A client of ours once compared her need for a designer to her need for a morning trip to Starbucks-good design is just as addicting. Get your dose of design inspiration for 2010 here on our blog by adding us to the blogs you read, daily.
Check back next week to see our revealing of our first ever giveaway! You don’t want to miss your opportunity.
Here’s how to subscribe to the Design Lines Blog:
1. Click on the “subscribe via email” button which is located above the search box
2. By clicking on this button, you will be directed to a feedburner page where you enter an email address.
3. Hit the “complete subscription request” button.
Earlier this fall, Design Lines was asked by Triangle Blvd and Howard, Perry & Walston to give some simple design tips on how to spruce up your house for the big sale. Molly and Lauren made their debut as tip experts!
To see more videos head to Triangle Blvd.tv and click on the real estate channel. Below you will find the list of tips given by Molly and Lauren.
Tip 1. Organize, Organize, Organize People want to walk into a space that is clean, uncluttered, and organized. You can get there by:
· Take a serious look at your closets, especially your master closet, linen and pantry closets.
·Organize, get rid of things you haven’t used or never will, add a closet system (easyclosets.com or the local home improvement store)
· Clean the garage so it looks like cars will actually fit. Organize the tools, bikes, toys, garden equipment and golf clubs. Perimeter storage would go a long way in helping to sell the house. Be sure the walls and garage floor are clean.
· Organize the kid-roomclutter. Put the toys away and neatly display collections.
Tip 2. Lighting is key Whether natural or artificial, providing pleasing light levels for each room is key.
· Be sure to have the right wattage in all fixtures and lamps, install dimmers on key important fixtures. Check for missing bulbs.
· Remove dark or heavy window treatments…simple blinds are sometimes better than cumbersome drapery.
· Update table and floor lamps with new shades.
Tip 3. Paint and Finishes Nothing creates an emotive reaction more than color. You want that reaction to be positive. Here is how:
· Neutralize and lighten your wall colors. Some favorites or ours are SW Accessible Beige and BM Natural Cream, Pale Oak and Tapestry Beige.
· Remove dated wallpaper and borders…borders tend to make a ceiling look lower and they are outdated.
· The exterior is as important and the interior. Check your front door…could it look good painted a bright color maybe red? Or does black seem to be just the right color. One we use is SW Tri-Corn Black. This may lead to a face lift on the shutters too.
· New exterior light fixtures and visible house numbers will also add to the curb appeal of your home.
· You can update that shinny brass dining room fixture with a can of black spray paint! Desirable (sellable) finishes are: satin or patina brass, bronze, and silver tones.
· Another easy finish update is cabinet hardware. Be aware of the plumbing finishes if you are not changing those but new cabinet hardware can give your whole kitchen or bath a face life.
It is official, the Design Lines blog has moved! You can find us by clicking here or by going to the Design Lines website and clicking on the BLOG tab.
Don’t forget to add us to your blogroll favorites, so you can keep up with all the events, current projects, and designer inspirations happening at Design Lines.
Along with the other nation’s top interior designers within the Best Practices Network(BPN), Design Lines is pleased to announce the launch of the theBPN.org website.
The BPN is an exclusive membership organization for interior design professionals to gain up-to-the-minute knowledge on business management and technology practices. The goal of this website is “to educate the general public as to why it is essential to evaluate the business skills of an interior designer–and not just his or her portfolio–before making an investment.” With at least a 1,000 interior designers within the state of North Carolina there are exactly 6 designers who belong to the BPN and it is through this membership that understanding the latest business strategies only enables the Design Lines team to serve our clients better. That’s you!
It is with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement that we share this website with you! Do you think your investment of hiring a designer was worth it? We would love to hear your thoughts!
Click here to see the complete press release by David Sheppard, the BPN Executive Director.
Last Friday we said goodbye to Stephanie. For four and a half years she has been a valuable part of Design Lines…lending her eye for perfect proportions, expertise in computer drawing, love of anything natural and her attention to details to her projects and our team.
She came to Design Lines in winter of 2005 as an intern and it did not take her long to become an indispensible member of our team. She learned the business of design quickly and endeared herself to clients and vendors.
She leaves Design Lines to pursue personal goals… a move to Charlotte may be in her future. She will be missed.
More than likely if you have come to this page on our blog, you have navigated through our new website!
Innovation meets Sophistication.
Our goal was to create a place where you can learn all about who we are and what we do.
Here are some of new features we have added just for you:
-Press section for you to see what Design Lines is doing on a local, state and national level -New custom-built flash portfolio gallery -Links to social media so you can follow us via Linkedin and YouTube -Video produced by Triangle Blvd giving you a snapshot of our firm -Interactive biography section -User friendly navigation throughout the site
So, I say explore the site and as always jot us a note on the contact page. Your thoughts are important to us!
Our hats go off to BGMCG for all their efforts and hard work.
Brittany, Lauren, and I spent some time at the Business After Hours Raleigh Chamber Event this past Thursday, which was hosted by The Plaza Condominiums in downtown Raleigh. These condominiums are a part of the RBC Centura building.
The tours of the 1,2 & 3 bedroom models were terrific. The spaces are a splash of modern sophistication that our downtown skyline has been anticipating for a long time.
Tyler Helikson and John Mason from Triangle Blvd were on set today at Design Lines studio filming a new promotional video.
Our goal for this project is to not only give you an inside look into what Design Lines does on a daily basis but give you a sense of how we create the place our clients call home.
Be sure to check out their website to see all the coolest places in Raleigh!
( Image: Corbis.com)
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