All A-Buzz About….

I was recently asked to assist with an upcoming baby shower for a family member.  It seems I have become the go-to for such events and I gladly accept the invitation!  I love helping find and implement those little details that make all the difference- for the one in which the special event is being given and for those who attend! (Although this blog post does not exactly address interiors design issues, it does reflect the importance of creative flair and pulling all the pieces together to make a complimentary ending!)

Why not a bee theme, I thought? All parties, no matter the type, must have a theme- or at least in my world they do!  Just take a look at my business logo…I love the look of the bee and thought with a few creative touches, it could make a baby shower endearing, special and elegant.  So, the search and thinking began.

In my hunt for baby shower-related items, and to my delight, I found all types of bee paraphernalia. I wanted to share a couple of my favorite things, most of which have nothing to do with the shower, but have been added to my “Most Wanted” List…

 

 

“Bee Yourself “ Bracelet by Molly Helsey Designs (Etsy.com)

 

 

Bee T-shirt by Evolution  (Etsy.com)

 

 

                                                        

Beehive Locket by Contrary(Etsy.com)

 

 

 

 

Wedding Shower Favor Tags by luvs2create2  (Etsy.com)

 I loved the novelty of each of these items.  As shown, these can be found at Esty.com- a site in which all the items are hand made!  Love it!

Okay, back to the task at hand- the shower!!  The invitation, of course, sets the stage.  So it is a very important choice.  I found this one on zazzle.com and thought it was perfect. 

Now to the party favors, serving items, guest prizes,etc.  Love this piece for serving the beverage of choice and also the beehive and bee salt and pepper shakers, just to add that touch of whimsy.

I love to provide games to play at a shower, as they often serve as ice breakers for attendees who may not know one another.  Thus, gifts are needed for the game winners- I thought these items would be great….

The beautiful soaps are made by lusciouslather.com and the sink strainer can be found at littlegourgeousthings.com.  I plan to wrap them in cellophane with a pretty ribbon and special tag.

Party favors, which I like to think of as parting gifts, have grown in popularity and serve as a thank you for attendance. I plan to give these wonderful little beehive votives from Bee Hive Candles to guests.  I will also wrap these in cellophane with tags that say “As Cute As Can BEE!”

 

Finally, it is always helpful for the mommy-to-be (or bride) to get a little assistance with all the thank-you cards that will be sent post-shower.  Here’s a great way to at least do half the work for them.  Provide blank envelopes in a basket for shower attendees to self-address before leaving.  Mommy or Bride then write their thank you and pop the card into the already-addressed envelope and “woopty-doo” the work is through!  I loved these cards that, I again, found on Etsy.com.  (Queen Bee Flourish Recycled Craft Paper Card Set-the craftpantry.com) 

So, now all I have to do is gather everything together and hope that this not so typical baby shower theme makes for an afternoon of fun and memory making.  On a side note, this shower is extra-special because the parents-to-be were told that they would probably never be able to have children.  As we say, the Lord works in mysterious ways and I am so glad he chose these two to be parents!  That’s what “All the Buzz” is about!! 

Lighting Your Home

Energy efficiency is a popular subject these days.  In several recent design-related magazines, newspapers and internet articles I have  noticed that lighting is a big subject in relation to energy efficiency.  I just wonder how that will affect the aesthetics of our homes??

As a designer, I love the warmth and ambiance those good old incandescent bulbs give off and I am all for lowering energy costs and doing what we can to better our environment.  BUT do these new bulbs that I am seeing in stores and reading about provide the illumination I need to make my clients' homes “shine?”

After doing some some research I found that it’s probably not as bad as I feared.  There are ways to transition into the world of the new and improved where light bulbs are concerned….

By now, you have probably heard of the Compact Fluorescent Light bulb, or “CFL”.  CFLs consume roughly 30% of the power required for a similar incandescent, thus saving you money on your power bill each month.  They have also be shown to radically cut down green house emissions.  Okay, that sounds great, but when you are in the light bulb aisle at your neighborhood home improvement store, how do you know what to choose??  Here are some tips:

1.  Choose the right kind of CFL

• These “new and improved” bulbs do have limitations.  For example, the don’t like cold temperatures- they like to be warm.  In fact, their efficiency goes down with the temperature.  Speaking of temperature, CFLs can be used outdoors, but make sure that they are labeled as such.
• The life of the bulb can be shortened with vibration, so using them in a ceiling fan, for example is probably not the best choice.
• To achieve their level of claimed efficiency, a CFL must warm up to its “operational temperature”.  This can take any where from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, during which time they are at about the same level of efficiency as our old friend the incandescent. But, most modern CFLs have an almost immediate start up time.

2.  Quality, Quality, Quality

• You get what you pay for….that includes CFLs.  Buy brands that you know- GE, Sylvania and Phillips, for example.  The ballast quality is what separates the good from the bad.  Low quality ballasts will buzz and flicker and will not last as long as their better counterparts.  Spend more money up front for lasting results later.
• CFLs produce a very narrow color spectrum, but do come in “warm light” and “daylight”.  This does at least give us somewhat of  a choice when selecting our new bulbs.  When you begin to get rid of those incandescents, buy a couple of each type of CFL to decide what works best for the spaces in your home.  (By the way, just so you can sound really smart to all of your friends, this is called “Relamping”-  substituting one light bulb for another in order to save energy).

3.  Disposal of CFLs

Although an intact CFL will not emit Mercury, they do require a very small amount of it to function.  Because Mercury is poisonous, it is very important to dispose of CFLs properly, especially if you have a broken bulb.  If you happen to break a bulb, ventilate the area and clean up using latex gloves.  Place bulbs, cleaning materials, etc. in doubled zip-loc bags and treat as hazardous material.  Currently, there are very few CFL-specific recycle areas, but you can call 1-800-CLEAN UP to find the closest facility to you.

So, hopefully you know a little more than you did about the Compact Fluorescent and can make an informed decision when you begin the “Relamping” process in your home.  Happy Lighting!

This little CFL of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!  (I know, very corny, but I had to say it!)

Directions

View Larger Map

Why I have not included directions to my shop in previous blogs, I do not know.  Probably so engrossed with blog content that I left out obvious details!!  Directions are from Hwy. 85, Exit 22- the Cramerton/Lowell Exit.

Hope your day is constructive and productive!

 

Summer is Flying By!

Happy Independence Day (a day late!).  We had a wonderful time with friends and family yesterday and made lots of great memories.  It’s just so hard to believe that we are already into July.  I always think of it as summer being half over, which I know is not true.  But I treasure EVERY day of Summer, especially since thinking of Winter makes me cringe!   Hope your holiday was fun!

Business is thankfully moving right along.  I am very gracious for the opportunity of new clients and new projects.  Things are going better than I could have expected.  It has reminded me to look at life with expectancy and positivity.  Life is good and I am grateful!

I will be attending the Gift and Home Furnishings Market in Atlanta in a couple of weeks.  I am happy to have my mom attending with me.  She has never been to Market and because she is not a shopper, I don’t know if she will look at the experience as  fun or grueling!  Market is hard work, even for a shop-o-holic like me!  Shipments should begin arriving at the mid to late August.  I hope you will make plans to stop by!

I have decided to change the shop hours for the summer.  The new hours are: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-4:30pm.  I currently have special pricing on florals, outdoor planters, garden stools and more.  Hope to see you soon!

 

Happy Summer!

Tammy

Up and Running

It has been a couple of weeks since my shop and design studio opened and things are off to a great start!

                                   (Picture provided by the Gaston Gazette)

I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the items I carry at the shop, just in case you are ever in need of that something special.

Voluspa Candles

Upon first sniff of these candles, I knew I wanted to carry them.  Not only do they have a wonderful fragrance, but the packaging is beautiful as well.  Voluspa candles have been featured on Oprah’s “O List” and are a fav or many celebrities.  Voluspa also offers a line of luscious hand soaps and lotions that share that wonderful fragrance and packaging. 

Meri Meri Stationary

As a lover of the written note, Meri Meri greatly appealed to my stationary fetish!  I have always loved stationary and believe that there is no substitute for the hand written note.  Meri Meri offers a vast line of stationary, cards and invitations.  I chose to carry their “Note to Self” line, which includes purse notes, fridge notes and card sets.  

Thibaut Wallpaper & Fabrics

It was a “no brainer” when deciding on what wallpaper line to carry in the shop.  Thibaut has long been one of my favorites, as I love their use of pattern and color.  They carry many coordinated fabrics along with the wallpaper.  Great style and elegance!

 

 

Pine Cone Hill Bedding

What’s more important than a good night’s sleep?  It is a very important part of life, and why not make it a beautiful night’s sleep?  Pine Cone Hill bedding provides just that!  I love the pattern and color combinations the line offers.  In addition to quilts, matelasses, duvet covers, pillow shams and sheets, Pine Cone Hill also offers pajamas!  And why not?  Why shouldn’t your pajamas match your bedding??

Duralee Fabrics

Duralee has long been known as a leader in the design industry, so with such a trusted name, I thought what better line to carry?  There are unlimited fabric possibilities for all of your decorating needs- window treatments, bedding, shower curtains, upholstery, etc.  Fabric sample books are here, at your fingertips!

 

So, that is just a highlight of what is here for you to enjoy.  Now you know where to go for the special surcie- for a friend or for yourself!  I hope to see you soon!  And don’t forget, if you are in the midst of a “decorating dilemma” and need assistance, design consultations are available by appointment.  I offer a wide range of services for every need and budget!

 

STORE/STUDIO HOURS:

Wednesday-Friday: 10am – 5pm;  Saturday 9am –1pm

Other days by appointment.  (Closed on Sunday)

There are days that I will be out with clients during regular business hours. 

                See You Soon!!

 

The expansion is a REALITY…

Have you heard the news? Tammy Taylor Interiors has officially expanded!

On Saturday March 27, 2010 I officially opened the doors to my new Design Shop & Studio at 102 Front Street in Cramerton, NC.

The festivities got underway around 10am. In addition to family, friends and clients, I was fortunate enough to have Montcross Area Chamber President, Ted Hall and his wife Freda in attendance. Mr. Hall photographed as we cut the ribbon and made things official.

The day was very special, as it brought to life a dream that I have had for some time. Although it is a somewhat frightening time to open a new business, it is, at the same time, very exciting! You never know how much faith you have until you “step out of the boat,” so I am stepping out!

I look forward to the challenges and pleasures that will surely come. I hope you can stop by soon and pay a visit! More pictures to come…

Dressing Your Windows

Window treatments have to be the highlight of my job.  I LOVE assisting clients with designing and implementing their window dressings- And that’s exactly what window treatments do- they dress up your windows!  (And that doesn’t necessarily mean make them fancy or frilly- just right for the space they inhabit).

Recently I had a friend, all the way from Colorado, email me and ask for help with window treatment ideas for her Family Room.  I wanted to share the ideas I passed along to her to show how different styles of treatments and fabrics can change the look and feel of a room.

My Colorado friend, Britta, did a wonderful job of including pictures of both her Family Room and other rooms in her home, along with multiple measurements of the area in question (that’s because she does interior design work herself and knows the importance of  such things!  Kudos to her!)   As I looked over the photos, it gave me a better idea as to the style of her home and also her personal style and tastes.  The photos also gave me an idea as to how the Family Room related to the other spaces in her home.  This is very important to remember because you have to treat your home as a puzzle- many different pieces that all fit together to form the “big picture.”  Now the creative juices were flowing…

I gave Britta 4 different options, in hopes that at least one would be to her liking.  Here are her choices…

OPTION ONE:  The Eleanor Valance.  This valance is very clean and tailored.  It allows for the use of several different coordinating fabrics, which I think makes fabric selection fun and makes the valance itself very visually interesting and appealing. Although using several different fabrics in a treatment is pleasing to my eye, it can be a little much for some.

   OPTION  TWO: The Pleated Valance with Medallions.  I like the use of medallions for this valance, rather than the typical board mount or curtain rod installation.  This valance does add a little more formality to the room, as the parts between the pleats resemble a swagged treatment.  Swagged treatments are very classic and are typically used in more formal spaces.

OPTION THREE: Single, Stationary Drapery Panels mounted on wood rods.  Sometimes the only purpose you want your window treatments to serve is to soften the edges and just “look pretty”.  This particular style of treatment does just that.  Since the windows already have blinds that will provide needed privacy, these stationary panels soften the corners of the room and add visual height.  The red fabric also adds a pop of color and a little pizzazz to the space.

 OPTION FOUR, and THE WINNER…Drapery Panels with Tie Backs.  These panels add just the right amount of softness and simplicity to Britta’s Family Room.  The minimal pattern in the fabric adds a subtle amount of color without being overwhelming.  These treatments proves the adage “Less is More” to be oh, so very true!  I hope to see the finished product!

Special thanks to Britta for allowing me to share!  And, thanks to the readers of my blog for allowing me to chat about my passion!