SPRING CLEANING, SIMPLIFIED
Area experts eliminate challenges, frustrations

by Jennifer Sellers

It’s what we all dream of: a spotless, well-organized home. And while it’s unreasonable to expect perfection, with a little effort and the right planning you can create an orderly, well-kept abode.

Take advantage of the spring season to clean up, clean out and transform your home.

Spring is in the air
If you feel particularly motivated to clean and revamp your home this season, you’re not alone.

“Spring is always our busiest time,” says June DeLugas, interior designer and owner of June DeLugas Interiors Inc. in Clemmons.

“As soon as people take their Christmas trees down, they’re calling us,” she adds. “They’re ready to make some changes.”

Spring is a natural time for change. The weather gets warmer, the days get longer and people get more active.

“Any time is a good time to clean your home, but I think people do it in spring because they can open up the house after it’s been shut up all winter long,” says Gwen Gibson, who owns and operates High Point-based Maid in North Carolina with her husband, Walter.

“It’s a time when people are getting their energy back and are ready to open up their windows.”

It’s also an ideal time to determine the most efficient and effective use of space.

“Spring cleaning allows the homeowner to fully assess the use of a particular room or area,” says Melinda Bell Dickey, an interior designer with SSI Design Group Inc. in Greensboro.

“It’s the perfect time to analyze the space and decide whether it’s being utilized to its fullest extent.”

According to Katrina Solomon, a Greensboro-based professional organizer and clutter coach, it’s the best time of year for increasing productivity all the way around.

“It’s a time of beginnings,” she says. “Warmer, sunnier, longer days make us want to come out of hibernation and sow the seeds for increased control and productivity in our lives.”

So whether you want to deep clean, redecorate or organize this season, there’s a resource available to set you straight.

Cleaning
While you might stay on top of housework throughout the year, a more thorough, top-to-bottom cleaning — or even extra housekeeping on a regular basis — can give you a little break.

“If you’re overwhelmed or just have too much on your plate, we come in and help you out,” Gibson says.
“We can assist working moms who stay on top of things but don’t have time for details like cleaning the windows, baseboards, or ceiling fans.”

When it comes to do-it-yourself cleaning, Gibson suggests prioritizing chores.

“Focus on things that affect you on a day-to-day basis, like vacuuming, dusting and regularly replacing filters,” she says.

“Other things, like cleaning the windows or the oven, can wait until you have time or until you can bring in professionals to help.”

Decorating
Design might not immediately be associated with spring cleaning, but an interior designer can help you focus on much more than the aesthetics of a room or home.

“A well-designed, well-organized home makes life simpler, it eliminates some of the stress and it makes life easier,” says Gretchen Wright of Wright Choices, a High Point-based interior design firm.

Interior designers are skilled at making the spaces in your home work best for you, whether it’s improving the flow of a room or adding more storage.

“Organized spaces help us work better, function more efficiently and relax in our environment without physical and mental clutter,” Bell Dickey says.

“A well-designed home is easier to keep in order,” DeLugas notes.

“We see it all the time — people think they don’t have enough space, but we go in and help them figure out how to make the most out of the space they have.”

If you’re looking to remodel a particular area of the home, an interior designer can help with that as well.
“If, for example, you want your kitchen remodeled, we work with contractors for the best possible layout,” DeLugas says.

“We focus on the workability of that space,” she adds. “We focus on helping you get from place to place more efficiently, from the stove to the island to the refrigerator.”

SSI works with clients to clearly define a room’s use, then incorporate aspects to ensure that the room will work for clients and their families.

“Interior design isn’t just about color and fabrics,” Bell Dickey says. “It’s about function, usability and versatility.”

Organization
Organizing can be a challenge. If you’re left to organize on your own, then you might become overwhelmed quickly, leaving certain rooms or closets cluttered. Fortunately, a professional organizer can help you get a handle on a messy situation by offering organizational strategies and providing something else that’s important to the organizational process: accountability.

“We can be pretty easy on ourselves, making excuses that we don’t have the time, money, or skills to get organized,” Solomon says.

“When we are accountable to someone else, our pride wants us to live up to the expectations of an outsider.”
Inviting someone else to help you organize can make you feel vulnerable and hesitant, so it’s crucial to find someone you can really work with, Solomon adds.

“Finding a professional organizer is a lot like finding a fitness trainer, therapist or best friend,” she says.

Once you find someone, he or she can help you transform your home and routine, and can even assist you on a regular basis.

“I have a number of regular clients who find it easier to work with me for several hours on a routine basis than to worry about decluttering or organizing daily,” Solomon says.

“They know that when I show up it will be done right, and they are free to use the rest of their time on the things that they do well.”

Jennifer Sellers is a freelance writer based in Greensboro.

A CREATIVE HAVEN
Making space for artistic passions

by Gina Arledge

Every time I need to wrap a gift, it becomes a production. Remembering the last place I cleverly decided to stow the wrapping paper is challenging enough, but unearthing the last place my children used the scissors and tape? Forget it.

And while I enjoy scrapbooking and sewing, I often put off these activities simply because I don’t have a designated spot in which to accomplish them. It’s also due to the mess I’d no doubt leave. I can just see the heaps of clothes in need of repair and an overwhelming pile of pictures awaiting organization and precious placement. If only there were a corner of my home dedicated to one, two or even all three of these tasks.

Lately, requests for these types of spaces have been a top priority among clients: Nooks worked into laundry or bonus rooms and even attic space, designed to organize lives or close the door on the mess.

Custom creations
I recently was contacted by a former client who wanted the ultimate craft room. A player in the scrapbooking world, she had volumes of beautifully adorned photo albums with scrupulously organized pages of her children’s lives. She also had a table in her guest bedroom filled with monumental amounts of paper, special scissors, and piles and piles of photographs.

This client needed a room that was up to the task of helping her produce these works of art, as well as a spot for her other creative passions: sewing and gift wrapping. A small, unfinished room above her garage became my blank canvas for her craft room masterpiece.

Note upon note was taken of her special storage needs, from the specially sized file storage required for scrapbook pages to the amount of wrapping paper rolls. Everything was inventoried, and the designing began.

Three separate knee spaces were created, each with a separate function: one for sewing, another for scrapbooking and one with a computer desk; a television and upholstered chair also were added for some much-needed relaxation. Basket storage near the sewing area held fabric, while custom-designed lateral files stored scrapbook pages. Tall, shallow base cabinets near the desk contained office and computer supplies.

A U-shaped counter provided ample space to spread out, and bookshelves built into the wall stored photo albums, craft books, and cherished belongings. But the highlight was a large, multi-functional, mobile island. From one side, the top served as a place to lay out fabric patterns, while drawers below held measuring tape, pins, and shears. From the other side, the top provided the ideal gift-wrapping spot, with easy access to rolls of wrapping paper, ribbon, gift bags, scissors, and that elusive tape.

The end result was magnificent: a haven among havens for the mother of three boys. It’s become her escape to pale blue walls and flowery furniture, where her favorite hobbies surround her, all neatly organized and functional.

And of course there’s the door that can be closed.

Gina Arledge is owner of The Kitchen Studio Inc. in Greensboro.
To learn more, call (336) 855-0903 or visit www.thekitchenstudioinc.com.

FAKING IT
Faux art helps homeowners create a unique look

by Danielle Jackson

When it comes to updating a home’s décor, traditional painting is so passé. It’s all about faux art these days.

And while it might seem like a new trend, faux art has been around for thousands of years. It was used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans on everything from walls to pottery.

But for all of its history, faux art has come a long way in recent years. Today’s trends allow for an explosion of colors, patterns and finishes on walls, ceilings, cabinets, and furniture, among other places. And Triad area professionals are here to help.

Classy collections
The beauty of faux art is the ability to create a customized look. It just takes a few strokes to make something old look new, or to make something new look distressed.

“Faux art has truly blossomed over the years,” says Aanessa Reeves, owner of Faux Bella Inc. in Jamestown.

“Gone are the days of sponging, ragging and stippling.”

Faux Bella, a decorative finishing company with a 3,000-square-foot warehouse where much of its customized work is done, offers designer finishes on walls, ceilings, furniture, cabinetry and mantels. The ability to create unique patterns and finishes draws in customers.

“If there’s a look that a client is trying to achieve, then we’ll re-create that look,” Reeves says.

She cites Florida-based Faux Effects International as an innovator in the field. The company offers a line of water-based products that are engineered to work alongside traditional latex paints.

“Their line of products has taken faux art to a new level,” notes Reeves, who’s certified in Faux Effects’ environmentally friendly line.

Fearless finishes
The amount of finishes available with customized faux art is impressive.

“I do a lot of Venetian, crumbling and metallic plasters, but am finding that Swarovski crystals, foils, and metallic finishes are popular right now, as well as applying patterns to ceilings with gold or silver leaves,” says Gwen Ware, owner of Bohemian Spirit Faux Art in Greensboro.

“I like to use my artwork as the jewelry of a home,” she adds, noting that the foyer, dining room, powder room and master bathroom are areas with the most potential for impact.

Ware, who’s also seeing a demand for cabinet refinishing and distressed mirrors using aging techniques and patterns, works with clients throughout the state to achieve a unique look each time. She often collaborates with designers and builders to complete homeowners’ visions as well.

“These days, budget is a big concern to most people, so it’s always good to discuss pricing during the initial consultation,” she cautions.

“We all like the most expensive thing in the store, but there’s a finish out there for almost every budget,” Ware adds. “Finishing is far more accessible than many people think.”

Danielle Jackson is editor of Triad Living, Wake Living and Fifteen501 magazines.

An art form

Faux art is a specialized niche that’s gaining popularity in homes throughout the country. To learn more from Triad area faux art experts, contact:

Aanessa Reeves
Faux Bella Inc., Jamestown
(336) 317-2891
www.fauxbellainc.com

Gwen Ware
Bohemian Spirit Faux Art, Greensboro
(336) 286-6155
www.bohemianspirit.com