Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Find unique items for your home
As a designer I love to find unique and interesting pieces to use for clients, family, friends and myself! We have all heard about design styles – pottery Barn style, country, modern, transitional, traditional, French country and so on. Using unique pieces can make your style and your home stand out! One of the best places to find reasonably priced and unique items is at antique malls. Antique malls have a variety of dealers who rent a space in a larger retail space. This allows for a wide variety of items to be found in the one store. One of the best in the Atlanta area is The Queen of Hearts. I would be remiss to not be upfront that I do have a have a space in the Alpharetta store and I am still amazed at the wonderful and unique products I see (and some times purchase!!) every time I update my space. The prices are very reasonable as well. So next time you are ready for a quick boost to your home check out an antique mall….maybe I will see you there!!
Michelle
Freestyle Design and Interiors
www.freestyledesignonline.com
michelle@freestyledesignonline.com
Monday, June 6, 2011
Photos on Canvas
So today I ordered a photo on canvas...... Which got me thinking...... I do not use typical artwork in my own home and I love to find unique items and unique ways to use them. This is such a great way to use photos you love and there are so many ways to use this art form. You could also use this format for old family photos, current family photos, pets, kids, the beach, the mountains, honeymoon, travel, they can use any picture!!! It can be done in color, sepia or black and white. Custom sizes can be made, colored edges or trim, and editing can be provided as well. With all of the choices everyone can find options they will love. Just search online to find many companies who provide this service at reasonable prices. Personally my picture is of my three dogs and I can't wait to see how it turns out!!
If I can help you with your own personal art or other design dilemmas, please contact me!!
Michelle
Michelle Branton, Owner, Designpreneur
Freestyle Design
Michelle@freestyledesignonline.com
www.freestyledesignonline.com
Monday, February 7, 2011
Fabulous Farm Tables......
Who doesn't love a farm table? They feel like home and family who wouldn't love that! The original farm tables were born from the very basic need of settlers to have a place to sit and eat. These early farm tables were very basic indeed, cut from plentiful timber stocks, as towns were formed they needed lumber and grain. These were supplied by lumber and grain mills, which were more often than not located on a river which provided the power.
Structural timbers were quickly converted to legs and long slabs became table tops. Tools were very primitive, so the farm table was usually long and narrow and basic. Seating was usually a bench or two which resembled a miniature farm table. The lumber used, was very rarely cured or kiln dried. Air drying had to do. For this reason if you can find an original farm table you will see inevitably it would have cracks and twists formed as the lumber dried, in the home. Quite often the owner would have to cut a small wooden bowtie and cut it into the table across the crack to keep it from lengthening and widening further. Antique farm tables, in good shape, with this type of characteristic fetch huge dollars if one can find them.
The most plentiful lumber back then was usually Eastern White Pine, huge trees with nice clear grain and few defects. Soft and easy to work with it made great structural lumber for farm homes and barns, but it’s naturally soft nature showed the wear and tear of daily homestead life when used to build a farm table. Not only was the farm table a place to eat, but more often than not it was a handy work bench, baking board, canning of preserves and a place to wash the baby etc.
As towns and villages became more sophisticated, so did the farm table. The lumber mills added “kiln drying” and then hard woods to their offerings. Paints and varnishes became available, imported from the East coast by merchants. Legs turned on a lathe, quite often powered by a foot treadle, hand pegged tops with walnut accents all served to help transform a very basic farm table into an elegant dining table. Oak and maple lumber were utilized by craftsmen to provide more durable and more refined type farm tables for their newly affluent clientele.
Presently farm tables have enjoyed resurgence in popularity. Their warm rustic charm, no matter how old will fit in with just about any décor from log homes to modernist. Very few furniture pieces are able to transcend time and style as the farm table. The recent building boom which saw many older buildings being torn down for salvage, made beautiful old slabs of wood, aged in time, available to the new generation of farm table builder. These old boards have the structure and characteristics that are missing from modern lumber as the old growth trees are gone.
Modern methods of cutting, milling, drying and conditioning of lumber has made the building of new farm tables much easier than for our early ancestors. Amateur woodworkers have also been making their own farm tables, but there is nothing like experience to render “just the right” farm table.
While there are many antique dealers selling farm tables you can have one made by several companies, many of who offer craftsman with generations of experience behind them. This experience and client input can yield for you the perfect farm table. Imagine being able to have someone build you a farm table to the length and width you need, from the type of wood you would like with the color and finish of your choice…all at a reasonable price.
If you are in the market for a table or need any assistance with designing the perfect space for you and your family, please contact me. Michelle
Michelle Branton, Owner, Designpreneur
Freestyle Design
Michelle@freestyledesignonline.com
www.freestyledesignonline.com
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Organizing for 2011
Yesterday I worked on an installation for a retail frozen yogurt and coffee shop in Dahlonega, GA called Yummy Yogurt. It is going to be an amazing place and is coming together beautifully. There are, of course, a few snafu's so know that when you are working on projects we ALL have them. Work through it or get help and it will all come together. When the project is finished I will post pictures so be watching for them!
It appears I am behind many others in my personal organizing for the new year. I am beginning to get that amazing feeling of relief that comes from purging and cleaning (and I will get it done eventually!) Luckily when I get through I have many organizing systems in place already so it is pretty easy to get them back up and running. If you are like me and slow to get started, no worries it is still waiting for you!!! I found a great article to help you stay organized with your organizing.
http://freshome.com/2011/01/18/10-ways-to-reduce-cluttter-in-your-home/
Best of luck. Michelle
Michelle Branton, Designpreneur
Freestyle Design
www.freestyledesignonline.com
michelle@freestyledesignonline.com
It appears I am behind many others in my personal organizing for the new year. I am beginning to get that amazing feeling of relief that comes from purging and cleaning (and I will get it done eventually!) Luckily when I get through I have many organizing systems in place already so it is pretty easy to get them back up and running. If you are like me and slow to get started, no worries it is still waiting for you!!! I found a great article to help you stay organized with your organizing.
http://freshome.com/2011/01/18/10-ways-to-reduce-cluttter-in-your-home/
Best of luck. Michelle
Michelle Branton, Designpreneur
Freestyle Design
www.freestyledesignonline.com
michelle@freestyledesignonline.com
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Happy 2011.....
Ok so I am off to a slow start but that happens sometimes to all of us....right??? Yesterday I walked in with a chair to put in my space at Queen of Hearts and it was snatched out of my hands and purchased. I got a chance to chat with the very nice woman who purchased the chair, she is redoing a room while her husband is out of town....love that!! We talked about her ideas and she was so excited it made my day!! Then today I got the Christmas decorations put away....I feel like I am on a roll. I have made a decision to do some things different right now, they could be large or small things but it feels so renewing to step outside of the "usual." One of those things which I have been working on is reducing chemicals in the house. I found a great write up on some easy ideas I want to share with you. http://www.thisdishisvegetarian.com/2011/01/kick-chemicals-to-curb-with-these.html Another of those things I am going to change is being a more regular blogger so I hope you enjoy my thoughts, ideas, and general rants. Please let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions. Happy 2011 to you all! Michelle
Michelle Branton, Designpreneur, Freestyle Design
www.freestyledesignonline.com
michelle@freestyledesignonline.com
Michelle Branton, Designpreneur, Freestyle Design
www.freestyledesignonline.com
michelle@freestyledesignonline.com
Monday, October 25, 2010
Color Around Your Office and Home
I have been thinking about the psychology of color and interior design over the past week. There is so much power in how our homes and office effect the way we feel. As I have been thinking about this I found this great article on color by Ali Brown and wanted to share it. Enjoy!!
Colors have a powerful effect on mood, and work their magic spell by helping us get in touch with our emotions. Colors can soothe, inspire, energize, and rejuvenate, and they set the mood and atmosphere of a room. So what is your home doing for you? Is your living room a drab den or a sensational salon? What about the bedroom? Is it a run down retreat or a palace of passion? And what changes can you make to ensure that your living spaces are working for you? Understanding the rules of color and mastering the secrets of color mixing will help you create the right mood for your rooms. There are no rights and wrongs -- the most important things are to have fun and to be creative. And the simplest way to revitalize your home is with paint.
Color wheel. Do you want warm or cool, dramatic or neutral? The color wheel is an invaluable tool for choosing the hues, tints, and shades based on your personal preferences. An unlimited amount of color combinations are possible. The wheel is divided into 12 equal sections, each displaying a primary, secondary, or tertiary color. The “warm” and “hot” colors are on the right hand side of the wheel, and the “cool” and “cold” colors are on the left. Black, white, and grey are the neutral colors, and don’t appear on the color wheel.
Primary colors. These are the three key colors that cannot be formed by any combination of other colors -- red, blue, and yellow.
Secondary colors. When you mix equal amounts of two primary colors you get secondary colors -- purple, green, and orange.
Red + Blue = Purple
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue +Yellow = Green
Tertiary colors. Mixing primary colors with secondary colors in a 2:1 ratio will produce tertiary colors -- red-orange, yellow-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and yellow-green.
How to use the color wheel:
Knowing the colors that harmonize and work with each other will help you create a tasteful theme and avoid making a rainbow riot. Here are some basic color schemes to get you started:
Complementary colors are found opposite each other, such as red and green or yellow and purple. They always go well together, hence the term complementary, and are easy on the eyes.
Split complementary colors can be made up of two or three colors. Select a color, and mix with the colors that are on either side of its complementary color.
Triadic colors create a harmonious theme, and are any three colors which form a triangle on the wheel.
Tetradic colors are two sets of complementary colors. If you were to place a square or rectangle within the color circle, the four colors that are touched by the corners are the tetrad colors.
The meaning of colors:
Green. Bountiful in nature, the color green is life, growth, and health -- a reassuring sign of renewal and regeneration. Situated in the center of the spectrum, green brings balance and order. The eye makes no adjustment to accommodate green striking the retina, making it a restful and soothing color.
Pink. Gentle and soft, delicate and feminine, pink quietly nurtures and soothes. It is the tender side of red, and invokes feelings of romance and enchantment. Bright pinks are energetic and youthful, while vibrant pinks are full of passion, though they are not as aggressive as reds.
Orange. Warm and sensuous, orange represents ripeness and happiness. It is a fun and exhilarating color that promotes feelings of excitement and hope. Orange is a combination of red and yellow, and shares common traits with both. It is forceful and demands attention, but is less intense than red, being mellowed by the presence of yellow.
Brown. Natural and organic, down-to-earth, and neutral. Though sometimes saddled with a reputation for being boring, brown is representative of wholesomeness and goodness, and promotes feelings of stability and order. It is simplicity in a chaotic world. Lighter shades are particularly soothing, while darker hues are confident and dependable.
Red. The color of passion, romance, love, and lust. Red is hot, fiery, and tempestuous -- a powerful and intense color that evokes a sense of urgency and excitement, and stimulates the heart to beat faster. Red demands attention and will bring out the extrovert in you. It’s not for the shrinking violets.
Blue. Cool and calming, blue symbolizes serenity, purity, and loyalty. In many cultures blue has an important role in religious belief as a bringer of peace. Darker shades project an image of power and authority -- police uniforms are blue, and a blue power suit is a favorite of the corporate world. Lighter shades are refreshing and uplifting -- they encourage creativity and stimulate the imagination.
Purple. Full of magic and mystery, purple is the color of royalty, and rep resents opulence, wealth, luxury, and magnificence. Balancing hot red and cool blue, it has the properties of both. Purple can be uplifting, and is a soothing balm to mind and nerves. It also offers a sense of spirituality, and it symbolizes intuition and imagination.
Yellow. Representing the warmth and radiance of the summer sun, yellow is energetic, vibrant, cheerful, and optimistic. It’s the good mood hue, and shines with hope, happiness, and joy. Yellow enhances the intellect, activates the memory, and aids communication and concentration.
Top tips, hints, and tricks to upgrade your living spaces:
There are plenty of other ways to bring a burst of color into your life without the use of a paintbrush.
Living room
Use these additions to make your dream living room warm, cozy, and inviting.
Decorative throw pillows and cushions -- add some fresh color and a touch of style and vitality.
A colorful painting or digital photographs -- take a few snaps in the park or around town, and frame the best images to create your own art.
Colored pillar candles, plates, and vases -- place on a sideboard or table, and think of grouping them in threes. Objects look more interesting in groups than on their own.
Flowers -- let nature enhance your living space.
Bedroom
Your decision of whether you want your bedroom to be a passion palace or a blissful oasis will determine your color choice.
Layer your room with linen -- use embroidered sheets, satin quilts, pleated cotton bed skirts, and cozy and colorful drapes.
Change the lighting -- buy colored lampshades and painted light bulbs.
Rugs -- add to your room’s rich and lush appeal.
Artwork -- buy a huge canvas or print or hang your own creations.
Bathroom
Your bathroom is a serene sanctuary, and there are some simple ways of adding sparkle to your cool, calm oasis.
Accessorize -- consider a decorative mirror, colorful containers, pictures, matching towel sets, and decorative towel bars.
A colorful rug -- freshen up the floor.
Color-changing faucet -- provide quite literally a splash of color, as the water changes color as it runs through the faucet.
Colorful tricks
To make a room appear larger -- paint all surfaces with the same color from the warm end of the color wheel. Paint the ceiling a lighter shade to make it appear higher. Large furniture appears smaller if it is the same color as the walls.
To make a room feel cozier -- use colors from the warm end of the color wheel. A warm color on the ceiling will make it feel lower, and therefore comfier and more intimate.
© 2010 Ali International, LLC
Self-made entrepreneur and Inc. 500-ranked CEO Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. Get her FREE weekly articles and advice at www.AliBrown.com
Freestyle Design
Michelle Branton, Owner, Designpreneur
Colors have a powerful effect on mood, and work their magic spell by helping us get in touch with our emotions. Colors can soothe, inspire, energize, and rejuvenate, and they set the mood and atmosphere of a room. So what is your home doing for you? Is your living room a drab den or a sensational salon? What about the bedroom? Is it a run down retreat or a palace of passion? And what changes can you make to ensure that your living spaces are working for you? Understanding the rules of color and mastering the secrets of color mixing will help you create the right mood for your rooms. There are no rights and wrongs -- the most important things are to have fun and to be creative. And the simplest way to revitalize your home is with paint.
Color wheel. Do you want warm or cool, dramatic or neutral? The color wheel is an invaluable tool for choosing the hues, tints, and shades based on your personal preferences. An unlimited amount of color combinations are possible. The wheel is divided into 12 equal sections, each displaying a primary, secondary, or tertiary color. The “warm” and “hot” colors are on the right hand side of the wheel, and the “cool” and “cold” colors are on the left. Black, white, and grey are the neutral colors, and don’t appear on the color wheel.
Primary colors. These are the three key colors that cannot be formed by any combination of other colors -- red, blue, and yellow.
Secondary colors. When you mix equal amounts of two primary colors you get secondary colors -- purple, green, and orange.
Red + Blue = Purple
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue +Yellow = Green
Tertiary colors. Mixing primary colors with secondary colors in a 2:1 ratio will produce tertiary colors -- red-orange, yellow-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and yellow-green.
How to use the color wheel:
Knowing the colors that harmonize and work with each other will help you create a tasteful theme and avoid making a rainbow riot. Here are some basic color schemes to get you started:
Complementary colors are found opposite each other, such as red and green or yellow and purple. They always go well together, hence the term complementary, and are easy on the eyes.
Split complementary colors can be made up of two or three colors. Select a color, and mix with the colors that are on either side of its complementary color.
Triadic colors create a harmonious theme, and are any three colors which form a triangle on the wheel.
Tetradic colors are two sets of complementary colors. If you were to place a square or rectangle within the color circle, the four colors that are touched by the corners are the tetrad colors.
The meaning of colors:
Green. Bountiful in nature, the color green is life, growth, and health -- a reassuring sign of renewal and regeneration. Situated in the center of the spectrum, green brings balance and order. The eye makes no adjustment to accommodate green striking the retina, making it a restful and soothing color.
Pink. Gentle and soft, delicate and feminine, pink quietly nurtures and soothes. It is the tender side of red, and invokes feelings of romance and enchantment. Bright pinks are energetic and youthful, while vibrant pinks are full of passion, though they are not as aggressive as reds.
Orange. Warm and sensuous, orange represents ripeness and happiness. It is a fun and exhilarating color that promotes feelings of excitement and hope. Orange is a combination of red and yellow, and shares common traits with both. It is forceful and demands attention, but is less intense than red, being mellowed by the presence of yellow.
Brown. Natural and organic, down-to-earth, and neutral. Though sometimes saddled with a reputation for being boring, brown is representative of wholesomeness and goodness, and promotes feelings of stability and order. It is simplicity in a chaotic world. Lighter shades are particularly soothing, while darker hues are confident and dependable.
Red. The color of passion, romance, love, and lust. Red is hot, fiery, and tempestuous -- a powerful and intense color that evokes a sense of urgency and excitement, and stimulates the heart to beat faster. Red demands attention and will bring out the extrovert in you. It’s not for the shrinking violets.
Blue. Cool and calming, blue symbolizes serenity, purity, and loyalty. In many cultures blue has an important role in religious belief as a bringer of peace. Darker shades project an image of power and authority -- police uniforms are blue, and a blue power suit is a favorite of the corporate world. Lighter shades are refreshing and uplifting -- they encourage creativity and stimulate the imagination.
Purple. Full of magic and mystery, purple is the color of royalty, and rep resents opulence, wealth, luxury, and magnificence. Balancing hot red and cool blue, it has the properties of both. Purple can be uplifting, and is a soothing balm to mind and nerves. It also offers a sense of spirituality, and it symbolizes intuition and imagination.
Yellow. Representing the warmth and radiance of the summer sun, yellow is energetic, vibrant, cheerful, and optimistic. It’s the good mood hue, and shines with hope, happiness, and joy. Yellow enhances the intellect, activates the memory, and aids communication and concentration.
Top tips, hints, and tricks to upgrade your living spaces:
There are plenty of other ways to bring a burst of color into your life without the use of a paintbrush.
Living room
Use these additions to make your dream living room warm, cozy, and inviting.
Decorative throw pillows and cushions -- add some fresh color and a touch of style and vitality.
A colorful painting or digital photographs -- take a few snaps in the park or around town, and frame the best images to create your own art.
Colored pillar candles, plates, and vases -- place on a sideboard or table, and think of grouping them in threes. Objects look more interesting in groups than on their own.
Flowers -- let nature enhance your living space.
Bedroom
Your decision of whether you want your bedroom to be a passion palace or a blissful oasis will determine your color choice.
Layer your room with linen -- use embroidered sheets, satin quilts, pleated cotton bed skirts, and cozy and colorful drapes.
Change the lighting -- buy colored lampshades and painted light bulbs.
Rugs -- add to your room’s rich and lush appeal.
Artwork -- buy a huge canvas or print or hang your own creations.
Bathroom
Your bathroom is a serene sanctuary, and there are some simple ways of adding sparkle to your cool, calm oasis.
Accessorize -- consider a decorative mirror, colorful containers, pictures, matching towel sets, and decorative towel bars.
A colorful rug -- freshen up the floor.
Color-changing faucet -- provide quite literally a splash of color, as the water changes color as it runs through the faucet.
Colorful tricks
To make a room appear larger -- paint all surfaces with the same color from the warm end of the color wheel. Paint the ceiling a lighter shade to make it appear higher. Large furniture appears smaller if it is the same color as the walls.
To make a room feel cozier -- use colors from the warm end of the color wheel. A warm color on the ceiling will make it feel lower, and therefore comfier and more intimate.
© 2010 Ali International, LLC
Self-made entrepreneur and Inc. 500-ranked CEO Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. Get her FREE weekly articles and advice at www.AliBrown.com
Freestyle Design
Michelle Branton, Owner, Designpreneur
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
All white walls????
Do you know an all white paint hold out, someone who will not budge when it comes to putting colorful paint on their walls? We are going to talk about color, and why you might want to use it in your home. We will examine the benefits of leaving white behind.
When you have only one color in a home that bucket of paint, one color, easy to find and easy to use is very… practical.
Start with one room, maybe just an accent wall. Apply color see what you think. This can be in a living room, bedroom, family room or dining room with a color to highlight the decor. After every one gets adjusted, try using other colors throughout the house and you may find the rest of the family start to get the color bug. You will find that you like the way color make the furniture and wall art look, and the way it warms up your house. Once you have introduced color into your home you will understand what the fuss is all about.
Typically color will give a much richer feeling to a room; it brings life into the environment. It can make your home feel like a more expensive home, because of color. Lack of color can give a very cold and sterile feeling while color can add life, warmth and energy.
Don't get me wrong there are definitely places for white walls. This is a wonderful look in many places. A hot new trend is black and white with a bright accent color. This goes out to those of you who are setting in stark white rooms to encourage you to take a chance, step out of your comfort zone and see what warmth color will bring to you and your home.
If you continue to struggle with color and are looking to break out, find an interior designer/decorator in your area or online. Many will be able to help with a color consultation. Michelle Branton, Designpreneur, Freestyle Design
www.freestyledesignonline.com
@michellebranton
When you have only one color in a home that bucket of paint, one color, easy to find and easy to use is very… practical.
Start with one room, maybe just an accent wall. Apply color see what you think. This can be in a living room, bedroom, family room or dining room with a color to highlight the decor. After every one gets adjusted, try using other colors throughout the house and you may find the rest of the family start to get the color bug. You will find that you like the way color make the furniture and wall art look, and the way it warms up your house. Once you have introduced color into your home you will understand what the fuss is all about.
Typically color will give a much richer feeling to a room; it brings life into the environment. It can make your home feel like a more expensive home, because of color. Lack of color can give a very cold and sterile feeling while color can add life, warmth and energy.
Don't get me wrong there are definitely places for white walls. This is a wonderful look in many places. A hot new trend is black and white with a bright accent color. This goes out to those of you who are setting in stark white rooms to encourage you to take a chance, step out of your comfort zone and see what warmth color will bring to you and your home.
If you continue to struggle with color and are looking to break out, find an interior designer/decorator in your area or online. Many will be able to help with a color consultation. Michelle Branton, Designpreneur, Freestyle Design
www.freestyledesignonline.com
@michellebranton
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