Kathy Mays Design

3 Ways to Live Clutter Free

Kathy Mays — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:00:39 +0000

Clearing out clutter gives you a fresh, clean start! Clutter can be a real problem in a home and de-cluttering is the first step you can do to Make Your Home Your Own.

That’s why I live by the “Three D’s”:

Donate What You Haven’t Used In a Year. When you donate, you make room for beneficial items you will use. You make someone else happy and you can write it off too.
Display Your Favorite Artwork and Accessories. Doing this makes every item special. It cuts down on the clutter and gives your eye a place to rest.
Dump Whatever Can’t Be Repaired Or Is Unusable. Keep it clean and clear. You’ll be surprised how good you feel and how much more space you’ll have.

A client of mine invited me to her home to create a Tuscan theme. With boxes scattered everywhere, I told her, we can create a Tuscan theme but first we must decide to donate, display or dump whatever is in these boxes! When we emptied all the boxes she donated some, sold other items and displayed only her favorite items. De-cluttering her home gave us the room we needed to start her new project. It took a little while but she agreed it was worth the effort.

Good Interior Design is a process and starts with de-cluttering. Start small. Declutter a little at a time. You can do it so start today!

Tip:
Consider decluttering a Kitchen drawer first. You’ll be inspired and want to declutter more!

Kathy Mays is a leading Interior Designer in San Diego County. Kathy combines her love and knowledge of Interior Design and Fashion into a fun and informative seminar to show you how to “Make Your Home Your Own.” She is now available to speak to your community or specialty group, for more information please click here or contact Kathy directly.

Would you like help to Donate, Display or Dump your Clutter? Reply below.

7 Tips to Design Like a Pro

Kathy Mays — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:00:21 +0000

Are you thinking about starting an Interior Design Project? Choosing a new paint color or bedding can be as overwhelming as a Kitchen or Bath remodel. But, it doesn’t need to be.

Today I’ll give you a fool proof plan to get you on your way and it starts with your closet! First, look at the clothes you wear 80% of the time. Is the majority of your wardrobe a particular style and color? Next, notice if the same styles and colors you like to wear are in your home too. Chances are you’ll see both styles and colors in your closet and home because they make you feel good, comfortable and right at home…

Whether you’re shopping for bedding or bathroom accessories, granite or glassware the following seven steps will get you up and on your way to a completed project!

Create a notebook with tabs for each room you want to makeover or remodel.
Cut pictures from magazines of everything you like: furniture, furnishings, colors etc.
Put the pictures in a plastic sleeve in the appropriate tabbed room in your notebook.
Take the notebook and a camera shopping with you wherever you go to collect ideas.
Establish a budget of what you are willing to spend on each design project.
Schedule a realistic time frame and budget for your projects.
Start shopping for the Design Project of your dreams and enjoy the journey!

5 Easy Steps to a Spa Bath

Kathy Mays — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:00:03 +0000

Have you always dreamed of a Spa bath? It’s simpler than you might think. It’s all about comfort. Here are five savvy Spa accessories to spruce up your bath to start and end your day in the most relaxing ways.

Start With a Spa Towel. A 100% ribbed cotton towel with a zero twist construction makes it extremely soft and dries you faster. Drying faster in your dryer saves energy too.
Have a Tub Caddy. A good caddy will hold bath accessories, a stemmed glass or bud vase, a book and a candle for you to enjoy your bath by.
Include a Spray Mist Or Essential Oil. Lavender or Eucalyptus refreshes you and adds a clean fresh scent to your bath.
Defy Gravity With a Magnetic Soap Holder. This great invention keeps the soap off the tub deck and keeps the soap from getting mushy.
Add a Spa Lumbar Pillow. For the ultimate in luxury lounging add a lumbar pillow for support and comfort. Now you are ready to relax and or read a good book.

Personally I have my own favorite, affordably priced, luxury bed and bath linen line. It’s called Private Quarters. All these sensational spa products can be viewed here, just visit www.privatequarters.net/kathymaysdesign

How to Spruce Up Your Bedroom

Kathy Mays — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:00:13 +0000

Need a Spring spruce up? Start with your bedding. It is the same place you start and end your day and should comfort you around the clock. Here are three easy steps you can use to leave the chill of winter behind and welcome the freshness of Spring.

Invest In a Cozy, Comfy Featherbed. Feathers keep you cool in the Spring and Summer and when it’s time again, they will also keep you warm in the Fall and Winter.
Put Those Heavy Blankets and Down Comforters Away. Replace them all with colorful cotton sheets. Combine texture and softness with a lightweight spring duvet.
Add Shams and Decorative Pillows to Your Bed. Pretty pillows and shams perfect a bed. This is what gives the overall look the finishing touch just as a lovely necklace does for a dress.

Personally, I have my own favorite bed and bath linen line called “Private Quarters.” It is luxury, affordably priced. Your bed should make you look and feel your very best and it starts with a goodnight’s sleep!

Private Quarters is “green” too. Seaweed for example has many healthful qualities. It is made into a fiber and spun into a yarn for exceptionally soft and silky linens. Bamboo too is turned into a fiber through the rayon process and spun into yarn. It has a silky feel and is more absorbent than cotton. Both Seaweed and Bamboo are rapidly growing renewable, sustainable sources.

Would you like to spruce up your bedding with a complimentary consultation? Send me a photo of your bedroom and we’ll beautify your bed.

How to Redesign Your Own Home

Kathy Mays — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 20:00:03 +0000

Redesign is repurposing or reusing what you already own. I like to think of it as changing it up. Simply said, take what you already own and change it around for a fresh new look.

These five time saving tips and tricks will help you redesign and improve your own home décor.

Take Pictures Of Your Entire Home. You will see your home differently in a picture. If you notice too much clutter, take away at least one third. Put the rest away or donate it.
Focus On One Room At Time. If you have areas rugs, look at your pictures and see what rooms have the same colors and style in them. Trade out an area rug in one room to another that has similar styles and colors. The rug must be proportionate to the room.
Move a Chair To A Different Room. For example, your spouse might love the comfy chair in the living room now and maybe even more in his or her home office. It will give both rooms a fresh face.
Rearrange Your Artwork. Find a new wall to hang a picture. It will look and feel like new. You’ll start to see the picture in a whole new light.
Change Your Accessories. Take the accessories you have from one bathroom and use in another. It’s easy! It doesn’t cost a dime and can make a big difference.

When you redesign you don’t need to buy new furniture and furnishings. Plus you save time, money and costly mistakes. It’s simple and fun. Follow these five easy steps and you’ll be on your way to make your home all your own.

Discover Your Home & Fashion Style

Kathy Mays — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:00:02 +0000

Have you ever wondered what your home style is? These five popular fashion styles will help clarify your clothing questions to dress you and your home in a style that suits you to a tee.

The Classic Style Is Timeless. It’s a traditional look. It never goes in or out of fashion.

The Casual Style Is Relaxed. It’s comfortable. Usually it’s a simple, understated look.

The Contemporary Style Is Current. It’s more cutting edge than the rest. Contemporary is very tailored.

The Eclectic Style Is Non-Traditional. It’s a mix and match style. Nothing matches perfectly but everything coordinates beautifully.

The Romantic Style Is Soft. It’s best described as feminine with ruffles and or bows. Think Flowing.

Most of us fit into at least two of these styles. That means you have a primary and secondary fashion and home style. For example many Californians tend to be Casual / Classic or Classic / Casual because it’s what defines their relaxed, comfortable lifestyles.

To get started discovering your fashion style, look at your wardrobe and see what styles and colors you wear 80% of the time. Chances are you’ll begin to notice those same colors and styles in your home too. Fashion and Interior Design go hand in glove. Like many things, new styles, color trends and patterns all start with fashion first. Fashion sets the tone for what we wear, how we feel and what we buy. Take a peek inside your closet and you’ll soon discover your own home style through your fashion style.