Happy Monday!

Slobproof! on Ellen? is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

…and the design board Sharon made to create this client’s ideal 21st century home!

The design board shows our Megan sofa in Vedlt Brown with Georgian Green walls and a nature inspired area rug to compliment the original wood columns. Sleek draperies with grommets soften the windows and three Slobproof! cubes provide a place to rest your feet.  The dining room gets an overhaul with a gorgeous drum shade and the multicolored area rug adds dimension to the small dining room.  Paired with her dining room table is a set of Slobproof! dining chairs in Prairie Earth.  Then fresh coats of paint in Benjamin Moore Concord Ivory and an accent wall in Carmel Latte add a bit of drama to the room.  The finishing touch is a window seat in Slobproof! Polka Dog Cardinal fabric to pay homage to her dogs.

So if you love our designs but you are outside of our service area, don’t worry!  Designing Solutions has gone virtual!

Designing Solutions Goes Virtual! is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

As if we needed more proof that dogs love our furniture!  Slobproof! is moisture-proof, odor-proof, and anti-microbial, so Willie and Toby here can jump and slobber on our furniture without ruining it!  If you’re tired of telling your dogs to get off the sofa, maybe it’s time to Slobproof! your home!

Gone to the Dogs! is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

Before…

…and after!

University Lounge Makeover: Part 2 is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

1.     Reverse it!  You can’t always tell which towel is his and which is hers, but with this patterned, reversible bath set, you can keep the white side up for you and the dark side up for him.

2.     Divide and Hide! Keep it closed when it comes to storing bathroom essentials.  This cabinet duo takes up little wall space over the toilet and has two separate compartments for his and her toiletries, holding all those hair gels, razors and essentials.  It’s stylish, separate and concealed.

3.     Step on it!  Small wool rugs are soft, absorbent and colorful in a bathroom and cost effective too, keeping floors dry and warm underfoot- any foot!

4.     Separate but equal!  Nothing looks better in the shower than a wire basket attached conveniently to the wall, keeping his and her razors, shampoos, and soaps within easy reach.  You’ll need two!

The His and Her Guide to Bathroom Bliss is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

Slobproof’s Day at the Beach is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

Our Biggest Slobproof! Sale Ever is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

Tasseled and trimmed! is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

Each of these pictures are from clients who were looking to bring the outdoors inside, and since each home is on a beautiful piece of land, it wasn’t hard to get inspired!  I chose these items as a way to incorporate natural textures and themes into the design of the home.

The stone veneer we added in the middle photograph really brought this room to life. The original neutral wall coloring and tall ceiling height of this family room made the space feel very impersonal.   The new stone texture not only gives the room some serious “wow” factor, it manages to make this large space feel cozy!  The wall color I chose to compliment it also brought out the warmth of the stone, making it a great place to just sit and relax!

Stone veneer not your thing?  Natural textures can be incorporated into almost any part of your home, like floor coverings, baskets, window treatments, lampshades, and even in sculptures!  I love the twig sculpture on the left because it’s a great conversation piece!

Natural textures aren’t the only way to go…items like this iron side table are a fun, whimsical way to add a little touch of the outdoors to your home!

Designing with Sticks and Stones is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog

“’Comfort, comfort, comfort! A sofa can look pretty, but if you don’t want to sit on it, then it’s not going to do much good.’  That’s the opinion of a 27-year-old from Florida, one of the more than 6,600 U.S. consumers answering Furniture Today and HGTV’s latest survey on upholstery.

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She’s not alone in her thoughts either.  Nine out of 10 respondents cite comfort as important when shopping for and buying upholstery, making it the most important feature.  Durability is also crucial to 85% of consumers.  A 30-year-old from Louisiana explains that she ‘wants her purchase to last for many years to come.’  And, a 52-year old from Missouri shops for a durable sofa for her “two large dogs who sneak onto the furniture.’  The same is true for many respondents in their 20’s to 40’s with children living at home.

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Sofas and chairs need to be durable if they’re to last as long as consumers expect them to.  One-fifth of survey respondents expect a new sofa to last 15 years or more and 40% want their sofa to last between 10-15 years.  The desired replacement cycle is nearly identical for upholstered chairs.

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Overall, 87% of consumers prefer to spend more on a sofa because they see it as an investment, while 13% prefer to buy a less expensive sofa, which offers the opportunity to change it later.  A smaller portion view chairs as a similar investment: 74% indicate they’d rather spend more on a chair and 26% prefer to buy a less expensive one.”

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—Dana French

from Furniture/Today

Consumers Look for Comfort and Durability is a post from: Debbie Wiener's Blog