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.

The First Frost...Ugh

Today's to do list... we are going summer to fall around here. I strongly dislike the idea as a summer lover, but the fact remains fall is here... so I better get prepared.
Here are a few helpful tips from www.hgtv.com to prepare your outdoor space for the colder climate ahead. 
Once autumn begins, it's a good time to start thinking about frosts and freezes and the effect they can have on your plants. Most garden plants, assuming they're hardy in your area, will weather the winter without any problem. An abrupt, early freeze may cause them to drop their leaves prematurely or cause some tissue damage, but most will rebound next spring.
However, there are exceptions. Use the following tips to ensure that your garden is ready when the frost bites.
  • Bring tender plants indoors. Depending on where you live, some plants may behave as either annuals or perennials that simply can't handle even a light frost. Many people don't bother trying to extend the life of plants generally not meant to last more than a year and let them die back after a freeze hits.
    However, if you grow tender annuals and perennials in pots and want to save them, move the pots into the garage or house when frost threatens and take them back out when the weather warms a bit, at least for a week or two. This process allows the plant acclimate better to a drastic change in growing conditions.
    Tropicals can go in the house or garage before temperatures drop below 45 degrees F. Before bringing them inside, spray any plants that appear to have pests, such as spider mites, aphids and mealy bugs. A solution containing neem oil works well for treating these pests. Once the plants are inside, cut back on watering and withhold applying any fertilizer until next spring.
    Don't forget to prepare your house for the new arrivals. There's nothing worse than watching the evening weather, only to discover that a freeze is on the way, and realize that you don't have any room for your plants.

  • Protect the roots of potted plants by placing them next to a wall and burying the pots in mulch.
  • Protect evergreens. Evergreens in pots can be especially vulnerable. If their roots freeze, they may not make it through the winter. Those in large pots may be fine during mild winters, but evergreens in small pots should be protected. Place them against a wall and cover the pots with mulch or shredded leaves. Keep them watered throughout the winter. Don't allow the root balls of evergreens in the garden dry out completely, even if it means dragging the hose out in the middle of winter and giving them a thorough soaking.

  • Cover tender seedlings in the vegetable garden. Fall veggies, especially tender seedlings, may need protection, although most can survive temperatures of around 28 degrees F with little or no tissue damage. Nevertheless, when the forecast calls for temperatures in that range, keep a few blankets handy to cover crops overnight.
    During the day, if temperatures rise above freezing, remove the blankets so that excessive heat doesn't accumulate beneath the coverings. Some people use clear plastic to protect their plants. Plastic causes more accumulation of heat, which is good, but if you don't take the plastic off before direct sun hits it the next day, your plants will cook.

  • Grow hardy selections of culinary herbs during the winter months. Most culinary herbs are fairly tender but can survive temperatures in the upper 20s. However, some herbs, such as rosemary and thyme, can overwinter in their pots outdoors.

  • Tender new plant growth may die back during a hard freeze.
  • Watch out for new plant growth. Interestingly, some plants may actually start to put on new growth in response to cooler temperatures, especially if summer temps were really hot. But that new growth is tender, especially in the case of broadleaf and needled evergreens, and unless it has a chance to harden off before a freeze, it may die back.

  • Resist cutting back ornamental grasses. If you grow ornamental grasses, resist the temptation to cut the foliage back until late winter or early spring because all that top growth helps insulate the root ball. That's especially true if the grass is only marginally hardy in your area.
    Keep in mind that freezes don't just affect plants. They can wreak havoc on other features in your garden as well.

  • Clean out and store pots in a protected area. Even the best pots can crack if the soil is left in them over the winter, so remember to remove the soil. If you have time and are so inclined, scrub the pots clean with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water.

  • Store watering cans in a protected area. Watering cans, especially galvanized cans, may expand and crack if water left in them freezes. Empty watering cans and place them where they can't collect rainwater.

  • Winterize water features. Water features are of particular concern during the winter. Small features will freeze, despite the running water produced by the fountain, and that can ruin the pump and the pot. So make sure you drain them and store the pot and pump in the garage or garden shed. Depending on where you live, larger water features and ponds may freeze over somewhat, but if they are deep enough or have a waterfall rapid and large enough, they shouldn't freeze solid. Consult a pond installation expert on how to properly winterize your water feature.

  • Prepare fish for the winter. Koi enter a state of suspended animation during the winter and survive the cold water with no problem. Cut back on feeding the koi because the more they eat, the more waste they produce. In cold water the bacteria that breaks down that waste doesn't work well. So to maintain water quality, limit feeding to those occasional warm spells that may occur in the winter.
    Generally speaking, winter frosts and freezes don't cause nearly as many problems in the garden as late-spring freezes, when plants are busting out all over with tender new growth. So don't panic this winter when the mercury takes a dive. Just do what you've got to do, then go inside and warm up by the fire

  • Friday, September 17, 2010

    Thursday, September 16, 2010

    Welcome

    welcome to design 36... we are under construction and in middle of building... for our launch on Saturday 9/18/10. stop back and visit us...