It’s hard to believe that at Ciao Interiors we have been members of Ava Living since February 2009.  With internet being a playground for do-it-yourself-ers, we decided to join the fun.  We love how Ava Living has made the design process an easy to way for the consumer to get their feet wet and interact with designers, without even leaving the home!

As designers, we love the constant range of projects and the ease of advising consumers outside of our area seeking design help. It’s also a quick way for us to hone in on a space and utilize our design skills, keeping us “up to date” with today’s consumer.

Do you have a question about your space?  Need a space plan or help with product selection? Right now you can receive 30% off all design services with Ava Living until February 1^st, 2010.

Here is an example of a completed room review by designer Les Bernabi.

Tracy’s Living/Dining Room

“Your room projects a personality that is eclectic,   whimsical, and down-to-earth. The mood it strikes is casual, quirky, and carefree.”

Hi Tracy,

Thanks so much for requesting a room review, it looks like you could have a fun time trying to recreate your spaces to fit the mold of Indiana Jones and the Biltmore Library. For the purpose of review I will treat the individual room as one space, based on your photos and floorplan it appears as one large area……

Continue reading this room review at Ava Living.

The following are some clever tips and tricks for updating your bedroom.

Create a small sitting area in an empty corner of your room.  A comfy chair will become a beloved spot for you to relax with a good book or a cup of tea, to sit while getting dressed, or to simply reflect at the end of a long day.  If your room is large enough, try incorporating two chairs and a small table; otherwise a small slipper chair will work perfectly.

If you are short on space, mount your bedside lamp from the wall.  You will have more space for your nightstand essentials and if you use a swing arm sconce, you will have the ideal bedtime reading light.

Add visual interest to the room with a piece of furniture placed at an angle.  Try your bed or dresser entering the room from one corner.

A bold comforter or quilt can become the centerpiece of the room.  Everything else can be neutral in a room when there is a graphic, statement comforter to take the center stage.  Choose a print that will carry you year round or vary it according to the seasons.  Add luxurious linens and soft pillows that will make getting into bed a treat.

If a plain wall is asking for something exciting and you don’t have any artwork available, try a beautiful quilt or large piece of fabric.  With a strong graphic print that contrasts with the bedroom wall, there is no need for a more expensive piece of art or headboard.  Coordinate with the bedding for a sophisticated look.

Symmetry in your home decor is an excellent way to make a powerful statement.   Try both architectural and accessory details that mimic each other for an instantly contemporary and stylish look.

Photo: Southern Living

Photo: Southern Living

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: House Beautiful

Small pictures frames do not have to be restricted to the tabletop.  When arranged artfully, small photos can make a huge impact.  Black and white pictures look sophisticated when kept in a sleek color palate of black, white, and silver.  Hang them in a geometric arrangement for an orderly, tailored look or try a more haphazard pairing with frames of all size interspersed randomly on a wall.

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Ribbon adds a vintage flair to a pretty arrangement of old photographs. The oval frames are an unexpected touch.

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Black and white photos in black frames are a bold look against this burnt orange wall.

Photo: Sunset Magazine

This photo arrangement continues from the table to the wall creating an organic, beachy look.

Photo: Southern Living

Adding smaller objects in between the frames create a visually interesting look.

Photo: Coastal Living

Mismatched united in color scheme create a casual, country feel.

As interior designers, there are some things that we can do to help our clients’ projects run in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way.

1.    Re-purpose a client’s old pieces.  Recover a sofa or chair.  Refinish or repaint a table.  Reuse the fabric or trim from curtains.  The amount of pollutants released and the materials used during the manufacturing process are far greater than what it would take to reuse a similar piece.  The cost may not be dramatically different, but the carbon footprint certainly is.

Photo of "Green" Home from Coastal Living

2.    Tying in to the previous tip, shop antique stores rather than showrooms.  When new furniture is a necessity, pay attention to who is coming out with new lines that are eco-friendly.

3.    Show your clients options that include woods such as bamboo, which are quickly renewable.

4.    Use dimmers on all lights.  Not only do these work to create a mood in the room for a dinner party or an evening at home, but they use less energy when turned down.

5.    Find manufacturers and suppliers that are local.  This cuts down on money and resources used in shipping, and helps out the economy in your own community.

6.    Recommend low VOC paint to your clients.  Benjamin Moore’s Aura line is great.

These tips should help you begin to guide your clients towards a greener project.  You will feel better about the impact your work is making on the environment, and your client will feel better about the home they are living in every single day.

This month we are giving away a free Room Service!  To enter, comment below and tell us why you would like to have a Room Service consultation with Ciao Interiors!

What’s Room Service?

Can you imagine having room service at home?  Ciao Interiors offers a personalized in-home interior design with our very own “Room Service” menu.  Perhaps you need assistance with color selections for your living room or ideas for window treatments, but do not need the full services of a design firm.  Ciao Interiors has created an option for you that can provide interior design help in just one room or area of your home.  We call it “Room Service”.

When you order “Room Service” we can work with your ideas and needs to create the space you had envisioned.  Our various menu selections provide design ideas for any area of your home. 

Menu Selections

• Evaluation - Assessing existing furnishings to establish which pieces will be used or replaced
• Layout – determining the most effective placement of furnishings.
• Recommendations – regarding possible changes to existing furnishings
• Purchases – assisting with appropriate choices of new furniture, rugs, lamps and window coverings.

The winner of the giveaway will receive a Room Service consulatation from Ciao Interiors with the $150 fee waived!  A Ciao consultant will schedule a meeting with the selected winner.  If living in the surrounding Flathead and Lake County areas, Ciao Interiors will meet with you in your home.  If living outside of the local area, Ciao Interiors will meet with you via photos and a phone conversation.  Based on your needs, your preferences and your life-style, our consultant will suggest solutions that can improve the look and function of your home.

To enter, comment below before January 25 telling us why you would like to have a Room Service consultation with Ciao Interiors! Once the entries are collected, we will hold a drawing to select the winner.

For more information about our Room Service, please call us at 406-755-7373 or e-mail us at info@ciaointeriors.com.  Good luck!

The chandelier is a great place to make a unique impression.  Choose something one  of a kind and fabulous.  It will serve as a conversation starter for new dinner guests and a beautiful work of art for you to admire every day.

Photos: Traditional Home

Is your new years resolution to get your house in order? Are you trying to stay a little more organized this year?  Use the ideas below to incorporate creative and stylish organizational ideas into your own home.

Under the bed is a great place to store things as long as you keep it in order.  Rolling bins such as these are attractive and also functional.  They are easily accessible for reaching items in storage and can be moved for cleaning under the bed dust.

Install cubes on the wall in the bathroom for storage.  Towels and other bathroom supplies are within reach and take on a contemporary look.

For extra bathroom supplies that are not needed on a daily basis, install a hanging shelf above the door.  This creates an architectural look while adding several feet of extra storage.

A bench that opens is a spacious place for storing sports equipment, pet supplies, or toys.  When closed, no one would ever know how much is hiding beneath the seating.

Photos: Martha Stewart Living

Painted floors are an interesting and artistic  way to spruce up an old room.  Forget re-finishing, stripes, solids, geometric, and organic designs look fabulous painted on a wooden floor.  You can do everything from a shabby, organic look to a crisp, geometric paint job.   A traditional stripe or diamond looks great, but you can also branch out to do a fun design for a kids’ room or kitchen.  Below are some beautiful examples of painted floors from Coastal Living.