New “Trad Home” Issue & Santa Fe Trip

In case you missed it, the latest “Trad Home” digital magazine is available online here:

Trad Home Online

Melanie Turner

The publication features some of my favorite designers, such as Melanie Turner and Tammy Conner. The online magazine has showcased several really interesting rooms and includes a useful “5 Tips” section with great recommendations to incorporate when planning your own designs.

The publication also has a special section called “Rooms of Their Own”, two of which are shown below.  This article covers a charitable action coordinated by Vanessa Kogevinas, a friend and colleague (we attended the same boarding school and she has helped me with PR activities).

In addition to her “day job”, Vanessa works with another Vanessa, Vanessa de Vargas, to do good works for the Good Shepard Center for Women and Children (http://www.catholiccharitiesla.org/what-we-do/transform-homelessness/good-shepherd-center-for-homeless-women-and-children.html)

I know Vanessa is incredibly busy and this is a great reminder to all us not to forget to take time to prioritize helping others amidst all the business/busy-ness of our daily lives.

I was also excited to see a “Girl’s Weekend” trip all planned out to the city of New Orleans in this issue!  I just got back from an annual “girl’s weekend”, this time to Santa Fe.  While there, we talked about our trip for next year and New Orleans was high on the list!  It would be fabulous to have it all pre-planned!

Here is a photo of the group while we were in Santa Fe.  We were room mates at Vanderbilt University (a few years ago!) and have stayed in touch ever since.  These women are such a blessing to me and I can’t wait for our trip next year!

Here are: Leslie (from Atlanta), me (Austin), Susan (Los Angeles), Hays (Dallas), Lori (Tampa)

We went for a great hike out in the desert at the Tent Rock National Park.  The weather was perfect!

Everyone lives in a different city and has different life demands (jobs, kids, etc) but we still manage to get together and enjoy each other’s company.  Believe it or not, when Scott and I were living and working in England, all 4 of them even flew to London to spend a week with me there!  Now, those are good friends!

Here are a couple of other photos I snapped of things that intrigued me- beautiful flowers against adobe walls and the bluest skies you will ever see:

A very cool address plate:

We also stopped at the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.  As an art history major, I love looking at art museums when I travel.

I took a picture of this quote by Georgia which is at the entrance of the museum:

I swear I am taking a photography class within the next year.  The quote reads:

“Where I was born and where and how I lived is unimportant.  It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest”

I find that to be a very intriguing way of looking at life.  We often get hung up with where someone is born or where they live.  It is really what we choose to do with our lives that is of most importance.

On that philosophical note, I am committed to spending more time with family and friends this year.  And when we start planning next year’s ‘Girl’s Weekend” I will definitely ask you all for travel tips and recommendations before we leave!

Don’t forget to check out the Trad Home magazine online!  I promise you will enjoy it.

What’s New Wednesday: Abstract Art II

A while back, I mentioned a fabulous new art line we were carrying.  We have had many pieces come and go and I continue to be amazed at how quickly they sell, many to local designers who are in the process of creating amazing rooms for their clients.

These are real oil paintings, painted in California (not China, thank you very much).  They range in size, but none are smaller than 40”x40” and sell at incredible prices, starting at about $379.  They are available framed or unframed.

Stop by and pick-up your favorite before they are gone.

What Your Paint Color Says About You

“Paint color is an expression of your personality,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color.“We branch out occasionally, but most of us have a proclivity for certain types of shades.”

Are you trying to figure out what color to paint your space?  You may not realize it, but there are many psychological studies which show one’s mood is highly influenced by the color selections you may make.  There are psychological impacts not only specific colors (i.e. blue, green, red, yellow), but also with tones of colors (warm, cool).

To begin, there are general guidelines for what ‘feelings’ colors evoke, as shown in the chart below.

Source

If you are considering red as a paint selection, be aware that it is an ‘energetic’ color that will be strong (dominating) and vibrant.  You will not feel relaxed in a red room.

Better Homes & Gardens

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Green is a natural, harmonious selection.  If you want to feel renewed and refreshed, green tones are a good selection for your home.

Coastal Living

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And while some may say beige is boring, those who like neutrals prefer a crisp, timeless look which is also very practical (no need to repaint in 2 years if you tire of a color).

When it comes to warm tones versus cool tones, a Real Simple article quoted Eiseman as saying,  “People who use warm tones tend to be friendly and nurturing—they love having others over.”  Warm tones are associated with colors such as red, yellow and orange.

In the same article, it is stated that those who prefer cool tones, associated with blues, greens and purples, are looking for an environment which is calm.  Eiseman says, “people tend to associate pale to medium blues, lavenders, and greens with the sky, a body of water or wide-open field—elements we perceive as being tranquil and soothing.”

Which color appeals to you?  If you don’t know there are a lot of fun, free color personality tests you can take online.  Go exploring and let me know what you discover!

What’s New Wednesday: Tufted Chair

This week’s ‘What’s New Wednesday’ is a beautiful, tufted back chair custom made in North Carolina for only $1575, as shown.

This chair is 8-way hand tied with the frame and cushion guaranteed for the life of the product. The fabric is a beautiful off-white velvet-type fabric (but very durable), accented with silver nail-heads (other colors, or a welt in lieu of nail-heads, are options).  The chair also comes with metal caps on the front feet (in silver or brass).

The lines on this chair are really lovely.  The scale is great for a tight space, only 28.5”w and 36”d (and 36”h).  We can also special order this chair in hundreds of other fabrics and leathers.  Come in and see all the choices available make a custom chair for your home.

Before and After: Library

I wanted to share this before and after as a example of how much difference a coat of paint and wall décor can make in a room.

My client has an older, bungalow style home with smaller rooms.  This room is the library, and is also used as the downstairs TV room for the family of two.  You can’t see the TV in this picture, but you can see the cable box on the left under the photo frame.

Before:

This older home already had nice built-in bookshelves and a coffered ceiling.  It helps to have some architectural detail to start with!  But, with the soft, yellow paint color, you really didn’t notice the millwork.  Additionally, my client has an amazing collection of “coffee table” art books which were not being well showcased.

After:

What a drastic difference a coat of paint can make!  Since this wasn’t a main living area, the client felt comfortable going with a bolder color choice.  We had a rug custom made to fit the room (notice the small rug in the original photo) and ordered two, white, slipcovered chairs with matching ottoman for the adults to lounge in.

The wall décor was an investment; the natural seafans are hand tinted in the US, framed between two pieces of glass and sealed with a silver acid-washed frame.  These really make a statement.

Last I heard, the TV was going to go back into the room at some point, but they were enjoying sitting in the library so much, they didn’t even feel like they needed it.

Don’t think you can’t do much with a small space in your home.  Push yourself to really get creative and go outside your comfort zone, especially in an area that may not get heavy use everyday.  Decorating a room for impact can help give your home the ‘wow’ factor you may be looking for.

What’s New Wednesday: Closed Door Media Cabinet

I know it seems like everyone is hanging their TV on the wall these days, but that doesn’t mean that in every home it is appropriate to have a TV as the focal point of your room.

And, if you want to hide your TV away and don’t have a built-in cabinet, good luck finding an attractive piece with appropriate dimensions (i.e. not a deep armoire meant to house an older TV that is about 24” deep).

Well, look no further, we have found one.  This piece is fabulous.  It is solid wood, stained a nice, rich brown and accommodates a plasma TV behind large doors which fold back.http://heatherscotthome.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1633&action=edit

This piece looks great closed or open.  The dimensions are: 66w x 19d x 66.25H.  It sells for $1758.  The detailed molding at the crown and at the base legs is amazing.

I think this piece would look great in a loft area or den where the family hangs out to watch TV.

On a different note, mark your calendar now for our Lilly Pulitzer event in the store on Saturday, May 12th between 1pm to 3pm.  Check back on the blog or our Facebook page for updated information as the event approaches!

Click here for our Facebook page: Heather Scott Home & Design Facebook Page

My Dream Home: 919 Ocean Blvd.

Did I tell you Scott just took me back to California for our anniversary weekend?  Probably not, because it was a surprise until the last minute!

We took a long weekend and had a great time visiting San Diego and Laguna Beach, where we were married 11 years ago overlooking the ocean from a terrace at the hotel below:

I don’t know how it was in your home town, but there was quite a bit of lottery fever on Friday afternoon in California and we got wrapped up in it.  We stayed on Coronado Island and saw the lines to buy lottery tickets.  Who wouldn’t wait a few minutes for the possibility of winning half a billion dollars?

Well, we bought a few tickets and meandered along Ocean Boulevard near the famous “Hotel Del” Coronado.

If we did win, we wondered, what would we do with all that money?  It didn’t take me long to decide.  I’ve always wanted to live at the beach and while I think the Florida gulf coast has the best sand and beaches, I prefer the climate in California.  So, a beach front home would be my first purchase.

I don’t personally need or want a mansion, just a little beach cottage.  And, walking along Ocean Boulevard, we came upon the perfect home for me.  A little Nantucket inspired beach home.  Doesn’t look too grandiose, don’t you think?

No one was living there, so we decided to walk up and take a peek in the windows. If I’d won the lottery, this would’ve been my front porch.

And the view to the right from my new front porch:

The inside looked just right to me.  A lot of millwork- look at the bead board ceilings with coffers- I just love that, not to mention the wall paneling.  The floors were a beautiful white oak, wide planks that would never show a spec of sand.

The kitchen did not have marble, but it was a sacrifice I could make for the location.

Through the front windows I could see 2 fireplaces on the main level, but neither of us thought this place had any ‘over the top’ features.

We looked it up online and the first photos show a classic beach cottage on the main level and in the master bedroom.

The master bath is fairly small, as you would expect, given the tight lots on Coronado.

I was ready to move in.  We made bets on the price.  We both thought close to $20 million given the location right on the ocean.  What a nice surprise that it was only $9.8 million, a bargain.  Apparently the monthly payment would be a mere $60,000, that is before taxes and insurance.  Well, if we won the lottery, maybe this little cottage would be ours….

Only it turns out it isn’t a little cottage.  The house has almost 5,000 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.

The laundry room has two sets of washers/dryers.

Here is the lovely, paneled hallway, only it comes with an elevator…

which could take you to a lower level…

complete with a panel glass window of a rock wall (?)

and a 2,200 bottle wine cellar.

Or you could take the elevator up to the roof top deck with fireplace, 7 person spa, outdoor kitchen and 360 degree views from Point Loma to the San Diego skyline.

As I mentioned, these are tight lots, but no worries.  You can still park all your cars with ease on the built in turn table.

So maybe this house was a little more than just the two of us needed.  Of course, I wouldn’t complain if someone gifted it to me, but since we didn’t win the lottery (I don’t think we even got one powerball number right), this home is definitely not in our future.  Or, should I have said “in our immediate future?”

So we said goodbye to our little home on Coronado.  Still, it was fun to imagine for a little while.  Have you ever found your dream home?  If so, tell me about it- I would love to know what made it your favorite place!

What’s New Wednesday: Lilly Pulitzer Sofa

We have been receiving tons of great, fun Lilly Pulitzer items.  The store definitely looks like spring (or summer given the heat already!).  But, for those of you who aren’t up for such a color commitment, I wanted to share with you this beautiful sofa, in very neutral colors.

Here is the Lola sofa in a very colorful vignette:

Here is the sofa without all the colorful pillows:

It has classic tufting on the back, is upholstered in a soft beige color and has contrast piping in white.

Here is the same sofa in a ‘neutral’ setting:

The sofa is available in other fabrics and colors.  It sells for about $4700.  The piece is handmade in the USA and is incredibly comfortable.  Please come in and see for yourself!

What to Know about TV Placement

With so many people moving away from placing a TV in an armoire to hanging it on the wall I thought I would write a quick post on the basics of where to hang your TV.

Amanda Nisbet

According to the electronic experts, the TV height should be at your eye level while seated for the best viewing.  However, for most people this looks too low to the ground (unless you live in a condo or loft).

Source

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What you want to avoid is placing the TV too high (i.e. above a fireplace or in the ceiling) to avoid neck strain.

Better Home & Gardens

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That said, there are instances, though where this just can’t be avoided.  In this case, you want to try to place your couch further away from the TV. Additionally, look for an automated mounting bracket which will tilt down when the TV is on.

As I mentioned, trying to place the seating further away from the TV will improve your viewing.  When I am working on a project I usually check the Crutchfield website: Crutchfield, which has a great article on ideal viewing distance based on the TV screen size.  This is especially important in media rooms with larger screens.

The article has this handy chart which is really easy to refer to.

One other ‘rule of thumb’ is that the nearest you should sit is about 2 times the width of the screen.  Using the chart above, if the screen was 46” wide, you would sit no less than 7 1/2 ft away (46 times 2= 92” or 7ft 6in).

One room that is an exception to some of these ‘rules’ is the bedroom.  Because the viewing position is often from the bed versus a chair or sofa (18” seat height), you will need to place your TV higher on the wall.  If you are looking for a dresser or media piece to go under your TV, you are probably going to want one that is at least 34” high, with your TV hung above that.

Candice Olsen

Fortunately, many new TVs and cable or satellite providers no longer demand messy components be placed directly under (or attached) the TV.  Don’t be shy about asking for options, such as in the picture below, which will not require a tangle of cords and boxes near your TV screen.

Elle Décor (Jeffrey Alan Marks)

I hope this has been a useful resource regarding where to mount your TV (how high and how far away).  Keep in mind you have many more options now than you did 5 years ago when it was a TV armoire or a built in and that was it!  If you need help finding the perfect media storage piece and options for placement, contact us at: info@heatherscotthome.com

What’s New Wednesday: Cabinet with Marble Top

I love this new cabinet we received.  It is made of recycled pine wood and has an inlay top of veined marble.

This detailed wood work on the door panel is really unique.  The doors have a key with lock and a latch inside to help keep the doors closed.

This is a close up of the marble top.  It has a lot of gray in the natural veining.

The cabinet is approx. 50”long by 20”deep by 32”high.  The price is $1428.

Come by and see it before it is gone!