Interior Design Musings

If you are like me then you have tons of pictures of friends and family you’d like to have framed and visible, but a lot of frames can seem cluttered.  Here’s an idea: Go to a local architectural salvage store (maybe even your garage) and find and old window frame- it’s your choice whether to keep the glass in or not.  Hang your photos in a cluster on the wall, then hang the window on the wall encompassing all of the framed pictures.  The window frame will focus the clutter and make it appear to be one framed picture at first glance.

I heard a fun tip today from a fellow designer. If you are planning on having surround sound with your new entertainment system, you may already know that most systems have several speakers and it’s a headache to hide them without blocking their purpose. Most people simply hang them on the walls which, lets face it, looks pretty ugly. Try this fun trick; place a couple of decorative baskets on the top of your entertainment center in a random pile to give a casual appearance. Place a few speakers inside the baskets. They will hide the speakers without actually blocking any sound.

Monthly trade publication Diversity Inc. has named Herman Miller as one of 25 Noteworthy Companies. This prestigious title is given only to companies who meet the four determining criteria; CEO commitment, human capital, corporate communications and supplier diversity. Priding itself on “culture that values and encourages bringing the whole person to the workplace,” Herman Miller has recently been cited in other sources such as Interiordesign.net, Fortune Magazine and Business Ethics as one of the top in its industry.

Love Candlelight? Love Low-Maintenance? Bring these things together and you have the Rechargeable Flickering Candle by Sharper Image. It has the romantic quality of real candlelight and even flickers a bit for added realism. Now, I’m not saying that candles are the most high maintenance décor I own, but to relax in candlelight and not jerk awake, worrying if I’m going to burn the house down, is a definite plus. You can even bring them outside without the wind snuffing them out. And forget about dripping wax on furniture and floor! For added convenience—how about not worrying about replacing the light bulb? The set of six comes with a plug-in charger and LED bulbs that last up to 12 hours on a 10 hour charge and never need replacing. These “candles” get an A+ for convenience.

Ever want to change the look of your wall? Maybe go for a wild or trendy print but you were afraid it would mean a permanent decision untill your next remodel? A company called blik has made a fun and flexible product for all you commitment-phobes out there. These “stickers for adults” are self-adhesive wall decals that simply peel and stick on walls, windows, floors or ceilings. Design a game room with pixilated Space Invader-esque decals or make a fun and easily altered baby room with the cute and cartoony girraffes. Possibilities are endless! Stop buy WhatIsBlik for more info. You can buy them through Amazon too. Be creative!