Archive for February, 2010

PostHeaderIcon Design Challenge – Attic Bedroom



Given: Little windows, dark room, bright coral flowered bedspread, two mismatched peeling brown painted tables, $300 budget. Goal: Guest bedroom

Let’s go over to the paint store and look at their paint chips. Choose a white tinged paint with a few drops of coral for the walls. After that we need to find a way to work in lots more coral shades wherever space permits, the floor, the wall posters, and little decorative objects. Paint remover will take the peeling paint off the old tables. Then they can be painted a dull coral..

For the bedside tables, hopefully round, you can buy some coral velvet, make a tablecloth and drape the particle board tables you can find at Home Depot for under $30.00.

A light coral shimmery fabric would be great for the windows. It would make the most of any light at all, outside light or from lamps. We’ll keep the lampshades off white, blending with the wall color.

Most important is to paint a piece of cardboard we get at the paint store with the room color. Then we take that piece of cardboard with us whenever we shop for anything for the room such as lamp shades, curtain material, or other accessories.

For window shades or venetian blinds, we’ll choose off white, blending with the wall color. For the woodwork we’ll do off white as well. Attics are usually dark and need all the help they can get.

With any money left over we’ll buy a standing lamp, one with an up light to illuminate the ceiling. The room will feel lighter and bigger. If any other money can be allotted, try to find a bright area rug in shades of orange. A small chair next to the standing lamp and a small table would add a lot. Put one or two paperbacks plus a little ceramic bowl on the table for wrapped candies.

Any banners or posters should repeat the main colors, either exactly or shades of brown and coral. Let your imagination choose freely but have a theme such as sunsets, flowers, ancient buildings, abstracts.

A brown teddy bear will be very happy on the coral bedspread.

PostHeaderIcon Self-Assembly Cabinets



Self-assembly cabinets are commonly known as knockdown or flat-packed cabinets among manufacturers because they come in several pieces instead of single units.

An increase in labor costs will push more people to opt for self-assembly cabinets. Assembling certain cabinets would require skill when it comes to the joining of parts – if you don’t fix it well, it will come apart. Fearing that they might damage the cabinets, many people still shy away from assembling more complicated cabinets.

A similar pattern can be found among Ikea’s customers – people are able to assemble small cabinets but they would request and pay for Ikea’s assembly services for more complicated products like kitchen cabinets.

Self-assembly cabinets come in various forms, sizes and prices. Most people associate such flat-packed cabinets with cheaper prices as there is some cost savings involved. Flat-packed cabinets involve less wastage, which translates to lower cost. The containers carrying these flat packs are filled to maximum capacity and this reduces logistic costs like trans-ocean shipment and parking services.

Assembled cabinets come in single units and can be bulky, making them difficult to ship. Also, it runs the risk of being damaged, in contrast with its flat-packed counterparts, which is securely packaged. Consumers save on service and delivery charges when they purchase self-assembly cabinets.

Cost savings can also be derived from the usage of more inferior types of wood found in cheaper ranges of self-assembly cabinets that is found in hypermarkets or supermarkets. The cabinet is not made from hard wood, thus it is of lower quality. The cabinet is usually made of fiberboard with wood skin surfaces. As a result, they can be half the price of furniture made from solid wood.

Given the cheaper cost, generally, self-assembly cabinets are not expected to last very long. For instance, cabinets using fiberboard (purchased from supermarket) can’t really support too much weight and is practical for a short period of time – maybe one year or so. Moreover, if the cabinets are exposed to water, the wood will bloat and warp or glued parts will come undone.

While some self-assembly cabinets can last for a reasonably long period, problems will crop up if the cabinets are assembled and disassembled repeatedly as the joints will loosen. A lot of the cabinets today use medium-density fiberboard, which is not meant to be screwed and unscrewed repeatedly. The key maintenance of such cabinets is to keep them stationary because moving them around can cause the hinges to loosen.

When shopping for flat-packed cabinets, one should look at the type of wood used. You also need to accept that there might be problems with quality control. Stores like Ikea and some hypermarkets offer a return policy, which gives customers the assurance that they can exchange purchased goods. If there is anything wrong, they can go back and get it changed.

The target market for flat-packed cabinets is young adults just starting their careers or newlyweds looking to furnish their first home with basic cabinets. Only when they are more settled in life and are looking to move to another home do their tastes change to acquire more intricate cabinets, which usually come in single units.

PostHeaderIcon Hand Stretched Rawhide Lamp Shades For Comfortable Western Decor & Southwestern Design



Rustic lamps with rawhide lamp shades are among the most recognizable rustic lamps you find in cabins and in southwest decorating or western decor. If you have lived in the west or visited western States, you understand what I mean.

Lamp shades made of rawhide are easy to decorate with, fitting into just about any home decorating style. Rawhide leather lamp shades are also made in many colors to make it possible for interior decorators to use any color pallet. Try including rawhide shades in your decorating project and see for yourself how well they pull together your southwest design theme.

When you get ready to buy rawhide lamp shades you will want to think about how your lamp will be used. This is just a matter of choosing where in the room you will be using it. For example, you may be illuminating a large area or just brightening a dark corner of the room. Rawhide shades are also the standard for antler chandeliers and antler lamps since rawhide lampshades are a standard for rustic lighting. From little chandelier lampshades with built in bulb clips for candelabra bulbs or sconces to large area lamps or desk lamps, rawhide shades are wonderful for rustic home lighting.

If you use rawhide lampshades for home lighting, you are going to really be impressed by the warm glow created by the lamps light coming through the stretched rawhide. This is how rawhide shades work to create that inviting warmth. It is a balanced harmony of tone and color that causes that warm glow. While it may not be the focal point of your room, it will definitely add an abundance of character to your space.

When using raw hide skin lamp shades for reading you will most likely want to consider a bigger lamp and lampshade that can be used to provide light from above and behind where a person would be reading. This gives you the most comfortable environment for reading. Wall lamp shades also allow for good reading light and rawhide shades are made in just the right size for your reading and decorating needs.

Remember, when you are purchasing the lighting for your home, the light from rawhide floor lamp shades will allow you to cancel out the glare and capture the charm of the light while using it where you need it. Light rawhide, sometimes called southwestern lamp shades, will let the maximum light shine through while dark rawhide shades, referred to as western lamp shades, are more subdued producing a smoke tone when your lamp is on.

One of the greatest things about the rawhide lamp shades for sale online is that they combine well with so many different types of lamps including southwest lamp styles as well as traditional styles. Like the popular antler lamp with a rawhide leather lamp shade, they also look great used on floor lamps or area lamps. Heavy iron lamps with rawhide shades are another beautiful choice in lighting accessories for southwest decor.

There is really no need to make drastic changes if you own more traditional style lamps. It is the rawhide shade that is creating the southwest look and feel which is why home decorators love designing with them. You can use rawhide with traditional lamps to create a very nice rustic atmosphere.

The variations of size and color lend these lamp shades to be utilized in just about any environment where you want to add rustic charm or are enhancing your room with what has been called rustic chic style. Just as appropriate in the living room, family room or den as well as bedroom or study, rawhide shades can be used in just one room or used to bring in a southwest theme throughout your whole house.

Popular as table lamps as well as on end tables or on wall lamps and chandeliers, lampshades can make a strong statement and bring a welcoming warmth to any room. Purchasing rawhide lamp shades online is easy and fast and often saves you a lot of time and money. Decorating with rawhide in your home is an investment in tranquility and peace that you will welcome for years to come.

If you love the rustic tradition of the old west, or want to create your own all season Arizona room or include the Native American style of New Mexico, you will love adding your southwest decor with rawhide lamp shades.

PostHeaderIcon Adorn Your Outdoor Space With Patio Furniture



If you are going to do a search, you will find out that there are different outdoor patio furniture that comes in different sizes, shapes and design that you can choose from. Now with the abundance of available furniture, you will encounter different designs in different prices and find the one that you need and want. There are classic to contemporary designs that are inexpensive and durable furniture.

If you are in the market, you will encounter the many different types of outdoor furniture and you can pick the one that will suit your taste. Whatever design, your style in decorating and the amount that you can safely dish out you will find the one that will meet your needs.

If you are not familiar with the different furniture that is available out in the market, here are some of those that you can consider:

The most common furniture is that furniture that is made from wood. This furniture is best for your outdoor space because of its natural look. You can pick furniture that is made from teak, pine or nay other hardwoods. There are different types of furniture that are made from woods. An important thing about this is that you need to give the utmost care and maintenance in order to keep it in tip top condition for a long period of time.

There is also patio furniture that is made from wrought iron and metal that are everlasting and can add a finished look whether you are decorating a traditional or contemporary. Normally this furniture is heavy and can withstand the strong winds.

Aluminum furniture is furniture that is lightweight than that metal furniture and cheaper. But the problem with this is that it can easily get dent if knocked over or something hits it. So with this it is important to place them to the area where this thing does not happen.

Wicker furniture is another type of patio furniture that can provide charm and attractive look for your outdoor space. If you are placing this type of fu8rniture for your outdoor space, you have to treat it first so that it can stand any test of weather. It will be better if you are going to place it in a covered place. This may not withstand long in an exposed place but if properly cared it will last a long time.

One of the inexpensive materials for your patio furniture is the resin or plastic furniture. This furniture is easy to clean and can withstand any weather. If you are going to make a search you will see that there are lots of them that come in different style, design, shapes and colors. With this you will be able to adorn your outdoor space.

PostHeaderIcon Types of Countertops



When remodeling or building your home, you naturally want it to look as beautiful as possible. You put a lot of thought into every decision. The countertops are no different. You want to make sure you get a beautiful surface that can handle lots of use, and is somewhat affordable. Here are a few options.

Laminate is a popular choice because of its versatility and reasonable price. You can get it in a huge variety of colors, and even choose different finishes and patterns.

Stone, of course, is highly popular. Typically it is more expensive but it is well worth it because of its beauty. Granite is the most durable and the most popular. It looks beautiful and handles stress well. Marble is also used, but it is a softer stone than granite and damages more easily.

Some people use a form of wood for their countertops. It is known as butcher block. This can be beautiful, but keep in mind that wood is a soft material so it is easy to damage. It will also stain more easily if something spills and it will attract more germs.

You can create your own look for your kitchen by using ceramic tiles. These tiles do sometimes chip, but they are easily replaced. It may require a little more maintenance to keep the grout clean, but these can add a touch of personality to the home.

When it is time for you to buy your countertops, take the time to consider those mentioned above. Of course, these aren’t the only types of countertops available, but they are some of the more popular. The best thing you can do is to learn what you can about them, price them, and make an informed decision.