ANOTHER BEFORE AND AFTER KITCHEN

BEFORE AND AFTER KITCHEN

Big Advice

Last weekend I spent a lot of time sitting on my deck looking through magazines- the weather was so beautiful!  The May issue of House Beautiful had a lot of great design tips so I thought I'd share and add a little too....

TOO MANY CHAIR AND TABLE LEGS CAN MAKE A ROOM "NERVOUS".  A SKIRTED PIECE OR TWO WILL MAKE IT FEEL GROUNDED
If you have a sofa and two chairs in a room, skirt the chairs and put legs on the sofa or vice versa

ONE PAIR OF PILLOWS LOOKS SKIMPY, USE TWO PAIRS IN CONTRASTING PATTERNS, COLORS, AND TEXTURES
and sizes

THE MOST INDESTRUCTIBLE FABRIC FOR DINING CHAIRS IS LEATHER OR VINYL
There are so many great looking faux leathers right now..They are my favorites for dining chairs or barstools

LOVE YOUR CLOSETS.  PAINT THEM, PAPER THEM, HANG PICTURES IN THEM TO INSPIRE YOU.  AND DEFINITELY LIGHT THEM.
I hang some of my kids art work in the closets...I love to open the hall closet and see the monkey painting Marianna did in third grade

SMALL SCALE FURNITURE ONLY MAKES A SMALL ROOM LOOK SMALLER.  TRY A HIGH BED AND A TALL HEADBOARD.  YOUR ROOM WILL GROW.
I love to wallpaper powder rooms.  Even if it is a small space, hang a big bold print.

CURTAINS ARE LIKE RUNWAY DRESSES. THE TALLER THE BETTER.
If you have an 8' ceiling, hang the pole right under the crown moulding

USE A RUG INSTEAD OF A BATH MAT.  IT WAS MADE TO WITHSTAND A LOT MORE WEAR THAN THE OCCASIONAL WET FOOT.

YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF A WHITE ROOM.

THE MOST VERSATILE COFFE TABLE YOU'LL EVER OWN IS AN OTTOMAN TOPPED WITH A TRAY.
I personally have one of these..though I wish my kids (all four of them if you know what I mean) didn't just dump the tray on the floor when they want to put their feet on it..

NOTHING SOFTENS A LONELY CORNER IN A BIG ROOM LIKE A POTTED TREE
Just make sure it's alive and pretty...and light it up with a $7.00 uplight from IKEA!  So cozy

My Favorite Things....

There are just some things I can't live without!
 
1.  Kenneth Turner Candles- they smell amazing

2.  Casablanca Lilies- they also smell amazing and are beautiful....one bundle from flower row goes a long way

3. Annie Glass- I love the silver and gold plates and bowls, so classic- the ruffled bowl is on my wish list

4.  All things down...everyone (who isn't allergic) should have the heavenly bed...feather bed, down comforter and a lot! of down pillows...

5. white orchids...and lots of them...I can never get mine to regrow but they last for at least three months and look beautiful

6.  Uplights from IKEA...I have them all over my house...they come in all different sizes and range in price from $7.00- $15.00

7.  Magazines....Traditional Home, Veranda, House Beautiful...oh and People

8.  Reflections Glass Tile from Dal...I love it but I have to stop using it!  It is simple, comes in a lot of colors and reflects with undercabinet lighting so beautifully (also shown in the kitchen photo posted on my "welcome to my blog" post)

9.  Gwen Frostic Notes...so simple, inexpensive, but so pretty and perfect for any occasion

10.  Green things...my kitchen and family room are mostly shades of brown and white but filled with subtle green accents...which I love!

Welcome to my Blog

My name is Joanna Anderson and this is my blog...blogging is something new to me.  Hopefully I will get a little more interesting as I go along.  A little about me:  I am a mom of three (people)..two teenage boys, Daniel (18) and Avery (16), and daughter Marianna (11) and also two decorator dogs (as my sister calls them) Teddy, a shitzu, and JP, a goldendoodle.  They all are the joys of my life.  I have been married to my husband Dan for 19 years.  I am passionate about design and making design affordable even on the tightest of budgets.  I also enjoy reading, beautiful flowers, good pens, nice paper, art, traveling and a good bottle of wine.

If you are curious about my design business, check my blog often...My style is both traditional and modern,  classic with just the right mix that is forever timeless.  I am reluctant to define myself by one look though one constant in all my projects is attention to detail.

Check often for new photos of my work and decorating tips

Please call me for any of your interior design needs- kitchens, baths, furniture, flooring, fabric, window coverings, layout and design  314.629.0125

Real Design for a Realistic Budget