People are driven to find peaceful sanctuaries as a prescription for our stressful lives. Outdoor patios and porches are becoming more sophisticated and refined, and are becoming a living extension of the indoor spaces. Three season indoor spaces are also making a come back.

Creating or renovating an outdoor space has many elements. Landscape design, stonework and carpentry are all critical components of designing your outdoor haven. Outdoor furnishings, lighting and accessories are also an essential element in your overall plan. As you begin the process and consider space planning and design be sure to include the entire family. You will be amazed at the wish list that you come up with.

Your outdoor space should accommodate all your needs throughout the year. Do you entertain outdoors? Make sure that there will be enough seating for your larger parties. Do you spend time outdoors in the evenings and at night? Make sure that you have adequate lighting and bug control included in your plan. Is the outdoor grill seasonal for you or all year round? Where you place the grill and whether it has a protective roof will make a difference depending on how you use it. Do you plan to have your family meals outdoors often? If so make sure that your dining area comfortably accommodates your family and then some.

Outdoor furniture has greatly evolved from the folding, vinyl strap versions of the past, to beautiful pieces made of teak, steel, rattan, and wicker.  Many pieces look just like indoor furniture but are constructed and designed to stand up to the North Eastern outdoor elements.

Fabrics are being manufactured to resist fading from ultraviolet rays, to resist mildewing from damp conditions and to resist odor absorption. These types of fabrics are a must for any upholstery or drapery that will be used outdoors or in a screened-in location.

Lighting is also a very important aspect in creating an inviting outdoor space.  Be sure you incorporate various types of lighting in your outdoor space just as you would in your indoor spaces.  Landscape lighting, overhead lighting, ceiling fans or decorative side lighting are good ideas.  Torches or tiki lighting can also be a charming and functional element to your lighting plan. Developing a creative lighting plan can help you create a space with increased ambiance and functionality.

Remember to create a space that is perfect for you and your needs. This is a space where memories will be made so consider it an important investment. I like to call an investment like this an emotional anchor: a space where your family gathers, shares and remembers forever.

Creating your perfect outdoor space will be the result of the successful combination of many design elements – landscaping, stonework, carpentry, furnishings, lighting and accessories.  Careful pre-planning will be the key to the creation of your personal sanctuary, so begin with creating your personal “wish list”.  You may be amazed at how long this list might become!

Think about incorporating your year round needs.  Do you frequently entertain outdoors?  Do you spend time outdoors in the evenings simply relaxing?  Is an outdoor grilling season a year round requirement for you?  Do you enjoy planning simple family meals outdoors?

Once you’ve accessed your needs, then planning your outdoor space becomes much easier.  Think about incorporating these simple ideas:

1.  Comfortable Furniture!  This should be most important element in your design.  Today’s outdoor furnishings have been manufactured to withstand all that Mother Nature can bestow.  The age of folding, vinyl strapped furniture is definitely now obsolete.  Many furniture pieces of today look identical to indoor furniture, but have been constructed and designed to stand up to all the outdoor elements.

2.  Fabulous Fabrics!  The biggest name in outdoor fabrics today is Sunbrella.  This company’s collection of fabrics is colorful, design oriented, and totally durable.  Sunbrella features gorgeous fabrics manufactured to resist fading from ultraviolet rays, mildewing from damp conditions, and odor absorption.  It is just the ultimate outdoor upholstery or drapery fabric that will be used and enjoyed by your family for years. And of course, Sunbrella Fabrics are carried by Decorating Den Interiors.

3.  Let there be Light!  Be sure to consider incorporating various types of lighting in your outdoor space design, just as you would inside your home.  Landscape lighting, overhead lighting, ceiling fans, sconces and decorative side table lighting are all GREAT ideas.  Develop a creative lighting plan to help you create a space with increased ambiance and functionality.

Remember to create a space that is perfect for you and your needs.  This is a space where memories will be made – so please consider it an important investment…both financially and emotionally.

With so many of today’s new homes being built to incorporate gorgeous patio spaces, doesn’t it stand to reason that with a little thought and pre-planning, these spaces can become an exciting extension of your home’s indoor space?

So, where do you begin and just how do you master the design and execution of intertwining your indoor and outdoor spaces together?  Here are a few things to take into consideration before creating the outdoor space of your dreams!

 It all starts with a plan!

Before beginning this process, it’s always a good idea to first take into consideration all the possible events & gatherings your family will want to plan for and host when your new outdoor haven is ready and available for use.  Large gatherings and family events will call for one type of plan; and conversely an outdoor space designed for two to relax and unwind, will dictate a totally different set of priorities.

As you consider all the activities you want to accommodate in your new outdoor space, you might consider creating specific spaces for specific events.  Activities such as hosting a BBQ will require space for a grill or even a customized outdoor kitchen might be best suited in one area while dining is available in another area of the outdoor space.  And just like the inside your home, area rugs are a great way to help separate and define spaces outdoors. Today’s selection of outdoor area rugs is wide and varied – in many shapes, sizes and colors!

Secondly, creating the right landscape plan to surround your outdoor space is extremely important. Shrubbery, flowers, and architectural accents will all play an important part in the overall design as you finalize your landscape plan.  You’ll find that stonework and carpentry choices will be critical components to aid you in creating your perfect outdoor retreat.

And why not give special consideration to the plants you chose to surround your space?  Just think of the delicious scents you could add to your outdoor space with the right plantings!

We often find that many of my clients struggle with a variety of design decisions when they begin a new project. Some of the most common decisions they all struggle with deciding are:

- What color or colors would make the most dramatic impact?

- What furniture – size, scale, pattern and texture, would work best in my new room?

- How do I make my new room or rooms look and feel the way I want them to?

- Where do I find the time to shop for everything that I’m going to need?

- How do I truly know what goes with what?

Decorating can often times become a very overwhelming prospect! And that’s where we come in. We can help you take the guesswork out of ALL your decorating decisions! If you fear that your home will end up looking like our own personal designer taste…fear not! We specialize in showing you design ideas and products that will not only work with what you like, but will fit into your budget beautifully!

So, the next time an exciting design project is on your horizon, call in the professionals. You won’t be sorry!

For many reasons, it’s best to consider investing in the best quality possible for your budget. That doesn’t necessarily mean buying the most expensive flooring.  In estimating what you are willing to invest, consider the life span of your floor covering. This will help give you a truer picture of cost and what is truly the most economical for you, your budget and your lifestyle.  And by all means, consider using the services of a professional interior decorator to assist you in this important buying decision.

Modern technology has made flooring more attractive, varied and practical.  Such natural materials as wood, marble, stone, slate, clay tile and wool are still high in initial cost, but may not be in the long run because of their durability.  Man-made flooring materials such as vinyl and carpets of synthetic fibers come in price ranges able to fit almost any reasonable budget.

Not sure how to choose the right frame and matting to best showcase your favorite piece of artwork for your home?

Here are a few tips to help you showcase your artwork in a dramatic and exciting fashion.

1.  The color of the matting should complement the color you would like to carry into your entire room – in moderation. Most matting complements the colors in the artwork itself.

2.  Hang a dramatic piece of art so the eye will be drawn to the wall, helping it take center stage!

3.  Choose an accent color to paint one all – something different from the other three walls.

4. Create drama and add size to smaller pieces of artwork by using quarter round to create “frames.”

5.  Contemporary artwork featuring sleek lines – and do well with matting in bolder richer colors.

6. When grouping artwork, try tracing and cutting out the diagram of each piece on butcher block paper or newspaper.  Then arrange those paper pieces on your wall until you find the perfect solution!

Nothing adds more uniqueness & personality to your room’s design then a personally chosen piece of art.  Artwork often times helps pull color schemes together, and adds an exciting design element into each room.

Nothing gives a room more drama and pizzazz than beautifully designed window treatments.

Consider your living room.  Often times these rooms boast of some sort of outstanding architectural feature….perhaps a fireplace, soaring ceiling, tall windows.  Whatever architectural feature your living room possesses, a beautiful window treatment is a must.  The more elaborate the treatment, the more it will add to the overall beauty of your room.  And if budget is a consideration, it’s always better to drape a window generously with a lesser priced fabric, then to skimp with a costly one

If a bold decorative statement is called for, perhaps a luxuriously designed swag and jabot treatment designed in a soft flowing silk fabric, or dramatic taffeta would be to your liking.

If you’d like to subtly frame your windows, then lush side panels mounted on a unique decorative rod would give your windows a very subtle, yet dramatic impact.

Not only do custom window treatments add beauty, design and uniqueness to your decorating plan, they are truly crafted for you and your windows alone.  No two designs are complete alike, because they will project your personal and style and no one else’s!

And, as with other rooms in your home, it all begins with a plan.  Do you entertain a lot?  Is your new outdoor space primarily for your personal and family enjoyment?  What activities might be taking place in this new area – outdoor/indoor games?  Dining?  Reading?  Relaxing?

Once you’ve determined your needs and wants, it’s time to begin!  And with Mother Nature as your backdrop, why not be a bit bolder in your color selections.  Creating a bright and dramatic outdoor color scheme is sure to take your new space from dull to dazzling!

Furniture styles?  There are a myriad to chose from – all sizes and shapes – as well as a countless all weather fabrics in gorgeous designs.  Wicker and rattan continue to be the most popular and comfortable seating selections.

Area Rugs?  Yes!  For sure!  Nothing helps set off a conversational area better than a well designed area rug.  Today’s all weather styles will add a definite touch of design excitement to our new outdoor space!

Lighting?  Of course!  Especially,  if you intend to use your space for reading and relaxing. Task lighting options are virtually limitless!

Window Treatments?  Not something that you typically think about when designing an outdoor space, but creating a beautiful, functional and practical window treatment can actually help add even more ambiance to your new room’s style!

Since decorating mistakes can be very costly and time consuming, I always urge my clients to do their homework before undertaking any redecorating project.

What kind of homework? Well, you might consider starting by collecting brochures and pictures of various design products and styles that you particularly enjoy. Once you start becoming aware of colors, designs and various products available to make your design dreams a beautiful reality, you’ll find your decision making is much easier.

Next, take a personal inventory of your likes and your dislikes. I find that most of my clients have a much easier time knowing what they DON”T like. Whatever the case may be with your preference, your decorator will benefit from this knowledge!

Of course, working with a professional is definitely the right way to go. With custom decorating, most designers and product manufactures stand behind their products. Remember if you take your own measurements and they are incorrect, your purchase cannot be returned. Nothing is more disheartening than finding that beautiful sofa you just had delivered is totally overwhelming your room and not as comfortable as you had hoped it would be!

Be sure to weigh all your options, take your time, do your homework and most importantly, call a professional!

Despite their easygoing appearances, casual decorating schemes don’t just happen.  They call for the same amount of effort that the most formal of design settings require.  There’s a big difference between a room that’s decorated “haphazardly casual” and one that features a well thought out casual design.  Your goal should be to have your new casual room look as if it’s not premeditated.  Most importantly, your design scheme should be comfortable and well integrated with other rooms in your home.

Comfort should be your first consideration.  Does the furniture feel good to sit on, to touch?  Just as important, does it look comfortable?  An overstuffed chair with an ottoman sends the message, “Come, and sit here.”  Certain fabrics and materials naturally lend themselves to a more casual style.  Leather has always been an excellent choice for upholstery in casually elegant rooms, as have nubby, heavier textures, like chenilles and woven upholstery fabrics.   However, selecting a brocade or moiré fabric for your upholstery would be contrary to casualness in decorating.

The placement of furnishings in a room decorated in a casual style is usually asymmetrical because this type of room arrangement presents a less rigid appearance.  Informal balance seems to lend itself well to rooms where the message is to relax and unwind.  It’s much more restful to the human eye than a formal, symmetrical balance where placement of furnishings is exact and unyielding.

So relax in casual comfort.  After all – you deserve it!