Stephanie Yeraka

How to Transition Flooring

May 8, 2014 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

There are many transitions as you walk through any home. Ceiling heights change, paint colors vary by room, window heights and sizes change, as well as flooring. Floor transitions are probably the most noticeable if done incorrectly. The idea with any transition is to execute it as seamlessly as possible. Sometimes these changes are unavoidable, so how do we handle them? Incorporate flooring design into the architecture of the home.

Start a flooring change at the entrance of a new room to better define the space. An open formal dining room with rich custom hardwood that leads off of the travertine entry is inviting and cozy. Transitioning from one pattern to another with the same material, like stone for example, moves you from formal to more laid back. A diamond pattern in the entry leading to a Versailles pattern in the family room and kitchen is a subtle yet effective transition.

Attempting to match hardwoods is next to impossible, especially if the original was installed years ago and the stain has faded from sun and foot traffic. If you need to replace carpeted areas with hardwood and the older hardwood is within sight, try choosing a complementing grain and stain. Using a thin inset boarder that brings the original wood grain and color into the new is a way to tie the two together. You will know if going lighter or darker for the new material is best for your home based on the tone of the old. Matching sheen is the best way to keep a consistent look, having light hit the floors differently will be something you notice. Be sure to also stay in the same color family; if you had a rich brown stain with no reds, stick with the browns for the new wood. As always, when in doubt ask a professional designer.

Spring into Style

April 1, 2014 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

Designing with the season is a great way to update your space. Interchangeable pillow covers for the family and living rooms, different table cloths and runners for the dining table, and throw blankets for the bed and sofas are all great places to start. Bringing in new designs also means it is time to clean and declutter. Nothing makes a room feel better than a freshly cleaned, bright and airy space. Updating is an excuse to purge and replace items that have seen better days.

Did you know that reupholstering a sofa can cost about the same as buying new? The cost largely depends on the type of fabric chosen and if the cushion fill needs to be changed out. It is always a good idea to look into the cost of buying new before you settle on updating the old. A new style of sofa in the living room can brighten the space and lighten it up. Older sofas that weigh down a room can have a huge, negative impact on the space. Working around one element or item in a room that you are not in love with is difficult. Make sure the base elements of your room are to your liking; paint colors, flooring, and lighting elements.

Spring is the perfect time to start designing. The winter market is over and manufacturers are just starting to release their new styles, so you are sure to get the latest fashions for your home. Fun new fabrics and furniture styles come into my office every day; I am able to present them to my clients before anyone else has a chance to see them. Working with a designer on your springtime update will save you valuable research time and money. Brighten up your space just before the rush of summer!

Create your Dream Library

March 1, 2014 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

Worn and well-loved hard back book covers decorate the walls of a cozy wood clad office. Encyclopedias and books from travels stacked on shelves with personal artifacts and photos. Decorating book shelves, whether they are in the Family Room, home office, or in a built-in down the hall, is an art that can be mastered with a few simple tricks.

The home library should be a sanctuary for the avid reader with plenty of space to store the books you once lost yourself in. Stack books side by side and lay them flat with personal items on top to add dimension and character. If you have collections, sort the books by color and height. Sometimes removing the paper cover reveals a gorgeous hardback book that needs to be displayed. Keeping a consistency within the shelves keeps the eye traveling around the room.

Built-ins that travel down a wide, long hallway maximizes much needed book storage space. Keeping this area well lit with recessed spot lighting will accent your display nicely. Bookshelf space only has to be as deep as the width of a book so small accent walls can handle a decorative, custom niche. Designing your cabinetry to reflect your personal design style can be tricky. Wood species, stain or paint color, and decorative elements are all items a designer can assist with. Your home library area is a fun way to express your style and show off your love for books and travel.

More Than Your Average Game Room

January 31, 2014 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

Game rooms are not just for games these days, they are a casual place to gather and relax while entertaining guests, or a room for the kids to hang out with friends. However, if you enjoy family game nights, why not have a room dedicated to it? A large or moderate bar for the adults is one focus in the room. Mirrored walls and dark wood cabinets create an elegant ambiance to serve and entertain from. Think about a small sink, beverage refrigerator, microwave for popcorn, and even a small ice maker for chilled drinks. I like to think about ease and comfort when designing a functional game room.

One major focal point in the room is the large TV for video games and Sunday afternoon football; it also dictates the way seating arrangements are designed. A large overstuffed sofa sectional with plenty of seating for family and guests is a must. Think comfortable and casual, with easy-to-clean fabrics for those unexpected spills, especially with younger children around. To block out the unwanted light from nearby windows, motorized black-out shades that lower and retract at the touch of a button are great when it is time for movie night.

Game tables for cards, checkers or chess and dominoes should be well lit and located in a warm area of the room. Next to the fireplace or heating vent is always a nice spot to gather on those cold winter nights. The table should be large enough to include all players with storable leaves that can be put in when it is time to play. Comfortable game chairs are also a must for those lengthy board games. As always, various forms of lighting are key in this room. Dimmer switches for overhead lights, accent bar lights, and task lighting make the room pop. For more tips on how to create the show stopping game room of your dreams enlist the help of an interior designer!

Redecorating for the New Year

January 2, 2014 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

I have had a few people recently tell me they decorated their home over ten years ago and it is time for an update. In most cases an update means replacing a few pieces in the room to bring in a fresh look. Materials fade and wear out, wood finishes look used and muted, drapery styles go out of fashion. The start of the New Year is the perfect time to think about redecorating.

The Living Room is usually the room everyone sees first but it sometimes doesn’t get used very often. Introducing a more current pop of color to your more neutral style furniture by updating throw pillows and accessories can do the trick. Another great place to start in the refreshing process is floral arrangements, as they are one of the first things to fade and look tired. Next up is the Family Room, one of the rooms that is used the most. The sofa or sectional probably needs some TLC in the form of re-fluffing cushions, if the fabrics are still in good shape, or re-upholstery. If you are considering re-upholstery it can cut down on the cost of buying new if you select a well-priced fabric; something durable that can last another ten years. Purchasing new is a great option if the sofa is no longer comfortable, has seen better days and looks like it belongs in a college student’s first apartment! Investing in furniture is important and finding the right sofa is a key consideration.

Window treatments that have come loose from their drapery hooks or look dingy and faded from sunlight also need some updating. Sometimes the hardware can be saved if budget is a factor. Rods can be cut and repositioned for a new look and design. Thinking outside the box, using a fun patterned fabric in a neutral room, and having fun with your redesign is what I want to see for 2014! When in doubt, ask a designer to create a design for you to get ideas flowing. We are familiar with all styles and can suggest the perfect application for your project.

Deck the Halls in Style

December 5, 2013 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

I have been decorating clients homes for a few years now and the best advice I can give is, it is best to have a plan, year after year. Take photos of your beautiful creations so it is easy to replicate and store your decorations in plastic bins sorted by room. Having a plan means never having to recreate the wheel and takes away the stress because you will know exactly how much time it will take to complete the task. Keeping organized also helps to delegate tasks so no one is confused as to what goes where.

Decorating a tree is usually standard practice, but designing a tree with a color theme takes it to a whole new level. Come up with a fun style that mixes purples and silver with fun glass ornaments and loose garland. If you have room, this tree could be the second entry tree with a fun pop of non-traditional color. On your family tree try thick gold ribbon instead of garland for a more modern twist and add in your sentimental ornaments while mixing in smaller holiday stuffed animals in the bottom branches. This will add some weight and interest, with the unexpected fabric material, to the bottom of the tree.

Next, it is time to think about the fireplace mantels. Garland with lights and ribbons tied into large bows are always my go-to. They add an attractive twist to the already beautiful mantel and leave room for the family stockings to hang below. Incorporate additional ottomans and seating around the fireplace for guests to cozy up on cold winter nights. Keeping overhead lighting to a minimum and relying on the glow from the fireplace, your tree and mantel lights, and lovely winter scented candles will set the mood for any occasion.

Artwork Done Right

November 3, 2013 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

The artwork in your home and place of business reflect your personality, memories of travel, and your unique design style. Art adds the pop of color needed against a neutral wall to complete a room. Whether it is an abstract, a beautiful Tuscan scene, or a floral painting; the art surrounding you needs to reflect your individual taste. There are many ways to place art on a wall, depending on the scale of the room and the scale of the piece.

Groupings of art along a staircase wall look great if done right. Various frame sizes with the same design placed just above eye level can follow the curve or slope of the staircase. These frames can house family photos, photos taken from family vacations, or work from your favorite artist. For a more eclectic look, mix wood stained frames and painted wood or metal frame styles. Space them equally from each other and you have a beautiful, custom-designed art wall.

Artwork in a dining room, above a buffet or on a large wall, can be larger in scale to fit the space. Flanking a mid-sized square piece with two vertical complementing pieces fills the wall nicely without crowding. A wall above the sofa in the living or family room may need a collage of several canvases to add height. The style of any piece should reflect the look of the room but the most important factor is the emotion that you personally get from it. Art should usually be placed just below center for the height and centered on the wall. Ask someone with a trained eye and get help from professional art installers when hanging important pieces.

Staging to Sell

October 4, 2013 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

Selling your home comes with many decisions. How do we get the most for our home? Should we repaint? How much furniture should we leave in our home, if any? In my experience, the homes that sell faster show a potential buyer the possibilities of how a room can be designed. The potential buyer often has trouble visualizing a space when it is empty. Just having a few of your furniture pieces laid out can show the scale of a space and you save on moving expenses by not having to rent a large storage container.

De-cluttering your home is the first task when working on selling. Remove an excess of family photos from shelves and replace with books and small accessories you may have around the house. Clear off desks and counters that may be the storage place for your documents and mail. While these items are important to you, you don’t want potential buyers or “lookieloos” flipping through your papers. If you are in the market to paint and have a lot of bold accent walls, pick a neutral color for the whole home. When buyers are looking for a home, unfortunately pops of color on the walls can be a huge turn off. Paint is an easy fix, so spending the money to paint will allow buyers to see the home’s beauty and not fixate on the wall color.

Furniture pieces also need to be scaled down and rearranged. A living room should be comfortable and elegant to distinguish it from the family room. Create an inviting seating arrangement that complements the space, and be sure not to over decorate—less is more when staging a home. Lighting can play a huge part in showing the beauty and romance of a room. Bring in floor and table lamps for ambient lighting and dim any overhead lights if possible. Beds in bedrooms should be simple and elegant. Think “clean hotel look” when arranging bedrooms—everyone loves the ides of coming home to a retreat. Creating clean but livable spaces when selling your home is key. Contact a designer to get a jump start on your staging project for the most bang for your buck!

Updating your Workspace

September 1, 2013 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

Commercial office design and remodels are all about getting the most bang for your buck. Budgets are often lower for tenant improvements so cost-saving materials are a must. Most of the budget tends to go into flooring materials. We are seeing a huge improvement in the look and feel of vinyl flooring as a durable and cost effective material being used in high traffic areas. Durable commercial grade carpet gives a warm feel to private offices and conference rooms for a traditional or contemporary style.

Three types of vinyl floors that are very popular are Luxury Vinyl, Vinyl Sheet, and Vinyl Tile. These three materials are made to resemble hardwood, stone and ceramic. Vinyl Tile can be installed with grout to really get that ceramic tile look without the cost and maintenance. Ceramic tiles are heavy and can sometimes be too heavy for standard sub-floors, vinyl sheet is light weight and won’t crack or chip like tile. Luxury Vinyl plank flooring is durable and waterproof unlike real hardwood materials. Install one of these products in break rooms, lobbies, and other high traffic areas where carpet might not be the answer.

Common Commercial types of carpet construction are Loop Carpet, Cut Pile Carpet, or Carpet Tile. Each have different advantages and installation options. Loop Carpet is used in high traffic areas because it is looped through the backing and will hold its resiliency longer than cut pile. Cut pile is more luxurious and has a tighter, more plush look than loop carpet and usually used for carpet boarders or prints. Carpet tile comes in loop pile or cut pile construction and is set into a rubber backing so the loops cannot pull because they are individually set into the backing.

The cost of carpet tile has become significantly more affordable and popular in commercial applications. The main advantage of carpet tiles, while it is one of the most expensive options, is the ability to replace sections of the carpet without having to tear out large wall to wall areas. Most manufacturers have up to a 15 year warranty on their carpets which makes replacing a few carpet tiles easy and affordable in the long run. The new stick down application on all four corners allows installers to easily adhere the carpet to the sub-floor. Contact a design professional for affordable design options when it is time for your office space remodel.

Step into the Remodel Realm

August 1, 2013 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

Have you been thinking about changing something about your living space but don’t know where to start? Look no further—design help and project management are here! Project sizes can vary but the process is always the same. Start by selecting your design team to help make your ideas a reality on paper. Think about the components needed for your design and plan accordingly for various quotes and lead times. Custom cabinets always have the longest lead time; the design and finishes need to be selected in the first phases of the project and will make selecting other finishes easier.

A reasonable budget will start your plans out right and reduce future frustrations if you have taken into account all potential aspects of a project. Prioritizing is a key ingredient—what do you need? What do you want? Natural stone products and custom designed tiles will increase your budget because while they are beautiful, they are also costly. Being aware of prices and doing research on the quality and maintenance of various stones and wood finishes will save you time, energy, and money. Some rooms are going to be more expensive than others to remodel, for example, a lot of the budget for a kitchen can go into the appliances themselves. This is where your design team will be especially helpful. An interior designer and a contractor can provide quotes and brainstorms and can assist in juggling the budget—getting as much as possible accomplished. Discussion with your designer on how you plan to use a room (study, living room, family room, hobby room, office, etc.) is a useful and necessary tool for lighting and electrical outlets and to create an overall balance between functionality and decoration.

If your home leaves you feeling blah and uninspired, think about adding more natural light with skylights and windows. In the rooms where more windows are not a possibility, think of including a lighting designer in your planning process. He or she can recommend the correct amount of recessed lighting, task lighting, and spot lighting along with placement. Lighting is one of the most important components in design and is often overlooked. Your remodel is always manageable when you have a clear idea of what needs to be accomplished and the time it takes to complete those tasks. An experienced designer will take the guess work out of your project and help it run smoothly.