Tips for Choosing a Safe Paint Color for Your Walls
October 26, 2008
Are you STILL thinking about painting your walls with color?
Many people are afraid to make the leap from ‘builder’s beige’ to a more daring color choice. What holds you back? Are you afraid the color will be too strong? Not match your furniture? Or you’ll become tired of it and have to start over again?
While you’re debating the work involved you are missing out on one of the basic elements of design that can change the entire look of your room for under $50. Your tired furniture can become new again and a mismatched room can have designer flare! So, how do you choose the right color?
The first recommendation is to choose a tinted neutral. Why is that? Instead of choosing rich, deep colors for your first project, you will likely feel more comfortable with a neutral such as beige or gray which will not date the room or create a jarring palate that you will easily tire of.
However, when you go to your local home improvement store you will be faced with a sea of color swatches - hundreds of versions of basic beige and gray to choose from. So before you go, consider these steps to choosing the right color for you.
Discount Rugs - Buying a Discount Area Rug
October 23, 2008
A quality area rug for your home can be an expensive proposition. A fine Oriental rug, for instance, can easily set you back several thousand dollars. Rather than settling for a cheap alternative, you can find top quality rugs at discount prices if you shop carefully, both online and off. If you do, though, be sure to educate yourself as to the characteristics of the rug that you’re buying to avoid paying far too much for a cheap imitation rather than getting a genuine bargain on the real thing.
Research your subject - Whether you’re searching for a fine Oriental rug or a striking Mahdavi contemporary design, learn enough about the way the rug is made and its hallmarks to make sure that you get the genuine article. When shopping discount ads and online web sites, watch out for words like ‘just like’, ‘faux genuine’ and other tricky wordings to make you believe that you are paying a discount price for an expensive rug.
While you’re doing research, check out the credentials of the seller. Check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints, and do a search for the company name online. There are many watchdog web sites where consumers air their gripes about various companies. It’s a quick and easy way to check out the reputation of an online discount rug dealer.
Area Rugs - Accent Your Rooms with Area Rugs
October 20, 2008
One of the easiest ways to accent and decorate your home is with the use of accent rugs and area rugs. Rugs are far more than just something to cushion your feet and keep them warm in winter. They’re miniature works of art in which the form transcends the function. An accent rug in the right place can bring your whole room together by tying colors, patterns and styles into a cohesive whole, or serve as a bridge between different areas of your home or a single room.
Area rugs can range in size from 24 inches to 10 feet. You can use them to accent a small area of your room, or choose a room size area rug to be the foundation of your room’s unique style. The rug you choose can be the anchor that sets the mood of your room and gives it a flavor all its own. If you’re trying to establish a certain style in your room, try some of the following suggestions.
Accent a Colonial Style Living Room Set With a Braided Oval Rug
Pendant Lighting Layout - How To
October 16, 2008
Pendant lighting has gained a great deal of popularity for use in kitchens over the last few years. A common place to install them is over an island or peninsula. One of the most frequent questions I see is how high do I hang them and how do I space them out? Both questions can be answered in several ways and as with any home design aspect there is no absolute or right answer. There is however some guidelines to use that can help you make the right decision.
One consideration on the height is with the fixture you choose. If a fixture has an open bottom and it is installed to high, it can become very annoying looking up into the light bulb all the time. By the same token, a fixture that is designed so that the top is not made to be viewed, if installed too low, can be very unappealing. There is an average height you can use as a guide, about 68″ - 72″ off the floor to the very bottom of the fixture. This puts the fixture at about eye level for the average person. The reason there is no correct answer is in a house where everyone is 6′ 4″ and taller this height would most likely be too low.
Do It Yourself Bathroom Curtain
October 12, 2008
Need An Easy Bathroom Curtain Idea?
I’ve always had a hard time decorating my bathrooms. You want them to look more "cute" instead of fancy, after all, it is a bathroom not a bedroom! I wanted to have some type of window treatment over the windows, but the ones I usually picked out were more decorative and elegant and didn’t serve as a good shade for those looking in!
Those plain old roller shades were perfect for keeping peepers out, but they were ugly! So plain and not colorful at all. Well, not anymore!
Now all you need is a roller shade for your windows. Buy some paint, stamps, sponges, beads, ribbons or anything else you’d like and decorate the roller shade itself. Whether your bathroom is decorated with seashells, fish, ducks or flowers, you can create a roller shade to match perfectly. You can sponge paint the shade with colors that match your bathroom, or you could stamp on images of fish, flowers or ducks that coincide with your current décor.
Roll out the shade all the way as if it were hanging on the window and covering it completely. Before you start decorating away, start with a plan. Decide what colors you’re going to use and how you’re going to design it. Then start decorating it!
Oriental Area Rugs - Know Before You Buy an Oriental Rug
October 9, 2008
Did you know that you can usually tell the country from which an Oriental rug originated from its design and style? While we often think of ‘Oriental rugs’ as having an overall defining style, the truth is that there are many styles of Oriental rugs, most of them growing from traditional patterns and materials common to the country or area in which they originated. Experts in Oriental rugs spend years learning the variations of patterns, materials, colors and weave that are characteristic of the different areas of the Orient.
Persian Rugs - These are the rugs that most people think of when they hear ‘Oriental rug’. Persian rugs are easily the most recognized style of Oriental rug. Now known as Iran, Persia has a reputation for producing some of the most beautiful and high quality rugs throughout history. The traditional designs bear the names of the tribal regions where they are made - Tabriz, Kerman, Sarouk and others. The intricate floral and geometric patterns are a hallmark of Persian designs, which make them among the most sought after and valuable Oriental rugs.
Plantation Shutters Bring Antebellum Elegance To Modern Homes
October 6, 2008
Choosing plantation shutters for form or function? Plantation shutters offer both to today’s homeowner. These unique window treatments trace their roots to ancient Greece. The Greeks used them for both privacy and security. Interior shutters were used to close windows. Along with imposing columns, shutters are hallmarks of Classical Greek Architecture. This ancient order and form in building design later influenced buildings and architecture throughout the Western world.
Before the widespread use of glass, shutters were used to close windows. They were used to protect the interior of the house from the weather and from intruders as well as provide privacy. They could be opened to allow sunlight and fresh air into the building or home.
Elements of Greek architecture are seen in many buildings and homes from the late 18th century, the 19th century and the early 20th century in the United States. It was especially prevalent in banks, office buildings and many public and government buildings. The plantation mansions of the old South borrowed heavily on the architecture of the Greeks. The antebellum mansions of the great plantations from South Carolina to the western edge of Mississippi borrowed heavily from the building concepts of the Greeks. A number of these grand old mansions have been restored and preserved at Natchez, Mississippi.
The Barkeeps Guide to Buying Bar Stools
October 1, 2008
Purchasing a bar stool is a very meticulous process that you do not want to mess up. My personal road has taken me on a path that makes me qualified to show others what to do when shopping for a bar stool. You see I owned a bar for about 5 years in New Jersey. The sizes, types, and finishes of bar stools were a major concern for me.
It just so happens after finishing that chapter of my career I find myself involved once again with bar stools. Life works in mysterious and mischievous ways. You see just when I thought I was done with the bar business altogether, they sucked me back in. I now work for a major online retailer that deals in bar stools and other bar furnishings.
So, if you are looking to purchase a bar stool, there is nobody with as much first hand experience as I. When looking to purchase a bar stool there is a distinct must; know what type of stool you need. Do I need to purchase a counter stool or should I purchase a bar stool? Knowing the difference is crucial to making a good purchase.
Lighting Up a Seniors Life - Baby Boomer Alert!
September 28, 2008
Lighting for seniors requires attention to some specific details. When planning a lighting design for aging baby boomers we want to provide both adequate light to see clearly and a safe environment. With a combination of recessed, pendant, track and wall fixtures, these needs can be met. It is very important that certain areas be well lit. Areas like stairs and bathrooms where so many accidents occur or basements, which are usually dark. Kitchens require a great deal of light so food can be prepared safely.
It is fact that as we age our eyes needs change and we need more light to see properly. What may be suitable at 25 may not be good enough at 40 and what may work at 40, just won’t cut it at age 60. Task lighting can help in a kitchen by installing under cabinet lights. A good choice for under cabinet lights is fluorescent for the simple reason that they require very little maintenance. This is another important aspect to consider. We want to try to choose lighting that requires very little maintenance and does not require tools to change bulbs. Placing the light fixtures in a location that makes it easy to reach to change light bulbs is also a good choice. Wall sconces are a good choice to solve this problem. A wall sconce placed in a stairway for instance can provide light as well as eliminate the need for a ladder to change the light bulb.
Summers Unexpected Outdoor Candelabra
September 25, 2008
For picnic tables, decks, porches, patios, and sidewalks, decorators are using an unusual source of candle lighting. Fireplace candelabra-those candle holders intended for fireplaces-have moved outside for the summer!
Fireplace candelabra were originally designed to hold candles in your fireplace when you want the glow of flickering flames but not the heat or hassle of wood or gas fires. But fireplace candelabra, more sturdily constructed than most candelabra, can be right at home in an outdoor setting, too.
The sturdy construction of fireplace candelabra makes them less delicate than traditional candelabra. Their solidness is just what is needed to look appropriate and function well in the less formal entertainment settings of outdoors.
Another appeal of fireplace candelabra for outdoor use is that they come in a variety of metals. Most are a traditional black iron, and those have the advantage of "disappearing" in the dusk of evening so their candles seem to float in the darkness. Some fireplace candelabra have a sophisticated, brushed steel finish that, mirror-like, reflects the candles’ flames. A few have a copper finish. With these fireplace candelabra, the candle light is beautifully reflected in the warm, mellow glow of the copper.
