DIY+

Something exciting today on DTI. One of our favourite hot new designers Jason Martin has just launched his latest venture, DIY+. It's an "e-design" style package for people who want help with design work or a project but don't need, don't have access to or can't afford to hire a full service on-site designer. So what's this to do with DTI readers?

To launch this new design option from Jason's firm he is offering to help 4 readers plan a space of their own. It could be any of the following:

1. Creating a plan for an entire room (furniture, color palette, a few fabric and accessory ideas).

2. An overall design story for the whole home (more general aesthetic- color palette, styles of furniture and accessories, design inspirations).

3. How to meld the different styles of two people living together (more general aesthetic- color palette, combining art, styles of furniture and accessories, design inspirations).

4. Ideas for a redo (using what you have- suggestions for additions to or editing a space, ideas for refinishing or recovering furniture, tips on lighting etc).

Think of it as a "primer package" to get you started on your way to a clearer design of your space. You are the DIY part. Jason is the + part.

Here's what we need. A description of what you want to accomplish, lots of pictures of the space and its furnishings, maybe a few inspirations images, basic measurements of the space and items in it (that you want to keep) and then a paragraph or two on the space (likes, dislikes, how the room is used, personal style, etc). To keep our inboxes from exploding we need a link to a site where you have uploaded your dilemma - Flickr, Picasa, your blog, wherever you can. Jason will choose 4 reader's homes and over the next few weeks will work his magic! With lots of links and lots of problems we should be able to get a little community brainstorming going on as well. Remember it's links only in the comments below.

And the images above? Jason will be explaining each of these ideas on his personal blog this week, giving you a more well rounded look at how he use the images to build a space. So what are you waiting for? Start snapping.

Reader dilemma...and my least favourite colour

I need your help with this one folks. Lauren wrote us with this problem: "I am going back to school, and my friend is oh so graciously letting me move into his house (rent free!). So, I feel like I should not complain too much, but the room needs a lot of help. I attached a picture for you to see the bedroom, just to give you an idea of the wall-to-wall maroon carpet I have to deal with. He has taken down the wallpaper boarder and painted the room a buttery yellow, but I think it kind of looks like a nod to McDonald's now... He actually just replaced the carpet (but kept maroon, I'm not sure why), so I have to live with that - and the room is pretty large: 16' x 13'. But he did say I can paint, which is a good start. So, my question is, do you have any ideas as to what color scheme would work with this carpet? I am normally a "blue" person, but just feel like I can't completely disregard the carpet color. I was thinking maybe repainting the room white, and doing an accent wall - possibly relating to the maroon carpet, but I'm not so sure. Any ideas would be much appreciated!"

When I see maroon/burgundy I practically break out in hives. So I'm a bit at a loss as to what Lauren should do with this. My only thought is getting sisal rugs and trying to hide most of the carpet, and maybe painting the walls a pink (on the pale side). That's all I've got. I'm hoping our readers might have better ideas.

What to do with a suspended fireplace

Abena wrote us with a design dilemma she thought we could help her with. "I would love a post on how to decorate around those weird hanging fireplaces from the 60s and 70s. My husband and I are moving into a new (rental) apartment in June with one. I attached a photo from a similar apartment (w/ my hubby in it, who you can see needs lots of space).

Our fireplace is rounder with no base in a larger, long room. It is also hanging near the back wall between a balcony with large sliding doors, but there is also a floor to ceiling window to the right. I would love something like what was achieved in this Richard Powers photograph.

Except our view is not quite as stunning, nor is the scary black fireplace in a nice symmetrical location. My husband just says we should put a tall plant in front of it and forget about it, but I think we should do more!" And I agree with you. Why not just place a couple mid-century chairs around it and make it a little conversation area? I found some photos of suspended fireplaces that hopefully will give you some ideas. For the record, I always wanted one and am REALLY jealous.

Annie Schlechter
Alan Kaplanas
Image Locations
Coroflot
Stanley Saitowitz
fernlund + logan
Peter L. Gluck & Partners
House of Pictures
House of Pictures
Jonathan Adler
Jeremy Samuelson
Salon

Lundberg Design	Pieter Estersohn
Elle Decor Italia	Living Etc.

Stacey Brandford

Evan's incredible loft....and a dilemma

Evan emailed us looking for some help. Knowing our readers, I'm sure there will be lots of great advise provided that he can run with - just wait till you see what he's working with!

Evan just moved to downtown Los Angeles and he's facing his usual dilemma - he starts off strong and then doesn't know how to finish. "As usual I rushed into buying things that I wish I could replace but that will have to wait. My problem is I always end up at this point and don't know how to finish or were to go from here. I know something HUGE over the sofa will help and the building offers to paint two walls...should I take them up on their offer and most important - which two walls and what color? FYI: It's only been two months and I'm already looking to replace the dining table, cocktail table and entry hall table. I am notorious for rushing into things especially when I'm on a budget."

I was rendered speechless when I saw Evan's photos. The space ROCKS, and I love just about every piece of his furniture. So how about I show you all the photos, then I'll give my 2 cents and I'd love it if you guys could pipe in with ideas for Evan as well.

First thing is I would definitively paint 2 walls out, especially if the building is offering. I would paint the wall your sofa is on, and the long wall opposite up to the bathroom. (I'm guessing that area is the bedroom?) I do agree that something really large over your sofa would be great to really showcase the height and size of the space. If you want the sofa wall to be a bit of a bold accent colour then perhaps you should chose some artwork and then choose a wall colour that will highlight the art. The loft seems to get so much light from those windows, so you might even be able to get away with a dark colour, like a chocolate brown for drama. Or even black!! That being the case I'd chose artwork on the lighter side. The other wall I would do a concrete grey because I am a huge fan of grey as a neutral. It will go with everything. As for the furniture I agree about losing the dining table...and chairs. They look way too small and insignificant. I like the rest of the furniture ALOT, but the console table with the mirror above - I'd paint that out black. It looks too traditional with the rest of your furniture. While you're at it paint out the mirror too. :) A huge rug in the living room and another under your dining table and you'll be good to go!

I think I'll stop there and turn it over to everyone else. (Thanks for sharing your home with us Evan! Hope we can help!)

A chair revamped, and a dilemma

We received an email from Doreen that I HAD to share: I love everything mid-century modern and therefore, I thought I would share a recent find with you. I went to a local antique/thrift store last weekend. I had been hoping to find a mid-century modern chair one day here in Columbus, GA. Never thought, I would! My luck was about to change this time! I went in and could not believe that they had a Chromcraft chair for sale that was in good condition. Now comes the best - the price tag! It was priced for $38 and I ended up getting it for $30!!! Can you believe it! As soon as I bought it, I went home and cleaned up the whole chair and polished the chrome base. Even though I kind of liked the retro cushion cover it came with - it was dirty and it did not really fit in with my decor. Therefore, I re-upholstered it with a black and white fabric that I had gotten from IKEA. I took before and after pictures that I am going to attach to this mail. I paired the chair with another recent find. The white chair I bought new and I love the look of both chairs together. The two black and white pictures you see on the wall behind the chairs are old Abercrombie & Fitch boards and I just made the frames myself.

She did such an amazing job on the chair, and her vignette is fantastic! Love the huge framed ads and the frames are perfect. Kudos to you Doreen!!

We also received an email from Jen who is looking for some advice on her living room: I am hoping you and your readers can inspire me. I am having a mental block regarding what colors to interject in the attached room (paint/trim, window coverings, accessories). I have searched through endless blogs, magazines, etc, and I am having a real hard time. We are keeping the furniture (minus the speakers/lamp/entertainment center). We are adding in the loop media center/file hutch from crate and barrel. Our style is organic modern and we want this room to feel warm and cozy.

For more information check this post she published on her blog. She has removed the wallpaper (YAY!) and is thinking about bright white trim, dark warm gray below the chair rail, and light warm gray above the chair rail. I was thinking more brown tones as opposed to grey (and I always lean towards grey) because of the fireplace colour, but if the carpet is grey, then I would go with a grey with alot of brown in it (and I'm seeing orange accents, mixed with maybe some acid green). I would keep the colour below the chair rail only slightly darker than above, because it just emphasizes the narrowness of the space. It sounds like Jen is putting her new entertainment stand where the existing one is, which I'm not loving. I would put it to the left of the fireplace, and maybe have the couch to the left of it facing the far window, and chair in front of the patio doors, angled towards the couch. Narrow rooms are very tough to organize as I know very well having lived in a couple narrow houses. So if anyone has any suggestions please leave a comment for Jen!