Design Your Life With Kleenex Style Studio

This post is sponsored by Kleenex, but my love for their Style Studio is all my own!

Kleenex Style

Kleenex in My Design Studio #kleenexstyle

We all know and love Kleenex as the go-to brand for facial tissue. I have been using Kleenex for as long as I can remember. To celebrate their 90th anniversary, they’re bringing you another innovative first: The Kleenex® Style Studio. It’s a fun, inspiring way to discover more of the Kleenex® Brand designs and products you love. And maybe even a few that’ll take you by surprise.

Kleenex Style

Kleenex Style in My Design Studio #kleenexstyle

Kleenex has partnered with Isaac Mizrahi to create 4 designs which are intended to evoke confidence and inspiration to help you express your personal style and step out of your comfort zone when it comes to incorporating the latest trends. Exclusively on the Kleenex style finder you can watch videos featuring Isaac Mizrahi where he provides his latest style advice and shares his own experience as a design leader for more than two decades.

kleenex style

#kleenexstyle

As an Interior Decorator, I enjoy having beauty around me all the time, even with the everyday things. These amazing new Kleenex designs help me to do just that, whether I am in the office, at home, or on the go. Using the Kleenex Style Finder I picked out a few of the designs that best expressed my style, and now I am flaunting them and living in style.

kleenex style

Kleenex On My Desk #kleenexstyle

 

There is always a box of Kleenex, or the very handy and convenient wallet packs within easy reach. The wonderful thing is there is a Kleenex package for all occasions: Kleenex boxes, slim packs, wallet packs and car wedges. So whether you are heading out for a nice evening, or shuttling kids around in the car, there is a Kleenex style and package that will make you look fabulous!

Recently on our Spring Break trip to Dallas, the kids and I loaded up the car to visit my sister. Of course, we wanted to look stylish on our trip, so our Kleenex tissue boxes and wallet packs came along for the ride.

kleenex style

Kleenex in the Car #kleenexstyle

Kleenex Style

Bag All Packed For Spring Break #Kleenexstyle

 

Kleenex Style

Kleenex On The Go #kleenexstyle

 

We use Kleenex for many different purposes at home, at the office or on the go. Of course for colds and sniffles, but there are so many other ways to use Kleenex

I’ve used Kleenex as a coaster many times before. Because they are so absorbent, one sheet can protect your fine wood surfaces from watermarks

Kleenex Style

Kleenex As A Coaster #kleenexstyle

I have used them for minor sports injuries, and believe me my son Josh gets plenty playing tackle football

Kleenex Style

Kleenex For Minor Scratches

We use them to apply and remove makeup….well mostly my daughter, Courtney because I hardly wear makeup

Kleenex Style

Kleenex Is Great For Applying and Removing Makeup #kleenexstyle

There is always a box by my bedside, in the guest room, in the kitchen and of course the bathrooms

Kleenex Style

#Kleenexstyle

Kleenex Style

Kleenex by the Bedside

Kleenex Style

Kleenex in the Guest Room #kleenexstyle

Kleenex Style

Kleenex in the Kitchen #kleenexstyle

 

Kleenex Style

Kleenex in the Bathroom #kleenxstyle

Why don’t you join me and my family in designing your life with Kleenex Style Studio.

Kleenex Style

#KleenexStyle

Click here to take the Kleenex Style Quiz

kleenex style

Screen Shot Of Kleenex Style Studio #kleenexstyle

Kleenex, here’s to at least another 90 years of helping us Design our lives! :-) :-)

Hope you all have an awesome weekend!

Please feel free to share your experience with Kleenex in the comments below.

Linking to Epic Friday Linky Party. Come on over and join the fun!
Epic Friday Linky Party

Be Inspired!

VeronicaSolomon.com

VeronicaSolomon.com

One Room Challenge: Studio Dining Room – Week 2

Hello again and welcome to week 2 of the One Room Challenge. If you aren’t familiar with the ORC, please check out Week 1 to get up to speed.

One Room Challenge

 

I accomplished quite a bit within the last week. I identified all the pieces that I will be using in the room - Some I already owned and some I am in the process of purchasing.

Here’s the mood board showing all the pieces for the room. I was having issues removing the backgrounds from some of these pictures, but hopefully you get the idea of how these pieces will work together in the dining room.

one room challenge

Created Using SampleBoard.com

As you can see it will be quite an eclectic mix with a common theme in the color scheme and the casual, comfortable feel of each piece. As a Designer, I appreciate so many different design styles. I always try to incorporate the things I love regardless of the style and period into one cohesive look. The result is a room with more personality and a collected feel versus a showroomy feel.

The only missing piece is a large console or sofa table to place behind the bench to fill in that awkward space (see floor plan below), but I was having trouble finding the right dimensions and for the right price. Those bad boys were getting quite pricey!! :-(

one room challenge

Studio Dining Room Floorplan

 

Well, the solution to this dilemma was having a console built out of scrap wood and then adding a tailored box pleat skirt. Here’s what we came up with. It measures 60″W, 12″D and 35″H. The perfect size for what I need! I had a couple of shelves added so I can use it for storing items I don’t need on a regular basis.

one room challenge

Bones of Console Table – Casa Vilora Interiors

This is what it will look like when it is all done (with different fabric of course).

one room challenge

Box Pleat Skirted Table

one room challenge

Photo: Elements Of Style Blog

See how pretty that is? And none will be the wiser about what is underneath the skirt!

So here’s what the room looks like now.

one room challenge

The Light Fixture from Ikea

one room challenge

The chandelier is in, which many of you might be familiar with. It is the Maskros Chandelier from Ikea. These are some of the furniture pieces I already owned: the table, bench and arm chairs. The sideboard off to the right is a recent purchase and so was the area rug.

I think I got a lot accomplished! What do you think?

I am eager to see what the other Bloggers have been up to. You can check them out below, and the linking event here

Please come back next Thursday to see the progress of my dining room. You can click the icon below (also in my side bar) anytime to follow the progress of the One Room Challenge Studio Dining Room

ORClinkingparticipantCIH

Happy Thursday!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

Wellness Wednesday: doTERRA And ADHD

 

doterra essential oils

Last Wednesday I shared a little bit about my new role as a Wellness Advocate for doTERRA Essential Oils, and why I decided to pursue this new venture. You can read it here incase you missed it.

There are a few different reasons why I decided to become a Wellness Advocate for doTERRA.

  • To supplement my income. Although doTERRA is a fairly young company, we are growing rapidly. The integrity and leadership of the founders and the integrity of the products drew me to finding out more about making it a business. doTERRA is a product driven company – we are all about wellness and wholeness, and my personal experience so far has been remarkable. doTERRA is all about making a difference in people’s lives. Watch this brief video to see what this couple’s experience has been

  • I was looking for natural and holistic alternatives to treating illnesses in my family. I am a big believer that our bodies were designed by God to heal themselves providing we put the right things in and on our bodies. I changed my diet dramatically from eating processed foods and fast foods, to an almost raw vegan lifestyle, where I make conscious choices about what I ingest. I am trying to reverse some of the damage that I did to my body all these years of drinking sodas and over-indulging in empty calories. I witnessed my husband’s untimely death 10 years ago to cancer, and now realizing that the “treatments” (chemo and radiation) were ultimately to blame. I am not suggesting that people no longer follow their doctors’ advice for treatments, but if I could go back in time, I don’t think we would have chosen mainstream treatments.
  • I was looking for natural alternatives to the toxic cleaning supplies and personal care products  that I have used in the past
  • And finally, my sons ADHD tendencies, and that’s what I will focus on in today’s post

I call them ADHD tendencies, because he has not been officially diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. In fact, my son isn’t even hyper, he has a problem staying focused, especially in school. His imagination is always racing…..he can dream up what I imagine one day will become major Hollywood productions, and he just struggles in school.

This goes back to first grade when he wasn’t reading on the same level as his classmates. Of course as a mom, I felt like I had failed my child. It is not because I wasn’t reading with him at home…..he reads very well out loud. He knew all the words and read at a good verbal pace. It was the comprehension part that they were worried about. We would talk about the stories and what they meant, and sometimes he would get them and sometimes not. I brought him in for extra lessons and worked with the teachers and counselors to move a bit slower with him, but ultimately we decided to keep him back in first grade.

Each school year we would have the same issues, and as he got older, now a 5th grader, much more was expected of him. He even got to the point where he was so frustrated that he seemed to have given up. Homework wasn’t getting done unless I supervised, homework left at school or at home, classwork not completed. A million parent/teacher conferences later and we came up with a brilliant game plan to really hold him accountable. He goes in early mornings before school for extra tutoring three days a week and his teacher and I have a system to cross check homework to make sure they got home, got done, and got back to school……The system works, but it still has its flaws, the major one being, both his teacher and I having to micro-manage him. Try doing that consistently as a single mompreneur :-(

In the midst of all of this, I took him in to see his doctor to figure out how best we can help him. This was a few years ago (maybe when he was in 3rd grade) when ADHD was such a “trend” they would even diagnose an active puppy with it. Seriously! All of a sudden a kid with an active and healthy imagination had some horrible disease that required medicine. His “diagnosis” was based on a questionnaire that both his teacher and I completed. Some of the questions were surprisingly more about our economic status than anything else…..I mean what does my level of education have to do with ADHD? I got another one of those questionnaires about a week ago, just before the state tests and I said NO THANKS! If he fails he fails. All I ask him to do his try his very best. That is good enough for me. I am just a bit over the “box” that they have put my son in all these years. I will rant about that in a future post :-(

After reviewing the questionnaire, my son’s doctor decided to write us a prescription….I cannot remember for what medicine it was, because I flat out refused. I asked if his decision to write this prescription was based solely on the questionnaire and he said yes. I was amazed by that. I decided to change some routines and see if that helped. some did, some didn’t. Consistency has been our biggest challenge.

Over the past year, I have changed his diet to much more healthy foods, but I know that some cheating happens at the school cafeteria. I have gotten him involved in sports, which seems to help his focus and discipline quite a bit. I have limited his video game and TV watching time and finally I have started to use doTERRA just about a week and a half ago as a treatment for him.

Our current doTERRA protocol

After reading this blog post  on My Essential Oil Experiment blog by a fellow doTERRA Wellness Advocate, whose daughter struggles with ADHD and Aspergers, I decided to really focus on this as a treatment alternative. She shared her protocol with her readers and how much the oils were helping her daughter.

Source: My Essential Oil Experiment Blog

Source: My Essential Oil Experiment Blog

These are all the oils she uses. I don’t have them all yet, but I decided to start with what I have. You can click here to read her exact system, but I will share what I have been doing so far with my son based on her system

Every night before bed and in the some mornings I place the a drop of the following oils on each of his big toes: Vetiver, Geranium, Frankincense. Why the big toe? Because in reflexology all the nerve points of the brain are connected to the big toe. All these oils are related to brain health.

  • Vetiver (is a thick oil and should be diluted 3 to 1 with fractionated coconut oil. Also available from doTERRA (3 drops of Vetiver to 1 drop of fractionated coconut oil) – Treats ADHD/ADD
  • Geranium – Treats agitation environmental stress
  • Frankincense – Treats imbalance, brain injury, memory, confusion, mental fatigue

I then rub one drop of Balance on his left ankle to heel area. Why there? In reflexology the male hormones are located there

  • Balance – anxiety, brain integration, confusion, convulsions, depression, energy, fear, hyperactivity, mood swings

I then rub a drop of Lemon on the inside of his wrist, and one drop of Peppermint and In-Tune up his spine to his neck

  • Lemon – Depression, Anxiety, Brain Injury, Exhaustion, Physical Energy, Purification, Relaxation, Stress, Uplifting
  • Peppermint – alertness, antioxidant, autism, fatigue, brain injury, chronic fatigue
  • In-Tune – ADD/ADHD, anxiety, calming, clarity, concentration, focus, hyperactivity, stress

I place a drop of Lavender under his nose and then rub a drop on his back and give him a mini massage

  • Lavender – Calming and relaxing

Here is some information about Reflexology that you might find helpful. Click here

How has my protocol worked so far?

It has only been a week and about 2 days since I started and I have seen improvements in my son. In the past, he would pick TV time or playing a video game and I caught him reading a few times this week. He rarely reads on his own unless I ask him to.

I also noticed that he seems to be very well rested in the mornings like he got a good night’s sleep.

It has created some great mommy and son bonding time. Josh is now 12 and the tucking in at night ritual had started to get phased out. Now he looks forward to his massages and oil treatments at night. He even brings me the basket of oils. We talk about his day in more depth while I am rubbing his oils on and we laugh a lot (he is very ticklish :-) )

So far it is too soon to tell if he has improved at school, especially since last week was state testing and no homework was given, but I wouldn’t be surprised with his new attitude.

I am so grateful for these amazing oils that are powerful therapeutic grade and are proven to work.

I urge you to take a look at doTERRA Essential Oils as a better way for your family healthcare. You can join the doTERRA family as a Preferred Member for only $35.00 and receive all your future purchases at wholesale pricing. You can also sign up as a Wellness Advocate like me, if you are looking for a very lucrative business opportunity with a strong company. Click here to visit my doTERRA website to join

If you would like to order any of the oils please click here to place an order

You can contact me here to find out more about joining the doTERRA family, purchasing oils, ask a question, or find out more about the oils

Before I go, I just had to share with you what someone shared with me when I first joined doTERRA. The income potential is just amazing!

doterra oils

 

 

 

 

Here is just an excerpt of the caption that accompanied this picture “they were voted Utah County’s Business of the Year (http://www.doterra.com/us/pr11.php). They’re a product-driven company, growing extremely fast, the best compensation plan that I’ve seen, ridiculously high retention/reorder rate, with owners that actually care about us. We get to educate people on the amazing benefits of essential oils and getting healthy.
With these essential oils we are changing a lot of lives, not only from a health standpoint, but financially as well”

I am very happy I joined and I look forward to sharing more of my successes with using the oils with you.

I would love to help you make that change in your life – both healthfully and financially.

Here’s the link to my doTERRA website http://www.mydoterra.com/veronicasolomon

Have a wonderful Wellness Wednesday!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please Note: The information I am providing is based on my own personal experience and is meant for informational purposes, and should not be relied upon if you have a serious injury or illness. Please consult a trained professional incase of a serious injury. Everyone’s experience with doTERRA Essential Oils will be different. I am not a doctor nor a trained healthcare professional and cannot diagnose or prescribe medications for you. This disclaimer acts as the explicit waiver of any liability of myself as a Wellness Advocate or doTERRA as a company. Information on this blog has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and products referred to are not intended to or guaranteed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease

Tip For Tuesday: Utilizing Under Bed Storage

 

Happy Tuesday everyone!

You may see the pattern if you have followed me for a while: Each Tuesday is my Tip for Tuesday series,  where I offer some helpful and simple decorating tips to my readers, that will enhance and beautify their lives, and bring comfort into their homes.

This week’s simple tip is “Utilizing Under Bed Storage”.

For most of us, it is time to pack away the winter jackets and coats, and the fluffy sweaters that kept us warm during this very long, rough winter.

Or maybe you are losing the battle to clutter. It can happen so easily, and before long, clutter has taken over our homes and starts to affect our moods and the way we look at our homes.

I understand that It is not easy finding the space in an average closet or pantry, so we have to get creative with every inch of square footage in our homes. Simple solutions can work wonders for organizing our homes and make us fall in love with them all over again.

under bed storage

Source: Ebay

Underneath beds is the single most wasted space in a home. For the most part they are dust collectors and where you usually find items that you lost over two years ago.

Under bed storage of course is very functional, but there are great ways to make it stylish as well.

under bed storage

Most furniture manufacturers have caught on to this idea and are designing more and more beds with drawers and cubbies

Under bed storage

Source: Mueller Furniture

If you cannot find exactly what you need, have one custom-built like I did in this toddlers’ room.

Kids rooms are great for under bed storage because it helps them get organized

under bed storage

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

 

Plastic storage containers are a great option to store away seasonal clothing, files and Christmas decorations

under bed storage

Storage Bags with zipper are wonderful for sweaters and blankets. They give an airtight seal so moths can’t get to them

under bed storage
Baskets are a wonderful way to store away your stuff while adding some beautiful texture

under bed storage

Source: Houzz

Crates are a very unique way to bring in storage while showing your personality and personal design style

Under bed storage

Source: Houzz

Shoes will feel right at home with this shoe storage container

under bed oge
Here are a few more kids rooms decked out with under bed storage and much more

under bed storage

under bed storage

TIP: Incase your bed isn’t high enough underneath, you can add risers to the legs to raise it up at least 3″. Then hide all that unattractiveness with a nice tailored bed-skirt. Just avoid using bricks like I have seen in the past :-)

under bed storage

Bed Risers

LARGEIMAGE_310751

So I encourage you to look at the space underneath your bed for storage solutions

Happy Tuesday!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

Weekend Ponderings: Rejection Can Be A Good Thing

We’ve all felt it in one form or another……that ugly feeling of rejection. There is no worse feeling than having your hopes, dreams and even your heart crushed by something or someone you wanted more than anything else in the world.

rejection can be a good thing

Have you ever been there? Have you ever wanted something so bad you can taste it? You do everything necessary to make it happen? Sacrifices, dedication, discipline - blood, sweat and tears?

Rejection can be a good thingWell I have, and very recently too.

At the beginning of the year (January 2nd), like every other Blogger out there, I wrote about my goals for 2014. You can read about them here. From that long list of goals, the one that was nearest and dearest to my heart was getting published. You see, I was actually very close to that goal and dream becoming a reality!

Fast forward just two weeks later and I got some even better news!…..I was strongly being considered. Wow!! I was sworn to secrecy, but I was so excited, I had to share something with my readers without letting the cat out of the bag. Here’s the post I wrote that exciting day. I was one step closer to one of my biggest goals of 2014!!

rejection can be a good thing

Maybe it’s time to give you a bit of background into this goal turned rejection (turned fuel to keep pushing forward)

Late last year, following the recommendation of a colleague who had some success getting an item published locally, I began to look at the possibility of getting a room that I designed published in a national design magazine. I sent out a few emails, and was very excited when I got a response back from one of the big guys in the industry, expressing interest in a toddler room that I designed a couple of years before. This was an Editor/Producer who has had a high success rate of getting articles she submits published in the big national magazines she works with.

She asked me to submit my photographs and explained that the process is a long one with a lot of waiting in between, but my chances were pretty good. I was super excited to hear that from someone who is pretty successful in the publishing world.

She was great to deal with - always very prompt with her responses and kept me up to date with what was going on. She is definitely a good person to know if publishing is your goal.

This is the room they were interested in:

rejection can be a good thing

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

rejection can be a good thing

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

rejection can be a good thing

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

 

rejection can be a good thing

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

The process is that you send them a few shots of the room and if they are interested they come out and do their own photo shoot and a little bit of styling to appeal to their readers.

This feature would have been a great tool to propel my business forward, both locally and nationally.

As I was researching cool quotes to share about rejection, I came across the Merriam-Webster dictionary’s definition of the word rejection…. “to refuse to believe, accept, or consider (something). : to decide not to publish (something) or make (something) available to the public because it is not good”

The part that hit me is the “because it is not good”? That really hurt my feelings and for a second I wanted to stay in that moment. But I didn’t.

rejection can be a good thing

What I did instead was to look at the positives……I mean I still have this wonderful contact in the publishing world. I asked her if it was ok to share some of the other projects I was working on, and she expressed interest in a couple. That’s a good thing!

rejection can be a good thing
What also came to mind is all the successful people like Michael Jordan, Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey, who were all rejected several times in the early part of their careers, yet that was more of the motivation they needed to keep pressing forward.

rejection can be a good thing

Rejection can be a good thing if you really want success. Not everyone will like or support what you are doing, so you have to truly believe in yourself, and believe you are good.

Amazingly enough, the day after my rejection, I attended the panel discussion with Alexa Hampton, Jay Jeffers, and Michael Imber at the Houston Design Center and the subject of the discussion was GETTING PUBLISHED! What a blessing that was hearing from people who have been there and done that. And as I mentioned in my post just yesterday, I had a one-on-one discussion with Alexa Hampton about getting published. It was very encouraging and inspiring. Read the post here in case you missed it. She had some specific advice for me, and I am already acting on her advice.

Talk about a new outlook!…….

Getting published may or may not happen this year for me, but that’s the beauty about goals, you don’t have to put an expiration date on them. They will happen in due time. Just keep pressing on! Rejection for me has been a good thing.

Wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

 

 

Inspiring Celebrity Encounter: Alexa Hampton

 

Alexa Hampton

Alexa Hampton and Veronica Solomon at Houston Design Center

Have you ever had the preconceived notion about someone without good reason? You expect them to be a certain way and when you meet them they are actually the total opposite? Well that was the case this week when I met Alexa Hampton. I guess because of her major accomplishments and contribution to Interior Design, I expected her to be intimidating, and somewhat a diva. But instead, she was very funny, energetic, charming, self-confident, and really down-to-earth!

Alexa Hampton, whose award-winning firm is based in New York has completed a wide range of design projects in the United States and China, including large residences, apartments, private airplanes and yachts. She is A Perennial member of Architectural Digest’s AD100, and House Beautiful’s Top Designer list, as well as a member of Elle Décor’s A-list. Her well sought after design style in Traditional, Classic and Eclectic has graced the pages of many of these publications, among others.

Alexa has many more accomplishments under her belt including a furniture line with Hickory Chair and a fabric and upholstery line with Kravet. You can view the pieces here in PDF format

alexa hampton

Her second book “Decorating In Detail” is a beautifully illustrated book where she shares the development process for eight elegant homes in locations from New York City to New Orléans. Walking readers through each room, she describes how she and the homeowners chose all the elements, from textures to fabrics to furniture.

alexa Hampton

Her visit to the Houston Design Center this week was very inspiring for me. The first part of the day’s events was a panel discussion about how to get published, which also featured Jay Jeffers (A published Interior Designer based in San Francisco) and Michael Imber (A published Architect)

alexa hampton

Panel Discussion at Houston Design Center: Michael Imber, Alexa, Jay Jeffers

 

alexa hamptonThe second part of her visit was a more intimate, informal sit down conversation with a handful of Houston Designers including myself, where we had the opportunity to pick her brain about anything and everything interior design. This is where her charming personality came shining through. It was as if I had known her for years. I was very comfortable talking to her and asking questions. She offered ideas and inspiration and even some insider information about the business side of her Interior Design practice - how she charges for her services and dealing with difficult clients.

She spoke a lot about her family and her home, and even the apps she uses and what social media channel she enjoys the most. She gave us all some great advice about seeing ourselves as a brand and encouraged us to work on packaging our brand and heading in the direction of getting published. She had some specific advice for me when she discovered that I write a daily blog. She encouraged me to seek opportunities to write a decorating or lifestyle column for local publications. Now why didn’t I think of that? :-) She is clearly as savvy a business woman as she is creative!

Despite being Interior Design royalty, as the daughter of the late Mark Hampton, who founded the firm back in 1976, I really got to see that she is a regular wife and mom, who has worked really hard for all she has accomplished. It gives a young Designer like me hope and inspiration, that my dreams too are achievable.

You can read more about Alexa Hampton by clicking to her website here

Here are a few of her designs that I just adore

alexa hampton

Source: Alexa Hampton

alexa hampton

Source: Alexa Hampton

alexa hampton

Source: Alexa Hampton

 

alexa hampton

Source: Alexa Hampton

 

alexa hampton

Source: Alexa Hampton

I just love these classically beautiful rooms, especially the last one pictured with the beautiful Gracie chinoiserie wallpaper. Just beautiful!

I just love her work and it was a pleasure meeting her.

This quote by her famous father really resonates with me. Sometimes the profession of Interior Design is seen in a negative light. But those of us who work in this capacity know very well that there is nothing frivolous about Interior Decoration. Each project  takes a lot of hard work, passion and dedication.

“We all know that interior decoration is seen by many as a frivolous career full of ruffles and flourishes and preposterous fashion statements. Yet to transform the bleak and the barren into welcoming places where one can live seems to me an important and worthwhile goal in life. Sometimes this transformation can stun the eye, sometimes simply gladden it, but these are not frivolous pursuits.” Mark Hampton

 

alexa hampton

Source: Alexa Hampton

Now it’s your turn:

Is there someone who you look to for career inspiration? Have you ever had the chance to meet that person? Were they what you expected? Please leave me a comment below.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my most recent Celebrity Encounter!

You can read more about past Celebrity Encounters here!

Have a fantastic Friday and do something fun this weekend!! :-) :-)

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

One Room Challenge: Studio Dining Room – Week 1

So I am very excited to announce that I will be linking into this year’s One Room Challenge (ORC).

What is One Room Challenge you ask?…… Great question!…….

ORC is a semi-annual event where 20 bloggers, made up of Professional Designers, DIY-ers, and Interior Designer Bloggers, transform a room from start to finish. For the next six Wednesdays, they will be giving updates on the progress of their rooms.

Here are the participants One Room Challenge

 Abby M. Interiors

They have graciously opened the challenge to other bloggers like myself who would like to participate by linking in on Thursdays to show the progress of a space they are working on.

This is a great opportunity for me to meet and get to know fellow bloggers, and maybe even gain some new followers. This challenge is sure to keep me accountable, on track and motivated to finish one of my personal projects. Too often my personal projects take the back seat due to time constraints. I think it’s a win-win, and I am super excited to participate!

Basically I have chosen a room that I will be working on for the next six weeks, and each Thursday I will share with you the progress of this room through to completion! How exciting is that? You will see a little bit of the behind the scenes of how a project comes together.

I was quite torn about which room to choose for ORC, so I had the kids take a vote.

Here were the choices:

  • The Study of my Design Studio
  • The Living Room of my Design Studio
  • The Dining Room of my Design Studio
  • The Kitchen of my Design Studio
  • The Master Bedroom of a wonderful client who I know would be ok with that

Well, it’s right there in the title……we ended up choosing the Dining Room/Conference Room of my Design Studio. Can’t wait to get this baby going!! :-)

Some of you may recall that my Studio is an historical 1905 Victorian cottage that I am leasing. The home needed a lot of TLC when I first saw it and I have been slowly working on each room as budget allows. Since it is a lease, I am very careful about the improvements I make. I do not want to put too much money into something I don’t own. I plan to buy it in the next year or so, but until then, I am penny pinching.

Here’s a Waterlogue image of the exterior. Isn’t it cute?! I loved it from the very first moment I saw it….despite the mess that it was.

Casa Vilora Interiors Design Studio located at 5602 Franz Rd Katy TX 77493

Casa Vilora Interiors Design Studio located at 5602 Franz Rd Katy TX 77493

About the Dining Room

When I first saw the dining room, I couldn’t believe how small it was and I couldn’t understand why someone would paint such a small space (ceiling included) in dark puke green. The room has just one window and doesn’t get much natural light, especially since there is a carport right by the window. The dining room has three doorways which makes it feel more like a pass through and not one to stop and linger in. The layout was going to be very difficult because traffic pattern was working against it.

Another challenge in the room is the thermostat which is smack dab in the middle of the main wall The room does have a few great features: High ceilings, wonderful casings around the window and doorways and the original hardwood floor stained a dark ebony.

The Floorplan

dining room floor olan

The Floorplan for Dining Room/Conference Room at Casa Vilora Interiors Design Studio

As you can see the traffic pattern is a bit weird so a traditional dining room layout would not work well. Besides, the space will not be used for dining, but as a conference room for meetings with clients.

The Goal for The Dining Room

  • For guests and clients to feel welcomed and at home
  • To complete it on a very limited budget utilizing items that I already own
  • No construction and only manageable DIY projects
  • Respecting the architecture and history of the home

The Feeling I want to Create

  • Light and airy with great traffic flow
  • casual feeling in keeping with the cottage feel of the home
  • comfortable and welcoming and feel more like a home than a business office

The Color Scheme

  • Cool grays, yellows, light turquoise, light jade, white

The Before

One Room Challenge Dining Room

Dining Room BEFORE

This was right after painting. Unfortunately I cannot find the picture of the puke green walls. I chose a nice cool gray (Benjamin Moore Silver Chain) for the walls, and a bright white for the ceiling to bring in as much natural light as possible.

one room challenge

Dining Room BEFORE

This shows the view to the kitchen. Notice the thermostat in the center of the wall? I decided not to move it, so I will have to decorate around it :-(

I really didn’t search for inspiration because I knew exactly what I wanted the room to look like, but here are a few pictures that will help you visualize my goal for the space

one room challenge

Source: Melissa G Moore Blog

One Room Challenge Dining Room

Source: Haltik.net

One room challenge - dining room

Source: The Decoist

Ok, that is it for now! I hope you come along each week and follow the progress of the Studio Dining Room makeover.

Please feel free to leave me your thoughts and comments!

You can look for this badge in my side bar to follow along anytime!

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Click here to visit the link party going on now!

Have a terrific Thursday!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

Tip For Tuesday: Use Model Homes For Decorating Ideas

model home

Source: Toll Brothers in Cinco Ranch, Katy TX

It seems a new construction community goes up everyday here in the area where I live. of course, with new communities, come the lovely model homes.

model homes

Source: Highland Homes Cinco Ranch Katy TX

Model homes are a great marketing tool for home builders. Just like a seller staging a home for sale, a model home is meant to connect with the emotions of the potential buyers and get them to imagine themselves living there.

Home builders conduct market research to pin point the needs and wants  of the demographic that they are trying to attract to their homes, and then hire Interior Designers to merchandise the models in a way that will connect with potential buyers.

model homes

Source: Highland Homes Cinco Ranch Katy TX

Model homes communicate a strong message of a better value to prospects by the way they are decorated.

  • Furniture layouts play a huge role in maximizing space. Designers spend a great deal of time presenting model homes as being as spacious as possible. Every square foot counts
  • Creating the right atmosphere allows the home to be more memorable. Homebuilders and designers are well aware that the prospective buyer is also looking at their competitors.
  • Interior architectural detailing creates the perception of heightened value and uniqueness.
  • Creating memory points connects with the prospective buyer on an emotional level
  • Visual appeal, color coordination, trends, timelessness and classic details help prospective buyers imagine themselves living in the home
  • Upgraded features allows the home builders to sell more of those upgrades. Prospective buyers tend to buy what they see.
model home

Source: Toll Brothers Cinco Ranch, Katy TX

So you can see that a lot goes into merchandising a model home.

As  a homeowner looking to decorate your home, there is a great opportunity of getting great ideas from visiting model homes. After all, they represent the vision and ideas of talented Interior Designers, with well thought out designs. Use their ideas to your advantage, for free.

model homes

Source: Toll Brothers Cinco Ranch, Katy TX

I have worked for enough homebuilders to see that with the weekend comes the lookers and the neighbors who are curious to see what the model homes look like. Some are just checking them out to compare value, while others are actually looking for decorating ideas.

model homes

Source: Toll Brothers Cinco Ranch, Katy TX

If you are one of those people looking for decorating ideas by visiting model homes, there are some tips I can provide to help you stay focused and actually get some useful ideas that you can implement in your own home, for less.

  • Visit a community with home values similar to or higher than your home’s value
  • Look for a floorplan and size that is similar to your home.
  • Bring a camera and make sure that it is ok to take pictures. Some builders weirdly enough are opposed to people “stealing” their decorating ideas and will not allow you to take pictures.
  • Bring a notepad to make notes and even sketch the room and furniture layout. After looking at several model homes all day, they will start running together in your mind
  • Make a list of special features that you like and possibly want to duplicate in your home
  •  Bring a tape measure. This is helpful to measure interesting architectural details that you can scale to fit your home.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask the Sales person about some of the features, especially names of paint colors. They will often have this information and don’t mind sharing. Usually they are not educated on the source of furnishings or even the Designer of the model home.
  • Look for a home that has a similar color scheme to what you have in mind for your home. The color schemes the Designers use are usually in line with current trends.
  • If you see a piece of furniture that you absolutely love and have to have, open the top drawer or look underneath a cushion, and there you can usually find the name of the manufacturer.
  • If you plan to hire a Designer to decorate your home, have him/her visit one or two of the model homes that you like. That will help communicate your vision to your Designer. Point out the features that you love and most importantly some of the things you don’t.
  • Notice the scale of the furnishings compared to the size of the room
  • Notice that model homes are always full of natural light. This is mainly because they don’t use window coverings except for decorative drapery panels or valances that don’t cover the windows. If you want to have the same feel of as much natural light as possible in your home, it’s important to choose window coverings that can easily be pulled up and out of the way.
  • Notice that even though the Designer w ants to bring in natural night and preserve views, window treatments are still used. That’s a clue that window treatments play a major role in adding softness and pulling a room together
  • Notice how the accessories are arranged in each vignette. Usually in odd numbers, with varying heights, texture and scale
  • Notice how art is hung at an eye level comfortable to anyone regardless of their height
  • Notice that the look starts from the exterior of model homes. Creating a great curb appeal can give the visitors to your home the same welcoming feel. Create a couple of beautiful beds of annuals in your front yard. Create a stone walkway using inexpensive stepping stones. Add a nice seating area on a front porch with beautiful potted plants
  • Notice the decorating styles and see if that fits in with your lifestyle.
  • Notice the use of textiles – Notice how patterns and textures are successfully mixed to add warmth and personality
  • Narrow down your list of favorite homes, and return a couple more times to really sink your teeth into the designs.
  • Visit on a weekday if possible. Less traffic usually, and you have the opportunity to speak to the Sales person without much interruption
model homes

Source: Partners in Building Cinco Ranch Katy TX

model homes

Source: Highland Homes Cinco Ranch Katy TX

 

Hopefully you found some great tips to help you stay focused when you visit model homes for decorating ideas. Sure they are fun to look at, so you want to take your time to browse and take it all in, but don’t forget the purpose of your visit.

The goal is to leave there feeling inspired to tackle your own decorating project.
Do you have new home communities in your area? Do you enjoy looking at the model homes? Have you ever gotten decorating ideas from model homes? Leave me a comment below

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

How To Decorate Wall Niches

Today we are talking about how to decorate wall niches. Some people love them, and well…..others hate them. There seems to be no neutral zone where this is concerned.

wall niches

Source: Founterior

Most new construction homes these days, almost always come with at least a couple of wall niches (also known as art niches and wall cutouts).

wall niches

Source: Houzz.com

Here in the Houston area, wall niches are very common with new construction homes. In fact, home builders sell them as a special feature or an upgrade to the homes they build.

They are often found in the entry halls where there are really high ceilings, or in the living room above the fireplace as a place for the television. In some cases, these niches are a great feature for breaking up a large wall, or a very high wall. But there are those instances where these niches are more of an awkward nuisance, that baffle homeowners. The result is usually that they are left unadorned, or filled with a random arrangement of items that just don’t work.

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of these wall niches myself. Maybe because they are often just drywall cut-outs that are not embellished with moldings like they used to be in the past, or they are filled with fake floral arrangements and random tchotchkes. It could be because they are usually so high up on a wall that you cannot really see and appreciate the art that is displayed in them.

Here is a picture of how wall niches were adorned in the past

wall niches

Source: Cote de Texas Blog

They were beautifully curved, and finished off with wonderful moldings and casing and used for displaying sculptures and other art. Although these might be a bit formal for the way most people live today, the wall niches of today are the other extreme, with no real architectural purpose. They are simply wall cutouts.

If you have some of these wall niches in your home, and you have no idea what to do with them, I am here to give you some ideas and tips, which will hopefully help you transform them into beautiful, eye-catching features.

  • Drywall over them
wall niches

Source: Cote de Texas

Not because the builder of your home thinks they are so special, it doesn’t mean you have to. If these niches don’t work for the way you live and decorate, cover them over with drywall and blend them into the existing wall space. That’s a better option than forcing them to work

  • Give them a function
wall niches

Source: AtticMag

wall niches

Source: Cote de Texas

wall niches Instead of forcing them to be decorative, why not make your wall niches functional by adding some shelves and making them a functional display area.

  • Resist the temptation of fake trailing ivy
wall niches

Source: Unknown

Whatever you do, PLEASE DON’T do this! Do not add fake ivy, and/or tiny art pieces and objects that result in a cluttered mess. Instead hang some plates using a great wallpaper pattern as a back drop.

wall niches

Source: RosemaryOnTheTV.com

This would be a great way to decorate the wall niche pictured above. If it is deep enough, add a collection of ginger jars

wall niches

Source: Chinoiserie Chic Blog

  • Add a beautiful mural
wall niches

Source: Cote de Texas

This can get tacky fast, so be careful with this idea. If you have multiple wall niches all over your house, do not add murals all over. Murals are meant to be a special accent and would lose their value or special-ness if they are done every where. The above picture is a great example of a mural done in a wall niche. Notice that the walls around it almost blend in and become a part of the scenery.

  • Add a custom accent piece made to fit the space exactly
wall niches

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

wall niches

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

I commissioned this custom laser cut wooden wall panel for a niche in my client’s hallway near the entry. As you can see, it fits perfectly in the space. I had it painted in white to almost blend in with the cool light gray color of the walls. That way, it will not stand out too much allowing the pattern to make the statement.

Reina Entry Way Niches

Reina Entry Way Niches

wall niches

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors

These are custom faux wrought iron pieces I had commissioned for two separate clients a while ago. The niches in the entry way  of the first picture were painted with a color two shades darker than the wall color and then the Tableaux faux iron was inserted.

The second picture is a stone fireplace wall with a Tableaux faux iron insert. Care should be taken that you are not applying Tableaux all over your home. It will get to be too much!

See a blog post I wrote about Tableaux incase you need more information.

  • Play them up

wall niches wall niches Instead of fighting the fact that you have these wall niches, why not play them up and make them a big impact in the room? These niches in the first picture were accented with a darker color paint and then styled with tons of books and accents. Notice how the niches pop against the white walls in the rest of the space.

The second picture is a wall niche along a long hallway from the entry. Accenting with a red metallic paint makes it a feature wall, in addition to the beautiful vignette.

  • Turn it into a plate rack
Plate Rack

Plate Rack

wall niches

Plate Racks

wall niches

Source: Pinterest

I am a big fan of plate racks. They are so full of character and quite functional as well. Converting a wall niche into a plate rack is a  great way to display a beautiful collection of plates, mugs or glasses. If your niches are in an area where it makes sense to, that is a wonderful way to go.

  • Add interesting accessories

Things like urns, finials, art and sculptures arranged in groupings can make your wall niches feel like they belong. Keep the scale of each piece compared to the size of the wall niche in mind, if you decide to go this route am-23ox_lg am-39a_lg wall niches 48384e1a3d852d66da406e0435217022 67620947 c81b5d614284148115fc5e580d01aa64 f6fc3766e920f4cd416827f733bd7036 wall niches wall niches

  • It is ok to add a vintage mirror
wall niches

Vintage Mirror

wall niches

Trumeau

wall niches

Trumeau Mirror

wall niches

Trumeau Mirror

Depending on the location of your wall niche, you can either convert it into a trumeau mirror or add a vintage mirror. The foyer or dining room are great areas to add a mirror. You can cover the niche altogether with a wall mirror, or add one that fits almost  perfectly into the recess of the niche.

Trumeau mirrors are a fairly easy weekend DIY project if you like that idea as a solution to your wall niche problem. I have a great client that actually made one all by herself, and in her own words she is “not very crafty” at all. I don’t have a picture but it was so well done, I thought she unearthed it at a flea market in Paris.

  •  Make them symmetrical

wall niches If you have a wall niche that is asymmetrical, especially on a main focal wall, try camouflaging that fact by creating the illusion of symmetry. The above picture is a great example of an asymmetrical wall that could use some help.

One way is to add a second recessed wall niche to the left, but that requires some construction work. You could also build a wall shelf mimicking the niche to the right and then mount it to the surface of the wall on the left. That also requires some construction. A simpler way would be to add a piece of furniture that is a similar height and scale to the niche on the right. It cannot be too deep.This could be an armoire or bookcase. Then accessorize them in a similar way.

The picture below shows how well symmetrical wall niches work on a wall that is a focal point.  

wall niches

So I am very curious to know, how many of you are the proud owners of wall niches? How have you decorated them? Were you at a loss as to what to do, or was it easy for you?

Please leave me a comment below.

If you are struggling with your wall niches, feel free to comment below with a question, or send me an email and I would be happy to help.

I am well aware that seems to be a big issue for homeowners, so don’t be overwhelmed!

I hope you found some great ideas, tips and inspiration to addressing the great wall niche conundrum.

Have a marvelous Monday!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

Budget Conscious Custom Drapery Panels

Most of my friends and colleagues know about my undying love affair with fabrics. I love fabrics because of how they change the look of a room and add softness, which every room needs.

I also have a love for Window treatments – drapery panels to be exact. My motto is “No Room Is Complete Without The Right Window Treatment” and these are words I live by. I truly believe that the right window treatment design, coupled with the right fabric choice, enhance the look and feel of a room like nothing else can.

With that said, I am also a big believer that custom drapery is way better than most store-bought curtains. Notice I call them curtains here?…..This is because they are usually too short for most standard windows, skimpy and inferior grade fabrics, and not lined very well. Plus they are usually not very unique.

The point here is not to bash store-bought curtains, but instead, help you see the difference and benefits of having drapery panels made specifically for your window, without spending much more. Having the ability to customize your window treatments to your specific needs I think is priceless. Imagine picking out your own fabric from hundreds of options, whether you want non-functional or functional, the type of lining (blackout, thermal, or just regular sateen), the option to add interlining for more fullness, picking your header style (pinch pleats, goblet pleats, grommets), and of course the exact finished length to complement the size of your window (no high-water panels here :-) ).

Now imagine being able to do that on a reasonable budget!

And  in case I haven’t gotten your attention yet – imagine that you could have a pair of custom drapery panels for as little as $269! There’s no reason why anyone should have naked windows, right? :-)

custom drapery panels

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

custom drapery

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

I created No Naked Windows a few years ago as an online shopping resource for custom drapery panels for the budget conscious. Custom drapery orders is a big part of my business, and I see everyday how expensive they can get. My goal was to make custom drapery affordable for everyone, with quality hand-made construction and beautiful materials. You can get the look of high-end for a fraction of the cost!

custom drapery

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

Ordering your custom drapery panels is easy. Click to go to our online store and click the custom drapery panels tab. Drapery panels are available as one width, one and a half width or two widths, and are sold in pairs. Our panels are available in 100% dupioni silk, faux silk/polyester, 100% linen, cotton twill, cotton duck, and burlap. There are several patterns and color options for each group.

What’s great is that you can also choose the color block option (which is a big trend now) where you can use up to three different colors from the same group for each panel. All panels are lined in standard sateen or you can upgrade to blackout lining. We will be adding thermal lining soon for the energy saving benefits. There is also an option for adding interlining. You need to select the standard header that best matches your decor – pinch pleat, cartridge pleat, french pleat, goblet pleat or grommets.

Finished lengths are available in 84″, 96″, 108″ and 120″, however there is a special request text box where you can type your  request for a finished length between 72″ and 120″ at no additional charge. You can indicate if you want them longer than 120″, but we would have to call to discuss additional costs. Finished draperies can be very heavy and will cost more for shipping and handling.

Once your payment is received and verified, your custom panels go into production and are delivered to you in 4-6 weeks ready to hang. We can even install for you at an additional charge, if you are located in the Houston area.

drapery panels

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

Drapery panels

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

 

custom drapery panels

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

Here’s how to order your custom drapery panels by Casa Vilora Interiors and No Naked Windows in a few easy steps:

  • Click to our online store and click the custom drapery panels tab
  • Read through all the information about the features and options. You can email me if you have questions. The email address is [email protected]
  • Click on the fabric type you are interested in (silk, cotton, burlap linen etc)
  • Pick the color fabric, the pattern that you like or the color block option (solids only)
  • Choose lining type
  • Choose interlining (optional)
  • Choose header (grommet, pinch pleat, French pleat etc)
  • Choose finished length from the options in the drop down box or you can use the text box below to specify a different finished length not listed
  • Use the optional color block text box if you chose color blocked panels, indicating what color goes where. Color block is done in 1/3′s only.
  • Add any special requests in the text box (example a phone number to call etc)
  • Choose a finished width (if you want double width or width-and-a-half)
  • Choose your quantity (sold in pairs)
  • Add to bag and then checkout using Paypal or Bill Me Later

I always send an email or phone call to confirm every order before production begins. If you need a single panel, above and beyond the first pair that you are ordering, you can indicate that in the special instructions box and we will try to accommodate your request. Please note that the charge for the extra panel is not included in the store total and will be billed later, after confirmation of your order.

Our goal is to customize your panels to your specification – we make every attempt to accommodate most requests. We are happy to speak to you before you place your order if you need recommendations or have questions. We can be reached during regular business hours from 10-5 weekdays at 281-751-7552 or send us an email anytime at [email protected] , we will respond in 24-48 hours.

custom drapery

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors and No Naked Windows

These are semi-sheer linen panels so they are not lined. Notice that the window is a bow window, which means that we had a custom rod made to match the curve of the wall of windows.

custom drapery

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

 

custom drapery panels

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

My apologies for the ladder in this picture. LOL. Taken with the iPhone on install day :-)

custom drapery

Custom Drapery Panels by Casa Vilora Interiors & No Naked Windows

Our online store has several other items available for the home, including drapery hardware

…….And incase you need it…….

Here are some tips for measuring your windows for your custom drapery panels. Click here

We would love to help you with your next custom drapery project!

Do you have a naked window that you need help with? Leave a comment below or ask a question. We are here to help!

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com