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Friday, January 4th, 2019
The Wesley Allen Bar and Game Room Everton Counter Stools: The minimalist nature of this dining set makes it imperative to maintain a clean space.
The start of the New Year is often seen as an opportunity to begin anew. If you’re also planning on taking advantage of this fresh start, then you need to tackle a few things that should have been a part of your past. The non-essentials or clutter should have been purged even before the New Year had set in.
Redefine Your Path
Try to remember why you need to declutter in the first place. Would you like to be able to find things more easily? Would you like to experience peace around your home? Or would you like to welcome a lot of guests this year that you would want your place to be close to godliness.
Plan to Declutter
Probably the biggest obstacles when it comes to decluttering are not knowing where to begin and which pieces need to go. Perhaps you already have a huge pile of unused or rarely used stuff, so it could get disheartening to gaze upon. And, mind you, the longer they remain in their storage boxes, the more that it gets difficult to bring them out.
Since this is so, you should have a workable strategy for cleaning up unwanted pieces. Don’t complicate your approach. In fact, the simpler it is, the likelier that you’d be able to do it, so go ahead and find the items that you can still donate or sell.
Biggest Pieces Leave First
Getting rid of the biggest pieces of furniture will surely create instant space. This freed up space can even be used as an area to gather the clutter. So before you even get to throw baby clothes and toys, find the bulkiest items first such as furniture, sports equipment or even strollers.
Don’t Shop…For Now
Since you’re aiming to have more space in your house, it is best to not shop for now. Complete the purging first before you even begin to acquire new items. If you’re overly tempted to shop, then just create a wish list for now. Save this list and bring it out only when the decluttering project is done.
Your Personal Clutter First
You will soon notice that your spouse or child even accumulated more clutter than you. But before you begin battling their clutter, begin by cleaning yours first. Just as they say when you’re about to fly, you should put the oxygen mask on you first. You can only help others if you’re already okay.
Now that that’s settled, how would you like to begin? Would you like to do it with baby steps or would you like to do it all at once? You know yourself best and there are no rules that are set in stone when it comes to cleanups.
No Pressure
While you said yes to decluttering in just one go, you should not pressure yourself to finish at once. If it really isn’t realistic to do everything at once, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Your sanity is more important than finishing the task on schedule and there are many more things in life than this cleanup.
Always go back to the very purpose of this declutter which is to celebrate in a New Year with a cleaner space.
Which Do You Love?
You are the owner of all the stuff in your home. Whether you have signed up to become a minimalist or not, the amount of stuff that you get to keep in the end still depends on which ones you would want to keep.
The simple rule is this – if you’re struggling to justify keeping a certain piece, then it is time to let it go.
Tags: declutter, decluttering, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, New Year cleanup
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Purging the New Year Clutter
Thursday, January 3rd, 2019
The Uttermost Accessories Matty The Cow Animal Art 41917 makes it easier to embrace this year’s Pantone Color – Living Coral. It is a more subdued version of the hue so it’s easier on the eye while still visually delicious.
The Pantone Color of the Year is both vividly bold and soft; it can be warm and comforting while, at the same time, beautifully buoyant. Get ready to welcome – Living Coral.
Also known as Pantone 16-1546, Living Coral is a spirited and appealing. Those who have a playful attitude and spirit will surely love this delicious color.
Living Coral, according to Pantone, represents the harmony between modern life and nature. It is also the color of the liveliness of social media.
Pantone Color of the Year: The Beginning
For 20 years now, Pantone has been influencing product improvement and has affected many purchasing decisions in varying industries including the world of fashion, industrial design, and furnishings.
The selection of the color is a thorough process that includes many thoughtful decisions and analyses of trends. This trends analyses could include looking at films, travels, works of new artists, artworks, and many other areas of design.
Other influences include textures, new technology, and social media platforms.
Pantone Color Institute is the unit in charge of emphasizing trending runway hues and color forecasts. This Color Institute works together with global brands to sway the psychology and color emotion in design strategies.
Let’s Use Living Coral
There are five color palettes that could fuse well with Living Coral. Use these and you will surely bring out the flexible nature of this beautiful shade.
The first on the list is Pantone 15-4003 or Storm Gray. Gray is a subdued color that will tone down the bright nature of Living Coral. Gray is there to create balance.
Pantone 19-5230 or Forest Biome. Forest biome is actually a term used to generally describe coniferous forests, mixed leaf forest and deciduous forests. The three types that are classified according to latitude are temperate, tropical, and taiga or Boreal forests.
This delicious green will further excite the vibrant Living Coral so it is awesome for rooms that are in need of energy and activity.
The next set of hues that you can partner with Living Coral is Martini Olive or Pantone 18-0625, Mauvewood (which looks relatively close to this year’s Pantone Color), Twill, and Beluga.
Now, don’t be afraid of this mellow color. This orange peace shade is perfect for people who are optimistic. It is a hue that promotes happiness, integrity, self-respect, longevity, to name a few.
Stress reduction is also a known benefit.
Living Coral is vibrantly fresh so you can use it in rooms that need to be energized. This can be used on bathroom tiles so that the room looks more refreshing. If used as a focal point, it can be painted on a wall to draw attention. This feature wall will surely become a classic so use it when you want the room to become an instant hit.
How about a Living Coral rug? Any dreary space is sure to come to life if this is the color that you’d choose.
It can also be the color of a major piece of furniture. Now picture this – a room with pink walls that is perfectly balanced by the furnishings that come in the darker shade of Living Coral.
Since this shade can also be playful, you can use it in the hallway or in kids’ playrooms. Pair it with nude hues to create the perfect welcoming work. In the living room, Living Coral is the right accent that is the perfect companion to indigo and deep teals. It becomes a warm shade as it is paired with cooler blue shades.
If Living Coral is too vibrant for your taste, then try finding a lighter shade of peach. This should still help you embrace the trend.
Tags: 2019 Pantone Color of the Year, Living Coral, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Pantone 16-1546, Pantone Color of 2019, Pantone color of the year
Posted in 2019 Trends, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Living Coral: The Hub of Color Schemes This 2019
Thursday, January 3rd, 2019
It’s just a few days into 2019 so any New Year’s resolutions that you made are still fresh. The whole concept of making resolutions when the year changes started in ancient Babylon some 4,000 years ago; they were the ones who made promises to their gods so they can be bestowed with favors.
The practice of making New Year’s resolutions was also evident among Romans. January is the month that was named after Janus, the two-faced god, who looked backwards and straight into the future. The Romans promised to behave well in the coming year as they made offerings to this god.
The earliest Christians had the tradition of assessing their past mistakes and having the resolve to do better with each New Year. John Wesley, an English clergyman, founded Methodism which had watch night services.
The watch night services held each New Year’s Eve were often done with prayers and making resolutions.
Life-Altering New Year’s Resolutions
If you’re thinking of resolutions as mere opportunities for change, then we’ll have to improve that perspective a bit. It can also be an avenue for happiness and eventual closeness in your family.
One of the life-changing resolutions that you can promise is to spend more time with your family. Another is to improve the communication in your home. A third probable resolution is to spend fewer hours on your gadgets and to be nicer to other people.
And here’s another way to alter your life this year – redesign your home.
Why Redesign or Redecorate
First, your home is where your very being should be. If your house already looks worn down or old, then it easily becomes forgettable. There are many reasons why you should bring out the true potential of your home.
Having a new look is a good reason to redecorate. The level of freshness or newness will certainly breathe a new life to a tired-looking space.
A second reason to redecorate is to set up a space where you’ll be motivated to become productive (if it’s a home office) or be well rested when you’re setting up a bedroom.
Adding depth and dimension to a space is as easy as reexamining the current design elements. An upgrade is also the answer to a home that’s been ravaged by pets over the years. Having a home that’s been decorated for kids also needs to be updated. It would be shocking to still find cartoon character wallpaper inside your 15-year old son’s room.
Purging clutter could also be the reason behind a simple redecoration. Or it could be to try the look that’s being offered by a new designer.
Shop for New Furniture
People change furniture if they want to maintain or increase the level of comfort in their lives. After all, these pieces are needed for you to sit on, sleep in, and for you to store stuff in.
But there are also reasons to go beyond the basics. You could remodel if, say, you’ve moved to a new state and the climate there caused you to invest in a complete new set of furniture.
You could add different styles or sizes of furniture depending on the current needs. Moving in together or getting married is also a reason to add furnishings or to buy a new set. A different kind of bed might be needed or a bigger couch becomes the requirement.
Moving on as a partner parts is also a reason to redecorate. Getting divorced can be a stressful moment and thinking of living a single person’s life also means setting up a home for that new person.
If you’re shopping for whatever reason, we’ve got you covered. Selected furnishings are on sale until January 31, 2019. Check it out here — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dq2G-tVU_8 .
Tags: furniture sale, furniture sales event, McCreery's sale event, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on New Year Sale – Are You Ready for the Biggest Discounts?
Sunday, December 30th, 2018
Uttermost Living Room Connor Elm Accent Stool 24814: Decorate your tiny home with dual or multipurpose furniture such as this accent table and storage unit in one.
There are many reasons that many homeowners are now choosing to downsize their homes. According to popular finance guru and author Dave Ramsey, moving up the financial scale does not necessarily mean that you have to buy a larger home. In fact, more and more American families are choosing to downsize their home and adjusting their lifestyles.
Just take a careful look at the numbers – the average home comes at 2,600 square feet. This is according to the US Census Bureau. This has come a long way from the 1950s when the average size of homes is at 1,000 square feet or even less. And to think that families were way bigger then.
Considering the long-term effects, transitioning to a smaller home does have its benefits. Bigger is not always better especially when smaller homes become the more logical option.
Here are the top reasons when downsizing is the best option –
When You Want Increased Income
Just imagine monthly when you pay less on your mortgage payments. What a wonderful world it’s going to be since you’ll have increased money that’s leftover. This amount can now be allocated to your other needs. You even get to keep some savings even after buying a smaller home from the proceeds of the bigger home that you sold.
When You Want More Time
A smaller house comes with smaller rooms. This means that there are fewer rooms to clean. With fewer household tasks, you will have more time to spend with your family.
When You Want Lower Utility Costs
A smaller house has less heating or cooling necessities. Since a tiny house has literally no wasted space and zero square footage that’s unused, every nook and cranny is also utilized. Less square footage means less energy is used and where there is energy reduction, you are sure to save on money.
When You Don’t Want to Get Stressed
A smaller home means you have less responsibility. There is also a smaller workload so you become more flexible on your schedule and also your stress levels are greatly reduced if not totally eradicated.
It has been proven that homeowners who switched to smaller homes tend to become happier since they are no longer overcome by the demands of a bigger home.
You’re Retiring Soon
Retirement is one of the major changes that a person goes through in his or her life. For a lot of retirees, this means leaving their current homes – and for a good reason.
Moving to a downsized house is now a popular move among retirees. After all, what are they going to need their big houses for when all the kids have already gone? Taking care of a bigger house is also a huge hassle because of the maintenance and repair needs.
There are only two ways to go when you’re about to retire – stay put or pack up. And just like the other reasons already mentioned, being a retiree and downsizing means you get to eliminate a huge chunk of the usual mortgage.
Why owe money when you can significantly lower the housing cost, right?
Becoming a retiree also means you can sell your current home and then pick a place where the cost of living is way cheaper than what you’re already spending. You can actually move to a state that does not have Social Security tax (e.g. Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, and many more).
But are there also disadvantages to downsizing?
The Downside
Moving to a smaller home may save you money in the long run but the actual move still incurs a lot of expenses. Be sure that you are prepared for this. And when you’re not truly ready, you could end up having regrets that you’ve moved to a much smaller home.
So when you’re downsizing, make sure that you’re mentally, emotionally, physically and financially prepared.
Tags: downsizing, downsizing your home, living in a tiny home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tiny house, tiny house living
Posted in Home Buying, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Should You Downsize Your Home?
Saturday, December 29th, 2018
Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture Bedroom Mystique One-Drawer Two Door-Nightstand 1586-90015-WH1: A hint of gold.
It has been predicted that gold will be a huge hit this coming year especially in the world of fashion, specifically, make-up. Gold and bronze tones are super in with their glimmering charm. So, are you ready to use this majestic color in your interior design?
If you like gold even when it is not the trending color in the upcoming year, then that says a lot about your personality. You’re probably passionate and charming. There is a reason why Christianity uses this color in its icons and mosaics. It can easily represent the splendor of God. Gold beautifully symbolizes divinity.
The meaning of gold in color psychology is triumph. It also means many other things such as prosperity, abundance, well-being, masculine energy (since silver represents feminine energy), happiness, brilliance, generosity, and even tradition.
You have probably seen a lot of bold trends in the past but very few can offer the same brilliance that gold gives. And with the holidays now giving gold the spotlight, it’s but a matter of time that it will take the center stage once more as the New Year unfolds.
Gold accents are hot and they have always been a classy design element. They aren’t just a part of a fleeting trend but a style that’s definitely here to stay.
Gold Chandelier
One of the best places to begin your gold design is through your lighting. You can infuse shine into your home by hanging an elegant chandelier in the living room or in the dining room.
If you’re not ready to go all out yet on your gold design, you can begin with one that’s not that heavy on the metal but offers more glass and hints of gold on its arms. This lighting fixture should give the room a more elegant ambiance.
Maitland-Smith Living Room Occasional Table 8157-30 : Or a splash of gold.
Gold Furniture
Who says gold furniture is meant only for the holidays? Look through any interior design magazine and you’ll find that gold furniture is a staple in any traditional and chic home.
You can pull of this style without looking tacky. Strategically place the furniture pieces throughout the room. Don’t use gold furniture in an already gold room – remember that scene from the Crazy Rich Asians where the lead actress described the gold-laden room as brilliant? You wouldn’t want to go to that area.
Gold Walls
If you’re feeling bold enough, then you can use gold on all your walls. Maybe not the kind of gold that you wear as jewelry but a darker shade of gold to make the room more majestic; now remember that there’s a very thin line between being splendid and overdone.
Metallic paints are also known to make rooms appear much bigger. So if you have limited space in the bathroom, gold is a remarkable color to use.
Gold Fabrics
Again, if you’re playing safe and you don’t want to look tacky, you can swap the linens, curtains, pillows, area rugs, and other fabrics with pieces that have hints of gold. You can also switch a single neutral piece with a gold accent wall. If the gold-colored wall is much too bold, then consider painting just a single accent piece like a gold-colored coffee table.
Gold Accessories
Other than the above elements, you can also add gold on your accessories. Use gold candles as decorative pieces on your tables. A little shine would surely go a long way. Also, don’t forget to arrange the centerpieces using the rule of three. This is a foolproof way of using gold without going overboard.
Gold Frames
Gold accents can also be added to walls by hanging photos with gold-colored frames. Even mirrors with gold accents are a good addition to any home.
Tags: gold, gold interior design, gold interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in 2019 Trends, Accents, Accessories, Decorative Elements, Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Fashionable Gold in 2019
Friday, December 28th, 2018
Make the fireplace even more interesting and worthy to be called a focal point with this Uttermost Living Room Gold Branches Decorative Fireplace Screen 18796.
Imagine walking into a room and your eyes can’t seem to rest on something substantial. Or picture the opposite where your eyes go from one point to the next because every little thing in the room seems to be crying for attention. This is that situation when the room has no definite focal point.
But what is a focal point and why is it so important in every room in your home? Any room will become much more inviting if you tastefully arrange furnishings and accessories around one focal point.
Most of the time, a focal point is a piece of furniture. At times, it can be a lovely architectural feature. It can also be a work of art or even a special framed family photo.
Determine the Focal Point
To define which is the focal point in a room, you have to go around and look for the biggest feature. As mentioned, it can be an architectural part of the room such as a fireplace or it can be a furniture piece such as a bookcase. These huge pieces are often the default focal points in a room.
If you do not see a distinctive architectural feature, the next step is to look for the biggest furniture pieces in that room. Any one of these can be the focal point. So, if you do not have a fireplace in the middle of the living room, the next logical choice for the focal point is that comfy sectional or chaise.
In choosing a focal point, it is important that it’s an interesting piece. This is so everyone will be enticed to look at it. It can either be colorful or has a texture that’s difficult to ignore. It can also be visually unique.
You can also easily create a focal point in any room by zeroing in on your artwork, the paint color on a wall, floral arrangements or the shelves that contain your book collection.
Here’s another tip – the focal point is that first thing that you will immediately notice the moment you get inside a room. if possible, try to build your furniture pieces all around the focal point that you chose (e.g. the sofa set, coffee table, and side tables should be arranged around the fireplace).
If you chose an outdoor view as the focal point, be sure also to orient all the furniture pieces inside to take advantage of the window zones. Imagine looking outdoors to a garden or a landscape. It’s a mesmerizing view that will surely be remembered.
One wall painted with a darker or brighter hue of the same color palette that you used is a great way to create a focal wall. This focal wall can also be neutral-colored but adorned with beautiful wall arrangements of artwork, framed photos or display shelves.
Lighting can also be used to enhance any focal point. There are many picture lights on the Internet as there are wall washer fixtures for painting or any wall display. If you made a shelf or a mantel as the focal point, then be sure to use correct accessories on them such as potted plants; flowers in beautiful, ornate vases; and other such accessories.
Always make sure that you use contrasting colors for the focal point and other design elements in the room. If the focal point is a flaming red, don’t turn the rest of your furnishings in the same flaming red shade. Instead, find tints of the same hue to accessorize.
Remember to decorate and frame the focal points with other design elements such as curtains, art or plants.
Hooker Furniture Home Office Auberose Bunching Bookcase: Where do you eyes rest the moment you see this photo? That’s the focal point.
Tags: determining the focal point, finding the focal point, focal point, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on Eenie Meenie Miny Mo: Which Focal Point to Use?
Thursday, December 27th, 2018
Fine Furniture Design Dining Room Rhode Island Windsor Side Chair 1022-826: A breakfast nook is often situated in a kitchen. Why not set yours up in your white kitchen now?
Many people would easily dissuade you if you admit that you’re planning on having an all white kitchen. And why shouldn’t they? They say that a white space requires higher maintenance and it could even appear uninviting and cold. But why do interior experts now say that an all white kitchen is super stylish and hot?
Understanding the Psychology of White
White is a color that’s considered pure and complete. It is also the color attributed to perfection. Psychologically, white represents innocence, new beginnings, and it is the hue that evokes integrity, cleanliness, clarity, simplicity, hope, optimism and idealism.
If there’s one thing that white offers to any room in a home it is this – it’s timeless.
The Timeless Kitchen
Decking the kitchen in white means you’re ready to have a classy place to cook in. Even the smallest kitchen space can look huge, stylish and more inviting if you use white as your chief color palette.
There are expert warnings, of course, when it comes to setting up a white kitchen. But with the right elements, you can keep this white, tough-to-clean space amazingly tasteful. Just visit Pinterest and interior design websites and you’ll see just how hot white kitchens are at the moment.
White Kitchen Essentials
The first things that you have to have are tall kitchen cabinets. You will love the look that these furniture pieces will create because they will take out the awkwardness in your white kitchen.
Next, decorate only with practical stuff. For instance, you can put your cookbooks on display or you can have vases of fresh flowers in the middle of the kitchen countertop. A huge glass bowl of fresh fruits is a great alternative to the countertop vignette.
The third element that is needful in a white kitchen is having the right kind of lighting. Find large pendant lights especially directly over your kitchen island. Don’t go for the minute ones and they don’t even have to match.
You can have wrought iron pendants displayed together with silver pieces. Add metallic pieces to the cabinet knobs and door handles to make the look even more stylishly rustic.
Take note also of your faucets as their color matters to your all white setup. Wrought iron is highly recommended. Pair this with a granite top which looks awesome on white cabinets.
Try Shaker style on your cabinet fronts. This style is a distinctive class that’s commonly attributed to the Shakers, a religious group that’s known for their simplicity, honesty and utility.
Shaker style cabinets are both functional and chic. Instead of the usual ornamentation like carvings and inlays, the pieces come with functional drawer arrangements that add visual interest.
And what about double ovens? Oh, they simply look great in a white kitchen. You cannot have a gourmet white kitchen without these double fridges or ovens. These can get pricey but there are a few alternatives out in the market. Be sure to check those $2,000 alternatives to the usual $11,000 units.
Add a spice rack, too. Your spice and herb collections can also become a stylish display in your white kitchen. Just imagine the interesting color combination of cinnamon, curry powder, rosemary, thyme, and black pepper.
These spices are already interesting as they are but color code them or place them according to their uses (meat spices and fish spices grouped together) and what you achieve is a lovely display that’s worth looking at.
So keep a spice rack in mind when you are decorating your white kitchen. This can be a lovely feature in that space. Plus you get the convenience of getting the spices as you need them.
The Canadel Dining Room Buffet BUF5436-T1 will turn an all white kitchen to a stylish shabby chic zone.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, white kitchen
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Kitchen Design | Comments Off on An All-White Kitchen – Why It’s Uber Hot
Wednesday, December 26th, 2018
Increase the level of comfort in the family room by adding the Jessica Charles Living Room Deana Chaise 365.
The end of the Second World War was a moment mourned throughout the world. War veterans went back home, families cried over their lost loved ones, and they, together with the rest of the world’s population treaded on to get out of the Great Depression. At the time, the middle class started to rise and the demand for family rooms increased.
Family rooms became the embodiment of casual living as it offered space that’s meant for relaxation and family bonding. Those who clamored for family room wanted one that was utopic and one that strayed from the class lines. This was, after all, a room that lacked the formality of the traditional living room or parlor.
The Function of a Family Room
The family room’s purpose was not clear at first, as it seemed to focus only on leisure. But pretty soon, it became necessary for this room to become multifunctional. First, wives began asking for a separate spot for their household chores and the place where their family members gathered.
Living room became a space for entertainment and display and the humble family room became the zone where members of the family could let their hair down, so to speak.
But what’s the huge difference between the living room and the family room?
As early as the 17th century, guests were welcomed in living rooms. There are now more homes with more relaxed living rooms but there are still homes – especially the larger ones – where they are still formal. Others even refer to it as a grand living room.
The family room is similar to the living room because it’s also a place where the family gathers. This can be a place for relaxation and they tend to be kid-friendly.
Family Room Essentials
It is not a secret that family rooms can be a challenge to set up. No matter how simple the concept or theme in this room may be, it could get taxing setting it up especially when you have no idea where to begin.
So to help you on your endeavor here are the essentials that every family room needs –
Lots of seating. Be sure to set up ample comfortable seats for every family member plus some guests who could suddenly pay a visit. Try setting up a sectional if you have limited space to work with. Comfy pillows would also come in handy.
Warmth. And what’s a family room without a warm glow of fire in the evenings? That traditional wood fireplace, electric or gas units would all provide the warmth that you need in this room.
Comfy underfoot. A soft area rug or carpet is a must-have for every family room. Just imagine relaxing your feet on the carpet or rug while you gather during the evenings to share stories.
Lovely hues. Choose a color that’s relaxing to everyone’s eyes. Find out how to fill up the space with the palette that you pick. Greens and blues are the most relaxing while oranges and yellows are energy inducing.
Television. Plan a spot for your TV set. Find an entertainment set that will hold your TV along with your other entertainment gadgets and equipment. Leave some room for the DVD player, your DVD collection, speakers, and other equipment.
A place for everything. Make sure that there aren’t only shelves and drawers but more storage spaces for your books, game boards, magazines, and CDs. These should not be stored insomuch that they can no longer be accessed when they are needed.
And talk of out of reach, you should also have a shelf that’s high enough for your breakable accents to be placed on. Your little ones must not be able to reach this level easily.
Tags: family room, family room design, family room essentials, family room style, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Living Room Design, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on The Family Friendly Family Room
Wednesday, December 19th, 2018
Both renovation and remodeling entail making changes to the structure of your home. The first one, though, means a restoration has to be made to when the structure was pristine and needed no repairs.
A remodel changes the form or structure, even the appearance of a room or the entire house. It is not done to make repairs but to transform or improve the layout or existing design of a home.
If you’ve recently finished a remodeling project, then we congratulate you. This could be a remodel to your kitchen, basement, bathroom or even your entire home. The end of the project does not mean that your duties are also done, though. Here are some more things to do before you can finally say that you’re done remodeling –
Right after the contractor tells you that the remodeling project is done, you should take one final walk-through. This is so you can discuss, with the contractor, anything that you do not deem to be a hundred-percent complete.
Professional remodelers rarely leave a project that’s unfinished but you also should have an eye for perfection. You should have a checklist of the things that you need to see before you can let go of the contractor.
Once you’re satisfied, then the contractor can go.
Any remodeling project will produce debris and lots of dust. Professional contractors often take measures in controlling these but there will always be something left to clean up after they leave.Plus, you can also choose to clean up on your own so that this can be removed from the remodeling budget.
Cleanups are a surefire way to save money but be forewarned – post-remodeling cleanups are tedious. Whatever you end up choosing to do, just make sure that your house is cleaned up before you move the furniture back in.
Bigger projects need to be documented by your insurance agent especially when you are making significant additions to your home. And while you’re already at it, you should also take the time to list the new appliances and products that you recently bought so that warranty claims will be easier later (should you need them).
After all the items have been checked off on your list and your home is once again clean, then it’s time to make a decision on what stuff you will move back in with you. Check all your furniture, artworks, rugs, etc. See those that need to be replaced and those that you are ready to give away.
If your contractor brought an interior designer in his team, then this is the perfect time to ask their expertise in decorating your newly remodeled home. Designers are experts in the installation of accessories, fabrics, area rugs, artwork, window coverings and furniture.
The contractor should have left some instructions on the products that were installed in your home. If he has not discussed it already, ask about which ones need regular maintenance.
Some of the items that you should always bear in mind when it comes to maintenance are wood floors, natural stone materials, caulking and filters.
And, finally, it’s time to celebrate. You have done a very good job in keeping your sanity during the remodel.
You might want to throw a party so you can finally show off your remodeled home. But before you begin inviting everyone, you should make the painstaking task of documenting everything in a photograph.This is so you know how your home looks when it is in its perfect, design magazine worthy look.
Tags: McCreerys, post remodeling tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Remodeling | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 18th, 2018
This is the holiday season so it’s but normal to anticipate the arrival of some friends and relatives. This can be a great time to bond and have a good time with them. But what if they decide to stay overnight? Or what if they even decide to stay for an even longer time such as the entire holiday? What then?
Your mother probably reminded you to be polite always to your guests. This is the most basic commandment when it comes to being the perfect 21st century host.
The first preparation that you need to make when anticipating overnight guests is to know what their morning essentials are. And they can feel that you planned this when you have set up a rise-and-shine-station for them.
Not all guests get up at the same time so you should not be worried about being available each time to give each guest his morning cup of Joe.
A morning station should be a place where they can concoct their own coffee or tea. Be sure to have ample teacups and mugs, coffee pods, tea bags, sugar, cream, teaspoons, saucers, napkins, and the tea and coffee makers.
And while you may already know how to operate the coffee machine, some of your guests might not so be sure to leave an instruction card beside the machine.
Leave out a bowl or two of some snacks. What sort of snacks do your guests want? Or if you have no idea, then leave out the most common ones such as fruits that are in season, protein bars, some chips, and maybe some pretzels.
Ask the parents if you have young guests who are coming over. The kids might be allergic to some foods with nuts or milk so it is best to know such things.
What if some of your guests are bibliophiles? Then you should seriously think about setting up a reading corner for them. This can be as simple as a pile of books left on the nightstand or it can be as big as a shelf or two of your collection of books.
Of course, since you want the guests to read comfortably, you wouldn’t want them to be reading in their beds all the time.You can also incorporate comfy materials where your guests can sink into. These can be cushions on the floor or you can set up a chair or two in the guest room.
What could you better put in the guest room that would welcome your guests than the most comfortable sofas, armchairs, and bedding? You should also have ample towels for their use in the guest bedroom. These towels will be useless, though, if you do not have enough toiletries to offer.So check your guests’ shampoo and soap supplies.
Another way that you can welcome your guests is if you check with the kids’ sleeping arrangements. Will the guests need a crib? Or will their kids sleep with them in the family bed?
Have some extra bassinets and sleeping bags just to be sure.
Sure you are welcoming guests over but this does not mean that they can do anything and everything that they want. You should also inform your guests about your rules.
For instance, it is not bad to adopt a make-your-bed-in-the-morning policy. Imagine having to make five beds if you have five guests! So rather than be overwhelmed by this duty, you can make your rule known to everyone.
It is the winter holidays, after all, so prepare to entertain your guests. They can watch some movies or share dinners with you. You can also organize a storytelling contest while everyone sits around the bonfire.
Tags: McCreerys, overnight guests
Posted in Guest Room Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
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