When designing a new space, I ask several questions such as “What is the purpose of the Room?”, “How do you want to feel in the space?” “What is not working?” I am redesigning a client’s master bedroom right now, and she told me she wants her bedroom to be a sanctuary (and perhaps a place to hide from the kids every now and then!) What does sanctuary mean to you? Is it a place inspired by the beach? A comfy chair for reading and coffee? You spend over 1/3 of your life in bed, so I believe your bedroom should be a place of retreat where you can wind down after a long day.

Is your bedroom your sanctuary or a place for miniature chairs, goldfish crumbs, and children watching Dora?! Ha!

Here are a few tips to help get you on the right track:

1. Get rid of clutter. I try to get everything off the floor, and I always feel much more productive in other areas of my life when the house is clean and piles of paper are out of site.

2. Incorporate baskets if you need extra space to store those random items or boxes with lids to hide the things that aren’t beautiful. (think remotes, notebooks & books you aren’t currently reading)

3. Minimize accessories. Lots of small accessories can cause mental clutter without you realizing it, plus, it’s much easier when dusting if you don’t have to work around several small items.

I asked myself the same questions that I would ask a client, and my ideal sanctuary would be: A bedroom with white walls, no clutter & a touch of glam!

Hop on over to my friends’ blogs for more creative Mom’s Spaces…a place for you to dream, create, or simply relax!

Lesley of http://chaoticallycreative.com

Kate of http://dabbleinchic.blogspot.com

Marilyn of http://design-magnifique.com/blog-news/

Julie of http://gosimplysavvy.com/blog/

Colette of http://www.frugal-finds.net/

Joanne of http://homestyling101.blogspot.ca/

Antoinette of http://pushinteriors.blogspot.ca/

Katrina of http://seasideinteriors.ca/

Selma of http://blog.selmahammer.com/

Michelle of http://www.fashionhouseinteriors.net/blog/

Jennifer of http://jenniferreynoldsinteriors.com/blog/

Olivia of http://swaygrl.blogspot.com

If it’s time to treat yourself to a beautiful bedroom or other sanctuary, email me at stacynaquin@cox.net or visit Olioboard to create your own space!

When designing a new space, you always want to begin with Inspiration. It may be tempting to start buying furniture & accessories, but just like when building a new house, you wouldn’t start without a plan. Even though you like something, it may not go with your vision. I always tell clients: “You may love stilettos and sweatpants, but you would never wear them together!” Having a cohesive plan is the key to a successful space!

If you are looking to redo a room(s) in your home, here are 5 tips to creating the perfect moodboard:

1. Click here to visit Olioboard’s website. It is a wonderful place to start for inspiration. Look at other moodboards for inspiration. Your board can be as simple or as intricate as you like.
2. Pull things you love. Choose your favorite items (furniture, rugs, lighting, wallcovering, etc.) in the database from manufacturers such as Ralph Lauren, Layla Grace, West Elm, Crate & Barrel, and many more. You can also upload items from your favorite websites or actual furniture from your home. Don’t worry about adding too many things, you can always edit later.
3. Look for a common theme. Are you selecting similar colors? Patterns? Finishes?
4. Edit. Have you selected more than one sofa or coffee table? Now it’s time to choose. The great thing about Olioboard, is you can visualize your space before you purchase! The items in your moodboard can be used as identical pieces to add to your room or just as inspiration for color and finish. (Designer Tip: Olioboard is a great way to present to clients having a hard time visualizing their space.)

Typically, if you were to add items into a program like Word or Powerpoint, it would look like this:

But with Olioboard, you can remove the image background. See how much better it looks!?

5. Publish your Olioboard so others can see and draw inspiration. After you’ve selected all your products, you can purchase right from their site!

If you are still unsure of your decisions, you can always call a designer.

Email us for our day rates: stacynaquin@cox.net.

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