Simple Solutions

          DESIGN BASICS SERIES

Moderation & Balance - Designing interior spaces need not need to be a daunting task reserved for professionals only.  With a simple understanding of a few design basics, anyone can transform dull boring rooms into meaningful spaces that encourage and excite.  Hear are a few fundamentals to ensure that your next space is a properly executed marriage of form and function.

Furniture Function & Style - Choosing furniture for an interior space can be a difficult decision.  Many factors beyond Function & Style should be considered.  This article explores these factors and the reasons they exist.

The Power Of Color - So much of good design depends on color.  But how can we harness the power of color effectively?  What effects do colors have on people within spaces?  Read on to dive into a little psychological study of colors within interior spaces.

          DESIGN STYLES SERIES

Contemporary Style - Contemporary style seems to be an elusive ever changing design style. Perhaps because by definition contemporary refers to what is current and happening now. With so many trends how do you find current and up to date without being faddish or short-lived? Setting some basic guidelines is a useful way to get a handle on contemporary style.

Cottage Style - Defining a style is a tall order to fill. For each person a slightly different mental image may be conjured up.  In this first article of the Design Style Series, I will be exploring Cottage Style. When talking of cottage style, one might picture a quaint little house on the coast of Maine, a rustic shack by a lake, or a simple dwelling in a rural farming community.

Modern Style - Modern Style can be confusing to many, not only because it is notoriously ambiguous, but it also defies its very name. "Modern", in the way that most people think of it, means "of present times" or "up to date", but in fact Modern design is rooted in social and economic ideals that began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Retro Style - Though Retro design encompasses several decades and many different design details, a unifying theme of optimism and experimentation is seen throughout. Retro design includes everything from a Fifties diner with black and white checkered floors and cherry red vinyl booths, a mint green kitchen with matching accessories, a sleek space age living room, and  "Rat Pack" era lounge. These examples share a common attitude of hope and enthusiasm.

Traditional Style - Not so very long ago, Traditional style conjured up visions of grandmother's house, with pristine carpets and impossibly uncomfortable furniture. I am happy to say that is no longer the case. Traditional style now is more pared down and clean lined than ever before.

Transitional Style - The importance of comfort and relaxation in our homes has been growing at the same fast pace as our hectic busy lives. Transitional design is at the forefront of that idea. It takes the stuffy attitude out of traditional style and the cold feeling from contemporary style and melds it into an elegant, updated, classic, yet casual space. It allows for a little bit of eclecticism - you can pick and choose the elements you like, and mix them together.

          PONDS & POND MAINTENANCE

The Simplicity Of Pond Maintenance - Believe it or not, a well-constructed pond should take less maintenance than a lawn that is aerated, fertilized & mowed with any semblance of consistency. Why?

Designing Garden Ponds - The design of ponds, or garden ponds as they are often called, can seem a little bit daunting at first. A myriad of questions can arise that may confuse or discourage a homeowner from even beginning the project. How big should the pond be? Should it be a garden pond, a koi pond or a swimming pond? Can I implement the features I want? Even though the "pros" would like you to think the answers to these and other questions are worth paying them hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars, I am here to tell you that life is not that hard.