Blog Of The Week ~ Bright.Bazaar

This weeks blog of the week is Bright.Bazaar, which comes to us from "across the pond". Will provides us with a peak at what's going on in interior design and decor in his part of the world. I love the banner he uses to introduce us to his blog, too.

His last two posts covered tea towels (with some lovely pictures) and the offices of Urban Outfitters, which is quite a unique working environment. His writing and pictures are great and I have added his blog to my list of Favorites.

Please take a moment to visit Will's blog at: http://brightbazaar.blogspot.com/, and don't forget to leave him a comment to let him know you've been by to visit!

Bookcases ~ A Novel Idea

Photo courtesy of Country Living Magazine

I love books, so I think loving bookcases goes hand-in-hand with that. I have a pair of bookcases my hubby made for me as a gift one year - I love them if for no other reason than that he made them for me, but they absolutely came in handy as well. They will be coming with us when we down-size.

I also have a pair of bookcases with drawers in my son's bedroom that will be repurposed into bookcases for my home office. They are pine, but I plan on painting them. My problem comes in to play as far as what color do I want to paint them; it will be a choice between white, espresso or black. There are three drawers in these bookcases as well, which will be handy for supplies, samples, catalogs, etc. When down-sizing, I want to take advantage of whatever storage I can.

Photo courtesy of Country Living Magazine

Besides loving the concept of this kitchen (above) in its entirety, I love the way an otherwise non-usable area is being used. I love that the cookbooks are on view but also teapots are incorporated into the shelves. Appropriate for a kitchen and, if you collect teapots, a novel (no pun intended) way to display them.

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn


I like the idea of this desk doing double duty as a desk and a bookcase. For a home office these shelves will allow you to easily find what you are looking for. It also looks like a space saver having the shelves incorporated into the desk. I might consider this one for myself!


Photo courtesy of Ballard Designs

I love the look of this bookcase with it's lattice sides and openness. I think this would work great in a large bathroom holding towels and bath accessories or a bedroom to display photos and some of those sentimental collectibles.

Photo courtesy of Ballard Designs

Finally, this set of bookcases would work wonderfully in any room in the house. They have an abundance of shelf space and provide some architectural interest; good for a room that might not have any otherwise.

As you can see from these pictures, bookcases can hold more than books. Interspersing accessories and collectibles among the books makes for an interesting display in your home.


Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Home Office Organizing

With so many people working from home now (sometimes in addition to working outside the home), or even if they are telecommuting, home offices need to have dedicated spaces and organization to keep paperwork and any other work-related items neat, tidy and easy to find. In my quest for keeping things neat, I came across some items that help reach that goal.

Some say that a cluttered desk is the indicator of an organized mind. In my case, a cluttered desk is - well, a cluttered desk. I like to have everything in its place and not causing me any distractions.



I have two of these wire trays. The one I utilize for filing allows me to see the filing, so it doesn't get too out of hand.




Seeing the color of these trays, and some of the accessories that go with them, makes me glad that I'm thinking of this color combo for whatever new home office space I have when we move.




Rather than ripping pages out of magazines, flagging them might keep things neater around the office.





These might be better than the solid canvas magazine holders I bought last year, because with these I'd be able to see what catalogs are in what holder.




I've always liked these boxes, but am never sure what to keep in them. Stationery, envelopes, stamps, brochures, papers you might not need on a daily basis.

I love these decorative file folders, but find that I like folders that are a bit more practical for use with client projects. I like to have project folders that allow me to write the client name, phone, address, what the project is, contact information for vendors or resources and tracking what's been ordered/received. I might be able to adapt something like this if I just make up a sheet on the computer and attach it to the inside front of the folder.

These are just a few items that caught my eye. I would recommend you visit the website (I put in a link below) and see for yourself the variety of items available for organizing yourself and your home office.


All photos courtesy of See Jane Work. Be warned that you could spend hours on their website looking at all their merchandise! http://www.seejanework.com/index.asp


Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Item Of The Week

Mirrors are the item of the week this time, thanks to an e-mail I received from Horchow. They currently have the mirrors shown, and many others, on sale.



These mirrors caught my eye for one reason or another, but I thought they were all interesting, if nothing else. The floor mirror above also houses a hidden compartment for jewelry.





The "porcupine" mirror below looks like it could hurt! This might be one you want to hang right the first time.




The mirror below is entitled "Pebbles", and rightly so, I think.




The problem with mirrors can be what it winds up reflecting. Be aware of what the mirror will be reflecting before you hang it; ceilings, the ceiling fan, a pantry, etc.

I like mirrors because they can help add more light to a room, whether natural or electric.

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions.


I have no affiliation with Horchow and am not promoting their products as specific items to purchase.

Blog Of The Week ~ Eyinteriorsblog

Tiaa of Eyinteriorsblog

From Tiaa's blog:

At Exclusively Yours Interiors LLC, we collaborate with our clients to guide you carefully throughout the design process. Our goal is to ensure we create a space that is EXCLUSIVELY YOURS. We are located in Northern New Jersey and service the surrounding areas.

You can, and I hope you will, visit Tiaa's blog at: http://www.eyinteriorsblog.com/. She has some interesting topics and pictures that will surely give you inspiration. Don't forget to leave a comment! You can also follow Tiaa on Twitter and Facebook. Her blog is in my list of Favorites!

International Contemporary Furniture Fair

Some interesting pieces from this year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair that caught my eye:

Every year design schools are given the challenge to create a chair that incorporates the shape of the Wilsonart laminate sample chip. I think this is a very cool and unique seating piece, and would be quite fitting in a designers office. I think it's an interesting piece artistically as well.

This table is made out of old NYPD wooden horses. Great re-use of this material.

Check out these fantastic orange lights. Orange is still so hot right now, and is taking the place of red in many accessories.

Countertops and sinks are not the only things made out of Corian. Check out this rocker:

Trims Can Add That Little Something Extra

Trims, ribbons and tassels - oh my! Second only to fabric, trims are my favorite things to look through, touch, imagine how they can be used.

A glance through these pictures will show you some of the ways trims can be used - furniture, drapery, pillows, bedding - you are only limited by your imagination.




If your budget doesn't allow for custom window treatments, you can dress up ready-mades or hand-me-downs with trim and change the whole look of the treatment. Give it that custom look without the cost. For custom treatments, it adds that unique touch that finishes the treatment off. A small amount of trim will not break the bank and will give you a great look.




As a DIYer, with all the new fabric adhesives on the market now, you don't even need to have a knowledge of sewing. Using the appropriate fabric glue can get you beautiful results in minutes.





Trims also can coordinate with fabrics that are being used for custom work, whether upholstery, bedding or window treatments, and give the piece a finished look.





All photos courtesy of Brimar.

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are located in Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign and much more. Please visit our website for more information on our services and fees at www.creativehomeexpressions.com.

Fabric, Fabric, Everywhere!

Since we plan on down-sizing our home this year, I have been going through all my "stuff", deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. I've come across all the fabrics I've collected. Some are on bolts, some are just enough to make a pillow, but I have way too much fabric!

If there are any local schools, students, clubs, etc., that can use this fabric *free*, you can have it! Local only to either pick it up or I'll drop it off. You can contact me via e-mail (see profile or website).

If no takers by June 15th, it will be donated to the thrift store.

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are located on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign and more. Please visit our website for more information on our services and fees at www.creativehomeexpressions.com.

Item Of The Week

I am in love with this chair! I love the feminine lines of it, and the color. I could see this chair in a cheery pink and green home office (a picture of which I will be sharing in the future) with a crystal chandelier and white shaggy area rug. A chair to sit in while perusing design magazines or reviewing a client presentation.


Check out Designers Guild for some of the other lovely items they carry http://www.designersguild.com/usa-shop-online/#.

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are located on Long Island, New York and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign and much more. Please visit our website at www.creativehomeexpressions.com for information on our services and fees.

Wallpaper Or Art ~ It Can Be Both

Photo courtesy of Thibaut

There are some beautiful wallpapers out there and while I love them, I just can't bring myself to wallpaper an entire room. However, I can still enjoy the lovely patterns that are out there by using the wallpaper in other ways.

Photos courtesy of All Posters and Real Simple

Framing pieces of wallpaper and using them in lieu of actual pictures. Not only am I getting some of that beauty I'm admiring, but an inexpensive way to add some art to my walls! You can do individual pieces or hang three together in a tryptich.

Photos courtesy of HGTV

Photo courtesy of Thibaut

Cover an old room screen, (or make your own with narrow solid doors) with wallpaper. This makes for a nice focal point in a room that doesn't have one or adds that "certain something" to an empty corner. Some striking screens are done with the papers such as the one pictured above from Thibaut.

Photo courtesy of DIY.com

To dress up an otherwise plain window, a wood cornice can be put together quite simply and covered with wallpaper. This can dress up a window with blinds or shades without having to add drapes or valances.

Photo courtesy of Country Living

Another great way to use small amounts of wallpaper for a big impact is to line the back wall of bookshelves with it.

There are many other uses for wallpaper; small trashcans, magazine holders, book covers, take a look around and see where you can use it!

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are located on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign and much more. Please visit our website at www.creativehomeexpressions.com for more information on our services and fees.

Blog It Forward

I'd like to start a new weekly post where I introduce other blogs, which I have found of interest and that you may like. Most of them will deal with interior decor and some of them are blogs put out by retailers you may be familiar with.

This week I will start off with Bloomacious.

http://www.bloomacious.com/bloomacious/interiors/

This blog covers more than just interior decorating, although that is the topic I am drawn to.

Enjoy!

Kathy