To celebrate the arrival of the summer season, here are some ideas for an adorable beach cottage. Our reader writes in looking for help with the bright white roof. Indeed, the roof is rather prominent, but is made even more so by the reflective white. Let’s see if we can find a few options to raise this roof from eyesore to architectural distinction.
The cottage is currently red with white accents.
A classic red cottage from the 1940's with a multi-colored gray/slate roof.
I love the red shingles – such a classic! This cottage could be easily updated by simply painting the roof charcoal gray or dark slate blue.
Here is an easy fix to set the roof back and bring your attention back to the facade and crisp white fence:
Check out beach cottage rental sites for inspiration. This image comes from www.capecodpads.com.
To lighten up the entire cottage, try a another classic: the gray, white and black Cape Cod style. So crisp!
Add a bright red door for a pop of color and to make sure your beach cottage doesn’t get lost in the crowd.
If a classic Cape Cod is too predictable, try a mellow green or sunny yellow. To get some inspiration, check out Valspar Paint’s “Color by Architecture” section. It’s an easy way to quickly see many exterior paint options on a variety of American vernacular home styles.
This cute beach cottage is quite the charmer. With a darker roof, I think this place looks good in nearly any color.
Continue reading about Raise the Roof! Update on a Summer Cottage
The Thanksgiving holiday is all about appreciating what we have AND enjoying a day of guiltless gluttony. To celebrate, Mochi Home brings you the guiltless pleasure of zero-VOC food paint, which is good for your body, good for the earth and even smells like a vanilla milkshake! Food paint is made by Anna Sova Organics, producers of luxury organic cotton for bed and bath. Anna Sova markets the paint as food paint because it is made with up to 94% food ingredients. I adore the idea that your home can be lovingly bathed in rich colors that are literally good enough to eat. Let’s dig in!
I’m using the Anna Sova food paint palette as inspiration for this modern apartment. The bedroom below is literally a blank slate with brand new furniture. Our reader writes “the only problem is that I have NO IDEA what color to paint the bedroom.” No idea? No problem! Let’s see what we we can cook up with some food paint.
I first dipped into the Ancient Europa collection with rich jewel tones and solid neutrals. Here is a sophisticated and modern take on saturated blue using Isle of Sky and Winter Solstice. Accessories include a black and white print of the Guggenheim museum, whose lines are echoed in the Road Dog Builtby Lamp at 2modern.
Next, an earthy and bold exotic retreat from the Ancient Asia color collection. The palette is completed by the golds and reds in the Buddha print and complemented by the sculptural Cupstack lamp.
For a bold classic room, I used the warm reds and beiges from the Odd Sorbets collection. A small hit of Radish red keeps the Masago tan color looking fresh and not too muddy. The duo is perfectly matched with a this modern twist on a classic reclining nude and the Paolo Tube Top color lamp.
Lastly, a calm beach getaway pulled from the Ancient Americas palette. To keep the beach theme from turning tropical or kitschy, stick to a muted palette like this Sage Smoke and Paracus Sand Sculpture combination. Also, avoid palm trees, shells and sailboats. A very mature beach landscape (complete with suited men!) says “beach” without saying “Tiki lounge.” The scene is finished with a few oars hung on the wall and a Japanese Float table lamp.
I hope we’ve provided some delicious post-Thanksgiving inspiration with Anna Sova food paint. This room can really go in any direction and you can also sleep better at night knowing that zero-VOC paint won’t harm you or your pooch. Yum!
Continue reading about Thanksgiving Special: Anna Sova Food Paint
As you might guess, I frequently “Mochi” my own home to help me visualize various decorating issues. I find that making a quick-and-dirty image can really help us make a decision when choosing between a couple of options. Ultimately this saves us a lot of headaches, a few arguments and some merchandise returns. Case in point: our new side tables.
We recently bought a fabulous charcoal gray Metro couch from Room and Board and were looking for the perfect side tables. We knew we wanted something small (to fit the space) and simple (we don’t like fussy). We also knew we wanted symmetry and we wanted to somehow add a pop of color.
We came up with two options.
(1) The Miner side table from CB2 + Breck table lamp in green from Crate and Barrel. Not bad, but perhaps not spectacular. The olive/sage lamp sort of pales in comparison to the saturated rusty orange pillows. Also, the table looks a tad wimpy next to the chunky couch.
(2) The Zest C table from CB2 + Breck table lamp in charcoal. I think this is the clear winner. This image made us instantly realize that bright lime green was an appealing and powerful match to the orange. Plus, the chuncky profile could stand up to the couch.
Here is the complete set, installed in our living room. I think we made the right choice, don’t you?
Do you have any design dilemmas that could benefit from a Mochi quickie?
Back in August, we asked our readers to vote on a wall decal for above our bed. Finally, last night, we installed our new piece of wall art! I admit that we didn’t choose the #1-voted design, but I think you’ll like what we did. Drum roll please…
It’s the African tree wall decal from Surface Flik on Etsy. We just adore the added drama above the bed and like to think that we are now sleeping beneath the trees.
Here’s a little step-by-step breakdown of how we installed the wall decal. Surface Flik provided us with some clear directions and installation went pretty will. The extra large surface area of this particular decal gave a us few problems with creasing and bubbles. For smaller decals, I suspect it’s not much of an issue.
One of the biggest obstacles in painting a rental apartment is the landlord! Quite often, you are not allowed to paint or modify the apartment in any seemingly permanent or way. One of my friends, however, actually got permission to paint her spacious studio apartment. The one condition: the paint color must be light enough that it can be covered with one coat of white paint.
Our challenge is to find a way to add some character to this one room apartment using pastels, whites, neutrals or any accessory that is non-permanent. There is a lot you can do with light colors and the right wall hangings.
First, take a look at a panorama of the entire room. Notice the livingroom to to the right, with the dining room toward the back. I like that the living area and bed area each have their own wall. This gives nice separation to the living spaces and an opportunity to create further definition by painting different colors on the walls.
Here is a photo of just the living area. The “bedroom” wall is behind the chair and bookshelf.
Here is a warm color scheme to compliment the neutral green couch and various warm wood colors. I think of this as a muted orange sherbert and lemon sorbet. The pastels are slightly grayed/muted to avoid looking too much like a baby’s room. I topped it off with some posters from The Poster List, which happens to carry some of the coolest and most well designed posters I’ve seen in a while!
Here is a cool version using blues and grays. Sky blue is always a great option for a light color-it’s friendly and happy and works well in the lightest of shades. In all of these scenarios, the living room wall is painted a different color from the bedroom/dining wall. With such light colors, I think a multi-color palette could work really well without being overwhelming.
One alternative to posters and wall hangings is to paint a pattern onto the wall itself. Look how just two diagonal stripes add movement and drama in a room with no other wall hangings. Stripes like this are easy to make using blue painter’s tape. You can even create this “free form” without having to make the stripes level or even.
Fabric is another good way to add not only color, but also pattern. For a truly non-permanent fabric hanging, use 3M Command hooks to hang the fabric from clips or grommets. These hooks are great for rentals because they are strong AND can be removed without ruining the wall. This bold Marimekko fabric adds a lot of visual interest. With the back wall painted a complimentary neutral, the entire living area comes alive!
Continue reading about Personalizing a Rental Studio with Color
Here is a nice simple living room with neutral furniture and all of the bones for what could be a great living room. This reader wrote in asking for some color suggestions that would match the couch and for updates to the accessories. For this room, I decided it would be fun to seek some outside inspiration. One of my favorite blogs for interior images is Desire to Inspire. If you are stumped for colors or styles, I highly recommend cruising this blog. You are sure to find a handful of images that will help guide your color choices.
So, here it goes!
The living room as it stands now:
Earthy Inspiration
The first inspiration: earthy. In this room, the browns and the artwork really set the mood. This translated into beige walls, large art above the sofa, plus some natural Flor tiles and the wooden Nelson bench from Room and Board.
Modern Inspiration
Even when your furniture isn’t exactly modern, you can still pull off a modern look. It’s all about bold moves with paint and the right accessories. A geometric paint scheme creates a focal point in gray and red. The zebra rug, though modern, is also classic safari and ties the mod wall with the not-so-mod furniture. With some black pillows and metal tables, I think modern can work!
Asian safari inspiration
Lastly, inspiration from a richly colored room that I think of as “asian safari.” This room has deep jewel tones and lots of lush accessories. In our reader’s living room a deep teal wall and maroon persian rug really set the mood. Add an eclectic mix of wall art and you have your own asian safari retreat!
Last month I attended the Apartment Therapy Offline Design Meetup. The theme of the meetup was group design therapy and together we helped fellow New Yorkers find a cure to their apartment woes. You can read all about one apartment here. It was so much fun to brainstorm as a group and I got lots of ideas for my own apartment. Mostly, I was impressed by how friendly and open-minded these design enthusiasts and Apartment Therapy readers are.
One reader asked me for some help visualizing her ideas and the ideas from the design meetup. She and her husband are renovating their apartment to accommodate both a home office for two people and a new baby! Below, are some visualizations, which hopefully help them narrow down their options.
Here is their existing apartment:
The first thing you’ll notice below is the floor-to-ceiling built-in home office where the exposed brick used to be. Their plan was to turn that corner into the office. I tried this built-in as a suggestion, which included shelves and some nice lighting. With this in place, I added some earthy accents which include walls in olive green and celery. Next, I threw down a complimentary rug from Flor in the Fret Knot pattern. Flor rugs are really practical (especially for kids!) as you can clean or replace individual tiles and the rubber backing makes them slip resistant.
As for furniture, there are some pieces with clean lines, but a welcoming spirit including the Quinn chair and Reese couch from Room and Board. I always love to finish off a room with some hand made accessories from Etsy. This chunky and colorful bowl from finishes off the look.
Keeping the same base, here is blue version of the living room. I darkened the cabinets of the home office, added a blue wall and brought in some darker woods to compliment. To keep the room from getting too dark, however, notice the light cream Delta chair with the white checkerboard Flor rug. I love how this rug makes the room look so fresh! Lastly, this interesting Petal bowl brings the blues into the dining area.
I love this bold palette of orange-yellow, black and white. The orange wall really pops and give some fun personality to the room. The wall is particularly striking with the geometric Flor rug. In this scheme it’s best to keep furniture and other accessories to a minimum or the small space will be overwhelming. A simple black chair, white cabinets and a grey kitchen keep the focus on the rug and wall. And of course, I couldn’t resist these adorable bowls.
Lastly, a soothing combination of warm gray and jewel-tone teal. Here, the color is actually on the cabinet doors and the main wall recedes as a backdrop. Instead of a huge rug, there is a plush brown ottoman, which can serve as a footrest, a table, extra seating or even a play object for kids. Ottomans are great multi-taskers and a good option for flexible multi-use spaces. I did add a small mat at the front door for wiping your feet and finished the room with a lovely original watercolor.
This apartment has great potential as functional space packed with uses and stylish space for a young family to call home. We wish them best of luck with their renovations and new additions!
Continue reading about A Splash of Color and a New Home Office
Just a quick update on our backsplash extravaganza from last month. After reviewing my original choices, I decided to try out a few more options and finally settled on the lovely neutral Windy City blend from Modwalls. We were really looking for something to act a transition between the new Silestone counter in Mont Blanc, the maple cabinets and the darker wood of our other furniture. Windy City covers a nice spectrum of neutrals and just seems to tie everything together without overpowering the other features.
I opted to install the tile myself – my first time at tiling! It was at once fun and frustrating, but the end result (and reasonable price!) was worth it. See the gallery below for a step-by-step slideshow of the installation.
Continue reading about Update: Kitchen Backsplash Extravaganza
We’ve got the perfect (well, perfectly blank!) wall in need of some design love. Though it’s hard to tell, I’ve already painted this wall a most perfect subtle shade of green-gray, Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore. To finish the room, we think a simple design on the wall will add a nice touch, without being fussy.
So, which wall decal do you think we should choose? Scroll through photos and then vote on your favorite!
1) Bamboo found on Etsy from Single Stone Studios.
2) Birds from Orque Shaw’s Wall Decor on Etsy.
3) Plum Blossom branch from Surface Flik on Etsy.
4) Damask from Expressing You on Etsy.
5) Eames squares from Blik.
6) Flourish of flowers from Orque Shaw’s Wall Decor on Etsy.
7) Gerbera from Blik.
8) African tree from Surface Flik on Etsy.
9) Quote from Studiojk on Etsy.
I actually like all of them for different reasons, but I won’t tell you which one (as not to sway the vote!) So, which do you like?
Continue reading about Group Design: Help Choose a Wall Decal!
One of our friends is painting a bathroom and wanted some quick color advice. They would like to update the bathroom, but prefer to leave certain things in place. For example, the bathroom has existing purple blinds and modern (but woody) fixtures. Both the doors and trim are in a natural wood finish, but painting over all of those details is not feasible (and not desirable if you like the look of wood). So, how can they freshen up the bathroom with little effort?
My 2-step fix is (1) a simple paint job and (2) a new light fixture over the vanity. Check out the existing bathroom:
In this room, your palette should include the purple of the blinds, the brown of the wood trim, and the creamy white of the fixtures.
Purple can be hard to match, particularly when it’s in the venetian blinds. I wouldn’t use any color too bright, for fear of looking like a circus. Also, this bathroom belongs to a couple, so I wouldn’t opt for anything too frilly or girly either. Step 1: My first thought is gray. A mature, neutral classic (see it in the mini-palette). Step 2: Add a simple modern sconce in brushed nickel. Check out Bathroom Lighting Universe, where I found a huge variety of lighting styles.
Purple and navy are bold and and regal, but grounded by the brown wood.
Blue and purple make for a calm and cool analogous color scheme. In other words, they are neighbors on the color wheel and coordinate well without too much drama. Step 1: Navy blue adds stability to the regal, and sometimes touchy-feely, purple. Step 2: A classic sconce reinforces the preppy navy blue vibe.
Purple becomes the accent color in an otherwise neutral earthy palette.
Lastly, I opted for something a little more earthy. It’s tempting to keep bathrooms in a fresh white color, but rich dark walls recede into the background, actually making the room feel a little bigger (contrary to what most people think). Step 1: Rich brown walls do a nice job of highlighting both the pretty tile fixtures and the wood trim. Step 2: A geometric sconce adds interest above the mirror.
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