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Friday, May 3rd, 2019
Would you dare not look at a picturesque scene such as this?
Have you ever thought how the rooms with the most pleasant vibe in your home are actually those that present a wonderful view of the outdoors? You might think that your landscaping and the snow-capped mountain near your home have nothing to do with your interiors but they can actually play a huge role in terms of beautification.
If you live near a shore side or if your home happens to be surrounded by a lot of trees, then you can maximize your interiors by taking advantage of these outdoor views.
Inside Out
Prior to setting up the landscaping on your exterior grounds, you can plan that space by looking from the inside. More often than not, homeowners plan their landscaping looking outdoors, buying the plants right away, and positioning them where they look best coming from the street; you could actually change this approach.
Go inside your home then see how you could create the perfect view for those massive windows. You would want to plan a layout that would perfectly frame the trees and the bushes that will be grown outdoors. You would also like to highlight a flowering shrub.
Don’t be limited to just one room, though. Remember that exterior landscaping can be viewed from three or even more rooms at the same time. The earlier you plan the layout, the happier you will be with the result that you will accomplish.
Outdoor-Based Palette
The American Leather couch effectively echoes the colors of the sandy beaches.
That huge glass pane could serve as one of the walls in a living room. This is the case for a lot of homes these days. It’s like having a full wall painted with nature’s colors. Just imagine if you have a home that overlooks the Pacific Ocean – you will see the sandy hues and the blues and greens each day.
For outdoor views that are brighter and more vibrant, consider using neutrals for your interior palette so that the focus will now be turned to the fabulous vistas.
Create Panoramic Views
Marge Carson piece: The panoramic view outside serves as the colorful walls in this bright living room.
If you don’t already have them at the moment, then there’s no better time than now to create one.
Remodel your home to include a sunroom, porch, conservatory or outdoor rooms that are all great ways to bring nature in. Make sure that this new room will not disrupt the present floor plan.
Set up a screen if you already have a porch. You can also create a landscape in the form of fountains, planters, or even simple potted plants.
Topple Walls and Bring In Greeneries
If your home is like a lot of homes nowadays with the outdoors blocked with heavy draperies, opaque walls, and dark colors, then it’s up to you to create a vista. Here’s a compromise that you will have to make, though – you need sunlight since the plants will need this as you would also.
Open up your space by breaking down walls if necessary. You can also place potted plants on the outdoor part of the windowsills and have the inner sills filled with these potted beauties, too. What you’ll have created is a unified look that will fuse the outdoor and indoor greeneries.
Should you have a window that looks out to an unsightly part of the neighborhood, then you can turn this around by planting ivy and allowing it to climb on a decorative trellis. Before you know it, your home will be paradisiacal.
One Window Is All It Takes
Century Furniture: This one window made the biggest difference in this mainly neutral room.
Sometimes, all it takes to connect the indoors with the outdoors is one, huge window that will provide the best viewing experience. When uncertain, pick a clean, uninterrupted, panoramic view as much as you can.
Pick the floor-to-ceiling type of window complete with sliding doors going straight to the patio. An alternative is the picture window, sliding window or the casement window.
Say no to grilles.
There is also another single window that could provide all the views that you would need. It can even help with the illumination in your home. Installing a skylight allows you to rely on natural lighting as you also get to have a good view of the blue skies.
Beauty and Security
Apart from its aesthetic benefits, a home office window that looks out into the yard will allow the parent to work while still keeping an eye on his or her kids. You also have the advantage of seeing who approaches your property.
Privacy is a main concern for glass window installations, though. If you don’t want people looking into your home all the time, then you could partially obscure the window glasses or have the glass panes tinted. Just be sure to use blinds or curtains at night because the tint will only obscure the view during the day.
Install the Right Window
The window materials aren’t the only things that you should be concerned about. These materials, after all, need the proper architectural frames so that they could truly feature the outdoor sceneries.
Here are the window types that are often used to showcase the best outdoors scenery –
Bay. This is a projecting, three-paneled unit. It is often wide enough to present the landscape in a single frame. It can easily fuse with any architectural feature or it can also be perennially Victorian. It is versatile so it can even be used to replace an old picture window.
Bow. This is much like the bay window but with extra broad glass panes. It can house up to six panels. The sub-windows can be operated so you can let in the breeze while clearly enjoying the views outside.
Picture. This can easily become the focal point in a home. It is basically large so it can provide an expansive view of the outdoors. This does not open, though, so you can combine it with an operating window or two.
Sliding. These may be short but they are wide so they’re the best for smaller rooms that come with low ceilings. You also don’t sacrifice a lot of wall space so you get to enjoy nature without eating up much square footage.
Tags: kinds of window, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, outdoor view, types of window, window designs, window kinds, window types
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Window Design | Comments Off on Outdoor Views and How to Make the Most of Them
Sunday, March 24th, 2019
Traditional fireplaces will look more stylish with these Uttermost Accessories Daymeion Metal Fireplace Tools.
Thousands of years ago, ancient fire pits were already in existence. These were the predecessors of the modern-day fireplaces that we now enjoy and these are a far cry from the fires that were placed inside dwelling places.
Beginning in 500 AD, in the Medieval era, houses with different luxurious levels were made and along came fireplaces with fitted chimneys. Materials used were bricks or stones and the typical fireplace contained different parts including the flue or chimney, smoke box, fire box or the fireplace itself, and the hearth.
The English peasants who lived in tiny huts used a central pit for their warmth and cooking. The smoke exited through a hole on their roofs. By 1066 AD, these fire pits became fireplaces which were moved to the outside walls. It then became possible to place a fire in every room.
By the 1700s, there was a scarcity of timber so it was during this period when coal became a necessity. This was during the time of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol.
By 1741, the Franklin stove came into existence. It was a free-standing stove that was made of iron. It was often situated at the center of a room and looked very much like an inverted siphon. The Franklin stove was able to radiate two times the heat with just 25% of fuel used.
In the late 1700s, Count Rumsford came up with the shallower and smaller fireplace. This is what we now have in our modern-day homes. And with the advent of central heating in the 1900s, the fireplace became less of a source of warmth. It became more of a focal point that’s decorative in nature.
Parts of a Contemporary Fireplace
The vent, back in the day, was used to channel up the smoke outside of the building. It was not until the 11th century when the chimney was invested. This paved the way for different fires to be placed in different rooms. Fumes and smokes were no longer a problem.
The next part is the smoke-box. This is the chamber found at the bottom of a chimney pipe. It is there as a buffer from downdrafts. The fireplace is right under this box and this is where the fire is lit.
Another part is the hearth which is the brick or stone platform where the chimney and firebox are both built. This could sometimes go outside the fire-box then into the room. It offers that added protection from any rolling logs.
The convection chamber for fireplaces was inveted in the 18th century. It was Benjamin Franklin who came up with the concept which led to the creation of more efficient fireplaces and stoves.
The first design for modern fireplaces, made by Count Rumford, drew the smoke out of the structures. Because of his design, the fireplace is no longer where cooking and warmth are done and sought respectively. The fireplace has become an attractive part of a room.
Make Your Choice
Many homeowners of today want to have a traditional fireplace in their habitats. They want to replicate the look of wood-burning fires. The warm ambiance that flickering and cackling fires create are just difficult to surpass.
There is one other option that is also becoming more popular each year – the contemporary fireplaces.
These gas fireplaces are styled with colored glass encasing the flames. Shiny metal is also often used as a material to decorate the fireplace. Just like traditional fireplaces, these versions, offer the same benefits but with a different style or look.
Modern or contemporary fireplaces now have unique designs which push the boundaries in terms of poshness. Choose from panoramic angles, black onyx, flickering flames in unison, and other such features. The contemporary ones have become a piece of art to many homeowners.
Tags: fireplace, fireplace design, fireplace elements, fireplace history, fireplace parts, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Architectural Elements, Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Traditional or Contemporary Fireplace?
Sunday, February 24th, 2019
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Nashua 4 Light Wooden Lantern Pendant 22050
Big or small, the front porch is often just a dream for a lot of homeowners. Perhaps you are one of those who – for the longest time – wanted to have a front porch where you would welcome your friends and neighbors over.
But, is the front porch meant to be used only during the summer months? What happens with the rest of the year when the sun’s not as bright and cheerful?
First, the Porch Maintenance
A porch that you can use all year round needs to be safe, to begin with. Prior to planning the décor that will be used in the porch, you need to thoroughly inspect the porch.
See if there are any broken boards. If you weren’t dutiful enough to maintain the porch in the previous months, then it could show some signs of damage by now. Make the necessary repairs which would cost around $1,350.
Another safety feature that you need to carefully inspect is the railing. This is a part of your porch that will prevent accidents and falls. The front porch that stands higher than 30” should have no less than a 36” railing.
Find out what the local codes require, though.
Remember that you can design the front porch so it does not become an eyesore. Instead, you can beautify it to even help improve your home’s curb appeal.
A wooden porch railing should also be up to code. Give this railing a fresh coat of paint. White’s a wonderful option if you want the porch to have a classic look.
You could also replace the wooden spindles with wrought iron or any metallic material. Doing so will give the porch a more contemporary look.
Enjoy the Evenings with Correct Porch Lighting
One other feature that will ensure the safety in your porch is the correct lighting fixture. You will clearly see the improvement once the lights are properly placed. You could begin by enhancing the overall look of the porch railing.
Use string bulbs to line the railings. This is an incredible look that will increase the rustic appeal of your home.
A trendy lantern would also be a nice addition as would wall sconces.
Pick the Porch Furniture
As soon as you know that your porch is in excellent condition, then you can begin shopping for furniture. You should also immediately include the decorative elements that would complement the theme.
Compared to decks, the front porch has chair requirements. So put a chair or a two with a small table if there’s still ample space. If you want to put a wooden rocking chair there for a more classic look, then go ahead. This is also an ultra-comfortable chair so you get two features with just one seating unit.
How about a porch swing? There are a lot of sizes to choose from. If this isn’t for you, then you can always invest in a bench.
Porch Décor
When you’ve decided which furniture pieces to buy, then it’s time to decorate. This is one of the more fun parts of porch design. Put cushions and pillows to add color to your porch. You can also use an outdoor area rug to add a little pattern and texture to the whole ensemble.
And since you’re about to decorate an outdoor zone, there must also be decorative plants. Use planters and large plant stands that will beautify the porch further. Add flowering plants for more pops of bright colors.
The Fall Porch
Use fall shades such as orange, reds and browns to replace the bold colors that were used during spring and summer. Get rid of the flowery patterns, too, and replace them with the bright pumpkins instead.
The Christmas Porch
A lot of homeowners never use the porch during winter. It could get too cold to enjoy any scenery so the first thing that you need to do is to cover the furniture. You can have them stored for the rest of the cold season.
You can replace the furniture with a Christmas tree that’s adorned with fairy lights and garlands. Use the planters for your winter greens and reds.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, porch design, porch design elements, porch maintenance, porch style
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Outdoors Style | Comments Off on The All-Year-Round Porch
Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
The neutral front door effectively frames the rest of the colorful design elements in this Esquire ensemble.
Curb appeal is in need of various elements for it to be achieved. The landscaping as well as the façade of your home truly counts. The front door is also one such crucial focal point that you need to seriously think about when you want to let your guests feel welcome.
The entryway is the very portal where your family and guests go through when they enter your home. This is so crucial, which is why you need to think about what design and décor should go there.
If your home’s front door is currently worn out, then you could consider repainting it – or you might as well turn it into a small remodeling project. You might not have considered this as a breakthrough project in the past but, now, this could actually help you freshen up your curb appeal.
The whole point to this project is to, first, pick the right color for your chosen theme and your personal preference. There are a lot of trendy colors and styles at the moment so see if you’ll be inspired by some of these colors.
Prior to picking out the front door color, you might want to plan first. You would not want to end up not liking the eventual look. If you’re painting the door, then you should plan about taking the door off the frame.
You should also find a paint and primer that will provide the most professional look. If you’re uncertain about the whole remodeling thing, then you can always hire a painting pro.
Know that the average cost of a small painting project, specifically the front door, is about $590. As soon as you have the cost and the colors in place, you also need to plan which colors would match the rest of the design elements in your home.
Think of the front door as the first impression which is indicative of your personal style. If you’re artistic and are not afraid to experiment, then you can go daring and bold.
If you like traditional things, then you can stick with the more vintage look for your front door. Pastel colors are also fun.
Now, the colors…
Bold Red
It is believed that red is the most welcoming color for a front door as it evokes passionate, energetic, determined, and powerful feelings. This is a classic choice especially when you have a gray or brick house. Red will also provide the warm color on a white home.
Red is perfect for a home with a farmhouse appeal.
Turquoise
Another hot color to choose is turquoise. This offers a retro look and works best with gray or white homes. This is that needful pop of bright color in a sea of neutrals.
You won’t have to worry about going overboard with this shade of greenish blue. This is also the name of an opaque mineral that’s a hydrated copper phosphate and aluminum. It is a rare mineral and is a highly sought gemstone.
The color represents femininity, calmness, energy, sophistication, wholeness, creativity (which is why it is often used in offices, too), joy, friendship, and loyalty.
Modern Black
If you’re aiming towards a sleek update, then black should be your go-to front door color. This hue absorbs all the light on a color spectrum and while it is seen as symbolic of evil in many films and artworks, black is also a sophisticated hue so you can effectively use it to make the curb appeal more contemporary or lavish.
Sunshiny Yellow
Oh, the color yellow! What could be sunnier?
If you want to get rid of all the negative feelings or energy in your home, then use a bright shade of yellow on your front door. Even when it’s cloudy outside, a yellow front door will automatically make anyone happy.
This is a bold color to infuse in a home that desperately needs a pop of color.
Tags: front door, front door colors, front door options, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on 3 Fashionable Front Door Colors and Their Meaning
Friday, December 28th, 2018
Make the fireplace even more interesting and worthy to be called a focal point with this Uttermost Living Room Gold Branches Decorative Fireplace Screen 18796.
Imagine walking into a room and your eyes can’t seem to rest on something substantial. Or picture the opposite where your eyes go from one point to the next because every little thing in the room seems to be crying for attention. This is that situation when the room has no definite focal point.
But what is a focal point and why is it so important in every room in your home? Any room will become much more inviting if you tastefully arrange furnishings and accessories around one focal point.
Most of the time, a focal point is a piece of furniture. At times, it can be a lovely architectural feature. It can also be a work of art or even a special framed family photo.
Determine the Focal Point
To define which is the focal point in a room, you have to go around and look for the biggest feature. As mentioned, it can be an architectural part of the room such as a fireplace or it can be a furniture piece such as a bookcase. These huge pieces are often the default focal points in a room.
If you do not see a distinctive architectural feature, the next step is to look for the biggest furniture pieces in that room. Any one of these can be the focal point. So, if you do not have a fireplace in the middle of the living room, the next logical choice for the focal point is that comfy sectional or chaise.
In choosing a focal point, it is important that it’s an interesting piece. This is so everyone will be enticed to look at it. It can either be colorful or has a texture that’s difficult to ignore. It can also be visually unique.
You can also easily create a focal point in any room by zeroing in on your artwork, the paint color on a wall, floral arrangements or the shelves that contain your book collection.
Here’s another tip – the focal point is that first thing that you will immediately notice the moment you get inside a room. if possible, try to build your furniture pieces all around the focal point that you chose (e.g. the sofa set, coffee table, and side tables should be arranged around the fireplace).
If you chose an outdoor view as the focal point, be sure also to orient all the furniture pieces inside to take advantage of the window zones. Imagine looking outdoors to a garden or a landscape. It’s a mesmerizing view that will surely be remembered.
One wall painted with a darker or brighter hue of the same color palette that you used is a great way to create a focal wall. This focal wall can also be neutral-colored but adorned with beautiful wall arrangements of artwork, framed photos or display shelves.
Lighting can also be used to enhance any focal point. There are many picture lights on the Internet as there are wall washer fixtures for painting or any wall display. If you made a shelf or a mantel as the focal point, then be sure to use correct accessories on them such as potted plants; flowers in beautiful, ornate vases; and other such accessories.
Always make sure that you use contrasting colors for the focal point and other design elements in the room. If the focal point is a flaming red, don’t turn the rest of your furnishings in the same flaming red shade. Instead, find tints of the same hue to accessorize.
Remember to decorate and frame the focal points with other design elements such as curtains, art or plants.
Hooker Furniture Home Office Auberose Bunching Bookcase: Where do you eyes rest the moment you see this photo? That’s the focal point.
Tags: determining the focal point, finding the focal point, focal point, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on Eenie Meenie Miny Mo: Which Focal Point to Use?
Friday, December 7th, 2018
The clean, clear windows poured in ample natural light to show the beauty of these Villa Cascina pieces during the day.
There are only a few things that can easily add to the curb appeal of a home. While the windows may not be noticed frequently by guests and even your own family members, this is one thing that can make or break the look of your home.
Depending on your home’s location, the windows of your home may be more prone to dust and dirt and other such properties. Houses situated in high traffic zones are likelier to accumulate more dirt than the ones that are far-removed from such areas.
The cleanliness of a window can affect its fragility. Debris that accumulates over time will cause issues on visibility and natural lighting. After all, how can you take advantage of natural lighting if there is a reduced amount of it reaching the interiors of your home?
Also, the weight of the dust and dirt can easily shorten the window’s lifespan. Regular window cleanup will remove the dust and cobwebs, thus, it is highly unlikely that your guests will see these instead of the beautiful greenery that they are supposed to see outside.
So, how often should you clean the windows?
The recommended schedule is for the windows to be cleaned each month. If you live in an area where pollen and dust tend to gather more quickly, then you should schedule window cleanups more often.
For areas that do not have a lot of issues on dust and pollen, you can clean the windows every two months.
Window damage is often caused by any of these –
Dust
Pollen
Dirt
Salt
Pests and other insects
Hard water
Sap
It’s Time to Clean Some Windows
There are many benefits in having clean windows all the time. The cleaner the windows, the more that your home will look lovelier in the sight of others. Pristine windows will also lengthen the lifespan of the glass panes. Since there is no dirt to compromise the material, then you can count on the glass surfaces to last longer.
Dust, sand and salt can collect over time and these are the very things that can cause staining. The tendency of the windows as the stains get out of control is to give in. You will have to have the panes replaced because of the excessive dirt.
So, are there any rules in cleaning the windows?
Many experts suggest that you should not clean your windows during a particularly sunny day. During these moments, everything will dry up so quickly that the glass surfaces tend to streak.
It is better to – believe it or not – do the window cleaning on a cloudy day.
To get started, be sure to clear the windowsill and the area near the windows of any knickknacks and furnishings. The primary things that you need to protect are your walls and the floors. Make sure that there is a drop cloth or sheet that will protect the flooring or the carpeting from being damaged or even from getting wet.
As soon as you have prepped an area, don’t immediately resort to pre-packaged cleaners and mixed solutions. It is best for you to create your homemade window cleaning solutions.
Just a drop or two of dish soap is often enough to mix with every gallon of water. You can then grab a sponge and start scrubbing the windows.
There isn’t a single way of cleaning the windows. There are those who swear by newspaper while others say paper towels clean better. There are those who like using dish soap while others prefer vinegar. Just find out which among these will cut through the grime and grease. Then wash the edges, go to the glass surfaces, rinse, then wipe dry.
Tags: how to clean windows, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, window cleaning, window cleanup
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on How to Clean Windows Like a Pro
Monday, November 19th, 2018
Slate, up-close.
Slate is known as a metamorphic rock with the finest grain and metamorphic rocks are formed when there is a change in the form of rocks. The process is known as metamorphism.
Slate eventually forms as the layers repetitively form or when the metamorphic rocks foliate. Here, the low-grade mudstone or shale undergoes metamorphosis. The formed material is then widely used in many flooring and roofing projects.
Slate is famous for being a good electrical insulator and in being fireproof. This is why it’s widely used on roofing as it can protect your home from frost damage. It has a water absorption level of just 0.4%. Other uses include blackboards, tabletops, billiard tables, and even commemorative tablets.
Where Slate Comes From
There are two ways to quarry slate. First, from a slate quarry and the other one is a slate mine tunnel. This industry is focused on extraction as well as processing for flooring and roofing.
There are many cities all over the world that has slate mines including Wales, Cornwall, and many cities in Spain. Other places include New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.
Slate was initially quarried in North America in 1734. This was along the borders of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The very first commercialized slate quarry was later opened in Peach Bottom Township, PA two years after. At the moment, slate quarries are actively operating in various regions in NY, VT, and PA.
Bring the beauty of slate in with theUttermost Accessories Slate Cube Boxes S:2 18777
Slate Roofing Now
If after the cold winter and wet spring you realize that it’s time to update your roofing, then you might want to look into durable materials for your would-be project. Picking a durable material like slate would mean the success of your roofing project.
Slate is a high-end material that may ask for you to spend more but this is one expense that you definitely won’t regret. Slate can last long this is why it is a preferred roofing material by many homeowners. Any material that stands the rigors of time and different weathers should be on your priority list.
Slate costs anywhere from $15 to $30 for every square inch installed. These amounts cost about five times more than your usual roofing materials. But the slate roof can last for 150 years or even more. Now you see why it costs more.
Slate also comes in various natural colors, sizes, and thickness. It can also be customized according to the pattern that you require. You can even mix different earthy hues of slate.
Here’s something interesting about slate – its color depends hugely where it was quarried. The hues could be anywhere from green to dark gray to purple.
Slate is known to withstand the worst weather conditions. This is why it is preferred by a lot of homes all across the United States especially those that experience a variety of climates.
Slate is also fireproof. The wood decking that is usually installed underneath the slate roofing may not be fireproof but fire is often transferred from one roof to the next so the slate roof is definitely one of the last to go.
Temperature fluctuations do not affect slate so mold and fungus will never be a problem with this kind of roofing material. Just be careful with the maintenance because slate is known for shedding a tile or two from time to time.
Visually inspect your slate roof after a heavy snow. If you see any broken, cracked, missing or loose pieces, then be sure to have those replaced straightaway.
‘Still worried about the cost? Its cost may be one of its biggest disadvantages but the only way it would be wrong to have it in your home is when an amateur installs it. If you want to be ascertained of the 150 years of durability, then have it installed by experts.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, roofing choices, slate, slate roofing
Posted in Architectural Elements, Home Maintenance | Comments Off on Fireproofing the Roof with Slate
Wednesday, November 14th, 2018
Esquire Collection: The unique dark color of the bricks in this room provide the right backdrop for the light-colored furnishings.
Do you know what brick is made of? It contains clay minerals, shale, and kaolin. There are also small amounts of barium, manganese, barium carbonate, and other additives such as ammonium compounds, papermaking byproducts, wetting agents, deflocculents, flocculent, and sand.
The manufacturing process of bricks includes crushing and grinding of raw materials; then the selection, filtering, drying, firing, and cooling. The final process is the dehacking where they are stacked, then wrapped using steel bands.
Brick Room Decoration
A brick-walled room can be overwhelming to decorate at first. But as soon as you see the color, texture and overall beauty that the bricks can offer, you will realize what a wonderful design opportunity awaits you.
Often reddish or cream colored, the brick walls offer an astounding backdrop where you can layer textures and colors to help you create a one-of-a-kind space. Whether you’re aiming to create a classic or a contemporary home, a bathroom, living room, find the right accessories and artwork that will complement this natural material as well as your personal style.
Brick Living Room
A living room with full brick walls can be a lot of things. It can be chic or edgy urban with the reddish clash look or it can be country with the cream bricks, wood trim on the windows, dark wood flooring, and the wood rafter ceiling.
Use Louis XVI chairs to stylize the setting. A loveseat and a settee could complete the classic look. Match these with an ottoman, dark wood accents, and cream-hued wood side tables.
You can also create an urban setting using a black leather couch, rough wood crate-style end tables, wooden trunk, and light accessories. A salvaged door can also be highlighted. Pepper the room with just enough artwork to focus on the gritty style.
Brick Kitchen
Don’t immediately think that brick walls are cold. These, too, can help bring warmth into your kitchen as you highlight the deep red clay of the bricks. Add some potted herbs, natural light filtering through the windows, and some clean kitchen surfaces and you’ve got an awesome place for cooking.
Don’t hide those exposed fixtures and plumbing pipes. Whether you have the cream or red brick type, the worn wooden elements whether on the kitchen island surface or the flooring can all create the right ensemble for a brick zone.
Use open shelving to showcase your glassware, china, and enamel jars. Match these with shiny appliances to complete the space.
Brick Bathroom
Porcelain, wood, and brick all go perfectly together inside any bathroom. Begin with some wood-grained tiles and use white fixtures throughout. The color palette that would match these elements is dark blues and deep reds, even orange shades on the rugs, curtains, and towels.
Brick Bedroom
The cream-colored bricks are great in warming up homes with wood furnishings and light-colored bedding. You can then add textured layers with the deep brown throws or elements of deep violets and dark reds.
The red brick bedroom can be sleeker and more modern. This is the perfect space to support accent colors that are bold and daring like bright reds, lime green, and yellows.
Use a light-colored headboard for a more contemporary setting. Support these with side tables and color-coordinated throws and pillows.
Then Add Greeneries
One of the most effective ways to emphasize natural brick elements is to surround it with the colors of Mother Nature. Infuse wood accents with the shelves, picture frames, side tables, and headboards.
And what better way is there to bring the beauty of nature in than to use potted plants and flowers in vases in?
Tags: brick, brick design, brick wall design, decorating brick walls, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Brick Room and What To Do With It
Tuesday, September 4th, 2018
Make the dining room more splendid with the Fine Furniture Design Dining Room Jardin Lattice Console 1352-856.
The lattice or latticework is a kind of open work framework that has crisscrosses or strip patterns. These are building materials that are usually metal or wood. This design is made by crossing the strips in order to create a weave or grid.
Latticework isn’t all design or all about beautification. It can also be functional, for instance, this can aid proper airflow through a space. This can also serve as a truss when used in as a lattice girder. Lattices are also used as a means to have privacy when you use a lattice screen.
Latticework, during the Classical period, were made of wood or stone. This was known as the transenna (plural form: transenne).
The Indian latticework was chiefly featured in many noble and rich peoples’ homes. They often surrounded the verandah or what they refer to as the baramdah. The upper levels of these rich Indian homes overlooked busy streets but they were shielded and given privacy by the latticed screens (some were even made of stone and were known as jalis). The private pools were also kept from the prying eyes of people with these screens.
The ornamental beauty of lattice has been around for thousands of years. They are found not just in India but in other nations throughout the world. The patterns and designs often depict the same visual theme or the style of the homeowner or the culture of that locality.
As mentioned, in India, this is a symbol of wealth. In the Middle East as well as North Africa, the latticework is often used on windows in order to keep the rooms cool. This also provides privacy for the homeowners.
Latticework isn’t just for windows and doors. When you’re feeling up to it, you can also use this as a decorative tool on your skylight or simply laid on the ceiling.
Latticework Divider
Architecture has never been the same after latticework has been introduced to the world of design. The solid, void or transparent doorways became more exciting.
Latticework is a kind of architectural flair. The Taj Mahal in India shows a great amount of latticework. And, come to think of it, the Eiffel Tower is a towering structure of latticework that’s the subject of many photographs for many years.
Even when talking contemporarily, where everyone seems to be embracing the minimalist way of life, people still find beauty and function in the patterns that latticework offers.
Imagine a latticed divider separating the stairs from the rest of the open space layout first story of your home. It can be made of light steel and painted in a contrasting color from the rest of the walls and the stairs.
Latticed Walls
Whether you want to refer to it simply as lattice or the more unfamiliar terms trellage or trelliage, the look offered by these patterns are making a wonderful comeback in recent years.
This décor technique isn’t easy to do. If you intend on making a DIY project with this pattern, well, you’ve got a lot of training to do. If you want to have latticework on your gorgeous walls, then you might have to commission a professional to do it.
A good room to begin in is the powder room where you can use a trellis overlay. This can make the room appear bigger. Try this on a mirrored surface and you can even magnify the space that this design element provides.
The lattice patterns can also be used as a part of a molding. Other uses for lattice include –
Tags: lattice, latticed divider, latticed interiors, latticed walls, latticework, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Window Design | Comments Off on Lattice: A Gorgeous Element
Friday, July 20th, 2018
The Maitland-Smith Dining Room Scrolled Textured Verdigris Iron Fire Screen, Brass Accents, Stone Base 1351-381 spells royalty.
When you walk into a living room, bedroom or dining room that has a fireplace, where do your eyes automatically rest? The fireplace is a natural focal point as it is a huge feature and when decorated correctly, it can even add to the beauty of the space.
Easy-on-the-Pocket Updates
Believe it or not, there are fireplace updates that are affordable. These include painting or repainting the wall surrounding the fireplace. You can also install fireplace glass doors which would replace the usual fireplace insert.
Having an old brick fireplace can be easily updated with a fresh coat of paint. Just be sure that this is what you want for a long time, though, because removing paint from brick can be an arduous process.
Don’t Forget About Safety
While decorating the mantel or the fireplace itself is important, it is crucial to also consider the fireplace safety. A fireplace that is in use throughout the year needs to have zero flammable decorative objects. Never hang decorations over the heart or right below the mantel. Do this and you are creating a major fire hazard.
Do not use plastic decorations around the area where the fire is set. Even distant heat can affect plastic and could become yet another fire hazard.
If you are making over your old living room fireplace, then be sure to check that all its parts are still in working condition. The liner and the damper, the chimney, all these need to be in tiptop shape.
Ceramic vases on the mantel: Uttermost Accessories Sara Textured Ceramic Vases
The Traditional Mirror
Another budget-friendly way of updating the fireplace mantel is to hang a decorative mirror. You can even do this each time that the season changes. Let’s begin by hanging a large, oversized mirror right above the mantel.
You have the option to hang this vertically or horizontally. The ideal ratio of the mirror to the mantel is 2:3. It should be no less than a two-thirds of the mantel width.
Assess how heavy the mirror is. Newer homes come with drywall while older ones come with brick or drywall covering. Drill a small hole to check (the one-eighths bit should do). Often, large mirrors come with a picture hanger while some have a D ring.
The mirror must be used to reflect the décor that is positioned on top of it. The ideal options are sparkling crystal, flower vase, glowing candles or large figurines. When the mirror is hung above the mantel, then you can put accessories on both sides. This achieves a symmetrical display.
Have a crystal chandelier or a lovely pendant lighting fixture hanging in the middle of the room. Make sure that the mirror reflects this amazing sight, too.
Use Decorative Screens
What easier way is there to decorate the fireplace than just install your latest fireplace screen? The fireplace screen isn’t just decorative, it is also functional. Don’t just default to a black screen. There are now many stylish ways to keep the embers and ash away from the room.
Spice up the room with a stylish fireplace screen in warm bronze or gold.
Decorating All Around
Since the fireplace draws the eyes naturally towards it, then the décor should be able to frame this one feature. While this is so, be careful that you do not drown out the rest of the room with the decorative stuff that you use.
The fireplace is cozy and naturally warm so you can arrange the seats all around it. This can become the social hub for your family. This can also be arranged in a way that bibliophiles would surely love. A reader’s nook near the fireplace is also a breathtaking sight to add.
Tags: fireplace, fireplace makeover, fireplace redecorating, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, stylizing the fireplace
Posted in Accessories, Architectural Elements, Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Fireplace Makeover That You Absolutely Need
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