Here we go onto round 3! Most of you asked right on the blog post, but today I am answering the Facebook discussion board questions. Lighting, couches, big spaces to cover, these are great questions that I see a lot of people identifying with.
Tania Johnson asked: I have a bedroom that is solid walls of wood and really like the wood look. I am not against staining it I just don’t want to cover it up. Shelves will be going up somewhere and so will a muphy bed but that is a ways down the line when I have the fundage. Do you have any inspirational ideas on how to deal with a room like this. It will be my work room. Thanks.
Well Tania, it’s probably clear by our Reclaimed Wood Wall and my Wood Wall Hanging video for Etsy, that I DIG the natural wood look. Since you are into it too, I say embrace it and leave it as is. Since this is a work space, you want the space to feel light, airy and inspiring. Dark and heavy wood needs to be balanced with a lot of white, light colors and really good lighting.
Do NOT rely on overhead lighting, turn to mid-century table lamps and orb pendant lanterns. I don’t know what the flooring is in that room, but you might want to lighten it up as well. You could brighten it with a big white shag carpet and some bright and comfy floor cushions. I would really embrace the aesthetic and go with alog cabin theme since this room really gives that cozy, wilderness vibe. You could add a faux deer head, some paint by numbers art, and plaid fabric on those floor cushions. Add art work in fun colors to keep it light and not too serious.
If you are not a fan of the theme idea, I would mix in some modern, clean lines to cut the heaviness of the dark wood and go for a mod, fun, look. Bring in color, light and things that inspire you to work and create. For more inspiration check out this log cabin chic post, this modern cabin in Norway, and these cozy cabins for Fall.
Next Valerie sent in this lighting issue…
You know I love a lighting question! Okay, Valerie, you’ve come to the right girl here. I love lighting and with all of the options out there we will find you a solution. Here we go! For a textured and feminine lamp you can make yourself try the structured blossom table lamp that gives a lush, luxurious feel. If you want a more masculine look you could make a Push-pinned pattern paper lamp that provides a relaxed atmosphere when the dim light shines through the design. Here is the paper cut episode you mentioned, and in this episode you saw the Tord Boontje statement piece lamp that gives nice, warm lighting and is an installation art piece in itself. Since there are so many corners and weird little spots on your place, put smaller lights in each nook to brighten and liven up that dead space. You can take my Upcycled Pendant idea and spin it to fit the style of your room, and with either of these pendant options you can adjust the cord to have it hang as high or low as you want. Even if some of your ceilings aren’t as high, you can hang them higher up and in a corner where you don’t walk and won’t hit your head on it. Also add a pole light, pendant lantern, and table lamp all to one room and you have depth, variety, and texture. It’s mixing and matching until you find the right balance that really completes a lighting scheme. For unending lighting inspiration, check out my round up of iconic lighting design through the years right here.
Bertii Martinez sent in this quandry.
Couches are a huge part of a room’s design, so you really should love what you are cozying up on in your home.
1- I’m sorry to say it, but my first suggestion is to buy new couches. You can find really reasonably priced ones at thrift stores, estate sales, on Craigslist, Ikea, and sometimes free ones on Freecycle.
2-If you can’t afford to buy a whole new couch, for a mere fraction of the price you can buy slipcovers that will transform the look of what you already have. There are a ton of places that sell couch covers promised to fit in every color. Here are the links taking you directly to their slipcover section at Over stock, Sure Fit, Target, and Amazon. They are all under $100 and give you a brand new look to your couches.
3- Until then, you can use upholstery tacks to reinforce your tucking, but I recommend up-dating your system with a slip cover or a new couch altogether.
Before poor Kathy Oliver loses it over in her loft, I have a few ideas to try. If you can hang things on the wall this is a HUGE plus. I know how much we all love to custom paint our walls, but I also love a clean, crisp, modern white space. It is like a fresh, blank canvas you then get to custom design to your liking! If they are big white walls due to the loft-style space, I would go for a big statement piece of art work. We have this one huge wall with windows on either side and needed a big bold piece for it, and we found this awesome vintage teaching scroll of outer space. It envelops the whole wall and anchors our living room nicely. These kinds of pieces are great because you can hunt for one you love and it’s an antique artifact and piece of art all in one. This Algae Educational Chart is from one of my fav shops Three Potato Four.
In addition to a big, bold, eye-catching piece of art, you could do a nice, big gallery wall with a whole collectional art. I love a good gallery wall and you need a big white space to create a killer look. Here is a cool round up of themed gallery walls by Apartment Therapy.
For more demension and depth take the advise I gave Valerie above for lighting. You can create an illuminated topography by thinking out your lighting scheme which will add a lot of demension and interest to a open white space. I would also play with the negative space and create movement with a flock of flying birds on a simple white back-drop.
Or add a modern mobile like these swallows. Even better, make your own over-sized mobile of a design you love.
Plants! You can do hanging plants out from different heights on the wall, from the ceiling, or a large tree or plant would be a great focal anchor against a big white wall. I use lemons daily and am dying for room to have my own lemon tree, so find one that will be useful or just lovely in your place. I hope these ideas help you love your loft space!
And lastly, Janiece sent this one in…
If you can have some of your favorite items and things you’ve kept over the years sent to you, do that. It’s important to keep some of those relics of life with you to remember where you’ve been and who you are. Bring some of those in the space to live with you. Other ways to make a space a home are plants, photos, art, favorite blankets and pillows. You can be anywhere, but if a handmade blanket that you simply adore is on the bed, it’s a little cozier. If a great, old photograph of you and your mom is on the bedside table next to a little stack of your favorite books, it’s home. Nest and niche away in this space and make it your own!
This is the last installment of this season of Get Nested, but hopefully I’ll be back soon to help you make your house a home. Until I return you can follow me on twitter, tumblr, my blog Nest, and Craft. Looking forward to seeing you back on curbly soon!
