Starting from scratch

9 years ago

Hi, there, I'm moving into an 850 sq. ft. one bedroom condo in a year's time. It's a new condo, so all I have right now is a layout drawing. I am intending to bring almost nothing from my current rental place to my new place (save for one persian rug and two arm chairs I'm going to reupholster). I am trying to come up with a plan for decor, etc., so I can assemble a few pieces from now until I love in. Is there anything I'm "safe" to pick up in the interim or would you recommend to wait until I'm in the space? Are there any foundation pieces that I should think about to help orient my decor choices? I feel like I need a plan so that I don't end up with things I'll regret but I don't really know where to start. Any advice?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
9 years ago
The first thing you need is a floor plan with detailed info measurements, window and door placement etc. Probably a bed, a dining table and chairs ,a sofa But if you send some floor plans and a picture of your rug we can be more helpful.
PRO
Sharon Charboneau, RESA Pro, Interior Stylist
9 years ago
Sounds like you have lots of time to dream & plan. Start with idea boards based on styles, colours you like

If you go to Ideabooks on this site, you can get lots of inspiration.

I would not recommend you start buying until closer to move in date, and pace yourself.

There are always sales. Unless you come across a particular piece you fall in love with, then go for it!!

I have an iron coffee table I fell in luv with over 15 years ago and it remains one of my fave pieces which I am keeping as we downsize. Same for soft, cocoa brown leather sofa & ottoman, which have just passed onto my niece.

Browse online & in stores & determine what your style is - what type of furniture do you prefer? what colours make you happy?

Buy quality from higher end stores when they have sales and your pieces will last & not go out of style.
Related Discussions
How does this work? Making wall collages look good.
Q
Comments (20)
work out the wall space you want to cover, measure this on the floor. then start laying out our design within the space on the floor to create your design. There has to be lines running through the collage so there is a method to the madness- we don't want a messy looking arrangement, there must be a flow. You can line up the matts with outside edge of other frames etc. Layout all of your pics on the floor and mix up the frame styles and sizes amongst your layout. Take photos of your layout and then start hanging. My tip is don't start hanging until you have your plan 100% !!! lots of neck stretches too! i recently put together this collage and need a neck massage afterwards ;-)
...See More
Choosing Full-grain Leather for Sofa
Q
Comments (1)
Is it under $10,000?
...See More
HOW TO CARE FOR AND MAINTAIN YOUR NATURAL STONE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS.
Q
Comments (0)
One of the biggest fears people may have about natural stone is the maintenance it requires. With many individuals increasingly turning to the use of natural materials in the home, granite has become the countertop of choice. Synthetic solid surface materials are no match for the richness, depth, and incredible performance of real granite. Unlike laminates and solid-surface materials, a hot pot or frying pan has no effect on granite’s mirror-like finish. Most importantly, by choosing a granite countertop you not only give your kitchen everlasting performance and beauty, but you also increase the value of your home. Granite is also a very hard mineral and is virtually impervious to abrasions, impact damage and heat. However, the material is prone to cracking due to mechanical stresses caused by repeated heating and cooling. While the seams in between slabs provide some leeway for this repeated expansion and contraction, it is best to keep granite away from sources of large heat fluctuations. You’ll find caring for your natural stone is easy. The best care you can give your natural stone is preventive care. By following a few suggestions, your countertops will last a lifetime while maintaining a brand-new appearance. BASIC CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE 1. AVOID USING CLEANING PRODUCTS WITH ANY KIND OF ACID OR ABRASIVE. Avoid using harsh cleaning agents that contain strong acids/alkaline (e.g. bleach, glass cleaners, ammonia, degreasers) or abrasives (e.g. powdered ceramic/bathroom cleaners) as it can cause the sealant to discolour and scratch. Warm water, mild dishwashing liquid, and soft clean cloth are generally all that’s needed to maintain your granite countertop surface. 2. AVOID SUBJECTING YOUR GRANITE COUNTERTOP TO HEAVY WEIGHTS AND PRESSURE. While hard, granite surfaces are brittle and you should not stand, kneel on, sit or stack heavy objects onto your countertops as they could crack or break. This doesn’t mean that granite is fragile, however, and it’s perfectly capable of supporting microwaves, dish holders and other moderately heavy objects. 3. DO NOT PLACE HOT PANS OR OTHER OBJECTS DIRECTLY ON YOUR COUNTERTOPS. Again, hot objects can cause the sealant to discolour (mainly in dark granites) and/or cracking. Always use a protective barrier between any hot object and granite such as trivet or mat. Unsealed granite countertops do not have this problem, but are highly porous and come with other problems. 4. WIPE OFF SPILLS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. Sealed granite countertops are surprisingly resilient to stains from citric acid, coffee tea, alcohol, or wine. However, as a preventive measure, wipe up any spills on the countertops within a reasonable amount of time and do not let liquid sit on the countertop overnight. 5. Watch out for oil stains. Granite is most prone to staining by oil – be careful not to place any pots or frying pans with oil traces on the bottom on the countertop surface. Blot oil and acid spills as soon as they happen, and clean with mild soap and warm water to avoid any harm to your countertops. If the oil stains remain, there is a special cleaning procedure for the removal of deep-seated, time-set dirt and grime. A general poultice with baby or baking soda and water is the best remedy. First, moisten the surface of the granite with the same liquid that made the paste. Next, apply the poultice paste to the granite surface about half an inch thick. Tape plastic sheeting over the poultice area, and allow it to sit for 48 hours. Remove the poultice with a spatula, rinse the cleansed area with clean water, wipe off excess water, and allow the surface to dry. 6. RINSE SOAP AND WASHING DETERGENTS OFF TO PREVENT LIME BUILD UP. Rinse with hot clean water on a regular basis and use a paper towel to dry. Another way to remove lime build up , soap scum, stains or dried spills, is to use a straight razor blade in a gentle scraping motion. Do not use lime removal products or cleaning products that contain ammonia, as this will affect the seal on the stone. 7. AVOID HITTING THE SURFACE WITH HARD OBJECTS. Chips in granite are not a common occurrence. When they do happen, chips are most often caused by banging something into the edge of the countertop. Take care when you handle heavy pots and pans around your granite profiles as these are the most prone to cause chipping. If a chip does occur and you find the piece that chipped out, hold on to it. Most of the time it can be epoxied back into place. 8. APPLY SEALERS. The use of sealers is an excellent preventive measure and will encourage the preservation of your granite countertops. Some granite can be very porous. Sealers fill in natural pores and repel spills on the surface, radically reducing the rate of absorption. This gives you time to wipe spills away before they have a chance to penetrate your stone. After the installation process, the granite must be sealed. We recommend a re-application of this sealer annually, or more often for some light granites, to fully maintain the luminosity and avoid stains. Some dark-colored, dense granites (browns, blacks) do not require sealing. When the water or liquid spilled on your countertop fails to bead up when splashed, or you begin to notice a water darkening spot that dries out, this is an indication that your countertop needs to be re-sealed. 9. AVOID STORING CHEMICALS ON THE SURFACE. It’s risky to store chemicals on the surface of your granite countertop in case of spillage. This includes cooking oil, hair products, chemical cleaners and cosmetics.
...See More
Need urgent help for my living room layout
Q
Comments (1)
Hi 4evazx, I believe that you had given your designer a good and clear brief of your wants and needs and discussed all details with your designer. Your designer has done a great job as i can see from the floor plan and lighting layout. Trust your instinct and have faith in your designer. The only thing i would recommend is that you get your 12w downlight at 4000k. This is a natural daylight glow and is great in apartments. Do post pictures of your apartment when its done. Enjoy the process.
...See More
Natalia
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the responses!

I attach the floor plan - it seems the measurements have disappeared, I'll try to fix that later - but at least you can see the general layout.

The rug is very similar to the one attached. It's in storage right now so I couldn't take a picture of it.

I'm trying to collect as many photos as I can of things I like - Houzz is such a great resource!

I know I like drama and a bit of glam in materials - silk, leather, granite - but I also like things to look clean and I hate clutter and lots of things out. Right now, for example, all of my dishes are on open shelves and it makes me want to cry. I like metallics a lot and deep, bold colours - my favourite combination right now is cobalt and copper. I like how modern and old pieces look together. I prefer things off the floor in general (shelves, floating toilet and sinks, etc.) but I like pooling curtains.

I had bought a beautiful white chateau d'ax leather sectional a couple months ago because it was marked down a lot (going out of business sale) but realized after that it was way, way, way too big for the space and, although they took it back, I'm traumatized from the experience! I don't want to make any more stupid mistakes.

Starting from scratch

Comments (3)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

Sharon Charboneau, RESA Pro, Interior Stylist

Related Discussions

Natalia
Original Author

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

Starting from scratch

Comments (3)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

Sharon Charboneau, RESA Pro, Interior Stylist

Related Discussions

NataliaOriginal Author

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

Natalia
Original Author