I cannot tell you how much we love, love, love our new window treatments!  The sheers are perfect, thank you so much.  You went darker than I would have, but it works!!  The guys that did the install were super, very nice, efficient, complimentary about the re-model.  In fact, when can you drop in to see the finished product?  Let me know if you’ll be in the “hood” sometime, would love to show you how it turned out.  Take care, and Happy New Year!! 

 Susan and Rich

Thank you all so much for the wonderful job you did in my son, Jackson’s room. Your creativity and imagination are incredible. The surfboard on the wall was a great idea. He loves his room so much he can’t wait to show it to all his friends. I can’t wait for the next decorating phase. I look forward to the day when my entire house is by “Style On a Shoestring.”

Thanks again,

Heather and Fred Hanover

Use a tool belt or apron with pockets to store all your supplies (clips, hooks etc.) while you are working. Do not lean when you are working on the ladder. Work at arms length.

Be sure your lights are UL or ETL safety approved. There should be a label on the package. If the Christmas lights have been opened there should also be a tag near the plug with a safety rating on it.

Check all your Christmas light sets for damage. Plug them in before stringing them up. Replace all broken or non-working bulbs with new bulbs of the same type and wattage.

Check to see that wires are not frayed or damaged. This could cause electric shock or fire. Dispose of any strands with damaged wiring. Do not attempt to repair them.

Make sure that all your lights are approved for outdoor use. This should be noted on the box or near the plug on a tag, just like the safety rating.

Your extension cords must also be safe for outdoor use. Once again this will be noted on the box or on a tag near the plug.

Check to see that you have a ground-fault circuit interrupter to plug all your outdoor lights into by way of your outdoor extension cords. These are professionally installed by an electrician. You can also buy a portable GFCI unit.

Keep Christmas lights away from electric, phone and cable lines. This is an obvious shock and fire hazard. The lines can also become entangled, which would require professional assistance.

Always use holders or hooks for lights. Staples, nails and tacks can pierce the wiring and cause an electrical short.

Put up your hooks, clips or holders first. Then string your lights. This way you are not juggling everything at once.

Do not pull on the Christmas light cords. It may cause wear or cause the wires to fray. This can cause an invisible short in the wiring.

Decorate Everything With Bows

• Tie generous ribbons to chair backs, candlesticks, picks in plants, wreaths, garlands, basket handles, drapery tie-backs, stair railings, and doorknobs.
• Bows look festive and the ribbons you choose should tie together with the rest of your decorating. Choose ribbons in colors and patterns that coordinate with your decorating scheme.
• You don’t have to stick with red and green. Choose plaids or florals that tie in. If you can’t find anything that looks quite right, then choose metallic silver, gold, green, or red.
• Choose a ribbon that you can untie and re-tie each year. This will save money in the long run, and you’ll end up with a good collection.
• When the holidays are over, untie the ribbons and press them lightly. The bows won’t get crushed and the ribbons will be ready when you want to take them out the next year.

Designer of the Month

November 2008

 Tracy Lynn

Style On A Shoestring

This room was designed for two little boys in the Carlsbad area. One of the biggest challenges I faced as designer while working on this room was how to fit two different age groups into a limited area while keeping the floor plan open and flowing. I chose a neutral color for the walls and let the bedding and extras do the rest for the room. The outcome is one of my favorites. It turned the room into a casual but well organized “beach-themed” room with plenty of room for the boys to grow and change. The colors and decor scheme leave plenty of room for the two boys to grow without having to make drastic changes to the overall color and design scheme. To me this is a very successful design plan. In this economy, most people don’t have the money to remodel their children’s rooms every other year.


As the mother of two little girls, I particularly enjoy designing and decorating children’s rooms. The client obtained bedding. The accessories and wall art were purchased from various local retail stores.
 
I started my design company about 6 years ago in the San Diego area after friends admired what I had done to my own home. Since 2003, we’ve added 6 design consultants. My husband left his job as a financial planner a couple years ago to work part-time at Style On a Shoestring and help raise our two daughters.
styleonashoestring.com

We’re so geeked out about our new space — I want to leave work right now and just go sit in it for another hour. We LOVE it.

Thanks!!!

DAVID TRAINA DESIGN

You have the whole Thanksgiving feast planned, but now what in the world are you going to do for a centerpiece? Do you want a centerpiece that is creative, inexpensive, and most importantly, easy? Here are some ideas to help add that pizazz to your table that will have your family and friends admiring your creativity.

One of the easiest, is the Cornucopia Centerpiece. Go to your local craft store to purchase a simple wicker basket. With this you can do a variety of displays. You can overfill it with real fruits and gourds, or you can use plastic. Just fill your basket to overflow and let them spill out onto the table.

Also, a great way to decorate with your cornucopia is to use silk flowers and leaves. While at the craft store purchase a Styrofoam block or ball and silk flowers and leaves in fall colors with long stems. Push the Styrofoam in the wicker cornucopia basket so that it is firmly wedged inside. You may want to trim down the foam or add more as needed. Simply push the stems of the flowers and leaves into the foam so that they emerge in a decorative arrangement at the opening of the cornucopia.

Another creative way to use your cornucopia is to overflow it with different breads, such as, rolls and muffins, or whatever bread you may prefer. You can also add some silk leaves around the cornucopia and bread. This creates a marvelous edible centerpiece.

You can also use a beautiful wicker basket that you might have at home, instead of the cornucopia. Maybe add some ribbon in fall colors. It can still look just as beautiful with the three previous ideas.

If you want centerpiece that is a little different, then try using a large, hollowed-out pumpkin instead of a vase to display a fall floral arrangement. Scatter clusters of berries, nuts, and autumn leaves around the base of the pumpkin. Adding a couple of mini pumpkins to the table would also look nice.

Materials for Christmas Wreath Centerpiece

• fresh pine wreath
• decorations                           
• bow

Follow these simple steps to make your wreath centerpiece:

• Place the wreath down on the table, tray, or platter.
• Decorate the wreath by sticking ornaments, pinecones, or floral picks into the wreath.
• Arrange ribbons or garlands around the wreath.
• Place one or several colorful bows around the wreath for added color.

Special tips for fine-tuning:

• Use decorations that have wires attached. They can easily be stuck into the greens of the wreath.
• When arranging the decorations on the wreath, be careful not to scratch your wood table. 
• For a different look, place several large pillar candles into the center of the wreath.
• Pile large pine cones neatly into the center of the wreath.
• Form a pyramid of colorful Christmas balls in the center of the wreath.