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Jennifer Biffer

Handbag Storage 101

March 25, 2020 by Jennifer Biffer Leave a Comment

HOW TO PROPERLY PREPARE YOUR BAGS FOR STORAGE

How bags are stored is usually a personal preference – there are avid collectors with a routine, and there are those who don’t store their bags at all. But is what you’re doing (or not doing) causing more harm than good? Here is some insight into ideal handbag storage, as this will prolong the life of your bag, allowing it to retain its maximum value and be used for years to come.

PROPER STORAGE PREPARATION

Whether you decide to wear your bag year-round or keep it in rotation with one or more bags, it’s always necessary to prepare your bag for storage. This seems counterintuitive since storage itself is generally a type of care for your bag. You would be correct, but certain conditions will not optimize your bag’s lifespan and making sure it’s properly prepped for storage is imperative.

Step One: Clean and Condition

The first step of preparing your bag for storage is the most important. Cleaning and conditioning your bag will guarantee that your bag is perfectly cared for before going in.

First, make sure that your bag is clean. For Leathers & Slick Materials like Patent Leather or Coated Canvas: we recommend these be wiped down with unscented baby wipes and spot cleaned with a specialized cleaner. Non-alcoholic baby wipes won’t leave behind residue and are safe for most materials. Use a leather cleaner to wipe down your bag and rid its surface of impurities. For woven textiles and fabrics: deep stains and dirt may need to be professionally removed. Light marks and stains can be lightly treated with a wipe. For suede: it is recommended that a suede brush is used for light dirt and marks. Anything more substantial than that may need to be professionally treated and cleaned.

For the spot treatment of leather, we recommend an alcohol-based spot cleaner like Fiebings Spot Remover. These products should be used with a light hand and extreme caution. Always spot test before treating larger areas. I use this cleaner on many of the common spot wear issues including but not limited to white scuffs on patent, dirt on leather corners, small stains and water spots, and handle wear.

After cleaning and spot treatment is complete, it is necessary that the bag is conditioned. Leather lotions and milks are great options. Leather conditioners have small amounts of wax and oil that are good for leather and will make sure that there is enough moisture in the material to keep it supple over time yet not overly saturated. Be sure to follow instructions for the conditioner you use, as a proper application is important. Leather conditioning is not recommended for suede and sueded leathers.

Step Two: Dry It Out

The second step is to dry out your bag. Make sure you give your bag at least 4-6 hours of airing out in a space with good ventilation, preferably with a fan that is not directly facing your bag. Not only will this help dissipate any odors that could be attached to the bag, but it will evaporate any moisture that may have been accumulated during wear. Don’t worry, this should not affect the conditioner that you applied previously. Do not dry out with a heater, radiator, or in direct sunlight. This will likely damage your bag.

Step Three: Stuff, Tuck, and Cover

The final steps are dependent on the shape and material of your bag. You must stuff your bag so that its structure is supported. If under-stuffed, you risk your bag creasing permanently or becoming misshapen. However, if you over stuff a bag, the permanent result will be stretching and bulging of the material.

If your bag has a long chain, it’s important that you do not store it with the chain laying on the bag’s exterior if possible. Over time, your bag will have contact with the chain’s weight and will cause indentations that cannot be removed. If the interior of your bag is fabric, it’s safe to tuck the chain inside the bag. If the interior is leather, I recommend the same, but first gathering the chain in a pouch and placing it in the interior of the bag; this is doable with either an attached or unattached chain.

The handles of your bag, if present, should be poised in an upright position. If handles are stored resting against the body of the bag, there is a high risk for indentation, discoloration, and even damage if the store environment’s temperature is too high. Many bag handles have wax edges, which can stick to and ruin the body material. If your bag has two handles, wrapping both handles together with a piece of ribbon or gauze to tie them up together will suffice; do not use colored materials as they may stain the handles.

We highly recommend that a bag is stored in a dust bag. Bags have a tendency to discolor over time, especially when exposed to prolonged artificial or natural light. Leather oxidizes naturally, but when properly stored, this oxidation process can be delayed. If you want to be aware what bag is in which dust bag, apply a label or photo to the exterior that will help you identify it.

You can even have a little fun with your storage options to personalize it while keeping it functional. DustyLuxeBags offers a great alternative to designer branded dust bags by printing full-color images of designer handbags on the exterior of a natural colored cotton blend bag.

If you obsess over handbags as I do, then you know caring for handbags is not something that should be taken lightly. For all the wear we put our bags through, it is important we show them some love. Plus, this routine will ensure that your bag will thrive and continue to bring you enjoyment for years to come.

Love the finer things in life? If you have a question about selection, care, or wear, contact us.

Images Courtesy of DustyLuxeBags.com

Stranded Without a Kitchen Island

March 10, 2020 by Jennifer Biffer Leave a Comment

When it comes to home improvements, there are few things that are requested more often than kitchen islands. Having a kitchen island can totally change the way that you work in your kitchen, and in some cases, they can even add new functionality that you might not have had before. Because they’re such a hot commodity in a lot of homes, having a kitchen island in place can even increase the value of your home if you decide to put it on the market!

So what makes for a good kitchen island? Long gone are the days when a kitchen island was just an additional surface to set things on while working in the kitchen. If you’re thinking about installing a kitchen island of your own, here are a few things you could consider adding to it to make it a modern, functional island.

Cooking Surfaces

Many modern kitchen islands contain burners, full stovetops, or other cooking surfaces. Some even contain griddles or electric grills, giving you cooking options that your standard cooktop might not offer. This both allows you to cook in different ways and gives you more surfaces and heat sources to work with when you’re fixing a large meal. Depending on the design of the kitchen island and the specific cooking surfaces added, you can either give the island an electric connection or hook it up to an existing gas line.

Island Appliances

Cooking surfaces aren’t the only things that people include in kitchen islands. You might also see appliances such as ovens, mini-refrigerators, or dishwashers included on the island as well. In some homes, you might see less common appliances included as well such as a steamer, warming bin, or wine cooler. If there are electrical outlets built into the island, you might also include countertop appliances such as a stand mixer, toaster, or can opener.

Kitchen Prep Areas

One common reason for installing a kitchen island is to add a prep station to the kitchen that is separate from other kitchen surfaces. This can involve adding additional features, such as a small refrigerator to keep prepped items cold until you’re ready to cook. Some must-haves for a prep area on your kitchen island include a sink and some form of cutting surface. Ideally, the sink should be deep enough to wash vegetables and other food items and should have both hot and cold running water. The cutting surface can take a variety of forms, though butcher block is a popular option. Having a rack or storage for cutting boards and possibly a built-in knife block are also popular options.

Additional Storage

If there’s one thing that almost every kitchen needs, it’s more storage. Your kitchen island can help with this, giving you a place to add additional drawers, shelves, or cabinets. Spice racks or other ingredient storage is also a popular option to add. If you want to make the most use of your kitchen island space, you can also add a hanging rack above your kitchen island for pots, pans, and other cooking items.

Stow-Under Seating

Some people want to be able to use their kitchen island as a place to enjoy a quick meal, especially at breakfast or lunch. Stools or other small seating options that store under a lip on the kitchen island can make this happen, providing easy access seating that stores out of the way when not in use. Seating space can be added on top of other features, typically by letting the side of the island that faces away from the main kitchen be used for seating while the interior-facing side is more functional.

Ready to Build Your Island?

If you want to find a pro to build your kitchen island or hook up your various fixtures, we can help you get the job done!

Staging Your Home in the 2020 Housing Market

March 9, 2020 by Jennifer Biffer Leave a Comment

If you’re planning to sell your house, proper staging can make a huge difference. It’s important to keep in mind that tastes change over time, though, and the staging techniques that were popular when you bought the home might not impress buyers today. If you really want to get the most value out of your home when you sell, it helps to employ staging that will appeal to buyers in the current housing market.

Fortunately, there are many ways you can stage your home so that it draws in modern buyers. The goal is to help them see your home as a place they could inhabit and fill with their own style, and these suggestions will help you to achieve this even if tastes have changed since you last decorated your home.

Maximize Your Lighting

A lot of modern buyers are looking for function as well as form when they’re looking at houses. One example of this comes in the form of good lighting. Make sure that the windows are clean and that your window dressings allow natural light to come through. Check that you have sufficiently bright bulbs in your fixtures and double-check that none are burned out. You might also consider adding spotlights or other accent lights in places like the kitchen and bathroom where the potential buyers might want additional light. If you really want to wow people, you could even install smart bulbs that can be controlled from a smartphone or smart speaker.

Keep It Earthy

Color trends change over time. At the moment, warm colors are hot. When staging your home, work with accent colors such as chocolate, olive green, beige, and wine to tie your various decorations together. This will add splashes of warm, earthy color that’s neither too bright nor too dark. As an added benefit, these shades go well with a wide range of wall and floor options, so you can add some nice earthy accents without having to completely redesign your home beforehand.

Touch Up the Walls

If your walls are too mild or too wild, consider adding a fresh coat of paint before you get ready to sell your home. There are several colors that are popular right now, including a number of shades of blue, gray, and green. You can usually get away with some light pink and gold shades too, as well as the occasional off-white. You don’t want anything too bold in most rooms, just something that will give a bit of color to the room. But feel free to skew a little darker if you’re painting a bathroom or bedroom.

De-Personalize the Place

You may have heard that it’s a good idea to make your home look lived in since that can help potential buyers see it as an actual living space instead of just a showcase. This isn’t bad advice; having some unique decorative items and other accents can really help buyers to picture their own stuff in the house. Just make sure that you take out anything that’s overly personal, like family photos, items with your family name, and other keepsakes. Leave your decorations a little sparse, too. The goal is to inspire potential buyers and help them picture where they would put their belongings and their own pictures, and it’s hard to do that if there are pictures of your family everywhere or decorations filling every available space.

Finding the Right Look

If you’re not exactly sure how to stage your home, don’t be afraid to bring in a bit of professional help. We are here to help you find the interior designer or professional stager to assist you in getting just the look you need to really make your buyers want to sign.

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

How to Use Bold Wall Coverings

March 27, 2019 by Jennifer Biffer Leave a Comment

In a world full of beige and gray, a small patch of bold wallpaper can make a great statement. There are a few ways to make it work without it being overwhelming. There aren’t any set design rules on wall coverings, and it can be used in every room of the house.

The key is to not overdo it. Pick a focal point and focus on that. And, most importantly, have fun with it. Design should always be fun, and it should ultimately create an environment that compliments your best self.

Here are a few of my favorite places to bring in bold patterns and colors:

The first is in a smaller space like a powder room. A bold floral or geometric pattern can make a smaller room feel much larger.

Second, use large printed wallpaper on an accent wall, for example, at the end of a hall to create a visual focus.

The third is on a ceiling. This works well in a library or home office that has a deep jewel-toned color on the wall. Another fun place is in a kid’s room on the ceiling to give them something to look at from their beds. One of my favorites is a map so they can explore the world.

The fourth idea is in the bedroom as an accent wall behind the bed to create visual drama. The wall covering frames the bed and headboard if there is one.

Fifth is on the back of shelving to give a bold backdrop to books and accessories. This “hidden” pop of color or design can be very eye-catching.

The laundry room is another great place to hang colorful, printed wall covering. This room is so often forgotten but in reality, a lot of time is spent there so why not have something fun to look at?

Finally, is the breakfast room. This is the room in the home where everyone’s day starts and a happy, fun wall coverings can set the tone for the rest of the day – think colorful poppies, fanciful designs, or graphic prints.

If you are looking for help from a professional, the Arizona North chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is hosting the annual Interior Designer for Hire program beginning Feb. 1 and running until April 30. This program gives homeowners an opportunity for a one- or two-hour consultation with an interior designer at a reduced rate.

Furniture Arranging Tips

March 7, 2019 by Jennifer Biffer Leave a Comment

I am often asked if I can give advice on how to arrange things in someone’s home, especially when they are relocating and wondering if they can take their existing furniture with them.

Here are a few of my guidelines:

First of all, measure your existing pieces and make sure they fit through doorways and around corners in halls to get to the desired room. This is a common mistake and often results in “crisis” situation when a piece doesn’t fit through a doorway or down a hall.

Secondly, arrange items based on the desired use of the room. By this, I mean create a purpose for each space. If the goal is to watch TV as a family, then make sure you have a sectional which seats enough people that are facing the television. Any other chairs in the room should be swivels so they can either face the TV or the sofa for conversational purposes. Make sure the cocktail table is properly sized, allowing 18 inches from the edge of the sofa to the table for traffic flow. Any more space and it is too far a reach to put down a drink.

In a larger living room, I like to create different spaces, one for TV viewing, one for settling in with a good book, and one for playing games. If there is a view, it is always nice to have two chairs that face out so you can sit and enjoy a sunrise or sunset. Again, it is ideal if these chairs swivel so they can also be used to engage with the rest of the room.

In a dining area, you need to allow three feet from the edge of the table to the wall. This will give enough room to navigate around the table even while guests are seated, so purchase a table accordingly.

Always remember the traffic pattern for entering and exiting a room. You need at least three feet of space to allow for safe and comfortable egress.

Most of all, have fun. Design should be an experience that you enjoy and that ultimately creates a space that you feel you can be your best self in. One in which you can recharge from the stresses of the day.