Thursday, August 30, 2012

Accessorize Your Home


It's the little things throughout a house that makes it feel like home. 

Decorating your home involves understanding the style and overall aesthetic you are striving for. Typically, we all have a list (or two) of "WANTS" in reference to our homes decor. This list includes Furniture and other household accessories that gives your home a sense of unique identity. 

Here's a quick reference guide or your personal check list of both decor & accessories that every home should have. 

Old & New.
We've all heard the phrase, 'something new, something old....' but this phrase is perfect when accessorizing your home. Budgets come in to mind and a lot of us can't afford to redecorate or remodel so gravitating towards vintage pieces tends to allow for more money in your pocket, not to mention a groovy look. Whether you are looking to reuse a piece of furniture or investing in an antique, it's pretty common to see in most households a mixture of both new & old home accessories. There is also the incentive of going green and re-using furniture is an eco-friendly option that is one of the hottest on the market right now. Using the old & new philosophy will allow you to hit a few birds with one stone. 

Patterns.
Patterns and prints add a lot of interest as well as depth to your space. Patterns can also distract the eye from noticing unsightly stains and or markings by drawing your attention elsewhere. They demand your attention and give a distinct flair to your style. Think about adding rugs, throw pillows and even wall art (ie: wallpaper) with texture to your home. Incorporating patterns and prints are a great way to change a focal point in the room or add depth to an existing space. Whether your patterns lean to simple or ornate, every home should have patterns in it.


Wall Art.
Art is a tricky subject. There are so many styles, eras and artists out there. Finding a piece within your budget and home aesthetic can seem like a challenge all in itself. No matter your style, minimalists to shabby chic-ers, having art on your walls is a must. Over-sized print or a painting add a sense of excitement to the space while a wall of frames keeps the eyes moving and is a wonderful way to personalize the home. 


All of our "WANTS" lists can refer to a wide variety of products from table decor, furniture and much much more. Do not fear the investment in antiques. They are typically a better quality product than what we have today and have already lasted the test of time thus far. Patterns and prints give depth to a space and can distract the eye. Patterns and prints will give comfort to a space and invite you in as well. Wall art can add a personal touch or an unexpected surprise. Don't be afraid to think outside the box when finding accessories for your home. 

When shopping for home decor and accessories, I like to check out Casa Cole for all my decorating needs! Happy Shopping!

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Monday, August 13, 2012

Pick the Right Table Lamp

         Lighting has a large impact on your home and can change a room dramatically. When purchasing a table lamp for a space in your home, you have probably wondered if you were making the right decision. From table lamps to chandeliers, all lighting has tendency to make a large impact in your home so it's important to choose a fixture that you can enjoy for many years.  


Here are a few tips & tricks to help you choose the right fixture for your space. 

Budget
  • Table lamps range in price so the best place to start is considering your budget and what you are willing to spend. Are your table lamps going to be an investment or a simple fixture that will be replaced from season to season or trend to trend. 
Style
  • The overall aesthetic of your home should coincide with your light fixture unless you are undergoing a complete overhaul on your style. Either way, a lamps style can be a bold statement  or blend in with the rest of the space. Light fixtures and table lamps, in general, are one of the most important aspects of creating a space; i.e.: ambience & function. Proper lighting is key to keeping even the best interior spaces from looking drab, dirty and even dated. Keep your overall look in mind when choosing the right table lamp. 
Function
  • In most spaces there is a designed task and lighting is a key part in making sure that that happens in a productive manner. While shopping for table lamps, one must keep this in mind: 
1. What is the space mainly being used for? 
2. Does the lamp produce enough light to complete that task? 

          For example, when you are reading a book in an armchair or next to your bed will you be using the same light? If so, this light must be large enough, versatile and or able to be moved to complete all the tasks needed in this space. Potentially consider a swivel arm table lamp in this case, especially, if both task spaces are in close adjacency to one another. 

Quantity
  • Lastly, it's important to determine the amount of table lamps needed to complete the tasks & ambience (mood lighting) in your home. If you are considering flanking your lamps to a furniture piece like a bed or sofa, symmetry is very inviting and is the standard in home design. One table lamp on each side will definitely do the trick. However, If you are looking for desk lighting as well as a lamp next to your favorite arm chair, the design team at Design Studio 2010 recommends only utilizing one lamp. Whereas on a console table and or banquet there's no wrong or right answer; Simply decide whether you want one or two. Knowing the quantity of table lamps needed for a space will narrow the selection while making style & function an easy deciphering tool. 
Lighting a space is a crucial element to creating the overall mood and style of your home. Lamps in either a bedroom, living room or any space do serve as a form of task lighting so keeping their function in mind when making your selection. To make an inviting space considered symmetry when using table lamps around a living room sofa or a bedroom. All these elements will help ensure a seamless flow throughout your home. 

Today, we are featuring Casa Cole's Java Table Lamp. This table lamp has a sleek and yet bold look. The texture created through its decorative base allows for subtle reflection of light and adds sparkle to any room. 





For more great table lamps, check out Casa Cole, here.

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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Design Studio 2010 teams up with HGTV!


Mark your calendars to watch the premier of the new HGTV series of the popular Property Brothers, August 25, 2012 at 8 pm CDST on the HGTV channel.

Design Studio 2010 is pleased to have had a role in the new reality series, Buying and Selling.  Our work will be displayed on episode #6 scheduled to air in September. We will post the actual air date of episode #6 once it has been released! 

The show, filmed in Austin, Texas, is hosted by Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott.   In this show HGTV casts homeowners who are struggling to sell their homes and looking to buy a new house. It demonstrates the importance of investing in a small renovation and staging the home to sell!

Work by Design Studio 2010, an Austin interior design firm, began as soon as the Austin home was selected in April 2012.  We worked closely with HGTV’s crew to design an economical plan to give the house a big bang. The design plan included renovating the kitchen, adding architectural features in the living room, replacing the old brass light fixtures with modern elegant fixtures and of course, revamping the spaces with a fresh coat of paint! Each space was staged with furnishings, accessories, art, and fresh flowers. All this was done in just 3 weeks!

Watch this new show to see how staging a home is crucial for a successful sale. It assists potential buyers to visualize the space and how their furnishings will fit in the space. Finishing touches, like fresh flowers and fruit, are like the jewelry on an outfit, pulling the design together for that complete look.
To see how we took an ordinary house and made it beautiful to welcome potential buyers inside, mark your calendars and watch our blog for updates on Episode #6. The show is scheduled to air in September.  We will post the air date as soon as it has been released!

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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Casa Cole - Mood Boards

Interior designers often use 'mood boards' as a way to communicate their design ideas to clients or a design team. As we all know, interior designers are visual and what better way to portray an idea than through a collage of pictures! 


Here are a couple mood boards that I designed for Casa Cole, an online store full of interior products. 
www.casacole.com

 'GOLDEN HOLIDAY GLITZ'

'SPICE IT UP'



'WHITE WINTER WONDERLAND' 
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Thursday, April 12, 2012

How to Make A Chrysanthemum Mirror

Well done Addicted 2 Decorating! My jaw dropped when I found out how you made this graphic, textural mirror out of plastic spoons!!

What is even more fabulous - is that you can customize this to fit your space to the tee. Plus selecting the perfect color tone based on your decor. Genius!

Here is a link for step by step instructions on how to create your own custom chrysanthemum creation - http://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-make-a-decorative-chrysanthemum-mirror.html

Start your Spring off with this crafty project!

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Big Thanks to HOUZZ.com

Tickled pink when I found out that Houzz.com, which is by far the best inspiration search engine, featured the Belvedere powder bathroom in their 'Ideabook'!!

Here is the link to the article, picture #3 was designed by the one and only - Design Studio2010

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1651221/list/Designer-s-Touch--10-Powerful-Powder-Rooms


If you ever feel like you are dragging with your creativity level or have a crazy idea but need a reference picture - Houzz is the best resource, it's loaded with professional photos from designers and architects. When designers like myself upload a project/picture, we tag the photo with keywords. For example, this powder bathroom above has keywords like 'tiled countertop, antique Spanish tile, Venetian red walls, antique gold mirror, copper vessel sink...'. If you're looking for inspiration, you can browse their Powder Bathroom category, or type in the search bar 'Venetian walls, Venetian red walls, antique Spanish tile..' and this picture in addition to hundred others that have the same keywords will pop up!

If you're addicted to Pinterest, then Houzz is your new best friend!

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Monday, March 19, 2012

What It's All About!

Welcome to our blog - Interior Snitch!

I am extremely excited to share inside tips and secrets to the interior world. As a designer, who is active in the field daily - I am faced with unique finds, innovative ideas and clever projects . All of which I want to pass along and inspire you!

In addition to the design firm - Design Studio2010, the other passion is our ecommerce website, CasaCole.com

Casa Cole was designed with the consumer in mind and offers great incentives to members in the trade. Offering an array of products that are not on the shelves of local home good stores, we bring the latest trends of the interior design world to the hands of the do-it-yourselfers.

Keep posted on my latest discoveries and tips!

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