Interior Design Scottsdale, AZ by S Interior Design

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Spring Tune Up For Your Home

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Below is a guest posting to which S Interior Design added comments and photos to to augment the message (shown in red color font). We ourselves just enacted many of the 6 suggestions on our home’s back patio. It is now a cleaned up,uncluttered, cohesive design that we are proud of and enjoy spending time in with friends and family.

After a long day, there’s nothing better than coming home and relaxing. But in order to truly enjoy your home, you need to create an environment where you can feel comfortable.

Unfortunately, home decor and design aren’t always at the top of everyone’s priority list. Luckily, turning your home into your own personal oasis can be easy, and even a little fun. Keep reading for 6 ways to make your home environment a priority this month.

1.  Get Rid of Items You Don’t Use

If you’re anything like most people, you’ve probably accumulated a bunch of stuff over the years that you no longer have a use for. Instead of trying to find new ways to organize these things, it’s time to consider getting rid of things you don’t need.

Discarding unnecessary things will make your home cleaner and more organized and can even free up some of your storage space. If throwing things away seems too drastic, you may want to consider donating any items you think could be useful to others.

Have a garage sale or donate your unwanted items to Goodwill or your favorite charity sponsored Thrift Store.

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2.  Make the Most of your Home’s Natural Light

Take down heavy weight window treatments and replace them with sheer fabrics that filter the light.

Add sky lights or Solar Tubes to your ceiling.

Looking for a way to make your home feel bright and fresh? Natural light is the answer. Making it a point to open your curtains every morning is a quick and easy way to get natural light flowing through your home.  Adding mirrors to your home can also help you get more natural light. In addition to making your home brighter, exposure to natural light can also have positive benefits on your health by improving sleep and boosting mental health.

3.  Fix Broken Appliances

Are there any appliances in your home that need to be repaired or replaced? Having broken appliances in your home can impact the overall functionality of your space. Investing in a good home appliance plan can help you save money while also staying on top of routine maintenance.

Sometimes it makes sense to fix what you already have. If you decide to get new appliances make sure they are energy efficient.

4.  Introduce New Colors

The color scheme can really affect the overall feel of a room so it’s important to choose all of your colors wisely. While an entirely new paint job may be a little too much to undertake, you can find other ways to introduce new colors around your home. For example, try bringing in colorful accessories and bold accent pieces.

New throws or throw pillows can change the look of a room entirely. A new area rug can make a big impact too. You can even change out a few pieces of your wall art.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS 2019 PAINT COLOR TRENDS

5.  Organize Clutter

There’s no doubt that having a clean home will give you peace of mind, but clutter is hard to avoid. As you go through your day to day life, it can be easy for things to pile up and get unorganized. Coming up with a way to neatly store all of your belongings can save you lots of time and energy.

You can start by organizing your current storage areas such as drawers and cabinets. Once you’ve gotten some success under your belt, you can move on to larger spaces.

6.  Rearrange Furniture

Have you been feeling a little tired of your home? If so, you’re not alone. But moving isn’t always the easiest or most logical thing to do. The good news is that rearranging some furniture around your home can give your space a completely different look and feel.

Try to re-imagine some of the rooms in your home with a different setup and move things around until you get the look you want.

7.  Turn Your Home into Your Happy Place

Remember to keep these tips in mind, as you move your home to the top of your priority list this month. With a little bit of time and effort, you can create a home environment that is everything you’ve ever wanted. 

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Home Remodels Gone Wrong and Lessons Learned

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Guest Post for S Interior Design
By: Paige A. Mitchell

There’s nothing worse than a botched DIY home remodel. But what if you were able to know what not to do before you dove into a home remodel on your own? Here are some prime examples of mistakes to avoid during a home remodel, in hopes that you will be wiser before jumping into the deep end.

Not Planning Ahead

Jumping into a home remodel without a distinct plan in mind is a recipe for disaster. For all intents and purposes, there is no such thing as “over planning” for a home remodel. Make sure you know exactly what you want to remodel and you know why you want to remodel it. Then, make sure you have planned everything as completely as possible, from the budget to the materials to the daily schedule. Leave no stone unturned.

Trying To Stay With The Trends

Everyone gets a little excited when they want to dive into a DIY remodel and the first place they turn to for inspiration is Pinterest. The problem? Going crazy with what the current home trend is, only to have that trend expire after a month and you be left with a less than desirable kitchen filled with Spanish influence. Be sure to pick a look for your home remodel that fits your personal interest and is also timeless. That way, you won’t feel that remodel itch a month after you complete your project.

Running Out Of Budget On The First Day

In the same vein as making sure you plan your home remodel ahead, make sure you completely map out your home renovation budget before diving in. That means making sure you have a realistic budget in mind with real-time numbers for all your materials and labor planned out. Just because you are performing a DIY home remodel does not mean you shouldn’t take labor into account. Even if you are able to perform the entire remodel on your own, which is hardly ever the case, you have to take into account time lost while doing that work.

Did you use paid time off at your work to perform the home remodel? Are you missing out on projects that could have earned you money? Your own time will play a factor in your budget. Along with that, make sure you know exactly how much supplies you need and how much it will all cost you. There is nothing worse than stopping at your home improvement shop only to get to the register and not have enough money for your supplies.

Measuring Once, Cutting A Hundred Times

Measure your work, then measure it again, then measure it again! The last thing you want is to measure your flooring or wood for your patio, get ready to lay it all out, then realize you mis measured and have to cut everything all over again. What could be worse than that? Ruining your materials because you cut too much and have to start from scratch. Check, double check, and triple check that all your measurements are correct so that you only have to cut once.

Going Cheap And Suffering

You’re already saving money by performing your home improvement project on your own. Make sure that when you do spend your money, you are purchasing items that are so cheap that they will fall apart in less than a year. If you are trying to DIY a home appliance, considering instead saving money on a home warranty and have the experts come in to make repairs. The last thing you want is a puddle in the bathroom because you thought you could fix the sink. Make sure you are being frugal in the right places and splurging when you need to same. Same with buying the right materials, know your limits. If you are even slightly unsure about performing a task, hire a contractor.

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Exciting New Tile Options

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As a designer of 17 years time, it seems to take a bit more each year to make me say ‘WOW’. Last night I was invited to an A.S.I.D. meeting at a Scottsdale Arizona vendor – The Tile Shop for a special presentation of the latest product introduction from Ann Selke. Ann Selke is a renowned designer of furnishings including textiles via Pine Cone Hill bedding and area rugs via Dash and Albert. Now she has introduced her custom tile and decorative glass products.

Annie Selke

Consisting of over 200 tiles, the Annie Selke for The Tile Shop collection pushes the boundaries of technology to bring the look and feel of popular Annie Selke textiles, prints and artwork to life. Reflecting the texture of rugs, the sheen of metallic fabrics, the softness of dappled watercolor paintings and more, this inspired collaboration ranges from feminine to bold. Mix and match within the collections to maximize cohesion within a space and from room to room.

I needed to share! A breath of fresh air in the tile world. Besides standard porcelain and ceramic tile, she has coordinated a line of large format glass panels to go along with the tile options if desired.

Glass in Shower

Of course while I was at The Tile Shop I took the time to look at their entire inventory of fabulous tile options. I was happy to see new dimensional tiles, use of color and patterns along with the natural stone classics.

  • Black and Textured
  • Colorful and Geometric
  • Cement Look Encaustic
  • Textural Limestone
  • Not Your Father’s Subway Tile!

Now that my creative juices are flowing I am eager to embark on a new client project that I will hopefully be able to use some of these wonderful new tile finds in the design plan!

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5 Home Upgrades You Won’t Regret

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Below is a guest posting about upgrades you can do to your home to increase functionality, update the look and feel and increase your home value prior to selling. Notably the first upgrade the author cites is around smart home technology. It gives even a traditionalist, post 50 year old cause to think about implementing a few more in her home….lights that can change color with our moods? Definitely need to find out more about that one! Enjoy reading this post and more from S Interior Design.

There are many ways you can upgrade your home. From full scale remodels to small upgrades that will impact the way you live in your home daily. We’ve compiled five upgrades you can do in your home that will provide a refresh, and can even help you save money. 

Photo from Unsplash

1. Automating with smart home technology

We are constantly surrounded by technology, and we’re always finding new ways to make our devices smarter, faster, and better. Smart phones and watches, high-tech doorbells and hands-free devices, such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home, allow us to streamline our lives.

Some other smart home features include smart televisions, which are more streamlined than an entertainment center full of modems and they’re more stylish with an unobtrusive screen and beautiful screensavers.

You might also look to smart lighting by adding a lamp that can be turned on and off via an app. Smart light bulbs also exist with color-changing options that can coordinate with your mood.

There are even smart oven options now that allow you to monitor your cooking and food temperature while being away from the kitchen. Imagine, picking up children from school and extracurricular activities and still arriving home to a delicious, homemade meal.

Photo from Unsplash

2. Painting or redecorating

Take a look around your home and consider your current color palette. How long has it been since you painted your living room or kitchen? Determine if a fresh coat of paint will help refresh a stale space. Consider neutrals or the color of the year (“Living Coral”) to update a room in your house.

Other ways to refresh a space without a full remodel include utilizing some of the 2019 home design trends. Some examples you may consider include a full tile backsplash in the kitchen to refresh the space or repainting your cabinets with a white or cream to brighten the room without the expense of replacing cabinets. Also, in living spaces, consider a mix of fabrics to add depth and textures.

Photo from Unsplash

3. Replacing old appliances

Upgrading your 13-year-old washing machine or your finicky dishwasher to a new, high-tech appliance could save you money in the long run. Modern appliances are energy efficient and conserve more water than traditional models, so you’ll be saving on your utility bills in no time.

They’ll also boost the resale value of your home if you’re planning on moving in the next few years. If any of your appliances are on the fritz, you could be eligible for a brand new replacement through your home warranty, which is also considered to be a great marketing tool during a home sale.

4. Getting more out of a small space

We all have a small room in our home that isn’t being used to its greatest potential, and it’s often a bathroom. Fortunately, there are ways to make the most of the space you have.

First, consider the lighting of the bathroom. If it is possible, consider bringing in additional natural light by adding a skylight or solar tube. If that isn’t an option, add recessed lighting in addition to the vanity lighting. Clear clutter, go vertical with storage and consider adding a floating vanity. With a small footprint use all the space available by going up.

Photo from Unsplash

5. Preparing for resale

Selling your home is a stressful process. You want to show it in its best possible shape, but you also want to avoid putting too much money into the property you are selling.

Start with a home critique from a real estate agent or potential buyer. Getting a fresh set of eyes into your space can provide feedback on things you may not see, and may also show trouble points you weren’t aware of.

Once you have received feedback consider repainting and reflooring the interior. A fresh coat of neutral paint helps provide a neutral backdrop that potential buyers need in order to imagine themselves in your space.

Also, consider the condition of your flooring, especially carpet. Dirty and torn carpet may need to be replaced, or at minimum a professional carpet cleaning works wonders.

These are just a few tips and upgrades we know you won’t regret when considering changes and additions to your home. 

BY: Paige A. Mitchell

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2019 Design Trends

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Thank you to HOUZZ for compiling a nice list of what are being considered the design trend ideas for 2019! Enjoy reading this but always remember the most important thing to consider when re-designing your home are your own personal likes, dislikes and functionality desires.

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