Californians have accepted and grown to love the ranch style. But it can be more than that. There are ways to make your rancher special. First of all, be realistic. Your home is never going to be an Italian villa or an English tudor. You have to be true to the bones of the house. That doesn’t mean you have to be boring.  Beef up the base and crown mouldings to 6 or 8 inches from the 3 inch standard builder issue. Add trim around doorways, windows, even cased openings between rooms.

Use colors and tones that evoke a rich and warm palette. Give the rooms an identity by texturing the walls with striated patterns or glazing. Replace carpet with hardwood, rough stone or slate, even breaking up the standard living/dining room area with a curved hard surface walkway.

When it comes to furnishings, use a few large pieces that make the rooms look bigger and more important. Off white sofas with industrial chic is a hip look right now. Throw in an antique chair covered in rich velvet and you’ll end up with a room that looks sophisticated, modern and very architectural!

Embrace the mid-century aura of your home and be proud of what it represents! 

We need to furnish our first home, but have a limited budget. Any advice?

Everyone has a budget and these days it’s more important than ever to stick to it. The rule to remember here is: you get what you pay for! Don’t be lured into buying “packaged” rooms, where lower end furniture stores put together a sofa/chairs/end tables/ lamps grouping for one flat price. A well designed room is made up of diverse elements and takes time to create properly. Invest in a few good, well made pieces and they will last for years. Add as your budget allows. I’ve always believed it’s better to have one classic, timeless sofa alone in a room, than a space filled with furniture that won’t last, just to fill the emptiness.

If you are starting out, you will need the basics, of course, but choose well. Trends are fun to follow, but be careful you don’t make a big ticket purchase that will look dated quickly. Talk to a designer and educate yourself about furniture construction, fabrics and styles. Explore every options: flee markets, consigment stores, showroom closeouts, even garage sales. You may find that hidden treasure that everyone else has passed by.

If you plan to move in a few years, think about what will travel with you and be usable in new rooms or configurations. Above all, enjoy the process, love what you buy and have fun with it!

 Welcome to Design State of Mind!

For a first post, I thought it made sense to let you know a bit about me.. so here is my first list of favorite design elements!  Enjoy

 Favorite individual piece –The 54” Braziliance Commode is a two drawer cabinet designed by Dorothy Draper, one of the most iconic interior designers of the 20^th century. Originally created in 1939 for the Quitandinha Resort inSao Paulo,Brazil, the styling captures the South American craze that swept theUSA in the 30s and 40s.  With classic oversized acanthus leaves, carved serpentine moldings and a shell carving in the center, it exudes class and sophistication.  Approximately $7000 through your design professional.

 Favorite color – No doubt about it, there is nothing that can beat basic black.  This one color goes with every design style and brings out the best in any fabric or finish.  Use it in high gloss for the dining room with a funky crystal chandelier, in a soft gray tinted black for that sexy, sophisticated bedroom or upholster a slick mid century chair in plush black velvet.  This is the hottest in color for an all around perfect accent in your home.

 Favorite fabric – After more than a  few years of earth tones, I’m seeing the re-emergence of stripes, plaids and paisleys in vivid colors.  And not a moment too soon.  Mixing a bright , fun palette in unusual combinations, these patterns are bringing life and excitement back to interior design.  Whether it’s a sign of our improved emotional state after the last couple of tough years, or just imagination gone wild, it’s great to see their return.  Use these colorful, fresh fabrics everywhere, from dining room chairs, to throw pillows or even wallpaper your powder room for that wow factor.

  Favorite new look – Although the avocado green appliances of my childhood still haunt me to this day, I’m crazy about the new color options being shown on washers and dryers.  Bright reds, navy blues and soft grays allow us to bring the utilitarian laundry room into the new century.  Just like flat screens have taken the television out of armoires and cabinets and put them on display, now you can be proud to show even this room to your friends and not have to hide it behind bi-fold doors.  Now when friends tour your home, you won’t have to stand in front of the door and say “oh that’s just the laundry room”.

 Favorite comeback look – Michael Taylor single handedly turned the design community on its ear in the late 1970s and 80s with his organic, beachy southernCalifornialook.  Michael died of AIDS in 1987 but his signature style is back with a bang, starting with his famous basketball shaped sofa pillows. No other style from that era is more au courant than theTayloraesthetic: interiors of textural fabrics, sexy curves and casual comfort.  Other designers, such as Donghia that were big in the late 70s and 80s are also experiencing a resurgence of interest.

 Favorite design era – The 1930’s have always fascinated me.  It was a time of incredible wealth as well as a time of belt tightening.  Simple living was balanced with opulent design.  People gravitated to the movies to escape, and the movie sets were over the top.  You cannot watch a Busby Berkeley musical without being amazed at the creativity and fantasy.  The extensive look of metallics, glass and mirrors into the home brought a new brilliance into design.  Throw into the mix the most creative time of Frank Lloyd Wright, Corbusier and The Bauhaus.  What more could you ask for?

 Favorite place for inspiration –PARIS.  What more can you say?  Not only does the city of lights spark romance, it’s also the catalyst for design inspiration.  The history, the architecture, the furniture shops and the famous flea markets all add up to the best place in the world to feel creative.  Only the French can make design look so effortless.  Whether you purchase a trinket or bring home a container of French antiques, anyone can feel special with a bit ofParisin their homes.  There are numerous, beautiful coffee table books on French style.  Check them out.

 Embrace the things that are your personal favorites.  Make your home fun, the place you love to come home to and most of all your inspiratio.  Take the time to explore and learn the new concepts, ideas and trends.  You’ll be glad you did.

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Happy blogging!