Fall for Outdoor Entertaining This Autumn

Aaaah, autumn! It's the perfect time to entertain outdoors -- most of
the bugs are gone, the sun isn't scorching even though it's warm
enough to enjoy an afternoon or evening al fresco, and there's a
bounty of good things to serve for an outdoor meal.

Because the days are shorter in the autumn, outdoor entertaining in
the fall calls for special attention to lighting and temperature.

Lighting

The earlier sunset will afford you an ideal opportunity to bathe your
outdoor space in evening lights. Use soft light, but use plenty of it.
Try dozens of votive candles in jars and glasses to protect the flame
from the wind, hurricane lamps, or kerosene lanterns set on low.
Create cozy seating areas and equip each with a glowing light source.

Heating

The method you'll use to chase the chill from the night will vary
depending on your climate and your outdoor space. If you have a yard
(and community by-laws allow), a campfire is a wonderful informal
party setting. In smaller gardens, consider self-contained fire pits
or a chimenea.

For a more formal affair, you can install a propane-powered heater.
These units are available in a range of heating powers and prices. Or,
drape attractive throws or quilts on each chair for your guests to
wrap around their shoulders to ward off the night air.

Of course, you'll want to take advantage of the wonderful colors and
textures of autumn in your decorating scheme and table settings.

Color

Autumn's colors are deep and rich -- russet, crimson, burnt orange,
gold, dark green, and the color of hay. Use these hues repeatedly in
tablecloths and settings, flowers, centerpieces, and even the food.
Scoop out pumpkins and other squash and fit them with containers of
water to make vases. Mass potted mums in vivid colors. Use orange
Chinese lanterns, bright rosehips, stems of red or orange berries, or
chilies. Wrap vibrant maple or sumac leaves around votive
candleholders or napkin rings. Sunflower heads can be strewn on the
tabletop, or left on the flower stalks in a container.

Texture

The textures of fall are earthy and rustic. Especially play these up
if your gathering is informal -- a corn roast, a bonfire, a jeans and
sweater evening. Use burlap or rough cotton to cover your buffet
table, and dish towels as napkins. Weigh down your tablecloth with
apples or pears hung on rough twine. Or use rattan placemats and
wicker baskets. Terracotta pot saucers make great paper plate holders.

If you're hosting a fancy sit-down outdoor dinner, use the subtler
textures of hydrangea blossoms and colored leaves on a linen
tablecloth. Try bringing your indoor dining table outdoors for the
evening-it will add unexpected elegance to your setting. Paint gold
lettering on small gourds to use as place cards. Grace your table with
late-blooming roses in crystal vases.

Whether you hold a harvest hoedown or a stylish sit-down dinner party
for eight, fall for outside entertaining this autumn!

http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/outdoorentertaining.html

The Magic of Design

There was a time people thought the world was flat. At another point
in history it was believed that women didn't have the know-how to run
a business or change a tire. Then there was the one about man not
being able to fly. Over time all of these fairytales have proven
untrue.

So it is with interior design. Until recently, many people held the
belief that having their home decorated by an interior designer was
reserved for the rich and famous. Nothing could be further from the
truth.

Fact is, many people of average income who live in a middleclass
neighborhood are frequently surprised to learn they can easily afford
the services of an interior designer. In other cases, many folks
prefer to learn tips about design so they have the flexibility to
redo a room on a whim. Either way, you have more choices today then
ever before.

It is not uncommon to completely redo a room for a one time social
event such as a birthday celebration, a graduation or a wedding. With
some simple tips, even the most inexperienced person can easily
spruce up a room.

Before you begin, think about the style you are interested in. Is it
art deco, traditional, Mediterranean, western, modern, or
contemporary? These are only a few of the multitude of choices you
have. Think through how functional the room will be with what you
have in mind. Avoid rugs and chairs that stain easily if there will
be a lot of traffic in the room.

Be very careful to scale your furniture to the size of the room. If
you have a very large space you can break up the area into little
sitting groups or area groups. You can easily shift the "feel" of a
room with the use of lighting and/or plants. Area rugs are another
tool many designers use to break up large spaces. A variety of paint
colors and wall textures can make even the most mundane room come to
life.

Small space decorating is fast becoming a favorite topic for many
people as real estate prices rise. Think priorities when it comes to
small spaces. Do you need to use an area of the room for more than
one reason? In some cases you can easily convert the kitchen table to
your workspace provided you have cabinet space handy for supplies. A
chest of drawers can easily serve this purpose by holding office
supplies, linens, or even computer components.

If you are considering utilizing the services of a designer, do your
homework. Check their portfolio and references. Find out how they are
to work with, did they deliver on time, were they easy to work with
and did they listen to the homeowner. If you get an affirmative
answer on all of these and their fees are suitable to your budget,
then take the leap. Often, interior designs services are provided at
no additional cost to you, and will give you the extra edge you need
to create exactly the feeling you want for your home.

A great designer can make recommendations you may not have thought
of. Ultimately, their goal is for you to be ecstatic with what you
were able to accomplish together. After all, you are the one that has
to live in the space long after the designer has done their magic.

http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/cozyhome.html

Using Color Tricks in Home Décor

Just as a painter uses color to fool the eye and to create mood
in fine art, so the designer can use color to fool the eye in
home décor. Here are a few tips for the creative DIY designer
(that's YOU!) dealing with problem spaces.

1. Long or large room. Try painting a warm color on one wall in
a predominately white room. The warm wall will appear to
advance, making the room seem smaller or shorter.

2. Short room. Paint one wall a cool color, while leaving the
rest of the walls warm. The cool wall will appear to draw
back, making the room seem longer.

3. High ceilings. If you want a more intimate feel in a room
with high ceilings, paint the ceiling a darker color. You
can also lower it further by painting the top part of the
wall (say, 12" or so) with the same ceiling color.

4. Low ceilings. If you want to make the ceilings appear higher,
paint the ceiling a light color and bring the wall color 6'
or so onto the ceiling.

5. Another trick for making the walls appear higher is to paint
the baseboards the same color as the walls. This makes the
room appear taller (just like in fashion!)

Get the picture? Warm = advancing. Cool = receding. Easy!
Hmmmm... do you think that something cool would help my
advancing weight? Ice cream is cool, right? That's it! I'm
off to fool my eye into thinking I am slim! Tom and Jerry,
here I come!

http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com/colortricks.html