Make the Most of Fall

Fall is my favorite season. I love the changing leaves, the crisp breezes and fires in the fireplace. Fall signals the end of summer - and outdoor living. That is why it's always a good idea to do a bit of fall freshening inside your home so that you truly enjoy your time indoors this season.

Bring the outdoors in. Add fresh fall-colored flowers, branches of autumn leaves or even small pumpkins or gourds to your indoor space to brighten it up. Natural elements bring life into rooms.

Add lighting. With the daylight hours diminishing, be certain that you have adequate lighting for all your daily activities. Relying too much on overhead lighting can make a room cold and impersonal. To really cozy-up your space, bring in lamps with 40-60 watt bulbs - perfect for fireside reading...

Dress your windows. With the weather turning colder, think about bringing in some longer, heavier drapes to replace summery curtains or to cover "naked" windows. Not only will drapes add drama and personality to your space, they also serve to insulate and keep cold drafts at bay.

Organize and de-clutter. In fall and winter we spend much more time indoors so it's really important to keep your home organized and running smoothly to prevent unnecessary stress on you and your loved ones. Take a weekend to tackle some small organizational projects (the junk drawer, closet or desk). I guarantee you'll feel much more relaxed afterwards!

Add new accessories. Try switching around some of your artwork, buy new throw pillows or put a favorite collection on display in a new location. Small changes can make a space feel new again, so you won't mind spending more time indoors!

I hope these suggestions have inspired you to look at your home and make some fun changes this season!

Happy Fall : )

For more information about Cailen Ascher Design or my book, Well-Designed Living, visit http://www.cailenascher.bravehost.com/ or email CailenAscher@gmail.com.

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Deck the Halls

Decking the halls takes first priority in the beginning of December. Here are some simple, easy, and inexpensive ideas to make your home look festive in time for the the holidays!

1) Deck the Doors. If you get a real Christmas tree, door swags are a great way to make use of those extra branches you removed from your tree. Bundle 3-4 larger branches or 5-8 smaller branches at their base and secure with florist wire (use the ends of the wire to create a loop by which to hang the swag). Cover the wire with a tied ribbon or bow. Fasten pine cones, cranberries, holly, juniper, or small fruit or nuts to the branches with hot glue or wire.

2) Seasonal Scents. Making orange pomanders is quick and easy project that looks wonderful and fills your home with the refreshing smells of orange and clove. This is a great project to do with children and a fantastic way to make use of over-ripe, hardened oranges, tangerines, and clementines. Pierce the orange with the cloves to create a decorative pattern. Make enough pomanders to fill a bowl and display on your coffee table or use as your dining table centerpiece.

3) Simple Centerpieces. Seasonal arrangements are another easy way to decorate for the holiday season. Use pine branches or gather tree branches from your yard and spray paint them gold, silver, or wintry white. Fill vases with the pine boughs and other branches and fill in spaces with holly, juniper, pine cones, or branches of berries. If the branches are sturdy enough in the vase, add small ornaments to really impress!
4) Get Glowing! When you really want to set the mood and create a cozy, inviting atmosphere, there's no better way than using candles. They're inexpensive and really add a lot of character to a space. Choose red and green pillars for a traditional look or silver and gold for an elegant twist.

5) Festive Florals. Another easy way to create instant "festiveness" is by using poinsettias. Poinsettias have long been associated with Christmas time and are a quick way to give your home a holiday look. They come in an array of beautiful colors from rich reds to soft creamy whites to blush pinks. If you don't have much time to get creative about decorating this year, adding potted poinsettias with transform your house into a holiday home.

Keep these suggestions in mind while you're gearing up for the holiday season. They're simple, affordable, and will make your home look wonderful and welcoming.

Deck the Halls!

For more information about Cailen Ascher Design or my upcoming book, Well-Designed Living, visit www.CailenAscher.bravehost.com or email CailenAscher@gmail.com.

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Creating the Senses of Home

There's more to the style and feel of a home than just its decor. To create a real sense of home, you have to think about all the senses - sight, touch, smell, sound and even taste. Have you ever attended a party in a lovely home but felt something was lacking? You probably couldn't even put your finger on what it was. Well, in all likelihood, that home wasn't appealing to enough of your senses.

Sight - This is the sense that most people think about when decorating a room. In general, this is the most immediate sense addressed in houses. The colors of the room, the style of the furnishings, the placement of items and the overall layout all speak to one's sense of sight. However, to create a greater sense of harmony and cohesion, one must travel beyond merely the sense of sight and appeal to other senses as well.

Touch - Maybe this doesn't necessarily come to the forefront of one's mind when creating a livable environment, but you definitely work with it whether you realize it or not. If you want to create a casual space, you pick soft, comfortable fabrics such as woven cotton. If you want to convey a sense of elegance you choose smooth, shiny surfaces such as mirrors, silks, glass and metallic objects. If you're decorating a summer residence by the beach you would probably choose durable fabrics for the furnishings and light linens for the windows, and if you want to create a cozy environment you would turn to plush pieces in luxurious fabrics like velvet. Never underestimate the power of touch - you may have the most beautiful sofa in the world, but if it's uncomfortable and has a fabric with a rough, wiry texture, no one will ever sit on it!

Smell - In addition to interior design, my company, Cailen Ascher Design, also offers home staging services. As a final step when attempting to create a welcoming, inviting environment, I always use a homey smell, such as fresh baked cookies or mulled apple cider to welcome potential buyers. Our sense of smell is the most powerful sense for memory recall. More so than any other, our sense of smell brings us back to happy times, fond memories and wonderful occasions. Especially when entertaining, use the sense of smell to your advantage. In the summer, decorate with vases of fresh flowers to cast a soft fragrance. In addition, open doors and windows to air-out your home with a wonderfully fresh smell. In the fall, fires in fireplaces can cast a homey smell as does hot cider or even scented candles. (Use candles sparingly because some scents can be overwhelming and never place near food!) In the winter and around the holidays fresh baked cookies, spice breads or other baked goods are always a wonderful way to greet guests and fragrance your home.

Sound - Have you ever been to a restaurant where there was no background music? It often feels ever-so-slightly uncomfortable because you're acutely aware of silence as well as other people's conversations. Think about this in your own home when entertaining. Music can really set the tone for your party whether it's an intimate dinner party or a large gathering. Music fills up the empty spaces and puts guests at ease if there's ever a gap in conversation.

Taste - Though not always essential, a home that serves up great food in addition to wonderful atmosphere really takes the cake. Food doesn't have to be complicated and varied to be delicious. When hosting a party, stick to a simple menu that you're comfortable with and know you can do well, and you're assured to have success!

If you aim to appeal to many (if not all) of the senses in your house and when you entertain, you're bound to impress all who visit your home!

For more information about Cailen Ascher Design or my upcoming book, Well-Designed Living, visit www.CailenAscher.bravehost.com or email CailenAscher@gmail.com.

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