This or That...A Look at Pottery Barn

I love Pottery Barn. Their designers have really appealed to my aesthetic and apparently to quite a few others as well.

I recently noticed subtle differences in the decorating around a leather sofa and it's interesting to note these slight differences can really impact the look. So my question to you is which do you prefer? The first one or the second one, or maybe the third one (lower on the page)? Or are you like me, would you combine elements of all of them and create a look that is more quintessentially you?

I love the double hurricane candle holders in the first picture, but not so much the vase of flowers. And in my house, all those pillows would end up on the floor as the husband and boys would find them too much. The coffee table really works for me and I like that you can keep books and magazines in the wire basket underneath. And yeah, I really really want those glass table lamps. (See close up photo below.) I love green Spanish glass and these really make me think of that.

Turner Rolled Arm Leather Sofa by Pottery Barn

Turner Rolled Arm Leather Sofa by Pottery Barn

The rug seems bolder in the second picture which is probably an illusion due to a closer frame up of the photo. What that does tell me is that in this setting I prefer a rug that is less bold. I like the picture in the second photo better than the first, so for my quintessential look I would swap that out. I would also swap out the sphere instead of the vase of flowers. Does the first picture feel more finished? It could be that the first picture feels more finished because it has a coffee table. However instead of one larger coffee table, maybe you like the look of two bunch tables instead. In this third picture of the same room, bunch tables replace the coffee table. And did you note that in this third example, they used my favorite of the two pictures? Yeah, you guessed it, this is my favorite look of the three...

Turner Rolled Arm Leather Sofa by Pottery Barn

Or do you want a piece of furniture in front of your sofa?

Which leads to a consideration of designing for aging or handicapped individuals. Do we want the coffee table? Coffee tables and ottomans can be impediments to seating for those with canes, walkers or wheelchairs. If a family member is in a wheel chair, a coffee table may make the room less accessible even if they don't intend to sit on the sofa. A family member with a cane or walker may have difficult maneuvering around a coffee table to sit down on the sofa. If you are aging in place, have an aging parent living with you or if you have a family member with special needs you may opt to forgo a coffee table or ottoman. Decorate your home for your circumstance; it can still be beautiful and comfortable.

This blog has a focus towards rightsizing, making your home and life easier and more functional and looking to our future needs. As we rightsize or downsize, we may find that the traditional way that we decorate and furnish our rooms needs to change. We have to look at how to incorporate our current and future circumstances to make our homes functional. For instance, if you choose the bunch tables versus the larger coffee table, you could always relocate one of the two tables and provide easy access to half of the sofa.

Keep in mind that carpet and area rugs can make walking/moving more difficult for wheelchairs, walkers or a person with a cane. Thick plush carpets, although nice to sink your bare feet into, can trip up an elderly parent or even yourself. Tripping and falling are common household injuries. Hard surfaces and low pile rugs are easier to move a walker or wheelchair on. If you have area rugs be sure to tape the edges down to reduce the chances of someone tripping on the edge. It may still happen, but the goal is to reduce the chances.

And those lamps that I feel in love with? Here's a close up look. I love the handblown glass with a rustic burlap shade.

Pottery Barn Clift Lamp with Burlap Drum Shade in Natural

The Battle of Optimizing Home Square Footage: Dining Room?

In the battle of optimizing a home's square footage, just where should the dining room stand? Along with a guest bedroom, a dining room can be some of the most unused real estate in a home. If you include the costs of furnishing the room with a table and chairs, perhaps a china cabinet or buffet and it's a pretty expensive package. In the 25 years of my marriage, every house we have owned has had a dining room. And in those 25 years, we have only used a dining room maybe a half dozen times. My perspective is clear. Our dining rooms have been a waste of space, another cleaning hassle and another space to buy furniture for that doesn't get used. I don't want a dining room in my next house.

That being said, I don't want our only dining space to reek "kitchen". I want it to me a cross between kitchen dining and dining room dining. I haven't seen a ton of homes to pull this off. The ones that do tend to have an open concept and have definitely upgraded the space to acknowledge that it will be used for company as well as family.

In the art of rightsizing, a lot of empty nesters are looking for the quintessential floor plan that gives them space, but not too much space. When you leave the 2 story home for a condo or patio home, you don't want to get claustrophobic. You don't want to feel like you no longer have room to move around in.

Taylor Morrison Carrara 62 floorplan

I found two floor plans on the web that featured 2 bedrooms (one being the master) and a den and have compared them primarily from the dining room element. The first plan has a breakfast area, a large island with bar seating and a dining room. When you look at how much space in this home is dedicated to eating, one would assume that the people who live here spend most of their time eating. I also have to say that my one of my pet peeves with builders is the foyer/dining room combo. It means that this space has to have a large investment in furniture and always has to be clean. You can't use it for other activities as it leaves you with the feeling that it has to stay clean. I strongly feel in the art of rightsizing, the first plan does not allow you to optimize the functionality of your home.

Toll Brothers Montana floor plan

The second floor plan also provides an island for bar/counter seating, but does not have both a breakfast area and a dining room. It's dining room is set off of the kitchen and is not included in the foyer. It also has a nice view to the outdoors. The dining room in both these floor plans can be formal and provide a dining room atmosphere. And the island can always be a space for breakfast or casual dining. I find the square footage of the second floor plan to be optimized better. For me this is rightsizing your living space. When you right size your space, you do not want repetitive spaces or spaces that aren't used regularly.

Everyone has different needs, different tastes and different activities. There are people who may disagree with me and say that they need two separate dining spaces. I just know that we don't and most of the couples, friends and families we know don't want the traditional dining room. For the past 20 years, I have read on and off how the traditional dining room is no longer wanted or needed and yet it is still very much a part of new construction. I am voting that it is not the most functional option. When we "right size", we will be looking for a floor plan that excludes the traditional dining room.

Below I have included some photos of dining spaces in homes where there isn't a separate traditional dining room. These spaces show how beautiful and functional one dining space can be. (OK - I am absolutely in love with the first picture!) I am showing different styles and different "sizes" of dining spaces. The important point in right sizing is that you optimize your home's square footage. The important point in creating a home, is that you make your space a reflection of what you love so that you are happy in your home.

This is a traditionally decorated space and shows how refined the dining space can be and still be part of a more open concept.

A lot of open concept homes show the dining space between the living space and the kitchen. This shows a transitional way to decorate the space.

This home does not have a dining room but the room adjacent to the kitchen acts as both kitchen dining and dining room.

The dining space in this home is connected to the kitchen and is both elegant and functional.

From England is a home on Cave Road in Brough.
This home features a beautiful combined kitchen and dining room that is as elegant as it is comfortable.
Original source no longer available :(  

I Adore Brick Floors

Whether brick pavers are adorning walls or floors, I love the textures, colors and patterns they bring into a room creating a warm and inviting space. I  would love to have a brick wall or a brick floor incorporated into my house. A brick floor in the mudroom or a brick focal wall in the basement would be awesome. Maybe someday? From the internet I have collected many inspirational photos of homes that incorporate brick floors and here are some of my favorites:

Let me start out with my all time favorite foyer. There is so much to love in this space. I love the neutral themed color of the wall with all the white molding detail. The arch of the front door matches the arch of the doorway leading to another room, living room perhaps. The turquoise velvet settee is to die for and turquoise is my favorite color. What a great way to bring a pop of color to this foyer! And then there are the floors. The rough European look of the brick in an herringbone pattern brings an old world charm to this traditional entrance-way. The light coming through the windows helps to create a bright and beautiful space. I so wish it were mine... (Have I gushed too much?)

As featured in Atlanta Homes, this traditional home sports a beautiful brick floor. This home located near the Chattahoochee River and has a casual elegance that is warm and welcoming.

Ferguson & Shamamian Architects, LLP designed this beautiful home in Chagrin Falls, Ohio which featured brick floors in a connecting hallway. This makes for a lovely transition.

Another stunning brick floor featured in Atlanta Homes. What is it about the South? They know how to showcase a drop dead floor. In this home, Designer Amy Morris brings the outdoors inside in the back entry hall with brick flooring, botanical prints, iron lanterns and weathered Catalan chests.

The interior of this home features a beautiful transition of wood and brick flooring. Love the weathered look and the herringbone pattern of this floor. Photo taken by Belgian photographer , Tim Van De Velde

A beautiful traditional mudroom is accented with a brick floor. From Homebunch.

Although originally charmed by the maps used as wallpaper in this mudroom, I also adore the brick floors.

A remodeled den by Seagrass Interiors include a gorgeous brick floor. This would also be a great library or office.

The brick floor is the right offset for this room that has a blend of old world elegance and southern style sun room with the furniture, the chandelier, and the weathered shutters. A perfect eclectic blend.

This library covers one very large gable wall of an attic loft in Sweden. The very white walls and furnishings reflect traditional Swedish design and the roughly-hewn brick floor looks quite ancient, but awesome.

I love this office of Brooke's on Velvet & Linen.

http://blog2.postcardfromparis.com/bid/282035/Before-After-Interior-Design-at-The-Cliffs-at-Walnut-Cove

This brick floor adds just the right texture and color to a creame kitchen. Love the basket as well!

Custom home designer, Ron Hill of Euroworld Designs created a beautiful wine cellar with brick floors, age wood beams and a chandelier for sparkle.

This phenomenal wine cellar has both a brick ceiling and brick flooring done in different patterns. The cellar is accented with reclaimed stone counters and antique wood. Featured in  Segreto Secrets blog.

In search of the... Quintessential Barstool

At first I was excited about replacing the counter stools from my last home with "awesome" new ones for our current home. And now over a decade later, I still have the old counter stools. I spent a lot of time looking both on-line and in brick and mortar stores, but never found what I wanted within my budget. (Or maybe that was within my husband's budget?) Either way, I never found something that was enough of an improvement over what I had for the amount of money required to spent on them.

Since we had very functional counter stools, we never had the "I need to buy something" pressure. So when the quintessential counter stools never materialized, I just kept using the old stools. I still would love to find something, but now I am even more particular.  I'm not wanting so much to make our home a showplace, but to find pieces that I love. I'm totally against trying for the "showroom" home. This is where I live and spend my time. I made a decision a few years ago that everything in this house would be something I loved and that I would want to take to the next house. Of course, for me the next house is a retirement villa of some sort. (Note to self: do a feature on retirement housing options, or lack there of.)

Back to bar and counter stools...

I don't want a designer telling me what the current color trend is or what the current style trend is. I know what colors I love and want to be surrounded by. I don't care if they are popular or not. And in the same way, I know if I like a particular style of chair. Again, I don't care if its currently deemed "chic".  Some people discover their style early in life and for others their style evolves over time. My style is evolving and I find that I generally like clean lines with a nod to tradition.

Certain islands are conducive to the backless stool that slips right under the counter and is out of sight while out of use.  This is what my sister-in-law has and for her home it works great. She has a huge island and six counter stools. If she didn't do the out of sight look, her kitchen would be overpowered by chairs, six around the island and six around the table.

I actually want a back, something you can lean into if you relax at the island. I've been looking at hundreds of pictures, trying to determine what I feel is the quintessential look for me and my kitchen. A lot of stools with backs are really overpowering for most islands. In fact, some stools only work for the heavy "bar" look.

Although the back can be fabric, the seat itself must be leather. Since the old stools are wood, I am done with a wood seat. I'm too old not to be comfortable. And since we have teenagers still and then nieces and nephews, I'm still worried about clean-up. So I say no to fabric seats.

Below are some examples of islands and chairs that I have found throughout the internet. Although not quite what I am looking, they may be just what you what. Everyone's definition of "quintessential" is different.

I like how these stools tuck nicely under the island and out of the way. The rush seat would be more comfortable than a solid wood, but I can't help cringe when I think of a family with kids who drop food. (From Home Bunch.)

This style of chair has a nice comfortable back, however, all fabric and again I wonder about care and maintenance. I like how the back isn't too high and doesn't overpower the island. (From Home Bunch)

I love how this kitchen has both traditional and contemporary elements. These contemporary counter stools are low profile, have a modern edge and make a nice accessory to a black and white kitchen. Source: Homester

I love this contemporary kitchen on Russian Hill in San Francisco. It's not for me, for for someone who does contemporary...I also like the contrast of these rustic stools with the clean lines of the island. Source: John Maniscalco Architecture

Although I find the drum pendant lighting less than desirable, I love the Plexi-Craft stools on wheels with the copper cushion. The cushion looks comfortable, the wheels are practical and the lucite keeps the counter stools from overpowering the island. Source: its jello blog

Same Lucite chairs as above, but from a different perspective. Source: Design Manifest Blog. 

Although from The Lodge at Doonber Golf Club in Ireland, commerical settings can provide awesome ideas. I love the plaid and leather bar stools at the clubhouse. Gorgeous legs!!  Source: Jacquelynne P. Lanham Designs, Inc. 

These bar stools are also used in a clubhouse and by the same design firm. With the solid color they achieve a totally different look. They are definitely one of my favorite looks!

Sources:
http://bjdhausdesign.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-search-ofthe-perfect-barstool.html

http://www.homebunch.com/inspiring-homes-interiors/

http://www.designmanifest.com/inspiration/lucite-bar-stools/

http://itsjello.com/add-lucite-to-all-room/

http://www.m-architecture.com/work/russian_hill/index.html

http://homester.com.ua/design/apartments/kuhnja-v-cherno-belom-cvete/

Corbels

Corbel Table from Restoration Hardware

Corbels are a great architecture feature in the building of a home, but are also great when used in furniture. One of my favorite tables made from corbels is from Restoration Hardware. They have created a striking desk by crafting exterior architecture corbels as they were originally created in the Middle Ages and then adding a thick desktop of glass. This works great either as a desk or a foyer console.

Foyer from Molly Frey Designs

Molly Frey Designs has created a beautiful beach style front entry with dark wood flooring and white paneled walls. I love the corbel table that has a driftwood look to it, perfect for the beach front look.

An on-line antique auction website, Antiquaire showed the following 1920 French Corbel Console with Stone Top that would make a beautiful addition to an entry foyer.

1920 French Corbel Console 

Brick Walls in the Home

TRANSFORMED APARTMENT  (LEIB DESIGNS INTERIORS)

Originally a two bedroom apartment, this NYC space was transformed in to a three bedroom luxury residence utilizing all square footage to reveal its aesthetic and functional potential. The renovations greatly increased the apartment’s property value. What I love the most about this part of the apartment is the blending of traditional moldings with the weathered brick wall. I would love to bring this look to our home.

Classy Hilltop Country Residence 

Designed by Jauregui Architecture Interiors Construction, this modern 8,200 square feet home situated in Austin, Texas, is full of trending and simple design features. Clean lines and attention to details have made this home picture perfect! Love the use of the aged column. It really is the details in this home that make it special.

On my idea board is this picture of a spiral stairway and brick and stone wall in Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. I think this would be a great idea for a loft with mezzanine. Source: http://countryfrenchantiques.tumblr.com/image/2728674609