Top 10 Paint Colors

I have done an analysis based on all the paint I have used for customers so far this year. Below are the Top 10 most popular colors.

Sherwin Williams Mega Greige




Sherwin Williams Hopsack




Sherwin Williams Nomadic Desert




Sherwin Williams Tony Taupe





Sherwin Williams Silver Strand




Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige



Sherwin Williams Compatible Cream



Sherwin Williams Aurora Brown



Sherwin Williams Basket Beige


Sherwin Williams Honest Blue

Holiday Edition Mini Mag

The holidays are going to be here before we know it.

Click here to check out our holiday edition mini mag!

Continuing the Neutral Fall Trend Colors

Another continuing trend for neutral colors this fall is grey.

Grey too can be warm or cool. Most people perceive grays as a cooler, more bland, and cold color. However today's newer grays are warm, rich, and sophisticated.

Try deeper tones as a whole house color.

Sherwin Williams Mega Griege


Sherwin Williams Sticks and Stones





Lighter grays can be paired with almost any color in place of white.

Try Sherwin Williams Grayish




Think of grey as the new white. Be bold and have fun with color!

Try Sherwin Williams Agreeable Grey

Yellow: One of Falls Neutral Colors

One of this falls newer neutrals is yellow. Yellow can be warm or cool.

Brighter yellows with grayish undertones can be cooler and are best used in room with lots of natural light.

Sherwin Williams Jersey Cream


Sherwin Williams Napery


Browner beigeish yellows are typically safe neutrals and can be paired with many other colors, especially browner reds, avocado greens, blacks or whites

Sherwin Williams Interactive Cream


Sherwin Williams Ivoire




Have fun as yellow is typically perceived as a bright, sunny, and happy color!

2012 Design Award

On Friday our owner/lead designer Diana Fruechtemeyer was awarded the 2012 John Chesteen Design Award! We are so proud of her. We would also like to thank our customers for the continued support!

Exterior Paint Make-over

For an easy yet amazing exterior makeover, paint your front door a bright or dramatic color!

Reds are always an attention getter.
Try Sherwin Williams Roycroft Copper Red (Pictured below)


Or Sherwin Williams Red Boy.


Greens are always a safe classic cjoice but trying a different hue can make a greater visual impact.
Try Sherwin Williams Andiron (Pictured below)


Or Sherwin Williams Clary Sage



If you really want to be bold and daring try a plum color which was 2012s hottest fall color trend.
Try Sherwin Williams Chinchilla (Pictured Below)


Or Sherwin Williams Mink

If you're Putting your House on the Market..

A good friend of ours, Diana Agricola wrote an article for the Cincinnati Enquirer about selling your home. I'd like to share with you some key points from her article.

"If you're putting your house on the market, here are a few things you should know"
      There are five key factors in a home that can impact a sale. Think of the letters H-O-U-S-E:

House vs home:
Your house needs to promote its best features, and to do that, anything that shows the personality and identity of the existing homeowners needs to be minimized so that your house takes on the most model-like appearance. Buyers want your home, not your style.

Odor and cleanliness:
Any unpleasant odors, especially those resulting from smoke or pets must be neutralized. Clean your house completely  while paying close attention to detail. Try to put yourself in the buyers shoes: Would you feel comfortable in an unfamiliar space if it looked and smelled like your home?

Updated and fresh:
A well staged house needs to look like it has been decorated in the past five years. Pay special attention to current trends in paint colors, appliances, window treatments, and furnishings.

Space and flow:
Rooms must feel open and spacious, with clear pathways for potential buyers to move easily from room to room. This will give buyers the sense that the spaces are bigger than they really are.

Emotion:
It takes most potential buyers about 45 seconds to make a decision about a house; buyers will both connect with it and feel at home, or they will not. When a home is properly staged, the buyers will stand in the door, feel welcomed and get an immediate sense that they are home. If your house can connect emoitional this way, it's as good as sold.

How to Maximize a Small Space and Make it Look Bigger

These are just a few simple ideas to enhance a small space. Remember that just because it's a small space does not mean it can't have a grand design, just use your creativity.

(Perfect for dorm rooms parents!)

1) Using bed risers allows for more storage underneath the bed.

2) Build upward using vertical wall space. Use tall shelving units to keep more precious square footage available.

3) Use mirrors paired with wall art. Mirrors reflect light and visually expand the space.

4) Use large prints on bedding, window treatments, pillows etc. This distracts the eye from the small size of the space. Make sure to keep prints simple and do not mix a lot of different patterns.

5) Have furniture custom built for spaces. This way you can have furniture made that's comfortable and suitable for the space, rather than buying smaller furniture that isn't cozy.

6) Don't be afraid to use color and do paint the ceiling, it fools the eye into thinking the space is larger because the eye will not stop at the ceiling line.

7) Use lots of light! There are many choices: ceiling lights, table lamps, task lighting, sconces and even floor lamps can do wonders for a space.

The Most Costly Design Mistake Step 4

Step Four: Make a List
List the items you are keeping for your room, and also ALL the pieces you need to purchase to complete the project. You don't need to buy everything at once, but you should have a list before you begin. Relating back to this list during your project will keep you on track, ad also keep you on a budget!

You will find that making a plan and sticking to it will force you to stay on track and achieve your design goals. This whole process is even easier if you can share it with friends or family. Having support will get the job done more smoothly- and with a lot more fun. Enjoy!

The Most Costly Mistake Step Three

Step Three: Plan your Budget (loosely)
Home projects rarely stay within the initial budget, but it is still important to set one. You can feel more secure if you know approximately how much you are willing to spend for the sntire project, and then plan for each separate item accordingly.

Talk of the Town 2012

We want to personally thank all of you for helping us achieve the Talk of the Town 2012 Award! It means a lot to have won this. We will continue to keep up the hard work! We look forward to working with you!

Talk of the Town 2012 Award

The Most Costly Design Mistake Con't

Step Two: Find an Inspiration
Fine one piece that really speaks to your heart. It can be a painting, a piece of furniture, or an area rug. Use this piece to keep your purchases on track. Everything you buy for the room must coordinate with that one piece. Sometimes a picture in a magazine can be your inspiration. Make sure your overall plan is consistent with the colors, textures, and overall theme of the picture.

The Most Costly Design Mistake

The most costly mistake that homeowners make is starting a design project without a plan. Taking on a new project without a plan is like trying to drive to a strange, faraway place without a map. This will cause you delays, increase your frustration, and cost you a bundle. Making a plan is a lot like having a navigation system to guide you alone the way.

If you consider some important steps before beginning your home design venture, you can feel more confident that your project will go as planned.

Step One: Choose a Mood
Many homeowner get stuck trying to figure out a style. Instead, thinking about how you want to feel inn the room. Before choosing even one item, decide on the mood you want to achieve: casual and comfortable..formal and elegant..cheerful and whimsical.. After you've chosen your desired mood, make sure that everything you choose reflects it, and your final design is sure to turn our perfectly.

(The final 3 steps will be posted at a later date, stay tuned!)

2012 Award

Recently we were awarded Talk of the Town 2012. Transformed Interiors wants to thank everyone who voted!

Check out the link below to view our award!

Talk of the Town

Mini mag!

Check out Transformed Interiors's newest mini mag! Click here to see.

Picking the Perfect Paint Color

1) Take your cue from the main pieces in the room. Echoing or complementing other items in the room, like an area rug or curtains, will help make sure all the elements work well together.

2) Look at how you use the room. Colors can make or break the room's atmosphere. Save stimulating tones, like red, for the dining room or office and go for more soothing colors in the bedroom.

3) Test it out. Hang color swatches on the wall and observe them at different times of the day, since the sun can make colors appear more intense.

4) Go bold-even in small rooms. Dark colors wont necessarily make the room seem tinier if you don't crowd the space with furniture. Avoid accent walls, which chop up rooms, and make them appear smaller than they are.

5) Paint the ceiling the same shade. This diminishes the visible line between the walls and ceiling. The ceiling will always appear a shade or two softer because the two surfaces are on different planes.

6) Blend architectural elements. Use earth tones around a redbrick fireplace, for example, to keep things cohesive.


All information taken from USA Weekend.

Houzz Survey

Houzz recently conducted a national survey on homeowner focus on nesting vs. feathering the nest.

Did you know?

"Even in this economy, Houzz homeowner are prioritizing quality of life at home before profit when it comes to remolding and decorating. Among homeowners planning to build, remodel or decorate in the next two years:

• 86 percent cited "improving the look and feel of the space" as an important driver for remolding projects, while only 47 percent cited :increasing home value"
• "Making the space more functional" was also cited as in important driver by 63 percent
• These results were consistent across all income and demographic groups

Houzz users also reported that while the economy is having an impact on their home projects, they are most likely to cut back in other areas, such as vacations and other big-ticket purchases, than to delay or decrease budget for their home improvement plans.

Other key findings:

• In the next two years, 72 percent of homeowners surveyed plan to decorate or redecorate, 40 percent plan to remodel or construct an addition, while 10 percent are planning to build a custom home.
• 57 percent of houzz homeowners planning to complete a project in the next two years will hire a general contractor, 35 percent a kitchen or bath professional, 32 percent a carpet or flooring professional. 30 percent are planning to hire an architect, 26 percent an interior designer, and 24 percent a landscape architect or designer"

Redesign

A very simple family room redesign.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Easy and Fun Photo Frames

I wanted a photo frame but just could not find any that I liked so I decided to make my own. I took a trip to the dollar store to stroll the aisles and I found these magnectic numbers and letters. I found a couple of photo frames and with some hot glue, frames, letters, numbers, pencils and an hour later I had personalizes photo frames.

 

Staging/Selling Your Home

Q: What are the benefits of home staging?
Staging your home allows potential buyers to see exactly what the home offers. It allows the buyers to be able to picture themselves living in the home.

Q: What can you do?
You don't have to hire a professional home stager.

Here are some easy tips:
1) Keep your home clean and organized
2) Remove personal items such as family pictures. Remember that you are selling a product, it's nothing personal.
3) Remember to keep the exterior area clean. Try taking a picture from the outside and see what kind of impression it gives you. Home buyers will notice little things like the grass needing to be cut, hedges needing to be trimmed, dirty mailbox etc
4) Keep in mind that Men are often sold on a home based on the size of the garage. Make sure the keep this area clean and clutter free just like you would with the rest of the house.
5) Find a friend or family member who can help you with decorating!

Staging Project

Before:

 After:

Master Bath Mini Makeover

Before:  

After:

Master bath mini makeover! Changed the paint color, removed carpet, and added tile.

Bird Cage Night Light

Here is an old bird cage made into a night light by using christmas lights.

Easter fun decorating

Easter is approaching shortly. Here is a a simple and easy decorating idea for your home!

Headboard

Easy and cool headboard! Made simply out of an old 5 panel door and painted white. The door was found for cheap at Building Values.

Wallpaper Fun

A client wanted to add some color but not all over. I suggested doing it on her shelves. It's actually removeable and can change with style or season. It's luan board with wallpaper on it, attached to walls with small nails.

Bulletin Board

This bulletin board was inspired by one that can be found at Restoration Hardware (pictured below)

Using an old frame from Goodwill, some cork, and burlap...

 The new bulletin board was created!