Mar
13

Keeping the abode spruced up for pop over guests

Posted under home interior

Springtime in New York is fast approaching. Anticipation is filling the air for the pleasant weather to come. Long Islanders are waiting anxiously to dip their toes in the ocean. With the wonderful warm weather of spring and summer come the surprise guests dropping by as they take an evening stroll or making a pit stop on their way to the beach.

Whether company in stopping by for a cup of coffee or to stay a night, in anticipation of the surprise guests, it is important to have the abode guest ready and organized.

  • With just a few tips you will have your abode guest ready.

Clean the bathroom as you go

  • While washing your hair leave take time to clean the tub and shower areas as your hair becomes deeply conditioned.
  • Make Friday evening or Saturday morning time for bathroom cleaning. This way the water closet will be fresh for all visitors.

Make sure the floors are kept clean

  • Keep rugs and carpets lint free; run a quick vacuum over rugs and carpets a couple of times a week to stay ahead.
  • Every morning while you drink your coffee, use a swifter to pick up the dust bunnies and sweep the floor.

The kitchen looks clean when the sink is empty and the counters are free of clutter

  • Always keep the kitchen sink clean of dirty dishes, the counters clear, and the floors swept. If you make time every day to do this it will not become overwhelming and you will always have a tidy kitchen.

Desks should look organized Read the rest of this entry »

Mar
03

Tuscan decorating – A Touch of Old World Italy

Posted under home interior

Would you like a few Tuscan decorating ideas to bring a bit of Italy into your home? If so, keep read for some great tips and a helpful video at the end.

The simplicity of the Tuscan style combined with its subtle elegance have made this decorating style appealing to many homeowners.

The central theme of Tuscan decorating is bringing the natural feeling of the outside indoors. This country Italian design method is easily recreated using an earthy palette and some distinct materials.

Tuscan Decorating Elements

Tuscan design is probably best known for its color scheme. Terra cotta is widely used, along with any of the other earthy colors. D

The use of various textures is also at the heart of the Tuscan style. Floors are a great example of this.

Stone and tile are two common flooring elements in Tuscan decorating.

Stone patios are another beautiful element of the simple style, and bringing this look inside is accomplished using the stone and tile flooring. Textured walls are another example of Tuscan decorating. Plaster is often used to create this texture on the walls.

Large exposed wooden beams can also add to natural simplicity of the framework in a room.

Stone, tile, and natural wood are used in other elements of Tuscan decorating. Furniture is a classic example of this. Tables are often made out of stone or tile mosaics. They can also be made from large beams such as those used in the framework of Tuscan villas.

Smaller furniture in Tuscan decor is simple in style, usually wood, and aged in appearance. Antiques are best for this aged look, but there are staining techniques available that also recreate this rustic style.

Other important aspects of Tuscan decorating are the room accessories. Italy is known for its ceramics, and no Tuscan scheme would be complete without a sampling of this material.

There are many distributors of Italian style ceramic pieces, but if you can get hold of some hand made pieces they will bring an added touch of style into your room. Another defining part of Italy is its wine.

Bringing a touch of this cultural heritage into your Tuscan decorating can be as simple as some small display of wines and wine glasses or as elegant as a hand made wine rack set into a stone base.

Some other elements of Tuscan decorating may seem small, but they add just the right finishing touches to authenticate the style. Silver frames and silver candlesticks are common elements of Tuscan decorating in the living areas, and copper pots are regular staples in the kitchen.

Smaller elements of decorating also include food based decorations such as large glass canisters of olives and displays of grape leaves.

Greenery may be the last little bit of the important finishing touch to a room. Vines are especially indicative of the Tuscan decorating style, but any added bit of the outdoors brought indoors through the use of plants and flowers is a welcome addition to a Tuscan home.

eep reds, browns, and yellows are mixed with lighter shades of blues, greens, and oranges. Just about any color can be made into a natural shade for use in Tuscan decorating.

 

Feb
29

Add An Interior Design Degree To Your Decorating Talents

Posted under interior busnis

 A great interior designer possesses an innate sense of form vs. function, creativity, imagination and a talent to unearth the perfect accessory, wallpaper, paint chip, or chair. Your ticket to succeeding in the world of numerous competing designers is to earn your interior design degree. A fundamental education will provide you with a sturdy base upon which to nurture your abilities and harness your potential.

Having your degree in interior design will enhance your natural inventiveness. For example, you’ll discover insight into different approaches to design such as the difference between designing for corporations, government, and residential applications. You’ll also hone your spatial skills using 3D computer modeling, computer-aided design (CAD) programs, and architectural modeling. You may also learn how to incorporate conventional materials in unconventional ways to increase your creative thinking and enhance your imagination.

Unlike the inborn innovation you possess, formal schooling will teach you the business side of interior design. Examples include client interaction and analysis, incorporating others’ design ideas and principles, formulating several concepts within a functional yet artistic plan, preparing design specifications and working drawings, proper use of space planning and design implementation, and troubleshooting. Your interior design degree may cover these concepts and many others.

A formal education in interior design may also touch on a wide range of topics such as government regulations surrounding interior design, basic business principles, and green design topics for environmentally-conscious clients. Since many graduates with an interior design degree opt to open their own practices, you’ll want to take several business classes, especially in marketing your business. If you have a sub-niche of green design and products, there are many companies, governmental entities, and homeowners who are in need of your services.

Interior designers are engaged in a holistic method of design, not just the practice of embellishing interior spaces with frou-frou accessories. Although a good majority of designers will end up developing residential spaces, you still have the option of specializing in creating design concepts for hotels, restaurants, offices, hospitals, and other industries. Once you have your degree, you’ll see that there are several avenues you can pursue with it.

If the thought of assisting new designers interests you, you can use your degree in the world of academe. Teaching students how to utilize the skills they have, while broadening their knowledge, is incalculable. Or, you may find yourself leaning toward a part-time position as a design critic, judging students’ projects and critiquing their plans.

However, for designers who want to immerse themselves in the profession, they can use their degrees to work for architectural firms, design services, furniture companies, and dealers. Having your degree will also allow you easier access to interior design associations, which will further enhance your marketability as a designer. Membership in this type of organization has the added benefit of allowing you to expand your client base through referrals to members only.

Nearly all of the esteemed design firms and organizations in the world require applicants to have at least a Bachelor’s interior design degree to be considered for a job position. Obtaining a degree in this field will increase your chances of secure employment, enhance your livelihood in the design market, and enable you to develop your creativity. You can even earn it through one of the online universities. If you pair your imagination with a college degree, you can achieve anything you set out for!