Love, love, love this from the latest Horchow catalog

Summer and the Decorating is Easy!

Decorating in the summer is all about the heat. In this warmest of seasons it’s important to control the temperature in your spaces, opting for cool accessories, and functional items which will help to naturally reduce the amount of heat that is transmitted into your home. While of course you can bathe the space in frigid air conditioning, that’s not healthy, cost effective, or environmentally sound. The alternative is to use clever home decorating to naturally maintain cool and relaxing environments in your home.

The first thing you should do is remove and warm or fuzzy accessories within the space. Change couch and cushion covers to reflect soft, cool cotton or smooth silk facades. Thick throws and blankets should be exchanged for softer, lighter pieces, or removed from the space completely. Fuzzy rugs can also be removed and, if necessary, replaced with bamboo or thatch throw pieces

Sunlight is another factor you should consider when decorating for the summer. Gauzy thin curtains that generally let in plenty of sunlight should be replaced or supplemented with heavier shades which will stop the brunt of light from getting in. If too much sun shines through closed windows, it can get trapped in the house, causing a greenhouse effect.

Another summer decorating trick is to try to lower, or eliminate lights whenever possible. A nice dark atmosphere tends to feel a few degrees lower, while brighter spaces can actually feel perceptibly warmer than they actually are. Brighter light bulbs also tend to give off a small, but constant amount of heat, which will have an effect on the overall temp of the space.

Summer decorating is about accommodating and controlling the heat in your home. Through control of light, air and texture, it should be possible to create a space which is comfortable and invigorating through even the warmest of the dog days of summer.

Earth Day Decor

Thursday, April 22nd, marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a day dedicated to focusing on and celebrating the natural world around us and our impact on it. You can help the earth in hundreds of small ways that add up like walking or riding a biclycle instead of taking your car, recycing paper, glass and aluminum, taking your own bags when your shop, etc. In interior design green means embracing the use of sustainable material and using products that have a reduced impact on the environment and protect our health. Here are a few green design ideas...

1. Paint. According to the EPA, interior air quality is 3 times more polluted than the outside air. This is due primarily to paint. Paint releases low level toxins into the air for years after application. These toxins, known as volatile organic compounds or VOC's cause distress to people with allergies as well as being harmful to the environment. So harmful in fact that paint disposal is considered to be hazardous waste. Now paint companies offer no or low VOC paint and many of these concerns have been eliminated. Almost every major line offers low VOC paint options but one of my favorite sources for paint and anything for the green home is Healthy Home. You can shop online or take a quick trip to their store in St. Petersburg. 

2. Reuse. I've talked about this before and it's worth repeating again: the most green thing you can do is reuse what you already own or use what others have discarded. Redesign or repurpose it but use it instead of replacing it. If you can't reuse an item, consign or donate it. For reclaimed, reclycled and salvaged items (and lots of ideas!) visit Sarasota Architectural Salvage.

3. Solar. Sunlight is free - use it!! Solar panels on the roof can heat water for a swimming pool, solar lights on stakes outline a garden path. You can even find solar fountains for a feng shui feel! Visit Lamps Plus for solar lights and fountains. 

There are many ways to be green and we've only scratched the surface. What do you do to live responsibly? What changes do you plan to make? If you have any tips, secrets or ideas please share them with us - sharing is responsible and it's living green!

Decorating Resolutions 101

We've gotten ready, we've gotten set now we are ready to decorate with the last of our 2010 Decorating Resoutions - 5 & 6.

Resolution 5: I will not be afraid of color. Don't stick with beige or white out of fear. Pick a color scheme you love and on that supports your decorating style and lifestyle. Be sure to keep reading my blog this spring for more tips and a series on color.

Resolution 6: I will work through each decorating layer and continually reference back to my goals, budget and color scheme. Make your decorating easy by staying on track as planned and working in this order: walls and architecture, flooring, furniture, windowcoverings, lighting, accessories and plants.

I LIED! Instead of 6 resolutions, there are actually 7! The last is: I won't be aftraid to ask for help! Intuitive Interiors is here for you!! If you have a decorating question or find yourself stuck along the way,simply ask me for help by commenting on a post or emailing your question to Debbie@IntuitiveInteriors.net. I'm here to help you enjoy your decorating journey by inspiring, encouraging and supporting you and your decorating adventures in 2010 and beyond.

Use these seven resoultions to give your decorating some direction, boost, and promise this year. You can do it...so where will you start - your bedroom, living room, entry, family room or...?





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Decorating Resolutions 101

I want 2010 to be filled with decorating successes for you so I've started a new series called Decorating Resolutions. Last week we "got ready" with resolutions 1 & 2 - determining goals and getting rid of clutter. This week we "get set" with resolutions 3 & 4 - setting a budget and a time frame.


Resolution #3: I will set a decorating budget by (set a date) and stick to it. Even if your budget is limited you don't have to limit your decorating ideas - sometimes the less you have to spend the more creative you become! In additions to shopping for your decorating project consider reusing or repurposing items from other parts of the house, check out garage sales, visit thrift stores, swap accessories with a friend, or barter your skills for something you need.

Resolution #4: I will determine appropriate timelines. If you wait for a big chunk of time to do your entire decorating project you may just keep putting it off because it is so huge. Break a big decorating project into smaller tasks with associated timelines and then make sure you meet each deadline you've set. Don't rush the decorating process - decorating should be an evolution - but don't stall either. There is no time like today to start!

You've gotten ready, now your set...join me next week to GO!

Decorating Resolutions 101

It's the middle of January and many of you probably think it's too late to work on resolutions for 2010 but for most people resolutions are only top of mind for the first 30 days so of the new year and then fade into oblivion because they seem overwhelming or overly ambitious. But I'm here to help with a new series: Decorating Resolutions 101.

For the first few weeks we'll work together on our decorating resolutions and then later we'll go into more details of a few of them. Get ready, get set and let's decorate!

Resolution #1: I will define my decorating goals by (set a date!). Don't make this complicated or overwhelming. Pick the room or area of your house you want to work on - don't take on the whole house as one goal. Decide how you want to use the space; how you want it to look; how you want it to feel. Decide when you want it done and then write that down.

Resolution #2: I will get rid of clutter and make repairs to my selected space by (set a date!). To make room for the new you will need to get rid of the old that doesn't work. You'll also need to get rid of the clutter! If you don't use it or don't love it then get it out of your room - find a new place for it, donate it, give it to a friend or throw it out. Make repairs, clean the carpet, vacuum the upholstery, touch up the paint.

Check back next week for resolutions 3 & 4 and join the discussion!

Are your windows going soft?

When shopping for window treatments, its great to know the basics...

 

Window treatments are classified as hard treatments or soft treatments.

 What is a hard treatment?

 

Hard treatments are factory-made window treatments: blinds, shades and shutters. Hard treatments are not always hard (roller shades or fabric-slat verticals, for example). New styles of hard treatments are coming out all the time. Some of these window coverings are used simply for privacy. Many are installed to control sunlight. Often, homeowners choose a treatment because of aesthetics but most of the time, however, we choose a window covering for a combination of reasons - funtional and aesthetic.

 

Hard treatments are available as stock items found in home-improvement stores, or custom made to order. Stock merchandise comes in standard sizes. Custom-made treatments can be made in any size. Colors and options are limitless with custom-made hard treatments.

What is a soft treatment?

Any window covering sewn from fabric is considered a soft treatment. Soft treatments are generally used as decoration on top of hard treatments, but can also be used alone.

Soft treatments can be custom manufactured to fit any window. Your decorated window will be completely unique - one of a kind. Any fabric and trim can be selected, and practically any style can be created. Professional installation using custom hardware also adds to your distinctive look.

Custom soft treatments include

•  Swags and cascades
• Shaped valances
• Drapery panels
• Balloon valances
• Scarf treatments

The uniquesness of your soft treatment depends on your fabric selection, style, size and all of your chosen details, including trims, tassels, and hardware.

 If you'd like some hand holding through the process of decorating your windows, give me a call!