Where Would You Sit?

You are at a party. There is nowhere to sit, except in the middle of the couch between two other people. Would you sit or stand?

At a Jewel Box party, you would not have to make this choice because your host would bring an extra chair, so that you could comfortably sit down. Why? When was the last time you saw three people sitting next to each other on a couch? Did the person in the middle look comfortable? Your Jewel Box party hosts understand this and would never expect you or a guest to sit in the middle of a couch. In fact, in keeping with the basic principles of Jewel Box decorating, the room would likely not have a couch, but instead a comfortable love seat and two occasional chairs. This way furniture is scaled in proportion to the smaller more intimate room dimensions.

Until next time!
Genevieve

Jewel Box Home Visits With Press About Home Renovation Trends

"A designer knows that he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - Antoine de St-Epurey

Recently I had the chance to visit with our local paper about home renovation trends. Here is an excerpt from that discussion. For the complete article, click on the link at the end of this blog.

HOME RENOVATION TRENDS - WHATS OUT

January 3, 2008

By J.T. MORAND Staff Writer

During this time when homeowners and home buyers are thinking more about conservation and convenience, Realtors, interior designers and architects reflect on some of the renovations that have become or are becoming passe.

For example, large kitchens and wide open floors are out. Grandeur is losing to convenience and efficiency.

Bye bye big kitchens

Genevieve Ferraro of Evanston said meal preparation becomes a hassle when appliances are too far apart in kitchens.

"Large kitchens throw off the functional triangle arrangement between the refrigerator, oven and sink," said the creator of the Web site thejewelboxhome.com, which offers tips on small home living and provides advice for owners of large homes who want to make their houses feel more intimate.

"When an island is added," she said, "the functionality of the triangle can be completely lost."

Plus, large kitchens often require unnecessarily large appliances.

"Big kitchens are not only inefficient, but contain big appliances that are rarely used," Ferraro said. "A large range with commercial capacity and power looks good on the showroom floor, but is overkill when cooking a family dinner."

(The complete article can be found at:
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/726062,on-renotrends-10308-s1.article)

Small Houses Good For Civilization

"Urban sprawl is out of control in many cities, and green places are scraped away to make way for expensive McMansions, which can't even spring for solar panels (too expensive)." - Sherrie Emerine, Raleigh, N.C. commenting on the Newsweek article "Save the Planet - Or Else", April 16, 2007

The Chicago Tribune, on 12/30/07, declared small houses as 'good for civilization' in Perspective, "Who We Are Now." Big houses, on the other hand were listed as bad for civilization, along with urban sprawl.

Until next time,
Genevieve