submitted by: Jennifer
08/30/11
We’ve all been there- the dreaded phone call or email at 3:30 informing you that company will be arriving tomorrow. You’ve been working all week, the kids still haven’t mastered the art of putting the laundry AWAY instead of merely wearing clothes off the bed until the pile disappears and your humble abode is looking a little…worn. Below are my favorite quick fixes for giving any home a little burst of style in a hurry.
1) Clear the floors! Purchase a couple of storage ottomans or cubes now so that when that doorbell rings all you have to do is hide those shoes/book bags/pet toys in a decorative, easily accessible place on your way to the front door. A room automatically looks bigger and cleaner if there is no clutter on the floor!
Target.com, $229
2) Empty all trash bins. You can easily fake a “just cleaned” bathroom or kitchen simply by taking the trash out. Its a visual thing- just trust me on this one.
3) Candles still rule. I know that reed diffusers and plug-ins are all the rage today but while they may make a room smell fresh they still don’t add anything aesthetically. Unscented candles gathered on a platter on your buffet or entry table create a very welcoming, relaxing environment. Be careful that you don’t use so many that it comes off as inconvenient (“I can’t lay my purse anywhere! It will catch fire!”) or creepy (“Are we here for coffee or a romantic dinner with the Adams’ Family?) and keep the scents limited so that your home looks designer-esque, not like a gift shop.
4) Entry way a bit lacking? If you can’t afford a table, either monetarily or space-wise, pick up some vintage doorknobs and hang them on the wall by the front door to give guests a convenient place to hang up coats, purses, etc.
5) Lighting is key in any environment but nothing says “Welcome! Sit and stay awhile” like complimentary lighting. (Psssst! A little hint? The right lighting will also help to camouflage your room’s flaws). Switch out the lamp bulbs with amber or pink bulbs which compliment skin tones. Make sure your overhead lighting isn’t too glaring or too dim, depending on the room and the purpose of that room. Make use of natural light by opening up blinds and draperies, which also makes a room feel fresher!
Tags: candles, entertaining, home decor, interior design, lighting, tables, vintage knobs
Posted in DIY, Design Trends, home improvement | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
06/10/11
If your office is like many across our nation this year it could use a little…life. And it doesn’t have the budget to bring in painters, electricians and a slew of new decor hot off the Chicago Market. If your office manager’s idea of color was “Beige” and the fake flowers by the reception desk were originally purchased in 1985, take note. There’s hope for you and your colleagues yet and the accountant won’t be having fits over the bill.
1) If the existing seating is still in good condition but lacks a modern fabric, go for slipcovers which are available for everything from wing back chairs to love seats. This costs a fraction of what re-upholstery will and your options are still numerous.
2) Change the look of outdated lampshades using nothing but your hot glue gun (or fabric glue) and some beautiful trim you picked up at your local craft store (preferably when its 1/2 off, as it will be at least once a month)! Take the shade with you to make sure you get enough.
3) Ivy lasts forever so long as it has a bit of water to survive on which makes it the perfect alternative to baskets of the fake stuff, which gathers dust and screams “I’m an office that hasn’t been updated in ten years-at least”. Additionally, if any of your coworkers or clients suffer from allergies, keeping fake flowers or plants around will only add to their misery. Simply place a few vases around the office with a clipping of English Ivy or your favorite breed of low-maintenance greenery. A little touch with big results!
4) The standard office comes complete with a beige commercial-grade carpet. Effective, yes. Attractive, not always. Target and Brecheen Brothers are two places I head for savings on rugs of all styles, sizes and colors. Adding one in your reception area and in the common rooms will drastically change the space for the better. Just be cautious about going with too wild of a pattern or the wrong size. Using a rug that is too small will make your office appear tiny.
5) Another sign of an office space with zero personalization: no ceiling fans. If you own the building or if you have permission from the company you rent from, add a ceiling fan in common areas. An attractive model starts as low as $49 in most home improvement stores and will instantly make the space feel more comfortable and will improve lighting and air flow.
The suggestions above will work together or even alone to change the atmosphere of your office. Remember that every design element has a psychological effect. Your changes should improve the overall mood of the office so steer clear of colors or decorations that would turn someone off, like specific religious items or a bright red which insights hunger and hot tempers.
Tags: affordable interior decorating, commercial design, decorating, fan, ivy, lighting, office space, rug
Posted in Commercial Design, Design Trends, Eye on Color | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
03/23/11
Its spring time– officially! Which means tons of new releases for the home decorating world. Here are a few of my favorites! I hope you can find a thing or two that makes your home smile.
CB2′s Floor Pillow in Chartreuse, $59.95 (shown left)
Frontgate’s Aqua Collection, $491-$2418 (not shown here)
Restoration Hardware’s Parisian Wood and Zinc Chandelier, $895-$1995
Pottery Barn’s Gemma Milk Glass Lamp, $129 (shown left)
Jones Design Company’s Art Prints, $17 (shown above)
Tags: art, CB2, chandelier, classic style, Crate and Barrel, decorating, design, Frontgate, lamp, lighting, outdoor patio furniture, Parisian, pattern, Pottery Barn, scripture prints
Posted in Design Trends, Eye On Art, Fave websites/blogs, Outdoor design, home improvement, new products | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
03/01/11
Every few months I take readers’ questions and answer them on this blog and its your turn! So let’s have it; your design-related queries from paint colors to landscaping. If I cannot personally answer it from a decorator perspective one of my trusted panelists will take over. Just email it to Jennifer@decorateokc.net!
Tags: accessories, bedding, carpet, decorating question, design, drapes, flooring, hardware, home, interiors, landscaping, lighting, office, paint
Posted in Q & A | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
01/10/11
January brings all sorts of new products to homes everywhere and I’ve collected a few of my favorites in case you’re in the mood to add a little something new to yours!
* POTTERY BARN’S Milk Bottle Chandelier. 399.00 Classic farmhouse style with a bit of playful charm. Got milk? Available at www.potterybarn.com.
*WEST ELM’S Iznik Dhurrie rug. 39.00-649.00. A little touch of this
geometic trend goes a long way but with a color like this Citron it’s just right. Available at www.westelm.com.
*BALLARD DESIGNS’ Mr & Mrs Burlap Pillows with inserts. 59.00. Available in stores or www.ballarddesigns.com. Not as chintzy as the typical “newlywed” decor. 
*CB2′s x-ray platter. 12.95. Just the right amount of ”that’s odd”. Give dinner guests something to talk about other than your fabulous cocktails! Available at www.cb2.com
Tags: bedding, decorating, design, fabric, geometric pattern, just married, lighting, newlyweds, pillows, platter, rug, trends
Posted in Design Trends, Fave websites/blogs, new products | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
12/30/10
* This post originally featured on this blog in December of 2009.
Not falling asleep quickly? Maybe you just don’t feel rested once you wake up. Of course there may be a medical explaination for this. Or maybe the bedroom itself is the cause of your restless nights. If the latter may be true for you, read on for five tips that should help you get on the road to peaceful sleep.
#1. Clear the clutter. Nightstands and dressers are no place for yesterday’s coffee mug, stacks of magazines, laundry piles, etc. Hit the dollar store for baskets and other containers that will neatly store your necessities out of sight (don’t forget about under the bed!) and trash the empty lipstick tube.
#2. Consider color. If you have jolting colors in your sleeping space they could very well be causing your mind to stay active long after your body is ready to shut down. If a restful retreat is your goal, steer clear of reds, oranges, pinks, etc and go with blues, greens or greys.
#3. Scents you brought it up… The scent you surround yourself with alters your mood without you even realizing it. Plug-ins or linen sprays in lavender and eucalyptus all have calming effects to signal your brain that its time to rest.
#4. You made your bed now you have to lie in it. Most of us spend several hours each day under the sheets so why would you buy designer clothes but skimp on bedding? If you can afford it, get the right mattress for your sleep style. If that kind of investment is out of reach right now, you can compensate with a feather bed which goes on top of the mattress but under the fitted sheet. Used in Europe first these ultra plush beds are about 2″ thick and help to even out lumps in the mattress. Next, go for sheets that simply beg you to return. Ditch the pilled ones you bought when you were in college. Don’t be fooled by high thread counts, though. Once you get past 400 its an equal playing field. And make your bed daily! A made up bed makes the entire room look instantly more calm and picked up.
#5. Kiss the TV buh-bye. When designing bedrooms from the ground up I never put a TV in unless the client specifically demands it. TVs act as a distraction that keeps your focus off of rest. And if you are in the habit of falling asleep with the TV on you are preventing your REM cycle from completing which means you’re less than perky come dawn. If you must have a TV in the master bedroom put it inside a cabinet or armoire with doors so you can close it up at night.
Tags: bedding, fragrance, lighting, master bedroom, mattress, paint, pillows, scents, TV
Posted in DIY, organizing | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
12/21/10
Jonah Takagi is taking the industry by storm with his innovative and outside-the-box creations, like this Subdivision LED table lamp which can be seen at the Civilian Art Projects Gallery in Washington D.C.
“Made of cast concrete and blackened steel, the Subdivision (Luminaire) is a limited edition LED table lamp inspired by the much-loathed public lighting that surrounded Takagi in the suburbs where he grew up and named after a song by the legendary Canadian rock band Rush.” -InteriorDesign.net
So what say you? Is this new addition to the lighting world too quirky for you or will it be added to your Christmas wish list?
Tags: 2011 market, designers, interior design, lamps, LED, lighting
Posted in Design Trends, new products | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
11/10/10
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
Tags: bulbs, green, LED, lighting
Posted in Design Trends, Green Design/Living | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
08/23/10
Never heard of it? Don’t beat yourself up, you decorating maven! Its not exactly covered on the front pages of Better 
Homes & Garden Magazine (don’t I wish). Susan Rapp of Urban Style Decor Blog writes “Mystery + Beauty surround the Bohemian Chic Lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to express your soft romantic side and create beauty in home decor. Whether it be a city loft by the river or a downtown brownstone, we all need a little { pretty } in our hectic urban lives. So, if you love culture + fashion + design, come embrace a little bit of the sweet “Vanity Fair Vintage” lifestyle.”
When someone asks me to define my style I never have a clear cut answer. Mostly because it changes every three days. I help other people mold their style. But when I saw Rapp’s blog on the Bohemian Chic Lifestyle I 
knew she’d struck a nerve in this decorator. The photos she used are every single thing I wish I had in my haven, from the 19th century Rococo-style sette to the rustic iron lantern ~ I had finally come home. And there was a name for the beautiful (sometimes beat up) pieces I was always being drawn to!!
Not sure where to begin? First I recommend soaking up the charm that vintage pieces possess. Rid yourself of the idea that everything has to be “perfect”. There is infinite beauty in the most imperfect things on this earth. Then I suggest you forget all those “rules” little miss Martha Stewart has taught you. This is perhaps one of the most liberating decorating styles out there simply because there are no rules. You decorate with what feels good to you, whether that’s a 50 year old tea pot you found at an estate sale or a wooden bench you brought back from a trip in the Poconos. So let your inner Collector go wild and uncover the Bohemian Chic in you that’s been dying for you to drop the IKEA catalog!
Tags: 19th century, antiques, apartment, Bohemian Chic, charming furniture, collection, decorating, interior decor, lighting, loft, rustic, settee, vintage
Posted in Design Trends, Fave websites/blogs, Favorite articles | No Comments »
submitted by: Jennifer
08/09/10
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
Tags: abchome.com, chandelier, eclectic, fixture, lighting, vintage, whimsical, wrought iron
Posted in home improvement, new products | No Comments »
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
