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My Blog
Wall Art
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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, 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 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, August 26, 2011 3:37 PM
The South East's largest home improvement event returns
to the Miami Beach Convention Center Labor Day weekend.
The Home Design & Remodeling Show is a unique marketplace that
enables homeowners to experience the products and services first hand,
talk one-on-one with the experts and get personalized advice to plan
individual home improvement and design projects.
Pam won't answer any requests for the room design she will unveil; but, we did manage to find out that a world
famous artist is working with Pam and will incorporate his artwork in her
Room Vignette.
...The Miami Home Design & Remodeling Show opens
Friday, September 2, 2011 and ends on Tuesday September 6, 2011 at the
Miami Beach Convention Center 1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach,
FL 33139.
Stop by Booth C to be delighted by Pam's design. Click on Home Design to see show hours and ticket information. |
Design Connections, TradeShows, Community, Dining Rooms, Wall Art, Bedrooms, Living Rooms, Kitchen & Bath, Floors, Accents, Outdoor Entertaining
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Posted on Monday, March 28, 2011 4:42 PM
Professionally Stage
your Home to its best advantage; anyone who has followed the down trend
news in the housing market knows that when the housing bubble burst, some may
have made money in real estate. But, the
majority have taken a killing, seeing their homes devalue to the point that
they are now upside down in their mortgage.
So how do you sell your home with losing your entire
investment?
• Choose a good and
dedicated real estate sale professional committed to making a sale. • Hire a staging
professional to stage your home to its best advantage; inside and out! • Scale down by getting rid of and/or packing and putting
into storage what you don't currently need to make your home spacious and uncluttered. • A staged home has the appearance that the home was well
take care of.
 They will rearrange
artwork, create space by removing furniture, and add lighting to poorly lit
areas, paint soft colors to freshen the walls, update old fixtures and rip up
dirty carpets.
Be prepared to spend some money to get a good return. Stay away from anyone who suggests that you
move walls or get into a construction renovation project; unless the ceiling is
falling down or serious repairs are needed to maintain the integrity of the
house.
 Most people balk
at the idea of staging their home, never mind paying a professional! But with a market that has so many homes for
sale that are undervalued; staging
gives your resale home the edge over non staged homes on the market! Staging your home to sell demonstrates to the
buyer that the house has been kept up to date and has been well cared for. Any savvy realtor will tell you, staged homes
sell much quicker than non-staged homes. With the current housing slump not
expected to lift for a few more years, anything that will help you sell now
shouldn't be over-looked.
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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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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2010 2:02 PM
When we talk about Yuletide accessories, one of the most
popular items to adorn our homes with are Christmas
wreaths. It has been a tradition for so many years that the origination of
this tradition is buried deep into the beginning of time. (For more on the
evolution of wreaths and their symbolism go to: http://www.ehow.com/about_6587138_history-christmas-wreaths.html).
Door Wreaths  Door
wreaths are an inviting holiday decor for any season; they symbolize cheerful
greetings to visitors and passer-bys.
However at this time of year they are especially abundant! The simple wreath of evergreens has grown to
include bows, ornaments, and tinsel of various colors other than red and
green. The imagination and color scheme
options are endless! Dried wreaths  Dried
wreaths capture the essence of the Christmas season through the use of
mossy twigs, dried evergreen plants, and dried fruits. This unique twist to the
conventional holiday wreath is comforting and a rustic reminder of the “good
ole days” when the holiday season was less about shopping and more about
spending time with family and friends. Fresh Christmas Wreaths  Fresh
holiday wreaths are the ultimate in holiday décor! The smell and rich deep greens are authentic
and completely embrace the spirit of the holiday! A fresh wreath can stand alone or be adorned
with berries, pine cones and ribbon; and due to their intrinsic aroma, the less added to this wreath
the better!
Regardless of which holiday wreath you choose, your
Christmas wreath is a welcome sign that makes visitors and guests feel
comfortable even before they have entered the front door! Then all you have to do is brew a nice cup of hot cocoa! (Need help selecting the right wreath for
your home? Call us at
786.704.9370 for ALL your holiday decorating ideas!) |
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 9:02 PM
I received a phone call today from my client in NY. I work with her through email in-between
house calls. Today, “Lucy” called to
tell me that the painter said that the ceiling color HAS TO MATCH the trim color; only the finishes are to be different.
I find this phone call partly amusing…while,
my client and I have worked together for over 15 years through various projects
and re-do’s; the painter has planted a seed of doubt in her mind.
Of course, I chuckle because I know the root of his concern;
and then frown because I also know the root of hers! For him it is strictly economical. For her; her comfort level has been
compromised because I am not there to directly oversee the progress.
The painter wants to paint the ceiling flat white. Agreed, however; he wants to paint the trim,
semi-gloss white vs. semi-gloss Linen White. Painting the ceiling flat white and the trim
semi-gloss white; allows him to buy 5 gallon tubs of paint. A 5 gallon tub of paint is cheaper than individual
cans of paint and any leftovers are easily utilized for another customer. Otherwise; what does he do with a ½ gallon or
more of semi-gloss Linen White ( Benjamin
Moore custom color)? To wait for another
client to want semi-gloss Linen White
trim and moldings, could be a very long
time coming. While, I understand his
economic dilemma, I am not happy.
My client is feeling uneasy.
She is thinking, “the painter seems to know what he is talking about…makes
sense, ceiling needs to match the trim;
but, my interior designer is not
here, has she overlooked this aspect?”
Naturally, I calm her fears by explaining the painter’s motivation, and
remind "Lucy" that all the moldings, trim, and doors in the house are already painted
semi-gloss Linen White and all the
ceilings are already painted flat white!
She sighs a sigh of relief, and I know we are back on the same page
again!
BTW, I am flying to NY at the end of the week! (smile) |
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 12:58 PM
I am not talking about 3D
viewing…I am referring to an interior
designers dream; the disappearing
TV!What a fantastic design creation! Granted, TV’s have evolved over the last 10
years from big bulky boxes to slim and sleek “hang able” wall furniture; but,
somehow their large and luminous black wall holes are a decorating eyesore!
Now, instead of mounting that
big black hole onto the wall; Cabinet Tronics has designed a piece of furniture
and lovingly housed it inside. The TV
comes out when you are ready to view it! TV lift
furniture is a combination of layered exotic woods and stylized cabinetry that may be positioned at
the foot of the bed, against a wall, or centered in the room.
Not only does this give way
to a host of home design ideas for interior
decorators; but the features normally associated with television viewing
are not compromised in any way: a swivel mount is available to view the TV at
various angles in the room, the housing give access to cables and wires, and
the remote control handles all operations!
You do not need to check into
a Luxury hotel to enjoy this rendezvous, now Luxury TV viewing is available
right in your own home. Call us at 786-704-9370 for
assistance in creating this home design
experience! |
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