By Annie O’Carroll, Principal, Annie O’Carroll Interior Design

Look outside and you will find just the right palette for your home’s interior design plan. Study the different colors, textures and shapes in nature and you will be inspired by what you see.

Tranquility expressed in a sitting room was achieved with a soft, neutral sofa dressed in shades of yellow and lavender pil- lows. I glanced outside at the homes’ surrounding vistas, and saw the joyful, yellow flowers of the chamisa shrub, their gentle, gray-green foliage and vibrant purple asters. In that instant I was aware of the influence of nature in my work.

My emphasis on our stunning surroundings in Santa Fe will help guide you to make the right choices for your interior de-

sign plan. Sunrise lighting up the velvet blue sky with gold, yel- low, orange and magenta inspires a bright, bold interior. Think of the silvery, blue-green sage shrub against the rich topaz of the earth and the horizon of an aqua sky. This suggests a gently muted palette. Our changing seasons present interesting choices. On a sunny, winter day you may see a dusting of snow on our evergreen trees, a bright crimson cardinal bird and his mate in shades of olive green.

Together we will draw from nature in Santa Fe and create an atmo- sphere to reflect your design style. Santa Fe has been my home for more than 20 years and the spirit of our surroundings continues to whisper to my imagination.

q.
Why Do Certain Slab Materials Show Fingerprints?

a.
Countertops that are prone to show fingerprints are honed granites and darker colored composite materials such as Caesar stone and Silestone. When dark granites are honed it actually opens the pores of the material which allows for easier absorption of oils etc. Polished granites actually tighten up the pores in the material. Along with this polishing the material creates greater reflectivity that is measured at the factory to produce consistent, high quality material. The lack of a polish enables oils to be seen more easily and the darker the material the more probable you will see the reflectivity of the material.  A leather finish provides a variable textured finish and is a great alternative to a polished finish.

Before

There are so many questions facing home- owners these days: Should I put my house on the market? Should I consider remodeling? Should I build my dream home?

Why hire an interior designer…now?

If you have a home on the market, an interior designer can assist in getting the house “show ready”. Having a pair of objective and professional eyes can help with anything from editing what you already own, or suggesting paint colors, all the way to styling your home. The idea is for potential buyers to see themselves living in the home.

After

Have you ever walked into a home to see potential, but ask yourself “how in the world did these finishes get chosen?” “I like the bones, but this house needs serious remodeling.” Potential buyers walk away because they are not willing to put time and money into a remodel or they simply can’t see the end result. This is exactly the kind of pitfall that can be avoided by hiring an interior designer in the first place. There is a vast array of price points and finishes avail- able and a savvy interior designer will know exactly how to maximize the budget, and get the perfect end result.

If you are considering remodeling, a designer can transition the orig- inal space to the remodeled space in a seamless and sequential way. When a buyer can’t tell the original from the new, you have a successful remodel.

Are you building your dream home? Adding an interior designer to the team is money well spent. Taking lifestyle, aesthetic and budget into consideration, an interior designer can give assist to realize your dreams and keep the pitfalls at bay.

Rain Shower Placement

Joan and Bret were all set to take their first shower in their remodeled master bathroom. They had been planning on this major remodel for 2 years. The bathroom was beautiful with state of the art fixtures complete with shower sprays and the much desired rain shower head. When Joan went to order the stem for the rain dome she measured properly for her use with a stem of 2′ perfect for her height of 5’2″. Imagine Bret’s surprise when he was  banging his head on  the rain dome.

q.

what is the correct placement of a shower rain dome?

a.

Ideally you want a 1′ distance from the bottom of the rain shower head to the tallest person using the shower. This typically leaves the stem from the ceiling the bottom of the head at approximately 12″ to 16″ from the ceiling. If the rain shower head is installed too high it creates a pelting effect which is clearly not the desired effect. I love the look of the ceiling mounted fixtures, just make sure the ceiling height is appropriate. I believe it is very important for the people using the shower to be there when placing fixtures. Although there are general height rules it really is a custom installation.

Swing Arm lamp placement

Susan and Mark just completed construction on their new home. At long last… the much anticipated first night in their beautiful new bedroom. Reading before turning in for the night is part of their much-loved routine.They remembered early in the construction process making the decision on the location of the swing arm lamps. It was their opportunity to place the lamps exactly where they wanted. At that time they had not selected their bed. Some time later they decided to go with a low profile platform style of bed. Imagine their shock when they realized the swing arm lamps were aiming for the top of their heads!

q.
Is there a standard height when placing swing arm lamps and what are the considerations?

a.
There are three essential measurements to consider when locating a swing arm lamp.  One is the height of the fixture in relationship to the height of the mattress the 2^nd is the extension of the fixture and the 3^rd is the adjustment in the shade. It is best to have the specification of the fixture and the bed size (including headboard/platform/frame) when placing the location of the j-box. The j-box is the power source and will determine exactly where the wiring is pulled through the wall.  The fixture is then connected to the j-box. Each fixture will have an extension, typically between 18” and up to 29”.  The extension determines the spacing between the edge of the mattress/frame and the j-box. I typically center the j-box with the center of the nightstand.  Some platform beds can have a very wide frame style so the longer the extensions are very useful.

The best way to determine the height of the j-box is to sit on the mattress and measure from the floor to the top of your shoulder. For a standard frame this is typically between 44” and 46” of the floor. The bottom of the shade should be at your shoulder.

Chandelier Over Dining Table

Mary and Jim were putting the finishing touches on their dining room. The chandelier they painstakingly chose during a trip to Murano, Italy just arrived…6 months later. They couldn’t wait to complete the room, after all the décor was designed around the chandelier. Imagine their surprise when they realized their beautiful glass chandelier hung only 24” above the dining table.

q.

How high a chandelier should hang over a dining table?

a.

The standard rule of thumb is to hang a chandelier between 30” to 36” above a dining table if your ceiling height is 8’. If your ceiling is higher than 8 feet consider adding 3 inches to the height above the table for each additional foot of ceiling height. Make sure the chandelier is low enough to illuminate the eating area and high enough for your dinner guests to see each other from across the table. The type of chandelier you choose will impact the height decision.  If you have a glass or crystal chandelier with lots of visual space consider hanging it a bit higher.

On a stroll through downtown Santa Barbara I was inspired by the architectural statements punctuated by the tile work adorning buildings, water fountains, doorways, windows, and entire walls. Seeing the lush color palettes mix beautifully with any neutral backdrop and I was inspired!

This fine art began 4000 years ago in the near east, moved through Persia, Turkey, the Ottoman Empire, Morocco, Portugal and Europe. Unique shapes and motifs can be traced back to different cultures and locales and linked to historical happenings of the time. Delftware is the recognizable blue and white tile from Holland and is seen as far away as Brazil. Maiollica from Italy and Spain was a lively use of color. A demand for architectural fine art of the past was in demand in the Arts & Crafts movement and we saw the revival of decorative tile.

The varieties of design styles and material inspire me to incorporate tile throughout your home. I often frame a fireplace opening with decorative tile, include a mosaic accent in a floor, add a high-relief decorative design as a backsplash in a kitchen, and create an interesting shower wall of tile.

Tile work is open to the imagination. Decorative tiled surfaces can be a “picture”, single motif, creative pattern, a simple or complex mosaic. This ancient tradition is yours to enjoy today.

That is a dramatic statement but painting is the easiest step in transforming your environment. Surrounding yourself in the vibration of beautiful color promotes a positive atmosphere.

Let’s keep the process of painting simple. When working with you I consider your furniture and artwork. We will observe how the light and shadows pass through your home. The ideal colors are chosen and we are ready to paint.

Satin, flat or semi-gloss paint depends on the space. Flat will hide imperfections, semi-gloss is easy to clean in kitchens and bathrooms, satin combines the best of both for resisting stains and durability. Is the space a high or low-traffic area of your home?

Zero or low VOC paints are worth considering for a “green” home. Volatile organic compounds, VOC’s, occur in our atmosphere. VOC’s come from everything from natural sources such as tree pollen to paint fumes and may cause respiratory problems. The leading paint companies have developed “green” pigment, binding agents and solvents for interior paint.

Benjamin Moore, Behr, Martha Stewart, Sherwin Williams, or the luxury company of Farrow & Ball offer enticing paint choices. Beyond rich colors look for one coat coverage, superb fade and stain resistance from a long list of favorite brands.

Color is a powerful enhancement to inspire and nurture you. Your color preferences will change throughout your life and it’s natural to bring those changes to your home. The harmonizing effect of painting your environment is easy, affordable and creative.