OUR BLOG
Staying Sane through a Home Remodel
Let’s face it, construction on and in your home is a major invasion of personal space and privacy. The part that really sucks is that just when you feel like yelling for everyone to go away and be quiet… we realize that not only were they invited in, but they are also being paid to make all that noise!
Greenwashing: Cushions
Did you know that most cushions are filled with petroleum products? That high-end reupholstery job may have just brought harmful toxins into the home. pe
We sleep on foam pillows, curl up and snack on foam upholstery (with plastic fabric covers to prevent stains no less). Add flame-retardant to those cushions, and we have a serious risk of cancer in our most intimate spaces.
How to infuse your travels into your home
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
- Louis Armstrong
We are in the Pacific Northwest, which is why adobe homes with palm trees and terra cotta floors feel entirely out of place. They are. That doesn’t mean that our love of Mexico cannot visit our PNW homes.
I usually recommend keeping regional with the building itself and allowing travel to come through in decor.
An Interior Designer's Mission
Breathe. Breathe in the air. Don’t be afraid to care.
-Pink Floyd.
Today, I had one of these moments as I reviewed the posts in a group that I had been encouraged to join so that I could share my BIG message in a BIG way. Sigh.. an inspirational quote followed by an ad, followed by the groundbreaking discovery that is not so groundbreaking.
I turned on my marketing brain from my schooling and put out a question to the group that went something like this,
“This is big? This is the message? How are you going to change the world with this? What is it that is so beautiful and magnificent that it drives your every being to do what you do?”
Interior Design for Resale
It is not unusual for a homeowner to reach out to a designer when looking to dress their home up for resale purposes. Sometimes, a nicer space is desired, but with a five year or less projection of living in the home. While it seems like a great idea to upgrade a home and increase its value, the truth is staging is a quick fix for the general public where design is a longterm, personalized solution. “Designed to Sell” is a bit of a misnomer because fixes for selling do not require the high-end costs of a degreed professional.
California Proposition 65
California Proposition 65 is also known as the “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986”. This proposition requires businesses to alert consumers of significant exposure to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
Y’all… it’s not worth it.
4 Ways to Warm up a Cool Space
Grey is in right now, and I am digging this trend. While grey is known as a cold color, I cannot disagree more. When I see grey, I think of cozy knit blankets, furry kittens (what?), and fuzzy mittens. Of course, if everything in my home was suddenly white or grey with no accents and cool lighting, I'd have to offer my guests a blanket or robe at the door to make them feel at ease! But, there are so many wonderful ways of warming up a grey space.
Top 4 WhitePaint Colors
First things first!! Every space is unique and will have specific needs. Every person has specific tastes. I may tell you that Oxford White looks great in an east-facing building with a lot of windows (ahem, it looks great in my office!), but a completely different space with different adjacent colors, surroundings, and furnishings may call for something else.
Now that I’ve been diligent in ensuring that we understand that a designer’s love for certain whites does not mean they are the right whites for YOUR space… here we go!
Making a Sustainability Stand
I stand up for what I believe in, and while I hear out the circumstances, I stand strong and firm for what I believe in. What does this mean for our clients? It means we are always striving to provide the best possible situation with our firm ethics holding us to refuse to bend when it comes to the quality of your project. This also means that we don’t get some jobs, and while we are bummed that not everyone out there holds as strong convictions when it comes to our health and the health of future generations, we are okay letting those jobs go because we are doing what we believe to be right and good.
When Do I Need a Permit?
We are just dipping our toes in the permitting waters, and have begun handling the permitting process when needed with the assistance of a consultant while we learn the ropes. The first thing we did when beginning to take this new part of the process on, is to visit the permitting office and discuss challenges, concerns, and frequently asked questions.
Sustainable Outdoor Textiles
I do not have a perfect solution. Maybe recycling is the best we have. But, as I understood the 3 R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Recycling was a last resort. The first was to reduce. So, if we are reducing our plastic use, should we really be mass consuming recycled plastics? Or, should we be focusing on those fantastic organisms found to eat and digest plastics, taking care of the plastic problem built up and completely eliminate the production of new plastics (yes please!).