Bathroom Vanities Add Value, Storage Space and Good Looks

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Craig

4625594038 dabe987096Making improvements to your bathroom is one of the surest ways to increase the value of your home. Adding or upgrading a bathroom vanity is something that can be done easily without breaking your budget. Bathroom vanities are available in a wide ranges of sizes, styles and finishes.

When you replace your sink with a bathroom vanity, you immediately add counter space around the sink as well as storage space below. Plus, the vanity conceals pipes and plumbing from view. Basic vanities normally have a cabinet below. The sink may be integrated into the counter top or can come as a separate piece.

Measuring the space available should always be the first step in the process of adding a bathroom vanity. More space means more freedom in your vanity selection. You may even be able to upgrade from one sink to two. If space is tight, you can opt for compact vanities designed especially for small bathrooms.

If your new vanity will be located close to the bathtub or shower, it’s essential to opt for waterproof materials. Alternatively, you can add a waterproof surround to the tub to protect the cabinet from excess moisture. Bathroom layouts where the sink is located across from the bathtub make for an easier vanity addition.

The benefits of adding a vanity to your bathroom include increased value, additional storage and a more finished appearance. Your design choices are virtually unlimited, with vanities available in materials like wood, glass, metal or composites. The cost for this kind of upgrade is reasonable and is something that almost any homeowner can accomplish themselves.

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Decorating with Throw Pillows

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Craig

4877485424 53194be4f1 e1303875048768Sometimes the simplest things can make a big difference. If you are looking for a way to freshen up your interior design without having to paint the house or buy new furniture, then think about decorating with throw pillows. They can be used in every room in the house. They can be used to complement or contrast the existing color scheme. And throw pillows can be purchased ready-made, you can make them yourself, or you can find great deals online.

Throw pillows can add flavor to any room you have. They are traditionally found on the sofa in the living room. But they are equally at home in the bedroom decorating the bed. Or you can add some to chairs in the study or family room. Regardless of where you use them, throw pillows add indulgence and interest to the room. They can be rearranged and stacked to achieve maximum comfort.

Throw pillows are an excellent way to mix up the color scheme of a room. You can add pillows that match existing items or paint. Colors can be complementary or contrasting. If there is a subtle color variation in the furniture fabric, or if there is a splash of color in some hanging art, you can use throw pillows to highlight that color and bring it into focus.

You can shop for throw pillows in a wide variety of stores. Department stores carry many high-end pillows, while other decorative pillows can be found even in craft stores. Speaking of craft stores, throw pillows are easy to make yourself. All you need is a pillow form and some fabric. Even the stitching for a throw pillow is not difficult and does not require a machine. Throw pillows can also be found in online stores and even through auction sites like eBay.

So there you have it. Throw pillows are an excellent interior decorating tool for any room in the house. They can increase your comfort and enhance your home’s colors. They can be bought many places, and you are free to spend as little or as much as you want.

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Options for Updating your Kitchen Cabinets

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Craig

3198037156 f27d1b8923 e1303875303212When you think about home remodeling and redecorating, thoughts often turn to the kitchen. However, that’s where the thoughts usually stop because kitchen remodeling can turn into a huge money pit. Not every can afford to rip everything out and start over. Relax. You can make a big difference in the kitchen without gutting your budget in the process. All you have to do is update your cabinets.

Your kitchen cabinets are easily the largest visible part of your kitchen. They represent lots of square feet that are highly visible. The good news is that completely replacing them is not required. There are several options for updating your cabinets without tearing them out. You can apply a new coat of paint or stain. You can replace the cabinet hardware. Or you can replace the cabinet doors. Which option might be right for you?

Sometimes a coat of paint is all your cabinets need. If you have dark cabinets, you might want to try painting them a lighter color. Lighter cabinets could really brighten up and modernize your kitchen. On the other hand, your cabinets currently have a light-colored stain, consider staining them a few shades darker for a new look.

Replacing the cabinet hardware is a great option to choose, either by itself or in conjunction with repainting. You could switch from brass to silver. You could go from traditional to contemporary. Make the move from knobs to handles. Whatever hardware you have on your cabinets now, you can bet that there are new styles you might like better. Switching out the hardware is easy, quick and doesn’t make a mess.

Finally, you might want to completely change all your cabinet doors and draw faces. You may have grown tired of a traditional design. Or you might want to go from solid doors to glass doors. Once you’ve added new doors and fronts to everything, you might as well have completely new cabinets. But the best thing is that all of these options can be done at a fraction of the cost involved in a total remodel.

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Using Decorative Art in your Interior Decorating

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Craig

4158605192 a72d082865 e1303875622535If you are looking for a way to make your interior decorating more personal and reflective of your outlook, then start looking for a way to incorporate decorative art in your plans. There is no need to feel pressured to by a certain kind of art. You can locate excellent pieces in a wide variety of venues. And when it comes to displaying your art, there are lots of options. This article will cover some of the basics of using decorative art in your interior decorating plans.

Many people shy away from trying to add hanging wall art to their home because they believe they don’t know enough to shop for it. However, there is absolutely no reason to feel pressure to “invest” in art. You should focus on the art that you like and that awakens whatever feeling you want to have. Whether you choose relaxing images for the bedroom or upbeat pictures for the kitchen, the art you buy should reflect your personality, not some critic’s idea of what is good.

You should be open to artwork of all kinds, including prints, posters, paintings and more. There is almost no end to the places you can shop for art. It can be found in art galleries or garage sales, in department stores and thrift stores. Plus you can always find excellent bargains online. For example, eBay has page after page of “starving artist” works that are simply fabulous, but highly affordable.

There are a couple of ways to display your art. Of course you can hang artwork on the wall. You should be careful about clashing with busy wallpaper. You can also coordinate the art and the wall with painted frames. Another option is to display your artwork on an easel. This option can nicely fill in a corner when you group it with some plants and a couple of uplights.

So go ahead and dare to become an art collector. Let your unique collection and innovative displays put your own unique stamp on your interior decorating.

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How to Organize Your Kitchen Countertops

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Craig

2867913123 10710240bb e1303875735717It often seems that when home organization starts to break down, it begins in the kitchen. It’s probably because the kitchen is often the center of family life. With so many things going on in the kitchen, it’s only logical that the kitchen countertops become the landing place for too many items. However, there are some remedies for this condition. Start by creating a system for catching mail before it gets to the kitchen. Prioritize your small appliances and determine which ones get to stay on the counter. Finally, accept that you may need to make some difficult choices about getting rid of some things.

In the cleanest, most organized houses in the world, if there is anywhere that the system fails, it will be in the kitchen. Your kitchen countertops are the perfect parking place for so many different items. There are all your small appliances, which arguably belong there. Of course you need a space for spices and maybe a fruit bowl. Many people like to arrange decorative items on the countertop. And sooner or later, mail will start to stack up, along with other items from our daily lives that are constantly seeking out a flat spot to occupy.

One excellent way to start moving things in the other direction is to add a mail basket near the family entry door. As you bring in the mail, you can deposit it into this dedicated basket where it can stay until you are ready to deal with it. By intercepting the mail before it hits the kitchen counter, you can make great strides in keeping things more organized.

Think about which appliances you use on a daily basis. Then put all the other appliances in a cabinet. Is there really a need to display every single small appliance on the counter, even the ones that are used infrequently?

Finally, you really should think about putting away the decorative items. You may think that add character to the room. However, clean and organized kitchen countertops actually tend to look better than countertops full of collectibles.

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