A friend of mine is in the middle of a remodel and came to me for advice about her new windows. She is in love with the black window trend but is worried that it will soon become dated. If you’re updating your home, it’s a question you might be asking too, “Black or White Windows?!”
A question that I am often asked is about how to best update a home on a budget. I think that one of the most important things you can do to refresh your space is to maximize the natural light. And as we move toward cooler months and shorter, darker days, I think it’s even more important to fill our homes with as much light as possible. It is easy to add light if you are tearing down walls or adding skylights, but even without remodeling you can create a light airy space. Today I am sharing five ways to inexpensively maximize natural light.
Strategically place your mirrors to reflect the natural light that you do get in a space. Depending on the room, this could be on either an adjacent or opposite wall.
In this dining room I placed a mirror to reflect the light from the gorgeous capiz chandelier. It has the effect of brightening and expanding the room.
See More of this Airy Before and After Dining Room
Simple furniture and an oversized mirror emphasize the light in this sun-filled space. The mirror reflects the sunny windows creating the illusion of an even brighter room.
In this windowless butlers pantry, a paneled mirror opposite the open door reflects light from the kitchen and gives the illusion of a light-filled window.
A space filled with natural light looks even bigger and brighter painted white. White creates a beautiful fresh space that emphasizes the light. However, in a low lit space, white paint can emphasize shadows for an overall dull feeling room. Choosing a light gray or taupe can disguise the shadows. Or consider a dark dramatic color that embraces the low light for a warm cozy vibe.
In the butler’s pantry of this beautiful deVOL kitchen, there is only one natural light source. Shadowy corners would be emphasized by white paint, but this pretty gray absorbs the shadows. You only notice the light that does come in, not the spaces without.
This entry feels airy despite the low light. With the walls painted black, the white trim and pastel door stand out and the space feels bright.
Heavy window treatments can block natural light and feel oppressive. In my designs I often choose airy white linen drapes instead. Try hanging the drapes above the window several inches to create the illusion of a larger window and maximize the amount of light coming in. A good rule of thumb is at least 2/3 the distance between the window and the ceiling. But sometimes you have to make exceptions to maximize the light in the space. For example, in my Las Palmas Project dining room (pictured below), I took the drapery to the ceiling, since the distance between the ceiling and the arch of the window was shorter. It’s also important to push your drapers the the edge of the window to allow the greatest amount of light to come in and make the windows look bigger.
Solid entry doors block all natural light. Consider a glass door instead. I am loving steel-framed glass doors lately. Read about this trend and see more inspirations in Design Trend: Steel Frame Windows and Doors.
Theresa Rowe and Wilson Fuqua via Coats Home
Becki Owens San Clemente Beach House
When privacy isn’t needed, switching out your solid interior doors for ones using glass can be a beautiful way to add character and natural light. Unique bifolding doors in my San Clemente Beach House allows light to flood in to the living room from the attached nook. In the kitchen below glass panes and transom windows bring light from butlers pantry into the kitchen. So pretty.
Make sure your furniture is not keeping the sunlight from filtering through to the room. Try not to block the light from the windows. Play with your arrangement until you have one that flows while maximizing the amount of light flooding the room. If possible use your furniture to frame your windows or prevent it from covering parts of your windows.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing this ideas for maximizing natural light. By emphasizing the natural light in your homes, you will enhance your spaces, making them feel more crisp, open and updated. To see more of our Q+A series visit here. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Xxo
Becki
I often get asked, “What is the easiest way to refresh a space”? The answer is a new coat of paint. Repainting your home leaves it feeling clean and new. It creates a fresh foundation for you to slowly layer upon as you find furniture and textiles that you love. It’s also so doable for those on a budget that want to do the work themselves. I get a lot of questions about paint and have shared my go to paint colors, but today I want to share answers to questions I’ve been getting on what type of paint I use on different surfaces.
Q: Should you use the same paint finish in bathrooms and kitchens or do they need to be different?
A: Both bathrooms and kitchens get a lot of traffic and need a paint that can stand up to humidity and use. Although each paint company differs slightly, most have 5 categories of paint finish: matte/flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. The higher the gloss the greater the durability, but glossier paints tend to show imperfections in walls and woodwork. For this reason, I use an eggshell finish for the walls in both kitchens and baths. It’s durable but does not have noticeable sheen.
Q: In an all white kitchen, how do you know which finish to use on the walls, trim, and cabinetry?
A: Picking paint in your all white kitchen depends somewhat on the look you are going for. I always use eggshell on the walls but have used both satin and semi-gloss for cabinetry and trim. Semi-gloss really creates contrast between your wood work and your walls, but if you are painting old cabinets, it will highlight any imperfections in the wood. Lately, I have been loving the look of less sheen and have been choosing a satin finish for the cabinets and trim.
Q: What are your favorite white paints and what finish do you use?
A: My go to white paints are Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace, Simply White, Plain White (no pigment), or for something a little warmer, Swiss Coffee. To read more about these white paints, read my Q+A: White Paint and see my quick reference guide below.
Q: When painting in dark tones, like black or navy, which finish do you use?
A: Dark moody walls look pretty in a matte finish. But in family homes, practicality still trumps. If you have kids and they will be using the space, I would still do my dark walls in eggshell and dark cabinets in satin. I used a black satin paint for the kitchen cabinets in my SC Cove Project and they are beautiful. To see some of my favorite dark painted cabinets, read my post on deVOL kitchens and my cabinetry paint guide.
I hope that this answers some of your paint questions and helps you as you start your projects. Good luck! New paint is always worth it!
Xxo
Becki
It’s no secret, I love marble countertops and believe they are a great choice for updating a kitchen. Even with a full house, marble counters can be beautifully cared for and maintained. I’ve posted a couple articles on this topic that are great resources for anyone who is considering marble in their kitchen:
1. A guide for selecting marble countertops.
2. A Q+A on how to care for and maintain marble.
Sometimes it’s fun to know what goes on behind the scenes. Today, I’m showing marble maintenance in action. In the pictures below, the marble is being cleaned and polished, preparing it to be resealed by Alpine Marble. This is a 15 year sealer called Dry Treat. They also have a product called Daily Cleaner that is my favorite solution for cleaning my marble countertops.
/ Pendant Lights / Colorado Gold Marble /
Marble really is a beautiful stone to work with and gives my designs a the fresh, crisp and clean look that I love. There are a few marbles that I consider my go tos. Here is a guide of my favorites.
I hope these resources are helpful to you as you are brainstorming your own projects. Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Xxo
Becki
New designs always call for new paint. I often start with a white paint. I love how white immediately freshens up a space. It’s an instant update. When I start with a white foundation, I can have fun adding pops of colors with rugs, art and textiles. I’ve been getting several questions about what color paint I have used in some of my most recent designs. For today’s Q+A, I’m sharing some of my favorite whites from my projects and a white paint guide for you to use as a resource.
Q: I hear you refer to “white white” paint. What does that mean?
/ Gold Chandelier / Table / Wishbone Chairs /
A: In this dining room of the Cido Project, Nicole Davis and I started by painting the walls a fresh “white white.” This means a white paint with no pigment. We used a semi gloss finish on the walls in the dining room and eggshell throughout the rest of the house
/ Drum Pendant / Chairs and table Restoration Hardware /
Sometimes a space calls for a warmer white. This cozy kitchen nook looks light and bright with Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee.
Q: Which color did you paint this living room?
A: This space is Dunn Edwards, Foggy Day in eggshell. I loved how it looked soft and pretty, creating a beautiful palette for the rest of the design.
I hope I have answered some of your questions about which paint I love to work with and this paint guide will be helpful to you as you are making upcoming decisions. Have a wonderful Monday!
Xxo
Becki
