Used in interiors ever since Roman times, quarry tiles are quite alike in form to many limestone tiles, in that they are crafted from a unconditioned stone that inherently features a unequalled model and comes in multiple warm, neutral colours. Also, ceramic tiles can range from complex, rich ivories to stupefying browns of virtually all shades, and can even be found in glorious tones of gold. In addition, the tiles are typically available in many finishes, including honed, filled, unfilled and tumbled, which can all work to bring out a number of different effects in the overall design of practically any finished room, no matter of personal style.
Although they are perhaps most popular in the bathroom – on the walls and/or the floor- ceramic tiles are also wonderful for many kitchens, and even work quite nicely in some outdoor rooms. No matter of the slot, clever lighting techniques can draw the eye to more than one points in the pattern of the stone, bringing out the brilliant unconditioned shimmer and unusual shine of these stupefying natural stone tiles. Its superb versatility is also driving the notability of kind of fabric, which can immediately lend a classical air to any bathroom place, yet can also feel very naive in an outdoor setting, while bringing a new level of sophistication to the kitchen field.
Actually, innate stone tiles are variable, uniquely coloured and work well in both contemporary and traditional spaces. Travertine tiles can also be very durable, and are highly regarded for their strength, as well as for their innate resistance to erosion and plenty of other abrasive weather conditions. As such, they are typically guaranteed to survive for decades, a fact that can help to compensate for the added upfront cost they may present to existing budgets.
Another option to think about is the bamboo material. Nowadays bamboo floors are not only eco-friendly, but they are also quite stylish and functional. Its robustness also makes bamboo low-cost, as it is easy to grow and thrives on virtually any continent. As a result, shipping and manufacture costs are also typically lower than those that are required to produce many other types of floor, and the savings can be passed on to the customer. In fact, bamboo floor is a simple, sustainable, low-cost option for eco-conscious homeowners who are interested in esthetics and functionality.
Whether you live in a mansion or reside in a more small-scale abode, the living room is truly the gateway to the interior spaces of your house and gives visitors a first impression. No matter of scale, it is important to consider how the suite will need to function before choosing any specific design or style. For example, if the room will serve as both the main welcoming area and the main living area for a home, the furniture will need to consist of hardy pieces that can last under constant use, while the design must wisely utilize available space and provide equal storage to prevent clutter from accumulating.
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Posted on 5 August '10, under Decor. No Comments.
Is your little one crazy about animals? Is the zoo his favorite place in the whole universe? Then why not redecorate his room with a zoo theme?
Start by removing all things from the room for the paint job. Paint the walls in sky blue for an outdoor scene and add some paintworks of trees, clouds and flowers. Images of animals, the big ones the better, can fill the wall space too.
Next, have a black garden hose ready and use this to mount small stuffed animal toys. This will be the make-shift bars for the animals. The hose should have a floor to ceiling reach. Attach the hose loosely to the wall with a double sided tape or strong glue. Secure the attachment with screws. Make sure that the hose bars won’t bulge or bend when placed with the stuffed animals.
The first accessory to add to a room such as this is an animal print area rug. This should be plush faux fur. Not only will a rug like this add to the atmosphere of the room, but it will also be a comfortable place for your child to play. As an added bonus area rugs are much easier to clean than regular carpeting. They can be vacuumed when needed like regular carpeting, but if deeper cleaning is necessary you do not need to worry about using a carpet cleaner. Also if your have wood or laminate flooring an area rug will protect your flooring from scratches and be warmer and safer (no splinters) for your child.
To further enhance the theme, use animal print beddings, pillow covers, cushions, seat covering and curtains. Your child will feel like he is on a Safari every time he lays eyes on this animal-filled sanctuary. Placing bigger stuffed animals strategically on the floor and by the bed will add to the zoo family.
Retreating to a room full of your child’s favorite things in the world will surely make him happy. Let’s just hope that he won’t get overly excited that he would no longer take his naps or worse, delay his early bedtime. He might end up wanting to play all the time with his animal friends in their very own zoo. Ah, a zookeeper with his beloved pets.
Kids Home Design has never been so affordable with these kids area rugs. Check out the zoo rug.
Posted on 31 July '10, under Decor. No Comments.
Because of their value and rarity, Oriental rugs aren’t the kind that you can easily replace at the store once the old one gets wrecked. You have to give them proper care and attention if you want them to last for any length of time. In fact, they’re more of an investment than just some mere purchase.
Wear and tear is the number one enemy of items like Oriental rugs, especially since it’s made to be walked on. It’s not easy, but there are some ways to maximize the life span of Oriental rugs even when people walk across them on a regular basis. For example, you could make sure to rotate the rug on a regular basis so that the wearing is spread out fairly evenly over the whole rug.
Maintaining the good quality of an Oriental rug is actually stress-free. Preventing the common problems of wear and tear, dirt, faded colors, stains and such can be easily done. Putting one in a room frequented by people makes it even more important to care for an Oriental rug.
Cleaning companies differ in their methods, but they follow procedures that are quite similar. First, dust, dirt and debris are loosened from the fabric of the rug as much as possible. Many companies have a special tumbler dedicated to just this purpose. Once the rugs have been found to be colorfast, they’re wetted and then scrubbed by hand. It can’t be given to machines because the action would destroy the fabric.
Cleaning companies follow procedures to make sure that the rug, especially an Oriental kind comes out alive and kicking. Cleaning off the dirt, dust and debris is the primary step. Using the right products, like those gentle detergents preserve the quality of the material.
Cleaning companies save the day, but doing at home simple maintenance further ensures that your Oriental rug is here to stay. Vacuum cleaning or with a broom will do. If you want to wash it, especially to remove stain, you can also use soap but make sure it’s a gentle or unformulated cleanser. You can also use vinegar to make the colors stay longer.
When you wash with soap, limit it to the fringe of the rug. Also, don’t vacuum the fringes to avoid deterioration
Although they’re quite hard to clean and maintain, it’s still worth keeping an Oriental rug because of its exotic and unique beauty. Diligence and a little elbow grease are all it takes to get a decor piece that will last for decades.
If you found this information about decorating with rugs helpful, then you are going to love these oriental rugs; and in particular these beige oriental area rugs.
Posted on 25 July '10, under Decor. No Comments.
Because it was becoming difficult for European country homeowners to maintain their homes they created the shabby chick design. This allowed them to decorate their homes all within a minimal amount. If you have an apartment that looks drab and boring your can use the English country style to decorate your kitchen.
Decide on your color palette. Recommended colors for the Shabby Chic kitchen walls are pastel colors. You may select from cream, beige, pale yellow, pink, pale green, light blue and others. Instead of just one color, you may paint in a pattern of wide pastel stripes. Or alternatively opt for wall paper in pastel colors with prints of pink or red roses. For a more permanent fix to your walls, cover them with a bed board or paneling then paint it over with a pastel color. Accent the room by painting the doors and trim in a clean white.
For your floor, add on an area rug or kitchen mat that has floral prints in pale yellow, pink or green. Ensure that your area rug color palette will complement that of the rest of the kitchen. For a more permanent solution to your floors, you may opt to go for the ceramic tiles such as linoleum in pastel colors as well.
Put a new coat of paint on the cabinets then distress the final look. Add glass knobs to the doors of the cabinet. You want to also paint the appliances or you can purchase new appliances with the retro look.
For windows you want to add a floral pattern. Age the material by dying it in tea. This is the perfect look for shabby chic. Or you may want to use a valance scarf that is made from the shabby chic cotton. But don’t just drape it over the curtain rods use the scroll type hooks and drape it over the hooks. Thread it through the hooks from the backside. This will give it a puffy design.
You can’t decorate a shabby chic room without adding wrought iron. Add wrought iron fixtures to the room and hang an old fashioned mitten or hand towel that is embroidered. Other wrought iron decor would include spice racks, corner shelves, serving trays, cutlery holders, or anything else that looks old fashioned. You can also opt for wrought iron lighting fixtures.
Use family keepsakes like family photos in antique frames or vintage measuring spoons, serving dishes, tin cookie cutters, a ceramic rose dish and tea set, and more. Add lace doily’s to hang from the shelves.
Take an elegant step back in time by decorating your kitchen the Shabby Chic way.
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Posted on 18 July '10, under Decor. No Comments.
Do you love looking at the beautifully decorated rooms in magazine? Do the breathtaking Asian inspired spaces cause you to crave to bring just a little of the Far east into your household? Does your budget restrict the amount of cash that you can invest on designing? Avoid worrying and adhere to these easy to follow ideas for an Asian influenced room with a budget.
This is certainly one particular decorating trend which is very easy on the budget. The entire idea behind this design is distinctiveness and minimalism. These facts alone insure that it is a trend that is very easy on your pocket book. This is on the list of small amount of design styles that are very effective with plain white walls, one more advantage if you do not want to deal with the hassle and cost of painting.
For making this design work, remove as much as workable from the room. Take out all of those worn out accents that are gathering dust particles and donate them or recycle them into another room. In the event you are doing this in your living room, preserve only the basics: sofa, a chair or two, coffee table, and a set of end tables. Dependent on the measurements of the room, you might be confident enough to get away with a bookcase as well. If you are doing this project in your bedroom, keep only the bed, dresser, and nightstands.
Now evaluate the furnishings that you kept. You want to move it in the room to make the most space and natural flow for traffic. This may differ from house to house and room to room, so experiment with it until you are happy. I really don’t believe that there are actually any strict guidelines on furniture positioning, do what works for you, just remember that minimalism is the secret. It is possible to always take out more furniture if necessary.
The furniture in Asian influenced rooms is often darker woods or black. A little bit of touch up staining or a trip out to the backyard with a can of paint may be necessary here. Even if your furniture is traditional, you might possibly be amazed how a little coat of paint varies the look and feel totally. If you are likely to be implementing your exhisting table lamps, give them a quick coat of black or red paint as well.
Once you have got your furniture positioned, it’s time to think about color. Asian themes use mostly red and black in the color scheme, so do you have to purchase black slipcovers or new black bedding. If that’s the case, now is the time to do it. While you’re at it, include a few decorative pillows in solid red or in a bright geometric pattern.
Now that you’ve got the fundamentals, it’s time to accessorize! This is the fun part. Since Asian designs center on the impact rather than amount, select your decorative accents mindfully. Candles are always a welcome inclusion to any room; scatter a few plain white ones around the room in simple candle plates or trays. Pick only one or two further decorative accessories and you’re succesfully done.
The benefit to this kind of design is its bare-bones style. It can be integrated into any room at very little cost you. In just one day, you can convert your room from dreary to fashionable without spending a fortune.
Now that you know the essentials of Asian design, why not add some Asian Decor to your home today?
Dana Burnett is an online home decor retailer who enjoys sharing her home decorating ideas with the internet community. You can read more of her articles and tips at her Home Decor Blog and at the NanasAtticStore.com site.
Posted on 28 June '10, under Decor. No Comments.
When people think about making changes to their home, either one or two rooms or the entire space, most often they imagine color. Generally people choose colors they are fond of or those which correspond with pieces of furniture. When searching for ideas for decorating a home, one idea which is perhaps overlooked is decorating with the two basic colors – black and white.
Black and white together is elegant, classy and can add an air of drama. It is said that every room can benefit by using a touch of black. Black is a color which anchors and grounds a room. Adding sophistication, black is definitely a color that demands attention. Some of the ways one can add some black includes pillows, trim, area rugs, furniture, or a ceiling fan. Black serves to add definition to focal points of a room. Black is just one color that stands out or makes a statement.
Using black and white when decorating a home, provides a clean, fresh, stylish impression. This arrangement can be added to any space in a home making it a sophisticated space. Black and white are often used in contemporary home decorating and often used to accent other colors in French Country design. It may be hard to visualize but there are many ideas for decorating a home using only these two basic colors.
The floor is a wonderful place to start in decorating a room. Black and white vinyl tiles laid alternately makes a beautiful checkerboard pattern and looks clean and elegant. Black marble used on the floor, accented by wide white baseboards, another beautiful idea for decorating a home. White ceramic tiles with a black border or simply paint the floor black or white and use stencils of the opposite color for decoration. These are some really classy, elegant and often cost effective way to add elegance to a home.
White walls, is there anything more perfect? Painting the walls white or even an off-white, would make a perfect background for accessories such as artwork framed in black. That you can imagine. Elegant black window treatments or black shutter against a clean, crisp white wall would definitely create an aura of sophistication.
A bedroom decorated using black and white would be delightful. An iron bed-frame in black or white, covered with a patterned black and white comforter. For the pillow shames, you could use either all black or all white and could add throw cushions in the opposite color. A lovely reading chair in one of the corners in either white or black would be a perfect match. Then the white walls with an elegant piece of artwork, framed in black hanging on it, this would surely add to the contemporary feel.
Black furniture against the crisp white walls would look neat and tidy. Jazz up the room with accessories such as pewter or silver candlesticks, jugs or vases. If you think the room needs a little color to complete the look, perhaps a throw or cushion in a bold color like red or gold, for the chair in the corner of the room would be enough to accent the room. There are zillions of ways to decorate your home.And zillions of beautiful ways… While it can be fun to do something a bit off the wall, remember you have to be able to live with it. What may look cool at a first glance may become a bit much when one has to spend countless hours there.
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Posted on 16 June '10, under Decor. No Comments.
We often hear about things we should do in…well about almost everything that concerns a How-to situation. This time, let’s twist it the other way and focus on things that you SHOULD NOT do. I bet you’re already familiar with the no smoking, no drinking and driving, no dipping your hand in the cookie jar before dinner, no late nights on weekdays, no talking while your mouth is full and all those lifetime reminders. So let’s talk about home decorating now, shall we?
Decorate according to your preferences. Countless magazines, references, family’s suggestions and friends’ inputs can sometimes be confusing. With so many selections, deciding on a theme can be difficult. It’s essential to go with the things you like. Recommendations and inspirations are just there. What’s important is that you make a decision based on your likes and not on other people’s.
With this in mind, you should make sure that you do not paint first. The thing with paint is that you can buy any color you can possibly think of when it comes to paint. Before you start paining, choose your furniture, paintings, and carpets first. After all, you may find a set of rugs that you love but they don’t match the walls or the drapes that you have been fantasizing about for the last six months. Keep in mind that whenever you are choosing your paint not to choose it from a paint chip at the store. Paint samples look different against the other colors of paint and under the fluorescent lights. When you have a color in mind buy the smallest quantity possible and paint a small section of your wall so you can see what it looks like under the natural light in your home.
You should not settle for things you think are just okay. Go for things you like! Color, design, decors, etc. If you dig the bright and bold hues, so what if your parents are rallying dark colors or if your friends all have neutral shades? Remember, it’s your house, therefore your choice. Besides, it’s not as if you’ll cover your entire house with your chosen color say, red. You might want a relaxing room so red won’t give you that. But you love red! So you can just accent with red color. For instance, trimmings on the walls, cushions and other fabrics, flowers and accessories.
When decorating your house keep the focal point in mind and make it important. With this idea don’t arrange your furniture all around the room. Group your tables, chairs and sofa in groupings for conversations. Pull a piece into the center of the room and this will give a feeling of comfort. Don’t put chairs in front of the doors or tables into an obvious traffic area.
Do not keep something because you think that you should be keeping it out of obligation. If the piece of furniture or nick knack doesn’t fit the look that you’re going for then get rid of it. Then again ugly is always considered to be in the eye of the beholder. Much against popular notion, it is unlikely that you will eventually learn to love something that you think is hideous. Your best option is to just get rid of it. While we are at it, do not overcrowd your home with little nick knacks. Make sure that each piece you have is important and compliments another piece. If you don’t have room for it, get rid of it.
Interior Decorating experts all agree that it is essential to use area rugs. And as discussed here one of the most popular ranges is the creme rugs.
Posted on 23 April '10, under Decor. No Comments.
Stress, stress, stress! Everywhere we turn today, there’s some new crisis to deal with. That’s why we love to spend so much time at home in our bedrooms, where we can relax. The trick, however, is to recognize that the colors we use in our bedroom decor have a significant influence on whether our bedroom can truly become a sanctuary.
The most soothing shades for the bedroom come from nature, say home design experts. These hues make us think of restful glades and cool meadows, places where our souls are nurtured by nature’s beauty.
Neutral tones have come a long way in home decor and are now one of the most common colors to use. Neutral colors can be used in area rugs, curtains, and sheets. Neutral colors are just about being bland they are about being soft; green and brown tones are the most popular.
You need to pay close attention the shade of green you are getting. Some greens like acid green can actually stimulate your mind instead of resting it. So before you buy anything hold the green shade up to your skin and compare. When you look in a mirror you will see the green tone reflected back in the mirror as well as on your skin. You want to have it balance instead of stand out causing you to look like an alien.
Classic colors are back in style. Remember to choose colors that are restful and not those that keep you thinking. Muted greens like the color of plants, is a good choice. You can match them with a shade of blue that will remind you of the blue sky and water. Blue has a calming, soothing feel to it and would be perfect in a bedroom.
Have you every thought about lavender for your bedroom? Lavender is a calming color. Lavender goes well with green and lavender can be placed in bed linen spray and sachets for your drawers and closets. But don’t go overboard with it.
Amid all these color variations aimed at creating a serene space in the bedroom, you just had to expect that there would be one breakout. This year the bold, sophisticated color is … pink.
Believe it or not, pink – not the pastel pink of a girl’s room, but a vibrant shade warmed with a slight yellow undertone – is turning up as the eye-popping exception to overall trends. Pink has been a powerful shade in fashion for both women and men over the past year, and that energy has now moved into home decorating, particularly in the bedroom.
If these colors seem to be too restful for you then try making them blend better with accessories like gold colors on sheets, curtains, and area rugs. Put silk fabric on one wall, add a crystal chandelier and more.
In the end, comforting as the color scheme may be, the bedroom should reflect the personality of its inhabitant. Bedrooms are after all the most intimate room in the home, and should be whatever makes you feel most peaceful and happy.
Interior Bedroom Decorating has never been so easy with these transitional rugs.
Posted on 22 April '10, under Decor. No Comments.
Spring is that light, warm season when most people tend to clean out their homes and get rid of unnecessary junk accumulated throughout the year. But don’t send that box to the Salvation Army just yet! Redecorating your home with old things you have around the house is a much cheaper alternative to buying new pieces every year. With a few extra details, you can have your home looking spic and span in time for spring.
Getting inspiration from home magazines is a good way to spice up your living quarters. You don’t have to get the same exact pieces. Most of them are pretty expensive, aren’t they? So simply get a clue from the items and design featured and head to the thrift store, discount store or yard sale and scout for a “look alike.”
If you’re stumped with using all those little items, you might want to turn to a home design magazine for a little help. Although such publications usually feature pricey name brand items, it’s easy enough to copy the look or appearance of something that caught your eye. With the right inspiration and a few art materials, you can make even cheap yard sale items look downright expensive.
Make the old new with a change in coverings. Those worn-out throw pillows will look fresh with new covers. The sofa will look brand new with a new upholstery or when draped with a nice-looking fabric. The cabinets and drawers will be sparkling in no time with a polish or a change in handles.
Rugs go a long way in creating a cohesive theme for a particular room, even when you’ve thoroughly mixed and matched items from all over. Is there a color that repeats over and over again in your design items? Get a rug in that color to make it really pop at first glance. Does it seem like the entire room looks dark and heavy? A light or neutral colored rug breaks the monotony and makes your room look interesting, even avant garde.
Are you tired of looking a room that looks exactly the same year in and year out? Mirrors will have a huge impact by creating illusions of extra space and playing around with the actual dimensions of the room. To make the mirrors even more interesting, you could install dramatic ornate frames or glue them to extra porcelain or ceramic pieces you’ve got lying around.
Decorating is useless in a poorly-lit space. As spring is a lively time of the year, make your home a cheery place as well. Come nighttime and you want your room to look intimate, have an adjustable lamp to create the ambiance you want.
Redecorating for spring is a work of metaphor. It’s exciting to welcome a season symbolic of freshness, vibrancy and perfection…the weather and nature speak for themselves. Make your home a spring-worthy living space.
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Posted on 21 April '10, under Decor. No Comments.
The future is uncertain and we can’t help but worry what tomorrow holds. How long will the global crisis last? What will become of the situation in the Middle East? When will North Korea balk down and give in to the worldwide plea for the nuclear cease? Will Brad and Angelina really last?
One thing that we can look forward to is the growing interest and changing trends in home design, which are all veering toward the better. 10 years from now, homes will be nothing like what we see them today. Intrigued as to how future homes might look like? Take a look at the magic crystal ball and foresee the future
Earth-Friendly Designs
This design is already gaining recognition and a big fan base. More and more people are learning to care for the environment that recycling materials is no longer seen as a cheapskate, but a conscious effort to protect and conserve the environment. Biodegradable, non-toxic and natural materials are also used for building homes and decorating the interiors. It won’t be unlikely to see natural area rugs, rustic style, plants and flowers, and other eco-friendly things in many homes in the near future.
The Likes of Steel and Glass
Similar to the eco-friendly design, this style is also fast becoming popular. The use of colors and decors are minimal and the shapes, lines and forms are nothing too extravagant. Steel and glass are common materials. Creativity can be expressed at its best with this home design. The future therefore, calls for the modern, artistic homeowners to express themselves to the fullest.
Preservation Design
Old structures such as abandoned churches, warehouses, factories and plantation houses become “new” dwellings with the adaptation of trendy home decorating techniques. These buildings turned into houses still get to maintain a trace of their history with the interior design that can range from Victorian to Southwestern theme.
Flexible Floor Plan Design
For the more fast-paced and trendy homeowners, constant change is a must. Otherwise, they’ll live in utter boredom. This design is made for them with movable walls, sliding doors and multi-purpose living spaces. Area rugs primarily used as space dividers are highly functional for this kind of home. Segregating areas become more effortless with decorative rugs to define the spaces.
The All-around Design
This is a home design that perhaps most people can see themselves living in in the future. Homeowners of all ages and physical capabilities will find staying in this house a breeze. Bigger hallways, more convenient doorknobs and switches, and touch plates will be the norm.
These are only a few of the home building trends that we can expect in the near future. It’s time to put on our thinking caps to come up with interior decorating that will make these new living spaces as comfortable and inviting as they are technologically advanced.
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Posted on 20 April '10, under Decor. No Comments.