tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918745588188340792012-02-15T23:01:55.304-08:00Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.comBlogger121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-85153385347460597422011-02-23T11:00:00.000-08:002011-02-23T11:46:13.207-08:00

We LOVE a good bargain! (we consider ourselves "frugans... get it!?!)We thought we'd share a few of our tips (and burns) on how to compare apples to apples if you've fallen in love with a product. Or where to start if a bargain is your ultimate goal!If you're smitten for this KILLER faucet your interior designer showed you - and nothing else will do...Find it's MFR product number (or SKU.) For

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-72148013195668430252009-07-13T12:37:00.000-07:002009-07-13T14:47:08.051-07:00

It used to be that if I needed to avoid wasting my day away perusing products for hours on end, I would just avoid the mall... or the bookstore... or Staples... But now that shopping is part of my professional job description it's become more of a challenge to walk the straight and narrow.Today I veered off course at the Laguna Design Center... I was supposed to be looking for outdoor fabrics -

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-45872137493812511982009-07-08T19:59:00.000-07:002009-07-08T20:30:21.655-07:00

Growing up in Orange County, CA I took for granted the mild weather, the rolling landscape and even the vast expanse of ocean. Coyotes howling in the night and raccoons tipping over the trash cans were an everyday occurrence. It wasn't until I left for design school in NYC that I realized that in MOST parts of the country you have to design around nature, making an effort to bring nature in!On my

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-57095839007016144302009-07-01T11:45:00.000-07:002009-07-01T12:22:14.053-07:00

Warning: this recipe isn't for everyone. It's only recommended for the sweetest-smartest-best dogs in the whole world. Only the ones that deserve nothing but the best!Of course I'm exaggerating - a bit. I developed this recipe out of sheer frustration, you see, without getting too descriptive - my dogs have, ah shall we say - very sensitive stomachs. So finally after about 2 1/2 years of trying

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-44247752536967808932009-04-10T11:20:00.000-07:002009-04-10T11:46:53.250-07:00

Came across something worth mentioning this week. Different materials aren't typically the same thickness, and the seams between the two are not pretty. Obvious, right? Well in theory, but in practice it's sometimes a detail overlooked. Imagine my horror when I saw this:OK, loose the drama - I know. But it's like highwater pants, or underwear lines to my sensitive design eyes! It's not that big

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-50366626245348415182009-02-11T14:37:00.000-08:002009-02-11T15:55:11.677-08:00

From my collection of FAQ's...A little countertop tutorial.The least expensive countertop material is laminate (don't cringe) there's a newgeneration of laminates that are amazing! I moved into an apartment in NYC thinking I had granite countertops - and did not realize my error until I touched it!My favorite is Wilsonart HD. It is actually a 3D surface that is carved, rendered and colored to

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-44188322901739187132008-11-14T08:12:00.000-08:002009-02-11T14:30:48.665-08:00

The lease on my explorer is up Jan 2. So on top of launching a new business, juggling clients and holiday planning - I'm pondering a new addition to the family.This is not something I take lightly. I was born into a Ford Family. My Grandfather drove a Standard Ford out of farm life in Iowa and into his new life in the city during the depression. My Dad's 1956 T-bird started a long legacy of

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-33379545785131966412008-10-08T12:37:00.000-07:002009-02-11T14:37:02.752-08:00

A commercial background in design exposed me to the great carpet companies, the best fibers and construction and really great, forward thinking, cutting-edge design. These companies focus on the investment of carpet, its impact on the environment and most importantly its impact on the health and safety of an environments occupant.I naturally expected all of this to be true in the residential

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-81790269571951603462008-05-21T12:10:00.000-07:002009-02-11T14:33:39.018-08:00

Well I try... but today especially!First off - I got my carpets cleaned - woo-hoo! I should have done it about a year ago, but I was so concerned about the soaps and detergents they use, and how they would affect my allergies and my woofies (tr: dogs.)But Alas! I found Zerorez... unbelievable! All I can smell is the nice, fresh, non-smell of ...water!Everything they use is non-toxic so it's safe

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-71336169540732053952008-01-14T11:32:00.000-08:002009-02-11T14:34:55.760-08:00

“Nope, my remodel’s covered – I hired an architect.”I’ll just start this one with an on the job experience. The residential firm I worked for in Laguna Beach California (specialized in extremely high end homes to the tune of 5+ million dollar residences) was called in late in the game to pinch hit for the owner who was leaving on a month long African safari. She needed someone to select finishes

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-58473592966921657282007-12-11T14:48:00.000-08:002009-02-11T14:35:41.359-08:00

“What’s the next trend/style for interior design?”I love this question because it means that the person asking it is loaded! Not really, but they should be if they’re concerned with the answer. Interior design is not fashion design! Trends should never dictate what you choose to live with in your own home. My goal as an interior designer is to help you refine your own taste and style – not to

Design-ophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462034562090116738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491874558818834079.post-53380299021423506972007-11-15T15:56:00.000-08:002009-02-11T14:36:23.858-08:00

“Oh that’s cool! My mom-neighbor-aunt is an Interior Designer too!”Designer or Decorator?Hiring someone to help you design or decorate your home is a daunting task. Even if you have a great referral from a friend, it doesn’t necessarily mean that that person is right for you or your project.The laws vary greatly around the country in regards to the use of the title “Interior Designer” so I’ll

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