Cast iron garden bench is over 10 feet long

I just went to anthropologie in Grand Rapids, Michigan and found out about their interior design accounts. They have a great set up for interior decorators and will work with you to give you 15% off of any interior decorating merchandise. You just need to sign up with them and give them your tax I.D. or business license.

All kinds of trendy and unique treasures are to be found.  There was everything from outrageous chandeliers to one of a kind iron garden benches. Take a look at some of these photos that I took to see the latest finds. 

Anthropologie brings items into their store that can't be found anywhere else on the planet. You won't have to worry about your neighbor buying the same item and you will never get tired of shopping for the perfect designer piece. 

unique chandelier with colored crystal

One of my favorite things about anthropologie is the way they designed the store with lots of room to wander about and they use interesting displays that draw you in. As I walk through the store there seems to always be one more thing that grabs my attention and  strings me along. This is called psychological engineering for interior design. All serious designers know how important the mind's eye is. Everything we see can affect the way we think and the way we feel. So why not get the best design to fit your personality and make you feel great?

Spring embroidery on kitchen linens

You can find all of the specialty decorating items for your home and ask your interior designer to buy on your behalf. If you are an interior designer then you will want to get set up with an account so you can impress your clients with the individualized concepts that anthropologie promotes. 

What is your favorite interior design element? What makes you feel great?

1. What colors do I absolutely hate?

Paint Color Wheel

Take a look at this diagram and find your favorite color. Now look across the wheel to the opposite side and you will see the compliment to your favorite. Notice how these colors look when placed right next to each other. They are opposite and one color makes the other stand out. So if you love blue, put just a little bit of orange next to it and the blue will pop. The orange becomes an accent color that makes the blue jump out, becoming more dominant.

2. Why not paint my bedroom yellow?

Think about the use of the room before making a final decision on color combinations. If you are decorating a kid's bedroom the first choices might be very colorful. But think about it, is the child's room double purposed as a playroom or is it only used for sleeping? Having toned down and calming colors for a bedroom is more desirable. Bright, lively colors are not always the best choice for creating a relaxing atmosphere. Pastel colors are usually more subtle and cooler colors like, blue, purple and green are more calming.

3. How do I get a more sophisticated look?

Using one neutral color as a base for your color palette will go a long way in giving your home flowing continuity from room to room. This is often achieved by using the same carpet or flooring throughout or matching the flooring colors when transitioning from tile to wood to carpet. The wall paint color and window treatment color may also be a similar neutral color, creating a solid backdrop for adding rich color in area rugs, artwork and accessories. Keep your color selections to a minimum and use strong color choices only for selected standout pieces like a favorite painting or piece of furniture.

4. Should I use black? Is that even a color?

Yes, consider black a color when you are decorating but watch out because it can be overused. You can incorporate black as you would a neutral color but because it is a strong element in interior design you need to use caution just like you would with any really strong bright color. Black and white prints are a beautiful way to show off other accent colors. Black will help to make other colors stand out and can be used in the same way you would use a complementary color.

5. What if the colors I like are out of style?

Check into the latest color trends and you will find your favorite colors. There are many more choices now and every choice has color combinations with several options. You will be surprised by the names and shades of colors and how they will match up to a color you love. Besides, the days are gone where everyone had to use the same colors to be in style.

What other questions do you have about using color successfully in your interior design plan? Ask me now and I will answer asap right here on the comment section below. Get more interior designer secrets direct from my desk by signing up for my free email list here.

Pantone gets the credit for being the authority on new color trends throughout the design industry. I always thought Pantone was only for printing ink because I used their color charts for graphic design but I soon realized that they are the creators of the universal color matching system used for all color across the globe. Read more about Pantone and find out about their newest products that make color matching easy.

Interior designer, Roberta Lathrop, center, shows off the new color trends for 2012. With a degree in interior design, she knows color!.

Now back to the color of the year. We just had a color party and showed off all kinds of new fabrics and color trends for this year. Take a look at these photos and you'll see an emphasis on some of the new trends we're seeing. Turquoise is big and it's the complimentary color for orange, which is, you guessed it – "the color of the year!" Pantone calls it Tangerine Tango and you can see why it's considered a highly visible rush of energy. There's Roberta Lathrop, center, showing off the new color.

Anna Donahue, center, talking about Tangerine Tango, the new color of the year from Pantone.

In this photo I'm in the middle and you can see how happy this color makes everyone feel. it's an impact color that dares to make a statement. Also check out the next photo and imagine the color of the year next to this beautiful blue that could be called anything from turquoise to aqua to teal. Take your pick of names and maybe even come up with your own name for the new blue that we are already seeing everywhere.

Tangerine Tango, Pantone Color of The Year

Now check out this super cool collection of photos posted by designers and showcasing the new color of the year. You can see by the new color trends that we need to keep updated constantly to stay on top of the new designs. Stay posted for more color info and learn more from me about how you can master color theory. Join my rss feed or sign up for the email list and you'll get what you need to know about color and design.

Carl and Sandra Bryant are mosaic artists who specialize in beautiful contemporary mosaic art. One of their latest projects is the inside of an elevator. "Generally, I will do most of the design work but the customer will specify and we start with their ideas." The elevator mosaic mural, for example, has a theme based on St. Francis of Assisi. It includes all kinds of intricate details with animals and foliage.  "There's many adjustments that occur along the way so I send photos of the mural as it progresses." Customers have the opportunity to approve the design and suggest changes. 

Advise from Sandra includes, "trust your creativity" and "never take being creative for granted." She has been interested in art since childhood and says she has no formal training but has earned being called a professional mosaic mural artist after years of creative work. " It's my goal to always do my best, to keep my deadlines and commitments and to provide beautiful artwork of the highest quality."

Carl and Sandra design for all kinds of interiors including commercial and residential. They know how to work with any interior design style and can make your ideas come to life. One defining principle is that they never copy other artwork but want each piece to be original.  Whatever Showcase Mosaics works on must be excellent  and be the best of their ability. 

​If you want to incorporate a mosaic mural in your next interior design project, you can ask Showcase Mosaics to help you with your ideas. One of the most popular areas to place a mosaic mural is on a backsplash. This is an area that typically calls for tile but a mosaic mural is a creative way to add color and design. Check out this kitchen design finished recently by Carl and Sandra.

So, what do you think? Would you like a mosaic mural in your home or business? Where do think it would look the best?

Benjamin Moore's Nuance Magazine has a brand new look at what the color combination trends are today for painting and interior design. When you click on Nuance Magazine it will take you to an online version of the magazine. Click on the image and then click again on "English" to open the magazine and you can flip through the pages. You will be amazed by the absence of bright color on the walls and the presence of rich, warm color in all of the artwork, accessories and furniture. Notice how they are using different combinations of light paint color on the walls and trim.

Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer  is a user friendly way to learn what color combinations will work best in your interior design project. When you are working on a design plan for a particular room, you can recreate your design on line with accurate color choices. It's easy to switch out different color combinations too so you can see exactly how the colors will change the room. 

Old House Journal's Guide to Period Paints will educate you on many levels and give you tons of help with historic color combinations. If you have an old house or are helping someone restore or remodel an older home, this is the resource you need. Many paint companies also have historic paint color charts designed for period color theory.

Swatchbox is program you can download for free. You'll be able to combine your own interior design plans with Benjamin Moore colors. This is another way to visualize your ideas and show exactly how your interior design project will look before the painting and decorating starts.

Benjamin Moore also has many different color selection tools including phone apps for matching colors. Check out this web page to get info on how to sign up for a free account with Benjamin Moore. You can order free color sample sheets that are much larger than the small paint chip samples we're used to seeing. Sherwin Williams also has free color sample sheets available. 

If you are serious about becoming an interior designer you can sign up for my free newsletter on the right panel. You'll get access to all kinds of free resources including all of the color sample ordering tools and apps for choosing the right color combinations for your projects.

West Michigan has a hidden treasure in Rosa's Closet. The interior design of this cool little boutique has a boudoir atmosphere that makes you believe you just walked into your very own closet filled with everything you ever wanted to wear. Gaslight Village in East Grand Rapids, Michigan is the perfect location for this upscale personal shopping experience.

The interior design shows off chandeliers suspended from the gold ceiling and full silk draperies in front of the dressing rooms. Jewelry is displayed in interesting cabinets and designer purses and shoes are inside shelves and on the plush carpet. Everywhere you look there's another unique find. These are not knock-off designs. Everything is branded with names like Versace, Coach, Rock & Republic, True Religion, Banana Republic, BCBG, J. Crew, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Free People and my favorite, Lily Pulitzer. Rosa's Closet has new and resale items including custom made jewelry, casual and evening wear. Coupons are available for the savvy chic shopper on Rosa's website.

More than likely you'll be greeted by Rosa, herself. She knows her customers well and says, "I meet so many amazing women. It's a joy working here." She wants your visit to be personal, friendly and familiar and says, "many women are repeat customers and I keep an eye out for special requests." She is always accepting new items and chooses only the newest and best fashions.

One way Rosa's Closet gives back to the community is by offering Sip and Shop Parties where customers can host a party and donate 15% of the sales to charity. Everyone also receives 15% off all purchases along with wine and cheese. Sounds like a fun ladies night out! 

When you go to Rosa's Closet you'll enjoy the interior design and you'll really enjoy the treasure hunt. What designer item do you hope to find? Ask Rosa what she might have right now and check out her facebook page for updates and new events. 

Spag is the artist/designer behind the interior design of the entire building. The Noto family came to him with their plan to build this authentic Italian restaurant 15 years ago. " I took a look at the blue prints, scribbled all over them with my ideas and changed everything. They called me back and asked me to take over the entire job and get it done. I've never had anyone give me a design job no questions asked and let me do whatever I want."

"Whatever Spag wanted" turned out to be exactly what the Notos were looking for. The first thing you see when you enter through the giant wood doors is a beautiful mosaic pattern in the floor. This design is repeated throughout the building and with each hand laid tile I think they had a glass of wine. Tony worked on it himself along with other volunteers, "This medallion took 3 days and 3 bottles of wine." but maybe the next one was a little more complicated. "That one took 3 weeks and 3 cases of wine to complete" Tony says without cracking a smile.

Well, they do have plenty of wine. Straight ahead the wine room will catch your eye. This is the newest interior design project that Spag worked on. Behind the floor to ceiling glass wall are thousands of bottles of select wine displayed in the temperature controlled room. ​The bottles are stacked three deep and lay horizontally so you can read the labels on the open racks. Noto's features over 1,000 different authentic Italian varieties and their wine list reads like a novel with over 120 pages of different wines. Somewhere around 9,000 bottles are on site. Don't worry, if you can't decide which wine to order, Noto's will help you with that.

Also off the foyer are the entrances to the fireside lounge and the main dining room.  The lounge features a sweeping curved bar and an impressive mahogany fireplace. The interior design majors on curving shapes which carries your eye around the room to take in everything including the door to an outdoor patio and bocce courts.  The Dining room has 4 huge Tuscan columns anchoring the room. There's meaning behind everything and since the columns are actually structural they have significance. Each column represents a founding principle: Innovation, Passion, Ownership and Community. Noto's features Old World Dining in the sense that you can imagine yourself in old Italy. Even with elegant surroundings, you will feel as comfortable as you would in Mama's kitchen.

After enjoying your meal (if you like the sauce you will like everything) take a stroll down the promenade past the banquet rooms and check out the giant curving staircase that scales three stories. This interior design masterpiece is made of carrara marble imported direct from Italy and has a sculptured iron railing. At the top of the stairs is the ballroom and the Bella Torre, a room that feels like you're in a renaissance castle tower. The room has a 23 foot ceiling with a huge chandelier, stone block walls and 9 foot windows looking at nothing but sky. Custom tapestry banners hang from gilded decorative drapery rods and giant acanthus leaf sconces grace the walls. Noto's website features some beautiful photos from weddings in the Belle Torre which translates Beautiful Tower.

Descend the staircase all the way to the wine cellar for a pleasant surprise. Here you will see an amazing sequence of domes, each covered with 100 year old Chicago brick. The atmosphere is designed for the perfect 'dinner with wine' experience. I stand inside one of the domed areas and imagine having a quiet dinner in the low light with my husband. Hmmm, Cataloni sounds good and I hear it's Mama Noto's recipe. I'm ready to make our reservation for Noto's Old World Dining.

"No matter how hard you work or how much money you make, the one thing that you can't create more of is time" Jen Foley

What if you just finished your latest interior design project and want to show off with a party? I would love to host a dinner party where I could actually sit down and enjoy the food with my friends or family. Just think, you would even have time to design a decent centerpiece for the table instead of rushing around in the kitchen before the guests arrive. 

The value is what intrigues me. It costs about as much as eating out and the nutrition is much better. "Guilt free health is so valuable and time is even more valuable to most families," Jen described to me why she started her business. "I always loved the idea of working with food and had a dream of becoming an executive chef and owning a restaurant." But when Jen took a class called Personal Private Chef she fell in love with the idea of working on creative menus and also being able to plan around her own family.

She's graduating this Spring with a degree in Culinary Arts and Personal Private Chef from the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. Now you can hire Jen to help you with your daily meal plans, your next big dinner party or even a cooking class in your own home. Let me know by commenting below: What's your dream design when it comes to cooking inside your kitchen?

Roberta Lathrop designed this interior using custom colors and classic details. I helped with the wall finish by hand painting a dramatic glazed silk curtain effect. Roberta came up with the perfect name; Dancing Silks. 

Take a look at the TV screen and you'll see Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing together and that's the feel you get with the movement in this design. The sweeping shadows on the wall mimic the graceful steps of Fred's footwork and Ginger's long dress.

Pantone is the color authority and has all the info you need for new trends in color for interior design. 

What do you think about adding an impact color like this? Would you dare to do it?

Here's an example of a beautiful concrete floor from one of my interior design projects in Michigan. This floor was installed over the entire ground floor and has embedded heat. It's easy to maintain and warm in color and feel so it looks and works great in home design. 

I didn't know how easy and economical it is to polish concrete floors until I met Aaron Kamphuis from AK Concrete Staining in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has the lowdown on everything you need to know about concrete and making it look beautiful for your design projects. Here's all the stuff I learned from Aaron:

1. If you are building a new home or office you can add dye when the concrete is poured and then just have the concrete floor polished to a gleaming shine. If you want to go totally green then all you need to do is grind the concrete and polish it. 

2. Almost everyone has concrete floors that can be made to look beautiful with staining and polishing. 

If you already have a ground level or basement floor that needs updating this is a new option. You may even have a garage that could use some attention or an outdoor patio area. Don't be afraid to add this new element to your interior design plan.

3. The process is clean and dust free because filters are used on all of the equipment. There is no harsh chemical residue or odor so you don't have to move out of your house while the work is being done. 

4. The floor will be impervious to stains and will hold up under the most harsh conditions. Factories  use this technique to keep their workplaces clean and easy to maintain. Tires don't leave black marks and spills don't penetrate and soak into the concrete. 

5.  Stencils can be used to create designs and elaborate patterns. Aaron says, "I'm only limited by the creativity of the people in the process." In other words, there are limitless possibilities with the colors and designs.

6.  Colorants or dyes are added once the concrete grinding is finished. The process is simple; An acid stain liquid is applied and dries after a couple of hours, the residue is scrubbed off, sealed with a water-based acrylic and then floor wax is applied to finish it off.

7. There are different products used for different types of applications and Aaron can explain all the important details. His website has more info and photos of different projects. Thanks, Aaron, for sharing your knowledge on the subject of adding decorative concrete flooring to my interior decorating scheme.

I'm thinking about where to add this new designer flooring next. Readers, what do you think? Where are you going to start?

Here's some of Aaron's work on outdoor patio and sidewalk areas.