Marcia Blake is President / Creative Director of Outdoor Interiors(TM), Inc., a design firm specializing in creating outdoor living spaces. She also provides design services for OW Lee Co., an outdoor furniture manufacturer in Southern California who has launched a new collection of soft goods and accessories she designed called Outdoor Couture(TM) en-us http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398.html?nid=3885 Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. Subject to its Terms of Use November 21, 2008 http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/220036822.html?nid=3885 A New Way of Thinking A different way of thinking about the outdoor room is to focus on being inside the outdoors. What would you expect to see inside your family room? A warm fireplace, plush sofa, comfy love seat, rocking club chair, accent end table, custom drapes, decorative throw pillows, co… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1380036738.html?nid=3885 Designing for Fall The holiday season is upon us with nine days left until Thanksgiving. Now is the opportune time to utilize colorful fall fabrics and accessories to accent your showroom and outdoor living space for the festivities. Fall squash is abundant this time of year and helps to add … http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1770036577.html?nid=3885 No one needs to tell you how very important it is that you are transparent in your business dealings and everyday life. Just take a look at the mortgage and banking industry or Enron and WorldCom, who avoided paying corporate taxes. Now is the time to be clear and open to your customers. What bet… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1370036537.html?nid=3885 Tips on How To Choose Color for Next Season Times are changing and we are all waiting on the sidelines to see what direction we will be going in the near future. Now and in our past we have focused on the welfare of the world. Being socially conscious and responsible in the business segment and i… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/540036254.html?nid=3885 Its that time of the year again when the cool breezes are blowing in from the north, but your not ready to go inside just yet. New To Market this 2009 season from Outdoor Couture™ by OW Lee are five newly designed luxurious warm and cozy woven garden throw blankets that are weather resista… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/460036246.html?nid=3885 A growing number of homeowners will be considering improvements in and around their homes once the money starts flowing back into Main Street. It’s smart to promote the reasons to shop in your specialty store so when they are ready to shop your store will be top of mind and here are four r… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/380036038.html?nid=3885 We as Americans are so Blessed with the Freedom and Right to Vote for the President of the United States. Please take the time today to go to your local polling place and cast your personal vote for the new President. Be prepared for long lines and possibly inclement weather, it is worth t… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1880035988.html?nid=3885 WARM UP AROUND AN OUTDOOR FIRE Setting the clocks back is a sure sign that fall is here. The kids have loads of candy from their trick or treating escapades, the days are shorter, the leaves are colorful, and the weather is crisp & cool in the morning and evening. Some areas of the United Sta… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1430035743.html?nid=3885 If you are forever striving to present a finished look for your outdoor room and showroom, one that closely resembles the indoor living space yet offers all of the benefits of outdoor living then you should consider using an outdoor lamp that reflects the creators love of nature nevertheless complem… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/160035616.html?nid=3885 Halloween is the occasion to let your imagination go wild. From spooky to mischievous to totally stylish, there are infinite & amusing ideas to spruce up your Outdoor Room and to implement your designs. This is a wonderful time to express your individuality whether you decorate in a g… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1230035523.html?nid=3885 It is that distinctive time of year when families assemble to share food and tender recollections of the past year. So it is the perfect time to arrange your residence or store for this welcoming period. Utilize the finest natural objects of autumn to decorate inside and out. Unite candlelight and o… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1890035389.html?nid=3885 Our discussion regarding these challenging economic times and how very important it is to drive customer traffic to your store by developing one to one relationships with customers, as well as, adding value to build clout with your customers, we have begun exploring the topic of blogging. To continu… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/920035292.html?nid=3885 Your challenge in these difficult economic times is to drive traffic to your store by staying in touch with your customers, communicating with them about new products, trends and colors. Doing these things will help you to build loyalty and increase sales. Anyone remotely involved with contactin… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1390034939.html?nid=3885 How would you like to adorn your patio with sophistication, as well as, create a warm inviting area that will provide privacy, shade and a soft flowing design feature to dramatically complete your elegant outdoor room? New to Market this 2009 season from OW Lee is Outdoor Couture™ Alfresco… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/950034895.html?nid=3885 Entertaining Outdoors As the weather turns crisp and the leaves begin to change color it is an opportune moment to plan an outdoor party. Celebrate the outdoors by adding small fresh flower bouquets or miniature plants in low vases across a long table to give the impression of a huge arrang… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1400034740.html?nid=3885 Strong brand building skills are needed to survive and prosper. It is important to appreciate the value of a brand as a strategic asset and a company's primary source of competitive advantage. Positioning Your Company What can you do strategically right now when the economy is hurt… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/140034614.html?nid=3885 Recently, Paige a consumer wrote to me to explain how she added value to her home with the addition of a therapeutic spa in her backyard. “We've been doing a lot of research with our contractor as far as how to add value to our home in case we need to sell. The backyard was the first plac… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1470034547.html?nid=3885 International E-Z UP, invented the on the spot shelter industry in 1983, they now have an innovative new first-class luxury instant outdoor pavilion. The only fashionable pavilion that is completely portable is available in three different sizes: 10’x10’, 13’x13’ and 16&rsquo… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/770034477.html?nid=3885 HOME SWEET HOME Where is the one place that you feel less exposed to the issues affecting our economy? What can you do to forget about the economic crisis for a few hours? The one place that keeps popping into my mind is our very own home, the place that we can feel safe and secure surrounded by … http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1700034370.html?nid=3885 Today President Bush signed a rescue plan that Congress passed which was designed to open up credit markets and re-establish assurance in the banking system. John Schoen, Senior producer at MSNBC writes at www.msnbc.msn.com “Will this keep the economy from getting worse? If it wo… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1140034314.html?nid=3885 Plants, Trees, Berries & Leaves: Pomegranate, Apple & Persimmon trees share the rich fall color in their fruits. Burnt orange pansies can create a colorful potted arrangement along with black kale for a fall pairing. Pile up late squashes in a delightful arrangement or pumpkins on a woo… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/120034212.html?nid=3885 New to Market for this 2009 season from Cone Decorative Fabrics are some Acrylic / Poly outdoor fabrics. This season Cone has introduced a new collection of acrylic outdoor fabrics that have an emphasis on detail in both the design and the weaves. The colors are hot and vibrant with p… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/680034068.html?nid=3885 In America, chestnuts instantly summon up images of them “being roasted on an open-fire”. Since fall is the best season for chestnuts, it’s the perfect inspiration for a table setting or mood enhancer in front of a fire. Tabletop: For this warm, comfortable setting, … http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/890033889.html?nid=3885 Autumn Accessories Fashion trends change from season to season and year to year, just as furniture designs change and cycle back & forth through our lives. So too do our lives change from one splendid moment to the next. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that our accessories should chan… http://www.casualliving.com/blog/1980000398/post/1500033750.html?nid=3885 New to Market for this 2009 season is an Indoor / Outdoor Braided -Texture Area Rug & Accessory Collection from a partnership between Sunbrella & Colonial Mills. These Sunbrella Rugs feature 100% Sunbrella acrylic yarn and contain 50% recycled content derived from reclaimed Sunbrella fabric…