July, 2012

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To Shade Or Not To Shade?

Sunday, July 29th, 2012

For years I have argued and disagreed with my husband regarding putting blinds on our front windows:

How could I ever consider covering up this beautiful view?:

Well, after seeing how the sun has damaged my furniture,rugs and wood floors in the last couple years, I guess I did have to reconsider my original position on my no-blind rule. So we agreed to research to see what was available that would work functionally to keep out the strong sun as well as helping to insulate in the summer and winter. Looking aesthetically pleasing was so important to me. I did not want to cover up any part of the windows and I did not want my view outdoors being affected.

My husband and I shopped around and we decided to work with a local company Budget Blinds. I have used them in the past and have been very pleased. They are always professional and competitively priced with a large inventory and colors to choose from. Plus, they really know their window treatments!

At our consultation with Budget Blinds, he came out to our home and measured and showed us different options that would work well with our windows.

Budget Blinds

We decided on the cellular/honeycomb shades for their light filtering abilities and their insulation properties. I was sold on them because they can be stacked high on the window and you could hardly tell they were there. Function and beauty!

There were many colors to choose from. As much as I love color, I knew that I wanted them practically invisible so I chose a color as close of a match to my existing trim as I could:

And in only two weeks later, they were custom made and installed!

I really like them! The top windows had to be motorized(another remote control!). They are keeping out the sun when necessary which was important. And look, you can hardly see them when they are closed!:

What do you think? I have design plans to someday hang window treatments in blue like this:

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Love, love, love! Wouldn’t that look so nice? We also had shades put in the office area:

The sun was killing everything! Well, now we will not have that problem anymore!:

So my husband and I have finally come to an agreement- we love our new blinds and we are glad we had it done! Questions or comments?

If you need help with your window treatments, contact me today.

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Posted in Interior Decorating, Living Rooms, window treatments | 13 Responses »
Tags: budget blinds, honeycomb shades, living room, shades, window treatments

Tips and Suggestions When Buying a Sofa

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

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So, you are buying a new sofa. Are you overwhelmed with all of the choices available?

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There are so many choices out there today! The best advice I can give you is to think of this large purchase as an investment. Quality is key and although quality doesn’t come cheap, a good quality sofa will stay more comfortable and retain its looks for a long time. So consider buying the best quality that you can afford! Let me share a few tips you need to know to help make the process easier for you:

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If it is at all possible, go to the store and try out the sofas. Sit in them, bounce on them, look at the joints and ask questions. Do you like the look of the legs showing? Or do you like a more informal, casual look with the skirt? The sofa arms are another visual factor to look at. Do you like the look of a rolled arm or squared? Knowing these little facts ahead of time will save you time in the store. I strongly suggest going to the store to actually sit in the sofa and try out rather than purchasing online. As I mentioned, there are so many sofa options out there, how can you be sure you love it if you do not try it out?

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A sofa is a large and expensive purchase for most of us. It is better to buy a good quality made couch that will last you for many years instead of buying poor quality goods and then wanting to replace in a couple years because it is beaten and broken. All you need to be aware of when looking for a good quality sofa are a few basic items.

Number One: Frame:

The best frame is made out of kiln-dried hardwood. The process of kiln drying removes all moisture from the wood, enabling it to retain its shape and stability over a long period of time.

In a good quality frame, special attention is paid to the joints, which are glued, dowelled and screwed. The corners are further strengthened by the addition of reinforcing blocks. These provide extra support.

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Number Two: Seating Support:

The best seating support is the eight-way hand tied springs system (in the construction of these systems, the craftsman individually ties heavy-gauge coils from front to back, side to side and diagonally (eight ways) to provide the highest level of quality, comfort and durability. This process costs more because it is time consuming and can only be done by hand) wikipedia. You should always test the quality of seating support by sitting on a sofa before you buy it. It shouldn’t sag, but provide good support in the seat and in the back. Just mention you are only interested in the eight-way hand tied support system. They will know you know your stuff!

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Number Three: Cushions:

Cushioning separates you from the springs how much you need is up to you. Very often you will have a choice of filling types (look for this information on the hang tag on the cushion). Cheap sofas use foam alone and better sofas use foam core within a down & feather blanket wrap. Down is best.

In the end, quality doesn’t come cheap, but a good quality sofa will stay more comfortable and retain its looks for a long time. So consider buying the best quality that you can afford.

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Here are a few more tips and advice for picking out your new sofa:

Neutrals work best in most rooms, especially small rooms, but you can dress up your sofa by using more vibrant colors and patterns in the pillows, or adding throws.

Go with a strong color if you want to make a bold statement, but if you do so, consider buying a sofa with simpler lines.

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If you find a comfortable, well- made sofa but are not crazy about the fabric, did you know you can ask the salesperson to see the samples of the fabrics that can also be used? In many cases it will be the same cost or only slightly higher. You can even have it custom made with the material of your choice.

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I hope I have helped you understand what to look for a little better when buying a sofa. Just remember these tips and hopefully it will help take some of the stress out of shopping!

Is it time to buy a new sofa?

If you need help decorating your home, contact me today.

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Posted in Decorating Hints & Tips, Interior Decorating, Living Rooms | 4 Responses »
Tags: buying a sofa, sofa, tips for buying a sofa, what to look for when buying a sofa

Are Terrariums Making a Comeback?

Saturday, July 21st, 2012

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Remember how popular making terrariums were in the 70’s? They were so easy and fun to make:

Lately I have been seeing them again all over the place and do they look great!:

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repurposed-syrup-jar-terrarium

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You can be so creative with them! I decided to give it a try myself because I love how they look and they seemed super easy to make. There is a ton of information online on how to build your own terrarium if you are looking for ideas and inspiration.

Here are the items you will need to build your own terrarium:

Glass containers with or without tops. I spoke to someone at the florist store and he suggested not to use the kind with lids or covers if you are just a beginner because they are easier to take care of without having to monitor the terrarium. You have to make sure it does not get too moist (condensation will form on the glass, and mold and fungus might appear on the plants and in the soil).

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Gravel, sea glass or beach stones
Activated charcoal- You can find at fish pet stores. I found mine at Wal-Mart:

Plants –I found cute, miniature trees at a local garden nursery. The best place I found succulents for price and selection was at Lowes.

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Sterile potting mix
Sheet Moss. I found mine at a florist shop.
Decorative elements (optional)

Easy Instructions:

* The first layer in the bottom of jar is the small gravel used for drainage.

* Next, I sprinkled a little bit of the charcoal over the gravel which also helps drainage and to control any odor that might occur.

* Then the next layer is the sheet moss. It holds everything in place plus it is great for holding moisture.

* Next is the garden soil. The plants and roots are not large so you do not need more than a few inches of a soil layer.

* Insert your plants. Try not to have them sitting against the glass or to be much higher than the container. Then put in a little more soil and tamp down to hold the plants in place. I finished mine by sprinkling crushed stone of top:

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Then spray-mist with water lightly. That’s it!

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To care of your terrarium, you only need to mist well once a week. Making terrariums can be quick, easy and doesn’t have to be expensive. And they look really cool and unique! They were so much fun that I made four of them!

Have you noticed seeing more terrariums lately? What do you think of them?

If you need help decorating your home, contact me today.

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Posted in Decorating Hints & Tips, DIY Projects, Interior Decorating, tablescapes | 6 Responses »
Tags: accesories, artwork, contemporary, Decorating ideas, DIY, garden indoors, making a terrarium, plant accessories, terrariums

Sherwin-Williams Chip It!

Monday, July 16th, 2012

letschipit.com

Have you read about the new Sherwin-Williams ‘Chip It!’? Very quick and easy to use, you can upload your own photos or find a picture you love online and Chip It! to find the Sherwin Colors to best match the photo.

It’s based on the Pinterest idea. You add a Chip It! button to your bookmarks or favorites, and you are ready to go!

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Here I uploaded my blog heading:

Want to see even more colors?

Excellent! You can now find the colors that inspire you while surfing the web to help make paint color selection easier! Here are a few examples from the Sherwin- Williams website letschipit.com: