Private Quarters Independent Comfort Consultant

Making a Difference

2010-04-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

You know some of us spend our whole lives wondering why are we here and how can we make a difference. This month has been such a rewarding experience for me not only as a Private Quarters Consultant but as a women.

April is Share the Comfort Month. For every party that is held in the month of April 2010 with guest sales of $500, or more Private Quarters will donate PQ merchandise with a retail value equal to 15% of the total value of the total guest sales to a battered or homeless women's shelter.

As a young women I experienced first hand what it is like to be in a relationship that I could not get out of. Fortunately for me it did not get to the point of having to go to a shelter I was lucky. But not all women are, thank god there is places for them to go with their children.

There is still time for you to make a difference. If you would like to purchase items to donate to a battered or homeless women's shelter I can take those orders until the end of the month.

Private Quarters was recently featured in "By a Thread", a short documentary by Free Wind Films that highlights the donations that Private Quarters is providing to women's shelters all across the United States. Watch by a Thread on line

PQ products you can donate

If you were a women who had to leave your abusive spouse or boyfriend and pack nothing or a small suitcase and flee to a shelter, wouldn't you want a soft blanket or pillow to lay your head on?

How about a towel to wrap around you after taking your first hot shower in safety because you never knew what might happen when you were in the shower at home. I know because I have been there.

Maybe a soft cozy robe is just the thing to put a smile back on your face that has been missing for a long time.

These are the little things you can purchase to donate that helps make a difference to the women in need.

Charity Work

2010-03-07T12:52:00.000-08:00

I want to state that it is not my intention to offend anyone with what I am about to say it is just my opinion. As an Interior Designer and Private Quarters Comfort Consultant I must build relationships to grow my business. One of the tools I use to do this is my weekly e-mail news letter. This let's you get to know me better and tell you a little about my product. What I like about e-mail is that you can delete or unsubscribe. It is not like sending unwanted mail or calling on the phone. a person has a choice if they want to learn more or not.

Last week at my charity committee meeting I was asked not to use the rooster for business e-mailing. Now I am all for Charity Work and giving back to the community but I believe they have to work with us as business owners also. I am there giving of my time and money so I can help support the work they are doing. I believe that all the volunteers that are helping should be able to teach us about what they do so that we may help them get more business. After all I am trying to get to know more people so that I may pass them on to my friends and family. If I don't know what they do I cannot refer them to people I know. That is just the fact.

Health, Safety and Welfare

2010-03-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

When I received this e-mail I knew that I had to let other people know. I also did a little research and this story cannot be veryfied but if you are having any of these issues below I beleive you should take action. As an Interior Designer most people think that all we do is choose paint and fluff pillows. This is just not true, when I select materials for my client I must always be thinking of the health, safety and welfare of what I am specifying. It is my job to make sure that what I am putting in a home or office is up to code and safe, after all my name and reputation is on everything I select.

Here is a story of a persons whose house burnt to the ground because of the plug-in type room freshners. I am not sure if the story is true or not but if there is a chance it maybe true I would want to make that choice for myself. An insurance investagator said that was the cause of the fire. He has seen more house fires started with the plug-in type room freshners then anything else. He also said that in every case there was nothing left to even prove that it ever exsisted. When the investegator looked in the wall plug the two prongs left from the plug-in were still in there

This person had one of the plug-ins that had a small night light built in it. She said she had noticed that the light would dim and then finally go out. She would walk into the bathroom a few hours later, and the light would be back on again. The investagator said that the unit was getting too hot, and would dim and go out rather then just blow the light bulb. Once it cooled down it would come back on ....... This is a warning sign.

The investagator said he personnelly wouldn't have any type of plug-in fragrance devices anywhere in his house. He has seen to many places that have been burned down due to them.

If this might happen wouldn't you want to know?

Being Myself

2010-02-21T14:02:00.000-08:00

When I go on a first meeting with a new design client I am always nerveous. With so many shows on TV that have Interior Designers on them you are not quite sure what someone is expecting. For me I have to be who I am and just be myself. This week I had an incredible first meeting with a potential new client. They welcomed me into their home and made me feel very comfortable. By being myself it was not only a great meeting but I got the project and left their home with a handful of gifts from where they work. This was very unusual for me and a first. You know you have made a connection when you leave a person's home feeling like part of the family.

Olympic Spirit

2010-02-16T14:03:00.000-08:00

I love the Olympics winter, summer I don't care. Now I can't say I watch every sport (thank God for DVR's) but the one thing I try not to miss is the Opening Ceremonies. This is not where you only see but feel the true Olympic Spirit. When those athletics come out on the field not only representing their Country but the pride of being the best in their sport you can't help but be overwhelmed by some kind of feeling. This past Friday was even more emotional as we found out one of the Luge competitors from the Country of Georgia lost his life in a practice run. My heart goes out to his mother, family and fellow Countrymen. God Bless

Staying Motivated

2010-02-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

Even with the hope of a New Year it isn't easy to stay motivated. This week I lost a very big design project, they gave it to the contractors designer. Wow what a surprise that was when I didn't even know the contractor had a designer bidding for the job. It is not necessarily about your ideas or how well you connected with the client but it is about who you know, that is just the cold hard truth.

So you pick yourself up dust yourself off and move on to the next potential client. For me it is not trying to figure out what I did wrong which is always my first thought, but it is about how I can stay motivated.

A few of the things I do is stay current with new design materials, styles and trends. Anytime I can attend seminars on information or education in the design industry it is important to me to fit that into my already busy schedule. I show up to my weekly networking groups it is an opportunity to build those relationships, remember it is not what you know but who you know.

I find new way's to better myself as a person, by doing at least one charity project. giving back is very important you will find the more you give the more you get back.

Any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at valeriepugliese@yahoo.com

Growing Old

2009-10-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

Last week I received a call from my cousin who was looking for my mom and thought she was with me. Of course she was not because I live here in Simi Valley California and she lives in Sutherlin Oregon. I had to call a neighbor and ask them to go over and see if my mom was in her home. Let me tell you that was the longest 10 minutes of my life. I had to hope for the best but get ready for the worst which of course would have been finding my mom dead in her home. Why because she lives alone with no family near her. Her sister died this past summer which left her completely by herself. Under normal circumstances that would be fine except that she has MDD (macular degenerate disease) which means she is disabled and does not see very well. She is very independent as far as that goes. She just needs someone to check on her and take her shopping.
But now that has all changed and she was not found dead on the floor in her home she had called 911 and was taken to the hospital. She had a severe case of pancreatitis and now we are working on getting her strong enough to come live with us. The point of all this is that there comes a time in all of our lives that we need help. It is not always when we are young and struggling with money or a place to live. Sometimes it is when we find out that we are just too old to take care of all the things we use to do. It is an honor and a prievledge to be able to help my mom at this time as there have been so many times in my life that she has helped me without question.
So if you get the opportunity to help out someone who is ageing please remember all the times they were there for you. You must treat them with respect and dignity for they might be stubborn and hard to deal with but they are so worth it.

DYI wallpapering should I? or shouldn't I?

2009-09-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

DYI wallpapering should I? Or shouldn’t I?
So you want to do something different in your home then just paint. Great wallpaper can be used to transform a room with color, pattern and texture. Wallpaper can also be the best solution for disguising less than perfect walls. Wall papers are available in a wide variety of designs, patterns and styles. The material can also vary such as vinyl, paper, fabric etc.
The most important steps you need to learn are how to prepare a wall, estimate materials, and how to hang paper. Installing wallpaper is far from an easy task. But if you follow some do’s & don’ts on how to hang wallpaper, you can ensure your wallpapering job will come out looking good.
Do: 1. Assess the state of the walls you want to wallpaper before doing it. Are they smooth and flat? Or do they need a little work before hanging wallpaper?2. Do remove the old wallpaper first, fill in with polyfiller any nail holes you have from hanging pictures or photographs.3. Do use drop cloths over your furniture, pack knick knacks away so they don't get broken in the process.4. Do buy pre-pasted wallpaper. It’s a lot easier to install, just needs wetting.5. If your walls are rough or uneven choose a thick wallpaper to cover this.
Don'ts:1. if you’re a first time wallpapered do not choose a difficult pattern to match.2. Don't buy dark wallpaper if it’s for a small room, it will just make the room look smaller.3. Don't forget to buy the proper wallpapering tools; a scraper, a wallpaper pan to wet the wallpaper, a sharp utility knife for trimming edges and a step ladder.
Now if all of this sounds like more work then you wanted to do please seek professional help. We all remember what happened to Lucy & Ethel when they wallpapered themselves.

Rembering 9/11/2001

2009-09-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

Remembering 9/11

I know on this anniversary we must remember where we were and how far we have come. I will never forget the morning of September 11, 2001 and I am sure neither will you. I remember waking up to Mark & Brian and thinking it was one of their skits on the radio. Wondering why would they being doing that? It was only moments later that the phone rang and someone on the other line was saying to me have you seen it have you seen what is happening in New York?

My first reaction was shock and not being able to take my eyes of the T.V and then the second one came and the third and all I could think is oh my God what is happening how can this be. We are supposed to be safe after all this is America it happens in other countries but not ours not the United States of America.

For weeks maybe even months I was very scared I was afraid that they would hit Los Angeles next I mean if they could hit a big city like New York we were definitely next. But thank God it never came and now we are here September 11, 2009 8 years later. As I read the news paper or see headlines on the internet I am very moved by the people of this country and there acts of kindness and compassion. Here are just a few of them that took place today

Volunteers marked 9/11 Friday by tilling gardens, writing letters to soldiers, setting out flags — and, at ground zero, by joining the somber ritual of reading the names of the lost.

We honor all those who gave their lives so that others might live, and all the survivors who battled burns and wounds and helped each other rebuild their lives," Obama said. He said the day was meant also as a tribute to the "service of a new generation."

Across the country, Americans marked the anniversary with service projects.
At a plaza adjacent to the World Trade Center site, volunteers — from soup kitchens, advocacy groups, the Red Cross, the United Way — joined relatives of the lost to read the names of those killed in the twin towers.

Moments of silence were observed at 8:46, 9:03, 9:59 and 10:29 a.m. — the precise times that jetliners struck the north and south towers of the trade center and that each tower fell.

The memorial, to be partially complete by the 10th anniversary in 2011, will ultimately include two square pools evoking the towers' footprints, with victims' names surrounding them and waterfalls cascading down the sides.

These are just a few of the many ways people of this country paid tribute to other people of this country that gave their lives 8 years ago.
Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on 9/11/01?

This weeks Color is BLUE

2009-09-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

Blue Is the color of consistency and truth it can slow the perception of time. It can create a calming effect and even cool down the body temperature.

Navy is a great color to use in business. That is probably why so many people choose a blue suit for job interviews. Interiors done in blue will be pleasing and tranquil by using blue paint on walls you can make a room feel distant and receding.

SHADES & TINTS
Bright Blue - Electric, energetic, vibrant, happy, dramatic
Navy - Credible, authoritative, basic, classic, conservative, strong, dependable, confident, professional

Turquoise - Ocean, tropical, jewelry
Aqua - Cool, fresh, liquid, ocean, refreshing, healing
Light Blue - Calm, quiet, peaceful, cool, water, clean
Sky Blue - Calming, cool, heavenly, constant, faithful, true, dependable, happy, restful, tranquil
Teal Blue - Pleasing, rich, classy, expensive, unique

Tips on Remodeling your Kitchen

2009-08-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

We know the economy is up but it still is not a good time to sell your home. But it is a great time to invest in your home and one of the best investments is to update and remodel your kitchen. The kitchen is the hub or heart of the home let's face it besides your bedroom it is the second most used room in the house not counting the bathroom.

If you are up to it you can do the remodel yourself, I do suggest that you sub out things like electrical and plumbing. Be realistic about the time frame of the project if you think it will be six weeks it is probably going to be closer to ten.

So lets start with cabinets. Purchase good cabinets from a reputable manufacturer with a guarantee trust me in the long run it will keep you sane and married. Buy stained cabinets rather than painted ones. You can save money by eliminating the bells and whistles. Many items cutlery dividers, extended drawers, a trash bin, and utensil dividers are now standard, so you can easily include these and skip the other add-ons.

Need a budget-friendly alternative to expensive stone slabs? How about butcher block warm to the touch and durable and only requires periodic maintenance.

To add some detail to your cabinets that will make them look more expensive then it really is add a bun leg on each corner of a cabinet or in front of the toe kick, so it looks like a freestanding piece of furniture. Bun legs are about $25 each, and you can paint or stain them to match your cabinets.

For your back splash create a focal point by choosing simple 4-x-4-inch tiles with just a few accent tiles to add pop. It will give your kitchen a whole different feel by adding a focal point. These are just a few tips this interior designer can give you for remodeling your kitchen remember sometimes getting a professional designer can help save time and money.

The Color YELLOW

2009-08-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

YELLOW Is the best color to draw attention
It is thought as being joyful, outgoing and friendly. It is the ideal color for dark or dreary rooms. Does not darken with saturation, but becomes brighter
It is the fastest color the eye sees
It is thought of as being cheerful.
Interiors will be luminous, glistening & joyful
Shades & Tints
Light Yellow - Cheerful, happy, soft, sunny, warm, sweet
Bright Yellow - Enlightening, sunshine, cheerful, friendly, hot, luminous, energy
Greenish Yellow - Lemony, tart, fruity, acidic
Golden Yellow - Autumn, flowers, harvest, rich, sun, warm, wheat, comforting, sun-baked, buttery
Gold - Warm, opulent, expensive, radiant, valuable, prestigious

Kids Going Back to School

2009-08-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

For some of us women, our kids going back to school is a relief from a long summer. It is time to get back to a routine and to have time for you. It is that peace in the morning at about 8:15 AM when everything is quite and all is right with the world until 2:25 PM when they get home.
For others it can be the empty nest syndrome. It can be having your only son or daughter leave home to start college. I know a women who became so lonely she went out and bought two little dog’s to keep her company. She has to know that her kid will only go to school for 4 years and most of them come home. But a dog can live 15 to 20 years it is like raising a kid all over again go figure.
I know it is easy for me to say I still have my two boys at home. Even when my oldest might go off to school I will still have the younger one at home. So I guess the best solution would be have them go to a local college, first of all it will be less expensive and they won’t have to ever leave home. OMG what am I saying.

If you are having difficulty with your child going back to school drop me an e-mail I would love to hear from you.

Color of the week is Orange

2009-08-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

First of all it appeals to a great number of people it denotes affordability and it makes you think of the fall season also such holiday’s as Halloween and Thanks Giving. It can also stimulate the appetite.

Combines the heat from red and yellow to make it the hottest color

Interiors will be glowing, vital and energizing

Shades & Tints
Orange - Fun, whimsical, childlike, happy, glowing, vital, sunset, harvest, juicy, tangy, energizing, gregarious, friendly, loud
Peach - Nurturing, soft, fuzzy, delicious, fruity, sweet, inviting

Some Fresh Ideas on Better Networking

2009-08-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

Let me ask you these questions in order to prompt ideas for taking new contacts from Business Acquaintance to Business Relationship status:

1. Do you really understand this person's business? Have you asked the right questions in order to be listening for an opportunity on this person's behalf? Do you truly know who and what they are looking for?
2. Whom do you know that this person might like to meet, and might generate an opportunity for both of them? I am suggesting you THINK deeply about who you know that could really help this person in their business.
3. If you can't offer this person a referral or a new piece of business, what else might benefit him/her? Would it be an opportunity to speak publicly, or maybe an opportunity to be on a panel?

I am now going to give you 3 direct tips and the benefit to following up and becoming a magnet for better business relationships:

1. Ask someone to speak at an event or maybe have a casual gathering at your home
Benefit: You've helped this person gain visibility in the right arena.
2. Ask someone to contribute to your newsletter or another newsletter you know about that would be relevant to their business.
Benefit: You've helped this person gain visibility and credibility.
3. Ask them if they'd like a recommendation on a professional networking site such as Linked In.
Benefit: Who doesn't want people to be recognized favorably and publicly?

It does take some effort to come up with ways to take a new business relationship to the next level. Getting to know a person on a social level helps to gain trust and credibility. You are more likely to do business with someone you know then someone you don’t. Doesn't it make sense to optimize that investment by taking a little extra initiative and proactively making these relationships rewarding and even productive?

Let me know what you might add to better networking.

Color RED

2009-08-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

Red Causes the most diverse reaction of all the colors. It signals excitement, danger and sex. Can causes sense of smell improvement & increase in appetite. Speeds up the perception of time. Evokes physiological response in increased heart rate and rapid breathing

Interiors done in red will be dramatic and provocative

Shades & Tints

•Bright Red - Exciting, energizing, sexy, hot, dynamic, stimulating, provocative, dramatic, aggressive, powerful
•Bright Pink - Exciting, happy, hot, attention-getting, energetic, youthful, spirited, fun, trendy, wild
•Light Pink - Romantic, soft, sweet, tender, cute, babies, delicate
•Dusty Pink - Cozy, soft, subtle, dusky
•Mauve - Soft, subdued, quiet, sentimental
•Burgundy - Rich, elegant, refined, tasty, expensive, mature
•Fuchsia - Bright, exciting, fun, hot, high energy, sensual
•Brick Red - Earthy, strong, warm, countryTerracotta - Earthy, warm, wholesome, country, welcoming

Designer tips on Staging

2009-08-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

First I want to say that I am not a stager I am an interior designer. There are many differences between a person who stages your home and a designer who designs your home. Someone who stages usually carries an inventory of furniture, accessories and art work to select from. Home Staging is the art of styling your home for the buying audience. A designer is someone who helps you after you are in the home to give it a custom personal look.
I just want to share a few tips on what a home owner can do to make their property more attractive to prospective buyers.
CLEAR CLUTTER -- Begin by clearing away the personal clutter, including everything from paperwork to photos to collections. Remember that the potential buyer needs to visualize themselves in the space, and your particular brand of "lived-in" may not match up with theirs.
CHECK FURNITURE FLOW -- There needs to be enough in place to suggest proper scale and capacity within each room, but not so much that traffic flow is hindered and architectural elements are obscured.
TONE DOWN -- Neutralize walls and floors to create a backdrop for buyer imagination. Replace patterned wall coverings with off-white paint, and install low-grade tan wall-to-wall carpet.

Any Questions or Comments

A Little Info on COLOR

2009-08-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

Color is the single most important factor in creating the mood of a room. It is the element that everyone understands and has been proven to be a psychological stimulus. Color can unify furnishings that otherwise seem unrelated. Color can minimize architectural faults such as cracked walls or poorly placed windows. It can also make a small room seem larger or large rooms seem smaller. Research suggests that colors have "temperature"; they are either warm or cool. Warm colors, on one side of the color wheel are yellow, yellow-orange, orange, red-orange and red. They are cheerful and powerful. Warm colors can be used in rooms with Northern exposure. They can also be used to put life into activity rooms. Children love warm colors best. Adults who like these colors tend to be outgoing and active. The Cool Colors, on the other side of the color wheel, are purple, violet, blue, blue-green and green. More soothing and restful than warm colors, they can be used in rooms with Southern and Eastern exposure to create a calm ambiance. People who prefer cool colors are usually reserved and introspective. In the bloggs to follow I will be giving more information on COLOR.

Sarah Palin to visit Simi Valley

2009-07-31T16:22:00.000-07:00

On August 8, 2009 Sarah Palin will be speaking at the 50th anniversary of Republican Women here in Simi Valley, Ca at the Ronald Regan Library. Now I don't have anything against Republican Women but I do have a bone to pick with Sarah Palin. What kind of human being are you that you would pass a law to destroy such an animal as the wolf? I love wolves and I do not believe that ariel killing is very sporstman like. Infact it is anything but, tell me how does chasing down a wolf untill exhausted with a helicopter which obviously goes much faster then a wolf can run be a sport? Last week I received a call from an animal activist organzation that informed me that Alaska is now putting CO2 cansters in the dens to kill off the pups. They say it is better then them starving which happens because they kill the parents. I am gald she resigned as Govener of Alaska I think they are better off with out her.

How do you feel about this?

Adopted Pets

2009-07-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

First I want to say that I love animals then I want to say there are to many dog's & cat's already on this planet that do not have homes. In my opinion adopting a pet from an animal shelter is not only good for them but good for you and your family. If you are looking for a new pet please think about adopting from your local animal shelter. Sometimes an older dog is better they have already gone threw that puppy stage. Wouldn't you rather have a dog that is already house broken and does not chew up your shoes? Think about it

My Philosophy for Designs by Valerie

2009-07-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

As a professional designer I have the education, experience and expertise to create the best design for you. I will give you a variety of options through which you can achieve your decorating goals. I want my clients living space to accommodate their needs as individuals or as a family. Color, furniture and attention to details are always part of my design. If I choose a color palette for you it must be consistent. Each room is not a separate entity they need to work together as a whole. I want to share my passion with everyone and I believe that all people with all budgets deserve good design. A good reputation is earned through creativity and quality service.