Debra Bowis's Blog (16)

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Thursday, April 22nd, marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a day dedicated to focusing on and celebrating the natural world around us and our impact on it. You can help the earth in hundreds of small ways that add up…

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We've gotten ready, we've gotten set now we are ready to decorate with the last of our 2010 Decorating Resoutions - 5 & 6.

Resolution 5: I will not be afraid of color. Don't stick with beige or white out of fear. Pick a color scheme you love and on that supports your decorating style and lifestyle. Be sure to keep reading my blog this spring for more tips and a series on color.

Resolution…

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I want 2010 to be filled with decorating successes for you so I've started a new series called Decorating Resolutions. Last week we "got ready" with resolutions 1 & 2 - determining goals and getting rid of clutter. This week we "get set" with resolutions 3 & 4 - setting a budget and a time frame.



Resolution #3: I will set a decorating budget by (set a date) and stick to it. Even if your budget is limited you don't have to limit your decorating ideas - sometimes the less you… Continue

It's the middle of January and many of you probably think it's too late to work on resolutions for 2010 but for most people resolutions are only top of mind for the first 30 days so of the new year and then fade into oblivion because they seem overwhelming or overly ambitious. But I'm here to help with a new series: Decorating Resolutions 101.

For the first few weeks we'll work together on our decorating resolutions and then later we'll go… Continue

Getting your home ready for the holidays doesn't have to be as stressful as we make it neither does it have to break the bank. Here are 5 ways to make your home look like a million dollars the easy way.



1. Appeal to the senses - Nothing says Christmas like the smell of a fresh tree but even if you don't have a tree you can simmer holiday poptpourri to smell. Make up a batch of holiday cookies for taste. Play your favorite holiday music for hearing. Snuggle up with a cozy afgan… Continue

The relationship between an interior decorator and client is a very human one and while not always defined as "friendships" they are often intense and personal. Like a friendship, though, a good working relationship between decorator and client involves a commitment to respect, communication and understanding.

When working with your decorator keep these tips in mind:



You… Continue

When shopping for window treatments, its great to know the basics...

Window treatments are classified as hard treatments or soft treatments.



What is a hard treatment?



Hard treatments are factory-made window treatments: blinds, shades and shutters. Hard treatments are not always hard (roller shades or fabric-slat verticals, for example). New styles of hard… Continue

It's getting closer to the holidays and we are all thinking about decorating our homes to welcome loved ones and nuture ourselves but if you're like most of us, the budget hardly supports seasonal gifts much less holiday decorating. Here are 4 creative resources for decorating (and gift shopping) in this economy to inspire you...

1. Swap-o-rama:

Have you ever eyed an item your neighbor had and wished you could have it? Well,… Continue

As a designer it is my job to follow the trends and what better way to do that than to follow blogs, and, of course, that's one reason we read the WQ Mag blog. For your reading pleasure here's a list of some of my favorite design blogs:



1. DesignSponge - one of the originals and still my favorite.

2. Design Confidential - written by one of… Continue

Everyone wants their home to feel warm and inviting but we also want the room to appear larger. As a rule, I recommend mounting window treatments several inches above the window. For example, say you have an 8' ceiling height and you mount your window treatment under your crown molding or just below the ceiling, not only will the room appear larger but the ceiling height will appear taller as well. Another mistake a homeowner might make would be to add a cornice with a straight bottom and then… Continue

One of my client’s biggest challenges is finding their decorating style. What they don’t know is that while their home may need a facelift, it speaks volumes about their style. Taking a close look not only at your home but at your life preferences will give you clues to your style:



1. Where do you like to shop? Were you first in line when Ikea opened in Tampa or does a flea market make your heart beat fast? Do you collect West Elm catalogs… Continue

The relationship between an interior decorator and client is a very human one and while not always defined as "friendships" they are often intense and personal. Like a friendship, though, a good working relationship between decorator and client involves a commitment to respect, communication and understanding.

When working with your decorator keep these tips in mind:

You absolutely should expect your decorator to have

• The ability to…

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Ahhh...the windows are open and the smell of hibiscus waft through the house. Even in southwest Florida, where most days of the year are balmy and breezy, spring is eagerly awaited. I always look forward to spring, not only for the cool nights and cloudless days, but for the magic in the rebirth of our beautiful world. It is no wonder, then, that springtime is traditionally a time for cleaning out our environments and lightening the look of our homes.



Here are some tips to get you… Continue