Coming Home

Why Hire a Professional Design Consultant?

2008-04-09T09:27:00.011-05:00

Why Hire a Professional Designer?

Are you overwhelmed by all of the choices that are available to you?
Between work, kids, spouses, sports scheduling, volunteering and chores are you just too busy to try and tackle one more thing?

Have you started to decorate a room/ your home and left it half finished?
You know you want your room to look like the picture you pulled from the magazine but you don’t know where to begin?
Is your home an older home that you want to decorate in a manner that reflects it’s history?

Have you been busy “collecting” pieces over the years and now you don’t know how to pull it all together?

Is it time to renovate? Do you want to add a room?
Are you finding yourself at an impasse on design style with your spouse or significant other?
Do you think the choices you have made so far are boring? Do you need help just to jazz up what you have already?

Have you toured one too many Model homes and yet still can’t find that right look?
Are you interested in items that are labeled “To The Trade Only”?
Are you tired of the hassle of trying to pull it all together yourself?
Do you want something unique? Something that reflects your personal style?

Are all of your local retailers all showing the same things and none of them reflect your tastes?
Do you want to see some beautiful faux painting throughout your home? Custom Murals?

Are you tired of living in chaos and tired of being unorganized in your home?

If you have decided that any of the questions listed above are followed by you saying “Yes” then you need to hire a Professional Design Consultant. You can decide in what capacity you need to utilize their skills. If all you need is someone to come in and consult with you on items you already own, then call and ask what it would be for a 2 or 3 hour Consultation. If you need someone who will simply take over your home project for you, call now. Run don’t walk to the phone. Relieve yourself of the pressure you have placed on yourself. You will be grateful to yourself for having made the decision to trust a Professional Design Consultant.

the furniture featured is from Stanley Furniture

www.HomeDesignStudioTH.com to check out Taylor Haskins' up and coming web site.

Bedding on a Budget

2008-04-01T15:52:00.000-05:00

This post is courtesy of an article I found at Better Homes and Gardens . Loved it's simplicity I hope you do too...

Budget Bed
Turn a basic bedroom into a dream with three simple projects that cost so little you can give your room a facelift without depleting your savings.

Headboard
Make a covered headboard (ours is medium-density fiberboard) with batting and fabric; pick a fabric with spandex fiber for extra stretch.
Yardage: Fabric at least 3 inches wider all around than headboard frame

Time: 3 hours
1.Drill two 1/4-inch holes where you want to add covered buttons.

2.Wrap two layers of batting around the frame; staple on the back.

3.Lay the frame facedown on the wrong side of the fabric.

4.Pull the fabric to the back at the center top and bottom; staple.

5.Repeat on both sides.

6.Stretch and staple the fabric to fit smoothly around the board.

7.To further secure fabric to the headboard, push a needle and thread from the back through the hole drilled in the board, through the button loop, then to the back of the board.

8.Pull ends of thread tight and twist around a brad nailed to the board back.
This step lets the button dimple the fabric.

Duvet
Yardage: 2 inches larger all around than comforterTime: 2 hours

1.Measure the comforter, adding 1 inch on three sides and 2 inches along top edge.

2.Turn top edges of fabric under 2 inches and hem.

3.Stitch hook-and-loop tape to inside of top edges.

4.Lay top and bottom right sides together; stitch around three edges.

5.Add loops at inside corners; turn right side out. Add loops at comforter's corners to hold comforter in place.

Pillow
The trick to making this fun, fringy pillow is to buy coarsely woven fabric that makes it easy to pull thick, loose threads off the cut ends.
Yardage: 1/2 yard for a 16-inch pillowTime: 1 hour
1.To start, cut two pieces of fabric 2 inches wider all around than the pillow form.

2.With wrong sides together, stitch the pieces together 2 inches from the edges, leaving a 6-inch opening.

3.Slip a pillow form through the opening and machine-stitch the opening shut.

4.Unravel the edges of the pillow by pulling the loose threads down to the machine-stitched line.

Floorcloths Made Easy

2007-05-17T07:10:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I know I've been gone from this blog site for quite a while. My apologies. I will try to be more diligent at keeping this current and interesting. I found a great project that you might enjoy. I found it at Martha Stewart.com. Enjoy, and I would love to pictures if anyone decides they would like to attempt this easy project. Let me know your ideas, comments by clicking on the comment button below. Thanks again,

Making Canvas Rugs

Creating art underfoot is an easy step-by-step process, and no fancy supplies or skills are required. Just prime a piece of canvas, paint a design, and seal it with varnish. Our patterns are as simple to reproduce as scattering leaves from your backyard across a surface, marking stripes with tape rather than a ruler, tracing bowls for circles, and painting streaky brushstrokes on a grid. Use household tools and our stencils or create your own. Don't worry about perfect lines; these rugs are handcrafted and should look it. So go ahead -- make the floor your canvas.

Easy-Care Accents:

These practical floorcloths are durable and inexpensive to make. They clean up with a damp mop and mild detergent. No wonder canvas rugs have been popular since colonial times. After the introduction of linoleum, they fell out of favor early in the last century. The craft was revived in the 1950s, when period rugs were made for historic homes. Modern materials have streamlined the technique; with today's quick-drying, water-based products, you can paint a rug this weekend and have it for years.
Painting TipsUse liquid acrylics (if you use heavy-body acrylics, which come in tubes, thin with water to the consistency of cream) and flat brushes in a variety of sizes. To match hues in your room's decor, you can mix tints: Combine titanium white with other colors for lighter shades, or add a dab of burnt umber to give an earthy tint. If you would like a warm, neutral background, paint the canvas with a wash of titanium buff (1 tablespoon paint mixed with 4 cups water). When customizing a shade of paint, you won't be able to reproduce it exactly once you've used it up, so don't skimp on amounts; to paint a solid color on a door-size canvas, you'll need about 2 cups. Use airtight jars to store the colors you've blended.

Prepping the Canvas:

Tools and Materials

drop cloth

hollow-core door, or 1/2-inch plywood cut to size

number 10 canvas duck, cut to dimensions of door or board plus a 6-inch margin

staple gun

paper cups

paint roller on broomstick

roller tray and liner white acrylic gesso

medium-grit sandpaper

It's easiest to stretch the canvas over a hollow-core door, which is lightweight and just the right size for a rug. For other dimensions, you can also use plywood cut to size. We primed both sides for added durability.

1. Working on a large table or on a drop cloth on the floor, center door or board on canvas. Smooth the fabric around to the back, stapling it at each side's midpoint. Continue stapling from the center points outward, about every 3 inches. Fold one side neatly under the other; staple at each corner (far left).
2. Flip the door, and support it on upside-down paper cups. Using a roller, prime the surface and edges with gesso (if using plywood, prime 1 inch border of underside, too). Let dry. Lightly sand. 3. Remove staples, and flip the canvas. Reposition canvas on door, matching up fold lines; staple again.
4. Prime surface and edges with gesso. Let dry; sand surface and edges. Add another coat. Let dry; sand.

Making a Leaf Rug:

Tools and Materials

liquid acrylic paints

paintbrushs in a variety of sizes

leaves or leaf stencil template

scissors

pencil

self-adhesive shelf liner

tracing paper

1. Paint canvas with a wash of titanium buff acrylic (1 tablespoon paint to 4 cups water). Let dry.
2. Gather leaves, and photocopy groupings of them, life-size or enlarged (or download our templates). Cut out shapes, and trace them onto self-adhesive shelf liner (to help them stay put while you work). Cut out stencils.
3. To create ring templates, place tracing paper over leaf patterns and draw abstract ovals around them. Cut out shapes, and trace them onto shelf liner. Cut out stencils; cut away inner circle of each to form a ring.
4. Scatter leaf stencils over canvas. Peel a corner of the backing from a leaf, and press down to adhere; then slowly peel and flatten remainder.
5. Adhere ring stencils over leaves.
6. Paint background canvas except inside rings. Let dry.
7. Slowly peel off ring stencils, but not those of leaves. Paint in rings. Let dry.
8. Remove leaf stencils; paint lines for leaf veins in background color. Let dry.

Finishing Your Rug:

Tools and Materials

polyacrylic varnish

wide paintbrush

drop cloth

scissors

yardstick

pencil

1 roll double-sided carpet tape

bone folder or butter knife

1. Apply two coats of varnish to painted surface, according to label instructions. Let final coat dry overnight. Turn the door over, and lay it on a drop cloth on the floor; then unstaple the canvas.
2. The door's edges create two fold lines that delineate the hem. Trim excess canvas just outside outer fold line (if plywood was used, mark and trim to 1 inch outside the fold line).
3. To miter the corners, fold in the hem on both sides of a corner so their edges meet; mark that point on each.
4. Lay the fabric flat again, and draw a line between the two points; it should intersect the corner of the inner fold line. Trim just outside the line that you've marked. Repeat with remaining corners.
5. Affix carpet tape to underside of hem on each side of canvas; press hem flat, and burnish with bone folder or the handle of a butter knife. Carefully turn over rug without bending it; let dry 4 days, or according to varnish directions, before using it. Lay it on the floor over a nonslip pad of the same size.

Collage a Kitchen Backsplash Using Resin

2007-01-21T20:13:00.000-05:00

This is going to take all of you in a whole new direction, train of thought, forward idea of what you can do. Your options are endless on this one. That is why I love it so much. By the way, remember the glass tile blog? If you couldn't afford to tile your entire backsplash, how about this technique?...add some tile and GO!

I am including the links you'll need to watch the video and to cruise HGTV's site. click on the word "comments" at the bottom of this entry if you have any questions, comments, etc. You'll see a small image of an envelope next to the word. Thanks!

This is definitely something you should press the PRINT button for......here goes

Embed your favorite household objects in a backsplash of clear resin to create a wow-worthy 3-D collage.
http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/Video_detail.aspx?id=790 Click here for the Video

Step by Step Instructions
Materials List:large sheets of paper or cardboard to use as a template

silverware or other small household objects(sea shells, key collection, broken bits of pottery,etc)

resin and catalyst (available at art supply stores)

1/4" lauan plywood to fit the footprint of your backsplash (available at lumber companies)

colored laminate to fit the footprint of your backsplash -I am including some examples and a link for laminates at the bottom of the page

http://www.countertop.com/products/listcategoriesandproducts.asp?idcategory=28&curPage=1&View=All

1" x 2"s to create the form

nails

drinking straws to hold the space for your mounting hardware (how many will depend on the size of your backsplash)

1 can of cooking spray

finish screws and grommets

construction adhesive

Tools:
pencil with eraser
measuring tape
jigsaw

Step by Step:
1. Measure the dimensions of your backsplash. Using a large sheet of paper or cardboard, transfer the measurements to the paper, then use scissors to cut a template. Set the template in place and tweak it until it fits the backsplash area perfectly.

2. Lay the template over the lauan plywood and transfer the measurements. Use the jigsaw to cut out a footprint of your backsplash from the lauan. Use safety precautions when cutting the plywood.

3. To add a dash of color, layer a piece of laminate over the plywood (we used bright red). Using the same template, transfer the footprint of the backsplash onto the laminate then cut the laminate with the saw, exercising safety precautions. Lay the laminate over the plywood.

4. Nail together the 1" x 2"s create a frame around your backsplash's footprint so your resin will have a place to pool.

5. Since this is a heavy project, we recommend securing the backsplash into the wall studs. Find them with a stud finder (available at hardware stores), then mark the measurements on the laminate.

6. Drill holes where you will put your mounting hardware, then insert clear drinking straws upright in the holes. As you pour the resin, it will dry around the straws, giving you a channel through which you can easily insert your hardware.

7. Spray the form with cooking spray to make it easier to remove the backsplash.

8. Wearing safety gear and working in a well-ventilated area, measure out the resin and add the hardening catalyst. Mix thoroughly according to the manufacturer’s directions.

9. Fill the mold about one-third full, then wait about 25 minutes to let it harden to a jelly-like consistency.

10. Place the silverware or other objects in the resin. (sea shells, glass tile, etc)

11. Pour a second layer of resin, repeating the same process as for the first. Don’t overfill the mold. In all, our mold took three layers of resin to complete.

12. Let the mold cure for 24 hours. The mold should make a clicking sound when tapped and should not be tacky to the touch. Remove the form.

13. Apply construction adhesive to the back of your resin backsplash according to the manufacturer's instructions. Put the backsplash in place.

14. Install the finish screws and grommets in the holes created by straws.

The link for the Wilsonart laminates. There are hundreds of laminate options these days. Don't limit yourself!
http://www.countertop.com/products/listcategoriesandproducts.asp?idcategory=28&amp;curPage=1&View=All

Have fun with your laminate too. Make it coordinate with the theme of your collection...here are a few examples. The burlwood look below would be great for the background of miniature cast iron kitchen utensils etc. The green would be fabulous for and antique(reproductions ofcourse) skeleton key collection. the yellow could work with some "neon" colored spatulas and things of that nature. The blue could represent the ocean in a seashell collection. Use your imagination. Find inspiration in the items you love to collect.

Before and After - Revisited

2007-01-15T19:18:00.000-05:00

before.....................

after.

I thought this might be a great follow up for the "Before and After" blog. I am going to share some before and afters that you haven't seen and then I am going to walk you through the process and hopefully enable you to get busy with your own accessorizing. The inspiration for this came when my Mother in Law, Eileen emailed me and was excited about being able to use her own things in her accessorizing. Her voiced observation was that she hoped she had the "eye". Maybe I can simplify the process and help you all develop your own "Eye" Let me know after this blog what you think.

before...

after.

before...

after.

Now, the close up and the dissection....keep up boys and girls, we're walking....we're walking....
Sorry old joke (from the movie Dave).

The key here is Odd numbers. 3's and 5's
Do you see it? After settling this idea in your mind you need to remember that the eye responds to dimension. To create dimension you need varying heights and varying "textures". Greenery is the best textural element you can add to a vignette. Am I making sense yet? Lets focus on the vignette on the left. Here we used 3 elements. A vase, a bowl of fruit and a draping ivy arrangement with a touch of color. The "peak" or highest point of this vignette is in the center. So, your eye will naturally follow the lines without suffering from vertigo. If the height of your items went up and down, up and down, up and down in your vignette the eye would not be able to follow it with ease. Hence, the vertigo. Keep it easy on the eye. Keep your peak on the outside with shorter elements naturally flowing tallest to shortest or place your tallest element in the center and keep the sides lower in height but mirroring each other in the lower height.

Now, the vignette to the right is slightly different.

Here we have taken our tallest element and placed it on the outer edge. 5 elements are usually needed for this to be pulled off properly. This will be a larger vignette. The angle in which the photo was taken is slightly deceptive. Our tallest element here is actually the plate on the easel. then it drops down slightly with the greenery...and again drops down one more time with the tipped vase. Why tip the vase? well, because we can. It gave me dimension, color, shape and whimsy all in one piece. Who says that every single thing you use has to be upright? Why does it have to be so serious? Keep it simple. The Drapes featured at the beginning are a great example of keeping it simple, they were much busier looking before we reigned them in and tied them up. Have fun with this.

Just as important as the odd number rule, keep it all very tight. Let the items overlap each other. There is your depth. Do you see how all of the elements are touching in some way or other? That is important because it draws your eye to what you have deemed worthy or "important".
I realize all of the greenery I am showing you in these close ups is very similar. Well, they are all in the same home and within close proximity of each other. You need continuity. Items have to compliment each other in some way. I would never put a Flour canister with gilded plates on a China Curio. I would however put a Flour canister with a basket of "bread" (you can find fake or polyurethane real) together. It makes sense and they compliment each other. This display really took the curio to the next level and it helped to close up the empty space above the curio.
I use a lot of easels in my displays.Again, it's great for depth. I can bring otherwise flat objects up and into view. Somehow I don't think the plate would have the same effect if it were just "sitting" on top of the curio. You can also use easels to prop art into a vignette. A great way to get art off the wall and give your framed art dimension it otherwise would never have.

If I need to clarify anything or expound on what I have shared here please click on the word "comments" and I'll be happy to help. Thanks for your time!
Diana

Before and After

2007-01-14T10:59:00.000-05:00

Hello Ladies and Gents,
Today I want to talk to all of you about "Before and Afters". What I mean by that is I want to show you a couple of rooms/areas before they were accessorized and after they were accessorized. For you Non- Believers out there I hope you'll be a convert when I am done.

Accessorizing is a lot more than simply displaying your wares. It is really more like "merchandising" your precious belongings. For Instance, The cabinet to the left is definitely displaying this homeowner's belongings. Everything in the cabinet is really quite lovely. But, what are they doing for the cabinet itself? What are they doing for the finished effect of this home? Well, "They are on display." you say. "Isn't that enough?" My answer....No. It's not enough. Now I am going to take you down to the cabinet after it is properly accessorized...

Here is the same cabinet, refitted with the items our homeowner already owned. What we did here was rejuggle her things. One of the vases came out from inside the cabinet and now is on display up on top. What a difference. Wow. The chest you see next to the vase was sitting on top of the refrigerator doing absolutely nothing except looking like it was there for lack of any other place to go. Now it is an important piece in the scheme. In addition we added some greenery with just a touch of color to warm up the little vignette. To the left of the cabinet we hung a plate rack that had been sitting in a closet. Wow again. The cabinet is holding just as much as it was before we started but it is actually working more as a place of importance now rather than merely a place to store things.

I know you have all seen this room before. I use it as a teaser on my Blog. Well, this is the room after it was furnished. The major thing it is lacking is the "dressing" what I like to call, "The bow on the package". Yes, the furniture is gorgeous and the room looks really nice. The client has already hung her Thomas Kincaid and placed a couple of family pictures on the mantle. That's enough isn't it?

What do you think? There really is plenty of lighting in this room with all of the recessed lighting in the ceiling. The fireplace tools seem like a nice homey touch. With all of that beautiful furniture why would you want to distract from it? Well, you don't want to distract from it. You want to enhance it. You want to warm the room up and rid it of it's sterility. That is what a good accessory installation can do for you.

I am going to take you to the After shot now. You decide. Accessorizing doesn't mean it has to be cluttered, Not if it is done properly. Actually, when you have a good accessory installation done, it will never appear cluttered but warm and clean. We added a lamp next to the sofa, a floral arrangement on the table and a light assortment of accessories on the built in shelves and mantle. Now I feel like the room is an invitation rather than a display. What do you think?

Here are a few more before and afters...

Before.......................... After

What we accomplished here with just two tiebacks was a cleaner and less busy look. We simplified the 2 windows by dressing them. Instead of 2 panels per window we pulled the pair of panels on each window together to create the illusion of a single panel and joined them in the corner. We wanted to keep the fullness accomplished by two panels per window and decided removing a panel would take away from the overall appeal. The tiebacks were well worth the investment.

The last Before and After I want you to see is a snapshot of the room featured at the bottom of the blog. Here is the before. The photo at the bottom of the blog is it's After. What you see here is the room before we accessorized it. Not a bad looking room like it is. After we accessorized it properly, it went from very nice to WOW.

If you have the eye for accessorizing then I suggest you get busy. If you don't then interview a few designers in your area. See who is willing to work with you on creating the finishing touches on your home. Remember also, you do not have to go into a 2nd mortgage on your home to accomplish a great look. Decide on a price range before you hit the stores.
There may be a few pieces here and there that you'll just "have to have". Spend the money on them. You'll find that it was well worth it because those pieces are also going to be conversation pieces. Otherwise, look in the places you least expect. Old Time Pottery, Kirklands, Dockside, clearance rooms at furniture stores. Spend wisely not frivolously. Take digital pictures of each space you need to attend to. Bring the camera with you when you go shopping so that what you purchase is already placed. This will cut down on returns and spontaneous purchases. Don't be afraid to hire a designer to go shopping with. Yes, you'll spend money on their services but you'll save a Ton of money in the end result. As Nike says, Just Do It.
If you have any questions on this blog please click on the word "comments" and enter your question. I'll be happy to reply. If you have some ideas to add to what I have just shared, please do so.
Thanks so much for your time.
Diana

BIG Ideas for Small Bath Budgets by Chuck Ross

2007-01-02T19:17:00.000-05:00

Hi all, This is an excerpt from HGTV's DIY series online. You'll find the link below.

Big Ideas for Small Bath Budgets
Getting the biggest bang for the remodeling buck.

By Chuck Ross
December 11, 2006/Bathroom remodelers come across them all the time — clients with champagne dreams and jug-wine budgets. Design magazines have given them lots of renovation ideas, but they're shocked when they see just how much all those features add to their project's bottom line. However, designer Jamie Gibbs says that, with a little creative planning, building pros can still give these customers unique spaces that don't break the bank.
Gibbs' New York City-based firm, Jamie Gibbs & Associates, has worked its high-end magic in homes across the United States and abroad. He's also a frequent speaker at industry events, including October's Remodeling Show, held in Chicago. He has a number of tips for remodelers interested in creating similarly stylish spaces at more down-to-earth prices.

Fear the fads First off, Gibbs suggests builders urge caution on fad-conscious clients. "Don't read trend articles," he advises. Instead, to ensure today's bath decisions still look current a few years from now, he suggests aiming for a middle road between traditional and contemporary, which he terms "transitional." This approach provides a cleaner look than classic period styles, without looking cold or clinical.
Second, he says, maintaining consistent metal finishes across all faucets and accessories is a must when aiming upscale, though the components don't all have to be from the same product line. In fact, you may have to pick and choose among a range of offerings, he notes, to find products of the right size and scale for each plumbing fixture. And don't feel you need to drop extra dollars for the latest antiqued metal looks. Gibbs says younger homeowners are finding retro appeal in classic and affordable chrome faucets and accessories.

Targeted spending Working successfully with a tighter budget requires a strategic approach, Gibbs continues. Don't worry if you can't afford top of the line across the board. Instead, save discretionary spending for those key features that will pay off handsomely in added style and comfort — and in increased interest from future buyers. These include:
Mirrors. "Space, or at least the illusion thereof," is the ultimate luxury when it comes to bath design, Gibbs says. Providing a mirrored wall — not just a small medicine cabinet — over a vanity can add virtual square feet to even the smallest room.
Lighting. Providing varied lighting options is one of the keystones of high-end designs. To create illuminating variety in less expensive spaces, Gibbs suggests adding a ledge of crown molding just below the ceiling to house flexible tube lighting, which can be used on its own as a night light or be combined with mirror and ceiling fixtures to develop a balanced lighting scheme. Similarly, under-cabinet lighting could be mounted on the bottom side of a wall hung medicine cabinet to brighten sink spaces. Finally, consider an upgraded ceiling fixture with an added heat lamp for real spa-like luxury.
Showerheads. "Spend your bucks on a good showerhead," Gibbs urges. "That's what people will notice." Distinctive rain-jet showerheads, for example, can create a big visual impact and feel great. However, he warns against spending a lot of money on expensive fixtures before ensuring the homeowner's water won't gunk up the works. Hard water, especially untreated well water, can leave behind flow-blocking deposits, so Gibbs suggests investing in a treatment system first when water quality is questionable.
Radiant heating. If flooring is being replaced, Gibbs suggests considering a hydronic or electric radiant floor-heating system. "It's relatively inexpensive and it feels luxurious to the feet," he says. Similarly, radiant towel heaters can warm the surrounding bathroom space as well as the towels. Both approaches, especially when installed separately from a home's overall heating plan, also can help keep a lid on energy costs by providing heat only where it's needed.

Chuck Ross is a freelance writer based in Brewster, Mass. http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/di_bathrooms/article/0,2618,HPRO_20173_5206264,00.html?nl=v094c

As a "side note" of sorts...

I am going to throw in some notes here for you to consider- if you cannot afford a mirrored wall or simply think it is too much then consider one of these two options:

For an existing mirror that is already glued onto the wall simply frame it with Moulding. Moulding is a great way to "frame" it and create a very inexpensive (approximately $20) yet custom look. If you like this idea please post a comment and I will be happy to instruct you on this option. The mirror I am showing to the left is a ready made mirror. You can duplicate it with nothing more than Moulding from a home improvement store, brass tacks, paint and liquid nails. The home improvement store will cut the wood for you usually for a very small charge (.25 cents - .35 cents per cut). If you want the short cut, post a comment and I'll quote you the price plus shipping for the ready made version...which leads me to the 2nd option.

The second option is purchasing a Framed Mirror to hang above the vanity. You can find beautiful and inexpensive mirrors in a variety of places. Decide on your price range and focus on stores that may offer you a variety of styles and price ranges. Look in the Bargain Basement rooms of large furniture stores. Look in second hand and consignment stores. Places like TJ Max, Marshalls, Home Goods, etc. This mirror is a great style for someone looking for a more contemporary style. Keep in mind, your options are only limited to what you can imagine. I have a beautiful wrought iron framed mirror in my hall bath and the most casually elegant shabby chic mirror you could imagine in my guest room bath. Quite different from each other but absolutely positively perfect.

I also want to throw some ideas that are "out of the box" for lighting in your bath. Don't think typical bath lighting. Look at chandeliers. Look at pendants, who says you can only have one light fixture per vanity? Not me.Why not a pair of small chandeliers flanking each side of the vanity? Think of something creative and show stopping over the master tub. Wow, talk about sexy, talk about romantic. All of you "non-bath taking" folks may find you're back into a nice hot tub of sudsy water if you love where you bathe...luxury without spending a fortune. Wow, who would have thought it possible. I LOVE the chandelier to the left here. I am considering this one for over my Master Tub. I love a good book by candlelight in a hot sudsy bath. I know, Stephen King isn't very sexy reading but what a great yarn he weaves.

On a different note how about an antique or antique reproduction coat rack in lieu of towel rods. What do you think of this one? I love the fact that it is unexpected and has an antique appeal. You can modernize it with a more contemporary style or you can paint this one in a bright chrome finish.

Need a shelf in the bath? A place for those candles or a make-up/jewelry box shelf? Think about something along the lines of what we are featuring on the left. FABULOUS! My girlfriend Suzi used a modified version of this in her bath and it's one of her favorite "rooms" in the house. By the way, If anyone is looking for a gorgeous Townhome in Gambrills Maryland, Suzi is looking for a buyer. I'll be at her home on Friday and I can't wait to see all of the DIY projects she has tackled in her home.

That's it for now. I hope you'll take away some great ideas that you can really be proud of in your DIY projects. Let me know if I can help, just click on "Comments" and I promise I will respond within 24 hours. Thanks for your time.

Diana

2007-01-01T14:50:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everybody!!!!

A peek into my home on Christmas Eve

2006-12-25T16:50:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve at the Taylor house.

I hope you had a beautiful day today.

Diana

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-24T08:36:00.000-05:00

Today is Christmas Eve. Many of you will be celebrating with your families today/tonight. Others will be waking up at the crack of dawn when the kids come squealing into the family room ready to shred that brightly colored paper and get to business. There are those too who will be traveling miles and miles to spend this day or tomorrow with family who lives in another state or country. Where ever and when ever you celebrate have a wonderful and Happy Holiday with those you love.

I am looking forward to a Wonderful New Year with all of you!

If you would like to know where to buy the trees featured above go to http://www.terrysvillage.com

There are beautiful pillows, Table runners etc for really great pricing! I am not affiliated with this company in any way, I thought you might enjoy it.

Ideas for the Holiday Parties

2006-12-18T07:50:00.000-05:00

Decorate on the Cheap with Everyday Items From "Real Simple" Magazine
New uses for wine glasses, picture frames, ribbon...
Planter as Table
Original Use: Potting petunias.Aha! Use: Serving as an occasional table. Bring your planter inside when the season is over, top it with a piece of glass, and enlist it at winter gatherings to hold cocktails or light up a dark corner.Reward: Beauty that is also useful — and requires no weeding or watering. Photo by Jim Franco

Use Wine Glass as Candle Holder
Original Purpose: Toasting to health and good cheer. Aha! Use: Casting romantic shadows at the dinner table. Place a votive candle in a thick-walled glass, anchored in a bed of sand or small pebbles (it makes wax cleanup a snap).Reward: Lighting that actually goes with your table-ware, unlike those circa-1984 brass candlesticks. Photo by Formula Z/S

Use Toothbrush Holder as a Flower Vase
Original Purpose: Separating his Oral-B from your Reach.Aha! Use: Holding individual flowers. Fill the holder with water, cut the stems so the blooms are a few inches above the top, and slide one into each slot. Reward: Fast, symmetrical arrange-ments, even if you’re all thumbs.Photo BY Andrew McCaul

Upgrade a Lampshade with Ribbon
Original Purpose: Giving ponytails a girly touch. Aha! Use: Lampshade trim. Apply a thin layer of Elmer's or fabric glue (roughly the ribbon's width) to the top edge of the shade. Place the ribbon along the edge of the shade and press the ends (cut on a diagonal) together tightly. Repeat on bottom. Reward: A new way to see the light. Photo By Antonis Achilleos

Tie Up Gifts with Ponytail Holders
Original Purpose: Dealing with bed head when there’s no time for a wash-and-dry.Aha! Use: Sealing up gifts with a twist of the wrist.Reward: Your presents present well without your having to master the fine art of bow tying. Plus, this “bow” can be recycled to keep Heidi’s braids from unraveling. Photo By Monica Buck

I have a link to the Web Page for Real Simple in the left Margin of the blog. If you want to see any more ideas, just click on it. I thought these were easy and most of us have the items lurking in a closet somehwere. Enjoy,

Diana

Wonderful Finds

2006-12-17T11:58:00.000-05:00

Make sure that you stop in next week. Kim, Sheila and I are going to show you our "Favorite Things". I am going to steal a page from Oprah. Promise, you'll love them as much as we do, maybe more.

We'll be including Bedding, Furniture, Accessories, Soft warm wraps and much more....stop in!

Recycled Glass Tile

2006-12-16T08:20:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE glass tile in homes. It has come a very long way from where it was just a few years ago. Your options are endless and the looks are out of this world gorgeous. Specifying glass tile for a client always get my heart rate up. Not only is it an exciting accent for your home but you'll also find it to be a great conversational piece. You can apply glass tile to a backsplash, the face of a bar, the face of your stairs, a large wall....the options are endless. If you are considering tiling anywhere in your home, please read this before you start. This is not only a beautiful way to accent your home but it is environmentally friendly too. Let me know what you think of this.

HGTVPro has a great video series. This is taken from one of their Interior Finishing series...enjoy

Bathroom and kitchen designs are often the centerpieces of today's homes. Colors, fixtures, lighting, style, and comfort are all critical elements of these often used spaces. For builders hoping to incorporate a unique design while being environmentally responsible, recycled glass tiles can provide the best of both worlds.
While community recycling programs and curbside collection have helped increase the amount of recycling in America today, as much as 70% of all glass still ends up in landfills. Because of the durable nature of glass, it doesn't break down over time in landfills. To reduce landfill waste, recycled glass is used to make "glassphalt" for road surfaces, backfill, and stormwater drainage systems. It's also used to make fiberglass insulation, reflective paint, and decorative tiles. These decorative glass tiles are ideal for builders and homeowners looking for a beautiful, colorful touch and a natural beauty. The translucent surface offers a look not found in other, more common types of tile.
Recycled glass tiles are produced by melting down waste glass in furnaces heated to a temperature exceeding 2000?F. The molten glass is then stamped into shape, hand trimmed, and ground to its finished form. This sort of workmanship gives each tile both a professional finish and a hand-crafted appeal.
The benefits to homeowners who choose recycled glass tile for their backsplash, bathroom floor, or other prominent area of the home are two-fold. First, recycled glass tile is a good way to keep glass products from building up in landfills. In addition to helping conserve the environment, homeowners getting a unique product that adds style to their home. Glass tiles come in a variety of colors and finishes, both matte and glossy, and are a durable way of decorating surfaces. They are easy to take care of too—you can use glass cleaner to care for them.
Glass tiles can be used anywhere normal ceramic tiles would be installed, and they have the added benefit of being resistant to chemicals and stains, which makes them good for areas that are prone to getting wet. They can be installed on floors, walls, countertops, tabletops, among other locations, and they can be used outdoors as well as indoors. Installing glass tiles requires a little more care than installing standard opaque ceramic tiles, and builders should be well aware of these differences to make sure their trades get it right the first time. Here are a few things to think about when installing recycled glass tiles.
In general, recycled glass tile will take more time to install, and greater care must be given to the tiles before they are secured in place.
After applying the coat of thin set, it's important to knock down and smooth the comb marks. If not, these marks will be visible through the glass and will create an unattractive appearance.
When smoothing the thin set, make sure that an even layer of adhesive remains that's deep enough to secure and support the tile.
Using recycled glass tile in a home can be a colorful way for builders to show their commitment to conserving the environment while adding a unique look and feel to their living space.

To watch the video click on this link : http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/pac_ctnt/text/0,2595,HPRO_20196_55073,00.html?c=481&videoid=63771

All of the photos shown on this feature are from Oceanside Glass Tile Company's website.

Located in Carlsbad, California, Oceanside Glasstile has been producing and selling luxury glass tiles since 1992. Our founders began with a vision of integrating creativity with a healthy respect for the art glass tradition. Over a decade later, the passion for turning recycled bottles and raw sand into beautiful and functional glass tile is stronger than ever. The current glass tile operation employs over 220 people and uses 1000 tons of recycled glass each year! In fact, some Oceanside Glasstile products are made of up to 85 percent recycled glass.
The wide array of glass tile created by Oceanside Glasstile can be used in all tile applications. Whether you're designing custom glass tile counters, laying a durable glass tile floor, or putting in a unique tile pool, Oceanside Glasstile has the perfect solution. With a product offering that includes mosaic glass tile and innovative glass tile designs, Oceanside Glasstile is available in more than 300 retail tile showrooms throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Western Europe and Japan.

http://www.glasstile.com/Internal/featured_showroom.asp

Create Detail With Color

2006-12-15T08:06:00.000-05:00

Don't be afraid of color. In this home I used a palette of 6 colors in this one room. Note the arch around the fireplace, the area inside the arch, the walls are a different color as well. The ceilings were all painted a paler version of the golden green used on the walls...

Another color was used on the columns to the right of the built in bookshelves. The bookshelves are a golden tone where as the columns are a deep olive. Using color to show off archetectural detail will give depth and visual interest to your room.

here you can see how the ceiling color interacts with a slightly richer tone of wall color.

This wall needed some accents but we did not want it to overwhelm the window treatments or the focal point of the fireplace. We kept it simple.

DIY Paint

2006-12-13T12:23:00.000-05:00

Have you seen that commercial with the couple standing in the middle of their empty family room? They are staring at these large, blank, white walls. The husband sighs a heavy sigh and the words "It looks great..." (or something along those lines) and asks the wife..."what do you think?" Her reply is "It looks like we couldn't figure out what color to paint." Brutal but honest.

Are you suffering from White Wall Syndrome? I say to you, heal thyself. Don't be afraid of color on your walls.The worst that can happen is you paint over it. Reality in today's world is not the repaint but the time to repaint right? Maybe I can help you get it right the first time.
There are a lot of Paint manufacturers out there. I am going to reference Behr and Sherwin Williams because most of us know where to go to get either of those brands without having to drive into the next state.

I want to start at the beginning. First things first, don't start with your walls. Start with a fabric or art pallette that you will have in the room. What I mean is if you already have your furniture and it is not going to change in the next 12 months or more, that is where you start. If you are purchasing new furniture then you will need your fabric swatches from the new upholstery. Lay your fabrics all out on the table/ottoman in the room you are wanting to paint. Lay them together and overlapping so that your entire pallette of fabrics will be seen all together with your possible paint selections. Look closely at the fabrics in front of you. Which color is least represented in the group? For example: Note this pair of fabrics....

it looks as though there are not a lot of color options here. Look more closely. I know I do not want a color to match the fabric on the left. That is my sofa and it is a big piece in the room. If I paint the walls to match, my beautiful sofa will disappear. I will be living in a monochromatic cavelike room. I want bright and I want airy feeling. Don't dispair.The swatch to the right has more options. It is the pair of chairs that sit opposite the sofa. Although I LOVE the blue tones in the fabric I don't want to live in a blue room. Bright and airy is my wish but in addition I want warm and inviting. Besides, if I paint the walls blue, my chairs will not feel as significant as I want them to be. I want this fabric to be conversational. So, beige? Am I stuck with beige walls? No. Look more closely, what color is LEAST represented in this fabric? It's a golden hued taupe. I like it. this color is warm like the sofa I love and it will allow the blue colors to really make a statement in my room. Choose a paint color that will allow your furniture to come to life. Am I making sense? To bring life to my big chocolate sofa I am going to add pillows that bring the chairs over. My drapes are going to be a beautiful slate blue mingled with teal and a drop of chocolate. A strong contrast against the taupe hued walls. Exactly what we were looking for!

Need another example? Okay, lets go with a more traditional scheme....

Our dominant color here is our "Brick" color. Automatically I know brick will not be my wall color. Remember, we want our fabrics to pop. How about gold?....well there is an awfully lot of it. I like gold. Will that enhance my fabrics or cause them to blend? ...I am thinking, it won't look bad, it will definitely be a safe choice, but I want more than safe. I want "WOW" I want "panache". What are my other choices? Looking closely at the fabric on the left there is a very subtle hue of olive in the Tapestry. Olive, yuck, I really dislike green. Besides, won't it feel like Christmas? No. It will not feel like Christmas unless you adorn everything with lights and glass ornaments. So, green isn't a color of choice. Let me ask this question....Do you love your fabrics? Do you love your upholstery pieces? Don't you want them to come to life the way you imagined they could. Olive is the answer. Not a dark overwhelming color. Keep it light-not pastel- light. The fabric to the right is a mingled chenille and has a tiny hint of olive running through it as well. WOW that olive really makes this one POP. Use the fabric to find the right hue. Don't try to guess it. If you can't take your fabric with you to the paint store then grab every swatch of "olivey green" you can find. Bring them home and lay them out on your fabrics. The color will choose itself. You won't have to guess.

Now, inspite of all of this, you are still petrified...call a Designer. Ask them for a simple paint consultation. Most designers offer this service. Isn't it worth the consult fee? Time is money, if you have limited time, spend the money. If you call a designer and it isn't something they offer, you wouldn't want to work with them anyway. They are after the High end dollar and don't have time for paint chips with a do it yourselfer. Don't take it personal, just go to the next name in the yellow pages.
I am including a link to SW and Behr for you. They offer a program online where you can "try on" color combos before you start. It can give you a feeling for your color before you leap. It won't be exact because color will change in your own lighting. Swatches are the way to go. If you buy a sample jar and paint a small swatch on your wall, you could still be misled. Imagine a huge white wall with a tiny square of color. Your color will be intensified by all of the white. Keep an open mind. Still cannot decide? Call that Designer I told you about.

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/

http://www.behr.com/behrx/index_html.jsp

Best of luck, any questions or a need for clarification, just ask.

Thanks for stopping in,

Diana Taylor

Interior Design for Dollar Conscious Homeowners

2006-12-11T00:07:00.000-05:00

Welcome,
It is always exciting to meet a potential new client. Sharing ideas on how to get a great look and how we can best stretch the dollars is what keeps it exciting. Each time I am meeting with a client for an initial consultation I see an opportunity to help them create the "Home of Their Dreams". Creating the home of your dreams does not mean you have to live in a multi million dollar neighborhood and it doesn't mean you have to live in a multi million dollar house. Not even a half million dollar house. When we can take a house and turn it into a home, we have accomplished far more than a pretty sofa and a workable wall color.

Seeing the personality of each client come to life in their surroundings is what a successful Home Plan can do. For you that means your likes, your loves, your needs and your dreams wrapping themselves around you every time you cross the threshold of your door. Your home is your sanctuary, treat it that way. You can live in a house that is the same floor plan as 20 other homes in your neighborhood. That does not mean you should all have the same interior. It should be all your own. It should be all you. I have never duplicated a look for any two clients. If I did, I would not be doing what I am hired to do. I would be selling myself and my client short.

I hope to help you find a way to fill your house with the ideas and the furnishings that will make it Your Dream Home. If you like do it yourself projects then I can help you achieve a huge look for small dollars. The photos I have included in this blog are prime examples. This entry is mainly focused on Ready Made Drapes with what I call a Custom Touch. This means you can purchase your drapes, your hardware and any needed "added touches" at your local Home store. Be it Linen n Things, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target or Tuesday Morning. Yes, Tuesday Morning. Excellent resource for spending little dollars to get a big bang. For example, the drapes featured in this photograph....we spent a total of $443.00 plus tax. The drapes are Red Silk(lined) panels from Home Depot Expo. We bought them on sale for $80.00 per panel. The "Hardware" are simple coat hooks from Target. We wanted black "iron" hardware. The hooks, $5.00 each, were all different colors so I went crazy on a $3 can of black matte spray paint. The rings we used to hang the drapes from the hooks were qty.10 to a bag for $10 per bag. They were so easy, all we had to do was "clip" them onto the drape. This whole project took more time to shop for than it took to make/install. (helpful hint, preshop/shop online for most of these items)Great look for little money.

I realize for some of you $443.00 is a lot of money. Keep in mind, these were silk and they were lined. If I had designed these from scratch, I would not even have been able to find the fabric yardage needed for $443.00.

There are other ways to save too. This next treatment cost a little less. The hardware was from LnT or BB&Beyond. I cannot remember. (Always keep those coupons you get in the mail and newspaper). They will accept each other's coupons, they will accept expired coupons and you can use up to 9 coupons per purchase. So, if you purchase 14 items in one shopping event, 9 of those items are allowed a coupon to be applied at purchase.

The process here was this....one 6 foot rod cut in half. 2 pairs of finials, 2 pairs of brackets and 2 sets of rings. Each item was allowed a 20% off coupon total= $136.00 plus tax. Our panels were from Tuesday Morning. They were $19.99 each. Our dilemma here was that the panels were not long enough. The texture was right, the pattern was right and the color was perfect. We went to a discount fabric house and found 3 yards of fabric to add for about $24. We added 18"to the top and the bottom of the existing panels.The trim we also found at Tuesday Morning -6 yards for $9.99. The fabrics were attached to each other with hot glue and the trim was then hot glued over the seam. Voila-beautiful formal dining room drapes for just over $300.00. The rings were stitched right to the top edge of the panels with nothing more than a button stitch. If I had ordered this treatment custom,meaning ordering the yardage, the trim, and labor for creating them it would have cost my client $480.00 just for the fabric yardage, apprx. $112.00 for labor, plus liner costs, plus trim costs, plus custom hardware. Do you see where this is going? This window would probably cost her about $1500.00 to have them made on the "custom" level. We saved a lot of money here so that she could invest her dollars where she needed them most. Inexpensive Windows that look elegant and beautiful are part of the bow on the package. There are times when you should spend the money on custom draperies. There are some rooms that demand custom treatments. When it is necessary, please, make the investment.

You need "good bones" to begin with (or a plan for replacing the worn out pieces as you go). Work with a good Designer. Don't go into your Home Plan with the idea that you are going to do your entire home "on the cheap". Enter into this with the idea that you are going to create a beautiful home while staying within your price range. A good and honest Designer will be straight with you and tell you where the bulk of your dollars should be spent and where you can save by either doing things yourself (within reason) or shopping at the right stores for the right accessories to finish off your beautiful look. With that said, if you tell your designer you want to decorate your Family Room, Dining Room and Master Bedroom(meaning furniture, draperies, paint,bedding, accessories, etc) for $1000.00 do not be shocked when she/he laughs uproariously. I say you can work within a price range but you as the Home Owner need to be realistic on just how loudly we can make the old Geroge Washington scream. $1000.00 for three rooms top to bottom is unrealistic in anyone's book.

Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Working with a designer does not mean you will have to go over your price range. As a matter of fact, working with a Designer should help you stay within your expectations or close to it. If you are like most of us you have Champagne taste and beer budget. Don't let that scare you. Your Designer should help you create a "Home Plan" that will allow you to move forward at a pace that fits your price point. This way, you choose and prioritize what to start with first. Once those things are in your home and you are ready to go forward with the next phase, it's already planned out. All you'll have to do then is purchase your next phase. It's like washing your hair- repeat until done.

In case you were wondering what I meant by the term "good bones".This room is a great example of "good bones". The furniture was pre-existing. This is mid stage through the design process. This client wanted custom bedding and custom drapes. She wanted a more contemporary look but owned very traditional furniture. This photo was taken after the bedding, new window treatment and recovered chair were delivered. Her next phase will be accessorizing. Because we are working in steps to fit her Price Range, acessories will be completed in a few months. She understands the design plan and knows exactly what will be happening next. A good home plan will help to keep you focused and a little more patient with the whole process.

If you have questions about how to find the right designer for you please ask me, I'll try to help. If you are already working with a Designer but are not sure how the process should work, ask me. Again, I'll try to help. No question is dumb and no question should go unasked. I hope to share ideas on this blog for anyone wanting information on Home Projects. I also hope to enlighten people on how to best work with a Designer so that you too can afford your beautiful Dream Home.
Thanks for stopping in and remember, any questions....just ask.

Sincerely,
Diana Taylor
Taylor Haskins Design Studio