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rooms with a view |
« home and garden « home |
Articles 1 to 20 of 36 |
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On October 16 the DIY Network will debut its new series, "Million Dollar Contractor" with "Contractor to the Stars," Stephen Fanuka. During each episode, Fanuka takes his clients opulent "wish list" and makes them a reality with expensive one-of-a-kind materials.
Any home might have a tiny room as part of the whole, but often times, the tiny room is the home. Don't despair or turn a blind eye. There are a multitude of tricks to fool perception and maximize the use of space.
Great windows in the Hamptons with a wonderful view need no decoration. Therefore, the question that should be asked first is: "Does this window need to be covered at all?" 2 comments
This month, let's talk about auctions, some love 'em, some hate 'em, and almost always there is a 'simply must have' item hidden at one just waiting to be found. 1 comment
What Were You Thinking? Do you remember the rumor that the real estate price bubble burst as painfully as a blister? 3 comments
It's just paint, you think. Fancy brands are just more expensive but not better, you surmise.
When it comes to home design a fresh coat of paint does wonders to give a new lease on looks in the most cost effective way possible. 1 comment
If all you make for dinner is reservations, or if feeling energetic, you boil water for something pre-packaged, you probably don't need to give this room a lot of thought. Otherwise, there often comes a time in a homeowner's life when denial hits a wall and your dysfunctional relationship with your kitchen needs to be addressed. 1 comment
When it comes to home design, the idea that there are rules is somehow comforting - that if you stay within the lines, you won't goof up and embarrass yourself. Follow them and the "goof" you may wind up with is a boring result.
Nothing completes the picture of "home" like flowers and greenery indoors. Fresh cut flowers provide beautiful eye-catching focal points, while our potted green friends create a more relaxing ambiance, along with added health benefits too.
You can coat the walls with beautiful color, dress the windows, and buy new furniture and lighting too, but in the end, the spiffed up decor won't look great if you have neglected the floors. You might opt to refinish or paint wood floors, or tile, stone, linoleum or cork them, but somewhere, you probably are going to want a rug or carpet.
As far as home design goes, it would appear that antique, vintage, and flea market finds are the 'new black,' if you will pardon an overused expression. Rethink, reuse, recycle, repurpose, repaint, and refinish are also now part of a home decorator's favored vocabulary, hopefully.
When you can't find anything in the local movie theaters that gives you the urge to get all bundled and brave the cold it might be time to consider installing a home theater system. For those that have a starter theater - surround sound and flat screen - it might be time for a few upgrades. Across the Hamptons there are professionals that know how to tweak any system you have or design a theater, popcorn stand included.
In the tradition of "less is more," beautiful floors without rugs are an elegant option. As a bonus, making use of an existing bare floor is inherently ecologically sound. The more often we continue to use what we have, the less wear, tear, stress, and carbon footprint we leave on the environment. What can you do when your floors can no longer even be called passable? 3 comments
Any home could feature a tiny room as part of the whole, but given the current market, oftentimes this means a tiny room is the home. Don't despair or turn a blind eye. There are a multitude of tricks to fool perception and maximize the use of space.
The question I most frequently hear from prospective clients is, "I'm overwhelmed. Where do I begin?" The 'where to begin' and 'how to' of home design is mystifying for most people. My assumption, based on experience, is that you, 'The Home Design Civilian,' have better taste and more know-how than you think you do.
Most of us, for lack of a better experience, under-light our homes with too few light sources, or worse, "over-light" with a few light sources at very high wattage. That effect is unpleasant, and odd, veering from blinding bright, to dim with shadows. What you want is a range of lighting options to fill a room with light without dark corners, so the overall effect is welcoming, comfortable, interesting and beautiful.
Good decisions come from wisdom. Wisdom comes from experience. Experience comes from bad decisions. As such, you can take my word here. Good furniture arrangements come from good planning. Developing clear "To Do" goals for your furniture scheme is a logical beginning, but what about the rest of the furniture you want to have in a room?
When it comes to closets, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, for most of us, the closets are our messy little secret. Things get lost in there too, not unlike the way umbrellas and single socks wind up in the "Parallel Universe."
Selecting wall color is not the same as selecting a shirt color. Wall color is meant to be an integral part of the overall room design. A color too strong or bright will bounce off the walls, making it difficult to notice the artwork, the furniture, or even the people in a room.
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Articles 1 to 20 of 36 |
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