A FREE bi-monthly home decorating ezine!
published by KatieDid Design
February 2003, II
brought to you by KatieDid Design
http://www.katiediddesign.com
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February 28th, 2003 ------ February Issue, II -----
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Editorial
1. TIPS & TRICKS
- Think eBay!
2. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Plan Ahead To Guarantee Your Success
3. EZINE OF THE MONTH
- ABC Cross Stitch Patterns
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This free e-zine is published monthly for 16,500+
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Hello Readers!
Are you all staying warm? *smile* We
are down here in FL, with the 70+ degree temperatures, but our struggle is
staying healthy! My kids are fighting through another round of sickness,
and the doctors down here are amazed that we've already had 5 separate flu
bugs go around this year! So those of you who live where it is cold
enough to kill all the viruses off... be glad!
Well lets get on to the good stuff! Good decorating
information is here today, so I hope you enjoy the issue, and don't forget
to check out the advertisers!
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Advertising Sale!
http://www.decordecoratinganddesign.com/m/advertising.shtml
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1. Tips & Tricks
- Think eBay!
For those that haven't yet discovered this, eBay.com
is a GREAT source for unique home decor items! You can find everything
from furniture, pictures and clocks to fabric, dishes and sconces... and
on and on and on. *smile* Take fabric, for instance... Many people
are selling wonderful new fabrics for 10-30% of what they would cost in a
retail store! And artwork... I'm a big fan of Cheri Blum prints.
I can either go to a retail store and pay $80+ for one of her framed prints...
or I can go on eBay, purchase the same print for $8, and mat and frame it
myself!
What do you want for your home, that you could find on there?
Have fun!
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Great Advertising Opportunities here!
http://www.decordecoratinganddesign.com/m/advertising.shtml
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2. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Home Decorating Tips
Plan Ahead To Guarantee Your Success
by Michael Holland - Home Decorating Made Easy
Do you know why is it important for you to remember
these home decorating tips when planning your decorating projects?
Have you ever heard the saying, "look before you leap?" They're just four
simple words that mean prepare yourself before you begin the task at hand.
Undertaking a home decorating project is no exception
to this rule. Careful planning and a clear vision of where you're going are
needed to ensure that your decorating dreams will come true.
By employing the home decorating tips and techniques
discussed below, you'll be able to avoid the expensive mistakes that lead
to confusion, indecision...and
ultimately frustration.
Home Decorating Tip #1 - Define Your Scope & Goals
I know that you would love to begin decorating immediately,
right? Well, I would encourage you to first print these home decorating
tips for reference and then grab a pen and paper and jot down exactly what
you want to accomplish.
This is done through a process known as scope and
goal setting. It will add an amazing amount of clarity to your decision making
once you get into implementing your interior decorating ideas.
Your scope is a brief statement describing your
project. For example, you might write, "Decorate the living room in
a Traditional Style by December 31". Go ahead, write down your scope. I'll
wait.
Next, list your goals beneath your scope. You may be thinking
that the goal is simply, "To make the room look as beautiful as possible".
But you really should dig a
level deeper. Put answers to questions such as:
- Will the project increase the value of your home?
- Is the project tied to an overall home improvement plan?
- Are you giving the room a partial or complete makeover?
- Are you redoing the room because you want it to handle additional activities?
- Are you creating your dream room or is this just a quick fix?
I could go on and on, but I think get the idea.
Take your time and really make an effort to determine why you're doing the
home decorating project and what you hope to achieve.
Home Decorating Tip #2 - Define Your Budget
Let's keep the momentum going. By the way, did you
print these home decorating tips for your files? Just checking :-)
Next, you should establish a budget for your project.
How much will it cost to turn your home interior decorating ideas into reality?
To create your budget, list the cost of materials, services, building permits,
etc., in as much detail as possible.
Use the merchants mentioned on this web site to
get a feel for the prices of furniture and furnishings. Contact craftsmen
in your area for the cost of services such as painting, plumbing, and electrical
work. I've created a Home Interior Design - Budget Worksheet to help you.
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/home-interior-design.html
Once you arrive at your total, add 10%-20% as a contingency to cover unexpected costs.
Now consider your scope and goals. Can you
live with the final dollar amount? If not, you'll have to decide what changes
to make.
As you progress in your decorating project, it is
important that you frequently compare your budget against your actual spending.
It would not be unusual for your goals to change in mid-stream, but this
way there won't be any financial surprises.
Home Decorating Tip #3 - Find Your Decorating Style
I could write pages and pages about all the
historic and modern decorating styles and what makes one different from another.
But what ultimately matters is that you seek out and learn more about your
own decorating attitude. Why? It is because knowing your decorating
attitude will make it easier to identify furniture and furnishing that will
fit well together and will work for you.
In keeping with the intent of this web site to provide
concise information, I've devised a quick and fun quiz to help you identify
your decorating style. Is it Traditional, Casual, Contemporary, or Eclectic?
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/decorating-style-quiz.html
TRADITIONAL - Your furniture and furnishing are
comforting and classic. There may be a mix of old world styles such as Queen
Anne, 18th Century Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and Sheraton. Your colors are
typically soft and you are undoubtedly a lover of antiques.
This basic list of Traditional Decorating ideas
should help to enhance your understanding of this style.
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/traditional-decorating.html
If you want to further expand your knowledge of Traditional decorating, check out the book "Signature Style."
CASUAL - You prefer your home to be simple and warm.
Your upholstery is soft and round, and fabrics are usually in earthy or neutral
colors. Seating is arranged informally and everyone immediately feels as
though they can plop down anywhere. Accessories are lighthearted and whimsical.
Review this list of ideas to put you in a Casual Decorating mindset:
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/decorating-style.html
To learn more about Casual decorating read "The Family Home: Relaxed, Informal Living For All Ages"
CONTEMPORARY - You prefer a sleek, sophisticated
design with clean lines. Accessories are minimal, but what you have could
be described as elegant simplicity. Some may consider your home to be cold
and stark. There may be lots of glass and stainless steel. Your choice
in colors may range from black and white to bold and vivid.
Click on this link to Contemporary Decorating ideas to jumpstart your thinking:
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/home-decorating.html
For more Contemporary decorating ideas, I recommend "Contemporary Decorating: New Looks For Modern Living."
ECLECTIC - Your style is a mix of two or more of
the above styles. You occasionally rebel against conventional design rules.
I would also describe my own decorating attitude as Eclectic.
Take a peek at the Eclectic Decorating in my home for ideas:
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/eclectic-decorating.html
In addition, you can find out more about Eclectic decorating by reading the book "Room By Room Eclectic Interiors."
Home Decorating Tip #4 - Lay Out Your Floor Plan
You're developing quite a project plan aren't you?
Can you see the big picture starting to come together? Great! I'm glad these
home decorating tips are helping.
The next step is to lay out the floor plan for each
area to be decorated. Using a pencil and graph paper, make a drawing that
represents the length and width of the design space. Be sure to indicate
the location of windows, doors, and other architectural elements.
Make several copies of the floor plan because later
you'll use them to help determine the best way to arrange your furniture.
You'll actually draw little shapes to represent your chairs, sofa, tables,
bed, etc.
Home Decorating Tip #5 - Identify Your Focal Points
A focal point gives the eye an initial point of
interest so that it can begin to take in the interior landscape of a room
with ease. It can be an eye-catching architectural element such as a fireplace,
large bay windows, or built-in book shelves.
However, if your room is architecturally challenged,
you'll have to create a focal point. This isn't difficult to do. An imposing
piece of furniture, such as an armoire or wall unit, can fill the bill. Or
perhaps you have a large painting or decorative rug that might work.
The key to remember is that you MUST identify or
create a strong focal point in each room that you decorate. This will be
your starting point for arranging your furniture. It will also make
your decorating effort easier because you will arrange your conversation
area so that the eye will flow naturally from it to the focal point.
Of all the home decorating tips discussed above, this is the one I hope you never forget:
Home Decorating Tip #6 - Use Your Imagination
As you already know, decorating is part art. Therefore,
your imagination and creativity are essential to bringing life to your decorating
project. This home decorating tip is probably no big surprise.
However, when ideas come to you, don't dismiss them
as being silly or outrageous... Instead, jot them down. Even if you
don't use one idea in totality, you may find yourself taking elements from
several ideas and creating something unique.
Finally, if you lay out your plan and still believe
that you need an interior decorator or interior designer to assist you in
specific areas, click on this link for tips on How To Select An Interior
Decorator.
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/interior-decorator.html
I hope these home decorating tips have been helpful.
Article copyright 2002 - Michael Holland
Want more great home decorating ideas? Then visit
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/free-interior-decorating-ideas.html.
Even beginners can now decorate with confidence!
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3. EZINE OF THE MONTH
- ABC Cross Stitch Patterns
Sign up for a great cross stitch newsletter! It's
a companion to the site, which offers lots of designs to help in decorating
your home. Offers gorgeous cross stitch designs for machine & hand embroidery!
Includes topics such as VINTAGE style HOLIDAYS, Babies & Kids, Native
American and much more. 13 machine formats are available, freebie updated
constantly! Optional newsletter to keep you up with new freebies. You're
welcome to check it out!
http://www.abc-cross-stitch-patterns.com
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That's it! Remember, if your decorating isn't fun,
it isn't worth it. So enjoy it!
--- Katie <><
KatieDid Design
- Custom Window Treatments & Bedding
http://www.katiediddesign.com
PO Box 381235
Murdock, FL 33938-1235
1-877-KATIEDID
God Is!
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