SURE YOU CAN!

That’s the answer to the question about mixing traditional pieces of furniture with modern  ones.  It’s a unique look that no one will be able to duplicate.  Who wants to live in a room ordered out of a catalogue anyway?  We’re all different and ideally our homes reflect that fact.

Remember that antique chest you found a few years ago?

USE IT!  A room with furniture from different time periods is like a family gathering with  members from different generations.  It makes things a lot more interesting. It could be color,  scale or perhaps a stylized line, but find an element that all the pieces have in common and  then point it out!

Accent color helps these furniture pieces ‘speak to each other.

A series of artwork adds rhythm to the ‘conversation’.

Go ahead and mix it up!
Enjoy moving your traditional furniture around, and add a few modern pieces as well. Who knows, when your relatives show up, they may actually approve!

Our bedroom is the one room that can completely make or break our day.  A good night’s sleep is so important for our waking hours,  it seems logical that the bedroom would be one of the most important rooms to decorate.  Beyond just making the room look pretty, it is essential to make it as restful and relaxing as possible.  The tips below will help you create a calming retreat in your bedroom (however, you can certainly apply these principles to any room where you would like a bit of serenity!)

• Use restful colors and a limited palate.  Stick to neutrals and muted colors.  Steer clear of reds, oranges, yellows, or anything too bright.  Though these colors are wonderful in other, livelier parts of the home, they will only serve to create energy and keep you awake. Try to use colors from nature.

• Calming colors will be most effective when used in large expanses, so make sure that your walls and rugs are pretty and subdued.
• Stick to symmetry.  It creates a sense of balance and order; think two nightstands, two lamps, matching pillows.
• Consider textures. Soft silks, cozy knits, rough sisals, and faux fur all contribute to an organic, tactile experience.  Use a variety of colors and textures in your bedding.  The sheets, duvet, coverlet, shams, and blanket should be a mix of fabrics that complement each other beautifully.

• While an overhead light might be functional, it is certainly not the most relaxing way to light your bedroom.  Use a variety of lamps and sconces to create an intimate feeling.  Pink, low wattage bulbs are the most flattering.
• Hang artwork that is peaceful.  Landscapes are the best option.  Limit photographs and mirrors; these pieces are too high energy for somewhere that you should be relaxing.

• Make sure to keep your nightstand uncluttered.  The last thing that you want to do is go to sleep to and wake up to a pile of to-do’s and mess.  This could mean using a nightstand that is too small to fit clutter.  A small vase of fresh flowers is a lovely thing to wake up to.

Use these tips to create your own version of the perfect restful retreat and remember that creating a calming bedroom is one of the best investments that you can make in your life and home.

Ikat prints have made it big on the runway and interiors all over, however, ikats aren’t just a trend, but a complex textile with a long history dating back to the 10th century.  The word ikat is derived from the Malaysian word, mengikat, meaning to tie, knot, bind, or wind around.  Ikats receive their unique watery look through a three step process where the fiber is tie-dyed, woven into long, narrow strips, and then carefully patched together to create width.   These exotic fabrics are a favorite among many interior designers, whether introduced in a simple throw pillow, window treatments, or wall covering.

Ikat pillows add spice to an otherwise neutral living space

Blue, yellow, and white ikat window treatments dress up this master bedroom

Bold wall paper sets the tone for this fun bedroom

Every room needs a stand out piece like the tradional upholstered chair below

This bold ikat sofa is the only pattern needed in the colorful living room below

Below, artwork is created with an ikat print fabric

Green is a calming color, perfect for any room in the home.  It is the color of health, renewal, and rebirth.  Depending on the hue, you can set it against white, black, or brown and have a crisp, contrasting look. Whether you choose a moss green or a bright spring green, green is a healing color that will leave you peacefully invigorated and refreshed.

Photo: Southern Living

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Photo: Coastal Living

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Real Simple

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: White House Museum

Photo: My Home Ideas

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Choosing a kitchen countertop material takes into account several factors including your lifestyle and cooking needs, durability, and appearance.  From natural stone to man made solid surfaces, there are a myriad of options to choose from and there is one that will be the perfect choice for your kitchen.

• Natural Stone countertops are a durable, attractive option that has become increasingly popular in homes.  Granite is available in a wide variety of colors, ensuring that there is one that will coordinate with your kitchen color scheme.  It is necessary to seal granite every 10 to 15 years to prevent staining, and you must clean granite with a specially made stone cleaner.

Photo: My Home Ideas

• Plastic Laminate is a budget friendly countertop option that stands up the toughest of kitchens.  It is made of layers of recycled paper and resin placed between clear plastic and mounted onto fiberboard or plywood.  You can clean plastic laminate with most any household cleaner which makes it an easy to maintain option as well.

Photo: My Home Ideas

• Solid Surface countertops are man made materials that are made to resemble natural stone.  The advantage that these manufactured countertops have over real stone is their durability and resistance to damage.  Solid surfaces are not easily stained or scratched, and when they are, they are easy to repair by sanding or filling the offending area.  Almost any stone can be recreated in a manufactured surface, and the cost is similar to that of granite.

Photo: My Home Ideas

There are also less commonly used countertop options that have their advantages, such as tile, wood, stainless steel or concrete.  These can make for a great look in a kitchen from the country to the contemporary, though each tends to be a little less family friendly.   Whether you choose a natural material or a manufactured material, there is sure to be a perfect countertop to meet your needs in function and style.

Choosing a dining table can be one of the easiest steps in decorating your dining room or breakfast area.  It is a formula driven process that basically leads you straight to the right table!  Below are the tips and tricks that will guide you directly to the perfect dining table for your space.

Photo: Viva Terra

1. Measure your space. Double check the measurements. You should even mark out the size of your desired table on the floor with masking tape. Do not leave the house until you have done this. The worst feeling in the world is to fall in love with a table, bring it home, and find that there isn’t enough room to walk around it.

2. Allow 30-36 inches of space between the table and anything around it, whether it is a wall, a buffet, a cabinet, etc.  This is how much room you need to scoot your chair back or walk through.

3. How many people will typically sit at your table?  Most people are comfortable with about 2 feet of dining space, maybe a little less.  If you have a small family but regularly throw larger dinner parties, consider a table with extensions so that you don’t feel that you are yelling across the table when it is just the few of you.

4. Rectangular tables are much more space efficient than round or oval tables.  There is much less room wasted in the middle (diners only need 14″ depth of space.)  However, round tables are the most conducive to easy conversation with a larger group.  Consider how much space you have and decide accordingly.

5. Dining tops are available in wood, veneer, acrylic, and glass.  Determine the level of durability that your lifestyle requires – think about how often you entertain, how often you actually sit at the table to enjoy a nice meal.

Photo: Mrs. Howard

Accent lighting in the kitchen is a great way to update your kitchen.  Not only does it add a touch of ambiance but it can serve to light up your workspace.  Under cabinet, in cabinet, and above cabinet lighting will warm up the look of your kitchen and provide a bit of homeyness that you can’t achieve with overhead lighting. Interior Designing Is All About deceitful The Home & office In Such A manner That It Should Reflect Your Active Personality With Unique And Innovative Designs, So That The Space Should Look nice-looking, Peaceful, simple To Use And Well Functional. Interior design companies in Boston serve as your guide in taking that journey to create your much desired change. Commercial interior designers give the best office interior solution for business or commercial buildings, business establishments, corporate offices or showrooms.

The warm wood tones of these contemporary cabinets are brought out by downward lights that cast a geometric and sophisticated glow.  The subtle lighting also brings out the polish and sheen of the countertops and floors. Architectural services are now taking part in vital role in coming up with the right structure of the building or company workplace. A good kitchen designer should be able to work with you to create the design that will both fit your desires and needs and that squares with your budget. Home construction builders suggest all technical experience and expertise their clients need. They know how to construct the house in the most aesthetically pleasant manner.

The rich red of this kitchen already created a room that seemed warm and welcoming, and the soft yellow light makes this an inviting place to spend your evening. An online interior design will train the designer to work in a wide range of fields such as commercial,  residential, sales or specialized design for particular industries. Make designing your home decor should not be a expensive. Home accessories and decor, you’ll be able to yet be great in some materials in order to complete the attempt yourself. As modern interior designer, you have to keep on  top of all the modern trends. Expensive is not always the best, and fine-looking life is necessity.

Lighting the area above the cabinets with spotlights can make your ceilings seem higher.  The lights create a grand look that emphasizes the molding on the cabinets as well as the ceiling.  The lighting in the cabinet shows off the glass cabinetry and pretty glassware withing the cabinet. The first thing to do when create living room services designs is to look into what you have in hand and graph out a layout plan. Professionals interior designers Selects The Best Materials, Do The Proper Planning ,Provides Best Contractors, Work In Order To Complete The Work Within Minimum Time Frame And In Given Budget. The Kalispell mt interior design of the building of an organization creates an image in the minds of clients and other stakeholders.

The under cabinet and in cabinet lighting in this kitchen reflect off the tile backsplash and the glass cabinet doors to make this kitchen seem to glitter with light.  This sort of accent lighting is a fabulous effect at night. An whitefish mt  interior designer will strive to design the entire layout of the interior space of your residence according to your personality. In That Case Architects & Bigfork mt Interior Designers Comes Very Handy. the trend of theme based interiors have also picked up. Each of our Calgary Interior  designers offers field of expertise throughout floor, tiles, lights, laminates throughout house reconstruction.

For a fairly inexpensive weekend project, kitchen accent lighting can make a huge difference in the look of your kitchen.  Whether you choose above cabinet, under cabinet, in cabinet lighting, or some combination of the three, the results will make a warm and welcoming place to gather the family every day.

Ottomans are a stylish way to add both seating and storage space.  They are the ultimate multi-tasking item.  While you can certainly use an ottoman for its intended purpose of a footrest, you can also use yours as a coffee table, an extra seat, a pop of color, or a side table.

Photos: House Beautiful

If you are building a new house or just renovating your kitchen, one of the big decisions to be made is what type of flooring to put in your kitchen.   Tile, wood, vinyl, and stone are all appropriate choices for different people.  How do you know which is the right one for your home?

While it will not last for generations, vinyl is  a good option for those looking for an option that will be inexpensive and easy to install yourself.  Vinyl can be tricky around the edges and at seams of a pattern.  You will have to take great care to cut very carefully and match the repeat of the pattern perfectly.  Vinyl is best for those looking for an interim flooring that will last them until they are ready to make a bigger investment.

Tile comes in a wide variety of looks.  You can get tile to look like almost any type of stone and in any color imaginable.  Make sure to have a professional installer measure so that you buy the exact amount that you need.  Dye lots can vary in color from day to day and if you come up short, it could be difficult to match your tile on a future trip to the supplier.  Tile is extremely durable and if a tile does become chipped or break, it is possible to replace it.  Installation can be expensive but is worth it because of the precise nature of laying tile patterns.  Glazed tile will stand up to stains much better than unglazed, so it is a better option in the kitchen.

Stone is one of your most durable options for the kitchen, and though it can be expensive and installation must be done by a professional, it will last for generations.  It is a beautiful, timeless look, but is not the best option for children or the elderly because when it becomes wet, it becomes extremely slippery.

Wood is a wonderful option because it can often be carried over from the other rooms in the house and contribute to an open flow throughout your home.  Wood is an extremely strong, durable material that will last the life of your home as long as it is kept in good shape and refinished when necessary.  One of the drawbacks is that it will show wear and tear in the finish in high traffic areas.

Each type of flooring has pros and cons, so it is important to make a decision based on your ability to invest at this time and just how durable of a floor you will need in your kitchen.

Photo: House Beautiful

Simple shutters allow light to filter through

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Veranda

Shutters with their original paint add privacy and patina to a beautiful bathroom

Photo: House Beautiful

Below shutters are installed on a sliding track to function as curtains

Photo: House Beautiful