dezine news March 2006

Yes we are still about! You haven't heard from us in a while and that is due to some major work happening behind the scenes making interiordezine.com, faster and easier to navigate.

Over the next week we will be shifting our entire website to a new server, so you may experience some difficulties, we apologize in advance. Solid planning means that you shouldn't so lets look for the positive outcome!

We have no new websites to boast of this month, but we hope you have visited the four that we have been profiling lately.

www.color.interiordezine.com www.modernfurnituredesigners.interiordezine.com www.curtains.interiordezine.com and The Event Reminder.

Dezine Definition - Quantities and Quantity Surveyor

Quantities: The amount of materials and work (labour) in a building contract. Referred to as a bill of quantities.

Quantity Surveyor: A professional trained in construction costs and contracts. They are the specialist who puts together the bill of quantities for use in the building contract.

Dezine Tip

When planning to renovate, how do you choose the right colors to use?
Get this down on paper now at the beginning as once you get into a project you will be so busy worrying about everything else that your common sense may goes out the window and you don't pay enough attention to the finishing i.e. the color. Also your love for a color may not be the same as the rest of the family who have to live in the house. Paint up some large pieces of card and prop them up where you will be renovating, you will start to get used to them and will soon figure out which ones work in your space and which ones don't!!!

For More Tips Like This

Learn about color at www.color.interiordezine.com

Your Questions Answered

Q. I have kids and I want to purchase a new sofa, what is the best fabric to use? I also have a dog. Sheridan, Australia

A. Good question. I think leather or vinyl. They are easy to wipe down if they spill things, they are great if you want to prevent allergies from pet hair and dust. They are easy to remove pen and pencil from. They are cooler to sit on at the start but do warm up! Some can be a little slippery, but try out a few different products, the quality does vary immensely and makes a difference. If these options are out of reach, there are numerous synthetic fabrics that offer easy wipe over options, microsuede, macrosuede are two that come to mind. They do not hold their appearance as well as leather, but how long are your children and pets going to be messy? You can always just use a scotch guard or similar product over the fabric, they help retard and fluids entering the fabrics, and give you time to wipe them clean before they stain.

Learn about Fabrics

New Concept - dezine edumail, we will be sending out a weekly e-mail with heaps of useful design and decorating information for you to learn interior design secrets from the professionals! Look out for it in your mailbox very soon.

What's Happening with Interiordezine.com's Best Book of Design Series

Go and have a look at what's available.

Thanks for taking the time to read our letter. If you enjoyed it, please forward it to a friend. We hope that you find www.interiordezine.com useful and fun.

Regards
Lee & Chris Brown