From the Studio

I was finishing up loading things into the garage for the tag sale, and I thought about you and wondered how your cleaning projects are going. You know, there are so many things that sort of land in our lives through the year, and if we don’t ferret them out on a regular basis, eventually there’s so much it is too overwhelming to even deal with.

Have you ever watched Clean House on BRAVO TV? I love Neicy Nash, and the whole Clean House team. They have a family in each episode that has let their clutter get the better of them. I have to tell you, if you watch that show, you’ll feel ever so much better about your own space - or you'll think, "Yikes! That looks too familiar!"

In every episode, the process is the same: let go of what you don’t love, or don’t need. They stage ‘tag sales’ (or ‘yard sales’ or ‘garage sales,’ whatever you call them) and use that money to create … ‘sanctuary’ in the home. They create peaceful spaces where people can truly come home and re-energize. The personal oasis. We all need it.

The point is, it’s a great idea to do a tag-yard-garage sale to get some money to do a project you’ve wanted to do for awhile. It's fun to team up with friends, advertise it as ‘multi-family.’ Bring out the hot coffee, the donuts and the tunes one early Saturday morning, throw open the garage and put some cash in your pocket!

By the way, one of the crucial items to include for your sale: the "after sale charity truck." The truck will come and cart off all the items that didn't sell, you get a tax deduction, you'll have $$$ in your pocket, and your space is clean. When you settle on a date for your sale, call the truck then, and schedule it for the last day or the day after. Be sure to tell them you'll be sending all the things that didn't sell. Different companies have different names for that, but the bottom line to tell them is, you want a "total after-sale cleanout."

Okay ...

So let’s say you’ve done your tag sale, or you have a secret little stash you’re going to use to take your space to the next level. If you’ve made your “Design Workbook,” what are your projects? Most of us have small projects (hang a curtain rod or a picture), medium projects (paint the bedroom or change the bedding), large projects (build an arched roof and columns on the front porch, and find some antique iron work to use as railings), and all points in between.

Sometimes all we know is that we want a change in a room or in a space (inside or out). We don’t know how it should look exactly, but we do know how it should feel. That’s very important. It’s all about how the space feels, the energy in it. So here’s a way to help you connect the “feel” with the “look.”

I’ve always brought tons of design magazines to the studio. I have stacks and stacks of them right now. It’s crazy! And I was raised to never, ever mark in a book or put a tear on a page. So when I started tearing pages out of magazines, I had to do a little intervention with myself! I got through the guilt, and I kept tearing.

I have a file system that's set up for my ‘tear sheets’. I use these for myself, but mostly I organize all kinds of looks for a wide variety of styles to help with my clients. And you can build your own tear sheet file. In fact, you must! It's a creative journey of self-discovery that's easy and portable.

Here’s one way to do it:

Tear the pages out of your design magazines, and organize them into rooms. Give each room a sleeve page in your Design Workbook. You can make separate file sections for ‘Lighting’ and ‘Accessories.’ If you have a big project, I recommend setting up a separate binder for that project. You’ll want your dividers, tear sheets regarding the project, your sleeves for receipts, etc. in that binder. I did that on the last project, and it made my taxes so much easier, because it was all right there.

I have a second binder that is strictly for the exterior and the landscaping. I know nothing about plants, but I know what I like.

When Pam, my landscape consultant comes over, I show her the tear sheets of plants and exteriors that I’ve collected. This helps her get an immediate picture of my taste and the 'feel' I want to create, so it saves us both time (and save me some consultation money).

You’ve torn your sheets out, you’ve organized them very efficiently (you’re so good!), and now … how do you know what you’re going to do?

Take your tear sheets from one file and spread them out in front of you.

Notice the ‘story’ these images are telling you. There is at least one

connecting element in the pictures. It could be the light coming through the rooms; it could be the peaceful atmosphere of the rooms. It could be the vibrant feel, the casual feel, the cozy feel. And how are these things achieved in the pictures? I will write more in the next day or so, and share with you how to translate those elements – with a bankroll or on a budget – so that you can begin to create the beautiful space you deserve.

Don’t start feeling overwhelmed – you can do it!

If you have any questions, comments, or need a little nudge, just leave a comment,

and have no fear –

That’s why I’m here!




Create!



Cece D for DDG

From the Studio

Willie’s a tree guy who stops by periodically to see if I want him to cut any trees down. Well, he stopped by  yesterday. When I got up this morning I could see out the windows! All the trees, bushes and scrub that I’ve been wanting gone are … gone! He’ll come by later this week to grind the stumps, and then it will be time to call Pam the landscape lady to come over and draw up what I need to do. Criteria: must look lush and fabulous with a minimum of upkeep.

That will all come in due time. Today the water’s off because Mr. Joe is running water pipes and faucets around the back yard. You gotta have water if you’re gonna have plants.

So here in the studio, my assistant Jessie is organizing the fabric samples, and I am thinking about the projects you may have rolling around in your brains. Big? Small? Somewhere in between? Here’s a thought: it’s six weeks from Thanksgiving week. Do NOT start a renovation project now. You’ll want to shoot yourself if you’re climbing over sawhorses to get the turkey out of the oven. But some projects – those “freshen up the space” projects - are perfect.

Let’s think ahead a minute: are you having family over, or are you going somewhere for the holiday? Or maybe you’re planning to cozy in, just yourself and your pets and maybe a friend or two. Whatever your plans, it’s time to make sure your personal space reflects who you are today, and supports you for who you’ll be tomorrow.

So … let’s think PAINT!

The least expensive change with maximum effect is paint. Some people find it very intimidating to select a paint color. If you’re one of those people, here are a few tips:

Pick an item in the room that is a color you love. This item can establish your color palette for the room.

Go to the paint store and get some paint sample strips. Take your item with you if it’s portable (like a pillow, a small picture, a swatch of fabric). If it’s not, take a photo on your cell phone and check that at the paint store to make sure you’re in the general ballpark.

When you get back to your space, pull the strips out and lay them out on a table or chair. What jumps out at you? Anything? Is it just confusing? Okay, her

e’s one way to look at the strips, and it’s never failed me yet; I’m going to break it down by a few brands of paint that are common in this area:

Porter Paint:

Let’s take as an example, strip number 162. This is a strip with chips of six different shades of green, all with a grey base note. The center or “balanced” color on the strip is “Twig Green.” It’s a pleasant color, and is a good choice for bedrooms or bathrooms. But the more ‘expensive’ looking color is the one below it: “Baltic Green.” Generally speaking, the more saturated color is going to read as more expensive and luxurious. So if you’re thinking “Twig Green” and you feel just a bit daring, go with “Baltic Green” instead. I think you’ll love it!

Sherwin Williams:

Since we’re on greens, let look at strip number 26. These greens have the same grey base note, but are a little different … they have a bit more ‘verve’ to them. The center color on this strip is “Softened Green.” I always steer my clients toward the shade darker which is “Clary Sage.” It’s a fairly saturated color, full of life but not to dark. I’ve used “Clary Sage” many times with my client

s, and they love it.

Benjamin Moore:

Benjamin Moore has three different collections in their paints, a

nd they’re all terrific. For this exercise, we’re looking at the “Classic Colors” collection, strip number 052. As you look down the strip, the most saturated color (the one at the bottom on each strip) has a bit of umber brown in it, making it a little warmer than the darkest colors on the other strips. But up at the center of the strip is “Weekend Getaway.” This color is comparable to “Clary Sage” and “Baltic Green.” These three colors are the expensive looking choices, or what I call the “money colors.” And if you go one shade darker on the BM strip, you find “Mistletoe.” It is an absolutely fabulous color, will work well as a neutral in any room, and I cannot think of another color that would not go with it. You could choose brown, orange, pink, red, black, navy … they each go well with “Mistletoe.”

And here’s the thing about Benjamin Moore:

they have “paint pots” – little jars of your shade

that you can buy to try your color before you get the gallon.

There’s another section of Benjamin Moore Paints called the “Pottery Barn Collection.” You can see them at www.PotteryBarn.com.

Out of their current colors, two that I love are “Texas Leather” (walls) and “Winter Snow” (trim).

So pull out you Workbook; think through your project; go snag some paint strips; bring them home and make a choice. If the color you chose wasn’t available in a tiny jar, get a quart. You can mix it in with the gallon later if you try it on the wall and get a big YES! To it. And if you don’t love it you’ve not spent a fortune.

The image above shows the use of "Texas Leather" and "Winter Snow," both from Benjamin Moore's Pottery Barn Fall, 2008 collection.

Now, about those paint finishes:

Always, always … use eggshell or its equivalent on your walls. It’s washable, goes on well, and will cover better than a flat paint. It also looks better on the wall. On the trim I use a latex semi-gloss.

Two of the prettiest trim paints I’ve found are :

Benjamin Moore’s Classic Collection - “Simply White” (Right)

Benjamin Moore’s PB collection - “Winter Snow” (Shown above)

These whites are creamy and clear but not stark. They will not turn yellow or pink once they're up. The will compliment any of the colors discussed here, and many more!

I hope this has helped to get your wheels turning. I always say, the buddy system is the best, so if you can do it partner with a friend and together you can knock two rooms out – trim included – in a couple of days.

I’ll write again with more idea for how to freshen up your space. We’ll go through the process step by step, so that at the end, you’ll have in your space exactly what you saw in your head!

In the meantime, if you have questions, feel confused, or just need a little nudge, drop me a line, and have no fear …

That’s why I’m here!


Create!


Cece D for DDG

From the Studio

I jumped on a plane early Friday morning, and flew to New York for business this weekend. I got back late last night, so am now playing catch up … and here I am! I promise to get the new computer notebook soonsoonsoon so that I can keep current on all things as I move around.

But let me just tell you – the energy in Manhattan is second to NONE. Granted, the economy is down, but the pulse is as feverish as ever in Times Square. There are throngs of people everywhere, and everybody’s talking at once!

I stayed in a hotel at 49th and Broad(way). I love it when we set home base in that area, because that’s where the action is. And it’s a very short jaunt to the Fashion District. I walk over there and prowl up and down the streets; I get fabric and trims, and lots of ideas! I love going to Mood Fabrics (you’ll see them featured on Project Runway). One of the guys at Mood – Terek – is the “go-to guy” for me. He knows exactly what I’m looking for. Sometimes I call him on the phone and send up an S.O.S. He helps me out every time!

And I’ve got to say – if you’ve never been to New York (or even if you have) - one of the very best times to go is right now, in the early fall. It’s just so beautiful there. The air is crisp, the crowds, though huge, are not nearly what they’ll be at Thanksgiving all the way through New Years. It leaves you feeling energized, you’ll be bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to tackle … well, anything!

With that in mind, let’s address something that most of us have been putting off for ... too long: clearing clutter, and overall cleaning. We’re continuing to talk about creating a space that you love to come home to. It starts with rooms that have in them only the things that you need, and that you love. It's time to let go of everything else.

My daughter called me this weekend from Atlanta. She’s a beautiful woman, a fabulous musician and all round creative spirit. She told me she was loving the crisp weather in GA, too, and was on her way home to throw open the windows and do a “fall clean.” Oh,” I said, “you’re gonna blow the stink out of the place are you?” We both laughed, because that’s what we call it when it’s past time to scrub things down to a spit shine and let some fresh air blow through. The fall season puts us in the mood to do just that.

I spoke with her today, and she got the job done. Now it's my turn ... and I'm ready!
And then I got to thinking, how do I encourage you to start to create your spaces, to get cozy’d in for the winter? It all starts with a good cleaning.

When my kids were young we had very little money, so my friends and I would do “cleaning days.” I’d go help them with a deep clean, and they would come help me. Well, that was years ago, and now it’s me and Max (my dog) doing the work. Actually I work and he watches and sleeps and runs in circles and races to the front door to bark at the mailman. I put on my sweats, turn up the music, push up my sleeves, and get going.

One of the things that happens when we clean is we come across stuff that we can’t quite tell what to do with. If you don't have a system, that will wear your brain out in short order! So now when I’m clearing clutter and doing general "gotta get my life in order" stuff, I start by making a list. In my trade we call it a “punch list.” I organize the list by rooms, and list what needs to be done in each room. For example, on my page about the blue bedroom, it says: I need to paint, and hang the new curtain rod. I also need to purchase a quilt and an area rug. I need to get a piece of artwork framed, and I need to purchase something to hang over the red bookcase.

Once I get my lists made, they go in my “Designers Workbook.” It’s a white three ring binder that is dedicated to projects, past and future. There is a plastic sleeve for receipts; there are also sleeves for paint chips and swatches for each room, along with dimensions of the room and the windows.

Once my lists are done, I get started. Time to clear the clutter.

I usually put three boxes in a row on the floor or table and label them “sell," "give away,” or “throw away.” The “keep” pile goes on the floor or on the bed. Once I’m done, I don’t deal with the boxes until I’ve put the things in the pile away. I don’t know, for some reason that helps to make sense of the chaos. The boxes get moved with me to the next room ... and on and on until they're filled with all the "give away" and "throw away" things I've ferreted out. I put the "throw aways" in the garbage; I put the "give aways" in the garage for the charity truck.

Oh, almost forgot! The first page in my Designers Workbook is a list with phone numbers for all the workers - contractors, repair men, plumbers, electricians, painters ... and the charity truck. The first thing I do when starting a cleaning like this is I call and schedule the charity truck. That is my way of putting ME on notice that they're coming, so I need to get all the stuff that's going to charity pulled out and in the box labeled "give away."

When it’s paper that I’m going through, there are two boxes labeled “file,” and “shred.” There is a trash bag for things I can safely throw away without shredding. When the “shred” box if full, I’ll take it to a place on the square that does file storage. They will shred it for me for around 5 or ten dollars.

So the idea is, it’s time to set things right, go a little "Fung Shui," put all your home in order. That means it's time to clean the surfaces, clean out the drawers and shelves. Time to get ready for the beautiful spaces that are to come. And trust me: they're coming!

A well prepared space will make you feel ever so much more peaceful. Kind of like climbing between fresh sheets after a long day and a warm bath. Is there anything better? I don't think so!

If you have any questions or comments, please email or write in the comment section and I’ll get back to you.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, if you need some help, or just a pep talk, have no fear.
That’s why I’m here!


Create!



Cece D for DDG