Gentle, Charming Bedroom January 31, 2012
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Design and Decorating , add a comment
Would you like to add charm to your bedroom? This room provides some great ideas for warming up a space. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Choose a soft color palette. The peaches and delicate creams work well with the light wood furniture and mid-tone wood flooring. The overall feel is comfortable and inviting.
Add some black. The fireplace and accessories, along with the china dog in the foreground, add just enough dark tones to keep the room from becoming bland. Minor touches of black ground a room and provide a good contrast to the lighter elements.
Include puffs and ruffles. The extra fabric and padding make the room feel more comfy and encourage stretching out on the soft-looking bed. This gentle mood has support from the plush area rug, which looks particularly inviting for bare feet.
Look at lighting. The window light is diffused, indicating a covered patio or porch that’s reducing any glare from outside. Inside, candles in and above the fireplace offer light without being too bright. The almost-white walls and ceiling also reflect and carry the light.
Keep window-coverings simple. In this case drapes that match the walls provide a functional answer to light control while staying in the background. Light-toned blinds or shades would serve a similar purpose.
Take advantage of architecture. The fireplace in the corner provides a warm focal point that really suits the style of the room. Don’t hesitate to play up advantages like that to add personality to a room.
What ideas can you capture from this room to make your bedroom more charming?
Making a Cool Room for the Boys January 17, 2012
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When two brothers have to share a bedroom, particularly when their ages are substantially different, it can be hard to make the room work for both of them while still looking nice from a design point of view.
This room meets all of these goals due to some smart planning and decorating.
To begin, the architectural elements have been kept neutral. The carpeting is a very light grey. The family could go light because they chose better quality stain proof carpeting, a good idea when you’re dealing with two growing boys.
The white painted furniture matches the window casings as well as the simple pull-down window blind. To use space well, the desks and shelves are built-in and make good use of the slanted ceiling area by setting up the two desks on opposite corners along this wall. This gives both boys room to do their homework and show off their favorite things. For the older boy, trophies and awards cover the shelf, and he can keep homework organized in files set in the bottom drawer. Other desk drawers hold pens and school supplies.
Choosing the simple layout and furniture doesn’t limit the personality of the space. Each boy has his choice of bedspreads and a bulletin board with contents that are constantly changing. The light blue walls will work with almost any color.
The older chose his red chair at a thrift shop – liking the sturdy look and unusual color. Once the large basics were defined, flexibility is the order of the day with everything else. Art and accessories will come and go, but this room will continue to be functional and attractive, at least as long as the boys keep it tidy!
What Can You do to Help? May 20, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Hints and Tips , add a comment
Almost everyone has been in the position where a friend or family member has been temporarily limited by illness or injury. If you know someone who is stuck at home most or all of the time, you can help make the time past faster, or at least better.
Your efforts will depend upon who else is there to help. Often other close family members will step in when needed. The first thing you can do is make sure someone has taken responsibility for the situation. This involves care and attention.
One thing you could offer to do is to take care of getting the room or home ready for the patient. This may involve rearranging furniture so that the patient has easy access to a bathroom if they’re a bit shaky or have limited mobility. Be sure to check the flooring to ensure that the paths are smooth and not slippery as well as free of any obstructions that may hamper movement.
Make sure the room is cheerful and light, but with blinds to ensure semi-darkness during the day when the patient needs to sleep. A good reading lamp near the bed will help, as well as a table for meals and entertainment. Is there a television in the room? This can reduce boredom.
Fresh flowers can get expensive, but a few blooms in a small vase, refreshed regularly, make a room feel more inviting. Find a place to display get-well cards and cheerful pictures of family and friends.
Bring food. Lunch from a favorite restaurant or homemade breakfast muffins can provide a nice treat. But your best gift is your time – visits, phone calls, emails and notes will help your friend or family member realize that you’re thinking of him or her, which has real value.
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.
Romantic Bedroom February 21, 2011
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This bedroom has a romantic flavor to it – a feeling that it’s part of another age and another part of the world. What can you learn from this room to help make your bedroom more romantic and exotic?
Some architectural basics provide a good start. The flooring here is a rustic terra cotta-colored tile. This sets the stage for a space that fits as well in other countries as in the U.S. Stone floors provide a similar ambience. Strategically-placed area rugs will bring warmth to the space as well as to your feet. This room has a simple rug next to the bed, but a larger rug under the bed at an angle that reflects the fireplace would also work well.
The next architectural decision comes from the rough plastered back wall. If you would rather not commit to this permanently, consider an attractive faux paint option to add personality. If you decide to tackle this yourself practice first on poster board until you have the look you want.
The four-poster bed is unusual and looks hand crafted. While you may not be able to find a piece like this, check thrift stores for a four-poster with some carving. A light cream paint with a glaze over the top to emphasize the character of the bed will achieve a similar effect.
The final touch comes from the embroidered linens on the bed. Once again thrift stores and even garage sales can produce an amazing selection of options. You may want to watch for estate sales in the older neighborhoods in your hometown. Many people no longer value these handmade heirlooms. If you would prefer new pieces, consider a light tea dye to help your bed linens look aged and valued.
You can add flowers, ribbons and art to take the room in a direction that works for you. This room is warm and individual, and with just a little effort you can do the same in your bedroom.