Great Source for Home Decorating Pictures

We have to confess, we are a home decorating magazine addict. We subscribe to every single one there is, but the truth is, we never read the text. We just look at the pictures. What's the point of reading if the pictures are enough, no?

If you are looking for inspirational home decorating pictures, we have a great source for you. Check out RedCover.com. This site is actually a seller of images, much like Corbis or Getty Images, but they specialize in interior, garden and food images only. What we love best is that it has the best of European home design ideas, which we don't have easy access to here in the US. It's a lot of fun to browse through the beautiful pictures on the site.

Here are some sample pictures. There are thousands more...

Notes: The pictures on the site will have watermark on them to prevent piracy, but for browsing purpose they are not too bad. We recommend the feature search as it lays out everything very nicely for you.

Love This Loft!

The New York Times recently featured a wonderful loft in New York City that we just love. Loft decorating is tough. It is usually just a blank, open space and most people find it a challenge to make it cozy, warm and inviting at the same time. There is also the issue of spacing--you have to divide and conquer creatively.

Here are some pictures from the article which shows how it can be done. To see the rest of of the pictures and read the full article, click here.

Greening your home Top 3 quick & easy tips

We're all hearing a lot about going green these days but are you like me and have been thinking to yourself “well that's great I'm all for it, but I'm not ready to pull up all my floors or spend thousands of dollars in green remodeling projects just to be able to say that my house is green. Well, I've come to the conclusion that going green can have different significance for different people. If you're selling your existing home in a tough real estate market and you want to be able to advertise having green features or if you're like myself and you just want to green your home in order to lessen your impact on the environment by reducing your energy use, I've put together a list of what I consider to be the top 3 tips for greening your home that are the quickest and easiest and absolutely won't cost you a fortune doing it either!

1. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs): By far the easiest and most economical thing you can do to green your home is to replace all your old light bulbs with new CFLs or compact fluorescent light bulbs. These cost a little bit more up front but they last up to 10X longer and save you a lot of energy because they use up to 75% less energy than the older bulbs. Well worth the little bit of extra investment as they will pay for themselves in energy savings in the long run.

2. Install a programmable thermostat: Installing a programmable thermostat is an excellent and very easy way to go green in your home. Programmable thermostats will cost you about $100 or less, depending on which brand you choose, and allow you to set or program your heating and cooling temperatures throughout the day and evening and also while you are away. This results in a significant savings for you on your energy use particularly if you aim to set the temperatures at one or two degrees lower than what you would normally set it at. I installed a programmable thermostat in my home and was amazed by the fact that I saw an immediate 20% reduction in my energy consumption and my bill. As a general rule experts recommend, in the summer set your indoor temperature at 78 degrees F, and in the winter, at 62 degrees F.

3. Install low flow shower heads: The biggest water consumer in a home is by far the bathroom. After the toilet which consumer about 27 gallons a day per person, showers consume an average of 15-25 gallons per person. Another easy and economical thing you can do to green your home and save water is to install a low flow shower head. Low flow shower heads use a vacuum type system to aerate the water so that it explodes as it exits out the shower head, thereby creating a very intense and powerful stream of water but at a low flow rate. In addition stop valves on the showerheads allow you to pause the water flow while soaping up or shampooing. An average retail price for a low flow shower head depending on the brand is about $50.

Coffee Table Clock Can Make All The Difference To A Room

Within our homes we have pieces of furniture which are purely functional and do not serve any real aesthetic purpose, they are just in our homes to serve a purpose. We don't really think too much about these pieces of furniture and neither do our guests. Sometimes these items of furniture can be quite nice pieces but they might just lack something to set them off, and this thing to set them off doesn't have to be anything too spectacular. Maybe an ornament would do the trick, but cheap ornaments look exactly that, cheap. A bowl of fruit or a water feature is a possibility but they are a bit old hat now. Most of us have a coffee table in our living rooms, these come in many different shapes and sizes but they all have one thing in common, they are pretty plain. One way of brightening up your coffee table is with the addition of a clock. These can be placed in the centre of the table as a feature and can work well to break up the angles of the table. But what coffee table clock is right for your table? If you chose the right clock for your coffee table you can make a really bold statement without too much effort, a stated time piece will make a fantastic difference to a table of any type. Different clocks suit different tables, newer more trendy and fashionable tables are more suited to having a metallic and chrome style coffee table clock on them to accentuate the lines and materials the have gone to make up the table, whereas an older table, perhaps made of wood including pine, teak, mahogany or oak are best suited to a carriage style clock that gives a more regal and stately look to the table.

Ideally you want a clock and table that compliment each other to the degree that they both add something to the appearance of each other. A table that looks nice can bring the best out of a coffee table clock, and the same goes for a nice looking clock. Clocks which have a chime mechanism o them are a nice feature to have on a coffee table clock, these add a certain amount of atmosphere and dignity to a clock and can give a clock the appearance of being a more expensive time piece than it is.

The shape of the coffee table should play a big part in the type of clock that you choose to go for. Coffee tables come in shapes and sizes and it is important that you get a clock that best suits the shape of the table as well as the material that the table is made of. A small domed shaped clock looks rather nice when placed as a centre piece on a medium sized round coffee table. It's important to get the proportion of the clock right against that of the table. A clock that is too large for a coffee table can just give the impression of something that has been placed there waiting to be moved on to somewhere different. It is not that difficult to find a clock to suit your coffee table, clocks are available in many different styles and price brackets.
Tasg: Table Furniture Dining Table Wood Table Clock Antique Sterling Silver Antique Clock Antique Glass Bottle Mahogany Victorian Table Design Chairs Antique Store Antique Buffet Antique Porcelain Antique Shopping Discount Coffee Table Antique Bowls Living Room Design

Oriental Rug Definitions

AKSTAFA or AKSTAFA PEACOCK DESIGN: A tribal rug design depicting a stick figure bird with illustrious long tail feathers. Currently found on new rugs with Caucasian based motifs (Kazaks) or antique pieces from the Caucasus or Turkey. ANTIQUE RUG: A rug woven 100 or more years ago. BOTEH: The small tear drop design that you see in Paisley. There are many arguments among rug scholars as to the significance of this drawing. Some say flame, pear, leaf, pine cone and this list goes on. There are numerous renditions of this symbol found in rugs of antiquity; some geometric that are difficult to recognize, unless one is familiar with the basic form. The flame gets my vote from the ancient Zoroastrians that worshiped fire.

BAF: A suffix meaning woven by. CARPET: A large or oversized rug, usually not less than 9' x 12'. CARTOON: A picture of the rug to be woven (on graph paper) indicating the exact placement of each knot to be tied and in what colors to create the design of the rug. CHINESE RUG: An Oriental rug woven in China. Sometimes the term "Chino" will be on the label of a rug produced in China. An example of this might be: Chino-Tabriz; this would be a Tabriz design rug woven in China. CITY RUG or WORKSHOP RUG: Sometimes these terms are used interchangeable. Denotes a finely (tightly) woven rug which is produced in workshop facilities with a master weaver ensuring perfect renditions of specific patterns and standards. These rugs are woven with the design or pattern created by the weaver following a "cartoon" which has been carefully drawn down to the exact knot count and each color thereof. Workshop rugs are woven on metal looms to exact size specification which have been somewhat standardized.

DECORATIVE: Denotes beauty in a rug that is not necessarily an antique or collectable piece. Example: This rug is highly decorative. DOBAG: Natural Dye Research and Development Project, Turkey. ELEPHANT'S FOOT: Additional name for a large gul on Turkoman rugs originally coming from Ersari Turkoman weavers. Ersari Turkoman: One of the more prolific weaving groups of the Turkomans now settled in northern Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.. The most well know Ersari weaving design is a large octagonal form called a gul set in rows on a red background.
Tags: Hook Rugs Rag Rug Sisal Floor Rug Outdoor Rug Wool Rugs Hand Knotted Rugs Natural Rugs Aubusson Sheepskin Rug Chinese Rugs Indian Rugs Oriental Rugs Logo Rugs Custom Rugs

Home Decoration For Child's Bedroom Or Play Room

Home Decor For A Child's Bedroom Or Play Room Having a baby is an extremely exciting time for everyone concerned, but where do you start with the nursery? Assuming you know what sex the baby is, then is there really only pink and blues to decorate the room? If you don't know the sex of the baby, can you only use green or creams and neutral colors? There are many things you can do to make your child's nursery unique and a room that the child will grow to love as they grow up in the room. Redecorating a nursery into a toddler's bedroom can seem like a daunting task as well, but fear not, there are many things you can do to make the bedroom or the playroom a room that the children will never want to leave.

A baby's bedroom can be filled with such wonderful colors; it doesn't have to just be pink or blue. What about using fresh colors such as yellows and pale greens for the baby's nursery? These colors can be calming and relaxing as well as stylish and practical. You could paint the walls and add a paper border around the middle with a pattern on to break up the colors in the room. You could use stencils or stickers to change the look of the room. Adding pictures and frames to a wall can really make a babyís nursery look wonderful. You could also use gentle browns or creams in a babyís nursery. Not only are these colors simple and effective they are also neutral; meaning when the baby grows to a toddler, the colors can stay the same and the general theme of the room can change. A toddler's bedroom could be even more complicated than a baby's! Find out what the child loves the most; favorite cartoon, favorite color etc, and decorate around that theme. The walls could stay the same color though; just try changing the things inside the bedroom to give it a new feel. You can now get a huge variety of character bedspreads and curtain sets; a perfect and easy way to change the general feel of the bedroom without doing anything too drastic.

Kids area rugs work well to give them something they want and a place to play on the floor with their toys. And if the rug is colorful and fun, it can also be hung on the wall. This keeps the kids rugs clean, while it's on the wall and makes the room look great. A nice way to go back and forth from wall to floor until it finds it's perfect place in your child's room. Children can be quite fickle at times and their trends change as quickly as their moods. Try and keep the walls a general color and change everything else. Adding ornaments or stickers to the bedroom can change the look and feel of the room at minimum fuss and price. A general rule of thumb where children's bedrooms are concerned is to keep it as general a theme as possible and make the bits and bobs inside the room to a particular person, character and such like. There will be less complications this way and also less stress and effort from you. Try and make the area a relaxing place for the children. Luminous colors are definitely off the chart, you can have vibrant colors, but be careful to not over do the colors. The last thing you want is your child to go to bed and suddenly become less relaxed. Enjoy all the fun you can have with home decor in the nursery and the children's bedroom and playrooms.

Tags: Master Bedrooms Youth Bedroom Teens Bedroom A Princess Bedroom Girls Bedrooms A Scale Design of a Bedroom Where Can I See Football Themed Bedrooms Victorian Bedrooms Unicorn Bedroom Set Teenagers Bedrooms Sports Bedrooms Rich Bedrooms Redoing Girls Bedroom Master Bathrooms Monochromatic Color Scheme

Western Home Decorating Use Native Drums As Rustic Tables

Use Native Drums As Rustic Tables To Create Chic Western Home Decorating Do you love rustic furniture and decor? Native drums used as rustic tables are very attractive and a great way to bring true southwestern design and enrich western style in your home. Along with playing Indian drums in drumming groups and circles, you can use them to add decorative, rustic style to any home. I recently changed the decorating theme in my home, adding unique pieces of log furniture to give it an authentic southwestern look, and found that adding a Native American drum coffee table and drum end table together with other country style accessories, worked beautifully as accent pieces to my rustic furnishings. Maybe you are like me and truly like Indian style floor drums and log drums to use as rustic tables in home decorating and interior design. Native Indian floor drums are definitely a very real representation of Indian culture and are widely-used by many Native American tribes for singing, dancing, spirituality and healing ceremonies. Rustic drums for many generations, have always been significant to the Native ceremony, such as the powwow, and have been fundamental in religion and spiritual beliefs for many Indigenous groups.

When you start studying the rich history of rustic drums, you will see just how influential they are to the Native people. For many years, leaders of the tribe have used the drum beat as a means to get in touch with their creator and with the Spiritual world. Native American Indians regard their drums as sacred and give great honor to the living spirit they believe lives within each drum. The Spirit of the drum is believed to communicate to the drummer and signifies not only life, but also Mother Nature. Today, a lot of people are bringing these beautiful Native drums into their homes to be used as southwestern style furniture such as rustic tables, coffee tables and end tables. There is something very appealing about adding a captivating piece of furniture such as a drum table to your rustic decor, to enhance Native style in your home. You will appreciate decorating with rustic tables because of the unique individuality they create in their environment. Each drum comes from a significant historical culture that truly enriches the area where it is placed. Something you will love most about adding a decorative table drum along with your rustic wood furniture is that it is a very authentic representation of Indian culture.

If you enjoy southwestern style home decorating, you can easily find rustic drums that work as coffee tables, floor drums and rustic tables, online and in stores that sell Native American and country decorating items. No matter which way they are used, it is easy to find rustic style drums that will bring an authentic old west feel to your home decorating. If you are drawn to the unique culture of the Native Americans and wish to enrich the southwest style decorating in your log home or cabin, you will surely enjoy decorating with Native drums as rustic tables.

Tags:Native American Drums Drum Making History of Drums Indian Drums Native American Hand Drums Ceremonial Drums Shaman's Drum Ancient Drums Types of Drums Drumming Therapeutic Colonial Drums Where Were the Drums Invented Where Can I Listen to Native American Drums What Is a Water Drum What Do Dream Catchers Do

Choose Living Room Lamp

How To Choose The Perfect Living Room Lamp With so many options to choose from, you may be left confused about which lamp is right for your living room. There are some factors you need to consider first to properly assess the advantages and effects of the pieces you're eyeing on. Here are a few simple tips on how to choose the perfect living room lamp that fits your savvy, style and budget.

First, check the size of the lamp. If you are planning to place it on a table, check if it will fit the surface or that the size is proportional to the table. Very huge lamps set on rather small tables will distort the appearance. Lamp shades that extend beyond the total area of the table are also not recommended. The same goes for very small lamps and big tables. Next, check the weight of the lamp base. You need to check that the lamp will not easily be toppled over. The base should be proportional to the overall size of the lamp in order to provide ample support and stability. Cheap lamps usually have light bases. You can add stones or sand or fix it on the floor for standalone models to make it heavier and stable.

Check the wattage of the lamp. How many bulbs does the lamp have? If you're planning to add other light sources in the room, a 25 to 60 watt bulb will usually provide enough light for an area of the living room. However, if you're only using the single lamp to light up the entire room, you may want to invest in a 100 to 150 watt bulb or a 3-way bulb. This gives sufficient light for reading or security purposes. Check the style of the lamp. If you're following a certain theme, you may need to choose the material and design carefully to match the color and accents of the room. The material used should also compliment the main theme. A basic rule is that the lamp base should match the finish well. The color of the base should also blend well or create a nice contrast with the lamp shade.
Tags:Floor Lamp Oil Lamp Lava Lamp Magic Lamp Unique Lamps Who Invented the Lamp Lighting Lamp Table Bed Chair Desk Light Bulb Dresser Sofa Window

Green Nursery for Your New Baby

How to Create a "Green Nursery" for Your New Baby A child's arrival can be one of life's most joyous occasions, and if you're expecting a baby, you may be focused on planning the baby shower or decorating the nursery. While finding interesting color schemes and baby furniture can be exciting, you may be unaware that many of the products commonly found in nurseries such as paint, furniture, and carpeting can emit harmful pollutants such as particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your baby's air. Paying close attention to your child's indoor air quality is extremely important, as prolonged exposure to airborne pollutants can result in adverse health effects such as asthma, allergies, hay fever, and breathing difficulties. In fact, studies conducted by the EPA have shown that asthma afflicts approximately 6.3 million children, with the biggest growth in asthma cases occurring in children under five. Asthma also tends to be interrelated to allergies, with a large number of asthmatic children also suffering from severe allergies. Therefore, with this in mind, creating a natural baby nursery should take precedence over many other baby-planning activities, as clean air and a baby's immune system are inextricably linked. As mentioned, VOCs often plague baby nurseries, and they can be found in products such as gasoline, nail polish, and paint thinners. In addition to being hazardous to your baby's health, VOCs harms the environment by contributing to ground-level ozone. Look to these tips to make your nursery as safe as possible.

Paint VOCs are found in many paints and are released in the air as the paint dries. Before painting your nursery, be sure to look for paints that are low in both VOCs and odor. After the nursery is painted, keep the room well-ventilated by keeping windows open and fans on until there is no remaining odor. Children and pregnant women should also avoid going inside newly painted rooms for at least 72 hours, and if you must paint after the baby comes home, keep the child in another bedroom for a few weeks or until there is no odor.

Floors Because infants and young children spend the majority of their time on the floor, look for safe floor coverings such as cotton hand-loomed rugs, natural carpet, or even carpet tiles. Also look for area rugs made of natural fibers such as sea grass, sisal, coir, hemp, or jute, as these are stylish, extremely durable, often cost less than wool. If you choose to use conventional carpet or rug, air it out in a ventilated area for a week before installation, or ask the carpet retailer to have it aired out and unrolled a week prior to installation and/or delivery.

Furniture : Beware of cribs, changing tables, dressers, and shelves made of laminated wood, pressed wood, fiberboard, or particle board, as these can eliminate formaldehyde due to the glue in the products. Instead, opt for solid wood cribs and furniture and use natural or chemical-free bedding. To further protect your baby from pollutants, consider purchasing a high quality air purifier with HEPA and Activated Carbon. Not only do these air purifiers offer a high level of protection from a variety of airborne contaminants, they also create a gentle hush that resembles the familiar sound your baby has enjoyed for nine months in the womb.

Tags:Plant Nurseries Nursery Themes Online Plant Nursery Garden Nursery Tree Nursery Rhymes Wholesale Nursery Decorate for Nursery Mail Order Nurseries Nursery Songs Nursery Schools Day Nursery Nurse Nursery Décor Franks Nursery

How To Select And Hang A Chandelier

First, consider a few pertinent questions that will guide you in selecting an appropriate chandelier. What is the main purpose or primary use for the chandelier you are considering: reading, writing, work projects, area lighting, dining room lighting, accent lighting, an object of art, a beautiful specimen, just something pretty that will light up an area ? What colors are you using in the room with your new chandelier ? Hold these thoughts and let us consider a few more. What room is the chandelier going to be placed: living room, den, bedroom, dining room, foyer, kitchen, bathroom, game room, entertainment room ?

When will you typically be using the chandelier: morning, noon, afternoon, bedtime, at meals, after supper, late night ? Will others be in the room with you when you are using the chandelier ? Will the light from the chandelier affect others in the room? Now that you have pondered the above ideas, let us look at some specifics especially sizes. Home decor items are very important as they relate to each other in the same room. How big is the table, counter, shelf, etc. where the chandelier will be used ? A large chandelier over a small table or small area will appear overpowering. A small chandelier over a large table or in a large area will appear lost.

How large is the room where the chandelier is to be used ? A small chandelier in a huge room will appear lost and vice versa. How high are the ceilings ? Many medium to large homes today have 17' or taller ceilings in the great room. Generally a 36" tall and 36" wide chandelier with 6 lights minimum is right at home in a moderate size great room. Larger great rooms require larger chandeliers. Think of relativity and remember Einstein. Each individual situation has different requirements. Vertical location of your chandelier is extremely important and varies greatly with the situation. When located over a dining table, the bottom of the chandelier should generally be around 36" from the table top but it also depends on other variables. When located in a foyer, living room, bedroom, bathroom or great room it should be much higher. Variables include ceiling height, room size, furniture location and traffic areas.

The construction material of your new chandelier can be extremely important. The most durable materials are metals, stone, porcelains, crystals, glass and wood. All of the antique chandeliers that we repair are made from these materials and they very handsomely stand the test of time. Resin, poly resin and hydrocal are not recommended for any chandelier that you wish to keep for an extended period of time as these materials nearly self destruct.

Tags:Wrought Iron Chandelier Crystal Chandeliers Antique Chandeliers Chandelier Parts Chandelier Earrings Candle Chandelier Chandeliers UK Chandelier Rewire Chandelier Installation Home Lighting Fixtures Lighting Store Lighting Manufacturers Light Fixtures Cove Lighting

A French Touch : Decorating with French Provincial Accents

Style in the home can be achieved in many ways. But working with French inspirations makes for a décor simply dripping with style and that French signature class. A home with French Provincial, or French country, style means a décor comprised of great variety, subtle nuances and characteristic charm - as only the French know how. The following text offers suggestions to incorporate beautiful French Provincial touches around your home.

A main component of French Provincial style is attention to details. Beaucoup items on the small side lead to a big look. Think small buttons and beads, tiny frames, vintage postcards, ribbon work and basketry. This isn't formal French design with its illustrious chandeliers - this is style that is apparent in the charming French countryside and provincial towns. Beautiful trinkets in a lovely array of colors and props that might naturally be found in a French farmhouse equal a décor that is not only beautiful, but fun to reproduce in your own house.

Color is a great way to approach a new design. For French Provincial, choose muted shades that look as though they've been through seasons of sun and rain - not so much washed out, as pale. Sage green, pale pink, cornflower blue and ivory make for good choices. For a bolder palette, consider chocolate browns and brick red. Because of the great bounty of the French countryside, strict adherence to one color or a certain color scheme is not necessary, and not typical of this type of décor. All these colors work well together and their appearance together is reminiscent of French country cottages.

Indoor Decorating Projects Under $1000

Homeowners don't need to have a big budget to give their home a remodel straight out of the magazines. Any ambitious do-it-yourselfer can have a room looking sleek and chic for under $1000. Remodeling with a budget in mind saves money, and can also increase the resale value of your home.

Painting the interior can change the mood of your house, especially uplifting your spirits during the cold season. Painting your house is a home improvement project that's easy on your budget if you do it yourself. Don't buy the most expensive paint on the market; expensive doesn't necessarily mean good quality paint. An estimate of how much you will spend painting just one room that is approximately 350 square feet will be $50-$200, including necessary supplies of rollers, paint roller tray, duct tape and paint brushes. Other materials such as a drop cloth, paint bucket, or rags are optional. Instead of buying a drop cloth, you can use old blankets that you don't mind getting paint on, or cardboard. Rags can be replaced with old towels or damp paper towels, and paint buckets will only be necessary if you plan to mix paints for faux painting. Remember your price will increase as you add more rooms to your painting plan, and other areas such as trims, windows, doors, etc.

New Trends for the Home - Think Boutique Hotel Style

I recently found abundant design inspiration at the Hotel Gansevoort in Chelsea, New York during my stay in Manhattan during a business trip in December. So what did I gain from all this inspiration? Lots of lux DIY projects that I know you can do yourself! Now let’s face it, Manhattan boutique hotel suites can be pretty pricey to nest in but surprisingly, easy to enough to replicate on your own for a rich and stylish look for any room in your home. How so? Read on!

• Simple projects like a high-style, minimalist coffee table can be an easy DIY project that you can create from a recycled door panel or large cabinet door for the table top and scrap lumber for the legs. Simple lines in this Scandinavian style table make this DIY project a fairly fast and easy one provided you’re using power tools and sturdy materials!

• Create an eclectic mix of furniture by combining a variety of textures using recycled wood or even thrift store finds such as vintage metal table sanded down to create a brushed metal finish for a modern and clean look.

• Create a custom look for your TV by creating a built-in boxed frame that extends out from the wall to house a flat screen TV. Now granted, this may require some carpentry skills and an extra helping hand but this simple style of built-in is not a complex project and it will create the ultimate in your own unique custom style.

Need of Home Improvement Bathroom Home Improvement And Kitchen Repair

The first part of the home that is attacked in home improvement is the bathroom and the kitchen. This is because these are the parts of the home that witnesses the most wear and tear with excessive daily use. It is a necessity for everyone to visit and use the bathroom at least twice a day while a person’s cooking is all done in a kitchen where all the appliances and worktables will be used.With bathroom home improvement, there may be a need of changing the tiles, fixtures and other accessories of the bathroom. While kitchen repair involves the changing of tiles, sinks, worktables and of course, a new coat of paint. You can save a lot of time and money by thinking of some ideas for bathroom home improvement and kitchen repair instead of leaving it all to the designer.

You first have to measure the bathroom and kitchen, and draw them to scale on a sheet of square paper. Measure the distance between walls, floor and ceiling and size of windows. Once you have this rough scale, you can start redesigning the bathroom and kitchen.Though magazines and bathrooms provide ideas for redesigning the bathroom and kitchen, the ideas may not always be practical or realistic. Use these ideas only as a base for you to develop your ideas on. It proves to be useful to use a digital camera to record the bathroom and kitchen for filing in the computer for future reference. You will never know when you find alterations and savings in redesigning that you were not aware of before.

Bedroom Style : Creating Designer Bedding

A charming bedroom becomes even more appealing when the bedspread is pulled back to reveal beautifully embellished sheets and pillowcases. Designer bedding complete with monograms, appliques, and lace, set a romantic mood. An overnight houseguest is especially impressed when a room is adorned with designer sheets that look worthy of the finest hotel.

Designer bedding embellished with lace, monograms, appliques, and other types of fancy trim are generally very expensive. Not everyone is willing to pay designer prices for stylish bed sheets and pillowcases, but not everyone has to. If you’re capable of using an iron or sewing stitches by hand, you can create the beautiful designer bed sheets and pillowcases you’ve always wanted.

Appliques There are sew-on and iron-on fabric appliques in almost every design and color, and they can turn ordinary sheets and pillowcases into extraordinary designer bedding. Why pay upwards of $100 for a set of monogrammed or appliqued designer bedding when you can easily add professional looking embellishments?

Consider choosing monograms, small flowers, ribbons, butterflies, or any other pattern to match your bedding and your style. Appliques look lovely when applied along the top edge of a flat sheet or pillowcase, or centered along hems. Use your creativity and sense of style, and design a beautiful set of sheets you’ll be proud to display.

Attach appliques by hand, using matching thread. Sew the edges to the material using a simple whipstitch. Change thread colors when necessary, and attach the appliques securely using very close stitches.

Iron-on appliques are also very easy to add, and they can be applied in a matter of minutes. If you can use an iron, you can add appliques to create beautiful bed sheets that look exceptionally rich and stunningly stylish.

Begin by preheating your iron to the highest setting, and turn off the steam option. Place a thin cotton cloth over the applique, and press it firmly for approximately 30 seconds. Don’t move the iron back and forth while pressing. Turn the sheet over, and repeat the process on the other side. The applique should be firmly attached.

Lace If you’ve always wanted frilly sheets and pillowcases for your bed, consider adding lace. Lace is very easy to attach to the edges or along the hems of bed sheets and pillowcases, and there are numerous colors, patterns, and styles to choose from.

A sewing machine isn’t required to attach lace to the edges and hems of bed sheets. Lace can be easily attached by hand stitching. Choose thread that closely matches the color of the lace, and double it for added strength. Attach the lace using short stitches for a designer look without the designer price.

Looped Ruffles
Ruffles are simple to sew-on by hand, but you don’t have to buy ready-made ruffles. Ruffles are easy to create using seam binding, and they will add a touch of creativity, color, and style to ordinary bed sheets.

Begin by choosing color-coordinating rayon seam binding along with matching thread. If the sheets are light in color, consider choosing darker seam binding or a complimentary color. For example, light green sheets would look lovely trimmed with deep green or rose-colored ruffles. Use your individual sense of style as well as your imagination. When designing and embellishing sheets, the possibilities are truly endless!

Create ruffles from seam binding by looping and stitching it securely to the edges of sheets. Make evenly spaced loops approximately one or two inches apart, all the way across. Your sheets will look amazing, and no one will ever guess that you added the ruffles by hand.

Button Flowers
Add a little color and whimsy to your bedding by attaching flowers created from buttons. Choose small yellow or orange buttons to represent the centers, and larger flat buttons for the petals, along with matching thread. Select green embroidery floss or heavy green thread to create stems and leaves.

Along the hem, securely attach the small yellow or orange centers using crisscross button stitches. Sew larger buttons around the centers to bring the flowers to life. Complete the flowers by sewing long, single green stitches to represent stems, and on either side of the stems, stitch the outlines of leaves. Your finished flowers will add color, interest, and unique style to otherwise ordinary bed sheets.

Decor Trends for 2008

Working hand in hand with the colour choices for 2008, decor trends are leaning towards a natural environment, cultural flare and sophisticated simplicity. So if you’re considering redecorating your home, get some inspiration from these themes!

Natural Environment: Living in an eco-conscious world, many decorators are leaning towards more "green-friendly" decor. With inspiration being drawn from nature's soft greens, earthy browns, sky blues, golden yellows and colour-tinged grays, many decorators are bringing outdoors indoors. Here are some other ways to create that “natural” environment:

* Textured painting is leaning towards marbling or creating more natural appearing finishes.

* The notion of creating a feeling of “space” indoors is growing which means getting rid of unnecessary walls, creating balconies off of rooms, and adding large windows to bring in more natural light and open rooms up to the outside surroundings.

* Explore unique natural materials either as a furniture, flooring or as accents such as rustic wooden or leather furniture.

* Flooring options are expanding as well, with stone becoming a popular option in rooms other than the bathroom and kitchen. Granite, marble, slate all offer a range of colours and can create both modern and traditional looks, and a thick rug in the cooler months can help keep feet warm. Cork tiling is a popular, attractive and environmentally friendly option for kitchens as well. Hardwood floors are expanding into wider planks and hand-scraped versions give a weathered look.

* Heavy wools, raw or old barn wood and leafy prints all help to accentuate the natural feel and create the popular Scandinavian look.

* Renovations with recyclable or eco-friendly materials are a must.

Cultural Flare: Thanks to the Olympics in China in 2008, you can expect to see a lot of Asian influence in decor. Much of this is taken from China, India and some elements from Japan. You’ll find bright reds, magentas, purples, pumpkin oranges, peacock turquoise, jade greens and royal blues being used as both as main and accent colours. Here are some options to consider:

* Textured painting could include striping, where two colours of the same paint but different sheen are alternated in stripes to create an exciting look.

* Satin and silk materials blended with natural cotton add that cultural flare and other global textiles are garnering more attention.

* Gold or yellow metal accessories such as brass stand out beautifully with the strong jewel-colours.

* Neutral stone flooring compliments the bright colour palate.

* Following the stripe theme again, furnishings no longer need to be plain as stylized floral themed prints and stripes are returning as upholstery options.

* Accent cushions in softer reds or pumpkin orange add some flare to more subtle coloured rooms.

Sophisticated Simplicity: Hints of old Hollywood are helping to bring some glamour back into the home. Colours include classic black and white, as well as metallic sheens and accents. All of these help to accentuate both the bright Asian-inspired hues and the softer, natural tones. Too much can get gaudy, but the right amount can truly compliment the room. Here are some other simple yet sophisticated ideas:

* Exotic yet classy glass accents or furniture which could include glass mosaic tiles, recycled glass countertops or artistic glass accent pieces. Translucent glass is also appearing in many modern appliances.

* Eco-friendly modern appliances such as smart taps or low-flush toilets to help conserve water are growing in popularity. As well, as technology advances, you’ll find more modern appliances in unusual places. Kohler’s DTV showering experience allows people to create personalized ambiance in the bathroom from water temperature to lighting and music!

* Purples and grays reminiscent of that by-gone era are now coming back in full force.

* Metallic finishes are still a popular choice, including gold, silver or copper accents. Brushed nickel is now an attractive option. Metallic wallpapers are even coming back on the scene. As well, metallic accents work nicely. Consider an antique silver lamp stand, a gold wall hanging or a copper sink!

Like the colour palate of 2008, the decor options range from one extreme to the other, but all the options work together to create dynamic, exciting rooms.

Cool Wall Decorating

When it comes to wall decorating, the typical solutions are a) paint it with different colors 2) decorate with arts or 3) use wallpaper. Once in a while, though, we find a product that we just love...Check out these wall panels from B& N Industries. They are just way cool!

Typically installed in commercial settings, we find these suitable for residential applications as well. Use them in a bedroom or bathroom and voila, instant chic!

Shown mostly in white, these panels are available in different colors (you can see them on the B & N web site). We love the color options.

Check out this blue one:



We like this white one as well:



This one is quite hip...


To see more of these panels, check out the company web site at www.bnind.com.