What to Get for Someone Who Has everything?

Have you ever needed to touch up paint in your home and were not sure which color you used?

Have you needed some house facts - like square footage or year built - and had to guess?

Wouldn't it be nice to have, in one handy spot, a list of all the home improvements made throughout the years - warranties all in one place - samples of paint chips and fabrics - photos of each room.


That is the purpose of the "Homeowner's History Book" designed and created by Cozy Chic Design. The brainchild of Jen Griswold, the "Homeowner's History Book" in an expandable binder that holds house facts, information, records, photos and receipts. A handy place to document everything - from service providers to neighborhood facts -- and keep it all in one place.

At an "opening special " of just $15, the "Homeowner's History Book" makes a wonderful gift. This book placed on the counter of a home that is on the market, shows that the property has been well cared for.

Order yours today! Plenty of time for Christmas delivery!
707-447-0977 or 707-455-8265

Another Quick Sale

If you have ever wondered whether home staging is a worthwhile investment, here is another good example to prove that it certainly does--this home was under contract within the first 2 weeks! See the difference for yourself in these befores and afters:

Color Your World

The least expensive, most effective decorating tool is COLOR!

Nothing has a greater color impact than a fresh coat of paint! Paint colors can be used to carry a "decorative flow" throughout the home, to play up the architectural features of a room or to camouflage its defects. Color can make a small room seem larger, a dark area lighter, or a dull place bright. Depending on the function of the room, and the goal of the homeowner, color can add warmth and coziness, crisp clarity or to make a bold statement of excitement.

When selecting colors, there are many things to consider.

* Which walls to paint?

* How many colors to use?

* Where to put the accent colors?

* Which hue? Intensity? Value? Finish?

With so many choices, color selection can be a perplexing decision. At Cozy Chic Design, we use our knowledge of color and a box of over sized paint samples to guide you through the maze of questions. While the price for the Color Consultation ranges from $50 for one room, to $250 for the whole house, considerable discounts are given when the Color Consultation is purchased in conjunction with a Redesign or another Cozy Chic Decorating Service. The Color Consultation normally "pays for itself" as, included in the Consultation, are free estimates from a professional painter, and a 30% saving on Kelly Moore Paint.

As the season changes, the chill is in the air, and it gets darker and less colorful outside. What a perfect time to add some brightness and color indoors. A fresh coat of paint is great way to "Color Your World."

Finding Your Style In a Sea of Treasures--Vacaville Home Staging/Redesign

Redesigning is so much fun because each project is so different! We recently redesigned the room of a woman who had inherited a myriad of expensive treasures from her mother. There were Italian paintings, Spanish and Mexican pottery, and beautiful Asian vases and candelabras. Unfortunately, the pieces were cluttered and hard to admire when placed together. So we picked out the Spanish art and other pieces and ran with it!

Before

Once we cleared out the busy, unmatched pieces and arranged the furniture in a more conversationally conducive manner, the room took on a lot "cozier" feel. Hopefully now, this unused space, will get a lot more attention!

After

Interior Redesign: An Eco-Chic Recession Revelation

Now that winter is coming to an end your household may be feeling in need of a little spring spruce-up.
• Is your house in disarray from winter activities?
• Could it use a little pick-me-up?
• Do you have home improvements you want to make, but you're strapped for cash?

If you are like most Americans these days, concerns like this run through your mind on a regular basis. With all these issues to choose from, what is your priority this spring? As we feel the effects of the financial crisis, I suggest that we “resolve” to rethink how we spend our pennies on household items. By going “back to the basics,” and getting creative with household items we already own, we can achieve an eco-chic look in the process.

My inspiration to get “back to the basics” came to me recently as I picked up my 3-year old son up from preschool. As we hopped in the car and began reviewing what he had done in school that morning, he began to sing a catchy tune about the “4 Rs,”…reduce, reuse, recycle and repair. I hadn’t realized that we had graduated from three Rs to four, so I was happy to listen and learn from his entertaining melody! The more I processed the words he eloquently recited; I realized that a vital “R” was missing from the song.

The missing R stands for “redesign” and quite simply is the principle of decorating or furnishing your space (indoors or out) with items that you already own. Also known as “One Day Decorating®,” interior redesign has become the inspiration for several entertaining shows on HGTV® (Design Remix®, Design on a Dime®, etc.). The basic rule behind it is to use what you already own to redecorate a space. Often, this means rearranging, repositioning, and repurposing items to make an efficient use of space and accessories. As a home stager and designer, I’m amazed at how people often think that the way to solve all their design problems is simply to buy something new. In fact, I’ve witnessed that those who are avid shoppers have the most cluttered houses because they cannot find appropriate spaces for all their purchases. In true redesign, a person only buys what is absolutely necessary to fulfill the function and look of a room; so technically, it is the greenest form of decorating you will find.

It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out how to redesign a space, but it does take some creativity and a little background in the principles of design. The following are several tips for homeowners on how to redesign a space using what you already have:

1) Less Photos
Most people have a plethora of them. However, it is very hard to focus on the emotion in a picture, when there are 15 pictures on a fireplace mantel. Instead, choose your favorite two or three and make a decorative arrangement to highlight them. Put the others away and rotate them throughout the year. Then each photo will get the attention it deserves!

2) Bring The Outdoors In
Take a look around? Does your space have an inviting feel? If not, you can warm up a room with seasonal foliage, just by using what is already growing in your backyard. Fresh cut flowers in a vase, greenery from a blooming bush, or twigs from a winter tree, can all help cozy up your living or dining room.

3) Reuse Linens
Do you have old sheets or draperies that are old, yet still have good wear left in them? Use them to recover your existing couch pillows, or repattern them into a smaller more modern looking window covering. Linens can also easily be sewn into place mats, table runners, or simple art stretched across a wooden frame you can make out of scrap wood in your garage. The possibilities are endless, so think before you throw old linens away!

4) Bargain Furniture
Whether you have too much or too little, there are cheap and easy ways of obtaining or getting rid of furniture pieces. With the economy in a slump, many people look to www.ebay.com, as a tool to bid on all types of furniture. In the local area, you can use www.craigslist.com or www.travisyardsales.com to buy or sell without the cost of shipping. Another creative and environmental local option is www.freecycle.org, where items are posted as an alternative to throwing them away. The best part of this site is that the items are free!

5) Recraft or Upcycle
This is the principle of repurposing items for a use that is better or improved from its original purpose. For instance, maybe you have an empty hand soap dispenser that has a nice contemporary shape. Fill it with colored sand, or some painted dried willow sticks and place it on your dining room table and you will have “upcycled” it into a beautiful decorative piece. If you are not the crafty type, check out designers online who utilize recycled materials, such as www.trashluxe.com or www.catherinehammertonshop.com.

As you can see, there are plenty of creative ways to get a new look by redesigning a space. However, some people will find that they just don’t have the time or mental energy to do it themselves. If that is the case, there are avenues for you to get help. One fun way is to host a Live Room MakeOver party. The concept in this party is similar to that of the traditional Tupperware® party. You invite your friends over for good food and socializing. But what is different about this party is that while you are enjoying your company, a redesigner will work on rearranging, repurposing and revitalizing your room, all while you enjoy time with your friends. It only takes about 20 minutes and then the party concludes with the entire group getting to witness the “Big Reveal” of your redesigned room, just like you would see on TV (see www.cozychicdesign.com for a Good Day Sacramento news clip illustrating the Live Room MakeOver). There is a nominal charge for the redesign and the fun of the party is priceless!

So, again I’ll ask, what is your priority for this spring? In the past, have you been guilty of being an oblivious over-consumer? Could you stand to save a penny and decorate by using what you already have? As Kermit the Frog says, “It’s not easy being green.” But using the art of redesign, it is easier than you think. Despite the economic and environmental woes our world is experiencing, there are lots of fun and creative ways to transform our spaces. And if you are not a do-it-yourselfer, there are professionals out there to help you. It may not be easy being green, but with a little initiative combined with my tips on redesign, I hope you’ll at least give it a try!

What are the magic decorating ingredients?!

Have you ever wondered what the secrets are to creating a warm, inviting, cozy room? The answer is not as complicated as you might think. It boils down to a few basic things:

1) Color,

2) Lighting, and

3) Foliage

We find that most people only need a combination of these three things to make their room achieve a "designer look" for a lot less than buying new furnishings. The project below is the perfect example:

Equation for success....

1 gallon of paint + 4 plants + 1 lamp + 1 hour of Cozy Chic Design = Another beautiful room!

Cozy Chic Design...Redesign and Home Staging Experts for Solano County

Welcome to Cozy Chic Design's blog site designed to give you a little design inspiration on a regular basis. Come join us to see what is happening in the Vacaville and greater northern California communities in the areas of redesign and home staging!

We will post pictures, tips, articles and information about what is "in" and how you can create a beautiful space in your own home using what you have. In these tough economic times, we are here to help! Our philosophy is that you should always start with what you already own. We pride ourselves in "green," economical decorating and staging.


Stay tuned for more....you can also reach us through our website at http://www.cozychicdesign.com/