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    Fall Trends Toward Rustic-refined Mix

    Thursday, October 20th, 2011
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    Now that it’s autumn, it’s time to consider revamping your home decor style.  The latest fall trends are in and a rustic-refined mix seems to be the latest hit for the season according to this Detroit News article. These latest fall trends can spruce up your home decor, especially within the bathroom. Enhance your bathroom design with some rustic or nature-inspired bathroom accessories and you will be set  for the season with a fabulously decorated bathroom.
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    The change of seasons is a good time to gauge what’s happening in the world of home decor, especially if your surroundings could use a little boost. Jackie Schwartz, owner of Home Interior Warehouse — Furniture and Design in Walled Lake, shares some hot options for the home this fall.

    “There is a significant trend of mixing rustic and refined furniture and accessories in a room,” says Schwartz, whose store is celebrating its 21st anniversary in October. For instance, you might pair a classic sofa silhouette with rustic tables that are family-friendly.

    More distressed looks are in but paired with sophisticated, dressier accessories such as mirrored pieces, beautiful pillows and even antique mirrors. Even light fixtures are mixed.

    “We are seeing very casual iron-look lighting fixtures adorned with crystals,” Schwartz says. French-inspired accessories, such as pillows with French writing, are popular this season. “We are seeing more artifact-inspired accessories. There is a focus on anything worn and weathered with a little glitz mixed in,” she says.

    Nature-inspired accessories, specifically botanicals and birds, are another hit.

    Neutrals with grey and taupe are very strong. “Grey is the new brown in home decor,” Schwartz says. “If your personal style calls for color … it’s all about red.”

    The key to remember is that a little red goes a long way and the hues can be mixed. Anything from wine shades to plum and lipstick red work well for accessories, accent pieces and accent walls.

    “Red makes such a strong impact,” Schwartz says. “Even in a neutral palette, adding a few red accents can create a sense of warmth.”

    For instance, even a bland piece of furniture flanked by red lacquer urns will make the room come alive.

    For faux floral arrangements, it’s all about being natural. “We love the variety of high-quality silk flowers that are botanically correct,” she says. “Single elements in a vase are popular now vs. a traditional bouquet. Clean, simple and dramatic use of one kind of flower is popular, too.”

    When it comes to patterns, anything animal print continues to be strong. Schwartz has seen a rise in demand for woods. “Hardwood flooring is more mainstream; it’s available at every price point,” she says. “People are paying more attention to their floors and walls as a backdrop for their furnishings and accessories.”

    For the full Detroit News full article click here.

    How to Achieve Great Lighting in Dark Colored Interiors

    Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
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    If your home is made up of dark colored interiors then this is a great article for you. This freshome article teaches you how to achieve great lighting in dark colored rooms. Whether your living room, bedroom, or bathroom are dark colored, these tips will help you get great lighting through the use of light fixtures and natural lighting techniques. If you’re looking to freshen up your bathroom design all together explore bathroom remodeling like it’s never been done. We offer custom-made acrylic bathtubs, bathtub enclosures, shower surrounds, and tub-to-shower conversions made of durable, long-lasting acrylic.
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    If you have only light colored walls in your home because you are concerned that dark walls will make your space feel closed in or cave-like, you are not alone. Many steer away from dark colored interiors, in hopes to make their room feel more inviting and welcoming. The appeal of dark colors can feel daunting if you don’t have great sources of light. The addition of natural light, beautiful light fixtures, or the playful interaction of lighter flooring with dark walls could be all you need to make your dark interiors feel welcoming. Here are tips to achieve great lighting sources in your dark colored rooms.

    Freshome: How to Achieve Great Lighting in Dark Colored Interiors

    Natural lighting can save your room: When considering dark colored interiors, determine if your space has the ability to let in natural light. Whether it is through windows, skylights, translucent materials such as flooring, ceiling panels, or even glass block walls. Letting natural light into a dark colored room will help the colors read more inviting, and allow you to coordinate shades of dark textiles and finishes with lighter ones.  Add sheers or lightweight and light colored drapery at windows to allow natural light to pour in, but to control harsh glares when the sun is bright.

    Mix and match color with dark finishes: Another option for achieving great lighting is to play off of adjacent colors to lighten up your dark colored interiors. Choose colors that have a bright nature, and your interior space will feel playful, and casual, or choose lighter neutrals to make the space feel formal and sophisticated. Orange and yellow make great textile colors for sofas, throw pillows and window treatments. While neutral browns, tans, and off-whites make good area rugs and seating colors to pair in front of dark walls.

    A dark bathroom needs reflectance: Think again, if you’re thinking that dark colors don’t belong in the bathroom. Pendant lighting over the vanity, wall sconces, and recessed lighting can brighten the space beautifully. Opt for reflective dark materials, instead of matte-finished ones to emphasize the light.  Glossy ceramic tiled walls, glass shower doors, wall mirrors, and shiny chrome or stainless steel plumbing fixtures can bring sparkle and brighten your dark colored bathroom. If you decide to make all the walls in your bathroom dark, opt for lighter colored flooring, or a lighter colored ceiling to offset the dark walls.

    Lighten the room with partial drama: If you’re not ready to take the full plunge into having your full walls colored with dark finishes, how about opting for a chair rail or wainscot accent with dark color below, and a lighter color above? This combination will bring in the light, but will also retain the dramatic nature that dark colored interiors bring. This technique works especially well in dining rooms, where you can use the chair rail as a decorative area for pictures, collectibles, and colors can be coordinated with seating and dining room table decor.

    Bringing light into your dark colored interiors has just been made easier, with the help of these tips. From natural lighting and lighting fixtures, to accenting your walls and furnishings with lighter colored textiles, and pops of color, lighting is the key ingredient to making your space feel beautiful and welcoming.  If you decide to go all the way dark with the majority of your space, bring in a few light elements to help the room feel balanced instead of gloomy and dark!

    Source: freshome

    Home Decorating Tips: Integrating New Decorating Ideas

    Friday, June 10th, 2011
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    Have you been thinking about updating your home with new decor, but lacking in the decorating ideas department?  TLC posted a helpful article on home decorating tips that provides great new decorating ideas to incorporate in your home. From your floors to the walls, this article has several tips to help you kick start updating your home decor.
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    Decorating one room often affects adjoining rooms, so it’s important to integrate new decorating ideas. If you’re content with the space next door, draw on its colors, furnishings, and overall flavor for ideas. Maintaining a similar palette will foster cohesion.

    If the adjacent room is scheduled for a fix-up at a later date, consider it in your initial plans when picking paint or fabric. If you’re hoping to eventually add rooms or remodel other areas of the house, be careful not to put structural elements or plumbing in places that will obstruct future endeavors.

    TLC Home Decorating Tips

    Consider these easy-to-do, unifying tips:

    -  Blur boundaries by painting rooms the same color, or employ different shades of a similar color with slight tonal variations. You could use pale yellow, golden yellow, and cream in one room. Combine deeply saturated colors (green) with lighter versions (sage).

    -  Install similar flooring such as sisal, wood, or tile. Floors can also be married by color; for instance, wed light brown tile with a deeper brown carpet. If you’re unable to replace the flooring, merge rooms with like-colored area rugs.

    -  Repeat texture throughout the space. Think velvet drapes in the dining room, velvet-upholstered chairs in the study.

    -  Employ similar patterns: Dining room chairs with black-and-white-checked fabric could mirror the kitchen’s checkerboard floor. Call in different patterns in the same color range, or combine similar patterns in reverse: a raspberry-toned fabric with jolts of white and blue here, blue-toned fabric splashed with raspberry and white there.

    -  Tie spaces together with architectural elements: wainscoting in the bath and bedroom, chair rails and crown moldings in the living and dining rooms.

    Not only should rooms be visually pleasing, they should also be adapted to the way you live your life.

    Source: TLC

    10 Ideas for Sprucing Up Your Front Entry for Spring

    Friday, May 6th, 2011
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    I often blog about interior home decor tips, but have you ever thought about your outside decor? Thanks to freshome I found an article that provides ideas for sprucing up your front entry. Whether you want to add some spring flowers or patio furniture, you can really add some spunk to the front of your home with these 10 front entry decor tips!
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    Spring is the perfect time to spruce up your home and renew it out of its cold winter slump. From bright spring colors on interior walls to updating old and worn out parts of your home, spring is the perfect ‘excuse’ for renewal. The area of your home that greets people first is your front entry. From the playful porch to the exterior lighting used to create safety and ambiance in the evening, your front entry could use spring sprucing as well. Here are 10 ideas for enlivening your front entry with touches of spring and renewal.

    1.)  Bring out the color: Whether your front door could use a new coat of paint or the trim around the adjacent windows could use a fresh new color. Your front entry is the ideal place to add color and whimsy. Consider using a front door color that contrasts the rest of your home: red, yellow, green, and orange are all popular “wow” colors for your front entry.

    2.)  Freshen up railings and stairs: If your front porch railings are looking drab, opt for new ones that are bolder and command more attention. If you like your current railings and stairs, decorate with spring hanging flower baskets and/or paint with a fresh coat of paint to bring freshness to the space.

    3.)  Modernize your exterior: Is the front of your home starting to look dated? Consider opting for updated amenities to make it look new and revived. Simple awnings, attractive fences and gates, or sun shades can immediately boost up the curb appeal of your home.

    10 Ideas for Sprucing Up Your Front Entry for Spring

    4.)  Give your front entry attention: While this seems like an obvious one, your front entry is the most forgotten about space of your home. For once you are in your house, you forget about the space that welcomes your neighbors! Sweep up debris, dead leaves, and clean or pressure wash brick, siding or brick.

    5.) Add functional lighting: Similarly to the interiors of your home, lighting fixtures can make your front entry look amazing at night, as well as keep your guest safe. Exterior lighting can range from single pendant lighting above the front door, or wall sconces that flank the sides of the door. If you have a garage, use similar lighting fixtures there as well.

    6.) Plants add color and texture: Depending on how much space you have, plants will help your front entry look friendlier and it will mask much of your hardscape – sidewalks, stairs, and walkways. Consider adding plants in decorative urns along walkways, along stairs and in decorative pots at your front door.

    10 Ideas for Sprucing Up Your Front Entry for Spring

    7.) Spruce up patio furniture: For those of you, who have patio furniture at your front entrance, revive your furniture with brightly colored seat cushions to bring color and décor to your front entry. Cushions that still look good from last year can be hand washed and dried to perk up any front entrance.

    8.) See what your neighbors are doing: Believe it or not, one of the best ways to get ideas and build neighborhood camaraderie is to collaborate about how they spruce up their front entries. Your neighbor may be delighted to give you pointers!

    9.) Pull up a seat: Depending on the size of your front entry, consider adding colorful furniture for seating. From park benches, and cedar side tables, to wrought iron chairs or bistro style seating adjacent to a patio area. Colorful throw pillows in spring colored hues feel and look great.

    10.) Create an oasis: Whether you only have space for a welcome doormat or you have a full porch to enjoy, create an oasis that you will love to come home to.  Update your front door hardware, your wall mounted mailbox and even a fresh spring wreath to your door!

    Source: freshome

    How to Save Time on Your Household Chores

    Thursday, April 28th, 2011
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    What do you think of when you hear the word “household chores”?  Are you the kind of person who gets pleasure out of doing chores or are you the type who does them just because you have to?  Nowadays there are many solutions that can help you save time on your household chores.  When cleaning your bathroom shower you can save time by keeping your shower cleaning supplies right in the shower with you.  Also whether you’re looking to save time doing laundry or vacuuming, you can check out these tips from KPVI News 6 on how to get your chores done faster and more efficiently.
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    Until it’s affordable for everyone to get a robot maid, household chores aren’t going away. Since merely ignoring your duties is not an option, experts say you can at least save time by modifying your habits so you can work more efficiently.

    How to Save Time on Your Household ChoresBy working smarter, and sometimes, purchasing the right equipment, you can cut into the time you spend cleaning and devote more time to doing things you love. Here are a few examples of how you can save time around the house.

    Laundry

    If you’re like most folks, you probably consider laundry to be one of the most time-consuming household chores – 66 percent of adults said doing laundry is a major time drain in a nationwide poll conducted for LG Electronics. So what better place to start when looking to become more efficient?

    One of the best laundry tips is to make sure you are doing full loads, reducing the number of total loads you will have to do – and helping you save money and energy. If you are in the market for a new washer and dryer, ultra-large capacity is definitely something to consider.

    Some of the most popular ultra-capacity washers use steam technology that provides additional energy savings and advanced cleaning options, but independent labs show they aren’t all the same. TrueSteam washers from LG, for instance, clean 21 percent better than the other leading brand’s steam cycle, according to third party lab testing. Another convenient washing option includes a speed cycle that quickly washes slightly dirty clothes in 15 minutes. In addition, these washers are ENERGY STAR qualified, using 50 percent less water and are up to 86 percent more efficient than average washing machines, even with their larger capacity.

    To prevent wrinkling and the subsequent need for ironing, retrieve and fold clothes immediately when they are dry. Ending drying sessions with a cool-down session can also prevent wrinkles. Today’s best-performing advanced clothes dryers include a steam generator, which produces true steam that is added to drying cycles to help remove wrinkles. For the best performance, be sure to look for true steam, not washers and dryers that just inject cold water spray mist into the cycle.

    Vacuuming

    Vacuuming can either be something that saves time or causes more headaches depending on how you use your vacuum cleaner. Be sure to use the right attachments for best results. Also, be sure you maintain it properly to keep it functioning well. Always make sure your filters are clean and dust collector is empty.

    With these types of timesavers in mind, the LG LuV400 vacuum even includes an attachment that vibrates cushions and mattresses to loosen and remove dust and an extra-long cord that reduces the need to plug into different outlets as you vacuum. The vacuum also features a unique dust-compression system that holds up to three times more dust and produces easy-to-discard dust cakes.

    General cleaning tips

    Here are a few general rules to follow when cleaning:

    • Clean top to bottom. Obeying the laws of gravity is the key to avoiding cleaning in circles.
      Clean as you go. When cooking, soak dishes immediately after use to prevent more work later.
      Keep cleaners in your shower so you can clean yourself and your shower at the same time.
      Stick to a schedule. Don’t stress out about missing certain items when things get busy; having a plan is the easiest way to organize tasks so you don’t feel pressure to get everything done at once.

    And if you’re the one doing all the cleaning, don’t be afraid to delegate some tasks to other members of the family. If everyone can take care of the things they are particularly good at, all of you can enjoy more free time.

    Source: KPVI News 6

    Top 5 Spring Cleaning Tools

    Monday, April 25th, 2011
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    Now that spring has finally arrived have you done any spring cleaning yet? Well if you’re looking for help on the best way to spring clean we found this TLC article that outlines the top spring cleaning tools you’ll need to get the job done. Grab your supplies or head out to the store to stock up on supplies so that you can get your home clean for the spring season!
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    Come on, get up. You’ve been tucked in her­e all winter, wrapped up in the same unwashed blanket staring at the television. Look at this place; it’s gotten a little dingy, hasn’t it? The stale odors alone are reason enough to get motivated to clean, not to mention the pet hair that’s built up and the generalized deep funk that’s settled over your house.

    There’s no need for further discussion; yes, you’ve swept and tidied up here or there, and the dead of winter’s no time for doing much more around the house than that. But if you’ll notice, there are buds beginning to sprout on trees outside and the sun’s beginning to creep up e­arlier and stay around longer. Spring’s coming and it’s high time that you give your house a thorough spring cleaning.

    Before you get started, though, take a quick inventory of what you’ll need to clean. We’ve included some ideas for essential spring cleaning tools to help get you started.

    5. Hand Duster

    ­While it’s true there are plenty of spray ­ furniture polishes that put the smack down on dust, using too much can lead to a waxy build-up. Even worse, when sprayed directly onto wood furniture, some of the ingredients in aerosol dusting sprays can eventually damage the finish [source: Williams]. Liquid and semi-solid furniture polishes work and it’s a good idea to keep some around the house for polishing from time to time, but they shouldn’t be routinely used for dusting.

    Instead, opt for a good feather duster during your spring cleaning to get the light particulate matter that’s accumulated over the winter. If you can, spring for a feather duster made from natural materials. Ostrich feathers have a broad surface area and are finely woven, so they trap dust particles and hold onto them until shaken out. Lambswool is another great material for dusting; they, too, trap particles but don’t create an electrostatic charge.

    feather duster: top spring cleaning tools

    4. Rubber Gloves

    It’s easy to overlook or avoid; putting on a pair of thick, hot gloves is not something most people go out of their way to do. It’s a lot easier to just get to cleaning. These days, rubber gloves have gone much the way of the dinosaur.

    When spring cleaning, though, it’s a good idea to shell out the extra few bucks when you’re stocking up on cleaning supplies at the store and don rubber gloves when cleaning. This holds especially true when you opt to go with strong chemical cleansers over green cleaners. Chemicals used in spring cleaning like bleach can irritate the skin, and gloves not only protect your hands from drying and cracking, they also provide a barrier from germs — a good idea when giving the toilet a springtime shine.

    3. A Good Mop

    Sure, you’ve got one already. Check it out before you go to town on your floors; you may just spread dirt around. Is your mop a little too grimy? Are there dog hairs from the last holiday season stuck to it? Does it smell? Perhaps it’s time to go ahead and get another mop head.

    It might also be worth considering ditching a pattern of purchasing the cheapest mop available and invest in one with a little extra oomph. Look into microfiber mops, which use reusable microfiber cloth pads that can be soaked in a cleaning solution prior to use and dropped into a separate bin when soiled. Using several mop heads — which can be tossed in the laundry after you’re done cleaning — means the mop head is never returned to the cleaning solution for another soaking. This prevents cross-contamination and the maddening circle of squeezing dirty mop water back into the bucket, only to spread it around again on the very floor you’re trying to clean. Hospitals use them: enough said.

    2. Squeegee

    You know those little tools that look like windshield wipers found around the pumps at gas stations? They’re useful not only on your windshield, but around your house during spring cleaning time, as well. Concerning yourself with streaky windows is a thing of the past with a squeegee, which hugs glass surfaces closely enough that no moisture remains after a pass. Squeegees also don’t require spray glass cleansers, although you can use them together.

    The all high authority on spring cleaning, Martha Stewart, suggests using a squeegee with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water to clean windows and mirrors. Drop sponge into the solution and wet the glass with it. From a top corner, pull the squeegee downward to the windowsill or bottom of the mirror and wipe the tool down with the sponge. Continue like this, overlapping over the last pass with each new one [source: Martha Stewart Living]. Presto, the cleanest windows and mirrors you’ve ever had.

    1. Sponges

    You know that ad for bleach wipes where the woman wipes down her kitchen countertops with a raw chicken? It’s a dig at using sponges, and it’s not too far off. Using dingy old sponges for spring cleaning is gross at best and actually spreads bacteria at worst. Still, it’s tough to beat a sponge for getting surfaces sparkling clean.

    Since they’re cheap, it’s not a bad idea to stock up on a few good sponges before getting to work on spring cleaning your house. If you do, check out some of the newer versions on the market. Products like eco-sponges use friction instead of cleansers, using just water rather than harsh sprays [source: Daily Green].­

    It’s pretty environmentally unfriendly (and kind of expensive) to just toss a sponge after one use. Fortunately, to combat spreading bacteria, you don’t have to resort to this measure. Old sponges can be refreshed; microwaving them between cleanings on High for a minute kills germs, as does tossing them in the washing machine with chlorine bleach.

    Source: TLC

    5 Ways Fabrics Beautifully Enhance your Home

    Friday, April 15th, 2011
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    Have you ever thought about enhancing your home with embroidered fabrics?  If not, you should!  Embroidered fabrics can add a great touch to any room.  Leave the solids in the past and make embroidered fabrics the present with the following home decor tips from freshhome! Also, do not be scared to be adventurous and perhaps add some embroidered fabrics to your bathroom decor as well!
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    Do you ever walk into a room of your house and are bored by what you’ve seen for ages?  Embroidered fabrics can be a wonderful way to accent a room. The three dimensional quality of these fabrics and their tactile nature make for a unique feature that most fabrics don’t have.  Despite what you have heard in the past, not everything in your home needs to be a neutral solid.  A patterned fabric can complement and enhance an existing space that might fall flat with simple, solid colors.  Incorporating these embroidered fabrics into your home might be easier than you think with these straightforward tips.

    Add an upholstered headboard:

    A headboard always gives structure and focus to a room.  Note the padded and gathered headboard in Camilla David Textiles embroidered pattern in the picture below.  The white background with a modern floral design adds new dimension and pops from the deep purple wall.  Additionally, adding another piece of furniture in the same fabric adds an unexpected fun element that helps tie the room together.

    5 Ways Fabrics Beautifully Enhance your Home

    Beautify your bed:

    Add some interest to your bedroom with an embroidered duvet cover or bed skirt.  Embroidered fabrics are classic, enhance the texture and give color to what might be a simple space.   Not to mention, a comfy duvet is always nice to cuddle up to.

    Freshen your look with bright pillows:

    Ever fallen in love with a bold fabric and didn’t know how to integrate into your room?  Pillows are an easy and quick solution to add flavor to a living room or bedroom.  Embroidered fabrics come in many shades and patterns that help to create texture, as seen in the picture below.  Try a contrasting trim to bring even more interest to the room.

    Consider embroidered fabrics for draperies/shades:

    If you have wondered about how to add a focal point to a room but don’t want to splurge on new furniture, think about installing patterned shades or draperies.  Try to choose a large pattern that will draw in the eye and create contrast.  This breaks up the monotony of a room otherwise filled up by solid colors.  The look can pull the room together in a way that you won’t tire of quickly.

    5 Ways Fabrics Beautifully Enhance Your Home

    Accent a room with upholstered furniture:

    Whether it be a sofa, ottoman or accent chair, an upholstered piece of furniture in an embroidered fabric can be the missing ingredient to the room.  A stand out piece always adds interest and variety, keeping the room unique and fresh.

    For the full freshome article click here.

    Heat Up Your Kitchen With Spring’s Top Color Trends

    Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
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    Now that Spring has finally sprung it’s time to start thinking about changing up your home decor for the new season.  A lot of time is spent in the kitchen, whether you’re cooking meals, eating meals, or socializing with friends and family, so it makes sense to decorate your kitchen and jazz it up according to the season or time of year.  Here we found an article on KPVI News 6 that provides ideas on how to spice up your kitchen with Spring’s new color trends.  Check out the following decor tips and try them out in your kitchen this Spring season!
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    (ARA) – The kitchen is the heart of the home: a place to cook and share a meal, to entertain friends, gather as a family and even pay bills or do homework.

    “From a decor perspective, the kitchen is the perfect place to get colorful,” says Ginny Bean, publisher of Ginny’s catalog and founder of Ginnys.com. “Vibrant colors are a great way to reflect and reinforce the high energy of your home’s central gathering place.”

    Energizing your kitchen doesn’t take a major decor overhaul. Some strategically selected splashes of color in countertop appliances, cookware, dinnerware, candles, placemats and other linens can do the trick.

    “Among this spring’s hottest colors, warm hues like tangerine and butterscotch are perfect for kitchens because they’re comforting and actually stimulate appetite,” explains Bean. “A lot of the fun comes in blending old favorites and new shades in fresh, innovative ways.” Color palettes that Bean recommends for spring 2011 include:

    Rustic revival:

    Relaxed and informal, this palette is inspired by nature and features colors pulled from the outdoors. Shades such as basil, eggplant and copper help create a cozy space reminiscent of the past and simpler times. For a new spin on a traditional rustic color scheme, Bean suggests pairing a deep, earthy hue with accents of cool pink.

    Bold expression:

    Exuding optimism, this palette creates a look that is both unconventional and energetic. Unique color mixes, such as intense purple combined with butterscotch and Capri blue, or sunny orange with dark red balanced against a soft neutral like champagne, create a space that’s eclectic, yet warm and welcoming. Bean recommends mixing patterns, textures and styles for a one-of-a-kind look.

    Classic elegance:

    Evoking the look of 17th century Versailles, this color palette will give your kitchen a serene, elegant look. Traditional shades like lavender, turquoise, antique pink and bronze can be combined with touches of richer colors like peacock, charcoal and delicious red for a more contemporary look.

    World market:

    With the explosion of technology, the world has suddenly become a much smaller place. This modern palette reflects the new global outlook with cookware and other accents in colors from other cultures, such as the calm oranges and yellows of India, the bright reds of the Far East, and the Capri blue of the Mediterranean. Bean suggests grounding these bright colors with black, white, silver or brushed stainless.

    “In the final analysis, it’s all about doing what you like and surrounding yourself with the colors that make you happy,” says Bean.

    Source: KPVI News 6

    Clever Ways to Reuse Cardboard Toilet Paper Tubes

    Friday, April 1st, 2011
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    Want to be more green?  We found a neat NJ.com article on ways to reuse cardboard toilet paper tubes.  Toilet paper is a staple in all household bathrooms so why not “go green” and do something creative with the cardboard tubes? Let’s cut down on our cardboard waste and implement some of these creative ideas starting today!
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    Clever ways to reuse cardboard toilet paper tubesI like to consider myself moderately eco-friendly. I tend to shop with those “green” reusable shopping bags, I shy away from disposable water bottles and I’m conscious of trying not to be too wasteful over all.

    However, one thing I’ve never given much thought to is the left-over toilet paper tube.

    According to Coupon Sherpa and their article, 20 Uses for Cardboard Tubes Beyond The Bathroom, Americans produce more than 160 million pounds of waste each year from these little cardboard toilet paper tubes. Makers of TP have recognized the problem and some manufacturers are even designing “tubeless roles.”

    Until the tubeless roll goes mainstream here are some ideas on how to reuse those cardboard tubes:

    Glove dryer

    Stick the paper tubes into the gloves, attach to a hanger with clothespin and place in a sunny spot to speed drying.

    Cord protector

    An easy way to keep your cords protected from kids, pets and clumsy feet.

    Kindling

    It doesn’t catch as fast as paper but once it gets going, it burns longer. Ideal for backpackers.

    Arts and crafts

    Fill the tubes with dry beans or small shaped pasta and then duct tape the ends up. Kids love things that shake rattle and roll and these could be festively decorated.

    Travel storage

    Paper towel and TP rolls are ideal to store underwear, pantyhose and dress socks in.

    Hamster toy

    Hamsters love to crawl through tubes and the cardboard can also be shredded and used as cage liner.

    Source: NJ.com

    Home Design for a Kids Room

    Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
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    Redesigning your child’s bedroom does not have to be a hassle. Even though it can be a challenge to compromise with your little ones, we found some helpful tips from Home Design Sense that are both parent friendly and kid approved. Grab your kids and get started on decorating their bedrooms today!
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    This can be fun or trouble depending upon how you handle it. Kids have a mind of their own and so do we. They like one thing and we like something completely different. Here are some simple suggestions for making decorating their room relatively simple and avoiding a turf war.

    Home Design for Kids Rooms

    Let Them Get Involved

    Ask them for their input, but keep it limited. They want bright green paint. You know it won’t be practical, especially as they get older. And you don’t want to be re-painting as their color choices change. So make a compromise and go with a less bright shade and show them color options that you pick.

    Make The Room Easy to Change

    As they get older you don’t want to have to re-decorate the entire room. It can become costly. So, purchase furniture that is simple in design an avoid trendy items in major purchases. You can purchase trendy accessories that won’t break the bank and can be changed out as they get older.

    Also purchase furniture that serves double duty. Such as a desk that can be used for homework and computer games. A chest that can store items and be used as a seat and bunk beds are great if you have more than one child and limited space.

    Consider the price

    Some items you can find in garage sales and flea market. A good example is furniture. Many people sell furniture after a child gets older and at great prices. Look for sales at furniture stores. Today there are a lot of sales and you can really find many good buys if you prefer to purchase new. Stores like to make deals and you might be able to purchase floor models to save more money. The key to getting good prices…negotiate.

    Let them Decorate

    Perhaps your child likes to draw. Have them do some drawings and frame and hang them. Put up a cork board so they can post their favorite stickers, pictures or whatever they like. This also keeps the walls neat and free of tape and tacks. There is a blackboard paint that can be painted right on the wall if you want to give your child more room to be creative.

    When decorating also remember that your child will grow out of the items they liked as a younger child. So you will want to avoid getting too carried away with cartoon or action hero decorations. These can quickly fall out of favor and new characters will replace them.

    Source: Home Design Sense