Washington, D.C/ Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 31, 2012

The ‘Designed in USA’ brand certification mark is a new identifier and brand enhancer for goods, services and environments designed in the United States. It is now available for free use by members of the design community, business community and by leaders championing the design profession. The mark was created by RKS, a strategic design consultancy based in Thousand Oaks, CA.

‘Designed in USA’ was created to enhance and broaden ‘Made In’ labeling now insufficiently reflective of the nation’s role in 21st century creation, and in the process raise awareness of American design in all its forms, capitalize on perceived value, provide competitive differentiation and encourage optimism. Design’s various disciplines (product, service, architecture, interior, interaction, communication, etc.) are a vital humanistic tool increasingly shaping the world.

The American design profession is increasingly an essential business resource, has an undeniable role in addressing change, and holds tremendous value to people, profits and the planet in addition to its role in economic development. The U.S. design profession is a global leader that helps create more successful products and services by boosting consumer attraction and experience, driving innovation and innovation processes, stimulating job creation inside and outside manufacturing, and much more.

“Better branding our design community is one simple but powerful step to make our voice and value better known,” comments creator Ravi K. Sawhney, CEO of RKS Design, adding “I hope the creation and use of this brand will be a catalyst for a broader emergence of recognition, pride and optimism for the incredible things designers are creating every day in America because of our diversity, ingenuity and spirit.”

“From Apple to Zipcar, creative design is at the heart of entrepreneurial success in the USA,” explains Bill Moggridge, Director, Smithsonian/Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

“Design improves our lives, business competitiveness and our future,” adds Clive Roux, CEO of the Industrial Designers Society of America. “US design professionals are world leaders, and IDSA supports efforts to get people excited about its broader contribution to value creation for individuals, business and society in the future.”

Businesses are invited to use the logo which design all, or virtually all, aspects of their offerings in the U.S.; have been operating domestically for 12 months, and are not the subject of any unsatisfactory rating from an applicable product/service rating company or government agency; and retain evidence to substantiate that designs are domestically produced with no, or negligible, foreign contribution. Please visit http://www.designedinusa.com to download the image, or for additional information.

About the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum: Founded in 1897, Cooper-Hewitt is the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. The museum presents compelling perspectives on the impact of design on daily life through active educational programs, exhibitions and publications.

RKS is a strategic design consultancy delivering people-focused solutions with global impact, widely recognized for its multidisciplinary work in research, strategy, and design. RKS has a 30-year legacy of transforming client inspirations and aspirations into powerful business results, empowering consumers with compelling designs and experiences, and is a 2011 product design finalist of the National Design Awards. Learn more: http://www.rksdesign.com

About IDSA: With its roots reaching back to 1938 and founded in 1965, the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) is the world’s oldest, largest, member-driven society for industrial design. IDSA represents professionals in product design, interaction design, human factors, ergonomics, design research, design management, universal design and related design fields.

A guest contribution by Samantha Harvey for Rugs2you.co.uk – the choice for all kinds of rugs.

The three biggest current trends in the flooring industry are discussed in this article and they suggest a new and promisingly positive atmosphere with regard to consumer attitude and desires.

Sustainable flooring is now a very important issue to a lot of people, therefore manufacturers are focusing on eco-friendly ranges and consumers are now certainly  taking the environment in to consideration with their purchase, and making a statement as well as acquiring a beautiful floor covering.

There a few signs that the end of the recession may be in sight or at least consumers are trying to make plans to improve their surroundings, and this is prompting a lot of new homes and a lot of home renovations, both requiring new flooring and pushing demand higher.

This is likely to mean that products such as solid wood floors and high quality carpets will be add to the value of your home as these choices are now seen as an investment rather than a purchase.

With the bright news for the economy and the environment there is no surprise that the flooring style of the moment centres on bright colours!

Although interior design trends have focused on neutral shades in recent years the end of the recession means fewer people will be decorating with the intention to sell and will be more likely to want to put their own personal touches to a home.

Selecting flooring in your home is significant because the colour, texture and pattern of the floor will set the mood for the rest of the room’s design. Many designers, in fact, call their designing model the “floor-up” model for this very reason. When selecting a colour, texture and pattern for your floor, consider the overall design you wish to pursue in a
room, and select a flooring that will compliment the walls, trim work and furniture.

If you are a person who changes furnishings often, select a neutral floor which will easily work into any decor. This will protect you from purchasing a new floor often. Ideally, a floor like hardwood could be purchased to accent the room’s trim. These floors typically look well with any furnishings. Select a hardwood that is a shade lighter, or a shade darker than the wooden trim in the room to give the room depth, and create distinction between trim and the floor. Typically dark woods with a high sheen are considered appropriate for formal rooms, like a dining room, while lighter woods with a more natural finish are preferred in rooms with a rustic decor them, or a less formal purpose, like the living room.

In an area where there is heavy traffic, or where there is a risk of water damage, avoid both wood and carpet. Instead select a tile, laminate, or vinyl flooring that will both hold up well to use and clean easily. In a bathroom, take the time to look at the permanent fixtures. If they are bright white, the floor is an opportunity to include a splash of colour.
If the existing fixtures contain colour, a more neutral flooring is appropriate and will prevent clashing.

In an area like the kitchen, there are a lot of other design elements to consider when selecting a floor. Most importantly, the counter tops and cabinet fronts should be considered. Also, if the kitchen has canister sets, family heirloom kitchen elements or other existing decor, the colours already present in the room should be considered.
Select a flooring that can be worked into the room in other ways. If you are laying large tile, find one that is similar too or complements a small tile that can be used as a backsplash. If you are laying laminate, take a sample of your countertops and look for a laminate flooring that closely coordinates in terms of texture and colour.

No matter what furniture and decor is in the room, remember that the floor takes up one-sixth of the visual space, more than any other uninterrupted space, with the exception of the ceiling. Select a flooring that ties all the furniture, decor and natural elements of a room together. Try to find flooring that contains the same colour palate as the walls, the room trim, or the furniture. Avoid colours that are too bold, especially in small spaces where they will become overwhelming. Consider the room’s natural or artificial light source, and consider how that will affect the appearance of the flooring after it is installed. Finally, take home samples of the flooring and see how it looks in the room before purchasing enough to do the whole space.

• Let our plush and adorable love bug deliver your message in this sweet candy bouquet
• Send this delightful gift for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary etc
• Each gift is hand crafted with attention to detail, tied with ribbons and includes a personalized gift card message from you

Let our plush and adorable Love Bug deliver your message in this charmingly sweet candy bouquet! He’s tucked inside a keepsake “Love Bug” gift basket filled with a mini bouquet of 5 cherry heart lollipops, a heart shaped box of 4 assorted chocolate confections, sweet butter cookies, and decadent chocolate dipped truffle cookies for your sweet heart to enjoy. Send this delightful gift for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or just to say “I love you!” Each gift is crafted with attention to detail a

List Price: $ 34.99

Price:

Playful Romance Bud Floral Flower Vase Valentines Day

Cartoon hearts and flowers are colorful counterparts for a single fresh-cut bloom. A lovely way to show that special someone your irresistibly playful side! Weight 0.3 lb. Metal and glass. Flower not included. 3 1/2″ diameter x 8 1/2″ high.

List Price: $ 3.35

Price:

Berkeley, CA (PRWEB) January 27, 2012

East Bay interior designer, Kristina Wolf Design’s owner, Kristina Wolf, has returned from Myanmar, the second largest country in Southeast Asia, with a variety of handcrafted pieces for both design inspiration and her clients.

“Whether they were making silk fabrics or applying gold leaf designs to lacquer-ware, every craftsman took a great deal of pride in the details and finished product,” owner Kristina Wolf said. “Not only are the ‘finds’ beautiful, they are also functional. This element of functional yet gorgeous is exactly what I think of when I am designing for my clients.”

While the primary purpose of the trip was business, Wolf was fortunate to visit many cultural sites, as well as silk, lacquer and gold leafing manufacturers, rural outdoor markets, two elementary schools, and a handful of local furniture manufacturers. Wolf could not help but notice the pride that showed in all of the workmanship she observed. The visit also contributed a variety of ideas for her upcoming designs that will focus on a mixture of modern and traditional styles for home interior designs.

Despite the harsh government censorship and the trials of the past decades, Wolf found the people of Myanmar to be incredibly warm and welcoming, while exhibiting a strong sense of community in the factories and workshops she visited.

“Americans often forget how fortunate we are as a nation. Traveling is always a great way to expand one’s perspective and gather a new understanding of humanity in general. Thank you, Myanmar for new wonderful design inspirations and new vendor contacts. And last, but not least, thank you for teaching us gratitude!” Wolf said.

Myanmar, formally known as Burma, is bordered by China, Laos and Thailand, as well as India and other countries. For decades, the country has been under the control of a military regime, which has only recently begun to loosen its grip with the re-entry of democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after 20 years of house arrest. Wolf was incredibly lucky to arrive in Myanmar merely a week after Hillary Clinton’s official visit to the country. History in the making, the Secretary of State’s visit was the first time in more than 50 years that a U.S. official traveled to Myanmar.

To learn more about any of Kristina Wolf Design’s products or services, call 510-848-8773 or view the design company on the web at http://www.kristinawolfdesign.com.

About Kristina Wolf Design

Kristina Wolf Design is a top interior design company in the Bay Area that serves Oakland Hills, Piedmont, Lafayette, Orinda and Lamorinda. Owner Kristina Wolf and her team feature experienced, commercial interior designers and modern interior designers.

Kristina Wolf Design creates memorable interiors in harmony with each client’s personal vision and with minimal stress. Whether developing new home interior designs or helping clients select the perfect color palate for a paint project, Kristina Wolf Design deepens the connection between customers and their home, while honoring a client’s objectives, schedules and budgets. To learn more about the team’s services or to view its portfolio, visit the company on the web at http://www.kristinawolfdesign.com.

There are several other Valentine’s Day customs and traditions associated with festival but these vary in different countries because of the social and cultural differences. What remains the same everywhere though is celebration of love by lovers. Here we will discuss some of the most commonly observed way of celebrating St Valentine’ Day.

Looking for Dates
One of the most popular customs of Valentine’s Day observed worldwide is to go on a date with sweetheart. Those without a date start looking for one days before the festival. The custom originated from the popular English belief that birds chose their partners on February 14. For this reason, Valentines Day was called “the Birds’ Wedding Day” in parts of Sussex.

Wishing ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ to all We Love
In the beginning, Valentine’s Day was associated with romantic couples only but in recent times the festival is seen in much larger perspective. Now, people take opportunity of the day to wish ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ to anyone they love be it father, mother, teachers, siblings, friends, co-workers or just anyone special to them. The idea behind this tradition is to celebrate love, get love and give love to everyone around us.

Valentine’s Day Custom of Exchanging Notes
One of the most commonly observed Valentine’s Day customs is the exchange of love notes called ‘Valentines’. Initially people used to exchange handwritten notes but starting with the 19th century, the practice of sending hand written notes was replaced by the exchange of mass-produced greeting cards. Gradually, Valentine’s Day cards came to be gifted to teachers, siblings, parents, friends and dear ones along with sweethearts. Today, Valentine’s Day festival is estimated to be the biggest card-sending occasion after Christmas. Most commonly used pictures in Valentine’s Greetings include images of popular Valentine’s Day symbols like red roses, hearts and Cupid – the pudgy, winged son of Venus, the goddess of love. These days, there is also a tradition to club Valentine’s with tiny candy hearts with affectionate messages printed on them.

Valentine’s Day Tradition of Exchanging Gifts
There exists a strong tradition of indulging one’s beloved with gifts of love. Some of the most popular gifts exchanged between lovers on Valentine’s Day are fresh flowers – mainly roses, chocolates and teddy bears. Fine jewelry is increasingly becoming a popular St Valentine’s day gift for women due to the rigorous marketing campaign by diamond industry. Candies, showpieces besides several other things are also gifted to dear ones including grandparents, parents, siblings, teachers and friends. This is because Valentine’s Day is increasingly being regarded as the festival that celebrates love between two individuals and not just lovers.

An Occasion to Dine and Wine
The other most traditional way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to go for romantic candlelight dinners with one’s Valentine. Many also choose to propose their dates in such a romantic setting and say the golden words, ‘I love you’. The other most emerging tradition is to participate in Valentine’s Day balls and dance parties organized by various societies, clubs and restaurants. Many people also organize Valentine’s Day Couple’s parties in their homes where lovers have a blast in the company of friends. Those without a partner organize Valentine’s Day Single’s Party and have a good time dancing and playing games with other friends who are single.

Treasury from: Kristina Law
Read and Gray Ideas for Valentine
Red hearts appliqued pillow From: Nancy Ellen Studios $27.50	Valentine Rose Garden Wreath From: ProCelebrations/Provitola Design $129.00	Double Heart Sun Catcher From: Windflower Design $17.00
Flora and Fowl Plate Clock From: Making Time TC $35.00	Cheese Mold with Recipe From: The Village Tinner $25.00	Cute Bird in Cage Wall Decal From: Leen The Graphics Queen $23.00
Art Glass Reed Diffusers – Red Roses From: MelroseFields.com LLC $80.00	Round Bowl From: Workingwoman $35.00	Love, stianed glass suncather panel From: DesignsStainedGlass $59.00
Cork Bella Vintage – Silver Blue Bogle From: Kimberly Madson Art & Design $26.00	Love Bird Christmas Ornament From: My Little Chickadee Creations $14.00	Pennsylvania Farmhouse From: Nancy Jean Home $255.00

Red means romantic love (the Valentine’s Day gift par excellence).

Purple, coral and orange challenge red as the color for Valentine’s Day. The rose color meanings for these 3 are as follows: The specific purpose of purple is to signify that the giver has fallen in love with the recipient at first sight. Meanwhile, coral signals desire. And orange, along with apricot, connotes enthusiasm.

The meaning of yellow is joy and friendship.

We express our gratitude and appreciation with pink.

While feelings of admiration and sympathy find words with roses that are light pink in color.

Peach is more ambiguous, as it can signify either sympathy or gratitude.

Its purity naturally enough lends to white the meaning of reverence and humility.

Here are some examples of beautiful Roses from Design Style Guide:

Treasury from: Chezmoi Collection
Beautiful Roses
Extreme Close-up of Red Rose From: Art.com $19.99	gift set rose stem swizzle sticks in porcelain From: laura walls taylor ceramics $39.00	Art Glass Reed Diffusers – Red Roses From: MelroseFields.com LLC $80.00
A Rose is a Rose From: mfeganart $325.00	Romantic Silk Floral Arrangement From: Silk Florals by POMA $89.95	Breaking Away, Original Fine Art Photograph From: Sandy Belk Fine Art $16.95
Pink Rose From: Sandy Burr Photography and Designs $15.00	Three White Roses From: Art.com $19.99	Antique Rose Magnets From: My Little Chickadee Creations $10.00
Nantucket Summer Roses Wreath From: ProCelebrations/Provitola Design $89.00	Scented Silks – Princess Roses by MelroseFields.com From: MelroseFields.com LLC $45.00	Romantic Bouquet Silk Flower Arrangment From: Silk Florals by POMA $59.95

Double Heart Sun Catcher From: Windflower Design See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

Double Heart Sun Catcher: Shades of red and deep rose waterglass shine bright in these lovely hearts. Created in the Tiffany style of stained glass with black patina seams and scalloped outside edging and ribbon attached for display.

Here is what Windflower Design said about herself: Once spent my days in a drab cube working on endless hours of numbers and paperwork. My artistic spirit protesting every day. I could not wait to be home working on my glass projects. After getting married, the job closed up shop, we moved and my son was born everything changed. Began focusing on building my business – on-line, local shops and custom orders. I’m busier now than ever and I love it!

If you have a big, empty backyard that you simply don’t know what to do with, it’s time you looked into turning it into a kid-friendly haven that will get your tots out of the house and running off some of that abundant energy (rather than playing video games after school and then bouncing off the walls all night). And while most people are content to throw out a swing set or a sandbox and call it a day, there’s so much more that you can do to create a fun and entertaining space for your beloved children.

So here are just a few areas you can focus on, as well as several DIY ideas to help you and your kids get busy building a great outdoor space.

1. Foundation. A grassy yard is a great place to start. But there could be several issues you need to address in order to get your foundation in order. If you have a steep hill for a yard, for example, you may want grade it and add a retaining wall for safety and ease of use. Or if all you’ve got is a flat expanse of dead grass, you’ll almost certainly want to consider installing an underground sprinkler system to keep the space green and lush. And in terms of both functionality and aesthetics, it behooves you to take this blank canvas and turn it into zones through the use of pathways, islands, and even platforms that will break up the space into interesting and useful areas for planting, seating, and play.

2. Fencing. When you have kids running around outside it’s not a bad idea to install fencing that will keep them from running out into the street after an escaped ball, as well as keeping potential predators out. And if you have a pool, it is essential that you create a locked, gated area around it for liability and safety purposes (many states actually have laws for this very reason). At the very least, you can use fencing to screen away the neighbors and create a
private retreat from the rest of the world.

3. Plants. When it comes to planting a yard that is meant for kids, you should practice safety first by ensuring that the flora and fauna you select are not poisonous (since smaller kids are prone to putting all kinds of things in their mouths). From there you can have some fun, though. Start with trees that will provide shade during the summer and plenty of low branches for adventurous kids to climb on. You can even plan for a tree that will grow large enough to install
a tree-house as your kids grow. And think about setting aside room for a fruit and vegetable garden where the kids can plant and harvest their favorite organic goodies. If you didn’t think your yard could be a valuable teaching tool, think again.

4. Animals. Kids love wildlife, so use your backyard as an excuse to get handy in the tool shed by helping the kids to create birdhouses and feeders that will attract the birds, squirrels, and other small wildlife that kids love to watch. Of course, certain plants will draw animals, as well. And when it comes to your own family pets, create a fenced dog run or toilet area that you can train the animals to use instead of leaving unwanted presents all over the lawn.

5. Toys. Playground equipment can certainly make the space appealing for your kids, but considering that these expensive items are just a short walk away at the local park you may not want to blow your money to install them in your backyard. Instead, populate the space with sporting equipment that will get your kids moving, a Zen garden where they can create rock sculptures, and a workspace (stocked with plenty of kits) so that they can build the very toys that will keep them occupied on long summer days.

One of my favorites is The High Desert From: Hats At The Door by John E Jenkins This unique standing hat rack invites your guests to hang their hats and coats on real Mule Deer antlers. The aspen log stands on a base made of slightly burnt spruce wood.

I also love the Dresser From: Alfer Design It is made from Oak in Red Oak and Golden Pecan color. The inlaid leather is actually Brown and Crocodile Print Cowhide. It is very stylish and beautifully done!

But everything in this treasury is my favorite and would look perfect together in a cabin.

Treasury from: FurnitureCreations
Perfect Cabin Accessories
Fawn Innocence Original Oil Paining From: Luvs2Paint $376.00	The High Desert From: Hats At The Door by John E Jenkins $648.00	Northwest Enchantment From: The Creators Palette – Art by Melanie $200.00
Set of four napkin rings with pinecone, and plaid fabric From: House of Peltier $24.00	Dresser From: Alfer Design $4,200.00	Natural Stone Coaster Set w/ Patina Metal Holder From: Boulder Works, Inc $24.95
Redwood Adirondack Settee, Rocker and Glider From: Tom the Irishman, LLC $325.00	Rocky Mountain Juniper Lamp W/ Paper Shade From: Montana FurnitureTraders $395.00	Pair of 18in Daniel Pillow Covers Leather and Fur From: Designs by Derilyn $59.99
Enchanted Forest From: The Creators Palette – Art by Melanie $200.00	Gray Barn From: Susan Elkin Photography $100.00	fawn mug From: laura walls taylor ceramics $29.00

These days, owning a home is all about adding some value by making the most of the limited space you have, and with more and more people opting to telecommute and work from home (thanks to the poor economy and limited employment opportunities in traditional sectors), you could do worse than turning an otherwise wasted space into a home office. And while most people relegate their home office in the smallest room in the house or tuck it away into a corner of the living room or bedroom, you might want to take a closer look at the abundant space offered by your garage and ask if you’re really putting it to the best possible use.

Do you even put your car in the garage, or is it merely acting as a receptacle for your junk? Either way, it could provide a far better function in your life if you opt to turn it into your home office. So here are a few tips to help you make the transition.

The first thing you need to undertake is a massive cleaning effort. The garage may turn out to be the biggest room in your house, but it is probably also the messiest (honestly, how often does anyone clean the garage?). So before you even think about renovating you need to clear out the trash, cardboard boxes, old sporting goods and camping equipment, half-empty paint cans, and automotive supplies that are cluttering up your space. Then you need to take steps to ensure that any lingering contaminants are long gone, so power-washing the concrete to alleviate oil stains and other chemical residue could be a good plan.

Once you’ve addressed any issues of cleanliness, you should think about having an energy assessment done to find out where leaks are occurring. The garage door is an obvious outlet for interior air, but this room is notorious for lacking seals in several areas, like around windows, corners, and other seams. And unless you know about them, you can’t take the appropriate steps to ensure that your new office is insulated against the elements.

Now it’s time for some fun. Once you’ve done the leg work to prep your garage for its impending transformation, you can start to see the payoff as you build out your space. And the foundation is a good place to begin.

Since future buyers may want to turn this back into a garage you should resist the urge to do anything permanent. Consider laying down a subfloor, padding, and carpet or laminate that isn’t too expensive and can be easily removed later on. And then pick a complimentary wall color to give your space the feeling you desire, whether it’s the calming effect of a pale blue or the energy and creativity of a saturated green, pink, or purple jewel tone.

And now that the tone for your space has been set, you can start to fill it with the furnishings and décor that will complete it. You’ll certainly want a desk, and if the office is meant to accommodate multiple members of the family, you may want more than one. So look into modular furnishings that provide functionality and the ability to expand later on. You’ll also need plenty of storage, including file cabinets, shelving units (complete with bins for organization), and even cupboards or closet space to house supplies. And if you work from home, you should take advantage of the size of your garage to include a seating area for meetings with clients (fill it out with a couch, chairs, a coffee table, and even a media center for presentations). With plenty of space to fill, your garage-turned-office can easily meet the demands of a work-at-home operation as well as a growing family.

Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for usedporscheengines.com, where used Porsche engines are shipped nationwide daily.