Carla Davis Designs

I recently started working with a interior designer named Carla Davis. Her buisness is located in Ashburn. If you are in need of some design help or are looking to do it yourself, check out her website at:

http://www.carladavisdesigns.com/

Also, she has a nice blog which details her work and has nice articles on Design Ideas etc. Here is the link:

http://blog.carladavisdesigns.com/

I have included a post that she wrote on her blog on interior design principles below. Take a look!

Important Interior Design Principles
We all love to decorate! That is to say, we all like to infuse our rooms with our favorite colors, photos, and furniture pieces. When we incorporate such things into our spaces, we feel that we have successfully designed our rooms. But there is there is much more to consider. How will your space be used? Are the architectural and product designs compatible? Does the color that you have chosen convey the desired feeling? Does the room draw the eye to a logical central point and then invite the eye to meander around the rest of the room in a smooth, easy manner? Will all of your rooms link together to form one visually pleasing unit?
Usually, the typical homeowner asks him/herself few, if any of the above questions. In my opinion,the most important distinction between the do-it-yourself home decorator and a professional interior decorator or designer is that a gifted professional has the ability to pull together a big-picture plan in which each room is a complimentary element in a whole-house composition, while a homeowner often cannot achieve a cohesive result. Of course, most professionals have the advantage of possessing natural talent as well education in this process, but you may also learn to consider a few key elements that will help you as you tackle your own design project:
The space itself: dimensions, potential and limits
Desired use of space: relaxation, entertainment, work or learning
The message you would like for the room to convey: luxury and achievement, calmness and relaxation, fun and games
Also, keep these design principles to keep in mind:
Unity and harmony: Making sure that everything you bring into a space belongs together. Everything should have at least one thing in common such as color, style, or texture. For example, give an open living and dining room area a sense of cohesiveness by using the same flooring across both areas.
Balance: Equally distribute the visual weight within the space. Symmetrical balance uses the same objects repeated in the same positions on either side of a central object For example, two identical table and lamps on either side of a sofa. Asymmetrical balance is achieved with different objects that have equal visual weight. A large plant on one side of a central object with a large floor lamp of similar height on the other side is an example of asymmetrical balance.

Radial symmetry is achieved by arranging all elements of your space around a center point.
Repetition: The use of the same element more than once throughout your space. Patterns, colors, textures, and shapes are all elements that can be repeated around your room to create a pleasing “rhythm”.
Variety: Use contrasting elements such as color, size, and materials to create excitement and interest.
Focal point(s): The “eye-catching” piece in the room such as a fireplace, or large window. It’s crucial that you let these types of items shine above all else in your space.
Scale and Proportion: Proportion is the ratio between two items such as a lamp and its shade. Scale is how the size of one item relates to the scale of another item or to the room itself. For example, a 16” high table lamp may be too small in scale for a 20’x20’ room.
Color: Color is critical because it relays a definitive statement about the intend mood of the space
Details: As architect Mies van der Rohe and many others have often said, “God is in the details.” So be sure to pay attention to the small stuff in your space by not overlooking the cabinet knobs, lamp shades, light switch covers, etc. Should you neglect these things, your space will still have that “something’s missing, but I can’t quite put my finger on it” look.
Details: Pheasant floral arrangement, and Finial Company drapery hardware, www.shop.carladavisdesigns.com

Competed Sofa and chairs

Here are photos of the Sofa, Rocker, and Chair back from the upholsterer. Below are links to all of the entries pertaining to these pieces:
http://johnmarkpower.blogspot.com/2009/07/transitional-american-empire-rococo.html
http://johnmarkpower.blogspot.com/2009/07/mahogany-arm-chair-ca1930.html
http://johnmarkpower.blogspot.com/2009/07/frank-s-hardin-rocking-chair-ca1930.html
http://johnmarkpower.blogspot.com/2009/08/in-transition.html

Oak office chair

This chair had broken in several places and the joinery had loosened in the base. I was asked to repair the chair and to replace the casters. the following photos detail the repairs to a leg and to the arms. In both cases, the breaks were across the grain and required what is called a bridging patch. A bridging patch is new wood applied to both section of the break to span the break. Two patches are usually required for a strong repair. The photos below help explain the process.





This first picture shows the legs dis assembled and the leg in the bottom of the photo with all of its broken parts.
This next photo shows the leg being glued up with the original parts.


After the leg had dried, I cut away material on both sides of the leg to receive a patch. Note how the break (and previous repairs) can be seen in the center of where the wood has been removed. The patch is inserted into the space with glue.

The patches being glued in place.

After the glue dries, the patch is cut to a rough shape on the band saw.

The patch after it has been carved to shape and sanded. It is the stained and touched up to match the existing finish.

The same process was used for the arms on the chair. each arm received two patches.Here is a photo of a patch ready to be glued in place Gluing the patches.

Gluing the patches on the other arm.

A completed patch carved, sanded, and ready to stair and touch up.

Here are two pictures of the chair with the arms and the broken leg (facing out) repaired and touched up to match the existing finish.

Victorian Walnut Coffee Table

Before I begin to talk about this piece of furniture, I need to clear up one item. There is no such thing as a antique coffee table. the coffee table is a 20th century invention. While this table might look like the exception to the rule, The fact is that the legs were cut down on this table to lower the height.
When I received this table it was had become completely unglued. not only was the joinery loose, but most of the pieces which had been stacked together to create the apron of the table and the top of the table had become unglued. this partly due to the fact that the table has a marble top which adds stress to the joinery. The other factor is that it was assembled with many different pieces of wood with crossed grain patterns. As these pieces expand and contract over time the glue gives up its bond. the result is the photo below:

Here is a picture of the first glue up. the top and bottom sections are held together with cleats, so I was able to glue them up separately.

here is a photo of the top section being glued up.

Here is a photo of the table after gluing and once the finish had been cleaned with mineral spirits. Note the white hazy look. this is the dirt and wax which the mineral spirits have separated from the finish. this is then removed with steel wool and french polish is applied.

Here is a photo of the coffee table french polished and with paste wax applied.

Cherry Dining Room Table and Sideboard

Here are some photos of a Cherry dining room table with four leaves and a matching Cherry sideboard I refinished recently. On the sideboard, I refinished the top only and restored the finish for the base. the differences in color between the two pieces are due to the lighting in the room. Both give are good examples of a french polish