by Elizabeth Ribons

Bria’s room needed to be updated.  She was tired of the mint green walls, pale bedspread and overcrowded space. She wanted something more stylish.

Her mom didn’t want to spend very much money but was open to suggestion on creating a new room. The way I always start a new project is to get information on how the room is used, likes/dislikes and budget.

INFO:

1. Bria’s desk and wardrobe are white melamine from Ikea – she had to keep those
2. her bed was low and had a low modern simple white headboard
3. her tv components were on the floor
4. She wanted more style and I looked in her closet at some of her clothes.  She had some nice purses and shoes in smokey colors and blacks, as well as bright colors.  She said she loves both
5. Her Shitzu always sleeps on her bed.
6. The room was not very large and she needed to keep it organized.
7. She needed better lighting.  She just had an inexpensive ceiling fixture that was bright and ugly.

HERE IS WHAT I SUGGESTED:

• Paint the room a warm cream tone in eggshell finish

• Paint one wall (the wall her headboard is against) in platinum metallic from Benjamin Moore Paints.

• Keep the Ikea furniture – couldn’t change it anyway so we worked with it
• Her small flat panel was on the wall in the corner of the room.  There wasn’t much space there but she needed to put her components on something and store books.  It was a small corner.  So I suggested this Spine bookcase from http://www.westelm.com/  in white.

• Since her dog sleeps on the bed – solid colors, light colors and velvets/corduroys where out of the question.  I recommended this Waverly damask design bedding from Target. http://www.target.com/  Her mom liked that it was easily washable and dog hair didn’t show as easily on it.

• I showed them bright colored pillows from Crate and Barrel to add to the bed. http://www.crateandbarrel.com/

• To add flair and style to the room I suggested that their money would be well spent on the Ghost Louis chair from http://www.designwithinreach.com/ This clear acrylic chair has so much style and doesn’t overwhelm the space.

• To add a personalized touch to the room, I suggested they order a picture of Bria in pop art print from http://www.photopopart.com/  and hang it on the platinum wall behind her bed.

• Last, I told them to check a nearby thrift shop where I had recently found a retro swag light fixture that had a great funky chic look.  I recommended that they hang it from the  ceiling where the old fixture had been.  They could then swag the chain so that the light hung next to her bed.  It was a bit oversized but would balance out the metallic wall and pop art. The crystals add shine and I would change the trim out for matching cream or black.

• Try something fun and fresh like this in your room.  Get a pop art print of yourself or your pet done  Or…..check out these fun lamps on the web and add them to Ur Space.
  

In the Eye of the Beholder....

Beauty is all around us. Even when we think there is no value to something, someone can find a way to make it beautiful, useful and communicate a part of themselves through it. The object then has a history of its own - transformed in different ways and contributing to this world.

This drum became a trash can to help keep the beach clean, then someone saw it as a canvas for their art and in turn inspired me to write this blog. It is almost "paying it forward" in a way. Continuing to use what we already have and mix it with our essence to create something totally new.

Junk and unwanted items should be looked at again. Can it not be recycled in some way? Can the item be repurposed into something useful or a beautiful thing to enjoy? Or can it's parts be used again so that something else can continue to enhance life in some way? I call this a dzyn MashUp.

Taking something that is considered useless or unwanted and transforming it into something useful or beautiful or both. I enjoy taking "junk" and redesigning or reusing it to create something totally new and unexpected. The item inspires me to challenge myself and use what is already available, transforming it into something new.

Creating dzyn MashUps out of something that was once considered useless, is empowering. How about people? No one is useless. No one's life is junk. Perhaps applying these same principles to our lives could be enlightening for all of us. No positive effort is junk. Take what seems to be junk in your life, find what is beautiful and useable in it and create something that can contribute to humankind.

All of us have traits that are useful, but maybe we haven't considered combining them with what we had considered useless? Life throws us many surprises and things don't always go as planned. Plans are just that. Plans. Be open to the possibilities - be open to the MashUp in your life and in turn inspire others to do the same.

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t. 818-591-2091

22287 Mulholland Hwy. #213
Calabasas, CA 91302

 By Roylin Downs, Real Estate Living Weekly

Whitman Architectural Design has a reputation for creating innovative designs; integrating architecture with nature. Its latest creation; the Massey and Coleman Residence, is a green and fire-resistant home, utilizing cutting edge technologies in green building design and construction methods. Green element features of the home include – “perform wall” a super insulated foam block made of recycled Styrofoam and concrete which is fire, mold and sound resistant; solar electric PV panels, solar hot water heater, cool roof system, velux skylights and a radiant floor heating system. “We’re hoping that the green design trend will catch on, said Marc Whitman, principal architect with Whitman Architectural Design. “This project has doubled the minimum point requirements receiving well over 100 points using the “green point” rating system administered by Dave Intner, a green building expert; and is being featured by Southern California Gas Company in their Advanced Home Program.” “Many people have a misconception that building green is expensive, green building designs can be very competitive in pricing when you consider energy costs, health costs, and environmental costs, there is a life cycle cost savings that most people don’t consider the total saving over a life time are immeasurable.” said Whitman. The Massey and Coleman residence is still under construction. Last month an Open House was held which gave people the opportunity to see the “guts” of the green elements during the Open House. In addition to the Perform Wall other green elements were on display from many of the vendors associated with the project, they include: Wade Vernon-Perform Wall Systems, Lawrence Construction-Perform Wall Contractor, California Solar Electric-PV Panels, California Door and Hardware, G.M. Weeks Roofing-Cool Roof System, Velux Skylights-Sun Tunnels, Alco Plumbing-Radiant Floor Heating System, Steve Lott-Southern California Gas Company Advanced Home Program, American Eco Services-Blown in Cellulose Insulation and Teresa Stark-Interior Design.

For more information about this home, or building green, please
call Marc Whitman, Whitman Architectural Design, at 805-646-8485 or visit www.whitman-architectural.com.

Enter to win a $50.00 Lowes gift card.
It’s simple and easy We are looking for your best ideas to share with our readers. Have you made a small change to a room, window or wall that haschanged the look and feel of the room? Have you re-designed a room on a shoestring or done something extraordinary in the back yard, front yard,bathroom or kitchen that you are proud of? Then it’s time to share your ideas with others who are creative and enjoy working on their home. Entries will be judged on appearance, function, and cost-effective use
of materials. Must include a before and after photo in 4-color, 300dpi accompanied by a 50 word description. Judging will be done by the Publisher
of Real Estate and Living and the winner will be notified by phone. The project will appear in an upcoming issue of Real Estate and Living magazine. Send entries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Design with Ease: How to Make Choosing Paint Color Fun & Fearless.

Denise Szabo, Founder & President, Pacific Interior Design Group 

You know, selecting and buying paint color is the number one interior design element that for some reason terrifies a client. Perhaps it’s the overwhelming number of selections and choices. Maybe it’s actually making a decision on a color you have to live with. It could be the fact that many interior design clients really have no idea what colors moves them. And so, when they get inside a paint store they are lost!               

Many interior design clients are surprised to find out that paint is actually one of the most budget friendly changes that can be done in any interior design project.  It is ease on your pocket book and can instantly change the look of a space without changing the furniture.                

One of the first things I do when interviewing a client is find out what kind of colors they like and dislike. Most clients haven’t taken the time to think seriously about the subject. So, they are surprised to realize that inspiration for color comes from many sources. You can find inspiring colors literally everywhere!

They can be in fabric swatches…

Photos and magazines, restaurants, dishes and glassware…..

The Beach, A handful of beach glass...

or seashells….

These could all instantly become a color palette for your next interior design project. How exactly do I pick a color and then what do I do with it? 1.)    The easiest and least expensive way to see how a color is going to fit into your home or office design is to get a piece of poster board. Paint it with your desired color and then look at the board in different areas of the space and at different times of the day. It is far less expensive to buy a quart of paint than a gallon.  As the light moves throughout the day, you can move the board around to see how the color changes in your space. 

2.)    Resist the urge to drag your friends along with you when choosing a color. Yes they’re your friends and you value their opinion. However, this is your project and your environment. When they leave you are still there. Make sure the color you selected reflects your personal taste and desires.  

3.)    If you can, take carpet, flooring and fabric samples from the same design project with you to the paint store. 

4.)   Don’t forget the fifth wall: the ceiling! You can take the paint color on the paint chip and dilute by 50% and put it on the ceiling! This will add warmth and a perfect finish to your room or office space. It will also make that costly crown molding pop!

Always remember it’s your project and you will be enjoying the space for a while; make it a "Fun and Fearless" experience with color!  And, when you're ready to move forward on your residential or commercial design project, Pacific Interior Design Group is ready to help you bring your vision to reality. If you have further questions and need additional tips…email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or visit us at our website, www.pacintdesign.com