Friday, June 26, 2009

Fabulous & Beautiful Natural Materials

I really enjoy looking at beautiful & unusual uses of natural materials. I can't take credit for any of these fabulous photos but I think they are all beautiful in their own special ways. I am saving these pictures to incorporate some aspect of the idea into future design projects that I may have. I thought you might like to see some of them too.
The photo with the Marquetry Inlaid Wood Veneer is opulent…and not badly priced. Maya Romanoff has made a speciality of using unusual materials to make exotic wall coverings. The Marquetry Veneer uses micro-thin pieces of Pawlonia wood on a paper backing. The pattern is laser cut and then hand inlaid using traditional marquetry techniques. Available in 21-yard rolls, it is so flexible you can even wrap it around columns.
You can find this at http://www.mayaromanoff.com/

The last two are way over the top, (Banq*) but there are elements of this design that could be used to create something far more simple, (room divider -- ceiling treatment??) or something else I haven't thought of yet. It is so unusual that I have to keep it in my photo collection.

*Banq is a new restraunt in the old Penny Savings Bank (1375 Washington Street, Boston, MA) at the base of the old banking hall, designed by Office dA. The walls and ceilings were decorated using wave element made from unique pieces of three-quarter-inch birch plywood adhered together in a scenario that likens to a puzzle; only one possible location for each unit, formulating the continuous member.





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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Items for Sale From My Model Home Stash

I have lots of items in my storage room that are from some of the many model homes I have done over the years. Things are piling up. Take a look. I have a suggested price but make an offer if you see something you like.
Click here to go to my photo albums to see more items for sale.

You will need to click "BACK" to return to my blog after viewing the photo album.




You can call the office to talk to me about any of these items. 503-364-4237
suzannemariesinteriors.com






















Pillows Make a Statement



Fabulous fun ideas!
Today I went to the web searching for some fun ideas for pillows. Pillows can be a quick & inexpensive way to change the look and feel of a room. I wanted to share some of the fun pillow ideas I found. A few were from Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel so they can easily be found ready made. A few were custom so they can give some great ideas but you will need to have them made (or make them yourself if you're handy with the machine). The leather pillows are from a company that I use for all my lodge style bedding & accessories. If you want to see more of the leather pillows, give me a call or post a comment on this blog.
Click on the pillows you like for a link to where you can purchase them.

IDEAS
Change pillows with the seasons
Try different shapes and sizes
Mix colors & patterns for a WOW look.
Put pillows in unexpected places.
Add unusual trims & buttons
Use them outdoors. (Sunbrella fabrics are fade resistant)















































I found a new on-line source for some unique pillows!

Check out http://www.jonathanadler.com/ and see if you don't agree.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Kitchen Ideas

Need some fun kitchen ideas?

A custom hood, decorative backsplash or unusual materials will make a real statement. These are some of my favorites.

Copper counters and splashes
Copper & metal inlays & designs
Custom forged banding
Pickled wood finish on cabinets
Contrasting counter materials
Antiqued or honed granite surfaces
Plate racks in a window
What great ideas have you used???








"Green" Window Treatments Are Available


HUNTER DOUGLAS GREEN INITIATIVE
Hunter Douglas is proud to announce the launch of Hunter Green – a new and very important corporate “green” initiative designed to promote the superior energy-saving benefits Hunter Douglas products offer, create awareness and action around conserving energy across the company and support social programs that have a positive impact across the globe.

As part of its commitment to environmental consciousness, the company also commissioned the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI), an independent, non-profit organization that has taken strong measures to establish acceptable indoor air standards for indoor products, environments and buildings, to verify that its products meet their stringent indoor air quality guidelines.” Now, virtually all Hunter Douglas products have passed rigorous standards and test procedures and are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Certified®. This is more than any other industry company. What’s more, Hunter Douglas products have also been certified by GREENGUARD for Children & Schools.

Conserving Energy
“Along with a renewed commitment to decreasing our own energy usage and implementing other changes that will ultimately reduce our carbon footprint,” said Donna Lobosco, Hunter Douglas Director of Brand Communications, “our overriding goal is to help customers everywhere conserve energy while adding beauty to their homes with Hunter Douglas window fashions – innovative products that are as functional as they are stylish.”

What most people don’t know is that almost five percent of all energy consumed in the U.S. passes through the windows of residential homes and as much as 50 percent of a home’s energy is lost through these same windows. Select Hunter Douglas window fashions can significantly reduce this energy loss, helping customers stay more comfortable in their homes, save on heating and cooling costs and do their part to protect the environment.

Duette® Architella® honeycomb shades take energy conservation to a whole new level. The patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design forms more air pockets than traditional honeycomb shades and reduces heat transfer at the window by up to 50 percent when the shades are properly installed, helping to lower heating and cooling costs.

Corporate Commitment
The Hunter Douglas corporate commitment to minimizing its impact on the environment includes an aggressive plan to reduce its energy consumption by 15 percent, water usage by 40 percent and overall carbon emissions by 20 percent over a three-year period. The entire Hunter Douglas organization is fully engaged in this effort, and progress will be formally tracked with those facilities achieving the greatest results rewarded for their commitment and contribution to the cause.

On a broader scale, the company financially supports the Arbor Day Foundation in its efforts to
replant trees lost in U.S. fires and to preserve rapidly diminishing rain forest lands. Initial contributions to the organization are expected to result in 15,000 new trees and help save more than a million square feet of rain forest.

In the social arena, during the 15-year Hunter Douglas partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the company has donated more than 100,000 window coverings to low-income families, while its employees have helped build hundreds of homes. Hunter Douglas has also invested in an equity fund that helps billions of people in developing countries around the world be more energy efficient and carbon neutral. Its activities include backing the commercialization of safe lighting products to replace polluting kerosene lamps.

“From products to processes to philanthropy, environmental consciousness is a core
Hunter Douglas value. For the future of our children and our children’s children, we are indeed ‘Hunter Green,’” concluded Lobosco.
Would you like to know more about the energy efficiency of the various blinds?

Home Staging



What is Home Staging?
Home staging is the professional arranging of furnishings & accessories to present your home in a way that is most attractive to visitors or potential buyers. Staging may include painting suggestions, furnishing rearrangement, decluttering, repair suggestions, carpet or flooring changes as well as accessorizing.
Exterior staging is also very important because your buyers 1st impression is what will determine if the will even come inside to see you home.

Who should be using home staging services?


• Home Builders who provide model homes.
• Realtors who value the need for staging to help sell their listings.
• Homeowners who want to be ready when that buyer comes along.

Are you trying to sell your home in this "down" market?

This is for SERIOUS sellers only.
Home Staging is not typical interior design and is not something just anyone can do successfully. While we all do some "staging" when putting our house on the market, successful staging performed by an expert greatly increases your homes' chances of being shown & considered.

Buying a house is largely an emotional decision because people are not just purchasing a home; they are buying a dream ... a lifestyle. Your home needs to reflect that dream to a buyer. ARE YOU READY?

Everything you can do to reflect that vision of someone’s “dream home” is a step in the right direction.

Check in next week for my posting on What to do before listing your home.

Lots of Changes.