Update your light switch plates and outlet covers
Like a swipe of Chanel’s “Coco Pink” across
your pucker, this cheap and easy trick will freshen up any
space. Commercial-style stainless steel switch and outlet
plates (Home Depot, $1.99 ea. in the industrial section of
the switch plate isle) give a clean modern look to a kitchen,
especially if you have stainless appliances. Switchhits.com
is a crazy-fun website that offers designer switch plates
and outlet covers for any décor style. Check out their
glam night lights too!
New Throw Pillows
Designers love this tried-and-true little cosmetic life saver.
Throw pillows can distract the eye from tired seating or bedding,
repeat color (or add a new blast of it), introduce texture
or create a fresh look. You know the classic “karate
chop”? (The practice of crashing the blade of your hand
in the top center of a pillow to create two sharp peaks in
an ‘M’ shape?) Try it using both hands on the
sides of the pillow for a different look.
Art Display
Just like you would not put a tiny dot of lipstick in the
middle of your lower lip, you don’t want a small picture
to hang alone in the middle of a wall. Categorize your art
in groups of shared characteristics; frame finish, color,
etc. Hang your groupings in a vertical or horizontal arrangement
on one wall for big impact.
Light Bulbs
Switch out your 40-watt bulbs for the highest wattage your
lamp can handle. Additional brightness will cheer up any room.
Experiment with the different standard bulbs; Pink bulbs will
create a softening glow and day-light bulbs will deliver crisp
brightness. Wipe off dusty chandelier bulbs and crystals/shades
to make your chandie sparkle like new. For a fun change for
your chandelier, shop on-line for decorator chandelier bulbs
in the new reflective diamond patterns or silicone flame bulbs.
Dressing Kitchen Cabinets
Silk plants need to go. As does anything fabric or anything
made with dried flowers. These materials are dust collectors
and will work against you; Kitchens, in whatever décor
style, are working spaces and need to appear sparkly clean.
Decorate your cabinet tops with shiny things in finishes that
pick up your kitchen colors. (The more light- reflective the
items, the less you’ll have to climb up there to dust
them off.) Display items of varying heights and widths in
sets of three. Old books are a great platform if you need
to raise an item above the cabinet molding.
Short on Accessories?
Raid your china cabinet. Dollars to donuts says you’ve
some great crystal stuff in there that would look beautiful
on a coffee, console or end table. Create a grouping with
like items of different sizes. A wall mirror in the right
size can double as a really great tray to hold wine glasses
or cosmetics.
You can contact Holly Horchover
at Holly Horchover Design, Austin, Texas at (512) 266-9776
or email her at hollyh2000@msn.com.
You can visit her Web site at www.hollyhorchover.com
You may mail
correspondence to: P.
O. Box 204042 • Austin, Texas 78720
