Designlog

Thoughts on the new bronze appliances, etc.

What do you think about bronze appliances, starting to be shown in the high-end lines and on TV Home Design shows?  I think they are interesting, even very pretty, but should be used only in appropriate design situations.  I've been hearing rumblings from people who don't want to use stainless appliances anymore because now 'everybody' is using them!  Well, there could be a point there, but I say we all need to consider the best color for the individual environment we're trying to create.

For example, in my own home that I'm now remodeling, I want a soft, light contemporary look; it is located on a lake, with expansive views of the water, and I want to maintain that look inside also.  So I am using stainless appliances in my kitchen, along with emerald pearl granite, clear maple cabinetry and a to-the-ceiling backsplash of horizontally-mixed water-toned glass tiles.  Any other color would have overpowered this color balance, so the softness of stainless was just right. 

It's all about BALANCE!  In a Tuscan-type interior, bronze appliances would be wonderful!  Often, biscuit is still the best choice, and white can be wonderful too.  Don't forget black - elegant in the right situation.  I just say do what's best for your interior plan, and forget the trends.  As soon as everyone starts abandoning one trend because it's 'overdone', they simply create another trend, and it goes on and on. 

We are definitely seeing this happen with granite countertops; now that they appear in even spec homes, higher-end clients are looking for something else.  That's fine - sometimes - but there are so many varieties of granite, and it still is an excellent countertop material. . .so avoid ruling it out based on trends alone.  It still could be your best choice. 

Personal style is the goal!  Decide what 'look' you're going for, then find the best, most qualified material, regardless of what you see on TV or in the stores.  Stay true to your vision!

OK, who disagrees?  I'd like to hear!

Landscaping made easy

Hi everyone!  While working on a nursing home project, I searched and searched for plant material that fit all my needs. . . hardy, easy-care, disease and bug-resistant, and of course, beautiful!  I needed a plant to soften a long wall, but it couldn't require so much care as to not be cost-effective.  I found the series called 'flower carpet roses', which are everything I wanted! 

Flower carpet roses have been bred to be relatively care-free landscape additions.  Depending on the color variety, they either mound or spread out.  Either way, they are considered ground cover plants, though most get to be around 30" wide and 30" tall - some varieties get taller, while a few spread out wider.  They bloom profusely from early spring to frost, and do not require deadheading, spraying, or inordinate amounts of water!  Like any plant, you should water well until they're established, but then they are rather drought-tolerant.  Unlike many roses, pruning is almost optional; it is recommended that you cut them back by 1/3rd in the winter, though even that is not necessary if you're trying to encourage thicker growth.  What a beautiful solution to soften the long wall!  Varieties range from coral, to red, yellow and pink.  The red and pink varieties have bright yellow centers, providing a nice contrast - all have dark, glossy green leaves. 

I picked one up at Lowe's over the weekend, planning to try it in my home landscape.  I'll keep you posted on how it works out! If anyone out there has experiences with carpet roses to share, I'd love to hear!

Armstrong Ceilings

Ever look at space, say your home or your office and wonder how you can add a little something special to the ceiling? Your answer Armstrong! Wether it's just a touch of class you want to add to your formal living room, or an impression you want to give your client when they walk through the door. Do it through your ceiling. Look around the Armstrong website, an d call us. We can make it happen.

Old furniture in your way?

I have just read about a great program, and thought I'd pass it along.  This program is called Help1up, and is sponsored by the NFBA, or National Furniture Bank Association.  The NFBA has designed this program as a "win-win" situation; people need to get rid of their old furniture, and others desperately need any furniture at all.  If you are fortunate enough to have a Furniture Bank in your area, just call them up, and they'll send out a truck to pick up your unwanted/outdated/replaced furniture items.  Your castoffs then go into a large 'furniture bank', where they are distributed to families truly in need. 

It's not hard to imagine how low on the list furniture can be to a family barely making enough to pay for the basic necessities, such as lodging, food and clothing.  What a difference it could make to one of those families to have a sofa and loveseat, even if it was covered in '80's fabric'!  Maybe you're downsizing, and only need a small kitchen table now; what to do with the dining room set you've had for years?  They are often hard to sell, but why not give it away to someone who will truly appreciate it?  All contributions are, of course, tax deductible; the drivers will give you a receipt on the spot!

Don't forget the 'green' aspect also; furniture banks keep thousands of tons of items from going into incinerators or landfills each year.  Do the responsible thing; give your old furniture a new home!  You can find (hopefully) a furniture bank close to you by going to help1up.org/locate-a-bank.php

Winter Blahs

OK, so we're all stuck inside for the winter, basically.  It gets dark early, it's cold, it's wet. . .and for awhile, we all really enjoy being stuck inside, right?  It's cozy! We can watch too much TV and eat too much. . .after all, it's not our fault we can't go outside!  Then January hits - we've watched WAY too much TV, and it's getting boring - we've all eaten too much, and it's time to stop. . .but it's still not staying light later, and it's still not quite warm enough be outside. . . 

So now we're pretty much forced to look around the house and "see" all those projects that we've been needing or just wanting to do - and it could be depressing if we let it be.  Instead, why not make a plan for action?  First, make your honey-do list, next go to Lowe's (or other) and get what you need (caulk, dimmer switches, wasp spray, etc). . then instead of wringing your hands, worrying you don't know what to do next, fretting you don't know how, and worse of all, resorting to just watching TV and eating more, call a designer to HELP YOU!  Solving problems is what we do, and we love it!  Whether you need window treatments to solve fading & acoustic problems or the complete gutting and reworking of a room or rooms ~ we can do that. 

Let us help you make your plans - and if you like, we can do all the work too!  See how easy it is to get that plan going to solve your home problems?  Once you've met with us and we start to work, you can go back to whatever else you want to do, knowing your home will soon be even better than now!

OK, so those of you who think you have a problem we can't solve, write back - let's see!  Have a question?  Just ask - we'll try