Renovation Pro Tips To Bring Layered and Textured Design To Your Home

Five Renovation Ideas

(Some DIY)

To Bring An Extra Special, 

Bespoke Feel To Your Home

photographs in this post via Love the Room

+thanks to Ornamental Moulding and L.J. Smith Stair Systems sponsors  

In our design studio, we love the phrase, "the devil is in the details" because when renovating a home for our clients, often times it's the little things the client remembers years later. Today, we share five professional ways to glean value and retain extra "curb appeal" when renovating your home. 

Studies have shown homeowners are spending more time at home, entertaining guests and looking to their home as a respite from their increasingly busy lives.  The interior design industry has weighed in on the latest design trends heading into 2020, and whether you enjoy traditional or modern architecture and style, experts agree the designs currently trending bring detailing, layering and textural aspects to home design. According to Architectural Digest magazine, the maximalist trend is in full throttle with designers mixing antiques with modern designs to create an eclectic, layered home that is well designed yet feels lived in.  However, unlike historic homes, many of today's modern houses lack significant architectural detailing.

One way to infuse your home with a sense of history and depth is to add beautiful millwork, moulding and architectural accoutrements. Take a look at our top five renovation ideas to bring value and great design to your home. Some are not total makeovers, but a simple Do-It-Yourself project.

1.  shiplap stair riser- We all know first impressions matter, and the entryway is often the first design you see when entering a home. For a beach house, or an active home where you may not want the fuss of a rug runner,  some clients prefer textured moulding stair risers for a modern, streamlined yet detailed feeling. This staircase riser caught our eye- it's from one of the largest decorative millwork companies in the U.S., Ornamental Moulding and Millwork. They offer this easy to install riser from their New Reversible collection in two decorative styles. We love the beach-feel of this shiplap one (shown above), and it sounds easy to apply and is delivered already primed and ready to install.

2. a new banister- If you splurge on only one new addition for your home, why not make it a new staircase banister which seriously refreshes and gives your entryway an easy makeover.  There are endless style possibilities for today's banisters, balusters and railings.  Homeowners no longer need to live with a dated banister which may have been built decades ago.  We recently specified this farmhouse-style banister from L.J. Smith Stair Systems for a beach house in East Hampton, New York. For those interested in DIY, their IronPro system is easy to install to boot. 

3. mixing metal and wood in your stairwell can give your home a modern feel. Combining warm wood posts and handrails with modern iron balusters and steel cables creates an interesting juxtaposition in a home.  L.J. Smith Stair Systems offers both metal and exposed wood options and hand-forged iron in 8 finishes.  

4. painted moulding and trim in a guest or master bedroom, a library or any room, can change a room's ambiance to warm and moody. We love moulding all the way up the wall then painting it all one color, especially dark or dramatic colors like navy, black or a vibrant emerald green. The color black has recently replaced white as the go-to color for painting trim, moulding and cabinetry in almost every room in the home.  It's astounding how a simple wainscoting or shiplap is notched up when painting it a dark and dramatic hue. 

5.  adding ceiling beams in your home brings your eyes up to accentuate the height of a room, making it feel larger, and likewise it can also make an otherwise overwhelmingly large space feel cozy and warm. Both large and small spaces gets a renewed feeling. Ornamental Moulding & Millwork's rustic beams are easy to install wood beams offered 8 foot-long with mounting plates and hardware, and available in two finishes- Ambrosia Maple and Pre-finished Grey. 

Happy Nesting

XO Tamara