Roxie Rancho: Finding the Right White

We almost have the kitchen remodel behind us and I can't wait to post photos!  In the mean time, the latest here at Roxie Rancho is that the painter is working his magic.  The ceiling just got a fresh coat of white paint!  After days of deliberation on the 'right white', we settled on Dunn-Edwards Cool December (DEW383).  I hesitated to deviate from my standby white from Benjamin Moore (Deco White), but I'm really happy with the results of my risk-taking.  Living on the edge can be exhilarating!

As the painter continues the job, it's time to say goodbye to the masterpiece that we created while sampling all our color choices. We knew this day would come. Before it's gone forever, I thought I'd share our work of art.  Be sure to check back later this week for the lowdown on the rest of the paint job and our kitchen reveal!

The Bedroom: Make It Beautiful and Light It Right

Before you drift off to sleep each night, your bedroom is the last thing you see and when you wake in the morning, guess what?  There you are in the same room and it's just the way you left it.  People tend to worry more about the public spaces in their homes, but the bedroom, where you rest your head every night, deserves some special treatment.  Make your space a visual treat, so when you open your eyes each morning, you're inspired to start the day.  Try this design, with one chocolate brown focal wall behind the bed and a mix of modern textiles, and my tips on creating the right atmosphere with lighting.

Clockwise from top left: West Elm Slatted Rocker (new!) , John Robshaw Jala Khaki Duvet Cover and Shams ,  Twenty2 'Silt' Pillow, Twenty2 'Afterglow' Pillow,  Kartell 'Cindy' Lamp, Brave Space Design 'Planar' Amoire , Dunn-Edwards Paint in DE6063 Black Walnut, Vers iPod Alarm , Inhabit Living Stretched Wall Art , MVOS 'Heavy Guy' Chandelier , CB2 Alpine Bed , The Shade Store 'Float' Roman Blind from Maharam , Angela Adams Peony Rug

Light It Right! No matter how luxurious the textiles or how comfortable your mattress might be, the right lighting in the bedroom is crucial.  Follow these tips to get it right:

1.) General lighting is important, but one ceiling-mounted fixture in the middle of the room won't cut it.  Layer in mood and task lamps to achieve a relaxing atmosphere and reduce eye strain.

2.) Good general lighting will bounce off the ceiling and wash the walls with light.  A fixture with a glass or fabric diffuser(s) over the bulbs is the best option, so that you don't get glare while lying in bed.  Otherwise, just be sure to put the light the light on a dimmer, which brings me to tip #3...

3.)  Put all fixtures on a dimmer!  It's important to be able to adjust the light level as needed.  Who wants to turn on a bright light if you have you get  up in the middle of the night?  Dimmers are generally easy to install, but I love these dimmers (available in black and white) cause they're a bargain and effortless to add.  

4.) If you like to read in bed, you need the right light to reduce eye strain.  Choose a table lamp that has a diffused white shade.  Something with an adjustable arm is ideal because you can direct the light right at the page, no matter what position you're lying in bed.  For a space-saving solution, opt for a swing-arm, wall-mounted fixture.

5.) Add one lamp, like the Kartell 'Cindy' above, that's sole purpose is to set the mood with a soft glow and a fixture that you'll admire as much as your favorite artwork.  I'm going to have an eco-unfriendly moment here (please forgive me earth) and advise that a mood light is a good time to use an incandescent bulb.  I know there have been many improvements with CFL bulbs, even some that can be put on a dimmer, but the warmth you get from an incandescent is unmatched and when you're trying to set a mood, quality of the bulb is oh-so-important.

Hope these tips help and that the design above provides some inspiration for your bedroom.  Here's to a good night's sleep!

Eichler Office Preview

I had my final meeting with Handmade this weekend and the custom cabinetry is set to be installed next week in the Eichler home I've been working on in Orange County.  Here's a peek at the plans!    

 A matte white lacquer will be used for a majority of the cabinetry with walnut drawer fronts and shelves.

A custom coffee station will house a built-in espresso maker, while a large, comfortable storage bench allows for a relaxing space to sip your caffeine and read a book or magazine.  A cabinet to the right of the bench has doors that pocket to allow easy access to the printer.

The design includes a really unique sliding bookcase that acts as a room divider for when extra privacy is needed.  Above is the open view and below is shows the bookcase in the closed position.

Castors on the movable bookcase are concealed with a skirt.  The walnut shelves and storage cubes appear to float within the lacquered white frames.

The install has begun!  Our feature wall is painted and the space is waiting for the rest of the magic to happen. You might remember this post when I shared the transformation of this home from beige and boring to a cool new color palette.  Well, we used the same accent color from the fireplace as the color for our feature wall.  Want to pick up a gallon of this color for yourself?  Dunn Edwards 'Thundercloud' (DE5774)

I'll keep you posted on the progress next Friday after the cabinetry has been installed.