The 3 R’s Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle also relate to decorating

by Marcia Moore, interior designer and owner of Marcia Moore Designs, LLC

The Green Movement is upon us. We are constantly seeing ads for “green” products to buy for our homes. I personally am very glad to see the proliferation of green products on the market and use them whenever possible in my design work. However, the ultimate green product is something you already own, not something you have to buy, so I am constantly looking at what my clients already own to see what we can keep and reuse, rather than buying new. Hence, the three R’s: reuse, repurpose and recycle.

What can you Reuse? When I redid my own dining room recently, I needed to purchase a table that would fit a narrow space, but I kept my existing upholstered chairs. Since the fabric was worn and not the right color, I had slipcovers made for them, using an organic cotton fabric. I was able to use something I already owned, and it cost me less than purchasing new chairs.

What can you Repurpose? One of my clients had an old wicker table with broken legs but a wicker top that was in perfect condition. We couldn’t salvage the legs but we repurposed the top as the perfect piece of art to use above a massive stone fireplace. It looks like an enormous round flat basket or wicker drum. Rather than spend a lot on original art, my client now has a no-cost, one-of-a-kind conversation piece that is a stunning addition to her home.

What can you Recycle? Do you have any items that don’t fit in your home anymore but that are still in decent shape? Someone would be thrilled to have your used furniture.

Earlier this year, a few of my clients and I recycled our gently used furniture and accessories by donating them to a project sponsored by St Louis At Home magazine where several area designers furnished newly built Habitat for Humanity homes. What a delight to view the creative use of our items and the smiles on the new homeowners’ faces.

So, before you decide to buy new, get creative with what you already own. Don’t have a creative bone in your body? Call me...

P.S.
Have any questions?

E-mail Marcia@marciamooredesign.com for expert design advice.

Matching vs. Complementary Which way best fits your room’s décor?

by Marcia Moore, owner, Marcia Moore Design

I recently had a client who was in a quandary about her bedroom. She had purchased a bed but had to wait on purchasing the matching pieces. By the time the funds were available, the manufacturer had discontinued that line. Even though she loved the bed, she was planning to sell it and asked me to help her find a new bedroom set.

My advice was, “Don’t sell that awesome bed!”

There are two routes you can take.

Matching: There is nothing wrong with a matching set of furniture, especially if you are going for a very monochromatic or historical era look. In this case, I make sure we add interest with area rugs, varying fabric designs and art so the similarity of the furniture doesn’t make the room bland.

Complementary: In the room mentioned above, we were starting with an ornate, traditional-style mahogany bed, so we just needed to find pieces that would complement or coordinate with it. We were also keeping the existing bed linens in shades of green.

The complementary pieces we used were:
> Nightstands. Antique metal washstands painted the darkest green color in the bedspread.

> Dresser. New oversized dresser in a similar ornate style but a much lighter wood tone. The different yet complementary wood tones help each piece stand out and be noticed rather than blending together.

> Vanity. Faux bamboo vanity and chair. The bamboo has light and dark tones, which work well with both the bed and dresser, tying everything together.

Add a colorful area rug, bamboo blinds with sheers and accent pillows, and we were done. Nothing “matched” but every piece was a “complement” to everything else.

And it all started with just one piece of furniture.

Visit St. Louis Woman Magazine’s website monthly to learn more design tips and find out how a designer can help you achieve the home of your dreams.

Happy Decorating!

P.S.
Have any questions?

E-mail Marcia@marciamooredesign.com for expert design advice.

Room Redesign First aid for your home

by Marcia Moore, owner, Marcia Moore Design

BEFORE *Click to enlarge

AFTER *Click to enlarge

When you walk into your home after work every day, are you walking into “bling” or “blah”? If your home doesn’t excite you, then it isn’t performing one of its primary functions. Your home is your haven and it should nurture you, meaning it should bring you peace, solace and rejuvenation. But don’t despair. That doesn’t mean you need to throw everything out and start over.

Think Room Redesign. If you’re sick of your décor but your finances don’t allow for a complete makeover, room redesign is the first aid your home needs. Room redesign is the process of creating a fresh look by using a homeowner’s existing furniture and accessories in a new way. Move that chair from the den to the living room, place the couch at an angle, repurpose that chest as a coffee table, mix up the artwork, rearrange the accessories and VOILA! –– you have a new room with a cozy seating arrangement, better traffic flow and lots of eye candy. What’s new? Nothing and everything.

BEFORE *Click to enlarge

AFTER *Click to enlarge

Most people have a mix of nice pieces and just stuff and don’t have any idea how to coordinate everything into a pleasing, cohesive look. In the space of a few hours, a professional room redesigner can mix things up and turn “blah” into “bling.” And did I mention that it can be done without draining your bank account or depleting what’s left in your 401(k)? It’s true. Room redesign is the most cost-effective way of achieving a fresh new look for your home. After all, it’s your stuff –– you might as well enjoy it!

P.S.
Stop back two weeks from now for the first of my articles in which I answer decorating questions my readers have sent in. Have a question?

E-mail Marcia@marciamooredesign.com for expert design advice.

Yes, You Can! (Afford an Interior Designer, That Is)

by Marcia Moore, owner, Marcia Moore Design

We all want to live in a home that makes us feel good when we walk through the door every evening. However, the majority of us were not born with the “interior design” gene. Are you missing that little piece of DNA? Do you need help with selecting paint colors? Rearranging furniture? Making fabric choices?

Most people are not comfortable doing this on their own and could benefit from the advice and expertise of an interior designer. However, these same people frequently think they can’t afford a designer.

I’ve heard things like, “We didn’t hire a designer at first because we thought it would be too expensive, but now we wish we had consulted with you from the start.”

So, let me dispel the “too expensive” misconception once and for all! Yes, there are designers who only work with the rich and famous. But many designers work with all budget levels and will consult on an hourly basis for smaller projects.

I frequently help with paint selection, rearranging furniture and advising on where to buy accessories to complete a look. The cost of two or three hours of a designer’s time is money well spent if it prevents you from having to repaint a room, pay a restocking fee on a dresser that won’t fit up the stairs, or if it frees you from being paralyzed by indecision.

Some people already have great furniture and accent pieces, but there is just something missing – their home doesn’t feel complete or pulled together. A designer can take all of your great stuff and magically transform it just by rearranging things.

There are many “tips” that designers employ to make your room look “just right.” Did you know that the optimum height for a picture with nothing below it is five feet from the floor to the middle of the artwork? Simply making sure that artwork is hung at the proper height can put the finishing touch on a room.

So, Yes You Can! afford an interior designer. Visit St. Louis Woman Magazine's website monthly to learn more design tips, and find out how a designer can help you achieve the home of your dreams. Happy Decorating! Marcia


*Marcia Moore's Interior Design Tips is a paid advertisement.