I recently completed an interior design project for a Manhattan apartment in under two weeks. The space was completely transformed, from both an aesthetic and Feng Shui perspective, and it did not cost the client an arm and a leg. How was this possible? In a nutshell: good research and planning. In this newsletter I’ll provide a list of valuable pointers that will allow you to do a quickie makeover of your own!
Before:
This was essentially a drab throw-away nook - a parking spot for bikes and luggage.
After:
By adding vibrant red grasscloth wallpaper and paint, zen-like sconces, a few modern pieces of furniture and mirrored closet doors to expand the sense of space, a sleek den was created in an apartment that didn’t have any comfortable places to unwind.
Before:
This was the cluttered and dark view upon entering the front door of the apartment – bad feng shui for an entrance (you can refer back to my Feng Shui For Recessions newsletter to better understand this concept)
After:
The new view into the apartment is not only brighter, it is significantly cleaner as well. Notice how I used shoji screens to cover the shelving in the background. (Books can be accessed from the other side.) This makes the entire room neater, while still allowing in light from the far window.
Before:
This was the rather disorganized, bland room of a 5-year-old girl with strong “princess” aspirations.
After:
By adding the right colors, curtains, light fixtures and a gauzy canopy with glow-in-the-dark stars, our aspiring princess now has a proper palace to call her own.
To see more Before-After photos from this project, check in again soon with the Recent Projects Tab.
TIPS FOR YOUR 10 DAY MAKEOVER
Okay, now let's get to some specific steps you can take to start your own makeover. These are guiding principles I use in my own designs, and I promise they will help your project run much more smoothly.
- Let Feng Shui guide your design: The vast spectrum of possibilities for a design scheme can seem overwhelming, which is why it can be an immense help to let Feng shui narrow the field a bit. For those of you who have received a consultation from me in the past, you can work right off of the report I provided. There you will find specific recommendations on colors, elements and imagery for each room of the house. If you have not worked with me, then you can refer to my 2009 New Years Tips newsletter. The advice there is less specific and more basic, but it’s not a bad place to start.
- Keep a running list: You’ll want to be extremely organized from the start of your project, keeping a master spreadsheet of every item you plan to purchase. Have columns that list “item”, “store/website”, “contact info”, “measurements”, “delivery time”, “price”. Sum the price column, so that you can keep running tabs on the cost of your project, and to make sure you are staying on budget.
- Measure, measure, measure: Before you place a single order, you’ll want to know every relevant measurement in your space, including ceiling height. Keeping this info in front of you as you shop will prevent a lot of mistakes. Obviously you don’t want sofas that protrude into doorways or ceiling fans that hang down at neck level, but way shy of such glaring errors, there is the simple issue of “scale”. An armoire that technically “fits” a particular wall, may be way too clunky and overbearing in that spot. Which leads me to my next tip…
- Block it all out: It’s a great idea to mark the actual floor out with tape so that you can really envision the items in the space (use blue painters tape, and don’t press it down too hard or you might harm the finish on the floors). You can also use blue tape on the walls, to simulate the height of the various items.
- Shop Online: The internet has become a veritable treasure trove of quality, budget-friendly furnishings. Look for sites that offer free shipping, and make sure they have an easy return policy. While some of your purchases will certainly come from local vendors, you will be greatly limiting your possibilities if you do not aggressively work the online angle.
- Inspect your merchandise immediately: As your orders start to arrive, make sure to inspect them right away. Even if you don’t plan on using an item immediately, open the packaging and check to see that it’s undamaged, the right color, size, model…etc (this is true even if you just saw it a few hours earlier in the furniture store). Otherwise, you may find that when you are finally ready to install something, you open it and see that it’s missing a piece, or is the wrong color. This can cause big delays.
- Budget in some money for help: While you may be planning on doing the bulk of the work yourself to save money, don’t be penny wise, pound foolish. After all, you may not have anticipated all the small tasks involved. For instance, much of the budget furniture out there involves assembly, and when you’re dealing with 5 or more pieces, putting it all together can be a serious undertaking! Luckily, Craigslist (or your local paper) is full of nice handymen and handywomen, ready and able to help build that Ikea cabinet or hang that curtain rod. It’s better not to waste your time or blow your temper trying to do every last thing yourself. You want to infuse your new space with good energy, so make the process as easy and fun as possible.
Well, that’s a good list to get you started on your home makeover. And, of course, if you’d like some help with your project, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Reiko@reikodesign.com.
Either way, don’t be intimidated by the idea of transforming your space. You can do it! And, if you plan your project well, you can do it quickly.
All the best,
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