5 Tips to get organized for Back to School

With the kids starting back to school, this is the perfect time to get everyone organized!  

Consider the following home updates to help with all the back to school madness:

1. Prepare the entry Point

   • Wherever your family comes and goes is bound to be one of the messiest places in your home. The kids throw their backpacks down, everyone leaves their dirty shoes sitting out and stacks of coats are piling up.
   • Consider mounting wall hooks or installing a shelving unit so that everyone has their own designated cubby and tabletop to set things on. This way everything will be tucked away.

2. Post a Schedule

   • Invest in a large calendar for the kitchen or a common area.
   • OR consider putting chalkboard paint on a wall that everyone passes—there you can write upcoming events, to-do’s for the kids & fun messages! We love this idea.

3. Clean out the Closets

   • As the kids grow they need to be getting rid of and donating things that no longer fit them. Before you go back to school shopping, help them clean out their closets so you know exactly what they need when you shop!
   • Also clean out any old school books from last year so things don’t pile up and their storage drawers are clean and organized for this school year.

4. Stock the Pantry

   • Organize the pantry with snack bins, fruit & veggie bins, etc. With organized bins that are stocked up, it will be easy for the kids to pack their lunch or help themselves to a snack when they get home!

5. Organize YOUR office

   • While you’re doing all these things for the kids to get ready for back to school, why not take some time to organize your space? Besides, you’ll probably be getting more work done now with the kids out of the house, so you’ll want an organized area to work in.

Are you wanting to get a little more organized but not sure where to start?  We are here to help!  Give us a call and we can get you on the road to organization.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.  

6 Details to know when planning your Man Cave

The subject of the Man Cave has been hashed over on the internet for years.  As this was a "special request" blog subject from one of my friends, I thought I would come at it from a slightly different angle.  Instead of showing you some awesome Man Caves, I am going to show you some of the cool individual items you can have in your space and what size room you need for it to function properly.

1.  The Pool Table

A pool table has a rather large space requirement for it to function properly.  When measuring for a pool table you must know the size of your tables play surface plus the length of your pool cue x2.  Assuming you have purchased a 4' x 8' pool table (44" x 88" play surface) with average size pool cues of 58" each, your room needs to be a minimum of 17'-4" x 13'-11" to function properly.  Pool tables are available as small as 3'-6" x 7' up to the 4'-6" x 9' tournament table.  There is a perfect table for any size man/game room.

2.  Foosball table

Your search for the perfect modern Foosball Table is over.  Your average size Foosball Table is 2'-6" x 4'-8".  As you pull the players from side to side to protect your goal, you need plenty of space to pull your arms in and out and move from one end of the table to the other.  Minimum suggested play area for a Foosball Table is 7' x 8' however if you are a more competitive player you may want to add an additional foot to each side for a little more elbow room.

3.  Ping Pong Table/Table Tennis

Speaking of a competitive sport, I think Ping Pong ranks near the top of the list!  Ping Pong requires a large table and a lot of space at each end for the player to move back and forth as needed to keep the ball in play.  Though you may need 43' x 23' of space if you are a world champion table tennis player, the average home table can be placed in a space as small as 28' x 13'.  You may look at this number and say that is still a really large room and I totally agree with you on that.  Ping Pong is a game that can be adapted into a much smaller space when it is required.  The average table is 9' x 5'.  Keeping that in mind, any smaller space then what is recommended will only require you to be more creative with your strokes and adapt your style.  With this particular table if you have a disagreement about the the ball being in or out of play, just ask the table...she will tell you.

4.  Darts

Do you fancy yourself to be an awesome dart player?  No doubt you are.  Darts is a game of skill...as not everyone has this skill, make sure to place your dart board on a cork board or felt lined board to protect the surrounding walls.  Don't forget your chalk board for keeping score as well.  There are a couple of rules and regulations to hanging your board and marking your throw line.  When hanging your board, the center of the bullseye should be at 5'-8" high on your wall.  Make sure the board is mounted completely flat to the wall, not angled like a picture, with the 20 at the top.  For metal darts your throw line is 7'-9.25" from the wall.  Though some people say you can use a piece of tape to mark the line, I say NO!  If you are planning to have a dart board make a little extra effort and plan ahead.  If your room has wood flooring, have the installers place a special board at this line, slightly higher than the rest of the boards to mark your throw line, aka "hockey".  For concrete floors, place a tile line or paint a line in the designated area.  For carpet, have a "hockey" installed in the designated area and carpet all around it or install a different color carpet in your play area to give it a visual marker so others won't accidentally wander through your space. One more thing, if you have a hard floor surface, you may want to consider a rubber mat of some sort at the bottom of the board to catch any darts that may not stick firmly in the board when thrown. This will protect your darts and flooring at the same time.

5.  Video Games

The needs and possibilities are endless when it comes to the modern day game console.  What is your game of choice?  Since we ARE talking about a Man Cave, we can assume the room will need a minimum of a 60" HD TV with a killer surround sound system (all hidden in cabinets and the walls, of course).  Game consoles can provide everything from your morning exercise routine and teaching you the latest dance moves to killing aliens in the jungle and racing jet skis.  If you are a proud owner of an XBox One you will need approximately 4'-6" to 6' of clear floor space in front of you and even more behind you depending on the game/activity.  Another important action item for this game, make sure your room/play area has bright, even lighting

6.  The Kegerator!!!

When my husband reads this blog he will be the first to tell me that I should have STARTED with the kegarator, rather than ending with it. Having a bar or kegarator in your Man Cave is an awesome and somewhat expected thing.  There are many ways you can express your individual taste and personality with this item.  Everywhere from the refrigeration unit that you choose to the beer you put in it.  My suggestion is to not be afraid-- be creative.  Don't go out and modify a freezer and throw some spouts on the top, take it to the next level. Another more extensive option includes creating a bar space to house all of your beverages of choice along with glasses and other bar wares. Space for this will vary from the 24" wide under the counter unit to the double and triple units.  Make it fun by using multi-colored LED tape lights to back light your glass shelves and put a mirror behind the shelves to give the appearance of a larger space.

If you would love a Man Cave in your existing home or would like to create one in your new home, we would love to help.  Our goal is to help create that perfect masculine space your buddies never want to leave.  If you are in envy of all of your neighbors, we have done our job.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.  

Add color to your life with Forever Blue

Blue has forever been a human's favorite color. On average, people prefer blue over any other color.

It can be soothing or bold, but across the board it is aesthetically pleasing.  Blue gives you a sense of calmness and serenity.

And for that reason we love integrating blue into our interior design projects. Whether it's painting an accent wall, a whole room, or pulling in some bright blue chairs or pillows, the color blue always seems to compliment a design and add that final touch.

Below are some items that will help you incorporate blue into your home and add that pop of color you might be missing!

Blue Product Details:

1. Book Nook Armchair - West Elm - Chairs are the easiest ways to add a pop of blue since the options are endless!   2. Magnolia Coffee Table - InMod - We love this color of blue and it's so fun and unexpected on a coffee table!   3. Blue Casablanca Area Rug - Esale Rugs - Rugs are another easy, yet more pricey, way to bring in blue. An area rug like this really does have a soothing effect.   4. Embroidered Pillows - Chiapas Bazaar - Everyone loves beautiful embroidered pillows...especially in blue!   5. Topanga 4 Seater Sofa - Jonathan Adler - A soft turquoise sofa is atypical but so lovely!   6. Klein Homage to Tennessee - Room & Board - Yves Klein got famous off the color blue, if you're wanting to incorporate a classic blue into your home.   7. Capri Lights - Jonathan Adler - We love the idea of capri blue lights around the house, such a fun pop of color!   8. Aurora Azure - Calico Wallpaper - Fresh, buoyant and delightful wallpaper for a unique accent!   9. Triangle Jacquard Throw - West Elm - A super soft throw in an edgy print, perfect for the modernist.   10. Leather Moroccan Pouf - Jonathan Adler - Poufs are the must-have accessory of the year, and why not in blue leather?   11. Diagonal V Tiles - Cement Tile Shop - We love patterned tiles for the kitchen, bathroom backsplash or even for the floor!   12. Tolix Marais A Chair - Design Within Reach - Kitchens are one of the best places to add color and these classic turquoise chairs are the cutest!

If you love the idea of taking your home from "A tribute to tan" to something more fun and exciting but don't know how, we would love to help! Feel free to reach out to us.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.  

3 Things to do when Creating your Home Office

One of the more common things we are seeing in houses today is a fully functional home office.  More companies are trying to save money on commercial office spaces by having employees work from home and more people are running small businesses from their home. I too went through the work from home phase and was fortunate to have a "work from home professional" (my hubby) to show me the ropes and what NOT to do.  He went through several work phases starting with the laptop table in bed, to watching TV in his pj's while working, to finally realizing he needed to get up, shower, dress for the day and sit at an actual desk to be the most productive.

Some of you reading this now are nodding your heads and laughing because you too have experienced one or more of these phases.  When deciding if it is time to create your new home office, here are a few things to keep in mind while setting up the room to make each day productive and comfortable.

1.  Ergonomics for your home office

There are several items to consider to keep you comfortable and healthy in your home office space.  Do a little research to see what works best for the job you do.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when starting your search.

1. Use a good chair with a dynamic back that is angled slightly to the rear.
2. Top of monitor screen should be 2-3" above eye level
3. No glare on screen; use an optical glass anti-glare filter where needed
4. Sit at arms length from monitor; further if distance is comfortable and screen is readable.
5. Rest feet on floor or on a stable foot rest (move feet frequently for circulation)
6. Use a document holder, preferably in-line with the computer screen
7. Wrists should be flat and straight in relation to forearms to use keyboard/mouse/input device
8. Keeps arms and elbows relaxed close to body
9. Center monitor and keyboard in front of you
10. Use a negative tilt keyboard tray with an upper mouse platform or downward tilt-able platform adjacent to keyboard
11. Use a stable work surface and stable (no bounce) keyboard tray
12. Take frequent short breaks (micro breaks) and stretch.

2. Lighting for your home office

Lighting in your work space is important.  Having natural sunlight in your home office can make the difference between a happy workspace and a depressing, sleepy environment (see how I said "environment" here, because we all know that no work is being accomplished in a dark and dreary office).  Being able to enjoy a wonderful view of nature is a plus, but having any visual connection to the outside -even if it is just another building- can be beneficial to your work environment.

Having the right amount and type of light is important to prevent eye strain and this is achieved through layering light sources.  Besides natural sunlight it is important to have general overhead lighting to provide an even sheet of light over the entire space to minimize shadows and severe dark to light contrasts that can strain your eyes over time.  Another thing to consider is a good desk/task light to provide additional, focused lighting.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when lighting your work space:

• Make sure your lamp has enough light output to cover your entire work surface. Having the ability to adjust the placement and direction of the light is ideal.
• Place the lamp on the opposite side of your dominant hand to reduce shadows when writing or reading.
• Position your computer screen so it is angled away from the natural light by day and away from the light beam of the desk lamp at night. This will reduce the reflection on your computer screen.
• Use task lights combined with general lighting for reading, writing or drawing, this helps to avoid eye strain.

3.  Incorporate personal touches for inspiration in your home office

All work and no play can make anyone a dull boy/girl.  Make sure to include things in your space that inspire you.  Whether it is photos of your family, a beautiful piece of art or a mood board to help spur your next brilliant idea.  This is your space, use it how it works best for you.

There are many more factors to consider when creating your perfect home office space, it is impossible to cover them all in one blog.  We at Paula Ables Interiors pride ourselves in our ability to listen to your wants and needs and create a wonderful, aesthetically pleasing environment that functions just the way you need it to.  We want you to love the space you are in, whatever that room might be.  Do you have a drab office space in need of some love?  Or are you considering working from home and need to transform a room you can stand to be in for 8 hours, or longer, a day?  We would love to help you get there.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.

Helen Thompson - "Windows on Our World"

Helen Thompson is an Austin-based writer, producer, stylist and blogger, and she recently featured Paula Ables Interiors in an article! We love the Lake Austin Contemporary project she wrote about, and are so happy to have it published again! You can read the full article here, or on her website.

WINDOWS ON OUR WORLD Posted by Helen: May 11th, 2015

This limestone-and-stucco house by architect James LaRue and project manager Emily Marks is for an active family that enjoys hunting, fishing, swimming, and entertaining. Its location on Lake Austin is ideal for the enjoyment of the outdoors, but LaRue and Marks also created space for privacy. They designed a series of rooms and courtyards, in part to focus the view on the lake, and interior gardens that are extensions of the main rooms. They arranged the most-used spaces—the screened porch, living and dining rooms, and the master suite—to take advantage of the views. Garage and guest rooms were positioned closer to the street.

The exterior walls are made of antique Lueders limestone; stucco from Waterloo Plastering is finished in a putty color.

The house is sliced through by a dog trot, which also serves to point the view to the lake and the nature preserve beyond.

Landscape is by Tim Benton and Ramon Suarez, Land Restoration.

Interiors are by Paula Ables, who used a Radici USA wool rug to anchor the dining table by Lundon Furniture from Room & Board. The McCreary Modern chairs are also from Room & Board. Pendants are by Hubbardton Forge.

The house is linked by steel-gridded Portella doors and windows. Entry floors are ivory travertine; in the dining room they are white oak.

The slate fireplace surround is from Stone Solutions. The American Leather sofa is from Room & Board; the recycled pine coffee table is from Four Hands.

The green chairs in the living room are a pop of color taken from the homeowners’ favorite tapestry, hanging above the fireplace (see below).

Pendants are by Kichler Lighting. Rug is by Stanton Carpet.

Kitchen, dining, and living room open on to each other—the view of the pool and nature preserve are the focus of the room.

Another good view—this house borders on a drainage ditch on one side and has encroaching neighbors elsewhere, but LaRue focused every room on the assets of the lot and the nature preserve across the lake.

The pool makes a visual connection to the lake.

Tropitone chaises are ready for lounging.

The connection between indoors and outdoors is seamless.

The screened porch (on the right) is faced with Spanish cedar siding and is connected to the main house by a roof that creates another outdoor space.

The garage is on the left; guest suite on the right. Landscape is by Tim Benton and Ramon Suarez, Land Restoration.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DROR BALDINGER

Click here to see more Publications featuring Paula Ables Interiors.