What is in a name??? Time is running out!

C'mon people get creative and keep those wonderful entries coming in-AND WIN WIN WIN! WHAT IS THE CONTEST ALL ABOUT? Today through 7/31/2012, I will be having a contest to rename my Impressive Windows & Interiors 'e-newsletter' and my Impressive Windows & Interiors 'blog'. Each person is allowed five entries for each category (10 total). There will be two winners, one for the new e-newsletter name and one for the new blog name. There are no geographical restrictions to this contest, anyone can enter (if you are over 18). Remember, if you are a winner and live out of state you can take advantage of Eye4Design, a virtual design service that we offer. So really there is no reason not to enter. Each winner (2) will receive 1-$250 gift certificate for Impressive Windows & Interiors. It is valid on anything that you would like...a product, a service or even to be used as a gift (transferred to someone else). There is no limit to how many you can win, so one person could win BOTH and could combine them for a really awesome room makeover!!! The gift certificates expire after a two year period. How do you enter? There are five ways. 1) You can 'message me' on facebook via my personal page, Jill Ragan Scully. 2) You can 'message me' on facebook, via my business fan page Impressive Windows & Interiors. 3) You can send me a 'direct message' on Twitter @JillRaganScully 4) You can send me an 'email' at Jill@ImpressiveWindowsandInteriors.com 5) You can 'respond to this post' and write your suggestion(s).

Please submit entries as soon as possible. If your brilliant idea is the same as someone else and it ends up be a winner, the first one to submit will be the winner!!! Judging (by me) will take place the first two weeks in August 2012 (1-15) and the winner(s) will be notified as soon as possible (on or before August 16, 2012)

Intro to Impressive Windows & Interiors Part 3

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Intro Impressive Windows & Interiors Part 2

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Introduction to Impressive Windows & Interiors part 1

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Visit our newest listing on Thumbtack.com

Visit us on thumbtack at Interior Decorator

And please stay tuned for our fabric line debuting in late 2012 and our design book available in early 2013.

As always, if you need some inspiration to make your "before" house a home, we would love to help. Visit our website at www.ImpressiveWindowsandInteriors.com and give us a call at 651-437-5512 today and we will get started on your "after".

Impressive Windows & Interiors LLC - Hastings, MN (Minnesota) | (651) 437-5512

Impressive Windows & Interiors LLC - Hastings, MN (Minnesota) | (651) 437-5512

Time after time...love it!

Great ideas for unique clocks that would be perfect for your home or office

We now have our very own QR code...

Scan with your smartphone to link to our website!

Daily Inspiration

Just a bit of inspiration for your midweek madness :

5 Non Paint Wall Ideas- Very Cool!

http://www.shelterpop.com/2010/08/16/decorating-wall-without-paint?ncid=dynaldusshel00000001

Tropical Inspiration!

I recently found this fabulous Robert Allen fabric for a client of mine. It has bold flowers and vibrant accents, sure to appeal to the masses. Client decided to treat herself to many new pices in her cabins master bedroom.

Here is what we did to her master bedroom; turned it into a tropical oasis!

Do you have green pillows?

I am not actually talking about green colored pillows...but environmentally friendly pillows. I recently was introduced to them by a fellow designer and I found them very comparable to the traditional synthetic pillows and at the same price!

Why is this important? Well, you have all heard me talk about the growing trend of outdoor living, right? Well, with so many families extending their durable indoor spaces into the outdoor areas Sunbrella fabrics are becoming even more popular! If you use any of the numerous Sunbrella velvets, canvas or sheers for your indoor areas you will get twice as much use our of your matching accessories if you use Green Pillow Inserts, because they can be used outside as well. Just think, you can get twice the use in one for NO MORE COST! It's a no-brainer :)

Happy decorating!

Outdoor Living

As we transition into the summer season, the coolest trend in interior decorating is not indoors at all. It is outdoor spaces, an extension of your indoors!

Current trends include:

• recovering outdoor furniture
• outdoor drapery panels for porches, pergolas and covered decks
• outdoor fireplaces
• water features of all sizes

As you know, we can help you with parts of your outdoor project that you can't tackle on your own or complete the entire project for you in just a few short weeks!

If you need help with actual construction of any area of your outdoors (or indoors), I highly recommend Kasel Exteriors of Hastings. They have experienced crews with excellent experience! Visit their website here

Patio Blinds

In the Midwest, we hibernate in the winter time and therfore our patio doors rarely get used. That is of course until spring comes along! The weather is getting warmer and we are filled our refrigerators with items to cook on our grills. Well, it is that time of year once again and you may think that patio doors are a pain to cover for somebody in my industry. As a matter a fact, they are a pleasure to cover...I LOVE patio doors!

While their are numerous ways that patio doors can be covered I am just going to share with you my favorite!

Most often, I place cordless honeycomb shades that stack high enough and then place a treatment over them to cover the stack of the shade when it is in the "up" position. This allows a person to be able to take advantage of the beauty of a soft-covering on their window to coordinate with their decor and still have functional kid-friendly privacy at the same time.

More information about the Hunter Douglas treatments that qualify for the Energy Tax Credit can be found here.

DIY Outdoor Ideas

One of the most popular areas to decorate now may not be inside your home at all. Now that the weather is improving, we are all excited about beautifying our outdoor spaces.

Here are a few ideas for do-it-yourself projects to help you beautify one of the most coveted areas within our properties, our outdoor spaces!

Arbor

Pergola

Window Box

other outdoor ideas

Spring Cleaning

Now that Spring has officially arrived you may look around your house and see many things that may need sprucing up. Here is a quick list of things to do now to make the months ahead less stressful:

When you are out in the yard playing with your kids, grab a bag from the garage and take the dead perennial growth from last year and help spruce up your yard a little at a time. Be careful, wear gloves and do not forget the sunscreen. Need help? Call a professional! I use Four Seasons Outdoor Services out of Cottage Grove, MN

Use a solution of vinegar and water and clean your windows from the inside, along with a wide squeegie. I always take off my screens in the fall and clean them and store them for the winter. That way I only have to clean them once per year.

Start your seeds NOW. This will save you a great deal of money on your vegetable garden and flower pots/boxes. I started growing seeds for the first time this year and I was surprised at how easy it was. I planted on Saturday and some are aleady 5 inches high! I just put them in a sunny location inside our patio door on the floor.

This is a great time to check/change the batteries in your smoke detectors. You can never be too safety conscious.

On another safety note, be sure to replenish the items in the roadside emergency kit that you keep in your car. Even though it is summer, you still should have a kit in your car. Also be sure that your first aid kit is replenished and ready to go.

Happy Spring!

Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

The color orange may be one of those scary colors that you cringe at when viewing colors to palce within your home. I am here to say...do not be afraid, orange is your friend.

When color analysts say that all colors "come back" into interior fashion they could not be more correct. For those of you out there that are of a certain age like myself can remember back to the 1970's when the color burnt orange was very popular in the interiors of homes. Well, here it is again...burnt orange.

The color orange is used to assist us in times of caution...construction signs and safety equipment. It is also used to celebrate holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving...a great autumn harvest color. And it also looks great on clothing and the interior of any home!

So go ahead and use this beautiful color on your clothing and in your homes, as orange has reared its colorful head once again...and will again in another few decades.

Jill Ragan Scully named Charter Member of WFCP Advisory Board

Read more here!

Wood, Tiger? Not what you'd think :)

So sorry to be off topic today, but today is the first day of the Chinese New Year!

I have always been a believer in the Chinese Zodiac. I am not Chinese, not even a little. Ever since I was little girl I remember sitting at the local Chinese restaurant with my parents eating dinner. We would all read the Zodiac calendar on the restaurant place mats and I have known for many years that according to the Chinese Zodiac calendar I am a Tiger. We are strong, protectors of our family and it is said that if you have a Tiger in your family that you are protected.

Well today is the beginning of the Chinese New Year and it is the year of the Tiger. We (Tigers) are supposed to have a great year this year...I am hoping that this is a great "sign". Additionally I also found out today that according the the Chinese calendars there are different types of Tigers (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water), and I am a Wood Tiger according the year in which I was born.

What is your Chinese astrological sign?

Have a wonderful week!

Seeing white yet?

The East is still digging out from a snowstorm that they experienced last week, it pounded them with foot upon foot of almost endless snow. Here in the Midwest we are once again getting hit with 3 days worth of snow, not as bad as the East but nonetheless unwelcome by most. I thought the next few entries would be a great time to talk about tasks to tackle as you are stuck in your home.

Is there a correct place to hang art? Yes. About 6 inches above a table or sofa or at eye level in the rest of the home. Hang in small groups if possible in similar color groupings to bring interest to various areas throughout your home.