Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have build against it.
~ Rumi

Bachelorette Bedroom Re-design: From Dorm-like to Dynamic!

2009 November 19

This single gal wanted her bedroom to feel less like a dorm, to add richer color tones, improve the layout and to be more welcoming of a partner.  All on a wee budget of under $500.

We started off with a re-design and finished with a trip to the second use shop and came away with 2 sheets to create a duvet, a faux fur throw for the bed, fabric for body pillow covers, curtain rods and a nicknack storage system.  She later found her right curtain solution on her own.

Re-design
We placed the bed in the center of the room with her dresser to double as a nightstand on one side and a smaller chest of drawers to serve as the other, complete with a cute little lamp.  In small spaces, having items serve more than one purpose can be key.  Two night stands also better supports the existence of 2 in a bedroom, and acts as an energy intention magnet for such as well.

Now, instead of the bed and art desk being crammed together in the corner, they are opposite each other, creating separation between her art and sleep space.

She wanted curtains but nothing too fluffy, just enough to cover up the metal blinds and add some softness, so one white panel for each window was her perfect solution.

Initially, we weren’t sure that her desired richer tones for bedding would work with the light green walls and we considered painting if we had to.  However, after pulling it all together, the green seems to be working out just fine and she is quite satisfied with the results.

The best end result of her bachelorette bedroom re-design is the attraction of just the type of guy she was looking for!

Seattle Waterfront LoveNest: Pre-paint and art

2009 November 16

This couple called me to design their LoveNest when their friendship blossomed into love and they decided it was time to share their home space.  They chose to start with a blank slate, bringing only a bed with them.

We are almost fully furnished now, minus a few final pieces and some art.  I brought in my SPACE:  A Design Build Collective members emily lauderback design & color consultation for color, and Elzinga Painting, for painting which commences today!

I’m sharing the pre-paint images so you can see how much difference changing the wall colors can make.  The new color will result in really warming up this space and tieing everything together into the warm and cozy LoveNest it’s meant to be!

Keep an eye open for the project end results, scheduled to wrap by the end of this month!

Prepare your Home Interiors for Winter

2009 November 13

You have probably noticed the temperature dropping and are dragging out your warmer coats, hats, gloves and scarves.  In addition to preparing your wardrobe for winter, it’s time to prepare your home interior decorating for cozy nights snuggled up by the fire, on the sofa and in your bed, maybe even with that special someone!

So unless you’re into self-torture and want to freeze your katookus off, which makes it a bit hard to sit down, check out these tips help keep the cold out, the warm in, the bills down, and the snuggle factor high!

Curtains
Change your curtains to heavier fabrics, double-up your tap top curtains by alternating tabs for each panel on the rod, or add a liner to the backside.  You can buy liners, add tie-on curtains to the backside or you can make them very easily from sheets.

  • Lay sheet flat against curtain.  Cut to fit if necessary and use either iron-on hemming tape or a machine to create a hem.
  • Attach ties at hanging intervals and tie them to back of tab tops or to the rod itself.  If you use clip-on curtain rings, just clip the panel up with the curtain.  The funkiest, cheapest, yet effective way is using safety pins to attach to back of curtains, which don’t show if you’re clever about it!

read more…

TODAY: Apples, Treats, Thrills and Chills at Furnishments Haunted House!

2009 October 31

hauntYesterday, I stopped by Furnishments near Greenlake for their Haunted House. Pretty clever, it was for a small retail store space! And spooky. You crawl in and crawl your way through. Super creepy.

Today, all Halloween day and through the early evening, take the kids on over, ages 10 and under for a spooky good time!

Haunted House
Saturday 10/31
noon to 8pm

Furnishments Consigment & Retail Store
7216 Linden Ave, near Greenlake
206-784-3388

Cash and food donations benefit Art with Heart and NW Harvest.

Enjoy a 10% discount storewide during the Haunted House and 20% off custom furniture orders. Lots of great treasures to be found at Furnishments!

Last minute pumpkin ideas for Halloween

2009 October 30

haunted house pumpkinBeen dragging your heels on Halloween preparations or just been plain too busy until now? Today I have some great tips for last minute pumpkin designs from one of my favorite resources, Better Homes & Gardens.

Pumpkin Carving Stencils
Tired of the same-ol, same ol’ carving designs every year? Check out these printable stencils at BHG for inspiration!

Pumpkin Painting Stencils
Hate the mess and hassel of carving? Grab some paint!  Painting gives you more creative liberty with fine details and you can light up your pumpkin by surrounding it with string lights, mini lanterns or votives.  Read more at my Examiner column…

Red, white and black eco-friendly Halloween decorating

2009 October 24

Halloween red black and whiteI put these Halloween table top decorating ideas together for a red, white and black Halloween theme using things I had around the house, and re-purposing a few others.

How I did it
This was fun!  I went “treasure hunting” throughout my  home, looking for red, white and black items. Then I spent some time trying out different ideas until I liked the outcome  Hint:  As you treasure hunt, grab even the more unlikely items, and don’t try to figure out what you’ll do with them until you’re at the table. read more…