111 Simple Tipsyday for your 足Eveer Hom
by ibson ue G ., Roniqciate A.I.A o s As ED A.P. LE e.com tectur Stage
1 | Stagetecture.com
111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home A Room-By-Room Guide to Creating a Welcoming Home that Fits Your Personal Lifestyle by Ronique Gibson Associate A.I.A, LEED A.P. of Stagetecture, LLC The information contained in this guide is for informational and entertainment purposes only. No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted, or sold in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author. All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing in this guide are the property of their respective owners. Users of this guide are advised to do their own due diligence when it comes to making decorative and construction decisions on their personal home. Seek the advice of a qualified design professional, construction professional and abide by your local zoning laws when doing home renovations. By reading this guide, you agree that myself and my company is not responsible for the success or failure of your home decorating, renovation or construction projects and all text and images should be used as information. Š2012 Stagetecture, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
2 | Stagetecture.com
5
24
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 111 Reasons to love your home... ....................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 1 Inviting Entries and Welcoming Hallways ..................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2 Kitchen Ideas – The Heart of your Home ....................................................... 8 CHAPTER 3 Bathroom Ideas – Relax and Refresh ............................................................ 10 CHAPTER 4 Living & Family Room – Gather Family & Friends ...................................12
3 | Stagetecture.com
Click on the page numbers to quickly jump to the chapter!
16
28
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 5 Bedrooms – Retreat from the World ...... 14 CHAPTER 6 Kids’ Rooms – Let their Imagination Soar ................................................ 16 CHAPTER 7 Home Offices – Inspiring Productivity .. 18 CHAPTER 8 Small Interiors – Cozy and Functional Spaces ............................................. 20 CHAPTER 9 Laundry & Utility Rooms – Efficiency and Organization .......................................................... 22 CHAPTER 10 Garage & Maintenance – Taking Care of your Home ............................................................ 24 CHAPTER 11 Outdoor home – Porches to Landscaping ........................................................................................ 26
4 | Stagetecture.com
20 18
INTRODUCTION When I was a little girl my mom said I wasn’t a very organized or neat person. When my family decided to buy a pop-up Coleman camping trailer for my sister and parents to take long camping trips in, my mom said I changed instantly. I all of a sudden became an organized and neat freak” … I guess the rest is history’ I may not have always been a “neat freak,” but for as long as I can remember I’ve been infatuated with my surroundings. Whether it was at home, at school, in the car, or at a friend’s house, I loved the idea of design around how people enjoyed their everyday lives. From my oldest memories, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said, “An Architect!” Once I saw that the character Elise Keaton (from the 1980’s television show, ‘Growing Pains’) was an architect – I knew this was the profession for me! Throughout my career as an Associate Architect, mom, wife, solopreneur and lifestyle blogger, I have worn many hats, but I still love the thought of the variety of spaces I can hang those hats in at the end of the day To me, home represents one place in the world that is sacred and no outside influence can change that. Your family feels safe here, your pets have their favorite spot in the corner, and you will make memories for generations to remember in your home. I created this e-book to share 111 simple tips that you can use to make every space in your home a little bit more “you.” From inspiration and decor, to do it yourself tips and creative ideas that I’ve learned throughout the years, this e-book was created to share my love for the home and serve as a reference for others. Whether you use it to dream about a
5 | Stagetecture.com
new space in your home, or it becomes a look book when you travel to your local home improvement store, get inspired! Your home may have challenges, it may have mishaps, but at the end of the day it will continue to nurture and protect your family and soul. From my home to yours… Enjoy! -Ronique Gibson, Associate AIA, LEED AP
CHAPTER 1 INVITING ENTRIES & HALLWAYS
6 | Stagetecture.com
INVITING ENTRIES & HALLWAYS Your entry, foyer and hallway are the first part of your home that welcomes guests and friends. Create an inviting area to welcome them and set the tone for the rest of your home. 1) Entry - Design a variety of storage solutions and a place where visitors can sit when they take off and put on their shoes. 2) Entry - Add a surface-mount cabinet where guests can leave their footwear or have a freestanding coat closet where you and your guests can hang coats or extra clothing. 3) Hallway/Entry - Depending on the size of your hallway, it may be useful to include furniture that will serve as a drop-off or staging points. For instance, if you have a kitchen on one side your hallway and a living room on the other, a small chest or table will definitely be a great addition where you and your guests can place other items along the way. 4) Entry - As a rule, furniture in the hallway should be light, narrow and well-spaced so there is enough room for people to pass easily through. 5) Hallway - You can add interest to your hallway by creating a feature wall. While you can always get away with family pictures, you can also opt for eye-catching wallpaper or a fabulous piece of artwork. 6) Hallway/Entry - Hanging a large mirror on one of your hallway’s bare walls also is a good decorating choice -- it not only helps reflect the light from your lighting fixtures but also makes the area look more spacious. 7) Hallway - If there is no door or room at the end of the hallway, you can install wall-mounted open shelving and place decorative items to add life to the space. 9) Lighting is extremely important within a hallway, especially because this area does not usually receive natural light unless the door is open. Wall sconces and directional lighting are practical and stylish options that can lend a welcoming feel to your hallway.
7 | Stagetecture.com
8) Hallway /Entry - Create a cameo setting by adding a simple easy chair and a small table with maga zines or books.
10) Hallway - Add low lighting just above the base boards to properly illuminate the way and give ambiance to what could otherwise be a dark area. ä More entries and hallways
CHAPTER 2 KITCHEN IDEAS
8 | Stagetecture.com
KITCHEN IDEAS The heart of your home Every home’s kitchen should feel like the heartbeat of the home. Create an inspiring kitchen for you and your entire circle. 11) Kitchen walls don’t have to be bland. There is a world full of color awaiting everything in your kitchen space, although white kitchens are timeless and will show off food with color displayed on a counter. 12) Consider painting walls with an earth tone shade or go for the gusto and use punches of vibrant color on an accent wall – such as the stove/oven wall. 13) Organize your kitchen for ease of cooking and entertaining. Group similar items and store them together. For example, assemble pots and pans in a cabinet near the stove and group bakeware items together in a convenient cabinet area. 14) A variety of kitchen organizers are available to help you save space and find items when they’re needed. Spice and canned good racks, stemware and cookware holders, and plastic bag and drawer organizers are handy items to help keep you organized. 15) Keep your kitchen neat and tidy and your countertops clear of clutter by storing most items. Cabinets equipped with slide out trays, drawers that have been fitted with adjustable dividers, and corner cabinets constructed with lazy susans make optimum use of hard-to-reach spaces. 16) Pantries that contain open shelves, hidden drawers and closed cabinet areas make ideal storage areas for dishes, cookbooks and assorted boxed and canned food items. Use plastic bins, wire stacking racks and woven baskets. 17) Clear glass containers in assorted sizes attractively store spaghetti, tea bags, coffee, candies and other food items and can be situated on top of your counters. 18) Are you looking to modernize your kitchen? Renovators with a taste for the modern will love the sleek cabinets that are
9 | Stagetecture.com
becoming more and more popular. Clean lines and minimal hardware make these cabinets look simple and uncluttered. 19) A contemporary space can be nice, but you don’t want your kitchen to be unwelcoming. Blank cabinets will make way for small design gestures to get noticed. Impressive appliances like wall ovens or break-front sinks will stand-out too. 20) Kitchen lighting is essential. Consider using pendant lighting above a breakfast bar, under cabinet lighting for counter tasks and overhead ambient lighting for general lighting of the entire kitchen. 21) Kitchens have become more of a high-traffic area of the house. Consider bringing an island, and a breakfast bar to facilitate ease of movement. ä More kitchen ideas
CHAPTER 3 BATHROOM IDEAS
10 | Stagetecture.com
BATHROOM IDEAS Relax and Refresh The bathroom is a place of rejuvenation in the morning and relaxation from the hard day in the evening. Infuse your bathroom with amenities and use helpful organization tips to help you feel like a new person every time you enter and leave! 22) If you don’t like your bathroom, consider renovating. Money spent on a bathroom remodel has an average return on investment of 89%. 23) While planning for your bathroom remodel, you should determine what actually needs to be replaced. You don’t want to throw away a perfectly good sink or countertop that could easily be repainted or refinished to fit into your new bathroom design 24) Go green, eco bathrooms continue to grow in demand. Consider buying a modern shower that uses water efficient plumbing fixtures. Granite, quartz and solid surface vanity tops continue to be the preferred counter surface among home owners due their durability and elegant appeal. If you have a limited budget consider going for manmade resins that have a similar aesthetic. 25) Choosing color for your bathroom is important. For a soothing sanctuary, build your color palette around cooler blues, greens, and even purples. To add vibrancy to your bath add deeper reds, blues, or yellows. Naturals such as browns and creams give a neutral and sophisticated feel. 26) Painting your ceiling the same color
11 | Stagetecture.com
as the walls can make your room seem larger. Paint your ceiling a darker shade than your walls to make the room appear smaller. 27) Add lighting for ambiance, and task lighting for using the mirror and shower space. For a nice designer look consider installing a pair of wall sconces on either side of your mirror. Make sure the light bulbs are just about eye level. 28) For darker areas of your bathroom and if you have space on your vanity, a small decorative table lamp will brighten up your bath and add rich feel to the room. These are also nice to use as night lights! 29) Consider replacing or refinishing your vanity. With a new vanity and sink installed, a bathroom will look completely rejuvenated. A fresh coat of paint and different hardware can give your vanity an entirely new look!
30) Whatever style you are going for in your bathroom, customize the mirror accordingly. For a custom look, use decorative molding to re-frame your existing mirror. For a designer look, have wall lighting sconces installed through or beside your vanity mirror.
ä More bathroom ideas