A fresh new take on interior design

I’ve been an interior designer for more than 20 years. And, during this long and wonderful career it may surprise some readers to know that I believe there is only one hard-and-fast rule of design. It is this: Surround yourself with the things you love.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? That’s not always the case.

This is because most of us approach home decorating projects with a history. Have you acquired furniture, art and accessories over time? Has the Mayflower truck followed you to new addresses and maybe even a new state? Welcome to Florida!

Written By Leanne Ritchie Special to news-press.com

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Bright and nonconventional colors bring adventure to home decor

(BPT) –

When it comes to trends in interior design, the forecast through 2014 is looking bolder, brighter and more adventurously colorful than has been seen in a while. Up-and-coming palettes are earning descriptions including “youthful,” “vibrant” and “positive,” heralding the rebounding market’s ready return to color.

Color expert and interior designer Barbara Schirmeister equates new, energized color palettes to growing economic confidence, as well as the influence of the youth market.

Written By Brandpoint

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Kate Moss Has More In Common With Home Decor Than You Think (PHOTOS)

Kate Moss has a completely unique personal style that frequently inspires us to try new looks. But what we haven’t noticed, until recently, is her flair for color. Her ensembles frequently get us thinking about new color combinations for our outfits…and interiors. When the golden goddess wore one of her favorite combos, black and white, it had us rethinking that classic duo. A little bit of gold (or bronze) with black and white is something very special.

Even better, the black and white scheme also works with other colors (like deep teal and red), making it incredibly easy to find products that fit this decor. And it also allows mix and mingle your metals in the form of all your home accessories. Click through the slideshow below inspired by Kate Moss, to prove how this color palette can work for you.

Written By Raydene Salinas

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Decorating Den Interiors launches design showcase website

Home Accents Today Staff — Home Accents Today, 7/30/2013 10:24:37 AM

Interior design and home furnishings franchise company Decorating Den Interiors is showcasing award-winning room makeovers from this year’s 29th International Dream Room Contest at decoratingden.com/showcase/2013.

The design showcase features the top three makeovers in 12 categories as judged by a panel of international home furnishings journalists.

“These makeovers were done within real budgets for real homeowners, not staged,” said Carol Donarye Bugg, ASID, DDCD, vice president for design and author of five books on interior design and decorating. “As the best of nearly 300 entries, these room designs can provide inspiring ideas for making one’s home more beautiful and inviting.”

Written By Home Accents Today Staff

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Fancy new office tower pulls out all the art stops: Yes, that’s an art car in the lobby

It took 9,000 hours over a period of seven months for eight craftsmen from two families to shape a work of art that comprises roughly 2,227,000 individual parts weighing a combined 200 pounds, with each one glued together one by one.

The completed sculpture, on view on the first floor of the new BBVA Compass Plaza on Post Oak Boulevard, speaks volumes of the cultural flavor of Houston and the values cherished by the city’s stakeholders — and the principles of the underwriters.

Written By JOEL LUKS

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Decoration Day: Interior Design for Aging in Place (Part 2)

In the first of two posts, Toronto-based home re-designer Beth Hirshfeld of Thrive By Design delved into the ways good design can support safe, independent Aging in Place. In this post, the Certified Aging in Place Specialist gets into more practical detail — the when, what and how.

Why use interior design rather than simply hire a handyman to install a grab bar, widen a door, and take on other projects as needed?

An effective design requires a comprehensive and strategic approach rather than just sporadic updates.

Written By Rachel Adelson

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A NYC Interior Designer Explains How to Work With a Design Professional

When it comes to interior design, we could use a little help. An Elvis paint-by-numbers print and a Ping-Pong table are the two best pieces we currently have in our office, along with a massive beanbag chair and four identical couches that might be futons, but nobody is really sure. With that, we feel like we’ve summed up a good percentage of American living spaces: comfortable yet confused.

The reality is that most people know what they like, whether it’s by look or by feel, but don’t know how to bring everything together in a cohesive look. Noa Santos, co-founder of NYC design firm Home Polish, wants to make sure that if you need professional interior design help, you are able to use it wisely.

“By hiring a designer,” Noa says, “people try to put a brand stamp on their space without knowing who they are as a person.” They may be attracted to a name like David Bromstad or Emily Henderson, but unless they like ultra-modern and colorful spaces with custom wall art or spaces that make use of up-cycled antiques with a bright accent color, their space won’t truly represent them.

Written By Emmalie Vance

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Homestyle: Red all over — dashing designs seek pop of color

Packed full of energy and excitement, the color red is sneaking back into vogue in interior design. For years, people shied away from this arresting color, opting instead for safe, soothing grays, tans and creams. But now folks are feeling bolder and taking bigger risks in their decorating. And as they do, red is shooting up the popularity charts.

We’re having a blast at Nell Hill’s zipping up people’s spaces with spunky shots of red. Want to join the fun and add this striking color to your decor?

The key to success when decorating with a statement color as striking as red is to pick a few key places to let it shine. Here are my top seven spots to add a pop of red in your home’s interior:

1. Paint a wall

If you want to go big with red, wash a wall in it. Depending upon the shade you select, red will send off a strong vibe that ranges from happy to angry, so pick your paint color carefully. Another word of caution: It’s easy to go too far with red, so start by using this powerful color in small doses. Before washing the entire room in red, start with just one wall and see what you think. Whether you end up painting one area or the whole room, be sure to balance your high-intensity wall color with plenty of light-colored neutrals through upholstery, art and window coverings.

Written By Mary Carol Garrity

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Ask an expert: Is an interior designer worth the investment?

“In this world of HGTV and do-it-yourself reality shows, many homeowners may have the misperception that hiring an interior designer is not valuable. And while there is a range of interior designers doing business, the benefits of hiring a skilled, recognized and certified ASID interior designer will have big dividends for the homeowner in the long run. Be on the lookout for unskilled, amateur “decorators” who lack training and certification.

Let’s go through some of the most common myths about hiring an interior designer.

Myth #1 – It’s too expensive! Unless you are decorating a college dorm room or a first apartment, you are likely creating a home you will want to occupy and enjoy for years – or even decades – to come. An interior designer can ensure that you make no mistakes when securing furniture, draperies, or wall coverings, and art. Not only can an interior designer ensure the space is well planned, but we have access to the highest quality and best value resources that are only available to trade professionals. These include showrooms in the design and market centers, custom furniture makers, drapery and upholstery workrooms, and various contractors. We will even plan your home to last through the different phases your family will see in the next five, ten or fifteen years and be able to help you envision how each room will convert to accommodate the changes.”

Written By Margaret Chambers

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6 Color Ideas We’re Tired Of Seeing In Home Design (PHOTOS)

“Choosing colors for our homes is a difficult task, don’t get us wrong. Sometimes we’re so scared to make a commitment to a hue, we end up going with a safe and, dare we say, boring combination. Other times, we may lean too heavily on trends we see in magazines or on TV that our spaces become, well, cliché. You know what we’re talking about: Those rooms that end up looking more like ads than spaces that reflect the people that live there.

Scroll through and let us know if you’d agree with the six color palettes we’re tired of seeing in design.”

Written by Shana Ecker

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