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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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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Let There Be Light! Lighting is arguably the most important element in interior design. It is an essential ingredient and not an afterthought as many consider it to be. If you’re tempted to spend more time picking out furnishings or puzzling over layouts, remember that lighting can completely transform a space – not just by brightening dark corners, but by affecting your emotions. (1) Lighting creates mood and sets tone. It can affect the perceived size of a room, add dimension, draw attention and create depth and balance. In order to achieve the true power of lighting, designers consider lighting placement, amongst a myriad of other things. Standard lighting layouts with symmetrical cans, chandeliers and pendants (peppered with table, floor and task lamps) are a great starting point. After all, you need more than one source of light in a room (think layered illumination). (1) But, when you get creative on where and how to place lighting, “wow-factors” can be born. Here are a few creative lighting placement ideas that take lighting to the next level. Forgotten Corners: Light ‘em up The goal is to create contrast between the light at the center of a room, the light around the […]
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When it comes to designing your walls, there are so many fantastic opportunities to be creative and to express your style and artistic interest. Each wall in your home is like a blank canvas and it’s up to you to fill it with your imagination. Your walls can help define a certain style, direct your furnishing selections, showcase your personal tastes, tie your room together, add texture and create remembrances of friends, family, and occasions. (1) You might be someone who subscribes to a more maximalist way of designing, and if so, you might have a lot of stuff going on in your room already. You might need a spot for your eyes to rest. Letting a wall stay blank could be a great way to add much needed negative space to a room that is bordering on to busy. But, for those with a more minimalist design aesthetic, it’s easy for our walls to appear too sterile or just like big soulless spaces, so it’s important to design them with texture and color. Check out these six fun ideas to bring your wall(s) to life. Geometric Wood Accent Walls A custom geometric accent wall is a great DIY opportunity to […]
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What’s the secret to a comfortable, cozy AND beautiful sofa? Pillows! Every designer loves pillows (what’s not to love?) but the art of mixing and matching sizes, colors and patterns can be a challenge. Here’s some advice on how to select the perfect pillows.
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Pet adoptions soared to unprecedented levels during the pandemic; people all over the country were bringing furry four-legged friends into their families. Shelters, nonprofit rescues, private breeders, pet stores — all reported more consumer demand than there were dogs and puppies to fill it. As a result, the need for pet-friendly interior design has never been higher. (1)
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It’s finally Spring and soon we will be stepping into summer!! I know we all hoped this summer might be different from last year…and that we could return back to “normal.” But, sadly we are still amidst a pandemic, although things seem to be improving. Even though we cannot go out and live our lives the way we used to this summer, we can still have fun at home. So, what better time to spruce up your house than now? Below are some tips to help you get your house ready for summer.
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Bedrooms are arguably one of the most important rooms in the house. In fact, the average person spends about 26-years sleeping. Surprisingly, the average person also spends seven years trying to get to sleep. That’s 33 years spent in bed! (1) Creating a comfortable respite that encourages sleep is paramount.
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It’s been almost a year since we started to “shelter in place” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This past year has brought many changes in the way people lead their lives including where and how they work, attend school, stay active and socialize. These changes have profoundly affected design, especially residential design, since people are spending more and more time at home.
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