DTLA LIFE MAG #6 | JUNE 2014 | Page 34

Remodeling and re-decorating requires calculating square footage and space, color matching, drawing a floor plan, creating a mood board, space planning, and other technical tasks. “It can seem overwhelming,” said Mary Alice Slattery, Cathi’s partner at CM Designs. Mary Alice and Cathi have passed on a collection of tools that they have used and are available for iOS and Android mobile devices. “Space planning” - “Measure twice, cut once!” We’ve all heard that one over and over again. Cathi suggests, “How about, measure twice, purchase once? Practice that one and you’ll save lots of time, money and heartache.” “Finding the perfect sofa, table, etc. for your space is as much about size as it is about color and style,” added Mary Alice. Designing your space to ensure that everything fits perfectly is very important, so here are a few design apps that we, at CM Designs, love. First, is Room Scan, where you can scan your space and it will make a floor plan that you can print or draw on. Next, we like paid pro version, which allows you to handle multiple projects. Home 3D is another great app for space planning. This paid app lets you design in real time on your device. You can add color, furnishings and more. Last, but certainly not least, is the space planning layout app from Mark On Call. Color One of our favorite brands of paint is Benjamin Moore. Are you looking for just the right colors for a design project? “Instead of perusing hundreds of paint chips, we love to look for inspiration in our daily environment,” says Cathi. “Capture it and match it to a paint color with the Benjamin Moore Color Capture tool for smart phones, a great convenience app,” she added. “But, don’t forget,” added Mary Alice, “The granddaddy of everything color is Pantone: You can also find a few different app options on their site.” For more color inspiration check out The Peppermint color app. Shopping inspiration Adornably has developed a great app that lets you see furnishings as if they are in the room. Check out this video demo to see how the app works. Houzz has an app that allows you to build idea books of favorite rooms and items you like. This app allows you to keep all inspirations just a click away when you are out shopping. Lighting “In Southern California we love our sunshine. One of the first things we do when assessing a new space is learn about the direction of the natural light,” said Cathi, adding, Sun Seeker is the perfect app for this.” It does cost $6.99, but if your sunshine is important to you, this is money well spent. Art In addition to using the proper hangers for displaying art, a good level is important. The iHandy level app is great for this purpose. Art.com has good design tips on both their website and in their apps. You can play with various groupings and discover artists that might appeal to your design sense. As you can see there are apps for just about everything, whether you’re a casual homeowner looking to redecorate your living room or a professional interior designer or architect we hope you will find these apps useful.