The Art of the Silhouette

When you hear “silhouette” in the context of home décor and immediately think of those old, framed family cut-outs in black of everyone’s profile that always seems to include the girl with the pronounced ponytail, you need to be introduced to the modern silhouette. She’s quite a beauty.

Silhouettes are all the rage in current design concepts, and they are popping up on walls as decals large and small, in frames that would rather display furniture profiles over those of people, and in all matters of paper products. If you would like to see them casting some shadows on your walls, you are just a few suggestions away from implementation.

Wall decals (which are essentially big sticker murals) that display the silhouettes of tree branches, chandeliers, candelabras, birds, and furniture may rank at the top of the list of the most popular and can make a big visual art impact. You can search for near-countless varieties online, and more and more selections are showing up in-store as well. The process of adhering them to your wall is not as daunting as you may think. A good eye, a steady hand for burnishing, and some patience can turn a plain living room wall or bedroom backdrop into a focal art piece without ever lifting a paintbrush.

Hanging a collection of framed silhouette art is gaining in popularity as well. If that self portrait isn’t your style, you may consider adding in silhouette art featuring furniture or accessories, right down to lamps and high heel shoes. One thing I really like about small-scale silhouette art is the ability to add something you admire to your home that regularly comes with a huge price tag, such as Louis XIV chairs and dangly chandeliers covered in crystals to the hilt.

Apply the same principles to modern invitations, note cards, and stationery. Using silhouettes of anything applicable to the theme, whether wedding, shower, or birthday in nature, conveys your message and can add a simple elegance to your future event from your first mailing. If you just want a great set of note cards for yourself for your personal correspondence, look for options that can add your initial or name and one graphic that truly reflects you and your style.

Silhouettes have a brand new take in today’s home. Whether you dress them up or dress them down, this shadowy art element can be used in limitless ways to add unique personality and flair to any room in your home.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 27th.

Turning Dated Items into Today’s Decorative Elements

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is an age-old saying that may be harsh, but it can definitely have some truth to it. In the spirit of spring cleaning and (hey, why not throw in another famous saying?) “out with the old, in with the new,” here are some ideas to turn garage sale finds and items seemingly lost in storage into fresh, functional home décor items.

Repurposing everyday items into bold statements can make big decorative impacts. Old doors, ceiling tiles, and window frames or shutters can end up on walls as modern art. Whether you pull old pieces out of storage, the family barn, or someone else’s yard sale, giving new life to a staple from yesteryear can decidedly bring it into today with a got-to-have-it feel. Wooden doors can be sanded and painted or refinished and hung as wall art, turned into a twist on a bed’s headboard, or connected together with multiple hinges and used as a louvered room divider. Antique ceiling tiles, whether simply cleaned up like new or spray painted with a glossy acrylic finish, can be turned into an eye-catching design item when hung in a cluster on the wall or assembled as a grouping on a mantle shelf. Window shutters or frames can serve as “framed” wall art or be turned into a side or coffee table with added legs or another base.

The same goes for side tables, benches, occasional chairs, and smaller items like serving trays, picture frames, and ceramics. Replace elements that are no longer functional or safe. Refinish and renew surfaces with some elbow grease and the appropriate mix of bold paint choices, fabric batting, and upholstery fabric to make an outdated piece nearly unrecognizable and yet totally desirable. What once graced your grandmother’s porch can be turned into a stylish entryway bench. A dated ceramic bowl can be reinvented and now hold a collection of jewelry on a dresser. Think about giving something new life and putting it to work in your home before you just give it the ol’ heave-ho.

Putting a fresh coat of effort on countless items that have seen their better days can make adding decorative pieces or furniture to your home a DIY budget saver. Look at pieces that may otherwise be headed for the trash with a creative eye to feel out their potential. Now what can you do with some basic tools, some paint, and some fabric?

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 20th.

“How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways...”

To pay tribute to Valentine’s Day, let’s ponder the many ways in which we love design.
Design can make us marvel at architecture • stare at display windows • try on shoes we can’t afford • line up more throw pillows on one bed than we have fingers on one hand • paint multiple swatches on a wall to pick the perfect shade • need designated closet space to store purses, plural • measure twice and cut once • value the concept of having “one in every color” • dedicate long weekends to small projects • flip through magazines and take notes • want the perfect layout when arranging furniture • willing to put our monogram or initials on just about anything • notice the difference a font can make • buy a laser level with an ingenious built-in measuring tool • see that new couch as an investment • anticipate the words “sale” and “red tag clearance” with delight • explain almost any purchase with “but I wanted one” • want to press our noses up against glass display cases; but it just doesn’t seem appropriate at this age • free to choose and choose again • have too many favorites to count • think of IKEA as an amusement park for adults • see a bold print or pattern and immediately wonder what we could do with it • love the changing of the seasons for all the different table centerpieces they offer up • know the difference between turquoise, teal, and aqua • put chocolate brown with just about any other color and make it work • feel as if the space we live in is a real representation of us • spend 20 minutes in an aisle full of lampshades • get over a burn from a hot glue gun because the finished project seems pretty worth it • think about how addresses will look on a custom rubber stamp first when house hunting • salivate over the creativity of products on Etsy • debate the pros and cons of leather-versus-upholstery very seriously • find new meaning in “shop ‘til you drop” • sacrifice comfort for the style we so highly value • cook something just for the tools and dishes we’d get to use doing it • know there isn’t just one shade of white • get serious with a pair of scissors • rearrange to our heart’s content • take pride in making our home our haven.
We love design because it can mold us, distinguish us, and create for us an environment of our choosing. Here’s to a very Happy Valentine’s Day and all that we love so much.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 13th.

Bringing the Outdoors In for Spring

If you have been more cooped up indoors during our colder spells this winter, you may be looking forward to the changes that a little spring weather will bring. To turn over a new leaf in your home now that involves more than ensuring the Christmas decorations are all stored away, consider adding some earthy, outdoor touches inside when things start to warm up.

Some of the simplest ways to bring some spring inside is to mix in some outdoor elements to your indoor spaces. This could add a whole new twist to “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Buy ornamental grass decorations in small metal containers, vases, or table runner centerpieces. One of my favorites is a square or rectangular plot of faux wheat grass. Line up 3 to 5 containers down the middle of a dining, coffee, buffet, or sofa table for a striking, modern centerpiece or add to a kitchen or bathroom window sill or countertop for a touch of green without the maintenance.

Dried naturals are another popular and cost effective decorative tool to wield throughout the home. Tall vases with dried natural or curly branches in large bunches add height to dining, buffet, or foyer tables. Fill a decorative glass or wooden bowl with natural twig ball decorations that come in a variety of sizes and colors, and set it on a coffee table, or add a medium-size glass vase full to a guest bathroom. You can purchase a mixed set that also include small seeds, twigs, and decorative pieces. Use a colored set to pick up the shade of throw pillows, wall art, or accessories to add more pops of color to a room, or use white or natural for a retreat-like feel.

For larger impact statements, think big(ger). Area rugs come in natural weave jute and woven rush grass that add textural and natural elements that are eye-catching seating area anchor pieces. For something more whimsical in certain settings, a plush carpet grass rug really does bring the outdoors in. Top your tables with place setting chargers made from wooden beads, bamboo, or river rock stones, and there will be no need to head outside for a picnic setting.

Take things you like about nature and add their components into your decorations, tableware, furniture, and accessories to meld the division between indoors and outdoors. You might just put a little more than a spring in your step.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 6th.

Warming Up With Spring Designs

Thinking ahead beyond this frigid weather to the warmth of spring, here is what my Zazzle gallery has to offer in spring-forward designs for invitations, announcements, and custom note cards in a variety of colors:

My Zazzle Gallery

Organizing January: The Paper Trail

When I started organizing people’s homes in College Station during my last semester at Texas A & M, I was surprised to find that many clients were most interested in tackling the paperwork they felt was consuming their homes. They kept stacks of it: bills, flyers, notes, invitations, newspapers, magazines, and letters. It was overwhelming to them, so it received little positive attention. But I aimed to fix that.

Conquering paperwork in the home is all about a system. For every piece of paper that finds its way through the door, it has to be addressed and handled. To start, set up a station, a specific location for this to occur. Streamline the paper trail right into a home office or computer station in the kitchen, back entry, wide hallway, or laundry room. Avoid the living room and the bedrooms. At this station, you need the tools to handle your paperwork, which can include magazine files, trays, bins, notebooks, and a trashcan or paper shredder.

Let mail, correspondence from school, receipts, and any other paperwork start here. A tray or basket the size of a newspaper is a great thing to have to start a pile, because you will not always have the time to immediately sort when you bring in the mail. This tray should not be too deep, though, as this is meant to be a temporary holding spot. The next step is to sort. Magazine files that are labeled “To File” and “To Do” make this a simple process. Each piece of paper a) requires further action (pay a bill), b) requires filing (receipt for tax purposes), or c) can be thrown away. By doing this initial sort, you quickly reduce your bulk and keep things from accumulating by throwing out what is not needed and by dividing what’s left into two quick-decision categories. If more categories are applicable for your needs, then add those as well. Having a decorative bulletin board or magnetic dry erase board in the area is a good spot to store invitations and notes after you have added their information to your calendar or planner.

I am not a huge fan of a filing cabinet for home use; I feel the same goal can be accomplished in a smaller space. I use one inch notebooks for my filing instead. Each notebook has a labeled spine and cover, and the categories can be as broad as Banking, Medical, Insurance, Shopping, Credit Card, Cell Phone, etc. Set up a notebook system that fits your needs. As receipts and paid bills accumulate, their paperwork goes into their corresponding notebook. At the end of the year, each notebook’s contents are automatically in chronological order, and I transfer each set to a decorative file box. I have seven of these boxes that represent seven years for tax purposes. This all takes up only two shelves of a standard bookcase. My consistent, rotating system pretty much runs itself.

To maximize your paper processing, don’t settle for run-of-the-mill. Lead your paper trail to a new level of organized sorting and storage.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 30th.

Organizing January: Living Space

The space in which we spend much of our time at home should be neat, organized, and reenergizing. You should not feel as if your home is the place that drains you, but rather the space that recharges you. Having to look at a disheveled area, being constantly reminded of all there is to do, will not provide the haven that a home should be. Organize your living space to give you the breathing space you need.

Our living rooms and family rooms are the center of much activity. Just as they can be the setting for rambunctious game nights and lively gatherings with friends, they should be able to switch to a relaxing home theater or cozy spot for quiet reading. The art of perfecting a soothing space revolves around creating the boundaries that allows for that. A stack of bills on the end table does not sound very conducive to a relaxing night of watching television. A home office in the corner with a computer screen just calling you to check your work email does not allow you to unplug from the outside world. Organize your family’s living space to do just what you want that space to do. Let it be all about the comfy seating and the conversation and the entertainment. Let the elements more suited to an office setting have their own space away from your unwinding. Store DVDs and games in entertainment center cabinets so they are out of sight but easily accessed. Put a large wicker basket in the corner or under an end table to round up toys so picking up is quick and easy. Return your remote controls to the same spot always when the TV is turned off so they do not wander off. Have a small collection of books near a side chair with a soft throw for a reading area.

The same principles apply to your home’s bedrooms. You do not need a computer in there. You do not need a bill paying station in the corner. You may not even want a television if you want to really have an unplugged retreat. Instead, keep organized nightstands that only hold the basics, like a lamp and clock, and store other items in the drawer or in a small basket tucked to the side to hold your tissues, hand cream, and current reading material. Clear off dresser surfaces or just add a small jewelry case or decorative bin to hold items that would otherwise be left out, like a watch, wallet, rings, or glasses. Keep extra pillows and blankets at the ready in a trunk or armoire. Keep the kids’ toys out of the master bedroom. Set up your personal space to have the same feel as a nice hotel room – inviting, relaxing, and back to basics.

Only you can ensure that you have true living space in the rooms of your home that help keep that dividing line in check between the hustle and bustle of the kitchen and home office and the haven qualities of your living room and bedrooms. Organizing for that visually-appealing minimalist quality gives you a secure place to relax and recharge and be ready to face a new day.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 23rd.

Organizing January: A Kitchen That Really Cooks

A major hub of the home is the kitchen. This space goes beyond meal prep and is the site of many a conversation, informal gathering, and memory made. It is usually high traffic and multipurpose. And, unfortunately, the kitchen can be an often-used space that could use a boost in the organization department. If you want to overhaul your kitchen’s organization this year, you are taking on a lofty but worthy project. Here are some ideas for getting it done right.

Organizing and cleaning really go hand-in-hand. This is a great time of year to give your kitchen a major scrubbing as you shape it up. Start with the “un-seen,” the cabinetry and drawers. Go cabinet by cabinet, drawer by drawer, and really analyze the contents. The pivotal question is what are you using versus what is just taking up your space. Start filling boxes with things large and small that just don’t cut the mustard in your kitchen any longer. Hone in on outdated and unused dishes, glasses, baking dishes, pots and pans, serving pieces, or small appliances that do not work or never get used. Get these items out, whether you donate them or throw away what’s unusable. Thoroughly wipe down each cabinet shelf and drawer as you move along and add or replace old drawer and shelf liners if you like.

Tackle the prime real estate that is the kitchen countertops. If it is not used on a daily basis, put it away in some of that space you just opened up. Keep counters clear to a) make your kitchen look larger, b) banish the clutter, and c) make cleaning fast and easy. Repeat the process with the pantry shelves as well. You want to ultimately not store things that you don’t deem worthy of gracing your table, oven, stove, or buffet. Why waste the space you have with things you don’t like or don’t use? Get them out and feel the freedom that comes with having neat, structured spaces that you can easily see into and quickly retrieve items from.

If you want to take it a step further, incorporate supplies to help you keep your kitchen organized. Turntables, drawer dividers, baskets and bins, small rolling carts, adjustable shelves for canned goods, and racks or pullout cabinet inserts to give shelving more stacking space can be great kitchen organizational tools. Put like items together to make specific kitchen projects very streamlined. For example, whisks, measuring cups, and mixing bowls in the same vicinity gives baking more easy access. Baking dishes, brownie pans, and muffin tins together keeps you from hunting for the right supplies. Allotting designated space for serving dishes as well as serving utensils makes setting the table or laying out a buffet straightforward.

However you slice it, an organized kitchen can save you time and stress as you prepare everyday meals and more elaborate feasts in a space that is really ready to cook.

DesignInMind Column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 16th.

Organizing January: Perfecting the Art of the Closet

What I am about to tell you is not for the organization dabbler or the I-tend-to-give-up-about-20-minutes-in project person. This plan of action is for the I’ll-dedicate-my-weekend-to-get-it-right organization lover. Don’t say I didn’t warn you . . .

Ah, the perfect closet. We want it. We imagine it. We see how photographers make it look so enticing in those magazine spreads. We can have it. That’s right – enviable closets are attainable if we are willing to put in the work, set them up properly, and commit to maintaining them.

Step number 1 is to determine what you are storing. Are you all hanging clothes and few accessories? Do you need a closet to itself for your shoe or purse collection? Take note of what you need out of your storage solutions. The extravagant Plan A would be to call in the professionals at this point. Having someone design a storage system layout and install it is a luxury. But more and more systems are becoming DIY through your local hardware and supply stores. Take a good set of closet measurements with notes jotted down about your closet content categories to the store, and you can get started toward an interchangeable system you can install yourself. Things to consider are maximizing your hanging space, which is best done when you have double rods, having shelves or drawers for folded clothes and accessories, and having shoe storage space that fits your complete collection.

Whether you start from scratch with a newly installed system or want to makeover your existing system, I advise completely emptying your closet. One piece at a time, take EVERYTHING out. This is the sorting process. Hopefully you will be willing to part ways with things that don’t deserve to go back into your new closet. Make neat piles of things to keep, and divide this into hanging, folded, accessories, and shoes, or other categories that fit your needs. Make piles of things to give as hand-me-downs or donation items. Send these straight to boxes or bags so you don’t get cold feet over them later. Be ruthless and really keep only the items you are wearing, you like, and that fit you properly. The rest is just taking up your space. And do keep a bag on hand for trash, and be willing to fill it – old receipts, solo socks, and clothes not worthy of donation can go straight to the garbage.

Now clean your closet. Wipe down the walls and baseboards, and vacuum the entire floor space. Start fresh. Now you can put things back one piece at a time. I recommend hanging everything in the same direction and by type and then color for the neatest look and the easiest retrieval. Store your purses and shoes in a streamlined fashion, maximizing the space you have for them. You should ultimately be able to see everything easily, and the overall look should be appealing. And you don’t have to break the bank in order to carry out a complete closet makeover.

DesignInMind Column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 9th.

Organizing January: Clearing the Clutter

Ring in the New Year with resolutions to take your home to a new level of organization. There’s no time like the present to tackle projects, determining to make 2011 your most organized year yet. For the five Sundays in January, look for tips and ideas to shape up your space right here.

Clutter in general is a major complaint when it comes to the obstacles to getting and STAYING organized. So as the year starts off, let’s get back to basics. Tackle clutter by getting to the root of the issue. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: my favorite motto about organization is “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Clutter builds because the “stuff” does not have a proper home within your home. So you pass it by or pick it up, only to leave it right there because you cannot determine immediately what should be done with it. So you do nothing for now. Am I right? Repeat this process with enough random items, and you’re living in a clutter space.

Break the cycle. Eliminate clutter by giving value to the things you keep in your home – enough value to need them, use them, and store them properly. If you do not need something, do not use it, and do not care for it, let it go. Pass it down, donate it, or throw it away. Easier said than done? Yes. But the rewards you heap onto your home and your family, if you commit to this process, are where the true value can be found.

Hit the hot spots, the areas frequently cluttered. Ask yourself why; determine what is piling up in certain areas and for what reasons. Do pieces of mail and other paperwork brought into the home seem to end up in a pile on the kitchen counter? You may need a designated mail area where you can quickly sort what requires action, filing, or throwing away, and have the right supplies to carry that out on a regular basis. Is the back door a mess of shoes, backpacks, and sports gear? You could incorporate a system that fits your family’s needs, including boot trays, hooks, bins, and cubbies or shelving, to get you all in and out the door in a neat fashion.

Everyone’s needs vary. Maybe you struggle with books, magazines, toys, small appliances, cooking and bake ware, hobby supplies, linens, accessories, photos, or knick knacks. Regardless, the ultimate keys are: 1) to keep and store only what you really need and want and banish the excess from your home; 2) incorporate the right supplies – bins, containers, baskets, and specialty storage pieces – to fully utilize your space and create that “place for everything;” and 3) maintain the systems you set up through frequent picking-up and clearing-out to keep “everything in its place.” That’s how you get your January off to a fresh start.

DesignInMind Column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star on January 2nd.

New Designs for Zazzle Cards

Here are the latest designs for Zazzle's 5.25" x 5.25" cards, which make great, modern note cards, thank you notes, gift inserts, and personalized stationery.


My Gallery

Here are the images used in my latest Zazzle designs, which are well suited for baby shower invitations or personal note cards with monograms or initials!



View My Gallery Now

DesignInMind Column

I am writing a Sunday column for the Valley Morning Star newspaper here in Harlingen titled DesignInMind. Some of my Zazzle elements are making their way in as inspiration. You can check out the corresponding blog here:


DesignInMind Blog

Zazzle Award Winner!

One of my older Zazzle products has been awarded a spot in the "Featured Designs" section of the Bachelorette Gifts product gallery! The stamp, a graphic of girls shoe shopping, will stay in that spot for about two weeks, and travel has already picked up in my gallery. That is pretty neat! It's not one of my favorites, but the honor is exciting.

http://www.zazzle.com/bachelorette+gifts

Latest Zazzle Designs to Hit the Market

http://www.zazzle.com/krystal_lynn*