Currently viewing the category: "design"
Plates at Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica

8 Great ways to Decorate with Plates

posted 479 days ago1 Comment

When you break a plate at home, you tend to get angry at the mess you’ve made.  In Greece they throw plates on the floor and yell “Opa!” to say a broken plate isn’t a big thing to get worked up over and that you should enjoy life while we break the plates.  In design, plates have become a hot new trend on walls in any room or decor.  My Mom has collected beautiful hand painted plates throughout the years and has always artistically adorned her walls with her collection so I have a nostalgic appreciation for plates and found eight great arrangements for the home.

Plates at Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica

Kelly Wearstler (my favorite) arranged several plate groupings around the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica.

Plate arrangement D Sharp Studio

Use bright colored plates to adorn your walls for a cheerful look. Get cool modern plates in an array of colors with cool patterns like these by Thomas Paul at 2 Modern

Palazzetti Fornasetti Plates

Express your self with these plates by Palazzetti Fornasetti. Each design has a different facial expression in a vintage fashion.

Laura vinroot Poole Domino Magazine

Achieve this designer look with vintage antique red and white Spode plates.

Blue Plates

Use a random arrangement of plates like this to add a little spontaneity to your home. Get a similar look with fun hand painted plates from Anthropologie.

White Plates above BedWho said plates were only for the kitchen?! These white plates look chic and modern when arranged in the bedroom.  Cost Plus World Market has a nice selection of white dinnerware.

Bird Plate arrangement

Bird Plate Arrangement

I just adore this this array of vintage bird plates. You can get this look by scouring Etsy to find hand painted birdies.

Reese Dixon Pink Street design

Create an intriguing flow throughout your stairway or hallways with an eclectic mix of vintage and hand painted plates. Find beautiful designs like the ones shown in this photo from Etsy or Anthropologie

A few words of wisdom: You don’t have to break plates to symbolize your happiness. Instead, adorn your walls with art or decor that makes you happy and forget about your worries in life. But if you accidentally break a plate when trying to hang an artistic plate arrangement, just yell “Opa!” and buy a new one.

Opa!

- DayDecor

Fitness Cube

Stylish Home Workout Furniture

posted 505 days agoComment

If you’re like 99% of the population, your New Years Resolution is to get fit. But who likes going to the gym?!  Get a full body workout in the comfort of your own home with these cleverly designed equipment that doubles up as stylish furniture!

Sexy Sculpted Arms & Modern Dining Table

This modern table is perfect for doing dips to sculpt arms.

Home Gym in a Box

Zebra Fitness Cube

Check out this chic fitness cube by Domyos….It has 30 exercises in one cube!!  I love the zebra print version, you would never guess it converted into a workout bench! The best part is it is only 19″x19″ square so you could also use it as a stool.

Abs of Steel

Get super toned abs with this retro designed ab cruncher by Domyos. It looks like a version of the mid century modern EamesTulip Chair! It comes in a variety of colors to fit any decor.

Punching Bag Sofa

This convertible boxing sofa totally kicks butt…literally! Kick boxing is one of the best ways to shaping up your rear end, not to mention great cardio. You can also use this sofa as a punching bag and knock out all of your daily frustrations. It’s sleek organic design by Campeggi is perfect for a modern home.

Now I’m pumped to start my workout!

Cheers to a fit and fabulous 2012,

- DayDecor

LoungeCollectionUP10

Crate&Barrel Lounge Sectional Review

posted 779 days agoComment

I’m back at Crate and Barrel, saving you a trip to the showroom by closely examining their ever so popular Lounge Sectional.  As always, I make sure to rate each furniture piece on it’s quality comfort and value. Check it out and let me know what you think!

 

Thanks for watching…Tune in for our next furniture review!

~DayDesignDecor

Day Design & Decor

s640x480

Designing For Japan Relief

posted 785 days agoComment

My heart is broken after viewing all the devastating images and videos of the tsunami + 9.0 magnitude earthquake in the north coast of Japan.  Cars and buildings being swept away by the current as if they were floating pool toys.  Large skyscraper buildings crumbling to the ground. People trapped in cars and building rubble, some trapped for days. The death toll has now officially crossed 10,000 & more than 17,000 are missing Nearly 300,000 are in temporary shelter.  All of this terrifying news calls for action…designer action! For the entire month of April, Day Design & Decor will be donating 50% of proceeds from all design service orders to aid in American Red Cross Japan Relief Foundation.

Order Design Services

We will send a tax deductable form after your completed purchase. Help us, help Japan, by helping you.

Love, hope, and relief -

Day Design & Decor

Day Design & Decor

Design Fear

5 Ways To Overcome Your Design Fears

posted 792 days agoComment

Design Fear

You have been dreaming about redesigning your home for ages, but one four letter word always seems to get in the way…FEAR.  It’s the most common reason why people steer clear of starting new seemingly unfamiliar projects, only to make up excuses like, “Where do I start”… “I can’t afford a makeover” …  “What’s in it for me” … “It’s going to take forever.” Here are a few tips on how to overcome fears and turn your dream design into reality.

1)   Keep Your Eyes on The Prize –                                                                                                     If you continue to focus on all the things that stand in your way of making your dream room become reality, chances are it will remain in your dreams.  Visualize your desired result and imagine how you will feel in your finished room. When you focus on the outcome, overcoming roadblocks become easier and even more enjoyable.

2)   Design & Conquer –                                                                                                                   Ever heard the ‘ol saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day?” This is because it wasn’t and your home makeover most likely won’t either. Break your project down into stages, and conquer each stage in a reasonable amount of time. It might not get done in a day, but surely less than you had thought.

3)   Embrace Mistakes –                                                                                                                       Let’s face it, no one is perfect. So many of us get discouraged when we make mistakes and use it as an excuse to abort mission on projects. Own up to your faux pas and learn from them. This will make your next design venture easier in the future and enable you to offer expert advise for friends and family when they endure similar situations.

4)   Create an Incentive –                                                                                                            Another famous excuse for avoiding a home makeover is finding the value of importance.  By creating a list of all the benefits of redesigning your space, you will find a clear incentive that will drive you to the finishing line.

5)   Bring in an Expert–                                                                                                                        If you are afraid of having an undesirable outcome, hire a professional to give you an expert opinion.  Designers have years of experience under their belt and can help you achieve your design goals with great results, giving the confidence you need to push forward.  You can also get design assistance with Day Design & Decor’s services.

When taking the inititative to realize our own fears and making conscious efforts in overcoming them, your goals become more attainable.  “Walk in the direction that you look” is the motto I learned from my Grandma.  It has helped me keep focused on my goals and achieve most of them.  Now, push fear aside and take a step towards creating your dream room.

What is holding you back from redesigning your home? What would you do to your space if fear didn’t stop you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Your fearless designer,

Day Design & Decor

Day Design & Decor

Save Money on Home Decor

Top 5 Ways to Save Money on Home Decor

posted 821 days agoComment

Save Money on Home Decor

When it comes to buying furniture and accessories, things can definitely add up. So, how do furnish your home on a tight budget? Here are a few clever ways to save on home furnishings without breaking the bank.  All you need is additional time for treasure hunting, creativity, and willingness to work on DIY (do it yourself) projects.

Thrift Shop Home Decor#1 – Thrift and Second Hand Stores

Shopping at thrift and second hand stores is a very cost effective way to find loads of cool stuff for your home.  Although, most of the furniture there needs updating so you might have to use your imagination to see the potential of each piece.  Occasionally you can find things in perfect condition at low prices. Some stores like Goodwill, have half off sales on certain days, so make a call to check on their next sale date. The trick is to arrive right when they open for first dibs on the best furniture pieces.  Thrift stores are typically non-profit organizations so you can feel good about your purchases since it’s going towards a good cause.

Free Stuff#2 – The best things in life… can be free!

If you’re strapped for cash, FREE is always nice.  My top resources for complimentary home furnishings is the “free stuff” category on Craigslist or Freecycle.  Some people just want to find a good home for their furniture and post them on these sites. What better way to save money!

classified craigslist

#3 – Classified Ads

Another effective way to save on furniture is to search classified ads in local newspapers or online. Craigslist and Recycler are the most popular classified websites. One of my friends furnished her entire apartment with cool finds from Craigslist. With a little patience and persistance you could do the same thing.

Yard Sale Sign

#4 – Estate and Yard Sales

Going to estate or yard sales is the ultimate treasure hunting experience.  You can find furniture in wonderful condition at very reasonable prices. These sales are usually on the weekend and picked over by the early afternoon, so you’ll have to set your alarm clock early in order to get the best steals.  My mom attends yard sales quite frequently and always finds incredible pieces worth more than she bargained for…literally! Her tip is to drive around wealthy neighborhoods and look for signs early in the morning and check out at least three sales. Moving sales are the best, because these people are on a time crunch to get rid of their furnishings.  They are usually more than willing to bargain prices with you too.

how to Paint your furniture

#5 – Refurbish What You Already Have

Transform your old piece of furniture with a fresh new finish, upholstery, or decorative accents to update the look.  You can easily upholster a dining chair cushion with a staple gun, piece of foam, and a few yards of fabric. Sometimes, fabric stores will have sales on remnants up to three yards, which is ideal for upholstering a stool or side chair.  Slip covers are a quick, cheap, and easy way to change the look of your sofa or arm chair.  If you have a piece you think has potential but have no clue how to update it, our designers will come up with a few good concepts for your furniture with our Design Analysis. We can also pick out finish or paint colors for each piece and directions on how to apply it with our Color Palette option.

Best of luck bargain hunting for your home.  “A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments.” – Samuel Johnson

- Day Design & Decor

couple picking out home decor

How to combine your decorating style with your partners

posted 836 days agoComment

It’s official! You have moved in with eachother, embarking on relationship bliss. But wait, how are you going to decorate your home with two obviously contrasting styles and mismatched furniture?  Typically, men and women have polar opposite home decorating ideas so blending styles can be a bit complicated.  Here are a few tips on how to integrate your ideas with your partners and still have a well designed home.

Tip #1  -  Selecting Furniture

Men tend to be drawn towards furnishings built to stand the test of time, while maintaining maximum comfort.  They go for functionality over design, where as women prefer the look and style of a particular piece.  So when you and your mate are shopping for your room, opt for well designed furniture that is stable and reliable.  Find good looking and sturdy pieces at  Pottery Barn, Room and Board, Ethan Allen or Bo Concept.

Tip #2  –  Colorizing.

Picking out paint colors can be grueling when couples don’t see eye to eye.  The majority of men gravitate towards a more muted neutral color palette such as tans and browns.  Women seem to be attracted to colors that are bright, pastel, or the latest trend in magazines. The best way to meet in the middle when it comes to selecting hues is to mix and match colors. Popular combinations are chocolate brown & berry red, yellow & grey, taupe & spa blue.

Compromising is key when it comes to designing a home together. Talk to your partner about your top five needs and why they are important to you and listen to theirs.  More than likely there will be a design solution that will fit both of your desires.

Tune in this Friday and we’ll show you designs that unite masculine and feminine styles.

With decorating love,

Day Design & Decor

← Previous Entries