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My Blog
Color Conversations
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 3:10 PM
 So, how
do you choose paint colors that work with the lighting in your home?
Pairing the right paint color and lighting can have magical
results; but, finding that perfect combination can be tricky.
Geography The first thing I do when I visit a home is look at the way the windows are facing.
If you have a south-facing room you’ll have sun a good portion of the day; if the
room has a north facing view, the opposite is true. In rooms without direct
sunlight, I recommend warmer colors to brighten the room. And, if you live in South
Florida where there’s abundant sunshine, you’re going to want to look at cooler
tones to balance the intense light from outside.
Utility I always ask my clients what the room is for; I had a client who only used
one of his rooms at night so he wanted it to look best then. This made all the
difference in picking out the right color; a warm chocolate brown, it looks
great with lamplight! What you need to remember is if the room is cool and
dark, add warmth. If it’s bright and illuminated, go neutral or add cool colors
with blue undertones.
Context What else is in the room? The way light reflects from one color to the next
has a strong impact, so the relationship between colors is important. Consider
all the large elements in the room, and the light bulbs used in your lamps and overhead lighting. Sometimes a color becomes redder, other
times a color becomes greener. Your best bet is to bring in samples of color
and pick out what you think looks best under the lighting conditions.
Testing For the best outcome, I encourage my clients to get a small sample to try out
before committing. I recommend painting small areas of every wall in
the room to ensure you will be happy with the color later on.
Trust
In the end, if you cannot trust your eyes, call a Color Expert like Pam DiTomaso,
Allied ASID of RyanAlexander Interiors.
Pam is trained to identify the exact hint and hue that works for you and
your décor. She will ensure you enjoy your homes' interior for a long time! |
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 3:45 PM
Recycled Glass  Recycled Glass invites a tremendous number of uses in design. Bits of broken glass bottles and porcelain transform
floors, furniture and counter tops into beautiful works of art. Utilizing this
sustainable component in design means that instead of mounting in a landfill for
thousands of years, post-consumer glass and porcelain are turned into gorgeous
fixtures by mixing crushed, recycled
glass with an epoxy resin thereby creating an endless number of sparkling terrazzo
designs! If you can’t find one that matches your home or office,
you can design your own, based on color, size and finish.
 The best part, terrazzo is virtually maintenance free, and lasts as long as your
building or home stands.
Unlike marble, which has to be removed from the earth, recycled glass is made from some of the 30 billion bottles
that would otherwise end up in landfills.
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 3:39 PM
As a professional, I thought it to be important that I define who I am and what I do! Here is a sample of my business philosophy I use to be the best Designer I can be for my clients...
1.
I am an artist! What I do is creative work;
designers need talent, skills and experience! Design is not easy; I am paid to
make it look that way.
2. I am the expert!As
the expert, I only want to give you the best
outcome for your project. I will explain
the reasons behind major decisions. The
way I do things is based upon my education and training!
3. Your Feedback is important!With all the information available on the web, your feedback might just
reveal a better idea that will improve the final results! However; not everyone is a designer because
they can identify colors or new products!
Be careful not to spew guidelines; after all, I am the expert and I am
the one with the education and experience!
4. Communication is crucial
Your input is very important so that I have a clear understanding of your
wants and needs; if you have invited me into your home, be prepared to answer
my questions and most importantly to discuss money! Without a clear understanding of what you
want and what your budget is to accomplish that, our relationship is doomed
right from the start! For me, including
my clients usually means they have a great appreciation for the work I do as they
see it develop from a basic idea to the completed project.
5.
Deadlines We know all want what we want as
fast as possible; understand that it takes time for even the simplest project
to be completed. While I work with
timelines, I do not directly manufacture the product that goes into a project. The materials that are available today may
not be available tomorrow; especially when it comes to fabric. For example, the availability of a fabric
being used on your project, could easily become unavailable if the manufacturer
sells the bolt to another vendor!
6.
Respect the contract The contract is important; this is
serious business and the contract we sign needs to be respected by both you and
me. I am a serious professional and I want to be able to provide you what you
want and to be paid at the appropriate times.
I want to adhere to work schedules and timelines; but I can only do that
if you respect the contract by making yourself available when needed, and honor
the payment schedule.
Bottom
line Being a designer is not easy and I
am not saying this only because of the amount of skills you need, but because I
work with all types of clients with all types of expectations; trust me I’ve never had two clients or two projects that were
the same. Challenges and difficulties arise all the time; I like to err on the
side of resolution; you are a happy client and I am able to show off another distinctive design! (It is a win- win situation!) |
Design Connections, TradeShows, Community, Cooking, Dining Rooms, Wall Art, Tile Surfaces, Color Conversations, Living Rooms, Entertaining, Floors, Accents, Holiday Decor, Outdoor Entertaining
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Pam DiTomaso: Posted on Friday, January 13, 2012 4:18 PM
If you are anything
like me, the hustle and bustle of the holidays leave you spent. I have been
over-stimulated for months — too much food, too much drink, too many do-dads
all around the house, just too much of everything. January has become one of my
three "clean up my life" times of year. Second to April's spring
cleaning, but somehow a little more involved than September's back-to-school
organizing. January is my new
"get-it-done" month. What needs to get done is for me to create a calm and serene
surrounding in which I can relax and undo my Christmas season extravaganza!
Being immersed in the home fashion and interior decorating industry, naturally I look to Design for inspiration; a well put together room, an outrageous piece of furniture, or an utterly new and awe inspiring color! Here are some of my favorites…
I love that this room
is city stylish, & sexy contemporary with the zealous artwork of Romero
Britto and luxurious purple velvet club chairs that play off the ruffled sofa
pillows!
 Or this unique custom
one of a kind corner chair; covered in a lively pattern that obscures the harsh triangular shape. Yet the soft and loud orange pillows offer a tantalizing embrace!
 Or, perhaps your
inspiration comes from a particular flower or landscape! This pretty pink rose warms my inner core and sends BLASTS of color images to my right brain!
Use images that speak to your right brain to jump start your creativity and “clean
up your life”! It could be just what you needed
to put the NEW back into the year!
Happy 2012!
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2011 1:12 PM
Welcome the arrival of fall and Thanksgiving guests with gorgeous
decorations both indoors and out.
Create a Warm Welcome
 Welcome guests to holiday gatherings with a beautifully decorated entry
table. Create this autumnal display by placing golden gingko and bittersweet
branches in a large sculptural vase. Pears piled in a rustic stoneware bowl, a
ready bottle of wine and low dish of nuts are all reminders of the harvest. Don’t
have the DIY savvy?
 Then brighten up
your home for the season like vases filled with fall flowers. Sunflowers and Alstromeria
are great choices because they'll remain beautiful for up to a week. The trick
to keeping blooms fresh is to remove all leaves below the water line and change
out the water every few days.
Brighten Up Your Entry  Variegated croton in saturated shades of green, gold and red surrounded by
vibrant mums and pumpkins give the front entry a colorful fall pick-me-up. Both
plants are perennials and can either be brought indoors to weather the winter
or, if you live in a warm climate, planted to add color to your landscape.
Or
gather dried grass bunches in planters to flank the front door; use a painted basket filled with feathers and silk
greenery as a stylish stand-in for the traditional wreath. Stack foam pumpkins to
create an easy-to-assemble decoration that can be used year after year.
Earthy Elegance You can create this chic table setting using all organic elements for a look
that is both sophisticated and simple. A linen tablecloth and napkins, tied with
humble garden string, paired beautifully with weathered terra cotta urns topped
with moss and tiny ghost pumpkins. A single artichoke at each place setting is
a charming addition and lets your guest know that they are free to enjoy time
together by lingering over this well set table.
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 11:55 AM
Flooring installation by Miller Flooring, Inc .and painting by JY International Painting.
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Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 2:39 PM
You know what they say about opinions; everybody has one. So lets take a gander at Sherwin Williams predictions for
2012. Sherwin-Williams' colormix 2012 forecast highlights 40 hues,
in four earth-inspired, color-family groups: reds, blues, greens and neutrals.
Colors that are analogous, or adjacent on the color wheel, are a dominant
trend," said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for
Sherwin-Williams. "We discover a fresh array of combinations within
color families be it fiery reds, watery blues, grassy greens or organic
neutrals."
The company says reds will be seen in many shades,
specifically flowery tones like fuchsias, red-oranges, violets and
delicate pinks. Two shades of blue that are expected to be popular
are denim and water.
"As
we seek economic blue skies, we're rediscovering denim, the rugged fabric of
the American worker," Jordan said. "Clean water is another
essential commodity, from oceans to tap. Our serene blue palette pays homage
to both of these treasured resources."
Greens with a more yellow-tint will be seen less, in 2012 than
previous years, as lush shades of green are paired with rustic
tones and organic elements like algae, moss and seaweed. Raw materials
continue to influence color trends, which will be seen in golden tones and
subtle neutral shades inspired by linens, wood and unfired porcelain.
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 11:50 AM
If you’re like me, I enjoy anything that supports my notion
about who I am; in my professional life as an interior designer and in personal
life as wife and mother. So every now
and then I take pleasure in reading my horoscope…I found this one to be short
and to the point so I have included it for you to get a kick out of! Be honest and this will tell you the truth. Write
your answers on paper.
1.
Which is your favorite color: Red, Black,
Blue, Green or Yellow? 2. Your first initial? 3. Your month of birth? 4. Which
color do you like more, Black or White? 5. The name
of a person that is the same sex as
you? 6. Your
favorite number? 7. Do you
like California or Florida more? 8. Do you
like a Lake or the Ocean more? 9. Write
down a Wish (a realistic one)
To find your Feng
Shui horoscope scroll down!
1. If
you choose: Red: You are alert and your life is full of love. Black: You are conservative and aggressive. Green: Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back. Blue: You are spontaneous and love affection. Yellow: You are a very happy person & give good advice to
those who are down. 2. If
your initial is between: A-K: You have a lot of love and friendships in your life. L-R: You try to live your life to the max & your love life is
soon to bloom. S-Z: You like to help others and your future looks very bright. 3. If
you were born in: Jan-Mar: The year will go very well for you and you will discover
that you fall in love with someone totally unexpected. Apr-Jun: You will have a strong love relationship that will last
forever. Jul-Sep: You will have a great year and will experience a major life
changing experience for the good. Oct-Dec: Your life will be great; you will find your soul mate.
4. If
you choose: Black: Your life is about to get better. You are more than ready
for the change. White:
You have a friend who completely confides in you and would do anything for you,
but you may not realize it.
5. This
person should be your Best Friend. 6. This
is how many close friends you will have in your life time. 7. If
you choose: California : You like adventure. Florida : You are a laid back person. 8. If
you choose: Lake : You are loyal to your friends and your lover. You are very
reserved. Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people. 9. This
wish will come true! |
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Tuesday, February 01, 2011 12:03 PM
When considering granite as a choice for countertops;
most people come to the conclusion that they either can afford granite or they can’t! What they don’t consider in their decorating scheme is granite tile. As an interior
designer there are some situations in which I will offer it as a less
expensive option. For example; a home
that is being updated for sale or as an investment property to be rented… granite tile is an appropriate choice
for up to date home décor.
But a granite tile countertop
rather than one made from solid granite? As a design choice, I recommend this option
when the kitchen needs the feel of being “grand”
but budget does not allow it. Granite tile is about 1/3 the price of granite slab. Additionally granite tile styles and colors are numerous.
 When paired with wood cabinetry,
a natural surface stone always looks better and adds polish & flair to the
design concept. And, as with any type of
countertop; whether it is part of kitchen décor or bathroom décor; a great installation
is just as important as the material being installed! A great installer knows
how to place the tile to minimize the number of cuts; and ensures that grout
lines are exceptionally thin.
Additionally, the benefits of
granite are still realized whether
or not it is in tile form or slab form.
As a natural stone product, this igneous rock is relatively comparable
in hardness and strength as a diamond.
Its density causes it to be highly
resistant to bacteria, making it an ideal material for countertops. Since maintenance is minimal, why not consider
granite tile as a great value option?
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 9:10 PM
While I stopped making short
lived resolutions years ago; these small Home
Décor resolutions will last well into the new year!
Paint: Select a new color and refresh those tired
walls. Or create an accent wall by
adding a BOLD
Color!
 Re-Arrange: Switch out the leather chair from your office
and replace it with the leopard print from the living room and both rooms are
refreshed!
Re-Frame: Take down your Artwork; re-evaluate its relevancy and
then go to your nearest framer and ask them to help you re-mat, re-size, and
re-frame! Remember, just because it came
down off the wall in the Living Room, does not mean it has to go back up
there! Perhaps the Bedroomdesign will be well
suited for this refreshed mastery!
 Lamps: Usually the most over looked outdated item in a home! Donate the old and buy new!
Re-Style: Re-style
the plant shelves! Even if you don’t buy
new accessories, dusting off and re-arranging what you have is refreshing!
Pillows: New pillows are like lollipops; once you get
tired of cherry red, it’s easy to get turned on by Lime green!  Make a Phone Call: Know when to give up and call
your Interior Decorator! At RyanAlexander Interiors
understand that tired rooms make you tired!
So even if you don’t know what to do, we can help you to re-vamp and
refresh; and, that is prolonged resolution
worth attaining! Contact us today at www.ryanalexanderinteriors.com
or 786-704-9370. |
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