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Decorating Your Outdoor Living Areas

Now that the sunny days of summer are officially here, make sure your outdoor living areas are stylish and inviting. A luxurious, relaxing outdoor space can meet a variety of needs like gathering with your family, entertaining friends, alfresco dining, or simply lounging. Whether you have a porch, patio, deck, or balcony, we have a few decorating suggestions that will turn your outdoor space into an ultimate oasis of comfort.

A Reimagined Room

Consider your outdoor space another room of your home. Rather than following the “bring the outside in” decorating themes you may use in your interior rooms, instead, “bring the inside out” to create a decorated space. Choose essential pieces such as sofas, benches, chairs, stools, and tables of varying sizes to provide ample seating. Since space is at a premium in outdoor living areas, choose furniture and accessories that can perform double-duty. Look for seating and tables with storage space underneath. Make sure to opt for all-weather furniture and specialized outdoor fabrics that repel water and resist soiling and mildew.

Overhead, Underfoot, and Perimeter

Create a roof, floor, and walls for your outside room. A freestanding umbrella provides coverage from the sun. One large or several small woven rugs add warmth underfoot. Fencing or latticework add an air of privacy, or if you are looking for a less permanent solution consider bamboo (which quickly grows to 35 to 40 feet,) shrubs, dwarf trees or colorful climbing plants.

Add Fire and Water

A fireplace will draw you and your guests on chilly evenings, but if your space or budget won’t allow a full-size version, consider gathering around a fire pit. Water features keep temperatures down while providing calming white noise. If space or budget won’t allow for a large built-in fountain, consider a tabletop version.

Focal Point and Finishing Touches Well-designed interior rooms often have a single eye-catching element. Apply the same principle to your outdoor living area by choosing something to build off of such as a centerpiece or an amazing view. Arrange your furniture as one complete space or break up and arrange into established zones for dining or relaxing. Add blankets and throw pillows to add warmth and encourage cuddling. A chandelier, candles, or Chinese lanterns will brighten the space and add nighttime ambience. Rotate seasonal plants in pots of varying shapes, sizes, and colors to add texture and a constantly changing color palette.

Approach decorating your outdoor living area as you would your living room. Step outside your comfort zone and try a new style this season, such as mixing bold accents and traditional indoor furnishings. The decorating and design team at Outrageous Interiors can offer you several suggestions for making your open-air outdoor living room your favorite place to be this summer. Come into one of our showrooms today and let us help you decorate your outdoor living area.

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Creating a Cozy Reading Area

Every home should have a comfortable, quiet place to curl up with a good book. If your home doesn’t have a quiet space, you can easily create your own area for reading, drawing, writing, or listening to music. Pick a corner, loft space, or alcove that’s as secluded as possible from the rest of the house and free of loud noises. Since most reading nooks are a small area in a larger room, divide the area from the rest of the room by putting a low table or dresser perpendicular to one wall or hanging curtains to create a canopy and a distraction-free environment.

Furniture Every reading nook needs a comfy chair or cozy loveseat. Position your seating to take full advantage of any views you may have from nearby windows. A small table next to your seating is useful for holding glasses, a cup of tea, a snack, or a few books. Obviously, a reading area needs reading material, but a full-size bookshelf could overwhelm a small space. Instead, choose a low bookshelf or hang a few small shelves on the wall to hold your favorite books. Magazines and newspapers can be stored on magazine racks or small baskets.

Lighting Lighting is crucial for any space and your reading area is no exception. While daylight will provide enough light for reading during sunny days, you need proper lighting for not-so-sunny days and at nighttime. Overhead lighting is too harsh, but an adjustable desk or floor lamp is ideal. Some lamps have adjustable arms that allow a reader to angle the light directly onto their book. Use soft, reader-friendly bulbs that provide enough light to prevent eye strain while reading, but still put off a relaxing glow.

Accessories Lots of pillows and an afghan or quilt will add comfort and warmth to your reading space. Additional accents such as a tabletop water fountain and delicious smelling candle can help you focus and further unwind while reading.

The most important part of a reading nook is comfort. Every reader has different preferences, so customize your reading environment to make it your own. Surround yourself with soft colors, patterns, and textures that make you feel tranquil and relaxed. Keep the area free of unnecessary electronics and items that give you a sense of unease. You want this area to constantly appeal to you and encourage you to take time to curl up with your favorite reading materials.

At Outrageous Interiors we have all the furniture, lighting, and accessories you need to create your own reading retreat. Come by one of our showrooms and let our design team help you make a cozy reading area in your home today!

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Bright Ideas: Choosing the Right Lamps and Lampshades for Your Space

Are you looking to provide ambiance and lighting to a room but you’re in the dark about how to choose the right lamp and lampshade for your space? Some rooms need large amounts of light and others only need a small addition. Let us shed some light on how not all lamps are created equal, why you need different styles for the different rooms of your home, and a few guidelines for choosing the perfect lampshade.

The overhead light in your bedroom is great for bathing the whole room in light but it usually isn’t very calm or flattering. A floor lamp can light up a large amount of space in a less harsh way. Bedside lamps are great for reading and are often set atop nightstands, but be sure these lamps are not so large that they don’t allow room for your other nightstand decor. Choose ornate, eye-catching table and floor lamps for common areas such as your living room, but position them in a way that they don’t block your guests’ views. Buffet lamps on sideboards are great additions to a dining room’s chandeliers and pendant lights, while offices need task lamps for focusing on work.

Once you decide on a lamp for an area, you need to consider what type of lampshade it needs as an accessory. Lampshades can match your accent colors or add new patterns and textures to your space. With thousands of shapes, styles, colors, and materials to choose from, it is easy to become overwhelmed. A good rule of thumb to determine the correct size of your shade is to choose a shade about 3/4 the height of your lamp and slightly wider than the width of the lamp’s base. If your lamp base is square or rectangular, a similarly shaped shade will work well. Choose a shade that complements the colors in the lamp’s base as well as the colors of the room where it will be used. Make sure that you select as shade that has the same fasteners as your base and be sure the shade allows enough space between it’s sides and the light bulb for proper ventilation. Also, remember that a darker shade or heavy fabric will allow less light through and into your space.

Just like with all other aspects of decorating, there are no rules! Different sizes, styles, and colors of lamps and lampshades can produce different design results. Come into one of our showrooms today and let use demonstrate some of our favorite lamp and lampshade combinations. You’re sure to find the perfect solution for any space in your home.

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Celebrate Earth Day Every Day with “Green” Decorating

This April 22, there are lots of ways to celebrate Earth Day…even decorating your home! No matter your style, you can create an eco-friendly living space by choosing to fill your home with sustainable and renewable decorative items. Making conscious choices about how we live and what we buy are the two main goals of “green” home decor. Don’t feel as if you are denying yourself by “going green.” You can still be creative and responsible when you decorate your home with sustainability in mind.

Choose Eco-Friendly Materials and Products

Look for products that are produced sustainably as well as ones that are recyclable and made from recycled materials. When buying furniture, look for materials that come from renewable resources such as bamboo, cork, beech wood, reclaimed lumber, and stainless steel. When choosing fabric for upholstery and draperies look for sustainable fibers like wool, bamboo, jute, and hemp which can look and feel just like fine linen. There is even wallpaper made from grass! You can make a major environmental impact when you choose what goes under your feet. With almost 5 billion pounds(!) of carpet being dumped annually, a more environmentally friendly option is removable, modular flooring made with non-toxic dyes and recycled materials. They carpet squares are easy to install yourself and don’t need support from toxic padding. Years from now, when you decide to change them out, they can be shipped back to the manufacturer for recycling. A great “green” decorating idea lots of us already do is repurposing an old piece of furniture to give it new life. For your next project, be sure to choose eco-friendly paints such as clay- or milk-based paints and when you are painting the rooms in your home select paints that are labeled “Low-VOC” or “zero-VOC.”

Green Decorating Bonus: Financial Incentives

Eco-friendly additions to your home are not only good for the environment, but also good for your wallet. After remodels, contact organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. They can check your “trash” for reusable parts. Also, donate all of your unwanted decor to charity. Each of these types of donations can earn you a tax break.

Eco-friendly design doesn’t mean denying yourself the opportunity to decorate according to your style. It is simply recognizing and minimizing the effect our choices have on our world. Plus, knowing what your home’s decor is actually made of will make you breathe easier, literally.

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Commitment-Free Decorating for Temporary Spaces

Decorating a temporary space can feel like a dilemma. When you are living somewhere short-term, you want to feel at home and personalize your living space but are limited in your decorating due to strict landlord guidelines. You can still add style and personality to a space without big commitments. Try these temporary solutions to make your space feel like home—without sacrificing your security deposit.

Soothing Soft Furnishings

Add comfort to a space with curtains, pillows, throws, and rugs. Swap out the current window treatments for a fresher, more contemporary style on the existing rod or add long, wall to wall curtain rods to drape entire walls in multiple panels. Mix individually styled pillows as accents on your bed, couch, and chairs. Large pillows on the floor make extra seating and add additional prints and fabrics into a room. Fold blankets at the end of beds and drape them over chairs and sofas or opt for brightly colored interchangeable sofa covers. Hide unattractive floors and add texture, color, and pattern underfoot with bold rugs.

Detailed Hardware

Small details can make a big impact. Switching out elements such as doorknobs, drawer pulls, curtain accessories, faucets, shower heads, knobs, pulls, and feet can update any room. Safely store the old pieces in a box and enjoy your attractive alternatives. Then swap back the old hardware when you move out, taking your new accessories with you.

Art Incorporation

With a few screws (whose holes you can patch later) you can add a floating shelf or art rail to display your art collection without hammering a nail for each individual piece. Switch up pieces to constantly create new looks. Another option for adding art into your space is to go big. Giant art can add color to a room without actually painting or papering any walls. A single, large-scale, room-defining print or painting can be propped against a wall for a contemporary look.

Mood Lighting

Lighting can completely change the look and feel of a space. Replace lampshades on mis-matched lamps to create a cohesive look. Consider showcasing Edison bulbs in an industrial decor or replacing ceiling lamps and wall sconces that are more to your taste. Generic overhead fixtures can be swapped out without even touching the wiring. Hang onto the shades and old fixtures for moving day.

Wallpaper

If you love the look of wallpaper, but can’t make the commitment due to your rental agreement, hang a continuous sheet of wallpaper using simple double-sided tape or try a peel-and-stick, temporary design. These self-adhesive papers are easy to apply and can be removed with virtually no residue. If an all over pattern is too much, use vinyl decals and wall stickers to create accent areas.

Don’t hold back on decorating just because you are living in a space temporarily. You can add your personal stamp to a space without a permanent commitment or a large investment. At Outrageous Interiors we offer a wide variety of home decor and a knowledgeable staff who can assist you in personalizing your space. Stop into one of our showrooms today and let us help you fill your short term space with pieces that will work with your current and future decor.

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These 5 Free Apps Will Take Your Interior Decorating Skills to the Next Level

Do you spend hours on Pinterest, Houzz, and other home decorating apps? Those apps are great for inspiration and ideas but what about creating within your own space? What do different pieces of furniture, artwork, and paint colors actually look like in YOUR home? Now you can use your phone’s camera feature to see how specific design ideas will look before you make a commitment. Whether you’re moving, remodeling, or looking to revamp a space, these 5 free apps will help you see exactly how that new couch, painting, or wall color is going to look.

Photo Measures Lite by Big Blue Pixel, Inc. (Apple and Android)

Simply take a photo and note a room’s exact layout and dimensions by adding your measurements onto the picture. Add additional information in the comments and organize your photos by category, such as bedroom, kitchen, etc. Perfect for communicating with contractors or to use when shopping, always have access to all of your home’s measurements with Photo Measures Lite.

SnapShop Showroom by SnapShop Inc. (Apple)

Visualize furniture in any room by holding up your phone, dragging, and then dropping furniture from the app’s catalog into your room. Pick an item from a list of images (sofas, floor lamps, etc.) Use your fingers to position and rotate your chosen item to your preferred spot, then take a photo and it really looks like the item is in your living room!

Homestyler Interior Design by Autodesk (Apple and Android)

Similar to SnapShop Showroom, Homestyler Interior Design also gives you an idea of what your room will look like when you add different pieces of furniture and lighting. It will also inspire you with stunning interior design projects, tips, trends, articles, how-to’s and more.

Artfully Walls Try on Wall by Shira Galili (Apple)

Confused about laying out a gallery wall? The last thing you want to do is drill a bunch of holes only to find out that your art is uneven or hung at the wrong level. Take a photo of your wall, choose measurements and see your virtual wall before deciding on your final look.

Paint Tester by Luminant Software, Inc. (Apple and Android)

Finding the right color for a room can be a challenge. Swatches taped to the wall and sectioned splotches of different paint colors can’t show you what an entire wall will look like. Paint Tester shows you results by trying colors from the palette or from your photo of the color. Take the guesswork out of painting and see what your walls will look like before you even pick up a paintbrush.

While many of these apps promote in-app purchases, be sure to bring your photo results to the decorators at Outrageous Interiors before you click “buy.” We can help you find what you’re looking for once we see exactly what you have in mind. Whether you’re looking to renovate, redecorate, or simply looking for interior design inspiration, check out these apps, then come visit an Outrageous Interiors showroom! Your style paired with our expertise can bring your ideas to life.

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Doors to New Ideas

Reclaimed wood doors are eye-catching in vintage shops but it’s easy to think “Where would I put an entire door?” Believing you don’t have room for it, you may bypass it, but there are so many creative options for reusing these vintage doors in new, transformed ways, both indoors and outdoors. Here’s why you shouldn’t pass up that next old door you see.

Indoor Ideas for Reusing Old Doors

Transform a door into a beautiful and functional entryway organization bench. Create a perfect catch-all station where you can slip shoes on and off and conceal entryway clutter by attaching an old door to a small chest, painting them both in the same color, and then adding hooks. Use an old door as a backboard to an open bookshelf. Attach a vintage door to a sliding rail or attach multiple doors together with hinges to create room dividers. Make headboards with doors displayed horizontally behind a queen or king bed, vertically behind twin beds, or turn a twin mattress to the side and create a daybed with a door set horizontally behind it. Painted or refinished doors can easily be turned into kitchen tables, coffee tables, and desks. Create a unique piece of art by adding chalkboard paint to sections and displaying the door on your wall. Remember to think outside the box and consider how you can change the shape of the door. Cut a whole door down into smaller pieces and use these sections to replace your bathroom medicine cabinet doors or saw an old door down the middle and to make a corner shelving unit for extra storage.

Outdoor Ideas for Reusing Old Doors

An old door can bring whimsy to any outdoor area. It can be made into a potting table or picnic table by simply attaching it to two sawhorses. Go one step further to create a beverage station at your next party by adding galvanized tubs for cool drinks. Use an old door to showcase your green thumb. Create a planter rack by attaching steel cans filled with plants directly to the door, and then train a trellis to climb it. Another fun outdoor idea for adding rustic charm to your front porch is by turning a sturdy, old door (or two) into a porch swing.

Call it “upcycling,” “recycling,” or simply unique decor, an old door still has life in it. The next time you see an old door, ask yourself whether you could use it whole, in pieces, or create something entirely new.

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St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Decorating

Shake off that winter chill and add some new items to your home decor. March brings Daylight Savings time, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter, inspiring you to move your decor forward as well as the clocks. You probably already have a few seasonal decorations that you will bring out of storage for these holidays but you might also be looking for some new ideas.

Thursday, March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is all about the green! Serve your corned beef and cabbage or Shepard’s pie on a table featuring a Celtic stenciled tablecloth and green napkins folded into four leaf clovers (easy tutorials are available online.) Leprechauns and shamrocks abound but sometimes they’re not exactly what we are looking for in our home decor. A softer way to achieve the feeling of St. Patrick’s Day is to add some greenery. Lush plants, mosses, and clover incorporated into a St. Patrick’s vignette on your fireplace mantle can transition into your Easter and remaining spring decor, thus bringing freshness into your home and preparing you for the following holiday.

Sunday, March 27: Easter

You may have planned an afternoon of decorating Easter eggs but what about your home? Your Easter decor could use some freshening up and it’s as easy as using one of those egg dye kits. Since spring has begun, it is only natural that new blooms should be a part of your Easter decor. Display daffodils and tulips in vases and incorporate small pots of forced bulbs throughout your home before you transfer them outdoors. Showcase white milk plaster vases, pitchers, and platters on your already green mantle and add pastels along with bright pops of color. If you don’t have a green thumb, try a succulent wreath on your front door or arrange big, leafy, blooming branches in a vase. Display this vase on top of a tall piece of furniture to create height in a space. When it comes to your ham or roast lamb Easter dinner, set your table with cake stands topped with fabric birds, twine nests, your dyed eggs, and votive candles.

Party supply stores can offer novelty decorations, jewelry, and candy, but Outrageous Interiors can show you how to decorate your spaces for each holiday as well as the tradition times between. Visit one of our showrooms today and let our helpful staff show you a few spring decor suggestions.

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Decorating with Feng Shui: The Basics

Discovered by the Chinese and practiced for centuries, Feng shui (pronounced “fung shway”) creates balanced, comfortable, and harmonious environments that contribute to physical and mental health, relationships, and success. Feng shui is a term composed of two Chinese words: feng (wind) and shui (water.) These two flowing, moving elements carry good feng shui energy called “chi.” Specific placement of furniture, possessions, and yourself supports the flow of chi through a living space, which in turn supports and enhances your personal chi. Carefully consider what you bring in, how you arrange your rooms, and how you maintain the your space by utilizing these feng shui tips to help guide your home’s chi.

Before you begin moving any objects in your home, you must first get rid of everything you do not absolutely love. While clearing clutter is time and energy consuming, do not skip this step! Clutter complicates your life and is unsettling to look at. Also clear clutter from places in your home that are hidden, such as kitchen cupboards, closets, the garage, and laundry room. With each item, honestly ask yourself if you use it, have a genuine connection to it, or have a place for it. If you do not, donate it or throw it away.

Charts incorporating the elements, colors and shapes are available online to guide you in detailed placement of furniture and accessories, but a general rule of feng shui is you should not hit any furniture as you cross a space and walkways to other rooms should be clear. Here are a few basic feng shui decorating suggestions to encourage the flow of chi throughout your home.

Sofa: A sofa should be placed a few inches out from a solid wall farthest from the room’s entry, with a clear view of the door. Think about how you feel safe at a restaurant when you have your back to a wall as opposed to an open doorway or windows.

Bed: The head of a bed should be placed against the wall farthest from the door but never directly across from it. Leave space on both sides of the bed and always have a clear view of the door.

Tables: You do not want harsh angles pointing at people gathered around a coffee table, so choose a circular or oval shape to let energy move around more easily. In your dining room, do not have a table that is too big for the space, causing guests to feel locked in when they are seated.

Light: Dark areas represent neglect and light activates energy. Shed light on dark corners and make sure to have enough light sources that each area of a room can be well lit when it is in use.

Mirrors: Mirrors recirculate energy and enhance natural light. Place them so they reflect pleasant views and hang them high enough that seated guests do not see themselves.

Plants: Good air quality is essential for establishing chi. Open the windows to allow in fresh air, decorate with air-purifying plants, and consider using an air-purifier.

You can explore the deeper levels of feng shui, such as the annual movement of feng shui stars, or energies, but be sure to start with the basic steps first to achieve harmony with your surroundings. After you’ve cleared your clutter and begin looking for treasured pieces to fill your space, visit one of our showrooms full of decorations sure to bring joy and chi to your home.

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Express Yourself with a Gallery Wall

It’s time to fill that bare wall with photos and art. A gallery wall can transform and personalize a room, turning a blank space into a collective masterpiece. Before you start hammering nails, take a little time to consider what you want your finished product to look like.

Selecting Your Pieces:

You can choose to tie your gallery together with a theme, matching frames, styles, or images to create a cohesive design or you can mix and match for a more eclectic look. There are no rules about which pieces should be included. Combine black-and-white and color photos, artwork, paintings, drawings, and illustrations to create a collection that matters to you. Choose distinctive pieces and meaningful moments that reflect your passions and interests. If your collection spans multiple themes, consider using frames of a similar design or style to tie the collection together. Rather than using the same frame for everything, use 2 or 3 styles or colors to provide a unified look.

Play with the Layout:

Gather the possibilities and lay out the framed work on the floor. Start with your largest item as an anchor piece to provide a focal point, (this item does not have to be placed in the center of the collection.) Then working from the center out, fill smaller pieces around it. Vary the sizes and styles to make the collection feel balanced and keep your eye moving. Add, subtract, and move items until you get a good balance. Try a few different arrangements and take photos of your variations as you go. Keep a room’s furniture in mind when creating your layout. Allow for a boundary of at least 12” above a piece of furniture to ensure the piece is clearly seen as well as to limit potential damage. You need to be thoughtful of the gallery layout as well as the height of the pieces. Art should be hung at eye level, with the center of the piece around 57” – 59” from the floor. Keep your lines sharp and maintain at least 3 inches between each piece to make it stand out on its own. If you want to have a better idea of what the collection will look like on the wall, use painter’s tape to create a visual before breaking out the hammer.

Hanging Your Collection

Remove any wires from the back of the frames and hang your pieces from the D-rings that held the wire, or attach two D-rings to the backs of your frames. This eliminates crooked artwork. After each piece is hung, use a level (or the level app on your phone) to make sure everything is evenly aligned.

A gallery wall is your chance to make a one of a kind statement in your home. For more advice on creating your unique gallery wall, contact the design team at Outrageous Interiors, or come browse one of our showrooms for a few new pieces to add to your gallery wall layout.

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When Considering New Carpet, Pay Close Attention to Construction

Carpeting provides a soft cushioned surface for your feet and adds character to a room. You don’t think much of it until it is time to replace, but often choosing a carpet for an area can be overwhelming. Your first step when considering new carpet is to find the correctly constructed carpet for your space. Carpet can be grouped into three primary constructions; loop pile, cut pile, and cut and loop pile. Pile refers to the way the carpet loop is treated after it is pulled through a piece of backing material, and is also referred to as the “face” or “nap.”

Loop Pile: Loop pile yarns are looped and fastened to the backing, leaving the entire loop intact and visible on the surface. This style has been increasing in popularity over the past 10 years. For example, Berber styles are loop styles with flecks of a darker color on a lighter background, making it easier to hide dirt. They are durable in construction and don’t show footprints or vacuum marks, making them a good choice for high-traffic areas. While they are denser than many other carpets and highly stain resistant, their loops are a snagging hazard in homes with pets or children.

Cut Pile: Cut pile fiber ends are cut evenly to produce soft, easy to clean carpets. Textured plush, Saxony, frieze, and cable, are several types of cut pile carpet that each provide a different appearance due to the durability of the fiber used, the density of the tufts, and the twist of the yarn. Textured plush is the most decoratively versatile. Its two-toned yarn and an uneven surface give it a casual look and its tight-twist construction helps resist soil and assist in hiding footprints and vacuum marks. Saxony is the most popular carpet pile, featuring individual strands standing straight up and down. These closely packed yarns give a soft, smooth surface that is perfect in formal, low-traffic areas. Friezé yarns are extremely twisted, producing a curly-textured surface. If the piles are long, it is called “shag.” This is a highly durable, informal style that hides dirt and wear, and minimizes footprints and vacuum marks, making it suitable for high traffic areas. Cable-style, cut pile carpet, is made with long, thick fibers that provide a cozy feeling when walked on.

Cut and Loop pile: This carpet style combines cut and looped pile fibers to provide a variety of surface textures and patterns that disguise wear and soiling. Cut and loop doesn’t necessarily hold up as well as loop pile, but is considerably softer. Popular during the 1970s and 1980s, use of this style has declined in recent years.

Just as there are multiple factors considered in the quality of diamonds, construction is only one of several aspects that should be thought of when you are choosing new carpet. Texture, fiber types, weight, twist, and density are just a few other factors that should also be considered.

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Building the Perfect Bar Cart

A well stocked home bar cart is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to impress your guests the next time they stop by for cocktail hour. No need to invest in an extensive collection of beverages and accessories. Simply build your bar cart around your personal preference and tastes. Choose a cart with a couple of shelves and possibly a drawer to hide clutter. Consider repurposing a small table or search vintage and thrift stores for a unique addition. While the cart is functional in organizing cocktail related items, it is also an opportunity to showcase your personality.

The Top Shelf of Your Cart (Liquors, Tools, and Garnishes)

The most visible section of your cart should feature the most frequented items: liquor, cocktail tools, and garnishes. Position taller bottles behind shorter ones so all your labels are visible or display a few of your liquors in elegant decanters. Here are a few of the basics, but choose according to what you enjoy and what your guests are likely to prefer. Vodka for martinis, cosmopolitans, Bloody Marys, and screwdrivers. Gin for gin martinis, gimlets, negronis, or mixed with juices or tonic water. Rum for daiquiris, mojitos. or mixed with soda. Tequila can be served neat with lime and salt or in margaritas, tequila sunrises, or palomas. (Look for 100% agave for the smoothest taste.) Whiskey can be served straight, on the rocks, in a whiskey sour, or mixed with soda. Vermouth is a necessary component in martinis and Manhattans. As for tools, only stock the ones you believe will be needed to prevent crowding your cart. A cocktail shaker and strainer, mixing glass, bar spoon, jiggers, cutting board and paring knife for preparing garnishes, jiggers, ice bucket and tongs, wine and bottle openers, carafe, muddler for smashing fruit and herbs, cocktail sticks, and straws. Olives, pickles, cucumbers, celery, fresh herbs, and fruit slices are great additions to complement your mixed drinks and beers.

The Bottom Shelf of Your Cart (Mixers, Glasses, and Snacks)

The bottom shelf of your bar cart should hold your wine, beer, liqueurs, sodas, juices, tonic waters, club sodas, and grenadine. This area is also the perfect display space for some of your favorite glassware and dishes. Consider adding a few lowball, highball, cordial, martini, rocks, shot, stemmed cocktail, champagne flute, wine, or beer glasses to your cart. Rather than display every different type of glass, choose a few for the drinks you’ll likely be having and arrange the glassware upside-down to prevent dust from accumulating on the inside. Stock a few fun nibbles for guests. Salty snacks pair great with most cocktails. Try popcorn or mixed nuts with a special kick, like wasabi or sriracha.

Add a few finishing touches to your bar cart such as a lamp, framed photograph, or fresh flowers. Coasters and napkins are also a nice touch to accompany each drink and keep your furniture free of water rings. Keep your bar cart neat and updated by constantly editing and adding. You will find that it will develop and evolve along with you and your guests’ cocktail tastes.

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Make your Master Bedroom a Cozy Retreat

The master bedroom is often low on a homeowner’s lists of which rooms to decorate first. We have more guests in our dining and living rooms and tend to focus on their decor while the bedroom slips down the list or is altogether forgotten. It’s finally time to put your decorating focus on your master bedroom. You and your partner deserve a cozy, welcoming retreat to escape to at the end of a long day. If that’s not enough reason to motivate you, consider the fact that we spend roughly one-third of our lives in our bedrooms lounging, sleeping, and snuggling. This space more than any other is in need of your personal touch. (Remember that if you share your bedroom with another person, be sure its style reflects each of you.)

First of all clear the clutter. Look around and ask yourself what you really love and what you can live without. Keep and incorporate the pieces you love. Toss, donate, or relocate the items that don’t bring you instant happiness when you look at them. A fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper can instantly change the feeling of a room. If you find yourself stuck deciding on a color, look to your closet. The colors you wear most often are choices you will probably be pleased with on your walls. For the rest of your decor, stick with three coordinating colors. As long as your colors coordinate, you can mix patterns and stripes for unique combinations.

Your furniture doesn’t all have to match. Different materials and shades help a room from feeling too “cookie cutter.” Consider painting a piece of bedroom furniture in an accent shade to complement the rest of the room. Choose a headboard that matches your personality. An upholstered, wood, iron, bamboo, or tufted headboard will each give a different vibe to your space, and always position your bed to maximize the view outside. Keep your nightstand decor to a minimum. There should be room for a lamp, a book, a clock, and a glass of water. Any more and it will begin to look disheveled.

You will want adjustable lighting in your master retreat. Heavy drapes are great for keeping the room dark on mornings you want to sleep in, but a light sheer underneath is perfect for when you need to let in the natural light while still maintaining privacy. Your room should feature multiple lighting sources such as overhead and task lighting as well as have all lights on dimmers. To free up space on your nightstand, consider hanging pendant lights over each one.

Blank walls can make a room feel empty. Fill the space with a single large painting, photograph, or piece of artwork, or create a gallery wall with multiple shaped and sized work. Add accents such as a rug that extends beyond the edges and bottom of the bed and a vase of flowers to bring a fresh liveliness to the space.

The true focus of your master bedroom should be relaxation. A beautiful room is wonderful but you also must focus on the functionality of the space and the priority of a good night’s sleep. Invest in some luxurious bedding and pillows. Don’t put a desk in this room if you want to relax and not have your mind on that stack of bills or the emails looming on your laptop. Create an inviting environment that you makes you sigh with pleasure the moment you walk in the room. You deserve it!

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Choosing the Right Fabric Window Treatments

Window treatments adds personality to your home. They dress up any room and provide additional benefits such as maintaining privacy, controlling lighting, preventing sun damage, and blocking unwanted views, They complement your furniture and accessories and tie your living space together, bringing both functionality and visual appeal to your space. Sheers, curtain panels, and valances can each be used individually or in combination to create the best look for your home’s windows.

Sheers

Usually hung on spring-loaded tension rods, sheers are semi-transparent pieces of fabric that soften views and provide moderate privacy. For a voluminous effect use multiple sheers that each measure two or three times the width of the window on a single rod.

Curtain Panels

If you are looking for more privacy than sheers, fabric curtain panels will block light and offer privacy. Curtain panels come in a variety of fabrics ranging from simple cotton to lush velvet. Unlined panels may become semi-transparent when interior lights are on at night. Blackout liners are energy efficient and help to block out nearly 99% of sunlight. These liners are perfect if intense sun is an issue. They also keep your home’s heating and cooling costs down by blocking the heat in the summer and cold in the winter. Curtain panels are hung from wall-mounted rods or clips and look best in sizes one-and-a-half to two times the width of your windows.

Valances

Valances are the perfect option to accentuate a window you would rather leave exposed or pair them with blinds if you want more light control and privacy. These narrow strips of fabric run along the top width of windows to provide extra detail. A single, sheer valance gives a light, airy feel, but for a fuller effect, purchase a valance with fabric that’s two to three times the width of your window or windows.

Hardware

Remember to obtain the appropriate hardware when making your window treatment purchase, since some treatments require special mounting hardware. You can make your window treatments even more unique and customized by choosing eye-catching curtain rods made from a variety of materials. These rods can be simple or detailed, depending on the look you are hoping to achieve in your space. Additional hardware and details such as curtain ties will also turn your window treatment into a personalized statement.

If you are still stumped when it comes to which window treatments will look best in your space, give us a call and let our knowledgeable design team assist you.

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Bathroom Design and Decor

Do you have a tiny bathroom? Don’t despair. There are several design tricks you can incorporate to make any small bathroom look larger.

Space-Saving Shower

A shower is more commonly used than a tub, so forget about the tub to save a huge amount of space. Clear, sliding glass shower doors will make the space appear larger and eliminate the visual barrier that a textured glass door or shower curtain would create. Maximize the space within your shower by installing floating shelves, recessed storage, and using shower caddies.

Simplify Your Sink

Opting for a smaller sink can open the space in a small bathroom. A vanity sink does double duty with a sink and functional counter space, or consider replacing a traditional vanity cabinet with a console, wall-mounted, or pedestal sink for a lighter look that is ideal for a tiny space.

Trim Down The Toilet

Wall-hung toilets or those with round bowls fit best in a compact space.

Store It All Shelving

Incorporate shelving to store all your toiletries, towels, and bathroom essentials. Mount a shallow ledge near your sink, install floating shelves, or use an over-the-toilet shelving unit. Don’t forget the often overlooked area between a sink or toilet and the wall.

Well Appointed Wall Cabinets

Smaller bathrooms require cabinets that are compact, and recessed when possible since a protruding cabinet will make a space feel smaller. A deep medicine cabinet provides ample storage, and depending on the available space, two identical cabinets installed side by side will double the storage as well as make the space appear larger due to the exterior mirrors.

Sneaky Storage

Woven tote baskets and glass containers are beautiful and practical. If your space isn’t big enough to accommodate a shelving unit or cabinets to display these storage options, use over the door storage racks or install multiple towel racks on a door’s interior.

Bright and Light

A light, bright space will always appear larger than a dark space so beware of dark finishes on cabinets or walls. Bring in as much natural light as possible. If your small bathroom has a window, use a light, airy curtain or light-colored bling for privacy. Choose a light shade of paint and incorporate ample, attractive lighting. Employ task lighting in places such as the shower if the shower is used for shaving. Sconces provide soft and often adjustable lighting.

Maximize Your Mirrors

Take your mirror (or mirrors) to the ceiling when possible and incorporate lighting on top of or in front of the mirror to double its impact. If your space is large enough to have a double vanity, don’t incorporate a mirror over each sink, but rather use a large mirror over the entire area to prevent chopping up the space. If your bathroom has a window, try to place a mirror directly across from it to reflect back the natural light.

Don’t Cut the Corners

Corner sinks and shelving units make the most of limited space and when you are woking with a small bathroom it is important to use every square inch to its maximum potential.

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Entertaining for the Holidays

If you are entertaining for the holidays, you are probably planning on having a few overnight visitors in your guest bedroom. Here are a few tips to make your guests feel like they are staying in their own personalized boutique hotel.

Create a Dreamy Oasis

In order to give your guests a great night’s sleep, there is nothing more important than a properly outfitted bed. High thread count, 100% cotton sheets, a thick duvet and fluffy pillows will help your guests snooze in comfort. Soften and freshen new sheets by laundering, then starching and ironing them before making the bed. Provide light and heavy blankets, as well as a lightweight throw. A variety of sleeping pillows would also be appreciated since many people use more than one and they may need extra support to sit up in bed.

Make Space in Closets and Drawers

Guests don’t want to have to live out of their suitcases. Supply a variety of hangers in their closet to hold different clothing pieces. A full-length mirror on the closet’s interior is a nice addition. If your guest room has a dresser, clear a drawer or two for guests to store their clothes.

Provide Personal Toiletries

With travel restrictions on liquids and forgotten items, your guests will appreciate these little extras. Either leave these items in a bedroom drawer, make a small basket in the guest room, or leave them in the bathroom the guests will be using. Items to include: toothbrushes, toothpaste, a robe, towels (two large bath towels, two face towels, and a washcloth) for each guest, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion.

Control the Lighting

Window blinds and curtains provide privacy as well as block early morning sunlight. Blackout drapes are especially nice if your guests would like to sleep in. Also consider the room’s internal lighting. A small bedside lamp allows reading in bed and gives a softer touch to a room than an overhead light.

Food and Drink

Stock your guest room with mugs, a teapot, and small packets of coffee and tea. Leave a pitcher of water and a glass on the bedside table. A small selection of chocolates, cookies, and fruit add a nice touch.

Reading

Guidebooks, brochures, magazines, and a few books allow your guests to plan their excursions or to wind down after a long day of activities.

Additional Amenities An alarm clock and fresh flower arrangement on the bedside table, as well as a notecard with your WiFi password and directions on how to turn on the television, would be appreciated by any guest.

Decorate Sparingly

For guests to truly feel at home in a strange room, eliminate all the unnecessary clutter. If your guest room is usually a home office, gather the paperwork and clear the desk to provide a more serene surrounding.

It isn’t necessary to go to great expense to cater to overnight guests. Most aren’t expecting elaborate layouts beyond a clean, private room to rest and prepare for their next day. However, they will be grateful for each personal touch that you do to make them feel welcome.

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Artistic Reflection: Incorporating Mirrors into Your Home’s Décor

Move beyond thinking of mirrors as utilitarian and begin considering the myriad ways in which they can be showcased throughout your home’s decor. Mirrors can be subtly incorporated into the design of every room of your home and can perform multiple functions beyond a quick lipstick check.

Magicians use mirrors in their acts as ways to trick light and provide optical illusions. You can learn a thing or two from these performers and position mirrors strategically in a space to bring in more light or make a room look larger. To bring in more light, hang a mirror perpendicular to a window, rather than directly in front of it, to prevent it from reflecting the light back out. A small space will appear larger with the addition of a mirror, since the reflection provides a perception of space. Problems such as inadequate space and poor light can be quickly remedied by adding a single or multiple mirrors to a space.

Different mirrors work better in different spaces. In your bedroom decor, you can transform a dresser into a vanity table by placing a mirror on top. The light will reflect up onto your face, assisting you with your makeup application. Another option for is to use a large intricately detailed mirror in place of headboard. Your bathroom mirror doesn’t have to be a plain, simple rectangle. An oval mirror with a frame that complements your bathroom decor will provide a peaceful air to an otherwise practical necessity. Try a mirrored tabletop in the dining room. Paired with candlesticks, this look exudes elegance and romance.

Mirrors can create depth, enhance artwork, or be used as a statement piece. Using a large mirror will create new dimensions in a space, such as making a confined, narrow hallway feel broader when installed opposite a window. While a mirror itself, with its stylish frame and decorative details is a piece of art, it is more functional and versatile than a painting. Hung on a wall opposite a piece of art, a mirror will draw all eyes toward the artwork. Don’t think that your mirror’s frame needs to be a timeless piece to be aesthetically pleasing. Popular designs, such as starbursts, are great ways to incorporate new trends.

Mirrored furnishings are another way to incorporate reflective surfaces into a space. Stick with a single mirrored piece to maintain a classy look. Because mirrored surfaces show fingerprints easily, you may want to consider choosing a piece that will not be touched frequently.

We suggest you select a mirror whose color will complement your room’s paint in order to enhance the design of your space. If you have questions about incorporating mirrors into your home’s decor, just ask! We’d love to help. We have a large selection of wall mirrors as well as mirrored home decor accessories at each of our four locations. Check our Facebook to see a few ways we added mirrors into our room designs or come by one of our stores for more ideas.

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