The Battle For Your Walls

All indoor spaces are different, but the one thing they have in common is the fact that they are framed and defined by walls.  Because walls are typically the biggest and most potentially transformative area of any space we felt it was only right to pay them a little attention.  Here’s quick walk through of the pros and cons of wallpaper vs. decorative painting.

Whether you realize it or not, your home sits on a timeline that began the moment it’s foundation was laid.  If previous owners made bad choices in structure or decorating you may still be paying for them, just like you’ve reaped the rewards of their good choices.  I say this to remind you that whatever project you’re starting is about more than the time and money you spend during renovation- it’s part of your house’s grand timeline.  Here are a few big picture questions you may want to ask yourself and a little inside information to help you answer them.

How much will my space cost to create?

Let’s talk dollars and cents- you can get a general idea of how expensive a project will be by adding up the following numbers:

Cost of Materials + Cost of Qualified Labor = Total

Of course there are lots of variations of this equation, the sad alternate being

Cost of Materials + Cost of UNqualified Labor + Cost of aggravation + Cost of Repairs = Total

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again because it’s important- you will always get what you pay for!  I love do-it-yourself projects, but if you can’t do it right than it’s absolutely essential that you hire a professional with a good portfolio.  You can’t afford NOT to.  But I digress, we’re talking about wallpaper, decorative finishes and which one will be kinder to your wallet.  Although there are many contributing factors (type of wallpaper, complexity of project, etc.) your overall cost will typically be less with a decorative finish.  For a simple process like glaze manipulated by brush you’ll spend about $2-3 less per square foot than the total cost of wallpaper. 

How easily can this process be fixed if my wall is damaged? 

This is especially important to consider if you have children, friends with children or friends who act like children.   There’s a pretty clear cut answer to this one- decorative finishes are easier to repair nearly 100% of the time.  A good faux finisher will leave you the excess paint from your job so you can call for touch ups even years later and get an exact match.  Wallpaper, on the other hand, is difficult to repair.  Paper wears over time so even if you choose a pattern that’s not discontinued you won’t be able to get a perfect color match on a replacement panel.   

How much will it cost to change down the road when I want a new look altogether?

On average, wallpaper is much more difficult to replace than decorative finishes.  Unless you choose a process with a lot of texture you can paint right over your walls with the next color or design of your choosing.  Wallpaper requires steaming, glue removal, and a host of other irritating chores and, if applied or removed improperly, may leave walls that require a lot of repair.  

How customized can I get?

One of the biggest advantages of decorative finishes is the fact that there’s not much of a cap in what you can create with them.  With wallpaper you’re essentially limited to the colors, patterns and pictures in someone else’s imagination…not so with paint.  Many wallpaper samples can even be executed as a decorative finish.  

Although the scales may weigh in favor of decorative finishes, don’t be totally discouraged if you fall in love with a wallpaper.  If it’s an extremely intricate design it may be out of your budget to re-create so I’ll shoot straight with you- wallpaper is not from the devil and you’re not dooming your house to destruction if you decide you want to use it.  While all the points I just made are true (it typically costs more, is harder to repair, and more difficult and expensive to remove) at the end of the day you need to weigh the options for yourself.  So long as you choose wallpaper with your eyes open to the potential issues, my job here is done.  

7 Things I Love About Jonathan Adler

I’ve always loved Jonathan Adler’s design aesthetic- his modern meets mod 60’s style is effortlessly cool.  If you’re looking for clean, fresh and fun no one does it better!  Adler cites muses like Andy Warhol and Madonna, so it’s no surprise some of his designs border on being downright mischievous (or ‘irreverently luxurious’ in his own words).  But when you’ve got it, you’ve got it and Jonathan Adler sure does.  The cornerstone of Adler’s methodology is this- your home should make you happy.  We agree.  Here are seven pieces I’d welcome into my happy home any day.  

Positano Diamonds Pillow 

Simple, cool and classic- this handmade white linen pillow is perfect for summer.  Adler calls it “a tall glass of lemonade for your sofa”.

Junior Templeton Chair

My favorite thing about this little guy is just that, it’s little (as in for kids)!  Seeing this chair reminds me of the feeling I get when I find a dress I’d absolutely wear in a size 0-3 months...I’m not sure there’s an existing term to describe it but I can tell you there are big dumb smiles involved.

Large Pinch Bowl

Jonathan Adler entered the design scene as a potter, so you can be sure he puts extra-special care into each piece of pottery in his extensive home collection.  Adler created the original prototype of this piece then sent a mold to a team of artists in Peru to produce it as part of a program called Aid to Artisans.  This non-profit organization promotes fair trade by connecting designers in America with artisans in developing countries.

Whittier lamp

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Fascinating high gloss lacquer base + handmade simple paper shade + the advertisement ‘we believe our lamps will make you look thinner and younger’ = classic Jonathan Adler.  Love it.

Woodhouse Queen Bed in Brussels Charcoal

I’d snatch up this bed in a heartbeat- perfect texture, perfect color and oh so pretty.

Bond End Table

Adler’s Bond Collection is made of pieced burled wood, Lucite and Stainless Steel accents.  He calls it minimal, glamorous and twinkly.  We say yes, yes and yes.  

Queen Anne Mirror

             

This Queen Anne Mirror is 17th Century opulence simplified.  I can’t think of a room in the house this wouldn’t work in, in fact I’d buy stock in it if I could.  It’s simple, beautiful, versatile, and the list goes on and on...

Framed

The last few days have brought some great moments.  There’s been some stress involved with complications from the flood, but comparatively speaking my family was extremely blessed and protected through the whole ordeal.  One of the wonderful things about having a close family is that when difficult times come we stick together, gain strength from each others support, and help each other come out stronger.  Last night we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with an outrageously fun fiesta…it provided just the right amount of distraction to take our mind off recent events.  Hilarity ensued, to say the least…I can’t wait to print out and frame some pictures!  It was one of those nights we all needed, and I know we’ll enjoy reflecting on it for a long time.  I’m sure you can think of an experience you feel the same way about.  It’s pictures from times like these that turn a house into a vibrant home.  If you haven’t used some to decorate then put it at the top of your to-do list, your house needs them!  Here are some interesting and fun frames to consider showcasing these treasured moments in. 

Z Gallerie has a ton of amazing frames, but we really went crazy over these Mignon Mirrored Frames.  Their fusion of antique and contemporary would look great in just about any space.  

These Attic Frames (also from Z Gallerie) are as distressed as the mirror frames are polished, but I love their nostalgic quality.  These would be my choice to add even more character to an old family picture.

This Gold-Tone Twig Frame from Neiman Marcus offers a graceful design obviously inspired by nature.  It’s fancy yet not excessively delicate and we just love it!

For a super unique piece, look no further than this Bight Frame from Anthropologie .  Bound in founds of rope, it looks nautical and young...two attributes that may very well never go out of style.  

These ornate white frames would blend in beautifully in a luxurious room or stand out as a fun contrast in a casual room.  Either way, they’re  pretty exquisite.

             

We’d entrust this Michael Aram Black Orchid Easel Framewith even our most precious photographs.  It’s creative, intricate and the very definition of pretty. 

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Even though my Mom and I are proud Puerto Ricans, we love the Mexican culture!  In honor of Cinco de Mayo we decided to highlight some of the gorgeous contributions Mexican inspired pieces have made to the world of home design.  I love the meticulous balance of Mexican décor- brightly colored fabrics and surfaces are mixed with earth tones, and meticulously detailed Talavera art is enmeshed with rustic and worn pieces.  I favor a more Bohemian take on Mexican decorating than a Southwest inspired one, which means no howling coyotes or pink and teal cacti (thankfully).  Here are some of the trendiest elements of Mexican design and a few ways you can incorporate them in your home.

Talavera Tile and Pottery

Talavera pottery incorporates geometric and floral designs and can be incorporated in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor spaces.  It has all the ingredients of a statement piece- bold, colorful, and really unique.  We love the idea of using this pattern in the kitchen, like with this decorative platter by GEM Villa Seca.  

We also thought this punched tin mirror was a beautiful piece worth mentioning.  Which seamlessly brings us to…

Metals

Popular Mexican-esque metals include tin (polished or tarnished), copper (oxidized or lustrous) and wrought iron.  My favorite of the bunch would have to be a slightly oxidized copper….there’s just something about the look of a few items slight wear that gives character to a space.  I absolutely loved this hammered copper pitcher, it has just the right amount of rough edge to it.

Frieda Kahlo

          

Frieda Kahlo’s iconic Mexican Folk Art is mostly comprised of self portraits and her unconventionally beautiful iconic image is extremely trendy.  She painted this oil on canvas in 1931; the picture depicts an afternoon with her husband Diego.  While it’s obviously no original, this particular copy is hand painted by talented artists to match Kahlo’s, allowing it an affordable price for a real oil painting.  

I also loved this pretty Frieda Kahlo pillow, click here to see more like it.

Embroidered Fabrics

               

Mexican embroidery is so beautiful!  We especially adore these Tenanos, or Mexican blankets, crafted by the Otomi Indians.  The Otomi originate from the Mexican state of Hidalgo; the colorful designs are said to be inspired by the wall paintings on cliffs in the region.  They’re all so beautiful we couldn’t decide which of these bedspreads from L’aviva Home we loved more!

The Gift of Groupon

Growing up, my parents did a good job teaching me not to talk to strangers.  Since moving to Tennessee I’ve had to re-learn this behavior, since Southern folks tend to have a different take on who is considered a stranger (mainly, no one).  I’m getting much better at greeting random passerbys and I’m finding I can even carry a full conversation with just about anyone on the street that decides they want to start one.  I guess I shouldn’t brag that I’ve mastered this art just yet.  I noticed that most times I chit chat with complete strangers for any extended period of time I somehow end up bringing up ‘Groupons’…which in retrospect is kinda weird.  I honestly don’t know how it’s come up in so many random conversations, but it could have something to do with the fact that I think they’re absolutely fantastic.  If you don’t know what Groupons are you’re about to find out- I realized if I felt compelled to share them with strangers I definitely had to share them with you!  They’re not exactly related to home design (though the one from Nashville today was, which is what inspired this post), but they can literally save you thousands of dollars and will definitely beautify your life!  Groupon is a group coupon (as the name suggests); the way it works is simple.  One massive coupon from a local business is provided daily, offering savings from 50-90% or more.  Most offers sound something like this “Spend $50, get $100 worth of food and beverages from….” or “Purchase $150 Symphony Orchestra tickets for $30”.  There is a purchase involved, but you get significantly more than what you pay for 100% of the time.  If enough people buy the Groupon (the number varies), the deal is on…if not, you’re not charged anything.  The service has become very popular, so it’s very rare for a deal to not receive the minimum number or purchases.  Groupons are offered for over 50 cities, all you have to do is choose one (or however many cities you frequent), enter your e-mail address at the top of their site and they’ll send you a daily e-mail with the deal of the day.  If you don’t see a city by you fear not, they add locations all the time!  There’s even an area where you canmake suggestions for cities to add.  I looked through some past Groupons today, they included huge discounts to exotic restaurants (Lebanese, Thai-French, Jewish-Latin), Memberships (Miami Art Museum, Adler Planetarium in Chicago), Spa Treatments (massages, facials, mani-pedis, the whole shebang), Classes (Salsa, bellydancing, cooking, wine-pairing) and literally hundreds of other heavily discounted once in a lifetime activities (six laps and instruction in a NASCAR Nextel Cup Car, skydiving, hot air balloon rides, whale watching, etc.).  Every time I buy one I’m shocked at the discount…to be honest sometimes it’s so inexpensive I half expect it not to work when I redeem it, but it always does!  

Safety First

Well…it appears I’ll be posting from my Aunt’s house for the next few days as our development is essentially underwater (not a typo or exaggeration, unfortunately).  If you’ve caught any of the national news lately you may have heard of the flooding in Nashville over the weekend.  I’m afraid my little townhouse caught some of the brunt of it, although considering the devastation in our area it could have been much worse.  

The picture above is my development, but dozens of our neighbors lost their homes entirely yesterday and my Aunt’s wonderful school is waist deep in water.  It’ll be a few days before we can go back and assess the full damage because our neighborhood is only accessible by boat at the moment (now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d say).  It’s been a sobering couple of days, but I’m so thankful everyone in my family is safe and unharmed.  Not surprisingly, all I can think about today, as far as home design is concerned, is safety.  I love making spaces beautiful (it’s one of my favorite things in fact) but at the end of the day even lovely things are just things.  It’s sad when they break, burn, or get submerged in six feet of water, but they can be replaced.  Here are some tips on protecting the truly precious things in your home- your family.

Flood

As I’ve found out over the past few days there are some things you can do before a flood occurs, but not too much after it starts.  That’s why it’s extremely important to make preparations in advance.  Keep an emergency kit with a battery-powered portable radio, flashlights with working extra batteries, clean drinking water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, and prescription medicines on hand.  Know what kind of risk your area has of flooding, but even if you’re told you have a 0.01% chance (which is what we were told before this fiasco) you should have a flood evacuation plan in place.  For planning purposes, check out Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Hazard Map.  If there’s one thing I can tell you about the past few days it’s that, even when I was packing to evacuate, I never in a million years thought that the flood would actually do as much damage as it has.  Prepare and plan for the worst and you’ll be much better off!

Fire

When’s the last time you checked your fire alarms?  If it was more than a month ago, it’s time to do it again (then once a month from now on).  Batteries must be replaced once a year, and some experts recommend replacing smoke alarms altogether every ten years.  Sure, alarm maintenance can be annoying, but a study by the National Fire Prevention Association showed that 1/3 of the homes with fires that had smoke alarms were destroyed because the alarms weren’t working.  It’s an easy statistic to avoid being part of, all it takes is a little responsibility.  

When choosing a fire alarm for your home keep in mind that different models detect different types of fires.  Ionization models are better at alerting you to kitchen and grease fires that burn fast and move quickly while Photoelectric models detect smoldering fires.  Be sure to choose a model that utilizes both types of sensors like this First Alert Smoke Alarm, or carefully place different types around the house based on what types of fires are more likely to occur there.  

There’s a whole lot involved in fire safety, from discussing an evacuation plan to familiarizing your family with basic procedures like feeling a door to see if it’s hot before opening it.  Fire alarms are important, but they’re only part of the bigger picture.  Make sure your family knows what to do in the event that the alarms go off.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas caused by the incomplete burning of fuels.  To avoid a leak make sure appliances are installed by qualified professionals and inspected annually.  Never operate a gasoline engine-powered tool in or near an enclosed space, even with open doors and windows.  Check your chimneys and flues for blockages, corrosion, disconnections and loose connections.  Because Carbon Monoxide is undetectable to the human senses, the only way to guard your family is by installing a CO alarm near every separate sleeping area of the house.  It may seem like you’re racking up a lot of money in various alarms, but it’s worth it.  The best possible scenario is that you’ll never need any of them, but you’ll certainly sleep better and be better prepared in an emergency situation.