Organize and simplify your back to school routine with these 4 tips. 
​Whether you are super sad to send those little ones back, or you can't wait to get them out of the house,
​these 4 tips will help keep you on time and on track this school year!  
As a Mom of 4 and a busy business owner, I know how hectic mornings, afternoons, and heck, the whole day can be. These are helpful tricks I have learned over the years not only from designing and organizing spaces for others, but from using with success within my own household. 

1. Make a drop zone
This is a stopping point where kids can drop book bags, shoes and whatever else they drag home from school.  This drop zone will keep everyone's things in one spot and save you lots of time in the mornings. 
Backpacks, school shoes and jackets can all be kept in one spot to streamline your mornings.
"MOM! where are my shoes?" 

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The one below is a custom built in but there are many available that are ready to go and at an affordable price click the buttons to see some additional options.

2. Create a communication board
When is that field trip again?  When you have a hectic schedule it is difficult to keep up with all of the dates and forms and checks that are due to the PTA, band and whatever sports clubs your kiddos are involved in.  
I'm lucky if I can even remember to make myself lunch. 
So having a place where each person can place papers that need signed and a central calendar that keeps track of important household dates is super helpful. I like to use a spot right after my drop zone.  This forces kids to actually remove the crumpled papers from their bag and shove them into the communication box, rather than letting them stay hidden in the backpacks until the night before they are due.  A simple wall mounted file works great for this. 


The wall system pictured below is from Pottery Barn But check out the buttons for some other great options. 
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3. After School To do List
This sounds too simple, but is a super helpful tool to help kids stay on track and remind them of daily tasks. 
This is also a great way to make kids accountable and save yourself from the constant repetition: "Hey did you empty your lunch box? "  This is obviously something that can be adjusted to be appropriate to your child's age. 

4. Do This the night before
A little preparation goes a very long way.  Doing things like lying out outfits and packing up lunches the night before will save you mad time in the mornings, not to mention decrease your stress level.  You may actually have some time for coffee and conversation.  Try it, I promise you will not regret it.  

​Happy Back to school!
May all your mornings be pleasant and all your afternoons be organized.


Sincerely,
Christina Cruz and the Design Team at Cruz Interiors Inc. 

Lighting is everything!  Ever go into a fitting room and try on that new bikini, why god why, do they use that light in there? (what, it is the light..right?)
Anywho, lighting is probably the most important aspect to keep in mind while selecting a paint color.
First and foremost, you need natural light. A quick trip outside to get some fresh air and find the perfect color. The natural light allows you to see the true color of the paint rather than being influenced by that  unflattering lighting we talked about earlier. The incandescent lighting in your home can cast too much of a warm color on paint selections causing them to appear more yellow or orange. Fluorescent lighting is a sharp contrast to this. Colors seem more blue under fluorescent lighting.  
After the paint passes the natural light test, be sure to keep in mind the area of the home in which the paint will be. If the paint selection is going to be in a small dark hallway the color will obviously appear different than if it were in a sunny room. 

This is one of those important steps that people skip. Test, test, test! Before you purchase 10 gal of a specific color you have to be sure it actually works in the space. A good way to do this is by painting a large poster board the selected color. This way you can put the color in the space and see how it works. Completing this step will ensure that you have a selection that sings, and will prevent you from waisting time and money. Most stores will mix inexpensive samples, so you can try out a few finalist before choosing the winner.  

Black and white are always a classic, although not all read the same.  These are a few of our tried and true favorites! 

Gray, the modern neutral. Be sure to keep in mind what the undertone is of a gray paint. Some may lean toward more purple or pink in certain light. To avoid mishaps like these be sure to look at your gray paint in natural light as well as next to a pure white piece of paper. These tricks will help you not to be fooled by some tricky grays.

Navy is a classic and can really bring the drama. But finding the perfect navy can be tricky indeed. Pair your favorite navy's next to one another to reveal the undertones. Purple and gray hide easily in dark blues and indigos. Also layer over a true white(really a great trick to selecting any color)

Here are three colors that have made enough of an impact to be named "Color of the year." 

​We wanted to take this drab entrance to fab! First and foremost, The 2000’s green paint and old carpet had to go. Before we even attempted to update the flooring or paint we needed to open up the space: Aka expand the fish tank rectangle. By removing some of the wall we were able to create a more inviting entrance and less “hobbit hole” like reception desk. 

Now back to that green paint we mentioned.....We swapped that for a sleek modern gray. For the reception, we decided to create a logo wall. The wave wall helped add some needed texture and visual interest to the space. In combination with the metal lettering, it helped bring this space to a new level. Next hideous thing on the list: countertops. We replaced this out of date brown countertop with this lovely Dandy marble.

Next: the waiting area. We ditched the carpet for beautiful luxury vinyl plank floors throughout the space. Essentially we replaced all of the furniture. By selecting these smaller scaled furniture pieces, we were able to create a cozy seating area with more than enough room for the clients. A fantastic addition to the room was the photographs created by one of our favorite local photographers: Leandro Gongora. 

Cozy seating in the reception area creates a comfortable space for guests to relax while waiting for their treatments.  Now this med spa has a beautiful space that matches their amazing level of service.   

Check out some more of our before and after photos of this project below:

Hey hey hey,
 Back from LA and bringing you some of our favorite design trends of 2017.  Now we all know some trends are only for a season but some things on this list have some serious staying power! Here are some of our favs for 2017! 

It's time for yet another Holiday.  Valentine's day is upon us and love is in the air! What better way to celebrate than to decorate. Here are some fun yet sophisticated ways to bring the love into your home, in a snap and on a budget.
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​A simple chalk board paper makes a super fun center piece.  It's a great way to write a little love note.  Kiddos will love being able to write on the paper and add something of their very own to the decor.  Its a super easy and fast way to make a great table-scape. 

We LOVE pillows and throws!  Pillows and throws are probably the easiest way to bring the fun and to set the mood for the season!  They are available in every texture and color and can be added to the decor in a flash. They are a quick and inexpensive way to brighten up the space and introduce the holiday theme.

​ Check out some of our favorites here:

Wall art, a great way to use what you've got.  If you are crafty, these are great little ways to use what you already have for quick and fun Valentine's decor.  In an instant your space is holiday ready.  Check out some DIY options, and wall stickers Here
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<3 <3      We hope that you and yours have a super, well decorated, full of love, Valentine's Day!    <3 <3
​Christina Cruz and the Design Team at Cruz Interiors Inc.