What's Up?

An opportunity, that's what's up!  The ceiling is tragically a common oversight in design and often an easy and unique way to add some extra character to your space.  Not to mention as the eternal optimist I am, looking up and taking a deep breath always helps me reset my thoughts to charge onward…imagine if that glance skyward held your attention for a moment?!

Crown Moulding Fit For Royalty!

You've selected the perfect color for you walls and decided on the typical ceiling white for the ceiling…okay, no problem, but check out the pop you get from the addition of some crown moulding!  You have the gamut of options to choose from:  small and traditional, large and ornate, sleek and contemporary.  The moulding you choose can be a perfect finishing touch to add a designer touch and small boost of sophistication.

Here's an example of the same idea:  perfect color on the wall and classic ceiling white but without the addition of crown moulding.  Can you see the difference this makes?  Imagine dropping the curtain rods a few inches and installing a three or four inch traditional moulding treatment to this space.  Fabulous pop of excitement for those ceilings!

Take the Color To the Top!

My personal preference when there is no moulding is to take the color to the top!  Appropriate lighting, window treatments, art, and floor plan are crucial on this bold move, but when it is done right, wow!  Darker colors can be restricting when working with small spaces to consult with your designer before embarking, but read on for more options for painted ceilings that suit an space!

Just a shade…Another really great option for dressing a ceiling is to select a shade just a bit lighter than the wall color.  This tactic adds interest to the space without the risk of making the room feel short with a dark shade on the walls and ceiling.  Another great tip:  when working on an on-suite, try reversing the pallet in the smaller bathroom with the lighter shade on the wall and the darker on the ceiling!

Contrast & Compliment.  When the walls are finished with a faux treatment, wallpaper, panelling, stone, or another paint color, selecting a contrasting yet complimenting color for the ceiling can be the ticket to that little ceiling touch!

Bead Board Above!

Bright white bread board on the ceiling is a beautiful alternative to the basic painted drywall options.  This is a great selection when there is a need to cover something up (popcorn ceilings) or when starting from scratch in a space.  The texture of the bead board adds just a bit of richness to the space and compliments the other architectural aspects like trim, moldings, and hard wood floors beautifully.

Stained bead board is a common selection for outdoor spaces like covered porches however it brings a truly chic and sophisticated look to interior spaces as well.  A powder room or bathroom instantly takes on a spa like feel with bead board ceilings, bright white moulding, and a soothing wall pallet.

Let There Be Beams!

Keep your ceiling white, but adding a few stained beams to the space puts another architectural aspect in the room that gives your home that "something special" feel so many homeowners are after.  The style of your beam can range from mitered, sanded, and stained smooth to rustic and natural.  Consult your designer on the style that best suits your end goal before embarking on a major project like this one.

Check out the effect having some guts can achieve!  Combine your bead board or another wood treatment wit the addition of beams to the space for a totally custom look and character to boot!

Let it all hang out!  If you have the height, go for the gold!  Exposed beams with vaulted ceilings can create a multitude of looks, all of which are breath-taking and homey.  All white as featured or stained, you will be delighted to take in the awe of the bones with exposed beams!

Coffered Beauty!

Another great option for cover up an old textured ceiling with bead board and and low profile coffered ceiling.  The contrast is beautiful and with this options, you are not losing any significant height in your ceilings!

The beams you choose for your coffered ceiling can be as simple or complex as you choose.  Here is tone on tone whites with detailed beams for the coffered ceiling.  Work with your designer and contractor to determine the appropriate spacing to allow for electrical work where necessary.

Here is a shot of a coffered ceiling with stained wood and wow what a beautiful sight.  The recessed lighting in this  space creates a lovely glow across the beams and illuminates the space without lowering the ceiling with hanging fixtures.  Consult your designer and contractor when determining the appropriate depth for your coffered ceilings.

 Wallpaper…Up There!?

Small spaces like a powder room or enclosed foyer are perfect spaces to dive into some of the funkiest, most exciting wallpapers produced.  Put it on the ceiling for less of a commitment to the paper and more bang for your buck!  I promise that everyone who uses this powder room comes out complimenting this rich design!

You do not have to go for bold prints when selecting wallpaper for your ceiling treatment.  Choosing a texture can have the same wow factor.  Shown here with crown moulding and wall paper on the walls, this textured ceiling treatment adds class, sophistication, and richness to this space.  The best part it is, when you are ready to re-design, the treatment can be removed easily for a blank slate.

Frame It Out!

If My Sofa Were a Man...

Man v. Sofa - Different…but the same!

Okay, ladies, lets be real:  you wouldn't settle for a man who only looked good on the outside but had few redeeming qualities other than he's fast and easy, right?…wait, maybe you would, so let me rephrase:  you shouldn't settle for a man unless he is attractive, committed to the long run, practical, someone you enjoy relaxing with and being intimate with, makes you feel comfortable, has value, and fits in your life and lifestyle.  Now, apply those same qualities to your sofa and compare and contrast your man versus your sofa…how did that work for you?  Chances are, your sofa matches the qualities of the bad ass you dated in high school but not so much your husband:  it was so totally cool at the time but short lived, does not fit your lifestyle, really not a quality piece, should have been discarded sooner than later, and might have been a mistake!

No fear!  Here are my favorite tips for finding the right man, I mean sofa!

~ Love at First Sight!  You have to like the look of it.  Now, remember, we are shopping for husbands here, not Mr. Right Now.  Work with your design consultant to understand the appropriate time frame you plan to keep your sofa.  The style should be timeless, something that can morph as your style changes over the life of the piece.  What changes can you expect between the time of purchase and the time you will need to replace it (ex. children)?

This Sherrill sofa covers love at first sight perfectly.  The tufting is classic but the lines of the sofa are more contemporary, merging to create a transitional sofa that can easily make the leap from one room design to another.  The neutral base fabric makes for a simple swap in toss pillows to change up our accents and redesign!  Family growing?  No worries, the proper durability in fabric combined with a solid warranty/protection plan leaves the family worry free to live on this piece!

~It's What's Inside That Counts!  Not only should you be concerned about the shape, appearance, and fabric for your sofa but equally as important is what is on the inside.  Your furniture consultant can explain to you the construction details of each piece you consider.  Most high quality upholstered furniture pieces will include a few catch phrases:  eight-way hand tied springs, glued and screwed joints, and hardwood frames, to name a few. Not all need to be present in each piece to be considered high quality however these catch phrases will get you geared in the right direction.

Eight-Way Hand-Tied springs are a good indication that care was put into the construction of an upholstered piece.  The process is manual therefore is time consuming and expensive for manufacturers however it is also a testimony to the pride the manufacturer has in their product.  Sofas with eight-way hand-tied spring systems will not suffer the fate of stray springs poking through to the cushions and will be guarded from the sagging that can happen in the most popular seat because the weight is spread across the entire surface.

~Values, Value, Valued!  Just like a man with good values is a catch, a sofa with great value is key.  Please do not get confused:  value and price are different…as different as your husband's values and his salary…one is a desired characteristic, the other shouldn't make or break the deal.  High quality construction and fine materials will bring value in that your sofa will come with the warranties and guarantees to allow for longevity in your investment.  You will pay more for the sofa however you will buy two, maybe three low-value sofas in the same time frame you will purchase only one high value sofa.  Three $1,500 sofas over the course of 8 years will cost your more than one $3,000 sofa, for example.

~Love is Patient…Love is Kind!  Take your time to shop.  Sit in, experience, and learn about the pieces you are considering.  Many memories and exciting times will be shared with the sofa you select, so be patient and work closely with your designer and furniture consultant to ensure you are not making a mistake because you are rushing into a purchase.  Furniture buying is an investment! Planning is necessary to do it well.

It's important to consider how you will be using your sofa while you are shopping for it.  You've worked hard to plan out the correct size, color, and floor plan, so ensure your shopping fit appropriately too!  One of the first things I have my clients do before they sit in a sofa is remove their jacket!  How often do you sit on your sofa with a winter jacket on?  Why would you decide which sofa to buy while wearing one then?

~Good Things Come to Those Who Wait!  Yes, "fast and easy" was the phrase I used earlier, and I am sure more than a few of you are nodding right now thinking, "Yeah, I have owned a sofa because it was promised to be in my living room by 5pm two weeks from purchase!"  I get it, we live in a world of instant gratification and are accustomed to see-point-click-pay-quickship however I beg you, do not buy your furniture like this!  Custom orders take about 12 weeks from order to delivery however during this time, your piece is being crafted just as you and your designer selected it to be, just for you, by hand in many instances, and dressed in that to-die-for fabric that completes the total look of your room.  Just like that moment when your fiancé catches is first glance at you walking down the isle, the moment when your designer reveals your room with your perfect sofa in it is well worth the wait!

Achieving the total room look is what is important in the long run, just like finding a person to share your happily ever after with.  following these tips will help guide you while shopping for upholstery.  It is always best to partner with a design expert to ensure your plan encompasses every minute detail so that there are no surprises and most importantly no mistakes.  Like divorce, design mistakes are costly!

Happy shopping loves!

~Love & Hugs, Nina~

Welcome, Hello, Join Me, & Thank You!

French Refined Design Style - Retrieved from www.lampsplus.com/shop-by-trend/

Ahhh, a moment to relax my feet from closing deals in heels!  Welcome to my blog, Refined Design.  Writing is a top five passion of mine, so I could not be more delighted to share my tips, hints, inspiration, and work in my number one passion:  interior designing, here!  I look forward to sharing and reading feedback from my followers and hope you enjoy what I have to share!

First and foremost, a bit about myself.  In addition to the background I share in my profile about my work history, it is telling to know that I spent most of my adolescent life as a competitive gymnast.  Read:  blood, sweat, and tears goes into every endeavor I embark on, and I settle for nothing less than perfection!

Following high school, I worked my way up the corporate ladder in banking while simultaneous earning an undergraduate degree in International Business and beginning a second degree in Interior Architecture and Design.  I purchased my first home at age 20, a small ranch that needed more than a little TLC.  My ability to envision the possibilities and slowly but surely breathe life back into the, then shack, to create a space I came to adore was the first insight into my eye for design.

Lew & Chase:  This is why you need to love your living space…it is where the love is! <3

Austin & Cali bird watching from the safety of their warm home.

Lew & Nina:  In love & loving life! Photography by Julia Conroy Photography 

While my career in banking was entertaining with swift advancement and proved to be rather lucrative, my heart pulled me to the design industry.  Recently, I have made the scary and uber exciting leap to turning my passion into my career and could not be happier with my choice to take the dive!

Design Presentation:  Traditional Conversation Area - November 2013 - By Nina Landis

Passion is a popular motif in my world.  In addition to writing and designing, I am a self proclaimed fashionista, a gym rat, and a music buff with an ever so eclectic ear.  I am head over heals for my handsome boyfriend, Lew, and love our little fur babies, Chase (black lab), Cali (cat), and Austin (cat) with all of my heart.

Exercise is a great way to get the creative juices flowing or relieve stress.  Being fit gives me the energy to stay positive and work long days to keep my projects on task for my customers!

Welcome to my little ode to design!  I have said my hello's, so please join me in this quest to bring my design style to the world:  Polished, Enticing, & Refined.  And lastly, thank you!

~Love & Hugs, Nina~