Choosing the Perfect Designer Furniture to Optimise Your Space

Nowadays, everyone complains about not having enough space at home to decorate it the way they wanted. However, there are a few solutions that could make their home modern and offer it the personality it lacks. Even though buying designer furniture may sometimes seem like an expensive choice, you would be surprised to see the excellent rates that you can find, provided that you do your research properly and wait until you find something that suits your available space perfectly. Most people think that only large decorative items can truly make an impact, when in fact the smallest things can offer a much better effect. For instance, a few shelves here and there can be just what your home needed. You can obtain a storage space or, if you want something to help you place a few decorative items, shelves can be just the thing you were looking for. The challenge is to find something that will offer your home individuality. This is why sometimes designer furniture is to be preferred, since you have much higher chances of finding something unique and of high quality.

If you are looking for something to decorate your child's room, in dedicated stores the options for children's furniture can be quite diverse too. Sometimes, a crib or a small bed full of charm can be everything that room needed to have personality and to make your child feel comfortable in his own room. Many parents have trouble convincing their children to stay in their own rooms, but when they decorate them with art pieces that can make them look appealing for a child, they will certainly not have this problem anymore. Wall stickers are the perfect example. Placed near the crib or on an empty wall, they will allow your child to dream and develop his imagination. If you do not want to buy something that everyone has in their homes and you are interested in something special, you might want to look on dedicated websites, because you will surely find something interesting. You may even find designer furniture for children in case you want to redecorate your entire home and you want to buy special items to decorate your entire apartment.

Even if your space is limited, that does not mean that you cannot allow your imagination to run wild and choose something that will make it look just the way you imagined. When you think about designer furniture, you do not necessarily have to buy large pieces to obtain the wanted effect. In addition, you can only buy one or two decorative pieces for each room that will put everything else in a better light and offer your living space the personality it needed. With this being said, whether you are looking for decorative pieces for the entire home or you are looking for children's furniture, you should be able to find something to match your taste and personality perfectly. There are many dedicated stores that offer their clients a wide variety of beautiful furniture and decorative items to choose from, allowing people to obtain the perfect interior design.

Creative Interior Design Ideas For Your Home

It is really great to be in a place where you can relax and be really comfortable. Whether it is your bedroom or the living room, it is always such a nice feeling to stay in a place that looks calm, beautiful and relaxing. This is why, creative interior design is very important.

And when you think about interior design, there is a popular city that always springs to mind with its spectacular infrastructure and design forward homes. You can't walk into any establishment or any home in the emirate without being floored by the interior design. These designers recently unveiled several trends making their way into interior spaces.

Most offices are starting to recognise the benefits of doing away with the corner office. Instead, expect to see more brainstorming spaces that bring teams toward better collaboration and dynamic creativity. Custom lighting, fluid layout for better movement, spacing and ambiance are all key to introducing a closer atmosphere in most offices. This has already become a trend.

Sustainability is also becoming a consistent element for interior designers. Design pieces are reclaimed or recreated, adding an entirely unique vibe to any space, from homes and offices to retail stores and hospitality establishments. By no means should this indicate throwing a piece of wood around the house or your place of business. Expert interior designers recommend going for sinuous lines, textured palettes, natural colours, and basically, using nature for inspiration. This is not only great to look at but very calming and comfortable.

Monochromes and colour blocking are out. Optical geometrics, illustrated prints, and other patterns are in. Designers are looking to meteorology and climatology for fresh, inventive, and a new generation of styles that highlight molecular and abstract forms. You'll also find contemporary design will be alluring to the eyes as well as decadent to the skin. This is design and comfort in one.

Another creative interior design idea is making use of wallpapers. Wallpapers are making a comeback. Colours, prints, and patterns on walls add eye candy to any space. Reduced deign is also a very popular one. This concept will never go out of style. So you'll still find this design idea a hot trend. Free up your interior spaces with lighter palettes and forms, and keep it pure and simple. This minimalist style is often viewed as trendy, chic and sophisticated.

Terrazzo Countertops - Are They Right For You?

Terrazzo is a composite material. It is poured in a location that is made for wall or even floor treatments. This consists of a few ingredients. They are marble, quartz, granite, cementitious chemical, and glass. Sometimes suitable chips sprinkles are added. Terrazzo artists create patios, walls, floors and panels.

Several centuries ago these floors were used by stone masons, but never used terrazzo for countertops. Only recently this material was used in countertop design. Terrazzo countertops and floors are not much different on how both are designed and made. These countertops are getting more and more popular in houses, apartments, and business buildings due to their versatile nature.

Terrazzo countertops can be beneficial to you as a homeowner. The idea of owning these types of floors was built on being "green". The idea of terrazzo countertops are now the same. When the stone masons came up with terrazzo flooring hundreds of years ago, the idea was made to recycle materials. Back then the rich would want their floors to be made from marble and also from statue and furniture pieces. Later down the road they got the idea to add goats milk to the concrete mix to give it shine. The same idea is now being used with countertops. These are one of the most environmental-friendly additions you could add to your home. This is because they are made with recycled pieces of glass and marble.

Terrazzo countertops are heat resistant. Normally when someone moves into a new home, it is very important to them that their kitchen has counters that do not maintain or conduct heat. Marble and tile have the tendency to maintain heat for a period of time. However, these countertops do not maintain any heat. The countertops do not burn, scorch, or darken when there is an extremely hot object directly on its surface.

Another good thing about these countertops is that they are resistant to scratches. All kitchens desperately need this feature. Granite and marble can be very easy to scratch, but with much more concrete and glass, terrazzo can withstand whole lot more use. Dropping cooking utensils, sliding pans or pots across the surface will not leave any scratches. On rare occasions when you do get a scratch on your countertop you can easily buff out. Most scratches buff out with a chamois.

Almost every time we cook, clean or are just in the kitchen, we spill something. Sometimes we may not see the thing we have spilled. In a short period of time it becomes a stain, but that is not the case with terrazzo countertops. As long as you seal all the countertops monthly, you can maintain their resistance to staining.

Since these counterttops are made with flecks of marble, recycled glass, cement and/ or resin, it is much less to purchase than, for example, marble countertops. Terrazzo makes a colorful, smooth and nice protective surface for you to cook on easily.

Do You Need a Walk-In Closet in Your House?

Contrary to the common misconception, walk-in closets are not only for the affluent members of society. Everyone can have a walk-in closet if there is enough space for it at home. Having this awesome addition to your home has several advantages. Read these benefits to help you decide whether you should add this space to your house.

More space in your room

Take a look at your room and the space that closets and shelves take from your room-space that could have just been left empty and give you more space to move around. To add to that, the more clothes you have, the more closets you need, making your room tighter and tighter. If you have a walk-in closet, however, that will not be a problem because all your clothes will be in the walk-in closet and your room can become a true haven of tranquility.

Doubles as a dressing room

No one can deny the pleasure of having your own dressing room. True, your room provides some privacy, but if you have other family members coming and going into your room, you would want some more privacy when changing. A dressing room with all your clothes at hand would be very nice indeed. This is one of the reasons many people renovate their homes to add a walk-in closet.

Well-organized clothes

Choosing clothes to wear is easy if you have a walk-in closet. Because this room is enclosed, you can afford to have open cabinets where your clothes hang for easy choosing. And since a walk-in closet is essentially an ultra-big closet, you will have the option to separate casual clothes from working clothes and those clothes for special occasions.

Less clutter in your house

Imagine dressing up in a hurry because you are almost late. Naturally, you will frantically choose the clothes to wear and you may try on a few. Now where would all those rejected clothes go? You'll more likely you place them in your bed or let them land on the floor. This will create clutter and this very same clutter will meet you when you come back home, so you have to clean them up before you can rest. With a walk-in closet, you can just leave your clothes there. Your room will be free from clutter and you can arrange the clothes in the walk-in closet when you have the time.

Added security

A walk-in closet can also be a good place to hide in case of burglary or break-ins. Since the entrance to most walk-in closets are somewhat hidden, you will be safer there when these bad things happen. This is also an excellent storage room for valuable items like jewelry and watches.

Options for Remodeling Your Bathroom on a Budget

A bathroom remodeling project can easily cost $25,000. That would give you the bathroom of your dreams, but do you need to break the bank to remodel your bathroom?

By making compromises, you will be able to bring down the cost of remodeling your bathroom considerably, and a professional bathroom remodeling contractor will be able to give you some sensible advice.

Reducing the cost of a home renovation or remodeling project may seem difficult, but if you contract a home improvement service with plenty of experience, you end up with the right result.

Floor Plan

Homeowners are often tempted to change the floor plan, or the entire layout, of the bathroom. However, this is one of the costliest mistakes you can make. Changing the floor plan of a bathroom means moving pipe work and ceiling lights. This is an expensive and time consuming exercise, and should be avoided.

Instead take a look at the existing floor plan with your contractor, and see if a new shower stall or bathtub would have a positive impact. Investing in new fixtures is often a better option.

A new toilet may only cost you $125 whilst installing a new toilet and moving pipe work could cost at least $500.

Tiling

Tiling can quickly start to look dated, so when you plan your new color scheme try to go for colors that are transitional. Transitional colors for a bathroom include white, light yellow, blue and turquoise. These four colors will help to keep your bathroom looking fresh for longer, and can be easily matched with towels and mats.

Tiling can eat up a big part of the budget, using expensive tiles to accent cheaper ones, is an option and will lift the entire feel of the bathroom.

Labor

Labor will be the biggest cost of the project, and you need to make sure your estimate includes all the labor to complete the project. A bathroom project budget can easily go off the rails, and all costs should be included in the estimate.

The costs for tiling, plumbing, removal of old fixtures and installation of new ones, should clearly be broken down in the estimate. It is essential to identify the costliest part of the project before your decide to go ahead, this is when you can identify savings.

Fixtures

Focusing on investing in fixtures, will serve your family well for a long time, and include water saving devices. A low flow toilet can save you several hundreds of dollars per year, and the right faucets and shower head can cut down on utility costs.

Yes, you want your bathroom to look good but today's utility costs make it essential for us to invest in fixtures that will save us money for years to come.

Recommendations and references

Knowing that you can trust your bathroom remodeling contractor is crucial to a good working relationship. If, your contractor has been recommended to you, find out why the homeowner recommended him.

References are important, if you have no previous experience when finding a contractor in your area. Ask to speak to previous clients, and make sure they are happy.

Bathroom remodeling projects may need some special licenses. Your house remodeling contractor should be able to obtain those for you, and give warranties for his work along with proof of insurance. If work goes wrong and your contractor is not insured, you will end up picking up the tab.

8 Rules to Designing an Eclectic Look

Would you like to break out of your design box and try something new? Maybe it's time to experiment with an eclectic look. Here are some tips to pull off an eclectic style that works.

Why it works: When it's done great, eclectic decorating shows your confidence in your own style yet still adheres to the fundamentals of great interior design. You don't have to choose between profiles or periods; there's room for a range of all your favorites. Plus, isn't it fun to feel like you're getting away with something different?

First let's take a look at what eclectic is not. It's not a random gathering of furniture, art, and design elements with no rhyme or reason. It is a fun, imaginative grouping of unrelated style furnishings that are pulled together by scale, colour, and/or theme.

If you are tired of boring décor that looks the same, then an eclectic style may be just the thing to showcase your unique expression and personality in your home.

Here are some decorating rules to help you create an eclectic look:

PLAY - Give yourself permission to go outside of your comfort zone and see what works. Sometimes trial and error leads to brilliant discoveries.

HARMONY - Find a common element that you can carry throughout the room. Whether it's a texture, colour, or scale - you can create harmony by finding something in common to display in various pieces.
Sometimes choosing the right pillows or decorative cushions can be just what you need to make uncommon items feel related. Together art and accessories can be used to help unify the space.

COLOUR - Let your imagination soar as you expand your palette. Everything does not have to be in a one or two colour scheme. An inspiration piece can serve as a guide to couple vivid colours together for an exciting visual display.

FOCAL POINT - Pull your design together by having a focal point such as a piece of artwork or a major furniture piece that draws your eye to it when you enter the room. For example a vignette of vases at varying sizes, heights and colours can add a striking focus point to a room.

BE A MIXOLOGIST - Dare to match stripes and floral, place soft fuzzy pillows next to a rough bristly lamp shade, try luxurious silks next to worn leather. Let fabric, texture, and patterns be notes in the visual symphony you are creating.

THEME - Furniture can be pulled from various styles as you tell a visual story with a theme. Find an emotional feeling you want to evoke. Use the elements of the room to make a big statement that paint a picture.

RULE OF THREE - In design it's smart to limit the amount of varying elements to 3. Use no more than three unique colors, textures, styles.

PERSONALITY - Make the room be a direct expression of something authentic for you. Be creative and add a personal touches that make the room unique inspired design to suits you to a "t".

Be a Design Superstar by Implementing Vintage Style With Vintage Furniture

Vintage style home design has become increasingly popular in recent years. Your personal vintage style preferences can be easily expressed with the use of some wonderful decorative vintage touches and accessories can be used to really complete the look. Many people turn their interest to vintage style, as it offers the opportunity to be both individual and unique. This article will briefly tell you about how to apply vintage style using vintage furniture to become a vintage style superstar! So, stay tuned.

Current trends are not just about what's going on with mainstream interior design styles. Amongst some of the most popular home design styles, vintage is often considered to be the most unique as well as being timeless and everlasting. Unlike some modern styles, the vintage look is often eclectic and can work in many different types of home from the very contemporary interior with clean lines to more period homes with lots of character features.

Some of the best items of vintage furniture can be given a new lease of life by simply up-cycling or re-vamping in order to create a new look and inject some much needed love into what might have been just an old and forgotten piece. It is not only about finding an antique piece of furniture to achieve the vintage perfection, mixing old and new can also often be the right approach. You can combine your new home wares with for example some vintage industrial furniture to make your home decoration compelling and to really achieve that New York loft style look!

To get that much sought after shabby chic vintage style look, it often requires the work of re-animating old furniture, which can also be a very fun & satisfying thing to do. For instance, you may want to revive certain old items from your grand parents and add them to your bedroom. Or perhaps, you would look for that much-desired special piece of vintage bedroom furniture, such as a dramatic antique 4-poster bed or a lovely whitewashed French style dressing table purchased from an online antique store.

You may use your own creativity and design flair to create your own vintage masterpiece! Some recommended elements to help with your creation would be to personalise the piece based on your particular taste, such as adding some original vintage wallpaper to the top surface of a desk or coffee table, underneath a sheet of glass, or repainting a vintage sideboard of display cabinet with one of the adorable paint colour choices from Farrow & Ball, such as 'Elephants Breath' or 'Estate Eggshell'. Once your work of art is complete is can then be polished off by the addition of some delicate decorative accessories, such as some antique silver or perhaps an oversized vintage vase with an arrangement of vintage flowers or some delicate porcelain antique ornaments, some of which you may have collected throughout your life.

An industrial look is one of the most unique and on trend styles. A mix of vintage industrial furniture items such as a chunky wood dining table with different coloured painted hairpin legs or a pallet coffee table against a plain white wall will bring such a wow factor into your home and inject a piece of history as well as your personality at the same time. Often these items can be made by finding reclaimed materials or up-cycling older items of furniture, which gives the piece much character, and charm that is hard to find in a modern piece.

Vintage style possibilities are almost endless. You can create such a cosy home decor by simply adding some subtle touches. Vintage furniture can be used to emphasise your home decoration without costing the earth and it is also very eco friendly! Besides which, you can be satisfied knowing that you are following your own passions and style and there will be no other home that will look the same as yours.

Not any old stuff can be called vintage. There are some qualifications in order to give an item the deserving 'vintage' name. Generally speaking, those that are between 30 and 100 years old can be considered as vintage, and it should have some reference to the era in which it was made. This can be from simple art deco desk to a 1950's dining set. It all depends on your choice of focus. Anything more than 100 years old is considered Antique!

Perhaps one of the best tips when considering implementing vintage style by using vintage furniture is to keep in mind that it is often best to be consistent with your choice of style and to steer away from over cluttering. It is always a good plan to stay on track with your design, and work from a mood board or scrapbook full of your ideas and inspirations. Pinterest is a great place to start and you could set up your own folder of vintage style ideas to really get your creative juices to flow!

Small Bathroom Design - Finding and Boosting Your Storage Options in a Small Space

Bathroom designs for apartments these days just get smaller than the last time you can remember. We all dream of having a Jacuzzi or a sauna in our bathrooms but not all of us can get the best of everything. One thing that all tiny bathroom owners agree on is that there isn't enough storage and that their bathroom design is dull.

Finding enough storage to make the OCD person hidden in them very happy is often a challenge tiny apartment owners usually face. Bathroom designs that lack storage is a big turn off but there are ways around it.

While we all cannot have a Jacuzzi right now, at least we can address the problems of storage in a small bathroom design. To get you started, unleash that organizing spirit inside you. Look at every corner in your bathroom and make a list if you have to of all the items that you need to find a place for.

Small items like cotton buds, cotton balls and other small items can be organized in mason jars. You can leave the mason jars as it is or paint it a color that matches your bathroom design. You can also hang them on the wall using a long wooden board and some pipe clamps to hold the jars in the place.

Another storage trick to organize bathroom stuff and also add to your bathroom design is to use plastic or wicker baskets with labels to make finding things easier. Usually, you could put all products for hair together in one basket, dedicate another basket for skin products and so on. If you have a shared bathroom, a basket for each member of the family is also ideal.

If you're one of the fortunate people and your bathroom has a high ceiling then think vertically and make use of the tall space. A shelf above the door, perhaps, can be used to store items that should not be easily reached by children. Adding small floating shelves vertically is not only added storage but a flattering addition to your bathroom design.

Hang fabric or plastic organizers over the door for cleaning supplies or toiletries storage. If you are a renter and you cannot drill or make holes, an over the door organizer or racks are suggested. No need for nails or screws just hang it over the door. Use towel hooks instead of rods so you can hang more towels.

If your sink is just a wall-hung basin, use the space underneath to either put a low table or cabinet for storage or build a cabinet that will also hide the pipe. If you are patient and resourceful enough, you can find storage for just about everything in your bathroom. Organizing not only helps you to find things easily, you also avoid clutter in such a small bathroom. It's also a bonus part that you have somehow, with all your organizing, just upgraded your bathroom design.

Decorating and Designing a Small Bathroom

If you're updating your home or kitting out a home to put on the rental market, you'll more than likely be faced with dimensional issues in at least one room of the house. Often people struggle with designing a small bathroom effectively and make the mistake of using the space badly, therefore decreasing the appeal to potential tenants or buyers. If you're redesigning your own small bathroom you could be left spending lots of money on a bathroom no one in the family is able to properly enjoy.

Here are some basic small bathroom design tips:

The Basics

You'll want to think about the basics in the room; toilet, sink and shower/ bath. You should firstly think about purchasing a toilet with a shorter rather than long projection. The sink should be small and practical and attached only to the wall rather than grounded which will create more space. If you can fit a bath in, consider how much space you will lose and if it's really the most practical option. A shower is the most space saving option and you could even consider using floor tiles and wall tiles to create a wetroom. Remember once you've chosen your basics, the second most important step - particularly in a small room - is ensuring you have comfortable access to all facilities.

Storage

As with all small spaces, storage is key to making the most of the space. Think modern, efficient and practical solutions over bulky traditional pieces. Think about what you want in there as a minimum storage facility and then look for the most efficient version of it.

Decoration

Once you have a plan for your basic design you'll want to consider how the decoration can enhance the space. The most basic tip for any room you want to look bigger is using lighter and brighter colours. Consider clean and crisp wall and floor tiles that are neutral. If you do opt for a colour or pattern consider an ombre effect to add dimension or an overall contrast of light and dark. If you decide to accessorize the space try and make sure the features match so that they enhance the area rather than promoting a feeling of mess and clutter. Try to think about practical accessories first like toilet roll holders, soap dishes and towel holders etc, then think about additional decorative features that enhance the room.

Mirroring

Mirrors always give the illusion of space, particularly if they are mirroring a light area like a surface of white wall tiles. Consider a large, plain mirror for practical use and to also contribute to the overall design.

When designing a small space it really is all about quality and selectiveness to ensure the space is well thought out and enhanced. Small bathrooms can look absolutely stunning and add to the appeal of a property, particularly if the design has made the most of the space. Remember to focus on practicalities first such as the basic sanitary ware and the wall and floor tiles so that the room is functional; consider large porcelain tiles to make the room feel bigger. Then layer the additional elements on top so you end up with a usable but beautiful, compact bathroom.

Tips to Achieve Beautiful, Creative Decor and Home Accents

What you display and how you decorate your home, with home decor, is a reflection of your taste and style.

For many people home decorating and home decor accents are meaningless and they may not have any desire to have anything other than the basics in their home.

Many people desire to have a beautifully decorated home with nicely displayed home decor accents but don't feel they have the talent to put it all together or just don't know where to begin.

If this is where you are, this article is for you.

If this applies to you and you find that you want a decorative home and a home that is eye pleasing to you, there are a few ways to achieve a welcoming, decorative, and desirable place that will be your retreat and refuge.

Each of us is giving talents and gifts in our life and some of us don't excel in the decorating department.

And, if home decorating and putting home accents together properly is not your talent or gift don't be discouraged you just need to tap into what you have or tap into someone who has that gift.

Below are a few tips of ways you can find your creative side or find someone who can help you accomplish your desire in having a home that is tastefully decorated in home decor and home accents.

If money is available to hire a decorator this is certainly an easy and good way to acquire a great result.
Take caution that you find someone with a good reputation that is a listener to your wants and needs and who will give you a complete list of what they can and will do for you.
Get the cost in writing
Listen to your instinct when interviewing decorators.
Find a decorator with whom you can work with and trust.
If you feel confident enough to do your research and want to pull out your creative side, roll up your sleeves and do it yourself by:
· Taking a decorator class. It may sound odd, but you will actually learn and develop good principles in design. There are many basics that need to be understood in design.

· Shop in furniture stores for ideals and styles you like.

· Realize what your taste is. It could be modern/contemporary or rustic/Tuscan or country or another style.

· There are great products on the market in the field of furniture and decorative home accent pieces, such as, metal wall art. Take the time to explore products that are of good quality, that reflect quality and craftsmanship, and will add value as it is displayed in your home or outdoor living space.

· Take time to discover what it is you really like and want.

Tap into a friend who is really good with color, display and decorating. You probably know just the person who has the talent and you like his or her taste. This is a great opportunity for you to enjoy learning from and trusting that friend's creativity. Your friend will probably love to get involved in your project.
· Understand and don't expect your friend to take as much time as a paid decorator will.

· Don't ask above what your friend has time for or is able to accomplish.

· It is important to not take advantage of a friend.

· This may be an opportunity where you can exchange talents. Maybe your friend could use some of your talent for where he or she lacks in tasks. This is chance to give of yourself to your friend. Always, give more or yourself than what you expect in return in your friendship.

If any of these tips will work for you and you are willing to pursue your desires you will certainly be pleased and satisfied to have your home decorated in a way that will bring you pleasure and enjoyment for a long time to come.