Tools For Design

The Grand Rapids Press out of Michigan recently ran an article that featured several websites that you can use to help you visualize various facets of design projects. Among them are:

www.benjaminmoore.com where you can try various shades and hues of pain on for size;

www.bhg.com that has several tools where you can enter dimensions of your room and then place design features, including furniture, areas rugs, etc. in various configurations, also where you can see various colors applied to your room or your home.

www.designmyroom.com where you can choose a room layout, add color, furniture, artwork, and other options however when I tried to use this tool it froze my computer so I'm not sure how well is works in the end.

www.purecontemporary.com on which you can lay out furniture plans but the room configurations are not quite as free form as the bhg ones.

www.baliblinds.com where you can test drive certain window coverings.

www.daltileproducts.com to check out various floor covering options.

I think my favorites are the www.bhg.com site and the www.purecontemporary.com site because they offer complete room design capabilities and seem to be pretty reliable. The others are good too if you are trying to concentrate on just one item, like window coverings or flooring, or are just looking for some good ideas. But, by now, you know I can never concentrate on one area at a time, each thing leads to the next and pretty soon I have moved from my living room mantel into my office closet. How exactly does that happen?

Interior Design Magazine

You may have noticed I have recently discovered this magazine, Interior Design. It is a little pricey but the articles and photos are fabulous.

Denser Urban Living - The New Cool

Interior Design magazine reports that as the downturn in the housing market deepens buyers dive into more densely populated areas nearer transit, businesses, and other amenities. This prevalent trend bucks what has been popular in the not too distant past. The magazine states that the current popularity in "infill sites" results in a focus on homes that are on smaller lots and positioned closer together than homes located in traditional neighborhood landscapes.

Apparently, potential buyers are making these choices based not only on living convenience but, also with resale value in mind. I guess the old adage, location, location, location never has strayed far from the top of the list of wants and needs when purchasing real property. It just depends on what the chic location is at the time you are considering your purchase.

Showering in the Rain

While on our recent visit to Mexico we lodged in a hotel where our bathroom had all the amenities of an upscale living space: stone covered flooring and walls, solid stone vanity, bowl sinks, frosted glass doors, a dual flush on the commode, a coveted, lighted, magnifying mirror, and a giant shower head that had the best rain feel.

Although the bathtub featured a sliding shower head we all elected to use the giant rain shower head. It is something that I always thought might be great when we remodel our bathroom but this experience sealed the deal. The shower head was at least 12" in diameter and it felt amazing. It was so different for us from our shower at home that when we got home our son, who is seven, came running out of the bathroom after showering and announced that there was something wrong with our shower because the water did not come out well. Upon inspection, the shower was fine it was just the beautiful memories of the gigantic rain-style shower we had all grown so fondly accustomed to.

Someday...

Christmas - The Mexican Way

We were in Mexico over Thanksgiving week and I have to say it was quite relaxing. While we were there the hotels were decorating for Christmas (which is a week long process, or more, in Mexico). Their decorations were quite creative. The hotel where we lodged used artificial Christmas trees and decorated them with ribbon, gourds or coconuts spray painted silver or sprayed with glue and sprinkled with glitter, and other natural articles. It was all so fascinating to watch and I was amazed at how fabulous things looked when they were done.

And since Mexico is a Catholic state and there is no separation of Church and state, as we traveled to the airport on Saturday after Thanksgiving, the transportation department was busily decorating the roadway medians for Christmas.

Now, if I only thought to take some photos...

Decorating for Christmas

I did it!

I successfully decorated for Christmas (well, with the the unending help of my husband and my children). I love Christmas decorations but, every year it seems like such a big deal to get them out (and an even bigger deal to put them away). I guess now that the children are older it is a little easier because they can really help.

So, last weekend we got all the decorations out and my husband, children and I worked for a few hours on Saturday and then I finished up on Sunday morning. I always struggle with the exterior entry or front porch, though, and I ended up getting some things that I'm not positive I like. Well, some I am positive I like but some I'm not sure about. And, I still have my fall wreath hanging on the door because I have not found one that I like that goes with the exterior decorations. What a conundrum!

So, maybe this weekend because I have completed my Christmas shopping, I will have time to seek out the perfect wreath. We'll see...

Oh, and I have not taken any photos yet but I will post them after I do this weekend. 'Tis the season!

Holiday Decorating

It seems like I barely got my Halloween decorations down and it's time for Christmas decorating. That is the plan for this weekend, so as soon as I get that started I will post some pictures.

In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the holiday spirit!