Posts Tagged ‘ideas’

There is no reason that decorating your home has to be hard or stressful. In fact, decorating, when done well, can be fun and relaxing.

One of the first things to keep in mind about decorating is why you are doing it. We think too many people get stressed or frustrated with decorating because they forget the importance of what they are doing. Decorating is an amazing thing because you are making the space you live in more beautiful. What can be more important and more fun that figuring out ways to make the most of your space? We have all felt the difference of entering a home that has been decorated well verses a home that has not been decorated at all. In a house where decorating has been a priority we feel peaceful and at home when we are there.

Another great thing about decorating is that it allows you to learn who you are and the things you like and then show it off to others.We love entering the homes of friends for the first time because we learn so much about my friends just by seeing the place they choose to live in. get a sense of what they value and of the small things that make them uniquely who they are. we’d encourage you to let decorating be something that helps you gain more understanding of yourself. Be proud to show off who you are by decorating your house in a way you love.

Take your time decorating. Don’t allow yourself to be rushed or to be on a strict deadline. You will have much more fun and end up with a space you love if you take your time. Sift through magazines, photographs and catalogs for weeks if you have to just to gain good ideas for your own home. Learn from the mistakes and victories of your friends and families as you see their homes. Especially when you are making big decisions like what color to paint your wall or what kind of furniture to buy, taking your time will make all the difference.

Decorating can be a great way to involve your family in something fun together. Allow your spouse, your kids, or your roommates to help make decisions especially about areas they care about most. Give them reasonable boundaries, but within those boundaries let them choose things they enjoy. Decorating will be fun as you learn to do it in the midst of relationship.   Whatever strategies you take on, just make sure that decorating doesn’t become something you dread doing.

Are You Designing Your Kitchen?

A kitchen is the central headquarters for the family. Kitchen is often the showplace of the home, and yet it is required to function well for a wide variety of tasks. A well-equipped, beautifully dressed kitchen will provide both a sense of well-being and a favorite place in the home. As you plan your new kitchen, you must consider both the utility and the look factor.

Kitchen design ideas – choose the one that suits you best!
When thinking of ideas for designing your kitchen, you could either consider one- one part of the kitchen at a time or pick up a complete theme. A complete theme could be something like a design based on Feng Shui which incorporates all its principles. Feng shui concerns the art of placement and you could help you to arrange your kitchen in a way that enhances its good energy. For instance, according to Feng shui, the cook’s back should never face the kitchen entrance so you must design accordingly

Now according to the other way, you could choose a particular look for the kitchen floor, the walls, the storing place etc. this can be done in various ways depending upon the amount of money you are willing to spend, the lay out of the kitchen and your taste. Here are some specific design ideas for your kitchen

* Kitchen floor- Your flooring choice is important as it will set the tone for the whole kitchen. The textural quality of the floor always appeals to eye and has a radical effect on how one perceives the room as a whole. For kitchens, the two most elegant floors are tiles / stones and laminated or hardwood floors. Ceramic tiles are a premium product for a kitchen and represent an impressive upgrade over any other floor. The only disadvantage is the cold feel. However if you want you can also opt for a floor heating system.
* Kitchen countertops – While choosing your countertop, select a color and texture that will compliment your cabinetry, floor or paint selection. Don’t be afraid in combining two or more countertop materials. Complimentary colors and textures on adjacent surfaces create visual interest. Also remember, it pays to select a material, which will withstand years of use without extraordinary maintenance requirements and is easily repairable should an accident occur. Granite and marble are strong options.
* Kitchen lighting – you might have a large ceiling fixture, equipped with energy-efficient fluorescent tubes that supply plenty of well-diffused general lighting. However it may leave you working in your own shadow at the sink, range, and countertops. These areas in your kitchen need supplemental task lighting. Also placing your windows is a tricky question.

Kitchen design layout – The perfect arrangement

Kitchen designing is very subjective, so a layout that might be perfect for one can be disastrous for another. This is primarily because the tastes, and the ways of people in terms of working habits, styles are vastly different. Thus kitchen layouts should be done according to the necessities and specifications of the prime user of the space, who has definite ideas about how he/she would like their working space to be. But apart from this subjective outlook, there are certain steps that you should follow while designing your kitchen plan or layout. Following are the stages –

Stages in kitchen design layout

Follow these simple steps in order to get your kitchen space rightly utilized with a desirable look-
1. Measure your kitchen in a detailed manner, the position of the doors, windows, electric points, drains and sinks etc.
2. Demarcate the kitchen areas into three – Storage, cooking and cleaning. Go about planning the space, keeping these three aspects in mind.
3. Make a list of the appliances that you are likely to use in the kitchen, and provide space for them according to their dimensions.
Keep these three points in mind and then design your kitchen in a style that fits in accordance to your tastes. Following are some of the stereotypical kitchen design layouts that are used –

Kitchen design layouts – Types

These are the 4 basic kitchen layouts that are generally followed while designing a kitchen –
1. Corridor layout – This is meant for a narrow kitchen, where there are two facing rows. One for storage and the other for cleaning and cooking. Make sure there is a minimum 1200mm space between the two rows.
2. L shaped layout – This is a layout, where the rows are diagonal to one another, thus forming an L shape. This gets the kitchen working space into the corner, thus giving a lot of free space to move about.
3. U shaped layout – this is the best choice for small kitchens and very convenient too.
4. Island layout – This one on the other hand is meant for large kitchens. Here the cooking hob is altogether a different box unit, while the L shaped row is meant for the sink and storage purposes.
These are the different ways in which you could plan your kitchen layout, and also make changes and alterations according to your preferences.

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Has your bedroom stayed the same for the last 20 years? Do you want to make it into a fun, cool bedroom, but without spending money on new furniture? We have some ideas for you to do just that – re-do your bedroom on a budget!

- Coat of paint. Nothing freshens up a room like a new coat of paint. Make it into a weekend project and involve your kids – you can do something together, and at the same time, create a whole new bedroom that you need.

We don’t recommend painting the bedroom walls into bright colors. Beige, peach, light and pastel blues and greens work best. Make sure that your new wall color coordinates with your furniture, as you are not buying new furniture.

- Organize your bedroom. Sometimes all a room needs is organization, to look completely different. Many bedrooms are full of kids toys, old clothes and even dishes, that should be in the kitchen.

Put those items away, and organize the rest of the room to make it look very different.

- Rearrange furniture. Sometimes the best way to decorate without a budget is to use the same furniture, but rearrange it, and add something else into the mix.

Walk around your house – you will find a chair in the basement, or an ottoman in the family room, that will look great in the bedroom. Use those to create a whole new bedroom – with your old furniture.

- New wall art. Add a splash of color to the room with some new wall art (or borrow some art from another room). Another idea is to frame some of your kids’ drawings, or draw something yourself.

- New bedding, pillows, bedspreads. It is amazing how much you can change a room by adding just one new item to it. Pick some new bedding or a bedspread that you really wanted, and splurge on them! You will have a great looking bedroom in no time.

Remember, updating a room does not mean buying everything new for it. Use some (or all) of our ideas to completely re-do your bedroom. You will be glad you did.

Kitchen renovation ideas range all the way from simply replacing hardware on cabinets to a total remodel of this entire cooking and dining area. Here are some thoughts on a few things people dream about making happen in this room, the favorite gathering spot of many.

Installing a multi-purpose island may be at the top of your list of kitchen renovation ideas. Imagine, finally, enough room to slice, dice, cook, and wash utensils – all in the same area! With a custom island kitchen, you’d have all that along with room on the regular counter space to perform other kitchen duties. Kitchen islands have become so popular that people in the building industry estimate more than half of all new homes now have them. If you don’t, why not consider building one now?

Kitchen renovation ideas that include wood-burning fireplaces also make it to the “Boy-I’d-like-one-of-those-someday” list. Although this means major remodeling that includes tearing out a portion of a wall, constructing a chimney or other venting system, and then working with stone or brick, what a cozy, comforting addition to have in one’s kitchen! Just make sure there’s room in your kitchen renovation ideas to include the rocking chairs that would go with it oh-so-well.

Assuming you’re low on bucks but still want to apply some kitchen renovation ideas that have been rumbling around for awhile, why not consider resurfacing your kitchen cabinets? Doing this costs far less than a complete replacement and can take years off the looks of your current cabinets. You can hire a professional to do this, or you can do it yourself in one weekend if you purchase them already stained and finished.

However big or small your budget, energy level, or your imagination, kitchen renovation ideas can keep you alive with interest for years to come. There always seems to be something that could be done to enliven, invigorate, and refresh this room where so many love to hang out. So why not spend some quality time on thinking up your own kitchen renovation ideas? Like they say, there’s no time like the present.

With images that look as though they are ready to pop out of the screen, French furniture company Roche Bobois entices us with their new range of luxury furniture for the living room. Much like the 2009 set which we featured a while back, the company stays true to its high color-high impact philosophy. Roche Bobois ropes in rock star designers to create its furniture and they encourage them to give each piece a personality.

According to them:

A Roche Bobois furniture piece is above all furniture with a unique character, inspired by multiple personalities: The personality of the creator who designed it, with his sense of talent and ingenuity, and your personal touch of freedom and creativity. Customization in any detail, choice of shapes, colors, leathers, woods and finishes… Each furniture piece becomes unique, exclusive and truly created for you.

You would hardly call any of these traditional living but if you are the type who doesn’t mind standing out (or paying that extra dollar) you would find this very interesting.

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Art for the bedroom can include architectural pieces, like old shutters, crosses and metal shapes, themed artwork, children’s artwork or mirrors. Choose any artwork for the bedroom that creates the desired mood with tips from a professional interior decorator in this free video on home decor. Expert: Ann Myrick Bio: Since 1997, Ann Myrick has been a professional decorator, house cleaner, home organizer and planner. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

Cathy Hobbs, ASID, professional interior designer and the host/executive producer of Metro Residential, shows 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.metroresidentialtv.com

Create wall art by putting up picture frames to add texture and by using mirrors to open up space. Decorate the walls of a home to add character to the rooms using tips from a professional decorator in this free video on home decorating. Expert: Ann Myrick Bio: Since 1997, Ann Myrick has been a professional decorator, house cleaner, home organizer and planner. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

When you envision the perfect home interior ambiance does it include the adjectives simple, lightfilled, vintage and comfortable? If so, you might be a candidate for Cottage Style decor! You don’t have to reside in a literal cottage to incorporate this design theme into your lifestyle. The fundamentals of cottage style decor are not difficult to impplement and can be easy on the budget, too.

The color scheme you select should be light overall for most types of cottage style decorating. A healthy dose of white along with soft shades of green, pink, blue, yellow, aqua and rose will set the cottage tone. If your taste lends more toward a rustic cottage look, you may incorporate more golds and medium shades of green into your decor. Use these colors on your walls, and don’t hesitate to vary the colors from room to room. Keep the shades soft and light, and you can transition beautifully from room to room, keeping the cottage theme prevalent. Try using a deeper tone of one of your selected colors as an accent in the room. For example, if your color scheme includes soft blue, use a bit of navy blue in an area rug, an accent piece, in artwork, etc. Remember to use a light touch and it can make your room even more memorable while maintaining the soft, simple overall look.

The ideal floor treatment for this style of decorating is wood, and if you are into the time-worn look, use wood planking or distressing techniques to make newer wood look old. You can paint the floor, stencil the perimeter, stencil an ‘area rug’ onto the floor, or use area rugs, to continue the cottage style theme. If wood flooring is not an option, use light colored carpet or tile if possible, and anchor the main pieces with an area rug.

Furnishings can be handled in a couple of different ways. If you are looking for a little more elegance in your cottage style decor, you may decide to use new furniture and accessories, keeping the colors and wood tones light. You can use a mix and match of small fabric patterns on upholstery, pillows, table skirts and the like, and still maintain a clean and fresh overall look. The upholstered pieces should be comfortable and informal, with a ‘come sit in me’ look about them.

For those who really enjoy true vintage, and who may also have a leaner budget, flea markets, antique shops, garage sales, etc. can be great sources for cottage style decor. You may find an awesome antique door and decide to cut it down to use as a coffee table by adding legs to it. An old cabinet or nightstand can be converted into a unique bathroom storage unit. Feel free to paint any piece, using one of the selected shades from your color scheme. Look for vintage prints, fabrics, accessories, and anything that tickles your fancy, no matter what it is.

Cottage style allows for a mix and match of accessories, whether you are showcasing a theme of accessories or all pieces are unique. One caution as you create your cottage style look is to avoid overcrowding and creating a messy, flea market look to your room. Instead, opt for fewer pieces that are truly unique and have a presence of their own. You will be able to appreciate the beautiful wall color, unique floor treatment, furnishings and accessories without being overwhelmed by all of the ‘stuff’.

If you need to use your current furniture but want to change the fabric, slipcovers are a great way to do just that with minimal investment. Another budget saving option is to look for well-priced accent pieces and accessories at discount stores such as Homegoods or Target.

Cottage style window treatments are simple and informal. Wood shutters, plantation shutters, and wood blinds are always a good choice for areas that need privacy. If you decide to use fabric for valances or side panels, use an organic fabric such as cotton or a simple weave. Lace works well in this style if you are decorating on the more feminine side.

As you can see, there is not one right or wrong way to decorate Cottage Style. If you keep your selections to light, natural, vintage (real or reproduction), organic materials and colors, you can create your own unique Cottage Style home.

Choosing colors to set the mood in a home involves taking note of colors that provoke a good feeling, taping up color swatches all over the house and looking through magazines for paint color inspiration. Set a mood in a room using evocative paint colors with tips from a professional interior decorator in this free video on home decor. Expert: Ann Myrick Bio: Since 1997, Ann Myrick has been a professional decorator, house cleaner, home organizer and planner. Filmmaker: Tim Brown