Here are five new trends that you can do yourself to improve your living space.
1. Add an accent wall to your space. Most likely in your dining room to create diversity and interest.
2. Incorporate a piece of organic furniture with your existing pieces.
3. Metallics are very popular this season. An easy way to use metallic would be in a backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom to glam it up.
4. Embrace chandeliers this season. Large, small, modern, and ones that are dripping with crystals will make any space chic.
5. Add the unexpected. Use pops of color to liven your interior up a little bit. Such as a bright accent pillows, sconces, texture, and interesting lamps to create a radiant glow.
With the housing market struggling to make a recovery, many homeowners are deciding not to undergo major renovation/remodeling of their homes. In fact, a survey conducted by Remodelingestimates.com reported that falling home prices and recession anxiety caused a high percentage of homeowners interested in remodeling to alter their plans in 2008 – around the same time the housing market began its descent.
A tough economy can be the best time to remodel your home, particularly smaller projects. When the housing market soared, contractors rejected smaller renovations for larger, more lucrative projects. Now that the once booming housing market has slowed, labor is more available and building materials are cheaper.
Sensible home renovations can also help protect that value of your home in a floundering market – and also make your home more enjoyable in the meantime. This article contains some practical rules of thumb for remodeling for strengthening your home’s resale value: click here.
For further reading on the latest news on the housing market, click here.
For more information about the 2008 survey mentioned in the blog, click here.
Much of designing is based on lighting. Floor lamps, table lamps, chandeliers, recessed lights all require a type of light bulb and it is important to know exactly what types there are and how they work.
The main types of bulbs are incandescent and fluorescent. Incandescent lights work by heating a thin strip of metal unit until it glows. Fluorescent lights electrically excite a gas, which then causes a phosphorescent coating to glow. Different types of lights can produce different colors a great way to find the correct color that you want is to look at the CRI which is the color rendering index. The best bulbs usually score between 95-100 and the worst around 52. Fluorescents light bulbs render a bluish tint, tungsten incandescent light bulbs render a yellow tint, and halogen light bulbs render a pink tint.
The best type of lighting to buy is the compact fluorescent, 2nd is the tungsten incandescent, and 3rd is the halogen. The CFL (compact fluorescent light bulb) uses about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and lasts up to 10 times longer. It also produces 75% less heat. Also always look for the ENERGY STAR approval. This means a product has met strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US environmental protection agency. They initially use less energy and these products reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change.
Compact Fluorescent bulbs are used to light most table lamps and floor lamps and may also be used for ceiling fixtures and sconces. Incandescent bulbs are also used for most table lamps, floor lamps, ceiling fixtures, and sconces. Halogen bulbs are usually used for spotlights and outdoor lights and are often used for stage lights. LED lighting ( light emitting diode) is a semiconductor device which converts electricity into light. This process is much less expensive for the amount of light generated.
LED lights are better at placing light in a single direction than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. LED lights are more rugged and damage-resistant than compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs LED lights don’t flicker, they are very heat sensitive and they can be used in task and reading lamps, linear strip lighting, recessed lighting, art lighting, night lighting, stair and walkway lighting, and pendants.
Hey guys, here are a few tips to make things look larger in smaller area's,
1. Use lighter colors such as light blues, lavenders, grays, bright whites, and topes.
2. Incorporate walls with shelving to maximize your storage and display options.
3. Longer window treatments can enhance the visibility of the window, make it look larger, and create a focal point in the space.
4. Keep your furniture on a small scale. Armless furniture will also give you more room.
5. Use mirrors and framed pictures on your walls to create diversity and break up the space.
Here is my segment from Fox8 last friday, I go over seven useful tips on how to paint your house and give some great DIY tips for maximizing the potential of your room. Check back today for some more great DIY painting tips.
Just as lucky as seven, the number three is so popular it has made its way into almost every aspect of our culture, including interior design. Many people rely on the number, believing that objects in threes are more appealing and memorable than objects grouped in other numbers.
In interior design, the rule serves as a tool in building progression and creating drama. A grouping of threes can alter the aesthetic flow of a room and can determine the focal point and balance as seen by an observer. In the photo to the left, the lamps bring symmetry to the wall by making the mirror the focal point. Something even as simple as grouping photos, framed prints, or shelves in threes brings balance to a wall space by instantly creating a collection.
The rule of three also applies to furniture, especially when creating a sitting or dining area. Seating arrangements with three pieces of furniture add harmony to a room, as shown in the photo below. The chairs on both sides of the chaise create the gentle boundaries of this sitting area, while the wall sconces draw attention to the entertainment center.
So whether you’re decorating an entire room or just a small space, remember that you can achieve balance and harmony by simply following the rule of three!
Hey guys,
Chet Pourciau Design headlines the shopping section in "New Orleans Where" magazine's august issue. The editor applauds Chet's ability to balance traditional and contemporary styles to offers readers a "fresh look for fall". A large picture of the interior of Chet's store, located at 3650 Magazine St., provides a perfect visual example of Chet Porciau's design work. Click here, to view the article.
1. Add an accent wall to your space. Most likely in your dining room to create diversity and interest.
4. Embrace chandeliers this season. Large, small, modern, and ones that are dripping with crystals will make any space chic.
