Interior aid
It’s OK to admit you need professional help — particularly when it comes to interior design.
Robb & Stucky, 351 S. State Road 434, Altamonte Springs, is sponsoring a series of free design seminars this month that can help inspire new decor or refresh the old.
Sessions include “Meet the Designer” at 6 p.m. Oct. 11, which offers visitors a chance to talk with design professionals in a series of quick, eight-minute interviews. “Artwork for Your Floor” at 1 p.m. Oct. 14 explains how to use Oriental rugs to change the look of a room, from style to construction. “Breakfast and Design Tips” at 10 a.m. Oct. 17 is another chance to get decorating tips from designers.
Reservations are requested. For information, call 407-682-3700, Ext. 250.
Entertainment rocks
Can’t bear the thought of leaving your iPod?
Music junkies can kick back with the iRocker, a new chair from Adonis Furniture ($99 to $599). The multimedia floor rocker features a docking port for iPods, remote control, audio inputs, speakers and master volume control with LED indicator light. With additional line inputs, the chair also can be set up with video game systems for surround-sound gaming. Chairs are available with two to five speakers, depending on the model, with microfiber or leather upholstery in a variety of colors.
The chair is available at Target, Amazon.com and Linens-N-Things, among others.
On the Web
The site may be promoting lumber, but Georgia Pacific’s home page (gp.com) has a special-project center with free plans for DIY projects.
The plans are available for download as PDF files and are organized by the type of wood, such as particleboard or plywood. Each project sheet includes materials needed and step-by-step instructions. The site has instructions for a variety of indoor and outdoor projects such as garden benches, utility shelves, kitchen storage boxes and more.
Designs are fairly basic but can easily be customized with trims or paint finishes.
On the racks
There are a lot of options for home fixtures and surfaces, each with benefits and pitfalls. Smart Choices for Your Home ($7.99) takes trendy ideas from Inspired House magazine and organizes them into a helpful guide for homeowners.
Smart Choices breaks down home items such as cabinets, sinks, countertops, windows and more, explaining the pros and cons of different materials. Articles offer tips on where particular materials work best and important details to consider no matter which product you choose.
Written in a clear, easy-to-understand way, Smart Choices can be a useful tool in deciding which materials to include in a new home or remodel.
Book report
Sometimes you just want to get away from it all and hide out in the peaceful serenity of nature.
For some of us, that means a tent in the woods. For celebrities and other jet setters, Sun Valley, Idaho, is the place to rough it in style.
Sun Valley: Architecture and Interiors by Alan Edison and Jo Rabjohn (Gibbs Smith; $50; hardback), celebrates not only the architecture of this popular getaway, but the history and style that make Sun Valley unique.
Sun Valley may be a coffee table-browsing book, but it offers wonderful ideas for using setting as inspiration. Homes draw on the earthy, fresh tones of the environment, finished with soft and welcoming furniture and Americana details. A renovated fishing cabin hidden near a creek recalls a pioneer sensibility, while the restrained lines of a minimalist home showcase a stunning mountain view.
Photos by Tim Brown capture a feeling of restful seclusion, whether it’s eco-friendly modern chic or rugged Western charm. Spacious or cottage cozy, Sun Valley homes share a sense of unity with their surroundings, the perfect inspiration for other design projects.
