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The Latest 2012 Design Trends!

2/24/2012

Hello Everyone!

World Market Center in Las Vegas, NV

Having just completed the previews of the winter 2012 Interior Design and Accessory Market here in Las Vegas, we thought we would share what are the latest and greatest interior design trends coming for this year and next year! As we dust off 2011 and the winter months, here are the newest ideas and trends!

Bold Color Accents! –
Reds, Greens, Oranges, Yellows

Bold colors around the home, whether it’s a pillow, decorative accent, or simply a wall color with bright hues, are this year’s boost to up our moods and mix it up!

1920′s Inspired Looks

Play around with a retro feel to your home by buying retro 1920′s inspired pieces or actual vintage pieces from that era. Couches, chairs and artwork all help to create a retro vibe.

Large Mirrors

Mirrors are growing larger this year and they’re perfect for opening up a room and helping it to appear larger than it is.

White Furniture and White Accents

Just like in fashion, white furniture and white wooden accents are growing in popularity. White items are being used around the home to create a lighter, more open space.

Rooms Inspired By Nature

Create a room that reminds you of earthy elements, such as blue walls equal blue skies, or green walls reminding you of grass and trees.

Oval and Round Mirrors

Update your home by simply adding oval and round mirrors instead of the traditional squares.

Hope you are inspired!
-Larry

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Reap the Savings… With Reproductions!

2/17/2012

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Hello Everyone!

Often when purchasing for a design project we have a tight budget we have to work with. In order to meet those budgets, I will often help the designers find a more affordable version of a product they have picked out. Below you will find some popular items for the home along with a more affordable alternative. You’d be amazed at the savings you will find when you take the time to research. Google Product Search is one of my favorite methods for price comparisons.

The Eileen Gray Side Table

Eileen Gray Adjustable Side Table by ClassicCon at Design Within Reach

ALTERNATIVE: Eileen Adjustable Table by Zuo from Lamps Plus

Eileen Gray was a pioneer of the Modern Movement in Architecture. Her Eileen Gray Adjustable Side Table by ClassicCon at Design Within Reach costs $1,150.00

At Lamps Plus you can get a similar version produced by Zuo for only $238.91. A savings of 80%!

The Barcelona Chair by Knoll

Barcelona Chair by Knoll

ALTERNATIVE: Hercules Chair by Flash Furniture

The Barcelona Chair by Knoll has been around since 1929 at Design Within Reach it costs $5,063.00.

A more affordable alternative with the same look is the Hercules Chair by Flash Furniture – Bizchair.com $299.00.

If you purchase the alternative you’ll save 95%!

The Tolix H70 Stool

ALTERNATIVE: Tabouret Metal Stool from Overstock

The Tolix H70 Stool has been around since 1950 at Sundance it costs $250.00 ea.

A more affordable version can be found on Overstock! The Tabouret 30” Metal Barstool costs $93.59 for a set of 2!

A Savings of 81%

The Beat Light by Tom Dixon

ALTERNATIVE: Pendant By Patriot Lighting

The Beat Light by Tom Dixon on Lumens.com costs $490.00.

Patriot Lighting produces a similar pendant that’s more affordable at Menards it costs only $29.99!

Wow, that's a savings of 94%!

Cardiff Tufted Armchair from Pottery Barn

ALTERNATIVE: Tafton Club Chair from Overstock

The Cardiff Tufted Armchair from Pottery Barn costs $799.00.

You can go for this similar alternative available at Overstock – The Tafton Club Chair costs only $376.99

You’ll save 53% if you purchase the alternative instead!

Crate & Barrel Spool Accent Table

Spool Accent Table from Crate & Barrel

ALTERNATIVE: Bailey Accent table from Overstock

Instead of wood, the Crate & Barrel Spool Accent Table is made from steel and aluminum, it costs $229.00.

The Bailey Accent Table looks very similar, is made of steel and costs only $93.99 at Overstock.com!

Best of all, you’ll save 59% by going with the alternative!

The Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Herman Miller

ALTERNATIVE: Hercules Presidio Series Lounge Chair & Ottoman available on Amazon

The Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Herman Miller is a classic, it's also very pricey, at Hivemodern.com it costs $4,499.00.

The Hercules Presidio Series Lounge Chair and Ottoman on Amazon is very similiar to the original except for the price! It costs only $699.00!

You’ll save 85% by choosing the alternative version!

-Cassandra

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Do It Yourself Painting Tips

2/3/2012

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Last time Larry talked about paint, but now comes the best part, the painting! It doesn’t have to be hard, and anyone can do it. Here are some of my tips for getting a great paint job – by doing it yourself!

There are plenty of sites that offer how-to’s on painting, but here are some of the basic ideas with my tips that I have used on my many painting projects.

Prep Work

Most of the difficult and tedious part of painting is the prep work, and about 75 percent of your time will be spent doing this.

Patch holes and cracks with a filler product, sand lightly when dry; home centers or paint stores have knowledgeable personnel to guide you to the best products for the job

I like to use my finger to apply, especially if it is a small patch – that way you have very little sanding to do
I also like the colored fillers that dry white – no more guessing if it is dry

Remove light switch and outlet covers and any hardware or light fixtures that you can, replace the screws in the outlet if you have a tendency to lose things, then tape over what is left on the wall

If new switch plates are not in the budget and the existing ones look sad,they can be painted separately and then re-attached – just don’t paint them in place or you won’t be able to remove them very easily

If you can’t remove something, cover it with plastic bags or plastic wrap and tape edges

Use plastic grocery bags for this (tape a few together if you need a larger size), don’t buy anything special

Sand or clean areas to be painted; any old dirt, grime, flaking paint, dust or debris left on the wall could cause your new paint to peel

Use a flat sanding block to make quick work of large areas

Tape all door and window trims and baseboards; this keeps goofs from getting on the trim

Tedious, I know, but it really should be done

Cover the floor with a plastic or canvas drop cloth

I like to use cardboard for this (flatten out a box and tape flaps together); it’s easy to move along with you as you paint, and you don’t have to cover the entire room at once – not to mention, the plastic drop cloths stick to your feet!

Now For The FUN Part - Painting!

Paint the wall edges and trim areas first, using a brush

I like a decent quality angled brush, 2” to 2 ½” wide – I use one with a long handle and one with a short rubber handle, good for tight spaces

Roll paint onto the walls with the correct roller cover; using a long handle extension keeps your ladder usage to a minimum

I tend to roll slowly to prevent the tiny paint splatters, and you can see how good the coverage is – don’t try to “stretch” the paint too far – make sure an area is completely covered before moving on
I like to work an area no bigger than 4’ x 4’ at a time, blending into the next area so the edges don’t dry
If your roller cover is new, use masking tape to help get loose fibers off before painting

If you need more than one day for your project, cover your paint tray, can, roller, brushes, etc. with plastic, making sure to get as much air out as possible to keep tools from drying out – that way you only have to clean up at the end of the job

In our dry desert climate, I do this even when taking a break

No matter how careful you are, there will be some goofs; I like to keep a bucket of water and a cloth rag nearby to clean up anything before it dries

Remove tape from trim and baseboards, don’t let the tape stay on for longer than a day or two

For a really clean line, cut the dry paint with an Xacto knife along the tape edge, otherwise you may pull your new paint off the wall

Paint the door and window trims and baseboards using a paint brush – never a roller

Put a strong rubber band across the top of the paint can to use for scraping your brush off; this keeps the can’s lip clean

If you have a fairly steady hand, you can skip some of the taping and paint your trim freehand or use a painter’s edge – just wipe the edge off each time you move it to keep from smearing on the newly painted wall

Some Tips For Getting YOU Ready To Paint

Remove all jewelry
Wear old, but comfortable clothes
Wear slip on shoes
Protect your hair with a scarf, shower cap, or baseball hat
Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from splatters
Wear gloves to protect your hands and nails – paint is difficult to remove if you are wearing nail polish
If you can’t wear gloves, try applying hand lotion to keep the paint from sticking to your hands
If you must have your phone nearby, keep it inside a plastic bag to protect it
Play some music to get you going
And don’t be shy about asking your friends to help – some people really do like to paint!

-Carol

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The Latest 2012 Design Trends!

Reap the Savings… With Reproductions!

The Eileen Gray Side Table

The Barcelona Chair by Knoll

The Tolix H70 Stool

The Beat Light by Tom Dixon

Cardiff Tufted Armchair from Pottery Barn

Crate & Barrel Spool Accent Table

The Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Herman Miller

Do It Yourself Painting Tips

Prep Work

Now For The FUN Part - Painting!

Some Tips For Getting YOU Ready To Paint

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The Latest 2012 Design Trends!

Reap the Savings… With Reproductions!

The Eileen Gray Side Table

The Barcelona Chair by Knoll

The Tolix H70 Stool

The Beat Light by Tom Dixon

Cardiff Tufted Armchair from Pottery Barn

Crate & Barrel Spool Accent Table

The Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Herman Miller

Do It Yourself Painting Tips

Prep Work

Now For The FUN Part - Painting!

Some Tips For Getting YOU Ready To Paint

Subscribe

Author

Arc​hives

Categories

Archives