday parties.

10 Tips To Consider When Designing A More Formal Dining Room

1. Add character in your dining room by adding simple wood panels, moldings, or beams on your ceiling.
2. For a more traditional feel and layered look, install some paneled wainscoting and beefy crown molding around the perimeter of your room.
3. Increase the size of your baseboard by adding another piece of molding to the existing material to make it look chunkier and more substantial.
4. If you’re lucky enough to have hardwood flooring beneath that old green carpeting, then simply re-finish and stain it in a deep rich tone.
5. When renovating your dining room, check the plans to make sure your existing furniture will fit back in to the new space.
6. Rectangular dining tables are best suited for rectangular dining rooms. If you need to seat 8 to 10 people, the recommended room size is a minimum of 10’6” x 15’.
7. Square dining spaces look fantastic with either square or round tables. Rounds are my personal favorite as they provide for a much more intimate dining experience. For 8 to 10 people, the recommended room size for an 8 ft. diameter table typically is an 18’6” square space.
8. Provide a focal point in the dining room either by enhancing an existing fireplace or creating a new vignette by introducing a beautiful hutch for storage, and flank your favorite piece of art above with a pair of colorful lamps.
9. Use a combination of light sources. In addition to a central fixture or chandelier, it’s tremendously effective to add some recessed halogen light fixtures to highlight artwork, or any other key pieces—and your crystal and silverware will sparkle like diamonds.
10. Hang your chandelier anywhere from 36” to 42” from the tabletop (from the top of the table to the underside of the fixture). Keep the diameter of the fixture 9”- 12” smaller than the width of your table.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.