tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60981321145294587422012-02-10T17:02:12.120-07:00My blog helps homeowners, apartment renters and those interested in the design scene with honest, clear cut information about interior design- what to do and not to do. It features real life photos of work done by my company, real life mistakes done by clients and ranting and raving about my everyday life in the hectic, yet rewarding world of interior design for the rich, famous, not so famous and common homeowner.Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.comBlogger651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-308454843025847022012-02-10T17:02:00.000-07:002012-02-10T17:02:12.131-07:00

I LOVE a well placed grouping of accessories in a room. There's nothing like the perfect design of a thingumabob in just the right color and scale to create a dramatic focal point to draw you into a gorgeous space. My most favorite are the quirky shapes and unexpected angles of out of the box pieces you can get, for utilitarian reasons or for no purpose at all; a great vase to hold air, a set of

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-83524662048682292502012-02-07T12:11:00.000-07:002012-02-07T12:11:16.473-07:00

Every once in a while, I find a piece that I have to share with as many people as I can. As a designer, I have so many great pieces at my disposal to use for my clients, but so many of those gems never get used in their homes, because of the sheer massive amount of options. Therefore I am going to start posting one item every Tuesday, called my Tuesday Treasure. This item is available for

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-78119566233251174002012-02-07T11:15:00.000-07:002012-02-07T11:15:02.768-07:00

When your room is nearly complete, done with subtle touches of splendor, nothing says DONE like the crowning jewel of the perfect light fixture. Chandeliers have been gaining strong popularity over the last seven years or so in the world of design, but the last few years have really brought about show-stopping forms and colors- especially bold and beautiful black. My trip to the World Market

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-62383231230545383042012-02-06T13:26:00.000-07:002012-02-06T13:26:33.296-07:00

For upholstery, my favorite design trends were the unique shapes in chair frames and the great colorful prints. My most favorite (and many other designer's favorite too) way to style a living room grouping reared it's beautiful head during this World Market Show. If you still have a matching sofa, loveseat and chair, you are behind the trend about 10 years! The look of ultimate home fashion is

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-18574406455708582612012-02-06T11:58:00.000-07:002012-02-06T11:58:51.813-07:00

In the world of wood, there are SO many looks making a name for themselves in our worlds. Let's take a deeper look at a few. Dyed Colors-Dyed woods have been slowly emerging as a trend in furniture for the last three years. Colors are soft and subdued and gray leads the pack, from very pale and washed out to deep charcoal. It's a neutral that is classy and classic. Metallic Washes-Many casegoods

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-2284491569696528022012-02-06T11:42:00.000-07:002012-02-06T11:42:50.118-07:00

Hello and welcome to my annual design trends post. I'm fresh off my visit to Vegas and have returned with so many exciting photos and design ideas that I am segmenting this post into several, just to give you every delicious morsel of design scoop to be had! The most important buzz word for this season is "TEXTURE", whether it's embossed leathers in geometric patterns, rich crocodile prints, or

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-44942072688790114332012-01-28T12:33:00.000-07:002012-01-28T12:33:56.731-07:00

I know, it sounds so stern and so potentially detrimental... but that's because it can be! Your kitchen is still the biggest selling feature of your home and one of the most expensive spaces to renovate. The choices you make in this room can dramatically affect your property value, and whether you are planning on selling next year or ten years from now, wouldn't you rather make changes that

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-45254889615569909052012-01-27T18:08:00.000-07:002012-01-27T18:08:30.216-07:00

Last night I had the pleasure of attending my first design event of the new year at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. The exhibit entitled "Design For A living World" showcased some of the world's premier clothing and furniture designers using raw, sustainable materials in creative ways.  One of the most impressive displays was a creative interpretation of storage units and electrical

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-46987080454831854742012-01-27T15:15:00.002-07:002012-02-06T18:01:57.771-07:00

It NEVER ceases to amaze me that this question still exists... after all, how often does the average person remodel their home? Well, the answer is once every seven to ten years, so no wonder most homeowners get sticker shock when they hire a designer to plan their room and we present the breakdown of material costs. There are many levels or "tiers" of pricing when it comes to a home remodel.

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-171586945528300932012-01-18T14:55:00.000-07:002012-01-18T14:55:42.236-07:00

In a quest to help you make small changes to create a better life, I am starting with a room that is probably the most ignored space in your home- YOUR CLOSET. Not only can making simple changes in this space help with your interior, but you can also make changes that can affect your wardrobe and both will help you organize your life. First of all- It's not just a closet, it's a room... so,

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-82149882774121317662012-01-18T10:49:00.001-07:002012-01-18T14:03:39.933-07:00

How many times have we heard it already..."new year, new you?" It's amazing to me that so many still continue to make resolutions, and I guess it's because you want something to believe in and that is always a great goal, but we tend to make so many goals that become unattainable because life gets in the way! We say we're going to lose 30 lbs. or take up yoga or become more organized. We get a

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-89215640889815596352011-12-20T11:53:00.000-07:002011-12-20T11:53:18.206-07:00

This week I had the pleasure and fun of working with a couple that are tying the knot in two weeks and just closed escrow on their first major purchase together- their new home! They called on me to help them plan their next space, but, being on a newlywed budget, were hoping to start the process of their potential remodel slowly! One of the hottest trends for my company is the introduction

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-61404876835471953132011-12-07T09:47:00.002-07:002012-01-07T11:20:00.983-07:00

I am all for being frugal where you can on your home remodel. What I will never promote, however, are do-it-yourself projects that will devalue your home, and the home stores are FILLED with them. Today I have to go into one of the newest and worst ideas I have ever seen for your kitchen- Countertop Resurfacing… I can’t say enough to discourage you from ever using such a product, but I’m going

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-47982210503817866702011-10-26T21:15:00.000-07:002011-10-26T21:15:11.504-07:00

Travertine is one of the most luxuriant and most popular surfaces for bathroom remodels in the last decade, but it has not been without it's flaws. Being natural stone, to try and get it to look like this picture was a labor intensive and highly expensive feat. Slabs of any stone are extremely heavy, therefore costly to purchase and install, requiring several men just to lift and put your stone

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-41414301304857067612011-09-25T14:36:00.000-07:002011-09-25T14:36:48.189-07:00

YUCK! SAVE MY UGLY ROOM! In this time of economic uncertainty homeowners have become "crafty" in attempting to handle their own home remodels. They're hitting the big box stores in record numbers to bombard the paint department with their stabs in the dark at the right color for their walls, trolling discount furniture stores for the "perfect" pieces to create their dream room and stalking every

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-65814656478871100362011-03-09T10:15:00.000-07:002011-03-09T10:15:15.643-07:00

Having lived in Arizona for seven years, I have come to learn that blue is not a well used color for interiors here. I always find it funny that most residents of AZ relocated here from another state, many from the East and Mid- West, where blue is a normal, sometimes even dominating color in the world of design. Yet, we move here and become accustomed to tans and rusts of the Sedona skyline and

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-7474967908562981852011-03-02T21:25:00.000-07:002011-03-02T21:25:22.176-07:00

It's the age old question that homeowners have most difficulty with- what comes first, furniture or paint? And you'll find many different thoughts behind your logic- like, if I am just doing a tan on the walls I can do that first because then anything I pick for furnishings will match because it's a neutral...WRONG! I realize that seems logical in theory, but if you understand base colors,

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-70567978565465068512011-03-01T12:55:00.006-07:002011-03-01T16:15:03.425-07:00

For us designers, it's like the Oscars! We impatiently await with ears, eyes and mouths open in anticipation to hear the announcement of Pantone's colors for the coming year. They are the Holy Grail of our world. All textile companies rush to design new upholstery fabrics in the top trending colors, which are then snatched up by the best furniture manufacturers who use them to create desirable

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-73225010308849892062011-01-05T11:33:00.007-07:002011-01-11T11:00:04.946-07:00

So you have a business and it's surviving the times. Your office is office-like, your waiting room is...well, Ok- it's waiting for a change. The truth is, you spent the minimum, opened your business and it's been doing well, so you have reason to be happy! But, now that you are taking a look around, you realize that some updates can be done- AND THEY SHOULD. Nothing says thriving business like

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-59276984569316016622011-01-05T09:54:00.002-07:002011-01-05T10:11:34.861-07:00

SOOOOOO.... what can I say about the start of this new year, other than Thank the Lord above that we have seen the end of 2010. It was, for my business, the worst year of the recession. We went through a major restructure, a deep recession, followed by a huge depression, then just as we were getting back on track- got screwed over by a client and learned a major lesson. So many homeowners worry

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-75173823508932509402010-07-18T15:22:00.003-07:002010-07-18T16:30:17.769-07:00

I recently visited a local Gilbert furniture store to survey the mid-year wares and found, as I always do, that Arizona still falls quite behind in the times when it comes to current fashion and furnishings. As a designer who enjoys the benefit of seeing the vast and consistently new contributions to the ever- changing world of design and decor, I often wonder why Arizonan's are allowed such a

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-30223381655700527492010-07-17T10:21:00.003-07:002010-07-17T11:03:05.755-07:00

So, I know it's been a while, but as you can see... I've been busy! My longtime love and I finally tied the knot after nearly thirteen years of unwed bliss. Always in fashion and ahead of trend, I wore a silver gown and Jay wore a sexy ascot. We shared our day with our closest friends and all the family that could actually make it. There were so many snags in our day, I could write a book. Even a

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-7042654716638213422010-01-05T21:51:00.002-07:002010-01-05T21:56:31.474-07:00

TESTING A NEW BLOG SITE... So, I have been blogging for over a year now, but am still new to the whole technology aspect of it. I am trying a new site to see which I prefer. My blogger site is no longer a desirable background for my posts and I don't know how to create a custom background for my work. The new site has lots to offer, but I don't know how to add the essentials like subscription

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-87161444471851268502009-12-26T14:22:00.003-07:002009-12-26T15:04:05.267-07:00

If I had to find one word to describe this year, it would have to be "survival". Not survival of the fittest, but survival of the smartest; and that's not always a good thing. This year I saw many large home improvement businesses vanish. Contractors went out of business, many design firms closed around me, furniture stores shut down and far too many went bankrupt and lost homes and assets. Some

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-57250874677146226232009-08-07T07:48:00.004-07:002009-08-07T08:38:04.237-07:00

OK, OK... it appears I have been too busy for you lately. Not on purpose, I have been revamping a lot of what I do to try to make the reading experience better for my audience, with a content that's richer in photos and examples. I've never really been happy with this background because the format limits what I wish to post. My problem is that I am not tech savvy what-so-ever!!! I can post, I can

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-9021558084756005242009-07-14T18:29:00.003-07:002009-07-14T18:53:12.667-07:00

I cannot tell you how many times I see a client wince when I mention the word wallpaper as a design concept in AZ! I can't believe how distant everyone has become from the possibility of enhancing their home's interior with such a luxurious product that has proven, over the ages, to be a sturdy and long lasting material. Perhaps, it's because the product of yesteryear WAS such a sturdy and

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-42190282318631033442009-07-14T18:28:00.003-07:002009-07-14T18:54:02.849-07:00

So this is the wallpaper that I am in love with at the moment. I originally ordered it for my showroom, before I downsized due to the economy. I am a firm believer in recycling and I had the perfect room to use this paper in my new home, the problem is- I ordered enough to fit the original space, not my living room, which is significantly larger (yet still a tiny space to me!).My plan for this

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-55079883932391283432009-07-14T18:26:00.004-07:002009-07-14T18:54:41.100-07:00

Now that the wall is painted on either side, I find the center of my wall and cut my first piece to fit on the wall. I have decided to highlight thecenter of my darker wall with three width's wide of this damask print paper. I also thought I might add decorative molding to either side, as I have at a past cleint's home, to further accentuate this area. However, once I put up my paper, I really

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-54312884491972564282009-07-14T18:06:00.004-07:002009-07-14T18:52:04.307-07:00

All that you can do with wallpaper-Don't just think of wallpaper as something that must cover the entire room. It can be used in smaller scale in many ways. Trimmed out in small squares or rectangles, a great paper can act as paneling in an upscale study or dining room. A small printed or animal print paper can be used in combination with a paint to create a horizontal or vertical stripe in a

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-1138872469570443532009-07-06T13:50:00.003-07:002009-07-06T13:56:44.415-07:00

What started as a bland, old fashioned natural oak kitchen, soon became a sleek, modern update of its former self. We refinished the cabinets to a dark, espresso stain, added a larger crwon molding, swapped the white appliances for stainless, traded the corian countertops for granite and added large corbels and faux travertine backsplash tile.

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-33030966728398173552009-07-06T11:34:00.005-07:002009-07-06T12:19:57.372-07:00

OK, you have oak kitchen cabinets... I'm sorry- it happens to good people all over America! Unfortunately, even in new builds of today, most stock cabinet companies still offer the oak kitchen cabinet as their standard or least expensive choice. When faced with so many other upgrades, the oak looks pretty good. Now they are in your home and you hate them. Oak cabinetry is quite outdated and any

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-52123164680128633572009-07-03T11:41:00.002-07:002009-07-03T13:12:59.048-07:00

OK, so I have to share my frustrations of the last few months with my potential clients that I DID NOT LAND! Times have changed, for sure and the jobs that us designers normally would think are "in the bag", turn out to be big, fat duds! While the client can walk away scratching their head as to why it all cost way much more than they imagined, we are left discouraged and exhausted for all of the

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-24663283196714666472009-06-25T20:14:00.003-07:002009-06-25T21:41:50.063-07:00

The powder room is the crown jewel of the home. For those of you that are lucky enough to have them- they are just swell! They serve the purpose of giving visitors to your home a place to relieve themselves when they've shared too many maragitas to hold in. Then they get to wash their hands in your lovely little sink and vacate without having to see your many toiletries and the contents of your

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-30713553656089566322009-06-25T20:11:00.000-07:002009-06-25T20:12:30.570-07:00

Hi Everyone,I am excited to share with you that I did an interview with Urban Latino Radio in New York City. The host of the show, Erik Rivera, is a stand-up comedian favorite in the NY comedy scene, including regular appearances at The Comedy Cellar, Caroline's on Broadway, Broadway Comedy Club and Comic Strip Live. He, together with a panel of comedians and lifestyle experts of Latin heritage,

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-61064745054743033492009-06-16T12:05:00.003-07:002009-06-16T12:59:23.884-07:00

OK, so where have I been, right? I'm sure that's what you have all been wondering! I recently embarked on a move that I would swear was across country- and it was only 15 minutes away from my last home. I moved to Queen Creek, AZ from my home which was previously in Mesa, AZ. Queen Creek would be considered the super suburbs compared to the urban city of Mesa, which is a bit less urban than the

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-8612746017714932082009-05-16T11:56:00.004-07:002009-05-16T12:12:31.178-07:00

I was upset that my fine photographer could not get this cabinet on the left in one shot. There is so much beauty in that cabinet and it can not be taken in in each individual shot. The cabinet on the left is the adult desk unit on the North wall and the one on the right is their kid's desk unit which sits adjacent on the South wall. Unfortunately, after we completed the cabinetry,

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-90191362548922425072009-05-12T19:43:00.003-07:002009-05-12T20:09:10.555-07:00

Hello All,I just wanted to post pictures of a recently completed job I did in Chandler, Arizona. The cabinets are in a multi-million dollar home in a private community here and I loved working with these clients. They were a laid back, fun couple with two great boys.I got to design a custom buffet piece to sit between two walls in a niche area of their dining room. I selected a warm brown stain

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-62876063913515903132009-05-12T13:01:00.003-07:002009-05-12T13:31:12.644-07:00

Recently I attended a function at a home that suffers from the same identity crisis I come across time and time again in Arizona. The homeowner had a nice sized house with a formal living room as you enter, followed by a formal dining room and then a family room. I find that so many don't understand the concept behind what some consider to be a two living room home. While they have two very

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-19650406227949390992009-05-03T19:56:00.004-07:002009-05-05T19:08:58.105-07:00

Hi All, I have to say that I have been excited for the last few weeks, as I have been working on a potential loft development in Tempe, AZ. Now... Lofts... they are my thing. I use to do them all day, every day when I lived back in the East Coast. Not only is Loft Living a way of life for those living in the typical factory conversion, but most inhabitants of the five boroughs of NY and the

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-29209299296956794602009-04-26T12:29:00.004-07:002009-04-26T17:44:15.917-07:00

A good friend of mine on Twitter gave me my thought process for the day which just might have created a whole can of worms. I am very proud to be a Puerto Rican Interior Designer, and the only one I currently know. My clientele ranges from the moderate income earner to the high-end home. I am even prouder to know that there are Latinas y Latinos out there who are making it big in this world,

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-89455388116505036742009-04-21T15:42:00.000-07:002009-04-21T15:45:30.304-07:00

So, you went against the grain, and for whatever reason decided to put your home on the market at the worst possible time. I'm sure that if you have put your home on the market at this time, outside of a small craziness factor, you have the serious need to relocate due to a job or family crisis or are facing foreclosure and hope to quickly sell your home before that happens and ruins your credit.

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-91051910169626391052009-04-13T18:05:00.002-07:002009-04-13T20:54:49.253-07:00

In the spirit of Easter Sunday, today's post will be a fitting lilac, a great color for spring, renewed life and energy and, it just so happens, a very "in" color for homes in the coming season. All of that ham and potato salad yesterday had me thinking about how I use to decorate for virtually every holiday in existence. I really got into the celebrations within my own home. Decorating

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-34827933727902097762009-04-09T11:20:00.002-07:002009-04-09T12:13:40.788-07:00

Welcome to another episode of "Homeowner's Boo Boos and Blunders". This uncertain market continues to give me fuel for my blogging fire. Sadly enough many vendors with which designers keep wholesale accounts are now extending their lower prices to retail clients to pay their leases. While this is a "great thing" to the consumer, or so they think, this opens up a design mishap can of worms for

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-82410368824417690212009-03-25T19:02:00.003-07:002009-03-25T19:10:12.254-07:00

I was invited to do an interview with WhoHub.com. Here is the transcript from that interview... I hope it will help you learn a little more about me! Due to the amount of questions, I have broken it up into four segments. To view the complete interview go to: http://www.whohub.com/mitchy1441What is your specialty?I am an Interior Designer, specializing in kitchen, bathroom and custom furniture

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-48612984510789921792009-03-24T12:27:00.002-07:002009-03-24T15:45:38.444-07:00

I was recently on Craigslist, as I am on frequent occasion, and came across a "gig" that nearly had me spill my coffee. A homeowner needed help with choosing colors, arranging furniture and adding accessories to their home. They sought the help of an INTERIOR DESIGNER and said they would pay $10.00 an hour, up to $100.00 total for the assistance. I am so insulted by the very thought of this offer

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-35398624533313563452009-03-17T13:55:00.002-07:002009-03-17T14:50:54.057-07:00

Hi All,New week, new holiday, new post. Today is St. Patrick's Day and while Irish and honorary Irish bask in the yummy fattening delight of corned beef and cabbage, others in the world use this day to sport their cutest green outfits or everything covered in four leaf clovers that they can find! I am going in a different direction this year; not that I won't still probably wear green, why not?

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-23017635836692437072009-03-11T20:49:00.003-07:002009-03-11T22:37:23.968-07:00

I have just walked in the door and handed her my business card. Just as I am spying her home for the first time, my client grabs her remote. "I have a few things I love saved on my DVR." Then it begins, 22 recorded episodes of Divine Design, Color Splash, Bathroom Renovations and Design On A Dime. ( Designers: does this ever happen to you?)I always find this to be an amusing challenge, although

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-64781185946530063512009-03-10T23:19:00.007-07:002009-03-11T11:46:43.050-07:00

Too many times I've met my client for the first time after they have made far too many design mistakes. Either they have spent way too much money on upgrades that they didn't need, didn't understand or could have purchased through me for way cheaper; or they did things in their home that didn't make sense within the space. I so often find that I am faced with my client saying " I didn't realize

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-27453556555138966102009-03-09T16:14:00.002-07:002009-03-09T18:14:03.237-07:00

I am a firm believer in educating my clients. It's important for me to make sure they understand every aspect of what they wish to do in a project and everything about the products I specify for their homes. Our discussion for this moment is about furniture. I have had many problems with furniture stores as of late, thanks to the failing economy and poor customer service practices of the stores

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-75830167018340004382009-03-09T15:45:00.002-07:002009-03-09T15:57:42.541-07:00

Hello All,Welcome back to me and my blog. I took a blog vacation, which it turns out is not the best thing to do. I, at first, found it necessary to spend all of my effort hunting down potential new clients. I have since found that I need the therapy that my blog allows me to have, so I am back!!! And boy do I have a lot to say. My last few months have given me insight into so many things. More

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-40349376557287441042008-10-13T12:01:00.002-07:002008-10-13T12:33:36.152-07:00

The weather is getting a bit chilly here in Arizona...funny, huh, seeing as though it's a mere 80 degrees instead of the 108 it was just a week and a half ago. The other night I was driving home in 57 degrees and thought I was going to have to go buy a parka! Lol. But seriously, cooler weather is ahead and so are the dreaded holidays, which I normally enjoy, but I have to admit I've been down

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-44719204051800760292008-10-08T09:09:00.003-07:002008-10-08T10:14:39.738-07:00

I have a great new addition to my client list. The unfortunate situation I am faced with, is that they hired me after they had already made key choices for their new custom build. They didn't realize that most homebuilders actually hire a designer at the very point they have their blueprint, sometimes even before they go to the architect.They had so many questions along the way that a designer

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-14125947985360017822008-10-02T20:59:00.001-07:002008-10-02T21:00:55.218-07:00

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-89714893481700667852008-10-02T20:32:00.003-07:002008-10-02T20:56:37.054-07:00

This is how the floorplan would work best. The sofa, still as bulky as it is, is in use. Let's just say it's not brown, not leather and they do not want to part with it because they just bought it for $10,000 in Brazil. We have replaced the loveseat with a wing back chair that allows more space in the room and we've given the same amount of seating that the loveseat gave us by redistributing the

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-65265155529546630652008-10-02T10:55:00.008-07:002008-10-02T20:57:41.700-07:00

Been so busy lately chasing clients that I haven't had much blog time. I very recently visited what must be my 100th brown leather sofa. Why does everyone looking for a pet friendly, comfy couch go for a brown leather sofa? It is not the be all, end all perfect solution for a great room.Now, I agree that you must consider a few factors when looking to purchase a nice sofa. Let's discuss them in

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-35780638850757369602008-09-26T15:38:00.002-07:002008-09-26T15:48:34.704-07:00

So, I got a brand new, small italian espresso pot. I was psyched cuz I got it at Ross. Oh, don't act like you don't ever shop at Ross! They're one of the only places I know of that carry these things, cuz they carry overstocks of products that don't sell and not too many people use my coffee pots.I bought the small one to replace my little one with the burnt off handle. I get it home, take it out

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-6055124102799669782008-09-25T10:53:00.003-07:002008-10-02T10:55:17.333-07:00

OK, so this is such a serious post because this literally happens to me once a week. We all understand that the economy is horrible, but this has been happening for a lot longer than just recently.I realize that, have you never remodeled your home or looked at the cost of fixtures, you might not have a realistic idea of the costs of remodeling. So let me be the first to tell you that you can do a

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-62632917778967292092008-09-23T12:09:00.002-07:002008-09-23T12:15:40.397-07:00

clipped from www.ifloor.com

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-17007156763622813562008-09-22T23:24:00.005-07:002008-09-23T00:14:16.190-07:00

I will never forget last year's monsoon season and the bad luck that it brought to a former client for whom my company made a custom kitchen. Their home in Phoenix was being completely remodeled, gutted and rebuilt with an addition. The square footage doubled in size and their interior designer, who unfortunately for them, was not me, had specified an exotic hardwood floor for their home. All

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-43996451493038985762008-09-19T09:57:00.011-07:002008-09-19T21:38:15.086-07:00

As we decide more and more that moving is just not the smart thing to do for the moment, many homeowners have decided to begin investing in what we already have. This is the wisest choice that a homeowner can possibly make. What has fallen down, crashed and burned must eventually trickle back up, so the value of our homes will not always reside in the toilet and the best way to help them out is

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-23175265925299951752008-09-19T09:57:00.005-07:002008-09-19T11:08:13.941-07:00

So, day two of this whole blogging thing. I never officially finished day one. I was right in the middle of finishing my blog about the great trends for 2009, when i realized, Hey- it's 11:00 PM, you might wanna get some sleep. Now normally, this wouldn't be a big deal because anyone that knows me- and now you too- know that I have sleep apnea. And the knowledge that I have sleep apnea causes me

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-19872920404133236232008-09-19T09:57:00.004-07:002008-09-19T11:00:34.337-07:00

Sorry I had to cut my blog last night before giving you the rest of the coming trends for Fall 08 and Spring 09. Here's the rest:Fabrics, Wallpaper & Paint Techniques-Men's fashion continues to have a major influence in the dressings for our furniture. Sofas and chairs that have been living in linene weaves are expanding further into herringbones, pinstripes and argyles and so are new wallpapers.

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-22742601884668497092008-09-18T21:43:00.003-07:002008-09-18T22:39:29.376-07:00

As a designer, it is my duty to stay ahead of the fashion trends in the world of home furnishings. Most might not realize it, but we take our cues from the runways and often what's in in makeup and transmit it into our spaces as the new thing for the coming season in home decoration.Every year, I make it a point to attend at least one of the two large trade only interior design shows in Las Vegas

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-13187770140996407952008-09-18T14:03:00.001-07:002008-09-18T18:07:17.337-07:00

Ok, so I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me. I go and see a client for a color consultation ( this is when a client has a room or series of rooms that they would like to paint but have no clue what colors to use in their space. This consultation is done for a flat fee in a smaller home, although I may just charge my hourly fee in a larger house, typically over 4,000 square feet

Michelle Dunbar- Interior Designer & D-I-Y Design Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10134672408270892471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098132114529458742.post-75250482754654407532008-09-18T14:03:00.000-07:002008-09-18T14:43:02.580-07:00

Or I guess I should say, welcome to my life. My husband has been pushing me to start one of these for a while now, and I never knew just how to fully implement it. Sure, I've got alot to say...so much, in fact, that I can probably start a whole series of blogs, but then I'll never get any work done and will be the brokest interior designer with a blog, who will then have nothing to say... If that

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