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Beautiful Scents For A Beautiful Room, July 2011

Not many people may focus on how a newly designed room smells, but believe it or not, scent has a big impact on how people feel in a room. If you have recently renovated or decorated a room in your house, it may smell like new furniture or fresh paint, but these scents will eventually fade away, sometimes to even less appealing smells like pets or a gym bag. This month I give some insight on fragrance, the final touch to a finished room. Read on for tips on how to maintain a good-smelling home!

Feature Article

Fragrance Adds the Final Touch to a Newly Designed Room  

Pink Roses
Fresh florals add pleasing aromas to any room!

A room or space can look sensational in terms of design and overall harmony, but if it smells less than perfect, you could lose the entire design impact. We have all walked into a home that just didn't smell fresh. Active family members, pets, everyday cooking, and even changes in the weather can all affect the scent of a home.

"A fresh, clean, fragrant interior can add so much to the design and the mood. A pleasing fragrance will make a room more inviting".

 

A new interior naturally smells fresh, but older homes can be more challenging. Years of dust, people, and animals leave a lasting effect. Odor, although sometimes mild, may accumulate in fabrics and porous surfaces.

 


Today's market gives homeowners many options for adding great scents to the air. There are a variety of synthetic fragrances that can have a wonderful effect on a space. Quality candles, plug-in fresheners, and special air conditioning filters all work to help clean the air. Natural fragrances can be introduced through real plants, which even help to clean the air. Fresh flowers also add some fragrance.
Slatkin
Bath and Body Works sells Slatkin & Co. wallflowers that plug into an electrical outlet and keep your room smelling great for weeks!


To really solve the problem, though, home maintenance will help. Vacuuming upholstery and draperies periodically makes a big difference, as does sweeping pet hairs out of the home. Mopping tile removes a lot of particles that you may not see with the eye. Special sprays can be applied directly to fabrics that will not only remove odors, but help ward off new smells from attaching to the fibers. Many websites now carry earth friendly sprays that are free of harsh chemicals.

Finally, one of the very best things you can do to make your home smell fabulous is to use a fragrance lamp made especially for that purpose. These oil lamps not only add magnificent scent, but they take away odor and purify the air. Fragrance lamps are more expensive than candles and sprays, but they make a huge different in how you live. They also make great gifts for friends and relatives. They are available in beautiful containers of glass, brass, and other materials, and they come in a variety of styles and colors. 


Interested in creating a beautiful and functional space for 2011?  At a loss for how to get started?  Contact Decor by Denise today at 703-714-7343 or email us at [email protected] to learn how easy and affordable it is to get started.    

Introducing Art From Broadway Gallery, Right Here in the Studio!  

Ken Strong
"A Grand Heritage, Monticello" by Ken Strong.

The Decor by Denise studio is proud to announce that we have new art on the walls, courtesy of Broadway Gallery in Alexandria, VA. Last week, Barry Broadway, owner of the gallery, helped us install a new "show" in our studio that will rotate every few months. Barry also helped us out with the art we featured in the powder room of the 2011 DC Design House this spring, and we are so happy to continue working with him! 

Abandoned house
"Abandoned Farmhouse" by Joe Romeo.

We are currently featuring the work of Ken Strong, an Australian-born artist and oil painter. Inspired by Australian landscapes, Strong began painting over 14 years ago and has developed a collection of many Virginia landscapes as well. Our studio features a few of his Italian scenes and one Virginia landscape.   

 

In our stairwell we have photographs by Joe Romeo, who focuses on capturing American landscapes and is known for his meticulous approach to light, composition and detail. If you are interested in seeing the works currently featured by either of these artists, contact Alex Wahl via email or phone, 703-714-7343.  

  
In addition to this rotating art show, we are also working with Barry to bring special design and art-related seminars to our clients this fall.  One of these events will include a professional appraiser who will appraise all your items on the spot. Stay tuned for more information in our upcoming newsletters!
 

 

Broadway Gallery offers all types of art services, from custom framing to appraisals and restoration. Their store also features a large inventory of art and artists who specialize in many different types of art. For more information, contact Broadway Gallery: 5641 B General Washington Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22312, 703-354-2905.   

Follow DreamDesignLive.com For Color and Shopping Advice

Splurge and Save We recently started two new blog series:  one called "The Color of the Month" and the other "Splurge and Save Saturdays." This month we are featuring RED interiors as part of our color series, detail

Red chairs
Learn how to add red into your home the entire month of July with our "Color of the Month" series.

ing everything red that can go into your home. Along with examples of each color in photos, we discuss in detail the psychology behind the color of the month, and discuss the dos and donts, and risks and rewards associated with designing using our current color pick.

 

In our "Splurge and Save Saturdays" series, we feature a splurge item and its less expensive "save" counterpart to help you stretch your design budget.  


Do you have a color you are dying to know more about? What about something you've had your eye on that is just too expensive? We'll try to help you out by including answers to your color and shopping quandaries in our posts! Email [email protected] today to have your question included in our series.
Designer Sample Sale In Progress!
Annie Selke Pillows
These pillows are brand new and made with Annie Selke fabric. Normally $255/pair, we are selling these for only $149/pair.

We have many items that are new and sitting in our studio waiting for their forever home that we are currently selling via Facebook and other online venues.  We will showcase a few items in each of our newsletters going forward, but you can always check out our entire inventory online on Our Facebook Sample Sale Page!  

 

Floral Pillows Perfect for Summer  

Liven up a pair of chairs, a sofa or bed this summer with these gorgeous floral pillows made from Annie Selke fabrics.  

  • Self-welted pillows with zipper closure  
  • High-quality pillow inserts  
  • Dimensions: 18x18 inches   
  • Normally $255/pair, we are selling these for $149/pair, more than $100 off!   
  • Email [email protected] with inquiries!   

Fun and Funky Purple and White Accent Chair   

This purple accent chair is fun and perfect for extra seating in a living room or bedroom. 

  • Retail for this chair is over $1,500. On sale for $695! 
  • Brand new and in perfect condition!  
  • Features a floral print fabric seat with purple leather on the back
  • Email [email protected] with inquiries!     

purple chair 1  

ANNOUNCING OUR SUMMER DISCOUNT

We are now offering a 5% discount on your first purchase and 10% off your second purchase.  Items are going fast, so don't delay if you see something you like!   

 

We will be adding more sales to our Facebook page this summer, so check in with us to get the latest deals by visiting the Decor by Denise Facebook Page

 

If you are interested in any of our sample sale items, please contact Alex Wahl at 703-714-7343 or at [email protected].

Meet Denise Willard of Decor by Denise 
Denise Willard has over a decade of experience transforming the homes of clients in the DC Metro Area. Her work has been showcased on ABC Affiliate, News Channel 8 and in Home & Design, Washington Home & Garden, The Washingtonian, Elan, The Washington Post, JavaTown and From House to Home Magazine. Denise is a regular columnist for Viva Tysons Magazine and is part of the Design Diva team for Ask Miss A, a national lifestyle eMagazine that reaches a growing subscription base of 70,000 visitors each month.

Denise and her team were selected to participate in the 2011 DC Design House Designer Showhouse and are published in Home and Design's 2011 "Top 100 Interior Designers." Denise sits on the board and is President-Elect of the DC Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), is a member of the leadership team for the McLean Business Forum, is an active member of the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Denise specializes in creating simple, but elegant transitional interiors that are reflective of her clients' personalities and lifestyles. The combination of her southern roots and urban lifestyle can be seen in her personal design style, which combines the comfort and hospitality of the south with the flair of the big city. Denise's interior design philosophy is that everyone deserves a beautiful home-no matter how small the interior or how large the budget. Therefore, she welcomes projects of all sizes-from one bedroom condos to large single family homes.

To learn more about Denise and her team, check out her online portfolio at DecorbyDenise.com, visit her weekly blog posts at DreamDesignLive.com or contact her directly at 703-714-7343 or email her at [email protected].
  
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