Something that has always stuck out at me is the amount of concrete located in a cemetery, if you think about it usually cheaper headstones are made of concrete, there are benches and memorial plaques. Even the flower planters are made of concrete. Why? Well concrete is not that expensive, it’s strong and it hold up to weather. It is also cheep to ship. There is a great website you can check out if you want to use concrete at your home, Doty & Sons is a great place to buy concrete items and they do have a good selection of merchandise. Not only can you find a plaque for your loved one, but you can get things for a local park you may be helping with, or a school.

Concrete items are a big thing in design because of there strength and versatility. You see concrete tables at restaurants and in parks. Most of the trash receptacles are concrete. There is a reason that cities are called concrete jungles, concrete is used everywhere. It’s the foundation for your home. It’s fire proof and it’s cheep. So next time your thinking of doing a design project for your home or business take a look at concrete and check out that website, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Technorati Tags: Concreate garden decor

Recently an old friend of mine called me. She had just moved to a new place and was starting over with her life. Her boyfriend of 8 years, left her six months ago because she gained weight. She told me the day after he left she went to the store bought some hydroxycut and never looked back. Now she’s down to a size 3 and is smaller then she was before they started dating.

Why am I telling you this? Well the reason is. I find many people who go through a change like this one are also ready to change everything else and in my friends case it was no different. She wanted me to help her find some great things for her new place. She was throwing everything out that she had when she lived with her boyfriend and starting over. I haven’t met with her yet, but I have made a few stops at places and found some great things.

When your going through a change like this the best things to replace are the furniture and if you can afford it the location. She already had the location done, now she’s looking for more. I’ve picked out a nice cushy sofa and recliner for her space. Color hasn’t been decided yet but they comes in cream, red, blue and brown. So something should work. I haven’t found a bed yet, but I think I will have her come with me for that one.

I figure this is a start, we will add some paint and make some of the things she did keep look different. It’s hard moving from one phase of life to another, especially when you thought you were happy with the phase before the new one. Hopefully I can help her see that she does have something to look forward to. I think she does see that already, but some good interior design may just be that kick she needs to get her back up and on her feet.

Technorati Tags: Furniture, Interior Design, personal changes, style changes

Have you been looking for a way to spruce up those bare walls you have? I know I have a problem with boring looking bare walls sometimes. The best way to deal with these bare walls is to use art. There are so many different kinds of art out there and you do need to find a style you like, but also you need to find a style that will fit with your home. Usually they are the same so it’s not a problem.

One of the best places to find good art is the Park West Art Gallery I actually heard of this art gallery a year ago when I was talking to a fellow student of mine and she said it’s a wonderful jewel of a place. They offer art auctions all over the united states and they even have a affiliate company that does art auctions on cruses.

Right there is a great idea for finding art. A cruse, not only can you get a good deal at an auction on a ship, but maybe you could find some great local art in port. Be creative with your choices and you will have a great piece to add to your collection and that bare wall at home.

Technorati Tags: artwork, decor, design

One thing I know I will be doing with my design degree is teaching. I hope to be able to come back to a school and teach new designers what I have learned and done over a few year. I actually hope to do this quickly as I have always wanted to be a teacher.

Interior designers learn alot about life though there job. They learn about people, there likes and dislikes and how to make the world a better and more productive place. Why not share that with the next generation in the classroom.  I think of my teachers as my role models. They provide me with knowledge and in site into the real world. They give me the strength to continue what I am doing even if I want to give up and I would like to to the same for others. If you enjoy design and maybe wouldn’t mind teaching. You should think about being an interior design professor. There are also many high schools that offer interior design classes that need teachers to teach them.

Help open the minds of a new group of designers, be a teacher and do something that most people would never think of when they hear the words Interior Designer.

Have you ever wanted to sleep on your own face? Well now you can, or you can sleep on any other face you would want to.  There is a new service that will print your photos onto almost anything, you can get a photo pillowcase with your dog or cat on it. Of course you could always put a picture of that hot celebrity or the guy from the gym you have a crush on, but I would recommend hiding it from company if you do that.

You can also get a Photo Shower Curtain and make your bathroom unique. I love this idea as most of the time I hate the shower curtains that are in the stores. They just don’t ever seem to work with that picture I have in my head. I can usually get everything else to work but not the shower curtain. This is the only site that has custom shower curtains!

I think using customizable things like this really helps you put a stamp on your own home since you can personalize it to your likes and dislikes. Just think you could great your guest with a nice pillow with there face on it. Okay that might be kind of scary, but you get the point.