September 2011 Newsletter

Greetings!

You may have noticed that it’s been a while since a newsletter from me landed in your in-box. It’s because I’ve been “flat out,” literally! I spent much of the summer nursing a disc in my back. Oddly, the only place I got relief was lying on a hardwood floor. Finally I had it surgically repaired, things are back to normal, and now I’m upright!

Thinking about a topic for this newsletter, a friend joked I should write about The View from the Floor since I had spent so much time laying down on one! Actually, I do enjoy a good change of perspective that shakes up our thinking a bit, without wrecking old reliable foundations. So, why not? Here are some design ideas I pondered while forced to look up. Hope you find the view inspiring!

- Nan

Ceilings: The Wall We Ignore

Why are ceilings almost always painted white?

From a design perspective, maintaining continuity from room to room is important. Usually spaces have primary, secondary, and tertiary color elements that flow throughout and pull the look together. It’s important to pull one of those colors, even if it’s the tertiary one, into every room to maintain a sense of flow. White ceilings in all adjoining rooms help to create that continuity, pulling it together even if you don’t “notice” them.

Where to Dare being Different

Creating something different and creative in the space above our heads can really make that space pop and feel special. But to carry your design through every room is so important. So, where can you do something a little more daring above? Any dedicated space can be your palette. Think of a powder room with strong, dramatic color that carries onto the ceiling, where your guests will feel a special sense of place. You could even do something subtle and whimsical on the ceiling, like a humorous stenciled quote that gives any visitor who looks up a smile.

New Materials to Consider

Dining rooms also lend themselves well to alternative ceiling treatments. Think of a beautiful ceiling medallion topping your chandelier. Or those cool new LED lighting strips that can frame your dining room’s ceiling and throws a warm glow into the room, setting the stage for inviting conversations at the table.

There are also some gorgeous new metallic paints in subtle hues that can give a ceiling just enough sheen to give the room a special little spark that sets it apart in a quiet, elegant way.

You can go hog wild thinking of cool things to do with ceilings in many areas of your home. But limiting a special treatment to just one space should be the goal. Something memorable, enjoyable, and representing your essence of course!  Maybe it’s a special touch to draw your visitors’ eyes up in your two-story entryway. Or it could be the family den where just one change, a darker colored ceiling, can make the space feel especially cozy and inviting.

Look Up, Move Forward

So if you want to change things up a bit and move forward with your home or office’s design, consider looking up.

Creating a space that’s special and apart can start by re-thinking the area right over our heads that we simply forget to notice.

Just one small design change, done well, can have a big impact on how you feel in the space around you. What do you see when you look up? Let me know if you’re inspired to change the view!

2010 Spaces & Places Design Show

Nan Wheeler Interiors exhibited at the 2010 Spaces & Places design show at the Hartford Design Center.  Her space, pictured below, was entitled “Show Your True Colors.”

The exhibit was featured in the December 2010 issue of Hartford Magazine, where Nan’s space is reviewed. See the full article

Please see the Hartford Courant article quoting Nan Wheeler on how to use fun colors while still creating sophisticated design.