David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Your home is a reflection of you, and your décor should match your tastes. With some simple home upgrades, you can create the perfect space for you and your family, even if your design preferences change over time. “When we’re designing our ideal home, too often we may only think about what we want others to see and enjoy when they visit,” said Jack Goldman, president and CEO of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA). “The reality is visitors account for less than 1% of your in-home time.” Consider these ideas to get started: Add a Fresh Coat of Paint One of the easiest home improvement projects, a fresh coat of paint can change the entire look of a room. Whether you choose to paint the entire space one new color, opt for an accent wall in a vibrant shade or simply freshen up the trim, paint can go a long way toward adding visual appeal and reflecting your personality. Patterned wallpaper, board and batten, stone and til...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Recessed lights are installed in holes in the ceiling, unlike traditional light fixtures that are mounted on the ceiling and hang down. Recessed lights can use either incandescent or LED light bulbs. Lights that are powered by LED bulbs may cost more upfront, but they can save money in the long run. A recessed light fixture can be adjusted to illuminate a specific area. Recessed lights generally require little maintenance and can last for many years.  Where is Recessed Lighting a Good Choice? Since recessed lights are installed in holes in the ceiling, you may want to consider this option in an area with a low ceiling, such as a basement or attic, or a place where a hanging light fixture would be impractical or could make the space feel small. For example, you don’t want a light fixture hanging down in the shower, where it could get wet or you could bump your head on it, so a recessed light would make more sense. In a hallway, a hanging lig...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Even with 2020 in the rear-view mirror, it's fair to assume we'll still be spending a good amount of time at home in early 2021. Here's a roundup of popular décor and design trends to keep in mind if you plan to redecorate this year, so you can nest with the best. Comfort and functionality 2020 was a year when most of us spent more time at home than ever before. Not only were we confined to our homes during our free time, but our homes also became our gyms, our schools and daycares, and (if we were lucky) our offices. All of these new demands have made comfort and functionality top priorities in home design. Unused guest rooms and formal living rooms have been given more useful purposes. Home offices have gone from makeshift setups to more permanent work stations. The rise in popularity of overst...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Looking to get a little more stylish in the most-used room of the house? Wanting to up your gourmet-cooking game in 2021? Then consider some of these highly popular kitchen design trends based on Instagram likes, shared by the experts at Martha Stewart. 1. Shaker-style cabinets.  Offering simplicity and practicality, Shaker cabinets can work in any style kitchen, from traditional to contemporary. Known for their square frames and flat panel sides, Shaker cabinets are highly versatile as well as timeless. 2. Center islands.  Quickly becoming a staple of kitchen design, center islands have so much to offer, from additional cooking space to a convenient spot for friends and family to congregate. Your island can also be a way to add creative flare, with a unique countertop or a pop of painted color on the base. 3. Wooden floors.  You can’t go wrong with a wooden floor in your kitchen, providing value and a timeless design sense. Look ...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com With most people spending more time at home than ever, it is not surprising that home design trends in 2021 will focus on comfort and functionality. From clean lines to homey touches that remind you of Grandma’s house,  some of these popular styles may surprise you. Grandmillenial Style  Inspired by the comforts of Grandma's home (cue the velvet sofa, needlepoint and floral curtains), millennials are decorating with a nostalgic sense of style. Expect to see vintage touches and old-school patterns mixed with bold, modern colors. Japandi Design  In a tumultuous year, the trend moves to a soothing neutral color palette. Enter Japandi style: a combination of Japanese design and Scandinavian minimalism that’s all about sleek lines and neutral color palettes. Check it out on Pinterest, which has seen the search for Japandi increase 100 percent in the past year.  Earth Tones  They’re back, replacing recent trends to...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com It’s no secret that our living environment can directly impact how we feel each day. As we become increasingly aware of the connection between physical and mental wellbeing, many luxury homeowners are gravitating toward serene living spaces that offer a respite from their daily stress. If you want a home that will promote tranquility in your life, here are several characteristics to keep in mind. Soothing Colors Although it may seem simple, changing the color of a room can significantly transform the way that it feels. If you want to make an area more relaxing, try to introduce calming colors, like soft earth tones, to put you at ease. In addition to the wall paint, pay attention to the color of your décor and how it can affect the ambience. Ultra-Organized For many people, living in a cluttered home is stressful, even if it’s on a subconscious level. That’s why organization is key to creating a serene living space. It’s important to have...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Home improvements don’t necessarily take a lot of time or money—and you don’t have to be an experienced DYI-er to manage a simple face lift. A few easy fixes can make the difference between tired and a bright new look: Change out the kitchen hardware.  Add personality to kitchen cabinets and drawers with new pulls, available in a huge array of styles and materials. A couple of hours spent with a screwdriver can offer an attractive payoff.  Swap out the light fixtures.  Replace those dated glass globes with more contemporary styles. Hang a new chandelier over the dining room table. As long as the wiring is already in place, changing the fixtures is a fast project that brings major improvement to any room. Bring the outside in.  Especially in winter, bringing plants into a room adds a feeling of freshness and vitality. Choose from a variety of indoor plants that don’t require a lot of care—or if you have a truly black thumb, go...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com If you’re the type who likes to get hands-on with the interior design process in your home, then you know that finding just the right upholstery fabric can be both incredibly exciting and surprisingly difficult. Whether it’s for the entire couch in the living room or just a few throw pillows in the bedroom, there are plenty of considerations to take into account before settling on the perfect fabric. Here are a few tips to help find the right choice for each room in the house.  Style and Aesthetic Of course, the first thing we look to when picking out new upholstery is the visual aspect. How will it complement the rest of the room? Will it make this piece of furniture the new focal point or will it blend in with its surroundings? From solid colors to vibrant patterns and prints, the hardest part is usually narrowing it down to a fabric that suits your design aesthetic. Durability   There are certain parts of the home that receiv...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Creating the closet of your dreams could be in closer reach than you may think if you’re willing to take matters into your own hands. With a little creative inspiration and some basic DIY skills, you may be surprised by the stylish space you can design by yourself. Start With a Vision Creating the perfect closet space begins with your ideas. Think about the details such as how you want the space to look and the amount and type of storage you need. Envision everything from colors and finishes to the physical shape. Get Practical Once you’ve dreamed up your ideal closet, compare your ideas with the space you have available and adjust your plans to fit your footprint and budget. This step allows you to get creative with ways to maximize your space and use every available inch to create a closet that gives you the function and aesthetic you desire. Create Closet Zones An envy-worthy closet isn’t just a stunning space, it integrates functional eleme...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Johnny Depp’s bathroom goes wild with an African inspired animal design wallpaper. And the walls of supermodel Kate Moss’s lavish home are covered with custom de Gournay wallpapers, some in designs she helped create. Clearly, these are not your Grandma’s wallpapers. They are part of today’s amazing collections that can cost hundreds of dollars per roll. But make no mistake, wallpaper is making a comeback and it just may have a place in your décor. Wallpaper is being used in bold patterns to accent one wall or add personality to an entire room. It’s being used in solid hues to add texture as well as color, and it’s being used in complementary two-pattern panels to create a DIY headboard in the bedroom. At an average of $1 - $4 per square foot, with about 35 square feet per roll, wallpaper is more costly than paint—and unless you’re a DIYer, it can cost a few hundred dollars to install. But, say decorators, it offers a freedom of expression that ...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Now more than ever, you want the color palette in your home to inspire tranquility and a sense of welcome—and perhaps a bit of the mischief, cheerfulness or downright humor that speaks to your own personality. Designers and decorators suggest these tips for picking a perfect color palette: Start from a focal point.  Whether it’s a color in a rug or patterned upholstery that you already have, or a color in a large piece of artwork, pluck out the hue you love and use it as a base color choice. Take a cue from your clothes.  Or, since most people buy clothes in colors they love and that flatter them, begin to ‘dress’ an empty room starting with your favorite color. Use a color wheel.  Whichever method you choose, incorporate the hues on the color wheel closest to your chosen color for walls, floors, furniture pieces and accents. Go with grays.  Today's trendiest shade, a neutral gray works in any style interior. It’s chameleon-l...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Furnishing a new home can be an exciting project, albeit sometimes overwhelming. It’s a chance to put your interior design chops to the test with a fresh canvas and create an environment that leaves you feeling energized each day. If you want to give your living space a touch of enduring style, here are five iconic pieces of furniture that have stood the test of time. Eames Lounge Chair Designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956, this lounge chair is the perfect combination of form and function. With its plush leather cushions and wood detailing, it goes effortlessly in a living room, study or even the master bedroom. In fact, the Eames Chair is such a celebrated work, it’s a part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. Arco Lamp The dramatically curved Arco Lamp is a visually striking piece of furniture that feels slightly futuristic. It’s Carrara marble base and stainless steel stem create a serious design statement, whi...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Small spaces have their own charm and challenges, but every home--regardless of size--can benefit from visually adding space. Thankfully, there are a few key tricks to making your rooms look bigger that are easy to implement. Scale Down This may be obvious, but a massive couch will swallow a small room. If your room is small, or you would simply like to maximize your empty space, opt for smaller furniture and even smaller art. Keep everything appropriate for the scale of the room. Use Vertical Space Keep your floor uncluttered by using vertical space instead. Opt against horizontal storage options like large trunks or long dressers. Strategically staged tall bookcases and tall dressers can serve to house items without compromising your floor space Go for Minimalist Style Too many items in a small room looks cluttered, even if it’s organized. Lean towards a minimalist aesthetic to ensure that you are not visually cramping your space. Bring in th...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Home theaters are becoming more commonplace as homeowners look to create convenient, comfortable and fun spaces where their families and guests can sit back and enjoy the show. If you’re planning to upgrade an existing home theater, or perhaps install a new one, you’ll want to be sure it’ll provide the best viewing experience for years to come–and that means top-of-the-line fixtures, furniture and electronics. Finding a contractor who can source the best-quality wiring, lighting fixtures and electronics is an important factor in creating a high-end home theater that conforms to your expectations, say the design experts at HGTV. You’ll want to be sure that all the wiring is discreetly secreted behind the walls, so make sure that as the space is being built out, the wiring scheme is accounted for early in the process. When it comes to the audio-visual and electronic equipment, the sky is the limit in terms of sight, sound and media delivery. You ...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Picking out the right color scheme in each room can be daunting, but sometimes a simple monochromatic design is the best solution. When done properly, a single-color palette can make for a sophisticated and relaxing setting, yet achieving this takes careful planning. Before you get started, here are a few dos and don’ts to keep you on the right track to creating a well-balanced monochromatic room. Do: Start with a base color The first thing you want to do is pick out the primary tone for this space and how it’s going to be applied. Whether it’s the walls, a sofa or bedding, this will be the center of the aesthetic that you build off of and will define the mood in the room. Don’t: Feel like you have to stick to neutral tones If you’re on the fence about a monochromatic room, neutral tones can be a safe way to test it out. However, the look can certainly be pulled off with more ambitious shades, like crisp and fun pastorals or dark, moody hues. D...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com In the wide world of kitchen décor, the sink is rarely a star. Sandwiched between the granite countertops and the kitchen backsplash, it is perhaps the last thing homeowners think about. But considering how often we use it, and the different chores we use it for, the sink deserves a considered choice. Kitchen design consultants at HGTV provide kitchen sink basics to think about: Size and Shape: Classic Farmhouse A large, single-basin sink, this classic design works well if you plan to use it for multiple chores beyond washing dishes, such as cleaning over-sized pots, pans and baking sheets, or bathing dogs or babies. More common is the double farmhouse sink, with two basins of equal size.  Traditional Double Sink With two basins of different size, these allow the user to prep in the smaller size and clean up in the larger one, or separately wash small items you don’t want to put in the dishwasher. While the 60/40 split ...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Just like picking paint and furniture, it's important to spend time choosing the best plants for your interior space. Not only should you be considering the care your new plant friends will need, but also how they will impact your space as they grow to their full forms. Below are several tips for picking the best houseplants. Understand sun exposure.  The quickest way to shrivel a houseplant is by giving it the improper amount of sunshine. Take the time to get to know the sunniest and shadies areas of your interior, and pick plants that thrive in that environment. Consider maintenance.  If you're choosing houseplants that need a good amount of TLC—water, trimming, etc.—make sure you have the time in your schedule and bandwidth in your brain to take this on. If not, pick a plant that needs minimal attention, like a succulent. Pick proper containers.  Learn the root length of the plant you're choosing, and how big it...