Showing posts with label online design. Show all posts

CELEBRATING OLIOBOARD - ITS MANY USES + TIPS!

It's hard to believe, but the moodboard maker site called Olioboard launched four years ago this month! At the time, it was one of the only online moodboard makers - beside Polyvore & before Pinterest - where you could creatively pull together thoughts, ideas, and concepts for room designs, party planning and even fashion. Its primary use today is for interior designers, stylists and stagers to use the site for creating 2D and 3D room plans for their clients. Even home enthusiasts and DIYers can pull a look together for a makeover, or even retailers have used the site for pulling together trends. The depth of details on these boards have changed - A LOT - since the site's launch. Everyone in the Olioboard community has learned from each other, from sharing concepts online in Twitter feeds or emails and even joining a member administrated OlioboardFanRoom on Facebook. Four years ago today, Holly Becker of Decor8 had written about Oliboard's app for Real Simple. Although I didn't join in June of 2010, I did manage to find their site in July 2010 (see Creating Online Moodboards at Olioboard.com) where since then, I've been a loyal fan of the site. I've even had the chance to meet the co-founder, Sheilah MacSporran at the Design Bloggers Conference, plus I've enjoyed joining a few of the many design challenges and sponsored contests the site has offered over the years. Here are a few of the latest boards I've been able to create on Olioboard, plus a peek back at a few firsts and some of Olioboard's game-changing applications and uses...

The two above 3D boards are the latest boards I created, and add into a design challenge at Olioboard, where a member suggested designing a room inspired by blue & white porcelain. You can add an existing board you've created (as I did here) or create a new one from focused on the challenge criteria. Both of these boards I did were inspired by mixing my love of the beach with my latest decor obsession of blue & white. This particular design challenge is a voters placement + award badge, unlike a retailer sponsored contest...

One of the last retail sponsored contests at Olioboard was not only voters choice to place, but 5 products from Hayneedle also had to be used in the board designed with an outdoor space in mind. After the Top 50 boards qualified, judges Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis selected their picks for Top 3 boards... Thankfully I placed in the Top 3 - and we all won a ticket to attend Design Camp this summer at LVMKT. Since I'm attending as a guest, I had held giveaway on my blog, to giveaway my winning ticket to design camp - and the winner of that giveaway was Laura C. Moffatt!

CONGRATS LAURA!!

You can see from the above boards of today (shown above) that time and practice helps to develop your skill set on Olioboard - but not all boards are 3D room designs. When I first started on Olioboard, I first experimented with sample board layouts (you can see below) - showing only the items I would use in a designed space...

These types of 2D boards are great for homeowners to get an idea of colors and textures that can be used in their space. Eventually, since you can upload any image to your Olioboard library or sets, I used Olioboard as a means of pulling together "Concept To Completion" boards as well as before and after boards...

Olioboards can also be a great visual tool when working with a client. Both 2D and 3D boards can pull together the look of a project, and also be printed to organize in a project binder. When the online boards are printed into a binder, it becomes a "go to" tool because within that binder you can also keep fabric samples, paint swatches, product info sheets, and most importantly: the correspondences and receipts from the project...

The Olioboard site can also help stagers or homeowners who are selling or planning to move - since you can create a virtual staging of a vacant space (read: How To Use Olioboard For Online Home Staging), or even merge together floor plans + exterior photographs when house hunting...

For bloggers (or retailers), Olioboard can become a means of creating online content (see Kids Room Design BlogHop) from curating trends or merging fashion and decor onto boards (see blog link up Passion For Fashion - Spring Fashion & Decor) to even planning your dorm room (see Dorm Decor - Planning Your Residence Hall Space) - all ready to share from the Olioboard site via Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Or you can download your boards, save to your computer and further enhance your boards via online tools such as Picmonkey, where you can add frames, overlay your logo, add text, create covers (ex: for Facebook) or even convert your room board to black & white. Boards uploaded to Picmonkey can also create even more pinnable (vertical) content to share on your social networks - a great way to market your brand OR create marketable content for an event...

Here I just used my logo, but you can add whatever text you want to communicate - Try different arrangements and test different layouts to see what works best for you.

Here are a few tips I've learned over my time using Olioboard:

1. Make use of creating sets within your library it will help when you're saving new items or when you're looking for something specific for your board (for example: your logo, plants or blue chairs).

2. The take time to learn the editing tools - eliminating the white background is great, but make the image stand out when it's layered vs. being transparent.

3. Think mobile device when building a board - white space is your friend - not every surface needs to be covered as a real room might.

4. Utilize 'tags' on the site - This helps with searchability not only on Olioboard, but in Google (images) as well. For location, add your zip-code as a tag with key words such as "Interior Designer", "Interior Decorator" -- great to use if you've recently moved and you want locals (over time) to find you.

5. Speaking of Google searchable images: when saving your Olioboard, add either your name, your company name or your blog name in the image description on your computer. Again this helps your SEO. For example: Google search your name - afterwards, click "images" and see what pops up. Your boards can pop-up along with the photographed work you've done, whether it's on your blog, or another site featured, or pinned to Pinterest.

Olioboard recognized by Mashable

"For aspiring interior designers and overall design enthusiasts, Olioboard is an easy way to communicate complex artistic concepts visually. Use it as a brainstorming tool or simply to visually organizing thoughts." - Mashable

What's next for Olioboard? This year, they are branching out to test the waters of further merging online designers with some of their site's top selected retail brands to help consumers shop - A great way for students to get started in the industry plus a great means of retailers teaming up with industry tastemakers to curate current trends for them, while having a chance of making a little extra cash.

plus see a collection of my boards in the tab above: Roomboards

Personally, I'm grateful for the site having been developed. I could sketch 3D, draft and render, but I had the hardest time learning CAD. Working with a site such as Olioboard has helped train my brain and hand to computer aided design - and it's so much faster to do a quick change to a plan or create plan A, B, C to choose from - by simply hitting "Duplicate" board on site - make your changes and presto, new board.

Have you tried Olioboard?

How did you like it?

What have you used it to help you create?

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Birthday Olioboard!

LYNDA QUINTERO-DAVIDS

Hello and Welcome to Focal Point Styling! I'm Lynda - sharing simple solutions to style & organize your home, fashion & decor trends, savvy shopping tips, market events, plus local love from the places I've experienced. I started this blog back in late 2009 when I lived in Miami. In 2011, I moved to Phoenix, AZ and rented a house until late 2014, when I relocated back east to the Triad in North Carolina - Join me on my journey!

MASTER BEDROOM - STYLE GUIDANCE ON A SMALL BUDGET

Not all makeovers are overwhelming before and afters with big reveals. Sometimes, especially when working with a small budget, a homeowner just needs a little guidance of how to pull together a look and where to shop. Recently, I was referred to a few homeowners who needed just that: style guidance. One need help with her master bedroom - the others I'll share in a future post. After meeting with this homeowner in her home to discuss colors and style likes, I pulled together a simple 2D style board for her bedroom, including a list of sourced items (and a few options) staying relatively close to her budget. Since she will be doing the space herself, she can set the pace for where and when her money is spent. The homeowner needed color options + window + bedding selections and a few accents (lamps + bench + chair + pillows) to work with her existing five piece espresso bedroom set. Although I had suggested breaking up the set by relocating a piece or two to another room, she wanted them all to stay. To help keep the expense low, I planned minimal accessorizing: Two simple hurricane candles and a large metal disc abo

Master Bedroom Style Board

Although it wouldn't fit within homeowners current budget, she had also requested the adjacent master bathroom get an update as well. Most finds for both the bedroom and the bathroom I had sourced online (some even on sale), however, additional savings can be made shopping locally at Pottery Barn, Target and HomeGoods...

Loved this hammered metal disc from HomeGoods, Chandler - 36" round only $99

Master Bed & Bath Style Board with Before Pics

The bathroom had two vanities - one with space for a bench, or keep the stool she had and add under the counter storage with basket drawers. The drawers would help clear off the counter. A tray can hold a candle and a collection of apothecary jars (filled with soaps, sea sponges). A basket on the counter can hold (white) wash cloths and remove the builder installed towel rings. A plaque with hooks can replace the builder installed towel bar and Lowe's has reasonably priced light fixtures to update the Hollywood styled light bar. I also had suggested either replacing mirrors or retro-fitting them with Mirror Mate.

Fun to do - Happy to help!

Thanks for stopping by,

LYNDA QUINTERO-DAVIDS

Congrats to the Home Office Contest Winners @Olioboard & My OlioNews

Although I didn't win the Home Office Design Challenge at Olioboard, thanks to your votes - my board placed 6th out of 296 entries! (Thank you!!) This was my last contest / challenge I'll be entering for a while - Today I start Pro-Pinning for Olioboard to help boost Olioboard's brand market awareness! Here are the links to the Top 8 (Popular Vote) Places in the Home Office Design Challenge and links to the Tops 25 the judge Erika Johnson McMahon of Radiant Republichad to choose from....

My WORKSPACE GRACE board featuring the Sheaffer Pens I used IN the roomboard (part of the contest rules: use a Sheaffer pen in your space)

1st place: tikib http://olioboard.com/users/konstadina
2nd place: Madeline: http://olioboard.com/users/swimen
3rd place: Alison: http://olioboard.com/users/designer4life
4th place: Adele: http://olioboard.com/users/redadie
5th place: Paula: http://olioboard.com/users/paulamariefarmer
6th place: Lynda: http://olioboard.com/users/nyclq
7th place: Madeline: http://olioboard.com/users/swimen

Meet The Top 3 WINNERS

(chosen by Erika Johnson McMahon of Radiant Republic)

who won prizes from Sheaffer!

1st Place - Tikib's Ideal Dissertation Study Room

2nd Place - Home Office/Craft Space by (my Soul Sistah!) Jane Gianarelli

3rd Place - Maddie's Home Office by OB member swimen

CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS!

and all who participated in the Home Office Design Challenge

To see all Top 25, click http://olioboard.com/challenges/206! Thank you to everyone who voted!! I appreciate YOU!

Example of Store Location PinBoard Cover I created.

Example of The Curtain Exchange Facebook Features PinBoard Cover I created.

My Pro-Pinning for Olioboard will be my second Pin-Project. I'm applying my visual merchandising & organizing skills to create pinboards (I like to call 'virtual visuals) to help bring more brand awareness to Olioboard. Pinterest is ALL about visuals and Olioboard is an online social networking community to create your own visuals (for free plus share or keep private) so utilizing Pinterest is sure to be a winning combination to help grow their reach. Some of the pin-boards I'll be creating will be to recognize the US + global community members and ProTool Tips as well as categorize Olioboard's variety of applications for its use - from tablescapes to event or holiday planning to artist showcases to retail trend boards to room makeovers and everything in between. Sheilah's Picks Trending Now will also be a part of the fresh PinBoards I'll create for Olioboard's PinProfile page (over the next two weeks) - and I'm sure the pins will also be shared over on their Facebook page. After I create the categories of boards, I'll be maintaining them the the next few months. If you're on Pinterest, be sure to follow the new pin-boards I'll be creating at: http://pinterest.com/olioboardapp/ I'll also be sharing some of my OlioPins on Twitter through my new account @IPIN4U as well as using the hashtag #iPIN4U.

My first PinProject was creating pinboards & covers for The Curtain Exchange back in February. Sourcing the pins and creating the boards is one phase of the PinProject. Keeping the boards in an organized flow and focused category of pins is the second phase. More importantly, after the boards are created, it's important to maintain fresh & engaging pins - all part of my pinning process. After becoming a member to the Olioboard community since one month after they launched (back in July 2010) - I'm honored to be contracted as a part of the OlioTeam for this project!

Happy Olioboarding & Happy Pinning!

Thanks for stopping by!

LYNDA QUINTERO-DAVIDS

HOW TO USE OLIOBOARD FOR ONLINE HOME STAGING

Have you ever had a thought, and when you started to look into it, it lead you to something related, but different? That's what happened to me when I was putting together my post for the January blog collaboration with Olioboard. Today I'm joining nine design bloggers and home stagers to discuss home staging! The point of view I was going to take was staging for the seasons, but then I remembered a post I had done called Lifestyling & Visualizing a Vacancy. I wrote the post in May 2010. I had only been blogging for six months -- and I had not yet learned about Olioboard. I wanted to demonstrate how I would stage a vacant home I had toured during an open house... but all I had were separate Realtor's photographs of the space, a rough hand drawn sketch of the layout I did, and a view inspirational images plus the items I was suggesting. I remember struggling to get the flow of words right so that the readers could see my vision. Two months later, I discovered Olioboard -- Two years later... OH THE POSSIBILITIES for Realtors and Stagers!

Above: Olioboard Online Room Staging

Below: The naked listing - A space void of purpose & lifestyle.

Realtors and Stagers can really benefit from having professional or wide-angle lens photos taken of a listing - especially if the listing is vacant. We've all seen the shows on HGTV: Clear the clutter, open the windows, let light in - but to a buyer skimming through photo's online, they may not be able to imagine how an empty space would look with their furniture, or any furniture.

That is why staging is so important for the sale of a house: Having furniture in place gives a room function & purpose. The furniture gives a point of reference to a buyer to know what will - or won't - fit into a space.

And where do people go FIRST when they are deciding to buy a home or not? They shop online. All the more reason to create excitement in a vacant space with Online Room Staging!

When a house has historical value to add, you really want to enhance those attributes, charm and character. For example, the amazing mosaic tile work for the Hollywood (FL) home built in 1936 is a fantastic inspiration for not only interior colors, but the exterior as well.

The french door here at the back of the house can be seen from from the front of the house when standing in the living room, and looking through the dining space: CALL THEM OUT with a simple coat of black paint for an INSTANT 'Focal Point' :)

The pitch in the roof creates a triangular effect on the wall: The best shape to place in a triangle is a circle. This also helps to draw the eye up and enjoy the volume in the space. Layering in tall plants, especially palms in Florida, here bring the outside in and also draw the eye up.

Speaking of looking up, the existing ceiling fans are a functional plus to a sunroom - no need to switch them. For ambient lighting, combine different light levels around the room from: floor lamps, table lamps and up lights in corners.

Windows need not only be framed or covered with panels alone: decorative screens can help diffuse light, give privacy, and add a touch of pattern, which here relates back to the Mosaic tile floor.

Using an ombre rug merges both the b&w in the space without it being a graphic pattern or solid. Going for a round rug vs. a rectangle helps anchor the flow of conversation by floating the chairs in the center of the room. Can be used with slipper chairs, club chairs or if space (& budget) permit: go for four chair & a 1/2 from C&B.

Pulling together the look of before and after is as easy as uploading the vacant space to Olioboard, and using it as your board backdrop, sourcing product images, and even a few Pinterest images can help buyers see the potential of the living space.

(my sketch from 2010)

Here's the (vacant) view from the back of the house (sunroom) through the dining space, just off the kitchen, and next to the door to the garage...

No windows in the narrow dining space and no chandelier, but easy to remedy (in real life for design or for home staging):

1. Open up the narrow space with mirrors. Simple black frames will relate back through to the sunroom black painted french doors.

2. Have a certified electrician add a junction box & canopy in the ceiling, centered to the fabulous deco arch. Keep the feel natural & neutral with a double-drum woven chandy.

3. Not all details were meant to be salvaged: switch out the 1930's sconce for a little black + bling.

Add a simple touch of nature with green grasses for the centerpiece and floor basket.

The floor covering through the dining area and living room are all Cuban-Spanish tiles - a touch of Spanish heritage can work in the livingroom, but for the dining space, add a little Miami flare with a patterned woven rug and stud details on leather chairs. Go grand with grey linen slip cover hostess chairs...

See how the words yes can paint a picture? But having a board set with the described room can speak louder than the words And just think: No furniture to order - no back to break.

Realtors would be able to print the staged space onto their property marketing brochures. For Stagers, online staging projects can help pick up where some staging projects may have dropped due to the economy, short sales and even foreclosures.

Now on to the living room...

Although the white ceiling fans can help circulate the sea air (this house was in Hollywood, off the Inter-coastal), I'd switch the ceiling fans for a pair of carriage chandelier's from Ballard Designs.

An "L" shaped sofa floating in the center works for lounging by the fire, drinks and convos with friends or watching TV. The fireplace surround is a deco relief. Although it still has some of it's color, it could be painted cloud white.

White works well in this space and is a huge part of the South Florida lifestyle. The white stucco walls, some curved, work, or all the spaces could be painted shades of pale grey or sage green...

Not just for Designers, but for homeowners, buyers, sellers, Realtor's and Home Stagers...

Using Olioboard ROCKS for presentations!

I saw the listing in May 2010, but it was originally listed in 2009. While writing this post I learned the place had sold in 2011. It was interesting to see the images - with furniture - from the new owners, who had listed it (or the bank did) again in 2012...

The Real Estate listing photos I used were by

Realtor Joan Henry, P.A. - Coldwell Banker.

When I saw the house, Joan had said the house was 'just' freshly painted (SMH) I said (to myself - the wrong color: a better choice would have been calmer)... Maybe even a lighter value of the green from the fireplace or grey with white trim...

source

So I was SO HAPPY to see the new owners REpainted the house...

source

BUT... I wasn't happy to see they converted the deco arch to a square....

source

And I guess the owners took their own pictures for the listing... and you can see a HUGE difference: The place doesn't show as large as it is... plus: too much clutter for selling (too many personal pictures, candle holders and I don't know what on the fireplace)

source

Doing your own staging to sell is great when tackling some of projects for updating:

Refresh dated existing furniture "sets" with a new finish & hardware.
Update 80's yellow brass finishes with Rustomleum's oil-rubbed bronze.
Lighted up heavy brick fireplaces with a new fitting or paint.
Update tired & dated oak cabinets in white, grey, espresso or black + remove some door to help lighten the look.

See MORE tips & Ideas for Home Staging on my Home Staging pinboard!

Here's a few additional DIY posts to help with staging + my own experience staging and selling our townhome in Florida...

Thank you so much for stopping by today! This was a (mini) blast from the past, to revisit an existing project and do it in a new way. I hope it was helpful!

Online Staging can be a lead to styling the house after the buyers move in.

For TONS more staging help, fun & tips, head over to these fabulous ladies to take in their perspective on Home Staging for today's Home Staging - Before & After OlioHop!