Hello Friday!
I'm back again with the last post in this little mini-series. What did you all think of it? Did you try any of the tips suggested? If you, did please let me know. I would love to see what you all got up too :)
Today we are going to be looking into more interior design tips from the lovely Rebecca of design house Hedgeroe Home including some virtual interior design which I love! We are also going to look at more DIYs from Aisling of Vintage Hill Cork. Yay!
So let's get right into it and as always Enjoy xx
The Importance of Colour & Virtual Interior Design with Rebecca Roe from Hedgeroe Home
Virtual Interior Design:
We have launched our virtual interior design service and with most of us at home I think we are all looking carefully at our spaces and wondering if we are using it to its full potential. Our new virtual service will help our clients get the best use of their spaces.
Working From Home:
For the majority of us Covid-19 has altered our home/work landscape hugely. Besides the usual good advice for setting aside time for breakfast away from your work area, there are a few do's and don’ts.
Dedicate a room or area within a room for a work desk, close to natural light if possible.
Pay attention to the wall behind you if you do a lot of conference calls. Keep personal family photos or very personalised Artwork out of view of your PC.
Also do not have a door in view of your PC as children may enter unexpectedly during a conference call.
Nominate a time-slot where you will not be interrupted. With schools off and in some cases all members of a family at home, it is best to put clear rules in place from the start.
Colour: It might be worth painting a temporary home office. Colours that don’t work for productivity are red, green, navy and yellow.
Colours that work best for your office:
1: Bedroom Office - Warm Whites.
Benjamin Moor’s "Simply White” , Down242 by Little Green or “Pointing” by Farrow and Ball in an eggshell finish is not clinical but looks warm and fresh.
We generally set aside an area in a bedroom for a desk, often substituting a small freestanding desk for a bedside table. Bedrooms make great sharing partners for a home office as generally it is the adults sanctuary in homes with children.
2: Dining or Sitting Room Office - Blue-Greys.
In the corporate world these colours give a boost to a backdrop and look smart and business like. ‘Silver Mist” by Benjamin Moor or “Silent Path” by Colourtrend for a deeper tone, (this is one of my "go to” colours).
We have found that built in desk/storage area is the best solution for formal rooms. This stops the work area spilling into the rest of the room and allows for some hidden storage. Wood (walnut or oak) solid or veneer looks extremely smart with blue/grey colours. Keep shelving uncluttered. We love fabric at the back of bookcases, it shows off books and collections beautifully.
3: Box Room or Storage Area -Browns.
In a space that needs to feel powerful and strong, brown is brilliant. In a small room with little light, I will use the deepest warmest colours as it blurs the true size of a room. Shelving can be painted same colour as walls.
“Wainscot” by Farrow and Ball is a plummy brown while “Sultry Castle” by Colourtrend has a softer greyish tone. “Tudor Brown” by Benjamin Moore in eggshell is a masculine very deep brown.
Furniture & Decor:
A vibrant rug and formally grouped artwork always works with deep colours. Besides the desk lamp, lighting the shelves in a bookcase and recessed pinspots that direct onto artwork create a focused luxury office space.
Chose a chair with good support. I use our own Paris chair upholstered in Fermoie figured linen at the bedroom dressing table/desk.
A work desk can be tiny or large, just keep it uncluttered. I really love Hedgeroe’s Maroubra study table in shell white with beaten bronze handles.
Office Furniture & Decor from Hedgeroe Home
Get a good task light, the Rexel ActiVita Daylight strip + lamp id €178 from Hunt Office.ie. Or splash out on the Dyson CSYS task light. Pay special attention to the bulb.
The light source must have a high color temperature, since it will be used for a working space. White light is required, which means colour temperature should be 4,000 K or higher. A high color temperature enhances concentration and productivity - low color temperatures cause relaxation and even sleepiness, which is counterproductive.The light source must have a low heat output in order to provide comfort, since it will be in close proximity with the user. LED lamps have a much lower heat output than fluorescent lamps. Incandescent lamp isn't an option- inefficient and hot.
Take a proper lunch break. If you are working from home and by yourself, Skype or Facebook Portal family and friends to keep connected. Do a short workout, get some fresh air.
Working from home will become a larger normal part of our economy. When looking to buy or sell a house having an area which works for a home office can be a real bonus.
Office image
#2. Build a Wall with Aisling from Vintage Hill Cork
I think the first thing to do before starting any interior project is to declutter and organise your space. As we will all be spending the days ahead at home, a well-organised space will help to make this confined time a lot less stressful 'Tidy house, tidy mind' as they say. @organisedchaos have a 31 day challenge of very achievable tasks to guide you through the decluttering process.
When your home is more organised, it allows you to appreciate and visualise its potential. Play around with the furniture in a room - this may mean changing things up several times before finding the layout that works best for you but let's face it, we have plenty time to experiment! It's a simple project that will cost you nothing (apart from a bit of physical energy) but one that can totally rejuvenate your space.
31 day challenge of very achievable tasks by Organised Chaos
If you are looking to take on a DIY project, my advice would be to start small. If you throw yourself into a big makeover on day one, you run the risk of becoming overwhelmed and disheartened, especially if you have a busy household to cater for too.
Maybe start out with something like a gallery wall - now is the perfect opportunity to hang all those family photos you've been meaning to or the collection of prints that have been stacked against the wall, gathering dust for the past twelve months. Upcycle that piece of furniture that you've been putting on the long finger.
Get the kids involved - encourage them to declutter their rooms, move around their beds and furniture, perhaps design and paint a simple masking tape mural together e.g. a mountain scape or a skyline. Plenty of mural inspiration can be found on Pinterest and Instagram.
Below is a mural I did on a climbing wall for the kids but the same idea could be applied to a bedroom wall. I've also saved all the steps to my highlights on my Instagram page.
Make a list of small achievable projects that you would like to tackle - by completing each one you will be motivated to do more. Interior projects should serve as a welcome distraction in these uncertain times but don't start something that is likely to stress you out - that is the last thing anyone needs right now.
Finally, get outside and get stuck into your garden or balcony - let's get ready for the days that WILL come again, when all of this has passed and we can reunite and celebrate with the loved ones we have been temporarily separated from.
Stay safe and well everyone xx'
Amazing I love the 'build a wall' idea! Perfect for a little weekend project! Ohh I actually wish I had a wall to paint now lol!
Hope you have all got some nice ideas from todays fabulous designers. Now I have a secret to tell you all. Although this was to be a mini series I am extending it into another post next week. Irelands DIY DREAM TEAM Vintage Irish Kat, Aproud Home, Old Victorian New and Joanne Condon will be joining me to share some DIY's with us. Ahhh how exciting!
So see you all next week and have a lovely weekend :) xxx
Stay Safe, Style So Simple - Aoife xxx
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