Get Design Ideas at the Washington Design Center Spring Design House

How many times have you left an especially creative friend or acquaintance’s home fired up with ideas for how you could change your own house?

If you are looking for some design inspiration, look no further than the Washington Design Center's Spring Design House. Twice a year, the Washington Design Center puts on a Design House filled with ideas and top of the line home furnishings. This time around the theme is "Urban Elegance." A team of designers took on the task of employing this theme in the design of several rooms.

Although the Washington Design Center was founded primarily to serve design and building professionals who buy wholesale, they want to reach out to individual consumers too. The center now has a designer on staff there who is dedicated to helping individuals purchase items. When you finish checking out the Design House, you can wander over to vendor showrooms. And if you see anything you want to buy, even just one small item, you can seek the staff designer's help in purchasing the item.

There is no fee to tour the Washington Design Center Design House. It is open now until June 27, 2009. Visit the Washington Design Center on the web for more details.

White House Designer Will Mix Contrasting Elements

Although he did not have a huge name before being selected for the task of designing the private quarters for the new First Family, people in the design world feel that Michael S. Smith is up to the task.

One design expert proclaimed the Smith has the ability to execute 'The Mix.'

What exactly is 'The Mix?' It is a combination of contrasting design elements. These opposing pairs of design elements are:

Traditional and Modern- Rather than make a room wear a “costume” of old-fashioned dress, a good designer can include the old and the new.

Casual and Formal-Designers look for ways to relax rooms used for formal occasions and to give extra polish to rooms that are made for relaxing.

Varying Cultural Influences- Top designers know how to mix and match pieces and elements from different world cultures in a pleasing way.

Expensive and Affordable- There was a time when people shied away from mixing high and low end, but these days it is important to be able to seamlessly combine pricey pieces with inexpensive ones.

You are likely to hear more about Smith's design choices in the media, especially since he plans to use mainstream design brands while putting together the rooms for President Obama's two daughters. He will also be able to rely on the White House furniture that is in storage. This collection has been amassed from over 200 years of First Families that have lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Who Will Decorate the White House?

With most of the Cabinet picks now in hand, Barack Obama can turn to the issue of coordinating his move into one of the world's most famous addresses.

He and his family have already said that they won't choose a dog until are a little more settled into 16000 Pennsylvania Avenue, but what will those digs look like when the are settled?

There is plenty of speculation about who will be chosen to design the private quarters of the White House, but there is not clear front runner. A well-designed home makes a big difference whether you are running the country or running a dry cleaners. Being able to come home to a beautiful and comfortable space lets you relax enough to head back out and take on the world when it is time to report for duty.

Just as eager designers have been submitting potential designs for Michelle Obama's inaugural gown, interior decorators have been vying to be selected to outfit the family's new home. Oprah's friend Nate Berkus and Roderick N. Shade are among the decorators who have expressed interest.

Give Your Home a Facelift

There are things you can do to give your home a facelift even in one weekend that will make a big difference. You can take on a weekend project to give yourself something new to look at or because you need to make your home more attractive for potential buyers.

Here are few ideas:

Kitchen Cabinets
You can give your kitchen cabinets a new coat of paint to brighten things up if you are not ready to replace them. People tend to use light and neutral colors for kitchen cabinets, but you may feel that a dark color will work better in your kitchen. When the painting is finished ass new pulls for the cabinets and the whole kitchen will be a lot more appealing.

See the light
New light fixtures are a small way to have a big impact. If your house has outdated light fixtures, you may be so used to them that you barely even see them, Getting newer, more modern light fixture can really liven things up.

Also look at the wattage for the bulbs you use. Do you have a room that seems dim no matter what time of day? Putting in bulbs with a higher wattage will make that room more attractive.

The Maryland Home Show

Earlier this week, we mentioned that some decorating experts are saying that there is nothing wrong with using a neutral palette to furnish you home. But maybe you need a little more inspiration. If that is the case and you are in Maryland, then you can head over to the Suburban Maryland Home Show in Upper Marlboro this weekend.

You can watch decorating shows and pick up books on decorating, but there is nothing like getting some face-to-face time with the experts. At this weekend's Home Show you will be able to talk to contractors, landscapers, architects and interior designers, Plus you can see displays for all kinds of rooms that are sure to make you want to embark on a home decorating odyssey.

Of course home show are not just about decorating. You can also get expert advice and see new options for some of the less decorative parts of your home and yard like roofing, fences, gutters and garage doors.

Call 888-560-EXPO (3976) or visit mdhomeshow.com for more details.

The Suburban Maryland Home Show
14900 Pennsylvania Avenue
Upper Marlboro, MD

Go Neutral

If there is one surprising piece of design advice that is popping up everywhere recently, it is that decorating in a neutral or monotone palette does not have to be boring.

Just the word "monotone" gives the image of something that lacks vibrancy. But this is simply not the case. Perhaps designers are decorators are now touting neutrals and one-color design because we all have a need for calm in uncertain times.

Whatever the case, one way to keep things interesting if you do decided to go mild instead of wild, is to vary the textures in a room. This can be done by purchasing neutral-colored furniture in varying, yet still complementary, patterns and textures.

If buying furniture is not in your plans, you can still use pillows, throws and area rugs in matching shades to add richness to any room. If you can find pillows with a different design on each side, all the better. You can flip them over when you want a change of pace. Another option is to buy slipcovers for chairs and sofas that you want to remake, if you are not ready to buy new furniture.

Web-Based Interior Design

Our world gets more and more virtual as each day goes by. We do more communicating online. We are buying more goods and services online too.

One growing online service area is rather surprising considering the nature of the work: web-based interior design services. Obviously, these services do not involve the hands-on approach usually associated with interior designers. This approach may be best for people who are only looking to have one or two rooms redecorated.

One reason to take advantage of these services is the reduction in costs. When designing remotely, designers charge less. There may be some e-mail and phone communication, but the designer will probably not set foot in your home.

So what do you get from a virtual designer? You'll probably get a customized plan and shopping list, along with sample paint suggestion and fabric swatches.

If you would like to really work with a designer and if you do not want to do the shopping on your own, this may not be the approach for you. Even some interior designers who offer this service admit that it is best if the designer can actually see the room. Still it is an option to consider if you are on a budget and could benefit from advice from a trained eye when it comes to decorating.

Space Savers, part 2

In the last post, I discussed ways to make your home feel roomier. Here are more tips on how you can make the most out of the space in your home:

Climb the Walls
If the floors are pretty much covered, then it is time to look up. Yes, your walls are just waiting to be used. Think about vertical shelving. There is vertical shelving that is both useful and decorative.

If you are shopping around for a new TV, why not get a flat screen model that you can mount on the wall. That will free up space elsewhere.

Double Duty
Get furniture that does more than sit. Furniture designers are making furniture that can be used in more than one way because they know that we all have so much stuff. There are ottomans with space for blankets and beds that come with drawers underneath.
Speaking of underneath, manufacturers are making all kinds of appliances and machinery that can go underneath a cabinet. There are now microwaves, radios, CD players and can openers that can be installed under a cabinet, leaving you with more kitchen counter space.

Space Savers, part 1

If you are feeling cramped in your house and wonder just how you can maximize living space, there are things you can do.

First, you can decide that you will take some time to look at the space, consult experts as needed, and make a plan. Having a plan will keep you from running to get the first product that promises to organize your life. Often, these products end up adding to clutter, rather than detracting from it.

In fact, some people find it helpful to take a fast from buying objects for the house for a short period a time (a month, or a week if you cannot last a month). This will allow you to take stock of what you have and perhaps consider what you can throw away. Or you may see how things can be shifted to give a part of the house a less cluttered feel.

You may find that something you already have can be put to another use. Nowadays this is called "re-purposing," but the idea has been around since time began.

Check back on Wednesday for more ideas on saving space.

Visit the DC Design House

You can see the work of 14 area designers at the DC Design House. In case you didn’t know, a lot of work goes into designing and furnishing show houses. The designers chosen for this house were selected from an applicant pool of 125. The designers that were not chosen may not have missed making the cut because they are not good, but because their designs may have stood out from the rest. The steering committee wanted the designers selected to complement the work of the other designers in the house.

It took a little over a year to get this year’s house ready. The house, originally built in 1842, may not be the sprawling estate that some design houses are, but one has to remember that it is in a city, after all. These tours are always both fun and educational because you can get ideas to take back to your own house.

The DC Design House (3014 P St. NW) will be open Tuesday-Friday, from 10am to 3pm and on weekends from noon to 5pm until May 11. Tickets are $20 each and you visit the website to learn more about it.

Think Outside of the Box

If you have a room in your home that seems boxy, boring, and just plain square, there are things you can do to liven it up.
Shed some light
Change mundane light fixtures for more interesting ones. If your house is in a development, then the builder probably put in plain light fixtures that they bought in bulk. There is no reason why you can’t change them.
Play musical chairs
Rearrange the furniture in a more intriguing pattern. If all of your furniture is hugging the walls, it is time for a change. Placing some pieces on a diagonal is one way to spice things up.
Paint the town
A fresh coat of paint is one of the quickest ways to liven up any room. If all of the walls are the same color, pick on wall to be an accent wall. Give the accent wall a different, but complimentary color.
Give it a trim
Who says that trim must be white? Don’t be afraid to try other colors as long as they have some harmony with the wall colors.
Don’t feel cornered
You are allowed to soften the effects of the corners in a boxy room. You can add plants or interesting antiques to a corner. There is no rule that whatever is near a corner must fit exactly into that space.

Get the LED out this Christmas

LED lights are an energy efficient alternative to incandescent bulbs. LED stands for light emitting diodes. A LED light acts as a semiconductor, turning electricity into light. Although this technology has been around for a while, LED lights are now starting to gain momentum with consumers. People are looking for ways to keep up a certain lifestyle and also conserve energy. If you enjoy decorating with lights, but you aren’t sure that traditional Christmas lights are they way to go, consider LED lighting.

Unlike incandescent bulbs that burn out, LED lights grow dim over time. Not that you really need to worry too much about it— some of these lights can last 100,000 hours and beyond.

LED lights give off less heat than typical lights, making them a safer choice when it comes to decorating your home. If you put lights on trees and shrubs that surround your home, you don’t want to risk having the lights overheat as they are in contact with plant life.

With that being said, you should know that LED lights are very sensitive to heat. If for some reason a LED light is exposed to excessive heat, it will not perform as well or last as long as it would under more moderate temperatures.

One thing that keeps many people from switching top LED light is the cost. It is true that LED lights cost more, but they pay for themselves after a season or two.

Head Over to the Home Show, Oct. 26-28

A little while back I mentioned the Design Happening event in New York City, and I’m sure that traveling to NYC wasn’t possible for many of you. The good news is that there will be a home improvement and design event right in our backyard this weekend.

Make plans to attend the Home Show (October 26-28) in Upper Marlboro, MD at The Show Place Arena for ideas on remodeling, landscaping, and redecorating. The show floor will have displays of the latest appliances and products as well as indoor and outdoor vignettes. Exhibitors will have samples of flooring, window treatments, fixtures, lighting, and almost anything else you can think of that goes in a house.

These events are both practical and fun. You get inspired by all of the great stuff you see and can talk with exhibitors. This is your opportunity to gather the knowledge and wisdom of a wide array of experts. Instead of traveling from store to store, you can talk to them all under one roof! You can even bring photos of the rooms or areas of your yard that you want to makeover.

If you are thinking of buying a home in the area, you can click on the title of this post to see some of our great listings. Then you can apply some of the expert advice you pick up at the Home Show to decorate your very own home!

New Parents Design Adult-Friendly Nurseries

Blue for boys, pink for girls, perhaps green or yellow if the baby's sex is unknown; and, of course, the bold childhood primaries: red, blue and yellow. Those are the traditional choices when you're decorating the nursery. New parents are turning tradition upside down, opting to decorate their baby's room in more adult colors and styles that are comforting to the parents and send a special message to their child.

Driving a $7.3 billions industry, new parents typically spend from $5,000 to $15,000 furnishing and decorating their baby's nursery, according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.

In decorating a nursery, parents should first consider their own comfort, says Missouri designer Elizabeth Maxson. "The first couple of months are so tiring for the parents. When you're sitting in a nursery at 3 in the morning, you want something soothing, so that [you] can soothe the baby."

More adult colors, themes that send a special message, and furnishings that will not lose their usefulness but will grow with the child are making inroads on the usual Disney, Sesame Street, Winnie the Pooh, and Bob the Builder decorating schemes. Here are a few examples from creative new parents:

• Nesting. Emma Hand created a "nesting" theme for her daughter. She used a soft marbled taupe on the walls to evoke the outdoors. Husband Carl cemented a tree limb into a corner from which hang soft, colorful cloth birds. Brightly painted storage units now hold diaper supplies but will hold toys as the baby grows. An antique family dresser adds a sense of heritage to the room. "I like birds ... and the symbolism behind birds," Emma explained; "they're monogamous and family-oriented. And a nest is a place where you feel very comforted, yet you're getting ready to fly."
• Taking wing. Marland Blanchard and his wife went with an aviator theme when they found out they were expecting a boy. "I wanted this room to tell my son that he can reach to the horizon," Marland said. A wall mural of a 1930s field airport adorns one slate-blue wall. A kid-friendly hardwood floor and vintage aviator plaques carry the theme. A chair rail backlit with motion-sensor tube lighting gives the illusion of runway lights. The soft light allows Marland and his wife to easily check on their son and will serve as a nightlight when he's older.
• Up, up and away. A basket chair above which hangs a multi-colored fabric "balloon" is the focal point of a hot-air balloon room. The oversized chair provides a cozy place to cuddle and read. Brightly painted round cubbies hold books and toys. Big puffy clouds seem to drift across the soft blue sky ceiling. The message Sue Frances wanted to give her child: There are no limits to your dreams.