Interior Design Tips from a Professional

Grey is Great

maryannshanks — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:26:20 +0000

I have avoided grey forever always going toward colors with no grey overtones. Well I have had a change of heart. I have been working on a project where it just made since to bring grey into the palate and I love it!

It is sophisticated providing a soft backdrop and complements so many colors! It doesn’t make the room look drab at all. It makes white woodwork look stunning and it provides more warmth than I ever imagined. Here are some of the colors that look great with grey; black and red, lemon yellow, orange and spa blue and of course white. I had some cabinets painted a light grey and they look fabulous. So it just gives you something to consider when selecting a palate for your home.

Cheers

Maryann Shanks

Make it go away with paint

maryannshanks — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:30:50 +0000

This is going to be short and sweet (you are saying thank goodness). I think I have finally recovered from the holidays..

What I’m addressing is a huge design peeve of mine that can be taken care with a paint brush! When painting a room always paint your heating vents and heating in take register the same color as your walls not the same as your woodwork. From my prospective there is nothing attractive about either of these and you don’t want to draw attention to them. By painting them out the same as the wall color your are taking care of that! Viola!!

Cheers

Maryann Shanks

www.mshanksdesign.com

Maryann

Let’s shed some light on it.

maryannshanks — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:01:55 +0000

One of the most important things to remember when designing a space is form follows function. This is really true in the vanity area you use for getting ready. The most important element is proper lighting. This is unlike the lighting for a powder room that is not used for getting ready, here general lighting as opposed to task lighting will do the job.

The proper way to light a vanity to be able to see what your doing is to have lights on both sides which are usually sconces; these light up the sides of your face. And secondly have a down light over the space (a recessed can works well for this ). Now you have full coverage to help you get ready with the best lighting possible.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Cheers

Maryann

Why you might want to consider wall covering

maryannshanks — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:37:19 +0000

You’re saying never again, why put myself through that torture when it comes to removing, not to mention the damage it can do to my walls. This was all true in the past. The secret to avoiding this is to prime the walls well and to be sure and size them too. If you se the right products and do these 2 things the paper will come right off and the walls will be in good shape.

Reasons I think wall coverings are a great design option

It is back in vogue.
If hung properly it lasts many years longer than paint (my mother has string cloth she had hung about 25 years ago and it still looks good)
It gives a lot of depth and design. It can be as contemporary or traditional as the covering you select.
You can select a paper that can be wiped off in high traffic areas.

Here are the things to be aware of when hanging paper

Be sure to use a paper suited to moist areas for bathrooms and kitchens.
Measure twice
Always save a little extra paper for repairs. A hint if you need to repair paper you want to tare it and have a jagged edge; this way it fits in and you don’t see the repair.
It is more expensive than paint and takes expertise to install.

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Cheers!

Maryann

M.Shanks Design

www.mshanksdesign.com

Possibly most important design element in a room

maryannshanks — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:52:05 +0000

As a designer probably one of the first things I look at when designing a room is the view to the outside. Unless you are in a windowless room or always keep your window treatments closed this is either the worst or best visual in your space.

The view out the windows is so often ignored! You can take a fabulous dining room that looks out on a unadorned block wall and when you walk in the space something is missing. Take that same wall and plant some flowering vines and maybe put an architectural piece in the middle with the vines growing around it and you have something that transforms your room from the outside. A fine painting is never as good as what you can create outside your window. Hanging baskets outside a window also give a great visual if what is beyond isn’t so great you want to help stop the eye. Walk through your house and see what you can do to enhance the inside from the outside.

Cheers!

Maryann

M.Shanks Design

www.mshanksdesign.com

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

maryannshanks — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:09:24 +0000

But the question is how and how much? Let’s discuss installing can lighting. The easiest way to do this is to run lots of recessed cans in rows, right? Well yes, but there are ways that give better placed lighting to your space. To have a well designed plan for your recessed cans, take your floor plan and place the pieces you will have in the space on it and look at where they are located and that is how you want to place your cans. Here are some examples for optimum placement. In a kitchen rather than running 2 rows of lights down the middle, you would of course place 1 light over the sink, and than place one in front of the refrigerator, lights over the island, eating table and the rest probably more toward the perimeter to light up the counter space rather than down the middle of the room where there is nothing that needs to be illuminated other than the floor. The cans are not necessarily evenly spaced in a professional lighting plan; it is about giving your space the best possible lighting. The reality is there are usually too many lights in a kitchen that don’t address the work spaces. The point is to make the lights do the best possible job for you.

This same idea applies to other rooms in your home. If I am doing a lighting plan for a client’s family room I take my space plan with all the furnishings on it and put a piece of tracing paper over it and place the cans based on the furniture layout right on the overlay. I now have a lighting plan for my recessed cans. An example of a good working plan would be 1 can at each end of a sofa, 1 over the club chair, 1 over the coffee table, etc., maybe 1 in the corner that has no table with a lamp on it and therefore will be dark, you get the idea. It is actually prettty easy and fun once you get going.

Now probably the most important part of this is to have a good lighting store with an expert who will help you select the right type of light for your cans which are many and always changing and improving. Personally I like to work with Mark and Nicolette McDonald at Light Blubs Etc. in Costa Mesa, but there are many out there who are good.

Cheers

Maryann

M. Shanks Design

www.mshanksdesign.com

Update without blowing your budget??

maryannshanks — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:55:39 +0000

Want to update your look, maybe a more transitional or contemporary look, how about something more eclectic? You say, “hey the budget is an issue!” Well let’s take one room and chat about how you can make some changes that won’t require completely blowing your budget. Since the holidays are upon us let’s taking the dining area.

An interesting area rug under the table
Change out the end chairs to something upholstered with high backs. If you want a more transistional or contemporary look how about leather parsons chairs maybe out of a hot color. Pottery Barn has had this in the past resonably priced and in a great selection of colors.
Use an accent color on one of your walls, this will really change up the look.
Don’t forget the lighting, again if you are going for a more transistional or contemporary look replace the chandelier with something with cleaner lines, or art glass. Consignment might be a good place to find this.
Consider a large vase with reeds, or some other object in a corner set on a pedestal, this will address that blank boring corner.
And lastly don’t forget that large mirror, this will make the room appear larger, lighter, and reflect back the chandelier. Just make sure it isn’t placed where it reflects back a sink of dirty dishes.

Now don’t just talk about it implement it!

Cheers

Maryann

M. Shanks Design

949-654-2488

www.mshanksdesign.com

Boring, boring, boring

maryannshanks — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:50:27 +0000

That boring long hall with nothing but doors, not much light just a big nothing? Well here is one way to make it a show place. More times than not a long hall is already on the dark side so lets make it more intense and paint it a rich dark color. Your saying so?? Now add track lighting. Be sure and check with your lighting store to make sure you are putting lights on the track that will give you enough illumination to show off the art work , this is the most important element of the project. Now cover the walls with art work from the waist high to the ceiling, or perhaps all those great photos or a combination of both. You now have a wonderful interesting gallery rather than a ho-hum hallway. I find that if you are hanging a lot of artwork it might be worth your while to check into hiring a professional picture hanger. They really know how to get it all spaced correctly and well hung.

Cheers

Maryann Shanks

M. Shanks Design

949-654-2488

www.mshanksdesign.com

The art of display

maryannshanks — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:51:52 +0000

How many times have we all said I don’t have anything important or interesting ot display??

When you go to a museum or art gallery everything looks wonderful and part of this is the way it has been displayed hence the pedestal and the easel. My mother is a very resourceful and clever lady and her home was always lovely and people commented on all her special unique things. Well my mother knows the art of display. You can take something that doesn’t look that interesting and put it on a pedestal and voila! Pedestals come in a vast array of szies from a few inches to 6 feet tall. The pedestal can be plain, stained, painted, mirrored, there is a vast selection available.

Now let’s talk easels. Take that special picture and perhaps instead of putting it on the wall showcase it on an easel. Easels range from very small (something you might put on a table or bookcase) to quite large which you would stand on the floor. You can find them in all types of finishes, metal, wood plexi glass, ornate or plain, take your pick.

Now take those objects you thought weren’t so special and change the way they are displayed and see if it doesn’t make a difference!

Cheers,

Maryann

M. Shanks Design

949-654-2488

www.mshanksdesign.com

Love that print or pattern today? what about tomorrow ?

maryannshanks — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:52:48 +0000

Purchasing a sofa?? Love that pattern or print?? From my prospective most of the time selecting a good looking neutral fabric for a large upholstered piece is by far the best choice. Use it as a backdrop for great looking pillows which when your tire of the large print or stripe, or maybe the color can be changed out allot easier than that sofa. I like to bring in maybe a bold print in the pillows put that stripe on a side chair with maybe a smaller print pillow. Food for thought!

Just an aside if you want someone who is outstanding to help with either interior or exterior holiday lighting and decor’ Isabelle the owner of “For All Seasons” is your gal. She has the staffing and a whole warehouse of everything imaginable to make your home or business a holiday delight! She can be reached at 714-731-2880

Cheers

Maryann

M.Shanks Design

949-654-2488