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Fall 2009 E-zine |
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Turquoise Décor LLC |
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From Drab to Fab! |
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425 463 8415 |
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Photography © by Skedonk.com |
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Proudly serving clients from the following communities: Seattle, the Eastside, King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County, Tacoma, Bellevue, Renton, Seatac, Shoreline, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Kent, Auburn, West Seattle, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Woodinville, Kenmore, Fife, Federal Way, Edmonds, Brier, Bothell, Lake Forest Park, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Greenlake, Carnation, Duvall, Everett, Monroe, Lake Stevens, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Copyright © 2008 Turquoise Décor Newsletter. |
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Issue 8, September 2009 |
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n Eastside Women in Business Queen of Hearts Gala 10/11/2009, 5-9 pm at the Belletini in Bellevue. As a guest, you will be greeted by a glamorous red carpet upon arrival and you will enjoy wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, live entertainment and special guests throughout the evening. The gala also will host a silent auction with several companies (including us!) donating products and services. This special event is open to the public. n A Different Kind of Open House 10/15/2009 11 am-2 pm at 2111 Westlake Ave N, Seattle WA 98109. Whether you are interested in viewing a beautiful condominium with sweeping views of Lake Union, or just want to see our staging prowess up close and personal, join Michelle Shafagh of John L. Scott for a light buffet lunch in this beautiful property. No RSVP necessary - this event is FREE. n Catch us live with Sue Lundquist and Shawn De Nae Eddy on the I’m Thankful™ Network radio show 1150AM KKNW on Thursday, 11/24/2009 at 9-10 am. We will be sharing decorating tips for the holidays. An audio and visual of the show will also be streaming live at www.imthankful.com |
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We’re entering Fall and already the Pacific Northwest is starting to see the stunning natural color displays that this area is famous for.
Since our last issue, we’ve experienced some local culture by attending both the Kittitas County Fair in Ellensburg and the Puyallup State Fair. As National Geographic so eloquently puts it: The State Fair is a ritual carnival marking the end of summer and gardens and apple orchards and the start of school and higher algebra and the imposition of strict rules. Now it’s time for some warm and cheerful Fall decorating!
For those of you who missed our Kiro 7 TV Better Northwest interview, you can watch it here:
And don’t forget to become a fan of our Facebook page here:
Our showcase of summer charity work was so well-received last month, that we’ve decided to show you some more results this time. Readers have told us that our pictures have given them ideas on how to quickly and effectively transform their own spaces. Speaking of ideas, don’t miss the Decoration Interrogation section where we’ve answered another reader’s decorating question. If you have a decorating problem, submit your question to be in the running for some free advice and a shot at winning a $25 Target gift card. Following on from the answer given to this month’s featured Decoration Interrogation, we’re combining it with our Hot Products section to spotlight some cool things for Fall decorating. If you’re thinking of buying an older home, the article by our featured contributor, Eric Metzger, is a must-read. We have another Trivia Challenge this month - be sure to enter for a chance to win a $25 restaurant voucher.
Congratulations to Jennifer Erwin who won last month’s Anthropologie candle giveaway and to Tabea Bruce who won the Summer Trivia Challenge.
We wish you all a golden and pleasant Fall, and we’ll be back in a month’s time with our Winter issue. |
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Pro Bono Project Showcase Snapshots
Giving Back to the Community This month we’re again showcasing some of the pro bono room makeovers we did for the elderly over the summer. It was our privilege to help those too infirm to transform their own spaces. Take a look at these before and after pictures where we didn’t spend a dime by using only the things each person already owned:
BEFORE AFTER |
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Before You Decorate, Interrogate!
Yes, I have a decoration interrogation!
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Answer: Hi Tara, at this time of year the shops are all bursting with Fall-themed products which can be a little overwhelming, particularly if your personal style is understated. Here are some quick and very simple ideas to bring the harvest season inside:
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Keep it simple - display some dry branches with leaves in a group of clear vases. These recycled glass balloon vases (left) are available from VivaTerra.com (from $39, also available in earth tones). Or display branches of colorful autumn leaves in wall-mount vases, like this one (right) available from Pottery Barn (from $49):
Wall Art - the ubiqitous dried, pressed leaf is still a great low-cost option. For variation, you could spray-paint the dried leaf or outline its shape onto paper. Frame each one individually for impact, like the example below right.
Table Decoration - velvety soft faux maple leaves (below left) in six rich seasonal shades are an inexpensive way to set the Fall mood at our table. They’re also thrifty because they are re-usable year after year. Set of 12 scatter leaves $9.95 from Crate & Barrel. |
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Table Top - tired of the run-of-the-mill leaf-shaped dishes that get trotted out every year? Here are some different table top options that stay true to the Fall theme in a more modern way:
1. Mathilda Coasters from Crate & Barrel ($12.95 for multi-color set of 6) 2. Triangle-, square- and wave-shaped, these translucent plates from VivaTerra change partners with ease to bring visual panache to your table. Their saturated, rich hues work well with the Fall color palette, while their uncommon shapes suggest sea glass rubbed smooth by nature. 3. If you want to remain true to the autumn leaf motif but like a color palette with a bit more pizzazz, consider Lamina Dinnerware currently on sale for as little as $1.50 per piece from CB2.com - it’ll turquoise up your Fall!
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If DIY wall art isn’t your style, consider this Abstract Autumn wall tapestry (left) currently on sale from AllPosters.com
And we just love the Possini Leaves of Light Chandelier (left) now available on sale with free shipping at LampsPlus.com |
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If you’d like something a little more traditional, these pumpkin and gourd candles from Crate & Barrel ($4.95-$14.95) make a lovely centerpiece or display. |
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Considerations when Buying an Older Home by Eric Metzger of Fixit Once Repairs
1) What are some of the key factors to think about after buying an older home? Think about them before you buy it. After you buy it is too late. That would be like buying a used car without having a trusted auto mechanic inspect it and take it for a test drive. Get an inspection done by a referred home inspection company other than your realtor’s and then work with a referred licensed contractor/handyman to determine what really needs to be repaired from that inspection before you buy it. Some items an inspector is forced to document to protect himself and his insurance and can be nitpicky at best. Everything else on the report will be cosmetic and/or safety issues that do need to be taken care of, or might need to be done to secure financing. These costs can be negotiated as part of the purchase of the home and have some or all of the work completed before closing depending on who is paying for it. 2) What areas should I check first to ensure I'm not going to run into any problems? Your inspector will cover the major ones in the report. Structural, electrical, plumbing, moisture damage, evidence of pest infestation or damage caused from pests and/or wood destroying organisms, drainage, roofing, heating/cooling, and anything else visible during that inspection that is notable. 3) What should be the priority order of getting items repaired/fixed in my new home? Safety items first, cosmetic second. 4) How can I determine if I have wiring issues aside from waiting for something to break? This goes back to the inspection. Our company did a complete gut and rebuild of a home in Everett, that someone overloaded a circuit in the garage, and the breaker didn’t trip causing a fire that did $115,000 worth of damage that took two months to complete. When we got done gutting this home, the only thing left was the exterior wall studs, siding, roof trusses and the sheathing on top of the trusses. All windows, doors, wiring, drywall, flooring, roof, insulation, cabinetry, fixtures, etc. all were damaged from water and smoke. Electricity can be your friend if handled correctly and safely. It can cause lots of damage or worse if not respected. 5) How can I determine if I have plumbing issues aside from waiting for something to break? Previous to a purchase, the inspection would identify any current issues. Once you own the home, inspect of have someone inspect all areas in the home where plumbing is accessible and visible, to include attics, crawlspaces, and in the garage. Where pipe, etc. run through walls, look for evidence of staining or water damage/leaks. Quarterly inspections by the homeowner and a yearly complete inspection is recommended. 6) What about insulation, windows and the furnace? How do I ensure I'm going to be okay through the winter? Insulation: the age of the home will most likely determine the R value of the insulation in the walls of the home unless it has had extensive remodeling done. The higher the R value number, the better the resistance to allowing heat or cold into the home. The rest of the home that is accessible, like the crawl space and attic, possibly could have been upgraded or not. We recommend R38 or higher in attics, R21 for walls/crawlspaces where possible depending on the depth of the space. We definitely recommend having non-insulated areas dealt with right away to conserve energy and reduce heating and cooling costs. Some insulation is better than none. Some older homes that have not been upgraded could potentially have minimal or no insulation in the attic or crawl, and as little as R7 in the walls if any. It really wasn’t until the mid to late seventies that home started to be built with additional R value. A home built in 1972, as an example, was built with R7 in the walls and R13 in the attic. Current code is R21 for walls and R38 for attics. Windows: vinyl or wood framed windows are better than aluminum because they don’t radiate the outside temp.(heat/cold), like aluminum framed windows do. Dual pane (two sheets of glass with an air space in between) is better than single pane windows for better insulation value as well as sound. On new windows, look for a Low E rating to insure they are rated low energy. If you don’t know whether the windows in a home are dual pane or not, take a lighter or match and put it next to the window - if you see a reflection in the second pane, it is a dual pane window. HVAC: furnace or HVAC/heat pump should have filters cleaned minimum monthly and a maintenance service done by a qualified technician annually or whatever the manual for your system specifies it is required. A well maintained system will save you in the long run on energy costs as well as repair bills. Dirt and dust is not the friend of a HVAC system or furnace. Just like changing the oil and filters in your car, you need to change and/or clean the filters in your HVAC system. Having a technician check it a minimum of annually will insure it is running efficiently and safely. There are many safety related items involving a furnace/HVAC system that if not checked and fixed can be dangerous or even fatal. If your home did not have the manuals for your system, check for a sticker on your system for the company/model/serial numbers and contact the company to request a copy. Most companies have them available on line. 7) The house has a basement. What type of issues should I be prepared for or look for? Moisture/water leaking through the walls or floor - if the exterior walls were not treated with a sealant or that sealant has deteriorated with age, the walls could start to have water start to leak into the basement. If the foundation drainage system is damaged, clogged, or not existent, water could be standing underground against the wall of the basement and will eventually find a way in. Basements inherently tend to be damp and moist and therefore you need to inspect for mold issues caused by lack of air flow and moisture. There are lots of evidence of health issues caused by mold and this is something to take seriously. |
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Contributors to this edition: |
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Fall Trivia Challenge
In Ireland, the original Jack O' Lanterns were made from hollowed-out a) Turnips; b) Potatoes; c) Pumpkins; or d) Melons
The first correct answer emailed to Nicole@TurquoiseDecor.com will be this month's winner of a $25 restaurant voucher!
The answer to the Summer Trivia Challenge was (b) 11. |