During summer time, there’s nothing better than a bright cheery kitchen that lets the outside in. A few little changes can make your kitchen light and bright - even in the middle of winter.

How can you make your kitchen a fun summer getaway?

Summertime is all about light. Put the heavy drapery away and make the widows a focal point. While the light is great during the day - especially if you don’t need to turn on interior lights - you may dislike the cavernous black holes that they become late at night. For privacy and appearance, keep up the retractable blinds during the day and put them down at night behind a sheer curtain.

Use mirrors to capture the sunlight and bounce it around. This doesn’t mean a major change in your decor but you may find moving a large mirror to a different wall will optimize the light reflection in the room. Try it across from a window or on a wall that corners against the window wall for the most light distribution.

Open Up the Room

While some people change their furniture arrangement all the time, others rarely consider it. Moving the furniture into a ’summer arrangement’ can optimize your space and give it a more airy feel. Try putting away your big table and going with a smaller café style glass topped table or wicker set.

If you barbecue you might even switch the dining and living room area around if it will give you a better flow for entertaining and enjoying the evening sun during meals.

Roll up the area rugs, leave the table bare and get rid of excess clutter on your countertops. Accent the kitchen with light greens, aquas and melon colored accessories. Using bamboo placemats or having colorful fun summer plates and glasses out can really add to the look. How about leaving a tropical pitcher and glasses on a summer themed tray on your counter, sideboard or table?

Make your eating area light and breezy with like to use white cotton or canvas slipcovers on the furniture. Not only will it brighten the room, but they can come off easily to be cleaned so you needn’t worry about stains - which is never a good look!

Bring the Outdoors In

A large tropical plant with palm leaves will give an instant injection of summer to your kitchen. Adding some colorful cut flowers will add further summer appeal. However, too much of anything is not good. Don’t clutter your rooms with so many plants it feels like a conservatory.

Using one or two of these suggestions will be sure to help you take full advantage of summer - while its here!

Lee Dobbins writes for A Kitchen Decorating Idea Guide where you can find hundreds of articles on kitchen decorating themes.

For an excellent way to keep your space why not consider loft beds. These funky and stylish beds allow you to max up your living quarters. Just imagine the room that you will save. Most are fashioned with solid wood oak. Top manufacturers of choice will allow you to explore the many possibilities out there. Kids loft beds make great furniture and accessories for the little people in your household.

If you buy a bunk bed from a reputable retailer, have it installed properly and use it correctly, a bunk bed is a safe sleeping and space-saving solution. Find a retailer and manufacturer you can trust, that will stand behind the product for the lifetime of the bunk bed. You really want to also review the loft bed plans to help you understand what is its construction. You can definitely optimize storage and space with the use of an affordable wall bed. They come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Whether you call them wall beds, space saver beds, lift beds, rising beds or fold up beds they are truly amazing items.

Some consumers are looking to save space and their biggest concern is room. That is why wall beds have gotten more popular over the years. Wall Bed Systems allows you to extend your living space without costly remodeling and room additions. Turn your den, study, family room, basement or any corner of your home into an Instant Spare Bedroom!

College loft beds are a great choice when looking for an affordable solution to sleeping conditions. Are you looking to maximize space in an overcrowded room? May we suggest raising your bed off the floor with a college loft bed? Consumers also appreciate the area where they can store a loft bed. Price range is very important along with the quality of the bed that you are receiving.

Beds - Alan Zunec is a regular contributor and author on tips and reviews on beds that enhance your sleeping needs.

BATHROOM FURNITURE:

There are three main types of bathroom furniture. Stand alone, modular and fitted.

Stand alone furniture as the name suggests is designed to stand on its own and is not normally attached to the piece next to it. In fact most free standing furniture does not have a clean edge so it is normally impossible to attach another piece to the side without leaving a small gap between the two pieces. The most common type of freestanding furniture is the vanity unit.

This allows for storage under the basin but takes up the minimum amount of space. This is ideal for storage in small bathrooms.

Modular furniture is similar to stand alone furniture but have flat sides so that pieces can be added together to make a line (or run) of furniture. This allows for a lot more units to be fitted within the bathroom. Normally this type of furniture incorporates a back to wall toilet and cistern housing.

These types of units are best fitted with a gap at either end, as they do not come with filler panels or extra worktop to fill in odd spaces.

Fitted furniture is similar to modular but has a range of units and additional items to ensure that it can be fitted wall to wall without any gaps. This type of furniture also has the largest number of unit sizes and styles available. Fitted furniture in small bathrooms can have the effect of making the room appear smaller.

Wooden Bathroom Products:

All wooden bathroom products must be treated with the utmost of care within the bathroom. Whilst wooden products are coated with a specially finished lacquer which is specifically designed to withstand splashes and condensation, it is important to ensure that water is not in prolonged contact with these surfaces as this will over time lead to surface damage.

Written by Neal Baker on behalf of http://www.bathroomsensuite.com and http://www.bathroom-furnitureuk.co.uk, online retailers of bathroom furniture, bathroom suites and bathroom accessories in the UK.

Tips and advise when buying your bathroom suite:

Your bathroom is probably the most intimate space in your home. Many people invest excessively in renovating their bathrooms in the belief that the reflection of their personality can be found in the design of the bathroom. When your guests use your bathroom, they take the time to look around and examine the style and accessories decorating the bathroom. Your wealth and style will be reflected from the perfection of work and the material you use.

Below are some tips and advise when considering buying a bathroom suite or adding accessories.

POTTERY:

Also known as sanitary ware, ceramics, porcelain and ware.

There are four basic areas that affect the quality of pottery and its expected lifespan:

The depth of the glaze:

The glaze is the glass-like surface coating which is fired onto the pottery in the kiln when it is made.

The glass enables the pot to be waterproof and protects it from chemicals, such as bleach etc, over its life.

The thicker the glaze generally the longer the life. Once this glaze goes, wears out, the pot becomes porous, absorbs water and eventually cracks.

The more you use and clean the pottery the faster the glaze wears out.

To make the glaze thicker you have to apply it a layer at a time and each time fire it in the kiln. This process results in breakages within the kiln.

For example, if I fire 100 pieces of pot once I may get 99 back in one piece, so the 99 pays for the 100.

If I then fire the 99 again I may get 80 back in one piece, so now 80 have to pay for 100.

If I then fire the 80 I may get only 50 back in one piece, so now 50 have to pay for 100. You get the gist of this by now.

If you assume that each layer of glaze lasts approximately 5 to 7 years you can soon see how the system works.

If you glaze once you get a less expensive cost to manufacture but the product does not last as long in a house. The thicker the glaze the longer the pottery lasts.

Quality of the clay:

The quality of the clay that is used to make the pottery is very important. The reason for this is that the finer the clay the smoother the finish will be on the item being made.

If you use a poorer grade of clay it will have more grit in it and the surface will have a more rippled appearance.

You may also find that because of the increased grit content the pottery is heavier than an item of the same size made with a finer grade of clay. The finer the clay the more tonnes of rough clay you have to use to refine down to make it.

It is therefore less expensive to produce pottery with a coarse grade of clay.

The overspray or colour:

The white colour, or whatever colour it happens to be, is applied to the pottery before the glaze.

Each manufacturer mixes their own colour to try to match it to the colour of the acrylic baths.

The white colour of the acrylic bath is a worldwide standard set by the acrylic manufacturers.

You need to be aware of this if you client tries to mix and match pottery from different manufacturers.

Its usually acceptable to have a toilet and basin from one supplier made to match the bath but if you put a basin from one supplier and a toilet from another and then the bath together it will stand out like a sore thumb.

The thicker the colour is applied, the less fading on the edges takes place and the colour is even over the whole of the item.

The colour as with the glaze is applied in layers and then has to be left to set before the next coat can be applied.

The fewer coats the quicker the product can be made and the less cost is involved.

The design of the item:

The more intricate the design the more expensive the mould is to make and the more chance there is that you will not always remove it from the mould without damage.

Plainer shapes are usually less expensive. You should also note that basins, toilets and bidets are made as matched sets.

You will often find that the foot of the pedestal on the basin matches the foot of the toilet pan and that the back of the basin matches the toilet cistern lid.

One general point to be made is that pottery is often sold in what is known in the trade as a four-piece set.

That is a basin, pedestal, pan and cistern. Unfortunately the retail customer sees the set as two pieces: the basin and the toilet.

If you use the term four-piece set to a retail customer they may think you mean a basin, toilet, bath and bidet.

So always explain what you mean by four pieces if you should choose to use the term.

Written by Neal Baker on behalf of http://www.bathroomsensuite.com and http://www.bathroom-furnitureuk.co.uk, online retailers of bathroom furniture, bathroom suites and bathroom accessories in the UK.

What features compel us to decide upon a particular decorating style? The process begins with what we want our home to feel like and what we want out of the environment, in which we spend our quality time. Being with our families, enjoying time with friends, sitting in a cozy chair with a great book and favorite drink - these are the things we think of when imagining our time at home. If you ask anyone what words best describe country decorating, they would say warm and cozy. Having family and friends feel welcome and relaxed when visiting is important. Visitors don’t want to feel like they can’t sit on the sofa or kick off their shoes. The country decorating style, in its simplistic, yet beautiful appearance, achieves this objective.

Country decorating fills your home with charm and personality, while creating a warm and cozy environment for your family and friends. In the fast-paced world we live in, having a home that is reminiscent of a simpler time is a comforting feeling.

Absolutely, homes can be filled with the most expensive furniture and accessories, and still not feel warm, cozy and inviting. There is more to country decorating than expensive items. For instance, crafts, which are prevalent in country decorating, are fairly inexpensive to make or buy. However, they add a personal touch, and their homemade qualities have an appeal that cannot be denied. Accessories and accent pieces is a feature that bring personality to your home. A room without a personal touch feels cold and not welcoming, even if it is beautifully furnished.

The wall color choices for your home are important in establishing a cozy atmosphere. Use rich, warm country colors. Reds, blues, and greens are a few choices that might be considered. Wallpaper in country patterns and themes, wainscoting and beadboard are wonderful wallcovering options that add texture and interest.

There are several variations to country decorating, such as, primitive, folk, rustic/lodge/cabin, and Americana. They all have their own style, but can easily be used in conjunction with each other from one room to another. You can have an Americana decorated bathroom and a lodge style familyroom, for example. It can certainly be difficult to choose just one country decorating style, so rest assured, you can certainly incorporate more than one throughout your home.

Primitive - rough, old, unfinished look

Folk - crafty look, country decorations, sheep, angels, cows, Amish style

Rustic/Lodge/Cabin - all three terms are used for this wildlife style decorating, bears, moose, deer, hunting, metal, wood, log furniture, pinecones, outdoor appeal

Americana - patriotic decor, American flag, stars and stripes, red, white, and blue accessories

Enjoy decorating your home. Keep in mind the idea of a peaceful, warm and relaxing setting that you, your family, and friends will always treasure.

copyright 2005 - Karen Cundiff - www.my-country-home.com

Karen Cundiff is the owner of http://www.my-country-home.com Visit this website for country decorating ideas, resources, and get delicious recipes for entertaining family and friends in your country home.

Please feel free to post this article exactly as it is seen here, including the author’s name and copyright.

Developers are squeezing more out of their available land area for their new projects by building smaller apartment units. Demographics are also changing with smaller families.

So ,how do you make a small apartment look bigger than it is?

Here are 7 tricks of the trade

1. Using mirrors to cover the entire length of walls has a dramatic effect of making the room look so much bigger and spacious. Mirrors have the ability to create the illusion of space. Instead of seeing the wall your mind is tricked into believing the space of the room is twice as big.

2. In the living room, try to put low sideboards or cabinets instead of tall shelves or cabinets. Cabinets or sideboards with height lower than your study desk and dining table instantly makes your room look so much bigger and neater.

3. Another way of creating the impression of large spaces is to have light colour or white flooring . You should also use light colour or warm colours such as yellow or orange for your walls. Here is how you can use color to make a room look larger.

4. To extrapolate on the earlier point, floors of different areas such as living room and porch with different materials and purpose should have similar themed light colours to create a stronger visual impression of enlarged spaces.

5. If the space outside a particular wall consists of a balcony view or a garden view, consider knocking down part of the wall to construct a window. A window with a exterior beautiful view automatically makes an impact and makes the room feel so much bigger.

6. You can also opt for space saving furniture and appliances. A sofa bed serves the dual purpose of being a couch and a bed and thereby saving space for a bed. A washing machine with a dryer feature also makes it unnecessary to buy a dryer which would take up more space.

7. If you are short of space for sleeping you can exploit your living room for flexible space by erecting a folding screen or installing ceiling mounted curtain to create flexible space.

You can find more Home Decor Ideas at http://www.home-decor-ideas.com

Whether you are working with existing furnishings and fabrics or “starting from scratch” with an empty room, you should always use the elements and principles of design as a guide in choosing everything. The elements are your tools or raw materials, much like paints are the basics to a painter. The elements of design include space, line, form, color, and texture. The principles of design relate to how you use these elements. The principles of design are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.

Principle #1: Balance
Visual equilibrium in a room is called balance. It gives a sense of repose and a feeling of completion. A well-balanced room gives careful consideration to the placement of objects according to their visual weight. The elements of line, form, color and texture all help determine an object’s visual weight, which is the amount of space it appears to occupy. Balance also refers to how and where you place the elements (line, form, color and texture) within a room. To maintain balance, try to distribute the elements throughout the room.
• Formal balance, often referred to as symmetrical balance, creates a mirror image effect.
• Informal balance uses different objects of the same visual weight to create equilibrium in a room. It is more subtle and spontaneous and gives a warmer, more casual feeling.

Principle #2: Emphasis
Emphasis is the focal point of the room. The focal point should be obvious as you enter the room; it is the area to which your eye is attracted. Whatever is featured, as the center of interest –a fireplace, artwork or a window treatment framing a beautiful view – must be sufficiently emphasized so that everything else leads the eye toward the featured area. You can add emphasis to a natural focal point or create one in a room through effective use of line, form, color and texture.

Principle #3: Rhythm
Rhythm supplies the discipline that controls the eye as is moves around a room. Rhythm helps the eye to move easily from one object to another and creates a harmony that tells the eye everything in the room belongs to a unified whole. Rhythm is created through repetition of line, form, color or texture. It can also be created through progression. Progressive rhythm is a gradual increasing or decreasing in size, direction or color.

Principle #4: Proportion and Scale
Size relationships in a room are defined by proportion and scale. Proportion refers to how the elements within an object relate to the object as a whole. Scale relates to the size of an object when compared with the size of the space in which it is located.

Principle #5: Harmony and Unity
A well-designed room is a unified whole that encompasses all the other elements and principles of design. Unity assures a sense of order. There is a consistency of sizes and shapes, a harmony of color and pattern. The ultimate goal of decorating is to create a room with unity and harmony and a sense of rhythm. Repeating the elements, balancing them throughout the room, and then adding a little variety so that the room has its own sense of personality accomplishes this. Too much unity can be boring; too much variety can cause a restless feeling. Juggling the elements and principles to get just the right mix is a key to good design.

Kathy Iven, Columbus, OH
kathy@fabricfarms.com
Kathy Iven is the owner of Fabric Farms Interiors, located in Hilliard, OH. Fabric Farms Interiors specializes in home décor fabrics and trims. They also offer custom drapery, bedding and upholstery services. The company was founded in 1971 and is the largest home décor fabric store in Central Ohio.
To learn more, visit http://www.fabricfarms.com

With such a variety of Chandeliers available today there is always that perfect one for any home. With a range of styles, designs and finishes to choose from selecting a chandelier can be as much of a creative process as you would like it to be. Each chandelier adds a touch of class to any room and warmth or vibrancy into any atmosphere. Styles can range from elaborate and large to modern and aesthetically pleasing. Chandeliers complement other lighting well and will add value to your home.

When choosing a chandelier for a dining room, the Victorian style is highly recommended as this popular design will add tranquillity and calm to a room that can be chaotic at even the best of times. There are always popular choices to choose from with Wrought Iron and Crystal styles at the top of the list. Some chandeliers can be hung alone as a center piece feature that will dress up any room. Choose from the vast array of finishes and shade styles to find a design that will create a room of modern style with a touch of love for art. Chandeliers can range decorative styles to create a modern, dramatic, simple, elegant and formal look.

The styles of chandeliers available include Tiffany, Victorian, Art deco, South western, Tropical, Crystal, Transitional, Early American, Lodge style, Whimsical, Old world, Oriental, Traditional classics, Country cottage, Architectural and mission style. Each chandelier style can work best in it’s own setting whether for a modern look, shimmering elegance, relaxed or sleek and shiny. Find the perfect finish for your room and it will work wonders with existing furniture and style. The finishes range from white or beige, multi-coloured, polished gold or brass, crystal, polished nickel or chrome, wood, rattan, iron, brick, bronze, rust and antique or satin brass. The type of chandeliers can include centre bowl, no shade, pot racks, crystal and shaded candles.

Chandelier Installation

Before you begin the installation check the ceiling electrical box to ensure a new light will be securely supported. If the new light is around the same weight as the old light, then the electric box should be able to support the new light fixture. When hanging over a dining table, centre the light in the middle of the table with 30” distance between the tabletop and the light, to prevent any bumped heads. When buying bulbs, you should decrease the bulb wattage when larger numbers of bulbs are required. For example, a 2 socket light could be fitted with two 60 watt bulbs, whereas a chandelier with three or more light sockets is probably more suited to 40 watt bulbs. Once correct bulbs are installed, the chandelier should give off sufficient light coverage without blinding anyone. Dimmers are helpful as they allow you to adjust the light to your requirements.

Cleaning Chandeliers

It is always a good idea to clean your chandelier at least once a year to keep it looking clean and shiny. Before you start, turn the lights of at least 10 minutes before you begin so the bulbs can cool down. Never clean the chandelier while the lights are on, this could lead to a burnt hand. If you are going to remove the pieces then separate the light in sections or draw up a picture of how the light fits together so you won’t be frustrated and confused later when trying to put the pieces back together. Place a blanket or duvet under the light to catch any pieces of the light that may fall. Keep the fixture in the same place as you clean and do not turn it around as this may strain the power cable.

When you are ready to begin, remove the trimming such as pendants and place in container. Clean with mild detergent and then rinse in hot water. The hotter the water the less spots. When cleaning festoons, place under water at arm length to stop from intertwining. Always use mild detergents as harsh cleaning products can make the pendants brittle and blackened. Many darken with age but it is always good to delay this as long as possible. When cleaning the body of the light, it is recommended to use a dry, lint free cloth for the best possible result. Remember to dust the bulbs as well as these are give away to cleanliness of the light. Replace all light pieces on the chandelier and lightly polish it to remove any remaining spots.

Claire Calkin operates several websites covering home decor and chandelier lighting subjects. http://www.chandelier-lights.com

When renovating your home, and in particular your bathroom, finding the right decorating look you are after, often starts with shower curtains. You will be impressed with the huge selection of designs, colors and styles which provide you premium comfort and marvelous quality. Best of all, they come with wonderful colors, styles and various sizes so that you can have a great time decorating and designing the room. The selection and design of shower stalls is also amazing. A new shower stall enclosure can make a huge difference to the appearance and feel of the room. Remember to think about the space available when planning your new look and get an idea of the different types of shower enclosures on the market.

Manufacturers and retailers of bathroom shower stalls can give you advice if you are planning to install a new shower stall. They can make suggestions on what style of shower enclosure would be appropriate for your particular bathroom design as well as room size. Once you have the fixtures in, you can choose wall colors and accessories including shower curtains to complete the room.

Shower curtains are usually made out of fabric or vinyl material. The material you will most likely choose will depend not only on your individual taste, but on the look of your bathroom. Shower curtains come in variety of colors, styles and designs which makes it challenging to pick only one. Depending on your bathroom measurements and budget, there are many shower stalls or glass stalls to choose from. Take the time to see what is available on the market. The more time spent researching, the happier you will be with the end result.

Amy-Jo Strutt is a successful home decorator and regular contributor to vanities-showers-curtains.com - An online resource to help you find the very best in all your bathroom needs. http://www.vanities-showers-curtains.com/shower-curtains.html

One of the most important items that should be in your bathroom is a sink. Bathroom sinks come in various styles, but are usually narrowed down to two choices: Pedestal sinks and cabinet sinks. Your choice of these two sinks will depend not only on your personal taste, but also on your bathroom size. Many people like cabinet sinks for small bathrooms, because it allows them space to store their various items they would like kept in the bathroom. Other top name brands would include American standard or even Kohler sinks.

As your washroom is used quite often it should be considered one of your most teasured spots. Often this room is also remodelled or renovated in order to match anything else that is upgraded. Kohler sink products are often of superior quality and offer many advantages. As in any home decor fashion, you definitely want to look around to find what design, style or look you truly want to achieve. Wall-mount sinks feature a basin that is hung from the wall at a desired, functional height. Some sinks feature a matching shroud that is placed beneath the basin, for support and to attractively conceal the piping. It is sure is fun to be able to plan what you really admire.

When selecting a sink, it’s important to make sure that it’s compatible with your faucet. If you are not sure if they are, just ask the salesperson because you don’t want the hassle of bringing it back and picking out another one. You will be quite amazed at just how a room can be transformed quite easily with grace.

Amy-Jo Strutt is a successful home decorator and regular contributor to vanities-showers-curtains.com - An online resource to help you find the very best in all your bathroom needs. http://www.vanities-showers-curtains.com/bathroom-sinks.html