HOME DECORATING Q&A*

*Plus Designer Sources

by

Dr. Kenneth Fehrman

and

Cherie Fehrman

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Published by Fehrman Books on Smashwords

Home Decorating Q&A Plus Designer Sources

Copyright © 2010, by Kenneth Fehrman and Cherie Fehrman

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

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Table of Contents

Question #1 - What is my project?

Home decorating

Home remodeling

Home staging for sale

Question #2 - Where do I begin?

Using Color in your home - how to create your personal color plan

Use of Space

Color preferences

How to Choose Paint

How to get a healthier interior

How to choose paint colors

Our favorite paint colors

Thinking pink? Think again

Altering interior spaces with color

Residential color use

Color balance in interiors

Interior color themes

Color distribution

Color for antique houses:: Colonial Period, Georgian Period, Empire Period, Regency Period, Federal Period, Biedermeier Period, Victorian Era, Aesthetic Movement, Arts & Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau, Edwardian Era, Modernism, Art Deco Period, Mid-20th Century, Late 20th Century

Color and natural light

Color and artificial light

Tips for matching colors

Color Plan Summary

Question #3 - How do I select flooring?

Carpet

Sisal

Vinyl and Laminates

Linoleum

Hardwood

Cork

Ceramic tile

Glass tile

Stone and terazzo

Selecting flooring based on budget

Money saving tips

Question #4 - How do I select window coverings?

Draperies and curtains

Shades/blinds

Shutters

Top treatments: valances and cornices

Tips for choosing window treatments

Question #5 - How do I choose efficient lighting?

Creating a lighting plan

Best uses for lighting fixtures

Lighting the living room or family room

Lighting the dining room

Lighting the kitchen

Lighting the bedroom

Lighting the bathroom

Lighting the home office

Special effects lighting

Outdoor lighting

Tips for matching colors under different lighting

Question #6 - How do I work with a contractor?

How to find a reliable contractor

How to choose between contractors

How to protect yourself from getting ripped off by a contractor

Typical construction problems

What to do if things aren’t going well

How to make payments to a contractor while protecting yourself

Question #7 - How do I choose furniture and accessories for my budget?

Upholstered Furniture:

Furniture Frames

Furniture Springs

Furniture Fill

Furniture Fabric

Pros and cons of upholstery fabrics

Wood Furniture:

Construction tips

Determining quality

Question #8 - What’s the best way to arrange my furniture and accessories?

Furniture Placement

Guidelines for space planning room by room

Accessories

Question #9 - What are some designer sources that I can use?

Note: We are not paid spokespersons for any of the designer sources listed. These are just some of our favorite sources used during our professional design work which are accessible to the consumer.

Bathroom and kitchen fixtures

Carpets and rugs

Children’s furniture and accessories

Fabrics & Leather

Flooring and countertops (marble, granite, slate)

Flying wall beds (amazing space savers)

Furniture and accessories

Lighting

Low VOC paint companies and retailers

Other home improvement products

Restoration supplies and services

Wallcovering

Question #10 - How do I stage my home for sale?

Ten rules for making a quick sale

Low budget staging tips

About the Authors

Other Books by Fehrman Books

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Home Decorating Q & A*

*Plus Designer Sources

If you’re facing a new redecorating project for your home, chances are you have more questions than answers. You want to create a beautiful home, but you are aware that mistakes can be costly. Don’t panic - we’re here to help you. In more than twenty-five years of being professional interior designers we have encountered virtually everything that can go wrong, and we are now going to show you how to avoid those mistakes, how to create a beautiful home, and how to do it on budget and on time. We are using a question and answer format because these are the major questions that need to be answered to avoid problems and to allow you to create a plan that will work for you - but more than just Q & A, we are also going to provide you with designer sources and invaluable tips learned from our years of experience. So, let’s get started. You may find more information here than you need for your project, so just pick and choose whatever suits your needs.

QUESTION #1

WHAT IS MY PROJECT?

Even though you may think you already know what your project is take a minute to think through this because the more you can define your project before you begin, the easier it is to stay on target.

Check whichever category applies to you.

HOME REDECORATION

This is a simple facelift for your home which may include new paint and color selection, new carpet or flooring, rearrangement of furniture, addition of some new accessories, improving storage by clearing clutter or by adding closet storage systems or improving lighting.

HOME REMODEL

This involves some construction such as moving walls, replacing bathroom or kitchen fixtures, improving storage by building additional storage areas, interior and exterior painting, increasing or improving lighting, improving landscaping, addition or replacement of heating or cooling systems (HVAC).

HOME STAGING

This involves readying your home for sale. It may include some of the items mentioned above, but more likely it is a matter of doing some simple presentation techniques to make your home its most appealing to buyers including curb appeal, color and lighting improvements, removing clutter, providing pleasing aromas, and making the potential buyer feel at home.

QUESTION #2

I want do redecorate my home–Where do I begin?

First, you need to figure out what you want to change–and it may not be what it seems at first. For example, at one point we were really tired of our kitchen because it always seemed so dark and dreary in spite of the fact that it was painted white at the time. We had north facing windows that let in a cool bluish light and green trees outside the window that also added a greenish reflection. Even during the day, we felt we needed to keep the lights on to have any sense of cheeriness. Our first thought was that we needed to add more lighting, but then we analyzed the problem and found that our lighting was really adequate for the space. Maybe the problem was color. It was true that the white walls did provide a lot of reflected light, but they also reflected the cool bluish and green tones that always made the room feel so cold. We decided to try a new paint color because it is inexpensive and easily changed. We chose a golden yellow color for the walls and ceiling and painted an arch wall coral. It was like magic - the room was transformed with a couple of gallons of paint. It felt warm and inviting and all the cold sensation was gone. We saved a lot of money in not having to put in new lighting systems and when friends visited they could not believe the difference. So, based on years of experience, we always like to begin with color first because just changing the color might be all the change you need. Selecting color, particularly paint color, can be tricky, so in this following section we are going to give you some basic information you need to make it easier for you. Tip: Color affects every aspect of your life every day, so make it work for you. More than any other single feature, color dictates whether or not your home design will be successful.

USING COLOR IN YOUR HOME

HOW TO CREATE YOUR PERSONAL INTERIOR COLOR PLAN

Color can make or break your home. Color is one of the most obvious and essential factors in a home design. These are the major areas in which color can be used in an interior:

Walls: paint, wallpaper, fabric, paneling, mirror

Floors: wood, stone, vinyl, carpet

Ceiling: paint, wallpaper, fabric, paneling, mirror

Window Covering: drapery, fabric blinds, shutters, venetian blinds, woven shades, film

Furniture: wood, plastic, upholstery, metal, stone

Accessories: pillows, vases, baskets, ceramics

Art: paintings, sculpture, tapestries, prints, posters

Appliances: refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, washer/dryer, toasters, blenders, food

processors, microwave ovens

First, consider the architecture

The architecture should always be the first item to be considered when developing an interior color plan. For example, it is doubtful that even the world’s greatest interior designer could make a case for bright orange ceiling timbers in an Elizabethan interior. The architectural style should point the way to the general scope of the color being used. If you do not want to use colors accurate to the period of the interior, as a general rule of thumb it works better to access earlier periods than to modernize by using colors from later periods. For example, a Victorian home can work well decorated in the soft colors of the Georgian period, but trying to use the mylar wallpapers and intense colors of the sixties in a Victorian just looks bizarre. Always take your cue from the architecture. Keep in mind that ceilings in very dark colors look weightier, therefore lower. Bright colors that advance make distant walls seem nearer therefore reducing their perceived size. The way that color is applied can either unify or separate the background from the foreground area. For example, if a dark color is used only on the ceiling of an eight foot high room, it may appear to lower the ceiling. If the same color is used on the ceiling and walls it