Archive for November, 2009

While it may be a nice dream to transform the whole house and redecorate for every season or holiday, the truth is that most of us don’t have the time or resources.  But we still want a festive look in our homes.  The good news is that it only takes a few small, well-placed accessories to create a completely new look and evoke the joyous mood of the season.

Before you run out and purchase expensive accessories, look around your home to see what you already have.  Chances are that you have everything you need to create your own unique, personal decorations.

Create “custom” window treatments.  Have fun creating your own personal treatments for the windows at holiday time.  Ideas?  Hang paper snowflakes from invisible wire so they hang at different levels across the window.  Swag garland from the top corners.  Create illuminated valances by hanging a string of icicle lights from the top of each window (there are window-sized sets made specifically for this purpose).

Spruce up the entryway.  A festive entrance will create the perfect first impression.  What can you do to surprise and delight guests as they walk in the front door?  A floor mat in seasonal colors welcomes visitors with holiday cheer.  Fresh flowers always add comfort and brightness.  How about hanging decorative ribbon from the entry chandelier?

Got candles? Take wide pillar candles and wrap them in ribbon, flexible twigs, or thin garland.  Arrange candles in groups of three to create a lovely holiday display on any table.  When guests are visiting, light the candles and turn down the lights for a warm, holiday atmosphere.

Create a centerpiece.  A simple holiday centerpiece will inspire a cheerful, festive mood.  Grab a large container, and fill it with colorful fruit or flowers.  Use a flat platter to display metallic ornaments.   Or create a “gift centerpiece” for extra excitement and color.  To make this centerpiece, wrap small, empty boxes in holiday paper or in colors to match your room’s décor.  Decorate each box with ribbons and bows.  Then place the “gifts” in a decorative container, or arrange them in the center of the table with fresh pine greenery.

You may be amazed at how easily and quickly you can add holiday cheer to your home!

Centerpieces are not just for dinner parties.  They are often the focal point of a room.  If you want to go beyond the traditional bouquet of flowers, here are some great tips and ideas for creating an outstanding table.

First decide if you want to go bold and dramatic, or subtle and understated.  If you are looking to create a statement, go for bold.

Next, think about your purpose.  Are you looking to create a whole new mood in the room?  Do you want to add a splash of color?  Do you want to simply finish off a table that looks vast and empty?  Or are you just decorating for a special occasion?  When you know your main reason for adding a table centerpiece, the choice will be easier.

Centerpiece ideas:

Statues

Large figurines or busts make wonderful focal points for a table.  You can place a single substantial one in the center, or position several figures of varying sizes and shapes together.

Pedestals

While pedestals are traditionally placed on the ground, small columns and pedestals are perfect for the table.  They can be used alone, or you can rest other accessories on the tops of them.

Birdcages

This will create a light, sweet mood.  Birdcages come in many materials, colors, and sizes.  They can be painted to match your room’s décor.  You can fill a birdcage with flowers or candles.  If you plan on lighting the candles, make sure the birdcage is made of a non-flammable material.

Floating candles

Candles always make for a lovely mood, but floating candles are even more unique.  They come in unlimited shapes and colors to match any décor.  Float a group of them in an attractive container.  Or fill several goblets with water, and place one floating candle in each for a truly elegant look.

There are no rules when it comes to decorating your table, so don’t forget to use your creativity.  If you think out-of-the-box, your centerpiece will be not only beautiful, but also truly unique and personal.

Washingtonian Magazine:

What kind of accents/decorations can you put up to make things look festive, but not tacky?

DSI: Use faux Christmas gifts- wrapping empty boxes in color paper and bows, is a colorful and inexpensive way to make your decor look festive. Also consider placing wrapping paper and bows over family photo frames that are already displayed on the wall. Choose wrapping paper that carefully coordinates with the colors and patterns of whatever room you are decorating.

Washingtonian Magazine:

If I’m having a dinner party for the holidays, is there anything you recommend to make the dinner table or dining area look more festive?

DSI: Consider using candles! Candles are affordable and can be purchased from a variety of retailers from Dollar Stores to Pier Right now there are a variety of choices available in different colors, shapes and sizes. Arrange candles in interesting groupings as centerpieces, or place in a single row of tapered candles directly along the center of your dining table. Candles provide intimate light, room for food and a clean, sophisticated decoration choice!
Washingtonian Magazine:

How can you accent your home for the holidays on a budget?

DSI: Holiday food is very colorful from fruit, candy to nuts. Take advantage of your holiday food choices by arranging each dish colorfully and with a variety of interest. Cookie platters can be displayed with green and red holiday candy such as peppermints! Pine cones and cranberries can dress up other dishes.
Washingtonian Magazine:  If you have a small apartment (a studio or a little one bedroom) but you still want to spice things up for the holidays, what kind of decorations do you recommend?

DSI: I would recommend large glass vases filled with colorful, festive Christmas tree bulb ornaments. Make sure the ornaments are small enough to place in the glass vase. Place them around your home, on your fireplace mantel, sofa table or side tables. This provides a simple, yet elegant decoration that spices your space up for the holidays.

Washingtonian Magazine: If you could recommend only one holiday decoration, what would it be?

DSI: A simple live Evergreen Wreath for the front door. The pine scent will welcome visitors and place all who enter in the holiday spirit.

Great artwork is a means of expression and a type of spiritual communion between artist and viewer.  Art has always been an integral part of interiors and can include a variety of forms- paintings, sculpture, drawings and prints.  These kind of pieces add great distinction and individuality to interiors because their selections represent personal taste and experience.

Obtaining art for our homes is a matter or personal taste, but the more we learn about art, the greater our level of enjoyment and appreciation.  The design of a home is a reflection of personal style, and the art chosen for such settings should also be a statement of discrimination and taste.

The collections of art that you have started need to be accented and acknowledged in your home.  Each piece brings a sense of uniqueness to your personal taste and lifestyles.  For instance, for the traditional art collector, their home should reflect the traditional theme presented by their artwork, and the same would be true for contemporary collectors.  Not all art will be categorized under one design theme, and if this is the case, it is necessary to reflect both themes in your interior design as well.  Ways to accomplish this would be through color selection, furniture design and accessories, that coordinate, not necessarily match, with the artwork displayed.

Artful Living Room Designed by DSI

Call DSI today at 301-317-7855 or e-mail:  interiors@designschemeinteriors.com  to have an in-home consultation on how to best express your art pieces in your interior.

If you’re looking for a truly unique and impressive gift for someone close to you, why not give them the gift of a beautiful home?  DSI’s Gift of Decorating packages will bring a smile to any recipient, and the best part is that we do all the work for you!

Each DSI Gift of Decorating Package includes:

• Three window fashion and upholstery designs per room
• Fabrics and window fashions selections
• Drawings of designs
• An attractive gift certificate
• Surrounded by a variety of additional gifts
• All presented in a beautiful color coordinated gift box!

Here’s How it works:

1)                  We plan a home consultation, without the recipients prior knowledge

2)                  We take notes of colors and textures of the room, take photos and measurements…

3)                  In our studio, we prepare drawings, fabric selections and customize the gift basket, and…

4)                  We also have “ready-made” baskets for any of your special “last minute” gift needs!

Great Benefits…You’re the hero!

1)      This unique gift gives the impression of a great effort on your part!  (Actually, we do all the work!)

2)      The recipient is not obligated to the décor choices!  The recipient or you can change fabrics and designs!

3)      The gifts are personalized!  Select from a variety of themes and gifts.

Gift packages start at $500 and up depending on the décor package and services you choose.  Call DSI today at 301-317-7855 or email us at interiors@designschemeinteriors.com, for more information!

Do holiday gatherings drive you crazy?  Do your family get togethers result in more stress than harmony?  The problem may not be you or your loved ones.  It could be your house.

Is your house ready for the big transition to Christmas and New Year decorations?  Before starting to decorate your home for the holidays, it is good to take a few days off, step back and just let your home “breathe”, so to speak.

As you prepare your home for the holidays this year, take a few moments to consider some of the following tips based on the principles of feng shui, the ancient art of enhancing positive energy within an environment.  By enhancing this energy flow, know as chi within your home, your holiday season is more likely to become a time of relaxation and goodwill.

1) Banish clutter.  This is one of the most basic feng shui rules, serving as a starting point for almost every other feng shui activity.

2) Balance your color scheme.  While you may love the bright reds, greens and golds of the holiday season, these colors augment existing energy and should be balanced with more calming shades, such as cream, blues and pale hues.

3) Decorate for harmony.  Your choice and placement of decoration is crucial to the atmosphere of your home and to the harmony of those who enter.  Too many bright colors can create an overly-stimulating environment and increase the risk of tension.

4) Don’t overdo the Christmas tree.  You may love the sparkling lights and pretty ornaments on the tree, so bigger is better, right?  Wrong.  Evergreen trees naturally have a spiky, “yang” shape that can disrupt the even flow of energy.  Too large a tree is not conducive to a relaxing, harmonious feeling.

5) Use hardy chrysanthemums in a variety of colors for your decorations.  Mums are the Chinese flower for Fall, plus they come in many colors to create a vibrant party atmosphere.

6) Any type of vines or branches with leaves can be draped in a free-flowing way to represent the Feng Shui element of water.  Decorate with garlands around entryways, on curtain rods , or on railings to bring in the Water element to your design decor.

7) Create a great ambience using aromatherapy.  Each element in Feng Shui corresponds with a particular scent.  The Water element can be “activated” by using Bergamot and Geranium scents.  When using any type of aroma fragrancing in your space, make sure you are using essential oils and/or candles that are made of natural ingredients and burb using only cotton wicks

Candles emit natural energy and supplement the relaxing effects of dimmed lights.  Flourescent lighting, especially when added to the already stimulating effects of holiday decorations, creates an energy drain and should be reduced.  Add some relaxing music to your environment and turn off the TV, shutting it into a closed entertainment center if possible.

9) When planning holiday parties, you should be able to spend time with your guests.  Make dishes that are easy to prepare and can be shared by all.  Set up buffet tables or serving areas in different parts of the main party gathering room for your various appetizers, main courses, and desserts to get people mingling and moving around the party instead of sitting in the same place.

10) Make holiday meals meamorable.  Excitement is added to holiday mealtimes when the table is set with hard, shiny items such as silver serving pieces, sparkling cyrstal and brightly-colored holiday china.  Red napkins will also create a festive mood, while green napkns and cream-colored linens will tone down the table.

Speaking of tables, round or oval are the best shapes for feng-shui friendly dining.  The abscence of sharp corners and hard edges helps energy flow freely and gently through the room.  If you do have a rectangular dining table, make sure your guests are not seated too close to the corners, which can cause a feeling of unease during the meal.

These are the decorating tips that we offer that help you create an ambient holiday season.  If you are interested in a holiday decorating consultation or feng shui consultation feel free to contact DSI today at 301-317-7855 or interiors@designschemeinteriors.com!