Book Review: Home by Novogratz

We just picked up the new design book Home by Novogratz, and boy are we glad we did! This book is chock-full of great ideas, tips and photos -- providing a feast for your right brain as well as practical information for your left side.

You gotta love the cover photo -- complete with the dimpled smirks of Cortney and Robert and all seven of their kids! For those of you not familiar with this dynamic design duo, the Novogratzes host their own HGTV show, Home by Novogratz, and also have a line of furniture and accessories right now in CB2. Their signature style is a modern/vintage mix, with bold accents -- most often in lighting and artwork.

I love how this book is organized. Each chapter is dedicated to one design project, and they share the budget, the goal and the client's wish list so you can really understand why they do what they do. They begin with a large photo of "Where we started" (i.e., the "Before") and end with a "Where we ended" ("After") photo. Cortney and Robert take readers through the major steps of each project, complete with photos and snappy little tips.

Each chapter also includes user-friendly info graphics like the one below.

And you even get a line-by-line breakdown of exactly how they spent the client's budget. This is a great added bonus that most designers don't share.

Here are some more treats from the book. Check out this fireplace transformation!

In this photo you see one of the Novogratzes' signature tricks: mismatching the dining room chairs -- choosing highly contrasting armchairs vs. side chairs.

How amazing is this room, created for triplets? Playful wall art (custom wall paper) and colorful lighting are also a sure sign that this room was Novogratzed.

This may be my favorite of all the excellent design books that have rolled out this past year. It has just the right balance of photography and information, and it's organized and easy to follow. If you want to be inspired and informed without being overwhelmed, this book is for you!

Home is where the ART is

One of Visual Jill's fundamental decorating tips: don't overlook the importance of artwork. Displaying just the right artwork can take your space from nice to extraordinary. This week we had the pleasure of proving this point in a home we staged.

In this Uptown home, we incorporated many original paintings, mixed media pieces and photographs from Oakland-based artist a.miguel (Alan Hall). When we hung this vibrant painting over the sofa, we literally jumped up and down because it looked so fantastic.

In the bedroom, we hung a grouping of Alan's photography instead of one large piece over the bed. The colors really stand out against the fresh yellow-green wall, and just happen to match the pillow perfectly!

This more muted painting is a great match for the kitchen, especially since the vertical lines complement the lines in the zebra-wood cabinets.

The already colorful family room receives another burst of energy from Alan's orange-and-blue piece over the sofa.

Maybe the best thing about this home is the separate "art barn" on the back of the property. Yes, a barn in the middle of downtown Oakland! The developers painted the inside, and we staged it as an artist's studio -- showcasing more of Alan's work.

We love Alan's art and are thankful we were able to use it to add the extra "WOW" factor to the space.

Some tips for choosing the right artwork for your space:

• Consider size -- if you have an entirely open wall, one small or medium-sized piece won't have the impact you need. Try one or two larger pieces, or a grouping of smaller ones.
• Consider color -- the art doesn't have to completely match the other pieces in the room, but it should include at least a touch of one or two colors being used. Artwork is a great way to pick up the accent colors throughout the home.
• Consider texture -- use art as a way to introduce contrasting textures. If the room includes glass or mirrors, try hanging a rougher mixed media piece. If the room showcases natural materials such as jute, leather or linen, a sleek black-and-white photo would be a great complement.
• Consider personal meaning -- when you can, choose pieces that are meaningful to you (created by someone you know, purchased on a trip, representative of a different culture, etc.). This guarantees that your space will be one-of-a-kind.

(all photos courtesy of Lisa Ratner)

Visual Jill's top 5 tips for unique style

We're really excited about the house we just completed. It showcases the top 5 ingredients that we always include in our projects to make them shine.

1. Modern in the mix -- Our designs always include at least a few mid-century modern pieces, mixed in with more transitional styles. In this living room, note the iconic Nelson bench paired with the upholstered green armchairs and white couch.

And in the library, we used our favorite Eames lounge chair with a colorful rug from Joss and Main.

2. Color -- We've said it before, we'll say it again. An amazing accent wall can bring a completely new energy to a room. In the guest room we chose Benjamin Moore's Million Dollar Red, which complemented the rich woodwork in the house.

3. Artwork -- We search high and low for unusual pieces of art for our projects. Some of our best come from flea markets and street fairs. For example, Jill found the fun painting above the child's bed at the Temescal Street Fair. We mix these one-of-a-kind pieces with basics from Ikea and other retailers.

4. Global influence -- Our designs usually include a touch of the exotic -- a painting from Bali, fabric from Tahiti, or a pouf from Morocco, as seen below.

5. Unique accessories -- We look for inspiration pieces that set the tone and/or color scheme for a room. These can be paintings, pillows, vases, or even a funky lamp. In the dining room, for example, the centerpiece vase from Anthropologies filled with succulents is just the right touch for the room.

In the master bedroom, you can see all five of our ingredients working together: modern in the mix (orange ottoman); color (accent wall in Benjamin Moore's Wisteria AF-585); unusual artwork (a painting from Mexican artist Javier Fernandez); global influence (pareu from Tahiti on bed), and unique accessories (Anthropologie pillow).

Style to Sell Success!

We just completed a Style to Sell project and we love the way it turned out. This was a full staging, meaning we brought in everything -- furniture, rugs, accessories, etc. Our goal was to make this cute little bungalow fresh and colorful.

We'll start with the "after" photos . . .

And here's how the house looked when we first saw it . . .

Of course, we can't take all the credit for the transformation . . . the homeowner and real estate agent put in a lot of work cleaning, painting and fixing things up.

Inspiring, isn't it? Of course, no one's real house is going to look as perfect as a staged home, because everyday living means everyday messes, stacks of paper, etc. But you can refresh your own house -- without putting it on the market -- by taking these three steps:
1) Declutter! Pretend you are moving, and challenge yourself to keep only those things you would take to a new home. Box the rest up and donate or recycle it.
2) Paint! Lighter neutral colors always look fresh.
3) Use colorful accents! Notice the pops of color in the pillows and artwork we chose.

Just try this 3-step refresh strategy in one room -- you'll be amazed at the difference.

Color at the Flea Market!

Bay Area decorators, collectors (and shoppers) hit the jackpot last weekend -- the Oakland Museum's White Elephant Sale was on Saturday, and Sunday was the monthly Alameda Flea Market. We scored some great stuff at both events . . . and most of it was, of course, colorful.

We are always on the lookout for unusual lighting fixtures, and the Alameda Flea did not disappoint. Jill picked up two cheerful vintage orange table lamps -- $100 for the pair.

She also scored this groovy wooden multi-layered spherical lamp for just $175 -- a great investment for such a unique item.

We loved (but resisted) these bright glass and ceramic plates and trays.

Of course, the color wasn't limited to just home decor items. Jill picked up two vintage purses in the season's hottest fashion color -- bright yellow -- for less than $20 each.

At the White Elephant sale, we found two vibrant paintings that we've already hung in our space. 

Flea markets and rummage sales are excellent places to find unique art, and much of it is very affordable. It doesn't matter if you have no idea who the artist is; in fact, it's fun to imagine who might have created each piece, and when. Feel free to mix up high art and vintage "anonymous" finds on your walls -- as long as you love it, it doesn't matter.

What treasures and deals have you discovered at the flea market lately? Let us know in the comments below!