The Distinctive Cottage

Category: Design Tips

Bedrooms

Design Tip: Natural Fiber Rugs

Do you love the look of natural fiber rugs, but are unsure of which kind would work for your home? If so, here are a few tips to help you find the right natural fiber (or alternative) rug to achieve the look you want.

Bedrooms

Design Tip: Natural Fall Decor

Using natural decorative accents is always a graceful and organic way to decorate for the season. Thinking of fall – apples, cinnamon, pumpkins, leaves, and cozy blankets come to mind – just to name a few! These inspiration photos encompass the latest in creative, natural fall decorating ideas.

Coastal & Beach House

Design Tip: Colorful Dining Room Chairs

Using an assortment of painted chairs is increasingly becoming a popular choice for people who want an eclectic look versus the traditional stained “set” look. Kitchen and dining rooms are typically full of activity, and it’s fun to be able to capture that energy through color. We often encounter clients who want painted chairs in a variety of colors, but are wary of the look being too contrived. Or people who want to introduce just a splash of color versus the whole rainbow.

Coastal & Beach House

Personalizing A Monochromatic Space

Who says monochromatic decorating has to be boring? The use of varying degrees of taupe keeps this space calming and quiet – perfect for reading or conversation. Introducing chrome and metallic accents help enhance the visual stimulation while adding an unexpected zest to this serene space. The art work and mirrors that eclectically adorn the walls keep the monochromatic impression, yet introduce texture and personality.

Bedrooms

Design Tip: Bedroom Break-Down

This beautiful cottage style bedroom has major personality and a whole lot of color!  Take a look at the break down to read why this

Bedrooms

Design Tip: Layering Your Linens

A few layering bed linen ideas and inspiration photos are featured in this design tip for an inviting, warm, and easy to care for seasonal bed!

Design Tips: Making a Splash with Wallpaper
Coastal & Beach House

Design Tip: Make A Splash with Wallpaper

Sometimes a room is in need of more than just a coat of paint to bring it’s personality to life. Wallpaper provides a decorative back splash that sets the tone for a space using color, design, and texture. Introducing the right wallpaper to your room isn’t always an easy feat, so here are a few helpful tips to guide you in the right direction!

Design tips: 5 Ways to Successful Seasonal Dining
Articles

5 Tips For Successful Seasonal Dining

Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, the holiday season of warm foods and gathering with family and friends for long meals continues throughout the winter. You want to ensure your guests are comfortable and feel invited to stay awhile for a cozy evening in. These five seasonal dining tips will not only help to make your dining room look good, but feel good too!

First Impression Entryway
Cottage Style

Design Tip: Organize Your Entryway

Today’s front and back entryways seem to be a source of clutter, extra “stuff”, and disorganization for most homes! It is a natural drop off station, a place for reminders as you are coming and going, and where hats/mittens/coats/shoes stack up all year round. It is no wonder clutter and chaos can quickly occur in a busy household. Here are a few helpful hints to create a practical, organized, and aesthetically pleasing mudroom.

Cottage Home Design Guide 103
Coastal & Beach House

Design Guide: Area Rug Sizing

Area rugs usually come in a range of standard sizes. The ratio of the length to the width for standard sizes is similar to the “Golden Ratio” of 1.6, which is a popular, visually-pleasing design parameter. Size availability will vary by manufacturer and specific rug design. Custom area rugs tend to cost twice as much as a similarly sized standard area rug.

Due to the variability of room size and shape, furniture arrangements, and limited standard area rug sizes, the best way to select a specific rug for a room is to use an interactive computer layout. As a general guideline, an area rug should be sized to either have all of the furniture off the rug, all of the furniture on the rug, or to anchor the front legs of all the furniture on the rug. For living rooms and family rooms, the best option tens to be having the front legs of the furniture on the rug to anchor the furniture to a cozy seating area.