Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Happy Holidays



design 36 is no longer affiliated with pm heating and cooling !!! New owner... new management... new exciting year ahead for design 36 !!! Thank you for your patience during our transitional phase. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for friending and following us. Happy Holidays !!! Enjoy a happy... healthy and safe New Year.  See you in 2011 !!! We will be back up and blogging on 1/1/11 !!!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Kids And Beautiful Design

child proofed living room


You can balance beautiful design and kid friendlism in your decor with these helpful tips and tricks....

Living Room Lowdown

  • Choose durable upholstery that looks better at it ages. Leather is easy to care for and never goes out of fashion.
  • Create different seating areas.Coffee-table seating is perfect for games and coloring; wide sofas are better for reading.
  • Use wipe-clean paint. Grubby hands needn’t be a bother, even on pale walls, if you use a finish, such as eggshell, then most stains can be removed from.
  • Go forwashable slipcovers -- a must for a family room and perfect when the fun spills over.

Living Room: Kids' Rules

  • We want lots of room to play, so make sure you keep all your stuff out of the way. Built-in storage units and shelves keep the floor free for us to play on.
  • The floor is for rolling on, eating on, and trying out our train track on. So get a patterned rug as it’s better for hiding crumbs and stains, and can be cleaned more easily than carpet.
Tip: Coffee tables are a great height for kids to play on, so buy one tough enough to withstand everyday knocks.
Cozy Bedroom
  • Pick machine-washable bedding.You need to be able to chuck it in the washer if breakfast gets spilt.
  • Get a bed with storage baskets as they are perfect for keeping bed linens in -- and toys, so the kids can amuse themselves while you relax.
  • Buy a separate headboard so when you want a fresh look, you can replace or repaint it without having to buy a new bed.
  • Add soft-cornered storage, such as this upholstered ottoman. The padded lid and rounded edges aren’t going to cause injury if kids bump into them.
  • Edge a plain blind with patterned fabric so when little hands grab the bottom of it, no grubby prints will show.
  • Find a clever storage unit that will hide away a home office. The computer monitor is great for watching DVDs in bed, too.

Bedroom: Kids’ Rules

  • We love to bounce on the beds, so stay clear of white bedding! Pick an easy-care finish and add a splash of color or pattern on pillowcases.
  • Best get a slightly patterned carpet. If we spill your breakfast orange juice on the floor, a plain one would show stains.
Tip: Clutter-free surfaces and round-edged furniture mean it’s safe for fun and games.
Durable Dining Room
  • Go for practical dining chairs that’ll stay pristine. Leather just needs a quick wipe down to stay looking smart.
  • Choose inexpensive curtains.With kids likely to pull or wrap themselves up in them, they’ll need replacing before long.
  • Use sleek furniture without protruding handles that children might catch themselves on.
  • Select smart flooring, such as laminate, that will withstand tricycles as well as dropped food and drink.

Dining Room: Kids’ Rules

  • If you don’t want us to play with your pretty things, keep them out of our reach on a high shelf.
  • Keep your china and glass safe in a sideboard.
  • We love to play at the table, so choose an aged-wood design, so that marks won’t stand out.
Tip: Oilcloth adds a fun touch during the daytime and protects the table from spills.




Friday, November 19, 2010

Warm Up A Room Quick and Easy





Take a cue from your wardrobe.

 Add winter textures like wool, cashmere and velvet. Try draping a wool blanket across a sofa or tucking it into the cushions for an instant slipcover. Stuff sweaters with pillows, sew up the openings (top, bottom and arms) and tie the sleeves in front. Or cover end tables with thin scarves and shawls.

Be inspired by your spice rack.

 Color can have a warming effect, so look for earthy shades like cinnamon, curry, saffron and nutmeg. Then add a fragrance to match.  If you don’t have a working fireplace, group several flickering candles in the hearth to create a warm glow.

Create rooms within rooms.

 Pull furniture away from the walls; then arrange in groupings to make intimate conversation areas within larger rooms. Use small rugs to distinguish separate rooms within a room—perfect for tea for two or curling up with good book.






Monday, November 15, 2010

design 36 store



It is finally here... the design 36 store !!! We are stocked and ready for all you holiday shoppers !!! Tell us what you think !!!  More products coming soon !!!

Stocked with candles... window panels... wall art... pillows... baskets...picture frames... plants... storage cubes ... and much... much more !!!


2 days only .... enjoy free shipping and special pricing during our grand opening event !!!







Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Sell Your Home By Way Of A Cookie

Real estate experts statistics state ... if you want to sell your home...your home should smell like baked goods. If you host an open house or any time a tour is scheduled... throw some cookies in the oven.  Have a tray of warm cookies out for potential home buyers to grab as they pass thru... what you hope to be titled their new home. Also have some cookies baking to fill the house with a sweet delicious aroma.  Nothing says buy me like the smell of a sugar high... which hopefully leads to the smell of cash in your hand.

Here are cookie recipes to get them asking... where do I sign???

No boring chocolate chip cookies here....

cherry-vanilla oatmeal cookies
Cherry Vanilla Oatmeal Cookies


Nothing humdrum here. Swap out the usual cinnamon and raisins for vanilla and cherries, and become a born-again oatmeal-cookie fanatic. Buttery, crispy, chewy -- they've got everything you could want in a cookie. Does that sound like a dare to add chocolate chips? We wouldn't stop you.
Total time: 1 hour
Yield: 4 dozen cookies
Ingredients
    3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, softened 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup white sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup flour 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (or half as much table salt) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 3 cups rolled oats 3/4 cup dried cherries 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 350 F.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until creamy. Whisk together the flour with the salt and baking soda, and add this to the butter mixture. Beat until blended, then mix in the oats, cherries, and pecans.
  3. Drop tablespoonfuls of the dough onto greased (or parchment-lined) cookie sheets, and bake 10-12 minutes, until cookies are deep golden and brown at the edges. Let baked cookies sit on sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cook.

magic peanut butter cookies
Magic Peanut Butter Cookies

Are these golden, fragrant, chewy cookies magic because they have no flour or butter in them? Or magic because of the way they disappear? You decide.
Total time: 30 minutes
Yield: 3 dozen
Ingredients
    1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky -- not natural-style) 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or half as much table salt -- more salt if your peanut butter is unsalted) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 large egg 1 teaspoon baking soda
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 350, and grease 2 baking sheets or cover them in parchment paper.
  2. With an electric mixer, beat together the peanut butter, sugars, and salt until combined well.
  3. In a small bowl lightly beat the egg and vanilla, then beat it into the peanut butter mixture with the baking soda until combined well.
  4. Roll teaspoons of dough into balls and arrange them about 1 inch apart on baking sheets; the mixture may seem oily and strange, and this is okay. Flatten the balls with the tines of a fork, making a crosshatch pattern.
  5. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time in the middle of the oven until they're puffed and golden, about 7 minutes.
  6. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to racks to cool completely.


Monday, November 8, 2010

Tis The Season

Trying to find that perfect holiday gift check out our home decor items full line to launch 11/15... or do you live in NY or NJ ??? How about the gift of home or office cleaning... do you know somebody that wants a room painted ??? Gift it this holiday season with design 36 gift certificates !!! Call us for more info or send an email ... Happy Holidays !!!


How To Make A Bed Like A Pro

Step 1

Changing the look of your bedroom can be as simple as changing your bedding. Mix and match at least three colors, and don't be afraid to mix patterns! Start with a quilted mattress cover which protects and enhances the comfort of your mattress.

Step 2

Sheets are a great thing to pick up on sale whenever you see something you like. When making the bed, pull the top sheet up high and fold it back over the blanket, coverlet, or quilt.

Step 3

Use a coverlet, quilt, or textured blanket in white, a great pattern, or color that compliments your linens. Lay it over the linens and tuck it in around the edges.

Step 4

Get out your fluffy down comforter (or down alternative if you are allergic). If you have a queen size mattress, use a king size comforter and a queen size duvet cover to create more fluff. If you have a king size mattress, buy an oversized king comforter and a king cover.

Step 5

Buy an Egyptian cotton comforter cover in a solid if your coverlet is patterned, or patterned if your coverlet is solid. Tri-fold the comforter at the base of the bed, creating a fluffy band which extends to hang over the sides.

Step 6

For a more fitted look, try a patterned coverlet.

Step 7

instead of a patterned duvet, try a solid one. White can look so clean, inviting and spa-like!

Step 8

Try placing three various sized solid and patterned decorative pillows on each side of the bed. Start large at the top, perhaps using a Euro sham, and decrease in size as you get toward the foot. A full width bolster always gives the bed a great finished look.

Step 9

For a more streamlined look, use fewer pillow and focus on one bold color.

Step 10

Your sleep pillows can be hidden behind the largest pillow at the head.

Step 11

For a more modern look, stack 2 same size queen or king pillows on each side; add a long bolster to sit in front or one decorative square in front of each stack 

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Storage Solution


No matter how many closets we have, for some reason we feel we lack storage space. Or maybe I am just a pack rat and have not come to terms with it yet. My favorite storage solution is the storage cube. Big fan !!! Cubes will be a part of the design 36 home decor line... launching 11/1/10. I have three in my living room. One for each kid to keep stuff they play with. Cuts down on toy clutter in the bedrooms, I do not see whats inside, and the bonus... they come in handy for extra seating when we need them. I think I might be a cube addict, now that I think about it. I have them everywhere. Every room in the house has them. I even put a few round ones (I know... if they are round they are not cubes) in the kitchen. They hold all those weird things you do not know where to store, or do not want to take up precious cabinet real estate storing. Perfect storage solution for all those sports bottle, travel mugs and lunch bags. They serve double duty also, the kids sit on them and keep me company when I wash dishes or cook, and we move them around to block off the stove when I am cooking from baby bubba so he doesn't get hurt, but he is still a part of the family action without being locked down in his high chair. Next time you think storage solution ... think storage cube.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Where To Shop And How To Shop For Less


Home decorating and design, does not need to be expensive. Think of working with what you have. Think of new creative ways to utilize something. Recycle... reuse... re - purpose. For example, turn a coffee table into a bench for added seating. Bored of looking at your brass chandelier from circa 1980??? Spray paint it with brushed nickel spray paint. Quick tip: Everything can be painted. I just completed a living room redo for $100. How did I achieve that so cheap??? It was easy. The sofa was in perfect condition and in a neutral beige color. The goal of the redo was to eliminate all the burgundy accents in the space and replace them with the oh so trendy... chocolate brown and eliminate all the tired brass and make it fresh with brushed nickel.. Switching out the throw pillows on the sofa made a huge impact. Painting the fire place doors from brass to brushed nickel created a much needed modern feel. New floor to ceiling window treatments that I made from a bolt of sale fabric added a little drama. Rearranging your key furniture pieces always adds a fresh feel to a space. Eliminating clutter and adding a few accessory pieces finished off the look the client wanted to achieve. They already owned a few great accessories... we just retouched them. Adding a few white candles and white flowers, added the clean fresh element they were seeking. I hit a great bargain sale out of desperation at TJ Maxx... Home Goods and Kohls. When they have sales, they have amazing sales. Never pay full price , wait for sales. Think the little man when shopping. Your local guy in your neighborhood not a world wide chain store. They will be more flexible on the price. Think online wholesalers. I will never buy a vase, fabric or candle in a store again, if it can be avoided. Online is amazing... be cautious of shipping costs. In most cases, if the shipping costs are too high, call the vendor and ask for free shipping or to work out something. Nine times out of ten, they will work with you to not lose the sale. I find many unique pieces online also.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Small Space Solutions


Is your space missing something ??? Is your space... missing space ??? A solution does exist. Do not let yourself become frustrated with lack of space. Work with the space you have. Maximize the space you have with these small space solutions.

Eliminate a few pieces of furniture and keep the key pieces. Think about your lifestyle and what you really need in your space to function. I have a small family room... comfy seating is important to me. The family room holds a TV , TV console, a two piece sectional sofa, a coffee table and that is all. Choose a few key pieces and eliminate the rest.

Keep it simple... eliminate clutter in small spaces. Stuff piled everywhere will only shrink your space more.

If you have a small space chances are your storage space is equally small. Storage ottomans or cubes are great storage solutions. They hold and hide all your stuff and serve double duty as extra seating when people come to visit. I eliminated a coffee table in a recent redo in the family room... and replaced it with 4 leather storage cubes. Practical solution for small spaces.

Arrange the furniture accordingly... work with your walls and windows... not against them. If you are transitioning from a larger house into a smaller apartment type setting. Consider changing out all your major furniture pieces for down sized or apartment sized pieces. Or consider a love - seat rather than a sofa. Look for armless chairs and sofas. They give you more flexibility and space.

Use the walls....lacking storage... think up. Install floating shelves up a wall with storage bins to hide your stuff but keep it neat and organized. Storage bins have come along way in the past few years... some look like art.

Here are a few tips from the pros...
Your Kitchen, Your Focal Point Take a look around your home at the focal points in each room to see how it balances the space. A focal point is the center of the space, the key item that the room works around. For living rooms, it could be the fireplace, for bedrooms it could be a canopy bed. For small kitchens, it's the typically the entire space. So how do you deal with this - an entire space? Look at your kitchen as one solid unit. Use either a neutral palette or one color throughout your space to keep the eye moving and for the kitchen to feel like one complete unit. One easy solution for creating this look is to make sure your backsplash pattern is uninterrupted and even the outlets fit into the design aesthetic.  Make sure they are part of the pattern or color palette and that they fit in rather than stand out and fore the eye to stop on them. Take a look around and make sure the room fits together.



Think you need more square footage? Check out these tips for making the most of what you have and you just might change your mind.
1. Enlist Rooms for Double Duty
Does your dining room sit dark and empty most nights? Do you have a formal living room that people rarely set foot in? Estimate how often you use each room in your home for its intended purpose, and turn the room that gets the least love into a multifunctional space.
2. Make the Most of "Forgotten" Spaces
If there's a wasted corner, pass-through, nook or niche in your home, turn it into something functional. Add a slim table or wall-mounted countertop to that odd little space off the living room or the bedroom, and stash a set of roll-away drawers underneath for files and mount a few shelves above for books and other supplies. Voila - instant office nook. Likewise, consider giving purpose to the spaces beneath eaves or open stairwells, between window bays, along hallways and even inside closets.
3. Get Into the Zone
Think in terms of zones. Ask yourself which activities need to happen in a room (weighing their relative importance), and then allocate an area-sometimes separate, sometimes overlapping other areas-for each activity. Say your family room will serve as TV lounge, casual dining spot, homework center and craft space (in that order of importance). Map out the room to scale on grid paper (noting windows, doorways and traffic patterns), designating a zone for each and using furniture groupings to distinguish them. Perhaps a couch and a media center will command the bulk of the space in the center of the room, with a table and a sideboard on one side for dining and homework, and a crafting counter with integrated storage tucked into the other end.
To create a feeling of separation between zones, erect visual barriers between them. Open shelving, decorative screens, carved wood panels and salvaged windows suspended from the ceiling can break up a space without totally closing it off. A long, low cabinet, a sofa or a set of chairs, or even a row of tall potted plants can create a border between spaces without blocking light or making a room feel carved up. Folding screens act as mobile partitions to hide a messy corner workspace or obscure the view of your exercise gear, and they can be folded flat and set aside when you don't need them.
4. Create Rooms Within Rooms
Use rugs to define and unite different areas of a room, anchoring a seating arrangement with a large rug and setting off an adjoining dining area with a smaller one. Color and texture can also define a dining or work area within a larger room. You might paint the wall behind your living-room work zone an energizing lime green, for instance, and keep furnishings and other surfaces smooth and glossy. In the living area, use a more restful wall tone and cushier textures to invite relaxation and to indicate a subtle shift in function.
5. Strive for Stylistic Unity
Stick to a unified vision for an entire room. A cohesive color palette, design style, wood tone or fabric can pull everything together and preserve a sense of spaciousness in a room that serves multiple functions. Look for furnishings that allow rooms to transition from one function to another: a coffee table that raises to dining height; a lidded ottoman that pulls quadruple duty as a coffee table, footrest, storage bench and extra seating; a shapely stool that also serves as a side table; a handsome secretary with a fold-down work surface for your laptop; a daybed or flip-down couch that functions as everyday seating and an occasional sleep spot; a tricked-out Murphy bed disguised as bookshelves or a desk for everyday use. Portability is important, too-put double-duty pieces on casters so you can move them around easily.
6. Think Small and Scaled-Back
Simple, modestly sized pieces leave more room for multiple zones than elaborate, oversize furnishings. Opt for a love seat with clean, modern lines coupled with a pair of compact armchairs instead of a mammoth sectional or a set of sofas with space-hogging rolled arms. Go for tables, bookshelves and other furnishings with slim, compact footprints, too. 
7. Use Your Wall Space
Stretch bookcases, cabinets and open shelving to the ceiling to supersize storage space and visually enlarge a room without cutting into its footprint. Vertical storage also helps maximize floor space, so affix slender shelves or display cubes to walls instead of using floor-hogging furniture, and don't overlook the storage potential above a door or a window, which can be a perfect spot for a substantial shelf.
8. Build in Functionality
If you're planning a kitchen remodel or are ready to spring for custom carpentry in another room, try to incorporate an integrated work surface or sleeping space into your plans. It can be something as simple as a deep shelf at table height that you can pop a laptop on and pull a chair up to, or it can be as elaborate as a built-in desk or sewing niche with drawers below and storage cabinets above. For guest quarters, a long, wide window seat with a cushy cushion can double as a sleeping nook.
9. Dress Up Utilitarian Fixtures and Furnishings
Devise clever disguises for unsightly but essential fixtures such as a water heater, utility boxes, a washer and dryer or a mountain of computer equipment. Hang a homemade art canvas in front of an electrical panel or fuse box, or use a folding screen to cordon off a utility area. Hide the washer and dryer behind a curtain or a set of bi-fold doors. Or drape decorative cloths over office equipment in a guest room when visitors come to stay.
10. Light the Way
Adequate and adaptable lighting for different activities in different areas is essential. In an all-in-one great room, for instance, the cooking, dining, work and relaxation areas should all have independent illumination in the form of overhead and accent lighting, along with task lighting where necessary. Put lights on dimmers so you have strong illumination when you need it and soft lighting when you want it. And to save space, you can install focused recessed lighting in the ceiling or add under-cabinet lights to a shelf or cupboard mounted above a work zone.
11. Don't Buy Too Small
Just as you want to avoid furniture that's massive and overstuffed, avoid furniture and accessories that are too small. Even in a tiny space, it's important to consider functionality and good looks. To make a realistic furniture plan, use masking tape on the floor to lay out the ideal size of each piece, and thenbuy.
12. Combat Clutter With Hidden or Attractive Storage
If you're lucky enough to have a closet or a pantry, invest in an organizing system that will eke every available inch out of those spaces. If you're not, spring for furniture that will house all your needed supplies in style. Coffee tables, ottoman pieces and other double-duty items offer hidden storage options. And attractive baskets, bins and cloth-covered boxes on shelves or in cubbies keep everyday supplies handy without adding visual

Saturday, October 2, 2010

COMING THIS WEEK TO DESIGN 36


This week on design36...

Small Space Solutions
Holiday Decorating
Where To Shop And How To Shop For Less
Girly Girl Room Redo
Decorating Tips And Tricks From The Pros
Get 36ed This Weeks Completed Reno

Updates on the home decor line... new portfolio pics... preview purchase and pre - launch party deals.... we are releasing three new products this week !!!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Preview Purchase



Check out our website photo gallery page... view our showroom... we have 3 items available from the home decor line for you to preview purchase... with special pricing and FREE shipping for the first 20 customers... full line will be available and our store will launch 11/1/10 !!!


Friday, September 24, 2010

In A Redo Frame Of Mind


Tonights project... I am going to move around a few things and see what happens. In a redo frame of mind. If it is a success I will post pics... if it is an epic fail... well ... we will pretend this post never happened. Have a fabulous weekend !!! Hopefully I will be posting pics later.

3 Principles Of Interior Design

A beautifully decorated interior not only functions well but it creates a mood or a feeling 
and shows off the personality of the family that lives there. It's attention to these three 
important ingredients — function, mood and personality — that ensures decorating success.
Before painting and rearranging, spend some time thinking about your family and how you live. Look through magazines for inspiration and pull out ideas or rooms that appeal to you. Gather things from around the house that make you feel good and study them carefully for color cues and perhaps a clue to the mood you're looking for in your home. This is the beginning of a well-planned and decorated living area.
As for the rest, let's start with function.


Function Decorating is more than just eye appeal — it's making a room really work for you. Here's how to do it, element by element:
  • The focal point: Sometimes rooms have natural focal points (places the eyes travel to immediately upon entering a room) — a fireplace, a bay window with a view, maybe even a built-in bookcase. If the room doesn't have a natural focal point, create one with a dynamic piece of art or a colorful area rug. 
  • The furniture: Determine whether the furniture satisfies the functions you've planned for the room. If a piece isn't working or if it's too large or too small for the size of the room, get rid of it or trade it for something else around the house that may be more appropriate. 
  • The lighting: Lighting should be selected for the functions of the room as well as for visual appeal. Every task will require either direct lighting from a lamp or indirect lights that simply brighten the room for conversation or TV-watching. Accent lighting — floor spots, track lighting or recessed spotlights — enhance texture, color and room details. 
  • The furniture arrangement: Draw your room on graph paper. Measure and mark electrical outlets and switches, vents, windows and doors. Measure your furniture and place it in your floor plan. Generally, the main furniture pieces are directed toward the focal point, keeping the major traffic patterns open. Fill in with pieces you'd like to have that may or may not be available now. Be sure to balance high and low pieces as well as heavy and light ones around the room

Mood
The mood or feeling of a room is created by your choice of colors, the style of furnishings, the amount of texture and pattern you choose and your accessories. Since there's so much to think about when creating a mood, establishing a theme through the selection of an inspiration piece can make this portion of a decorating project much more fun and interesting. Here are the factors you need to address when setting a mood:
  • The inspiration piece: The easiest way by far to decorate is to start with some source of inspiration. A decorative pillow, a favorite scarf and even a magazine photo are good places to begin. Select your inspiration piece wisely, and be sure it makes you feel good when you look at it. It's the basis for selecting your theme, colors, patterns and textures. 
    • Theme: Analyze your inspiration piece and develop a theme name for it. For instance, a needlepoint pillow with a botanical design on a black background may inspire a title like "formal botanical garden." Be descriptive with your theme name and all sorts of supporting ideas will come to mind. Botanical prints, striped walls, greens and floral colors, formal fabrics and furniture, dark woods and black accents all fit this particular theme. 
    • Color cues: Color should always support the theme. Many times, the colors that are most appropriate are found in the patterns and design of your inspiration piece. Generally, it's best to choose three colors in a room: a dominant color, used for walls, carpeting and fabric backgrounds; a secondary color, found throughout the room in fabrics and accessories; and an accent color, used sparingly to give energy and excitement to the room. 
    • Patterns: Stripes, checks, florals and plaids are just a few of the patterns to consider as you continue supporting your theme. It's all right to mix patterns as long as you do three things:
    1. Keep the background color the same. 
    2. Make sure all patterns share the same colors. 
    3. Vary the scale or sizes of the patterns.  
    • Texture: Too many smooth, shiny objects or too much nubby, rustic texture becomes tiresome. Use variety to keep the room interesting. Even a pattern can be used as texture. Many prints look dimensional and therefore add depth to a decorating scheme. 
    • Furniture: Aside from being functional, your furniture plays an important role in supporting your theme. Some pieces may function well but their style or color may stick out like a sore thumb. Try to salvage it with slipcovers, tablecloths or paint. If it's a lost cause, remove it from the room.

Personality
Here's your chance to put your personal stamp on a well-planned room. Here are some strategies:
  • Accessorizing: Pictures, vases, pillows and area rugs are all integral parts of a great decorating plan. Generally, they should support your theme, but allow more flexibility here; an antique picture frame could add wonderful variety to a contemporary room. Accessories are located on walls, mantels, furniture, tabletops and floors; they can be paintings and photos or pillows. 
  • Whimsy: This is optional in your decorating scheme, but it can counteract any sterile quality that may have been created by strictly following all the guidelines. A beautiful country sitting room may get some relief from a playful quilt placed over the fireplace.
  • The unexpected: Interest doesn't have to be whimsical; it can simply be something unexpected in a room, like a brightly-painted ceiling.

brought to you by design 101


Thursday, September 23, 2010

What's Your Style ???


Urban, retro, modern, classic, country, rustic, Mediterranean, coastal ??? Some of us... know our style... some of us... simply do not.  Some find it difficult to find the style they are and find it daunting to interpret the style of choice into interior decorating.  To figure out your style... do a little research. What types of things are you attracted too ??? What type of things draw your eye in ??? Look online... window shop... or seek out the assistance of flipping through a magazine.  Sometimes we create a certain look or style without even realizing it. Look around your space, are you surrounded by things you love? If the answer is yes ... you are happy with your style.  If the answer is no... you need to reevaluate.


What is urban style ???  Think "Big City" cities offer culture and a vibrant lifestyle. The same holds true for urban style.


What is retro style ???  Do the 60's and 70's grab your attention ??? That is retro.


What is modern style ??? Think low, sleek furnishings and shinny gleaming surfaces of some sort.


What is classic contemporary style ??? Timeless... elegance... think colors and furnishings that have stood the test of time or spin offs of those colors.


What is traditional style ??? Glossy fabrics and dark hues.


What is country style ??? Think of a beautiful quilt. A mix of fabrics... warm colors and handmade quality furnishings.

Great Room
What is rustic style ???  The casual cabin at the lake.


What is Mediterranean style ??? Here are a few words to translate this style. Allure... charm... grace... seductive.


What is coastal style ???  Laid back beachy vibe.

This style list may appear vague, but style is like beauty and is in the eyes of the beholder. What inspires you to think beachy may interpret differently to someone else. Have fun with your decorating and style. Always remember the element of surprise... the unexpected in a room.

What is your style ??? Please leave a comment...

Monday, September 20, 2010

Ebay

Anybody getting married ??? Check out the "cancelled wedding" e bay store... only available for 72 hours before it becomes exclusively design 36 !!!
http://stores.ebay.com/design-36

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Updates



visit our shop design 36 page... portfolio page and home decor line page for updates and new pics...


i think i worked out the issues with the blog... please let us know if you notice a lag.

thanks for following design 36 !!!

visit our website www.design36.biz 

like us... friend us... follow us... tweet us...


Apologies

The blog launched yesterday and we are experiencing a few small issues with it, that need to be worked out. Such as the "crazy font issue" it's loading a little slowish and a few minor other issues.Thank you for your patience as we resolve these issues.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Color Psychology




Color accounts for sixty percent of the reason we are attracted to an item.  Color psychology... the effects of color determine our mood... our state of mind... how we socialize our physical well being and psychological well being. It is amazing to think that the colors on our walls and the colors in our world... make such an impact on everything.  We respond to color ... in our homes... in our office... in our wardrobe. When we make the decision to experiment with color in our homes, where do we begin... how do we begin the process of color selection ?


Start small ... if you are beginning with color experimentation, start in a small space... such as a hall way or half bath... or choose an accent wall.  Start with an inspiration and a sense of adventure. Inspiration is everywhere...if you have a pillow you love... rug... dish... artwork... a furniture piece... or anything that has a color in it that you are drawn too and love... use that color. 


Think about your mood... what mood do you want that room to portray? A bedroom would be restful, a family room may be more lively, a kitchen or dinning room, you may want to touch the senses of food and drink. Stimulating... quiet... social... warm. Warmer contrasting brighter colors give a sense of socialization.  Deeper blues greens and neutrals give more of a sense of formality.  Be very cautious with kids bedrooms. It is very easy to over stimulate them and create a space that causes irritability and over excitement with bold bright colors. If rest and relaxation is what your little ones need... tone the color down.


Pay attention to lighting... natural day light shows the truest color. Incandescent lighting brings out warm tones and yellows. Fluorescent lighting casts a blue hue. Let your lighting guide you or change your lighting. 


Learn the color terms... hue is what we call a color... red hue... blue hue... yellow hue.  The value of the hue is how light or dark the hue is. Saturation refers to how dominate the hue is. As red goes to pink the dominant hue becomes less.  intensity is the brilliance of the color.  If you want to achieve a more active space consider introducing more intense color.  


Test that color choice... do not be afraid... boost your confidence by testing colors on a poster board or a 2' X 2' section of the wall. Don't be afraid to go beyond your color comfort zone. Consider strong vivid colors or soft deep neutrals... like chocolate brown or olive green as main colors or accent colors.  Add drama with a stronger color on the ceiling.


Add depth with decorative finishes... transform flat dull walls into interesting spaces with dramatic visual textures. Layered color glazes add depth.


Walk into another room... can you see a piece of a room from the room you are painting ? Make sure the colors flow together. You should be able to take an item from one room and place it into the next and everything flows together. 


Follow the color wheel... all the colors on the left are warm and the colors on the right are cool. 



Monochromatic schemes...Think one color is boring? Create bold or subtle variations within one color group with contrasting paint finishes. For example, use closely related colors, or try a single color in different finishes, for walls and trim in one space.
For an accent color, select a warmer (more toward reds) or cooler (more toward blues) color to complement your main color group. For a quieter ambience, make sure your colors are not extremely bright. White or an off-white tint can be a striking accent when used as trim with a monochromatic color group.
Choose different paint finishes... a single color used on walls and trim takes on new significance when applied in different finishes. For example, wall and trim colors can remain the same hue, but use an eggshell (matte and less reflective) finish on walls and a satin or semigloss on trim. The color will appear slightly different on each surface. It's a good way to create a cohesive look in rooms with many windows and doors, and relatively little wall area.