How to Bribe Your Closet to be Your Friend

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
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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?

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

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/