These sleek colored vases are everything I love: stylish, versatile and inexpensive! Stock up and use liberally. $5 at IKEA.
My preferred decor tips for year-round use:
1) On a bedroom dresser with necklaces draped on the neck of the vase.
2) Grouped together on bookshelves or the mantle and left empty.
3) On the dining table during the holidays with birchwood branches and berries.
I love to see how other people dress up their homes for the holidays; the little touches of style infused with classic fall or winter favorites say so much about the people who gather round the feast! Last week I asked readers to submit photos of their Thanksgiving dinner tables. Amy U. of Edmond, Oklahoma sent in her traditionally styled but low-maintenance dining room:
With a table like that greeting you when you walked in the door its impossible to feel anything less than completely welcome…and hungry! Thanks for your submission, Amy!
To get a similar look for your own Thanksgiving spread, take a cue from nature like Amy did and bring the outdoors in with leaves or branches mixed into your centerpieces. A color palette of jewel tones will never betray you and is virtually guaranteed to compliment all dishware!
Submit a photo of your ugliest room and you could win a makeover! The lucky winner will be selected on December 31st by Designing Diva Interiors, LLC and will receive three hours of free interior decorating service for that space! Tell your friends and get your photos submitted to Jennifer@decorateokc.net! Only one submission per person. Must be Oklahoma resident and homeowner. Please include your address, full name and phone number with your submission.
Maxed out on time? Always thinking about how to improve your home? Not sure where to begin or who to call for help? Better Homes & Gardens Magazine has a few websites in mind for the person who falls into any (or all!) of these catagories.
www.BHG.com/coloraroom “Save time by figuring out the perfect color scheme for your room before you shop for paint or furniture.”
www.BHG.com/planagarden “Design a garden without breaking a sweat. Drag and drop dozens of trees, flowers and sculptures.” (My husband and I are using this feature to plan out our spring flower beds.)
www.servicemagic.com “Forget calling around for a contractor. Get matched with a prescreened, background-checked professional online”. (Designing Diva Interiors LLC is a member of Service Magic).
Home Depot is selling its EcoSmart LED A19 40-watt equivalent bulb either online or in stores. I recommend buying one, or more.
You are going to have to find replacements for many incandescent bulbs prior to 2012 when they will no longer be manufactured in the U.S. and certainly by 2014 when most will be discontinued.
Your current alternatives include compact fluorescent lamps and LEDs. CFLs have improved quite a bit–more color, control and wattage choices and lowering prices–but they still have two drawbacks. They all contain mercury, which is a hazardous toxin that eventually ends up in our waste stream, and lamp life is shortened considerably when turned on for short periods. Think closet light or fumbling around in a dark kitchen because you ran in just to pick up your keys. I’ve been there, done that.
A LED (light emitting diode) lamp works differently. It produces light when electrons inside the diode, excited by the flow of current, release energy in the form of light photons. They do not contain mercury and are up to 85 percent more efficient than incandescents and over 10 percent more efficient than CFLs.
The EcoSmart LED A19 40-watt equivalent bulb is dimmable and delivers a color temperature of 3000K, which makes it cooler than an incandescent at 2700K. However, I found the color very pleasant in my bedside lamp. The bulbs face down; those facing upwards will not work as well. LED bulbs, including this one are still primarily directional.
The bulb has an average life of 50,000 hours versus 1,000 hours for the typical incandescent. It’s pricey at $18, but translates into a $200 savings over its life. Here is the problem with that. Depending on its daily usage it could last over 15 years. As one reviewer commented:
“The cost vs. benefit is not good. The selling point for these LED lights is that they will pay for themselves over time. They are advertised to last more than 15 years with regular use. However, the LED technology will advance VERY quickly. Prices will drop. Lumens will increase. Size and weight will decrease. The quality of the light will advance. In other words, there’s NO WAY anyone will have these current LEDs in their sockets in five years let alone 15. In just a few years, MUCH better LED lights will be on the market and most people will discard these for the newer ones. Thus, it’s a waste of money.”
article by Penny Bonda for Interior Design Magazine
Give your winter travelers more than just a bed to sleep in. Give them a cacoon inspired by colors a world away with these luscious shades that will have them talking for weeks after they’ve headed home. Complete article found at HouseBeautiful.com.
Farrow and Ball “Rectory Red 217″: “Deep, rich red, a little sexy” -Thierry Marchand
Benjamin Moore “Sugarplum”: “Calming and comfortable” -Bruce Bierman
Benjamin Moore “Candy Green”: “it has a carefree spontanaity” -Frank De Biasi
Benjamin Moore “Meditation”: “Deep and full and changes with the light” -Tori Golub
Benjamin Moore “House of Blues”: “Clear, medium-intensity turquoise that reminds me of a day of boating in Capri” -Penny Drue Baird
Benjamin Moore “Seattle Gray”: “a warm, soft gray with a touch of lavender-blue”. -Pamela Banker
Whether you’re choosing not to learn the gender of your baby ahead of time, you’re having boy/girl twins or you simply want a gender-neutral nursery for easy decorating, check out these rock-star retreats for the mini you!
They go by different names depending upon the size of the space: Foyer. Entry. Hall. Mud Room. Regardless of what you call yours, its the first thing people see when they enter your home and its appearance says a lot about you. So let’s look at a few ways you can make a real statement when it comes to this underrated piece of real estate.
PAINT:
Go bold here. My theory is that you can afford to go with those deeper colors or unusual wall treatments in smaller spaces because they would simply be too much in a larger space like a bedroom or living room. So go ahead! Now’s the time to try that ultra-rich plum or stunning black with the gold glaze that you’ve been dreaming of.
A few more pro tips to get your entry into shape…
1. Remove cobwebs.
2. Dust light fixtures.
3. Polish furniture
4. Wipe woodwork
5. Dust framed artwork
6. shake out doormat
7. replace burned-out bulbs
8. clean mirrors
9. sweep/mop floor
10. wash windows and walls
11. dust trimming/railings
12. unclutter surfaces
ARTWORK
Your wall decor can also be a bit more dramatic that you might originally go for. Try an oversized mirror to reflect maximum light and color. This can also make surrounding spaces appear larger.
FLOORING
Depending upon how your entry is used most often, a new flooring material might be in your best interest. For households with snow or mud issues, lay a ceramic or slate. Consult your designer or installer on laying a pattern for added interest.
Imagine napping in one of these cacoons on a warm spring day...
Looks heavenly! No need to suspend; great for backyard lounging too.
Whether you’re a perpetual Do-It-Yourselfer, a Weekend Warrior or a Check Writer (let someone else do the hard work!) there will eventually be a home improvement project you simply can’t tackle alone. Designing Diva Interiors LLC has worked with local subcontractors for five years and today has a compilation of reputable, experienced pros for your home’s every need! Contact Jennifer@decorateokc.net for referrals including:
-Electrician
-Plumber
-Roofer 
-Handyman
-Painter
-Landscaping
-Custom window treatments
-Upholstery
-Tile
-Flooring
-Countertops
-Custom Garage Storage Solutions
-Custom bedding
-Custom Murphy Beds
So don’t let your lack of connections prevent you from getting that final project completed by Christmas! Shed the stress and let DDI’s preferred subcontractors treat your home with care and expertise.
Whether you’re a perpetual Do-It-Yourselfer, a Weekend Warrior or a Check Writer (let someone else do the hard work!) there will eventually be a home improvement project you simply can’t tackle alone. Designing Diva Interiors LLC has worked with local subcontractors for five years and today has a compilation of reputable, experienced pros for your home’s every need! Contact Jennifer@decorateokc.net for referrals including:
-Electrician
-Plumber
-Roofer
-Handyman
-Painter
-Landscaping
-Custom window treatments
-Upholstery
-Tile
-Flooring
-Countertops
-Custom Garage Storage Solutions
-Custom bedding
-Custom Murphy Beds
So don’t let your lack of connections prevent you from getting that final project completed by Christmas! Shed the stress and let DDI’s preferred subcontractors treat your home with care and expertise.
