Faith Sheridan - ...Browsing by tag

Some of the most read posts from this blog are about design with children and makeovers ideas for their rooms. You know that a fresh coat of paint is always a fast  makeover especially if you let your children in on the selection process.  But always test the color (purchase a test kit or quart) and paint a sample one  foot square in several places in the room. These days there a fewer splurges on furnishings and furniture so I offer some options that are affordable to change a bedroom for a child.

Once you select a color the fun begins.. and I want to share a special and unique source. The company is Wonderful Graffiti and I have known about them for many years.  Mary McPhail is the co-founder and creative director of the company. The company is best known for  Wonderful Graffiti™ transfers.  The opportunities are abundant to impart your creative bent with the huge selection on the site. 

Considering children’s rooms, I saw a few that would be a great starting point to a unique room for your child. If you ever wanted to use words as decoration, here’s your chance.

From Wonderful Graffiti

Another Wonderful Graffiti

Create your own canvas

Use a graphic with a child's name

Have fun and exercise your imagination without breaking your budget.  Your child will love it and so will you.

Always eager to hear from you so send your comments or questions.

Tags: design with children, Faith Sheridan, makeover ideas, Seattle, wonderful graffiti
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | 2 Comments »

Still got the Wabi-Sabi bug… so I want to talk about using Wabi-Sabi  and in our high tech kitchens. How can we take the edge off the stainless steel and polished stone counters?  In Seattle using reclaimed wood is very popular.  Adding a table with reclaimed wood is a wonderful way to add something tactile and with history to your kitchen.  At my firm, Faith Sheridan Interior Design, I believe it’s a wabi-sabi, recycled material solution that sets a design apart.  Or you could shop antique stores for a harvest table such as the one shown in the photo.  I enjoy the transition of the kitchen with the simple addition of something old or vintage.  It remains clean and uncluttered. While visiting those flea markets or antique shops, look for vintage baskets.  Not only are they practical, but they also bring some ‘patina’ to your home.

Courtesy of Christian Sarramon

As regular readers know, I enjoy mixing different sorts of pieces, as long as they’re good looking and scaled appropriately to the setting.  A collected look adds and enhances a design.  According to Rita St. Clair, “The challenge professional designers face is to make a space look attractive and function well, regardless of whether we share a client’s aesthetics or lifestyle.”

Tags: Faith Sheridan, high tech kitchens, reclaimed wood, Seattle, wabi sabi
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | No Comments »

Seattle interior design embraces great design that creates a true, living reflection of the people who live in the space – and that’s about as ‘universal’ as it gets according to Janice Anne Costa.

Not long ago  kitchens revolved around a single work triangle, where Mom cooked meals for her husband and family. But  kitchens grew larger, and the work triangle evolved to kitchen “work zones.” Flexible  refrigeration replaced large, boxy refrigerators, and multiple, flexibly designed appliances became the norm.  See example:

Universal Design by Lora Creswick

In a similar vein, yesterday’s baths were all about  super-size.  Enter jetted tubs large enough to go swimming in and super showers with extravagant features using large amounts of water.

Consider the greening of the kitchen and bath. Efficiencies of space and energy are the rage and water conservation inspires smaller fixtures, re-designed to provide the full-sensory water experience,  using less water.

Looking over the changes in the kitchen and bath industry, one thing is clear: Design is fluid. Indeed, the creative nature of the field almost demands that today’s trends will be ever-changing and evolving, as consumers and design professionals continue to pursue “the next big thing.” Janice Anne Costa

So what is the “next big thing?” Bet on Universal Design as the “green” of the future.

Curbless Shower

This trend gained visibility in the products on display at this year’s K/BIS, where beautiful, safe and accessible tub and shower options were seen in abundance. Personalized design is finally coming into its own. As Mick De Giulio explains, “People are an amalgam of so many different elements: culture and nationality, family history and cooking habits”.

Tags: Faith Sheridan, kitchen and bath, personalized design, Seattle, universal design, water conservation
Posted in Green Design | No Comments »

Though I am mainly a Seattle interior designer, I also work with clients in Portland since I lived there for over four years. Last week I was excited to see a blog post by my friend Sonu commenting on the ‘treasures of Portland’. Sonu writes a great blog, Living in Color with Sonu.  We became friends over the three years I participated on the Benjamin Moore Residential Color Advisory Committee and continue to stay in touch.

Actually I was in Portland when I read her blog post which made her comments even more enjoyable. There are great places to shop and see eye candy in and around the Pearl District. One store that is very well know is Hive.  Another I enjoy is Relish.

Relish

You can explore the Pearl District and expect to take in some great art like this.

Art in the Pearl District

A great way to get around the Pearl and the Northwest area (also has wonderful boutiques and restaurants) is via the streetcar.

Next month I will tour the Street of Dreams PDX and share my thoughts as well as interview one of the designers, Kimberlee Jaynes, who is a friend and design colleague.

You may want to make Portland and the Pearl District a vacation destination. What do you think?

Tags: Faith Sheridan, interior designer, pearl district boutiques, pearl district outdoor art, vacation destination
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | No Comments »

Interior design for tweens and teens is challenging.  How to be different? In my Seattle practice I look for sources and explore possibilities that appeal and can be personalized in some way. Here is a resource for parents who want to feature something new, fresh, personal.  The company is Wallter. The clever mobiles and wall decor provide ample opportunities for creativity.  Take a look.

Wallter Squares

Teardrop Mobile

The company introduced its line of paintable wall applications “Wallter” in 2004. The geometric, wood-based applications add a third dimension to the wall on which they are composed, commanding light and shadow in an inventive way and turn the space in to something original.

Wallter’s clients include The W Hotel, Hotel Lucia, Seattle’s Hotel Max, Crate and Barrel, Dreamworks Productions, Chiasso, Urban Outfitters, Stratus Films, ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and HGTV’s Debbie Travis’ Facelift.

What do you think? Can you apply one of their options to make a tween or teen bedroom unique?

Tags: Faith Sheridan, interior design, resource for parents, Seattle, teen bedrooms, wall decor
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | No Comments »