Merrick designer featured in national magazine - LIHerald.com - Nassau County's source for local news, breaking news, sports, entertainment & shopping

Merrick designer featured in national magazine - LIHerald.com - Nassau County's source for local news, breaking news, sports, entertainment & shopping

I love this crisp white dining room (pictured in Elle Decor Magazine). Notice the clever introduction of three primary colors - Red, yellow and blue. These injections of color save the space from total starkness (though stark is beautiful, too!)

A Weekend at the Beach!

GET LIT!

COLOR SAVES THE DAY

I am so excited to be included in Lucianna Samu's latest decorating book by Creative Press. The truth is that color can transform a space from the everyday to "TA DAA". Paint, paper, pillows, passementerie! There are many ways to bring color into your home. Have fun following the tips that Lucianna has gathered from many talented designers (including me!!) and enjoy the colorful pics of the designers' projects , photographed by Lu's hubby Mark Samu.

YEAH! SUMMER IS ON IT'S WAY!

The smell of cut grass and dafffodil's ..... the sound of sprinklers in the morning.... I am soooo excited that Spring is here. Now that the cover is off the pool (I know, kind of early, but hey - Summer IS on it's way) I have taken a fresh look at my backyard oasis. And I noticed that the chair cushions on my Brown Jordan wicker set looked kind of washed out. So off to Kravet I went to choose new fabric to recover the cushions with. Kravet's Soleil collection (pictured- courtesy of Kravet) offers long lasting, mold and fade resistant fabrics that are so beautiful I can't believe they are outdoor fabrics! Now that my cushions are fresh and my private pool club is open for business, I am eager to start gathering the ingredients to make the first batch of my homemade sangria!

Room Lighting Tips

The most amazing furniture or paint job can feel drab without the proper lighting! When decorating your room, lighting can play just as important a role as furnishings. Light can affect how your entire space FEELS and it is important to set the right tone." Every decorating plan should include layers of lighting to maximize (and change) the feel of the room: Overall or Ambient, Task and Accent.
* Ambient lighting is the overall wash of light in the space. This would be a chandelier or hi hats, or recessed lighting.
* Task lighting provides a more direct concentration of light to help you see what you are focusing on. This could be a desk, floor or table lamp. It could also be under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen.
* Accent lighting is used to create mood in a space. It is also a way to highlight important architectural details in your space. Accent lights can be picture mounted to highlight artwork, cove lighting along the ceiling, table lamps, etc.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match the different types of lighting—the more layers you have, the more warmth you can create. If you’re afraid of the harshness of the lights, try dimmers too.
To get a romantic glow, use low lighting—try a three-way bulb but keep it lit on the lowest light, and put the overhead lighting on dimmer. A romantic look can also be achieved by the style of lighting that you choose—light fixtures with a warm patina, such as an oil rubbed bronze finish, are great for this look. The shades may have a more traditional shape such as a bell shape or they may be embellished with trim or crystal.