Monday, November 7th, 2016

Black is the color of midnight and so this CYNTHIA ROWLEY for HOOKER FURNITURE twin peak six-drawer chest on chest is perfect for Halloween.
Halloween is right around the corner – it’s that time for little ghouls and goblins to roam the streets and spook everyone. They can ask for candies, too. Get ready to hear scary stories and watch horror movies with your friends. Expect to see Jack o’ Lanterns, too. This year, you can also make a scary addition in your neighborhood by putting a creepy clown on your porch.
These are all modern takes on All Hallow’s Eve, a pre-Christian festival tracing all the way back to 2,000 years. The Celts held this at around November 1 and called it Samhain (pronounced sah-win), meaning, summer’s end.
The exact nature of this festival isn’t fully comprehended but one thing is certain – it is an annual gathering right at the end of the harvest. This is also that moment when resources are gathered to prep for the winter months. This is also a festival celebrated to commune with the dead.
Halloween reminds everyone about the concept of uncertainty and death. People are unafraid to dress up as the dead and they even set up fake grave markers on their front lawns. These are activities that are only tolerated during this holiday.
There might not be a direct connection between Samhain and present-day Halloween but what matters is that this has become a celebration of sorts.
So, it’s time to forget about fear or death and focus on how you can decorate your home into a haunted house just for this season.
Glittering Pumpkins
Who says pumpkins always have to be plain orange? Add a bit of drama and character to your good ol’ pumpkin by applying a metallic finish. Imagine having brass, silver or golden pumpkins. After making them shine, you can then sit them on your porch or right down the runner.
Black Cats
These will always be a part of Halloween décor. It’s time to welcome trick-or-treaters with a litter of black cats on your lawn. These can be carved out of pumpkins – solicit the help of older children for this fun project.
Shadows
You can create a shadowy area by using adhesive vinyl sheets in black. Use your garage door to recreate a shadowy Halloween section. You could have a group of vampires huddling or a creepy graveyard. What’s nice about this is that it can be easily removed after Halloween.
Ghosts Galore
You can also create some floating ghosts using chicken wire, cheese cloth and some liquid fabric starch. Make your ghost glow by putting a battery-operated fluorescent light in your formed figures. Elicit oohs and ahs with these spooky, glowing forms.
Candy Corn Décor
Halloween is all about trick-or-treats and candies. So go ahead and create a colorful candy corn décor that you could hang by the porch. Go a step further by creating a piñata that everyone could enjoy. Read about candy corn piñata-making here – http://www.brit.co/candy-corn-pinata/

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The Pumpkin Wreath
Now who says wreaths are just for Christmas? Instead of the joyful colors during this holiday season, you can create a pumpkin wreath instead. Find the smallest pumpkins or putka pods. Place this mini wreath on your front door and you’re ready to welcome the kid trick-or-treaters.
Stenciled Horror
Decorate your home’s Halloween interior by stenciling some pumpkin, spider webs, witches and goblins right on your walls. Search for stencil templates or buy ready-made wall stencils for your home.
Headless Horseman
Would you like to have the scariest door greeter this Halloween? Set up a smaller-than-life-size figure of a headless horseman right by your doorstep. There are links to step-by-step instructions online. Find the one that’s easiest for you or you can just have a headless mannequin all dressed up for a scarier door greeter.
Black Poison Bottles
Forget about cookie jars and horror terrariums. Old wine bottles shouldn’t be tossed, keep ‘em so that you can paint them matte black this season. Paste a handwritten label on each then display them on your wine rack.
Tags: fall, fall color palette, fall color scheme, fall decor, fall design, fall interiors, fall preparation, fall style, Halloween decor, Halloween decoration tips, Halloween design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, styling for fall, tips
Posted in Fall Season, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Saturday, November 5th, 2016

From FFDM’s Portfolio Collection.
The dining room has always been one of the easiest rooms to design – at least that’s what most homeowners think. But if you really want this room to stand out and be the talk of the town, then you should be ready to create an inspiring space.
From furniture to wallpaper, the dining room is often dressed up just as a cozy space with well-chosen colors. Don’t be afraid to experiment and use bold colors which would look great even in smaller rooms. Make use of statement wallpaper as well as charming window treatments.
Your dining room could be a space of indulgence but carefully consider other options as well. It is also a good idea to use wood flooring and to invest in a lot of storage. The dining room is going to be a very busy place (or it might already be) so be sure to design according to this concept.
Think about your choice of dining table, dining chairs, perhaps a bench, sideboard, and lighting fixtures. Would you be willing to invest in a chandelier?
Then do so.
Creating That Gorgeous Dining Space
There are some basic concepts to know if you want to come up with a charming yet practical dining area. Would you be using the area to welcome the company of good friends? Are you going to enjoy family gatherings there? Or would you want to just hold intimate meals for your immediate family?
Whatever your purpose, you should know some fundamental rules.
The right color palette should be chosen around the fact that the dining room is usually used during the evenings. So, natural lighting is not a major consideration here. Go ahead and use impactful and bold colors. These are just right when you are out to entertain people. Add soft lighting to intensify the rich tones and to create a more interesting ambience.
Correct lighting must be anything that’s flexible. The fixture should be able to provide ample lighting as you and your guests dine. If you have chosen to have a chandelier, then have it hung directly above the dining table. Its brightness must also be adjustable so that you would be able to control the moods during different phases of the dinner.
The dining room can also be a place for a dramatic statement. You can place interesting artworks on the walls. You can also install textured wallpaper to add some dramatic flair. It pays to know your signature style, though. Creating drama or invoking a certain mood in the dining room means you know what you want and you know how to get it.
You could be the type that loves clean lines or classic patterns on the walls. For these, you could use color infusion at its subtlest.
In contrast, there are people who love carvings and all things intricate. For such, it would be wise to use neutral to rustic color palettes and a more subdued backdrop so that what’s left to emphasize are the beauty of the furnishings.
It is also important to consider the layout of the dining space. Take the time to measure the room and then to account for windows, outlets and doors. The table that you bring in must be big enough to accommodate you and your family plus some guests should you decide to invite some people for dinner.

Another beautiful piece from FFDM’s Portfolio Collection.
Dining Room Furniture
The basic dining room furniture pieces include the table and dining chairs. You could choose to add a china cabinet for your silverware and chinaware. The table is the most prominent piece, though, so choose it well. The dining chairs should all fit around the table so that everyone’s going to be comfortably seated.
Finishing touches for your couture dining room are the most beautiful cutlery, glassware, table linen, centerpiece, perhaps a table runner and some candles.
Tags: dining, dining area, dining area guidelines, dining room furniture, furniture for dining room, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Dining Room Design, Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

FFDM’s Fusion Collection shows the shimmering beauty of gold yet again.
There is an ongoing trend that’s becoming more popular each day. People seem to be having a great interest in all things that are gold or brass. Those who love to wear jewelry know how thrilling these colors are especially if you combine them.
Gold and brass can provide a certain warmth and depth that no other color combinations could offer. Chrome, no matter how beautiful, won’t be able to achieve the luster that gold and brass attain.
The sad thing is, trends tend to die so how do you use this beautiful trend so that it becomes a part of something more lasting?
Making Gold and Brass Timeless
What’s great about interior design trends is that they tend to have a longer existence compared to seasonal fashion. In essence, you still have 10 or more years to use this beautiful color combination before this style goes down the drain.
So now that you’ve confirmed that you’re a huge fan of gold and brass, how do you think you can bring it home? Now don’t go panic buying all because you’ve seen the furnishings in vogue. Invest in pieces that show your maturity as a furniture buyer.
Be able to embrace quirkiness. Find objects that are fun and unique. These are the pieces that can add character and personality to your home.
So, once again, where would you put the gold-brass color combination?
Chandelier
The chandelier is one of the best pieces to infuse more shimmer and shine. Find an elegant chandelier that will add a pleasant eccentricity to the room. For example, pick one that’s not too heavy on metal but has a lot more of glass. Gold can then be used on the arms of the chandelier. This should give your dining room, den, living room or bedroom a touch of elegance.
The chandelier is no longer just for dining rooms anymore. Go ahead and use the glamour of this lighting fixture in other rooms.
Furnishings, Paint and Fabrics
Who wouldn’t fall in love with gold furniture? They’re one of the hottest items these days. Just look through interior design magazines and sites and you’d see how elegant the rooms suddenly become once gold furnishings are used.
But how would you be able to pull off this look without creating a tacky-looking home? Begin by swapping out the linens, curtains, pillows, area rugs and fabrics with ones that have gold hints or accents.

Hooker Furniture Living Room Melange Beaumarchais Chest
Table Runner
Tables in your home become instantly glamorized when you add a gold runner. This look will be perfect for any season but more so this coming holidays. Be sure to pair it with the best centerpiece so that the gold is accentuated in your dining room or living room.
Partner this table runner with some decorative balls, also in gold. Have them placed in a gold-rimmed tray or bowl to make your home even more glitzy.
Sparkling Accessories
Candles are supposed to burn but there are now pieces that are not meant to. Add a golden touch to your home décor by adding some gold candles on the table or placing them at end tables in your living room. Their shiny lights will go a long, long way.
Gold and Brass Hardware
Brass is definitely back. Don’t think of the ‘80s sort of brass fixtures but the brass pieces that are shinier and more modern-looking.
Brass or gold hardware can make a huge difference in any kitchen. The combination of both colors would add a formal touch to what would have been a modest kitchen.
Fashionable Frames
Gold and brass accents can be easily added on any wall or table by placing some picture frames. Just replace the frames of your current wall photos with gold borders. The more intricate and interesting the borders are, the more fashionable they’re gonna be.
May these gold-brass pieces up the level of glitz, glamour and fashion in your home as you consider some of the tips above.
Tags: chandelier, gold, gold accent, gold color scheme, gold in interior design, gold interior design, gold interiors, gold palette, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in 2016 Trends, 2017 Trends, Accents, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

Hooker Furniture Accents Fretwork Mirror: Imagine hanging this beauty on your accent wall!
No homeowner should be against having an interesting accent wall. This is one design element that would make your friends and family members rave. Having an accent wall is not painting three walls with something neutral and one wall with the color that you really wanted in the first place. Having this kind of wall means you want to amaze people, to draw some attention, and to make them marvel at what they see there. So how do you make an amazing accent wall?
Accentuate Architecture
Having an accent wall means you have to appreciate and know how to use the architecture of your home. This will actually serve as your guide so be able to point out the most interesting architecture. An example of this is the wall where the fireplace was built. Now that should automatically become your accent wall. Having the fireplace in one of the three other walls would make it snag the attention that’s supposed to be given to the purposed accent wall.
Choose a Logical Paint Color
Take the time to carefully choose your paint. The best places for an accent wall include the wall that anchors the bed, a reading nook, the end of a long hallway, the bookshelf wall, and of course, the wall where the fireplace is situated.
The trick here is to use the wall that would be the star of the show. But be careful in creating this design masterpiece as it could also overwhelm your interiors. An accent wall should be able to make a statement without overpowering the room’s theme. Know how to create a visual impact by choosing a color that is bold or fresh.
Finding the correct color can be a bit challenging. Find a wall that’s within eyesight when you are standing in an adjacent room. The color that you end up choosing will have two roles once you use it on your accent wall and also when you see it from across another room.
Your preference matters when you are out to pick your accent wall color. Just make sure that it would stand out and that you’re ready to make a dramatic statement.
If you ever decide to have bright-colored walls on the other three walls, then choose a dark color still from the same color scheme. If, however, your other three walls come in dark colors, then find an accent color that’s two hues lighter or even darker.
Be Creative…Draw!
Remember those days when you were still a toddler and your parents always said you can’t write on the walls? Well, now that you’re older, you can begin your creative wall project by featuring your favorite song lyrics right on your walls, the map of the world, or your artistic painting right on the wall.
So go ahead, take a ruler, find a paint pen and create. Should you find your drawings hideous, then you can always paint over them and start all over.
Wallpaper ‘Em
Don’t be limited to paint when it comes to beautifying your accent wall. Remember that you can also use wallpapers to set up an interesting accent wall. Just make sure to balance the colors throughout the room that you’re designing. All other elements must harmonize with your chosen wallpaper texture, pattern and color.
When you are refurnishing, be sure to coordinate also your décor and the fabrics. You could also use a charming flower arrangement using the accent color elsewhere in your room.

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Rainbows, Butterflies and All Things Nice
Create your own version of rainbow wall by using color swatches first. You then need to get these supplies –
Paint brush or roller
Painter’s tape
Ruler or measuring tape
Paint cans in rainbow colors
Step one is to measure your wall length, divide it equally into the number of colors in a rainbow, then paint. To create straight lines, be sure to use a measuring tape and to tape off every other hue using a pencil.
Let dry for 1-2 hours and you’d have achieved that memorable rainbow accent wall.
Tags: accent wall, designing an accent wall, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, wall, wall art, wall paint, wall painting
Posted in Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Wall Design | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 1st, 2016

Your bathroom paint will become more interesting if you hang these Uttermost Accessories Variegated Plants 33642 on the walls.
One of the most inexpensive ways to spruce up a bathroom – or any room for that matter – is to play with colors through painting. A lot of homeowners, however, are inexperienced when it comes to bathroom design. They find the color palette to be so extensive that they get intimidated by the mere sight of it. The great news is, all you need to do is to be introduced briefly to the color wheel, add a little creativity and you would be on your way to designing your dream bathroom.
Don’t Get Overwhelmed
Getting intimidated is the worst thing that can happen to you when you’re out to design something. Bolder colors – keep in mind – are colors that are opposites on the color wheel (e.g. orange and purple).
Soothing colors, on the other hand, are the monochromes or single colors. You can remove the orange in the purple-orange duo and replace it with lavender so that what you achieve are relative hues.
Proper Color Placement
Now that you are more comfortable with the color wheel, you should determine how these colors will be placed in your home. Don’t think that towels, area rugs and curtains are the only sources of color for your bathroom. These days, you can add colorful fixtures from the calmer pastels to the more energized bold hues.
There are also elaborate brass and copper faucets. Don’t stick to the traditional, you can go ahead and experiment. The most popular themes, these days, are those that have Mexican or Indian influences. Say no to rubber ducky and yes to area rugs and colorful bathroom walls.

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Pick Three Colors
As you become more and more comfortable in working with colors, you can now use the guiding principle in the creation of an awesome color scheme. Choose a neutral color, rich color and one accent color. Always think of the 70:20:10 ratios when distributing these colors respectively. This means that you use 70% of the lightest color, the second lightest should only be at 20% and the accent color should comprise but 10% of the entire color scheme.
Fuse Two Neutrals, Contrast Dual Brights
The ratio of proportion is also applicable in marrying two neutral colors. This time, use 70:30 where the lighter color still has the bigger percentage. Don’t forget to create a visual interest that includes interesting patterns. This could be as simple as a vein on the marble floor or a herringbone tile.
For a more energetic bathroom setup, consider using some brighter colors like blue and orange. These two are complementary colors on the color wheel. They are invigorating to the eyes and they provide the necessary excitement for your unique bathroom.
If you’re the traditional type who prefers a relaxing bathroom, then use the calmer colors such as whites, neutrals and pastels. Pick white as the main color for your tub, sink, trim and the central piece of furniture in this room.
Embrace Dark Colors
A lot of homeowners don’t just shy away from dark bathroom colors but they totally ignore them. Rich colors such as chocolate brown have the power to create a dramatic contrast especially in a space that’s filled with white fixtures and trims. Add another dose of a rich hue like green and what you’ve achieved is a more animated and contemporary look.
Don’t get nervous in putting darker colors especially in small rooms. You may have a small bathroom but you can easily offset the compacting power of dark colors by using mirrored lamps or a mercury glass. Doing so will make the bathroom less claustrophobic.
Go Green
Lastly, no modern home should say no to a greener space. Say yes to inspiring hues such as sea foam green or lemon yellow. Such colors could easily soften rough edges as well as solid, geometric shapes in your bathing space.
Tags: bathroom paint, home painting, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, painting, painting advice, painting guidelines, painting job, painting the bathroom, painting tips
Posted in Bathroom Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
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