Experimenting Can Overcome Fear of Decisions

Recently, I was reading an article that stated that before we can learn anything we must perceptive it, usually through our senses of hearing or sight. Then we interpret our perception — and we may misinterpret what we have seen or heard, based on our lack of experience.

Immanuel Kant said, “We see things not as they are, but as we are.” This is why our homes are different from any other and why it is not a scientific approach that we need when decorating, but an artful one.

Many people are fearful and anxious about the decisions they have to make to create a home that is comfortable and visually pleasing.

They worry about so many things—things that are not either right or wrong—and make decisions out of fear rather than confidence.

Clients’ confidence comes not only from knowledge, but also from their own perception of what they like and don’t like. It requires self-discovery and willingness to be open about their needs and wants. I have often said to my clients, “If it feels right, it is right!”

Trust your perceptions of what you like and don’t like. You know what you definitely don’t want to live with and things that you like but aren’t sure if they will work in the space. Experiment—don’t be afraid. Try something new and see how it works in your environment. Here are some things to consider:

• Filling space is scary to some people. They are concerned that a picture might be too big, so they buy something that is too small –and then have to buy something else to fill in the space.

• This also applies to furniture, area rugs, and tables and chairs. Whenever possible, bring it home and try it. Many stores will bring a few different- sized pieces– even of the same thing– to see how it looks in your home, with the ability to return what doesn’t work. It gives you the experience, which is invaluable.

• Color is another big fear for many people. Knowing you have to live with your decisions prevents even trying something that feels outside your comfort zone. I highly recommend—no, I even insist– that you paint the color you are considering on a substantial portion of the wall to see how you like it. Even try it on several areas to see the difference the light makes to the color. Then, if possible, see how it goes with the other things you have chosen for the room.

• Change your room layout. Begin by just moving one thing, like a chair or a table, and it will change the balance of the room. The next thing that needs to be moved will become apparent, and so on. Keep moving things until you are satisfied. You can even bring things in from another room or move something to another room.

• Rearrange a shelf unit. Remove everything and try to forget how it looked. If the shelves are adjustable, change the spacing. Next, look around your home for other things to use on the unit. Decide if you want a particular theme and then put things back in a brand-new order.

Many people think there are “have to’s” when it comes to interior design, but there are few, and the less you adhere to them, the more creative the outcome.

Interestingly, most people think they are not creative (in a traditional manner) but my experience says they are personally and individually creative. It’s the creativity which comes from within, and I encourage my clients to feel their choices. This is what I call “interior” design and the room decoration “exterior” design.

We are all artists in our own way and our homes are our canvas. Feel free to express yourself because rooms have no feelings, you do!

Visit me at www.BarbaraKaplan.com

Controlling Clutter Will Nip Stress in the Bud

Haven’t most of us dealt with clutter long enough? If your answer is yes—keep reading.

Begin by stopping clutter at the front door or for some of us the back door. The point is not to bring it in the house. And when we do, it’s important that we recognize it and not let it grow to unyielding proportions. It’s best to have a routine time each day, week or whatever time frame works for you to look at the mail or magazines or piles you’ve created. Nip it in the bud.

Many people say they are messy and can’t control things from being everywhere. They say that they just aren’t organized, which isn’t quite the case. The real problem is that they don’t have enough space or designated places to put their things. Without a system, it’s difficult to find what you are looking for later. The other villain is time. Some days it just doesn’t seem like there is enough time to get to everything read or organized or filed.

Here are some ideas to help you:

Install cubbies, bins or hooks for each member of the family. Design this area to fit your décor. This is a great way to deal with mail, newspapers, clothing and dog leashes. You’ll also know where to go when you can’t find something. Be sure to include a wastebasket to immediately throw out mail of other items before they get into the house.

When you have a place for everything, you won’t loose precious time and endure stress looking for things. Have you considered using an attractive bowl placed near the exit door for everyone’s keys?

Your closets can be better organized with see-through boxes with covers to keep the dust out. They can hold shoes, scarves, belts, small purses, sewing needles and threads.

Everyone complains that they don’t have enough storage. Many people build storage space. Rather, look at what you are storing and decide if you really need it and if it is worth saving. It might be less expensive to replace the occasional item you may need down the road, rather than use valuable space and money to create the space. Think of the fun it could be buying new when you need it. And chances are, what you would buy now is different from what you bought before.

It’s interesting to hear people talk about the seasons in terms of cleaning up their act. Spring cleaning, getting things out of storage in the fall, using the winter months to go through their things, and summer time to get rid of things they haven’t used.

Since de-cluttering is such a chore and avoidance a way of dealing with it, wouldn’t it be important to start this very minute and not let anymore stuff accumulate? Be sure and allow a certain amount of time everyday or weekend or evening to be spent going through one pile, one drawer or one closet?

You will breathe easier, move about more freely and enjoy the space around you. Your rooms won’t care what you keep or get rid of but you will, because rooms have no feelings, YOU do.

Thanks for all your questions and comments. If I use your question or comment on this blog I will send you a free, autographed copy of my book “The Bajaro Method: Rooms Have No Feelings, YOU Do!”

Visit me at: www.BarbaraKaplan.com

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address in the box on the right that says “Sign Up For Our Email Newsletter.” You will

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Think of plants as friends that can liven up the home

Plants add life, movement, warmth and interest to a room by creating a feeling of bringing the outside into your interior design.  Plants add color, texture and balance and can fill an empty space.

Yet when I suggest to clients that they should add plants, their eyes glaze over and they shake their heads. “I’m no good with plants,” they say.  “I have a brown thumb!”

This is when I extol the virtues of having live plants in every environment.  I always reassure my clients that it’s OK for a plant to die.  Plants don’t have to live forever, and when they get ragged it’s time to replace them.

Experience has taught me that there is no such thing as a brown thumb. It boils down to learning a little about plants and what they need.

I also subscribe to the notion that plants feel energy and will react to thoughts. When I leave for a trip, my plants seem to know it and appear to look different when I come home until I have had a chance to acknowledge them.

Here’s some advice for buying and caring for plants:

·       When you buy a plant, ask how often it needs to be watered. Give it only what it needs.  Most people lose plants by over-watering, although under-watering is just as harmful.

·       Buy a good plant thermometer.  You will always know if the plant needs watering; you won’t have to guess.

·       Learn what natural light your plant requires.  Does the plant need bright light or can it live in less light?  This is critical for a plant to look healthy and survive.

If you have the water and light under control, you will have beautiful plants that will live and look good for a long time.

Now let’s consider how to use plants from an interior decorating point of view.

·       What do you want to accomplish by bringing in a plant?

·       Is the size right for the space? (What shape - tall or wide - would be better for the area?)

·       How high is the ceiling?

·       Will the placement of the plant be an obstacle to walking or sitting?

·       What color should the leaves be—dark green, yellow green or sage? (Should the plant be a flowering type, or perhaps a cactus?)

·       What leaf shape are you looking for? (Rounded leaves are softer and more approachable, giving a more inviting feel.  Pointed leaves are more dramatic and sophisticated.  Some leaves grow toward the ceiling and give the room a livelier feeling, and others grow down toward the floor for a more subdued feeling.)

For rooms where the light is not conducive to living plants, you can buy fabulous silk plants.  Some silks are meant to look real, and others are more whimsical.

Fresh flowers add interest to any room; however, if you prefer, you can keep silk flowers in vases.  They can be changed out every time you bring fresh flowers home.  When you mix silk plants with live ones, few people will suspect you have mixed the two.

As a finishing touch, you can use up-lights on the floor to accent the plants. For subtle ambiance or drama, put those lights on timers and set them to go on when it gets dark and go off at your normal bedtime.  This way, your home is never dark when you come home.

Normally I say “Room have no feelings, you do.”  However, today I’m going to say, “Plants are your friends who live with you.”

Visit me at: www.BarbaraKaplan.com

Also, if you would like to sign up for my quarterly newsletter, please enter you e-mail address in the box on the right that says “Sign Up For Our Email Newsletter.” You will receive tips and tricks for decorating, as well as coupons and specials.

Walls - we take them for granted.  They protect us, create cozy spaces, and serve as the skin of every room.  Yet we often forget how important they are and don’t consider their treatment.

Wall covering has changed. Navajo white is out. Even builders are offering two or three shades of tan as standard procedure.  People want choices in color. My clients are now asking me, “What color should we paint the walls?”  Before, I would have had to suggest color.

Colorfully painted walls are bright, strong, bold and exciting, adding mood to a room.  Even subdued colors add mood.  With color, rooms have personality and style, and make a statement about the occupants. You can create your own style with color and not spend too much money. 

Don’t be afraid to paint each room a different color - particularly bedrooms where there is a door and natural stopping point.  Open areas generally need to be unified; however, an accent wall in a contrasting color can be interesting and easily achieved.

There are several other ways to cover a wall.  Wallpaper is back and we still see faux finishes and Venetian plasters.  Faux finishing adds color and texture.  It can resemble marble, natural materials or stone effects, as well as glazing and combing.

Venetian plaster is a three- to four-coat process and is very smooth. Whatever color you choose is mixed into the plaster, giving it greater depth and durability.

Fabric on walls is fabulous. Besides the look it adds an acoustical element to the room. The foam or Dacron padding is applied to the walls and then fabric is attached over it.  Any fabric can be used, and in most cases it is less expensive than wallpaper - it depends on the cost of the fabric.  Another advantage is that it doesn’t damage the wall when it is removed.

Fabric can also be applied directly to the wall with glue.  If you choose, you can add wood or metal as accents in a design, such as squares or diamonds, These accents can be purchased ready-made and all you have to do is glue them onto the fabric covered wall.

If you are handy, you can make your own wallpaper by cutting out pictures from a magazine or use personal pictures. You can also paint a faux finish on heavy paper and tear it into large pieces and glue them onto the walls overlapping the pieces.  With these techniques you never have any seams.

A rich and surprising look is to carry ceramic tile high up onto walls, even to the ceiling. It is washable and the colors and texture choices are endless.

Vinyl tile can be used in the same way. For instance vinyl tile that looks like cork, used on the wall adds a feeling of warmth.  It’s great in a child’s room because it is fun, washable and relatively indestructible.

Ideas, new ideas and your ideas - today’s design is all about finding what is right for you.

Have fun and remember that walls have no feelings - you do!

Visit me at: www.BarbaraKaplan.com

Also, if you would like to sign up for my quarterly newsletter, please enter you e-mail address in the box on the right that says “Sign Up For Our Email Newsletter.” You will receive tips and tricks for decorating, as well as coupons and specials.

Each Home Starts as a Blank Canvas…

Make Yours a Work of Art

Decorating can be costly because so many things have to be

purchased to beautify a room and make it feel good. 

Last week, I explained to a new client that when you choose

 colors for walls, ceilings and floors, you have the opportunity

 to create a color scheme - to set the design statement.  You are

 creating a canvas and more.

 We discussed what color to paint the walls and ceilings, and

what color carpet she should use.

 She was eager to have all of this before she moved in, and

 before she bought any furniture.

 When I work with a new client, we usually begin by selecting

 fabrics, which helps in the development of a color scheme.

 We hadn’t discussed fabric, so choosing colors became the

 first item we addressed.

 We needed to discover what colors she liked best, and what

 feeling she wanted her new home to project. 

 I asked what colors she didn’t like in her current home, and

 how she would like her new home to be different.

 She immediately said she liked bright colors, particularly

yellow.   

We selected a color called “desert tan” because it was neutral,

yet had a warm yellow glow.  It allowed her to use any other

 color she wanted, while still giving her the feeling she desired.

 We decided to give each bedroom its own color - the master

 bedroom became green and the guest room raspberry to go

with blue bedspreads she was bringing from her current home.

 In the tiny laundry room, which tended to be boring, we painted

 each wall a different color - combining the same colors we used

 in other rooms of the house.

 Like magic, it was no longer boring! 

Next came the floors.  People often think floors have to be the

same throughout the house.  That’s not so.  

Variety is more interesting, and you can accomplish this

with flooring.  

To create a great look, use tile, wood or any hard surface in

open areas where there is no natural stopping point.  

You can carpet each bedroom a different color because the

 hard material separates them.

 Select carpet before you paint.  It’s harder to find carpet

that works with your paint.  

This way, you can match or complement the wall color

 to your carpet.  

If the wall color is dark, lighten the ceiling color because of

the shadow that is created from the floor.  You can lighten

it several shades and it will appear the same color as the walls.  

You can accent the baseboard, woodwork, doors and shutters

 in a contrasting color if you want them to make a statement,

or you can blend them with the walls.

 The walls, floors and ceilings are your canvas.  Make your rooms

 come alive with a background that speaks to you and about you. 

Give each room its own personality.  

After all, each room has a special purpose and may be used by

different people. This is a perfect way for other members in

 your family to express their individuality.

 Remember, rooms have no feelings, you do!

If you have specific questions please enter them as comments in the blog and I will be happy to answer them.

Visit me at: www.BarbaraKaplan.com

Also, if you would like to sign up for my quarterly newsletter, please enter you e-mail address in the box on the right that says “Sign Up For Our Email Newsletter.” You will receive tips and tricks for decorating, as well as coupons and specials!

Just remember:  Rooms have no feelings  -  you do

Welcome to my blog - where we will embark on an exciting journey through the world of interior design. I want to tell you a little about myself and my design philosophy. 

I’m a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, an allied member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and a member and past president of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA). 

I’ve worked with many clients through my business, Design Dimensions.  It has been a joy watching my clients grow and expand their living experience through my method of self-discovery.

It took many years to understand I specialize in intuitive interior design, which means I work with energy - the client’s energy.  My goal is to help my clients discover they have the intuition to decide what they need and want in their personal spaces.  My job is to give them the confidence and reassurance that what they feel is right is right.

No one can tell us how to live. Each of us has to choose what we need to live authentically.  Perhaps you’ve heard that “all the answers are inside.”  I wholeheartedly believe this tenet.  I hope this blog will give you the courage to express yourself, honestly, freely and fearlessly when decorating your home, office or maybe just one room.

When beginning each engagement (project), my clients must look within before we can go about creating their environments.  I liken it to the equation: e = motion.  This is where energy equals movement and energy comes from emotions.  Once my clients communicate with me, we can design a space that is comfortable and that resonates for them.

Chances are, I’ll discuss things you haven’t heard before, such as heart design and soul design.  And I will constantly remind you that rooms have no feelings, you do!  When you read anything you disagree with, let me know.  Then we can discuss it.

I also welcome questions and look forward to answering them.  The purpose of this blog is to give you confidence to express yourself through interior design.

I’m excited to be here.  Let’s have fun together, learn together and see how each of us grows through self-discovery.

     Today’s topic:

Q:  What are the hottest design trends?  Is “Tuscan” on the way out?  If so, what’s in?

A:  In warmer climates we are not affected by design trends the way other parts of the world are.  Our connection with the outdoors is prevalent.  This being the case, climate often dictates style/trends - such as window coverings, swimming pools, barbecues, spas and even tennis/sport courts.  Warm climates tend to make style more casual.

Over the past few years the Tuscan look - which can be dark, large-scale and heavy – has been popular.  I have found many people object to these elements even if they like them because they don’t fit their lifestyle.  Choices are mixed, and are as different as the people who choose them.

Lately the Santa Barbara look is appearing on the scene.  It is charming and traditional like Tuscan, yet the colors, fabrics and furniture are lighter and brighter. Often the walls are painted white or a bright color. The furniture style is more casual or rustic, versus the formality of Tuscan.  You should select what you like, no matter what the trend is. What is in today is out tomorrow – so live with what you love.

And remember, rooms have no feelings, you do!

Please visit me on my website: www.BarbaraKaplan.com

Unique Treasures Personalize Home

When was the last time you went shopping for something unique for your home? Looking for just the right piece to go in that special place? Then the dilemma—–what size should it be? What color? What shape? These are the questions that immediately flood the mind.  We want it to be “just right”.

Finding that right piece turns out to be as varied as my clients. Primarily because we all have our own definition of what is right.  In helping my clients discover what this might be, I encourage them not to question where the piece is going to be placed but to see it as something special for them. 

As they begin this exploration I suggest they venture out and explore stores to see what strikes them. What pieces speak to them? What pieces would they enjoy looking at all the time?

As they go about this adventure they are now open to discovering things they might not have considered before. They soon realize that their options are greater than they anticipated and the choices many. They can buy anything they like as long as the scale and the colors work with the rest of the room. Sometimes, when a piece is unexpected and slightly too big or small or brings a new color to the scheme, it adds interest, personality and individuality. This is also how you can make a statement.

It is very rewarding to make a statement in your home—placing your signature on your life’s style. It is validating because it says, “I live here and I’m important”. It is your stamp of self -approval.

When living with someone who needs to be considered also, it can be fun to discuss the different things you see and combine your tastes. This allows an even greater dimension of what you could have created on your own.

My advice is to venture out and begin looking for that “perfect” piece, but know that it may not exist. Don’t be in a hurry take your time. There are many choices. Look for that special something that speaks directly to you and says, “Take me home and I will make you happy”. I promise you will find that it will look terrific in that special spot and will give you a wonderful feeling every time you look at it!

Have fun playing with your options and finding your own personal self-expression.

Remember, “Rooms Have No Feelings, You Do!”

Please visit me on my website: www.BarbaraKaplan.com

Are you wondering what the secret of interior design is? It’s something I have learned working with hundreds of clients. When asked the right questions you’ll discover what makes you comfortable living in your space.

The 3 most important steps are: 

      *Step 1- Understanding your own interior.

      * Step 2 - Accepting yourself as unique.

       * Step 3 - Allowing, trusting your choices. 

This is the basis of the secret. To learn more you can go to my website www.barbarakaplan.com and purchase my book “The Bajaro Method. Rooms Have No Feeling, YOU Do!”

My goal is that this blog begin the process of giving you the confidence to decorate and design for yourself. After all who knows you better than you! You may never have taken the time to reflect on your taste in colors, styles, and how you want to live in your most personal space - your home.

Asking the right questions is the key to the right answers. Such as:

     * How do you feel when you walk into your home?

      * What do you see first and how do you feel about what you see?

       * Where in your home are you the most comfortable? Why?

This is how you start to build a picture of who you are in your environment.You are writing your own story of how you want to live. It is important that you stay true to yourself and not be influenced by others.

And remember, rooms have no feelings, YOU do!

This blog will give you everything you need to know to be your own interior designer. You will be learning all the secrets of world-class interior designers.

Remember, rooms have no feelings, YOU do!

Please visit me on my website: www.BarbaraKaplan.com