Decorating with Everyone in Mind

Today I was reading some design articles online and came across an article about decorating with your pets in mind. I myself have two mini Dachshunds and I know how the food bowls and toys and some of their things can be all over at times.

Incorporate some beautiful pieces of furniture into your home as a place to keep their toys, bowls, etc. It also gives a great idea of using a tray that ties into your kitchen and bowls that do the same. This way it will make your pets area a cute little nook, rather than an eye sore.

You know that there is evidence of your pet in your home everywhere you go and there are some great ways to tie your pet into the design of your home! To read more go to:
http://www.interiordesignstylestoday.com/decorating-with-your-pet-in-mind/

Get a designer that loves pets the same way you do to tie your pet into your home design! Have a great week!

Remodeling

So why should you remodel? What are the benefits?

Remodeling may sound like more time and effort than you want to put into your home right now, but it is always a great time to remodel your home. It is something that you can do that you almost always gets all your money back and more.

So why do it now and not right before you move?

You want to enjoy the work you put in, don't you? Hiring a designer and doing a remodel in your home can go a very long way. You won't have any worries and things will be done right the first time because designers always hold a list of great contractors, painters, etc. A designer will also do the project with resale in mind and specify pieces and items that appeal to buyers and will last a long time.

Buyers today come with a laundry list. They have all of these features and specific things they expect and want in their home and if your home doesn't have them buyers have trouble seeing past that. Kitchens and bathrooms are a great place to start, but not the only rooms you should consider.

Consider remodeling and know that you should hire a designer. Call today and set up a consultation with someone who always keeps resale in mind along with what you want.

http://www.detailsindesign.com

Soldier Field Pella Pro Expo

I am a distributer for Pella Windows and Doors and was fortunate to be invited to the annual Pella Pro Expo at Soldier Field. One of the great things about going there was the tour, which included going on the field, locker room, and going behind the scenes. Very cool!

I saw new Pella products and took a CEU about kitchen design today. I learned to design a kitchen around the "chef" skills of the client and how you cook, bake, grill, etc. So, if you contract to do a kitchen with me you will get a kitchen that functions around the way you work!

Staying Fresh

Well, we all know that the economy wasn't too hot last year, but this year is different; we've regained positive momentum. It's a perfect time to freshen up your home and as you know, a great place to invest your money is in your home. It is your biggest and best financial asset. Keeping things updated, fresh, and versatile will keep up your spirits as well as increase the resale value of your home.



Resale value is very important to you the home owner, you want to sell your home for top dollar and that means renovating and redecorating! Give me a call and set up a consultation today to figure out what we can do to put value back into your home and have it still be comfortable and great to live in!

You Still Need an Interior Designer in This Economy

So, after last year and the terrible turn of the economy I was determined that this year would be different. You could often hear me saying, "The recession is over! Welcome to 2010!". Today I was updating my social networking pages and came across this great article from the Chicago Examiner Online.

This article was written by Laura Keany. It states the truth, that is that hiring an Interior Designer for your home may sound like a bit of a luxury, but really it is one of the best investments that you can make! It is an investment in yourself and your home and you know that you are valuable as well as your home! Your home shoudl be your sancuary and your place to relax and be comfortable!

It also talks about how today's Interior Designer is someone who listens to what you want and we listen to your needs, from budget to overall finished look.Overall it is a great read and something that put a smile on my face, I thought that I would share so you could all smile today as well!

http://www.examiner.com/x-13586-San-Diego-Interior-Designs-Examiner~y2009m6d18-Its-time-to-feel-at-home

Healthy Home

Today my intern and I took a trip out to Long Grove, IL to see the "Healthy Home". It was built by Dior Builders and is very gorgeous as you can see. We learned a lot of things about green design that you don't hear about in passing. We talked about new and different vendors that provide green materials.

Something that really caught our attention is how green design is thought to have caught on so much, but the United States' version of green compared to Europe's version is not even comparable. The US is very behind and has only banned a few of the thousands of harmful chemicals, 5 to be exact; whereas in Europe they have banned hundreds of them and they are much more "green" than we are here.

It's easy and not as expensive as you may think to convert your home to a "green" home. There are many simple things you can do. According to Healthy Child Healthy World the 5 easiest steps are:
1. Manage Pests Safely
2. Use Non-Toxic Products
3.Clean up Indoor Air
4. Eat Healthy
5. Be Wise With Plastics

And the easiest thing that we found was that just removing your shoes at the door removes 80% of the harmful chemicals in the air of your home!

To find out more visit http://www.healthychild.org

Have a great day!

So, today I saw a news letter article and found it very interesting. I decided that it was something that I really wanted to share.

The article is about value in buying, to buy quality and why you should. Many people associate value with looking at a price tag and thinking that it is a good value, but value really lies in the cost and the years you own it. The longer that you can own a piece the more value that it holds.

You truly can see and feel the difference in buying quality. If it doesn't seem very sturdy and durable now, what do you think it will be like in 1, 2, or even 10 years? It may cost you more right now, but the longer it lasts and the less number of times that you have to replace it is where the true test is.

Would you rather spend $5,000 on a bed now and have it last 30+ years or $500 now and replace it again in 1-2 years?