SPRING CLEANING, GREEN STYLE

Posted on March 15, 2019 by rblog

When the days start to grow longer and the sun begins to show a little more, it prompts us to begin the quest of getting our home in order. Time to clean windows, window treatments, walls, baseboards, cabinets, floors, and organize closets and other storage areas.  If you are being environmentally conscious, you won’t want to purchase a bunch of labeled bottles of chemical filled cleaners to do these tasks; not only could they harm you, but they could harm your children and pets.  Here are some alternative eco-friendly solutions that are easier than you think to make yourself!

Things you’ll need:

  • Distilled white vinegar (sold in the cooking section of most supermarkets)
  • Baking soda
  • Olive oil
  • Borax (sold in a box in the laundry aisle)
  • Liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s brand, found in most natural foods stores)
  • Essential oils (super concentrated natural plant oils found in natural foods stores, usually in the cosmetics section)
  • Microfiber cleaning cloths
  • Newspaper

green-spring-cleaning-1Here are a few basic “recipes” and techniques to get you started:

  • Glass: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with one quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe clean with old newspaper or a lint-free cloth.
  • Countertops and bathroom tile: Mix two parts vinegar and one part baking soda with four parts water. Apply with a sponge, scour and wipe away.
  • Floors: Mix four cups of white distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops of pure peppermint or lemon oil for a pleasant scent. After damp mopping the floors, the smell of vinegar will dissipate quickly, leaving behind only the scent of the oil.
  • Wood furniture: Mix equal parts lemon juice and olive oil. Apply a small amount to a cloth and rub onto the furniture in long, even strokes.
  • Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet with straight vinegar.
  • Disinfectant: Mix two teaspoons borax, four tablespoons vinegar, three cups hot water and 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use a spray bottle. Wipe clean.
  • Mold and mildew: Wipe with straight vinegar.
  • Air freshener: Sprinkle essential oil on a cotton ball and stash it in a corner of the room. If you have kids, make sure it’s out of their reach, as essential oils are very strong and could irritate their skin. Lavender is a relaxing scent that is great for bedrooms, while cinnamon, clove and citrus oils are great for the rest of the house. You can stash a few in the car, too—try peppermint, which may help you stay alert

green-spring-cleaning-2More Green Cleaning Tips

1. Hang dry your laundry. Drying your clothes in an electric or gas dryer isn’t just hard on your clothes, but it’s also hard on the environment. Don’t stop with natural laundry detergent—to truly stay green, install a clothesline in your backyard. If space (or aesthetics) is an issue, look for a retractable clothesline, which takes up almost no space when not in use. Weather permitting, line-dry your clothes outside to reduce pollution, while also cutting your energy bill, getting more exercise, enjoying the fresh air and extending the life of your clothes. Plus, they’ll smell like a clean breeze (the real kind, not the chemical kind).

2. Add a little greenery. Install a living air filter—houseplants! Some of the most efficient air-cleaning houseplants include spider plants, English ivy, rubber plants and peace lilies. You’ll need 15 to 18 medium-size (six- to eight-inch diameter container) houseplants for the average 1,800-square-foot house. If that sounds like a lot, place a few plants in the room where you spend the most time.

3. Use Cellulose Sponges

Most household sponges are made of polyester or plastic, which are slow to break down in landfills, and many are treated with triclosan, a chemical that can produce chloroform (a suspected carcinogen) when it interacts with the chlorine found in tap water.

Instead try cellulose sponges, available at natural foods stores, which are biodegradable and will soak up spills faster since they’re naturally more absorbent. For general household cleaning, try Skoy Eco-Cleaning Cloths. These cleaning cloths are non-toxic, extremely absorbent (15x paper towels), reusable, and biodegradable.

  1. Ditch the paper towels. Save trees, cash and landfill waste when you buy specially-made, washable cleaning and dusting cloths, available in all types of fabrics, from cotton to microfiber. Better yet, use what you already have and give an old piece of cloth (stained towels, ratty sheets and pillowcases, too-small t-shirts, etc.) a new life. Simply cut or tear your old item into smaller squares (if you want to get fancy, finish the edges with a sewing machine), and voila! Pop them in the washing machine with your laundry to clean, and use them again and again.

 

Cleaning up your home for spring doesn’t have to be dirty work. By implementing some of these ideas and products, you’ll benefit your body, your home and the planet. Many of these changes are small ones, but their impact on your health and the environment can really add up over time.

 

Design Team

The Contemporary Curtain

A brand of PKB DESIGN LLCgreen-spring-cleaning-1 green-spring-cleaning-2

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HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT CONTEMPORARY CHANDELIER

Posted on March 1, 2019 by rblog

A dining room is where many conversations happen, many gatherings and events; this is why you will want a point of interest, mood-setting light, a fixture that enhances color and enables great conversation. A chandelier can act as a bold contemporary interior design statement or a subtle one.  It can be an opulent conversation starter or simply compliment a beautiful meal. Either way, the dining room is a fantastic place to add an unexpected design detail with a chandelier that is just your style.

A few key points in selecting the perfect light fixture for your contemporary dining room:

Balancing Texture:

Design elements such as texture play a big part in how the chandelier will work in your room.  Balancing smooth and shiny textures of metal or glass on a chandelier with soft, lush fabric in upholstery and window treatments will give the room a finished look. Contemporary window treatments, especially floor to ceiling custom drapes can have the added benefit of enhancing vertical lines, creating an illusion of more height in the room, and balancing the height of the chandelier for a more cohesive room design. chandelier-1Getting The Size Right:

A chandelier should be harmonious with the scale of the space without overpowering it. Make sure the chandelier is one-half to three-quarters the width of your table. If your table is 40″ wide and 60″ long we recommend a 24″ – 36″ diameter chandelier. For the right hanging height the bottom of the chandelier should be around 30″ above the table. If your ceilings are higher than 8′, then you can add an additional 3″ for every foot above 8’. This will ensure that you have ample clearance for hanging your chandelier; and it won’t be too small, getting lost in the room, or overwhelm the space by being too large.  Small dining tables are beautifully complemented by similarly delicate chandeliers. As a general rule it’s best to select a chandelier that is the same shape as your table; for example, avoid pairing round tables with rectangular light fixtures.chandelier-2Creating Lighting Levels:

The amount of light in a room is vital to how you use the space. Not enough or too much light can make a space extremely uncomfortable.  Consider the size of the room as well as the type of light source and wattage.  When you walk into the room and gaze at the halo created from the perfect chandelier, you want to be sure it is creating the right mood.  Keep in mind that lighting from a chandelier that beams directly onto a person from above is neither flattering or comfortable.  Look for chandeliers that offer indirect lighting where the light will reflect off the ceiling or walls for a softer effect.  Avoid high wattage bulbs and consider if you want your bulbs to be a warm or cool light.  For most interiors, 2700K warm light LED bulbs should be sufficient. If you have a space with lots of crisp whites, blues and grays then consider 3000K.  A wall dimmer will also help you control the light and set a more flattering mood. Lighting design has to offer flexibility; changing the intensity is almost a necessity.   Some events may call for a lot of light while others will be more intimate and romantic, so getting a fixture that can be controlled by a dimmer is essential in a dining room. chandelier-3To learn about interior design, visit our website at www.thecontemporarycurtain.com – read more blogs and receive access to our interior design reports!

Design Team

The Contemporary Curtain

A brand of PKB DESIGN LLC 

 

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BRING A LITTLE FENG SHUI TO YOUR HOME

Posted on February 25, 2019 by rblog

The Winter Season is upon us once more, and it is the time of year we tend to live more inside than out.  How do you freshen up your home’s interior for winter and make it space you want to spend time in?  Why not use Feng Shui to make your space feel more comfortable?  Feng Shui works on the premise that everything is energy, and in our home, we want to get good energy flowing. Cambridge.org defines Feng Shui as “an ancient Chinese belief that the way your house is built or the way that you arrange objects affects your success, health, and happiness”. Last year, we introduced Feng Shui and its basic principles; https://thecontemporarycurtain.com/blog/could-feng-shui-be-for-you/.  Feng Shui is based on good Chi, the lifeforce energy, and it is about the balance of yin and yang (masculine and feminine) energies as well as the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water).  Feng Shui is about creating spaces that “flow” the Chi energy in a way that adds value to the quality of your life and this principle fits very well with Contemporary Interior Design.According to morrisfengshui.com, “In Feng Shui we focus on nurturing the chi of the earth. This is the chi of nature and our surroundings, the environments we live in, and the spaces we create. We choose our homes, lots and residences by examining the flow and quality of the chi of the earth. We correct, adjust and enhance the environments we live in to improve the flow of energy so we can feel supported by our homes.”One of the easiest ways to start this process is to simply de-clutter your home.  It is a great time to re-evaluate the things you have in your home and purge what is no longer serving you.  This will create space to bring in new items that you will love and appreciate.  According to livestrong.com, “living in a house or apartment that’s cluttered, dark or just doesn’t feel right, can make you feel energy-depleted and depressed.  The goal of good feng shui is to get the positive energy flowing to where it’s needed to revitalize your environment and invigorate your life.” Adding color and elements that will help you “Feng Shui” your space can be as simple as adding a few new things into your space, like new custom curtains, coordinating custom pillows, artwork, or plants.  It really is about creating a space that has balance and feels good to live in.  “If you have too yin of a home, over time, you can become depressed,” says feng-shui consultant Katherine Graham. “And if you have to yang — too upbeat — a home, over time, you could suffer from exhaustion or burnout.” So, take a moment to de-clutter your home, remove items that do not bring you pleasure or serve a purpose, add items that will bring you joy and re-arrange your spaces using the ancient art of Feng Shui, creating balanced, peaceful spaces.  Thus, allowing you to relax and enjoy your home during the long winter months and adding to your sense of happiness and well-being.

For interior design tips or to design custom curtains online, please visit our website: www.thecontemporarycurtain.com

Design Team

The Contemporary Curtain

A brand of PKB DESIGN LLC

 

 

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THE ART OF LIVING WALLS

Posted on February 15, 2019 by rblog

A living wall, or vertical garden, is a collection of wall-mounted plants- anything from herbs to flowers. Vertical wall gardens are one of the latest trends in contemporary interior design and are the perfect way to not only bring the outdoors inside but improve your quality of life in many ways!living-walls-1Living walls are great for the air quality thanks to the plants that adorn them. According to NASA, plants filter toxins and improve air quality. Besides turning carbon dioxide into oxygen, live plants also absorb harmful VOCs, formaldehyde and benzene, which are off-gassed by home fragrance products, some wood products, cigarettes, and plastic. living-walls-2Health Benefits:

An indoor environment that includes plants reduces carbon dioxide levels and lowers stress levels. Plants are also aesthetically pleasing and bring the outdoors inside. A study in 2010 concluded the following points when plants were placed in space:

  • Tension/Anxiety – 37% reduction
  • Depression/Dejection – 58% reduction
  • Anger/Hostility – 44% reduction
  • Fatigue – 38% reduction

Introducing plants to an environment has also been reported to reduce minor illness by 30%. Most people value greenery and find gardening therapeutic.living-walls-3Increased Focus:

It has been found that fewer mistakes are made, tasks are completed faster and, in the case of computer workers, productivity increased by between 10%-15% whilst systolic blood pressure readings lowered by one to four units. The higher level of concentration can be attributed to the plants ability to reduce excess carbon dioxide in the air.

So what’s there NOT to love about this whole concept?living-walls-4Living walls not only add a healthy solution, color, and texture to a space, but also allow a room to gain a contemporary, built-in, always-modern looking element.  The walls can be designed to any required shape or custom fit. This offers flexibility with the type of plants used based on location, climate, and proximity to light, affording many possibilities.   Creating a wall can include a shape, a logo, electronics like a TV or projector screen, or even windows.living-walls-5There are three types of systems used to create living walls.  They are also organized into panel and tray systems or freestanding walls, meaning there is a wall suitable for any contemporary

design ideas you may have.

Panel systems have plants pre-grown into the panels and can be used inside or out, and in any climate.living-walls-6VersaWall is a tray system, which is popular for indoor displays. Plants are pre-grown off-site and inserted into the wall, which offers a great degree of versatility that can be exploited to cover entire surfaces or designed as living art.

Freestanding walls are most commonly used indoors and are most easily changed, either by changing the location or changing the plantsliving-walls-7

With the benefits and sheer look of living walls, incorporating them into your design is a win-win!  For more great interior design tips, visit our website at www.thecontemporarycurtain.com  

 

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“GREIGE” THE NEW IT COLOR

Posted on February 1, 2019 by rblog

It used to be that when selling a house, or creating a neutral space, the go-to color for painting interior walls was “beige.”  Everyone went to that light-sand colored paint, instead of the traditional white, to freshen their walls and inspire the use of almost any other accent color within the space. Over the past few years, beige stayed relevant, but alone didn’t offer a contemporary interior look.  Homeowners who prefer a more contemporary interior design tend to veer toward gray, as it provides a clean neutral look. Gray alone, however, can make walls look like dull concrete slabs- so, what’s the solution?  You guessed it!  Greige!greige-1Greige is a marriage of gray and beige, a union that brings the best of both worlds to form a shade that works perfectly for many homes. Most shades of greige are stronger on the gray than beige. But if you look closer, you will notice brown undertones merging with the neutral gray color. While gray creates the soft neutral tones homeowners have come to fall in love with, the beige undertones help infuse some warmth into what would otherwise be a cool color.Why Greige?

It’s versatile.  In all its grand glory, greige can be soft, serene, and elegant all at the same time. With that said, it pairs well with antiques or modern furniture; traditional or contemporary window treatments, pillows, rugs, artwork, and fixtures.  It’s great with both bright and subdued accent colors; providing a perfect backdrop to pops of color. It also pairs well with dark hardwood floors and white painted baseboards and casings.

Not all greiges are created equal. That’s a good thing because the choices of color are endless!  Gray is not just a mix of black and white. It can have a strong blue, green, or violet undertone. The same rule of thumb applies to beige which can have strong undertones of yellow or pink. Getting the right balance is essential to coordinating with the color concept for your home. For example, a greige that leans more toward cool gray is beautiful with blue and other cool colors. Use a warm greige anywhere you would use beige to compliment a warmer color palette.

greige-2

It’s not just for the walls. Use greige to create interest in architectural components such as ceilings and baseboards as well as textiles, contemporary curtains and custom pillows. From finishes to accessories greige can be used to create a very appealing and alluring style perfect for your home.

You can use it in every room.  From the laundry room to the dining room to the master suite, greige works. It can also be mood setting. Use a dark shade of greige to create a dramatic dining room. Or, give your guest bedroom a feminine touch with a much softer shade. It’s easy to find shades of gray with undertones of pink or lavender.greige-3Greige is a versatile neutral that can be combined with a warm or cool color palette and almost any accent color.  Think about it as a foundational color for your interior.

Design Team
The Contemporary Curtain
A brand of PKB DESIGN LLC

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