Laundry Room Makeover

I don't know about you, but the laundry room seems to be one of the last rooms on my list of places  to makeover.  Even though I spend a fair amount of time in there, it wasn't on the top of my list.  It seems that there is always dirty clothes waiting to be cleaned, hung, folded or ironed. UGH!  So, I started thinking about how to make the time that I do spend in that room more enjoyable.

I finally had some free time and I took on the challenge of making over my own laundry room. I'm happy with how it turned out and have to say, it does make my state of mind better when I am in there.  Obviously the clothes are still there waiting to be cleaned and ironed, but the room is pretty and inviting now.  I'm not in such a big hurry to get done.

Color is important to me along with style. It had to coordinate with the adjoining rooms and existing floor tile and cabinets. So I began with picking out the new color.  I thought, a blue  was what I wanted so I began there. The original color was Sherwin Williams Bagel and  I changed it to Sherwin Williams Seaworthy.

Before with SW Bagel

After with SW Seaworthy

The next step was picking out a tile for the back splash.  There was no tile on the walls to begin with, so it was a little easier to add new without having to take out the old first.  I really wanted glass tiles and I wanted it in a brick shape.  So I went through my tile samples and found the perfect tile!!!  Marazzi  Studio M Glass Mosaic in Jive!

Before without Tile

After with Tile

Before without Tile, Paint or Drying Rack

After with Tile and Paint

Organization is always important in any laundry room so I  searched for and found a hanging rack for the wall behind the washer and dryer.  Normally, I had laundry baskets setting on top of the washer and dryer but that always looked tacky and it didn't help with my delicate clothes. They needed to be hung, not machine dried. More times than not, our delicate clothes were strewn all over the laundry room, even hanging on cabinet knobs until they dried. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite and most functional finds.  Not only does it look nice, even with clothes hanging on it, it is functional and I love it!

Drying Rack for Delicates

The dirty clothes storage was another problem.  I searched and found Rev-A-Shelf laundry baskets that fit perfectly inside my cabinets to hide away all of the dirty clothes.  I sort them into each basket when they become dirty. The full baskets remind me, when I add clothes to them, that it's time to do the laundry!  When the baskets are full, it's time to wash! Genius!

Dirty Clothes Hidden Baskets

The decor is always the most fun to do.  I was able to use a few of the pieces that I had in there before the makeover, but I also added some new things. My favorite new piece is a picture that my husband took while we were in Italy, of clothes hanging on a line in Cinque Terre.  It ended up being the perfect colors so I had it blown up and I matted and framed it for my laundry room.  I love looking at it and reminiscing about our trip to Italy every time I'm in there!

Laundry Hanging on a line in Cinque Terre Italy.

Let us know if your laundry room is the place you dread going the most. If so, give us a call and we can make it a more pleasant room for you to do the most dreaded chore!

Antionette King, Owner/Designer

Pezzo Bello Interiors

816-891-8400

www.pezzobellointeriors.com

aking@pezzobellointeriors.com

Your Design Style, Contemporary!

Contemporary style is one of the harder styles to explain.  When a client says they want a Contemporary styled home, they usually mean clean lines not curly Q's, a lot of heavy drapery and definitely not overstuffed furnishings.  Most people think that Contemporary means cold and unwelcoming, but that is a myth. A Contemporary home can be a quiet and comfortable retreat without being cluttered and dark. 

You'll often hear the terms "contemporary" and "modern" tossed about interchangeably, but they're not exactly the same thing.  Modern refers to a specific design movement that arose in the early 20th century and follows stricter guidelines; contemporary, by definition, is more fluid and tolerates a bit of rule-breaking.

Simplicity, subtle sophistication, texture and clean lines help to define Contemporary style. When designing a contemporary home, you focus on space, color and shape as Contemporary homes are sleek and fresh.  In a contemporary style interior, don't use ruffles, excessive carved details, fringe, or floral prints. Abolish cute and small. Go bold, and structural.

Contemporary Bedroom by Pezzo Bello Interiors

Neutrals, black, and white are the main colors in Contemporary style interiors. The palette is often punched up and accented with bright and bold color. Black is often the grounding  and defining color in Contemporary homes as shown in the photo below.

Neutral colors on the walls such as beige, grey,  tan, brown or even ecru will also be a great backdrop for a Contemporary room.  White woodwork is another must if you are looking to spotlight Contemporary in your home.

Contemporary Master Bedroom by Pezzo Bello Interiors

Oversized artwork is another must for a Contemporary home.  Walls in a Contemporary room should NOT be adorned with  plate collections or family groupings.  Instead use a large family portrait or oil on canvas that is minimally framed, if at all.

Catwalk by Pezzo Bello Interiors

Contemporary is not only used in main rooms like the living and bedrooms. There are many ways to use contemporary in bathrooms.  There are fixtures, glass tile and natural stone that can make a bathroom outstandingly contemporary.  Even small bathrooms like the one shown below with a granite vessel, chrome wall faucet, oversized art and a chrome contemporary sculpture.

Overall, what makes Contemporary work is a strong emphasis on line and form — two essentials of good design — gives contemporary style its energy. Contemporary rooms are designed with abundant open space which makes them feel airy and expansive. Because there isn't any clutter, every piece has to count.


So how does Contemporary fit in your design style?  Does it leave you cold or light you up?  Do you feel at home in contemporary settings or are you wanting more?  Let us know how you feel about this weeks design style and be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Pezzo Bello Interiors until March 15th.  Hurry time is running out!

Your Design Style, Traditional!

What is you Design Style?  Today, Blog #2 in this style series is Traditional.  Let's see if this is where you feel most comfortable.

Traditional style has been popular for centuries and will continue to stay in the forefront of design style for many years to come.  Mostly because of it's " handed down" feel. Traditional design is elegant. formal and refined with curved lines and ornate carvings.  Usually, the pieces are  upholstered with mid-tones and muted fabric, simple florals, brocades, stripes or plaids.  Traditional room settings are symmetrical and use classic styling.

Here are a few  pictures of the styles known as Traditional.

18th century English.

A pair of 18th Century Chippendale Mirrors

19th century Neoclassic, as shown below.

19th Century Neoclassic Hotel Room

 French Country, shown here

French Country Kitchen

 

and Spanish and British Colonial Revival shown in the bench below.

Spanish Colonial Revival Bench

 
Drapery and curtains are a big part of traditional design.  They are usually a heavy drapery with large cornices or valances and include sheers behind the drapes.

Traditional Swag Drapery

In traditional wall decor, anything old goes!  There are many, many pieces of artwork to choose from but you can make it your own by putting something sentimental on your walls. Take your grandmothers old pieces of let's say jewelry or your Grandpa's skeleton keys or tools, build or buy a shadow box to display them in on the wall.  Also, mix in a few antique frames with, maybe, your families old wedding picture, family portrait or even your family tree.  The sky is the limit!

Nate Berkus Old Photo Display

 
Most of us think about our grandparents furniture when we think of Traditional. It warms our heart to remember the comfort and love that we experienced with our grandparents around the dinner table and in the comfort of their living room.  That is why traditional style will always be around.  There are many furniture manufacturers making beautiful traditional furnishings today.  Some have been around for generations, so if you cannot afford the antique, and you did not inherit your family heirlooms,  you can buy new traditional style furniture and accessories for a lot less to accomplish the same feel.

Let us know if this is where you feel your style is and if you have great memories or pictures of your family furniture.   We would love to see your pieces and hear your stories right here on our blog.  You will also automatically be entered to win a $50.00 gift certificate for any Pezzo Bello Interiors service or product from our store until March 15th!

Antionette King, Owner/Designer
Pezzo Bello Interiors
www.pezzobellointeriors.com

Your Design Style, Eclectic!

One of the first questions I ask a client on a phone interview is "What do you consider your design style?"  Most of the time, they do not know.  So we thought we would try to help you understand the differences in design styles in the coming weeks.  Today we are going to begin with Eclectic. 

You know your have an Eclectic design style if you love mixing and matching old and new furniture and decor and you are uncomfortable being "Matchy, Matchy".  Being Eclectic invites you to fill a space with objects you love and unique finds that strike your fancy. 

eclectic family room design by miami photographer Craig Denis

 Most people are afraid to mix things but if it is done correctly it shows off your confidence yet still adheres to the fundamentals of good design. Plus it's so much fun to feel like you are getting away with something!!!  It's like thinking purebreds are really pretty but mutts capture your heart in a way that's hard to explain.

While an eclectic room's fabrics should harmonize with each other, that doesn't mean they need to be boring. Use interesting mixes of patterns and textures which have a similar hue in common, then add details like beaded trim or fringe.

 Making an Eclectic room work is best when you anchor the room with strong contrasts.  That's a little misleading and could be a disaster if done wrong.  The trick is to find enough common ground to make a space gel while still contrasting your pieces and colors.  Choose a few must have pieces to anchor the space and then start experimenting with accent pieces.  Just remember that you cannot put every piece you love in one room.

Eclectic Hearth Room by Pezzo Bello Interiors

Make sure you keep the backdrop clean.  What we mean by that is, keep it simple so as the pieces will not to compete with each other.  Err on the side of neutral, and use unassuming hues such as a white, cream  gray, taupe or a pale blue.  If you think that it's not enough, try painting an accent wall with a color from one of the pieces you want to use in the room or add a colorful area rug. That should do it!

Color and pattern are extremely important.  With Eclectic style you can do almost  anything with color.  You can pair bright hues with shy pastels, mix and match every shade of one color that you would like.  You can also mix stripes and florals but it all needs to make sense in the room. If you try to bring in every single shade you love, or if you pile up patterns with no restraint, you'll be left with a mess. This bedroom is done to perfection!

eclectic bedroom design

 The fun of eclectic style is the element of surprise. Use pieces that are personal and that you are emotionally attached too. For instance, showcase mementos from your trip to Italy that you took a few years ago in a fun way or bring out your favorite concert posters of your favorite vintage band.   Be careful though, you can go overboard with too many differing pieces.  Think of your quirky piece as an exclamation mark in your room and do not get too carried away.

eclectic living room design by new york interior designer ABC Dragoo

These are just a few of the elements of Eclectic Style. This style has many positive attributes. You can build a design a little bit at a time by finding just the right pieces, and you can express your personality to its fullest. Don't be afraid to combine different loves and passions into one room. You may find that the end result is more cohesive than you could have imagined.

Call a Pezzo Bello Interiors designer to get your perfectly Styled Eclectic Room!

Next week Traditional!

Antionette King
Pezzo Bello Interiors
816-891-8400
aking@pezzobellointeriors.com

The Psychology of Color

One of the most interesting questions I get while working with a client is "What color would you paint this room or use on this chair?"  As an Interior Designer, you really need to get to know your client, their lifestyle and feel for their space to have the right answer to that all encompassing question. It's one of the most important factors in design. What color we wear and what color our rooms are can greatly affect us.  So....we thought that we would help you to understand why color is so important and what each color has to say about you and your space.

Let's begin with Cool Colors.

Blue is a cool color and conveys Dependability, Tranquility, Faithfulness, and Sensitivity.  It's calming and you immediately feel very secure with blue.  It's like the sky and the sea, no matter what, it will always be there. Blue decreases respiration and lowers blood pressure.  Psychologically, very comforting.

Blue Lake House Retreat

Green is another cool color and it conveys Tranquility, Restfulness and Health. There is actually a bit of scientific logic applied to this – because the eye focuses the color green directly on the retina, it is said to be less straining on your eye muscles.   Like nature, from forests to parks, green epitomizes life and growth. FYI: Green is also the symbol of fertility as brides in the 15th century wore green wedding gowns.

Country Green Hearth Room

Purple is also a cool color and it conveys Royalty, Creativity, Balance, and Peacefulness. Purple utilizes both red and blue to provide a nice balance between stimulation and serenity that is supposed to encourage creativity. Light purple is said to result in a peaceful surrounding, thus relieving tension.

Romantic Purple Bedroom

The Warm Colors.

Red is a warm color that conveys Power, Strength, Confidence, Love and Passion.  Red is a versatile color that can symbolize everything from passionate love to violent warfare. Intense and aggressive, its influence isn’t only psychological - it’s physical too. Studies have shown that seeing the color red not only speeds up your heart rate, it makes you breathe faster too. It also stimulates your appetite. Using Red on an accent wall will show the passion in you!

Red Accent Wall

 

Orange is another warm color and it conveys Sensuality, Intuition, and Independence. The color Orange is generally perceived as the warmest of all warm colors. Positioned between Red and Yellow on the color wheel, Orange brings a little of both traits. Orange in it's most saturated form attracts attention.  FYI: Interestingly, the color orange also has a spiritual connection, it is a holy color in India and Nepal. 

Orange Contemporary Bathroom

Yellow is also a cool color and it conveys Happiness, Imagination, Warmth, and Hunger.  Like Red and Orange, Yellow will make your stomach growl. That is why you see so many restaurants using the color yellow in their dining areas and also in their marketing.  Yellow reflects more light and stimulates your eye.

Yellow Mediterranean  Kitchen

The Neutral Colors

White is the first of all Neutral colors.  It conveys Clean, Pristine, Sterile, and Airy.  On the floor, walls and furniture, white can make a room feel larger then it is and add crisp freshness to your room.  An all white room will look sterile and cold so if your are a neutral color lover, you would definitely want to add other neutrals such as grey, black or brown  to your room so as to make it warmer and less sterile.

White Living Room

Grey is another neutral color and it conveys Safe, Calm, and Understated.  Grey can be a wonderful background color as it will make other colors "pop".  Used well, Grey can also lend interiors to calm and understated confidence but it must be the correct tone/undertone and mixed with other neutrals in the right form.  Too much of the color Grey can be depressing especially if mixed with the wrong accent colors.

Grey, Terra Cotta and Beige Hearth Room

Black is also a neutral color and it conveys Sophistication, Elegance, Power, and Prestige.  The color black is great when you want to draw attention to fine  features, furniture with good bones, and any ornamental detail.  The color black absorbs light so using it against lighter colors or other neutrals will draw attention to it.  Use the color black wisely, like eyeliner for the room, to create a chic sophistication.

Black, White and Red Contemporary Formal Sitting Room

Brown is the last neutral color and it conveys Earthiness, Warmth, Depth and Welcoming.  Brown consists of such a mix of colors that there isn't a place on the color wheel for it. Natural browns such as  wood, wicker, straw, stone, and earth pigments - are almost always gorgeous, but synthetic browns can occasionally come across as one-dimensional and obnoxious.

Mocha Brown Master Bedroom Suite

Keep in mind that certain shades or tones may result in very different meanings. Also, the context around the color, and even surrounding colors, can have an effect. Lighter colors tend to make rooms look more spacious and give it a physiological lift.  While darker colors tend to make a room look smaller, heavier  and with long exposure can create monotony and depression.  

So before you begin your color project, get in touch with a color consultant at Pezzo Bello Interiors to get you on the right track!  You'll be glad you did.

Antionette King, Designer

Pezzo Bello Interiors

"Making Ordinary Homes, Extraordinary!"

816-891-8400

aking@pezzobellointeriors.com

What Exactly does an Interior Designer do?

Many times during my career I have heard questions concerning what an Interior Designer's value is.  Many people, think that because they have the "knack for decorating" that they do not need a designer to complete their home project.  Only after they are in middle of their project, do they understand what our value really is. They realize that it is was more complicated then what they thought.  I can't tell you how many times I have received calls from homeowners asking me for my services to "fix" what they have tried to do themselves.  The job at that point is harder and more costly to fix then it would have been to call an Interior Designer during the concept phase.  So we thought we just might be able to help you learn why it is important to call us first!

To begin the process, an Interior Designer will meet face to face with their client at the jobsite to determine the clients needs and wishes along with observing the space that they will be working on. At that meeting, the designer will get an idea of the client's preferences and budget.  They will guide their clients through what can and cannot be done.

After collecting this information, the designer formulates a design plan and estimates costs.  During this process the designer's knowledge, education and experience really come into play as they will have to figure such things as space planning, functionability of the space, color scheme, and structural viabilities while understanding the client's needs and wants.  Upon completing the design plan, the designer will present it to the client and make revisions based on the client's input.

When the design concept is approved by the client,  the designer begins to start specifying the materials, finishings and furnishings.  This process includes flooring, textiles, wall coverings, trim, lighting, furniture and more.  Depending on the complexity of the project, the designer also might need to submit drawings for approval by a construction inspector to ensure that the design meets building codes. If a project requires structural work, the designer will work with an architect and/or structural engineer for that part of the project. They also hire the contractors to do technical work, such as cabinetry, lighting, plumbing, and electrical wiring.  Interior Designer's offer complete project management for their customers and they are the liaison between the contractors and their clients.

Finally, the designer develops a timeline for the project, coordinates contractor work schedules, and makes sure work is completed on time. The designer oversees the installation of the design elements, and after the project is complete, the designer, together with the client, make follow-up visits to the  site to ensure that the client is completely satisfied.

So....this is just an quick outline of what we Interior Designers do!  It's a complicated process for the average homeowner to take on!  So before you begin your project, call a reputable Interior Designer like Pezzo Bello Interiors, to help you through it from start to finish.

Antionette King, Owner/Designer
Pezzo Bello Interiors
816-891-8400
www.pezzobellointeriors.com

Remodeled Farm House

Well, we are almost complete with our latest Farm House update and wanted to share some of the pictures of our progress! We were on an extremely tight budget to remodel 2 bathrooms and change wall colors in the living room, kitchen, hall, son's bedroom and both bathrooms.  It was a challenge we were anxious to tackle!  We just have the window treatments left to finish and they will be added in the next few months, when our client is ready.  

Here are a few before and after pictures.

Hall Bath 

Shower Before

Shower After

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toilet Area Before

Toilet Area After

In the before picture, you will notice that there was a corner shower unit and the toilet next to it.  We changed the corner unit to an enclosed  4' shower with porcelain tile on the walls and floors.  We moved the toilet behind the door where the standard washer and dryer were.  The homeowners bought a stack able washer and dryer and the storage cabinet so that we could put it where the toilet was. We also added an ADA Toilet and had a custom vanity made with new counter-tops and sink.  We took the wallpaper and bead board down, then painted the walls with SW Tatami Tan.  It turned out beautifully.

Master Bath

Shower Before

 

Shower After

  

Vanity Area Before

 

Vanity Area After

After

In the before pictures you will notice the short bath/shower unit where our client had major water splash problems that eventually caused the sheetrock to mold and peel. We tore out the entire area and replaced it with a jetted tub while adding porcelain tile up to the ceiling so as to not have those same water problems. We tiled the floor with a complimentary porcelian tile, added a new counter top with sink to match the new jetted tub.  We also added a new ADA toilet, new plumbing fixtures and painted the walls in SW Spiced Cider.

 

Color Changes

 

Open Area Before

 

Open Area After

   

Living Room Before

Living Room After

 

Dinette Before

Dinette After

 In the before pictures you will notice bead board and wall paper throughout the dinette area.  We took it down, changed the wall colors in the main area and hall to SW Tower Tan.  We added two accent walls, one on the staircase in SW Brandywine and one on the living room/dinette wall in SW Sierra Redwood. We also painted the patio doors in SW Brandywine and the front door(not shown) in Sierra Red. (The green vertical blinds will be changed when we do the window treatments.)

A few more After Pictures!

So all in all, it has been a fun project with many challenges but it really turned out warm and inviting!  Our client is thrilled with the turnout and that's what makes it all worthwhile!

If you would like a change for the new year, give us a call!  We will be happy to help make your home EXTRAORDINARY!

A special thanks to AG Cabinets and C & M Painting for the great job they did!

Antionette King, Designer

Pezzo Bello Interiors

816-891-8400

aking@pezzobellointeriors.com