Design Notes
Are you feeling like something needs to change inside your home? Tired of the same old decor pieces greeting you when you come home? Maybe your taste in style has changed, and you’re looking for a little update? The good news is you don’t have to do a full-blown renovation to achieve your goal; sometimes, it takes a little freshening up to update your home. A new art piece, sofa, window treatments, and even hardware can transform your droopy interior into a brand new space. At Greenbrook Design, we are an authorized vendor for over 20 companies that cover everything from furniture to the fine details. Today, we talk about five easy ways to revamp your home and how we can help.
Updating Your Hardware
Almost nothing can make as big a difference as easily as updating your hardware, especially the kitchen. It can take a simple space and replace it with a stunning one. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started:
- Measure and count: Before selecting your new hardware, be sure to count how many you need and the size of your current hardware. This will help you know exactly what you are looking for, instead of falling in love with a piece only to discover that it is not the right length or not enough.
- Knob or pulls: It’s important to know which one you want. Pulls are rising in popularity, especially with the older generation, since they are easier to open and fit in with the living-in-place design. Many companies, however, are providing a blend of options, meaning that one style comes in both knobs and pulls, making it easy to mix it up.
- What kind of finish: Gold, bronze, polished nickel, and matte black are only a few of the options available for hardware colors. This broad palette means more of you can go into the design. Maybe you want a simplistic style, such as a warm metal, or maybe you want contrast by pairing black hardware with white cabinets. There is no limit to the fun you can have with hardware.
We are dealers for multiple brands, including Top Knobs, Berenson, Hardware Resources, and Jeffery Alexander, and we feature displays with samples of their products. When you visit our showroom, be sure to mention that you want to browse our collection or visit our resource page to see the complete line offered by each company.
Updating Light Fixtures
Light. It has the power to transform a space just by turning on the switch. They have also evolved over the decades to be more than just a source of illumination and into a more artful piece. From scones to chandeliers, each serves a purpose and creates a specific atmosphere. Here are some reasons and benefits of updating your light fixtures.
- Saves money: LED light bulbs are more energy efficient than the old standards, meaning when you update them, you will see a savings in your utility bill.
- Sets the mood: Light plays a key role in the atmosphere of your home. Warm lights provide a calm environment, while bright lights give off a happy, energetic vibe. Updating the lights in your home according to each area and its purpose can help increase productivity and your family’s mood.
- Visual interest: Many light manufacturers now design pieces for style as much as for function. From elegant chandeliers to unique wall sconces, bright colors, and warm woods, the options are endless, meaning that by simply changing out a few light fixtures, your space can look completely different.
New lights can add so much to a space, helping to create just the right update and atmosphere for your family to enjoy. Crystorama, Hudson Lighting, and Circa Lighting are only a few of the brands we are authorized dealers for. Visit this page to see more styles and sizes available to you, or visit our showroom where we have many on display for you to see.
Using Artwork To Update Your Home
Art is an expression of you and speaks to everyone differently. It adorns our walls not to simply fill a space but to tell a story. How you see things in life or what you value can often be seen through the art in your home. It is also a great way to add some pops of color and visual interest to your space without redoing or renovating the area. Some ways to do this include:
- Focal point: Size plays a big part in achieving a focal point in the room with art. It needs to be large enough to catch the eye but not so large that it engulfs everything else in the room. A fun print can also help draw the eye to it as soon as one is in the room, so don’t be afraid to go bold.
- Color pop: Bright palettes can add just the right amount of pizazz to a room and even depth through the use of darker colors. Certain colors, such as oranges and reds, can be too strong if used in abundance, but an art piece can be the perfect solution.
- Texture: A canvas with layered artwork or formed with unique materials such as fabric or glass can add beautiful texture to the room, making it a great conversational piece.
- Representational: Again, art is meant to represent you and is a great way to bring a little of your personality into your home.
We believe that art is one of the simplest ways to freshen up your home and give it a makeover without the hassle. Browse our gallery of dealers and find some pieces that will update your home elegantly.
Updating Your Home Through Furniture
Furniture is probably among the least changed items in the home, right after your mattress. We use them every day, yet we hardly think about replacing them. In fact, many of us would have to say that some of our pieces are older than our children. It can, however, be the simplest way to completely update the feel of your home and is considered a great tool by many interior designers. When looking to purchase, keep these things in mind.
- Size: This is important when thinking about what to put in a room. You don’t want to put an oversized chair in a space, leaving no room for much else. Nor do you want to have things dwarfed by the large area. Size and placement are key to creating just the right homey feel for any room in the home, so be sure to know the size of the space and of the pieces you want to buy.
- Color: A blue couch, a patterned chair, or maybe a painted coffee table. These are a few of the ways color can be used to brighten up your room. Don’t be afraid to add some pops of color throughout your space or to think outside the box of design rules. Your house means your rules.
- Style: Farmhouse, modern, traditional, or even grand millennial, there are so many styles and designs just waiting for you to discover. No matter your taste, there is something there for everyone, and the perfect way to express yourself in your home.
- Function: Think about what needs to take place in this space and how the furniture can help accomplish those tasks. Looking for a little more storage in the kitchen? Consider adding a bench with hidden compartments or a hutch. Furniture and function go hand in hand.
Because furniture works well as a whole, you don’t have to replace everything in a room to make it look new or updated. Blending something new with what is already there can change the entire space, so don’t feel overwhelmed. Just start where you want and add as needed. Read here to find out more ways furniture can help freshen up your space. We love our dealers from Europe to you, Moe’s, and Dovetail, just to name a few. Check them and the many others we have listed on our site, and don’t forget to check out their amazing galleries.
Walker WoodworkingThe kitchen sink is probably one of the most important elements in the kitchen, since it’s where we wash dishes, rinse food, and wash our hands. There are so many options, such as stainless steel, porcelain, and ceramic. Then, of course, there are multiple styles and sizes. At Greenbrook, we are always looking for new items that will meet a need for our clients, and sinks definitely are one of them, which is why we are an authorized dealer for the Karran Sinks.
Walker Woodworking Old meets new to create a blend of something beautiful, which is one way to summarize grand millennial style. While minimalism is still a popular trend, many millennials are finding comfort and freedom of expression from their beloved family heritage. Grand millennial is a combination of the new with things of the past, like that old wingback chair from grandma’s attic, and breathing new life into it through reupholstering it. This style also pairs perfectly with many people’s desire to recycle and reduce waste by repurposing existing materials. Let’s unpack this style a little more and find out if it is right for you.
Greenbrook DesignUsing smart devices to help manage your home not only makes your life easier. However, many forms of smart home tech also reduce utility usage and improve your home’s carbon footprint. You’ll improve your life and become more eco-friendly all at once! Here’s how to get started:
Health and wellness are a high priority for many today, especially in the home, which is why interior designers are placing a great emphasis on the renovation or remodel plans for the home. Natural light brings a wealth of benefits for your family and also gives the home a beautiful warmth.
Metropolitan Woodworks IncContrast is a design element that is used often since it makes a statement, creates visual interest, and provides a touch of elegance to the space. White and Black, dark mixed with warm metals like gold, copper, and brass. Many interior designers are choosing to use this tool and these color combinations more in their creations, and it seems that this trend is only increasing in popularity. Let’s explore the different ways you can add dark colors to your space, balanced with enough light to make a beautiful presentation in your home that both you and your guests will enjoy.
Walker Woodworking 
Walker Woodworking