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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/
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/
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/
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
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/
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.
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.
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