REDBOOK…need we say more!
Q&A: Fall Decor Tips from HGTV Design Star’s Blanche Garcia
(Above: In which I attempt to take Blanche’s advice with decor in my kitchen.)
Something about autumn inspires otherwise-indifferent homemakers to take a swing at seasonal decorating. I’m convinced it’s a magical time: When I was in college, even the guys down the hall with a hole cut in the side of their fridge for their keg tap managed to arrange a few gourds on their windowsill when October rolled around. More power to them, I say!
The trouble starts when enthusiasm becomes overkill – when a few candles on the mantel or colorful leaves on the dining room table turn into an army of creepy scarecrows in the yard and rooms which smell like a terrible fight between a pumpkin pie and a Christmas tree. So where’s the balance? I turned to Blanche Garcia – HGTV Design Star contestant, principal/interior designer at B. Garcia Designs in New Jersey, and “green glam” design specialist – for answers (and some tough love on stinky candles, which are my traditional excess of choice). Here’s what she had to say.
REDBOOK: How much scent is just right for a home? Fall and winter holidays have all sorts of wonderful smells associated with them, but so many people overdo it. Where’s the line between atmospheric and cloying?
Blanche: Never mix scents! You can use two or three candles at once in an entire home, but make sure they’re all the same scent. If you’ve got a strong scent, like pine cones or cinnamon, just use one scented candle, and use scentless for the rest to achieve the right ambiance. Personally, I prefer reed sticks in a diffuser; they’re more natural, and you don’t have to worry about setting a fire. You can also create a great mood with battery-operated candles.
REDBOOK: Which scents are the biggest crowd-pleasers, and which should be avoided?
Blanche: Foods are top scents; they trigger the memory of family dinners and automatically create a warm feeling. Stay away from themed scents like “Christmas Time” or “Autumn Scent” – they usually smell the most manufactured. I love a natural soy candle any day.
REDBOOK: I’ve heard that having scent in your home when you’re serving food is a no-no, as the aromas will clash. True?
Blanche: If it’s very light then it’s okay – but unless you burned the food, you don’t need extra smells hanging around! My only allowance is a scent in the bathroom; a lightly scented candle gives your guests a break from all the aromas of the food.
REDBOOK: Part of the fun of decorating for fall is bringing harvest-themed items from the yard and the farmer’s market inside and incorporating them in decor. Can that be sophisticated?
Blanche: Don’t overdo it! More of one item looks more dramatic than tons of several things will. Pick a favorite, like gourds, and pile them in a clear bowl in the center of the table.
REDBOOK: Should lighting change as the seasons change? I’m turning my lights on earlier lately as the days get shorter and shorter, of course, but should I be increasing the lighting in my apartment, or doing, say, uplighting?
Blanche: A smart system [that is, a timer which coordinates when your lights go on and off, automatically] is literally the smartest investment; you can adjust it for the seasons, and it saves you a ton on energy bills. Also, you want to keep the creeping winter blues away with warmer light as well as layers of light; adding dimmers to your existing lamps can create a warm environment.
Bottom line: Less is more, going natural is always a safe bet, and the keg-a-rator guys were right about the gourds all along. Thanks, Blanche!
Read more: Q&A: Fall Decor Tips from HGTV Design Star’s Blanche Garcia – Redbook
http://www.redbookmag.com/recipes-home/blogs/cooking/fall-decor-tips-from-blanche-garcia
Posted in Uncategorized.
– October 13, 2011
The Wall Street Journal
So excited to share with my readers that an interview I did with Homeportfolio.com was picked up by The Wall Street Journal. Here is the trail and I hope you enjoy the article !
The Wall Street Journal
Decorating Tips for Fall
(Posted on PURE CONTEMPORARY Design Blog at Wed, Oct 05, 2011 at 02:56AM)
HGTV star and interior design guru Blanche Garcia sat down with Home Portfolio to give her take on how to transition our decor to reflect the warmth of the fall season. Now that the days are getting shorter and the nights chillier, what can homeowners do to transition their decor to reflect the chan (visit source article)
Blanche Garcia’s Decorating Tips for Fall
We chatted with HGTV star and interior design guru Blanche Garcia to get her take on how to transition our decor to reflect the warmth of the fall season.
Now that the days are getting shorter and the nights chillier, what can homeowners do to transition their decor to reflect the change of season?
Blanche: It is easy to change the mood of a home to one that’s more in keeping with the fall season. Here are a few inexpensive, easy-to-execute ideas that will have a big impact:
- Switch out your bedspread for a poufy down comforter, and change your sheets to ones with a heavier weight/higher thread count.
- Protect your outdoor furniture with fitted covers. Several online retailers sell great covers that fit all sizes of outdoor furniture.
- Change out your pillows, throws, smaller rugs, and even your bath towels to ones with warmer colors, such as aubergine and burnt orange.
- Create a mudroom area. Most of us don’t have the luxury of a dedicated mudroom, but you can create one by dedicating a space right next to the front door for boots and coats. The last thing you want in fall and winter is to track damp and debris throughout the house. It’s messy, not to mention unsanitary. This is one instance where it is worthwhile making an investment in a piece of furniture such as a wooden coat rack, a bench, or an antique storage chest that can act as an instant mudroom.
- Bring the outdoors inside with branches, seasonal produce such as apples and gourds, and beautiful fall flowers. Go for simple arrangements, such as a wooden bowl filled with apples as a table centerpiece or a vase filled with interesting branches on the mantelpiece. A concentrated arrangement in one place makes more of a visual impact than several smaller, scattered arrangements. Think 20 oranges in a bowl, versus one on a mantelpiece.
Any words of caution for homeowners eager to decorate for fall?
Blanche: Be careful not to get too “stagy.” Shy away from draping fake garlands of leaves above the window frames. It comes off as inauthentic. When you think of your grandmother’s house in fall, what likely comes to mind are the brilliant colors of the trees and the smell of cinnamon and baked apples and pine cones.
Each season offers an abundance of natural products just waiting to be used. Pull out the crystal bowl you received as a wedding gift and load it up with pinecones. Fill the vitrine with gourds and pottery in colors of the season. It’s almost unlimited what you can do with what you already have and with what’s right outside your front door.
Posted in Uncategorized.
Comments Off
– October 6, 2011
Stylish Dorm DéCor
Now that schools in session I shared my thoughts with Sheknows.com on how to sass up your dorm room!
Stylish Dorm DéCor
Want to be the dorm decorating envy among your new college friends? New Jersey-based Blanche Garcia, licensed interior designer and principal of B. garcia designs, shares her dorm decorating tips for you and your new dorm roomie.
Drat! Dorm décor obstacles
In addition to trying to strategically fit your belongings in a small box-shaped room you’re sharing with a roommate, you have limitations on how you can decorate your dorm. “The biggest issues to work around are the facts that you can’t paint the walls and proper lighting is scarce,” empathizes Garcia, who has been an interior design expert for 14 years and is a LEED-accredited professional through the United States Green Building Commission. “Also,” she adds, “there is virtually no room for storage for one person, let alone two!”
5 Dorm decorating tips
Even though dorm decorating may seem near impossible, Garcia shares how to transform your new pad into a comfy yet stylish college campus haven.
Deck the walls
Though you can’t slap a coat of paint on those well-worn walls, you can give them eye appeal with removable décor. “Decorative wall decals and murals are a great peel-and-stick method for adding color and design without damaging the walls, and can be customized to what ever graphic you upload,” Garcia explains. “Companies like CustomizedWalls.com [offer] a great way to express yourself.”
Lighten up
You may only have a single window that only lets in a little natural sunlight, but strategic lighting will brighten up a dim dorm room. “Layers of light can make a room seem larger as well as solve task-lighting issues for studying,” says Garcia. “The most effective combination is through a mixture of table lamps for studying and floor lamps for general lighting. You can add a cheap dimmer from IKEA to any lamp and have soft lighting for relaxing and having friends over.”
Smart storage solutions
You don’t have to rent a storage unit off-campus — you really can fit all your and your dormie’s belongings by making the best use of your small living space. “Storage is a hot commodity in a dorm room, so hike up your bed with inexpensive risers from Home Depot and add storage bins on wheels that are easy to pull out,” recommends Garcia. “My favorite place to get bins on wheels is TheContainerStore.com. Next: Edit, edit, edit and reorganize your closet; again, The Container Store is your destination for all things storage.”
Divide and relax
Even if your roomie is your new BFF, having a little privacy will be a benefit for your friendship. “Grab a little privacy by separating two roommates with a fabric curtain attached to the ceiling — even just 10 inches of separation will mentally feel more relaxing,” suggests Garcia. “I’m going to point you once again to IKEA, where they offer thin fabric panels that mount on a track, take up little room, and come in a ton of great graphics– a great way to sass up any space.”
Express yourself
Just because you walked into a dorm room with the doldrums doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Liven it up! “Add your personality by using bright bedding, painting a garage-sale desk a pop color or using your jewelry as artwork by displaying it in a group on a framed tack board,” encourages Garcia. “Craigslist.com is a wonderful source for inexpensive furniture.”
Can dorm roomies really coordinate their styles?
It’s true: Women in general find the need to express themselves, and Garcia knows that this need doubles when it’s their first time on their own. But the interior design maven has a way for two new roomies to not only coordinate their dorm décor style but to also get closer by problem-solving together.
She explains: “It’s important to come to a compromise without feeling you have sacrificed your individuality. I suggest you pick color based on the rule of three. You each pick one color, then you each throw three color names into a hat and one of you picks out the lucky third color choice. That way, both parties were equally represented and you’ve ended up with a cohesive room design. You still get to pick what your individual bedding will be, and I find you get some unexpected but surprisingly beautiful color combinations this way!”
Keep up with seasons
Later in the school year, when you need a change of dorm scenery, Garcia says you don’t have to completely overhaul your dorm décor. Simply swap out a few small items to give your pad a new face. “The easiest way is to change out the accent color,” she explains. “By switching throw pillows, lamp shades and throw rugs, you can really change the look and feel of any space.”
Posted in Design starts with you.
Comments Off
– September 7, 2011
Daytime Talk Show
GREEN can go Glam! I show you how you can do it for less then you think. Here’s a clip of my appearance on the talk show “Daytime”.
<iframe width=”960″ height=”750″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/tkGRRotrpHw” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
Posted in Conscious Design.
Comments Off
– August 23, 2011
Royal Flush
My expert tips in Reuters shows you how to upgrade your bathroom in style. http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-money/2011/08/04/royal-flush-5-luxury-bathroom-items-to-boost-your-home-value/
Reuters Money
Royal flush: 5 luxury bathroom items to boost your home value
While $250,000 could land a vacation home in some markets, these days, you could also spend that amount on the most amazing bathroom money can buy. Think of the re-sale value that could add to a home!It’s long been standard real estate advice that updating kitchens and bathrooms increases the value of a home. G. Stacy Sirmans, a real estate professor and department chair at Florida State University who co-authored a report on “The Value of Housing Characteristics” for the National Association of Realtors in 2003, says this is still true today, but that what now constitutes and “upgrade” on an upscale house is like describing bathrooms on steroids.
“You can find bathrooms now that have these big semicircular showers without a door, where you just walk in,” Sirmans says. “You’ll see separate tubs, fireplaces, TVs. You have all sorts of things in bathrooms these days.”
Here, we spotlight some of the most luxurious features of 21st Century uber-bathrooms. Judge for yourself whether they should make your home improvement A-list.
1. Fully automated toilet
Cost: The Kohler NUMI costs up to $4,800, the Toto Neorest 600 up to $3,800.
How it works: The NUMI’s touch-screen remote controls every variable you can imagine, and a few you didn’t. “It can spray you, dry you, heat you, light you — and play music for you,” says Blanche Garcia, owner of B. garcia designs in Montclair, New Jersey
Feel-good factor: The NUMI allows you to select a low-flush setting, meaning it’s eco-friendly if not wallet friendly.
Lavish add on: Renova makes luxury three-ply toilet tissue in seven colors (including black) that retails for 5.81 Euros per six-roll pack. That comes to about $8.30 plus shipping with current exchange rates, but hey: What’s another $9 when you’ve already dropped $4,800?
2. Walk-in steam shower with multiple showerheads
Cost: By Garcia’s calculations, a tricked-out shower with up to 20 jets, 2 rain heads and vapor sealing for the steam shower apparatus could run up to $18,000.
How it works: It’s a shower of power capable of massage, mimicking a forest rain or giving you a steam room blast. Many designs also include seating for two.
Feel-good factor: Might not save on your water bill, but could cut your private spa bills significantly.
Lavish add-on: A 370-watt Amba towel warmer with 13 cross bars will set you back almost $2,000. But on the next snowy morning when you grab a towel heated to a toasty 160 degrees, it’ll feel worth every penny.
3. High-end consumer electronics
Cost: Depends on how ambitious you are. A pair of Kohler SoundTile speakers lists for about $350; a 60-by-60 inch Samsung ultra-thin mirror TV with polished, non-framed edges costs roughly $6,300 at hiddentelevision.com, and comes with a waterproof remote.
How it works: Imagine the comforts of your shower radio, but with massive attitude and all the tech savvy of a starship. “The latest technologies include iPod docks, sound systems and TVs integrated into the vanity mirrors,” says Tim Singer, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. “They are a selling point, though they don’t carry a sale by themselves.”
Feel-good factor: Custom-made mirror TVs use LED technology that meets EnergyStar standards; tax credits for EnergyStar appliances can total $500, says Howard Hammer, principal and CPA at Fiske & Co. in South Florida.
Lavish add-on: The mammoth Aquos 70-inch mirror TV has a 6,000,000:1 contrast ratio — and a base price of $10,000 at hiddentelevision.com. The$600 extended warranty costs more than some TVs.
4. Radiant heat floors
Cost: Hydronic radiant heating systems typically cost $6-$12 per square foot to install, according to Anderson Radiant Heating in Campbell, California.
How it works: Hydronic systems use hot water from a boiler or water heater that circulates through polyethylene tubing installed into the floor.
Feel-good factor: Radiant heating systems can cost 25-50 percent less to run than conventional forced-air systems, especially if you use a timed thermostat.
Lavish add-on: Assuming your mega-bathroom’s big enough, turn the heat up with a 5-by-8 foot Finlandia sauna for about $8,100 at amazon.com. Just make sure to get help carrying it up the stairs: It weighs 1,500 pounds.
5. Luxury bathtubs
Cost: A top-line tub, including a rain head and installation, typically ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, Garcia says.
How it works: In the best models, look for a combination of artistry and spa appeal. It’s not just a place to sit, but also an elegant basin to get massaged in best Jacuzzi style.
Feel-good factor: Like other items that tilt your bathroom in the direction of a spa, a fabulous tub will make it feel less utilitarian, and more like living space.
Lavish add-on: Italy’s Water Games Technologies makes a bathtub that looks and performs more like a Ferrari. The Red Diamond, at $47,000, has dual HDTV screens (in case you don’t like what your partner’s watching), a champagne holder encrusted with Swarovski crystals and a console framed in 42 grams of 18-karat gold. For about double the investment, you can fill the tub a la Johnny Depp with 100 magnum bottles of Dom Perignon, 2002 vintage.
Posted in I Dream.
Comments Off
– August 8, 2011
Lovetoknow.com
Check out my new article at lovetoknow.com. Thanks Carrie!
HGTV Design Star Tips for Decorating Small Spaces
Blanche Garcia is a certified interior designer with over 14 years experience working in both commercial and residential locations. Located in New Jersey, Garcia’s designs have been featured in a number of local publications including Design NJ, and she contributes a regular column to The Star Ledger newspaper.
Her work has been showcased on the MTV show Cribs, and Garcia recently appeared on HGTV’s reality show Design Star.
Design Tips for Decorating Small Spaces
Blanche Garcia has proven to be an expert in designing small spaces, and she shared several tips for making even the smallest room appear spacious.
The Importance of Colors and Lighting
LoveToKnow (LTK): Most people believe that using white or a light colored paint is the best way to go in a small room. Do you agree with this?
Blanche Garcia (BG): I’m a fan of white or color, it really depends on what you like. A bolder color can work just as well in a small room, even navy blue or black. When you combine a bold color with good accent colors, the overall effect often gives the illusion of more space.
LTK: So when you’re choosing accent colors, would you use shades from the same family as your base color?
BG: It depends. There are really two easy looks that you can achieve with accent colors. First, you can take the color wheel and choose opposite colors. So for example, with navy you would use red and add white. This gives the room a warm, dramatic feeling.
The second option would be to use colors from the same groupings. In this case you’d use navy along with maybe baby blue or other shades of blue. The effect is less dramatic but still striking.
LTK: How do you choose lighting for a smaller room?
BG: Lighting is extremely important, because in a small space shadows can make the room look even smaller. You want to use multiple sources of light. Things like sconces and floor lamps can illuminate a room from different angles to provide better lighting. Using low wattage light bulbs adds sex appeal too!
Candles are another great light source, and they add warmth to the room. If you’re afraid of using candles or have kids or pets, you can opt for electric candles instead. They’re widely available in all kinds of styles.
Making Space for Storage and Mementos
LTK: One of the biggest issues for small spaces is storage. What are some tips for creating more space for this purpose?
BG: There are two basic ways to get more storage space. One is to make your furniture work double-duty. Things like ottomans and end tables are available with storage space built in, or opt for a desk that’s built in to the wall and place a storage cart underneath.
The other option is to create an attractive display. There are all kinds of different baskets and decorative storage containers out there that can hold your belongings so that they’re visible but not unattractive. Place these in a grouping so that they look decorative and add to the room.
And don’t forget to use all of your available closet space! Add shelves and racks for more storage.
LTK: Is there a tasteful way to display personal things like photos or knick-knacks so that they don’t seem to clutter the room?
BG: Personal mementos can be tricky. You want to add personality to the room, but with too many you run the risk of turning into that weird bag lady with piles of stuff. The solution is to unify things. So for your photos, choose similar frames like all wood, or all white frames, and group them together.
Photos are great because you can change the look of the room with different matting colors. A burnt orange matting really stands out, for example, and looks great in the autumn. You can do this cheaply too by picking up cardboard from a craft store rather than getting the pictures professionally matted and framed.
Bathrooms and Kitchens
Bathroom designed by Blanche Garcia
LTK: How can people make the most out of a tiny bathroom?
BG: The biggest mistake people make in designing a bathroom is to use small tiles. Bigger tiles are actually better to create the illusion of space, and incorporating graphics and strong paint colors are also good ideas.
Another tip for bathrooms is that there are cavities between the studs in the walls. You can open these up to create a recess cabinet or space for a hamper.
LTK: What’s the best approach to designing a small kitchen?
BG: A mirrored backsplash is the easiest way to give the look of a larger kitchen. You also want to add lots of light to maximize the effect of the mirrors. Lighting under the cabinets is really important.
With cabinets, you want them to reach up almost to the ceiling, even though you might not be able to reach up there to get things down. With the tall cabinets, you can add rope lighting above them and then you’ve got an illusion of height, which makes the room seem more spacious. Use those top cupboards for storing things that you don’t use too often.
Getting Creative
LTK: What are some creative ways to make the most of wall space without making a room look crowded?
BG: Textures and patterns and that sort of thing are all up to personal taste, and not everyone likes to use them. I love pushing the envelope though, and there are lots of ways to jazz up a wall.
- Use stencils with tone-on-tone colors
- Hire an art student to paint a pattern or image
- Pick up removable decals at a craft store or online
- Draw or paint wainscoting or chair-rails on the walls
- Get a photo blown up in black and white to create a big new focal point for the room
In a bedroom, you can optimize the wall space by placing the bed under a window. With creative window treatments, you’re basically making the window the headboard. Then, place a big mirror on the opposite wall. The effect is that it essentially makes two windows and really opens up the space.
LTK: What’s the single most important thing you’d recommend for someone trying to update a small room?
BG: Use dimmers on your lighting! Dimmer switches are inexpensive and easy to install, and you can control the amount of light in your room at any given time of the day. Bright lights are so harsh, and a softer light will make the room (and you!) look much prettier.
Learn More About Blanche Garcia
Blanche Garcia owns B. Garcia Designs in Montclair, New Jersey, and you can visit her website at bgarciadesigns.com. For more on HGTV’s Design Star, visit the show’s official site at HGTV.com.
Posted in Design as I see it.
– July 27, 2011
Barbie Dream House
I was haapy to contribute to an article for Thomas Reuters on dream upgrades for the home. In an article named “6 Barbie Dream House additions you’ll want for yourself” you’ll read about how with the new release of Architect Barbie, The American Institute of Architects and Mattel are sponsoring an Architect Barbie Dream House Competition, and how your dream house upgrades would cost when using real life money.
energy use | solar energy
Over the years, she’s been a surgeon, paratrooper, ambassador for world peace and of course a princess. But after more than 125 career changes and regardless of whether Ken wants to settle down, Barbie’s got a new title: smart dream homeowner.
In conjunction with the release of Architect Barbie, The American Institute of Architects and Mattel are sponsoring an Architect Barbie Dream House Competition, and the designs shed light on some great additions for real-life homeowners looking to add value to their residences. We looked at finalist Michelle Krochmal’s design for an oval-shaped 11-room domicile and picked out six stellar features worthy of your own dream home — the pink color scheme is optional. We sorted out the costs and benefits, and leave it up to you figure out whether such amenities fit your lifestyle.
“I can only hope that I get a client like Barbie, someone who is tech-savvy, easygoing and open to pushing the envelope,” says Krochmal, 35, a New York City architect who says being in the contest is like a “Toy Story” plot come to life, since she built Barbie dollhouses as a kid. (Voting is open until Aug. 1, you can see all five finalists and vote for a favorite here.)
If you want to live as grandly as Barbie, check out what it would cost you in real life:
Item #1: Solar power
Why Barbie wants it: Once a lifeguard, always a sun goddess.
Why you want it: You can “get off the grid” while letting your neighbors see how committed you are to the environment.
Cost: A roof-mounted 5-kilowatt system costs about $28,000 — but after utility rebates and federal tax credits, the actual cost is more like $9,300, says Steve O’Rourke, vice president of consulting services for MicrogridEnergy.com.
Value: Drake Housley, 44, of Simi Valley, California, estimates that his $49,000 solar installation and roofing rehab should pay for itself in less than a decade. His $325 monthly electric bill is now near zero, “and if I use less electricity than I produce in a month, I’ll have a credit.”
Did you know?: Housley can monitor his SunPower solar setup via an iPhone app.
Item #2: New kitchen and appliances
Why Barbie wants it: Krochmal thinks Barbie’s into “new appliances and a fresh cheery kitchen with stone or an Icestone/Corian countertop.“
Why you want it: New appliances aren’t just luxury. “An older refrigerator could use three times as much energy as a new one, so you’re saving 67 percent,” says Mike Rogers, a senior vice president at GreenHomes America.
Cost: It’s common to pass the $100,000 mark if it’s a gut rehab with new floors, cabinets, countertops and appliances. “You can use home equity lines of up to $100,000 and deduct all of the interest for these home remodeling projects,” says Travis W. Freeman, a certified financial planner with Four Seasons Wealth Management in Creve Coeur, Missouri.
Value: Return at resale should pass 90 percent, says Blanche Garcia, owner of B. garcia designs in Montclair, New Jersey. “But because of the housing market, plan for around 80 percent.” Tax credits for EnergyStar appliances can total $500, says Howard Hammer, principal and CPA at Fiske & Co. in South Florida.
Did you know?: A Sub-Zero PRO 48 refrigerator, with separate compressors for freezer and fridge sections, runs $15,000. That should leave you just enough to pay the $74 in electricity it uses per year.
Item #3: Salt-water swimming pool
Why Barbie wants it: What better way for Barbie to remember her Malibu days?
Why you want it: Since our bodies are salt-based, eco-friendly salt-water doesn’t dry out skin and hair like chlorinated fresh water.
Cost: Custom in-ground pools run about $40,000, and options such as tiling and automation can add another $10,000, according to Pool People USA. Add $800-$1200 for a salt-water chlorinator.
Value: A study co-authored by G. Stacy Sirmans, a real estate professor at Florida State University, found swimming pools add 8 percent to a home’s selling price. “We found a pool added the greatest value in the Southwest,” Sirmans said — close to 10 percent.
Did you know?: Now’s the best time to buy a pool in years. Sales of in-ground pools are down nearly 75 percent since their 2004 peak, according to SmartMoney.
Item #4: New windows
Why Barbie wants it: Barbie’s prudent enough to know that “replacing old drafty windows with efficient windows can save you money,” Krochmal says.
Why you want it: Today’s high-tech windows use multiple glazing layers with special gasses to reflect heat back from the outside in the summer, and the inside in winter, Rogers says.
Cost: High-end brands such as Marvin custom-build windows, so prices are hard to gauge. But count on spending at least $800 for a Marvin Ultimate measuring 3 ft. x 4 ft. with installation.
Value: Energy-efficient windows and shade treatments are eligible for 10 percent tax credits, for a maximum credit of $500.
Did you know?: Shades have also gone high-tech, and can add to the energy savings. Duette Architella shades by Hunter Douglas use a honeycomb design to reduce heat transfer at the window by up to 40 percent.
Item #5: Radiant heat floors
Why Barbie wants it: Barbie barefoot on a hardwood floor in winter? Brrrrr. Even Ken knows those doll toes deserve better.
Why you want it: “There is something really wonderful about having a tile or stone floor warm under your feet on a cold winter day,” says Kimberly Neuhaus, principal of Neuhaus Design Architecture in Brooklyn. “At the end of a renovation, clients often note the radiant floor as one of their favorite features.”
Cost: A radiant heating system typically costs $6-$12 per square foot to install, according to Anderson Radiant Heating in Campbell, Calif.
Value: Radiant heating systems can cost 25-50 percent less to run than conventional forced-air systems.
Did you know?: Neuhaus recommends a radiant heat mat under a new stone or tile floor when renovating a bathroom for an added touch of luxury.
Item #6: Greenhouse
Why Barbie wants it: Though she’s been a Canadian Mountie and a bus driver, Barbie (so far as we know) has never played gardener, horticulturalist or farmer.
Why you want it: Instead of churning out greenhouse gasses, you can go the opposite route by growing organic fruits and vegetables.
Cost: A FloraZone 12 ft. x 24 ft. greenhouse runs slightly more than $3700 at Jaderloon, though you could spend much more depending on how big and durable a structure you want.
Value: At least three crops top $17 per square foot for return: cilantro ($21.20); arugula-roquette ($20.92) and green salad mix ($17.55). You could also grow your own landscaping plants. Otherwise, there’s no quantifiable value spike to a house that also sports a greenhouse.
Did you know?: You can price your own custom greenhouse at the HomeBlue contractor network website.
http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-money/2011/07/21/6-barbie-dream-house-additions-youll-want-for-yourself/
Posted in Design as I see it.
Comments Off
– July 24, 2011
My greatest lesson…
Not to be cliche but your never going to have fun in life unless you get in the game.
I came across a few of my old journals and letters to myself the other day. Your past sometimes can really tell you about your present, and give you a sort of cleansing. I am guilty of always having a goal and looking to the next horizon, and sometimes you have to take a moment to remember how far you’ve come. I sat there pouring over the words wondering who the passionate but lost teenager was, and reading in amazement as the 25 year old girl I once was began her journey into self awareness. One line that I wrote so long ago has been rolling around in my head since I picked it up once more…”There are so many people out there that are better at this then I am, but I have to try, to see how far I can take this..this passion of mine, maybe I’ll go further then I think.”
To me the difference between a life well lived and the life you regret, is the difference of a moment. The moment whether you listen to the fear in your head, or the moment when you step outside the fear. This has been my greatest lesson thus far.
Posted in I Dream.
Comments Off
– July 16, 2011
Montclair Times out today!
‘Green glam’ designer takes shot at ‘Star’
Thursday, July 7, 2011 Last updated: Thursday July 7, 2011, 1:22 AM
BY LINDA MOSS
OF THE MONTCLAIR TIMES
The Montclair Times
Blanche Garcia, a Montclair-based interior designer whose specialty is “Green Glam,” has a big secret. But she’s been sworn to secrecy.
The 32-year-old — who has done work for clients ranging from members of the New York Jets to Danielle Staub, the bitchy alumna of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” — is a contestant in the upcoming season of “HGTV Design Star.”
The winner gets their own TV show on the cable network. The new season of “Design Star” has already been taped, so the winner has already been chosen. But Garcia, like her fellow Season 6 contestants, signed a nondisclosure agreement.
“The paperwork was like the Bible,” said Garcia.
So the public will have to wait until the “HGTV Design Star” finale to find out if Garcia, who advocates stylish design that uses sustainable materials, won the competition.
The one-hour reality series features 12 contestants, judged by several top designers. Designers “must navigate innovative design challenges and dazzle the judges with creativity and ingenuity,” according to HGTV. The new season of “HGTV Design Stars” debuts July 11.
Garcia is enthusiastic about her experience on the show.
“This is what I likened it to: You know ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ when she falls through that hole?” she said. “That’s kind of what it was. You’re in an alternate universe. It’s so different from where you are now. And imagine all the comforts and all the things you can do right now you can’t do really. You’re on someone else’s schedule.”
Garcia moved to Montclair about five years ago. For two years, her business, B. Garcia Designs, has been at 550 Valley Road, where she also resides, with her dog and two cats.
“I love it around here,” Garcia said. “I walk my dog. I take him to even Verona Park, Anderson Park, My friends own Jackie’s Grillette. I’m always on Church Street. I’m always at Raymond’s. I do brunch there.”
Garcia found out about HGTV’s search for a cast for “Design Star” Season 6 about a year ago. She sent in a tape and went to an open call last fall in Manhattan. In February, after roughly a half dozen rounds of interviews, Garcia got the news that she was chosen. The show started taping in March.
“It was kind of surreal and out of body, because you do something you love and you always want to challenge yourself,” Garcia said. “So when you get validated for something that you love to do, you feel blessed when the universe allows you to get all of that in one shot.”
The competition was not as vicious as it is on Bravo’s reality competition shows, such as “Project Runway,” she said.
“There’s a lot of craziness,” Garcia said. “You have to find your center within the storm. You have to know yourself. But as far as it being very cutthroat, everybody was really actually nice to each other. And to be honest with you, everybody was amazing designers. And you kind of got the sense that everybody knew they belonged there … There was a common thread that we all felt that we had already won just by being there. So you didn’t get a lot of catty people. ”
Garcia, a licensed interior designer, was born in Queens. Her father died when she was 12, making life financially tough for her and her mother. When, as a teenager, Garcia said she wanted to be an interior designer, her mother said, “Blanche, you know it’s like breaking into modeling,” but told her to pursue her dreams.
Garcia studied design and worked in the retail and wholesale end of the business, getting her license and becoming a LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] Accredited Professional.
She spent part of her career with The Rosen Group, an architectural firm in Summit. While there, Garcia worked on a show house that would pass muster with standards set by the Green Building Council. Some 85 percent of that project’s materials were renewable, including antiques, cotton and bamboo.
“We really wanted to do a show house space that was current with the times,” Garcia said. “But … I like to show that it can be glamorous and beautiful and not granola, because that’s mostly what people see. And I think it’s great, but unfortunately the only thing that’s going to marry it to a lot of the homeowners that are here today is that they want it to fit in with what they love, too.”
Garcia also made connections that help lay the groundwork for her own interior design business.
“While I was there I built up a huge network of contractors,” Garcia said. “I started picking up clients that played for the New York Jets. I did a couple of their houses simultaneously … One of my friends, who is a contractor, said, ‘I’m working on Jerricho Cotchery’s house, why don’t you come in?’ And from there, it’s a very inner circle. So we went from one to the other.”
Garcia left The Rosen Group to form her own company, where her clients included not only professional athletes but also Staub, the troublemaker in the original cast of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
“I honestly was very tentative about working with her because I saw her personality,” Garcia said. “And her personality is very true to what you see on camera.”
Posted in I Dream.
Comments Off
– July 7, 2011
