desmoines-naucalpan.com

10 Tips for Small Spaces

All of us are really small space lovers.

Why? Because we are drawn to the warmth and buzz of urban life.

But because perches are short on space we are all — both high and low — forced to be creative when building our nests. Here then, is our starter list for our fellow cliff dwellers. Feel free to add your own.

1. Remove your interior doors (use curtains instead on closets and doors).

2. Replace your big refrigerator with a smaller, undercounter model. It’s more than enough room.

3. Treat yourself to a really good, sturdy small vacuum (we love Meile).

4. Use track lighting aimed at walls to free up floor space and create an expansive feeling.

5. Install lighting inside closets so you can see what’s in there. They will be easier to maintain and you will gain the feeling of more space.

6. Clean your windows often so that more light comes in and your view is not blocked.

7. Buy quality cookware, tableware, and linens. Small luxuries, such as table top fountains, go a long way.

8. Go wireless, transfer all your music to your computer and sell your CDs!

9. Use full spectrum light bulbs to energize and enliven your home.

10. Have lots of dinner parties. People actually socialize better in small spaces. And, as an added bonus, apartment dwellers who entertain take better care of their homes.

How to Paint like a Pro

Choosing the Right Color, Choosing the Right Type of Paint Can Make All the Difference

1. What is the best way to decide which color is best for my room?

The first step is determining your color scheme by examining your existing furniture, window treatments, and other accessories (or shop for these items first). Choose your favorite colors in these items and visit your paint dealer to get coordinating color chips. Look at the color chips in the daylight and at night so you will see how lighting will affect your color choices. As a last resort, you might want to buy a quart of your chosen color and test it on one of your walls.

2. My room has a chair rail and I am using two colors. Which one goes where?

If you want an open, airy look, always paint the portion of the wall below the chair rail with the darker color. This allows the lighter color to dominate.

3. Should trim work be painted the same color as the walls, or a different shade?

The answer to this question depends on what you are trying to achieve with your room. Use the same color on the trim if you are trying to disguise ordinary or unattractive trim work, or if you are trying to create a uniform, monochromatic look. Use a lighter or darker color to accentuate trim work or to add subtle hints or bold flashes of color to your room.

4. Will the paint I chose look lighter or darker on the wall?

Over a larger surface area, most colors appear darker. It’s a good idea to choose colors a shade or two lighter than what you want. Clean, bright colors can appear either lighter or darker depending on the surrounding colors and lighting in the room.

5. I’ve just finished painting my room and the color is bolder than I expected. How can I soften the look?

Try applying a lighter or more muted color over the original color using a design technique such as rag rolling, sponging, or color washing.

6. How do colors affect a room’s size?

Generally, strong, warm colors like reds, oranges and yellows tend to close a space. These colors are known as advancing colors because they jump out and meet the eye. Conversely, receding colors like blue, green and violet tend to make a room look larger because they “stand back” visually. However, the darkest values of the receding colors, like navy blue or hunter green, also tend to have a diminishing effect on a room’s size. Small rooms are best made to appear larger by painting them white or a light neutral color.

7. What color should I paint my ceiling?

It is customary to paint ceilings white or off-white. This creates the illusion of higher ceilings and a more open space. Medium to dark colors will create the illusion of lowering the ceiling, which can create a cozy look if the ceiling is higher than usual. With normal height ceilings, medium and dark colors could close in the area too much creating a cave-like appearance.

8. What’s the difference between different types of paint finishes and which finish works best where?

· Flat finishes have no shine, making them ideal for hiding minor surface imperfections. Eggshell or velvet finishes work in just about any room. They are easier to clean than flat finishes and offer a soft glow that warms up any room.

· Satin or semi-gloss finishes are easy to clean and are good for highlighting architectural details. They work well in kitchens, baths, and on doors and trim.

· Gloss finishes are shiny and scrubable, so they are perfect for doors, trim and specialty uses.

· Sheen terminologies vary by manufacturer. Please see your Pratt & Lambert dealer to view actual sheens.

9. What is the difference between oil-based and water-based paint, and what are the advantages of each?

Alkyd, or oil-based paint penetrates wood better than latex (water-based) paint and won’t stick when you keep your doors and windows shut for the winter. For the bulk of most jobs, latex (water-based) paint is the better choice. It dries faster, doesn’t yellow and can be cleaned up with soap and water when you break for the day.

10. How do I determine the amount of paint I’ll need for a particular job?

The first step is to add the width of all walls in the room together. Multiply this sum by the height of one wall from floor to ceiling. Take this total number and subtract the total area of your doors, windows, archways, etc. to get the exact area of wall space you will paint. A flat surface usually requires one gallon for every 400 square feet. Take into account the number of coats you will need to do the job right. Blue and yellow are hard colors to cover up with just one coat.

Five Secrets for Creating Fabulous Windows

It’s easy to see your windows in a whole new light with insights from a professional designer. With just a little bit of thought about the look you are trying to achieve, combined with the design savvy of window treatment experts, windows like those seen in the top design magazines are just days away.

To get you started, Smith+Noble, America’s leading catalog and online retailer of custom window treatments, rugs and fabric décor, suggests following these five tips from top interior designer Michael Payne. Payne is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers whose weekly show, “Designing for the Sexes,” can be seen on HGTV.

* Don’t be afraid of color. Many people play it safe and select neutral window treatments. Yet, mixing two colorful window treatments is a simple way to inject energy and excitement into a room. Select tones from opposite sides of the color wheel — for example, pair a golden honeycomb shade with deep aubergine velvet panels — to brighten and add punch to your windows.

* Vary textures when mixing neutrals. If bright colors aren’t what you are after, mixing subtle colors in wonderful textures can instantly bring elegance and ease to your rooms. For example, combining rich silk in an earthy bronze with delicate, sheer georgette in a creamy color results in a beautiful effect that goes with any décor. Woven reeds, grasses and bamboos used in Smith+Noble’s Natural Roman shades perfectly complement tailored herringbone edge bindings.

* Use a corner to your advantage. In homes with wall space between two corner windows, use panels or draperies with one side stacking to the left, the other to the right. Panels meet in the corner for the dramatic look of one continuous window. In contemporary homes where windows meet without wall space in between, honeycomb shades are a wonderful solution. When closed, the windows appear as bold bands of color; when open, shades virtually disappear for an unobstructed view.

* Give small windows big impact. Don’t be stumped by small or unattractive windows. One terrific way to make small windows appear larger and more dramatic is by using light-colored panels that start well above the window and puddle onto the floor. To enhance the width of a narrow window, specify panels significantly wider than the window and hold them open with tiebacks-the effect draws the eye outward. Then, build on the visual impact with details like ring tops, prominent wood poles, finials and brackets.

* Design in stages. If your dream windows are a little out of reach right now budget-wise, don’t fret. Designing windows is an evolving process that doesn’t have to be finished all at once. When you move into a home, privacy and light control are most important, so focus on installing functional blinds and shades that will be the foundation for your window treatment masterpieces later. Then, when time and budget allow, layer luxurious panels and draperies or add architectural details like cornices and sconces.

Simple Ways to Decorate Your Walls on the Cheap

Decorating walls seems to be a huge dilemma for some home decorators, but it need not be. Here are a few quick and easy ways to dress up your walls, on a budget!

The most common mistake most people make when decorating their walls is to sprinkle things around just to fill empty space.

Solution: Draw an imaginary rectangle on the main focal wall in the room you wish to dress up. Fill that rectangle with a grouping of related art, such as portraits, plates, or clocks. This makes a stronger impact for the room than the “sprinkle” effect.

Try to hang larger scale items to make your rooms seem bigger. This doesn’t mean you have to run out and spend hundreds or thousands on a large painting! Hang a rug or a pretty quilt.

Create a dramatic wall hanging with a large piece of plywood, some paint, and one inspirational word in large letters. “Faith”, “Believe” or “Dream” are great ones.Then sketch on your word in blocks with pencil, and fill in with paint.

*Try setting off a special portrait or a wall collection by painting a background “frame”. Make the frame at least 4-6 inches larger than the art, tape off with painters tape, and fill in with a darker version of your wall color. Paint a simple border and background in neutral colors.

If you have dozens of different sized frames and pictures, tie them together by painting the frames all the same color. Black gives an elegant touch to any style décor. White is very fresh, and a bright color can be found in a contemporary design.

*Consider using stencils to add detail and design to your walls. It’s easy, relatively fast, and inexpensive. Pick up a simple design to wrap around windows and doors, or to add detail to your painted “frames” around your wall art groupings.

Finally, look at unconventional items to use as wall art. A weathered piece of driftwood accents over a doorway, or an old wooded box can hang as a curio cabinet. Simple wooded blocks can be attached to the wall as candleholders or display shelves. Your children’s christening dress can be hung as memory art, or you can frame a piece of the maternity dress you loved while you were pregnant with your youngest. Use your imagination!

Decorating walls doesn’t have to be daunting, just use these easy ideas to get you started!

Bathroom Decorating On A Budget

Bathrooms in many rental homes tend towards being more functional than stylish.  However, if you’re a renter and would like to spruce up your dull-looking or outdated bathroom without spending much of your hard earned cash, here are some ideas to help you perform that much-needed bathroom makeover without blowing your budget.

Introduce A New Color Scheme
Color has a huge effect on the appearance of a room and it’s easy to bring color into your décor (or get rid of those lurid purple walls!).  Replacing bathroom tiles can be costly and requires skill, but simply repainting the ceiling, walls and woodwork is relatively cheap and easy to do.  You may be surprised at the difference a coat of paint can make!  There are special bathroom paints available that are more suited to damp conditions and inhibit the growth of mold.  They come in a wide range of colors, including popular blue/green shades.

Don’t Forget Your Sink Vanity and Wall Cabinets
Bathroom cabinets and vanities tend to catch the eye, so if they look unattractive they can really let down the appearance of the whole room.  Start by having a good old clear out and get rid of any clutter that’s taking up storage space or making your vanity top look untidy.  Then give your cabinets and vanity unit a thorough clean.  If they still don’t look great after cleaning, consider painting the doors or changing the door handles to give them an entirely new look.  Try to then make better use of the storage space inside your cabinets, so your vanity doesn’t become covered in toiletries and cosmetics.  If you run short of space in your cabinets, use some attractive wicker baskets or something similar to display all your makeup and accessories neatly on your work surface, rather than in a disorganized pile!

Accessorize
Changing the smaller details of your bathroom’s appearance all adds up to make a big improvement on the overall look and feel of the room.  For instance, replacing a moldy or just plain ugly shower curtain with a cheap new one can make a world of difference.  Bathroom shower curtains come in all kinds of colors and patterns and are easy to hook into place.  Look for something that goes with the theme of your décor - aquatic and nautical themes are popular examples.  Add matching bath mats and towels that coordinate with or enhance your color scheme.  You get the idea!

These are just a few ideas to get you started - as you can see, with a little creativity it’s possible to transform a shabby old bathroom and create a welcoming and relaxing ambiance - for minimal expense and effort.

Creating A Bathroom Relax and “Paradise”

Consider this! After a hard day at work, or a rough day with the children we need to find a place to relax and unwind.

Why not try our very own bathroom! No matter the size, you can create a paradise with a few special accessories and atmosphere enhancing tips such as our recipe for Paradise Soup.

Paradise Soup

5 - 25 Gallons of a Healthy Shower or Bath

There is nothing more relaxing than hot water pouring over your body. Sometimes it is assumed that a bath is the only way to relax, but some people can truly relax better in a hot steamy shower. Regardless of your flavor this recipe is not complete without the next ingredients.

3 Large or 10 Small Tea Candles (with or without aroma)

Being surrounded by flickering candles is a sure “fire” way to boost the environment of our paradise. A bathroom in any condition will look great illuminated by the glow of candles. (that goes with any room ) See our article Candles for budget sense and useful hints on this subject.

1 Infusion of Soft Music

Select music that will calm you and bring you to a place of silence. Instrumentals are best such as Yanni, or inspirational selections found in Target or Wal-Mart. Keep music playing before, during and after you add ingredient number 1.

Directions: Mix them all together in a large moment of quiet and solitude. Cook the ingredients together for a minimum of half an hour, or until you sense the recipe is complete. Cook this recipe at least once a week to enjoy the benefits of this healthy portion of paradise soup.

Bon Appetite !