http://ana-white.com/2010/10/plans/ten-dollar-ledges

Jobs that Pay $100… and why PC Design doesn\’t!

There’s a line from the comedy, Ghost World, where an 18-year-old Scarlett Johansson says to her best friend, Thora Birch, “This reminds me of your little old lady phase.” She was referring to an eccentric non-conformist’s brief stint wearing clothes meant for women four times her age. The character didn’t care that others considered her style of dress lame, silly or little-old-lady; she thought it was cool and rocked it out.

Take a look at these pieces once deemed old but show no signs of their secret past thanks to some clever reinvention.

Since the heavy, bulky size of larger pieces such as dressers or consoles can command a ton of attention and dominate the room, going bold with color, isn’t always, the best option unless you want the pieces to be the star of the space. Black and white are pretty much always a safe bet.

For that new lease on life, they dropped it off at an auto body shop and had it sprayed with fire engine red auto paint. How the hell did they do that? Well, it’s not very complicated: You pick up the phone, ask a local auto body shop if they accept furniture, then drop it off. As far as pricing goes, shops usually charge by the booth, not the piece. So, you can drop off several pieces and have them all sprayed the same color for one set price.

For those of you without DIY skills, here’s an update you can handle: Juxtapose traditional style furniture with modern fabrics. In this bedroom,  60-year-old traditional beds, then dressed them with graphic, modern textiles. It keeps the integrity of the original piece but makes it a lot more hip.

If you need help transforming a piece of furniture…. or just need advice on where to find items or how to do it…. Contact: pcdesign@mac.com

ONLY $99 FOR TWO HOURS OF INTERIOR REDESIGN AND PLANNING FROM PC DESIGN LLC ($500 VALUE)!

TODAY’S DEAL: INTERIOR REDESIGN AND PLANNING FROM PC DESIGN LLC IN GREATER CINCINNATI

When it comes to the design of your home, do you have champagne taste on a beer budget? No matter your interior design style; modern, traditional, country or somewhere in between, Paige K. Castellini at PC Design LLC can help make your vision a reality…without breaking the bank!

After working in high-end interior design for 15 years, Paige took the philosophy of her design practices and scaled them down to give clients an expensive look for less. A two hour consultation with Paige includes:

-An analysis of your current space, including window and floor coverings, furniture arrangement, lighting, décor, accessories, paint colors and more
-Redesign tips on how to make better use of what you already have to save time and money
-Based on your budget, store and product recommendations for the items you do need!

PC Design LLC is perfect if you’re looking to spruce up your home for an upcoming party, stage your home for the real estate market, or simply give your home the makeover it deserves!

FEATURED YOCAUSE

The March of Dimes helps local moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies.
Did You Know?

My theory is that everybody is creative, and everybody has originality. The challenge is to harness those qualities and become confident about expressing them. Within each of us are aesthetic chords that resonate, and we really have to listen to them if we’re going to create a home that’s the ideal environment for us and a true reflection of who we are.

When designing your space, you have to be aware of the way you live: One room could be a dining room or an office or a playroom or a studio, depending on your needs. Are you out trekking in the woods all the time in heavy boots? You’ll want a place for them. What kinds of fabrics are you going to have on your furniture if you live with young children or animals?

In my own experience, the rooms that were structurally the most difficult—dark, small, irregularly shaped—have ended up the best because I really, really had to think hard and tap into my most original ideas. There are ways to dramatically reconceive, say, a piece of furniture—by re-covering it, refinishing it, relocating it. Sometimes something looks terrible in one place and great in another.

As far as objects go, people tend to own a lot of things they once liked, things they received as gifts, or things that were just mistakes from the beginning but were never edited out. So when they say, “I don’t know why this area has never looked right,” it may be because it’s a mishmash of disparate things. If you consider what attracts you most to objects (shape, color, pattern, material?) and get your own preferences clear in your head, you can sort through your stuff easily and create a more cohesive look. I suggest leafing through magazines and tearing out 10 or 20 or 30 pictures of rooms you really love. Go with your gut—even if photos are of a Scottish castle or some other fantasy, rip them out. Do the same with images you don’t like. What’s the common denominator? You’ll begin to see recurring themes and hone in on what’s really you.

To me, finding your own taste goes much deeper than rooms and decorating. It’s about understanding yourself, gaining confidence, unleashing your creativity. Once we’ve become liberated in that area, we become liberated in others. We might then say: “I gravitate to pots, so why not try making pottery?” If we express our real selves in our homes, our lives there are richer. And that’s not just some frivolous thing for people who have a lot of time and money. It’s for everyone. All of us can come to know our own originality.

Traditional

The design equivalent of a vintage Cadillac or a Cartier watch, this room is solid—all tassels and florals and curved furniture in dark, polished wood. A touch of family pride: the silver-framed photographs.

A classic but unstuffy mix of things—like fine china, swagged curtains, silver trays and lamps with pleated silk shades—looks gently used, beautifully kept. Notice how the swirling leaves and flowers of the curtain fabric are echoed in the ginger jar, pale floral carpet, fresh lilies.

Toss it if…

1. You have twice as many as you need. Take inventory of your duplicate items. If you own enough spatulas and coffee mugs to supply a small diner, it’s time to shed a few.

2. It’s a gift you don’t love. Sometimes when we give away a present, we feel like we’re giving away the person.   Remind yourself it’s just an object.

3. It’s not worth repairing. Search for similar items on eBay; if your item’s current value is less than the cost of repairing it (hello, broken printer from 2004), then toss and replace. Otherwise, give yourself a deadline. If you don’t get around to fixing the thing within six months, you can probably let it go.

4. Your gut says lose it. Don’t second-guess your instincts. A lot of people worry they’ll have regrets. They’re afraid that one day they’ll need that exact thing. But 99 percent of the time you just don’t.

5. You don’t know what it is. UPOs (unidentified plastic objects) get 30 days. If they’re still a mystery one month later, dump ‘em.

Keep it if…

1. It’s sentimental gold. The more memorabilia you have, the less emotionally valuable each individual item becomes. Instead of saving every card your beloved uncle ever sent, pick the one that captures his spirit best.

2. It fits your life today. Your possessions should support who you are right now, not the person you were five years—or five pounds—ago. Your ten-year-old LBD that still looks great? It stays.

3. You think it’s gorgeous (even if no one else does). Stuff that makes you smile—like the glittery clothespin reindeer your child made in third grade—doesn’t count as “clutter.”

4. You’d buy it again. It’s tough to be objective about your own belongings. So ask yourself, What would I do if I saw this in a store?

5. You’ll find a place for it. Putting it back in a box is just predisposal.  Any item worth keeping is worth creating a space for.

Where To Send Your Stuff To Help Those In Need:

They say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. But it can be tough to figure out how, exactly, to get the belongings you can no longer use into the hands of someone who can. We’ve found places to send your stuff—from suits and sofas to yoga mats and cell phones—that will help those in need.

You want to get rid of…

Cell Phones

Send your old Motorola or busted iPhone to Cell Phones for Soldiers. The phones are sold to a company that recycles them, and Cell Phones for Soldiers uses the money to buy calling cards for troops stationed abroad so they can phone home for free. Go toCellphonesForSoldiers.com to print a free prepaid shipping label.

Eyeglasses

OneSight accepts prescription glasses, bifocals, and nonprescription sunglasses in marked bins at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sunglass Hut, Target Optical, and Sears Optical stores nationwide. The organization provides the used specs—along with free eye exams—to those who can’t afford them at 20 clinics around the world. ( OneSight.org )
Computer Equipment

The National Cristina Foundation will match your used tech equipment—a computer, printer, software, fax machine, monitor, mouse, or any other parts—with an organization near you that needs it. Many are nonprofits that provide education or training to at-risk students or people with disabilities. ( Cristina.org )

Musical Instruments

Former band geeks can donate instruments to the Roots of Music, an after-school program in New Orleans that teaches children ages 9 to 14 how to read and play music. The nonprofit also provides students with academic tutoring and hot meals. Instruments must be in working order. ( TheRootsOfMusic.com )

Furniture

The National Furniture Bank Association (find a local bank near you at nationalFurnitureBank.org ) will pick up and distribute your furnishings to families in need. Most accept beds, dressers, nightstands, tables, chairs, sofas, and lamps.

Batteries

Batteries contain heavy metals that can contaminate landfills. Instead of tossing them in the garbage, order an iRecycle kit from Battery Solutions ($35; BatteryRecycling.com ). Fill the kit, which holds 12 pounds, with any type of battery, including rechargeables found in cell phones and laptops. Drop the prepaid box at any U.S. post office or FedEx location, and the company guarantees the batteries will be recycled according to EPA regulations.
Paint, tools, and other building supplies

Drop them off at your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. ReStores sell donated goods at discounted prices; the money is used to fund the construction of Habitat homes. Each ReStore is different, so contact one in your area (find a listing at Habitat.org/cd/env/restore.aspx ) for information on what items they take.

Video Games

Donate Games accepts used games—including your 1990s Mario Kart—and then posts them for sale at a discounted price. Purchases fund medical research to help fight rare, life-threatening, or debilitating diseases. (DonateGames.org )

Medications

Flushing or pouring meds down the sink sends them into the water supply, harming fish and the environment. Instead, put meds in a plastic bag (crush pills and add water to dissolve them), and add kitty litter or coffee grounds to make them less appealing to animals. Seal the bag and place it in the trash. Another option: Many pharmacies offer a take-back program for unused meds.

Some Local Recycle or donation centers in every city….

For example, take my friend Kylie, she is absolutely frantic for chairs. Doesn’t matter the style, she’s got them, 22 in all. Of course, she has many of the important modern pieces including Van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair. Then there are the three King Louis French pieces: the Bergere, the fauteuils and the fausse paire. And the list goes onÖ When asked, Why chairs? She expresses emotionally that they are therapeutic and comforting.

The difference between her and the designer fashion fanatic is budget. She purchases reproductions and fixer uppers and enjoys each as if it were the real deal or in mint condition.

For your benefit and a little chair therapy for all, I asked her to help me choose eight affordable chair designs and ideas for spring. With no further ado, here is what we found

‘Decorative Chair Backs’ (via)

These retro chairs get a little spring makeover with decoupage and paper flowers in bright orange. Of course, when you redo your own you can do so in any color that floats your boat. You’ll find similar chairs at IKEA to use as your canvas.

‘Bertoia Style Wire Diamond Chair’ (via)

Named for the famed designer Harry Bertoia, this handmade reproduction chair looks like a work of art and sits like a dream.

‘Canary Print Slipper Chair’ (via)

Target.com actually has some lovely chairs like this Canary Print chair pictured in yellow floral for instance. The armless design makes it perfect for a small space where the light and air need to flow through the room.

‘Barbie Chair’ (via)

This modern design classic, reminiscent of the ARKANA chair of the ë60s, is hot pink and gorgeously feminine. It would look good in the living room by itself or in a pair at a little bistro table in the kitchen.

‘Rattan Dining Chairs’ (via)

All it took to give new life to this set of rattan dining chairs was a couple of coats of green paint. Seated at the lime green table they look fabulous. What an inexpensive way to get a new look that practically screams spring!

‘Bemz Chair Slipcovers for IKEA Chairs’ (via)

This brilliant Swedish company makes customized slipcovers specifically for Ilea’s inexpensive chair and sofa designs. You can choose from ginghams, florals and solids to match your style. How fun and fabulous is that?

‘Classic Louis Ghost Arm Chair’ (via)

While we would love to have a Philippe Starck original Lucite chair, or even better a pair of them, it’s not realistic for our pocketbooks at the moment. We wouldn’t mind having one of these knock off versions though.

‘Avington Armless Slipper Chair’ (via)

This upholstered chair is another Target find. It is bright and happy in a modern interpretation cherry blossom print. One or two would go nicely in a bedroom or living room.

Content provided by Arcadian Home Decor, a site that specializes in top quality home decor items at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

The kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in a home, so why not make yours really stand out? Whether you’re selling or simply want to upgrade, here are some simple tips and ideas to get you started without breaking the bank:

1. Plan ahead and find patterns, colors and textures that you like from magazines, home improvement stores and the Internet.
2. Set a budget! Know what upgrades will give you the most value for your money and do your best to stick with your budget.
3. Make a plan and do one thing at a time, especially if you’re going to do it yourself.
4. If you don’t know where to start, no idea how to make the selections or even committing to a particular design… contact PC Design LLC to set up an appointment today!

So where should you start?

Cabinets
Repaint or stain your cabinet doors.  Add new hardware;  where this is one of the easiest and least expensive upgrades you can do that makes a big difference. If you need advice on what works best with the cabinets you have,  ask for professional advice.

Kitchen Counter Tops
Counter tops can be expensive if you’re going for granite, but that’s not your only option. You can opt for concrete or granite overlay. Do your research to find what suits your budget and style best.

Kitchen Floors
Your choices are endless when it comes to updating your kitchen floors. From peel-and-stick tile to laminate wood flooring and travertine, the sky is the limit— but be mindful of your budget! Bring home samples of the flooring based on your style and budget before you make a final decision. Many real estate professionals agree that a kitchen remodel splurge should be saved for the countertops and not the floors, so keep this in mind when deciding. You want to make sure you get great value from any upgrades you do.

Saving Money on Kitchen Appliances
If your appliances are in good working order and match in color and style, save your budget for more beneficial upgrades. If your appliances look really dated or don’t match the new look of your kitchen, you may want to consider finding some great scratch and dent deals.

Kitchen Lightening
Installing modern lighting is amazingly simple if your kitchen is already wired for overhead lighting. A new chandelier can make a big difference, and you can find options for less than $150! To make an even bigger impact, be sure to install a dimmer switch. You’ll be surprised what a difference a little “mood switch” can make.

The options are endless for remodeling your kitchen on a budget. The hardest part is deciding which upgrades will make the biggest difference on the smallest budget. Just be sure to do your research and to set realistic goals. And last, but not least, enjoy the project by making it your own.

*If you are having trouble determining where to even begin…. Contact PC Design llc for more information and to set up an appointment today!*

(Click above for more details)