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Monday, March 6th, 2017
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Melange Bondurant Cocktail Trunk serves as an empty nester’s fashionable storage unit.
Are you at a point in your life when all your kids have grown and have turned into independent adults? Then you are now officially an empty nester. What this often means is that you are left with a big, empty home. Retirement is also looming around the corner so this is the best time to consider downsizing – and this is for you and your spouse’s own good.
Downsizing an Empty Nest Means Right Sizing
This is your big step towards your journey to a more suitable home. A single or a couple should look forward to finding the right remodeling project or even another home that will provide their needs beyond retirement.
This means you have to find a smaller and more manageable home where you won’t have to sacrifice your lifestyle. This must be a home with features that meet your design requirements as well as other amenities that will help you as you age gracefully.
You might have a smaller home soon but it also means less time cleaning it up. Look at it as a chance to finally have ample time to check into more meaningful activities.
A downsized home must still have ample storage. This is a desirable element that you must first consider. Abundance of storage means you won’t have to worry about where to store the linens, the bedding, towels, shoes, etc.
You can have a walk-in closet built especially for your clothes, shoes and other accessories. You can also invest in a double vanity and expansive counters for the bathrooms. Just adjust the size since you won’t be sharing it with the children anymore or that you won’t be needing a lot of surface space.
Of course, clutter must never be an option in your new empty nester’s home.
Another feature that you also need to consider is the kitchen where you will be cooking your gourmet dishes. Still another is the entertaining area where you will receive family and friends (especially your toddler grandchildren).
Since you are transitioning into retirement, you must also seriously consider the safety features of your remodeled or new home. Your habitat must offer ample space but at the same time, it must have quiet spots where you can spend time reading or simply meditating.
Another feature that you need to consider is how safe your home will be. There are several factors that you need to look into such as properly installed smoke and heat detectors, burglar alarms, deadbolt locks, some fire extinguishers, updated electrical wiring systems, heating or cooling systems, lightning rods, and firewalls.
The stairs (if your new house has any) need to have safety handrails.
If you chose to move instead of remodel your home, it is also wise to check the neighborhood where you’re moving into. People tend to discover some rather nasty things about their neighbors only when they have already moved in so you might want to make a difference there.
How loud your neighbors might be often depends on factors such as a shared wall or the thinness of the material used for the window treatments. No matter, it pays to increase your privacy and to use screening plants so that your backyard would feel like a getaway and not a place where other people could pry.
Your retirement is also a great time to start a new hobby. You can begin collecting the things that you never had time to collect back in the day. Make room on your walls for artworks – perhaps even your own.
It is also beneficial for you and your partner to plan activities together while also attending to separate hobbies.
Tags: empty nester, empty nester's home, empty nesters, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, retiree's home, retirement home
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Tiny Homes | Comments Off on Designing the Empty Nesters’ Home: Why It’s Beneficial to Downsize
Monday, March 6th, 2017
Cozy up in the plush yet simple beauty of this English Sofa from the Biltmore Collection of FFDM.
Dark nights, the coldest days, even the flu, bring even the most positive people down. This is a great time to soothe away the winter blues. Here are some ways to make your home more exciting till spring finally arrives –
Schedule a Family Movie Night
Many homeowners dream of being able to travel once every year. But if this is not possible on your itinerary, then you can still take a vicarious trip through movie nights.
Have you seen The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie? You can bask under the Italian sun without actually going there as you see the scenic beauty of the Venice canal. Another movie that features a popular vacation spot is Diane Lane’s Under the Tuscan Sun.
Take your culture trip farther by viewing Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. In that movie, you can enjoy the beauty of Paris along with some of the most scrumptious French meals.
Force Open Branches
Who says you have to wait for spring before you can see lovely blossoms? There is a way of opening up blossoms coming from your yard to be used bouquets in your home. The flowering branches can be taken from trees and woody shrubs, be cut and forced open.
To do this, look for nice, big flower buds then use your pruners to have the branches cut.
Hammer the branch bottoms or slit an inch for each one then place them in a bucket of lukewarm water complete with floral preservative.
Place the bucket in a cool, dark area in your home then change the water each day. You should be able to see a change within the week. These can then be arranged as colorful branches in ceramic or glass vases.
Visit the Farmers’ Market
If you have been postponing your visit to the local farmers market, then this is the perfect time to do so. Be sure to pull out a spring recipe that you have been keeping before you go. You’ll find out that you will soon be inspired to keep the kitchen warm and to entice everyone’s senses with your home cooked meals.
Prep for Daylight Saving Time
Spring ahead means getting ready by slowly adjusting your bedtime and nightly rituals back a few minutes every evening. You can also choose to get up earlier a few minutes each morning.
This may sound like work to most people but you are already making adjustments which will give you an extra hour to spend on a bike ride or even an evening stroll with a loved one. You can even spend the nights in front of a fire pit with your friends.
Open Your Windows
It is sometimes easy to feel depressed when your work schedule does not allow you to get as much sun. if you happen to have a workspace right by the window, then open those shades and be sure to angle your work desk towards the sun. Be sure to bask in it for a few minutes at least.
If you’re not blessed to have this office space by the window, then be sure to eat your lunch as you sit on a bench soaking under the warm sun. If this is still not possible, then ask your boss to have a faux LED skylight installed. This is known to make employees’ moods more pleasant and also helps in improving productivity by up to 15-percent.
Go Out and Shop
And what better way is there to beat the winter blues than to go out and shop? Check out our latest inventory close out sale here.
Tags: getting rid of winter blues, goodbye winter blues, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for spring, prepping for spring
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Spring Season | Comments Off on Chasing the Winter Blues Away: 6 Cozifying Tips to Follow
Friday, March 3rd, 2017
See the beauty of brown on brown on this setting: Hooker Furniture Dining Room Sattler Display Cabinet against a neutral background.
Does brown make you feel warm or secure? It is true that colors evoke certain psychological reactions and they can even strongly influence the way people behave. Brown is a hue that looks earthy and solid but with the wrong usage, it could look boring or dull.
Light browns like beige are usually used as a neutral backdrop in interior design and in fashion. It is a natural color that can be used to evoke a sense of reliability and strength. It can also be seen as a symbol of resilience, safety and dependability.
The downside of brown is that it can also create feelings of sadness, loneliness or melancholy. When used in large quantities, brown also could look too conventional or empty.
So, how should you effectively use brown in your home?
Brown Is Not Ordinary
You have to come to a point when you admit that brown is not an everyday kind of fashion. The bathroom can have a darker shade of brown with a tinge of orange to depict a relaxed and cozy ambience. This might not seem to contribute much as you try to imagine it now but during winter, picture yourself entering a powder blue bathroom?
Now you get the purpose of brown and orange, right?
Brown Means Comfy
Brown is the color of a hot mug of cocoa or a burnt bricks. This is the color that has the power to create nostalgic feelings. Use this color in a bedroom where you would want such emotions to arise. This can also be used throughout your home especially when you want to create a cozy ambience.
Brown Fusions
Take note that brown is a hue that is best enhanced by a contrast of white. A wainscot in a bathroom can have the winning combination of chocolate brown and white. Minus the white walls, this bathroom will feel dark – just dark, not dramatic.
Nature has provided an amazing display of inspiration during fall. It is best to capture those hues and experience fall all year round. Use yellows, oranges and deeper greens with warm tones of brown. This can be repeated throughout your home.
The best and most practical choice is to invest in a wooden furniture or a brown, leather sofa. Create some energy in your space by putting in some interesting artwork, decorative accents and throws. These accessories must come in shades of amber, rust and mustard.
When brown marries blue, you would realize what the term complement really means. The cool tone of blue balances the sturdy look of brown. Use blue also if you want to add a modern flair in a mainly brown, traditional setting.
When you use brown with pastel colors such as pink and blue, you get a dose of sophistication. Here, pastels won’t appear too youthful, instead, it will add to the drama of brown fabrics and wooden furniture.
The triad of blue, green and brown is an energetic combination. The cooler colors (blue and green) tend to balance the strength of brown.
Rejuvenate your home with this wonderful color trio. Pick patterned accent chairs, colorful pillows and window panels.
For warm-colored palettes, fuse a lot of taupes, tans, mid-browns and any accent color. Yellow artworks and bright-colored accent pillows will surely do wonders in a background of neutrals.
Have you ever thought that brown could go with purple? Well, it can. Just think of those dark stains on your wooden cabinets then pair them with beautiful plum walls. This union would provide a depth that reaches a different level of drama in your home.
Lastly, what could be best paired with brown than other calculated layers of this same color? Wood furniture will look great under ambient lighting, framed art, traditional rug and brown textiles.
Tags: brown, brown color palette, brown interiors, browns, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Brown: Meaning and Pairings
Friday, March 3rd, 2017
The American Leather Living Room Grant-Sectional shows the traditional button tufting.
Imagine that you’re in a time machine and you’re on your way to the 1960s. You are likely to see your parents’ leather couch complete with tufting. Till today, tufted couches are still viewed as a classy piece of furniture. This is the ultimate piece of Mid-century modern furniture.
Tufted sofa comes in four different styles –
Biscuit Button
The name pretty much says it all – biscuit button tufts form square-shaped folds which look like biscuits. To make these folds, it is important for the artisan to be consistent in achieving the linear look.
Tufting is easy to create when a couch has removable cushions.
Diamond Button
Diamond button tufting is the most common leather couch tufting. This is similar to biscuit tufting; the main difference are the buttons that are placed on intervals in order to create a diamond effect. Leather couches look great with this kind of tufting.
Single Button
This kind of tufting was seen mostly during the ‘60s. Most sofas back then had a single tufted line that exudes classiness on so many levels. This simple patterns needs less buttons and even less manual labor compared to the previous styles.
The key to making this tufting look amazing despite its simplicity is to have proportional spacing on top and below the tufted line. The tufting line must also be situated right in the middle of the sofa cushions.
Buttonless
Compared to the last three styles which require buttons, this style – as its name suggests – does not need any actual buttons. This is a wonderful style for people who are not a huge fan of buttons.
In place of the buttons, the buttonless tufted couch comes with embroidery thread. This is then bundled to create a button-like feature.
And who says tufting can only be done on leather? This Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture Wallis 2 Cushion sofa proves how fabric also stands supreme with tufting.
Tufting Benefits
The wonderful thing about tufting is that they can be removed should you get tired of the tufted look. Cut the threads the moment that you want a different look. You are then free to customize the look, though this is the best look for a leather couch.
Leather sofas are comfortable no matter where you place them – whether you use them inside the living room or in the bedroom. A strong reason why people buy leather couches is because they last through so many years. Also, they come in many types and models.
Leather sofas are also not prone to warping. The best kind of leather – the natural ones – can even breathe. In winter, you can keep yourself warm while you would feel cooler during the summer months.
Tufted leather couches are also made by the best artisans. This may be a long process but it is worth the wait. It can take as long as 2 ½ hours for a single chair to be tufted. A sofa takes approximately four hours.
There isn’t a single machine on the planet that can mimic the look that’s done by the best artisans. Plus, upholsterers show the patience and skills that no machine could match. Imagine having to attach one button at a time then tied together with a one-way slipknot. This prevents the knot from pulling out or being loosened.
Buttons, believe it or not, are actually a recent addition to the tufting technique. Wads of silk or wool were used in the 1800s to anchor each of the folds.
Once you realize how much painstaking labor is offered by each furniture maker, you will have a deeper appreciation for careful measurements and the beauty of human touch. So once you invest in a leather couch, be sure to vacuum it with care, protect it from the elements and have it displayed in the best possible area where it will be appreciated.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sofa tufting, tuft, tufted leather, tufted leather couch, tufted sofa, tufting, tufting types
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Tufting: Get Retrofied
Thursday, March 2nd, 2017
The enigmatic look and feel of Safari style is perfectly depicted in this Lexington Living Room ensemble. You gotta love the bench!
When designing, it is so easy to be consumed by lines, colors, shapes, patterns and textures. There are activities that bring about inspiration such as riding in a car and staring out of the windows. In there, with the right inspiration, you tend to notice the skyline, structural shapes, even simple things such as the reflection of the sun. So, if you’re lacking the inspiration at the moment, why not try exceptional elements for a change?
Back in the day, men and women used the skins of animals for protection and warmth. Are you going back to this primitive past when you decide to use animal prints in your home?
Animal Print: A Look Back in Time
Throughout history, monarchs and nobles have already used animal prints on their rugs and carpets. This was a status symbol just as much as animals were mounted as trophies.
Animal print has an enigmatic look that offers the look of aristocracy, power as well as success. This is the ancient sign of power and wealth – keep that in mind. Just picture the tribal chieftains with their wooden thrones – what do you see draped over those seats of power?
You’re correct to say – animal prints.
In the ‘40s, there was a noticeable advent of the animal print in the world of fashion. Women’s movements were emerging then and so was the look that spelled supremacy. Cheetah print was huge back then.
A decade later, in the ‘50s, Christian Dior became fascinated with the leopard print. So the cheetah print faded into the background and leopard print went right smack onto the center stage. No woman was considered fashionable without a single leopard print in her wardrobe.
In the ‘60s, a totally new revolution came up with the hippies taking over the world of fashion. Back then, exotic animal fur patterns became the big thing. Women’s apparel showed the most rebellious colors. The ongoing concept was to become an easy rider.
The perilous side of animal print was shown in the ‘70s. The punk movement brought back the leopard prints in accessories. Another in thing was the use of torn cheetah print pair of stockings. It was definitely fashionable to listen to rebellious music.
Still in the ‘70s, nightgowns were also infused with interesting animal prints, so were the undies, jumpsuits, and bell bottoms. Zebra prints were seen on platform shoes.
The ‘80s still showed the dominance of animal prints though we would rather forget the fashion statements during that time.
Now let’s see how you can use animal prints in your home –
Stripes Galore
The zebra stripes rug is the ultimate addition to a mainly neutral home. The lines of the zebra print inevitably draw the eyes toward the fusion of colors. Place a lovely desk and a carefully chosen piece of art to complete the look for your living room or home office.
Print Pairing
If you can’t decide whether to have zebra, cheetah or leopard print, well, you’re not alone. Try to pair different prints but within the same color palette. This is so the place will still have a cohesive look.
Find a tiger rug, some cowhide ottomans then have zebra pillows for your living room. Mix a tinge of orange, brown and tan to add some interesting contrast.
The Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Floor Lamp 1851-515 has a lovely leopard shade paired with the sturdiness of bronze.
Relaxed Rustic
If you’re anxious that animal prints won’t match your current style, then have no fear. Even rustic bedrooms would look refreshed with dashes of animal prints on a few accessories. A cowhide rug also pairs well with yellow and gold accents. Place a metallic figurine on a nightstand to finish the look.
Tags: animal print, animal prints, cheetah print, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tiger print, zebra print
Posted in Accents, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Animal Print: Designing and Paying Attention to Surroundings
Thursday, March 2nd, 2017
Place this Hooker Furniture Bedroom Skyline Bench in the middle of the walk-in closet to complete the look.
There was a point in time – believe it or not – when humans did not store their clothing inside closets. The walk-in closet, no matter how glamorous, was not always in existence; in fact, it just took form in the recent years.
Wardrobe History
As textiles and clothing technology evolved, worn clothing became a lot easier to manufacture, hence, there was an increase in cabinets’ decorative qualities. More and more people saw the need to own sets of clothing and these, of course, needed storage solutions.
Different cultures showed different progression in terms of clothing storage. Ancient Egyptians, for instance, stored their clothing inside woven baskets that were made out of reeds. Makes you think of Moses and where he was placed into as a baby, right? The wealthy used alabaster chests instead of these not-so-durable baskets.
The wealthy Greeks, on the other hand, kept their clothes inside wooden chests. The Romans also used the same material for their chests but they took the design further by inventing the walk-in closet of sorts with their armorium.
This basic wooden box used to be carried everywhere to transport the Romans’ weapons and armors. This box evolved to become an expensive, ornate chest that the wealthy wanted to keep.
The Birth of Walk-in Closets
During the 1870s, hanging rods were eventually installed inside wardrobes. Ancient hangers soon followed and it was around 1880 when, in Dakota, an apartment building finally showed some reach-in closets. These were specifically designed for clothes.
It is not that easy to prove the exact point when walk-in closets came into its full existence. European monarchs had so many clothes that can fit into entire rooms so it was just a matter of time before someone realized that the solution is a storage room and not mere closet.
In the U.S., specifically in Park Avenue showed a new level of cabinetry where electrical outlets, locked doors and shelves come aplenty.
Going back to the ‘50s, the closets became more popular with a lot of lower to middle class homes requiring these as a standard part of their homes. A few authorities suggested that the suburban moves brought about the onset of big closets.
In the ‘80s, the revolutionary walk-in closet became more popular with the closet industry soaring ever higher. Most walk-in closets have been born in pop culture, with one being featured on Mariah Carey’s appearance in the show Cribs.
Choose Your Style
Be sure to continue your style from your bedroom or the bathroom to your walk-in closet. Pick complementary colors for your paint, accessories and art pieces. Be sure to achieve a smooth flowing style throughout the rooms.
Should you have a contemporary bedroom, then be sure to keep the finishes of your walk-in closet in the same hue but with a different shade or tone.
What’s a walk-in closet without this Biltmore mirror?
And Then There Was Light
What is a walk-in closet without proper lighting? Task lighting is the best kind of lighting for this room though this does not mean that you should not consider decorative lights, too. You can choose to hang pendants or install sconces along with track lighting to illuminate this new room. Place baseboard lights so you can display your boots and other shoes on the floor.
Storage within a Storage
You can get creative by having decorative hooks installed in your walk-in closet. Place additional storage boxes or woven baskets to hold accessories such as scarves or belts. Handbags and shoes can be used as decorative elements on their own. Hat boxes as well as fabric shoeboxes are also practical ways to store items.
So, are you ready to set up your own walk-in closet?
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, walk-in closet, walk-in closets
Posted in Accents, Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on The Walk-in Closet for the Fabulous You
Wednesday, March 1st, 2017
The Jessica Charles Bedroom Lexi Vanity Chair 358
Have you ever wondered what vanities are used for these days? Between hair and skin care accessories, jewelry and makeup, there are many other stuff that you need in a jiff. But when you have a cluttered dresser or vanity, it can get frustrating to find the right paraphernalia. If you want your time to get ready to be cut down in half, then you need to learn to organize your makeup vanity.
Day Spa
You can outfit a makeup vanity into a simple yet luxurious bathroom or bedroom piece. You can have a white cabinet complete with silver fixtures and marble accents. To make this piece all yours, have it reveal a part for makeup, brushes and other accessories. Also, have the mirror cleaned so that you get to see your glamorous reflection without smudges.
Lavish Style
You can also infuse an oval desk as well as a framed mirror to a corner of the master bathroom. This can serve as your separate makeup area. Have the silk curtains sewn with beads and have a pair of decorative lamps brought in. Just make sure to check on the electrical wiring so that no one gets electrocuted.
You will surely love preparing in this area in the next mornings.
Timeless
Many makeup areas have been built inside bathrooms. These are often just lowered continuations of the countertop. A lot of designers, on the other hand, still set up the classic, elegant look by creating the makeup vanity right into the cabinetry.
This separate dressing or makeup area can easily become the most amazing part of your master bath. Just install an antique-like mirror, a chair with ornate design, plus some perfume bottles and accessories and you’re good.
Feminine and Contemporary
You can also have a sit-down makeup counter that’s nestled between two vanities. This spot can have its own mirror, a pullout drawer and additional storage for more makeup and accessories. Use two wall sconces for a more dramatic effect.
Now that you’ve achieved the feminine part, it’s time to work on the contemporary features. Create a subway-tiled backsplash right on the back wall then have some bronze fixtures brought in. These should contrast well with surrounding white fixtures.
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Vitalia 3 Light Bronze Vanity Strip 22860
Practical and Purposeful
Many kitchen and bath designers encourage their clients to install lowered vanity such as a makeup area in unused spaces in the bathroom. There is something really lovely and luxurious in having a dressing table in the bathroom. Its extra low counter is suitable for seating choices while still appearing to be cohesive with the rest of the fixtures.
Have a power outlet installed to your makeup vanity so that you can use your hair dryer, even charge your smart phones while dolling up.
Parisian Getaway
You can also take a Parisian tour right inside your bathroom or bedroom. Feature four walls with Parisian cabinetry. You can have this European haven installed in your home when you have two sinks sandwich a makeup vanity. Have an upholstered bench facing it but tucked away when it is not in use.
Complete the posh surrounding by installing a flat screen TV on the wall. Have a two-way mirror fitted so you don’t get to miss a thing.
Farmhouse Appeal
Who says vanities have to be posh all the time? If you want to play the country farm girl role to a T, then you can also set up a cottage retreat. This simple yet still romantic dressing room should come with pastel palette and floral wallpaper.
No matter what time it is, this area can be filled with light coming from a sky roof. Add some candelabra sconces and jewelry storage to hold all your pearls and diamond collections.
Tags: decorating a vanity, makeup vanity, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, vanity table, vanity tables
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on Makeup Vanity – Invest or Set Up?
Wednesday, March 1st, 2017
Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture Wallis 2 Cushion Sofa: Here’s that blue couch example with whitewashed walls perfectly framing it.
A lot of people love a good burst of color. Colors are powerful in creating emotions and setting up the right ambience. Yet the idea of being left to pick a paint for the accent wall – let alone the entire house – could be a little too much for some.
Whether you are going to paint an urban space, suburban or a country habitat, the methods are quite the same. When picking colors using paint chips, be sure to choose your favorite. Choose a darker and a lighter shade as well.
Colors can look brighter on walls but not so much when still on a tiny chip. You could get overwhelmed by what your eventual choice would be so be careful in making your decision.
Colors You Wear
If you live in an urban area, it would be wrong to have a wardrobe that does not have white, black and other neutrals. So take a careful look in your closet and find out what colors dominate. If you have loads of denims, then a blue palette would be great in your urbanized home.
If you’re a diverse dresser, then create a palette that equally diverse. Have a color for each occasion or season, even for each mood.
Have a Color Backbone
Just like any sturdy framework, your color palette must also have a backbone. The colors that you choose will support the rest of the design elements. For instance, you can have cream walls framing your pink couch. Or you can have orange accents in a mainly black ambience.
Keep in mind that you can always repaint. You can play with colors and repaint as often as you like. You can have a lovely accent wall one time or have all four walls painted in one hue.
This year, lime green, emerald green, and turquoise are piping hot.
Strategize
When picking a color palette, it pays that you also employ some strategy. Get inspired by stuff that you see in the city. If you live in a rural area, be sure to check out the meadows and landscapes. Let the skies inspire you. Find a photo or a work of art that will help narrow down your color options.
Take a careful look at the paintings that are now hanging on your walls – you will soon notice that there is a particular hue that you have been naturally drawn to.
Cool, light and pale colors regress to make a room appear larger. Deeper and darker colors expand so they tend to make rooms appear smaller. A lot of spaces ask for rich, dark colors so find out what your room requires.
Even huge swatches of paint cannot compare to an actual paint test. Before committing, be sure that you paint on the actual work or you end up doing a lot of guesswork.
Lighting conditions will also affect the color’s eventual appearance. Test the color in shadowy areas as well as under direct light. Observe also how the paint looks like during the day and also at night. Switch to artificial light if natural light does not complement the color of paint that you are going to pick.
FFDM’s Viniterra Collection shows this King Mantle Bed perfectly nestled in equally neutral walls. You won’t see colors clashing in this lovely bedroom photograph.
Visualize
Another essential step to picking the right color of paint is to plan the color that you want for the rest of your home. Never ever choose a wall color after picking your furnishings. So, if you have fallen in love with a navy blue sofa, there’s no longer any point in painting the room red, is there?
Don’t be anxious that you would be left with zero options because of the many factors that you need to consider. Remember that you have almost every color of the spectrum at your disposal.
Tags: choosing paint, home painting, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, paint, painting a home, painting project, painting task, picking paint
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Paint-Picking, Experimenting, and Liking It
Tuesday, February 28th, 2017
The American Leather Living Room Aiden Chair ADN-CHR-ST has the right fabric, color and framework to fit inside a lovely pool cabana.
A cabana is any tent-like, small structure that has been designed to provide shade. This is often used by the beach or alongside a beautiful pool. Apart from providing shade, these can also double as dressing rooms. There are cabanas that are used as a mini kitchen for people who are enjoying the pool. Cabanas can be temporary or a permanent structure.
When you live in an area that has a lovely tropical climate, the cabana is sure to be at home. Build yours with those thatched roofing though if you’re planning to have one near the pool, then have framed aluminum, wood or steel. If you want plastic, then you can also go ahead and do so.
Cabana Sizes
There are many sizes for a cabanas. The small cabana can be as little as four by four feet or about 1.2 meters by 1.2 meters. This resembles a tiny bathroom.
A big cabana, on the other hand, can be as huge as a hospital suite which is about 10 x 10 feet. This is around 3.05 meters by 3.05 meters. There are also options that are 12” x 12” or 3.7 by 3.7 meters.
Cabana Amenities
In terms of amenities, cabanas have a lot to offer; some just come as basic structures that just keep the sun’s rays from burning your skin but there are also those that have curtains to offer a bit more of privacy. Still some include air vents, even electrical wiring so that you can have ceiling fans installed or even have a TV included.
Most cabanas come with exterior-grade fabrics. This cloth’s main purpose is to keep the sun’s rays out and also to provide some form of protection from rain. Don’t think that the flimsy curtain keep you dry during a storm, though. If you want to be protected even in such weathers, then find the pool cabanas that have more elaborate designs. These come with walls made of harder materials such as wood.
Inside the pool cabana, you can also unleash your creativity. Go ahead and have it furnished to your liking. Have some chairs inside complete with a cozy table to hold some drinks. Larger cabanas could even be installed with a bathroom and some running water.
Cabana Paint
If you choose to create a cabana by the pool and have it made of wood, then you can stylize it further by having it painted. Change the color according to the season; experiment; mix and match.
The Ornate Cabana
There are many methods of designing your pool cabana. Customize it according to your taste. Get carved wooden posts to create a distinctive cabana. You can also have iron or steel molding with ornate designs. Ask the help of a professional installer for a sturdier structure.
Cabana Lighting
A basic decorative touch for the pool cabana is the addition of lighting. Use fairy lights and have them coiled around those customized posts. You can also have a small pendant light set up if you have a working electrical system already in place.
‘Feeling more fabulous? Why not go all the way with a chandelier?
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Melange Flowered Drum Table is an outdoor charm that can make a wonderful accessory to your pool cabana.
Fortifying Your Pool Cabana
If you want to make sure that your cabana is able to stand up to winds and the torrential rains, then be sure to set metal posts. Determine the right size for the four posts. Begin by digging 14” x 2’ deep holes. Pour concrete to the bottom of every hole then set a 6×6 redwood post.
Attach the post then pour dry concrete all around it. Use a level to check the posts also to make sure that they are perfectly lined up.
Tags: cabana, cabana design, decorating a cabana, designing a cabana, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, pool cabana, stylize a cabana
Posted in Outdoors Style | Comments Off on The Pool Cabana – A Getaway Within a Getaway
Tuesday, February 28th, 2017
Uttermost Living Room Driftwood Glass Top Cocktail Table 25519
Teak is a renowned wood that is used by a lot of artisan furniture makers and bought by a lot of homeowners worldwide. This has led to deforestation of teak which is why its harvest is now being controlled in many areas. So, why is teak such a desirable material?
Teak Is Strong
Teak is a kind of hardwood. This means it is durable, sturdy and could easily withstand extreme cold and heat. This is also an excellent wood for use in manufacturing outdoor furniture. This can even be used as a material for an heirloom piece should you decide to have teak furniture indoors.
Teak is quite durable which is why it is unlikely that it would have rot or be eaten by termites.
Be able to choose the right type of teak for your furniture. The best quality should have ample quantities of rubber and oil. Such pieces can take on rigidity tests in your home and even outdoors.
Teak Is Beautiful
What makes teak charming is the color of its grain. This is one of the most attractive materials for homeowners and furniture makers. When used outdoors, teak will achieve a silvery-gray color while those that are used indoors can be oiled to retain their golden color.
Since it is super strong, it is a viable material to use for most artisans. Compared to most softwoods, it also offers a lot of options in terms of look.
Teak Is Adaptable
Teak is naturally resistant to termites and the natural elements. This makes it an adaptable wood, one that can easily resist moisture. Since it is too strong, teak does not splinter easily. This is also the reason why shipbuilders trust this material – this has been so for centuries.
For home applications, you can have a sturdy teakwood dining room table, bedroom cabinets, and the best patio furniture.
Uttermost Accessories Teak Horse Sculpture 17083
What’s Real Teak?
It is crucial to know some facts that will help you check if you are purchasing real teak furniture. Of course, it pays to buy only from reputable dealers. Check out our best teakwood pieces – here.
Teak is a hardwood that will not succumb to warping and splitting. So don’t fall for those must-have pieces that are actually priced moderately because you will end up buying non-teak.
Do your research and don’t be duped into buying teak like wood or family of teak. Real teak has dense and an extremely grained wood. It also has natural oil content which preserves the wood for many decades.
Another telltale sign that you are buying the real deal is the price. Teak patio or indoor furniture is never cheap. This is because furniture valuation is based on durability and with teak, you are in furniture heaven. There are very few materials that are as durable as this premium hardwood.
Teak Has a Rich History
The first record that showed teak being mentioned was in the 4th century. Since then, the world has fallen in love with this durable and charming material. The Middle Ages have seen a lot of teak especially in shipbuilding.
Teak is also loved by shipbuilders because it can resist rust, even corrosion. Countless ancient benches have also been constructed out of this sturdy material. These days, there are a lot of chairs and benches in England that are made of century-old teak.
Teak Today
Today, teakwood is still used in shipbuilding and in the manufacture of patio and garden furniture. This is almost indestructible because of its hardness and high oil content. Most construction projects these days also favor this material.
Teak comes from Southeast Asia and it takes almost four decades for each tree to come to maturity. So the next time you run your hands through the smooth surface of teak furniture, cherish that wonderful feeling for a moment and know that this piece will live a long, long, long time.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, teak, teak furniture, teak furniture pieces, teakwood
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Everything Teak
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