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Monday, February 19th, 2018
Canadel Living Room Upholstered Seat Bench with backing.
Picture the scenario in your dining room during breakfast each day. It’s not a very pleasant sight, is it? There’s this need to concoct the morning coffee and then to dash off to the office to reach your scheduled time. This may be the reason why the breakfast nook came into existence in the first place.
When planned, the breakfast nook is situated in a kitchen alcove. It must be in a zone where you can easily reach the cupboards and the stove but it must not be so close that it no longer feels separate from the rest of the kitchen.
The Breakfast Nook Setup
Usually, one end of the breakfast table is placed against the wall. The other end is supported by one leg. Try your best to set up the breakfast nook by the window especially on the eastern part of your home so you get to have the best of the morning sunlight while you enjoy your first meal.
The latest addition to the breakfast nook is the high-backed seating. This provides convenience that was never before seen in any breakfast nook. When well-designed, these can be a lot more comfortable than regular chairs. The seats can also be benches that come with hinged lids and concealed storage spaces.
The Cheerful Breakfast Nook
Now that you already know the most cheerful part of your home, you need to set up the chairs and table right in that spot. Be sure to line them up right by the curtains covering the double windows. The cupboards should be high enough so that you won’t have to worry about hitting your head when you get up from a hearty breakfast.
Make your breakfast even comfier by having your electric toaster and a coffee percolator nearby. This is the simplest breakfast that you can prepare on any given day. The dishes and cups that are often used can be set close by, doing so will eliminate the rush that usually comes the setting of table during the morning.
If you have a home that can provide natural lighting for your breakfast nook during the day, then you are one of the blessed ones. This is mighty convenient as well as healthy for you because you will have an ample supply of Vitamin D while you enjoy your coffee and toast.
Breakfast Nook Elsewhere
If you are presented with the problem of minimal space, then you will need careful and professional planning. You may want to turn this issue to your advantage by making the nook look and feel cozier. You can up the level of intimacy in that area making it a more personal haven.
Canadel Living Room Upholstered Seat Bench
Breakfast Nook Measurements
If you have been thinking about how to use your available space for a breakfast nook, then you might want to measure if you have at least 24 inches width at your disposal. Going lower than this is less than ideal. Seating four people means having a table of 60 inches given you have two seated at each side.
The depth of the table or its length should have a minimum measurement of 42 inches. This is when you are ready to use both sides. If just one side is going to be used, then the recommended measurement is just 21 inches.
For benches, you can use a depth of 17.5 inches to about 20 inches. Measure from the seat’s front edge all the way to the upright part of the back. For instance, to have a seat on both sides of a table that measures 42 inches, then the minimum measurements are –
17.5” + 42” + 17.5” = 77”
This is the minimal space requirement. These dimensions still do not include the backs’ depth. These measurements vary depending on the usable space.
Tags: breakfast nook, designing the breakfast nook, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Dining Room Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Kitchen Design, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on Breakfast Nook Setup and Features
Saturday, February 17th, 2018
Hang this auspicious painting on your wall. Home, after all, is one of the happiest places on earth. Featured piece is the Uttermost Accessories Coming Home Hand Painted Art 31318
The living room is an integral part of your home. Whether you are living in an apartment or in a bungalow, the living room is important because it is the hub of social as well as family gatherings. This is also a place where everyone loves to spend their leisure hours by watching their favorite TV programs or by chatting with their family.
Why Bother for Feng Shui?
The living room may be an essential part of your home but it is also a vulnerable part. It is considered vulnerable because it is the first room that everyone goes into as soon as they enter the room. Even Qi or energy is not exempted from this.
Sha Qi or the fast-moving energy is not a lucky kind of energy according to Chinese culture. The other type, one that’s slow, is also not a good kind of energy so, you would need something to interfere with these negative energies.
Loss of money, wealth and social reputation are all results of uninterrupted energies coming in through the living room.
Maitland-Smith Accessories White Bronze Finished Cast Brass Dragon Sculpture On Black Waxstone Base 1054-339
Steps to Good Feng Shui in the Living Room
First, be sure to set up a living room that is pleasant and comfortable. To do this, the room must receive ample sunlight and must also be well-ventilated.
Next, have the sofa propped against one solid wall. You don’t have to set it up in such a way that it touches the wall, leave a distance of about one to two inches. As you sit in your main sofa, make sure that you are directly looking at the living room door. If this is not possible, then have a mirror placed so that the reflection of the door is seen from where you are seated.
If there is also an amazing landscape outdoors, then be sure to hang a mirror that will reflect it. This will bring in a lot of positive Qi into the living room.
The third step is to place a bowl of crystals or coins, anything that would symbolize wellness and wealth, on the coffee table.
Fourth, do not forget to hang posters or images that show positive and lively people or places.
Now let’s learn about the directions that need elements in their respective places. In the north side of your living room, be sure to display an aquarium that is filled with eight red and a single blackfish. Having a water feature in this area will also be lucky.
As for the south, you can place wood elements such as wood furniture and fire elements such as candles. Use more orange, green and red colors here.
There are also things to avoid when you are setting up a lucky living room –
First, never place a sofa against a window or under a beam. If you ever set up a mirror, then make sure that it will not reflect clutter or dirt as these will bring negative energies to your home. Avoid hanging photos that show negative emotions like a crying person, pictures of war or crimes, etc. It is also not advisable to hang or even just keep a painting of a turbulent sea as this depicts struggle of some kind.
Never keep any plants in the north, southwest or the northeast parts of the living room. As for a mirror, do not place one right where you can see yourself while you’re standing in the doorway.
Conclusion
Now that you have an artillery of do’s and don’ts for the Feng Shui living room, you should be able to set up the room in such a way that the energies that come and go are the best kind. As you do this, share it with people who are also interested to know.
Tags: feng shui for the living room, living room feng shui, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Living Room Design | Comments Off on Feng Shui in the Living Room
Friday, February 16th, 2018
Maitland-Smith Bathroom Finely Cast Antique Bronze Patina Brass Dolphin Soap Dish 2153-949
If you have been studying Feng Shui for quite a while, then you know all about the reputation of bathrooms in every home. But more than the bad reputations, you just need to know how to counter the negative energies that come in.
There are different layers in the assessment of a bad feng shui, especially in the bathroom. Since the bathroom is the center of every house, it is often associated with bad feng shui. This must not be the case with your home. Since it is at the very heart of your space, this is also what’s known as the yin-yang point. This must be a spot where light is in abundance and where there is much beauty.
Take the necessary steps to fill your bathroom just with good feng shui –
Unclutter
Good feng shui and clutter would never agree. It is understandable, though, that clearing away clutter is not such an exciting project to do. But this should not hinder you from cleaning up so that good energy can finally settle.
Accepting that you have a great task ahead is a good start. Find the clutter that steals your energy. This is any kind of garbage that remains unused or has no use for the longest time.
Plan to clear away clutter in sessions. The first three sessions should be no more than 30 minutes each. It would not be right to spend an hour or two inside the bathroom, cleaning your day away.
Beautify
After decluttering, it’s time to beautify your bathroom. The best way is by adding art, flowers or candles. To set up a wealth and money area is to use the right colors (as opposed to the popular notion, where you’re supposed to use metallic elements).
Use wood as this is the most auspicious color and element for the bathroom. Focus more on wood because it can bring in a lush and vibrant energy in this room. Water is also an element that is supportive of wood but since there is already a lot of water in there, it would be best to limit the water elements to what’s already there.
The colors brown and green are also related to wood elements just like shapes that remind you of wood. Use rectangular shaped images and objects to express the wood element. You can also bring the actual thing which is a potted plant. Just make sure that you won’t let the plant perish because of the poor natural lighting inside that space.
Choose air-purifying potted plants so that they can also help improve the ventilation inside the bathroom. These can be fresh flowering plants, some scented ones, and lush greens.
Never overdo your bathroom décor. It should be enough to keep it tidy, fresh and clear of negative energies all of the time. This is the best spot, though, to hang your landscape painting. To up the good feng shui, you can also add a mirror or a water feature in your spa-like bathroom.
Uttermost Bedroom Petite Manhattan Champagne Silver Mirror 08646 B
Closed-Door Policy
The Chinese know that it is bad luck to leave bathroom doors open. This is especially true when the bathroom door is directly facing your home’s front door. Closing bathroom doors is a way of ascertaining that good energy will not leave your home.
It is also bad luck to keep two doors facing each other. If this is already the case in your home, then offset the bad luck by creating good feng shui. Do this by creating good luck in the main entry, garage, and the laundry room.
Use fresh flowers, candles, and scents in the bathroom. You can also place a divider screen just so the bad energy is hindered.
Tags: bathroom feng shui, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Bathroom Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Feng Shui in the Bathroom
Thursday, February 15th, 2018
Canadel Kitchen Island ISL4836-T8
The kitchen, according to Chinese Feng Shui, has a lot of fire energy. This makes it a crucial part of your home since controlled fire can be beneficial. The uncontrolled types of fires, of course, are known to destroy anything in their path. This is the very reason why it is important to set up feng shui in this area of your home.
So what is a Feng Shui kitchen?
The simplest way to understand this is to establish your knowledge of the two words, separately. Feng Shui is an ancient science among the Chinese which can help create abundance and happiness through the alteration of Qi or chi (energy).
Science can both create and destroy energy so be careful in using feng shui, too.
A kitchen is a place where meals are prepared and, sometimes, consumed. These meals are the very things that give you as well as your family members the energy and stamina to go about your day. Also, since the kitchen is the place where the fire element is most abundant, then you must be able to control the fire so that it serves you and would not end up destroying the energy in the room.
When you fuse the two words – feng shui and kitchen, what you get is a positive room where meals are prepared in a happy and optimistic manner.
Feng Shui Kitchen in a Nutshell
Just as there are do’s, here come the don’ts –
Tags: kitchen feng shui, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Kitchen Design | Comments Off on Feng Shui in the Kitchen
Wednesday, February 14th, 2018
Maitland-Smith Living Room Distressed Two Tier Walnut Tone Heart Shaped Occasional Table, Petrified Stone Top 3230-844
Happy Valentine’s Day! This amazing day is here once again and you have the option to decorate according to the season. If you’re planning a romantic evening with your special someone then you have to learn about some tips that can make your Valentine’s Day home more special.
V-Day Lighting
Lighting is no less than the most important aspect of Valentine’s Day decorating. Your goal is to set up a romantic yet cozy atmosphere. To do this, you need to light candles and dim the electric lights. You can also have one or more lamps set up.
Another way to light your lovely evening is to turn on that crystal chandelier. What could be more romantic than to eat dinner with your special someone right under the soft glow of a lovely chandelier? You can further emphasize the beauty of this lighting fixture by creating a magical scene with lovely drapes and a mirror or two to reflect the light’s lovely glow.
Apart from lowering the wattage of your bulbs during that day, you can also set the mood by lighting the fireplace. That soft, romantic glow from the flickering wood fire is just the right scenario for some cuddling after dinner.
Adding a rosy glow is also as easy as installing some soft pink bulbs.
V-Day Music
Another amazing recipe of romance is to add romantic music. Create a compilation of the best love songs. Examples of the hottest love songs include – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back, Perfect by Ed Sheeran, Say You Won’t Let Go, Love by Lana Del Ray, etc.
V-Day Decluttering
This might not sound too romantic to you but your home, more specifically the dining room and the bedroom, needs to be organized during this special day.
Just like any decluttering project, you need to prepare ample garbage bags for your recyclables and trash. You can also have a binder where you can file some documents that have been homeless for the longest time.
So you won’t feel too energy-depleted, you can break you cleaning project into numerous sessions but since it is already Valentine’s day soon, it’s time to rush things up a bit and ask the help of some of your family members. This fun project could even help you bond with your most cherished people on the planet.
V-Day Red
Red is the color of Valentine’s Day. There is no denying this so you just have to embrace this color of the day.
Red represents passion among so many other things. Take this chance to alter the vibe in your home especially the bedroom. Introduce some red accents. This can be a simple bunch of throw pillows, a bouquet of red roses in a glass vase or a new bed sheet with hints of red.
V-Day Mantel
Since the fireplace is a pretty romantic area in your living room. You can optimize its use by decorating the mantel with pieces that represent this lovely day. If heart-shaped knickknacks are a little too much for you, then you can always go for scented candles, a large painting, and a mirror.
The V-Day Bed
This Valentine’s Day might just be the day that you’ve been waiting for to buy a new bed. You can give this as a surprise to your loved one.
It’s time to get rid of that ugly bed and find one that you can consider an investment. The more romantic choices include the canopy bed, or a four-poster bed. A round bed is also fairly common as a Valentine’s Day bed.
To make your new bed more special, get some new bedding, too. Find silk or satin bedding just for this special day. Create a sexy bedroom or decorate your dining room with drapes that come in hints of red. Or you just might be bold enough to install red drapes in the bedroom.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, V-day style, Valentine's Day decor, Valentine's Day decorating, Valentine's Day style, Valentine's Day theme
Posted in Accents, Accessories, Bedroom Design, Color Schemes, Dining Room Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on V-Day Decorating Made Simple
Tuesday, February 13th, 2018
There is ample light in this bedroom that ushers in the auspiciousness in the area. The color of the room was also carefully chosen to match the lucky ‘skin colors’ that are supposed to be used. Featured furniture is the Brookston Upholstered King Bed from the FFDM Camden Collection.
The best bedroom feng shui is one that promotes harmony and a vibrant energy. It is also a room that is inviting and exciting, one that could also calm your senses. The bedroom that is auspicious or lucky is one that can give you a restful nap as well as a good night’s sleep.
There are rules in creating a bedroom such as this. In a nutshell, here are the dos and don’ts –
Nothing to Excite
While the bedroom is also supposed to excite, it must not be in a way that will interfere with your rest so never bring in a television set, exercise equipment or computer in that area of your home. These do not just create high EMF or electromagnetic force, they also create energies of stress and the need to work – all feelings that you do not want to feel inside the bedroom.
Let There Be Air
You must also be mindful of the quality of air inside the bedroom. You cannot achieve good Feng Shui if the very air that you breathe in is filled with pollutants. Putting plants will not solve the problem, though.
In the Chinese culture, it is bad luck to place potted plants beside the bed. If you really have to bring in plants, then be sure to place them as far away as possible from the bed.
And Let There Be Light
You will need dimmer switch to adjust light levels in the bedroom. Appropriate lighting is the correct manifestation of good energy. The bedroom is a good place for candles since they can create intimacy and also clear the energy inside the room.
While you may want to have a dark bedroom at night, it would help to keep the windows and doors open during the day. This is so a good amount of natural light could stream in.
Always keep the bedrooms doors closed during the night. These include closet doors as well as bathroom doors leading to the master bathroom.
It Is Also About the Bed
As for the bed placement, make sure also that it is approachable from the right and left sides. Place a bedside table on each side then avoid aligning the bed with the bedroom door. A well-balanced bed is crucial in the creation of a Feng Shui bedroom.
Pick the most soothing hues that you can find.
Clean Up
This is something that needs to be dealt with because the bedroom is supposed to be a place for relaxation. This cannot be achieved if there is clutter all around. The solution is not to shove the garbage under the bed but to really clean it up. Besides, it is also bad feng shui to put dirty stuff under your bed.
Sort out the things that you no longer need. Give away those that can still be used and throw away the rest.
Decorate with Purpose
The good Feng Shui bedroom must also have an auspicious décor. You can achieve the best flow of energy if you use skin colors so that’s anywhere from pale white to rich brown.
The bedroom art must be chosen wisely since images and colors do carry with them powerful energies. The best images are those that you would want to transpire in your life such as images that depict happiness, nourishment, and beauty.
Do not use sad images in the bedroom, instead, look for those that relate to relationships, love, intimacy, and healing.
There are many different images to choose from, of course, your preference should also be taken into consideration. Dreaming and pleasure should be two keywords that you need to remember in having a feng shui bedroom.
Tags: bedroom feng shui, feng shui for the bedroom, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Bedroom Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Feng Shui in the Bedroom
Friday, February 9th, 2018
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Arabella Trunk Cocktail Table can be the perfect accessory or it can be the home for smaller accessories such as candles and a pile of books.
When it comes to accessories, do you think that you really need them in your home? Do you think those furniture sets are enough to make your house look like a home?
Accessories are there as the finishing touches for texture, colors, and shapes. They can actually impact your home’s décor. In fact, they play a very important role because they reflect your very philosophy and they even have the power to pull your different selections all together.
Just to drive the point, and for us to realize the importance of accessorizing, could you picture a black dress minus the right jewelry? Of course not. Audrey Hepburn may have advocated that every woman has to have at least one black dress in her wardrobe but she sure did not go out wearing such a dress sans the right accessories.
When you are about to begin the design process, it is crucial that you take time to plan your accessories. You also need to allocate a budget for these. Don’t make the mistake of selecting the accessories only when the major furniture pieces have already been delivered.
The key is to plan the accessories along with the major furniture sets. Be able to account the accessories which you will use in the living room, the ones that work only in the dining room, and those that work best in the bedroom.
Remember that great accessorizing must also follow a process. So what’s the secret to effective accessorizing?
Layering the Accessories
The whole process of accessorizing begins and ends with a layer. This is comparable to a woman who is dressing up for a party. She should wear her dress before she picks the shoes.
This is also true for choosing and eventually pairing the accessories with your furnishings. All the fundamental selections must be done – so choose the paint, then the flooring option, then the lighting fixtures.
After picking and installing these, review the overall look of your space so far. Check the draperies and the furnishings and how they blend with the surroundings. If you feel that you need a little extra somewhere, then that’s where you should begin layering on accessories.
Your chosen accessories can be subtle or bold depending on how you would balance the rest of the design elements which have already been installed.
Now refer to your floor plan. Always check the access points such as the doorways. Be mindful also of the traffic flow when you are out to select your accessories. Having more accessories does not always equate to having a better-looking space.
If you’re still not sure on what accessories to decorate your home with, don’t fret. A professional interior designer should be able to help you with your choice. To help you with your decision, think of mementos, family photos, and some family heirloom pieces that you might want to display.
These items may seem insignificant when left on their own but when you use them and tie them together with the theme, then they might even highlight the beauty of your space.
An interior designer can also help you achieve the optimum impact for your chosen accessories. This professional is there to help you infuse your personal items to the rooms in your home. He can even help you group similar pieces.
Accessories have also been used in defining certain areas. For instance, a collection of books can serve as the defining accessories for the home office or a living room for the bibliophile families out there.
Again, accessorizing is all about layering. You need to know how to accomplish each phase according to the right moment and space. Remember that each interior has its own characteristics and unique features so it is all about enhancing these points and emphasizing their beauty that is the work of every accessory.
Tags: accessorizing, how to accessorize, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, science of accessorizing
Posted in Accessories, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Art and Science of Accessorizing
Thursday, February 8th, 2018
Maitland-Smith Accessories Set Of Four Rainbow Shell And Violet Hammer Shell Butler Set With Polished Brass Accents: The Pantone Color of the Year is Ultra Violet. Your designer knows that and he should be able to concoct the right furnishings for your remodeling project.
If you are thinking of redesigning your home or are just about to set up your first one, you may be wondering whether you need the help of a professional, licensed interior designer. Hiring an interior designer is an intelligent decision if you have already invested a good amount of money in your home. The best designs serve an amazing purpose not only for you and your family but also for future plans that you might have to sell the property.
The Sensibility behind Interior Design
Please toss aside the notion that interior design is just for the rich and famous. You don’t have to be a Hollywood actor or a sports star just to need the help of interior designers. When you logically think about this, you will actually save a lot of money as you go on with the interior design project.
Everyone also deserves to have an amazing space. Your home should be able to bring you joy and comfort. It must not just look amazing but also a reflection of who you are, where you come from, and what your beliefs are in life.
Breathtaking Interior Design Isn’t an Accident
A lot of people get confused or are intimidated by the very idea of getting in touch with a professional interior designer. You might be overwhelmed by the idea of working with someone else. Also, you might think that these designers might not understand your concepts, or worse, they could look down on you for not having a sense of style.
When your thoughts start to go down those paths, stop yourself. Interior designers are experts that can guide you to the best style that suits you.
Interior Design Saves You a Lot of Money
You might reason out that interior designers are actually costly but they can save you money because they help you avoid pricey mistakes. Interior design is especially essential when you will sell your home in the future. The expert can help you boost the buyer appeal and even set your home apart from the competitors.
Hiring an interior designer can also help you keep away from painting accidents or having to take the furniture back all because you did not do the measurements correctly.
Interior Design Saves You Time
Just like saving some money, you can also save time when you hire an interior designer. Since designers have a trained senseofn what should be done and when they need to be done, they will be able to anticipate obstacles long before they happen.
Interior Design Will Give Your Professional Assessment
As soon as you agreed to hire a trained interior designer, you will know what plans to work on. This expert went through design school and even has a few apprenticeships up his sleeve. You must also keep in mind that interior designers have studied both the art and science of interior design and they know how to apply both concepts into your home.
Having a trained eye such as theirs means they are able to assess if something is wrong with the design or if a design element happens to work. That immediate consult is an advantage that is hard to put a price tag to.
The order of implementation for the design plan is also followed because someone who is professionally efficient is there to help you.
Interior Design Means Having More Contacts and Resources
Do you know how difficult it is to find the best resources when you don’t have the right connections? Hiring a designer means you do not have to worry about finding your own electrician, plumber, and construction workers.
Since your designer has been in the business for quite some time, he is the right person to contact with regard to a one-stop shopping for manpower.
Tags: benefits of having an interior designer, hiring a designer, hiring an interior designer, interior designer benefits, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, reasons to hire a designer, why hire a designer, why hire an interior designer
Posted in 2018 Trends, Accents, Interior Design 101, The Interior Designer | Comments Off on When Do I Need An Interior Designer?
Wednesday, February 7th, 2018
Hooker Furniture Living Room Melange Eden Drink Table is coming very soon!
Color theory is an all-encompassing definition of concepts and designs. There are three categories, though, that can be logically used in fashion or interior design. You have, of course, already heard of the color wheel, the color harmony, and how each color is used according to context.
Color theories are there for a structural comprehension of hues. For instance, if you see a table laden with fabrics, then you can categorize according to color.
How to Use the Color Wheel
Also known as the color circle, this is based on yellow, red, and blue which are the traditional, basic colors. Sir Isaac Newton was the first to develop the circular diagram in 1666. Scientists and artists, since then, have come up with designs and variations based on the said diagram.
The color wheel is a representation of the logical arrangement of hues in their purity. First, take a look at the primary colors. These cannot be formed when you mix other colors. These are self-sustaining hues and are used to create other hues.
The secondary colors, on the other hand, are formed as you mix the primary colors. When you mix red and yellow, you end up with orange. Purple – which is the color of 2018 – can be made by fusing red with blue. Mixing yellow and blue means you will have a green hue soon.
Tertiary colors are red-orange, yellow-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, yellow-green and blue-green. These are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color, hence, the two-color names.
What Is Color Harmony?
Harmony is the pleasant arrangement of music, color or poetry. When pertaining to visual experiences, this is one that pleases the beholder. It must be able to engage the viewer and create a sense of balance or order.
When was the last time that you saw something that was not in harmony with something else? You would probably define that space as chaotic or boring. Either way, you were not pleased with what you saw so your brain rejected the image.
There are formulas to follow with regard to color harmony. There are color schemes that come from analogous hues. These are colors that sit side-by-side on the color wheel such as yellow-green, yellow, and the exciting yellow-orange.
If you want to use two colors that are seated opposite from each other, then what you want are complementary colors. An example of these is green and red as well as yellow-green and red-purple. The two colors may seem to oppose but they actually provide the needed contrast as well as optimized stability.
If you want to use additive colors, then you would want the primary hues that make up the white light. These are green, red, and blue or RGB. Subtractive primary colors, on the other hand, uses a color-printing process referred to as the CMYK or the use of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
Tints are mixtures of any color with white while shades are mixtures of any color with black. Toning is the creation of anything that is grayed down (white and black are both added to a hue). There are three ways to alter the basic color wheel and these are to tint, shade or tone.
The 60-30-10 Rule
The key to being confident in combining colors is to use this simple rule. This concept follows the rule of three which is used in almost everything from marketing to writing and even floral arrangements.
This is not a precise formula, okay, so relax. Don’t go all matchy-matchy, just be careful with cohesion and balance.
The 60 in this rule stands for 60% of the room should be occupied by anchor pieces and walls. The next 30% should be for accent furniture, wood trim, area rugs, and textiles, while the last 10% is for artwork, decorative pieces, and other small items.
Tags: color harmony, color theory, color wheel, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in 2018 Trends, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Relevance of Color Theory in Interior Design
Tuesday, February 6th, 2018
The Thomasville Dining Room Elba Round Dining Table derives its rich colors from a terracotta palette.
Are you familiar with terracotta? This is a kind of clay that comes in the most interesting colors (often orange or red) and has the beautiful qualities to boost. The term terracotta originated from the Italian translation of baked earth.
The earliest reference to terracotta was in prehistoric art where some of the ancient potteries were dated as far back as 24,000 B.C. These pieces were dated to be Paleolithic which were used as figurines instead of cooking vessels.
Terracotta, therefore, was and is a natural piece of art. The Chinese terracotta army is a collection of huge figures consisting of 8,000 soldiers plus 520 horses. These were found in Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum, he happens to be the first emperor of the Chinese nation.
Terracotta is also widely used as a sculpture material. It is its thickness and malleability that make it the perfect moldable material for art pieces.
Terracotta is also used in some architectural pieces mostly in roofs and brickwork. This is a durable material that also has a beautiful color. It may be easy to obtain but it is definitely not a cheap sort of material.
The Terracotta Properties
Terracotta is a distinct kind of clay with a rich, rust-like hue. The reason for its unique color is that it has iron content and this reacts to the oxygen that gives it the rich orange, red, or even pink color.
Terracotta is porous and can be easily worked with. It can be glazed or it can come beautifully even in its unglazed look. A coat of glaze makes the work of art invulnerable to moisture.
A glazed terracotta figurine, for instance, can be made with bright, interesting color. In fact, a lot of people favor the brightly-colored terracotta pieces. To make these amazing pieces, it takes low-fire heating which is approximately 1,100 to 1,200 degrees Celsius only. This should create a noticeable contrast with the orange or red body.
Majolica wares can be made with terracotta. This is done by bisque-firing terracotta. It is then painted with an opaque, white glaze before it is fired again. At times, the manufacturers add nothing but a single clear glaze to enhance the natural color and beauty of the art pieces.
The oldest pieces of terracotta were allowed to harden and were baked under the searing heat of the sun. The latter pieces were fired right in the ashes of an open fire.
Another amazing property of terracotta is that it is able to withstand temperature changes. It is one of the materials that – even though made of earth, is not easily cracked.
One of the best things about terracotta is that it is readily available anywhere. Terracotta is, after all, just plain clay and mixed with minerals with lots of iron oxide.
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The Terracotta Trend
Since the year 2014, people have been seeing a lot of terracotta pieces. This is because of the emergence of industrial chic which uses a lot of natural, earthen pieces; and minimalism which showcases simplicity.
We also saw a lot of photographs of fresh rooms with monochromatic color schemes with – you guessed it right – pops of red or orange terracotta pieces. Country homes also use a lot of this material since they want to set up a home that is warm and welcoming.
Terracotta is widely used in many kitchens where it offsets the sterile looks that are offered by marble countertops. What could be a more stylish and inviting element than this?
Terracotta is also welcome in a Moroccan bathroom. Just imagine the turquoise blue walls being complemented by the rich terracotta textures.
If you want to have a unique bedroom, then go for a terracotta-inspired color palette.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, terracotta, terracotta colors, terracotta design, terracotta in interior design, terracotta material
Posted in Accents, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Terracotta Uses for Your Home
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