Start Stripping!

“Begin by thinking of your rooms in the nude.” — Dorothy Draper

Whew! Is it hot enough for you? As I think of ways to stay cool and beat the heat this summer, stripping down doesn’t sound like such a bad idea! In terms of your home, let’s discuss how to strip your home to make it feel really, really good. And I mean strip down to the barest bones.

First, envision your room completely bare – “see” its bones and find its curves. Discover the pockets of sun that make a room feel expansive and cheery, find that corner that was hidden by a large, domineering armoire and empty it so that the room feels balanced and graceful.

My definition of cheerful: a kitchen with just the essentials.

Simply put, the more stuff that’s lying around, the more claustrophobic a room feels. When it’s too hot in the afternoon sun, here’s a lil project with instant gratification: Strip your kitchen of tired utensils, dirty-bottomed pots and pans, and dishes in the sink. Make your floors shine so they reflect sunlight and rays will bounce happily around the room. Head into your bathroom and hide excessive grooming products. Discard dingy towels. Dress your shower with a new curtain and hooks. Pull out the paper towels and make your mirror sparkle.

Natural light and a sparkly bathroom mirror do wonders.

The stripping continues in your bedroom (woohoo!). Get rid of all those piles of clothes, books and bottles of perfume. Bedrooms should evoke feelings of love and intimacy, sleep and peace. Whenever I make over a bedroom, I think about how I’d like to feel – safe, relaxed, free and calm. Make your bed look neat, clean and inviting. Invest in a gorgeous pillow and plush linens (see link to JV products) that pull together the room’s appeal. I don’t like to see dirty laundry, threadbare sheets or shoes lying about. Who does?

This stripped down bedroom says “Serenity Now…”

Declaring Independence From Clutter

Happy July 4^th!  Whether you’re barbecuing with friends, ooo-ing and ahhh-ing over sparkly fireworks, or picnicking at the beach, there’s a lot to be thankful for on our nation’s birthday. In terms of your home, I have an idea – how about declaring independence from clutter?  Today, while we celebrate our freedom and everything that makes America great, I’d like to share some tips to give you freedom against the piles and piles of STUFF that can so easily overpower your home.  Freedom from clutter – yes!  And if your house is on the market, you’ll be thanking yourself when buyers come calling.

The closet. The more stuff lying around, the more claustrophobic a space can feel. Organizing a closet is a great way to freshen up your home. Go through old clothes and get rid of items you haven’t worn in more than a year. Take the rest to the dry cleaner. By the end of the week, you should have some room in that closet, and your favorite wardrobe staples will finally be front and center.

The bedroom. And oh-so-easy place to let the piles grow. Start by getting rid of all those mounds of clothes, books and bottles of perfume with a few remaining drops. Bedrooms should evoke feelings of love and intimacy, sleep and peace. Whenever I make over a bedroom, I think about how I’d like to feel – safe, relaxed, free and calm. Make your bed look gorgeous. Invest in plush linens that pull together the room’s appeal. I don’t like to see dirty laundry, threadbare sheets or shoes lying about (and buyers don’t either).

Your haven for peace & quiet. And maybe a little romance?

The kitchen. Strip your kitchen of tired utensils, dirty-bottomed pots and pans, and dishes in the sink. Make your floors shine so that they reflect the light and bounce it happily around the room. Then, tackle the refrigerator. Throw out bottles of sauce and condiments you haven’t used in months. And toss out anything crusty or caked. Wash off the shelves with hot water and vinegar. You’ll love how fresh and clean your refrigerator looks the next time you open it! If you’ve still got some energy left, clean out your cupboards.

A streamlined kitchen leaves more room for preparing meals and catching up on the day with your family.

The living room. Vacuum your chairs and couches — and don’t forget under the pillows. Move furniture and vacuum underneath. Throw out those old pillows and buy some new ones! Check out ABC Carpet & Home for luscious selections, or visit Tiny Living for fun ideas to organize your possessions. Dusting out and organizing your living room will make it seem fresh and new.

This 1 bedroom apartment had tired furniture and was overflowing with papers.

We cleared out the living room & brought in fresh furniture from the exclusive JV Collection. The result: these furnishings maximized the property value. Now it’s ready for buyers to make that immediate offer!

Summer blooms: I used to work in the heart of the flower district, and fragrant blossoms were always on my mind. To bring that sweet smell into your newly cleaned-out and organized home, go buy some tulips or lilies or an arrangement of summer wildflowers. Place them in a nice window planter and voilà, you’ve got a flower garden on your sill. Wheat grass planted in little black square bowls is another way to bring the best of the outdoors inside.

Bringing the outdoors inside.

Last steps?

Relax.

Be thankful.

Celebrate your new-found independence in your very own home.

How to Revamp a Boring Bedroom

Gorgeous new bedroom complete with a bold mural and stunning lighting.

Your bedroom is your place of rest – your own personal sanctuary. It should reflect your personal style, but also feel comfortable and inviting and certainly not dull and dreary! I recently teamed up with George Oliphant on LXTV for a Daykeover (see the video here) to revamp a one-dimensional white bedroom that quite simply had no style. With some fun lighting options and pops of color, we transformed a boring and bare bedroom into one that felt like a five-star resort. Here is how to makeover your own bedroom to create a space that is filled with modern glam.

Create a five-star resort feel to your home with textured sheets like from my Jill Vegas line.

1. Bring Texture to the Bedroom. This is one of easiest steps to add life to a room. For the room in the video, I added my brand-new bedding collection (check it out here) that created instant texture to the bed. Choosing the right bedding will make you feel like you’re at a five-star resort.
2. Add Art. I am all about adding art to create visual harmony in a space. For this bedroom, I worked with Sam Simon Projects to create a gorgeous mural to match the bedding. This also created a magical and balanced look that was gorgeous. You can also create visual harmony by picking a bold piece that matches your bedding.
3. Create a Balanced and Uniformed Look. In the video, I did this by removing the random seating and tables that simply acted as clutter collectors. Get rid of these useless pieces and add in pieces that are stylish and functional like a side table or a bench. A bench is also the perfect way to add a seating area in the bedroom.
4. Add Color. Add color by adding life with fresh and vibrant flowers – perfect for spring! Sounds too easy? It is! It’s so do-able and you’ll be surprised at how beautiful and joyful your room will feel.

5. 

   George to the rescue as he talks about the cool outlets by Leviton.

6. Add Lighting. This bedroom had no bedside lighting so I decided to bring in bursts of light and color with the help of my pal George. George had his friend, an electrician, work with the wiring, and then added in cool outlets by Leviton that can really mix and match with any wall unit. We also added in some reading lights and overhead lights. When adding overhead lights I always tell people to think about what you’re going to be looking at everyday – you want it to be sculptural and visually pleasing.

In just one day we made over this drab and lifeless bedroom into a stunning place that truly looked and felt luxurious.

Back to School with Speed Decorating

You'll learn how to freshen up your living room with my fun online course!

I’ve heard the excuses – my house is too small, I don’t the time, I’m uninspired, It’s too expensive…and on and on. Look, I hear you – life is hard but decorating doesn’t have to be. Your home should be your sanctuary, your place of rest – not a dumping ground for your stuff or a place that has no creative life. To help you out and to get you decorating fast I have started my first-ever online decorating course so that you can master solutions for every room in your house. Called the School of Speed Decorating, this fun class will teach you the ins and out of home décor in just four weeks! No more excuses – isn’t it time you had the home of your dreams?!

I'll provide you with the necessary tips to truly make your home a sanctuary.

Here is what you’ll learn:

Learn the Seven Steps to Decorating Success: These are the building blocks for every decorating project. Think calm, condition, style, arrangement, light, color, and details. This last step is vital because it will give your home instant personality.

Acquire quick and dirty decorating tips that design genius Jonathan Adler gives two thumbs up, “A must for anybody who is impatient and loves decorating.” he says. “Jill Vegas finally brings decorating up to speed with the rest of life.”

Get practical and fun guidance including tips and ideas on how to create “a bombshell bookcase” and get “lighting that’s inviting.”

Discuss the latest in customizing your kitchen and optimizing space.

Gain the confidence to revamp your living room so it’s bright, warm and inviting.

Get inspired with fresh ideas on how to update your bedroom so it feels like a 5 star hotel.

Learn to work your magic and transform any blahzay room into a cinematic masterpiece.

Accessorize, organize, and select paint colors and fabrics with the confidence of an interior design legend.

Nail your personal style and showcase your fabulous personality through the rooms you live in.

The course starts in June, so be sure to sign up today! The course is only $149 and you can master these quick and easy design skills from the comfort of your home!

Pushing Positive

Pushing Positive

There never was a house so bad that it couldn’t be made over into something worthwhile. – Elsie de Wolfe

The Inspiration.
The fabulous Elsie de Wolfe wrote, “I think it will give you as great a satisfaction to re-arrange your house with what you have. The results may not be so charming, but you can learn by them.”

The Challenge.
Last Saturday my friend, Barry, the miracle worker, came over to help gussy up my home working with what I already had. Even a PRO needs help seeing a room with a fresh perspective, and that person should not be your spouse. Just saying. We completely transformed my space in a day and the only thing I spent money on was $43 at the hardware store for bulbs, light, globe, extension cord, and closet rod. Ah-mazing!

living room before— what a sad, chaotic, space.

The result.
So I was all revved up to share all the photos (before and after) and then when I went to download them on my computer (I decided to use my fancy camera instead of my iphone) and accidentally deleted all the pics. Nuts! Okay so I’ll just list all the projects that I highly recommend tackling because seriously, you can do them in a day. One. Day!

living room after - cozy, bright seating areas in a warm, welcoming space.

One Day.
This is it! It’s time to j’love your home, no matter what. No excuses. Never complain, never explain. I’m pushing the positive so that everyone has a home that they love. Just because you don’t live in your dream home or whatever silly excuse you have, doesn’t mean you have to live in squalor (clutter!). Create beauty with what you have right now.

Here’s a list of things that can be done in ONE day:

1. Go shopping in your house. We “shopped” the other rooms in the house to create 3 areas. #1 “social” seating area with white sofa, coffee table, rug, floor lamp, side table. #2 “lounge” seating area with Eames lounge and ottoman, hung a brass light fixture. #3 kid’s play area with a rug, play table, and just moved all the toys into this space.
2. Park the toys in a “garage.” Toys should not dominate the adult areas of the house. Clear out a utility closet, outfit it with fun posters, hooks to hang toys, and install an inexpensive LED closet light w/a five-minute timer to create a space just for the toys. At the end of the day, simply make sure the toys are all put away and shut the door. Bam. Children love small spaces and will have fun hiding out in their “garage.”
3. Hang a mirror. My favorite places to hang a mirror is in a dark corner to bring in natural light and also make the room feel more expansive. Another great place to hang a large mirror is in the dining room right by the table. It’ll pick up ambient candle light for a romantic feeling whether you’re having a dinner party or dining solo.
4. Re-hang (or hang) all the artwork. Take down all the art and see what you have. You might be surprised and find something you really love and decide to hang it in a new space. Get rid of artwork that you don’t like. Hanging artwork brings character and personality to a room.
5. Go for small. Instead of hanging a large statement piece in the foyer try a series of smaller prints installed as a horizontal line to make the room feel bigger. In this foyer we hung 12 small paintings on 4 walls at the same height.
   

   foyer installation. hang a series of smaller paintings instead of one large statement piece.

Kids’ Room Makeover for LXTV’s Openhouse- This Sunday, 10/23 on NBC!

Happy Friday! I’m so excited about my kids’ room makeover which airs on NBC this Sunday 10/23 at 8:30am on LXTV’s Openhouse. I had a great time redecorating this space, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you and with LXTV. Here are a few highlight tips on how you can re-do your kids’ room: 

BEFORE SHOT: This is what the room looked like before I made it over. To see the after-shot, tune into LXTV's show Openhouse this Sunday at 8:30am or set your DVR!

Skip the theme. The key to having a room that transitions easily and grows with a child is to skip the theme. Instead create a room where imagination can thrive. Forget about the matchy-matchy sets from the store. Invest in art that will inspire. 

Dress your walls. Did you know you can find inspiration in a coloring book? Wait until you see the sassy wall graphic that I had blown up using one of the pages from a coloring book- LOVE IT! Another idea is take a lyric from a favorite song and blow it up to create a wall graphic. Creating your own custom wall graphics are a fun, authentic way to create an accent wall. 

Curtain call. Try hanging a branch instead of a typical curtain rod to bring nature inside; it’s unexpected and super-fun. Hang the curtains as high up to the ceiling as possible and let them drop to the floor. There should be a break, similar to properly hemmed trousers with a break, so the curtains slightly puddle on the floor to create maximum drama.

Storage. For fun and easy storage, search on etsy.com for gorgeous solutions. Things like felted wool bowls are perfect for stashing wooden blocks now, and later, coins or marble collections. Keep the storage low and easy-to-open to help the child develop a sense of order. 

Lighten up. Light up the room with a magical, unique ceiling fixture. Another idea is to invest in a nightlight that creates an evening sky with the stars and moon. Make sure it has a timer that automatically shuts off and is cute to look at in the daytime.

Have a fabulous weekend!

1 bedroom staged on the Upper Westside = sold!

I’m so excited to share that a client who I helped stage their 1 bedroom, sold their apartment right away for the price they wanted! Here are some of the things we did to create this success. The first thing I always tell clients to do is to clear out the clutter. This client had so. much. clutter.  They had lived in the home for 12 years and just didn’t see it. In fact, when I came for the consult she told me she had already staged it. She just had a few things to do — putting away a stack of magazines on the coffee table and organizing  a few papers. Oh boy. By the end of the consult she was hyperventilating. This isn’t a great feeling. After the initial shock subsided, she and her husband rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Here’s what happened:

• Welcome home. When you step in the front door you want to feel good not stressed by the mess or piles of shoes and umbrellas. My client had an overflowing coat rack. Shoes were piled under a chair. There was a scary looking mask greeting visitors which I suggested putting away. The solution was basic clearing away the extra heavy winter coats and putting the shoes away.

• Brighten up. Overall all light globes were removed and washed. Dusty yellow light bulbs were replaced with clear 75 watt bulbs for a crisp natural effect. All the switch plates were windexed down. A cracked switch plate in the dining room was replaced.

• Rip up the carpet! One of my pet peeves is dirty carpeting. The cream colored carpeting in the living room had seen better days. It was dingy and a small oriental rug covered up a stain. Not a good look. Especially if you want to sell a place. The solution: remove the carpet to show off the beautiful herringbone hardwood floors. However the seller didn’t want the stress and expense of carpet removal. So it stayed.

• Pull back the curtains. The apartment felt dark, gloomy, and was view-challenged. What the owner did to cover-up the lack of view was to keep the blinds closed and the curtains drawn. This made the room claustrophobic. I suggested removing the fusty dark curtains and replace them with white sheer curtains. The blinds were pulled up and after the windows were washed the room felt bright and cheery.

Before: There was too much stuff cluttering the countertops. The home office was taking over

After: Cleaning up the countertops, a deep clean, and lots of clutter removal made this kitchen gleam.

$100 pillow (and a confession)

Okay enough! I’ve procrastinated updating the  blog for over. two. months. I’ve had this “pillow” post saved in drafts since December but haven’t published it. I’ve been paralyzed. Yes I celebrated that my book was #1 in decorating on amazon.com and is now in its 2nd printing! (Woohoo! Thank you for buying it!!!) But really I felt super embarrassed about my home: how could a best-selling author who’s supposedly a “pro decorator” struggle with the same things that my clients hire me to help them do?!

But here’s my confession: I’m messy. I don’t enjoy picking up after myself or tidying up or making my bed. I really don’t like it. This morning I found carrots from my 6 month old son (Max) stuck to the hardwood floor. I have clothes from last night’s party tossed on the chair in the corner of the bedroom. My shoes are piled by the front door. So if you’re reading this in hope to find an easy answer, I don’t have one. I struggle with keeping it all together. 

What I’m committed to is finding beauty in the chaos. It’s unrealistic for me or anyone else to live in a home that’s styled for a photo shoot. Plus, it’s no fun! I believe in making a mess but then cleaning it up after. And if, like me, you hate cleaning up after yourself, hire someone to do it for you!

Saturday morning lounging at the Four Seasons Vegas with my favorite boys!

Ready for the pillow tip? Okay here it is! In December we spent a long weekend at the Four Seasons Las Vegas. Saturday morning was my favorite. We ordered room service and lounged in our robes in bed. The robes, fluffy comforter, big pillows, and soft sheets made it such a treat. I thought my Italian bedding was pretty great at home but this was much better. Maybe it was better because I didn’t have to worry about Max spitting up on the sheets (housekeeping was just a phone call away!) The three of us goofed around and read books and just enjoyed our time together.

When we returned home late, exhausted, my head landed on the pillow and I realized how much my pillow sucked. It felt limp and flimsy. Michael agreed. The next day he requested the pillows from the Four Seasons for his birthday gift. I called the Four Seasons and found out the pillows are Phoenix Down pillows (goose down) and cost $75 for the king. I went to Bloomingdale’s to see if they had the Phoenix down pillows. They had Downlight pillows that cost over $300 and didn’t even compare in how fluffy they were.

So I called the Four Seasons New York to see if I could pick them up. The king pillows in New York cost $100 each. Why is everything more in NYC?! There’s a good reason. I spoke with Suzan, Director of Purchasing, who explained that the NYC pillows actually have a 50% downfill (vs. 25% for the Four Seasons Las Vegas). She was very pleasant and helpful.  I bought 4 and had them delivered. We love them. In fact, they’re propping me up now as I type this.

Iron your sheets

My nanny told me she once worked for a socialite and it took five hours to make the bed. It was an elaborate bed prep where she had to spray starch the duvet and flat sheet, professionally steam it, the umpteen pillows, etc. So the thought of ironing my sheets seemed a little decadent and way too fussy. I love the look of pressed sheets but didn’t want the hassle.  And I don’t like sending bed linens to the dry cleaners because they come back so itchy and chemical feeling.

Of course for each bed that was photographed in my book and for all my clients the linens are always steamed and ironed. The beds look impeccable and I figured it was time to indulge in this little pleasure. I already have sheets that I love so it was a quick decision to try ironing them. Maybe you always iron your sheets but I sure haven’t. This was revolutionary! It felt like I was staying at the Four Seasons yet it was my own bed! High quality sheets get softer with each wash. Ironing them makes the whole bed feel luxurious and decadent. (I’m also rejoicing in the fact that I’m getting more than three hours of sleep a night now that my three-month old son has been sleeping through the night!)

I’m a new advocate for ironed sheets. It is a dream. Hibernate this winter lounging in freshly pressed sheets, under a big fluffy down comforter (with someone you love=even better!). If you don’t have sheets that you love, then invest in Italian linens. If you already have beautiful sheets then take that extra step and make sure everything is pressed. It’s  less time and easier to do than going out to buy new sheets. You can have a whole new bed in a matter of minutes!

Speed Decorating is here!

Fall is here, and so is my NEW BOOK!  Speed Decorating: A Pro Stager’s Tips and Trade Secrets for a Fabulous Home in a Week or Less.

It has been quite a whirlwind adventure — it took 3 years to write, photograph, and edit the book. Last summer over 200 photos were shot on Shelter Island, the Hamptons, and in NYC.

Last week’s book launch at Design within Reach was a blast! So excited to report that all the books sold out that night! (If you weren’t able to get a book that night, click here to order on amazon.com)

Loved seeing you. I’m so grateful for all of you that have helped me to get this far! Thank you!  Check out pics from the event. (Click here for the Photos)

The goal of this blog is to share my enthusiasm for creating a beautiful home— this is the perfect place to find inspiration and get motivated to have a home that you love. It doesn’t have to be a massive overhaul, it simply requires a daily commitment to having a beautiful home. It doesn’t have to be perfect. For example, here’s where I’m at today — I have a two month old baby boy, Max, and as a new mom I’m learning how to juggle work, book, baby, family. I didn’t make the bed. But I did receive a bouquet of sunflowers from my hubby which I put on the dresser. It’s the first thing I see in the morning and it makes me happy. So even though the bed’s a mess and I didn’t pick up my clothes, I still have the flowers that make me smile. Flowers are a very quick and easy Speed Decorating tip!

Check back again to find more ideas and inspiration!

xo
Jill