Fall Air Fresh Start!

Good Morning,

Today is a fresh start for sure, I have been away from this blog for a while now but have decided to refresh and begin a new chapter of At Home Ana with a new purpose. Originally this blog was a way of just helping out with design/decor tips only. I have decided to take it to the next level and make it more personal, by inviting you into my design space in a more approachable way with a better sense of community. Meaning, I will not only talk about design ideas and styles that will work for the everyday person but also try to give you real time options by merchandising and displaying new products in the market by hopefully both local vendors and larger accounts alike. Now friends all over can enjoy and engage in my blog/page in different ways. Please feel free to add you own insights and design knowledge as this venture grows. Thanks for being a long for the ride, and I look forward to enjoying some creative fun with all of you :)

~Ana

Back to reality....Hello All! I have been away from this blog for a while going through this crazy thing we call life! I would like to start by asking when did we blink and it became spring? Spring has sprung here in the beautiful northwest....flowers blooming, fountains turning on, farmers markets re-opening, birds chirping, all the best it has to offer. So, what do we have to offer it this time of year? A home that is organized and self sufficient, I think not! Which is why we need to take a step back to uncluttered minds and rooms, to be relaxed as we slide into summer. This post is just a few ideas of ways to organize your life and get you ready to unwind for some fun in the sun whether!

Hello Friends,

It is that time of year again....the air is feeling lighter, crisper, and the breeze is picking up... the faint whisper of yellow is beginning to show in the leaves, that's right folks.... fall is right around the corner! Now because it is still before labor day, it is a wonderful time to read up on what trends are coming up for this cozy season....form follows function when it comes to fashion vs. home interiors, so the usual suspects are back;  plaids, denim, knit pillows/throws, warm wood finishes, and jewel tones! The biggest change is the new "it" color for fall 2015.... it is the pure deep and sultry shade of reddish/pink/purple called Marsala!!!It was named the Panetone color of the year by designers in all fields, and the one to look out for in everything! Clothing to paint colors, to the new line of dishes at your local home decor shop, a beautiful spiced red :) Here a few examples of what you can look forward to this season, hope you can try to incorporate some of these great trends in your fall decor...happy shopping!!!

Thanks to; image expert, potterybarn, and polvore

The dog days of summer!

The best way to beat the summer heat.....refresh, re-arrange, and re-create! If you want to feel new again refresh your color scheme, and your palette to give you a new outlook! Re-arrange the composition or floor plan of your design in a space...maybe opening up a room to create more light, or just repositioning furniture to create a sense of new, without costing a cent! Re-create, sometimes taking something and turning it into something different is one of the most cost effective, fun, and easy things to do. Re purpose as it were....almost like being a kid again, doing a craft that at the end of the day gives you a sense of pride, and can really bring something personal to a design! Hope you have a chance to try one of these fruitful fun warm weather ways to "cool off" a stale design in the dog days of summer ;)

Spring has sprung!!!

Spring has sprung.....flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and your home needs a decorating pick me up! Here are a few great ways to do that in style....

1) Add some foliage of beauty....(plant some flowers) get your green thumb on, like I did for the first time. I will give more detail on that later, but as nike would say "just do it"!

2) Declutter!!! If you are anything like my family, this time of year you begin to notice all the ruffage around your place that has accumulated since chirstmas :( no bueno

3) Add some cheerful and fun decor...A painting, a new throw, even just re-arranging  placement of furniture can help to freshen up a space :)

Halloween Fun!!!

Hello, and sorry again for the long a waited next post! My family and I are in the process of renovating and moving, and that has pretty much consumed all my time. None the less, I wanted to post at least one day during such a fun and spooktacular month to decorate...Halloween :)October is such a great time to express your silly side when creating ambiance in your home for people to view. Therefore; here are just a few creative ideas to go about welcoming the special little witches and monsters in your life ;) Have a safe and happy one and we will touch base again soon..... I promise, cross my heart, and hope to die!!!!

Falling for Fall!

Happy Labor Day Weekend :)

First I have to apologize for being M.I.A(missing in action) in the last month....it has been a busy one, and my family and I just returned from a trip from Alaska! We had a great time, and now we are just getting back into the swing of things and prepping for the kids to go back to school. Anyways, that is where I have been  if you want to comment below this post what you did this summer feel free! As for design I just wanted to add a couple great ideas about transitioning into fall decor. Now that summer is coming to an end, it is a nice time to begin transitioning your home to add a little bit of fall accents. I say "accents" because you only need to make small changes to do this....do not go and purchase all new furniture etc. haha...I like to start with focal points like the mantel or entryway of my home. It is a good way to get into the mood of the season and make your home begin to feel cozy for cooler months ahead. I would go with warm colors like the changing leaves, or if you have a cool color scheme throw some cream and browns in there....that always say's autumn. I will have more to add on this topic as time goes on, but for now here are a few examples and thanks for sticking with me through my summer hiatus!

Counters that "top" the chart!

 This article is just focusing on trending finishes which I will throw in every once in a while on this blog. The trend that I am exposing today is in counter top finishes and what is in now, on it's way out, and a has been... :( The finishes that are very now and current in 2014 are....Quartz, Marble, and poured concrete, what is on it's way out is surely Granite, and porcelain tile, and what is a has been is ceramic tiles. Funny enough laminate has had such a rebirth with the quality that even though it is not most people's first choice in material it has stood the test of time! Hopefully, this has helped all of you looking to do a renovation in the near future in either  a bathroom, kitchen, or even in commercial space. Hope all is well, and that all of you are staying cool in the heat of summer :)

Here are just a few great examples of what you can do...

The Designer's Cake!

Hello all, it is a new month and I have missed a week on posting. I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th weekend! I am back and ready to share some more design ideas with you...This one is a simple one but true... Try to remember to catch up on the base layer of your "design cake, lol! I am sure you are thinking what on earth is she talking about? What I mean by that is simply this, the base of your "design cake" is your flooring, walls, driveway, windows, insulation etc....the icing are the furniture, the fixtures, the colors on your wall.  Then last but not least are the candles of the cake such as; accents, paintings, personal items etc. pretty much everything else!
In the summer while the whether is nice, you should concentrate on any base design/structures that need  maintenance while you have the time, and energy, as well as conditions to do so. Those are the things that we forget to do, or just do not have the ability to do in our daily lives during the cozy/cold months of the year. This will produce a sound working interior design down the road for you, in all cases: new homeowners, or if you have had your home a while and just need a refresh, or even if you rent, you can always put your own twist to a space to update things and make them better! Well, that is all for today, just throwing out some wisdom for your cozy nest!

Home Staging!

This post is all about getting that house on the market in this hot time of year, which is typically summer.....and how best to get it moving! As a designer staging/merchandising is a great way to go about that, and it really does make a difference. Maybe you already moved out and your current house is empty, or maybe you are still living in it but you do not have the newest trends as far as decor, or maybe the scale of your furniture is too big for the room, and it has dwarfed the size of your space to look tiny. Having your home staged can make all the difference, it can help you with small or big changes that can get you the biggest bang for your buck! Also, it usually will help you to sell faster and save you many hours of trying to perfect your home last minute to the "average" buyer. Here are some great examples of staged homes....enjoy!

Thanks to moving mountains design, hard money man, and design solutions... :)

The art of Color Blocking!

Color Blocking, this form of artistic play in which you can bring an exciting color scheme to any space is very on trend right now, and also big not only in the fashion industry but also in interior design. It allows you to frame out a space, highlight a wall to pull out an accent color, or just create an interesting decor motif that needs a fresh out look! I have added a few pictures from some sites that shows exactly what I am speaking of and how you may use this fresh and and exciting trend that seems to not be going anywhere soon!

Thanks to "Straight from Bechay" for this great preview of fashion color blocking, which makes for a wonderful comparison!

A nice design brought to us from "interioroholic.com".

A nice ombre and color blocking detail on this dresser...idea from "Decor you adore".

Framed out color blocking technique brought to us by "pinterest".

The Fifth Room!

Today's post is about bringing the comfort and coziness of your indoor living spaces out! Just like the human senses, there is also five main living spaces in a home no matter what size your abode.  A living/family room (or both), a kitchen/dining room (or Both), a Bedroom, and a bathroom. They are all spaces in that in one way or another are utilized to create a necessary flow and function to the home, based on needs of the people living there. What is the fifth you may say?
Many are quick to update and decorate these spaces for all to see, and to show a part of who they are as a family or individual. However; many fail to remember about the "Fifth Room", the outdoors! Especially this time of year it is important to acknowledge that extension of your life. It gives you so much opportunity, so depending on your style you can create an outdoor space that has just as much personality as the rest of your home, and be able to enjoy and relax in your own "outdoor oasis"!Below are just a few ideas as to what that could look like...I would like to thank Interview Consult, Southern Living, and Home Design Find for some great ideas!

Father's Day Fun!

Today's post is just a nod to the great day we like to call Father's Day that is coming up just a round the corner!My husband and father really enjoy soccer, so just to show a little composition that I came up with for my hubby's display of "soccer love",....I decided to give you an insight as to what you can do if you do not have room for a"man cave" or big space to fill with your guy's hobby. Just a shelf or mantel will do, and it is all about mixing height, and scale, and color or finishes to complete the look!

Introduction

June 9th 2014

Hello. This is my first post I would like to share to introduce myself and show my gratitude for checking it out! As my profile states my name is Ana, and I am a mother of two, wife, as well as a interior designer by trade of 10 years plus. I put the other two first because I feel they are more important in this stage of my life...however; in this blog I will be talking to you as a design consultant mostly, but I do like to share all of who I am because that helps you relate more to what I have to offer you, and why I will be suggesting the things I do. I am going to try to stay consistent with doing a post in the beginning of the week and end for now. I am excited and hopeful about being able to share fun and easy design tips with you for all sorts of things and stages in life. In whatever stage you are at....making your new house a "home"? Trying to sell your home, prepping for a new baby, or getting ready to throw your first shin dig! Please feel free to take all or some suggestions/ tips from my page to help you create the feel and function you are craving. The photo below is my canvas art work that I have chosen to display in my kitchen, which I feel is the heart of any home. In my home, my hopes were that this sets the tone for my family that lives there, my friends that are welcome there, and anyone else who is just getting to know us. So, I thought it would be an appropriate first picture to show you, because I hope that this blog represents the same recipe for success  and happiness as I hope to achieve in my daily life! Thanks Again, and Welcome to At Home Ana :)