Mixing Metals

Hi there (again)!

We are PorchLight Home Staging popping on to welcome you back to our blog. The way this blog thing works is that on the first Friday of every month, we will celebrate the much needed weekend by releasing our monthly blog. In these short but sweet articles, we will mesh the world of home staging (our forte) with current events and fashion trends. This month’s blog topic is all about breaking boundaries and challenging your style by mixing metals. Mixing metals has been stamped as negative stylistic choice in the past, but we are here to show you just how fabulous the combination of gold with silver or matte black with nickel can be!

Image courtesy of Goop

“Mixing metals is a design catastrophe”

For years, mixing metals has been perceived as a very unfashionable thing to do, however I am here to tell you that times are changing, and metals are mixing! We are at a time in our society where different and unique styles are celebrated. Adding more colors and versatility to your home and style is advantageous. As you read, I hope you can drop your past biases, forget what magazine said this or that, and lean in to the fact that theories are meant to be debunked (especially in the fashion/design industry, where let’s face it, everything is fair game).

What’s Cooking Good Lookin?

As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, the kitchen is a focal point in any home, as most of the foot traffic and special moments take place here! Designing your kitchen may seem like a daunting task because of all the small details that go into it, but hopefully this post can add some clarity on how to make those little aspects pop. the first step when choosing how to implement mixed metals is choosing your dominant finish. For example, polished brassy accents work well as your dominant metal when working with darker black or blue cabinets (contrast = key). From there, you will choose accent metals to build off of your dominant one (we’ll continue with the brass example). Because mixing tones is encouraged, silver or chrome would be a great addition to your fabulous kitchen. Below are some photos showing just what I’m talking about.

Pictures courtesy of signature hardware and Washington Post

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub

Next to the kitchen, your bathroom is another room where showcasing various metals is super easy! Too often, we see a bathroom’s potential go to waste. No más! When designing your bathroom, it’s important to note that metals have families. You don’t want to mix more than 2 families together, otherwise your space can look too busy or worst of all… the “t” word: tacky. Below is a chart of the different finishes. Pick two and stick to them. Another trick you want to keep in mind is pay attention to the levels of your metals. Make sure that whatever metal you’re using is consistent height. Place similar finishes on the same visual plane in order to help guide the eye through your space. Pictured below are some examples!

Pictures courtesy of Emily Kennedy and Carlton Cooke

At the End of the Day: It’s All Fashionable

Something I have learned from my fashion classes in school is that everything is a trend: Everything will be seen by one person as strange and seen by the next as stylish. That is the infuriating and beautiful thing about the industry. This goes for choosing to mix metals in your style or not. Like everything in life, mixing metals in jewelry has rules. Rule #1. Find a “base” metal that compliments your skin tone. For example, gold jewelry looks the best on us in the summer, when our skin is a bit tanner and sunkissed because of it’s warm undertones (vice versa for silver). Now, this is not to say never wear silver in the summer and gold in the winter… do what you feel most confident in! Rule #2. Balance how much of one metal you wear. Don’t favor either color drastically. Bracelets are a very easy way to promote balance, as you can stack different metals on top of one another to provide a smooth, cohesive look. Rule #3. Purchase a mixed metal piece. This piece will single-handedly open the door for mixing metals that look unified. If you’re looking to splurge, David Yurman, a designer jewelry band specializes in the iconic silver and gold twined ring (Pictured below). As I have researched, I have found a huge growth in products on the market that implement gold and silver in them (which is exciting!!). Just remember, keep it simple. Mixing metals is a big statement in itself, but it’s nothing you can’t handle!

Images: David Yurman, Lulus, and Artizan Joyeria

Adding Texture to Your Home And Clothing

Hi there (again)!

We are PorchLight Home Staging popping on to welcome you back to our blog. The way this blog thing works is that on the first Friday of every month, we will celebrate the much needed weekend by releasing our monthly blog. In these short but sweet articles, we will mesh the world of home staging (our forte) with current events and fashion trends. This month’s blog topic is all about making your style unique through various textures. There is nothing worse than feeling like your outfit or space is bland. Not to mention, with the seasons changing, layers and different textures are on the rise. Don’t fret, because below we will introduce new, and trendy ways to stick out in the design/fashion world!

Interior Design Styles

As far as home design goes, I will dive into three different styles and provide examples of implementing textures in each one. In order to show a wide range of possibilities, I chose three styles that I feel are very contrasting to one another: modern, eclectic, and farmhouse.

Picture curtesy of Tina Rich Design

Modern

Do you like the sleek, “airy", and clean vibe to a house? if so, you may try and stay away from adding too much texture to your home, in fear that it will take away from the minimalist goal. Even if your tastes lean more toward neutral tones, there is always room to make a bold statement. If you tend to avoid saturated and colorful pieces in your home, I would suggest to choose wisely what aspects you want to “pop.” For example, pictured above is a gorgeous marble countertop with a matching backsplash. Just by adding distressed brick to the room, you can see the contrast of textures. This designer went a step further and added open shelving into the unit, which is a great way to showcase neutral dishes and decor while crafting a unique element for this kitchen.

Eclectic

Adding color and textures to an eclectic style is extremely easy. Funky and quirky elements in an eclectic styled house are the home’s primary traits. Vibrant hues have a way of creating a cheery and inspiring energy, whether it is the color of your couch, rich wallpaper patterns, or patterned curtains. Now don’t get me wrong, the eclectic vibe is not for everyone. You either love it, or it gives you a headache (personally, I’m a big fan). Below, you see two examples of a living room/office that encapsulate the idea of adding various elements of texture to a room. To the left, you will notice a mauve couch and yellow striped chair. Those two pieces in itself make the room pop, but by adding a contrasting cheetah carpet and colorful art on the walls, the room surely makes an impression on everyone.

Pictures curtesy of Architectural Digest

Farm House

If you’re all about the rustic, home cooked, Chip-and-Jo kind of lifestyle, then you would probably fall in the “farm house” category. Like the eclectic style house, adding texture to the farmhouse look is a relatively easy task. The difficult part when adding texture to a farmhouse is avoiding “tackiness.” Rather than name what is out of date in interior design, let’s introduce what is “in.” As the seasons are changing, curling up on the coach with a chunky blanket and some apple cider sounds like heaven on earth. Adding a woven or brass blanket basket can add a cozy touch to a living space. Another rustic look that adds texture to a house of this style would be a barn door for a bathroom or office. A barn door is attention-grabbing and the focal point of a room. They really add a warm feeling to a house by implementing a new texture: exposed wood.

picture 1: Pinterest Picture 2: White Shanty

Your Clothing Style

Now that we have covered the interior design of your house, let’s talk about your personal style. Similarly to decor preferences, people have very different styles for what they chose to wear. There has definitely been a growth in minimalistic, and neutral outfit choices, but at the same time there has also been a spike in “streetwear” clothing. (aka, colorful sweatsuit sets, vibrant sneakers, and bright accessories). Three quick tips for adding texture to your outfits I would suggest are layering, mixing patterns, and spicing up your jewelry collection. First, layering pieces of your clothing could seem like a no-brainer with the season’s changing, but our goal when doing so is to make it look chic whilst remaining comfortable. Pictured below is a very popular style these days. Not only is wearing a matching tracksuit cozy, but pairing it with a classic trench coat and crossbody bag, gives you the “New York Fashion Week look” that everyone strives for. Secondly, if you want to make a bold statement with your outfit choice, I would suggest mixing patterns. Now, I know what you’re going to say. Doesn’t this go against everything we were taught about fashion? Maybe. But things change, and if you haven’t learned by now, fashion trends change at lightening speed. Mixing patterns is definitely a statement, and it shows people you are confident. Lastly, I want to emphasize the importance of jewelry. Jewelry can change an outfit completely by enhancing your look. Not to mention, it can tell people a lot about you (what brands do you like, what metals fit your skin tone, etc.). Pictured below is a variety of chunky bracelets, and gold rings. As far a jewelry goes, the bigger, the better. Big chains are very on trend. Try to break away from the mindset that gold chains are only for rappers. You deserve to feel like a million bucks too!

Pictures 1 & 2: Elle Magazine Picture 3: Kristalize Jewelry

Sustainability Update

Hi there (again)!

We are PorchLight Home Staging popping on to welcome you back to our blog. The way this blog thing works is that on the first Friday of every month, we will celebrate the much needed weekend by releasing our monthly blog. In these short but sweet articles, we will mesh the world of home staging (our forte) with current events and fashion trends. This month’s blog topic is a little bit different, but very important. Sustainable trends have always been around, but with growing environmental concerns, brings more awareness to products in the fashion and design industry.

Where to Start:

When furnishing a home, we are sure that one of the last things on your mind is how your new purchases will impact the environment. Our challenge to you is to be mindful of things that you can control, like taking a deeper look into companies that pride themselves on selling sustainably made and ecologically friendly products. It is as easy as a google search. To prove it to you (and make this process easier), I did it for you! I selected three different sites that sell quality, beautiful, and sustainable pieces. It’s important to mention that there are so many more businesses like these to check out, but here are just a few. Here is what I found…

Good Ole Etsy:

Don’t you love Etsy? Because if you don’t, then you should. A brief synopsis of Etsy for folks out there is it is an online website full of handmade, custom, and unique gifts made by small businesses. As if we didn’t love Etsy enough, I discovered that they had a section of their website devoted to refurbished and recycled goods! Etsy’s reclaimed furniture section has chairs, headboards, benches, etc. Because of this section of their site, they are a certified B Corp. Not to mention, ecologically friendly products are different from mass made options, thus your house will stand out from the rest! Just look how beautiful this piece is below…

Picture Courtesy of Etsy (TeakBotique)

Burrow

If you’re in the market for something a little bigger, check out Burrow for living room seating, tables, and storage. Reviews are nothing but positive for this brand, as the couches are very comfortable, stain resistant, and they’re responsibly sourced. Along with that, their boxes are 100 percent recyclable cardboard!

Avocado

Additional to furniture and side tables, brands have also worked to make mattresses eco-friendly. Made in California, these plush mattresses are 100 percent organic and non-toxic. This brand also sells reclaimed wood bed frames, end tables, and dressers. They allow 1 year sleep trial and a 25 year warranty.

Disposable Tip

We’ve been talking about buying sustainable furniture, and while that’s great, we have to address what to do with your old furniture in order to make room for your new stuff! Recycling furniture is a confusing topic for most, but we want to simplify it for you. Go to wayfair.com/furniture-disposal-guide. Once you type in your city, the system will bring up locations and information about drop-off sites near you. In some instances, they will even pick your things up for you. No excuses now!

Implementing Hollywood Styles into Your Home!

Hi there (again)!

We are PorchLight Home Staging popping on to welcome you back to our blog. The way this blog thing works is that on the first Friday of every month, we will celebrate the much needed weekend by releasing our monthly blog. In these short but sweet articles, we will mesh the world of home staging (our forte) with current events and fashion trends. We wanted to focus this second blog on a very famous spot in the country filled with some of the most luxurious homes and trend setting designs: Los Angeles.

Architectural Digest (have you heard of her?)

The inspiration of Hollywood homes comes from the video creations of Architectural Digest. If you haven’t heard of this company or have heard of it but aren’t familiar with what they do… let me acquaint you. AD describes themselves as “a vibrant monthly celebration of international design talents, innovative homes and products, inspiring decorating ideas, culture, and travel.” In short, they started as a magazine and have now morphed into different sectors (sound familiar? Once only a staging company, now a blog too… hmmm). Anyways, I’m sure you’re wondering why I am spending a whole paragraph on this company. One of AD’s “sectors” that I briefly mentioned above is their Youtube channel titled “Open Door Video Series.” In these short but wonderful (under 20 minute) videos, viewers get inside looks into some of Hollywood’s most famous actor’s, writers’, director’s, or artist’s, (etc.) homes. You can pick apart each room of their house, and learn just how many unique styles there are when designing a home. So how does this connect to you? This whole article is about implementation. How can you take little ideas from all these beautiful homes and apply them to yours? What are some changes you can make in your house to make it more “Hollywood” while not having to give an arm and a leg for your desired look?

Living Room

First up, we will address the living room. Living rooms can be difficult because there is a fine line between too fancy that no one wants to put their feet up and too casual that it feels sloppy. One element that can either make a room cozy or snazz up the vibe is a bookshelf. You don’t even have to be a big reader to have a grand book collection, and people may think you’re smart too (go ahead and tell them you’ve read all of them while you’re at it). Book shelves naturally add loads of color and texture to a space and allow the room to pop.

Money $aving tip: Go to a “Half Priced Books” or thrift store to get some vintage books for a fraction of the price!

Dakota Johnson’s living room/office space picture courtesy of Architectural Digest

What’s Cooking?

Next, the heart of every house: the kitchen. Adam Levine even stated in his AD walk through that “no matter how nice your house is, everyone always ends up in the kitchen. So throw it all in the kitchen.” Even though this is a profound statement that we couldn’t agree more with, Adam Levine’s sleek, marble kitchen is not the one I will be writing about today. Rather, we are going to focus on new, eclectic way to style your kitchen. In come’s Kendall Jenner, one of the highest paid super models in the world, and she’s standing in her kitchen with green cabinets. Yes, you heard that right. Colored cabinets add warmth and a sense of coziness to a space. They also are a great form of stylistic flair if you are trying to set your house apart from the rest. If you’re not ready to risk painting all your cabinets (we get it), maybe look into painting your kitchen peninsula a different color such as navy or black.

Kenall Jenner’s kitchen picture courtesy of Architectural Digest

The Bedroom

Ahh your bedroom, maybe a room you spend the least amount of time in, but a very important room none the less. Almost all of the bedrooms that I saw in these videos had a flare to them that I thought was unexpected. All of the master bedrooms had some form of texture on their wall whether it be exposed brick, wallpaper, or a big painting that filled the wall. Not to mention, most of this texture was highlighted behind the bed. Why? Because the bed is the focal point. Wallpaper in any room adds so many new elements to the space. For example, columned or vertical striped wallpaper give the illusion of high ceilings and can make a room feel less compact. You can go exotic, modern, whatever you like. Just remember that adding wallpaper should make the space more fun and unique. Make people remember that room.

Money $aving tip: look to Target or Walmart for stick/peel off on Wallpaper!

NBA player, Kevin Love’s Master Bedroom picture courtesy of Architectural Digest

As you can see, all of these elements mentioned above are all ideas on how to make your home different and special to you. I loved browsing through the AD videos, because it really showed viewers that everyone has their own style and flare when designing a home. It’s important to mention that when decorating a room or home in general, you shouldn’t strive for just a “Hollywood feel,” but rather you should strive for your feel.

First Impressions

Hi there!

We are PorchLight Home Staging popping on to introduce you to a new sector of the company. We are so excited to get started with this blog, as this is something we have been wanting to do for a while now. On the first Friday of every month, we will celebrate the much needed weekend by releasing our monthly blog. In these short but sweet articles, we will mesh the world of home staging (our forte) with current events and fashion trends. Since this is the introduction to the blog, we only found it fitting for our first piece to cover a very important topic: First impressions. 

Image curtesy of Decor Lovin’

Curb Appeal

Have you ever driven up to a house or apartment and feel like you’ve picked up the vibe already? Picture this: you are taking the dog for a walk and passing the sweetest, most well kept home, and you just need to stop and stare. In contrast, a patchy yard and dark exterior can have the opposite effect on home buyers. The keys to curb appeal are landscaping, texture, and color. With landscaping, a little can go a long way. Cutting the grass, maintaining hedges, and planting some flowers that add a pop of color can really make your property stick out. Along with landscaping, a home’s texture is so prominent in a potential buyer’s first impression. Updating old light fixtures, adding window treatments, or even just placing a little welcome mat does the trick. The important thing to keep in mind when sprucing up your home with texture however is to keep it simple. There is a fine line between chic and tacky. For example, numerous plastic gnomes scattered in your yard = tacky (not to mention, creepy), while a subtle bird feeder in the corner of the yard is fine. Lastly, color is arguably the most important and overwhelming factor in curb appeal. Focusing on light and bright colors around your house will make it seem inviting rather than dreary and dark. We’re not saying to paint your whole house white or blue. If you’re into the red brick or stone architecture that is great, but make sure to add some light colors around the house (ex: window panes or front door). 

Front Door: Knock Knock 

So… your guests (or possible home buyers) are out of the car. You passed the curb appeal test. The next thing visitors will see is your front door. Statistically, doors with some sort of stained window or etched glass are seen to be more welcoming and friendly. If you don’t have any windows, simple enhancements to hardware such as a doorknob, knocker, or door bell can make a big difference. Another way to spruce up the area is with plants and a seasonal wreath on the front door! 

Come on in

Image #1 from “Fox Group” Image #2 & #3 from Goodhousekeeping.com

Nothing says first impressions like stepping into someone’s front foyer. Although the foyer is typically a room to walk through rather than stay in, it provides a key space for storage and decor. Seating and subtle storage is very important to making a foyer functional yet on trend. The storage, such as a nice side table or bench, are great for placing (or hiding) shoes, bags, and keys. Something else to consider adding to your foyer is bold wallpaper or texture on the walls such as a photo gallery or mirrors. Place a fun rug in the space if wallpaper is not for you, and watch the room come to life. After all, there is no better feeling than walking into someone’s house and feeling at peace. 

Fashion First Impressions

Now that we’ve covered how to design your house to impress, let’s talk about why your style choices are crucial when making first impressions. Think of any day where you didn’t meet someone new — you probably can’t. We make first impressions every day whether we know it or not. Researchers say it takes just seven seconds for someone to make a first impression about another person. Most of these impressions are based on facial expressions, posture, and mostly importantly, your clothing of choice. We’ll go through three quick scenarios when your fashion choice can either make or break a situation. 

The Interview 

Suit found on Vogue.com

First, the job interview. Ah, how daunting. Of course your outfit all depends on your job title and what your role is within the position. But for the purpose of this blog, we’ll say you’re interviewing for a standard “office job.” There are two forms of business attire: business casual and business formal. A great idea for business casual would be a comfy pair of slacks or flattering midi skirt paired with some form of fun, patterned (polka dots, stripes, leopard) top. Pair it with some comfortable loafers or block heels, and you’ll be the most sleek and respected dresser in the office. For business formal on the other hand, go all in with a tailored suit. Suits for women are trending right now, as the right- fitted suit is the perfect mix of fashionable and professional. Pick a suit with a color if you really want to make an impression, or just stick with a timeless black suit (you can’t go wrong). Go show them just how great you are!

First Dates 

You’re done with the work day, and you’ve matched with this cute guy on a dating site. You’ve agreed to meet up with him for dinner and drinks. What are you going to wear? It has to be something flirty and comfortable. Dresses with “cutouts” are very popular this summer, as there are tons of options about where you want the cutout located. Pair it with a leather jacket or jean jacket (white or blue), accessorize with some layered necklaces and baby hoop earrings, and play it safe with shoes. We don’t want you face planting as you walk to meet your mystery man. Chunky white sneakers or subtle platform sandals should suffice. Oh, and just remember, he’s probably more nervous than you. Items below can be found on Lulus.com

Meeting the Parents 

The date goes fabulously, and before you know it, you’re meeting the Fockers.. I mean, parents. The cutout dress probably won’t work for this occasion, so you hurry to your closet. Don’t panic. You really want your outfit to reflect you here. Some fun jeans or patterned pants with a cropped (not too cropped) blouse is the way to go here. Rule of thumb: if you have patterned pants… pick a solid top. If you have regular jeans… do something fun and stylish with your shirt (ex: wrap or cross shirts/ flowery blouse, or something silky). Don’t overthink shoes or jewelry — unless you have a face piercing... you may want to completely rethink that. Don’t go crazy with the makeup. Natural colors and light eye shadow are a sign of genuineness and confidence. You got this.