on decorating & other creative endeavors

Refinish, Refurbish, Repurpose, Renew!

2012-02-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

I had to chuckle as I started to write today's blogpost at the number of words we have in our vocabulary that describe making something better, or like new or useful again. Of course it all started with reduce, reuse, recycle. Now we are on a mission to be 'green', kinder to the earth and more appreciative of the things we have. Our parents generation used to fix things and make them last, then we adopted a disposable mindset, quickly overloading landfills and in general, being wasteful. Luckily we're REturning to the idea that we should make it last. As Martha Stewart says, "It's a good thing".

So in the spirit of springtime and making the best of what you already have, the essence of Creative Decor's Interior Redecorating business, let's look at some ways we can acheive a new look or use for otherwise abandoned items. They might be found in grandma's attic, Dad's garage or your local flea market, but 'salvaged' items are in! REfurbished, the old looks new again and is just as functional and now prized as being a vintage item.

Furniture is most often REfurbished (as with these retro metal chairs). A little sanding, stripping and paint or stain and varnish will REfinish most pieces and give them a new look and a REnewed life.

The salvage business is doing well as things like architectual doors, shutters, mantels, corbels, light fixtures, doorknobs and hardware are in great demand. Collectors, restauranteurs, builders and nostalgic folks like me have a great apprecitation for the craftsmanship of bygone eras and want to see it preserved. Antiques have been collectables for decades and I, for one, am glad there are people who can REstore aged treasures to their former glory.

Some things can simply be REpurposed, giving a different use to items that might not be quite as useful in their original form. These old suitcases are a perfect example. They are colorful and piled together, make a whimsical yet useful side table in this casual setting. I bet they are great for storage too! I use my grandmother's old enamel top kitchen table in my arts & crafts room. Not only is it useful, but it's a REminder of the many years I spent with grandmom & cioci at that table. A part of them is still with me. Old trunks are REused as coffee tables, weathered windows are REcreated into picture frames, even Ball jars are REcycled into REally (got carried away) cool light fixtures! (just search on Etsy).

Next time, before you give that old box of vinyl albums in the basement the heave ho, REmember, "one man's trash is another man's treasure"! Find a local auction house or junk dealer, or donate to the church rummage sale, but don't throw it away. It just might be REnewable!
Now, don't you feel REsponsible?!

Earthly Treasures

2012-02-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

I read an article recently by a daughter who was reflecting on the time she spent helping her elderly mother pack up unused items in her house. She was preparing for a move to a senior retirement community and would have limited space. The inevitable had come and they both recognized that years of accumulated stuff simply had to go. It was easy enough to discard certain things, but neither of them was prepared for the emotional impact of the items that held special memories. Everything from furniture to the Christmas serving platter, greeting cards, photos and children's artwork to the clock in the hall brought back stories of how it was acquired, who gave it, who made it, when they got it, where they were living, who used it or why in the world they ever bought it. What started out as a few day "cleaning, organizing and getting ready for moving day" activity turned into a week long trip down memory lane. A trip that daughter will cherish always.

It reminded me of the time my family had to clean out my beloved grandmother's house after she and her sister, my "cioci", had both passed on. It was summer, it was hot, I lived 30 minutes away, I had a new baby and two busy little girls, a full time job and not a lot of time. Not the best circumstances. Months earlier my aunt had gone through the house and taken or sold things just to make a dent in what was a house full of a lifetime of stuff. She meant well, but never asked what anyone might want before it was gone. Luckily for me, I had always expressed an interest in the carved teakwood sofa and chair in my Grandmother's 'parlor'. Even as a little girl I loved that green velvet sofa (hmmm, maybe a career in decorating was in the making). A wealthy friend of my grandmother had given it to her when she moved from her estate in mainline Philadelphia. But there was so much more I would have loved to keep. Fortunately I had acquired many things from grandmom and cioci's attic over the years including their foot pedaled Singer sewing machine and stylish net hats (that are now considered 'vintage'). I was never afraid to ask. They knew I loved them and would treasure whatever they gave me. And I do, all these years later, even more so.

If you have aging parents - as many of us baby boomers do - prepare ahead. Talk to them about their stuff. Ask what they'd like to take in a move or if there is anything they would like you, your siblings, grandchildren or anyone else to have. I'm not suggesting picking over their household items, but rather showing concern that their home's content is cared for and their wishes carried out whenever that time should come. Include family, especially if you know the goal is to downsize and move. Or if you, yourself are looking ahead to this time of your life, the advice is the same. This way you have a plan, you can document what goes where and to whom. Find out where things can be sold or donated. Sometimes bringing in a neutral professional can help. You may not live in close proximity or just feel overwhelmed. The Interior Redecorators Network has a service we call Transitions for such circumstances. We are experts at repurposing furniture, creating a whole new look with what you already have and designing a plan. There's a beautiful apartment which could be pulled together with items from that 3 story house and Creative Decor can help!
In the meantime, hold on to those memories, and celebrate your true earthly treasures.

Sherwin Williams Colormix 2012

2012-01-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy New Year!

Decorators know that one of the most impactful and least expensive ways to freshen up or change the look of a room is through paint. And those of us in the business look forward to the annual introduction of colors from the major vendors. It's like being a kid in a candy store receiving the deck of what's new and exciting for the upcoming year.

I recently sat in on Sherwin Williams' Colormix 2012 web presentation. It's interesting to note that extensive research goes into these selections. Closely tied to the fashion industry, home goods and related industries all follow the latest trends, which are in turn reflective of the cultural influences around the world. So it's no surprise that the focus on 'green' (not the color but the concept), and the earth are cues for the hues in 2012!
Let's dive in, shall we? This year blues are reflective of water, workwear and wode (the egyptian dye of kings made from the wode plant). Denim is making a big comeback. Blue color direction: sky, carribean, soulful, stormy, stately and electric. You will see shades from navy to powder, marine to blue violet. Blue will be seen in fashion, consumer electronics and dinnerware.

Lush and Leafy are the green (this time, the color not the concept) color cues this year. From sea to forest, the greens will be less 'yellowed' and more organic. Reflecting earthy matters from underwater and aquatic to the aurora borealis, greens this year will be: leafy,grayed, restful, earthy and vivacious.

From fabric to hair color, reds will be soft to intense, flowers to flames. Heart shapes and middle eastern influences reflecting energy and life - look for pretty peach to vibrant pinks and fiery orange reds.

Raw organic and warm grays influenced by birch bark, wicker, stone and sand will be the neutrals this year. Including the gold tones of grain to mustard. Anything reflective of earth and nature.

Take a look around and see if you spy these colors on clothing racks and home accessories. Somewhere in this 2012 pallette you just might find the right choice for your family room!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2011-12-07T11:01:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year that we turn our attention to family and friends, sending cards, buying gifts and enjoying one another's company. For some, the very thought of company can send them into a mild state of panic. Preparing for visitors doesn't require an all out home make-over. I work with many clients that simply want a 'mini make-over' and maybe just for a few rooms giving the house a fresh look and uplift before guests arrive.

Here are some pointers that are simple and fun and can be pulled off easily during holiday time:

Let's start with the front door...literally. Your front door says "welcome" to all who enter. Take a good look at the front door. One way to spruce it up is to paint it. If your home is generally neutral in color, why not splash on a beautiful, rich red? maybe black or deep, rusty orange? Choose a color that contrasts well with your home, get a can of gloss, exterior paint and give it a couple coats.

Next, tidy up the area around the front door and add a beautiful wreath and greens. Hook up a spotlight in the front yard to highlight your new focal point.

Step inside the front door. Is your foyer area welcoming to guests? well lit? add a small table with an attractive floral arrangement. Is there a coat rack or closet? an umbrella stand is practical and decorative.

Go through your house and do a quick edit of everyday decorations to make room for holiday decorations. Change your throw pillows. Add candles with scents of the season; pine, cinnamon, peppermint. A simple and inexpensive, yet festive addition is adding greens, pine cones and berries to the window sills and mantel -add a string of white lights or tall electric candles. Select a variety of greens from your own yard including boxwood, arborvitae, cypress and pine, If you're lucky to have a holly bush with berries, all the better! Don't forget to a a bit of greenery in the bathrooms. Most folks have decorations they reserve just for the holiday season, use them! A little sparkle goes a long way.

If you expect to have overnight guests, make the room warm and welcoming. Make sure there is a supply of special toiletry items in a basket, with some sprigs of greens tucked in and a beautiful bow. Now would be a good time to add new fluffy bedding and pillows. A stack of crisp white towels should await your guest along with a fresh floral display of the season or how about a little Christmas tree with a few small gifts awaiting them - what a treat! Have your CD's on hand to pop in, it's always nice to have soft, holiday instrumental music playing in the background. Attention to a few details can make all the difference and you'll feel great about welcoming your friends and family into your home.

a vine grew in hatfield

2011-11-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

I have tried unsuccessfully to grow pumpkins at least twice. But I have also been very successful in growing pumpkins by accident, also twice! This past summer, quite unexpectedly, a couple very large leaves formed on a vine in a tiny garden off my driveway. The vine grew and the leaves got as big as dinner plates. It looked like it belonged by Hagrid's hut. We suspected it was a pumpkin (as this happened once before). This vine continued to sprawl out over our driveway to the point we had to avoid it when backing out and my husband kept redirecting it every few days. Then one day, we discovered a little green ball down under the plant forming just behind the little yellow flower it had produced. Before we knew it we were the proud owners of 6 little pumpkins just in time for halloween!

Pumkins and gourds make great decorating accessories. Peel apart a small grapevine wreath and gather it into an oval in the center of the table. Place one medium sized pumkin in the center with 2 smallish pumpkins on each side. Add a few small colorful gourds and some faux leaves and you've got a natural and beautiful centerpiece for Thanksgiving.