Taking the Indoors Out

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can say that they love to spend most of their time outdoors during the summer. Who wouldn't? Its so relaxing to curl up with a book on your patio or take a nice long walk all while enjoying the weather.

With today's economy many are opting to spend this time at home in their own setting with their own amenities. To most its more comfortable to be in their own environment.

This is part of the reason why taking the indoors out has become such a big trend right now. There is nothing more inviting than an outdoor room. Sitting outdoors in a beautiful setting, in a comfortable chair, with a drink and book....or with friends over wonderful tidbits of food and a grilled dinner... is one of the most pleasurable experiences in life.

The outdoor room consists more of than just a garden or yard. It's a cozy, inviting space that makes you want to sit and enjoy your environment. It's like taking your living room or dining room outside - in a weatherproof way, of course.

Creating this space can be very simple. Use the space that you already have. You don't need to go out and have a new deck put in to create this. In fact, you don't want your space to be too large that you loose the intimacy and comfort of an outdoor space.

After you've defined the space you want to use for your outdoor room, create a floor with pavers or brick. You could also think about adding a roof with a retractable awning or pergola. Another option is adding walls to your space. Not to enclose it in completely, but to add coziness.

After you've done all of this and you have your furniture for your space, its time to accessorize it with items such as pillows or candles. This are the things that personalize and beautify your space. It also helps to add lighting to the area so you can sit out there until all hours of the night!

I promise you will love the outdoor space you create. It is so easy to do and so worth it. Not only will you have the extra space to entertain in, but you will have the space that you can enjoy all summer long!

Outdoor Fabrics are Fashion-Forward

Many may not realize that most of the outdoor fabrics these days are bulletproof and stain, mildew and fade resistant. No wonder people are buying outdoor fabrics to upholster their indoor sofas. These fabrics are crossing the threshold to enliven and soften our interior spaces as well as our gardens.

Fabric technology has come a long way over the past decade. I'm sure everyone remembers the summer-evening ritual of collecting all the cushions and bringing them indoors. With the newest outdoor fabrics, this ritual has become a thing of the past.

The best of the new outdoor fabrics are cushy, yet water beads up, dirt washes off with a little soap and water and they're impervious to mildew. Not only do they have these wonderful and practically maintenance free qualities to them, but they come in beautiful patterns and colors.

Crossover fabrics are a big trend; they're very family friendly. Many cannot even distinguish the difference between indoor and outdoor fabrics. Which is pretty amazing for 100% solution-dyed acrylic. This type of dying locks the colors into the fabric.

So now the fun part... what are the new color trends??? Last year orange was a big hit, now you'll find more aqua, teal and other watery blues, along with sunflower yellow.

Now that you know all the facts, go out and have some fun with colors and fabrics!

Tips on Painting

For many, picking a paint color is a very difficult task. Most of my clients have problems picking a color for just one room. And many just have no idea where they want to start or what color they want to do.

The first step in picking a paint color is deciding what your inspiration is for the room. Pull a color out of something else that's going on in the room, such as a fabric or a piece of artwork.

Or maybe your inspiration is the paint color. This route is fine too. You can start with a paint color and decorate a room around it. Pick your fabrics and artwork to complete a cohesive look.

Many narrow their color choices down to two or three choices. If you can't decide which on to go with, buy a quart of each and paint a small part of your wall. You can also buy big pieces of foam board and paint those too to see what the colors look like.

The most important thing to remember when doing is this is to make sure you see what the color looks like at different points of the day. Natural light can make a color look totally different in your home. Also, make sure you see what your furniture looks like up to the paint colors.

Many do not know what sheen or gloss level to go with once they've selected their paint color. Here is a list of all the selections and what each means:

1) Flat- Matte finish, no sheen- for lower traffic areas

2) Flat Enamel- Non-reflective finish with superior durability. Ideal for interior trim and doors

3) Eggshell- Appearance of matte with a very low sheen- for medium traffic areas

4) Satin- Medium sheen, multi-purpose finish- for medium to high traffic areas

5) Semi-Gloss- Created for stain resistance and repeated washings. Good for kitchens and baths

6) High-Gloss- Stain resistant and scrubbable finish. Ideal for doors or trim

7) Ceiling Paint- Non-reflective finish that is made to go on easy without dripping

Now that you've picked out your color and the type of paint you want to go with, it is now time to move on to the next step. The next thing to do is to prepare the surface you are painting. This step is just as crucial as proper painting practices. It is essential that the surface to be painted is clean and dry.

If you have any gaps, seams or holes that need to be prepared it is best to do this before painting as well. The gaps and seams can be done with paintable acrylic caulk. You can fill the holes with spackling compound. After you finish this, you will want to prime the area.

Now you're ready to paint! Tape off the trim, cover your furniture and floor and start painting away! If you're still having issues selecting your paint, I do color consultations to help with this.