Selling your home is never easy. It requires extra attention to cleanliness and tidiness and a willingness to let showings happen at the drop of a hat. Families often feel as though they are living in limbo wanting to be comfortable while knowing things must be kept nearly perfect at all times in order to sell the house. Well, if selling a house is stressful already, doing so at the holidays can be downright nerve racking. Here are a few tips to help you strike the careful balance between showing your home and keeping the family comfortable:

Most people don't have an empty spot waiting for the tree to arrive. No, bringing in the tree usually requires a shuffling of furniture to make room for this rather large yet temporary resident. As you rearrange your furniture, be mindful of the seating area you are creating. Are you maintaining an appropriate focal spot? The fireplace would be an ideal feature. Is there still plenty of space for traffic to flow around the room? You may need to put some pieces in storage so that you can maintain your visual square footage. Is the room evenly lit? If you don't have an overhead fixture, turn on the decorative lights and lamps to ensure there is even lighting throughout the room. Then, be sure to turn on your holiday lights for showings.


A fireplace is a great selling feature and also synonymous with the holidays. Please remember that it is the fireplace, not the decorations, that will be sold with the house. This is not the year to cover the mantle in a 6" thick blanket of garland, your entire Santa figurine collection, and spray the whole thing down with flocking. This is the year to go with a "less is more" approach. A lovely wreath over the fireplace adds to the decorations while also featuring your architecture. A pair of beautiful candlesticks or holiday hurricane lamps are plenty for the mantle. Also, be sure you don't hang so many stockings that your fireplace begins to look more like a closet than a fireplace. Be sure to light gas units for showings. If you have a wood burning unit, place an abundance of multi-height white pillar candles in the box and light them instead. This produces a warm glow without the hassle of hauling in wood and maintaining the fire.



If you have a formal dining room, an elegant centerpiece can go a long way in adding holiday decor and showing off your home's entertaining potential. The key is to keep it elegant. This can be achieved with a monochromatic display of well-placed ornaments or a few candles and some greenery. Again, keep it simple and elegant.





Keep outside decor simple and elegant. Please don't put the big plastic Santa sled and his reindeer on the roof or install any inflatable figures on the lawn. I'm sorry if this offends, but most people find such decorations tacky and they certainly take the eye away from the most important feature - the house. Simple white lights along the roof line or tastefully arranged on bushes and trees are enough. Another alternative is to hang simple green wreaths with lovely bows in the windows and then light the front of the house with a few well-placed spotlights. Notice I said "a few". We are not looking to be confused for an airport runway or be seen from outer space! Regardless of the yard decor you choose, it is definitely appropriate to place a beautiful wreath on the front door. Remember that buyers will be spending a bit of time at the entrance while their real estate agent unlocks the door. Be sure the paint on the door is in good condition, the windows nearby are clean, and the porch is swept and clean.

Bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, etc...leave them alone! Don't use the Rudolph toilet seat cover or Santa and his duckie shower curtain. Don't turn your guest room into the train set holiday village or your child's bedroom into the Land of Sweets. Don't line the tops of your cabinets with villages or strings of lights. Do keep these rooms clean and tidy and feature any exceptional selling points. If a potential buyer can't see the house for all the decor how will they know what they are buying?



The holidays are a prime time for accidents of all kinds. Keep your home and your potential buyers safe by considering the following tips:

1. Be cautious when placing scatter rugs about the house as they often cause trips and slips. Only use them where truly needed, such as entry doors, and use a slip resistant pad beneath them.

2. Many of us love to wrap our banisters in yards of garland, lights and ribbon however you are going to have a lot of visitors who are unfamiliar with your home. You don't want someone slipping on a step, reaching for the handrail, and falling down the stairs because they couldn't grasp the rail. If you can't hang simple decoration below the railing then skip the decoration completely. It's not worth losing a sale or, worse, being sued because someone injures themselves while visiting your home.

3. Except for candles placed in the firebox, don't leave candles burning unattended. You don't know if the potential buyer has children in tow who might burn themselves or someone could knock over a candle and start a fire.

4. Play soft, commercial holiday carols to add to the warm ambiance.

The holidays can be a great time to sell a home. As long as you remember the "less is more" mantra, there is nothing like the glow of a fire and twinkling lights to produce visions of happy family times. By keeping decorations in moderation, you can use the benefits of the holidays as well as the features of your home to really make a sale.

Hot New Discoveries!

We've just returned from NeoCon East, the premier design exposition and conference for the mid-Atlantic design community, and we are inspired! The expo presents the products and services for over 250 exhibitors and it's our opportunity to get a sneak peek at new products and to try them and test them on the spot. They also offer over 30 accredited seminars, forums and keynote speakers to further enhance our knowledge. Here are some of the Tribeca Design Studio highlights:

Best Keynote Speaker: Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes and reality TV show "Ace of Cakes"

Duff inspired us in terms of thinking outside the box even more than in terms of design. He reminded us that we should do what we love and love what we do. He admitted that his motivation to move to Vail, CO when he left French Laundry in California was to hang out with friends and snowboard. He spent several weeks there and was having such a good time that his friends suggested he find a job and stay. He went to work as a pastry chef at a resort hotel and was introduced to baking competitions. He learned skills like ice sculpturing that he now uses in his cake decorating. His mentor helped him love baking again and these experiences were foundational to his current success.

He also taught us that rules don't always apply. Duff claims to have lost every baking or cake decorating competition he's ever been in. So why does he enter? For the challenge, not the title. He said he usually has the best cake there but he tends to break the rules and get disqualified. He really doesn't care because he gets to learn from the other decorators and create really off-the-wall cakes that he loves.

His final lesson was a reminder to see the potential in others and treat your employees well. Did you know that the sole baker at Charm City Cakes never baked a cake in his life until he came to work for Duff? Duff saw that he had the right attitude and spent 2 1/2 months teaching him how to bake his cakes. He sees the advantage that this baker didn't have to be "untaught" of previous recipes or bad habits. None of his other employees went to culinary or pastry school either. They are all art school kids and musicians. The important thing is that they are unbelievably creative and intelligent. It didn't take long for them to learn to put their painting or sculpting talents to work with cake and icing. Duff treats them exceptionally well and they are exceptionally loyal and hardworking. Who else gives their employees 2 months paid vacation that includes an all expenses paid 2 week staff vacation? He also invests 10% of his earnings outside the bakery and gives them a portion of that when their time comes to move on.

Best Low-Cost Chair: Parfait II by Leland

This was the most comfortable and stylish bentwood chair I've ever seen. It is highly flexible too with options to upholster the seat and back, arms or armless, and high density stacking or side chair. It also comes in bar and counter heights. It is simple in design, comfortable in function, and low in price. It doesn't get much better than that!

Best Task Chair: Squiq by Keilhauer

This chair is the result of a study with an Austrian design team that purposed "to create an intuitive task chair that would follow the human body's natural inclination for movement and postural variation." Basically, they studied the differences between the way men and women sit and work and created a chair that adjusts for both. With built in features like "Pelvic Balance Point Technology" and "T1-L5 Free Shoulders Thoracic Support" this is one comfortable task chair! However great design doesn't stop with function and Keilhauer didn't stop there either. They created discreet levers and buttons and have a variety of fabric colors and patterns to choose from. My favorite was the perforated white leather with a chrome frame. Beautiful!

Best Flooring: InterfaceFLOR

You may have seen FLOR tiles for residential use, but did you know they have a commercial division too? This company is revolutionary in the industry and really has a mind for being good to the Earth. For residential use the design options are endless and the ability to pull up one tile and wash it in the sink is so practical. The commercial options offer a range of colors, patterns and textures that are all beautiful, durable, and cost effective. InterfaceFLOR is on a mission to achieve zero environmental footprint by 2020. It's their mission and they are serious about it. They didn't just jump on the green band wagon either. They introduced their ReEntry plan back in 1994 as a way to recycle old carpet into new carpet and they have continued to improve the program ever since. Take a look at their website and see all the awards they've won and then look at all the designs they offer. A beautiful product that's kind to the environment and affordable too - now that's a winner!

Best Super Fabric: Crypton

Crypton fabric are the most amazing fabrics ever! They don't stain and come in a variety of colors, textures and patterns. A Crypton fabric is a specially engineered fabric in which the fibers are encapsulated with stain and germ protection before being given an integrated moisture barrier. Sounds plastic, right? But there not! You have probably seen, felt, and sat upon many Crypton fabrics without ever knowing it. It is breathable while having a moisture barrier at the same time. It's the perfect fabric for upholstered dining chairs, sofas, hotel applications, and now even carpets. It cleans up quickly and thoroughly and is highly durable. The next time you need a durable fabric that is soft and beautiful, ask for Crypton!

Well, that's enough of the "Best" for this month. With over 250 exhibitors each showing a plethora of products, the list could be endless. We are inspired by the creativity in design, function, and green thinking we found in these and many other products. If you have need for any of these or other products (wallpaper, case goods, etc.) give us a call at 302.526.4268 or send an email to info@TribecaDesignStudio.com and we'll be happy to help you find the best product for your project. If you just want to ask a question or make a comment about some of the products you've heard of, leave a comment and we'll do our best to respond quickly.

No More Hectic Holidays

As I see the leaves begin to turn from the lush greens of summer to the fiery oranges and golds of autumn, I am prompted to consider all of the change we have seen so far in 2009. We began with the promise of change and we have certainly seen that come to fruition. No matter the size, intention, or result, the process of change is rarely easy and the current economic downturn has made these changes especially difficult for most of us. Now the holidays are approaching and we must all decide how to handle what has traditionally been a time of excess when many of us are suddenly having to cut back.

Flexibility seems to be the needed attitude to successfully get through the season and be better for it in the end. If flexibility is the attitude, then simplicity is the mode. It's time to return to what really matters. It's time to remember the simplicity of how these holidays began: the Pilgrim's celebration of survival, the humble birth of a tiny babe, the miracle of a lamp that kept on burning. What is consistent among all of these celebrations? Life! So let us celebrate life this season by focusing on our families, our friends, and reaching out to those who may feel forgotten. Let's take an honest look at what we have, not the material things, but the relationships, the knowledge, the experiences that shape us and make us who we are. Let's celebrate this crazy roller-coaster ride called Life and make the most of it this season and into the new year.

Holiday Tips 2009

In the spirit of resourcefulness and simplicity, I offer the following tips for having a successful holiday season this year:

• Update your holiday decor by incorporating some of the new color trends into your existing palette. For Thanksgiving, add warm olive greens or honey yellows to your basic brown elements. At Christmas or Hanukkah, combine your tried-and-true red decorations with one of the new teal blues or warmer grays being shown this season. Replace the worn or stained snow-white ribbons on your wreaths with creamy dove white ones. Incorporate new metallics into your decor through fabrics and ribbons. The idea is to use what you already have and simply add a few new items where they really matter or where the old ones are wearing out. For more information on the season's color trends, go to http://www.pantone.com/pages/Pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20644&ca=4 . And here's some good news, because home furnishing trends are usually slightly behind fashion trends these new colors will still look great next year!


• Incorporate natural elements into your decor, and I'm not talking about expensive wreaths flown in from Canada or Maine! Go into your own backyard and take a look at your trees, bushes, pine cones, etc. You may already have all the greenery you need. Clip some berry filled branches from your evergreen shrubs and place them on the mantel. Spray paint can turn dead twigs into sculptural works of art that create a stunning centerpiece or an elegant alternative to costly ribbon wrapped around the tree. Use the same paint on pine cones and pile them in a beautiful dish or hang them on the tree. Silver and gold are always elegant, and dove white is beautiful. You can buy flocking spray to achieve a snow-covered effect. If you want to be really bold, paint them a bright glossy red instead! For more ideas on decorating with pine cones, go to Holiday Decorating with Pine cones
  

Here are some tips on honoring Life this season:

• Carefully consider the activities and invitations you accept. Prioritize time spent with family and close friends and be sure to donate some of your time and/or money to a worthy charitable organization. Some of the best times with those you love can be spent volunteering at a soup kitchen or shopping for those in need. If you're not sure where to volunteer your time, I suggest beginning with your local church or synagogue and then take a look at the community section of your newspaper for announcements of meals being served or assistance needed. If you want to make a financial donation, start local and then go global. What better way is there to see your contribution at work than to see the difference in your own community?


• Be sure you leave plenty of time in your schedule to be home and enjoy your decorating efforts. Whether it's a quiet evening alone with a book and a blanket in front of a warm fire or a laughter filled night of baking cut-out cookies or carving pumpkins with the children, we all benefit from enjoying time in our beautiful and comfortable homes.


• And finally, don't sweat the small stuff! So your holiday feast didn't turn out perfect - just be thankful for the time with your guests and the fact that you have food in the cupboards for the next meal. Your decor isn't exactly how you imagined? Be thankful that you have a home and for those who live within its walls. You couldn't buy the perfect gift for a loved one? Remember that love cannot be purchased and find other ways to show your affections. If you find yourself being pulled into the mindset of the commercialized marketplace, remember these wise words:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do
not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also." Matthew 6:19-21

Furniture Buying 101

There is an attraction among the general public to buy furniture store groupings. It's fun to see what someone else has boldly designed and put together and to imagine being the Master of the castle set before us. The reality is that furniture stores are not designed to make buying furniture easy. They woo the innocent buyer with a dramatic display but then the buyer is shocked when the magic doesn't arrive with the sofa delivery. Instead they find themselves stuck with pieces that may be the wrong color, shape, or size for their own home. Follow these simple steps and you will be able to create your own castle.

Before you even go to the store, you have a little work to do. First, measure every wall and draw it out on a piece of graph paper. Then mark the locations of the doors, windows, cable outlet, switch plates, etc. Next, measure and collect samples of everything that is going to stay in the room. Get a swatch of your paint color, flooring, drapery fabric, and upholstery. If it's going to coordinate with the new pieces you are buying then you need to take it with you. Finally, take photos of the pieces that are staying in the room. Even if it's just quick snapshots on your cell phone, you need a visual reference for the style and shape of your existing pieces. Now, grab a tape measure and pencil along with your graphed out room, swatches, and photos and head for the store.

Enter the store with caution! You must determine that you are there to buy the right pieces for your home and budget and not to be sucked into buying the first "package" that you like. It's a good idea to take an initial sweep around the entire store to get a feel for the styles they offer. Then you can go back to the section that seems the most appropriate for your home.

When you find a piece that seems to fit the color and style of your room, be sure to take measurements and pencil it onto your graph paper. Study the paper. Do you have plenty of room for traffic flow? You need at least a 3 foot width for main paths. Is the piece proportionate to the other pieces? It should not seem significantly larger or smaller. Be especially careful when purchasing sectionals and recliners. Sectionals take up a lot of room and you must consider reclined measurements, too . Also, don't feel that you have to buy the "package" being offered. You may not need so many pieces and it's much more interesting to mix the pieces while coordinating with color or pattern. Finally, be willing to explore many stores and online options too. It can take some time, but an investment this large is worth doing right.

Follow these steps and you should find success in buying the right furniture for your home. If you still have questions, don't have time to follow the process, or are redesigning your entire room call Tribeca Design Studio at 302.526.4268 and ask about our design services. Investing in the plan for your room can save you money in the end.

Color Trends 2009

I've spent the last several hours researching color trends for 2009 and I discovered that while there were some predictions for "it" colors, most sources agree that the move is more towards palettes of colors and associated lifestyles. It seems that our political and economic trends toward a global society are being reflected in our personal and home fashions as well. There has been a move toward individuality and away from conformity for some time and this is leading to diverse groupings of options rather than singularly accepted trends. Ironically, it seems that even in our search for the unique we still desire groups from which to choose. There was a lot to read and interpret so I've summed it up for you here.

Urban Reality
Based on the contemporary urban style of the past, this structured look continues to evolve with the development of new technologies in materials and manufacturing. The colors are rooted in a range of grays and inky blues with accents of metallics and shaded reds, plums and greens. A clean look for business professionals and those with a penchant for the modern, this palette is based on dark neutrals with the addition of shaded colors and seems to reflect the moody seriousness of the current economy. This look is perfect for masculine studies, corporate offices, or any formal or streamlined space.

Natural Comforts
With a nod toward romance this palette of dusty hues and neutrals is all about a return to the basics. Femininity is embraced along with organic fabrics though this palette is meant for both genders. It is a casual palette with a neutral base of beige and soft browns and layers of dusty blue, violet, rose and peach tones. Perfect for a beach house, country cottage, or any space that merges antiques with casual comfort, this palette is set to create a soft retreat for the end of a hard day.

Enchanted Forests
Think "Lord of the Rings meets Environmental Activist" and you'll have this palette nailed. You could say this trend follows the distressed style of recent years, though the downturn in the economy has fewer of us wanting to purposefully look poor, so it is a more cleaned-up version. Patterns include washed plaids and checks as well as nature-inspired and animal prints. It is based on the idea of enchanted forests with sprinklings of sunsets and morning skies. It is full of khakis, many shades of green, earthen oranges, warm grays, and stormy blues. Perfect for any Eco-conscious consumer this palette is especially pleasing to those who love the outdoors and earthy palettes. It is well-suited to public and private spaces and can be dressed up or relaxed.

Techno Youth
More than the grays and blues of past techno palettes, this new trend is influenced by the development of art in the world of technology. With unusual combinations of warm and cool colors, strong graphic patterns, and both organic and lightweight tech fabrics, it reconciles the hard edges of technology with the no boundaries freedom of the art world. Truly a palette for the future, this mix is appealing to youth, those with bold personalities and anyone who is unafraid of color. A great choice for kids' bedrooms, kitchens and anywhere you're bold enough to use it.

In terms of singular color trends, look for yellows to make a strong return this season. It is one color that works with all of the palettes and has a welcome cheerfulness that everyone is seeking. You will see it combined with gray in both structured and graphic patterns, in metallic accents in woven fabrics and adding a little brightness when partnered with dusty or earthen shades.

Don't feel that you must throw out your old to incorporate these new palettes as they are all rooted in past trends. An easy update? Add throw pillows to sofas, a new vase to a bookshelf, or put your old comforter in a new duvet. In terms of investment, buy quality pieces in neutral finishes that will endure the test of time. If you keep your backgrounds of furnishings and walls neutral you will have the perfect canvas for inexpensively adding new colors now and in the future.

How to Choose Paint

Whether you are decorating your home or staging it to be sold, painting is likely on your "To Do" list. You've heard it before and it's true that paint is the most effective and least expensive decorating tool. It can instantly update, renew, and even change the mood of a room - if the right color is used. That's where it gets tricky. How do you choose just the right color? Well, it's not as hard as it seems.

Have you ever really watched the machine at the paint store add the color to your gallon? If you have, you may have been surprised to see red, green, and even black among other colors being added to your gallon of yellow paint. You probably asked yourself how such strong colors could possibly create your soft shade. The answer is in color theory.

Basically, all colors have different amounts of other colors in them. Take a look at a fan deck, that hinged tablet full of possible paint hues that painters and decorators live by, and you will see that yellow has its own section of cards sandwiched between greens and oranges. The colors are organized this way because they have different undertones. Every color has an undertone, though some are more visible than others. Taking a look at the colors in the fan deck that are nearest your selected color will help you determine its undertone. If it is nearest the greens, then it will likely have a green undertone and likewise for those tones nearest orange.

Colors may also appear different at home than in the paint store. This is because the undertone can be made more or less dramatic due to the colors next to it. So if you select what appears to be a nice buttery yellow at the paint store and it turns to macaroni and cheese on your walls, it may be the red-toned wood floors doing the cooking. There are steps you can take to avoid this change:

1. Get a fan deck! Even if you have to purchase one it is worth the investment. Take the deck home and assign a paint chip to every surface in your room. It is a common mistake to forget about the color of even the most neutral carpeting or beige furniture but even these "neutrals" have undertones. Also take a look at your lighting. Does it glow yellow, peach, or even blue? Lighting will definitely affect color.


2. Spread all of your existing color paint cards on a white sheet of paper and then put the card with your new color next to them. Does the color still seem true or has it shifted? If it has shifted, do you like how it looks with the other colors? Look also at the other colors next to the new one and see if you like how the paint will change their appearance. Continue to try paint colors next to your existing shades until you find one or two that you like.


3. Now it's time to shop. You need to purchase a small amount of the paints you are considering in the sheen that you prefer. This is important because flat paint colors look different than satin, semi-gloss, or gloss paints. Also purchase a large piece of white foam core. Paint squares of each paint, at least 12" by 12", on the foam core and allow them to dry. Cut the squares apart and tape them to the wall in your project room. Step back and take a look at the colors to see which you like best. Be sure to try them on different walls and at different times of day as well. In a day or two, you should be able to determine the paint you prefer.


4. Now it's time to paint your room! If you follow these steps you should have a pleasing outcome and will have, quite possibly, transformed your room for the low cost of a gallon or two of paint.

If you use this process for selecting every color you add to your room (fabric, wood tones, etc.) you can avoid the biggest decorating mistake we see - fighting colors. Often harmony can be found in selecting the right paint for the walls to neutralize the competing undertones. If you find yourself stumped by the color selection process, don't fret. Give us a call at 302.526.4268 or send us an email at info@TribecaDesignStudio.com and we can do a color consultation for you.