Tips from the Divas...

As interior designers and avid "let's try it ourselves" people, there are two service related areas where we absolutely feel that we have to use a professional.

Early in my design career, I took an upholstery class at the local technical college. My thought was that I could do my own upholstery projects. It was a most valuable class to me. I learned that proper upholstery is an art. I learned that it is not easy to measure and cut out all the pieces you need...it is a puzzle.

I learned that patterns do need to match and that you can end up with extra yardage, depending on how the pattern worked or you could be short fabric for the same reason! I

learned that it is hard to lift and maneuver a chair to work on it.....I can't even imagine doing a sleep sofa! I learned to have great respect for this art at an early age. I learned to save up and pay a professional to get a great outcome. Likewise, we always use a professional Window Covering Installer for our draperies and blinds.

All window coverings look and operate best when installed properly. Hardware and custom draperies are an investment...have them installed correctly! The most common mistake we see day after day is that draperies, curtains and valances are often hung by homeowners right on the window woodwork or right above the woodwork. If there is room, install those treatments as high on the wall as you can.  Accentuate the ceiling height and let in as much natural light as you possibly can.

Our "King of the Installers", Chris, has numerous installation tools that make our work go smoothly and quickly. There are wall anchors made to hold the hardware in sheetrock, there are pin setters to accurately set drapery pins...the list goes on. Most window coverings need to be "dressed" once they are installed. Headers and buckram need to be adjusted, pleats and folds need to be spaced and some fabrics need a light steaming in place to fall properly and to decease wrinkles.

We hope to see you soon at a drapery install. You can sit back, relax and take all the credit for beautiful window treatments in your home!

BLUE...

OK, enough cold weather...we are ready for it to act like Spring! We are ready for warm sunny days, gentle breezes, uplifted spirits, minimal pollen and Blue skies. That being said, we are featuring everyone's favorite color this month!  

Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the Deity to be a source of delight.  John Ruskin

By far, blueis the most popular color of all people and the favorite color of the vast majority of men .It is a comfortable color for us all since the blue sky is over our heads and life supporting water is considered to be blue.

In the non escapable world of Color Psychology (our favorite place to be), blue evokes the positive feelings of calmness, peace, security, wisdom and loyalty. It is not by accident that a navy blue suit is the best outfit for a job interview (stable and loyal), that most policemen wear blue uniforms (dependable authority) and most all depictions in religious art show the Virgin Mary in a blue gown (tranquil and steadfast).

On the negative side, blue can evoke feelings of depression, sadness and aloofness.  When sad, you have The Blues. Blue can be depressing when everything is blue, balance and color combinations are the keys to successful design with this color. Most people make their mistake in using too much blue. We've seen it over and over again. Proper balance must be met.

Since blue induces peace and calmness, it is a great color to paint a bedroom or child's room. There are different shades of blue but the most popular are cool blues, great shades for sunny and warm rooms at the beach....or your house! Nothing is better than waking up under a soft blue tinted ceiling.

An interesting fact about Blue shows it to be the least appetizing color. Except for a few plums and blueberries, and they seem more purple to us, blue is not a natural color in the food word and thus not appealing to that sense. So, if on a diet, eat off of a blue plate and install a blue light in the fridge!

In addition, blue increases body strength. A weightlifter can lift more weight in a blue gym. With summer coming, it is good to know that mosquitoes are attracted to the color blue two times more than other colors! One totally unexplainable (to us) fact is that blue is a favorite color for toothbrushes....who figured that out?

Moonlight Interior and Redesign is always available for your color questions and consultations. In the meantime, we are always your true blue, faithful and loyal designers!