Labor Day plus New Purchases!

I hope everyone enjoyed their long holiday weekend! I am still recovering from my long weekend and first day back to school! I celebrated my birthday on September 1st so the hubs and I snuck away for a few nights to Mohegan Sun and saw American Idol in concert. Totally loved it and it made me feel like a 17 year old again screaming "I love you Colton" with the 'tweens around me.

We started school yesterday so to I am finally getting back into a little bit of a routine. While of course I adore my kids, I have to admit by the end of the summer I am ready for the schedule and routine to begin. Yesterday I was a little bit like this guy....



Anyway, since this is a design blog, here is a bit of a design update....my amazing sister got me these two books for my birthday....totally loving.... this one is HUGE and the illustrations are great. Haven't popped in the CD with black and white illustrations to use on projects but I hope to this weekend!

Design Directory of Window Treatments,

If you are a fan of House Beautiful this book is like a condensed version of all my favorite spaces they have featured....great to share with clients for inspirations and style discussions!

House Beautiful Style 101: 400 Designer Secrets to a Beautiful Home

And I treated myself to this nifty gadget which I am going to use at my client appointment today....It is about the size of an iPhone only fatter and it ROCKS! I don't know how I lived without this thing!

 Bosch DLR130K Digital Distance Measurer Kit

And I think I may have selected a new couch....I am not ready to purchase just yet but when I am I think I am going to get this beauty from Pottery Barn. What I love about their couches is that you can remove the cushion covers (or slipcovers if you buy a slipcovered couch) and machine wash or dry clean the cushion covers based on the material you select. I don't think I can commit to a couch that says "spot clean only".

I am thinking about the Pottery Barn Carlisle in the upholstered version (no slipcover for the living room...I want to see those beautiful legs!) I am loving it in the Caramel Twill....and at 90.5" with such a narrow arm....you are talking major seating space....just what I am looking for!

Pottery Barn Carlisle Sofa

Wow...finally made a decision! Now must take the husband to test sit.....hopefully it passes the test!

Designers Job: How to Measure Up!

One very big part of my job which has been presenting to be a very large pain in the rear is measuring client's spaces for floor plans. When I meet with clients I really try to get my 'cute' on- I love wearing dresses and I am always sporting a cute pair of heels. Outfits are great for sitting and talking about design plans, inspirations, fabrics, etc but not so cute when I am stretching across the floor with my dress rising up and my wedges in the air trying to get accurate floor plan measurements. Don't laugh....it's not cute. I decided to turn to my trusty peers on LinkedIn to see what nifty techy things they use to simplify this process.

Turns out that I am probably the only designer caught with my skirt up because I got LOTS of great advice and gadgets. And yes, I'll share....I'm so nice....

The first recommendation was an app. It is called MagicPlan and it is totally free. I have downloaded it and have played a little bit, but I am a little too old school to trust this method 100%. I don't know if I can go from graph paper and tape measure to a couple of clicks with my iPhone. I'm not saying it doesn't work...I'm saying I don't know if I can work it....do me a favor...someone try it out and let me know.

The second recommendation was this trusty gadget over at Amazon...Leica DISTO D2 Laser Distance Measurer. It seems like a fool-proof laser replacement of the tape measure with a couple of bells and whistles. At $179 it is a consideration....for my birthday. (I am a Virgo and would totally appreciate a useful tool for my birthday.....by the way....I think I told you already that I bought myself a rolling tool box for Christmas.)

Leica DISTO D2 Laser

The third product that was recommended was the Bosch DLR130K Digital Distance Measurer Kit
This one is small and weighs about 5 ounces which is important when you are wearing high heels...if it is too heavy it might cause me to tip...also not cute. It is also a lower price point...at $77.39 I could get myself this and a new pair of heels for my birthday....

Bosch DLR 130

Then in my trusty Googling I came across this one which is the cheapy in the group but doesn't seem to sacrifice in its bells and whistles:Zircon Ultrasonic Measure with Laser Targeting I don't know if I can trust my floor plans on it but it seems to do it all!

Bottom line is that if you spend any amount of time taking measurements, it seems well worth your time to invest in one of these handy-dandies. I am thinking that I might try the Bosch (got it, honey? start ordering!) It would be well worth the investment if it gets my skirt back down where it belongs and keeps my privates....private.