My Favorite Pumpkins This Fall

"Rock-a-bye pumpkin, on the tree top.."  

I skipped as I left the pumpkin patch today with the hottest green pumpkin! I love the look and taste of granny smith apples and this one looks like one on steroids.  Pumpkins can make a fun statement and dress up the outside and inside of your home.  They can have brilliant color, fun imperfections, and last longer than a bouquet of flowers (try bringing a bouquet of gourds to your next dinner party).  

This blog entry is dedicated to pumpkins, the squash-like fruit that range in size from less than 1 pound to over 1,000 pounds. To all the people and pumpkins out there, I hope the weather is grand by you.  It has been raining cats and dogs the last two days around here.  I have been going bananas with all the rain. Then the sun came out today, I felt a slight breeze, and smelt that autumn air. I am finally getting into the Fall season! Seems like everyone has--except for my mail carrier who is rockin' shorts (you go girl!).  

So after checking on the progress of a reno project I am working on in Easton PA I  pulled on a purple tweed sweater and headed to Grim's in Breinigsville.  I wanted to see what pumps besides the classic orange were all the rage this year. Grim's is a great place for pickin' pumpkins and they have a giant corn maze that is carved out differently each yr.     

Orange, orange on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?  At this pumpkin patch, about a million.  I asked if I could win a prize if I guessed how many could turn into Cinderella's stage coach.  

I fell in love with an enormous albino White Pumpkin and slipped it my phone number;

Then I did a double take on some pumpkins covered in peanut shells.  These pumpkins looked like they were painted the most gorgeous water colors, then dreadfully drowned with the shells like warts. They are appropriately called Peanut Pumpkins.  

I filled a cute little red wagon with my pumpkins, downed some honey sticks, and headed home.  I couldn't wait to place my pumps all around my house.  It is so much fun.  Here are some great sites with ideas of how to decorate with pumpkins this fall: 

• BHG (love the window box display and potted pumpkins)
• Martha Stewart
• Today Show video (ideas from Southern Living from 2009)
• Good Housekeeping (using pumpkins without carving them)

I added pumpkins to my front door, in my front mulch, and to my bird bath.  I am waiting for my homeowners association to approve some minor cosmetic changes to the front of my home, so until then, it's all about the pumps. 

Get creative with where you place your pumpkins.  Happy October!!

As Seen On News: Adding Fun & Function To Kid Spaces

click here to see video

Maybe it is time for you to give a child's room a facelift; and I don't just mean their bedroom.  This applies to playrooms, mudrooms, foyers, and bathrooms.  

It is essential that kids of any age have a place where they can feel free.  Today I presented my ideas on WFMZ-TV 69 News at Sunrise.  Click here to see the segment (2 parts).  What a fun morning!!!!  Here is a recap:

Three goals your kids space should be designed to do:

-Create a happy and inspirational room;

-Set their imagination free; and

-Increase their motor skills.

1. Color. Let your children’s personalities come through.  Use colors that interest them.  Warning-don’t go too bright.  Shades of blues and pinks are popular because of the natural and psychological effects they have on people.  For example, soft shades of blue triggers associations with the sky and a psychological sense of calm.

Pink is another calming color.  It enhances the mood by calming heart rate. Interesting research was done reporting that Baker-Miller Pink (a pepto bismal, bubblegumy color) suppressed angry, antagonistic, and anxiety ridden behavior among prisoners.  It is used to calm violent prisoners in jails.  No joke :).  

How To: In this bedroom I created vertical stripes in two tones of light pink, and used her love of avocado green, which is a deep color, for the accents.  Trick-The bed canopy is made from a window box I flipped over and upholstered.

2. Make walls fun and functional by adding a large wall mural and placing hooks on it that hold supplies.  I call the one below a Tree System. This is not only fun but a valuable addition to a room with little space. 

In a playroom it can hold art supplies and costumes.

Use in a mudroom or foyer, to hold outdoor items in a creative way!

How To: grow your own Tree System using painter tape.  Just tape out your design then paint your wall. Next, peel the tape to reveal your design! My daughter assisted me in this fun part.

3. Storage. Use window boxes below your windows on the inside of your home to hold toys.  Bookcases are also great for storage, especially ones with large opening. IKEA is a great place to go for storage in kid spaces. I am a big fan of their Expedit series.  Variety of finishes and sizes and the storage bins come in diff. styles too.  

How To: I labeled the bins using chalkboard paint covered thin mdf rectangles I bought from Michaels.  I attached them using chothes pins.  Now children can read them without looking into the bins & I can easily erase and re-name each one.

4. Add a chalkboard, but not your Momma's chalk.  Chalkpaint can be tinted to almost any color these days! And you can turn an entire wall where your children can really express themselves.  I went to Buss Paints in Emmaus, PA to get tinted paints and Magnetic paint to create a wall so fun and funky!

How To: Roll on Magnetic Paint (needs 3 coats).  Buss Paints in Emmaus, PA carries it.

Then prime it and paint it Benjamin Moore Newt Green.

Then create 9 equal boxes using painters tape. And using a round template (My 6 yr old and I used a giant bowl), hold it up to the middle of each square and trace it with chalk. Paint each square Benjamin Moore Venezuelan Sea.  

5. Reuse the gold contractor chandelier that came with your home and turn it into a brand new one!

How To: Take off each sleeve and cover the socket with painters tape, then place each sleeve back on.  Then Sand it lightly.  Prime it with paint spray (I used a red color from Rustoleum), then spray it again with red paint.

6.  Create a little reading nook using a paper lantern.  You can find them on-line and at Pier 1.  Turn it into part of your theme like I did creating a miniature hot air balloon.

 

How To: Using a hot glue gun, glue the ribbons down in a pattern, then add a light mini bird cage (I bought it for $1 at Michaels).  Up the effect by adding ribbon to your vinyl window shade using fabric glue or fabric tape.  

BEHIND THE SCENES:

I would like to thank Buss Paints and Wallpaper for the magnetic paint and the chalkboard paint.

327 Main Street, Emmaus, PA 18049-2704, (610) 965-5466

And thank you to the nice gentleman from Lowes who cut the 8' board into 2 pieces for me to use on the show! 

'Crack!'

And thank you to the little girl on my daughters school bus today who asked if I was the babysitter (made my yr!).

Hope you get some great ideas and let me  know if you try any of these!!!!

Have You Heard of A Virtual Designer?

With the rise in home and garden television shows, the popularity of internet shopping, and a budget conscious society, homeowners are more knowledgeable with home decorating and design options.  Although dressing a space may still be overwhelming, for some, a push in the right direction is all that is needed.  This has changed the traditional way interior designers/decorators work with clients.  There are more ‘a la carte’ services, making it more affordable for anyone to use a professional.  One 'a la carte' trend on the rise is to hire a professional virtually to pull a room or multiple rooms together.  I call this a Virtual Designer.

So how does a Virtual Designer work?  This service is mainly done on-line.  Through e-mails and phone calls,  a unique design plan is created that sticks to the budget set by the client, and can include paint colors, space planning, and a list of products that can be purchased on-line or locally.  This gives homeowners a ‘map’ to a finished space that they can work on within their own time frame.  Below are two examples I have done working on a tight budget:

AND

Of course traditional face to face client-designer/decorator meetings are more personal and room planning is more thorough, but for the more confident homeowner or renter, this is a great option.  People now have access to hire designers from any where and dwellers of all income levels now have a way to get a designer space.  Tip-make sure you hire an experienced professional who you can reach by phone to clarify questions.  

Add Personality to A Family Rm & Dining Rm

This seven foot gallery of frames will capture lots of colorful memories in my client Kims' family room (including her little girls' sweet smile as shown).  These frames and the throw pillows are just a few of the added decor details to make Kim's home feel fun, unique and personal.  I dedicate this blog entry to creating spaces that express your personality and shout 'Ahhhh....I'm home and loving it here!' 

Kim is a very hip and fun working mother and wife in Lansdale PA.  She is so busy that it is hard for her to find time to shop for decor items that express her personality.  After discussing what made her unhappy with the current look of her family room and dining room I set to work to find furnishings that would make her shout 'Ahhhh....I'm home and loving it here!'

PART I - THE FAMILY ROOM

I found some great buys and colorful decor pieces including this very cool art display frame (see above).  This frame allows you to easily change out your kids artwork and has a pocket to hold more art.  It, along with all the other frames, were purchased from Target (click here to see how this design came to be).  Combining black and white frame finishes create drama on such a large wall space, and the touch of yellow give interest and make it unique.

After hanging the frames we concentrated on bringing in light, color and warmth to the rest of the family room.  We were working around a large brick wall to wall fireplace, that felt dark. 

BEFORE

AFTER

The new furnishings give this room a comfy, cozy feel, and all the small sentimental details placed around the space, warm the heart and shine.  The brick wall is no longer taking over the space;  And now there is lots of storage for the kids toys and dvds.  Also, see the blue grey color framing the photo?  That is the color the walls will be painted in a few weeks, giving the room a relaxed state of mind.

 

I found this 42" mirror for a great price.  I loved the detail in the frame but it was grey.  No problem - a quick makeover using celery green spray paint changes the look completely.

BEFORE

AFTER

PART II - THE DINING ROOM

Dining rooms are allowed to be over the top and more dramatic than a soap opera.  This is the place to 'go big or go home'.  Kims' dining space needed a focal point, some sparkle, and punches of color.  A bit of architectural impact was also needed because she did not want any fabric on the windows.  

BEFORE

AFTER

Be creative with your decor; this is not the room to be shy in.  I add lots of different lighting in dining rooms from candles to overhead and accent electric lights so you can really turn up or down the volume.  The crown and chair moldings you see will be added soon (I drew the ones in the photo to visualize the finished look).

BEFORE

AFTER

This room is now dramatically set for Susan Lucci to step in and give one of her sneaky temptress performances.

Hello Jess-Welcome to the LYR Design Team!

Say hello to Jess, the newest member of the LYR design team! She fits right in with her high level of professionalism, artistic background, bundle of energy and interesting design point of view.  Jess not only loves interior design, but she also loves to cook!  I was very impressed with all the fancy named ingredients she has worked with in the many recipes she has cooked (my stomach was growling during our interview).  

My hope is that Jess adds a unique positive vibe to LYR and of course, that she cooks a meal for us!  I look forward to blogging about projects we work on together.  You know there is always something crazy that goes on, so there is sure to be lots of future laughs.

Welcome Aboard Jess!

Falling For Red, Lamps & New Possibilities

Hello again Creative Comrades!  I have been all about red accents lately.  Bright shiny orange and blue reds.  If you are looking for an accent color that increases desire (restaurants are big fans of using reds) and never fails at creating drama, even if it is in just a throw pillow, this is a good choice.  I created the mood board above using the black and white rug to ground the space and the red to give it life.  Red is the classic color of love and could be used with a soothing blue or green color palette in a bedroom.

Wow I just looked at the clock and can't believe it is 1:40 am!  My meeting tomorrow morning with my client Kim has been rescheduled so I am up late catching up on the addictive Bravo Housewives of whatever....they're all funny.  I am cleaning up and backing up my computer because (don't tell my husband) my hard drive is almost full.  What a boring process!!  My mind is wandering.  I keep thinking about the two black silver silk lamps I purchased for Kim; there is a chance that I may keep them now that I get to look at them a little bit longer (I am not kidding Kim).

Although I am broken hearted after falling for two lamps that I have to let go of, I am excited for the new growth spirts happening at LYR (LoveYourRoom):

1. I am happy to announce the newest member of the LYR team- Jess!!  More on her soon!!!; and

2. We are putting out a new virtual design service as part of our a la carte offerings.  This is thrilling.  Designing spaces for people without ever stepping into their home is becoming a popular affordable answer for those in need of design/decor help; I will be adding it to my website soon. I love this because I can create a completely new room design concept like the mood board above, or focus on a specific need like just color palette, accent furnishings, or other design dilemna -like finding that perfect sparkle that takes a room from chalkboard ho-hum to uptown chic-for anyone, anywhere-more fun and I get to meet more people (virtually); and

3. The upcoming TV segment. I am having fun gathering creative design ideas to add to kid spaces that I will share with viewers on ch 69 News At Sunrise Sept. 14 at 8:40 am.  Spaces that kids hang out in need to be full of wonder and imagination so little boys and girls can create and thrive.

OK, remember don't tell my husband Paul about my computer dilemna because he will roll his eyes, but please do tell him over and over again about how I snaked three drains tonight, filled up all the soap dispensers (now my home is civilized again) and made a spaghetti and turkey meatball dish that rocked (secret was using fresh rosemary from my garden and Drews Thai Sesame Lime dressing).  Call me Martha!

Its All About The Details

Hi from the road! I have my Honda Pilot back today and feel like a bully heading on 78E toward Easton….rrrrrrrrrr.   By the way, Mike (phenomenal carpenter), I was not a half hour late for our meeting, and yes, I am extremely hurt (ouch says my heart)  that you made fun of my seal clapping; yes, I do seal clap and do the robot when I get excited over incorporating architectural detail, doesn’t everyone?? 

Back on the road after a shot of something from a little coffee place off 22, I am headed to Tuesday Morning to get last minute details for a client.  I had luck picking up a 4’ canvas art piece for under $90 and a spectacular mirror that I may keep.  I had to arm wrestle a great grandma of sixteen over it-it was worth it.  

My tip when shopping for those details that finish off a room- think about color and volume.  That’s right, go big or go home.  Size does make a difference and so does color.  Its the funky table accent that visitors will gravitate toward; its the art piece that explodes with cranberry and lime that make a space fun.  Go for a bright yellow, orange, or green.  

Here is a mirror, lamp set and vase I put together to go on a buffet table for a dining room painted grey blue.  The mirror is oversized and artistically designed.  The lamps are clear yet, the black shades create the drama, and the vase is that bold color detail that brings it all together.

 

Preview Your Frame Design Down An Aisle

I am sitting at my desk, putting the finishing touches on a home design project I am presenting to a client in Easton this Monday.  I am very excited because there are so many rooms involved and I am diggin' the design and how they flow well together.  I can't wait to share it with you after they review it.  I am also working with another client in Lansdale, helping her add design features and decor pieces to a few rooms in her home.  I am having a bit too much fun with the details.  

I found myself at Target looking at frames for her home.  I want to do a photo gallery that will fit on a very long wall.  I started grabbing frames and placing them in front of me, arranging them, adding more, and more, until I had just about the entire aisle filled with black and white frames.  This is a great way to preview what your frames will look like, and how much space they will take up.  Try this the next time you want to do a gallery of frames. Take a photo of the finished arrangement in the store, then when you get home, just check out your snapshot to remember what it looked like!

Like me, I am sure you will get a lot of head turning and smirks from people passing by your aisle.  But as one Target employee said to me after asking if I needed help 'as long as you are buying them, you can take up two aisles.'   One last tip, don't try this during the store's busy hours or people will be tip toeing over your collage.   

Decadently Yours,

Shoshana

It's Friday..Friday..Friday!!

I just came back from my last appointment this week and am now home with my daughter and her friend. I am watching them use the slip-n-slide in the backyard.  As a kid, I loved the slip-n-slide so I had to get one for my kid. When I pulled it out the first time, none of the kids that were over knew how to use it.  They were just drinking the water and running through it.  So finally, fully dressed, I demonstrated.  I don't know who laughed harder, me, on the ground, clothes drenched, or the kids.  So here I am watching my daughter and her friend drinking the slip-n-slide water and running through it....oh well.  Maybe I will go out and demonstrate again :)

Yesterday, Kayla, a very sweet college student with an old soul and hip fashion sense, babysat my daughter.  Together they worked on the Greeting Card Art I demonstrated on the news a few weeks ago (CLICK HERE to watch the video). This is a great project to do with kids, age 5 and up, with parental supervision.  It put a big smile my child and turned out awesome! I was very proud of them and their artwork!  

Kayla used a wedding invitation as her card, and is giving it as part of a wedding gift to her friend tonight!