Guest post- Three things to remember when designing a classy new bedroom!

This article is brought to you by Laura.

Sometimes in life, it is important to treat both yourself and your home. Though some people may feel that grandiose décor is something of the past, the truth is that it is more prevalent than ever.

Whether you simply enjoy the luxury of sleeping in one of the most elegant bedrooms imaginable, or you simply want to try something new, there is nothing wrong with aiming high in terms of your décor.

Here are a few ideas that may be able to help your quest for a fabulously classy bedroom:

Invest in only the best furniture.

If you really wish for your room to be authentically grand, then you simply have to buy only the most beautiful and elegant furniture in the land.

So what is the best range of furniture to achieve this?

If you are after authenticity, then there is nothing more so than ivory bedroom furniture available from OakFurnitureUK.

Designed with the rococo art movement in mind, ivory bedroom furniture features pearl white finishing, illustrious floral patterns and aristocratic swirls; giving the overall impression of a dignified, yet expressive design.

Elegance, does not define grand furniture however, as even the most simple, yet beautifully designed solid oak furniture can leave an impression of grandeur and quality.

Treat your floor like any other surface

One of the largest mistakes that a person can make is to forget about the stylistic aspects of their floor.

Though this may sound a little odd, a floor can leave a lasting impression on any guest. So what is the best type of flooring for an exclusively styled bedroom?

Quite simply, one of the classiest flooring styles currently found in the UK is parquet flooring.

Used in manors and prestigious homes in 16^th century France, parquet flooring used to be one of the most expensive and exclusive flooring designs in the world.

With only very few craftsmen being able to master the art of laying the floor, only the wealthiest of families could afford the privilege of having parquet flooring in their homes.

Today however, parquet remains elegant and beautiful and is often only found in larger homes in the UK. Due to this, it is often considered a luxurious stylistic approach to any floor.

Accessories are important

If you have already gone this far, then there is no harm in treating yourself to the most prestigious accessories for your bedroom.

Though you probably would not find what you are looking for in your average IKEA store, by searching through the internet you should be able to find a range of beautiful additions to your bedroom.

Whether that is simply a dressing table, a white arm chair or a pearl rococo mirror, if your bedroom accessories are not up to scratch, then they could be the missing elements to your almost perfect bedroom.

Product review- Cardstore!

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by cardstore for a product review. Have you heard about this wonderful company?

Cardstore lets you create and customize the perfect card for every occasion by offering the very best of design and messaging into a top-notch, ready-to-mail product.

Here are some of my favorite cards from Cardstore.

Aren't these cards fun, stylish and beautiful? For today's review, I picked this photo card design.

Totally In Love Lettering Overlay

Here is what mine looks like!

I really love how my card turned out. The quality is great! My card arrived fast and well-packaged. The customization process is pretty simple and straightforward. Fonts, colors, number of photos and layouts can be customized on the inside of the card. The wonderful people at cardstore even included two envelopes along with my card in case I make a mistake, how thoughtful! Creating this photo card is definitely a fun and easy experience! I am looking forward to give this card to my husband on our 8th year wedding anniversary next month!

*I received this product to review for free but the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

You can get your own fun, affordable and customized cards  here.

And the winner of the giveaway is ..........

I am happy to announce the winner of the recent giveaway brought to you by The Vendome Press.

Photo credits: Francesco Lagnese

I have used random.org to draw a lucky winner and here it is! The winner who will be receiving the beautiful "Tom Scheerer Decorates" book is

the lovely Brooke from Inside-Out Design.

Congratulations, Brooke! I will contact you soon. Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this giveaway. There will be another fabulous giveaway in the near future, so don't forget to stop by and check back regularly. Have a beautiful day, my lovelies!

Guest post- Top 5 pool and landscape designs!

This article is provided by Lacey Chic.

Swimming in your swimming pool can be one of the most relaxing and joyful parts of the summer.  And when you are entertaining guests at home, your pool and landscape are sure to be the center of attention.  A pool is a great place to lay around and socialize into the night, and a nice waterscape can make the party that much better.  But spending the time to transform your waterscape into a beautiful haven can seem like an arduous task, and there are so many different ways to approach the project.  Here are a few design ideas to help you determine what kind of landscape you want to design around your pool to make it more inviting and peaceful.

1)  Shade

The first thing to decide on when landscaping your pool is how to create shade throughout the area.  The most common way to shade a pool and enhance your poolscape is by planting trees around the pool. When choosing a tree though, make sure it is something that does not shed leaves such as an evergreen or tropical trees.  Another popular way to create shade is to install a gazebo either over part of the pool or even in the patio area.  Shade is a very important part around a pool, and can be fun to experiment with.

2) Height

If you are designing a new pool, make sure to add height around the pool.  Height can have a big effect surrounding a pool as it adds depth of perception due to the pool being perfectly horizontal.  Ways to enhance height around a pool can include building waterfalls or adding higher walls to different parts of the pool.  A great poolscape will normally have a raised bed next to the pool which you can plant various flowers and trees in.

3)  Pergolas and trellises

The pergolas can be categorized as a shade item, but what pergolas and trellises have in common is that it is possible to grow ivy and vines from them, which creates more vertical and natural appeal.

4)  Fire area

Fire pits and fireplaces make for a great place for entertaining, and there’s no better place to have a fire pit than by the pool.  Fire pits are great because they offer you enjoyment of your pool, even when it is too cold to go swimming. 

5)  Choose the right plants

It is important to have lots of plants around your pool to create a comfortable and relaxing poolscape.  You must choose wisely though.  It is ideal to pick up plants that do not have large leaves, thorns, or large roots which can all be detrimental to a pool. 

Author Bio: After your pool scape is all finished up, it should be furnished with one of the fine outdoor patio furniture sets from All American Fine Outdoor Furnishings.  A beautiful and reliable outdoor furniture set makes for optimum relaxation around the pool.

Guest post- Choosing Close to Ceiling Lights- Right Size and Right Style

This article is provided by Decorausa.com.

Lighting fixtures have metamorphosed into key décor pieces from just being sources of light. The ever- changing lighting trends and the plethora of designs available in the market might just leave you confused. Choosing and picking lighting options for large spaces is not very difficult.

But what do you do when you do not have the luxury of space and high ceilings?

Well, close to ceiling lights come to your rescue. Perfect for small rooms, they don’t require you to loosen those purse strings too much. One reason why we really loved them is because they seem to convey a more casual setting than fancy chandeliers. 

Sift through the variety of close to ceiling lights on DecoraUSA and take your pick from flush mounts and semi-flush mounts. Here are some simple tips on what you need to look out for while choosing the best close to ceiling lights for your home.

The first question pops up-Which close to ceiling light do I choose-a flush mount or a semi-flush mount?

Let your ceiling height do the talking. For ceiling heights below 8’, you can install flush mounts. These lights are attached directly to the ceiling leaving absolutely no gap between the ceiling and the fixture, giving you more space to walk underneath. Consider semi-flush mounts for ceiling heights between 9’ to 10’. They hang down from the ceiling, but not very low, so again you get adequate space below.

Depending on your requirement, you can use these mounts in compact spaces like the dining room, entry-way, bed room, bathrooms, kitchens, and closets. With antique brass, polished chrome, gold, pewter and more finishes, you get a wide selection of lights. 

In the closets, lights fulfill a practical need so make sure that they do not make a loud statement themselves. You can even get in dimmers next to the bed in the bathrooms to create a subtle light effect. We loved the modern flush mounts too. They look fabulous with their clean, contemporary lines and blend easily with any interior (Always try to match your lighting fixtures with the central decor pieces of the room for a neat presentation). Crystal and glass flush mounts definitely add more zing to the surroundings.

Despite the fact that you get limited bulb options with close to ceiling lights, the light effect is lovely. Decorating with close to ceiling lights can be even more fun because they call for easy installation (a DIY many times!) and hassle-free maintenance.

The Bottomline: While choosing close to ceiling lights, it is all about striking the right balance between the ceiling height, room dimensions and the lighting fixture. 

Guest post- Top design tips for bringing the summer indoors!

This post is brought to you by Laura Wright.

We all love summer. Whether your favorite part of the summer season is the early sunrises, sunny weather, BBQs, late sunsets or just being outside, it is a great time of the year.

If you love the summertime, but can not spend the whole time outdoors, why not bring that summer feeling inside? Here are a few top design tips to help you bring the summer into your home.

Add a splash of color

Bring those summer colours into your home by painting a feature wall for a fresh look – think yellow, orange, lime green, pink and baby blue. These colors work wonders and will transform your home to a warm and summery haven.

If you do not want to get the paintbrushes out, you could choose to use colourful fabrics to magically make the room feel more summery.

Accessorize with flowers

Your home will look like a new place just by adding some gorgeous fresh flowers. Whether you have decided to buy your favorites from the local florist or simply pick a few from your garden, your interior will suddenly come alive. 

If you have a fireplace that roars during the winter, update it for the warmer months by replacing those logs or coals with flowers. It does not always have to be fresh flowers though; you can even bring the outdoors in by using floral napkins and tablecloths. 

Swap dark hues for light shades

During the miserable winter days, your home becomes warm and snugly thanks to dark colours. From your pillows to your throws and rugs, just about everything is a mix of browns, blues and blacks.

To bring the sunshine inside, store these items away until next winter and bring out the bright and light colours. Cover your sofa with a white or cream throw, add bold cushions and cover that dark wooden flooring with a brightly coloured rug.

Let in the light

In the cold months it is important to keep the heat in our homes, so we hang thick and heavy curtains. You could completely transform your interior into a light and airy summer home by pulling back the curtains, swapping them for white or pastel drapes and opening those windows.

Do not let your interior design keep you in the dark - lighten up the place and bring the summer inside. 

Book review and a giveaway- Tom Scheerer Decorates!

Happy Labor Day, my lovelies! Recently, I was sent an advanced copy of Tom Scheerer's first book, Tom Scheerer Decorates, authored by Mimi Read and boy, what a visual treat!

The gorgeous cover truly piqued my interest and captivates my heart even before I start turning the pages. 

When I removed the dust jacket, a pleasant surprise awaits me. Just take a look at that stunning caned cover!

Here is a sneak peek of the gorgeous images you will find inside the book.

Photo credits: Francesco Lagnese

The designer: Tom Scheerer

I love this big and beautiful coffee table book! A master of mixing colors and patterns, his designs always conjures an old-world charm with a sense of modern sensibility, relaxed sophistication and a fresh twist. And most importantly, his designs always captivate, excite and inspire! I am thrilled to add this fabulous book to my collection and I know you will, too!

*I received this book to review for free but the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

You can get this lovely 240-pages of eye candy here. Along with today's review, I also have one Tom Scheerer Decorates book to give away to one lucky Mix And Chic reader!

You must be a resident of the United States.

To enter:

1. Be a follower of Mix And Chic via Google Friend Connect (click on the button located under 'Followers' on the right sidebar) and let me know why you want to win this book. After you have done both, please leave a comment followed by your email so I can contact you if you win. 

For example: I am now a follower of Mix And Chic via GFC. I would love to win this book because .............................

(enter your email here)

(one basic entry)

For additional entries (an extra entry for each of the following):

2. 'Like' Mix And Chic on Facebook and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)

3. 'Follow' Mix And Chic on Twitter and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)

4.'Follow' Mix And Chic on Pinterest and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)  

5. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook status (include a link back to this post) and leave a separate comment. 

6. Tweet about this giveaway (include a link back to this post) and leave a separate comment.

7. Bonus question: Let me know which is your favorite room and why. (For example: I like room number _ because .............................. )

You have a maximum of 7 entries.

The last day for entries is September 11, 2013. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Thursday, September 12, 2013. Good luck!