Sunday, February 26, 2012

DECORATING NUMBERS


I'm getting early spring fever, I believe.   The warm days make me twitchy to play in the dirt and, the cold days .. ah, whatever with the cold days.  Even with the ups and downs of this crazy weather, just the anticipation of a new season on the horizon, gives me the little push I need to shake some things up. I have 4 big windows in my bedroom and think they need a little "oomph", a little "pow".  I definitely don't want to bring anymore into the house, but I'm thinking curtains.  I don't have a decorator's eye - the eye that can see vision of stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something totally wild and different.  I've been going through all kinds of magazines for a little inspiration.  I have a few ideas up my sleeve.  In this process, I've been working on the length and width, size rods, etc and I'm telling you, that part just sucks the fun out of it.  What I found to help me in this madness has been a little guide I torn out of a book or magazine a while back which clearly lays it out; that's all I want, just give it to me.

1.  Curtains should be 2 1/2 to 3 x the width of the window. If you're doing 2 panels, each should be 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 x the window width.  Buy a rod that's 20" wider than your window so it extends 10 inches on either side.  Your window will seem much wider than it really is.  Mount curtains as high as possible to give the room height, and let them break 1 1/2 inches on the floor.


Here are a few more tips I found along the way that might take the guess work out of things.  I have always guessed or just eye-balled things.  I've never been too far off,  but now I have some real numbers to work with to take the guesswork out. 

1.  The bottom of a dining room chandelier should hang 36 inches above the table. 
                               Curtains!

2.  Install light switches 36" above the floor and 1 1/2 to 2 inches  to the side of the door rim.

3.  One gallon of paint will cover about 400 sq. feet of wall.

                                    paint

4.  For a standard 84 inch sofa with exposed legs and a tight back, you'll need 14 yards of plain 54 inch wide fabric.  Add 2 yards for a skirt.

5.  A 36 inch wide rectangular table is good for conversation.  A round table with a diameter of 48 inches seats 6; a 60 inch round will handle 8 standard dining chairs or 10 ballroom chairs.

Gift table. Or these tables instead of round tables?i am in love with round tables!!


6.  How big should an overhead light fixture be - Add the length and width of the room in feet, and whatever number you come up with is, in inches, your guide for the fixture's diameter.  A 15 x 20 foot room would need a 35 inch wide chandelier. 

7.  A kitchen island should be about 38 inches high - a little taller than the countertops to be comfortable for prep.

kitchen islandkitchen islands and large hoods
                  
Are you feeling a little like me ~  wanting to change it a little bit.  Are you looking through seed catelogs thinking you might grow something a little "strange" this year just because you can OR tired of the winter hodrums and wanting to take a walk on the "wild side" of decorating.  IF you are - well I'm with ya.  It will be a work in progress as it always is - an ongoing wish list, to do list, wanna have it, gotta have it, but don't need it, don't have it list.
     
Guys & Dolls - Seize the day!  Debi              

                                                                                       


11 comments:

  1. I can feel your spring twitchiness of wanting to do something creative inside and out.

    Great tips too.

    Have fun and don't stress too much over the curtain/drape project.

    Enjoy your Sunday and have a great week.

    FlowerLady

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  2. OK... just maybe you have inspired me! Maybe I should go back and look at that picture of a chicken coop and figure out what I'd need to build it. Then I can run down and get the lumber. It's sunny today (oh... and my snow cleared, but sopping wet paddocks did bring snow.... 'sposed to be 1"... we got 6!!) I could work outside......
    or..... I could continue to read blogs and comment. Hmmmm, what should I do?!

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  3. That's good to know about the curtains since I'm planning on putting up new ones soon. I will take your advice on hanging them wider and longer.

    The rest of the stuff is way beyond my capabilities I'm afraid. :)

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  4. We've been in our house about 5 years now, and I'm getting a little twitchy and want to change up a few things and paint and your post reminds me of that...But the outdoors are calling...Or is that the brownies I just baked? :-)

    I hope you've had a good weekend!!

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  5. Debi
    Now those were a lot of helpful hints.
    It's snowing like crazy here, so spring
    thoughts a tucked away once again.
    A decorating project just might be what I need
    to rid me of my cabin fever!

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  6. Just came across your blog and love everything about it. It's very cute and I'm a new follower.

    Jody

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  7. Oh boy im ready to get dirty also. Have a great start to the week! !!

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  8. oh you got it Debi. there is a need to change things up definitely. and quickly, too, since there are already signs of spring, even before we could get tired of winter. :) but first, i want to unclutter!

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  9. I've been doing the same things around here! It always feels good to change things up a little. Uncluttering, too!

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  10. I have a big pile of stuff that's slated to go to the thrift shop down the road ... fluffing and decluttering makes it really feel like spring.

    In the fluffing department, I'm also planning to make curtains. Can't decide on a design though. They will be dummy panels, I know that ... but are they gathered at the top (ie., simple to make) or pleated and hooked to the rod? Right now, I'm leaning toward the gathered, because it's a bit less formal and would be perfect for the room. I like drapes that just skim the floor.

    My rule for hanging a chandelier is this ... I hang them so the lowest portion is the same height as I am, so I can walk underneath it if necessary when the table is moved, and so it's not a visual obstacle in the room.

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  11. what a great tip list! Wish I had that when I redid some of my rooms. I printed it out and tucked it into my home redo folder!!
    Love your blog!

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