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Tuesday, November 27th, 2018
Plan your space around huge furniture pieces such as this stylish must-have, the Sam Moore Living Room Edgar Swivel Glider 1353.
The real estate and interior design worlds have an ever-growing requirement for space. This demand is ever-rising and is the price that goes with it. Space or extra square footage will always be an assets this is why as a homeowner or an interior designer, you should be comfortable with space planning.
So, what is space planning?
Accommodates All
Space planning, ideally, is giving you a home that offers all the comfort and functions that you need. For instance, in the living room, this should be a spot where there is an ample number of furnishings but not so much that there is no more room for other stuff.
Space planning helps prevent claustrophobia among many things. It also helps in giving purpose to a room. Of course, specific rooms offer specific functions. If you’re feeling up for a challenge, though, you can now make rooms multifunctional, too. An example is a kitchen that also accommodates a breakfast nook. Or the master bedroom that also has the dressing room adjacent to it.
Space planning does not just dwell on being stylish alone; you would also want your room to remain functional. Here are more tips in achieving the perfect home through space planning –
Obstruct Not the Pathways
Take a careful look around and be sure to leave the pathways unobstructed. Check where the doors are as well as the hallways. Find out the quickest ways to get to the different spaces or rooms in your home.
As soon as you are able to determine these, then you can organize your furniture in a way that the pathways remain clear.
Think also of the steps that you would regularly take in each space. For example, the kitchen has this so-called work triangle which should be kept unobstructed all of the time.
The kitchen work triangle is where the cook top, sink and refrigerator are situated. The cook top must contain all of your utensils while the sink must be the storage unit for your dishwashing supplies. Lastly, the refrigerator should store your food and beverages. The glasses must also be near your fridge for easier access.
Scale the Furniture
This is an obvious rule – don’t get bulky furniture for a small space. Proportion and scale are two very important things to consider when space planning. These two can help you make your home stay functional while also being aesthetically pleasing.
Furniture that’s too big could easily obstruct pathways while the small pieces such as a tiny coffee table might not be convenient to the seats that are assigned all around it.
Before you begin shopping for furniture, allow an interior designer to take a look at your space and to suggest the correct sizes of furniture that will go in. Scale is everything here.
Space planning will always involve floor mapping. As you complete the floor plan, you will now be able to assess the space and eventually pick the furniture that will go with the size of the rooms. This will also allow you to decide on where and how to place the furniture pieces.
Are There Existing Conditions to Consider?
Before you even finalize your space plan, have you determined any existing conditions that might hamper your plans? Where are the windows, doors and outlets? The relocation of an outlet is not a simple task and if you just plan around where it was originally installed, then you’d be saved from a lot of migraines.
Define the Public and Private Spots
Always consider the public and private rooms and then arrange your floor plan accordingly. It would be unwise to put the entertainment room right next to the master bedroom, wouldn’t it?
Remember that ideal space plans can bring a sense of harmony in your home so take the time to integrate all the design elements well.
Tags: designing space, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, space design, space planning
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Cruciality of Space Planning
Saturday, November 12th, 2016
FFDM American Cherry Collection
Here’s a challenge that many would-be homeowners typically face – a color scheme that would flow from one room to the next. This becomes harder to achieve once you’re told that repetition should not be overdone. The overall look of your home must still be dynamic but not to the point that it becomes confusing. The goal then is to achieve texture, value, hue, contrast and balance.
The Answer
To achieve a successful flow you need to learn the fundamental elements of design which are shape, color, scale, light, pattern, texture and balance. These components should be fused in way that’s still pleasant. It should feel like a flowing stream where the undercurrents are, well, underneath.
Vary the hues from one room to the next by changing the color intensity just within the contiguous color families. An example is greens and blues working together.
You can also create contrast on the walls by having the fabrics go against their color. Fabrics can also be related to walls through monochromatic varieties. When using a low-contrast palette, it is texture that will create visual interest.
When you want to create a beautiful scale, be sure to pick color accents that go against wall or floor colors. Don’t forget to feature artwork and other special items by making a focal point through the contrast of brightness or color.
Be sure to give every room its own distinct color personality so that you are ensured of a cohesive look and feel. If you’re the type who loves lots of colors, then it is still possible to achieve the flow by picking one color that will unify rooms. This unifying element could also be the woodwork on the doors, windows, molding, ceiling and baseboards. This connecting color does not have to be glaring.
You’re the Boss
Pick 3-5 colors (preferably your favorite ones) and plan how they would be presented in your home. What color would you assign as the background so that it will be shown more prominently? What colors will be carried from one room then to the other and in which areas will they appear?
Allow the current artworks, wall colors and furnishings inspire you.
Be Consistent
Just imagine that you’re taking a walk throughout your home and you’re leading your guests on a tour of sorts. What do you notice as you walk from room to room? Are the aesthetics and décor consistent throughout the rest of your home? Or are they too jarring that the guests tend to just look away?
If the tour made you realize that your house needs a little freshening up, then you might want to begin with the purchase of a rug. You can then find complementary paint colors, fabrics and accessories.
Begin with Carpets and Rugs
Go ahead and match two carpets for both the living and dining areas. This is most apt for an open space layout. Add variety later on then pick colors for your upholstery which you can use for both spaces. Gold and yellow are relative colors that are easy to use.
You can also use matching carpets by picking one color that is common for each. Red and gold look great together, in fact, they remind you of happy Christmas moments. Green and white are also a wonderful combination.
Area rugs that you use in your living and dining rooms can also be joined by a single color even when they have different designs and textures. A gray rug on the living room could have navy blue pinstripes while the dining room’s has an all blue rug paired with a gray mirror.
Tags: layout, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, space planning, tips
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Friday, September 9th, 2016
The 1586-50001-BLK3 Lucky Clover Accent Table is both sleek and modern which makes it the best side table for a living room with open-space concept.
Many contemporary and modern homes now use the open floor plan. This is a style that both architects and clients make as a team. Because of the series of benefits and advantages, more and more homeowners are giving in to more breathing space.
Lots of Open Space
One of the major advantages of using an open floor plan in your home is that you get to have wide, wide space. Read some of the interior design magazines and you would often see a living room-kitchen fusion using the open space layout. This kind of layout is more inviting than having two separate rooms. Both rooms would feel more spacious since there are no evident walls to keep them apart.
Lots of Natural Light
As the walls are removed, you are practically removing barriers for light. Let the natural light flow in through the windows. More sunlight means having the whole room look and feel brighter.
This is another reason why open space layouts are a great choice for houses with fewer or smaller windows. This is also the best layout for rooms that have a darker décor.
Lots of Movement
Open floor plan also means that you can have more freedom of movement. You will appreciate this more if you begin to move your furniture around. Since there are no walls or tight spaces, you can move more freely, hence, renovation is a breeze.
Lots of Action
Open space plans also offer more room for entertainment. This is great for people who love to organize social gatherings. This is perfect for those moments when you invite guests over or if you simply want them to stay for dinner. You can have the dining room and the kitchen at adjacent areas so that you can still cook while the guests are having fun.
If you love hosting huge social gatherings, then this layout is, once again, to your advantage. You don’t just offer a larger space to your guests, you also provide an airier atmosphere as there are no walls and doors that could restrict everyone’s access to the dining room and the kitchen. This only means that you don’t have to seat everyone inside one space.
Do you have guests in wheelchairs? Then the open floor layout means they won’t have to worry about doors, stairs and walls which separate what are supposed to be the rooms. The handicapped won’t have to worry about opening doors, turning around or stopping as they can now move more easily.
Since open space layout also means the removal of walls, then you have less space where you could hang your artwork. Since this is so, you just have to assess which pieces need to be displayed and where you could hang them. On the other hand, with a bigger space, you should be able to hang bigger pieces.
More Safety
Since the kitchen is often open to the dining room or the living room, you get to see what is happening to your family even while you are busy cooking. This will make monitoring your kids much easier since you get to see them playing while you are working.
FFDM Brentwood Collection: The furniture pieces, accents, window treatments and flooring all come from the same hue family which makes this a room full of breathing space.
Less Mess
Open floor plan shows the entire home in one glance. This means that it is much easier to clean since you can pretty much see clutter once it’s obviously on the floor or on the walls. Just make sure that everything is clean and tidy, though, since dirt and clutter can also be easier to see.
With less square footage come techniques that should be used to make the area appear bigger. The open space plan is one such technique.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, open floor, open floor layout, open floor plan, open floor planning, open space, open space design, open space layout, open space theme, space planning
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, August 18th, 2016
Thomasville Bedroom Manyara Media Hutch 46211-365
If you are planning a closet makeover, you should always begin with measurements. You need to measure your current closet. Find out the hanging requirements as well as your storage needs.
Clear out the closet if you want to have the new system installed. This is a great moment for you to look through your items and find those that you no longer use. Once you find those, you can decide if you would want to donate to charity or to hand them down.
Planning the Closet System
A closet system can be the perfect solution to maximizing storage space. You can make use of hanging bars, drawers and a cubby storage. These are tools that can help you organize clothes and accessories.
More Shelves Isn’t Always Better
There is the common notion that more shelves are better. There are instances when this isn’t the case. Shelves can also take up a lot of space especially if you didn’t take the time to plan the ones that you’d use in your home.
Use shelves and stack them in an orderly manner. If you don’t, you would end up using up precious storage space. Invest in shelves that were designed to carry most of the items that you need to be concealed from your line of vision.
Get a Closet Armoire
If you don’t have a lot of closet space, you can invest in an additional storage unit. A freestanding armoire is just the right piece. This can take the place of the usual cabinet. Use wire shelving inside the armoire to maximize storage. You can also achieve a clutter-free room if you learn to classify your clothing pieces. Foldable garments should go inside drawers while those that you can be hung should be, well, hung.
Tiered shelves should house the sweaters and other seasonal stuff at their highest layer. Others that are used more often should be placed in those easy-to-reach drawers.
Universal Furniture Bedroom Tall Cabinet 071160
Manage Your Space
Having a small bedroom means you should consider putting the dresser in the closet. Maximize the space by having shelving units above it; doing this will allow you to maximize the vertical space that closets can offer.
You need to measure every inch of space if you have a limited area to work on. There is also the choice to install an over-the-door storage for accessories such as belts and shoes. These items may be small but these are the ones that usually hog your closet space. Have underclothes and socks folded and placed inside neatly-stacked bins or baskets.
Uniform hangers will also provide a tidy and neat look for your closet.
What About a Kid’s Closet?
Planning a kid’s closet should be no different. There should be fabric storage bins that can make the closet look neat, presentable and organized. You can make use of dual rods on both sides of storage tower. This can be used as an extra hanging space for pants and shirts.
Apply picture labels in front of these bins so that the kid(s) will be able to stick to the set up organization system.
Organizing through Folding
Folding may take a tad longer to accomplish than merely hanging clothes but it can also be a tidy way to organize your clothes. Here are some tips on how you can fold your favorite dresses, blouses and pants –
Tags: armoire, cabinet, cabinet organization, closet, closet organization, how to organize a cabinet, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, organizing the closet, space planning, storage, storage advice, storage planning, storage systems, storage techniques, tips
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Saturday, July 2nd, 2016
1586-75200B-BRN Long Board Rectangle Dining Table with 2-20in leaves: Cynthia Rowley’s furniture collection is perfect for open space layouts and modern settings.
Do you happen to live in a house that has a series of compact rooms? Has it crossed your mind to topple down some walls in order to open up your space? If you answered yes to both questions, then you are more than ready to embrace the open space concept. But what if a concern is a wall that is structural?
The great news is that it can still be removed and you can still open up the space as you want it. What you need to do is to replace the load bearing. You would need the expertise of a local architect because that is a project that you shouldn’t take on alone. He will also be the one to ascertain that everything is done in accordance with the building code.
An easy and inexpensive way to remove a wall is the installation of an engineered wood beam. This has to be positioned right below the current floor joists. The contractor can build a temporary wall on every side of the bearing wall. He can then remove the bearing wall, have the wood beam installed, then have the temp walls removed.
The architect may also tell you to use steel instead of wood beam because of the length of the wall that is about to be removed. This will cost more but there are situations when it is the only viable solution.
You would also surely love picking out the colors, finishes, fabrics and other stuff when you’re remodeling. Space planning results in a more efficient place. Find images of open floor spaces and find out how you can use the same concept in your home.
Know Your Space Needs
You need to make a list of the spaces and their functions within the large spaces. Assign square footage for every area. Consider also the size of your furniture as well as the number of dwellers in a room. An example is the space between the dining room table and the kitchen counter should be no less than four feet. This is so people can freely walk between them.
Consider Space Relationships
After determining the size for every space, find out the need for each room to be near each other. Define why they need to be adjacent.
People will be moving from one space to the next so make sure that you place the rooms that make sense to be right next to each other. Obvious adjacencies include the kitchen and the dining areas as well as the living area and the entertainment area.
Adjacencies also make sense when you consider plumbing or sewage lines. Doing so will minimize the costs that come with doubled pipes or damaged lines.
Know Your Organizing Preferences
Knowing where the bathroom and kitchen would be as well as working with the constraints of the building structure should lead to the next question – how will the smaller zones fit into the open space? The four options include linear, grid, axial and central.
Linear organization is called such because of the series of spaces that were arranged to create a straight line. This is a flexible type of organization since you can easily adjust the shapes and sizes of the zones for as long as they are still related to the line.
Axial, on the other hand, uses two or more major points to define the arrangements such as the bathroom and the kitchen having two separate linear paths.
Think of Furniture Grouping
Always think of the furniture that you own when grouping room functionalities. The bedroom should have the nightstand, dresser, and of course, the bed. The living room should still have a distinct coffee table, end table, chairs, and a sofa.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, open space, open space design, open space layout, open space theme, space planning, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 1st, 2016
Size is an issue in loft living which is why this Cynthia Rowley 1586-10458B-WH3 Side-Stripe Accent Writing Desk would be perfect for your chosen lifestyle.
When you are out to design a loft in your home, it is essential to consider the history and character of the space. Back in the day, lofts were made solely for warehouses and factories. These days, loft is a space that is considered essential in some people who observe an urban way of life. More than being a traditional form of architecture, it is now a way of coping with modern lifestyles.
Loft living may sound contemporary but when you have the dilemma of having one spacious room and unique features such as support columns and exposed pipes, you would realize that designing a loft can be a tad more challenging.
Here are 8 awesome tips on how you can turn your cold, unfeeling loft into a welcoming, cozy space –
Define the Space
Begin by walking around your loft and finding the most suitable spot for your living, dining and sleeping areas. Make your decision based on where the bathroom and kitchen are located. See also how the windows are situated so that you can define the rooms according to their window requirements.
Take note that the living area must have a good view where the sofa is placed at a spot where you will have a great view of the city lights. The bedroom must also be placed at an area where the morning sun doesn’t hit.
Create a sketch of your floor plan the moment you make up your mind regarding the placement of rooms.
Create a Perceivable Division
Loft living requires that the kitchen, living, dining, bathroom spaces all share the same floor and could even be visually seen all at once at a given time.
Furniture can be used to visually divide the space. There are many other tricks to learn. Having a raised platform is another technique.
There are also room dividers and screens which can be used to divide space while giving your loft an accessorized look. Hanging fabric screens high up on the ceiling is also a makeshift divider that you can use.
Hooker Furniture Home Office South Park Bunching Bookcase is a loft essential because of its limited width yet spacious storage space.
Pick a Style
Most lofts are great settings for contemporary design. These come with smooth, sleek lines and surfaces which can be effectively combined with wood, stone, glass, steel, and other natural materials to render a modern look.
Bring in a few potted plants and vases of flowers to soften the modern look.
Warm Up the Floor
While concrete or hardwood floors may look fabulous, they aren’t that fantastic during the coldest months. So go ahead and warm up the flooring with colorful area rugs which can also serve as dividers for your different living areas.
Install Correct Lighting
Setting up the lighting can be a challenge especially when you have to do it in a loft. Hang pendant lights where vertical space will allow it while lamps and wall sconces would do for the entire space.
Dress Up the Windows
If you have large windows and have a good view of the city lights during the evening, this can become a nuisance in the morning when you would need relief from the bright sun and if you would like to spend some private moments.
Shop for fabric panels that will provide the essential coverage; other good choices include shutters and blinds. The latter can be opened wide should you decide to bask in the morning light and closed when you want to take a snooze during the day.
Stunning Wall Art
You can also beautify your loft by setting up one wall as an art gallery. Hang your lovely snapshots or artworks for everyone to enjoy.
Balance History and Modernity
Create a perfect blend of different timelines by fusing elegant furnishings, lighting and architectural features. While the beams and conduits are all exposed, find glory in them.
Everything in your loft should be balanced and pleasant.
Tags: art, artwork, loft, loft design, loft style, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, space planning, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Thursday, April 14th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Bedroom Transcend King Platform Bed will look great on your newly-constructed loft.
One of the biggest trends in the interior design industry is the so-called open-plan layout. Homeowners are now into knocking down walls so they can create a sense of light, space, fluidity, even a level of sociability. Of course, there are also downsides to this kind of layout. It is known to reduce quiet spots and private moments. Furniture placement can also be a problem for those who are not that familiar with the concept. Add to this the pile of dishes which you can’t ignore when you’re watching your favorite TV show, and you’re just about to explode. If this concept is okay when it comes to your social life but does not serve its purpose when you want to relax and be alone, then you could compromise with the broken-plan theme.
So what exactly is a broken-plan concept?
Fifty-Percent Open, Fifty-Percent Private
The backseat of this Henredon Living Room Deco Chaise A6707-H can also serve as a divider between the bedroom and the living room.
Broken plan, simply explained, is all about keeping the things that you like in open plan living and saying yes to privacy at the same time.
To embrace this kind of theme, you must be prepared to divide your overall space in a subtle manner. Be able to install smart shelves, use half walls, come up with split levels, etc. These are the breakout zones that will offer you relaxation and privacy. This can also give you the perfect sense of space and light while still providing ample distraction from your relatives once your mood goes slow-mo.
What’s lovely about open-plan living is that you get to have a flow of light. Be careful that you do not create dark or small rooms as you introduce closed doors or walls.
Broken-plan living is that safe middle with open shelves and filtered lighting; the flow and connectivity between the adjacent rooms should still be there. Having an extra wide opening for a door or two can add to your new design concept.
Boost light further by installing internal windows. This is especially useful when you have a home office as it can provide a sense of quietness without separating you from the goings on in the general living area.
These wide openings are the best compromise that you could have for those torn down walls and narrow doorways.
Broken-Plan at Another Level
You can also make use of multiple floor levels or various ceiling heights. You can also separate, for instance, the chic kitchen from the entertainment area without one room bleeding to the other. What you achieve is a space where the whole family can gather or individual members be alone should the need arise.
Many modern homes have also encompassed dining, cooking and living areas. The layout may look spacious but it is the privacy that suffers in the end. This connectivity and bustle inside the kitchen simply can’t offer relaxation at any level.
Retain a slab of wall at one side or a wide bookcase to subtly establish a dividing line. Another chic example to do this is to create a split level. Having a different flooring material at the living room and the dining area indicates visual separation.
Having ample room height could allow you to accommodate the construction of a loft. This is a smart way to create a different living area in what could have been dead space. It is up to you to assign which level is the more formal room.
The use of partial walls to divide a large room is a good way to create smaller lounging areas. If you have been blessed with a huge bedroom then you can also employ the broken-plan to come up with a separate space for studying, lounging and doing other hobbies.
If you aren’t a big fan of walls, then use glass sliding doors to embrace the broken-plan theme.
Tags: broken plan concept, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, open floor layout, open space layout, open space theme, space planning
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2016
The Flexsteel Home Office Hutch W1201-747 will neatly sit on that cozy corner of your home office, allowing more space to be utilized.
Many people find themselves living in homes with an open floor plan. These days, if you still do not have one but are thinking of jumping on the bandwagon, then you have to consider which walls to tear down or to cut away from. The airy and open feeling of this kind of layout is awesome though it also comes with home design quandaries.
The most common questions that people ask with regard to the open floor layout are these –
These are just some of the many questions that open floor layouts conjure.
Space planning is the step that comes before color, fabric or finish selection. This should be done whether you are designing your first home or when you are remodeling. Planning, when done right, can give you a room that looks and feels much larger.
Well, there is no need to be paralyzed with fear. If you’re not ready to dive into the totality that open space planning offers, then know that you can still section off the space into smaller areas. Make a list of functional spaces that you will set up within the bigger space. If you can, assign a specific square footage for each room.
You also have to consider the foot traffic per area. For example, there should be ample space between the dining area and the kitchen (no less than four feet is ideal) so that diners will be able to walk to and from both areas without hindrance.
With an open floor plan, you will have more space for this lovely wooden piece from the Hyde Park Collection of FFDM.
Space adjacency should also be considered. Rooms that are commonly placed next to each other are the bathroom and the bedroom, the kitchen and the dining room, the living room and the kids’ play area. Of course, this all depends on your lifestyle.
Consider the current and future locations of doors, electrical outlets, windows, and columns. The kitchen should be situated on an area where there’s amply water supply – and so should the bathroom. You will surely minimize costs if you plan the adjacent rooms properly.
An open space layout does not necessarily translate into rooms that are not properly defined. Say no to the temptation of lining up your walls with furniture. Instead, use area rugs to define the conversation clusters in your living area. Doing so will let you add coziness and warmth to your home, making it a lot more inviting.
If you are the entertaining type, you might want to consider buying a chaise or daybed. These come with open sides and can serve as seats for two rooms. An alternative can be that lovely upholstered bench that is both a seat in your dining area or an anchor for a work of art propped against the wall.
Chaises offer two open sides; this is a piece that you can use in two areas (Century Furniture Living Room Cornerstone Chaise LTD7600-5).
As for the walls, Instead of the usual, you can just invest in some dividers, double-sided bookcases or decorative screens. These simple items will be able to provide the privacy that you need on a daily basis.
Open floor planning is all about color harmony (read about our previous blog on how to do this – http://mccreerys.blogs.eprevue.net/2016/02/04/interior-design-101-fundamental-color-harmonies/). While colors are a major part of your open space layout consideration, it is important to note that all walls do not have to be painted with the same color.
Whatever happens, do not allow yourself to freeze with fear. Open floor plan should bring out your creativity and vivid imagination!
Tags: color harmony, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, open floor, open floor layout, open floor plan, space planning, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
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