Interior design Musing: lacquered

Showing posts with label lacquered. Show all posts

Monday, June 3, 2013

Lacquered Goodness

While chalk paint is still all the rage, sometimes a space is begging for a more modern pop. Enter the high gloss look of lacquered furniture. Well, until last week, I thought the only way to get this fabulous look was to stalk Overstock and Target for the rare occasions they have it. Or put up the big bucks and get something from J. Adler (now at JC Penney) or Bungalow 5.

But, Lisa Mende of Mende Design, recently enlightened me. You can now get this same hardshell lacquered finish with spray paint!!! That's right - Amy Howard has just created a line of lacquer you can get in a spray can! If you know anything about lacquer, this is not an easy DIY look to pull off. But with this spray, Just look what you could do with that table sitting in your garage. Fun, right?!

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Now, I can just hear those of you now who have a more traditional sense of style. Don't be afraid. You can incorporate hints of lacquer into your room too for a fabulous fresh look. For example . . .

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Notice how the lacquer piece is in white - I think if you keep the color neutral, the finish will do the work for you!

Honestly, I can hardly believe you can get this look in a can. Needless to say, I'm dying to try it on something. If any of you dare to try it, please please send me pictures! And to entice you, here are a few other inspiration images to consider.

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I love this idea - lacquered stump stools. These would be easy and fun for a porch area for summer.

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Now, go get your lacquer on. And send me pictures!! M.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Randomness and a Little Break

Happy Friday, all. The last few days the weather has been totally marvelous with tons of sunshine and mild temperatures. It truly feels like Spring is here and just in time for Spring Break! My kiddos are on break next week, so I am taking some time off the blog to spend as much time with them as possible. Never fear current clients, I'm still going to be working on your design plans, just not taking any consults next week.

My son recently turn 13, and I had a jolt of reality - he'll be driving in three years and out of my house in five years. So, I'm making a conscious effort to spend more time with my children as this precious time is fleeting.

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It's truly a matter of priorities in life and this is a very important one that I don't want to look back on and have regrets.

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So, I say all this to say - I'm taking next week off from the blog! A little break for Spring.

In the meantime, I have to show you some things I stumbled upon over the last few weeks. Since I'm constantly sourcing items for design plans, I rarely see things totally different and new. When I do, they tend to stop me dead in my tracks and I start thinking of ways to include them in my designs. Some may be too edgy for mainstream consumption, but all are interesting and get my wheels turning.

The Ghostly Host

A slipcovered ghost chair! These are totally intriguing to me. They have a balance between modern and french traditional that I adore. I will have to find the perfect space in incorporate one or two!

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Careful - Your Lacquer's Showing

Most of you have seen lacquered walls like this. . .

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Lacquered walls can be totally stunning and dramatic. They have an equally impressive Wow factor to wallpaper but with an understated nod. But, it's a game changer when you consider it on the front door!

Even in a safe traditional color, it's a Wow . . .

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But, you are truly taking it to a whole new place with a pop of color.

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If you've ever wondered how to achieve this look, it starts with the paint - Fine Paints of Europe to be exact. Not to mention a painter who knows what they're doing. This paint has a very special application - consider yourself warned. As an aside, I think this paint could even make that 1970's door something special. It would be embracing it and making a statement with it.

J.A. Meets J.C.

Have you heard all the rumblings about Jonathan Adler creating a home decor line for JC Penney? It's true. Borrowing the phrase "Happy Chic" from his oh so fabulous book, Mr. Adler is bringing it to Penney's (of all places?!).

The website says coming March 2013, but it has yet to go live. And yes, confessions, I have been checking the website like a 15 year old who just tried out for cheerleader checks for the team list! If any of you find out it's live, please send me an email. I would love a bit of jump on the selections.

Clever DIY
OK, everybody knows what a sucker I am for a good DIY. I saw this leather/brass pull on Pinterest and a world of opportunities flooded my brain on where I could use this.

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You could freshen up a piece of furniture with these pulls, cabinetry in a bathroom (like my son's that is in desperate need of a freshen up), or even a simple detail on an upholstered piece like the sides of an ottoman.

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Again, endless applications. Remember, the devil's in the details and they can make a space.

Invitation for a Roast

Lastly, I enjoyed this entertaining post from one of the editor's at Houzz and just had to share it. The article is entitled, "What is your Designer's Attitude Type?" and it's illustrated in a very funny way! So, for those of you who have worked with me on spaces, I invite you to share your thoughts on my type. I do realize I'm completely opening myself up here. After all, it's healthy to be able to laugh at one's self. Right?! Here's the article - What is Your Designer's Attitude Type?

Happy Spring! M.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Things I am Loving at the Moment . . .

Here are a few items that I have been "visiting" and revisiting on line. Thought you might enjoy them too!

Dining Room Chairs
I want a set of 12 of these, but I would love them in a cream leather rather than the linen(which is not currently available). I think the leather would really add a shot of mod which I think my dining room needs.

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1620001&categoryId=cat1537015

Chandelier for my Master Bedroom
We have a relatively large bedroom with a double tray ceiling. At the moment, there is a white ceiling fan (yuck) in the space that we inherited when we moved in. I so want it to find another place to live and in its place, I would like to look up and see this airy, warm sophisticated beauty.

http://www.shadesoflight.com/grand-manoir-chandelier-9-light.html

Table for my Foyer/Entryway

Our house is a bit unusual in that we do not have a foyer or Entryway. Our front doors open straight into our living room. I have thought about having walls put in to give me an actual room, but I would be sacrificing the open feeling of my house which is the reason I was drawn to the house in the first place. At the moment, I have this table designating my entryway. The long console table is an old rustic piece I found at Scott's in Atlanta.

What I would love is to have in the center is this table. What you don't see in this picture is the very large black piano behind me in the picture (in the living room area). The shiny black finish gives it a very modern feel. So, I think the below table would be nice mixed in with some of the other more traditional pieces in the space and make the modern piano feel more purposeful. (love the veneer on the top).

http://www.plantationdesign.com/products.php?enlarge=177&cat=Dining%20Table&page=1

But alas, at these prices, I will have to wait a while and continue to visit them online. What finds do you have your eye on these days? M.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Too Much of a Good Thing

Most people are naturally drawn to the same types of accessories over and over again. [sort of like when my husband says, "How many pairs of black shoes do you really need?"] I see this a lot with our design clients; and amazingly, most don't even realize they're doing it.

Usually, we start our re-designs by emptying the space and grouping like items in our "source area." If the homeowner walks by this area they can easily see their tendencies. We hear comments like, "I had no idea I had so many picture frames!" or "Wow, I really love plates, don't I?" Now, to be clear, I am not talking about a collection which is something entirely different and which I will post about in the near future. These are not items you are purchasing to consciously build a collection.

If you are reading this and can't think of your own tendencies, I challenge you to pick a room in your home, pull out all the items, and group them. It will jump out at you!

So, in an effort to protect my clients [smile], I thought I would reveal some of my own tendencies when it comes to decorating. These are elements I absolutely love. Some I have loved for years while others are new and may or may not wane over time. The important thing is I recognize them for what they are and ~~like chocolate cake~~ try to use restraint when considering these items.

All Things Nailhead

I simply cannot get enough of nailheads. I love them in all kinds of applications. From ottomans and chairs to headboards and casement pieces, they are wonderful. But, a room full of nailheads is too much. What really makes them work is to use them as an accent. This makes the room shine.

http://decorati.com/inspiration/14342

http://decorati.com/inspiration/14415

Vessels & Vases

If I had my way, these would be everywhere in my home. [sort of like the glasses of water in the movie Signs]. I like them with things in them or completely empty. They look great on bookshelves, coffee and side tables, chests and consoles. But, alas, a room becomes blah when it is filled with vessels and vases. I talked about this at length in my October Staging Tip - "Elements Every Room Needs" for my design company. You have to mix it up! Here are a few pictures of vessels and vases that draw me in every time.

http://www.vivaterra.com/accessories/vases-vessels/root-of-the-earth-bowl.html

http://www.tonichome.com/catalog.php?item=966&catid=14&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D14

http://www.vivaterra.com/recycled-glass-balloon-vases.html

http://shop.ochrestore.com/collections/ceramics/products/gold-brushed-ceramic-bowls

Baskets

A close relative to the "vessels and vases" category for me are baskets. When I see a basket that is handmade or appears to have a bit of age to it, I can not tear my eyes away! I think, "Where could this go in my house? I need this . . . who doesn't need some pretty storage? Would it fit in the corner in the guest bathroom?" Usually, I can pull it back together and rationally think, "If I get it, I will have to take the other basket out of the space." This most often does the trick.

One more confession, when we are doing a redesign and the client has not a single basket, it blows my mind. I keep thinking, "We really need a basket to warm up those bookshelves. Where are all of her baskets?!"

http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/organizing-baskets-bins-every-size-00000000011636/page2.html

http://shop.ochrestore.com/collections/accessories/products/african-baskets

http://www.wisteria.com/Farmers-Basket/productinfo/W153/

Books

I know it may sound crazy to some of you, but there are people in the world who are not drawn to books. You walk into their homes and not a single book is on their shelves. They have decorated the area with everything but books. I do think you can make bookshelves look great with other items, but I prefer books on my bookshelves. Also, this tendency I share with my husband. I can honestly say, I think he is more obsessed than I am and usually brings home more books than we have room for. We do make contributions to the local library at times, and I also use them for empty staging projects. Some are pretty,and some are just good reads!

http://www.tonichome.com/catalog.php?item=1000&catid=14&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D14

Boxes

Last, but certainly not least are boxes. It is hard to think of a room being complete without at least one box - ok, maybe a stack of them. As boxes have grown in popularity, they have become much easier to source. In fact, Plantation Design (as seen below) has an entire tab devoted to boxes of all kinds. Yum.

http://store.plantationdesign.com/001maj177-s3.html

http://store.plantationdesign.com/012l31-21-45fs-gw.html

Now, it may seem like I have talked about common tendencies everyone possessions, but I assure you I have not. Here are just a few that come to mind from some of our clients.

Trays, mirrors, picture frames, picture frames, did I mention picture frames, lamps, artwork, sculptures, plants, candles and even occasional chairs.

The next time you are out shopping and you pick up an item that you love, ask yourself, "Do I already have an item similar to this in my home? If they answer it yes, put it down and walk away!"

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

All Lacquered Up!

lac·quer n.

1. Any of various clear or colored synthetic coatings made by dissolving nitrocellulose or other cellulose derivatives together with plasticizers and pigments in a mixture of volatile solvents and used to impart a high gloss to surfaces.

2. A glossy, resinous material, such as the exudation of the lacquer tree, used as a surface coating.

3. A finish that is baked onto the inside of food and beverage cans.

tr.v. lac·quered, lac·quer·ing, lac·quers

1. To coat with lacquer.

2. To give a sleek, glossy finish to.

What is this obsession we have for all things lacquered? Now listen, I am not being critical. Mind you - I love the stuff - the sheen and sparkle it adds to a room, the slick feel of a lacquered item under your fingertips, and the pure glam it gives a space. Truly, I don't know what we did before we had it?!

But, just asking . . . have we taken it too far? (Or as far as it will go?) I mean, really, what have we not slapped a coat of this stuff on?

Lacquered Walls