About Design blog by Flair Interior Design of Annapolis

HELLO AND WELCOME: THE GUEST BEDROOM

3/16/2016

Your guest room should be a place where family members and friends can relax, rest and enjoy their visit in your home. The size of a guest room doesn't matter as much as the details and attention to comfort and the basic needs of your guests.

A few details count for a lot. For example, choose a light or bright color in a small room, because dark colors will make a small room appear even smaller. Choose a restful, soothing, inviting color such as the universal blue instead of red for example. Red is the color of excitement and after all, we want our guests to have a restful night.

Shutters or blinds are a good choice, especially in a small room, as they can be adjusted for light or privacy. Another good tip is to use twin beds, as they are most versatile and can accommodate a variety of guest combinations such as, mother and daughter, father and son, two friends, etc. Twin beds also have the advantage of allowing for different furniture arrangement in a room.

If a guest room does double duty such as a home office, make sure that the room is clutter free and inviting. Don't forget to sleep in the guest room for at least a whole night. Trying the room out is the ultimate comfort test. Make happy memories for you and your guests for the time spent in your home.

Tatiana Beckham
Jean Phillips
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
www.flairinteriordesign.com
[email protected]

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MIRROR ON THE WALL

2/25/2016

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SEE OUR BLOG ABOVE!

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MIRROR ON THE WALL

2/25/2016

6 Comments

Mirrors can do three things for a room: make it appear larger, make it brighter, while adding beauty themselves. They are timeless, striking, and versatile accessories. No matter where you put one, mirrors are an easy way to make a space seem bigger by reflecting light and giving the illusion of depth. For example, putting a large mirror in a small space expands the room and creates the sensation of a larger room. In bathrooms and dressing rooms they are a practical necessity, but mirrors have a variety of uses and can be used throughout the house to beautiful effect.

Placing a mirror over a fireplaces makes the fireplace a striking focal point. A mirror placed there will reflect more light and can do double duty, perhaps by reflecting a beautiful painting or by bringing into the room a beautiful outside view. Reflecting a beautiful piece of art gives the artwork even more importance.

In a dining room, a well-placed mirror will double the amount of light by reflecting the chandelier lights and also ambient light from the window(s). The mirror itself, with a striking frame, can become the focal point and can set the decorating tone for the entire room.

In a foyer or entry, a mirror is a versatile object. When complemented with art, beautiful objects, or additional lighting such as candles, mirrors have a way of creating a glowing ambience.

Tatiana Beckham
Jean Phillips
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
[email protected]
www.flairinteriordesign.com

6 Comments

ACCESSORIES: Living with the things we love...

2/13/2016

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Your home is the place that is uniquely yours. Consequently, it reflects who you are. A lot can be learned about a person from the things they collect and show in their home. For example, a large collection of books indicates the owner perhaps spends much of his/her time reading. An abstract painting over an antique piece of furniture may indicate that the person is not formulaic - not everything in the room has to be of one style and match.

Accessories in the home are about living with the things we love - a uniquely personal adventure. What accessories do in a home is personalize and make your home your own, unlike any other. Those objects transcend themselves to become an individual's signature style, a personal atmosphere. Beautiful things well arranged soothes the soul for those living there and for those who visit - a sort of nourishment for the eyes.

Are there rules for displaying accessories and objects? Yes and no.
Basically, a large object requires its own space. Small objects require company, or groupings so as not to be lost and visually disappear. Also, color, shape, texture, proportion, scale, are all important in displaying objects.

Accessories are the "notes of admiration" in a room. It is amazing how a few little touches yield big results. Just a few objects can make a room go from boring to exciting. Think of accessories as the jewelry of a well-dressed room - added to grace and complement the whole.

Tatiana Beckham
Jean Philips
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
www.flairinteriordesign.com

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STAGING 101: TIPS FOR THE SELLER

2/9/2016

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"BEFORE" above and "AFTER" below

There is no doubt that STAGING sells a home faster and for more money. We at FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN have been staging homes for years. We can say that what sells a home above all is space and light. Dingy, dark, small rooms do not sell a home. Well appointed kitchens and bathrooms are big selling points.

CURB APPEAL - Appealing to the buyer begins at the curb. All clutter must be removed and the yard should be clean and groomed. The front door and entrance should be appealing. The yard and entrance should be a welcoming site.

CLEANLINESS - Above all, a clean and fresh-smelling home is a great way to say hello to the buyer. Remove all pets and their toys and paraphernalia from the premises.

PERSONAL TOUCHES - Remove all personal touches. Your home now as become a product and all personal touches are just distractions. Examples are family photos, trophies, ribbons, etc.

NEUTRAL COLORS - Keep all walls and floors in a neutral color to appeal to the greatest number of buyers.

LIGHT AND MORE LIGHT - Turn on all lights in the house and open all curtains when showing the house.

CLUTTER: An open and decluttered home shows the space the best!

We hope that this punch list will help you sell your home faster and for more money!

Tatiana Beckham
Jean Phillips
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
www.flairinteriordesign.com
[email protected]

80 Comments

THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INITIAL CONSULTATION

1/28/2016

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Here are the steps that take place in one of our consultations.

After the client contacts an interior designer, the designer will schedule an initial consultation, which may last one or two hours. The consultation is important.

First of all the client and the designer get to know each other. After a walk-through of the space, they discuss in detail the specific requirements for the project. The client details the problems areas and thoughts regarding solutions, and his/her vision for the space. The designer in turn offers suggestions about the client's goals and how to reach them.

The designer asks the client questions to help understand their tastes and preferences, taking cues from what is already in the home, and actively listening to the client's wishes. They discuss lifestyle, how the space will be used, what are the client's favorite colors, and the client's dislikes specifically and in general. The designer wants the end product to be a total reflection of the client's tastes and special interests.

It is important to discuss the budget, and whether the client wants to accomplish the project all at once or in stages over time.

A consultation provides the client the opportunity to get accurate, realistic information regarding costs and the time required, and helps find more cost-efficient ways to reach the client's goals. The initial consultation becomes a valuable tool for both the designer and the client.

Below are "before" and "after" pictures of one of our interior design projects. This particular project involved very radical changes, as you can see. Our projects range from small changes to more complex changes and improvements, all with the goal of providing a beautiful and livable space for the client. All of our projects have their individual flavor that reflects the client's needs, desires and personality.

Tatiana Beckham & Jean Phillips
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
[email protected]
flairinteriordesign.com

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HOME AS SPA

1/18/2016

52 Comments

Your home should be your sanctuary, especially after a busy day. It should be a place to relax and recuperate, with serenity, and tranquility. If you wish to achieve these things, here are a few tips when designing your home.

THE COLOR SCHEME: Keep the wall colors in a neutral palette. Earth tones, pale green, pale blues, pale purple are good colors. Aqua is especially a good color, since it can remind you of water and the sea.

CLUTTER: Too many things in a room can make a space stressful, so keep furniture to a minimum.

LIGHT: Avoid harsh lighting. Install dimmers to all of your light sources to gain control of the amount of light in the room.

BEDROOM: The bedroom should be a place of relaxation and sleep. Control the noise level, if at all possible, and keep electronics and the TV out of the space.

SCENTS: Your home should always smell fresh. Adding candles in a room can be relaxing and calming. Make sure it is a clean fragrance and not too strong.

Good luck with making you home feel like a spa!

Tatiana Beckham
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
www.flairinteriordesign.com
[email protected]

52 Comments

A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats "Endymion"

1/5/2016

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The quote from Keats is applicable to almost every field of life and quite relevant in Interior Design. At FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN we understand that Interior Design is the field of making the home beautiful and functional.

Beautiful things are a source of our happiness. In our home, the beauty of great design is that it is timeless.

Bring the joy of beauty to your home and let it be an extension of yourself and your life!

If you truly love something, such as a piece of art or an accessory or a piece of furniture, there is always a place for it in your home. The joy it brings never fades! It is in the eye of the beholder that a thing of beautify gives unending pleasure and is a joy forever.

Tatiana Beckham
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
www.flairinteriordesign.com
[email protected]

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

12/16/2015

3 Comments

May the lights of the season fill your home with peace and joy throughout the year.

WITH OUR VERY BEST WISHES,

Jean & Tatiana
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
flairinteriordesign.com
[email protected]

3 Comments

FURNITURE PLANS TRANSFORM ROOMS

11/13/2015

7 Comments

The way to improve a room isn't always to buy
new furniture.
It's rearranging pieces you already own.

Changing the the placement of your furniture can make all the difference. Interior Designers can create the best furniture plan for your room, balancing practical considerations with creative risk-taking. We choose the best location for each item. Adding, subtracting or relocating furniture affects how natural light plays in the space and also how frequently the room gets used.
For example, by simply adding a bench to a wall, a room can become more of a hangout.

Jean & Tatiana
FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN
[email protected]
www.flairinteriordesign.com