Area Rug Pulls Room Together March 31, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Area Rugs , add a comment
Do you find selecting an area rug challenging? Many people do, but by considering a few issues, you will discover just the right choice for your home.
This area rug works in this room for a number of reasons. Taking a look at this choice can help you can figure out how to pick out the right rug for your home.
When choosing a rug for a living room, you can look for one large enough to encompass the main seating pieces, or like this rug find one that sits at the center of a seating arrangement. With this rich hardwood floor, it makes sense to select a size that shows it off rather than covers it. If you’re on a budget, a smaller size also gives you the chance to buy a good rug for a more reasonable price.
Next, look for a rug with colors that fit well with your room. The medium brown is a subtle tone that suits the soft shades of the walls and floor. However the central design brings together other colors in the room. The grey stripe matching the sofa and loveseat and the black stripe linked to the lamp bases and fireplace help the rug connect all the colors in the room together. Even the cream coordinates with the lampshades and the tile on the fireplace.
Notice that the central design on this rug works well with the coffee table. The open style of the table allows the design to show well. With a more closed style, it would be better to choose a rug with an even pattern or a border.
Be sure to bring a photo of your room to our showroom when you’re ready to buy an area rug. We’ll work with you to find just the right choice to pull your room together.
Diagonal adds Drama March 21, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Design and Decorating, Hardwood / Laminate , add a comment
This room combines classic elements with a sense of exotic drama. You can tell that this hotel lobby is not based in the United States.
By combining old and new, simple and patterned, and light and dark, this room both invites and intrigues any visitor.
To start with, the straightforward light maple wood floor catches the attention with its diagonal installation. The diagonal line breaks up the rest of the décor, which simply runs down the length of the room. A diagonal also makes the space appear larger and encourages visitors to move off the main path and spend time in one of the seating areas to the side.
Old comes from the columns running down the center of the lobby. Original to the building, the rough white stain keeps the traditional style in focus. The antique oriental rugs in various patterns bring the strongest punch of color and pattern. With the bare walls, these rugs serve as the art in the room.
The simple dark rattan chairs and white cushions bring a contemporary element into the space. The layout is also modern. By keeping the approach and lines simple, this room uses every contrasting element without becoming overwhelming.
Would a diagonal approach to your floors add to the drama and sense of style? Are you willing to take a chance by creating a room of contrasts such as this one? This daring room makes the decisions work.
Floor Adds Shine to Basement Room March 18, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Design and Decorating , add a comment
With its extremely modern approach to design, it’s hard to realize that this is actually a basement space.
The original room was dark and cut through by the stairwell. The homeowners turned a disadvantage into an asset by changing out the traditional stair design with this dramatic and almost sculptural set of stairs. The dark metal combined with the solid wood stairs opens up the room and provides a natural centerpiece to this newly-contemporary space.
The flooring choice did much to lighten the room, both by its tone and the glossy finish that captures and reflects every bit of light in the room. It also reflects the stairway in its surface, emphasizing the power of that design element. The flooring has an almost commercial feel, and this works well with the modern design.
The lack of windows is compensated for by the wall of artwork. The gallery feel induced by the white wall and number of prints was actually achieved at a bargain price. In reality the homeowners used simple contemporary prints and framed them in matching store-bought frames. It’s the layout and style of the artwork that makes it feel upscale.
The sofa and loveseat combine with the zebra-print rug to set the color scheme as black and white. The zebra throw pillows and black and white vases on the coffee table support that look. Although furniture is minimized, the stairs, floor and art make the room an intriguing and inviting space.
Today’s Kitchen: Inviting & Functional March 10, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Kitchen , add a comment
This kitchen combines the best of the old-world style that has been popular for years with a more streamlined, simple look that combines function with good design.
To start – the painted wood cabinets add warmth with their cream tones that never happened with white cabinets. Granite is still the countertop material of choice, although manmade counters are gaining in popularity as designs improve because they are so much easier to maintain.
Speaking of easy maintenance, this kitchen floor looks like stone but is actually porcelain tile. The varied sizes and patterns contribute to the stone feel, but the cook has an easy-clean floor that will hold up to spills. The varied tile pattern and mix of sizes also makes this floor more interesting than average. Even in a limited space, adding design to a floor makes a difference in the room’s sense of style.
Stainless steel surfaces are still preferred by most homebuyers, particularly the serious cooks. It provides easy clean-up and handles the heat of pots and pans with no problem. Some people are choosing doors that match the cabinets for certain appliances such as refrigerators. Many have discovered, for example, that stainless refrigerator/freezer doors require constant attention to clean up fingerprints.
Notice another trend that is growing with today’s kitchens – the lower cabinets have been replaced with deep drawers. These allow cooks to find pots, pans, bowls and other tools without having to scramble to the back of a dark deep shelf. Many drawers have movable separations that keep breakables stable as the drawers move in and out.
If you’ve been thinking of renovating your kitchen, take the time to see what’s new. You may discover that you can have both improved style and increased functionality.
It’s Not Just for Floors Anymore March 2, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Design and Decorating, Tile , add a comment
How about taking a few minutes to stretch your imagination? No, the goal isn’t to believe that this guy is about to walk up the wall. Instead, let’s move tile and stone from the floor to other areas in your home.
By covering it with even this simple tile, this wall moves from something that doesn’t register to something of interest. Imagine walking up to a front door and encountering this wall. What an effective entrance for a contemporary home.
Once inside, an entryway is the perfect space to add a touch of drama. How would a slate wall change a space? Add dark or metallic paint and the foyer would make a statement from the time your guests come in the door.
Almost any room in your home could be a candidate for decorative tile or stone. A fireplace could stand out more with a tile surround or a stone facing that reaches to the ceiling. A simple embossed trim tile added under your crown molding could add just the right finishing touch for a den or bedroom.
Even your backyard could benefit from stone or tile. If you have an outdoor kitchen, some tile trim around your work area would add a nice finishing touch. One of those mosaics on the wall of your home in your seating area creates the sense that your outdoor space is special for you and your guests.
Start with a visit to our showroom. Any of our salespeople can walk you through our displays and provide catalogs and samples to review tile and stone options that suit your style. Then use your imagination to visualize where a splash of stone or tile might make your home even more unique and inviting.
