December 2011 ~ Your Decor NYC

Just Add a Throw - Quick bedroom update

10:33 AM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

With short days comes long nights. Which means more focus on our bedrooms. The easiest way to keep a bedroom fresh and inviting is to have at least a few different throws in rotation. They can change the whole personality of a room from Bohemian, to Eclectic or maybe even add a twist to Tradition. The only rule is to make smart color choices, ones that are easy to transition, have an anchor color and always, always have a fresh white duvet!

decorpad

Color Above

7:56 PM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

For years Frank has been recommending that the "5th wall" be utilized in our projects. The ceiling is the most amazing place to add the punch of color that you have been on the fence about. Since the color is above the normal line of vision your eye searches it out making a space feel larger. Yes, larger! in a box apartment in NYC with only 4 walls to look at and maybe a tiny window every added element that expands your space helps.

ecolorado interior designer

Your Decorating Hotline

gus and lula

Ritz Caralton

the gloss

Our Top 5 Fav Lamps from Etsy

7:15 PM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

Etsy offers a source for immediate gratification.....plus shipping time. Its the virtual version of browsing through a small towns lovingly curated shops.

Pair of Gold and Chrome Modern Cylinder Lamps

Paint The Moldings the Same Color as the Wall?

5:08 PM Rose and Frank Praino 5 comments

Intuitively, I agree that using white, cream or light gray paint for moldings and doors looks polished and elegant but the result of color unification can be outstanding.

Often the architecture in a NYC building is non existence so rather than trying to highlight standard moldings and flat paneled doors the focus turns to the decor. Monochromatic paint colors streamline the room especially when there are several doors in one room. When they are closed they disappear.......against the wall.

Even though initially it seems like a more modern decor choice when its seen in a traditional use it adds an unexpected element. And one that I am happy to discover in clients spaces.

A few monochromatic paint pallets

2.bp.blogspot

decorpad

homedesignfind

homedesignfind

Southern Living

House and Home

fauxology

" in a house or apartment with serious trim, painting the trim the same color as the walls makes a space more contemporary. Dark floors can make a space seem bigger, and sometimes white is not the best choice for poorly lighted rooms." says Eve Ashcroft
excerpt from "The Paint Doctor Is In" By PENELOPE GREEN Published: October 19, 2011
NYTimes

A few years ago Apartment Therapy posted an article with a nice selection of pictures showcasing traditional apartments with monochromatic moldings and walls.
Apartment Therapy

Adding Artwork Creates your Space

4:58 PM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

With just a few pieces of art in each room an apartment transforms in to a home. Its always been one of my favorite moments......after a day or two or maybe even several days of working in an apartment to see the walls fill up is a very rewarding moment. I always have to take one more look as I close the door.

Keep it simple!
Select pieces that YOU enjoy looking at!
When in doubt hang a mirror or a clock!

A few ideas........

krylon

Pantone's Color of the Year- Tangerine Tango

6:15 AM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

Its official! All year we will be seeing pops of Tangerine Tango everywhere!

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Quadrille Fabric

Jeffers Design Group

Nanette Lepore's Townhouse

Ron Marvin

Tobi Fairley

Past Colors of the Year
• PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
• PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
• PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
• PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20946&ca=10

Bedroom Fit for a Bright Little Girl

7:31 PM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

The room is an open canvas just waiting for the clients design..........

Blank Canvas

Room is painted and installation hung

Roman Shade.....the finishing touch

A Bed with a View

1:55 PM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

In Manhattan every square foot is valuable...really valuable.

This particular apartment had large living room / dining area but an akward triagular space with a wonderful view. The bed had to bew able to act as storage for additional bedding, house bulky laugage and be used as a "guest room". We worked with this client to conceptualize, design, construct, upholster, deliver, custom make the drapes, customize the hardware and install it all. The result was an amazing corner that turned into everyones favorite nook.

The Template

Wood Frame

Frame top

First Edition

[brown upholstered base]

Revised with quilted blue fabric

Drapes pulled in the Day

Drapes Opened

Happy Sunday

8:31 AM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

Happy Sunday!

Thank you to all who are visiting our blog and website. Our website is currently being updated with new text and Photos. So please bookmark us or check back tomorrow for a totally updated and inspiring space.

Frank and I are thrilled to answer any questions and will be available all day via email, text or phone call.

A little bit about........ Frank & Rose

We created Your Decor NYC officially on May 15, 2004. We have been married longer and together even longer.

Together we bring a balance of form and function. We bring a dynamic to a project that allows an ease of operations, practical solution, and open communication. Each project is reviewed by both of us to optimize the results. All the principals that make a great marriage have made our company successful.
The company was conceptualized by Frank while working for Glenwood Management as a rental consultant. Once clients signed the lease they all asked the same questions.....

Who's going to paint?
Who's going to install the TV?
Who's going to hang the drapes and artwork?
And what about the light fixtures? Can they be replaced?

It can be daunting to have to call several different trades and rely on the fact that they will available on the same day? On time? and work Cohesively? Most likely this is not the case. And when you have taken a few days off of work to settle in......this process needs to be streamlined...................Your Decor NYC has succeeded!

We then took these principals and expanded our services to include apartment rejuvenation, making a name for our selves with in the Real Estate Industry as the company to go to for both sellers to update and freshen their apartment for sale and buyers to rejuvenate the space to call it theirs.

If you already are living in your space and your looking for a little help pulling the space together with different design elements or would like to bounce your creative ideas off of us, just call!

Lets face it living in Manhattan or moving into the city is a unique experience in itself. Have a company on call experienced to handle all the intricacies of urban living is invaluable.

We love making peoples spaces theirs! We love seeing the Before and Afters!! We love to hear your ideas and visions! We Love Your Decor NYC!

Upper East Side Studio Rejuvenation

9:42 PM Rose and Frank Praino No comments

Ms. Weber's apartment had all the necessary bones for a successful rejuvenation. Ultimately when we are evaluating a project for a rejuvenation we are looking at cosmetic corrections therefore eliminating the time and often costly renovation process.
This apartment was a perfect example of a little, going along way.

The Closets- All were ample and as Jessie said, "I am a minimalist. I don’t have a lot of stuff.” The focus was on creating the right place for the right purpose. An entry closet should work for YOU. If you like to hang your jackets and bags on hooks a closet outfitted with bars for hangers is NOT going to work. Its an easy solution that gives back daily.

The Kitchen Cabinets- In Ms. Weber's case the cabinets were in really good condition. The layout was maximized using all available space. However, the cabinets did not fit Jessie design aesthetic and minimalist approach. There was several layers of decorative faux finish that needed to be sanded down to give us a smooth surface. They were then and primed (enamel underbody) and painted using a Farrow & Ball'sWimborne White #239. The results are very dramatic! We painted the walls using Farrow & Ball's Skylight #205.

The Kitchen Floor- With all the wonderful upgrades in the kitchen all of our focus turned to the floors! Frank assessed the floor and determined that it was level and solid. We were then able to lay a floating floor right on top! This means 1 Day from start to finish!

Lighting Fixtures- Lighting is one of the most essential details in an apartment. It is often overlooked, misdirected or underplayed. We selected dropped lighting fixture in the hallway that would soften the space and create an illuminating glow. A seat and task lighting will be added to fully optimize the space. In the kitchen the original fixture was ceiling mounted. Ms. Weber is very petite so we were able to again select a dropped fixture bringing the light down to a more suitable height. There is nothing worse than poor lighting in the kitchen and with this modern Restoration Hardware fixture we are able to do a pre installation adjustment.

The Living Room Floor- The floor was in descent condition. There were normal worn in spots, some crackling, small gouges, and discoloration. Floors are so easy to do in an empty apartment that Ms. Weber agreed immediately on the upgrade. The floors went through a multi process sanding to even them out and remove the existing stain. The new stain was clear to bring out the beautiful natural tones of the floors.

Molding- The existing molding was a standard 2" molding that over the years had become chipped and laden with old drippy paint. It weighed the apartment down and aged it. New 4" molding was installed throughout. It is uplifting and even gives the illusion of higher ceilings.

[cabinets-painted in a faux finish]

before