Quick change ideas.

I'm a 'broken record' advocate for some things that make decorating your space(s) fast and easy.  Here are my 5 top tips for changing the mood, appearance and even the style of your rooms.

1) Add Color. Try painting an accent wall to liven up a dark, dated, or bland space. In an all white room, a subtle change might be an accent wall in a soft taupe like Sherwin Williams 7010 "White Duck".  For drama, try a rich gold color like 6395 "Alchemy". Don't want to paint a whole wall? How about stencils?   When painting is not an option (as with renters) use art and accessories to add color. A few large scale items will have more impact than many small ones. 

2) Create functional zones: With the open plans of many homes, some intimacy is lost. By creating seating, gathering, working, eating or other zones, you bring back that sense of intimacy and cohesiveness. Area rugs define spaces nicely, and add warmth to tile and wood flooring surfaces.  Using the same colors on furnishings in each area also create definition.  For example, brown leather seating in the television area separates it from beige fabric in the eating zone.  Lighting is a fantastic way to create and define zones.  Be sure to put dimmer switches on all of your lights for mood control and energy savings.

3) Add personality.  Whether you have a warm traditional home or a sleek minimalist style space, bringing in objects, art and other pieces that provide a sense of yourself is important.  Decorative objects ground us, when we see a treasured piece of furniture or a favorite object d'art.  Even in the most sophisticated modern spaces, there is room for a hand blown vase, canvas art, a timeworn chest, and soft, organic looking pillows.  For traditional homes, inherited chests, antiques, hand-made craft items and other items fill the need for items that reflect you.

4) Mix it up. Many people like numerous design styles. Adding an Asian chest to a country living room is creative and appealing.  Sleek bars tools in a traditional kitchen are artistic and interesting. Mixing styles in your spaces enables more customization to suit your personality and need for function.  A great wicker lounge chair works well in a traditional living room when you keep the fabrics and colors in balance with the rest of the space.  Use pieces that fill both a functional and decorative need. I firmly believe that less is more since carefully selected items have more impact than a cluttered look.

5) Add softness. Curves and fabrics make us feel secure and add balance to our spaces.  Bring in plants to soften hard edges of large pieces of furniture or the corners of rooms.  Panel drapes - even on windows with blinds or shutters - adds softness and warmth.  Pillows are a great element since you can use several and mix the patterns, colors and shapes.

Paint like a pro!

Painting is generally the fastest, easiest, most economical way to change your home, both inside and out. If you have a weekend to paint, you can make a drab room dynamic, and customize a living room with color accents. Check out our blog artifacts for additional ideas.  Here are my 5 basic tips to getting a professional result:

1. Try out colors before painting your walls. Almost every company offers sample sizes so you minimize buying and then having extra paint around. Don't test by painting directly on your wall.  Use a product like SMALL WALL so you can move samples around your room (into the corners and in dark and light areas) and note how the color(s) looks at different times of day. You'll save on priming, and being able to separate two similar colors to determine which is best is priceless!  We carry them in the shop (www.tot-home.com) and Ace Hardware and Sherwin Williams also sell them. 

2. If you have doubts about which color to select when comparing 2 similar colors, go lighter. You're looking at a small scale on a chip or board, and when on the walls - especially inside a small space -  the impact will be significantly greater. 

3. The right paint brush or roller is as critical to a good paint job as is the quality of your paint. I recommend getting the best you can afford and I use Purdy.  A good brush - cleaned properly - will last through many projects. For oil-base paints, China bristle paint brushes, which leave few brush marks, are a good choice. For acrylics and high-quality latex paints, nylon paint brushes are best. Nylon-polyester blends and 100-percent-polyester brushes work with any paint. Expect to spend at least $9 for a quality 3-inch paint brush.For the best paint application, select a roller cover with the appropriate nap size. The label will guide you as to use on smooth or rough surfaces.

4. To buy the right number of gallons of paint, use this quick estimation.  1)  add up the widths of the walls, 2) multiply by the room's ceiling height 3) divide by 350 (the typical square footage one gallon covers). The last number is roughly the number of gallons of paint you need.  So, an 8' x 10' room with 8' ceilings would be 8+8+10+10 =36   36 x 8 = 288  288/350 = .8  or rounded up = 1 gallon   You're not deducting for windows and doors, so you should have plenty of paint for touch-ups. If you use a sprayer, a gallon covers about 250 square feet.

5. The most important step is good surface preparation. Ensure a long-lasting paint job by taking time to assess the condition of your home and then wash, scrape, sand, caulk, and treat stains as necessary. TSP is a great cleaner for dirt and oils. Use primer to cover dark spots, existing paint colors, and to cover areas you've repaired.  A fix now can save multiple re-paints later. Tape and mask trims, windows and more.  You'll be happy that painting goes faster and cleanup is minimized. 

Have fun!

A cleaner with awesome power!

Fels-Naptha soap is a multi-use product that’s been around for over 100 years. It’s manufactured by Henkel Consumer Goods Inc. It's an ingredient to make homemade laundry soap but it can be used in many other ways in your home and garden. I buy mine at the local Wal-Mart, but it's sold on line too.

TO CLEAN YOUR SHOWER:

Rub a nonabrasive scouring sponge with a wet bar of Fels-Naptha and start cleaning. It will take a little hard work the first time you use it but it will be a breeze after that.

POISON IVY PREVENTION OR TREATMENT:

Fels-Naptha Soap has been used for over 100 years for the treatment and prevention of poison ivy, sumac and oak rash. If you think you have been exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, shower immediately with Fels-Naptha to remove the resin from your skin, and it will help to dry up the rash, as well. This will greatly reduce and in most cases prevent any skin reaction to the poison ivy oil. Make sure to launder your clothes in some shaved or grated fels naptha (about 1/16th of the bar) to remove the resin from your clothes. Poison ivy resin can stay on your clothes for over 1 year even if the clothes have been washed with normal detergent.

DEER REPELLENT:  This requires a little work and smells bad but it works.

1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap — grated
2 bunches of scallions — chopped
2 heads of garlic — separate the gloves but don’t peel
4 eggs — whole
1 small can of chili powder

Fill a 5-gallon bucket with a lid about half full of hot water. Pour the grated fels naptha into the water and stir to dissolve. Put all the other ingredients in cheesecloth or pantyhose and place in bucket of soap mixture. Take a spoon and crack the eggs against the side of the bucket. Fill the bucket up completely with hot water, leaving the cheesecloth submerged. Put in a shady place for about seven days with a lid on it. Hold your breath and place small amounts in a garden sprayer and spray where the deer are foraging. Reapply after each rain or about every 14 days.

STAIN REMOVER AND PRE-TREATER:

It works especially well on oil-based stains; I removed printer ink from a silk sweater!. Rub the stain with a wet bar of Fels-Naptha Soap. Let it sit for a while and launder as usual. It works great on baby clothes, which often have formula stains.
– Chocolate smudge on clothes. Rub the stain with Fels-Naptha Soap and let sit in your filled washer with 20 Mule Team Borax for 30 minutes. Launder as usual.
– Clean white canvas tennis shoes. Work the Fels-Naptha Soap into a lather and use a soft brush to work into the canvas. Launder as usual without chlorine bleach.
– Remove old stains on colored clothes. Make a solution of 2 cups warm water and 1/2 cup white vinegar. Pour on stain. Let soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse well and work in Fels-Naptha Soap. Launder as usual.

Some testimonials:

Combine a Tbsp of grated Fels with the hottest water, make a paste, and scrub it into the stain.  Works every time, and the grass and mud stains on white baseball pans.

After taking bridal pictures and getting muddy, I took my dress to the dry cleaners.  $70!  So after getting dirt, dust, gravy, and red and green flower stains on my dress at the wedding, I needed it cleaned.  But didn't want to spend another $70.  A friend's mom suggested washing the dress in the bathtub with Fels Naptha.  I was skeptical, but figured it couldn't do much harm.  I wasn't planning on wearing it again anytime soon.  Well, it worked beautifully!  The soap made the lace along the bottom look as white as ever and the oily gravy and green leaf stains on the front are totally gone.  This soap is amazing.  Harsh enough to take out the stain, but delicate enough even for lace on a wedding dress. $2 per bar is more than worth it.

5 great light fixtures

We scour the trade shows to find fabulous lighting. The right fixture and the right lighting plan transforms the look and feel of rooms. One fantastic fixture can set the tone for your overall design concept, and provide elegance, sophistication, or a style element that adds a WOW factor. These are what's new in our showroom.

Change your spaces in under 1 hour for under $100.

It's often hard to stick to a budget when updating your home. Take a look at these ten products that look fabulous and are priced at under $100.  

1. Update your bath with an elegant, contemporary style faucet by Price Pfister. This single handle faucet in brushed nickel is $88.

2.Swap hardware on your kitchen island, in the butler's pantry,and the linen closet with glass knobs and pulls for an antique custom look. Ten will be about $70.

3.Cedar window boxes for hanging under a window or lining a porch are about $29. Add $10 in flowers for instant curb appeal. 

4.To update a good black or white appliance for a more modern look, use Thomas Liquid Stainless Steel about $56. This can be used on refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves and ovens. Try it on hardware too!

5.Make a lamp look like new by swapping your old white lampshade for a warm, mica one. Under $70 at Pottery Barn.

6.Create an accent wall with grass cloth wallpaper. A double roll is about $70. With on-line tutorials, you can install this yourself. Check out this informative video on You tube!





7.Dress up a dining room or entry chandelier with a ceiling medallion for under $100. They create elegant or simple architectural detail and make the fixture look more substantial. 

8.Add carpet in the hall, at the front door, etc... with stick-down carpet tiles. Use six tiles for a runner or nine for a square. Mix and match colors for a custom pattern. Six 20-by-20-inch textured tiles, about $54; FLOR

9. Give your room some architectural detail with a chair rail. About $75 for an 8' x 10' room. This also gives you an opportunity to change the paint in only half of the space...easier and faster!

10.Create a bedside shelf/table (or entry table) with wood corbels topped by glass, wood or other creative surface. www.tot-home.com has corbels, tops pr full shelves in the showroom.

Patterns are fabulous for floors!

Fabrics aren't the only way to add appealing patterns to a room. A spectacular floor—whether made of artfully painted wood or beautiful tiles—catches your eye from the very first step!

This dining room floor is painted with a large-scale geometric
pattern in neutral hues that complement the room’s palette.

Lay black-and-white tiles on the diagonal
 to set off the clean lines of this country kitchen.

A painted floor cloth with bold colors is
great for a plain kitchen or bath!

Mixed color and scale tiles add the perfect
detail to this casual kitchen.

A herringbone-pattern walnut floor creates a vibrant counterpoint
to the modern style and light fabrics.

Mixing tiles in a bath is practical and provides wonderful
detail without being too busy.

What's your style?

Arts and Crafts style. Clean lines, natural elements.

In order to be successful in selecting the materials and items to be used in your interior, you should know what your personal design style is. When you don't have an idea what you're looking for, frustration and confusion set in. For interiors that we don't change often, selecting the right products and styles, enriches your life, satisfies and grounds you, and reflects who you are. You will save time, save money, and have a home that provides rest, rejuvenation, and happiness. Use these tips to help define your style.

1) Look at professionally designed rooms:  Buy magazines and clip out rooms you like. Go the your local bookstore and browse the home and design section.  Look for things that please you; the color of the room, the feel of the design, a specific light fixture or piece of furniture, the way the room looks overall. Is there something that grabs your attention? The elements of styles that you like will become clear and help you add them to your design.

Cottage style. Casual and classic with, bead board, white hues, warm woods.

2) Visit furniture shops and walk through the room arrangements noting what you like.  Ask questions of the sales representative or take brochures about the arrangements to help identify specific items.

3) Take a design style quiz.  These are more superficial but do guide you in overall style.  Putting a name to a style can often help you during shopping trips when you are able to ask for "a Neoclassic style lamp." Do back-up research on-line through blogs, furniture and design web sites, and image searches. Identifying styles with names such as "Classic Bohemian" are of no use, however, because there aren't common elements associated with made-up names!

Traditional living room with antiques, rich hues, classic furnishings.

4) Attend local design shows, lectures, and events.  Your local chapter of ASID - The American Society of Interior Designers often schedules lectures on design for the public. Is there a show house nearby? Are there Home & Garden shows you can attend? Visit them and take notes. 

5) Call a local designer and schedule a consultation. To really hone in on your style and get immediate design advice, sit down for an hour or two with a design professional. It will set you on the right path and give you peace of mind when you start your project. At www.tot-home.com we provide in-home, in shop or on-line consultations for every client!

Wood finishes are gorgeous and green!

Need new flooring? Want to upgrade your cabinets?  Consider using some of the beautiful and eco-friendly woods in your project. "Green remodeling" is more than obtaining tax credits and energy bill reductions; you'll be using materials that look as good as their environmental benefits and help you create a healthier home without off-gassing and use of toxic materials.  For wood materials, such as flooring, cabinetry, and even structural members, using products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a start. 

Flooring that's sustainable has beautiful, artistic characteristics.  The woven poplar flooring from Ecotimber is composed of 100% FSC-certified recycled furniture scraps kiln-dried and cold-pressed with a hardening resin without added urea formaldehyde. The tongue-and-groove planks are 9/16 inch thick and between 3 and 4" wide. They can be installed with nails or glued down. Plyboo makes strand FSC-certified bamboo plywood and flooring that are urea formaldehyde-free.

All of the cabinets made by Neil Kelley are available with no-added-urea-formaldehyde agriboard case and drawer materials; FSC-certified wood and veneers; and low-VOC glues, adhesives, and finishes. Having your contractor or cabinetmaker use wood veneers over formaldehyde-free substrate allows you to create exotic and spectacular patterns without the high cost or waste of using exotic lumber.

For the outdoors (and some creative indoor applications) FSC-certified machiche hardwood decking  is beautiful, easy to install, and naturally resistant to decay-causing organisms and is moderately resistant to dry-wood termites.  The wood is available in 2-foot-by-2-foot solid squares or in 5/4-by-6-inch planks. The open-pored, dense hardwood comes in colors ranging from yellow/tan to medium brown reds and dark reds; over time, lighter spots darken to a reddish brown hue

Design trends for the new year

As new products are introduced, you might want to keep abreast of the design trends for 2013 to see what's in or not!

Green design. As products and practices that are earth-friendly become more commonplace and affordable, more emphasis will be placed their importance. Tips: Select low-water use faucets and energy star appliances. Buy local products. Use compact fluorescent bulbs in fixtures.

Luxury. Rather than quantity and opulence, the goal is to surround yourself with luxurious appointments. Choose the stunning new glass tile over the traditional stone back splash. Tip: When designing your rooms make every item in the space count.

Re-discover traditional values and heritage.  From paint colors to furniture, a revival of classic lines will come in new colors.  Metallics, earth tones, and rich pastels are all "in'. Tips: Select accessories, artwork and new wall colors in the new hues. Throw a blanket over the sofa arm and at the foot of your beds for a change. Textured pillows make a great statement.

Capturing light.  From accent lighting to mirrors to candles, the trend is to bring light into rooms. Look for metallics in wall coverings, and fabrics. Use them wisely and make a great statement.Tips: Change the shades on lamps to allow more light to come through, and consider a glass lamp base for an updated look. Add mirrors to reflect light from windows back into your rooms.

Less is more. From accessories to furniture, having fewer pieces and making statements with those you select is right. Look for quality over quantity. Tips: Rather than use many small items in a group, add one or two larger scaled pieces. Take away multiple corner pillows on your sofas, leaving a bolster in the center.  Re-purpose furniture in another area to open up a crowded room.

Integration of function into design. New zero-clearance appliances make integrating function into kitchen and bath design better than ever. Ethanol fireplaces that don't require venting, drawer fridges, counters that incorporate sinks and drains, and better cabinet storage are all more commonplace. Tips: Fridge and dishwasher drawers are often more economical than using the larger appliances; tuck them into cabinet spaces when possible.

Get the best from your contractor.

Whether you're hiring a contractor for a large scale remodel or a landscape project, there are a few things you should do at the start.  Every contractor should be licensed, bonded and insured in your state. All of the work you request should be in a proposal or contract.  Ask how the contractor and his crew intend to respect your home, the contents, your privacy and take steps to ensure that you feel that they DO. Since you will be experiencing some degree of upheaval, they should provide suggestions on how to get through the demolition and construction, and be sensitive to your living through it. 

The more planning you do up-front, the more easily your project can be managed. You are embarking on this path to make a life-altering change and to enjoy your home.  Here are some general things to address and some common courtesies that all contractors should extend for the duration of your project:

Get it in writing. From the scope of work, its cost, the duration, corrective action(s), to change orders and payments, have it in a written contract.

Create ground rules.  Establish parameters about arrival times, entry to your home, cleaning up, progress and problem-solving meetings etc... Will you be home? Should they have keys? How do issues get resolved? 

Be on time. What is the work schedule?  If there is a delay you should know about it.

Be attentive. There should not be distractions like personal phone calls, loud radios and yelling among the crew. When you are there, your questions and concerns should be their focus.

Be clean:  Demonstrate respect for your home by cleaning up at the end of each day. Wearing shoe covers if flooring is involved, and washing hands to reduce soil or germ transfer.

Be presentable. If the foreman or supervisor moves from project to project, they should be presentable when arriving at your home. A simple change of shirts demonstrates respect for you.

Protect surfaces. When tools and equipment are used, a drop cloth should be placed underneath, regardless of whether they are on a floor or counter.

Check work done. At the end of the day or week, review what has been done and that it was done correctly. Your contractor should be involved in multiple reviews to ensure that there both work and the schedule are accurate.

Punch it. Create 'punch lists' periodically and present them during reviews. These lists address things you feel are not complete or need to be corrected. A written list is better than a verbal one.

If you are a do-it-your-selfer, with motivation to design and build your own space, try a modular system from IKEA.  With their new formaldehyde free products, you can have an inexpensive IKEA kitchen in a week. You can also hire professional installers to do the work. They do have a variety of  cabinet styles that work whether you love modern or traditional. Take a look at these ideas!

My 5 favorite decor ideas!

If you love to walk into a room and feel the need to change something to make that space more perfect, then you should try one of these ideas.  Even if you already have a room full of furniture and lighting, there are things you can add and change to create a more cohesive, ideally planned room. As a designer, I develop new ideas based on constant research, as I find solutions to client problems, and the need to be innovative every day. 

Change the lighting. A great pendant, a shapely table lamp, and even an architectural floor lamp, can be a dramatic accessory. Create a focal point with the fixture or the beam of light, and work everything around it.

Add orchids: Even if you don't have a green thumb, a flowering orchid plant will add an elegant feel to a room, soften a harsh corner and look refreshing. They're delicate and look expensive, and you can find them in most big box hardware stores for under $20.  Add a group in a blue and white vessel for a traditional look or a single plant in a glass pot for a modern feel.

Hang or re-position your mirrors: With the ability to add light to a room, provide detail and a focal point, mirrors are one of the most versatile design accessories...not to mention functional!  Using a floor mirror can even make a narrow hallway appear wider, and a low-ceiling room appear taller!   

Area rugs: The ability to define or divide a space can come from an area rug. Add visual interest, scale, pattern and texture to any room. 

Install panel curtains:  To add softness to any window, adding panels - even with existing blinds - will do the trick.  Have a small window?  Flanking it with panels can make the window look larger.  Need a bit of texture or color? A great patterned panel curtain can add the layer to finish your space.  

Pillows!

I can assure you that using and changing your pillows can give a whole new look to a room. But there are questions still left answered.... how many should you us? what shape should they be?  My quick and dirty lesson on pillows:









DON'T use too many. Sitting on a sofa overstuffed with pillows isn't comfortable, and they often end up on the floor.  One decorative pillow has more impact than 3 plain ones.  If you want drama, add scale, shape and texture.  Larger pillows will certainly add more than smaller ones.  Unusual shapes, colors, textures and patterns add fabulous detail. 

 Square pillows work for many applications but round pillows on a rectangular sofa are more interesting.  Try neck roll pillows for lounge chairs and bolsters for beds.   Add a kidney pillow to large dining chairs and at the center of a sofa to add color and softness.

Keep the same pillows and add fresh, interesting detail with contrast welting, a second fabric, and appliques.  Knife-edge pillows are fine but try adding flanges and welting.