May Flowers and Spring Entertaining

Posted on May 16, 2013 by admin

Now that spring is here, it is the perfect time to consider freshening up your interior with the new grayed floral colors that are easy to incorporate with your current furnishings.

The 2013 fashion color palette by Pantone shows that “grayed” floral colors are hot. You can incorporate the colors from your garden inside your home to connect the spaces visually.

If you are hosting parties for graduates, or planning to entertain frequently you can easily use your interior colors to unify your inside and outside spaces.

Today’s exterior fabrics, rugs and furniture look as if they could be used inside your home and can extend the feeling of comfort to your outdoor living area. Pictures below is part of the Martha Steward Living Outdoor through Home Decorators Collection.

If your interior space is sleep and sophisticated, or rustic and relaxed, you want to stay consistent with that style for your furnishings and fixtures.

Here is a bathroom remodel we completed, showing the before, during and after.

BEFORE DURING AFTER

Options for Calls to Action:

Send us your outside space “before” photo to be entered in a drawing.
You’ll receive a two hour “Father’s Day” consultation valued at $400.00. Deadline is June 10th.
We’ll post the three finalists in the next newsletter (or on Facebook) and then you and your friends and family can vote on the room that will receive the consultation.

Don’t forget to share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. Forward our newsletter to your friends and neighbors, and when they become a client, you will receive a $25 gift certificate to the restaurant or spa.

We always appreciate your generous referrals.

Happy Spring!

Maura Braun
773-234-6515
info@mydesigneronline.com

Time for a Spring Makeover

Posted on May 9, 2013 by admin

It’s Spring! Is it time to spruce up your home, and do more than simple “spring cleaning?” Is there a room in your house that you hate to enter? A space that just doesn’t fit with your current design style? Are you embarrassed to have people over to your drab home?

It might be time to do more than simple spring cleaning. Updating a room in your house could be the perfect solution to the end-of-winter blahs, making you feel happier and more energized during the spring and summer months … and beyond.

Imagine getting the room of your dreams with no mistakes, no wasted time and no wasted money. Imagine avoiding the purchase of items that just “don’t work” in the space as you thought they would. Imagine working with a top-tier interior designer without having to meet in person each week … and at a fraction of the cost the designer normally charges

An online interior design service like MyDesignerOnline.com could be your best and most economical option. You will be in control, and will do almost everything from the convenience of your computer keyboard. After an optional first meeting, you can upload a video of the room through a video-sharing site like Krowds, and meet via Skype or phone as needed. The designer will provide you with a complete room plan with color and material options, and advice about where to purchase the items online, often at discounted prices. Once you have agreed to the design plan and purchase the items, you will be able to follow the plan and put the room together, giving you the sense of pride and achievement that comes with doing it yourself. You might even decide to host that Memorial Day party you have been thinking about.

Online design service like MyDesignerOnline.com works with you to help you realize your unique style – on your timeline, within your budget. Just decide on the room you want to start with, the style you like, the colors you prefer, and fill out a simple questionnaire. You will be on your way to your perfect space

Interior Design Options for Busy People

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Maura Braun

While this quote from Steve Jobs may have had a slightly different meaning in this article’s context, it is worth remembering that we all have busy lives, filled with things we must get done, often leaving little time for those things that would bring us joy and comfort, like spending time with family, reading a good book, or just relaxing at home, enjoying the ambience.

However, for many of us, our homes are not the peaceful and beautiful oases that we might wish for. But who has the time or money for a sweeping interior design makeover?

The good news is that advances in technology have given rise to internet-based services that fit the time and budget constraints of almost any homeowner in even the most rural areas.

For those who desire a D.I.Y. option, Design Coaching may be the best solution. This option provides one-on-one weekly meetings (virtual via phone, Skype or in person) to help keep the design project moving forward. Although homeowners shop and source their new treasures, decisions on materials, furnishings and accessories can be discussed in the weekly sessions, often avoiding costly and time-consuming mistakes.

For those who want a more traditional interior design service, the design construction option may work. This type of service offers a custom-designed solution. Detailed drawings and specifications, coupled with a dependable team of trade resources and furniture and accessory outlets are provided to assure proper execution of the plan. Online services provide 24/7 accessibility to the design plans, offering a flexible timeline for completion.

For busy homeowners, the message is, “Your time is limited,” and should not be wasted trying to accomplish the projects that can be done better and more quickly by a professional. Interior designers understand what makes good design. They are aware of the materials, furniture and accessories available – and where to find them. They can interview a homeowner to discover both the style and function needed in each situation – and then deliver the perfect plan.

How To Love Tax Time Blues

Posted on April 16, 2013 by admin

Now that your taxes are done, you can leave the tax time blues behind you and think about incorporating one of the most soothing colors into your home’s palette.
This year’s colors from Benjamin Moore are soothing and almost neutral because they either mixed white and black to create a grayed blue, or a hint of black to create the steely blues.

We’re still seeing the sky and robin’s egg blues in the palette, and depending on the type of room you’re thinking of redecorating, you can use these new tints as a perfect backdrop for artwork, an anchor for oriental or even Tibetan rugs.

Using grayed blues in your master suite can create a restful retreat and a perfect backdrop if you want to change the bed linens by season so your room is always fresh. The master bath can also incorporate these soft and cool neutrals with a counterpoint of neutral. This gives your space an homage to the blend of sky and sand colors.

Use art to add visual interest to the space, and incorporate the vibrant colors. This of your artwork as the tool you use to change the look of your space once or twice a year. It’s a low cost way to create visual interest especially if you travel frequently and want visual reminders of vacation days with your family.

Avoid artwork created on paper products in small and unventilated bathrooms. An oil painting can create a dramatic focal point over a vessel tub if your room does not have windows over the tub.

Also don’t forget that lighting is one of the most important elements in every space in your home. Lighting accentuates your artwork, creates moods, and provides essential task lighting for makeup, homework, cooking and other activities that require visual acuity.

If you need help choosing the perfect palette of furnishings and paint colors for your home, or accessorizing with the new blues contact me at info@mydesigneronline.com , by May 15th to schedule a Tax Time Blues color consultation for $200.00

Options for Calls to Action – this one is worth repeating…
If you’re ready to “Do It Yourself With Help,” be sure to email me to find out about our design coaching program. If you love the idea of being your own designer and need advice from a professional to avoid making costly mistakes, we review your selections and help you create a design solution that incorporates your vision.

Send us your before photo to be entered in a drawing for free 2 hour consultation.

You’ll receive a two hour “Refresh My Space” consultation valued at $400.00.

Deadline is May 18th. We’ll post the three finalist on facebook and then you and your friends and family can vote on the room that will receive the 120 minute mini-makeover design consultation.

Don’t forget to share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. Forward our newsletter to your friends and neighbors and be entered in a drawing for a SPA Gift card valued at $25.00. We’ll select a winner on May 18th.

We always appreciate your generous referrals.

Happy Spring!

Maura Braun
(773) 234-6515
info@mydesigneronline.com

A Japanese Tea Garden in the Heart of Chicago

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Maura Braun

After our Midwestern winter with March snows and April showers, many of us are looking forward to spending time outdoors. And what better way to do it than in a professionally designed garden “living room.”

I recently designed a garden oasis for clients, who wanted an Asian retreat. The garden is located in the heart of the city – the Chicago Gold Coast. It is relatively small, approximately 15′x25′. Using some of the accents from a Japanese garden I did many years ago, and supplementing with new items, I was able to give the couple a calm retreat to have morning coffee or afternoon tea!

The garden was recently highlighted as HGTV’s “Pic of the Week,” and featured in Fine Gardening as their “Garden Pic of the Day.”

As the homeowners explained it: “We were inspired by our visits to gardens in Kyoto, Japan. We hired a landscape architect and with his expertise and our love of Kyoto gardens, we created our own Asian tea garden. We used bamboo for two purposes: for a wall feature and for supporting climbing hydrangeas and sweet autumn clematis. We also incorporated a Japanese maple, Japanese sedge, hostas, and a Hinoki false cypress.”

As the interior designer, I created the “room” within the garden. Using items from local stores helped me stay within budget without compromising the oriental “feel” of the garden room. Some of the items used in the room were: Japanese sandals from Toguri Mercantile (Belmont, Chicago). Moss on Madison in Forest park supplied the hanging wire mesh lantern with candle and moss covered branches. Todd & Holland Tea Merchant provided green leaves, loose tea on green leaves, tea cups and plates. The tray, placemats, napkins and chair pillows came from Bed, Bath and Beyond. The red tea pot and table cloth pattern were from China Town in Chicago. The final touch was to use chopsticks given to me by a friend who had lived in Japan.

The Garden project was featured in the Dearborn Garden Walk’s Designer Vignette in July 2012. I have been asked to participate in this fundraising event this in 2013 and am looking forward to designing another delightful space.

Spring Trends – Home Decorating in 2013

Posted on March 29, 2013 by admin

It’s hard to believe that we are three months into 2013. But here we are … Spring!

While the recent snow storms in the Midwest have distracted us, the weather is certainly changing, and the birds and buds have not been fooled by our early Spring storms.

If you have filed your income taxes and begun putting away the winter clothes, it may be time to turn your attention to your home. Here are some of the ideas trending in the Interior Design World for 2013.

Color: Open a decorating magazine and you will be met with bright, bold hues. The Pantone color of the year is Emerald. Many designers feel that this jewel-toned color should be used as an accent. Possibly with the paint color of the year for 2013, Aloe. This calming shade of green seems to evoke a sense of peace and tranquility, but can add a fresh flair to almost any room and style.

Decorating - scaled down, using the calm hues of light green

A simple bathroom featuring the paint (and tile) color of the year.

Style: While economic indicators are looking optimistic, homeowners have not forgotten the hard times of the past few years. Popular decorating styles vary widely from contemporary to traditional, but a more minimalist, scaled-down look with a relaxed vibe seems to be the trend today.

Aging: Face it. We are living in the age of the Baby Boomer, and accessible design that allows aging Americans to live comfortably and safely in their existing homes is becoming a key issue. Pairing accessible design with style will be the challenge for interior designers over the next several years. Safety features such as decorative, but functional handrails in bathrooms, better lighting in hallways and stairways, and other even more ambitious remodeling projects will be needed to make homes comfortable, accessible and safe. The older American today will not be satisfied with less than ideal surroundings.

Finally, as our economy recovers, the attitude towards interior decorating is changing from “how can I save money,” into a “what are my best options for making my home as beautiful and comfortable as possible.” As an interior designer, I am delighted to welcome Spring 2013.

Hiring an Interior Designer saves Time and Money

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Maura Braun

Interior designers give you ideas about the best materials for your project

Most of us know a well-designed room when we see it. We know what we like – the colors, fabrics and furniture styles that “speak” to us. But translating our ideas into reality may be quite a different thing.

When designing any room, there are many things that have to be considered. How will the room be used? How active is your family? Do you have pets? How much “natural” light does the space get? How is the room oriented? For example, if you use your family room in the afternoon and it faces west, will you need room darkening shades or drapes?

These are only a few of the things that need to be addressed to ensure that the space will be both functional and beautiful. Many homeowners start with a color, a treasured accessory or a piece of furniture and try to design a room around that element – sometimes with unexpected or even disastrous results.

Using a professional interior designer may save you time and money in the long run – while delivering a room that exceeds anything you could have come up with on your own.

Today, interior designers are seeking new ways to interact with clients in order to provide the level of service each client wants. New online technologies, online furniture and accessory outlets, and the availability of online furniture, fixture and accessory outlets have all contributed to new ways clients can interact with designers.

Traditional, full-service designers act as the “general contractors” for the project, they oversee all aspects of the room design, including purchasing the elements for the room, hiring and overseeing any tradespeople or subcontractors needed and pulling the entire room together.

However, today many homeowners want to take a more “hands-on” approach. A design coach can help clients make wise investments in furnishings and finishes, preventing costly mistakes. Perfect for design-savvy home enthusiasts, a coach provides one-on-one advice and guidance, often on a weekly basis. Retaining a Design Coach helps manage a complex project, saving time, money and stress.

Another recent addition to the world of interior design is the Online Designer, who works with clients remotely – by computer and Skype – to provide a master plan. The plan includes drawings of furniture layouts and space plans along with 3-D renderings of the space to show colors and how the completed room will look. They provide detailed product specifications with online links and purchasing suggestions. They may also provide a complete budget so that there are no surprises. Clients can then take the plan and complete the space as a D.I.Y project.

The bottom line is that getting some expert advice along the way can help any homeowner achieve the results they are looking for within the budget they choose.

The Connection Between 2013 Color Trends & St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 11, 2013 by admin

The Color Marketing Group, an international association of color design professionals, sets the color palettes for products months in advance of the current season.

This year, emerald green is the “hot color” for everything from fashion to home furnishings.

If you enjoy incorporating the latest fashion trends in your home, your home can become dated in less than a year. The best practice is to provide a neutral “base” of furnishings and add accessories that can be changed with the season. For example, you can add pillows, lamps and accessories with the colors and patterns that provide a fresh punch of color to your calm interior.

You can change the look of your interior for less than $1,000, when you begin with a well-designed space plan and timeless furnishings that are durable and built with quality features like 8-way hand-tied springs, spring-down cushions and high quality fabrics.

One of the biggest mistakes I see Do-It-Yourself home enthusiasts make is purchasing furnishings that are inexpensive and may be upholstered with fabrics that aren’t meant for daily use by busy families with kids and pets.

Fabrics from “To the Trade” vendors (sold through interior designers) like Donghia often include the “double rubs” (which is the equivalent of how many times someone sits on a sofa) to indicate whether the fabric is appropriate for the intended use. If a sofa is upholstered with a light-use fabric, it is possible that the fabric can degrade well before you are ready to invest in reupholstering or purchasing a new one.

It is always a good idea to invest in quality construction because it will look better longer. A downside of inferior construction is that the cushioning can “bottom out” (get packed down) and lose its feeling of comfort. Then you can set aside a modest budget to freshen up the palette with fashion-forward color bursts that give your interior a new look.

If you are not fond of emerald green, but want a fresh option for your home, here are softer greens in the selection of the leather for the armchairs and the chenille used on the sofa.

Should I hire an Interior Design Coach for my project?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by admin

Why hiring a Design Coach is a good idea…

The downsizing of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago illustrates the changing trends in the interior design world. Today, Internet markets offer furniture, accessories, fixtures and building materials from all over the world, giving the online consumer access to the same items once only available to interior designers.

But that doesn’t make everyone an interior designer.

An Interior Design Coach can step in to do the heavy lifting when it comes to a D.I.Y. Design project.

Interior design is about choosing the right combination of products that will enhance the look of a room. It takes into consideration the size and shape of the space, the orientation of the space and the natural light that comes into the space. The design must also fit with the lifestyle of the family, how the room is to be used, and what mood or ambience the room should convey.

For many homeowners, one of the biggest issues they face is the overwhelming number of choices they have – from what color to paint, to what size furniture to use, to knowing when to start a project and, possibly more importantly, when to stop. They may also need help integrating a favorite piece into the new design or figuring out how to make an item they have fallen in love with fit the space and look like it belongs.

An interior design coach can save people money by showing them where to spend the “big bucks” and where to look for budget friendly items. An interior design coach can help people crystalize their thinking and focus on what they want from a room redesign or remodel, and can help people understand the fundamentals of design and navigate through the confusing array of styles, colors and other choices available to them.

Good design is about selecting focal points, downplaying negative aspects of a space while enhancing the positive aspects. It is about creating functional spaces that are also beautiful with a sense of style that will make homeowners and visitors alike say “WOW!” when they walk into the space.

An Interior Design Coach can do all of that and more.

Remodel your bathroom with a green toilet?

Posted on February 27, 2013 by admin

Okay, your bathroom remodel may not include the color green, but having a low water consumption toilet may be a good option. Toilets tend to use more water than any other fixture in your home. In fact, about 30% of your water is probably used for flushing. While fixing leaks might help, if your toilet was installed before 1992, it may be time to consider a new one. (1992 was the year that water-conserving toilets became mandatory.)

Choosing a new toilet may seem to be an easy decision, but there are actually many options to consider. While one-piece toilets may look sleek, they are often quite a bit more expensive. The standard toilet height is 14-15 inches, but the 16-17 inch models may be more comfortable, and are particularly helpful for physically challenged individuals. Wall-mounted toilets save space and make it easier to clean underneath, but they may require a thicker wall for mounting, and may be significantly more expensive.

Then there is the decision about appropriate flushing. Which standard flushing system is best? The pressure-assisted system reduces the chance for clogs but is noisy, expensive and may require high maintenance. The gravity-flush system is quieter and requires less maintenance.

A further cost-cutting measure when considering a new toilet would be to use a dual flush system. These have two flush volumes – one for liquids and another for solids. And the amount of water used in flushing may be the most important decision of all. According to the EPA, “recent advancements have allowed toilets to use 1.28 gallons per flush or less while still providing equal or superior performance. This is 20 percent less water than the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush.” Toilets with the WaterSense label are recommended, as they are independently certified to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency.

Replacing old toilets with the more efficient WaterSense models could save more than $2,200 over the lifetime of the toilet. In fact, if all of the older toilets in the US were replaced, it would save 520 billion gallons of water per year – the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in about 12 days.