Latest news with #decorating
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The 7 common design mistakes that will instantly date your home - and how to avoid them, according to an acclaimed interior stylist
Redecorating or renovating a home is an exciting endeavour, but amidst the enthusiasm, it's easy to make decorating mistakes while navigating layouts, paint swatches, and budgets. While we're often told to throw out the rule book and stay true to ourselves in our homes, there are still a few things you should definitely try to avoid. Generic artwork
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Irish Times
Rugs, tables and drinks cabinets for eclectic tastes on auction this week
Interior design – whether professional or amateur - is such a staple of 21st-century life that you would think it's been around for centuries. But New Yorker Elsie de Wolfe is considered to be one of the first interior decorators – a term used in the early 1900s to describe upper-class women with a penchant for furnishing and embellishing homes. Another New Yorker, Dorothy Draper was deemed to be one of the first interior designers, when she started a business designing the interiors of high-profile hotels. Others followed, such as Florence Knoll from the famous Knoll furniture company, and more recently Irish-born, New-York based Clodagh Phipps known simply as Clodagh. And, while interior design magazines prescribe new trends each year, experienced interior designers know that true taste isn't limited to fashions. READ MORE 'When specifying furniture, the goal is to connect the design concept and overall feeling of the space with functionality, comfort and durability,' write Stephanie Travis and Catherine Anderson in their intriguing book, Interior Design is Not Decoration and Other Ideas (Laurence King Publishing). Adam's At Home online auction , which ends on Wednesday, June 11th, has a diverse range of furnishing from book cases, to tables, chairs, lamps and rugs, which should catch the eye of contemporary interior designers with an eclectic taste. Two walnut bedside chests (€300-€400), a set of eight oak and elmwood Windsor-style kitchen chairs (€1,500-€2,000), a late 19th-century Victorian walnut centre table (€500-€800), and a mahogany and brass mounted pedestal drinks cabinet (€200-€300) are some of the interesting lots. Two walnut bedside chests (€300-€400) from Adam's Late 19th-century Victorian walnut centre table (€500-€800), at Adam's A mahogany and brass mounted pedestal drinks cabinet (€200-€300), from Adam's The At Home auction – which will be on view from Saturday, June 7th until Tuesday, June 10th, in Adam's St Stephen's Green showrooms - also has a good selection of rugs, runners, prayer mats and wall hangings. These include a modern kilim rug from Turkey (€500-€700); an embroidered wall hanging from Uzbekistan (€300-€500); and a Gabbeh wool rug from Iran (€400-€600). Gabbeh rugs are traditional deep-pile Persian rugs often made from hand-knotted wool. a modern kilim rug from Turkey (€500-€700),Adam's Two watercolours from the prominent botanical artist, Wendy Walsh (1915-2014), are also included in the auction. Walsh was born in Cumbria, England, but spent many years in Ireland with her husband John Walsh and their three children. There is a permanent exhibition of her work in Burtown House, Athy, Co Kildare as her daughter, the artist Lesley Fennell lives there. Wendy and John retired to the stable yard house at Burtown. Bianchi 1928 car (€20,000-€40,000) RJ Keighery The sale of classic cars, traps, carriages, motor memorabilia and signage at R J Keighery in Waterford city on Monday, June 16th will no doubt draw interest from classic and vintage car enthusiasts. 'These cars were left to a woman in her father's will and have been sitting in a shed in east Waterford for many years,' says Thomas Keighery. Keighery selects a rare Ford Model A Touring from 1912 (€20,000-€40,000), and a Bianchi 1928 car (€20,000-€40,000) imported into Ireland years ago, among the pièces de résistance. He tells me that the Model T Ford Touring cars were supplied with fore doors as standard, while the earlier models were open-front models without doors to enclose the front-seat passengers. Ford Model A Touring from 1912 (€20,000-€40,000), at RJ Keighery He adds that the Bianchi vintage car model S5 with timber spokes is reputed to be the only one of its kind in Ireland. Finally, the summer months are ideal for taking on furniture restoration projects. The warmer days and long evenings make it easier to work out of doors or if inside, paint, varnish and glue smells can be reduced by opening windows and doors. Pepie O'Sullivan and Nigel Barnes run beginners upholstery courses over two days from their home at Clooneenagh House in west Clare. Over a weekend, a novice restorer will learn how to dismantle and rebuild a uncomplicated chair frame and complete the upholstery. 'We can't turn you into a skilled craftsman in one weekend, but we aim to give you enough building blocks and confidence to tackle your own antique restoration projects,' says O'Sullivan. Participants can bring along their own piece of furniture to work on. 'Good shabby and wobbly dining type chairs with upholstered seats or backs or open armchairs are good beginner projects,' says Barnes. Tools will be supplied as will all other materials and lunch. Cost €215 for two days. See for upcoming dates. Antique furniture restorer George Williams at work Antique furniture restorer, George Williams runs one-day courses in antique furniture care and restoration and staining and French polishing from his home in Kells, Co Meath. A former antiques dealer, Williams has a wealth of knowledge about furniture from different eras and how best to maintain and repair them. He also runs courses in restoring and maintaining 18th- and 19th-century sash windows. See ; ; ; What did it sell for? Summer Inscape, Callan, Tony O'Malley Summer Inscape, Callan by Tony O'Malley (€15,000-€20,000) at Devere's Irish Art and Sculpture auction Estimate €15,000-€20,000 Hammer price €16,000 Auction house deVere's Head of artist, Tony O'Malley, Brian Bourke Head of artist, Tony O'Malley by Brian Bourke (€2,000-€3,000) was one of several pieces of sculpture in the DeVeres auction Estimate €2,000-€3,000 Hammer price €2,000 Auction house deVere's Little Girls Wonder, Gerard Dillon Little Girls Wonder by Gerard Dillon Estimate €50,000-€80,000 Hammer price €55,000 Auction house deVere's Waiting, Daniel O'Neill Daniel O'Neill's Waiting Estimate €10,000-€15,000 Hammer price €10,500 Auction house deVere's
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I gave my customer a lovely fence upgrade but they refused to pay – I got the ultimate revenge & people say ‘good on ya'
A PROFESSIONAL spray painter and decorator has revealed what really happens when a customer refuses to pay. So if you're unhappy with a service you've had recently, you'll need to listen up and prepare to be stunned. 2 2 Posting on social media, the labourer explained what went down after he gave one of his customers a lovely fence upgrade. The tradesman acknowledged that his client was unhappy with the painted black fence and as a result, didn't pay the man, who works for a company called Finishing Touch Sprayers. Clearly fuming, the man took matters into his own hands to ensure he got the ultimate revenge. In a short clip shared online, the workman gave his followers a close-up look at one of his customer's black fences. After his payment was withheld, the manual worker slammed: 'Can't pay, we'll take it away.' He then used a pressure washer to remove the black paint from the fences, instantly turning them a golden brown. Following this, the man confirmed: 'Took our paint back because [the] customer wouldn't pay.' Eager to know what others would do if they were in the same situation, he then asked: 'What would you do? Would you do the same?' The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 123,000 views in just one day. Not only this, but it's also amassed 1,059 likes and 341 comments. But numerous social media users were stunned by the man's original paint job and claimed that it 'looked better after'. One person said: 'I wouldn't have paid either.' Another added: 'It looks better now.' A third commented: 'You didn't do a good job so…looks better after you removed the shoddy paint job!' Meanwhile, someone else questioned: 'How long ago did you paint it? Looks like it was peeling anyway.' How high can a garden fence be? Despite what many people think a garden fence can be as high as 100m but you need to get planning permission for any fence taller than 2m. Any fence under 2m does not need planning permission. However, there are some complications to this. If you are thinking about front garden fences, restrictions state that fences alongside a driveway can be a maximum of 1m or 3ft. You would need to get planning permission for putting a trellis on a fence of 2m. But, if any plant that you grow on that trellis exceeds 2m, you do not need to obtain a permit for the growing plant. But to set the record straight, one user responded and explained: 'You think a pressure washer took the paint off? 'He clearly added a paint stripper then pressure washed it off. Hence the before look.' Not only this, but the expert also confirmed that this indeed was the case, as when asked 'Why does all the paint look like it's been on ages and peeled off?', he simply confirmed: 'Paint stripper'. At the same time, others were horrified that the man's customer had refused to pay. One user slammed: 'How shameful not to pay.' Whilst someone else penned: 'Good on ya… Don't do it for em again, you don't need the hassle.'
CNET
13-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Make Your New Rental Feel Like Home With These Decor Tips and Tricks
You've finally made it into your new place -- and there's no doubt it was hard work. Now comes the fun part: making it feel like home. Don't worry, decorating doesn't have to drain your wallet, especially if moving already put a strain on your budget. With a little creativity and a few smart moves, you can turn your new space into something that's totally you -- without spending a fortune. From giving tired walls a fresh coat of paint to doing a deep clean before unpacking -- there are plenty of easy, affordable ways to make your place feel cozy and personal. We've rounded up some of our favorite tips to help you settle in and style your space with minimal fuss and maximum charm. For more moving tips, check out the best moving companies for 2025 and six common moving day mistakes to watch out for. Clean, clean, clean If you're fortunate enough to move into a spotless apartment, consider yourself lucky. However, that's not always the norm. More often than not, your new place might be a bit dusty or slightly grimy. CNET Before diving into unpacking boxes or tackling that stack of flat-pack furniture, take a moment to give your space a thorough clean. Sweep or Swiffer the floors, wipe down the windows, scrub the kitchen counters until they shine, freshen up the bathroom and finish with a solid vacuuming session. This is the start of a new chapter -- don't let it begin with someone else's mess. Give your walls a new layer of paint or some wallpaper When I moved into my new home in Florida, I knew white walls would not suit the stunning beach vibes of my new neighborhood. Now, my walls are blue and orange and gray -- and perfect for my bungalow. Simply painting the walls was a simple fix that breathed new life into the home and made it feel like this was my space, not just another rental. With your landlord's approval, try switching up the vibe of your new place with colors that reflect who you are and what you want your apartment to be. Don't succumb to the wall colors given to you -- seek out funky wallpapers and compelling tones to make this space yours. Note: If your landlord agrees to let you paint, it'll probably be on the condition that you paint the walls back to their original color when you leave. Simply painting the walls can be a simple fix that breathes new life into the home. Getty Images Add scents that remind you of home Candles can be an easy way to make your rental feel more like yours. Getty Images Create a space that feels like home with scents that take you back to your old one. Maybe that means adding a sugar cookie scented Yankee Candle to your shopping cart for old times' sake or plugging your Glade clean linen air freshener into that living room outlet. This tip also works if you're trying to get a pesky stench out of your apartment. Rugs, curtains, mirrors and throws Liven up your new home with special decor. Getty Images A few key home decor pieces can instantly liven up your space with minimal effort. Adding curtains to your windows can bring warmth and personality to an otherwise plain living room or bedroom. For smaller apartments, strategically hanging mirrors in bright areas can make the space feel larger and help natural light bounce around. To add a personal touch, try incorporating vibrant rugs and patterned throw pillows that reflect your style. Light it up The general rule, according to interior designers, is to have three to four sources of light per room. Getty Images To give your rooms a generous warm glow, consider adding multiple layers of light. Don't solely rely on that overhead light or desk lamp. The general rule, according to interior designers, is to have three to four sources of light per room. Some of these sources can be purely functional, and others can add some personality, character and funk to the space. For smaller spaces, consider smaller light sources, like desk lights and floor lamps, while larger spaces, like a living room or kitchen, could require overhead lighting fixtures instead. Don't forget dimmers -- use them to control the ambiance of your room by dimming your lights based on the time of day and the vibe of your space. Hang it up Decorate your walls with your favorite artwork and photos. Getty Images Add personality to your space by decorating your walls with your favorite artwork and photos. Print out cherished family pictures or pieces you love, and use them to transform blank walls into something uniquely yours. A little wall art goes a long way in making your home feel truly personal and lived-in. Liven it up with plants and cacti Plants can add beauty to your space, while also boosting your mood. Getty Images Not only do plants and cacti add some life and green to your apartment, but they also purify your air and can boost your mood. Choose plants that suit your plant caretaking style. Opt for an unfussy pothos if you kill any plant you buy, or go for a funky cactus or string of pearls succulent if you're an intermediate to professional plant parent who is very attentive to your flora. For more home tips, here's how to lift heavy boxes and furniture and not hurt your back, and here's what you should know before you move.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The BIGGEST Design Lesson Jeremiah Brent Learned From His Mom
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Moms never stop being our lifelong teachers. From guiding our first steps to helping us figure out life as an adult, the special women in our lives are always there to share their unconditional support and wisdom. (After all, mother does know best.) But a mother's guiding hand doesn't stop at assisting with taxes, helping you remember your social security number, or making a homemade meal. They can also have a lot of impact on our decorating habits and honor of Mother's Day, we asked industry experts and up-and-coming designers to share the best decorating lessons they learned from their mothers. From big life takeaways, like how to unapologetically embrace your own style, to specific techniques, like how to finish a room with small touches like flowers, these tips passed on from Mom live on in each of the design professionals' projects, proving that no matter how old we get, a mother's influence is everlsating. More Mother's Day stories: Stay away from following trends just for the sake of it. "Make your space feel like you—not like a catalog," says designer Joelle Kutner of Ome Dezin. "My mom always mixed old family pieces with new things she loved, and taught me that a home should tell your story, not just follow trends."Growing up, designer Stephanie Wiott's home was always functional and stylish. But above all, it was approachable. 'The best lesson I learned from my mom is to start with a clean, bright, and fresh space," she says. "It always feels inviting and uplifting. My mom had a great eye for creating a welcoming atmosphere, which is something I strive for in all our spaces. Our home was always beautiful and was also the place where everyone wanted to be."Hosting a dinner party? Designer Maggie Dillon is a big proponent of mapping out her tablescapes; in fact, it's a practice she inherited from her mom. "Set it days in advance and walk past it, noticing changes to make or things to tweak," advises the Raleigh-based. designer. "Plan which vessels will hold which dish, leave room for fresh flowers to be plopped in day of, and have fun mixing and matching linens, silver, and china."If there's one thing Stephanie Perez's mother taught her, it's that no room is complete without fresh flowers. In her mom's home, "you'll always see her favorite orchids—my dad gets her one for almost every occasion—plus small bud vases in guest rooms, large citrus and house plants, and fresh flowers on every tabletop," explains the designer, who resides in Westchester, New York. It's a simple design trick—one Perez said her mom inherited from her mother—but an attainable way to celebrate everyday elegance. "She came from humble beginnings growing up on a farm in Colombia surrounded by sprawling, lush mountains and colorful countryside homes," Perez says of her mom. "Her idea of a well-decorated room is fueled by nature and how we can bring the outdoors in to create a serene and beautiful environment."For tabletop inspiration beyond flowers, take a cue from the mom of Radhika Vydianatha of Kalaa Chakra Interiors. "She loves flowers in vases, a large wooden bowl with fresh fruits set on the dining table, a china cabinet with beautiful china she bought from Kashmir, India, and other cities during her travels," the designer explains. "Overall, keeping it simple and organized, carefully stylized, layered with color and texture." The result? "Bold and sweet—like her!"A home is a lot more than a blank canvas to display the coolest furniture or trends. It's your happy place, so why not create an environment that feels warm and welcoming? That's exactly what Chrissy Jones of Twenty Eighth Design learned from her mom. "[Her] approach to home decor was rooted in creating a space where everyone felt welcome," the designer shares. "Warm colors and her collection of personal items made our house feel like a place of togetherness. It's a philosophy that has deeply influenced my work as a designer. When I create spaces for my clients, I aim to bring that same sense of comfort and belonging."As a designer, author of The Space That Keeps You, and the latest addition to the Queer Eye cast, Jeremiah Brent's eye for inspiration knows no bounds. But, as Brent reveals to House Beautiful, he gets a lot of the design drive from his mom. "Growing up, my mother taught us the art of finding beauty anywhere and everywhere," he explains. "'What do you see right now that's beautiful?' she'd ask, whether we were driving to the grocery store or sitting on the couch at home. She taught me to find the potential in any space and to value the story of something more than its appearance. It's something I've carried with me and taught my own children."Celerie Kemble now works alongside her mom, Mimi McMakin, as a partner and principal designer of Kemble Interiors, but she says her parent has been a long-standing source of decorating inspiration. "I learned imagination and artistic skill can make anything happen, and I'm not at all afraid of all the more tragic tropes of the craft," she shares. For a "wow" moment that doubles as an optical illusion, Kemble says her mom perfected the use of trompe-l'oeil, highly realistic, dimensional art on a flat surface that, as the name says in French, fools the eye. "She works with highly skilled artisans to create design elements that are beautiful and witty while often solving problems that 'IRL' architecture and objects can't rectify," Kemble explains. "Boring flat cabinets become a seemingly three-dimensional tableaux of what one might wish were inside, curved staircase walls are dressed with one-dimensional medieval framed artworks that people have to touch to realize are not real."It's no secret that Taylor Mattos gets her design savvy from her mama, Cindy Rinfret. After working for renowned design firms and brands, Mattos joined her mom's eponymous design firm, Rinfret Ltd., in 2020. When asked about the biggest takeaway she learned from her mom, Mattos's response was simple: Buy what you love. "Instead of focusing on a certain brand name or trendy artist, focus on the subject matter or the feeling of the piece. That way, you'll be happy with the purchase every time you look at it," Matt's explains. "This is how you create the collection of your life."We love viral products and brand-new items as much as the next person, but designer David Frazier champions pieces with a story. Fittingly, he inherited his passion for antiques from his mother. "We spent a lot of time sourcing antiques, art, and things for my parents' houses, and it is some of my fondest memories spent together," he says. "This translates to my design in that almost all of the work we do incorporates antiques or personal effects that have historical value."The saying goes that the devil is in the details—and that's true of the angel, too! Just ask Meg Lonergran's mom. According to the Houston-based designer, those tiny touches matter most in the bathroom. "My mother always used embroidered, linen hand towels in the powder room," Longergran explains. "She still insists that all of her grandchildren, even the toddlers, dry their hands with embroidered towels at her house." After all, embroidered hand towels are the perfect mix of pretty and practical—that's so up, Jerel Lake's mother always filled their home with art: Hawaiian photography, colorful paintings, sculptures—you name it, she probably had it. Now, as an interior designer, Lake always incorporates art into his spaces. "Anytime my siblings or I moved into a new place, our first stop was always to go purchase a few pieces of art to make the space feel like a home," he explains. "Having been surrounded by art all my life continues to influence me in my work and at home."Perhaps the best design lesson a mother could impart on their child is to follow the beat of their own drum. "From the start, my mom encouraged me to enjoy the things you love in your home, no matter what anyone else thinks of your design decisions," says Ashley Ross of Muse Noire Interiors. "[She] taught me to love what I love regardless of the naysayers!" The North Carolina-based designer says the three-bedroom townhome she was raised in was the perfect example of that "you do you" mentality. Each space had a monochromatic moment, often with matching floors; the dining room was aquamarine, the living area was "Pepto-Bismol" pink, and the kitchen was "Big Bird" yellow. As Ross jokes, "I often wonder how monochromatic mommy managed to pull this off." You Might Also Like 15 Home Bar Gifts Every Cocktail Enthusiast Will Appreciate 32 Low Light Indoor Plants That Can Survive in the Darkest Corners of Your Home These Are the 50 Best Paint Colors for Your Living Room
