It’s fireplace season! Time to enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate or glass of mulled wine while curled up next to a cracking, roaring fire. Sounds delightful! Not only do fireplaces add warmth and comfort, they also create a dramatic focal point in any room, provide the perfect backdrop for entertaining and add value to your home. But with so many options to choose from, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. Read on to learn about the types of fireplaces and the pros and cons of each so you can find the one that’s right for you. Wood Burning Fireplace Essentially, a standard wood-burning fireplace comprises these elements: Hearth (floor in front of the fireplace), Firebox (where the wood burns), Damper (the lever that opens and closes the flue) and the Smoke chamber and flue (where the smoke is drawn up and out). There are three types of wood burning fireplaces: How it Functions Before lighting a fire, the damper is opened to allow smoke and combustion gases to escape. Once the fire is lit, the extremely hot combustion gases begin to rise up the chimney by convection. At the same time, the fire is drawing air from […]
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“The history of architecture is the history of the struggle for light.” Le Corbusier – Architect Think about the difference between getting your photo taken in at your local DMV under harsh fluorescent lighting, versus your picture at a sexy, low-lit restaurant. Good lighting is truly everything, but it is oftentimes an afterthought when designing a room. Whether it’s a bright task lamp on your desk to help you stay productive or a sconce by your bedside for cozy late-night reading, lighting is one of the most powerful tools for creating a specific mood. Bringing lighting decisions to the forefront of the design can make all the difference, and we’ll show you how. Layer the Light Lighting, like any great interior design element, should be layered to create contrast. A mix of accent, ambient, natural, and task lighting in the home provides a nice balance of light and dark that grants each room richness and depth: Accent lighting – supplementary light that illuminates dark corners or small spaces. A can light placed above a shower enclosure is one example. Ambient lighting – the general overall light that illuminates the entire space, such as a chandelier in the center of a […]
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John. Loo. Can. Commode. Potty. Prive. Pissoir. Oval Office. Porcelain Throne. WC. Reading Room. Crapper. Head. Shi*ter… The Toilet! Toilets are the most functional fixtures in a bathroom, but there are many different design options available. Heights and water flow vary, as well as basic shapes and outlines to suit different style preferences and space limitations. So, let’s learn more about this famous seat and how to best incorporate the right one into your “cloakroom.” (1) Stylish Stools (2) Toilets, believe it or not, can enhance the style of your bathroom. A toilet can add to the vintage charm you’re seeking, keep it sleek and modern, or stay in line with a good ole traditional bathroom aesthetic. Check out the different types of toilets. Two-Piece Toilets (Close-Coupled) Two-piece toilets are the standard. A two-piece consists of the toilet bowl and tank. The two pieces are secured with bolts and a gasket that seals the passage of water from the tank to the bowl. Most affordable Incredibly durable – longer life span More design options to choose from One-Piece Toilets One-piece toilets are a bit more expensive than the standard two-piece toilets but the benefits and characteristics outweigh the bigger price […]
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If you ask someone, “what is art?” they will usually refer to a painting or a photograph. In reality, art comes in many forms – performance art like dance, music and song, nature, poetry and architecture. Now, just for a moment, imagine a world without any art. Our world would be a very dim and boring place, devoid of imagination. Without art, the banality of reality would be intolerable. To paraphrase Nietzsche, “We have art in order not to parish from the truth.” Why Art? While it feels like a simple question, with an even simpler answer, the truth is that it goes way beyond bringing a little color into a living room. (1) Art breathes life into a space. It allows us to express ourselves, encouraging dialogue and welcoming emotion. It reminds us of what is possible—all to help turn an ordinary house into a home. Art connects us to the past and future. It feeds our curiosity and inspires our imagination. I love this quote from fellow-designer, Tara Bernard, “For me, art is like punctuation to a sentence; it is that all-important ingredient and without it, a space lacks the layers and attitude that a significant piece can […]
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Not sure whether your style is Mountain Modern, Rustic, Contemporary or Modern Farmhouse? Maybe it’s somewhere in between or a combination of a few different styles. Talie Jane Interiors takes a look at nine prominent design styles. Which one speaks to you? Take the quiz at the end to see which is your best match. Mountain Modern What is Mountain Modern Design? Mountain modern Interior design style is the newest trend in interior design. This distinctive style is characterized by clean lines, natural materials, neutral colors, and lots of light. It was inspired by rural living in the Rocky Mountains and prairie-style homes. Clean lines and an uncluttered interior are the hallmarks of contemporary mountain design. The design is focused about panoramic view and a fully relaxed feeling, with open layouts and lofty ceilings. (1) History The origins of mountain architecture in America came from the earliest non-native peoples who chose to venture into the untamed mountainous areas of the country. The structures they built were a direct response to the environment they were in. They had to be made from native materials because transportation means were primitive and they had to be robust to withstand harsh weather and deep […]
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One of our favorite design projects is a kitchen remodel because of the essential role collaboration plays. Beauty and function/efficiency are of utmost importance, and there are some standard rules to consider (like the work triangle) but, how our clients like to work in their kitchens must be accounted for in the design. After all, the kitchen is the central hub of home life and should be planned to mirror lifestyle and taste. We consider how our clients entertain, who they entertain, if they are avid chefs, bakers or holiday hosts, if they cater to four-legged friends, if they like islands or peninsulas, ranges or cooktops, accessories and storage solutions and of course, who they cook with. There is myriad of questions we review with our clients to ensure that the transformation is not only show-stopping but also a reflection of the things our clients love to do, the way they live and the people who are most important in their lives. One of the first questions, and probably the most important one, is “what brand of appliances do you prefer?” Many of our clients have strong opinions about appliances and appliance brands while others provide pricing parameters and a […]
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