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Product Introduction – Foreside Furniture

admin — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:00:45 +0000

A couple weeks ago we talked about a few of our favorite accessories from Foreside. Today we’ll show you a few furniture options from this great company. With a wide range of styles, Foreside offers something for every room. A major plus side is this furniture is also budget friendly.

Stop by LIV Showroom and see these beauties in person because as you know online viewing can only get you so far! Just wait until you see it for yourself. You’ll be ready to add some color to that {fill in the blank} you’ve been dreaming about. {I filled in that blank spot with my entry – I want that yellow table!}

LIV colorfully

Unique Color Combinations – How to use unique colors but still keep the room feminine

admin — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:49 +0000

If you use a color scheme that seems more fit for a boys room like this orange and blue room, be sure to go with feminine and curvy patterns or patterns that are more playful. The curves and floral wallpaper keep this room from crossing the line into boyland.

The greens and blues in this picture are already more feminine versions of the colors. While this isn’t an over-the-top unique combination, it’s refreshing not to see any pink. The white touches and subtle ruffles add just a touch of softness.

This scheme is hard not to love. It’s colorful but soft at the same time. While the yellow is pretty gender neutral the softness of the green adds the feminine element. Of course the floral wallpaper and curve of the headboard add to the element too. The larger geometric pattern on the bed keeps it from going overly girly.

While this scheme and decor is certainly not for everyone (it’s a bit much for my taste!), the color scheme is certainly refreshing and it still feels fit for a princess. The look is certainly eclectic, but the scheme could be interpreted in various styles. I love the combination of green and yellow with a hint of red and pink. You could adapt this scheme by going more conservative on the patterns to make the room more transitional or modern and not so eclectic.

To put together a unique scheme you can start in a couple of different ways. The easiest way is to find an inspiration piece to go from. Typically that piece would be a fabric, wallpaper, or area rug that has a couple of colors to pull from. Of course, in this case the color scheme already needs to be unique on the specific piece, or you make it unique by how you pair it all together.

You can also start by just choosing a color you love and paint or select a fabric in that color. Slowly pull pieces together that go well with that color and a new unique color scheme can be born.

Always keep in mind the overall feeling you want to create in the room and select either intense colors or soft colors from there. Keep contrast low if you want a more subtle approach even if you do want it to still be very different.

The more modern you want to go, the fewer colors you should use in the scheme. Just don’t go overboard. 3-4 main colors is typically plenty.

Here’s some other random inspiration

Schumacher bali vine: Select something neutral but feminine and your possibilities for pairing it up are endless. Match up this fabric with a painted dresser like this one above in any fun or soft color and your new scheme has begun.

Kravet XU Garden:

I love the idea of using this green geometric for a girls room. It’s modern and fresh and very unique. You could take this more bold by pairing with bolder colors and larger patterns, or soften it with fresh or airy colors in smaller scale patterns. Pair this geometric with various shades of blue, yellow, green (or a yellow-green would be so cute!) to create something different for your girls room.

LIV daringly

Project Update: Girl’s Bedroom

admin — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:22:36 +0000

No designing could be more fun than a little girl’s bedroom! This one was no different. Designing for children can be more whimsical and creative. And that’s what what we went for in this room. Isn’t it a charmer with the unique and modern color scheme with still a touch of “princess”? Even modern girls want to be a princess!

The room was a blank slate with neutral walls. The floor plan called for this double layout which functions great for sleepovers (or when baby sis grows up!) but it also makes for a more dramatic look of repetition. And the blank ceiling called for…..something. So we added the beams and tongue and groove ceiling. And….remember last weeks posts on painted ceilings? Well a color was a must to balance out the dark navy walls and pop against the beams.

The color scheme began with the headboard we had in the showroom. We made a duplicate headboard and started pulling the scheme together from there. It was by happenstance (the fabric was laying in the design studio from another project) that the bird fabric was found. The color scheme was already mostly decided and this Robert Allen fabric pulled it all together. How cute is this!

And then for the chandelier. To keep the room from going “shabby chic” we opted for coral pink color. It keeps the room more modern and fun.

Adding few DIY touches kept cost down on this room redo and added a personal touch.

We love this unique color scheme. Do you like a more modern twist like this, or traditional girl’s room schemes?

LIV adventurously.

Painted Ceilings

admin — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:27:24 +0000

Painting the ceiling in a room can be a great way to complete the space. It’s an unexpected detail, and in some cases, can be just the right touch to pull a tricky space together.

Spaces that would especially be benefited by a painted ceiling would be smaller rooms like bathrooms to cut down on chopping up the space too much. It creates balance and some cases, leaving the ceiling white can make the room seem unfinished. Cutting the strength by 1/2 is a great way to introduce color without being too heavy. Painting the ceiling a light blue also gives the illusion of the sky.

Our designer, Pam, shares what she did in a recent project, “I painted the ceiling rice grain which is a creamy tan with a hint of green. I did that to high light the crown molding. I also think it creates the illusion of a taller ceiling. Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls when not using crown molding makes the room feel a lot bigger and the ceiling a lot taller. When the wall is one color and the ceiling another you are essentially drawing a line where the walls end and the ceiling begin. When you eliminate that line of demarcation the walls blend into the ceiling making it seen bigger since there isn’t anyway for your eyes to stop.”

Painting a bright pattern worked great in this nursery. It tied in the yellow and makes a bold statement.

Our designer Deboni says, “You have to be really careful doing ceilings, but when done right it looks awesome.”

For advice on how to pull off painted ceilings in your home don’t hesitate to call us or stop by the showroom.

LIV comfortably

Discussion with Our Pros – Creating Cohesive Floor Plans

admin — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:52 +0000

Today we have 3 tips from our pros on creating cohesive floor plans.

{1} – Divide large rooms into zones with specific purposes.

A perfect example of this is the living room we featured a couple weeks ago. It is a long and narrow room so Pam divided it in to three zones. The main seating area is centered around the fireplace, the game table/homework zone with storage and a music zone which will eventually have a baby grand.

{2} – Use architectural details to anchor a seating area and use an area rug to ground it.

{3} – Create small conversation areas so there aren’t wide expanses of dead space making conversation difficult.

LIV cohesively

Project Update: Dining Room

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:04:49 +0000

Do you remember way back when we shared this design plan with you? We just got back the final photos from the photographer and we are soooo excited with the finished product. When we started our this room was just a “pass through room” between the living room and kitchen but the fabulous wallpaper makes this space stand out on its own and demand some attention. A collection of plates as interest to our walls while letting the wallpaper be the star of the show. Since this room is off of the patio and has a garden inspired wallpaper an oversized lantern was the perfect lighting choice. This one from Ralph Lauren through Visual Comfort is a stunner.The vintage Chippendale chairs are painted an accent color that really pops off of the darker trim color. We wanted to create a more gathered and lived in look and the vintage buffet and collection of milk glass contribute to that feel. We are in love with the red high chair! This room connects to this living room and the red ties into to the pops of red throughout that space which helps tie the home together. We love the finished space, but more importantly our client loves it. What do you guys think?

LIV beautifully

Spring 2013 Color Spotlight – African Violet

admin — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:00:15 +0000

Exotic African Violet is a statement color that brings a touch of intrigue to the palette, as purples often do, and can be incorporated into many unexpected combinations.

Make a bold statement

Or used as an accent in a neutral setting.

Or a really great surprise element in a room.

{We’re going to talk more about painted ceilings next weekend!!}

And in fashion it can be paired in really fun ways to color block, accent, or just a little bit of feminine whimsy.

LIV Colorfully

Product Intro – Norwalk Furniture

admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:00:45 +0000

Norwalk Furniture is one of our favorite new lines available at LIV. We spent a long time searching for the perfect line that would offer both style and comfort at an affordable price point. And since Norwalk Furniture is American made in Ohio since 1902 we love them even more.

We love the classic lines with the great fabrics. But these aren’t just pretty pieces; they sit comfortably and are made to last as well.

A few of our favorites:

Check out their website here to see textiles, color trends and the complete line of wonderful products available.

How about some great news? 3 Things:

1 – It only takes 35 days to receive a custom order.

2 – We will be running a 20% off custom orders soon so be sure to drop by the showroom and see the complete fabric line with hundreds of options, including newly released patterns.

3 – LIV Open House Event May 30th!! We will have coupons and more info on the custom order sale so put this on your calender.

Mother’s Day V Chocolates

admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:35:04 +0000

Mother’s Day V Chocolates are here in our showroom just in time for the yummiest gift option for your mom.

And the sweet news is baskets with $40 worth of chocolate are only $20.

These are really popular so come in and pick one up today while they last.

Project Update: A Living Room that Hits All of the Right Notes

admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:19:38 +0000

Remember this design board we shared forever ago? Now we get to share the finished product. Let’s refresh our memory a bit. Here’s the space before:And here’s the space today: We wanted to create a soothing room with tones of gray and cream. (Do you love the look of a white slip covered sofa but you’re terrified your family will destroy it? Have no fear! This sofa was installed over a year ago and this is the main living space for a family with 3 little ones and it still looks great!)The home owners have had this fantastic painting in storage for years just waiting for the perfect place to use it. We thought it brought in a great pop of color that we carried throughout the space in the accessories. A charcoal ottoman helps ground the main seating group. We added linen drapery panels with a decorative tape and mounted them high to bring a little more height to these 8′ ceilings. We created these custom prints by layering graphics over sheet music for the families favorite songs. The grouping of the gallery around the cabinet helps balance out the fireplace directly opposite.

This was such a fun project to work on. We were able to really update the space while maintaining a pretty tight budget. Most people think you need to spend a lot of money to achieve the look you want but this room is shows that is not always the case. The key is creating a design plan so you can get the biggest bang for your buck and taking it in stages. This room still has 2 stages left. The game and homework section by the far window isn’t complete yet (we are just using some existing furniture there for now) and there is a part of the room that is not shown in these photos that will be getting a baby grand piano in the future. Be patient and check off your design plan off in stages to get a room that truly reflects you.