Debbie Wiener's Blog

Isn’t this a rather fun looking home? Courtesy of The New Victorian Ruralist.

“Thank you for your time yesterday.  Believe it or not, we were able to make more progress in those 2 hours that we did in the prior 2-3 months”  Brett in Silver Spring

“I truly would be delighted to write something. I’ve already called two friends to rave about my experience with Debbie. ”  Gayle in Silver Spring

With most window coverings you have the choice to make it close from the top down, the bottom up or from either top or bottom?

The only drawback to function this shade must have two entirely different sets of cords. The double cord system means that you can have total control over light, view and privacy and can leave the top, bottom or some point in between fully opened or closed.

Groove Sectional

Get into the Groove with our fabulous new sectional that makes square rooms hip and comfortable. Each piece comes with two down and feather-filled toss pillows to soften and style your seat. Our sectional connectors keep you all connected and with tie downs on the luxury seat cushions, nothing moves unless you want it to. Simple, graceful lines will soften any space.

We do a lot of tip of the day suggestions on our facebook page and think they are really useful! Do you have tips of the day that you want to share? The best tips will receive copies of my book: Slobproof: Real Life Home Design Solutions and we will republish the tips on the blog!

The Sierra Club offers great tips for buying eco-friendly green furniture:

When shopping, look for

• Certified wood. If you are buying new furniture, look for wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). That’s an assurance that it came from forestry operations that meet strong environmental, social, and economic performance standards.
• Other eco-friendly options. Some bamboo processing options are less environmentally friendly than others, but, on the whole, bamboo is considered one of the greenest materials because it’s fast growing and doesn’t require pesticides. Other eco-friendly options include metal and glass.
• Reclaimed or recycled materials. Lately, furniture is being made of reclaimed wood, recycled metal, and recycled plastic. Keep in mind, however, that furniture made before 1978 may have lead-based paint or finishes. And, polyurethane foam may emit more flame retardants and other chemicals as it ages, so an older piece of foam may have higher emissions.
• Go local. Do your best to find materials that weren’t transported long distances.
• Low or no VOCs. Furniture can taint your indoor air through toxic finishes or adhesives. Choose paints, stains, and other finishes that are water based, with the lowest possible volatile organic compounds (VOC). And look for formaldehyde-free composite wood. A single piece of high-emitting furniture can elevate formaldehyde levels enough to cause eye, nose, throat, or skin irritation or headaches, fatigue, and respiratory problems. Placing a piece of furniture outside when you first get it can minimize the fumes, since emissions are generally highest right after furniture is manufactured. But the emissions may continue at low levels for a couple of years.
• Certification. Several organizations offer air-quality certifications for furnishings. Greenguard is the most widely recognized.

I was recently quoted by the Express regarding easy steps to find new flooring.

Most pros agree that if you can afford a wool rug, buy one. “It’s a sustainable, natural fiber and has the strength and longevity to make your purchase last,” says Silver Spring-based designer Debbie Wiener. “It’s what every-thing else tries to be.” The material goes the distance thanks to lanolin, a wool grease that resists stains. So, look for a wool that isn’t over-processed; it should leave a slightly greasy feeling on your hands after you rub it.
To read the rest of the article click here: http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2010/07/easy-steps-finding-new-flooring-rugs-linoleum-flor-forbo.php

House Beautiful did a great feature on 60 Great Decorating Tips. While we can’t cut and paste the tips into this post, we can direct you to their site for lots of awesome ideas! Make sure to check it out!

I have a hard time with window treatments, and you all must know this. In fact, I have a really hard time because they can be so easily wrecked by a slob. Say goodbye to long velvet curtains the day you marry a man who either works with his hands or eats pizza. Its because of this that I love this post by Apartment Therapy.

Check out this cool DIY idea from Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge.