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Design 101: art nouveau

5/7/2015

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price tag, accessories, Rima designs, interior designer, Plymouth designer, Detroit designer, Michigan designer, decor, design, tips, decor, decorate, decorating, interior design, modern, rustic, design tips, design, home décor, home, home design, design 101, art nouveau
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Design 101

4/30/2015

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color 101, modern, color, color palette, rima designs, plymouth designer, michigan designer, detroit designer, interior design, color selection, decor, decorate, decorating, tips, design, design tips, design tricks, home, home design, design 101, bauhaus
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HE & SHE

11/23/2014

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FOR THIS LIVING ROOM WE STARTED WITH TWO TONES OF A GREYISH BLUE.  WHILE THE SOFA AND CHAIRS HAVE CLASSIC, FEMININE LINES, WE BALANCED IT WITH PLAID PRINTS, TREES AND FAUX ANIMAL HEADS.  THE RUSTIC TABLE AND LAMPS GROUND THE SPACE, WHILE THE DELICATE LINES OF THE AREA RUG SOFTEN THE LOOK. A FEW SILVER TOUCHES ADD A LITTLE SPARKLE. 
BEFORE:                                                                                            AFTER:
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HOW DO YOU TAKE A BEAUTIFUL, GENTLE NURSE AND A HANDSOME, HUNTING FIREFIGHTER AND CREATE A PALETTE  THAT REPRESENTS THEM BOTH? THIS SPACE IS A PERFECT BALANCE OF HIS AND HERS, RUSTIC AND CHIC, MASCULINE AND FEMININE.  THIS ROOM IS JUST LIKE THE COUPLE: A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.
IT'S PERFECTLY BALANCED...DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL!
Photo credits: Megan McLachlan
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PICTURE PERFECT in plymouth

11/18/2014

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grey kitchen, historic bungalow, interior design, kitchen renovation, small spaces, rima designs, plymouth designer, michigan designer, detroit designer
What do you get when you take a lovely young couple, a bundle of joy and the cutest little bungalow in town?  A picture perfect package!

The greatest part about this project: the homeowners loved their historic bungalow...as is.  They wanted to keep the charm and character that they fell in love with, but asked us to make it function for a growing family.  Here's what we did...




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We started with the hub of the home: the kitchen.  The bones were sturdy, and so were the cabinets.  With a little space planning and rearranging, the new layout made room for more counter space, extra shelving and (most importantly) a dishwasher. New flooring, counters, backsplash and paint: you'd think this kitchen was brand-spankin' new!



Next, a family room that can handle it all:  enough seating, storage galore and overhead lighting in a house that wasn't wired for it!  By the time we were finished, even the dog loved it!  Who says you can't fit a sectional into a small room? 
Lesson learned: you don't have to tear a house down. Space planning is key. With a little bit of space planning and a lotta love, you can make a house work for you and look absolutely fabulous!

Photo credits: Megan McLachlan
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BACK TO BLACK

9/20/2014

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black paint, chalk board paint, design tips, interior design, rima designs, plymouth designer, michigan designer, detroit designer, design, design tips, decor, paint, transformation, shelves, diyPhoto Credit: LAFLines Photography
BLACK: the old stand-by when it comes to getting dressed.  If black is the go-to/feel-good clothing choice, then why are we so afraid to use it in our homes?  I love using black in a room!  It's grounding. It's solid. It's deep.

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Piano room painted with Rustoleum Chalk Board Paint. Photo Credit: LAFLines Photography
Here are a few tips when using black:

1. Whether you add a little or a lot:  keep it balanced.  One lonely, black table in the middle of a light and airy room could easily look like the Rabbit Hole!  Add a few items throughout the room to disperse it.  This will keep the eyes from landing on one spot.

2. When painting a table, shelf or a room, remember to lighten it up with accessories. Adding artwork, mirrors and books finish the look.  Let the dark be a backdrop to the things you want to showcase.

3. Keep in mind: black does show dust.  If you're taking the black plunge, remember that!  On a positive note:  it's a great reminder that it's time to clean!

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TRansformations: Chalking it up to chalk paint

5/28/2014

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chalk paint, diy, rima designs, plymouth designer, michigan designer, detroit designer, design tips, tips, interior design, fireplace, mantel, decor, decorate, decorating
Last year, my best friend Audra told me about her new obsession:  chalk paint. 

While I consider myself creative, I'd hardly say I'm crafty.  I loved that she was having fun with it, but didn't give it much thought.  When a client of mine called us to update her daughter's room, I brought up the idea.   Why not try this new craze?  What was there to lose?

So it began:  my chalk painting trek to room changing adventures.

I had heard that Annie Sloan was all the rage, so that's where I started.  I really like their colors:  subtle and soft with a hint grey undertones.  While there are only 32 colors to choose from, I liked them all.  It took three coats to properly coat the bedroom furniture.  Pricier than others, I expected it to coat better .  I was, however, a chalk painting virgin... 
In the end, the results were great.  I was thrilled with the outcome.  Click here to see the transformation:  

Next was the oak mantel I picked up for a photo shoot.   I decided to give American Paint Company's paint a go.  A larger color selection, with 46 to choose from.  I was drawn to the vivid colors, and chose to go bold with a coral color.  This, too, needed three coats.  The paint has a bit of grit to it, which I like.  It reminded me a bit of Martha Stewart's paint.

A few months went by, and I got the itch again.  I felt really ambitious.  Could I paint my grandmother's old, vinyl chairs instead of reupholstering them?   My third try I chose Vintage Market and Design.  I have to say, not only was I impressed with the color choices (a whopping 56!), but I loved the different sizes the paint was available in.  Given that the chairs were vinyl, I didn't get my hopes up.  I went into this project expecting tedious dappling to get the paint into all of the little holes.  This was not the case at all!  After one quick coat, the chairs were heavily covered.  One more touch-up coat and they were done.  I loved this paint.  I highly recommend it.  My chairs were transformed for less than fifty dollars, and they feel like leather--not crunchy or hard.

I'm done with my crafty side for now, at least as far as chalk paint goes.  There are deeper and more complicated conversations that could follow--distressing your paint job, waxes, etc.  Hopefully this was enough to inspire you to take that piece from your home, the one you were ready to throw away, and give it a new lease on life!

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Before
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First coat close-up
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A quick second application
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Almost done! Just need to reattach the front arms!
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