2021 Color Of The Year

 

Sherwin Williams Color of the Year 2021 featured on walls and furniture

With a large part of the country hunkered down in our homes, we've had a lot of time to look around and assess the places we spend a good majority of our lives and have discovered that they, as well as ourselves, may be in need of a little TLC. 

Sherwin Williams' Color of the Year for 2021, Urbane Bronze, is the perfectly saturated neutral that's cozy and sophisticated at the same time. It is an updated interpretation of a deep 'greige', a color palette that goes with beiges, browns, grays, tans and so much more...all the soft, comforting colors that we need right now.

Light and bright dining room

Here the color is used as an accent element on the chairs and doors. The lightness of the wall color needs grounding and Urbane Bronze does this beautifully by warming up this very comfortable dining room. Mismatched chairs keep it from feeling stuffy or formal without sacrificing elegance.

Sweet dreams are to be had in this peaceful bedroom

A bedroom should be a relaxing sanctuary where we retreat each night to rejuvenate for the next day. Despite the dark color, the lightness of the flooring and bedding keep this gorgeous bedroom balanced. The deep wall color behind the bed anchors it, creating a cozy, peaceful space you may never want to leave

Browns, rusts and blues play together nicely

And before you think that you'll be limited by what you can pair with such a deep color, fear not, paint companies have provided examples to show you just how versatile Urbane Bronze really is. Their paint pros have done the work for you, so use their expertise to inspire your decorating goals.

Color forecast from Benjamin Moore shows similar hues to Sherwin Williams

Benjamin Moore is one of many companies that provide color trend forecasts, announce a color of the year and show consumers which of their offerings work best with those colors, making it easy to come up with a color scheme for your next project. Not surprisingly, the color selections from other companies often work well together, as is the case with Benjamin Moore's 2021 choice.

A kitchen you'll never want to leave

Benjamin Moore's Aegean Teal is a serene, relaxing hue that works very well with Sherwin Williams' Urbane Bronze. A blend of blue-green and gray, it's not too bold. Both colors provide the grounded, calming atmosphere we want in our interiors right now and are versatile enough to be dressed up or down, depending on your style.

Monochromatic but with lots of interest

A farmhouse casual family room gets a hint of color from accessories and a blush of Aegean Blue on upholstery trim. Most of the interest lies in the texturing of materials, from the natural plank window alcoves to the soft area rug.

A living space for the ages

Contemporary lines combine with cues from nature to achieve a timeless look in this relaxing living room. Aegean Blue plays a major role as the wall color, but the dark wood tones of the furniture echo Urbane Bronze.  The pop of color from the sofa gives a nod to Pantone's Color of the Year 2012, Tangerine Tango, reminding us of the impact and longevity good color choices can have in our homes.

A marriage of colors elevates this sleek living room

Whether you are drawn to the deep moody hue of Urbane Bronze, the tranquility of Aegean Blue or a combination of the two, 2021's color forecasts have us transforming our interiors into calm spaces we can enjoy for years to come.

The 1 Minute Commute

 

Even before the pandemic, the rise of the shed office was on the horizon. Convenient, multi- purpose and ready to use, these mini offices fit perfectly right into your own backyard. Working from home and want some privacy? Get a shed office. Need a place to decompress with yoga, art or music? A shed office fits the bill. If you have the space and a little money, one of these options may be the perfect solution to your home's space or privacy problems.

B&B Micro Manufacturing, based in Adams, Massachusetts designs, builds and manufactures tiny homes. It offers two backyard office models, The Brodie and The Richmond. Priced between $40,000-$60,000, they are customizable to fit your specific needs.

B&B Brodie Model

The Brodie is 8'6"W X 20' L  in approx. 170 square feet. It features two desks, a half bath and epoxy countertops, but can be customized. Insulated to handle a New England winter, it would work very well in other climates too.

Brodie Interior

The Richmond Model is 8'6"W X 14'L and 10'H in about 120 square feet. While it is smaller than its counterpart, it can comfortably fit two people.

Richmond Model

Richmond Interior

The Richmond includes built in storage and a kitchenette that includes a fridge, sink, microwave and storage. Both models can be shipped across the country and can even be built on a trailer for easy transportation.

Anchored Tiny Office

Anchored Tiny Homes is a Sacramento, CA company with over 30 years of construction experience. Family owned, they expanded to build tiny offices in April after the pandemic outbreak created a need for WFH spaces. Their Tiny Offices come in three sizes and with their affordable pricing and zero down financing, you can have a home office for as little as $199 a month. For entrepreneurs, that is far more affordable than leasing office space.

Anchored Tiny Office Interior

Each office comes with a keypad door lock, skylight and air conditioning, but plumbing can be added if needed. Each Tiny Office is certified as an RV, comes on wheels ready to go and costs approx. $40,000.

INshed Home Office

Elgin, IL based INshed didn't start making tiny offices until June, spurred by an explosion of demand since the covid-19 pandemic. Since then they have been busy expanding the customer options.

INshed interior

Each INshed features a desk, TV, shelving, ceiling fan and is four season insulated. Other finishes and features can be added.

INshed interior

Coming in at a sleek 96 square feet, they are built on a trailer for easy transportation and their size makes it fit more easily into a back yard. The best part is that the tiny offices cost between $10,000 and $15,000 and financing is available.

Allwood Getaway from Amazon

And look no further than Amazon, yes Amazon, for your Work From Home needs. They offer several options, including this one from Allwood. All are shipped directly to you and some require assembly upon arrival.

Allwood Estelle Model

Another offering from Allwood, the Estelle model, comes in at a very budget friendly $6395 on Amazon. It is a cabin kit, which requires assembly, and is not fitted with plumbing or air conditioning, but at that price point there's room to add your own personal touches to customize it to your needs.

As you can see, there is infinite potential in these tiny offices. Whether you need to give back some space in your home that you're currently using as a makeshift office or want a place to work that is distraction free, these little guys can pack a big punch of functionality at every price point.

The New (WFH) Normal

 As we get closer to ushering in a new year, many of us have realized that our daily routines won't return to normal any time soon. Children are remote learning. Offices are still off limits. Unfortunately a great deal of us are working from home, and have been doing so for quite some time. While the commute may be fantastic, the distractions of trying to conduct business while family members are all around us is daunting.

At first, most of us pieced together a temporary workstation, perhaps at the end of a dining room table or atop a kitchen island counter. As the pandemic dragged on, employers saw that remote working wasn't as bad as they'd feared and now, here we are. Even if you had already rushed to Ikea in hopes of transforming an existing guest room into one that could perform double duty, you probably hadn't thought out what a productive, peaceful workspace should look like. Luckily, there are designers that have done this for you.

 A dedicated home office is at the top of the list for many home buyers now and WFH employees are seeing the value of investing in a functional, attractive space where they are spending a huge portion of the day. Here is some inspiration for you... from the sky's the limit, to cold hard reality and every budget in between.

One Wall Design With Freestanding Desk

This spacious, custom office is probably not in the budget for most of us, but it has all the elements of good design that can be easily translated to a typical home. A desk is set up in front of a wall of storage. On the other end of the room is a seating area. Couple this with a comfortable desk chair and coordinating draperies and you can get a similar look for a fraction of the cost.

T Shaped Design

The above office uses a one wall design and places the desk perpendicular to it, forming a T shape. This type of design takes up less space and can accommodate two people working in the same space. You can create a similar look and function with store bought cabinets and desk as well. It is good to note that with all these examples, do not forget the importance of adequate lighting. If your room does not have recessed lighting, supplement it with floor and table lamps.

L Shaped Office Design

Walls on two adjoining sides is referred to as L shaped. This type of setup works well for someone whose work requires them to access files frequently. Carpet is not recommended, as chair wheels will have difficulty maneuvering back and forth from file and computer areas.

U Shaped Office Design

A U shaped office is just that, three walls that come together in the shape of a U. While it looks as if this style requires a lot of space, it can be achieved in spaces no larger than laundry, mud rooms or small bedrooms that used to be nurseries. The benefit of this design is that two people can comfortably work in the same space, with each having adequate storage and counter space.

Don't have a room you can dedicate to an office? No problem. Here are two examples that prove you can have a functional and good looking work area anywhere in your home.

Open Space Office Design

This homeowner utilized an unused wall bordering a staircase. This would work just as well for remote school learning as it would for traditional WFH applications. And when children return to regular school, this is great for a homework, bill paying or craft area.

One Wall Office

The above layout would look fantastic on one end of a great room, whether you have the space for one or two desks. It is the traditional one wall design, so it takes up the least amount of square footage in a home, while providing the maximum functionality.  Note: because these two examples are out in the open for everyone to see, choose appealing materials and keep the work areas clutter free when they are not in use.

What if your budget just won't accommodate a large investment right now? Again, no problem! Here are two examples of budget friendly offices.

One Wall Office With Freestanding Desk

Does that bookcase look familiar? Yes, it's from our favorite big box retailer that has awesome meatballs too. This is the same layout as the first photo, a one wall design with a free standing desk, only it is using readily available materials. Add some floating shelves and accessories and you'll have a very budget friendly office by the end of the day.

Freestanding Desk Home Office

 

Need an office, but have no money to spend? Go shopping around your house. This look was achieved with furniture they already owned. With a little style and creativity, you can come up with a warm, world traveller look. Start by removing everything from the room, leaving it a blank canvas. Bring in items one at time, starting with the desk, and move it around to different areas to find its best placement.

Then add items slowly making sure not to overcrowd the space.  And again, don't forget proper lighting. Finally, add accessories that won't distract you, only inspire.  After all, you're supposed to be working.

As you can see, whether you have a large budget or no budget at all, there's no excuse to not have a functional work from home office. Invest a little time, and invest in yourself.

Found in Translation

The UAE is a culturally diverse and stunningly beautiful country. My husband and I moved to its capital, Abu Dhabi, three years ago and proceeded to set up house.  I was inspired by Islamic architecture and motifs and wanted to bring a similar feeling to the interiors of our home. I set out on a journey to take as many photos as I could of images that resonated with me.

With so many pattern, style and color options available to me, it would've been easy to turn our place into a caricature of the surroundings. The solution was to mix old and new, to highlight traditional motifs against a backdrop of contemporary larger pieces.

A slightly modern interpretation

East/West harmony, old and new sensibilities

The contrast of these two styles translated perfectly and created a restful, yet luxe home. It also exemplified the essence of what the UAE is, a country proud of its past while embracing the future.

Quick and Affordable Redo

After - A paired down, inviting guest room that the clients can continue to embellish as time permits

Sometimes you can get big returns with little effort. If you have been wanting to redo a dated space in your home, all it takes is a little planning,  some focused shopping and a weekend to pull it all together.

After an extensive bathroom remodel adjacent to this client's guest bedroom, there was little time or money left to update the room and give the entire ensuite a cohesive theme, but we were up to the challenge. First, we chose a carpet remnant to replace the dated flooring. Remnants are a very cost effective way to provide big impact. We scheduled installation for the following weekend and set our sights on the rest of the room. By keeping the clients' artwork and side tables, we stayed in budget by focusing on bedding that evoked a spa-like luxury without breaking the bank. Shop at big box retailers first, especially those who focus on home goods and accessories. They stock designer brands at discounted prices.

We simply needed to use the color palette of the connecting guest bath as our guide. That way both rooms would feel like a true ensuite any guest would love to use. The following weekend we had the carpet installed and pulled it all together.  Since the furniture needed to be removed to install the carpeting, we decluttered and only brought back pieces that worked. The client can replace lamps and night tables in the future when the budget permits, but for now the transformation was easy, affordable and impressive.

Before - Nice, but not restful

Mise en place

Mise en place is a French culinary phrase which means "everything in its place." It refers to the set up required before in a kitchen, all ingredients ready and prepared, in order to properly cook. It can be applied to any situation really, in that, any task is easier if organized.

A jewelry designer's work beautifully showcased in her new studio

This was never more true than for a jewelry designer who found herself at an impasse in both productivity and creativity.  She was using a bedroom as her workshop that was filled with furniture intended for other purposes. An old dining table served as her work table and the surrounding chairs housed the materials she used to create her beautiful pieces of jewelry. While she needed everything within reach, she also needed space to work and a clutter free environment where creative ideas could be born. Plus, she wanted a showroom where she could bring clients and display her work.

Before

There was no room to be creative or productive in this cramped guest room that was being used as a design studio

We removed everything  and installed custom white cabinetry that could be used for both storage and displays. The center work table functions as her primary work area, but has storage cubbies underneath and seating for three additional people for when she chooses to hold jewelry making classes. We refinished the old honey oak floors with a grey wash stain that complements the crisp white cabinetry, and keeps the room from feeling cold. Finally, we stained the large window area the same, so that her jewelry designs can take center stage.

After

With room to design, room to showcase and room to do office work, there is still enough room to grow
as her business expands

Now everything has a place for it, whether it be the components in making a piece of jewelry or the finished product itself. And there is ample space for work, creativity and growth in the future. Perfect mise en place!

Making the most of things

As a complement to my previous post, I wanted to illustrate how the correct scale and proportion of an area can greatly enhance its usefulness.  The front patio of this condo is the only outside space for the home, so every square inch of it is precious real estate.

Before

The oversized table, chairs and umbrella take up the entire area, provide only seating for four and leave no room for traffic flow. If you open the sliding doors from the living room, you walk straight into a chair, not ideal for indoor/outdoor living.

At the opposite end of the patio are two trellises, assumably for privacy, but they add no value to the outside and the privacy issue can be addressed more efficiently.

The first step is to have a plan of action. Determine how you want to use the space. How many people do you want to accommodate? Next measure the entire area. If there are doors, windows or gates, measure these and the space between them as well. Next go shopping with your measurements in hand and find 2 or 3 potential furniture candidates..but don't purchase anything yet. Get spec sheets on your candidates or measure them in store. Now come home and see how each of your selections would fit in your space. If you need more of a visual aid, cut out butcher paper or tape out on the floor where each piece will fit to see if there is enough room. You extra effort will be greatly rewarded!

After

As you can see, with properly scaled furniture we were able to create a comfortable seating area that includes a loveseat, two chairs and a coffee table. Accessories, planters and a larger bbq grill complete this side.. all while enabling good traffic flow around the furniture and into the living room, when the sliding doors are open.

On the opposite side, there was ample room for a bistro set and planter.  The table and chairs offer flexibility depending on the occasion.  They can be pulled around the seating area, used as a serving table for parties or simply a great place to enjoy a morning coffee. As the Bird of Paradise grows, its'  lushness will enhance the oasis feeling of the now very useful, albeit modest, space.