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Gone are the days when kitchens are supposed to be all one color. Designers are playing with different palettes and styles and consumers are loving it. As kitchens grow in size, so does the amount of creativity that goes into designing them. Today’s kitchens often tout a certain style or wood on the bottom cabinets and a contrasting or complementing (but definitely different) style or wood on upper cabinets. Another popular option is using different styles or wood colors to separate the different workstations. It is not uncommon to see an island or planning desk looking decidedly different than the cabinets that surround it. Countertops are often mixed and matched, too. While this trend works well in larger kitchens, professionals recommend using one color and style in smaller kitchens to produce a cohesive look that will help the small space appear larger. To find out more about this mix and match trend, see these articles: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080608/news_1hs08kittren.html and http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/newhomes/chi-choices_nh_125jan25,0,7012719.story. Regards!

If you’ve read any of my other entries, you know how I feel about organization. That’s why I’m intrigued by the mudroom. Reminiscent of the back porch, the mudroom, although inside, offers all the same porch-like benefits (without drawbacks — like wet, dirty floors) and dozens more updated, pumped-up features: lockers, coat and key racks, mail and equipment organizers, communication center (black board, tack board, outlet to charge cell phones), shoe bins, pet supplies and whatever else tickles your fancy. These articles herald the modern mud room and share some great function and layout ideas: http://www.moeninsight.com/issue6/article1.html, http://www.rona.ca/content/enter-mudroom_specialized-rooms_room-decoration_decoration, and http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20060209_mudroom.htm. Any other ideas? Regards mud-room fans!

Obviously, the perfect office will vary depending on your work, lifestyle and needs but one thing is for sure: if you aren’t comfortable in your office space, the days can be as long your to-do list. Here are some basic reminders while planning your office design or redesign:

• If you have clients visiting your space, remember to adjust your style to fit their expectations and project a professional image.
• Give your color palette real consideration. Find that perfect balance between relaxation and stimulation. A muted, cool color palette with warm accents can be a good mix for this sort of space.
• Do your research on furniture. The best pieces are the “workhorses”  that will support, streamline and simplify your efforts. Fancy or trendy pieces may look good but fall short when it comes to being comfortable or functional. If you have an old piece you love, try a new coat of paint or finish.
• Organize, organize, organize. Tray organizers, file folders, pen holders, paper trays — use whatever you need to keep your work areas looking less cluttered (which will also keep your brain less cluttered).

For more office ideas, try this series of video clips from expertvillage.com. Best of luck with your design efforts. Regards!

Remember those Magic Eye posters that were popular in the ’90s? Look at it one way and it’s just a psychedelic poster, look at it another way and it’s a picture of dolphins swimming. Sometimes it’s the same with home accessories: look at something one way and all you see is its original use. Look at it in a new way, and suddenly you’ve got something else entirely.

I love using this approach when decorating. Not only do I save money by not running out and buying something new, but I also get a thrill when someone compliments my creativity.

Take this little martini glass (which was part of a set until its twin had an unfortunate incident with the floor). Used for its original purpose, it’s chic and eye-catching. It became 10-times moreso when I used it to hold dip at a recent cocktail party.

Glasses like this would also make great dessert cups. Fill them with some pudding or ice cream, top with a little fresh fruit, and you’ve got a dessert dish guaranteed to impress your guests (and maybe even Martha Stewart, if she should happen to drop by). A friend of mine uses similar glasses as a chic way to hold Q-tips and cotton balls in her bathroom.

One glass, endless decorating possibilities, and you don’t need to spend a dime. It’s a beautiful thing. Browse these two articles on about.com for more fun accessorizing ideas: http://interiordec.about.com/od/articlesonbasics/a/finishingtouch.htm and http://interiordec.about.com/cs/quicktips/qt/qt_customize.htm.

Happy decorating and regards!

Paint, faux finish, texture — regardless of your wall finishing choice, you still need the final touches. Without artwork, photography or some other kind of focal point, your room will lack the personality and uniqueness that makes your house home. While poking around for some ideas, I found the a great set of video clips here that cover quite a few ingenious methods for wall decorating. They are also cost effective, which is always a great perk. Tell me what you think. Happy decorating and regards!

Obviously, the “green” trend is really catching on in the US. Nearly every industry is looking to cash in on being environmentally friendly. But, is there more going on in our subconcious than we know? I read an article earlier today which made me think being aware of the natural environment is only part of our desire to do better.

“Some researchers have found that natural surroundings help increase motivation. We think that this is a great argument for liberally decorating your house. This is because we think the source of this beneficial effect is the fact that you can identify with your surroundings. We are natural beings who need to be surrounded by recognizable forms.” (Feel Better Just by Decorating Your Home, Dallas Dougan)

This paragraph was impactful enough to me to reaffirm the green solution is the right direction for our future. One of the most effective ways to create a comfortable area is to add plant life. Perhaps this simple decorating tip is a more than just a hint that we need to always be thinking of our environment.

While I don’t want to make this blog a spam site for our software, I found a nice article that states why we have the software. I have clipped a little bit of the article, but please look further at http://www.jiancai365.com/How-Interior-Design-Rendering-Works-Its-Magic.htm for the full article. Obviously, if you are looking for more info on our software, one of the links to http://www.housebeautifulsoftware.com on this page will help you.

clipped from www.jiancai365.com In the field of architectural design, 3D rendering has become an important selling tool, attracting a wide variety of clients, from architects to designers and property developers. 3D rendering can be used in numerous activities. It can prove useful when wanting to market new products, when showing interior design ideas or when you wish to visualize planning applications. Among the many services that 3D rendering companies offer, the most common are interior rendering, exterior rendering, landscape rendering, site plan illustrations, 3D floor plans and animations. If you want to market a newly built or renovated property, 3D interior design rendering might be just the thing you need. Weather it is a commercial or a residential property, the client needs to visualize it before purchase. In order for this to happen, 3D interior rendered images offer a realistic display of the exact features and designs that will be incorporated into the final product when the project is complete.

If you’re like me, you have lots of big ideas, but it isn’t necessarily easy to make them materialize. I know what I want and sites like www.housebeautiful.com/pictures and www.kitchenbathideas.com/gallery are unbelievably helpful when turning my thoughts into real solutions. They offer high-quality photos of a variety of styles and rooms. Kitchenandbathideas.com even offers blueprints of the rooms they photograph. For other pics and ideas, try your favorite furniture or accessory store. I love Pottery Barn’s catalog and website for photos and unique ideas. Most cabinet manufacturers also offer slick catalogs and websites with high-quality pictures of their cabinets in cool, up-to-date kitchens. So, go ahead, find a picture of your dream room and get busy!

If you have your own sites you visit regularly for decorating ideas, please share in the comments section. I have mentioned some larger commercial sites, but I am always looking for individual sites with great designs and would love to get your feedback.

Hello all! I am excited to get my blog started to share some of the great items I have found over the years which may help you get started on your next decorating project. I will be covering items inside and outside the house and hopefully providing valuable decor ideas. Some of the upcoming posts will include items such as contemporary kitchen designs, living room decor and even kitchen remodeling. But before I get too far, one of the next posts will hopefully be very valuable to you - a few of the best places to buy high-quality housewares and decor on a budget. I look forward to interacting with the readers of this blog and sharing great ideas.