Giving Back with A Million Thanks

 

For the holidays, LCD wanted to give back to our service members for everything they do and have done for our country. With the help of A Million Thanks, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the U.S. military, the LCD team wrote letters of gratitude and were able to drop them off to the nearest A Million Thanks drop-off location to get them out in time for the holidays. Click here for a A Million Thanks drop-off location closest to you & join LCD in giving back this holiday season!

Southbay HOME Magazine Design Showcase 2016

Lunada Consulting & Design, Inc, is thrilled to be apart of the Southbay HOME Magazine Design Showcase collection this year. If you haven't received  or picked up the recent HOME Magazine, we've got you covered. Click here to read the full article with Q&A by Jane Biggeln, Owner and Principal Designer of LCD, where she describes the featured project, shares what makes her an expert in the Design + Build industry, what a typical day in the industry is like, and the most valuable service LCD offers our clients.

For more photos of the featured home click here.

Celebrate Halloween in Style with these No-Carve Pumpkins

Here at LCD we love Halloween! What better way to get into the haunting spirit than by decorating pumpkins for your home? We put together our favorite no-carve pumpkin ideas to help you celebrate Halloween in style. From spooky spiders to stylish marbled effects these pumpkins are sure to spark some fun. Turn on some Halloween music, fill your cup with hot apple cider and a bowl of your favorite trick-o-treat candies, and you're half way there.

Gone Batty

For an elegant twist on a scary bat pumpkin, paint the night away to create this bat filled Halloween sky.

Materials: White paint, gold metallic paint, black ribbon, & scissors to create the perfect bat wing.

Difficulty Level: Easy (hot glue gun's work magic).

Decorating Tip: Two layers of paint & Halloween music.

Edible Embellishments

Create texture on your pumpkin for a fun Fall look.

Material: White paint, blue paint & Trader Joe's Zucchette Pasta.
Difficulty level: Medium (skip the tacky glue & grab a hot glue gun).
Decorating Tip: Paint the stem last so you can use it to maneuver your pumpkin while placing the noodles.

Beetle Juice

Add black and white stripes to your pumpkin for an elegant  Beetle Juice interpreted look.

Materials: Black paint, white paint, silver metallic paint, black ribbon & a spider.
Difficulty Level: Medium (those lines take patience!).
Decorating Tip: Two Layers for each stripe.

Black Widow

 This little one would be the perfect addition to your haunted decorations.

Materials: Black, white & red paint. 

Difficulty Level: Medium (it's all in the details).

Decorating Tip: Knowledge of spiders for improvised painting.

Spiderville

If you're pressed for time but still want your Halloween decor to stand out, grab some plastic spiders and a pumpkin to create this fast and easy look.

Materials: 1 large plastic spider, multiple small plastic spiders & a hot glue gun

Difficulty Level: Easy (Takes 5 minutes or less)

Decorating Tip: A good amount of glue goes as a long way so those spiders don't get away.

Marbled Trio

This stylish marble effect is perfect for a chic Halloween.

Materials: Nail polish, plastic container, water, stir stick & white pumpkins.

Difficulty Level: Hard (the nail polish dries fast & you may need more than two hands, but once you get the hang of it its not too bad) 

Decorating Tips: (1) Lightly swirl immediately after dripping paint in tub of water, don't swirl too much (less is more). (2) Layer colors & paint to hide imperfections. (3) The water should be warm for the paint not to sink.

Mrs. Day of the Dead

Your Dia de los Muertos Halloween decorations wouldn't be complete without Mrs. Day of the Dead.

Materials: Face paint, black Sharpie, eyelashes & jewels. 

Difficulty Level: Easy (When you have all the materials ready).

Decorating Tip: Face paint does not stick well to pumpkin, outline with Sharpie & use face paint to fill in for color.

Classic Jack

Forget the mess of carving a jack-o-lantern and create a carve-less Jack instead!

Materials: Black & purple paint.

Difficulty Level: Easy (takes 5 minutes or less).

Decorating Tip: Create the classic triangle eyed pumpkin face in color & outline in black.

From the LCD Team, we wish you a happy & safe Halloween!

7 Tips for Pet-Friendly Design

For many homeowners, pets are more like furry family members than mere animals, emphasis on the furry, so it makes sense to consider their presence during the design process. Wear and tear is often a greater concern for pet owners and should be considered when making material selections for your home. Below are LCD's top seven design tips to keep your home looking renewed long after project completion without compromising on style. 

Match your fabric color to your pet's hair & add fabric protector

This can help conceal pet hair, wear and tear, and prevent stains that may get on any fabric. Darker fabrics with a small pattern will typically be most forgiving in hiding pet hair as well as wear and tear. Just be aware that high contrast colors can make a pet hair stand out more prominently, and light colors are more likely to show stains, causing them to be extremely difficult to keep clean: Therefore, having your fabric treated with a fabric protector would be a great solution for fast and easy clean up.

Opt for indoor-outdoor finishes

Indoor-outdoor fabrics are more durable than traditional indoor fabrics, often being both water and UV-resistant. This makes clean-up easier, as well as minimizing wear and tear, so your furniture pieces can look great longer.

Groom and bathe pets regularly

Regular grooming can cut down on shedding and pet odor, resulting in less need for clean-up around the house.

Skip or remove carpet

Carpet can collect pet hair, dust, and allergens as well as trapping pet odor. Hard surface flooring is a more durable and easier to clean alternative, especially is your pet has an occasional accident.

Choose washable paint

Painting with a washable product and opting for a semi-gloss rather than a flat finish can help to keep your home looking fresh as pets often rub up against surfaces in your home including the walls.

Give your pets their own space

Creating pet-specific areas can help to keep your home organized by incorporating your pet's needs into your design rather than having them compete for space.

5 Ways You Could Transform Your Grad's Empty Room

Create your own art studio

  Photo: Houzz

This can be a space where you can explore your creative side. Picture a painting corner, DIY craft table with supplies, and cabinets to store your wrapping paper, cards, ribbons, and bows.

Turn it into a cozy guest room

Photo: LCD, Inc.

When family and friends from out of town come to visit they'll love staying in the newly renovated guest room plus the convenience of hassle free check-ins. As a special touch, prepare a tray of essentials for their stay.

Make it into a home gym

 Photo: Houzz

For all the times you couldn't make your yoga or barre class, your personalized workout studio will be conveniently available at all times. Adding full-length mirrors to check your form, a yoga mat, free weights, ballet bar, or treadmill are just a few ideas of how to customize the space for your own workout needs. Don't forget to add speakers to listen to your favorite workout playlist! 

Convert it into a home office

Photo: LCD, Inc.

Own your own business? Thinking of starting one? Or just need a space for your computer and the stack of mail piling up on the kitchen table? Turn the disused room into a home office and customize it to your liking. By adding a desk, computer, task lighting and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, you'll be all set. 

Create the ultimate walk-in closet

Photo: MyDomaine

Transform the empty room into the closet you've always dreamed of which will accommodate all of your clothes, shoes and accessories. With a full-length mirror, sitting area, ambient lighting, and various sized shelves for display opportunities, getting ready will feel like a luxury every day. 

Or leave it as is, because your grad will be back and it's always great when your family is all together under one roof - Just like old times :)

Transform Your Travel Photos into Beautiful Watercolors with this App

Summer vacation may be coming to an end, but the memories from your summer excursions will last forever. Whether you visited a destination you had never been before or revisited one of your favorites, the images you took along the way can bring you back to some of your best moments there.

What better way to reminisce of Summer ‘16 than by turning your travel photos into painterly works of art. Here’s one way you can convert your vacation snapshots into a watercolor masterpiece (no painting experience needed :) ).

1. Download the App: Waterlogue - Our favorite watercolor rendering app (available for your iPhone or iPad)

2. Choose a Photo & Start Creating your Watercolor Painting: Select one of 12 photo filters and customize to your liking.

*Pro Tip: LCD’s favorite filter is “Vibrant” – The color scheme is bright, lively, and crisp – Perfect to brighten up any room!

3. Print: Set your watercolor image to save as “JPEG” and “Original” under image settings (located in the bottom right hand corner of the app), email the image to yourself, and then easily upload and order your painting from an Internet-based image publishing service (our go-to is Shutterfly).

4. Place your art: Think of a room in your home that could benefit from an update, such as replacing an existing piece of art to give the room a fresh look. Any blank walls that could use some love? If you need a visual to help you imagine the art piece in the room and to select a canvas size, grab some painters tape and create an outline the size of the canvas on the wall of your choice (or simply mark out the canvas size with a tape measure). This is a great way to see how the scale of your painting works in the space.

5. Lastly, hang your masterpiece!

5 Tips on What to do with Your Blank Wall

Blank walls can be intimidating, but once tackled, they can be a great way to add personality and the perfect finishing touch to your space.  So get inspired and give your bare wall a makeover with our 5 Tips on What to do with Your Blank Wall.

1.  Lean it.

                

Contemporary Interior Designs

Savvy Home

Leaning your art is a great alternative to hanging it.  Not only does it give you the flexibility to swap your décor out as often as you like, but you can also display it in unexpected places, such as on the fireplace, piano, or even the floor!  Try showcasing multiple pieces for a layered look, or lean just one or two to make a statement. 

2.  Show off your collection.

Bly

Alt for Demern

Don’t let your beloved collections gather dust, but instead display them for all to see!  Display objects that are unique to you, such as things you’ve gathered from your travels or items relating to a hobby of yours.  Shadowboxes and shelving can be a great way to achieve this, or you can simply mount your collection directly to the wall such as with these beautiful handmade African baskets.  Not only will this add dimension to your wall, but it will be a great conversation starter!

3.  Bring in the green.                 

Home Designing

Home My Design

Refresh your space by bringing the outdoors in!  This can be a great solution if you don’t have any outdoor garden space of your own.  Mount plants such as orchids and staghorn ferns on the wall, place potted plants on shelves, or have a whole wall of green!  Even putting a tall potted plant on the floor can effectively fill empty wall space.  Just remember that  different plants need varying degrees of sunlight and maintanance, so choose what’s best for you and your space.

4.  Add shelves.
                                

Old Brand New

C-More

If you’re the type of person that wants more functionality from you blank wall, then shelving is the perfect choice for you.  Not only does it give you the flexibility to have an array of items displayed, but it can act as a storage solution for books or any small trinkets you might have.  Try floating shelves for a clean, modern look, or something like this stylish mid-century inspired bracket shelving and desk for a more functional approach.        

5.  Handmade hangings.

Oleander and Palm

Chelcie by the Sea

Add an organic touch to your blank wall with handmade wall hangings.  They’re a great way to add a pop of color and texture to a wall without taking up too much space.  Featured is one of our own design assistants here at Lunada, Chelcie, and her beautiful creations.  Check out her locally sourced driftwood hangings here and get inspired to add a bit of nature to your blank wall!