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.
In our final part of the selection tips series, we want to focus our attention on lighting. Good lighting can make a difference in the room; no one enjoys struggling to see around the shadows cast by insufficient light or the glare of one placed too low. Here’s what should be on your list of things to look for when selecting your lighting.
There’s no denying the appeal of HGTV’s popular renovation shows such as Fixer Upper, Love It or List It, and Property Brothers. These programs consistently deliver impressive home transformations, turning outdated properties into stylish, modern living spaces—all within the span of a neatly packaged, one-hour episode.
While unexpected challenges and budget concerns occasionally arise, the hosts reliably navigate these obstacles, keeping projects on track and showcasing the kind of resilience and problem-solving that resonates with homeowners and renovation professionals alike.
What was once just space to check your email quickly or jot down your to-do list, the home office is now essential for many who work from home. This shift from the nice bonus feature to the necessary has caused many homeowners to reevaluate their current condition, with many finding it lacking. Productivity and efficiency are linked to a functional space that gives you exactly what you need to get the job done. Here we share some tips on designing the perfect office away from the office.
You have been dreaming of a new kitchen for a while, and now the decision has been made to finally bring it to life. Cabinets, lights, faucets, tile, and flooring are all on your to-do list, but what about the kitchen appliances? Have you thought about whether you want a double oven? Two dishwashers? Maybe you want a wide refrigerator, a separate beverage cooler, or a wine fridge? The choice of kitchen appliance you need depends on what is important to you and what will suit your lifestyle. We will share some of our best tips on which appliances are best for your specific needs.
Greenbrook DesignYou need to understand the difference between style, class, and function. Although a house’s style may become outdated, it does not have to lose its class. Every home can remain functional regardless of its style and age.
An old-style home is one thing, but an obsolete home is an entirely different matter. In this article, we outline simple things you can do to pull your outdated home out of the past and into the modern period. You will be able to restore its appeal without giving up the quiet dignity that’s associated with old homes.
Walker Woodworking 
Walker Woodworking