By Treasure Islands of Santa Cruz - Custom Outdoor Kitchens - BBQ Islands, Fireplaces Firepits, Firetables February 14, 2009
When you visit the website of this outstanding business, it is obvious that all of Design Time Havens products are made with passion and care. Each and every Soy Candle is hand poured the day it is ordered. Only 100% pure soy wax, and uncut essential oils are used. If you love flowers and vases, DTH's Floral Arrangements are also a work of art. If you are looking for an artistic touch, run by a great person (Marty) please check out Design Time Haven! Rick - www.treasureislandsofsantacruz.com ...read more
By Angelic Art September 28, 2008
I heard about Marty's products on Merchant Circle and ordered $400 worth of custom soy candles using my own essential oil blend. I just received them and I am very happy with the outstanding service she's provided me, always answering questions and staying on track with shipping. I highly recommend her services! The soy candles are a great replacement for old wax and paraffin. Great for the environment as well! Thanks again Marty! Joanne Macko of Naperville, IL. www.angelic-art.com ...read more
By Tastefully Simple Independent Consultant September 14, 2008
Great products, nice variety, great prices. Thanks for connecting with me. ...read more
EcoMeThis™ is the newest addition to Design Time Haven. This candle will be hand poured and made of Vegan Grade Soy, uncut essential oils that are gathered through Cold Process when available, pure cotton wicks, and a solid glass jar made in the USA. EcoMeThis™ is a trademark of Design Time Haven. The EcoMeThis™ candle will not be available for coloring, but the regular Aromatherapy candles from DTH will still have the option of being colored. The Vegan Grade Pure Soy used in all the candles is grown in the USA, and the candles are made in the USA. To learn more about Soy Wax please visit: http://designtimehaven.com/extra_info_pages.php?pages_id=9 The uncut essential oils used by DTH are NEVER diluted, and any note of blends means that several uncut essential oils have been mixed together to make a scent, but still remain uncut. To learn more about essential oils please visit: http://designtimehaven.com/extra_info_pages.php?pages_id=10 Please note a new feature will also be added to your options of candles. You may now choose your cure time... The options will be 1-2 days cure time or 5-7 days cure time. The longer you allow your candle to cure before shipping the better the scent will be. This is due to the fact that the longer a soy candle sits with the lid on the more powerful the aroma. Look for the new candle line and the new feature to be available on the site soon. Also you may now veiw blogs by DTH at http://silkflorist.blogspot.com Marty owner of DTH ...read more
By Design Time Haven August 16, 2008
We've just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Design Time Haven. Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here ...read more
By Design Time Haven August 05, 2008
I recently recieved several emails asking me about dry walls and how to handle certain issues presented by dry walls when redecorating a home. I thought I would throw out a few tips, tricks, and things for the do-it yourself type person to consider before tackling a paint job on dry wall. Before you even begin to paint a room consider what color or colors you want it to be and all the consequences that go with that decision. For example, flat paints are great but you don't want to use them in high traffic areas because of the lack of ability to scrub on flat paints (yes some are washables, but in high traffic areas like kitchens --they are not). In addition, NEVER paint your bathroom with flat paint--soap scum looks horrid on them, you can not use powerful cleaners on the paint near your toliet, and if you have a hair spray user in your home--you will regret the decision in less than a month.. The next consequence to consider is when it is time to repaint are you willing to put in the extra effort to change a dark color to a lighter color--in some cases you may even be putting on three or for coats of primer (such as Kilz) to cover up some shades enough to prevent bleed through (true with deep reds, dark browns and some greens) keep in mind that even bright colors can be hard to cover up the next time. I personally use bright colors inside to paint because they are cheery, but when I go to repaint a room I previously painted (in my personal home) I go with the same group of colors. For example, what was a bright green might later be painted a darker shade.. Also, I highly recommend staying away from oil based paints when you paint your walls (not many people do use oil based on their walls, but some do and later when it is time to repaint they severely regret it). If you are working with changing from oil based to latex sanding and primer are your new best friends. Oil based paints are enough work when they are on cabinets and trims and you are trying to change to latex--but a room completely painted in oil based can become a nightmare to change to latex. As for colors I say to each their own, but try to avoid the institutional look of one color throughout a home, and keep in mind that too much of a good color is not always good. Now for those who are considering texturing a wall--I am all for texture, but know that once it is done some of those techniques can be extremely hard to cover, and require a lot of sanding to hide. For example, mixing sand in your paint makes a lovely texture, but if you repaint a room yourself after doing this technique you will find that if you went to heavy on the sand you will be sanding for hours. Sponging is another technique often used.. while this technique is not hard to cover if you went easy on the glaze and avoided making your sponged on coats of paint thick (I go with the lightest touch possible to get the color on the wall without adding lumps) -- you will still need to do some addtional sanding to prevent bleed through of the shiny spots should you later decide you want a solid colored wall. (All textured walls should be sanded to some degree and a good primer used). Keep in mind primer covers colors not texture. If you want to sponge paint but hate the thought of sanding all those glossy spots then you can add some water to the paint instead of glaze (I can personally tell you that this technique works just as well as the glazing technique). If you painted stripes using tape or two alternating finishes be sure to sand the lines down smooth or after you primer and paint you will still be able to see those stripe lines. Remember going from a flat to a semi gloss, or satin is easier than going from a semi gloss to a flat.. Most of the time the stripes will be done with a flat and a satin (alternating stripes) or a eggshell and a semi gloss--if one is a flat and one is a shiny you will need to do addition sanding or primer to even the look of the wall to a uniform appearance before painting--the reason is a semi gloss red over a previous flat paint will have a different appearance than the same semi gloss red over a previous satin paint. ( I am not saying avoid texture here--I am saying Know what you are doing and what it will take to cover it later down the road.. Some people don't mind spending the extra time, but some do-it-yourself people have jam packed lives that do not allow them the time or energy required to fix a previous decision). In addition, if you are selling the home--keep your paint color swatches on a key ring with the room wrote on the back so the new owners can purchase touch up paint if they need it, and keep in mind some people will think your textured wall is beautiful, but not buy your home because they know what they are going up against if they are the ones who will be doing the repainting. Not all home buyers hire decorators or painters--a lot of people prefer to do it by theirself. If you did the sponge technique with water instead of glaze share that information with the real estate agent so that they know to tell the would be buyers who question it -- "hey this will be easier to cover than you think because it was done with water and not glaze." *** Before you sponge practice on a similar surface or a piece of card board. You should get a fairly smooth feel when you run your hand across it. While you can do a heavier sponging if you so desire -- you will have to do a lot more work to cover it later. Finally, when you paint a drywall always fill in holes and sand, lightly sand the wall, coat with at least one to two coats of primer (if the color change is drastic), and use the correct painting techniques. I personally do my wall trim work first (ceilings, floors, around windows or doors) and then use the roller to smooth away any paint brush lines--working in a three foot section at a time. Remember the W or M pattern---start in a corner near the ceiling and make a W or a M and then start filling in the area with your roller. Straight up and down strokes can leave less than desirable results for latex paint users. Two coats of paint is the typical coverage you need on your walls. For drywall you should be using a roller with a 3/8ths inch nap and made for textured surfaces--not the rollers for smooth surfaces. If you have dry walls and wish to find great hangers for photos etc--you can purchase quilters pins at any craft store and insert them in the drywall at an angle --- no big holes--no worrying about anchors--no nails pushing in and falling out of the wall. Best part is you use the small ones for lighter weight items and the thicker ones for heavier items. Plus, they are extremely affordable and when you repaint there are no big ugly holes to fill and sand. ...read more
By Design Time Haven July 03, 2008
Modern decorating style is sleek and clean, with a trendy flair. This particular decor is found in modern urban lofts and celebrity homes. The modern interior decorator knows what's edgy and stylish without losing the great feeling of a home. Tried and true decorating techniques are used in... ...read more
Small living is spreading throughout the world as a way to reduce expenses and to be more Eco-conscious. Small living spaces require a designer to make every bit of space functional. There are several decor ideas for small spaces that incorporate functionality, proper use of space and still maintain a... ...read more