How to Find Your At-Home Style

Sometimes the most difficult step of decorating at home is figuring out how you envision that room. Do you want something modern or classic? Rustic or edgy? How is it going to flow with the rest of your space and decor items you already have? Here are some tips from Apartment Therapy to help you determine your home decor style.

Photos courtesy (L-R) Mauricio Diaz Orlich, Domingo Leiva, Chealse Vo

1. Look to other areas of your life for hints

What is an area you do know your style or tastes in well? Clothes? Cooking? Look for characteristics in these other areas to give you hints as to what you might like. If you like a minimal wardrobe, for instance, you might prefer a minimal interior, too.

2. Take a walk in a neighborhood

Stop and pause at the homes that you seem drawn to. Are they traditional looking? Modern? An eclectic mix of both? Observe what catches your eye and feels nice to you, even the way folks decorate their porches and patios. Stop and pause in front of the homes that pull you in. If you like a traditional style of architecture, you might like clean lines and muted colors in furniture and accessories.

3. What country do you dream of visiting — or what has been your favorite vacation?

If you had a blast soaking up the bold colors of a tropical vacation, you might love being surrounded by bold colors in your interiors, too. Or if you prefer the earthy, muted tones of a Tuscan landscape, you might find that those hues bring similar peace and calm to your interiors.

4. Grab a stack of home design magazines for a tactile tear-out session

Pinterest is great, but there's something visceral about flipping through the physical pages of a design magazine. Like we've advised before, just tear out the pages that catch your eye, and do it quickly, not over-thinking what the style is that you're seeing. Later you can look through the pages to pick out the elements you see over and over again.

5. Eliminate what you don't like

Start from what you know you don't like, even making a list. Why? Because sometimes in the heat of the moment you can make buying decisions that end up not being your style once you get it home. But if you take the time to know what you don't like (and even why), you can steer clear of those sorts of design elements and head more in the direction of what you do like.

6. Take an online quiz

You can find a whole slew of online quizzes to help pinpoint your style. Some are silly, but most will at least give you a slight hint of the direction your style might go in. Here are some to start with: Just for Fun Online Design Quizzes: What Is Your Style?

10 Ways to Stay Cool and Cut Costs

Photo courtesy Gavin St Ours

This Saturday marks the official start of summer, and with average high temperatures in the high-80s to low-90s, pretty soon the air conditioner will be working overtime. However, it is possible to stay comfortable without breaking the bank. Just follow these simple tips from Apartment Therapy.

1. Warmer At Night Is OK: During the night time hours you don't require the same level of conscious cool. Try turning your AC down (so it is running less) during your sleep hours or an hour or two before bed.

2. Use Window or Portable Units: If you aren't into cooling your whole home, try using a portable unit to cool just the area you'll be working in. They use up to 50% less energy than a larger central air unit would to cool off the same space.

3. Close Off Vents: The basement is traditionally the coolest room in the home, so try closing all the vents in the lower portion of your home. The cool air will slink down there naturally and by closing those vents, you're forcing all the air up top first, cooling as it comes down.

4. Service Your Unit: Some basic maintenance might be all your air conditioner needs, but most will greatly benefit from a good hosing out, especially if you're plagued with pesky trees like Cottonwoods that drop seeds which stick to the filters and make the unit work 15% harder!

5. Check Your Ducts: Making sure the areas where your ducts run through parts of your home without air conditioning (like the attic) are properly insulated will keep the air coming in as cool as it can be. Paying for half cool air isn't anyone's idea of money well spent!

6. Rearrange Your Furniture: Furniture that obstructs air conditioning vents means you could be cooling the back of a chair or the bottom side of your sofa and although it might appreciate the thought, we're pretty sure you'd rather have that chill instead. Although they make plastic pieces for your vents to help force air in the right direction, the easiest way is to just rearrange things for awhile!

7. Try 78 Degrees: 78 degrees is a good point for an air conditioner to run at its optimal performance level. Think of it as a car on cruise control headed across the flat Midwest prairie. It's not chugging along going up hill, and is just is plugging away, steady as she goes. Taking your temperature even 5 degrees lower can make your air conditioner use up to 40% more energy!

8. Lighting: Turning lights off can help reduce your heat, but paying attention to how much light you let in from open windows can also play a significant role. Although it might seem neurotic to open and close your windows everyday with the changing of the sun, it makes a huge difference in how much heat your bought air is competing against.

9. Is Anyone Home?: If you can, while you're away turn your AC up to 85 and make sure the windows and drapes are closed. Although it will be hot for a few minutes when you come home, the blinds will help keep out the sun out (allowing existing cool to stay that way for as long as possible) and the heat won't be so substantial that your unit will have to work overtime to cool things back off.

10. Don't Forget The Fan: We rely on air conditioners to keep things cool, but having the help of a few supplemental fans doesn't hurt. Using them to circulate the cool air means you don't need quite as much pumped into the room. They use less energy than your air conditioner unit, so having them around as backup is a great idea.

10 Cleaning Hacks from Fashion Industry Insiders

Photo courtesy Mazzali

Think your refrigerator is only good for storing food? False. This article originally published in Elle Magazine (via House Beauty) takes you through some insider tricks to keeping your most coveted fashion and beauty items looking their best. Your momma didn’t teach you these tips growing up!

1. An employee over at a luxury brand that houses one of the most enviable handbag lines out there taught me this tip for getting scratches out of leather:
“Rub a tiny bit of moisturizer into the scratch using a Q-tip until the scratch is gone. It's gross, but literally it's like rubbing lotion into cracked skin. I recommend Nivea unscented moisturizer.”

Photo courtesy Maria Morri

2. One A-lister told me to turn my leather pants inside out and store them in my freezer to help them keep their shape. Another swears by machine drying leather leggings on low heat, again inside out, to reduce stretching. I’ve tried both techniques and can say both work like a charm.

3. A jewelry designer to the stars offered up this household tip for cleaning brass, gold, and diamond jewelry:
“Ketchup cleans brass and Fantastik shines gold and diamonds like a mofo.”

4. A friend of mine swears by the powers of the fine-tooth comb to de-pill her most luxurious cashmere sweaters.

5. One of the most famous perfumers in the world instructed me to always keep my perfume in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.

Photo courtesy Oveja

6. Try to never wash your jeans. If they start to smell, put them in a gallon zip lock bag with a dryer sheet over night and leave them in the freezer. Once they thaw, they will feel fresh and clean but still fit perfectly.

7. To get deodorant stains out of pretty much any material, rub the fabric together. It even works (really well) on black clothing!

8. ELLE.com contributing editor, Faran Krentcil, got this useful tip from her grandfather, who ran a leather factory in the Garment District in the '60s and '70s: “If your suede shoes get wet, ball up newspaper inside them and wrap them up in newspaper too. They'll keep their shape and texture, and dry out fairly quickly.”

9. For those of you wearing fur this winter (or eyeing all the colored furs on tap for next fall), here’s a tip to keep yours from shedding. Keep your fur coats (or scarves) in the freezer to keep from them shedding. Sure, it requires an extra large freezer, but don’t you think it’s worth the investment?

10. One of our favorite street style stars taught me to use a hair dryer as a steamer to get wrinkles out just before you’re running out the door (or, if like us, you live sans iron). If you have an entire dress that needs ironing, try hanging the garment outside of the shower while running hot water to steam creases out.

Staying Cool (and Safe) in the Pool

Growing up, your mom always had something to say before you got into the pool, like “don’t go in the deep end,” “wait 30 minutes after you eat” and “make sure you put on sunscreen.” Now that you may be a parent yourself, you understand those feelings of wanting to keep your child safe in the summertime. Apartment Guide offers these rules for staying cool and safe in your apartment’s pool.

Photo courtesy of fdecomite

As cliche as it may sound, we must remind you to keep safety first. Every pool has its own set of rules that need to be followed. They should be clearly posted in the pool area. You, your children and guests should become familiar with the rules to avoid being banned for silly things like splashing, diving or excessive cannonballing. Most importantly, never leave children in the pool unattended – not even for a quick run to the bathroom. Stay in the shallow end of the pool if you have to.

Come prepared. Life vests, towels, sunscreen, flip flops, sunglasses and a fully charged phone are a must. But bring some fun stuff, too. Foam noodles, inflatable floats and beach balls will all enhance your fun in the sun.

The pool is a common place for neighbors to chill out over the summer. So grab your beach towel and get your mingle on! Take a walk around the pool and finally introduce yourself to your neighbors. You never know who you might meet!

Find out whether or not there is a lifeguard on duty. Some communities will schedule a dedicated person on-site while others will not. Whether or not there is someone on duty, you’ll need to keep an extra close eye on what’s going on around you. If you or or children don’t know how to swim, look into getting lessons this summer. And while you’re at it, see if you can find a free CPR training course in your area.

Play water games! Tag, Marco Polo, volleyball and racing each other are all fun ways to enjoy yourself during pool time. Play fairly, and no cheating!

Make note of where the pool drains, pipes and openings are located. Children should stay away from any parts of the pool that have suction features.

Clean up after yourself. Some pools are strict about no eating and drinking on the premises. If you happen to break this rule (which we do not encourage), at least pick up your trash and don’t leave anything behind. The pool area is a reflection of the residents and you don’t want to be the reason it looks unsightly. You know better.

Remember the old saying, “use it or lose it.” Unfortunately, pool season doesn’t last forever. In many communities, Labor Day weekend will be your last chance to take a dip until next May. If you ever find yourself bored, broke and looking for something to do, grab a towel and head down to the pool!

Happy swimming!

Get Out And Enjoy The Sunshine

(Image courtesy of Dean and Natasha)

The scenery in New Mexico is absolutely stunning. With an abundance of wildlife parks and conservation centers, New Mexico is teeming with scenic elements to make your heart flutter. Though there are a few too many parks around to take the time to see them all, we can give you a few suggestions to narrow down your search for the perfect day trip.

Are you and your kiddos ready to get out and enjoy the beauty at some of the best parks in Albuquerque? You can’t go wrong if you follow some of these suggestions from renters.apartments.com! Keep reading to learn more:

Botanic Garden

An oasis of color in the desert. The Botanic Garden is open from nine to five on weekdays and can be found at 2601 Central Ave. NW. The Botanic Garden is really something of a shocker. Step in from the midday heat of the Southwestern sun and you'll be surprised to find thousands of samples of local and exotic flora. The park stays open until six on weekends and on certain holidays, so if you want to take an evening trip, you need only wait until Saturday or Sunday to take in the sights of the Albuquerque Botanic Garden.

The Biopark and the Albuquerque Zoo

Located at the Albuquerque Biopark, the Albuquerque Zoo boasts animals from around the world, everywhere from Africa to Australia and Mexico. Giraffes, apes, lions, and even llamas and alpacas that you can pet. Show up on select days during the summer and you can even give a giraffe a handful of feed while you pet him on the nose. The Albuquerque Zoo can be found at 903 Tenth SW where it is open from nine to five on weekdays.

Roosevelt Park

You're going to be surprised to see this much shady green grass in New Mexico. We're known for our scenic red vistas, our cliffs and big skies uncluttered by dense forestation, but the Roosevelt Park offers biking and walking paths all shaded by lush green trees and thick grass. Disc golf is popular at the Roosevelt Park, and you couldn't ask for a better place to walk your dog, take a date or spend the day with the kids. You can find the Roosevelt Park at Coal & University SE.

New Mexico may seem like a dry desert when you first arrive, but take some time exploring the parks of Albuquerque and you'll see that there's so much more to the Land of Enchantment than sand and sun.

Is your Kitchen Clutter Free?

(Image courtesy of Barney Livingston)

This one is for all the cooks out there. How many times have you been so engrossed in cooking a complicated recipe only to discover half-way through that you’ve fun out of counter space?

If this problem seems to come up more and more often while you’re cooking, it may be time to look at the appliances in your kitchen to determine what you really, truly can live without. Don’t believe us? Read through this list courtesy of builddirect.com and we’re sure you’ll be rethinking some of your less-used appliances.

1. Toaster

Let’s start radically by challenging tradition, shall we? While a toaster might seem like a can’t-live-without item, it’s really an unnecessary kitchen tool when you really look at it. The pop-up toaster was only developed in the way we recognize it by 1913. Before that into the late 1800s, a broiler or a skillet was used for making toast. You can do that too!

To use the broiler for toast, put bread on a baking sheet and slide it onto the top rack of the oven. If you prefer to use a skillet, set it over medium-high heat and flip the bread from side to side until it turns that golden shade of brown. No problem!

2. Microwave

“Ack! Are you insane???”

Well, it might seem even more radical to suggest that a microwave should be anything less than totally central to your kitchen. But, one thing to consider is the relationship that you have with your kitchen as far as what you actually do while you’re in it. For instance, how central is your microwave, really, to the daily meals you’re preparing in your kitchen? Ask yourself this question, and then decide whether or not the counterspace or cabinet space your microwave takes up is really justified.

Also, think about where your microwave might serve you better outside of the kitchen. If you use your microwave to make popcorn, warm up hot chocolate, or to heat up other snacks while you’re spending time in front of the TV, or on board game night, or kids craft time, then maybe the microwave should be more central to those activities in family rooms, or living rooms.

You could do worse than to match up the function of your microwave with the kinds of activities it supports. And it’s your house, so you get to decide where everything goes, even if tradition says otherwise.

3. Sandwich maker

In your quest for a minimalist kitchen, small appliances that have only one function (like your toaster!) are prime candidates for demotion on your countertops. Sandwich makers have a certain appeal. But, unless your really expanding on ways to use it, or are maybe writing an eBook about the versatility of the sandwich in modern cuisine, it might be time to give your sandwich maker its walking papers when it comes to taking up countertop space.

And again, is there a better place for your sandwich maker? Basement family rooms, bar areas in recreation areas, and even in outdoor dining spaces might be a better choice for single-function appliances like this.

4. Extra dishes

You know that hideous floral dinnerware that your well-meaning neighbor gave you? Drop it off at the nearest secondhand store. You might keep stuff like that around in your cupboards and cabinetry, just in case you ever have more guests than your regular set of dinnerware can handle. But if that happens, renting plates from catering companies or borrowing them from friends and family are always viable options. Your well-meaning neighbor won’t even notice.

5. Deep fryer

While your doctor probably wouldn’t argue with you if you gave up completely on those treats from the fryer, getting rid of your deep fryer doesn’t mean you have to go without the goodies. A sturdy saucepan and a thermometer will get the job done, and you’ll have one less bulky item hogging your counter or cupboard space.

6. Rice Cooker

Here’s the thing. You don’t really need a rice cooker. All you need is a saucepan with a lid. Cooking rice on the stove top is almost as easy as using a rice cooker.

My method? It’s one-part rice, two parts water, cover and set to boil, turn off the heat completely when boiling is achieved. Then, let it sit with the lid on for about 15 mins. Easy peasy.

7. Popcorn maker

You got rid of the microwave in the kitchen, and now the popcorn maker is on the chopping block, so what are you going to eat on movie night? Once again, making popcorn on the stove top is a solution. Granted, making popcorn on the stove isn’t as easy as throwing a bag of popcorn in the microwave or using the popcorn maker, but you still end up with a delicious treat—and a new skill to add to your growing list of culinary feats.

And like you did with your microwave, maybe this is just a matter of re-location rather than changing your approach to making a buttery treat. Move that popcorn maker into the family room where you play your boardgames, or watch movies. Redefine where your appliances are according to your needs. This is your space. You get to decide where things go. Simple.

8. Extra knives

That big wooden block sitting on your counter probably only has a few slots that see frequent action. A chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a bread knife are all essential, but that’s really all you need. Keep them sharp, keep them clean, and say farewell to all the knives that you kept around for reasons that may now escape you.The same goes for that drawer (you know the one, everyone has one …) with the jumble of mysterious implements with uses that remain to be a mystery. Clear that out and be brutal about how often you use each item in there. You’ll thank yourself later.

Pillows And Flowers And Armchairs, Oh My!

(Image courtesy of BISSON)

If you’re like us, you can never get enough of exotic design ideas. Often when you’re creating an idea for a space it can be easy to be drawn into the comfortable - and usually playing it safe comes at the price of a visually stunning room.

If you’re a bit timid when it comes to the idea of “letting it all hang out,” with your interior design, there are still options to create an elegant, yet eye catching room. These easy principles, courtesy of renters.apartments.com, are inspired by French decor and will leave you saying oui. Don’t believe us? Keep reading to find out more.

Snow White.

The most common theme you’ll find in French design starts with white. This means a fresh and clean palette where you can artfully add in soft pastels to bring color. Walls are often white with white wainscoted detailing and crown molding. Plush white sofas are also a must. Don’t overwhelm a room with color, keep white the clear theme – the ultimate goal is a clean palette. To keep things from going too white and mod, the toiles and florals come in….

It’s a Toile World After All.

Nothing says French faster than a toile print. For anyone who loves whimsy, these are your dream fabrics. Fairy-tale-esque scenes are printed in repeat and can be used as curtains, throw blankets, pillows and more. If the farm scene isn’t your thing, try the Chinoiserie toile.

Pillows and Flowers and Armchairs - oh my!

French design is nothing short of sophisticated yet it simultaneously should invite you to step in and have a seat, a comfy seat that is! Why? Because they understand the power of decorative pillows. Pillows invite but also make statements. If white is your overarching palette, you need pillows to provide your pops of color and break up the monotony. The French are known for choosing quality fabrics so don’t cheat yourself here, a cheap pillow will look cheap. Williams Sonoma has top notch options.

Perusing Paris you’ll remark upon how many flower shops there are, this is because the French love to bring life into their homes and what better way to do so with flowers? Try it out for a month and I’m sure you’ll soon get addicted to this little indulgence, this joie de vivre.

Finally, the French armchair is a staple in any French home. Often called the Louis XV chair, these delicate but sturdy chairs anchor a room and add the final touch. These chairs come at a price however so shop around. You can easily find a great option at Restoration Hardware but you may save yourself some money by scouring antique shops first. Consider having the chair reupholstered to suit your taste. The chair seen here was refinished and reupholstered by Time Treasures Antiques & Restoration.

Bon, you have a great starting point for French-ifying your home, bonne chance! And s’il vous plaÎt, share your favorite French design tips as well!