DeAnna Radaj...helping you Design the Life of Your Dreams! - Blog

Feng Shui Fabulous for Easter

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:13:14 -0800

Hi All-
Just a quick post to post the Feng Shui Fabulous radio show I did for Easter. Enjoy!

Feng Shui Fabulous for Easter

Listen to internet radio with Bante Design LLC on Blog Talk Radio

Do you know what your body is telling you?

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:03:02 -0800

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Do you know what your body is telling you?

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:02:58 -0800

Hi All-
Happy Easter & Happy Passover to all!

***As we ready our move (FINALLY) down south to sunny Charlotte, Bante Design is offering a GOOD-BYE MILWAUKEE promotion. Now through April 15, 2012 you can schedule a consultation (clutter-busting, color, Feng Shui or design) for 50% OFF!!! Yes, 1/2 price! And, if you reside in the county of Milwaukee, this can be an IN-PERSON consult rather than via the web! This promotion is available to any & all, the IN-PESON option is only for Milwaukee County residents. Consultation MUST be completed by June 30, 2012 for a WEB consultation. The IN-PERSON option must be scheduled for completion by April 20, 2012. Contact us here if you'd like to take advantage of this GOOD-BYE MILWAUKEE promotion.***

This blog posting will cover 2 topics actually...First, a wonderful opportunity from someone I met through my Women Making a Difference radio show, Stacey Mayo. She has an incredible energy, is an award-winning author & is currently working with helping people get connected with their bodies to help live a healthier life. I promised to pass on the info....Here it is:

Most of you are interested in your health. It affects your ability to do a lot of things such as live out your dreams. Sometimes things get worse as we age, but it does not have to be that way if you learn to listen to your body and understand what it is saying to you.

For instance, if you have kidney problems, it is related to some family issue with kids. Really, it is. (grin). If you have leg cramps, it means you are cramped up about something.

Stacey Mayo, who is a colleague of mine that I have a lot of respect for, learned so much over the past year via working with her own body and that of others and is passionate about everyone to be able to understand their own body and be as healthy as they desire for the rest of their life.

You can consider your body one of your guides.

She is offering you a f'ree audio of a class and a free report to help you understand more about how your body talks to you.

You do NOT have to be a medical intuitive to learn to listen to what your own body is telling you. It whispers to you and if you don't understand it, the whispers get louder and eventually it hits you like a ton of bricks.

This audio and report is for anyone who has had health symptoms and wants to better understand what your body is telling you.

Register now and receive the opportunity to win personal time with Stacey to release the blocks that are keeping you from being healthy or your proper weight and size. .

OK...as our thoughts turn from detoxing our bodies & maybe even "spring cleaning" our fridges & pantries...how about those closets? With SPRING comes a lightening of the soul of sorts, which gets reflected in our homes. Following are some tips to get you started...

"Clutter is the physical manifestation of our emotional baggage" is The Clutter Counselor philosophy.

You must 3 questions of EVERY item: Do you LOVE it? Do you USE it? Do you NEED it? If you can't answer "yes" or are ambivalent, then the item must GO!
Have 3 piles: Keep, Sell/Donate, Toss. Again, no rationalizing...you either answer affirmative to the aforementioned questions, and then if getting rid of it, decide if you want to sell it (rummage sale/eBay/consignment), donate it (easiest & quickest) or toss it if it can't be sold/donated or is damaged or outdated.
Do not let guilt, price (expensive/on sale), sentimentality or the "but...I MIGHT need it..." get in the way of your purging. You may have needed it at one time, but not now...You may have gotten it at a great deal, but if you don't USE it or NEED it, then you could have gotten it for free & it's still just taking up space.
If the item is something you bought for status (my neighbor has one!) or because you think you SHOULD have one (doesn't everyone need rotary saw?...uh, no) but again, you don't use it, or even know HOW to use it (ask me about the garlic press story...ugh!) it needs to go.
Your "stuff" should be a reflection of who you are NOW & where you are going, not where you were. Items should be used & well-maintained, otherwise, you don't REALLY care about the item.
Once you've gone throught "the purge", organizing the space according to HOW and WHEN you use the item is next. If possible, organize seasonal items accordingly for easy use when needed & out of the way out-of-season. Utilize the entire space-meaning VERTICAL space, not just HORIZONTAL. Pegboard and slatwall are perfect for use in a garage, and then you can customize according to what you have & how YOU use it. Garages don't have to be dirty, dark and scary places...
Remember, your clutter is the "physical manifestation of your emotional baggage"! Do not keep things out of guilt or because you think you "have to"...it must serve a purpose & be cared for, or it just becomes junk that takes up space, time & energy in trying to maintain, a source of stress/anxiety whenever you look at it (if you don't know how to use something, you get reminded of your "inadequacy" every time you look at it & who needs that?), and takes up space for something you may really want and/or need.

Happy Spring!!....DeAnna :)

Want to add some more square footage to your home?....

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:41:25 -0800

...Look to your OUTDOOR space for increasing your living and/or entertaining space! I just got back from Spring Fling at the Merchandise Mart-Chicago & tips, colors & new furniture trends for the outside were front & center! Here's what I saw:

John Gidding on Outdoor Architecture & Furniture:
John showed some of his Before/After projects from his HGTV show, Curb Appeal & Curb Appeal: the Block, as well as some of his custom furniture he's incorporated into his designs. Some VERY cool benches for porches & patios & yes, I'd love to implement MY spin on this. His main tip: Stay true to the architecture of the home, have fun, & don't be afraid of color!

***I had the pleasure of interviewing John at the Milwaukee NARI Fall Home & Garden Show! Here's the radio interview from the CasaVerde radio show & the corresponding article. He's gracious, engaging & incredibly talented as you'll see & hear from the interviews. ***

Anacara Company:
I had the pleasure of interviewing showroom manager, Stephanie Fishel for a series of minis for the Bante Design youtube channel. Check out Outdoor Fabrics & Outdoor Furniture Trends by clicking on the links. Trends I saw here included:
mixing of materials (rattan, wood & metal, rattan & metal, wood & metal), double chaises are HOT & outdoor furniture imitating its indoor counterparts so that it can be used indoors as well as for outdoor use.

Finally, here are some tips I incorporate for my design clients:

Treat your outdoor space like any other space in your home. Color, lighting, furniture arrangement & upholstery choices all come into play.
Landscaping should act as your "walls". Have a privacy issue? Think taller, fuller trees & shrubs...You can also 'create' rooms w/your landscaping as well: private gardens, play areas for the kids and/or pets...
Lighting is just as important here as indoors. Effective landscape lighting helps create depth to your space when you are looking outside from the indoors, otherwise you get a "black" wall when you look out your window.
The Power Position also applies here as it does inside. The grill/bbq or main seating area should be placed in this area.
Your FRONT space should reflect the architectural style of your home (i.e. have a colonial, then you want a more symmetrical & formal...a cottage? You can be a bit more organic), the BACK can be more personalized & fun.

Would you like some help with your outdoor space? Some help Feng Shui-ing your garden? Contact us here to schedule a consultation & we'd be more than happy to help! Also, if you need some help clutter-busting your space as you ponder a Spring Cleaning, make sure to check out The Clutter Counselor & get a "clutter-busting" consult! I'm here to help support you & help you design the life of your dreams...whether that's helping w/detoxing your space, doing a Healthy Home Analysis or helping you space-plan an outdoor space to enjoy the fabulous warmer weather...Drop us an email so we can see if we're a match! Enjoy....D :)

Adding Value to Your Home Utilizing UNIVERSAL DESIGN...

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:56:07 -0800

Hey All-
The topic of Universal Design has come up at trade shows, trade magazines & in many real estate publications that cater to Baby Boomers & the Senior Set. Here are some quick tips on what Universal Design IS & how it can be implemented into your current space, regardless of your age. It's important to highlight that Universal Design is beneficial to ALL age ranges & physical/mental capabilities.

The definition of Universal Design is "Universal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to both people without disabilities and people with disabilities" From Wikipedia, "Universal design emerged from slightly earlier barrier-free concepts, the broader accessibility movement, and adaptive and assistive technology and also seeks to blend aesthetics into these core considerations. As life expectancy rises and modern medicine increases the survival rate of those with significant injuries, illnesses, and birth defects, there is a growing interest in universal design. There are many industries in which universal design is having strong market penetration but there are many others in which it has not yet been adopted to any great extent. Universal design is also being applied to the design of technology, instruction, services, and other products and environments."

Here's more from an interview I did last year on this topic:

An EFFICIENT Floor-Plan will help you stay in your home longer:

Examples include:An efficient floor-plan (i.e. public rooms in the front (living/family) and private rooms (bedrooms) in the back. A ranch/single story floor plan is what they should look at due to no stairs, as this can/will be hard on knees/hips if/when arthritis or other bone & joint issues occur. If a 2-story is currently owned, a master bedroom w/en suite bath on the 1st floor, with the rest of bathrooms on 2nd floor is OK. Bathrooms that have a 5' turning radius to accommodate wheelchair/walkers, and a bath that has a separate shower (no tub feature) for easier access. Doorways/hallways need to be at least 42" to accommodate a wheelchair if necessary (most new construction already has this as part of code, but older homes only have a 36' door.

Why incorporate Universal Design features now?

Incorporating these features now allows ease of access for ALL family members now. And, as you have "time" right now & aren't hurried, you can remodel/design without being rushed. Plus, some projects may fall under the current tax credits by the govt so you can take advantage of this on your tax returns.

Do Universal Design features ADD VALUE to your home?

Yes! It's not just seniors/baby boomers who utilize Universal Design. Anyone with sight impairments or physical disabilities can be empowered with the addition of UD in their spaces. From faucets & drawer pulls in the bathroom/kitchen, to wider doorways and flooring options, this increases your buyer pool AND can increase price of house as the VALUE of the house is increased due to updates.

What are the most important or must-have Universal Design features?

Hard flooring surfaces with no height differences in transitions from various rooms. This is for ease of use with walkers/wheelchairs. This is also an easier to maintain floor for those with children/pets. It is imperative that there is a non-skid runner/accent rug to prevent slips & falls.
Lever-style faucets and drawer & cabinet pulls in the bathroom and kitchen. This helps children and those suffering from arthritis to be able to open cabinets & drawers easily, and be able to turn faucet on/off with minimal discomfort. Think "D" shaped
Counter-tops-Exchange glossy surfaces for those with matte finish decreasing glare. Also rounded corners as opposed to angled/sharp corners to prevent accidents.
Lighting-Increase lighting in kitchens/baths with under cabinet lighting by adding T8 light strips to help evenly distribute light & reduce glare. This should be done anyway for safety reasons to cut down on accidents.
Appliances-Upgrade old appliances for those with UD feature such as drawer refrigerator/freezers/microwaves to help decrease stooping and bending.

What benefits does an aging-in-place specialist or interior designer who has a skill-set in Universal Design bring to such a venture? Why hire one? What kind of recommendations are they qualified to make?

Hiring someone who is a specialist in this category helps save time, as they are the "expert" and can more readily design/remodel a space and/or make recommendations that are in compliance w/UD. They will also be up-to-date on codes, trends & new products that someone not in the trade would have access to. Someone who is a UD expert has taken CEU courses, dealings with vendors/manufacturers on UD products and has a background in this to help expedite the process.

Wow...is it REALLY March already?...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:24:07 -0800

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Wow...is it REALLY March already?...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:24:03 -0800

Hey All-
LOTS going on right now...getting ready to finalize the LONG anticipated move to new, fabulous home outside of Charlotte, moving my Mom to her new place as she sold her WI home & is down-sizing, doing some more re-vamping to Bante Design & how I'm going to re-organize our product/service offerings, working on the 3rd book & taking care of 2 sick little dogs who got into some tulip bulbs...(yuck...all I've got to say on that).

So, here goes:
The CasaVerde radio show is back up & running w/the new series, Design for a Disaster. Check out the 1st 2 episodes on the show home page where I discussed SECURITY & SAFETY. Up next is PREPARATION (& how not to look like a hoarder!) & starting a VICTORY GARDEN. Other shows up include Property Virgins & Bad Realtors, & coming soon, When to RENT, BUY or REMODEL.

Watch for new videos on the Bante Design youtube channel. In the works: Naturpedic Healthy Mattresses, Tempaper wallpaper (the 1 wallpaper I would install for a project) & a new, super secret project I'm working on that I should be ready to unveil this summer...(the suspense....). I'm also going to be working on more video for the websites including FAQs & the 2 book websites to make them more interactive.

I was awarded, for the 2nd time!, BEST ADVICE from eLocal. The topic this time was on customer retention. Check it out here:

OK...that's about it for now...Next week I'll have some fun SPRING trends to report on once I return from Chicago. Will also be hearing from CasaVerde show friend, John Gidding, as he'll be giving a seminar that I'm attending. (Click on the link for the radio show interview & here for my column I wrote w/the interview)...Until then, enjoy the weather!! DeAnna :)

Exclusive to eLocal Blog-Off Experts

Design for a Disaster

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:24:09 -0800

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Design for a Disaster

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:24:05 -0800

Yikes...what a title...however, as most of you know, I love to try & make a connection to what I love & correlate it somehow w/design. How DESIGN can help, empower & support whatever it is that you are doing, love and/or dream of. Right now, I'm hooked on Doomsday Preppers (National Geographic channel) which plays into some of the survival training I've taken (see what to do in case of an EMU attack!). And, as someone who's weathered a hurricane & is subject to the crazy weather in WI (snow, blizzards & the like) & soon to be the Carolina coast (hurricane again), I feel that design DOES play a part into how prepared you are & how you will "weather the storm" as it were.

Also, due to the economy & other threats to our physical well-being from foreign/domestic sources, how prepared we are in terms of food & even energy should all be taken into consideration. Do you stay or do you go? Do you have a plan as to WHERE to go if something happens? What if you aren't prepared & the grocery store has a run & all that's left is non-essentials? These are all things that you need to be aware of & prepared for in case something happens. A disruption in the food chain CAN happen & has. All anyone has to do is watch the news during a fire or hurricane evacuation. Look what happned on the East Coast after last summer's earthquake & hurricane...some places were without power for upto 2 weeks! Could you & your family survive?

So, it with all of this in mind that I start this new series on the CasaVerde radio show & this blog. Today's episode featured SECURITY & some tips on how to "view" your house as an intruder would & some simple tips to keep you safe. Here are some from David Morris & the Secrets of Urban Survival newsletter:

Around The House.

When returning home, do a quick check to make sure that your “castle” hasn’t become someone else’s “castle” while you were gone. Are any lights/windows broken? Are multiple security lights suddenly malfunctioning? Are pets responding normally? Is your door locked? Does your alarm beep like it should when you open your door?

As a quick note, during “normal” times, if you know that an intruder is in your house, your best course of action is to call 911 and retreat to somewhere where you can provide updates, descriptions, and take pictures.

On this topic, are your firearms secured so that an intruder won’t be able to find them and use them on you? If you don’t carry weapons, do you know where traditional and improvised weapons are near your door?

I LOVE fire extinguishers. Quoting Clint Smith, “Spray them with the white stuff and hit them with the red thingy.” Do you have plenty of metal fire extinguishers? New fancy compact fire extinguishers have their place, but it’s hard to beat the versatility of a big old metal fire extinguisher.

What is normal? Observe what normal is…for your neighbors, for your neighborhood. Cars, coming & going, etc. It will not only alert you to people and events that are out of the ordinary, but it will also help you get to know your neighbors better. You’ll quickly see who’s social, who races off every morning with a scowl on their face, who always waves and has a smile, etc. You’ll also see who notices you and who is oblivious to the world and completely un-aware.

I hope, if anything, this series of CasaVerde shows & blogs will help you at least become aware of what can happen & that you look at your home in a new way...One to protect you & keep you & your family secure in these uncertain times. As always, if you have a question or a suggestion on a topic you'd like me to address, contact me at askdeanna@bantedesign.com. Cheers!

Feng Shui for Valentine's Day

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:13:26 -0800

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