Why use an interior designer?

AFTER

Interior designers add value in many ways than simply through aesthetics. When you make a decision to remodel or update your home, and bring in a designer, it WILL change your life in the best ways. Making an investment in your home should be done wisely.  From a few hours of time spent by a designer, comes a many-year enjoyment of the spaces you change. Rather than struggle through agonizing weeks with plans, surface materials, fabrics, dimensions and "what-if's", using a professional designer will bring timely satisfaction, creativity, and perfection to your project.

BEFORE

I've rescued clients from bad furniture purchases, the "nightmare" they lived through with a bad contractor, the poor selections of  floor coverings and paint colors that they made, and throwing their hands up at a poorly designed kitchen or bath. Don't waste money. Don't waste time. In interior designer knows codes, space-planning, and had the resources and knowledge to recommend everything to finish and furnish your home. With access to new products and creative ideas, your time with a designer will be well-spent.

When want to you love the results, meet your budget, and nail your style, the decision to hire a designer is always right. 

Energy saving ideas for lighting.

With energy costs and concerns ever-increasing, and our global awareness of sustainability and eco-friendly design how can you be cost conscious and still have great design?   

An energy-saving lighting design for an historic home.

Some incandescent and CFL bulb

The simplest way to make immediate changes is to purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) that can be screwed into existing light fixtures.   CFL's come a variety of styles from chandelier shaped bulbs with small bases, to regular "A" base incandescent bulbs (IB), to the reflector shapes found in recessed fixtures.   As far as cost, they are no longer many times more expensive than IB's.  Combine that with the fact that they last up to 10 times longer, and you are saving time as well as money. You can keep your existing  fixtures and light your rooms in style for less. NOTES:  A 13 watt CFL - using 104 kilowatts - is the equivalent to a 60 Watt IB - using 480 kilowatts. Home Depot does recycle CFL's in their stores.

Another easy way to save money, add ambiance, and a great look on your walls is to use sleek dimmers instead of existing switches. Made by www.lutron.com, they are sold at most hardware and big box stores. You can also install their occupancy and vacancy sensors and see the benefits in energy use and functional use immediately. They can be retrofitted in the space occupied by regular switches or installed without wires at all.  Check out their room, lamp and whole home lighting systems for long-term design planning, energy efficiency and cost savings.

When remodeling, building or doing a major upgrade - particularly where local codes require energy savings - you can install CFL recessed fixtures that meet code in kitchen and bath design. Many well-known lighting manufacturers offer hanging and wall mounted fixtures in either fluorescent or incandescent bulbs so you can select either style.  Long -term, light emitting diodes (LED) are more energy saving, longer lasting, and are available in many styles including recessed or can fixtures, under cabinet task fixtures, and puck style lights. 

ADA compliant lighting is both gorgeous and energy-saving.

When in doubt, contact a lighting design professional. We want you to have the right light for your rooms and tasks while saving energy!

Winter warmth and light - 10 great ideas.

As winter approaches, we've started to embrace light and warmth at home. Try to incorporate the following into your home for winter warmth and some great long-term benefits:

1) Install radiant heat mats under floors. Cut your heating bills down and wake up to warm tile and wood flooring with an added bonus of warming the air as well. Cold showers? Add a UL approved mat or cable system to your shower. Nu Heat manufactures low voltage off-the-shelf or custom sized mats that are simple to install. (I did!)

2) Re-arrange your furniture. Create more cozy seating groupings and move pieces away from drafty areas and closer to the fireplace.


3) Use an electric towel warmer. A quick addition to a bathroom is a free-standing or wall-mounted towel warmer that you can drape a robe (socks, undies...!) over as well. They add a bit of radiant warmth to the bathroom as well.

4) Place key lights on timers.  With darkness descending early, come home to a lighted home by adding wall or plug-in timers to lights that guide you through the door and inside your house. Two great benefits (a) you can save energy and decrease lighting bills and (b) gain security when you aren't home and the house appears occupied.  Change those incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) for added energy savings and no guilt about leaving the lights on - with 7 watt CFL's taking the place of 40 watts.

5) Try a bio-fuel fireplace. For small or large spaces, indoors and outdoors,  these fireplaces can be free standing or installed in a wall in just a few hours.  They warm rooms visually and functionally with style and safety...and are eco-friendly and allergy free. 

6) Place a blanket-throw on your sofa or lounge chair.  Cozy up with your favorite book, a cup of hot cocoa, or watch TV, and an attractive throw that warms you. Add a great down-filled kidney or neck roll pillow for support and softness.


7) Bring plants indoors.  Have some favorite potted plants that don't survive the cold weather? Find places for them indoors. You'll love the green and they'll help clean your air. Don't have plants? Start small and use them to highlight a warm window, a fireplace surround and even a large bathtub.

8) Warm your floors with area rugs.  Place area rugs or runners where you stand, walk or sit.  A runner in the kitchen physically and visually warms the space, area rugs in seating groups make them cozy and defined, and a nice rug in the entry and hallways is welcoming.


9) Change your color palette. Add pillows in rich cranberry and forest green. Can you paint a wall? Give yourself one accent wall in a color that warms the entire room. Love winter white? Add texture with throws, rugs, pillows and accessories.


10) Hang panel drapes. A simple solution for a drafty window and a room-warming option even if you have blinds. The added layer is stylish. Have sheers? Replace them with a heavier fabric just for winter.