Designs For You

One of my favorite aspects of decorating is designing custom window treatments for clients’ homes.  Besides adding beauty they can also benefit your home in one or more of the following:

• Energy Efficiency
• Privacy
• UV Protection
• Light/glare control

Are you tired of opening your closets and having stuff fall out or even worse- having problems finding that special belt or shoes you want to wear…..Well things are not going to change unless you take action.  Here are some helpful tips to get your home organized:

1. Start out by making small organizing projects in your home, don’t try and do everything at once and remember it takes at least 60 days to break bad habits.
2. Scan documents and great magazine articles that you can’t live without and develop a system on your home computer so you can easily find these documents in the future.
3. After scanning documents, shred documents which have important personal information and throw them away.
4. Develop a filing system for important documents and keep them in a filing cabinet.
5. Go through your closets one at a time and get rid of items which you or your family members have not worn in two years.
6. Develop a closet organizing system which will work for you and your family.
7. Organize your kitchen by going through every drawer and cupboard and getting rid of items which you have not used and have no sentimental value.
8. Go through all items stored in your garage and part with items which have no sentimental value or use.  Too many times we keep items that just collect dust, for example our child’s first bike.  If it is not currently being used, then give it to someone who can use it or donate the item and make room for your cars.

After you start taking action, you will feel so much better about your home!

Are you  ready to make a few simple changes at home? If so, I have a few suggestions and some of these could help you qualify for tax rebates or other city incentives, please check with your city for specific information.

• If your windows are older and ready to be replaced, consider spending money on new double pane windows. Besides saving money on energy for heating and cooling your home, double pane windows also reduce noise and the incidence of condensation.

• Window treatments can help to increase energy efficiency, for example in the summer in rooms which are not being used, draperies and blinds should be closed during the day to minimize solar gain. In winter, closing draperies (especially in the evening) can help keep rooms warm.
• Turn off your computer, when you will not be using it for several hours, power it down and turn the power strip off to eliminate the energy drain.
• When replacing existing appliances, select new ones which are Energy Star rated.
• Install dimmer switches on can lights or down lights in your home.
• Use paints and adhesives that contain no or minimal volatile organic compounds.
• If you are purchasing new cabinets, make sure they are made from sustainable resources and contain no added urea formaldehyde.
• Install low-flow showerheads in your bathrooms. The better ones save water while maintaining the same comfort level as conventional showerheads.
• If you are purchasing new wood and bamboo products, make sure they have no added urea formaldehyde.

There are other things we can do to help make the air we breathe better, but the items listed above are a great start.

Contemporary Loft remodel

Interior Designer

Professional interior designers will save you time and money on your remodel or new construction project. Interior designers are trained to help define your style, create your vision, stay focused, save you exhausting footwork and minimize costly mistakes.

A key factor in hiring a designer is finding someone you can trust…. a designer who can provide a comfortable and close working relationship.  Through trust and communication, we help you make the best choices, based on your specific project needs and vision.

In order to minimize any costly design mistakes, we suggest hiring an interior designer before you hire your contractor. An interior designer can first work with you and develop a design and plans – then the contractor can bid the work.  A designer can also collaborate with members of the project and help you stay on budget.  With years of professional experience, Designs For You is capable of layering together all the elements that create a successful project.

Contemporary Master Bathroom Remodel

Today with technology advancing in lighting, our options are many.  So how do you choose what light fixtures to use in your home or office? One of my favorite “green” options is the Light Emitting Diodes fixtures which provides a great light source and are also energy efficient.  These LED fixtures are available in track systems, pendants and sconces as well as down lights.

Lighting plays a key role in creating the environment in a room and the best light sources are not always the most expensive.  Here is a picture of a contemporary master bathroom I designed earlier in the year where a combination of low voltage and halogen light fixtures was specified.

Last week, I photographed a home in Long Beach where I selected beautiful paint colors. My clients previously had white walls….now with the addition of these wonderful paint colors, the rooms look warm, inviting and complete!

Color can excite or calm our senses and with the right combination in a space our senses become balanced. For example, red excites our senses, while blue is calming to our senses; then yellow emulates sunshine and brown is associated with substance and stability.  In every color category there are different intensities and more complex colors have more than one color present. For example, green is a combination of blue and yellow, so depending on the amount of  each color, and by adding white or black the intensity of the final color is determined.