 Do you know someone who would be interested in receiving our FREE newsletter? Click the link above to sign them up. They will love you for it. |
| | Greetings, | | Welcome Spring! Now that spring is officially here, there is no better time to "spring into decorating!" Our very talented members have shared some great springtime decorating ideas here to take you out of the doldrums of winter and into the freshness of spring. Enjoy! Lori Brasseur Editor |
| Quick TipsAssistant Editor: Sandi Gregory, Details Redesign and Staging | | The Effective Use of Lighting In Your Home or Office Written By: Ginger Foust, Dream Interior ReDesign & Staging There are four general types of lighting: Ambient lighting is generally created with ceiling fixtures like these can-lights. Ambient gives overall light to a room.
Task lighting is used to help light a task, like cooking, reading, sewing or homework. 
Accent lighting is used to highlight special features in any space, architectural elements, wall art and special decorative items. These sconces for example, highlight the specialized wall treatment. 
Decorative lighting usually serves more than one purpose. This table lamp is both decorative and a task light. 
QUIZ: Can you find the four types of lighting used in this conference room?
1. Ambient - Ceiling can-lights & chandelier
2. Task - Ceiling can-lights
3. Accent - Small ceiling can lights focused on vase, floral arrangement & wall art.
4. Decorative - Wall sconces & chandelier |
|
| Industry News Assistant Editor: Cheryl Deagon, Arranging Places | 2008 is the Year of Renewal -Perfect for Interior Redesign Submitted by: Michelle Rider, IRIS Public Relations  "We don't change houses, we change lives," says Nanette Catarinella, a Pittsburgh, PA Interior Redesigner. "Redesigning a home pulls people together, helps them interact better in their home and feel better in their home." Redesign encompasses a variety of services related to home staging, decorating and consulting. The concept is simple - use what you have. And this time of year, when thoughts turn more to saving money than spending money on home items, it can be especially valuable. Homeowners can get an entirely new look just by using their own belongings and furniture in a different way. The result: a fresh, new look on a budget. To read the entire article, click here |
| Ask a RedesignerEditor: Lori Brasseur, LB Designs | Wonderful Senior Experience Written by: GraceAnn Simoni, Yours Redesigned  Q. I will be helping my mom move into a new assisted living home soon and we don't know what we should keep and what we should get rid of. Do you have any suggestions to help her move? A. I want to share with you a wonderful experience I recently had with one of my clients. She and her husband moved back to Illinois, closer to family, into a lovely assisted living center. She is now a widow. When they moved back, they did not give much thought as to what things to give away and what to bring. They also were pressed for time. She currently feels what was moved does not seem to work well in the reduced living space. She called me for help thinking she needed new furniture. After spending a lovely time with her discussing her needs and wants, I scheduled an afternoon redesign of her living room and bedroom while she was visiting with friends in the building. Several of my students came with me and within a couple of hours, we had transformed the space to be much more livable and beautiful; switching some bedroom pieces to the living room and vise versa. She thought she would need to purchase new furniture, but now we're only shopping for one additional comfy chair. Needless to say, she was delighted! As our family members grow older and are in need of more assistance, they are still entitled to a living space they can love. When the time comes to help a loved one move to smaller quarters, call in the help of a redesigner. We are trained to evaluate the space, determine what will work from the original house, what is important to your loved one, and help them move in - including help with furniture placement, hanging pictures, placing memorable treasures, and getting your family member settled in within hours of the move. What a great gift to give our seniors! *Graceann is one of our very talented trainers. If you are interested in learning more about a career in interior redesign or staging visit our training page here. interior redesign/staging training |
| Quiz / Puzzle Editor: Lori Brasseur, LB Designs | How Well Do You Know Your Color Terms? Written by: About.com  The terminology of color offers a way to talk about color when shopping for paint, fabric, wallpaper, or any other home decorating item. For example, you might tell a salesperson that your family room is done in primary colors, or that you'd like to find a contrasting color. Test your knowledge of color terms in this quick quiz. http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001-aNnkTSZHpcR-VGd_XWzGKgEVHGuVKNaFgDYHwuwcEq6qLUHQKvxjUjoU8cV1c1m2o5_JE6u8QW_-n6f4rOOjiv2dUJ2tx17eP5mpyvaxpIZezD-ACPHlVFxNhSel8qu5fG0L3u3bjLoKuocg_eIr38kobaTPSFBSfWwzqg0RbQ= |
| Interior Redesign Assistant Editor: Jennifer Duchene, Homes Redefined | Green Design and Redesign Written By: Irene Woodworth, One Day Redesigns, Inc.  There is lots of talk these days about Green Design. What does that mean to you? Spring is a perfect time to look at our efforts and what we are doing for the environment, our homes and families. How do you go about incorporating Green Design into your home? Interior redesign is one of the purest forms of Green design. Redesign is all about reusing, recycling, renewing, regrouping, reutilizing and remixing what you already own. Our services focus on: "Affordable rearrangements using your existing furnishings to create beautiful and functional living spaces!" How do you do that? •· Go through your home and inventory the furniture, artwork and accessories you really like. •· Rethink those special furniture pieces. Can they serve another function in another room? •· Are they still in good condition but perhaps need a new coat of paint or refinishing? For smaller jobs, you can use Howard Restor-A-Finish, found at Home Depot. Sometimes it can eliminate refinishing your furniture. •· Maybe the time has come to recycle the pieces you no longer like by giving them to a friend or donating them to charity. •· What about consigning some of the pieces that you've gotten bored with and using the money from the sale to purchase something new which matches your style these days? •· No matter what avenue you take, think first about how to renew before buying something new. •· Color also packs a big punch for a small investment. Do you need help selecting color that matches your personality or style, or the light and function for your room or home? Spring is an excellent time for renewal or redesign. Do you still need help? Hire an IRIS Interior Redesigner who specializes in these services. To locate a Certified Interior Redesigner in your area go to: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001-aNnkTSZHpe0CTSR6a1kuIctjBukLnLOrc0GTxaCUljgxZMhTq9s8HwMG7JOlZjFvWlu2qPB6sINcJmxdgPq9Qxrhf9M2NyzZ1-EKu2Z4eHfDfAdR-mxFw==. Redesign a 'Green' space today! |
| Real Estate Staging Assistant Editor: Kathy Mohr, Begin it Today Design | | IRIS Certified Stagers Offer More Than Staging Written by: Lisa Sherman, Interior Aura, OR Staging is being increasingly recognized as an effective and affordable tool for realtors and home sellers alike. Professional stagers apply design elements including function, balance, proportion and scale, which naturally highlight the home's best features and capture the hearts of buyers - resulting in less market time and a top dollar sale. But did you know that IRIS stagers offer more than just staging? While striving to enhance services to clients, many continue their education with training and credentials to become experts in multiple areas. A few examples include:• •¨ Color Expert - Choosing the right paint color for a home about to go on the market can be overwhelming. What is right for your space - warm, cool, bright or deep tones? A color expert can assist you with choosing a color to capture the interest of a broad range of buyers and achieve beautiful and cohesive results throughout your home.•¨ Professional Organizer - By implementing structure, solutions and systems, stagers who are also organizers can help homeowners reclaim control of their lives as well as their space. •¨ Downsizing & Elderly Transitions - In preparing for a move to a smaller home or living quarters, clients often need assistance in the decision making process. A transition specialist will help with sorting, organizing, and creating a plan for removal, sale, donation or other placement of the belongings not moving to the new home. It doesn't stop there! Since so many IRIS stagers are redesigners as well, we offer a wide variety of services for sellers... and buyers! Often our clients call back once they've moved with more help with things like furniture placement, artwork arrangement, and window treatments. Want to know more? Visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001-aNnkTSZHpe0CTSR6a1kuIctjBukLnLOrc0GTxaCUljgxZMhTq9s8HwMG7JOlZjFvWlu2qPB6sINcJmxdgPq9Qxrhf9M2NyzZ1-EKu2Z4eHfDfAdR-mxFw== to find a staging professional in your area. |
| Members in the Media Assistant Editor: Sandi Gregory, details (Redesign and Staging) | Home Stagers Set the Scene  Written By: Roxanne Cooke, Puyallup Herald In today's housing market slump, adding value to the price of a home for sale can be a beacon to any homeowner or realtor. That's where home staging comes in. Home staging involves either redecorating an occupied house to prepare it for resale or furnishing a vacant home that's up for sale. The goal, stagers say, is to make the house appear attractive and spacious - a place where potential buyers can imagine living. Read full article here http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001-aNnkTSZHpd5X7j1c1LLAYZvEqKGIUDYgJkCudIX2EK3XZVCV8NPT8ElV_rvchs0v3uXTRdJ0tspUhwIF6XDO5R-LpAt3C2r_rWYLRekCqdwY38shDWQJZJHXy4wmeozUaO5pxRo7yat84UesrGlRA== |
|
