Home on the Range is so excited to have been chosen as one of Mountain Living’s top 100 mountain interior designers again this year! We love Mountain Living, we love designing in the mountains, and we love having been selected for this honor once again! Thanks Mountain Living!
To see the full list of this year’s top 100, visit Mountain Living online!
No matter where you live, we know that you have heard about the extensive damage caused by the floods “of biblical proportions” that occurred in Colorado two weeks ago. In Steamboat (where Home on the Range lives), we were extremely fortunate to escape any damage, but we know that the rest of our beautiful state was not so lucky. Today we would like to share a post from one of our favorite bloggers/vendors/friends, Dick Gentry. Dick’s company Wesco Fabrics is based out of Denver, and so Dick himself has been a long time Colorado resident. His blog, Gentry Connects, is one of our favorites, and this week he posted a haunting yet inspiring blog that shows not only the destruction caused by the floods, but also the the strong spirit of Coloradoans. We would like to thank him for sharing his post with us to share with you. If you haven’t visited Dick’s fantastic blog yet, today would be a great day to start!
The images in the below post really demonstrate the extent of the horror that folks here are still experiencing, and are only beginning to pick up the pieces.
Image via Gentry Connects
As Colorado’s devastating flood recedes, the extent of the damage in many areas is heartbreakingly apparent. Through this tragedy we witness amazing stories of cooperation, heroism and perseverance. Friends and total strangers join hands to help. A Wesco Fabrics’ sales person, Steve Beard, energized his church in Jackson, Mississippi, to make donations. People from gulf areas hit by Hurricane Katrina are coming to Colorado to help as they remember many from our state who once helped them in their time of need. It will take time to cleanup and rebuild, but we are definitely “Colorado Strong!”
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Image via Gentry Connects
Don’t you just think there’s something about this time of year that makes you want to start settling down and cuddling up? All of a sudden, fires and warm blankets seem a lot more inviting than pools and beach towels, and boots become a much better option than sandals. Now, try to associate that feeling with a fabric.
What do you think of? Is it plaid? That’s what I thought.
While there are some “summer plaids” that do exist in the world, my guess is that in general when you think of plaid fabrics you associate them with things like wool, crisp air, mountain retreats, and, maybe, even Pumpkin Spice lattes.
Plaids are fantastic fabrics that can be used to warm up a cold space and contribute a needed pattern, and at the same time incorporate and bring out the other colors in the room. It can be dressed up for a classy hunting lodge feel, or dressed down for a rambling mountain cabin. You can use it in bedding, upholstery, wall covering, window treatments, accessories and just about anything else you could think of. When it comes right down to it, plaid seems to be the Jack Of All Fabrics.
Here are some great ideas on using “winter plaids” that really show how versatile this print can be.
Plaid Bedding:
I love the colors on this pillow, they look so fresh but still warm!
The greens and browns here compliment the reclaimed headboard and create a unique combination that looks fashionable and comfortable.
Image via Jojotastic
This traditional plaid bedding is perfect for a cabin, lodge, camp, or any sort of mountain escape!
Plaid Windows and Floors:
The dark plaid drapes and walls provide a beautiful contrast to the white trim and furniture, while the yellow arm chair creates a great focal pop of color and style.
Image via La Dolce Vita
What do you think about this custom plaid tile? The combination of fixtures, finishes and accessories look so classy in this powder room!
Image via La Dolce Vita
Plaid Furniture and Upholstery:
This little porch looks all set up for an apres-ski snack! Winter wonderland!
Image via the Sweetest Occasion
I love the combination of this masculine patterned plaid headboard with the more feminine touches in the lamp, pillows and picture frame here. This just looks like a bedroom where you could sleep late whenever you wanted!
Oooh this chair with the dark wood paneled walls! Enough said!
I hope this post has helped launch you into the “fall spirit”! For more seasonal design inspiration, follow us on Pinterest, or like us on Facebook to have design ideas sent straight to your wall each day! Happy Fall Everyone!
Using hair on hide (leather with the fur still on it) in design can be a fun, funky, rugged, rustic or classic way to add style to a room or furniture piece. Traditionally, hair on hide leather is applied to things like chair backs, the exteriors of upholstery pieces, or rugs… but, recently we have seen it used in so many more creative ways! When used in the right way and in the right space, hair on hide can add that exact little bold and catchy “something extra” that you’ve been striving for. Here are seven great examples of creative and traditional ways to use hair on hide in interior design:
1. Hair on Hide Tub: I have never seen anything like this! The hair on hide bath tub gives this bathroom an instantly chic and rustic modern look.
Image via Pinterest
Image via Furniture Your Way
6. The Hair on Hide Dresser: This piece is VERY western, and it would not fit in just anywhere- it would need to find the perfect space and combination of other furniture pieces in order for it not to look over-done. That said, I love the contrast of the dark wood with the light hide, and I also love the nail head trim and ring pulls on the drawers!
Image via M and M Rustic
7. Hair on Hide All Over: Okay okay, this one’s a little bit over the top… haha, get it? “Over the top?”!!! But seriously, this restaurant takes hair on hide to a whole new level. What do you think about the use of the cowhide on the walls and ceiling? Too crazy or fun and unique?
Image via Pinterest
For more great ideas on how to use hair on hide follow us on Pinterest! You can also like us on Facebook to have design inspiration sent straight to your wall every day. If you would like to find out more about how to incorporate hair on hide (or any other kind of design) into your own home, contact us through our website!
Today’s post comes to us from Robert Bell of VM Media, thanks for the great ideas Robert!
There are all sorts of home theaters in today’s day and age. When you decide to design a home theater for your family, there are some tips that you should follow to ensure that you get the best possible picture, sound and overall experience. You don’t want to forget anything as it may detract from the viewing process.
Choose your TV carefully.
Image via Tumblr
You may think that buying the enormous 80” TV that’s on sale at your local electronics store is the best deal. Once you put it into the space, however, it may be completely wrong. You don’t want to turn your head from side to side to see the whole movie. This isn’t a tennis match, it’s a movie. This means that you have to choose the TV based upon the size of the room.
Control your Lighting.
Image via Pinterest
If you have windows or sliding doors in your home theater room, you are going to have to prepare them appropriately. Light is going to affect the way that the image is projected on the screen. You don’t have to make the room pitch dark. Even movie theaters have some indirect, dim lighting just to avoid eyestrain and so you don’t trip on your way to get more popcorn.
Focus on Sound.
Image via Home Theaters Dallas
As you shop for speakers, learn about what your amplifier is looking for. Ohms and wattage numbers are written on things for a reason. If you want your sound to be top notch, it has to be a good pairing. If the pairing is wrong, your amplifier could burn out or your speakers could be blown – and that’s a lot of money down the drain. Read the owner’s manual to protect yourself.
Hide the Wires.
Image via HTS
You are going to be in the home theater room often. If you have a lot of wire showing on the walls, it’s going to detract from the aesthetics. If the wire is draped across the floor, you also run the risk of someone tripping on it and taking the entire surround system with them. You can hide the wires with rugs, duct tape, and by bringing them through the walls. If the wires aren’t cooperating with you, consider hiring a professional. It will only cost a few hundred dollars and is nothing when you compare it with the other money you are spending.
Tiered-Seating.
Everyone in the room has to be able to see the screen well. If you want to have more than a few people come in, you want to look at tiered seating as it will help you to fit more people into the room. You don’t have to buy stadium seating. If you create multiple levels within the room using cement or wooden platforms, you can then put chairs or couches on them.
Get the Right Content
You have to consider how you are going to get content for your TV. Think about:
– Streaming Video: YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix can all provide a huge amount of viewing options for your TV. Many people have even eliminated cable all together as they find they get enough out of YouTube and Netflix. There are even rumors that YouTube might start streaming football games in the near future.
– Cable – This option is often the most traditional and many people still use cable combined with a DVR to get everything they want out of their TV.
– DirecTV – Currently DirecTV has the most advanced DVR on the market. The DirecTV Genie not only records shows but it can also stream them on your iPhone, iPad, and laptop. This makes for a great provider if you can’t always enjoy your shows in your home theater. If you sign up using www.SaveonTVDirect.com you get special pricing and 3 free months of Showtime.
Some Other Things to Consider
When you design your home theater, try to pick a few features that are just like in the movie theaters. Love how they have lighting along the seating to help you see? You can buy rope lighting to run along the floor to get the same effect.
Want the snack bar? A movie-theater style popcorn machine can be outfitted into your home theater. It will pop a lot of popcorn at once and you can even get liquid butter to pump over top of it – just like you would get at the movie theater.
Don’t waste your money where it doesn’t need to be wasted. HDMI cables are going to be the same whether they are gold plated or not.
The perfect home theater should be perfect for your space and your family. The entire idea behind designing it should be that it fits your needs and your budget.
If you follow our blog regularly, then you know how fond we are of bringing the outdoors in when it comes to design. There is nothing more rustic than the outdoors, nothing that says “lodge” more than the forest itself. One of the most unique and striking ways to bring the outdoors into your home is by using actual trees. Yes, you can ACTUALLY bring the forest inside your house. While you can do this with all sorts of log furniture, flooring, beams, etc, one of the most unique ways that I have seen to do it is by using aspen trees. Aspen trees are gorgeous, and also characteristic of the Rocky Mountains- they are a hallmark of the beautiful place that we call home, so why not make them a hallmark in your own home? Here are some ingenious ways to use aspens when creating your own indoor forest:
Aspen Wall- Okay so this room doesn’t really look like it’s in the mountains, I don’t think you would be wanting to sit under a twig ceiling when the snow started falling! But, I do love the use of aspens as a dividing wall in this space!
Image via Pinterest
Aspen Beams- This may be the neatest thing I have ever seen! I actually don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything similar to the aspen woodwork in this room. The different shapes and textures of the aspen logs make for a beautiful and rugged looking space.
Image via Pinterest
Aspen Bed- These full sized aspen trees (minus the leaves) add a rustic sense of depth and height to the room, while the chandelier helps keep it classy and remind you that you are in fact in a bedroom and not the woods.
Image via Pinterest
The Aspen Hall- Look at this one! This might be one of my favorites! Covering an entire wall in your home with aspen logs would be a bold step, but if you were willing to take the leap it would be a beautiful statement!
We are seeing it more and more and more (I had to add a third “more” because we are seeing it so much): the economy has been hard on everyone in the last few years, so, rather than purchasing land and building brand new homes, people are choosing to remodel homes that are already there. Some decide to remodel the house they’ve lived in for 20 years, and some are making the move to a different house that needs work. Whichever category you fall into, there are a few VERY important things to ask yourself before you begin your remodel. These are things that will not only help you decide what direction to go and begin to craft a plan, but will also help save you untold trouble down the road. Isn’t that great? So, without further ado, here are 5 things to consider before remodeling:
1. Why am I remodeling?
This seems like a logical thing to ask yourself, so you may be surprised that you haven’t figured it out yet. Take a little while to think about it- you can even write it down to look back at along the way. Why are you choosing to remodel?
Did you just buy a new “fixer-upper” that is going to require lots of work to make it live-able?
Are you living in a home with outdated style, floorplan, appliances, finishes, furniture, etc?
Have you decided that putting in the time to change the home you live in now is a better option than moving?
Are you trying to add value to your home?
Have you decided that buying an existing home and remodeling is a better option than starting a new construction?
Once you have an answer to this question, you will be able to move forward in a more confident way, because you will be able to easily access your reasoning for remodeling in the first place, and keeping this answer handy will help you to answer other questions that are sure to come up during this process.
2. Am I creating something that I can live with for the next 20+ years?
You may already have a picture in your head (or on your Pinterest boards) of exactly how you want your crisp new-to-you home to look when you first open that door. It may or may not be trendy, but if you are remodeling for updating reasons, chances are that there are fad fashions somewhere in that vision. Chevron? Grays and greiges? Stainless steel and granite?
Image via ChicTip
While these things seem incredibly chic right now, try to remember how chic shag carpeting, floral wallpaper and brass fixtures were in their day.
Image via Flickr
Wouldn’t it be a shame to put months of work into creating the most trendy house on the block, only to realize in 2015 that your house is no longer cool and you now have to wait until you have the time and money to remodel yet again? Rather than focusing on what is hot at the moment, try to really think about your OWN style, what will work for your family, and what will be comfortable and timeless for years to come.
Image via Home on the Range
Also think about the possibility of selling your house down the road, and what a prospective buyer might think of your updates.
3. Am I able to do this myself?
What is the scope of what you are trying to accomplish? It’s CRAZY how fast a few “DIY projects” can turn into chaos and get you in over your head. While it’s fantastic to picture yourself re-tiling, staining cabinets, and color coordinating fabrics and furniture, the cold hard truth is that (unless you are some sort of home improvement prodigy) you will not likely accomplish all or any of your goals if you leave it completely up to yourself.
Image via Besotted Cottage
You have other things to do, and we all know that home projects tend to fall by the wayside. If you are reading this paragraph and thinking “hmmmmm that might be me,” it’s time to seriously consider outside help. Strange as it may sound, interior designers are accessible to everyone.
Image via Home on the Range
We can coordinate subcontractors, help you choose fabrics, colors, styles and finishes from an insanely overwhelming selection, and get to know you so well that we can personally handcraft your dream home for you. And we can probably do it for less than you think. Maybe not a lot less, but we have yet to have a single client who didn’t think the end product of our services was worth the money. Better to pay more up front for someone who knows what they’re doing than to pay down the road because it wasn’t done right the first time!
4. What does my budget allow?
This question really follows from the previous question, and this is where, at the very minimum, a consultation with a professional is key. While you might be imagining a full scale overhaul of your home, there is a possibility that it would be in your best interests to scale it back a little bit. You might need to focus on a few important rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms.
Image via Home on the Range
You might need to focus only on updating furniture or finishes, because sometimes changing one thing can provide a whole new environment where the other things you thought needed to be changed immediately just don’t seem like such a big deal anymore.
Or, you actually really might need an overhaul, in which case you will need help laying out exactly how to do it. The reason you need to ask yourself about your budget is this: planning is key in remodeling. The last thing in the world you want to do is dive head first into 10 projects, then run out of money and live in a disaster area until you can continue towards your goal.
5. Where should I start?
Here’s the simple answer: start by asking yourself all four of the previous questions. Identify exactly what it is that you hope to get out of this endeavor, then identify the best way to get there. Remember that we are here to help! While I can’t speak for other designers, I know that at Home on the Range, all but one of our current projects are remodel focused, so we definitely know how to get the job done! If you are interested in learning more, you can contact us through our website, or stop in to the showroom! Good luck on your adventure!
For more remodeling inspiration, follow us on Pinterest! You can also like us on Facebook to get daily inspiration sent straight to your wall.
Guess what? We have some special news to share! One of our projects was featured on Wall Street Journal’s “House of the Day” earlier this week! The house, which is being sold by Peachy and Shel Johnson and is listed by our dear friends Darlinda Baldinger and Chloe Lawrence was not only a favorite project of ours, it was also an award winning project. Lynne won an ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Crystal Award for the beautiful library hallway in the home.
The project was a team effort on the part of Joe Patrick Robbins, AIA, Ken Kruse, the builder, and Lynne Bier, the interior designer, who all worked together throughout the entire planning, designing and building process to pick finishes and interior furnishings. We will miss the Johnsons greatly and are sad to see them go, but we wish them luck and are proud to have had our work featured in such a well known publication as the Wall Street Journal!
About a year ago, we did a post on wallpaper and its re-appearance in the world of interior design. When we created that post last September, we had only been seeing the briefest glimpses of the recurring trend, and wanted to share it with you because we knew it was beginning to make its comeback. Since then, wallpaper has returned full force, which is wonderful because there are so many ways to use it! We’re not dealing with that revolting 80’s floor to ceiling, wall to wall stuff anymore. Now we are instead seeing wallpaper used to accent and compliment the existing colors, patterns and textures of a space. You are going to be so surprised to see the different kinds of wallpapers that are available, and I’m so excited to tell you about them!
We’re going to split this post up into three different categories: color, texture, and pattern. Each category can be interchanged or mixed depending on the look you are going for, but for the most part wallpapers fall into one of the three, so it’s the easiest way to talk about them!
Color:
Color is most often mixed with either pattern or texture when dealing with wallpaper, but it’s still important for it to have its own category! Color, above all else, will be the first and foremost thing that will either contribute to or detract from the feeling of your room. When choosing color in a wallpaper, first ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish with the wallpaper. Do you have a room with mostly neutral furniture pieces and flooring that you would like to add a bold splash of color to? If yes, consider brighter tones when choosing your wallpaper. Bright papers that have patterns in complimenting colors can really add character to an otherwise run of the mill space.
Image via Kravet
Image via Schumacher
On the other hand, if you already have a lot going on in the room, you can choose a milder color that reflects the feeling in the rest of the room without fighting with it. In this case, it might be a good idea to consider papering an accent wall, rather than the entire room.
Pattern:
Mostly all wallpapers come with either a pattern, a texture, or both. Otherwise, why wouldn’t you just go ahead and paint the wall? Patterned wallpaper is so much fun because it gives you a world of choices that normal old paint does not. The right pattern on your wallpaper can instantly create the look that you are going for in a way that furniture and flooring just can’t do. Here are some great examples of how a specific wallpaper pattern gives an instant style to a room:
Image via Decorpad
Image via Pinterest
Image via Schumacher
Image via Anthropologie
Texture:
Texture is one of the most fun things about the new wallpaper craze! There are all sorts of textures available in wallpaper that give a new life to the trend. Grasscloth is one type of texture that is rapidly gaining in popularity. It adds a style that can be eclectic, homespun, or exotic, depending on what it is paired with.
Fabric options are another of my favorite wallpaper textures. There are some beautiful wool textures, as well as denim and patterned velvet that I think would look (and feel) beautiful in the right bedroom.
Image via Schumacher
Image via Kravet
When choosing a wallpaper, it is important to remember the things that we talked about in this post, as well as a few other things too.
For more wallpaper ideas, and lots of other ideas too, follow us on Pinterest! You can also like us on Facebook to stay up to date with everything that we are doing at Home on the Range, as well as get daily inspiration delivered right to your wall!
Kids rooms are my guilty pleasure- you can go a lot crazier with colors and decor in a kids room than you can anywhere else. In a little girl’s room, it’s ok to feel like a princess, and in a little boy’s room there’s nothing wrong with being a pirate! Here are 10 of the most fun, creative and special kids rooms that we have ever seen!
1. The Pirate Room- Really? A rope ladder, pirate ship, and under-the-sea mural? Could this be more perfect?
Image via Home Dsgn
2. The Carnival Room- I love the soft and bright colors, and use of pattern in this room! I also like how they used every day items to create all of the pieces here.
Image via Pinterest
3. The Eclectic Toddler Room: Oh the colors in this room! Also, everything looks so soft and comfortable, no sharp corners for banging your head here!
Image via HGTV
4. The Chalkboard Room: Where you never have to worry about them coloring on the walls!
Image via Honest to Nod
5. The Fireman Room: How precious is this? What little boy wouldn’t love to drive around and save kittens from fires in this room?
Image via Pottery Barn Kids
6. The Fairytale Room: This room is so elegant but adorable, it would make any little girl feel like a princess! Another great thing about this room is that it could be grown into, I know I would probably still love to live in this room!
Image via Pinterest
7. The Teepee Fort Room: Oh wow, love the colors and patterns here! They’re so fun and bright, any kid would love to wake up here!
Image via The Handmade Home
8. The Cowboy Hideaway Room: I think this might be my very favorite room of them all! I love the corrugated roof, the wood posts, and the antlers! This room makes rustic/western so much fun!
Image via Pinterest
9. The House in Paris Room: Can you just imagine the sleepovers that would happen here? Too cute!
Image via the Tumtum Tree
10. The Colorful Kid Room: The mix of styles in this room is fantastic… while your child might not appreciate that side of it, you can’t deny that they would love to sleep in a built in fort!
Image via Handmade Charlotte
For more fun ideas, visit us on Pinterest! You can also like us on Facebook to stay up to date on what we’re doing, and get great daily inspiration delivered straight to your wall!
