Room for Baby

The Baby Room is the place where your little bundle of joy learns, grows, and continually develops.  From choosing the right furniture pieces to the perfect color scheme, keeping your child safe should be the main priority.  Here are a few tips to achieve a perfectly safe and colorful baby space.

Safety First

According to the EPA, one of the 5 leading health risks in the US is indoor air.  Yes, that is the air inside our homes.  And one of the leading causes of our air issues are paints, varnishes, and solvents we use containing VOC’s or Volatile Organic Compound.

Exposure to VOC’s can trigger asthma attacks, eye irritation, respiratory issues, nausea, and dizziness.  Given the health concerns of consumers and new government regulations, alternative paints have been introduced into the market.

A product with The Green Seal certification for Standard GS-11 is based on VOC content, the absence of chemicals, durability, and performance.  Look for these different types of paints to ensure healthy breathing for your baby and family.

• Low Odor or Low VOC Paint
• Zero VOC Paint
• Non-Toxic or Natural Paint

Color for the Senses

According to Barbara Richardson, a color expert and director of color marketing for ICI Paints, “the Psychology behind the color is incredibly personal.  Adults have lifetime experiences they filter their perception of a color through.  Their preferences come from strong emotional associations with the past, positive or negative experiences.”

Basic color psychology can help you create a room that’s in harmony with you and your baby’s needs.  Follow this guideline when choosing that color.

• Red: Stimulates the appetite, heart rate, and breathing.  Can make babies feel anxious, so it’s better used as an accent color.
• Orange: Associated with warmth and contentment; It’s a nurturing color.
• Yellow: Enhances concentration and stimulates learning, but it can make a baby cry more and cause anxiety.
• Blue: Relaxes the nervous system and has a tranquilizing effect, always helpful in a bedroom.
• Pink: Calming; acts as tranquilizer.
• Green: The easiest color on the eye, it has a neutral effect on the nervous system; a serene, refreshing color.
• White: Makes a room feel lighter and cooler.

The Right Furniture

The first thing you will select for your baby’s room is the crib.  Cribs come in a large variety of styles, dimensions, and finishes and your choice should be based on how the furniture piece will help to create the overall look of the room.  Now many cribs convert to toddler beds or to a regular twin sized beds.  By purchasing convertible cribs, you can use these furniture pieces for many years.

Next, you can begin adding the matching changing table and either a glider or a rocker recliner.  As far as storage, depending on the allotted space you can choose either a dresser or the expandable cubby holes paired with the fabric storage containers. 

Finally, choose the best quality mattress you can afford.  The firmer the mattress, the safer it is.  Soft bedding sets make your baby comfortable and keep them safe as well.  The best fabrics for baby bedding are tight weave cotton or cotton blends.

Can You Feel It? - Using Textures in Your Interior Design

“The proper and subtle use of texture takes a design from being flat and dead to noticeable and alive.”                                                                                                                                    – Josh Byers

Texture is described as how a surface or object feels. Texture can be recognized by touch or sight. 

When you see a brick wall, you know it is rough and gritty without having to physically touch it. This is because your mind remembers a time in the past when you have touched a similar rough textures. When we see an object with a certain texture, we remember past tactile experiences. 

Designers use texture in a room to evoke a certain emotion. Texture is one of the five basic design elements and is often overlooked. 

Smooth textures seem cold and formal, while objects with more texture makes a space feel cozy. 

Texture can be recognized by its weight too. Reflective surfaces appear lighter, while coarse textures have a heavier appearance. 

Texture affects how open or closed a room feels. Highly reflective, hard surfaces make a room look as if it is much larger than a room with heavy paneling.It is imperative that texture be applied in the right way so the space is harmonious. 

Because texture visually fills a space, it is best to use subtle texture in smaller areas while large rooms can easily carry heavier textures.

When working with a monochromatic space, texture adds dimension. A good example of this is the shabby chic style where everything is some shade of white and texture is used to create the contrast. White or light colored walls are accented by heavy decorative crown molding and distressed furniture. 

Contemporary design is notorious for its bold approach to texture. Exposed brick walls are paired with stainless steel accents. 

Think about the "feel" (no pun intended) you want for your room, and how texture can play into that. And of course, if you want some help, call Aiva.

But I Don't HAVE $20,000!!

So you're looking around your house and thinking how ugly and run-down the kitchen looks, how hideous that bathroom tile has always been, how that carpet has got to go. And really, what were the previous owners thinking with that wall color?

Ugh. Well, maybe you could do a remodel. You've been saving for a little while, and this house could definitely use a pick-me-up...

You go online to start checking prices and . . . WHAT??!! $20,000 to remodel a kitchen?! $30,000 for a bathroom?! You don't have that kind of money!

Ok, let's break this down: (click these links to see a complete breakdown of typical costs in the Cincinnati Metro area)  Kitchens and  Bathrooms are big projects! There's all that hardware, tile, and cabinetry, not to mention plumbers, electricians, carpenters, labor, etc. You understand that those things cost money, and that´s ok, but here's the bottom line:

You don't have $20,000!

Breathe. Relax. Aiva can help.

Here´s something very important that you should know.

Cutting Costs Is Not the Same as Cutting Corners

This is what truly sets Aiva apart from the competition:

1. Overhead costs - There is no need for a big office space or fancy showroom. Aiva believes that it is not fair to pass those costs on to the clients, and after all, this project is for your home, so AIVA COMES TO YOU. It is so much more practical to see first-hand the possibilities of a space and get ideas for specific issues. Every house, every client, is different, so you get customized solutions for YOUR needs, at a much more inexpensive price.

2. Relationships with Suppliers and Contractors - Having worked in the contracting industry for 4 years, Linda (Aiva´s owner and president) is not only an expert on a vast array of projects (see Remodels) that she does with an impeccable attention to detail, she also has contacts in every related industry - contractors, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, installers of tiling, floors, countertops. She knows who can do the job well for the best value, and she can pass the savings on to her clients. 

3. The 3 R´s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Perhaps you don´t need to tear down a room and rebuild it to get the look you want. Maybe you could reface those cabinets, refinish that floor, or paint that old armoire. Maybe exactly what you need is being sold in perfect condition after being salvaged from other houses. And possibly what you are taking out could be sold the same way. Aiva knows all the smartest and least expensive ways to make a space beautiful and is passionate about getting you the most for your money. It is top quality products and less waste for less money.

4. Savvy Shopping - The perfect piece for your living room is out there. The ideal furniture for your bedroom is available. . . somewhere. But you don´t know where or when or how much. Luckily, Aiva does. There is always a vision for your design, and knowing where to find the best deals and the best pieces can make that vision come together for far less than you imagined. Again, we are not talking about cheap and low-quality, we are talking about new, well-made, and stylish products for less money, and Aiva knows how.

Aiva will work with you, your needs and your budget, and use her knowledge and experience to figure out the best way you can get the look and feel you want for your home for the budget you have.

And another note on quality: You´ve probably experienced it at one time or another, the previous owners or the contractors that built your house cut corners right and left to get the place sold. Maybe you end up replacing hardware here and there, or maybe you find out that a shoddy job by whoever they hired is costing you tens of thousands to fix years later.

Aiva prides itself on attention to detail and pleasing its clients (see Testimonials), and promises that every part of your design and remodel will be done with the utmost care and high-quality products at the lowest prices possible.

You do deserve a beautiful home, and although that can´t be free, Aiva can get you the best value for your money, along with the personalized attention and itemized pricing so that you know that each dollar you spend is unquestionably worth it. 

Remodel the Stress, Don't Stress the Remodel

Remodeling is notorious for its roller coaster effect. Whether you have been through the remodeling process before, or you are new to it, you are probably approaching the construction phase with anxiety and anticipation. 

Becoming aware of the remodeling stages and how they can affect you will help prepare you for the slow times. Understand that each project is different and there will always be challenges and unknowns that cannot be addressed until walls start to come down. It is our job to prevent any unforeseen challenges by bringing potential issues to your attention before they happen.

Up to this point, you have signed a deal, met with the designers to layout your space, and pick out materials and finishes. This is a very exciting time as your project comes together on paper. At this point, you have a lot of excitement and anticipation moving into the construction phase.

The construction phase can be divided into 6 basic phases: plan approval, demolition, framing, electrical and plumbing rough in, drywall, and finish out. Some phases will move fast, while others will seem to drag on for days.

The plan phase can be both exciting and a hassle. As you wait in anticipation for you project to kick off, this might seem like precious time wasted. However, it is necessary to begin any remodeling project.

Demo, the first phase of construction, is dusty, loud and inconvenient. There will be people you do not know coming through your front door so they can tear down your space and rebuild it. Depending on the size of your project, there may be piles of debris and a dumpster on site. At this point, you will feel like the inside of your home is completely exposed. We understand this can be unsettling and we expect our crews to respect your space. We will prep your home to keep from damaging the areas not being remodeled. Protective flooring through the main traffic areas and plastic sheets at construction entries will help control the dust and grime.

Fortunately, demo goes by very quickly along with the cleanup of all of the excess debris. The next phase, the framing stage, is when you get to start to see your space come alive. This is the first high point in the process.

Once framing is complete, the plumbing, electrical and mechanical work will start. It is at this point that the project will seem to slow down. You will not be able to see dramatic differences to the space like you do during demolition and framing. However, know that a lot of detail goes into this phase and it is a necessary step to ensure your space will function correctly. It is critical that plumbing and electrical be complete before insulation and dry wall go up.

The next phase is drywall, which most people find to be exciting. Once drywall is up, the room begins to take shape and you start to imagine yourself functioning in the space.

The final phase, the finish out phase, will seem slow. It is in this phase that painting, installation of doors and windows, installation of tile, cabinets, flooring, appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures occur. It requires quite a bit of time to complete each part fully and you will be anxious to start using your space. Towards the end of this stage, we will do a punch-out list. Once each of these are addressed, the remodeling phase is over and you have a new and beautiful room.

There is no doubt about it, remodeling will be stressful. There will be times when you will question what you have gotten yourself into, but once everything is complete and you see the dramatic transformation, it will be worth the time and stress. We will do our best to be proactive and move as quickly and efficiently through each process without sacrificing quality.

What's Your Tile Style?

Selecting tile can be very overwhelming. There is so much to think about - color, shapes, pattern and textures!

Here are some tips to help make finding your tile style a little easier:

Make a Statement- Using decorative tile or stone is a great way to create a focal point. Tile gives you a variety of color, pattern, shape and texture which you can draw inspiration from, especially if this is the only way to bring in color and pattern. Decorative tile is a great starting point as a color palette for the entire room.

Backsplash Beauty- The backsplash is the largest area the eye is drawn to, so it is best to treat it like an artist’s canvas. Whether it is a stone mosaic or classic subway tiles, keep things interesting by applying the tile in horizontal or vertical stripes. Need more bang for your buck?  Look to geometric patterns inspired by Hollywood Regency or Mid-Century Modern styles that will be sure to bring drama and swagger to any room.

Totally Floored- Functionality is primal, but do not forgo style. Tile and stone offer not only beauty, but brawn in this department. Consider limestone for a timeless look in a large scale pattern that has been used for hundreds of years. Another benefit of this natural wonder is that it will age gracefully through time and use.

Words Of Advice- Go with what you love! Whether used on walls and floors, tile boasts of beauty and durability with “no-fuss” maintenance. This is where you should not skimp on style or price. Not all tiles are made the same. Do your research on the different types and go with what is best for you. Remember you will be experiencing it every day, and you will want something that will make you happy in the end.

The Great Bath Escape

The joyful conclusion of a work day is greeted by the chaos of home life that unfolds in the living areas of your home. It’s not until dinner is over, the kids are in bed, and the house is cleaned that you can truly start washing away the stress of the day.

Unfortunately, for most of us, we are forced to wear our stress proudly – on display for everyone to see but not acknowledge. Like the changing of the seasons, we only shed this coat occasionally with the welcoming of a vacation. But why do we do this to ourselves? Why is it that recharging our batteries is only done when our batteries have nothing left to give? Perhaps it is the times we are living in, or a belief that not carrying around the baggage of stress is a luxury.

Bathroom remodeling can be expensive. It very well can be considered a luxury. However, there are many aspects to creating the relaxing master bathroom that you need. I can write all day about the benefits of heated floors or an over-sized soaking tub, but perhaps fresh paint or a new shower head would be enough shelter from the storm. Small changes in your environment can lead to a dramatic paradigm shift in your daily stress levels.

The right accessories along with small lighting and plumbing changes can allow for a powerful revolution of your bathroom space. These are the eye-catching and sense-inducing aspects of something that can take it from ordinary to a unique bliss. Tonight, walk into your bathroom and imagine the space you want it to be and make notes of those details. Tomorrow, don’t think about it, but do it – plan your great escape.

Mixing Kitchen Cabinet Finishes

The kitchen is perfect for mixing it up!

Mixing cabinet finishes is quickly gaining popularity in homes today. Spaces eclectic in nature are very popular and mixing cabinet finishes is one way to achieve this look. 

Designing the kitchen to be intentionally unmatched gives the room an organic and more grounded feel.

Also, it can help you save money. If there is one particular finish you like, but your budget will not allow you to use it throughout the entire space, you can use it as an accent. Therefore, you still capture the look you want without sacrificing your budget.

Mixing cabinet finishes does take some planning. Your other materials and finishes, such as flooring, backsplash tile, and wall paint, will help solidify and create a similar thread of color throughout the space.