Medallion Authentication

Posted on by DCL

I love a great medallion. Scouring through old Victorian era homes I find original plaster medallions everywhere and many can be saved with a few simple tricks and talented drywall contractor.


Authentic reproductions are ideal but can be pricey and hard to find depending on where you live. Here’s a great trick if necessity requires a budget-friendly option:

  1. Buy a simple plastic medallion that is representative of the style of your home’s architecture. If you are decorating a space that is more or less architecturally neutral, don’t over do it and always maintain a consistent theme throughout your space.
  2. Spray your medallion with auto truck paint available at auto parts stores. This will add a rough layer and the base for an authentic plaster look.
  3. Lightly spray with Kilz Primer to seal, dull the gray, and smooth the surface.
  4. Install (use painters tape to hold in place for 24 hours while the adhesive sets) and brush paint in flat ceiling enamel. For best results, paint the entire ceiling at the same time.

Remember that the goal of restoring is not to make everything perfect. Authentic plaster medallions have imperfections. Whether installing an authentic (see Victoriana in San Francisco) plaster medallion or your homemade creation, give the medallion a few nicks and, perhaps, a chip/dent or two!

D.

Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Swedish Sublime

Posted on by DCL

Inspiration is everywhere and, quite often covered with layer of dust or grime.

Using an older (or quality made to look older) piece adds character and instant history to any space. A little old can go a long way. Accessorizing this piece with a few more modern touches will enhance the look and livability of the space.

Adding a little vintage fabric is another great way to add depth and warmth to a space AND create a look that will be completely unique.

 

Reinforcing main furniture pieces by adding fixed elements is key to creating a cohesive space. Here the subtle curves, curls, delicacy, and even the upholstery stripe are supported by this vintage sconce.

D.

Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What’s Your Style?

Posted on by DCL

Every time I meet a new client the conversation always surrounds real estate, architecture, art and design. It’s what I do and what I love to talk about more than any other subject. Sharing what I know in a way that helps others visualize or, at the very least, take a leap (of faith) forward.

The inevitable question is always asked of me, “What’s your style?”

A skilled designer doesn’t create their look in your home. Their task is to create a design based on many factors:

· Who lives in the space?

· When and how is the space is used?

· How does the client want to feel in the space (serene, lively, etc.)?

· How does the space relate to adjacent spaces and the entire home?

· What current furnishings are expected to remain in the space?

· How much does the client hope to invest?

Over time, spaces can become functionally obsolete or the home owner’s needs may have changed. Sometimes the space never functioned very well. This often is the case in new construction because what looks great on the drafting table doesn’t always translate into comfortable living space. Resolving any functional issues at the onset of any design project is the first step in completing the space.

Try not to create a themed look in your space as this will look contrived or like a store brand. Great spaces are timeless and looking as though they were pulled together over a lifetime. This is when the expertise of a designer becomes priceless. Let your designer loose to repurpose what you have while editing out what no longer serves you or your space.

The final stage of the design project involves using a designer’s keen eye, sense of proportion, resources, and ability to create a harmonic space. This is when many clients fall off the rails by running out and buying pieces that are not well-suited for the space. This often recreates the original design dilemma!

When you work with a designer, resist the urge to go on rogue shopping excursions. Reach for your camera (not your wallet) and ask your expert. Their job is to conceptualize the entire space and save you from making costly mistakes. A great designer will deliver a timeless, one-of-a kind design that you can call your own “style.”

D.


Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

5451 Lawton St, Oakland, CA

Posted on by DCL

Pre-Sale Recommendations

EXTERIOR


Paint

Repaint upper (painted) steps and porch:

Benjamin Moore Passion Vine 1504 (Porch and Patio)

Find trim paint in basement and touch up around front (and back) door.

Repaint front door:

Benjamin Moore Country Redwood EXT. RM

Stain rear steps and railing:

Benjamin Moore River Rock Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain

In general, the color combination on this home is very attractive, tasteful, and will appeal to most buyers.

Landscape

Use dark brown mulch NOT chips or gorrilla hair to dress planting beds. Covering exposed dirt with mulch will look rich and not staged.

Plant Creeping Phlox in all three beautiful planters. Available at Home Depot, well priced and very hearty.


Other

Remove screen door and put in garage or basement while the home is on the market.

Add a antique brass (not too shiny) kickplate to front door after painting


Add a new sisal doormats (plain, no patterns) – front and back door.


If possible, take down and discard old television arial.

Remove rear garden arbor.

INTERIOR


Paint

Living room, office, entry, bedrooms, and hallway:

Walls- Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl OC-19 (eggshell finish)

Trim – Benjamin Moore Super White INT RM (semi gloss)

Kitchen and Laundry:

Walls- Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl OC-19 (satin finish)

Trim – Benjamin Moore Super White INT RM (semi gloss)

Dining room:

Upper wall above chair rail – Benjamin Moore Natural Cream OC-14 (eggshell finish)

Trim (including wall panels) – Benjamin Moore Super White INT RM (semi gloss)

Bathroom:

Upper wall above chair rail – Benjamin Moore Natural Cream OC-14 (eggshell finish)

Trim (including wall panels) – Benjamin Moore Super White INT RM (semi gloss)

Other

Assess hardwood floor condition and cost of repair. Exposing hardwood adds significant value to the home. Newly refinished floors have the potential of attracting more buyers.

Remove shelves in office. This will make that room feel larger and more open.

Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Matchy-Matchy

Posted on by DCL

Making the most out of what you have should be your objective when you make improvements to your home. I’ve flipped many homes over the years. Sadly so much of my time and money is spent undoing prior owners’ improvements.


Door hardware (knobs, handles, locks, and latches) should match throughout your home. A hodgepodge of door knobs and hardware and can hurt the value of your home when it comes time to sell. If you live in an older home, find resources for used, matching hardware. If your home has inexpensive door hardware but good quality doors, it may be a sound invenstment to replace all the hardware.

Reuse doors when you are renovating or reconfiguring the layout of your home. It’s often cheaper to use a new door than re-hanging an old door but the old/matching door is always the better option.


Lighting has always been at the forefront of my designs. For best results when rehabbing an older home, use period appropriate fixtures. The cost of replacing old light fixtures ranges from free to costly and having an old fixture rewired is often less expensive than buying a newer one. I love hearing guests admire the “original” lighting in my older home projects.

When replacing light fixtures in a newer home look for fixtures that are an appropriate fit for the style of the home. Installing vintage lighting in a newer (non-vintage inspired) home can create a disconnect that detracts from the value of your home. The best way avoid making a design mistake is to imagine the fixture hanging in an empty room. It’s either complimentary or not.

D.

Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Window Seat Retreat

Posted on by DCL

Built in window seats are great way to gain additional seating, storage, and add value to any home.

Maximize space and expand function in your pass-through rooms and on landings.

 

Radiators or HVAC ducts are normally located beneath windows. Plan ahead to ensure your home’s HVAC systems will function effectively after window seat installation sized sofa without taking up a large space.

For a quick window seat, use sturdy upper cabinets raised on a base that provides for a toe kick and adequate height. The costs of good quality firm foam cushions will reward you in savings with their durability.

D.

Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sarah’s Uptown Kitchen

Posted on by DCL

Sarah lives in a gorgeous landmark pre-war building built when kitchens were not priority.

Elements of furniture reporposed/mixed in with cabinetry to create a completely unique look. Great buys can be found at auction and a skilled cabinet maker can modify as needed.

Full height cabinets provide for valuable storage space (you don’t have to put china up there) and make this design pop.

Note the narrow side cabinet on the left return which visually balances this kitchenette. I prefer mirror paned cabinets for added sophistication and to hide clutter.

Combining wood countertop with Carrera adds warmth and visual interest.

I like a narrow and tall refrigerator in small kitchens because they accentuate ceiling height and allow for more counter space. I refuse to buy a refrigerator that isn’t counter depth for any kitchen I design and there are options available within any budget. Bosch makes a super quiet 18″ dishwasher which is more than adequate for an uptown pied-a-terre and visually makes a smaller kitchen feel larger because it is in better proportion.

Adding a little bling to the backsplash will really help Sarah tie the entire look together. Each element in this mosaic is pulled from the main features of the space.

The most common mistake homeowners make in their kitchen renovations is installing an inappropriate back splash. Whether you expect an 80-120% return on your renovation investment or just want to create a functional and beautiful kitchen, hire a designer.

And let us not forget the glamor! Installing a chandelier instantly transforms an efficiency kitchen into a sophisticated and space.

D.

Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Cape Cod Summer Inspired

Posted on by DCL

Classic simplicity of this lower Cape Cod cottage makes it the perfect summer get-away.




Provincetown has been a thriving artist colony since Charles Webster Hawthorne opened the Cape Cod School of Art in 1899 where he taught Impressionism painting the open air. Hawthorne’s technic was widely adapted and recognized throughout the world. Galleries filled with art in every form are abundant eye candy throughout the Cape and Islands.






Angle Foods Market with the best sandwiches in town and a one of a kind broken ceramic and glazed pottery paved parking lot.





To be continued… next summer!

D.


Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Sterling and Plate – Silver Is Great!

Posted on by DCL

Collecting silver can be a challenge since the price of silver shot up but there are plenty of places to find hidden treasure. Although I’ve found amazing deals on plated flatware at auction, you are not likely to find any auction deals on sterling.


The best deals you will ever find come from sifting through secondhand stores and junk shops. Start digging when you find silverware mixed with ordinary stainless flatware.


Sterling almost always is clearly marketed as such and the same is true stainless steel. Plated silver flatware is the tricky find. Often stamped with a manufacturers mark, plated can be misleading to an inexperienced collector. Look for wear in place you would expect to see wear to determine if the areas of plate have worn completely through to the base metal. Typically an even discoloration of tarnish is a good sign of what is underneath. Once polished, keep in an airtight bin to slow the oxidation process down to a crawl.


These settings are from an all-time favorite blog nordingarden.blogspot.com… tack! Silver is to be used and enjoyed every day so pull out good stuff and live (and dine) to the fullest.

D.


Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Flow Blue China Collecting

Posted on by DCL


Auctions are a great place to find large collections or a few pieces to start your collection.


Once you find a patter you love, do a little internet research to identify the manufacturer’s mark. These marks changes over the years and knowing each mark will help you better identify the age of each piece.


I have been collecting this flow blue china pattern for years. I own about 75 pieces all at least 110 years old. For the most part, my collection of matching plates, platters, bowls, and tureens has been collected one piece at a time.


For a more eclectic look, start with a lot of mixed patterns.



Vintage repaired wares are what serious collectors commonly refer to as “mends” and are highly sought after. The value depends on many factors, but an otherwise insignificant piece can be quite valuable due to the rarity of mends.

I found an amazing lot at auction at even more amazing price. Not one piece survived the bumpy road between Pennsylvania and California. Ugh! The silver lining is that I love the pattern, broken or in one piece, so those fragments will become lamps or a country dining room fireplace surround.

I always mix in contemporary pieces like these from Bunny Williams available at treillageny.com.

D.


Posted in INSPIRATIONS Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Paste your AdWords Remarketing code here