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Before we can even get the door open wide enough to walk in we are often able to perceive the environment of the room by the scent that invites itself into our nostrils. That said, it is arguably the ultimate of first impressions. In the same way it can help in an immediate transition from a long day or working in the outside world to a calm and relaxing evening at home.
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Sometimes the grandest design changes are in the small details—a re-covered lampshade, painted knobs for old cabinetry, a new valence above a window. Plus, small changes are manageable because they don't cause household upheaval. Transform your home decor style by paying attention to little design details.
Replace dated hardware for a shiny new look.
Simply replacing wooden doorknobs, for instance, with gorgeous crystal knobs can add dramatic vintage appeal to bedrooms or closets. Switch nondescript drawer pulls with something sleekly modern or decidedly retro for a new look.
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Courtesy of ARAcontent
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"Consumers think everything has to match, but the pros mix," says Laura Dalzell, owner and president of Cabinets & Designs, Inc. in Lexington, Kenn. She's a firm believer in combining, —for example painted wood cabinets with cabinets in both natural wood tones and a wide range of colored stains. Mixing is the magic that brings a kitchen to life, she believes. "Different finishes create the 'furniture look' that's been the trend in kitchens for the last decade or so."
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Firstly, choose a color scheme for your home and stay consistent with it. Make sure that all of your holiday accents and decorations fall somewhere into that scheme so that you maintain a sense of cohesion and professionalism. Too many colors can become distracting, especially with respect to lighting. You could purchase decorative lights which fit your color scheme but, if your scheme changes from year to year, you will find yourself buying new lights rather frequently. To avoid this, invest in white lights as they go with everything and will not clash with an existing color palette you may have implemented.
By Roxanne Hughes Packham, Co-Author of the Hospitality Book: Inspired Design
Inspired
~Place cards
I love to use the ceramic place cards that can be written on with a wipe-off marker. You can quickly write people’s names, a favorite quote or sentiment. Friends love that you thought about them before the dinner and even something as simple as writing their names on the place cards really makes them feel remembered.
~Welcome Sign
It
is so
welcoming, to have a sign somewhere near the front door to greet
your family and friends. From a very personal “Welcome Smith
Family”
or a seasonal “Merry Christmas” to “We are so glad you are
here” on
a casual chalkboard or an elegant mirror or glass framed, and
write
with a wipe-off marker, that welcome sets the tone for the rest of
the event.
With Thanksgiving just around the
corner, our homes will be doing double-duty to receive friends and
family.Start with a welcoming wreath of nature’s autumn harvest to hang on your door.
When Thanksgiving guests enter your home, the first space they see should be both beautiful and inviting. Elevate the seasonal feel of your entryway with a warm fall arrangement that is both natural and elegant.
Have cinnamon and spice scented candles. They say that the pumpkin pie smell is like an aphrodisiac to men and certainly everyone enjoys the scent of delicious foods.
Most days are hectic, sometimes they’re
not. Either way, your master bedroom should be your own private
luxury suite. I am getting more and more calls for romantic French
design and Swedish style rooms. My clients are enjoying gray walls,
lots of white woodwork, limed and distressed woods and a few curves
here and there.This featured French Style bed is teamed with soft gray walls with cream accents throughout the room. Try adding a few soft metallic items such as a wrought and gilded round table next to the bed, or a large carved framed mirror to reflect the design of your space.
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Here is a list of some of the most useful dorm room storage items:
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• Use appealing colors and patterns creating a color scheme of two or three colors
• Paint furniture pieces (if they are non heirloom) one color and add wood pulls and knobs in another color or design just for fun
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To start off with some specifics, there are some items which always seem to just find their own place in the home whether we want them there or not. These items typically include junk mail and magazines (which are sometimes – but not always – the same thing). Dispose of all junk mail as soon as it enters your home in whatever way you see fit. Bills and other important pieces of mail should be placed in a highly visible place in order to be sure that you do not forget about it. Magazines should be stored or at least placed in an area in your home where leisure is the primary objective.
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When planning your Thanksgiving table, decide what look you prefer. A classic style will use traditional elements, while a modern table might use only a harvest color scheme. With any style, consider these three tips for Thanksgiving themed table settings.
Dallas/Fort Worth — Drawing from a rich family history and her own collection of acclaimed designs, California-based interior designer Roxanne Packham has joined with her teenage daughter Hannah to create Inspired Design (Inspired Design Publications, 2010), an idea-provoking book filled with stunning photographs, treasured family traditions and a plethora of truly inspirational tips for creating a warm and welcoming home, not just throughout the holiday season, but every day to follow.
Whether
seeking unique ways to entertain
for the upcoming holidays,
celebrate with friends, begin new family
traditions or showcase the
family history, talents and passions in the
home’s interior design,
the Packhams have shown the way.
Size Counts. Advances in technology have
now allowed porcelain tile to be produced in sizes as large as 24 by
36 or even larger. When using these larger tile formats, there are
fewer grout lines, making the area appear larger, and requires less
upkeep (grout joints are the most difficult part of the floor to keep
clean).Faux Floors. Manufacturers of porcelain stoneware are now able to print amazing images of stone and wood on the face of the tile bodies which is then pressed to have a textured finish. Now you can specify “wood” for the floors of your projects, even in locations with very hot and humid weather.
Now’s the time to start thinking about it — the holidays
are just around the corner! You will use your home like never before
so try some of these simple design updates for your dining
room:Decorate in the Shade – Mini-shades are a quick and fun way to add glamour to a chandelier
Paint Your Walls – Try adding a little interest by painting your walls with a striped paint treatment. Paint the stripes vertical or horizontal depending on the effect you would like. A more subtle option is to add a clear glaze coat over a painted wall for very soft striping by alternating glaze and no glaze.
Hip parents embrace child-friendly design
When it comes to interior decorating, style and children don’t always mesh well. But that doesn’t mean parents should toss out the trendy design magazines. It is possible to maintain a modern, stylish home while raising small children. By selecting colors, fabrics and furniture that will withstand the attention and activities of toddlers, you can ensure that your home is chic yet child-friendly.
Here are some helpful tips to creating a swanky and safe house ideal for the entire family.
Consider these guidelines to create the wonderland of your child’s dreams:
