Designing with Fresh Flowers

Spring has arrived, and this means vast varieties of fresh flowers! Using fresh flowers in your home is a wonderful way of bringing the outdoors in, while adding color, fragrance and style to your home.

Simple vs. Elaborate ~ While there certainly are settings or occasions that call for elaborate displays, many times the most beautiful arrangements are the most simple in design. I recently designed this arrangement of lilacs and hydrangeas for an open house, and though it’s very simple in design, it’s still colorful and dramatic. I also find that arrangements of all one color (yet different species) can be quite stunning, and the detail of each flower becomes stronger because you’re not distracted by the various colors.

Keep it Proportionate ~ Consider the scale of the surrounding area when choosing an arrangement. Large open areas can handle a larger arrangement, whereas too small of an arrangement would become lost in the space. Also keep your arrangement proportionate to the container. Though this isn't always the case, I usually use a rule of thirds. Make the height of your arrangement twice as tall as your container (the container is 1/3 of the height, and the arrangement 2/3).

Keep them Fresh ~ This depends on the species of flower, but generally you can stretch the life of the blooms by changing the water every 2 days and giving the stems a fresh cut so they can continue to absorb water. This is a good article on preserving your cut flowers, and offers valuable tips, as well as recipes for homemade flower foods. http://www.plantea.com/cutflowers.htm

Check back weekly for more decorating and home improvement tips. Great design doesn't have to be expensive; it's how you put it together!

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Creating Curb Appeal

Did you know the front of your home can speak volumes about you? We’ve all heard how first impressions can have a lasting impact, and the overall appearance when people arrive at your home can have exactly that. The term “curb appeal” implies the overall appeal of your home when people first approach it, and here are some simple ideas to maximize that appeal.

• Landscaping ~ Are the lawn and plants trimmed and tidy? Are the planting beds free of weeds and debris? Are the sidewalks, driveway and curb areas swept clean? None of these improvements cost anything!

• Exterior Paint ~ Is the paint faded, peeling or chipping? If you can’t afford to repaint the whole house, then touch up the areas that are looking tired, especially around the front porch.

• Clutter ~ We all have it to one degree or another, so don’t try to rid yourself completely of items you may have stored around the exterior of your home. That said, keep them in the garage or behind the gates, and away from the view of the street. This also goes for unattractive autos that may be inoperative, and by all means, nothing with a tarp on it!

• Front Porch ~ Have you considered that this will be the place your visitors will linger? While they’re waiting for you to answer the door, they’re passing the time by looking around. Are there cobwebs in the corners? Are there tears in the screen door? Is the paint and hardware on your door dirty from little one’s hands? Are there flower pots with dead plants, or the remaining dirt from last year’s plant? A few flower pots or decorative accessories are very attractive and welcoming, but keep the clutter to a minimum on the front porch, especially if you don’t have much room to begin with.

Check back weekly for more decorating and home improvement tips, and until then remember ...

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Tips for Dressing a Bed

Yes, clothing for your bed! Just like we dress our bodies with clothes, we dress our beds with comforters, duvet covers, shams and pillows. Putting together a great look for your bed is not much different than putting together a great looking outfit of clothing.

Ruffles & Pillows ~ I use this term a lot, but it’s so important to remember that less is more. It’s easy to over-do-it in decorating, so keep your bedding simple. It’s fine if you like a romantic look, but don’t go overboard with the ruffles. Perhaps have a ruffled trim on your shams, but mix in some tailored trims on the other pillows. As for all the extra throw pillows? If it takes you 5 minutes to undress your bed, you probably have too many. If you’d like to see some examples, there are a few on this page of my website. http://www.inside-outdesigns.biz/8.html

Hide the Box Spring! ~ If your comforter or duvet cover doesn’t fully cover your box spring (and you don’t have a bed skirt), the easiest fix is to cover it with a fitted sheet. Select a SOLID colored sheet that best matches your duvet cover. The idea is to make it blend in with the rest of the bedding and not be noticeable that your duvet cover is too short. This is a very common problem with ready-made bedding, and you would most likely need custom bedding to avoid it. That said, if you’re only missing the mark by a few inches, then consider adding a trim to the bottom edge of your cover!

It’s Affordable! ~ Though bedding can be costly because of the multiple pieces involved, it doesn’t have to cost hundreds of dollars to outfit your bed. The discount stores have some great finds, and I think Target is always on the current edge of style. I’m a firm believer that great design doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s all how you put it together!

Check back weekly for more decorating and home improvement tips, and until then remember ...

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Disaster Preparedness ~ Two Simple Things You Can Do Now

Did you feel the earthquake this week? Each time we have one, most people can’t help but wonder “Is this the big one?”, and if it is, how bad will it be? Though earthquakes are not the only disaster that can strike, there are several things we can do to prepare for the complete loss of resources we may encounter. There are the obvious, such as food and water supplies for you and your family, but also other ways to prepare which you may not have considered.

When disaster strikes, it’s likely you’ll be in one of two places; asleep during the night or away from home during the day. Implementing these two ideas can make a large difference in how well you’re able to survive the situation.

• Under-the-Bed Bag ~ If it’s a major earthquake, there will be debris and broken glass to contend with, and being caught in your PJs and bare feet is going to make it tough to get safely through the house. Fill a duffel bag, backpack, etc. with the following items: sturdy shoes that are easily put on, heavy pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a flashlight. These are the minimum items you should have, but you could also add items such as a dust mask, or a whistle for locating each other in the dark. Prepare a bag for every member of your household and tie the bag to a leg of the bed frame with a length of rope or cord. You will easily be able to retrieve the bag and pull it up onto the bed without letting your feet touch the floor.

• Car Kit ~ If you’re away from home, chances are you may not be able to get back for a while, so consider what items you may need to keep you sustained. Have both a plastic storage bin and an empty backpack in your car. The bin should contain: sturdy clothes, a sweatshirt or jacket, a light-weight waterproof poncho, comfortable walking shoes, several bottled waters, energy bars, a flashlight, gloves, a first aid kit, and a few hundred dollars in cash (most bills smaller than $20). You could also consider adding other personal needs, such as feminine hygiene products, hand sanitizer, and a supply of any necessary medications. A battery-powered radio would also be beneficial for news updates. The backpack is on hand in case the car needs to be vacated and you’re forced to pack up some supplies and walk to your destination.

Though this blog veered away from the usual home improvement and decorating tips, it nonetheless offers information that I hope the readers will find valuable. My husband and I have many other ways in which we’ve implemented disaster preparedness in our home, and I’d be happy to share them with anyone who’s interested in learning more. You can never be too prepared!

Otherwise, check back weekly for more decorating and home improvement tips, and until then remember ...

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!