girls guide to decorating

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A girls guide to decorating.

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Page 1: Girls Guide to Decorating

decoratıng

abigail ahern

A GIRL’SGUIDE TO

Page 2: Girls Guide to Decorating

Designer, stylist and owner of one of London’s leading interiorsstores, Abigail Ahern is passionate about design. She isinternationally renowned in the world of interiors, and her storeATELIER Abigail Ahern was recently described by Elle Decorationmagazine as ‘one of the most definitive, hottest places to shop inthe UK’. Abigail’s cleverly mixed collections offer innovative one-offfinds, and showcase work by recognised designers as well asundiscovered young graduates. Heralded as ‘style spotter-extraordinaire’ by The Times newspaper, she has established herposition at the forefront of the design world with her originalinterpretation of trends, an unfailing sense of style and a whollypractical approach to interiors.

abigail ahern

Quadrille Publishing LimitedAlhambra House27–31 Charing Cross RoadLondon WC2H 0LSwww.quadrille.co.uk

Specification£16.99 HardbackISBN: 978 184400 7301192pp 248 x 187mmApprox 40,000 wordsOver 150 colour photographsPublication May 2009

A Girl’s Guide to Decorating is a hip, hands-on decoratingguide full of guidance and advice from one of the world’sforemost interior stylists, Abigail Ahern. Combininginspirational photography, cool and original ideas as well assound, practical tips, this is a must-have book for any style-conscious girl who won’t let her budget compromise hertaste. Covering the fundamental elements of home design– space, colour, light, texture and personalised finishingtouches – Abigail Ahern encourages us to make boldstatements and create a stamp of individuality in everyroom, making your pad a hot property.

An abundance of low-cost, high-style ideas show how totransform key features in your home, whether it becustomising a regular item of furniture, adapting a junk-shopfind to become a luxurious focus piece, or giving tired, ageingwalls an instant face-lift. Simple step-by-step instructionsguide the first-timer through all the principal decoratingtechniques, and a handy reference section of basic toolsand tips is an invaluable mine of insider information.

Here, for the first time, Abigail Ahern makes her uniquesense of design available to all and proves that style hasnothing to do with money.

decoratıng�

A GIRL’SGUIDE TO

Page 3: Girls Guide to Decorating

Designer, stylist and owner of one of London’s leading interiorsstores, Abigail Ahern is passionate about design. She isinternationally renowned in the world of interiors, and her storeATELIER Abigail Ahern was recently described by Elle Decorationmagazine as ‘one of the most definitive, hottest places to shop inthe UK’. Abigail’s cleverly mixed collections offer innovative one-offfinds, and showcase work by recognised designers as well asundiscovered young graduates. Heralded as ‘style spotter-extraordinaire’ by The Times newspaper, she has established herposition at the forefront of the design world with her originalinterpretation of trends, an unfailing sense of style and a whollypractical approach to interiors.

abigail ahern

Quadrille Publishing LimitedAlhambra House27–31 Charing Cross RoadLondon WC2H 0LSwww.quadrille.co.uk

Specification£16.99 HardbackISBN: 978 184400 7301192pp 248 x 187mmApprox 40,000 wordsOver 150 colour photographsPublication May 2009

A Girl’s Guide to Decorating is a hip, hands-on decoratingguide full of guidance and advice from one of the world’sforemost interior stylists, Abigail Ahern. Combininginspirational photography, cool and original ideas as well assound, practical tips, this is a must-have book for any style-conscious girl who won’t let her budget compromise hertaste. Covering the fundamental elements of home design– space, colour, light, texture and personalised finishingtouches – Abigail Ahern encourages us to make boldstatements and create a stamp of individuality in everyroom, making your pad a hot property.

An abundance of low-cost, high-style ideas show how totransform key features in your home, whether it becustomising a regular item of furniture, adapting a junk-shopfind to become a luxurious focus piece, or giving tired, ageingwalls an instant face-lift. Simple step-by-step instructionsguide the first-timer through all the principal decoratingtechniques, and a handy reference section of basic toolsand tips is an invaluable mine of insider information.

Here, for the first time, Abigail Ahern makes her uniquesense of design available to all and proves that style hasnothing to do with money.

decoratıng�

A GIRL’SGUIDE TO

Page 4: Girls Guide to Decorating

introduction 6Updating your home

Assessing what you can do

Choosing your style

Big ideas, small budget

space 16Planning your space

The illusion of space

Creating more space

light 44Light up your life

Window treatments

Lighting effects

colour 76The effects of colour

Adding colour through paint

Adding colour through pattern

and design

texture 108Why texture?

Exploring floor textures

Ways with walls

glamour 134 Big statements

Just because you can

Displaying trophies

Final details

practical stuff 172Tool kit essentials

Top tips and techniques

Useful contacts 184

Index 188

Acknowledgements 192

CONTENTS

Page 5: Girls Guide to Decorating

introduction 6Updating your home

Assessing what you can do

Choosing your style

Big ideas, small budget

space 16Planning your space

The illusion of space

Creating more space

light 44Light up your life

Window treatments

Lighting effects

colour 76The effects of colour

Adding colour through paint

Adding colour through pattern

and design

texture 108Why texture?

Exploring floor textures

Ways with walls

glamour 134 Big statements

Just because you can

Displaying trophies

Final details

practical stuff 172Tool kit essentials

Top tips and techniques

Useful contacts 184

Index 188

Acknowledgements 192

CONTENTS

Page 6: Girls Guide to Decorating

060 | LIGHT

Roller, roman or venetian? Wooden or metal? Or maybe even shutters? Abig old conundrum – but one that can easily be sorted. Always considerwindow treatments as a finishing flourish rather than a starting point. Therule of thumb is that whatever you select should be in balance with the restof the room. And if you haven’t finished decorating yet, you can always optfor the simplest solution – say, a white roller blind – and add a moreelaborate layer later on.

see also:colour p90texture p128

�window treatments blinds and shutters

Roller blinds are cheap, practical andutterly simple. They can be cut to size, soare useful for even the smallest window.Rollers are fab if you have a great viewthat shouldn’t be covered up, as they cancompletely disappear at the top of theframe. If privacy isn’t required, select thinweaves such as muslin or voile that gentlyfilter the light. And if you’re after somethingmore fancy, rollers can be easilyembellished with pom-poms, fringing,rings, tassels or beads.

Roman blinds are great if you want amore decorative window treatment butdon’t have the room for curtains. Theyform loose pleats when raised and hangflat when lowered. If you choose a reallycool pattern, they add an immediate zingto any room, acting like a piece of art.

Venetian and vertical blinds allowyou to have more precise control overlight and can be adjusted throughout theday. They come in a variety of widths andcolours, giving you the flexibility you needto get the style just right. If you’re going foran architectural, structured look, thenwooden venetian blinds are just the thing,with their strong horizontal lines bringingan outdoor feel inside.

Shutters add a whole other stylestatement, are a chic alternative, lookgood in both contemporary and traditionalpads alike and, best of all, aremaintenance-free. They are great forinsulating the home in the winter monthsand, when crafted from Perspex (page64), will give a very modern look. Woodenshutters can be painted to tie in with thecolour on your walls for a unified look.

Roller blinds are perfect for littlenooks such as this. They

lighten the mood, block out theneighbours but still let in the

light. These blinds have beenmade to look more whimsical

by hanging one of them theopposite way round – subtly

making even the easiest ofwindow treatments in vogue.

Page 7: Girls Guide to Decorating

060 | LIGHT

Roller, roman or venetian? Wooden or metal? Or maybe even shutters? Abig old conundrum – but one that can easily be sorted. Always considerwindow treatments as a finishing flourish rather than a starting point. Therule of thumb is that whatever you select should be in balance with the restof the room. And if you haven’t finished decorating yet, you can always optfor the simplest solution – say, a white roller blind – and add a moreelaborate layer later on.

see also:colour p90texture p128

�window treatments blinds and shutters

Roller blinds are cheap, practical andutterly simple. They can be cut to size, soare useful for even the smallest window.Rollers are fab if you have a great viewthat shouldn’t be covered up, as they cancompletely disappear at the top of theframe. If privacy isn’t required, select thinweaves such as muslin or voile that gentlyfilter the light. And if you’re after somethingmore fancy, rollers can be easilyembellished with pom-poms, fringing,rings, tassels or beads.

Roman blinds are great if you want amore decorative window treatment butdon’t have the room for curtains. Theyform loose pleats when raised and hangflat when lowered. If you choose a reallycool pattern, they add an immediate zingto any room, acting like a piece of art.

Venetian and vertical blinds allowyou to have more precise control overlight and can be adjusted throughout theday. They come in a variety of widths andcolours, giving you the flexibility you needto get the style just right. If you’re going foran architectural, structured look, thenwooden venetian blinds are just the thing,with their strong horizontal lines bringingan outdoor feel inside.

Shutters add a whole other stylestatement, are a chic alternative, lookgood in both contemporary and traditionalpads alike and, best of all, aremaintenance-free. They are great forinsulating the home in the winter monthsand, when crafted from Perspex (page64), will give a very modern look. Woodenshutters can be painted to tie in with thecolour on your walls for a unified look.

Roller blinds are perfect for littlenooks such as this. They

lighten the mood, block out theneighbours but still let in the

light. These blinds have beenmade to look more whimsical

by hanging one of them theopposite way round – subtly

making even the easiest ofwindow treatments in vogue.

Page 8: Girls Guide to Decorating

084 | COLOUR � Using the same base shade throughout will give a deceptively roomy feel.Add flashes of concentrated brights to contrast with rich tones and create asense of luxury.

Colour All out bravery is requiredbut the effect of intense accents ofcolour is electrifying! Set against amuted background, vivid pink,saffron yellow and bold green willreally pop out at you.

Texture The staple of everygirl’s handbag, gloss reflects thelight beautifully and adds a touchof instant glamour.

Furniture Keepingfurniture within the sametonal range makes the lookvery modern and sleek andhelps a bulky item recede.

Lighting Mix and match pendantlights, table and floor lights in avariety of styles. By adding a wholehost of different lamps it’s easy tocreate small nooks of cosiness andadd interest.

making a room work for you

Page 9: Girls Guide to Decorating

084 | COLOUR � Using the same base shade throughout will give a deceptively roomy feel.Add flashes of concentrated brights to contrast with rich tones and create asense of luxury.

Colour All out bravery is requiredbut the effect of intense accents ofcolour is electrifying! Set against amuted background, vivid pink,saffron yellow and bold green willreally pop out at you.

Texture The staple of everygirl’s handbag, gloss reflects thelight beautifully and adds a touchof instant glamour.

Furniture Keepingfurniture within the sametonal range makes the lookvery modern and sleek andhelps a bulky item recede.

Lighting Mix and match pendantlights, table and floor lights in avariety of styles. By adding a wholehost of different lamps it’s easy tocreate small nooks of cosiness andadd interest.

making a room work for you

Page 10: Girls Guide to Decorating

114 | COLOUR

1 Ensure that the walls are thoroughlystripped (page 180) and any cracks andholes filled (page 181). Cover the floor andfurniture with protective sheets and applyprimer-sealer to the walls with a roller. (Ifhanging light-coloured paper on a darkerwall, use a pigmented primer-sealermatched to the paper’s backgroundcolour.) Allow at least 24 hours to dry.

2 Measure the length of paper requiredand cut from the roll, adding an extra50mm at the top and bottom for trimming.If using patterned paper, check it is thecorrect way up (the outside end of the rollis not always the top) and that there will bea complete motif at the top of the wall.Unroll the next length and match uppattern before cutting. If the design is largeor the repeat big, keep any off-cuts forsmaller areas above windows and doors.

3 Turn your first length face down on thetable and brush the wallpaper adhesivedownwards and out towards the edgesusing a pasting brush, making surecoverage is even. Wipe off paste from thesurface of the paper immediately with adamp sponge. Fold the paper in on itselffrom top and bottom to centre, and leaveto soak (the instructions on the adhesivewill tell you how long). If using pre-pastedpaper, brush on water in the same manner.

4 When hanging bold patterned papers,start from the centre of a dominant wall(for example, a chimney breast). If yourpaper is plainer then begin in a corner,working from left to right. Walls are rarelytruly square so you need to make a verticalpencil mark the width of your paper usinga plumb line. Allow the plumb to freelyswing until it rests, then mark at severalpoints down the wall behind the string. Joinup with a straightedge.

5 Carefully open the top fold of paper andlightly stick the top half of the length to thewall, lining the right side up with yourmarked vertical line. Leave 50mm at the

top of the wall for trimming. Smooth downthe middle with a paperhanger’s brush,working out towards the edges to removeair. Open the lower fold and continue asbefore to the bottom, wiping off anyexcess paste with a sponge. Run the tip ofthe scissors along where the wall meetsthe ceiling and floor to make animpression. Slowly pull the length away, cutoff the excess and brush back into place.

6 Never wrap a full width of paper aroundan inside corner – always do it in twopieces. First measure the distancebetween the edge of the last piece youhung and the corner at several pointsbetween ceiling and floor. Cut the paperalong its length about 25mm wider thanthis measurement, paste and hang withthe extra amount wrapping round thecorner. Now paste the remaining lengthand mark a vertical guide line on the nextwall, a little more than the paper’s width outfrom the corner. Hang parallel to thevertical line, brushing back into the cornerand overlapping with the 25mm alreadycarried round. Match the pattern as bestas you can. With outside corners useexactly the same technique, allowing awrap-around of at least 50mm.

7 When papering around a door orwindow frame, cut the piece roughly toshape, leaving 25mm for trimming. Brushthe paper into place alongside the frame,then score with the scissors and trim asbefore. To paper around switches, firstsmooth the wallpaper down over the fitting.Pierce the paper and, for square shapes,make diagonal cuts using a small cuttingtool from the centre of the switch to about25mm beyond each corner; for circularswitches, make a series of cuts like a starshape. Turn off the mains electricity supplyand partially unscrew the fitting. Press thewallpaper firmly around where fitting sitsand trim away the surplus. Re-screw thefitting and turn on the mains supply. Thistechnique can be adapted for radiatorsand other fixed objects in the room.

A few key (must-have) tools and alittle bit of elbowgrease are allthat’s required toturn plain janewalls into thebelle of the ball.By using the rightequipment andsticking to therules, your life willbe easier andyour walls will geta stunningpersonality.

hangingwallpaper

shopping liststepladder

protective sheetsall-in-one primer-sealer

roller brushpasting table

retractable tape measure long-bladed scissors

straightedge wallpaper adhesive

pasting brushpasting tray/bucket

water tray (if using pre-pasted paper)

spongeplumb line soft pencil

paperhanger’s brushscrewdriver

small cutting tool

see also:texture p124

glamour p152

�adding colour through pattern and design

TOP TIP: Make your workspace a thing of beauty and itwon’t intrude in your home life.Colour-coordinated files andstylish storage boxes keepstressful clutter at bay.

�{ }

Page 11: Girls Guide to Decorating

114 | COLOUR

1 Ensure that the walls are thoroughlystripped (page 180) and any cracks andholes filled (page 181). Cover the floor andfurniture with protective sheets and applyprimer-sealer to the walls with a roller. (Ifhanging light-coloured paper on a darkerwall, use a pigmented primer-sealermatched to the paper’s backgroundcolour.) Allow at least 24 hours to dry.

2 Measure the length of paper requiredand cut from the roll, adding an extra50mm at the top and bottom for trimming.If using patterned paper, check it is thecorrect way up (the outside end of the rollis not always the top) and that there will bea complete motif at the top of the wall.Unroll the next length and match uppattern before cutting. If the design is largeor the repeat big, keep any off-cuts forsmaller areas above windows and doors.

3 Turn your first length face down on thetable and brush the wallpaper adhesivedownwards and out towards the edgesusing a pasting brush, making surecoverage is even. Wipe off paste from thesurface of the paper immediately with adamp sponge. Fold the paper in on itselffrom top and bottom to centre, and leaveto soak (the instructions on the adhesivewill tell you how long). If using pre-pastedpaper, brush on water in the same manner.

4 When hanging bold patterned papers,start from the centre of a dominant wall(for example, a chimney breast). If yourpaper is plainer then begin in a corner,working from left to right. Walls are rarelytruly square so you need to make a verticalpencil mark the width of your paper usinga plumb line. Allow the plumb to freelyswing until it rests, then mark at severalpoints down the wall behind the string. Joinup with a straightedge.

5 Carefully open the top fold of paper andlightly stick the top half of the length to thewall, lining the right side up with yourmarked vertical line. Leave 50mm at the

top of the wall for trimming. Smooth downthe middle with a paperhanger’s brush,working out towards the edges to removeair. Open the lower fold and continue asbefore to the bottom, wiping off anyexcess paste with a sponge. Run the tip ofthe scissors along where the wall meetsthe ceiling and floor to make animpression. Slowly pull the length away, cutoff the excess and brush back into place.

6 Never wrap a full width of paper aroundan inside corner – always do it in twopieces. First measure the distancebetween the edge of the last piece youhung and the corner at several pointsbetween ceiling and floor. Cut the paperalong its length about 25mm wider thanthis measurement, paste and hang withthe extra amount wrapping round thecorner. Now paste the remaining lengthand mark a vertical guide line on the nextwall, a little more than the paper’s width outfrom the corner. Hang parallel to thevertical line, brushing back into the cornerand overlapping with the 25mm alreadycarried round. Match the pattern as bestas you can. With outside corners useexactly the same technique, allowing awrap-around of at least 50mm.

7 When papering around a door orwindow frame, cut the piece roughly toshape, leaving 25mm for trimming. Brushthe paper into place alongside the frame,then score with the scissors and trim asbefore. To paper around switches, firstsmooth the wallpaper down over the fitting.Pierce the paper and, for square shapes,make diagonal cuts using a small cuttingtool from the centre of the switch to about25mm beyond each corner; for circularswitches, make a series of cuts like a starshape. Turn off the mains electricity supplyand partially unscrew the fitting. Press thewallpaper firmly around where fitting sitsand trim away the surplus. Re-screw thefitting and turn on the mains supply. Thistechnique can be adapted for radiatorsand other fixed objects in the room.

A few key (must-have) tools and alittle bit of elbowgrease are allthat’s required toturn plain janewalls into thebelle of the ball.By using the rightequipment andsticking to therules, your life willbe easier andyour walls will geta stunningpersonality.

hangingwallpaper

shopping liststepladder

protective sheetsall-in-one primer-sealer

roller brushpasting table

retractable tape measure long-bladed scissors

straightedge wallpaper adhesive

pasting brushpasting tray/bucket

water tray (if using pre-pasted paper)

spongeplumb line soft pencil

paperhanger’s brushscrewdriver

small cutting tool

see also:texture p124

glamour p152

�adding colour through pattern and design

TOP TIP: Make your workspace a thing of beauty and itwon’t intrude in your home life.Colour-coordinated files andstylish storage boxes keepstressful clutter at bay.

�{ }

Page 12: Girls Guide to Decorating

TOP TIP: Make your workspace a thing of beauty and itwon’t intrude in your home life.Colour-coordinated files andstylish storage boxes keepstressful clutter at bay.

�{ }

Page 13: Girls Guide to Decorating
Page 14: Girls Guide to Decorating

decoratıng

abigail ahern

A GIRL’SGUIDE TO