Awe-Inspiring Arches

April 5, 2023 Melissa Parr

DESIGN TRENDS COME AND GO, SO WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ONE WOULD LAST FOR OVER 4,000 YEARS? FROM AN ARCHITECTURAL STANDPOINT TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, ARCHES ARE A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER DESIGN CHOICE. I CAME ACROSS MY FIRST IN-PERSON ARCH SIGHTING IN BARCELONA IN 2017 and iT WAS BREATHTAKING TO SEE THIS SYMMETRY OF PERFECT CURVATURE IN SUCH A LARGE SCALE. TODAY WE CAN FIND THIS SHAPE IN A VARIETY OF STRUCTURAL CHOICES, FURNITURE, ACCESSORIES, AND EVEN TILE SHAPES.

VIA PATTERNSANDPROSECCO.COM KATE MARKER HOME TOUR

ARCHITECTURAL ARCHES

HALLWAYS, BOOKCASES, STOVE COVES- ARCHES ARE BEING PLACED CREATIVELY THROUGHOUT A HOME. THE CURVES ADD VISUAL INTEREST AND REPLACE THE SHARP LINES WE HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING THROUGHOUT OUR HOMES. ARCHES HAVE A TENDENCY TO LINK TWO ROOMS TOGETHER INSTEAD OF CREATING SEPARATE SPACES. WHETHER IT’S CREATED BY A LEAFY ARCHWAY AS THE ENTRANCE TO YOUR GARDEN, OR EXPANDING THE CURRENT OPENINGS THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME, THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS WHEN IT COMES WHERE AND HOW YOU CAN ADD AN ARCH TO YOUR SPACE.

ARCHED DOORWAYS AND WINDOWS

WITH the general trend of HAVING OPEN AND AIRY SPACES WITHIN YOUR HOME, IT’S BECOMING MORE COMMON TO REPLACE DOORWAYS AND WINDOWS WITH ARCHES. AN ARCHED FRONT DOOR MAKES A STATEMENT IMMEDIATELY WHEN ENTERING THE HOME. IT CAN REALLY SET THE TONE WHILE ELEVATING THE SPACE. HAVING ARCHED WINDOWS GIVES THE overall IMPRESSION OF LENGTH- TALL, CLASSIC, AND UNIQUE. BOTH OPTIONS CREATE A VERY PERSONALIZED LOOK GIVING HOMEOWNERS THE OPTION TO INFUSE THEIR HOME WITH CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY.

STOVE COVEs

ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE DESIGNS I HAVE COME ACROSS HAS BEEN THE INFAMOUS STOVE COVE. IF THIS TERMINOLOGY IS NEW TO YOU, A STOVE COVE IS SIMPLY AN ALCOVE THAT’S CREATED FOR THE STOVE TO BE SET IN. WHEN COVID SWEPT THE WORLD, PEOPLE WERE IMMEDIATELY PROMPTED TO COOK MORE AT HOME. THIS IMPACTED THE MASSES AND HAD EVERYONE WONDERING, “HOW CAN I MAKE MY KITCHEN A MORE FUN PLACE TO SPEND TIME?” WITH KITCHEN APPLIANCES BECOMING MORE AND MORE FASHIONABLE, THE STOVE BECAME AN OBVIOUS CHOICE AS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE KITCHEN. WITH A growing INTEREST IN CUSTOM HOODS, an arched stove cove OFFERS THE HOMEOWNER a CUSTOMIZABLE DESIGN for THEIR KITCHEN. YOU CAN SEE THESE ALCOVES SURROUNDED BY LIMESTONE, HIGHLIGHTED WITH A BOLD TILE BACKSPLASH, AND you can EVEN CREATE a NICHE TO HOLD SPICES AND OILS.

VIA STLMAG.COM JESSIE D. MILLER’S CLAYTON HOME

PAINTED ARCHES

PERHAPS THIS BLOG HAS INSPIRED YOU, BUT YOU MAY NOT BE READY FOR A FULL-ON RENOVATION. NOT TO WORRY, THE PAINTED ARCH IS HERE TO STAY. WITH MANY DIY’ERS POSTING VIDEOS, YOU TOO CAN PAINT YOUR OWN PERFECT ARCH. UNSURE IF YOU WANT TO COMMIT TO PAINT? A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH OF “ARCH PEEL AND STICK DECAL” WILL GIVE YOU AN ARRAY OF REMOVABLE OPTIONS. ETSY, POTTERY BARN, WAYFAIR (JUST TO NAME A FEW)- THEY’RE ALL HAPPY TO SHARE THEIR DESIGN CONCEPTS FOR A BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO YOUR WALL.

What's Your Design Style?

June 17, 2020 Melissa Parr

One of the things I love about interior design is how each individual expresses their taste in their own home. While many of us identify with a certain design style, often times we incorporate aspects of many different types of design in our homes. Sometimes we get hung up on which direction to pursue and I find that establishing a design style helps to start the process. Each of these unique design trends has certain characteristics but these can change over time and we adapt along the way using our own interpretations of these looks.

Coastal

Coastal design encompasses the breeziness of the beach. You will find a lot of neutral tones with pops of soft greens, blues and yellows. Coastal design incorporates a lot of texture using natural elements and wood tones. If you are looking to use pattern in this style, stripes are always a winner. Overall, these spaces tend to have a lot of natural light and should feel soothing and relaxing.

Traditional

Traditional design comes to us from Eighteenth and Nineteenth century European decor. There are many warm colors, deep wood tones, and complex patterns used in these homes. You will find rich fabrics like velvets, silks and brocades on chairs and sofas with wingbacks, tufting and piping. In this style, there is depth in the layers of each room and lots of dimension overall.

Transitional

This is one of the most popular design styles because it is a mix of old and new (traditional and modern). This style is timeless because it is simple yet sophisticated. Here you will find mostly neutral colors with soft pops of color. Transitional homes have the cleaner lines of modern aesthetic without loosing all of the traditional details. In my opinion, this is a great happy-median design style.

Contemporary

Contemporary style homes have a simple yet subtle sophistication. These homes have clean, straight lines and a quiet drama. Less is more here. You will see minimal and serene architectural elements paired with bold scale and sleek furnishings. In contemporary homes there are no unnecessary details.

Scandinavian

Scandinavian design originated in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. This is one of my personal favorite design styles because there are clean, simple lines and these homes incorporate functionality without sacrificing beauty. There is more texture and pattern in this trend than contemporary design. Wide plank wood floors in lighter tones are used in these spaces along with neutral colors and pops of black. Scandinavian homes are cozy with warm, inviting textiles, simple accents and live greenery.

Eclectic

Eclectic design is so much fun because it embraces a variety of periods of design history. These unique spaces are brought together with color, texture, shape and finish. When you have a juxtaposition of textures and contrasting colors, harmony is key. In this design style you can play with lots of different patterns and colors. You will find lots of unique artwork in eclectically designed rooms. There are no rules when it comes to this style but don’t get too busy with your design or your space will become haphazard and you won’t be able to appreciate the design.

Industrial

If you are going for an industrial design style, think of a warehouse or an old factory. Many of these spaces have bare bricks, metals, and raw woods paired with salvaged materials. The whole idea here is to have stripped back architectural details. This style contains mostly neutral colors and you will find lots of leather, distressed wood and exposed ceilings. Industrial spaces are normally wide open with lots of large windows and statement light fixtures.

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern has roots in Germany but came to America through Bauhaus style. In this style, form follows function and functionality is key. You will find minimalistic design, free of clutter, with sleek lines and organic forms. Mid-Century Modern homes have limited ornamentation with lots of wood tones paired with metals and glass. There are a variety of fun colors in this style and normally you will see some retro artwork. One of the giveaways of this style is the tapered peg legs on the furniture.

Modern Farmhouse

This design trend became popular when Joanna Gaines appeared on HGTV’s Fixer Upper. This style is a balance of rural and refined. Modern Farmhouse works for people who enjoy casual living, neutral color schemes, and lots of texture. This design style isn’t as rustic as traditional farmhouse design because there are clean lines, open concept kitchens and live greenery. Here you will find exposed wood, shiplap, distressed decor pieces and repurposed materials.

Rustic

Rustic design contains raw, natural wood and unfinished elements. This style aims to bring the outdoors in through rugged, natural beauty and aged richness. Rustic homes tend to have vaulted ceilings with beams, stone or brick elements, and darker tones and finishes. These spaces are warm and inviting and have that ‘lodge’ feel. There are subtle hues in this style with a lot of texture and handmade, reclaimed pieces.

The Home Office

June 4, 2020 Melissa Parr

Although these words may make you cringe now more than ever, the home office is not as dreadful as you may think! There are definitely some key strategies you can implement to make this space as functional and practical as you would like it to be. I highly recommend that you apply these tricks to your home office (or if you are back in your commercial office) in order to make sure that your space is performing for you!

Dedicated Space

Personally, I think this is the MOST important element of having a productive home office. You will never be successful with accomplishing your work if you are setup on a coffee table, recliner, kitchen island, or dining room table. I highly encourage you to invest in a desk and a quality chair and put it somewhere that you will be comfortable staying for a long period of time. For some, this is a spare room or nook in your home. Others enjoy looking out of a window. For me, I like to be in an open space but I like to face the wall so I am not disturbed. Play around with the placement of your desk until you feel that you are not distracted at all and you can solely focus on your work.

Lose the Distractions

Speaking of distractions, we all know that working from home presents its own challenges. Kids, pets, TV, laundry, dishes, spouses, roommates, home improvement projects, and daily tasks can all occupy our minds while we are working from home. I always try to dedicate an hour of my time in the morning and half of my lunch break to taking care of the day-to-day household chores. I always save my home projects for the weekend and make sure my pets are taken care of so I can focus on my work. For me, playing music in the background is a great way to shut out all the noise and remain focused. Kids, as we know, can be another story but we have to do what we can to make sure we dedicate our focus to the tasks at hand. I also advise you to make sure your TV is turned off while you are trying to work.

Ergonomics & Functionality

This is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, elements of a home office. I spent over two years working at a commercial office furniture retailer where I studied the proper way to sit at a desk. This might sound crazy, but YES, there is an exact science to how you are sitting at your desk. By making sure you are sitting and working correctly, you can reduce stress and potential future injuries caused by sitting in awkward positions. First, the top of your computer screen should be at eye level so you are not having to drastically bend your head down to focus on the center of your screen. Your armrests and keyboard should be level so your arms remain parallel to the floor. Your knees should be bent at a 90 degree angle and your feet flat on the floor. Also, make sure your back is supported and you are not bending or slouching at any time. You will find that these adjustments will really improve your motivation and help your productivity.

Declutter & Organization

This tip can be tricky for a lot of people who spend countless hours at their desk. I find the neater and more organized my space is, the more I am able to focus on my work. I understand the frustration of not being able to find the paper you are looking for or having to search through all of your desktop folders to find the right document. I feel that if you can organize your desk and office, make designated physical and digital folders, and keep your email inbox categorized and clear of unimportant emails, you will find that you are not being pulled away from your work. You can also try unsubscribing from spam emails or just leaving your email closed and only checking it every half hour to hour so your attention always remains on the current task.

Aesthetics

Finally, your office should be a reflection of your home, taste and style. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself and your office! Having the proper storage and materials will only help you to be more productive in the long run. Your office should be located somewhere that you want to be and a place that you gravitate towards. If your desk is worn down and junky, you won’t feel the desire to sit there and work! Remember, investing in a home office (really your entire home in general) is self-care and self-improvement. Upgrading your home only makes you feel and function better!

Why Hire a Designer?

May 8, 2020 Melissa Parr

Many people have misconceptions about hiring an interior designer to help with their projects. I am here to clear up some of these and to explain why it is so beneficial to have a designer on board with your home projects.

If you wanted to install a new plumbing fixture in your home and you have no clue how to do so, you would call a plumber, right? There are so many advantages to hiring a professional to help you with any project. They have specialized knowledge in their field that can add a lot of value to your project. As a designer, I am constantly saving people money or sharing trade secrets that immensely help my clients with their projects. I have been in the industry for over seven years and I have seen a lot of people make mistakes before they call me. My job is to help save you from making those costly mistakes, all while providing valuable insight in to the design process and helping you create a beautiful space.

Many people believe that interior designers are extremely costly and it would make their project too expensive if they hire help. I am here to tell you that this is simply untrue. Personally, I work based on an hourly system so there is no project too big or too small to involve me on. I always feel that my relationships with my clients should be a great fit for us both and my hourly system allows them to try out my services without being roped into a huge financial commitment.

Speaking of small projects, a huge aspect of my business is paint consultations. I have helped so many individuals who struggle to pick the perfect color and when you are investing quite a bit of time and money towards painting a space, you want to feel 100% confident that you have the right color. I have so much experience in selecting paint colors that I have even created my own ‘100 Favorite Paint Colors’ fan deck.

Another great way to utilize a designer’s services is through re-designing and re-styling. A lot of clients really see the value in having a fresh set of eyes come in and help them make their home or space more functional. A designer like myself can even assist with decluttering or just simply moving some art and decor pieces around to give your home a slight facelift. My job as a designer is to throw out as many ideas as I can think of and then you can decide what makes sense for your lifestyle.

It is so important to me that my clients feel like their taste and style is represented in the design of their home. I like to make sure they have as much input as they would like in the process so their space reflects their taste, style, and personality.

I love to help people accomplish their goals and make their home a haven. Whether it is Sheer Interiors, or another design firm, I urge you to consider taking advantage of the experience and knowledge a designer can provide for your next home project. During these times, if you feel more comfortable working virtually, please reach out to me for more information on my E-Design services.

Are Kitchens the New Living Room?

February 26, 2020 Melissa Parr

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home but lately the trend in kitchen design is shifting to make them appear more like a living space in your home. Many of the more industrial features have begun to fade away and now we are seeing more open shelves with little to no upper cabinets, ‘furniture like’ lower cabinets, large center islands and open concept designs that integrate multiple spaces in one.

Ever been to a party and notice that you are spending most of your time hanging out in the kitchen? Well now, that is by design. There are a lot of tricks that designers are using to change how we perceive kitchens. First, appliances are being hidden into the design much better than they used to be. We use to always put the microwave above the oven but now they are being tucked away under the countertop or in a butlers panty. They have been replaced with beautiful statement hoods that usually sit atop a gorgeous range. Some designers are adding wood or antiquated mirrors overtop of the refrigerator to hide the stainless steel that we are used to seeing.

Kitchen islands are becoming the new command center as they continue to grow and expand. Even countertop manufacturers are taking notice and many of the quartz companies are creating extra large slabs for a seamless look.

Finally, the design of cabinets have made a major shift as well. The upper cabinets are starting to disappear and we are seeing the emergence of open shelves and doorless or wireframe cabinets. Even the lower cabinets are changing. There has been a rise of additional drawers over doors and many people are adding ‘feet’ on the bottom to make parts of the kitchen look like furniture.

While not all of these concepts are brand new, it seems that many of them are here to stay as they continue to get integrated into many new and remodeled kitchens.