Curtains, drapes, blinds, shades, sheers, shutters can produce a clean, neutral backdrop or provide a full-dressed flourish. In either case, the way you choose to treat your windows lends rhythm to a room, adding pattern and color, light and shadow. As with the pleats and folds of a beautifully draped garment, you can tailor almost any kind of dressing to your windows, to stand out on its own or to reinforce the room's style.
Window treatments help to define the decor of a room. They are a visual filter between indoors and out. Create a shelter with a soft wall of texture and color or let light come streaming in.
TipsFirst determine which treatment is appropriate for your room. Notice where the light falls and think about how you use the room.
Consider using double-rod draperies; that way you have both a basic, year-round layer closest to your window, and a second, outer layer that can be changed easily with the seasons. Pick up a color of the season to echo flowers blooming in your garden. In winter, create a cozier or more elaborate treatment with lush fabrics in warm or metallic hues. Heavier fabrics help retain heat, and deeper colors offer respite from winter's cold palette. In spring and summer; a light outer layer lets you open the windows to feel the breeze; materials are generally solid and subtle, in simple weaves like linen and cotton.
Think about how you like your window treatments feel and function before choosing type, color, material, and style. heavily draped, opaque window treatments tend to be more static and sculptural. Lighter or transparent ones have more movement and seem more casual.
With interesting details around your windows like moldings, bed board, or brick, you can can think of inner layer as a tonal extension of the wall and keep it simply neutral. Or, you may want to draw more focus; plain walls may benefit from treatments that create graphic interest.
Choose decorative rods, finials, holdback, and ties that lend elegance or whimsy to your windows. Using garlands of beads, colorful ribbons, or silk scarves as tiebacks can add a creative touch to your windows for the holidays or for celebrations. With window treatments, options are nearly limitless.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Color Your Home
Orange is a very hot and volatile color, which evokes vastly different responses around the world. In the Netherlands. Orange summons a national pride; in Asia it is a holy color used only for Buddhist monks robes; and in the US our immediate reaction is Halloween! Only recently has this brighter, more spectral aspect of the Orange family been more openly received in America. Previously only Spice tones of Cinnabar, Allspice, Paprika and Terracotta were marketable consumer colors.
Fortunately, the influx of bright acidic tones of lime green and lemon yellow in apparel, recreational gear, autos and electronics naturally brought along Tangerine; and Orange then was accepted more readily. Variations of Orange have become hot colors! It is the feature color for advertising, when the statement being made is "New". It is used in communications and graphics for manufacturer wanting to convey "hip and cool" products. Orange perfectly targeted Gen Xers and even younger, who had never seen the color on products before. It was a color they could adopt as their own. Orange arrived!
However, in home furnishings, the use of the Orange family as accents is widely favored; yet the richer more sophisticated reddened oranges of Cinnabar or the yellowed oranges like Allspice or Terracotta are much more livable and are used more frequently. These more muted tones work well with traditional country, ethnic and hearth-based designs. Deep, yet clear tones work with the more exotic design colorations and the influences of the Orient. This deepened range of color has been widely accepted. Orange tones are warm, comfortable, cozy, active, expansive and jovial. Orange is a vibrant color linked to health and vitality. It has developed from the fire of red towards a more earthy tone. Also associated with enthusiasm and optimism, it is a good welcoming color for hallways, but because it is rather flamboyant, you do have to feel that it suits you or it can be rather overwhelming. Ideal for north-facing rooms which need warming up, It is also a great choice for places where conversation needs to be stimulated. In softer colorations of Cora, Salmon, Clay and Peach, it can be quite soothing and sociable.
As demographics have evolved in the US and the greater visibility of other cultures has emerged. Americans find themselves more open to some of the Orange hues that are readily accepted in other part of the world. You need to know the cultural affects on the colors you use , before you use them.
Fortunately, the influx of bright acidic tones of lime green and lemon yellow in apparel, recreational gear, autos and electronics naturally brought along Tangerine; and Orange then was accepted more readily. Variations of Orange have become hot colors! It is the feature color for advertising, when the statement being made is "New". It is used in communications and graphics for manufacturer wanting to convey "hip and cool" products. Orange perfectly targeted Gen Xers and even younger, who had never seen the color on products before. It was a color they could adopt as their own. Orange arrived!
However, in home furnishings, the use of the Orange family as accents is widely favored; yet the richer more sophisticated reddened oranges of Cinnabar or the yellowed oranges like Allspice or Terracotta are much more livable and are used more frequently. These more muted tones work well with traditional country, ethnic and hearth-based designs. Deep, yet clear tones work with the more exotic design colorations and the influences of the Orient. This deepened range of color has been widely accepted. Orange tones are warm, comfortable, cozy, active, expansive and jovial. Orange is a vibrant color linked to health and vitality. It has developed from the fire of red towards a more earthy tone. Also associated with enthusiasm and optimism, it is a good welcoming color for hallways, but because it is rather flamboyant, you do have to feel that it suits you or it can be rather overwhelming. Ideal for north-facing rooms which need warming up, It is also a great choice for places where conversation needs to be stimulated. In softer colorations of Cora, Salmon, Clay and Peach, it can be quite soothing and sociable.
As demographics have evolved in the US and the greater visibility of other cultures has emerged. Americans find themselves more open to some of the Orange hues that are readily accepted in other part of the world. You need to know the cultural affects on the colors you use , before you use them.
Workspace / Office
Working from home can give you a sense of freedom. A comfortable reading chair, the perfect desk lamp, the perfect desk, storage, working at home has an appeal that's hard to match. Whether it's in a traditional home office, an artist's studio, or a kitchen corner, the perfect workspace is one that works just the way you do. We all want our home offices to be stylish and functional. The best workspaces are retreats that inspire the imagination, when people can work from home there is much more opportunity to create uplifting environments which really support them.
Create your own stress-free working environment:
The nature of the workspace and business life is changing extremely fast. Advances in computer technology and international communications mean that people can work from anywhere: forecasters say that by the beginning of the twenty-first century, over half of the population of North America will be working from home and this trend will be quickly followed in Europe. This revolution is having a dramatic impact on our lives, it is possible to create living and working environments that will sustain us. The key is to achieve balance in how space will be used and determine the boundaries, so that there is a way to shut the door and bring closure at the end of the end of each working day.
The ideal workspace marries purpose and passion. Design your home office to inspire creativity, to offer delight, and to help you complete the job at hand. As a matter of personal taste, a workspace can be elegant or rustic, sleek or cozy, traditional or individual. As a practical matter, what you're aiming for is ease of use and a place you look forward to returning day after day. Think about what makes you happiest when you work. Is it an inspiring view, or an absence of clutter? Perhaps you'd like to have a cozy chair for reading or a daybed for quick catnaps.
Other things to consider are those more specific to the type of work you do and the furnishings that make the most sense for it: a desk for a home office or a large table for an artist's studio. Choosing the right kind of storage open or closed, freestanding or built-in-and a sufficient combination of types of lighting takes careful planning too. Keep in mind office ergonomics as well: table height, chair comfort, room to stretch, and ventilation. Is there a space for a chaise longue? Create a room that makes you want to stay another hour in order to finish the work you have to do, drawing or household bills. A successful home office is one you're in no hurry to leave.
Create your own stress-free working environment:
The nature of the workspace and business life is changing extremely fast. Advances in computer technology and international communications mean that people can work from anywhere: forecasters say that by the beginning of the twenty-first century, over half of the population of North America will be working from home and this trend will be quickly followed in Europe. This revolution is having a dramatic impact on our lives, it is possible to create living and working environments that will sustain us. The key is to achieve balance in how space will be used and determine the boundaries, so that there is a way to shut the door and bring closure at the end of the end of each working day.
The ideal workspace marries purpose and passion. Design your home office to inspire creativity, to offer delight, and to help you complete the job at hand. As a matter of personal taste, a workspace can be elegant or rustic, sleek or cozy, traditional or individual. As a practical matter, what you're aiming for is ease of use and a place you look forward to returning day after day. Think about what makes you happiest when you work. Is it an inspiring view, or an absence of clutter? Perhaps you'd like to have a cozy chair for reading or a daybed for quick catnaps.
Other things to consider are those more specific to the type of work you do and the furnishings that make the most sense for it: a desk for a home office or a large table for an artist's studio. Choosing the right kind of storage open or closed, freestanding or built-in-and a sufficient combination of types of lighting takes careful planning too. Keep in mind office ergonomics as well: table height, chair comfort, room to stretch, and ventilation. Is there a space for a chaise longue? Create a room that makes you want to stay another hour in order to finish the work you have to do, drawing or household bills. A successful home office is one you're in no hurry to leave.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Designing a Family Fitness Room
Creating a family fitness room makes it easier than ever to stick to your workout -- and it's a great place for the kids to hang, too
For most families, the key to fitness can be summed up in one word: convenience. Few things are more convenient than having all the essentials of a fitness club right in your basement.
But when Better Homes and Gardens set about developing the ideal family fitness room, convenience was only one of our considerations. The room had to work as part of a home and as a part of the lives of the family using it.
"If you're going to commit a space in your home to fitness and exercise, you have to make it inviting and motivating," says Eric Rothman of HammerSmith, the Atlanta design/build renovation firm we chose to help bring this family fitness room to life. "You can't just set up a weight bench and your old treadmill down in a dark corner of the basement and call it good. Like any other room in your home, it should be warm and welcoming. You should want to spend time there. And you have to make it so there's something for everyone: yourself, your spouse, and even the youngest children."
Rothman's plan has a distinct family-room feel: Half the room is furnished with a cushioned bench, sofa, coffee table, and shelving for books or a home theater. The other half is an open space with a corner for free weights and bench, and floor room for a treadmill or stair climber.
The design called for recessed lighting and cherry trim to add a note of warmth throughout. Durable, self-adhesive carpet squares help cushion floor exercises. Blinds offer privacy while one person is working out and others are watching TV. Conversely, keeping the blinds up allows exercisers to watch TV or even incorporate exercise videos into the workout. Putting mirrored panels on the back wall not only reflects light and gives the room a more open feel, but also has a practical function.
"Being able to see yourself when performing strength-training exercises helps you check your posture as you work out for better results and less risk of injury," says Jeff Bell, certified strength and conditioning specialist and co-owner of Spectrum Wellness fitness center in Manhattan, who contributed numerous ideas to our room's fitness scheme.
And for the kids, the centerpiece of the room is a wild, wavy climbing wall.
"Not only do climbing walls create an interesting design element, but the kids love them," says Rothman. "These walls are better than a jungle gym. And the holds are movable so, as the kids grow or get bored with one layout, you can mix it around and make it more challenging." That kind of flexible design is essential to ensuring kids make exercise a lifelong habit. Variation keeps families committed to exercise and improves fitness because it encourages working out different muscle groups in different ways, adds Bell.
There are other practical considerations to the family fitness room. Safety aside, exercisers should be able to secure or stow gear that little ones could hurt themselves on. When everyone is done using the room, there should be a place to put everything. That's why our room has plenty of storage possibilities and space for everyone to exercise.
In addition to a closet with ample shelving and drawers for each person's towel and exercise clothes, the bench on the room's opposite side is open at the back with slanted shelves for dumbbells or other equipment. The space behind the climbing wall could also serve to store equipment when you need more floor space for aerobics or the next time the kids want to roll out the mats to do a little tumbling
For most families, the key to fitness can be summed up in one word: convenience. Few things are more convenient than having all the essentials of a fitness club right in your basement.
But when Better Homes and Gardens set about developing the ideal family fitness room, convenience was only one of our considerations. The room had to work as part of a home and as a part of the lives of the family using it.
"If you're going to commit a space in your home to fitness and exercise, you have to make it inviting and motivating," says Eric Rothman of HammerSmith, the Atlanta design/build renovation firm we chose to help bring this family fitness room to life. "You can't just set up a weight bench and your old treadmill down in a dark corner of the basement and call it good. Like any other room in your home, it should be warm and welcoming. You should want to spend time there. And you have to make it so there's something for everyone: yourself, your spouse, and even the youngest children."
Rothman's plan has a distinct family-room feel: Half the room is furnished with a cushioned bench, sofa, coffee table, and shelving for books or a home theater. The other half is an open space with a corner for free weights and bench, and floor room for a treadmill or stair climber.
The design called for recessed lighting and cherry trim to add a note of warmth throughout. Durable, self-adhesive carpet squares help cushion floor exercises. Blinds offer privacy while one person is working out and others are watching TV. Conversely, keeping the blinds up allows exercisers to watch TV or even incorporate exercise videos into the workout. Putting mirrored panels on the back wall not only reflects light and gives the room a more open feel, but also has a practical function.
"Being able to see yourself when performing strength-training exercises helps you check your posture as you work out for better results and less risk of injury," says Jeff Bell, certified strength and conditioning specialist and co-owner of Spectrum Wellness fitness center in Manhattan, who contributed numerous ideas to our room's fitness scheme.
And for the kids, the centerpiece of the room is a wild, wavy climbing wall.
"Not only do climbing walls create an interesting design element, but the kids love them," says Rothman. "These walls are better than a jungle gym. And the holds are movable so, as the kids grow or get bored with one layout, you can mix it around and make it more challenging." That kind of flexible design is essential to ensuring kids make exercise a lifelong habit. Variation keeps families committed to exercise and improves fitness because it encourages working out different muscle groups in different ways, adds Bell.
There are other practical considerations to the family fitness room. Safety aside, exercisers should be able to secure or stow gear that little ones could hurt themselves on. When everyone is done using the room, there should be a place to put everything. That's why our room has plenty of storage possibilities and space for everyone to exercise.
In addition to a closet with ample shelving and drawers for each person's towel and exercise clothes, the bench on the room's opposite side is open at the back with slanted shelves for dumbbells or other equipment. The space behind the climbing wall could also serve to store equipment when you need more floor space for aerobics or the next time the kids want to roll out the mats to do a little tumbling
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Decorating Home Tip: Where to Start on All Major Decorating Projects
Recently I was asked, from an overwhelmed homeowner, "in what order should I begin my decorating and remodeling project?" The answer? Do what the professionals do!
When a house is built, they begin with the foundation, build the walls, add a roof, get the inside protected by windows, doors, roofing and siding. Then they come inside and do all the stuff under the protective coating (the drywall, sheetrock, plaster). They wire for electric, put in plumbing, HVAC, security systems, and audio and visual systems. Then they hang the drywall, sheetrock or plaster. After that they usually do trim work like your moldings and door and window facings. At the same time or within some succession they work on built-ins. Then they paint, usually with a sprayer, then they add the bathrooms, kitchens, floors, and finish the trim and light fixtures, etc.
In a home decorating or remodel project if you are starting over from top to bottom you can take the same steps as a professional builder does.
1. First begin with any new construction, room dividers, holes in walls, new window openings, new windows, etc.
2. Next do any electrical work like adding outlets, adding overhead lights, downlights, switches, surround sound, security systems, etc.
3. Now start on your crown molding and trim around windows and doors. Any built ins that are going to be added would be built at this point by your finish carpenter. Once this is complete"…"
4. Paint the walls and trim, get the floors put down (assuming you are adding new prefinished hard wood floors or carpeting).
Once the basics of construction are done, the same rules apply to decorating the space and making it homey, that is adding the colors, the patterns and the fluffy stuff that makes a house feel like a home.
1. Decide what the room is going to be used for and make a plan.
2. Select the furniture that makes sense for your family and your budget.
3. Pick out colors and patterns that work for the room, the style you want and for your family and pets.
4. Select window treatments or curtains to protect your new digs and soften the edges.
5. Hang artwork or wall décor to begin warming up the room and making it your own.
6. And lastly get some accessories and lamps to top it all off!
Guess what? YOU ARE DONE DECORATING!
The most important question for any decorating or home remodeling project is this: what do you want? When you can figure out what you want at the beginning and set yourself up on a plan, each step will fall in line (because you are organized and know exactly what you want), you will be able to make your budget (you can cut costs here and there and look for sales) and the whole project will come together effortlessly.
When a house is built, they begin with the foundation, build the walls, add a roof, get the inside protected by windows, doors, roofing and siding. Then they come inside and do all the stuff under the protective coating (the drywall, sheetrock, plaster). They wire for electric, put in plumbing, HVAC, security systems, and audio and visual systems. Then they hang the drywall, sheetrock or plaster. After that they usually do trim work like your moldings and door and window facings. At the same time or within some succession they work on built-ins. Then they paint, usually with a sprayer, then they add the bathrooms, kitchens, floors, and finish the trim and light fixtures, etc.
In a home decorating or remodel project if you are starting over from top to bottom you can take the same steps as a professional builder does.
1. First begin with any new construction, room dividers, holes in walls, new window openings, new windows, etc.
2. Next do any electrical work like adding outlets, adding overhead lights, downlights, switches, surround sound, security systems, etc.
3. Now start on your crown molding and trim around windows and doors. Any built ins that are going to be added would be built at this point by your finish carpenter. Once this is complete"…"
4. Paint the walls and trim, get the floors put down (assuming you are adding new prefinished hard wood floors or carpeting).
Once the basics of construction are done, the same rules apply to decorating the space and making it homey, that is adding the colors, the patterns and the fluffy stuff that makes a house feel like a home.
1. Decide what the room is going to be used for and make a plan.
2. Select the furniture that makes sense for your family and your budget.
3. Pick out colors and patterns that work for the room, the style you want and for your family and pets.
4. Select window treatments or curtains to protect your new digs and soften the edges.
5. Hang artwork or wall décor to begin warming up the room and making it your own.
6. And lastly get some accessories and lamps to top it all off!
Guess what? YOU ARE DONE DECORATING!
The most important question for any decorating or home remodeling project is this: what do you want? When you can figure out what you want at the beginning and set yourself up on a plan, each step will fall in line (because you are organized and know exactly what you want), you will be able to make your budget (you can cut costs here and there and look for sales) and the whole project will come together effortlessly.
Dress Up Your Table With Fresh Spring Flowers
Dress Up Your Table With Fresh Spring Flowers
From Coral Nafie,
Celebrate Special Occasions With Beautiful BloomsEaster, Mother's Day, graduations, and bridal events seem to all come in the spring. Whether you'll be entertaining for a special event this season, having guests over for an intimate meal, or enjoying the warmer weather, you'll love the fresh and cheery look that wonderful spring flowers can bring to your home.
Use our fresh, springy ideas and inspiration to bring the fresh look of the new season to your table and home. Most of our ideas are very reasonably priced and quick and easy to do. You and your guest will enjoy the fresh look.
Fresh flowers are a must!
Get lots of ideas for spring tables in this placesetting slide show with floral centerpieces, china, napkins, and table decorations for Easter and spring.
The fresh colors and wonderful scents of tulips, hydrangea, daffodils and narcisus just invite spring into your home. What a relief after a long, chilly winter! Use your favorite colors for beautiful centerpieces. Put together combinations of yellow, blue, white, and pink. View an assortment of floral table decorations to welcome spring into your home.
Make or buy a pretty spring flower centerpiece for your table. Get out floral and pastel table linens or placemats. Purple mats with yellow napkins or pink placemats with white napkins and pastel china is a fresh elegant look for warmer weather.
From Coral Nafie,
Celebrate Special Occasions With Beautiful BloomsEaster, Mother's Day, graduations, and bridal events seem to all come in the spring. Whether you'll be entertaining for a special event this season, having guests over for an intimate meal, or enjoying the warmer weather, you'll love the fresh and cheery look that wonderful spring flowers can bring to your home.
Use our fresh, springy ideas and inspiration to bring the fresh look of the new season to your table and home. Most of our ideas are very reasonably priced and quick and easy to do. You and your guest will enjoy the fresh look.
Fresh flowers are a must!
Get lots of ideas for spring tables in this placesetting slide show with floral centerpieces, china, napkins, and table decorations for Easter and spring.
The fresh colors and wonderful scents of tulips, hydrangea, daffodils and narcisus just invite spring into your home. What a relief after a long, chilly winter! Use your favorite colors for beautiful centerpieces. Put together combinations of yellow, blue, white, and pink. View an assortment of floral table decorations to welcome spring into your home.
Make or buy a pretty spring flower centerpiece for your table. Get out floral and pastel table linens or placemats. Purple mats with yellow napkins or pink placemats with white napkins and pastel china is a fresh elegant look for warmer weather.
Make a Quick Change for Summer
Make a Quick Change for Summer
From Coral Nafie,
What Could Be Easier Than Adding Simple Accessories?There's no way easier to make a quick change in your home than to change the accessories. Add flowers and plants, hang pictures, and pull out interesting collections to set the mood for summer.
Here are some things you can do to update accessories for summer.
If you have an hour,
Drape sheer cloths or summer floral fabric on a side table
Place a faux plant or water fountain into the fireplace pit
Put a bed of sand with shells on a tray for the coffee table
Cut fresh long branches to fill tall vases set on each end of the mantle
Buy an orchid plant for every bathroom. Keep them fresh with twice-weekly watering
If you have an afternoon,
Make simple new covers for throw pillows.
Choose lightweight, floral fabric and slide on a fresh summery look. Or purchase inexpensive colorful pillows
Place a lightweight sisal rug where a heavy wool rug once lay
Freshen up the wreath on your front door wreath with colorful artificial flowers and greens
Choose a pretty floral fabric and make a runner for the dining room table
If you have a weekend,
Plan a shopping trip to garage sales and flea markets to look for seasonal accessories and artwork
Starting with the area that shows the most, clear out all the clutter from your room
Mount and hang floral plates on the wall
Mat prints or postcards to hang on the walls. Cluster them for the greatest effect.
Collect like items such as wood, metal, or glass. Create a display or grouping of your collection and display them on a bookshelf or table
From Coral Nafie,
What Could Be Easier Than Adding Simple Accessories?There's no way easier to make a quick change in your home than to change the accessories. Add flowers and plants, hang pictures, and pull out interesting collections to set the mood for summer.
Here are some things you can do to update accessories for summer.
If you have an hour,
Drape sheer cloths or summer floral fabric on a side table
Place a faux plant or water fountain into the fireplace pit
Put a bed of sand with shells on a tray for the coffee table
Cut fresh long branches to fill tall vases set on each end of the mantle
Buy an orchid plant for every bathroom. Keep them fresh with twice-weekly watering
If you have an afternoon,
Make simple new covers for throw pillows.
Choose lightweight, floral fabric and slide on a fresh summery look. Or purchase inexpensive colorful pillows
Place a lightweight sisal rug where a heavy wool rug once lay
Freshen up the wreath on your front door wreath with colorful artificial flowers and greens
Choose a pretty floral fabric and make a runner for the dining room table
If you have a weekend,
Plan a shopping trip to garage sales and flea markets to look for seasonal accessories and artwork
Starting with the area that shows the most, clear out all the clutter from your room
Mount and hang floral plates on the wall
Mat prints or postcards to hang on the walls. Cluster them for the greatest effect.
Collect like items such as wood, metal, or glass. Create a display or grouping of your collection and display them on a bookshelf or table
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