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Tuesday, July 5th, 2016
Neutral colors are often the go-to color when people invest in large upholstered pieces. This often makes sense since neutral hues are easier to harmonize, in short, they are the safest choice. Add to this the fact that the sofa is one of the most expensive pieces of furniture that you buy, and you would understand why most people opt for the safer options. On the other hand, wouldn’t it be nice if your living room didn’t look just like the rest of the neighborhood?
The Story of the Navy Blue Sofa
Consider a bright navy sofa. This can easily become the star of your living room flooded in white. There are many other rich hues in stock. These can also be customized, with so many fabrics to choose from these days, you’re the master when it comes to the final design of your furniture. So, going back on that navy blue sofa, why do you think it can work inside your living room?
The white background works as the canvas to the star of the show – the unique, colorful sofa.
Making the Teal Sectional Legendary
A compact home is the perfect setting for a teal sectional. This will provide ample seating for a small family. A darker color on a jewel-toned fabric is the right material for wear and tear as well as gazillions of spills that could happen in a family that has kids and pets.
This teal furniture can also serve as the focal point of any neutral room. This hue can also be repeated on window treatments and throw pillows.
An Azure Sectional as the Defining Feature
A room that is painted in white and absorbs a great deal of daylight can allow a huge volume of any bold colored furniture piece. It is easy to be visually successful if the rest of the room is whitewashed. Don’t think that the sectional in bold color such as azure would overwhelm the living room because it would never.
Knowing where to place the azure sectional will make it a shoo-in as the focal piece. Just be patient, you would soon get the hang of using a more colorful furniture piece.
Orange Cushions for the Cautious Ones
When the biggest and most colorful furniture pieces don’t work for you or if they are too bold, you can begin your transition to the colorful world of interior design by using some accent pieces first. Rich orange throw pillows will surely be a good addition to a neutral-colored sofa. Pair the sofa with the traditional furniture pieces and appliances plus some accents that may or may not be orange.
It’s really up to you.
This setup works because the rich tones of the throw pillows will create a warm glow that none of the other design elements will be able to provide.
Purple Is Sophistication
Purple is not a usual color that is used in many upholstered pieces. In a home office or a guest room, this color could work very well when used appropriately.
Purple is equal to sophistication and class. Pair it with warm taupe and you’re in fashion heaven.
A purple sofa can be surrounded with other pieces that have purple undertones. These will make the sofa color pretty much leap out.
Chocolate Velvet Is Rich
A chocolate velvet furniture does not stray too much from neutrals. It can blend beautifully with just about any kind of wall, ceiling or floor. And since it is basically brown, it is also easy to accessorize. It can also match golden tones in many accessories.
Pair this lovely piece with neutral throws and surround it with wood tones to complete the look.
Tags: bold, bold colors, bold hues, bold statement, couch, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sofa, sofa colors, tips
Posted in 2016 Trends, Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Saturday, July 2nd, 2016
1586-75200B-BRN Long Board Rectangle Dining Table with 2-20in leaves: Cynthia Rowley’s furniture collection is perfect for open space layouts and modern settings.
Do you happen to live in a house that has a series of compact rooms? Has it crossed your mind to topple down some walls in order to open up your space? If you answered yes to both questions, then you are more than ready to embrace the open space concept. But what if a concern is a wall that is structural?
The great news is that it can still be removed and you can still open up the space as you want it. What you need to do is to replace the load bearing. You would need the expertise of a local architect because that is a project that you shouldn’t take on alone. He will also be the one to ascertain that everything is done in accordance with the building code.
An easy and inexpensive way to remove a wall is the installation of an engineered wood beam. This has to be positioned right below the current floor joists. The contractor can build a temporary wall on every side of the bearing wall. He can then remove the bearing wall, have the wood beam installed, then have the temp walls removed.
The architect may also tell you to use steel instead of wood beam because of the length of the wall that is about to be removed. This will cost more but there are situations when it is the only viable solution.
You would also surely love picking out the colors, finishes, fabrics and other stuff when you’re remodeling. Space planning results in a more efficient place. Find images of open floor spaces and find out how you can use the same concept in your home.
Know Your Space Needs
You need to make a list of the spaces and their functions within the large spaces. Assign square footage for every area. Consider also the size of your furniture as well as the number of dwellers in a room. An example is the space between the dining room table and the kitchen counter should be no less than four feet. This is so people can freely walk between them.
Consider Space Relationships
After determining the size for every space, find out the need for each room to be near each other. Define why they need to be adjacent.
People will be moving from one space to the next so make sure that you place the rooms that make sense to be right next to each other. Obvious adjacencies include the kitchen and the dining areas as well as the living area and the entertainment area.
Adjacencies also make sense when you consider plumbing or sewage lines. Doing so will minimize the costs that come with doubled pipes or damaged lines.
Know Your Organizing Preferences
Knowing where the bathroom and kitchen would be as well as working with the constraints of the building structure should lead to the next question – how will the smaller zones fit into the open space? The four options include linear, grid, axial and central.
Linear organization is called such because of the series of spaces that were arranged to create a straight line. This is a flexible type of organization since you can easily adjust the shapes and sizes of the zones for as long as they are still related to the line.
Axial, on the other hand, uses two or more major points to define the arrangements such as the bathroom and the kitchen having two separate linear paths.
Think of Furniture Grouping
Always think of the furniture that you own when grouping room functionalities. The bedroom should have the nightstand, dresser, and of course, the bed. The living room should still have a distinct coffee table, end table, chairs, and a sofa.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, open space, open space design, open space layout, open space theme, space planning, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016
Dress up your stairway traditionally with the Accessories Uttermost Greenway Hand Painted Art 31315
Have you ever wondered how else you can make your stairway walls more interesting? Often you see picture frames or mirrors placed there, but what could be done that would make this place more exciting?
The stairs are a vital part of any home renovation project. This is a subject that almost always comes up during remodeling projects for multiple-floor homes. Whether you just have ample budget to rebuild the stairs or to finish them, this is that part of your home that needs your utmost attention.
Refinishing Should Do It
A cost effective way to update your staircase is for you to have it refinished. You can easily transform the look of your stairs by simply painting the vertical parts of the stairs (the risers). Have it painted in the same color as the trim. Have the treads or the horizontal parts of your stairs refinished.
Remember to update the railing by having the balusters painted and the handrails refinished. Choose whether you would want a traditional or contemporary runner to complete the look.
Invest
You might think that a stairs renovation project should be cheap but this is one thing that you need to invest in. New or old, you can update the look of your stairway but it would be a lot lovelier if you are willing to spend time and money on this project. Creating instant drama, after all, requires more from the homeowner.
Consider the Materials
You can also choose to clad your stairs with treads and new risers. This is also a wonderful chance for you to change the look or theme from traditional to contemporary that is if you want to.
Bring in new materials for your balusters. Add steel or iron to the current railing and you get to complete the look with just a few tweaks.
Make Use of Glass
You can also change the look of your stairs by adding glass railings as well as guards. There are some things that you need to think about when considering glass for your stairs. First, glass will definitely show fingerprints so this is not the best choice of material for neat freaks. Glass railings and guards require constant cleaning. If everything else is okay with you, then have it installed and make sure that a handrail is also placed for safety.
Horizontal Is Modern
The popular look is the modern theme offered by horizontal railings. There is just one thing that you have to keep in mind when putting this kind of railing to your home – this can be easily climbed by small kids so choose a different kind of railing if you still have small ones in your home. Instead, you can have the safer horizontal option. The hazardous horizontal railing can be replaced by a railing that goes way up to the ceiling. This means that no one will be able to climb over it.
A horizontal railing also creates a wonderful backdrop to the adjoining room.
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Customize
Don’t let your creativity be hampered. Think of clever ways to achieve a staircase that will awe. Consider having open risers, the floating staircase that requires a steel structure for support. Just make sure that there is limited space between the treads, small enough so kids won’t slip between them.
Custom wood or steel railings can also add visual interest in any kind of home.
Added Storage
Never forget the opportunity presented underneath every staircase – that space there can be used as storage room. Yet again, bring out your creativity by having that part designed and put into good use.
Lastly, what’s important is for you to just have fun. Whether you’re dressing up a winding staircase or an illuminated one, just go ahead and get out of your comfort zone.
Tags: customization, decorating the stairway, design customization, designing the stairway, glass, glass in interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, stairway, stairway design, storage, storage techniques, tips
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Sunday, June 26th, 2016
1586-10458A-MULTI2 Fleur de Glee Writing Desk 1586-75410D-GLD6 Swanson Upholstered Metal Side Chair
Did you really think that animal prints are limited to that bear rug on your floor? There is so much more to animal prints that can make your interiors more fabulous. What’s amazing about ‘em is that you don’t even have to alter the entire room. From textiles to furniture, even the simplest accessories, the most vibrant animal prints are sure to make them all leap to life. So it’s time to rethink your everyday, ho-hum décor and start using some animal prints.
Animal Print History
Animal skins and prints are known to convey power and confidence. Fabrics with colors and patterns that imitate the animal skin first became fashionable in the 18th century. The dresses during that time were intertwined with silk and lace in order to evoke wealth and luxury.
By the 1930s, fashion showed a lot of cheetah and leopard prints on coats, blouses and scarves mainly because the Tarzan and Jane sensation was ongoing then.
Animal motif is also considered erotic as it is a kind of fashion that attracts others. This is a kind of fashion that desires to be noticed. Just imagine the head-turning prints that you see on animal designs and you’d know why some people are hesitant to use them.
Animal Prints as the Focal Point
If you find joy in having big and bold décor, then you would surely like having animal prints. Use anything from large zebra stripes, giraffe prints to tiger area rugs. Just make sure that you keep them subdued else they would easily overpower the existing design or could make the eyes overly busy.
Marry the solids and contrasting colors in order to balance the bold nature of animal prints. A great place to start is the pillows, ottomans and side chairs.
Animal Prints and Sophistication
If you’re a bit worried that your living room would begin looking like an African safari, then learn to tie the furnishings with some kind of art. Take a cue from animal print photographs, paintings, even modern sculpture. Find time to visit décor stores that offer a wide selection of arts and craft.
Monochrome…Or Not
Monochrome often comes in boring white and black. If you want to veer away from the usual stark and boring monochromatic scheme, then use zebra prints to give the room a bit more of activity. You can also use cheetah or jaguar prints to envelop the area. These exciting prints can be used on the flooring, walls and also on the window treatments.
Fusion of Prints
Polka dots, stripes, and animal prints can be mixed, too. The trick behind their fusion is to unite them with a base color that’s common to all of them. Small prints are way better to use if you want to combine so as they won’t be too large to disrupt the eyes.
Mix the solids, patterns and prints then unite them on a single color anchor. If you are not that comfortable in matching or mixing many different patterns and colors, then get one piece at a time then grow the room accordingly.
Animal prints can be versatile, just don’t be afraid to use ‘em.
Animal Prints Are Chic
You can also design your home using beautiful touches of animal print styles. If you are a huge fan of zebra prints, then add it as an area rug in your living room. These prints are also now being used on curtains, chairs, bedding, and many others.
Zebra chairs are quite stylish as they pop in a room. Complete the look of your home with zebra cushions, zebra bedding, zebra runner, and many more.
With all these suggestions, aren’t you just aching to start using animal prints soon?
Tags: animal print, cheetah print, history, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, patterns, tiger print, tips, zebra print
Posted in Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, June 20th, 2016
1586-75203-GLD3 Shangri-La Gilded Dining Table Base: This two-seater setup is perfect for that nook in your home. Don’t forget to decorate with vases and framed art.
Any room that lacks space either for seating or cupboards needs a little inspiration. Sometimes, all it takes is a little imagination, a smart storage space, a smaller sofa, and the problem is solved. Add a spotlight to the underside of a shelf and you’ve just created a reading nook. So, here’s the thing, you have a space problem and every home has an unused nook to spare – got the solution?
Breakfast Nook
If you don’t have ample room for dining table and chairs, that tiny space right where the walls meet could serve as a cute breakfast nook. This is especially if you don’t mind dining cozily. Use a bench if you want to fit in more people to that area. Chairs take up more area than one long bench so consider ditching them when you want to use the tiny corner.
Reading Nook
The reading nook need not look intentional. You can incorporate a small library just by having a tiny desk paired with a stylish chair and have them placed in a corner. Have a small pile of books at that desk, and that’s it. Your home library doesn’t have to comprise of a huge bookshelf. Just grab one book, read, finish reading, then put it right back to the pile.
Office Nook
A small space is perfect for working niches. Most people just have their laptops these days so these won’t even require more than 30 inches of space. A little closet can be easily transformed into your dream office nook.
Laundry Nook
How much space do you think you need to move freely in a laundry space? Just 30 inches by 30 inches! Just have the stackable type of washer and dryer and you should be able to transform the tiny nook into a laundry area. Handle the spills by having it diverted towards the bathroom.
Play Pen
As a kid, didn’t you just love having your tiny play spot? Having kids of your own now, that nook could be a nice spot to hide kids’ mess. The world of possibilities just seems endless with that tiny nook. You can now store all the kids’ toys there, their storybooks, etc.
Pet’s Nook
Your pet would surely love his own nook, too. This could serve as a retreat spot where his mess could be contained. Set up your pet’s tiny bed in that corner and you just might get the extra blessing of having an unscratched sofa.
An Entertainment Corner
If you want an entertainment spot but do not want the TV to be the focal point in the room, then just set up that tiny nook to become the TV’s home. That dedicated nook will be used for TV viewing only while you can have the rest of your home for socializing.
Resting Nook
Who says you can’t sleep in that tiny corner? Set up a sofa bed and this is the perfect spot for all your guest sleepovers. You would be surprised at the stylishness that sofa beds can offer. You can also have two sofa beds pushed together to create an instant double bed. This part of your home could also be utilized as a reading corner during most days of the year. Just prop the sofa bed and what a relaxing reading time you’d have. The linens could be hidden neatly inside a trunk during the day.
Kid’s Bedroom
Believe it or not, you can actually fit a loft bed into a nook, one that preferably has a drawer so that bed linens can be concealed. Put a little color and a small partition and your kid will surely love you for ‘em!
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Tags: bedroom for kids, breakfast area, breakfast corner, breakfast nook, designing a kid's room, designing nook, designing nooks, designing the breakfast nook, entertainment center, entertainment room, kids' play room, kids' playroom, laundry area, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nook, nook design, setting up the breakfast nook, tips, unused nook
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Monday, June 20th, 2016
Capel Incorporated Floor Coverings Biltmore Select Bidjar Rug 1773RS10001400450
Are you recently going about looking to interview the best carpet dealer and installer? There is a series of questions that you need to ask the salesperson before you can make your decision. ‘Wanna know what these questions are?
What Kind of Room?
Ask what sort of room will be installed with the carpet. Know also if this room is formal or informal or whether it sustains heavy foot traffic.
What Do You Expect?
It is also notable that you ask what he or she expects as the best carpeting for your space.
How Would It Feel?
This next question is super important because it involves comfort. Ask the salesperson how the carpet would feel underfoot. Better yet, walk on it and know the actual feeling.
How Much?
There are two sub-questions to this question; first, how much does the carpet cost and how much is its installation charge?
Carpeting cost is not always the same as quality, though, so make sure to check on durability. The more expensive carpets are not often better; the price is just higher because more fibers have been added.
Getting a carpet pad means you should know how to fit it to the kind of carpeting used. The most common misconception about thick carpets is that they are the best. Plush carpets ask for thicker pads so make sure you are ready for such.
When it comes to carpet fiber, there are three types being used in the industry these days, with each having a different price range. The first is polypropylene (e.g. the loop style), polyester (made from recycled pet bottles), and nylon which is the most popular fiber.
How Often?
It would also be great to ask what maintenance guidelines the salesperson could give you. Do you need to vacuum more often? Would there be extra fibers flying about?
Easy-to-clean carpets are those that are resistant to stains or are just easy to clean. Polyester is one such material which is why it is also being used to manufacture carpets. This is a crucial material in applications where there are issues on stains.
Nylon can be treated when stained. Ask the salesperson about the treatment that would best take the stains out on this kind of carpet.
How Durable?
Carpets with flat and denser cut-and-loop can wear like iron. It is highly dense especially when there are more stitches used every square inch. This is the reason why most commercial buildings use this type of carpet.
The trackless carpet is also a great choice for rooms in your home. It comes with crimped fibers, a great texture, and the fibers are cut to varying heights so that the light would be reflected and the tracks would not show. This makes it the best choice in high traffic rooms of your home such as the living room or the dining room.
How Stylish?
You get to ask this if you want the plush kind of carpet. This is that kind of carpet where you would want to run through with no slippers on!
Although stylish, the plush carpet also has its drawbacks. Since it is thick, vacuum and foot tracks are easily seen. This should be placed in areas with very low foot traffic such as the master bedroom, powder room and the drier sections of the bathroom.
An example of a unique and stylish carpet is our example here, a carpet from the Biltmore Collection. The Bidjar style comes with quality wool which is the traditional rug design from Capel and Biltmore rugs. This comes with a stylish flair which makes George Vanderbilt’s global travels and carpet purchases worth everything.
Tags: buying a carpet, carpet, carpet buying, carpet choices, carpet design, carpet installation, carpet shopping, carpeting, installing a carpet, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, shopping for a carpet, tips
Posted in Accents, Flooring Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Saturday, June 11th, 2016
Bradington-Young Living Room Wellington Large Stationary Sofa 698-96 has tufted leather.
Fabric is a material that can be used in different finishes. It can be stitched then buttoned to create an interesting tufted piece. Tufted fabrics are those that have buttons and stitches sewn into a cushion. This is done to keep the stuffing from shifting or bunching. Tufting is now also seen as a decorative element in furniture.
Defining Tufting
Apart from mattresses, cushioned chairs and sofas are often the most tufted object in the world. Back in the day, mattresses had tufting to hold the stuffing or batting in place. This was before the mattress coil technology was developed. Untufted pieces almost always ended up with stuffing shifting to the end or on just one side of the mattress.
Buttons are being used nowadays for a more decorative look. These are placed there more for style than for function. Mattress interiors now come with foam, springs and coils.
Button tufting can be accomplished with the use of button forms. These are metal button blanks covered with contrasting or the same fabrics then placed to the object being tufted. Most of these buttons come in shank style or the type of button that has plastic, metal or wire loops where the thread could pass. These buttons are then sewn to the sofa cushion.
Tufting needles are used with or without the wooden handle. This needle is inserted through the cushion and the master artisan works diligently with it. There are also long upholstery needles used for projects with less thickness. These are used on dolls, throw pillows and some cradle mattresses.
An upholsterer can also work on furniture’s backside or its front.
Another kind of tufting is stitch tufting. This is the traditional kind of tufting where button thread, twine, waxed thread or industrial threads are used. Each of the stitches is sewn to the stuffing. This is often used in doll mattresses, bassinets and cradles. The thread’s strength must be able to withstand the pressures of washing and shifting.
Loop or chenille tufted fabrics come with vertical rows of yarn or fiber loops. These are sewn through then formed into a pile. The designs such as leaves, flowers, even human figures can be tufted into the fabric.
Fine Furniture Design Living Room Vestibule Tufted Back Sofa 4514-01 has tufted fabric that nestles effectively in this chiefly beige surroundings. The wooden pieces provide the necessary contrast.
Why Tufting Works
Chesterfield originally was made of velvet but only the crushed velvet type became mainstream. Hollywood homes are filled with this kind of sofa because of the highest levels of sophistication that they are able to offer.
Tufting and color blocking can create focus in any minimalist space. Don’t go gaga over the colors. Let the tufted piece speak for itself and become the star of the show.
Tufted sofas are relatively traditional which makes them perfect in any Old World or rustic setting. If you want to go modern, then all you have to do is to create a traditional layout inside a house with modern architecture.
Tufted sofas can also be transitional pieces. Transitional homes come with furnishings with clean lines so the tufted sofa will make a perfect focal piece.
Always consider scale and mass when you are buying a tufted sofa or any large furniture. The tufted sofa will become an anchor point in any room where you place it. You would, of course, want to be deliberate when making your choices. You could look through an interesting array of tufted sofas then decide on which one would make your theme leap to life.
Many home offices are also using tufted sofas recently. Some even go through great lengths as customizing their seating units so they can have more people seated. Tufted sofas are perfect for social events or casual meetings.
Tags: buying a sofa, couch, couch buying, couch shopping, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, shopping for a sofa, sofa, sofa characteristics, sofa choices, sofa tufting, tips, tufted fabrics, tufted leather, tufted leather couch, tufted seat, tufted seats, tufted sofa, tufted sofas
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Living Room Design | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 8th, 2016
1586-75200B-BRN Long Board Rectangle Dining Table with 2-20in leaves: Clutter is never a part of any dining room but the different elements used to create this balanced yet still homey atmosphere are simply laudable.
A lot of the classiest homes featured in interior design magazines show either the traditional or contemporary style. Too much tradition can be out of character in a modern setting and vice versa. This dilemma is quite common in the world of interior design – where styling a home – even a room – can be a difficult task especially when you are groping for elements to infuse. If you’re out to create a unique dining room, one that seems to come out of a picture book, then you should prepare for some styling battles.
No need to fuss, though. Just take your personality into consideration, know what your favorite color is, and arm yourself with some fundamental design tactics and you should be fine. Remember that the dining room has to be relaxed and casual, not too formal that guests tend to become guarded with their actions. This is your home and not a hotel setting so make your guests feel at home.
Color Palette for Your Palate
The adjoining living room has a lot to do with the colors that you will be using inside the dining area. With regard to color psychology, red is the most common color used pertaining to the appetite. This bright, bold color signifies bravery and in the case of dining, it excites people to want to partake more of what you’re offering on the table.
A blue color palette would also be perfect on walls then echoed on an area rug and the seats. Use patterned fabrics for the chairs when the backdrop framing the entire room is in a block color. Don’t worry too much about matching. Remember that perfectly matched chairs and other design elements feel antiseptic and stiff. If you don’t want to be called uptight, then relax and design the room – not on a whim but – according to your personality.
So, yes, the rug and your upholstery can have different patterns though they can still work together should they have a common color to anchor on.
FFDM’s Hyde Park Collection: This wood ensemble is the perfect house for your fine dining silverware.
Experiment, Don’t Make Do
You are not encouraged to make do with what you currently have. You have to explore your options. The former action means you simply have to rearrange and use the same boring stuff that might have made your dining room into the boring place it already is. Play it up if you want to excite things up a little.
‘Got a small dining room? No problem. Then focus on the things that emphasize the coziness of the area. Find furnishings that will highlight the warm feeling. Don’t cover the room with dark, thick draperies, instead, let in a good amount of sunlight.
Comfort Is Absolute
Allowing your dining room to rock does not mean that you will have to let go of comfort. This is a design element that should never be neglected especially inside the living room. Add intimacy by dressing up even a dining nook and make it feel cozy. Hang low-reaching lights but not so low that they would block the conversations.
Consider the chair and table heights, even the shape of the materials that will be used. Pillows add comfort, plants provide hominess. Create a dramatic statement by hanging an oversized piece of art as a backdrop. This piece will also spur conversations with your guests – the very thing that you would want during a relaxing dinner.
It’s Imperfectly Fun
Who says that everything has to match? Dining rooms weren’t meant to be stuffed with a lot of things so lighten the mood by adding humor and fun. Go crazy on the patterns, allow them to catch the attention of your guests.
Your dining room evokes an informal setting now that you weren’t afraid to become imperfect. Let your hair down, feel comfortable. Hang lights at varying heights, mix and match the furnishings.
This dining room is yours but it is also yours to share so celebrate its wonderful imperfection.
Tags: dining area guidelines, dining room essentials, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, setting up the dining room, tips
Posted in Dining Room Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Monday, June 6th, 2016
Cynthia Rowley’s 1586-80117A-BRN1 Horizon Line Square Accent Table balances every other element placed in this nook. It has effectively served as an anchor to the colorful couch, the modern mirror and the flight of stairs leading to an upstairs room somewhere.
Many designers – over the years – have come up with their own list of bad interior design habits. These habits are, unsurprisingly, being practiced by so many that it has become acceptable. But these need not be the case in your home. In fact, you have to rise above these decorating errors and find ways that you can be better.
Foyer Negligence
Remember the saying that first impression lasts? Well, you only get to have one shot at making a first impression so you might as well do it right the first time. With that said, do not let your entryway and the entry hall be the most neglected parts of your home.
Your home could make the best impression among your friends and colleagues if you only take some time to put a potted plant or a vase of flowers in the entryway. The hallway could also be a gallery for all your travel and family photos. This can also be a wonderful place to display art collections.
You see, there should be no reason to make your entryway a boring place.
Bad Lighting
There are only two bad things when it comes to lighting – either it’s too dim or too bright. If you want to have the correct amount of light inside a room, know its functions. The home office has to have different kind of lighting from the master bedroom. Just as the media room should be differently lighted compared to the kitchen.
To break free of this bad design habit, you have to create a variety of the lighting in rooms. Install dimmers inside the bedroom and have the kitchen and dining areas amply illuminated. Now don’t think that the dining area and the kitchen should share the same brightness of light. The former should have a more intimate and cozy feel than the latter.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Studio 7H Go-Anywhere Rope Accent Tables may be a match to the color of the wall unit but they pop out from the mainly neutral backdrop.
The Un-homey Style
Have you ever seen those built-in refrigerators in those Master Chef episodes? The question is – would you want to play Gordon Ramsey when you’re at home.
Perhaps you would, perhaps not, but the point is, built-in fridge is more suitable in an industrial setting or in the corporate world. It is crucial to break free from this kind of kitchen design because free-standing appliances offer you that homey charm.
Breaking Free from Matching
There is no hard and fast rule that says you have to match furniture, walls and flooring designs. They can’t all be blue! There is something very unnerving about matching colors and patterns, perhaps it’s their lack of confidence in steering towards untested styles.
You can break free from this old habit of match-this-with-that by being care-free. Remember that the term used here is care-free and not careless. You don’t have to match the drapes with your sofa or the carpet.
Explore the world of interior design. In fact, there are even interior design themes that allow you to express your personality and to let your imagination run free.
All White, Really?
Just imagine having an all-white home. You might say that you’re trying to stage a Scandinavian-themed or shabby chic home but must all woodwork be painted white? Remember that a tad of color would take you a long way in terms of design. Colors add interest, even personality, so use white but be sure that it won’t venture into starkness.
The Frame and the Empty Canvas
Another design error that is commonly done in many homes (especially those with limited space) is the cramming of furniture sets against the walls. While this can be an effective way to free up space, just make sure that you fight the urge to place everything against the walls, leaving the middle space cold and unfeeling. Plus, floating pieces (furniture placed away from the walls) are more interesting to look at. They also bring people closer as they huddle to converse.
Tags: decorating errors, decorating mistakes, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Friday, June 3rd, 2016
Jessica Charles Living Room Jenna Bench 63-54 will create an interesting eye anchor right by the entryway.
Have you ever wondered what you could do with a long, narrow hallway? Many people have the same dilemma so you might want to jump in and obsess about how to design this often neglected part of your home.
Hallways Shouldn’t Drive You Nuts
There are many ways that you can make the hallway a beautiful part of your home. First, and almost always the immediate response of many homeowners, you can hang family photos to dispel the ho–hum atmosphere.
It’s time to celebrate the length of your hallway. This may not be the best place to hang photos or art if you barely have space to raise your arms sideward. It is best to concentrate at the end of the hallway if you have this overly narrow type of hallway.
Here are some ways to do just this –
Cynthia Rowley’s 1586-75907-GRY1 Soiree Sideboard 1586-90007-MULTI Aura Round Shell Accent Mirror will make any hallway worth spending a time at.
Create a Unique Vibe
Learn how to highlight the hallway in a way that will make the beholder want to go till the very end. Make the hallway pull the beholder in. It should also be your duty to make the hallway feel less claustrophobic.
Make your hallway a unique vista.
It’s All in a Can of Paint
You might have heard it before – painting a space is the cheapest way to update its look. This can also have a huge impact on a narrow hallway.
Paint this part of your home with a light color if you want it to look wider and brighter. This is especially useful if no natural light goes into this tight space. Any other light color will also offer the same effect.
Make It Useful
If your hallway is near the entryway, it would be wise to add some function to it. You can have a drop zone, mudroom or a command center. Even the installation of a few coat hooks can make a huge difference.
Be Different, Use Stencil
Make a bold statement by having a tone-on-tone stencil. This can deviate from the usual emphasis on the floor carpeting or hall runner. The stencils will make the walls more entertaining rather than claustrophobic. Add an end table or a unique credenza and you will have achieved a hallway that is out of the ordinary.
Furniture Galore
When you are out to consider decorating the hallway, make sure that you are not out to create a utilitarian site. Given the correct kind of treatment, the hallway can become a space where you can even rest. This can also be visually appealing.
Hallways can also add usable square footage in your home. These can be used as storage areas and this can be done in a beautiful way.
A desk or a bookshelf can also be placed in the hallway to create a small home office. There are so many creative ways to design or reassign the function of a hallway. Your limit is just as far as your mind could go.
Tags: hallway, hallway decor, hallway design, hallway design tips, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
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