Your Version, Your Way

Do you ever have a pretty definitive idea of how you want something to look, be, or turn out, only to find that finding it ready-made is easier said than done?  There are so many items we automatically assume we just need to buy at the store as-is, and yet there is a self-made route to take to really customize what we’re in the market for. Enter: your version, your way.

When the boxed thank you notes and note card sets on the shelf don’t meet your needs in theme, color, or quantity, it’s easy to settle and just pick something anyway.  The alternative, however, can get you exactly what you want.  Custom online printing is so widespread, selling customizable versions that graphic designers have made and posted for sale, as well as offering the option to design your own graphic, upload, and order.  Whether you’re handy with a computer program that builds your own designs or not, you can find countless themes, color schemes, and customizable text, photo, and printing options of gorgeous designs with online printing companies like Zazzle.com. 

If you’re a couch snuggler, throw pillows aplenty might be your thing.  Sometimes you find just what goes with your theme and palette in-store, and sometimes you don’t.  To stretch beyond that limited inventory, you can take two routes, depending on whether or not you’re handy with a sewing machine.  If you’re a DIY seamstress, you can turn to fabric by the yard (which can also come in limitless options when purchased online) or take nearly-there versions of fabric, like 20 inch square dinner napkins that can be ironed, sewn together, and custom filled.  If you’re not the needle-and-thread type, you can locate plenty of seamstresses across the globe who are available for hire through their online galleries like Etsy.com.  What they collectively offer outnumbers a store shelf’s options, and some will even accept the fabric by the yard you ship them and make you what you desire. 

Can’t find a nice wooden cutting board design you like?  Have one custom engraved.  Would you like a number decal for your front door or your mailbox?  Pick an online design and have your own house number printed in a pretty font.  Want your item to say it’s yours?  Monogrammers, engravers, and glass etchers are out there able to fulfill your order.  Want to wrap up a special gift in paper you design or custom design your own bolt of fabric?  Those options are out there, too.

When you want to spell it out that You. Designed. This. make it happen with a little assistance from somebody crafty who is in the business of custom creating your version, your way.    

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 22nd.  

Kick the Curb Appeal Up a Notch

As the weather heats up and the lawn gets back to its rigorous maintenance schedule after the lull in the winter, our attention turns more to the outdoors.  Though the first day of spring is officially still a little more than a month away, there is no time like the present to start planning for a spring spruce-up in curb appeal. 

There are some key features to hone in on when you want to give the front of your home a fresh look for the season ahead, and that typically starts with the focal point: the front door.  A fresh coat of paint or a new color altogether can go a long way to giving your curb appeal a real boost.  Installing new doorknob hardware or a door knocker can offer additional eye-catching detail.  Depending on the style, adding new metal house numbers in a modern font to the door itself, off to the side, or to a front feature like an archway can add a polishing finish and a visible reference for the area. 

If your green thumb will be put to work this season, focus on how you can dress up your front entry.  If you have flower beds that flank your entry or run alongside a front walkway, choose plants and shrubs suited for the area that will bloom nicely in the months ahead.  Adding nice ground cover like a thick layer of mulch is a neat and tidy visual while helping to protect your soil and fill in the space between newly-planted plants.  If something more low maintenance is a better fit, planters or flower pots with something hardy (or even faux) inside make attractive bookends for your front door. 

If you like to accessorize, consider installing a new, more substantial pendant light or porch light sconces.  Warm bulbs that give off plenty of light add to the security and night curb appeal of your home.  If you have a mounted mailbox, a contemporary replacement can provide a fresh start while sporting a new look.  Consider adding new numbers or lettering to your curbside mailbox to freshen it up.  A new welcome mat that does its due diligence of giving shoes a gritty scrub can help add to the warm greeting vibe you’re reestablishing.

If space allows, a seating area with a couple of outdoor chairs and small table between them, a rocker or two, or a bench can all offer that extension of outdoor living space and inviting appeal of your front porch area.  And added bonus is front door furniture provides a visual block to package deliveries that may sit out for a while before you take them in.  A storage bench with a hinged lid is something you can alert your delivery drivers to so they can stow packages completely out of sight. 

Get a jump on a mini-makeover to kick your curb appeal up a notch and start your spring off with a new and improved look that’s ready for those steadily increasing sunny days.      

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 15th.

     

All the Ways I Love You: Home

Home,

You are my retreat.  You are where I go to settle in, get away, put my feet up, and have some quiet time.  You safely nestle us away from the rest of the world and offer an environment of peace and calm. 

You are a reflection of me.  You proudly display my design choices and wear accessories like they were made just for you.  You let me paint you and update you so we stay surrounded by elements that showcase what we love and admire on your walls and floors. 

You clean up nicely.  I love the feeling of having those routine chores done almost all at once so you feel crisp and clean and inviting.  I like working hard at getting you to that point, and I love enjoying the tidy fruits of my labor.

You are the backdrop of our easy entertainment.  Whether it’s an evening or a full Saturday of couch lounging and TV or movie binging, you are there to call us to some downtime, offering a deep, snuggly place to recline and pillows to go along with it.  You don’t seem to mind a few dropped popcorn kernels or a couple of plates stacked on the coffee table ottoman.

You are a culinary hub.  It can be a simple dinner or an afternoon of baking, and either way you have lighted counter space to spread out on and get to work.  With an apron in place, I love to mix, whisk, chop, boil, and bake my way to tasty dishes and treats.  You may look like a big floured, splattered surface in the end, but what we dish up together is worth the clean-up.

You are more than a welcome mat.  You open your doors to guests and family and are a gathering place in celebration or simply togetherness.  You offer them a place to stop and visit or share a meal or a milestone.

You are a master bedroom haven.  You hold our warm, soft bed and more pillows than he would have chosen on his own.  You pull back the covers and allow us to bid the day farewell for hours.  You have my favorite bathroom layout with our own space and privacy and enough closet storage to allow me to still shop.

And now, you are a nursery, getting ready for another resident.  We’re working together to turn a now-empty space into a new retreat for a little girl who is on her way.  You’re where we’ll rock and sing and play and wish for sweet dreams while we watch her grow. 

Home, we couldn’t have chosen a more fitting place to start and grow a family than you.

Happy Valentine’s Day.       

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 8th.

         

Go Bold

When you’re inspired to take a design leap into something big and bold, the thought of actually pulling it off in your own home can seem daunting or too ill-fitting to actually pull off.  Magazine and TV home shows make it look wonderful and glamorous, but translating that to everyday life in a real space can give you enough pause to stop altogether.  But if going bold is something you’d be into, here are some ways to make it work.

Making over whole rooms at a time isn’t typically practical.  But inserting something new that changes the overall look can be.  Instead of contemplating all new living room seating, which wouldn’t be easy to come by, consider one new accent chair in a large graphic pattern.  Between local stores that offer reasonably priced furniture pieces and great deals online that can even come with free shipping offers, you can place one new piece that stands out and represents a style that you love that will transform the look of your seating area.  Upholstered, armless seats with a big repeating pattern can be just what you need to spice up your living space. 

An area rug is another route to introduce new colors and an eye-catching pattern without committing to an entire room full of it.  Area rugs under a dining table and as an anchor to family room seating can display a color you really favor but wouldn’t be comfortable painting in an entire room.  And while a bold graphic print couch may feel too trendy to stick with, a bold graphic rug can update a whole room of traditional furniture.  

Another side piece that can take the spotlight is an upholstered ottoman or bench.  While offering a foot rest or occasional seating off to the side, these pieces can also take on a look you feel is very contemporary and meets with your style approval without too substantial of a cost investment or commitment to a long-term look.  A fresh ottoman can be paired with a solid leather side chair, and an upholstered bench accents the view from a large window or pairs nicely with other seating or a focal point like a fireplace.

For a tall take that stands up to its shorter counterparts, a floor lamp that arches out from a sturdy base and suspends a light diffusing drum shade into a seating arrangement or desk area is a great statement piece that easily updates the age of a room.  Before, this style carried a hefty price tag and was only available through select stores.  But its popularity has brought it to the masses at a fraction of the cost.  It’s a modern spin on traditional table lamp lighting that can feel like art as much as lighting. 

All it takes is really one piece that stands out from the rest to jazz up a room and give it a designer feel.  Adding these elements over time is an investment in how you enjoy your living space and what it says about your desire to go bold when you go home.      

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 1st.