Top Ten Decorating Tips

Decorating by Numbers!

Getting your measurements right the first time will make everyone happy!   How many times do we do something and then say,  “That doesn’t look good!”   or it needs to higher, or lower?  I know I have done it more than once.  I came across this Decorate by Numbers! – Get your measurements right in the House Beautiful magazine and wanted to share it with my readers,  Thank you House Beautiful – you are an awesome magazine and great decorating tips and articles.

36 inch wide rectangular table

1.  Know your tables:  A 36 inch wide rectangular table is perfect for conversation.  A Round table with a diameter of 48 inches seats six;  a 60 inch round will handle eight standard dinning chairs or 10 ballroom chairs.

48 Inch Round Table

 

2.  How big should an overhead light fixture be?  Just add the length and width of the room in feet, and whatever number you come up with is, in inches, your guide for the fixture’s diameter.  So a 15-by-20 foot room would need a 35 inch wide chandelier.

3.  One gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of wall.

Mount Curtains as high as possible to add height to any room.

 

4.   Mount curtains as high as possible to give the room more height, and let them break 1 1/2 inches on the floor.

5.  Kitchen island should be about 38 inches high – a little taller than the counter tops to be comfortable for food preparation.

6.  Curtains should be  2 1/2  to 3 times the width of the window.  So if you’re doing two panels, each should be 1 1/4  to 1 1/2 times the window width.

Curtans - perfect Height and Width.

Purchase a curtain rod that is 20 inches wider than your window so it extends 10 inches on either side.  Your window will seem much wider than it really it.

Dining Room Chandelier 36 inches above the table

7.  The bottom of a dining-room chandelier should hand 36 inches above the table.   This is actually my  home and I checked my chandelier and I was 35 7/8″ – got lucky on that one!

8.  Install light switches 36 inches above the floor and 1 1/2 to 2 inches to the side of the door trim.

9.  For a standard 84″ inch sofa with exposed legs and a tight back, you’ll need 14 yards of plain 54 inch wide fabric.  Add two yards for skirt.

10.   From Classical times to today, the golden ratio has always been the perfect proportion:  1 to 1.62.   At least since the Renaissance, many artists and architects have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio—especially in the form of the golden rectangle, in which the ratio of the longer side to the shorter is the golden ratio—believing this proportion to be aesthetically pleasing.

Hope you learned something new about decorating, I know I did when I read it.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this blog, what did you take away from it and did it inspire you to make any changes in your home?

Thank You and come visit us also at The Trendy Bed,  and remember to make your home:

 

Cathy Campbell

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Celebrity Lighting…

Let’s share some Lighting with the Celebrities…

Please welcome another guest blogger to The Trendy Home,  Emily Chadwick from Arcadian Lighting.

Celebrities often provide fodder for the style pages of Vogue, Marie Claire and Esquire, but some of them maintain such chicness and style in their homes as well.  In the pages of Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, etc. our favorite celebrities proudly display their beautiful collections of light fixtures, modern furniture and impeccably cared-for antiques. Here is a collection of our favorite celebrity rooms:

Celebrity Rooms

Keri Russell via Elle Décor

When Keri Russell’s Brooklyn abode was featured in the April 2011 issue of Elle Décor, it caused quite a bit of fanfare among shelter bloggers. Why? Because it is a chic, feminine yet modern space that looked so cozy and welcoming. This living room, for instance, featured an Ochre pendant light, linen-upholstered armchairs and gorgeous sheer mauve curtains.

Celebrity Rooms

Betsey Johnson via Elle Decor UK

An apartment this pink and peppy couldn’t belong to anyone else other than the peppy, cartwheeling fashion designer, Betsey Johnson.  Pink may not be for everyone, but if you can get past that initially shocking bright color, you’ll see a truly gorgeous apartment with a lot of great mid-century modern pieces.  Johnson is shown seated in a William Platner Arm Chair.  In her bedroom is an Arco Floor Lamp and a Saarinen Womb Chair. Truly great pieces that show impeccable taste.

Celebrity Rooms

Erin Fetherson via Vogue

Count Erin Fetherson is yet another fashion designer with a chic, feminine home.  Here she is jumping on her extra large custom-made bed, which is flanked by chinoiserie lamps and vintage nightstands.

Celebrity Rooms

Sheryl Crow via Architectural Digest

Sheryl Crow’s Hollywood home was featured in Architectural Digest earlier this year and it’s another beautifully decorated space.  Shown here, is the singer’s living room which mixes modern and vintage pieces quite well.  For instance, the sofa is modern, while the Italian pendant lights are vintage pieces.

 

Celebrity Rooms

Michael Feinstein via Architectural Digest

In the office of singer, songwriter and composer Michael Feinstein, is a wall decorated with memorabilia. The salon-style hangings of personally-important photos, articles and autographs is a testament to a successful career. Not only that, but it’s a great way to create an accent wall in any home; just pair it with a couple of arm chairs and side table to complete the look.

It’s always interesting to see celebrity homes — when they’re featured in shelter magazines — how they incorporate their own careers and personalities into their home’s décor and design. It’s a lesson for non-celebs, too, that your home should be filled with the things you love and express who you are.

Content provided by Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality lighting fixtures at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

Thank you Emily for your blog on Celebrity rooms and their lighting decor, as we can see they all have their own personality, just like the Celebrity them self.

See you soon at The Trendy Bed and remember to make your home:

Love,

Cathy Campbell

The Trendy Bed.com

The Trendy Home.com

XOXO

 

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The Trendy Bed Say’s Thank You!

Taking time to Relax

Where do I start?

This is not the normal The Trendy Home blog, if you have noticed I haven’t been around writing my blogs that I used to LOVE to do much this year!

On January 27 I was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer – Thank You Lord it was only Stage #1 but if you were ever told you have  “CANCER”  at first you think someone just signed your death notice.    It’s all you think about, 24/7.

On February 7th I had my surgery at Hoag Hospital here in Southern California,  complete hysterectomy along with the Lymph nodes  – they wanted to be sure they got it all and I was happy to oblige.

I’m so happy to say I don’t need Chemo or Radiation, all I need is to make sure I get my blood work every three months for the next 2 years, and every 6 months for the following 3 years until I hit that magical “5″ years.

I have been so blessed and I know it;   has there been dark days, sure I’m human but I also know they will pass.   I have seen the power of friends,  family and staying positive.

The Campbell's

My darling Husband.

I know it wasn’t easy on my Husband, his  Parents, and Siblings are all gone and the thought of losing his wife wasn’t something he wanted to even consider!

 

The YaYa Girls

The Ya Ya Girls

Us Girls just can’t make it in this world without our Best Friends,  these are my best friends:  Michelle, Laura, and Pamela.  Michelle and I were pregnant together 26 years ago,  Laura and I have something in common – Cancer.  She’s fighting her battle as well  and I’m happy to say things are looking up for her too;  and we have so much in common you would think we have been friends for life.   Then there’s Pamela – we have been neighbors for over 15 years now and there was even a move in there,  and they followed us and they are still the best neighbors, family by choice, and friends the Campbell family could ask for.

My Family

Matthew, Lindsey, and Michael

One of the hardest things I had to do was tell my “boy’s” that their Mother had Cancer!   And I add “HAD” cancer!   I’m looking forward to playing with my grandchildren and spooling them rotten and then giving them back!

My life today!    What’s it like living without your body’s thermostat?    I’m always hot or Cold,   NO in between!    Window’s open, ceiling fan on HIGH during the night and most of the time my dear husband is under the covers so tight and I’m on top with nothing on!    It reminds me of the musical  “Menopause“   if you haven’t seen it, it’s a good fun night out with the girls or even the husband.  (Mine laughed so hard!)   But it’s so TRUE!

So, I wanted to say  HI to my readers and I am feeling much better and have gained most of my strength back and ready to write some blogs.

The Trendy Bed has added some new products lately so look forward to some product updates.

There is a good life even after being told you have Cancer – keep it positive and lean on your friends and family, they just might surprise you!

Thank you and much LOVE!

Cathy

xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My Happy Place…

Creating Your Happy Space

I’m not sure if it’s the Holidays, or our busy schedules but it is becoming more important to us to have what I call “My Happy Place”.

I had a customer email me just this week and she is a writer – photographer and had a commercial office space and decided at her age she wanted a home office now.    She called her space her “Scared Space” and she was asking for some advise and my opinion on a Daybed that she had just added to her room.

Another “Happy Place” could be a great place to read a good book,  watch the snow falling, or a good rain storm,  watching the kids play outside without them knowing.  My vision of this space is a great window seat.

And when I was a Child I remember my Mother saying  “Calgon Take Me A Way” this was her way of wishing for her Happy Place – The Bath Tub…

And to one Mother her  “Happy Place”  is on  a Sunday  afternoon,  her 3-year old son has his trains and blocks spread out, and she and her  husband are reading the paper and drinking their favorite cup of coffee.   It’s  “My Happy Place”  because I’m with the ones I love most and this space is who we are as a family.

And my last “My Happy Place” is a beautiful Bedroom.  I have always had a thing for Bedrooms,  I like them to be inviting, and romantic but not over the top!   Here is one of my favorite pictures of Beautiful Bedrooms.

I hope you all have “Your Happy Place” and I welcome you to share them with me and my readers.

Here’s to YOU, and 2010 and wishing only the best for you in 2011;    Make Your Home…

Happy New Year…   and be Safe!

Cathy

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