submitted by: Jennifer
04/28/11
Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Countertops
If you have gotten curious about the latest trends and techniques in surfaces I recommend reading this article by The Oklahoman.
Outlining one of Oklahoma’s most innovative businesses this brief article defines the new green countertop materials for anyone who may be considering a new look with better benefits.
Need some help deciding which countertop is perfect for your home? Designing Diva irons out the confusion for you by bringing the latest research and pricing to your doorstep so you end up with the best results possible. Call Jennifer today to schedule your Initial Consultation!
Mention this article and receive $10 off your Initial Consultation!
Tags: bathroom, concrete, design, Designing Diva Interiors LLC, hard surfaces, Jennifer Hicks, kitchens, oklahoma, recycled glass countertop, Vetrazzo
Posted in Design Trends, Green Design/Living, home improvement | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
04/20/11
Everyone has an opinion when it comes to mixing patterns and colors. Think you don’t? My favorite is when I ask a client how they feel about graphic black and white wallpaper and they say something like “I really don’t care, whatever you think looks good.” And then I show them what I have in mind and watch them start shaking their head and backing away. Playing with patterns isn’t for the faint of heart but the payoff can be huge IF you commit. Below are a few of my go-to tricks for getting it right.
1) Keep your big pieces neutral. Sofas and other large upholstered pieces need to play it safe. Stick with a solid color or a tone-on-tone fabric. You will absolutely regret spending a large sum of money on a trendy fabric only to fall out of love with it in six months when animal prints are out-again.
2) Use a large, bold print in a classic color on your window coverings or bedding. For the draperies, think oversized flowers, houndstooth or any of the other big hits right now but in a color you won’t tire of quickly, like navy, black or yellow. The same color rule applies for bedding but make sure the pattern isn’t too busy. I recommend a more sublte duvet with bold mix and match pillows.
3) Now its time for floors; try broad stripes or harlequin diamonds either painted on the wood or concrete floor OR in an area rug if you’re not entirely committed to altering your floors. This is the place to tie in colors from your window coverings and the wall OR your accent color (which will be used in your accessories, discussed in step 4).
4) Be a little crazy with accessories! Let me clarify: I do not mean in quantity! Every room should be carefully edited for the ultimate designer look. I mean that in your final touches- the throws, the pillows, the vases- this is the place to try out the season’s latest and greatest. The loud color, the outrageous pattern, anything you love right now but wouldn’t want to use in a larger capacity.
Tags: animal print, bedding, bold, color, drapes, floors, houndstooth, owl, paint, pattern, pillow, print, rug, stripe, subtle
Posted in DIY, Design Trends | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
04/18/11
As if I needed ANOTHER reason to love The Container Store! They have found the solution to every home owner’s plight of “What’s in that paint can?” with their clear paint pales. Each pale
allows you to see and clearly label every paint you use, keeping them handy for touch ups. Just be sure to store your fancy new paint pales indoors where the temp is controlled year round. Storing paint in the garage is a big no-no; fluctuating climates in Oklahoma can quickly ruin the paint’s formula making the paint ineffective at cover ups.
Tags: Container Store, paint cans, paint pale, paint supplies, storage
Posted in DIY, Design Trends, Fave websites/blogs, home improvement | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
04/14/11
Are you following DDI on Facebook? If not you’re missing out on monthly specials, sale and trend alerts, DIY articles, local decorating-related events and more resources! Everything you need to get started on your next decorating project is waiting for you on the DDI fan page. Visit Facebook and “Like” Designing Diva Interiors LLC’s page to stay ahead of the curve!
Posted in DDI in the media, DIY, Design Trends, Designer's Attic, Drawings/Prizes, Eye On Art, Eye on Color, Fave websites/blogs, Favorite articles, General, Green Design/Living, Home staging, Local news, Local shopping, Monthly Specials, Outdoor design, Philanthropy, Q & A, Remodeling/Renovation, Uncategorized, holiday, home improvement, new products, organizing | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
04/13/11
Solovyov Design Studio has thought of everything with their new OFO Chair. Underneath storage houses a small library while the seat itself is enough to make any mod fan swoon. Available in a wide array of colors.
Tags: OFO chair, seating, storage
Posted in Design Trends | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
04/07/11
How’s this for complete and total relaxation?
“Think of it as a luxury spa retreat without ever leaving the comfort of your bathroom – the new SenseSation steam bath with shower system by Hoesch soothes your body and mind. While you can’t deny the benefits of steam, the full spa experience comes with the whole – the integrated MP3 player plays soothing sounds while the built-in illumination provides chromotherapy through its ever-changing colored lights. And it’s all at your fingertips. The panel let’s you control all these functions with the touch of a finger. All that’s left to do is relax, and soak it all in. More on the SenseSation steam bath with shower is available at Hoesch.” -Trendir.com
Tags: luxurious bathroom design, MP3 player, shower
Posted in Design Trends | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
04/05/11
Pay attention, guys. That very attractive woman you met at the game last Saturday is…well, a woman. She probably has good taste. She dresses well, laughed at your jokes and from all other appearances seemed to be into you. But she’s going to turn and run the other direction if she comes over for dinner and has to sit in the futon you brought from your college dorm. You may be fine with the “dining room table” created from a spool you found on a construction site but she will not be impressed with your ingenuity. Time to step it up, gentlemen. Read on for the best pieces for your bachelor pad.
Ceilo Graphite Sectional, www.CB2.comTrollsta Tray Table, www.IKEA.com
Diamond Tufted Headboard, www.westelm.com
Zigzag Rug, www.westelm.com
Tags: accent table, bachelor pad, bed, CB2, decor, furniture, IKEA, Westelm
Posted in Design Trends, new products | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
04/03/11
Maybe it took tasting the sour milk in my fridge to realize it but I haven’t been home much lately. New projects and spring activities have kept my dance card full for two weeks with no end in sight. I’m not really complaining– I come from a long line of BBBCs (Busy Bodies By Choice). But that mouthfull of expired dairy got me to thinking about more than my itinerary. It got me to thinking that when I finally pull into the driveway for the last time that day, when I walk in, kick my shoes off and walk into our bedroom for the first time in 13 hours, I try to ignore all the stuff I didn’t get done that week and focus on relaxing.
I love my home, for what it represents, for how it makes me feel, for all the work that is still to be done. I don’t necessarily love the structure itself- like many first time homebuyers our budget dictated that we buy a 1980′s ranch rather than a custom cottage on ten acres. And for all the time I spend telling people how to make their homes prettier/more efficient/less cluttered, I never forget to remind them of the most important design tip of all:
Design should be simple. It should fit your lifestyle. It should make you happy. So while I need to replace the drawer pulls in the bathroom, finish painting the living room and get something-anything-planted in the flower beds, I still like coming home. My budget is small, my free time is smaller but our home is much more than decorated walls and trimmed out windows. Its a house that my husband and I paid for-together. We repair it-together. We choose the things that go in it-together. Its a house that we have made a home. Your clothes can hang out in a 900 square foot rent house in the plains or a sprawling two story cabin in the mountains but if it doesn’t feel like home when you walk in, if it doesn’t have memories that make you smile, you can spend money with every designer in town but its still just four walls.
So today my advice isn’t about choosing the right color or which flooring is right for you. My advice is this. Live your life in your home. Decorate with things that mean something to you. You may not get to enjoy your casa as much as your retired pal next door but whether your budget is $10 or $10,000, learn to love what you’ve got and the pretties that come along will just be “nice little touches”.
Tyler & Jennifer currently live in Yukon, OK with fur-child Duke.
Tags: cabin, cottage, decorating, flower beds, home sweet home, interior design, ranch style
Posted in Outdoor design, home improvement | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
04/01/11
1) Potted Plants. I’m all about the interior (obviously) but we can’t ignore the exterior! Potted plants are perhaps the quickest way to liven up a patio or outdoor living space. If you are lacking your black belt in Green Thumb be sure to ask a local nursery which plants are ideal for you based on the direction they face in relation to the sun, how high maintanance they are, etc.
2) Bedding. Now is the time to remove the heavy down comforters and quilts from the bed and replace with a light-weight duvet in an airy color or whimsical pattern. Keep your pillows to a minimum as well- spring isn’t the time for 15 decorative pillows. Less is more on a warm-weather bed! Left: Grey Vines Bed Linens by www.cb2.com
3) Scents. Plug-ins and Scentsy warmers are all the rage and for good reasonn. They provide a safer way to dispense fragrance when you’re not in the room to supervise the open flame of a candle and most of them are quite decorative. Try a scent like lavender, sweet pea or fresh linen to bring the smell of spring indoors. Certain scents-like certain colors- are linked to a person’s state of mind so if you’ve been feeling a bit down lately try one of the scents listed above to lift your mood.
Tags: bedding, flowers, interior design, potted plants, scents, spring decorating
Posted in DIY, Design Trends, Outdoor design, home improvement | No Comments »
1) Potted Plants. I’m all about the interior (obviously) but we can’t ignore the exterior! Potted plants are perhaps the quickest way to liven up a patio or outdoor living space. If you are lacking your black belt in Green Thumb be sure to ask a local nursery which plants are ideal for you based on the direction they face in relation to the sun, how high maintanance they are, etc.
2) Bedding. Now is the time to remove the heavy down comforters and quilts from the bed and replace with a light-weight duvet in an airy color or whimsical pattern. Keep your pillows to a minimum as well- spring isn’t the time for 15 decorative pillows. Less is more on a warm-weather bed! Left: Grey Vines Bed Linens by www.cb2.com
3) Scents. Plug-ins and Scentsy warmers are all the rage and for good reasonn. They provide a safer way to dispense fragrance when you’re not in the room to supervise the open flame of a candle and most of them are quite decorative. Try a scent like lavender, sweet pea or fresh linen to bring the smell of spring indoors. Certain scents-like certain colors- are linked to a person’s state of mind so if you’ve been feeling a bit down lately try one of the scents listed above to lift your mood.
