The walls are now decorated with a dark green watered silk that features a large scale moire pattern. The original coral color of the chairs’ upholstery was darkened to make it more intense and vibrant, and the drapes also received a new makeover, with a new color that is similar to vermilion  The drapes were used to recreate Edward Vason Jones’ design of the 1970’s, but it now shows a more intense color and the painted cornice. Four large tassels were removed from the drapery, but Mrs. Bush chose to keep the bobble fringe of the Nixon era design.

The original Turkish carpet of The Green Room was replaced with a new rug that is woven in the style of a French Savonniere. It is similar to the Savonniere that is used in the Red Room. As a part of the most recent remodel, a new painting was added to the Green Room. This painting is The Builders, which was painted by Jacob Lawrence. This painting is one of just two by an African American artist that hangs in the White House.

Currently, the Green Room furnishings follow the style of the Federal period, and many of the pieces in the room were manufactured by the famous New York maker, Duncan Phyfe. The shades of green that are found throughout the room are complemented by gold accents, which can be seen in the mirrors that frame either side of The Builders. Fine works of silver can also be seen throughout the Green Room, including the famous Sheffield coffee urn. This urn is engraved with the letters “JAA”, which stands for John and Abigail Adams.

Not all of the shades of green that have been used in the Green Room in the past have pleased everyone, but the current style of the Green Room was decorated with advisement from the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, and it has won rave reviews.

Even with the prior regular disposal of presidential china, almost every past president, and their families, are represented in some form or fashion in the China room through both state and family china. Starting at the right of the stately fireplace, each collection of china is arranged neatly in chronological order. Each of the display cabinets that house the china are fitted with thick glass plates to protect its contents.

In terms of dimensions, the China Room measures approximately 27 ½ feet by 20 ½ feet. The room was redecorated for the first time since 1917 in 1970. The inspiration for the décor of the room was derived from a portrait of Mrs. Coolidge that hung in the room. This painting was created by Howard Chandler Christy in 1924. The vivid red hues in the portrait are carried throughout the room and can be seen in cabinets that are lined with red velvet, red silk taffeta window treatments, and the Indo-Isphan rug. For the lighting, the room features a glass cut chandelier. The chandelier was made in the early 1800’s, and it is fashioned after the English Regency style.

On either side of Mrs. Coolidge’s portrait, you will find a pair of Chippendale side chairs that are said to have been used by President George Washington. There is a stunning portrait just above the mantel that is entitled “View on the Mississippi Fifty-Seven Miles Below St. Anthony Falls, Minneapolis”. This painting was painted in 1858 by Ferdinand Richardt to celebrate the year that Minnesota first achieved statehood. Gilded sconces line either side of the portrait and serve to highlight its beauty. The white mantel is elaborately carved with figures of women.

The China Room is a special room within the White House that is dedicated to preserving a piece of history. Several first ladies have also used this beautiful and elegant space as a retreat to relax and to do work.

A little known fact about the Blue Room is that it has six different doors. The three floor to ceiling windows look out on the South Lawn of the White House. The furniture that is currently used in the Blue Room follows the French Empire style. The current suite of furniture was made in Paris in 1812, and the famous marble top table that can be seen in the center of the room has been in the White House since 1817. The gold mantel clock, which has always adorned the fireplace, also follows the French Empire style, and it was also made about 1817.

One of the crowning pieces of the Blue Room is the 19^th century French chandelier. It is made from gilded wood and hand cut class, with decorations of acanthus leaves. The chandelier was first purchased by First Lady Kennedy. The acanthus leaf pattern is repeated at various points throughout the room, as is a recurring pattern of medallions. An 1859 portrait of John Tyler hangs on the west wall of the room, just above the famous Monroe sofa.

The blue satin drapes are another easily recognizable feature of The Blue Room. They are modeled after early 1800’s, French patterns. Archive materials from the Society for the Protection of New England Antiquities were used as patterns for the drapes. The fabric used in the drapes is a sapphire blue silk, and the silk is also used in the upholstery for the furniture. This fabric was chosen by First Lady Clinton during the mid 1990’s.

The walls in The Blue Room have been decorated with a chamois colored wallpaper, and the wallpaper features burnished gold medallions. The upper border of the wallpaper is created from a blue fabric, drapery swag. During the 1990’s, a new oval style carpet was introduced into the design scheme, and its inspiration was derived from neoclassical English designs, which were produced around the same time as the period furnishings.

• 1900’s – The McKinleys’ introduced the Colonial Revival style to many rooms of the White House, including some furnishings that are still used in the Blue Room today. The first impressive chandeliers were installed in the East Room, and the State Dining Room was dramatically enlarged.

• 1910’s – The Tafts did not make any changes to the state rooms, but Mrs. Taft did switch the Victorian furnishings of the president’s bedroom with Colonial Revival mahogany furniture. The second wife of President Woodrow Wilson, Edith Galt, created the China Room as a room for displaying china.

• 1920’s – Neither the Hardings nor the Coolidges made many changes to the style of the White House, but Grace Coolidge did knit a lace coverlet that was used in the Lincoln Bedroom for many years.

• 1930’s – Mrs. Herbert Hoover introduced an extensive collection of historical paintings, portraits, and objects into the Entrance Hall. She created the Monroe Room and was responsible for ordering reproductions of several pieces of Monroe’s furniture and a French mahogany table from 1817.

• 1940’s – The Roosevelts made few changes to the rooms of the White House, besides brining along some of their own furnishings. The Truman family was forced to relocate when the White House developed serious structural problems that required renovations that ran through 1952.

• 1950’s – After the renovations on the White House were completed, many new pieces of reproduction 18^th century Georgian and 19^th century Federal style furniture were introduced. Mrs. Eisenhower was responsible for the creation of the Vermeil Room in 1958 to display vermeil that was bequeathed to the White House.

• 1960’s – The 1960’s saw the introduction of many authentic 19^th century American Federal furniture pieces into the White House. Mrs. Kennedy was responsible for acquiring three original chairs from Monroe’s Oval Room and a chair made for the East Room in 1818.

• 1970’s – Mrs. Nixon created a program to furnish several of the rooms in high quality American decorative arts from the early 19th century. Many pieces of furniture from Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honore Lannuier were brought in. Mrs. Jimmy Carter greatly expanded the art collection of the White House with many works from the 1800’s, and during this time, the only surviving sofa from the Monroe era was donated to the White House.

• 1980’s – Historic furnishings for the White House continued to be acquired. Two 1818 East Room chairs and a brass and ivory presidential seal used by Abraham Lincoln were purchased.

• 1990’s – Not many changes were made to the décor of the White House during this time, but both First Ladies worked tirelessly to raise funds for the preservation of the pieces in the Whtie House.

• 2000’s – Acquisitions of furniture for the White House include  a pair of elegant 19th century French porcelain vases, a rare 19th century mahogany desk and bookcase, and a new state dinner and dessert service for 300. The secretary is an excellent example of early American Empire furniture.

Each of these colors has been carefully chosen for the values and energies they symbolize. For example, the color red signifies happiness in Chinese culture. The color green represents peace and growth, and it is associated with things that are vital and alive. These colors are combined to create a space that is relaxing and nourishing for the body.

It is also important to note that the color scheme is complemented by feng shui design. Green is considered an earth color, and its presence is reinforced by the use of natural wood flooring and furnishings. Additionally, the window is left mostly uncovered to allow the maximum amount of natural light within the space. Even the peacock feathers, which are used as an accessory, are symbolic of openness in Chinese culture, which ties in well with the theme created by the color palette.

In this backyard, a quiet oasis has been created to encourage relaxation and meditation. With a minimum amount of space to work with, the earth element has been introduced into the backyard through the use of wood for the deck and seating. Wood is particularly symbolic of the earth element, because it is solid and resistant.

Under the Zen concept of Buddhism, the color red is symbolic of fire. The use of red accessories is an ideal method of introducing the fire element to this outdoor retreat. Fire and earth nourish one another, so their energies balance one another out. The result is a beautiful and serene outdoor space where meditation can be practiced with ease.

A water feature in a garden does not have to appear Oriental to enjoy its benefits; however, it should be harmonious with the decorating style of the home, both indoors and out. Outdoor water features introduce the energy of water into one’s life. In addition to being beautiful, they are also functional. In the feng shui philosophy, water is a symbol of wealth and prosperity.

In this picture, you will see that stones have been used prominently throughout the water feature. The use of crystals and stones in water features are thought to double the energy benefits that the water feature offers. The use of the bridge provides a place where one can sit, stand, and meditate to absorb its beneficial energies.

The koi fish, seen in the pond, are representative of good fortune, success, and prosperity.

In most instances, feng shui practitioners will use small bowls of stones of rocks or crystals to infuse a space with the earth element, but in this instance, it has been given a unique twist by using the stone archways over the window and through the center of the room. In feng shui, the earth element is symbolic of relationships and love, which is a wonderful energy choice for a master bedroom.

The use of the stone as an earth element is complemented by the warm neutral earth tone palette, the candle holders, and the use of clay figurines. The moving banner in the bedroom is symbolic of abundance and prosperity, which makes it an ideal complement to the earth elements. The absence of window treatments allows the maximum presence of natural light, enhancing the earth elements throughout the room.

Many elements of Asian inspired design can be seen throughout the space. A neutral color palette allows the Asian scroll art to take center stage. The dining room table features clean, simple lines that are elegant. As an extra element of Japanese culture, fresh cherry blossoms have been incorporated into the design of the room. In Eastern Asia, this plant is considered a symbol of fortune and good luck.

The color palette is restricted to a neutral gold color, which allows the dark richness of the wood furnishings to shine through. In Indian culture, the color gold is symbolic of affluence and wealth. This color choice, when combined with the rich texture of the window treatments, bedding, and accessories, creates an opulent environment where relaxation is encouraged.

Although regular tidying is done, the area is still a mess. The worst part of it is the dust that accumulates on these devices, which can destroy their functions.

Manufacturers of modern furniture have solved this problem with the creation of entertainment units. The olden times has made use of a table or cabinet as their TV stand. Not long after, TV stands were created and were given some modifications. With the emergence of more gadgets, furniture manufacturers again made some innovations with television stands and came up with entertainment centers.

Modern entertainment centers provide more storage space for your equipment. They are also made from different materials although wood is still the primary material used. Some units are made of wood and glass.

However, before you start shopping for your entertainment unit, you need to answer some questions, such as:

1. What is the size of your TV and other gadgets?
2. How many devices do you have?
3. Do you want your TV screen displayed or hidden?
4. Is your equipment in the living room or in a separate viewing room?
5. Do you have children at home? What are their ages?

By answering the above questions, you will be able to evaluate the kind of entertainment center suitable for you.

Following are some guidelines on choosing the media center that is attuned to your liking.

• If you have a flat-screen television, it will be a good option to have a wall unit entertainment center to free some space in your room. This likewise produces a fresh, unfussy appeal. If you want to get the feel of a movie house, then hang it higher. On the other hand, you can hang it at eye level for a more benevolent look.
• If you have plenty of gadgets, a bigger wall unit is a good option. Get one that features many modifiable shelves and with cable holes for your wires. Pick a media center that has sliding doors, as it offers easy maneuverability to your gadgets.
• If you want something that can also store other items in the living room such as remotes, CDs and DVDs, books, magazines, remotes, etc., choose the furniture that has plenty of drawers and shelves.
• Now for the materials, you can choose either solid wood, pressed wood or veneer. Solid wood is sure to lasts longer and is repairable but expensive. Pressed wood is the same but is cheaper than solid wood. Veneer is durable like solid wood but is not repairable.
• Lastly, you also have to consider the price. How much are you willing to spend? This will determine the quality of material; nevertheless, always choose one that is durable and long-lasting.

For more designs and styles of entertainment centers, visit lafurniturestore.com. They offer varied furniture ranging from the living room, bedroom, dining room, etc. at affordable prices.

LA Furniture store: LA furniture store & entertainment center

Here are just a few fun, modern and creative ways to step up your stair case:

• As an accent wall: Not papering all four walls is totally okay, in fact choosing just one wall to use as a focal point is actually more in line with the current design trends of painting just one wall in a highlight color. Choose a color or print that is complimentary to your existing (or new) décor and have fun with it.

• In the interior of your closet: This idea is unique because not many people take the time to think of closet décor because more often than not, the inside of your closets are rarely seen by guests. Nonetheless, using wall paper in this fashion still adds a fresh pop of color, textural element. Of course this works best in a well organized and maintained closet.

• Frame it!: You may fall completely in love with a wall paper pattern only to find that it is outside of your budget or isn’t ideal for four wall use. If this happens, use it as wall art by framing it! Depending on the size of your room and wall space restrictions – a poster sized frame can be really eye-catching.

They have different dimensions, styles and designs that range from being traditional, oriental or of the olden days. Most of these dividers have an oriental design make use of rice paper screens or bamboos. Some have ethnic imprints and there are the contemporary ones. Despite of what your preference is there is always a room divider to suit your taste and will blend with your home theme.

Following are some suggestions on how you can use room dividers in your abode.

• Create areas in the living room. Open-plan designs are common in most modern homes especially for small spaces. This leaves everything in the open to be seen by everyone leaving no privacy at all.
• You can still have that seclusion by installing room dividers. Set a small nook as your reading area. Have a small table with a table lamp and a sofa. You can also have a recliner sofa instead. Thus, you will not get disturbed from reading or from having a nap.
• You can also use a divider to create your small working area or office. Have your table, chair and other essential office furniture and surround it with a folding room divider.
• If you have a big living room, you can divide it into two. You can assign one room as your entertainment area while the other is your guests’ area.
• You can also use it to have a playroom for your kid. Buy a shelf or storage carts where he can put his toys and put them behind the room divider. Have a carpet to make sure your toddler will not bang his head on the floor. Make the area more child-friendly. With a playroom of his own, you know that he is safe and even your living furniture is safe, too. Your living room will also be free of toys cluttered on the floor and the sofas.
• Use it in the bedroom. You can set it up to be a dressing room. This is advisable and practical for your daughter’s bedroom, especially if she has her friend to sleep for the night. You can also place it in the guest room, thus giving them their privacy while dressing up.
• You can also create a small stock room. Stash your iron board, clothes hamper, storage boxes and carts, cleaning tools and materials at the back of the room divider. You can place this in the kitchen area. This will make the room clean and orderly.
• You can also hang pieces of artwork on the dividers such as your kid’s projects. However, make sure that they are light in weight.

Learn how to make your room look different and useful. The use of room dividers can also give a plain room look brilliant.

Visit www.lafurniturestore.com for more designs and styles of room dividers as well as furniture for your home.

LA Furniture store: LA furniture store & living room

Here are some questions that you need to answer when furnishing your dining room.

• Is it just intended for family use or also for small and big gatherings?
• Will it be exclusively for dining purposes or a multi-use room?
• Will it be used daily or occasionally for family gatherings?

The size of your dining room will determine the furniture you need.

• A table that is too small will drown in a larger room, conversely a smaller room with shouldn’t have a big table for the obvious reasons. You’ll need to get the measurement of your room prior to buying your dining set. Keep in mind that you need to leave adequate space around the table for easy movement and access.
• If your dining room is moderately big, you may have additional pieces of furniture like buffet, cabinets or sideboards. If you want to minimize its bigness, you can have heavy curtains. You can also use bigger and broader chairs or those that are upholstered.

The use of the dining room.

• If you intend to use it for other functions other than dining such as working, reading, conversations, you need to get chairs that are more comfortable.
• If it will be rarely used, you can opt to have furniture that has high maintenance finishing and upholstery. Alternatively, functional furniture is needed if it will be used regularly. Hence, get those that prove to be more durable especially if you have kids.
• You also would need chairs that are more comfortable if this will also be used as a working or reading area.

Decorating your dining room

• When you have figured out the purpose of your dining room, it is time to start decorating it. Always consider your tastes, requirements and usefulness.
• The dimension of the room must always be considered. A small space must have a dining set appropriate for its area. It must have ample space for moving around.
• Conversely, a big space must have furniture to fill in the spaces. You cannot afford to have too many blank areas nor can you fill it up with many fitment. Since it is big, you can afford to have big furniture, too.
• Think about the paint color you will use. Your wall color will likewise make a difference in a big or small dining room. Other furnishings such as lights, accessories, decorations and appliances will complete the set up of your dining area. Choose appropriately. Make sure that everything else falls into their proper places and balances the total look of the room.

Whether you have a small or big area, your main objective is to make it comfortable, welcoming and cozy. It is your dining area so it must be able to project the real you.

For your dining room furniture needs, check lafurniturestore.com. They have plenty of selections to choose from ranging from dining sets, tables, chairs, bar stools, lights, accents, display cabinets, buffets and benches. They also offer other home furniture.

LA Furniture store: LA furniture store & modern dining room

The bed is one of the essential elements in bedroom decoration. Furniture manufacturers created numerous bed styles and designs to satisfy each person’s predilections and needs. Although bunk, water and airbeds satisfy certain prerequisites, contemporary platform beds are able to adapt to any bedroom theme because of its versatility and usefulness.

Platform beds are classified as modern bedroom furniture. They can take center stage in your bedroom or can look unassuming. Their stylish structure allows you to upgrade your room’s appeal and complement your current fitment at the same time.

The straightforward structure and the direct, outstanding woodwork lines contribute to its functionality. Offering support to the mattress are individually crafted planks unlike other beds with regular box coils. These beds put in panache to your bedroom, which is not alone modern but is likewise enhanced woodwork. Ordinary structured platform beds have prominent characteristics such as numerous planks of either wood or metal, a thin level plane of plywood and an elevated horizontal plane.

With their presence, you can get either a European or Asian theme in your room. They are easy to blend with any room theme and their comfort level affords you to have a good night sleep.

It adds to the serene ambiance of your bedroom – an atmosphere that you would want to have after a busy day at work. With this atmosphere, you can have your leisurely reading before you fall into slumber.

Limited spaces are also augmented with its presence, as it creates an illusion of additional space in the room.

Mattresses for contemporary platform beds have compact cushions and provide sufficient support and steadiness.

You can further enhance them as additional support sleeping furniture by having a memory foam mattress.

Some are similarly fitted with underneath drawers to provide storage for your bedroom items. These storage spaces allow you to load up your bed linens as well as curtains in an orderly manner.

Contemporary platform beds are very accessible and most of all very affordable. Their usefulness is enough to cover the price that you have to pay for them. Durable and with augmented designs and features, platform beds are sure to last you longer. You can even have them in your kid’s bedroom particularly the design that have underneath drawers.

You can check on online furniture stores for a variety of styles and sizes of contemporary platform beds. Online shops provide you a tool where you can actually touch and investigate the flexibility of these types of bed. You can also have a look at these beds in various angles. Aside from that, you can easily compare prices if you check online furniture stores.

La Furniture Store provides you varied styles and designs of contemporary platform beds as well as other home furniture and furnishings. Visit them at their site lafurniturestore.com and be captivated with the numerous selections.

LA Furniture store: LA furniture store & bedroom

Apart from an inviting and striking piece of furniture, buffet tables are functional, too. They normally have one or more drawers where you can store small stuffs like cutlery, table napkins, tea lights and other decorative pieces. You can also use its table top as an extra service table during parties or family gatherings where you place your appetizers, drinks, desserts, etc. Functionality is indeed one of the pleasures you can get from a buffet table. Space is not a problem, as they do not require a big amount of area unlike the other types of buffet.

This furniture is usually made of wood and fits any homeowner’s budget. It can also complement any type of fitment you have.

So why spend for other accessories that will only put clutter in your dining room. A buffet table is a good investment, as it serves you two purposes – a storage to put orderliness in the dining area as well as a beautiful piece of furniture that adds sophistication in the room.

Buffet tables can also be placed in an empty hallway to make it look lively. You can still store your small items in the drawers and have a flower arrangement on its top. You can also have scented candles or delicate and remarkable candle holders as part of your displays.

Check online furniture shops for a variety of buffet tables. They come in different designs and styles that can blend in with your dining room theme, whether it has a contemporary, traditional, transitional, modern-transitional, country theme. You will find a buffet table that fits a small or big dining area that is affordable and has extraordinary appeal. This furniture also come in an assortment of colors.

With the usability of buffet tables, you get the most of your investment while adding elegance in your home. So do not waste any minute and upgrade your dining room with this piece of furniture. Your family will not only be impressed with your style and choice but your guests will similarly be enthralled by your taste. The moment you acquire one, you will be surprised why it took you this long to acquire one.

Check on lafurniturestore.com for a variety of designs and styles of buffet tables. You can find their range of buffet tables in traditional, modern, contemporary and modern-transitional styles at affordable prices. They also have a good selection of furniture for every room in the home.

LA Furniture store: LA furniture store & modern dining room

Searching for the perfect modern furniture for your living room has been made easy with the abundance of furniture stores not only in your locality but also on the Internet. Let your imagination and creativeness be your guide in your choices. Choose sensibly by looking at what is in fashion but not totally disregarding balance and your resources. You can opt to have leather furniture that is blended with wood focusing on its modernity in structure and appearance.

If you choose to have leather sofa set as your central point in your room, select the exquisite and luxurious type of leather. It used to be that leather can only be had in brown and black colors; this has changed since. Manufacturers of modern furniture have made leather to be available in different shades. Leather sofas can be had in brighter colors such as red, green, yellow, purple and blue that can easily blend with your other fixtures and accessories.

Positioning your living room set

Make sure to position the biggest sofa along your walls. It can even be your accent wall. If your area is spacious, you can have the big sofa in the middle of the other two sofas.

Have a coffee table in the center of the living room set. Coffee tables have been given a modern look. They have become useful with storage compartments to keep stuff that add to the mess in the room. There are glass tops with steel or wooden legs. Some have a swiveling top and some can even be a small bar.

If you choose to have a modern leather recliner sofa, have it in the corner of the room.

Opt to have the modern TV stand or entertainment center to house your electronic devices. These come in fitted shelves and drawers. You can also choose a wall type entertainment unit. A few are made of stained wooden frame and covered in high gloss lacquer exuding an ultra sophisticated high quality contrast within the room.

You need to spend some time to find the furniture that will give pleasure to your family and guests. Make a wise choice and you will be happy and contented knowing that you made a good one.

Keep the modern appeal of your living room by visiting lafurniturestore.com. They have a good selection of modern and contemporary furniture that will not only enhance the appeal of your living room but the whole abode.

LA Furniture store: LA furniture store & living room

If you are looking for variety and texture, consider using stone strip tiles. These tiles will create the look of a solid stone wall, and the natural highlights of the stone will capture an amazing effect that changes with the amount of natural and artificial light within the bathroom.

For a modern look, opt for glass tiles. Available in many different sizes, glass tiles are excellent at reflecting the natural light within a bathroom, which will make small spaces appear larger than they really are.

A clean, modern design can be achieved by using rectangular tiles with varying widths and textures. Look for subtle hues, like shades of gray and neutrals, to enhance the bold look of this design.

Finally, you do not have to tile your entire bathroom to get the effect you are looking for. For example, consider tiling the floor and half of the wall and then adding a chair rail for a classic look, or you can use mosaic tiles on a single accent wall to create a stunning focal point for your bathroom.

1) Neutral colors do have specific undertones. It will be important to make sure that the undertones of your chosen colors work well together. For example, whites, cream, beige, and taupe will have undertones of blue, green, yellow, or pink. Be aware that the undertones of the colors you choose can change the entire feel and look of a design.

2) If you are going with a monochromatic look, create visual interest by choosing a variety of textures and materials that will complement the look. For example, to give a room visual depth, you can create different combinations of smooth and rough or shiny and dull.

3) Finally, be aware of your options for adding color to a room. Color can be added through window treatments, art, and furniture. These changes can be made relatively simply and inexpensively at any time, so it will be easy for you to change up the look of your room when you want too.

1. For your color palette, choose a variety of earth toned colors. Browns, rust colors, deep oranges, gold, and green are all colors that are reminiscent of the African savannah. For your accent colors, choose one or two primary colors.

   

2. Use safari print fabrics in your bedding, window treatments, and rugs. Think of stripes and spots: like zebra, leopard, and tiger prints. Another option would be to use tribal prints, which incorporate geometric and hieroglyphic elements.

3. For your safari themed bedroom, try using wood furnishings. Most furniture used in this kind of décor scheme is going to feature clean lines and a minimalist look. Ideally, you should look for pieces that feature a dark wood with a shiny finish.

   

4. When it comes to accessorizing your room, opt for handmade pieces. Think of masks, drums, and totem poles. Choose these pieces carefully. You will only need 3-4, depending upon the size of the room, to make the impact statement that you want.

5. Finally, use foliage to create an earthy atmosphere in the space. If you are looking for blooming plants, look for orchids and bromeliads. Palms and other grass plants will work well too. These plants will enrich the atmosphere of your space.

Paint: Give yourself one weekend, a can of paint and a little inspiration and you may just shock yourself! Paint one way, turning it into the focal point of the room. If you’re brave enough, try a cool pattern such as wide stripes in a monochromatic color pattern.

Art work: Hang a colorful abstract print that includes colors that are complimentary to your existing color palette. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a quality piece either. Opt for a canvas painting, you can go to a site like Amazon.com and find really nice canvas oil painting for well under $200.

Incorporate accent pieces: Well placed throw pillows, candles, vases and lamps that are in the same color and pattern family as the hues throughout the room can be used to highlight your unique tastes and experiences. If you enjoy travelling, look for items that remind you of your favorite places. If you are an avid book reader, an open back book case is a special touch to a room as well.

(image credit: Houzz.com )

We all need to get away sometimes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean packing your bags. Instead enjoy a quiet spot where you can make the world go away. It could be as simple as a wicker lounge chair placed in the shade or a weathered bench propped with cushions and under a vine covered pergola. Outdoor retreats are places to relax, read a book, write, paint of just day dream.

You’ve often heard decorators say that you should bring the outside in, but the opposite is also true! Create an outdoor seating area that is just as relaxing and comfortable as indoors, imagine plump wicker settees with pillows or benches draped in blankets and linens for those cooler nights. Floor cushions, poufs and ottomans all lend themselves to outdoor living spaces.

Furniture for an Outdoor Living Space:

The goal of any outdoor living area or kitchen is to create a comfortable place that can be enjoyed by all. Picking the right style and type of furniture is essential.

Adirondack Chairs: Imagine the possibilities – picture a white Adirondack chair surrounded by old metal buckets filled with hydrangea and lavender. A weather-worn tabletop perched on a large wine barrel, creating a sturdy and practical outdoor table. An old bench piled high with pillows and flanked by potted plants and rustic sconces. It is the perfect destination for a relaxing day outdoors.

Day beds:

Certainly you could buy an exotic faux wicker daybed and pile it high with a mountain of cushions, like something out of a Balinese spa.

Hang a Canopy:

The very vision of romance is fabric billowing in the breeze, whether forming a canopy over a seat or draped over a dining spot. To get the look add hooks on porch ceilings, pergolas and other outdoor structures to make it easy to hang sail cloth curtains at a moment’s notice. You could also create a tented canopy over your daybed with a simple hook and circle curtain rods. For the ultimate romantic look, use an Indian inspired sari cloth or Moroccan style silk cloth.

Accessories:

Accessorize your outdoor retreat imaginatively with architectural items like doors, windows and columns. Hang a wire gate on a wooden fence. Make your own torch by propping a funnel on a pole and adding a votive. A vintage screen door propped against a hedge suggests a mysterious room just beyond it.

While caring for a water fountain is relatively easy, building one can be a bit more difficult. Using the wrong sized pump or unsuitable material can be a costly mistake. Often, it is easier, less time consuming and more cost efficient in the long run to purchase a fountain and then use your own resources to design the surroundings. After all, a water wall on its own will do little for your outdoor or indoor decor if you don’t accessorize and make the fountain unique.

A common “mistake” many people make is trying to add a lot of clutter around a water fountain. The fountain will be a natural centerpiece, no matter where you place it. The important part is to make sure the surroundings complement the fountain for a more natural look, even if the look is modern or contemporary. Some ideas will require forethought and planning, while others can be works-in-progress.

Natural water designs are the easiest to customize. Outdoor fountains that are wall-mounted, cascading, tiered, waterfalls, statues, bubblers or any other model can look OK by themselves, but when they are framed with other natural elements, they become an inviting atmosphere. Use river rocks, pebbles and plants to build a back wall around the fountain. Consider putting in a brick or stone path to lead to the fountain. For wall fountains, you can creating a pool in the ground for the water rather than using basin. Simply use a wall fountain you purchased and dig the hole yourself. Tiered or rounded fountains can be placed in a blossoming garden, or section off a corner with bricks and create a miniature haven for the fountain. You can build up a pool around a fountain that would not typically utilize a pool for additional water features. This will also give you more places for potted plants and other decorations.

Pictured: >> Alpine distressed pots water fountain <<

The important thing to remember when it comes to your water fountain is that you don’t feel trapped by its design. The water feature is one feature to your landscape, so don’t think that it should be the only feature or that there aren’t ways to make your fountain stand out from others in the neighborhood. To save some money, use river rocks, left over construction materials and whatever else you can find. Some stores may offer a discount on mismatched or broken tile that is perfect for lining pools and wall fountains. Keep your options open and you’ll find that transforming a store-bought water fountain is easier than you may think.

Pictured: >> Cascading rock water feature <<

Image Credit: Exalted Fountains

One way to redecorate your living room, and further change your perspective – and ultimately create an environment that feels new and fresh – is with water. You may be thinking: how exactly can water make things appear and feel differently. For instance, have you ever thought of hanging water are as a wall feature? Art water decor is one of the newest things to bloom in the ‘art’ world and brings a combination of things to the table. It brings the ability to enhance the decor, as well as bring relaxing sounds and images that can further increase your own relaxation.

Product Suggestion: Kenroy Square Indoor Wall Fountain

Do you want to know more? Are you curious about the other benefits of water fountain decor? Consider this – what do you like about artwork? Do you like the vibrant color that is displayed, or do you like abstract designs that invoke a sense of mystery and intelligence? Whatever the case, the beautiful thing about water artwork is that it is a water fountain coupled with actual artwork. It’s the best of both worlds. So, what’s not to like?

Product Suggestion: Kenroy Indoor Wall Fountain in Amber Bronze Finish

How Water Wall Art Works:

The best wall water fountains use a type of material called Lexan. Lexan is a type of durable acrylic that is printed to the image that is mounted. How does it work? Water is poured down one side of the surface, while the image remains completely ‘proof’ to becoming wet. It creates the combination of artwork and soothing water – and does so without hassle and without cleanliness.

There are other options for water wall art. For instance, you can choose to use a water feature that relies around sculptural features. In the end, this is more like an actual water fountain then it is any kind of water ‘art’. This kind of example may include a sculpted metal, or might be from actual water fountain structural features instead.

Loren Taylor writes for The Soothing Company which is a leading internet retailer of all things soothing. A large selection of water fountains, bean bags, fireplaces and other products to help bring serenity to your life. For more information on Water Walls or water fountains please visit SoothingWalls.com

(image credit: Natalie Fuglesveit via Houzz.com)

However, a diva’s bedroom is not put together on a whim: This is a thought-out space that reflects her keen eye for panache. Now I’m just a humble writer from Chicago — the closest I’ve gotten to divadom is singing along with a Beyoncé track — but I have some ideas for how these high-powered women might go about decorating a bedroom. One thing is for sure: The space will entertain.
The diva isn’t interested in the ordinary. She wants a bedroom that makes a statement as loud and clear as she does herself.  (content & images source: Houzz.com )

Platform Beds
Platform beds are simple and streamlined. Often made of wood, they have a flat, horizontal surface that holds the mattress. The straight and sleek design is well suited to contemporary and modern rooms. These beds are definitely “no-frills”.  There are two primary styles of platforms beds – one sites relatively low to the floor and the other is often elevated on its own platform – which sometimes include a walk-up or steps.

Master bedroom, bed sits on tatami mats built on a walk up, high platform made of mahogany.(image credit: via Houzz.com Tracy Murdock Allied ASID )

Low sitting bamboo platform bed with a slatted headboard: Metro Platform bed by USONA

(image credit: Houzz.com )

]]> http://www.interiordesignonadime.com/modern-bedroom-ideas-low-to-the-floor-elevated-platform-beds/feed/ 0 http://www.interiordesignonadime.com/modern-bedroom-ideas-low-to-the-floor-elevated-platform-beds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=modern-bedroom-ideas-low-to-the-floor-elevated-platform-beds http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/interiordesignonadime/decorating/~3/UzAc6elNvs4/ http://www.interiordesignonadime.com/how-to-creating-a-diy-bed-canopy-in-a-few-easy-steps/#comments Sat, 07 Jul 2012 10:15:07 +0000 admin http://www.interiordesignonadime.com/?p=2250 You can achieve a very attractive canopy bed look by installing curtain rods to the ceiling, placing one over each end of the bed. Using either tab-top, tie-top, pinch-pleated or gathered panels, attach the fabric to each curtain rod and let it drape softly to the floor. You can also attach a short rod to the ceiling, perpendicular to the head of the bed on each side. Hang the panels to the floor and tie back with a drapery tieback.

A dramatic crown canopy, also called a coronet, looks elegant in any bedroom. Attach panels of fabric around the outer edge of a half-circle of 3/4″ plywood. This half-circle can be attached directly to the ceiling or floated just off the ceiling with L-brackets attached to the wall.

You can add a romantic look to a plain-Jane bed by draping long fabric panels through a wooden or metal ring attached to the ceiling above the center of the head of the bed. Draw the fabric panel through the ring, pulling it down to the floor on either side of the bed. Spread the panels out to display more fabric and frame the bed or drape the panels around the bed posts at the head of the bed.

Image: Mosquito Net Bed Canopy via Amazon.com

There are many different types of canopy beds. The most elegant are probably the Victorian-style ones with heavy wood-carvings or wrought iron posts. There are also French provincial beds with mahogany posts or white posts and curtains. Some of the wrought-iron beds are hand-forged.

(Image credit: Architectural Digest )

(image credit: Southern Accents )

• Establish the focal point of the room and arrange furniture around it. In some rooms the focal point will be an existing feature such as a fireplace or window, and in some it will be something you bring in to the room such as a television.

• Use the furniture to create conversation areas. People should be able to comfortably talk to each other without straining their necks or shouting. If the room is particularly large you might want to create a few different conversation areas.

• Don’t forget about traffic flow. Leave enough room for people to walk around furniture so they can easily get from one side of the room to another.

• Pull furniture away from the walls. Having all the furniture backs touching the walls is one of the biggest mistakes people make in the living room. If the pieces are closer together it will create a more intimate setting. As long as the backs of the pieces are finished, there’s no reason not to show them off. (source: About.com )

(image credit: FreshHome.com )

For example, a monochromatic room in blue might use single shade of blue paired with white. Yet it might also include dark blue upholstery fabric, pale blue walls, medium blue draperies, and a patterned area rug that includes both blue anjd white. The window and door trim as well as the ceiling might be painted in white. (source: About.com)

(images from: FreshHome.com)

Unlike what most people believe, you do not need your home to have an oriental motif in order to put large floor pillows to good use. You can put a western twist to it so that it can identify with and complement European and American aesthetics. You could start with the coverings you dress them with or the way they are arranged in your home. You could also experiment with the colors so they don’t overwhelm the surrounding furnishings. And maybe incorporate unifying elements to different design themes so that they still come in cohesion even though they are unique from each other.

Take for example, in the dining room, you could have a minimalist, low-lying dining table made of glass and steel set up on top of a black and white area rug and then surround it with golden floor pillows for that futuristic look with a traditional Japanese feel. With this particular home interior design, you will have no problem incorporating crystal chandeliers, metal ornaments as well as modern abstract pieces. In the den, you could pick large pillows with funky patterns and textures; pile them up in the middle, in front of the television set, and then have a mural hung on the background or a carpet underneath that has all of the colors used represented.

Of course, you can also opt for the conventional feel and have the room or house you own completely decorated in Japanese or Moroccan furnishings. There are a number of shops you can find in your locality or on the web that sells flat, comfy zabutons or zafu (traditional Japanese floor pillows) or round fluffy Moroccan floor pillows. You have to be conscious though about how their innate structures and designs will match the environment they will be placed in. See, typical Japanese floor pillows are simple and a bit drab colored while leather-made Moroccan versions are more exotic and a bit overbearing. The same goes of Indian sari pillows as most of them are embellished with beads and tapestries.

Pictured: Oversized Floor Pillow from Amazon.com

There are shops online that you can also approach for custom made floor pillows, so you not only get exactly what you want but have complete control over the quality, quantity and appearance of each piece. You could have one made in the shape of a certain character with the accent of an old-fashioned Oriental pillow. Or you could have one made that could accommodate more than one person sleeping. You can also designate whether these pillows will have cotton, polyester, feather or foam fillings. Whatever you go with, you are definitely guaranteed a unique and therapeutic experience when you provide your home floor pillow fixtures.

Although the color white may suggest an absence of color, white also have different moods that are responsible for an array of textures and wealthy details that may lead to stunning visual appeal. You must know the right kind of white to be able to achieve your purpose of using it. If you want to make a small space feel and seem larger, opt for plainest white to wring out most colors spots. If you prefer a warmer ambiance, prefer whites that are vibrant and can be easily matched with accessories and furniture pieces that have natural or earth tones. If you prefer the feel of a natural environment, prefer the kind of white that is relaxing and with deeper shade so you can easily complement it flowers and plants.

Red geometric shaped sectional in an open floor plan.

Fun daybeds turned into a functional sectional. Great way to repurpose old furniture

This is a very creative use of old construction materials, palletes and cushion thats been upholstered.

Here are just a few photo ideas:

We’ve searched the web looking for examples of stunning outdoor kitchens – here are just some of our favorites (in no particular order)!

(image courtesy of Outdoor Living Experts)

(Image courtesy of ConcreteNetwork.com )

More than just visual adornments to dwellings, porches and gardens are interactive gathering places perfect for replenishing solitude, the company of friends and the hallmarks of a cherished home. When planning your outdoor living space – think about the purpose as well as the aesthetics. Areas for reading or reflection for example, will require more shade and comfortable seating. Open gardens loosely defined by stone walks and living walls create ample entertaining space and views of nature.

Use some of the comforts of indoors to enhance the outdoor experience. Using throw pillows on top of a stone sitting area invite your guest to sit and do so comfortably. A tiered, wrought iron cart acts as a casual beverage tray and transports items from one place to another chicly.  Fashion a dining room with a basic bistro table and well placed architectural elements for hosting small dinners as well as cocktail hours.

A more literal translation of an outdoor room is a gazebo. A gazebo combines the best of shelter and open air. Outfit the covered space with not only practical furniture but also the decorative elements of a home such as pillows, curtains, tables and even paintings.

1. DIY Wall Papered Headboard (image courtesy of BHG.com)

2. DIY Picture Frame Headboard (image courtesy of BHG.com)

3. DIY Stencil Headboard (image courtesy of BHG.com)

Idea for Your Home Office

Turn a blank wall into an artistic canvas with wall stencils that mimic wallpaper. Add depth to a plain sea grass rug by layering it with a Moroccan rug for a mosaic of tones and textures.

Bring in a desk with presence to make a statement and add a plush chair and artwork to achieve an inviting atmosphere. Fresh flowers and a French press along with patterned boxes and book covers will help to blur the line between work and play. Invest in attractive storage containers, like woven or wire baskets to corral your clutter and stay organized.

Idea for Your Bedroom

Fashion a custom-made headboard from a few simple component – plywood, padding and burlap. The fabrics neutral hue beautifully coordinates with any color scheme and the additions of buttons creates a tailored look.  Add punches of color like teals or magentas or softer shades like soft blue and gray to finish the look. A worn chair can be given a new lease on life with a few updates. Remove the cushion and recover it in a matching patterned fabric.

Image Courtesy of Studiolo.com

Pick one wall and apply damask wall paper in a large print and bright pink. This is great for a tween or teen girls room.

Get creative – using a damask pattern stencil and lettering stencil!

Damask print isn’t just for the bedroom! Check out this powder room and how the pink damask wallpaper is the perfect compliment!

Pink and White Damask Ottoman

Here are a few examples of the damask print used boldly, dramatically – all while maintaining style and elegance.

1. Oriental Lilies – statuesque beauties with an intense fragrance.
2. Plox – these bloom all summer long and even into the fall.
3. Roses – roses are an obvious choice, but for a scent garden – steer toward David Austin’s “Jude the Obscure” and “Julia Child” rose bush types.
4. Nigh bloomers – evening primrose, moonflower vine, flowering tobacco, sweet rocket, four o’clocks,  are all ideal night bloomers with magnificent scents.
5. Aromatic foliage – these are plants that smell the strongest at midday and include lemon verbena, basil, lavender, rosemary and catmint.
6. Honeysuckles – The variety lonicera periclymenum “Belgica” releases a fruity fragrance in the early morning and evening. Other fragrant honeysuckles include Halliana and Honeybush.
7. Water lilies – Also known as the lotus flower is very fragrant and blooms in white, yellow, pink and red. The beautiful lotus flower is at home in natural or artificial ponds.

A scented garden is the perfect setting for summer tea parties.  Imagine blue skies overhead, purple peonies and friends – what a perfect recipe! Using inspiration from your scent garden, decorate your table with complimenting flowers. Lilacs in mason colored mason jars or hydrangeas tucked away in small vases.

(Image Credit: Anthony/Diamond Baratta Design )

(Image Credit: Lisa Sherry Interieurs )

Thin wall stripes in green, dark purple, beige and perhaps gray with white as the base color.

Painting stripes on your wall may be too permanent a decision for you to make. Instead, consider wall paintings or tapestry in a stripped motif.

Go bold with your wall stripes by making the focal point of the room. However don’t go overboard – choose subtle colored furniture colors that compliment the main or base color of your walls.

Use thick stripes to give depth to a small room.

Photo Credit: UltraScott @ Flickr

Here are 5 Designer Tricks to Effectively Using Stripes

1. Choose colors of stripes that are in the same color family as other patterns in the room for a more harmonious look. For instance, mix cushions with side and skinny stripes and throw in paiselys, solids and florals in the same color family for balance.
2. Pick a direction for your stripes to run. With curtains and window treatments, it’s generally best to use vertical stripes, which draw the eye upward and make a room seem loftiers. At the same time, horizontal stripes can make a room seem wider.
3. Add stripes to unexpected spots such as power rooms, hallways and closets. The visual punch keeps things interesting.
4. If you use a bold striped wallpaper stay away from stripped curtains. Too much visual excitement can tire the eye. Alternatively, add stripes to just one wall. When mixing stripe shades use complimentary colors.
5. The quickest simplest forumula for painting stripes is to pain the wall in your chosen base color first (the base color is usually the lightest) and then use a roller and painters tape to create stripes in a contrasting shade. For a narrower, pinstripe effect, divide a foam roller into small portions with tape.

Stripes can take on a starring or supporting role – it is your choice.  Rooms take on drama when their walls are striped, but they’re effective in small doses too.

There is a je ne sais quoi to the bistro chair. It is a French invention that debutedin 1889 during the golden age of café society in Europe. It is traditionally very lightweight and folds, making it the perfect choice for Parisian café owners to place on sidewalks. It did not take long for homeowners to realize they could have the same chic look in their own home gardens.

==> Red High Back Bistro chairs at Sears.com <==

With the growing popularity of French country and Parisian café style, there are many newly made bistro chair designs to choose from. They are often brightly painted in contemporary colors. Vibrant colors like these are a great choice for a breakfast nook in your kitchen. You can get creative by mixing and matching colors as well.

===> Bistro Table & C hair set from Sears.com <==

Bistro chairs tend to have a very worn look, you can often find these styles in flea markets. Aged chairs are authentically beautiful – so if you are able to find some – lucky you!

Here are a few examples!

(Stair Decals from BRGrafx.com)

(Live Love Laugh Wall Decal from BRGrafx)

(Every Step Decals for Stairs from TradingPhrases.com)

Black and white bedding, though simplistic – is elegant, classic and timeless as well. No matter the color palette of your walls or other furniture in your bedroom, the black and white bedding scheme will compliment nicely.

(Jashmeen Bedding Set from Sears.com)

(Sherry Kline Synergy Comforter Set)

(Black & Pink comforter set for girls room at Sears.com)

Dark brown will make the tiny bedroom look even smaller. However, it can convey a sense of being protected and cared for. The different shades of brown, from a deep chocolate brown to a light, pinkish mocha shade, contrasted with white and beige, provide depth and structure.

(7 Piece Comforter set from Sears.com)

With blinders made of the diverse types of woven bast, you can add a Japanese elegance to a small room. Panels made of these fabrics would also look very sophisticated. They can be fixed to curtain rails, which allow you to draw the panels back and forth, according to the amount of light you require. This would give the room a very puristic, Japanese look.

Alternatively, you can create a sheer, medieval, textural richness by adding dark brown curtains made of shimmering brocades, smooth velvets, warm flannel or heavy, hand-woven linen. By making a bed-cover in the same material, you will bring the total look together. This will also give a sense of unity, which will make the small bedroom seem much more spacious. The walls could be painted in a smooth mocha brown. Accessories in leather, dark wood and bronze would round up the luxurious effect.

(Peach & Chocolate Comforter Set from Sears.com)

Brown is so versatile, and there are many ways of adding an exquisite atmosphere to a small bedroom when using it as the basis for a color scheme. The end result will always be dignified and sophisticated, because of the very nature of this color.

A small bedroom can look extremely elegant when kept in a very pale gray combined with lots of off-white. These hues will create a light transparency in the room which can be augmented by using glass or transparent furniture.

The feel for such a room could be lightness, transparency, minimalism, calmness. An added theme could be placing the luxurious with simplicity. Pale gray is a neutral color and it enhances structures and surfaces beautifully: shimmering, silky textiles look superb when combined with rough linen; placing an exquisite silver vase full of white roses next to some decorative stones; a mother of pearl shell placed on an old pewter dish.

A rhythm of gray and white can be repeated throughout the small bedroom: the walls can be painted in a light gray; ceiling, doors and window frames in off-white. Bed linen can be in off-white with gray trimmings or the other way round, gray with white accents. Textiles with plaids, stripes or florals look extremely refined when kept in gray and off-white. Because gray is very relaxing for the eye and neutral in its appearance, mixing and matching patterns will never be overwhelming in this color scheme.

Wall decoration can continue on the theme of transparency and lightness: pictures of sailing boats with their white sails against a gray horizon of the ocean and sky in the early morning; photos of beautiful white doves in flight, looking like ballet dancers. There are endless themes that express a sense of effortless movement and transparency in this color scheme, and can be chosen according to your own interests.

This color scheme is extremely versatile, and will lend itself beautifully to a romantic theme, minimal expression or a country look. Whatever style is desired, gray and off-white combinations and contrasting elements will always lead to an extremely elegant refinement, adding style to your small bedroom.

Red is a most impacting color for a small room. Pure red would be too aggressive, but a darker shade, wine red, can add extreme elegance to even the smallest room. It will make the room seem darker but, at the same time, make it appear warmer and give it a touch of glamor.

The neutrals that will be used in combination with wine red should be kept plain and simple, so that the small room does not appear cluttered. A neutral beige and accents of black would be excellent as a combination with this exclusive shade of red. It looks crisp and dominant in combination with white. The warm and earthy quality of wine red will be increased when combined with honey shades of wood.

(Image via HousetoHome)

A question arises when using red for small rooms. Is red too aggressive for a small room? When a little black is added to red, it quietens the color down. This is particularly important for orange red, which in its full saturation, is an extremely agitating color. Once black is mixed in with red, the color becomes more earthy, more peaceful; it is on its way to becoming brown. Unlike brown, however, it still has the empowering characteristics of a pure red: it is far more dramatic and impacting. Both wine red and rusty red add a touch of luxury to even the smallest space.

If it feels too overwhelming to use wine red as a color for all the walls, you can still achieve a dramatic impact, by painting only one wall in this hue, leaving the others in a cool beige or white, according to the chosen color scheme. This alone will add tremendous impact to the room. If the room is awkward in shape, red can help to change and improve this, either by adding dramatic accents and diverting the attention from ungainly space areas, or adding focus to the more attractive areas.

(Image via Webstash.no)

Light beige contrasts for the ceiling, doors and some of the linens, add softness to the strong wine red, and prevent the room from appearing too dark. A plain, light colored wooden floor, or beige woolen rugs, elegant bed linen in beige, would all add a sparkling elegance to wine red. Accessories in varnished glossy black will add a touch of elegant glamor and reflect beautifully the surrounding light.

A small room can look exceptional when a dramatic dark red is used as the dominant color. In addition, by keeping the accessories and furniture very puristic in design, without overcrowding the space, the small room will have a very special captivating elegance. This will certainly distract from the small size of the room. It is amazing what color can do to give even the smallest room its own unique, aesthetic expression.

(Image via Pinterest/Dino Jojo)

As an adult theme, there are lots of modern designs in this color scheme. Splashes of bright pink together with spring green can look extremely expressive and dynamic. Care has to be taken, not to overpower the small room. This can be achieved by just adding a few accents of the strong pink in combination with the fresh green, and additionally using lots of off-white.

(Image via Pinterest/Bailey Quinn)

Using the softer shades of pink in combination with a muted, light green will create an entirely different energy. Like the exquisite cherry blossoms, the room will look dainty and demure. By using modern, sporty textiles, this will help this picturesque color scheme not to be too sweet. If care is taken to use a balance of green and pink in the textiles and accessories, a small room can look exceptionally elegant, somewhat reminiscent of times gone by, bringing old values back to life. Too much sweetness can be counteracted by using coarse linen, clear lines and limiting the small space to basic needs, avoiding clutter and too many decorative items.

It is always interesting to experience how even small rooms can be transformed into exceptional spaces when applying colors. Because purples and greens are so vast in the shades that they offer,it is possible to create a great many imaginative and expressive variations of this color theme, that will certainly add vigor or charm to even the smallest bedroom.

Pink and rose are the typical colors that girls love. However, they do not have to appear sweet and demure, and for the very young only. There are beautiful shades of pink that are very delicate but also extremely refined. A little black is added to the rose hues which produces natural tones that one finds in stones, dried wood, delicate mother of pearl or in sandalwood. These are excellent hues for the small room because they create a very relaxing and meditative atmosphere.

It takes a good hand to combine the pale shades of rose, lilac and mauve so that they do not look insipid. They gain depth when combined with a sandalwood brown or stone gray. When cleverly combined, these delicate pastels have a special, poetic beauty. They look exquisite when used for flowing materials, such as shimmering silks, satins, soft wools, and fine cotton. Since these hues can not be clearly defined, they change continually according to the light, which gives them added subtlety.

To avoid having them look too feminine, it is necessary to use these soft hues for linens that are not over decorated with frills and embroidery. Plain curtains would be much more effective. The accent should be on simplicity in all accessories and linens using, for example, stripes instead of flowers, plain materials instead of patterns.

Furniture made of metal, or with very clear lines, will also add to the refinement and create a dignified contrast to these delicate hues. The grayish tones of pink and lavender, in combination with grays, browns and creme, will give the small room an extremely beautiful touch of luxury. These pastel hues will also make the small room seem much larger. The interplay of various materials, such as wool and silk, iron and wood, cotton and stone, will add a subtle interaction of contrasts, giving the small room a rich sense of understatement.

Start from the outside of the house and work your way in.  A new entry door will give your house a whole new look right from the start.  Buying a quality door with an intricate design can be quite expensive.  You will save literally thousands of dollars by making your own entry door.  All you need is the right equipment.  Purchase the correct router bit sets and a large size wood panel and you will be ready to go.  With the right equipment you will be able to design a beautiful and professional looking door quite easily.

Next give your home a new coat of paint.  A fresh new coat of paint will instantly give your home a complete makeover.  Choose vibrant colors to add some life.  You can also choose to paint one wall a contrasting color to make a new focal point in any room. This is an inexpensive and easy way to update your entire house.

If you have cabinets or furniture made of real solid wood, a great thing to do would be to strip them and give them a new finish.  If your furniture or cabinets are beginning to look antiquated why not give them a new up to date look.  You need not go ahead and purchase all new furniture or cabinets, simply scrap them.  Then you can choose between re-staining them and re-painting them.  With either direction you choose to go it will give a totally new look to your furniture.  Then you can go ahead and add new knobs and or handles for a real up to date finish.

Next rearrange your furniture.  Placing your furniture on a different angle can do so much.  For instance placing your sofa on a diagonal will make your room look much wider.  A word of advice, make sure to sketch out on paper exactly what you have in mind.  You want to make sure that before you move very heavy items that it will fit properly and work out the way you wanted it

Lastly shop around for some great accessories. There are so many stores out there that have a great selection of decorative accessories at very reasonable prices.  You need not spend a lot to get great results.   For example, new throw pillows for your older couch will add so much style and fun.  A new piece of wall art or a great mirror will add life to dull and boring bare walls.  Choose a new lampshade or add new colored crystals to your light fixture.  There is so much you can do.  Just be careful not to over accessorize and create a cluttered look and feel.   Redecorating your home can be affordable and fun when choosing to do a couple of small simple projects on your own.

Sara Rosenthal is an interior decorator.  She has used her years of experience in home decorating to help others decorate their homes inexpensively and on their own.  When adding moldings or exterior doors, Sara recommends buying rail stile bits and all woodworking tools from precisionbits.com.

Times are tough, and these days it seems like everybody is downsizing. If you’ve recently moved into a smaller home, or just have a small room that you’re not sure what to do with, don’t worry! You don’t need to embark on a construction project to open up a small room. A little creativity can save you big time when it comes to decorating a small room. Check out these easy tips on making the most of a small space.

The most important consideration when decorating a small room is color. The best choice for a small room is a light color. White, pastels and soft neutrals are the best choices because light colors reflect like and make the room look larger. On the flip side, dark colors absorb light and make a room feel smaller. Also use caution when using a bright or bold color because it can sometimes look overwhelming in a small space. If you’re a color-lover, use soft or neutral colors and accessorize with brighter colors. Artwork, throw pillows, curtains, picture frames or decorative elements are all vehicles for bolder colors.

Just as important as color, is light. Opening up the windows to let the sunshine in can do wonders for a small space. Let the light shine through instead of covering up the windows with heavy curtains. Sheer window treatments let in a lot of light while still giving you some degree of privacy. A good tip is to hang the sheers from ceiling to floor instead of just above the window. Window treatments high on the wall will draw the eye upwards and make the room feel taller. If you don’t have a lot of natural light to work with, that’s ok! Overhead lighting or tract lighting is best for small spaces because it doesn’t take up space like a lamp would.

One of the hardest things to do when working in a small space is reducing clutter. Visual clutter makes a room look 10 times smaller than it actually is. Try to get rid of anything you don’t use or don’t need. These things are just taking up the limited space you have. A good way to combat the issue of clutter is by getting sufficient storage! Keeping things neat and organized is so important in a small room. Once you’ve taken care of some of the clutter, put the things you don’t use but can’t part with into storage. Next, clear off all of the horizontal surfaces in the room. Things should be looking more open already! Replace important items and then put out only a few light decorative items. If you have too much stuff still, consider installing floating shelves that will give you more surfaces without adding bulk.

Finally, scale your furniture to the size of the room. If you have a small room, don’t put fill it with big, bulky furniture. Smaller spaces, smaller furniture. Makes sense right? Sell a large couch or entertainment center in favor of something more delicate and streamlined. Also, if you pull your furniture away from the walls, it will give the room depth. I know, it may seem like you would maximize space by pushing everything against the wall, but it really works!

Simple, inexpensive changes can make all the difference and can make or break your space. Just remember, keep things light, open, and proportional and your room will be looking larger in no time!

This article was written by Erie Construction. Follow Erie Construction on Twitter for more ideas on home improvement.

If you’re looking for ideas on how to redesign your kitchen, one of the most popular ways to go is to give it a sleek modern look. This can be easily accomplished in most cases, although for some the price of modern looking fixtures might be a bit steep. This problem can be overcome if you know where to look for cheaper alternatives to the big designer name brands.
• Reduce Clutter For A Modern Look
Because the modern look relies primarily on an efficient use of space and the lack of unnecessary clutter, cutting down on the number of appliances and cooking utensils that are out and visible will go a long way in modernizing the appearance of your kitchen, what’s more it’s a completely free and easy way to update the look of the room. One great way to do this is to pare down the extraneous items in your cabinets and drawers to make room for anything that was previously on the counter and other kitchen surfaces. Should these already be too full, you might consider scouring modern furniture stores such as IKEA for a small dresser or bureau that will serve as an out of the way storage space for those items you don’t use often.

A significant added benefit is the fact that removing extraneous appliances and such will prevent many of the kitchen cleaning problems such as home pest control issues that can occur in a cluttered room. For instance you won’t have to worry about rodents or roaches finding little pieces of food stuck behind a never-used appliance that is merely taking up space on your counter. So there won’t be any need for elaborate mouse poison or big roach traps which can also disrupt the look and feel of the room.
• Look For Bargain Furniture In Out Of The Way Places
Although cleaning and organizing help to make the room feel sleeker, there are several low cost options available to you when it comes to furniture and organization aids that can update your home instantly. Items such as stainless steel chairs and counter tops can be expensive if purchased straight from a retailer; however you can often find many of the same products either at thrift stores or even out of the way locations such as restaurant supply shops. Many of these are open to the public, although you will have to search for them and be prepared to do the legwork yourself when it comes to finding and purchasing any of these modern looking pieces.

It’s not too long now until the end of 2011, and that means a lot of retailers will be gearing up towards their January Sales period.  If you are considering upgrading your kitchen design, or just need a brand new refrigerator then there’s really no better time to start shopping than in the first couple of weeks of 2012.  Here’s just a short selection of affordable, yet stylish refrigerators and fridge freezers that are set to be best sellers over the coming months.  Hopefully it will give you some inspiration!

Koolatron KWC-4 Coca-Cola Vending 6-Can Mini Fridge (Red)

Our first fridge is also one of our smallest, and in truth is suitable for someone who is looking to fit their home out with a retro flavour.  This is a small retro Coca-Cola fridge is a compact drinks refrigerator, and includes 1960’s style Coca-Cola branding on the exterior – and of course, only comes in red.  It’s main purpose is purely as a retro drinks vending fridge, but you could also store small food items in it.

Pictured: Coca Cola Mini Fridge on Amazon.com

Danby DCR059BLE 1.7 Cubic Feet Mini Refrigerator (Black)

Another small but well designed compact refrigerator is the black Danby compact mini refrigerator.  It’s more kitchen suitable than the Koolatron version and will fit underneath a small work surface or kitchen cabinets – making it ideal for people who live in a small space such as an apartment or flat.  It comes with a two litre door bin for bottles which sets it apart from similar-sized refrigerators and also has a built-in beverage dispenser. Don’t pay anything more than $140 US Dollars for this compact refrigerator.

Pictured: Danby Mini-fridge in Black

Haier 3.9 Cubic Foot with Full Size Refrigerator (Black)

Moving up in size now with the third refrigerator recommendation is another cheap and affordable model – and this one should cost no more than two hundred dollars with Amazon appearing to be the most competitive online retailer.  It comes in fashionable modern black and has 3 full width door storage shelves.  Believe it or not there’s also a an adjustable thermostat which is another aspect you don’t typically find on smaller fridge freezers.

Amana ASD2522WRB 25 Cubic Feet Side-by-Side Refrigerator (Black)

Moving up a scale and something that will suit a family is the Amana black refrigerator which is one of the more affordable full-sized models on the market.  Prepare to pay around $800 Dollars, but expect to get a large 25 cubic foot capacity refrigerator that comes with a full-range of functionality.  There’s loads of room to store your food and it’s also Energy Star qualified to federal rulings.  There’s an external PUR water dispenser and ice machine on this Amana refrigerator which offers the choice of either crushed or cubed ice.

Amana AFF2534FES 25 Cubic Feet French Door Refrigerator (Stainless Steel)

Stainless steel really does make a modern kitchen, and our final recommended affordable but stylish refrigerator comes from the Amana brand again.  This is double the price of the previous model but that’s worth paying for the modern stainless steel finish.  It uses French doors so the customer can open one at a time depending on what food they want to pick out.  It also has large gallon door storage bins which are ideal for standard milk and juice cartons.

Pictured: Amana Stainless Steel French Door Fridge at Amazon

More Refrigerator Reviews and Price Comparison

Should you want to purchase any of the refrigerators detailed in this article then please visit the superb www.refrigeratorreviews4u.com website which includes not only these featured models but also a wide range of rival designs.  This review website also comes with a price comparison engine meaning you can find the cheapest and best online deals in 2012.  Check it out now to ensure that you make the most of the January sales.

It can be placed in the living room or in the bedroom. Your child can even have it as their bed if their bedroom has a limited space.

However, you need to follow certain steps when choosing your sofa bed.

• Examine your space by taking its dimensions. A sofa bed will eat some space when you fold it out. When you do so, it should not scrape your walls. There should also be adequate room when getting up and for walking.

Pictured: Madrid Micro-fiber sofa bed in crimson red

• Check its comfort-ability. To check this, you need to sit on it for about 2 – 5 minutes. This will allow you to feel the sofa bed and ensure if it can support you well. A good sofa must be able to support your back. Open it up and lie on it. Lay a little longer so you can feel the cushions better. Are they comfortable enough? The cushions must not be too hard or too soft. Your back should not feel anything when lying on it. Examine closely when you open it up. The central part must be leveled without any angle when you open it up.
• Scrutinize the cushions. A good quality sofa bed must have layers of padding to prevent it from wearing on a short period of time. Lift the cushions and check all surfaces. Its exterior must be even and soft. There should be no metal or wood protruding from the edges. Some sofa beds have thin cushions, which can be very uncomfortable and can give you back pains. You do not want your guests to wake up with an aching back, do you? Hence, look for one that has thick cushions. Inquire if you can change the cushion if you find the cushion too thin or too thick.

Pictured: 3 Piece Sectional in Chocolate

• Examine the durability. Check on the bolts. The frame must be fastened firmly to avoid any accidents.
• If you are planning to buy a twin sofa bed, ask somebody to come with you to test it. Both of you need to lie on it to check if each of you have enough space and that you will not end up moving in the middle.
• Return it to its original setting – that of the sofa. The procedure of putting it away must be easy.

It is important that you choose wisely or else you will wind up with a wrong sofa and that is a waste of money. Check every detail in the sofa and follow the steps mentioned above to avoid committing mistakes.

Sofa beds are available in a variety of styles, designs and colors. Always choose something that will complement the color, furniture and theme of your living room. Remember not to give up comfort-ability over the price.

Check on lafurniturestore.com for more styles of sofa beds. They also offer furniture for your living room, bedroom, dining room, kids’ room, etc. in different styles.

LA Furniture store: LA furniture store & living room

Green Bedroom Design Ideas

Green can transform the small bedroom into a beautiful refuge of peace, or make it charmingly innovative and alert. It is one of the most refreshing colors. It has such a tremendous variety of shades that the possibilities for creating individual and attractive small bedroom are considerable.

Since green is a very passive color, you can add a little more zest to the decor by using a mix and match of patterns within that one color. Or you can play with light and dark contrasts. Mixing large patterns with small ones, checks, stripes and poker dots, will all never seem overwhelming since the green color always remains as a center of calmness.

Green has its brighter shades too. A fully saturated green for accessories, contrasted with fresh white walls can look very abstract. This makes it ideal for those who love this color but like an ultra modern interior. Light spring green added sporadically to a room painted in cream white can look as light and jolly as a fresh spring day. Sage greens create an exceptionally elegant quality.

Pictured: Apple Green Upholstered bed at Target.com

If you decide on green for the walls, it would be advisable to use a very light shade in combination with lots of white. This will ensure that the room does not appear even smaller than it actually is. If your bedroom happens to be long and narrow, you could paint a stronger shade of green on one of the walls that is at the far end of the room. This will make that particular wall project forward and improve the shape of the room, giving the impression that it is more rectangular.

Green and white can be repeated throughout the decor, for pictures, lamps and carpets. It naturally invites a theme of nature for accessories. This does not mean that the look must be traditional. On the contrary, you can find brilliant designs inspired by nature, but with extremely original and modern artistic interpretations.

Pictured: Brompton Comforter st in Green from Anna’s Linens

It is so easy to create a small, impacting and extremely attractive small bedroom, concentrating on one color. A monotone color scheme is also easy to deal with if you are not very adept at mixing colors. Green is naturally one of the easiest colors to deal with because of its peaceful nature.

Change Up Your Futon with a New Futon Cover

There are several things that you need to consider when buying futon covers. For example, you really have to get the fit and the size right. Also, you need to choose from a wide selection of different fabrics and materials. But this time around, why not relax a little bit and focus on something that you will love – getting the right style and design!

But as much of a fun as this is, it does not mean it will come without dilemmas. The problem that you will probably face is the wide selection of available designs! There are simply too many of them that getting the right one can turn into a confusing game. But in this article, you will gain some insights on how each design type works so you know exactly what to get on your next shopping spree.

Pictured: Brown Levishon Futon cover at Target.com

Starting with the simple, the one-tone design is one classic taste which creates a statement through simplicity and minimalism. As its name implies, this design consists of just one solid color. This really works well on serious and formal environments such as offices, schools, and clinics. The only thing you need to worry about is what color to get. As a general rule, make sure that it will contrast and compliment the color of the room.

Next is the equally simple and yet somewhat more sophisticated two tone futon covers. These consists of two different and yet very solid colors. For example, the top can be gray tone while the sides can be black tone. This contrast really creates a stylish drama that will compliment any modern house. Also, this will give you a chance to blend two different colors for a more fashionable effect.

After the two tone designs, you also have the textured ones. With these futon covers, the style is mainly on the texture which can feature different designs such as ribs, circles, lines, floral, and other patterns. This also makes a somewhat rougher texture especially when compared to smooth finish leather covers.

Pictured: Distressed Denim Futon Cover from Target.com

There are also polygonal designs which feature different shapes usually in different colors. You will find patterns of squares, rectangles, triangles, and such. You will also find round shapes such as circles and oblongs. Sometimes, round and polygonal shapes may come together. To highlight each shape, different colors are sometimes used. Also, fabric is commonly used in this design instead of faux leather.

Now if you want to go adventurous and wild, you can always go for the Tiffany futon covers. As you might already guess from its name, this design consists of beautiful and rich patterns of scenes, people, animals, and such. And because this type of design is very colorful and bold, it perfectly fits a classical and a traditional interior design.

Pictured: Royal Purple Futon Cover at Target.com

So do you find any of these futon cover designs interesting? Then perhaps you are now ready to go on ahead on your shopping spree. Just do not forget about getting the right dimensions of your furniture because style and design is not everything.

While it would be great to think that all your home ever needs is a couple of end tables, a coffee table and some upholstered furnishings to look complete, savvy designers will tell you that the devil is in the details.

While the major pieces of the room do indeed set the tone, the smaller ones, the accent pieces, make it look complete and cohesive. They can support the general look of the room or add just a little contrast, creating visual interest that wouldn’t be there otherwise.

This is where round accent tables serve such a vital purpose. They can add additional display space for family photos, collectibles, antiques or knickknacks or serve as additional space for food and beverages for a party.

Pictured: Round Accent Table by Butler Furniture

Quite frankly, round accent tables really don’t have to do anything at all to be appreciated. You don’t need to coddle them or embellish them with decorative items. By their very nature, they are a really showstopper in any room you add them to, largely because they tend to be more ornate and refined than the other pieces that you have.

They truly are accents for the room. Some round accent tables are stunning pieces in their own right, with lavish or highly detailed designs and carved elements that make them highly decorative as well as functional.

Because they come in so many sizes, the tables can fit in nearly any location in a room that begs to have a piece of furniture. They can go between a pair of occasional chairs, be pressed into service as end tables, or even be used in place of the coffee table. This is particularly true of nested tables, since you can utilize the three or four tables to create a multi-level coffee table that is as useful as it is a conversation piece.

Pictured: Round Accent table with veneer top at Target.com

One of the great things about round accent tables is that they are more informal than their square or rectangular counterparts. The soft edges promote a relaxed look, especially if the rest of your furniture has a more angular look to it. This will create a lovely balance in your furnishings, a yin and yang arrangement that is both rigid and relaxed.

When shopping for the perfect round accent tables, pay particular attention to the size of the table. Because they are round they have a different visual weight than a rectangular or square table of the same square footage. They will also tend to stick out a little more into the traffic areas too, since they don’t nest up directly against your sofa, love seat or other upholstered pieces. As such, you’ll want to factor in these differences.

If you’re shopping online for these tables, the task is simplified because online stores give you the diameter of each table. If you want to really get a sense of its scale, you can cut out the same sized circle out of a piece of paper or a piece of cardboard and lay it in the space you’re thinking about putting a table. If it’s too large for the space, you can continue to trim it until it looks right. When it does, measure the circle again and look for round accent tables that are that diameter.

Pictured: Black Round Accent Table from Modern Furniture Warehouse

One of the great things about these tables is that they all have different personalities. This is another reason why shopping online is a good idea, at least initially. Not only will you find a huge selection, but you can comparison shop easily, copying and pasting your favorite tables into a single folder. From there you can refine your selections and decide on the round accent table or tables that are perfect for you

Are you hosting this year’s Christmas party? Instead of the traditional Christmas tree – surprise your guests with an upside down Christmas tree! Although some are calling this topsy turvy tree a “fad”, the upside down Christmas tree actually dates back to middle ages though linked to the pagan tradition of spreading evergreen boughs across the floors, windows and hearth in order to keep evil spirits from invading the home. This tradition was celebrated by cultures as diverse as the Celts, the Romans and the Vikings long before the time of Christ.

For an attractive and original decoration piece for the Christmas holidays, try the upside down Christmas tree. An inverted tree is ideal for houses with limited spacing, as the upside down tree does not take up floor space. Also, the up side down Christmas tree may be used to complement a foyer from the ceiling to the floor. If you purchase an inverted Christmas then you should also consider getting a complementing chandelier.

Interestingly, this method of setting up Christmas date can be traced back to as far as the twelfth century in central Europe. This manner of decorating was a used in the Middle ages to depict the holy Trinity. However, since the usual display of the Christmas tree’s tip points directly upwards which signifies pointed up towards heaven, some people consider that an inverted Christmas tree is a symbol of disrespect since the tip points downwards.

Pictured: 7.5 ft pre-lit upside down Christmas tree

On the other hand, inverted trees are an original and interesting method of decorating ones house for Christmas. These trees are particularly useful when it comes to safely displaying fragile and expensive ornaments. Furthermore, the extra floor space can be used for additional complementing decorations or to store more Christmas presents. Since these trees are becoming increasingly popular among consumers, many retailers are labeling these items as popular novelties. Even the high-end retailers are attracted to the inverted Christmas tree method, offering pre-lit trees and ceiling height, for several hundred dollars.

Inverted trees are set up much the same way chandeliers are. Brackets or a specially designed stands are used to securely hold the upside down tree in place. Inverted Christmas trees can also be mounted against a wall. However, if setting up a tree is too difficult for you, then you should consider visiting a tree-shop or search online for ideas and tips.

Showers are no longer “just showers”; if you want to live large, feel relaxed, rejuvenated-and more importantly, clean-after a long hard day’s work, then having a steam shower installed in your bathroom is the new “it” thing in master bathroom essentials!

Modern Bathroom Features & Ideas: Steam Showers

In the day and age of social networking, where texting, Skype, Twitter, Blackberry Messaging (BBM), are today’s ways of communicating, as opposed to the age old snail mail, our means of taking showers are now also high-tech. The various choices and different lines of luxurious in-home spas are sufficient enough evidence.

Pictured: Steam Shower with Aromatherapy

Showering is no longer the mere act of water touching your skin, rinsing and cleansing dirt off it; with steam, showering has become not just part of hygiene, but almost a necessary indulgence-a treat to reward your body’s hard work. And it’s no surprise considering what most steam showers are now equipped with, aside from the obvious ability of producing steam. Most high-end units are equipped with computer control, whirlpool tubs, foot massagers, radios, aromatherapy, iPod-hookups – the whole nine yards! Some even come with as many as 40 exhilarating body jets, and chromatherapy lighting. It’s like having your own spa at home.

Despite their rather steep prices, these are guaranteed to be worth every penny, especially with the health benefits they provide. Aside from being immensely relaxing and stress-relieving, hydrotherapy is known to also improve blood circulation, clean out your pores, rejuvenate your skin-providing a healthy, natural glow-ease muscle tension and pain, relieve joint pain and stiffness, relieve sinus congestion and even enhance the immune system.

Furthermore, heated water can be useful in weight loss and in detoxification-as the sweat that is induced by steam aids in the excretion of toxins.

In addition, the benefits of hydrotherapy have been recognized for centuries in many cultures. From Roman Baths to the healing waters in Bath, found in England’s Lake District, people crave warm soothing waters.

Turkish Baths are considered a must-do for tourists, and the Japanese actually cleanse before climbing into a communal bath.

Once reserved for the affluent, today a shower unit with steam capability is within reach for many of us.

Basically, steam showers aren’t like your ordinary showers: they cleanse both your body AND mind.

So if you think your showers are quick and boring, think again-better yet, update your bathroom and make it a true spa experience. Many websites offer amazing discounts on stream showers, with FREE shipping on all orders in the continental USA-some at a $500 value. Plus, a free five year warranty on parts.

Stacy Show promotes health and wellness. Many people enjoy steam showers; did you know they are also very good for your health? Asthma and allergy symptoms are relieved, skin conditions improve, and arthritis pain can be helped. Learn more at www.mybath.biz.

LED shower heads are a great way to jazz up otherwise uninteresting bathrooms. Actually, it is only when you turn it that the magic begins. The soft light illuminating the shower water seems ethereal and out of this world.  Bathing under one of these will leave you feeling relaxed and happy afterwards. The visual effect as the lights fade or when the colors change make bathing under the shower a great experience. If you go for the really top-end bathing fittings like rainfall or waterfall shower heads with LED bulbs installed in the head it allows a greater control over the changing of colors, frequency of the change and time interval for the fade out and fade in and much more.

Pictured: LED Rainfall Shower Head

Features of LED Shower Heads

Temperature control in LED shower heads  allows us to have a visual feedback of when the water is too hot or too cold. This saves us from stepping into scalding hot or icy water to test the water temperature. These are available for prices that are affordable to every person. The prices start from $10 and can be easily be screwed on to the existing piping. Just unscrew the old one and screw on the new one. That’s it. With these shower heads glowing in the dark you don’t need to switch on the light. The effect in a dark room of softly glowing colored water is special and beautiful.

Since, the LED bulbs use the power of water flowing through the shower to help it to glow you don’t need electrical supply or batteries to power the bulbs. It’s a simple technology that is as green as it gets. It’s fun thing to have in bathroom and is especially exciting for kids. By putting it in the bathroom you will make bath time fun and exciting for little ones. Even adults will get a secret thrill when bathing in the soothing and relaxing water that is illuminated in different colors.

There are tons of choices when it comes to these products. They come in different price ranges and various options. A rainfall shower head with LED bulbs scattered over its head may set you back by several thousand dollars. But, if you opt for the more reasonably priced under $50 dollar products you will get same functionality but lesser controls. There are color-changing, light fading and temperature indicating LED shower heads to choose from and you will find them at different price points.

Designed to be wall hung above your bathroom basin or in another convenient location, mirrored bathroom cabinets are a handy storage point for small accessories, everyday items, medicines and suchlike. They also, by virtue of their mirrored door or doors, do away with the need for a separate bathroom mirror.

They’re generally a slim piece of bathroom furniture, but otherwise come in all manner of shapes and sizes. Thinking about where you’re going to hang your new mirrored bathroom cabinet will help you to choose the right one for you.

Pictured: Mirrored Bathroom Wall Cabinet

Upgrading Your Mirrored Bathroom Cabinet

A cabinet that will be situated over the basin in a household where there’s quite a disparity in heights will cause less arguments if it’s tall and thin. A taller mirrored surface means that everyone gets a piece of mirror that’s at the right height for them: a square piece of bathroom furniture, ideal for making use of the space above the toilet, would be unhelpful here.

The number of doors, shelves and drawers and the availability (if any) of open shelving around or below the cabinet varies from item to item. Buy bathroom furniture that suits the way you live, and don’t kid yourself you’ll change your storage habits when you buy your new cabinet – the chances are you won’t, and the layout of your new storage space will become a bugbear surprisingly quickly. Storage that suits your regular bathroom routine will make you happier.

Corner cabinets are a handy piece of bathroom furniture, designed to bring into everyday use an otherwise wasted space in your bathroom. A mirrored cabinet has the additional advantage here that it can bounce the light across your bathroom at an unexpected angle, plus the reflection from its mirrored doors can reflect the blue sky outside or the tiles on the opposite wall, bringing a splash of interest to the corner, adding a new dimension to the bathroom, and enhancing your sense of space and freedom. Not bad for a simple cupboard!

Style and finish are equally varied. A simple, square cabinet is a world away from an irregularly shaped piece with a sliding door and a surround of open shelving, although they’re both essentially fulfilling the same purpose. Go for simple or elaborate design depending on your style preferences, and choose a finish that matches your other bathroom furniture, contrasts with your walls and tiles, or is simply striking. Cabinets can be made of metal, laminated MDF, solid wood or veneered material; colours, patterns and textures all vary.

Helen Davies is a senior content writer for Better Bathrooms, suppliers of bathroom products including a range of bathroom cabinets.

If you shop around and take care to choose the right bathroom furniture, the storage space it gives you and its overall look should complement your bathroom, your lifestyle and your storage habits. Mirrored bathroom cabinets can and should be both functional and stylish!

Shopping for a new refrigerator can be quite confusing when considering all the different styles and sizes that are available today. Read on to learn the differences between the four most popular styles to make sure you are buying the perfect kitchen refrigerator for you and your family.

The least expensive style is the traditional freezer on top and fresh food section on bottom typically referred to as the top mount. This style refrigerator can be found in the 14-25 cubic foot range with 18 being the most popular size. These will typically range in price from $400-$1500 with a nice 18 cubic foot model with glass shelves and an internal ice maker coming in at around $500-$550.

Pictured: LG French Door Bottom Freezer Fridge

The next style to consider is the ever popular side by side with ice and water service through the door. These refrigerators have the freezer compartment on one side and the fresh food compartment on the other. These typically come in the 20-30 cubic foot range with 26 being the most popular size. This style will start in price at around $800 and go all the way up to somewhere in the $3000 range for a stainless steel counter depth model.

Gaining popularity lately is the bottom freezer style which puts the fresh food compartment you get in most on top at eye level and arms reach without having to bend over. This style includes refrigerators with single doors at the top and bottom and the French door which is quickly becoming the most popular refrigerator. This style varies in size from 18-30 cubic feet with 26 being the most popular size with prices ranging from $1000 to $3000. From my experience this is the style the majority of consumers would purchase if they had the room and budget for it. A French door style has a fresh food compartment on top with two doors that open like an armoire and the freezer on bottom usually in the form of a pull out drawer. The latest and greatest refrigerator in this category is the 4 door refrigerator which has an additional freezer or fresh food drawer making it more convenient than ever to store all those groceries.

Pictured: French Door Bottom Freezer by Kenmore Elite

The final kind to consider is the built-in. This style gets built into custom cabinets and is designed to fit flush with cabinets and countertops. These refrigerators are the most expensive selling for up to $10,000 and require a very specific space. For this reason they are primarily used when building a new home or doing a complete remodel when money is no object.

Todd has managed an appliance store for over 20 years and enjoys interacting with customers on a daily basis. He loves teaching consumers about innovative appliances such as the new 4 door refrigerator. He has a new website explaining all the advanced features of the newest 4 door refrigerators from all the leading manufacturers at http://www.4doorrefrigerators.com

Are you looking for a way to spruce up your kitchen and give it a warmer look? Do you love to incorporate your sweet family memories with your kitchen decor? Roster kitchen decor may be what you’re looking for!

 Country kitchen decor is timeless, and the rooster is an essential element to it. Our grandparents and their grandparents all loved using rooster collectibles – from dinnerware and dishes to rugs and cookie jar canisters.

Pictured: Table Fan Country Rooster Figurine

Rooster Decor: Kitchen Plates, Wall Art and Figurines

If you like things clean and white, you can find everything from white glass rooster collectibles to white ceramic roosters. If you, like me, prefer a little more color, the sky is the limit! From tans and browns to a bright rainbow of feather colors, you’ll have no problem finding just what you’d like to give your kitchen a fresh new look while bringing in the warmth of the country.

Pictured: Country Rooster Burner Covers

I just had a terrfic time participating in the second annual, “Show Me Your Roosters” blog party and I have to tell you, it was so much fun. You wouldn’t believe the wide variety of kitchen roosters available and they are so cute. The thing that impressed me the most was how warm and inviting the various kitchens looked with some delightful rooster dishes here and a lovely ceramic rooster there.

Pictured: Country Rooster Wall art

Even more special was the number of people who commented that they had started their kitchen roosters collection with a rooster their mother, grandmother, or even great-grandmother had passed down to them. The first place to start your country kitchen rooster decor might be with your own family memories up in the attic or out in the garage. In all the stored boxes handed down from beloved family members, you just might find some delightful kitchen roosters, perfect to build a new kitchen design around.

I’d like to invite you to visit SandwichINK – http://www.SandwichINK.com for even more fun ideas for your new country kitchen rooster decor, including plenty of cute kitchen roosters. While there, you’ll also find great ideas for creating your own sweet family memories to hand down to the next generation.

Strategically placed mirrors can reflect a view from outside your window or an internal part of your bathroom, such as an attractive piece of bathroom furniture, the basin and tap, or accessories such as a vase of flowers or group of candles, to enhance a your sense of space. They can also reflect light, casting it into shadowy corners and making the room feel lighter and even bigger.

An illuminated bathroom mirror is especially useful in a small or slightly gloomy bathroom, as the integral lighting ensures that you are lit from the front and can see your own reflection perfectly without shadows cast from ceiling lighting. Lights will often be set out in such a way that they create an attractive pattern or light up a frosted feature panel or panels in the mirror.

Pictured: White Bathroom Mirror

Illuminated mirrors come in many shapes and sizes, and the light will be different too. Some have coloured lighting, some white. Some may be LED lit, others have other, less energy efficient, forms of lighting. Although LED lights are more expensive to buy and to replace, they are much more efficient and will last longer, so it’s likely to be a worthwhile choice for your wallet as well as for the planet.

Bathroom mirrors are all ‘ingress protection’ (IP) rated: an IP rating of 44 or above means that you can position your illuminated bathroom mirror anywhere in the bathroom, with the exception of actually within the bath or shower enclosure. If you wish to install an illuminated mirror here, you’ll need to choose a design that’s low voltage and totally immersion proof (IP67 or higher).

One option worth considering when you’re thinking of buying a bathroom mirror is a bathroom mirror cabinet. These are especially handy pieces of bathroom furniture if you’re short of space in the bathroom, as you get not only a mirrored surface on your wall, but also some useful storage space for your medicines or hygiene products.

When installing your mirror, first of all choose your spot and ensure you’re not in any danger of drilling into any electrical cables in your bathroom wall. Consider things like direction of natural light (unless you have an illuminated mirror) and ease of daily use when you’re deciding where to position your mirror. Ensure you’re happy with the placement of the mirror, first by holding it up yourself and getting up close, as you will when using it; then asking someone else to hold it in the same position, while you look at it from further away, to gauge how it appears in relation to the rest of your bathroom. Use a spirit level to ensure the mirror is straight, and mark the position of its four corners lightly on the wall to use as a guide while you drill your fixing holes.

To create these fixing holes, first measure very carefully, then double check your measurements – then drill. Take care if you’re drilling through tile not to crack the tile: using a hard drill bit and applying gentle pressure for a sustained period while drilling will give you a higher chance of drilling your holes without mishap than using brute force. If your wall consists of brick or blockwork beneath its plaster, you’ll need to insert wall plugs into your wall holes to screw into; if it’s a timber stud wall you won’t. Ensure you drill into the hardest part of the wall to increase your mirror’s staying power: drilling into the mortar between bricks, or into the plaster board between timber studs, will not give a satisfactory hold for your screw fixing.

Depending on the power source for the lighting in an illuminated mirror, you may need to wire the mirror up. Alternatively, it may be powered by an internal battery and not require any electrical work during installation. Bear in mind that all home electrical work should always be carried out by a qualified electrician, so please make sure you hire a professional for installation if you do buy a mains powered illuminated mirror.

Helen Davies is a senior content writer for Better Bathrooms, suppliers of bathroom products including a range of illuminated and non-illuminated bathroom mirrors and a selection of mirror cabinets.

Learning how a slow cooker works will help you understand what features you need to look for. When a cooker heats up, the steam caught in the grove of its lid and circulates back into the pot. This helps lock moisture and flavor in whatever you are cooking. Cookers also maintain a low pressure and there is no risk of accidents to the accumulation of high pressure that comes with pressure cookers. The food is gradually and continuously cooked at temperatures of 170-200 °F as the crock acts as the heat reservoir.

Pictured: Hamilton Beach 6 quart Slow Cooker

Because of the way a slow cooker works, finding a model with a great locking lid, a sturdy base and a reliable heating element should be your primary priority. High quality ones may cost a little more, but they are absolutely worth the purchase.

Crock pots or slow cookers come in different sizes and you can find one that suites your needs. It is important that you get the right size on your first purchase so you wouldn’t have to buy another one in case the first one is too small. Cookers function best when they are about three-quarters full because it ensures that your food maintains its moisture as it cooks. To help you decide which size to get, remember that a three quart slow cooker can feed between two to four people and a six quart one can feed between six to eight people.

Pictured: All Clad brand Slow Cooker

Another important factor to consider is the shape of the slow cooker. The oval ones are your best choice if you want to cook poultry, roasts and joints most of the time. They are more useful as the shape of the meat will fit better. If you mostly want to cook stews, soups and chillis, then you can get any shape you want.

Some cookers are programmable and they offer several advantages for the user. Even if all cookers are designed to be left, programmable ones will let you control how long they will cook and set them to automatically switch to keep warm when they are done. That way, your food will never be overcooked and you will always have a warm dish waiting for you when you get back. Some of them also have a delay timer that you can set what time they will start cooking.

Another factor to consider is the weight of the slow cooker especially if you want to take your cooker to a pot luck party. Their weight varies a lot and the lightest ones can usually range from 7-10 kg. Some slow cookers have also extra features for traveling like a clip-tight lid, a clip-on serving spoon, and bigger handles.

A slow cooker is a great way to let you enjoy nutritious home-cooked meals. Preparing them would be a breeze. All you have to do is add all the ingredients before you leave for work, and when you get back home, you can enjoy a warm and healthy meal. There may be hundreds of slow cookers to choose from, but now that you know what to look for, it’s easier to narrow down your search. Once you know what you want, you can go ahead and check out reviews to help you choose which specific model is right for you.

For more information about Cookers and Parts, please visit: rival slow cookers and hot dog cookers.

The basic or the traditional rice cooker works by heating a plate at the bottom of the pan. The inner pot of the cooker will then heat up through conduction as it sits on the heating plate. When you turn on the cooker, the inner pot will heat up bring the water in it to a boil, and then it will remain at this temperature until all the water is gone. When the last drop of water has evaporated, the built in temperature sensors will detect the rise in temperature and then either automatically trigger the cooker to switch to Keep Warm mode or turn itself off. It’s very simple to use but it also has limited functions and features – you can only cook rice and keep it warm for a short period of time. It’s only advantage over the other kinds of rice cookers is its cheap price.

Pictured: 8 Cup Aroma Cool Touch Rice Cooker

Another kind of rice cooker is the fuzzy logic. These kinds of cookers are more advanced because they have a built-in microprocessor. It works the same way as the traditional ones but it has more functions. The microprocessor can monitor the rise of the temperature and automatically make adjustments to how long it will cook the rice. It can also adjust the amount of heat on the heating plate according to temperature changes in the environment and according to the kind of rice you are cooking. Fuzzy logic rice cookers will also give you a greater control over it functions. You will be able to cook different kinds of rice and even steam vegetables and meat products and set its cooking settings according to your preferences. Some models even let you keep your food warm for up to 12 hours while others has a delay timer that will cook the food whenever you need it to, even if you are not around.

The third kind of rice cooker cooks rice through heat induction. This type of heating is usually found in more expensive cookers. They also have a built in microprocessor, so they have the same benefits of the fuzzy logic ones. What is unique about induction heating cookers is that the entire inner pot itself is the heating element. There is no need for a heating plate to conduct heat to the inner pot, because it will heat up through induction. Induction works through the generation of a magnetic field to heat up the entire inner pot all at once. The heat is dispersed evenly and rice will also be cooked more evenly. Temperature settings can also be controlled more accurately. The cooker can even automatically adjust its settings if you placed the wrong rice to water ratio in it. Rice cookers with heat induction are generally more expensive, but they will consistently give you perfectly cooked rice each and every time you use it.

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Pictured: Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker

Only you can decide what type of rice cooker you need but if your budget allows it, I suggest you get the induction heating cooker. It’s absolutely worth its price tag.

For more information about Cookers and Parts, please visit: electric rice cooker and best rice cooker.

Generally speaking, you can find cabinets and drawers in all shapes and sizes. From a tiny medicine cabinet to a full set of fitted bathroom furniture incorporating cupboards, drawers and open shelving, there’s something for every bathroom.

                                 Pictured: Floor Style Bathroom Storage/Cabinet

Often available with a mirrored door or doors, the simple medicine cabinet is the perfect solution for smaller items, and perhaps those items (such as medicines) that need to be kept out of the reach of children. Fixed to the wall at around shoulder height, these useful little bathroom furniture staples can be positioned above the basin (especially helpful if they do have a mirrored front), above the toilet to make use of the otherwise wasted space there, or on any wall that’s convenient for you.

Floor standing cabinets are generally larger and more capacious: fantastic for storing bulky items or items you use less frequently. Not ideal for storing smaller items or a number of daily use items, as you could find you spend too much time rummaging around at the back of your cupboards, trying to locate that one thing you know you put in there only last week…

Pictured: White Mirrored Medicine Cabinet

Corner cabinets, as the name indicates, are a piece of bathroom furniture designed specifically to maximise your storage space by bringing an unused corner back into use. These cabinets can be fitted at floor level or up on the wall.

Tall cabinets are a useful piece if you have a limited amount of floor space combined with an unlimited storage requirement. They can be as little as 35cm wide, they can be fitted on a wall, in an alcove or tucked into a corner, and their height means they have lots of internal space for all your odds and ends. They’re also useful looks-wise, for bringing your bathroom together: positioned at the end of a row, they can unite your floor level bathroom furniture with a row of wall hung cabinets above.

Generally situated at floor level, drawer units are useful for organising items. Bottles and jars can be lined up, organised and divided, and are easily accessible from above when you pull out the drawer – no more rummaging to the back of a cupboard for a fresh bottle of shampoo. Good for items that are small and easily misplaced, and also for items you need to be able to find easily; not so good for bulky items as they fill the space available so easily.

If you like your bathroom furniture to be hard working and dual purpose, there is no finer item than the vanity unit. Your wash basin sits on top of or is mounted under the counter of the unit and there’s generally plenty of space on the surface for toothbrushes, soap, and other everyday essentials. Your plumbing is hidden below the basin, and your storage space is tucked away there too. A wide vanity unit will offer you an enormous amount of storage space, in the form of drawers, cupboards, open shelving, or a combination of these, but even a small vanity unit offers an impressive amount of capacity for storing essentials.

Open shelving, beneath a washstand, for example, or on a wall between your units or above your basin, is helpful for daily use items. Glass shelving is transparent and can help a room look larger, but try not to cram it too full or you’ll lose this space enhancing effect.

Finally, to save space inside your bathroom furniture for other items you could think about installing a towel rack. Like an old fashioned luggage rack on a train, these come in traditional or modern styling and can be fitted anywhere you like, including above the bathroom door for truly out of the way storage capacity. Towels can be either rolled or folded, and piled up (not too high!) on the rack.

Helen Davies is a senior content writer for Better Bathrooms, suppliers of a range of bathroom furniture which includes a wide variety of bathroom cabinets, perfect for storing all your hygiene and beauty supplies.

Chromo therapy lighting

Chromo therapy lighting is colored mood lighting. It is used in a wide variety of application in these showers. It can be installed in the shower head or around the ceiling of the steam shower. It creates a unique ambiance when used as the sole lighting source in the bathroom. Chroma therapy lighting is a holistic healing method used for everything from relieving migraine headaches to stress. It is also commonly found in whirlpool bathtub combination showers.

Pictured: Jetted Steam Shower by Neptune

Foot Massager

Foot massagers are a very common feature in most steam shower kits. To be truthful this is probably the worst foot massage you will ever get and by no means should this ever affect your decision on whether or not to purchase a particular steam shower. 95% of customers never use the foot massagers.

Ozone Sterilization

Ozone sterilization was a very popular feature in modular steam baths a few years ago. Most manufacturers discontinued this system due to the fact it does not work. A high enough concentration of ozone isn’t created in the steam shower to kill bacteria. Also Ozone in large concentrations is very harmful to our respiratory systems. For these reasons we do not recommend purchasing units with this system.

TV/MP4 Player

TV and entertainment systems can be found in some models of shower enclosures. The problem with these is the televisions typically are not ETL certified so they cannot be installed in new construction applications 9 time out of 10. Although this is a great feature for some, most people decide there is no reason for a TV in the shower.

Refrigerators

This is another luxury option only found in a few steam shower kits. It’s big enough for a six pack. ( Warning: Do not consume alcohol before or during a steam bath)

Back Massage Jets

Back massage jets are one of the best features of both custom and modular showers. It it’s a custom shower these are going to be very pricey and you want to make sure you are getting the right type of system that will give you the best pressure available. For modular steam units the rule typically is less is more when it comes to body massage jets. All modular steam rooms run of a ½” hot and cold water line so there is only so much water to go around. With few jets you get better pressure and more performance.

Aroma Therapy

Another great feature found in almost every steam shower is aromatherapy. For customer steam showers this is typically added directly into the steam generator. Modular steam showers typically have a steam box where the essential oils can be added. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to create scents and aromas during the steam bath. This is a great way to help cure a cold or flu. Eucalyptus is the most popular sent for cold season.

Whirlpool/Air Spa Bathtubs

Many steam showers have whirlpool bathtubs as the base of the shower itself. These can come in whirlpool massage units or air massage but most frequently are combination air and whirlpool. They also typically come with a heat pump which keeps the water at a constant operating temperature while the user is bathing.

Self Flushing Systems

The self-flushing system is pretty much standard on every steam generator since the mid 1990′s. Basically it flushes the steam generator with clean water after its used to clean out any essential oils that are left over then the water is drained from the generator. This helps to keep the generator in proper working condition.

Steve Jones is bathroom designer who specializes in modern bathroom designs.

You can begin introducing East Indian home décor into a room in your home by painting one or two accent walls an even, deep color. You will be able to select from a wide range of colors, from deep, earth tones to luxurious jewel tones. The rest of the color palette that you use within a room will be dependent upon the accent colors that you use. You do not want the wall colors of your room to match one another exactly. For example, if you use a maroon color for your accent wall, then a ruby red shade on the other walls will complement it nicely.

Canopies and tapestries are considered a design staple when it comes to East Indian home décor. Canopies are most often hung from the ceiling, over coffee tables or beds. On the other hand, tapestries may be hung on the walls of a room, draped over furniture, or used as tablecloths within a dining room. Saris, a wardrobe staple in Indian culture, may be used to create a beautiful set of curtains for the windows within a room by simply attaching clip on curtain rings across the top.

When you are shopping for accessories for East Indian home décor, look for items that are constructed from brass or dark wood. Popular woods used in the construction of vases, candleholders, religious statues, and decorative carvings include sandalwood, rosewood, ebony, and red cedar. Brass pieces are also quite popular, and aged, antique brass is quite reminiscent of an authentic Indian feel.

For the finishing touches to your authentic East Indian home décor, you should select a variety of candles to place on coffee tables, shelves, side tables, and mantels. Look for candles that feature nature inspired scents, like sandalwood or rosewood. Finally, look for a square, oversized Indian rug to lie beneath a coffee table or dining room table. Alternately, you can choose a longer, thinner rug to act as a liner for a hallway.

Pictured: Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Pro

Of course, what you need to know first are the features of a good juice maker. Always go for a high quality, branded juicer, good build quality and reliability is a must since a juicer is an appliance that is used on a regular basis. Although a quality juicer costs extra, it is money well spent. Look for a juicer that is easy to maintain and clean as well as efficient in extracting juice. Most of these features may be basic and common but these are very important to help you find the best juicer among the rest. You have to know that buying an expensive juicer does not guarantee high quality.

For those who are trying to look for a good juice extractor, it is advisable to check online for various juicer reviews. By doing so, you may be able to know which brands are efficient and durable. It is important to buy a juice maker that can last for a long time.

Pictured: Jucin Juicer

When trying to find the best juicer, you have to consider the warranty. A well-known brand will definitely provide some warranty to help consumers save money should the product be defective or damaged. By having a warranty, you need not spend some money on the repair of the product or the product will easily be replaced. So, there is no need for you to worry about spending money on buying another juice maker.

Most customers say in some juicer reviews that they consider a juice extractor as an investment. This simply implies that when buying a juicer, you have to be careful and not buy one impulsively since you may regret your decision in the future. Before buying your own juicer, it is wise to do some research first. If you keep this in mind, you will be able to find the best juicer in the market.

Choosing the best juicer is not as challenging as you may think. By simply looking at several Juicer Reviews online, you may be able to come across a high quality and sturdy juice maker to get on with your healthy way of life.

One of the first reasons that the round bathtub has become more popular is that it generally looks more stylish than the traditional bathtub. The longer, shallower, oval tubs that are considered to be more traditional tend to not allow for effective bathroom design the same way that a round tub will. Just as importantly, the difference in height can also make a round tub look more visually appealing. Additionally, round bathtubs tend to offer a great variety in terms of materials as well, which allows them to look more stylish with little effort.

Another driving force behind the round bathtub is space efficiency. In almost every situation, a round tub will take up much less floor space than a traditional tub. This has become more important as space is at a premium. Most people want to have a relaxing bathroom setting, but don’t have the space. The round bathtub has proven to be a great way to safe space, while also minimizing the amount of floor space that is needed. Along with space efficiency, energy efficiency is also much improved with a round tub. The reason for this is that water in the bathtub loses heat based upon the amount of surface area of the water. A round tub creates a smaller surface area to lose heat, which means that hot water will stay hotter, longer.

Round bathtubs originally were used primarily for soaking. While they have become more functional, they have not lost any of their appeal as a soaking tub. Anyone who likes to relax in the bathtub will nearly always prefer a round tub. This is because the additional depth makes it much more comfortable. Plus, a traditional bathtub tends to cover less of the body. Even though they are longer, they are also much shallower. Additionally, the added length is often still not enough to cover the entire body.

There are as many different styles of round bathtubs as there are bathrooms. Along with often looking more stylish, they also provide improved space and energy efficiency. They will also tend to be a popular choice among people who enjoy soaking for longer periods of time.

Jeffrey Adams invites you to take a look at Saturn Bath. One of the first reasons that the Round Bathtub has become more popular is that it generally looks more stylish than the traditional bathtub.

Wenge bathroom furniture is available in many styles and designs, all of which could bring a new opulence to your bathroom. If you’re a fan of freestanding, solid wood furniture, then try combining a solid wood wenge washstand with a couple of tall wenge cabinets for a classical, timeless look. There’s almost as much variety in wenge as in any other wood: both washstands and vanity units can start at around 450mm wide and less than 400mm deep, and they range upwards in size exponentially, meaning that if you have a large bathroom and a soft spot for a supersized basin, the sky’s the limit.

Pictured: Elegant Wenge Bathroom Vanity

It’s a similar story with freestanding cabinets, storage units, and other bathroom furniture pieces. Sizes are variable, and if you’ve measured up your bathroom and know what you want, the chances are you’ll be able to find it. And of course, there are a great variety of fitted bathroom furniture pieces available in wenge, if your preference is for a sleek, fitted style.

So, what’s the best way to go about choosing your new wenge bathroom furniture?

If you’re planning to put in new dark wood bathroom furniture where previously you had lighter toned items, or a traditional fitted ceramic bathroom suite, do make sure you’ve properly assessed the impact this will have on the appearance of the room. Wenge looks fantastic, but if your bathroom is small or dark you’ll need to limit the extent to which you use the wood, or it could overwhelm the space.

Look at how much space and natural light you have. If the room is small or appears dark already, you’d be well advised to limit your use of wenge a little and to emphasise the light in the rest of the room: keep your walls and ceiling white, for example, and add mirrors to reflect the light you have. If, however, your bathroom is large and flooded in daylight from morning until evening, you can have as much wenge bathroom furniture as your heart desires and the room will suffer no ill effects.

Think a little about cost. Wenge bathroom furniture can be crafted of solid, natural wood, or constructed from a composite material with a wenge veneer covering. Both will look beautiful: the solid wood pieces are perhaps a little more ‘high end’, but veneered pieces work extremely well in a contemporary bathroom. The cost will vary: solid wood is usually more expensive, while veneered items are generally manufactured, and therefore sold, more inexpensively.

Once you’ve decided on the wenge items you’d like, whether that’s a simple washstand and accessories combination, or a fully coordinated set incorporating vanity unit, cabinets, storage units, linen unit, tall cupboard, and fitted bath panels, think about size. Width and depth are standard considerations: you know how large you’d like your cupboards, basin, shower and bath to be, and you’re able to rank your preferences for the bathroom furniture and plan a layout that will fit in with the size and shape of your bathroom.

But many people forget about height. Height of bathroom furniture is a key factor when it comes to useability and comfort. The height of a washstand, for example, typically ranges between 700mm and 900mm. This is quite a variation. Always try to make sure you buy furniture that suits your height and the respective heights of the rest of your household. Aches and pains from stooping and accidents from over reaching to get a daily use item from a cabinet that’s too tall for its owner can be so easily avoided with a little forward planning.

Whatever you choose, choose it because it really appeals to you. Settling for second best may mean you’ll want to change your bathroom furniture again in no time: by picking a design you love, you could be saving money in the future!

Helen Davies is a senior content writer for Better Bathrooms, suppliers of a range of bathroom furniture including some beautiful wenge bathroom furniture.

Pictured: Germ Guardian HEPA Air Purifier

HEPA purifiers are capable of removing over 99% of potentially harmful air particles. These harmful particles can have a devastating impact on health conditions such as high blood pressure and even cardiac complications. By employing high efficiency particle air filters or HEPA the purifiers are able to trap most of these particles. These filters are made by arranging fibers randomly but in close proximity in order to better capture harmful particles. HEPA filters capture these particles in three different ways.

Diffusion

With the diffusion method the smallest of the air particles usually measuring about 0.1 micron or smaller hit gaseous molecules. When this happens the air particles become agitated and slow in speed. This causes the particles to bounce through the filter until it hits a fiber and becomes stuck there unable to pass through the filter.

Pictured: Alen Paralada Hepa Air Purifier

Interception

This is the most common method of trapping harmful air particles. The particles travel along the air flow until they hit the HEPA purifier and become stuck in the fibers.

Impaction

Affecting the larger air particles, the impaction method uses the one particles’ size against them. The air current carrying these particles are able to curve around the filter finding an opening but the particles are not able to avoid the fibers and become stuck.

HEPA air purifiers are commonly used by people with health complications. Although there are plenty of reasons why using a high quality HEPA air purifier are a good idea. HEPA air purifiers are able to remove all forms of harmful particles such as:

• Pet dander
• Pollen
• Tobacco smoke
• Dust mite feces
• Mold
• Dust

While HEPA air purifiers are capable of removing the majority of harmful particles from the air they cannot get them all. For those that suffer severe allergies using this type of purifier can provide some relief but additional care may need to be taken to relieve extreme allergy reactions.

Those that do not suffer allergens or breathing complications will find that using a HEPA air purifier is a great way to improve their quality of life. They find that by using HEPA air purifiers their homes and offices smell better and they have an easier time breathing in general.

Peter Wendt is a writer and researcher living in Austin, Texas. He recommends you check out HEPA air purifier reviews and juicer reviews.

There are several types of materials that are often featured prominently in Moroccan home décor, including wool, linen, velvet, and silk brocade. Many of these materials often feature rich and intricate embroidery or beading. The lighter materials may be used for bedding, window treatments, and throw pillows, while the heavier materials, such as canvas and wool, can be reserved for flooring, like rugs, or upholstery for furniture.

Ideally, you should select one piece of furniture for the room features Moroccan flair. Traditional Moroccan furniture is often crafted from Thuja tree wood, which features a distinct look and color. Furthermore, most authentic Moroccan furniture is often upholstered in goat, cow, or camel leather. The furniture pieces that you choose should be overstuffed to create an inviting atmosphere. It can beneficial to choose furniture pieces in neutral colors, so they can be used in multiple different types of home décor.

Of course, the accessories that you choose should be Moroccan in their heritage. For example, look for Moroccan pottery pieces in contrasting colors, such as black and white or green and white, to create an interesting visual aesthetic. Lighting fixtures constructed from wrought iron or cast iron can be used to create a visual focal point within a room that is decorated with a Moroccan theme. Stained glass lampshades in traditional Moroccan colors can also be used to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

As a final touch, consider adding exotic plants throughout the room you are decorating. This allows you to bring an element of the outdoors inside. If you would like to import exotic plants directly from Morocco, look for potted trees, like litchi, umbrella pines, or the aforementioned Thuja tree. If you find it too expensive to import these plants, you can alternately look for potted lemon, orange, or mango trees.

Also available on the bathroom market is the remote digital shower. They offer a truly hassle free shower by letting you perfect the temperature before you even undress with an easy to use remote control. It can be as simple as turning on your shower in bed, waiting for the signal it transmits when it’s ready and getting into your custom shower. With a range of settings that differ between each shower and brand, wireless digital showers are easy to operate and also surprisingly easy to install. The mixer unit is located away from the shower unit usually in the loft space of airing cupboard, and remotely sends commands either wirelessly or by the use of a fibre optic cable. The unit then blends the hot and cold water to the desired temperature before sending it to the head. Because the majority of digital showers can be installed retrospectively, your shower area or tiling doesn’t have to be damaged so if you are wanting to add a digital shower to your bathroom even if it has only recently been renovated or you don’t want to revamp the entire room, then adding one is still hassle free and not as expensive as you might imagine.

The days of turning on your shower and getting a wet arm or having to wait for the water to warm up are long gone. Simply step into to your perfect chosen temperature and enjoy the best showering experience you could dream of. It has also been suggested that digital showers are very eco-friendly as they only reach the temperature the user has set and only use the water the user needs preventing wastage.

Overall, digital showers may seem slightly more expensive than a regular shower, but considering what they offer in terms of the most user specific luxurious showering experience, it’d worth paying a little extra. If you are a technology fan and also are keen to experience the excellence of remote digital showering, then brands such as Mira, Hudson Reed Triton and Aqualisa provide the best quality digital showers at an affordable price too.

This guide on Showering was produced for Bella Bathrooms by James Chapman. For more information on Showers and Electric Showers visit Bella Bathrooms who are fast becoming the UK’s choice when it comes to bathroom products. Most enalosures and showers are held in-stock and ready for dispatch across the UK.

Pictured: NICOLE MILLER PEACOCK BEDDING

For starters, you can begin to decorate a room in a peacock themed décor by creating two toned walls. Ideally, the bottom of the wall should feature the brighter color of the two, with the top half of the wall featuring a more neutral color, like a burnt amber. A two toned look for your walls does not have to be achieved solely through the use of paint. You may use any combination of fabric, paint, or wallpaper to create the effect you are looking for.

For window treatments, look for fabrics that features shades of chocolate brown or bright jewel tones of green or navy blue. If you would like to have a more literal interpretation of the colors in a peacock’s tail, try hanging panels of alternating colors. Similar shades of color can be used for upholstering furniture in rich fabrics, like silk or satin. For a more subdued look, you can use upholstery in shades of chocolate brown with the addition of throw pillows in jewel tones.

When it comes to choosing furniture for peacock inspired home décor, look for pieces that are constructed from dark woods, like mahogany or ebony. The dark tones of these woods will contrast well with the brighter jewels tones of the upholstery and accessories. An alternative to wooden furniture is to look for pieces that are crafted from chocolate brown leather.

Finally, when it comes to accessories for peacock themed décor, a white vase filled with peacock feathers is a must. Ideally, it should be placed in a spot where the feathers can reflect the incoming natural light. Instead of looking for artistic prints that feature literal interpretations of the peacock, look for abstract pieces of art that feature the colors of the peacock. For lighting, you can opt to use stained glass lampshades in hues of blue, green, and amber.

Festive Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

Every Thanksgiving table should include a centerpiece to add to the festive feel of your dinner. It’s quick and easy to make a Thanksgiving centerpiece from fall flowers, pumpkins, gourds, and greenery. You can create a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece in very little time and for very little money. If you aren’t the DIY type, you can also order beautiful centerpieces as well. Read on for more Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas.

FLORAL PLATTER CENTERPIECE

Here is a simple centerpiece that you can arrange on a tray or platter in just a few minutes: You will need a small potted ivy or mum, a few small gourds or pumpkins, several miniature pumpkins, a few apples, and some fresh or dried greenery such as moss, leaves, or parsley, and of course the platter or tray in which you will place your arrangement.

Place the mum or ivy on one side of the platter and place a gourd and two small pumpkins next to the plant. Make sure you water the plant, but sparingly so as not to overrun or spill the water onto the other items on the platter. Arrange the miniature pumpkins around the platter and place the apples randomly to give a splash of color. Use small apples of both red and green colors. Place the leaves and/or greenery between the apples, gourds, and pumpkins. This makes a wonderful centerpiece that will make your Thanksgiving table a thing of beauty.

Pictured: Thanksgiving Table Runner by ProFlower

HARVEST GLASS BOWL WITH FLOWERS

To make a Thanksgiving centerpiece that includes all the symbols of fall, you will need the following:

- a small glass tumbler

- one very small pumpkin that has had the top cut off and the insides scooped out

- six or more small gourds

- a few dried leaves (preferably in various colors)

- a dozen or more fall flowers such as mums

- a cup of fresh or dried cranberries

- shallow glass bowl

After you have gathered your supplies, place the tumbler inside the pumpkin and fill it halfway with water.

Arrange the flowers in the tumbler and place the pumpkin in the glass bowl. Place the bowl containing the pumpkin and the flowers on a cutting board or large glass plate on the table. Arrange the leaves, gourds, and cranberries in a random fashion around the pumpkin. Add a few small candles if you wish. You will have a beautiful centerpiece in just a few minutes of your time.

CRANBERRY CENTERPIECE

Create another easy centerpiece with only a clear glass vase (any size you desire), two pounds of fresh or dried cranberries, and a large bunch of pink or white carnations. Cut the carnation stems so that the flowers will be just above the top of the vase and remove any leaves. Place the carnations inside the vase and pull the flowers away from the edge. Drop the cranberries into the vase and then fill with water. This is a very easy and inexpensive centerpiece that will look beautiful on your table.

It is quite easy to make a memorable centerpiece with very little time and money. Use your imagination and add lots of colors and textures to create a centerpiece that will create the perfect Thanksgiving atmosphere.

Now this is a design the you can use to create a bountiful Thanksgiving centerpiece. These are just a couple of my favorite Thanksgiving Centerpieces ideas. Now what you need to do first is Gather Your Supplies. It’s easy to create bountiful, Thanksgiving centerpiece. This is low enough to placed in the center of your table for Thanksgiving without blocking conversation. Or you could place it in the middle of a holiday buffet table. You first step for your centerpieces is to gather your supplies that you are going to need.

Red is a color that is featured prominently in numerous different types of home décor; however, it is most prominent in Asian inspired décor. In Asian culture, the color red is believed to be representative of good luck.  The color red can be compared with other bold colors or accessories, or you may choose to pair it with a palette of neutral shades, as an accent color, to allow it to “pop” more within a room. With Asian decor, there are just so many options and styles!

There are numerous shades of red that you will be able to choose from. Different shades of red have a variety of different undertones, from blue to yellow to orange. “Blue” shades of red, like burgundy and maroon, are considered the most traditional. On the other hand, berry shades of red are considered more feminine. The classic shades of red that are featured in Oriental décor tend to have a slight yellow or gold tint to them.

Asian Decor Ideas: Red Furniture and Accent Pieces

Pictured: Solid Birch Wood Red Shoji Screen

In Asian and Oriental inspired décor, the color red is often paired with accent colors of yellow and green. Incorporating the color red into your home décor does not automatically mean that you have to paint all four walls of a room fire engine red. Instead, you can begin by painting a single accent wall in your favorite shade of red. Red accessories may be featured throughout the room that play up the dramatic style of this color.

When you are choosing red accessories for an Asian inspired room, look for accessories that feature animal motifs or mythological creatures, like dragons. Porcelain jars, oversized vases, and fish pots are common accessories that are seen in Asian and Oriental inspired décor, and most of these items will feature red coloring, with one of the most popular color schemes being red and gold. Other authentic items you will be able to choose from include wall murals, plaques, and folding screens.

Pictured: Lucky  Red Wood Apothecary Cabinet

The color red is a classic color that is essentially timeless. When used correctly within a space, it can convey many different moods and ambiances. However, when you are decorating a room with red in an Oriental inspired theme, it is important to ensure that each element does not match too perfectly, because just a small amount of this bold color choice can go a long way within a space.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with asian decor, if the color red doesn’t appeal blacks and golds can also be used.

Adding a glass shower enclosure to your bathroom will increase the value of your property as well as make your bathroom look incredibly sleek and stylish. Available in a range of shapes and sizes, glass shower enclosures can be suitable for the majority of bathrooms. Nothing beats the feeling of a fast-flowing shower in the morning to prepare you for the day ahead.

Buying a New Glass Shower Enclosure

If you are having trouble deciding between a bath with a shower screen and a stand-alone shower enclosure, then consider the positives and negatives of both ideas. Bath Showers add the vital showering element to your bathroom but cannot live up to the chic appearance of a shower enclosure. As well as a contemporary, modern style, shower enclosures also generally give a larger showering space. If you have enough space, this is a definite advantage to purchasing a shower enclosure. However if space is at a premium, the shower baths will give you the shower you need as well as keeping a modern style in your bathroom.

Pictured: Aqua Lux Glass Shower

Firstly, consider the size of the area you want to put your enclosure into. There is a wide range of sizes available and also different shapes such as quadrant, cubicle and rectangular. Your enclosure doesn’t have to be huge, so even if you have a smaller bathroom a shower enclosure is still an option opposed to a shower bath or just a bath.

If you are replacing an existing shower enclosure, consider installing the new one in the same place. This will save a lot of preparation work as well as the plumbing already being in the same place, saving you time and money. If you are installing your new enclosure in a different position or it is your first enclosure, then firstly make sure the hot, cold and waste pipes are all in the correct position so you can attach your shower straight to them. If you are planning to tile the inside of your enclosure, make sure that this is designed and completed before installing your enclosure.

Overall, it is a wise move to buy the tray and shower that is recommended with the enclosure itself. That way you know they are especially designed to coordinate with each other and also reduce the chances of water leakage and other faults.

A new enclosure really will transform the appearance of your bathroom, so carefully consider the choice between a bath shower and a shower enclosure before you buy.

This guide on Showering was produced for Bella Bathrooms by James Chapman. For more information on Shower Enclosures and Showers visit Bella Bathrooms who are fast becoming the UK’s choice when it comes to bathroom products. Most enalosures and showers are held in-stock and ready for dispatch across the UK.

When buying patio furniture, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is the type of material. From wood to cloth, and everything in between – what you choose will depend on your budget and needs.  Rattan patio furniture is a popular option that will never go out of style.

Pictured: Catina 6 Piece Rattan Love Seat and Sofa Set

6 Reasons to Choose Rattan Patio Furniture

Here are the reasons why you need to choose rattan for your patio furniture.

• Rattan, as a material can stand any weather conditions. This is in fact one of the many factors why it has gained so much popularity. Check on the manufacturing process to make sure that what you are buying is of excellent quality. Manufacturers of quality rattan furniture interlaced polyethylene-based man made fibers on powder-coated aluminum frame. Doing so will make the furniture durable and will still be light in weight. This will also save the fitment from corrosion. Using polyethylene-based man made fibers gives you the assurance that the furniture is 100% weatherproof. Lastly, manufacturers used dye to give it an up-to-date fashionable look.

• Designs of rattan patio  furniture have improved a lot over the past years. There are now love seats, half-moon and teardrop rattan chairs, which are popular choices. These designs will give your patio for being extraordinary from the usual fitment.

• It is easy to care for and maintain. With our busy lifestyles, people have less time tidying their homes and their furniture. What we need these days is furniture that is not difficult to maintain. With rattan, you will not have to dedicate so much time in cleaning and maintaining them. An all-weather rattan furniture for your patio does not need much time to tidy them. A moist cloth or rag is enough to keep them clean.

• It is light in weight. Light and easy are other words to describe rattan. You can lift, carry and transfer them easily. You do not have to wait on your husband if you decide to change their placement in your patio.

• It is available in various sizes, colors and styles. This feature makes it easy for you to blend them with your other furniture. You can find a wide variety of designs and styles by visiting online furniture shops.

• It is economical. It can be bought online which is why it is cheaper. Online furniture shops order directly from the warehouse whereas furniture stores have other overhead costs that is added to the price of the furniture.

Pictured: Rattan Sectional and Coffee Table Set

When you shop around for rattan furniture, always check on its craftsmanship. This will likewise determine the price.

Hence, if you are thinking of having new furniture for your patio, get those that are made from rattan. Aside from the reasons mentioned above, they are also very comfortable and convenient to use.

Visit lafurniturestore.com for your patio needs. They offer a wide selection of furniture not only for the patio but also in the dining room, living room, bedroom, kids’ room, office and bar.

LA Furniture store: LA furniture store & patio furniture