Mi Design Moxie

Love at First Read.....

2011-04-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

So, you all know that I am obsessed with magazines. And also that I am a huge fan of Lonny, which is a digital magazine developed by the editors of the much loved and very sorely missed - Domino magazine. If you haven’t subscribed to Lonny yet, you better get on it right away. You will not be sorry!

Well, now I have added another digital magazine to my repertoire.

I know, I know, I have too much time on my hands with reading all these magazines, but as I said, I am addicted. The editors of Traditional Home Magazine have collaborated with my much-loved Lonny in an effort to inspire a new generation of traditional design lovers. And the outcome of this collaboration is the new and very wonderful magazine, TRADhome.

The new magazine is designed to reach “a younger generation of readers” and will feature a blend of content from both Lonny and Traditional Home. The first issue went live today and a second issue will follow in September.

This is the new traditional and I LOVE IT!

If Traditional Home magazine is a little too stuffy and formal for your taste, maybe you’ll like its new offspring. I absolutely love it! But I am a transitional gal who loves both modern and traditional styles.

This is not stuffy to me!

Here is one tidbit I read somewhere that I think sums it up for us design addicts... TRADhome is part Jamie Drake, part Dorothy Draper. Mid-century modern meets Rococo. Kelly Wearstler takes on Louis XVI.

And these Louis XVI chairs are anything but formal!

Aren't they totally fun! And from Ballard Designs - one of our favorite catalogs!

So grab a glass of wine or a nice cup of joe and snuggle up with your laptop to read this wonderful new magazine. It is a really long first issue at 347 pages but it just means there is that much more to drool over!

So here, drool a little bit more...

I hope you enjoy the first issue of TRADhome as much as I did!

Master Bathroom Remodel by Sweet Chaos

2011-04-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

For those of you that know me, know that I love to remodel bathrooms! They are my favorite room in a house! They allow you to be creative, go a little crazy and it's a small enough room that the costs stay relatively low.

Here is one bathroom remodel that I wish I had done! I can't take the credit for this beautiful room but I can definitely drool over it and use it as inspiration for another project I am going to be starting.

Carolyn from Sweet Chaos created this master bath retreat from a space that really needed lots of tender, loving, care! Take a look at these before shots...

She transformed that master bath to this....

Kudos to Carolyn for a beautiful vision and gorgeous execution! I would definitely love to take a soak in that tub!

I will be featuring some other bathroom remodels this week along with some tips on how to successfully remodel a bathroom. Be on the look out!

Happy Monday!

Wood Flooring 101

2011-04-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone to Home Depot and looked at flooring options? There are hundreds of options for carpet, hundreds of options for tile and could it be hundreds of options for wood? Who would have thought there could be so many options for wood floors? Hardwood, Engineered wood, Laminate, plank, strip, species, snap together, plank width, nail or glue installation?

Oh my goodness, how do you decide what is right for you and your home? Well, to understand why there are so many options you need to know the different types and what they have to offer.

Since I am looking to purchase wood floors for my office and the kid’s playroom I decided to start doing some more intense searching of the products out there.

Welcome to wood floors 101!

When deciding on wood flooring you need to consider several things:

1. Do you intend to stay in the home for a long time?
2. Do you have children and pets?
3. Will you ever decide to rent your home?
4. How much money are you willing to invest?
5. Will you install it yourself or hire an installer?
6. What rooms in your home do you want to install wood floors?

Here is a short description of Hardwood, Engineered Wood and Laminate to help you make the right decision based on these questions.

Solid wood/Hardware flooring

Hardwood floors are incredibly beautiful and create a timeless classic feel in a home. They can last many years when taken care of properly and they can be refinished or sanded and stained multiple times, depending on the species of wood and the condition of the floor.

Hardwoods can be installed in bedrooms and common spaces, such as living rooms, dining rooms and kitchen. Basements and bathrooms are not ideal rooms to install hardwoods because the space tends to be damper and more humid than traditional spaces.

Wood floors are an investment in your home as the cost is higher than laminate, but you can increase the value of your home by choosing wood over laminate. If you have a higher end home, buyers might expect hard wood floors instead of laminate.

There are many advantages of installing hardwood floors. You can purchase pre-finished floors in the species – oak, pine, maple, walnut, cherry, bamboo, to name a few – and stain of your choosing, or you can choose unfinished floors that are installed and then stained on site with a custom stain. Hardwood must be nailed to a wooden sub-floor. Unlike the other wood flooring options, it cannot be installed straight on concrete or on top of your existing floor. Because of the nail-down requirement, it is recommended that you hire hardwood floor installers. If you wish, though, it is possible to rent floor staplers from home improvement centers. This alone makes hardwood the most expensive and time consuming option.

Engineered wood

Engineered wood flooring is an exciting alternative to solid hardwood flooring. It is typically less expensive than solid hardwood, but it’s designed to be very stable and durable. Instead of a single piece of wood, it is basically a sandwich of finish wood veneer on top and alternating grains of plywood. The finish wood is what you see and walk on. The plywood underneath comprises 80-90% of the floor. This makes it strong, dense and resistant to warping. It’s a good overall choice and also a viable wood option for areas like basements or kitchens where hardwoods are not appropriate.

It can be installed a number of ways as well. Engineered wood can be stapled or nailed in place like solid hardwood. It also can be glued in place or manufactured with click and lock construction. It usually can’t withstand refinishing more than once or twice due to the top layer being too thin. Before you fall in love with engineered floors, keep in mind that they can only be sanded once or twice, and deep scratches in the wood that reach the plywood layer cannot be sanded and refinished.

Laminate Floors.

A laminate floor isn’t exactly wood at all, although it looks similar. It’s comprised of two layers – a top layer that is a sealed photograph of real wood applied to a composite layer underneath. A good laminate can look like the real thing when it is installed properly. Since the material is synthetic it tends to be more durable, scratch resistant and holds up under high traffic, children and pets better than wood floors.

Laminate floors can be cleaned with a damp rag, unlike the wood floor counterpart that needs to be polished. Many synthetic floors come with at least a ten year warranty against dents and warping, however laminate floors cannot be refinished if they become scratched.

Laminate flooring is the least expensive option for getting a “wood” look on a tight budget and can be installed in moist environments like bathrooms and kitchens. Newer laminates are much more resistant to moisture than older styles that were often criticized for swelling and bubbling problems.

Although laminate floors are easier on your wallet they tend to have a lower resale value than real wood floors and tend to be a little harder to walk on. But let’s not forget that they are ridiculously easy to install and less expensive. Who doesn’t love that?

Remember, the flooring you select will be with you for a long time to come. It can turn a drab room into a formal and elegant room or make it more cozy. It all depends on the species, stain and finish of the wood you choose. Wood floors are a beautiful addition to your home and I can't wait to decide which wood I am going to use! So, choose wisely and take all things I've taught you today into consideration!

I hope my first installment of a 101 post was fun and educational! Keep checking for more 101 posts and have a great weekend!

A Wall By Any Other Name....

2011-04-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt the frustration of a blank wall staring at you and you’re at a loss for how to decorate it? Or how about a wall that you hung something on and have not liked it ever since? Me to!

So what are we going to do about it? My recent post about art got me thinking about buying more art and turning some fun stuff I’ve collected over time into art. I’ve realized that buying art is fun. Bringing art home and trying to figure out where to display it - not so fun! With that in mind, I will let you in on a new trend that I am thinking of trying – a Gallery (or Salon) wall.

Here is a great example:

eclectic staircase design by chicago media and blogs Lola B's

Gallery Walls are huge right now! Just page through a Pottery Barn magazine or look at some Interior Design blogs and you will get some great inspiration! I’ve always been drawn to gallery walls even though thus far I’ve been a little timid to try one myself. There is just something about it that intimidates me, even though it seems like anything goes and you can't screw it up!

Sooooo, we have two large walls in our house that are lacking. And I mean just lacking something! There is no wow, no pop, nothing! I am just not sure yet which wall I am going to tackle and turn into a gallery wall. But this post has definitely put it out there and I am about to choose which wall and get started! I need to get photos of my final product for you, right?

This is what Pottery Barn is showing for Spring. I can do that! Easily!

A gallery wall is a great way to display fabulous art, photographs and quirky treasures that tell the story of who you really are. They make a great statement and become a fun conversation piece. I’ve never met a gallery wall I didn’t like! I love that it makes the home feel more lived in and gives you a glimpse into the lives of the people that live there.

Doesn't this office say a lot about the person who created it? I LOVE it!

contemporary home office design

So far, I’ve shopped my house and pulled all sorts of different artwork, frames and artifacts together to see what other items I want to purchase and/or create. Now, I am in the process of figuring out how to display it all in a fun, cohesive way.

I'm thinking something along these lines...

Source unknown
After carefully researching what I do and don't want to do with my own personal gallery wall, I have come up with a few tips from those that have tried a gallery wall and have succeeded!

1. Take time to figure out what you want to display. Only select items that you love and want to see every time you pass that wall.

source: http://www.mydecoratingaddiction.blogspot.com/

2. Display things that have meaning to you or your family. Display quotes or mottoes and inspirational words that mean something to you. Would you display a photo of a bird if you hate birds? Isn't this display so fun to look at?

source unknown

3. Mix it up! If you decide you want to use a single color frame, then use lots of different shapes and textures of the same color frame. If want to use lots of different colored frames, then make sure they tie into the other colors within the room. Mix prints with photos and other objects such as framed fabrics, letters, shadowboxes, vintage metal pieces, etc. You get the idea!

source: http://www.sawdustandpaperscraps.com/

4. Lay it out first! Either lay it out on the floor or use templates taped on the wall. You don’t want to start hanging your gallery wall and find it doesn’t fit the way you thought it would. You want to lay it out and play with it until it looks fabulous! No one says you can't use the funny pages from the Sunday paper as your templates!

source: www.younghouselove.com

5. Have fun with it! One thing I have learned from researching gallery walls is – there is no right way to do it! Because it is a reflection of you and your tastes there is no one other than you who knows if it is done right! So hang up that crazy orange horse head along with your framed photo of Great-grandma Mae and the vintage keys you found in an old desk! Just make sure YOU love how it looks!

Sherry and John at Young House Love hung photo strips, a horseshoe and even a photo of a llama. Now that's having fun with it!

source: www.younghouselove.com

So, find a blank wall that would benefit from becoming a gallery wall and get to work! Put up all kinds of things that will put a smile on your face when you walk by it every day. That is what I am planning on doing! And I hope to have some photos to share soon! Wish me luck!

Sometimes you just have to....

2011-03-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

How perfect is this...especially with the kids on Spring Break and the fact that I am just enjoying spring time in Arizona with family and friends!

I will admit that I have been feeling a little anxiety about not blogging since I really just started this blog and I am already taking a break! But don't worry. This break will leave me refreshed and full of great post ideas for when I return!

And as a little teaser, I'll let you know that I have at least three new projects going on in our house. I can't wait to share them with you when I return next week. You'll just have to wait and see!

Love of Beauty is Taste. The Creation of Beauty is Art.

2011-03-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Art is a great way to make a house feel like a home. Whether it is hanging on walls or displayed on shelves and tables, a room with fabulous art definitely makes a statement. It adds personality and character to your home and shows off your individuality. And really, who doesn’t want to show off their individuality? I know I strive to be unique and have my home be a good representation of our family.

The downside of Art? Anyone who has walked into an art gallery knows that art isn’t cheap. A lot of art is expensive. And I mean, very expensive. Over the top expensive!

Check out No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollack that was purchased for $140 Million!

So can you still have fabulous art without spending $140m? Absolutely! Art doesn’t have to be expensive! There is no need to spend your life savings on art. I mean, come on, we need to save those pennies for cute shoes and trips with the kids!

Here are some ways you can display fabulous and unique art in your home without spending a fortune!

1. Look around your house! Use what is free!

Calendars, magazine ads, menus, pretty cards, maps, a puzzle you've put together, a collage of postcards from a trip, family photos, leaves or branches from the backyard or other items from nature. Pieces that are just decorative can be put directly into a frame and displayed.

I bought and framed this puzzle for my kids bathroom from Pottery Barn Kids because it matched their shower curtain! Not only is it super cute but it went along with the theme of the room.

Here is a calendar used as wall art..

2. Buy art books

Art books are another option. I know this may sound shocking to those of you who were taught to never deface a book, but you can find wonderful photos of famous paintings in large books. Other books with fabulous photos are books about birds, furniture design, architectural structures, historical art, regional art from places such as Spain and Italy and also children’s books. Children’s books have some of the greatest illustrations and are vibrant and fun! Select pictures that will coordinate with your decorating scheme.

eclectic kids design by Lauren Liess Interiors

3. Use Your Camera

Get out there and take some photos of things you see as beautiful or different or even just funny! You can take pictures of the kids, the family, flowers, houses, interesting architecture, or everyday items that appeal to you and your family! The possibilities are endless! And you will have one of kind art that others will be drooling over and asking where can they find it? Another option for your photos is to have them transferred to canvas. Again, you will have inexpensive, original artwork that will look like a million bucks!

Look at this gallery worthy display...

living room design by blogger Michelle Hinckley

4. Go to Art Fairs and Student Art Shows

Check your local paper for any information in the arts and culture section regarding art shows or fairs. Most cities have an art association that puts on art fairs to showcase local talent. These fairs are a great place to find art that is being sold for considerably less than in a gallery.

Go down to a college or university art department and get a schedule of the year's student art shows. Because students have little to no experience the art is very inexpensive, and you can often find some really nice pieces.

My hubby and I went to a historic home tour a few weeks ago and I stumbled upon a local artist, Joshua Dean Wiley, that I fell in love with. I purchased a canvas and I am waiting for it to be framed by Michael’s. I can’t wait to get it home and on display.

Here is one piece that he has available on his website...I adore this one as well!

5. Consider prints.

Not everyone can afford oil on canvas or an original watercolor; that is why they invented prints. Today, it is easy to find prints of your favorite paintings, great quotes, and even really cool abstracts. Etsy is a great place to start your search! You can easily make a print look like a million bucks with the right frame and matting!

This one is from madebygirl...you already know I LOVE her prints!

contemporary kids design by other metros media and blogs Made By Girl

6. Removable Wall Graphics

These are fantastic! Your imagination is the only limitation you’ll bump into when you create your personalized decorating style with removable wall graphics. They’re easy to apply and easy to remove. No matter what you’re taste or style, you can find a wall graphics that seems custom made for you. In fact, you can have them custom made. You can have your family name or kids names made to use on surface you'd like. You can make an entire wall appear intricately painted, create the look of a hand painted mural or just send a message to your guests.

What about mixing wall graphics with family photos? Don't you just love this?

image by blogger Thriftydecorchic

7. Enlist the kids

Frame your kids drawings or paintings! Or give them a canvas or board and glue gun (if they're old enough), and let them go nuts on a personalized project. Who knows, maybe your child will turn out to be the next Jackson Pollack!

kids design

8. Think outside the box

What about using just frames to create a wall effect? Got a lot of frames in different shapes and sizes? Just paint them all a great color and hang! You can use this same repetition technique with other items as well. Just figure out what you want to display and multiply! You can display plates, clocks, or take any of the ideas above and multiply! Instead of hanging just one page from a book, frame eight of them and hang as a grouping on an entire wall. What a statement that will make!

Here is one from Classically Amber..

This one is just cool...

eclectic patio design

So there you have it! Lots of ideas for getting some new and interesting artwork on your walls.

I hope I've given you a little bit of inspiration to get you going!

If you come up with any other ideas you'd like to share, please comment!

Happy Monday!

2011-03-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

Do you every have days where you feel like you've been happy and smiling all day? Today has been one of those days for me!

In honor of my happy, smiley day I am bringing out some smiley faces designed for the home!

Tacky, yes, but oh so cute!

Doesn't this just bring a smile to your face?

How about a candle for some ambiance...

Every kitchen should have a few smiley faces around...

Wouldn't this be a cool conversation starter if you had one in your office?

This would definitely make cleaning a little more fun..

And how about some fun pillows...

And last but not least...to reflect your beautiful smile...a smiley face mirror!

Are you surprised I came up with so many smiley face items for the home?

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised, which of course, led to more smiles!

But please keep in mind.....These items are all in good fun!

Please do not start buying up all the smiley face items for your own home! :-)

Have you heard of Etsy?

2011-03-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

I thought Etsy was a household name until I asked a friend if she checked Etsy for some cute pillows and she looked at me with a blank stare.

For those of you who don’t know about Etsy, it is an online marketplace where people set up shops to sell physical goods that they have made by hand. Knitters, graphic designers, jewelry makers and many other artists use Etsy like millions of other people use eBay.

Etsy is not limited to the United States. Check out this pillow that I found that I can’t wait to buy for my house and it will ship all the way from India!

The Home Centric

Half of Etsy's website traffic comes from outside the US. So, where do all these people live? The company's survey of almost 1600 international sellers showed that these members come predominantly from the UK and Europe, with healthy chunks from Canada and Australia. At least you know that the items around your house aren’t the same ones that people have seen so many times in so many other homes since it came from the same catalogs that grace every mailbox in the country!

So just how do Etsy sellers promote their shops and get their goods sold? Their personal blogs are the number one way. Bloggers are taking over the retail industry! How cool is that?

One of my favorite things to do is surf Etsy for the coolest accessories I can find – it is just so much fun to see what new items show up every day! There are so many categories with so many beautiful and unique items; things that will make you want to buy, buy, buy!

There are definitely some Etsy finds that may be a little over the top or even tacky, but if you work it into an otherwise tasteful decor, it works and can even add that little bit of wow factor that we all strive for! It can add a punch of personality and interest that sets your room apart from even the most well designed spaces.

Wouldn't he be cute painted a high gloss white?

More importantly though, a good find can make you happy! I just purchased a fun art print for my office from an online blogger, madebygirl. I just received it and I can’t wait to get it framed and hung!

I cannot believe some of the treasures I’ve found and they’re very reasonably priced. I decided to do some digging on Etsy to show you just what you can find that I think is cool and splurge-worthy!

Pillows by Couple

Cool Wall Vinyls by Simple Shapes

Fun Clock from Joom

I know, I lOVE pillows!

Lampshades from StudioJOTA

Hopefully I've inspired you to spend some time perusing Etsy! I would love to know what one-of-kind finds you've uncovered!

Who Inspires Me?

2011-03-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

One question that always comes up as a designer is “who or what inspires you? For me, I find inspiration in everything and everyone!

Right now the colors of spring are inspiring my new projects around the house. Bright green and white are reminiscent of spring. The words that come to mind are vibrant, clean, alive, and growth. How’s that for inspiration? Who wouldn’t want their spaces to project those feelings every time they walked in?

Can you see how this image translates into this:

Doesn't this room just sing the praises of spring? I Looove it!

I am also inspired by celebrity designers. Sarah Richardson is high on that list for me. Her designs are modern and neutral with a touch of class. She does such a great job of layering her rooms in a way that allows the eye to travel from one beautiful detail to another. I don’t think there is anyone out there who wouldn’t love a room in their house designed by Sarah! Here's one of Sarah's designs that evoke feelings of spring!

Another source of inspiration for me is design magazines. This is one area where I have a little problem. OK, maybe a BIG problem! I always thought a girl couldn’t have too many magazines but when you have to create spreadsheets to keep track of them all, you know you have too many! Those worth mentioning would be Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Dwell, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful and Traditional Home. These always bring a smile to my face when I see them in my mailbox.

Dwell had spring fever with their February Issue. OK, the cover reflects recycling but it sure looks like Spring to me!
These days you can’t just stop at magazines. We now have online magazines that are great as well! Lonny Mag, Rue and Matchbook are coveted and anticipated just as much as those that arrive by my trusty mail carrier!

And last but not least, blog feeds that come directly to my inbox! I subscribe to far too many blogs but I love, love, love them and the information and inspiration they provide. Some of my favorites are Colour Me Happy, Dreamdesignlive, Younghouselove, Simplified Bee, Designsponge, Tobi Fairley, and Addicted to Decorating. Trust me, you can go from one interior design blog to another and next thing you know five hours have passed and you’re wondering why you're so hungry and why it is so dark outside.

For me, inpiration is everywhere. See, even Confucius knew a thing about beauty and inspiration...........
Thought I'd add one more image to get your Spring juices flowing! Rejoice, Spring is here!

All Work and No Play = No Way!

2011-02-25T14:26:00.000-07:00

After a busy week with work, kids and school you would think that the last thing on my mind would be what project I want to conquer next! But of course, that's exactly what I'm doing!

I’ve come to the sad realization that our playroom no longer suits the needs of our two very creative, but extremely unorganized school-age kids. With that said, I am now looking to create a craft and homework room for these well-deserving kiddos.

So where do you start? Well, any designer will tell you a great place to start is with a programming questionnaire – exactly what does your client (or in this case, my kids, husband and I) need and want from this space?

So that is exactly what I am going to do! Figure out what storage requirements we have, what the kids want to do in this room, how will the room grow with them and then what feel do we want from the room? Do we want it to be bright, bold and fun or cool, modern and subdued? Should it mesh with the other adjoining areas of the home? So many questions to ask and so many answers to analyze!

But do you see why these questions need to be answered prior to starting?
It doesn’t make sense to work on a room until you know exactly how you want the room to function and then you can proceed from there.

Here is what our playroom looks like now….....

I wasn't kidding about the unorganized kids part!

Our weekend plan is to get our questions answered and find at least one inspiration image to get us started!

Wish us luck!

Welcome to Mi Design Moxie!

2011-02-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

It’s lovely to meet you! Here is a little bit about me….

I am Kori Moses, Owner of Mi Design Group – a residential interior design consulting firm in Chandler, Arizona focusing on kitchen and bath remodels. I am a mother of two, a wife and an interior design addict. I love to dress up – unless I don’t have to leave the house. I am a girly-girl who loves pink, purple, and anything that sparkles or shimmers. I can never have too many pairs of shoes or pajamas. I watch too much reality TV, and I love reading interior design blogs and magazines (I currently subscribe to nine shelter magazines, not including the many I read online)!

My love for interior design started way back when Barbie was my first client and I spent hours and hours designing her dream house. I would use tissue boxes for beds and fabric from old, worn out t-shirts for bedding and window treatments. Even as a child, I was an interior decorator who performed a bedroom makeover for every season and occasion. I would spend my days making my room pretty by organizing my shelves and dressers, making pillows out of old fabric remnants and even trying to make wooden accessories with my dad in our basement. I have come a long way since then and my love of interior design has never wavered. I joke that it took me until the ripe old age of 32 to finally figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. But once I figured it out there was no turning back!

I started Mi Design Group in 2005 and it has grown from helping clients decorate their homes to complete home, kitchen, and bath remodels. I personally guide each project and create rooms that are true reflections of my client’s tastes and personality. My creative vision is balanced by a vigorous work ethic to ensure that my client’s project stays on time and within budget.

When I’m not blogging or working, you can usually find me doing a project around our house. I seem to have a hard time sitting still when it comes to interior design. I love to repaint, repurpose and redecorate (as my husband can attest to). My blog will attempt to inform, motivate and guide clients through the process of transforming their homes into beautiful, functional spaces that they love! I will post products that I think are fabulous and worth sharing, I will show some 'behind the scenes' posts from my own home projects and some from my "work" as a designer, photos of rooms that inspire me and try to offer some tidbits of useful and savvy design information.

I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts, tastes, opinions and perspectives with you. I hope that MI Design Moxie becomes one of your regular blog stops and that you find it enlightening, useful and most of all fun to read!!

I am honored that you are took the time to check out my blog and I am eager to meet you (so please leave comments, ideas, or questions for me -they are greatly appreciated), and who knows maybe that will be the topic of my next post!