My Dining Room Makeover - Part II

    

Yesterday I wrote about the history of my dining room, my thoughts going into the makeover, the items that I’m using for inspiration, and some of the colors and materials. Here’s a quick update with pictures, including the recently adopted, broken tailed dog that now sports a beautiful brown, tinted gold fur coat.

I’ll post in a few weeks more about decorating styles, but my dining room is not so much about a particular style, as it is the atmosphere that I want to create. As in most homes, my dining room is rarely used, in fact it probably would be more practical to use it as a library/office. But the reality is that any more, the only time my family is all together is during a holiday for a good meal. Cooking is not my favorite thing to do, but when the kids are in town and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are coming over - I really do like to cook. I like to get out my grandma’s china, put the leaves into my dining room table, and have everyone suffocate me in my kitchen. For that reason, my dining room will never be an office. And it’s for that reason that instead of going with a particular style, I’m more interested in creating a warm happy room with things that I love.

 Things like my grandma’s china.

                                                                                               And this porcelain carriage a beloved aunt bought me years ago when scouring a vintage market.

Here’s what’s new…the ceiling is painted and the lower part of the walls are as well. This picture shows a hint of both. You can also see a little of the furniture that will go into the room.

     

The color below the chair rail is Behr’s Gold Buff and the Ceiling is Valspar’s/Martha Stewart’s Vintage Map

And here’s a close up of the textured painted wallcovering.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Sami, our newly adopted dog who has a broken tail, could not stand to have the paint brush get more attention than her. When she tried to crawl on my lap when painting the lower part of the wall, I said in a panic -”NO!”. Of course she then rolled over, sliding down my newly painted wall which now has not only a fabulous floral raised print, but lot’s of dark fur buried hopelessly into the paint. Sami of course now has a rich golden hue to her normally brown long hair coat. Fortunately, she has paws to match as she stepped into the paint when she left the room. Lucky for her, she’s already successfully embedded herself into my heart. I’d show you a picture of the paint on her, but she won’t quit rolling over.

 Hopefully, next time I post, I will have found carpet, chandelier, draperies, and a picture! 

My Dining Room Makeover - Part 1

As you can see by this picture, we did not buy our house based on the interior decorating. This is a picture of the dining room that I shot the first time we walked through as potential buyers. At first glance, you are probably saying “oh my!” That is much nicer than my first reaction. But my second reaction was “hmmmm, this room could be gorgeous…” The size of the room is perfect for my dining room table with all of its extensions. The ceilings are 9ft. high with beautiful crown moulding and there’s a matching chair rail around the room.

If you think that the interior of your home does not effect you, think again. When we moved in, I immediately took down the draperies and wall paper; promptly improving my mental state. At least now I had a blank canvas. See for yourself. If you see a pink glow, it’s from the carpet, which I should add - is most DEFINATELY being replaced.

I have lived with this for quite a while, mostly because I have been just too busy with work, but with Ashely’s graduation in less than two weeks, I have been shamed into action. I will admit to you that I don’t have a final vision yet for this room, mostly because I need to find ready made 95″ draperies and that will determine my direction. I do have a set of my grandmother’s china that I love. They will be part of my inspiration. I’m also working with my other grandmother’s antique dining room set, which is not my first choice but for now, it will do. I’ll take a picture of them for you tonight.  Here is what I know about my room so far.

I want a blue ceiliing. A friend of mine who is a designer in Georgia uses blue celings as her trademark and those ceilings are so happy. I want a happy ceiling. My blue will be a tiffany blue. Note that the blue is not a color that I will bring in anywhere else, it’s going to be there to really set the mood of the room. You won’t really notice it at first, until you look up - and then it will be a lovely suprise. I also am going to add a medallion, but the finish that I put on it will be dermined by the chandelier that I buy. Stay tuned for that one. The chandelier really screams the 70’s, and I am not so in love with the style (or the fashions) of the 70’s. It’s definately going to be replaced.

 The color for the walls will be Behr’s Gold Buff - I’ll show you that in part II. It’s a common color that will eventually be used throughout my main level. I like it because it’s warm and really acts as a neutral color. The color of the room constantly changes depending on the time of day and light. My previous home had this color throughout and you’d be suprised how many people didn’t really notice the color, as much as how it made them feel. It’s warm and welcoming - it makes it home for us.

I did want to add some texture to the walls, so I hung a scrolling textured/paintable wallcovering below the chair rail and will paint that gold buff as well. Here is the unpainted textured paper up close. It’s pretty inexpensive and it just adds a nice dimension to the room. It hangs just like wallpaper, but can be a little tricky to trim. I was a little irritated with it, but then again, I wasn’t being a patient laborer. haha! In the end, I would do it again.

That’s it for now, but I’ll have some more updates tonight or tomorrow, so check back in. The pressure is on!  

Get Inspired by Sex and the City

I amazingly had never watched Sex and the City until last year. Thanks to my DVR, I have now seen every single episode. Imagine how excited I was when Ashley (my daughter) and I each won 2 tickets for the early screening of Sex and the City last night! Personally, I was excited just to have a girls night out. She on the other hand was excited about that too, but was equally as excited about the mandatory, ‘I have nothing to wear’. pre-screening shopping marathon that was necessary in order to attend the event.

As luck would have it, she found the perfect pair of hot pink 5″ pink stillettos with a fab flower atop each toe that perfectly matched her pink chiffon knee length new dress. I admit that for a very brief moment I had a flashback to my twenties and slipped a pink stilletto onto my freshly manicured toes. WARNING: If you haven’t worn stillettos in twenty years - you probably shouldn’t wear them in this century - trust me they are dangerous.  Did I really once dance in these till the wee hours at Studio 54? That’s another story, but, I do think believe that Ashley and I have gone full circle. I pulled out my pink vintage purse that I bought in the NYC village flea market before she was born and instead of rolling her eyes, she actually carried it to the preview. For those of you with teenage daughters - there is hope for you yet!

So, back to the movie… Did I say it was Fabulous? Here’s my review: I LOVED IT! My plan was to keep an eye on the amazing interiors I would surely see and then report back to you. I don’t think I saw any. I was so wrapped up in the girlfriends, steamy scenes, stylish clothes and of course the amazing shoes, that I swear they didn’t show any interiors. you’ll have to tell me if I missed something

Since I sadly have nothing to report regarding the inside of their homes, the philosopher in me feels compelled to encourage you to find inspiration for yourself and your home through Carrie and the girls. Note: Some of what I write below will make more sense after you have watched the Movie. Here are my thoughts…

Rekindle a Friendship. When I won the tickets to Sex and the City, something propelled me to call a friend that I dearly love, but whom I hadn’t called in a shamefully long time. She asked me as we were driving to the theatre, why I asked her when she had never seen a Sex and the City episode. I answered simply and honestly - “because I missed you”. It was like we had never missed a beat. It’s those kinds of friends; the one’s who love you inspite of yourself, that you should call.

Learn from Carrie: Style is not determined by Budget. It’s true. You’ve seen Decorate on a Dime and Shabby Chic. Find an inspiration picture. Study the lines (curvy, ornamental, sleek, etc.), note the patterns, explore the use of texture and use that as a guideline for shopping. Style is about knowing the attributes that make a room beautiful. It’s NOT about the label.

Honor the Samantha in You. Most of us are so busy working, nurturing others, and taking care of our homes that we forget out ourselves. You may even say that we ‘lose’ ourselves. I ask you this - if we don’t honor who we are, who will? Make YOU a priority in your life!

Forgive like Miranda.  Forgiveness can be hard. Let’s face it, it’s easier to stay mad than to forgive. But life is too short to carry the weight of anger and hate. Try to forgive someone who has hurt you. It doesn’t mean you have to like them or even have a relationship with them, but yours will be a much lighter load and you may even find that forgiveness can change your life for the good.

Be a Charlotte. Do you ever look at someone who is ‘always’ happy and want to slap them? Is anyone ever really that happy? The truth is no. But the other truth is that happiness is a choice. You can choose to see the glass half empty or half full. You can be a pessimist or an optimist. You can CHOOSE to be happy or choose to be sad. Sad has it moments, and sometimes we need to be sad - but if you remember to choose happy most of the time - it’s a much better life!

Enjoy the Movie! I think you are going to LOVE it!

 

The PERFECT last minute inexpensive Gift that will Make your Mother very Happy! Promise!

If you are looking for an inexpensive gift that truly will make your mother happy - I have it…a picture of her children. I did the 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and 12 month pictures and it went downhill from there. My kids are 23, 22 and 20 and I think the last family picture was about 10 years ago.

My daughter tried to get her brothers in for a professional sitting before Christmas, but with the youngest away at college, it just didn’t work out. Two days before Christmas she took her digital camera and had my mother take about 10 shots outdoors of the three of them. She picked her favorite shot, took it to walgreens (you can do all of this online and pick up the finished product which is even easier!), had them put the pictures on a CD,  instantly printed an 8×10 on their machine, bought a thick frame at TJ Maxx and gave me my absolute favorite Christmas present. I’m hoping it will a ritual.

Another thought is to print a picture in black and white and add a black or glass frame.

So, if you really want to make your mom happy - give her picture of you! Trust me she’ll love it!

As seen on Mom Finds - A Great Gift for Mothers Day!

   

If you have a mom who appreciates a great bag for travel, the office or shopping, loves to decorate and enjoys being organized (or like me - needs to get organized!), this might just be the perfect mothers day gift. It’s the Decorating Assistant which includes a black mesh designer tote, desk top file holder and 3 organizational files. It’s great for the office and travelling. When you’re ready to decorate, the 3 organizational planning files will help organize everything you accumulate.

Check it out at www.assistantproductgroup.com. If you place an order from our website for Mother’s Day, I’ll personally make sure that if we get the order by Wednesday at 5:00 eastern time, It’ll be delivered (US & Canada only)  by Saturday, May 11, 2008 at no additional charge.

 

Quick fix for a bathroom with old Pink Tile and Teal Accents

Everytime I walked upstairs, I had to pass my daughters bathroom with light pink 80’s tile and teal accents around the tub. It slowly was driving me nuts. Last weekend, I jumped in and did some quick and inexpensive updates. In the perfect world, I would rip out the tile, buy new cabinets, etc., but the reality is…  a few inexpensive updates - haha! It’s decorating on a budget for this room.

I decided to go with a color pallete of light pink (imagine that!), cream and black with chrome accents. Notice I left the teal out. The teal tile was around the tub/shower area which already had glass doors and I decided to find a way to hide the teal tiles. There are some great products on the market to paint tile, but I wanted to keep this project to a miminum and opted not to do that. The cabinets were older, brown and scratched; since she wanted a more modern feel, I did decide to paint them black. 

When choosing paint for a room that has a existing color that you don’t like, sometimes you want to go in a different direction. In this case, I embraced the pink and matched the wall color to it. It’s a light enough color that it really becomes a neurtal back drop for everything else.

I decided that the room had a lot of hard items and wanted to add some warmth and softness, so even though I have glass shower doors, I added draperies to either side with a chrome rod and clip rings and very inexpensive walmart linen drapery panels. Not only did it hide the teal down the side of the shower, but the added height had a modern touch and really added some character.

  

 I had chrome faucets, but awful gold hardware everywhere else, so I picked up some chrome door handles and brushed aluminum switch plates - both are inexpensive items that can make a huge difference. I also added a couple of towel rings and wall hooks in chrome with plastic glass ball accents which added some nice detail and sparkle.

     

Next I went to my daughters room and borrowed three black decorative boxes to set at the foot of the tub, a black candle base with creme candle, and a black picture frame. I had a silver tray that I grouped all of her perfume and set it along with the candle on the back of the toilet. Grouping are always a great way to organize similar items and to avoid the look of clutter. I had a long creme bath rug, and for now that will work - although I do prefer a nice area rug.   

  

My final touch the addition of two fashion drawings that I found at hobby lobby. They had an abstract background with  mixed shades of pink and bold black drawings of a gloves on one and a hat on the other. They pulled everything together perfectly. The whole project was less than $150.00, which isn’t bad for a fresh new look and a happy daughter. They do say you are only as happy as your unhappiest child. Think about that one. That’s a blog in itself!

  

    

 

 

Tissue Paper is Stuck on My Guest Bathroom Walls

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

Really, tissue paper is stuck on my bathroom walls. Well, actually, I glued it to my bathroom walls and it looks pretty fabulous! If you’re looking for ideas to update your bathroom, here’s an alternative that is really pretty easy. All you need is some Elmers glue, a couple of packs of tissue paper, a coat of paint, bronze glazing, and voila!

I was inspired by a faux painter who used this technique for a client of mine a few years ago. It turned out so nice, I thought I’d try it out myself. Here’s step by step directions, pictures of the finished room along with my thought process, and some tips to help you out.  Sorry, but I didn’t think to take pictures of tissue papering, but I do have a before and after picture. Next time I’ll take pictures alng the way - promise! I should note that we replaced the toilet and also the vinyl floor with tile before I started this project.

Note, that the picture on the left was how it was before we bought and moved into to our home.

  Instructions:

• Prime your walls as if you were hanging wall paper (you’ll be happy 10 years from now!)
• Mix 1/3 cup of Elmers Glue with 1 cup of water. Will be runny.
• Start in a corner and brush glue mixtrue on a 2′ x 2′ area.
• Wad up 1 sheet of tissue paper, lightly straighten it back out and place on 2×2 area. Do not put too much thought into it or stretch. Tip: Start in the least prominent area of the room.
• I found that it was easiest to put more glue on the brush and go over the top, smoothing, gently flattening and forming wrinkles. If I tried to do it with my hands, it ripped - you don’t want that. Brush over it until all bubbles are gone - wrinkles are what you want! Note that the directions I had did not say to put glue on top, but hey - that’s what worked best for me! If you get a ripped area, take a smaller piece, crunch and patch.
• The best part about this whole process is that there is no right or wrong. I have areas with big wrinkles and some with less; the mix is what makes it interesting. This project is also something that you can do a little at a time. I did a wall, put the paint mixture in a tupperware container and went back to it the next day.
• Once you have all the walls done, let them completely dry.
• Next, paint the walls, just as you would any other wall with a solid color. I chose a golden cornbread like color that went well with the rooms that were nearby.
• After the walls dried, I mixed some brown/bronze craft paint with glaze. You can purchase already colored glazing paint at Home Depot or Lowes. With a paint brush, I painted a couple of random X’s in a 3 x 3 area and then moved it around with a rag. I made sure to get the color in some of the cracks and crevices for added dimension. Again, there is no right or wrong, but it’s easier to go light and then go back to add. Make sure you get the corners - there’s nothing worse than corners that are not touched or too heavy. I actually went around my room twice and the second time aroun, I filled in areas that I thought needed it. Remember, less is more. Don’t over obsess or overwork it.

 

 

 

 

 Finished Tissue Paper

 

After painting, the first thing I did was give away the plain old mirror and replace it with an oversized framed mirror that had some really interesting details and beveled glass. Always go with beveled glass - it adds some extra sparkle. I also replaced the yucky old light bar with clear glass globe bulbs and went with a bronzed wrought iron fixture with some interesting lines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I chose brown, plum and a little bit of deep red as colors for accent. I found two sprays of flower for $5.00, put them in a ceramic container I had with a block of floral foam for a nice splash of color. The picture to the right of the vanity is a flavia print with a saying that I gave to my aunt the passsed away a few years ago. It reminds me of her and very special memories everytime I see it. On the left I added two candles and a soap dispenser. Groupings of three typically work better than groupings of two. Replacing the old silver fixtures with bronzed updated ones made a huge difference for less than $175.00. 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to admit that I have an adversion to the typical bathroom rug. For the same price, why not use an area rug or even better a hallway runner to create some interest. Shopping at TJ Maxx or Homegoods always proves to be a successful venture!

 

  

My favorite thing in the room is the two bronze statues on the back of the toilet. Soooo much better than a box of tissues don’t you think? To the right of the statues I stenciled the word JOY as a reminder that we all need to live a joyful life. What I didn’t anticipate was the reaction to the men who saw it as they did their business. It’s turned out to be quite a conversation piece! haha!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six months later, I finally found the finishing touch, and it was worth the wait. This picture is the first thing you see when you enter the room. I have 9 foot ceilings in a narrow area and needed a tall picture. This was the perfect size and the colors pulled everything together.

I’ll post another bathroom later this week which had some tile I hated. Check back to see how I worked around it.

 My next project is my dining room. I’ll make sure to take pictures from start to end!

Free Giveaway - Win a Decorating Assistant!

    

Enter to win at completeorganizingsolutions

 Tanna over at Complete Organizing Solutions just e-mailed to say that she reviewed the Decorating Assistant and she’s giving one away next week! Simply read her review and tell her what you think by March 20th; you’ll automatically be entered to win. She’ll anounce the winner on March 21st. The Decorating Assistant is a stylish planner and organizer for anyone decorating, remodeling, or building a home.

After you register to win, take some time to explore her site. I found some great ideas and really liked her thoughts and suggestions for having a kitchen/laundry room combination! Good Luck!

Have a Decorating Question? Ask Away!

 

Are you struggling to draw a floor plan? Have a question about decorating a specific room in your house or just plain stumped? We  LOVE to answer decorating questions! Ask away - you can even e-mail us a picture of your room with a specific question. Jayne and I  love to share our passion for decorating. Don’t forget to check out the decorating tools  and articles on our website as well. We even have free budget forms and Grid Paper that you can print to use for your project.

Feng Shui and The Secret; Coincidence or Reality?

As an Interior Designer I felt compelled several years ago to learn more about Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway) and took a class taught by Daniel David Kennedy, author of Feng Shui Tips for a Better Life. As a woman and entrepreneur, I am intrigued by the principles of The Secret, written by Rhonda Byrne, and  recently discussed by Oprah and several successful woman who have applied it to their lives.  What occured to me as I drove to the office this morning, is that both actually have a lot in common. If you aren’t familiar with either, I think they are both worth exploring. Here are my interpretations of each, how they relate to each other and how they might improve your home and your happiness.

Feng Shui is said to be a powerful, effective method of changing your environment to improve your life. Kennedy teaches a form of Feng Shui that focuses on the Ba-Gua, which according to him, “lets you identify 9 important areas of your home which relate directly to you. These include Wealth, Marriage, Career, and others.” Feng Shui teaches you to examine your space and offers simple changes  (or “cures”) that can transform the energy (ch’i) of your home, enhancing your peace and harmony. Those that have implemented ‘cures’ often report increased income, improved health and relationships.

Interestingly, major corporations often incorporate Feng Shui into their offices and landscape - you just don’t realize it. If you see a fountain in the front of a building, beautiful fish tank in the lobby, or even artwork portraying fish or water, it may not be just because they look nice.

My interpretation of Feng Shui is this: It’s about examining your surroundings, knowing what doesn’t ‘feel’ right within your home, using simple principles to create harmony and postive energy, and just as importantly; making purposeful changes with the intention of turning a negative area of your life into a postive one.

 Do I apply it to my home? Not as much as I would like, but here’s my Feng Shui story. Years ago, my husband and I decided to sell our first home and move with our children to another school district. The 3 kids and I moved into my mother’s house until the house sold so that theycould enroll in the new schools.  My husband stayed at the house with the dog to finish some improvements until it sold.

At the time, I was taking Kennedy’s class, and decided to apply what I learned by painting the front door red with the intention of inviting happiness and intending a quick sale. I should add that my husband was not a happy camper when he drove down the street and saw that red door. Nope, not happy at all. Until that is…a few weeks later, someone drove down the street checking out the area and asked him if the house was for sale. In a nutshell, the house was never listed, we got our exact asking price, my husband fell in love with that red door and my mother and I are still speaking. Coincidence? You make the call, but I think intentions are very powerful and best of all they are free.

The Secret, as it applies to life is much the same. My interpretation of the basic principle of The Secret goes like this: Your thoughts and actions create energy that is either  positive or negative. As you think, thoughts are sent into the universe and become your reality. Therefore, if you express gratitude daily; whether out loud or on paper and include statements of gratitude for what you specifically intend to come your way, you will be creating that reality.

Here is my experience with the principles of the secret. Seven or more years ago, I created a collage with pictures of things I wished for, was attracted to or represented the life I desired.  I put it away when complete, but several years later I pulled it out and was amazed to see how many things became my reality.  One example in particular stands out. I had purposefully included the word Oprah within my collage. I wanted to meet her and be on her show. Because of a couple of ‘coincidences’, I was actually invited to the show with Dr. Phil and  was wired for sound as I sat in the audience. Coincidence? I don’t believe in coincidence, but I do believe in the power of intention.

Feng Shui and The Secret, in my experience are intriguing and definately worth exploring. It’s inexpensive and for some it can be lifechanging. At the very least, I promise that you’ll be happier just by the simple acts of expressing gratitude and stating positive intentions every day.  

  Feng Shui Tips for a Better Life        The Secret               

Simple Valentine Day Ideas for ‘I love You’ Memories

Today I realized that Valentines Day is but 2 days away and I’m wondering what to do to make it a special day for the one’s that I love. It occurs to me, that making my family feel special doesn’t have to take alot of time or require a trip to the mall. The reality, is that my most memorable Valentine Day gifts weren’t a dozen red roses, but handmade gifts from my children or unexpected surprises. Those are the gifts I remember the best. So… in the spirit of creating memories, here are my simple, but from the heart Valentine suggestions, for the one’s you love.

• Tuck a brief hand written love note into a briefcase, backpack. purse or lunchbag. Title it 5 Reasons Why I Love You and tell your someone special specifically what makes them special to you.

• Surprise your family with dinner; complete with candles, a table cloth and your best china.  Side note: If you typically have problems getting home in time for dinner (like I do, lately) surprise them and actually BE there on time for a change.

• Pick up some sugar cookie dough, cut it into heart shapes, bake and have a family decorating party complete with icing, sprinkles and sprinkles. Or, do the same thing with ice cream and make your own sundaes. The point here, is to do something other than the same old thing and create some special memories.

• Send an e-mail  or text message to loved ones with hugs and kisses. xoxoxo

PS. Don’t forget about YOU! Buy yourself a scented candle, a special journal, or Oprah’s new book club selection -something to nourish your soul. After all, you’re very special too!

What is Interior Decorating?

 

 I was researching the word decorating for a project I’m working on today and realized that there are many definitions for Decorating which all say in so many words, something like Interior Decoration is the art of making a space beautiful and placing  furniture in a way that functions well within that space, blah, blah, blah.  And while that is all said and true, what occured to me is that Interior is so much more. So, of course I had to write my own definition. Here it is…

“Interior Decorating is the endeavor of creating and implementing a plan to make a house into a home. It’s the art of creating a home that is functional, beautiful and filled with things that you love; ultimately, it’s about creating a haven that embraces you, your lifestyle, and your spirit.”

What do you think? One of my most read articles is Making a House a Home (you can find it in our Design Tips and Advice category). I’d love to hear if you agree with my definition or have one of your own! Happy Decorating!

 

Book Review: The Fine Art of Wall Design

Ooh la la! I love this book! We visited Suzanne Gallagher’s website the other day, www.walldesigndiva.com. The next thing you know, we were talking on the phone and voila-  there’s a copy of her book on my desk! She’s one energetic lady who is passionate about her art - and it shows in her book, The fine Art of Wall Design.

I can’t tell you how many people come to our blog searching for tips on hanging artwork, arranging artwork, tips on artwork, etc. I always say that there are no rules to decorating, just rules of thumb, and Suzanne has just hit the nail on the head.

She has combined all the principles and ‘rules of thumb’ that designers put into creating walls that we can love.  She covers everything from choosing, arranging, hanging, terminology and everything in between.

If you are simply looking for ideas or ready to hang artwork, but afraid to commit to that nail in the wall - this book is for you. Check out her website above. You can even test your knowledge by taking her free Wall Design IQ test.  The Fine Art of Wall Design sells for $24.95.

Reflections and Resolutions: Part 1

Can you believe it? Another year is almost gone! Now that the Christmas hustle and bustle is winding down, I’m taking a few minutes as I drink my morning coffee to personally reflect on 2007, form a plan of action regarding my 2008 New Year resolutions, and give you a peek of what Jayne and I are cooking up for 2008.   Here’s Part I - Reflections.

I’ll admit that I am a perpetual optimist. It drives some people crazy and hopefully inspires more. My philosopy is that life is a choice. You can choose to see the glass as 1/2 empty or 1/2 full, and truthfully, I can’t imagine why anyone would  pick anything other than 1/2 full. It’s in that spirit, that as I reflect back on 2007, I’m focusing on what I’m grateful for; rather than what was bad. Let’s face it, at some point in our lives, we are going to have a really bad day, a bad year, bad month - maybe even a really bad year. As Forest Gump once said, “shit happens”. But as I grow older, I realize that even on the worst day, I can find something to be grateful for. It’s a pretty humbling thing.

Here are some of the things I am grateful for as 2007 comes to a close:

My Family. Yes, we have our dysfunctional days. But anyone who thinks that their family is perfect, probably has a family that is more dysfunctional than mine - haha! At the end of the day, I am grateful for every little thing that makes my family mine.

My friends. I used to want everyone to like me. I was a people pleaser. Actually, I still want people to like me, but I realize that you cannot please all of the people, all of the time and some people are just not going to be a true friend. I am grateful to have finally realized this and that I’m smart enough to focus on friends who love me inspite of myself. They are rare, but precious.

Our Customers. Jayne and I have been so blessed to have met and talked to so many great people over the last couple of years. We truly love what we do and are so thankful for the oppurtunity to create and supply products that not only do we love to create, but that our customers love as well. It’s a journey that we look forward to for many years to come.

My health. God knows I should do more to honor my body, and I am thankful that it continues to put up with me. You know there’s a New Years resolution coming for this topic

Pay it Forward. I am a firm believer in what goes around comes around. I am thankful for the stranger that told me I dropped a shopping bag in the mall, the cashier that always has a big smile for me, and the salesman that told me I was beautiful on a day that I really didn’t feel pretty at all. I just hope that in my lifetime I do as many randomly nice things for people who cross my path, as those that do for me.

So, reflecting back on 2007, that is what I’m grateful for. Next week I’ll share my resolutions and things that Jayne and I look forward to business wise in 2008. Have a safe and happy New Year.

Tis the Season to Simplify and Feel the Joy! 6 Tips

 

Picture courtesy of www.BHG.com

Oh, how I love the holidays! Twinkling lights adorn my tree, stockings are hung on the mantle with care,  and beautifully wrapped presents …yea right! Truthfully, I’m not really loving it yet, because as usual I haven’t found the time to do it all! In fact, not a stocking is hung, black friday is come and gone, Cyber Monday has turned into tuesday and not a  single gift has been bought. Sound familiar? I sometimes feel that I get so caught up in what I need to do that I forget to feel the joy of the season - which is what it really all about! So, with that in mind, my 2007 motto and plan of action for the holidays is Simplify and feel the Joy! Here are my 6 tips to help simplify the holidays.

1. Less is More. It’s true. When you finally bring down all those boxes from the attic, instinctively, you want to use it all. Don’t. It’s impossible to truly ”see” through the clutter and the really special things will not be appreciated.

2. Display what you Love. If it’s beautiful put it out. If it’s treasured put it out. Other wise keep it in the attic. It’s like decorating your home - if you empty out a room and only keep items that are meaningful and beautiful to you; you’ll find that you’ve turned your house into a home.

3. Create a Christmas Treasure Chest. For all those items that are dear to our hearts, yet tend to clutter and clash with the beautiful things, store them in a holiday “treasure chest”. Items such as children’s grade school holiday art projects, Aunt Gladys’ hand painted ornaments, christmas books, etc…can be placed in a storage bench, chest or colorful christmas box and be a great conversation piece during the holidays.

4. Make your list and check it twice. Before you spend hours shopping to find the perfect gift that ultimately will be returned on December 26th, consider if a gift card or cash would be better. Especially, when shopping for teenagers. Trust me, a gift card is much more appreciated than a sweater that is soooooo not in style. Just make sure it doesn’t expire and that it is for a store that they really like to shop at.

5. Develop a Plan. Whenever I am really stressed, I eventually remember to breath and pull out my journal. For me, It’s the easiest way to think through chaos. The problem is that when you are stressed, you continually replay everything you need to do over and over in your mind. Get it down on paper and create lists. A list for gifts, a list for christmas dinner, a to do list for each day. Then cross them off as you go. Getting it down on paper, helps to clear your mind and focus on what needs to be done. Make it a ritual and every morning (or evening before) grab a cup of tea, a beautiful journal, and write. You’ll be amazed at how this simplifies even the craziest of days.

6. Journal. At the end of every day, pull out that journal and write down 3 things that you are grateful for. Sarah Ban Breathnach and Oprah shared this idea several years ago and I can personally testify that this simple act can be life changing. To this day, I am amazed at how something that takes so little time, can be so big. Try it, and you’ll find that at the end of even a really horrible day, there is still something to be grateful for. If you kids are fighting, have them write or tell each other three things that they are grateful about each other. If you try only this one tip, I promise you will truly enJOY the holidays. It’s the best gift you can give yourself!

          

 

Thanksgiving Thoughts and Simple Centerpieces

 

I replied to an e-mail from a professional organizer today and told her to breath; enjoy her kids while they were small because time flies. You can never get yesterday back. As I pushed send, I realized that I really need to take my own advice. So, I’m taking a break (and a breath) and writing this post.

I really do have a choice. I can stress about my shopping list for Thanksgiving dinner, finding time to clean my house, and finishing work deadlines or I can be thankful the fact that I have deadlines at work and am sitting here working with my best friend from grade school and following our dreams together. I can be thankful that my family will be together on Thursday for the first time in money months. I could go on and on. The point is, that the best part about taking a breath is you take the time to appreciate your life right now and realize that all things considered and inspite of struggles and hardhships; how truly blessed you are.

My mother told me on the day that I got married, to remember that when you die, people will not remember you for how clean your house was, but for the time that you spent with them. I think she is very wise.

So my advice to all of us is to take a breath (often). Look around you. Lets be thankful for the little things we take for granted every day. Don’t let stress and “to do lists” deprive us of the things that are really important; making sure to enjoy the opportunity that Thanksgiving presents - a time to be with family, friends and loved ones.

Here are some beautiful (and easy) centerpieces made from things you may already have or can find outside. Who says fabulous can’t be easy and inexpensive?

A simple platter or tray with colorful leaves and vines, top with assorted candles of different widths and heights for a quick and interesting centerpiece. From www.BHG.com

 

Line a large tray with multiple pumpkins, gourds, pine cones and leaves. Tuck in some cut flowers and add your favorite candle sticks for a beautiful and stunning arrangement. From www.BHG.com

Fill a simple vase with branches of colorful leaves, berries, or pinecones for a simple yet elegant effect. From www.marthastewart.com

A glass bowl, water, cranberries and floating candles. From www.recipetips.com

Have wonderful Thanksgiving from our families to yours!

 

How to Draw a Floor Plan (and why it’s so important!)

To some people, the thought of drawing a floor plan may sound overwhelming, but in reality, it’s actually pretty simple with the step by step instructions below. Once you try it, you’ll wonder why you waited this long and you’ll find that your project ultimately will be much less stressful when you have a floor plan to reference.

There’s a good reason why professional designers and decorators start a project by drawing up a floor plan, and it’s because a floor plan truly is the foundation for a room that is functional as well as beautiful. Additionally, a floor plan will help you to determine not only what furniture will fit into the space, but what is the best furniture arrangement for that room. Whether you’re buying new furniture or using exisiting, it’s much easier (and fun!) to draw your floor plan and do multiple furniture arrangements on paper as opposed to breaking your back moving heavy items and then discovering out it doesn’t work.

Floor plans are important in the fact that they allow you (and prompt you) to really think out the space; planning for seating, lighting, electrical outlets, cable boxes, traffic flow, and more. The biggest problem that most people have is actually understanding a floor plan and feeling comfortable with it. The best way to understand how a floor plan applies to you is to imagine yourself in that room. Pretend to walk through the door. Look around and start visualizing each wall. Is there a great fire place that you want to hang a beautiful piece of artwork above? Consider making that the main conversation area around the fireplance. Perhaps on another wall there are two large windows with a gorgeous view - consider that area for a smaller conversation area or gametable for a secondary seating option that capitalizes on the view. Pretend that you are in one of the seating areas. Is there a lamp for reading? An outlet to plug in that lamp? A table to set down a drink? Is there enough room (3 feet) to walk between the furniture? 

To sum it up, drawing a floor plan can be the difference between a so-so room and a room that everyone wants to spend time in. Imagine yourself living, playing, and relaxing in that room. Have fun, be creative, relax and get started. I think you’ll discover that with a floor plan in hand, decorating  just got a little easier!

Click on the link below to our website and scroll down to the bottom right of the page, you’ll find printable step by step instructions to drawing your own floor plan. Additionally, you’ll even find a convenient download to print off free grid paper to help get you started. http://www.assistantproductgroup.com/APG-2/index-3.html Good luck!

Favicons made Simple (a technology tip for do-it-yourself website owners)

How hard can it be to add an favicon to your website? Pretty darn hard, actually! What I thought would be a simple hour or so project turned out to be a day into the night painfully long process. I discovered that every instructional article that I found through google searches either spoke in a geek speak terminology I didn’t understand or they left out a key component or two (kind of like grandma’s secret recipes!) that left me really frustrated!

Because I love to network , I’m breaking it down to simple stupid, so that if you want to add a favicon to your site, you will be spared the grief and frustration I experienced when attempting to learn how to do it.

In a nutshell, here is everything you need to know about favicons from a totally self taught female entrepreneur You will need a little photoshop & microsoft publisher knowledge to create the actual image.

THE ANSWERS TO SOME BASIC QUESTIONS…

What is an Favicon? It’s that cute little picture that represents you or your company - for example, if you look at the address bar right now for wordpress you’ll see a black and white W inside of a circle. That’s the Avatar for WordPress. Mine looks like this…

           you can see it at http://www.assistantproductgroup.com/ as well.

I can’t see a little picture - why not? Apparently, from what I’ve read, it’s because you might be using an older version of explorer. I have to say I initially fought the switch to explorer 7.0, but absolutely love the features now that I have it.  Totally, recommend getting it.

Why do I need a favicon? Well, really you don’t, but everyone else has them, they’re cute, and “experts” say it makes your site look more professional. Consider it the little black dress for computers.

STEP by STEP Instructions for posting a Favicon to your Website

• Select an image that you want to use for your favicon. Make it 1-2 colors and simple. It also needs to be square. Because it is so small - simple with a punch works best.

Here is how I created my favicon:

• I inserted a text box into publisher, kept it square & made the back ground white.
• I inserted another text box, typed an ”a” in bold, chose a clear background and made the font red. I then placed the “a” on top of the white text box and centered it.
• Grouping the two boxes, I right clicked and saved them to my pictures as a jpeg.
• I then opened photoshop, opened the jpeg and cropped the picture so that it was still square and had minimal white showing around the edges. I saved that to a jpeg.
• I opened that jpeg and in photoshop resized the jpeg to 16 pixels by 16 pixels and saved that.

Technology Newsflash: You now must convert the jpeg to an ICO. Truly, I didn’t know ICO’s existed until this point. An ICO is simply a file format. There are pictures in jpegs, gif, tiff, eps, and who knew…ICO. By the way ICO is short for Icon.

• Next you must convert your latest jpeg to an ICO. I used a program called Irfan View
• I downloaded a free Irfan View plug in for my photoshop to do this, but there is a free download for infran  at http://www.download.com/IrfanView/3000-2192-10021962.html?part=dl-IrfanView&subj=dl&tag=button which is probably easiest.
• Once downloaded, convert your favicon to an ICO and name it favicon. When converted to an ICO file it will be called favicon.ico. It MUST be called exactly this to work.
• Save (import) this file into your image file on the root directory of your website.  
• go to your home page in HTML (the view that shows all the text and codes for that page) and below <head> (towards the top of the page) cut and paste this text exactly:

<LINK REL=”SHORTCUT ICON” href=”images/favicon.ico” mce_href=”images/favicon.ico”>

 Here is my HTML before I pasted in the link above:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN”> <html><head> <meta http-equiv=”content-type” content=”text/html; charset=UTF-8″>

            <title>Decorating Organizer for decorating, building or remodeling a home</title>

Here it is with the link pasted below <head>

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN”> <html><head> <LINK REL=”SHORTCUT ICON” href=”images/favicon.ico” mce_href=”images/favicon.ico”> <meta http-equiv=”content-type” content=”text/html; charset=UTF-8″>

            <title>Decorating Organizer for decorating, building or remodeling a home</title>

• Make sure that it pastes exactly as you copy it – mine changed when I pasted it and I had to correct it. 

• Check your preview to make sure that it isn’t showing up anywhere on the website home page anywhere, which would mean that something is wrong. If it is showing up on the page, check to make sure placed it in under the first <head> and not elsewhere. Sometimes you have to experiment till it’s right. Always preview before you save!

•  Save page and open up internet explorer (hopefully, you have 7.0) and go the website. It may take a minute or so to show on the front page and several or more minutes f(or even several hours) or it to spread to the other pages. It should show up on the tab that it was opened in and also on the address bar. If you don’t have explorer 7.0, it will only show when you save it as a favorite. Note: I didn’t think it worked  on the other pages and was just done with the whole deal and went to bed in the wee hours of the next mornng. When I woke up - voila! It was magic and had spread to all my other pages. How cool is that? I guess it takes time for explorer to generate it to the other pages.

 Good Luck! Let me know if it helps or if you have any tips to share!

See a Guest Bedroom from Inspiration to Completion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Turning an extra room into a guest bedroom is a great project to take on this fall and you’ll be ready for friends and family who visit during the holidays. We thought it would be fun to  share our thoughts and inspirations that went into the development of this guest bedroom that Jayne and I designed for one of our favorite clients. Watch as it starts with a painting and grows to a room that now holds some very special memories.

 

Inspiration: When we  saw this picture at the Z Gallery and immediately knew we had found our inspiration-we loved it and our client did too! It’s the first thing we purchased and everything else evolved from this. Inspiration can come from anything - a magazine picture, sea shells, a treasured vase, etc. Find something you love and go from there!

 

We purchased a bed, side table, dresser and an armoire for a TV, and went with black because it was strong enough to beautifully frame and accentuate our picture and additionally, black was a common link to the pub and theatre room nearby. Typically, a bed is the focal point of a bedroom, so we hung the picture above it and found great bedding to really tie it all together. The walls were painted a neutral medium toned mushroom color which created warmth and nicely accentuated the white painted trim on the windows and baseboards.

 

What we like to do when choosing bedding and accessories is to really mix up the patterns, textures and shapes. Here, using the inspiration picture as a guide, we mixed shades of copper, taupe, and winter white; accenting with a punch of rouge - to match our diva’s lips. Patterns & textures included a beaded pillow, faux fur pillows, a box channeled silk comforter with shams, crisp white sheets. We neatly folded a thin coverlet at the bottom and added a very soft animal print throw with a silk lining for warmth on wintry days. Although we loved the look and feel of the Macy’s hotel collection  sheets, they didn’t fit our budget, and instead we opted to splurge just for the pillow cases, pairing them with a high thread count sheet set that we found at homegoods. We got the look and feel of a 5 star hotel, with out the price tag. You gotta love that!

 

Next to the bed is a lamp for reading, alarm clock and telephone. We put a bible in the drawer with a pen and note pad along with a TV guide.  A friend of mine always includes a picture frame and inserts a photo of her with the family or friends that are visiting. It’s a really special touch and brings back some great memories for her and her guests. Other thoughtful items can include a pitcher of water, bucket of ice and beautiful glasses on a tray, a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates or mints next to a pillow. We also purchased a luggage rack which is stored in the closet along with wooden hangers for guests.

A chair with a footstool is nice to for guests to lay their clothes upon,  quietly read or sit to put on their shoes. We adore this round mirror from Bombay which is hung with a chain, adding a new interesting shape to the space.  When hanging a mirror, make sure that you check out what it will reflect - in this case, it’s across from the bed and you get a glimpse of our Diva and bedding. It was a great way to pull the color into that side of the room in a really interesting way.

For Draperies we chose a simple thin semi sheer readymade panel from JC Penny - one of our favorite ready made sources for window treatments. The fabric has thin copper stripes with threads of black running through it and we hung them on a sturdy black rod with architectural finials. It was important to get a substantial rod that aestically held it’s own with the oversized furniture. We topped our TV armoire with a fern for warmth.

What we ended up with is a room that is both beautiful and functional. In this case, our clients’ 2 daughters loved it so much, that before the oldest one went off to college, she and her little sister slept in it over much of the summer. It’s already been a source of great memories! Isn’t that what decorating is all about?

Creat an Outdoor Haven Now and Save!

 

If you haven’t yet gotten around to creating an outdoor room this summer, it’s not too late! Most of us still have some sizzling days of summer left and fall evenings will be well spent gathering with family and friends around an outdoor firepit. Best of all, you can find some great bargains right now on outdoor furniture and accessories at your favorite stores. Here are some things to look for to add personality and warmth to a concrete patio or paved area.

• Indoor/outdoor area rugs - they can instantly tie an area together and add an element of warmth to an outdoor space.

• Mix and match furniture - remember, you don’t have to have a matched set for a fabulous look.

• Metal gates and wall hangings - these can be hung on a wall or even hung from the bottom of a balcony for interest or to define a space.

• Oversized planters, fountains, concrete sculptures, and decorative stones -these items will last for years, add an architectural touch and can pull an area together.

• Whimsical Items - allow you to have some fun and add surprises that will make this space your own. Hide an adorable frog or garden fairy in an unexpected place; put a “face” on your favorite old tree and accent with a spot lite at night - it’s a great way to start conversation.          

 

By creating an outdoor room you’ll have a great place to unwind and spend t