Have You Caught the Missoni Home Goods Fever?

Luxury goods manufacturer Missoni made headlines last week with the introduction of their Missoni For Target line of home goods and clothing.  Now, both the lower cost line and the high-end luxury goods are flying off the shelves.

We thought we would share some of our Missoni Home Collection favorites.

Have you thought about adding the Missoni signature look to your home? Tell us on the askDECOR Facebook wall.

Can This Awkward Attic Become A Master Bedroom Retreat? 5 Designer Secrets Revealed

Do you have an awkward attic space?  Don’t despair, it can be transformed with a little help from your friends here at askDECOR.  Here are the before and after photos of an attic space from a recent project and 5 designer secrets that we used to complete this transformation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  Camouflage a bad view and enhance your windows with fabulous window coverings.

We used sheers to obscure the view.  A valance mounted at the ceiling leads the eye upward and gives the appearance of taller ceilings in this attic bedroom.  Drapes with blackout liner finish the look and ensure a good night’s sleep.

2.  Make unsightly elements in your room disappear by painting everything the same color.

Low ceiling, bad trim and uninteresting doors fade to the background when painted out to match the walls.  Try a soothing color.  We used Benjamin Moore Light Khaki in this room and love the finished effect.

3.  Open up half walls to visually expand your space.

We replaced the staircase landing wall with wrought iron for a more open, airy feeling.

4.  Match the color of your flooring to your walls if you want to visually expand your space.

We choose a Maslan textured carpet to add interest to our floors in a shade slightly darker than the walls.

5.  Create a sleek look with built-in storage.

We replaced free-standing furniture with built-in closet storage systems.  Custom, wall mounted shelves were installed for the TV and additional storage.

Do you have an awkward space that could use a transformation?  Let us know if the 5 revealed designer secrets could work in transforming your space.  We’d love to hear from you if you need further tips for your space as well!

5 Things You Should Know About Induction Cooktops

Induction cooktops are not new, but some recent advances have consumers reconsidering this technology.  Could it be for you?  Here’s our quick analysis.

1.  They’re fast and precise.

While being faster than gas or electric cooktops, you can also simmer a sauce for hours using a very low setting.

2.  The cooktop surface stays cool and doubles as counter space.

This is especially great in a small kitchen with limited countertop space.  The cool surface is safer for cooks of all ages.

3.  You must use flat-bottomed, ferrous (magnetic) metal pots that fit each burner.

This may require you to change how or when you cook certain dishes.  You won’t be able to use all large pots or rounded sauce pans on the one cooktop surface.

4.  Induction cooktops require less ventilation than gas or electric cooktops.

Ductless models are available.  They vent into the room.  While this is not our first choice, certain remodels may benefit from this feature.

5.  Induction cooktops require extra electric power.

You may need to upgrade your electric panel for this technology which will add significantly to the cost of your remodel.

For ultimate flexibility, we love the idea of combining a smaller induction cooktop in an island with a traditional gas cooktop in another part of the kitchen.  This would accommodate multiple cooks and different cooking and entertaining activities.

Do you have a newer induction cooktop?  Please tell us if you would recommend this appliance to other homeowners remodeling their kitchens.

4 Ways To Save Money With Membership Discount Stores Like DirectBuy

Have you heard DirectBuy’s radio ads promising savings on your next home improvement remodeling project?  My summer project creating a beautiful sorority house has given me a glimpse at what DirectBuy offers and I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

Here are 4 ways budget minded remodelers can save money but get an expensive looking room.

1.  Shop engineered wood floors.

Solid hardwood floors last for a lifetime but engineered wood floors have some advantages.  Installation is fast since the product arrives prefinished.   Every type of wood is available.

 

Engineered wood floors are much less expensive than solid wood floors, especially when purchased through a discounter like DirectBuy.

Contractors say that engineered wood floors are the best choice when installing the floor on concrete slab because it is less likely to warp with moisture.

2.  Use expensive stone and tile selectively.

We used a lot of inexpensive field tile from Daltile for our sorority bathrooms but we added special, expensive accents in small areas.

For instance, we picked out a gorgeous glass tile and travertine backsplash for the sink area.  It’s the first thing you see in the bathroom.  Spending more money on the vanity backsplash elevates the look of the entire bathroom.

3.  Look for furniture with design details.

Design details make things look more expensive and you only need a few pieces to set the tone of the room.

4.  Make your lighting special.

Pendant lights are fun alternatives to traditional chandeliers.  They come in various shapes and sizes.

Think about adding a drum shade pendant over a conversation grouping in a living room.  Smaller pendants look great grouped over a desk area.  You can use medium size pendants in place of table lamps in a bedroom.

Another idea is to use wall sconces in your rooms.   They will not provide enough light for reading but an beautiful sconce will add  interest to your wall decor.

Leave a comment if you have worked through a home remodeling membership retailer like DirectBuy and tell us about your experience.

Can This Tired Apartment Building Become A Beautiful Sorority House?

Earlier this summer, I was approached to transform a tired apartment building into a fabulous house for one chapter of a large, national sorority.  Always up for a new challenge, I said yes.

Here’s a”before” picture of one hallway.  Next week, I’ll show more pictures.

It has been a wonderful experience, in large part because of the talented college and national leaders in this particular group.

When working with clients, I spend a lot of time listening to understand their decorating likes and dislikes.  I try to steer clients toward good design options that match their preferences.

On this project, the younger sorority members weren’t sure how I would work with them.  They were afraid I would create a plan without incorporating their preferences.

While interior designers should bring new ideas, they should create spaces that will make you happy.  If you are opposed to the color red, no decorator should insist on that color.

I encourage you to be open to new ideas but communicate your preferences.  It’s your home and you should love it.

Have you worked with a designer before?  What value did that person bring to your project?  Please leave a comment and share your experiences with others.

Product Spotlight: Jan De Luz Monograms For Furniture Slipcovers, Pillows, Towels, & Robes

We first discovered Jan De Luz years ago when it was a fledgling new store in Carmel, California.  Now expanded with online shopping, you can buy their wonderful products from wherever you live.

We love personalizing things for the home with their beautiful, old-world monograms.  In fact, we have shipped fabrics to Jan De Luz for monogramming before having the fabrics cut and sewn into slipcovers and pillows.

Monograms have been around for centuries.  Thank you, Jan De Luz, for translating this art form into beautiful, useful items for our homes.

Bravo TV’s Million Dollar Decorator, Kathryn Ireland, Tells Us How To Summer In France

We love Kathryn Ireland.  Her fabric designs are whimsical and bright.  They make you feel like you’re on vacation.

Kathryn has a wonderful new book, Summers In France, which features her home and lifestyle there.  You will get all the inspiration you need to start living the French way of life in your own home.

Then add a bit of it to your home or garden.  Buy some of the wonderful pillows and fabrics now sold through Kathryn’s website.

Need a little help to get it right?  That’s what we’re here for.  Get started with our design advice!

Designer Windsor Smith Introduces Her Concept House

Interior designer Windsor Smith has poured her considerable talent into designing a new home that looks old and brings the family together.  We toured the house this weekend.

All of you will get to see this home in the pages of Veranda Magazine in their October issue and at Veranda online featuring 360 degree views of every room.

Windsor had the help of some major talents to furnish the over 8,000 square foot home.   Designers Candace Barnes, Peter Dunham, Richard Hallberg, Tara Shaw, and antiques dealer Richard Shapiro along with  Bravo TV’s Million Dollar Decorators Martyn Lawrence-Bullard and Kathryn Ireland did an incredible job.

The kitchen, designed by Windsor, is a standout.  Windsor also used her “Room In A Box”  online design program (similar to ours) to decorate the boys’ room.

Here are some of our takeaway notes from the house:

~ Use surfaces with patina to make your new home look old.  Reclaimed and recycled materials are great options.

~  If you love the look of wood countertops but not the maintenance, consider Black Wood granite.  It has a very distinct wood grain.

~.  If you’re doing new construction, consider transom windows over interior doorways to spread light throughout your home.

~   Do you really need upper cabinets in your kitchen?  Open shelves are very accessible and discourage excess.  They’ll also save you money.

~   If you are remodeling, you have an opportunity to use architecture to rethink the way you live in your space.  Create family spaces to unite your household.  This is especially true for your kitchen space.

Gain Countertop & Drawer Space: Use A Trough Sink Instead of Double Sinks In your Bathroom Remodel

If you’re sharing a bathroom and are tight on space, consider installing a trough sink with two faucets.

A trough sink can work in any style of vanity.

Because it takes up less room, you’ll have more countertop and drawer space in the bathroom vanity.

Accessories for trough sinks can lay over part of the top to create a visual partition between the two faucets.  It looks nice to place the faucets on opposite corners of the sink.

Share your experience with this old fashioned type of sink that is being used in new ways.  Have you considered it for a bathroom remodel?  Click “Leave A Comment” near the title of this post.

Layer Drapery Panels Over Blinds For Fabulous Window Coverings

Summer time and the living is easy.  Casual is in.  Fussy is out.  So it’s hard to talk about dressing your windows. But that’s just what we were asked this week.

Q:  I have wood blinds in my master bedroom.  Should I spend money to upgrade to wood shutters or should I spend money to add drapery panels?   I want to make my master bedroom a retreat.

A:  By all means, spend your money on fabulous drapery panels that you layer over the existing wood blinds.  We love this picture from Better Homes and Gardens showing the luxurious effect.    Splurge on the fabrics but save on yardage by adding stationary side panels.  You’ll need some fabulous drapery hardware or a fabric valance to finish the effect.

If you need help selecting the perfect drapery fabric or drapery hardware, we would love to provide designer advice and curated design.

Tell us if your windows are dressed up or dressed down and if you want to change your window treatments by clicking “Leave a Comment.”

What’s Your Favorite Newsletter Information?

We want to know what kind of newsletter content you prefer from askDECOR.

For instance, this week we are shopping Taigan, a fabulous online marketplace.  We picked our favorite home accessories and we want to show them to you.   Do you like this kind of information?

We also want you to know that Barbara Barry’s outdoor furniture line for McGuire Furniture, called the Bowmont Collection,  is available now.  Some pieces from the collection are pictured below.   Do you enjoy learning about industry news like this?

Would you like more information on design trends?  Or perhaps you’d like specific information on remodeling a kitchen or bathroom?

Share your opinion by voting below.

 

 

The Benefits of Bottom Up Shades, Roman Shades & Valances

Recently, two of our clients came to us with the same design dilemma ~ they wanted to see the trees outside their wonderful, big windows but they did not want to see the parked cars below.  The perfect solution?  A “bottom up”  shade.

A bottom up  shade is anchored to the window sill and pulls up from there.  As you pull the shade up, the bottom view becomes completely hidden.  You decide how much of the top view you want to leave unobstructed.   Usually, the shade mechanism is concealed with a valance at the very top.  There are two small strings that show when the window is exposed.  The bottom up shade slides along these strings when it is pulled up and down.

You may have seen a bottom up shade like the one pictured here.  But did you know that bottom up Roman shades (yes, they look just like Roman shades but they pull up from the bottom) can be custom made in any fabric you like by most window covering fabricators either online or in your community?  By using your own fabric, you will end up with the perfect match for your room.

Do you have a window covering design dilemma?   Tell us about it in the comment section or on our Facebook page.  We may feature your design dilemma in one of our upcoming blog posts.

Pasadena Showcase House Design Trends You Can Use

The Pasadena Showcase House of Design is in its 47th year and has donated over $17 million to musical arts and youth education programs in the greater Los Angeles area.  Over 40,000 attendees are expected this year to see the newly refurbished English Country Manor built in 1927 by renowned architect Paul Williams.   People come to admire the home’s architecture, walk in the gardens,  and get new design ideas from the decorated rooms.   After the tour, we made some take-away notes that may help you decorate your home.

Design Trend ~ Renovate & Reuse

Many of the bathrooms in this year’s design house were not gutted.  Instead, the designers cleaned, polished, and reused original tile,  hardware, and fixtures.  Unexpected items like oil paintings, luxurious fabric window coverings, and antique furnishings were placed in the bathrooms.

Going up the stairs, the original leather rope hand rail was mounted to the wall.  Original cork flooring cut to resemble stone tiles was used throughout the downstairs.  Kitchen sub-floors were polished and used as is.  Original glass knobs were used on the kitchen cabinets.

It made us realize that so often, in older homes, owners feel the need to gut most of the rooms.  In this showcase house, designers did a nice job of working with existing materials and adding luxurious details that added greater elegance to the spaces.

Design Trend ~ Pattern Play

Bold patterns on walls, windows, and ceilings are making a come back.  We saw a lot of wallpaper, fabric, and hand painting on these surfaces.   In one room, a light colored grass cloth wallpaper was used inside a dark wood coffered ceiling.  It added texture and interest while lightening the dark ceiling.  We liked the effect.

Some of the rooms were done in bold floral patterns and  reminded us of the 70′s.   Other rooms had strong geometric shapes and reminded us of the 60′s.     The retro feel also played out in accessories throughout the house.

Design Trend ~ Mix Master

The showcase house designers mixed contemporary and traditional design elements in their rooms.  Most of the light fixtures throughout the house were contemporary.  We saw drum shades, clean lined sconces, and contemporary chandeliers mixed in with English and Asian antiques.  Much of the upholstered furniture had cleaner, contemporary lines.

The message here is that if you like traditional style but you don’t want your home to look like your mother’s, mix in contemporary elements.  Adding contemporary light fixtures is an easy way to make your space feel more up-to-date.  You can also add contemporary art to traditional furnishings and get an updated look.    Master the mix by playing around with unusual combinations for an evolved style.

Kitchen Upgrades For Aging In Place, Cabinet Accessories, & Storage

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show is the world’s largest international trade event focused exclusively on all aspects of kitchens and baths.  This year, thousands of industry professionals descended on Las Vegas to learn about the latest products and design trends.  We wanted to share some of the highlights.

The results of a comprehensive study by Kraft Maid Cabinetry, Merrillat, Quality Cabinets, and DeNova revealed that aging in place is desirable among today’s baby boomers.  Better lighting, easier to grasp cabinet hardware, and universal design upgrades are being requested by this group.

The study also found that having a desk or wine storage in the kitchen is less important than having room for Fido’s dog food and water bowls.  This is a frequent request from our clients so we weren’t surprised.

Also noted — kitchen cabinet accessories are very important to today’s homeowners which may explain the crowds at the Rev-A-Shelf booth.  You’ll love Rev-A-Shelf’s pull-out pantry system that rotates for easy accessibility.

Designers also crowded around the Napoleon gas fireplace displays.  Never has a convention floor seen so much fire power!  If you don’t have a fireplace outside, you’ll want to check into their new patio products.  The torch shown below is by Napoleon.  It is a gas torch that throws off heat.  Perfect for a small outdoor space.

Are you thinking about remodeling your kitchen or bathroom?  There’s a lot to consider.  You may want some designer advice to help you think through the process and avoid costly mistakes.

Create An Outdoor Room For Warm Weather Entertaining

Summer and outdoor entertaining go together.  It’s the time of year when we get to take the party outside.

We love this photo of Janus Et Cie Umbrellas.

Get inspired with our new selection of favorite outdoor fabrics.  Choose one to update your patio.  Have some new pillows made.  Better yet, create a cozy sitting area with outdoor drapes.

They’ll make your space will feel refreshing and new–perfect for the months ahead.

Tell us how often you entertain outside during the summer months and what you’re doing now to get your outdoor space ready for the season.

Designer Secrets: Coordinating Fabrics For Your Room

Have you ever struggled with trying to pick fabrics for your home?  You’re not alone.  But designers make the process look so easy.  Here are some strategies that the pros use to get the best results every time.

1.  Before you go shopping for fabrics, either online or in a store, decide on 2 or 3 colors that you want to find.  Often times, designers will pull the colors out of existing things in the room such as a colorful area rug that is staying or tile that is adjacent to the space.

2.  Go shopping and pull a bunch of samples in the colors you’ve decided upon.  It’s okay if they have more colors than the 2 or 3 you’ve chosen as your focus.  Make sure you have fiber contents that will work well for the different intended uses but don’t be too judgmental at this point.  Choose a variety of patterns and textured solids.

3.  Return to your room with your fabric samples in hand and lay them out.  Then, without much thought, eliminate anything you don’t immediately like.  Don’t worry about where you’ll put each fabric at this point.  Trust your gut instinct about what you like.  If you have a hard time eliminating fabrics, group them by type and start eliminating.  In other words, put all the stripes together and then take away the stripes you least like.

4.  What’s left are fabrics you like.  Now think about how you could use each fabric in the room.  Start with the big applications first.  Consider how the pattern will look on that item.  How will it wear over time?   Work your way around the room from largest to smallest items that need new fabrics.  Depending on your preference for pattern and contrast,  you could put together a mix of different fabrics including one stripe or geometric, one large print, one small print, some solid textures, and a few unexpected pops of color.

We are arming you with a process that works but if you still need a little professional help, we understand and are here for you.  Learn about our fabric selection service and the designer advice that could help you check this project off your to-do list.  Click here to learn more.

Tell us about a room in your home that could benefit from some new fabrics in the comment section on this post.

Home Design Trends: The Inside Scoop on What You’ll Be Seeing Next In Magazines & Stores

WestWeek is attended by thousands of design professionals each year.  Last week, over 70 programs provided vital information about new products and directions for the design industry.  We wanted to share some of the highlights.

Besides being informative, it was a lot of fun to meet so many leaders in design.  Michael Boodro, Editor-In-Chief of Elle Decor, along with Newell Turner, Editor-In-Chief of House Beautiful, and Ann Omvig Maine, Editor-In-Chief of Traditional Home, and Dara Caponigro, Editor-In-Chief of Veranda participated in a panel discussion about the future of magazines.

The Take-Away: These editors are committed to telling the stories of homes and their owners in whatever format is requested by their subscribers.  Everyone wants print magazines to continue but online editorial options are being explored.  Traditional Home has entered into a joint venture with online magazine Lonny so we will be seeing new content from them online.

 

It was wonderful to meet Barbara Barry, a design industry icon.  She showcased her new Asian inspired fabrics and area rugs called Indochine which will be available in June at Kravet Showrooms.  The collection is magnificent, especially the area rugs.

Barbara also told us that Hartman Luggage will be introducing a new line she designed.   Also look for teas by Barbara Barry.

In an inspiring yet down to earth conversation, Barbara talked about how her projects start with a dream — in this case to explore Asia.  She takes pictures of all the beauty she sees and then creates small trays filled with curated elements from her inspirations.  She draws out designs and colors them in soft, muted shades.

We love Barbara Barry for her inspired designs.

 

 

We also love Trina Turk, a fashion industry icon who is focusing her talent on a new line of outdoor fabrics for F. Schumacher.  Don’t just think outside — you’ll want to use these hard working fabrics inside too because they won’t fade and they clean up easily.

Trina is known for wild patterns and colors.  The outdoor line is a bit more muted due to the fabrication process.  You’ll love it.

Suzanne Rheinstein has a new design book in the stores called  At Home:  A Style for Today with Things from the Past. Her spaces are lived in and comfortable.  We think you’ll want to take a look at this book and take a trip to her store, Hollyhock, in L.A.

Did you know that the Bravo Channel has a new show about “Million Dollar Decorators” premiering on Thursday, April 7th?  Star designers Kathryn Ireland, Jeffrey Alan Marks, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Mary McDonald, and Nathan Turner will be showcasing the inside scoop on their businesses.  We can’t wait to watch!

Leave a comment on which highlights from WestWeek are most intriguing to you?

Say Goodbye To Ceiling Spots Caused By Moisture With A Ventilation Fan That Turns On Automatically

Ugly looking drip marks can stain your bathroom ceiling when moisture gets trapped.  This is especially common in kids’ bathrooms.

Broan has introduced a product that looks like a recessed light but has a fan that turns on automatically based on how much humidity is in the air.  It turns off based on a user adjusted timer.

Looking at the picture here, only the white trim kit and light would show.  The metal sections would be hidden by your ceiling.

Pretty great to think automation could eliminate all those ceiling problems, not to mention the cost of repainting and repair.

Eco-Friendly Green Products For Your Home

Balanced Design is a small design studio in Providence, Rhode Island with a message:  the new modern means to reduce, reuse, or recycle.  We agree.

We love this pillow from Balanced Design which is hand printed using water based inks on 100% organic cotton canvas.  The insert is made from regenerated fiber from recycled bottles and feather.

Want to see our favorite green product trends for your home?

Wake up your rooms for spring with our picks.  Click here to see them.

Selecting Window Coverings: The benefits and drawbacks of Roman Shades

We love flat-fold fabric Roman shades for window treatments.  They are a great way to introduce more color or pattern into a room in a clean, tailored way.  They stack neatly when pulled all the way up, taking a small amount of space.  The picture below from Calico Corners is a good example.

How will you know if a fabric Roman shade is the best thing for your window?  Here are some things to consider:

1.  If you are planning to use these for light control, you will be putting them up and down quite a bit.  They come with a simple control cord and a cord lock mechanism or an anchor is mounted on the window frame that you wind the cord around to hold the shades.  This is pretty straightforward but you will need to fuss just a bit to get all the folds lined up perfectly and sometimes, the shade doesn’t pull up evenly so you may have to adjust the cords slightly before you lock them into place.   Because of these issues, Roman shades work best on windows that are 42″ or less and where you can reach the top of the window to adjust the folds.

2.  There are plastic or wooden sticks that are used in the construction of Roman shades.  You can see them as horizontal lines in the picture.  These sticks can be sewn so that they are coming into the room or so that they are facing outside.  If the sticks are coming into the room,  you will not have any interruption in the fabric pattern.  So if your pattern has a vine or flower, you will see all of it if you ask to have the sticks sewn facing your room.

3.  You can select the lining you want based on how much light you would like to block from the room.  Blackout lining is usually selected for bedrooms.

4.  Roman shades are usually mounted inside the window so that pretty window casements are not covered up.  However, if you need complete light control, you may want to have your Roman shade mounted above the window with enough coverage on either side of the window to completely shade the room.  If you are mounting on the wall, we recommend going high on the wall to give the illusion of tall windows.

5.  These shades look great in solid fabrics as well as prints.  Many people choose a contrasting fabric as a banding on the sides and bottom of these shades.

Do you have this type of shade in your home?  Leave a comment below and let us know what you like and don’t like about them.

How Do You Turn A Plain Room Into Something Sensational?

Most rooms start our really plain.  We need to add color, pattern, and texture to make a room interesting.

Our January contest winner, Christine, wanted to turn her plain living room into something sensational and to make the space more usable with a TV and stereo.

Katie designed a hip, chic room for this young professional by using new, modern pieces and adding functional built-in cabinets to accommodate the new TV and stereo.

Here’s the before:

Keeping her walls white, Katie recommended adding color and pattern with this great new area rug from West Elm.

She suggested having custom stained glass windows made to replace the clear windows on either side of the fireplace.

New built-in cabinets painted white will be directly below the new stained glass windows and will fill the space from the side walls to the fireplace.

Katie recommended painting out the fireplace to match the new built-ins for a clean, fresh look.

Soft, textural fabrics will be used on two new chairs and the new sofa.  Full length drapes will cover the front windows to add warmth and privacy.

How can you transform your plain room into something sensational?

Remember that color, pattern, and texture are easy to add to a room and will completely transform the space.  Rooms that have that element of WOW are the rooms where you want to spend your time.

If you’re having trouble with a space like our contest winner, Christine, consider getting help from us.  We have an a la carte menu of services to provide you with fast, focused problem solving.  Click here to learn more about our services.

Why kids, pets, and Persian rugs go together.

Real life is messy.  Especially when you have kids or pets.  Traditional Persian rugs hide a lot of abuse.

If this sounds appealing to you, look for a Persian rug with a background color that is medium in tone, not too dark and not too light.  The more pattern the better.

Why?  Dark color backgrounds highlight lint and light colored fur.  Spots and dark fur show up on light backgrounds.  But a highly patterned rug in medium tones hides almost everything.

When you have it cleaned, hire a professional who knows how to stretch the rug during the cleaning process.  If not, you run the risk of ruining the rug.

Do you love your bed?

Is your master bedroom a luxurious retreat?

Don’t save it for last when you’re decorating your home.  It’s one of the rooms where you’ll spend the most time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your bed sets the mood for the entire room.  If you have the ceiling height, consider a canopy bed like this one by Niermann Weeks.  It makes a grand statement.  But there are so many other great options.

Click here to see some of our favorites.

The Benefits of Using Laminated Fabrics In Kitchens

February is the month of love.  We say “love the messy parts of your life.”

Your breakfast area should welcome you like this beautiful example from Country Living Magazine.  Don’t let spots and spills make it a mess.  To solve this problem, we recommend using laminated fabrics on the cushions around the kitchen table.

Laminating seals a thin layer of plastic to the face of a fabric.  It’s done by a custom laminator before the fabric is made into cushions.

After laminating, dirt and spills wipe up.  You cushions will look new for years.

Most fabrics can be laminated but stay away from fabrics that stretch.  The pattern will become distorted during the laminating process.

You should know that laminating dulls the colors in a fabric because you’re seeing the color through a plastic layer.  If you mix different fabrics–perhaps the laminated fabric is used for a bench cushion where the dogs jump up and another fabric is used on the chairs where you sit–you won’t notice the difference in color intensity.

Laminated fabrics don’t work well on pillows.  For them, we recommend either solution dyed outdoor fabrics or stain protection treatments.

Everyone’s life is messy.  Love it all.   Share this with a friend.

How To Decorate Your Fireplace Mantle

Does your fireplace look a little dreary after the holidays?  Need a little inspiration?  We’ve found some great accessories for your mantle that we are spotlighting on our home page labeled Accessories Now.  Click here to see all of them.

The things we most often use to decorate mantles are tall candlesticks, decorative boxes, and large porcelain vases.  Unique art objects can add a lot of personality to the space.

You’ll want to vary the height of the objects and lead the eye upward with a larger picture of grouping of pictures.

The easiest way to arrange things on a fireplace mantle is symmetrically, but this photo shows an asymmetrical arrangement that we love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So go ahead.  Have some fun.  Turn on the music, pull out things you have and try rearranging your mantle.  Or go online and buy some of our picks for a fresh new look for your fireplace.

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