December 18, 2009

CELEBRITY DESIGNER CATHY HOBBS SHARES CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATING TIPS ON NYC'S WPIX-TV

Christmas Decorating ideas!

From traditional red and green to fashionable glitz and glam, Cathy Hobbs from Metro Residential stops by the WPIX-TV studio to give Christmas tips to liven up your tree.

Cathy Hobbs’ Design Recipes

www.design-recipes.com

Traditional Christmas Tree

Christmas Trees and decoration first became popular in Germany in the 16th Century.  Back then decorations were homemade made using items such as nuts, berries and fruit. Today this tradition continues in many countries. When looking to decorate your tree here are some Design Recipes tips:

1. Use traditional colors such as red and green including different shades of the same color

2. Pine cones, walnuts, acorns and berries and affordable home made items!

A Whimsical Tree!

It’s the holidays! So have fun and enjoy! One idea is to decorating using a Candyland theme.  This is a tree that the whole family will enjoy making especially the kids! You can take items like gummy bears, gum drops and licorice and string them around the tree in-lieu of garland, also hang colorful candy canes!

A Glamorous Tree

I love designing using a monochromatic color scheme then adding a burst of color in the form of an accent color.  Think of decorating using mostly white or silver ornaments then add an accent color such as peacock blue, red, orange or yellow.

Other Christmas Decoration Design Recipe suggestions include:

1.  Feathers purchased from a craft store

2. Costume Jewelry

4. Faux Pearls

5. Jeweled picture frames

www.design-recipes.com

CELEBRITY INTERIOR DESIGNER CATHY HOBBS SHARES AFFORDABLE ENTERTAINING TIPS FOR THANKSGIVING

Metro Residential’s Cathy Hobbs is ready for Thanksgiving and she wants you to be ready as well. She has four creative and inexpensive ways to impress your dinner guests.

• Place Setting One
Traditional Place Setting with charger, dinner plate, salad plate (PIER 1)
Napkin treatment: colored rectangular shaped napkin (PIER 1) with a holiday vellum menu, pine cones tassle and a place card set in a pine cone.

• Place Setting Two
Colorful dinner plate, salad plate –no charger (PIER 1)
Napkin treatment: white rectangle shaped napkin with twigs tied in twine with sprigs of fresh cotton.

• Place Setting Three
Colorful dinner plate, salad plate –no charger (PIER 1) — set on a bed of fall leaves
Napkin treatment: colored fan shaped napkin (PIER 1) with a turkey place setting holder — easy and kid friendly

• Place Setting Four
Monochromatic chocolate and mustard dinner plate on top of a piece of colored plexiglass
Napkin treatment: Rectangular shaped napkin with acorn tassle –twine and walnut place holder

Sources
PIER 1 – www.pier1.com
Paper Presentation – www.paperpresentation.com
CANAL PLASTICS – www.canalplasticscenter.com
JAMALI – www.jamaligarden.com

TV HOST AND CELEBRITY INITERIOR DESIGNER CATHY HOBBS MODERATES ALL STAR REAL ESTATE PANEL FEATURING IVANKA TRUMP, DOTTIE HERMAN AND DIANE RAMIREZ

From new developments to resales, the recent Observer Living event at the Puck Building provided the very best of “NYC Deals”. I had the honor of being the special guest and moderator of the event, moderating a panel discussion that included Dottie Herman, the President and CEO of power firm Prudential Douglas Elliman, Ivanka Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization and Diane Ramirez, the President of Halstead Property.

About Observer Living:

The New York Observer’s Observer Living: Top Deals in NYC and Beyond, powered by StreetEasy is on Sunday, November 15, 2009 from 11:00am to 6:00pm at The Puck Building, 295 Lafayette St at Houston St, Manhattan. At Observer Living, guests will enjoy a series of panel discussions on all aspects of the current real estate market, including How to Buy in a Value Market, a forum on the State of the Market, advice from finance experts on how to secure a mortgage and much more. In addition to an informative speaker series, attendees will be able to explore exhibiting properties from all over Manhattan and the surrounding areas. Observer Living is a central resource for buyers, brokers and developers to explore and learn about new and exclusive re-sale residential properties without having to hop in a cab or take a subway ride to each neighborhood.

When it comes to Real Estate it is always important to keep your skills sharp.  Recently, I had the pleasure of being invited to speak in front of a group of brokers at the prestigious Real Estate Academy at Touro College in Manhattan.  I shared my insight on home staging and how brokers can submit strong television pitches in order to further their brands.

TV Host and ASID Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs with Master Professor Esther Muller

www.academyforcontinuingeducation.com

You can learn about the current issues in New York City, overall trends in today’s markets, dealing with Co-Op Boards, Internet/web technology and its applications to the Real Estate Community, and also learn some facts about what goes into the creation of a Superstar!

Since 1995 Esther Muller has been working with the New York
Department of State to develop, create, and approve informative, timely and interesting courses which provides the 22.5 credit hours requirement for re-licensing. She believes it is the responsibility of Real Estate professionals to take every opportunity to educate themselves and commit themselves to better serve their clients and community. The goal of the Academy is to improve the productivity and professionalism in the Real Estate community through quality courses and excellent instructors. The Real Estate seminars unite brokers, agents, and owners with developers, managers, and regulators. Her mission is to develop a partnership of cooperation, understanding and good ethics.

A renovated brownstone in Harlem, New York has earned the distinguished certification of LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Buildings Council. Miles Chapin of Warburg Realty gave METRO Residential Co-Host Cathy Hobbs a tour of the 5700 square foot brownstone. Hobbs is not only an ASID Interior Designer but also a LEED AP, one of a select group of design professionals accredited by the USGBC for their exceptional knowledge of Green and Sustainable Design. The green elements inside the historic brownstone seemed endless from insulation made out of recycled blue jeans, regional and recycled materials and solar panels on the roof selling back electricity to Con Edison!Metro Residential Co-Host Cathy Hobbs tours Manhattan's Greenest Townhouse

October 9, 2009

Cathy Hobbs, ASID sharing Affordable Fall Centerpiece ideas on the PIX AM New!

Cathy Hobbs, ASID sharing Affordable Fall Centerpiece ideas on the PIX AM New!

Cathy Hobbs, professional interior designer and the host/executive producer of Metro Residential, will be showing fall table centerpieces that not only incorporate the elements and colors of fall but are affordable and easy to make so that the whole family, even the kids can join in to help!

1. Colorful gourds in an elevated glass jar
2. A centerpiece made from a colorful candle surrounded by a bed of acorns in an elevated glass jar
3. Tall cylinder vase filled with colorful apples, pine cones and fall leaves
4. An oversize, overscale glass vessel filled with jack be little pumpkins with fall leaves decorating the outside of the vessel
5. Carved pumpkin lit along its seams by Christmas lights peeking through tiny openings
6. Layered centerpiece created from a bed of fall leaves, layered with green leaves and stems, topped with jack be little pumpkins and pine cones

Metro Residential airs Sundays at 11am on PIX. For more information, visit www.wpix.com.

 

Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs with Photographer Scott G. Morris

Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs with Photographer Scott G. Morris

When it comes time to sell your property, perhaps nothing will help market it more than photography. It is the first image literally that potential buyers see and it is critical that those photographs are strong! Recently I interviewed award winning photographer Scott G. Morris for my television show METRO Residential TV, in which he shared some of tricks of the trade. 

 

Professional Photography Tips Include:

1. Purchase a Digital Camera

2. Use a compass or shoot at high noon

3. Use a level

4. Take photos using a tripod

5. Take photos from the corner of a room

 

In essence, highlight the positives and downplay the negatives in order to help make your property picture perfect!

 

Celebrity Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs

Celebrity Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs

Celebrity Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs

Celebrity Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs

Moves Magazine recently paired up with Pier 1 Imports to host the first ever Design Meets Fashion Competition. Guess who was selected to be the celebrity judge?! Moi! The magazine paired noted interior designers with personalities from journalism and business and challenged them to design a space in just an hour. Now that’s tough! But they did it. I was one of three celebrity judges, you have to check out www.metroresidentialtv.com to see who won!

Celebrity Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs goes antique shoppingWhat a thrill to spend the day with Interior Design Hall of Famer Joseph Lembo as we explored the world of antiques on my tv show METRO Residential TV. If you love antiques from the United Kingdom be sure to check out Ann-Morris Antiques on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and if Ne0-Classical pieces are more your speed I highly recommend Karl Kemp Antiques! www.metroresidentialtv.com

me and clodaghCathy Hobbs, ASID with famed interior designer Clodagh on Hobbs’ TV Show METRO Residential

What a true honor to meet and interview the one and only Clodagh! I have admired her work and design aesthetic for years! It was so fascinating to hear where she finds her inspirations , from her travels, from the color of a sunset or a sunrise to simply beautiful things. She believes in “Silent Design” which I love!! hiding the clutter or “chatter” and just leaving room for the beautiful things to shine and have their own showcase.  Clodagh also loves using really interesting materials such as concrete which I think always looks so elegant and industrial at the same time.