Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category
As Featured in the Daily Oklahoman
There was a time when decorating your college dorm room didn’t go much beyond a bedspread, a wall poster and, if you were lucky, a framed photo of your boyfriend.
Now, even though the dorm rooms themselves haven’t changed much, options for designing one that is both functional and fun make it not only possible, but a must.
Of course, colleges and universities have restrictions. And this may be your first real shot at decorating. Think of it as your first challenge with creativity.
The good news is, you’re not alone. Some really cool options are out there in bedding, wall decor, storage and more.
“Young people see a lot. There are magazines and TV shows with cool decor, and I think kids are into that. They want their rooms to be reflective of themselves,” said Bebe MacKellar, an interior decorator with Fanny Bolen Interiors in Oklahoma City.
Ruth Ellis, an Edmond interior designer, set up a mock dorm room in her home to illustrate the possibilities. The first thing she added was a circular theme of bright colors. Fuschia, lime green — all colors are available in draperies, bedding, wall art, stackable storage containers, you name it. Pick your scheme and go full tilt.
With so many inexpensive options, here’s your chance to be whimsical and sensible at the same time.
“Think about how you can make a huge splash of style without breaking the bank,” said Ellis, who just created “Girlie Girl Room,” an offshoot of her design firm, Fabulous Faces.
At the same time, pick items that can be easily moved.
Some of the top shoppers and designers offer these tips to get you started:
- Bedding is everything in a dorm room — and it can make the difference between a good night’s sleep and an achy sort of day. So buy an egg crate or featherbed padding and some decent pillows. And remember, most dorm room twin beds are extra long, so standard sheets won’t fit. Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Linens ‘N’ Things all carry extra long sheets at a reasonable cost. If you tend to study and entertain on your bed, Ellis suggests buying a duvet cover that is machine washable. Throw pillows are another way to add color and turn your bed into a sofa.
- If your dorm allows it, consider setting up a loft, where stilts lift your bed to allow a desk and other belongings to go underneath. This is a great way to use your vertical space and create a wonderful sleep-study-storage-mini-kitchen area using very little floor space.
- Dorm rooms are always short on storage space, but you’re ahead if you think vertical. Plastic milk crates come in all colors, are great for books, papers, linens, and stack as high as you can reach. Better yet, pack your containers for what you will store in them before you move. Sheets, towels clothes stay in place until needed — just shove them under your bed. Continue reading »
As Featured on the Today Show
We’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for,” but it’s not always so black and white. So how do you know when a cheaper version of a product is a good buy or when it would be better in the long run to pay top dollar? Luckily for us, that’s a question “Money” magazine’s September issue and and TODAY’s Financial editor Jean Chatzky tackled.
THE KITCHEN
Microwave:
Emerson MW8992RD, 0.9-Cubic-Foot 900W, $60
Save or spend: Save
Most microwaves on the market are made by a Chinese outfit called Galanz, so the guts and functionality are remarkably similar. As for looks, Emerson’s red stainless model has lots of style.
Pepper mill:
Seven-inch Peugeot Paris, $38
Save or spend: Spend
Just as with coffee, pepper tastes better if you grind it yourself. That’s why, according to chef Charlie Palmer, a good pepper mill is a must. It’ll produce a consistent texture, and you’ll be able to adjust the size of the grind. Peugeot (yes, it’s the automaker) has been making this mill since 1847, and the design hasn’t changed much in that time. Each grinder groove is individually cut and case hardened.
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As Featured on CNNMoney
To get the most for your money, you need to know two things: when the good stuff is worth paying extra for and when the economy choice is plenty good enough.
Save or spend: Spend
“The sofa is the anchor of your living room,” says interior designer Thom Filicia. That alone may make it worth a splurge.
But also: Above $2,000 you tend to get something sturdier. “The biggest thing to consider is the frame,” says Jennifer Litwin, author of “Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!”
On cheaper couches, the frame may be made of metal or pressed wood. Kiln-dried hardwood like you’ll find in this sofa from Restoration Hardware is better; it gives, therefore it won’t crack.
Look for a down-foam mix in the cushions. “The best couches feature eight-way hand-tied coils too,” says Litwin.
Ask the salesperson whether the store has a cutaway. But also just lift it – a solidly constructed sofa shouldn’t be easy to pick up.
As Featured in Quick & Simple
By: Tiffany Sun, Associate Editor
For: Quick & Simple
You can furnish your home in style without ever setting foot out of the front door! Jennifer Litwin, author of Furniture Hot Spots, shares her secrets for getting great steals on the Web.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Be a night owl – or an early bird. Many sellers post items in the wee hours, so you’ll find the most refreshed inventory then or first thing in the a.m.
A PICTURE’S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
Seek out sellers who provide bright, clear images of their items. Otherwise, that red velvet chair that caught your eye may turn out to be pumpkin orange when it arrives!
MAKE YOUR MARK
You’re not the only one with good taste, so if you really love something, show your interest immediately. Respond to a post as quickly as possible – a phone call (rather than an e-mail, which can be overlooked) may put you at the top of the list and separate you from the pack of potential buyers.
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As Featured in the Daily Herald
Your money supply is short.
Demand for your business is high.
And that combination means you should be able to save on most products.
Businesses are using every trick in the book to lure customers, including online offers, store coupons and an array of creative discounts.
The key is planning, says Chicago’s Brad Wilson, owner of BradsDeals.com.
“You have to plan where you’re going and what you want to get,” he said. “There’s probably a coupon for 90 percent of the stores, and I don’t think people realize how many there are and how easy they are to get.”
And sometimes, good planning will allow you to do better than just a discount – like free shipping.
Here are a few strategies for bagging bargains during the holiday season.
PRICE MATCHING
A sale at one place is sometimes the same as a sale at another, thanks to price-matching guarantees. Many competing businesses do this, but to reap the benefits, you must do your homework. Know the competitor’s price and be armed with a current sales flier or Web printout to argue your case. If you’re organized, you can enjoy sale prices from multiple stores in a single stop.
Beware of: The hassle vs. the savings. It’s not worth your time if you have to wait 15 minutes to save $1. “It’s important if you’re buying a $1,000 TV, and less important if you’re buying a book,” Wilson says. Also be aware that some stores might not match deeply discounted Black Friday prices, so check in advance.
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As Featured in the Arizona Local News
Nowadays, few home sellers – and especially those trying to avert foreclosure – have spare funds to hire a “stager,” a professional trained in the art of making a property look as beguiling as possible to prospective buyers.
Good stagers are skilled at making an ordinary property look extraordinary, often by removing excess furnishings, augmenting the remaining items and then rearranging the entire mix.
“A house that’s beautifully staged usually sells faster and for more money than a similar home in the same neighborhood that hasn’t been staged,” said Michelle Minch, a veteran in the field and an official of the Real Estate Staging Association.
But sellers in a financial pinch can gain many of the benefits of staging without the expense of hiring a professional, she said, by asking family and friends for help and bartering for their services.
For example, someone who is skilled at car mechanics could offer a free tuneup or oil change in exchange for staging help. Or you could barter baby-sitting services or gourmet dinners in exchange for assistance in upgrading your decor.
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As Featured in Money Magazine
Sweden’s IKEA is already the world’s largest furniture retailer, with $31 billion in sales in zoo7. But it’s still in growth mode this side of Stockholm, with 35 U.S. Outposts and four more planned in the next two years. It doesn’t matter how lofty your tastes: If you live near an IKEA, the store’s low-price and high-style wares will draw you in eventually, for your kid’s dorm, a basement or a second home. Once there, expect to be the target of marketing more psychologically complex than the complete works of Ingmar Bergman. Here’s how to emerge without having spent a single krona more than planned.
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As Featured in Quick and Simple
Deck your home with the best and brightest — and most budget-friendly — specimen around, with shopping tips from consumer expert Jennifer Litwin, author of Furniture Hot Spots: The Best Furniture Stores and Websites Coast to Coast.
FABULOUS FAKES
Half of all Americans who buy Christmas trees are getting artificial ones, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Usually shipped almost fully assembled, the faux firs never need watering, nor do they drop needles or drip sap all over your living room rug. Often, they’re even prehung with lights, sparing you any scary moments teetering atop a stepladder.
What’s more, the current crop of fakes, with full branches and rounded needle tips (sometimes hand-painted), do a good job of fooling the eye. Of course, finding space to store the tree when the holidays are over can be challenging, but at least you don’t have to drag it to your sidewalk or drive to your local dump to dispose of it.
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