Are You a Perfectionist?

You love to pour over design magazines, product catalogues, trade showrooms, retail stores and do internet searches for the perfect product for your design idea. You attend to all the details of purchase, supply and install. Sometimes you agonize whether you have found the best solution to the design challenge. If this sounds like you, you may be a perfectionist!

During the 19 years I taught interior design and decorating courses at college, I noticed that perfectionism seemed to be the most common characteristic amongst the students.  After all, it is attention to detail that makes us successful in our jobs.

In my opinion,

Dayle Laing's Rugs 101 - Using Beautiful Rugs for Sustainable Design

Catherine Shea with Dayle

Dayle Laing’s Rugs 101 was enthusiastically received by the design professionals who came out to learn straightforward unbiased information on rugs that are best for the home and best for the environment. Clients want to protect their valuable rug investments with advice that goes beyond the simplicity of "vacuum regularly". Dayle shared her 21 years experience practicing and teaching design and her passion & research of sustainability issues in her exciting Rugs 101 professional development seminar. 

Dayle thanked her hosts at The Rug Department:  Owner Michael Pourvakil, Director of Marketing Catherine Shea, and showroom Manager Ron Moradi for kindly supplying the venue and refreshments on this cold night of February 17, 2009 in Vaughan Ontario.

Some of the comments participants made:

Fabulous – like an entire college course in one evening! Dayle is clear, organized, and an ‘excellent presenter’. I appreciate the fact that you are committed to educating design professionals about the best green practices in a time effective and enjoyable way.”

MaryLynne Meschino, Toronto, ON

The information in today’s seminar will certainly help me to better serve my customers; particularly of interest was sustainable design. I am very impressed by your care and concern with regards to the environment.”

Susan Diver, Midland, ON

Now CEU Accredited by IDCEC for members of ASID, IDC, IDEC, & IIDA

'Rugs 101 by Dayle Laing' Course # IDC 30086 is certified for 0.2 CEU. For inquires to bring this seminar to any location in North America, contact the office. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  For upcoming seminar events already scheduled: http://www.daylelaing.com/rugs-101-seminar.html 

Dr. Michael Braungart speaks about sustainable interior design at IIDEX

You might well wonder what a world-famous German chemist and professor has to say about the sustainability of interior design products and the state of our environment. Is this more doom and gloom, or is this a refreshing message of hope?

Thankfully, it is the latter. Dayle had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Michael Braungart speak to designers about ‘Cradle to Cradle’ at IIDEX, (International Interior Design Exposition) held in Toronto, Sept. 2008 where his message was, “We see a world of abundance, not limits.”

Co-author of “Cradle to Cradle”, and co-founder of MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry), Dr. Braungart regaled us with uplifting stories and amid some dire warnings. Most encouraging is his premise that simply going after zero growth, zero emissions and stopping all consumption is the most efficient, but not the most efficacious answer.  He cited the example of bringing flowers to your sweetheart not being efficient, but certainly it is effective!

Dr. Braungart said...

We are our Environment!

Historically we have pitted ourselves against nature and talked of ‘conquering’ nature. Dr. Braungart discussed this concept in “Cradle to Cradle”.

We are nature and nature is us. There is no “away” to send our used products to. So take a deep breath, and enjoy and respect nature. I just returned from a week long interior canoe trip in Killarney Provincial Park.  Here’s to balance in our life!

Warmest regards, Dayle

The Outdated Fireplace Dilemma

You have brick fireplace that has become ‘dated’. Although it is the focal point of the room, it dominates it and closes in the space. You have purchased a big screen TV, since high definition is soon to be the only option for television viewing. Drilling through the brick wall to hang the screen and hide the wires is difficult and impractical. So, what should you do?

7 Tips for Selecting Beautiful Sustainable Fabrics

We are inundated with information about the environment, about saving the planet, about what to do and what not to do.  How does one sort through all the conflicting advice? 

Here are 7 simple tips to help you select fabrics for your home that are beautiful and sustainable.

1. Determine your expectation for how long the fabric should last, based on your lifestyle and how many years you will live in your home.

2. Save the current, hot looks and colours for items that can easily be changed, like the accessories, the paint, or the wallpaper on the feature wall.  Select styles and colours that have enduring appeal for the big ticket items.  No one wants the inconvenience of a sofa out of fashion in 6 months regardless of the initial cost.

(For tips 3-7, click on 'Read more'.)

The Faded Hardwood Floor

A while ago you installed a beautiful hardwood floor with a gorgeous area rug to anchor your well chosen furniture. A few months have passed and suddenly you notice the wood floor next to the window has faded. You lift the rug back and your suspicions are confirmed!

What to do now?  Maybe this hasn’t happened to you yet.  Either way, refinishing the wood should be a last resort. It costs time, money, disruption, valuable energy resources, and unwanted dust in the home. Refinishing is to be avoided for as long as possible.

It is normal that...