|
Six home design tips: San Miguel style
By Zoe Flores
Premiere Party
Hospital de la Fe Foundation benefit
Sat, Mar 1, 6:30pm
Casa La Ti Da
Moras 3
154-7635
From six local designers who have decorated a show home to benefit Hospital de la Fe Foundation, come tips to consider when decorating your own home. Visit the house for more tips, which will be open throughout the month of March. Proceeds from entry fees will buy medical equipment for Hospital de la Fe as well as to support Doctor’s Healing Hands, a program providing medical care for indigent people of San Miguel.
1. Create a multipurpose space
Jonathon Hartler, Evos
San Miguel homes tend to be large, with big rooms. “Make these rooms more usable by creating multipurpose spaces,” suggests Hartler. One room can be used for curling up with a book, an impromptu meal with friends, or a stand-up cocktail party. Use a writing desk that can be transformed into a dining table or hors d’oeuvres service. By keeping the chairs comfortable and medium-scale, the area functions perfectly for intimate evenings or big parties.
2. Add a simple water feature
Cory Gray, builder
Water features bring serenity to any space in and can be very simple to make, according to Gray. All you need is a water source, a small pump and tubing to carry the water and act as spouts. First, choose your well base—if you don’t have a walled-in area, even a large glazed ceramic, rock or fiberglass vessel will do. Lay the tubing in an S-shape at the bottom of your well area and attach vertical copper spouts here and there to create your fountain effect. Fill the area with rocks, add a few potted plants and turn on the pump. Voila, you have a soothing fountain!
3. Design an outdoor room
DeWayne Youts, Youts Design
Youts is an advocate of transforming outdoor spaces into fabulous four-season rooms. To keep out mosquitos and rain, first screen or glass in your outdoor area, then “put in a ventless fireplace and you can use this space all year long,” he says. Add rugs, lamps, comfy indoor furniture, candles and lanterns, and it may just turn out to be your all-time favorite San Miguel room.
4. Cozy up a large space
Martha Grife, Casa del Inquisidor
Many newly built homes in San Miguel have walls of windows in bedrooms to capture those gorgeous views. The challenge is that sometimes there is little wall space left to create bedtime privacy and coziness. “Start by covering the windows with curtains,” says Grife. Use medium-scale furniture, like a queen-sized bed rather than a king, leaving wall space for bed tables, lamps and cozy furniture.
5. Focus on comfort
Donna Mattson, Buenas Noches
Mattson suggests investing more of your bedroom budget in “comfort essentials.” You will enjoy your bed linens every night for years to come, so buy quality and stay neutral in your color palette. Introduce bolder colors and “decor pizzazz” with accent items—duvet cover, decor pillows and throws—which can be changed seasonally or whenever you want a new look.
6. Add spiritual touches
Margarita Escobar, Namuh
Above all, a home should be a sanctuary. “Add spiritual touches to make your home the oasis we all need,” says Escobar. “Special, personal details will make your home feel rich and Zen.” She suggests that this could be anything from an old palace swing from Rajasthan, to an offering bowl from Pagan, to a petrified wood trunk from Java.
|