Turn your Bachelor pad into the perfect setting for a Romantic Dinner: Tips and Tricks for transforming you space quickly!

Making dinner reservations can not only be hectic but sometimes pretty expensive. Have you ever considered hosting your Valentine’s Day date at home? Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Why not surprise your date by transforming your space temporarily and staying in for the evening.

Step 1: If you aren’t a neat freak or a little behind on cleaning, clean up your place and get rid of any clutter. Do not underestimate having a clean space when you are entertaining. This will remove any distractions and really allow your date to focus on the amazing dinner you are about to have set up.

Step 2: If you don’t have dimmers to adjust the lighting, lamps and candles are great for creating mood lighting or a warm romantic atmosphere. Pretend your place is temporarily a classy restaurant. Most restaurants use lower lighting as well which usually makes people feel more relaxed. Layering different types of lighting that complement each other can be helpful as well. The images below show how you can accomplish this.

http://www.mattmurphyeventlighting.com/portfolio.php?page=10&current=72

This image is a great example of mood lighting. The pink lighting really warms up the space and will instantly add romance to your date night. You can accomplish this through rope lighting, table lamps, floor lamps, sconces, or even just changing the regular light bulbs to colored ones for the evening. Lamps or upward lighting are usually best for accomplishing this.

http://electrical.hardwarestore.com/13-41-party-colored-bulbs.aspx

Here is an example of a colored bulb you could purchase to temporarily replace the bulbs in your lamps. Red is a great option. Why do you think red is the color of Valentine’s Day? Besides the correlation to hearts, the color red inspires passion and people associate the color with being sexy.

http://www.flowersdelivereduk.com/flower-bouquets/valentines-bouquet.aspx

It may be repetitive, but who doesn’t love flowers? If you want to place some flowers as a centerpiece on your table, make sure to pick a simple shorter vase so that it doesn’t interrupt conversation. If you have a table that is for some reason distracting, pick up a white table cloth to toss over it as the base for your amazing dinner setting. Mix things up by selecting a variety of flower types or a different type of flower other than roses alone.

http://www.yumsugar.com/Decoration-Ideas-Romantic-Valentines-Day-Dinner-7282997

If you don’t have a vase or don’t have time to pick one up, you can always sprinkle a few petals around the table. Last but not least, don’t underestimate the power of candles. Candles are a great way to add another layer of light. They create a soft glow that will make your space more inviting.

http://www.hotelchatter.com

Both the candles and flowers that you choose to incorporate into the space can have an additional impact due to their scent. Scent is one of our most powerful senses. As always, design the life you love!

Holiday Cheer Without the Tinsel

I am passionate about constantly reinventing and revamping existing pieces in my clients' home.

Do you remember the urban vegetable garden I planted on the Calhoun Beach Club balcony?

Well, I wanted to make use of the beautiful ceramic container and the vibrance that plants add to the space.

I spoke with my cohort gardener and she said that to keep a ceramic container outside in a Minnesota winter, I must remove the dirt from the container and place the plants in a separate smaller cardboard liner. I added packing peanuts around the smaller container to keep the smaller liner stationary.

The end result is seasonal without the tinsel and bows that so often time are used in holiday decorating. I am inspired by the beauty of the outdoors. I try to decorate with natural materials as much as possible.

I also brought one of the smaller ceramic container inside to add a little holiday cheer to an entry way. I choose plants that are hardy and do well without a lot of sunlight or watering.

Autumn Color Palette

I love creating environments for my clients to enjoy year round. I particularly, like these images of the condo space I designed that welcome Autumn's colors and crisp air. This condo's interior design transitions easily by simply adding seasonal accessories. The warm textured pillows and throw suggest that the home owner relax on the sofa with a warm beverage and book. As this home owner loves the outdoors, I brought nature's beauty inside as coffee table decor.