Here, in part 2 of this series, we will be sharing tips from the perspective of wood window blinds functionality.
Customizing your wood window blinds has great benefits. You could choose your desired color and design, style in the form of either shutters or standing shades, as well as materials, either real or faux wood. You can even opt for insulation blinds for better heat management. You also have a choice of using multiple mini blinds or one large pane across the entire window. With customized blinds, you can manage your sun control, light filtration as well as insulation much better.
Many people install blinds to maintain their privacy. For those looking to prepping up the office presentation room or your very own home theatre, the wooden slats are capable of blacking out all sunlight from your exterior when the blinds are totally closed. For more sunlight to stream into the room, you can partially open the slats upwards to deflect the rays to the ceiling to avoid glare.
Depending on the type of wood materials used, real or faux wood, the maintenance process is slightly different. For faux wood which are made for easy maintenance, simply use a damp cloth to wipe the frame and slats or use a dust buster if you clean daily. They are hardy in nature and last longer in more humid environment, so you can safely use them in your kitchen, bathrooms and even sauna rooms.
The new age designs and colors of wood window blinds is capable of giving you a renewed sense of ambiance in your space. In fact, if you choose to mix and match the various types of wood materials within your home, namely basswood, bamboo, oak, teak and faux wood, you would be creating a very uniquely personalized home. Wood and wood composite materials never fail as a good investment for the home.
By: Yoshiko Choy
A romantic home invites you to fall in love with the beauty of your surroundings. Hand-carved furnishings and elegant decor charm from every corner, and a calm color palette and plush seating appeal to the senses. To create your own romantic retreat, start by combining classic design with modern day comfort, and complete the look with a few opulent touches.
When selecting romantic furniture, who better than the French to turn to for amorous inspiration? French reproduction furniture, with origins in the era of the Louis kings, is known for its curvaceous forms, ornate carvings, and hand-painted details. To build a backdrop for romance, choose hand-carved consoles, tables, and cabinets painted in whites and neutral tones to establish a calm, serene environment. Commonly known as shabby chic or French shabby, furnishings are heavily distressed to achieve a timeworn feel. Brimming with Old World character and elegance, French reproduction furniture is ideal for creating a romantic atmosphere.
In a romantic home, seating is also key. Seating options should be varied, plentiful, and always cozy. Consider French canapes and loveseats in luxurious fabrics such as velvet, and add accent pillows to create an extra plush and welcoming look. Choose pillows with different shapes, fabrics and embellishments to create both dimension and intrigue. Chairs should be equally as inviting. Upholstered dining chairs with oversized cushions and armchairs with ottomans will inspire relaxation and romance.
With a muted color palette and comfortable seating in place, it’s the finishing touches that will give a room a truly amorous ambiance. Crystal chandeliers provide a touch of glamour and subtle, sparkling lighting. Intricately carved mirrors serve as elegant yet understated wall decor. Candlelight creates instant romance; place carved candleholders and vintage-inspired candelabras on top of a dining table or mantel. Inject passion colors in small doses by incorporating accent pieces with red and pink hues, such as a side table or chest with a painted floral motif. Lastly, a vase of freshly cut flowers will create a romantic look on top any chest or table.
By: Julia Clause
An interior design book is a valuable resource to have before undertaking a home redesign. While there is a great deal of information online, having a home decorating reference at your fingertips enables you to read at your leisure and have style tips and ideas ready to reference as you are undergoing your project.
Interior design can be classified as the manner in which you decorate an inside space. To accomplish this you will need to incorporate and balance a variety of elements. For example window style and treatment, color scheme, lighting, finishes and textures, doors, furniture and accessories. Arrange all of these elements in such a way as to give the room an inviting and pleasing environment.
When you get an interior design book, you have the complete package at your fingertips, rather than just a review. You will now be able to get a thorough understanding and analysis of decorating ideas, tips and suggestions. If you have certain constraints, such as unusual architectural features or space limitations, the book can provide advice and suggestions for dealing with this situation. In short, whatever challenge you face, knowledge and solutions are contained within its pages.
If you are new to the idea of home redesign, an interior design book is a great buy. In addition to covering all the bases, including decorating terms and philosophies, you will learn the techniques, find out how to choose a style, focal point, lighting and accessories, color scheme and achieve the all important balance.
Even those with a lot of design experience can benefit from reading an interior design book. Get up-to-date with new styles, trends and advances. If it has been some years since you last decorated, you may be surprised what is new. For example, it is hip to be green these days, and you might find that a new edition of interior design ideas will open your mind to different materials, styles, techniques and fresh developments.
Many methods exist to change the look of your home’s interior. A popular idea these days is to simply remove clutter before starting any kind of design project. There are now a number of books that address this topic, and can break it down by room for you.
Study an interior design book to learn new techniques for your next project. For example, if you are considering a fresh paint job, numerous different types of decorative paint techniques exist and these can be viewed in your book. Maybe you would like to learn about incorporating feng shui, or you might be considering the use of ceramic tile in a new and refreshing way.
Depending on your project, one interior design book might be sufficient. There are titles that are broad and cover all aspects of the interior design subject. Others are more specific and particularly helpful if you are focusing on a certain area of the home. For example, there are books with designing ideas for bathrooms, kitchens and children’s rooms. Whatever your design needs may be, you are certain to find a handy printed resource for them that will expertly guide you through the process.
By: Sue E Krippner
Much has been written about eco-homes and making your home environmentally friendly, but mostly from the architectural perspective. Unfortunately little has been said about the relationship between interior design and sustainability.
According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, green or sustainable development is ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
In some respects interior design is an emblem of consumer culture and at its worst is a contributor to the throw-away society found in many developed societies in the late 20th century. But 2008 was the year that people generally started to consider the impact of their carbon footprint on the environment.
So how can we as consumers of interior design square the circle?
1) Think of the whole life-cycle
When you purchase furniture, soft furnishings, flooring and so on for your home think carefully about:
Where it comes from (wood from sustainable forests or plastic from fossil fuels?). Where it will go when you are finished with it (can it be refurbished & re-used or recycled rather than dumped in land-fill) Can you have existing furniture recovered in new stylish fabric instead of buying new? Can you purchase decorative items explicitly made from recycled glass or metal? Furnish your home with antique furniture (the stylish name for re-using/recycling).
2) Think of pollution
Over the last 50 years paint has change considerably in its concoction, with the elimination of poisonous lead and recent reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When you choose paint pick those which are water based with natural pigments as these virtually eliminate potentially harmful solvents from the manufacturing process and from the internal atmosphere in your home.
3) What about energy?
The energy consumption of a building is often ‘frozen’ in by the architect and the builder, but a few things at the interior design level can help minimise energy waste and the consequent utility bills.
Use low energy lamps and lighting; this can save up to 80% of power Reduce the temperature in the home by a couple of degrees. Use interlined curtains to reduce heat loss from draughty older single glazed windows. Opt for carpeting and high quality underlay to reduce heat loss from floors using draughty floor boards in older properties.
4) Can colour help?
If you design room schemes based upon light colours and use reflective surfaces then the room will generally need less artificial lighting. Similarly if you design window dressings to make the most of available sunshine particularly in winter in temperate climates.
5) Use natural materials
If you use rugs and carpets made from wool you are clearly using a sustainable product and you avoid the outgassing of vapours from synthetic fibres into the air in the home. Another chemical worth avoiding is formaldehyde, used in many man made materials such as medium density fibre board (MDF).
The key materials to concentrate on using are wood, plant fibres, (wool, cotton, jute, seagrass straw, rattan, paper, sisal, and coir (derived from coconuts) and linen), metal, glass and stone. If possible avoid plastics and cement both of which require high energy inputs in production and transportation. Also where possible opt for organic cotton. Fortunately natural fibres are widely employed in curtain and furnishing fabric and in floors and rugs.
6) Consider the source
From where did the raw materials originate? If you can buy items for your home made locally then you will reduce the environmental impact of transportation. For example in the UK consider using local slate or granite rather than imported marble or travertine.
For timber a good tip is to check that the wood and its sources are accredited by the the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).
Also steer clear of anything that could threaten the environment or endangered animals (e.g. items made of coral, tortoiseshell, ivory)
Finally
These are just some of the pointers to consider when remodelling or renewing the interiors of your home. Though the impact on the environment of domestic interiors may be dwarfed by other factors (such as carbon dioxide emissions by motorists and electric power generation) it is still important to move towards a much more sustainable future.
By: Bronia Suszczenia
Having an elderly relative living in your home can often benefit the whole family. The cost of professional care is becoming beyond the reach of many and, for the older person, living with an extended family can provide continued interest, security and the best possible care. The accommodation of an older family member within the home, it has to be admitted, is potentially fraught, but with some thought and patient planning it shouldn’t be too disruptive.
Home Interior Design Tips For Elderly People
The room you choose for the older person will, ideally, be at ground level so as to minimize difficult journeys and should if possible allow space for more than just sleeping. If it also has a large window with an interesting view, this should make your decision easy. The provision of areas for relaxing, bathing, cooking and dining will allow the senior citizen to remain active and somewhat independent from the rest of the household – a situation that is likely to suit both parties.
Dividing these areas of activity (by employing screens, curtains or items of furniture) is important for the occupant so that he/she can appreciate the changes in his/her day and can entertain without private areas being on view.
Designing a room or bed-sit for an older person is best achieved by placing yourself in that person’s shoes and by thinking through how to compensate for the possible limitations imposed upon their lifestyle. You don’t want to be too pessimistic, but it also pays to plan for days when the person’s capacities could be reduced. Some of the more obvious provisions are:
A comfortable, easy access chair for the room occupant and seating for guests. Bright lighting to help cope with failing sight. Wall and ceiling-fixed lights plus well-weighted table and floor-standing lamps are suitable. A switch by the bedside is helpful, as is a low-wattage light that can be left on overnight. Remember to highlight any changes in floor level. Perhaps also consider positioning sockets and switches nearer to hand height. Warmth – older people generally like (and need) warmer room temperatures than the young. Central heating radiators and open fires need to be easily accessed and controlled and suitably guarded. Storage at an easily accessed level and with openings that are not too difficult to operate. The elimination of all sharp comers for safety reasons, and the removal of any electrical cables that could be tripped over. A smoke alarm is another wise precaution. In the bathroom, it’s a good idea to install grab rails around the bath and/or shower and perhaps a lockable mirrored wall cabinet. You might also like to consider fitting an ‘engaged’ door sign rather than a lock. Mixer taps and an electric temperature controlled shower will help better manange water temperature. Curtains on a corded track, operated from the side, to ease opening and closing. Non-slip floor covering and well-attached loose coverings. A fitted carpet of the type that can be easily cleaned is ideal.
The decoration of the room in a familiar style (most likely to be traditional) and the incorporation of existing possessions will help to make the elderly person feel quickly at home. Inviting them to make decoration choices will involve them further. Pretty patterns and cheerful colors will do much to lift their mood and the addition of plants and even a pet will bring life to the room.
In addition certain electrical gadgets, such as remote control for lights and curtains, could well smooth the life of an elderly person.
By: Michelle Reynold
Open any interior design magazine these days and you are sure to spot wallpaper as the latest trend in home design. Decorating today is all about the layering of texture with wallpaper and is replacing the painted feature wall, and it’s not expected to go away anytime soon.
Some of this is partly due to the recent revival of Florence Broadhurst designs, the eccentric and talented Australian designer famous for her hand-printed wallpapers. Her designs can currently be found in the Glamor, Flora, Blueprints, and Concepts Collections, and are matched by no other designer. Her furnishings and wallpapers are also in high demand worldwide at the moment due to their unique and luxurious patterns.
Broadhurst combined fuscia pinks, lemon yellows, lime greens, vivid oranges, turquoise, blacks, metallic silvers and gold – all perfectly matching her own flamboyant personality. She was also well known for printing onto transparent Mylars, foils and metallic papers. She called her revolutionary hand-printed creations; vigorous designs for modern living’.
Adding wallpaper to your home is a great way to create atmosphere in a room, often all it takes is one wall of an interesting and vivid design and it will prove to be a talking point for anyone visiting your home.
Wallpaper also has the added advantage that if your walls are far from perfect then a thicker textured paper can be a cheaper option of covering up the bumps and cracks that normal paint just can’t hide.
There are some particularly interesting wallpaper patterns and textures at the moment. Retro prints have made a comeback but in a classier and subtler style than the first time around, whilst for the more adventuress amongst you then how about fake fur? Oriental prints, metallic geometrics, flocked wallpapers are available, and for the natural look there are papers that mimic the look of natural grasses and botanical prints. Some totally new ideas feature metal sheeting and wood veneer.
You can add wallpaper to a room to lift an outdated look or give it a splash of color. Decide for yourself whether to use it as a feature, or on all the walls to create a theme within your home. It can even be hung as you would a piece of art. It is all down to your own personal taste and likes.
Metallics have made a return for winter 2009, try teaming them with cream, black and silver for wall finishes such as wallpaper, as well as upholstery and bed linens. Greens and browns are firmly established but watery hues will be the colours to watch for, having made their mark on the fashion scene. For a chic take, try down grey with powder blue and crisp glossy white.
If you have scoured the shops and searched online but can’t find anything you really like then it’s always possible to get wallpaper custom made to your own design. Just look online for wallpaper companies that will work with you on your design idea and transform it into wallpaper; you can be creative and combine latest trends and upcoming design with your own personal ideas.
You can always buy plain wallpaper that simply needs painting. This is easy to fit with your present d
For many of us our homes are our own little art gallery, open for the invited world to come into and judge the way we live and express views on the way we furnish and decorate it. For this reason we are always striving to make our homes look presentable and pleasing on the eye as well as being functional, practical and livable.
So many homes in today’s society look as though they are straight out of the pages of an interior design magazine that you tend to get the impression that you might have seen the room twenty times before but in totally different people’s homes. The trick is to put your stamp on your house by using what you see around you and what you can gather in taste from else where. If we were all simply to try to replicate the pages of the latest interior design magazine we would be totally re-modeling our homes once a quarter.
There are many ways in which you can put your own individual stamp on your home, giving your slant on what maybe fashionable at the time. The last thing you want a visitor to your home to say is “oh I saw that feature in such and such magazine; it looks lovely in your home”. Using some skill and a bit of cunning it is very easy to take design features straight out of a magazine and blend it with the basics that you may have in your home already and totally disguise someone else’s idea and brand as your own. This would be your interpretation on a design theme and this is no more than many highly paid designers do on a day in, day out basis.
Some people choose to totally rearrange the layout of their home; some people I know do this on a fairly regular basis, knock walls down and building new walls up every three to four years. This is fine in my opinion if you enjoy living on a building site but I do not know that many people who want to go through this sort of upheaval more than once in their lives. The feeling of newness can be totally satisfying when you complete a project on this sort of scale but in reality for many people it just is not a practical way to change to look of their home. If nothing else the cost implications can be somewhat prohibitive.
If you do not have a huge budget for changing the look of your home you can achieve very striking results by changing the furniture throughout. You would be surprised what a huge difference a new style of contemporary furniture can bring to a home. Modern contemporary furniture has a very sleek, almost minimalistic look about it and gives the appearance of air and light to a room. It is possible to open a room up totally by re-arranging the way the furniture is laid out as well as changing the style of the furniture. In many cases you may only need to decorate the walls slightly differently to make the whole style work.
This may also be cheaper to achieve than you might think as the old furniture may have a sell on value to it which will help to fund the purchase of the new contemporary furniture. There are many resources available for you to study contemporary furniture at length to ensure that you choose the correct furniture for your very own master piece of a house. It’s always better to be a leader than a follower.
By: Harwood E Woodpecker
May
27
Many people think that a beautiful home must be big and with lots of space to accommodate several rooms and different appliances, furniture, and fixtures. But little do they know that a luxury and elegant home need not be a mansion. If you want to live in a beautiful and stylish home, all you need is a little creativity and lots of interior design ideas.
Every interior space has unique qualities attached to it, just like a natural outdoor space like forest. You can see lots of textures in it and all these elements create a unique visual effect to give a corresponding effect on the human mind. That is why the interior design ideas that you choose should have textures to create wonders in interior design.
Some of the things that you can look into are wooden furniture, linen cloth, rubber or leather flooring or upholstery, wallpapers, plastic lampshades and other decorative items, and also steel furniture. All these can sure give your interior a new atmosphere and make it even more attractive and appealing. These are even very affordable and within your budget so you will not have to worry about throwing money away just to look cool. But if you have more money for interior design, you may as well consider building new rooms, move walls, or add another level to the structure.
The best place to start your search for interior design ideas is to go online and check various interior design websites. Here, you can find lots of creative ideas and items that you can even purchase online for convenience. But if you really wish to make the most out of your interior design project, you can consult an interior designer for interior design ideas that will best work for your home interior.
By: Alison Cole
May
9
The interior design business works upon the aesthetic and architectural solutions for enhancing the residential, commercial or industrial interiors. Interior designing is a vast field that includes other aspects of managing interiors, like the decoration, correct placement of articles, keeping a balance between the color schemes, using the right furniture. Regardless of the style that has been adopted for a room, it should be seen that the styling is complete. Some designers often follow themes based on period styles, like international, Indian art and Victorian style. The designing completely depends upon the requirements of the customer. Each one should be flexible in their own ways. The decorative items used while designing are chosen by keeping the taste of the dweller in mind.
The sense of interior designing and decoration comes naturally to people who have an artistic slant of mind. They are very creative and innovative in their own ways. Just for the sake of specializations, some people study designing at graduation level; deciding at a later time in their lives to pursue it as a career. It is obviously a growing profession that has a lot potential growth in the future years. The designers and decorators are more systematic and professional in their work; they know each and every detail of this field. Emphasis is placed on the designing of common rooms, living areas, guest rooms and bedrooms.
Generally it is seen that people concentrate more on the kitchen and dinning areas because they think these places are more important. However, the designing process should be done in a complete aesthetic manner. Interior designing involves the manipulation of every space and arrangement of all things. In the end it has to be seen that the design is easy, attractive and more comfortable for living.
By: Jonathan R Richards
Each of these 7 home remedies relates specifically to a some design aspect in your home. Most of the supplies needed for these remedies will be found in your home, saving you the money, time and frustration of having to run out to buy a product. These frugal tricks work.
Home Remedy 1 – Fix Flat Carpet Nap
So, you have just finished rearranging your furniture and notice those annoying flat carpet areas where the heaviest pieces used to be. Before running out to find an area rug or a potted plant to cover those distracting flat nap spots, try this:
Gather up a few ice cubes from the freezer and place them directly on the flattened spots. Leave the cubes to melt and dry and that area of carpet will be as good as the rest!
Home Remedy 2 – No More Latex Paint Smell
You would love to paint a room in your home to give it a fresh look but the latex paint smell is just too much. You could of course, use a mask but they are bulky and inconvenient.
The better remedy to remove that smell is to add 4 tablespoons of pure (clear) vanilla extract to each quart of paint. The vanilla needs to be added to the paint before using your stick stick to mix the pigments in the can. Don’t worry the vanilla won’t contaminate the color but it will get rid of the fumes.
Home Remedy 3 – Home Style Brass Polish
You noticed your brass doorknobs, cabinet hardware and candlesticks are tarnished to distraction. Ketchup is all you need as a polishing agent. That’s right the ingredients in the ketchup is a mild but perfect combination of acid to brighten that brass in no time.
Simply wipe it on with a clean cloth, leave a few seconds and then wipe it off. You will be amazed at the results.
Home Remedy 4 – Wax Removal On Wood.
Candles are continuing to be a popular accent in almost every room in the home. A candle that is never lit, sort of defeats the purpose of adding them to your design scheme in the first place. But, with lighting comes risk of dripping wax on your wood furnishings. No worries, when you discover those wax drippings here is a simple and non damaging removal remedy.
First, try to scrape off as much of the wax as you can without scratching the wood finish. Next, place 3 or 4 layers of paper towels or 2 brown paper lunch bags over the drips.
Heat up your iron to the “cotton” setting and once it is at full heat, hover the iron as close as you can to the bags or paper. Do not iron the paper, this can burn the surface of the wood. But, by hovering the iron as close as you can to the paper, will melt the wax, which will then be absorbed by the paper. Repeat, until the wax is removed.
Home Remedy 5 – Perk Up Those Droopy Flowers.
Nothing says “welcome” more than a bouquet of fresh flowers. When your flowers begin drooping a bit, perk them up to last a little longer by giving them a drink of a citrus flavored soft drink.
Don’t use diet type, they need the sugar. Don’t have a soda pop? Mix 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 quart of water to the vase. Don’t have vinegar either? How about 2 tablespoons bleach, 1 teaspoon sugar and a quart of water.
Home Remedy 6 – Remove Crayon Off Wall Paper.
Kids, crayons and wall paper are a dangerous combination. When your cutie gets carried away with those crayons and “accidentally” graces you with his art work on the wall. It’s OK…because this remedy works like a charm.
Get your hair dryer point it at the crayon on the wall, turn it to the highest heat setting. The heat will make the crayon soft and will then be easy to wipe clean.
Home Remedy 7 – Remove Stickers Off Glass.
So, you have found the perfect frame to compliment your photo and accent your wall. But, the price sticker has been stuck to the front of glass. You’ve tried to scrape it off, but it’s left a smeared residue of goo on the glass that is too obvious to ignore. It’s time to bring out the mayonnaise!
Put a thick glob of mayonnaise directly on the sticker residue. Let it sit for just a few minutes, wipe off and clean with window cleaner and the goo is gone and is now ready to adorn your picture.
By: Sue E Krippner
