October, 2008 - Browsing by month

The color ochre, also spelled ocher, is one of my favorites. Early in my design career I participated in a Designer Showhouse. My challenge was the foyer, all stairs and hallways. With other designers all around my areas, I sought a color to invite, complement and add a warm contemporary feeling. My choice was ochre. Over the course of the month that the Showhouse was open to the public, I received many calls for the exact name and number of the paint.

So when I saw this photo in the latest issue of Southern Accents magazine, all my memories of that design concept refreshed in my mind. I like that this color is suited to antique and traditional elements as well as transitional contemporary styles. Whether the other designers worked with reds, burgundy, blues or greens, the ochre fit. Likewise soft blue greys, creams and ebonized wood looked rich and fresh.

This color is understated and doesn’t draw attention to itself. Not too bold so that beautiful art, rugs, flowers and all the other design elements have space for appreciation. Accents of white or black create balance when added selectively.

Possibly the biggest plus for ochre is that it flatters all skin tones so everyone invited to enjoy the space looks equally fabulous.

In this article the author notes Sherwin Williams Sunrise SW 6668 and Weekend 1029-C Martin Seynour in case you want to check it out for yourself.

Tags: color, design, ocher, paint, season
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Locate a designer

Helios Carpet is promoting LocateADesigner.com in Metropolitan Home magazine. The ad is on page 46 of the November issue and is on newsstands now!

This Website was developed by Helios Carpet to help you find the right interior designer for your decorating or remodeling project. Designers from all over the country have posted profiles that include information about their services, experience, and qualifications, along with images of their work.

Click on Locate A Designer to find a designer near you.

Tags: decorating, interior design, remodel, resource
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Ed Del Grande of Kohler shares his top ten tips:

1. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving to avoid using excess water.
2. Cut a minute off your shower time every day to save more that 750 gallons of water annually. Also consider swapping out your showerhead with a low-flow model that can reduce water usage by one-half gallon per minute.
3. Landscape with native or drought-tolerant plants to significantly reduce water usage outside the home.
4. Replace old toilets with High-Efficiency Toilets (HET) to save up to 17,000 gallons of water annually.
5. Use leftover water for houseplants instead of pouring it down the drain.
6. Make sure the dishwasher is fully loaded to maximize the number of dishes cleaned in a cycle.
7. Use the appropriate water level and load size on the washing machine when doing laundry. Consider purchasing a front-load washing machine.
8. Fix leaky faucets and install low-flow aerators on kitchen and bath faucets to effortlessly save 200-300 gallons of water each month.
9. Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks.
10. Water your garden during the coolest part of the day, generally in the morning, and avoid watering on windy days.

Tags: Green Design, remodel, water conservation
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Suzanne Kasler’s first collection of pieces for Hickory Chair are inspired by her own personal collection. She is an Atlanta based interior designer who mixes continental and classics.

According to Suzanne, she found a Russian bench at a Paris flea market and decided to recreate it with the name Anastasia. For emphasis, the legs are gilded.

This bench would be the perfect dressing table chair or an extra seat (or two) in a conversational grouping. With another finish or stain and less formal fabric, it would have another totally different look for a more casual area.

Tags: bench, interior design, ottoman, style
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) will partner once again this October to observe National Window Covering Safety Month. This year’s campaign will mark the sixth-annual observance.

According to information provided by the CPSC, since 1990 approximately 200 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling in window cords. This month-long, nationwide campaign is designed to increase consumer awareness of potential window-cord hazards, as well as to urge parents and caregivers of young children to only use cordless window products in young children’s bedrooms and play areas and to replace all window coverings in the home made before 2001 with today’s safer products.

To invoke industry-wide participation, the “Make the Right Choice, KIDS…CORDS…CAUTION” safety slogan will be the theme for the promotional campaign. In addition, the official National Window Covering Safety Month campaign logo, depicting a child’s hand grabbing the cords of a window blind, will be used.

Tags: children, cords, safety, windowcovering
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