Decorators' AllianceMember Articles

How to Bribe Your Closet to be Your Friend

2007-10-31T21:44:00.000-05:00

By Ada Gonzalez

After following these tips your “new found friend” (your closet!) will always be there for you when you need an item from it.

Clothes: Sort & arrange shirts by sleeve length (from long to short) – this will make the space look & feel organized and roomier. To maximize space, buy a hanging closet rod (cost is approx. $10) so you can place clothes on the bottom of your closet.

Shoes: Sort shoes by usage. Those used more often should be accessible, least used should be placed from your farthest reach. If your closet is too small to place a long shoe rack, I recommend that you purchase clear cubbies that stack upwards & sideways (cost is approx. $7). To keep your tall boots from drooping over, roll up an old magazine & insert it into your boots.

Bags: Hang – hang – hang! Hang all bags that have straps. I suggest you use “S” hooks (sold at most local hardware). The key is to hang the bags in a space that is viewable & accessible without having to pull one bag out and fear an avalanche (yikes!).

Door: Maximize your door space – “INSIDE” your door. I recommend placing a garment hook (about 5” length – approx. $9) inside your door, here you can place a few business suits for the week or pick and place the clothes you will be wearing after you shower in the morning.

The fact is that these tips are common sense, but when closets are cluttered people tend to just drop items anywhere & everywhere; therefore THE KEY is to have a designated area for items so every time you open your closet you will (by habit) know where to drop, pick, pull, place, look in, or reach for your item – it’s almost as if your “friend” hands it to you when you open the closet door.

Again, the key to having an organized closet is to have designated areas for all your items within your closet. If you treat your closet with a few economical commodities, it will return the favor by staying de-cluttered and organized.

© 2007 Ada’s Interior Design, Inc. P.O.Box 1337 New Rochelle, NY 10802
_________________________________________________________

Email: ada@adasdesigninc.com
Web: http://www.adasdesigninc.com/

Ada Gonzalez is an interior decorator who designs solutions that provide comfort & function with a BIG SPLASH of style without having to spend hi-end prices on furniture & furnishings. Her designs have been featured in the Life & Style section of The Journal News newspaper. In April 2007 she won a design competition called "Interior Motives". Her ezine called Smart Decorating!, which offers FREE DECORATING TIPS, is her way of helping people across the United States learn to comfortably live in and love their homes – to get more information go to http://www.adasdecoratingsolutions.com/

Paint That “WILL” Impress You! Got Milk?

2007-10-31T21:37:00.000-05:00

By Ada Gonzalez

The most economical way to transform a room is by using paint. Whether it is used as a SPLASH of color or in full scale it WILL MAKE A HUGE difference in how your room "feels" and "looks". Below I reveal MY favorite impressive paints. I bet that at least ONE of them (if not all) will IMPRESS YOU. Here they are:

Chalkboard Paint! This is my latest FAVORITE! I am a firm believer that ADULTS can have FUN TOO which is why I like using chalkboard paint to modernize a look "in an unconventional way". All you need is to prime the wall 1st, then paint away, let dry and HAVE FUN WRITING ON THE WALLS. Chalk is easily removable with paper/water or an eraser board.

Magnetic Paint! What is AMAZING about this paint - well apart from transforming your wall into a magnetic surface - is that the magnetic paint is actually the primer; therefore you can select your own paint (whatever color your heart desires) as the top coat. How COOL is THAT! Go to http://www.kling.com/ for more information.

Metallic Paint! How luxurious would the color of pearls look on your wall. Well, now you can EASILY achieve it! Ever dream of having an area with the colors & shine of gold, bronze, copper, and silver? Well now you can! Go to http://www.benjaminmoore.com/ for more information.

Milk Paint! Yes, you read correctly. The ingredients (now don't try to brew this at home!) are milk/cottage cheese, lime, and earth pigment. The paint is intended to be applied to wood. It is environmentally safe, weather resistant, has no harmful odors, and easy to clean up. How impressive is THAT! Want more information? Go to http://www.realmilkpaint.com/ for more information. GOT MILK?

Did I win the bet? Did I surprise and impress you with the paint selection? Remember there are TONS of unique paint & painting techniques to use! I strive to always present my clients with unique painting ideas and I would be happy to help you as well.

© 2007 Ada’s Interior Design, Inc. P.O.Box 1337 New Rochelle, NY 10802
___________________________________________________

Email: ada@adasdesigninc.com
Web: http://www.adasdesigninc.com/

Ada Gonzalez is an interior decorator who designs solutions that provide comfort & function with a BIG SPLASH of style without having to spend hi-end prices on furniture & furnishings. Her designs have been featured in the Life & Style section of The Journal News newspaper. In April 2007 she won a design competition called "Interior Motives". Her ezine called Smart Decorating!, which offers FREE DECORATING TIPS, is her way of helping people across the United States learn to comfortably live in and love their homes – to get more information go to http://www.adasdecoratingsolutions.com/

ACCESSORIZING WITH TABLESCAPES

2007-10-31T21:24:00.000-05:00

Ideas for accessory vignettes to complete a room’s total picture

By Nan Harris

Look at a natural landscape and you will notice that groupings of trees, grasses, hills and water against the backdrop of the sky make up nature’s total picture. The same visual concept can be applied to interior design elements we might refer to as tablescapes, displays of décor items on horizontal surfaces in a room. These décor vignettes bring personality to the room and add the eye-pleasing finishing touches that complete your decorated space.

Tablescapes should contain items of varying heights and sizes. Groupings of odd numbers (threes and fives) are most visually appealing. In your planned grouping, create a triangle; a tall vase can be placed next to a small stack of books or a decorative box and completed with a treasured collectible or sculpture. A lamp may be accompanied by a framed family photo and accented with a colorful ceramic bowl or shiny pot containing greenery. On the coffee table start with a metal or basket-weave tray and arrange pillar candles of various heights and widths for your grouping.

Create a tablescape of your favorite collectibles. Collections of figurines, boxes, dolls, antiques, etc., are often over-displayed by their collectors. They are much more attractive when grouped in smaller numbers in vignettes. Rotating the pieces of a collection throughout the year avoids boredom and creates interest.

Try composing a tablescape of same-colored glass items together on a shelf. Start with a plate on a holder to serve as an anchor for the grouping. Then allow varying sizes of vases and bottles to fill in the spaces in front of and next to the plate. Overlapping the edges of two out of three of the items adds dimension and helps to avoid the monotony of equal spacing. The variety of sizes and shapes of a single-colored theme is an eye-catching feature.

As you accessorize your room, remember that not all horizontal surfaces need to be occupied. If every surface is covered, there can be a feeling of uncomfortable busyness. Intentionally leaving some vacant horizontal space is a practical and artistic element of your room’s total picture.
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Nan Harris, Design Consultant and Décor Stylist, is the owner of Decorative Expressions, LLC in Geneva, IL, specializing in affordable home décor solutions for everyday living.
Phone: 630-715-3771
e-mail: decor2please@yahoo.com
http://www.decorativeexpressions.net/

Mistakes That Can SAVE You Money

2007-09-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

By Ada Gonzalez

Do you want to spruce up your room, but have a small budget? Do you think you cannot afford new paint for your walls, new furniture, or re-upholstery fabric? Well, THINK AGAIN! Below are a few secrets on how you can take advantage of other people's mistakes and transform your room with a small budget.

PAINT: Most paint stores have Oops paints. What is Oops paint? They are custom color paints that are either mixed incorrectly (hence the name "Oops"), or customers decide that they do not want after the paint was mixed, or left overs from new employer training sessions. These gallons of paints are about 1/2 off ... yes HALF off! So if you don't know what color to choose for your wall, take one of your favorite items within the room to the paint store & see which Oops paint best compliments your favorite item.

FURNITURE: Do you know a clothing store that sells name brand clothes at a low price? The reason the prices are so low is that the items usually have a "mistake" from production unnoticeable to most ... it could be a size tag sewn upside down, a crooked hem, or the wrong thread color used. Some hi-end furniture stores offer GREAT discounts to reduce their inventory of returned or defective items that have teeny tiny faults. Just because an item was returned does NOT mean that it is damaged, or used, or is of bad quality. A return could simply mean that the customer didn't like the color when they saw it in their home, or it didn't fit in their space, or maybe they just changed their mind on the expense. Well, take ADVANTAGE of these returns and SAY GIVE ME THE DISCOUNT!

FABRIC: Once in a while (more times than we wish it would happen), a fabric store will ship the wrong fabric and since they cut the correct amount of yards specified BUT shipped the WRONG fabric they have no other choice but to take the already cut fabric back to sit at the store hoping that it would sell. Do I hear DISCOUNT? You betcha! Also, non-trade (trade = interior designers only!) fabric stores tend to keep their large variety of discounted fabric at the back of the stores. They usually entice customers with a few discount items at the entrance hoping you will fall in love with the fabrics in the middle of the store before you reach the back (DISCOUNT HEAVEN!).

So get a NEW wall color, NEW furniture, and NEW fabric selections for LOW prices! Then show off to all your friends and family how you transformed your room to be hi-end without the hi-end prices! Feel free to tell them that you learned the secrets from Ada!
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© 2007 Ada’s Interior Design, Inc. P.O.Box 1337 New Rochelle, NY 10802

Email: ada@adasdesigninc.com
Web: www.adasdesigninc.com

Ada Gonzalez is an interior decorator who designs solutions that provide comfort & function with a BIG SPLASH of style without having to spend hi-end prices on furniture & furnishings. Her designs have been featured in the Life & Style section of The Journal News newspaper. In April 2007 she won a design competition called "Interior Motives". Her ezine called Smart Decorating!, which offers FREE DECORATING TIPS, is her way of helping people across the United States learn to comfortably live in and love their homes – to get more information go to www.adasdecoratingsolutions.com

Top 3 Rules for Instant Comfort at Home

2007-09-08T22:27:00.000-05:00

By Ada Gonzalez

Do you sometimes feel the blues, agitated, or flustered entering or leaving your home? - most likely because you cannot find an item, stubbed your toe, or do not like how your home looks? If so, then follow the below short checklist to be on your way to HAVING and MAINTAINING comfort in your home. Remember, YOU have the power to change HOW you live!

These are the top (3) rules that you can implement to see and feel immediate comfort in your home:

___ (1) Mail & Keys (Where are thou?). Just like there is an alarm for finding your car in a crowded parking lot, don't you wish you had one for your keys? Are you one of many people that remember receiving mail, but just can't seem to remember where they placed it; or do you have different "mail mountains" piled up. A MUST in order to have the sense of "ahhh" when you arrive at home and "yeeeahh" when you leave your home (without having to play detective to find your keys) is to have a shelf, bin, or key/mail holder near your entry door where you can easily drop or pick up these necessities. Key work is "ENTRY DOOR" not kitchen table, or living room console, but the space you enter & leave from every day. Even if you do not open all your mail, it is imperative for your comfort to keep it ALL in one place. Don't believe me? Try it out for one week and you will feel the difference and fall in love again (or even more!) with your home. Even a simple duck with a clothespin as the beak can HELP hold your mail!

____ (2) Good lighting (peek a boo)! There are 3 types of lighting: task (such as for reading), general (overall lighting that consumes a room), and mood lighting (like many used in a restaurant for a romantic dinner). So if YOU have the wrong lighting, YOU will not be comfortable. Imagine being in a spa - you enter a room with dim lights - you lay down for the massage, you close your eyes, you hear the relaxing sounds of cascading waterfall, you feel the soothing hands massaging away every single stressed muscle in your body when someone "SMACK" HITS THE SWITCH WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINNING IN YOUR EYES! Not too relaxing anymore IS IT? So look around your home & see if YOU have lighting that is appropriate for your space - reading area, working area, preparing food in the kitchen (be extra careful with the knife if you do not have appropriate lighting - BIG ouch!)

____ (3) Declutterize (work out your body & mind)! To keep your "body" & "home" healthy why not declutterize (meaning = exercise while you de-clutter). Stretch - grab - sort, stretch - grab - throw out, stretch - grab - donate. Drink water! Stretch - grab - get the picture? So stop procrastinating and start declutterizing. Hey, you won't have to spend a dime on a gym membership to get wonderful emotional & physical results. Having an uncluttered home gives a peace of mind and body (no items toppling onto you anymore).
Unfortunately, many people live with these discomforts without realizing how easy it is to fix and how it will DRAMATICALLY change the way you feel at home. You should and CAN live in comfort and LOVE YOUR HOME!
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© 2007 Ada’s Interior Design, Inc. P.O.Box 1337 New Rochelle, NY 10802

Email: ada@adasdesigninc.com
Web: http://www.adasdesigninc.com/

Ada Gonzalez is an interior decorator who designs solutions that provide comfort & function with a BIG SPLASH of style without having to spend hi-end prices on furniture & furnishings. Her designs have been featured in the Life & Style section of The Journal News newspaper. In April 2007 she won a design competition called "Interior Motives". Her ezine called Smart Decorating!, which offers FREE DECORATING TIPS, is her way of helping people across the United States learn to comfortably live in and love their homes – to get more information go to http://www.adasdecoratingsolutions.com/

10 Reasons to Hire a Design Industry Professional for Your Next Decorating Project

2007-07-19T07:30:00.000-05:00

By Candace Huber

1. Tick tock…tick tock…. Time. An interior design professional can streamline your search for flooring, window treatments furniture and accessories based on your style and budget- saving you time and money. Not only do we keep on top of the latest offerings, but we know where to purchase them. In addition, we can also often streamline the decorating process since we’re familiar with what has worked on similar projects.

2. Know the Language. The various contractors who may be working on your project often have a lingo all their own. Besides knowing how to speak their language, we know what they need to get the job done right. We cultivate relationships with them over time and work closely with them to assure your project is done to the highest standards and to your satisfaction.

3. Shop ‘til you drop. Besides knowing the best places to purchase the goods and services for your project, there are also many vendors that are “to the trade only,” which means that only design industry professionals have access to them. Their products are generally of high quality, and many are in the latest styles and colors (as well as enduring classics).

4. Have a plan. Design industry professionals are skilled at creating an overall design plan for your space. We will not only look at the specific “problem” areas, but we are trained to see your home as a whole to establish continuity from space to space. Together we will develop an overall plan that incorporates space planning, lighting, safety issues and more. We will help you create a space that works for you as well as reflects your personal style and lifestyle.

5. Clutter control. Are you sick of the clutter but just can’t seem to part with any of it? We know that you are attached to your things. We are attached to ours as well, but we also know that not every one of them has to be on display at all times. We will help you CAREFULLY edit some of your belongings to provide you with a more calming, organized space. (you can always bring them back later, after we leave!).

6. The baby and the bath water. Have you walked by that beautiful painting you bought years ago a thousand times, but didn’t notice it? Sometimes when we have things for a long time, we begin to take them for granted. So, if you are itching for a new look, there is often no need to start from scratch! Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective. That’s where we come in. Often, a design industry professional can incorporate many of your current furnishings into the new design plan, and you will be amazed at how beautiful they look in their new surroundings.

7. Color phobia. Do you see beautiful color everywhere- on clothes, in commercials on television, in lamps and furnishings, but just can’t quite make the leap to putting color in your own space? Design industry professionals have a cure for that. We are used to working with color, and we know what color combinations work well in a particular space, not just how they look on the paint chip. We will help gently nudge you toward just the right amount of color that works for you, whether it’s a tiny amount in a throw pillow, or an entire room.

8. Show me the money. Not only do industry professionals often receive discounts on goods and services, they have “been around the block a few times” and can help you avoid costly mistakes. Sometimes there may even be a more cost-effective way of achieving your design goals, and that’s our job to find it.

9. To trend or not to trend. Every time you turn on the television or open a magazine, there is another new fabric, paint effect or product catching your eye. Does that mean you should rush out and paint your room orange, or buy the latest kitchen or bathroom gizmo? Maybe. Maybe not. The point is, part of a design industry professional’s job is to wade through these trends and help you decide which are best for you, if any.

10. Customize. In real estate, the saying is – “location, location, location.” In design, our mantra is “customize, customize, customize.” If you truly want your home to reflect your unique personality and lifestyle, what better way than to have something custom-made for you? And that’s where the design industry professional comes in. From a gorgeous faux-paint treatment in your formal dining room to coordinating fabric on your dining chairs, we can help you customize your space to get a look that is truly you.

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Candace Huber was trained at the Sheffield School of Interior Design and is a graduate of the DeGange school of Interior Decoration. She is also a certified Dewey Color Consultant, and a proud member of The Decorator’s Alliance of North America (DANA).

Candace specializes in Certified Dewey Color Consultations, Real Estate Staging and general interior design. She serves the greater Bryan/College Station, Texas and surrounding areas.

Contact Candace at 979-690-8237 or visit her website at www.casabella.us.

Real Estate Staging

2007-07-15T07:24:00.000-05:00

By Norma J. Smith

In this slow Real Estate market hiring a professional Stager is an investment that will easily pay for its self. But if you would like to have a go at it on your own, here are some ideas to get you started.

Start with the outside. That is what potential buyers will see first. You want to make sure that they want to come in. Think "Curb Appeal".

Now is not the time to invest a lot of money into the house unless you really have to. Don't paint unless the paint is really faded or pealing or if the paint is an outdated or funky color. Most of the time all you really need to do is touch up the trim and paint the front door. The same goes for the lawn. You don't want to spend money having it landscaped, just make sure the lawn and hedges are neatly trimmed. Plant some flowers and use hanging baskets to add more color and freshen up the look. Make sure the yard is free of clutter and that the windows are spotlessly clean. Hanging a nice wreath on the door will create a homey, welcoming feel.

Inside you need to remove all clutter and have the house professionally cleaned. If your carpet has stains or worn spots cover them up with area rugs. You don't want to replace the carpet unless you absolutely have to. If you do need to buy new carpeting, go with a neutral color in a medium price range.

Remove dark or outdated draperies and replace with top treatments that allow as much light as possible into the room. Replace all of your light bulbs with bright clear bulbs and leave them on. People like bright homes. If your furniture takes up every available space in the room, put some of it in storage. Empty space will make the home appear larger.

Pack up any collections that you have, be it Salt and Pepper shakers or Swords. Put them in storage. It's ok to have a couple of nicely framed photos of your children or some vintage photos of you ancestors, but if you have an entire wall covered with pictures of every relative, take it down, and fill in the holes.

Every room should have a clear purpose. If it is suppose to be a dining room it should not look like a home office. If the room is suppose to be a bedroom it should not look like a gym.

You want create little "Display areas" through out the house, much like they do in furniture show rooms; particularly in the main rooms and the entry way. You want to try to really wow them. You can pick up some interesting accessories at your local home store. Another great way to dress up an area and add color and texture is fabric. Having some decorative pillows, cushions and table covers made in coordinating fabric will really pull the look together. And nothing makes a house look cozier than fabric.

Use scented candles or potpourri to add fragrance instead of aerosol spays that smell like you are trying to cover something up. Having fresh flowers during the showings is also a nice touch.
Following these simple and inexpensive steps will greatly help to sell your home quicker. If you need more help contact your local Staging Professional.
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Norma J. Smith is an Interior Decorator in the Boston area. She specializes in Custom Window Treatments and Soft Furnishings. She can be reached at 781 665-1306 or via email at norma@njinteriors.net. Her website is www.njinteriors.net.

A Home Staging Parable

2007-07-10T18:36:00.000-05:00

by Gina Williamson of Selling Designs, LLC

It's the day of your BIG presentation- the career "maker or breaker". So, you get up late, yank a comb through your hair, throw on a mis-matched, worn-out outfit from your closet, and slap on some lipstick. As you run out the door, you grab your notes and tuck them into pockets.

RIGHT??

WRONG!!!

Yet this is how many homeowners treat the "big presentation" of what is most likely their largest investment- their home's Open House. Unknown numbers of potential buyers will be traipsing through their home, judging it's condition, it's appeal, it's FURNITURE ARRANGEMENT, it's WALL COLORS... Yes! Price and Presentation sell houses.

Like your BIG presentation, a home should be "dressed to kill" and prepared for the audience.
This is why home staging is such a worthwhile investment- yes, investment! Unlike the homeowner who has a difficult time seeing past what has "always been", a home stager brings fresh eyes and a buyer's perspective. A home stager is not attached to that worn-out recliner, or those outdated curtains- the "outfit" that could potentially cause the "presentation" to be a big flop!

If you are selling your home, or planning to in the future- a home stager is the right choice to help you make that great first impression.

_______________________________________________

With an eye for design and a mind for selling, Gina Williamson of Selling Designs just might be the person you need to be talking to if you are trying to sell your home. An interior decorator trained by the internationally-renowned Staging Diva™, Debra Gould, Williamson adds “professional home stager” to her repertoire, someone who will come into your home, evaluate it, and leave you with a detailed list of what can and should be done to make your home more “marketable”. Launched in November last year, Williamson’s company Selling Designs, LLC, offers home staging consultations, full home staging services, as well as color consultations and interior redesign services. She is a graduate of the Sheffield School of Interior Design. A transplant from Virginia, she now resides on the west side of Cincinnati. You can contact Gina at 513-226-2754, or visit her website at www.sellingdesigns.com.

The Heavy-Bottomed Room

2007-06-28T23:25:00.000-05:00

Finding the formula for a balanced space

By Nan Harris

When you enter your living room, is there a feeling of heaviness that you cannot explain? Something seems unbalanced but you can’t quite put your finger on the reason why. Perhaps your space is heavy-bottomed. A heavy-bottomed room can feel unfinished and aesthetically unpleasant. It is likely that you have a “weight problem” because all the visually heavy items in the space are filling only the lowest portion of the room. After all, the largest pieces in any room are furnishings like the sofa, tables, chairs and rugs located in the areas closest to the floor, while the mid and upper parts of the room naturally have lighter weight items such as lamps, artwork and window areas. As we look up to the ceiling area, there may be a lonely light fixture or possibly just a bare white ceiling.

To achieve a comfortable balance in the typical eight or nine foot ceiling room, think 1/3, 1/3, 1/3! You want to picture the space in thirds and distribute the weight of the room so that it appears visually equal. The bottom third will naturally have the weightiest pieces because furniture and rugs, by their nature, contain heaviness of physical presence and/or texture and color. Moving up to the middle third of the space, you will want to create a balance with the lower third by choosing one or two tall furniture pieces, artwork groupings, lamps and shelving that lend substance to the mid section of the space. The use of window treatments and crown moulding can top off the space and balance the weight of the room.

Wall treatments are also part of the equation. The use of vertical wall stripes, even a subtle tone-on-tone wash of color, is one idea that can help draw the eye upward and give a lift to the space. Texture or color on a very high ceiling helps to bring the room visually into proportion.

Room balance includes the choice and use of color. To balance the color in the room, spread it throughout the space. As an example, a deep brown sofa can be balanced with a dark, chunky drapery rod placed high above the window trim, containing fabrics that pick up the chocolate hues of the sofa. If red is your color, splash it throughout the space in pillows, lamp shades, artwork and décor items.

Balance is the key to a pleasing, comfortable and cohesive space!

___________________________

Nan Harris, Design Consultant and Décor Stylist, is the owner of Decorative Expressions, LLC in Geneva, IL, specializing in affordable home décor solutions for everyday living.
Phone: 630-715-3771
e-mail: decor2please@yahoo.com
http://www.decorativeexpressions.net/

Designing an Outdoor Room

2007-06-17T09:21:00.000-05:00

By Norma J. Smith

Outdoor rooms are a great way to increase your living space without the expense of an addition. No need to worry if you don't have a porch or a deck. You can use existing structures to create your walls, like the side of the house or garage, a fence or a row of hedges. You can also create walls using outdoor draperies and /or trellises. Floors can be anything from grass to patio bricks. Try using one of the beautiful outdoor rugs that are available to really define the space.

There are so many great outdoor fabrics available that are made to resist stain, mold and mildew. You can use fabric in all aspects of your outdoor decorating. Recover the cushions on your existing patio furniture for a fresh new look or bring out some old chairs that you are no longer using in the house. Throw on a coat of paint and some new cushions and your good to go. Be sure to add some throw pillows in coordinating fabrics.

Outdoor dining does not have to be plastic tablecloths and paper plates! Buy some fun, inexpensive dinnerware and use them with cloth tablecloths and napkins for a really sophistcated look. For a centerpiece, use a grouping of different size candles for both light and ambiance.

Outdoor lighting can be electric, candles or solar. There are some great fixtures available from chandeliers to lanterns that hang from tree branches. Of course all outdoor rooms need a fireplace or firepit! If you really want to extend the season of your room there are even outdoor heaters available.

Put some thought into the greenery of your outdoor room. Plants can be used to outline and define areas as well as to add privacy. Choose plants that give off a nice sweet fragrance. If you will be using your room primarily at night, consider a Moon Garden.

Think about the flow and function of the room just as you would an indoor room. Create little conversation areas, dining areas, quite areas; maybe a hammock tucked over in a corner. But make sure there is plenty of room for traffic.

What ever you decide to do, get going because summer is short! Enjoy!

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Norma J. Smith is an Interior Decorator in the Boston area. She specializes in Custom Window Treatments and Soft Furnishings. She can be reached at 781 665-1306 or via email at norma@njinteriors.net. Her website is www.njinteriors.net.

Clear Your Space and Change Your Life

2007-06-12T21:58:00.000-05:00

By Nanette Catarinella

Want a New Year’s resolution that is easily achievable, guaranteed to have a positive impact on your daily life and doesn’t involve counting calories? Resolve to clear your clutter!

Look around your home. Is it filled with papers, magazines, old clothing, toys, knick-knacks, dishes and junk? Are your closets jam-packed and over flowing? Is the garage too full of stuff to park the car and the basement a cavernous hole where things just disappear? Are you over-whelmed by the clutter that’s taking over your space?

You are not alone. Out of control clutter has become an epidemic in this country and may be cause for serious concern. Psychologists, professional organizers, Feng Shui practitioners, re-designers and home staging professionals know that too much clutter can cause emotional and physical distress.

No need to feel overwhelmed at the thought of organizing the entire home. Start small and achieve big results. Commit to beginning with one closet. How about the one you visit each morning when you get dressed - the one with the too-small jeans that you haven’t worn since college.

Begin by taking out each piece of clothing and asking yourself these four questions: Does it fit?
Is it in style? Do I look/feel good in it? Have I worn it in the past year? If you answered “no” to any of those questions, it’s time to toss it out. This goes for shoes and handbags, too. Remember the 80/20 rule. We wear twenty percent of our clothes eighty percent of the time. Donate your discarded items to charity and get the additional feel-good benefit of sharing your possessions with those who are less fortunate.

When the purging is complete, put everything back in the closet and sort by color and item. Put all jackets together, all pants, skirts, tops and blouses. Buy new hangers and make sure everything is hung in the same direction. Purchase shoe racks and shelf dividers to neatly stack shoes, sweaters and tee shirts. Now, step back and admire your hard work.

Wow, what a difference! Just think of the time you will save by knowing where everything is. Think of the ease of getting dressed knowing that everything fits. Think of how good you will feel whenever you open the closet door. By getting rid of the old clothes that no longer fit or the shoes that pinched your feet, you will dramatically improve your mood and your energy.

Clearing out a closet may sound like a trivial chore, but if you think of it as letting go of your past to open yourself up to the possibilities of the future, it can make a tremendous difference in how you start your day. And, I’ll bet you will feel at least 10 pounds lighter!
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Nanette Catarinella, owner of Room Styles Interiors, is a home staging professional, interior re-designer, decorator, author and trainer. For more information, call 412-351-2525 or visit the web site at: http://www.roomstylesinteriors.com/

Let There Be Light

2007-06-12T21:55:00.000-05:00

By Nanette Catarinella

The holidays are over and the decorations have been packed away for another year. Suddenly, your home feels as gloomy as the gray January days ahead. The holiday lights may be gone, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in the dark.

Proper lighting is a vital component of a well designed room. Lack of adequate lighting is a common decorating dilemma in almost every home that I redesign or stage. It’s also the easiest problem to correct. Clients are often surprised to learn that most rooms should have a minimum of three sources of light and can often accommodate five, seven or more fixtures.

The key to a well lit room is to use a variety of light sources. A careful mixture of general lighting such as ceiling mounted fixtures, task lighting such as table and floor lamps and accent lighting such as spotlights and wall sconces can be combined to enhance the overall illumination of any space.

Here are a few lighting tips to help brighten your home and your mood:

Create a Triangle – Regardless of overhead lighting, use a minimum of three lamps, ideally placed in a triangular formation throughout the room. Install dimmer switches to lamps and fixtures to easily adjust lighting levels to a desired intensity. Use metal can up-lights in dark corners, behind large plants and on top of armoires for added drama.

Consider The Bulb – Different bulbs create different effects. Incandescent bulbs cast a golden tone while fluorescent bulbs create more bluish tones. Halogen bulbs produce a bright white tone, but can get very hot. For the most natural lighting and truest colors, choose the new “natural” or “daylight” bulbs. Always check for recommended wattage for all fixtures.

Adjust the Height – Ideally, a reading lamp should be situated beside a chair so the light can pour over the shoulder. The bottom of the lampshade should be at seated eye level for maximum light and minimum glare. If the lamp is too small, place it on a few hard bound books to raise it.

The Right Size – Keep the scale of the table in mind when selecting a chandelier. Choose a fixture that is approximately ½ the width of the table plus 5 inches and hang it 30” from the top of the table. Add decorative shades to bare candle bulbs to soften the light.

Remember, correct lighting – and abundant lighting – are important to the overall design and mood of every room. Don’t let the post-holiday blahs get you down. Bring more light into your home this winter.
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Nanette Catarinella, owner of Room Styles Interiors, is a certified staging professional, interior decorator, re-designer and career trainer. For more information, call 412-351-2525 or visit the web site at: www.RoomStylesInteriors.com

Ode to Spring Decorating

2007-06-12T21:53:00.000-05:00

By Nanette Catarinella

Winter may lurk outside your window, but spring is just around the corner. It’s time to begin thinking about lightening up your home’s interior to reflect the changing season.

Warm weather décor is about bringing the outdoors in with sheer fabrics, pretty florals and garden elements. Here are a few simple ideas to help you “spring ahead.”

Flower Power – Time to toss those dusty silk floral arrangements and replace with fresh, live spring bouquets. The life expectancy for quality silks is three to five years maximum! Treat yourself to a few bunches of daffodils and tulips in shades of yellow and pink. Use floral china and white ironstone pitchers in simple shapes for your containers. Set out a favorite gardening book on the coffee table for inspiration.

Lighten Up - Remove heavy window treatments, afghan throws and dark area rugs. Use filmy sheers on windows, cotton or silk throws. Leave floors bare or use casual, neutral sisal for an outdoorsy feeling. Replace heavy down bedding with a light weight matalasse bed cover and crisp white cotton sheets.

Room with a View – Change the focus of your furniture placement from the fireplace to a picture window with an outdoor view. Position a conversation grouping facing a garden or patio. As soon as the weather permits, fill the outdoor space with pretty potted plants and flowers to attract butterflies and birds for an ever changing display of nature’s creatures.

Clean Sweep – Nothing clears out winter’s stuck energy like a good spring cleaning. Open the windows and let in some fresh air. Put on some lively music, get out the cleaning supplies and go to it. Spring is a time of renewal. A good deep cleaning including clearing out excess clutter makes room for new things in your home and in your life.
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Nanette Catarinella, owner of Room Styles Interiors, is an award-winning interior re-designer, home staging specialist and Certified Staging Professional trainer. For more information call 412-351-2525 or visit the web site at: www.RoomStylesInteriors.com

There’s No Such Thing as Eye Level

2007-06-12T21:51:00.000-05:00

By Nanette Catarinella

One of the decorating dilemmas that I encounter regularly is the improper use of wall art. Generally, I find that art is hung too high and does not relate to the space. You may have heard that pictures should be hung at “eye level”. But, whose eye level are we referring to…the six foot two husband or the five foot two wife?

Positioning wall art depends on a variety of factors including the size and shape of the wall, the ceiling height, the focal point in the room and the size of the furniture. Here are a few tips for hanging art in your home:

Relate Art to Wall – Choose small with small, wide with wide, tall with tall. In other words, keep the size and shape of the art consistent to the wall on which it will be hung. If you have a large, wide wall, do not hang a small, narrow picture.

Relate Art to Furniture – In general, artwork should take up approximately 2/3 of the space above a piece of furniture. If you have a 90 inch sofa, for example, one large piece or a grouping of several smaller pieces, should take up about 60 inches of the space above it.

Keep It Low – Visually connect furniture and artwork by hanging art about 6 – 10 inches above the furniture. If you have very tall ceilings, consider hanging another coordinating piece above the lower piece to bring the eye up

Increase the Size – If one picture is too small, group several pictures together. To unify the grouping, keep the matting and frames alike. Keep the width between the artwork visually connected by hanging approximately a palms width apart.

Gallery Height: When hanging art in a hallway, the center of the art should be approximately 56 inches from the floor. Unite different sizes and shapes of artwork by keeping the bottom of the frames even.

You don’t need to own a Picasso or buy expensive pieces to decorate your walls. Create unique, one-of-a-kind works of art by framing just about anything….a child’s drawing, an antique hankie, a series of postcards. Hanging wall art is a great way to add color and personality to any room.
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Nanette Catarinella, owner of Room Styles Interiors, is an interior decorator, award winning re-designer and home staging expert. For more information, please call, 412-351-2525 or visit the web site at: www.roomstylesinteriors.com

Window Dressing

2007-06-12T21:47:00.001-05:00

By Nanette Catarinella

Dramatically change the personality of a room with a new window treatment. From country casual to sleek contemporary, you can create instant, no-sew window fashions from everyday items found around your home.

Here are a few of my favorite ideas to start you thinking…

For an instant valance, attach table runners to café rods with clip-on rings.
Frame a window with plate racks. Add a series of decorative plates and change with the seasons.
Use coordinating bed sheets draped over a decorative pole or attached with rings.
For a young boy’s room, tack a series of sports pennants across the top of a window frame.
For girls, hang rows of pretty ribbons, bows, beads, or tassels.
Teens' rooms – use frayed, cut-off jeans shorts. Just slip a slim decorative rod through the belt loops.
Cut out cardboard stars, spray paint silver and attach in varying lengths with clear fishing wire.
For a rustic cabin look in winter – attach old ski poles above the window frame. Hang plaid blankets over the pole.
For spring and summer - nail a lace table cloth to the window frame. Wire bunches of dried flowers at the corners.

You get the idea…anything goes! Just have fun and let your imagination soar! Happy Decorating!
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Nanette Catarinella, owner of Room Styles Interiors, is an interior decorator, award winning re-designer and Certified Staging Professional. For more information call, 412-351-2525 or visit the web site at: www.RoomStylesInteriors.com.

Express Yourself!

2007-06-12T21:38:00.000-05:00

By Earnestine Shuemake

Decorating your space is a wonderful opportunity to “express yourself through your living space.” From traditional to modern to eclectic, everyone has a personal style. Using the expert advice of a Décor Consultant can save you time and money. The consultant can share advice on the best use of your space as well as suggestions of creative things you can do yourself.

A two to three hour consultation is usually all you need to get effective ideas and how to use them. The consultant is also available to execute the entire project. Reviewing your taste, lifestyle and budget is the best place to start. Be honest with yourself and the consultant as to your ideas and budget. If necessary, do projects or rooms in stages. Decorating is an ongoing process.

Here are a few tips:

Review what you own and decide what you will use and what to share. A good rule is…”If I haven’t used it in the last year-I probably won’t use it again.” Pass it on. (one sister’s junk is another sister’s treasure)
If reducing clutter is a challenge, seek the assistance of your consultant.
Keep a personal folder/box of ideas, photos, and samples of ideas you like.
When purchasing large items such as a sofa, keep in mind this is an investment you should be able to use for years. Keeping the piece in a basic color/style will allow you to update with a change in accessories, such as pillows or throws.
When purchasing items such as towels, sheets and other “body wrapping” items, invest in quality not quantity. Even changing sheets every few days or once a week, two or three better sets will last longer.
A grouping of different height columns is a unique way to showcase a collection of items.
Heirlooms, whether family or newly found can be restored or reupholstered to create an updated look. Redo that “funky, I don’t know why I like it” item for years of pleasure.

Remember this is your space- let it reflect you.
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Published: Onyx Woman Magazine, Pittsburgh, PA

Earnestine Shuemake, Lead Decorator for OBA's Atlanta and partner in "It Is What It Looks Like" Decors, is also a visual artist located in the Atlanta (East Point) Georgia area.

Phone: (404) 530-0606
E-mail: esoba@bellsouth.net

An Interior Arranger Can Help

2007-06-12T21:32:00.000-05:00

By Cheryl Clifford, IADA, RES, IRIS, DANA

"Everyone deserves to live in an environment that is comfortable, joyous, and complementary to their life, surrounded by the things they love and have chosen for themselves" Cheryl Clifford

Interior design services have evolved to a point now that suits the real world and reflects that philosophy. Interior Arranging is one of the new design services that has developed from that evolution. As an Interior Arranger I am able to provide the client with the instant comfort of familiarity in a home, and in addition, the excitement of a new environment.

Interior Arranging, by it’s nature, lends itself to many situations and I have found this is especially true in my work with clients who are experiencing life transitions. It is a different way of looking at our environment. How does this make a difference to a person who has had a life transition?

First, does our environment effect our emotions on a day-to-day basis? Of course it does! Can small changes in our environment then somehow change our emotions? YES! Can a change in your environment help you to move forward after life changing events? YES!

I have been able to experience that change first hand, in my own life, and in the lives of my clients. I have worked with people who have had major changes in their lives for various reasons, and have come to me to help them create an environment that represents their lives now. It is very important that our environment reflect who we were, who we are, whom we want to be. We are affected by lots of experiences, special times, and more importantly, special people. We have all acquired, inherited and collected furnishings and accessories that tell a story about who we are and where we’ve been. Moreover, these are things we love, things that make our house a home. Lets look at some examples:

A couple meets in mid life, both have been married before and they are starting a new life together, sometimes with children and pets and all of the stuff from both their previous lives. Combining households can be a very emotional and difficult proposition. Interior Arrangers specialize in using primarily what clients already own. So, when we have clients who are combining households, we tell them that their home should reflect their new life together, but still honor the lives that they had before they met. Most of the time this is not easy to do, so having an objective 3rd party can make a world of difference. We discuss with them how they use their home, what are there favorite things, what they truly would like to keep, what they really hate and want to get rid of, and then, we create an environment that reflects their new needs, but honors their past. It is possible to put together a variety of styles to create a comfortable and stylish environment. The couple then has an environment that includes their past, but is a refection of what they see for their future. So, the changes they have made in their lives have effected their environment, and now the environment reflects those changes, and helps to produce positive hopes and emotions.

Another example of a life transition that effects our environment is the death of a loved one. This is, of course the most difficult thing we experience in our lives. I have had numerous clients who are at that point in life, and have decided that they are ready for a change in their environment, because their lives have changed so much. There is a fine line to walk when making changes in a way that represents and honors their past and creates a new environment, that helps them to heal and move forward. Each client has a different interpretation of how they want to do this. Taking time to talk with the client to really understand what they want is the most important step of the process. Some clients want to have many things around them that remind them of their loved one, some clients want to have just a few things, special things that spark specific memories. After the client makes the huge decision to make changes, it is important to honor that difficult decision. It is also important for the client to have fun with the decision too. If you are thinking of making this kind of change, making a personal connection with your Interior Arranger will make the process a special, positive and fun event.

There is one more example of a life transition that I want to talk about. We are now finding that more and more of us are having to deal with aging parents that can no longer live comfortably in their own homes, homes that have been in most of their adult lives. This is an extremely difficult time for them. Luckily, there are many new and wonderful senior communities that have been developed as an alternative to nursing homes. But, as wonderful as these communities are, they are not the same as our own homes. It is so important that we strive to make this life transition as comfortable as possible for our senior population. Children of these parents find it a very stressful experience too. How do you take 40 years of living and break it down to two rooms or if you are lucky, a whole apartment? Careful attention to the details will make a huge difference. Take into consideration whether the person is active and positive, looking forward to new days, or is that person feeling isolated and lonely? Talking with that person about expectations for their environment, what was something that was special from the environment they are leaving. Think about how you can reflect that past environment in the new environment. It maybe a photo sitting on the kitchen table, so they can eat everyday with that special person, or the warmth of a blanket that was a gift from a favorite grandchild. This is a time in life that we need those special things more than ever. Having patience and willingness to listen to the person, from the beginning, can make the transition easier.

Do changes in our environment effect our emotions? Yes. Can we make the changes we need to make and have it be a positive experience? Yes. Luckily, the design world now has the options to help you accomplish this.
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Cheryl Clifford is a professional member of the Interior Arrangement and Design Association, Interior Redesign Industry Specialist and Decorator Alliance of North America. Her business, A New View, serves the San Francisco Bay Area.

When and Were to Put on Your Sunglasses at Home

2007-06-12T21:20:00.000-05:00

By Ada Gonzalez

The location of your windows (North, South, East, or West) reveals how much sunlight you can expect to receive. So be prepared (find that compass!) and choose window treatments according to your (and your furniture’s) delight or fright of sunshine. Here’s the guide:

North: most consistent light & coldest exposure (brrr!)

South: good warm light (aah!)

East: warm bright light, especially in the morning (where’s my toothbrush
& sunglasses?)

West: hottest light of the day (take out that sun block lotion and consider getting a window treatment that diffuses light to protect your furniture).

Remember, live BEAUTIFUL and COMFORTABLE!
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Ada Gonzalez is the principal of Ada's Interior Design, Inc. in New York. She designs solutions that provide comfort & function with a BIG SPLASH of style without having to spend hi-end prices on furniture & furnishings. Her designs have appeared in the Life & Style section of The Journal News and the Lohub Blog of Westchester County. In April 2007 she won a design competition called "Interior Motives". She was an Interior Decorating subject specialist for DETC (Distant Education Training Council) spring 2007. Her weekly newsletter called “Smart Decorating! E-News” is her way of reaching out and sharing decorating tips to people across the United States. To subscribe for FREE (a $47 value) email your name to e-news@adasdesigninc.com with DANA as the subject to receive the FREE subscription.

Email: ada@adasdesigninc.com
Web: http://www.adasdesigninc.com/

How to Wrestle Your Closet

2007-06-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

By Ada Gonzalez

The 1st thing to do is - open the closet, stand tall, and stare at it up and down (show NO FEAR!) then slowly stare from left to right. This will help you avoid an attack from your closet (since you are looking around for loose items in your closet that may fall on you).
After the showdown is over, you wrestle using the 3 “C” techniques that I teach all my clients that hire me to help them get organized:

1. COMMIT: Commit yourself to a reasonable time frame & stick to it. Make it fun by challenging yourself to accomplishing a task by a particular time frame - no coffee break, no pee pee break. For example say I “WILL” remove all the items from my closet within ½ hour, I “WILL” not have the chocolate covered donut in the kitchen until I finish removing the clothes.

2. COLLECT: Quickly collect & sort all the items from your closet into a large bag or container or area (bag/container will keep the items from overflowing your room & make it transportable). Place all similar items together (i.e.: all shoes in one bag, all purses/handbags in another, all clothes in bed). DO NOT analyze the items (for this will make the process longer) - the technique of collecting grabs your wrestling opponent to tame "it" before the conquest.

3. CONQUER: On 3 white pieces of paper write KEEP, DONATE, & TRASH and tape them on a designated space on your floor. Then chose what you want to tackle 1st (ie: shoes, clothes, etc.) and determine what you NEED to place back in the closet. Be realistic – if you haven’t used an items in more than a year, chances are that you will NOT use it; therefore, get rid of it so you can have MORE SPACE for items that you truly love & will wear & use.

Many times my clients find items that they thought they lost or forgot they had. I would love to hear YOUR DISCOVERIES.

Remember, live BEAUTIFUL and COMFORTABLE!
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Ada Gonzalez is the principal of Ada's Interior Design, Inc. in New York. She designs solutions that provide comfort & function with a BIG SPLASH of style without having to spend hi-end prices on furniture & furnishings. Her designs have appeared in the Life & Style section of The Journal News and the Lohub Blog of Westchester County. In April 2007 she won a design competition called "Interior Motives". She was an Interior Decorating subject specialist for DETC (Distant Education Training Council) spring 2007. Her weekly newsletter called “Smart Decorating! E-News” is her way of reaching out and sharing decorating tips to people across the United States. To subscribe for FREE (a $47 value) email your name to e-news@adasdesigninc.com with DANA as the subject to receive the FREE subscription.

Email: ada@adasdesigninc.com
Web: http://www.adasdesigninc.com/

Organize in Style

2007-05-24T21:23:00.000-05:00

Tricks to Getting Your Clutter to Look Good
by Jane-Marie Bloomberg

As you clean up your clutter and organize your home, you may end up editing a lot. BUT if the "keep" stuff doesn't find an aesthetically pleasing home, it will still feel like clutter. Here are some quick tricks to getting more out of organizing:

Contain It: Use containers for everything that can't be put in closed storage - a decorative basket for keys or decorative bowls for miscellaneous pill jars, lotions and other bathroom counter clutter.
Balance It: Symmetry is used frequently in designing - apply it to organizing as well. For example, flank an entertainment unit on BOTH sides with IDENTICAL lidded storage chests or baskets to hold blankets, toys, pillows. Add custom decorative liners in a coordinating pattern and one basket won't seem so out of place.
Work It In: Pick containers that go with your decor - dark wicker baskets to match wood tones in your living room, acrylic boxes in mod colors for kids' rooms.
Move It Up, Not Out: Take advantage of walls and work them into your storage system. Above a desk mount shelving from floor to ceiling, or build shadow boxes over the toilet to store necessities.
Build It: If you are truly overwhelmed with clutter, take a look at your existing space - do you have built-in storage? You may have to just bite the bullet and add some - it will help increase your home value too.
Repurpose It: Use straw dispensers to house food items, cotton balls, art supplies, etc. (commercial supply stores are great places to check out).

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Jane-Marie Bloomberg
Embellishments DESIGN STUDIO
ph: 612-251-6512
fx: 952-937-6954
Sign up for my FREE Email Newsletter at www.embellishmentsdesign.com!

Ask the Decorator: Dining Room Style

2007-05-22T12:20:00.001-05:00

by Margarett DeGange, M.Ed.

Question: I use my formal dining room for casual meals with my family and for entertaining major clients. How do I create a look that works for both dining scenarios?

Answer: Go for Casual Elegance—Low maintenance everyday with glamorous accents you can easily incorporate when entertaining. Create a FOCAL POINT using a buffet cabinet. Hang an ornate mirror above it, as wide as the buffet. Store beautiful linens and trays in the cabinet. Top it with an EXQUISITE centerpiece that stays out everyday, flanked by a pair of tall candleholders. Your table may be wood or a surface that can be quickly wiped down after daily meals, but when entertaining, add a GORGEOUS layered table presentation: a custom-fitted table skirt topped with a stunning runner, then transfer the buffet’s centerpiece to the table, leaving the cabinet free for platters of food. Keep the candle holders on the buffet. For parties, add damask or silk “Chair Slips”. For walls, try a metallic faux finish above a chair rail. Pair casual woven-wood Roman shades with lush, interlined silk side panels at the windows, for a burst of textures and glamour fit for easy days and more formal evenings.

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Margarett (Margo) DeGange, M.Ed. is a Success Coach who has helped thousands of design professionals make higher profits, have more free time by working smarter, and create multiple streams of income.

Her business-building products include both onsight and on-line courses in decorating and business, ready-made curriculum for speakers and teachers in decorating, ready-made articles, newsletters, and seminars, trunk show and home show success systems, training kits for creating digital products, and more.
Margo is the Director of The DeGangi School of Interior Decoration and the Executive Director of the Decorators’ Alliance of North America.
Tap into Margo’s resources for design and decorating professionals and speakers who want to build wild success.

Visit www.DeGangiGroup.com , www.DecoratingForProfits.com and www.DecoratingSchool.com for easy to use tools to increase profits quickly.
Visit www.LetsTalkAboutDecorating.com for ready-made seminar kits to make you the local decorating expert. E-Mail her at Margarett@DeGangiGroup.com .

Ask the Decorator: Bathroom Decorating

2007-05-22T11:59:00.001-05:00

by Margarett DeGange

Question: I’m ready to redecorate my two full baths. What are the guidelines when decorating bathrooms? Does the master bath wall color have to match the master bedroom?

Answer: First, determine the mood and style you want, and then select paint and accessories. Do you want a spa-retreat or a space to get you going? Cool colors relax, and warm colors energize. Do you want the space to be open and airy or nestled and cozy? Paint the ceiling a lighter shade of the wall color to open it up, a darker shade to make it cozy. Wall color from the bedroom to the bath can blend or match. For good aesthetics, utilitarian and personal hygiene items should be stored away in attractive case pieces, decorative boxes, and baskets that establish or strengthen your style or theme (never leave a toilet brush or container of deodorant in view). Lighting is a key element in a bathroom. Establish both ambient and task lighting. Use dimmer switches where possible. Accent with greenery and fragrance to finish the look. Think of the bathroom as another room and an important space to design and decorate.

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Margarett (Margo) DeGange, M.Ed. is a Success Coach who has helped thousands of design professionals make higher profits, have more free time by working smarter, and create multiple streams of income.

Her business-building products include both onsight and on-line courses in decorating and business, ready-made curriculum for speakers and teachers in decorating, ready-made articles, newsletters, and seminars, trunk show and home show success systems, training kits for creating digital products, and more.
Margo is the Director of The DeGangi School of Interior Decoration and the Executive Director of the Decorators’ Alliance of North America.
Tap into Margo’s resources for design and decorating professionals and speakers who want to build wild success.

Visit www.DeGangiGroup.com , www.DecoratingForProfits.com and www.DecoratingSchool.com for easy to use tools to increase profits quickly.
Visit www.LetsTalkAboutDecorating.com for ready-made seminar kits to make you the local decorating expert. E-Mail her at Margarett@DeGangiGroup.com .

2007 Design Forecast

2007-05-19T22:19:00.000-05:00

Part II - Furniture and Flooring
by Pam Milam

For 2007, furniture designers are putting the spotlight on the rebirth of “new classic” styling after several years of touting contemporary looks. Contemporary is still a force to be reckoned with in home interiors, but the transitional classic looks add a dash of detail and glamour to the picture. Wood furniture finishes will be either deep dark brown tones or au naturel. Gentle curves will be seen on chair backs, table bases, headboards. Upholstered furnishings follow one of two paths – either contemporary streamlined shapes, or the softer, rounder lines of the classics. Nailhead trim and piping are making a comeback.

Leather upholstery continues to be very important for 2007. Leather looks great in a wide variety of furniture styles, from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. It works beautifully in every variation of earth tone colors as well as neutral shades and - a point not to be dismissed- is extremely hard wearing and easy to care for!

Because flooring is such a substantial feature in a house, the type you choose will go a long way in defining the style of your space. And, here as well, the choices and trends for 2007 will give you room for thought….

Wall-to wall carpet seems to be waning in popularity these days, but today’s carpeting is coming in subtle tone-on-tone patterns, in “shaggier” surface types and in deeper neutral colors than before. Sage greens, bronze and khaki tones are most popular today, and show less dirt than our mothers’ very light colors did.

As we use less carpet in our homes, hardwood is fast becoming the flooring surface of choice for many of us. Wood floors are beautiful, easy to clean, will last more than a century and can be refinished when necessary. Most exciting are the wide plank looks in distressed finishes. Laminate flooring is an alternative to hardwood. It is less expensive and is easy to install, but cannot be refinished and sometimes has a hollow sound to it.

Stone flooring surfaces are very popular today. Natural slate tile is especially interesting, both for its texture and its interplay of warm colors. Limestone and tumbled marble are options for a slightly more formal look. One of this year’s newest and most unique flooring choices, and a growing favorite of designers and homeowners alike, is stained, or patinated, concrete. Using an array of acids and chemicals, concrete floors can be colored in a variety of earthy tones. It can be a very artistic process, with swirls and splatters incorporated into the design and scoring and saw cutting can be used for decorative effect.

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Pam Milam is the Owner of Reinvented Rooms, an interior design firm located in Fresno, CA. Reinvented Rooms is California’s only nationally certified interior arrangement and design firm. She can be reached by telephone at 559.435.0850 or by email at pam@reinventedrooms.com. Be sure to sign up to receive her FREE design newsletter, "Rethink.Renew.Reinvent!", filled with decorating tips and expert “tricks of the trade”. You can subscribe via email at pam@reinventedrooms.com or by visiting her firm’s website at http://www.reinventedrooms.com.

The Emotions of Color

2007-05-19T22:11:00.000-05:00

by Marie Mouradian

Color has the power to change our mood. It energizes, it calms, it soothes, it provokes, it stabilizes, it softens, and it creates chaos. Playing with color is playing with your emotions. We use color to lift our spirits, to inspire us and to make our homes feel safe and warm. Color associations are defined by the culture we live in and our personal past.

Red is the color we pay the most attention to. It is the most energetic color, it's hot and dramatic. Red is the color of love, passion and desire; red hearts, red roses. A "red letter day" is terrific; wearing a "scarlet letter" marks you as untouchable. On the flip side, red is for danger, speed, and anger; think of stop signs. It increases the heart rate; you won't find it in the emergency room. It stimulates the appetite; you will find it in most food establishments. Have you ever gone into a pizza place or Chinese restaurant that wasn't red?

Pink is soft, sweet and secure. Hot pink is playful and assertive.

Orange has become a lot more acceptable in the past few years. Bright orange is loud and flamboyant. Orange is the color of affordability; think Home Depot and ING, it appeals to the masses. Warm terra cotta, apricots and peach tones are more sophisticated. Fall leaves, pumpkins and Halloween come to mind when you think of orange.

Yellow is warm and friendly. It inspires. Energy, joy, happiness and hope are all associated with yellow. Yellow creates a glow even in the darkest rooms. Like the sunshine, yellow is warming but too much of it can be burning. Bright yellow causes tension and stress.

Green is the color most often cited as a favorite. It represents nature, health, money and prosperity. Green is cool, calm and healing; think of a spa. Hospital scrubs are usually green. A negative affect is jealousy; being "green with envy". It's good to be "seeing green" (money); and bad to be "turning green" (sick).

Blue is tranquil, calm, stable and secure. Blue is the color most used in business to reflect reliability, integrity and trust. Navy blue demands respect. Blue slows the pulse, lowers the body temperature and reduces the appetite. A great color for a weight loss clinic.

Purple represents royalty, dignity and spirituality. Purple is an exotic color. There is a fine line between spiritual ceremony and magical mystery. Purple is imaginative and creative.

Brown is down to earth, warm and secure. Lighter shades of beige and taupe are classic neutrals. Deep browns add richness and depth. Browns are generally appealing to everyone.

Black is another mysterious color. In the spectrum it is the absence of light, therefore, no color. Formal, elegant, sophisticated and sexy black is in contrast to the black of death, mourning and witchcraft. Black is a great accent color.

Gray is the most neutral. Gray has quiet strength and longevity; think granite and metal. Gray is timeless. It is best used as an accent.

White is what we see when all the colors come together in perfect balance. White is pure, simple and clean. Reverence, peace and joy are seen in white Easter lilies. Every color goes with white. Too much white can be uncomfortable and hard on the eyes.

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Marie Mouradian
WFCP Master
Window Designs Etc.
508-829-5503

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2007 Design Forecast

2007-05-19T21:59:00.000-05:00

Part IV - Baths
by Pam Milam

The bathroom is undergoing its own modern design renaissance these days. According to industry experts, consumers are demanding the same ambiance and features in our baths at home as we are experiencing and enjoying at luxurious spas and resorts. Creating that spa-like space at home is becoming more and more important to many of us, so we are installing whirlpools and jetted tubs with air-bubble massage functions, chromatherapy (at the touch of a button, a sequence of rays of color, which practitioners believe can have a holistic healing effect on the body, are shone through the water) and other indulgent options. Tub styles are diversifying as well, from the of-the-moment infinity edge look to the classically sophisticated claw foot and pedestal versions.

Those of us who prefer to shower instead of soak have plenty of high-end choices to ponder as well. Luxury shower systems with overhead rain-forest-style shower heads, steam generators, saunas and multiple body-jets create an oasis-like atmosphere. Add in a wall-recessed gas-fired fireplace, heated towel bars, radiant heat flooring, whisper-quiet ventilation, a flat-screen hi-definition TV and decorative lighting and you’ve got your very own five star spa resort right in the comfort of your home.

This pampering spa experience calls for updated design and upscale style in the other elements of the room as well. In 2007, the bathroom vanity is morphing from the utilitarian cabinet of yesterday into a stylish piece of real furniture, with a decorative sink set into its surface or an above counter “vessel” sink - often a piece of art itself in glass or stone – mounted on top. And his-and-hers separate vanity areas are a conveniently functional feature on those busy mornings when two people are rushing to get ready at the same time. Instead of a single piece of plate glass mirror mounted on the wall above the vanity area, a decoratively framed mirror adds a warm touch. Wall sconces provide task lighting with an upscale feeling, while a chandelier or pendant fixture overhead supplies ambiance and style.

Glass tile is emerging this year as a favorite material for the bath. It shimmers, it shines and it can be used on walls, counter surfaces and floors. Homeowners are designing showers with glass tile in ocean colors and mosaic patterns to create a warm, relaxing atmosphere.

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Pam Milam is the Owner of Reinvented Rooms, an interior design firm located in Fresno, CA. Reinvented Rooms is California’s only nationally certified interior arrangement and design firm. She can be reached by telephone at 559.435.0850 or by email at pam@reinventedrooms.com. Be sure to sign up to receive her FREE design newsletter, "Rethink.Renew.Reinvent!", filled with decorating tips and expert “tricks of the trade”. You can subscribe via email at pam@reinventedrooms.com or by visiting her firm’s website at http://www.reinventedrooms.com./