Ways To Prepare Your Home For Professional Carpet Cleaning

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Thinking of having your carpets professionally cleaned? Awesome. Your carpets will thank you for it. However, there are a few things that you should do to prepare your carpet and your home in order to make the cleaning process go smoothly.

Rearrange or remove furniture.

Carpet cleaners are licensed and authorized to clean your carpets not move your furniture. The presence of unnecessary furniture that could be easily moved can be a hassle, causing an inconvenience for the cleaner and a less than perfect cleaning job- not to mention that furniture can get damaged during the process. Before your carpet cleaner comes, consider moving lamps, small coffee tables and stands, toy boxes, and light shelves off of the carpet that is to be cleaned. Tuck them away until the carpet has been cleaned dried thoroughly to avoid mold growth and furniture damage.

Do some decluttering.

Even the cleanest homes fall victim to clutter. A good way to prepare for your carpet cleaning, though, is to declutter. Pick up any shoes, kids toys, dog bones or beds, area rugs, and any other small, miscellaneous items that might be lingering on your carpet. Loose items can mean the difference between a good, deep clean, and a clean you could have done yourself. They can also be hazardous for the cleaner, causing him or her to trip.

Protect your valuables.

Although most carpet cleaning Surrey companies are honorable and wouldn’t dream of stealing from their clients’ homes, it’s never a bad idea to move your valuables to a safe place. Relocate anything you deem valuable to another room or temporarily house it in a safe if you want to be certain that nothing will happen. Some valuables to think about include jewelry and electronics, which are easy to disguise.

Even if you aren’t worried about your valuables being stolen, valuable items left in the open are also at risk for being damaged. Move important knick knacks, photos, and breakable items off of shelves or mantels to keep the safe.

Put the pets away.

Pets, like dogs, which often have free range of the home, will need to be moved out of the technician’s way so that he or she can effectively clean. Pets should be kept in another room or outside until the technician leaves to ensure the safety of all parties involved. Often times, cleaning companies use machines that are attached to large commercial trucks, which means that the front door or various windows will need to be open during the process, giving your pet the opportunity to escape.

Pets like birds and small rodents should be moved into a quieter space as they are easily frightened and can become stressed. You should also consider relocating fish tanks and terrariums to avoid having any accidents.

Preparing for a deep clean doesn’t have to be a daunting, day-long task.  You can impress your technician with your preparedness by acting on the simple suggestions above.

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7 Great Bathroom Design Tips

Bathrooms are important. In them, we conduct all measures of personal business and, unfortunately, we also tend to neglect our bathroom when we renovate or decorate our homes.

If you want your bathroom to be just as luxurious as your living room, keep reading.

Add greenery.

If your bathroom is classically white, spruce it up with a houseplant or two.

If you lack room, opt for a hanging plant or a small, potted plant that can sit on the counter or on the shelf behind the toilet.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a green thumb – there’s nothing wrong with artificial house plants.

Introduce a touch of metallics.

Metallics are a great way to spruce up your bathroom. Opting for a mirror with a metallic gold or silver finish, or a set of metallic drawer pulls can do wonders for a simple bathroom.

The benefit of this is that these tiny touches of color won’t take away from the crisp, clean appearance of your bathroom.

Update your hardware.

Bathrooms in old houses often boast outdated hardware (faucets, to be more specific). To give your bathroom a quick update, invest in a new faucet.

There are tons of great, modern options on the market and, in general, faucets are one of the least expensive bathroom updates.

Install floating shelves.

There’s nothing more modern than floating shelves. They have a sleek, stylish appearance and are incredibly functional, which makes them a two-for-one update.

Since floating shelves have installation hardware that goes unseen, they can be placed close together and are good for creating ample shelving space.

Get some decorative towels.

Yes, towels are supposed to be functional – but they can also be purely decorational. Decorative towels are towels that you purchase with the intent of placing them in your bathroom, folded and neat, to enhance its appearance.

They come in a wide array of colors, styles, patterns, sizes, and textures, so you can really have fun choosing decorative towels.

Install bold light fixtures.

Gone are the days of modest light bulbs. If you want to give your bathroom an instant upgrade, install a bold lighting fixture.

Opt for a large fixture in the center of the room, or multiple smaller fixtures on the walls and/or above the sink. Get creative!

Get creative with tiles.

Traditional bathroom tiles can be boring. So instead of working around them, change them! Install floor, shower, and back splash tiles that go against the standard, clean-cut rectangular tiles.

Use tiles that have unique shapes and interesting patterns. For an even more interesting look, mix and match similar tile styles in various parts of the room.

Use colorful accents.

If your bathroom has a neutral color scheme,liven it up with splashes of color.

Decide on an accent color that works well in the room and find decor pieces that feature the accent color. These can include rugs, towels, flowers, shower curtains, and window shades.

6 Fun Ways To make Your Living Room Pop

The living room is the soul of home- it sees it fair share of heartache, laughter, and tender moments. However, it’s also one of the rooms that get pushed aside in terms of decoration, as most home owners focus on the improvement of their bedrooms and kitchens. If you’re trying to give your living room a needed update, here are a few great solutions of simple ways to make your living room pop- without breaking the bank or starting a renovation project.

Throw pillows.

Give your living room a touch of pillowy-soft comfort by investing in a few throw pillows for the couch, arm chair,  or loveseat. Throw pillows are great options because they are inexpensive and versatile. They come in all shapes and sizes, are available in a variety of colors and patterns, and can even be mixed and matched to fit a color scheme- not to mention they’re great for cat naps on the couch and stored away within seconds if the need arises.

Coffee table centerpieces.

Coffee tables are functional and common, but they can also be stylish. Like a kitchen table, coffee tables can be decked out with unique centerpieces to offer the living room a touch of interest. Some good centerpieces include candles, gemstones, metal accessories, and old-fashioned pottery. To further add intrigue to the coffee table area, consider switching your wood table for a stone or animal-shaped table.

Area rugs.

Not only do area rugs protect your carpets and floors from spills, they also give your home a hint of style. Area rugs, like throw pillows, can be purchased in a host of different sizes, patterns, colors, and fabrics. Some rugs are fluffy and soft while others are more functional and are made using stiffer fibers.

Shelving decor.

A well decorate shelf can go a long way. Nothing looks better than a shelf that is used to tastefully display fun items. This being said, though, shelves should never be overcrowded and there should be even space between each item. Decorate your extra shelves with picture frames, statues, antiques, and quirky figures to give your living room a focal point and open up conversation.

Mirrors.

Mirrors are often used to make spaces look bigger. They can also be used, however, to decorate. Mirrors can be purchased at home decoration and department stores for very little. They come in various shapes and sizes and can be placed between other wall decor items without taking too much attention away from the surrounding pieces. They’re also handy for double checking your hair before you leave the house!

Plants.

Whether they’re fake or live, plants and greenery are perfect for sprucing up your living space. A few green accents are guaranteed to draw the eye and are pleasing to look at. Plain green plants such as crawling vines, bright flowers, and succulents all look good. Each one provides a slightly different atmosphere, and when paired together or thoughtfully coordinated, they can change the mood of any room.

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6 Ways To Create Space in A Small Room

Small rooms can be hard to decorate. They are often strangely shaped, lack floor space, and sometimes have low ceilings that make it impossible to showcase tall houseplants or display cases. If you’re in a slump and unsure of how to furnish your closet-sized room, look no further- here are a few great ways to create space in tiny rooms.

Mirror, mirror on the wall.

One of the easiest ways to make a small room feel spacious is by adding a mirror or two (or four?). By reflecting light, images, and color, mirrors work wonders to make even the smallest room seem double its actual size. One great strategy is to place a large mirror in an area of the room where it is able to reflect the scenery from a window or the view of another room in the house.

Frugal furnishing.

It can be tempting to cram a small room full of comfy furniture and turn it into a haven perfect for relaxation, however, if you’re trying to make a small room look larger, skip the extra arm chair. Instead of cramming the room full of bulky furniture, stick with one or two exceptionally comfortable pieces of furniture. This is the same for wall decoration- choose a few statement pieces of wall art and don’t overdo it. Too many wall decorations can make a already small room feel as if its closing in on itself.

Light, white, and clean.

Painting is a simple way to make small rooms feel larger, as well. However, dark colors such as maroon, browns, and deep purples and reds actually make rooms appear smaller. Instead of a dark color, opt for a light, airy color that reflects light. A few good color ideas are white, off-white, eggshell, beige, and light rainbow colors (blue, pink, purple, green).

Transparent and tricky.

As a general rule of thumb, see-through objects such as coffee tables, appear to take up less space, making small rooms seem more open and larger than they actually are. Glass-top tables are ideal for this, as they practically disappear when placed in front of large pieces of furniture. Not to mention that they also look stylish and interesting!

Elevation elation.

Small rooms tend to need a lot of added storage space. Generally, this space come sin the form of cabinets and shelving, which makes the room seem even smaller. Remedy this by switching your floor-dwelling shelves and cabinetry units for pieces that can be mounted on the wall and elevated off of the floor, giving the illusion of more floor space.

Point of interest.

Showcasing your favorite, Picasso-esque painting or hand-carved figurine is a good way to draw the eye to a specific location in the room. Although it doesn’t seem like a focal point would do much good at upscaling the size of a room, it really does! The point of interest doesn’t make the room itself appear larger, however, it does draw the eye in and make the viewer forget the size of the room.

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Affordable Online Stores to Buy Wall Art

Wall art is a popular and stylish way to update old, boring rooms that are in need of a change. However, wall art can also be pricey- especially if its purchased in a physical store, from a gallery, or from a website that charges hefty shipping fees. Luckily, to make up for the amount of expensive places, there are a number of affordable websites in which to purchase wall art. Here are a few.

Society6

Society6 offers a variety of inexpensive, whimsical art prints, making it great for those who like to change their wall art on a regular basis. The website offers prints that include funny sayings, deep quotes, florals, watercolor, nature scenes, and creative abstracts. Prices start as cheap as $20, offering both quality and affordability.

Artfinder

Founded by a Swedish artist, Artfinder set up shop in London in 2013 and has since been providing art enthusiasts with stylish wall art. The website offers wall art of every medium and in nearly every style known to man from watercolor to still-life. Each piece is signed by its artist and prices start at a mere $25.

Deviant Art

Deviant Art is best known for hosting a society of art lovers and creators, allowing them to share their work and be inspired. It can also be used to buy wall art for a reasonably affordable price. For original works, prices start as $50 and come framed. Styles on the website are generally whimsical, surreal, and  very creative.

Etsy

For people who love having options, Etsy is the ideal place to purchase new art. Etsy is home to hundreds of unique art stores hosted by independent sellers and artists who are eager to make a sale. Prices are reasonable, but shipping can be costly, so it’s important to pay attention to the store’s shipping rates and policy when making a decision. Artists on Etsy dabble in virtually every style including digital art, ink, and mixed media.

LightInTheBox

Light In The Box is an online store that supplies its customers with high quality wall art including oil paintings, prints, and framed photos. The website hosts frequent sales and changes its sale items regularly. Prices start at $10, ensuring that someone on even the smallest of budgets is able to find their new favorite piece of art.

iCanvas

iCanvas is an online art shop who offers affordable art starting at $30. The website offers a variety of styles and gives buyers the option of whether they want their art piece framed or not. iCanvas sells prints, digital art, paintings, posters, and professionally taken photographs. The website is organized to segregate their art by size, color, style, and subject, making it easy to find your ideal piece of wall art.

Redbubble

Last on our list, Redbubble has 400,000 independent artists and sellers, giving you plenty of selection. Sellers are able to choose their own prices ($10-$20 seems to be the average per piece) and anyone with a creative side can upload and sell their work in print form.

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Paint Colors for Your Zodiac Sign

Painting is the simplest way to update makeover a home. It’s relatively cheap and can be done by a professional or all by yourself, making it budget friendly. There are thousands of room colors to choose from, but if you want a color that will truly fit your personality, take into consideration the colors that match your personality according to your Zodiac sign.

Aries

Crimson is a great choice for an Aries, says astrologist Lisa Stardust. Crimson is a bright and energetic color that fits perfectly with the go-getter nature of an Aries. Crimson is also a shade of red, which is the color of the Aries’ planetary ruler, Mars.

Taurus

An Earth sign, Taurus’ are often inspired by nature. Sage, an earthy tone, is both easy to decorate with and fitting for an earth sign. The soft green of sage serves to keep a Taurus grounded and in touch with their creative side.

Gemini

Classic and clean, white is the perfect color for the bedroom or living room of a Gemini. Gemini’s are known for having a busy lifestyle, leaving little room for complicated paint jobs or over decorated walls.  White is a clean shade that offers the room simplicity and makes it appear brighter.

Cancer

Known for being occasionally emotional, the calming tones of violet are ideal. Violet is a characteristically relaxing color that invigorates the chakras of the Cancer and keeps them relaxed, satisfied, and grounded.

Leo

Regal and sometimes known for having high expectations, Leo’s are signs that suit bold, rich colors such as dark purple. Dark purple is reminiscent to royalty and the sophistication within ancient castles, making it fitting for Leos.

Virgo

Fans of simplicity and functionality, Virgos tend to choose colors that go with everything. That’s why soft, subdued colors like ice blue are perfect for them. Ice blue is simple and classic, but not as plain to look at as a basic white, making it just the color for Virgos.

Libra

Loving and forgiving, Libras need a room color that matches their caring personality. What better color than one that symbolizes love and affection? Champagne pink. This delicate color choice radiates feelings of love and sophistication.

Scorpio

Scorpio’s have two power colors: black and red. Maroon is the perfect combination of the two, making it an awesome option for redecorating. Along with being a power color mashup, maroon is also known to be an emotional color which is appealing to the passionate sides of Scorpios.

Sagittarius

Bursting with obvious joy, the Sagittarius does well with happy go-lucky colors such as lime green. Lime green is playful and radiates happiness. Lime green is also fun to pair with black or other pops of bright colors to make for a stylistic design, which appeals to the Sagittarius creative side.

Capricorn

Capricorns are one of the more conservative signs. Because of this, grey tones are ideal for them as they aren’t too daring or bright, but can be used to create a peaceful living space that boasts style and comfort.

Aquarius

Creative and ruled by the blue planet, Uranus, Aquarius’ benefit from calming, basic colors such as light blue. The color allows this sign to be creative with room decor and inspires them to be innovative.

Pisces

Pisces have the tendency to absorb the energy of the people around them- both positive and negative- which makes relaxing colors that are easy on the eyes ideal for this sign. Periwinkle is one of these colors, and can found in the homes of many Pisces’.

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Make the Room Stand Out with Curtains

Picking out curtains or any window coverings is not the easiest part of decorating your home. Do you want them to stand out and be a focal point or just to accentuate your beautiful windows? Do you need them to plt out the light like you would in the bedroom or do you want them light and airy? Once you have that figured out now it is time to go shopping. But before you put done your hard earned cash there are a few more things you need to decide on first.

Color

First, what color do you want? You need to select a set of curtains that go with the rest of your room. First, match the color to the walls since that’s what you’ll see the curtains up against. Go with something that either compliments the walls or contrasts with them if you want to make a bold statement. If you’re going with a contrasting color, you may want to match your curtains more to your furniture or to your carpet. Selecting a contrasting curtain color that goes with your furniture can create a very interesting combination and look really good.  Here is some help picking the right colored curtains.

If you select curtains that have a pattern to them, make sure that pattern looks good in the room. If you have wallpaper with a pattern in it, you’ll want the curtains to match or, at the very least, not clash horribly. Again, look for patterns that go with your furniture, rugs, and other décor so that your curtains won’t look out of place.

Thickness

Thickness is something else you’ll want to consider. If you want the room to look light and airy but don’t want to have to open the curtains every day, you might want curtains that are somewhat see-through. If you’re going to open and close the curtains each day, then you might want heavier curtains. Likewise, if you are looking for curtains for your bedroom and you’re a late sleeper, you’re going to want very heavy curtains that block out the sunlight. Lighter curtains will let in light, waking you up earlier.

Functionality

But do you want functional curtains? Some people buy curtains with decoration in mind, not actual use. For these people, the curtains may always be open or tied off to the side. If you want decorative curtains, you don’t need to really consider use. Instead, you’ll just want to keep color and pattern in mind. If you’re not going to close the curtains or need them to block out light, you have many more options.

You also need to take into account the current hardware you have up on the walls. If you don’t want to replace curtain rods and other mounting items, you will want to select curtains that can use the same rods that you already have up.

Hottest Trends for the Baby Room

The year 2018 could be gifting you with a new baby, you never know. It’s very difficult decorating a new baby room especially if you have never done it before. You have a lot of questions to answer, like what kind of furniture is needed and so on. You need not worry since this year’s trends are what you need. Here are hottest trends for the baby room this fall.

1. Pottery and ceramics – ceramics have slowly been making statements in every room they have made, whether functional or just aesthetic, they help tie the room and make it look beautiful. You can use ceramics to store toys, bookshelves or even for hiding trash.

2. Pendants – these days, no designer is leaving any stone un-turned which means beautifying your ceiling. The pendant you choose will change everything in your room, so try and pick something you love. You can try something structured or very pretty.

3. Geometry – as weird as it may sound, geometry is today showing up everywhere in nurseries. It will avoid the room being very mushy or becoming like cotton candy.  Adding wall papers or art with a few geometric influences will help the baby’s room become clean, modern and also fresh.

4. Work with no rules – When you know you are expecting a baby, you get to experience a lot of stress and also becomes overwhelming, so its advised to step back and just breathe. Choosing decors or even preparing your baby’s room is supposed to be fun, not stressful. To avoid any stress, choose things you love and don’t look at the rules which guys say are supposed to be followed. It’s actually one of this year’s trends.

5. Cribs – they are the attraction of the room. From Alto crib to the Gradient crib, manufacturers have become very bold in creating cribs. They were only interested in wallpapers and walls but they are now focusing on bold designs for the crib also.

6. Neutrals – they are very calm, clean and most of all here to stay. The fall trends for this year also have neutrals through textures and not just paint. You can try natural wood which has become very popular and plus you can also add rugs, furniture and wallpaper to make it even better.

Modern designs will continue making a come back when it comes to your baby’s room. The styles of furniture have been trending because of their modern designs but its the first time that it is now showing in nurseries.

Who Are We?

Jess Chamberlain is a freelance design & lifestyle writer/editor/curator specializing in eco-friendly innovations, artisanal products, West Coast makers, and people living in unconventional environments. Fascinated by human nature, Jess is always on the hunt for people with unique and inspiring stories, believing strongly in the power of reporting and the responsibility of journalists to inspire smarter, healthier, low-impact living.

Obsessed with reinvented materials, the sharing economy, and locavore everything, Jess is most passionate about making the connection between environmental choices and personal health. She also likes to pretend she’s a photographer.

Jess is a contributing editor for Sunset magazine. Her work has also appeared in San Francisco magazine, Anthology magazine, and Lonny. She has been a guest curator for Design*Sponge, Etsy, Airbnb, and The Beholder. Her stories have also been featured in The Huffington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, Apartment Therapy, YahooShine, and USA Today. One piece Jess is particularly proud of is her 2011 article for Sunset entitled “The Zero-Waste Home,” which garnered more reader feedback than any single story in the history of the publication and sparked a national dialogue about consumerism in America.

She has been a featured speaker at conferences like Altitude Design Summit and has appeared on national broadcast programs, most notably The Today Show.

Often on the road, Jess loves exploring cities/neighborhoods/spaces/wilderness, always hunting down expertly curated independent design shops and boutique hotels as well as discovering the next local tastemaker and the best nano coffee-bean roastery (her drug of choice). She relishes being in remote destinations that are out of cell phone range (and sometimes just pretends it is). Due to her often out-of-the-office schedule, Jess has become an accidental travel writer and considers herself addicted to Instagram.

Erin Gainey

Erin is currently serving as co-founder and President of The Seattle Design Foundation with an eye toward community engagement and education. Erin originally found personal reward in this field when she created The Adventure Store in 2010, a retail extension of the event planning brand, with the aim of providing a platform for local designers to showcase their work.

She sits on the board of Maureen Whiting Dance Company and freelances as a literary editor under Elemeno Press, LLC. Erin was born and raised in Seattle, where she now lives, and dreams often of ceramic arts.

Ann DeOtte Kaufman

Ann DeOtte Kaufman is the owner of Iva Jean and a freelance marketing enthusiast in Seattle, WA. A bit of a Swiss Army Knife – entrepreneur, marketing professional, designer, bike rider, and sun seeker – she approaches each opportunity with a broad perspective.

Ann started Iva Jean to inspire women to get on a bike and ride with the style and confidence they bring to every other aspect of their lives, whether commuting to work or cruising around town. Ann pulls inspiration from the urban landscape and her personal experiences biking to build a collection of fashionable and functional women’s bike clothing. All garments are produced in Seattle, WA, to support fair labor, the local economy and a thriving community of design and manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest.

As a freelance marketing and creative professional, Ann is dedicated to providing fashion and design clients with the vision, insight and resources to tell their story and engage consumers. Working with passionate clients, I bring their goals and aspirations to life through marketing research, analysis, strategy, planning and implementation.

Ann and her work have been featured in Huffington Post, Fast Company, PSFK, Daily Candy, Elle Finland, Sunset, Seattle Met, Trend Hunter and Cup of Jo.

Cassandra LaValle

Cassandra LaValle is the Founder and Creative Director of coco+kelley where she explores trends in fashion, decor and entertaining, highlighting pieces that exude classic design and glamour. As a designer, she consults clients across the globe on styling their homes and private events from her offices in Seattle.

Brian Paquette

My mark as a creative is built up of all the experiences I’ve had, all the places I’ve seen, all the people I’ve met and I carry that with me everywhere I go. When I started Brian Paquette Interiors a little over four years ago, I wanted to challenge the normal aesthetic associated with an interiors firm, what we did, who our clients were and where our ideas came from. I have had the absolute blessing to work on very traditional home settings that echo my upbringing on the east coast to very minimal spaces that bring to mind a more modern, sparse or time worn look.

Walking into a space and feeling a connection on a deeper level than just surface comfort or visual pleasure. Seeing a shade of blue that reminded my what the beach looked like in early spring in Newport, a fabric on a sofa that looked like something my blazer in prep school would be made of, or just the lighting that brought me back to waking up in a yurt on the Oregon coast. This is what moves me as a designer, this is what I wake up for.

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