Or how about when they say we all need our beauty sleep? I guess that means that unattractive bloodshot eyes and dark eye circles aside,  a sleep-deprived, half-functioning, grouchy person is just not a pretty sight.

Obviously, both of us can make sure these mornings don’t happen by taking care of it the night before. We try to get enough fitful sleep, and I make sure I tidy up the kitchen before I hit the sack, not matter how tired I am.

Still, a lot of things can go wrong even before we get up from bed in the morning. There are factors in our bedroom that prevents us from getting the rest, sleep and relaxation that we need. Sleep is one of the most important factors for good health, yet it is also one of the first things we neglect when life gets busy or stressful.

You want to greet the morning light, instead of the other way around.

LIGHT

My bedroom faces east. That means that plenty of morning light enters, as soon as the sun is up. Whether we are ready for it or not, there it is. It can be pleasant and glorious some mornings, yet sort of rude, shocking and blinding on most. Especially in the summer when the days are really long, so much light enters that sleeping-in becomes impossible. I am a person who typically likes light, except in the bedroom. It is really hard to get some sleep in an very bright room. Our circadian rhythms have wired us to wind down in the dark. Researchers who wanted to probe further found that light can greatly affect one of our body hormones known as melatonin. This hormone is secreted inside our body and helps in regulating the wake-sleep cycle which is very important for good health. The hormone works like a biological clock and allow us to wake up and sleep on time. However, the production of melatonin gets affected if any kind of light is on while we are asleep. Hence, you should never have any kind of light when you are sleeping like mobile phone light, alarm clock light and (gasp!) even night lamps (You can, however,  get and LED one at any Home Depot that emits a soft blue light and experts say that’s okay.)

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lighting-fans/specialty-lighting/ge/led-waterfall-night-light-always-on-blue-83619.html

Therefore for us, the solution was simple–blackout drapes. They block about ninety percent of the daylight, and just as importantly, at night, the light coming from street lamps. At night, the room is completely dark, and in the early morning hours a comforting hazy greige. We get to control the light  in those hours when we are not yet quite ourselves.

You can also install a dimmer switch that works via remote control. A company called Lutron (http://www.lutron.com) , makes dimmers that allow you to select your favorite light level for any atmosphere.

SPACE

Far from being counterproductive, a bedroom that beckons you to linger is just what we need in this stressful, harried world. Our bedroom should be our sanctuary, an extremely restful place to unwind and rejuvenate.The state of our bedrooms can influence the amount of relaxation and sleep we are able to get out of it. Remove clutter such as clothes, shoes, papers, laundry and other things. Keep laundry in the dresser and hamper, put magazines and books in shelves or trunks, and don’t shove everything under the bed! Clutter, unnecessary objects and misplaced furniture makes the room look busy.  Leave only artwork, photos and personal objects that have pleasant meanings for you.

COLOR

Colors are scientifically proven to affect our moods and perceptions. For a restful room, opt for cool, calming colors and keep palette to a minimum. If you must have color, add them sparingly in splashes, such as a small pillow, a throw, or a rug.

For a restful palette, think monochromatic with a few splashes of color.

A lack of sleep can lead to more than just sluggishness and under-eye circles; research shows that it can weaken the immune system, cause weight gain, and impede overall health, not to mention shorten your life span. While you can’t build more hours into your day, you can tinker with your bedroom environment to improve your chances of getting a restful night’s sleep.

“We have a new member in our family!” remarks my good friend the other day over lunch. An hour later, I was at her home ready to ‘meet’ this newest addition. Her name is Becky, and she greeted me from the depths of the kitchen and great room in the back of the house as soon as I entered the front door. She was pretty loud and feisty for her size, and she didn’t hide any reservations she had on meeting me for the first time. It did not take long though (I have always had this particular charm) before she warmed up to me. Then my friend said, “Wanna have her? My husband is not too happy about her.” At this Becky seemed to understand, then left us to take her comfortable perch on the sofa.

“Wow, she has sofa privileges!” I said. The pretty golden sectional was very new, which is why my friends husband gripes, “So what, we got a new sofa for the dog?”

Becky is an adorable little daschund, the new apple of the eye of this family, including the dad,  even though he hasn’t fully admitted it to himself yet. She is an indoor dog, too little to be kept outside, and so her home is the family’s kitchen and family room, kept from the more formal spaces of the house by a doggie gate. She does not shed much, though, dad sometimes complains of the smell. Nevertheless, Becky is a smart and pretty well-behaved dog, deserving of her family’s love, and sofa privileges.

If you have a dog (or cat) who loves to snuggle (and watch TV) on the couch with you, there are a few things you can do to minimize upkeep and potential damage. Therefore the first question is:

What is the best sofa upholstery for people with pets?

If the cat or the dog rules in your home and are allowed on the furniture, you need one that will hold up to it. Cats and dogs shed hair, and ridding the sofa of them can be a nightmare. Claws can get caught on loosely-woven fabric. There are going to be dirt marks.

Hair will slide right off a leather couch, and this color will hide most dark pet hair as well as dirt tracks.

Matching your sofa color to your pet can hide hair.

The second  best choice is microfiber. If you can live with a synthetic material sofa, this is a good choice. It holds up really well to dirt marks and stains, clean-up is easy and the non-woven nature of the fabric makes removing hair a lot easier.

Photo: Leather sofa, Pottery Barn

What about the smell?

Inside pets bring their own odors into the home and sometimes leave a more or less undesirable ‘scent’ on your furniture. You can get rid of odor as well as hair and dander by using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. To remove pet hair  and its odor from furniture, combine 1 part of liquid fabric softener with 3 parts of water in a spray bottle and spray the mixture liberally on the affected area until it is well saturated. Once the area is drenched, wait two more hours before using a vacuum cleaner with the floor attachment tool to remove the dried mixture from your furniture.

A zigzag cardigan retails at Saks Fifth Avenue for around $600. If you went to Target this past Tuesday, or shopped their online store, you could have your very own Missoni items for about $40.

Protee B&W collection by Missoni Home, www.allmodern.com

This original Missoni Home pillow retails for about $250

What Is It About Those Zigzags?

Target has had many designer collaborations in the past, but the response to Missoni is just remarkable. Plenty of the shoppers of course are just Ebay sellers looking to make a little fortune out of reselling the goods online, but that does not take away from the fact that the somewhat psychedelic abstracts and stripes hold great allure to many. Perhaps because it is an Italian brand–there’s something luxuriously exotic about it. I reckon that the very thing Missoni is known for, the kaleidoscope of colors, as well as the abstract and geometric patterns speak volumes to a lot of people. It is also an alternative. It’s print, but it’s not plaid. It’s striped, but it’s not nautical. It’s floral, but it’s not your Grandma’s chintz. It’s bold but it’s not gaudy. See? To people who are tired of plain, gray and black and white, it expresses color and pattern in a chic and laid-back kind of way with a little hint of vintage thrown in there. Somehow I think it is not too different from Paul Smith’s colorful swirls and waves. It just says, ‘Bohemian with great taste.’ Below are some examples of classic Missoni patterns.

Photo: www.poshglam.com

Photo: www.poshglam.com

For the home, their throws and pillows are beautifully crafted and brilliantly colored, just be what a tired neutral sofa needs.

A Missoni throw from the Target line

Have a cupboard full of restaurant-like white plates and platters? Mixing it up with the line’s colorful plates add a little excitement.

Melamine plates from the Missoni for Target collection

Photos: Target

A Word of Caution

Like all its other high-low designer collaborations in the past, the collection is limited. Except for items available from people returning items, it is unclear how much more of the line will be available. Target originally planned to have it run through October, but the collection was wiped out in virtually a day. On Ebay, by Wednesday afternoon, there were more than 32,000 Missoni for Target items available, with some hawkers asking as much for their Missoni for Target as Missoni for Missoni would cost! This is incredulous because even though the designs and patterns on this collaborations are authentic, the quality of the materials used as well as the craftsmanship are still big box store cheap, otherwise, Target would not be able to sell them at such a low price. In the end, the only thing similar between a polyester Missoni for Target throw and the real deal 100% wool Missoni throw, is the pattern. But then again, if you’re just going to throw it on the back of your sofa, who cares?

It therefore makes sense that if we are to go anywhere in our quest for designing or finding things of lasting beauty, it helps to know ‘what to look for.’ After all, scientists have said that as humans, we are genetically predisposed to be attracted to beautiful things, and when they used the word ‘beautiful’ it was not at all subjective. Rather, ‘beauty’ is based on precise attributes that can even be mathematically determined in the form of symmetry. Yet when we are attracted to somebody, we do not really go, ‘That guy is cute because the distance between the bottom of his nostrils and the top of his lips are so and so.” Rather, we are attracted to the most obvious attributes such as a nice smile, gorgeous hair, a great body. Even if the smallest details vary from person to person, the qualities that make us attractive are basically the same.

So what if you’re buying furniture? I think that buying furniture can only go two ways. The first way is the easy, no-brainer way. It’s like buying a bottle of ketchup. Brown, basic, no-frills. This is the sofa that is neither pretty nor ugly. It’s just your average, basic sofa. Nobody can say that you have bad taste, but nobody will complement you on it either. The second way is the hard way, an exercise in judgment, taste and even persuasive skills. This is where you are so focused on your personal taste, and where you may even have to defend for it. The result? It’s either a hit or a miss. It’s the sofa that is either loved or loathed. But you don’t care, because you like it.

The way I see it, there are no right or wrong choices. Only poor ones. If we knew what to look for then we would be able to pick a great piece, no matter the style. Good design is made up of some pretty basic principles that have nothing to do with age, or genre.

Here’s a short list.

1. Good design is simple. Simple means that the object is devoid of ornamentation that has no apparent purpose, or that impedes function. A great example is the Google logo and its interface. Enough said.

2. Good design is timeless. Since most designed things like furniture and clothes are defined by era, it is really hard to find something that truly stands the test of time. When we try to be creative, we cannot help but be inspired by current themes or present-day culture, thereby dating our creations. Timeless-ness I guess, resides in the ability to adapt to changing times and tastes. If something can be ever so slightly varied and tweaked as to hold its appeal, then that, is timeless.

A timeless piece does not have to be antique. This chair's inspiration is vintage, yet the lines are slightly tweaked so that it's both timeless and current.

Above: Grayson Chair by Williams Sonoma Home, www.wshome.com

3. Good design solves the problem. The complaint in most if not all kitchen renovations is ‘lack of space.’ This area of the house is chockful of every conceivable gadget and appliance.  We land into our kitchens excited to cook, but not without first having the right blender, the right toaster, the right mixer, etc. Pretty soon, the counters are overcome with them that there is little space to actually prep and cook.

Vacuum cleaner king James Dyson is at the forefront in terms of innovation and he wants to “compactify” our kitchens and hopefully beautify them in the process. In a US patent application file, Dyson and his colleagues Peter Gammack and David Campbell thought of a way to save space on overcrowded kitchen worktops by radically changing the design of the gadgets that typically clutter them. The team says the trouble with today’s kettles, toasters, juicers, food mixers and coffee grinders is that each type of gadget tends to have a different space-hogging design. Typically, users must leave a large “footprint” around each appliance so that their handles and controls can be easily reached. In their patent filed, one of the ideas is to make all free-standing gadgets like kettles, toasters, juicers and food mixers in the shape of tall cuboids that can easily be pushed together on a worktop, with no wasted space between them. Genius.

What will he think of next?: Sir James Dyson, designer and inventor extraordinaire.

4. Good design makes form follow function. A great house is one that allows its inhabitants to live in comfort and efficiency; it is designed to adapt to their needs and not the other way around.

5. Good design is well thought-of. James Dyson said, “If you invent something, you’re doing a creative act, like writing a novel or composing music.” A hallmark of great design in this age is one that is backed by tremendous research and study, which results in a product that looks so simple but is anything but. Case in point,  the Apple iPad. I am not really a gadget-tech-y kind of person, but everyday I never cease to marvel at the beauty of my iPad. Before it, I was never one to reach for the latest phone, to me, if it rings and can allow me to call home, it works. I also never liked spending too much money on things like this. Then I saw the iPad One. That was the first time I looked at a gadget and really said, “Hmmm.” Hmmm, it’s small, light, super-portable. It lets me read books, check my email, go on the internet, jot down notes and listen to music. You can literally take it wherever you go, and can Facebook in unmentionable places. Moreover, the interface was sheer genius. Why have buttons that protrude when you can have a touch screen?

6. Good design is sometimes revolutionary. My iPad was a birthday present but I think I would have gladly spent my money on it myself. In this category, there are very few things I have come across that truly justifies the cost. True, it is not a necessity, but with what it can do, there is simply nothing like it. That is good design.

So, if taste is subjective, then how else do we arbitrate for good taste? Does it really matter? After all, nowadays what may seem as ‘weird’ or ‘vulgar’ at first (look at Lady Gaga and Snooki Polizzi), ends up being the next big thing anyway. So what does it really take to be classified as ‘tasteful’ or ‘tacky?’

Chances are, you probably know a person or two in your life that you are just dying to nominate for the show ‘What Not To Wear.’ Chances are too, that you won’t,  because you would like to think that it’s better to leave this person alone, blissful in his or her ignorance. The nice person in you allows you to be tolerant of this person’s taste (or lack of it)–even though you truly think it stinks. Are we really doing them a favor?

As children, we are taught not to make fun of our friend’s creative expressions. If you poke fun at the funny way your classmate colored her picture, you promptly get scolded. We are taught that any creative expression is personal and subjective and we do things our own way. Then it gets confusing. We get introduced to fine art; works by geniuses that are supposed to embody what is beautiful.

If there is such a thing as beauty, don’t we need to be able to recognize it?

Yet, whenever we talk about taste, most of the time everybody agrees that ‘taste is subjective.’ Maybe we believe this because this is the way it feels to us. When we like something, most of the time we have no idea why. It may be because it’s beautiful, or because someone we know has one, or a celebrity has one, or because it’s expensive.  The reasons why we are drawn to something are many and often unexamined. Perhaps this is why we are hesitant to criticize other people’s tastes; if they are so personal and subjective, so innate and primal, who are we to judge? When we were children we were discouraged from doing so to stop us from bickering. Then as grown-ups, we are trained to avoid it in order to be polite and politically correct.

Saying that taste is just personal preference is a good way to prevent arguments. The trouble is, that’s not always true. If taste is just a personal preference, then everybody is already perfect; we like whatever we like, and that’s that.

The simple truth is that despite what we like to think, there are hallmarks that define good taste and good design. There are things that will stand the test of time and things that won’t. There are things that are truly beautiful and things that are just well, ugly. Most of us are not immune. Even those with a lot of cash to burn sometimes buy things that are yes, expensive, but tacky. For if there is something truer than ‘Taste is personal,’ it is, ‘Good taste cannot be bought.’ It can be cultivated though.

So how do we recognize good taste and good design?

Keep posted next week, and I will attempt to help us how. In the meantime, try not to buy anything, and if you do, save the receipt!

They say money cannot buy taste, but can justify eccentricity.

How long is it going to be before you are sick and tired of it?

Obviously when cost is not an issue, the choice is clear. Stick to better quality materials that last. But what to do when on a tight budget? It may be cliche, but I would say that it’s time to get creative. Even during tough times, it is unwise to buy cheap, poor quality housewares and furnishings. They may look pretty when new, but they do not last and by the time we are done with them they are so broken and unserviceable that no thrift store will take them. We’ve all at some point, dumped something huge on that curb that we hoped somebody would pick up. If you know that you will be needing said item for a long time, the next best thing to top quality new is good quality used. For example, there is absolutely no need to make do with cheap, plastic plates the likes of which are in such enormous quantities at Wal Mart it’s ridiculous.  If you’re low on budget, stores such as Goodwill sell used ceramic, stoneware and even porcelain plates at dirt cheap prices. They often come in sets, or you can be creative and mix and match.

For those times when your home really does need an upgrade, it does not necessarily mean walls need to be torn down, or a whole suite of furniture needs to be purchased. De-cluttering, rearranging and a little imagination may be all it really needs. In the case of most homes in this country, the problem lies not in having enough stuff to go around, but rather in having too much stuff. It’s really hard to appreciate the beauty of certain things when they are lost in a senseless cacophony of a space filled with unrelated materials. I always advice friends and clients not to buy unless they have a place for it.

If you need to purchase something new for an update, start with something big. Larger pieces such as a large mirror, a big beautiful rug, a tall bookcase or a chest of drawers serves as an anchor to all the other elements and grounds the space. The result is a less-cluttered feel, because we are not filling the room with a bevy of small, often, non-essential pieces.

When we buy something such as engagement ring, we are willing to shell out the big bucks because we are convinced of the value of the ring, or the diamond on it. We buy the best that we can afford because obviously, we do not buy it with the idea of one day replacing it. Like the spouse that comes with it, we select it for keeps. Perhaps this is the approach we should take when buying (at least) most of our stuff. We need to plan more, give it more thought. We should walk into that furniture store with a clear idea of our needs and our styles.  We need to look beyond trends and buy for quality and usefulness. Sometimes, we even need to hold off on a purchase, if this means being able to come back and take home something that will last longer.

Sometimes however, we just need something right away, but don’t necessarily have the budget at present to buy ‘the one,’ or ‘the best.’ The best thing to do in this situation is to buy something that will serve the purpose temporarily but is still quite durable so that it can be re-purposed, moved to another room or donated.

Well despite our best intentions, bad purchases happen. Funds are insufficient and we sometimes become slaves to fashion and give in to our impulse. I have been quite a bit of good advice on this subject, and over the years have come up with several rules of thumb:

–If the purchase is not a necessity, don’t buy it unless you really love it.

–If the purchase is a necessity, like (most) shoes, buy the best you can afford. It is not fun to walk in pain due to bad shoes.

–If you cannot afford the best, buy something for the meantime, but let go of it before it’s so broken that you have to throw it away. I do this with shoes. When I have gotten the most use out of it, I donate it while it is still serviceable so that I do not have to throw it away. Unlike clothes, shoes take a lot more abuse and can no longer be worn when broken, unlike a faded shirt.

–If you have to buy something simply for looks, be pretty sure that it goes with the rest of your stuff and that you have a place for it.

–Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale.

Fashion guru Tim Gunn has this to say on color. Save the brighter, more offbeat colors for classically cut pieces, and keep trendier silhouettes from looking cheap by buying them in neutral, classic colors. Alber Elbaz, designer for Lanvin, reinvents heavy, sumptuous fabrics like taffeta, and silk by going heavy on the yardage, keeping edges a little rough and unfinished. Traditionally stuffy fabrics are given a modern edge by giving them a touch of recklessness. Meanwhile, young designer Jason Wu, wowed the world with his very modern take on dresses. Though cut quite classically, he uses bright, saturated colors in unconventional combinations.

Top: A bridal gown by Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Left: A Jason Wu gown.

The roll arms make this sofa quite traditional, but the exposed legs, low back, pillows, shorter length of 68″, and most of all the deep blue upholstery keep this piece up to date.

Kendall sofa in Indigo, www.roomandboard.com

Top: Traditional pieces look edgy and not stodgy when mismatched and done in pretty bright colors. www.housebeautiful.com, Bottom: Modern and spare living room in classic monochromatic gray. www.roomandboard.com

Everything changes. Suddenly you become acquainted with new feelings such as indescribable awe, joy and contentment. There is also frustration, doubt and the occasional embarrassment (such as when your baby wails and screams at a public place). Then of course the weariness, exhaustion and that dreaded state of sleeplessness during the first few months (in most cases). You, who were formerly so sure of yourself, so confident, now sometimes lay awake at night fearing for this kid’s future, afraid for him going out into an increasingly crazy world, doubtful if you’re doing right by her, giving it your best shot, being enough, being there enough. There are endless questions, perhaps never to be fully answered for a long, long time.

Then perhaps the most visible changes that occur once parenting begins (no, it’s not just your girth) happens in your home. Your once pristine and well-coordinated living room becomes overrun by colorful gadgets and baby furniture.Your outlets get covered and cabinets safety-locked. The floor is littered with toys. It’s amazing how many items manufacturers have managed to invent to convince us that they are all absolutely, positively necessary for the health and wealth being of your child! Swings, rockers, saucers, high-chairs–four different types of seats and it does not end there.  In the middle of it all is the baby, with whom it is next to impossible to keep everything neat and tidy, all the time.

Despite this, baby equipment and paraphernalia is big business. Manufacturers and retailers are never short on the latest and chic-est stroller, crib or baby sling. Magazines are full of swanky celebrity nurseries outfitted and decorated in uber-luxurious fashion. These are breathtakingly beautiful rooms that are not your typical pink or blue or ultra-colorful Disney. They are very modern and contemporary, and curiously lacking the usual cartoon characters.

Decorating a stylish nursery doesn’t have to require dipping into your child’s college tuition fund. There are ways to help keep costs low, but style high. The most important element is color, which has gotten more sophisticated in recent years. Pink and blue have been replaced by silvery greens, pale yellows, grayish lavenders and even straight gray tones. Rooms are no longer cutesy or gender specific, and can go with the rest of the apartment, because parents are more fashionable than ever before.

Simple with one striking feature.

A perfect blend of whimsy and sophistication.

The key to designing the best baby nursery is balance. You must balance between your baby’s need for tons of sleep along with your baby’s need for brain stimulation. A nursery is both a bedroom and a playroom. Just like any other bedroom in the house, you’ll want colors that help your child keep calm and snooze well in the crib. Soft, soothing colors such as light blues, greens and pinks instill calmness. If you want something more contemporary, go for muted grays and silvers. Something in the middle would be a neutral color such as sand, punctuated with the more traditionally livelier pinks, blues and yellows.

Soothing green prevails in the nursery.

Modern princess.

Murals also do wonders for nursery walls! It can set the entire theme/mood of the room and personally I think, with a spectacular mural in place, there is little need for much else in the way of decoration.

Murals transform and transport.

Another way to up the sophistication factor is lighting. Do this by adding a mini-chandelier, or a modern table lamp.  Add a lamp and a reading and or rocking chair that picks up the general furniture scheme of the home.

This room is both playful and modern at the same time.

Resources:

I know a great muralist. I have worked with her and she is awesome. Her name is Jeanine Hattas of Fresh Murals. Check out her website at www.getfresh.biz

Keep posted! More on this topic next week.

Next week: Selecting furniture for your nursery.

If you read last Saturday’s blog about whether to reupholster an existing sofa or buy a new one, and decided on neither, then your sofa must be ‘unsalvage-able’ and this article is for you. What do you do when your furniture simply has to go?

Goodwill and the Salvation Army won’t take it. You left it out on the street for three days and no one took it. You added a “FREE!” sign and it was still there. Animals are starting to live on it. What to do??? Just like that car that you ran into the ground, there are times when something is simply not re-usable anymore.

I got this question today:

“Should I re-upholster a sofa or buy a new one?”