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Janine’s Tip of the Week #1: Design Homework

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KitchenAre you considering redecorating or remodeling, and yet have no idea how you want the space to look? Are you completely unsure of your own style?

Before calling your interior designer, start by doing a little homework.  I always give my clients a little research project: Go to your favorite bookstore and invest in 3-5 design magazines in your project category. Are you interested in kitchen remodel? Are you interested in a fabulous new great room or are you focused on your master bedroom?

By diving into a few magazines and creating a scrapbook of your favorites, you are sure to tell your favorite designer a lot about the look you have in your heart. Just by looking at someone’s favorite tear outs, it’s easy for me to see what is consistent.

And remember, decorating is a FUN and exciting process. Enjoy the peace of mind a professional can bring to the process of successful interior design.

Janine Terstriep

Fun with Faux: A New Kind of Area Rug

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A faux rug is cheaper and easier to clean than a real rug and you can customize the pattern and color to match your room Courtesy of HGTV.com

A faux rug is cheaper and easier to clean than a real rug and you can customize the pattern and color to match your room. Courtesy of HGTV.com

Ever feel like there’s just something missing from a room despite your best decorative efforts? The space is furnished beautifully, some of your favorite contemporary art work is peppered throughout and you’ve even recently put that fresh coat of Lemon Meringue paint on the walls.

Yet, still, the place craves something fixed, something permanent that surpasses the mobile ornaments. If this sounds like you, check out one of the newest home décor trends that’s sure to solve the problem of filling that empty space: painted faux area rugs. These splendid little creations bring depth and character to any area imaginable, be it a front porch stoop, a pool patio deck or a game room. Using a variety of different techniques, the patterns are usually created by an artist or designer on paper, scaled to fit the desired floor space and then, using a number of materials including tape, stencils, fabric, wood or even string, are painted on virtually any flat surface to create an impressive “rug.” And the best part is that it’s permanent, and customizable to fit your taste! Click here for more information on painted faux area rugs.

By Natasha Khairullah

2010 nursery style alert: birds, owls, giraffes oh my

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Expectant parents have so many decisions to make when designing their little bundle’s nursery. One of the first decisions that parents must make is choosing a theme. While themes can range from the ultra modern to the understated traditional, some of the trends hitting the scene have included nature-inspired themes such as birds, owls, and the newest addition: giraffes.

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Jennifer Sbranti's giraffe-inspired inspiration board

Though giraffes might be all the rage now, Jennifer Sbranti, Founder + Editor-in-Chief, Hostess with the Mostess blog, suggests making the nursery personal  by incorporating those special pieces, like a piece of art or mural, alongside the more trendy decorations to avoid that “matchy-matchy” look of the past. She also advises that those little touches such as  unique throw pillows or adding colorful trim to a lamp shade can help personalize the room and make the nursery a comfortable haven for mom and baby.

Interested in learning more? Click here to read more from Jennifer Sbranti’s post featured on the Stroller Traffic blog.

By Jessica Scheufler

Designer Secrets for Help in Selecting the Perfect Paint Color!

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1.)  Select your fabrics for the living room or great room first, the rug, drapery, and sofa are often the more expensive items and will generate the color scheme…and the $300-$500 of paint will create the backdrop for these items.  So selecting the perfect shade of “mocha” will often be found in your sofa and help ground the other items in the room.
2.)  Select your tile and granite first if you are working on a kitchen or bathroom, as they are the materials that will remain the longest and again are the most costly.  Its easy to get more excited about your paint color when you can see how well it relates to the materials already selected in the room!
3.)  If you are working on a bedroom, buy your bedding first!  There are so many beautiful bed collections that the paint color can accent so deliciously once your bedding is selected, and your job is so much easier.
4.)  If a bath renovation is on your list, start with wonderful new tile or simply a new shower curtain and your paint or possibly wallpaper can fit in nicely.
5.)  And if you must choose your color palette that flows throughout your home with out all of your furniture selections complete, I do suggest hiring a professional interior designer to help make selections as perfect as possible.  There are many things to be considered when building or renovating…designers do make the processes much easier.