Lauri’s Blog:

Joe and I marked our big 3-0 anniversary a couple of weeks ago by taking a trip to San Salvador to celebrate the milestone.  What a beautiful, romantic island. Everywhere we turned there was vivid color; nowhere more than the sea. With miles and miles of turquoise water, I returned home itching to decorate a room in shades of aqua. Until then, I will enjoy the bright marine blue color of my new bathing suit.

The water is completely clear, like a swimming pool. ‘Warm, too.

Can you imagine a better place to have a massage?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

You may have read my blog last August 11th (’No More Casual Flings’) when I gave you the steps to making any bed look prettier and more comfortable. If so, I hope you’ve been enjoying your bedroom more, since these details don’t cost a penny and they can make your entire room look a lot more inviting and luxurious, instantly.

In case you need a reminder, take a peak at these beds. Notice how, just by fluffing up the duvet and turning it back and adding a couple of accent pillows and a throw, the bed invites you to stretch out and nap.

And look at what a difference accent pillows and neck rolls make!

Even a single decorative pillow can improve the way your bed looks if you also take one moment to fluff up your pillows and fold back your duvet every morning, as you start your day.

Do you make your bed look pretty each morning?

If you are considering a redecorating project, small or large, it’s important to analyze your priorities before you begin. This can help you establish the appropriate budget, in advance, and also save you from making expensive mistakes.

Factors such as how much storage you have or need, whether or not you have children or pets, if you like to entertain, what the exposures are and how many people live in your home are all important points. In addition, here are some other things you may want to think about before commencing with the project:

1. How long do I think I’ll be living in this home?
2. As a renter, is this too costly a project to undertake?
3. Will this work increase the value of my property?
4. Might the change require that I make other updates?
5. Is it likely that I will be able to use this purchase in my next home?

As with most things, the more thought you give to your undertaking beforehand, the better the outcome is likely to be.

Which decorating projects are you thinking about doing?

“ I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.”  – Henry David Thoreau

When asked, most of my female clients state that the way their home looks is what is most important to them. Conversely, the majority of male clients say that comfort is the key element. Which group is right?

In fact, any well designed home requires an aesthetically pleasing environment and comfortable places to relax. One without the other is not enough. Sort of like beautiful people who, after you begin talking with them, continue to look fabulous only if their intellect/personality is as sparkling as their smile.

So, what can be done to satisfy this dual prerequisite? It’s actually a fairly straightforward agenda: Simply correct The 10 Most Common Decorating Mistakes.

In case you are not familiar with them, here is the list of ten missteps from my first book, Use What You Have Decorating, which almost everyone succumbs to when redecorating any home (well, at least seven out of the ten!):

1.    Not defining your priorities
2.    An uncomfortable conversation area
3.    Poor furniture placement
4.    A room that is off-balance
5.    Furniture of different heights
6.    A room that lacks a cohesive look
7.    Ignoring the room’s focal point
8.    Improper use of artwork
9.    Ineffective use of accessories
10.  Using lighting incorrectly

The good news is that every one of these boo-boos is easy to correct.
In upcoming blogs, I will go over each gaffe and give you tips to alleviate them, instantly, without spending money. And, if you want to get going and transform your rooms now, check out the paperback.

Do you recognize any of these errors in your home?

Here are 10 things you can do to give your home a warm-weather spruce up, without spending much money:

1. Clear every windowsill and then give each one a fresh coat of paint.
2. Check to see that all of your indoor (and outdoor) plants are potted in one material: all clay pots and saucers, all black, etc. Create an indoor garden by grouping plants together, in one corner.
3. Remove all area rugs. If you opt for one, keep the living room rug in place.
4. Put away winter throws and sofa pillows. Replace needlepoint and velvet with cotton and linen.
5.Take down heavy curtains and leave sheers or add simple linen panels.
6. Replace dark oil paintings with bright watercolors, drawings or photos. And be sure that every room has one blank wall, to rest the eyes.
7. Change your winter duvet to a lightweight cotton coverlet.
8. Pull your shades/blinds all the way up and wash the windows to let in more spring and summer sunlight.
9. Install screens and open the windows instead of using air-conditioning to freshen your home, whenever possible. Arrange fresh flowers in more than one room and, if needed, get a reed diffuser to scent the air.
10. Touch up paint and furniture, where needed.
Ahhhhhhhh.

What are you doing to prepare your home for the coming warmer weather?

There are many opportunities for us to get outside and walk at this time of year, especially to find design inspiration. Of course there are other benefits, too: the fresh air can lift our spirits; the solitude can provide quiet time for a walking meditation, the movement can help us get in better shape physically. Plus, walks are free of charge. Quadruple “wins.”

As we stride, we can check out the many shades of green that are all around now: from bright spring green to blue-green to deep evergreen. If we look closely at the colors in the center of each flower we may see not just the shade that is on the petals but quite a few other hues. It’s possible to find the perfect taupe for our living room color schemes in rock outcroppings or on stone buildings. Painted houses, stucco and pavers may trigger ideas for sophisticated upholstery palettes as easily as the colors in the sky or water suggest the ideal shades for our accent pillows. By taking the time to really focus on everything that is all around – and not just glance – we can discover so much more and benefit greatly.

And, the best part: Every time we put on our sneakers and head out the door, there are new things just waiting to stimulate our imaginations, and put smiles on our faces, over and over again.

What have you found, when walking?

Yesterday, accompanied by a group of decorator trainees, I worked on the home of an editor-in-chief of a national womens’ magazine. Her living room was tastefully decorated in traditional style with lovely artwork, seating covered in taupe damask, and tables made of mahogany. Although the space was not very big, nor naturally light, it had charm. And, as with most homes, it also had at least half a dozen of the 10 Most Common Decorating Mistakes.

The biggest issue amongst them was the limitations created by an awkward traffic pattern that cut through the room twice: first, on an angle, crossing from the bedroom hallway to the French doors into the kitchen, and then, from the entrance foyer going to the bedrooms.

If you, too, have challenges created by awkward traffic patterns, one of the best solutions is to bring in furniture pieces that offer flexibility such as ottomans and tables on casters or chairs on swivel bases, that can be moved or turned when needed. Both of these options can offset rigid architecture that has too many doors/ archways/ windows and sliders.

For the editor, the addition of a new, small-scale swivel club chair for her husband, along with a mahogany computer trolley and a narrow tufted leather ottoman/coffee table – the last two on casters – would correct several of the Common Mistakes and change the dynamic of her room, along with more and better lighting, rearrangement of artwork and accessories, new window treatment, etc.

If you already have furniture that meets your needs, just add the aforementioned mechanisms to the bottoms of your pieces, wherever possible. You’ll be moved by how much better your space will function.

I love my work but it wasn’t always that way.

My first two jobs were in publishing: I started with a small publishing house and then moved to a large firm. Ultimately, I realized that I just didn’t like working in an office. For me, a 9 to 5 job was a bummer. (Ironically, the idea that I’d someday be an author would have been as likely a reality, then, as my believing I’d become an astronaut.) But what I truly believed and envisioned was that I could use my creativity and energy to run my own business. I went back to school and began to focus on becoming a successful “entrepreneur.”

Today, because I  direct a training program, I get to meet a lot of people who are also pursuing their dream careers. The decorators who study with me are not only creative; they are also bright, hard working and seem to respect the power of positive thinking. This last trait may be the most important one because no matter how talented or smart they are, without it, it would probably be difficult for them to succeed.

For example, when asked about it, recently, most of my trainees observe signs that the economy is already improving and believe it will continue to strengthen this year. They also see themselves growing their new home-based businesses by offering great service to people who are looking for value. They are aware that they will have to wear many hats and work long hours but they say they welcome the challenge and look forward to being their own boss.  As Marisa Tomei’s character in the film, My Cousin Vinny, testified: They’ve got “Positraction!”

Have you changed careers in order to follow your dream or are you planning to take the leap? Do you believe in the power of positive thinking? If so, here is some additional inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6MhAwQ64c0

Lots of my clients have wedding photos of themselves or of their children decorating their living rooms – and their family rooms, bedrooms and hallways. Yes, it’s wonderful to be reminded of a special occasion but is it necessary to display the same picture from four different angles? Perhaps it’s just me, but I think one framed photo per person, for each special event, is sufficient.

Last week, one of my clients had a particular photo of her grandson in literally every room, except her bathroom. Her powder room actually had the same picture sitting on a shelf in a little frame.

Now, I respect my clients and their devotion to their families and I also appreciate that they all have the right to display whatever makes them happy, wherever they choose in their homes. It’s just that displaying multiple shots of the same subject can detract from the impact that one really great photo has, plus all of the matching pictures take up a lot of valuable space.

So, if you are trying to declutter, downsize, spring clean, or simply redecorate your home, consider honing down multiples of the same photos. Your rooms will feel more open, airy and tranquil and you’ll still be able to enjoy your special treasured memories.

Be honest: are you displaying multiples of the same photo?

Nike’s ‘Just Do It’ slogan has been my mantra for years. It’s short, simple and the message is clear. Whenever I find myself procrastinating, I repeat the three letters, “JDI,” and, magically, it helps. Off I go to the gym, to the supermarket; I even manage to get out of bed when I feel like sleeping for another hour.

The same concept applies to being eco-conscious. Taking small steps can lead to positive changes.

For example, switching one incandescent bulb to one CFL light bulb can lead to converting other fixtures to energy savers. Getting in the habit of recycling newspapers can lead to putting cans and bottles into recycling bins. Shutting the lights off in any room that is unoccupied, taking shorter cooler showers, turning the water off while brushing teeth, running washers and dryers with full loads and carrying reusable, shopping bags are things we can all do without much effort.

It’s Earth Day 2009. Isn’t it finally time for all of us to “Just Do It?”
Let’s work together to conserve our beautiful natural resources and energy, today and every day.
What are you doing to help protect our home planet?