A great way to increase the value of your home is to replace your bathroom windows. Bathroom window renovations not only will increase the value of your home, they will lower your energy bill. Replacing your bathroom windows also enhances the beauty of your bathroom, making all the time you, your family and your guests spend in the bathroom more enjoyable.
What Today’s Windows Are Wearing
Today, it’s easier than ever to give your windows a beautiful, stylish, ease-of-care look thanks to a wide array of modern shutters, shades, blinds, and window toppers in a variety of rich fabrics, colors, styles, and finishes.
Shutters are a savvy choice for any home, and far from the seventies trend in wide plastic panels and lacey burlap. High-tech, easy to take care of, and wildly attractive, they can help regulate light and insulate the inside of your home from the outside weather. Twenty-first century shutters are beautifully designed, and because of their simplicity and clean lines, fit with any décor.
Modern shades and blinds come in a variety of styles and materials. Each can stand alone, or be paired with stylish window toppers. Shades come in just about every style imaginable. They can be raised and lowered like blinds. Roman shades feature loosely folded, horizontal pleats and can stack smartly above any window, out of the way. Woven-wood shades are made from any number of natural materials like woven reeds, matchsticks, or grasses. Though they require more stacking space above the window, woven-wood shades can offer a lovely, dramatic accent to any décor.
Like shades, blinds can be raised or lowered, and come is a different widths and lengths. Slim, stylish, and easy to maintain, today’s blinds come in various colors and widths: a far cry from the humble, one color Venetian blinds of the 50’s. Blinds, with their restful horizontal lines, can be pleasing to the eye and complement any décor scheme.
Window toppers add versatility to any window décor. Use them alone, or combine them with shades and blinds to create a simple yet dramatic window fashion. Window toppers are enormously versatile. The most popular window toppers include valances, cornices, swags, and scarves fashioned in fabrics rich in color and textures.
For more ideas on shutters, blinds and other window coverings, check out BudgetBlinds.com
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How To: Mix Vintage and Modern Styles
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
If you think vintage and modern décor go together like oil and water, think again. Done correctly, without overdoing it, the two styles compliment each other and add a touch of flair to your home. Your home furnishings set the tone for each room, and combining the two styles can create a trendy look that brings modern flair to a traditional setting.
When updating your style remember to view the room as a whole, not just focusing on individual details or pieces of furniture. This will ensure that the room flows and maintains a uniformed style throughout, not just pockets of new and old. The key to integrating a modern edge is to make sure each item pops, and that it doesn’t get lost in a mix of clashing furnishings.
The first step toward creating a vintage look with a modern twist is to develop a color scheme. Neutral colors like beige and brown can help achieve an antique look, yet can still be brightened with accent pieces. Changing major furniture can be as easy as buying a slip cover or painting and staining furniture– there’s no reason to buy new pieces for your home. This color scheme can be incorporated into the walls, carpet, and decorations as well.
Once you have developed a color foundation for your home, it is time to accessorize. An easy way to combine styles is through mixing-and-matching antique and modern items. Such as taking an old family photo and encasing it in a new, sleek frame, or taking a wrought iron bed frame and putting trendy bedding on it. Another method is to take vintage furniture and finding new purposes for them, like using a trunk or hope chest as a coffee table.
The best way to make your modern accents pop is to buy one or two focal pieces. Don’t overdo the mixing of styles too much, because you will still want one identifiable theme.
Ultimately, it is about making the room reflect you. Allow your family history to speak through your older items, and provide an outlet for your contemporary style with modern home furnishings.
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Finding Vintage Deals
Pay what it cost the day it came out!
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
The trouble with vintage decorating isn’t finding places to shop, it’s finding the best places to look! You can spend hours antique shopping and go home empty handed. These days, your best bet might be to get with the modern age to find the vintage deals. The internet can connect you with the exact item you’re looking for in just one search. Below are some suggestions for online retailers, as well as some old fashioned hot spots in the vintage and antique worlds.
Etsy:
Etsy.com caters to handmade items. It has everything from jewelry to home furnishings, all hand-crafted with care. Etsy just hosts the goods of members, who live around the world. Despite the vast diversity of items sold on Etsy, it can be a gold mine for vintage items. It has entire category for vintage things alone with hundreds of thousands of items. Even in other categories you won’t have a problem finding items with an old-fashioned feel. The great part about Etsy is their search program. You can search by colors to find the perfectly matching accent piece, by seller location if you like to buy local, or by recently viewed or added items. These are just a few of the methods. These divergent search techniques help you find something new every time. You’ll find vintage, chic, antique, and everything in between on this web site.
Ebay:
Everyone knows about Ebay these days. Similar to Etsy, Ebay hosts sellers who post items. There is no limit to what is posted, so there is a much more extensive selection available. However, it can be harder to search and is not as specialized as Etsy.
Craigslist:
Although Craigslist started out getting a bad reputation, it has become an arena for local shopping. Check daily for new postings in the free section for great deals. While the goods listed might not be in the best condition, you’ll likely get a very good price and it is easy to negotiate. Typically you must meet the seller in person, so bring a friend along. You can search Craigslist and even put your own advertisement up for “items wanted” if you’re really looking to get your hands on something.
Freecycle:
This website is all about extending the use of items and keeping them from becoming waste. Although it sounds like a hippie movement, it has caught on. With over seven million members there are a lot of goods being passed on. Like Craigslist, this is locally oriented, so you’ll get to meet your neighbors.
Flee Markets and Garage Sales:
Any deal-hunter knows these are definitely worth your while. Your purchases may need a little maintenance, but the prices usually reflect that. Now you can find garage sales even easier. You don’t have to drive around looking for signs, instead go online and search for garage sales in your area. Craigslist has a garage sales category and YardSaleSearch.com posts garage sales going on in your area as well. These helps eliminate the annoyance of showing up at a house and finding out the sale was three weeks ago. Also check out the old standby of newspaper classifieds.
Don’t limit yourself to antique malls. You can find vintage pieces online or in your neighborhood. Use technology to help you and your house can be furnished sooner, for less!
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Defining your Style
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
Vintage, retro, and antique – if you think those terms all seem to fit into the same category, you are not alone. Unless you’ve had experience as an interior decorator you are likely to be unfamiliar with the subtle differences between these design styles. To develop a room that has a unique, but defined, style you should identify the fashion you are trying to create and then ensure that all your living room furnishings are from that same era.
Antique:
This is the most easily defined word of the three. Most living room décor experts insist that for furnishings to qualify as antique they must be 100 years old or older. The condition of these furnishings can vary, but generally for antiques to be valuable or presentable they should have been well maintained. Antique living room furnishings may fit more appropriately with a traditional home than a vintage home. However, there are always exceptions to the rule.
Retro vs. Vintage:
Distinguishing between retro and vintage styles is where things can get a little tricky. You might have identical living room furnishings, but one can be vintage and the other one can be retro. The largest determining factor is previous use. Vintage home furnishings are those which have been owned and used throughout their lifespan. You might buy vintage décor at a garage sale or used furniture store. Retro furnishings have those which resemble the style of a previous area and are designed to model that. Retro décor is new, but captures the look of decades before. Home furnishing stores would be a good bet for finding retro pieces.
Now think again about the terms vintage, retro, and antique. Yes, they are all technically words to describe dated furniture. But when you picture a retro couch or dining set you probably imagine furnishings much different than an antique couch or table. These nuances can be especially important if you are trying to convey the look you are trying to create to an interior designer or store representative. Knowing the difference can help you find items that exactly suit your needs and will fit perfectly with your living room décor.
Traditional Decorating
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
While design trends are becoming more modern and minimalistic, you might not want your home to scream ‘urban’ or ‘vintage-chic’. You just want a home that feels like a place where family gathers and memories are made, all in a space that looks stunning. You don’t necessarily need to be the centerfold of your favorite home decorating magazine, but you would like it to feel comfortable and cozy. A home with a traditional style does just that, while embodying a classic sense of design. Below are some tips to enhance just such an atmosphere.
The first key of traditional decorating is that nothing should be over-the-top. The room should flow within itself, as well as match the rest of the home decorating scheme. While there can certainly be a focal piece to a room, like an elegant fireplace, the furniture and textiles should be of similar taste, preserving the identity of the room. Colors should be soft and muted, with limited amounts of contrast. Stark color differences are common in modernist design, but have no place in a traditional home. Common patterns include floral, simple stripes, and solids. Overall, the room should feel light and welcoming, while avoid loud or overwhelming additions.
The proper home furnishings are essential for capturing the traditional feel. Especially for your living room décor, the pieces should all match. Depending on what era you are interested in, the furniture will vary. You may favor a more linear style or the sleek curved look, either way you should be uniform in your selection. Stains are frequently darker shades, although lighter wood is occasionally seen. Another way to incorporate wood into the room is through hardwood flooring.
Accent pieces play a large role in completing a traditional home. Sweeping curtains that hang elegantly, large mirrors, and well-crafted crown molding will round out your room. Bookcases filled with antique novels and timeless reads will show visitors that the room is beyond design, and is also part of your daily life. Framed photos and ornate vases can also add beauty and a sense of personality. Remember to keep it simple though. Metal lamps with clean shades and oriental area rugs help keep your room functional, but have a subtle appeal to them.
Pick colors that you enjoy and carry them throughout your room. Take advantage of any unique attributes your home may have, such as an antique stair banister. Showcase these traditional aspects and let your home become a place of sanctuary.
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Traditional Furniture Pieces
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
Appropriate home furnishings can bring a room together and unite the theme within it. By choosing fitting living room décor you will establish your home, meanwhile creating a welcoming feel to it. With the traditional style of decorating each individual piece has a story and purpose. Use this historical background to enrich your room and build in natural conversation starters. Typically traditional decorating has very formal furniture choices with lots of character. Below are some furniture piece ideas that can make a spectacular addition to your living room.
Credenza:
This is a fancy word for any type of table or storage unit. A credenza is the perfect home furnishing because it can be used throughout the house. It can function as a buffet in the dining room or as storage in the living room. Credenzas can be built or found in a variety of styles, with drawers, shelves, or cabinets. Traditional credenzas have ornate woodworking that looks fabulous in a formal setting. There are sleeker versions that are an updated style available as well.
Secretary:
Secretaries are also multi-functional pieces for your home. Serving as both a desk and a bookcase, secretaries can keep you organized and hide your clutter, while displaying your book collection. They vary in size, to fit any living room décor. But again, these are suitable throughout the house, including the study or den.
Coat Rack:
Here’s a fun addition for your home. A coat and hat rack is a simple living room accessory piece that will impress visitors. It is classic and has an authentic feel from the traditional time period, but doesn’t just gather dust.
Fainting Couch:
Allow your visitors to kick their feet up without damaging your coffee table. A fainting couch brings comfort to your living room without sacrificing style. Sometimes a traditional living room can become too rigid; a fainting couch will solve this problem. Just keep to those solid or muted patterns to preserve the traditional sense to the living room furnishing.
Epergne:
You don’t see these often anymore. Impress guests with this living room accessory. An epergne sits atop a table with a center bowl and several hanging bowls. This is great for treats or potpourri. Usually these are sterling silver.
With traditional living room decorating you can use furniture pieces that are not typically seen within homes these days. Incorporating function and historic style, you will make your living room furnishings come alive and become an essential part of your daily life.
Contemporary Interior Decorating
By: Danielle McVicar
Contemporary style is characterized by the use of clean, sleek lines, simplicity and subtle colors. Because of the emphasis on lines and order, contemporary design is very similar to modernistic design; however it is much warmer and more inviting. Contemporary style provides a relaxing and quiet ambience for a room, making it a perfect choice for offices, bedrooms and sitting rooms. If you enjoy a minimalistic style that emphasizes space and unique, individual pieces, then contemporary decorating may be the perfect style for you.
The key elements of contemporary design include texture, color and space. By properly utilizing these elements you can style your home beautifully with a contemporary design.
Texture plays an extremely important role in contemporary decorating. Smooth, sleek surfaces are necessary to achieve a contemporary look. Floors should be plain and smooth with no decoration or intricate patterns. Hardwood, vinyl and polished stone work exceptionally well as flooring for a contemporary room, but a low Berber carpet can also achieve similar results. Fabric can add some texture to your room, but make sure to opt for solid colors and avoid elaborate patterns that may clash with the overall contemporary look.
Color is another significant factor in contemporary design. Blacks, whites and neutrals are predominately used throughout a room along with one or two uncharacteristically bold colors. Painting your walls a soft, neutral color provides an excellent background in which bright accessories can contrast. Don’t go too crazy with color, however, you only want a few key items in your room to stand out.
Perhaps the most distinctive element of contemporary design is its use of space and lines. Space is emphasized and is just as important and decorative as filled areas. Every piece and accessory in a contemporary room stands out on its own because it is surrounded by so much space. The use of sleek lines is also very important in a contemporary design. Choose furniture and other pieces that are geometric and can add gentle lines to your décor.
Contemporary design can be effectively summed up with the notion “less is more”. Keep in mind all of the elements of contemporary design and you will be rewarded with a décor that is simple yet sophisticated and very pleasing to the eye.
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Contemporary Living Room Furnishings
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
Contemporary design incorporates the sleek look of modern design with the welcoming comfort of a more traditional style. It avoids the sterile feeling that sometimes results from minimalism, while also staying away from the formal edge of classic décor. Contemporary decorating really takes the best from both worlds. When decorating your living room, contemporary living room furniture will help transform the room into one of relaxation, color, and nature.
Maximize the light by installing large windows with simple window treatments. Let as much natural sunlight in as possible to give the room a brilliant glow. Whether you choose fabric curtains or traditional blinds, keep your window treatments simple. This is a great opportunity to add a splash of color to the room. The window treatments should be inspired by the rest of the room to make sure they flow with the rest of the living room furnishings.
With the natural light you will want to have furniture that is fade-resistant. White and cream colors are very popular with contemporary living room furniture and would make a smart choice for sofa fabric. With a light couch, add colorful accent pieces with decorative pillows or an area rug. The natural light can help grow color, through house plants! Place a small plant or flower arrangement on your end tables to incorporate nature and color. This will really tie in your contemporary décor with your living room furnishings.
Your furniture doesn’t need to be boxy and square; instead, pick living room furniture that has curves and different geometric styles. The look isn’t as linear as many assume. It should be fluid and natural. Stick with a lighter palette for your color scheme. Harsh colors like blacks or dark stained wood does not fit with a contemporary design. Instead light wood choices, frosted glass, and other more neutral tones work best for this living room décor.
Keep in mind that this contemporary style is a mixture of comfort and design. It’s livable! You can easily create a contemporary home that looks beautiful but can be enjoyed by the entire family.
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Contemporary Design Mistakes
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
Integrating a contemporary style into your interior design can produce stunning, modern results. However, this cutting-edge design style can leave your home looking bare or drab if done incorrectly. There are a few guidelines to keep in mind when decorating your home.
Contemporary does not necessarily mean minimalism. You don’t have to toss out all your extra home furnishings just to create a modern feel. You want to incorporate them in a way that presents a fluid and natural design. This means no clutter or furniture clumping. Each piece should be displayed in a way that interacts with the other elements of a room, but does not get in the way or stand out. Think about the visuals when arranging a room; consider the size of objects, their colors, and their shapes, avoiding too much contrast. With contemporary design your home furnishings shouldn’t just sit against the wall, but instead come together to make a conversation area. This helps the flow of the room and allows people to easily navigate through the room.
Your tables don’t need to be empty and you don’t have to hang abstract modern art to obtain contemporary design in your home. If you have collections you can display your favorite pieces in appropriate areas. Display cases don’t fit with contemporary design with their cluttered style, but showing off the most impressive items on a mantle or end table will draw attention to those specifically, instead of getting lost in the crowd. Use wall art to pick pieces that are meaningful to you and your family. These don’t have to be famous reprints either; create your own or contract out a local artist for unique conversation pieces. Integrate nature into you interior décor with house plants or exotic flowers. A few well-placed natural beauties create a feeling of peace and calm, without becoming overwhelming.
Another common mistake with contemporary design is for homeowners to try to recreate magazine pages. Don’t try to model your home after a featured design. You can certainly pull your favorite aspects, but recreate them in a personal way. Feature your surroundings in your home, through cityscapes or other local artwork. Try to individualize your home so it speaks to and about you!
Contemporary design isn’t just about being sleek and modern. It is about incorporating your passions and personality into fashionable decorations.
