| April
2010 |
The Design Diva Dishes!
Design Trends and Lifestyle Tips |
| by Article Author |
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Dear ,
Welcome to April. What a fabulous month it is! The winter coats are gone and the days are extended thanks to daylight savings time. I hope you are all making the most of this uplifting time of year.
I have great news to share. I have been asked to resume my radio show "Ask the Design Diva," this time on Blogtalk Radio. It is an internet radio program so it will be available to listeners all over the world. The shows will also be available for download on iTunes so you can listen wherever you go. There will be more details coming soon.
In addition to the flowering trees and greening grass, April brings my annual Home Office Edition of The Design Diva Dishes. This time I will focus on preparing home offices for those who work from home either full or part time. The Trend Report presents ways people are using Feng Shui to improve their office and finances. April's color of the month is black in honor of the hard work we do keeping our finances in the black rather than in the red. Green Design shares green ways to furnish your office, and the Recipe of the Month is Marinated Mozzarella Sandwich Wraps.
Have an awesome month, and please feel free to call me at 704.987.0277 or email me at senisblychic4u@aol.com with any questions or comments.
Barbara Green | |
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Office Decorating |
| by Artic |
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Did you know that over 21 million people work at least part-time from their home? Did you know that more than half of all U.S. businesses are home-based, and that over 6.6 million of these businesses provide over half their household income? Those are pretty staggering statistics from the US Department of Labor. Since the recession, there has been a surge in home-based businesses, as displaced workers opened new businesses rather than wait for Corporate America to start rehiring again.
Now that we have all these people working from home, how can we create a work environment that is organized, functional and conducive to productivity? Since almost 90% of home-based workers have families, the first priority will be finding a quiet spot away from the "active areas" in the home. A spare bedroom is ideal, as is a finished attic (below), basement, or garage. Make sure there is a door that closes out interruptions when you have important phone calls to make or teleconferences to attend. Nothing ruins your professional image faster than a barking dog or screaming kids in the background!
Next, paint the room a color that will inspire you to greatness. Blue is a great color for visionaries while yellow is perfect when you need to be focused and detail oriented. Stay away from white or beige walls. They are dull and boring and your work will be, too. Wallpaper can add interest and reduce the need for additional artwork. Whatever your choice, when your room reflects your personality you will be happier and more productive and your creativity will flow.
Once the walls are done you can start furnishing your office for comfort and efficiency. The desk should have a large surface area to spread out your work in addition to room for your computer. The desk can be as simple as a core door placed over two filing cabinets to an elaborate leather-topped executive desk. Suiting your budget is what's important here. The one thing you don't want to skimp on is the office chair. Make sure you try a broad selection and find the one that best fits your size, shape, and comfort. A desk lamp is helpful in reducing eyestrain by illuminating your work surface without causing glare on your computer screen.
Finally, add some accessories. If you didn't add bookshelves during the furnishing phase you will definitely want to hang shelves on the wall to increase storage. Purchase file trays, bins and boxes to organize office supplies and keep the clutter to a minimum. It is also important to have a place to keep notes, memos, and information you might need at a glance. I love the organizer below; it keeps track of so much stuff it is almost as good as having a personal assistant!
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Trend Report |
| by Article Author |
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I don't know if it is people's willingness to try anything to get out of the financial slump the economy has been in, but a hot trend in decorating is utilizing the ancient practice of feng shui when planning their home workspace. Below are several suggestions for creating a harmonious and successful home office:
1. Place your home office as far away from your bedroom as possible. Never allow your bedroom to serve double duty as a home office.
2. Look at the chart below to find which feng shui colors best suit your chosen field and reflect the image you want the world to see.
3. Make sure there is sufficient lighting (both natural and artificial) as well as good air quality. You will not be an effective worker if you do not have adequate oxygen and light. Live plants serve well as all-natural air purifiers.
4. Feng shui specifies that your desk be positioned so you do not have your back to the door. It also suggests that your desk not face a wall. If you absolutley have to face a wall, make sure you have something on the wall that makes you smile. This will help you breathe deeper and reduce stress.
5. There are certain areas of your home office that control different aspects of business:
The south area of your office controls fame and reputation and its energy is Fire, so you shouldn't have blue, big mirrors, fountains, or images of water in this area as the Water element puts out the Fire energy.
The north area controls your career or path in life. Its element is Water, so this is where your fountains and images of water should go. Also include inspiring images related to your career.
The southeast area controls prosperity and abundance. Place items that represent money and abundance in this region. Avoid any Fire images, as the feng shui element here is Wood.
6. Feng shui principles recommend regular clearing out of clutter, for it is believed clutter will drain your energy and ruin your health and your business. |
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Color of the Month |
| by Article Author |
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This month's Color of the Month is Black. There is an old decorating tradition that says every room should have at least a little bit of black. Traditions aside, people are getting much bolder these days and using black much more liberally. I have to say though, my sister was a real trendsetter when it came to decorating with black. Back in 1970, she was able to talk my parents into letting her paint her bedroom black. It was quite dramatic and it made her very happy. I have no idea how many coats of paint it took to cover it when she moved out!
Black is an all-purpose color that will go with any other color you choose. As you can see by my E-zine I like pairing it with white and pink. Look how pretty this same palette translates to a dining table I created for a charity event:
Another popular pairing is red and black, as illustrated in the foyer below:
If you are ready to step up a notch in boldness, think about painting an accent wall in black. Imagine how boring the space below would be without the drama of that one black wall:
If you are really brave, you can go for all-out glamour and style with an all black kitchen. Beware, this is not for the faint of heart, but it sure is beautiful!
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Green Design |
| by Article Author |
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There are a couple of ways to plan your home office with green design in mind. If you are going to buy new furniture, be sure it is made by a company with a commitment to eco-friendly interiors. Manufacturers now offer desks and bookshelves made from reclaimed or sustainably harvested wood which has been treated with low- or no VOC paints and stains. Office chairs (and the fabrics that cover them) are now available made from recycled soda bottles. There are even new filing cabinets made from recycled old ones. There are so many options available for "green" furnishings and the list continues to grow daily.
A more affordable way to furnish your office with green design in mind is to purchase second hand furniture. Since the recession caused many companies to either shut down or downsize there is a wide array of second-hand furniture and supplies now available to the general public. All major cities have surplus stores, but one of my favorites in the Charlotte area is Carolina Office Solutions. In addition to the expected desks, chairs, and filing cabinets, they have refrigerators, microwaves, file trays, trash cans, even pencil cups! If you need it in an office, they are sure to have it, and at a fraction of the cost of new.
Here's one more clever way to go green in the office: chalkboard paint. Instead of going through reams of paper for scheduling and notes, paint a wall with chalkboard paint (available at any paint retailer). Not only will it save you money, it will also be a bold decorative accent and promote creativity.
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Quote of the Month |
| by Article Author |
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People who complain about taxes can be divided into two classes: men and women. ~Author Unknown |
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Recipe of the Month |
| by Article Author |
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Do you remember all the times this past winter you said you couldn't wait until spring? Well, spring is here and it is time to enjoy it. My Recipe of the Month is a delicious Marinated Mozzarella Sandwich Wrap that is quick to prepare and super portable. It also includes asparagus, a favorite of mine and abundant this time of year. Add some fresh fruit and a beverage and you have a quick, easy, and delicious picnic. The recipe serves four, so invite some friends!
Marinated Mozzarella Sanwich Wrap
1 C marinated fresh mozzarella (available at most deli counters)
1/2 pound of your favorite thinly sliced deli meat (ham, turkey, or roast beef)
16 asparagus spears, steamed and chilled
4 large tortillas
Place the four tortillas on a flat surface. Layer each with one-fourth of the deli meat, 4 asparagus spears, and one-fourth of the cheese. Roll up tightly and wrap with plastic wrap. |
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Community Outreach |
| by Article Author |
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Most people say there are only two things guaranteed in life: death and taxes. Well I would like to submit to you a third guarantee: No matter how bad your life is, there is always someone worse off than you. I believe that it is more important to give than to receive. Additionally, it has been my personal experience that when I give generously, whether it be of time or money, the rewards I get are exponentially greater than anything I might have given. In this spirit, I am going to share with you each month opportunities available for us all to give back, for we are all greatly blessed, even in times of struggle.
Big Day at the Lake 6
This is a charity I personally support, and I hope you will consider supporting it as well. The purpose of Big Day at the Lake is to provide a day of fun for deserving young people in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte. These youths would not have access to Lake Norman any other way. We also use this opportunity to recruit more Bigs and raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters. We are currently seeking Corporate Sponsors, boat hosts to take the "Bigs" and "Littles" out on the lake, and cash donations. Please email me at sensiblychic4u@aol.com if you would like to be a sponsor or make a donation. Boat owners can register at BigDayAtTheLake.com. For more information you can call Dave Yochum at 704-895-1335.
CommunityQUEST In my personal quest to share the needs of local charities I was lucky enough to find out about CommunityQUEST.org . This website was designed to help charitable organizations collect donation items and increase their visibility in the community. Charities are able to post their needs and volunteers are able to offer their services. The website also has a calendar listing upcoming charitable events. Be sure to check out the website and find someone to serve. Life is so much more rewarding when you are helping others. | |
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| Save 15% |
Home Office Sale! Save 15% on any home office decorating.
Call 704.987.0277 to schedule your free consultation.
Mention code DDD0410 when scheduling your appointment.
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| Offer Expires: 4/30/10 Not valid on orders placed before 4/1/10 | |
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Thank you for reading "The Design Diva Dishes." I hope you enjoyed this issue and will forward it to your family, friends, and co-workers using the link below. Have a great month, and I'll see you again May 1st.
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