You honestly need to have your own tv show or something, you’re beautiful, professional and super good at what you do, you’re funny and genuine. You would be an instant hit! Love your channel!
You always have such Great Advice, thank you!! 😁 quick note too, if people get rid of old pillows or blankets, local animal rescues love that stuff for the furry babies 🥰
Plenty of regret wasting money on these purchases that made life unbearable…1 ply toilet paper, flannel sheets during menopause phase, soap pumps that shoot the soap across the room instead of in my hand, seasonal toss pillows i must store instead of covers for the inserts I have, bath towels all the same color because no one remembers which is theirs, a new lamp shade when I really didn’t like the lamp, plastic food container set with too many pieces or crazy sizes I never use, pots and pans sets when I only need a few sizes, pots and pans with solid instead of glass lids because I can’t see when the rice is ready or the food is getting overcooked, set of 2 European shams when king bed looks better with 3, 2 sets of DR chairs that are comfortable for me but not for my family, regular garden hose and hose keeper when I should have bought expanding/retractable hose.
Art is to me what music is to most people. I am so blessed to have a family of talented artists. Almost every piece on my walls was created by one of us, and if my house was on fire I would grab as many as I could on the way out.
Watching all these styling videos I always thought I needed a rug but honestly I love how clean and simple my living room looks without a rug. Plus, much easier to clean!!
I guess it also highly depends on the flooring. We have tile everywhere except the bedrooms and without a rug it would be very cold esp. in the winter for my little kids to play
My mistake is buying an expensive couch that isn't in the color scheme , so opened pandoras box, now looking for a rug to pull everything together and pillows.
As an artist I have a suggestion that hasn't been said. A 'meh' piece of art in a good frame sometimes makes a difference. BUT a cappy frame on a great painting is unforgivable. Some modern paintings on canvas require no frame sometimes.
Agree. My two major artwork pieces are just that. A huge beautiful painting unfriend and a funny/peculiar framed photo in a gorgeous custom frame. Both were found at garage sales.
i agree. My focal point art is killing me now, because the frame is gross...ly huge. I was thinking of getting a larger mat and smaller frame. ( so that it is still the width needed behind my 92" settee) Worth the $$$ instead of spending over a grand on replacement, and I still adore the painting.
It took me almost a year to source my new sectional to find the exact right size for my space. Countless hours of searching and dozens of swatches later, my small living room looks great!
I have microsuede couches, offwhite/ light beige. I have pets myself, I use regular rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle a medium stiff plastic bristle brush to scrub out stains/spots. Looks brand new every time. Fortunately, my Weiner Dogs, are not destructive, no digging, scratching, or tearing. 🙂
Would you be able to do a personal style video? You have the cutest wardrobe and I’d love to know where you purchase your clothing and how you put your look together! 🦋❤️
Your smile is so infectious Valentina! You are a joy to watch! I totally agree with you. However, there are several real mistakes that were not mentioned. One is buying faux plants/trees that have a real plastic feel and do not look realistic or natural whatsoever. Two: Buying curtain panels that are too short i.e…filling window frame only vs ceiling to floor panels for a more designer look. Also, only putting one panel on either side of window when 2 or more panels per side will look more luxurious and voluminous. I hope this helps someone make their home look and feel like the most expensive hotel they have ever visited or seen. 😊
I was shocked how easy it cleans up. And my cats don't even seem tempted to claw it -- unlike my linen arm chair. (Tight weave linen stands up well, but I prefer them not to claw the upholstery at all.)
Online. I live in the middle of BF nowhere. So I comparison shop different sites. I think the last piece I bought was on Wayfair (hint: read all the customer reviews with photos.)
I have made the mistake of buying cheaply made bed linens to save some money and I always regret it. I’m not saying you need to spend a lot of money (I’m currently loving my Casaluna linen sheets from Target), just buy linens that are well made, the fabric feels good to the touch and they wash and wear well.
Yep, a designer brought a rug to my home, I loved the colors, still do! But, postage stamp! Nearly in living room for 40 years...yep. And advised not to cover a chair with denim. Just had it recovered the way I wanted it, in denim, and loving it! Live and learn!
I too have a smallish wool sculpted rug....the solution is to layer rugs over each other in similar colors but different patterns. You can also use textiles of various kinds over you couches and chairs. Love denim anything.
I can relate to purchasing an uncomfortable couch, we spent thousands on a new lounge that was made in Australia 🇦🇺 only for it to be so uncomfortable that I can’t even sit on it, it felt nice in the store but when we received ours in a different fabric because I wanted a white couch, it’s now sitting in our sitting area where no one uses, it’s no use selling it because I’ll never get the money back from what I paid for it,So now it’s just a feature piece sitting doing nothing and we had to go out and purchase another one that suited our needs with me having a bad back and spinal damage, a two sided recliner couch it was, Not my first choice But it is what it is, Comfort over Style in my Hampton style home. Love your tips and styling ideas. Cheers from Queensland Australia 🇦🇺🥰🥰
You will not get your (entire) money back if you sell it -but your COMFORT! Don't punish yourself for making a choice that didn't prove to be the right one for you over time!
@@popovka Thank You Kindly for your kind words, maybe one day I’ll sell it but at the moment it’s filling in a space in our Forever Home that would look empty without it there, not my first choice of what I’d put there but will do for the time being. I would of liked just two lovely winged back chairs and a lovely coffee table in that space as a little reading nook but it is what it is for the time being. xxx
Valentina, can you do a video about choosing paint colors? I've almost always done my own painting, but in my 60's now I find I hate the idea of getting on ladders. While I never worried too much about choosing the wrong paint because I could always paint over it I realize that if I have to pay someone else to paint it's going to get very costly.
Paint colors 👍🏻 I took all the samples from the store and well am still indecisive. Hahaha I like painting though. Hopefully you find someone who isn’t outrageous. I’ve seen Good work from cheaper and sloppy lines from really expensive so hope you find good word of mouth.
Quite a few brands have software that will help you see your room in a particular color. You can always by a sample of it to apply to your wall. Remember the “color” you see will change in the different light of the day. It will look very different in the light of day versus the light from the light bulb.
I regretted anything that was made from a dead animal. I watched a few videos online sbout the leather, wool and feather industry. It left me in tears and I woke up at night from nightmares due many month. I am still glad I watched them. Ignorance is bliss but wisdom is strength. Thank you for your tips, they really made me think. Especially to look into commercial Furniture was a real light bulb moment for me. I now just need to find out where to find them.
I appreciate the discussion on rugs. Appropriate sizes, materials etc. but no talk of what really makes truly valuable rugs from cheaper. That is how a rug is made and the designs. Three key ways of making rugs are machine made, device knotted or hand knotted. I always look at the bottom of a rug to tell how it’s made. Hand knotted from Persia or China can be as much as most people spend on homes, but they can heirlooms that last through generations. Hand knotted Indian rugs can be quite durable. There’s a lot to consider with the wide range of rugs other than size and material.
Original art makes a home feel like a home. I am blessed to have an artist husband and a passion for art collecting. I have sold 4 homes in the past 20 years that got 10% over the value of the home. We always had looky loo neighbors and their friends come by just to see the house based on word of mouth. I feel guilty taking the art down and delivering a blank box.
Thank you for always sharing your wisdom and helping me understand that having a stylish home doesn’t mean I have to compromise comfort and practicality 🥰
I agree with lighting… made this mistake a few times. I now bring the bulb I want to use in the lamp with me when I shop and ask for assistance from the store clerk to plug in the sample lamp in a different area of the store, etc. I also buy commercial lighting when possible for longevity.
Number 1 is so true and sad. I love white couches, but thankfully husband talked me out of it 😅 2 cats and a dog and pottery barn performance suede and performance velvet have worked so well for us
So so TRUE! We're leather only for couches and EVERY night when I see our dog scratch it before lying down-- I regret nothing as we've had it for 15+ years and it shows zero signs of wear 🙌
I am on my third white couch in 20 years. Micro suede and performance fabrics have made their care a breeze. I am on my second puppy. The only reason that I’ve replaced them over the years is as my boys moved out they took a couch so I replaced it. 👍🏻
@@CookieDr007 Lucky you! The furniture store told me cats don’t like leather. They were wrong🥺 My very expensive leather sofa and chairs were favored over our kitties’ scratching post. Every.single.day. So, now it’s performance fabric and no problems. We love it! Our cats hate it! They’ve rediscovered their scratching post! Win win 😉
So informational and well presented. As a cat owner who purchased a fairly expensive twill couch I wish I had known about velvet! Can you recommend a site to get premade velvet slip covers? Reupholstering is so expensive.
i have kids, we used to have microsuede couches which they said would be easy to clean…. nope!!!!! we now have leather and it has been great with the pets and kids so far. we also have a used MCM dining set with burnt orange velvet seats and i must say it is very easy to clean- i am totally on board with the velvet!
I'm allergic to dune filled pillows and have to use fiber. A trick is to use a size bigger filling pillow. It makes it look more filled and fluffy (actually stuffed;).
How do you chose rugs? I'd love to see a video on that. Not sizes or placement but style/pattern/design of rugs and how you chose which ones for rooms.
@@nicholby2112 the RUclips channel is DIY with KB. She should change her channel name, because she rarely does any kind of DIY, lol. But she’s an interior decorator and has lots of good advice.
Contact a reputable Persian rug merchant and ask them. One I use in Dallas is Behnam Rugs. They might have contacts for you in your area. Ben Tavakolian and his Iranian family have been in the rug business (both in Iran and here) for many generations! I had him clean and restore my expensive rugs, one valued at 8K and I bought a gorgeous, new, Indian rug from him for my home! They also do written appraisals. He teaches seminars on how not to get ripped off when buying Oriental rugs.
I sell furniture and lighting. You wouldn't believe how many people go shopping without knowing the dimensions of their room, height of their ceilings ("normal height" doesn't cut it) want to buy a rug that's too small because it's cheaper, and choose art to EXACTLY match colors in the room. Art, like flower gardens, can have multiple colors and shades, yet they're still beautiful.
@@ItsMe-vd4qi I said EXACTLY, as in the very same color of the pillows for example, not shades of that color. And if there are other colors in the art, it's a no go.
I have both cats and dogs. Yes, it’s a cat thing. They have a natural instinct to claw at things, it can’t be trained out. The only thing you can do is try to train them to prefer scratching on a post or other appropriate item. Unfortunately, cat trees are hideous, so they’re often left out of designs. Cats can also be particular, so putting the wrong kind of tree can also leave your cat going to the sofa instead. Dogs can be hard on furniture, but that’s often just from jumping into or off, so bigger dogs with untrimmed nails tend to be more problematic. This is not nearly as destructive as a cat clawing. Dogs can also have issues with chewing, which is as destructive as a cat, sometimes even worse. BUT, it’s often manageable. If it’s an anxiety thing, they can do doggy daycare or you can use slow feeders and kongs to help distract or alleviate it. Chewing for fun can be relocated to a chew toy or kong. More walks can counter dog boredom too. There’s just a whole lot more options with dogs.
Thank you for this great advice! I had an uncomfortable futon and papasan chair in my living room for years before realizing I never sat in the living room and it was a waste of space. When I could afford to, I focused on replacing it with a comfortable sofa set so I would actually sit in that room. I have bought furniture that was very comfortable but unfortunately was too big for my small living room! I finally was able to sell that set and in the market to buy new living room set. I am thankful for your advice!!
Great video, Valentina. I especially enjoyed your comment regarding art. Definitely buy what speaks to you and try to buy original pieces (although a quality giclee print can be beautiful). I have found that good places to look for original art are your local galleries. These galleries usually display pieces from local artists that include a wide range of styles and price points, and it is a great way to support local artisans. My sister, who has collected original pieces for decades, told me that once I purchased my first original piece (which I did over thirty years ago), I would be hooked. She was right! I look forward to your next video and appreciate you posting so often.
And especially check out local artists when you are on holiday - you will not only have a good feeling because it's beautiful art but even more do because it will remind you of your relaxed holiday time - total win-win!
I have a houseful of original art. I am an artist, my son is an artist and many of our friends are artists! But my suggestion is to feel free to buy art in less prestigious places. I love the many affordable and framed pieces from Target, especially the Project 62 collection. The price pays for the canvas and frame alone! My daughter, not an artist, decorates with printed pieces she finds online, and her home is beautiful. Real art is great, but super affordable art allows a person to easily change with no regrets!
Yes but sometimes they’re a little nails inevitably puncture things. For example I have a “bonded leather “ (Big mistake BTW) Sectional with the little punctures and also I have basket weave the items that she loves to use his scratching posts and because I don’t care much about them and they were more for storage under things I let her do it.
My cats use their scratch posts and do no scratch my furniture. You have to get the big sturdy ones that won't move. They are ugly but they save your furniture.
When we first moved on our house we totally hit the wrong fabric on our couch!!! And wrong size 😢 will not make those mistakes again! This is a great video. I’d love to see a tour of your house and the pieces you have in your living and dining areas.
I don't like a rug that goes under the bed. It's much harder to clean than bare floor. We have smaller rugs to step on when you get in or out of the bed.
I have a husband with very rough skin on his feet. Who would have ever imagined that his feet would destroy basket weave upholstery fabric when he laid on the living room sofa? I gave the sofa away for someone to use in her bonus room. I was embarrassed for my guests to see it.
Socks maybe. Or take palm sander with medium grit sandpaper to his feet once a week. I'm not kidding It works. Finish up with a good lotion and he will feel like a king.
Thank you for the tips . Cannot disagree with you more on the ikea furniture. I have had ikea pieces for years, no chips, etc looks like when we purchased. My computer room cabinets are 12 years old , look like the day I put them together . IKEA big in europe where my family lives and there kitchens last .
Agree 100 percent about original art. The best rooms are designed to go with the art, rather than vice versa. Big box store art really cheapens a room.
Love the video. I prefer big rugs for my living area. But I have a floor heating system, so I am skeptical about covering all area. It will be really helpful if you make a video suggesting some rug types for houses with floor heating system .
So true, Valentina!! Just recently bought a very expensive lamp that don't give any light :( very sad about it, but I leaned my lesson!! Thanks for the video :) hugs from Prague :*
I'm shopping for a new sofa, and I have a cat, but he doesn't claw furniture....but I worry that if I buy a sofa with a weave-type fabric, he'll become interested lol. If you google pet-friendly or cat-friendly sofa fabric, all the websites say microfiber. My old sofa was a gift that I did not pick out...it's microfiber. I loathe it. It is a cat hair magnet, and a stain magnet. It stains so easily that we never, ever eat or drink while on the sofa, & we keep it covered. The websites say that microfiber is such a tight weave that cat claws won't snag it. But their fur gets in that tight weave & it's difficult to clean it off. I vacuum, I use a sticky roller, I've tried the rubber glove thing....that microfiber holds onto cat hairs like they're glued to it. I really, really loathe it. IMO, the very worst fabric you can get if you have a cat is microfiber. Is there a better option?
I love under cabinet lighting. I thought it'd look weird to put it near the edge so it hangs to over the middle of your counter. So I put it in the middle of the cabinet. This isn't a huge regret for me but I'd definitely do it the other way if I re-did it.
I always learn something helpful from your videos. Thank you. One suggestion: be careful where you stand in front of your painting. It can give the impression that you have horns, which I know you don’t.
I was scared when I saw the sofa we want to order from west elm...we absolutely love that sofa. We have ordered several different fabric samples and love the distressed velvet.
I’m trying to get my son to draw a picture of my dad’s childhood home in chalk. My dad keeps telling me to get more art for my blank walls but I want to find things I really like.
Try giving your son some oil pastels and coloured paper for drawing anything he wants to get the artistic side of the brain going. Oil pastels are easy to use and perfect for children and coloured paper is much better than white. Do you have an artistic friend who can come to your home and do a photo shoot of everyone in your family? Have a friend or pro take lots of pics and I'll bet you'll find some you'll love that are worth framing, maybe even a pic of your son working on some art.
@@inGods2hands He is a talented artist. He just forgot that he is. He was a graphic design major in college. But he left with a broken heart and bad grades. He went to a local art school but they had to relocate and then we moved. We (his family) are hoping he remembers he is great at drawing. My dad gave him oil pastels when he was growing up. Both him and my daughter enjoyed them. My dad painted a picture of his childhood home with oil paints years ago. I was hoping my son would recreate it with chalk or some other medium similar. Because he is really talented at drawing. But I might be biased. 😀
Me too! We used to just decorate with windows. Loved that. And now less windows and a lot of empty space but why does everyone think we have to fill it. I haven’t found anything I want to stare at everyday I suppose.
@@kimberlygonzales2508 How sweet, you sound like the perfect mother for an artist. Difficulties in life can make us more sensitive and expand our perception. "If you can't see it, you can't draw it." If it weren't for my mother's encouragement, I might have missed out on a very wonderful 25+ years of being a portrait artist. All the best to you and your family.
Instead of putting Art on my wall I have a crystal lamp shade on a lamp in the corner & when I light it Up it casts beautiful patterns all over the blank wall.
On the lighting that doesn't light, I also think weak lights can be really nice for decoration. But you should have access to strong enough light to see full detail in every room, the problem is when you lack the access. And during night time its actually best that whatever lights you use should be almost as dim as possible, unless you're looking for a specific item. Its really not much light you need once your eyes have adjusted to darkness, and even dim lights make a big difference. Too much light could make you wake up again, besides being uncomfortable. When I use the toilet at night I usually dont turn on the light at all, the light already from coming from my bedroom and corridor is enough, and I use touch and remember where things are for the rest. Having a dim light on the bathroom would probably be nice still
p.s. speaking of rugs. 3 years ago, I bought this massive beautiful expensive white jacquard silk like rug, soft as snow and so beautiful and within 1 week my dog came and took a wiz right in the middle of it. I literally wanted to die. My dog is a tiny 5lb grey toy poodle. She's so cute you can't get mad at her. I still give her dirty looks to this day for doing that. lol
I bought velvet chairs. It was like Velcro for cat hair. I had to keep them covered. I quickly found a new home for them because I didn’t want to come home to furniture covered in sheets.
But…..what to do with a rug (or any other piece of furniture) that you otherwise love but doesn’t fit your current room, or home, because it was bought for your last house? Trying to make things from the past work for your present home is a very difficult dilemma….Any advice would be appreciated.
Yes we selected the fabric for our sectional based on the less likelihood of them using it as a scratching post & we we’re right on they don’t bother it at all! My husband was very old school in wanting a matching bedroom set & I hate it🙄 Yes I regret our sectional sofa although it fits fine
Great advice and you're adorable, but I'm having a hard time getting past that picture hanging in the background. It appears to be hung too high and that is one of my major pet peeves. Maybe it's the angle, but looking at its place next to the door frame and wainscoting, it looks too high. IMHO.
❤️ I hate that everything is beige. Why did we think this house was a good idea. The walls and floor and I want white and not this organs tinge. I think a rug will at least help because the tile we didn’t replace but it’s super light. So glad I found your video.
@@HouseofValentina 👍🏻 very. Was looking for information on setting the focal point of a room especially when there aren’t a lot of windows or fire place. I thought you had one on that before but been binge watching 😆
You honestly need to have your own tv show or something, you’re beautiful, professional and super good at what you do, you’re funny and genuine. You would be an instant hit! Love your channel!
Thank you so much!!!
I agree, but RUclips gives her more freedom.
this IS her TV show tho. :)
A G R E E D!
She's such a SNOB. MOST people can't afford high dollar "pieces".
You always have such Great Advice, thank you!! 😁 quick note too, if people get rid of old pillows or blankets, local animal rescues love that stuff for the furry babies 🥰
Plenty of regret wasting money on these purchases that made life unbearable…1 ply toilet paper, flannel sheets during menopause phase, soap pumps that shoot the soap across the room instead of in my hand, seasonal toss pillows i must store instead of covers for the inserts I have, bath towels all the same color because no one remembers which is theirs, a new lamp shade when I really didn’t like the lamp, plastic food container set with too many pieces or crazy sizes I never use, pots and pans sets when I only need a few sizes, pots and pans with solid instead of glass lids because I can’t see when the rice is ready or the food is getting overcooked, set of 2 European shams when king bed looks better with 3, 2 sets of DR chairs that are comfortable for me but not for my family, regular garden hose and hose keeper when I should have bought expanding/retractable hose.
I agree with all except the hose. I had one that the cactus plants hated.
Hahaha! LOL!
Flannel sheets? I take it that didn’t help? So no on the towels same color…Hahaha my family keeps asking for that. 👍🏻
🤣🤣🤣
I agree with everything except the one for toilet paper. Double ply clogs my toilet lol
I put a $100 frame on a $1 renoir print 30 years ago. I love it as much now as the 1st time I saw it.
Monet seaside print poster in custom frame under slightly frosted glass. Looks like a $500 art piece.
Art is to me what music is to most people. I am so blessed to have a family of talented artists. Almost every piece on my walls was created by one of us, and if my house was on fire I would grab as many as I could on the way out.
That’s wonderful!
Watching all these styling videos I always thought I needed a rug but honestly I love how clean and simple my living room looks without a rug. Plus, much easier to clean!!
I guess it also highly depends on the flooring. We have tile everywhere except the bedrooms and without a rug it would be very cold esp. in the winter for my little kids to play
YES, ONLY BUY ART YOU LOVE. That's my #1 design rule. Art is important to me.
Estate sale art. Yes!
My mistake is buying an expensive couch that isn't in the color scheme , so opened pandoras box, now looking for a rug to pull everything together and pillows.
As an artist I have a suggestion that hasn't been said. A 'meh' piece of art in a good frame sometimes makes a difference. BUT a cappy frame on a great painting is unforgivable. Some modern paintings on canvas require no frame sometimes.
Agree. My two major artwork pieces are just that. A huge beautiful painting unfriend and a funny/peculiar framed photo in a gorgeous custom frame. Both were found at garage sales.
i agree. My focal point art is killing me now, because the frame is gross...ly huge. I was thinking of getting a larger mat and smaller frame. ( so that it is still the width needed behind my 92" settee) Worth the $$$ instead of spending over a grand on replacement, and I still adore the painting.
It took me almost a year to source my new sectional to find the exact right size for my space. Countless hours of searching and dozens of swatches later, my small living room looks great!
May I ask where you found it
I have microsuede couches, offwhite/ light beige. I have pets myself, I use regular rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle a medium stiff plastic bristle brush to scrub out stains/spots. Looks brand new every time. Fortunately, my Weiner Dogs, are not destructive, no digging, scratching, or tearing. 🙂
Would you be able to do a personal style video? You have the cutest wardrobe and I’d love to know where you purchase your clothing and how you put your look together! 🦋❤️
Agreed. I was just watching this and wondered where she got her blouse.
Would definitely watch that video. She has such great style 😍
Great suggestion! I would love that
Loved the dinner! What a beautiful way to raise your children!
Your local gallery is another source for all kinds of art and crafty pieces that are unique ....support local.
Your smile is so infectious Valentina! You are a joy to watch! I totally agree with you. However, there are several real mistakes that were not mentioned. One is buying faux plants/trees that have a real plastic feel and do not look realistic or natural whatsoever. Two: Buying curtain panels that are too short i.e…filling window frame only vs ceiling to floor panels for a more designer look. Also, only putting one panel on either side of window when 2 or more panels per side will look more luxurious and voluminous.
I hope this helps someone make their home look and feel like the most expensive hotel they have ever visited or seen. 😊
I think having a rug that’s not big enough for a space is one of my pet peeves.
Hahaha me too 😯
I kid you not, high performance velvet is absolutely awesome. You can brush the cat hair off with your hand, you don't even need a brush.
Thanks for sharing! I struggle with cat hair a lot snd couldn’t tell if velvet was actually good
I was shocked how easy it cleans up. And my cats don't even seem tempted to claw it -- unlike my linen arm chair. (Tight weave linen stands up well, but I prefer them not to claw the upholstery at all.)
Where do you buy your high performance velvet-clad furniture? Thx!
Online. I live in the middle of BF nowhere. So I comparison shop different sites. I think the last piece I bought was on Wayfair (hint: read all the customer reviews with photos.)
@@bricksloth6920 Thanks! I’m in need of cat proof upholstery!
I love your no-nonsense approach! Elegance and intelligence. Congrats
I have made all 10 errors , I am embarrassed to say! Great video!
I'm moving from a house to an apartment... ALL ART MUST BR KEPT AND USED!!!!! I ❤ my art!!!
I have made the mistake of buying cheaply made bed linens to save some money and I always regret it. I’m not saying you need to spend a lot of money (I’m currently loving my Casaluna linen sheets from Target), just buy linens that are well made, the fabric feels good to the touch and they wash and wear well.
Your videos just keep getting better and better! 🖤
I love this show. Just trying to make my home look fabulous.
Yep, a designer brought a rug to my home, I loved the colors, still do! But, postage stamp! Nearly in living room for 40 years...yep. And advised not to cover a chair with denim. Just had it recovered the way I wanted it, in denim, and loving it! Live and learn!
I too have a smallish wool sculpted rug....the solution is to layer rugs over each other in similar colors but different patterns. You can also use textiles of various kinds over you couches and chairs. Love denim anything.
Lights that don’t light…LOL! Amen to performance fabrics! Between my husband, dogs and cat performance fabrics are a must
Such a great video!!! please keep sending this kinds of tips that only experience bring! thank you
I can relate to purchasing an uncomfortable couch, we spent thousands on a new lounge that was made in Australia 🇦🇺 only for it to be so uncomfortable that I can’t even sit on it, it felt nice in the store but when we received ours in a different fabric because I wanted a white couch, it’s now sitting in our sitting area where no one uses, it’s no use selling it because I’ll never get the money back from what I paid for it,So now it’s just a feature piece sitting doing nothing and we had to go out and purchase another one that suited our needs with me having a bad back and spinal damage, a two sided recliner couch it was, Not my first choice But it is what it is, Comfort over Style in my Hampton style home. Love your tips and styling ideas. Cheers from Queensland Australia 🇦🇺🥰🥰
You will not get your (entire) money back if you sell it -but your COMFORT!
Don't punish yourself for making a choice that didn't prove to be the right one for you over time!
@@popovka Thank You Kindly for your kind words, maybe one day I’ll sell it but at the moment it’s filling in a space in our Forever Home that would look empty without it there, not my first choice of what I’d put there but will do for the time being. I would of liked just two lovely winged back chairs and a lovely coffee table in that space as a little reading nook but it is what it is for the time being. xxx
Valentina, can you do a video about choosing paint colors? I've almost always done my own painting, but in my 60's now I find I hate the idea of getting on ladders. While I never worried too much about choosing the wrong paint because I could always paint over it I realize that if I have to pay someone else to paint it's going to get very costly.
Paint colors 👍🏻 I took all the samples from the store and well am still indecisive. Hahaha I like painting though. Hopefully you find someone who isn’t outrageous. I’ve seen Good work from cheaper and sloppy lines from really expensive so hope you find good word of mouth.
Quite a few brands have software that will help you see your room in a particular color. You can always by a sample of it to apply to your wall. Remember the “color” you see will change in the different light of the day. It will look very different in the light of day versus the light from the light bulb.
Ask a prominent realtor for a referral to a house painter!
I regretted anything that was made from a dead animal. I watched a few videos online sbout the leather, wool and feather industry. It left me in tears and I woke up at night from nightmares due many month. I am still glad I watched them. Ignorance is bliss but wisdom is strength. Thank you for your tips, they really made me think. Especially to look into commercial Furniture was a real light bulb moment for me. I now just need to find out where to find them.
I appreciate the discussion on rugs. Appropriate sizes, materials etc. but no talk of what really makes truly valuable rugs from cheaper. That is how a rug is made and the designs. Three key ways of making rugs are machine made, device knotted or hand knotted. I always look at the bottom of a rug to tell how it’s made. Hand knotted from Persia or China can be as much as most people spend on homes, but they can heirlooms that last through generations. Hand knotted Indian rugs can be quite durable. There’s a lot to consider with the wide range of rugs other than size and material.
Oh man. Those dreamy black walls… 🥰
I used to have a friend who always gave decorating tips to others. But her own house was 2 boxes away from an episode of HORDERS. LOL
Original art makes a home feel like a home. I am blessed to have an artist husband and a passion for art collecting. I have sold 4 homes in the past 20 years that got 10% over the value of the home. We always had looky loo neighbors and their friends come by just to see the house based on word of mouth. I feel guilty taking the art down and delivering a blank box.
Thank you for always sharing your wisdom and helping me understand that having a stylish home doesn’t mean I have to compromise comfort and practicality 🥰
You can often buy quality solid wood second hand furniture for less than oney than new particle board with a synthetic top that looks uber cheap.
Very helpful! Rug and art shopping now. Really need to hear this! Thank you!
Love the video! what are your thoughts on family photos around the home? I see you have mostly art. I love it!
It's so true! I bought a dining room table with a leaf. Even without the leaf, it's really tight in my dining room. Wish I had measured first!!!
Artwork hung to high on the wall... especially over the sofa... I am enjoying your presentations. Wish you were close by!
I agree with lighting… made this mistake a few times. I now bring the bulb I want to use in the lamp with me when I shop and ask for assistance from the store clerk to plug in the sample lamp in a different area of the store, etc. I also buy commercial lighting when possible for longevity.
Thank you for all these advices! I think they are all very true. Hope you can make another video about this topic.
Thanks so much!!
Number 1 is so true and sad. I love white couches, but thankfully husband talked me out of it 😅 2 cats and a dog and pottery barn performance suede and performance velvet have worked so well for us
So so TRUE! We're leather only for couches and EVERY night when I see our dog scratch it before lying down-- I regret nothing as we've had it for 15+ years and it shows zero signs of wear 🙌
You don't make the rationale decisions in the family, do you?
I am on my third white couch in 20 years. Micro suede and performance fabrics have made their care a breeze. I am on my second puppy. The only reason that I’ve replaced them over the years is as my boys moved out they took a couch so I replaced it. 👍🏻
@@CookieDr007 Lucky you! The furniture store told me cats don’t like leather. They were wrong🥺 My very expensive leather sofa and chairs were favored over our kitties’ scratching post. Every.single.day. So, now it’s performance fabric and no problems. We love it! Our cats hate it! They’ve rediscovered their scratching post! Win win 😉
love the paint colour on your walls and door - care to share the shade and maker of the paint? please and thank you
Thank you for the rug sizing images!!!
So informational and well presented. As a cat owner who purchased a fairly expensive twill couch I wish I had known about velvet! Can you recommend a site to get premade velvet slip covers? Reupholstering is so expensive.
I've learned to buy leather furniture with pets.🍀
i have kids, we used to have microsuede couches which they said would be easy to clean…. nope!!!!! we now have leather and it has been great with the pets and kids so far. we also have a used MCM dining set with burnt orange velvet seats and i must say it is very easy to clean- i am totally on board with the velvet!
Yep. After several microsuede couches I invested in black leather couches.
I relate with statement " projects sit in a pile for a long time, and never get done"
I'm allergic to dune filled pillows and have to use fiber. A trick is to use a size bigger filling pillow. It makes it look more filled and fluffy (actually stuffed;).
Yes!! On the lights that dont! I looked for a long time for pendants for kitchen and finally settled on clear glass😃. They do light up the room🥰
Excellent! What a great video, and yes I am so guilty of a few things you mention..thanks so much...
How do you chose rugs? I'd love to see a video on that. Not sizes or placement but style/pattern/design of rugs and how you chose which ones for rooms.
See KB's videos; her RUclips channel is not so wordy with so much useful information!
@@sonjaweindling9915 Who is KB?
@@nicholby2112 the RUclips channel is DIY with KB. She should change her channel name, because she rarely does any kind of DIY, lol. But she’s an interior decorator and has lots of good advice.
Contact a reputable Persian rug merchant and ask them. One I use in Dallas is Behnam Rugs. They might have contacts for you in your area. Ben Tavakolian and his Iranian family have been in the rug business (both in Iran and here) for many generations! I had him clean and restore my expensive rugs, one valued at 8K and I bought a gorgeous, new, Indian rug from him for my home! They also do written appraisals. He teaches seminars on how not to get ripped off when buying Oriental rugs.
I sell furniture and lighting. You wouldn't believe how many people go shopping without knowing the dimensions of their room, height of their ceilings ("normal height" doesn't cut it) want to buy a rug that's too small because it's cheaper, and choose art to EXACTLY match colors in the room. Art, like flower gardens, can have multiple colors and shades, yet they're still beautiful.
I don't think dark shades always look seedy. And if some lamps are for ambiance with additional task-type added, it adds interest~
How else are they supposed to tie a room together if the art doesn’t match the colors in their room?
@@ItsMe-vd4qi I said EXACTLY, as in the very same color of the pillows for example, not shades of that color. And if there are other colors in the art, it's a no go.
I have both cats and dogs. Yes, it’s a cat thing. They have a natural instinct to claw at things, it can’t be trained out. The only thing you can do is try to train them to prefer scratching on a post or other appropriate item. Unfortunately, cat trees are hideous, so they’re often left out of designs. Cats can also be particular, so putting the wrong kind of tree can also leave your cat going to the sofa instead.
Dogs can be hard on furniture, but that’s often just from jumping into or off, so bigger dogs with untrimmed nails tend to be more problematic. This is not nearly as destructive as a cat clawing. Dogs can also have issues with chewing, which is as destructive as a cat, sometimes even worse. BUT, it’s often manageable. If it’s an anxiety thing, they can do doggy daycare or you can use slow feeders and kongs to help distract or alleviate it. Chewing for fun can be relocated to a chew toy or kong. More walks can counter dog boredom too. There’s just a whole lot more options with dogs.
I completely agree with all of these, especially the trendy accessories.
Building a new house with dogs this information is so valuable, thank you!
Your tutorial on lighting is excellent.
I am curious what you think of recessed lighting? Thank you, I would really appreciate your input.
Love your outfit ❤️
Yes you should have your own line at target Dark Moody color palette by Valentina ❤️
Your outfit is beautiful.
Awesome tips V! Great vid per usual!
Thank you for this great advice! I had an uncomfortable futon and papasan chair in my living room for years before realizing I never sat in the living room and it was a waste of space. When I could afford to, I focused on replacing it with a comfortable sofa set so I would actually sit in that room. I have bought furniture that was very comfortable but unfortunately was too big for my small living room! I finally was able to sell that set and in the market to buy new living room set. I am thankful for your advice!!
Great video, wish I could say I haven't made several of those mistakes, but I've learned from them. It's a process.. Tfs!
Great video, Valentina. I especially enjoyed your comment regarding art. Definitely buy what speaks to you and try to buy original pieces (although a quality giclee print can be beautiful). I have found that good places to look for original art are your local galleries. These galleries usually display pieces from local artists that include a wide range of styles and price points, and it is a great way to support local artisans. My sister, who has collected original pieces for decades, told me that once I purchased my first original piece (which I did over thirty years ago), I would be hooked. She was right! I look forward to your next video and appreciate you posting so often.
And especially check out local artists when you are on holiday - you will not only have a good feeling because it's beautiful art but even more do because it will remind you of your relaxed holiday time - total win-win!
@@popovka Yes!! I have done that often.
I have a houseful of original art. I am an artist, my son is an artist and many of our friends are artists! But my suggestion is to feel free to buy art in less prestigious places. I love the many affordable and framed pieces from Target, especially the Project 62 collection. The price pays for the canvas and frame alone! My daughter, not an artist, decorates with printed pieces she finds online, and her home is beautiful. Real art is great, but super affordable art allows a person to easily change with no regrets!
Yes but sometimes they’re a little nails inevitably puncture things. For example I have a “bonded leather “ (Big mistake BTW) Sectional with the little punctures and also I have basket weave the items that she loves to use his scratching posts and because I don’t care much about them and they were more for storage under things I let her do it.
Please do a video about wall art!!
My cats use their scratch posts and do no scratch my furniture. You have to get the big sturdy ones that won't move. They are ugly but they save your furniture.
They sell a square shaped, tall sisal post that’s attractive & has been a godsend!
You are so amazing and so beautiful . Thank you
When we first moved on our house we totally hit the wrong fabric on our couch!!! And wrong size 😢 will not make those mistakes again! This is a great video. I’d love to see a tour of your house and the pieces you have in your living and dining areas.
Agree with so much of this - great info! PS LOVE that blouse!! xoxo
I don't like a rug that goes under the bed. It's much harder to clean than bare floor. We have smaller rugs to step on when you get in or out of the bed.
I have a husband with very rough skin on his feet. Who would have ever imagined that his feet would destroy basket weave upholstery fabric when he laid on the living room sofa? I gave the sofa away for someone to use in her bonus room. I was embarrassed for my guests to see it.
A pedicure perhaps?
Socks maybe. Or take palm sander with medium grit sandpaper to his feet once a week. I'm not kidding
It works. Finish up with a good lotion and he will feel like a king.
Thank you for the tips . Cannot disagree with you more on the ikea furniture. I have had ikea pieces for years, no chips, etc looks like when we purchased. My computer room cabinets are 12 years old , look like the day I put them together . IKEA big in europe where my family lives and there kitchens last .
Agree 100 percent about original art. The best rooms are designed to go with the art, rather than vice versa. Big box store art really cheapens a room.
Love the video. I prefer big rugs for my living area. But I have a floor heating system, so I am skeptical about covering all area. It will be really helpful if you make a video suggesting some rug types for houses with floor heating system .
Would thinner ones be best for that? My uninformed first thought at least.
I had a woven fabric chair. Cat shredded it. I reupholstered it in velvet. Cat shredded it......
So true, Valentina!! Just recently bought a very expensive lamp that don't give any light :( very sad about it, but I leaned my lesson!! Thanks for the video :) hugs from Prague :*
I'm shopping for a new sofa, and I have a cat, but he doesn't claw furniture....but I worry that if I buy a sofa with a weave-type fabric, he'll become interested lol.
If you google pet-friendly or cat-friendly sofa fabric, all the websites say microfiber.
My old sofa was a gift that I did not pick out...it's microfiber. I loathe it.
It is a cat hair magnet, and a stain magnet. It stains so easily that we never, ever eat or drink while on the sofa, & we keep it covered.
The websites say that microfiber is such a tight weave that cat claws won't snag it. But their fur gets in that tight weave & it's difficult to clean it off. I vacuum, I use a sticky roller, I've tried the rubber glove thing....that microfiber holds onto cat hairs like they're glued to it. I really, really loathe it.
IMO, the very worst fabric you can get if you have a cat is microfiber.
Is there a better option?
I love under cabinet lighting. I thought it'd look weird to put it near the edge so it hangs to over the middle of your counter. So I put it in the middle of the cabinet. This isn't a huge regret for me but I'd definitely do it the other way if I re-did it.
Thanks for this comment I had been thinking the same thing as you did while thinking about getting it!
@@Mamado88 all the way forward is the way to go. Even for in-cabinet lighting! I have learned
Ya'll are amazing
I always learn something helpful from your videos. Thank you. One suggestion: be careful where you stand in front of your painting. It can give the impression that you have horns, which I know you don’t.
Such a helpful video!
I was scared when I saw the sofa we want to order from west elm...we absolutely love that sofa. We have ordered several different fabric samples and love the distressed velvet.
I would love to see something about lighting for your artwork to give it a gallery feel.
Can I please ask where you got your black leather sofa?
One of my pet peeves is styled coffee tables styled where there is no room for the coffee tray. or it is so heavy that it cannot be moved
very helpful!
I have those lamps. Pottery barn right? Love them. ❤️
I’m trying to get my son to draw a picture of my dad’s childhood home in chalk. My dad keeps telling me to get more art for my blank walls but I want to find things I really like.
Try giving your son some oil pastels and coloured paper for drawing anything he wants to get the artistic side of the brain going. Oil pastels are easy to use and perfect for children and coloured paper is much better than white.
Do you have an artistic friend who can come to your home and do a photo shoot of everyone in your family? Have a friend or pro take lots of pics and I'll bet you'll find some you'll love that are worth framing, maybe even a pic of your son working on some art.
@@inGods2hands He is a talented artist. He just forgot that he is. He was a graphic design major in college. But he left with a broken heart and bad grades. He went to a local art school but they had to relocate and then we moved. We (his family) are hoping he remembers he is great at drawing.
My dad gave him oil pastels when he was growing up. Both him and my daughter enjoyed them.
My dad painted a picture of his childhood home with oil paints years ago. I was hoping my son would recreate it with chalk or some other medium similar. Because he is really talented at drawing. But I might be biased. 😀
Me too! We used to just decorate with windows. Loved that. And now less windows and a lot of empty space but why does everyone think we have to fill it. I haven’t found anything I want to stare at everyday I suppose.
@@kimberlygonzales2508 How sweet, you sound like the perfect mother for an artist.
Difficulties in life can make us more sensitive and expand our perception. "If you can't see it, you can't draw it."
If it weren't for my mother's encouragement, I might have missed out on a very wonderful 25+ years of being a portrait artist.
All the best to you and your family.
Instead of putting Art on my wall I have a crystal lamp shade on a lamp in the corner & when I light it Up it casts beautiful patterns all over the blank wall.
On the lighting that doesn't light, I also think weak lights can be really nice for decoration. But you should have access to strong enough light to see full detail in every room, the problem is when you lack the access.
And during night time its actually best that whatever lights you use should be almost as dim as possible, unless you're looking for a specific item. Its really not much light you need once your eyes have adjusted to darkness, and even dim lights make a big difference. Too much light could make you wake up again, besides being uncomfortable. When I use the toilet at night I usually dont turn on the light at all, the light already from coming from my bedroom and corridor is enough, and I use touch and remember where things are for the rest. Having a dim light on the bathroom would probably be nice still
P.S. I enjoy your site. Thank you for your helpful hints and content.
Valentina is my new favorite thing since sliced bread.
p.s. speaking of rugs. 3 years ago, I bought this massive beautiful expensive white jacquard silk like rug, soft as snow and so beautiful and within 1 week my dog came and took a wiz right in the middle of it. I literally wanted to die. My dog is a tiny 5lb grey toy poodle. She's so cute you can't get mad at her. I still give her dirty looks to this day for doing that. lol
p.s.s. yes i'm binging your channel because i luvvvv u!!! 🥰
valentina, we have the same hairdo. are you ok with that? hahaha
That is so sweet, thanks!!!
Gal friend hi I love your choice of the color in your home lol from Kenya 🇰🇪
I bought velvet chairs. It was like Velcro for cat hair. I had to keep them covered. I quickly found a new home for them because I didn’t want to come home to furniture covered in sheets.
Another great video! I’d love some tips on decorating a kids/teenagers room in a stylish way ❤️
Yes, I am guilty of buying chairs that were too tall and blocked the view of the room 😩
But…..what to do with a rug (or any other piece of furniture) that you otherwise love but doesn’t fit your current room, or home, because it was bought for your last house? Trying to make things from the past work for your present home is a very difficult dilemma….Any advice would be appreciated.
Yes we selected the fabric for our sectional based on the less likelihood of them using it as a scratching post & we we’re right on they don’t bother it at all! My husband was very old school in wanting a matching bedroom set & I hate it🙄 Yes I regret our sectional sofa although it fits fine
I love your videos I just discovered them today and I can’t stop watching them! I’ve already taken a lot of blinds down to update my house ❤️
Great advice and you're adorable, but I'm having a hard time getting past that picture hanging in the background. It appears to be hung too high and that is one of my major pet peeves. Maybe it's the angle, but looking at its place next to the door frame and wainscoting, it looks too high. IMHO.
My pet peeve is art hung too low. They used to say eye level, for who? I'm 5 ft tall (or short). Is there a measurement to go by?
Do you have any suggestions for purchasing furniture online? I need to sit in it. I've bought two sets of chairs and none of them fit me.
❤️ I hate that everything is beige. Why did we think this house was a good idea. The walls and floor and I want white and not this organs tinge. I think a rug will at least help because the tile we didn’t replace but it’s super light. So glad I found your video.
I’m so glad that it’s helpful to you!
@@HouseofValentina 👍🏻 very. Was looking for information on setting the focal point of a room especially when there aren’t a lot of windows or fire place. I thought you had one on that before but been binge watching 😆