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!

Creative Resources for Holiday Decorating (and gift giving)

It's getting closer to the holidays and we are all thinking about decorating our homes to welcome loved ones and nuture ourselves but if you're like most of us, the budget hardly supports seasonal gifts much less holiday decorating. Here are 4 creative resources for decorating (and gift shopping) in this economy to inspire you...

1. Swap Meets:
Have you ever eyed an item your neighbor had and wished you could have it? Well, maybe now you can!! Perhaps you can swap an item that you don't want with an item your neighbor or friend has that they don't want. Your Christmas decorations may bore you but may bring cheer to a home with none and the table lamp they no longer need might provide the perfect light by your reading chair.

2. $0.99 stores:
The dollar stores never cease to amaze me with the variety of unexpected items that they carry - candles that ae at least $5 less than in departement stores, mesh baskets for fruits and organizing, pictures frames that you can paint any color without fear of ruining because of the cost. Visit a dollar store this week to see the many items that will surprise and inspire you.

3. Thrift stores:
Thrift stores are making a comback in style! Now days it's considered chic to shop in a thrift store full of economical items that have a history to them. Another great reason to shop a thrift shop is that most are associated with a charity so while you are helping yourself decorate in style, you are also helping a good cause.

4. Move and reuse:
Do you want to shop for items without spending money or even driving around town looking for them? You can - by shopping within your own home! Look around and see what furniture pieces or accessories you can use to decorate your home to feel and look better by placing them in different rooms or spaces.

Find Your Style

One of my client’s biggest challenges is finding their decorating style. What they don’t know is that while their home may need a facelift, it speaks volumes about their style. Taking a close look not only at your home but at your life preferences will give you clues to your style:

1. Where do you like to shop? Were you first in line when Ikea opened in Tampa or does a flea market make your heart beat fast? Do you collect West Elm catalogs or Pottery Barn? Maybe you don’t shop for furnishings at all but collect family heirlooms. It sounds too easy but where your furniture comes from represents your style.

2. Where do you like to travel? Where you choose to spend your vacations and what you bring back with you are good indicators of your style. If you love family vacations at the beach and collect seaglass and shells then coastal is your style. If a week in NYC relaxes you then urban might be your style.

3. What’s your favorite vacation accommodation? A cozy country B& B? A San Francisco boutique hotel? A Paris apartment? Hotels and lodgings have clear design styles so use that information to your advantage.

4. What was your most recent purchase? What you buy is an accurate indicator of your style, especially if it is different from other style elements in your home. Your current décor might be lace, pillows and dried flowers but if your last purchase was a glass and chrome desk for your home office then perhaps you are outgrowing your previous romantic style and leaning into a simpler more modern one. 

Still can’t find your style? Check out one of my favorite online design assessments at Lifetraits.

Make a Room Feel Larger

Everyone wants their home to feel warm and inviting but we also want the room to appear larger. As a rule, we recommend mounting window treatments several inches above the window. For example, say you have an 8' ceiling height and you mount your window treatment under your crown molding or just below the ceiling, not only will the room appear larger but the ceiling height will appear taller as well.Another mistake a homeowner might make would be to add a cornice with a straight bottom and then mount that cornice at the top of the window. Below I have created a rendering with our "Minutes Matter Studio" graphic design software to illustrate the different look achieved when the cornice is mounted near the crown molding or ceiling opposed to mounting at the top of the window. See how much taller the ceiling height appears and how much larger the room looks.


Here is another design tip when trying to make a ceiling look higher. Add a shape to the bottom of the cornice. By adding movement to the bottom of the cornice it can trick the eye into moving up and down so the eye does not stop at the longest point of the cornice.


You could also accomplish extra height with drapery panels and a decorative rod. Notice the difference when you mount the drapery rod at the top of the window or when you mount the rod under the crown molding or near the ceiling.


We recommend giving every room that extra lift! Would you like to see how new window treatments could change your room? As part of our service we create renderings to help our clients visualize how new window treatments will look on their windows.

Top 3 Window Problems - SOLVED!

The Top 3 Window Problems - SOLVED!

problem: too much light
Sunlight flooding a room can be delightful but not on Saturday morning when your trying to catch up on your sleep or later that afternoon when you're trying to watch a movie

solution: blackout shades
Simple spring tension roller shades made from an opaque material can turn day into night but for a more refined look nothing beats Hunter Douglas Duette Architella shades for leaving you in the dark and with Power Rise with Platinum Technology and the battery operated remote you won't ever have to leave your bed or sofa again.

problem: no privacy
You're looking for some quality tub time without having to bathe in the dark. How can you let the sunlight flow without attracting peeping toms?

solution: shutters with tilting slats
Adjustable shutters allow you to customize the view (yours and the one offered to passersby). Hunter Douglas Palm Beach Polysatin shutters are 100% PVC so you never have to worry about water or moisture from the bath and with the midrail option you can have complete privacy on the bottom with sun and view from the top.

problem: a room with a bad (or good) view
The window that sheds light on your favorite reading nook just happens to overlook your neighbor's trash cans or you paid $$$ for that view of the beach but not the roof of the clubhouse.

solution: top down bottom up shades
These Hunter Douglas Vignette shades may look as if they were installed upside down, but that's no mistake. It uses two sets of lift cords, allowing you to choose which way (and by how much) the shades open and close: from the bottom up or from the top down.

Space

At this point, you are probably wondering exactly where I am going with this and what on earth fierce conversations have to do with interior design. What first struck me was how similar the principles of fierce conversations are to the principles of interior design - balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, harmony and unity, but what really piqued my interest was the correlation between silence in a conversation and space, empty space, uncluttered space, is in an interior.

We Americans feel the need to stuff our homes with more and more things and fill our conversations with words and small talk. As Susan Scott notes in Fierce Conversations "It is a phenomenon of our times that, for many people, silence is almost unendurable. Silence makes us nervous. So do innovation, change and genius." In the movie, Proof, Jake Gyllenhaals character, Hal, wrote a song for his band entitled "i". It is not a song at all but silence. No lyrics, no melody - just silence. When his band plays "i" at the funeral for his teacher, Robert, everyone sits quietly except Roberts daughter, Claire who, unable to endure the silence, nervously fills the empty space with her laughter.

Embrace space in your interiors with these rules of thumb:

1.Avoid placing furniture around the perimeter of the room. This "ballroom" feel is not conducive to interaction and conversation.
2.Allow a minimum of 24" to 36" between furniture for traffic flow.
3.Avoid placing the sofa on the longest wall; this reinforces a bowling alley type of feel to a room. Try floating the sofa into the room to create visual impact.
4.Mount window treatments 8" to 11" above the window frame depending on the height of your ceiling. This balances the entire treatment on the wall and visually makes the room seem larger.
5.Leave a place for the eye to rest. Don't be afraid to leave some spaces unadorned. Less can be more!

"Memorable conversations include breathing space -or just space, of any kind. My motto is: Don't just rearrange the furniture. Toss it out. Become a minimalist."
- Susan Scott

Fierce Conversations

THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF FIERCE CONVERSATIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Principle 1: Master the courage to interrogate reality.
We are all changing all the time. Not only do we neglect to share this with others, we are skilled at masking it even to ourselves.

Principle 2: Come out from behind yourself into the conversation and make it real.
While many fear "real," it is the unreal conversation that should scare us to death. You will accomplish your goals in large part by making every conversation you have as real as possible.

Principle 3: Be here, prepared to be nowhere else.
Speak and listen as if this is the most important conversation you will every have with this person. It could be. Participate as if it matters. It does.

Principle 4: Tackle your toughest challenge today.
Burnout doesn't occur because we're solving problems; it occurs because we've been trying to solve the same problem over and over. Travel light, agenda-free.

Principle 5: Obey your instincts.
Your radar screen works perfectly. It's the operator who is in question. What we label as illusion is the scent of something real coming close.

Principle 6: Take responsibility for your emotional wake.
The conversation is not about the relationship; the conversation is the relationship. Learning to deliver the message without the load allows you to speak with clarity, conviction, and compassion.

Principle 7: Let silence do the heavy lifting.
Memorable conversations include breathing space. Slow down the conversation, so that insight can occur in the space between words and you can discover what the conversation really wants and needs to be about.

Excerpted from Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott

Tips for Hanging Art

The art of hanging art came up at an appointment this week as one of my clients, frustrated by where her husband had hung their artwork (high), asked me where I thought the paintings should have been hung. Here are the tips I gave them:

• Artwork should be hung so that the center point of the picture or the grouping is at eye level for the average person.


• With the above in mind, it should also be hung from eye level of where the art is most often enjoyed. Higher if you view the art standing as in a gallery and lower if usually seated as in a dining room.


• When hanging a group of pictures, treat them as one unit. Test the arrangement by laying them out on the floor or make paper templates and tape the paper on the wall to determine where the hangers should be installed.


• Relate the art to the wall size. Choose smaller pictures for narrow walls and larger pictures for big spaces. Keep in mind that small pictures can be hung vertically over each other to fill a long narrow space and two pictures can be hung horizontally to fill a large one.


• Relate art to the size of the furniture. Generally, a piece of art should not be wider than the table width nor should it be heavier in feeling than the piece below it.
  

To learn how your artwork can enhance your life and goals call me today to schedule a feng shui consultation.

State of the Arts

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS WITH A STATE OF THE ARTS LICENSE PLATE!


Did you know that for every State of the Arts specialty license plate sold in Sarasota County, $20 is returned to the Sarasota County Arts Council, which can be used to fund a variety of community-based cultural programs? Specifically, the Arts Council uses license plate money to fund its Opportunity Grant program, designed to assist cultural organizations throughout Sarasota County with project grants.
However, this year's sales of State of the Arts license plates are running well behind last year. As of the end of May, only 783 of these plates have been sold in Sarasota County (183 new issues and 600 renewals), which is approximately 35 percent fewer than this time last year. Sarasota County is running significantly behind Broward County (1,280), Palm Beach County (1,050), Pinellas County (1,050), and slightly behind Miami-Dade County (825).
WE WANT TO BE NUMBER ONE! We are beginning a campaign to encourage our citizens to purchase plates in support of our arts and cultural community. This is an issue of advocacy as well as civic pride in our community's cultural vitality. If we can become the county with the greatest number of State of the Arts plates sold, it will speak to the importance of arts and culture to our community, as well as generate more revenue that can be used to benefit our cultural organizations.
So, stop by your tag office today and show your support for the arts! In Sarasota, there are two locations: 101 S. Washington Blvd., First Floor; 861-8300; and 601 S. Pompano Ave; 361-6217. In Venice: 1212 Jacaranda Boulevard; 483-5995.

SPREAD THE WORD!

Trends from the Trenches

As a decorator and design consultant it is part of my job to study the trends and keep abreast of what is new in custom home furnishings and I love that part of my work because it allows me to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes - purusing design blogs and magazines.

A trend that I am thrilled is making a comeback is the use of wallcovering in interior decor. For years faux finishes have cornered the market on what to do with a naked wall but watch out my faux friends, the trend now is to use wallcovering in new and innovative ways.

Check out the July issue of Blueprint Magazine for these unique wallpaper applications and a handy guide for do-it-yourselfers:

Use the lines of a graphic wallpaper to create a silhoutte that serves as a virtual headboard.
Cover a wall in a grid pattern as a background and then apply a lush overscaled floral or tropical pattern as a mural.
Cut out a motif from a piece of wallpaper to make a backing plate for wall sconces or chandeliers.
Liven up a flat panel door with wallpaper insets.
To shop for wallpaper visit these vendors:
Thibaut
Blue Mountain
York
Seabrook
Jaima Brown

Birthday Dinner Menu

I love to cook and when my sister arrived last week for my birthday I treated her to a wonderful home cooked dinner comprised of rack of lamb, pan roasted asparagus and creamy mushroom risotto. I wish I could have shared the dinner with all of my readers but, alas, I couldn't fit you all in my house. Here are the recipes instead...

For Lamb: Marinate rack of lamb overnight in olive oil, garlic and fresh rosemary. Grill approximately 5 minutes per side. Slice between the bone into individual chops. Tip: I purchase the pre-packaged racks of lamb at Sams.

For the asparagus: Wash and trim the asparagus. Lightly toss with olive oil, garlic and sea salt. Roast in a heavy skillet until cooked but slightly crisp approximately 10 minutes.

Mushroom Risotto - makes about 4 first course or side dish servings
The key to this delicious, creamy risotto is to add the hot broth one cup at a time and stirring while simmering until the liquid is absorbed.

2 1/2 C low-salt chicken broth
1 T butter
1 T olive oil
1 C finely chopped onions
6 oz. crimini mushrooms, finely chopped
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 T fresh minced thyme
1/2 T fresh minced marjoram
3/4 C arborio rice
1/4 C dry white wine
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
white truffle oil

Bring broth to a simmer in a heavy saucepan. Cover broth and keep warm over very low heat.

Melt butter with oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions; saute until tender a, about 10 minutes. Add crimini mushrooms; saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and both herbs; saute 4 minutes. Add rice; stir 2 minutes. Ad wine; cook until liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of hot broth; simmer until liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Continue to cook until rice is just tender and mixture is creamy, adding more broth by cupfuls and stirring often, about 30 minutes. Mix in 1/2 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve and drizzle individual portions with white truffle oil.

Bon Appetite!!

Summertime

Ahhh...summertime! It's my favorite season! I love the way everything is a little slower, lazier. I love being able to go out to eat without battling the crowds. I love the afternoon and evening thunderstorms. I love floating in the Gulf. I love listening to the cicadas at night. I even love the humidity! Most of all I love all four holidays of summer. Four holidays? Yes, not only do we celebrate Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, we also celebrate MY BIRTHDAY!!! June 27th, in fact, just in case you want to send me a birthday card :-).
Another reason to love summer is the fabulous sale Hunter Douglas is offering and installing energy efficient blinds is the way to make you love your electric bill this summer too!

Relationship Decorating

The relationship between an interior decorator and client is a very human one and while not always defined as "friendships" they are often intense and personal. Like a friendship, though, a good working relationship between decorator and client involves a commitment to respect, communication and understanding.

When working with your decorator keep these tips in mind:

You absolutely should expect your decorator to have

• The ability to listen.
• The ability to make the right product selections for your project.
• Creative ideas and solutions for your project.
• The willingness to work within your budget.
• Suggestions as how to improve a home's function.
• The attitude that this is your home and should reflect your style and personality, not the decorators.

But it is a two way street - your decorator expects you

• To Know and communicate how much money you have allocated for the project.
• To be able to articulate your style and preferences even if it is visually through magazines or books.
• To be willing to listen with an open mind.
• To have a realistic time frame
• To have thought about the function and desired mood of your space.
• To provide honest feedback.

And like a good friendship, if you haven't worked together in a few years you should be able to pick up right where you left off without missing a beat!

The Personalization Trend

A few weeks ago I wrote about the product personalization trend I had seen at The International Window Coverings Expo in Washington, DC. Seems like I was spot on with that one - Just look at the number of consumer products that offer personalization: How about your Mother's picture on your Kleenex box? Yup...she'll be there reminding you to blow your nose. For Father's Day give your Dad his favorite candy in his favorite colors with a cute message from you. I think I will really look forward to the gym if I wear personalized Nike's in MY colors and postage for first class mail is alot easier to swallow if your stamps have your picture on them. Personally (no pun intended) I like the whole monogramming craze and plan to monogram several other furnishings in my home besides my towels.

PS: I WANT THESE SHOES!