The tendency of going green is far from over.  It will become even stronger in 2010 and in coming years, and your home is the place to start, if you haven’t already.

Going green is not easy. It is a comprehensive activity, but there are 4 principles that make a home green. These will transform your home, your reality, and your world, and are the place to start once you decide to implement this lifestyle:

1.    Water efficiency
Appliances and fixtures are crucial to establish if a home is green.  Green options include low flow showerheads, toilets, and faucets, which use only a fraction of the water old models use.  Equally, modern dishwashers and washing machines have evolved or use water more efficiently; there are even dry-clean models.

2.    Energy efficiency
Today, saving energy is not only important from an environmental point of view but also from the financial aspect.  Contrary to what you may think, it is fairly easy to remodel your home to make it energy efficient.  Simple things like replacing old windows, improving insulation, and changing from traditional light bulbs to compact fluorescent ones, go a long way in terms of energy savings.

3.    Resource efficiency
Getting more from less is a basic green principle.  Recycling is an essential activity.  Virtually everything can be recycled and reused to make kitchen cabinets and carpet tile, for example.  The tendency is moving towards using fast renewable natural products such as bamboo, which can be used to make beautiful floors and furniture pieces.

4.    Outdoor efficiency
No green home is such if its outdoor areas are not considered.  You cannot talk about green without taking into consideration the real green space: your home’s surroundings.  An old construction or a home that tends to be low energy efficient can be improved greatly by planting the right amount of shade trees and plants.  Landscaping experts say that a real green garden is composed of plants native to the region, and that the best way to arrange them is by their watering needs.

It pays to invest on a green home and to talk to a Seattle interior design expert who can guide you so that you make sound decisions that will mean savings and a better life for you, your family, and the world.

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It is as much a tradition as setting your goals for the New Year.  Every year, the color authority ‘Pantone’ picks the color for the year, amid a lot of excitement and speculation in the interior design industry as to which will be the next year’s color inspiration.

The color chosen for 2010 is turquoise, a color that, according to ‘Pantone’, reflects “thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing”.

It is certainly a very valid and important reason to choose such an important color, one that may bring calm and happiness in such turbulent times we are living in today, but also one that has to be considered carefully in order to use it in the right way.

Turquoise is a very strong color that must be used as a complement with lighter tones so as to not overwhelm the space and to make it look classy and fun.  It can look great in bathrooms, as it reminds us of the beautiful tones of seawater, and it can also be an amazing accent color for living rooms or bedrooms.

We always want to follow the trends in design and fashion, even more so when we start seeing the beautiful décor in magazines and TV shows; however, it is important that you also consider if the trends fit your life and home, because even if it looks great in a magazine, it may not be the right choice for your surroundings.

The best way to go when you want to make a bold change in your home’s décor is to ask for professional advice.  An interior design specialist will help you find the right way to use turquoise in your living space, or any other color for that matter, and she will explain what truly works for you, your family and your lifestyle.

If you live in the area, the Seattle interior design industry is booming with expertise, and is ready to start the New Year with you the right way and with the right colors.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.amelydesigns.com as the original source).

Successful interior design in Seattle considers the entire living experience of a household, including people and pets.  The art behind interior designing is to take its principles and blend them with the magic of life to experience it through the ‘S’ word, the Senses, the five mysterious and magical gifts every human being possesses and more often than desired, underestimates: Smell, Taste, Touch, Sight and Sound.  This is the way in which a space reaches someone’s soul, through sensations, and it is the difference between a house and the place we call… home.

Through years or study, research and practice, a professional interior designer reaches a place where her own senses rule her actions, this is, she lets her soul lead the way.

Smell- The nose is as good an attractor as the eyes.  We are repelled by unpleasant smells, and magically attracted to delicious ones.  When it ‘smells like home’, it is a hit!  Smells have the power to transport us to places we loved, to remind us of people who touched us, and to make us relive the happiest times in our lives.  Every home has a fragrance, and even the laundry detergent and home cleaning products have a place here.

Taste- Of course a home has taste!  Bringing green inside the home, through fruits, vegetables, and herbs like cilantro, rosemary, parsley and mint, will create a mouth-watering environment impossible to resist.

Touch- A good designer feels a lot more than fabrics and coverings when she touches textures, she feels comfort, coziness, intimacy, pampering, love, care, well-being, innovation and happiness in silk sheets, fluffy pillows, cotton linens and towels, plush sofas, down comforters and chenille throws.  Her hands will tell her what’s right; it’s all in the feel.

Sight- The vision of beautiful things brings happiness to the soul. This is why a beautiful home is so inviting and magical.  It could be through vibrant colors or neutral ones; the true secret is to match the client’s personality so that the environment has meaning and power.

Sound- Someone’s home is his or her oasis, the place where they go for shelter, relaxation and dreaming.  Soothing sounds transform the body and mind.  A happy home is free of harsh sounds, of stress and startling experiences.  The right interior design in Seattle will find the best ways to isolate a space from the rough city reality and take the client to a land of peace and tranquility.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.amelydesigns.com as the original source).

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Have you ever had the feeling that one, or several, of the rooms in your house does not feel quite right, but you have no idea why?  It may be because the room is out of balance.

Maybe you feel the room is tipping to the side because there are many heavy pieces of furniture on that side, or it could be that the artwork or accessories are imbalanced.

If you are experiencing this very common situation and a Seattle interior designer is out of your budget, follow these simple tips to get your room to the right balance equation:

1.Large vs. large.  If you place a heavy piece of furniture on one side of the room, maybe a bookcase for your big collection of books, place something large on the other side too; it could be a cozy sofa with a big art piece on top.  This will balance the room by adding height and visual weight to both sides.

2. Separate.  Split bookcases and entertainment centers to achieve balance.  Place one of the sections in a different place inside the room, next to the sofa or fireplace, to make them look less heavy around the space.  Sectional sofas can be too large for a certain room, making it feel too heavy or cramped, thus, place the sections one in front of the other, as you do with sofas and love seats.

3. Symmetry.  This means both sides of the room are identical.  The symmetry, matching furniture, gives a very formal visual effect and is easy to create.  Two matching chairs on either side of the sofa or matching candlesticks on each side table; may do the trick.

4. Asymmetry.  Yes, opposite to the above one, but incredibly interesting.  The trick here is to put together comparable, but not matching, pieces.  Look for pieces in different sizes, shapes and colors, and work a gorgeous asymmetrical arrangement, like for example, a huge vase on one side in contrast to three smaller candlesticks or an interesting lamp on the other.  These arrangements may need a little more knowledge or feeling to create, because you have to perceive the visual weight of each piece, and they create informal settings, alias, more cozy ones.

5.Think lamps.  These are great balancing pieces.  Place a floor lamp on one side of the sofa and a table lamp on the other; you can even put books under the table lamp to make it look a little higher.  You can also put two different table lamps on each side of the sofa; or even think of placing two different side tables on each side.

6.  Plants.  Place a tall potted tree across from a big bookcase to balance its height; vertical mirrors also work.  To balance both sides of a sofa, place a potted plant on one side and a table lamp on the other.

7.  An eye on art.  To complete furniture that is too short or too narrow for the space, hang one or more art pieces on the wall above it.  Color is a great balancing tool too.  Darker and stronger colors are heavier than lighter ones, so think about this when you are placing art in front of a big piece of furniture like an armoire, bookcase or entertainment center.

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To kill a space, there is nothing better than strict rules, however, there are certain ‘crimes’ in decorating that not even the boldest interior designer in Seattle will dare to commit for the sake of originality or fame.

Crime #1: Neglect Editing
The rule that states that less is more is sacred.  An overcrowded room, full of furniture and trinkets, diminishes its main purpose, which is to showcase you and anyone else meant to enjoy it.  Be brave and get rid of half the furniture and everything else inside your rooms; keep what you truly love, donate what you think is beautiful, discard what doesn’t work, and allow for pure and positive energy to flow around every corner.

Crime #2: Shut Your Ears to the Room
Listen to the empty room before you decorate it.  Feel its proportions, its surfaces, textures and colors; check the quality and the direction of light, and let its function guide the design.  The furniture for a room must move places according to the space it was designated for.

Crime #3: Follow Trends Mindlessly
Forget about copying the minimalistic or Asian style presented by the top interior design magazine.  The best room is the one with a unique identity, where you go in and immediately feel its special energy and balance because it shows your personality; the room is you!

Crime #4: Settle For What’s Common
A room decorated with certain objects or style just because that’s what’s normally done, is a loser.  Your imagination is the limit as to what your special room can become.  Let it surprise you with your unexpected side, allow it to show you how confident and unique you truly are.

Crime #5: Not Make It Fun
Have you heard the advice: don’t take yourself too seriously?  Well, it applies to decorating too.  There is always, and there always should be, room to be ironic, clever and interesting in a funny way.  Good taste should be a personal principle, not an established rule.

Crime #6: Dread Color
Color is the cheapest and fastest way to imprint personality into a room.  A well-selected color completely transforms a space and opens it to the senses from the inside out.  Want to laugh, dream, dance, or rest fully in your home?  Paint it with vibrancy and let bold colors speak about you.  Never fear it!

Crime #7: Being Too Formal
Long are gone the days of formal dinning as in the XVIII century castles.  Today we enjoy using and mixing our best china every day.  At home, you want to actually feel at home; feel free, relaxed and be casual.  You want your guests to feel at ease and special.  You want to live your life at home!

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