| June
2010 | The Design Diva Dishes!
Design Trends and Lifestyle Tips |
| by Article Author |  |
June has always been an exciting month for my family with birthdays and anniversaries, and this year I have two more reasons to celebrate. My youngest daughter, Bonnie, graduates from high school on June 15th. I was never quite sure both of us would emerge from the teen-age years to see this day, but she is doing great and has a bright future ahead of her. I am very proud!
My other exciting news is that I have begun writing about interior design for AOL. That makes me an internationally published writer! WooHoo! My first post was an interview with a famous TV interior designer, Mark Montano, and can be found by clicking here . My second post was about creating a guest room out of an ottoman and can be found by clicking here. My next article is a "How-to" about choosing an area rug, and will probably post any day now. If you google "Barbara Green on AOL" my postings should appear.
This month's issue is all about decorating outdoors. Whether you have acres of land or merely a balcony, you can create a comfortable retreat to savor the days and nights of summer. Our Trend report shares three hot trends in outdoor decorating, and the Color of the Month is Gold. Green Design has eco-friendly suggestions for "greening" your landscaping. The recipe of the month is Memphis-Style Ribs, perfect for a Father's Day barbecue.
I hope this issue will inspire you to get outside and enjoy yourself. Please feel free to contact me at sensiblychic4u@aol.com with any questions or comments.
Barbara Green |
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 | Summer Decorating |
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I think we can all agree that life flies by too quickly, so why not make every day special by turning your backyard into a daily vacation getaway? If you don't have a big backyard that's okay, you can still carve a great escape from a side yard or balcony.
First you need to define your space. If you are working with a balcony, that part is easy. If you have a larger area, you will want to create your special space by defining the floor and ceiling area. This can be done as simply as setting out an outdoor area rug and a large umbrella or as involved as building a terrace or deck with a pergola or roof. Those choices will obviousely depend on your time and budget. This side yard getaway is defined by flooring of stone and wood and an arbor overhead.
Once your space is defined, you need to choose the room's focal point. It can be a pretty view, a garden, an outdoor fireplace or a fountain. Even if all you have to look at is a brick wall, you can hang a decorative piece of ironwork or a weather-resistant picture for an instant focal point.
Next you need somewhere to relax. Outdoor furniture has come a long way from webbed chairs and wooden benches. The outdoor furniture I carry rivals indoor for style, quality, and beauty. You can go with a traditional sofa and chairs:
or a modern sectional. The sectional is perfect for those of you with small outdoor areas since you can buy only one or two pieces to fit your balcony or side yard.
Don't forget a table and chairs for dining al fresco:
The final step is adding accessories. Outdoor curtains are very popular for defining your space and adding softness. Add lots of greenery, pillows, candles, and lamps. Now you are ready to escape without having to travel anywhere!
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Trend Report |
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Here are three of the latest and greatest trends for outdoor decorating:
Retro Furnishings
These chairs remind me of my Grandparent's backyard in Mamaroneck, NY. They lived most of their lives in a Manhattan high-rise, but when the grandkids arrived they wanted to have a country home where the family could gather. I remember these chairs because they were always a favorite place of mine to sit and bounce. Grandpa liked to garden, but it wasn't nearly as lush as this!
Outdoor Televisions
I would like to go on the record for not being much of a fan of these. I think if you want to get away, it should be away from all of life's distractions, TV included. That being said, alot of people just love their TV and want it wherever they go. These new models are flat screen LCD versions that are weather resistant from -40 to 140 degrees and feature anti-reflective glass.
Outdoor Lighting
Just as our choices for outdoor furniture have improved, so have the options for outdoor lighting. If you have invested in an architectural element to define your dining area, you are certainly going to want to illuminate it with a chandelier or sconces for evening entertaining. This set of weather resistant chandelier and wall sconce will add style and ambiance (and light!) to every meal.
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Color of the Month | | |
Gold is always the Color of the Month for June as it represents the golden sunshine that brightens up our days. I have already received my Benjamin Moore Color Forecast for 2011 and gold remains on the list of hot colors for yet another year. According to this report, we are now in an era of "Recession-Chic", calling us back to basic lifestyles and values, seeking refuge on the farm. They suggest you pair gold with other colors from the farm such as green, red, or purple. I will illustrate these palettes in three master bedroosm, all totally different, but all with equally beautiful results.
The most traditional pairing is red and gold. This bedroom evokes the feelings of Tuscany, with the colorwashed walls, rich wood furniture, and intricate ironwork.
A more modern pairing is gold with purple. I am totally enamored with the horizontal stripes on the wall. They are a low-cost way to add a lot of style to your room, and also gives the illusion of more space in smaller rooms.
A compromise between the traditional and the modern is the room below, pairing gold with a soft green. The room has clean lines and classical design elements.
Gold can be used for either masculine or feminine interiors, so it is a perfect color for couples. As you can see, whether your style is traditional, modern, or somewhere in between, gold is an attractive and versatile color option. |
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Green Design | | by Article Author | |
Try to "Think Green" when designing your outdoor living area. What good is a beautiful backyard if it negatively impacts the environment? So how can you be eco-friendly AND have a beautiful landscape? First, think about reducing the amount of grass you have. I know this is heresy in the great suburban jungle where neighbors compete to see who can have the greenest, thickest lawn. You don't have to do away with all of it, I am simply suggesting you incorporate more open, natural areas into the overall plan.
Another great step in "greening" your landscape is moving away from chemical fertilizers and switching to organic lawn care. Simply switching to an organic, slow-release fertilizer will help reduce some of the thousands of pounds of chemicals that leach into our water supply yearly.
When deciding which plants to incorporate into your design, use plants that are native to your natural climate and soil conditions. They are easier to grow and will require less upkeep than plants that are not native. Your local garden center is the perfect place to go for advice on choosing the perfect plants for your location.
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Quote of the Month | | by Article Author | |
A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that "individuality" is the key to success. ~Robert Orben
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Recipe of the Month | | by Article Author | |
In honor of Father's Day I like to include a "Manly" recipe in each June E-zine. This one is worthy of an episode of The Flintstone's: a huge slab of ribs! They are prepared "Memphis Style" with a bold, spicey rub. It has been 26 years since my own dad passed away, so I encourage those of you who still have their dad to take time out and make some special memories with him. They will be treasures to keep within you for the rest of your life.
Memphis-Style Ribs
2 racks pork spareribs or 3 racks baby back ribs
1/4 C. paprika
5 tsps. coursely ground black pepper
5 tsps. dark brown sugar
1 T salt
2 tsps. cayenne pepper
2 tsps. garlic powder
2 tsps. dry mustard
2 tsps. ground cumin
1. Prepare the ribs by removing the thin, papery skin from the back of each rack of ribs.
2. Combine all rub ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to mix. Rub the spice mixture over both sides of the ribs, then transfer the ribs to a roasting pan. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
3. When ready to grill, preheat the grill to high. When smoke appears, reduce heat to medium/low and place the ribs on the rack. Cover the grill and cook 1 1/2 to 2 hours for pork spareribs, 1 to 1 1/2 hours for baby back ribs. The ribs are done when the meat is very tender and shrinks back from the edge of the bones. |
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Community Outreach | | by Article Author | |
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 these 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 one of our favorite treasures, 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% |
Summer Decor Sale
Cushions and curtains and candles OH MY!
Take 15% off of your ENTIRE summer decorating order.
Mention Code DDD0610 when you place your order.
Call 704-987-0277 to schedule your appointment. | | Offer Expires: 06/30/10 Not valid on orders placed before 6/1/10 |
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Thanks for reading "The Design Diva Dishes." I hope you enjoyed this issue and will forward it to your friends using the link below. All past issues are now archived and available through a link at my website: sensiblychic.biz
Have a great month, and I'll see you again July 1.
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