Let there be light....

If you are like me, one thing in life has always been easy.... buying my light bulb.  Just pick the appropriate watt for the job and you're done, but if you have been to a big box store lately, you know it's not quite that easy.

This row of options (that I couldn't  even get all in one picture) can make the mind spin!  How do you navigate through the already complicated task of choosing the right light for the right job?  If this isn't enough to make your head spin, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 has new regulations for our tried and true standard incandescent light bulbs that will take effect beginning January 1, 2012.

What does this mean, did they outlaw my favorite light source?  No.  They did however, place efficiency standards on them and those we use most commonly will not meet these higher standards.  The new standard requires that any bulb sold must generate roughly 30 percent less energy.

January 1, 2012 brings this regulation to the 100 watt bulb, followed in January 1, 2013 with the 75 watt and Jan 1, 2014 with the 60 and 40 watt bulbs.  Additionally, starting in January of 2012 all new medium screw-base bulbs will require labeling to help consumers understand each type of bulb.

So over the next several weeks, I will take a look at the different options you might find on these ever growing shelves to help you navigate through the expanding world of light.

A little paint brings new life!

In a very disposable society, I love it when I can repurpose something and make it even better than it was!  My oldest niece has been wanting a fun chandelier for her very teen bedroom and after a year long search for just the right thing, at just the right price I was able to suprise her for her sweet 16 last month!

This old chandelier was origional to a 1960's Magnolia home.

prepping the chandelier

After removing all the parts and washing up the old fixture, we hung it to paint!

Before the paint

After the first coat

After a little help replacing the electrical and adding a chord cover, this very traditional fixture adds a contemporary light to the space!


What have you repurposed into new life for your home or office?  I want to hear your story!

Seeking Justice!

Today I take a small break from design blogging to tell you about an event that I will be participating in this month.  On September 17th,  I will be running in the Seek Justice Challenge to raise funds and awareness for the International Justice Mission (IJM).  IJM is a human rights organization working to rescue victims and bring justice to perpetrators of sexual violence, modern day slavery, illegal property seizure, and other forms of violent oppression.

• More humans are held in slavery now than over the course of the entire trans-Atlantic slave trade.
• Trafficking in humans generates profits in excess of 12 billion dollars a year, with more than 2 million children trapped in forced prostitution.
• The land rights of women are violated on a massive scale worldwide, with great ferocity in Africa. “Land grabbing” leaves thousands of women in vulnerable positions unable to care for themselves or their children.

I have been moved to try and do more to help those who are in need of justice, and during the month of September I will be donating a portion of all newly scheduled design consultations to help further the work of the International Justice Mission.

So if you are in the greater Seattle area and have been thinking about scheduling some design time, September is the month to schedule your time to also be able to help IJM continue to work on behalf of those who are unable to help themselves.

You can also sign up for the Seek Justice Challenge - it's on Sept 17th and there are many events to choose from - you can walk at 5K, run a 10K or bike a mid-century or century metric ride.  To sign up for this event, please head to the website http://www.spconline.org/sjc/index.html and sign up today!

To learn more about IJM you can visit their website at http://www.ijm.org/

In a place where we live in abundance and have so many options for seeking justice, my prayer is that whether you schedule some design time, or participate on your own, that you would consider helping IJM as they continue to make a difference in the lives of so many.

Thank you!
Tami

VALA - Eastside

VALA-Eastside

I have recently accepted a board member invitation for the newly formed non-profit organization, “Venues for Artists in the Local Area, Eastside”  - this organization will work to create venues in the eastside community for artists to have their work shown and appreciated by the public at large.  I’m excited about the planning and look forward to sharing more about those plans and events as they are scheduled.

The first event will be on September 14th where VALA-Eastside will be the Featured Entrepreneur at ThinkSpace in Redmond, WA - this will be our first event where we will provide a venue for a few local artists!

 To find out about volunteer opportunities, or if you are an artist that would like to learn more, email me and I will help get you plugged in!

 Here are some other ways to learn more about VALA-Eastside...

Website: http://www.valaeastside.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VALA-Eastside

Twitter: @valaeastside

Another outdoor space

As promised, here's a preview of the latest addition to my website portfolio.... a sunny day last week brought on a great day for taking pictures and the perfect place to spend a sunny weekend!  To see more of the photo's of this amazing out door space, visit my website portfolio under "other spaces".

This outdoor space includes both covered and uncovered areas and an outdoor kitchen and bar area.  It will comfortably seat 55 guests for a sit down dinner while over-looking the lake on a summer evening.  Where's your favorite spot to spend a sunny evening?  While you're here, leave me a comment and let me know... I want to hear!

Fun and creative re-use/re-purpose!

Last weekend I spend a day visiting a few wineries with friends.  Our first stop was JM Cellars and found this fun use of old wine barrels.... and check out the built in glass holder!

What is your favorite re-use/repurpose item?

Not your Grandpa's recliner....

I'm not a big fan of the recliner - they are big, bulky and really (in my humble opinion) have no style.   But even the recliner is transitioning into something with more style that can fit into almost any space!   This formal living room, designed a few years ago, is a great way to use this long time favorite in a more traditional way and still keep it a secret that you even own a recliner!

Yes, that IS a recliner in the corner!

Even in a more contemporary space, it can remain a secret with a version like this one from La-Z-Boy...  You can even get a version for the most modern of spaces, like the one from Cassina ....

   

La-Z-Boy

Cassina Recliner

    

 

So if you must include a recliner, remember, you don't have to have inherit grandpa's version... you can start your new tradition with the updated version!!

Finding Summer....

In a year where summer doesn't seem to want to show up, it becomes more important to make summer happen, wherever and however you can....  Creating an inviting out door space that can be used, even on the coolest of summer days, can help create the moments and memories to last all season long!  Here are a few of my favorites...

Bringing a little Southern living to the pacific northwest with a screened in porch!

This small outdoor area is cozy even before the western theme was added!

How do you find summer when it doesn't want to show up?

True Confession - I have a messy desk!

The last thing I like to do is clean my office and I will usually put it off entirely way too long.  Being unorganized in my workspace creates more work and takes time away from relationships and fun tasks that I want to spend time doing – not to mention makes it difficult to keep it dusted and vacuumed the way it should be.   But today was the day – I got all my piles organized (they had been moved to the floor next to my desk) so that I can begin to file, toss or deal with them.

In the midst of this process, I decided I want to spend my summer doing more of the things I like to do, and less of the things that I don’t.  In order to do that, I need to be able to find what I need easily so it takes just a few minutes to find what I need and get to the task at hand so I can get it done!  So this is the week that I begin not putting off filing that item because “it will only take a minute to do later” – later never seems to come and then a 2 minute job becomes a huge overwhelming project. 

What room is your “I don’t like to” space, or is it your entire home?  Will you join me in working towards creating a space that is easier to clean and creates a calm atmosphere rather than a chaotic, un-restful place to work, play or just be?

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1)      Focus on your real goal – to spend more time doing the things you like to do and less time tidying up!

2)      Choose an area to focus on – to be successful, you must break the job down into smaller and achievable steps.  If you’re problem area is the kitchen, commit to just making sure everything is clean and put away before you head to bed so that you’re getting up to a clean start for the day.  Or commit to organizing one drawer/cabinet a day until it’s done.

3)      Give everything a home – keep like things together and always put it back in that spot.  Everyone knows the silverware goes in that drawer, right?  We all remember that toys go in a toy box…  Well, now it’s time to give everything else a spot too!

4)      Once something has a home – put them back when you are done using them.   Sounds pretty simple, but we all know that it doesn’t always happen that way.  It takes work!

5)      Remember that it’s ok to reevaluate what you’ve done – say, “That doesn’t work for me there” and then change it so that it does!

6)      Never purchase organizational tools/bins first…. Until you know where something will live, you don’t know what size, shape and type of container you will need!

7)      Remember to take small steps towards your goals and build on them – having an all or nothing mentality can be overwhelming and set you up for failure before you even begin.

Today I took the time to organized my piles... in the coming days I will tackle them one at a time until they are exactly as they should be.   What will your baby step be?

My favorite Memorial Day...

Memorial Day is a time of remembrance.   What originally started as a way to honor those who died in the Civil War has expanded to include remembrance and honor of all those who serve in our Armed Forces – past and present. 

For many, this long weekend has become a time to spend with family, entertain, catch up on yard work or even shop at one of the many sales that will take place.   All some of my favorite activities, but a few years ago, I was on a trip to the DC area and had the honor of attending the National Memorial Day Concert.  This is truly a memorable experience that I recommend highly if you are in the DC area on Memorial Day weekend.  Since then, I have made it a point to watch the concert on my local PBS and this Sunday evening will be no exception.  What a wonderful tribute to those who have served – and died – for our country!

Looking back from our sidewalk seat!

A peak at the stage as they set up

If you look closley you can see the soldier playing "Taps" at the end

In the midst of your weekend, how will you take time to remember those who have so faithfully served the people of the United States?

Recipe Review - I think I'm Italian now!

I love to cook – I think that’s why I love to design kitchens… it’s more than making it a beautiful space, but a well functioning place to BE that encourages good food and fosters those relationships in our lives that takes a structure we call a house and makes it a home.

I’m also a big fan of Bon Appetit, and this weekend I took on a new recipe in the May issue “The Italy Issue” and was not disappointed!  The recipe was the “Classic Ragu’ Bolognese” – can you say the ultimate Italian comfort food?  This recipe is easy but it does take time for it all to come together, so while I do think any cooking level could do it, it cannot (and should not) be rushed!  The layers of flavor are smooth, comforting and just get better with each step of the process.

In addition to the sauce, I made my pasta noodles (a recipe I’ve sort of developed on my own from several tries using a multitude of pasta recipes that didn’t work quite right for me – this one was perfect, although it did make a little more pasta than I needed for this recipe – here’s a few pictures of my recipe adventure!

drying the cut pasta

Fresh pasta added to the classic ragu bolognese

A quick peek at the finished product, ready for good friends and conversation!  We served it with a simple caesar salad and garlic bread and then paired it with Washington State wine from Long Shadows Wineries  called “Saggi” - a velvety, smooth super tuscan that was the perfect pairing for this dish.   Dessert was a homemade (not by me) Lemon Basil sorbet and the perfect end to the meal!

Whether you tackle the homemade pasta or not, I hope you will gather some friends and try out this keeper from Bon Appetit!

edited to include the link to the recipe on the Bon Appetit site!  click here  "Classic Ragu' Bolognese"

A Simple Solution

A guest room can often be a place that you don't want to spend alot of your decorating budget... but you still want it to look welcoming and "put together".  Last week I made a headboard with just a few supplies... they almost didn't fit in the car!!

Along with a large space and a stable gun...

carefully glued the 2" foam to the board and the wrapped it in batting - pulling it tight....

so that it would create a nice soft place to land.

Then wrapped it in the suede like black fabric from Robert Allen - again pulling it tight and finishing it off with some covered buttons (they are hard to see in this picture!).

Here it is all installed... it's a trundle bed and can be converted to a king bed.

Stay tuned for new portfolio pictures of the completed space!!

Are you ready for Mother's Day?

Mothers day is coming in just a little over the week, have you found the perfect gift yet?  I'm not spilling the beans on what I got my mom (yes mom, I think you will LOVE it!), but I will share with you 5 things that make me wish I was a mom!



"Big Apple" Handblown Glass Candleholder from glassybaby $40

glassybaby.com

Beautiful Necklace from Nordstrom.com $46

Nordstrom.com



Suede Ballet Slippers from Garnet Hill $78

GarnetHill.com 



Bee Hive Beverage Jar from Sur La Table $49.95

SurLaTable.com



A gift of flowers with a gift certificate in any amount you wish!

molbaks.com

How will you be honoring your mom a week from Sunday?

Could it really be Spring?

While those of us here in the Pacific Northwest are still only dreaming of the warmer days to come, and being able enjoy the outdoors for entertaining.  One of my favorite things to do is create an outdoor space – something that extends our living area and offers places to make memories and deepen relationships – or even just read a book!

These pictures give you a sneak peak at a front porch project that we completed last year and will make its way to my website portfolio early next week.  Enjoy!!

Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Up and Running!!!

Welcome to my new and improved blog site!  While I have been busy with clients and pulling together samples for meetings, Karen Missler Web Design has been busy working to get this new and improved blog up and going.  Karen is responsible for the design of my website and has done a great job to create a blog space that matches up perfectly!!

I'd love to hear from you as we flush out our upcoming topics and articles!  And don't forget to send me a message if you would like to get into contact with Karen and take advantage of her services.

Tami

P.S. - now in addition to facebook, you can find me on twitter at @tejdesign

Ready for Spring!

So I have had a horrible time trying to grow pumpkins the last few years and since we’re into spring, I decided to start my seeds early in the garden window to give them a bit of a head start.  According to the seed package they are going to be GIANT! J  They are doing great… See? 

I knew I needed to get them into individual bigger pots, but decided that now it might be just as easy to plant them directly in the ground and cover them with a plastic tent for the next few weeks and baby them that way.  Then….

Yep – you guessed it, Wednesday April 6^th we had a good 2” of snow on the ground.  We have warmed up (a bit) again and so hopefully in this week, I will get the ground prepared and my vines in the ground and tented.  It IS April right?