Vacating for Vacation

To truly vacate the everyday and fully enjoy your vacation time away, prepping beforehand and keeping your real goals in mind during will help set you up to make a clean getaway.

Some might feel a rush from the hurried, night-before-at-midnight packing spree.  I disagree.  Packing as much as you can in advance helps ensure you don’t forget anything and you’re not getting your trip off to a breathless start.  If you’re a list maker, write or type out the number and types of each clothing item you’ll need, plus all the extras.  Before items go in the suitcase (neatly!), lay everything out – shoes, jewelry, accessories, and so forth.  Picturing each outfit fully loaded helps easily forgotten pieces make the trip.  Also, planning in advance for what you want to wear helps eliminate those last-night loads of laundry, for specific pieces were already pulled and not available for you to wear in the days prior to your departure.  Lay all the applicable toiletries out on the bathroom counter the evening before, and add each item to your cosmetic bag or dopp kit after you use it for the last time at home. 

Pack the “extra” bag; whether riding in the car or flying on a plane, prep snacks, reading material, music, and electronics with all the right chords and chargers.  Think about food and magazines while at the grocery store the last time before you leave and avoid the higher prices at convenience stores and airports.  If you will be gone for more than a couple of nights, make all the arrangements to have your home checked on, the mail picked up, and the lawn taken care of if need be.  

Prep for comfort.  Look up the weather patterns – or swings – to expect, and plan your shoes and layers accordingly.  Going to a hot spot but might want a jacket on a chilly plane?  Going to a cold spot but need your flip flops to accompany your swimsuit for the hot tub?  

While you’re away, take photos with purpose.  Will you be running a slideshow for family when you return?  Then perhaps don’t take 15 shots of essentially the same thing.  Will you be putting together a photo book you build online and have printed?  Capture the little things that will help tell your story, like signs that welcome you to a city, state, or resort; a well-crafted food dish; or the attractive room where you stay.

A real key in vacationing is focusing on getting away.  That means phone calls and emails that fill your time at home need to be kept to a minimum, and be confident the world will continue to turn at the office without you in it.  Let your mind get away with the rest of you, and enjoy the sights, the meals, the entertainment, and the deeper rest you truly intend to soak up this summer vacation.  

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star June 9th.

 

 

 

          

Energize Your Summer

June has arrived, and those sultry weeks of sunshine, barbeques, beach trips, and cold treats are here.  Summer elicits a laidback, low key feel centered on fun, travel, and kicking back.  If you want your home on board, energize your space with simple looks of summer.

A little can go a long way toward adding a seasonal element to your space.  To capitalize on a summer feel, think color.  Give your traditional couch throw pillows a break until September and replace them with brighter colors and vibrant patterns.  Drape a similar throw blanket over the end of the couch or loveseat.  Be willing to stretch past your usual comfort zone and consider combinations of teal, turquoise, grass green, hot pink, coral, and vibrant yellow that are hot this season. 

Sprucing up the table is easy when you incorporate casual placemats like white with a colored print or a bright shade in a repeating pattern.  Forego the cloth napkins and use summer print paper napkins from the party supply aisle.  An inexpensive set of plastic drinking glasses or melamine dinner plates in a new shade are simple ways to serve sodas and floats alongside burgers or hotdogs off the grill, right along with your everyday lunches for the next several weeks.  Put away the ceramic pitcher and keep a colored plastic pitcher handy to keep mixing up batches of lemonade or sweet tea. 

Fill a glass bowl with lemons or limes for the kitchen counter.  Use online references or food magazines to pull together some easy weeknight dinners that use summer produce.  Stock up on popsicles, crackers, dip mix, and summer veggies and fruits for afternoon snacking.  Bring out a pretty melamine tray and stock with bar napkins, stir sticks, and a little plate to hold freshly sliced fruit for drink mix-ins.  Splurge on some new colored mixing bowls or serving utensils for your summer entertaining. 

Change out sheet sets and extra blankets with breathable cotton options, and pop more vibrant pillowcase colors on top of simple white sheets.  Replace raggedy kitchen towels with a new set in bright colors or a summery repeating print.  Lay out a new welcome mat at the front door with a fun print painted on.    

Hit up those aisle end caps in stores that beckon with a slew of seasonal goodies for the homemaker and entertainer.  Little pops of color here and there can take your rooms right into summer fun for a stylish backdrop for your energized summer to come.            

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star June 2nd.

 

 

Collection Perfection

If you’ve got it, flaunt it.  That’s what we’re told.  When you’re dreaming up new ways to enhance your interior spaces, you may have some options already on hand that could take to the walls and beyond.  If you’re a collector of fine things – or simply fun things – consider showcasing them in a whole new light.

Putting like items together with purpose can take some scattered finds to an eye-catching collection.  It is all in how you display.  Take, for example, your jewelry.  It can stay in a drawer, waiting to be worn.  Or it can dress up your bathroom or bedroom on a day-to-day basis.  Bulletin boards upholstered in simple, ironed pillowcases or push pin boards in decorative frames can be hung on the wall just like art, making attractive backgrounds to pin up necklaces and bracelets.  Use clear or fancy push pins and hang pieces in neat rows by color or size for an organized look.

Living so close to the coast, you may have some boxes or jars of shells, sand dollars, and other beach-combing finds stored away.  Bring them out front and give them a spot on a shelf or side table.  If you have unique collections on paper, like postcards from cities visited, paper menus, play bills, or items where your monogram is displayed prominently, frame them in a similar fashion and hang as a cohesive wall grouping.  If you have another type of wall art item spread throughout the home, like several small to medium mirrors, wrapped canvases, or nature photos, hang them together to provide a gallery feel in one room. 

Line living room shelves with your glass bottle collection.  Use plate hangers to group your plate collection on the dining room wall instead of having them stacked in storage.  Use a shadowbox with cubby holes to display a teacup collection or a set of small figurines.  If your hobby lends itself to a collection, like a music lover rounding up old guitars or a photo buff gathering cameras through the decades, mount them up on the wall or on shelves where you can show them off proudly. 

Sometimes all it takes for a fresh look is taking what you already have that has value to you and letting it shine like the grouping is worthy of an admission ticket.     

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 26th.

 

  

Go Big. Go Bold. Go Home.

The saying “less is more” can actually work in a big, bold design premise when it comes to quantity.  Some people find layering little trinkets and accessories too fussy for their style or skill level.  Instead of trying to master the perfect arrangement of many pieces, focus on larger statement items to make your rooms pop.

To give a more subdued furniture arrangement some life, let a graphic printed rug make a statement from the ground up.  Or hang drapery panels from the ceiling height in wide stripes or another large repeating pattern to draw the eye up.  Instead of a cluster of smaller frames or canvases you select for a wall grouping, hang an oversized wrapped canvas with a simple, large scale image on it on a blank wall space.  If your “builder beige” home leaves the backdrop in each room a little too muted, paint an accent wall here and there in an attractive accent color, which will enhance anything you hang in there, large or small.     

Within a more plain bedroom design, throw in a surprising end-of-the-bed bench or ottoman, or add a comfy side chair, all in a stand-out pattern.  To dress up a blank entry or hallway, position a chest of drawers or buffet in a painted color instead of a standard wood stain finish.  If outfitting a dining room table with layers of linens and dishes and centerpiece components is not your norm, let design be served up in that room every day of the week with beautiful upholstered dining chairs with some eye-catching color in their fabric.

Trying to really give your home a fresh look amid a simpler canvas can be overwhelming if you think your shopping list may very well drag the ground.  Instead of thinking about quantity, look into some quality pieces on a large scale that can make big impacts where you choose to place them.  Area rugs, draperies, upholstered and painted furniture, and big wall art all take up designer space in style.   

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 19th.     

 

      

What Your Mom Taught You

Have you ever counted the things you do a certain way because of how your Mom did them?  It’s funny how household traditions both large and small can carry on from one generation of ladies to the next.  In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s recount some of those tried and true home ideas that only Mom could have instilled. 

To get your mirrors clean and streak free, spray on glass cleaner and wipe them down in big circles with newspaper print instead of paper towels.  •  When you put clean sheets on the bed, tuck in the ends using “hospital corners” for a neat look that stays put.  •  Vinegar, baking soda, and cola can do more good at cleaning countless things than we could have imagined without her.  •  A little salt in the water adds flavor and helps keep noodles from sticking together in a pot of water on the stovetop.  •  Run a hard-to-open jar lid under hot water and tap it with the handle of a butter knife to make it easier to open.  •  When adding fresh flowers to a vase, pour in some Sprite or Gingerale with the water to help keep the blooms fresh longer.  •  Hang all the shirts and pants in the closet in a uniform way and in the same direction, making pieces easier to see and neater to hang back after laundering.  •  Make up the bed every day, whether you’re in a hurry or not; you never know when someone might drop in.  •  Write and send thank you notes for gifts you’re given.  •  Don’t let clean laundry just sit and wrinkle in the dryer; keep your loads moving.  •  Pull out Grandma’s recipes from time to time to keep them in circulation and pass them on to the next generation.  •  When getting ready for a party or a holiday dinner, set the table and lay out the serving pieces the day before in the interest of time.  •  Keep a consistent schedule of cleaning the bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming, and doing the laundry so as not to fall behind.  •  Use a checklist when packing for a trip so you don’t leave something behind.  •  Test baked goods in the oven to see if they’re done by sticking a toothpick in the center and seeing if it comes out clean.  •  Used towels belong on hooks or bars and not on the bathroom floor.  •  And don’t let the dirty dishes sit in the sink overnight.    

Happy Mother’s Day to the special women who have taught us, led us, molded us, and set us on the path to where we find ourselves today!      

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 12th.

 

With Mom

Kandice Duke • Melanie Krenek • Krystal Stenseng 

 

   

Light. Bright. Beautiful.

Bright, light, and airy.  Sounds cheery to me!  When you need to lighten up your space without considering a remodel, think about these bright ideas to do just the trick.

You cannot go wrong with lamps.  Whether you add a floor lamp to the corner of a darker room or add two standard lamps to a sofa table or buffet piece along the wall, bringing your lighting down from the ceiling level with add both light and warmth to your space.  And going beyond the one lamp on the living room end table will add more lighting diffused throughout the room.  Update your bulbs to brighter daylight versions and lighten the material of your lamp shade choices to create even more ambiance. 

Use part of your wall space to hang mirrors, which visually open up a room while reflecting light back from windows and doors.  A large portrait-size mirror on larger, open wall space or a cluster of smaller decorative mirrors both offer form and function, brightening and decorating at the same time.  Positioning them in well-lit spots helps carry their lightening effects around the room.   

Light reflecting accent pieces like side tables, trays, benches, wall art, and accessories with metallic finishes can also help bounce your lighting around a given space.  Mirrored legs, glossy frames, and shiny surfaces in gold, silver, champagne, and nickel finishes all contribute to a brightening enhancement.  Consider this method for your living room seating area, a dining room sideboard, a narrow entryway, and any shelf or surface in need of a boost. 

Light a few candles and relax in a space that can easily be lightened and brightened without any drastic or harsh steps being taken.  Soft, warm light generously reflected can be a beautiful, glowing thing to soak up.  

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 5th.

 

 

 

            

 

10 Things: Savvy Shortcuts

Amid all we do, working in some shortcuts can make things simplified and speedy.  It’s not rocket science; it’s just an attempt to cut out unneeded steps to smooth out the design of the everyday tasks around the home.

 1.  Keep hosiery and lingerie bags in the bottom of your dirty clothes hampers.  When you sort your laundry for washing, there are the bags, ready for filling.  When they come out of the dryer, drop them right back in the dirty clothes hamper.  

2.  Store cleaning basics – disinfecting wipes, spray, scrub brushes, glass cleaner, and paper towels – in each bathroom cabinet under the sink.  Instead of carting a carrier from room to room, having supplies right where you use them is the most streamlined method. 

3.  Fill a small bin with tool basics – hammer, screw drivers, pliers, a wrench, measuring tape, picture hanging supplies – and keep it inside in the laundry room or under the kitchen sink.  For basic jobs, it’s much handier than retrieving supplies from different cases in the garage.    

4.  Use wall hooks liberally throughout the house.  Whether you’re establishing a place to hang tomorrow’s outfit components in each closet, hang key rings right inside the back door, hang pet leashes in the entry, or hang each bathroom user’s bath towel individually, each designated spot is easy for retrieving and putting away your items. 

5.  Keep a decorative throw blanket over the arm of a living room sofa or chair and one draped at the foot of the bed.  No need to hunt in the linen closet when you’re chilly right now. 

6.  Use a boot tray at your family’s home entrance to store outdoor shoes too dirty to return to the closets.  No piling or tracking necessary.    

7.  Fold trash bags and keep a few in the base of each trash bin.  When the full one comes out, the replacement is right there in the bottom, ready for placement.

8.  Arrange your kitchen cabinet contents for WHERE you use the items.  Plates closest to the table, mugs closest to the coffee maker, glasses closest to the ice maker, and bakeware closest to the oven all mean ease of use when cooking and cleaning up. 

9.  Be mindful of refills before you actually need to restock items like toilet paper, paper towels, cosmetics, cleaning products, detergents, and so forth.  Always have the backup ready to go by keeping a running list and replenishing when a supply dips below half, not when it’s running on empty. 

10.  When you have a series of products to use, arrangement them in order of use from left to right for expedited, one-after-the-other grab-and-go.  Think about your arrangement of products in the shower, in the bathroom drawer, and in the laundry room cabinet.  Chronological structure can be the change you need to simplify.In.Just.About.Every.Room.       

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 28th.

 

 

         

That's a Wrap

Designing a thoughtful gift can be a special surprise for your gift recipient.  With Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and graduations in the months to come, plus a string of other gift-giving opportunities like birthdays and anniversaries throughout the year, it is always a good time to think ahead and be prepared with your wrapping paper at the ready.

Instead of scratching your head and trying to dream up the perfect singular gift, consider putting theme gifts together with multiple smaller items inside.  You can work off of one element to put you on the right track to a fitting theme, like a hobby, interest, or characteristic of your recipient.  A niece who loves to cook, a mom who enjoys travel, a grandson focused on a sport, or a friend who is known for his love of coffee can all be catalysts to putting together unique gifts that will be very well received.

For a cooking enthusiast, a stock pot filled with a new cookbook, silicone utensils, a meat thermometer, wooden trivet, and some dish towels would be a welcome addition to their kitchen.  For a baker, a new custom mold pan, like a muffin pan or pan for cake pops, with accessories such as foil baking cups or cake pop sticks, plus gel food coloring, colorful spatulas, a pretty apron, an egg timer, and icing tips and tools would help a recipient whip up a tasty batch of sweets.  An avid traveler would appreciate a small carry-on bag with a bag scale, earplugs, travel neck pillow, a set of toiletry bottles, and travel magazines, likely carrying them all aboard their next flight out. 

For someone with a love of the game, hone in on their sport of choice with some selection of equipment, safety items, athletic wear, or maybe even top it off with tickets to a sporting event.  If a gift recipient is known for truly enjoying something, like coffee or movies, pad their collection with a gift basket, bag, or bin with pieces that follow suit.  A coffee themed gift can be made up of an attractive mug, bag of flavored coffee, set of teaspoons, a box of raw sugar, cocktail napkins, or accessories for their own coffee brewer.  A movie lover would be thrilled to have a gift card to the theater or a movie rental service, plus boxes of candy and popcorn, a bottle of popcorn butter or powdered flavoring, a throw blanket for watching from home, and a few classic DVD favorites. 

The ribbon that wraps it all together is the thought you put into compiling a gift that sincerely represents them and shows how much you love them and are willing to share your creative flair for designer gift giving.     

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 21st.

 

 

 

    

What Is It Good For?

Items around the house, though typically designated for specific purposes, can often be repurposed for a variety of different uses.  Thinking through your options and putting some to new uses can make the tools you have that much more useful.

Let’s start with an easy one.  An abaca media basket is shaped and sold to hold DVDs in an organized, attractive form.  But take the same narrow, rectangular basket and let it hold a loaf of bread, snack items, boxed meals, or canned goods in the pantry.  On a bathroom counter, one can store rolled hand towels, wrapped decorative soaps, cosmetic products, or extra toilet paper rolls in the cabinet.  In a child’s room, media baskets can line up books on a shelf, diapers and wipes on a changing table, or small toys or puzzles in a cubby system.

A kitchen serving tray or cocktail tray can serve a meal away from the table or glasses of punch at a party.  But place one on a coffee table and corral your remotes and coasters in one orderly spot.  Make a tray on your foyer table the first stop for mail, car keys, and sunglasses when you walk through the door.  Use a tray in the home office for stacks of paper to restock the printer, magazines and catalogs for perusing, or a pretty collection of stationery, envelopes, stamps, and pens.  Stacked trays of the same size in the cabinets of a buffet or entertainment center can keep sets of placemats and napkins separated and neat.  A tray on a guest bed nightstand is a resting place for reading material, tissues, and an alarm clock.   

And the list doesn’t stop there.  Picture frames can double as trays, small bowls or tea cups can hold earrings and bracelets, cake stands can be risers for table centerpiece components, and flat sheets or tablecloths can double as drapery panels.  Decorative drawer pulls can be mounted as wall hooks, magazine files can also be an office filing system or craft paper sorters, and a metal beverage tub can turn into toy or sports equipment storage.

Repurpose everyday items to put what you have to good use.  Decorations and household goods can often have a storage component to them.  Playing double duty can bring form and function into the stylish mix. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 14th.

 

 

 

A Grand Garage

Your days attached at the hip to the lawn mower have gotten more frequent.  The potting mix grounding those bright blooms is leaving a trail to the backyard.  And the tools needed for your latest home project are not as handy as you’d like.  Now that spring has sprung, your maintenance command center – also known as your garage – could use its own overhaul.  Tackling this project can be a sweat-inducing undertaking, but it’s far better than a garage that always looks like a hot mess.

Most garages end up being the household catch-all.  The first step to a garage makeover is to remove the excess.  If you have unused items that could be donated, round them up and let them move on.  If you are storing items, such as seasonal decorations, that could go in sight-unseen storage like your attic space, gather them, contain them properly, and carry them up the fold-down ladder.  Let the garage do its job: hold the family vehicles, sports gear, and tools related to all sorts of home maintenance.  When you pare down, you open up a lot of space saving possibilities.    

Because space is limited, use that perimeter around your parking spaces to the best of its ability.  That means taking things vertically and maximizing your storage space from garage floor to ceiling.  Shelving systems you put together can be lined up next to each other and provide shelf after shelf of storage space.  Back the cars out and use the open floor area to sort your keeper items into categories before filing in your shelves.  Stack the paint cans together.  Use breathable bins to house bottles and bags of weed killer, insect granules, potting soil, and the like.  Keep your cordless tools in their carrying cases with bins next to them for all the accessories like drill bits and battery chargers.  Use clear plastic storage containers with lids to hold extra paper towel and toilet paper rolls to free up the laundry room cabinet space.  Use mounted wall organizer strips to line up tools like your broom, mop, rake, and other garden tools.  Roll up extension chords and garden hoses in individual bins to avoid tangles and knots.  Mount racks to hold sports equipment up on the wall and use open air bins or large crates to keep sports gear rounded up.  Save designated areas for larger items like the mower, edger, large ice chests, trash container, and recycling bins.         

Find a place for everything and keep everything in its place with the right tools for your tools in an organized, compartmentalized garage fit for showing off each time that double door raises. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 7th.

 

 

As We Gather Around the Table

It’s fun to gather the family around the dining room table for a special meal as we celebrate holidays, milestones, and distinctive events.  As you set the table for Easter, add those extra touches that help set apart the day as anything but ordinary. 

There may be no such thing as overlaying when it comes to setting a “wow” table.  You can toss the rulebook that said placemats were for bare tables and chargers were for tablecloths.  If you have ‘em, why not stack ‘em?  Lay down an ironed tablecloth.  Position placemats at each place setting.  Top those with chargers, followed by dinner plates.  If you can serve your meal around the table or off of a buffet in the room, you can skip the informality of an in-home buffet line through the kitchen today.  If you save up the cloth napkins for “special occasions,” then today’s their day.  Anything from a simple, rectangular fold to a dressy flair inside a napkin ring will do for napkins you place on top of each dinner plate.  Or, you can fold them to create a long bar and tuck them around your chargers, creating another layer like a table runner between each charger and dinner plate.    

If your guest list has grown beyond your everyday table diners, spruce up each place setting with place cards.  Simple, folded cardstock works, but you can get creative with cursive names written on real or plastic eggs or little marked bags of candy for a pre-dessert.  Lay out all the silverware your meal calls for, including salad forks to the left and a dessert spoon or fork at the top of each place setting.  If you have tiny tasting dishes, you can even serve salt and pepper at each place, offer individual dipping oil for bread, or later serve small dessert portions so guests can splurge and try a variety without the heavy portion.  Beside each tea glass, make like a restaurant and provide a water glass, complete with a tall glass bottle on the table or buffet primed with chilled water at the ready. 

Make some extra effort to make today dressier than the everyday.  Because today is a special day.  Today, we celebrate how much God loves us and how He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place and rise victorious over death so we could have the opportunity to accept the gift of salvation and spend eternity never parted from Him.  And there is nothing to be more grateful for than that as we gather around a beautiful table and bow our heads in thanks this Easter Sunday.

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 31st.
 

Congratulations to those selected for the 2013 Royal Algodon Court, which is announced today!   www.AlgodonClub.com


Happy Easter!

How to Mix Patterns and Prints

Some rules were meant to be broken, as they say.  But some are not.  When it comes to mixing fabrics with different patterns, prints, and textures, it’s a pretty safe bet to stick with the rules for the most attractive layered results.

 If you want to try your design hand at layering prints and patterns to spruce up your rooms, first start with color.  Choosing a color family as a jumping off point gives you a foundation to build on.  You want to select shades within a color family that blend well together, but without a matchy-matchy hang-up.  As a secondary step, you want to choose a contrasting color to throw in the mix.  A non-monochromatic look will give you the most bang for your buck for the most varied, layered look. 

 The next element to consider is scale.  You want to mix your scales to avoid visual confusion.  The best blend incorporates a large print with both medium prints and small prints.  Stick with one main large print and build around it.  You can select multiple mediums and smalls to add in.  When you have some selections in front of you, whether fabrics on the bolt or items in a store, stand back and look at them as a grouping.  If you like each piece individually and as a part of the group, you’re probably on to something that could work for your space. 

Variety can be the spice of your look.  Don’t be afraid to experiment with layered solids, stripes, florals, and geometric prints, along with mixing in different textured fabrics and finishes.  Just stick to the points of main and contrasting color selections, varied scale, and a cohesive blending of pieces you love.  Incorporate this concept into a collection of the same item, like several throw pillows on the couches or on beds, or in layered decorative elements like drapery panels, lamp shades, upholstery fabrics, and rugs in the same room. 

You can lay it on thick and love the finished product when you decide to experiment a little with varied patterns and prints.  Why not have more than one for a look that is simply much more fun?       

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 24th.

 

 

      

Home Accessory Shopping List: Check

When you’re out and about, certain items can catch your eye, making you stop in a store aisle and wonder if they should just hop right into your cart.  If you want to add some current accessories to your space to update or add some seasonal color, keep an eye out for stylish items on this shopping list:

Wall Hooks – They come in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes, and they double as form and function hanging in an entryway, mud room, or hallway for bags, jackets, and umbrellas. 

Wall Clocks – They’re not just for an office setting.  Pick a bright and colorful one or a large, formal piece and throw it into the mix of what you display in frames and on canvas. 

Pitchers, Stoneware, and Vases – Both glass and ceramics continue to be great additions to little collections on display in clusters in a variety of spots, especially when they add pops of color to a room.

Lamps and New Shades – Gourd and pendant lamps are pretty popular now, as are drum shades.  Flank two lamps on a sofa table or buffet, or replace a dated tapered shade with its modern cylindrical cousin. 

Starburst Mirrors – Fanning out from the standard round or rectangular styles, starburst mirrors become reflective pieces of art all on their own when hung in any room.

Accent Tables – These contemporary side tables are scaled down from the typical four-legged versions and include sculpted metal and ceramic drum and stool versions.  Many are not really big enough for a regular lamp; just set them beside a side chair and offer a coaster or short stack of books topped with a small arrangement.    

 If you’re in the market for some larger pieces:

Leather Ottomans – In larger sizes, they take the place of a standard coffee table while still offering a foot rest and a kid-friendly soft edge design.

Mirrored Foyer Tables or Nightstands – Add some glamour to your entry or bedside with these neutral pieces that blend with many décor schemes while reflecting light and style into the space.

X-Bench – Two of these make the perfect resting spot at the foot of the bed or in place of a regular bench in your living room seating. 

Parsons Table – With sleek lines and an unfussy look, a parsons table is a classic choice for a new dining room table or even a slim table for a home office space or as a foyer table. 

 It’s always good to have a list to go by when you intend to shop.  Keep your eyes peeled for good deals and hot buys that can both update and dress up your rooms.  New style – check it off.  

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 17th.

 

 

Decorating Trends for Spring 2013

With Easter just three weeks away, now can be the time to start ushering in your spring décor as the weather warms and the kids are primed for Spring Break.  Let’s take a look at what spring décor themes will be trending this season.

Bird nests are big right now.  In different forms throughout the decades, nests have been pretty classic.  But modern spins have nests displayed in clusters empty, attached to a greenery backdrop like moss ribbon, and with pale shades of eggs in tow in faint blue and champagne shades.  They can be built into table centerpieces, rested on top of a stack of books on the coffee or end table, or added into a topiary, whether flanking a front entryway or sitting on top of a foyer table. 

Pale shades in general are hot this spring.  Taking a detour away from the more traditional pastel colors of pink, green, blue, and purple, spring is taking on more of an upscale neutral feel with the incorporation of gray, white, champagne, muted blues, light coral, and faded sage greens.  Incorporate these in table linens, guest hand towels, couch throw pillows, and decorative knick knacks. 

Decorative accents like painted metal lanterns, birdcages, and glass and ceramic dishes will be featured displays as well.  Back-to-nature naturals like tins of grass, boxwood topiaries in both pot and pom forms, and clusters of blooms like hydrangeas will make soft, attractive additions to counters, tables, and shelving.  For fun twists on spring staples, use children’s rubber boots as outdoor planters for a favorite potted bloom, fill a bright ceramic pot with clean garden hand tools for a patio table centerpiece, or stash early Easter candy in a pretty vase usually reserved for a bouquet. 

Find ways you can put some spring in your home’s step for a fresh, bright start to the new season.  Whether traditional or modern is your style, there are countless options out there for incorporating some seasonal flavor in your home, sweet spring home.   

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 10th.

 

 

        

Filling Your Decorating Tool Kit

As the calendar turns a page toward spring, we naturally turn toward thoughts of spring cleaning, revamping, and seasonal makeovers.  You may not want to be focusing on the deep cleaning projects around your home just yet, but we could ease into it with a restocking of your decorating tool kit. 

Power tools may be the go-to for the typical tool box, but savvy home stylists need some other tricks up their gloves.  Think versatile and handy.  Painter’s tape covers doorframes and edges you want to keep paint free.  But it also marks off areas of a wall to act as a gallery border, allowing you to hang up frames, canvases, and other artwork with the outside edge clearly labeled.  Once each piece is hung, simply peel off the tape and admire your clean lines.  If you’re moving around furniture for a new look, painter’s tape can also mark off the corners of to-scale furniture pieces on the floor after you have done the measuring to give you a visual about what will and won’t fit where, all before sliding heavy items.        

Clip rings are a great little tool to have on hand.  They make hanging, moving, and changing out drapery panels quick and easy.  Without having to ensure fabric panels are custom fit to each drapery rod, you can change out what borders your windows with flat (ironed) sheets in a style you like, fabric-by-the-yard you have hemmed, or any packaged drapery panels.  No loops or pockets – just clips that chomp down on the fabric’s edge and a ring that slides onto drapery rods – can help you take fabric wherever you want it displayed.  That can include making fabric room dividers or creating your own extra closet space behind a fabric cover. 

Cleaning wipes can be a tool you want to add to your repertoire if you haven’t already.  They make cleaning up countertops, fixtures, and other surfaces quick and simple for not just cleaning but picking up around the house.  Storage baskets in various milk crate sizes go beyond a storage solution to decorative accents when used to hold remotes, magazines, toys, towels, and more.  Brass picture hangers that use two small pin-like nails for each piece of hardware give you a leg up on getting wall art level the first time, helping to reduce those second hole attempts.  Keep a candle lighter on hand in the drawer by your kitchen scissors to light a candle or two for quick home fragrance and a little dinner ambiance. 

Though not part of what we ordinarily consider “tools,” you can use these and develop your own list of go-to materials to help out around your home to get things neat, straight, and decorated to your liking.  Keeping the right supplies on hand can be the key you need to make such a big job a little simpler. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 3rd.