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Thursday, April 20th, 2017
FFDM Protege Collection: The Romi Chair’s fabric shows the best of nature – from birds to twigs and flowers.
Research has shown that the environment – a green one at least – significantly reduces stress. What you see, hear and experience will inevitably alter your mood. Having an unpleasant environment, on the other hand, causes anxiety, sadness, even feelings of helplessness. These will elevate heart rate, blood pressure and cause muscle tension. They even have the power to suppress the immune system.
Nature’s Healing Power
Just viewing sceneries of nature can significantly reduce fear, anger and any unpleasant feeling. Lingering exposure to nature contributes to your wellbeing, eventually, it can even reduce mortality. There are scientific studies that support these claims.
Nature can help you cope with pain. Humans, after all, are genetically-programmed to search for plants, trees, water, and other natural elements. Those who are ill are generally shown to have an improved health by the time that they spend some time outdoors.
There are ways to bring natural elements to your home. Here are some tips –
Water Feature
What could be more natural than the sound of rushing, clear waters? If you are looking forward to basking in the stress-relieving sounds of running water and also to impress your guests, then you should consider installing slate water wall.
A slate water wall is the closest that you can get to having waterfalls right in your own home. This innovative feature is worth every dollar that you would spend. If a fountain is like biting off more than you could chew, then you can just invest in water feature for now.
There are tabletop versions of water features. This can serve as the best centerpiece for your living room. Just imagine how much this can contribute to a calmer atmosphere.
Flower Deliveries
Do you know of anyone who does not love the sight of lush flowers? Every human on the planet will benefit when looking at a gorgeous bouquet. Scientific research has proven that flowers and life satisfaction are linked. This is because flowers are natural mood enhancers (just picture the excited smiles that recipients of bouquets show and you’ll understand just why).
Flowers are also known to have a long-term positive effect on humans’ moods, reducing the occurrence of anxiety, depression and agitation.
Any Plant Life
Not all people are gifted with the so-called green thumb. Succulents can be a great alternative, they are the hottest plants for interior design. These days, you can find different types of arrangements which you can mix and match. Set up a succulent gallery in the sunroom or the bedroom.
Herb Garden
Go ahead and bring in some fragrant nature to your room. You can do this especially in the kitchen where you can have baskets bolted onto the walls. You can also do this with little wooden crates where herbs can be planted. Just make sure that the herbal plants are placed under optimal sunlight.
Tommy Bahama Home Bedroom Harbour Point Footboard 6-6 King 537-134FB: Open up the windows to let in fresh air and natural light.
Stone Treatment
Don’t think that stones are just for walkways. Bring in beautiful rocks and pebbles to your indoor décor. Get an opaque vase or any decorative bowl then arrange different stone hues within this unique rock terrarium.
To take this project to the next level, consider installing stone backsplashes in the bathroom or the kitchen.
Natural Furniture
You can also add a rustic appeal by adding the right kind of furniture. Think of adding wood chairs, tables and shelving units. Look for the most natural-looking pieces, ones that can even take weathering and stains which you want to personally apply.
Let In the Sun
One of the easiest approaches to letting in nature is to open your windows. Say goodbye to those bulky curtains for now.
Go sheer for now for that more natural-looking interior design.
Tags: designing with nature, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nature in interior design, nature's colors
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Nature-Inspired Interior Design: Optimizing Your Wellbeing
Thursday, February 9th, 2017
Accessories Uttermost Blossom In Yellow Hand Painted Art 34350
Picking a color scheme is a crucial decision that every homeowner is supposed to make. This year, 2017 is all about people’s love of nature and how Mother Nature’s hues can be used to create a palette that’s nourishing and uplifting.
One’s perception of nature is always beautiful. This is a universal observation. If you have observed – throughout the ages – poetry and paintings have always given importance to the natural world. Paying homage to nature is also human nature. Just picture the majestic mountains, the beauty of lakes and rivers and the greeneries of the forests and you will immediately feel a calming wave.
Nature can be your inspiration for colors because Mother Nature is the chief colorist. You, too can fuse textures, colors and light to create the most breathtaking palettes. Go for a walk during fall and you are likely to see a lot of orange hues and greens and browns.
Use nature’s wisdom and use that to colorize your habitat.
Light and Nature
Nature’s colors also change as the light changes. Natural light during the morning is warm and soft and it contrasts beautifully with many colors. As midday comes, natural light shows a full spectrum. It then contrasts everything that’s paired with it. It also becomes more intense and strong.
By the late afternoon, the light casts a softened glow. It then bows out with a golden glow which deepens as the twilight offers the warmest reds complete with purple overtones.
As you pick colors, be sure to consider the functions of each room. The amount of natural lighting as well as the direction from which it would come from must be well-thought. Create 12-inch square samples of potential colors then move them from one room to the next.
Learn about the effects of light on different colors and during specific times of the day. If the colors look too dark during the evening, see how artificial lighting could change that. Keep sampling till you get the right hues that work under the right amount of light.
Create Visual Interest
Nature offers a lot of surface variations. There are many patterns, textures, and gradation that can enrich colors. Being subtle is the key but be careful that your home doesn’t become dull because you don’t want to become too adventurous. For instance, a grassy meadow is monochromatic but using different shapes and textures and interplaying them with light can create visual interest.
A monochromatic room can also achieve visual interest when it makes effective use of different shades of the same hue so this means you could go from cool to warm and vice versa. You could also go from intense to muted then light to dark.
Mimic the natural look of forests and its paint effects. Use color washing, ragging, glazing, the choices are numerous.
Take note also of color proximity. Think of the colors that can be used together and also as solo hue. Neutral gray, for instance, can appear warm or cool depending on the color that’s placed right next to it. Use cool blue for a cooler hue and pair it with warm rust to make it look cozy.
Cynthia Rowley captured the greeneries of nature in her Hooker Furniture Rivington 3 over 3 Sofa.
Layer the Colors
When you look at Nature’s scenes, observe how the colors are majestically layered. The desert, for instance, offers sandy tones which are perfect base colors for a neutral frame. If you are willing to use desert colors, you could choose to use these hues for the walls in your home. Against this neutral background, you are sure to see more interesting colors such as cactus green and reddish browns.
Nature also offers the most interesting accent colors. See how you can use them to stimulate a lively ambience in your home.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nature's colors, using nature's colors in interior design
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Nature as Your Color Palette
Monday, September 26th, 2016
The rustic colors brown and orange are beautifully featured on these Accessories Uttermost Kadam Ceramic Vases S2 19825.
Fall has finally arrived. This is that season when families gather and homes are filled with the aroma of home cooked meals. This is also that time when wood smoke, the tang of fresh apples, and the cool air all come together to bring that wonderful, unexplainable feeling; this season is a reassurance that Christmas is just around the corner.
Fall spells a lot of activities that you could attend with your family. You can go barn dancing, mountain biking with your friends (while enjoying the red, yellow and orange leaves all around), scenic drives through the woods, etc.
The greatest part of this season is the chance for the entire family to decorate the home. Even subtle decorative pieces can make a dull home look suddenly stunning. The right elements could also bring in a sophisticated ambience so make sure that you take advantage of the rich resources that you can find outside – the produce from the farmers’ market, flower shops, even your own backyard.
A Burst of Colors
Fall is all about colors and flowers so bring in those chrysanthemums, marigolds and dahlias. Whether you arrange these beautiful flowers outdoors or in vases indoors, your efforts will surely be rewarded. These flowers don’t just bring elegance into your home but texture as well.
Any arrangement made possible by Mother Nature is the perfect element that you can bring in. Nature, during this season, offers colorful pumpkins and gourds. The former aren’t just great for pie but also as the perfect Jack o’ Lanterns for Halloween. It’s impossible not to love the delicious orange hue these plump pumpkins.
Mix and Match
It’s the time to mix and match different types and sizes, even various colors of wheat stalks and flowers. This is the ideal décor during the entire season. Bring it a step farther by adding pine cones, trees, acorns, citrus fruits and some sprigs. Wreaths should be placed on walls (yes, they can stay there till Christmas) to add visual texture and warmth.
Other things that you can match are colors in various textures. Warm and cozy colors are in such as burnt orange, rust, browns, mustard, plums and grays. Try combining some of these colors to achieve a warm glow that is unique to this season.
Wool and wood are the right materials to harmonize especially during the coldest fall nights. The solid, smooth texture of wool’s fibers plus the sturdiness of wood create just the right combination. Go ahead and update your furnishings by matching wool cushions to your wooden furniture. Use this fusion if you want to be stylish yet safe this season.
Another way to add visual interest in your home is to use accents in interesting motifs. Examples are leaves, woodland creatures and trees. Geometric patterns are at home in this setting, too, and so is tartan.
Dark Walnut and Mappa Burl Finish by Hooker Furniture
Lanterns Aglow
Lanterns can offer an enchanting glow during the coldest evenings. They can cast beautiful and inviting light by the porch or right inside your home. Remember that the daylight hours are a lot shorter so you have more time to enjoy the glow of your chosen lanterns.
Adding metals is also another way to add some glow this season. Let copper dominate as this is a must-have metal during fall and winter. Add its reflecting qualities in your home for an instant appeal and visual expansion.
Fall season is definitely upon us all. The leaves are out to change and the days are bound to be shorter. Prepare for chillier mornings while the crisp summer sun slowly fades. You may miss the summer daytime but this season brings with it a different festive mood that’s difficult to ignore so you might as well enjoy it!
Tags: fall, fall color palette, fall decor, fall design, fall interior design, fall interior design elements, fall interiors, fall preparation, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nature, nature-inspired design, nature-inspired home, nature's colors, styling for fall, tips, using nature's colors in interior design, warm colors, warm hues
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, June 6th, 2016
Cynthia Rowley’s 7070-002CR Rivington 3 over 3 Sofa shows the beauty of yellow green made richer by its neutral backdrop. Notice the flowers on the side table? The boldness of red makes a striking contrast with the rest of the design elements.
One of these days – when you get the chance to – take a look outside and try to look at the colors that Mother Nature generously displays. There is so much to see from the cheerful yellow summer sunlight to the rich greens, blues and browns of the trees and bushes. There’s limitless variety from the deliciously playful to the subtle hues.
First, There’s Yellow
One of the most useful colors that Mother Nature has provided for the interiors of your home is the color yellow. Think of the creamy yellow colors of the English rose to the light butter yellow. Think also of lemons and honey as well as sunshine. The bolder few can choose mustard to fill the rooms of their homes.
Yellow connotes intelligence, wit, optimism, cheerfulness and everything that’s positive in a person’s life.
The colors of aspen trees and gingko during autumn are bright shades of yellow that you can use to perk your home up a bit. Using bright yellow such as the color of sunshine will instantly brighten up any home.
Yellow pops and can be either subdued or intense. You can use a lot of it or just a tint of it somewhere.
Color Fusion
Mother Nature is also the perfect canvas for color fusions. Try to be more observant. Peek at the center of a pink rose and you are sure to see a tint of yellow. Look up to the sky during dawn and you are also likely to see the pink-yellow combination in the pink clouds and the erupting sun.
You also won’t go wrong if you choose to combine blue and yellow. When using the bright versions of each color, you will achieve the lively mixture of the cloudless blue skies and the bright sun. To tone this down, use a more sophisticated shade of dark blue and have it marry lemon yellow. Use a lot of white elsewhere.
Bring Nature In
Natural light provides a better view of the picturesque garden or lawn outside of your home. It also offers colors that do not glare. The most effective health interiors visually prepare natural-looking environments because health professionals know the positive effects of nature in humans.
Panoramic vistas, local sceneries and geographic elements can all play a wonderful role in setting up a beautiful yet still functional home interior. So go ahead and draw your curtains. Let the sun’s rays fill the rooms during the day and have a good glimpse of the greeneries outside.
A lot of people would agree that they feel tons better when they see the bright skies and the cheerful sun. These offer a warm and welcoming feel to your home as opposed to the gloominess that could envelop the rooms if more shades of gray are brought in or if thick draperies are used with insufficient lighting.
Bringing Mother Nature is also not limited to just opening the windows, letting in some fresh air or having a good view of the landscaping. To liven up your home further, bring in potted green plants and the most beautiful flowers in vases. These are known to reduce stress by upping the level of positivity in your home.
Look for a variety of tints and tones made available to you – the blue lake, the orange falling leaves, the acorns that offer deep browns – there is so much to choose from.
A Little Caution
While Mother Nature offers a rich palette of hues, be careful that you do not overdo your passion of bringing nature in. Keep in mind that although natural light is good for your health as well as the aesthetics of your home, it can also be detrimental to some degree.
Sunlight can reflect on polished or naturally shiny floors. These floors are also can also reflect other forms of lighting in your home so, as much as possible, veer away from this kind of flooring.
Tags: designing with nature, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nature, nature in interior design, nature-inspired design, nature-inspired home, nature's colors, using nature's colors in interior design, yellow, yellow color palette, yellow in interior design, yellow interior design, yellow interiors
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Sunday, January 31st, 2016
The Summer Home Collection of FFDM features this neutral colored bed and nature-inspired blanket, all perfect for a Maori-inspired home. Notice how the blanket connects with the accent pillow, framed artworks, and the decorative piece underneath the bedside table.
There are many benefits to island living. The most obvious are a relaxed atmosphere, having the chance to breathe in the fresh sea air every day, and a congenial community. Tropical living is impossible in city dwelling but the same ambiance can actually be replicated. Are you up for the Maori interior design?
Maori or tropical island design is one of the hottest styles or trends in interior design these days. This design covers just about anything from sports, modern to contemporary living. Jump start your island setting by using fine art, colorful furniture and accent pieces, paintings, etc.
What is island living without any plants?Find colors that signify your chosen theme including different shades of blue and other natural colors. Burlap material is a great choice for your wall covering. The Tiki also depicts island living with its bamboo bed sheets and shades.
Fine Furniture Design Home Entertainment Maori Entertainment Base 1220-693
Tropical plants are must-have decorative pieces when you want to go Maori. Use live or silk vegetation, even timber statues. Bring in palms (the natural types are best) to your living room.
Window treatments must be airy and gentle to the sight. Bamboo bed sheet colors should also be easy on the eyes. Other valuable options include bright colored drapes and sheers. Island prints are also the best pattern for your sheer curtains.
Various crafts can be acquired in order to come up with the Maori style. It is best to look through photographs that involve sugar plantations and areas that plant blueberries. You can also look for essential oil pictures that are linked to yachts and freight boats. And just to prove your point, go on and have pelicans, seagulls, turtles, whales and other forms of sea life as art inspirations.
You are showcasing no less than the beauty of Maori living so go all out.
Another design element that you need to consider in island living is the use of more space. This kind of lifestyle has to be inviting and comfortable. The designs must be relaxing especially inside the master bedroom and bathroom.
You can also adapt the same concept inside your children’s rooms. Many youngsters love the idea of being flanked by a lot of seashore images. They are also settled by the lively yet comforting colors.
Lavatories are organic pieces in any island inspired bathroom. As for the kitchen, make use of bamboo, wicker, and the open picnic stands. Outdoor desks are also welcome in this environment. A lovely Tiki hut can serve as the island in an outrageously spacious kitchen.
Another important part of Maori design is to achieve a clutter-free setting, hence, you would need a lot of storage regions. Add a dash of tropical colors, wicker baskets, fresh paint shelving units, and wooden partitions.
Fine Furniture Design Home Entertainment Maori Entertainment Base 1220-693
Maori design can be used in either the home or work setting. This is an appealing, friendly and warm style that can make work environments more joyful and homes more pleasant. Search from among our accent pieces and furnishings to give life to your planned theme.Tropical island living becomes more appealing and enjoyable when you share it with your loved ones and your friends. So, as soon as you are able to set up a welcoming fountain outdoors (or any obvious water element), bring in some fresh potted plants, and invest in some wicker or wooden furniture; you should call those closest to you and celebrate the beauty of your new place.
Go ahead and grab the best interior design magazines and glean more ideas regarding island living. The Maori style is one-of-a-kind; the sky’s practically the limit when it comes to this theme so visualize, experiment and celebrate.
Maori interior design is awesome!
Tags: bamboo, bamboo furniture, bamboo interiors, contemporary, guidelines, Maori, Maori design, Maori interior design, Maori style, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, natural, natural colors, natural elements, natural hues, natural wood, nature in interior design, nature-inspired design, nature's colors, neutral, neutral colors, neutral hues, patterns, tips, tropical colors, wicker, wicker furniture, wicker furniture pieces, wicker pieces
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
The clean lines of the American Leather Living Room Bookcase MEN-BKC-ES should fit right into your organic interiors.
Would you like to have the ability to bring nature right into your home? This is a quest that homeowners, over the centuries, have longed to achieve. Humans, after all, love organic interiors and the organic appeal of earth’s elements because he is one with them.
Organic modern dwellings are usually soothing and have a down-to-earth feel. The natural elements such as clean lines, rustic stuff, vegetation and lots of natural light – all add a certain level of warmth to any home with modern architecture.
Bringing organically inspired elements in your home can be achieved with these guidelines –
Choose Elements That Bring Peace
This does not mean doing the feng shui each time that you move your furniture about or buying only the feng shui approved pieces. Pick materials that showcase your personal flair. Some homeowners may like the look of natural rocks as wall art while others like the sophistication offered by dark mahogany furniture or flooring. Be sure to find natural elements that show your style while connecting you to your home.
Use Bricks as a Focal Point or Backdrop
Brick making is a process that involves natural elements such as water, clay, mud and fire. These eventually produce one of the sturdiest building materials.
The appeal of brick transcends time. Its rustic uniformity makes old homes and now modern dwellings a place to marvel at.
Stanley Furniture Dining Room Farmer’s Market Table 018-61-32 at McCreerys Home Furnishings.
Never Go Without Wood
Wood is the soul of organic design. The imperfections of wood such as grains and knots are the very things that make it stand out. Wooden furniture now comes in various species and finishes. You can use this material from your ceiling beams down to your dining table, chairs, even the flooring.
Look for furniture with country and rustic appeal if you want to achieve a traditional look in your home. For those who are looking to have a contemporary setting, look for wood furniture with non-complex, free from ornamentation lines.
The Farmer’s Market Table on the left comes with a simple scalloped pattern. This can serve as a heritage piece, one that evokes a country feel. Its French style finish, bun foot legs, and Dutch white cedar all contribute to a lovely feature for this wooden piece.
Bring in Nature in Every Room
Bringing in natural finishes in your dwelling place is no longer a new concept yet it has become a game changer of sorts to many homeowners. You can look into buying organic bedding for your bedroom. These are those sheets that come with rustic leaves or birds as designs.
A Zen fountain can make a home office feel more calming and soothing.
Design your home according to the concepts that make you feel more excited, charged, even calmed and find out how nature would play its role in your home.
When it comes to floral inspiration, make sure that you bring in the real thing. It can be frustrating to see fake greenery covered in dust inside any of your rooms. Allow nature to find its way to your interiors by bringing in potted plants, flowers, cacti, and succulents in their natural state.
Another room where you need to feel relaxed or rejuvenated is the bathroom. A water heater can make your body feel soothed. It can even transport your mind to a much needed level of serenity. This is something that you can look forward to after a long day of work.
Add wood walls in your bathroom to attain the look of a dry heat sauna. Fixtures must have minimal lines and your source of light is preferably from the sun’s rays flowing right into this room. At night, find a light source that still creates the ideal, one-of-a-kind experience in bathing.
Living in organic interiors is not just relaxing, it can also make you feel a sense of fulfillment as you help Mother Earth in the process.
Tags: brick, brick wall, focal point, homey, homey ambiance, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, natural, natural elements, nature, nature in interior design, nature-inspired home, nature's colors, organic home design, organic interior design, organic interiors, organic living, tips, wood, wood elements, wood pieces, Zen, Zen design, Zen habitat, Zen interiors, Zen living, Zen style
Posted in 2016 Trends, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Interior Design Trends | No Comments »
Sunday, January 17th, 2016
Just add sea foam and some bubbles and this setup is ready to impress anyone. The lovely credenza comes from FFDM’s Palm Island Collection.
Imagine constantly seeing the colors of sea life – greens, blues and a tinge of purple. Put these colors to your home’s walls and you have provided a stark contrast to your unique accessories, bed linen and fixtures. A color palette that could work inside the bedroom is anything aquatic such as sea foam green, blue and amethyst. Throw in some flamboyant patterns and you can almost see Sebastian singing Under the Sea.
If mixing these aquatic colors is not your cup of tea, then you can also go with one strong marine color such as royal blue. For instance, use this color on your bathroom walls and floors. To make the color pop, add a shower partition complete with cute sea creatures or flowers with the shades of yellow, blue, green and lavender.
The Sea-Inspired Bedroom
Using aquatic colors does not mean that you have to immediately resort to block colors. One way to make the palette more interesting is to throw in some colorful quilt on your bed while the pillowcases and the bed sheets still come in earth tones. This colorful addition will create the needed balance inside the now bohemian fresh bedroom.
Now imagine that you are designing the room of a young man or a bachelor. Primarily blue walls instantly indicate that the bedroom belongs to a male member of the family. You can tone down the blue color of the walls to make room for some plum-upholstered seats or any such interesting pieces. Add a pop to the room by installing a royal blue light bulb.
The Fresh Kitchen and Dining Area
Timeless marine looks can provide a laidback feeling to any home. Add greeneries to maintain the fresh air inside, or place pictures of flowers and the usual seashore palm trees on your kitchen walls. Adding these fresh concepts in your kitchen will make your cooking more enjoyable.
As for the dining room, you may use retro fabrics to achieve that blasé look. Add a modern touch by having custom tables. You may also set up a beachy desk area right by the corner of your bedroom.
The Tommy-Bahama-Home-Living-Room-Golden-Isle-Sofa-1604-33 is perfect for any beach home.
The Beach-Like Living Room
Putting a series of loveseats or a sectional sofa can easily provide room for a crowd. Use rattan or any woven pieces to add a hip ‘60s look to your beach theme. Island living requires simple yet versatile pieces of furniture and a collection of accessories such as clam shells, coral reef parts, and other seashell decor.
Use bold greens together with oranges inside your living room. These will work well with opalescent stripes on your walls or some bird prints on blank walls. Welcome your guests to this lovely room filled with colors that literally pop.
As to the living area’s furnishings, let them be awash in blues. Wingback chairs and upholstered sofas would blend well with an oak coffee table and a collage of your family photos or some sort of vintage artwork.
To make this room more appealing, use a lamp atop a side table. You can also replace the lamp with a model sailboat especially when you have a good view of the ocean from where your living room is situated. Add Roman shades, jute rug, and an upholstered chair with white framework to make the green walls stand out.
What is a marine-themed home without a touch of green? Uttermost-Accessories-Costa-Del-Sol-Potted-Greenery-Botanicals-60090-at-McCreerys-Home-Furnishings
Of course, going aquatic also means letting in a lot of sunlight. White can also be a cool color for marine-inspired living rooms so long as they are blended with blues and greens. White reflects light better so use it lavishly.
The aquatic or beach theme is one of the freshest styles that any homeowner can set up in his dwelling place. What could be airier and fresher than this concept?
Tags: 1960s, beach colors, beach design, beach furnishing, beach furniture, beach interiors, bohemian, bohemian interiors, bohemian style, green color palette, green color scheme, green design, green home, green interiors, marine colors, marine decor, marine hues, marine living, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, natural colors, natural hues, natural light, nature's colors, sea colors, tips
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
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