2 tablespoons olive oil 6 ounces white mushrooms, sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 pound of garlic link sausage, cooked according to package and thinly sliced 12-18 large sweet green Italian olives, pitted and sliced 1 pound fettuccine, cooked until al dente and drained 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

1. Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Ass mushrooms and cook until browned.
2. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
3. Add sausage and olives, and cook, stirring, until well mixed and heated through.
4. Combine sausage mixture with cooked pasta. Add butter and parsley.
5. Check seasoning, adding salt and pepper if necessary.
6. Add grated lemon peel, toss well and serve. Makes 6-8 servings.

Homeowners need to protect their drapes, furnishings, wood floors and carpets from the sun's damaging UV and solar radiation in order to keep their things looking nice and new. One great way to accomplish this is with V-Kool window films. Unlike all other window films, V-Kool is not tinted, but is a clear, almost colorless window film treatment. No other product matches the superior optical clarity, non-reflective aesthetics, and superior heat rejection of V-Kool. V-Kool is the world’s first clear, spectrally-selective applied film, which transmits more than 70% of daylight while rejecting 99% of ultra-violet, and 94% of infra-red heat. Spectrally-selective films have transparent, metallized coatings designed to transmit, reflect or absorb different wavelengths of the solar spectrum. In the case of V-Kool, it is designed specifically to be light transmitting while rejecting heat without the “mirror” look. V-Kool was first installed in the U.S. in 1991 and was originally invented as a specialty item for the U.S. government and was applied to the U.S. Military’s Stealth Bombers. Performance data was obtained using a Perkin-Elmer Lambda 9 Spectrophotometer in combination with the “Window 4.0 Fenestration Program” provided by the Windows and Daylighting group at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, the world’s foremost window science group. No other spectrally selective window film has been around half this length of time. V-Kool technology has been chosen as one of the top 100 inventions of the past millennium by Popular Science Magazine (November 1999). V-KOOL is installed on the White House, the Texas Governor's Mansion and the Headquarters of the American Institute of Architects. V-Kool cannot be compared to other competitive films because it is proven to be the most technologically advanced spectrally-selective coating in the world. Other films are classified as conventional films, meaning that they are either tinted or reflective films. Tinted films require significantly less sophisticated technology to produce; hence the cost is low. Instead of looking at the initial cost of V-Kool, you should consider its life cycle cost as well as other intangible benefits. While there is a premium associated with the purchase, V-Kool reduces air conditioning operating cost, reduces fading damage to draperies and furnishings, allows occupants to use floor space near windows even in the direct sunlight because of increased comfort. Productivity and alertness are heightened in such comfort-enhanced environments. It is a long-term cost-effective investment. Depending on the amount of glass and the orientation of your windows will determine the amount of energy savings. In most cases there is a 3 to 4 year payback period on your utility bills and it normally reduces 33%-50% of energy costs annually. History shows utility rates increase just about every other year, so your lifetime warranty is a sure money saver. Locally, Stellar Energy Solutions can educate you on how to solve your heat, glare, fading, and utility bill problems with our premium professional films from V-Kool, the CLEAR "UN-TINT" Solar Control Solution. Visit them on the web at: http://www.stellar-nrg.com. Benefits of Window Film

• 99% UV Protection
• Protects your furniture, flooring and window treatments
• Reduces Heat Buildup and Eliminates Home Hot Spots
• Lowers Energy Bills and Provides a Return on Investment
• Increases Home Comfort
• Reduces Annoying Glare
• Enhances Your Views
• Adds Value to Your Home
• Provides Additional Safety Against Broken Glass
• Privacy Can Be Provided by Some Films
• Provides Up to a 200 SPF and May Be Medically Prescribed

1 ¼ cups uncooked orzo pasta (or rice) ½ package ( 16 ounces ) SeaPak Shrimp Scampi 1 zucchini, chopped 1 14 ounce can quartered artichoke hearts, well drained ¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes ½ teaspoon capers Juice of 1 lemon ( about 2 tablespoons)

1. Cook orzo (or rice) according to package directions
2. Heat a 12-inch skillet for 1 minute over medium high heat. Add frozen shrimp and zucchini to the pan and sauté for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and lemon juice. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes, or until shrimp are fully cooked.
4. Server over orzo (or rice). Makes 4 servings.

Do you have a lighting challenge in your house? A solution we used for under-counter lighting on a recent project was Ribbon LED strip lighting. These strips are designed for interior use to bend and twist in just about any direction imaginable. The surface mount LEDs allow these strips an amazing amount of flexibility without causing damage to the product. Most Ribbon LED strips come equipped with a 3M adhesive backing and can be stuck just about anywhere. Ribbon LEDs are used for lighting projects by designers, developers, inventors, home owners, and any other creative application you have. Ribbon LED Strips are sold in pre-wired lengths with power connectors on both ends so you can easily daisy-chain them together. No soldering required. The wires are already attached to the strip - simply plug and play. For shorter strips, they can be cut every few inches. Each end has pre-attached power wires. You only have to hook up one end. The other may be used to extend the strip. Simply plug another one into the first. These LED's are very bright with a wide viewing angle. They will keep your electricity bill low as they draw very little power. They are extremely efficient and will not waste energy as heat, meaning you don't have to worry about fire danger and will not have to fight the extra heat emissions with your air conditioner.

Locally, Ribbon LED can be found at Lights Fantastic. Visit them on the web at: http://www.lightsfantastic.com/

Texas Hill Chapter IDS Chapter Meeting Where: Mandola's Italian Market at the Triangle 4700 W Guadalupe, Suite 12 Austin, TX 78751 Driving Directions When: Wednesday October 20, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM CDT Add to my calendar Please join is Wednesday, October 20, 2010 from 9:00am to 10:30am at Mandola's Italian Market at the Triangle for the next meeting of the Texas Hill Country Chapter of the Interior Design Society. It will be a fun, innovative, and interesting meeting where you are encouraged to network with other design professionals from the Austin/San Antonio Area. Our guest speaker this month will be Jim Reinarz of Advicoach to discuss The One Page Strategic Plan. Please read his bio below. Our featured trade partner will be Fine Floors and Surfaces. Now that we are an official chapter, we will have our monthly meetings at Mandola's Italian Market at the Triangle on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 9:00am until 10:30am. We will be sending out announcements for each meeting as a reminder and to inform you of the featured speakers. For more information please contact Robin Bond at robin@robinbondinteriors.com or 512-358-7200. We look forward to seeing you there! Register Now! Jim Reinarz Advicoach After my military career I started my business career in the fast food industry operating a single unit in the late 60's, I quickly progressed became a Division Manager responsible for the operations and planning for 176 units across 3 states. During this time I was offered an opportunity to work with franchisees opening and helping them grow their business to achieve their goals. I have owned and operated 3 franchised businesses, I learned the value of goals, team and the importance of profits to the small business owner. I had the opportunity to work with franchisees again as a local Franchise Business Consultant with FASTSIGNS International and found this to be a very rewarding experience. Being able to help people build and grow their businesses, helped me learn that you have to have a plan - a vision for your business or the business runs you. When I purchased my own sign company in 2001 we were able to follow a system to build a successful team and prosperous sign company. In late 2003 I accepted a position with Sign A Rama as their Business Develop Manager for the United States, Canada and The United Kingdom. I was able to work with a varied group of franchisees and business operators to help them achieve their goals. We implemented successful programs to enable the business owners reach the personal and professional goals. I personally believe that AdviCoach offers a proven system to help any business owner achieve their original goals when they went into business. To own their own business, spend time with their family and build wealth and a future for themselves and their employees. As business owners we need someone to keep us on track and focused on the end result, which can be difficult when you are pulled in so many different directions by your customers, employees, vendors and family. We can offer you a plan to enjoy operating a profitable business not being the business.

On September 16^th, we hosted a furniture seminar at Design It With Consignment. The evening went wonderfully and we had about 30 people show up. The wine and food were fantastic and Lisa Gaynor gave a talk that was both informative and creative. Everyone got a great deal out of it and we can’t wait for the next one!

I thought I might share something a little more whimsical today. Hope that you enjoy these one of a kind chandeliers made from recycled materials!

Old light bulbs from Bulbs Unlimited

A thousand party poppers collected after the millennium celebration in London by Berlin-based lighting designer Stuart Haygarth

Recycled coffee stirrers

Bic ballpoint pens from design studio en Pieza

Beer bottles

Silverware from British designer Ali Siahvoshi

Chiquita banana cartons from Dutch designer Anneke Jacobs

The Tide Chandelier, by Stuart Haygarth, is made from the debris he found washed up along a specific stretch of Kent coastline.

When selecting colors for your home you may find it helpful to know what mood your chosen color will set for a space. Each color has its own personality and if you know how you want a space to feel, you will find it easier to choose the perfect color that you will enjoy for years to come.

Red

Associated with: Danger, passion, energy, warmth, adventure and optimism.

Best for: The color red is known as a sociable and lively color and is used to stimulate the appetite, making this color a perfect choice for dining rooms.

Though Reds have become more and more popular over the last couple of years and can range from fiery, passionate, sophisticated and warm, reds can also be overpowering and lead to headaches. It is a good idea to vary the shade of red on one wall or just use it for accessories. Reds should never be used in a baby's room.

Pink

Associated with: Love, fresh, flirtatious and distinctly feminine.

Best for: The color pink has become very fashionable again and can be found ranging from soft pink to tropical coral or playful raspberry.

Pink is a good color for bedrooms as it can be peaceful and restful and if mixed with a hot fuchsia, introduce passion. Pink can come across as too sweet and girlie – to counteract this you could introduce a neutral color or hints of dark charcoal, brown or black

Orange

Associated with: Stability, reassurance, warmth, sunset, autumn leaves and it's also supposed to be an aid to digestion.

Best for: Living and dining rooms.

Orange is becoming increasingly popular and this year oranges are rich, cozy and slightly spiced but be aware that orange can make a room look smaller, so make sure you only use orange in a room with lots of natural light.

Green

Associated with: Promotes feelings of well-being and harmony, nature, security, stability and balance.

 Best for: The color green is known to aid concentration, making it a good color for offices and study areas and bathrooms.

Green can make people complacent or too laid back, so inject different shades of green such as deep olive or the color of new leaves to make the room fresh.

Blue

Associated with: Soothing and calming, loyalty, serenity, authority, protection, contemplative, prevents nightmares, promotes intellectual thought and is believed to keep hunger at bay.

Best for: Bedrooms and bathrooms.

Depending of the natural light in the room, Blue can look cold and therefore be unwelcoming. To prevent this make sure you choose a blue with a warm undertone such as oceanic turquoise or shades of wispy clouds.

Yellow

Associated with: Sunshine and energy, creativity and stimulates the intellect.

Best for: Kitchens, dining rooms or north facing rooms.

Yellow should not be used for bedrooms as it is not a very restful color. Yellow ranges from soft creamy butter to deep amber and is a friendly and inviting color. Be careful with yellow as some stronger shades can enhance feelings of emotional distress.

Lilac

Associated with: Feminine, spiritual matters as it simulates the misty area between the sky and heaven.

Best for: Bedrooms and bathrooms to create a stress free sanctuary.

Lilac can be insipid. Try to live it up with black or silver, or both.

Purple

Associated with: Magic, creativity, joy, fertility, sensuous, luxurious and sex.

Best for: Bedrooms

Purple was once reserved solely for nobility. The color purple is sumptuous and elegant. Purple ranges from deep plum, mysterious mauve to cheerful windflowers shades. Purple can be overpowering, so try to tone it down with a light shade of purple, use it for a feature wall or just accessories your room.

Brown

Associated with: Stability, security and a very practical color.

Best for: Living rooms

The color brown is also known as the 'new' neutral and with the various shades of taupe and beige brown, will look great with almost any color. You could for example introduce a livelier color for mental stimulation such as green or blue to compliment the brown.

Grey

Associated with: Sophistication.

Best for: All rooms

Neutral colors such as grey can be used to bring sense of order and peace to a colorful palette. Grey is considered smart and sophisticated and ranges from dark charcoal to misty silver and looks great when paired to colorful accents.

Black

Associated with: Drama, death and eccentricity. It is a non-color that absorbs color and reflects nothing back.

Best for: Nothing in particular but can be used in moderation.

Black is most commonly connected with depression and should not be use for a base color but use to temper the sweetness of colors like pink.

For a quick reference on colors: http://www.paper-leaf.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ColorTheory_Screen_White.jpg

Source: http://www.apartment-ideas.com/psychology-of-colour.html 

• Fact or Fiction? - A look at common furniture myths
• Furniture Anatomy 101- How to determine if it is built to last.
• What's in a name? - Does a well-known name insure a better choice?
• Price Versus Value - If you pay more, do you get better quality?
• Oops...life happened - Crafty ways to correct furniture mishaps
• Reduce/Reuse/Rethink (Going Green Beautifully)

Register Now!

Looking Beyond Labels: What insiders know about selecting the best in-home furnishings will be held on Thursday September 16, 2010 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at the Design It With Consignment Showroom located at 4211 South Lamar Suite A-23 Austin, TX 78704

Wine and Cheese refreshments will be served.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Lisa Gaynor, Proprietor

Design It With Consignment

Lisa Gaynor is the creator and owner of Design It With Consignment, Austin's most elegant furniture consignment showroom; featuring flawless pre-owned furnishings, antiques, and locally-created fine art and accessories. Fine furniture has been a lifelong passion, leading her to design, build and refurbish many pieces for herself and her friends over the years. These skills have enabled her to maintain the highest standards for quality in her showroom. Since 2005 Design It With Consignment has won accolades from loyal customers, small business groups, and local and national press. The shop has received "Highly Recommended" honors from Citysearch, and was called "One of the 119 best bargains in Austin" by Austin Monthly Magazine. Additional features have appeared in Austinwoman Magazine, Austin American-Statesman, and the West Austin News. In the spring of 2010, Lisa's story about the creation of her business was featured on CNN as part of their series, "Building Up America".

Her shop actively contributes to local charities such as Habitat for Humanity the Lifeworks Design Challenge, Dell Children's Hospital, and many other school and community service projects.

A sought-after, energetic, and humorous speaker, Lisa has given workshops for the National Association of Resale professionals, Austin Creative Arts Society, as well as many local business and community organizations.

Register Now!

I often get asked; “How much should I budget for drapery for my home?” The rule of thumb when budgeting for drapery for a whole house is about $1,000 for every 35” Wide X 71” Long window for something decorative. This will allow you freedom to do something more elaborate in your dining room and something simpler in the kitchen, etc. Keep in mind, though, that homes that are being built the past 10 or so years have much larger windows than prior to that time. The $1,000 a window rule does not apply to wider windows or in cases where you want actual operable traversing drapery. I find when doing operable blackout drapery over media room windows or for master bedrooms, etc. that you can double the $1,000 for every 35” span. This may seem expensive if this is the first time you have considered purchasing drapery, but keep in mind that good custom drapery is meant to last 20 years. Most people end up replacing it due to the trends changing by that time more than due to the need to actually replace it. If you pro-rate the fees for custom drapes out over that amount of time it is a great value. Consider some of the benefits:

• Black-out drapery can considerably reduce a high electric bill for a West facing window.
• You get some window insulation on any type of drapery treatment
• Drapes help with noise control – especially in rooms with wood or tile flooring
• Mostly drapes customize and add beauty to a room