Monthly Archive for October, 2010

Set the Scene with Eduardo Xol, Part 2

Published on October 29, 2010 in FURNITURE, HAYNEEDLE and HOMEACCESSORIES. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Now that I’ve got my plan in place for where my guests are going to sleep and relax this holiday season, I need to be sure that they are being properly entertained.

What type of environment do you want to create for your guests? I love to entertain people, and many of beliefs about designing a space carry over to entertaining. Just as good design must encompass all of the senses, the most successful entertaining must excite your guests on every level. You, as the host, really have to think about what you’re going to need to create the best entertaining experience for your guests.

I love to host dinner parties on a regular basis, so when I have guests in from out of town, I will offer to host dinner parties for them and their special group of family and friends. With so many extra guests visiting this season, I’ve decided it will be necessary for me to invest in a new expandable dining room table that will seat twelve people comfortably! After doing my fall cleaning, I have found some extra storage space in the closet that is closest to my dining room. I’ll be able to store my table leaves there, and I’m also going to invest in a set of folding chairs to allow for more guests when I expand my table to fit the most amount of people, which will probably be sixteen! What is the most people you generally like to have over for a sit-down dinner?

Expandable Dining Table Set

If you don’t have the extra storage space, you may consider getting a pair of armchairs to place at the heads of your table. The chairs can then be pulled away to another part for the house when not in use for dining and the need for extra storage is minimized. Also, some expandable tables can store the leaves inside and require significantly less storage space.

It seems that with the extra dinner parties and the many guests coming to visit this season that I will be spending a lot of time accompanying them out of the house. Obviously, there will be much more “in and out” foot traffic. With that in mind, and in order to assist my guests in being practical, I’m considering a piece of furniture in my entryway that will allow for easy storage of items like scarves, hats, and bags. Perhaps a storage bench or an interesting armoire with a mirror will work! First I need to take measurements so I make sure I’m looking for the right piece. Does your entryway warrant a new piece of storage furniture??

Set The Scene with Eduardo Xol, Part 1

Published on October 27, 2010 in FURNITURE, HAYNEEDLE and HOMEACCESSORIES. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

This fall, I decided it was time to give my extra room a makeover. This extra room functions as both my guest room and my home office. Truth be told, most of the year it tends to function more like an office, but it seems like this year I have an especially large number of guests visiting for the holidays. Does anyone else seem to think that our family and friends want to visit with us more often this year?

Well, with that in mind, it’s only fitting that I practice my own philosophy and make the guestroom as comfortable as I would my own. The guestroom is a place where our guests should be able to relax and feel completely at ease as they spend time in our homes. Don’t forget, when a guest comes to stay with you, the room where they stay is their “home away from home.”

This fall I’m purchasing new bedroom furniture, and priority number one will be the bed. Be sure to take the time to choose your guest’s bed as if it were your own! Our bed is where we spend most of our time, so choose the mattress and furniture you are thinking about with care. I know that when I stay at someone’s home, the way that I sleep and the bed that I sleep in make the biggest impression on me.  A good host must always keep this in mind!

Daybed

If you find yourself in a similar situation, with a guest room doubling as an in-home office, you may want to consider a trundle or daybedto make the best use of your space.  I’ll be looking for something contemporary with clean lines to match the furniture that’s already in the room, but keep continuity in mind no matter what kind of bed you put in your extra room. Coordinating with what you already have will make a big impact on your guest’s experience.

Your next priority is going to be storage.  Be sure to have a dresser and side table that you are able to dedicate to your guest.  If you have a lot of space, go for a full-size bed that has storage built in.  This will provide plenty of space for your guest as well as for all of your extra storage needs, especially if the room you’re using has more than one purpose.

If your extra room is completely dedicated to your guests and you have the space, you may want to consider turning a corner into a reading or sitting area. This can be easily and attractively done with one or two small chairs, a table, and a dedicated area rug underneath to delineate the space.  Use the table as a way to showcase accessories like small pieces of artwork, photographs, or a table lamp!

Organizing with Eduardo Xol

Published on October 20, 2010 in FURNITURE, HAYNEEDLE, HOMEACCESSORIES and PATIO & GARDEN. 1 Comment

The leaves keep changing and the preparations for moving back indoors continue. Next step – organizing!

Last time I talked to you it was all about getting cleaned up for the fall.  Well, now that you’ve gotten your home clean, it’s time to get it organized!

First things first – organize your outdoor area and put away your summer accessories you won’t be using, especially if you live where the cold is REALLY cold.  If you haven’t already, you may want to consider purchasing some outdoor storage, especially if you don’t have room anywhere else.  Put away your outdoor pillows, umbrellas, and toys and cover your furniture and grill.

Outdoor Storage Benches

Once you’re done outside, remove all of your indoor summer decor and store it properly.  I usually use plastic containers I can keep in my garage, in closets, or under my bed and swap out accessories and decorations seasonally.  At the very least, you should consider swapping accessories and small items out twice a year in the fall and spring.

If you have a lot of “non-seasonal” pieces, consider simplifying your home by putting some of these items away as well.  The less clutter you have, the more your fall decor will stand out as you prepare to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.

If you have a lot, perhaps you should consider purchasing some indoor storage pieces at this time.  There are several options for attractive furniture that doubles as storage, allowing you to keep track of the other seasons as you prepare for the holidays.

Having a garage or yard sale is a great way to clean up and get ready to organize for fall, will help create space for redecorating and entertaining guests during the holidays, and will help you increase your budget as you shop for new furniture and accessories!  This year, I am selling some of my older items and donating half of what I make to charity.

However you choose to organize, the key to all of this is timing. If you start the project now, while the weather is still manageable and the house is clean, you can really simplify things as you prepare for company.

Countdown to Company with Eduardo Xol

Published on October 13, 2010 in FURNITURE, HAYNEEDLE and HOMEACCESSORIES. 0 Comments

Start getting the home ready as you move back indoors by cleaning!

Getting ready to move indoors is all about transition to me.  Summer is all about fun and vacation and enjoying the outdoors.  Winter to me is more defined by hibernation, unless you are a winter sports person – then you’re outside any time of year.  But I feel that fall, much like spring, gives you the opportunity to get re-organized and create a period of transition.

Think about fall as a great time to clean up and prepare for spending more time indoors.  Since you probably spent a lot of the summer living both indoors and outdoors simultaneously, your home was probably “open” a lot of that time and any deep cleaning you didn’t get to the prior spring should probably be done in fall.

Think about cleaning every room in your house, but focus on the public rooms such as the living room, family room, entryway, and guest bath so that no matter what, your home will be ready for guests when the holidays approach.

Reserve Deluxe Bath Space Saver

Let’s first start with the basics and do a thorough cleaning of your upholstered pieces.  Vacuum your furniture and any drapes you might have that you’ll be keeping throughout the year.  Pollen and dust will collect on upholstery, especially if you have pets, so take the time to really make sure your upholstered pieces will be clean enough to last until the following spring.

If your budget allows, have your carpets and rugs cleaned, or better yet, rent the equipment and do it yourself!  I’ve done it before, and it’s not too difficult.  It takes a little bit of time, but it’s well worth it!

Depending on what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, consider doing a good cleaning of your windows.  Definitely do the inside, and perhaps the outside as well.  Clean windows make a huge impact on the overall feeling of a home!

Once your home is clean, you will be ready for the next step…organization!

Eduardo is Back

Published on October 5, 2010 in FURNITURE, HAYNEEDLE and HOMEACCESSORIES. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Hello friends,

Well, I hope that you all had a wonderful summer.  Many parts of the country experienced great temperatures for being outdoors, and I’m sure many of you took advantage of that. But now that it’s starting to cool down, many of us are starting to retreat indoors.  And, that’s a good thing!

Eduardo Xol

The leaves are starting to change colors, a mist is developing in the mornings, and I bet some birds have already started making their trek southward.  And, with the kids back in school, I imagine many parents are enjoying a sense of relaxation. With all these changes, one would think that it’s time to wind down.  Not at all!  It’s the perfect time to get your home ready for company!

After a successful summer campaign, Hayneedle.com has once again enlisted my support as we move from the outdoors in.  This is the perfect time of year to spruce up around the house and consider re-designing.  Whether it’s a big furniture purchase or simply changing out the accessories, making these changes at this time of year will prepare your entire home to receive guests in a welcoming environment, especially as the holidays approach.

Over the summer, I assisted many of you in creating your personalized backyard space.  Well, this fall I’m going to continue my communication with you by giving you great tips and ideas for inside your home.  My hope is that by the time the holidays are in full swing, you will have expanded your design sense and looked at new ways to prepare your home to receive guests at anytime of the year.

I look forward to hearing your specific questions as we embark on this journey together.  Feel free to comment on this blog with anything you’d like to see addressed.

How we live and what we do on a day-to-day basis has a huge effect on our lives, health, and our happiness.  How we design our home is not only an expression of who we are and how we live, but how we share that experience with our guests.  So, let’s move into fall energized and get ready to prepare.  Your guests are on their way!!

Abrazos,

Eduardo