My Quest for a Beautiful Home

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Our New Ad Running in Creating Vintage Charm

If you haven't done it already, be sure you order your magazine today. It is fantastic! Lots of great ideas and tutorials for the average crafter. I also gained a lot of inspiration from this magazine for my own designs. Lots of wonderful talented people involved in this!! Don' t Forget. I am certain the holiday issue will be even more exciting.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

A quest for vintage textiles



I have spent the better part of two weeks on the lookout for some vintage textiles for window treatments. What a great option for my customers but oh what a challenge it has been. I have found several fantastic table cloths and napkins, but am still looking for that special something to make some really fantastic window treatments out of.

One might ask...Why? Well, there is nothing better to me than a beautiful piece of artwork made before my time. The beauty is unmatchable, the softness of the fabrics are remarkable, and the overall look is timeless. Almost as if time just stopped.

This week I found some beautiful antique laces, hand made table cloths and a couple of feed sacks. These are going to be the newest direction I take as a textile artist. WHAT CAN I MAKE? That is the hardest decision. So many things come to mind that I just can't decide on one. But I promise that it will be fun and interesting to say the least. Maybe on my quest this week I will mix some of the new with the old and see what I come up with....

Friday, September 17, 2010

Ordinary? Bah Humbug!


It is not done till it is over done!!!


















Who says chairs have to be just plain old chairs.

You can turn your vintage chair into a work of art. This was a chair picked up for a vanity at a local auction. I then added my froufrou to it and poof! A chair fit for a princess.

When you deal with auction furniture sometimes you really have to think out of the box. Some trim, beads, ruffles, and lace. This chair actually has a train like a wedding dress. Layers are all the rage this year with clothing. Why not carry that over to our homes.....ruffles, ruffles, ruffles. Pillows, Duvets, Chairs, Shams and a whole pillow dedicated to ruffles. Could there be anything better?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

What to Write??

Well guys, this one is going to just be about me. My love for decorating, and my love of people. I truly have been blessed in life with many gifts and for that I am thankful. As a wonderful person in my life once said "You are the only person I know that can fall into a pile of ****and come out smelling like a rose". Could I ask for more? Probably not.

Family and people are very important to me, they are the root of my imagination, and have allowed me to be as successful as I am today. I love what I do, and how I do it. I spend entire days running around helping people make their surroundings beautiful. What is not to love about that. When you really get to the root of what I do....I make people see potential in the homes they already had, and beautify the spaces they once saw as ordinary. What has to be ordinary about your home? NOTHING is always my response.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Dressed and Undressed Window

Windows are the Eyes to your home. They are a place to showcase your style from the inside and out.

The surprising fact that magnificent drapery hardware and beautiful window coverings are a MUST have. It will warm up any room in your home, and is considered one of the finishing layers to pull a room design together.

Some things to keep in mind when choosing Window Coverings:

1. Privacy: How often do you use the room in the evenings with the lights on. How important is the view from this window, how close is the window to the street and traffic. Unless you are hosting a panoramic city view in Manhattan, these are serious considerations when choosing the right window covering for you.

2. Fabric: How much sun does this window get. Is it a North facing or South Facing window. This will greatly influence your fabric choices. Fabric for window treatments are meant to be soft and flowing, so a heavy velvet or chenille will definitely not be the direction you would want to take. Window treatments that are constructed out of Upholstery Fabric will never achieve that look that you are really looking for.

3. Lining: The choices are endless.... but always, always, always line your drapes. It extends the life of the window treatments. It also will extend the life of your FURNITURE, helping with sun rot and fading that occurs to furniture and flooring when exposed to sunlight. Drapery Lining also offers a thermal value to your home, helps with heat and sunlight in the summer and cold drafts in the winter. We usually recommend an ivory lining to ease the contrast between window treatments and trim on the outside of your home.

4. Curb Appeal: Always, Always, Always consider how your home looks from the outside. Consider curvy treatments to bring interest to your homes curb appeal. Consider making sure if you have multiple windows on the front of a colonial home that they appear to look the same from the outside so as not to confuse the eye and make the outside of your home appear unbalanced. Always, I mean Always consider Ivory Lining for all of your window treatments, or Blinds. These steps will insure a cohesive finished look outside, and will be well worth the investment!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Don't Neglect Your Lighting

Lighting, Lighting, Lighting. Never forget the lighting. Three types of lighting are required to make a room work:
Task lighting, (Table Lamps, floor lamps)
General Lighting (Over head, Chandeliers, flush mount lights, recessed lighting),
Accent Lighting (under cabinet lights, Sconces, and direction photo lights)

**Try when possible to add dimmer switches to all over head general lighting. This step helps save electricity and can really add a mood to any room.**

A gorgeous lamp can speak to you when you enter a room. Never settle for ordinary. Think out of the box and use your table lamps as a showcase for your home. They always take on a design of their own when they are turned on in the evening. Think of them as the canvas to your personal style.