Designing Diva Interiors

The leaves are beginning to turn and we can finally sleep with the windows open! Fall brings about many of my favorite things and decorating for the cooler season is definitely one of them. That’s why I’m offering a

September Special!

$20 off first hour of Fall Decorating Service, entire month of September.

This service, like all DDI services, is completely customizable and includes anything from decorating fall trees to creating the perfect living and dining spaces for your fall parties!

Mother Of Pearl

 

If your walls need a splash of something different-something to really steal the show- skip the standard wallpapers and faux finishes. There’s a new player in town and it goes by the names “Mother Of Pearl”, “Cork” and “Crushed Mica” just to name a few. House Beautiful and Designing Diva Interiors LLC  rounded up our top picks for a truly unique wallcovering and you might be surprised at which ones you would actually consider.

If your walls need a splash of something different-something to really steal the show- skip the standard wallpapers and faux finishes. There’s a new player in town and it goes by the names “Mother Of Pearl”, “Cork” and “Crushed Mica” just to name a few. House Beautiful and Designing Diva Interiors LLC  rounded up our top picks for a truly unique wallcovering and you might be surprised at which ones you would actually consider.

Cork in "Sage"

As much as I am a proponant of custom window coverings that fulfill your every whim, let’s be honest: not everyone has the budget for them. At times it isn’t necessarily the issue of money that holds you back, but if you’re anything like me, your tastes simply change too often to commit to custom draperies. Whatever your reason, inexpensive store-bought window panels or drapes may be the answer to your decorating dilemma. Not sure where to begin? Here are a few pointers to get you on your way along with some of my top picks right now:

1) Start with your measurements. Store-bought draperies come in limited standard sizes so those of you with odd-shaped windows or exceptionally large windows will be out of luck. 84″  or 94″ is what you will likely find on store shelves and this is the typical window length.  However, I always hang the curtain rod closer to the ceiling than to the top of the window itself which makes a room appear taller. This means you will need to 94″ panels for an 84″ window, or 104″ panels for a 94″ window.

2) Pick your color palette. While its true that custom-designed draperies offer infinite color and pattern choices, there are plenty of options for the person buying off-the-shelf these days. So that you don’t get overwhelmed when shopping,  take a look around the house and pick one to three colors that you want to bring out in your window treatments.  Using decorating blogs like this one, magazine photos or search engines online can be a useful tool here; simply type in your color palette to see what’s out there (for example, “Red and white 94″ window panels”).

3) Know what you need them to do. If you’re buying for a bedroom and prefer complete darkness you will want to look for black-out panels which are lined with an opaque fabric on the backside to keep sun out. If natural sunlight and privacy isn’t an issue, you may be shopping for sheer panels.

Ready to start shopping? Here are some of my favorites of the season; maybe one of these will be the the perfect fit for your naked window!

"Amelia", Pier1, $24.88

"Woven Floral", Pier1, $45

"Smocked Drape", Pottery Barn, $50

"Velvet Drape", Pottery Barn, $89

"Textured Belgian Linen", Restoration Hardware, $129

                                                           

Let me be honest; most of my blog posts are probably written mostly for women and read by mostly women. So today I would like to offer for your consideration a little something for the fellas. The single ones who think hanging a beach towel on the wall with a hula dancer on it constitutes art (it doesn’t, Ryan).

ApartmentTherapy.com has this awesome section on the ultimate bachelor pad. Check it out here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/house-tours/jeremy-ralphs-bachelor-pad-house-call-124725! Need to get your bachelor pad in shape (come on, that sofa you found on the side of the road isn’t exactly wooing the ladies)? Call Jennifer Hicks, C.I.D., at Designing Diva Interiors LLC!

“We didn’t have much time to get our home ready to be put on the market. Jennifer quickly worked with our realtor to stage every room so that buyers would be “wowed” by the space. We love the openness she created and how every inch of our home is showcased now for maximum effect!”

-Kim Grignon, Edmond

We love these kinds of words from happy clients! You might be asking yourself what home staging actually is and more importantly, does it actually work? I have listed a few links below that will answer these questions and help you decide if professional home staging is what your home has been missing!

“Selling Emotions”

http://blog.edmondoklahomesforsale.com/index.php/selling-emotions-by-jennifer-hicks-cid/seller-tips/855/

“So What Can A Home Stager Do For Me?”

http://blog.edmondoklahomesforsale.com/index.php/so-what-can-a-home-stager-do-for-me/seller-tips/969/

“What To Look For In a Home Stager”

http://blog.edmondoklahomesforsale.com/index.php/what-to-look-for-in-a-home-stager/seller-tips/1012/

I have a new crush. Its green. No, it isn’t money (although I appreciate that, too)…. its actually green- the color. Its all over the design scene right now and my attraction to it has taken me by surprise. I’m usually drawn to pinks, blacks, greys and milky whites but I’m seeing glossy green on everything from tables to floors and I’m completely infatuated! We’re not talking about mint or olive. This is like a color from “Alice In Wonderland”- bright yet not obnoxious, playful yet classic.

Using the laquered version of this color in my home probably isn’t going to happen- not on the scale I would like. My husband isn’t one for bold colors or patterns, he’s more of a rustic, earth-tones fan. BUT! There is hope for me yet… he has zero preference about the back patio and I’m claiming that space as my own come fall. I think I’ll have OKC’s Custom Powder Coating makeover my outdoor furniture with a high-gloss green; the color of poison ivy. My mind swirls with the possibilities I’ll never get to incorporate into our abode (but maybe I can use yours to play in?):

*Painted on the floor of a loft apartment

* Laquered on the cabinets of a small kitchen

* Glossed onto a bathroom vanity

* Used on an end table

* Used on Baroque frames in a foyer

This could get fun…

Designing Diva Interiors LLC wouldn’t be what it is today if not for the clients and social media fans. To reward your gracious referrals and loyalty DDI is offering freebies to the 600th Facebook Fan AND the person who invited them! What’s in it for you? You will win a Designing Diva Interiors gift certificate plus a gift certificate for Showplace Market (www.showplacemarket.com). Moore, Oklahoma’s newest shopping experience has over 100 local vendors offering everything from baby fashion to unique home decor. Our two lucky duckies will win gift certificates to this bargain mecca, or, if you live outside of the OKC Metro, a gift certificate to Starbucks or Target, winner’s choice. So check us out on Facebook today under “Designing Diva Interiors” and tell your friends! Each day you will find the link to my daily blog, Back Talk, as well as useful design tips, heads-up on sales, both online and local, and so much more!

Searching for a uniquely romantic chandelier? The hand wrought one-of-a-kind wire and crystal chandelier and Wrought one-of-a-kind wire and crystal chandelier from www.abchome.com,  has a just-right combination of whimsy and grown-up charm to compliment an eclectic style. Pair it with a vintage settee in velvet or linen for a truly feminine Parisian-insprired room. $1197

Designers have been decorating with bamboo for years and with good reason. It looks great, lasts forever and is an eco-friendly material. Below are some of my favorite ways of incorporating this hard-working friend of nature into my clients’ homes:

1) Curtain Rods. Ditch the metal rods and hang your window panels on rings and a bamoo rod. Because this isn’t commonly found in stores you will have to locate and cut your desired length on your own. The result is an unexpected focal point and where better to put a natural beauty like bamboo than in a place where it can frame the beauty outside?

2) Flooring. Bamboo flooring is catching on and your options aren’t as limited as you might think. Designing Diva Interiors has access to every style of bamboo available in today’s market and the looks are as varied as the clients’ personalities. Its soft on the feet and looks amazing, not to mention that it cuts down on household allergens.  **DDI also offers discounts up to 40% off on flooring for clients.

3) Tables. Bamboo tables rock my world and I can’t give you a better reason than this: they last forever and stand up to daily wear-and-tear like no other. Plus, the pricing is usually pretty fabulous. Not sure what your style is? Bamboo fits in wherever its needed!

If you would like to work bamboo into your decor but need a little nudge, allow Designing Diva Interiors LLC to show you the way! Contact DDI today to book your initial consultation.