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Design Sewlutions of Salmon Arm

Drapery, Slipcovers, Blinds and Education

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There is a lot of information here. 

SEARCH is available in the top right corner or by CATEGORY in the bottom left corner. 

For a list of all the articles, click on ARTICLES  in the menu above.

I've written three books on simplified decorating. Buy them here. 

FOR DOWNLOADS OR ADVANCE COPIES OF COLUMNS CLICK BELOW

Take me to the list of downloads. Send me advance copies, please.

Here are the last 8 posts.

Read more through the search below, or the articles list in the top menu

My Home Should Support Me

While doing some Declutter learning, I read that our house should support our lives, not clash with it. If we are spending hours cleaning, (which often means just trying to find a place to put things), our house is taking away time from our family, our hobby, or even our job. The benchmark, suggested by one...

28 Nov 2022 Read more"My Home Should Support Me"

A Plan

When I started my drapery-making business here 20-odd years ago, I was fortunate enough to get into the Community Futures program. One of the first things I was tasked with doing was a business plan. That almost did me in. How was I supposed to project revenue? What did that even mean? But I did it....

30 Oct 2022 Read more"A Plan"

The Power of Little Wins

Sometimes, when I'm learning something new, or doing a rather difficult task, or failing at something I normally succeed at doing, or are having a difficult time navigating the world, I take a seat and say to myself, 'You need a little win today.'A little win is a self-administered pat on the back for a little...

9 Oct 2022 Read more"The Power of Little Wins"

The curse of the Collection

My ex-husband had quite a TShirt collection. Every festival, every concert, many towns we traveled through on our motorcycle road trips, bars, wine, BEER, you name it, he had a t-shirt for it.  At one point he had something like 73 TShirts. Some old enough to be classified only as rags- they'd gone way past the...

2 Oct 2022 Read more"The curse of the Collection"

It’s Just NOT Worth That Much!

When I downsized out of my condo, I sold a lot of stuff on Marketplace. I priced things at what I thought was reasonable, and almost nothing sold.I did some research and realized that 30% of the new price was the guideline, IF the item is in perfect condition and is fairly new.  (Antique or really...

7 Aug 2022 Read more"It’s Just NOT Worth That Much!"
cluttered room

Is it Clutter or clutter?

First of all, I believe that a home should support the people who live there. It should nurture a sense of calm, a sense of belonging. It should be easy to clean, easy to maintain and be a place where the inhabitants want to spend time.  Clutter impedes serenity. It's really difficult to feel calm when...

5 Jun 2022 Read more"Is it Clutter or clutter?"
tug of war

Yetza Hara

I did not know until very recently that every major religion in the world identifies a negative force within every one of us. This force has one main job. It's to protect us from change. It controls the 'flight' response we have in times of danger --  it tries to keep us stable, and on a...

2 May 2022 Read more"Yetza Hara"
before and after closet

A new definition of clutter

"Clutter can also cause feelings of stress, fatigue and depression. Stress can contribute to poor sleep, poor eating habits, and general poor health. (https://zenhabits.net/living-simply-the-ultimate-guide-to-conquering-your-clutter.) Clutter is anything that is not where it belongs.  Huh? A rose growing in a wheat field is, technically, a weed. It doesn't belong there, it can interfere with what should be...

7 Apr 2022 Read more"A new definition of clutter"

Some columns about Guidelines

My Home Should Support Me

While doing some Declutter learning, I read that our house should support our lives, not clash with it. If we are spending hours cleaning, (which...

Read more"My Home Should Support Me"

A Plan

When I started my drapery-making business here 20-odd years ago, I was fortunate enough to get into the Community Futures program. One of the first...

Read more"A Plan"

The Power of Little Wins

Sometimes, when I'm learning something new, or doing a rather difficult task, or failing at something I normally succeed at doing, or are having a...

Read more"The Power of Little Wins"

The curse of the Collection

My ex-husband had quite a TShirt collection. Every festival, every concert, many towns we traveled through on our motorcycle road trips, bars, wine, BEER, you...

Read more"The curse of the Collection"

It’s Just NOT Worth That Much!

When I downsized out of my condo, I sold a lot of stuff on Marketplace. I priced things at what I thought was reasonable, and...

Read more"It’s Just NOT Worth That Much!"
cluttered room

Is it Clutter or clutter?

First of all, I believe that a home should support the people who live there. It should nurture a sense of calm, a sense of...

Read more"Is it Clutter or clutter?"

Lighting.

lighting gesture

The Last One About Lighting

My column from a few weeks ago about light bulbs has been getting some attention....

Read more"The Last One About Lighting"

How to Choose Lighting

The credo here is “Light the tasks, not the room.” I’ve said that before but...

Read more"How to Choose Lighting"

LED or CFL? How do I choose?

I see so many people standing in the light bulb isle with a glazed look...

Read more"LED or CFL? How do I choose?"

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Stop Rings and Grommets From Catching on an Expansion Rod

Every been so frustrated at the curtains snagging on the expansion joins that you just wanted to spit?

Here is the solution. I don’t remember where I learned this, if anyone knows where it came from, please let me know and I’ll give due credit. I’ve been using this fix for several years.

 

Articles about solar shades and film

How to Feel Cooler in the Heat

Five Things About Solar Shades

blinds outside in

Solar Shades 2016

too-sunny window

How to choose the right solar shade

layers of drapery help keep the cold out.

Layers are the Key for Reducing Heat Loss at the Window

Window Heat-Loss Rant

Summer Sun

Shade Fabrics

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