Rattan is nothing new to the design world, as it's been a part of interiors for decades, but we're definitely seeing a stronger interest in incorporating the material and look into our clients' homes these days. The amazing thing about rattan is that it's a super flexible material, meaning it can be used to make almost anything. Another aspect we love about rattan? It works with almost any design style, from traditional to modern and everything in-between. Check out a few ways we suggest incorporating this trend into your home!
Furniture
Lighting
Accessories
Need a little more help incorporating the rattan trend? Consider booking a consultation with one of our interior designers at The Finish for a stress-free, professional touch.
It looks like the Winter weather is finally subsiding, and that means Spring fever for us at The Finish! While Spring cleaning is always a good way to jump start the new season, we also find ourselves wanting to make a few changes to our spaces. If you're like us, you're craving pastels and floral patterns, but it's hard to know where to start. To help, we've compiled a few of The Finish designers' tips and tricks for getting your home Spring-ready!
1. Flora
Bring the seasonal greenery and flowers indoors! We love a potted bulb garden full of hyacinths and daffodils, or flowering branches in a large vessel.
2. Upholstery
A Spring cleaning moment you're probably forgetting? Your upholstery! If you're local to CT, we love Rudy's.
3. Paint
A fresh coat of paint can go a long way! Our designers recommend trying color on your moldings and leaving the walls a neutral for something a little different.
4. Wallpaper
If you're feeling adventurous, add wallpaper to the ceiling for a major "wow" moment. It will make a big impact without changing any of your furniture!
5. Fresh Air
This one may go without saying, but simply opening up your windows and letting a breeze through your home can really breathe new life into it. Don't underestimate the power of fresh, Spring air!
Need a little more help making your home just right for the upcoming season? Consider booking a consultation with one of our interior designers at The Finish for a stress-free, professional touch.
While window treatments may not be the first part of your space that comes to mind when designing, they actually can make a huge difference in the overall appearance of a room. But, with so many options on the market, it's hard to know where to start. That's where we come in, of course! A trained designer is the best way to get things just right, but we've put together a few of our best tips and tricks for getting the look yourself.
Needs
First things first: you need to determine what type of window treatment will best fit your needs. It's important to consider the look of your window treatments, but it's also vital to think about their function. Are you just looking to add a finishing touch to your room? Do you need to block light or sound coming in? Are you in need of a little more privacy? All of these functions will affect the type and style of window treatment that you ultimately select.
Types
There are so many different window treatments, it's important to know what you're options are! We like to think of window treatments as broken into two basic categories: shades and drapery. In the shades category, we have: Roman, Austrian, pleated, and roller. In the drapery category, there are many aspects to consider: gathering style (at the top), fullness, length, opacity, lining, and fabric. To get the best of both worlds, you can combine both shades and drapery!
Let's break these types down a little further:
Shades
Shades are best for when something is right up against or next to a window. They are a bit more tailored than drapery, and should be fitted to your specific windows. You can mount shades within the window frame, or right outside/above the window frame.
Drapery
Drapery has a more flowing feel to it, with less specific measurements necessary to fit to your windows. They should be mounted slightly above/outside the window frame and flow to the floor. Quick tip: the higher you mount your drapery, the taller your ceilings will look (but don't get carried away)! The length is somewhat up to you, as some people prefer drapery to hit the floor perfectly, while others prefer a longer, pooling look at the bottom. Take into account your needs when deciding on opacity, linings, and fabric. If you just want a compliment to your space, a sheer curtain can work well, but if you're looking to stop the sun from coming into your bedroom in the morning, you may want to consider a fabric or lining that blocks light.
Style
Once you know your function and the type of treatment that will best fit your function, it's time to consider your style. Is your space light and bright, or dark and moody? Do you want to add interest and texture with trimmings, or stay sleek and clean-lined? The gathering style you choose should reflect the overall aesthetic of the room. A pinch pleat can be quite formal, while a tab top tends to be more casual. Be sure to take into account your wall color, as the window treatments will be right up against this, and the other colors in your room. Do you want to draw attention with bright hues, or keep it simple with neutrals? Whatever you decide, remember it's okay to change your mind! Sometimes, you really need to see something in your space to know if it's right or not. Don't be afraid to experiment and adjust as needed!
Need a little more help with your window treatments? Consider booking a consultation with one of our interior designers at The Finish for a stress-free, professional touch.
Believe it or not, Spring is right around the corner! The crisp Spring air brings with it the desire to start fresh and keep a clean home. One of our favorite ways to reset for the season is incorporating new, on-trend colors. There's lots of ways to do this, whether you're looking to start small with throw blankets and accent pillows, or go big with wallpaper and kitchen cabinets. Check out some of this season's Pantone color palettes below to get your home Spring-ready in no time!
Need a little more help making your home just right for the upcoming season? Consider booking a consultation with one of our interior designers at The Finish for a stress-free, professional touch.
Bright
Bring Spring's spirit into your home with this beautiful, nature-inspired palette. Cool pinks and warm reds combine effortlessly with lush green and white shades to create the natural escape you've been searching for.
Bold
Spring with a punch! These bold hues take the season's natural elements and make them luxe, ideal for a glamorous getaway moment. The vivid contrast these shades provide will add interest to any space.
Pastel
Finally create the calming oasis you deserve. Combine cool pinks and greens with a vibrant yellow, crisp aqua, and sweet lavender for this perfectly pastel palette. Add in a creamy white for extra freshness!
Shop some of our favorite items in this season's colors below:
Despite this upcoming year looking a bit more promising than the last, most of us are still stuck in work-from-home mode for the foreseeable future. That coveted work-life balance has totally gone out the window - there is just no natural boundary between work and play anymore. That's why it's more important than ever to establish your own boundaries, and we think your workspace is the perfect place to start!
Keep in mind these seven aspects when creating your home office, and you'll absolutely love the results. Need a little more help pulling it together? Consider booking a consultation with one of our interior designers at The Finish for a stress-free, professional touch.
Location
Image by Ursula Carmona, Homemade by Carmona
Get creative if you don't have a designated room in your home for an office. A closet, a nook, the top of your stairs, a sunroom can all be great places to set up a work desk. The most important things to consider are: privacy, natural light, and outlets!
Layout
Image by Claxy
When considering how to layout a workspace, designers at The Finish always keep in mind the "The Power Position." From your desk, you should be able to see anyone entering your office. You should have this view without placing yourself directly in front of the door, and thus interrupting the flow. The ideal position, according to this method, is at a diagonal at the back of the room and facing the door, so you can see the whole space.
Lighting
Image by Circa Lighting
Good lighting is essential! Try to get as much natural light as possible from a window or skylight. Light temperature should be consistent across all lighting sources. Stick close to 3000K - we like Phillips Warm Glow Dimmable Bulbs best. To avoid glares, don't place overhead lighting directly above computer screens, and don't put a computer screen directly in front of a light source, as that can cause eyestrain. A high-quality task light will be essential for late nights and cloudy days! Have fun with ambient lighting. A large focal chandelier or decorative sconces adds visual interest and a warm glow. In general, a space feels more warm and welcoming with multiple sources of ambient lighting.
Color
Image by Studio DIY
Color can impact your mood and energy levels (yes, color theory is a real thing, and it actually works!). Blue can be ideal for a bedroom, but it's a very relaxing color than can actually make you drowsy, so it's best to avoid it in a workspace. Green is a dominant color in nature and a neutral. It can add vitality to an office and improve concentration. Yellow, orange, and red are attention-grabbers and can make people happy or excited, but they can be overpowering in an office, so they should only be used as accent colors. Purple and lavender are known to stimulate imagination and improve focus.
Furniture
Image by Pottery Barn Teen
Invest in a high-quality chair. Ergonomics are important if you are working at your desk for long periods at a time. Think beyond traditional office furniture - your office space should be a reflection of your home and personal style.
Organization
Image by The Container Store
Most of us are much more productive when everything is in its perfect place, so this is especially important in a workspace. Creating (and sticking to) a filing system is important, and it doesn't have to be hideous! There are tons of at-home office organization systems right now that are anything but standard. Identify what you need to keep organized, what types of pieces would best fit those needs, and then keep your personal style and overall space in mind when purchasing. Don't forget about wire management! Cords criss-crossing everywhere will drive you crazy, but there are many solutions to keeping all your tech gear streamlined.
Inspiration
Image by Ella Gregory, Coco's Tea Party
No matter what your line of work is, it's important to keep yourself inspired. Working long days in the office is one thing, but keeping up your motivation knowing your bed is just a few steps away can be challenging. Incorporate a vision board, fun wallpaper, or art gallery to stay inspired by your space!
Fall means many things, the beginning of cooler days, leaves falling, pumpkin spice lattes and my favorite, a time to restyle your front porch! This year we decorated 44 porches in Columbus, Ohio and Fairfield County, Connecticut. We've styled porches for pregnant moms, busy parents, and families that are immunocompromised. 2020 has brought on so many challenges for us all. We were thrilled to be able to do our small part to spread fall cheer in our communities.
After decorating so many porches, we decided to write down our top front porch decorating tips so you can achieve a designer look in your own home! First step, decide on a general color palette. This year, we had a lot of fun designing our 3 distinctive fall looks centered around a concept & color theme.
Tip 1 - Choose a Concept & Color palette
Our Eternal Summer look was inspired by our own neighborhood in Coastal Connecticut. This look included a blush-tinged color palette and nautical-inspired accents. We sourced white, pale pink & lavender mums, white wicker baskets, and a white wood nautical lantern. We added hand painted copper & gold accents to complement the muted tones in the scheme.
Our Modern Monochrome look features bold purple mums. We wanted the flowers in this scheme to really pop and add a bright contrast with all the black and white accents. The black and white pumpkin trend isn't going away and transitions so well into your Halloween decor!
The Tried and Trad concept was our most popular package. The beauty of fall comes alive in this look with a its warm color palette. Golden yellow, burnt orange, and bronze red mums our the foundation for this look. They represent different colored leaves you see as they begin to change with cooler temps. The traditional sugar pumpkins, hay, wooden accents added a bit of country charm to every home.
Tip 2 - layout is key
We are a team of designers trained in basic principles of interior design & interior architecture. Our training and experience came in handy when figuring out how to style our clients homes like the cover of a magazine. However, here are some basic tips you could use to create an editorial style look in your home:
Create balance & harmony with the same number items on both sides of your steps. If you have a lantern on one side, then place a large pumpkin on the other to achieve balance.
Buy mums and pumpkins in even numbers.
If you don't have multiple steps to arrange pumpkins on, then focus on creating vignettes or groupings of items.
Stack pumpkins for height or lay them on their side against a step so they are visible from the street.
TIP 3 - LAYER IN Texture & Decorative ACCENTS
A sign or doormat is welcoming touch to any home. This year, we partnered with AR Workshop to offer custom fall signs and personalized mats to our clients. We delivered them along with our packages and they added so much charm and personality.
A wreath is an important and beautiful focal point on your door. Our wreaths matched the overall concept & color palette with each look. We used outdoor command hooks on doors to hang them. For the modern monochrome package, we tied a large black and white bow on a door hook to hang behind the magnolia leaf wreath.
Don't be afraid to add in faux pumpkins to your scheme. We had fun painting faux pumpkins to add visual interest in our designs. We used metallic blush & gold tones in the eternal summer look and painted black & white patterns in our modern monochrome look.
Hay & Cornstalks are very traditional and inexpensive fall decor items. We like using both to add a variety of textures and height to our designs. The cornstalks should flank either side of your door or mounted directly to columns with simple metal wire. The hay is perfect as the base for a vignette. Stack flowers and pumpkins on top and in front to create a Pinterest worthy picture.
TIP 4 - lighting for those longer nights
Finally, as the sun sets earlier and earlier, think about adding warm lighting to the front of your home. Lanterns with LED candles on a timer are very easy to manage and go a long way to welcome visitors to your home. Michaels & Home Goods are great places to shop for lanterns.
Short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO have become incredibly popular these days. For owners, this means your listing needs to stand out among the competition in order to get booked. One of the biggest advantages you can give yourself is creating a beautiful, well-decorated home that feels like a special getaway worthy of your guests' vacation time.
If decorating isn't your forte, however, worry not, because we've compiled 18 awesome decorating ideas to help you style a 5-star airbnb listing.
Create an Instagram moment.
Everywhere you go these days, there's an Instagram moment. Wall murals perfect for posing against, neon signs in restaurants that proclaim "cheers" or "rose all day," the latte art baristas carefully pour ... people love to share good design, and businesses are catching on by giving patrons something to share. Take a cue from this trend and add a few bold decor moments into your home. Try:
Adding a bold wallpaper in a bedroom, powder room or living space
Staging a tiki bar on the patio or by the pool
Photo via OMG Home Decor on Pinterest
Installing a statement light fixture above the dining table
Architect: Jason Thomas
Hanging a gallery wall from floor-to-ceiling
INTERIOR DESIGN BY MAX HUMPHREY, PHOTO BY SARAH DORIO
Placing a welcome mat with a fun saying on the porch.
Just like when you're selling your home, curb appeal is key when it comes to your airbnb listing. You want your home to look clean, inviting, and fresh, both in photos and when your guest arrive.
Try:
Adding a new coat of exterior paint in a crisp white or other neutral.
Photo: LAUREY W. GLENN via Southern Living Magazine
Replacing the front door, or painting the existing one in a cheery shade of aqua, yellow, red, or coral.
Planting flower beds or planters with low-maintenance perennials
Image: Proven Winners
Hanging a wreath on the front door.
Image: Inspiration for moms.
Choose a theme.
Choosing a clearly defined style or theme for your space will go a long way in making it feel cohesive, and will also make it easier to make decorating decisions. Choose your style based on the location of the space.
On a college campus? Try decorating with collegiate-inspired chesterfield sofas, prints like plaids, and stripes, and shades of navy, white, and forest green. Don't forget to add a few pennants or throw blankets with the school logo.
Near the beach? Paint the walls white, and accent with coastal-inspired shades of pale blue, sand, and green, or go in a nautical direction with navy and red tones mixed in with brass finishes and dark woods.
Photo: Home Bunch
In the city? Go for sleek, sophisticated and modern style with contemporary furnishings and modern art, or evoke a loft space with industrial-inspired design.
Image via Hunker Home
In the mountains? Choose a cozy, nature-inspired design. Think: leather furniture, unfinished woods, faux cow-hide rugs layered over wool versions, chunky knit blankets, and vintage ski posters or maps of national parks.
Image via The Cottage Journal
You get the idea.
Don't neglect the accessories.
While too many tchotchkes will make your airbnb feel cluttered (not to mention hard to keep neat and clean), adding in a layer of decor once the furnishings are in place will give it major style points.
A few musts:
Wall art. Every room needs at least one or two things on the walls. Framed posters, textiles, vintage paintings, pennants and banners, large clocks, or gallery walls are all great options.
Image via Article.com
Throw pillows. Not only do throw pillows make a sofa or bed look more inviting, but they help tie in a color scheme, too. If you went with a nautical vibe, for example, choosing a throw pillow with white and navy striped will help tie in the color palette from the rest of the space. A general rule of thumb: purchase throw pillow covers instead of actual pillows, so you can wash them and easily swap them out as needed.
Image via Serena & Lily
Area rugs. Don't be tempted to skip the rugs! Area rugs give a room a "finished" feel. If you have hardwood or tile floors, you'll risk a cold or sterile feeling without rugs.
Image via West Elm
Add Local Flavor
Traveling guests will want a sense of place when they come to your home, which ties back to the themes we suggested earlier. You can take it one step further by adding local touches to your home, which you can call out in your listing.
Think:
Artwork or photography by a local artist
Design & image by Departure Interiors
Soaps or toiletries by a maker from the area.
Image via Barefoot Gypsy
A shelf styled with guidebooks on area attractions and novels by area authors.
Image via @silverspies on Instagram
Furniture made by local craftsman or vintage pieces purchased from local shops.
Image via My Scandinavian Home
Mix and Match
If you're not a decorator by nature, and you're just trying to get your place furnished so you can list it, you may be temped to purchase furniture "Sets" from big box retailers or chain stores. You know, an entire living room, with sofas, end tables, and an armchair for $999? Don't do it. This is almost guaranteed to make your place look generic and drab. Matching furniture is a dated concept. Instead:
Mix and match pieces from different retailers, eras, and price points for an elevated look.
Image via Magnolia
For example, if you buy a sofa and matching coffee table from your local furniture superstore, buy the armchairs from Target and get the end table from an antique shop. To make things look cohesive without matching, stick to colors that go with the theme or style you decided on earlier.
Finally, if you need help creating a distinctive space from scratch, even if it's just someone to help you sort out your ideas and put a moodboard together, consider hiring a professional stylist or decorator. Many do hourly consulting rates to help set you on the right track.
Find out more about Departure Interiors Airbnb furnishing and styling services here.
