Check out this site. It has some great example pictures, and these aren't your momma's murphy beds :) The concept makes a lot of sense in days where so many people are downsizing and the idea of the urban loft is on the rise.
Happy reading!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
What do you think??
I want to hear your feedback. What do you enjoy reading most on my blog? What would you like to see more of (tips, decorating trends, projects I am working on)? Is there a topic you would like to read about that I don't cover currently?
Take a moment and write in a comment below or shoot an email to liz@polkadotsandrosebuds.com. This is your chance to dictate what I write.
I look forward to hearing from you! *And don't forget to check out the new website. The deadline to enter the scavenger hunt drawing is tomorrow night*
Take a moment and write in a comment below or shoot an email to liz@polkadotsandrosebuds.com. This is your chance to dictate what I write.
I look forward to hearing from you! *And don't forget to check out the new website. The deadline to enter the scavenger hunt drawing is tomorrow night*
Monday, March 1, 2010
Website Launch Event
Get Excited!! Polka Dots and Rosebud's website is ready and YOU are invited to the launch event! Here are the details:
Peruse the pages of the site and find the answers to these 3 simple questions:
Dates: March 3- March 8
- What makes Polka Dots & Rosebuds stand out from the crowd?
- What are 2 services they provide?
- What special offer is given on the website (hint- check the last page)?
Then email your answers to liz@polkadotsandrosebuds.com to be entered into a drawing to win 2 complimentary hours of design consultation.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
How can you tell the difference between a decorator and a sales clerk...
How can you tell the difference between a decorator and a sales clerk? Sounds like the beginning of a joke, right? But it's actually a real dilemma people face these days and as people gear up for their Spring and Summer re-decorating projects I feel the need to share some sound advice.
Often times when you go into a store you are approached by a sales clerk who is there to help you locate items within the store, etc. The clerk's goal is to help guide you to purchase as many items from their store as possible. So while they may seem helpful at the time, chances are you will return home to find that everything you bought does look great- just not in your space. It's the classic case of floor model-itis (I totally made that one up). But my point is this: you walk into a showroom and see a group of furniture that is just stunning, it looks fabulous and you decide to buy them all. Brace yourself.... Once the pieces arrive to your home (or office or wherever) you realize there are a few problems. The room where you intended to put the pieces is a little too small for such large items and the fabric color makes your walls look drab so now you have to add finding a new color and painting the walls to your list of chores. What seemed so perfect at the time of purchase is now an all-out disaster which is completely non-returnable. The problem stems from the fact that something may look great in its current space, but when you try to cut and paste that look into your personal space all factors are not equal.
Sadly, many consumers come down with floor model-itis everyday. People get overwhelmed with the re-decorating process and want it to be over as quickly as possible causing a few missteps that in the end are very costly mistakes. Even when you receive assistance from the sales clerk, it's not always the most sound advice because they have no idea what the space looks like, what your lifestyle is or what your deeper needs are. Some sales clerks are interior designers and will make appointments to come to your home to assess your needs, but the downfall with that route is that they represent a specific store or a certain group of manufacturers. Thus, your best interest in still not at the center of the project.
Having been on all sides of this discussion, I am a firm believer that independent decorators are the way to go. I can't tell you how many times I begin a project and think "this vendor has a sofa that would be perfect for this client" and "that vendor has the exact table we need" and "still another vendor has some great art we can use", etc. When the need arises, find a decorator that you feel is professional, qualified and will LISTEN to you. If I said it once, I've said it a thousand times- the decorating process is ALL ABOUT YOU!!!
Happy re-decorating!
Often times when you go into a store you are approached by a sales clerk who is there to help you locate items within the store, etc. The clerk's goal is to help guide you to purchase as many items from their store as possible. So while they may seem helpful at the time, chances are you will return home to find that everything you bought does look great- just not in your space. It's the classic case of floor model-itis (I totally made that one up). But my point is this: you walk into a showroom and see a group of furniture that is just stunning, it looks fabulous and you decide to buy them all. Brace yourself.... Once the pieces arrive to your home (or office or wherever) you realize there are a few problems. The room where you intended to put the pieces is a little too small for such large items and the fabric color makes your walls look drab so now you have to add finding a new color and painting the walls to your list of chores. What seemed so perfect at the time of purchase is now an all-out disaster which is completely non-returnable. The problem stems from the fact that something may look great in its current space, but when you try to cut and paste that look into your personal space all factors are not equal.
Sadly, many consumers come down with floor model-itis everyday. People get overwhelmed with the re-decorating process and want it to be over as quickly as possible causing a few missteps that in the end are very costly mistakes. Even when you receive assistance from the sales clerk, it's not always the most sound advice because they have no idea what the space looks like, what your lifestyle is or what your deeper needs are. Some sales clerks are interior designers and will make appointments to come to your home to assess your needs, but the downfall with that route is that they represent a specific store or a certain group of manufacturers. Thus, your best interest in still not at the center of the project.
Having been on all sides of this discussion, I am a firm believer that independent decorators are the way to go. I can't tell you how many times I begin a project and think "this vendor has a sofa that would be perfect for this client" and "that vendor has the exact table we need" and "still another vendor has some great art we can use", etc. When the need arises, find a decorator that you feel is professional, qualified and will LISTEN to you. If I said it once, I've said it a thousand times- the decorating process is ALL ABOUT YOU!!!
Happy re-decorating!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Something other than White...
I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but in my neck of the woods I have only seen snow for the past 3 weeks and I am DONE with white! So here are some fun facts about color trends you will see in the coming year to get you focused on something other than white.
Orange (nothing too jack-o-lantern-esque)- sophisticated deep or muted hue can really give some va, va, va, voom to your room!
Purple- deep shades (ie- eggplant or plum) are hitting the scene. These shades are very regal and can make any space look luxe.
Yellow- sunny and energizing to brighten your day! A word of caution: be careful not to select a shade that is too overstimulating.
Green- something relaxing and serene but not too muted. One of my personal faves is Sherwin Williams Lemon Verbena.
All of these colors are much more vibrant than the earth tones that have reigned in popularity for the last couple years. The nice thing about rolling in the bold colors is that they pair well with the earth tones, so you can easily add in some brightly colored pillows or other accessories that will compliment your existing decor.
So here's hoping that the snow will melt soon and give way to the beautiful springtime we all love. In the meantime, we can busy ourselves by infiltrating our space with this year's hottest colors!
Purple- deep shades (ie- eggplant or plum) are hitting the scene. These shades are very regal and can make any space look luxe.
All of these colors are much more vibrant than the earth tones that have reigned in popularity for the last couple years. The nice thing about rolling in the bold colors is that they pair well with the earth tones, so you can easily add in some brightly colored pillows or other accessories that will compliment your existing decor.
So here's hoping that the snow will melt soon and give way to the beautiful springtime we all love. In the meantime, we can busy ourselves by infiltrating our space with this year's hottest colors!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Made From Scratch!
This week I filled a unique request from a client, and of course I wanted to share the project with you...
I paint canvases all the time, that part of this project is not unique. The client requested a custom size canvas, so I offered up the usual option of doing a canvas with grommets along the top edge- that wasn't quite the look they wanted. So, the need for a custom built frame with canvas stretched around it came up. I had never done that before, but I figured it couldn't be too difficult. It turned out to be a blast!
I gathered my supplies and power tools (I get a total kick out of using power tools- I know, it really is the little things that excite me). I had the wood pre-cut so that my portion of the project would be a little simpler.
Then it came time to bolt the pieces together to actually form the frame. Hubby lended a helping hand and we got the structure put together in no time.
Then onto the canvas. I took my giant roll of canvas and cut off a piece large enough to stretch around the frame and leave a lip to be stapled to the back side. Let the stapling commence- I was thrilled to punch every staple into my creation (again, the little things). And voila....
Now onto the absolute BEST part- painting! The client had requested a specific Bible verse, as this canvas will be used in her son's nursery. We collaborated on the general color scheme and the way she would like the verse to read, but beyond that I was given carte blanche ;) Here is the result:
The verse I painted (Jeremiah 29:11) hit home for me. It is SO reassuring to know that regardless of whether or not I know what it is, there is a plan for my life and it always includes plans for me to prosper and not to be harmed (that is from the part of the verse that we didn't use on the canvas). As a business owner I am learning to trust His plan more and more!
I love being presented with new challenges and am thankful that my clients always come up with new ones for me! I am even more thankful for their trust in me and my skills to create beautiful things for them. Hopefully you can find something to make this week that you can love as much as I loved this project.
Happy creating!
I paint canvases all the time, that part of this project is not unique. The client requested a custom size canvas, so I offered up the usual option of doing a canvas with grommets along the top edge- that wasn't quite the look they wanted. So, the need for a custom built frame with canvas stretched around it came up. I had never done that before, but I figured it couldn't be too difficult. It turned out to be a blast!
I gathered my supplies and power tools (I get a total kick out of using power tools- I know, it really is the little things that excite me). I had the wood pre-cut so that my portion of the project would be a little simpler.
Then it came time to bolt the pieces together to actually form the frame. Hubby lended a helping hand and we got the structure put together in no time.
Then onto the canvas. I took my giant roll of canvas and cut off a piece large enough to stretch around the frame and leave a lip to be stapled to the back side. Let the stapling commence- I was thrilled to punch every staple into my creation (again, the little things). And voila....
Now onto the absolute BEST part- painting! The client had requested a specific Bible verse, as this canvas will be used in her son's nursery. We collaborated on the general color scheme and the way she would like the verse to read, but beyond that I was given carte blanche ;) Here is the result:
The verse I painted (Jeremiah 29:11) hit home for me. It is SO reassuring to know that regardless of whether or not I know what it is, there is a plan for my life and it always includes plans for me to prosper and not to be harmed (that is from the part of the verse that we didn't use on the canvas). As a business owner I am learning to trust His plan more and more!
I love being presented with new challenges and am thankful that my clients always come up with new ones for me! I am even more thankful for their trust in me and my skills to create beautiful things for them. Hopefully you can find something to make this week that you can love as much as I loved this project.
Happy creating!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Bare Walls: The Christmas Hangover
First of all, let me say how much I've missed blogging! A rush of orders at Christmas kept me busy along with our move and then I thought my beloved blogsite had been taken down. Luckily, all is well now and we are up and running! Now onto the good stuff...
Let's talk about the Christmas hangover. You know what I'm talking about- the shelves look bare, the walls have a blank spot that screams at you daily. Your space seems less warm and inviting (and it has little to do with the fact that there is snow on the ground and the temperature is in the teens) because you've put away all the embellishments and holiday cheer you had out for December. It's no wonder people get depressed in the winter, they have no space to go to to recharge and feel happy.
Now that we've diagnosed the problem, let's talk about possible solutions:
Mix things up- Re-arrange some of your existing items. Moving furniture isn't always possible due to space constraints of the weight of the pieces, but you can always shift your accessories and art a little bit.
Layer in some pizazz- Add a great area rug to compliment the space and add that extra layer of warmth and color, bring in some new art or mirrors to adorn the wall, or my fav- add some new and exciting throw pillows.
Splash some color on those walls- Move from beige into something more daring- maybe cream ;) No seriously, changing a wall color can make all the difference in the world! I'm not an advocate for accent walls, but sometimes even they can be appropriate.
If you are having trouble knowing exactly what needs to be done or what changes you would like to see look through some decorating magazines or get some sound professional advice to get you on the right track.
Until next time, happy new year, and I promise not to stay away so long!
Let's talk about the Christmas hangover. You know what I'm talking about- the shelves look bare, the walls have a blank spot that screams at you daily. Your space seems less warm and inviting (and it has little to do with the fact that there is snow on the ground and the temperature is in the teens) because you've put away all the embellishments and holiday cheer you had out for December. It's no wonder people get depressed in the winter, they have no space to go to to recharge and feel happy.
Now that we've diagnosed the problem, let's talk about possible solutions:
Mix things up- Re-arrange some of your existing items. Moving furniture isn't always possible due to space constraints of the weight of the pieces, but you can always shift your accessories and art a little bit.
Layer in some pizazz- Add a great area rug to compliment the space and add that extra layer of warmth and color, bring in some new art or mirrors to adorn the wall, or my fav- add some new and exciting throw pillows.
Splash some color on those walls- Move from beige into something more daring- maybe cream ;) No seriously, changing a wall color can make all the difference in the world! I'm not an advocate for accent walls, but sometimes even they can be appropriate.
If you are having trouble knowing exactly what needs to be done or what changes you would like to see look through some decorating magazines or get some sound professional advice to get you on the right track.
Until next time, happy new year, and I promise not to stay away so long!
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