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To enter, please go to the Very Best Housewife Blog ! Unfortunately, the deadline for entry is today! 

SIGN UP NOW! 

Just got married? Had a recent housewarming? You're surely grateful with all the stuff you received - especially the wedding drinkware - but what do you do with it? I've gotten a lot of requests on how to store fancy dinnerware - especially the dinnerware from Mikasa - which are so popular amongst newlyweds? 

If you don't have a hutch to properly display your formal dinnerware, you can store your fine china in padded china storage bags with dividers to protect against scratches, dust and breakage. Proper stacking of your dinnerware will mean the difference between how long they last. Stack same-size plates on top of one another and lay felt plate protectors between each to prevent chipping or scratching. Choose dinnerware storage bags with identification windows or ID tags on the outside using a label maker to label the contents. Best place to store your dinnerware would be at the bottom of the shelf so that they don't shirt or collapse if you won't be using them as much. Remember, always keep your fine china at room temperature. 

Today we help out a dear blogger at Design Public as we talk about the Home Office and how to Organize it!  

Come to Design Public today where I share some valuable tips on how to keep your files in order and your home office looking fantastic!

See you there!


Thanks for reading my interior design blog! 

Good Home Mag - UK

now and then, I like to pick up a magazine from overseas and see how the rest of the world designs.  From cool furniture pieces, to fab fabrics, the UK has a lot to see! All the rave in Europe, are metallic accents and for us beautifully collected in these pieces. 


As mentioned in the piece, these items can brighten your home after a long winter. Gold, silver and bronze metals have a reflective nature so the little bit of light coming through, will be magnified! 


Of course these items are UK exclusive but we can definitely find things that are similar. That's what design is about - finding an inspirational piece and making it your own with your own BUDGET! 

Why not paint your existing furniture?

You can go to your local home shop like Home Depot and get a can of metallic spray paint and keep your favorite furniture piece by giving it a new look. I show you how to do it in four easy steps! 

If you having trouble doing it on your own, drop us a note! 


Best,

while most in suburbia use basements as storage, if you’re from the Empire State - New York you’ve often wondered where you would store all that extra stuff we too often collect. I've learned that to survive NYC clutter, its best to invest in self storage units. You might have seen the various signs and listings of different self storage centers but how do you pick which storage center to use and what to pack in your storage unit?

Before you begin to move stuff into your storage units, remember, unless your storage facility is brand new, people have probably used your storage unit before - so clean it out!

Here are some tips:

1.Store your off season clothing. Things like those big over-sized coats, but make sure to clean them professionally before storing. Bugs are attracted to food and sweat stains. In a storage facility, you won’t be monitoring your items on a consistent basis – so make sure you won’t be attracting moths and other clothes chewing insects.  You can use a clear vinyl canvas clothes closet to properly store them.


2. Bikes and other seasonal items. Bikes aren't used all year round but they take up loads of space - especially in NYC apartments. Take that bike, scooter, skateboard, - all to your storage unit and pack them away when the weather gets too cold to be outdoors for long periods of time.


3. Suitcases and other travel paraphernalia  Suitcases are ideal for travel but can clutter any hallway and bulk up any closet. This is another item that should be taken to the self-storage center.


4. Memorabilia. Finding storage for your prized memorabilia can also be very daunting. You want to display them but you can’t put everything out on display. Take the items and place them into clear plastic bins - labeled and sealed.


5. Bulky Appliances. That juicer that your sister in law gave you as a wedding gift would be the items that would be a good idea to store.  You might want to place in storage until you own your own home.


Rule of thumb:

Make sure you take inventory of everything in your self-storage unit and that your boxes are carefully labeled in a very detailed manner. The frustration when looking for something in your storage unit and without labels – can be tenfold when you have no idea where you don’t remember where you packed the roller skates and it’s a warm beautiful day out!

Renting a storage unit is a great way to keep your apartment uncluttered but make sure you keep it as organized as you would your own home! 

pastels are so 2000 and late! 2010 is all about being BOLD! 

Unleash the free spirit in you and choose colors that livens your life and your home space! But please note, the color you choose for your room will influence the effect the room has on you! 

When choosing bright colors, first consider what the space is for. Is it an office, a bedroom, or a dining room? Are you going to want to be soothed by the surrounding color or stimulated? 

Living with bold colors like red, royal blue and bright yellow can be difficult. These are intense, BRIGHT and saturated colors and their effects can be overwhelming. 

Don't be afraid to choose bold colors - just make sure you follow these simple steps:

• Use bright colors in rooms where high activity levels occurs - for example, children's playrooms, dining room or physical activities areas such as a gym area, laundry room or even a family room.  If you must bring them to your bedroom, focus the high intense color on the back wall of your bed. 
• Mute down your bright, bold color with large doses of a dark color like black, brown or white. 
• Cool your warm brights down with a neutral like blue or green, or touches of beige. 
• Mix and match your pastels with the bold colors to create a more balanced haven. Using a white background with hints of colors can provide flexibility for painting furniture, and adding lots of bright color without completely overwhelming the space.
• As always - Lighting is VITAL! I can't stress enough the importance of light on any color on your walls. Bold, bright colors benefit from lots of bright light. Check your lighting in your home and how it hits your walls at different parts of the day before you decide on a color. 

Great thing about paint is that it is totally reversable! If you don't feel like you're brave enough to let it all go and add that bright orange, why not try it out on area of your wall - make sure the area you choose gets a lot of light - and if after it dries, you're not set on it - just REDO!! 

For more information on how to redo your room with these BOLD colors, please email us!


Best, 

not only are the bed canopies the dream of every little girl, they can also shade you from the natural light. So go ahead and indulge in your favorite canopy! Long fabric panels fall from under a valanced top section, making a sweep of color and style that is totally unforgettable! 


This may sound exotic or out of reach but really all you need to create your own private hideaway by investing in a tension rod and a couple of your favorite curtains. 


The easiest way to create a simple canopy for your bed is to hang a piece of fabric over the top frame rails of a structured canopy bed. But if your bed doesn't have a canopy frame, there are other ways to get the look of a canopy and to surround your bed in softness and color. You can achieve a very attractive canopy bed look by installing curtain rods to the ceiling, placing one over each end of the bed.



Using either tab-top, tie-top, pinch-pleated or gathered panels, attach the fabric to each curtain rod and let it drape softly to the floor. You can also attach a rod to the ceiling, perpendicular to the head of the bed on each side. Hang the panels to the floor and tie back with a drapery tieback.



Like the feel of the sun on your face as a wake up call then embroidered shams might be more to your liking - Or If you prefer the dark - some beautiful indigo curtains for a sense of richness and romance would be a better fit!


Have no idea how to make your own canopy, then email us today and we'll walk you through the process! 

Hope you enjoyed the post! 


Best, 

P.S. After we published this post, I found this FANTASTIC and most perfect canopy bed!! 

Absolutely gorgeous - and you can purchase it here: Mach Studios! It isn't exactly inexpensive at $4,400 but I think it's worth it! 

KG STYLE DESIGNS has been featured at The Very Best Housewife Blog!


Follow the link and check us out over there for a chance to win a $100 OFF Coupon (!!!) from our usual $250 organizing service only for Blogmania. The winners will be announced in September.

KG Style Designs has revamped the logo. I wanted something a bit more sophisticated so this is what Gsting came up with! 

What do you think of it? 

last week, I asked my readers for advice on creating not only a catchy but perfect slogan for my new design firm. Thank you to all who have helped me create the slogan! We finally chose one. We did announce the winner and will be rewarding them shortly with a free T-shirt from our designers! The firm's mission is to consist of all things design, graphic artists, t-shirt designers, interior designers, web designers - all who have their education rooted in Art. 

I'm living my dream of being a designer. Have any of my readers also been thinking about this career path? There are so many schools to choose from when it comes to picking that perfect school for your continued education in design but I've read that the University of Redlands is a top university for Art as well as many other studies. What are the benefits of going to a Southern California University? Not only is the weather fantastic but it is one of the best California universities as ranked by U.S. News & World Report to get a bachelor's degree. The program being offered in their College of Arts and Sciences is aptly named Art Studio in which students work to expand their knowledge in studio, graphic, and conceptual dimensions of arts as they earn a university degree. 

Take a minute to apply and start on your road to your dream career at beautiful Island Empire College.

 

we've announced our winner of the Free Tshirt with Caricature! - whose insight "It's not Desi*n without the "G" - or something like that.." helped us come up with our twist and final slogan ..."A G in every Design!"  It's just one of the many things we do at Gsting! :) Thanks to everyone who participated. We couldn't have done it without you!

Congratulations to P.J. Cloud!! 

OMG!! Wouldn't we all want this fab closet? 

You might not be able to have a swanky looking Carrie Bradshaw or Mariah Carey wardrobe but your closet can look just as nice!

 

Join my page KG Style on FB and any NEW members from here to July - will receive a free Closet Makeover! 

www.facebook.com/kgstyledesign

KG Style has joined forces with 2 fellow designers - One Off Fashions and G Sting and have formed a design firm. We are working right now on a slogan that integrates all three companies.


Design Firm 

3 Companies
One OFF - T Shirt Design - His last name's initial is G.
KG Style - Interior Design
G Sting - will be the parent company

Although we are very different, one thing we have in common is design.
Help me create a slogan that brings together all three.

You can vote on the ones below or help me make up one. We want the words "G" and sting somewhere in there - if not both, then one of them will do.

1. Design with a little sting.
2. A Little "G" in every design.
3. It's not design without the "G."


My personal favorite is the third one. But tell me what you think!

Thanks! 

bring your home to life with interior lighting - which if done properly - can give form and texture to a room, warm a dark corner, highlight a favorite piece of art, or create just the right mood. lighting is a marvelous and powerful decorating tool - learn to use it well, and your home will look and function the way you've always hoped it too.

but lighting can cost a pretty penny and who has thousands of dollars to throw around for track lighting or any fancy "lighting system" Sometimes all you need to set the mood of a room are - you guessed it - CANDLES!!! Not only are they functional - but they're natural energy savers! 

Madison Hill Candles "creates custom candles and fragrance creations for private clients with impeccable taste, remarkable personal style and attention to detail that reflects their personality in everything they do from decorating their house, to the clothing and accessories they wear, the stationary they choose, the gifts they give." She uses candles as art! (see below)

Please visit Madison Hill Candles at www.madisonhillcandles.com for more information 

For more information on how to design your space 

using these tips, please email me.

cute! (When you're 12) but can you honestly say that you do the same at your age?

Jam packed closets seem to be a problem for MOST adults! You may WANT to organize that closet - (WANT being the operative word here) - but you just have way too much and it ALL does not fit in this tiny little closet. So what now? What do you do?

don't fret! Follow these easy steps and let KG Style finally design a closet worth opening! 

1. Unclutter, Unclutter, Unclutter.  

• It sounds simple but you'd be surprised at the daunting task that lies ahead. Best way to unclutter your closet is by simply taking EVERYTHING out! Make separate piles for articles you wear on a daily basis and your "sometimes" or "social" clothes. Clothes that no longer fit - should automatically be removed. Other articles like impulse buys that no longer make you feel great or trendy items that have exhausted their 15 minutes of fame - can be donated or sold - depending on the wear and tear! 
• If you find yourself with clothes that need mending - take a look at each item and decide if it's worth the hefty bill lurking at the cleaners. If it's not, give it away to someone who will get that hemline fixed and thus appreciate their new addition. If you'd taken an honest look - everything that needs to be mended, you'd absolutely die without - then bag those items and take them to the  cleaners the next day! 

2. Use Up All Of That Closet Space.

• Install a second rod. All that extra space below your clothes - becomes wasted space - and let's face it - space is crucial to most of us NYC apartment dwellers! By installing a rod for shorter items like skirts - you're using up every inch of space the closet has to offer. But remember to allow room for longer items, too! 

3. Sort, Sort, Sort!

• To give it that "store" look - group items and articles of clothing that go together. Things such as shorts, jackets, skirts, pants.    

4. Compartmentalize

• As much as you can. You can find great products at one of the BEST organizing stores ever made aptly named: The Container Store. Here you can purchase most of the items you see above - the Elfa System - and more! 

5. Containerize

• Add containers - again from the Container Store - that not only look good but function for items such as sweaters, purses, hats, jeans and shoes.  

6. Bells and Whistles 

• Use whatever designing skills to make your closet look and feel fabulous. Various racks that are made specifically for belts, ties, shoes and bags. Every time you open the closet door, you want to see a MASTERPIECE!!

 For more information on how to DESIGN your space using these tips, please email me.

these days, decorating budgets have decreased - and cost effectiveness is what KG Style is about. if you have a small decorating budget - there are many tricks and tips that can help you accomplish a look just by simply reusing the furniture you currently own.

by painting existing furniture, you can stretch your decorating budget for any room.

is the dresser in your room an eye sore but was given to you by a family member who has currently passed and you wish not to throw it out. the knobs are blue and they just don't work well with your "new" decor....

there's no need to get rid of it unless you absolutely have to!

make it work for the room by using paint as your decorating tool.

Tips:
1. sand the entire piece.
2. wipe away any residues
3. apply several coats of polyurethane on the top in the direction of the grain.
4. apply desired color. use the spray paint of your color and style.

when painting furniture, you must use paint that has a sheen or semigloss to it because furniture gets a lot of wear and tear. the higher the sheen, the more durability it has.

THIS JUST IN FROM
http://haroldgeorge.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year to my readers!

What's your design and organizing resolution?
Is it to finally get rid of your clutter in that closet you keep locked?
Or redesign that spare room and finally turn it into your home office?

Whatever your resolution is - just remember to start small so it doesn't overwhelm you. Here are some tips to get started:


TIPS

• Write a game plan. Every task you wish to tackle - can be broken down into steps - starting from smaller to larger. Write them out as a checklist or in outline form (you remember that thing they used to teach us to organize an essay can be applied and used here as well!)
• Don't know how to design it? Envision how you would like the room to look. If you have any magazines such as Pottery Barn, Crate n Barrel etc. - search for a picture that resembles your idea.
  
• List all of your purchasing wants and needs and research their prices so you know the exact costs when you start your shopping.
  
• Before you redesign a space - it'll be better and wise to declutter first. You don't want to bring in the old junk from an old space into the new redesigned one.
• As you declutter - make three separate piles - One for Keep, Donate and Trash. Evaluate the things you want to KEEP and would like to go back into the space, anything that can be used by someone else, you can place in the DONATE pile and anything that has seen better days can be labeled TRASH!
  You'll get better at it as you keep doing it and soon you'll reevaluate your KEEP pile over and over again.
  
• Home is where the heart is so give everything a HOME where your items will live.
  
• ENJOY the task of shopping and designing your space.
  

Share with me your finished masterpiece!