Ambient Lighting in the Bathroom

Few people know what ‘ambient’ lighting is, whether it’s a general light or another added layer of light in an entire lighting scheme. This makes it difficult to create ambient lighting in a bathroom setting, especially if one does not know what ambient lighting is to begin with.

What is Ambient Lighting?
This term typically refers to a group of lighting fixtures that work together to create a general illumination in a space. Depending on the room, this could include table and ceiling lamps in a bedroom or pendants, under cabinet lights and an overhead ceiling pendant in a kitchen.

Tips and Tricks for the Bathroom
Since ambient lighting refers to all of the light in a room working together, start at the vanity in your bathroom space. Your vanity should have what is called “cross illumination.” Cross illumination is a trick in which two lamps such as wall sconces or pendant lights, are installed on either side of the mirror. A third one is installed over the top of the mirror, thus creating cross illumination. Cross illumination is ideal because it does not create any shadows on the face, which is ideal for makeup application and other self grooming, self primping tasks.

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The Style of Georgian Homes

Georgian Style
Defining the Georgian style is not as easy as it might sound. We use the term quite loosely these days to cover a century’s worth of design innovation and change. The Georgian period actually covers the years 1715-1830 and the four king Georges who reigned over them.

Colours
Georgian colours (frequently referred to simply as ‘Period’ colours) are often described as sludgy and drab – pea greens and putty, however, towards the latter part of the century much more vibrant hues were favoured such as bronze-greens, rich reds and vivid yellows. Cream, dusky rose, sage and powder blues were also popular, giving the historically conscious a much broader scope in palette than at first imagined.

Classicism
One of the most notable aspects of the Georgian period is the use of Classicism – a Greek and Roman architectural style that was admired and brought home by the wealthy after their ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. It can be seen externally in very grand facades using columns, pediments and balustrades and Classical details were also used internally in pilasters, arches and elaborate mouldings on the ceilings.

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Wood Window Shutters For Your Home

Are you furnishing a new home? Maybe you want to give your current home a bit of a spruce? What if you could transform the look of your home with a few adjustments to your window adornments? If you’re tired of less creative, more cumbersome window dressing options like curtains, then wooden window shutters might be the very accessory your home needs.

Wood window shutters are a great addition to any home because you have a range of textures, finishes, and graining options to choose from to customise a look that blends perfectly with your home’s style. The really great thing about choosing wood window shutters over other materials (such as composite shutters) is that they offer a somewhat conservative, and very traditional grace. Lighter finishes can reflect a simple furnishing style while darker grains are an excellent choice for a higher level of simple sophistication. Wooden shutters are an optimum window furnishing choice because you can tailor them to suit traditional, modern, and European-style homes with a few simple customisable adjustments.

In the case of curtains in particular, you may find that support rods sag under excess weight or that hooks snap easily when you draw the curtains back and forth. Window shutters allow you to control the amount of light you let into a space and give you the bonus feature of easy privacy. Their easy-to-use (and conveniently easy-to-clean) mechanisms combine well with a variety of looks that can transform any room from drab to modern, quaint, or elegant – whichever look you choose for your home.

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Why Antique Rugs Are So Popular

There are a number of things throughout the world that can represent and depict past civilizations or historical events. Antique rugs can be considered one item that does this. The rugs may vary in terms of size, color, style and art. These rugs are now mainly used as a decorative ornament within a room although some can still be seen in museums where they may be part of an exhibit or display about past cultures. Rugs that have been produced prior to 1800s are considered antique.

Today, the interest in antique rugs has increased and there are a number of factors behind this raise. First of all, the rugs were produced by local artisans spread throughout Central Asia and this has led to some designs becoming rare and sought-after by enthusiasts and collectors. Secondly, these rugs were made out of materials such as silk or cotton which means that a rug can be very durable even to today’s standards. Thirdly, the rugs have all the features that some consider having rich designs and thus are becoming a popular item to have to help decorate a room or floor.

There are many types of antique rugs. Some are classified as oriental ones. Oriental rugs were usually made in and around Eastern Asia especially China and the Himalayas, and are particularly renowned because they often have special designs of a unique color combination. There are also many other types of rugs such as Persian rugs, Anatolian rugs and European rugs. Persian rugs have particularly gained popularity across the world for their color combinations and designs. In the end, all sorts of antique rugs vary in their particular design and style.

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The Death of Woolen Shaggy Rugs

Shaggy rugs have made a come-back in the past few years and while bold, zany ultra-modern designs have over-taken them as the in-thing they are still a popular choice with homeowners and interior designers alike.

Shaggy rugs became popular in the 60s and like all kinds of fashion, even that for the home, these things come back around. One thing that will not be coming back in is wool shag-pile rugs. These plush floor coverings were popular some 50 years ago but the lack of practicality inherent in woolen shags mean they will never find the same popularity as they did in their heyday.

Don’t get me wrong, there are of course woolen shaggy rugs available on the market, but the choice is limited, and limited for a reason. Not only has the cost of wool and raw materials shot up in recent times but the pilling and shedding of these thick-piled carpets is a thing of legend. Like a wool on an Angola sweater stopping the fluff from woolen shaggys is nigh-on impossible. The nature and structure of the fabric means it constantly needs carded out and simply is not suitable for regular use.

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Choosing Bathroom Wall Tiles

Choosing tiles for the bathroom can be quite a different process compared to choosing tiles for the rest of your home. The reason for bathroom tiles is to keep water and moisture off your walls, so it’s important that they do their job. Choose non-porous tiles that won’t absorb any moisture, Area’s that aren’t in direct contact with water are still at risk of moisture in the air and potential water splashes. But as well as doing their job, it’s important that they look good too!

The choice of tiles in a bathroom can define how the room feels. White bathroom tiles will make a room feel light and neutral, but other’s may feel that it has too much of a hospital/doctor’s surgery feel which can be extremely off putting. Stone tiles can give a cosy atmosphere, but in smaller bathrooms it may make the room feel claustrophobic and confined. It might be wise to have a look at friends and families bathrooms that may have a similar sized bathroom to yours so you can see how they have styled theirs. If this isn’t an option then you can always look online for inspiration from other peoples tiling projects.

Your next decision will now be how much of your bathroom do you intend on tiling? Do you plan on just doing the wet areas near the bath and sink/ or do you plan on tiling the whole bathroom for a wet room look? It’s important to keep in mind that the larger surface area of tiles, the more expensive they will be. If you’re going to do the labour yourself there is a great range of tiles available online that are cheap and reasonably priced and that look fantastic. So shop around and you’ll be sure to find a tile within your budget that will suit your personal preference. Also, bare in mind that most people would assume that tiles would be a D.I.Y’ers worst night mare, but in reality, you’ll be saving yourself time and money, as tiles last longer than any wallpaper or paint which would need to be changed regularly.

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Decorating on a Budget With Mirrors

Using mirrors as art work is a wonderful way to beautify your home or apartment while adding dimension and light. And this is a great tool when you are decorating on a budget.
Let’s start with mirrors that go beyond those in your bedroom and bath. We want something glitzy or sleek, romantic or rustic for the public living areas of your home. Begin your quest for mirrors at thrift stores or garage sales.

I can tell you from my experience that they show up in thrift stores every week. Some may be from old dressesr or look pretty sad because the frame is beat up. Don’t despair. You are going to make these into objects of beauty. You may pay as little as $3 for a small mirror or up to $20 for a large mirror. Those are bargain prices. And yes, garage sales are gold mines for mirrors as well. I once got an authentic Venetian Glass Mirror, worth several hundred dollars, for seven dollars at a garage sale where the woman was moving away and just wanted everything to go. And don’t overlook dollar stores for cute mirrors too. Small mirrors can have big impact when grouped together.

Today there is a lot of interest in items that have an organic, natural kind of look. There are several techniques to achieve this look on your mirrors. Begin with tree branches, bare of their summer foliage. Find some that have interesting shape or texture. On a wood framed mirror, you can staple the branches into place or use small nails to attach them. On a plain mirror with no frame, glue the branches into place on all four sides of the mirror. Or for a different look, glue a plain mirror to a piece of MDF leaving a margin of several inches around the mirror. Cut the branches into thin, round slices and glue onto the MDF frame like mosaic tiles. This works well with sea shells, beads, buttons,coiled rope etc.

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What Is Eco-Design?

Going green is one of the biggest trends to hit the market in many, many years. In fact, even after being on the market for several years now, this trend has not died down, but rather has been gathering steam. It’s even starting to affect a number of different aspects of our lives from our food to our clothes and even our interior design. Eco-design is just one of many new ‘going green’ trends affecting the interior design world.
What is Eco-Design?
Despite the seemingly “new” term, eco-design has been around for more than a decade now. However, some enthusiasts may argue that it has been around for even longer than that, but only just now are people getting into this trend. In short, eco-design is a type of interior design in which the design focuses around environmentally friendly elements.
This can be as wide spread as every single element, material and decorating ideas that go into the house, or it can be as simple as a few select objects, elements or otherwise within the home.
For example, let’s look at eco-design in living room designs. The space could be designed using reclaimed wood floors. The throw rug could be made from bamboo. The furniture is antique, thrift store or hand-me-down, though it could also be manufactured with newer, more environmentally friendly methods. All of the home accessories, such as the vases, throw pillows and so forth, are made from reclaimed materials, ‘green’ materials or are hand-me-downs, antiques or thrift store finds as mentioned before.
The television uses less energy than previous models and may even have an Energy Star rating. The lamps too as well as the other light fixtures, feature an Energy Star rating and also use compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs. In short, every single element of these living room designs are in some way, environmentally friendly. This is eco-design in an extreme and devoted fashion.
However, it is also important to note that not every single element of the room must be “eco-friendly” in order for the room or home to be considered a type of eco-design. In fact, if you were to have just a single reclaimed piece of furniture or an antique piece of furniture, it may be classified as eco-design. In fact, if you don’t replace your existing furniture or you sell it at a garage sale, it may be considered eco-design.
Eco-design can also refer to the materials that went into building your home, not just in the interior design. The windows, the dry wall and so forth. It can also refer to a practice known as daylighting, in which windows and skylights are used together to maximize daylight in a space to reduce dependency on artificial light.
This is because eco-design is all about finding alternative elements to incorporate into your existing interior design. It is not necessarily about having an entirely environmentally friendly space. Sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference, especially when it comes to our decorating ideas, our remodeling ideas and the various room designs throughout our homes.

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Tips For Installing Ceramic Tiles

Installing ceramic tile flooring can be done by the average DIY homeowner by just following some basic steps.

First, make sure the surface you are installing on is free from dirt or dust and is as level as possible. Then find the midline of the room’s length and width. This will be your starting point.

If you have not already selected your tile, keep one thing in mind…the larger the room, the larger the tile it can accommodate. 4″x4″ tile in a 20′x25′ room could seem “busy” in such a large space. 12″x12″ tile or larger would be recommended. Also, it is a good idea to purchase tile grout at the same time so you can choose a coordinating color while you have the tile with you. You’ll also need:

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Finding the Best Design For Laminate Flooring

Back in 1982, Pergo International were the first to introduce laminate flooring in the USA. At that time, laminated floors were considered a cheap substitute to hardwood floors and carried a stigma of the poor mans alternative.

Initially, no self respecting interior designer would consider using laminate flooring due to its derogatory reputation. Over the years, this perception has changed and today laminate flooring can be found in high end homes around the world.

The benefits of laminate flooring and advancement in laminate design have won over even its toughest critics. New advancements in laminate technology have resulted in floors that look and feel like the real thing and now include hardwood, tile and natural stone designs. In fact, today, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between laminates and the flooring types they represent.

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