3 Colorful Kitchen Renovation Ideas!

This post is provided by Gary Wilson.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is a place of warmth and laughter, so the color scheme and overall décor should reflect that. There is nothing duller than the cliché white kitchen. When you are renovating your kitchen, you have the chance to not only change the aesthetics of the room, but to get new appliances or have faulty appliances touched up. Bringing a few appliance repair specialists in during your home renovations is the best way to ensure that you are pleased with the final result.

If you are the type of person who struggles with renovation because you have no idea what colors to choose, this list will help you. All of the fun colors below would liven up a boring old kitchen in no time.

Forest Green

Think deep emerald green, dark woods and loads of rustic accents. Using a tranquil and dark color scheme like this instantly transforms any kitchen into a peaceful getaway. The warmth of wood will keep the room from looking clinical while the rich green colors will bring it to life. 

Try to match the appliances and décor in the room to the color scheme as much as possible. Wood paneled appliances or silver appliances work best, while fabrics (for example, curtains) look best in dark emerald green shades. Include a few small works of art on the wall to make the room look more sophisticated.

If your budget allows it, a wooden floor will complete this rustic feel. Remember that a house’s décor should be connected, so do not use this theme in your kitchen if your dining room is all monochrome and glass. There should be a single theme present throughout the entire home.

Feeling Blue

Looking for something more subtle to change your kitchen? Consider adding pops of blue. Painting your cabinets a bold blue color or adding powder blue knobs to your drawers may not seem like a big renovation, but it is often these small details that can make or break how well put together a room seems.

This idea could work in any existing kitchen. Blue works well with wood, tiles and just about all colors (except warm colors, like red.) It is easy to implement and will be kind to your wallet. Not crazy about blue? This minimalist approach to renovation can work with any color. A pop of pink could work just as well. Certain colors will create certain moods within your home, so make sure to choose wisely when redecorating.

Fiery Red

If you are the type of person who loves to entertain guests, a bold kitchen would suit you. Bold red colors in a kitchen creates a feeling of warmth and passion, perfect for the passionate cook and host. Your guests can sip on wine as red as your kitchen while you prepare delicious meals and marvel at how stylish you are.

If you are looking to wow all your friends and family, a bold red kitchen is the right choice for you.

Remove The Appearance Of Clutter Without Compromising Your Style!

If you have lived in one location for many years, chances are pretty good that you have acquired a lot of stuff. If you have noticed that your home now seems overloaded with limited space to move about, there are ways to improve the appearance of clutter without compromising your style.

Room dividers

Room dividers come in all shapes and sizes. Some are free-standing and others you can mount to the wall or secure to your ceiling. Free-standing room dividers come in bi-fold, tri-fold and even quad-fold forms. They are made of wood, canvas, and metal. Some even feature shelves for displaying artwork, collectibles, photos, plants and books. Fixed room dividers also come in various shapes and sizes. There are stylish room divider curtains that can help you create a private retreat in a loft or studio apartment, giving you the ability to make two separate spaces out of one. 

There are also sliding partitions that come in your choice of solids and patterns, transparent or opaque and a wide range of fabrics and metals to complement your existing decor.

Decorative storage containers

Today many people take organizing to the next level by incorporating decorative storage containers into their homes to not only hide the appearance of clutter but also to add convenience. An open shelving unit no longer stands empty with a few collectibles. Instead, canvas, cardboard, and wood boxes now occupy the space, adding character and a handy place to store loose items without notice. 

To bring concealed storage to the bedroom and living room, a large storage chest at the end of a bed or placed behind a sofa provides a wonderful place to keep extra linens, blankets, pillows, out of season clothing and toys. The large space provided allows you to clean out the clutter and enjoy your room once again. For a playroom or child's bedroom, adding a toy box with a large shelving unit on top gives you a place to contain their toys out of sight while still allowing for easy access. The shelves on the top are ideal for keeping their books, puzzles, and games, neat, organized and ready for use. 

Closet organizers 

Want to freshen up your bedroom quickly, install a closet organizer. There are a variety of sizes available and many have add-on features that allow you to expand at a later date. By adding fixed shelves, hanging garment containers, shoe racks and additional rods for clothing, you are removing piles from your dresser and floor. Not only are you regaining your space but you are also now able to locate your clothing and accessories quickly, as well as easily. 

Wall racks and floating shelves 

If you are limited on space and can not bring in a large item to house your personal items, floating shelves offer a great way to display your books, photos, collectibles and plants without giving up valuable floor space. They come in a variety of styles and finishes to suit your needs allowing you to complement your interior. In addition to floating shelves, wall racks give you the perfect place to hang items. You can use them for keys, a dog leash, umbrellas, coats, hats, scarves, handbags, kitchen gadgets, towels, magazines and your collection of fine wine. They definitely add character and make excellent use of your existing walls. 

Decluttering and organizing your home's rooms does not mean that you have to give up on your style. There are so many products on the market, as well as many DIY projects that you can use to further complement your space. With a little creativity, you can acquire a neat and organized appearance, while still enjoying the look you have worked hard to achieve.

Four Reasons For Selecting Only High-Quality Artwork For Your Home!

One of the ways to get the most out of your living space is to take the time decorate it. Of course, your individual tastes will play the largest role in what you add to each room of your home. One effective way for you to add both class and attractiveness to the place you live in is by adding hand done art paintings. This can be a unique idea for decorating the individual rooms in your home and knowing some of the reasons to only choose high-quality pieces of art can be helpful to you.

Reason #1: Blurry images

The last thing you will want hanging on your wall is a painting that is blurry. This can make it look less than attractive, and this is not the look you may be aiming to have if you are taking the time to decorate and make significant changes.

The good news is when you choose art printing services that are of the highest quality, you would not have to be concerned about this problem. You can take pride in the fact that you have a one of a kind picture in your home that shows your visitors the amount of effort you put into decorating.

Reason #2: Creativity

One of the reasons you may attempt to put up a new painting is to keep your decorating efforts chic and up-to-date. This is sure to require the right amount of creativity to be executed by the artist.

You will typically need to rely on only high-quality artwork when it comes to this area. Many of the best artists you may find are full of creative ideas that can help make your artwork stand out in your home.

Reason #3: Durable

When you pay for an item, you will want to be sure it lasts for as long as possible. The key to making this happen in the majority of cases is to only choose the best of the best. This is additionally true when it comes to adding a painting to your home. 

Take the time to look at the various types of artwork that you are most interested in and then decide if the quality if high enough for you or not. Be sure to ask questions by talking to the artist if this is possible and if not, you can do some research on your own time by looking on the Internet or talking to friends about this individual.

Reason #4: Bolder colors

One of the things you can typically count on when it comes to some of the best quality paintings is that the paint that was used is top notch. This means the colors are sure to shine through with more ease and allow you to get more bang for your buck.

You may even notice the bolder colors looking fabulous and fantastic in the painting. There is no doubt that paintings created by an artist that does high-quality work will allow you to enjoy the colors more. Additionally, a variety of colors is sure to something you may enjoy having in your home.

Making sure your home always looks its best is sure to be high on your list of priorities. The key to being capable of making this happen will rest in a number of efforts and time you take when decorating your home. You will want to be sure to look for paintings that stand miles above the rest to call your own, and this will typically mean choosing the highest-quality ones you can find.

Bedroom Designs For The Whole Family!

This post is provided by Noah Sparrow.

Whether you have just moved into a new house, want to redecorate your entire home or just spruce bedrooms, then coming up with what exactly to do with them can be a bit tricky. Here are some ideas on bedroom designs for the whole family. 

Color Theming

This is one of the easiest ways of redecorating your bedroom. Pick a color. Purple or green for example. Swap your curtains, bed sheets, rug and other things so that they match this color. Pro tip- be sure to get slightly different shades, so that they each stand out as their own item and the room does not just feel overpowering. Try not to go for garish or intense colors and remember it is a bedroom, so you want peaceful and relaxing shades. If you are really up for a project then you could even re-wallpaper or paint your furniture to match your new color scheme. Just be sure you are happy with the color before you start. 

TV/Film Themed Kids Rooms

Whether you child loves Frozen or Marvel superheroes, then there are ways you can decorate their rooms. You might decide to re-wallpaper with something that depicts their favorite characters. This could be a time consuming endeavor, however. So perhaps some wall prints would be better suited. These can be stuck onto the existing wallpaper or onto wardrobes and drawers. If you want to go even further then look up lamps, bed sheets and rugs that also feature their TV heroes and you will quickly have an excellent themed room that I am sure they will love. Whatever you do though, be sure to get a bed with storage. Kids have enough toys, books, clothes and other things that storage quickly becomes and issue. An ottoman beds are a great idea since it has storage under the mattress and you can even get gas lift bed frames from Bedstar so you do not need to worry about lifting it up and down all the time.

Modernize or Vintage-ise

Giving your bedroom a modern or vintage twist is a really cool way to make it stand out. The best way to modernize your room is to swap your furniture for items that have smooth edges and feature more plastics and metallic finish paints. Perhaps get a modern looking set of lamps and swap the light shades as well. However, if you want to go vintage then you can do the same, but instead you want dark wood. Visit some antique shops and flea markets when hunting for furniture as you can often snag a bargain that will make your room look great for cheap. Either option will make your bedroom feel interesting and exciting.

Eco-friendly design tips!

Reducing your carbon footprint in your home really does not have to be as expensive as you might think. It only requires a small bit of creativity. The resources you can use are incredibly varied and infinite. You can use nearly anything to develop designs. Let us take a closer look at some of the things that you can do to make your home more eco-friendly:

Energy

When you want to be more eco-friendly, you can start with making sure that you are using energy friendly appliances. Make sure that they are up to date and running efficiently. Aside from saving energy, this will also save you money on your monthly energy bills. If you want to save even more on your energy bills, check out some of the resources in your area in regards to comparing energy rates and plans to find the one that will best suit your needs.

Doors

Did you know that there is such a thing as eco–friendly doors? There are many different types and there are different things that make them more eco-friendly than normal doors. Some are made using chemicals that are better for the earth while others are made using recycled materials or materials that can be recycled, such as PVC. You would not need to worry about these types of doors filling up our landfills or being incinerated.

Counter Tops

There are all sorts of eco-friendly design tips out there, you just need to know where to look. Some of them are pretty run of the mill and others must have taken quite a bit of imagination- such as this one. Most counter tops are made from materials such as granite, marble, Formica, and Corian. Instead of using the same thing that everyone else is using, consider going green with them instead. You can cut branches from the trees outside and then slice them into small circles before gluing them right onto your counters. Finish the project with grout in the cracks and a layer of urethane over the entire thing.

Architecture

You can save trees and trim your bills for energy at the same time with the type of architecture you choose. If you are building a new home, consider letting the placement of the home be dictated by the existing trees. This will cut down on the number of trees that will be chopped down during construction while also allowing the trees to provide shade to the house that will keep it cooler.

Windows

You can also reduce your carbon footprint with your windows. There are windows that have been recycled and there are windows that can be recycled. Aside from that, if you put the windows in at an angle, this will allow for the maximum amount of light to be filtered in. With glass panels right at the bottom of the windows that open just like little trap doors, the breeze will be let into your home making it cooler so the air conditioner does not need to work so hard.

Building Materials

Choose materials that are durable. Consider using materials that are recyclable and sustainable, such as siding made from cedar planks. This particular material is resistant to both water and pests. It is low maintenance and strong with a gorgeous gray patina that means it would not need to be repainted often. This is just one option in regards to sustainable materials. There are too many other options to list here.

Paint

When you need to paint or repaint your home, consider using a paint that is low VOC. This is great for covering that badly maintained siding that is beginning to turn colors. Paints of this type contain fewer of the volatile organic compounds that pollute the atmosphere, which make them the preferred paint to use for the eco-minded person.

Small Footprint

Build up instead of out. This makes the physical footprint of your home smaller. It is also cheaper to build more stories as opposed to spreading out.

Going green does not mean that you need to put in a lot of extra work. Just think smarter, use the right materials and teach your kids the value of this at the same time so that when it comes time for them to move out on their own, they will do so already knowing how to live a green lifestyle.

Moving Tips for Down Sizing From a Home to A Condo!

This post is provided by Kevin Skaggs.

If you have decided to downsize from a house to a condo, whether you like it or not, you are going to have to cut ties to some of your belongings. So how do you figure out what to take with you and what to get rid of? Also, what do you do with all the things you decide you no longer need?

It All Starts With The Right Moving Company

If you are moving into a condominium, you are going to want to employ the services of a moving company.  Narrow hallways, staircases and other residents are going to pose additional concerns that need to be figured out ahead of time. Using a professional moving company, such as Attention to Detail Moving, eliminates the extra worry that would otherwise be on your plate.

Review Your Wardrobe

When you own your own home, you have a basement that collects all types of things. From old clothes to furniture and everything in between, basements are important parts of a home. The biggest source of clutter in the typical American home is excess clothing. Take old clothing that does not get worn regularly and donate it to a local thrift shop and help your community.

Give Appliances And Hand-Me-Downs To Family Members

If your condo has all of its major appliances furnished, you will not need the ones you own anymore. You can either sell them or give them to family members or close friends. Lawn care items and machinery, such as lawnmowers, can also be given away or sold.

Rent A Storage Container Or Unit

Check and see if the moving company you hired also has a storage unit for moving available. This can be used to store any items that have yet to find a permanent home. It can be delivered to your new residence once arrangements have been made, or you can have it delivered to a secondary location in most cases, such as a family member's house. These storage units allow you to keep items that you do not have the ability to get rid of, without losing any of the much-needed space in your new condo.

Design Tips For Your Kitchen Remodel!

Renovating your kitchen is an exciting process and allows you to choose the right fixtures, colors, and finishes. There are numerous materials and styles to choose from, and it can be overwhelming at times to try and determine which choices are best for your home. Here are some design tips to make the process a little easier.

Be Thoughtfully Trendy

There are new design trends every year, and browsing the latest and most popular styles can be a great source of inspiration. However, it is better to only go with trends that you truly love, and that you feel will work with your home for as long as you live there. A kitchen remodel is a big investment of time, effort, and money, so you want the final result to be something you love for years to come. Only choose a trend if it feels like a classic to you.

Think About Appliances

You can replace all your appliances but sometimes a refinish is all you need. If you are a passionate home cook, you may want to install professional-grade appliances to make your kitchen as useful as possible. However, if you just want your appliances to match your new color scheme, you may have other options such as repainting your refrigerator or changing the look with a new range hood.

Test Colors And Finishes In The Right Light

When you are looking at colors for cabinets, countertops, flooring, and fixtures, remember that the quality of light in your kitchen will affect how those things look. Do not choose things simply from store displays or paint chips, rather, take samples home when possible and look at them in your kitchen. You can also buy small paint samples and paint test squares on your walls to see how the color truly looks in your home.

Do Not Forget Flooring

When you are choosing materials and finishes for your home, you may want to consider redoing the floors, especially if you are changing the layout of your kitchen. There are many new flooring options available nowadays, including heavy-duty laminate that looks like wood planks without the upkeep hardwood requires. Tile is a good choice in a warm climate to keep the space from getting too hot. Depending on what types of flooring you are considering, you may be able to take a sample home to get a good idea of how it would look in your kitchen.

Consider Countertop Options

Countertops are arguably the most important consideration in your kitchen, as they are your work surfaces and also make a large impact on the overall look and color scheme. Granite is a perennial favorite and you can find numerous choices and good prices at a granite countertop superstore. Quartz is also popular, as it offers durability similar to granite, but with a very different look. Acrylic is beloved for its seamless appearance and easy care. If you want a unique option, consider wooden or concrete countertops.

Renovating your kitchen is an exciting and satisfying home improvement project, and can dramatically improve the look of your home. Be sure to choose things you truly love, rather than simply following the trends. It is best to bring color samples and materials into your home if possible so you can get a sense of how your kitchen will look when the remodel is complete.

Book review- Ladurée Savoir Vivre: The Art of Fine Living!

Thanks again to Meghan Phillips from Vendome Press for sending me another lovely book, Ladurée Savoir Vivre: The Art of Fine Living. In Ladurée Savoir Vivre: The Art of Fine Living, author Maud Hacker offers the ultimate guide to knowing how to live well, the French way. 

Best of all, this gorgeous book is nestled in an irresistible box, packed just like Ladurée’s delectable confections! 

Needless to say, I was truly delighted upon seeing the beautiful book and the pretty box the very first time. The pages inside the book is equally delightful as well. Let's take a look! 

This 303-pages, beautifully illustrated book offers practical tips and inspiration on varied topics as how to prepare and have breakfast the Ladurée way, how to be a good host and a good guest, what is the best way to dress for the theater, and how to prepare your suitcase to travel with the jet set. 

To help you navigate each topic easily, it is divided into five sections: “In the Morning: A Gentle Awakening", “During the Day: How to fit it all in while having a ball", “In the Evening: Ending the Day on the Right Note”, “At the Weekend: Make the Most of Friends” and “Travelling: Setting out Stress-free”.

Sprinkled with fun quotes, countless advice, helpful tips, menus and table settings, this book is the ultimate guide to learning how to live well (savoir vivre). You will also find plenty of useful sources to help you accomplish the art of fine living in this adorable-sized book. 

Perfect for gift-giving, this light-hearted and entertaining book is a gift the fabulous ladies in your life will surely appreciate!

Don't forget to get your own copy here!

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

Easy Ways to Mix and Match Patterns in Your Home!

This post is provided by Will Bail.

With the holiday season kicking in, it is time to give your home a fresh new look. Be more daring and adventurous when decorating your home and see things liven up within moments. Try using bright colors, eye-catching patterns to make the interiors look fab. However, mixing patterns and colors can be challenging. Odd numbers, especially a combination of ‘three’ patterns work well but you need to combine the patterns in a varying scale, ideally from large to small to create a soothing visual effect.

Here are a few tips how you can mix and match patterns to create the desired look in your home.

Begin with choosing a large pattern that will establish the main color within the room. Choose carefully since this will make the strongest statement within the room. Then move onto other smaller patterns which complement the main color or belong to the same family to create a fantastic look. For instance, for your living room you can choose a bright wall paper featuring huge golden flowers and then complement it with a contrasting rug. 

If you are a newbie, then it is best to start with a solid base color and then start introducing patterns. For instance, when decorating your bedroom, choose a neutral color for the walls and use some bold patterns on the key pieces of furniture. Choose geometrical patterned pillow covers and complement it with an area rug or patterned ottoman.

The best part about mixing and matching patterns is that you can play with colors- rich burgundy, garnet red, turquoise, aquamarine blue and more. Bold colors can create an excellent look, however make sure you choose monochromatic designs that do not clash with the bold colors. When choosing bold colors, make sure the walls and flooring are in neutral colors. 

Whites look interesting but only when matched with whites of the same family. To add more texture to a room featuring white as the base color, you can choose patterned tiles for the flooring. You can mix and match fabrics and textiles from various countries with whites to breathe life into an otherwise dull room and create a sophisticated look. This combination will look great on classic furniture like this French provincial bed. 

You need to be even more careful when mixing and matching patterns for a small room. The right patterns can make the space come alive, whereas the wrong patterns can make the room even more dingy. Polka dots and stripes are the best for small spaces.

Determine the kind of look you want to achieve for your room and then choose the patterns accordingly. If you are too scared to put the patterns together, try layering them to achieve a neat and tidy look. No matter what you choose make sure it feels good to your eyes. If you are happy with the patterns in your room, everyone else will be. 

Flower Decoration Ideas for Your Home!

This post is provided by Will Bail.

Flowers signify purity, elegance and beauty and they liven up our moods instantly. This is perhaps why when it comes to giving a quick facelift to home interiors, many smart homeowners rely on flowers to do the trick. 

Wall papers, rugs, antiques are common decorative elements, but if you want to decorate your home in a unique way, you need to think out of the box. Flowers are an inexpensive way to add a ‘wow’ factor to your home and they also allow you to change the décor without burning a hole in your pocket. 

Excited to decorate your home with flowers but wondering how to go about it? Do not worry, here are some quick flower decoration ideas that will turn your home interiors from boring to brilliant! 

Bring the Rainbow Home

Flowers in vibrant colors have always been our favorites, but with a little creativity you can make plain white flowers work in your favor too. No, you do not need to invest in stylish or embellished flower vases. Get some plain glass vases of different shapes. Fill them with colored water, but make sure the colors are not too deep, since the flowers will soak the colored water and change their color. Place a freshly cut white flower inside each vase and place all the vases on a centerpiece or on the extended window sill to create an amazing visual effect.

Brighten Up the Space with a Candle Holder

Have an antique candle holder but do not know how to use it? Turn it into a flower vase. Get freshly cut flowers in colors that complement your room. For instance, if you have the room painted white, you can place a bunch of colorful gerberas inside the candle stand or if the walls have a darker shade then warm colors such as that of yellow daisies will make the room come alive. Make sure the flowers complement the worn-out look of the antique candle stand as well.

Bring the Warmth of the Wild Home

Wild flowers have their own elegance and beauty. They come in varieties of colors and forms and when put together they create a soothing visual effect. So if you want to display the beauty of the wild flowers, place them inside hanging colanders. Get some colorful colanders and place a bunch of wild flowers (many varieties together). Add some ferns to make it look even more appealing. Hang the colanders in the living room or in porch. 

Floating Beauty

What would you do once the flowers lose their freshness? Throw them away? Not at all! Fill a crystal bowl with a wide top with water and float the petals on it. Float some scented candles to enhance the look. The petals will stay fresh for another few days, so you get value for money and can also re-purpose the flowers to create a new look.
Flowers are the best way to add colors to your home and give it a gorgeous vibe. So try out these flower decoration ideas and give your otherwise boring interiors an interesting new look.