Spring Cleaning 101

I am frequently asked about cleaning draperies, whether it be floor length, Romans or balloons.  You should just shake them out or use the dust tool on the vacuum.  Above all, NEVER have silk dry cleaned.  Dry cleaning silk makes it limp and translucent and sometimes totally changes the color.  

Baby wipes (fragrance free) will clear dust and dirt from antique furniture without damaging the finish. 

Polish rusty or dull spots in a copper sink by wiping on ketchup and then sponging clean. 

Erase paint splotches to ink stains from laminate floors by adding a few drops of nail-polish acetone remover to a rag and spot cleaning. 

Use homemade household cleansers rather than harsh chemical cleaners.  For instance, a microwave cleaner would be a bowl of water into which you cut a lemon in half and squeeze into the water, cook on high for 7 minutes, let sit for 5 minutes, remove bowl and wipe interior with soft, damp, cloth.  Steam loosens food particles and lemon leaves fresh smell.  Make all purpose cleaner with ¼ cup baking soda and ½ cup white vinegar, mix.  This cuts grease and can scour and deodorize.  Make window cleaner with ¼ cup white vinegar, 2 cups water, ½ tsp. dishwashing liquid and 1 drop of blue food coloring.  Combine in spray bottle.  Use white vinegar for a mildew remover.    Apply undiluted vinegar with sponge to mildew. Do not rinse off.  Try to keep as many chemicals out of your environment as possible.

Secrets of an Interior Designer

Do you ever wonder how an interior designer begins a project?  What are we looking for?  What are the basics for planning a room? 

There are four areas to consider:  contrast, balance, color and proportion. 

Contrast can create tension in a room either in the size of furniture (large/small, heavy/delicate), in fabrics (from patterns large or small or plain), in color (from dark to light) on the walls and floor or in accessories and fabrics.   All of these elements depend on the room itself and the placement of furniture.  A trained designer understands how to use these things to organize an idea for a plan.  For instance in a room of neutrals there can still be contrast - in light and shadow, in smoothness and texture. Take one plan and change it around using all of these elements.  You can come up with any number of schemes. Look at home magazines and apply some of these rules. 

Next month....balance.

More details on these topics can be found on the Abbott Interiors Facebook page . This will be updated frequently and include additional items.  Please contact me with any questions or if you would like to get together for a consultation.