Monday, April 21, 2008

Going Green is the only way to go!

"Going Green" is no longer just a catch phrase. It is now an obligation - for every responsible citizen of the earth. We need to generate the many, many ways in which we can be a solution to the earth's problems that we ourselves, though unwittingly, have created. As homeowners, renters, designers, and builders, there are new habits to form and what a pleasure to be a part of any gesture to improving the natural environment we live in.

From the time we wake up in the morning till we lay our weary heads back on the pillow at night there are some easy changes we can make and slowly adapt to until they become a part of our daily routine.

Sleep with the heat turned right down or even off, and in the morning pull on some extra warm wraps when you first start moving around. When you do fire up the furnace, keep it two degrees lower and wear a sweater. If everyone did this, the cumulative impact would be significant on the environment and on our energy bills! Also, did you know that cleaning your furnace filter each season can increase it's efficiency by 50%?

When you flick the lights on, feel content that you have chosen low wattage bulbs. Replace some or all of your incandescent light bulbs with CFL or LED bulbs.

When designing or updating your home, install a low flow shower head which uses less water, and hence less heat to warm the water. You can insulate your water tank and set its thermostat two degrees lower (between 60C and 65C). You'll quickly adjust and not notice the difference! You can actually install a timer on your water heater to turn it off at night and on just before you wake up in the morning. In Europe, many people turn the shower on to get wet, turn it off to lather up, then turn it on to rinse. They don't necessarily use the hottest water either! We tend to linger a little too long here, because water doesn't seem like a luxury to many of us.

Home design recognizes the importance of structure, even though we're enthralled by the aesthetics. Weather proofing your home, for example, is a great way to save energy and money. Get double-pane windows and caulk any cracks as you go about your home repairs.

Invest in low or no- VOC paints and paint products as offered by Canvas Home Basics. Clean with their all natural home care products. This company touts an Environmentally Smart policy and works only with suppliers who align with this policy.

As you're updating your home, look for an ENERGY STAR model refridgerator. In the meantime, simply cleaning the condenser coil can improve the efficiency of your existing fridge. Be sure the dishwasher is full before you turn it on. Dry two or more loads of laundry in a row to take advantage of an already warm dryer. Fold the clothes while they're warm to save time and energy ironing!

Take your cloth bags with you when shopping for groceries! Buy local food and produce. Don't purchase anything that's overpackaged. The makers will get the hint! Have one dinner a week that doesn't require heating. Have more meatless meals and get your protein in other ways. It's these small habits that will yield exponentially positive effects on the overall picture of things.

We are facing a real energy crunch! We all need to do our part to meet this challenge. Canvas Home Basics tries to make a difference, one small choice at a time. Check out their publicity and see just how much is available to us to help us with this transition.

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Going Green is the only way to go!
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 2:31 PM

Monday, March 3, 2008

CHA Demos with Canvas

We all were at CHA show in Anaheim this week. We introduced the Room Spacing Kits to the trade at the show and I had a blast doing demos. It was our opportunity to show craft, scrapbooking and fabric stores the opportunity to add something new for their customers that focused on home décor. I was glad to hear so many compliments and positive reactions to the Homespacing concept and the wonderful design boards created by the Canvas Design Team. Someone even said that she could frame the design boards because they were beautiful art pieces in themselves. And that's the nice thing about the Room Spacing kits. They are extremely functional and very practical design tools, yet they really bring out your inner artist as well. So if you haven't yet tried it, please do - and let me know what you think. Oh, and for a look at some completed design boards, check out www.homespacing.com.

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

CHA Demos with Canvas
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 9:39 AM

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Scrapbooking & Interior Design - A Marriage of Creative Living

I think we're seeing a brand new trend. A trend where scrapbook stores are starting to expand into the home design realm. This a good thing, because just the other day I received an email from a local scrapbook store. The owner was selling out her inventory before closing her doors to this retail shop for good. Now this particular store wasn't normally one that I would shop, because I am not a die-hard scrapbooker. But I really did love wandering through the aisles looking at all the notions, papers, tools, and hardware - all these neat things - but just for the scrapbook. I don't know for sure how most scrapbook stores are holding up, and if CHA was any indication, the demand for scrapbook supplies is not going anywhere. However, as an interior stylist, I couldn't help but feel a little left out. All these creative projects, and yet I was not sure that many would be featured prominently in the home once they were done. But now, we design folk are being invited in to the scrapbook stores to give Homespacing classes! Helping all these creative people design a room in which to be even more creative. And what a wonderful way for scrapbooking stores to expand their offering and give me yet another place to shop.

Ask your store if they are offering any classes, and let us know what you discover!

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Scrapbooking & Interior Design - A Marriage of Creative Living
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 9:42 AM

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Remixing Interiors

I am going to bet that you have a piece of furniture in your home that was handed down to you. And I will even venture a guess that it wouldn't be the first thing you'd pick out if you were to buy new furniture today. I have inherited more than my fair share of furniture. Among other things, I have an entire dining room set from my grandparents. I just loved it when I was in my 20's. But now that I'm in my 30's I've started to change my style and that dining room set is, quite frankly, a road block to my perfect space. But it still holds tremendous sentimental value and so I don't want to toss it. So I have decided to do a little remixing with two key elements from the Canvas Home Basics line.

The first item in my little arsenal is a can of the pre-mixed Furniture, Cabinet and Trim Paint. Color: Designer Black. Painting a classic piece like this in black will totally recreate this classic furniture. The Designer Black is a great deep charcoal color that is perfect for furniture updates that blend into any environment. I have used the Trim paint on another chair project and it covers beautifully and because it's a green product, I was able to paint indoors without a mask, fan, or open windows. A nice change from other paint I've used. And this particular paint is great because it covers e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g really nicely - it's very smooth, very high tech.

And then while those pieces are drying, I'll use the Room Spacing Kit to decide where I want to use my newly remixed furniture. These dining room pieces can definitely be used in various rooms throughout the house for extra storage. So here's my weekend challenge to you. Decide not to throw out good furniture. Not when you can completely remix and change the look and quite possibly hand it down to the next generation. That's good for you, your kids, and the environment too. When using the Room Spacing Kits, keep in mind that they have a wide variety of furniture sizes and shapes. If you don't find one that is exact, feel free to cut stickers down to right size or sketch unique shaped items directly onto the graph paper using the flexible scale ruler so that you can scale the item into the space.

What do you need to remix?

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Remixing Interiors
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 9:14 AM

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Scrapbooking & Interior Design
- A Marriage of Creative Living

I think we're seeing a brand new trend. A trend where scrapbook stores are starting to expand into the home design realm. This a good thing, because just the other day I received an email from a local scrapbook store. The owner was selling out her inventory before closing her doors to this retail shop for good. Now this particular store wasn't normally one that I would shop, because I am not a die-hard scrapbooker. But I really did love wandering through the aisles looking at all the notions, papers, tools, and hardware - all these neat things - but just for the scrapbook. I don't know for sure how most scrapbook stores are holding up, and if CHA was any indication, the demand for scrapbook supplies is not going anywhere. However, as an interior stylist, I couldn't help but feel a little left out. All these creative projects, and yet I was not sure that many would be featured prominently in the home once they were done. But now, we design folk are being invited in to the scrapbook stores to give Homespacing classes! Helping all these creative people design a room in which to be even more creative. And what a wonderful way for scrapbooking stores to expand their offering and give me yet another place to shop.

Ask your store if they are offering any classes, and let us know what you discover!

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Scrapbooking & Interior Design
- A Marriage of Creative Living
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 11:20 AM

Saturday, February 16, 2008

CHA Demos with Canvas

We all were at CHA in Anaheim this week. I had a blast doing demos for Homespacing. I was glad to hear so many compliments and positive reactions to the Homespacing concept and the wonderful design boards created by the Canvas Design Team. Someone even said that she could frame the design boards because they were beautiful art pieces in themselves. And that's the nice thing about the Room Spacing Kits. They are extremely functional and very practical design tools, yet they really bring out your inner artist as well. So if you haven't yet tried it, please do - and let me know what you think. Oh, and for a look at some completed design boards, check out www.homespacing.com.

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

CHA Demos with Canvas
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 11:18 AM

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Warm Retreats

I have spent the better part of a month accumulating some extra special details for my bedroom projects. My shopping cart has been filled with new pillows, shams, blankets, throws, sheets & bedspreads. All based on the art of making a layered bed. I love layering materials and textures. I find that it is very much like layering furnishings within any room; giving the appearance that the home environment has been well thought out, and collected over time. So forget the "bed in a bag concept" and go for an extra-snugly layered bed:

• Mattress padding. If your mattress is falling flat, add a feather bed or foam cover to increase the plushness.
• Fitted and flat sheets. Try mixing and matching complimentary colors. One idea is to match the fitted sheet with the decorative trim on the flat sheet.
• Two thin blankets - try a coordinating pattern and solid; or layer a blanket within two flat sheets.
• A down comforter or a duvet with a cover. Buy the comforter you need to keep you warm; but not overheated.
• A bed skirt. In keeping with the layered detail, you can use two skirts in varying lengths to provide opulence.
• A bedspread. This is my must have. I love the look of a beautiful bedspread and often combine a thinner bedspread with a comforter folded at the end of the bed. I have even used over sized wool throws in place of a bedspread, and often have them made to suit the design.
• A few pillows - Some for sleeping, some with shams, some for lounging, and some that are purely decorative. Combine textures and details to dress the bed and make a statement.
• If there is room, add a soft cuddly throw in contrasting color. You may want to try a faux fur - they are extremely comfortable and warm.
• Don't forget to include an extra chair or bench near the bed to contain the overflow of blankets or pillows while you're sleeping.

When you add the pillows to your bed it is best to experiment with placement. You can stack them from largest to smallest near the headboard, or you can use the pillows on their side (again from largest to smallest) reaching to the center of the bed. For a styled appearance, turn down the top sheets and blankets to meet the front of the pillows near the center of the bed. This layered look can be collected over any number of seasons; just make sure to use fabrics that are a pleasure to touch and to launder!

Is your bedroom your sanctuary?

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Warm Retreats
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 12:29 PM