How can you freshen up your family room décor when you are working on a budget?  

Don’t forget to take a "before" and "after" picture so you can see the full effect of your transformation!

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Love and Learn About Leather!!

     First, for a sofa price range of around $1800 to $2500, one should expect to have, at minimum, a sturdy hardwood frame, sinuous spring construction, and high quality foam with poly or down wrapping in the cushion.  With regard to the leather in this price range, the sofa should be  all leather.  Of course it should be all leather, right?  On the higher end of this price range you should expect to have a piece that is top-grain leather, the higher in quality and  durability.  But, in the lower end of this price range you might see that the leather is a top-grain on the parts that you sit on and touch such as the seat, back cushions, and arms (the stress points) and the leather on the other parts, sides and back, are "splits".  "Splits" are the inside layers of the hide, and are created once the top-grain is removed. They are not as dense as the outside/top grain, and thus should only be used in the non stress points of the upholstery like the outside arms and backs of the frames.  "Splits" are usually embossed with a grain to give them the desired look.  Use of them in this way allows creation of an all leather piece to meet a lower budget without sacrificing comfort, style, or durability.  Note: Beware of leather “matching,” which means the sides and back are covered in matching vinyl instead of leather, this lessens the quality and over time the vinyl will wear out much quicker and will not “match” as the natural leather changes and patinas.

     For a sofa price range of $3000 to $5000, one should expect to have, at minimum, a sturdy hardwood frame and high quality cushions again, and an eight-way hand tied construction.  Eight-way hand tied construction is more labor intensive to manufacture, resulting in its higher cost, but is a highly prized and durable form of construction.  Also in this price range you should expect nothing less than a full top-grain leather piece.  Typically with a higher price range as well, you would open the door to a larger variety of styles in terms of colors and dyeing techniques. 

     When it comes to buying leather furniture, or any furniture for that matter, it is important to know what it is that you are getting for your money.  Educate yourself on what features are important to you and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Any of our designers at Luxe Home Interiors would be happy to answer them!

HOME TOURS – "LUXE"-URY IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME!

This featured article is dedicated to the 2009 Chicago Luxury Home Tour and the 2009 Live Downtown Naperville Custom Home Tour. The Chicago Luxury Home Tour kicks off this weekend (beginning Friday, September 11, 2009) and will take place for the next 3 weekends, concluding on Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Live Downtown Naperville Custom Home Tour starts on the Friday, Sept. 18^th and concludes on Sunday, September 27, 2009 as well. The home that we provided the interior design and furnishings for is on both of these tours. 

Home #3 on the Live Downtown Naperville Custom Home Tour

Think about your favorite place to sit in your home…most likely it is a sofa or a chair - a warm, cozy spot to curl up and read a book, or a place to snuggle with your kids or pet. Think again about how different your sofa or chair are from your neighbors’, your parents’, one you would find in a formal living room, or in a college apartment. There are a myriad of choices out there for upholstered seating, so when it comes time to select a new piece, whether you are replacing an old piece or starting from scratch, there are several guidelines that can help you make your choice a good one for you. 

Special pieces give our homes “rootedness” and are sometimes a foundation for other furnishings. They tell a story – of an adventure, a piece of family history or a great discovery. Every home needs the personalization that a few special pieces bring to the experience. 

Entire rooms can be designed around these special pieces, even when they’re unique. This is one reason it’s helpful to have an experienced designer to work with, when you add a “find” to your home. You know you love the piece. Now, where should it go? What other furnishings and colors will work with it? 

The “one of kinds” are the items that make each of us unique, and we are all unique in our own way. Each time a designer creates a “custom” sofa, “custom” chair, a dining set using two or more finishes with a coordinating fabric, or window treatments specific to your home…they are all one of a kind. These things have never been done before; they are unique to you and your unique lifestyle. Your home should make you happy, a place you look forward to returning to and one that speaks volumes about you and who you are. Make sure it tells the truth!!  

The “Naked Window” Dilemma

What’s Your View?

Take a walk through your home and gaze upon your windows. Does each window have a window treatment that is beautiful and functional? Do your window treatments measure up to these standards?

"Naked Window" Syndrome

We love windows and build homes that include many windows with huge expanses of glass. Sometimes their sheer size and complexity cause us to abandon plans for a window treatment, because we don’t know where to start. Naked windows are a challenge, and you must address how you’ll use the room paying attention to sunlight and privacy needs. You need a plan that addresses functionality and beauty, while honoring your budget.

Exploring A World of Custom Options

A design firm will have an incredible selection with hundreds of fabrics & trims for any design style and in a multitude of colors and textures. Sun-blocking and insulating liners, wood & natural materials as well as sun-resistant materials offer additional customization options.

Details, Details…. like Hardware

Window treatment hardware is a beautiful blend of form and function. Like well-chosen accessories, decorative hardware accents the window treatments. Behind the scenes, some hardware plays a strictly functional role holding window treatments in place and offering options for opening and closing. Hardware selected needs to accommodate the weight of the window treatment and work with the window’s size. And in some cases, technology can contribute conveniences like remote-controlled opening and closing, or solar features. 

Precision Measuring & Complete Installation

With a measuring tape in hand, some measure their windows and purchase generic window treatments. Precise measurements are essential when purchasing any window treatment and a professional can prevent costly mistakes. A professional will pay attention to the type of window treatment and how it will be mounted. They know how hardware needs to be installed and allow for clearances needed. And since some rooms are not precisely constructed, they know how to work around those challenges. Accuracy is also important during installation so hardware is securely mounted and the window treatments are beautiful and fully functional.

The options available today to address the “naked window” can be overwhelming. A professional designer can direct you down the correct path, matching beauty with function depending on your unique lifestyle, because “every life is uniquely designed”. 

Work With Color This Thanksgiving Season!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and the cooler weather and early sunsets have driven most of us indoors, making it the perfect opportunity to reinvigorate our homes. The fall season provides us with a natural landscape of color. Bright red, orange, yellow and brown are the signature colors of this special season. Get into the spirit by bringing the colors of fall into your home. 

Most people don’t want to spend a lot of money decorating for a season that lasts only a few weeks. Little things make a difference when it comes to keeping your interiors fresh. Accessories are where you can add pop each season by bringing fresh colors and textures into every room of the house. Fall is all about color, so out with the pastels, and in comes a richer palette that takes inspiration from the changing leaves, the abundance of the harvest and the fire of the autumn sunset. Placemats and napkins are an easy area to make an impact. Fabric adds natural warmth to the interior of a home. It’s amazing how rich fall colors added to the surface of an empty tabletop can bring bare furniture to life.

One of the great things about candles is the variety of colors and scents that are available. The faint scent of a warm candle can fill a room with festive fragrance, while the color of the candle can be an easy way to add subtle accents to tabletops and bare surfaces. Vases accent a room the same way. Fresh flowers are a great way to bring life into a room. Not only can you purchase flowers that are appropriate to the season, but the variety of vase styles and colors available can bring the entire arrangement to life. So instead of the traditional clear vase, try red, green, blue or different colors that accent you fall décor. 

Changing accent pillows will go a long way if you keep the festive autumn colors in mind. They can be inexpensive, easy to store as you change from one season to another and they easily add a fresh new look to any room. 

If you think no one is looking at your floor, think again. Rugs pull together an entire room. Window treatments draw the eye towards the ceiling; a rug will draw the eye down toward the floor. When a visitor approaches your room, they will likely be drawn to those new color accents you have recently placed in the room. By adding color to your floor, you are drawing their eye from the center of the room down, giving your room a balanced look. 

We recently participated in the Live Downtown Naperville Custom Home Tour. We were once again honored to work with our partners at Siena Custom Builders at a beautiful home at 1212 Millet in Naperville. DOTI in Naperville furnished the home and selected the paint colors throughout the home.  The home and decorating received rave reviews - especially the colors!  Given that, we thought it would be an interesting opportunity to talk abit about color trends....

Our clients are always asking us about trends in color. One thing is for certain, they are always changing. By design, for the tour we avoided the ever popular “Naperville Beige” and went for some fun and whimsy. Don’t be afraid of color - it is the easiest and quickest thing to change. Start with the colors you gravitate towards. Then, begin testing the trends to see if they work for you. It’s always good to let trends inspire you and possibly take you in directions you would not have otherwise considered, but ultimately, you need to have a home that speaks to you, not what the trends dictate.

The trends are:

·        Lend a warm tone to your home in 2008 by opting for soft red tones like watermelon color or carrot color in cushions, pillow shams, duvet covers and seat covers that look inviting in living rooms.

·        Fresh citrus colors such as lime yellow, mint green, golden yellows, kiwi green and tangerine are great for kitchens and instantly brighten up the décor. These colors are very popular for 2008.

·        Soft green shades such as sage green are the most happening for the year 2008. Go green and make your home look absolutely fresh with shades like mint green, leaf green, baby green with warm yellow tones.

You know what you like. Don’t chicken out and give in to your mother-in-law’s suggestions. Do what you like, and then take it a step further. You may find that you like the attention you get... just being yourself!   

Well…you might be shocked to hear that in this country we spend an amazing 80% of our time indoors. After that shocker, another fact is that buildings in the United States (which includes your home), consume about 30% of our total energy, and 60% of our electricity. 

Sustainability is another key buzzword in the Green Design arena. Sustainability means using resources so that they do not become depleted. It is a method of using materials that are capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment. At DOTI, we ask for an environmental story from each of our nearly 200 vendors. That questioning is pushing some manufacturers that might be lagging, to strengthen their environmental story for the benefit of us all. 

Green Design can have a positive impact on our comfort and health. Choices of furniture, floor coverings and wall coverings help determine how healthy a given indoor environment will be. In any well-designed interior, people do not feel hot or cold as they go about their daily activities. As a for instance, quality lighting makes tasks such as reading and working on the computer easier. Daylight and electric light are integrated. Window treatments not only add to the beauty of your home, but have a direct impact on the temperature of your home and therefore the amount of energy required to maintain your families comfort.  

This is a huge arena. Each day we learn more and share this information with our clients through beautiful and responsible interior design. More to follow in the months to come................       

 The warm days are just around the corner when entertaining friends and family will fill the house to overflowing, and you take the party outdoors for all to enjoy. Summer is the time to enjoy those nearly endless twilight evenings when everyone stays outdoors as long as possible, and dinner becomes a social event in the yard.

The wooden picnic table is still popular, but many homeowners are looking for more, and there are endless choices out there for serious outdoor entertaining. Outdoor furniture, fireplaces, cool accent lighting, cabanas, thick cushions and gorgeous weather friendly fabrics exist today for full-time outdoor use. Our arsenal of leisure exterior furnishing vendors inspire homeowners to create a personal retreat – a distinctive space to entertain friends and family, recline by the pool, sip a new wine or nap under your favorite tree.

As memories of youthful summers blend into mature experiences of traveling to favorite destinations, superior outdoor furnishings capture the spirit of the best outdoor experiences and bring it home. The furniture, finish and fabric choices allow you to be as unique in the outdoor extension of your home as the unique experience you have created within your home. So don’t let the great weather ahead pass without extending your home to the outdoors and create an outdoor space that is as unique as you!         

I may be pushing it since it is only the first week of March, but everyone I talk to is looking forward to spring. With that pleasant thought, let’s talk about "springing forward" in our homes, and leaving winter behind.

·        Spring is a great time to paint. Get rid of those bland winter walls! Neutral tones are fine, but add in some cool blues and greens that are making a statement this spring.

·        New accessories! You can reframe photos since heavy woods and metals are out for the spring. Change out that china vase with some blown glass, recycled glass, cobalt or topaz, and there are a variety of shapes to choose from. Throw pillows can bring any new color into your rooms.

·        A new rug or rugs can change the entire look of your space. For the spring and summer months, move away from the heavy traditional patterns and textures, and look for light and bright. Add some whimsy to your home and your life with fun stripes or polka dots.

·        New artwork can immediately change the look and feel of any room. A watercolor, light hearted oil painting or a sleek sculpture will reinvent your space.

·        It might be time to change out some side tables with lighter colored woods or glass tops. If you don’t want to go that far, cover some of the table tops with light colored scarves.

·        Change your dishware for the season. Use fun bright colors on pottery or glass. Tangerines, ocean tones, hot pinks or purple will enhance the meal experience, and though subtle, accentuate that change is about to occur.

·        If nothing else, open up you space and add a splash of color with fresh flowers. They are at their best this time of year. House plants and foliage of any kind, including faux, are a must in your spring space. 

So there you go! Spring is a time to reinvent and refresh. Use you invigorated senses to inspire your home. Spring Forward!!

Valentine’s Day, when romance surrounds us, is just around the corner. Last month we talked about “cocooning” within your home. In the romantic month of February, we couldn't’t help but take it one step further and talk about creating romance in your master bedroom. Your bedroom is your sanctuary; a place to get away from it all. It is imperative that your master suit both you and your partner’s personality. 

There are many things that can be done to produce the desired effect within the master bedroom.

Color

Colors can be the single most important factor in creating the mood of your room. For example, a yellow room is playful and yummy, while a red room signifies stimulation and passion. Fortunately, we do not have to limit ourselves to the primary color palate. Each color has a broad spectrum of hues and brightness. You only need to choose a color you like and there will be a softer tone more befitting a romantic setting. If you like green, but feel that it invigorates, just move down the spectrum to a sage. It is still green but is now warm and calming.

Lighting

The one light in the center of the room has to go. It does nothing to compliment the interior of the room or its inhabitants. Use ambient lighting to adorn side tables, with a floor lamp and a few up lights to create intimate shadows.

Furniture

Make the bed the focal point. Dress it up with piles of pillows and mix textures to add warmth. If space permits, incorporate plush seating into an intimate grouping with a side table, ottoman and floor lamp. Toss a luxurious throw over the chair, put some inspiring books on the side table and invite your partner to share a flute of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries in front of the fire.

At DOTI we tell our clients “your home says a lot about you…make sure it tells the truth”. The master bedroom should be a special place within your home for soul mates to express who they are; your personal escape from the rest of your home.      

We all look forward to rewards following the stresses of the season, but also everyday life. At home, in our “sanctuary”, we let our guard down and relax. It is a nest feathered with people and things we love and with places for soft landings and deep restorative slumber…a cocoon.

The master bedroom suite is the ideal location for this to happen. Direction for this room is determined by how people want to inhabit this space. One client wanted their room to feel like a vacation they took in the Bahamas, while another wanted it to feel like a suite in a 5 star hotel. The possibilities are endless.    

Stuffed bedding, cushions and comfortable furniture invoke both internal and physical healing. Maybe you read in bed to spend more time between layers of deluxe bedding, supported by a favorite reading pillow. Perhaps napping on a chaise under an heirloom quilted throw is your idea of indulgence. However you luxuriate your home, it’s a sure bet that stuffed things are involved.  

Our favorite things can be as beautiful as they are comforting. Not just decorative pillows for the window seat, but jewel-toned Italian silk with embellishments. Not just a bedspread, but a luxurious duvet with an inviting cover that insists on being touched when passed. 

So…how do you begin?

·        Overstuffed chaise or chair with ottoman

·        Window seat cushions

·        Bed pillows..decorative over practical..three to four deep

·        Comforter or duvet and cover

·        Contoured reading pillow

·        Blanket for two..essential for watching movies

Go ahead, indulge yourself; you deserve it…NO, you need it!