Design Tip: Remember the Golden Ratio (aka Golden Mean)!

Patterns are mathematical, and they appear everywhere in nature.   While definitely an Art, architecture and Interior design uses a lot of Math and Science.  The Greeks called it "Phi" (pronounced "fee"), and they used it in designing the Parthenon, and the Egyptians in designing the pyramids.  It is a mathematical formula for creating proportion between objects.

Consider an 8' sofa, and a 5' coffee table.  Assuming a compatible style and color, the two work for the eye because they follow the "phi formula", which is:  1 to 1.61803399

A great shape for a table in that same ratio, would be as follows:

5 x 1.61803399 = 8.06

Here is the ratio for a smaller, 7' sofa:

7 / 1.61803399 = 4.33

This guideline will help you design a room in which everything seems to fit.  

Keep Smilin'!

Design Tip: 5 Types of Lines

Interior design is largely about visual perception.  That perception moves your eyes in certain ways, affecting your energy, productivity, and even your sense of well-being and peace.  

There are visible and invisible lines in your room.  Visible lines may be literally in your fabrics, or your paint pattern, wallpaper, or flooring.  More subtle are the lines that form between objects and features of the room.  Designers use 5 types of line:

1. Transitional lines include walls, floors, and ceilings
   Use these features to transition from one type of line to another.
2. Vertical lines create a sense of action and height.
   Line-patterned throw rugs provide an easy example.  A more subtle way to create line, is to place a tall, narrow accessory onto the top of a cocktail table, for example.  
3. Horizontal lines create a restful atmosphere, and widen a space.
   Consider wallpaper, or a patterned paint.
4. Diagonal lines create excitement and motion.
   Throw rugs, paint jobs, and the layout of pieces of furniture can create diagonal lines.  
5. Curved lines are feminine, graceful, and delicate.
   A few curves, such as the short exposed legs of a sofa, can create a country or rustic appearance.  But be careful with curves.  Ornate, curvy furniture often tends to be feminine (but not always); it may not be what a bachelor would want in his apartment.  

Keep Smilin'!

Clean Your Sofa!

I get a lot of questions about the "clean-ability" of a particular fabric.  It's a natural question, as the average sofa is used for over 2700 hours in its lifetime.  Most people buy new furniture infrequently, and they need it to look good for several years.  Two summary tips here:

• Vacuum and dust often.  Where a lot of dust collects, so do dust mites (believe me, the more you know about dust mites the more you don't like those guys!).  
• Spot-clean right away, when accidents happen.  

If your cushions have a zippered enclosure, you may be tempted to throw the cover in the washing machine. I tried this on an old sofa (so you don't have to).  The washing machine was very rough on the fabric.  In order to get the cushion back inside the fabric enclosure, I had to use scissors to cut away a lot of threads that had come loose.  It's OK to gently hand-wash your zippered-enclosure fabrics.  Just follow the cleaning codes for your fabric.  Using the wrong one may damage the fabric on your furniture.  

The 4 cleaning codes:

• W - This indicates a water-based cleaner.  Apply any mild water-based cleaner using a brush in circular motion.  Try an inconspicuous area first, before cleaning primary areas.
• S  - This indicates a solvent-based cleaner.  Do not use water.  Open windows for ventilation, as the vapors from these cleaners can be harmful if inhaled in large concentrations.
• W-S - Use either a water- or solvent based cleaner, following applicable directions above.
• X - Vacuum and dust off only.  Do not use any type of cleaner on these fabrics.  

A TIP ABOUT STAIN-GUARDING:

Fabrics today do not include stain protection out of the factory.  But each one - whatever the cleaning code - can be stain-guarded, making them far less absorbent.  Choose your stain-guard product carefully, using one that that is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, and that is completely color-safe.  RC Willey provides such a product, available in a spray bottle, as well as with our professional application.  

By contrast, a product that is commonly available at grocery stores includes a warning on their website; they urge consumers to test for "color-fastness" in an inconspicuous place - before treating the entire sofa.  No warning necessary with RC Willey products.  

Keep Smilin'!

Ink On My Sofa!

Three solvents for removing ink from upholstery (or anything, for that matter):
1. Hairspray
A hundred years ago I was a grocery store clerk. Before scanners were installed we used ink to price stamp virtually everything in the store. My most vivid memories were tomato sauce; the tiny cans that at the time were priced $.28 one week, $.29 the next week, and then back to $.28 a can. Each price change required that we pull out each can, line them up on the floor or rolling table, spray with hairspray, and wipe off with a paper towel. Hairspray worked great. Not as great, though as scanners!

2. Windex

I am quite often asked how well a particular fabric cleans-up.  It's a great question for anyone that wants to keep their furniture looking like new, when it no longer is.  It was in that context that a customer told me recently of a first-hand experience with ink and upholstery:

An ink pen had leaked on the arm of her sofa, leaving a round-ish blob 2-3" around.  She thought she'd have to replace the sofa, but a friend told her to try Windex (a product of SC Johnson Co.).  She tried it, and every trace of ink was removed.

3. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Haven't tried this. Needs to be verified.

Keep Smilin'!