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eDecorating on the Today Show this morning!

Jun 02, 2010

Thanks to my eagle-eye friend Bethany, here's a segment from this morning's Today Show about eDecorating featuring Betsy Burnham of Instant Space. Her approach is a little different than mine, with drawings on paper and samples shipped to your home. But you'll see that I can save you quite a bit of money with my digital approach.

 

My eDecor Plans start at $75 for a color consultation and run up to $800 for a combo room plan, with 10% discounts offered for ordering more than one plan at a time. A typical room costs $500, and that includes:

• space plan
• color plan
• 3D renderings that show the finished room from several angles
• shopping spread that shows all the furniture and accessories you'll need with live links to buy everything with a click (Can't get that on paper!)
• To-Do List to help you get it all done in the right order, including tips for simple DIY projects
• 14 days of unlimited email consultation after delivery

Want to see a sample? Download five real eDecor Plan PDF files here.

It's a lot of detail for the price. Shop around and you'll see what I mean. Interested in finally getting a room done right? Just email me. —Diane

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

TAGS: edecorating e-decorating edecor online decorator interior designer today show nbc june 2 2010 betsy burnham instant space design video segment

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TC Readers: Don't miss the Small Works Exhibition and Sale

May 03, 2010

There's nothing like original art to give a room soul and character. But one-of-a-kind will cost you, and rightly so. Here's a unique event where even the most budget-conscious art lover can afford an original. The Small Works Exhibition and Sale at the Dennos Museum in Traverse City features works that measure no greater than 5"x7"x1", and all are priced at $50 or less.

 

Joan Richmond, North to Kew, 2010, gouache on paper

 

Dennos Museum Small Works Exhibition and Sale

Reception and sale open at 5 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010. Sale continues Friday and Saturday, May 7–8, 10 am–5 pm; Sunday, May 9, 1–5 pm.

 

Check out the exhibition and bring home your favorite tiny painting, then check out my previous post about hanging small paintings in your home. —Diane

TAGS: dennos museum small works exhibition and sale traverse city mi tiny paintings art affordable original art

 

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The next big thing at Target: Liberty of London

Feb 23, 2010

Craving some color and a burst of pattern? Comin' right up, to everyone's favorite design-on-a-dime source: Target. Liberty of London, famous for their flamboyant printed cotton fabrics, is launching a line of home, fashion, and hardware products (even a really sweet-looking beach cruiser!) at Target on March 14. The news is all over Blogworld already, and I have no time for a real post today, so I'll just lead you to the most comprehensive display I've seen yet, over at Casa Sugar.

 

Here's a visual teaser, but click through to the full post for much more:

 

 

Ready for a whole new look in your space? Check out my eDecor Plans. Professional advice at a lower price. —Diane

TAGS: liberty of london for target launch casa sugar

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My Take on SF Chronicle's Design Trends for 2010

Jan 11, 2010

Interior design trends are interesting (if sometimes painful) to watch. They tend to follow closely behind fashion trends, so sometimes you can see what's coming. The San Francisco Chronicle recently interviewed several interior designers about the trends they foresee becoming popular in 2010, along with a few they'd like to see go away.

 

Here's the list of what's to come. I think some of it has already been popular for a while, and others are simply classic ideas that many good designers keep as foundations of their style. Read the full article here.

1. Texture: Shouldn't this always be a component in a good room design?
2. Keeping it real: Forget faux-anything.
3. Layered flooring: They're talking about multiple rugs. Sounds like a waste of money to me.
4. Bolder design decisions: Trust your gut and go for it. I guess this will always work for some people, and never for others.
5. Old is new again: Really? Vintage as a trend for 2010? I think it's been in for a very long time. The trick now is finding the real thing amongst so many repro products and trying not to cringe when your long-prized midcentury end table shows up on a shelf at Target for $49.99.
6. Wallpapered ceilings: Might be fun for a while, but I don't see this catching on for practical reasons. It's bad enough stripping wallpaper off of walls.
7. Artisanal goods: Designer Benjamin Dhong cites the interest in artisanal foods as evidence of this trend. But I think the very nature of artisanal (hand-crafted, often one-of-a-kind) items is that they are not trendy, but timeless and always add soul and personality to a room.
8. The well-traveled look: Think Anthropologie. It's a cool look but difficult to pull off with authenticity unless you really are a world traveler.
9. Purple- and grey-based palettes: Grey is definitely the neutral of choice for now, but I doubt it will ever look dated or trendy. It's a safe bet. Take color trends with a big grain of salt: Choose colors that work for you, regardless of their popularity at the moment.
10. Mix it up: Another one that seems to have already made its imprint. This can make a room look less like a "style" and more like you.

 

This living room photo from Living Etc. demonstrates several of the trends mentioned in the SF Chronicle article: texture, keeping it real, old is new again, the well-traveled look, grey and purple, and mix it up. (I sort of doubt there's wallpaper on the ceiling.)

 

 

 And here are seven trends the designers list as over & done:

1. Antlers and animal skins
   
2. TVs above fireplaces
   
3. Home makeover shows that set unrealistic expectations
   
4. Shallow sink basins
   
5. A room full of repro designer furniture
   
6. The phrase "man cave"
   
7. Granite countertops

 

Want a room that's entirely you, designed according to your own personality instead of trends? I can help, no matter where you live. Check out my eDecor Plans. They are complete professional room design plans that you put together yourself, for a lot less than hiring an on-site interior designer. You can work at your own pace, as your time and budget allow.—Diane

TAGS: san francisco chronicle interior design decorating trends 2010 edecor edecorating e-decorating

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e-Decorating: Pros and Cons Laid Out in STIR Magazine

Nov 19, 2009

 

If you've been on the fence about having a room designed online, here's a good article that lays out the pros and cons. I believe a successful online room design hinges on clear, thorough communication and the use of tools to help clients visualize results, including the use of 3D renderings and actual paint chips and fabric samples whenever possible.

 

Will the end result be as good as if you work with an on-site designer? It very well could be. But that depends heavily on your ability and desire to put the plan into action yourself. Will it cost a lot less? Definitely. —Diane

 

Here's the article by Rachel Perls in Sherwin-Williams' STIR Magazine.

Find out more about my range of eDecor Services.

TAGS: edecorating e-decorating online decorating long-distance interior design

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