the cityhammer blog

If you've been living in the New York area for a decent amount of time, chances are you've been in a Janovic store, either to grab a can of paint for a quick touch-up or for a more involved painting or window treatment project. Janovic's website also offers great tips for New Yorkers from interior design experts and this fall, they've got some inspirational ideas for the bedroom.

"Create a Sensuous Bedroom" features interior designer Elaine Ryan and offers a ton of ideas to decorate the one room that you spend most of your time in when you're at home (though during much of that, your eyes are closed!)

Ryan offers tips on incorporating more plush fabrics other than sheets, making sure the bed is the focal point of the room, using frothy colors, eschewing geometrics and plaids for the more appropriate floral patterns, and incorporating furniture for two.

The most interesting tip is related to how your bedroom lighting could actually downplay the cellulite on the occupant's body...yeah, that's a new one on us also...

Want to dispel cellulite, make yourself look thinner and bring a rosy glow to your cheeks? It’s as simple as a lampshade lined with pale pink or rose-colored fabric. Another trick Elaine suggests is to place a small lamp with rose-colored bulbs at the opposite end of the room from the bed. And make sure you install dimmers or rheostats so you can easily lower and manipulate the lighting level.

Anyway, if you've got the urge to get a new look going for the bedroom, be sure to check out Janovic for the full article: Bedroom Ideas from Elaine Ryan

As the design world prepares to receive his U.S. book of memoirs, tentatively titled "Writing on the Wall" next year, Nicky Haslam gives us a peak at what to expect with an upcoming Vanity Fair interview in the September issue. The article is entitled "Truly, Madly Nicky," and it is lengthy, comical and honest.

Who is Nicky Haslam? He was born the son of a British diplomat and descendant of an Earl in 1939, but became a world-renowned interior decorator, journalist and socialite. His exploits range from arriving in New York in 1961 and subsequently partying with Andy Warhol and the gang at The Factory, to becoming a rancher in Arizona. In between there were affairs, parties, incredible interior design work and a huge body of articles which helped Haslam rise to prominence in the mid to late 70's. Haslam wrote for The Spectator, The Ritz, and Vogue Magazine on subjects as diverse as architecture, decor and gossip.

Nicky Haslam has written some other books, notably his 2007 memoir which was published outside the US and is only available as an import, called "Redeeming Features". Those interested in interior designers will want to get a copy of his 2002 book "Sheer Opulence: Modern Glamour for Today's Interiors".

So grab yourself a copy of September's Vanity Fair and keep a look out for the official memoirs next year. Nicky Haslam is one of the most prolific and interesting designers ever and has led an incredible life that's sure to make for good reading.

That's a great question, and the answer is simpler than you might think. Many interior designers also do decoration (wall coverings, furniture choice, color ideas, decorative items, art work etc.) but an interior designer will also be able to supervise and plan out a more large scale project, including a major renovation. These days, there are general contractors who are also interior designers and window treatment firms that consider themselves decorators.

So the answer is, be less concerned with the terminology on the business card and more attentive to the professional designation of the designer/ decorator. This designation will be determined by the level and type of education that the person has, rather than what they refer to themselves as when pitching for business.

For example, many experienced and reputable New York interior designers will be members of the ASID, the American Society of Interior Designers. ASID boasts over 40,000 members in 48 chapters around the country.

As for interior decorators, they too have a professional organization that was actually founded by an interior designer named Ron Renner in 1997. Renner wanted to create something for the decorators in recognition of their knowledge and skill, and to distinguish them from designers as their own profession. This organization is called CID, or Certified Interior Decorators International. They were the first institution to certify decorators based on degrees of education and experience.

The bottom line would be to worry less about what design pro's refer to themselves as, and more about what licenses they carry as well as what professional organizations they belong to. Don't be afraid to ask the decorator or designer, as they will be happy to tell you about what they do specifically. This will also lead to a discussion on fee structure, which you'll want to be clear on anyway.

There are many advantages to working with both an interior designer and an interior decorator, but choosing between the two will more or less come down to the scope of the project and what it is you are looking to accomplish aesthetically.

For a more specific breakdown on Interior Designers and how to hire them, click the link: How to Hire a New York Interior Designer

For a list of Interior Designers and Decorators in New York and New Jersey, click here: New York Interior Designers and Decorators