MODEL HOMES VS. REAL HOMES

I’m the first one to agree that you can pick up some great ideas from model homes.  However, one of the reasons we all think model homes are so beautiful and inspiring is that they’re clean, tidy, organized, so pulled together and ……. totally unreaslistic.  Those homes are lovely because no one has to actually live in them (have you ever wondered where the TV would go?).  Interior designers are hired to play up the strengths of the house and minimize the weaknesses so they arrange furniture with that in mind – it doesn’t matter that there’s no room for children to play on the floor or a place for all your craft supplies. 

Designers often use model homes as an opportunity to create a themed residence.  Tuscan, Modern, Country, Tropical are all styles of homes that designers create.  The problem with a themed model is that designers carry it so far, so perfectly, that again, it feels unrealistic.  Real homes are usually created over time with furnishings gathered from here and there.  The joy in creating our real homes is that the art isn’t perfectly matched to the sofa and the bathroom shower curtain doesn’t exactly match the towels and the soaps.  But there are a few designer tricks we can take advantage of:

LESSONS TO LEARN FROM MODEL HOMES

A small condo model is full of ideas. (photo by Terrie P)

 I designed this small condo model home a few years ago and feel like there are several lessons to be learned throughout the unit.

 1.  Establish a color palette and use it throughout the home.  It creates continuity and immediately makes a home feel “pulled together”.  It’s also much easier to shop – if all (or even most) of your rooms share basic colors, you know that anything you buy will fit somewhere.

Here I used a pastel, soothing glass green/blue color throughout to create a serene, light atmosphere.

2.  Use floor to ceiling, corner to corner drapes to disguise an ugly view or create a focal wall.  These shimmery sheers let the light from the sliding glass doors into the room but obscured the unsightly deck outside.  The sheers are suspended from a drapery wire and hung from little clips.

3.  Even in a light colored room, touches of dark wood or accessories help ground the room.  Here dark frames and furniture create just enough balance to all that pastel color.

4.  In a small room use smaller scale, open furniture so the space doesn’t feel cramped.  Here I’ve used wood frame, open arm chairs, sofas without big rolled arms and side tables with glass tops – all to reduce visual bulk.

Use a glass sofa table to keep visual bulk at a minimum. (photo Terrie P)

 5.  Use glass (or glass topped) furniture to make a room feel airy.  Even though this sofa table is generously proportioned, because it’s glass, it doesn’t take a lot of visual space so the room doesn’t feel crowded.

6.  Seating is always at a premium.  Find places to tuck mobile ottomans – under a sofa table or coffee table or in front of a hearth like a bench.

7.  Use large, dramatic art to make a statement in a small room instead of a bunch of little pictures spread over the wall.  Small pictures make visual clutter which make a room seem smaller.  Designers love to go big, go bold.

Glass table, acrylic chairs and bright art make this eating area feel roomy and appealing.

8.  Don’t have a large dramatic art piece?  Frame a group of pictures in the same frame and hang them just a couple inches apart in a very even grid.  Doesn’t it give the impression of a single large piece of art? (The key is frame unity and hung really close together.)  And these are all pages from a book bought at a discount store cut to fit standard sized frames.  Really affordable!

There is no dining room in this condo, just a small eating area in the kitchen. Notice that I kept the see-through “trick” going here with glass table and acrylic “ghost” chairs.

The color palette continues into the home office. (photo by Terrie P)

The color palette continues in the second bedroom which was shown as a home office.  In order to fit a lounge area as well as a desk in a small 10×12 bedroom, I used slipper chairs (no arms to take up space), glass end table and modern glass desk.  The one large piece of art is placed opposite the entry door so that it can be seen from the hallway.  It serves two purposes then – an “end” to the hallway and a focal point in the office.

The master bedroom expands the color palette. (photo by Terrie P)

9.  Use mirrors to expand the space.  In this smallish bedroom a three-fold mirrored screen serves several purposes:  creates a “virtual window” by reflecting light back into the room and visually expands the space.  I maintained the color palette but changed it up a bit by adding the warm golden tan to the light blue – the stripe marries the colors and the chair, pillows and throw bring in the warmer tone.  The dark wood tones from the living room are used again and create a focal point along that wall.  Notice the shimmery Roman shades at the window, taking the brightness of the mirror onto another wall.

10.  Designers use plants liberally – for several reasons.  Plants are usually silk in model homes, but you may choose to use real plants. If you do, make sure only your best specimens are on display – if it’s more yellow than green, don’t use it! 

Plants bring a touch of life to often sterile looking, perfect rooms.  Plants fill dull, dark corners, provide architecture or texture and add height in otherwise level seating arrangements.  You’ll notice there’s some sign of plant life in every photo of this model unit.  Even in the little eating area, there’s a simple silk flower arrangement.  (A caution here, choose the best quality silk flowers you can afford – you want them to look as real as possible, not cheap and cheesey.  If you can’t afford a big, fancy arrangement, start with a couple of quality stems in a bud vase and save up your pennies.  The impact will be worth it.)

USE DESIGNER TRICKS IN YOUR HOME

I give you permission to use any and all of these ‘designer tricks’ in your own home.  Do you need help with a specific room or corner of a room or maybe figuring out a unifying color palette?  Do you need help creating a gentle version of a theme so you don’t feel like you’re living in a showroom but your home still feels pulled together?  Contact me (your questions go directly to my personal email) with your questions (send pics when you can) and I’ll help you with specific tips.  I look forward to hearing from you. 

Related posts:

1. Art of Accessorizing – part 5: Color
2. Guaranteed Design Success
3. What Color to Use With Gray?

Crisp, clear, cool air….

Sundance, UT in the fall (photo by Terrie P)

Leaves that burst with rich, warm color….

What says fall more than these colorful leaves? (photo by Terrie P)

Scooping up armloads of leaves and running and jumping (or at least for the kids)….

 Harvest of pumpkins, gourds, fruits…..

Pumpkins and gourds for fall at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. (photo by Terrie P)

Nesting, cocooning, snuggling, curling up by a fire with a good book….

Curl up with a good book (or magazine) and favorite pet.

Fall is a prime time to bring the outdoors inside – collect those bright leaves, pinecones, nuts or seed pods, those late blooming flowers, garden harvest like corn or squash – and pull out baskets, vintage art, fall colored runners or fabric, candles, etc. and start creating some fabulous tablescapes or centerpieces.

A fall floral arrangement I made for a party. (photo by Terrie P)

I used 2 sizes of apothecary jars, filled one with lemons, one with limes (could use any fruit) then stuffed the vase with lots of orange lilies and greens.  A touch of wired fall ribbon draping over the side adds interest.  The shorter jar doesn’t have any greens and the single stem of lilies is cut to barely reach the top edge of the jar.

Welcome your guests with a seasonal wreath or swag that says “fall has arrived”.  This one below is from Window Gardens Direct.

Lush fall wreath to welcome guests.

Bring out terracotta pots, raffia or wired gingham ribbon, real or fake fall leaves, rust or brown napkins and make a simple, appealing centerpiece – even if you don’t have company coming.  Your family will appreciate the effort.

Decorate a table for fall.

Give your bedroom a facelift by changing the bedding as soon as it’s cool enough.  Bring in warm colors, puffy down comforters and lush soft throws to snuggle and keep warm under.

Let your bed envelope you in the colors of the season.

Early in the fall season just a touch of dried hydrangeas will give the hint that more fall is on the way.

Simple hydrangeas remind us fall is on the way. (photo from Country Living)

Sometimes all these vivid fall colors just don’t work in your style or for a particular event.  Here’s a fresh take on a more subtle fall centerpiece from Kateydid’s blog.

A subtle fall arrangement.

The calendar says September, which to me is the beginning of fall.  However, I know that in many parts of the country, including here in Arizona, temperatures are still in the 90’s or more.  But even here I’m detecting cooler, crisper mornings and I see buds on the chrysanthemums.  For those of you already enjoying a leaf turning red or a squash ripening on the vine, start gradually bringing those natural offerings indoors.  The rest of us aren’t far behind.  I’ll be sharing more fall and seasonal ideas as I start seeing evidence of fall around me.

If you’ve got a favorite decorating idea or unusual use of mother nature’s bounty, please share.  I’m always excited to see new decorating ideas.

Related posts:

1. 9 Valuable Tips to Using Plants in your Home

1. Use a tree to fill up a dark corner – ideally it should visually fill the space but not overwhelm furniture or room details around it
2. Place a small silk plant on a stack of books in a bookcase; it will add life and a change of texture.
3. Plants soften the hard edges of accessories, so a little potted flowering plant or silk ivy can do wonders in any tablescape, bookshelf or potshelf
4. Use a plant as a “place holder” when you have a space that’s eventually going to have a piece of furniture…..but doesn’t yet.  A plant is an inexpensive way to fill the space and give you time to keep shopping for just the perfect piece.

5. 

   a variety of greens make an interesting display

   A standard solution for tops of kitchen cabinets, silk greens do NOT have to be boring.  Avoid draping the expected ivy along the edges of the cabinets.  In this picture you’ll see that a focal point is created with a fern and then greens trail on either side but are in proportion to the size of the fern.  Also notice that the trailing greens are a mixture of ivy (small leaf) and pothos (broad leaf) and you could mix in a spider plant (spiky leaf).  Also vary the shades of green or mix in a variegated plant for variety.

6. A blooming orchid (or other favorite) will certainly dress up a bathroom countertop and provide a great way to emphasize your accent color.
7. Consider the shape of the plant when you place it.  Is it a tall, narrow topiary next to a tall, narrow lamp?  It would be stronger to pick something shorter and broader to contrast with the lamp shape.
8. Plants can reinforce the style or theme of a room.  Topiary plants can emphasize a traditional or formal design.  Their sculptural qualities might also work in a contemporary setting.  Ferns work well in a gardeny, country or tropical setting.  Orchids add a contemporary, spare look but with a flash of color.  Group orchids (even silk ones) in front of a window in a tropical room.  Grasses are very popular and I think they work well in contemporary or transitional rooms because they can be very sculptural – but also try them in a natural, country room.  And the traditional favorite of ivy – works just about anywhere.
9. Silk floral arrangments can be helpful in supporting your accent color.  There are some definite tips about buying and using arrangements – enough for another whole post, so watch for it soon.

REAL OR SILK?

If using real plants, keep them groomed – tall, scraggly plants with yellow leaves are not attractive.  If you have the light and the time to care for live plants, they can be rewarding and beautiful inside.  But, if that’s not your interest, use silk plants but buy the best you can afford.  And, spend more on plants that are at eye level than ones that might be up on potshelves or kitchen cabinets.  After taking the time to select the perfect plant, don’t just bring it home and plop them.  Take the time to properly “fluff” the leaves and that means every branch or leaf to make it look more realistic. 

What is your favorite plant use?  Have you used a plant to solve a decorating dilemma?

Related posts:

1. Decorate for Fall – Already?