Interest in Pinterest

Every now and then there is something I get really attached to.  First, it was an addiction to magazines and shelter magazines like High Gloss.  Later it became my ipod...followed by my iphone...and the migration to my husband ipad.  Lately I found another thing that's quite addicting.  Pinterest!

Image from pinterest

The pinterest website

Pinterest is a website featuring an online catalog of awesome images.  It allows you catalog the things you love. People use it to plan their weddings, store potential additions their wardrobe, organize recipes...and for people like me -  inspiration for interior design!

Check out this room design pinned by a pinterest fan.

Before I met shelter mags and Pinterest, I had (and still do) hanging files by room with inspiring images and tear sheets I've collected.  Over time, I developed online files by room that I save pics into from favorite shelter mags and blogs.  And now with Pinterest, I now have an online site to save them off too!

A room by Mary McDonald, one of my fav designers that I can search on, pined by a pinterest friend.

Another room I will "pin" in my file.  Love the contrasting paper in the shelving.

With Pinterest I can store not only images of rooms I love, but can also pin architectural drawings, fabric samples, paint, floorplans, furniture and even design books people have recommended.

 A design book I can pin to my board and remind me to purchase it down the road...

an interesting floorplan from another pinterest fan..

artwork that has tons of potential in the right room...

or fabric for pillows that would make the room pop...

or paint samples of the perfect color...

and piece of furniture I could potentially use for a client.

Best put by this pin, pinterest has ton of potential!

The options are endless.  So take a peek for yourself and setup your pinterest account.  And don't respond to this blog and tell me you are addicted...I warned you!

Class Update: AutoCAD

"As far as I'm concerned, progress peaked with frozen pizza."  Although this quip is aptly spoken by Die Hard 2 main character John McClure of movie fame, it's quite obvious to me that this dude had never taken an AUTOCAD class.  This class was worth the long wait.  Finally a skill that make me much more marketable - time to update my resume!


Why all the fuss about AUTOCAD?  Simply put, AutoCAD is a software tool that allows a designer to create: floor plans, elevations and furniture plans.  Designers, builders and contractors use this ingenious tool to communicate building and design plans. 

Model space is where it all began for us.  It's like having a white (or black in this case) board with all your plans in it. From that board, we created multi level house complete with stairs and wall elevations.  This was just the tip of the AUTOCAD iceberg.

While I was learning commands (like FILLET, MIRROR, VIEWPORTS) we also learned to work in paperspace.  By putting our designs on humongo paper, we were able to view and discuss them during the class.  Alot like manual drafting but quicker and much more attractive thanks to the computer.  I guess you might call it a mix of old school and new school techniques. The outcome is spectacular!

Here are my kitchen and bath elevations, complete with dimensions and notes. And let's not forget the title bar.

Then there is the Furniture Plans (which all designers complete).  With layering in AUTOCAD, we were able to turn off certain elements of our design so that we could evaluate just one certain item.  In this case, it is furniture.  By turning off the dimension on the drawing, you are able to examine exclusively the furniture arrangement.  


Although I learned mainly with a recorded tutorial, I was required to interview a current AUTOCAD user.  So I picked Celine - my friend and co worker at Marco French Studio.  Below is an excerpt of my Q&A with Miss Celine:

Q1: When do you use CAD in the production process (e.g. preliminary design, design development, etc.)?

We use CAD during design development and to finalize a design.  The precision of CAD helps ensure that there will be no mistakes in size or scale.  We use it for furniture layouts as well as window elevations that show the various treatment options, etc.  It also helps once selections have been made - CAD is also essential to designing custom items such as: cabinets, chests, chairs, tables, etc.

Q3: What are the advantages or disadvantages that CAD brings to your practice?

Advantages:  CAD is accurate and you are able to make quick changes to drawings all the while looking professional.

Disadvantages:  You get out of practice with hand-sketching.  But most importantly, everyone has different drawing style, even in CAD,  making it difficult to pick up where someone left off.

Q8:  What advice would you give a students, people in my online class,  who are learning AutoCAD and hope to utilize it in the future?

Find an internship where you can use it or just be sure to keep using it as much as possible.  It all comes with practice and unlike some of the things you learn in school, this will be one of the important skills you are expected to have.  In fact, in one of my interviews, I was asked to create a floor plan in AutoCAD and it was timed.  I did very well and someone else got the job, but it just goes to show you that it’s an important skill to have and your employer will expect you to use it.

Thank you, Celine, for your insights into the real workings of CAD!


Overall, I got a real kick out of this class.  The software is fairly intuitive and so it flowed somewhat easily.  (maybe it was all those long hours spent slaving away in my former life as a business consultant at Accenture). Whatever the reason, I knew from the beginning that CAD would be the most valuable class to complete early on in my course work.  So, I finagled schedules so that I could get to it fast.  My advice is that you do the same.  


Despite what Hollywood may tell you in their flicks, technology is the bomb!  Specifically, CAD.  Remember...pizza is good but CAD is better.  Maybe not as good for your tummy but definitely better for your waistline plus CAD keeps you current in the job market.  Stay tuned for Modern Art to follow after a 3 week hiatus from school...

Off to the beach -


C

DIY: Under the influence of wine

Who doesn't love a glass of wine? I know for many it's the perfect thing to go with cheese, steak or even dessert. But what about all those wine corks? Don't even think about tossing them out.  How about using them for something creative?

With some glue and a few cuts wine corks make the perfect placecard holder. From urbanfarmhouse

Glue together they create a bulletin board, trivet or serving tray. From ehow

This is perfect for a new bathroom look or simply say welcome in a whole new way....and earth friendly too! From planetgreen.com

Create your own decorative ball in a variety of size. Maybe even fill a bowl. From Urbanfarmhouse

Use them in vases, bowls and even a lamp to add some texture. From Designbuzz.com

Or add a new look to your cabinets. From Southern Living

Layering them on a table creates a fun look especially when topped by a glass top.  From Design Buzz

Isn't it time you designed your very own chair? From Home Decor Arcade

These wine cork ornaments would be great for a wine tree a Christmas but they would work just perfectly on a gift, as a napkin ring or even as tassel for drapery and linens.  From Garden Web

Or what about creating your initials? Perfect for a wall or a door. From Green is universal.

So next time you are popping open your favorite glass of wine, be sure to save the cork! For more ideas like this, be sure to keep reading my blog or checkout the one I manage with Dwell with Dignity.  Every Monday we feature a DIY blog that will knock your socks off!

Until next time,

C

Room of the Month - The Pool

Summer.  The long hot days, the lack of a schedule and the roar of the air conditioner.  School is out for myself and the kids and that can only mean one thing -- pool time!  Nothing compares to the cool dip of our sun-starved bodies into that deep dark body of luscious water.  If you are like me, this is the time of year when you wish that you had your own swimming hole in the backyard.  However, this is something that I have relegated to the daydreams through magazines while I lounge at the subdivision pool.  If you are looking for some inspiration, look no further.  I have been collecting these pics for my client files all year long.

Notice how this strong hedge provides the perfect backdrop for privacy as well as greenery.

Arbors are ideal for creating a backyard living space near the pool.  Staining every few years keeps this piece of backyard grandeur looking pretty.

Uuuummmm...fantastic!  The light reflecting off the pool and into the home gives the entire space a unified look.

A somewhat stark look to it, this double decked porch provides an elegant and pristine feel to poolside living.

Must haves.....Manicured plants such as these cedar trees provide so much flexibility of placement.  Move them around if you like or leave them be -- either way, they pack a decorating punch.

Another example of a manicured greenery nestled into a mostly sterile environment.  Classic.

Although I'm not looking for a summer retreat, this little bungalow provides just the right coziness for me.  Do you think they take renters?

Recently, I ran into a quote from the infamous Dennis Rodman - NBA star, Madonna boy toy and Celebrity Apprentice wanna be.  Believe it or not, it's really quite wonderful : "This life is like a swimming pool. You dive into the water, but you can't see how deep it is."  This is exactly how I feel about my life right now and many of you may too.  But regardless of where life leads you this summer, one thing is certain.  Jump in feet first and take a deep breath -- good things are about to be all around you.  Hope your first dip into summer is spectacular!

Off to get my goggles-

C

Art on Etsy

This week in the Wall Street Journal (stay with me here and quit yawning...) there was an article about art and it's impact on the world.  What might surprise you is that this article just briefly touched on the monetary value of art and spent most of the page talking about the impact on human lives.  This is the beauty of art. It can bring a certain lively quality to spark your home's appeal.

Although it varies amongst clients, one thing holds true for these little pieces of heaven:  it packs a punch in a home!  Whether it is a child's homemade art work or a wildly expensive professional piece, art provides a wonderful way to enliven our otherwise dreary dwellings.  "So, Carla, where do I start with this art buying thing?"

The answer is really quite simple.  There are oodles of store out there that cater to the art novice. Various retail shops like ZGallerie, Crate & Barrel and Horchow all provide excellent beginning options while galleries offer a chance to discover a new artist.  Heck, there are even luxury establishments where one can purchase world-class collectables at outrageous prices. (In the WSJ piece that I mentioned earlier, a Salvador Dali painting went for $20 million this year as opposed to the previous years prices of only $5  million...amazing...)

In other words, what I am trying to say is that there is no one place that one should purchase their artwork.  For the Moss family and for most of America, the option to plop down $20 mil on a canvas by some old guy is not even on the radar.  This is why one of my go-to sites is the world of Etsy.  Take a visit but be savvy- there is some junk out there too.  Buyer beware.  Below are some of my favorites from Etsy.

Nicole Cohen has a bright, bold modern touch to her work.

 Janet Hill exudes delicate and feminine.

Animals that remind me of artist Charlie Harper by United Thread

Sapphire Wind by youmin

Textured "Blossom Tree" using a palette knife by Modern House Art

And perfect for summer "Sherbet Summer Love" by Erin Ashley

In addition to the artwork variety that is available, Etsy also has fabulous pillows and accessories as well.  You might want to set your phone alarm to keep you on track during your visit! Browse to your heart's content, knowing that others will be paying a lot more than you are at the Sotheby's auction to add that special touch to their homes.

happy bidding-
C

Class Update: Theory of Development of Form (3D)

Tradition holds that the great philosopher Plato had engraved above the doorway to his academy these words: "Let no one ignorant of geometry come under my roof."  Powerful words from a highly intelligent man but up until this point, I might have considered this quote to strictly apply to math majors and history geeks.  That is, until this semester.  Another 6 weeks has come and gone with yet another design class being checked off the requirement list.  This time around, my battleground was 3D - compliments of AI Online...

Ascending the throne of my final project!

Taking cues from the classical thought process of Plato, the 3D class at AI Online proved to be both exhilarating and enlightening.  No more was I student in the flat medium known as 2D with the strict boundaries of width and length but now depth was added to the recipe - a part of everything that we did for class.  

Weekly assignments consisted of constructing an object - usually built out of bristol paper.  Bristol paper gave way to basal wood capping off the course with corrugated cardboard.  

My first attempt using basal wood.

There was lots to learn about planar nets, Archiemdean Solids and the 5 Platonic Solids.  The aforementioned Greek mathematician and philosopher Plato discovered that there are five "perfect" three dimensional solids.  And only five.  They include: 

Not being ones to shy away from anything daunting, we embarked on a journey to create on the lovely objects above.  Below is a picture of the Octahedron that I constructed as well as a folder from bristol paper.   

2D beauty to 3D volume - gorgeous!

Undergraduate design classes are not the only places to discover the timeless beauty of mathematical solids. (Heck, my 4th grader made a book report from a paper dodecahedron but I'll save that for another rant... ) Designers utilize these all the time to create abiding items in their collections.  Take a look at this lamp from Ralph Lauren Home  - truly striking. 

Ralph Lauren's Dodecahedron Lamp

Week 5 proved to be no less daunting -- create our own 3D composition involving symmetry, balance , proportion and harmony.  All made out of basal wood and glue.  Friends, please hold your giggles until after the show... For those of you that know me well, you know that ever since my sons were little using Elmer's at my kitchen table that I have despised the stuff.  Literally, I hate glue.  Would rather make a slept in bed a hundred times.  But, not to fear!  I soldiered through the assignment with flying colors.  But my fellow student Andi....well, that's on a different playing field.  Andi's commission was stunning.  Great job, Andi!

Our last assignment was to make a chair out of cardboard. Requirements?  Only the approved tools (x-acto knife, glue and cardboard) were to be utilized. Including the initial design, this was to be duty numero 4 for that week.  Ugghh.  Did I mention that it was supposed to hold a 200 pound person?

Desperate for inspiration, I leafed through one of my favorite books 1000 Chairs (get one!) and continued to be motivated by Charles Renee MacKintosh.  Architect, designer and artist from the 20th century , this dude can build chairs. 

The chairs below are pieces from the early 20th century.  Restaurants during that time catered to the women folk who arrived donning long dressed and fancy hats with one focus -- to chat and eat.  (sounds good to me...)  Being long and lean, these style chairs allowed for privacy while accomplishing the task at hand.  Here are my inspiration pieces:

Mackintosh chairs

Initially, I created a mock-up out of the chair out of bristol paper. The fruits are below:

Then, it was off to create the real one.  The successful construction of the chair was the inner workings as shown below.  Support was key.  It was a family affair.  For weight testing purposes, the boys in the Moss household proved to be invaluable.  

The chair in progress...the internal "support system" with interlocking cardboard

The chair was a success!  Some fringe, a cushion and an emblem topped off the entire project.  No crashes,  Yeah me!

And so concludes my journey for the last 6 weeks.  Although I am fairly sure that Plato never intended his sayings to be pertinent to our modern day theories, isn't it awesome to think that simple ideas never fade with time?  Not only did I get a great insight into the philosophers of the past, but a new paper chair to boot! Next?  CAD.  Yippee!

Off to download,

C

Room of the Month: The Laundry Room

Grandma used to weave some pretty intricate stories about laundry day as a little girl.  The tales involved enormous cast iron pots, tin washboards and stinky lye soap.  Oh, yes...and hours upon hours stirring wet clothes in boiling water.  So, when we got our first house and all of these modern day conveniences were inside and not boiling, I thought how proud my grandmother would be of her granddaughter moving up in this world. That is, until I found out just how fantastic laundry rooms can be in the home.  


Gone are the days when the illustrious laundry rooms are stuck in the gloomy basement or forbidden on the second floor.  The laundry room has officially arrived as the new design frontier. Ironically it's one of the rooms that gets the most usage, yet the least design attention.  To make it handy, the laundry room oftentimes is relegated to the back of the house or next to a bathroom where the plumbing is housed.  But in recent years, the laundry room has taken on a new image with the help of interior design.  Thus, it has been crowned this month's "Room of the Month."

One of my favs..fresh, clean and just begs you to do one more load.

1) Not just for the basement anymore
Efficiency is key to laundry duty.  Just ask any mom.  The thought of running to the far end of the house to do the laundry and then run in the complete opposite direction to put it away (all multiple times in one day, mind you), can make one's stomach rumble.  When re-working your current home or purchasing a new one, take some time to consider where this little room of possible torture is located.  You may want it to be near the dirty clothes.  That usually means near the bedrooms.  Consider utilizing an unused bedroom, a big closet or hidden space behind a wall. 

  Au revoir to this...

2) Bright colors fabrics and rugs 
Most of us do laundry at least once a week, so why not make the room enjoyable and fun?  Remember you are going from dirty to clean so you want to room to reflect CLEAN and FRESH.  The addition of a colorful print, some fun fabric or even a playful rug can speak volumes to your spirit as you serve your family.
  

3) Consider dual purpose
Consider moving your office to another room with plumbing access to take advantage of space by combining the office and laundry into one.  Think about the aromas wafting your way as you pay your bills.  Delicious!  Mulit-tasking at its finest.  

Check out this office/laundry combo -- stylish, functional and oh so clean!

4) Multiple machines

"These are all great ideas, Carla, but I have a really large family and I love to entertain. Plus, the twins are really into mud pies."  If your machines never get a break, then consider purchasing more than one machine for your laundry room.  Time is money (or in this case, sanity).  Yes, the initial investment is tough to swallow but the time you will save is inexpressible.  Your time is valuable and worthwhile. 

5) Apply the kitchen model 

Consider investing in nice countertops, fixtures and cabinets.  The reward will be spectacular.  Reflect on this room from Tracery Interiors .  It appears to be a kitchen at first.  But upon closer examination,  you will notice the primary indicators of a kitchen (dishwasher, fridge and oven) missing from the picture.  These have been replaced by washing machine and dryer.  By applying the same design basics to the laundry room as the kitchen, you will be able to get your ideas flowing quickly with jaw-dropping results. 

6) Storage Options - Open or Closed?

Whether you decide open or closed with your storage solutions, it's vital that they provide easy access.  Cabinets are a safe solution and certainly not to be dismissed but wouldn't it be fun to have open shelving?  Not only cost-effective, open shelving allows for more panache - especially lined with wallpaper or fabric.  And the paint options are endless as well. 

7) Folding! 

Don't forget to leave some space for folding in your room.  This is much easier than hauling a load to your bed for the process.  This is one of the main things missing from laundry rooms, in my opinion.  Despite storage for all of our soaps and stain removers and even a sink for soaking, the reality is that we don't stop with laundry until the dryer stops.  Folding space can be accomplished by installing some shelving over an existing cabinet or directly over the washer and dryer themselves.  You can even consider supplying a table or fold down shelf in the area.

8) Wallpaper?

If you were ever going to try out wallpaper, this is the room for it.  Most of us love wallpaper but we get a touch shy when we consider it for a main room.  Numerous questions run through our heads - what if you get bored with it?  what if it goes out of style?  Alleviate your anxiety and test your favorite pattern in the laundry room.  Since the space is normally smaller than the other rooms in the house, the cost of installing the wallpaper will be a minimal investment compared to another area.  Plus, it can look just downright cool!

Check out this room from Laundry Room Design

9) Drying and ironing 

Ok, I have to admit.  I rarely iron.  However, I do own an iron and ironing board for that rare moment when the dry cleaners is not possible.  So when I do decide to use my iron, it's a real hassle.  Where will you store your iron?  Wall? Nearby closet?  Also allow some room to hang dry those clothes too.  Even our girlie items should have some space for drying in the laundry room. 

Check out more ideas at digsdigs.com

10) The colorful appliance

Erase the pink bathroom tile, guacamole green toilets and most of the stylish hits from the last few eras.  Colorful appliances are beautiful and in classic colors.  So...use them!  I usually tell my client to avoid the colored appliance.  But...it you get a great deal on one or just have to have red, go for it.  Just be sure to buy accessories to match it and let that be the standout color.  Use white as a backdrop.

If you can't have the red sportscar....why not? From Furniture Design.

10) Folding door dillema

Some of my faithful readers are stuck in a home without the benefit of extra space  Don't fret, just get creative!  With beautiful doors and an organized space leading to the hidden machines, you are sure to be pleased.  Notice below how matching storage boxes and warm custom cabinetry do wonders for this space.  And consider the lighting too!

Bi-fold doors with custom built cabinetry = nice!

Whatever your laundry needs, take comfort in the fact that none of us will ever be seen sweating over a raging pot of water while the kids play near by.  The days of grandma doing her laundry outside are gone only to be replaced by some pretty incredible feats of ingenuity.  So, take advantage of your laundry room's potential.  You're sure to reap some rewards as you happily put together a place for the family's clothes.

Waiting for the spin cycle-

C