Design Tip: The DO's of Home Shopping

When shopping for your home, items can add up quickly! I believe that you shouldn't cut corners in the wrong places. So where should you invest and where should you save? The do's of purchasing for your home.

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DO Invest in Better Furniture: Use your best judgement - invest in the rooms that you use everyday this way you can enjoy them for years to come! That means purchasing a well constructed sofa that you won't have to replace after a year. The cushion contraction and the frame are important. Check the construction of drawers when looking for your bedroom or office. Dovetail drawers are the best - it is the interlocking grooves that hold the sides of the drawer together (rather than glue). 

SAVE: In areas of your home that aren't used as frequently or on items that are solely for decorative purposes like accent tables or console tables. Anything with drawers that you will opening and closing frequently should be of better quality.

DO Purchase Quality Carpet: For high traffic areas, I believe purchasing a higher quality carpet is pertinent. Investing in stair runners will be worth the investment for years to come.

SAVE: In certain situations, an inexpensive area rug will do the job.  For example, rugs in kids rooms are most likely to be replaced so an inexpensive rug is more ideal. 

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DO Invest in Custom Window Treatments: Using the word "custom" may scare you, but don't be afraid. It really depends on the material you use and the style you are trying to achieve. More intricate designs that include, trim, swags, pleats, valances, etc. will cost more. I like to high my curtain rod higher to the ceiling to elongate the height of the space so typically, stock curtains run a little short. If you are savvy with a sewing machine you can add a pretty base fabric or buy super long curtains and hem the bottom. I am not that savvy.... but I encourage anyone who is to try! :)

I have a very large kitchen window and standard size blinds would not fit. I opted to invest in faux wood blinds from JcPenny (which has an awesome window treatment department). If you open up a credit card, you can save more money plus they generally have sales and coupons. 

I love these top down bottom up shades in this Tribeca penthouse. It adds privacy but doesn't hide the beautiful view of the city.

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DO shopping at Yard sales, Estate sales, Thrift Stores, Consignment Shops, and Discount Stores: I can't tell you how many garage sales I have visited or thrift stores I have stopped at. I visited the nearest Goodwill and found a coffee table for $5 that was solid hardwood ----- $5!!!! It needed to be sanded and stained but it had great lines and it was solid furniture. I love finding items and adding my own personal style to it.

Need help with other areas of your home? Please comment what you need help with. I am always willing to help and most of the time your questions turn into blog topics! So don't be shy!!

and remember.... if you like this post, SHARE it :)

Yours truly,

AMA DESIGNS

From my Notepad ... To Reality

To you, this may be just an empty room. Well, it is.

However to me, it means so much more than an empty space. I love this profession because my visions become reality. There is nothing more gratifying then seeing your sketches come to life !

This may be just an empty room but the stages to get to this point were bumpy! It's rewarding to see progress and comforting to know that we are only a few steps away from completion !!

I am so excited to share with you all! Plus, I hand painted artwork specially for this space!! :)

For progress pictures, visit the "Portfolio" Tab to view more of this project.

Have an amazing day!

Eclectic Design: How to Mix n' Match Styles

I mix and match things on a daily basis. I mix gold and silver jewelry, fitted shirts with the perfect boyfriend jean, and traditional style with modern accents. Call me crazy but it's possible! You can rock any style your heart desires by flawlessly executing: "cohesiveness".

Eclectic style encompasses a variety of time periods and styles with uses of color, texture, shape, and finish. Eclectic may be the catch-all phrase that terms for any room that doesn't fit a particular style but it is more than a miscellaneous style. To create a "Collected" look it takes thought, knowledge, and balance.

Ultimately, choose your color palette. Pick one item as your jumping off point for design. This could be a piece of artwork, an oriental rug, or a family heirloom.

This living room has used the Persian rug as the foundation for this room. Pulling the colors from the rug by use of artwork and accessories really blended the different styles effortlessly.

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Although this room could be classified as contemporary, the slipcover sofas, the traditional ottoman, and the modern chairs create a cohesive look by sticking to the same color palette.

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A black and white color palette seamlessly ties together diverse items to create a collected look. Notice the global influences and textures mixed with contemporary bedding and side trays. There is even a dinosaur head that pops his way in!

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#AreaRugProblems

HI EVERYONE!

I need YOUR HELP! This is my first post EVER that I am requesting design advice for MYSELF! Shocker - but hey, there is a first for everything. I love hearing from you all and it warms my heart that my tips impact your lifestyle in some way. Now is your chance to help me!

Here's the Deal - my parents have me on the hunt for a 6x9 area rug. I have searched so many different stores and vendors.

The problem is that my dad has VERY ornate style. He gravitates towards the most oriental rug in the store. The guady-er (is that even a word?) the better. My mother on the other hand likes contemporary rugs.

Complete opposite side of the spectrum but I am trying my hardest to satisfy both their styles. Our house is more casual so the traditional/ornate rug is too formal for our family room. I have been looking at traditional rugs that are more washed out or less ornate. I've also been looking at transitional style rugs too.

Here's the catch: we are looking for a thick plush rug with gold and brown tones. No red tones. Green/olive are okay. 

I don't want to give up and settle with a plain shag rug. Please comment below :)

Greatly appreciated <3

A Tidy Home is a Happy Home

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "My house isn't big enough for ALL my stuff!"

Your shoes don't have a home, your purses are in a disarray, and your jewelry is tangled. As if that wasn't enough, you don't have enough room for your clothes yet somehow you find yourself screaming on a Saturday night, "I have nothing to wear!". Trust me, I know the struggle.

My number 1 rule is "If you haven't worn it in a year - toss it or donate it." Chances are if you haven't worn it last season, you are most likely not going to wear it next season. I recently donated four bags of clothes and it felt great to give!

Rule number 2 - Don't hold onto clothes that don't fit you! If I had a dollar for every time my mother said "I'll wear this when I'm skinny again," I would be rich. Update your wardrobe with only clothes that fit you.

With a little discipline and hard work, you can do some serious purging to your closet by sticking to those two rules.

What do you struggle with the most? I encourage you to comment ! Your design dilemma could be solved in my next post!

Follow AMA Designs on Facebook for daily updates and inspiration.

Travel Tuesday: Morroco

I travel all the time to exotic and magical places...... through pictures. It is my dream to travel the world. I want to experience other cultures, try new foods, and absorb all the design details during my journey. For now, I will continue exploring through pictures. Surely it isn't the same and not nearly as fun.. but still inspiring. I am so mesmerized by Moroccan architecture. I can't begin to imagine how much time it takes to tile colorful mosaics throughout the walls and floors of hallways. The intricate detail that is involved is absolutely breath taking.

Here are just a few pictures that inspired me. What is your dream travel destination? Share with me below :)

Gray Had Better Days...

Feeling a little gray today on this overcast day (hey, I rhymed!) Although, I love a neutral color palette - I feel like gray is a bit overworked. I have been getting a lot of requests from friend and family members for "the perfect gray paint". How about we switch gears and warm it up a bit?! Lately, I have been gravitating towards colors with warmer undertones, such as Revere Pewter, which is the perfect warm grey. I have been more partial towards mink browns and taupe shades as well!

Take a look at a few warm spaces that I like - what do you think? Is gray here to stay or are you ready to save it for another day?

Design Adventures with AMA!

Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I went to NYC to visit the new Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. I don't think he was nearly as excited as I was --- but I sure enjoyed it! I appreciate historical architecture and all forms of design.

I literally jumped when I saw Van Gogh's "Starry Nights" in person along with some other pieces that I only saw from textbooks. There were also a few other paintings that caught my eye on the contemporary floor.

This painting for example struck me. I love the texture and how all the bold colors blend together. After the museum, we stopped at Charrito's in Weehawken for lunch. We enjoyed authentic Mexican cuisine and homemade sangria while admiring the NYC skyline.

My art adventures didn't stop here. Later on during the week, I went to Pinot's Palette in Montclair for a painting class with a few friends. It was a two hour class and I can't nearly explain how much fun it was. I have never laughed so much in one night! Even if you are not an artist - the instructer takes you step by step and will help you if you mess up.

While browsing for some inspiration, I discovered the gorgeous earthscapes by Andres Amador. Andres creates massive drawings on beaches during low-tide. If you haven't seen his work - check out his website.

After an exciting week of being surrounded by art and design, it has influenced me to get working on some projects this weekend. Maybe you'll see a new painting from me coming soon? hmmmm.....