Welcome to our blog!
Live Room MakeOver Party
Redesign
Home Staging
Home Decor
Monday, October 10, 2011
It's All in a Name~
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Feel the fear -- and do it anyway!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Spring into Summer
I love to see the first flowers of spring break through the still-damp soil. When the daffodils and tulips “pop” into the world, seemingly overnight, bringing with them a burst of color, I know that spring has sprung and summer won’t be far behind.
Ahhh… The pleasures of spring: cool breezes, fresh air, new life, green grass, flowers, birds, butterflies… Sweet, Sweet Spring! If it only lasted longer!
Here are some simple decorating tips that help bring the essence of spring indoors – and keep it there, even when the weather outdoors has moved into the hot months of summer.
· It starts with “Spring Cleaning”
Not only is “Spring Cleaning” a great way to bring a crisp sparkle to the home, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to create a clean canvas for a fresh, new look. The key word is “simplify” and the method is “de-clutter!”
o Safely pack beloved belongings that are out of season – for use another time
o Recycle old and unused items
o Think, “Less is Best!”
· Peel off the layers.
During the winter months, people dress in layers, to keep themselves warm. We do the same with decorating. The “extra layers” that added warmth to the home last fall need to now be put away.
o Roll up the rugs – to feel the coolness of the tile, linoleum and hardwood floors
o Store the heavy textured throws
o Remove the extra pillows on the sofa or replace them with a few white ones
o Consider taking down heavy draperies – leaving just the valances and blinds
· Use “Cool” Accessories
Cool down the home visually by decorating with items that are suggestive of water and ice.
o Place family photos in white frames
o Replace colored pillar candles with white ones
o Use clear glass vases – with translucent pebbles or marbles
o A water-blue color palette has a cooling effect --- especially when accompanied with white accents
o Invest in white bathroom accents – towels, shower curtain, accessories. Think of a luxurious spa and duplicate that mode.
· Summer Themes
Some people like to change decorating themes with the seasons. Beginners might want to start with a small room that is already furnished -- the bathroom.
Some popular summer themes include:
o The Beach Scene – using aqua blues, sand tones, sea shells and beach-type accessories
o Nature-Inspired Theme – including Birds, birdcages, bird baths and nests as accent pieces
o A Tropical Theme – palm trees, vibrant greens and blues
o Or – feature a favorite vacation spot
• Bring the outdoors in.
Plants, live or otherwise, are great for decorating. Unlike any other item, greenery adds
warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer. Decorate with plants in abundance, year round.
o Replace the logs in the fireplace with plants – ferns look especially nice
o Place silk plants in the empty umbrella stand
o Add trees! With our Cozy Chic Design projects, we place trees in corners, in front of screens, beside arm chairs and behind sofas. When there is a need to add height in order to maintain good balance, we often use a tree.
o Fill vases with bouquets of fresh flowers
o A large bowl filled with apples or citrus fruits – makes a mouth-watering display for the kitchen counter or island
• Bring the indoors out
Many homes have an outdoor living space—a place to visit with friends, watch the kids in the pool,
have a BBQ or enjoy summer entertaining. This is where bright fiesta colors – orange, red, and
yellow -- show off well. This year’s popular patterns include Bright Polka Dots, Multi-colored
Stripes and Green/Brown Leaf Designs.
o Add bright colorful pillows on the patio chairs
o Use serving pieces and dishes that are splashed with color
The most important part is to enjoy-- yourself, family, friends, these good times!
Pour yourself a tall glass of ice water; add a slice or two of cucumber, some mint, perhaps!
Drink in the freshness and stay cool, while you spring into summer!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Through the Looking Glass - Decorating with Mirrors
The way a person decorates is a reflection of his/her personality.That being said, I guess I am one "wild and crazy gal!"
My husband surprised me one Valentine's Day by converting the space below our stairway into a wine "cellar" and replacing the mirrored door that had been there with a grape-sculptured metal gate. I then surprised him by hanging the abandoned door sideways in our 1/2 bath.
Above is a photo of our bathroom wall.
The decorating in this tiny room breaks all kinds of rules, except one:
Rule 1 -- Use light colors in small room.
The walls are the deepest most intense hues on the paint charts.
Rule 2 -- In confined areas, it is best to limit the number of wall colors to two. The walls you can see in this photo are green, blue and red, respectively. The one you can't see is orange.
Rule 3 -- Do not place mirrors where they reflect each other.
On the wall opposite the door are three small black mirrored doors hung frame to frame, side by side. In them you can see doors reflecting doors, reflecting doors, reflecting doors...
Rule 4 -- Rules are made to be broken Finally! This is the one I didn't break!
I love incorporating mirrors into decorating because they have both a functional and a decorative value. Somehow their functional value helps me justify my purchase wherever I come across another beautiful mirror.
Using mirrors for their functional value:
The practical value of mirrors is based on the fact that they reflect everything that is put in front of them. It is important to always determine what view will be cast in the mirror before hanging it. Make sure that what will be reflected is something worthy of being duplicated--as opposed to the kitchen sink, or a doorway out of a bathroom.
Mirrors increase the lighting the the room making dark areas lighter and smaller areas appear larger. The increase of natural lighting created by the use of mirrors can be an asset to the growth of indoor plants, while mirrors placed opposite a window can bring the outdoors in -- often giving the illusion of a second window.
Using mirrors for their decorative value: The decorative aspect of mirrors is derived both from their frames and from the way they are placed in the home. Sometimes the difficulty of finding the perfect print to complete a room's decor is easily solved by using a mirror. As long as the frame compliments the integrity of the room, the mirror itself -- which is simply a reflection -- will naturally match the decor perfectly.
Here are a couple of ideas on creative placement:
- Tall, simply framed mirrors grouped together side by side will elongate a room and will cast a comfortable repetition of fragmented segments in their reflection.
- Unique and interesting reflections are created when mirrors wrap around an interior corner.
- Mirrors make crisp, interesting placemats and trays.
- A contemporary look is created by hanging multiple like-framed mirrors close together in a grid. Normally grids are shaped into a square or a rectangle by using 4-6 columns and rows.
- Attach mirrors to the inside back of shelving units for an interesting effect. It is important that the items on the shelves are kept to a minimum and remain uncluttered. Crystal vases or plants work well on mirror-backed shelves.
- Mirrors can be "leaned" rather than hung when placed on a sturdy surface such as a mantel. This technique is especially good if the room is well used and not always "picture perfect." A mirror that is leaned against the wall tends to reflect above the "activity" of the room. In this case, the decorative value comes from the frame.
- Place mirrors on the lower third of the wall in a child's roo
One serious "don't..."
Do not hang mirrors in alignment with the edges sof a corner that bends back -- leading into another area of the room, or another room. This gives the illusion of empty space, and people unfamiliar with your home will, especially at night, whack themselves in the head by running into the corner. I once ran into this type of corner mirror arrangment in a hotel room... twice in one night!
Which, actually, explains a lot. :)
Friday, December 24, 2010
Fireplace Decorating that is Hot! HoT! HOT!!


<-----Fireplace before Redesign
Fireplace after Redesign ------->
As I sit here writing this it is pouring outside. The sky is brooding, cold and dark. Nestled in front of a blazing fire, in a snuggly chiar with a hot cup of cocoa, I am warm and toasty. My feet are propped up on a raised flagstone hearth of a fireplace that my Dad, Ted Chancellor, built years ago at his "Beach House."
Fireplaces set the scene for good times. This one is special to me. It hold an abundance of memories-- of family gatherings, of quiet times with good books and fireside chats with old friends. There was even one winter weekend when my Mom and her grown daughters spent time together in front of a warm fire reading "The Auctioneer" aloud-- as we each knitted sweaters.
The fireplace is, or surely should be the focal point of the room that houses it!
One of Cozy Chic's most popular decorating services is the "Redesign Appointment -- where we reposition the furniture and accessories famlies already own to transform their space with style." As we do this, we find that the fireplace area of the home usually needs some help to become the attention-worthy focal point it was meant to be. How easy it is for a couple of framed family photos placed on the mantel, to become a collection too crowded to be enjoyed. This happens because those cute kids keep getting older, events keep happening, photos keep getting taken -- and what better place to display them than the unused flat surface of the mantel! Before long, it is "hard to see the forest for this trees!" This is where we apply one of our tried and true decorating principles-- "Less is Best!"
In Redesign, we use solid decorating principles to achieve a coordinated look that flows together well. When considering the area of the fireplace we look at all of the parts--the hearth, the mantel, the firebox and the wall above--as a single unit. Then we view it as a part of the whole room to create a harmonious, beautiful "big Picture."
Decorating Principles
1. BalancE
In decorating, "Balance" refers to equal distribution of "visual weight." An object may be "featherweight" but if it is large, tall, bulky or just looks like it would be heavy, it carries "visual weight." The "visual weight" of accesssories needs to be taken into account as they are placed in the home. To achieve a comfortable look, "heavy" objects can be offset by balancing them with other "heavy" objects or with multiple smaller ones. You don't want, for instance, all of the heavy looking items to be placed on just one side of the mantel or the hearth or the wall.

In this "after the redesign" photo, the "visual weight" of the vase and flowers on the right of the mantel is balanced by the candlesticks to the left of the fireplace.
2. UNITY
While variety is the spice of life, in order to achieve a comfortable "go-together look" or "flow," objects that are displayed together need to have a common denominator. The unifying factor could be a decorating theme, a repetitive color, or a common material. Stand back and look at the fireplace, the mantel and the hearth all as one piece--then think about how you can not only bring unity to the fireplace setting, but also unite that setting with the rest of the room. Color is one of the easiest unifying factors. Our "after" shot carries a punch of orange in the orbs on the mantel, the candles on the hearth and the flowers in the pictures.3. Scale
Scale refers to proportion. A large fireplace with a massive hearth and mantel would best be coordinated by using a large piece of art on the wall and placing some items with girth on the hearth and mantel. Likewise, the items above a small mantel should be smaller and in proportion to it. A rule of thumb is that the decorating items placed on the wall above the mantel should cover the space approximately 2/3 of its length.
4. Peaks and ValleysAnother way to add interest to the fireplace is to choose decorating accessories with varying heights. In decorating rooms we look for height in windows, screens, trees and the larger items of furniture. The opposing low points come from the seating and the smaller accessories. We are careful not to place all the high items on one side of the room because, not only does it interfere with good balance, but the peaks and valleys created by a variety of heights is more interesting. This is also true that a variety of heights enhances the collection of items, and is more entertaining to the yes.
5. Less__ ____! (is best!)
Mantels often become the resting point for collections, knick knacks, momentos and other objects. Because the flat surfaces in most living/family rooms are relatively limited, mantels tend to gather more than their fair share of "stuff." It bears repeating that "less is best." Art objects can be best appreciated if there are not too many of them clamoring for attention. It is better to rotate the art (and photos) into and out of the display, giving each its turn for attention. If you have an interesting, unusual or ornate fireplace and mantel, you may want to simply use the architectural design and detail as the "art"-- letting it stand alone without additional adornment.
6. ()dd nu^^ber$ (1-3-5)
There is an old stand-by rule of decorating...that odd numbers have the most appeal. Remembering that "One" is an odd number--sometimes the best "arrangement" for over the mantel is one striking piece of art.
A fireplace stacked with wood and a basket stuffed with pinecones on the hearth make a heart-warming winter display--but what about springtime and summer? How about bringing the freshness of the season inside by placing a basket of ferns in the empty fireplace.
As I enjoy the beauty and color in the dancing flames, the crackle of the burning logs, the smell of the oak and the warmth of the cocoa-- I am reminded that it's all about atmosphere! Cold winter nights give us a good excuse to slow down, snuggle up and enjoy!
(This is a condensed version of an article which will be featured in the January 15 2011 issue of the Vacaville Magazine. There you will find additional decorating guidelines specifically for fireplace areas)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Your Holiday Table...Make It Cozy, Make It Chic!!
In today’s society, eating together as a family as a daily practice gets interrupted with our abundance of activities and overflowing schedules, so the festive meals during the holidays take on extra special meaning. If you are blessed with the opportunity to host family and friends around your dining table this year, slow down and savor every minute of your time together. You can even use your time dressing up the table and preparing the meals as memory-making opportunities! To help you we’ve listed our 6 easy steps to a beautiful table setting below:1. It all starts with choosing the right the table.
More dining room tables are purchased during the fall than any other time of year. If you will be purchasing a new dining room table this year and are trying to decide which table best fits your needs, there are three things to consider.
• Shape
Making the decision about which shape table to buy is probably one your easier decisions. The shape of the table should be based on the shape of your room and the number of people in your seating requirements. Generally, rectangular tables are more efficient, as you can seat more people around a rectangular table per square foot than you can any other shape of table. However, certain layouts and rooms will require round or square tables for ease of passage or access.
• Versatility
Next, you’ll want to think about the versatility your table provides. Does the table have leaves? If so, do they need to be stored separately? Can one person easily extend the table?
• Material
Once you have found a table to match your versatility needs, then you’ll want to decide on the material out of which the table is built. Wood? Glass? Stone? Metal? Consider your eating area as you make this decision. If you have a home with wood floors, wood furniture, and exposed wood beams, you may want to break up the consistent use of wood with a glass table. Likewise, in a setting with chrome, leather and concrete, you may want to use a wood table to add warmth to the room.
2. Choose a "theme” for your table.
The word “theme” does not imply that your table decorations should be juvenile or over the top. Rather, the theme should invoke a mood or feeling for your diners. You may choose a festive Christmas table of lime green and red plaids, with black and white accents to invoke a casual dining experience of light-heartedness and whimsy. Or, you may go for a more monochromatic color palate, using different shades of creams and whites to create an elegant and sophisticated dining experience. Each of these themed settings creates a distinctly different feel. So put some time into thinking about what mood you’re shooting for. To help you decide, you can look for inspiration almost anywhere. Some of the most common theme choices are based on colors, patterns, shapes, specific achievements, holidays or events.
3. Pick coordinating linens.
Decorating a holiday dining table is ironically similar to getting dressed in the morning. The table linens you choose are like your clothing, through which you will express your sense of style. The linens’ color, pattern and texture will all build on one another to create your overall “look.” Now if you are like me and like to bargain hunt, practicality in your linen purchases is going to be of the utmost importance. Just as you have your wardrobe basics, you’ll want to strategically purchase several basic linen items that will create the base for your holiday table arrangements. Choosing linens in neutral beiges or creams provide you a great a great foundation on which you can build upon for multiple holiday arrangements, yet not spend a fortune. From there, all it takes is a few accent colors and unique pieces to spice up your table. You’ll save a bundle, but still be able to achieve a variety of looks.
4. Make the centerpiece the focal point of your table.
The centerpiece should be exactly that! It is the center of everyone’s attention at your holiday table. Thus, it is important that you find the perfect fit for the look you are trying to achieve. Centerpieces can be something as simple as a bowl of orbs, or as complex as an intricate floral arrangement. It’s simply a question of personal preference and desire. As you choose, you’ll also want to keep in mind the size and durability of the centerpiece.
• Size
When dressing a table that is just for aesthetics, the size of the centerpiece can be much larger and more dramatic, than one over which tabletop conversation will take place. In the latter, you will want to keep the size of the centerpiece well below eye-level so that conversation is not interrupted by the décor. Typically, you need the centerpiece to be tallest in the center and picturesque from all angles. Bowls, trays, candles and greenery are some of the most common choices for centerpieces, but there are endless options when you use a little creativity.
• Durability
Regardless of the size and shape of the centerpiece, you want to make sure it can be easily picked up and moved when it comes time to grab your napkin and dig in! One very practical option is to use a decorative serving dish as your centerpiece. It is functional, durable and decorative at the same time, which saves you cash and saves on precious tabletop space!
5. Make your settings beautiful.
When it comes to making a beautiful holiday table one of the most important rules is to know the proper way to set the table. Do you remember where the bread plate and the dessert fork go in formal setting? If not, brush up by studying Emily Post’s recommendations on setting the table. Once you know how you’ll set the table, you’ll want to layer each setting with placemats, chargers, plates, bowls, and stemware to provide a visual array of height and colors. Again, choosing a fairly neutral color of dishware allows you the option to accent with deeper colors and textures for varying holidays. Sometimes, simply switching a charger and napkin ring can bring a whole new feel to a table arrangement and only costs you a fraction of the price of a new set of dishware!
6. Embellish!
Finally, every good outfit needs a bit of bling! In our dressing analogy, the table embellishments act as the jewelry that give your table a little sparkle and shine and provide the impressive “wow factor!” For an elegant, formal affair, this may include adding velvet slipcovers to your chairs, place cards at each setting, and clever little party favors to drive home the theme. An additional embellishment that will get your guests talking is folding your linens into clever shapes or objects to coordinate with the rest of the table. No matter what theme you choose for your table, there are easy ways to embellish to make your table arrangement the talk of the party!
Now you’re ready to make your holiday table something you’ll remember for years to come. By following these few simple rules and preparing your table in advance of the holiday, it not only takes some of the last minute rush out of the preparations on the big holiday, but it makes the dining area festive and creates an expectation of a wonderful time coming. In our busy world, we can all appreciate a relaxing meal with friends and family. Strive to make more of your meals “holiday beautiful” this year. You’ll find that beautifully decorated tables can make every meal a feast of good taste!