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Friday, April 1st, 2016
Lamps and Lighting Uttermost Tyrian Purple Glass Table Lamp 26190-1.
The color purple is an exciting color that depicts an equally great list of personalities. In color psychology, lovers of the color purple showcase personalities such as being more sensitive, understanding, supportive, gentle, and serene. This is also believed to be the color of creativity, idealism and intuition. With these beautiful characteristics, imagine what sort of home you would have if you embrace this color as a main theme.
Purple in Nature and in Interior Design
Nature shows a wide array of purple hues from the softest lavender to the pungent purple. This color is obvious in Rosie Posie – a flowering plant – and in violets, those flowers that grow in dark corners.
Purple is a mixture of red and blue. It has the capacity to evoke a wide range of human emotions depending on its shades. It is often worn by royalty as is evident in monarchs’ robes. It is also seen in spring flowers and on that popular dinosaur that sings I Love You as he dances with children.
Purple is not one of those safe colors that you can use when decorating. Browns, neutrals and grays are choices that most homeowners automatically resort to because they are predictable and easy to work with.For adults, this color is quickly becoming a part in many interior designs. The trendsetters have seen the uniqueness offered by this color that it can be seen in a range of designs from the Goth home to high schools and runways.
This does not mean that you should say no to a purple home, though. You only have to be confident and more courageous in choosing this version of violet.
Purple is a flexible color; it can be overpowering when overused or it can be passionately warm in the right hands.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Melange Mini Nina Bombe Chest 638-50180
The most skilled designers are able to create the most sophisticated and playful rooms using this exciting color. If you like this color, it could be challenging to find a design professional that would be willing to work with it. Only the bold ones are able to appreciate the power that purple holds and are able to capture its beauty and apply it to homes.
There are many advantages in using purple. It will work well with cream, gold and white as well as brown, blue and gray shades.
Purple is the perfect color to use during the coldest seasons so make sure that you choose the cooler shades of purple during the hot summer months.
This can also be included in a masculine setting especially when the darker tones are used. This can effectively add richness and luxury in any room.
You will have to use purple in a way that it won’t throw off the rest of the color schemes. Its misuse could result in an undesirably dark space or association with bruises, grape candy or being a toddler.
Whether you intend to use purple as a funky, dark, light, fruity or mature element, it’s all up to you. Just remember that this can set the mood for the rest of your home. Crisp and deep shades of purple can make an engaging contrast in a white backdrop. People will surely be drawn to your furniture or accessories if you use this exhilarating color.
There are now design professionals that feel the thrill of working with purple in their interior design projects. If you are adamant in using this color inside your home, then your first question when hiring a professional designer should be – how much do you love purple?
If you can sense a flicker of excitement on the tone or right in the eyes of the design expert, then you’re practically in good hands. You love purple, she loves purple, then what are you both still waiting for?
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, purple, purple color scheme, purple design, purple interior design, purple interiors, purple theme, violet
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Friday, April 1st, 2016
FFDM’s Sunset Canyon Collection has this hardwood cabinet that will make the perfect subject to the canvas that is the brickwork in your kitchen.
Brick. This can either be a boring or an exciting part of your home. Mostly, brick lends a warm, historic look, makes one wonder why many homeowners are afraid to use it especially in their kitchens. One reason could be because it could become a stack of greasy masonry behind a stove. Be afraid no more – you can even make brick veneer look so authentic that your relatives and friends would go gaga about it.
The most basic and easiest way to get real brick look is to purchase the right thickness of brick veneer. This has to be ¾ of an inch thick. Find the concrete-based products so that you won’t have to use sealants. If you still want to use sealant, then be sure to find silane-based sealants because they are breathable.
Sealant use could darken the color and could slow down the movement of moisture out for the brick veneer.
Texas homes use bricks in their homes because it can easily withstand the harshest climates. Reclaimed brick can be used to age the look of a kitchen. This automatically adds texture and warmth as the intricate brickwork bring special details into focus.
The secret to using brick, whether it is the real deal or the brick veneer type, is balance. This is especially true when you need to use it in the kitchen.
Bricks can pack in the most punch on the range wall and the floor. Don’t be limited to traditional or transitional looks, though. There is so much more to bricks that can define features inside your kitchen.
Brick Veneer Care
Do you know what you would do if spaghetti sauce suddenly splatters on your unsealed brick veneer? The cleaning part is easy but there are some guidelines to follow.
Use granulated soap with water then scrub using a stiff-bristled brush only. You can also use vinegar with water in 1:5 ratio.First, make sure that you do not use an acid-based cleaner. Throw all your wire brushes and say no to sandblasting and power washing from now on. All these items can erase the base color on the brick veneer.
Check the manufacturer’s installation as well as cleaning guides. These are information that is often posted on their websites or you can simply talk to their customer service departments.
If you want to add an authentic feel to your brick veneer, then you can hire a mason to apply grout. There are also transparent, no-sheen masonry sealers that you can consider when sealing stones and bricks.
Using brick for a kitchen backsplash is also a unique way to catch the attention of your visitors. This can be made of a thick, brick veneer. This can give your kitchen an industrial warehouse feel. You can have this sealed annually.
Remove the outlets from the brick veneer backsplash to improve the overall look. Move the outlets at a higher, horizontal position. Make sure that you still comply with the safety codes. To be sure, hire a professional electrician to do the installation for you.
Use the brick veneer from the inside corner through to the inside corner and then from the countertop then down the bottom of the ceiling or cabinet. A convincing authentic brick look only comes in where you conceal any part that tells the material is veneer. This can be achieved through ending the brick layout with the inside corner – all of the time.
If your dining area is adjacent to the kitchen, then you can effectively use bricks to tie both rooms. Embrace the industrial look while accentuating any steel or brick patterns. You might feel nervous to use brick at first but you will soon see how it can provide a look that no other material can offer.
Tags: brick, brick in the kitchen, brick interior design, brick interiors, brick veneer, brick wall, brick wall design, designing with brick, exposed bricks, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Kitchen Design | No Comments »
Thursday, March 31st, 2016
The Biltmore Collection from FFDM shows what class and luxury is all about.
Owning a beautiful beachfront property is not common as is having a Victorian home. If you happen to have any of these prime properties, then you might consider having it rented out. Whether you decide that it’s going to be on a short-term or long-term, it pays to dress up the place. You can redecorate or even remodel from the ground up; or you can just fix a room or two.
Welcome to the Hospitality Business
Okay, so you have finally decided to rent out your home but make no mistake in thinking that it is going to be a rosy road. The sharing economy is going through some hassles of its own just like any other kind of business. There are issues about neighbors who do not want to live right next to a short-term rented property. There is also the fear that short-term rentals will make long-term leases a lot more difficult to offer.
There is definitely some money to be made if you rent out your home. Now all you have to worry about is to prepare the place so that the visitor or renter will feel welcome.
The Fine Furniture Design Bedroom Bridgeport Pencil Post Headboard, Queen 5.0 1020-451 showcases the warmth and coziness of wood. You will surely feel rejuvenated after whiling away time in this lovely four-poster bed.
The Sophisticated Traveler
Say you have a classic Victorian home; now you can rent this out to sophisticated travellers who do not want the commercial feel of hotels. You can have this space renovated through a DIY project or you can
Invest in your chosen design as what you put into the space will come back to you. Remember also that people are attracted to beautiful surroundings and lovely stuff.hire a professional interior designer to finish the task for you. Should you consider the latter, find someone who has had an experience in dressing up properties for the hospitality industry in the past.
Classic lines even when fused with modern stuff will always work. You may borrow the exterior patterns of your Victorian home and have them adorn the living room rug, for instance.
Dark-colored walls tend to make expansive homes cozier while smaller properties would do well to have neutral or pastel walls. An accent wall would also be a nice addition to a room. Bright green, for example, wouldn’t be the first choice for many homeowners but it is definitely an interesting color that you could consider when you are on vacation.
When selecting the finishes and fabrics, be sure to find those that are easy to clean and maintain. Choosing the bedding can be extra tough but the rule is pretty simple – just find the fabrics that are easy to clean and are durable.
Ottomans can serve a dual purpose – as a seating unit or as a coffee table of sorts. Make sure that all furniture units are durable and are easy to maintain. Choose materials that will add to the beauty of the place, say, a wooden piece that will develop a patina over time.
There are travellers who choose large rental properties in order to hold special occasions or because they simply want to entertain. When this is the case of your would-be renter, then make sure to add furniture units that can accommodate small to huge gatherings. It would be great if you could invest in furniture that you can see through such as glass because they can make a small place appear more spacious.
Expect also that the guests would expect a zero corporate look. These people are, after all, trying to rest from the hustle and bustle of city living so you have to make their retreat a restful one.
Add elements that are unique such as extraordinary lighting fixtures or vintage-looking accessories.
Take your time when planning for the bedroom. Now is the space in your rental property that gets the least amount of sunlight. You can have a series of shelves lined up against the bedroom walls. Placing your books and collections on these shelves should keep the guests busy for hours. Make their experience a rich one especially when the ones who rent your property are bookworms.
Renting out your home can be a profitable business especially when you are able to present a property that is worth spending a time in.
Make your rental property more interesting with these Accessories Uttermost Recycled Bottles Set5 19754.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, rental home, renting out your home, renting out your property
Posted in Hospitality Industry, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Thursday, March 31st, 2016
This Kelsey Living Room Collection by Jonathan Louis depicts the exquisiteness of Nordic design.
Everyone knows that white is a reliable shade that can deliver astounding interior design results. It can make any space feel and look brighter, bigger and lighter. What’s great about white paint is that you don’t even have to waste time looking through piles of paint samples before you make your decision. Pulling off a white living room can be a tad more difficult to do, though.
What to Do with a White Living Room
Okay, so you’ve got a sort of blank canvas to work with. Let’s face it – those white walls would eventually look and feel boring if you don’t do something about them. A lot of white can look sterile or it is just too dull.
To get the best look with the color white, you need to consider bringing in some greenery. Green potted plants will stand out against the white walls and could even up the level of warmth and welcoming feel in your living room.
Add accessories that are equally interesting if not colorful.
Another way to go is to embrace the Nordic style. The Scandinavians are a huge success in making white work in their homes. They all know the value of white when it comes to boosting light and making a space appear airier.
Pierce Living Room Collection by Jonathan Louis
Again, white walls are overly predictable so you have to do something to create an element of surprise. Try to incorporate panelling such as a horizontal design that will create lines all around the living room. The extra movements created will keep observers’ eyes away from the white walls. Those dark shadows and gaps between every board is a color theme that you can work on and even reproduce on the furniture and accessories.Nordic design is great at punctuating the edge of a white room. It can have wood, black or gray elements to make the living room look more exciting.
While it is necessary to deviate the attention of your visitors and friends from the white walls, it is also equally important to keep the freshness of white. To achieve this, you need to look for colors that would stand out against the sterility of white.
Teak sideboards can add a different kind of warmth while yellow or blue accents are sure to pop out from the white backdrop. When you do these color combinations, you get to keep the sharpness of white while using it as a canvas for interesting furniture and accessories as well.
Remember Scaling
One important aspect that you need to remember when using white for your living room is playing with scale. Introduce large pieces so that your all white living room won’t feel bland. While color is an important element, you also need to realize the role of scale.
When you don’t even stop to think about scale, particularly human scale, it would be difficult to design the entire living room. Scale is that relationship between two or more objects that share a common size. More often than not, the size is compared to the human scale (e.g. standardized heights for chairs and countertops).
The term proportion is also often used interchangeably with scale. The only difference between the two is that proportion related to two or more objects’ general size while scale compares two objects with the actual size being known for at least one object. Scale, therefore, is more absolute while proportion is just relative.
To use scaling in a white living room means you control the details of the elements that you put in. This means you don’t just cram large furniture pieces inside a small room. Your white space should be rich in detail not drowning in shapes or forms.
Personalize your white living room, otherwise, it will just be one other white room inside your home.
Tags: colors for the living room, decorating the living room, designing the living room, living room color palette, living room color scheme, living room concepts, living room design elements, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, white interiors, white living room, white paint for living room
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Living Room Design | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
The Living Room Uttermost Chalina High Back Armchair 23611 offers a curvy, exposed wood frame. The white velvet fuses uniquely with the linen box cushion, giving it an exceptional look.
One of the most beautiful textiles that never go out of style is velvet. It has a rich history beginning from the Renaissance period when it was mostly spun from silk. It was the dress for nobles and the cover for the furniture pieces in many palaces ranging from Asia to Europe.
Hundreds of years later, Edmund Cartwright introduced the power loom. It was around 1785 when velvet became abundantly available. There were more fibers used in spinning this lovely textile.
The Silk Velvet
This textile offers that signature sheen and softness. One look at it and you’d know that it is luxurious. This type easily shows pressure marks as well as creases, though. To meet the demand of silk fans, there were mills that produced viscose velvet during turn of the 20th century. These budget velvets feel just like real silk.
The Cotton Velvet
This kind of velvet is more casual and cozy. These vary widely with regard to the length of their piles and naps. They may show creases, wrinkles and wear but these days, more polyester fibers may be blended in to make velvet that shows less wear.
Linen Velvet
When compared to silk velvet, this type of velvet appears more matte though it feels drier to the touch. Linen velvets have a subtle strie which is not a defect, rather it is there because it can be a tad difficult to spin uniform linen yarn.
The Wool Velvet
This kind of velvet is warm and cozy. It is highly durable and is best for seating units used during the wintry months. Use a slipcover during summer then bring out the wool velvet pieces during colder months.
Bedroom Uttermost Chahna King Headboard 23703 has a white and dark chocolate velvet fusion that mixes well with the aqua blue frame.
Bedroom Uttermost Chahna King Headboard 23703 has a white and dark chocolate velvet fusion that mixes well with the aqua blue frame.
Mohair Velvet
This is a soft, woolly fabric spun from the silky hair of Angora goats. Invest in this piece if you are ready to love it for the rest of your life. It is a durable textile that can outlive even its owners. It is spun at $100 a yard though the prices change considerably.
This kind of velvet has high-density warp, a high gauge of yarn, and has a deeper color. When you go shopping for velvet furniture pieces, take the liberty to bend the fabric. If you are not able to see rows in the pile, then you are definitely looking at quality product.
Panne Velvet
This is the result of velvet being crushed to a single direction using heavy pressure. It comes with a brilliant shine, to the point of being glossy. There are even pieces that appear metallic. It can be dyed with a neutral color if you are not a big fan of anything flashy.
Chenille
This may be a fabric with a character of its own but when you look more closely its luster is just like velvet’s. It has a flatter pile and is usually less smooth compared to velvet but it offers unique patterns and textures.
Chenille, just like velvet, is durable but it could show some sagging and stretching over time.
Crushed Velvet
There isn’t a lot of crushed velvet around since they are just used in holiday stockings placed over the mantel. It is a textile that offers a wonderful sheen that can easily overtake any room. To many homeowners, this look-at-me feature is what they are actually looking for.
Crushed velvet can be made from any fiber. What makes it distinguishable is that the velvet goes through a tapered cylinder to tamp down the pile.
Why Velvet?
You may ask yourself why you should choose velvet for furniture upholstery. Velvet is luxurious, it can be durable under proper care, and it will never go out of style. These are reasons good enough for you to bring home the lavish beauty of this fabric.
Tags: fabric, fabric choices, fabric options, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, seating fabrics, sofa fabric, velvet, velvet design, velvet styles
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
FFDM Hyde Park Collection: Be sure to measure the dimensions of large furniture against the doorways in your home.
When your home is all painted and done and you have decided on a theme, then the next huge step to take is to buy furniture. Begin by accounting for every piece that you already own. Decide whether you would still use any of them or if you will need to do some furniture shopping.
To glean through the pile in your garage, you need to see which pieces are already outdated. Throw those ones out unless, of course, if they have sentimental value. If the latter is the case, then you need to think of ways to refresh the furniture’s look.
Most of the time, homeowners realize that it is more logical to shop for new furniture than to go through the hassle of reupholstering old pieces.
Prepping the Rooms
Now make sure that have everything in order before you begin your furniture shopping project. Do not purchase any furniture till you have the whole room worked out – from the window treatments, rug, to the lighting fixtures.
Visualize the look in each room then try to make sense of the furniture pieces that you have been considering, how they would be assembled, how they would harmonize, etc.
A lot of homeowners make the mistake of purchasing an item then they end up decorating the rest of the room around the furniture piece. So, how would you know what pieces to work on? Do you begin your search in interior design magazines or websites?
Comfort Is Crucial
There are interior designers who advise their clients to buy large pieces first. Whether you decide to follow that advice or to buy the pieces last, it’s all about understatement. It is best to keep the fabrics neutral then have the colors splashed on throw pillows and walls.
Comfort always comes first. Do not be afraid to invest in some good seats. Purchase the best kind of sofa that your money can afford.
Test the seating unit before you purchase it. If you spend more time inside the family room than the living room, then take more time in planning the furniture sets in the former. Purchase pieces that will last through time more so if you intend to keep the theme for many years.
Upholstered furniture is a huge investment so you would want to find one that can last changes even in your lifestyle. Go for clean, simple lines to be on the safe side.
Decide also on the amount of time, budget and style that you would soon work on. Stick with trusted furniture shops. Say no to department stores because furniture making is not their principal business. Buy from furniture shops that would stand by their products.
Jonathan Louis Strathmore Living Room Collection
Good vs. Bad Furniture
Would you want to know how to recognize quality furniture?
If you are purchasing upholstered furniture, take the time to lift up a corner then shake it. If it feels light, then don’t buy it. Remember that the heavier the cushion, the more that it will last.
When buying cabinets, find drawers that have dovetail joints; when it is a mattress that you are shopping for, then consider the coil count. Again, the higher the number of coils, the more durable the mattress is.
One major homeowner mistake when buying furniture is misjudging the size of the furniture in relation to the rooms of their home. That chaise lounge might look perfect in a showroom with high ceilings but it may look less spectacular inside a regular home.
Prior to buying, mark the furniture’s dimensions right on the floor using painter’s tape or newspaper. You can also build an approximation with cardboard boxes.
Oh, and one last thing – make sure that the furniture you buy will fit through the doorways as well as the elevators and around corners or you would be left with furniture that you can’t even let into your home.
Tags: furniture, furniture investment, furniture shopping, investing in furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, shopping for furniture
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 29th, 2016
Jonathan Louis Norton Living Room Collection: This living room balances the vibrance of the bright colors and the subdued look offered by the neutral pieces.
Are you now at a stage when you have figured out what you would want your house to look like? If so, have you also come to the decision as to who would decorate your new or remodelled home? Will you hire a professional interior designer or would you take on a DIY project?
Back in the day, it was just the nobles who had the notion to decorate their homes but they always hired someone else to do the job for them. You don’t have to live in a palace or be a noble just to enjoy the services of a decorator. You also should not fear the cost that much.
Your concern in hiring an interior designer could also be because of your fear of a result that does not reflect your tastes anymore.
Some homeowners immediately collaborate with a professional designer while others hesitate or are simply confident with their decorating skills.
There are downsides and upsides in hiring an interior designer or in doing the project yourself. It is really up to you to weigh the consequences.
FFDM’s Boulevard Collection: The warmth of food is balanced by the water element and green leaf in a glass vase. The white cabinets house the most beautiful collections. As for accessories, what could be more interesting than the distinctive modern chandelier and silver cubed candelabra?
Advantages of DIY Interior Design Projects
The best reason to decorate your own home is that you love designing things. Your creative side just won’t say no to a project.
An advantage to this, apart from showing your artistic flair, is that you don’t need to pay anyone else to do the job. Add to this the glorious fact that your design will surely reflect who you are. As for the bragging rights, you also take full credit for the project since no one else pitched in their ideas.
Should you feel pleased with your living room design, then go ahead and carry out the project throughout the rest of your home. Where your do-it-yourself project takes you depends a lot on your strengths. If you are the kind of person who knows what he wants, then you are bound to love your creation.
DIY projects can also be done according to levels or stages or as funds allow.
The Downsides of DIY Projects
Primarily, you could mess up the project especially if you have no idea what you would want to include in your design. You have two choices when this happens – you can either live with the mess that you have created or you can invest another large sum of money to correct the error.
Errors in interior design are quite common which is why you gotta have the ability to visualize. You are either an effective creative artist or you’re not – it’s that simple. If you have trouble visualizing and putting creative projects into full gear, then you absolutely need help.
Lastly, DIY projects can be time and fund consuming especially when your learning curve is too steep.
The Upside of Hiring a Designer
Hiring a pro means you have a larger selection of furnishings, wall coverings, fabrics, and trades people. The designer has cultivated many professional relationships with tradesmen so you could potentially own a home that is tailor-fitted to your lifestyle and taste.
A designer can also save you money by doing the project correctly from the onset.
The Downside of Hiring a Designer
It’s always about the cost. It can be costly to work with an interior designer as it is an intimate process that could take months, even years to complete. If you pick the wrong kind of designer, then you end up with an adversary rather than an ally who would affirm all of your design decisions.
Hiring someone who was on the cover of an interior design magazine does not automatically mean that he or she is the right professional to work with. You need to find someone that you can trust and communicate with. You should also discuss your budget upfront as this is one of the most common causes of arguments between a homeowner and the designer.
Tags: DIY interior design projects, DIY projects, do-it-yourself project, guidelines, hiring a designer, hiring an interior designer, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in The Interior Designer | No Comments »
Monday, March 28th, 2016
FFDM’s Camden Grove Collection depicts here the perfect harmony of textures, patterns, and colors.
If you’re thinking that interior designers follow a set of rules or that they own a secret book, then you’re in tough luck. There is no one rule that governs all that they do, after all, they are the creative people so they use their imagination, follow their intuition and they even go as far as dreaming and exploring. One could say, perhaps, that they have some rough principles that direct them to the right result. Here are some of the top interior design tips that you can work on –
Pick the Right Paint Color
Some designers say that it is ideal to pick the color of paint last. You may find the logic in this, you may not. What matters at the end of the day is that you pick the right kind of color for your chosen theme, one that is in rhythm with the architectural beauty of your home, and one that functions the way you perceived it to.
Let’s accept this – there are literally thousands of paint colors in different shades, tones and tints. Every single one can look different from one home to the next because there are factors to consider such as the lighting, the overall theme, even the size of the home.
You would want a paint color that complements the artwork, upholstery, lighting fixtures, carpeting, and the furniture sets.
Home Office Uttermost Annileise Bookshelf 24326 is a unique and tasteful way of displaying your books and other collections.
Overcrowd Not
While you may have ample budget to buy every piece of furniture that you want, resist the urge to overcrowd all of your chosen pieces inside one room. Gracious living is tantamount to having enough
You must also know how to arrange furniture on a rug. Here are two techniques –breathing space. Focus on the quality and not the quantity of the furniture. Find the ones that will stand out without being stuffy.
You must also resist the urge to display all of your collectibles. If you really love each piece from your travels, then assign a season for each batch.
Hang Artwork Correctly
You can learn a lot from the museums and galleries that professionally hang artwork. The midline or center of the artwork should be 57” to 60” from the floor. The logic behind this is that the human eye level is often at 57 inches.
In a room where the ceilings are as high as the sky (of course this is an exaggeration), you must hang the artworks at a greater height. Though this is the case, you still need to remind yourself about human scale and not the structural scale.
If you are uncertain about where to hang artworks, then it is best to take a picture first. The photo should be able to reveal what level you can hang the artwork. Photographs often will give you an idea whether it is better to use a smaller or bigger piece of art; or if the spot is just right for a potted tall plant.
Always Have a Focal Point
Just as musicales or any stage production, there are protagonists and antagonists. This concept is also true when it comes to interior design. Choose the best pieces that you would want to highlight or make the star of the show then the rest of the items would just play a secondary role.
In the kitchen, the focal point can be that grand oven you just bought, in the living room it could be an art piece, and in the bedroom it can be the fireplace.
The focal point can also be a single wall. This is also called a statement wall.
Tags: arranging furniture, artwork, artwork on walls, choosing paint, creating a focal point, determining the focal point, displaying artwork, finding the focal point, focal point, furniture arrangement, furniture placement, home paint, home painting, interior design tips, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, recognizing a focal point
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Sunday, March 27th, 2016
Maitland-Smith Bathroom Seahorse Tissue Holder 1253-462
People consider home remodeling as they grow older. When such projects happen, it is crucial to make plans in age-proofing the bathroom. While style and comfort are great factors to make plan for during your younger years, aging brings about a different kind of perspective.
If you are planning on growing old in your current home, then it is wise to have the bathroom renovated in a much more accessible design. Together with kitchens, the bathrooms in your home are some of the wettest, most used areas. These are also the areas where accidents such as falls and slips often happen. With these slip hazards, it then becomes doubly important to take note of safety features that could make a difference.
Here are some ideas that will make any bathroom safe for every age level –
Shower Case Essentials
Installing a shower bench becomes more and more of a necessity as the homeowners begin to grow old. Age-proofing that part of your bathroom means the one who bathes will spend less time in a standing position. This could remove a huge amount of strain on the body, thus, reducing falling and slipping.
Another thing that you would need to install is a double-duty grab bar. This will serve as a bar for you to hold on to as you enter or exit the shower. This will also ensure that you won’t slip as you shampoo your hair or cleanse your body with soap.
Have one installed outside of the shower case and also in every interior wall. This is so an elderly member of the family can easily navigate the whole space.
A grab bar is functional because they can double as a robe or towel rack.
Have an handheld shower head installed. Adjust the height and you’re good; just place it right next to your shower bench and you can already take a bath while seated.
Age-Proofing Means Thinking Ten Times about Glass
While glass doors will effectively open up any bathroom space, they won’t be as functional when you have elderly members in your family or if two retirees are living with no help from younger family members.
Glass is a lot more difficult to maintain and they can easily get streak marks. Since this is so, glass requires more frequent cleanups, something that the elderly won’t be able to do as actively as when they were still young.
Install Good Lighting
Proper illumination can also make a huge difference. Ensuring that the bathroom space is well-lit means having lights that won’t cause strain on your eyes. Proper lighting will also show any wet spot that could be hidden by some shadows.
Choose from recessed, vanity, natural or sconce lighting.
Choose Durable Materials
Another way to age-proof a bathroom is to use porcelain tiles on your walls and any kind of textured tile on your flooring. Porcelain will last a lifetime so there are very little chances that you’d need to replace them. A wet rag can also clean porcelain in just a few minutes so this is the most feasible material to use if you plan to grow old with your partner in your home.
High slip resistance should be the factor that you will consider the most when choosing a material for the bathroom flooring. The rule here is simple, the higher the texture of the tile, the higher also its slip resistance.
These tips are simple ways that you can make the bathrooms in your home a lot safer. It pays to fortify this room in your home while you are yet young. Accidents can happen to anyone at any age so it is best to be prepared.
Tags: age-proofing bathrooms, bathroom safety, guidelines, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Apartment Living, Bathroom Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Saturday, March 26th, 2016
The Thomasville Living Room Margeaux Chair 1185 15 will be sublime in a colorful backdrop.
A client who wants to consult a color consultant is someone who might have already taken multiple trips to a paint store. She must have a collection of paint swatches, she might even have samples already used on the walls yet she still cannot make up her mind regarding what to do. These are the kinds of people who might think that they do not have an inkling about what to do but all that their minds need to do is to visualize and have the confidence to carry out their vision.
Do you need a color professional? Don’t fret because it is not difficult to find one. Just type the keywords – color consultant – online and you should be able to find a list in no time. There are also other professionals who might already be working in your home. Just look at those painters, architects and contractors. They might know a number of color consultants that could meet your color requirements.
The Color Consultant – Who Is He?
Uttermost Accessories Vintage License Plates Clock 06675 is a colorful addition to a neutral room.
Interview several candidates before considering someone. You would want to establish a working relationship with this person so there’s gotta be chemistry. Ask also for their references so that you will know what past projects they have made, especially those that are similar to yours.
Color proficiency also requires the color consultant to provide what you think is a wonderful hue. Getting a sense of what the client actually wants and the duration and scope of the project are the things that they want to grant.
The consultancy could be as short as a single session or the consultant might ask for several meetings. This all depends on the process that is about to be undertaken and the complexity of the painting project.
It is wrong to think that the color consultant will tell you what to do. He may be an expert but he can only give some advice. You still are the client so your preferences are given priority. Hourly rates can range from $85 to $200 USD. To get an average approximation about the color consultancy, the three to four bedroom home can be given an expert advice in about three to four hours. Of course, this time varies depending on how indecisive the client is.
Uttermost Accessories Vintage License Plates Clock 06675 is a colorful addition to a neutral room.
There are also color consultants who charge for a flat fee. This fee already includes the follow-up visits. Initial visits are often just a walk-through the home that is about to be painted. The consultants then envision what kind of color scheme would work during this first visit. It can be difficult for some clients to envision things using mere paint chips. The consultant, therefore, has to be able to offer 50 draw-downs in various neutrals.
The neutrals can be shown in their finishes such as the flooring or the countertop. Here, the client will be able to see which works and what shouldn’t be given much time. After this walk-through, a brainstorming session usually follows. The color swatches are then brought out by the consultant and held up against the walls. The client should have an idea about the decision that she will make by looking through the samples.
Most consultants ask for their client’s most-used or favorite room. To the perennial workaholic, this could be the home office; to the foodie, this is definitely the kitchen or the dining room.
No consultant will force his favorite colors on you. What they want to achieve is a happy customer and they are only able to do this if they personalize the rooms in a client’s home. They would only recommend colors that can endure the test of time and those that will work well when you begin furnishing the rooms.
The color consultant is there to help should you start feeling dizzy around the swirling color suggestions of family and friends. It’s time to rely on his proficiency.
Tags: color choices, color combination, color consultant, color in interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Color Schemes, The Interior Designer | No Comments »
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