A New Year ... A New Look

As New Year’s Day approaches, it is normal to look back at 2009 and say we are glad it’s over, or breath a sigh of relief and start planning changes for 2010.

Every January 1st, the slate is wiped clean and we can start fresh. With our interior decorating along with " losing weight" make definite design resolutions for your condo home and sit down now and write them out.

I don’t think all our financial troubles are yet behind us. Many are working their way with foreclosures, unemployment and old credit card debt and only inexpensive and basic changes are possible. Risk is out and large ticket purchases must be planned, if at all. The predictions for home decor for the next New Decade trends toward comfort, uncluttered, re-purposed as well as a "green and sustainable" direction. Eco-friendly as a choice will be replaced by its being a responsibility.

The recent popularity of "Staycations" driven by economic downturn, has led to the desire to make our condominium a sanctuary. Whether adding simple accessories or redoing an entire room, here are some 2010 trends as a guide.

The most dominating addition will be metallic tones in furniture, as well as fabric. Though previously used in sleek, modern spaces, metalics work equally well to spice up traditional style decorating. Black and white schemes are enhanced and given new life. This trend is generally shown without wood or any additional sort of metals and low and curved styled metallic furniture looks best and makes a room look more spacious. That’s rule number 1 for all of us living in condos!!

Eco-friendly and refurbished decor continues in favor as people try to connect with the safer days now gone. Often called "furniture with a conscience" though hardly considered trendy, will rarely go out of style.

Gardening has emerged as Americas number 1 hobby, and if you have neither a balcony or other outside space all is not lost. I have recently purchased mini orchids, hibiscus and kalanchoes in wonderful colors from our local home stores.

Fresh flowers purchased weekly cannot compete with the bang for the buck and minimal maintenance they provide. The prime rule is not to over water. Outdoor furniture and rugs and even lighting have made their way indoors and especially here in Florida. Composition wicker and rattan can be a good value but always try to purchase loose cushions to avoid the sticker shock from a reupholster estimate. No pick up and delivery charges or a disaster from stains or rips and wonderful washable zippered covers have a long life.

My favorite 2010 advice is to purchase a new bedroom headboard. In addition to changing the look of a previously bought matching set, a completely different style may spark your decorating direction. There is probably one to be found at clearance price at one of our local furniture stores. If not, make a New Year’s resolution to paint your old one your favorite color. This is easy and fun to do even as a condo project.

The Color Association has predicted that blues will dominate this next decade with teal the most popular. Consider using it with inexpensive accessories in lime green or orange tones and with a gallon of teal paint create a completely 2010 effect.

As New Year’s Day approaches, cherish the family and friends and things you do have. Even in our current economy the paint store is just around the corner.

The Wizard and I will be here during 2010 to continue to inspire you.

Plan Your Guest Room Upgrades Before the Holidays

With the Thanksgiving Holidays over and the turkey and guests all gone, now is a good time to evaluate how you fared with the guests staying in your Condo home.

Many of us wish we had purchased a 2 bedroom unit but during the previous market the difference from a one bedroom was considerable. Unfortunately for resale, it is now possible to get a larger space for the same 2005 price. But if you love your building and view as I do, here are some suggestions before the next Holiday to better prepare for "relatives and refugees" from the cold weather.

While suggesting extra items like towels, lovely soap and magazines are standard fare in a guest room article, consider putting an iron and board (yes people still iron) in the closet you have partially emptied beforehand and stocked with good hangers.

The addition of lamps with a 3-way bulb and a universal TV remote for each bedside table are welcome. A fluffy robe, alarm clock and accessible outlet to charge cell phones and a pen and pad will be most appreciated. Along with the oft suggested fruit, stock a basket with individually packaged puddings and fruit, some health bars and bottled water which no longer is expected to be chilled. Anything usually put in a child’s lunch box is great and can keep for the future guests as fruit can sadly spoil so quickly.

The decision for bedding is a most important one and will vary depending on the other uses besides guests. A good mattress in a must and helpful comparisons can be found on consumersearch.com or sleeplikethedead.com, an unforgettable name that makes me smile. Always opt for as large a bed as your room and budget can handle. The option of the much maligned trundle bed puts 2 twins in less floor space.

There is always the sleeper couch which has improved through the years and now many contain an air mattress for comfort. For information on the newer air beds, the New York Times’ Home section ( November 26th ) compared 5 air beds and discussed the features to shop for. The original low lying style is now replaced by queen sized ones that measure 80'’ long with an attached headboard. Several inflatable options exist but be sure to get an automatic shut off. With horizontal air channels or a surface dimpled with pockets of air, the flat vinyl slab feeling is eliminated. The writer suggested a quilted mattress pad made an enhancement and world of difference.

Large sleeper ottomans made by Lucy Au of Montreal, allow a fold out sleeper placed under a window and available in all sizes. The multifunctional surface top helps if your room is also a home office.

Now that we have our bedding with 2 quality pillows for each side, we should eliminate all thoughts of additional throw pillows which have to be moved each night. Extra blankets should be easily found, if needed.

With our South Florida sunshine, the need for light control and privacy should be given important research. I have turned to Wholesale Vertical, an advertiser in the Condo News, with a 29-year history, for suggestions. With the unexpected huge cost of shutters, the faux horizontal blinds have gained popularity. Pleated cellular shades covered by sheers or not, can be quickly raised out of sight but the resultant direct sunlight is a problem. The newer roll up sun control shades allow you to see out but offer little night privacy. A heavier version is opaque and room darkening.

Finally, the still versatile vertical blind option is chosen by 60% of the customers at Wholesale Verticals, according to Jean, the owner, and Tina, her assistant, who will come out with samples and recommendations for window treatments.

With the Holidays getting near, you still have time to select and install verticals in 5 working days. If you have extra tall windows and high ceilings, the cost for this product is very reasonable compared to other choices. The textured and endless colors available, make a visit by Tina a sure way to get exactly what is best for your condo home. For light control, nothing compares for making a guest room the quiet respite for an afternoon nap. When verticals are pulled back, an attractive side panel can hide the slats and a decorative fabric valence above the head rail softens the room. The owners of Wholesale Verticals will guarantee their mechanism for as long as you own it, though there is seldom repairs needed. Ordering additional slats can also give a feeling of security if one is damaged.

I often hear a design client say they just want something white, but the amount of different whites available is truly amazing. Grays, yellowish and beige whites should be chosen in the room with the wall color, and seldom is the selection of brite or appliance white the final one. Faux wood verticals have added another option for sliders and French doors and look great with matching faux horizontal blinds for the additional windows in your condo..

Be sure to know about all the new product options from a reputable local company such as Wholesale Verticals. It will take away the stress of making a color mistake or incorrect measurements.

With our guest room window treatments in the hands of the Design Wizard, we can look forward to the other nice additions for our guests.

Keep in mind the most important ingredient for a guests enjoyment is a warm, relaxed host and hostess with a flexible schedule and not hovering or apologizing over every detail or omission. During this beautiful season there is no place better than Florida to visit. Take the time to enjoy everything just like a guest!

* Wholesale Verticals is located at 6001 Georgia Ave., Suite 10, West Palm Beach, FL 33405. Phone: (561) 585-1485. 

Pictured above are samples of verticals available at Wholesale Verticals. 

Photo by Jimmy Shir.ey

Creative Party Plans

If your Condo is fortunate enough to have a social, party, meeting room, or anything else you might call it, this area is most often under-used by owners.

It is probably too late to think about fall or Halloween decor, but the holidays and return of your snowbirds are eminent. Many buildings have a year-round Social Committee to plan various events, but if not, this is the year to try to get something planned. Let’s start with the rock bottom needs for your party.

With the financially difficult times we are seeing all around us, there are some in every condo who feel there are not enough funds available and just let’s wait till next year. This feeling is the direct opposite of the need to seek the comfort and pleasure and uplifting experience we can get by entertaining.

While a majority of people feel that a SUCCESSFUL party needs to be "ELEGANT", an event decor that is original and authentic gets a strong second vote.

In reading the New York Times Thursday’s HOME section, two well known designers expressed the freedom we should express which can get lost in expensive and unnecessary extras.

Preston Bailey, who has been chosen by Ivanka Trump to design the decor for her October 25th wedding, describes his starting price for one of his functions for a client as "a lot." For entertaining at home, he favors a less expensive, less complicated approach. He adds that having a party requires only 2 things: the hosts must get over the idea that everything must be perfect, and setting the mood and tone for the evening is directly responsible for its success. This is certainly to be kept in mind during meetings for your condo’s events. Is imposing your style on the party more important than the collective ideas and good will you are looking for? Your event’s decor becomes the environment to feed, entertain and hopefully, fondly remember after the bills are paid.

Below are some things to keep in mind for your condo event or even your own personal party.

Decide first what you might chose to serve whether finger food, buffet or the more difficult sit down menu which I don’t personally recommend. What ends up is individual tables of friends oblivious to newcomers. This completely defeats one of the benefits of a social evening. Many times the gruff or difficult resident at a board meeting, where money and maintenance fees are at stake, turns out to be a lovely guest at a party.

Have a definite theme or season to start your planning. At the least, choose major colors to make shopping easier. It also helps for turning down a resident’s well meaning donations of old decorations if the color isn’t right.

Look around your condo’s landscape for greenery or flowers you can feature or incorporate in your decorating. No luau should be without arecas or palm leaves tucked in your sconces or nestled in a chandelier. Without any tape or wire a lavish bow on a wall sconce with floor length streamers sets a holiday feeling for little money. It is still a wonderful cost saving idea to place hibiscus flowers on your tables which even out of water will stay fresh till the last guest goes home.

Plan visual repeats and layers in your details. Try to gather at least 20-30 different candlesticks or bud vases for additional decorating possibilities.

Groups of 3 or 5 work best together.

Shabby Chic guru, Rachel Ashwell, embodies the beauty of imperfection in her products and home entertaining. She feels late 2009 is the prime moment for things that derive their style and energy from comfort, sensuality and hunkering down with friends and loved ones. Recovering from her firm’s bankruptcy this year, she has a new book, Shabby Chic Interiors: My Rooms, Treasures and Trinkets and new flagship stores in Manhattan and her home town Santa Monica with London to be open next year. Her relaxed style and hominess help a generation of young women to make a personal statement of their style in their entertaining. Rachel and Martha Stewart’s rule of not having to iron linen table napkins is still a stretch for me.

With all the research for party ideas and purchases just a click on the computer away, the enormous amount of choices can make any event original and compatible with the room and guests at your condo party. Designer Preston Bailey expressed that it is always an honor for people to tell him they recreated a party from pictures shown in his books.

If you have any specific questions or comments, the Party Wizard can be reached by emailing info@condonewsonline.com. Please type "Question for the Party Wizard" in the subject line.

Party Decor Not Found in a Store

What could be more festive than the Black and White Gala Ball which took place on Friday October 2nd at the President County Club at Land of the President? From the receipt of the white satin beribboned invitation, the over 100 guests knew they were in for a memorable evening. Host Jack Gold from the Consulate planned the party with family and friends and titled it a "Celebration of Life" for Jack’s 85th Birthday. A large screen was carefully integrated with the decor to show photos of Jack’s life and he summed up his many years "the result of a guardian angel watching over him to help reach this stage of his life." Friends honored the occasion with a generous contribution to the Sariasher Center of Integrated Medicine for Cancer Center at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach. It is a favorite of Jack’s and has a long list of patients whose health and future were restored by the many healing treatments offered there.

Present to accept for the Cancer Center was its Director, Corrine Donaldson. Jack has been a resident of Palm Beach County for over 30 years and has a full schedule of daily activities and enjoying his friends. For that fact itself would be a reason for Celebration.

Lands of the President condominium residents Jack Gold (Consulate) and Barbara Phillips (Envoy).

Photo by Wallace Waldon

I was chosen to create a decor at the President Country Club compatible with the theme introduced by the exquisite invitation. Using black and white elements was very easy, but I was also asked to decorate the large foyer and ballroom to represent the long-gone elegance of a late 18th Century home using interior design principles to create an intimate background. With silky black material to drape across the ceiling and the 6 large chandeliers, the size of the room was proportionally reduced for the number of tables. Using Creative Feng Shui, I placed all elements to encourage the Chi of living energy to flow through the ballroom.

I reshaped the floor layout with tables not in rows but to create curves and offsets so people become aware and focus on detail. To lighten up the corners and dead end areas, I angled large folding screens and added plants and lights which separately highlighted each of the 4 mannequins dressed in shimmering gowns.

Though the landscape and golf course were just beyond the floor to ceiling windows, I placed palm trees against the window glass on the narrow outside balcony. Soft existing lighting didn’t focus on anything. This is especially a difficult problem for ocean view condos as well, and I will give some suggestions next issue. I refer to it as staring into the big black beyond outside. Plants bring harmony and balance to the room, so more live trees softened each doorway, screen and column as well.

Photos by Wallace Waldon

Jim & Linda Eustice of Tarpon Springs, FL, with party Footman Alan Dawson, of the Club's Gold Staff.

Seen among the elegantly dressed guests dancing to the wonderful music provided by Alan Kan and vocalist Stephanie Harper and Cocktail hour music of Vinny Dullisse, there were many Condominium Board Officers. The list includes Jaynt and Fig Pockros, President of Envoy; Inez and Leo Brown, Pres. of Consulate; Rachael and Fred Shapiro, Lincoln Director; Dr. Terrin Blank and Gertie Kleinkamp, Envoy Director. Janice Schultze of Rapallo North looked outstanding in a beaded and feathered gown and was escorted by Don Boswell, President of Coconut Cove of Lantana. I also had a chance to chat with Dooley Hoffman, whom I previously met among those in former Florida Governor Kirk’s political circle.

Arriving guests were welcomed by a stunning period costumed and white wigged Footman and I dressed for my dual role as "Lady in Waiting" in a huge skirted black and white ball gown.

The party Footman was perfectly played by Alan Dawson of the Club’s Golf Staff, and it was fun that he personally knew most of the attendees.

For the dessert and customary singing of Happy Birthday, I prepared castle-shaped cakes lit with sparklers for each of the 10 tables.

While enjoying cake and coffee, a montage with an individual picture of most of the guests present played continuously on the large video screen. A beautiful final good night for Jack’s 85th Birthday "Celebration."

Next issue, I will use examples of how your Condo’s Social Room can have new potential and achieve the best holiday parties this coming season.

The Party Wizard and I will start planning it right away.

Wabi-Sabi Ultimate Simplicity

After last issue’s commentary on the merits of "Simple Decor," I was belatedly introduced to the concepts of Wabi-Sabi (pronounced wah-bee-sah-bee), the Japanese art of imperfect beauty. Though an ancient concept reaching back to the 15th Century, it sought to oppose the lavishness, ornamentation and overuse of costly materials. Wabi-Sabi is the art of finding beauty in imperfection and authenticity. Its principles contradict the sleek, mass-produced culture we find ourselves in and seeks to bring a subtle spiritual component into our homes and lives.

Though tied to Zen Buddhism, Wabi-Sabi asks us to set aside our judgment and need for perfection and focus on the beauty of things as they are.

Some of the examples of this way of thinking is choosing wood over plastic, stone over polished marble and wildflowers over roses.

If you want to make over your condo for joyous living, this design theory finds beauty in the unconventional.

Wabi-Sabi enthusiasts (wabibitos) are described as people who have pared down their life and willingly have a smaller home and drive a hybrid or compact car. Original design in possessions avoids the furniture groups and prefers unique individual pieces. The home accessories surrounding us should inspire positive memories not based on dollar value.

Wabi-Sabi beliefs include the principles of incomplete and impermanent designs which allow your home to change and grow to support changing life-style and emotional needs.

The following are 10 easy steps which can introduce Wabi-Sabi into our daily life:

1) Quiet your home because of the noise generated by cars, motors and machines or the family in the next condo; replace ill fitting sliding doors and old windows and install cork floors or carpet while choosing window draperies that help absorb the din.

2) Create a personal corner of a room, favorite chair or unroll a special rug to give yourself dedicated space for quiet reflection.

3) Un-clutter your condo one drawer or closet at a time. Promise to spend 15 minutes each day editing your possessions and give away an item for each you bring in.

4) Appreciate imperfection. Don’t throw out your much-loved but chipped vase or the old table with the scars from your toddlers. Begin the journey by finding real antique elements not faux distressed.

5) Take inspiration from nature’s palette. The subtle colors of tan, grey, gold and rust create the serene Wabi-Sabi look.

6) Make it yourself. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of using something you made, but perhaps more important is the calming and centering act of stitch upon stitch that no machine can match. If you’re not crafty, make a collage or dry flowers or create an indoor garden.

7) Bring nature indoors. Wabi-Sabi flower arrangements follow no rules. Whether in an old bottle or rusty watering can, the result should be fresh and honor the current season.

8) Give your condo a soul with a sepia tone photo of your grandmother, your mother’s embroidered linens or your 5-year-old’s artwork.

9) Study the masters of this design philosophy. William Morris, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ray Eames all seemed to be influenced by Wabi-Sabi.

10) Believe in the candle trick. Come home at the end of a long day, the dog on the sofa and breakfast dishes in the sink. Come through your entry hall which needs repainting, turn off the lamps and light some candles. Nothing can look bad when the setting is glowing and candles flickering.

Similar to the Wabi-Sabi tea ceremony, practice daily rituals in your home. Fill your interior design space with tranquility and what YOU feel is beautiful. Allow this new blueprint for your life to create your own personal retreat.

Simple Decor Can Be Spectacular

Now that we understand the basics of color and texture in decorating, what if you choose to describe your style as "Simple." In design language, the terms "minimalist" or "pared down" seem more appropriate. One example would be to have less seating in your condo living room if you only have one or two guests. Perhaps you have a large designated home office, when you frequently come home too tired for night time work projects. You might then wish to simplify your decor to be more in line with your lifestyle.

The term "Simple" can merely mean an absence of knick knacks, and not overstuffed with elements which take away from a feeling of peace and serenity.

Simple decorating can also mean transforming a condo with 4 walls and furniture having 4 legs into something personal and unique.

The process of decorating isn’t easy, and the hard part is knowing or finding out what you like to surround yourself with. For many, the word decorating suggests perfection and order.

For our purposes lets choose the definition to be comfortable and truly liveable.Challenge the thinking that how we choose to live "doesn’t matter."

Sadly, many people today have signed on to a disposable decorating trend.

Things are only purchased and valued if new and ready-made, not hand crafted or refurbished or even the newest term "recycled." London textile designer, Anna French, suggests going into a flower shop and choosing the colors and flowers you are attracted to and make a bouquet to purchase. She then recommends going back to your home and placing the colorful bouquet in different rooms. For a small amount of money, you can test your color preferences in your own space.

For many designers, the start of a living room redo is "simply" the sofa. If it says comfort, generally the rest of the room will follow. Because of its being the largest piece of furniture, it should be selected before paint or any additional fabrics. A colorful, patterned existing rug might be the only exception to this order for selecting things. Easy decor can be accomplished by symmetry, pairs of chairs and other items. Often, it is best to put everything in a room where you think it will go, and edit and weed out the excess.

It is about how to live well in a given space, especially a condo with limited square footage. Though large tile floors unify and are preferred in our South Florida climate, this takes "Simple" to a fault. The softness and scale of area rugs create intimate spaces when faced with an open floor plan and few walls.

Sectioning up a large space allows enjoyment of decorating elements with space between for the eye to rest. We are spared looking at a jumble of style messages on top of one another. Simple decorating allows a beautiful view from a window to speak to us without requiring an answer. Nature never stops changing and we can learn to value that about our own life.

Abraham Lincoln said that our favorite things are the mystic cords of our memory. Often ignored in the rush to redecorate our bedroom, we forget the need to create a soothing and restorative space that is the first image in the morning and last at nightfall. Our plan should be to have the least but most beautiful essentials around us. Sadly, the computer desk and oversized TV screen are the message sent today.

For our condo rooms to become "Simply the best," allow ample storage space but make a promise to get rid of things no longer used. This alone can create new enthusiasm for decorating changes. Even small improvements are worth making and will increase the enjoyment and quality of our life.

Different Textures for your Condo Decorating

As color choices have been explained and color schemes suggested in my last commentary, the next question is, "What is your Condo style now or you wish it could be?"

Perhaps you have the finances and time before the holidays to form some mental picture of a room you would love, but this might seem more difficult than even choosing a new color scheme. It’s easy to say, "Find the style that suits you best and find most comfortable,’’ but creating that in your condo is a far more difficult task. Keep in mind, just as in choosing colors, there are certain suggested rules to follow. Some people search for an indefinable thing which they cannot describe with words, but will know when they see it. This may take a lot of leg work, but there is nothing wrong in purchasing things which give you pleasure to have around. The judgement call is whether it is the right size and scale for your room. This requires accurate measurements and even a simple floor plan to make a purchase with more certainty. I always find it a bit strange if I am in a decorating or furniture store, and I overhear a sales person ask, "how long is the wall" or "how high are your ceilings" so they can offer more help regarding a piece of furniture or artwork being considered. The customer may either have no answer or the "probably about" words in response. Unfortunately if something ends up being incorrect, a little more time for measurements might have prevented a mistake.

Many new condos already have a built in style especially with granite and more contemporary fixtures and lighting in place. This can take more skill and experience to incorporate the existing elements with another decorating style. A condo with a wall of windows and wonderful view is usually best with simple natural colors and furniture when decorating .

If your condo is boxy or without any architectural features you need to add your own touches of character. Be daring and hang a rug, a piece of tapestry or a large decorative screen you might already have. Though wallpaper has fallen out of favor for a while, there is a great deal of instant style that it can accomplish. Even a novice can be successful with papering an accent wall to start. Often just looking through sample books can inspire a new direction.

If you find you prefer a monochromatic room, varying textures can enliven the effect and overcome a possibly boring room as a result. The thicker the texture the softer a color appears. Glossy wall surfaces are brighter and a color seems softer in carpeting. Consider using a range of textures particularly if you have selected a white pallet. I have seen many beautiful rooms dressed only in white but multiple textures created all the interest in the room.

Rough tile or wood floors are easiest combined with strong textures such as linen, cotton and irregular weaves in fabric and marble floors usually need silk, velvets and soft fabrics to work together. Overstuffed furniture seems more inviting and comfortable but the simple lines of modern furniture need not seem harsh if covered in a soft fabric. The hard lines of tile and granite in a bathroom play beautifully with soft color fluffy towels. Berber carpeting and Oriental rugs create texture of their own. Even the selection of plants whether silk or real can offer texture from the leaves and plant containers.

A textured throw on a sofa or bed is often simply the star of the room.

Decorators throughout history have combined textures and many patterns together and the results can be seen in fine homes and museums. With a little bit of time and help from your own personal decorating wizard, your condo can become all that you dream of. Just promise yourself to get started!

The Language of Color for Your Condo

As we continue to understand design principles, consider the emotional language of the colors you chose. Color is a powerful and personal factor that can either help your temperament or not ! The colors you choose to surround yourself with can help you relax or add to your daily stress.

While there is no easy formula for coming up with your personal color scheme, colors are classified into two big categories, warm or cool. If a color has yellow undertones it is considered warm. With blue undertones, a color is called cool. Don’t let a color scheme determine your style but use your favorite combination and vary the tones from lightest to dark. Find a fabric and pick out at least two main color choices and up to three accents. This formula will also work with a beautiful piece of artwork. In design, the word "cohesion" refers to a room that is pulled together well. If you select a few key colors and elements such as shape and material, any room can be more "cohesive."

Here’s a quick look at qualities associated with a particular color.

• Red is an action color, bold and can raise your blood pressure. It can stimulate your appetite and often it is chosen for a formal dining room. Softer shades ranging down to pink give a sense of well-being and happiness.

• Orange comes across warm and friendly but also has the greatest emotional impact. The softer, deeper tones of rust, terra-cotta and peach offer a restful haven and very suitable against our bright Florida light.

• Yellow makes us think of a sunny day and paler shades are uplifting to live with. It is also reflective similar to a bright light and it is thought to be the first color a baby notices. Yellow appears brighter than white so is very suitable for a dark room or one facing north. Interestingly, legal pads are yellow for a reason as it stimulates the mind and thought to improve memory.

• Green is the color of optimism and known to reduce blood pressure and help us feel balanced and restful. Classic darker greens are not trendy but stand the test of time and be safe and dignified. Brown with greens are a good combination and occur in nature all around us. It is often referred to as an earthy feeling. If we are attracted to lime or grass green, we like bold, bright, high energy rooms, but it is generally best used as an accent color.

• Blue is voted as the favorite color in America and most associated with water. It is very suitable for our Intracoastal condos and very hot summer months. It is very calming and blue is known as a "de-stressor." Like a favorite pair of worn jeans, it speaks of comfort and tradition. Like other classic choices, a blue decor will never go out of style and mixes very well with most other colors.

• Purple is creative and off beat with dark purple denoting royalty. It is a color which will grab your attention, but too dark and muddy, it can be dreary and depressing. Known mostly in contemporary furniture, the lighter shades of lavender, lilac and violet are restful and romantic and very easy to decorate around. Use great care in adding purple It is best to apply to a surface which can be repainted instead of a counter top or other hard surface which will be around long after our color taste might change. Artists, musicians and extroverts are drawn to this color which encourages creativity as well as our spirituality. The combination of red with purple is very popular.

In our condo decorating, often there is no architectural element as a focal point. Through the use of different color paint it can appear that the Decorating Wizard has made a house call to you. Even better, close you eyes and imagine the most beautiful place you have ever visited. Try combining those colors and the Decorating Wizard may soon be out of a job.

Use Solid Guidelines for Decorating Success

By now, perhaps you’ve gotten a desire to make decorating changes to your condo. With many buildings having bylaw’s to prohibit any major work in the season (November - April) there is little time left to get started.

For those who are decorating challenged, I have a suggestion for the best $5.00 you will ever spend. Dover Publications (www.doverpublications.com) has a room layout kit with over 200 punch out furniture shapes each labeled and sized and printed on heavy card stock. I have always been impressed by someone interested enough to take the time to make all the little cut-outs of their own furniture to properly plan a room, but this saves the tedious work at a very low cost. Previously, I had not found anything like this available at such a reasonable price. With 8 sheets of graph paper included that can be easily copied, a total of at least 8 rooms can be made. The cut-out pieces even include a crib and piano and numerous size end tables.

While a designer has the knowledge of specific measurements, many times we can just "eye- ball" a placement and get it right. For those who need more specific decorating rules, I have listed many common situations and guidelines. Starting from the floor up, a room sized rug should allow only 12"-16" of additional space from the walls. If you are planning just an accent rug, measure the space between the seating groups under the cocktail table, and your rug size is determined so all front legs of the furniture will be on the area rug. Along with being very dangerous, a floating rug breaks up the room and is never suitable. Foyer and hall rugs look best with about a 6" border of floor showing around it. A rather humorous rule for placement is to have "your sofa talk to your chairs and your chairs talk to one another. "Most decorating mistakes include all the furniture placed back along the walls and a space big enough for dancing in the middle. Keep comfortable conversation with another as a goal, not how to design around a TV. The exception is something few in a condo ever have to think about, making a fireplace the star of the room. Here in Florida, where the view outside may be spectacular, the majority of the seating should face looking out. Though you may be somewhat used to the ever changing beauty of our Intracoastal and Ocean from your condo windows, a visitor will long remember that over the refreshments served. I often describe my view to be drop dead gorgeous, and friends willingly agree.

Back to suggested room measurements ... have your cocktail table start 1 to 1½ feet from sofa and opposite chairs. Have 3'- 4' of allowance for a major traffic path.

The dining room table should be large enough to have no less than 20" to 2’ for each guest. The dining chair should have 3' feet for pushback and an additional 3' space for walking or serving behind the chair.

A chandelier is best at 36" to 42 " off the table and 9"-12" smaller than the width of the table. Most chandeliers I see are too small, especially with vaulted and open ceilings. Rarely is a dining room lighting fixture too large a statement.

Pictures are particularly hard to hang at the correct height, but some good guidelines: 66" -72" from the floor to the top of the artwork and 8"-10" from the tops of the furniture.

Curtain rods and hardware need to be placed at 6" - 12" above window molding and a minimum 4" from side trim. Rather to be too generous around the window than crowding it.

Seeing these actual suggested measurements may take some of the mystery out of decorating but go a long way to give some confidence. Making a room plan on paper will add to the enjoyment of the process. An attractive condo is within every one’s reach.

We are now in the peak of summer. Here in Florida, with the exodus of snowbirds, we who remain in our condos have felt the temperatures continue to increase the last several weeks. Many of us from the northeast remember the anticipation of being outdoors, lazy days at the beach or working in the garden. Sadly, the weather in South Florida after Fourth of July can limit our activities outside for all but the toughest.

SO, it’s time now to simplify and lighten up our decor. We make a great effort during the holidays to add items to create the warm and homey feeling we remember as children. The over-stuffed look of Victorian times, with rich fabrics and lots of gold and silver accessories lend atmosphere to the winter festivities. For a change in summer, take up a dark area rug and replace it with sisal or a cotton rug. Many of the outdoor ones would look perfect not only on a patio or balcony but in our living rooms. The key is to "go simple" and create a personal color palette that makes your home feel cooler.

For many, adding touches of white or ivory to our bed linens and accent pillows adds a new and crisp feel. A quart of soft green or blue paint to a yard sale bookcase or table can spark new summer decorating possibilities.

Try to park your existing silk flower arrangements in a closet or hidden "under the bed" and create a tablescape of white ceramic, natural materials and shells. While dining this week at the Breaker’s Seafood Restaurant, the lovely table centerpiece was a shallow glass bowl filled with sand and numerous kinds of seashells. It would go perfect on a cocktail table with a bamboo runner. Very inexpensive but very casual and effective.

If you have many gold or dark wood picture frames, remove them and replace a FEW favorites with light color or seashell frames or even lucite goes well.

Ready made slipcovers have vastly improved and are available in natural and whitewashed fabric, and completely transform dark colored upholstery.

Dining room chairs, with cotton or canvas slipcovers, will give a casual looking replacement for the dark wood tones underneath them.

If bright colors remind you of carefree and casual summer days, a colorful tablecloth can start you to see new decorating possibilities. Outdoor candles can add an inexpensive change, but the rule is less clutter and ornate accessories.

If you prefer to wait on changes to your condo, as with fashion, color forecasters are ready for fall and into 2010. The continuing housing crisis, historic election and economic downturn all combine and influence color preferences. For big ticket items, the safer colors such as neutrals, grey and camel are traditional and comforting. Shots of bright colors such as acid yellow, amethyst, crimson and leaf green for accent pieces and accessories, suggest we are hopeful about the country’s future. All shades of green are gaining popularity in fabrics and even counter tops because of our growing awareness of eco-friendly. The enormous strength of blue after 9/11 is lessening and eggplant and paprika color is seen more often.

The Genesis palette from Benjamin Moore Paint 2010 forecast focuses on the questions: What’s in it ? How does it work? Where did it all begin? Indigenous colors extracted from those in fruit and vegetables and lush tones of natural materials leave little use for bright yellow or orange even as accents. Tuscan gold still has many fans and will remain popular.

Lavender and true purple are out of favor with violet and wine now gaining influence.

As we look to a new decade, organic shopping and living will for many be a must not a luxury. The Color Association’s spokesperson, Leslie Harrington expects colors full of vitality not earth tones of old. The United States should be rounding the economic corner with bright sunny days ahead.

Whether you start a decorating project this summer or later, the rewards of an attractive space with colors you enjoy is worth all the effort to shop and coordinate.

If not, there are many great designers in our community that would love a call.

Favorite Rooms and Secrets of Designers

I recently came across an article on the top 100 secrets of decorating from an Architectural Digest issue in 2006. Though there were some duplication of ideas what struck me is the amount of good advice one can learn from this article.

For some humor to start, Designers are not "wizards" who can make previous bad purchases disappear. Decorating is about YOUR sense of style, who you are, what you are about, because of your unique exposure to people, color and influences such as travel.

Some of the things that a room should have are comfortable and functional groupings of furniture with lighting and some kind of table to place things on.

Billy Baldwin is quoted as saying in his later years , "Comfort is perhaps the ultimate luxury," and I think that should be high up on the list of requirements in our decorating wish list.

When asked about the favorite room to start with, one designer preferred the entrance foyer. She said that if a house is like a book, the entrance hall is like the synopsis; it tells you who lives there, what they are like and a bit about what you are going to see once inside the home or condo. The best console table and great artwork we have, should make the immediate first impression. Take a moment to go to your front door, open it, and does what you see looking back in, correctly express your style? The entrance hall should set the stage for the whole residence.

Do consider your interests and passions and collect objects in depth to make a statement. With a concept beforehand, add one unexpected piece which reflects your personality. Personal framed photos were rarely recommended in a foyer.

We all know how painting walls can change a room and doesn’t have a huge price. If you want to create a finished look, the main component is color. One designer often suggests inexpensive muslin curtains and natural color canvas upholstery with a rich but not bright paint color for a mistake proof effect.

Though mirrored walls have been overdone in past years, the least expensive guarantee of glamour is the mirror. It introduces a sense of grandeur and infinity. A traditional framed mirror or carefully placed mirrored wall gives huge impact for a low cost.

One difference in condo decorating is the relief from having to have your interior decor sensitive to the architecture and style of the home exterior. Having contemporary or high tech furniture in an English Tudor would create a confused or mixed up message. Generally, condo halls are plain to bland, so no similar coordination is required. One of the hardest but worthy problems to solve is "creating a foyer ." Without the need or possibility to hang artwork, there are many great 4 or 5 panel screens in every style to make some feeling of privacy for the interior. Most retail stores would allow one purchased to be returned if the effect is not to your liking. If the size is incorrect you would be better able to judge what size is needed.

Another designer made a great deal about how every home must have a dining room. She states, "not having a dining room is like not having a garage."

As condo dwellers, we seldom have either but good space planning can create an area which allows attractive dining for a limited amount of persons.

I think the area of the most difference in designer secrets is in the area of electronics. Though things were not as sophisticated a few years back, the trend since has gone to bigger is better. Even a flat screen mounted to the wall can dominate the loveliest room. More technology, more difficulty with style. Even the best designers have little technical knowledge, so the answer has become to work with an electronic liaison. This leaves a person decorating for the first time, to put a huge screen sitting on an open console, center stage and a very prominent black object as the result. Since most people don’t like to read manuals, the complicated systems generally win out in a decorating war. Even a "wizard" has his hands full in predicting the direction of electronics in the home and how to decorate around them. The computer was far easier to attractively integrate and designers breath a sigh of relief if a television is not required in a room.

I will continue about Designers Decorating Secrets next article.