We Decorate Columbus- show 3 from InLine Productions on Vimeo.

WDC3 EPISODE 2 from InLine Productions on Vimeo.

Materials and construction methods vary greatly and may affect which rugs you choose to purchase.

Rugs can be found using natural fibers such as wool, silk, cotton, sisal and jute. Wool is the traditional fiber used in the construction of fine, hand-made Oriental rugs. One of the great benefits of using natural fibers is that they absorb and retain dyes in a more natural way, resulting in an authentic appearance that cannot be matched by synthetic fibers.

Synthetic fibers such as olefin (polypropylene), nylon and rayon are used exclusively in machine-made rugs, with olefin being the predominant fiber. Synthetic fibers can withstand great amounts of foot traffic and are often stain-proof. Rugs made of synthetic fibers are easy to maintain and offer a great value to consumers.

Rugs are also often made from a blend of both natural and synthetic fibers.
With the variety of techniques employed in making rugs, it is important to understand the difference in construction methods and the effect that this may have on a rug’s quality and price.

Hand-knotted rugs are woven by skilled artisans. The process of hand-knotting is extremely intricate and time consuming, dating back at least 3,000 years. A hand-knotted rug is secured to its foundation by tied knots rather than glue, which produces exceptional density and quality. These one-of-a-kind pieces could have as many as 200 knots per square-inch, and can take a year or more to complete, resulting in a beautiful heirloom for your family.

Hand-tufted rugs are also hand-woven, but employ a less intricate process. Hand-tufted rugs are created by punching tufts of thread through a tight canvas. Once the rug is completed, a backing is applied using a high-strength adhesive and the top is sheared to produce a plush, flat surface.

Flat weave rugs are the most basic of hand-loomed rugs. They are woven on basic looms and are reversible.

Machine-made rugs are created on power looms by hand, machine or computer. Machine-made rugs come in a variety of sizes, colors and designs and are available at a fraction of the cost of a hand-made rug due to the speed of production.

Rug Sizing: Measure the space where you will place each rug. In a living room, rugs are traditionally at least the length of the sofa; I typically suggest a 6×9 or 8×10.
If you are doing a room sized rug, allow 8” of space around the perimeter of the room.
Under a dining table: measure your dining table and add 48 inches both its width and length. This will allow additional space to pull out dining chairs.

Rug shapes: There are many rug shapes available including oval, round, square, rectangular, and hexagonal are fairly standard. Rugs can often be custom shaped for each space. A designer trick is to use carpeting sold in a roll and have it cut to the size and shape you desire.

Finally, rug pads are not only important for keeping rugs in place, but also for preserving your investment. Since rugs begin to wear on the bottom first, a rug pad will help to prolong the life of your rug.
Basics
Post Office Box 1550 5635 Riverdale Drive Jamestown, North Carolina 27282-1550 PH: 336.822.3000 furniturelandsouth.com

Function
It is first important to determine the function of a room.

Ask yourself some of these questions:How long do you expect to stay in your present home?
Are there any children in the household?
Are there any pets?
What is the main function of the room?
What are the respective needs of each member in the household?
How often do you entertain and how many people at one time?
Is the overall space adequate?
How do you and your spouse/partner like to relax the most?
Is there space for leisure time activities for all the members of the household?
Is the overall storage space sufficient?

Aesthetics
Next, it is important to determine your taste and style preferences.

What is your taste/style?
Eclectic
Traditional
Modern
Country
Cool & Airy
Casual Elegance
Something else?

Ask yourself some of these questions:
Does your partner share similar tastes?
What color scheme would work well?
What colors make you happy?
What intrigues you?
Do you have a favorite painting, pattern, area rug or similar item that you want to build the room design around?

Successful Budgeting
When decorating for the first time, it can be extremely difficult to determine how much to spend. Determine the maximun amount of money that you can spend and be sure that you are truely comfortable with this budget.

Next, list the 10 luxuries that would make your home feel more attractive to you and answer how and why will they make a difference. Be clear about your designs, needs, and preference of comfort and also be realistic about your ideas and how it effects the budget.

Helpful Tips
Look through decorating magazines and tag photos of rooms that inspire you. Select items that can be used to create a theme or be of interest for you and your family. Be sure to point out items that you dislike also.

Light
Light defines space, creates atmosphere and sets the mood by which we live.

Natural light – daylight
Artificial light – general overall, ceiling, wall lights
Local; tasks – table lamps, floor lamps
Accent; decorative – eyeball, spots, up-lights, candles

Note: All colors and textures should be chosen in Natural light.

Form
Form is that which fills space

Rectangles – simple shapes
Angles – dynamic shapes
Curves – balances the above

Note: Good design should employ a variety of forms.

Line
Lines form all shapes, including furniture, and architectural space

Horizontal – great in small spaces
Vertical – lines are strong and direct
Diagonal – attract attention

Texture
In design today, texture is making a larger impact on our interiors than any other design element.

Visual texture – what we see without touching
Ex: a black & white checkerboard floor may be smooth but, because of the contrasting squares, it has contrast depth

Wall Coverings & Faux Finishes can also provide overall design with lots of texture

Note: Variety in textures is necessary to keep a room from being boring

Helpful Tips
Select a color scheme that you would enjoy and would work best with your existing colors and compliment the natural light filtering into your home.

Select color chips from your local paint store

Explain how these colors make you feel and why they work best for you

Floor Planning
It allows an objective viewpoint from which to understand the size/scale of furniture placement that will maximize the space

Use graph paper to draw the measurements around the room including doorways and windows. Also, add in existing furniture placement. Consider traffic flow in & out of seating

Furniture
Arrangement – Traffic pattern, obstructions
Function – Use of the room, frequent/constantly/seldom, Kids/pets/older adults
Proportion – Sized to fit the owners, Sized to fit the room
Style – Informal/formal, Cushy/firm/frilly or fancy/plain
Quality – Are you planning on keeping this furniture or do you see yourself changing it in the near future

To Accessorize or Not?
How does the room feel without accessories?
What type of accessories would you add to create a finished look?
What type of accessories do the trick?
Framed Art
Ambient lighting
Accent furniture
Accent pillows
Area rugs
Florals/Greenery
What purpose do they serve?
A well accessorized room can feel inviting while creating interest & conversation

Create interest with:
Shelves
Clocks
Shadow Boxes w/ mementos
Mirrors (consider what is being reflected)
Silk arrangements or natural greenery

Let’s B. R. A. G. G. About Your Space
Black, Brown, Navy Blue – separates color, restful to the eye
Rugs – adds warmth, anchors colors, defines space
Art & Accessories – Adds your personality & accent color
Glass or Glitter – adds dimension & reflection to a room
Greenery – adds life to every room

Color is the single most important factor in creating the mood of a room. It is the element that everyone understands and has been proven to be a psychological stimulus. It can unify furnishings that otherwise seem unrelated. Color can minimize architectural faults such as cracked walls or poorly placed windows. It can also make a small room seem larger or large rooms seem smaller.

Color Temperature

Research suggests that colors have “temperature”; they are either warm or cool.

Cool Colors

On one side of side of the color wheel, cool colors are considered to be purple, violet, blue, blue-green and green. More soothing and restful than warm colors, they can be used in rooms with Southern and Eastern exposure to create a calm ambiance. People who prefer cool colors are usually reserved and introspective.
Warm colors

On the other of the color wheel, warm colors are considered to be yellow, yellow-orange, orange, red-orange and red. They are cheerful and powerful. Warm colors can be used in rooms with Northern exposure. They can also be used to put life into activity rooms. Children love warm colors best. Adults who like these colors tend to be outgoing and active.

Color Balance

Colors are used in different proportions throughout a room.

Dominant – The color you see the most of in a room
Secondary Color – The color you see the next in terms of amount
Accent Color – The color you see the least, but is placed throughout to add pizazz

Colors and their meanings

Red

This color causes the most diverse reaction of all the colors. Evokes physiological response in increased heart rate and rapid breathing. Red Signals excitement, dynamism, danger and sex. Causes sense of smell improvement & increase in appetite. It Speeds up the perception of time. Interiors done in red will be dramatic and provocative

Shades & Tints

Bright Red – Exciting, energizing, sexy, hot, dynamic, stimulating, provocative, dramatic, aggressive, powerful
Bright Pink – Exciting, happy, hot, attention-getting, energetic, youthful, spirited, fun, trendy, wild
Light Pink – Romantic, soft, sweet, tender, cute, babies, delicate
Dusty Pink – Cozy, soft, subtle, dusky
Mauve – Soft, subdued, quiet, sentimental
Burgundy – Rich, elegant, refined, tasty, expensive, mature
Fuchsia – Bright, exciting, fun, hot, high energy, sensual
Brick Red – Earthy, strong, warm, country
Terracotta – Earthy, warm, wholesome, country, welcoming

Orange

Appeals to a great number of people causing it to be “declassifying”. Denotes affordability and has seasonal connotations. Orange is thought to be an appetite stimulant. It Combines the heat from red and yellow to make it the hottest color. Interiors will be glowing, vital and energizing

Shades & Tints

Orange – Fun, whimsical, childlike, happy, glowing, vital, sunset, harvest, juicy, tangy, energizing, gregarious, friendly, loud
Peach – Nurturing, soft, fuzzy, delicious, fruity, sweet, inviting

Yellow

Is the best color to draw attention. Thought as being joyful, outgoing and friendly. It is the ideal color for dark or dreary rooms. Yellow does not darken with saturation, but becomes brighter. The fastest color the eye sees is yellow. It is thought of as being cheerful. Interiors will be luminous, glistening & joyful

Shades & Tints

Light Yellow – Cheerful, happy, soft, sunny, warm, sweet
Bright Yellow – Enlightening, sunshine, cheerful, friendly, hot, luminous, energy
Greenish Yellow – Lemony, tart, fruity, acidic
Golden Yellow – Autumn, flowers, harvest, rich, sun, warm, wheat, comforting, sun-baked, buttery
Gold – Warm, opulent, expensive, radiant, valuable, prestigious

Blue

Is the color of consistency and truth It slows the perception of time. Blue creates a calming effect and cools the body temperature. Navy is a great color to use in business. Blue is distant and receding. Interiors done in blue will be pleasing and tranquil.

Shades & Tints

Bright Blue – Electric, energetic, vibrant, flags, stirring, happy, dramatic
Navy – Credible, authoritative, basic, classic, conservative, strong, dependable, traditional, uniforms, service, nautical, confident, professional, serene, quiet
Turquoise – Ocean, tropical, jewelry
Aqua – Cool, fresh, liquid, ocean, refreshing, healing
Light Blue – Calm, quiet, peaceful, cool, water, clean
Sky Blue – Calming, cool, heavenly, constant, faithful, true, dependable, happy, restful, tranquil
Teal Blue – Pleasing, rich, classy, expensive, unique

Green

Has enormous range with many connotations. It can be a “harmonizer” as it is in the middle of the spectrum Green is the most restful color to the eye and induces a state of tranquility. It makes people feel tended to and secure. Interiors will be traditional, stately and restful

Shades & Tints

Light Green – Calm, quiet, soothing, neutral
Dark Green – Nature, trustworthy, refreshing, cool, restful, stately, forest, quiet, woodsy, traditional, money
Olive Green – Military, camouflage, safari, classic, drab
Bright Green- Fresh, grass, Irish, lively, spring, foliage, outdoorsy
Bright Yellow Green – Artsy, sharp, bold, gaudy, trendy, tacky, slimy, sickening
Lime – Tart, acidic, refreshing, fruity, lively

Brown

The color of hearth and home. Brown is ever present in earth. It is easy to live with and viewed as protective. Beige and taupe are considered the most classic color. It is rich and timeless and not effected by fads. Interiors will be masculine, wholesome and grounded

Shades & Tints

Cream – Smooth, rich, warm, neutral, soft, classic, delicious
Beige – Classic, sandy, earthy, neutral soft, warm, bland
Earth Brown – Rooted, wholesome, sheltering, masculine, woodsy, warm, durable, secure, rustic, earth, dirt
Coffee or Chocolate – Rich, delicious

Purple

The rainbow’s most complex color. Purple combines the excitement of red and the tranquility of blue. It is a distinctive color that demands special attention Purple has regal connotations. Interiors will be mystical, exotic and magical

Shades & Tints

Blue Purple – Mystical, spiritual, futuristic, fantasy, meditative
Orchid – Exotic, flowers, fragrant, tropical
Red Purple – Excited, sensual, flamboyant, creative, unique
Deep Plum – Expensive, regal, classic, powerful, elegant
Lavender – Nostalgic, delicate, sweet scented, floral, sweet taste
Grape – Sophisticated, sweet taste, subtle

Gray

Represents solid strength and longevity. Brown is the color for creativity. Nature’s most perfect neutral, the eye sees no after image. A color of intellect, maturity and wisdom. A serious color that can become gloomy. Interiors will be classic, sophisticated and practical

Shades & Tints

Charcoal Gray – Professional, classic, expensive, sophisticated, solid, enduring, mature
Neutral Gray – Classic, cool, sober, corporate, practical, timeless, quality, quiet

Black

The color of great diversity. The ultimate power color. A symbolic color for dignity and sophistication. Black is viewed by women as sexy, but not by most men. Too much black is depressing. It is highly preferred by people living in big cities. Interiors will be dramatic, bold and classic

White

A color with many positive responses. White indicates delicacy, refinement and sophistication. It can be used with any other color and look good. All-white work environment encourages precision. It reflects light and can cause squinting. White is a status color. Interiors will be clean, airy and bright

Color Schemes

Determining which colors will coordinate with each other is a big challenge for many people. Knowing a few popular color schemes will give you the confidence to experiment with multiple colors.

Monochromatic – One color throughout the room, can include all tints or shades and neutrals. This scheme creates dimension

Complementary – Two colors opposite each other on the color wheel.

red and green
blue and orange
yellow and lilac
teal and peach

Analogous – Three to five colors closely related on the color wheel.

Triadic – Three colors spaced equally apart on the color wheel

red, blue, yellow
green, lilac, peach

Neutral – Use of neutral colors by themselves in varying shades

Black
Brown
White
Grey

Color Selection

Select colors in natural light. Florescent lighting is cool and gives everything a bluish cast. Incandescent bulbs tend to accentuate warm yellows.

The exposure of the sun can also affect the colors you select:

Eastern exposure is yellow-tinged
Western exposure is orange-tinged
Northern exposure is blue-tinged
Southern exposure is even-tinged When selecting colors for a room, consider some of these factors:
What colors will create the desired feeling?
Is there a need to use cool or warm colors?
How will the introduction of new colors affect the color scheme?
What values and intensities of color should be used?
How can we create color balance in the room?

Do not let “fashion” dictate your color choices. This can leave your color schemes outdated in a short period of time. Look at wardrobes, lifestyle preferences, ages or locations for ideas.
Think of your favorite vacation destination for your inspiration of color schemes.

Carman Hafer, Certified Interior Decorator in Columbus, Ohio is helping clients Love the Space They’re in. From Flooring to Furniture, Wallcoverings to Window Treatments, she can create the room of your dreams. Check out her web page http://www.decorandyou.com/chafer [http://www.decorandyou.com/pages/chafer.php] Her full service interior decorating company, Decor & You, was named Best Interior Design firm 2008 by Columbus CEO magazine.

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The Bramlage family of New Albany, Ohio graciously opened their home each day to our tornado of transformation as we designed, demolished and decorated their media room in just four days.   Our hostess Venetia stepped back as her kitchen table was turned into a make-up and hair salon and enjoyed the same pampering as we have by the stylists from the Charles Penzone’s family of salons.  

Client needs:  This family moved into the home two years ago and had a large, expensive picture tube television that would not fit into the existing wall of built-in cabinets.  They debated bringing in a finished carpenter to reconfigure the cabinets to fit the television that though relatively new, is out of date because of the emergence of flat screens and home theater technology.  Colleen explained that with little design expense they could reconfigure the room to deliver the home theater experience the whole family would enjoy for years to come.

The clients had three home theater reclining seats but needed more seating for optimum entertaining.  After a quick tour of the home, our decorators saw that the client had a large sofa in her master bedroom and would gladly allow us to use it in their media room.  We explained that a riser could be built upon which to place the sofa behind the theater seats therefore accomodating six guests rather than three.  Though she had trouble visioning our design she trusted us and let us take over from there.

So, it was time to bring in the experts.  On this project demolition and construction were key – for that we turned to Josh McKinley who removed the existing media cabinets, repaired the exposed drywall problems, installed new baseboards and painted the walls and ceiling.   A special thank you to Randy Stewart of Handy Randy contracting and remodeling services for pinch hitting on the drywall repair. 

Thank you to Sherwin Williams for providing the paint – this week’s color used was “Perfect Greige”.  A great neutral that really is a cross between grey and beige.

Once the cabinets were removed, we needed to patch the carpet – for this the experts from Carpet Express were in and out of the job in less than an hour. 

And of course you can’t have a media room without the fun technology to bring your theater dreams to life.  For this, we turned to Buckeye Audio.  After consulting with the client to learn their family’s needs they installed the wiring, projector, speaker, screens and even built the riser in just two days. 

To incorporate the theater room theme without using the predictable movie posters, Liz and Colleen installed wall adhesives in the shape of movie tickets and film reels.  Carman and Darlene accessorized the clients existing bookshelves, hung artwork and even made popcorn for that theater aromatherapy!

Though the project didn’t allow for a lot of traditional decorating, it illustrates the importance of bringing in a certified interior decorator or designer like those of “We Decorate Columbus” to consult, coordinate and complete a construction related project without having to deal with finding the right contractor for every element of the job yourself.