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Friday, December 8th, 2017
Capel Incorporated Floor Coverings Botanical Rug 0609CS Poinsettia set an awesome Christmas vibe in your home.
Isn’t it amazing to stock up on food and other necessities when winter is approaching? Your mind goes through the wide-ranged checklist consisting of warm socks, bottles of wine, flashlights and batteries, and even some new board games. Having knowledge that you have all that you need during the winter season is a great way to jump-start your holiday coziness.
Stock #1: Firewood
If you have a fireplace or a wood stove, then it is a must to stock up on dry wood. This is essential, nay, crucial to your warmth during those cold, cold days.
Wood even looks amazing as a decorative element since it looks amazing when neatly stacked in a corner or right by the fireplace. If you don’t want to worry about critters, though, it is best to have the logs stored in a wide shed outdoors. Be sure to prevent snow from seeping through, or you’d be burning damp logs for the rest of the holidays.
If you happen to have a covered porch, then this is also an amazing spot to place your wood pile. This view is also a wonderful way to welcome your guests as they pay a visit to your family during the holidays.
Stock #2: Winter Clothing
While you may have the most fashionable line of coats and boots, it also pays to have the types that are for day-to-day wear. For 2017 Winter Fashion that’s wearable, you can have a pair or more of ski jackets. These slope-worthy jackets can even look good with slacks and pointy heels.
Winter is also the season for extra-long sleeves. Say yes to Rihanna’s sleeves that extend past the fingers. If this is too flimsy for you, then you can always go for the reliable puffer coats. They can be fashionably cool while offering you the right insulation for the coldest season.
This is also the moment to bring out your turtlenecks and wear them underneath long dresses. It’s a winter wardrobe that’s sassy and comfy.
Of course, winter is the season for boots. So make the Spice Girls swoon as you rock those winter boots. Warm socks should also be a part of your winter fashion. Your feet deserve to be warm during winter so stock up on thick, plush socks. Find the ones that are non-slip so that you can wear them while in your slippers.
Uttermost Accessories Mara Fireplace Screen Candleholder 20179
Stock #3: Throws and Cozy Bedding
Winter calls for a different set of bedding. Think of thick layer of wool blankets, flannel sheets, and duvet covers. Add in some colorful throws or throws in neutral shades if you wanna go Scandinavian.
There is nothing better than to curl up to a ball and read a novel while you’re tucked cozily underneath these fresh sheets. Of course, don’t forget the warm mug of hot choco.
Stock #4: Books, Candles, and Wines
Being snowed-in is the perfect time to catch up on your reading. Set up a lovely bookshelf near your reading nook. Don’t forget the table or task lamp that will make your readings more comfy. Plump up a huge pillow and just lie on the thick, carpeted floor.
You can also read in front of the fireplace as the firewood crackles busily. Then pour yourself a glass of wine as you read the misadventures of your favorite heroine. If the fireplace is non-existent then just recreate the warm glow of the fireplace with lots of candles.
Stock #5: Bath Oils
What could be more relaxing than to have a warm, aromatic bath after a long, cold day? You can even do your readings in the bathroom. Just prep your bath put in the scented bath oils then prop your book, candle, and reading glasses.
After bathing, it’s time to enjoy some board games and puzzles with your family.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for winter, prepping for winter, winter interior design, winter interiors
Posted in 2017 Trends, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Winter Season | Comments Off on Stocking for the Holidays: The 5 Simple Snowed-in Pleasures
Friday, November 17th, 2017
American Leather Living Room Astoria-Sectional: The lighter walls provide the perfect transition to the upcoming winter season. The neutral shades all around it point to the change that is about to take place.
Colder conditions are right around the corner so this is the time to prepare your home for the sub-zero temperatures. There are so many things to do and check so here is a short checklist –
Once you’ve done all of the above, it’s time to set up the design for your home as you subtly transition from fall to winter.
Winter Colors
Here are five suggestions on how you can expertly do this transition. These colors will match the wall paint colors, home furnishings, wallpaper, and other design elements. You can be stylish both fall and winter as you choose these hues.
First, light blue colors such as turquoise and sky blue are favorite tones for winter decorators. Create a more spacious room as early as fall then just wait for the season to transition.
These light blue hues also blend well with greens. Vibrant turquoise and pale blue tones are trendy colors for fall and winter because they add freshness and they also look great with other paint colors. Green and sky blue are also amazing hues to choose from.
If you want to
Comfy Textiles
Find soft accessories complete with the most comfortable cashmere, flannel or wool sheets. Cotton quilts are the star of winter interiors. You can opt to have them draped at the back of the sofa if you intend to use them in the living room or just spread it all over the bed when you want it to keep you warm throughout the winter nights.
Knitted stuff are also default decorative elements during winter. Instead of the usual weaves used during fall, slowly transition to cable-knits.
There are many forms of textiles which would look great this upcoming winter. Faux fur is a form that’s amazing when used on seats. Sheepskin rugs also offer awesome warm underfoot.
Timeless Wood
During cold weather, it would be useful for your home to have wood elements. These offer the much-needed warming effects. Wood panels and flooring create a warmer impact more than any other design element, however, you can also swap the wooden elements with a mere tree stump if you’re feeling artistic. This is a simple rustic solution that’s easy to create.
Offer warm beverages to everyone as you also gather around the fireplace. Of course, it would be lovelier to watch the flickering wood.
Speak of fireplaces, this is one of the most amazing places to socialize at during fall to winter. A fireplace is a natural focal point so you won’t even have to try hard to create a statement. Now all you have to worry about is how to create your own style and patterns using this awesome piece de resistance.
Light Up with Candles
What could be warmer than the flickering light given off by candles? Candles are especially calming and their glow offers a romantic but at the same time, a festive element to your design.
Tags: designing for winter, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for winter, preparing your home for winter, prepping for winter, winter decorating, winter design
Posted in Color Schemes, Fall Season, Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes, Winter Season | Comments Off on Transitioning to Winter from Fall Design
Tuesday, December 27th, 2016
Imagine snuggling under the Thomasville Bedroom Bainbridge Duvet Cover (Super Queen) TV-DV1-11…what a wonderful life.
Do you live in a poorly insulated home? A lot of people do and most of them spend thousands of dollars on energy bills each year. Back in the day, though, people snuggled for very little to zero cost. Theirs were effective methods no matter how basic.
The key to comprehending how warmth is kept is by knowing how you lose more heat through radiation than by convection up in the air. A house feels cold as you get back from the winter break though you have turned the heating. Air warms up quickly, though, while the walls take a bit longer to do so.
Also, poorly insulated homes have external walls that are many degrees colder compared to the internal walls. This is why you feel chilly even when the heating’s been turned on. There are ways to overcome the cold weather and also to minimize your energy bills.
Close the Curtains Please
More radiant energy is let in during the day and your windows serve as their portal into your home. Sunlight enters through the glass but at night, single-glazed windows get very cold. Even double glazing does not guarantee great insulation. This spells energy losses amounting up to a hundred watts for every square meter. This is equivalent to using an old-fashioned light bulb.
You can prevent this kind of heat loss by simply drawing your curtains and lowering your blinds during dusk. These are extra barriers that can prevent radiant heat from escaping, thus, adding insulation.
Have the Walls Covered
Stone or solid brick walls are better at insulation than glass though they can still get pretty cold. External walls made of sandstone, for instance, could get as cold as 16 to 17°C which is about 3-4°C cooler than the room’s air.
Cover the walls with mirrors or framed photographs. Even those poster ads are additional layers that will serve as insulation, thus, raising internal temperatures. You could cut your energy bills by a quarter as you bring down the room temperature by 1°C.
If you want more than just framed photos and mirrors, then go Medieval by having tapestries and carpets on your walls. These prove to be even more effective in keeping warmth inside your home.
Now what could be better than bookshelves or cabinets in covering your walls and keeping the cold air right where it belongs which is outside? If you’re an avid book collector, then those books could also serve as the best insulators. So start loving your printed books all over again.
The fireplace is an ever reliable part of your home when it comes to warming up during winter. Featured here is the Maitland-Smith Dining Room Scrolled Brass And Metallic Brown Iron Fireplace Screen 1351-397.
Install Screens
Even when you’re done reducing the heat loss coming from the outer walls, you can up the shield some more by drawing up wooden screens. This is how people of old huddled up as they formed a circle around a fire.
Screens are effective in keeping people’s backs warm during the olden days. You could mimic this by protecting your back and your face from the damaging effects of the fireplace as you use fire screens.
Position Furniture for Warmth
How warm you feel in your home depends hugely on where you are standing. The farther you are from the external walls, remember, the warmer you would feel. Since there’s science behind this, it is best to position your furniture sets right next to internal walls, this way, you would feel a lot warmer.
So say no to stiff neck brought about by your bed’s headboard placed against a cold external wall or cold legs brought about by a desk sitting against one of the external walls. Beds with solid headboard and a four-poster bed are the best solutions if you wish to have warmer nights.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for winter, winter design, winter interiors
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Warming Up On Winter
Tuesday, December 6th, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Bedroom Sunset Point King Fretwork Panel Bed is an awesome guest room bed.
As cliché as it may sound, Christmas is literally just around the corner and it’s that time of the year to clean up and prepare the different rooms and areas in your home. You have to know how to divide the tasks among the family members and to make it a fun project rather than a dull one.
Prepare the Guest Room
Christmas also means hosting parties. This means welcoming guests to your home so you also have to prepare the guest bedrooms. Even when you’re not expecting guests, it is best to always expect the unexpected during the holidays. It is common for relatives or friends to suddenly show up so they could celebrate the festive season with you. It may also become impossible to drive home every single guest who will go to your place so, at times, it becomes necessary for some people to spend the night with you. This, all the more, makes guest bedroom prepping a must.
It is also imperative to change the sheets to make sure that the beds smell fresh and clean. Use a gentle detergent in washing duvet covers and sheets. Wash them separately from your other pieces of clothing; this is to avoid having small items caught among the sheets.
Another step in preparing the guest room is to vacuum and polish. This becomes doubly important if the guest room is not used most times of the year. Rooms that are unoccupied for longer periods tend to gather dust so be sure to check them and clean up.
Put a potted houseplant in the room to increase the level of serenity inside that room.
Make space also for a wardrobe, a drawer or two, and a nightstand where the guest can place his keys, coins or some reading materials. Be sure to check the wardrobes as these become the home for mold when moisture somehow seeps in.
Learn to Prioritize
The perfect time to clean up is not hours before your guests arrive. Clean up the guest room drawers, linen closets, the dining room and the den days before the guests are expected to arrive. Remove any unnecessary items from coffee tables, countertops, ottomans, and other furniture. Should you run out of time, just bag the unwanted items and store them temporarily in the basement or in the attic.
The time to sort and arrange is when your guests say their farewells.
Consider Safety
An important part of preparing your home for your holiday guests is to invest in ample lighting. Exterior lighting should be working just as well as the interior lights. If you can, add motion-activated lights in bathrooms, hallways and bedrooms to ensure a zero accident holiday.
Prepare your home further by child proofing it. You might not have kids at home but your guests might bring theirs with them. Ask the parents to bring cabinet locks and baby gates if you’re not willing to invest in these items. Put all medicines and toxic cleaners inside cabinets. Be sure to hide lighters and matches.
Freshen also the smoke detector batteries. Run a fire drill when your guests arrive so that they know where to exit should fire ensue.
CYNTHIA ROWLEY FOR HOOKER FURNITURE DINNER AT EIGHT DINING TABLE with 2-18IN LEAVES: The dining room should be uncluttered and tidy during your guests’ visit.
Prepare the Kitchen
The kitchen is going to be a busy room this season so increase the storage and place a pot rack where hot, cooked foods can be placed before being brought to the dining room. Move the coffeemaker to the family room in order to avoid guests crowding the kitchen.
Place extra chairs and stools for people who love to chat even while you’re cooking.
Other Upgrades
Apart from these preparations, you can also upgrade the foyer by repainting old doors. Polish metal door hardware and hinges. Erase the scratches on stairs, hardwood floors and wood railings. Have a welcome rug placed at your home entrance. Lastly, add a storage bench where the guests can place their shoes and boots.
Tags: Christmas interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for winter, winter decor, winter decoration
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 29th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Living Room Melange Saffron Crackle Chest is red and apt for this joyful season.
The Christmas season is just around the corner so it’s no surprise that fairy lights and trees evoke warm, fuzzy feelings once again. As early as now, decide on the theme that you would like to have for your home. You can go traditional with the red and white decorative theme or you can go distinctive and allow your home to stand out.
Everyone loves to bring out the decorative items for Christmas so why not ask the help of your family in setting up your home? Get ready with your wreaths and garlands, prep the mantel and the front door, clean the mailbox, prepare the card holders, ribbons and Christmas balls. It’s surely that wonderful time of the year once more.
So, go ahead, grab a mug of hot chocolate and start being inspired by these decorating ideas for Christmas –
Lustrous Table Toppers
Decorating your home for the holidays needn’t be stressful, what it should be is beautiful. Why not give your holiday table a little glimmer by buying metallic toppers or table runners? The more colorful and shimmery, the better.
Christmas Card Spectacular
Create a Christmas display by using wintry branches. On their own, they are actually beautiful but when you arrange them in a vessel or large vase, they become even more charming and festive. Scour through the Christmas cards that your loved ones gave you and find the ones that you will use as display during this merry season.
Let the Garden Inspire
Display ornaments right under the garden cloche. Find a bell-shaped glass cover which will serve as the mini greenhouse for the outdoor plants. These can be bought in many garden supply shops. You can also fill these with sparkling trimmings which can add radiance atop the dining table.
To fill, have the cloche turned upside down then balance then balance in a teacup. Put in the ornaments, invert the plate right on the open end. Turn the cloche carefully with the plate, right side up, then display.
Christmas and Mistletoes
What is Christmas without the traditional mistletoe? This is referred to as the kissing ball and it should be one of your decorative items this season. These will encourage your visitors to show a bit of love.
You can also turn the walkway to your home into a winter wonderland by lining up embellished urns that overflow with greenery and Christmas ornaments.
Pinecone Still Life
Another simple arrangement that you can use is to fill your home with the aroma of having that walk in the woods. Find a branch with unique, sculptural lines, fresh needles then find some pinecones which you can use as frog to keep the branch from tipping over.
Woody plants look good as ornaments just make sure to cut the end parts which will be dipped with pruning shears. This should allow the water to seep through more easily. Find a wide-mouthed glass vase to show the pinecones inside, fill it up with water then put the branch right among the cones.
Hot mug of chocolate, wreaths, mistletoe, Christmas tree, and the Capel Incorporated Floor Coverings Botanical Rug 0609CS Poinsettia – what could be more Christmassy?
Some Wreath Ideas
Tags: Christmas decor, Christmas interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for winter, winter decor, winter decoration, winter design, winter interior design, winter interiors
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Winter Season | No Comments »
Friday, November 18th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Sandcastle Fretback Arm Chair – Upholstered Seat
Winter is just right around the corner. Pretty soon, you will be changing your wardrobe to wools and thicker fabrics. It is just as important to prepare your home for the upcoming winter chill. One of the delightful things about the holiday season is sitting or even curling up in your cozy chair as you sip hot chocolate while reading a bestseller.
Beating the cold temperatures is all about your indulgence with warm hues and cozy textures. You do all these while keeping your interiors still fresh and airy.
If you’re bent on designing around this upcoming season, here are simple tips to get started –
Use Winter Throws
Winter is a great time to pamper yourself using soft and comfortable textiles. Add sheepskin, wool , velvet or faux fur. If you did save up for a seasonal treat, then go ahead and invest in some cashmere throws.
Resist the temptation to leave these winter throws inside the bedroom. Other rooms also need the visual warmth that these throws can provide so spread ‘em out.
Be Sure to Insulate
Insulation isn’t just a fundamental preparation for your safety this coming season. This also crosses to the decorative realm. If you are living in a state that’s extremely cold during winter, then this is something that you should definitely prioritize.
Check all your doors and windows for any leaks. Find out if you need to add some blinds or window drapes in order to reduce heat loss. Your efforts will definitely pay off as you enjoy a warmer winter while your savings pile up on your energy bills.
Hugs and Rugs
Some area rugs are needful this coming season. They won’t just keep your feet warm, they’ll also add character to your home. Find rugs that suit your chosen theme or color scheme. You might also want to rethink your flooring materials since tiles or bare wooden floors are quite unforgiving during winter.
See if you can find Navajo textile area rugs as well as blankets. These will give your home a cozier and warmer feel.
Create Bedroom Layers
You should consider the many ways that you can make the bedroom warmer and fuzzier this winter. Just make sure that you won’t go overboard, though.
Use different layers of bedding such as comforters and quilt. Don’t just limit your winter makeover on the bed, make sure the rest of the bedroom also gets an overhaul.
Add unique lighting then fill the void corner with an exciting accent chair. Having a small bedroom is not such a bad thing after all.
The beauty of this Uttermost Accessories Winter White 35340 will make the starkness of winter less cold.
Use Greeneries
A tad of natural beauty brought about by houseplants and flowers are the perfect elements that would balance any seemingly cold look. The snowy world outside could also serve as an inspiration for your indoors. Use an all-white look for the backdrop then find greeneries to complete the style.
The snow white look could easily become a lifeless look if you’re not careful, though. Make sure that you don’t allow it to look too daunting or sterile. Give it a touch of nature by adding birch logs, white corals and pine cones.
Fire Up the Fireplace
What could be more magical than to use the fireplace to think about winter? The fireplace is a must-have during winter as it can fill the room with a different kind of radiance. All your winter décor won’t be as effective if the warmth of the fireplace isn’t felt.
In the absence of a fireplace, don’t fret. You can always rely on the romantic glow of candle lights. The flickering lights are just as dreamy so just set the candles up using lovely candelabra and you’re done.
Tags: designing for winter, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for winter, preparing your home for winter, winter essentials, winter interior design, winter interiors
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Winter Season | No Comments »
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