Blog Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Dream House Furniture | Interior Design | Frederick, MD | American Leather

Serenity. Tranquility. Peace. All of these words come to mind when picturing the perfect outdoor oasis, and who doesn’t want a space like that? For some, the backyard can be easily overlooked (and we know for others, it is considered one of the best features of your home). No matter what kind of outdoor space you have – find the beauty to behold, appreciate, and accent. The image above is a wonderful display of how to accessorize in a way that incorporates peaceful, natural items while adding comfort. These are all components for a true “oasis”. From the dainty string lights that line the ceiling and other lighting accents to the use of upholstery to soften the hard surfaces and add color, inputting the right accessories truly made all the difference.

You may be experiencing some back yard envy, and who wouldn’t with such a pretty setting that beckons one to sit and relax. You may be wondering: what can I do to create and enhance my own outdoor oasis? We have a few tips to help you transform your space and add that perfect charming touch.

Consider an outdoor rug. Add a pop of color on the floor, something that can drain well and resist fading. Rugs not only bring color or pattern, they also ground seating arrangements and break up the surface area. Our plastic rugs are made of recycled water bottles so they are sustainable and will not retain any water. A common concern when putting colorful rugs in direct sunlight is fading, but these rugs hold up to the blazing rays staying fade resistant and bright for years to come.

How about solar lanterns? Enjoy their color, pattern, texture, or ambiance during the day and as day gives way to night, watch as they radiate a soft glow for several hours of enjoyment. Their heavy duty material won’t fade and stands up to rain and wind which means that they do great not only in the covered space shown above, but you can keep them out in the elements, tied to tree limbs, hanging from posts, or off deck railings. This is a big must-have for us at Dream House.

Mix it up with funky outdoor pillows. Pillows are a go-to for accessorizing inside the home but they are also an important part of an outdoor space. It’s not just accent pillows that help create an outdoor oasis, furniture with cushions (especially on metal furniture) are essential for creating that softer, inviting look. Reupholstering old seat cushions in a neutral or fun print is an easy way to revive a tired looking seating area. Our wonderful upholstery lines have extensive collections of Sunbrella fabric to choose from including solids, textures, and prints big and small.

Add that galvanized decor! A great go-to for outdoors is galvanized metal. The plethora of options available makes adding a planter, tray, cake plate, drink trough, or wall art easy and fun. The earthy look and feel of galvanized metal pieces help to bring variety to typical textures and materials seen outdoors. Don’t forget there’s no shame in your game if you add faux succulents or florals to a galvanized planter (or any planter, really). It will look good and is low maintenance.

These touches are sure ways to make your space stand out. Have questions or need more help? We have beautiful outdoor furniture options and love working with our customers. Everyone deserves a Dream House.

Musings

Take a peek into our Frederick Designers’ Show House space!

We are so honored and excited to be participating in the Frederick Designers™ Show House with many talented Frederick designers. It’s a great opportunity for our design team to have fun and create a space from scratch. We first toured the home in February while it was in the midst of updates and upgrades.

Once narrow doorways were being opened and arched, the kitchen remodeled, and the third floor loft transformed into a useable space. We immediately fell in love with the charm, character, and potential of the home. Once we were awarded a room, we started looking for inspiration for our space in numerous places. Our recent trip to High Point Market inspired many ideas, and we bought really great pieces for our room. We have spent hours pouring our love and attention into the Show House space! We are so excited to finalize our design and move on to the installation!

If you haven’t heard about the event yet, follow the Frederick Show House page on Facebook for more information. You can stay up-to-date on the progress and catch glimpses of what other designers are creating in their spaces. If you are interested in attending, tours will only last for two weeks. It all starts with a kick off VIP party on June 12th. Tours begin Thursday, June 13th and go through the 23rd. Tickets are available here and will benefit the Weinberg Center of the Arts. We hope to see you there!

Musings

Above and Beyond

Over the winter, my Golden Retriever, Roxy, died of cancer. As with every loss of a family pet, I was heartbroken. I’m telling this story to share the extraordinary way in which my dog food supply company responded to my loss.

I had recently begun receiving dog food and supplies from an online company every six weeks. After my dog’s passing, I had to cancel my subscription. This company was very kind when I explained why I no longer needed their services. Not only were they understanding, but they also ended up sending me flowers! I was so surprised that a large company would go this extra mile. Their kindness encouraged me to think about our own small business and the ways we uniquely care for customers. It also made me reflect on the ways we can do more.

At Dream House, we strive to give a personal touch, be kind, honest, and friendly. This company’s act of kindness was so inspiring to me. Small businesses like ours may not be able to send flowers, but we can aim to write a note of thanks, an email of encouragement, or give a token of appreciation for a job well done.

—Wendy

Blog

Inspired by Beautiful Bones and Soft Details

Before & After

A Bright, Sophisticated Entertainment Space

This project started with pretty bare bones: an unfinished basement with much to gain. The vision for the space was a place for both adults and children to entertain and be entertained while keeping it neutral with pops of color.

We started with the finishes: black cabinets were paired with a warm golden granite with flecks of black along with warm wood floors with darker edges. The walls were painted a khaki color to keep it neutral and accentuate the molding detail.

The large, open floor plan was divided into two priorities, a TV area and the kitchen area which consisted of a long room. The area by the kitchen/bar was the perfect place for the “adult” area making room for a game area on the other end. We chose a beautiful, warm wood extending dining table (Woodbridge Furniture) to complement the floors and counters and keep the space cozy and inviting. It’s the perfect place to host and congregate (everyone loves being by the kitchen). The rug (Company C) helped to brighten the floors and pulled in colors from the countertop and backsplash to create a layering effect of light and dark pieces. We picked a smooth, soft leather for the chairs (CR Laine) to make the area feel more sophisticated and to add another texture to the lush surroundings.

As most projects are done in phases, phase two was accessorizing! (Global Views) We pulled navy into the second half of the long kitchen area on stools for a high top table game area as well as art in the adjoining TV room. Using blues and small pops of orange, we carried some color into the kitchen while keeping the accessories to a minimum to let the architecture shine. The fun series of tiles (Houston Llew Spiritiles) with drink themes on the wall over the beverage refrigerators was a fun personalized touch that added color and character. Mixing comfort and style into a basement design proved to be so rewarding! This basement is now the highlight of the home and has become an enjoyable space catered to the family’s needs for all ages to relax, play, and entertain.

Before

Before & After

Sophisticated Living Room

The original Living Room space was outdated with it’s old faux sponge painted walls, window treatments, and lack of a cohesive conversation area. The furniture was against the walls and the colors on the walls and of the floors did not compliment each other.

Our starting point was with a floor plan to create the ideal conversation area. As a focal point, we created a built in wall unit and painted the wall behind it dark brown for an extra pop. The wall unit was made with an opening in the middle for a large contemporary picture with great colors. That was the idea that got us going, from this artwork we began to build out the color scheme all while keeping the color of the flooring in mind.

Before & After

Farmhouse Dining Room

This lovely, renovated farmhouse has an open floor plan with the dining room floating between the kitchen and living areas. The client wanted to keep the dining room in the style of the home, but give it an updated look with new furniture and decor. The space required new paints and fabrics that pulled together a number of elements: the black kitchen cabinets, the colors of the adjacent living areas, and the natural wood finishes around the room.

Before & After

A Lighter, Brighter Update for a Farmhouse

It was easy to be inspired by this charming, renovated farmhouse and its wonderful inhabitants —a busy family with kids, dogs and horses. Dream House’s Wendy Flynn worked her magic to help the owners achieve a lighter, brighter feel with an updated country look that is lovely for entertaining but also withstands all the fun of its smaller, busier family members. She transformed this large, open area into beautiful, comfortable living and family rooms.

Before & After

Modern Comfort

This open, stand alone space had the great advantage of allowing a style all it’s own.

We created a very simple and clean modern space with a few different unique pieces.

The TV area has a beautiful wedge shaped sectional that allows everyone to face the television while at the same time being angled towards one another for conversation. Additionally, the back cushions can be raised higher on each individual seat. And for added comfort…down fill!

Before & After

Family Room Transformation

These clients were ready for a complete transformation of their main level Family Room. With a desire to move away from a traditional aesthetic, we had to keep in mind that this space co-exists with the other rooms that it opens up to. And that for the time being are still traditional.

We started from the bottom up. The rug, though neutral in pattern and color, provided both depth and contrast with the slightly raised, tufted antique, white pattern atop the hooked gray/brown base.

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