January, 2010 - Browsing by month

As an expert Seattle interior designer and design news junkie, I recently read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle. Lots of great information and commentary overall. What captured my attention was a short list by writer, Anh-Minh Le, that focused on the seven trends she wanted to disappear.

Here are seven trends in vogue for the past few years to step away from:

• Homes that look like taxidermy shops. Enough with the wall of antlers and animal skins all over the floor!
• Flat-screen TVs mounted so high above the fireplace mantel, you get a neck cramp before the first commercial break.
• My favorite! Home makeover shows that set unrealistic expectations about decorating a space. There are usually scores of people working behind the scenes whom you never see on screen. Plus, we’re firm believers that good design takes time.
• Shallow sink basins that result in water splashing everywhere.
• Outfitting a room top to bottom with reproduction designer furniture. We’ve seen too many homes filled with so much Eames, Bertoia and Saarinen they look like soulless showrooms.
  Amen to this one too!
• The phrase “man cave.”
• Watch any house-hunting program on HGTV and, chances are, granite countertops are on the buyer’s wish list. But with so many options now available - including recycled paper and glass products - our wish for 2010 is for anyone embarking on a remodel to think beyond the ubiquitous granite and stainless steel combination.

Wish you had a direction behind your purchase? Want to save time and money? Wishing you had a friend in the design business right now?

Call Faith Sheridan Interior Design, 206.437.8000. We’re here to help!

Tags: Ask Faith First, expert Seattle interior designer, Faith Sheridan Interior Design, old design ideas for 2010, what's out in 2010
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In November, this expert Seattle interior designer spent nearly one week in Omaha with her mother who lives in an assisted living facility. We took many drives which included homes that I lived in during the 1970′s, the 1980′s and my last one prior to moving to the Northwest.

The first photo below features home # 1, an English Tudor. I marveled at the pin oak tree, which replaced a diseased elm, and was planted to celebrate the birth of my daughter 31 years ago.

Our family moved from Omaha and returned in 1986. We found this wonderful English Tudor in another great neighborhood. Each bathroom contained beautifully colored fixtures and tile as was typical. Nothing was garish and the entire home showed thoughtful attention by its owners.

After a divorce and in search of a home with space for a home office, I found this charming home nearby. Wish I still had the images of the updates throughout the inside and outside. You will just need to imagine.

I hope you enjoy this nostalgia post of my Omaha homes. My mother and I shared lots of conversation and memories about them.

Do you crave one simple, beautiful space? Wish you had a friend in the design business right now? We’re here to help. Send us your questions and call us 206.437.8000. Ask Faith First.

Tags: Ask Faith First, expert Seattle interior designer, Faith Sheridan Interior Design, Omaha homes
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Do you struggle to make your long hallway less of a tunnel and more a striking eye-catcher? Here are some solutions to make that happen from your expert Seattle interior designer.

• Place artwork on the wall at the end of the hall — the more dramatic the art, the better, and add lighting.

• Use a bookcase at the end of the hall.

• A small bench with artwork or a mirror.

• Sometimes paint and a pop of color is the quick solution.

• An end wall is perfect for family pictures attractively arranged and again lit.

My favorite company, Hickory Chair, is my source for unique pieces like the mirror and open bookcase and bench.

Wishing you had a friend in the design business right now? Call us today 206-437-8000.

Tags: expert Seattle interior designer, Faith Sheridan Interior Design, Hickory Chair, tips for narrow hallways
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By now most everyone who loves color, including this expert Seattle interior designer, knows that Pantone names turquoise the color of 2010. Recognized as evoking protective emotions, turquoise is also associated with oceans and warm climates. In that spirit, last fall my clients who soon move into their condo chose this Osborne and Little fabric for the master bedroom.

This pattern is from the Miradouro collection; Palacio pattern. Soon it will cover the west window wall from ceiling to floor and wall to wall. It is also the upholstered headboard. Now for the turquoise. According to Leatrice Eiseman, director of Pantone, “the hue has gone in and out of fashion through the years. Lately, it’s been spilling into the world of home decor with numerous items available in the shade ranging from vases and cookware to paint and wallpaper.

In the master bedroom, turquoise accents an upholstered bench at the foot of the bed and as a bolster with the bed pillows. I can imagine using additional accents in the adjacent bath and around the room to pull the look together. (see image of collection from Kohl’s) Turquoise can give a “pop” to what could otherwise be a boring room, says Vanessa De Vargas.

Soon I will share images of this project… with an expression of color that is truly uplifting.

Craving one simple, beautiful space? Wish you had help picking colors? We’re here to help. So call us today 206.437.8000.

Tags: Ask Faith First, expert Seattle interior designer, Faith Sheridan Interior Design, Osborne and Little, Pantone, turquoise
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