Author: nataliya

interior designer, dreamer, nature lover, wife. my goal is not to just transform spaces, but to also transform lives. (photo credit: VIE Magazine *I did not take this photo, but I did participate on this project)

4 great iPhone apps for interior design (and they’re free!)

Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or a design professional, these iPhone apps help solve common interior design problems in minutes.

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Problem:  You want to find a wall color to match the colors in your bedding, but lugging the whole thing with you to the paint store is nearly impossible.

Solution:  Use a paint color matching app, such as Sherwin Williams’ Color Snap or Benjamin Moore’s Color Capture to help you pick a color.  You can snap a picture of the bedding, then use the app to pick out an individual color or find a color scheme that works.  Then save that color to your phone,  and head to the paint store to pick it up.  Easy as pie!

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Problem:  You need to know a room’s dimensions quick, but you don’t have a tape measure with you.

Solution:  Have MagicPlan calculate the dimensions for you!  You choose the wall corners, openings, and doorways, and it generates the floor plan.

If you’re wondering just how accurate it is,  I tried it on my living room as an experiment.

Then I measured the actual dimensions and it was only 2-3″ inches off! Amazing!

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Problem: You want to make sure that picture is hanging straight on the wall, but you don’t have a level.

Solution: Download iHandy Level & you’re good to go!

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Problem:  You need a quick conversion from inches to feet.

Solution:  Use Units app for easy conversions of many different units of measurement.

find your perfect palette!

If you haven’t already seen this website, let me tell you it is just simply amazing!  It’s called Design Seeds, and each day they post new inspiring color palettes.  It’s genius because it takes a great photo and then pulls out the colors that are in it, producing a neat combo of colors that work together flawlessly.

Many photos from this site are pinned all over Pinterest these days (by the way, if you aren’t already on Pinterest, you need to be!), but the site itself is actually a really good resource because with the Palette Search  you can take any color you like, using its RGB value, and find palettes with that color!

These are a few of my favorites.   Enjoy!

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And the Pantone 2012 Color of the Year is…

Tangerine Tango!

Pantone describes the color on their website as  “a spirited reddish orange” that “continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward”.  Perfect for 2012? I think so.

It’s vivacious and fun, but also bold and modern.  For me, it also has a retro vibe to it.

Yeahhhh, that’s where I’ve seen it before!

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Here’s some ways to incorporate this year’s hue into your home and wardrobe:

Even though it’s a bold color, it’s still easy to pull off.  My tip: a little goes a long way!  Use it as an accent pillow or as an accessory to an outfit.

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a) Lamp by Jonathan Adler

b) Tobi Wing Chair by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

c) Pillow by Safavieh

d) Tank by Anthropologie

e) Dress by Deja Vu

f) Pumps by Charlotte Russe

g) Candle by Kobo

h) Flats by Anthropologie

i) Mug by Jonathan Adler

j) Oblong Scarf by Target

k) Chain Pillow by Hable Construction

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Colors that make up the rest of Pantone’s Spring Color Board are:

My favorites are Margarita, Cockatoo, and Driftwood.  How about you??

loco for local: One.Eleven.Design in Austin

“I don’t consider myself a ‘contemporary’ designer – my work has a foot firmly rooted in the past.  I believe that allows it to become timeless.”

– Joel Mozersky  (One. Eleven. Design)

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In this new segment, Loco For Local, I will be uncovering some of the great local companies, eateries, and shops that inspire and amaze.  This week’s feature is about local designer Joel Mozersky, owner of One. Eleven.Design in Austin.   Pairing a charm from the past with eclectic modern accents, his style is as unique as Texas’ capital city itself.

Past projects include the Real World Austin house (pictured above), the Dixie Chicks tour buses , and many upscale restaurants in Austin.

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Capitol Saddlery, a historic building turned residence, demonstrates how Joel is always going for the “wow” factor.

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 One of my fave projects is this loft in San Antonio.   It was featured in Metropolitan Home in 2009.

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Like what you see?  Read more about Joel in an article & interview from Austin CultureMap.

2012: focusing on the “little things”

I can’t believe it’s the beginning of another year!

It seems like, as soon as we hit Jan 1, we begin reflecting on the up’s, down’s, and in-betweens of the last year.  Also, we start looking toward this fresh new year, and all the opportunities that may come with it.   Let’s be real:  It can be an emotional time.   It takes a range of emotions to look back and look forward at the same time.

Instead of wishing you did more in 2011, focus on the next 12 months that lie ahead.   We all make mistakes, miss opportunities, and sometimes focus on the “should haves” – but learning from this is key to our growth.

That being said, of course around this time of year, I make a huge list of goals and things I want to accomplish.  I won’t even bore you with the details… but there is one thing I will tell you:  This year for me is all about the little things.  Staying in touch with friends and family.  Taking a bubble bath.   Driving for no reason until I end up somewhere I haven’t been before.  Giving back.  Taking what free time I have and making it worthwhile.

One thing I’ve realized this past year is how easy it is to overlook these things….and they are some of the best things in life!   I find myself thinking more and more about how our society is always “working”.  We are slaves to our laptops, iphones, etc.  No matter where we go, we take all of our to-do’s, responsibilities, and commitments with us.   And if you crack a smile, then you must not be on task.   (Why so serious????)  Don’t get me wrong – it’s great to be a productive person.  It just seems like people don’t take enough time for themselves anymore to truly enjoy life.   Also, as we get caught up in the day-to-day routine, we forget we each have a purpose.  And it’s not how much money we make or how “successful” we are.  Remember, true success is not just what we do with our lives, but the difference we can make in others’.