Some Inspirational Mosaics

Mosaics can be used almost anywhere in a home. They can bring attention to walls that would be forgotten, or surfaces that would otherwise be boring.

Hardwood Flooring Inlay

If you are thinking about installing a new floor in your home, you may want to look into bringing in visual interest with a hard wood flooring inlay. There are so many designs to choose from and inlays can make an ordinary space look polished and expensive. If you are interested in this kind of flooring, make sure you choose a flooring installer that is experienced. Also, make sure you call references. This is a high-priced design feature, you do not want to regret hiring someone just because you saved some money.

The Times Picayune - White Linen Night

This photograph was in an article about white linen night in The Times Picayune on August 21, 2011 by Steven Foster. 

Functional Art

I saw this picnic table while browsing the internet. It is by a sculptor/artist named Michael Beitz who has a number of other functional sculptures that are truly unique. This picnic table is made of laminated poplar and marine epoxy. 

DIY Glass Magnets

Materials you will need:

• Large glass gems (you can buy them at the dollar store)
• A printed picture of photo
• Clear drying glue
• Rubber cement 
• Strong magnets 

Use a clear drying glue to stick photo to gem, let dry

Use a strong glue to adhere magnet to gem (we used rubber cement). If you use hot glue or a weaker glue, the gem will fall off.

Enjoy!

Dorm Room Design - FOX 8 August 19th 2011

These are the items shown of the FOX 8 segment this morning.

This stencil is from Dali Decals, stencils are fantastic to use in dorms because they are easily removed and they can make a large impact on a small room. They come in different colors to coordinate with any type of décor.

http://dalidecals.com/

Since there is not a lot of space in most dorms, hang up backpacks and coats to make rooms look bigger. These items are from The Occasional Wife

http://www.theoccasionalwife.com/

Chet Pourciau on Fox 8 Live: White Linen Night 2011

Chet Pourciau on Fox 8 Live: Saints Decorations

Chet Pourciau on Fox 8 Live: Up-cycling

Acrylic Furniture

There are a ton of benefits to using acrylic furniture, especially when designing a small room. A HUGE benefit is that it doesn't take up much visual space, so it allows you to have more furniture in a room. Some think acrylic furniture is too modern for them; but there are pieces that have traditional lines with an updated style.

DIY Fleur de Lis Door Hanger

This DIY project was shown on FOX 8 Live this morning. Here are some instructions on how to make it:

1. Use a box cutter to cut out a fleur de lis shape out of a card board box.

2. Ball up newspaper and tape it to the card board cut-out (you can ball up as much newspaper as you like, depending on how much of a relief you want)

3. Use packaging tape to cover the whole piece, do not leave spaces in between tape.

4. Mix SMALL BATCHES of Plaster of Paris and cover taped surface. This may take a few layers.

5. Drill hole in back so that it can be mounted to a wall or door.

6. Spray paint desired color

7. Use polyurethane if the piece is to be used outdoors

This Fleur de lis and others are available for sale through Chet Pourciau Design

Tears Off Wallpaper

This Studio Hausen’s Tears Off wallpaper is so fun; it lets YOU be the designer! Instead of having the regular printed wallpaper, this one comes in sheets with a pattern cut into it. The user then can choose his/her own path of design. I think you could make it even more unique by painting the wall behind the wallpaper in a variety of colors.  

IKEA Hackers

I was browsing the web and stumbled upon this website. It has some great DIY projects!

IKEA Hackers

Altering a Room's Appearance

It is easy to transform the look and feel of a room be simply changing out some accessories. A relatively inexpensive way to do this, and give your sofa new life is by switching out accent pillows. You could also alter a room's appearance by swapping out the rug or using some removable wall stickers in strategic areas. 

If you do not want to buy new items every time you want a change, you can easily rotate accessories throughout your home. Table lamps, bowls, artwork, plants, and even accent furniture can be moved around your house for a new look. Rearranging furniture is also an inexpensive and dramatic way to get a new look for your home. It might take a while once you start, but it is all worth it in the end.

Bring the Beach to you

When you cant make it to the beach this summer, bring the beach to you! If you do not have the time or the energy for a long weekend drive, you can always decorate your home in a way to reflect the beach. These items are all available at Chet Pourciau Design. 

 This Regina Andrew table lamp is inspired by the waters off the Baha Peninsula

 This reclaimed driftwood table lamp gives off the perfect beach-like rustic feel to any type of decor

 These accents are hand constructed and trimmed out in pure white sea shells

 This table lamp from Regina Andrew features coral sculpted in pristine white on an elegant base of crystal and chrome

Summer Homes and Rentals - Guest Blog by Megan Gates

Megan Gates is an active blogger who provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to New York City Real Estate Hamptons Rentals, home improvement and the latest architecture, design and fashion. 

Even with the end of July in sight, there is still plenty of summer left for people to enjoy a vacation getaway. Renting a summer home is a great way to get out of town, live like a local and gather with a bunch of friends and family. Whether you own a property near the ocean, a lake, or a destination city, what sort of summer home are people looking to rent?

Summer homes are meant for people to enjoy time together. Having a house with an open concept, especially in areas like the living and dining room, are beneficial for achieving that goal. The negative aspect for having a house that is too open is that people also crave privacy, especially if they are sharing the space with a lot of other people. There lies the benefit of having more closed off rooms, privacy. The negative side of a more closed concept can make a property feel smaller than it is.

When it comes to functionality, no one wants to go to a summer home & fight over bathroom time like they do at home. Renters want something different than what they’re used to at home and usually more luxurious.  Having a property with a lot of bedrooms makes a great vacation home to rent because people tend to vacation with friends and family. The housing trend for this year calls for bigger, more luxurious bathrooms. Having a lot of bathrooms or adding one may not be always be an option in a rental property. However, giving whatever bathrooms are available a face lift to give them a spa feel would be a must have for renters.

A hot trend of new homes is outdoor living space. This doesn't include your typical space of plastic patio furniture and pink flamingos in the garden. People want outdoor kitchens, living rooms and garden rooms. The outdoor space can now be created to be an extensive of your property's square footage instead of a separate area. In terms of flow, keep the outdoor kitchen close to the indoor kitchen.

When it comes to interior design, work with what you have. If you own a home on a beach, play up the beach theme by using inspiration but all the water and sand elements around you. If you have a cabin on a lake, use the natural elements and colors around you for design inspiration. Remember that renters are looking for luxury when they vacation so trying to incorporate a lavish feel into the rooms is a benefit.
With these design tips, your property will become as hot as the summer heat and rented just as quickly. Share any other summer home tips below!