Tag Archive 'Interior Design'

Aug 27 2010

Remodeling Your Kitchen’s Floor

It’s always best to choose a kitchen floor that will work well with the style and look you wish to achieve in the room. Although people tend to go for certain flooring options more than others, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to fall in line. Consider some of these different ideas for a kitchen floor.

Wood Flooring for the Kitchen
When it comes to kitchen, wood floors are a common choice. As a matter of fact, one of the most popular types of flooring options available is wood flooring. If you decide to go with wood floors, you’ll have several different types of wood to choose from. The warmth that’s inherent in wood adds character to a kitchen space, whether it’s a basic pine slat or a trendier, more environmentally conscience bamboo wood floor. Choose a color and type of wood that fits with your kitchen’s style and theme.

Tile Flooring: Timeless and Tasteful
Kitchen tile is another very popular type of flooring. With this type of flooring you have many different options to choose from, from different colors and designs to a variety of materials. For instance, you can choose from plain tile floors, ones that are laid out in a design, and others that resemble stone or are decorative. Both ceramic and porcelain tile floors are resistant to stains and scratches and require little maintenance. The tiles are prone to cracking, however, so try not to drop anything on them.

Laminate Flooring in the Kitchen
A less expensive choice in terms of kitchen flooring is laminate. The new laminate flooring offers many different options that you can choose from. A very popular type of laminate flooring is that which looks like wood and can easily pass for a genuine wood floor. Other options include laminate floors that look like tile. You can also go with a plain laminate floor. These floors are very simple but can fit in perfectly to play down a visually striking kitchen. The reason may people choose laminate floors over a tile or real wood floor is that they can be installed easily and cost much less.

Concrete Flooring in the Kitchen
Although people don’t always think of a concrete floor for the kitchen, they are actually becoming increasingly popular. A kitchen concrete floor is not the same thing as a regular concrete floor. These decorative and stained concrete floors can have patterns and color incorporated into their matrix. Concrete floors are very reasonable when compared to real wood floors and are also remarkably durable.

Vinyl for a Kitchen Floor
Another inexpensive flooring option for the kitchen is vinyl tile or sheet. Vinyl in the kitchen often brings to mind the old linoleum floors of the past, but vinyl has come a long way from those days. These days vinyl can bring style and beauty to any kitchen, as patterns, colors, and designs have literally taken over the market. One of the best advantages to vinyl is that you can really save money by installing the floor yourself. A vinyl tile floor can make a clear statement in your kitchen, or it can be a quiet, calming addition to your décor. Whatever type of vinyl floor you choose to install is up to you, as there are thousands of options.

You have many flooring options for the kitchen—these are just some of your choices. First narrow down your selection, and then go out and see what’s locally available. You’ll be surprised when you find out just how many options are available to you.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been in the home furnishings and interior design industry for 4 decades. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak mission style furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for wood dining room tables for your kitchen or formal dining room or wood filing cabinets for your office then they carry everything you need.

No responses yet

Feb 26 2010

How to Create an Outstanding Residential Interior Design

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Interior Decorating

Although residences range in size from large houses to one-room, or studio, apartments, they must accommodate the same basic living areas.

Entrance. A hall or foyer, the first area of the home to greet visitors, should allow easy passage to the rest of the house and should indicate what atmosphere and style to expect there. The amount of furniture will depend on the size of the entryway, which should not be overcrowded. Since relatively little time is spent there, it may be decorated more dramatically that other rooms, with bolder colors and patterns on walls and floors and perhaps with a highly ornamented piece of furniture. Soft diffused lighting will enable the eye to adjust from outdoor to indoor light and create an effect of warmth.

Living Room. Because the living room is no longer the formal Victorian front parlor but rather, the place where the whole family spends much of its leisure time, its design deserves prime consideration. Generally speaking, the living room should provide for a variety of activities-conversation, reading, writing, car playing, performing or listening to music, watching television-while maintaining a simple, uncluttered appearance. It should also reflect the particular family’s tastes and pattern of living. These factors will determine the basic character and style of the room, including the furniture and its arrangement, fabrics, accessories, and color schemes. For example, it the family frequently uses the living room to watch television, the set and searing accommodation should be arranged for comfortable viewing.

Dining Room. In today’s homes the space for dining may be the traditional separate room or especially in city apartments, an area set off from other room. Whichever, it should provide simply, a comfortable place to eat. If the dining area is a room open to view from other rooms, its colors should be carefully related to those of adjoining rooms; for example it may be in lighter, calmer values of a brilliant living room scheme. If the dining area is part of another room, the furnishings of both areas must be imaginatively related in character and color scheme. The limits of the dining space may be indicated by a change in wall of floor treatment or by using a piece of furniture, such as a screen or chest, as a room divider.

Kitchen. The efficiency of a modern kitchen depends on an economical traffic pattern between conveniently related works centers grouped around major appliances. The refrigerator center should include a counter adjacent to the refrigerator on which to place food, and possibly a freezer, although a freezer could be in a separate utility room. The sink center, which may include a dishwasher, requires ample counter space on either side of the sink for preparing food and stacking dishes.

Bedroom. In the modern house the bedroom is no longer just a space to sleep but is also a room for reading, sewing, talking, watching television, and other quit occupations. Many people prefer to make it more closely resemble a living room or at least to appear large enough to accommodate these other activities.

Quinn Warren has been in the field of interior design for a long time and maintains a website about interior design schools where you can get answers to the rest of your questions.

No responses yet

Dec 01 2009

5 Tips for Decorating a Nursery

One important element that many new parents think about is how they are going to decorate the baby’s nursery. Decorating a baby nursery is certainly a lot of fun, but there are some essential things that new parents need to keep in mind concerning the decorating process.

1. Keep Safety in Mind at All Times
The baby’s safety needs to be a top priority when you are planning your nursery’s décor. Thus, you might have to sacrifice some design elements if they could be potentially unsafe for your baby. Make sure that there are: no small pieces that might pose a choking hazard, no items that contain toxic chemicals, no strangling hazards, and no uncovered electrical outlets.

2. Set a Budget and Stick to It
It’s not at all hard to end up way over budget when it comes to decorating your baby’s nursery. It’s very easy to get lured in by all the cute baby items that are available. Your best bet is to make a reasonable budget for the room before you do anything else and then make sure you stick to it. If your budget is limited, you want to spend the bulk of the money you have on a quality crib and furniture rather than other décor items.

3. You Don’t Have to Choose a Theme
One thing that many new parents insist on is that they have to choose a theme for their baby’s nursery. Yet without a theme, a nursery’s décor can look just as nice. With some nice paint colors and great furniture, you can create a wonderful nursery that’s refreshingly simple. Once your baby becomes a toddler or young child, then it will be easier to change the room according to what he or she wants. A nursery theme is only one nursery decorating option. Don’t let others convince you that a theme is absolutely necessary.

4. Use Your Creativity and Talents
Some of the best baby nurseries have been create by parents who have channeled their creativity and talents into a completely unique nursery design. For instance, if you are able to paint or draw, then you might consider designing your own mural for the nursery wall. Unique items for the nursery’s décor might also be stitched by those of you who are sewers or knitters. New parents will often find that they like the nursery a lot better when they have included their own creative touch.

5. Make Sure the Nursery Is Functional and Practical
Some new parents end up learning the hard way when it comes to the functionality of their baby nursery. Above all else, the nursery needs to be practical rather than just aesthetically pleasing. Finding furniture and baby items that you will actually use is one of the most important keys to creating a functional and practical room. So if that rocking chair is not comfortable, even though it might look really cute in the corner, chances are that you’re probably not going to use it and you will have wasted your money.

Most new parents genuinely look forward to decorating the baby’s nursery. With a little help from these suggestions, you’ll be able to create the best possible baby nursery for your little one.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been part of the furniture and interior design  business for 40 years. He owns and operates a popular furniture store in California. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, home office and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Are you searching for wood file cabinets for your home office or wood end tables for your living room then they probably have everything you need.

No responses yet

Nov 13 2009

Accessorize a Room in 5 Simple Steps

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Interior Decorating

Are you looking for something different in your home? Do you find your current look to be rather boring? Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ways to accessorize any room in your home. To give any room an entirely new look, you don’t need a lot of money or an interior decorator. You can easily accessorize any room in your home using any of the following simple suggestions.

Add Some Extra Flair with Throw Pillows
Start by adding some complementary throw pillows to a sofa or chair. Or try adding a throw blanket to the back of the sofa. Be sure, however, that these items are not the same exact color as the sofa or chair. After all, they should work to add some interest and design element to the room. A tan sofa should be complemented with decorative pillows where tan is not the main color in the design or pattern. To pull the room together, it’s also a great idea to add other complementary colors from the room to the sofa.

Update Your Lighting Fixtures
By updating your lighting fixtures, you can give your room a whole new glow. Whether you have older fixtures or small ones, installing new lighting can make a big difference. A variety of fixtures are available that are both inexpensive and easy to install. Be sure to get a fixture that gives off plenty of light to make your room brighter. At the same time, find a design style that fits the room.

Go Green with Your Living Room Accessories
With a simple houseplant or vase of flowers, you can easily add more color to any room. No matter your style, you should be able to find some really beautiful fake flower arrangements at your local craft store. Otherwise, if you’re creative enough, you can make one yourself. Be sure to place the flower arrangement in a prominent spot in the room so it garners lots of attention. The same thing applies to any houseplants you add, whether real or fake. Try placing two houseplants on either side of a fireplace, which will help create a focal point for the room.

Fill Up a Blank Wall with Framed Pictures
Are your walls boring? Try hanging a few picture frames in various shapes and sizes to spice things up. You should be able to choose from a wide array of unique and stylish frames that will not only help you display your pictures but will also add some interest to the room. Try black-and-white pictures or those with only a touch of color for a dramatic look. Matted pictures can be eye-catching as well.

Reorganize Knickknacks with Shelving
If your various knickknacks in a room are getting lost in the mix, consider grouping them together on a mantle or shelving on wood bookcases. This way, you can display them together in a stylish arrangement and thus better accessorize the room.

Adding simple accessories allows you to easily redecorate or switch around the style design of a room. For something really different, consider moving the furniture around or adding new pieces, such as a new oak dining room tables. It should be neither hard nor expensive to accessorize a room. By simply getting creative, you can really let your style show.

No responses yet

Oct 30 2009

Budget Decorating – 3 Easy Ways to Add Artwork

Artwork is one of the most popular ways to decorate a home. But most people believe that in order for artwork to look good, it has to be expensive. This is absolutely not the case. There are many ways to decorate your home with art that’s inexpensive and still results in a wonderfully decorated room. If you want to include art in your home décor but don’t have a lot of money to spend, then here are some great ways to add interest and character to your home on a budget.

Find Free Artwork around the House
With a simple look around your house, you are bound to find free artwork that can easily be framed for a beautiful addition to any room. You might find items such as hanging illustrated calendars, postcards, greeting cards, and perhaps even a decorative flag. You can make these pieces look even more professional by matting them with matting board in the frame.

Look to Nature for Art Pieces
A shadow box or even a matted frame can be used to frame quite a few different things from nature. For instance, you can frame a collage you’ve created from pressed flowers and leaves. Sea shells, seeds, pinecones, branches, flowers, and other items from nature can all be used as pieces of artwork. With a little creativity, you can come up with a collage of these items that will fit perfectly with your décor.

Take Your Own Photographs for Your Artwork
The artistic possibilities are endless if you have your own camera or can borrow one from a friend. Anything can become the subject for a photograph, from flowers and trees to houses and the sky. To add your own creative touch, use a photo editing website and develop the pictures in black and white or sepia. Have the photographs developed in the proper size, regardless of whether you enlarge them or print them in normal size.

Get creative and display your photographs together on a wall in matching frames of different sizes. Or you can also collect the photographs into a book and place it as a center piece on wood end tables or oak coffee tables. You might also enlist the help of a friend to take photos, especially if you’re not that creative. Or you can go the traditional route and take pictures of your family to hang on the walls.

By getting creative, you should be able to find any type of artwork for your home without having to spend a lot of money. It’s easy to turn everyday objects into pieces of art. Look through any illustrated books you have and see if there’s a picture you can frame and hang to fit the style of your room. Or collect things like fabric swatches, buttons, magazine clippings, and other small items from which you can make a collage for a frame or shadowbox. There are so many possibilities for inexpensive artwork. You just need to take the time to look around your home and then use what you have.

No responses yet

Oct 15 2009

4 Simple Ways to Decorate on a Budget

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Interior Decorating

BedroomBelieve it or not, no matter how small your budget, it’s possible to bring style to any room in your home. There are so many inexpensive ways to add style to your home, giving it a whole new look. Following are some great ways to decorate any room in your home while sticking to your budget.

1. Paint is the best way to spruce up a room on a tight budget.

With just a couple gallons of paint that will cost you less than 50 dollars, you can give any room an entirely new look. You might use bright or bold colors to add drama to the room, or go with more neutral colors for a more natural appearance. You’ll be surprised how creative you can get with paint. You might choose to paint only one wall an accent color, which will make that wall the focal point of the room. There are many ways to add some real interest to your walls, by painting strips or trying a textured painting technique.

2.  Your windows are another great place to make a big impact on a room without spending a lot of money.

There are a variety of different window coverings to choose from for any type of room. Even if your windows are already covered with blinds, adding a valance to the top will add much more drama to the area.

There are many different creative options to try when dressing a window. Try taking sheer material and draping over a decorative curtain rod as a simple and inexpensive decorating idea. Another easy idea is long curtain panels tied back with thick ribbon or velvet.

3. You can largely impact the look of a room by simply adding some accessories that will tie the room together.

So often it’s the little things that count when it comes to décor. When used the correct way, accessories such as candles, photos, flowers, and baskets on a oak dresser can add a lot to a room. By simply adding a row of candles to a coffee table or wood night stand, you can give a room a more intimate feeling. With a vase of flowers, any kitchen can look more inviting. Even the smallest touches, such as new towels in a bathroom, can make a big difference.

By shopping flea markets and consignment stores for these items, you’ll be able to stick to your budget. Shopping this way may be a bit more time consuming, but it will save you a ton of money, especially if you have your entire house to decorate.

4.  For a new look, try rearranging the furniture or pull items from one room and use them in another.
If your budget is really tight, it makes sense to work with what you have. Always be on the lookout for pieces you can refurbish and add your own style to. For instance, the old vase that use to hold flowers in the family room could be spray painted with a metallic finish to add the perfect touch to your dining room table. Carefully consider the items you have and envision how you might change them to fit the style you’re looking for.

Decorating doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars. You’ll be surprised at how far 100 dollars or 200 dollars will get you in bringing style to your home on a tight budget.

No responses yet

Sep 30 2009

4 Places to Get Decorating Ideas

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Interior Decorating

decoratingWhether you are moving into a new home or have decided to redecorate, finding the exact style you want for a room can be a difficult process. So many different choices need to be made. Paint or wallpaper? Carpet or hardwood floor? Dark colors or light? These are just a few of the hundreds of options you have to choose from when it comes to decorating your home.

The best place to start is by doing research. You don’t want to just rush into the first idea you have for a room. It may not work out for you, or you might find something you like a whole lot better. When you go to decorate a room, like a dining room with oak dining sets, you need to really figure out what you want, and that means finding inspiration. If you’re not sure where to turn to for inspiration, here are several places to get started.

Decorating Books and Magazines
A visit to your local library will yield an abundance of decorating books and magazines you can go through. Take the time to really go through these books. Once you’ve narrowed down your preferences, you can even take some of them home with you to really find what you want. Not only are they inspirational, but these books can also help you expand your knowledge about interior decorating. Do keep in mind, however, that some of the pictures and designs featured may not be functional for every family. Use these ideas and images as inspiration for your own functional designs and styles.

Design Shows on Television
For those of you who get cable channels such as HGTV, consider watching decorating shows once in a while to get inspiration for your home. These days, there are plenty of decorating shows on TV that can at least give you some ideas you might want to incorporate into your decorating project. Another great aspect of designs shows is that many of them actually show you how to do the things they’re suggesting, so you can replicate what you see at home quite easily.

Model Homes and Rooms
Look around your city to see if there are any home tours or model-home showcases you can check out. You may get lucky—some cities will have a model-home showcase where top interior decorators get together and redecorate rooms and home. Then these homes are open to the public for a small fee, which is usually donated to charity. This is a great way to see firsthand the extraordinary work done by interior decorators without having to pay for a consultation for your own home.

Interior Decorator
If it’s in your budget, you can always hire an interior decorator to come to your home and give you ideas. Just because you have them come for a consultation visit doesn’t mean you have to hire them to do the work, and you might get some great ideas. Some decorators charge an hourly price and others charge a flat fee per visit. Be sure to always ask for an estimated price before you have an interior decorator come to your home.

There are so many different ways to find interior-decorating inspiration from American made Amish furniture to contemporary Italian styles. Sometimes just walking into a store you might see a great piece of décor that will spark an inspiration. Just remember to take your time and enjoy the process.

No responses yet

Aug 24 2009

Interior Decorating and Home Decor With Native American Indian Art

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Interior Decorating

Since there has been a trend in recent years towards more earthy color tones for interior decorating, Native American Indian art can fit in nicely as part of home decor. Most subjects used in Native American Indian art tend to be focused on nature whether the pieces are prints, carvings or pottery. Colors tend to be earthy shades of browns, reds, blacks and yellows since the main raw materials are wood as in carvings from the Pacific Northwest region and clay from the Southwest. Even painted wood carvings or pottery tend to have natural colors often found in nature such as greens and blues. All of these colors work well with the more natural styles of interior decorating today.

The Pacific Northwest region which covers the states of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada) and the southern part of Alaska, produces some excellent Native American Indian art in the form of wood carvings. This is not surprising since the Pacific Northwest is abundant with forests which have provided the wood as raw material for the region’s Native American Indian art. The wood is sometimes painted in striking colors or just stained with natural looking browns. Either way, such pieces fit in perfectly in rooms with earthy color tones. I have seen walls of living rooms, bedrooms, office den rooms, hallways and even bathrooms enhanced with Pacific Northwest Indian art in the form of both prints and wood plaque carvings. The Pacific Northwest Native American artists also make some of the most striking aboriginal masks in the world which are also suitable for hanging on walls.

Native American Indian art as home decor helps bring in an atmosphere of nature in the overall interior decorating of a room. This is because of their natural colors and also their subject matters which tend to be animals such as eagles, bears, thunderbirds, killer whales and salmons. Pacific Northwest Native art in particular gives homes in that region a local flavor. Many homes in this part of North America have this type of artwork as part of interior decorating. This style of Native American Indian art is still relatively unknown to many parts of North America and the rest of the world so for homes outside of the Pacific Northwest region, a nice wood carving can be seen as exotic treasure brought back from a homeowner’s travels. Check out some examples of Pacific Northwest Indian art either in a gallery or online and imagine how a piece or two can be part of your home’s interior decorating.

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing in Inuit art and Native American Indian art. including carvings and prints. Also numerous information articles and videos.

No responses yet

Aug 23 2009

Decorating on a Dime

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Interior Decorating

Decorating your home and office can be a challenge if you are on a budget. There are so many different options, and most of them are outside of your financial grasp. A good piece of art work could cost you thousands, not to mention framing. How then do you decorate on a dime?

First, you need to know where to shop. Don’t go to a high end art gallery and expect to find something in your price range. Instead window show at the galleries for ideas on paintings that you like. Take that information and start shopping online. There are dozens of discount artwork websites, many of which offer prints of popular paintings. Try an e-coupon site to get some additional discounts on artwork. You can find coupon codes for some of the top discount artwork sites, saving you a great deal. Many throw in free shipping for going through one of these discount coupon sites.

Once you know where to shop, you need to figure out how to get the most art for your buck. Buying prints is an easy way to save some money. Print manufacturers will take a copy of a famous piece of artwork and print it out on a sheet of paper. Some of these prints may be printed on canvas for an authentic look, while others are on high gloss photo paper. They come in a variety of different sizes, and work well for almost any décor. Prints are so cheap; you can outfit a dozen houses for what you would pay for one piece of original artwork elsewhere.

Another tip is to forgo the framing and matting and do it yourself. Many artwork sites will tack on another hundred dollars for framing. Try going to your local craft store to purchase an inexpensive frame and mat. It takes only seconds to put together, and you will be very pleased with the overall look. No one will ever know how much money you saved by doing it yourself!

Lastly, be creative with your artwork. If you are unable to find prints that suit your style, try to think outside of the box. You can frame just about anything. Try framing posters, postcards, or even play programs for an interesting look. One of my favorite rooms in my home is filled with interesting postcards. They are all from different eras, and create a fun and interesting look. Best of all, it was super cheap! I spent about $50 dollars on frames, and about $20 for the entire set of postcards. It was a great deal, and I get so many compliments on the room.

Melanie Breeze, avid online shopper and user of online art coupons, is always shopping around for the best deals. You can find art deals and most coupons available around the web at CouponChief, all in one location. Finding a coupon before your online purchase helps you get that extra discount

No responses yet