Give Your Tract Home a Custom Look

/in /by

alt-homebanner.png

Custom built homes are designed according to the clients’ specifications and have a unique style and appearance inside and out. Tract home interiors and exteriors on the other hand are all very similar but can be given a custom look with the help of a design professional, a little imagination and a lot of attention to detail. This can all be done on a modest budget without making major structural changes.

I was recently contacted by a young couple from Virginia, Brittney and Zach Osborne who are purchasing a home in Canyon Hills, Lake Elsinore.  It is very important for me to learn as much as possible about my clients so I can design a home that reflects their taste and lifestyle. I had the couple complete our custom questionnaire so I could learn about their design style, their needs, their likes and dislikes, their vision for the home and very importantly, their budget. Brittney is a Registered Nurse and Zach is a professional motocross racer.  They described their design style as casual and contemporary and wanted to create a custom look for their home that feels inviting and comfortable. They like to entertain and expect to have a lot of out of town guests visit often. They described themselves as outgoing, fairly laid back and enjoy the outdoors. They plan for kids and animals in the future so I had to keep that in mind while selecting fabrics and furnishings for them. They like neutral, timeless, warm colors and modern style furnishings.

We began the design process by choosing the color palette for the entire house. With their lifestyle in mind I decided to give them a “Modern Nature” theme incorporating colors borrowed from nature and natural textures and materials.  After measuring the home I developed a floor plan for each room and selected furnishings, window treatments, lighting and accessories keeping in mind the function, style and mood of each space.

IMAG0247

Watching the house transformation has been exciting for my clients and I was able to make decisions and share the progress with them all via the internet! I will be featuring the finished rooms in their home over the next few months. This month we will look at the Great Room’s design transformation.

The Great Room

The Great Room will be the place where Brittney and Zach do a lot of entertaining. The color palette for this room includes warm beiges, grey, blue and green with black accents. I chose 2 walls to paint in an accent color of Stone Fence (Behr paint). The couple required a lot of seating so I chose a custom sectional sofa in a soft, flannel grey upholstery fabric, which will be durable and easy to clean. A large ottoman in beige ultra suede fabric was chosen instead of a traditional cocktail table and can serve as an ottoman, table or extra seating.  Pillows add color and a nature pattern to the sofa. A wicker side table was chosen and adds another natural element to the space.  A comfy, gorgeous area rug defines the seating area and incorporates all the colors of our palette. Three custom barstools upholstered in beige and grey tweed fabric were chosen for additional seating at the bar. The room had a large open niche where we installed a custom designed Maple entertainment cabinet for TV and components. A rustic console table next to the slider back door provides a drop off spot and can display photos, cookbooks, etc.

IMG_2204

For the windows and French door I chose off-white Roman shades which I love. They are pretty, stylish and provide diffused light and privacy. The slider was treated with a functional grommet top drapery fabricated in a beautiful iridescent blue fabric.  To be sure we had adequate lighting in the room we added six recessed ceiling lights and under cabinet lighting in the kitchen and a modern fan was installed in the center of the room.

The most important finishing touches in any room are accessories. For art we chose a pair of canvas prints which feature soft tree branch images in tones of beiges and greens coordinating with the area rug colors perfectly. A modern clock, silver tree sculpture and inspirational art are featured over the fireplace. Family photos will add a personal touch throughout the room.

IMG_2168

The finished room carries out the “Modern Nature” theme with relaxing colors, natural materials, and nature images. The room offers ample, comfortable seating and plenty of room for entertaining guests.
Remember that details in design, including custom paint colors, custom cabinets, upgraded flooring, lighting, window treatments and furnishings all help to achieve that custom look for any home.

Cynthia Champness Cuellar is the owner and principle designer of Rancho Interior Design.

Contact her at 951-956-0661 or ranchointeriordesign.com

 

 

Entryway Ideas for Your Home

/in , /by

Entryway-idea

Dear Cynthia,

My design dilemma is this. My front door always looks a mess and it’s the first thing you see when you come into my home. The kids always drop their stuff-shoes, backpacks, bags, toys right down by the front door when they come home. What can I do about making this space look nicer?

Alice, Murrieta

Dear Alice,

Keeping your front or back entry neat is always a challenge when you have kids and husbands! Back East a lot of homes are built with what is called a mud room that is off the back entry. The concept of a mud room was to have a room where you could come inside and remove your muddy, wet boots and coats and not dirty the living spaces. Most of us here in California don’t have the luxury of a mud room so we have to come up with other ways to organize the clutter. First look at your entryway and determine what kind of space you have where you could create a storage area. Analyze the types of items that you need to organize. Do you need containers, boxes, and hanging space?  Design the area in an attractive cohesive way that complements the rest of your room/home.  If there is room for a piece of furniture consider purchasing an entry storage bench. Pottery Barn has a nice one. Their Brady 4-piece double bench entryway system is perfect for organizing the entryway. The unit has room for hanging jackets, drawers for toys, shoes, etc., bins for storing school supplies and a bench where you can sit and remove your shoes. They offer several different options and different sizes of units. You can add more hooks for additional directly on the wall. Decorate the space around the unit with wall art and framed photos and add interesting pendant lights for style and adequate light. Now the space is organized and attractive not just a mound of clutter. If space is limited you can still achieve an organized area incorporating shelves, using large baskets and decorative hooks that can be found at any hardware store. You might even search for vintage pieces at local antique shops.  Just be sure to decorate the space so it blends in with your home décor and becomes an attractive area that complements your home.

 

Vintage Items Add Beauty To Modern Homes

/in /by

windows2One of the most popular design trends happening now is incorporating vintage pieces in the home. People are finding interesting furniture and decorative items from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, basically Mid-Century and incorporating them in their modern homes. It’s not about just using old furniture, however. The new twist is giving them new life in some way by re-painting, adding to or re-purposing the piece. For example 50’s chairs are given new life by painting them in a bright color such as orange or reupholstering them in a geometric fabric pattern. An old pantry can become a kid’s room shelf. Old windows can become a collection of wall art. A lot of stores are popping up around the country featuring vintage furnishings and accessories. So have fun and go find some old treasures to enjoy in your home. It’s an inexpensive way to spice up your rooms and add a touch of nostalgia, style and fun. www.ranchointeriordesign.com

Virtual Interior Design-Affordable way to get design help

/in /by

Rancho Interior Design now offers Virtual Interior Design services . Virtual Interior Design is a fairly new design service that some Interior Design firms are offering. The use of the term “virtual” means that your design can be done without ever meeting the designer in person so it can be done from virtually anywhere you live. It is a great alternative for do-it-yourselfers, that is anyone who prefers to do all of the labor and shopping themselves and also for people working with a small budget. You get the benefit of working with a designer at a fraction of the cost of a traditional design project.

Although design shows such as the ones on HGTV are entertaining and we enjoy seeing the designers transform spaces, the shows are very misleading to the public. Most shows fail to show us the entire behind the scenes work, additional designers, assistants and trades people and actual costs of the projects they tackle. These shows lead people to believe that interior design is simple and anyone can tackle any project and achieve the same results.  In fact, designers and decorators have many years of education and experience in their trade. Of course there are those out there who are naturally talented and can plan a beautiful room all by themselves. But most people find themselves stumped when they set out to begin a project and do not know how to do a space plan, where to begin, where to purchase materials or how much the project will actually cost them.  This is where a Virtual Interior Design plan can help.

Like any design project, the process must begin with learning about the client and the space they want to design. Rather than meeting with the designer in their home, the client communicates with the designer mainly by email. They begin by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaire will have questions such as: How do you describe your style, What is the function of the room, What colors do you like, Do you entertain often, Do you have kids or pets, and What is your budget? These answers will help the designer plan a room that reflects their style and fits their needs. Clients are given instructions on how to measure the space and take photos of the room and any furniture that will be included in the plan. Then the questionnaire, measurements and photos are sent to the designer via email. Once the designer receives all the materials, she can begin her research to design the perfect space for her clients from her studio. The design plan will include all the elements for a complete room including; construction/remodel suggestions, floor plan/furniture arrangement, photos, sketches, color palette, furniture suggestions, wall treatments, window treatments, accessories and lighting, and a  resource list of where to purchase all the items for the room including retail prices. This information is then sent to the client via email or regular mail for them to implement the plan. So if time and budget are considerations, Virtual Design is a great way to benefit from the experience and knowledge of a designer for a modest cost. You will feel confident that the plan you are embarking on will be within your budget and be properly designed with your personal style and needs in mind. If you are interested in having us design your room for a very affordable fee, please call or email us anytime.

Creating Interesting Ceilings

/in , /by

I came across this article from Houzz and wanted to share it with my bloggers. It has some good ideas so I hope you enjoy it. Just follow the link below to see the article. I welcome your comments.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2239846/list?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u98&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery0

Virtual Interior Design

/1 Comment/in /by
Rancho interior Design is now offering Virtual Interior Design! Now no matter where you live, we can help you design your space. Complete a design questionnaire, measure your space and send us photos of your rooms. We will provide you with a floor plan, color suggestions, furnishings and accessories suggestions, window and wall treatment ideas and sources for purchasing every product. All for a modest price. Call or email us today to get started.

DSC_3011

Happy Spring Re-Design

/1 Comment/in /by

9-Purple-white-girls-bedroom-665x470

The first day of Spring 2012 is here! Spring cleaning is a tradition for most of us. Spring is

also a great time to look at your home and decide what re-design ideas you’ve been wanting to tackle. We at  Rancho Interior Design are often asked, “What small changes can I make to my space that will change the look of my room?”  There are several changes you can make to impact the look of your room. Start by researching new trends in color and style. Consider painting your space. Color can instantly transform a room. Accent walls are popular as well as wall decals that come in a myriad of designs and can create a beautiful focal wall. Look at this room. A purple accent wall with decals becomes a great accent wall in the desk niche. they also added accents of purple in the room to carry the color theme through the room. Window treatments are the next consideration for your space. Decorative window treatments help define the style of the room and can add color and texture to your space. Add accessories such as area rug, throws, pillows and creative art to complete the room re-design. If you need some help contact Rancho Interior Design.  We offer a Virtual Design  service where we can give you ideas for your room design simply by sending us your room measurements and photos. It’s a great, affordable design service that we offer to anyone via the internet. Happy Spring Re-Design.

Color Forecasts for 2012

/2 Comments/in /by

We here at Rancho Interior Design are always excited to see the color trend predictions  each new year. One resource, Brentano Fabrics has made their predictions for 2012.  Brentano Fabrics is an internationally represented textile manufacturer, manufacturing everything from upscale textiles to affordable residential fabrics. Their design department looks back on the success and trends of 2011, considers client requests and what they have observed lately in the world of design.

Based on their research, they have come up with six colors which were singled out for 2012 including updated neutrals Paper White, Graphite and Linen, and bold and jewel toned hues.

Marine- A continuation form 2011, marine is a navy that plays up the rich jewel toned aspect of the color blue-a classic color for interiors.

Sprout-This bright yellow-green shade is perfect for livening up an atmosphere. Use it for accent pieces to give interiors a pop of color surprise.

Tangerine-A reddish orange that works well with neutrals.

Paper White-A true white getting away form the creamier neutrals, pure, clean, crisp and luxurious with any color.

Graphite-Grays have been strong and now we see grays shifting to darker charcoal that looks beautiful with deep yellows and purples as well as neutrals.

Linen-Linen looks beautiful as a crisp white or in its natural  unprocessed form. It works well as a neutral and perfect for a subtle palette.

Watch for more color and design trend predictions in upcoming blogs.

 

Window Treatments Can Make a Room

/7 Comments/in /by

One of the most important elements of a room design is the window treatments which play an important role in defining a space and completing the design of the room.  Windows allow natural light into the room which affects the way everything appears in the room at different times of the day from colors on the walls to fabrics on your furnishings. Window treatments are categorized as functional and decorative. Thousands of fabrics from classic to contemporary can be used to create your window treatments and there are just as many custom drapery options. Choices range from simple fabric panels that complement blinds or shades, to multi-layered treatments that add beauty and drama to formal rooms.

 

It’s important to determine what functional treatments you require first. Examine the lighting in the room at different times of the day in relationship to the furnishings in the room. Consider where you want privacy, need to avoid glare (where is your TV located), where you need natural light for reading and performing tasks (like the kitchen, bedroom, office), and harsh sunlight streaming into a room that can ruin fine fabrics (a window over your sofa). Once you determine which windows need a functional treatment, decide which product suits your needs and style best. There are many functional window products to choose from such as shutters, blinds, cellular shades, Roman shades, woven wood shades and panel track shades.  They all serve the same function of providing privacy and controlling the amount of light in a room however remember shades can only go up and down unlike blinds or shutters that have vanes that can be adjusted to let different amounts of light in.

 

Decorative treatments can be draperies, panels, valances, cornice boxes, or lambrequins. The clean lines of an upholstered cornice or the elaborate detail of a valance can add just the right touch to any window. Drapery panels are a beautiful way to frame your windows especially when you have a functional hard treatment. They soften and complete the window design. Drapery panels can be fabricated with different headers from French pleats to grommet tops-formal to casual and contemporary. Your design style will determine what type header you choose. You may opt for a full, functional, traversing drapery that covers the entire window.  Full draperies are a nice choice when a hard treatment is not required or can be combined with fabric shades in a formal room or with woven wood shades or blinds in a casual room. Properly scaled hardware is just as important as the fabrics you choose. Remember the fabrics and hardware should complement your style, décor and room color scheme.

 

If this sounds overwhelming, consult a professional Interior Designer for advice.  Your choices are endless but the final result will be beautiful and functional window treatments you can enjoy for years.

 

 

 

 

Planning a Multi-Functional Space

/2 Comments/in , /by

Quite often clients come to me wondering how they can make the most use of their space, especially when they are dealing with a small space and need their space to perform many functions.

Small spaces can be challenging, however even small spaces can be designed to function for you in order to take full advantage of the space you have. The first thing you should do is assess the space and determine what is working for you and what is not working for you. Determine your needs so you can include them in your plan. Many small spaces can be designed to serve several purposes. For example, you may require office or work space and do not have an extra room to house a desk, files, and other materials. This is a common problem for more and more people who are working from home. Don’t worry; there probably is a solution to your dilemma. The first thing you want to do is look at your current floor plan and determine how it can be changed to accomplish this multi-tasking space.  Can you rearrange the main pieces of furniture to open up a space for the new office and still keep the floor plan open and functional?  There may be a corner or wall that is not being used to its maximum advantage that you can incorporate into your plan. Keep your options open. Draw your plan on graph paper before moving anything to be sure it works. Remember your traffic patterns and minimum allowances for walkways. Ideally you should leave a minimum opening of 36 inches. With smart planning you won’t require a lot of room for your new space. Be sure you design your office space to flow nicely with the rest of the room using the same style and colors and giving it a residential feel. Avoid industrial, office furniture. Instead choose similar style woods and materials for your office furniture that complement the rest of the room. Choose an upholstered Parsons side chair instead of a standard office desk chair.  Take advantage of vertical space and install shelving or cabinetry up the walls.  Use the shelving for your files to get them up and out of the way to free up maximum desk space. Keep magazines, notes and clippings in a uniform collection using magazine files which will look neat on the shelves and keep you organized. You can also use attractive baskets to store supplies. Complete the space by adding artwork, accessories, an interesting area rug and another comfy chair if space allows.

This same concept can apply to any room.  An extra bedroom can double as a guest bedroom and office using the same principles. Keep the furnishings non-industrial and choose pieces that complement the style of the bedroom.  If space is really at a premium, consider a Murphy bed which folds up onto the wall when not in use to give you the full use of space in the room for other activities.

When space is limited and you need your rooms to be multi-functional a little planning can go a long way. Just remember to tie the areas together by having the same feel for the spaces rather than making them look distinctly different. The result will be an attractive, functional space.  As always when in doubt consult a professional Interior Designer for ideas and inspiration.