Save the Best for Last...

In my haste to promote ourselves and our website, I really left out one of the most important people in the Inhabit Design world. Dave Soto, of HTMLFX.com, is our master web designer extraordinaire. In addition to being Heather's fabulous husband, he helps with all of our graphic arts needs and created and recreated our amazing website. What that really means is we have unrealistic demands with a moment's notice and he always makes it happen for us.

Dave - we love you and appreciate all you do for us - ALWAYS - and we would not be where we are today if it weren't for you. We bow to you and your immense talent.

Much love - H & M

Dave, our superhero Strongbad web designer

It's a nice day for a ......

This is a custom dress made by JoanShum on Etsy.com

New things are on the horizon for Inhabit Design. We would like to introduce you to our latest and greatest offering: an interior design bridal registry. How does it work, you say? I'm glad you asked.

First step: Get engaged.

Second step: Call Inhabit Design.

Third Step: Tell all of your guests to put down that punch bowl/picnic basket/chip and dip tray, etc. and LISTEN UP! How about giving the unique gift of design instead?

We have three basic packages, or we can customize a package depending on your needs. We are experts at combining two households and can even help you with your registry! Your guests can find you on our website and can help you put together the home of your dreams. For both of you.

New and Improved

This post is entirely devoted to self promotion, so continue reading at your own risk. We have recently updated our website with some photos of projects that we completed in the last six months. All of the gorgeous photography is courtesy of my uber-talented sister, Kelley Simpson of Kelley Simpson Photography. Please look at her gorgeous portfolio - I may be biased, but I know good art when I see it!

So, please peruse the new additions to our portfolio and then hire us! Or, just tell us how much you love us. And follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Love, Exciting and New...

When it comes to design, that is. At least on HGTV and I, for one, am relieved. Because HGTV really pisses me off. The things that happen on the shows on HGTV are not realistic and they give people the impression that designers can do it all for under $500 and in 24 hours. I mean, Inhabit Design is GOOD, but we are not miracle workers for Pete's sake. But I digress. This is not about me, this is about Antonio.

Antonio Ballatore is the designer that won last season on HGTV's Design Star. I was impressed that someone with originality and a fresh point of view actually won on a show like this. That never happens. Here are some pictures of his spaces on the show:

images courtesy of hgtv.com

Here is an image from the makeover he did on his own home:

There aren't many photos of his work to show, but he has a new show called the Antonio Project. The videos on the link show some of his work and the best part - his personality. It's such a refreshing change from the normal drudgery on that channel. As always, check it out!

Let There Be Light

This week I am helping my oldest sister out in Portland, OR. She had surgery so I get to be her nurse for a week and I am having a great time. Really. She has started calling me Baby Jane, though I have no idea why. I have only abused her and ignored her minimally. Oh, and used her prescription medication money for lotsa snacks at Target. What is so wrong about that?

The cage that I keep her in is much fancier than this.

Instead of getting my sister more flowers to help with her recovery, I found a really cheesy fiber optic Christmas tree at Target that was PERFECT!

My sister fell in LOVE with this stupid little tree. I mean, it was 5 bucks and has fiber optic branches. She wouldn't stop telling everyone who called her about this great tree I had given her. I was making fun of her, telling her that she had taken one too many Percocets, but she explained that the light changing color was very soothing. Later that night, we turned off all of the lights so she could prove to me how soothing it was. And once I started watching it, I realized that she was right! So in this roundabout way, I wanted to discuss Chromatherapy with you.

Chromatherapy is generally defined as using light to promote relaxation. For designers, we have the opportunity to introduce this relatively unknown concept to our clients - especially in the bathroom. Kohler has some amazing products that utilize this concept. Check it out:

image courtesy of Kohler.com

image courtesy of kohler.com

It is said that Chromatherapy can be used to treat sleeping disorders, can reduce stress and promote relaxation.

You can even get sinks that employ the Chromatherapy theory

image courtesy of www.trendir.com

For an easy dose of chromatherapy in your home, you can always get the $5 Target fiber optic tree, or what about this faucet? It's only $19 and a great party trick:

Or, at Gizmodo.com, you can get a stick-on bath light - kind of similar to a pool light - and have a $20 version of the Kohler bathtub in your own home. Look!

This must be why everyone loves fireworks and Christmas lights so much - it's therapy!

OOOOhhhhhh

AAAAAAAhhhhhh

You're welcome for all of that free therapy. Now I've got to get back to torturing my sister and shove prunes down her throat. Yippee!!!!!!

Mwah mwah mwah......

Oh no you di-in't!!!

So let's have a little chat about bathroom mats. These are NOT o.k. It's time to let them go. I understand wanting to feel something soft underfoot, but what about when strangers come into your home? And step on them with their dirty shoes? What about when...well, ahem..when a male uses the facilities and has aiming problems? These little mats are outdated and harbor germs and just gotta go.

The only thing that is o.k. is a white bath mat. Hang it over the tub (white, so that it blends in) and throw it down before you are ready to step on it. It's much cleaner, tidier and a more modern approach to traditional bathroom rugs.

Just say no to the fuzzy carpeted ones. Try these:

These lovely little ladies are from Restoration Hardware

West Elm has some lovely WHITE ones, don't be tempted by that baby blue

This one, from Vita Futura works as well

Please, for me, don't do this:

or this:

And this is never ok:

My eyes are burning right now from these hideous pictures. Take this info and run with it, don't be offended, just get updated! Trust me, people have wanted to tell you this before, but didn't want to offend you.

The Beauty is in the Details

This weekend I finally got around to doing one or two things that have been on my to do list for what seems like FOREVER. One of those things was ordering a new bedskirt for my bed. I previously had a cheapo version from Target that I dyed a custom color to match some of the fabrics in our bedroom. I definitely got what I paid for and once I ripped the carpet out of our bedroom, the bedskirt really looked like a bad pair of flood pants!

Cut to today when I put the new and improved version of my bedskirt on the bed, with the help of my husband. As soon as he saw it, he remarked that I was definitely going to like the old one better. "WHAT?" I yelled incredulously, "THAT PIECE OF CRAP?" while the mattress was precariously balanced on my head as I draped the new bedskirt onto the box spring. He then made some comment about a dark brown bedskirt with blonde dog and cat hairs all over it. And at that moment, the mattress dropped, the new skirt was on and beautiful and...ALREADY COVERED IN BLONDE ANIMAL HAIR!!!!!

Why does my husband have to tell me these things? I am an INTERIOR DESIGNER, for Pete's sake! I should know all and above everything else, I should definitely think of these things for myself, (the perfect client) right? Wrong. It's like everything else, the shoemaker's children with no shoes, blah blah blah.

So the point of this blog is this: The details are EVERYTHING. Many of you don't have an interior designer, but you have me to tell you; think about these things before you make your home interior purchases.

Do you have pets with black hair? You might want to re-think that white rug/carpet/light colored wood flooring.

Does your baby like to spit up or drool on every available surface? Then make all of those surfaces easy to clean. Crypton, Ultra-Suede and Scotchgard are your friends, my friend.

Do you love those gorgeous mirrored furniture pieces that are everywhere these days?

Think twice or even three times, before purchasing these pieces. The fingerprints are irritating and everywhere. If you do choose one of these pieces, make it something that is more of a decorative piece and out of the way. Not your cocktail table. Unless you have someone cleaning for you - then you can have 25 mirrored pieces! Who cares!?!

Do you love dark brown furniture and wood finishes? Las Vegas is a very dusty area. I bought ebony stained furniture for my master bedroom and between the pet hair and Las Vegas dust and construction residue, I have to dust 3-4 times PER WEEK! Perhaps more of a walnut toned furniture piece will work a bit better for you.

Modern chrome faucets are amazing

but if people are actually using them and touching them all the time, the fingerprint issue is out of control. Sorry, I know I'm totally Debbie Downer at this point, but you will thank me in the long run.

We don't want to be slaves to our interiors. Our homes need to be a place where we are comforted and can relax. Not where we look around and are irritated or dismayed by the wear and tear of everything around us. Do yourself a favor and be somewhat practical when making your interior purchases.