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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

SPEED DATING A ROOM!

   

What? Speed dating with a room? What in the world am I going to write about this time?


I have another technique to share with you. One that I use to use with some of my clients when I was trying to zero in on their design style.



I would take a stack of magazine pictures with me on the consult. Before I handed them the stack I would tell them that I wanted them to just glance at the images on each page. I wanted them to go with their immediate reaction of  LIKE or DIS-LIKE.



I did not want them to think of their existing home, or why I was there, but to truly go with their instincts here.



It was like speed dating! Fast, quick, and they had to make a decision based on their initial reaction when looking at the image. 

After we had our two piles, one for their likes, and one for their dis-likes, I would then go through them one by one, and ask pertinent questions about each image.



I think it is just as important to know what you like, and what you don’t like when deciding on what you would like to put in your home.


In my years of doing this I found that people were pretty quick at making a Dis-like pile, but the Like pile came a bit harder to them. I had to reassure them that there were no right, or wrong answers here, only their own personal taste would matter in the decisions.


In doing this exercise I would make a list  of elements that they liked, and also what they did not like.



I would ask about texture, scale, style, color, mood. Often times I would start to see a common thread appear.



I found this exercise very helpful in working with the client and also in guiding them. It also gave the client a better insight to what was truly in their hearts, not just what they thought they wanted because of the latest trend, or what they saw in a friends home.



So you see you can speed date a room!! Try it!! Take a group of pictures, and quickly make your own stack of likes, and dislikes. See what common threads are in each image.



It is fun and if you are truly being honest with yourself it is a tell all!!

I would imagine that you all can tell what I love just by looking at all the images I have in this post.



If you think about it, Pinterest is like speed dating a room. We quickly scan, and pin the rooms that we like.


If you are being honest with your pinning you will see a pattern of what you truly love. You can even tell by how you categorize your boards. Elements that you are interested in, and want in your life will most likely be on your pinboards.



As a blogger I will sometimes pin some things just for my blog that I think will interest my readers, but there will usually be a common thread, and a hint of what I like in the image.

If you go on Pinterest, try speed dating some of the rooms, even the rooms you don’t like. Pin them, and analyze what it is about those rooms that make you feel comfortable, or uncomfortable.

Now you all know how to speed date a room. You can do it with magazines, or on Pinterest. 

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Making discoveries  of what you like and dis-like while speed dating a room!
 

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Giveaway Winner Of The Spring Dress!

   

Congratulations To Kristie



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From the Blog:


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You are the winner of the Spring Shabby Apple Dress


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Please contact me with your email address!

 

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Things To Ponder On A Saturday!

   

Saturday's always seem to be a good day to do a little thinking and maybe a little experimenting around the house.

We can experiment by moving things in and out of our rooms, try a new recipe, or a new home remedy for a problem we might have in our home.

I have a  Great Idea board over on Pinterest where I keep things I would like to try because they just seem like a great idea to me.

One particular idea that I did recently was make my own Febreze. I used my first bottle, and just made my second bottle. Love it!!

Each morning I get up, pull the sheets back, open the windows, (when the weather allows), and spray my bedding. A quick spritz in the closet , then I make my way through the rest of the house!!



I have a 32 oz. spray bottle that I use, so I add 1/8 cup of fabric softener, then I dissolve 1/8 cup baking soda in hot water. Pour in the bottle after it dissolves, add softener, and fill up with water. Voila!! Your own personal fragrance of Febreze for pennies on the dollar. I like that!!



I always am looking for ways to be more green, and use what I have. I thought this was a great idea for my kiddos snack foods. I know they would love to go to the pantry, and shake out a handful to snack on! No cost remedy! These would be good to take in the car for trips also!


I love, love this idea. Take a black and white picture of each home you live in, and number them, add  the address, and you have framed a memory. Brilliant idea, and what a fun keepsake as the years pass, it will be fun to remember when….!



Use your lint brush to remove dust from your lampshades. I have been doing this for years, but just in case you don’t, it truly does work!! Try it you will like it!



I came late to the computer game so you all might already know this quick way to clean between the keys on your keyboard. It is so logical this is an idea where I said, “ Why didn’t I think of that?!”


Here is another idea that I have done before that really does work…..
 

Drop a denture cleaner tablet in a vase to clean out residue!

I have also used dishwasher rinse agent to get rid of scale inside of vases, that works really well also.



I don’t wear rubber gloves very often. I know I should, and for all you younger ladies, take care of your hands, and wear gloves!

 I regret not doing this when I had young, pretty hands. Sorry I just had to share a little wisdom from someone who has learned it the hard way with old looking hands!  

However I do wear garden gloves so this is the perfect idea! 
Place a cotton ball at the end of each finger tip, and you won’t make a hole from your sharp fingernails. I told you! Brillant!!

Spring is right around the corner, and we will all be planting pretty flowers in our pots so wear the glove with cotton balls, and add these to your pots…….


This will allow drainage, but the soil will stay in the post and not drain out the hole!! Another, why didn’t I think of that idea!!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Saturday doing whatever you feel like doing!!!

Enjoy the Process,” Of:

Trying a few new tricks around the house!

 

Friday, February 24, 2012

Do You Really Know What You Need In Your Home?


Have you ever stopped to think about the elements you love. Do you have those elements in your home?

When I was consulting one of the techniques I used  to get a better idea of what the client truly loved was to have them pull together 5-7 items that they had for more than 3-5 years that they truly loved. It could be clothing, linens, furniture, textiles, just about any thing as long as they truly loved it, and had it for more than 3-5 years years.

The reason for doing this technique is we can all talk ourselves into liking the newest trend on the block, but if it is not a true love we will tire of it within a two year period, and move onto something else. That is why I use the timeline of 3-5 years as part of the criteria.

Once the client has pulled together their items in what I like to call an informative vignette, I would then look at them, and I would study, style, texture, color and scale. This one vignette would help give me a direction on how to guide them.

This can also be a fun exercise to do for yourself just to make sure you are making choices from your heart, and not just your eyes!!

Over the years I have honed in on my decorating style and have a list of elements that I need to have in my home to make it comfortable for me.

Here is my list:

Stripes


CHECKS


BLUE AND WHITE


BLACK AND WHITE



GREEN AND WHITE


SOFT CREAM OR MAIZE


WHITE PAINTED MILLWORK



BASKETS


CUTTING BOARDS


BOTTLES


CHECK FLOORING


WOOD FLOORING


Lots of light both with lamps and natural light


REFLECTIVE SURFACES/MIRRORS


SHUTTERS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE


A TOUCH OF BLACK IN EVERY ROOM

I think this can prove to be a very important, and helpful exercise to help you really hone in  on what you should have in your home to make it your very own personal style.

When I am looking on Pinterest I often will look at a few boards of a pinner to get an idea of what they truly love.

I must admit some people are all over the map, there really is no consistency in what they are pinning.

Then there are other pinners that you can immmediately peg their style, they are very consistent.

When you look at your own boards, if you pin, do you see a consistent pattern?

I do a lot of pinning for my blog, but if you take a look at my boards I do believe you will see a pattern in what I truly love.

What elements do you KNOW that you have to have in your own homes?

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Making a vignette with your very favorite elements!!


BTW: Don’t forget today is the last day to sign up for the Spring dress giveaway. Go to the top of my sidebar and click on  the image to join in on the giveaway! Good luck to all of you who have entered!! I will be announcing the winner on Monday!