Barbara Hawthorn (of Barbara Hawthorn Interiors) will be presenting “I Never Met a Color I Didn’t Like” on Tuesday, September 27th at 7pm.

As part of architecture photographer Ken Wyner’s “Structure of Spirit… Design of the Heart” program, Barbara invites you to a wonderful evening of friends, fun, and color for Ken’s “Design Story Tales”.  To RSVP, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 703-241-5588.
 

American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Boardroom, 2nd Floor

These exhibitions celebrate Washington's design community, its finest architects, builders, engineers, and the structures they create in our community. For more detailed information, please visit Structure of Spirit.

Whether by choice or necessity, many are opting to downsize their homes. According to the American Lighting Association, choosing the right kind of lighting and paying attention to its placement can make small rooms look more spacious.

A few lighting tips from experts:

Proportion is everything. Entryways in small homes will likely not be able to carry a typical foyer chandelier or lantern-style light, so consider semiflush mounts, flush mounts and mini-chandeliers.

Here are some examples of this, from our displays in Chantilly:

Mina 955-126 mini-chandelier

Murray Feiss F2480/4 OBZ mini-chandelier

Visual Comfort CHA8939Q-NP

Kichler 76139

Kichler 45137NI

Hudson Valley 1951-SN

Murray Feiss P1179 HTBZ/PGD

How to Decorate a Living Room with Plants and Planters

Decorating a living room with creative plants and planters can be a rewarding home improvement project. Live plants add an element of natural beauty to a room, and they are oxygen producers, so they create a healthy and livable environment. However, live plants aren’t always suitable to your living room layout or your lifestyle, so synthetic plants are also an affordable option. Decorating with natural or artificial forms of greenery can be a challenging task because the plant design has to fit the décor of the space. For a few tips on how to decorate your living room with plants and planters, check out the following practical suggestions.

Select a Plant Height that Adds Drama to the Room

After you have found the perfect location for your plant, determine how large or small the plant needs to be. If you want to decorate the corner of a living room, you might want to place a floor plant that stands four to five feet in the area. That way, the plant will serve as a furnishing for the room, and the entire corner will be naturally designed. On the other hand, you might just need a small accent plant for a table, entertainment center, or window area. If so, you will still need to choose a plant that adds drama to the room by selecting an appropriate height. Generally, table or window plants need to remain below eye level, or they will appear disproportionate to the rest of the room.

Choose Plant Greenery that Complements the Style

There is a wide variety of both natural and synthetic greenery that is available at local hardware stores, home goods stores, and nurseries in most cities. To select the best style of plant, including its leaves and stem, you want to choose a plant that complements the style of your home. If you have a Mediterranean or a Caribbean style home, then you might want to choose a tropical variety. If you have a country or a cottage motif in your living room, you might want to choose greenery that has an ivy-type leaf. Your plant choice needs to harmonize with the rest of the style of your interior design. In addition, if you should choose a natural plant, make sure that the lighting conditions are appropriate for healthy plant growth.

Create Living Room Visual Appeal with Planters

Stand in the entryway to your living room and assess what type of planter would best suit your plant choice. Does the planter complement your interior design? There are many mediums that are used for modern day planters including clay, terra cotta, stone, glass, and wicker. These types of planters all have inspirational design, but only one or two styles will appropriately suit your home décor. If you want to increase the visual appeal, choose a planter that is ornate and well designed. Even a unique shape, material, or stand can draw attention to your plant and planter causing it to be a distinguishable feature in the room. As you can see, decorating a living room with creative plants and planters can be a rewarding home improvement project.

This is a working studio for a designer of knit ware in Bethesda, MD.  The storage space for the yarns was used as a design feature by building diagonal bins to show all the different colors.  We flooded the area with light which has the happy result of working in a tree house.

Brenneman & Pagenstecher

301-933-9305

www.brenpag.com

            In search of hidden wires

Have you ever said “Where can I put those wires they look terrible”?  We came up with an unusual solution to this problem.  During the remodel we created a floating wooden slab with hidden doors to conceal all the Home Theater and stereo components as well as the unsightly wires for this home in Potomac, Md.  The slab is held up by cantilever steel brackets out of the wall.  This gives the room an architectural focus while solving the problem. 

We love the challenge of architecturally driven projects.  Accordingly, we have developed our staff and systems around the specific needs of this type of work. The sophistication of this process pays off for our highly detailed designs; in fact it is key to our ability to consistently deliver works of beauty and grace. 

Brenneman & Pagenstecher

301-933-9305

www.brenpag.com

Gulick Group's new model home preview

Today I wanted to give you a sneak peak at Gulick Group's newest model home for which I just ordered light fixtures. Susan Gulick & Emily Ryan of Susan Gulick Interiors worked with me on all of the selections, and I'm so excited about them! The model is called Autumn Wood, and it's in Great Falls, VA ~ here is the link to Gulick's site if you'd like more information:
http://gulickgroup.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=35/

This one is going to be a show-stopper! It's from Cyan Designs, in a Murano-style glass called Indigo Smoke, for the Dining Room.

 

 

This one is from Currey and Company and will go in the Conservatory.

Troy's lantern will hang in the foyer.

Love this drum from Framburg for the breakfast room.

And these sconces from Murray Feiss will light the Master Bath.

I can't wait to see all these gorgeous pieces hanging in their model! Gulick Group builds a fantastic house, so it's sure to be a spectacular home!

http://dominionelectric.blogspot.com/

ALA Bright Ideas

Here is a link to the September Issue of ALA's Bright Ideas: http://www.americanlightingassoc.com/newsletter/brightideas-september2010.html/
This month's features include:
~ Pendant Lighting Must-dos ~ EXPERT ADVICE: Get Answers to Your Questions ~ BRIGHT TIPS: Enter to Win the $5,000 Home Lighting Sweepstakes ALA is the American Lighting Association, of which we are proud members. Eleven of our full-time staff members in our 3 showrooms are ALA Certified Lighting Specialists or Consultants. We attend ALA's monthly webinars to be sure we are current on all of the latest trends, technologies, and ideas. And 3 of us (Marcia Hussey from Laurel, Giorgina Schnurr from Arlington, and myself from Chantilly) are heading to Las Vegas next week for the annual ALA Conference. We'll be so motivated and energized with great new ideas when we return!

http://www.dominionelectric.com/

McLean, VA, September 1, 2010 — Color Wheel, a third generation family business, is having a Grand Re-Opening and 45th Anniversary Celebration on October 2 from 8 am to 6 pm at 1374 Chain Bridge Road in McLean. The recently remodeled 6,400-square-foot location is three stores rolled into one, featuring paint and specialty finishes, decorating products and services, and custom picture framing.

Earl and Nellie Boswell, their son Charles, and his wife Elisabeth established Color Wheel in September of 1965. From a modest start and a genuine interest in serving the community, the founders demonstrated extraordinary customer service that has transcended 45 years. The tradition of integrity and old-fashioned values is carried on today by Charlie Boswell, president, and his sister, Renate Boswell Eschmann.

With a fresh new look, one section of the store is reopening as a Benjamin Moore Signature Store, where you’ll find time-tested quality products in a newly designed space. A centrally located seating area provides a comfortable place to explore colors and finishes on your own or with the assistance of knowledgeable store professionals.

An extensive décor showroom features a large library of designer fabrics, wall coverings, trims, quality blinds, shades, and shutters, custom window treatments, re-upholstery, slip covers, bedding and accessories. Decorators are available for in-store or on-site consultations.

Color Wheel’s picture framing studio is staffed with award-winning professional designers and artisans. In addition to custom picture framing, consultation, delivery and picture hanging services, you’ll discover a selection of fine art, photo frames, decorative accessories, and more.

In honor of Color Wheel’s founders, the first ten customers to park a pre-1972 automobile at the event between 8 am and noon will receive a $45 Color Wheel gift certificate.

Drawings for products and services will be held during the October 2 celebration. Enter now for a chance to win at the McLean location or Color Wheel Paint Center at 2802-D Merrilee Drive in Fairfax. No purchase is necessary. Must be 18 years of age, one entry per person.

For more information on Color Wheel and this event, visit MYCOLORWHEEL.com.

Hollywood Regency Style!

"

Hollywood Regency style is quickly replacing old minimalist views of the 90's. We are seeing a return to the old glamour of tinseltown. This eclectic mix is one that can be mastered by truly loving and honoring the past but still looking fashion forward. Remember, Great rooms of style have a distinct aura and soul.

Now all my savvy fashionistas and male pets if your home is lacking in a little pin ache... you've come to the right place. You can't be stylish without having a beautiful place to live, after all this is a reflection of you.

So let's get started. What is Hollywood regency and why should I take careful notes on this mod-moxie trend? It is the quintessential master mix. The look is clean, refined and sexy. Influences include European Art Deco, Moroccan, Asian, Dorothy Draper and most of all dash of the unexpected surprise! Like all good things, this mod mix takes time and careful articulation of balance, form and function. But have no fear... we have put together a seamless simple way to transform your humble aboad to an alluring penthouse.

Step one. A sumptuous backdrop. Cover your walls in rich tones that exude mystic and exoticism. You can achieve this look with eclectic bold wall papers, rich colored paint, or fabric like velvet or linen. If you live in a small place or want your room to feel larger, consider placing mirrors on the wall. This will give the illusion of a larger space.

Step 2. Distinctive window treatments.  In order to be glamorous you have to create drama. In order to do this, think of over exaggerated relationships. For example, take your window treatment valances to the ceiling, let the drapes fall to the floor letting extra fabric in the folds. This will create a feeling of opulence. If you have painted your walls a rich earth tone, choose a fabric that contrasts with the walls. This will establish atmosphere, and ambience.

Step 3.  Pleasing Symmetry. Place your furniture in a way that is charming to your eye. Good things come in pairs. Consider two twin lamps on either side of the sofa, a pair of low back chairs, or perhaps lacquered furniture.  You want to create an environment that not only evokes dialogue but casual elegance.

Step 4. Garnishing Decor. Hollywood Regency is all about distinctive style. Transfer your photos to black and white and place them in antique glass beveled mirror frames. Fresh flowers in a dramatic vase are always a nice touch. Again think about scale and how it relates to the room at whole. A mini bar set up on glass or silver trays creates a feeling of luxury. When choosing fabrics for pillows and such, consider Moroccan inspired prints, citrus linens, and jewel tone dupioni silks. Ceramic dogs, paintings, orient inspired rugs will do the trick. Organic plants, like palm trees add height and drama. The key is, to unlock charm and warmth in your room. The special time you take to consider the details the more rewarding your room or place will be.

Step 5. Perfecto... Come è meravigliosa La Vita! Reward yourself by making  a delicious tanqueray and tonic with twist of lime, turn on some old tunes, and watch the sunset in your palazzo of the stars.

For more savy tips on how you can bring beauty to your home and lifestyle, I invite you to check out  http://www.kerrinmuller.com/

Yours Truly!

Natalie Hahn

Lifestyle Designer

http://www.kerrinmuller.com/

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Natalie Hahn

Easy as 1-2-3!

A ceiling fan with wobbling blades is not just a visual distraction. Those blades can also wear down the motor's bearings and bushings, and cause annoying squeaks and whines. If tightening the screws on the blade brackets and wiping dust off the blades don't solve the problem, follow these guidelines to get the fan back on an even keel:
Step 1: Mark the blades. Place a numbered piece of masking tape on each blade so you don't loose track of which blade is which.

Step 2: Level the edges. Use a ruler or yardstick to measure the distance between each blade's leading edge and the ceiling (a). Keep the ruler vertical and always measure from the same spot on the ceiling, manually moving the blades to measure each one. If an edge is out of whack, try to gently bend the blade's bracket up or down by hand. Now run the fan to see if the problem persists. For the best view, stand on a ladder away from the fan, at eye level with the blades. Use an object in the background (such as a doorway or window) as a reference point to see if the blades are all running at the same level.

Try a balancing kit. If the fan continues to wobble, buy a blade-balancing kit from your local home center or the fan's manufacturer. Take the clip provided and place it in the middle of the trailing edge of the blade you think is wobbling. As before, observe the running fan from a ladder to see just how the extra weight affects it (see Tip, right). Turn the fan off and slide the clip out toward the end or back toward the motor (b). Then turn the fan on and see if there's a change. Continue moving and testing the clip's position on this blade or others, if necessary, until the wobbling stops. Step 3: Add weights. Using a piece of tape, temporarily secure one of the kit's self-adhesive weights to the top of the blade's centerline, in line with the clip. Remove the clip and see how the fan runs. If it works as hoped, mark the blade around the weight, remove the tape, and stick the weight permanently to the blade (c). Do this on as many blades as necessary, until the fan runs smoothly.

TOH Tip: To identify which blade is behaving badly when the fan is spinning, dab each tip with a different-colored fluorescent paint. For easy removal, put the dab on a piece of masking tape.

Steps from This Old House

The right ceiling fan will help you cool down during the sizzlinge July afternoons and also add a nice touch to any room. Ceiling fans are a happy meeting of the economical and the esthetic. They're one of the few household appliances that can save you money — as much as 15 percent off your energy bills — and look good enough to enhance the decor of nearly any room.

Over the years, the choice of fan styles has broadened beyond the traditional models with its dark wood blades and elaborate glass shade to fans that complement your clean-lined kitchen or contemporary living room as well as traditional bedroom or dining room.

For Fanimation Fans in every catigory check out the Shop by Style section of the WindDeco.com side navigation.

Everyone wants to save money these days, right? There are some ceiling fans from Wind Deco that can use as little power as a 100 watt light blub!

Energy Star Rated Fanimation Fan by Wind Deco

To save money on your electric bill also look into Energy Star rated fans. (see Energy Star logo)

Wind Deco offers Fanimation Fans that require less electricity to run than normal fans. Some Fanimation Energy Star rated fans can run 24/7 for as little as $2.98 per year*. That less than it costs for a 100 watt light bulb!

*Amount may vary based upon your local electric rates, speed of fan and fan selection.

Energy Star rated fans that are available on Wind Deco are as follows:

- Enigma - Edgewood

- Huxley - Windpointe model FP7400

One of the most important features of any room is good lighting. A well-lit room can help maintain your eyesight, make it easier to perform daily tasks, and enhance the mood or ambience of a room. More importantly, good lighting can do a lot to highlight the most beautiful features of your home.

There is a lot of information available about different types of lighting and how you can use lighting to decorate and personalize your home, such as the articles written for the Rental Decorating Digest website by Sarah Van Arsdale of the Sheffield School of Interior Design. Her articles include “Light Up Your Life” on the basic functions of lighting, “Mood Lighting”, and “Types of Lamps - Incandescent & Florescent.”

These articles are great for basic information about how lighting affects a space and what the differences between incandescent and florescent lighting are. For more specific tips and ideas, you may want to take a look at the American Lighting Association’s guide to lighting your home.

-Fiona McNabb

Many people consider their bedroom to be a refuge. It is where we go to sleep, relax, have fun, or engage ourselves in hobbies or favorite activities. For those of us who live in apartments or other small spaces, bedrooms become especially important, since we have to spend more time there and perform other activities there than we would if we had more rooms and more space to live in. It is very important that this room, which is the heart of many of our lives, be beautiful and inviting, somewhere where we can enjoy our space as well as our favorite activities.

An easier way to change up the look of your bed is by using pillows or a comforter or duvet in a new color or pattern. This can completely change the look of your bed, and of your bedroom. For some other tips about reworking the look of your bedroom, check out these “Bedroom Decorating Ideas.”

NARI METRO DC Honors Wentworth, Inc. With Six Capital CotY Awards

Wentworth, Inc. (www.wentworthstudio.com), a residential remodeling design/build company located in Chevy Chase, Maryland was honored with six 2008 Contractor of the year (Coty) awards from the Metro DC chapter of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI). Each year, Metro DC NARI members submit their best remodeling work to be considered for the Capital CotY Awards. The Capital CotY represents the best in the remodeling and design-build industry in the metro DC region.

The honors were announced at the 2008 Metro DC NARI chapter’s annual awards banquette, January 24, 2009. Wentworth, Inc.’s awards included two Grand Prizes and four Merit awards:

· Residential Addition under $250,000: Grand Prize

· Residential Interior $250,000 and under: Merit Award

· Residential Bath $30,000-$60,000: Merit Award

· Residential Kitchen $50,000 to $100,000: Merit Award

· Residential Exterior Specialty Merit Award

Wentworth, Inc., founded by architect Bruce Wentworth, specializes in the design and remodeling of older urban homes. Previously, Wentworth, Inc. has won five Capital COTY awards, for a total of eleven awards in the past three years:

· 2007–Grand Prize—Residential Interiors

· 2007–Honorable Mention—Residential Kitchen

· 2007–Merit Award—Residential Addition

· 2006–Honorable Mention—Residential Kitchen

· 2005–Merit Award—Residential Bath

“These awards are a tribute to the Wentworth, Inc. employees for their expertise and collaboration on every project.” -Bruce Wentworth, AIA

Contact: Candice Carver
Wentworth, Inc. P 240.395.0705 x108 F 240.395.0707
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. '; document.write(''); document.write(addy_text99969); document.write('<\/a>'); //-->\n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.wentworthstudio.com
(photos available)

For the full blog, make sure to visit http://askthearchitectblog.blogspot.com/.

For more on architectural styles, or to ask your own questions, please make sure to visit AskTheArchitect.org. For information on Wentworth, Inc. you can visit us online at wentworthstudio.com.