I was inspired recently by some “good old fashioned” business tips from a woman who created a food empire with just $200 in her pocket.  Paula Deen, transformed herself from a humble “bag lady catering service” to an international phenomenon and food celebrity.  How did she do it?  Her Southern-style business tips just prove that while much has changed in our world- some things should just remain the same:

1. “Come on in and put your feet up.”- Business translation: Make people feel welcome form the moment you meet them.

2. “Dance with the one who brung ya.”- Business translation: Be loyal to people who are loyal to you.

3. “Much obliged.”- Business translation: Never forget that a little gratitude goes a long way

4. “Don’t get too big for your britches.”- Business translation: Never show a hint of arrogance in life or in business.

5. “Y’all come back now, y’hear?”- Business translation: Make sure your customers know they are a part of a family, and you hope to see them again real soon.

With everything else being available online these days… groceries, cars, bamboo flooring… why not  decorating?  Online Decorating is gaining popularity for a variety of reasons:

1. HGTV and designer trade magazines have exposed many viewers and readers to well designed rooms… they want that “designer look” too, but often don’t know how to get it- or they have tried, but…
2. “Too many choices”, people frequently get overwhelmed, don’t know where to start.
3. “Lack of confidence in their selections”… of paint (who hasn’t picked the wrong color?!)…of the sofa they bought online but when it was delivered “it must have grown”
4. “Low budget… but need to do something with the room”.  For do-it-yourself-ers getting guidance from a professional designer online saves time and money- prevents errors

Affordable online design solutions have a broad appeal but particularly to the following demographic:

• 30-40 age bracket
• Young professionals
• Online Shoppers
• Tech savvy consumers
• “Do-it-yourselfers”
• Consumers who carefully choose how to spend their dollars

Using the services of a professional online decorator can be a cost effective tool that you can use to get that”designer look” that you have been wanting!



Was it the profound impact of the recession?

Or…

Was it that the American workplace was long overdue for a fundamental change in the “way we work”?

The recession has certainly demanded that businesses become more innovative, open to change, and developing partnerships.  In order to take their businesses to the next level, the “new normal” has become that of people working together, sharing information and resources, and adding collective value.

Fueled by technology, the internet and the instant availability of information, it seems inevitable that our “workplace” was destined to change to accommodate the fast-paced ever-changing needs of the “new worker”.

Design leaders are tasked to create spaces that adapt to and support successful collaboration in America’s new workplace today.

Click to see article attached.   “The essential elements for successful collaboration” and some new furniture designs to support it.

http://www.interiorsandsources.com/ArticleDetails/tabid/3339/ArticleID/10227/Default.aspx

As you have probably seen on HGTV and as designers ourselves, part of the fun and part of the challenge is to be totally committed to listening to a client’s “wants”, “needs” and “wish list” before we design.

An example might be: Same room- 3 different clients, 3 different purposes.  Our goal through listening is to capture each family’s lifestyle so that the room will “work” for them as they each need and want it to.

See the 3 plans below for example:

Plan A: Study/ Library

Client Profile: Empty nesters wanted an alternative place to entertain and to read/ relax.  The newly retired couple needed their “own space” once in a while.  Created small, intimate yet friendly and functional space

Plan B: First Floor Master Bedroom/ Aging in place

Client Profile:  Aging couple, less mobile needed first floor master bedroom with open (safe) floor plan, with comfortable seating and ample lighting planned for aging in place

Plan C: Multi-Functional Room

Client Profile: Family of 6, 2 children in college, many overnight friends and guests.  Room needs to have multiple functions:

• Sleeping
• Sitting/ TV/ Entertaining
• Home Office
• Games

The first cubicle, Robert Propst’s Action Office for Herman Miller, was introduced in 1968. Ever since, workstations have been shrinking while the employees that occupy them have swelled. Women between the ages of 20 and 74 gained an average of 24 pounds between 1960 and 2002, after which their weight leveled off. Adult men have had a more dramatic climb, packing on 28 pounds (as illustrated here). We haven’t sized ourselves out of cubicles just yet, but task chairs are straining to keep up. As BIFMA gets ready to release its new G1 guide-lines, with revised recommendations for furniture dimensions, ergonomists are asking themselves whether a single chair can still reasonably accommodate most people. (A man in the 5th percentile has hips just 13 inches wide, while a woman in the 95th registers closer to 20 inches.) Our work spaces, it appears, are bursting at the seams.

I was pleased to help out with this article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer today.  I hope you enjoy reading it.

Reintroducing the dining, family, living, social space – the kitchen

The kitchen is emerging as the Swiss army knife of rooms.

No longer hidden behind swinging doors, kitchens have become the multitasking heart of the home.

“Because the recession has had an emotional impact on us, there tends to be a return to hearth and home,” says Janice Anne Costa, editor of Kitchen & Bath Design News. “People are doing more at home – working, entertaining, cooking, crafting, enjoying hobbies. . . . We think of the kitchen as a personal place. . . . There’s an emotional resonance that goes with being in my home with my friends and surrounded by the things I love.”

The number of homes larger than 2,500 square feet dwindled between 2007 and 2009, according to a recent HUD survey, but officials say the American kitchen did not shrink along with the rest of the house.

click to read full article

Here is a article posted today on medicalofficetoday.com.  It features some innovative products for medical practices and how healthcare providers can provide a better experience for their patients and themselves.

Just like cars and computers, the products in your exam rooms go out of style and need to be replaced by newer, more efficient and advanced items. From ceilings and floors to lights and casegoods, manufacturers design and produce new and exciting products continuously.

To bring you the hottest, newest products for exam rooms, Medical Office Today spoke with two well-known designers who specialize in medical spaces: Kimberly Phipps-Nichol with Blue Water Studio of Reno, Nev., and Rita Wilkins of President-Design Services, Ltd. in Wilmington, Del. Together, these design mavens came up with 10 must-have exam room products.

click here to read more

Outdoor Kitchen

As we recover from a fun-filled Father’s Day weekend we thought we would share an article on one of our favorite ways to celebrate with dad…with a great barbecue.   We have come a long way since the standard charcoal grill!

Is it a backyard sculpture or a barbecue?  Today some grills are both, combining high-performance cooking capability with cutting-edge, artistic design.  Contemporary barbecue grills are attracting attention and, although they still represent only a tiny blip on the sales screen, they are becoming a legitimate segment of the grill business.
Unlike the bigger-is-better approach to traditional grills, modern grills have a striking minimalism in their designs, are usually compact and offer sleek lines, streamlined styling and a distinctive silhouette.  In terms of function, they often incorporate innovative features that solve storage problems or answer other needs, while still packing the heat and performance needed to grill a mean steak.

If you would like some assistance on creating an outdoor kitchen for your home, please give us a call. 302.475.5663

Universal Design-Kitchen

By 2030 more than 70 million Americans will be over 65.

With the first wave of Baby Boomers hitting “official” retirement age this year, the trend toward Universal Design (design that accommodates all) seems to be going mainstream.

Rather than waiting for that critical mass of retiring boomers to occur you may have noticed that designers and builders have been “designing differently” for some time.  Since Universal Design holds universal appeal, it is just plain good design.  It needn’t look ugly or institutional-as a matter of fact at first glance you may not even realize that many of the commercial spaces, health care facilities, restaurants and hotel rooms (see article “The Boomer Room”) are not only beautiful, but safe and accessible. offering independence, choice and control for all to use.

Universal Design balances the understanding of human needs with users experience.  As boomers age they frequently experience some of the following day to day challenges:

• Declining Vision
• Reduced Hearing
• Decreased Strength and Agility
• Limited Reach
• Difficulty Bending

Designing accordingly, elder care design professionals who are familiar with the unique physical & emotional changes that accompany the normal aging process respond with innovative design solutions that address these challenges in a seamless, almost undetectable manner.  A few of these are:

• Lighting sensors that improve lighting and safety as you walk in and out of a room
• large print or signage, reading materials and glare-free computer screens
• “Drive-in curbless showers” with grab bars and shower seats
• Wider hallways with fewer flooring transitions
• Comfort height toilets and vanities
• Enhanced tones on doorbells & phones
• Easy-in, easy-out chairs and seating units

One of the driving forces for Universal Design becoming mainstream is the aging population.  It is helping us to reinvent the world we live in, teaching us to design differently, to create environments that while evolutionary, appeal to and serve a very broad spectrum of the population.

Universal Design-Bathroom

Retro Baby Blue Fridge

The kitchen is possibly the most often remodeled room in a house. Dated cabinets, hardware and appliances are replaced with modern equivalents. However, if you are lucky enough to have a charming retro kitchen in your home, you may choose to preserve its character rather than start with a clean slate. Some people even seek out retro kitchen appliances for their new homes!  Get inspired with these well-planned retro kitchen remodels.  To find out how to get this look for your kitchen give us a call!

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