Come join us and our home experts team for an evening of home talk and refreshments! Have your burning home improvement questions answered by:
*Interior Designer, Kelly DuByne, Distinctive Interior Designs
*Professional Organizer, Monika Kristofferson, Efficient Organization
*Handyman, Kory Hauff, JK Property Services
Learn the "Top 3 Favorite Home Improvement Secrets" from each expert!
Date: July 16, 2009
Time: 6-8pm
Investment: $10.00, includes light refreshments and goodie bag!
Location: Uppercase Books Meeting Room
611 2nd Street, Suite L
Snohomish, WA 98290
Bring your design, organizing and home repair questions for an open Q & AS forum and bring photos of your problem areas to ask the experts individually.
Seating is limited, please call Distinctive Interior Designs to register at 425 238-3678
We'd love to share this evening with you!
Cheers!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Get the Most Bang for Your Buck
I often have clients who want to purchase furniture on their own, but they aren't sure where to start. They have questions on how large the couch should be, how many chairs will fit in, what if they buy too much furniture to fit in, etc.
Here's what we recommend for our clients. We will come out to measure their room (s) and then draw it up on graph paper. Then, we will arrange different room arrangements featuring an assortment of furniture shapes and sizes.
The client gets a feel for how they'd like the room to look, and then they are armed to go into the stores knowing they are looking for a 72"couch and two side chairs, etc.
You can do this yourself as well. Measure your rooms length and width and graph it out on graph paper. (You can have each square on the graph paper represent one foot). Then, look up some furniture on line (try http://www.roomandboard.com) (this is a really great furniture website) and note the sizes and even styles of furniture you like. You can make your furniture samples on graph paper and then arrange it on your floor plan.
It's a great tool for visualizing your space and knowing what can fit. That way, you are getting the right amount of furniture-the best bang for your buck!
Here's what we recommend for our clients. We will come out to measure their room (s) and then draw it up on graph paper. Then, we will arrange different room arrangements featuring an assortment of furniture shapes and sizes.
The client gets a feel for how they'd like the room to look, and then they are armed to go into the stores knowing they are looking for a 72"couch and two side chairs, etc.
You can do this yourself as well. Measure your rooms length and width and graph it out on graph paper. (You can have each square on the graph paper represent one foot). Then, look up some furniture on line (try http://www.roomandboard.com) (this is a really great furniture website) and note the sizes and even styles of furniture you like. You can make your furniture samples on graph paper and then arrange it on your floor plan.
It's a great tool for visualizing your space and knowing what can fit. That way, you are getting the right amount of furniture-the best bang for your buck!
Monday, May 25, 2009
It's All in the Balance of Things
As a designer, I'm constantly learning about my design preferences, and they are always changing and being fine tuned! One thing I know is that I really prefer balance over symmetry. Balance is when two or more items are the same height or size. Take a look at the picture on the right-the olive tree and the lamp or balanced-they are of the same height.
Symmetry is when things are the same exact pieces-where it matches on both sides. If for instance the picture had two olive trees or two lamps, then that would be symmetrical.
I like design to look like it wasn't' too hard to achieve. I think that's why I prefer balance over symmetry. It just looks like it wasn't too difficult or fussy, but it still makes sense to the eye. Balance is very comforting, where symmetry can be a bit overbearing or stiff.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Be good to the earth
I have always had an interest in being as good to the earth as I possibly can. Recently, I've made some changes to be even better, I'm trying hard to shop locally. I mean really locally, as in my small town I live in. Now, it's not that I won't travel out of the area or do without, but this economy has really made me think about how we can all help to keep the stores that we love open. Shop there!
Our small town has had a rash of businesses close, from a small family owned bookstore (that I miss so much!), the closure of a wonderful consignment store, to a larger regional big box store closing. Our bank has even been bought out by a national one!
So, in this effort here are some changes I've made recently to keep my dollars local. I've recently decided to get my haircut locally by a friend. I was very attached to the gal who has cut it for years, but I was travelling 40 miles round trip and about three hours of my time. So, now I'll go to a friends' who is one minute away! My daughter and I can even ride our bikes there!
I've also recently changed banks in an effort to keep the dollars local, so to speak! I also try to save up my errands, rather than doing one here, one there. It saves on gas and money.
It's our fourth year of having our own vegetable garden. It's very relaxing to work in the garden, and it teachers good lessons to our children, who help out here and there! They've even entered the garden in a local garden contest twice! We're all new gardeners, but we're trying to instill in our children that you can do what you set out to do! And they even won in the garden show twice!
I've also decide to go to the grocery store only once a week. I shop by my list which I've made from my menu for the week. My menu often consists of what ads I find in the grocery store paper. If we run out of something (well, milk we will get) then we just live with out it until I do the next weeks shopping. As I"ve often found that if I run to the store for one item, I usually end up with much more (especially if my son or daughter are with me!)
What does this all have to do with a interior design blog you ask? Well, plenty. All of these things are good for the earth, and our home. I also do a lot of design shopping locally at our Target (www.target.com) store, and find myself sending a lot of client that way, too. They have a wonderful selection of home decor furniture and accessories, and fabulous sales too!
So, at the end of the day, I'm feeling good about these small changes I'm making to make life easier and simpler and keeping our dollars locally. It adds up when so many people are doing the same!
So, here's to being good to the earth! A bit late for Earth Day, yes,....but Earth Day should be 365 days a year!
Our small town has had a rash of businesses close, from a small family owned bookstore (that I miss so much!), the closure of a wonderful consignment store, to a larger regional big box store closing. Our bank has even been bought out by a national one!
So, in this effort here are some changes I've made recently to keep my dollars local. I've recently decided to get my haircut locally by a friend. I was very attached to the gal who has cut it for years, but I was travelling 40 miles round trip and about three hours of my time. So, now I'll go to a friends' who is one minute away! My daughter and I can even ride our bikes there!
I've also recently changed banks in an effort to keep the dollars local, so to speak! I also try to save up my errands, rather than doing one here, one there. It saves on gas and money.
It's our fourth year of having our own vegetable garden. It's very relaxing to work in the garden, and it teachers good lessons to our children, who help out here and there! They've even entered the garden in a local garden contest twice! We're all new gardeners, but we're trying to instill in our children that you can do what you set out to do! And they even won in the garden show twice!
I've also decide to go to the grocery store only once a week. I shop by my list which I've made from my menu for the week. My menu often consists of what ads I find in the grocery store paper. If we run out of something (well, milk we will get) then we just live with out it until I do the next weeks shopping. As I"ve often found that if I run to the store for one item, I usually end up with much more (especially if my son or daughter are with me!)
What does this all have to do with a interior design blog you ask? Well, plenty. All of these things are good for the earth, and our home. I also do a lot of design shopping locally at our Target (www.target.com) store, and find myself sending a lot of client that way, too. They have a wonderful selection of home decor furniture and accessories, and fabulous sales too!
So, at the end of the day, I'm feeling good about these small changes I'm making to make life easier and simpler and keeping our dollars locally. It adds up when so many people are doing the same!
So, here's to being good to the earth! A bit late for Earth Day, yes,....but Earth Day should be 365 days a year!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Mirror, Mirror.....
I recently bought a beautiful book titled Mirrors by Cheryl Jeffrey Katz to add to my ever growing collection of interior design books. I recenlty picked up a gilded mirror that is lovely set on my mantle, and so pretty with the gold and hints of red paint!
Mirrors are used in decorating in a variety of ways. One of the most common "tricks" is to use a mirror to create an illusion. A mirror can make an illusion of a larger space; try placing one at the end of a hall to give the appearance of an elongated space.
Often mirrors are hung horizontally, but, according to author Cheryl Katz, hanging it vertically will "echo a rooms high ceiling."
I have a client who we recently encouraged to place her large mirror opposite her beautiful window that looks out onto a pond. This will reflect the beautiful landscape, making the room seem larger, as well as bringing additional light from the reflection of the pond.
Mirrors can be framed in a variety of ways. If you have a good framer you can have one custom made to your tastes. According to a recent article about mirrors in the Everett Herald, writer Kim Cook says "a mirror clad in a pretty or unusual frame will enliven the most basic room."
For a different take on mirrors try a mirrored dresser for a glamorous, elegant addition to a bedroom or hallway. Check out www.ballarddesigns.com for mirrored dressers as well as a nice selection of mirrors.
Mirrors are used in decorating in a variety of ways. One of the most common "tricks" is to use a mirror to create an illusion. A mirror can make an illusion of a larger space; try placing one at the end of a hall to give the appearance of an elongated space.
Often mirrors are hung horizontally, but, according to author Cheryl Katz, hanging it vertically will "echo a rooms high ceiling."
I have a client who we recently encouraged to place her large mirror opposite her beautiful window that looks out onto a pond. This will reflect the beautiful landscape, making the room seem larger, as well as bringing additional light from the reflection of the pond.
Mirrors can be framed in a variety of ways. If you have a good framer you can have one custom made to your tastes. According to a recent article about mirrors in the Everett Herald, writer Kim Cook says "a mirror clad in a pretty or unusual frame will enliven the most basic room."
For a different take on mirrors try a mirrored dresser for a glamorous, elegant addition to a bedroom or hallway. Check out www.ballarddesigns.com for mirrored dressers as well as a nice selection of mirrors.
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