Eco-Friendly Nursery

One of the areas I specialize in is Green Design (I will tell you about my other area in a later post). Specifically, I cater to first time parents who want to create an eco-friendly nursery for their baby. Below is a list of basic tips you can do to make your baby's nursery eco-friendly:

• As I mentioned in my previous post, painting is the easiest and cheapest way to update a room. In this case, you want to use a paint with no or low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Pretty much all home improvement or paint stores now offer this (reasonably priced). One brand that is highly promoted on HGTV is Mythic Paint. This paint is more on the expensive side (avg cost $50 a gallon) but after reading their site, I must admit I am impressed. I will use this paint in the near future and report my findings to you. If anyone has used this paint already, please share your thoughts.


• Infants spend A LOT of time on the floor. Consider using bamboo, cork (which is great if you have allergies), or wood that is certified by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). If using carpet is a must, you want to use natural materials like wool, jute, sisal, sea grass, coir (coconut husks), and recycled carpeting. Also, use 100% natural wool carpet padding. A popular choice is Earth Weave Carpet Mills. A GREAT alternative to using carpet is using carpet tiles. Two reasons that make carpet tiles a better solution than carpet is you can skip carpet padding altogether and you can easily remove any tile instead of replacing the entire carpet. It's also fairly easy to install. The most popular brand is FLOR. With FLOR if you want to replace a tile or totally get rid of all the tiles, FLOR will pay for the shipping of the old tiles so it could be used for recycling.

• You want to look for furniture that is formaldehyde-free. A furniture company that received high ratings is Pacific Rim Woodworking. Another option is to buy unpainted solid wood furniture and stain or paint it with low or no VOCs.


• Choose organic bedding (Pottery Barn Kids offers great organic bedding that are reasonably priced) and mattresses made out of natural latex rubber.

• Lastly, invest in an air purifier to free your space of allergens. Also, be sure to open a window everyday to let in fresh air and circulate out the stale air.

If you start with these few basic tips, you will be well on your way for creating a healthier environment for you and your child.

Coming soon....Going Green in other areas of your home!

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Black and White Inspirations

I have always been a HUGE fan of black and white decor. I think it adds sophistication and elegance to any room. What I love the most about black and white is you can add punches of bold color i.e. hot pink, teal, turquoise, mustard, red, etc. Another great thing about using black and white is it goes with any decorating style. Check out these pics:

all photos are from Better Home and Garden and Villeroy and Boch

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Update On My Current Project

As you know from my previous post, I am working on a Moroccan themed project with a slim budget. I came across a very nice website that rents out Moroccan decor. A huge plus, they are located in the same vicinity as our event. Check out a few photos from their site.

All photos from http://designsbyvalle.com/



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Candice Olsen

Candice Olsen is my all time favorite designer. Looking at her show inspired me to pursue my passion in interior decorating. Check out these great photos from pointclickhome.com:

She transformed this attic space into a work space, meeting area, and screening room (complete with snack bar).

View of the work area

View of the snack bar

View of the screening room

Look at the colors in this space:

Check out this fireplace. It's made out of 1 inch square glass tiles.

SIMPLY AMAZING!!!!

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How to Pick Colors

It amazes me how many people are afraid to use color. Some people still use white (off-white, beige, etc) on their walls and pick "safe" colors for accessories. Color is the fastest, easiest, and CHEAPEST way to change and give your room a face lift. If you pick a color and discover it's not for you, guess what......you can change it!!

Many people ask, "Where do I start?" "How do I know what color works best for me?" I learned a very interesting concept in one of my Pottery Barn classes, pick 5 colors that you love and use it to design your room. Don't know 5 colors? Sure you do. Look in your closet. Look at the clothes or shoes you wear. What color is that outfit that makes you look and feel good? Look at your favorite painting. There are many ways to find your 5 colors. I know you are thinking, what if you like hot pink? There are many shades of the same color. You can always mute a color or make it as bold as you dare to make it. The sky's the limit with selecting colors.

Now that you have picked your colors, what do you do with it? If color makes you nervous, take one of your bold colors and make a statement on one wall in your room. That wall will be your focal point. The other walls can be a natural color. Then take your remaining 4 colors and accessorize! You could use pillows, rugs, curtains, wall paintings, vases, trinkets etc. with your colors. Another way, is to keep all walls natural and use your 5 colors as accessories around the room.

Some other useful tips:

• Select your wall color first, then add furniture and accessories.
• Choose your colors based on the mood you are trying to create i.e. reds, oranges and yellows are warm and energetic; blues, greens, and purples are calming; netural colors are more soothing
• If you are decorating a small room use light colors. Dark, rich colors makes a room look smaller. Save these colors for larger rooms.

As you can see picking colors is not as difficult as one might expect. If you still find yourself having trouble selecting colors....YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL ME!!

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My Current Project

My dear friend and fellow Mocha Mom is hosting a belly dancing event at our upcoming Regional Conference. She asked me to decorate the conference room in a Moroccan theme.

Since Mocha Moms is a non-profit organization, our budget is slim to none! I have to be very creative and add little touches to give it the “Moroccan” feel without breaking the bank.

She also asked me to donate a small gift to her gift bag which would give me an opportunity to promote my business. I found this cute mosaic jeweled mirror from Hansen Ellis that I think is perfect for a Moroccan themed party.

Each organza bag will have a label with my business name and I will also add my business card to each bag. Every woman needs a mirror!!

Stay tuned as I take you through my findings and the finished results!

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Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! I am Tiaa Allen owner of Exclusively Yours Interiors LLC. I've decided to start this blog to detail my journey as an Interior Decorator as well as post useful tips any homeowner could do on their own.

If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to contact me at info@eyinteriorsblog.com.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!


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