Measurements are:  16" in diameter x 7" at it's highest point

This piece is for sale.  Please email us at: Laura@LauraGillsInteriorDesign.com

The following article is being published on our website courtesy of the Plain Dealer, 12/16/2009

Winter design means making your apartment warm and inviting, By Jill Sell

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Someone once said that the best way to decorate your Ohio home for the winter is to hang a "Be Back Soon" sign on the door and head for a sunny climate. Let's admit, Cleveland winters can be challenging. But the harder and faster the snow falls, the more our homes can be warm and inviting.

"I think one of the greatest challenges of the winter months is lack of sunlight. We come home from work and it's dark," said Laura Gills, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers and owner of Laura Gills Interior Design. "One of my personal favorite things to do is to have a few electric pillar candles around, especially on my nightstand. I can't handle glaring lights first thing in the morning when the sun hasn't risen. I usually drink my first cup of coffee by 'candlelight.'"

Gills also likes adding "a few reflective surfaces, whether that means shimmery fabrics or crystal bling, that embrace whatever light is present."

"But really, I think my favorite wintertime accessory is the big faux fur throw on my couch," Gills confessed.

Jennifer Monachino is co-owner of Monarch Interiors in Highland Heights. Monachino believes that it is important to create "comfort and visual pleasure, especially in the winter months, by implementing various forms of texture in a space."

"Generally speaking, try to blend and mix materials, shapes and colors to form a well balanced and comfortable space," said Monachino. "There are no rules to this, so one can combine various elements such as leather, wool, cotton, or silk or pair them with stone, wood, cork, and glass. A "winter design" can follow these guidelines regardless of your space or color palette."

Few people switch out entire rooms of furniture and draping these days when seasons change. That was a practice that was favored by rich aristocracy who had a lot of servants to do the hard work. While that idea is hardly in favor anymore, there are some ideas that make sense and can be adapted to modern interior design. For example, deeper, darker tones give the illusion of warmth. Shears can be replaced by heavier, darker colored drapes that act as insulators. Light-colored, parchment-like lampshades can be exchanged for navy blue, cranberry, black, or natural-grass textured ones. Just remember that a darker shade may not allow as much illumination into a room, something that you want plenty of on short, dark winter days.

Some designers suggest that bright colors are the answer to winter doldrums in an apartment. Try throws, couch covers, and pillows in bold, striped fabric or a warm-colored area rug over neutral carpeting.

And if you are lucky enough to have a fireplace in your apartment or rental home, don't wait until company comes over to light it. A beautiful fire on a cold night is the best interior design element that anyone could want. Jill Sell is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, home and garden.

Jill can be reached at jillsell@en.com.