Style: Bakersfield Life

Does this make my landfill look big?

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to be more conscious about the environment, a place you can start right now is on your own body. No, donating fat to science is not an option – I can tell you this from personal research. On your body, as in the clothing that covers it.

As a society we’ve gone from careful wardrobe purchase decisions, to serial recreational shopping. All of those crazed lunchtime sprees (you know, gobbling up that burger in the parking lot so you’ll have an extra fifteen minutes for retail therapy), or filling that thirty minutes before your next appointment with some fleeting shopping bliss, may soon have to go by the wayside. (OK, this is my story. One which I’m sure many share.)

Aside from the direct assault on the designer wallet’s contents, there is also a matter of the impact on the environment. That little twelve dollar number you just bought at the big box discount store probably does not score highly in the “green” category. Think about the process – from thread, to weaving, to cutting, to sewing, to packaging, to shipping, to the store, to you – this is a long chain of resources and energy expended. Not to mention the impact at the landfill when the item falls apart, or gets trashed because it is now boring, or never quite worked for one reason or another.

“But it was such a bargain” you say. “If it was ten bucks, and I wore it twice, I got my money’s worth”. Maybe psychologically you did, but did it really make ecological sense? According to the Council of Textile Recycling, the average American throws away 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per year. I’m guessing that number is much higher for the average Fashionista.

So what can you do?

•    Reduce: Buy less – Do you really need another tee shirt?

•    Reuse: Buy quality – Quality fabrics and garments last longer, reduce wear, and usually can have another life through consignment or donation to a second hand or charity shop.

•    Recycle: There is currently no processing of textile waste in Kern County. Think about a second purpose for that old sock or torn tee, such as a rag, or stuffing for a craft item.

•    Check the label – Buy items made from recycled materials, like plastic bottles, reclaimed cotton or pre-consumer recycled fibers.

Buy only clothing that makes you look 100% fabulous. I guarantee it won’t be making its way into the brown can anytime soon.

*******

Mimi Dorsey, AICI CIP
o o o Unique Image Design o o o

Universal Style International Associate
11693 San Vincente Blvd. #610
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 285-3161
mimi@uniqueimagedesign.com
www.uniqueimagedesign.com

New Men's Fashion Store in Downtown

You have to come check out Guilty!!!

It is Bakersfield's first men's clothing store to carry the latest newest and trendiest styles! The best part for you is that you wont spend those crazy gas prices driving to Los Angeles to the nearest Neiman Marcus. You can stay right here and come downtown. Guilty is located inside House of Moseley, an amazing interior design retail showroom and now featuring House of Lighting, the largest lighting showroom in Kern County. Come down to 2022 Chester Avenue for all your home and style shopping needs. You'll see the major brand names that are all over the world such as:

7 Diamonds, Theory, Seven For All Mankind, Ben Sherman, Penguin, Ike Behar, Hanro, Affliction, Rock and Republic and more....

Style is the new Black! If you're in style, you're in! Dressing appropriately is now what counts because it boosts your confidence and raises your self esteem. In the news lately it states that even the dress code to fly anywhere is changing. No more sweat suits and no more ugg boots. It is time to get the latest dark standard denim jeans on with your patent leather black shoes and your button up shirt on with your new stylin' sport jacket or blazer and hit the road!

Come downtown! I am telling you it is getting better everyday. Lunch time is getting more exciting, restaurants and bars and becoming more populated and popular. But more so, the shopping is phenomenal! I'll see you down here..........

Festive Decorating for Fall

The fall holiday season is finally upon us. Yes, Halloween and Thanksgiving are the decorating pre-requisites to the mother lode: Christmas. Get your creative juices flowing now and by the time Old Saint Nick is ready to roll you’ll be primed to deck the halls like Martha Stewart on Red Bull. Practice makes perfect. It’s a good thing.
So, if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to go into the garage, dust off those old Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations, then grab your checkbook and go buy some new ones. Just like clothing, decorating has trends. And whether you choose to follow them, or opt for a more traditional form of autumn holiday ambiance, admit it, it feels good to have others staring at your festive adornments with awe and admiration.
This happens every year (actually, about five times a year) to Debbie and Dan Dalton. They live in what has become known as the Holiday House, on the corner of Olive Drive and Oakhaven Street in the Northwest.

Halloween
    Drive by it, you can’t miss it. For years now they have been setting up magnificent window and lawn displays that have caused many a driver to rubberneck on his or her way home from work. Debbie says that it all started with a giant pumpkin man they saw at a Lucky’s supermarket many years ago. Each year they buy more, and the displays grow. They know what’s new, and what looks good. So this is where we start our journey into the latest and greatest fall decorations, beginning with Halloween.
    “He’s really gotten into the blow-up thing now,” Debbie says referring to her husband Dan.
    Blow-up, meaning giant inflatable decorations, such as plastic pumpkins that have a clear plastic side, and for Halloween, usually contains a ghoulish mechanical such as a carousel of witches and ghosts.
“We look for big things that can be seen from the road,” she says.
This is the first year she can recall the blow-ups geared for Halloween, although she has seen them for Christmas over the past several years.
The Daltons are also big on mechanical decorations. The Holiday House is famous for its displays in the front bay window. However, Debbie says mechanicals can get expensive.
The Daltons also recommend securing yard decorations so holiday bandits don’t run off with them.
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So just how much could haunting your house set you back? We hit Wal-Mart to find out. If you stick to the classics: fake spiders and webs, jack-o-lanterns, some ghoulish music and an eerie light, you should be able to get past the register for about $50. But when you start playing with the big boys (literally, life-size mechanical monsters) you will have to shell out a minimum of $100 per creature. However, at Wal-Mart, the blow-ups range from about $15 on up.
Debbie has also found creative ways to save on scary stuff.
“I’ve had farmers let me go in and get cornstalks when they were done,” she says.
Another idea she has for a more cost-effective window display is simply buying stuffed animals at a discount store and dressing them up. This may not only be a more economical decorating idea, but one more appropriate for smaller children whose fear threshold tends to be lower.
“I do things that please children,” Debbie says as she holds her baby grandson.
One sure kid pleaser is also a new trend that you can find at Michael’s: Lemax haunted town displays.
“This is gaining popularity because so many people do regular Christmas villages,” said Kathline Stein, Event Coordinator for Michael’s in the Northwest Promenade. Just like the Christmas villages, you piece separately sold buildings and scenes together, this time creating your own ghost town complete with haunted pirate ships, ghoulish mansions and graveyards.
But as with every holiday, the hottest items go fast, and you may not be able to find this Michael’s top seller until next Halloween. It is (was) a fortuneteller inside a crystal ball that delivers fortunes on demand.
“We sold out when we first got them in and had a wait list,” Stein says.
Another item she recommends not only serves as decoration, but also brings families together: a haunted gingerbread house – you put it together.
Stein says it gives parents a chance to say, “Let’s get rid of the computer and do something fun together.”
Carving pumpkins can be lots of fun, but the mess is not. That’s why this year Stein says artificial pumpkins are the way to go. They last for years, look and feel just like real pumpkins, but without the rot or goo.
Another tip she has, “You can ditch the candles and put in lights to cut down on fire hazards.”

Thanksgiving
If you’re crafty, this is the holiday for you. I looked, but was not able to find the blow-up 8-foot turkey with a mechanical scene of pilgrims and Native Americans. No, November is a brief solace between the plastic fantastic of Halloween and Christmas that so often adorns the aisles.
According to Stein, pre-made pumpkin displays have been big sellers. But, no one is craftier than Martha Stewart. Of course, Martha makes her own pumpkin floral arrangements. So can you. Her directions, as found on marthastewart.com are simple: Find the roundest pumpkin you can, cut off the top and scoop out the insides. Place a plastic bucket or container inside, and in that place some floral foam and sculpt to fit, and make it level. Add water, then seasonal fresh flowers, dried leaves and berries.
Another idea comes from Debbie Dalton. “It’s inexpensive using garland and some floral. It brings in the fall colors,” she says.
Stein also suggests decorating using bales of hay. Full-sized straw bales sell around town at feed stores for about $6 each, smaller ones can be found at craft stores. Then just add to them.
“A couple of bushes, one floral, one foliage and if you want you can add a scarecrow,” Stein says, adding these types of displays work well in front of a house on a larger scale, or on a smaller scale inside on a counter.
She says these were a big hit last year, especially with local banks. “When I walked in I was like there’s all of our arrangements.”
But it’s not just about visual decorations - don’t forget fragrance. A bowl of pumpkin scented pinecone potpourri, sold at Michael’s for $5 a bag, can light up noses in any room.
And of course, there is the ever-popular cornucopia, likely one of the easiest displays to do. The baskets can be bought in craft stores or online for about $15, and you can fill them with everything from leaves, and gourds to flowers and twigs, fake or fresh.
Or you can just buy one pre-made.
So whether you’re decorating style is more Martha or more Wal-Mart, this season these is something for everyone.
And remember, if you don’t get it right during these holidays, you still have one more chance to redeem yourself this year.

The Perfect Home Office

Warning: a home office can be hazardous to your health! With more people telecommuting to their jobs, home offices are more popular than ever—but the problems that arise from a poorly designed office space can affect both employee productivity and health. Back pain, headaches, and the increasingly common carpal tunnel syndrome are occupational hazards for people who rely on home furniture that is not designed to accommodate laptops, keyboards, and other office equipment. Advanced computer technologies like videoconferencing and remote access software have made it easy for people to keep in touch, but pulling up an extra chair to the dining table doesn’t mean that your home office is good to go.
Fully-equipped home offices are no longer an anomaly. A 2006 Reason Foundation study estimates that about 4.5 million Americans are daily telecommuters, and around 20 million people work from home at least once per month. In addition, demanding careers often mean that many professionals bring work home after a long day in the office—which makes a dedicated, well-equipped space for work projects essential for every home-based professional. As demand has exploded, many homebuilders routinely include an office option in their floor plans, but nearly every home has a space that can be converted into a quiet work area where you can have a desk, a computer, and other office equipment that will enable you to get your work done.
One of the greatest challenges of the home office is finding a setup that integrates with normal household routines while still maintaining a professional space. People who work from home learn early on that if they are to be productive, they must be wary of the potential for distraction. It’s easy to be distracted by a ringing doorbell or a crisis over spilled milk, so it’s best to set up an office in a space where interruptions by family members can be minimized by simply shutting the door. Spare bedrooms are the most common home office spaces but even a corner of the dining room that is unoccupied during the day is a good place to set up shop.
So now that you’ve set aside some square footage, have a seat and think about the most hazardous piece of equipment in your office.
Chances are that you’re sitting in it.
The most common offender in home office ergonomics is the humble desk chair—and most people don’t even recognize it as the source of their back pain and stiff shoulders. But because the typical home office worker spends so much time in front of a computer, a supportive, well-designed chair will reduce the potential for injury by eliminating stress on the spine. Aside from a reliable computer, a good chair with excellent lumbar support will be the single best investment that you make in creating your home office.
“Companies invest time and money in developing an ergonomically correct chair,” says Shawna McCune of Floyd’s Office Solutions. The range of chair options on the showroom floor at Floyd’s is astonishing—but fortunately, testing office chairs is as easy as sitting down.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control, the best desk chair for your body will be positioned so that the elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle and the arms are level with the work surface. Nate Stormzand of Steelcase, a major chair manufacturer, recommends investing in a chair with adjustable armrests and tilting mechanisms that will allow you to position your body properly. Your feet should be placed solidly on the floor. According to Stormzand, the ideal chair has a seat pan with a “waterfall edge” that tilts with your body movement, so that your legs and knees aren’t pushed against the seat. Footrests can help people with shorter legs, and removable lumbar support rolls can help align the spine properly.
Realistically, no one sits perfectly aligned in an office chair all of the time. When the action in the office gets intense, you are naturally drawn forward as you become more involved in the project at hand, and it’s common to hunch forward or slouch sideways and shift around as you try to find a more comfortable position. But over time, poor sitting posture can cause long-term spinal damage and serious back, shoulder, and neck pain. Additionally, gravity will eventually pool blood in the lower half of the body, creating sluggish pumping action to the heart. The best solution? Get up and move around! Experts agree that frequent stretching and mild exercise during the day help to release tension and increase concentration. Since you’ve got the comforts of home all around you, it’s even easier to grab a few minutes away from your desk.
Spending long hours in front of a computer can cause eyestrain, so the best position for your computer monitor is to align the top so that it is slightly lower than your eyes, placing your neck in a neutral position. Ambient task lighting helps to reduce glare and keep you from squinting, especially if the monitor brightness is turned down. Experts agree that looking away from the screen several times an hour will help to alleviate headaches and make it easier to stay focused.
Finally, home office workers often find that repetitive stress injuries to the wrists and hands are caused by poor keyboard placement. A work surface that is too high forces the arm to twist up, and a keyboard set too low can compress the nerves in the hand and wrist. Typically, the best keyboard position is just below your normal desk surface. Mouse users can combat carpal tunnel by using a padded wrist rest that helps keep the wrist flat and reduce arm fatigue, and some people even use an articulating keyboard tray on a sliding track that lets you adjust the keyboard tray to fit your task. Test a variety of different desk setups and remember—the more comfortable you are, the more work you’ll be able to accomplish! And if you’re not sure where to begin, Floyd’s offers complete in-store and at-home consulting to help people with their home office needs.
Those of us fortunate enough to have a home office enjoy a level of flexibility and comfort that isn’t possible in a more traditional office environment. Instead of spending 20 minutes battling the traffic on Truxtun, we can catch a few minutes of extra sleep or linger over a morning cup of coffee. And don’t get us started on the pleasures of comfy sweatpants and t-shirts as standard office attire. We know we have the best of all worlds—and with a little attention to detail, everyone can create a comfortable, safe home-based workspace that will make a productive workday even more rewarding.

Luxury In A Glass Bottle

A head-turning outfit has its advantages, but a captivating fragrance has its advantages too. In fact, a fragrance so divine and entrancing could be the one thing people remember most, next to your smile. It’s no wonder top American designer, Michael Kors has created several distinctive fragrances for women that not only make you feel glamorous and sexy, but are sensual and sophisticated too.
Michael Kors is recognized as one of America’s pre-eminent designers for luxury sportswear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a range of products from clothing to beauty. As a designer, Michael Kors has become known for his unique ability to combine American practicality with European glamour.
Michael Kors’ signature fragrance is like no other. Sure, the fragrance counter in your favorite department store is filled with bottles of alluring scents, but Michael Kors designed one for you so that you can smell like perfection. Michael Kors is an intoxicating white floral fragrance, which features a predominance of Tuberose India. This fruity, honey-like white flower signature creates an enveloping aura of sensuality that gently pulses as the fragrance warms on the skin. The sun-kissed top note of sparkling bergamot and succulent apricot complements the tuberose as a blend of orange flower and Egyptian jasmine intensifies this rich, white floral bouquet. Further enchantment comes from the fresh floral vibrancy of green freesia,Turkish rose and a delicate halo of White Peony, among other special blends.
In Fall 2006, Michael Kors Beauty introduced Michael Kors Eau De Toilette, a special version of the original luxurious Michael Kors fragrance. This new scent brings women glamour and luxury in a bottle. The original concentration of the rich, creamy floral enhanced by sensual woods and exotic incense has been softened, resulting in a beautiful new interpretation of classic tuberose.
And with the creation of a new fragrance came a gorgeously crafted bottle to house the fragrance. Gregarious, energetic, easy-going and approachable, Michael Kors personifies the island attitude. Therefore, it was only fitting for the designer extraordinaire to create a fragrance reflecting his passion for a relaxing getaway.
Appropriately named Island Michael Kors and just as Michael’s first fragrance, Michael Kors, was his fingerprint – an up-close and personal expression of over-the-top glamour– Island Michael Kors represents Michael’s lifestyle and attitude – the feeling of relaxed luxury. The woman wearing Island Michael Kors is outgoing and attractive with an infectious laugh. Her jet set style is unmistakable and distinctive, as she’s all about non-stop glamour. With windswept hair, bronzed skin and an open outlook, she has a true island spirit regardless of the season. The fragrance is an infusion of rich humid florals with a touch of exotic fruits and sparkling tropical water transported with subtle notes of driftwood and white bark.
“I remember one of my first holidays in Hawaii. When the plane’s door opened, the warm aroma of the island captivated me,” says Michael Kors. “It was a different world. It was time to unwind. I knew I had arrived at my ideal destination.”
In April 2006, Michael Kors took his customers to another exotic vacation with the introduction of Island Michael Kors Fiji.
After having journeyed to some of Michael’s favorite scent-sational destinations, he’s decided one more exotic location will be required to making sure the new year starts moving in the right direction. Having just released Island Michael Kors Hawaii, the jet-set designer has captured the freedom and sensuality of the Aloha State in a single sunset-inspired-colored bottle.
“When you step off the plane the first thing you notice is the utterly indulgent, sexy humid floral quality permeating the air – it overtakes you immediately. I wanted this fragrance to embody Hawaii in its purest form,” Kors says.
The luminous scent of this designer fragrance bursts with a captivating citrus explosion; exhilarating clementine, juicy orange and neroli. You’ll also discover hints of pineapple orange flower, jasmine and exotic Hawaiian ginger lilies. Also new to Michael Kors’ collection of fragrances is the Island Michael Kors Hawaii lip-gloss balm, which is flavored and scented with luscious orange flower.

Where did the inspiration for your first fragrance come from?
Fragrance is probably the most intimate thing I will ever create. It’s my fingerprint. With my signature fragrance, I wanted it to be totally iconic, like a fabulous object that you would keep forever. The scent itself is like the black evening dress of my fragrance collection. It’s something you always need and love.

How long did it take you to get it just right?
I wanted my first fragrance to be a true reflection of the modern, chic, sexy woman. Michael Kors is a fragrance that instantly feels right because we took our time to get it right. It feels comfortable and luxurious.

When designing a fragrance do you take a different approach than you would with an article of clothing?
Absolutely not; when designing fashion I am always envisioning who will be wearing the clothes, how they will feel in them and what persona they want to project. It is the same in fragrance. My original fragrance is all about quintessential glamour. I needed a scent that would make a statement and have an undeniable signature, innocent and demure was not the way to go. So I picked the scent of Tuberose. It is beautiful, feminine and larger than life. It is for a woman who knows luxury, has style but does it effortlessly. When wearing the fragrance she projects confidence and sensuality just like when she is wearing my designs.

Why did you decide to do the Island series of fragrances?
The signature Michael Kors fragrance is like a little black dress and Island is a white shirt – everyone needs both depending on the occasion and her mood. They are both luxurious but Island is relaxed and conveys the attitude of relaxed luxury. For me, this fragrance had to evoke the spirit of vacation, the relaxed feeling you get when you exit the plane and the scent of humid, lush flowers hits you.

Which Island does the first Island Michael Kors fragrance represent?
Island Michael Kors represents the fantasy of the ultimate getaway and the feeling of relaxed luxury. Whether it be in Capri, Hong Kong or Manhattan, the Island bottle with its transparent layers of turquoise-colored glass and the wave-like illusion at the bottom, captures the jet-set attitude. It is the perfect vessel to contain an intoxicating tropical breeze.

What are some of your favorite memories of Hawaii?
I manage to fit in a fair amount of island hopping during the year but I always come back to Hawaii – it’s one of my very favorites. When you step off the plane the first thing you notice is the utterly indulgent, sexy and humid floral quality permeating the air—it overtakes you immediately. I wanted the latest - Island Michael Kors Hawaii fragrance to embody Hawaii in its purest form.

Who is “The Woman” behind the new Island Michael Kors Hawaii fragrance?
Like the key note, orange blossom, the Island Michael Kors Hawaii woman is fresh and sexy; casual but still very chic.

Is there an island out there that you would like to visit but just haven’t had the chance yet?
Fiji is probably the one island destination I haven’t been to—yet. But I fantasize about going. It is so remote it takes casual living and relaxed luxury to another level. I’m saving the experience for when I really need the downtime…meanwhile, I can be transported there through the intoxicating fragrance.

Crawl Out From Under Chaos

Jessica Miller is a successful Bakersfield businesswoman. She’s friendly, highly-motivated, and cares deeply that she provides her clients with the best service possible. But Jessica had a major problem. She spent so many hours growing her business and servicing clients that she couldn’t find enough time to establish an effective record-keeping system. She also didn’t have time to do basic housework. The pattern repeated itself for several years.
She experienced a moment of truth a few months ago. Jessica was always stressed and could never relax because her entire house was buried in slips of paper with information that needed to be input in her computer. She decided to make a change – she hired a professional organizer who helped her develop a system to manage the paper, and she has another contractor come into her office each week to input data. She also hired a housekeeper so she can focus on the work she loves.
Now, Jessica knows right where to find important information and she has the time to enjoy life more: she loves writing encouraging cards to family, friends and customers. She also sleeps better at night because work and life are finally in balance. While Jessica’s name has been changed to protect her reputation, her situation is real.
You may be like Jessica. Or, you may have an impeccable house – except for the one room where you throw all the mail. Or perhaps you keep paperwork in a safe place but the rest of your house always looks like a tornado whirled through. Don’t despair. Like Jessica, you could soon create order from the chaos, and reclaim your family and leisure time to enjoy your home to the max.

Get organized
“The main benefit to being organized is that you have more time with your family,” said Mary Ryan, professional organizer consultant and owner of You Never Know Tomorrow. “If you don’t manage time wisely, you lose it.” There are only 168 hours in a week. How do you want to spend them?
If you think organizing and cleaning will take time away from your family, consider this: if you don’t spend 10 minutes filling the dishwasher on one night, you’ll have to spend double that time the next night just to catch up, Ryan said.
Organization is about dealing with change, said Debra Blackmon, owner of Blackmon Design. “Psychologically, those of us who don’t like change tend to avoid organizing,” Blackmon said. She recommends the book When Change is Your Company’s Middle Name by Carolyn Masters. Though it’s written for businesses, “it has great exercises to help remove the fear of change and help understand the dynamics of change.”

Deal with paperwork
Ryan offered tips for homeowners looking to tidy up or de-clutter. Her first suggestion: stay focused and finish one project before you move on to the next. If you don’t finish everything on your to-do list today, don’t stress about it. Just put the leftover items on tomorrow’s list and prioritize importance.
If you’re buried in paperwork and want to solve the problem yourself, Ryan suggests that you start by sorting into three categories: file, review and trash. Throw away junk mail and keep it out of your house by discarding it the day you receive it. Remember to file bill stubs for one year (seven years for business-related bills.) If you want professional help tackling the paperwork, Ryan can go to your home or office and establish or update your filing system. She can then teach you how to maintain it or go back periodically to do it for you.
Once you decide which paperwork you need to keep, Blackmon suggests corralling it in filing drawers or cabinets. But, baskets with lids could also work and may fit more into your decorating style. Jessica Miller now keeps her paper in wicker filing baskets in a closet of her office. For larger items, crates on wheels that fit under tables or beds might do the trick.

De-clutter
If clutter is giving you ulcers, a little planning can go a long way toward solving the problem.
“Have a basic strategy to conquer chaotic clutter,” Blackmon said. “Here are the three fundamental steps all clutter-busters use to reduce chaos in a home.”
Start your organization process from scratch. Take everything out where you can see it and access it – but just one room at a time!
In the space, break down everything into manageable groups of like items, creating a list of the system you’re using, so you can duplicate the organization again. Decide what type of container could provide the best accessible storage or display for each group – be sure to measure as you go.
Reassemble the space using the new components.
If you like displaying collectibles, think clustered displays so your surfaces will still look uncluttered in-between. If the items are small, you can group them on beautiful trays, Blackmon suggests.

Plan ahead
What if you’ve mastered paperwork and clutter but your home is still chaotic? Time to plan ahead, Ryan suggests. You can multi-task, for one thing. Load the washing machine and tidy up while clothes are washing. And get your child/ spouse/ roommate involved. Everyone uses the home so everyone can do some task to help clean and maintain it. “Kids watch and learn from us. Teach them to help when they’re young,” Ryan said.
If your children’s clothes are picked out each night – and offer two outfits for children who want to choose – you won’t be searching for socks while the school bus drives away. Don’t have time or desire to cook every night? Plan a couple healthy meals then make enough to freeze portions for other nights, Ryan suggests.

Move the furniture
You can also consider a one-day interior redesign. The technique helps homeowners “radically improve the use and look of existing rooms by rearranging the belongings they already have,” explained Cheryl Rogers-Tadevich, owner of Design by Cheryl. “It could be as simple as restyling some accessories or repositioning an oversized chair, but the difference can be night and day,” Rogers-Tadevich stated.
Redesign can be helpful for the success of merging households after marriage or when you move into a new home and want the optimal furniture arrangement. It can also help to turn a cluttered area into usable space, she explained.
“Proper space planning can alleviate a congested feeling,” said Tracie Taylor, owner of Passionate Designs. “Use simplicity (with decorations and furniture) but pay attention to detail to have elegance and luxury of life.”
Remember that colors set moods, Taylor said. Do you want your home to feel romantic, casual, peaceful or energetic? Different colors will accomplish those results.
Follow some of these tips and you’re sure to be enjoying quality family time in a relaxed environment before you know it.

Framing Perfectly

If you’ve ever slipped a favorite snapshot or special piece of paper into a flimsy frame, only to discover later that the treasured picture or memorabilia you thought you were preserving is fused to the glass forever, then you’ve learned a lesson custom framers hope to help others avoid: If something is important enough to frame, do it right the first time.
“Properly framing something can preserve it,” says Justin Jennings, owner of J.P. Jennings Custom Picture Framing in downtown Bakersfield. “Improperly framing something can be detrimental.” Jennings, who has been framing for about 15 years, started out working for one of the big-box craft stores before buying the inventory of a Sacramento framing business.
“Frame the item to match the art,” Jennings advises. “The money you spend will make the item a much more personal and permanent investment.”
Making memories last forever shouldn’t be cost prohibitive. Experts agree that expense is the biggest misconception about custom framing, along with the quality offered by a national chain framer compared to a custom local framer. “There is no comparison,” says Toni Lott of Affordable Framing. “Custom framing is a whole step above. So many times we get pieces that were poorly done to begin with. Custom means you’re getting the best quality frame exactly the way you want it. Often artists will buy a pre-cut frame and I’ll cut the matte to help keep their cost down.”
Custom framers bring years of training and experience to the work table, and, like J.P. Jennings and others, offer hundreds of mattes and moldings to choose from. They order it, cut it, and mount it on site, something some national chain stores don’t do anymore, according to Jennings. “A locally-owned custom framer will most likely be more willing to accommodate your needs, style and budget,” he says.
From a practical standpoint, properly encasing a diploma, baptismal gown or family heirloom under glass ensures preservation and enjoyment for future generations. “You never know how long these items will last. You may not care as much now, but I guarantee you your relatives will care,” Lott says. All the more reason, she adds, to pay attention to every detail, from hinges and corners to backing and choice of glass.
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The backs of frames need to be papered to keep the dust out. While ultraviolet-protected glass may cost two times that of regular glass, museum-quality glass will be a hundred times more expensive. A trained custom framer will know the difference and be able to guide the customer through the maze of colorless, non-glare and UV coated glass available.
No less important is the selection of a matte, which provides an air gap between the work and glass, a sort of layer of protection to absorb any moisture. “The matte also provides an area for the art to ‘rest’ in an uncluttered space,” Jennings says.
Tastes and trends in framing have changed. Twenty years ago everything, it seemed, was done in oak. Today experts say styles lean towards the ornate with a Tuscany feel of gold, silver and bronze overtones, as well as the look of shabby chic. Some of Jennings’ gilded frames have been hand-finished in Italy. On display in the front window of the framer’s business is a copy of a 1901 prospect map of Bakersfield. This intricately mounted copy with fancy cuts into the suede matte runs about $1619; one without the trimmings would cost little more than a hundred dollars framed. That example illustrates the range one can go in framing. The cost of moldings generally starts at $5 a foot to more than $50. Inexpensive black frames with white mattes still offer a timeless classic look for less.
Al Mendez of Ice House Framing & Gallery says the current technology now affords a client almost unlimited variety. “Custom framing is so much more than putting something away in a drawer or box.” Mendez, who has been framing for twenty years, has his share of memorable assignments, like the flag that flew to the moon aboard Apollo 12, and authentic signatures of Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin.
Like Mendez, Jennings has some favorite jobs. He recently framed a badge belonging to a retired Kern County Firefighter. The badge was part of the payload for Burt Rutan celebrated Spaceship One Enterprise. The encasing included a photo and notarized declaration.
“We’re always excited about these things,” Jennings says. “It doesn’t have to be something so unique. But it is one of the joys of being a picture framer. You get to handle things like something going into space.” The original was commissioned by Deputy Fire Chief Mike Cody, who recently asked Jennings to frame a replica as a gift to the President of the International Association of Firefighters who visited Bakersfield last month. The framed replica now hangs on the official’s office wall in Washington, D.C. The original is on display in the lobby of the Kern County Fire Department headquarters. “I like framing,” Cody says. “I matte and frame just about everything. It’s like a hobby.” He also knows when to trust a trained professional, as was the case with the space-bound badge. “Framing is something you can look at and remember the accomplishment.”
Not everything will be a conversation piece like Jennings’ wife Jennifer’s wedding dress, enclosed and mounted six feet tall on the wall of the store’s main workroom. “I would advise people to pick things they really like,” says Jennings, who now offers visualization software which allows customers to see what the design work will look like. One item he believes should always be mounted is a diploma. “Those are the kinds of documents that should be framed, considering the tuition you spent and the years you worked to earn it.” Lott recommends customers decide beforehand exactly where the article will hang and in relation to how much sunlight. “Then I will help you frame to the art. That way you can always move it later to another room.”
So whether it is a business license or an antique pocket watch, protect and preserve it for posterity.

Diligent Home Design

Here’s the decorating fantasy. You invite Bakersfield’s hottest interior designers to your home, walk them through the rooms and then command them to redecorate the entire place, top to bottom, “money is no object!” Unfortunately, for most of us money is the object, and can be a real barrier to getting the design look that is your heart’s desire. But it can be done and without breaking the budget so let’s begin our journey through those places where you can find affordable style in Bakersfield.
Let’s begin by eliminating dollar stores completely. While dollar stores are just the ticket for cleaning supplies, knick-knacks and holiday decorations, you won’t find substantial decor items there. Making a true decorating statement will require some imagination and inspiration to provide the right spark.
Tracie Taylor, owner of Passionate Designs, says your design inspiration can come from anything. “You might see a set of plates that stand out, the color combination grabs you, that can be your inspiration,” she says.
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Julie Hatridge of The French Quarter agrees. “New color combinations, a piece of jewelry, nature, design magazines. Be open to all kinds of different sources.”
Inspiration can be as close as your television. TLC and HGTV have a wealth of do-it-yourself design shows that can get your creative juices flowing and even demonstrate how to do it. While you may not possess the carpentry or sewing skills to turn out the type of work their experts can do, you’ll still get a good grasp on the basics.
Most designers agree that fabric makes an immediate statement and Taylor feels that the one element you don’t skimp on is window treatments.
If you’re short on dollars, look first in department store clearance bins and always take your window measurements with you.
Most window coverings are fairly simple to sew and you can save a lot if you go this route. Bakersfield has several fine fabric stores, where you can expect to pay big for upholstery and drapery fabrics, but there are bargains to be found.
A good place to start is F & M Fabrics on Niles Street in East Bakersfield. It has wall-to-wall rolls of fabrics priced from $1 a yard and up. Upon your first visit, as you wander through the aisles remarking on the variety, a good thing to keep in mind is many local designers are among this store’s best customers.
F & M has a wide variety of fabrics for those opulent window treatments that can make your room more than you had ever imagined.
Hatridge loves the idea of using paint to change a room and cautions do-it-yourself designers to always buy the best paint you can afford. After all, if you are going to go through all the work, you might as well like the outcome.
“Take the time to do something special: a stencil, a striped wall,” she says. “Spend in time what you can’t spend in money and if you’re going to spend the time, you’ll want it to hold up.”
Taylor also believes good paint is worth it. “Time is valuable and using inexpensive paint takes several coats and is time wasted,” she says. “Quality paint will get you a better outcome, better coverage and truer color.”
Getting a designer look for your home’s floors without spending a fortune can be a little tricky but not impossible. All you really need is something attractive. Mark Shulman of G & S Carpets says the best buys are always room size remnants available in nearly every color and style. But he advises against do-it-yourself installation.
       “Most people don’t find it within their grasp to do it themselves,” he says. “You need the right supplies and tools which you can rent, but it’s a matter of knowing what you’re doing.”
Shulman recommends hiring a licensed contractor to do the job. “You have some leverage to go back to them if they don’t do a good job,” he says. “If they’re not licensed you have no legal recourse but small claims court.”
For those wildly popular hardwood floors, Shulman says be prepared to spend some money.
“Hardwood is a natural product and if you’re on a budget, you’ll only be able to afford seconds or cabin grade which probably won’t get you the look you’re after.”
For inexpensive furniture, try shopping first at one of the many thrift and resale stores. Their furniture is usually very nice and with a little sanding, primer and paint, you can turn a wallflower into the star of your room.
Hatridge recommends find something that needs reupholstering.
The reason for the reupholstered piece – it’s fairly inexpensive and can test a new unforeseen talent you may have.
Thrift stores will usually shave a few dollars off the price if you ask and they almost all accept checks, which is a nice bonus.
These stores are also terrific for accessories and art. Where else can you find nice sized baskets for a few dollars or a pair of matching lamps for ten bucks?
But the real treasures are at garage and yard sales. Bring cash and come prepared to negotiate to your heart’s content. But look over each item carefully. For big decorating items like accent rugs and furniture, yard sales can be your best friend. And, since some homeowners redecorate as a hobby, you can pick up some pricey items on the cheap.
Hatridge asserts, “Good design doesn’t have to be expensive, you can find it at Target,” she says. And you can find it literally anywhere. It’s your vision and your room so it needs to be someplace you want to be. And the fact that you did it on a budget and can still get a “wow” from your visitors makes it all the sweeter.