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Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017
FFDM Summer Home: Panel Queen Bed sits beautifully in this ‘green’ bedroom.
Green is one of those hues that strike the eyes in a way that there isn’t a need to adjust. This is a restful color, since it is balanced, it is right in the middle of the color spectrum. Not a lot of people know this yet those who realize this aspect of green appreciate this well-adjusted color.
Back in 2013, a shade of green became the color of the year. Emerald green was quite huge back then, it was successful in succeeding the slot that Tangerine Tango filled the previous year. Because of the vigor that that tinge of orange offered for an entire year, the world wanted to have a sense of serenity the year after. The restoration of harmony and balance was gallantly offered by emerald green.
Healing You with Green
The chief psychological properties that green offers are harmony, balance and peace. This hue can restore and rejuvenate. It can easily give the feeling of a connection with Mother Nature. The right shade of green can also offer a greater sense of luxury and elegance.
The Resonance of Green
Before you decide on using green all over your place, try to ask yourself this important question – does this hue really resonate with you? Using it all because the rest of the interior design industry is going gaga over it at the moment is not the way to go.
Make sure that you pick green because you love this color and you can actually live with it. Begin by surrounding yourself with green at a shade that truly resonates to you.
You can also use classic green combinations such as complementary colors. Red, pink tones, orange and purple are wonderful hues to pair green with. Be sure to veer away from colors that would make green a jarring hue (e.g. yellow and blue).
This does not necessarily mean that you can no longer use blue with green. This all depends on the tone of blue and green that you end up using. Be ready to experiment if you are adamant in using both these colors.
Teaming up green with red also means you are ready to make the green a lot greener and red a lot redder.
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Cayucos Pistachio Green Lamp 29204-1
The Green Habitat
Using color is all about having a purpose. Define the mood as well as the atmosphere that you would want to create. Decide whether green is perfect for your home. Decide on the proportion, combination, and placement for the colors that you pick.
Keep in mind that every tone has its own psychological property that can be altered depending on the hue that you team it up with. Be careful, though, as there are also negative results when clashing colors are paired.
Now you may be wondering which rooms would marry beautifully with green. Just decide which room needs more refinement, luxury or elegance and that’s the room that could use a bit of green. The foyer, the formal dining area, a reading nook – these are all rooms that should feel more secure, safe and serene with the use of green.
Green could also be an interesting accent wall. The easiest way, after all, to infuse color in a home is through paint. The safest, of course, is to just paint one wall. This is a dramatic choice that will clearly show how much you love green.
Bedding could also use green as an accent color. Say no to lime green in this room, though, as they tend to create a lot of energy.
Green furniture will also pop from a neutral background. Have this piece become the mother green as other pieces become the accessories that will complement.
Tags: green, green color palette, green interior design, green interiors, green palette, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in 2017 Trends, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Green: The Energizing Interior Design
Wednesday, April 5th, 2017
Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture Sheridan Two Door Chest
Green is the most renowned color of nature. It is one of the most abundant colors that are related to life, freshness, even freedom.
Green is also a relaxing color to your eyes. It soothes, refreshes, it relaxes, it invigorates both physically and mentally. What’s great is that is offers a multitude of shades
Green is a trendy color year in and year out. The greater news here is that emerald green is a fashionable color this year. Cockatoo green is also huge this 2017 so take your pick.
Green Interiors
Talking about interior design, colors allow you to show your personality. They can also create the most interesting optical illusions. Colors can also influence the way you psychologically respond to furnishings. There is such a thing as color psychology which shows the reasons why certain colors evoke certain feelings. Also, it explains why certain colors work with certain pieces of furniture or in particular rooms.
Using green with the right kinds of shades can give your home a well-contoured look. It can also offer special effects such as being inspired to live in a natural atmosphere.
In the right amounts, green can be used in almost any room. The living room is one of the prominent rooms that makes good use of this luscious color. In such a room, the color green can be used on furniture, as an accent wall, as an area rug, on decorative pillows, lighting, framed paintings, the leaves on vases, and practically everything that you can think of.
Using a green sofa, for instance, means you are ready to make that sofa your focal point.
Using green in larger areas means having to use this beautiful color in the bedroom (which veers from the common blue or black), the bathroom (which is apt because that is a room that’s associated with water and freshening up), even study rooms.
Green in the bedroom has been known to lower people’s heart rate and blood pressure. You can also use green on curtains and the bedding as an alternative solution if having green walls is a little too much for you.
Using green in the dining room is not that common but it is an idea that’s worth exploring. The fresh color is known to increase appetite which is why it is quickly becoming a popular option in kitchen and dining room designs these days. Back in the day, it was always red for appetite, period. Now, it is believed that green has the same effects as red, yellow and orange.
If your budget, at the moment, would not allow you to paint an accent wall or to change the bathroom tiles to green, then you can always use green in the kitchen as accessories. Have green media plates, green bottles, green dishes, and even green spice dispensers.
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Florian Green Glass Table Lamp 26199
What Green Can Make You Feel
Have you ever stopped to wonder how the color green actually makes you feel?
Green is often associated with nature, forests, trees and freshness but there’s a lot more to this color than flora and fauna.
Green is also known to represent health, good luck and tranquility in Chinese culture. Researchers have also discovered that green can improve one’s reading ability. Students who use green sheets over their reading materials tend to increase their reading speed as well as their comprehension.
Green is also the symbol of fertility. Back in the day, specifically in the 15th century, this color was used on wedding gowns to symbolize productiveness.
Green is also known to relieve stress as it helps hospital patients heal faster. To apply this in your home, you can have a green room where guests can unwind.
Tags: green, green color scheme, green design, green home, green interior design, green interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in 2017 Trends, Accents, Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Spring Green: Embracing Nature’s Color In Your Home
Monday, February 13th, 2017
This lovely Living Room Uttermost Avner Wooden Cube Table 25603 was constructed almost wholly of mango wood (sustainable and plantation-grown). When the need calls for it, you can use the lift-off top as a serving tray.
A lot of people wonder how they can come up with the most stylish yet still eco-friendly home. Most just end up wondering while a few get to unleash their ingenuity and come up with means to be chic while being green.
Going green is not just a fad anymore. This is actually a necessity in our world these days. People need to treat resources and Mother Nature with care and respect.
Going green is not that hard either. You can begin with your family and eventually create a lifestyle out of it. Here are a few environment-saving yet still stylish tips that you can follow –
Conserve Energy
This is the initial step to going green. Energy conservation doesn’t have to be grand. It can be as simple as switching off the lights and appliances when they are no longer being used. Doing so will save you a lot of money over the years.
It also pays to encourage every member of your family to take part in this new endeavor. Ask them to spend time in just one room if they have to bond or are just merely resting. You can also invest in home automation and smart lighting systems so that you are ensured that your electrical appliances will be turned off when no longer in use.
These small contributions will contribute to the decrease of carbon footprint in our environment.
Say Yes to LED and CFL
CFL or compact fluorescent lamps are your best eco-friendly alternative to natural light. Incandescent lights are still in use now but they might become obsolete in the near future as more and more people are becoming concerned with the environment.
Switch to CFL or LED lighting and choose from a wide array of sizes, shapes and tones. Both choices can also add to the aesthetic value of your home.
Have Skylights Installed
If one or more rooms lack natural light, then consider having a skylight installed. This will help stream the light throughout the room and even reduce the use of artificial lighting. As the sun goes down, you will even have an amazing view of the starry sky.
Insist on having a skylight when you are planning to renovate your place.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
You’re not going green if you don’t learn to reduce waste that’s generated by your family. Begin in the kitchen and create a compost pit right in your backyard. This can even be a pot in the balcony where organic waste can be recycled into manure. You can then use it to fertilize plants and shrubs.
These same potted plants can be used to decorate the interiors of your home.
Install Solar Panels
This is a really expensive move but the great news is that they can eventually help you save on energy and energy costs. With regular usage, you should be able to surpass your investment in terms of savings.
Reinvent the Interiors
A huge change that you can also make is to bring a bust of color into your home. Use warm colors such as yellows and red to stimulate activity while cool colors like greens and blues can be used in spaces that need serenity (yes, that’s the bedroom and the bathroom).
A lot of paint cans contain VOCs or volatile organic compounds which could cause a plethora of health problems. Fortunately, there are various brands that are non-toxic and natural. Some are even made from clay or milk protein (casein). Use only the safe kind of paint for your home.
Capel Incorporated Floor Coverings Karma Naturals Burl Rug 6506RS05000800750 is a member of the Karma Naturals collection. This naturally-constructed carpet will fit right in a green home.
Rethink Your Flooring
A lot of designers are now recommending wall-to-wall-carpets to be ripped out. While these make the home look more inviting, they are also the home for toxins and allergens. If you really love the look of carpets, make sure that you spray on a carpet sealer and to vacuum weekly.
Bring in the Green
Lastly, how can you be green without potted plants and flowers in vases? ‘Nough said.
Tags: eco-friendly home, eco-friendly tips, green, green home, green interior design, green living, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Accents, Accessories, Flooring Design | Comments Off on Green Interiors for the Green-hearted
Thursday, November 17th, 2016
Fine Furniture Design Bedroom Bamboo Dresser 1050-144
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.
Maitland-Smith Accessories Bamboo Cast Brass Bar Cart 3020-042
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, October 13th, 2016
American Leather Living Room Alessandro-Sectional
Eco-friendly or green interiors are designs that center on the improvement of air quality and the reduction of impact on the environment. A lot of Americans spend about 90% of their time inside their homes. This is where, unfortunately, most pollutants are also found.
You should always consider people who are living in your home. The aesthetics of your home shouldn’t be your only concern. Safety is a factor that must be prioritized as well as the health of everyone living in a single place.
Home design, therefore, must be able to balance safety and aesthetics by coming up with a green design.
So, are you ready to create this so-called sustainable design?
Decorate with Plants
There is no better element to make your home a green place than to place plants inside your home. Plants are great air filters and are also effective removers of chemicals. They also have health benefits to offer while giving your home that natural, fresher ambience. If you want to improve the quality of indoor air, then be sure to bring in bamboo palm, peace lilies or Gerbera daisies.
Bring in the Sunlight
One other eco-friendly way of creating a green environment is to let in a good amount of sunlight. You should maximize daylight so that you could avoid wasting electrical energy on those bright lamps.
Open shades and use skylights to bring in a tremendous amount of sunlight into your home. Having ample light also means fewer pollutants, meaning, you and your loved ones become much healthier.
You can further the energetic and fresh aura in your home by opening those windows. You can even make them greener through the application of special coatings that would reflect the sunlight while providing insulation. These should keep your home quite warm during those cold seasons.
Say goodbye to heating or cooling equipment because of your newly-coated windows.
Save Energy with Proper Lighting
Using energy-efficient lighting can help both the user and the environment. Compact fluorescent lighting saves energy as well as electrical power. This also prevents greenhouse gas emission as well as pollutants.
When buying lighting, be sure to read the labels and find the ones that are energy-efficient.
Capel Incorporated Floor Coverings Karma Naturals Burl Rug 6506RS05000800750
Go Organic
Another way to establish an eco-friendly home is to find organic stuff. Do away with particleboard, plastics and chromed metal.
Find furniture that is manufactured using organic materials. This can be made from wood blocks, stone or marble. Don’t fret about design because there is a lot to choose from. There are also customized designs for bamboo and other wooden furniture.
As for the flooring, be sure to use stone flooring like marble. You could also use wooden parquet or pick laminated flooring.
As for your pillows, mattresses, bedding and carpets, be sure to find the wool-stuffed ones. This is so you won’t have to worry much about dust mites. These mites can cause allergies, thus, they’re not great for your health so always choose organic stuff.
Say No to VOC
VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. These are harmful to anyone’s health. These are commonly found in paints. So, when you paint your house or are about to buy stuff for your home, be sure to check for those that do not emit VOCs. The highest you could go should be those low VOC paints.
It is great to have eco-friendly interiors. It won’t just benefit you as a homeowner but also the people who live with you in your home. You must do your share in saving the planet, after all, just like the rest of the world – it’s the only home you’ve got.
Tags: eco-friendly interior design, eco-friendly interiors, energy efficient living, energy-efficiency, energy-efficient home, green home, green interior design, green interiors, green living, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Green Living, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016
FFDM Summer Home Collection: Allowing natural light to stream in during the day can save you a lot of money on energy.
Do you believe that your house is a system? You can easily save money and even improve the performance of your home if you are willing to take cost-effective measures. These steps can significantly reduce building load, eventual appliance and furniture repairs, etc.
Target the Exteriors First
The most effective way of improving your home’s energy efficiency is to look at your walls, doors and windows. Make sure that the walls are well insulated. Only when these are already considered green should you begin looking at other systems such as lighting, heating, cooling and appliances.
Set Up Effective Insulation
Minus effective insulation, a home will have heat flowing profusely out of the walls. This is especially catastrophic during winter. See to it that you use the least amount of energy, though, in heating or cooling the house.
Houses without wall insulation or has wall cavities should have blown-in insulation. This will up the level of comfort and cost-efficiency so if you still have uninsulated walls, it’s best to look into having a professional installer do the job. For homes with damaged or old insulation, on the other hand, should undergo insulation upgrade.
Meet the Energy Auditor
You can begin your path towards green living by talking to an energy auditor. This green home professional has expertise in choosing the right insulation materials such as fiberglass, foam or cellulose. Such materials can help keep heat or coolness inside the walls of a home. The keywords that you need to remember are these – properly installed. This means the insulation was installed by a contractor using the right assessment and installation tools. The contractor, for example, uses infrared camera to check for void in walls.
Improve or Replace Windows
If the windows in your home are already old and leaky, then this may be the time to have them replaced with energy-efficient types. If you’re not willing to say goodbye to your windows just yet, then you could look into weather-stripping or having storm windows.
Window replacement may not be a cheap project but it definitely saves you money in the long run. This could also improve the level of comfort in your home.
Plant Trees and Shrubs
If you are living in an older house with obvious poor insulation and damaged windows, then know that having good landscaping can save a lot of energy while you’re still planning the huge architectural project. Deciduous trees that are planted on the west side of the house could help block infrared radiation. See also that the insulation is upgraded and your home meets Energy Star requirements.
Check the Old Furnace
Furnaces that were built before 1992 have a standing pilot that wastes about 35% of fuel. It is also possible that such furnaces are almost at the end of their service lives.
Invest in a condensing furnace as this offers an annual efficiency of no less than 90%. This kind wastes less than 10% of the natural gas and could help save 27% on your heating bill.
Furnaces that were installed beyond 1991 are probably annual fuel utilization efficient. If you’re in doubt, you can always ask the help of an energy auditor or a heating service technician.
Check the Hot Water System
To improve the hot water system’s efficiency, begin by turning down the temperature to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to insulate the hot water lines so that they won’t cool off too quickly. Lastly, use only low-flow fixtures for baths and showers.
Green living may be a lot more difficult to maintain but it has its perks. You save money and you become an ally of Mother Nature.
Tags: eco-friendly interior design, eco-friendly interiors, eco-friendly tips, energy efficient living, energy-efficiency, energy-efficient home, green home, green interior design, green living, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sustainable design, sustainable home, sustainable home design, sustainable interior design, sustainable lifestyle, sustainable materials, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, May 2nd, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Sanctuary Console Table’s lively green can make any room leap to life.
Many designers like working with the color green because it is a versatile hue. You can go neutral with it, you can go soft, or you can be bold. Green is an in color these days as more and more interior designers are using it as the dominant hue on their theme, some use it to complement another color used.
The hottest green shades are now used with other vibrant colors such as yellow and blue. Green brings in a fresh vibe and you have the power to increase or decrease the dose of this color depending on your mood or the theme that you have chosen.
Green Means Life
Green is quite a lovely hue which is why it is used to symbolize growth, renewal, and life. Depiction of natural environment is easy where there is a color of green somewhere.
Green is also the color of spring, that season when everything is coming to life. It also represents a phase when every little thing shows its natural process of growth.
Seeing green means there is some form of life somewhere, right? It also spells serenity, balance and harmony which is why it is a great color to use when you want to rejuvenate.
In chromatic or color therapy, green is always used to soothe the mind and soul. It can loosen one’s senses from mental or physical exhaustion. This is an excellent remedy for nervousness and anxiety.
If you want to bring this natural state of calm and harmony to your home, then you have to learn how to effectively use this wonderful color in your interior design.
The Living Room Uttermost Gilbertine Clock Table 24349 makes green appear rustic.
Lovin’ Green
Spring green is the fusion of green and yellow. Just stick with light to medium shades for a dash of color that does not overwhelm. Be careful in using green as the eyes have a tendency to veer towards this color. You wouldn’t want to use it in a spot or design element that you do not actually want to highlight. For instance, putting a lot of green in a living room with a great picturesque view outside would be pointless. You are, in essence, defeating the purpose of the window where the view is supposed to be sublime.
Green is an amazing backdrop wherein you could add punches of more vibrant greens. Blue, yellow and green are analogous colors which means they are neighbors on the color wheel. This means that these three colors are always in harmony with each other. Combining these three colors is a great way to bring in some color without clashing or going overboard.
Are you a fan of painted ceilings? Pick spring green for your bedroom as this gives the room a cheerful glow especially during the morning. The walls can be kept white so that the ceiling color (painted spring green) would pop. Add small accents of the same color but of a different shade throughout the room. Green could go cooler with blues and grays while it could become warmer if you add wood tones.
If you want to use green on the stairway, hallways and other areas with constant foot traffic, then do so. These areas are often painted with boring white or neutral colors. Let these areas leap to life as you use spring green on the walls and framed photos.
‘Color shy? Don’t be. Green is a clever way to infuse a vibrant color without hurting anyone’s eyes. Your biggest cue is the lushness of your landscaping outside. Greeneries are eternally there to visually please.
There are so many ways to use green in your home. You could install green wall tiles, use green on your throw pillows and other accent pieces, or you could simply paint the walls green. Always think beyond paint, though, when using this color as it has so much to offer in terms of beauty and harmony.
Tags: green, green color palette, green color scheme, green interior design, green interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
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