David Bromstad, the host of HGTV’s Color Splash, shares his dorm design expertise with UsMagazine.com. Here are five easy ways to add extra oomph to your dorm-style digs.

1. Don’t be afraid to add color: If you’re able to paint your space, Bromstad suggests picking some of fall’s hottest hues, including green, yellow and purple. Afraid to try something new? “A really nice bold red with a little bit of orange always works. Red is timeless,” says our expert.

2. Invest in good bedding: When you’re not in class or partying with pals, you want a nice place to hang your head…and show off your personal style! “Bedding is important because you’re sharing a room with your roommate and you want to make sure your own style is reflected,” Bromstad says. “You can definitely get something bold and comfortable for under $100.”

3. Think outside the box: Bored with the standard-issue dorm furniture? Make it your own! “I made over a dorm room on the Oprah Winfrey Show and when it came to the wardrobe, I went to IKEA and got a really bold fabric to cover it,” Bromstad says. And no hammer and nails required for this redo: Just use double-sided tape, like 3M, to make the fabric stick.

4. Always remember art: Forget tacky posters to dress up blank walls. Bromstad suggests making your own art by framing a fabric swatch. “I bought a $10, 24×36 frame and took the pattern of fabric from the dresser and repeated it there, making a piece of art for very little cash,” he tells Us.

5. Add a rug: “Rugs are a missing item in dorm rooms,” says Bromstad. “They’re a big opportunity to add boldness and a graphic quality to the space. Rugs make the room feel more cozy and they’re not permanent [if you change your mind.]”

[Thanks: http://www.usmagazine.com]

Happy Garden Chinese restaurant owners have revamped the decor, entrance, front desk and dining and buffet areas.

Renovations began in May and the restaurant reopened June 9.

“We wanted it to be more warm and friendly for customers and employees,” said owner Annie Li, who took over ownership from her cousin three years ago.

A wall was removed, the buffet was extended, and a television and soft-serve ice cream machine were added. The dining area was opened up, giving customers and employees more room.

The restaurant has seen a difference in business since reopening.

“Business has gotten better,” said Li. “We’ve had new people from Fremont, Fostoria, Clyde, and other customers from surrounding areas.”

New items have been added to the menu, as well. Three new house specialties include peanut butter chicken, black pepper chicken and seafood with butter. Two new vegetables choices are butter potatoes and mushrooms with oyster sauce.

The changes are part of Li’s goal to provide what her customers request.

She is proud of the traditional Chinese cuisine the restaurant offers because of the number of international students at the local universities.

When it opened more than 20 years ago, Happy Garden was a carry-out only restaurant with mainly local clientele.

“I want to thank the community for their support,” Li said. “They have enabled us to renovate and be in a competition to be named one of the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the U.S.A.”

The contest is the seventh annual, sponsored by Chinese Restaurant News. Chinese restaurants nationwide are nominated and judged based on food, decor/atmosphere, service, cleanliness, presentation and value. Customers visit a website to vote for the restaurant they want to be in the top 100.

To vote for Happy Garden, visit top100.chinesemenu.com.

[Thanks: http://www.advertiser-tribune.com]

The rosettes on the walls, the elegant panels and crown molding, the magnificent chandeliers that capture your attention, the roaring fire framed by a hand-crafted fireplace mantel, the pure heavenly feeling of life’s blessings are immediate and can be continuously uplifting. Luxury means keenly appreciating some of life’s finest things despite some sacrifice, whether it’s one small piece of chocolate a day, having tea served in pretty china or enjoying fresh flowers on the background of beautifully embellished walls in the home.

Anything you do to embellish your house is an act of love, not a chore. In fact it is a blessing to possess a home to create your own quiet luxury every day. While creating your luxury wall decor think in a more Zen-conscious way. Redirect your energy into an endless flow of appreciation for all beautiful things, for a house you are blessed to embellish and use as a resource for inner strength. The Zen of wall decor creation is to buy into the flow of beauty and love, to abound in a smooth, meditative consciousness where you feel the rhythms of life and are in touch with the biggest market of this energy. Creating a luxury decor and planning embellishments for your walls is seen as an overwhelming task. Plenty of fatigue and stress is due to being in a stage of anxiety where you have unrealistic expectations for yourself and become overwhelmed because of this. You must approach creation of your wall decor as an artist in a studio, then home-improvement process becomes creative play. This process is fun. After your wall decor is complete your satisfaction will be much greater. All your efforts will bring undeniable improvements no only in looks of your house but in a quality of living. And after all you are able take credit for a fine, specifically if you enjoyed the experience and stimulation of meeting the challenge.

There exists a saying ¡°Never economize on luxury¡±. Let this be your reminder to indulge with little luxuries every day, because without them life may become routine and banal. When you allow some luxury in your lifetime, the necessities seem to care for themselves. Even one luxury at the same time, its good to know, can suffice.

[Thanks: http://www.lonad.com]

Bridge v Yates will be the first occupational pension scheme case to be heard before the nation’s highest court.

The case – originally brought by independent trustee firm Bridge Trustees and now being fought by the Department for Work and Pensions – concerned the wind up of the hybrid £130m Home Décor Pension Scheme that had a £40m deficit.

Bridge Trustees chairman Giles Orton explained the critical question relates to how the law defines “money purchase” benefits, and how these are protected if a scheme winds up.

The DWP intervened in the case in June, last year (PP, June 11, 2009).

Imperial scheme rules offered members money purchase accounts, but then added certain underpins and guaranteed returns. Orton said the DWP wanted to establish that, if schemes do offer guarantees – which may create deficits to meet commitments – then full pension protection legislation should apply.

In March, this year, the Court of Appeal confirmed benefits were DC benefits even where certain guarantees existed, or where the pensions are paid directly out of scheme assets (PP, March 4).

The DWP has now taken the long running legal challenge to the Supreme Court.

Orton told PP: “The appeal is just going to relate to the questions of what is a money purchase benefit, and hence what is a money purchase scheme.

“The DWP’s concern is that if a pension design is such that there can be a deficit then it should not be treated as money purchase. It should fall under the stricter compliance and protection legislation – the Pension Protection Fund and scheme specific funding for example.”

Orton said if the DWP loses, the government will have to review legislation, as some schemes that the courts have held to be DC can still fall into deficit but are not covered by the legislation.

He added: “If the DWP wins and any scheme that can have a deficit is DB, then many schemes that were historically operated as DC will fall belatedly into the DB regulatory regime, with chaotic consequences.”

Orton added the 2005 KPMG case and “the borderline between what is DB and what is DC” will be revisited.

[Thanks: http://www.professionalpensions.com]

“It catches your eye from across the floor,” says store manager Jeff Squibb. He calls the sleek Silhouette sofa in textured ochre fabric “a mid-century design given a modern update.”

Just as your jeweled flip-flops have lost their shimmer and the school year beckons, furnishings that make a statement are starting to fill stores. Adding a sofa in an unexpected color is just one example of a home decor trend for fall. Retailers and home fashion experts say consumers are looking for ways to express personality in their homes, with something that shows an artisan’s touch, displays a pattern, adds a little sparkle or takes a cue from the “Mad Men” set.

So you heard gray was the “it” color? Yes, you’ll find putty and cement are major shades at Room & Board this fall. But a diet of gray alone can look a bit like a cloudy day. It might be time to add some purple or persimmon, or perhaps citron.

Whatever shoppers pick up, it should make them feel good. “My customers are always looking to make their home happy to go home to,” says Rachelle Roth, who opened Bethesda’s Urban Country in 1991. Right now, she’s hoping to sell them shiny, black patent leather lounge chairs and chunky throws woven from organic yarns.

Retail chains, looking to make selections friendlier, have added exclusive hand-wrought and environmentally conscious products. The economic downturn has made many consumers choosier and less interested in disposable fashion. West Elm is working with craftspeople and cooperatives around the world; the company has added a line of sleek black pottery made by women in Indonesia.

We’ve highlighted six design trends you’ll be seeing in stores, catalogues, design blogs and magazines in the coming weeks. What speaks to you?

[Thanks: http://www.washingtonpost.com]

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Peace Nyiramahoro Byabamazima.I made 45 years on July 22. I trained as a Secretary at the National College of Commerce at Nakawa. I worked as a Secretary up to 2001, when I retired and started interior design. I am a professional interior designer. My company is called Niyomah Interior Designs Ltd.

What does interior design involve?
Interior design is the creation of a space that fulfills a function, suits a mood or style and must be in harmony with one another. There are three principles here. The room must fulfill a function, must be in a particular mood or style and the furnishings must be in harmony with one another. A successful interior is one that has those three. That is why sometimes you look at something and say, ‘wow!’ That is an interior that works.

What inspired you to pursue a career in interior design?
It is a long story. I went upcountry to Karamoja. I was working with a church project, I was sometimes redundant. A friend said, ‘let me teach you how to sew.’ I started sewing and made a dress and realised that I wanted to make different things. A friend asked me to make curtains for him. He gave me the liberty to do what I wanted. I looked for the material and matching chairs. I saw the difference. It gave me satisfaction and I realised that was what I wanted to do. I stopped dress making and started Interior Design.

Because of that, friends started giving me jobs. I wanted to do more about making space beautiful. Interior design is more than making curtains and cushions. It is an art of putting together a finished thing from floor to ceiling. You are thinking about the floor, furniture, walls, ceiling, lighting and other accessories. You think of how they all combine to make something beautiful. Not only something beautiful, but also something that works. The house owner must be able to enjoy the space.

Have you done something like this before?
No, I learnt on the job. Somebody gave me a job to do and then I acquired training from it.

What course did you pursue to start this?
I did a correspondence course in Interior Design with Sheffield School of Interior Design in New York. I also did a course in curtain making and soft furnishings. Somebody who had trained in the UK trained me in Kamwokya. It improved my work from sewing. The training I did for Interior Design is all inclusive. It includes some architectural aspects like drawing floor plans and interpreting already drawn floor plans.

What reasons do people give for coming to you for your services?
Most come because they have seen the work I have done in other places. For instance, I worked with Lake Victoria Serena Hotel, the former Ranch-On-The-Lake. I did their bed-throws, mosquito nets, cushions, curtains, bed skirts and soft furnishings. I have also done some work for Mt. Elgon Hotel and Graceland Gardens in Bunga. It involved doing their colour schemes, floor plans, soft furnishings, furniture layout and lighting plans. Other jobs include designing business places like shops.

Most times I am just required to do soft furnishings. Sometimes it is the whole interior designing, which means selecting floor coverings, colour schemes, lighting plans and soft furnishing. I also make mosquito nets, duvets, bed throws and decorate nursery rooms for children.

Do they describe what they want or they expect you to do everything for them?
It depends on the client. Some know what they want and I just help them to do what they visualise. Some do not know what they want, so I have to help them work it through to the end. Someone can say she wants something nice so I work with that person for an inspiration. For example, one client did not have any ideas. I asked her what colour she liked and she said blue. Then I got some samples of blue curtains and asked her to choose which one she liked. The curtain she selected gave me the colour palette of the room. Then I worked with the curtains to determine the colour scheme of the room. She was happy.

How much do you charge for your services?
It depends on the scope of the job. For example, if I am doing the whole footwork like dealing with carpenters, painters, making the curtains or the soft furnishings and fitting tiles, I charge 20 per cent of the total that the room has cost. Sometimes I get others who just want ideas and I put a file together for them, then I charge 10 per cent of the total cost of the room. For most of the jobs I get, somebody may just want curtains, cushions or mosquito nets. I just charge them for labour.

Have you encountered any problems?
Anybody who can make curtains thinks she is an interior designer and it tarnishes our name. They do not know the real difference between an interior designer and somebody who makes soft furnishings.
People do not want to spend money. They want nice things, but they do not want to pay for them. I think everyone is an designer in their own right. Some people know how to put things together. They are naturally gifted in that art. Such a person will say, ‘you already found me with my chairs, are you the one who chose them for me? Do I need an interior designer?’

But for those who are going to spend a lot of money furnishing houses or hotels, it is advisable to get an interior designer to help them avoid costly mistakes. Sometimes you can go to a place and there is this outrageous floor (laughs) and when you enter, it just hurts your eyes. A person like that needs to be advised on how to balance colours and using accessories that work together.

Have any problems arisen that you did not anticipate?
It has to do with money. Sometimes at the end of a big project, people think they have spent a lot of money and at the end of it, they keep my money. Yet I have finished the work. I have many clients who have not paid me yet. Sometimes in the course of doing something, a client changes their minds about some of the ideas we had from the start and in the end, I do not complete the job the way I had wanted to. They want to cut corners and are not patient with the process.

Sometimes, when we have made a plan and clients want to reach the end and not go through the process, I advise them. I advise that they should phase it up so that it takes longer but they end up with what they visualised in the beginning. Sometimes clients do not have all the money at once. That especially if it is a house they are going to live in for a long time, it is better they wait and get the right lighting fixtures or sofas instead of rushing out and buying the cheapest thing.

Also, it is expensive to rent a place in town and interior design falls in the category of luxuries. For the whole of 2008, we were asked to move out of the building I was in. From 2009, I have worked from home and when I got back the shop, I still did not take up the whole space. I still work from home. It somehow works for me because most of my clients call me on phone.

Would you recommend this business to other people?
Yes, especially for those who have a creative gift - people who are good with their hands or who are good at putting things together. A person who has an eye for which things work with what would do well in this business.

How would you like to conclude?
I started interior designing in a light way and did not realise that I could make a living out of it. It was a hobby but now it has become a career. I think, sleep and dream interior design. That is my life now.

[Thanks: http://www.monitor.co.ug]

The store, 152 E. Main St., connects to MainStreet Sweets, both owned by Jackie Bordner and her husband, Duane.

“We have ten different vendors who sell antiques, new and used home décor, and cottage-y shabby chic furniture,” says Jackie Bordner. “One section is all retro items from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. We also have a handful of crafters, and an interior designer who has a lot of her own clientele, but also sells shabby chic furniture, antique clocks and old bottles.”

The shop also has an upholsterer who does custom reupholstery and sells reupholstered furniture, Bordner says.

Vendors rent floor space for $2 a square foot, but Bordner says the shop doesn’t have a “boxed up” look like an antiques mall. Each vendor’s booth flows into the next vendor’s space, so much so that many customers don’t realize it.

The Bordners have proven they are creative entrepreneurs. They opened Clothes Junkie in 2007, MainStreet Sweets in 2009, and set out on this new venture earlier this year.

“We sold Clothes Junkie, and right after that, this space became available,” Bordner says. “I always loved buying and selling and redoing furniture just for myself. We watched a similar store in Holland to see how well they would do, and we figured if they could do so well, why can’t we?”

Not So Shabby is open Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri. 10 to 8, Weds. 10 to 5:30, and Sat. 10- to 4:30.

[Thanks: http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com]

To stretch my decorating dollars, I liked to hunt for finds at flea markets and antiques malls. It was in these dusty gold mines that I fell hard for furnishings and accents made of wicker and bamboo.

Today I’m still just as smitten by the organic lines, rustic texture and romantic grace of wicker and bamboo. And through the years, these natural wonders have become an integral part of the Nell Hill’s look. Here are some tips for incorporating these beautiful and Earth-friendly pieces into your home.

Today’s wicker furnishings have come a long way from that crazy, creaky chair you had in your college dorm room. Now, wicker is not only sturdy, it’s incredibly chic. In fact, today’s wicker is so stylish it will be at home in every room of your house.

Wicker is so neutral you can pick pillows in just about any style or hue, and it looks great. My favorite color combination right now is cream and brown jazzed up with an infusion of green, gold or orange. I like to pick a mix of fabrics that weave in a variety of patterns, such as buffalo checks, geometric shapes and images of nature, like palm leaves.

If you’ve confined your wicker furniture to your back porch or patio up until now, why not invite it in when the weather gets cooler? Instead of storing your wicker chaise, sofa, chairs and ottoman in the garage or basement, work them into your interior décor. If the seat cushions are a bit weatherworn, freshen them up with new slipcovers. Or, for a super-easy and inexpensive alternative, slip them into a king-size pillowcase, tucking the open end underneath the cushion.

Furniture made from sustainable materials like bamboo, rattan and wicker is hotter than ever right now. When I went to the huge High Point furniture market this year, it was clear that designers and furniture-makers are hearing our cry for home furnishings that are stylish and Earth-friendly. I was so impressed by the range of beautiful pieces available now that I ordered hutches, dressers, accent tables, desks and chairs made from bamboo and wicker. They have been flying out the door, going home with customers who are as mesmerized by the affordability and versatility of these beautiful pieces as I am.

If you’d like to experiment with including bamboo or wicker in your décor, start by adding just a piece or two. Put a bamboo end table in your living room. Ring your dining-room table with rattan chairs. Spice up your bedroom with a wicker chest of drawers. Store your china in a bamboo hutch. Or tuck a wicker bench at the foot of your bed.

You can even put bamboo and wicker in unusual places. For instance, a few years ago, I bought a cute bamboo vanity for my downstairs powder room. After 20 years, I still love it — it hasn’t lost its beauty and is so neutral that I can put anything with it.

If you’d like to add rich texture to the displays in your home, work in some accents made of natural materials like wicker, bamboo and rattan. You’ll find all sorts of interesting items made of these wonderful, eco-friendly materials, from rattan baskets to willow cake plates. For example, I like to put vintage-looking bottles that come in willow baskets on the shelves of my hutch because they look great with my seasonal decorating (check them out at Nell Hill’s Online).

Whether they are made from willow, wicker or bamboo, eco-friendly baskets are wonderful. Stack a few on top of your armoire, bookcase or secretary to create an interesting display. Place one on the floor by a chair, top it with a tray, and you have an instant table. Put one by your back door to hold mittens. Or place one on your hearth to collect kindling for winter fires.

[Thanks: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com]

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — This fall, Target® introduces a new John Derian™ for Target® collection, an exclusive home decor and accessories line available for a limited time. Following the success of John Derian’s first two collaborations, Derian returns to Target with a new assortment of products. Known for his artisan decoupage techniques, Derian brings a fresh perspective on his signature style to a wider range of merchandise available at select Target stores and Target.com September 5.

“John has created a collection of beautifully designed products at prices our guests will love,” said Stacia Andersen, senior vice president, merchandising, Target. “We are excited to bring him and his unique style back to Target.”

Derian’s new line for Target features affordable home decor products and office accessories that are both fanciful and practical. The focus of the collection blends Derian’s love of nature and appreciation of classic, vintage style with well-designed, purposeful products.

“I am so excited to once again partner with Target and introduce a charming new collection,” said Derian. “I’ve worked hard to translate my unique vision into a larger assortment of products that are beautiful, affordable and truly feel one-of-a-kind.”

The assortment features nearly 100 products all priced under $25. Home decor items include decorative trays, wall art and coasters, as well as stationery items such as mini journal sets and paper organizers. The collection also features fabric-covered storage bins, and tabletop items including ceramic mugs and melamine dinnerware.

John Derian is a New York City-based artist celebrated for his unique and inspired aesthetic. In 1989, he established The John Derian Company, Inc and pioneered the trend of decoupage — the art of layering images over a decorative background — to create beautiful works of art. Derian’s decoupage art has adorned plates, platters, paperweights, bowls, desk accessories, wall hangings and more.

In 2008, Derian created his first signature accessories collection for Target, including stationery and home decor items, followed by a limited edition holiday assortment later that year, which included gift wrap, ornaments and serving platters.

The new John Derian for Target collection is available at select Target stores nationwide and www.Target.com.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,743 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week.

[Thanks: http://www.prnewswire.com]

White pages

KleinReid’s book set in varying heights looks just like the real deal, sans the tattered bookmark or dog-eared pages. For a touch of color, add a sprig of lavender or a single flower inside the small vase. ($198; kleinreid.com).

Pure beauty

Make a statement in the entry with a bold pop of white. Jonathan Adler’s new owl sculpture does just the trick. ($195; 2133 Fillmore St., 415-563-9500; jonathanadler.com).

Milky Way

These playful stoneware bottles with imprinted affirmations including “dream,” “love” and “wish” are a fun addition to the kitchen or bar area. ($85 for set of three; claytongrayhome.com).

Great white

Create an artful display with stacked design tomes topped with this decorative glazed nautical-inspired Murex shell. ($89.95, 2154 Union St., 415-567-4891; zgallerie.com).

Walk in the clouds

Give flowers or branches from the backyard new life with West Elm’s mini ceramic bowling pin vessel ($8; westelm.com).

White out

Whether you scored first place in the spelling bee in elementary school, Yellow Owl Workshop’s cheeky Trophy is a win-win for mundane shelves. It’s made of hand-cast earthenware. ($65; 560 Jackson St., 415-983-0490; edenandeden.com).

Bleach chic

Made of porcelain bisque by French designer Joelle Fauvre, these delicate bamboo vessels make a pretty sculpture alone or in a cluster. (From $245 depending on size; tableartonline.com).

White-glove treatment

You’ll never have to fumble for your umbrella again thanks to Urban Outfitter’s ceramic Owl Umbrella Stand. Or, use it to store rolls of wrapping paper. ($120; urbanoutfitters.com).

[Thanks: http://articles.sfgate.com]