Preston Hollow Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly finds Media Magic helps you turn your home into a complete harmonistic environment! Many of us music and TV lovers would love to come home after a long day to relax to our favoite listening pleasure and/or visual entertainment but feel as though we do not have the space.
Now we have the technology and the style to implement solutions that will enable each person to experience these important pleasures without the need of having to move to a larger home or even pay to enlarge our current home. The integration of home entertainment, music, and lighting within the comforts of home is truly an extension of one’s personality and lifestyle. We are no longer living in an era whereby cabling, large massive speakers and TV’s are pieces of funiture corrupting our lovely decor. Today, with sleek flat panels and in-wall/ceiling speakers, we can all enjoy these simple pleasures without disturbing our living space or the style of our home.
Imagine playing your favorite songs all over the house without blaring your stereo in one room just so you can hear the music in another part of the houe. Would you like to listen to nice soft music in the living room, powder room, office, by the bathtub and on the patio or watch your favorite movie or sporting event in the kitchen, patio, or bedroom? Ir you would like to learn more about how to incorporate these products to compliment your style of living, please call me and i will have my Theater and Renovation Consultant call you and give you a free estimate.
CAN YOU TELL WHICH ROOM HAS THE SURROUND SOUND?
June 9th,2010 Uncategorized |
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Richardson Texas Interior DesignerBarbara Shefferly is helping her clients Celebrate Spring 2010.
Right now is the time to start living outside Here in Texas, spring comes early and we love our patios. They become an extension to the home and can give a lovely vista from within. We can enjoy being outside for a large percentage of the year. I hope that you enjoy the outdoors as much as I do.
Outdoor kitchens can make cooking fun. They can be elaborate, with outdoor ranges, refrigerator drawers, etc. 
The one pictured here has all the bells and wihstles. Plenty of storage, all appliances, and a wonderful view. it also has a roof, providing shade and a place to install ceiling fans and lighting. This is a good spot to entertain in the summer. if you don’t have storage, or a dishwasher,invest in one of the large plastic storage bins and keep your serving settings ready to go outside. When you clean up return the dirty dishes, etc. to the bin to go back to the kitchen. The bin can be washed out with a hose. And have a huge trash can ready for lots of paper plates and waste.
If the kitchens in not in the budget, - just buy a new grill, clean up your patio table and chairs and add new cushions.
New are cushions that are weather proof. Fabrics are being manufactured that are much more durable than any we have ever seen. Sunbrella fabric is one choice in the outdoor industry- durable, easy to maintain and UV safe. This type of fabric is water-repellent and research has proved that the fabric provides up to 98% protection against harmful UV rays. It is guaranteed for at least 5 years. Most stores that carry outdoor furniture are familiar with it and can answer your questions.
No roof? Buy a large portable umbrella that give enormous shade where you want it. There are also misting devices that give you moisture to cool the air. One popular variety looks like a hose with tiny holes that can be placed around a specific area.
Do the updates now and you will have months of enjoyment entertaining or relaxing on your patio.
Richardson Texas Interior DesignerBarbara Shefferly shows you how to make your house a home by guiding you in selecting the changes to be made. Call Barbara at 972-239-7416 for a consultation on customizing your home and staying in budget.
“Let me help you plan your living space be functional and save you money.”
Southlake Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly loves to guide her clients that already have a good idea of what they want.
There is so much access on TV to Interior Design Information and also access to research on the Internet, that many clients come with a strong idea of what they want.
There are two kinds of clients. Those who know how they want their house to look and perform, and maybe like to do things themselves. And, there are other clients who are lost in the maze of decisions and need assistance in developing a plan. I love to work both ways.
This is your home! You need to have it the way that you want. To prepare for you project, study the home magazines and mark the looks that you like. You can start a file of pictures in your style. If you don’t know what you like, this collection of pictures will help you decide. There will be patterns in the pictures you collect that will make you aware of preferences in your sub-conscious. Be aware of colors as you do your research. Selecting a color scheme before you start is very cost effective.
Visit model homes and become aware of the trends and see the new materials on the market. Many projects just now relate to improving current homes as the owners have decided not to move at this time. You can you fall in love with your home again. Just moving around the things that you have, changing paint colors and making other changes do a lot and keep you within a budget. There are many ways to make the house work larger. Think of ways that you can accommodate various activities in the same space. I found a great book with lots of ideas. NOT SO BIG HOUSE by Sarah Susanke
For those who have done research, this a great way to partner with an Interior Designer. The client has a head start with a clear picture of how he wants the style of the house to look and feel. Then, a designer is able to fine tune the plan. Improvements may be made to the traffic flow in the home and you will gain access to materials unknown to those outside of the trade because of our constant research and study. Also, you will learn tricks to make the design timeless. A Designer can find materials more quickly and bring samples to you, saving time.
Southlake Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly shows you how to make your house a home by guiding you in selecting the changes to be made. Call Barbara at 972-239-7416 for a consultation on customizing your home and staying in budget.
“Let me help you plan your living space be functional and save you money.”
Colleyville Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly makes a house a home
If you intend to make your house a home, you must be ready to get into your own head and be ready to identify your needs. I always start out by asking lots of questions and listening. You need to know how the house will be used, how you want it to look, and what colors make you feel comfortable.
The Interior Designer’s job is to hear what you want and transform your house into a home, but you can get a great start on your own.
One of my clients’ highest priority was to fit all of her existing furniture, accessories, etc. in to the new home. We spent lots of time working on the blueprints and making adjustments to the floor-plans before they ever started construction. She used her existing color scheme and the style of home that she loved best. We did three houses together.
Another client wanted to start completely over. I coached her to envision what she wanted the house to look like. She searched through fabrics and found a color scheme she liked. Then it was full speed ahead! She was able to select the lighting fixtures with the builder and determine paint colors
When I moved into my house I struggled with the use of the room just inside the front door. It would logically be a guest room, but I hated to commit it to be only a bedroom. The answer that came to me to was to install a “Murphy” bed. Now I am able to pull down the freshly made bed and am ready for guests. At other times it can be an overflow room for parties.
Colleyville Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly shows you how to make your house a home by selecting the changes to be made. Call Barbara for a consultation on customizing your home and staying in budget. 972.239.7416
Park Cities Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly discusses using stone in Interior Design.
The biggest trend in homes over the last several years has been the use of stone. It is wonderful to bring the natural materials into the home. However, I think we have maximized the use. We always fall in love with something new and then overdo it. I suggest using a variety of materials; stone, wallpaper, fabrics of chenille, animal prints, textured walls, etc. This will give you timeless design.
When you select stone it is important that you compare the choice of materials. Granite counter tops have been the choice of the years! It is beautiful, one of the hardest and most durable surfaces available. It ranks #1 in cleanability. It is one of the most non-absorbent, stain-resistant, heat resistant materials and is available in a huge variety of colors.
In choosing materials for the home, I would use granite for the countertops and budget the other materials accordingly. There are infinite choices in materials, but if you use one stone in the home I would use granite for the counter tops.
Stone is a beautiful and very sustainable material. Just don’t use too much of it or it will date your house. And, as you make your choices, consult an expert for the advantages of any material.
I have specified kitchen flooring. One of my clients loved slate for her kitchen floor, but I convinced her to use the new porcelain imitation as it is more easy to maintain and is level, loosing the problem of the natural material’s variations.Any aspect of home interiors is very comples and it pays to consult an expert. As an Interior Designer, I don’t know everything about all the materals and projects I work with, but I have at my fingertips phone numbers of experts in all fields that I can trust to give honest information
Park Cities Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly shows you how to make your house a home by selecting the changes to be made. Call Barbara for a consultation on customizing your home and staying in budget. 972.239.7416
Southlake Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly gives tips to plan your approach to improving your lifespace.
So many of my clients have come to me saying, “Where do I start?” Let me give you a list that I hope helps you to get organized and make a plan.
1. Look at magazines and discover what is your style. Find looks that look like home to you. Don’t worry about what is “in”. Do you like elegant, casual, comfortable, contemporary?: You may not be able to say the words, but pictures tell the story. Pull out the pictures and study them. You will find a trend that may only be in your subconscious.
2. Pick a color scheme and apply it all through the house. Maybe you have some existing fabrics or art pieces that you want to use. Or, just roam through fabrics in stores and find one that makes you happy with the colors. Once you pick an object with your colors, you can pull pieces in those colors to weave together.
3. Make a list of your favorite activities to do at home. Then give each a place in the house and decide what functions each room will serve.
4. Sketch out floor plans for each room (or have a designer do it for you) and see what furniture you want in each room. Use what you have and then you can easily decide what pieces you need to buy.
5. Choose paint colors. Yes, one of the final steps. You can easily find a paint color to match your color scheme, but is hard to find fabrics to match a paint color! This shows the need to plan ahead. Paint change costs money!
6. Finally, add accessories and window treatments. This is like adding jewelry to your outfit. You can add punches of color, focal points, and balance.
Southlake Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly shows you how to make your house a home by selecting the changes to be made. Call Barbara for a consultation on customizing your home and staying in budget. 972.239.7416
Southlake Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly ASID shows you how to create a timeless home.
If you had plans to move to a different house and have decided now is not a good time to move, it is a good time to update. You will enjoy the home more, and feel good about your choice. And, if you decide to move at a later time, you will reap the rewards of the update in the selling price of the house.
People ask me all the time, “What is in? Wallpaper? Animal prints? Stone? My answer is “Just don’t use too much of the same thing.” That is what dates a home, reflecting the colors and styles of the time it was built, We all remember the Avocado Green and Spanish Gold. Then we had a period of the Southwest style using tile, art and fabrics to create the look. Now, today, we have a great vocabulary of accents for the home. You can create an eclectic work of art. Because our society includes people who have moved many times around the country, have traveled extensively and inherited antiques from their families they have a great variety of treasures. There is a way to integrate all of these styles and have a beautiful interesting home that reflects your own lifestyle and makes your home one of a kind.
A little use of wallpaper, animal prints, textured walls, stone counter tops and backsplashes give the puncutation to pull it all together. Also it makes sense to use neutral colors in the materials that are expensive to change. You can easily and inexpensively change paint colors and accents to keep the home stylish.
Southlake Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly shows you how to make your home timeless by selecting the changes to be made to update the house. Call Barbara at 972.239.7416 for a consultation on updating your home and staying in budget.
Preston Hollow Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly ASID gives a forecast on current trends in the Dallas Park Cities and Highland PARK AREA.
Those who have worked with me know that I do not recomend following current trends for expensive remodeling projects. Often you are too quickly left with an outdated interior which is prohibitively expensive to change.
However, at this time I believe we will have a move toward simplicty which will last a very long time. We have experienced years of excessive display of grandness and ornamentation. I have been seeing the trend to simplicity emerge in the Showooms and Mag
azines for the last few year as we tire of the overdone. Now that the economy has made a change, the trend makes much sense.
We have talked about the trend toward cocooning in our homes for several years. Now it is more so than ever. The economy has caused us to cook at home more, entertain at home, even work from home offices. All of these things ask that we bring our homes up to a different standard. Our elaborate homes have been showplaces. I call them show houses when you walk into elaborate displays and don’t recognize that it is a place to live. I see a trend toward more functional homes. We need more rooms that are comfortably usable.
You can update your rooms fairly simply by rearranging and removing accessories. Start by removing some of the accessories on your dining tables. The table should be open enough that you can envision sitting down to eat and converse with friends and family. When it is loaded with heavy accessories it becomes a showpiece and not inviting.
Preston Hollow Interior Designer and Home Remodeling expert Barbara Shefferly Interior Designer services include floor plan design, color coordination, selection of materials in remodeling and providing experienced contrators to complete the project.
Highland Park Remodeling expert Barbara Shefferly ASID shows how an older home can be updated.
This project is one of my proudest accomplishments. My clients recently bought a house perfectly suited for their family style. They appreciated the advantage of a house with a convenient floor plan, reasonable utility costs, a nice large yard, and a desirable location.
From the before Pictures you can see that the house was very outdated and far from their sophisticated Country English style. Together we envisioned the transformation and brought it to life. My painter was able to replace the dated moldings and removed a built-in cabinet in the den. We had the floors refinished and used dramatic paint color in the living room and dining room. Bringing in their large, tall accessories offset the low ceilings. Outside new paint colors made a great difference as did new landscaping. We accomplished a dramatic change and stayed on budget.
Dining Room Before Remodel
Dining Room After Remodel
Den Before Remodel
Den After Remodel
Study the before and after pictures and you will appreciate what can be accomplished in an older home. Call me to give you a consultation, even before you purchase a house. 972-239-7416
Highland Park Interior Designer and Home Remodeling expert Barbara Shefferly Interior Designer services include floor plan design, color coordination, selection of materials in remodeling and providing experienced contrators to complete the project.
Highland Park Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly ASID offers advice on how make your Interior Design timeless.
I always advise my clients to be aware of current trends but not to follow a fad. Your color scheme should be one that you love, not one that is popular for the moment. I advise that the changes that you make include neutral colors for the expensive, hard to replace items. For example, the counter tops, flooring, and back splashes, should form a backdrop that allows change to be made in the the less expensive areas. This creates a base to allow you to make cosmetic changes and gain a total new look inexpensively. Paint is inexpensive and easy to change, as are window treatments, furniture and accessories. This is also important for resale as well as adjusting to changes in your lifestyle.
For example a current trend is to use large accessories. It is easy and inexpensive to put away the little knicknaks and add large pieces. Or, to group the little pieces on a tray or in a cabinet. It would be expensive to tear out bright blue counter tops that might have been fashionable last year.
Highland Park Interior Designer Barbara Shefferly, owner of Barbara Shefferly Interiors, offers services that include updating appliances, color coordination, floor plan design and much more. Barbara Sherrefly works with clients in Highland Park, the Park Cities, and Preston Hollow areas of North Dallas, Texas. For more information or to schedule a personal consultation, please call Barbara at 972-239-7416.
