Clutter can raise your stress level

I have experienced this first handed -  I have a small home office where I try to run Harmonizing Homes, and Shore Chicy Designs.....At times the amount of projects and clutter stops my creativity and production because of the stress level that I am experiencing.  I than have to stop everything and clean up the space and organize before I can continue on, which is a waste of time and energy.   A larger space would help but for now it is what it is; as they say.... With the new school season upon us shortly, I thought I would address and hopefully help Moms get a handle on clutter and organization.

Many mothers experience unnecessary stress during the school year, looking for homework, books, book bags, etc.  Laura Whittman of Organizing Junkie  created this station in the garage - When the children come home, they grab their homework and books, hang up their back packs.  When they are done with their home work, it goes back into their back packs and hung ready to grab for the next day.

Great Organizing Built-ins to keep all your children school work and sports-equipment 

Now lets talk about your pantry - Here is another easy thing to do making snacks easy to reach by those little hands and neat at the same time. Simple cut off the tops of the boxes!  Check out her blog, she even has a printable cleaning schedule to help you stay on top of things....

This is cleaver idea is from Becky of Clean Mama

I am always looking for cleaver ideas to share with you....in organization, home interiors, staging homes and more....I hope you will enjoy!  Visit us on Facebook....for daily updates ...

Unpredictable Dinning Rooms

I just love the element of surprise in design...combining fabric, textures, colors, furniture and styles adds to the design elements.  I have chosen some of my favorite photo's of unpredictable dining rooms.

Interior Philip Gorrivan.

I love the choice of fabric and chair choices in this picture

source unknown 

The use of various furniture styles while pulling off a Moroccan feel.

Laura U Interior Design  - Huston

The use of wall paper on the ceiling rather than the walls adds some unpredictable element in this dinning room.

Laura U Inc Interior Design - Huston

Why not have a color in a hutch?

Kindel Furniture 

Love the mixture of fixture and art in this dining room

David Scott Interiors - NYC

I hope you enjoyed the unpredictable dining rooms - It is always fun to put some element of surprise in a design.  Visit Harmonizing Homes at www.harmonizehomes.com or our sister company shore chicy designs

Touch or obsessed with the color Turquoise

I love the color of Turquoise.....it spans for watery blue to green jewel tones....I love to see at least one piece of Turquoise in every room decor.  Today I am previewing fabrics from Harlequin by Zoffany in the UK ...

Turquoise helps to open the lines of communication between the heart and the spoken word.  It presents as a friendly and happy color enjoying life.

I came across a blog by Erin called House of Turquoise, she is obsessed with the color turquoise....she has a collection of inspirational photos that she features.

Harlequin Designs

Harlequin Designs

Harlequin Designs

Harlequin Designs

#Turquoise

Do you paint furniture?

One of the things that I love to do to help clients figure out an inexpensive way to decorate is to add a lot of color to your design.  A love to take a tired, dated, 'brown' piece of furniture and add color.

For the last few years, I have been working with Annie Sloan Chalk paint and waxes and have had some beautiful results.

This was  a dresser from the early 70's that was painted and distressed for a new look

A tired brown coffee table painted and waxed for a new look

A small accent table that was BROWN....we added a totally new look click on link to see before

Side by side before and after of a tired piece brought back to life

A old table with some new stripes

This was a dark green old cabinet which we painted for a bathroom 

Everyone needs color in their life

Leather cracked top, which we painted and stenciled

What to do with the Pile Up? Be Ruthless!

Each folder is labeled

As a decorator and stylist.....you can only imagine the amount of magazines, catalogs and books I have accumulated...  It is virtually impossible to keep up with  it all...  A few years ago, I decided  to tear out the articles and pictures that I like best in each of the magazines and throw the remainder into the trash (recyclables) .

This folder contains all types of styles of bathrooms

A great cardboard box with a lid which can be hidden in a closet or stacked on a shelf

I found this to be a great way of keeping  and sharing ideas....When I visit with a client I will bring the entire folder for a specific room...let them go through the folder picking out photo's that they like... We then work on  ways to create the look they like at an affordable price... Its a great time saver...and  a great way of keeping organized....   Below is a link to Target where I bought my boxes.....

http://www.target.com/p/greenroom-recycled-file-box-with-hanging-files/-/A-13421700?reco=Rec|pdp|13421700|ClickCP|item_page.vertical_1&lnk=Rec|pdp|ClickCP|item_page.vertical_1Target


Visit our website at www.harmonizehomes.com   or our sister company www.shorechicydesigns.com

917-699-1262