A Blast From The Past - Is It Time To Update The Style in Your Desert Home?

Pastels. Teal. Salmon. Santa Fe. Overabundance of Cow Skulls. Puffy Upholstery and Fluffy Valances. These thoughts make me cringe.  But in the late 80's/early 90's, this style was all the rage in the Coachella Valley!  If any of the the above words apply to some of the decor in your home - it may be time to update!

Cruising through the local consignment stores & even thrift stores is one of my favorite things to do.  I love finding "treasures".  Quite often I run across old Southwest style furniture, art and accessories, 80's style artwork & accessories, and it made me wonder how much of it is still out there in homes across the Coachella Valley?  Besides changing your furniture, accessories, and fabrics, here are few tips on bringing your home out of the 80's / 90's and into the present!

1.  Update your color palette!  The most outdated colors from that era are the following: 

Teal, Salmon, Turquoise, Peach, Mauve, Dusky Blues &; Grays, and Light Pastel versions of any of those.  Any one of these by themselves may be fine, but combining them screams 80's!

2.  Get rid of old faux finishes (bad sponge painting, unnatural color combos).

3.  Change out your brass fixtures & chandeliers, which will really date your home.  Satin nickel, chrome, or oil rubbed bronze finishes are now the norm.

 



4.  Get rid of outdated lighting, such as globe light bar bathroom fixtures and old track lighting. These can be replaced inexpensively and will immediately improve your look.

5.   Take out the wall to wall mirrors and glass block!  A large undertaking, but with great benefits.  So many great new options instead of glass block, and though mirrors do make your space seem larger, they also date your house or condo!  There are other ways to maximize your space!

6.  Update that old cabinetry!  If any of these looks below are familiar, time for a change.  Orange Oak, Whitewashed, and Melamine/Laminate finishes are sure signs of the 80's!  Besides completely replacing, there is the option of painting, refacing, and refinishing to keep the budget down.

7.   Flooring:  Get rid of wall to wall carpet!  (especially in the bathroom).  Change out your colors for something neutral.  Get rid of vinyl, or replace with newer, better vinyl.  Replace small ceramic/porcelain tiles for tiles larger than a 12 x 12.  Again, neutral is best when it comes to your floors, both in color, and grout choices.

8.  Oh, and a word about your windows!  Get rid of cheap and tacky looking mini blinds, vertical blinds, or anything puffy and fluffy!  Ornate valances and lots of draping are no longer the norm (unless you are going for a historical or antique chic style), simple is better!

Of course remember, if it is too overwhelming, and you don't know where to begin, hiring a professional Interior Designer is the way to go.  They can quickly and easily let you know what changes will make the biggest impact, and how to get the most bang for your buck.

Location: Palm Desert, CA



An Interior Motive Designs is an Award Winning Interior Design and Remodeling Firm which offers A La Carte Home Improvement Packages as well as Full Service Interior Design for your Home.

We service all cities in the Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Cathedral City, Indio, and Coachella. We also work in the Inland Empire areas of Riverside and Redlands.


We can be contacted at (760) 424-9209 or through our website, www.aninteriormotivedesigns.com

The Benefits of Space Planning!

What exactly is Space Planning?  Space Planning is just what it sounds like - the arrangement of your room or space!  A Space Plan is an actual drawing done to scale of a room with it's furnishings and/or appliances, cabinetry, etc.  Having a good space plan is extremely important when you are renovating or remodeling your existing home, or purchasing or building a new one.

Most people do not have an accurate perception of the size of their space and what will fit in it.  Having a professional interior designer to do your space plan for you can save you potential mistakes.  They will measure your space and your furnishings and draw them to scale.  Scale means the actual proportion of the furniture and your room will stay the same, they will just be drawn smaller on paper to help you get a better visual. If you are going to purchase new furnishings, the appropriate sizes will be used to help you as a shopping guide.  A common mistake is purchasing furniture too large or too small for your space.  Your space plan will tell you what will fit and how.

There are several things that your Interior Designer will consider when setting up the furniture layout of your room.  One of the considerations will be creating a focal point.  Another will be traffic flow in, out of, and around the room.  Views are another consideration, as is what the room will be used for and convenience of the homeowner.  Space Planning is commonly applied to furniture, but can also be applied to your kitchen and bathroom layouts, flooring patterns and layouts, and lighting plans.

The most important stage of any project is the planning stage.  Spend the time to plan your space properly so it functions for you well after the completion.

An Interior Motive Designs offers professional Space Plans, pricing starts at $150 per room.  Please call (760) 424-9209 for more information.

 Location: Palm Desert, CA

An Interior Motive Designs is an Award Winning Interior Design and Remodeling Firm which offers A La Carte Home Improvement Packages as well as Full Service Interior Design for your Home.


We service all cities in the Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Cathedral City, Indio, and Coachella. We also work in the Inland Empire areas of Riverside and Redlands.

We can be contacted at (760) 424-9209 or through our website, www.aninteriormotivedesigns.com

Color Palettes Inspired by the Coachella Valley - Choose Your Paint Colors From Nature!

No matter what city you live in the Coachella Valley, you can find paint color choices in our everyday surroundings . . .you just need to know how and where to look!

Some of the most beautiful things in the world are created by Mother Nature, and there is no shortage of beauty here in the desert.  With camera in hand, I searched the valley for what I thought were the perfect colors to bring into your home.  Whether it is the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains in the horizon, a Smoketree in Palm Springs, an old abandoned Date Palm grove in Rancho Mirage, or a Palo Verde Tree in Indian Wells, here are a few ideas of how you can get your inspiration from nature!

Color Palette One:  Cool Blues and Greens

 These beautiful plants provide the perfect inspiration for a cool neutral palette.  Using this palette or a version of it will create a relaxing and light and airy environment in your home.

Color Palette Two:  Warm Browns and Grey-Browns

This natural & neutral palette was inspired by a Palm Tree in my front yard.  These are wonderful warm colors to start with as a base, then add brighter accent colors for drama.

Color Palette Three:  Golds and Tans

 This palette is inspired by the mountains that surround us, as well as what is left of the natural untouched desert.  These are also good as neutral base colors, though the darker can be used as accent colors as well. 

Color Palette Four:  Sky Blue and Purple Mountain Accents

This palette is pretty self explanatory, the beautiul blue skies and purple mountains provide stunning accent colors, but may be pretty extreme to use as the colors for all of your walls!  Try mixing and matching with the first three palettes to see what combinations you like!

Color Palette Five:  Gorgeous Plant Green Accents!

There is such a rich variety of the color green here in the Valley, I chose some of my favorite to show what accent greens will really pop.  You can mix and match these with the first three palettes as well as the blues.

I hope you have enjoyed my examples and find them useful!

Please remember that if you are still stuck with paint colors, we offer Color Consultations for $300 For Your Whole Home* or $65 per room.  We can help you pick the perfect colors!  Our Color Consultation Includes an in-home consultation, a customized & written color palette for your painter, and paint samples of our selections for you to try.

*Up to 2500 sq. ft., $450 for 2500 sq. ft. and up

Location: Palm Desert, CA

An Interior Motive Designs is an Award Winning Interior Design and Remodeling Firm which offers A La Carte Home Improvement Packages as well as Full Service Interior Design for your Home.

We service all cities in the Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Cathedral City, Indio, and Coachella. We also work in the Inland Empire areas of Riverside and Redlands.

We can be contacted at (760) 424-9209 or through our website, www.aninteriormotivedesigns.com



  

An Interior Motive Designs Announces New Interior Design Packages For The New Year!

***DO IT YOUR SELF A LA CARTE INTERIOR DESIGN PACKAGES

Professional, Detailed Plans & Ideas That YOU Can Follow & Execute!

PROFESSIONAL DESIGN DRAWINGS - $300 per set
Let us do to scale drawings of ideas for the space you are not quite sure what to do with. Do you need a fireplace design? A tile backsplash design? An idea for a built-in? Window treatments? A media cabinet?
Package Includes: A one hour consultation and a set of two different elevation drawings/ideas for your space. The rest is up to you!

COLOR CONSULTATION - $300 For Your Whole Home* or $65 per room
We will pick the perfect colors together!
Package Includes: An in-home consultation, customized & written color palette for your painter and paint samples of our selections for you to try.
*Up to 2500 sq. ft., $450 for 2500 sq. ft. and up

DIY PER ROOM PACKAGE - $650.00 per space (excludes Kitchens and Bathrooms)
Let us help you do it yourself!
Package includes: A one hour interior design consultation in your home for the space of your choice (i.e., Living Room, Great Room, Bedroom). We will in turn do a job site measure and create a floor plan of your space with all appropriate measurements, a space/furniture plan if needed, as well as elevation drawings of the interior space, and a presentation board showing a general color palette, options for material selections, and finishes. We also include a written report which describes in detail what is to be achieved in your room. The rest is up to you!

DIY BATHROOM PACKAGE - $850.00
Package includes: A two hour interior design consultation in your home with a basic bathroom design survey. We will in turn do a job site measure and create a floor plan of your space with all appropriate measurements, as well as concept elevation drawings of the interior space, and a presentation board showing a general color palette, options for plumbing, cabinetry, and material selections and finishes. We also include the results of your survey in a written report which describes in detail what is to be achieved in your room. The rest is up to you! 

DIY KITCHEN PACKAGE - $1250.00
Package Includes: A two hour interior design consultation in your home with a basic kitchen design survey. We will in turn do a job site measure and create a concept floor plan of your space with all appropriate measurements, as well as concept elevation drawings of the interior space, and a presentation board showing a general color palette, options for cabinetry, appliances, and initial material selections and finishes. We also include the results of your survey in a written report which describes in detail what is to be achieved in your room. The rest is up to you!


******FULL SERVICE DESIGN PACKAGES
We can and will do it all for you, all of the design, all of the project management, all of the legwork!
All Full Service Packages are quoted with a flat Design Fee, and a Cost plus 15% basis on all purchases we make together. All Full Service Design Projects are quoted individually per project.

Location: Palm Desert, CA

An Interior Motive Designs is an Award Winning Interior Design and Remodeling Firm which offers A La Carte Home Improvement Packages as well as Full Service Interior Design for your Home.

We service all cities in the Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Cathedral City, Indio, and Coachella. We also work in the Inland Empire areas of Riverside and Redlands.

We can be contacted at (760) 424-9209 or through our website, www.aninteriormotivedesigns.com

New Year's Decor Resolutions for Your Home

New Year's decor resolutions for the home

This is a great article for those of you looking to do some updates for the new year!

A New Trend In Flooring - Wood Look Porcelain Tile

Like most of my clients, I have an "other half" that I have to consult with when I want to make design changes to my home. The fact that I am an interior designer does not really phase my husband. So when we decided to rip out the carpet in our living room, and replace it and the flooring in our kitchen, we had to find something that would make us both happy.

My husband really wanted to do wood flooring, but all I could think of is how high maintenance it would be, and the issues that wood flooring can have in the desert. With three kids, two dogs, and a cat . . . I could imagine scratches, scuffs, water marks, the list goes on and on! I love the look of wood flooring, but did not want the work!

It was then that I remembered being out and about looking at tile for clients, and seeing "wood look" porcelain tiles. I thought it was a cool concept at the time, and filed it away in my mind for later use. I mentioned it to my husband, who had never heard of it. I took a trip down to my favorite local tile store for samples, and found the perfect one.

Wood look porcelain tiles can be surprisingly affordable and beautiful. They come in many shapes and sizes, varying from long planks just like wood, to large squares. It uses the same concept as "stone look" porcelain or ceramic tile, which has the pattern screen printed or printed on, to look like travertine, or slate, etc. Some companies make them a more smooth, uniform texture, others make them more rustic, with a texture exactly like wood. They all have the graining and shading that you would find in wood planks.

The nice thing about porcelain is that since it is a form of ceramic but fired at much higher temperatures, it is very dense, moisture resistant, and can stand the test of time. It does not scratch or chip easily, and can even be used outdoors (check with your tile store & installer first to make sure). Very child, pet, and husband friendly. You can find it easily in many tile stores that carry a variety of tiles.

Wood look porcelain is not the least expensive tile, but I think we paid under $2.50 per square foot for it, which is very fair. The more texture and detail you require, the higher the price will be. It comes in every color that wood does (as well as some that wood does not!), and in many different brands, from the very high end to imported tile from China. You can install it with a grout line, or with virtually no grout line, depending on the type. This tile can be used for almost every style, from contemporary to rustic log cabin. We are very happy with it in our home, and everyone who comes over loves it as well. I highly recommend wood look porcelain for a low maintenance, high style look.

An Interior Motive Designs, Palm Desert CA

www.aninteriormotivedesigns.com

Where Do I Begin? Why Would I Hire an Interior Designer?

As a professional Interior Designer, I often run across people who will tell me "I just don't know where to begin!". When you don't know where to begin, start at the beginning! If you are looking to remodel, refurbish, renovate, or decorate, hiring someone organized, efficient and creative can save you time, money, and headaches. Start with a designer!

Interior Design (and designers) can be intimidating. A common misconception is that we are expensive, snobby, and will look down on you and your home (not to mention - dare I say - nickel and dime you to death!). This is not true! In this article, I hope to chip away at some of these fallacies and show you my opinion on the benefits of hiring a professional.

Interior Designers are usually formally educated, meaning they have been to design school and understand drafting, space planning, color theory, furniture, styles, building codes, and much more. They will know where to start, where to end, and where to get the answers if they do not have them themselves. They will listen to you, absorb your desired style, and make it their own. They will get to know your likes and dislikes, your family, and your home, as well as their own.

A designer can save you time by doing your planning and coordinating for you, and with you. Think of them as a your project manager, overseeing the design of your home. They will bring items to you, saving you from having to spend hours looking. They will gather bids from subcontractors for you, and create a budget. They can also coordinate with your architect, builder, or contractor. They will shop with you if you would like, or for you. They will bring you fabrics. They will pick the right colors for your approval. We do the legwork and allow you to sit back and relax.

So how can a designer save you money? The first thing that pops into my head is that your time is money! However most of us want something a little more tangible, especially in our pockets. One way Designers can save you money by is helping you avoid expensive mistakes. We usually have sources and contacts we have used before and can direct you towards the right people. We have a sense of how much things should cost. We will also search for the best deals for you as well as the best quality (cheap is not always good if it falls apart in 6 months)! Designers often get special discounts that the public does not and can pass this along to you.

And of course, headaches! Doing any kind of work in your home will always be a little bit of a headache! But having someone working as an advocate for you and your home, the go between and go to person, will be worth it's weight in gold.


What it all comes down to is finding someone that you feel comfortable with, that works well with others, and is working their very hardest for YOU. If you have a project, and you don't know where to begin, consider beginning with a designer!

An Interior Motive Designs - Palm Desert, CA
http://www.aninteriormotivedesigns.com/