Curtains, pillows & painted walls

When Richard and I got married, he had just finished building and furnishing his house so all I really had to do was pack my bags and move in. I did not get to experience the pains and joys of choosing furniture and fixtures – everything was down pat almost to the last detail. But don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining at all.

Through the years though and with the addition of our first baby, Juliana, I have contented and busied myself with tinkering with rooms in the house. I love changing the color of the painted walls and have more than once used the rooms in the house as a creative outlet. Re-decorating an area of the home seemed to happen quite often then, no thanks to the lifestyle channel.

I find that painting the walls of any room is the fastest, most inexpensive way to change its total look. An even nicer thing is that wonderful ideas abound – from do-it-yourself books available in our local bookstores, lifestyle shows, even in the store where paints are available. I’m partial to ACE Paints. I’ve been using them for years, not only because they have an extensive array of colors but also because they’re odor-free and very safe. When I was pregnant with Juliana, I was working on two rooms in the house – the den and the guest room, and except for the hard-to-reach areas and the ceiling, I pretty much did everything by myself. I painted the guest room a mint green color, hired some guys to paint the ceiling blue to simulate the sky, then stenciled a border around the perimeter of pale, yellow flowers.

Another nice thing about walking through Ace Hardware is they have resource persons who can actually demonstrate a multitude of decorative techniques. Believe me, those sophisticated, nice-looking walls that actually look like wallpaper are easier to achieve than you think.

When we were busy preparing for our wedding, I chanced upon Gari Palmani who was busy installing the roman shades in our room now. This was five years ago and to this day, I call on him for our curtain needs. Just recently, he was in the house to upgrade the mechanism of our roman shades. They work even smoother and better now. He has a lot of fabrics to choose from, is loaded with ideas and is very nice, too. I remember when we bought a sofa bed for the den and I could not find sheets to fit it. To my rescue again, comes Gari who actually customized sheets for the sofa bed. An added plus to doing this is that not only does it came out cheaper, you’re actually assured that everything will match. Gari can be reached at 0917-9875260.

Another redecorating angel worth checking out is Tess Vargas. Now this is one lady who does not waste your time or hers. I’ve never seen anyone work faster than she does. She really delivers, and very well at that, too. She does everything from sofas to curtains and beds, too. She is actually an interior decorator. Richard bought all the sofas we have at home from LIMN in L.A. They’re very comfortable and well worth the price he paid for them. However, when I wanted to get some extra slipcovers I found the price quite exorbitant. At that time (about two to three years ago), an extra set was priced at something like $1,000. No laughing matter. So I figured that I might as well try some local manufacturer first to see how well he/she can customize a slipcover for the sofa. Tess pulled out our sofa and in a week’s time delivered it back with one that fit exactly like the original did. And she has a knack for making matching pillows, too, in unexpected but delightful shapes and combinations. And it definitely did not cost $1,000! I especially appreciate it now that Juliana is a little busybody and I find almost on a regular basis ink, food and drink marks (washable, though) on the surface. It would have ouched terribly if we paid much for something that would eventually get soiled, maybe not permanently but still on a regular basis.

Another time, the house was going to be fully packed with guests and I needed a trundle bed. Tess customized one for me in less than a week. How is that for fast, reliable service? Call her at 0917-5275675.

Redecorating and refurbishing your home need not cost an arm and a leg. It’s all a matter of finding the right resource person armed with the right ideas to fit your style and your budget. Be brave enough to paint your walls and change the curtains, or simply update your sofa with slipcovers. Doing creative things is therapeutic. Remember, your home is what you make it.