There is no power like FLOWER POWER! Men beware of what is going on. Spring is here and it is time to inspire some floral design. Remember when designing a room you do not want to go over board with any element. Perhaps mixing white walls with floral curtains will do and sometimes even floral wallpaper and floral curtains. I hope you will get inspired just as I did with some of these images. Even if you do not decide to add anything floral to your interior at least pick a bouquet of fresh flowers for your kitchen table. ENJOY!
French Quarter Festival has already started and I have some easy tips on how to create a French quarter inspired interior.If you are going to the French Quarter Festival be sure and pick up a poster from this year.This is a great and easy way to incorporate the wonderful French quarter art onto your walls.You can frame it anyway you like.I personally like gallery type framing.A local artist usually produces the artwork on the poster.Also make sure you pick other interesting pieces of local artwork such as pottery, bowls, and decorative wall art.In French quarter homes or apartments sconces are very common for decorative lighting.Rustic iron to polished nickel may be used for sconces.Remember to always work with the architecture of your home. You can purchase an inexpensive sconce at several home improvement stores and produce a specific finish. Another important factor when creating a French quarter inspired interior is your choice of fabric.Many traditional French Quarter homes use the French basic toile as a choice of fabric.Traditional toile is a canvas or linen that is hand painted in one color with scenes of nature.
Get out your gloves and environmentally friendly cleaners because it’s spring-cleaning time. Most people know how to clean the basics but today I am here to give some helpful hints that many people might not know. Spring is the perfect time to touch up the paint around your home. Match your color and spruce up your walls. Also this might also include sanding your baseboards and giving them another coat or 2 this really makes all the difference.
Also we do not usually clean the ceiling fans every week so this is a good time to cleanse your ceilings using mild dish soap rinse the fans with water then wash them. Instantly your air is cleaner and your fans are faster. Another important thing to do is switch your ceiling fans on counterclockwise. In the winter many people run their fans clockwise because it creates an upward draft, redistributing the warm air hovering near the ceiling throughout the room, thus heating your home more efficiently. Most fans have a switch on the base to adjust the rotation.
Another must for your cleaning agenda is to vacuum the furniture, curtains and pet beds. Your pet’s bed may be at the bottom of your list but this little bed of fur can hold odors and dander and dust. Place it in the washer you can even have it dry-cleaned. Dusting and cleaning your light bulbs also should be on your list. Clean your light bulb with a wet rag but make sure to avoid wetting the metal screw base.
Many people know that newspapers are more effective to use than paper towels but did you know that squeegees are the most effective. Use a squeegee with a mild dish soap to clean the inside and outside of your windows. You will definitely have smudge-free windows. When cleaning your windows don’t forget to clean your screens with a hose and soap as well. Spring is the perfect time to update your bed linens. Replace your bedding for a quick makeover. For an easy custom duvet cover, use two flat sheets. Place sheets back to back, and sew around the perimeter, allowing for a 1/2-inch seam; leave an opening at the bottom. To close, sew twill-tape ties or velcro tape to the inside edges
Mirrors can make all the difference in an interior. They can instantly add a dash of elegance and they also can make a room appear larger. Whether your style is a traditional baroque or a corky eclectic you can always find a mirror
This season bright bold prints are all the rage and the best and easiest way to achieve this trend is to apply wallpaper to your walls. Most people are not experts on what type of wallpaper to use so I figured I would explain some of the different types that you may find. There are 6 major types of wallpaper in residential wall coverings:
1.Vinyl Coated Paper- This wallpaper has a paper substrate on which the decorative surface has been sprayed or coated with an acrylic type of vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These wallpapers are classified as scrub able and strippable, and are suitable in most any areas. They are better resistant to grease and moisture than plain paper, and are really good for bathrooms and kitchens.
2.Coated Fabrics- This wallpaper has a fabric substrate coated with liquid vinyl or acrylic. This is generally considered more “breathable” wallpaper, which makes it best for use in low moisture rooms, live living areas.
3.Paper Backed Vinyl/ Solid Sheet Vinyl- This wallpaper has a paper (pulp) substrate laminated to a solid decorative surface. This type is very durable. It is moisture resistant and grease resistant.
4.Fabric Backed Vinyl- This wallpaper has a substrate laminated to a solid vinyl decorative surface.
5.Solid Vinyl- This wallpaper consists of a vinyl film laminated to a fabric or paper substrate. It is generally considered more durable than fabric backed or paper backed vinyl’s because the vinyl is solid or not applied in liquid form. This type of wallpaper is ideal for consumers looking for a great degree of wash ability and durability.
6.Paper- This type of wallpaper refers to wallpaper with a paper substrate/ground combination upon which the decorative layer is printed. True papers are not coated, but some may have a coating applied to seal in the inks. Because this type of wallpaper varies widely, check the label for attributes of the patter/brand you want to purchase.
So spring is here and it is time to celebrate. You may be sick of this pollen already but
the color of the pollen should inspire you at the least. It is a perfect way to get back into color. Yellows and light greens are all the rage this season and cheer up any interior in a flash. At Chet Pourciau Design it is one of our signature colors. If you are a little nervous to change your walls then stop in and pick up a sugarcane candle that has just enough yellow to cheer up a small cocktail table. Check out these inspiring rooms:
Supporting our local schools is tremendously important to me. KIPP schools are nationally recognized for preparing underserved students for success in college and in life. Over 85% of KIPP graduates have gone on to college. So I wanted to do everything I could to transform Renaissance high’s reading room into an ideal place for learning. One of the great focal points of the reading room was the freshly painted chalkboard on the wall. This is something really easy that anyone can do. You can use a board or even paint it directly onto the wall. I picked up a quart of chalkboard paint from Helm and applied it directly to the board. I let it dry for about a day. This was an easy fix to a big eye sore. Also in the room there were multiple chairs that were great for the space but needed a little sprucing up. You can always reupholster the seat cushion and transform the chair drastically to fit your interior and that’s exactly what we did. Floor de lis donated the carpet, Mike Fennelly and Allison Steward all helped pull this room together.
