Thursday, November 17th, 2016
More and more people are becoming environmentally-conscious these days. The green design for homes has become a standard of sorts and it is no surprise that it is now gaining popularity. Having a green home means owning a place that is environment friendly and has ergonomic designs. This is a design that appeals to those who want to conserve what’s left of the planet. This is also the chosen ambience for people who want to live a healthy lifestyle.
Sustainability Is Piping Hot
Just like other fields of design, interior design will forever be tied to the ever-changing styles. What’s in or out with regard to interior design is almost always what’s in or out in the world of fashion. Should you design goal be about renovation, redecoration or architectural detailing, every interior designer must know what the hottest or classic trends are.
Know that in the design industry, these days, the fastest-growing section is interior design sustainability. You can now practice rain water collection if you want to your home’s water needs or you can buy furniture made with sustainable materials like bamboo.
Highlight Green
The ASID or American Society of Interior Designers strongly believes that green design must be included in every interior designer’s approach these days. The reduction of environmental impact does not just lengthen Mother Earth’s day but could also make your home a healthier place to live in.
Use Energy-Wise Stuff
One basic way to go green on your interior design is to efficiently use every bit of space that is available in your home. Use harmful construction materials to a bare minimum. Live in micro-houses or apodments. These are solutions that are less than 300 square feet and already come with amenities such as a refrigerator and a microwave.
Every interior designer must also work in maximizing doors and windows so that more light could come in. With ample natural lighting comes energy savings. Use wood flooring, furniture and other home products that come from renewable sources. Have water-saving toilets set up.
If you want to be surer about the source of your materials, then talk to the suppliers.
Say Yes to Waste Reduction
Decorative stuff and furniture can be easily repurposed these days. If you are truly environmentally-conscious, you can refurbish or a better option is to decide on a style that you would want for the rest of your life then invest in furniture pieces that would last as heirloom pieces.
Use fabrics, tiles and carpets that were made from recycled materials.
Plan Lighting Efficiency
Another part of your plan is to be clever about the incorporation of light in your home. Use skylights and windows more effectively. Maximize daylight by using these parts of your home and minimizing artificial lighting.
Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
You may or may not believe this but the color that you use to paint the interior or exterior parts of your home can spell a huge difference in light and heat absorption. The hottest summer months require cooler and lighter colors such as greens and blues. These hues can reduce room temperature by as much as 6-10 degrees.
Use New Window Treatments
Do not forget to consider the drapes, curtains and blinds. These can also help in the reduction of energy costs. You might think that window treatments are mere decorative items but they are, in fact, choices that can make a huge difference.
Drapes, for instance, are effective in keeping out drafts in winter seasons while shutters and blinds keep the warmth outdoors.
Landscape Your Way to Green Living
Lastly, you can plant trees right where the sun rises. This will reduce the amount of heat that goes through your windows during the day. Eventually, you will observe how your energy costs are greatly reduced.
You see, green living is tantamount to living a life of substantial savings.
Tags: energy efficient living, energy-efficiency, energy-efficient home, green, green design, green home, green interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sustainability, sustainable design, sustainable home, sustainable home design, sustainable interior design, sustainable lifestyle, tips
Posted in 2016 Trends, 2017 Trends, Green Living, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Thursday, November 3rd, 2016
There is an ongoing trend that’s becoming more popular each day. People seem to be having a great interest in all things that are gold or brass. Those who love to wear jewelry know how thrilling these colors are especially if you combine them.
Gold and brass can provide a certain warmth and depth that no other color combinations could offer. Chrome, no matter how beautiful, won’t be able to achieve the luster that gold and brass attain.
The sad thing is, trends tend to die so how do you use this beautiful trend so that it becomes a part of something more lasting?
Making Gold and Brass Timeless
What’s great about interior design trends is that they tend to have a longer existence compared to seasonal fashion. In essence, you still have 10 or more years to use this beautiful color combination before this style goes down the drain.
So now that you’ve confirmed that you’re a huge fan of gold and brass, how do you think you can bring it home? Now don’t go panic buying all because you’ve seen the furnishings in vogue. Invest in pieces that show your maturity as a furniture buyer.
Be able to embrace quirkiness. Find objects that are fun and unique. These are the pieces that can add character and personality to your home.
So, once again, where would you put the gold-brass color combination?
Chandelier
The chandelier is one of the best pieces to infuse more shimmer and shine. Find an elegant chandelier that will add a pleasant eccentricity to the room. For example, pick one that’s not too heavy on metal but has a lot more of glass. Gold can then be used on the arms of the chandelier. This should give your dining room, den, living room or bedroom a touch of elegance.
The chandelier is no longer just for dining rooms anymore. Go ahead and use the glamour of this lighting fixture in other rooms.
Furnishings, Paint and Fabrics
Who wouldn’t fall in love with gold furniture? They’re one of the hottest items these days. Just look through interior design magazines and sites and you’d see how elegant the rooms suddenly become once gold furnishings are used.
But how would you be able to pull off this look without creating a tacky-looking home? Begin by swapping out the linens, curtains, pillows, area rugs and fabrics with ones that have gold hints or accents.
Table Runner
Tables in your home become instantly glamorized when you add a gold runner. This look will be perfect for any season but more so this coming holidays. Be sure to pair it with the best centerpiece so that the gold is accentuated in your dining room or living room.
Partner this table runner with some decorative balls, also in gold. Have them placed in a gold-rimmed tray or bowl to make your home even more glitzy.
Sparkling Accessories
Candles are supposed to burn but there are now pieces that are not meant to. Add a golden touch to your home décor by adding some gold candles on the table or placing them at end tables in your living room. Their shiny lights will go a long, long way.
Gold and Brass Hardware
Brass is definitely back. Don’t think of the ‘80s sort of brass fixtures but the brass pieces that are shinier and more modern-looking.
Brass or gold hardware can make a huge difference in any kitchen. The combination of both colors would add a formal touch to what would have been a modest kitchen.
Fashionable Frames
Gold and brass accents can be easily added on any wall or table by placing some picture frames. Just replace the frames of your current wall photos with gold borders. The more intricate and interesting the borders are, the more fashionable they’re gonna be.
May these gold-brass pieces up the level of glitz, glamour and fashion in your home as you consider some of the tips above.
Tags: chandelier, gold, gold accent, gold color scheme, gold in interior design, gold interior design, gold interiors, gold palette, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in 2016 Trends, 2017 Trends, Accents, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 27th, 2016
Buying finishes and materials from discount shops may save you a lot of money on an interior design project but this choice poses higher risk. If you are not careful, you can also create a space that looks bland. This is why every homeowner must always buy high-end materials from the onset. The cost may be more but you get to maximize the potential of the material plus the impact that it creates is limitless.
If you want to make sure that you buy only the finest things without splurging too much, then here are a few tips –
The Tile Wall
A full-height wall made of tiles can have a huge impact whether it is set up in the shower zone or the powder room. A standard shower that is 60’ long and a ceiling at a height of 8 feet means you should have a 40-sq.ft. wall surface that is free for you to work on. This means that you can buy a marble tile for about $5-$6 for every sq.ft. and you get a stunning accent wall for just about $200.
Use a low-cost tile to balance your budget yet still achieving that high-end appeal.
Stone hexagonal mosaic flooring plus simple white walls will also provide the harmonized approach that you need in your home.
The Single-Slab Backsplash
Use a single stone slab for that huge surface that needs to be covered. This is the case with a kitchen island countertop. Imagine having a bronzite island countertop, oh, you’d surely be the talk of the town for months!
A smaller part of the single slab can be used as a backsplash for the bathroom. This is a more beautiful option than the usual tiling. Unbroken grains can have an awesome effect which spells customization. This will provide a subtle and classy appeal.
Ask stone suppliers about their slim cutoffs which are often left over from those huge slab countertops that have been previously cut. Here, you have a huge chance of getting a discounted price so ask well.
A Piece of Art
Do you agree that the most dramatic art piece is the one that is large-scale? You should. Investing on a painted canvas rather than a whole lot of smaller art pieces will give you an roomful of color and drama minus the fuss.
Huge Mirrors
One of the proven ways to dramatically increase the high-end appeal of a room is to increase the scale of the mirrors that you set up there. No mirror would overwhelm any space, in fact, it would even open up a compact room. So go ahead and invest in an expansive mirror that will not just make your place look great but also has the tendency to double your investment.
Wood Floor
Wood flooring has the power to up the look of any space. No other flooring material will be able to give your home the richness and beauty that wood can give – bear that in mind. Sure, wood costs more but its beauty and durability will more than compensate for the cost.
Large Accent Pillows
Throw pillows seem to be not worth anyone’s attention but none could be more wrong. Any pillow that is less than 18 inches is screaming store bought. Try finding larger accent pillows which will make your living room appear more high-end.
An Elegant Light Fixture
Another design element that has a huge impact in any home is the light fixture. Don’t immediately default to brass chandeliers, instead, go for the more modern fixtures such as wall sconces, pendant lighting, and such.
You see, achieving that high-end appeal wasn’t that difficult, was it?
Tags: characteristics of luxury homes, designing luxury homes, elements of luxury homes, glamorous interior design, glamour, high-end appeal, high-end interior design, high-end interiors, high-end look, luxury home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in 2016 Trends, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 5th, 2016
Neutral colors are often the go-to color when people invest in large upholstered pieces. This often makes sense since neutral hues are easier to harmonize, in short, they are the safest choice. Add to this the fact that the sofa is one of the most expensive pieces of furniture that you buy, and you would understand why most people opt for the safer options. On the other hand, wouldn’t it be nice if your living room didn’t look just like the rest of the neighborhood?
The Story of the Navy Blue Sofa
Consider a bright navy sofa. This can easily become the star of your living room flooded in white. There are many other rich hues in stock. These can also be customized, with so many fabrics to choose from these days, you’re the master when it comes to the final design of your furniture. So, going back on that navy blue sofa, why do you think it can work inside your living room?
The white background works as the canvas to the star of the show – the unique, colorful sofa.
Making the Teal Sectional Legendary
A compact home is the perfect setting for a teal sectional. This will provide ample seating for a small family. A darker color on a jewel-toned fabric is the right material for wear and tear as well as gazillions of spills that could happen in a family that has kids and pets.
This teal furniture can also serve as the focal point of any neutral room. This hue can also be repeated on window treatments and throw pillows.
An Azure Sectional as the Defining Feature
A room that is painted in white and absorbs a great deal of daylight can allow a huge volume of any bold colored furniture piece. It is easy to be visually successful if the rest of the room is whitewashed. Don’t think that the sectional in bold color such as azure would overwhelm the living room because it would never.
Knowing where to place the azure sectional will make it a shoo-in as the focal piece. Just be patient, you would soon get the hang of using a more colorful furniture piece.
Orange Cushions for the Cautious Ones
When the biggest and most colorful furniture pieces don’t work for you or if they are too bold, you can begin your transition to the colorful world of interior design by using some accent pieces first. Rich orange throw pillows will surely be a good addition to a neutral-colored sofa. Pair the sofa with the traditional furniture pieces and appliances plus some accents that may or may not be orange.
It’s really up to you.
This setup works because the rich tones of the throw pillows will create a warm glow that none of the other design elements will be able to provide.
Purple is not a usual color that is used in many upholstered pieces. In a home office or a guest room, this color could work very well when used appropriately.
Purple is equal to sophistication and class. Pair it with warm taupe and you’re in fashion heaven.
A purple sofa can be surrounded with other pieces that have purple undertones. These will make the sofa color pretty much leap out.
Chocolate Velvet Is Rich
A chocolate velvet furniture does not stray too much from neutrals. It can blend beautifully with just about any kind of wall, ceiling or floor. And since it is basically brown, it is also easy to accessorize. It can also match golden tones in many accessories.
Pair this lovely piece with neutral throws and surround it with wood tones to complete the look.
Tags: bold, bold colors, bold hues, bold statement, couch, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sofa, sofa colors, tips
Posted in 2016 Trends, Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016
Most homeowners find it easy to become complacent when at home. They can just let the days drift by without making the necessary home improvements. If done correctly, home improvement can literally allow you to reach your home’s potential. It can also up the value of the property. It’s now 2016; it’s up to you to decide which home improvement projects you’ll take on this year.
Garden Maintenance
The world’s climate is ever-changing so be sure to choose plants that are drought-tolerant. Gardening is an important part of adding curb appeal. Smart planting offers a natural aesthetic that is beautiful and difficult to surpass.
Why make do with mere bare fences when you can build trellis or a green wall. This kind of fence even allows nature to flourish. A plain brick wall would do well to have something like this. It will then look more interesting and robust. Choose the right species to plant there.
The great news is that plants can also insulate your home’s walls, providing them with the best thermal comfort.
Build Eaves
Are you aware of these parts of your roof? Environmental principles can be easily utilized in your home by saying no to air conditioning during the summer and building eaves instead. These are designed to let in the winter sun while blocking the blistering heat of the summer sun. These can make your home a lot more comfortable all months of the year. They can also reduce your electric bills.
Plan your eaves this year – it’s about time.
Utilize Roof Space
Have you considered working home instead of traveling to and from work? Then embrace the blessings of having a home office by utilizing your home’s unused attic space. This often dark room can actually be transformed to a brightly-lit, functional workspace. Improving that part of your home will not just add value to your property by the creation of usable space but also reduce commute time.
Roof space can also become a guest room project or a teen space. Adding skylight windows and timber flooring, painting the walls white, and putting furniture and accessories will surely make this room an awesome place to spend time in.
The Backyard Sanctuary
You can also turn unused space in your garden to a getaway. This should be the perfect spot if you are in need of a little quiet time.
Use articulated timber, light and plant life to create a peaceful feeling within that new part of your home. Your objective is to set up destinations right within your backyard. These should be inviting enough so that people will look forward to spend more time there.
Get Rid of Excess Stuff
If you clutter that has been eating a huge part of your home, then it’s time to throw ‘em away. Those that you can still use should be placed in storage. Any stuff that you haven’t used for more than a year should be considered junk. You can sell them online or donate them.
Let go of accessories that no longer work with the theme that you currently have.
Expand
Have you ever thought of setting up a roof garden? This can be a unique space in your home that can reduce the urban feel of your dwelling. This can be a simple grassed area lined with low-lying plants. Take advantage of any unutilized space and turn it into something that supports vegetation.
Any small plot of land outside of your home would also do.
Lastly, choose among the rooms in your home and find out which will be your 2016 home improvement project. Then be sure to finish this project and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Tags: 2016 interiors, 2016 trends, home renovation, home renovation projects, home renovation tips, interior renovations, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in 2016 Trends, Interior Design 101, Remodeling | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
Would you like to have the ability to bring nature right into your home? This is a quest that homeowners, over the centuries, have longed to achieve. Humans, after all, love organic interiors and the organic appeal of earth’s elements because he is one with them.
Organic modern dwellings are usually soothing and have a down-to-earth feel. The natural elements such as clean lines, rustic stuff, vegetation and lots of natural light – all add a certain level of warmth to any home with modern architecture.
Bringing organically inspired elements in your home can be achieved with these guidelines –
Choose Elements That Bring Peace
This does not mean doing the feng shui each time that you move your furniture about or buying only the feng shui approved pieces. Pick materials that showcase your personal flair. Some homeowners may like the look of natural rocks as wall art while others like the sophistication offered by dark mahogany furniture or flooring. Be sure to find natural elements that show your style while connecting you to your home.
Use Bricks as a Focal Point or Backdrop
Brick making is a process that involves natural elements such as water, clay, mud and fire. These eventually produce one of the sturdiest building materials.
The appeal of brick transcends time. Its rustic uniformity makes old homes and now modern dwellings a place to marvel at.
Never Go Without Wood
Wood is the soul of organic design. The imperfections of wood such as grains and knots are the very things that make it stand out. Wooden furniture now comes in various species and finishes. You can use this material from your ceiling beams down to your dining table, chairs, even the flooring.
Look for furniture with country and rustic appeal if you want to achieve a traditional look in your home. For those who are looking to have a contemporary setting, look for wood furniture with non-complex, free from ornamentation lines.
The Farmer’s Market Table on the left comes with a simple scalloped pattern. This can serve as a heritage piece, one that evokes a country feel. Its French style finish, bun foot legs, and Dutch white cedar all contribute to a lovely feature for this wooden piece.
Bring in Nature in Every Room
Bringing in natural finishes in your dwelling place is no longer a new concept yet it has become a game changer of sorts to many homeowners. You can look into buying organic bedding for your bedroom. These are those sheets that come with rustic leaves or birds as designs.
A Zen fountain can make a home office feel more calming and soothing.
Design your home according to the concepts that make you feel more excited, charged, even calmed and find out how nature would play its role in your home.
When it comes to floral inspiration, make sure that you bring in the real thing. It can be frustrating to see fake greenery covered in dust inside any of your rooms. Allow nature to find its way to your interiors by bringing in potted plants, flowers, cacti, and succulents in their natural state.
Another room where you need to feel relaxed or rejuvenated is the bathroom. A water heater can make your body feel soothed. It can even transport your mind to a much needed level of serenity. This is something that you can look forward to after a long day of work.
Add wood walls in your bathroom to attain the look of a dry heat sauna. Fixtures must have minimal lines and your source of light is preferably from the sun’s rays flowing right into this room. At night, find a light source that still creates the ideal, one-of-a-kind experience in bathing.
Living in organic interiors is not just relaxing, it can also make you feel a sense of fulfillment as you help Mother Earth in the process.
Tags: brick, brick wall, focal point, homey, homey ambiance, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, natural, natural elements, nature, nature in interior design, nature-inspired home, nature's colors, organic home design, organic interior design, organic interiors, organic living, tips, wood, wood elements, wood pieces, Zen, Zen design, Zen habitat, Zen interiors, Zen living, Zen style
Posted in 2016 Trends, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Interior Design Trends | No Comments »
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