Category Archives: Tip For Tuesday

Tip For Tuesday: Painting Lampshades

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I have seen time and time again, clients who have a storage full of old lamps that they don’t use anymore for one reason or another. If you are one of those people, you might want to take a second look at those lamps before putting them out on the curb on trash day.

You can change the look of old lamp by spray painting it. But did you know that you could even spray paint the shades? You sure can! You can go further by adding embellishments too.

Check out a recent blog post where I spray painted some old lamps that I had in storage. Click here

And incase you are curious about how to spray paint the lampshades, here is a video showing just how simple it is.

Now wasn’t that easy?

Painting your lampshades isn’t restricted to just a solid color. This is a great opportunity to do something fun and unexpected.

Here are a few examples of beautifully painted lampshades with patterns and designs

Aren’t’ they all beautiful? They are certainly works of art!
painted lampshades

Source: ElecticallyVintage.com Painted with Chalkboard Paint

If you are not comfortable with free-handing a design on a lampshade, try using a stencil. Stencils are available at any craft store like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. If you would rather not use a stencil, you can try something like a simple monogram, stripes, or color blocking……or even chalkboard paint! How creative is that!
painted lampshades

Source: Turnstyle Vogue

You can get as creative as you like – Using watercolors to create an abstract design in the colors of the room would look amazing!
painted lampshades

Source: Pinterest

But incase you aren’t sure which route to take, check out this Pinterest board with some great ideas for painting lampshades.
painted lampshades

Source: Jones Design Company

And just before I wrap this up…….
I also came across this amazing website called Twig based in the UK that features some great ideas for hand painted lampshades. Check it out
handpainted lampshades

Source: Twig

hand painted lampshades

Source: Twig

 

This one is very detailed and so beautiful! I could see this one in my home

Painting lampshades is a great way to decorate for the seasons. You can pick up paper lampshades inexpensively at any craft store and paint one for each season. Maybe a pastel color with birds and flowers for spring, autumn leaves for fall etc.

What are your thoughts on painting lampshades?

I hope you are inspired to create something beautiful today!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

 

Tip For Tuesday: Pile On The Pillows

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I sometimes get resistance when I mention pillows to certain clients, especially my male clients. But any designer will tell you that adding pillows to a sofa, chair or a bed helps to pull a room together.

Source: Kravet.com

Source: Kravet.com

Pillows in a variety of sizes, colors and textures add a finishing touch to a room and helps to ground your color scheme. Plus it’s a great way to show your personality!

Source: Blog.2shopper.com

Source: Blog.2shopper.com

One pair of pillow tends to look a bit sparse, so try at least three pillows arranged like this:

Source: Decorpad.com

Source: Decorpad.com

It is important to have various patterns and textures for a more dynamic look. The art of mixing patterns is key here. Pay attention to the scale of each fabric pattern. Varying the scale of the patterns is more pleasing to the eye. Try mixing a large scale floral, with a stripe, a mini print or geometric and a solid. Be sure to repeat colors for consistency.

Source: Small Shop Studio

Source: Small Shop Studio

 

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

Don’t go overboard with too many pillows. Go for “inviting” and not “stay off the sofa”. You want guests to your home……and occupants to want to sit and be comfortable, so keep it simple.

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

Of course this doesn’t just apply to sofas, but to beds as well….even a twin size bed for a toddler

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

And of course the big mystery of where to put the pillows at night, isn’t a mystery after all…..the bench at the foot of the bed, the seating area or the floor. That seems to be the big resistance I get with adding pillows to a bed

Source: Go Home Design

Source: Go Home Design

Source: Edyta and Co

Source: Edyta and Co

Do you enjoy decorating with pillows?

For a great selection of pillows and bedding, please check out my online Ecwid storefront

Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

 

Tip For Tuesday: Have A Plan When Decorating

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Whether you are taking on a full home remodel, or just sprucing up your space, it always helps to have a good direction and plan in place.

casa vilora interiors

Planning your decorating project helps you to maximize your time and budget.

It helps to determine from the very beginning if you need the help of a professional Interior Designer. Even if you want to manage your own project and do the work yourself, hiring an Interior Designer on an hourly basis for a consultation and plan for your project will help you avoid costly mistakes. A good Designer can help you with  the best furniture layout, window treatment ideas, color schemes and shopping resources. Our Mail Order Decorator service does just that for you. For as little as $600, you can have a full design plan that you can manage and execute yourself at your own pace.

Here are some tips to help get you started

  • Know your design aesthetic. Please do not feel the need to give your style a label. Being able to identify with a certain design style makes choices easier and gives you confidence, but having no particular style category and making your choices more of an evolved or collected feel, may reflect more of who you are and how you live
  • Use furniture catalogs and design magazines for inspiration. Don’t necessarily try to mimic exactly what you see, but make sure you can see yourself in those spaces
  • Don’t fall victim to trends. Keep your home style flexible because tastes are bound to change
  • Stay focused and set attainable goals.
  • Measure everything and create a floorplan and furniture layout. Measure all the furniture that will remain in the room. And take your floorplan and tape measure with you when shopping. You can use graph paper to create a scaled drawing or use a basic consumer software available through many furniture retailers
  • Collect and organize your ideas in a “look book” for easy reference. Ask for samples of items like fabrics as much as possible while you are out browsing
  • Create a realistic budget and spending plan. Know what the overall project will cost and what you can afford to buy and when. Purchase in phases, starting with items that will have the biggest impact. Avoid impulse buying
  • Have a shopping list. This also helps you avoid impulse buying. “If it ain’t on the list - it ain’t coming home with me” is a good motto to adopt :-)
  • Consider some DIY projects and hacks to help stretch your budget. I have recently become a fan of Ikea. There are several pieces available that you can easily alter to give them a more custom look. Check out O’Verlays Decorative Fretwork for some ideas
casa vilora interiors

Source: My Overlays.com

  • Most importantly, have fun and don’t get overwhelmed. Rome wasn’t built in a day! Enjoy the process of finding those unique treasures.  It’s wonderful when each piece in your home tells a story. There’s nothing wrong with the Story being “The awesome Decorator Veronica Solomon hooked me up” :-) but don’t forget to relax and enjoy.

Now, go forth an decorate my friends!  :-)

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

 

Tip For Tuesday: Decorate With Flowers During Winter

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I am a tropical weather girl. I grew up in Jamaica and moved to the United States at age 24. It is no accident why Ft. Lauderdale Florida was my city of choice to set up my homestead. The weather was very much like it was back home.

Fast forward 17 years later to today and I am practically freezing my buns off here in Houston – which by the way, I also chose for its mild climate. Mild? Not feeling that this winter.

Anyway, besides layers and layers of clothing and running the heat all day, I have been looking for inexpensive ways to bring in some warmth and cheerfulness to my home and studio for the winter.

Source: HGTV.com

Source: HGTV.com

Bringing in fresh flowers is a great way to add a sense of warmth and cheerfulness in your home for the winter. Click here for instructions from HGTV.com in creating the beautiful arrangement pictured above

When plant life becomes dormant and lifeless during the cold season, a touch of greenery and vibrant color inside can lift your mood.

One of my favorite flowers to decorate with are orchids. They have such a sculptural beauty, yet soft and exotic. They always catch my attention. I have never walked into a room with orchids and not notice them

orchid-succulent-at-home

I also love succulents, especially for those with a black thumb like me. They require very little attention and yet reward you with beauty and texture.

8_bc38625a2dc2eb35
And if succulents aren’t low maintenance enough, but you still want colorful flowers in your home for the winter, you can always go with a faux floral arrangement

Source: NDI.com

Source: NDI.com

Yep, I said it! Faux flowers have come a long way since your grandma’s plastic red roses :-)

They look so real these days. The arrangement pictured above is proof of just how beautiful they can be in your home.

If flowers are not readily available in your neck of the woods, you can still bring a bit of nature in with twigs, branches and berries

101696542_jpg_rendition_largest

They offer a very casual and effortless feel.

And for a really dramatic and sculptural effect…….

Source: Southern Hospitality Blog


Source: Southern Hospitality Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it’s your turn……

What are some of your favorite flowers to decorate with during the winter?

Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!

Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors VeronicaSolomon.com

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

Tip For Tuesday: Decorating With Mirrors

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Mirrors got a very bad rap when folks would add wall to wall mirrors back in the 70′s and 80′s.

But mirrors are still a great design trick for creating the illusion of a larger space especially in a small room.

Mirrors add an instant sparkle and depth in a room. What’s great is that it reflects light and enhances a beautiful vignette or feature that it is reflecting

Now here’s an example of how to properly do a mirror in a room

Source: HGTV.com Design By: Erica Islas Photography By: David Young-Wolff

Source: HGTV.com
Design By: Erica Islas
Photography By: David Young-Wolff

  • Add a floor length mirror wherever possible, especially in a bedroom
  • Use a framed or beveled mirror
  • Use mirrored furniture, but sparingly
  • Hang a wall mirror at the proper height
  • Make sure the mirror is reflecting something pretty
  • A wall of mirrors is great if it is done in an artful way
Source: Cococozy.com

Source: Cococozy.com

Now go forth and decorate with mirrors without fear. If you need inspiration, click here to view a cool post I wrote a while ago featuring some gorgeous mirrors.

Hope all is well in your world, and best wishes for a great Tuesday!

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Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon

Veronica Solomon