Interview - Lavivi Love Quilts

Many of our clients have a difficult time parting with their items, this is especially true when it comes to keepsakes. We spoke with Harlan Sexton of Lavivi Love Quilts about some new options.

For the busy person, what is Lavivi Love Quilts?

Photo credit: Ray Singh

Lavivi Love Quilts is a studio that makes memory quilts on commission. These are quilts made for a client using clothes - and sometimes household textiles - from a loved one who has died. So each quilt is unique and has deep meaning. These quilts help the family tell their story of love.

A quilt is basically three layers: the top, the back, and the batting in-between. The quilts are made traditionally, even though the top “fabric” is composed of shirts, dresses, ties, table linens, etc. At Lavivi Love Quilts, we are inspired by the best of historic American quilt patterns. Our quilts have a classic look… like they’ve always been in the family. You can expect an heirloom quality quilt, but without the fragility of an antique. Please - wrap up on the couch, layer it on your bed, display it on the wall.

That said, sometimes a client will want a quilt that is more of a tribute or mile-marker quilt - the toddler who is now in kindergarten, an important year or season, a special trip that yielded memories of colors, sights, images that the client wants expressed in fabric. Then we work with outgrown clothes, uniforms, or other mementos. But even these mile-marker quilts have the same mission as the memory quilts: to tell someone’s story. 

What is your background, how did you start the company?

Photo credit: Carmen Salaberrios

Quilt-making and I discovered each other about 10 years ago. At first I made quilts for my family. Once I knew what I was doing, I added making quilts for the Quilts of Valor Foundation. At a certain point, I knew I could design a quilt myself and work with non-traditional fabrics. There is a joy in creating something new, based on classic patterns, for someone else.

The business began as many artisan businesses do… making gifts for family and friends, passing along to them various experiments that turned out successfully. Then it grew organically into paying clients. I decided this year that the business needed a website and an Instagram page. I have exhibited at two conferences for professional organizers affiliated with NAPO.

Sometimes people want to know how I learned to sew. When I was in high school, my best friend and I took garment sewing lessons. This was one of several plots concocted by our mothers for us to learn basic life skills. I hated garment sewing - so many tears! - but I’m glad I learned my way around a sewing machine. It’s a great power tool for creativity.

What is the process for someone who would like a quilt?

Call me or send a message via the Lavivi Love Quilts website. We’ll start by talking about the person you are remembering. We’ll talk about the garments and textiles you have from her or him. We’ll take a look at the quilt tops on the website (more patterns will be added this spring!) to see which ones speak to you. And we’ll talk about who the quilt is for, which garments have the most significance, which can best be used to make a sturdy quilt or wall-hanging - it’s a pretty wide-ranging  and sensitive conversation about something that can be difficult for the prospective client.

Once the client is ready - and this can take anywhere from a few weeks to months - the client sends me the selected garments, and I get to work. Completion generally takes 8 - 10 weeks. During this time I stay in touch with the client.

What is the Quilts of Valor Foundation & Quilters by the Sea QOV?

Photo credit: Carmen Salaberrios

QOVF is a nation-wide organization of volunteer quiltmakers. Since 2003, the Quilts of Valor Foundation mission has been to award Quilts of Valor to service members and veterans touched by war. These quilts are entirely made by volunteers to honor, comfort, and give thanks to our Armed Forces. We are part of a long proud American tradition of civilian-made quilts for those who fight and serve. Over 240,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded in military hospitals, in Iraq and Afghanistan, in all 50 states, to veterans of all wars and conflicts. I have been a QOVF member since 2016.

In 2017, I joined the American Legion Auxiliary in my community. My unit has been hugely encouraging of the Quilts of Valor project. After I explained at one meeting about the quilts I had made (one to a WWII veteran living in Iowa and another to a VA patient in New York), women came up to me to tell me they really wanted to help, but they didn’t know how to sew. At first I was stymied because I couldn’t see how to make a quilt if you didn’t know how to operate a sewing machine. Then I told myself to snap out of it… how often do you get volunteers begging you to show them how to help? I had to figure this out.

Fast forward two years. We have a wonderful group now, an official local QOVF group called Quilters by the Sea QOV because we are a nautical community. We get together four times a year in a modern version of the old-fashioned quilting bee: some members prepare the fabric, some sew, some iron, some do the layout. We have awarded eight Quilts of Valor to local veterans. I’m so proud of our group! And the veterans and their families are deeply honored.

Can you discuss some of the most interesting quilts you have created?

Photo credit: Harlan Sexton

Recently an extended family commissioned me to make a quilt in memory of the matriarch. She had died before the next grandchild was born. They gave me some of her dresses to make into a baby blanket for this one who would never know her. One of them is a scrapbooker - so she made an album to tell the grandmother’s story to that grandchild - she even found some photos of the grandmother wearing the clothes that went into the quilt. The memory quilt will be part of the family’s story-telling when they talk about their matriarch and how her love even now surrounds this last grandchild. 

Guest Post - 6 Design Tips to Achieve a Santorini-Inspired Apartment

If someone mentions “Santorini” to you, what are the first things that come to your mind?

Even without you answering, it is obvious what the first imagery will be that pops into your mind. You are going to picture houses upon houses painted with white walls and with blue accents or roofs. You might also picture the beautiful blue sea surrounding a green, coastal area.

The beauty of Santorini in Greece is one that a lot of people from all over the world go to and for good reason. It is definitely an attractive sight to behold, which is why a lot of places, from restaurants to hotels, borrow the aesthetic.

If Santorini’s aesthetic is appealing to you, then you are not alone. If you want to change up your apartment to make it look like your very own Santorini, then check out these design tips listed below.

Wall Painting

First things first, you should most definitely repaint all of your walls to give that pristine Santorini look in your apartment.

Keeping your walls stark white is a great step. Do make sure that you get the right shade of white because even though it feels like white is a simple color, some can have certain nuances to them.

Of course, the white everything is not what makes the Santorini look, it is the blue accents added with the whiteness of it all. Thus, you should make sure that you add blue accents all over. Again, the shade of blue here matters so do double-check whether or not your blue is the blue that will feel like Santorini.

Stone Flooring

When it comes to flooring to fit the Santorini-slash-Greece inspired aesthetic, your apartment should have stone flooring installed. In particular, your stone flooring should be made out of marble. Limestone is also a great look and it will help warm up your home, given all the white and blue cool tones that you have inside your apartment.

If you live in a particularly tropical area, then stone flooring is something you would appreciate. This is because it will help you cool down since the stone floor cools fast too.

Palette

The color palette of a Santorini-inspired apartment is not just all about the whites and blues. It is also about other tones that will help complement the cool blues and whites in your home.

Instead of going all white and blue with the rest of your furniture or decor inside the apartment, you can add warmer tones in the home.

For example, you can incorporate more wood furniture since the brown goes really well with the all-white and blue accents vibes. Warm oranges and yellows also look great since it feels like a sunset in Santorini.

Furniture

As mentioned before, for a Santorini-inspired apartment, wood furniture is a great addition since it adds that much-needed warmth to an apartment that is painted all white and blue.

You can also have white wooden furniture. However, we tend to advise our clients at Cleaning Exec Maid Service NYC to avoid placing white wooden furniture to where the sunlight hits. Otherwise, this will cause discoloration in your furniture.

Also, when choosing the design of the furniture, it is best that you stick to simple styles. Avant-garde and kooky, unique styles are not really something that one would associate with the Santorini aesthetic.

Appliances

Since every wall in your apartment is going to be white, you can indulge in appliances that have a little more color in them.

It will not make your kitchen look bland and they can serve as decorations themselves. Just make sure that they fit the aesthetic of your apartment and complement the colors.

When choosing appliances, although aesthetics are nice, their functionality should be a priority. However, it does not mean that you cannot get a cute appliance that goes well with your Santorini apartment.

Decor

A Santorini-inspired apartment should definitely keep cool rugs or carpets to place on top of their stone flooring. Santorini is coastal, so you want to capture that tropical and bright feeling.

Thus, you should add some greens or indoor plants into your home and these plants will pop out and be a focal point themselves.

Candles and some accent pillows are also a great way to decorate your Santorini-inspired apartment.

Conclusion

Designing your apartment feels like an adventure most of the time.

If you are a lover of traveling and seeing the sights all over the world, choosing a design theme based on a particular aesthetic from a different place is a great source of inspiration.

Choosing Santorini is a wise design choice, given the fact that it still stands out in people’s minds to this day. By trying out some of the design tips listed above, you will have your Little Santorini started in no time.

Do not be afraid to experiment a little and see which ones work the best for your home and for your taste.

Author Bio: Andrew is an NY-based writer who covers DIY home projects, cleaning, and organization. When not writing, he spends his time with his two rescue dogs, Jet and Rocket.

Guest Post - Window Treatment Ideas for Millennials

Take a Peek into Millennial Decor

Millennial decor is very popular and it is shaping the housing world in interior decor. There is a separation of older and younger millennials and their tastes differ also.

Window Treatment Ideas for Millennials 

The millennial generation, or Y generation as many call them, have a large influence on specialized decor that is functional, not flashy, serves a purpose and will be long lasting products. This set of people is also very technologically advanced and love all products that can be operated easily with a smart phone

Who are the Millennials? 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 83.1 million millennials. They are all of the people that were born from 1982 to 2000, which make the older people starting to approach 40 years old and the younger people are not even 20 years old yet. This generation actually passed the baby boomers as the largest generation of people in 2015. 

What is the Style of Millennials?

This generation is interested in low maintenance, minimalist and practical home decor. They enjoy neutral colors with the addition of modern, affordable window treatments that maximize the light in all rooms of their homes and pops of accent colors. Whites and gray and very popular colors in window treatments for this generation. These neutral colors make the baseline and then there is a heavy emphasis on colorful and bold accent pieces, such as throw pillows, rugs, pieces of artwork, pots and pans, potted plants and blankets. The most popular accent colors are tones of red, bold yellows, organic greens and the color that has transcended and defined this generation--millennial pink.

Smart Home Technology

This tech savvy group of people enjoys having a smart home where technology is included at least in the kitchen and living room or family room. They use smart technology for their home alarm systems and can see who is at the door on their television or smart phone. This group absolutely loves newer functional items in the kitchen that they can control via their phones. They are also great advocates for the motorized window treatments that can also be operated from their phone, tablet, computer, by remote control or a wall switch. This type of window treatment is very versatile and safe for children, as it has no dangling cords for a child to be caught in and harm them. All of the motorized window treatments are sturdy and have a long life to last for many years, another thing that millennials love. 

Window Treatment Materials for Millennials

Several different materials and fabrics catch the eye of a millennial that fit the bill of not being too busy or over the top but sophisticated and simple. 

Woven woods are made from bamboo reed, jute grass and a big combination of other all-natural products. This is an eco-friendly choice that is more in favor than fabric or plastic and it also works well with a variety of styles.

Silk window treatments have a smooth and glossy finish to any window treatment. Most often, a millinneal will choose a natural color pallet for silk drapery panels and then build on that feature for their decor. Silk is also lightweight and it adds some movement to the room.

Velvet window treatments are taking the market by storm again. The soft and glamorous fabric adds texture to a room without being over the top. Some millennials choose to have velvet throw pillows or other accents with velvet on them rather than in the actual window treatments themselves.

Linen window treatments are another eco-friendly choice. They are also long lasting to make the investment worthwhile. Linen drapery panels are lightweight and they drape easily to add a crisp and clean feel to any space.

Combination Window Treatments for Functionality

Millennials insist that all items in a house must be the utmost in functional. Many times, you will find a shade on a window covered with sheer drapes to let the sun in, even when the drapes are closed. Most often, this combination is again in neutral colors such as tan, white, light blue or gray, but some of this generation may choose to add a pop of fabulous color to a room with this combination.

Layering your blinds with drapes makes a wonderful addition to any window and it makes them more functional. You can achieve a contrast of color and texture while being eye catching in the living room, bedroom, kitchen or any room in the home. The most common combination of this in the millennial's homes is woven wood blinds in a tan color with simple white drapes on top.

Woven wood shades are very popular in all rooms of a home. Millennials love them because they are natural, give you sleek lines, versatile and work with any decor. This style lets a small amount of light in your room from between the weaves of the shades to add some whimsy with the moonlight at night bouncing off the walls in a horizontal pattern or to show off all of the decor in your home with natural light.

These ideas are great to know about as the millennials are taking the housing market by storm. If you are thinking of redecorating or updating your window treatments in anticipation of selling your home, you should try some of these styles. 

Author Bio: Bobby Nakamura was born and raised on the island of Maui, Bobby has been doing window coverings for most of his life. Naka's Drapery is a family business located on the island of Maui, HI.

Guest Post - 5 Key Features of Modern Industrial Styles

Modern industrial design takes minimalism to a whole new level, embracing the bare-bones features that other architectural styles try to hide. It pays homage to classic factories and warehouses, and yet its symmetry and cohesion make it desirable among the most discriminating interior design connoisseurs. The style is becoming a popular fixture at trendy hotels, restaurants, lofts, and even residential homes.

So what exactly is the modern industrial style? What sets it apart from other modernist influences? To understand the trend, it’s important to recognize the key features that make it unique. 

1. Exposed Beams, Pipes, and Ductwork 

The most obvious defining feature to casual observers is the exposed structural elements. The style eschews most ceiling panels in favor of an open design that leaves the building’s mechanics wide open and exposed. The metallic pipework looks especially pronounced against white and muted paint jobs, and it’s often designed with an intentionally weathered look to reinforce the gritty, industrial motif. 

If you want to achieve this look but don’t want to gut your entire home, you can fake it by creating shelves out of copper pipes or making an industrial desk lamp.

2. A Delicate Interplay of Metal and Wood 

Metallic and wooden elements are both trademarks of modern industrial style. These building materials are usually presented side by side, such as with wooden stairs reinforced by a metallic base, or hardwood floors offset by metal beams. 

If you’re looking to introduce an industrial-inspired theme into your home, you may not be able to install new wood and metal foundations on a budget, but you can still work with what you have and upgrade your space with industrial-friendly accents. One such example is in an entertainment room or your “man cave.” Instead of redoing the whole interior, you can opt for specific pieces to compliment what you already have. If you have wooden floors, then opting for a steel pool table and metal accents will work very well together. This leads us right to our next point...

3. Vintage Furniture and Accessories 

Again, because wood and metal are the name of the game, industrial design tends to incorporate aged wood furniture, metallic bar stools, and other effects that fit the motif. Wrought iron wall art is popular for decor, as are DIY options like furniture crafted from weather-worn wood pallets. 

If a home already has wood floors or fixtures, the simple addition of vintage furniture and accessories can promote an uncompromising industrial look. Rustic metal floor lamps, pendant lighting, and modern door handles are just some of the additions that can quickly turn a home into an industrial modern home. 

4. Warm Color Schemes 

When it comes to modern industrial, it’s all about warm earth tones. Grays, browns, blacks, and whites are especially common, often contrasted with exposed brick. In some cases, the designer may add one or two brightly hued accessories or pieces of furniture to offset the motif with a bold splash of color. 

5. The Elimination of Clutter

Modern industrial design is all about maximizing space. Books are arranged neatly on bookshelves, furniture sets are closely grouped together to ensure ample space all around, and superfluous clutter is relegated to closets and storage areas. The ever-present sense of openness and space is an essential hallmark of an industrial motif; it’s the aesthetic that separates “factory-chic” from “crowded factory.” This is why it’s very important to find a way to eliminate the clutter.

Additional Features 

Additional features will vary from place to place, but there are a few more common effects worth mentioning. For example, an industrial modern home or business may contain concrete flooring, track or recessed lighting, and an abundance of indoor plants. Some homeowners and business owners also like to decorate with steampunk-inspired art like metal clockwork and gears. Try experimenting with different industrial effects, and find your perfect urban decor.  

About the Author: Katie Tejada is a writer, editor, and former HR professional. She enjoys writing about events, travel, decorating trends, and innovations for the home, but also covers developments in HR, business communication, recruiting, real estate, and finance.