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This article is provided by Ema Hobs.
When you think about spaces a chandelier ought to be hung in the house, I am willing to bet your first instinct is to hang it above the dining room table. You would not be wrong to hang a chandelier in the dining room; it is really the obvious choice, isn't it? The dining room is where we gather with family and friends to eat good food and have good conversation. Naturally, we would want the space to be lit beautifully.
The formality of the dining room too makes us think that it must have an elegant light fixture to complement the use of the space. Be honest: you imagined an ornate, multi-tiered crystal chandelier with arabesque arms when I asked about the chandelier earlier, didn't you?
Fortunately, this is not the only style in which chandeliers are available. Retailers like Y Design specialize in offering design aficionados a variety of chandelier designs, from the ornate to the modern chandelier.
What does this mean for you? This means that you do not have to resign yourself to only hanging chandeliers in pre-approved spaces. You can hang chandeliers in the bedroom, bathroom and even the walk-in closet.
Let us take a look at three chandelier designs that will blend seamlessly into your living space.
The Starburst LED Chandelier- Blackjack Lighting
Perfect for: The Bathroom
“A chandelier in the bathroom?” you are wondering. Yes. During our lifetime, we spend 1 ½ years in the bathroom. Broken down, this means we visit the bathroom six times a day. Shouldn’t a space we frequent as often as the bathroom be well-designed?
For a posh bathroom interior, the Starburst LED chandelier is the ticket. The starburst chandelier sends sparkles of light dancing across the ceiling and countertops. The chandelier’s stainless steel arms, available in either a polished chrome or brushed brass finish, will elevate a modernly designed bathroom and complement a traditionally designed bathroom.
Perfect for setting the mood for a romantic bath, the starburst chandelier is wet-rated and made to handle damp conditions. As you can imagine, there are safety codes for installing a chandelier over the bathtub. This Old House writes that the bottom of the chandelier must be at a minimum of 8 feet above the highest point of your bathtub’s edge.
The Washington 4-Light Pendant Light- Hudson Valley Lighting
Perfect for: The Master Bedroom
Is your bedroom in need of a redesign? You may not need to do much after you have replaced your overhead light with a modern chandelier for the bedroom. Lighting can drastically alter our perception of a space. You may have everything you already need in the master bedroom; it is the lighting that is letting you down.
The Washington 4-Light pendant light is artisanal, modern, arabesque and futuristic all at once. Made by a master glass artisan, the curved glasswork that surrounds and magnifies the pendant’s light source brings light and a sense of magic to the space. The master bedroom is supposed to be the most powerful room of the house: it is where the prominent members of the family sleep. A well-placed chandelier in the bedroom signifies the importance of the room and its inhabitants.
The Sexta Pendant Light- Santa & Cole
Perfect for: The Home Office
You do not have to settle for a desk or floor lamp in your home office. A place of work and industry, your home office should inspire and motivate you to explore, create and produce. The Sexta pendant light is a modern take on secular tradition. Reminiscent of iron luminaries, the spin on ritual design in this modern chandelier will help you to get to work in style. Classic inspired designs for the home office will help you to feel comfortable and productive as the space will feel welcoming and accomplished.
Chandeliers offer users an experience. Do you want to feel alive in your home? Mix up your lighting fixtures and make bold design decisions.
This post is written by Quintin Bentley Crevling.
Bed bugs are one of the most difficult pests to remove from your home. They can live on any surface and burrow into your furniture. They sense your body smell and are drawn to you very quickly. The telltale sign of bed bugs are when you get a row of bites that all follow a straight line. These small creatures will suck your blood until they are too fat to walk (up to 200% of their body size), so you are unlikely to have a bed bugs walk great distance to find a new surface to feast. To learn more about exterminating the bed bugs, click here and see what they recommend. If you want to permanently remove these nasty bugs from your home you will need to machine wash all fabric items, treat surfaces they may reside in, and call pest control to thoroughly inspect your home.
A bed bug’s favorite place to reside in a home is on fabric surfaces such as mattresses, or furniture cushions. These places often provide them warmth and enough human contact to fill their stomachs. Since these bugs can lives on any fabric surface, you will need to machine wash all fabric materials in your home including: clothing, towels, bedding, curtains, and furniture covers. You will want to wash and dry these items on the hottest setting. If you have items that cannot be cleaned on this setting, then you will need to have them professionally steam cleaned, as steam is one of the most effective ways to kill the bugs.
The hardest thing about exterminating bed bugs is that they can live in just about any surface and they are resistant to many pesticides. Bed bugs have developed genes outside of their bodies that detoxifies harmful pesticides. Vacuuming your home will serve as a good first line of defense by sucking up many of the bugs and their eggs. The vacuum may not kill the bugs, so you will want to immediately empty your vacuum outside of your home into a plastic bag that is then tied to prevent them from escaping. You will want to make sure all of your wallpaper is properly glued to the walls, because even the smallest gap can create the perfect home for these nasty bugs.
Bed bugs can thrive in any environment and they breed like their life depends on it. This means that you will have to completely eradicate every last bug or they are going to come back in force. Make sure to have pest control come to inspect your home and spray insecticide in the areas of your home that may house the bugs. A pest control expert will be extremely knowledgeable about the bugs and where they thrive. They will be able to find small crevices in your home that most people would not think to check. Make sure to follow all of the expert’s instructions so you can live pest free!
My lovelies, guess what? I just turned 37 years old today! Happy birthday to me! Getting older isn't so bad after all considering I have made so much improvements in many aspects of my life. Compared to when I was in my twenties, I am definitely a better person, a better decorator, a better cook, a better communicator and someone with better skills overall especially in the makeup and singing department. :) Perhaps many people are already great at these things when they are in their 20s, but it took me a while to hone my skills. :)
To celebrate my big day, I have the whole itinerary planned out because honestly, who knows me better than I do, yes? A few reservations have been made which included an "award-winning" hipster restaurant for brunch and a Peking duck restaurant for dinner in Chicago. I can't wait! In between both meals, I am planning to visit a few furniture stores in the city, do some serious grocery shopping in a few Asian stores to replenish some hard-to-get ingredients and indulge in delicious shaved snow (a popular Asian dessert originated from Taiwan) that I love but can't get in my suburbs.
These desserts create an explosion of textures and flavors in your mouth and are truly yummy! I have tried it once in Hong Kong and I am hooked! :)
Besides the gifts (of course), special occasion for me is always about the food. LOL. Many of you already knew my love for interior design but food comes in at a close second. I can't wait to celebrate my birthday with mountains of delicious food today! My lovelies, how do you celebrate your birthday? Do you indulge yourself with lots of good food as well?
This post is provided by Katherine Smith.
Creating stylish interior and outdoor living spaces is a process that involves highlighting some features and hiding the unsightly inner workings. Eyesores like wires, AC units and plumbing lines distract from the decor you have carefully crafted, but they do not have to become the focal point.
We are following up our tips on hiding pipes with ways to hide other eyesores around the house. All of the creative ideas below can be handled in an afternoon without the hired help of a handyman.
Make Security System Panels And Wires Less Obvious.
Security system wires are the top item on our list because hiding them goes beyond improving the appearance of your interior spaces. Some thieves will cut security system cords as a way to disable the alarm. For safety purposes alone, it is best to hide these wires.
One of the best solutions involves hiding the security system panel altogether. An easy way to do this is to create a decorative cover. DIY blogger Kristen Salazar came up with a genius way to do this using a picture frame, piece of wood, hinge and knob. Cut the piece of wood so that it fits inside the frame then connect it with the hinge. Add the knob to the hinged piece of wood and hang the frame over the panel. You would not see the control panel and wires but can still access it easily. The idea also works for thermostats and garage door openers.
You could also avoid the problem altogether by using wireless equipment from a tech-savvy provider like Black Hat Security Systems. These types of systems are less of an eyesore and give you more flexibility.
Hide Television Cords With A Hollow Shelf.
If you have a flat screen mounted to the wall (like most people these days) cords are going to be a real problem. People have come up with some very creative solutions, and there are now products that can hide cords inside the wall is you don not mind cutting into the drywall. One of the coolest ideas I have come across is using crown molding to make an attractive, hollow shelf below the TV. It is kind of like a faux mantle that can hide all the unsightly cords.
A Simple Shutter To Cover An Ugly Utility Meter.
Utility meters pose a unique problem. It is a very unsightly, sizeable piece of equipment that the utility company is going to need to access. That means you can not create a permanent cover, but a temporary one can work just as well and it is a lot easier to accomplish. One of the simplest options is to paint some cute shutters and stand them in front of the meter. All it takes is a few seconds to move the shade out of the way and put it back into place.
Swap Out Unattractive Air Vents
Most air vents look the same, and that is not a good thing. Vents tend to be drab and completely utilitarian in their design, which does not fit most decor. But there is a quick way to give vents a much-need style boost. A decorative radiator screen can be cut to size and used in place of the standard slated vent.
Conceal A Kitty Little Box
You love your cat but could do without the smelly kitty litter box. Cat owners have poured a lot of time and energy into finding ways to conceal the litter box without limiting access for their furry friend. One option I really like is converting a storage cabinet. All you have to do is cut a hole in the side for your cat to get through. Depending on the cabinet you use it can also be used to store all of your kitty litter supplies.
Use Cafe Curtains To Cover An AC Unit
During the heat of summer, an AC unit can be a lifesaver, but it is still not attractive to look at. Give your unit a quick makeover with a pair of cafe curtains. Cafe curtains are short and meant to hang at the top of the window. However, for this project, you will want to use a tension cord to hang the curtains to cover the lower half of the window.
These are just a few creative, easy solutions for some of the eyesores that can disrupt your decor. Have an idea for disguising an eyesore around the house? Then share it with me in the comments section below!
This article is provided by Kyle Meissner.
As the real estate market rapidly transforms, so too does interior design trends that will help you sell your house in 2017. Interior design trends change as fast as the stock market rises and falls. Millennials now dominate the home buying market, and their tastes range from soft, gentle curves with minimalist colors to funky curves and geometric patterns. Here are some of the design trends that will dominate 2017 and help you sell your home fast.
Black Stainless Steel
Stainless steel appliances remain a popular feature, but black stainless steel adds a sophisticated, modern and sleek appeal. Many Millennials equate black stainless steel with a recent remodel, which gives them the sense that a complete kitchen renovation is not necessary. Stainless steel appliances help quicken the closing process and many times are the feature that seals the deal.
Geometric Patterns
This new, fun pattern is all the rage with Millennials. Simple lines, triangles or patterns with photography blended in can add highly effective and visually appealing designs that bring vibrancy to a room. Geometric patterns bring plenty of attention and when used correctly, the patterns are quite functional. Interior designers recommend that if you use lots sharp, bold colors, you should balance them out with a mix of soft elements.
Soft/Rich Blues
Although blue was not the color of the year in 2016, the forecast for home sellers is a spring trend with functional blues. From shades of sky to sapphire, rich blues are fashionable with Millennials in 2017. Rich blues can express strength and confidence yet function as an outlet to relax after a long day. Donning the interior of your home with shades of blue could lead to a quick close.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are now the rage for bathrooms and kitchens. Quartz is a durable, low-maintenance choice with limitless color choices. Many Millennials are choosing quartz countertops over natural stone countertops. Quartz countertops are virtually indestructible, and the surface is not porous. Unlike several stone countertops, quartz countertops resist corrosion and staining from household cleaning products and cooking oils.
Jewel Tones
The depth and richness of jewel tones make any room in your house feel cozy. Millennials want that same cozy feeling while indulging their regal sides. Sapphire walls, bold emerald chairs combined with minimal wall colors gives any living space that regal feel while maintaining a toned-down look. Jewel tones can transform any room into an extravagant refuge.
Built-In Bars
Millennials today now demand that they have spaces in their homes for parties and hosting guests. According to Country Living and Redfin, the search term “built-in bars” continues to increase, especially among millennial homebuyers. Millennials also want a place to have a glass of wine after a long day’s work in the privacy of their own home.
Breakfast nooks are slowly on their way out as more homebuyers want extra countertop space and more kitchen cabinets. Homebuyers are also looking for less expensive synthetic material in their floors, and many prefer traditional hardwood or laminate floors that they can refinish to their own taste.
