H2E Interiors |Inspired Design Blog

Beauty AND Safety‏

A Note From Nicholas There is nothing more important than the safety of your family.  Luckily, today’s design products make it easy to create a beautiful home that is also safe. This month is National Window Covering Safety Month, and I want to take the opportunity to remind you and make you aware of important information so you can keep your children safe from potential window-cord hazards. I urge you to read the article below, and follow the basic safety tips. Wishing you safety and beauty!

October is National Window Covering Safety Month ...and your child's safety is our top priority Blinds and shades with cords can be dangerous to children.  The Window Covering Safety Council, a group of major U.S. manufacturers, importers, and retailers of window coverings, provides education about window cord safety.  Check out their website for up-to-date information and advice: http://www.windowcoverings.org/safety_design_tips.html Because young children can become entangled in window cords that are within their reach, the Safety Council urges parents and caregivers to follow these safety rules: Safety Checklist: Keep cribs and beds away from windows. Make sure all window treatment cords are short enough to be out of the reach of children. Securely anchor all continuous loop cords to the wall or window frame. Repair blinds and shades manufactured before 2001 with “retrofit cord repair devices,” or replace them with today’s safer products. Opt for cordless treatments in children’s bedrooms and play areas. Using safety in window coverings will help protect your pets, as well.  Educate yourself and protect your family. Call me if you need any help.  Your child’s safety is important to me!

Color Of The Month - Orange Orange is definitely a color that draws attention. It evokes feelings of excitement and enthusiasm. Orange increases the body's metabolism and heart rate, making you feel happy and energetic. There is nothing even remotely calm about orange. Despite its cheerfulness, pure orange is often too bold and brilliant for use in interior design - at least as a main color - but it's a wonderful color to use as an accent. Toss some orange pillows on a subdued couch to brighten up a room. Add a vase of bright orange flowers to enliven a space. Paint one wall orange as an exciting focal point. Tints of orange are very popular in home design. Think peach, apricot, and terra cotta. These orange shades create warm, welcoming environments. When you're ready for more fun, think orange!

Who’s Afraid of Color?

A Note From Nicholas After a summer packed with sun and outdoor fun, we’ll be spending more time indoors. But that doesn’t mean our environment has to be any less cheerful.  One of the easiest ways to change the feeling of a room and add outdoor freshness is with color. A bit afraid of choosing the wrong color? Not after you read this month’s feature article.  Also check out the color of the month.  Yellow is a sure way to add sunny warmth to a home. It’s a great time to add color to your home... and your life!

Who’s Afraid of Color? Color Dos and Don’ts Color is such an important part of making a home feel great. But it can be a bit scary to make color choices – unless you know a few simple tips. Avoid these common mistakes and learn several tricks, and you’ll feel confident about choosing color for your space. DON’T... ...choose colors in a paint store. Colors change drastically depending on the light, so they can look very different in your own home. When deciding on colors, make sure to look at them in the space they will be used. ...forget the ceiling. A white ceiling may be the best choice, but don’t just leave it white by default. A room looks much more finished when the ceiling is deliberately painted to coordinate and harmonize with the décor. ...ignore accessories. While paint is the most common way to add color, don’t forget that incorporating pillows, fabrics, area rugs, and other accessories is a great way to add splashes of color – and unique personality. DO... ...understand the psychology of color. Colors evoke reactions in our bodies and affect us physically and mentally. When you understand how colors shape your feelings, you can choose ones that help you feel wonderful in your home. ...create flow from room to room. In most homes, you can stand in one room and see other rooms, so there needs to be a smooth continuity. Not all rooms should be painted the same color, but the colors need to work together. Carry elements of one room into another. The easiest way to do this is to paint the moldings all the same color. ...use inspiration. If you have a large piece of furniture or a treasured accessory, let it awaken your color creativity. The background color in a piece of art can become your wall color; a favorite antique can inspire the color for pillows; a lampshade can become the molding hue. The most important thing to remember about color is that it should make you feel good. So be courageous and pick some color!

Color Of The Month - Yellow The cheerfulness of yellow has made it a popular choice for clothing and interiors, especially this time of year, when the days are getting shorter. There are so many shades and tints of yellow that it can be used in almost any room. A soft shade of yellow can bring cheer and light to a dreary room. But beware of bright yellows - except in small amounts. The intensity can be overwhelming. A room that is painted all bright yellow can cause turmoil, anger, agitation, and hostility. Small doses of bright yellows added to a room with accessories add punch, cheerfully catch the eye, and make rooms feel lively. When using the color yellow, think of natural sunlight . Soft, warm rays have a soothing and uplifting effect, while bright, hot rays can cause discomfort and disorientation.

Feng Shui Made Simple

Have you ever wondered about Feng Shui?  What is it?  Does it really improve a home’s atmosphere?  How does it work? This month’s article gives you the basics of Feng Shui, so you can begin to understand how to incorporate it into your home.  Think about what type of energy you’d like to have in your home, and see which elements help you achieve your goal. And add some more relaxation to your summer with the color BLUE. Hope you’re enjoying the season! Feng Shui Made Simple Improve your environment and improve your life! That is the simplified idea of what Feng Shui can do for you. We know that we feel better and operate more effectively in the right atmosphere. Becoming aware of the basics of Feng Shui will help you correct areas in your home that aren’t working for you, and allow you to create the right environment for you and your family. Feng Shui incorporates five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each element invokes a different mood or attribute. When you incorporate all five elements into every room design – enhancing specific elements according to your unique objectives, you can create a customized space that is beneficial for your family’s personal needs and goals. Wood represents the rising sun. It has an active energy, and it evokes the power of creativity and expansion. You can use wooden objects to promote motivation, inspiration, and passion.    To add more wood energy to a room, use vertical shapes. Fire is seen as the most powerful of all the elements. Fire represents energy and passion.   To increase the fire element in your space, add candles, animal prints, and shades of red, pink, and purple. Earth / Soil resembles the secure energy of the setting sun. It generates an overall feeling of balance and stability. If you feel disorganized or unfocused, your space could use some earth elements. Look for anything in earth tones, and use images of calm landscapes. Metal affects mental clarity and logic. The right amount of metal in a room can help you feel organized and focused. To enhance a space with the metal element, choose round or oval shapes; use white, gray, or silver colors; and use metal materials, like steel, iron, or aluminum. Water influences spirituality and emotions. A balance of water brings about inspiration, wisdom, and insightfulness. For water energy, add deep colors, reflective surfaces, and wavy shapes. Water features, such as aquariums and fountains, also work well. With the understanding of the basic characteristics of the Feng Shui elements, you can begin to design your home in a balanced, comfortable way. Play around a little, adjusting your rooms until you create the perfect atmosphere for you. Contact us as we offer a full line of Fung Shui services

Designing With Pillows‏

Decorating With Pillows Craving a new look in your living room or den?  There is no need to replace all the furniture.  For a quick makeover, you just need to add some pillows.  It’s amazing how updated and fresh a room can look by simply changing out this one accessory. Pillows run from simple to extravagant, and the style you’ll choose depends on the look of your sofa.  If you have a solid or subtly patterned fabric on the couch, you can go bolder in the pillows.  For a busier sofa, choose one color in the pattern and highlight it by getting solid or tone-on-tone pillows in that hue. Pillows come in every shape, from the common square or rectangle to the more exotically shaped oval.  You can even get pillows custom-shaped to highlight a theme in the room or bring out a shape in your sofa’s pattern.  For additional seating in the room, scatter oversized pillows around the fireplace or coffee table.  This adds to a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. Adding attractive accent pillows can also give old chairs a new appearance by hiding deterioration, adding texture, and giving the entire room a splash of color.  Choose fluffy, comfortable pillows, and an old chair can become your new, favorite resting spot. Don’t be afraid to mix shapes, sizes, and patterns.  Contrasting shapes, colors, and sizes is what brings interest and excitement to a family room.  Pillows, of course, also finish off a beautiful bedroom.  Decorative shams, pretty pillowcases, and coordinating accent pillows are an impressive part of an inviting bed design.  Mix and match with your comforter, dust ruffle, and accent throw. Would you like to know the designers’ secret for plumping a pillow?  Gently slap the right and left sides, and then give it a swift karate chop to the top for definition.    Redecorating a room is quick, easy, and fun when you use pillows! Color Of The Month - Lavender Ahhh... what a dainty color lavender is. This shade of purple is very popular with little girls. But it can actually be very flexible. Subtle tints of lavender can be used as an exciting neutral - for moldings and ceilings. Saturated purple shades provide a vibrant punch of color to a room. You can create many moods using various shades of purple. Blue-purples, the shade of a summery sunset sky, relax the body and are perfect for a bedroom. Red-purple, like eggplant, creates drama and excitement. Deep purple evokes the sense of royalty and richness. And as you can see in this photo, lavender velvet can be quite luxurious, elegant, and romantic.

Want to Add More Romance to Your Bedroom?

Want to Add More Romance to Your Bedroom? Would you like to feel more romantic in your bedroom?  No, don’t worry – this isn’t a Dear Abby column.  Did you know that you could create the feeling of intimacy just by following a few decorating secrets?  Here are some easy design tips you can use to add the mood of romance to your room: Colors When you think of love and passion, you probably think of red.  Red does stimulate the libido by increasing your heart rate and breathing, but a lot of red may make you too passionate.   A room that is all red can make you feel angry and agitated – not great feelings for igniting romance.  So use red sparingly, as accents in the bedroom. The most romantic and soothing color is pink; however, it’s the least preferred color among men.  Shades close to pink, like mauve and lavender, are nice compromises that evoke romantic feelings in both women and men. Soft blues are very soothing and romantic, and because they slow your heart rate, they can help you get a great night’s sleep.  A room decorated completely in shades of white is also ethereal and dreamy. Fabrics Combine luxurious, sensual fabrics in rich textures – like silk, chenille, and linen.  Make your bed with high thread-count cotton sheets; a full, down-filled comforter; and loads of fluffy, soft pillows.  Cover your windows with full, neutral-colored, sheer fabric panels that appear to be blowing in the breeze.  Lighting Soft lighting is essential for a romantic mood.  During the day, your sheer window panels filter the sunlight, creating a warm, intimate glow.  In the evenings, use light sources from all directions, and not just from overhead.  Turn on side table lamps softened by lampshades, use up-lights near plants or fabrics to create shadows, and put your overhead lights on dimmers.  Candles are, of course, great for romance, but be extra careful near your flowing fabric. Entice all your senses Set the perfect romantic mood by taking all of your senses into account.  Soft music, sachets and potpourri, fresh flowers, and a large bowl of plump strawberries will all add to a romantic ambiance. The next time you think about injecting more romance into your bedroom, skip the advice columns and do it through decorating! Color Of The Month - Red The Color of Love... red is a very intense color. Used well in decorating, it can create a wonderfully dramatic room. Red stimulates the body. It accelerates heart rate and breathing, and increases appetite. Red is a popular color for dining areas because, since the appetite is stimulated, food tastes better. Red should be used sparingly in the bedroom due to its intense nature. The body has a hard time relaxing around a lot of red. In a room that has a serene color scheme, red furniture or accessories can provide a strong focal point and add a youthful excitement. Decorating with red takes confidence. But while it does make a bold statement, red is also a warm, easy-to-live-with color.

Don't make dangerous design mistakes‏

A Note From Nicholas

There is nothing more important than the safety of your family.  Luckily, today’s design products make it easy to create a beautiful home that is also safe.

This month is National Window Covering Safety Month, and I want to take the opportunity to remind you and make you aware of important information so you can keep your children safe from potential window-cord hazards. I urge you to read the article below, and follow the basic safety tips.

Wishing you safety and beauty

 

 

October is National Window Covering Safety Month ...and your child’s safety is our top priority

 

Blinds and shades with cords can be dangerous to children.  The Window Covering Safety Council, a group of major U.S. manufacturers, importers, and retailers of window coverings, provides education about window cord safety.  Check out their website for up-to-date information and advice:

http://www.windowcoverings.org/safety_design_tips.html

Because young children can become entangled in window cords that are within their reach, the Safety Council urges parents and caregivers to follow these safety rules:

Safety Checklist:

1. Keep cribs and beds away from windows.
2. Make sure all window treatment cords are short enough to be out of the reach of children.
3. Securely anchor all continuous loop cords to the wall or window frame.
4. Repair blinds and shades manufactured before 2001 with “retrofit cord repair devices,” or replace them with today’s safer products.
5. Opt for cordless treatments in children’s bedrooms and play areas.

Using safety in window coverings will help protect your pets, as well.  Educate yourself and protect your family.

Call me if you need any help.  Your child’s safety is important to me!

 

 

Color Of The Month - Copper

Yes, copper is cool. And right now, it's hot! Metallic finishes are a great choice for fall home décor - especially muted metallics, which have the sophistication of their shinier counterparts, but are much easier to live with.

The reddish brown hue of copper evokes a comfortable, warm atmosphere. In terms of impact on the body, copper soothes and inspires confidence. If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, you could benefit from adding copper color to your home.

Soft copper can be lovely in a living room or den. Because this color inspires conversation, your friends and family will feel comfortable hanging out and talking long into the evening.

Copper is also great to add as an accent. You can add a bold copper sculpture, fabrics with a copper metallic print, or a trim with copper beading.

Create Your Own Bedroom Retreat

Create Your Own Bedroom Retreat   Today’s bedroom design gives us many options for supporting our personal style and creating a peaceful, calm mood at the same time. No matter your style, you can implement some simple ideas to make the space sensational. If you like a formal mood, dress up your bed with lush, rich shams. Go for tapestry, jacquard, or chenille shams trimmed in even pleats, loop or tassel fringe, or a contrasting flange. An eye-catching bed skirt that puddles elegantly onto the floor will give added formality. If you prefer a casual atmosphere, choose dense ruffles on European shams and throw pillows, and a soft cotton folded coverlet. Accent the bed by tossing a simple, comfortable throw. If you are wild for a modern environment, use clean lines on the bed. Deliberately leave space around furnishings, giving every element room to breathe. Embellishments should be left to a minimum. Use simple, quality fabrics in muted, solid colors or understated patterns. Throw pillows should be very few in number. Modern bed skirts must be tailored, if used at all. Bedroom Colors Choose colors that serve you. Green is associated with being calm, refreshed, and renewed, and it promotes healing. Green helps relieve physical and emotional tension, relaxes the muscles, and refreshes tired eyes. Blue also relaxes and refreshes, and produces feelings of peace. Blue is so meditative it can actually make you lose track of time! Green and blue are cool colors that help to restore depleted minds and bodies. Both slow the pulse rate and lower blood pressure, and are perfect for the bedroom retreat. On the other hand, hot colors excite the body and mind. Red, for instance, raises the blood pressure. This is great for romance, but not so great for a night of rest. Choose predominant colors that calm the spirit, and add a few accents of hot color for a bit of contrast and excitement. A Few Ideas to Create Tranquility in the Bedroom Take the TV out of the bedroom. Purchase the best pillows and linens you can afford. Create your own Dream Bed. To soften lines, replace night tables with upholstered ottomans. Add an inspirational book or two to your new bedroom ottomans (or night tables). Replace overhead lights with a chandelier for instant luxury. Let your bedroom become the space that pampers your body and mind.

Color Of The Month - PURPLE Purple... the color of royalty.  Years ago, it was very expensive to make purple dye, causing it to be a color that only nobles could afford.  Thus, purple evokes feelings of luxury, wealth, and sophistication.  You can create many moods using various shades of purple. Blue-purples – the shade of a summery sunset sky, relax the body and are perfect for a bedroom. Red-purple, like eggplant, creates drama and excitement. Deep purple evokes the sense of royalty and richness, and is said to stir up creativity. Because purple is rare in nature, it can appear artificial.  But although it isn’t “natural,” saturated purple shades provide a vibrant punch of color to a room.

Create A Heavenly Beach Feeling In Your Home- Summer Design Tips

Just Beachy Ahhh... the sound of the waves; the smell of the ocean air; the warm, comforting breezes. Life at the beach is heavenly. But you don’t have to live on the ocean to enjoy a relaxing beach atmosphere in your home. Try these easy decorating ideas to transform your living space into a beach retreat that you can enjoy all year long! Choose light, gauzy drapery panels for the window, and make sure you install them at least a few inches above the window frame. Soft, sheer, flowing panels give the impression of gentle breezes with lots of sunlight entering your room. Use beach souvenirs as artwork. There is nothing more “beachy” than seashells. Starfish are also particularly beautiful. And don’t forget sand dollars. You can combine all of your beach finds in a large bowl, scatter them on a table or shelf, or position one unique piece by itself – on the wall or a shelf – as a focal point. Select summer colors for your walls. Soft blues and greens will remind you of the beach. Buttery yellow is great to mix in. Keep your trim white. Moldings, chair rails, wainscoting, and other accent panels should remain white for a clean, summery feeling. Speaking of white... you can create a terrific beach mood by opting for all white accessories. On a white shelf, display your white china, white vases, and white candlesticks. On the wall, hang your family photos in white wooden frames, and intersperse some white starfish. If you have wood floors, scatter a few sisal rugs. Your feet will enjoy the natural, beachy sensation. Go nautical. There are lots of great nautical accessories that can be added to your home. Lean a ship wheel on a shelf. Hang a wooden anchor on the wall. Choose anything that reminds you of the water. Go for beach-inspired patterns. Stripes are always great, especially if they are in blues, greens, and whites. Wave patterns, of course, create an “oceany” atmosphere. Enjoy beach living all year long! Color Of The Month - White Just when you were getting all excited about adding lots of color to your home, WHITE comes back on the scene. Now as you see in this photo, decorating with white does not mean you must create a sterile, cold atmosphere. In fact, creamy shades of white add to a cozy, warm atmosphere. Use neutral white as an accent to make your other colors "pop." Paint all your moldings white for a clean, fresh look. Blend shades of white and use various textures to create an elegant, sophisticated room. And don’t forget – if you want to create that beachy atmosphere, use white accents in accessories, wainscoting, and gauzy fabrics!

Welcome to the H2E Interiors Inspired Design Blog

We will be sharing interior design tips and tricks for fellow interior designers, as well as the do-it yourself'ers working on your own home and business projects. 

Coming soon: Videos and how to's with before and after pics on our site and in this blog.     These are cool new features coming to you from H2E Interior's, you are not going to want to miss this!

Sign up and follow us on our blog, or visit our website and keep up with all of our new fun and exciting ideas!

Visit our website  H2E Interiors

We are an Interior Design company in Phoenix, Arizona.  We specialize in residential and commerical design projects all over the United States.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Cappele Principal-H2E Interiors