Articles filed under St. Clair, Rita

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Articles filed under St. Clair, Rita

Overhead lighting has its uses, but be sparing

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 7, 2021 9:18 AM - Lighting often gets treated as an afterthought, even though it's usually the most important component of a room's design.
When turning attic into living space, attention to quality is key

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 7, 2021 8:10 AM - Other than the basement, the attic is the part of the home most often adapted to new uses. So I suppose the attic will soon be given a new name. Once remodeled, a basement typically becomes "the lower level."
Think long and hard before walling off great room

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 7, 2021 12:45 AM - Professional designers usually advise their clients to establish a clear continuity of color and style from one room to the next. While it's true that such a design direction can lead to harmonious spaces, there's also a danger - not often noted - of producing a repetitive look. And in my view, the only thing worse than a dissonant interior is a dull interior.
Don't let corners corner you in

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 6, 2021 11:50 PM - Corners of rooms are often thought to be awkward areas, suitable only for a potted plant. But that's far too limited an assumption. Corners can actually offer opportunities for visually striking and space-maximizing placements of furniture or equipment.
Kitchen users come in all sizes - Design accordingly

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 6, 2021 10:48 PM - The kinds of questions I receive for this column seem to come in waves. Not long ago, lots of readers wanted to know about color options; then came a flock of questions concerning window coverings. And now there's a great deal of interest in renovating kitchens and bathrooms. Does this changing curiosity reflect social or cultural trends? It might, particularly in regard to what's on readers' minds today. Many Americans are now choosing to fix up or retool their current living spaces rather than looking for newer or bigger homes. That type of investment makes sense for a couple of reasons: it can improve both the appearance and function of a heavily used interior, and it can bring a better sale price for a home when the market does revive. So let's all hope I'll soon be getting a set of questions related to purchasing a new home.
Entrance hall in need of makeover is an opportunity to have fun

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 6, 2021 8:46 PM - Most of the decisions involved in designing an interior - choosing colors and textures, for example - are based on established principles for achieving balance and contrast.
How to insulate yourself from teen noise

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 6, 2021 7:34 PM - Noise in the home can be a maddening problem, but it's seldom adequately addressed in plans for renovations of older houses. And that's an unfortunate oversight.
Is 'Green Design' consistent with beauty, fun and fantasy?

By Rita St.Clair
Nov 6, 2021 6:34 PM - At the risk of seeming curmudgeonly - or, even worse, politically incorrect - I do wish the environmental movement hadn't popularized "green" as a synonym for anything that's supposedly healthy and wholesome.
Tchotchkes are not meant for a museum case

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 6, 2021 4:59 PM - Some of us buy things because of their looks; some buy things as mementos of a place or an experience; and some buy things in order to show off their taste, worldliness and/or wealth.
How you treat woodwork can make all the difference in a space

By Rita St. Clair
Nov 6, 2021 3:50 PM - Bargains are always alluring, and never more so than now. But while good deals can indeed be had in today's housing market, the "buyer beware" rule remains very much in force in regard to fixer-uppers.

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