Emily A. Clark: September 2010

5 Ways to Lighten Up Your Space

After Tuesday night's Q&A session, it seems that alot of you have a similar problem when it comes to decorating your family room--you're "in the dark" (and I don't mean clueless). I heard from people with dark molding, dark fireplaces, dark sofas. . . And, they all wanted to know the same thing:

How do I lighten up my room without making major changes (i.e., painting all of the trim, buying new upholstery, etc.)?

If you have alot of dark elements in your room and not so much natural light, there are some small changes you can make to give your room an overall lighter feel. Here are five quick changes you can make so that your space feels a little less cave-like:

#1. Use mirrors and glass accents.

Little Green Notebook via DecorPad

While too much dark furniture may make your room feel weighed down, you can lighten things up with your accessories. Try to incorporate pieces that have reflective qualities. A big mirror, for example, will instantly start to open up the space. I also like to use a glass in the form of coffee tables, hurricanes, candle sticks, etc.--which all help to add a little "sparkle."

#2. Add white and/or cream textiles.

Style at Home via DecorPad

This may seem obvious but is really one of the easiest, and best, ways to liven things up. Solid cream pillows will mix with almost any decor. And, I always like to use folded throws in light colors over the side of my sofa or the back of my chair. It's a sure fix to make a brown sofa not seem so "brown." Another trick I've used in my own living room is to use tall, solid curtain panels (in off-white) on all of the windows. I hung mine high so that your eye is instantly drawn upward. They are also a nice contrast to the dark navy wall:

#3. Mix in metals.

Kelly Wearstler via DecorPad

Want to break up too much dark wood furntiure or trim in a room? Start by bringing in accent pieces in metal finishes. And, don't worry about mixing different tones. I'm a firm believer that nothing has to match. For example, you can easily mix in a pretty gold coffee table and keep your silver lamps in the same room. Mixing finishes will only help to add interest to your space.

#4. Hang framed art using large white mats.

HGTV's Pure Design via DecorPad

Hanging something beautiful on your wall is one of the best ways to create a focal point, thus drawing your eye away from the other things in the room that bother you. To keep it light, I suggest framing a series of favorite family photographs (or even free art from a site like this) and framing them in similar frames with white mats.

#5. Add a large, light rug.

Heather Garrett Design via DecorPad

The floor is literally the foundation of your room and can play a big part in the overall feel of your design. Thought you couldn't use a rug because you already have carpeting? Sure you can. I love the patterns and textures that rugs bring to a space and have used them over the carpeting in almost every room of our house. If your bogged down with dark upholstery or dark built-ins, try adding a light shag or loop rug (I think these are more kid-friendly if you're going to go for a lighter color). And, what if you already have a dark rug in the space? It's totally acceptable to layer smaller rugs over them, as well.

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In case you haven't heard, I'm giving away my online design services for one room over at The Nesting Place. You have until midnight tonight to enter!

A Bright Idea (for Your Powder Room)

Yesterday, a friend and I went to the annual home tour ("Homearama") that's sponsored by the Charlotte Homebuilders Association. As opposed to years past, the houses featured this year were more "attainable," unlike some of the mega-mansions I've toured in the past (still big and beautiful, mind you, but not so huge that you can't find your way out).

I snapped lots of pics of things I loved and ideas to file away that I'll share with you as soon as I get them off my camera, crop, edit, etc. In the meantime, I had to share this quick idea with you. Don't you just love when you see something you've never thought of before?

This was the powder room in one of the homes, and I love the fact that there is no light fixture mounted above the mirror. Instead they used this beautifully detailed drum pendant, making the powder room more of a "room."

Beautiful! Definitely tucking this idea away for future use. . .

If you ever consider doing this, here are some great (and inexpensive) options for swanky powder room lighting that I found on Overstock:

Geometric Hanging Shade

3-Light Contemporty Nickel Chandelier

Metal Leaf Hanging Light

I'll be sharing the rest of the highlights (according to me) from Charlotte's "Homearama" with you next week.

"Ask Emily"

~~~This "live" session is now closed for questions, but I will hopefully be doing another "Ask Emily" post in the near future. Thanks to everyone who participated and for all of your great questions!

Good evening! Welcome to my first live design Q&A blog session. I'm a little nervous, since this is the first time I've tried this--so go easy on me :) If it's successful, maybe we'll make this a regular occurrence around here. . . .

Just to recap, you can post your questions here in the comment section, and I'll respond there, as well. To keep seeing my answers and other questions, you'll need to keep refreshing the page. I'll answer as many as I can for about an hour.

I'll get things started by answering this question I received earlier today from a reader:

When decorating a family room, what sort of formula do you use when determing how much pattern/color to mix. I am making curtains in a blue-green and citrine on white ikat, and there are so many patterns I'd like to use for pillows that I don't know how to narrow it down. Should the pillows be in pairs or is it okay to have all different fabrics? Should one color be more dominant or is it okay to have an equal amount of blues and greens? The patterns I am considering are a blue-green and cream zigzag; citrine trellis; a subtle blue-green, citrine and cream houndstooth; and a solid spa blue with a zigzag pattern. Can you give any advice? Thanks!! Noelle

I'm posting my answer in the comments section--now!

Online Decorating Giveaway and My First Live Q&A

If you've read this blog for any amount of time, you know I work with alot of clients who live in other states through my online decorating services. This part of my business has really come as a surprise; I didn't even plan to initially offer it, but with three small kids and a hectic schedule, it has been a huge blessing. I've shopped for many a lamp online at midnight when the house was quiet.

Today, I'm excited to announce that I've partnered up with The Nester for my first official giveaway. I knew her blog would be a great place to offer my services--her mantra, afterall, is "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." I think any of us working on our first home, or decorating around small kids, can relate. . .

The winner of the giveaway will receive my online decorating services for one room of their choice. Depending on how much help you need, the winner will receive an idea board for their space, a list of shopping sources with detailed design notes and a space plan. Visit The Nesting Place to enter for a chance to win.

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In other news, I would like to invite you to my first-ever Live Q&A Session. It's happening tonight(Tuesday, 9/28)--on my blog.

Here's how it works:

I'll be online beginning at 9:00pm EST to answer your design questions (or whatever else you may want to know). I'll set up another post as soon as I'm on, and you can start asking your questions by posting them in the comment section. To see my answers (and other readers' comments), just keep refreshing the page. I'll be available for about an hour, so start thinking of your questions! Should be fun--if anyone shows up :)

Courtney's Kitchen Makeover

I think it was the show Designer's Challenge where they would show the room to be updated, list the problems and improvements that they would like to make, and then the host (was it Chris Harrison?) would say something like, "And, the couple would like to do it all on a $85,000 budget." I don't know about you, but it would sometimes leave me feeling irked. For many of us, that kind of budget isn't "in the budget."

So, when one of my readers recently emailed me her kitchen makeover, I asked if she would share the costs for each improvement. I thought it was a good example of how to spend your money in the right places to achieve maximum results.

This is Courtney's finished kitchen:

Although she had pretty good bones to work with, Courtney made some smart improvements that resulted in a clean, modern space. And, all of her investments are great for a potential resale down the road.

This is what the kitchen looked like before (of course, her adorable daughter definitely helps to distract!):

Here's a quick rundown of what she did. . . .

#1. Replaced a couple of cabinet doors with with glass-front doors (2 x $200; Total Cost = $400)

#2. Added under cabinet lighting (6 x $30; Total Cost = $180)

This, paired with the glass cabinets, brightens things up instantly. I also love adding a lamp (or two) to kitchens, when possible.

#3. Replaced small knobs with larger bin pulls (from Restoration Hardware). (11 x $10 each; Total Cost = $110)

#4. Added a subway tile backsplash (materials = $220; tile installation = $1200; Total Cost = $1440)

Courtney's kitchen previously didn't have a backsplash. I think this was a great investment. And, the white is such a fresh, timeless choice.

#5. New Moen Faucet (Total Cost = $180)

On a side note, I love the quote on her chalkboard. . . .

Total Cost of Kitchen Updates (with the exception of appliances) = $2290

Thanks to Courtney for sharing her great kitchen update with us. For more details, you can visit Courtney's blog, A Thoughtful Place.

Do you have a recent room makeover with before and after pictures that you would like to share? I'll be sharing reader room updates from time to time. Email me here and tell me about it.

Big Fun in the Big Apple

Let me start this post by saying, my real life day-to-day routine consists of feeding, dressing, driving, changing, and chasing three sweet little people. And, I love it. But, my three days in New York couldn't have been better--or more unlike my normal life :) Here's a (not-so-quick) recap.

We got off the plane Monday night and headed straight to the New York Design Center for the Rue Magazine launch party. Totally glamorous and totally fun! I immediately spotted some of my favorite bloggers and had the best time meeting them. (I kept saying it was like my high school reunion, only better.)

Alaina of Live Creating Yourself and Managing Editor of Rue Magazine (So warm and personable!)

Marianne of Haven and Home and Cristin of Simplified Bee (Such sweet girls; loved being with them!)

Mackenzie of Design Darling and Will of Bright Bazaar

Between my Southern accent and Will's British accent, Mackenzie thought this was the funniest conversation she had ever heard. (We obviously had alot to talk about!)

Oh dear heavens! I am only posting this picture because I like Emily Henderson (HGTV's latest Design Star) so much. Unfortunately, in my excitement, I ended up looking like a complete goob.

Also a thrill to meet Eddie Ross (I loved his season of Top Design on Bravo).

I think he was saying something like "Oh, Emily! I think your blog is simply brilliant!" Well, I can dream, at least!

The majority of our second day was spent at the Nate Berkus Show--the main reason for our trip.

We spent a while in the holding room, where I got to meet even more bloggers.

Janell of Isabella and Max Rooms

(One of the nicest, most sincere, and talented bloggers I know. And, she's going to be on another upcoming Nate episode showcasing one of her designs!)

Fellow Charlotte bloggers Traci and Bryn, along with Kirsten (from Utah). We all ended up on the front row together. (Maybe it was the color combo. . . )

Had such fun with Jade. Her ear might have fallen off from my babbling. . . .

Nate's guests that day were Emily Henderson, who did a de-cluttering makeover for a military family, and Christian Siriano of Project Runway fame (can you believe I've never watched that show?!). I thought the show itself was alot of fun and Nate was even more charming in real life.

My friend Katie and me at the taping

After the show, he did a casual Q&A with the design bloggers in the audience. They asked for questions and my hand shot up. I didn't exactly know what my question was, but I figured this was my opportunity to have a conversation (and make eye contact) with Nate Berkus, so I went for it. I ended up asking him if he had time to read design blogs and if so, which were his favorite ones. He basically said that that he didn't have alot of time to read blogs, but had staffers that pulled ideas from them and put them in a binder for him to look over. I politely refrained from suggesting he personally read mine :) Maybe he'll get around to it eventually. . .

That's me over there on the side, waiting to ask my question. (Thanks to Jenny for snapping this pic!)

After the show, we were invited to a blogger party hosted by The Nest magazine (and graciously organized by Camila of High-Heeled Foot in the Door).

I was a little starstruck to meet Jenny from Little Green Notebook :)

And, if that weren't enough, I got to hang out with Stefanie, Ms. Limestone herself, and Amanda of Recycled Consign and Design.

We spent the rest of our time in the city shopping with some other bloggers, eating (several times), and acting like crazy tourists.

Cristin, Rhoda (one of my sweet roomies, along with Sarah, who I never got pictures with!) and Kate.

And, what better way to end our trip than to sit on the runway at LaGuardia for four hours while waiting for a huge storm to pass. Luckily, I had my partner in crime (Katie) to keep me more than entertained--and a guy from Brooklyn, who might have been really sorry he got stuck next to two giddy girls who wanted to tell him all about Nate Berkus.

Now, back to the real world. . . . .

Blog Crawl Series: "My Life Is an Open Book"

Recently, Beth from the blog, Hello Splendor, asked several design bloggers to take part in a blog crawl. Essentially, we all blog on the same topic, each taking our turn on an assigned day and then passing the torch to the next blogger. Beth came up with the topic of "My Life is an Open Book." Being that my flight from NYC was delayed and I got in at 1 a.m., my "book" is going to be short and sweet (and maybe a little lame. . . ). Forgive me; I'm sleepy.

The Author: Me, of course. I suppose I would be the expert on this subject.

The Setting: A small town in North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte.

The Characters: Emily (obviously), the husband and eventually, our three babies

The Plot: This is the story of a girl who drove to work every day with a sick feeling of dread. She worked in technology sales, you see, and quite frankly, was bored to tears. While sitting in meetings amongst talk of networks, modems and IP addresses, Emily was secretly thinking of what color to paint her living room and whether roman shades or panels would be a better fit for her bedroom windows. She would come home each day and complain to her husband for hours about how much she wanted to find a different job.

The Twist: After months of misery, Emily's very supportive husband encouraged her to give the job the boot and find something that made her happy. Within two weeks, she was hired as a design consultant with Ethan Allen Interiors--a great opportunity to use the sales experience she already had while learning tons about design at the same time.

Fast forward a little less than two years later, and Emily assumes the new role of stay-at-home mom after the birth of her first baby. Fast forward four more years, and Emily has three kids. (How did that happen?!) Soon after the birth of her third baby, she decides she might need a creative outlet and starts a blog in conjunction with her new design business. And, here we are today, with Emily trying to somehow blog, change diapers and decorate. It's a good (crazy) life.

Keep Crawling. . . Learn more about the lives of other design bloggers by reading their posts for the blog crawl. First, visit Lauren at Aspiring Kennedy who posted her life story yesterday.

And, tomorrow, check out The Social Thread.

After more sleep, I'll be back tomorrow with a recap (and lots of pictures) of my trip to NYC and the Nate Berkus Show. It was a blast!

Do You Rue?

After much debate on what to wear, my suitcase is packed and I'm off to NYC this afternoon. Our first stop is the launch party of Rue Magazine. In case you're not familiar with Rue, it's an online design magazine, recently started by some talented bloggers, including editor-in-chief Crystal of Plush Palate and managing editor Alaina of Live Creating Yourself. Both have guest posted on my blog in the past, and I'm so glad I'll get to meet them tonight at such an exciting event for them and their magazine. (You can read their previous posts on my blog here and here.)

The first issue premiered last week, and I thought it was really beautifully put together. I also loved how several of their features showcased design bloggers and their homes. Here are a few of my favorite images:

So, what's your take on online design magazines? Have you tried them yet? To be honest, I wasn't so sure at first, but I actually love flipping through them on my laptop and clipping the images that I like the best. And, having no subscription fee isn't too bad, either.

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I'm taking the next couple of days off from blogging so I can actually hang out with some of my favorite bloggers (and Nate, too, of course). In the meantime, you can catch my guest posts over at Very Fine House and Inglebrook Decor. Thanks to Brooke and Maureen for having me!