Springtime always arrives like a surprise. When the first hint of spring wafts in on a late winter breeze, it makes us pause, take a deep breath, and then let it out again with the reassurance that, soon, the trees will blush pink and the world will turn green once more.
You can capture that moment of anticipation all year long by choosing the right color scheme for your room. The green walls shown here are color of new plants peeping out of the earth, and provide a nurturing background for the blushing pink pillow on the sofa.
Don’t overdress the simple spring setting with too many accessories. A bit of bling and a bouquet of flowers are all you need to convey the fresh, vibrant feelings of springtime.
Bright white is the background that allows every other color in the house to show off in comparison
You already know that to turn a house into a comfortable home you need to make it fit your style and lifestyle, but you are probably less certain of how to make all the elements come together in the most effective personal and functional ways. That’s when an interior designer can be your friend—and in homeowner Joan Swartz’s case, the designer actually was one.
A centerpiece in the family room showcases Joan’s pitcher collection. She enjoys using pitchers to hold flowers and likes to give them away as gifts. Amateur art found at flea markets lines the wall.
“We chose Santa Monica for the neighborhood and good public schools, and this house had enough bedrooms that even with a live‐in nanny and home office, I imagined we would never have to move again,” Joan explains. Although the house was two stories with six bedrooms, there was no real master suite, and it was in poor condition. It had also been remodeled with cheap finishes, such as aluminum sliding windows.
“So we tore it down to the studs and reorganized the entire floor plan and front elevation to restore it to look and live like an original, traditional Cape Cod‐style house,” Joan says. “I was determined to use every inch of this house—and I did.”
About 12 years later, Joan met interior designer Alison Kandler, who helped her remodel a second time, to redesign the kitchen/family room, entry and powder room on the first floor.
The former aluminum windows were replaced with Craftsman-style wood casement windows that accurately reflect the time period in which the home was built.In the guest bedroom, quilts add color and softness to the white walls and floor.
“Another decade went by before we tackled the second story,” Joan says. “My sons were all out of the house by then, so we remodeled the master suit and kids’ bathroom, and cannibalized a couple of bedrooms to become my home office and an upstairs family room.”
A third remodel of the home included the attic area. Although the three remodels were done many years apart, Joan wanted them to look seamless. “I wanted to make it feel cohesive, like it was all done at the same time, even though it was a work in progress for 25 years,” she says.
Some of her favorite architectural details include sloped ceilings, dormers in the bedrooms, and niches that are very romantic and charming. “And a lot of windows—about 65 windows,” Joan says. “Windows on at least two sides of a room help to let light into a room at different times of the day. I love living so near the ocean for the constant ocean breeze and beautiful sunsets.”
Redecorating the Rooms
The double-wide armchair for two was found at a garage sale in lime green. Joan had it upholstered in her favorite cranberry color.
Through the years, Joan and Alison became business partners as well as close friends. Joan trusted Alison’s intuition and skills as an interior designer to achieve her desired décor. “You can’t collaborate well unless you feel comfortable with someone else having a better idea,” Joan says. “There’s an absence of competitive ego between us, so we work really well as a team. Alison is the keeper of the concept and helps me to balance all these beautiful colors without getting carried away.” Alison’s familiarity with Joan was a great asset in making decorating decisions. “Joan has a lot of personality; she’s very outgoing. She loves life and wanted her home to feel happy, warm and colorful,” she says.
On Joan’s request list was opening up the kitchen for entertaining, so Alison made some creative changes in design and functionality. “I opened it up by getting rid of the upper cabinets and rearranging the overall space,” Alison says. “We wanted to include an island with a stove on it, but the kitchen wasn’t quite big enough, so we created a C‐shaped island so Joan can stand on an angle to cook while seeing through to the family room and socializing with guests.”
Alison had to find another creative solution for a column next to the refrigerator that couldn’t be moved, so she hid it behind laminated glass. She chose American cherry wood for the countertops, since Joan loves the warmth of wood. “The wood counter is a bit of maintenance, so we put a fresh coat of polyurethane on it every year,” Joan says. Since Alison knew Joan loves color, she painted the island in eggplant (plum) and the chairs in different colors.
Joan says she feels like she’s showering in a flower garden thanks to this colorful custom-made tile floor.
Making a Splash in the Bath
“My favorite aspect of the project is the tiled shower floor in the master bathroom. It’s covered in a floral design,” Alison says. “An artist in Phoenix creates unusual tiles, so I gave him a color palette of purple and pink flowers, and I told him the kind of flowers I wanted to use.” Joan adores the floral shower floor. “I really like to bring the outdoors in. I feel like I’m showering in a flower garden,” she says.
The gingham pattern might look like it was painted, but the effect was actually produced with tiles. Mauve grout, rather than the traditional white, is responsible for making the transition appear seamless.
Another favorite is a guest bathroom that boasts a charming gingham purple floor. “Alison said to me, ‘When are we ever going to get to do a purple floor?’ So I trusted her and went with purple instead of green. It’s fabulous!” Joan says.
A built-in nook holds a house-shaped cookie jar, cookbooks and an assortment of Joan’s collectibles.
Adding a Personal Touch
An unexpected but enduring effect Alison has had on Joan was introducing her to the world of being a collector. “She didn’t have collections at the time, so we started going to flea markets, and she caught the bug.”
Joan has amassed several collections that she enjoys displaying. “I love to buy amateur art and paint‐by‐number paintings at flea markets. I’m a quilter, so I display them as well as my needlepoints, Sandy Kreyer floral ceramics, pitchers, miniature teapots and antique Barbola mirrors from the early 20th century.”
The architect and designer are both thrilled with the outcome. “We live in each other’s art,” Alison says. “You want the family to feel like they could never live anywhere else.” Joan says she is finally living in her dream home. “I feel like Cinderella. Every morning I wake up thinking how lucky I am to live here,” Joan says. “We have plenty of room to have friends stay with us and share our comfortable home. We are really blessed and grateful. It fits us like a glove!”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, which means lots of pink. But October is months away, so we think February should be the official Pink month. In honor of Romantic Home’s favorite color, here’s an adorable pink bedroom and some of our favorite pink finds from around the web.
Blankets are cozy and warm in the winter, but most of us think of them as a utility item rather than a decor object. But they can serve both purposes! Here are several different kinds of throw blankets, and how you can use them to work in your decor.
Cabled Throw.
The cabled knit blanket gives off the ultimate cozy vibe. It reminds us of warm sweaters, reading books before the fire and beautiful snow outside. Display a cabled throw during the winter months to add texture and luxury to your living room or bedroom.
Furry Throw.
Warm, rich and oh so soft, the furry throw works particularly well with upscale furniture for a luxurious feel. In this living room, a subtle cheetah print on the throw adds a bit of daring to the scene.
Knitted Throw.
While some blankets are thick and others are stiff, a knitted blanket is generally light and malleable. It’s perfect for the spring and summer months, when all you need is an extra light layer. As a bonus, leave the blanket out on your sofa or an upholstered chair for easy access.
Colored Throw.
While off-white and gray blankets will coordinate with most styles and color schemes, a colored throw is the perfect way to add a vibrant pop to a room. This works especially well if the room or furniture has a neutral backdrop. You can even change out the colored throws to keep with the seasons—green or orange for summer, red or brown for fall, blue or gray for winter and pale pink or purple for spring.
This is the season to celebrate new life and what better way than with the color green! In this bedroom, it is the main color, accented with white and pops of purple and gold. Add in natural light flooding through the window and, voila! You’ve got a spring-ready romantic retreat.
1. Go green. In this bedroom, the green walls accented by green pillows on the bed create a calming effect while also livening the space. Pair these details with white and gold to add romance and a bright feel.
2. Fresh flowers. Now is the time to let blooms rule. You can never have enough arrangements as long as you keep them clean and simple. The purple flowers in this picture add a hint of color that helps enhance the rest of the room.
3. Open your shutters. Let light abound in your home. It will bring warmth and draw attention to the color in your home. The sun mirror on the wall reflects light and is itself symbolic of sunlight spreading in the room.
Summer isn’t over yet, so make sure your next celebration is as colorful and cheery as the season itself. Use bright colors, fun patterns and a relaxed attitude to create a truly summer inspired celebration. Follow these five tips on how to decorate your table to give guests a joyous experience.
Colorful and cheery, this summer inspired table is perfect for summer celebrations.
1. Make your colors bright. Don’t underestimate the power of primaries. Blue, yellow, red, orange and green offer a classically bright theme sure to please any guest.
2. Pick the right linens. Here, a classic white and red striped table cloth adds cheer while keeping in perfect harmony with the color pallet. The right linens will support your color scheme, create a good background for your place settings and make guests feel welcome.
3. Elevate your centerpiece. Keep your centerpiece simple so that your cheerful decor can shine. Let your decadent desserts stand tall by placing them on a cake stand, offering color as well as a fun touch. Guests will also appreciate having desserts within arms reach.
4. Patterned place setting. Use patterns to liven up your table. Here, a fun floral motif on the dinner plate offers a colorful border for your gourmet meal. Two-toned glasses and flatware that features different colored handles creates perfectly summer themed charm.
5. Above all, have fun. Celebrate summer for it’s relaxed and casual nature with your guests. Mix together favorite pieces for a personal touch that everyone will appreciate. Don’t let the season slip by without enjoying a charming, colorful and fun celebration.
Decorating for Spring
