As we move into 2010 we will be changing the focus of CM-Interior Design to match our current efforts of Design-Build. Please stay subscribed here for remodeling tips and maintenance ideas to keep and m

ake your home  more comfortable , afford-ably.

We will also be concentrating next year on connection while helping other small businesses grow through social media. If you are reading this, you are already ahead of the curve.

As always we will be continuing our charity efforts through http://www.12for12k.org.

As the economy remains sluggish and with a jobless recovery, the needs in communities around the world remain high.

Be in Peace and Love always my friends,

Richard

In business today it is important even if difficult to make the investments in the future. To make prudent choices with our money in marketing to plant the seeds for future success. The internet and particularly social media provide excellent vehicles to conservatively invest some money and time for future sales. The question that usually is raised is, “how?”

The answer is both simple and hard. Generally our best clients come from referrals, word of mouth. In much the same way a business would use a telephone to network, we use social media tools to communicate with more people. In the same way that we might join the local Chamber of Commerce, we can join online organizations and meet new people, grow closer relationships and develop new business relationships. It does take a little work. Doesn’t anything worthwhile?

Fortunately social media channels are becoming increasingly cross linked. When I write a blog post, it is automatically linked to LinkedIn. If I write a Tweet, I have the option of posting it to my wall on Facebook. This trend will probably continue making it even easier to get connected, grow relationships, and maintain them.

So back to that needed stitch. Is your business in need of a stitch? Are you in touch with your existing client base in the most effective way?

( For a low cost analysis of your social media marketing activities please contact me at ramartijr@gmail.com)

For More Information http://calhounride.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=291273

When my daughter turned 13, the only thing she wanted for a gift was to have her bedroom remodeled. She felt her old room was childish, and she wanted something that would reflect her personality and creativity.

I thought this was a reasonable request, so we began to discuss the options.

While driving in the car one day, she announced that she wanted each wall a different color! One wall hot pink, another neon green, another sky blue and the last one bright yellow! With little time to spare (so not to show fear), I quickly came up with a solution that would work as a compromise. I needed to appeal to her sense of wanting to be in control of her new space, but at the same time guide her in making a sensible decision.

I let her know that the colors she wanted would be too “exciting” for her small bedroom and would not work well with her ADHD or her sleeping problems!

My idea, as I explained it to her….calmly and convincingly:

This is what I will allow you to do…if you like.

You can pick out a main color, in which all the walls will be painted. Then you can pick out a daker value of that same color. We will then paint large, vertical stripes on three of the walls. On the last wall, which will be the focal point, we will keep the base color and then spatter paint in all the other colors you requested.

This idea, she liked. We then came home, pulled out the paint color books and she proceeded to pick out the colors she liked for her walls. I made sure she taped the colors to her walls, so she could see them everyday and get “a feel” for them.

And then, when she was sure of the colors she wanted…she changed her mind and chose a different ones.

Once we had the painting done, we were then able to buy accessories, fabrics, curtains, rugs etc. to tie all the colors together.

This was a great experience for my daughter, because she was involved in the whole process (even the painting of it). I was surprised with how responsible and focused she was with getting the project done. She and I (and a couple of her friends) spent 2 days prepping and painting. I forgot to mention that we made the painting day, her Birthday Party. She had a Painting Party!! We only had a few people over and kept it very controlled, because teenagers and paint can get crazy very quickly. They had a lot of fun, because I made a point of getting the focal wall done first, so they could each grab a paint brush and a can of paint and spatter the wall.

At one point or another, your kids are going to want to redesign their rooms.

So, let them! Just make sure to guide them in their decision making, without making it look like it was your idea, but that ultimately, they were in control of the decision making.

While in a manic search for inspiration for color combinations, I found Colourlovers.

Delicious eye candy for those like me who love color. The site is not just visually stunning, but loaded with tools that ignite the imagination.

Want to know where colors trends are headed, the site groups color trends for:

• Websites
• Magazines

It groups together palettes and patterns
Tools to create your own palettes and patterns

You can look at combinations that others have put together and rate them. There are forums to discuss ideas. You can create a profile to save and share your ideas with others.

I have made it my starting place for color inspiration-   just not ready to completely chuck the fan decks!

The Non-Profit provides a service that upon acceptance, will remove good cabinetry and appliances from the home and resell them providing funds for the charity. In the companies terms, it is “Win-Win.” I agree.

This service provides benefits for the donors including tax deductions, reduced labor and disposal costs, with the feeling of doing something a little better for the environment.

The Organization then sells the cabinetry providing benefits for yet another family. The new purchaser can get good quality cabinetry and appliances  at a good price.

The proceeds from the sales of goods are used to help people with addiction.

The benefit to the enviroment, less in the landfill and energy is conserved. Since they are reused, less new cabinetry and appliances need to be manufactured.

There are some key things you will want consider when contemplating your website.

1. Keywords - What are you selling for Search Engine Optimization.
2. Content Pictures, video, audio, and text
3. A host

There are a lot of fantastic website designers out there that can create stunning video, sound, and graphically beautiful site. They are entertaining and engaging and they have their place. I love to visit them and appreciate the craft. In certain cases, this could be the answer. If you need a great web esite  designer you can check out Andy Sowards. He does much more than websites.

One word of Caution, complicated websites can be hard to maintain and if you don’t keep updating them, they can look stale. I am a strong advocate of keeping website design simple and affordable so that small businesses can maintain them and update them regularly.

You can also contract with a company like Hubspot, a Massachusetts software company that can build and optimize and host your site for you. My contact at Hubspot is Chris Alexis.

Or you can build your own. No matter which path you choose, you will have to answer the question, “Why am I developing a website for my business?”

A website is nothing more than a group of files that are coded.To create sites on your own, you can learn a little HTML and how to use CSS ( Cascading Style Sheets) and purchase some space from companies like www.GoDaddy.com “>Godaddy.

You can also start with a template and modify it. There are many pre-designed templates to start from. We are affiliates for a company called Dream Templates. DreamTemplate - Offers 1000’s of web templates. Pay once, unlimited downloads.

If you need help or would like us to build your site for you, please email me.

1000’s of Web Templates - Unique & Professional web templates. Unlimited downloads

Premium Web Templates - $1+ million worth of templates for instant download!

What better way to learn about a designer, their work, their style than to experience it in pictures, text testimonials, video and in audio interviews.

You can be a part of the movement. To start join us. Send us an e,mail with IM IN in the subject line. We will schedule an interview and start you on the path to building your business using social media.

Are you in?

As green as that, I was also the lead on the project. My Father was the GC. During a regular meeting, midway through the project, The homeowner, Mr Robert Gary, was concerned about cost overruns. ( There is a poignant moral so read on.) The homeowner was justified in his concern, but you need to know that this was a project where we were building everything custom ( Bespoke for you English readers.) Including the doors and windows. It was and is a magnificent property in Kent.

When My Robert Gary voiced his concern, and without skipping a beat, Mr Gwathmey quipped, “… What the —- are you going to do with your money anyway.”

At first I was in shock. Then thought for a moment about the comment. Charlie Gwathmey was right. It was not like Mr Gary was “SPENDING” the money. He was building something of great value. I would not go so far as to say an investment. When you think about this you will realize that this is how wealth IS built. Artists, ( I include Mr Gwathmey in that category) and artisans teaming up to build something of greater value with the added bonus of something to completely enjoy.

What is the moral of this story? You, the architects  and designer, the dreamers, the creators of great things, teamed up with the people who can pay to complete the projects can inspire people to rebuild this economy- in a sustainable way. You can help the people who right now are looking for work.

Dream big, and work to bring your dreams to life!

Changing the world through social media.

Join us and help us make a difference in the world. Today,Cinco de Mayo, is my birthday. My wish for the day is give back and encourage others to give back. Please consider joining 12for12K. There is a link to the left. If you dont have a job, I would like to encourage people to do one nice thing for someone today! Peace.

Social media is changing the way we communicate and interact. The combination of tools like Websites, Blogs, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Linkedin allow us to connect individually or groups.

Those connections create two way communication channels that bring us all closer together.

We have witnessed the results of this in paradigm shift in real ways. Whether it is the election of Barack Obama, or the way that Ashton Kusher out paced the entire news network CNN in the race to 1 million followers, the roll of social media as an instrument of change is real.

Be a part of the change and do some good in the process. Join us at 12for12k.org

Below is a video from Playing for Change.
Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music.