Tricia's Musings

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Will My Interior Décor Stand The Test Of Time?

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Custom slipcover in Thomas Paul floral fabric

I am redecorating my home at the moment and it is not the first time I have given the place a facelift. Every few years I tend to survey my domain and wonder what the hell I was thinking of! I have often been left believing that I have appalling taste but in reality tastes do simply change and we all want the latest in thing. We then start frowning on the styles of previous decades. This leaves me asking myself what features of my new decorative schemes for 2013 will I be looking at in horror in the years to come.

Current Trends

At this point in time it is all about neutral tones and an altogether less fussy and more organic approach. Today’s stylish rooms have plain walls, wooden floors, solid wood furniture and feature just accents of colour. The clean lines and functionality of Scandinavian design are all the rage and clutter, over ornamentation and busy wallpaper are most certainly out of favour. It is difficult to imagine shrinking back in horror at the sight of my cream walls and simple oak furniture in the future but who knows? Maybe we will all find this approach rather boring in retrospect and the psychedelic patterns and bright hues of the 1970’s will return to favour. I hope not because I didn’t like 1970’s décor when it was the height of fashion and I am still haunted by the hideous blue swirly tiles that were a prominent feature of my last home when I bought it.

Bathrooms

Talking of bathrooms, having rid my life of several coloured monstrosities over the years and replaced them with simple white affairs, I am really hoping that some style guru somewhere doesn’t start a trend for avocado and pink. It always seems that after a few years the stylists become restless and have to start experimenting. The goal posts get moved and we are all suckered into thinking that we must make changes but they are not always for the better. Who decided that a brown bathroom suite was a good idea? Well clearly someone did because when I was last viewing houses I stumbled across a few of these shockers.

Cupboards

My biggest issue with interior décor is fitted cupboards. I have never liked them and almost certainly never will and so have pulled out all the cupboards in my house and replaced them with free standing furniture. I know that at some point these things will be all the rage again and my home will look like an anachronism and a monument to poor taste. Whatever we do in our homes and no matter how hard we try to achieve timeless elegance the results will always be of their era and at some point are going to look dated. The trouble is we can never know which things are going to fall out of favour.

The Future

I guess I can see the day when I will grow tired of neutral walls and I may fall out of love with my bright nautically themed bedroom but I am never going to have a coloured bathroom suite again and that is final. I also refuse to contemplate the return of swirly patterned tiles, carpet in bathrooms and the ultimate nightmare – a lava lamp! My stylish Porta Romana lamps, simple white bathroom and plain tiles should stand the test of time but then again I said that about my old floral curtains in the living room!

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Outdoor Furniture- Spicing Up Your Backyard

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Outdoor Furniture Can Spruce Up Your Backyard

When you want to add extra living space to your home, look no further than your backyard. You can create a comfortable and attractive space just by adding outdoor furniture. The area can have multiple uses. Use it for parties, as an outdoor office area, or just for relaxing.

Tables

When choosing an outdoor table, consider what you will use it for the most. Will it be used as a breakfast table, a party table or as a worktable? A breakfast table to seat two people can be just a small pretty table. It doesn’t need to be as sturdy as a party or work table.

The type of table you should choose also depends on if you have a screened-in patio or not. Some outdoor tables have glass tops. These are attractive and easy to clean, but could be damaged during a hailstorm if left out in the open. If you want a similar look to glass but without the fragile nature, choose a table with a Plexiglas top.

Wood, vinyl or wrought iron are also popular items and more durable than glass top tables.

If you plan to host large parties or picnics, your best option may be to buy a few picnic tables. These seat several people at once and hold up well to the weather.

You should also purchase end tables or coffee tables if you are buying outdoor sofas or loveseats. You will need these as places to set drinks or other items.

Seating

Outdoor seating has come a long way and is far beyond plastic lawn chairs. While there is nothing wrong with lawn chairs, keep comfort in mind when creating your backyard living space. Wrought iron, wicker, resin and teak are among the materials to buy for your outdoor sofas and chairs. Washable cushions are often included. If not, you can buy them separately.

Hammocks and hammock chairs are a great idea if you want to create a relaxing space for reading or napping. If your yard lacks trees, you do not have to give up on having hammocks. You can purchase hammock stands or poles for hanging these.

Swinging chairs are not just for porches. You can find freestanding swinging chairs for your backyard. Most sit at least two people.

Accessories

Unless your patio is already covered, you should consider buying a patio umbrella or canopy. This way, you will be able to enjoy your backyard even when the sun is glaring down or on rainy days.

Some patio tables come with patio umbrellas, which are usually removable. Another option is to purchase a freestanding patio umbrella. These can be more convenient as you can move them to any area shade when desired.

Adding an outdoor rug can make your new backyard living area feel more inviting. There are many styles made of weatherproof or weather resistant materials.

After you have purchased your outdoor furniture, the only thing left is to add some decoration. This can be a simple as adding a few potted trees or plants to the area. However, you can make it as simple or as elaborate as you want.

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Give Your Bathroom A Glam Look With A Straight Bath

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If you are planning on giving your bathroom a new look, then a straight bath should definitely be high up in your considerations.

Here I discuss how to give your bathroom a great glam look by utilising a straight bath as its focal point; sure to catch the eye of any house guests who get curious about your new bathroom suite.

Types Of Straight Bath

Before we look at the intricacies of the bath tub itself, it is important to clarify what exactly a straight bath really is.

Typically this type of bath comes in two forms, the single end bath, which is the typical variety people tend to think of when thinking of a bath in general, and the double ended bath.

All that that actually means, is that the person using the bath is able to rest their head at either side of the bath they wish – so it really is up to the individual as to which of the designs they prefer.

The bath also comes in space saving options as well, perfect for people who have a small bathroom which they are planning to renovate, such as a guestroom or small ensuite bathroom.

Why Go For Straight Baths?

There are a number of reasons as to why people tend to opt for this form of bath when it comes to a new bathroom suite, not least the fact that the straight bath is a great way of saving space as it can easily slot into any bathroom.

Always In Style

The other great thing about this style of bath is it will never go out of fashion, other baths such as roll top bath and free standing baths might offer something a little different design wise, but when it comes to style and practicality as well, then straight baths are hard to beat.

More Space Means More Chance To Be Creative

With a straight bath then, you give yourself an opportunity to utilise what space you do have in a more practical way.

You can go for further practical uses and have a wall mounted shower unit without compromising on space, or maybe look at fitting more bathroom furniture such as cabinets and other fittings in instead.

Straight bathtubs are a great option for a wide variety of people, regardless of bathroom size, so if you are looking out for bathroom suite designs and ideas, it is well worth considering the wide range of this type of tub that are available for you to choose from.

Louisa Jenkins is an interior design expect who specialises in bathrooms. She offers advice to people looking to use items such as a straight bath to bring out the best in their bathroom suite.

5 Little Known Secrets To Finding Cheap (But Durable) Furniture

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Furniture may not be necessary for you to live, but one of the things that makes life more livable is the presence of comfortable and comforting furniture. Not only does furniture provide us a place to sit, sleep, eat and socialize but it helps decorate our homes, show the world our affluence and give us something that will last through a long period of our lives.

Furniture may not be needed for survival but almost everyone has to admit that it is a very good thing to have.

The problem most of us face when it comes to buying furniture is that it can very expensive. While the cost of furniture is mitigated by the fact that it will last us a long time and it’s not an expense we have to deal with very often, this doesn’t change the fact that it can be expensive.

A good dining table can cost over five hundred dollars and once you buy chairs for it you can easily spend over a thousand dollars. Beds, couches, and even end tables can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars and that is a steep price for almost everyone. The good news is that while furniture is going to cost money there are things you can do to find cheap but well made furniture.

Look Online

The internet is a great place to find good deals on just about everything including furniture. While you can definitely find good deals on furniture on the internet you need to be willing to overcome the fact that you can’t test it out. Also another thing to consider about shopping online for furniture is that shipping can get expensive.

Look in the Classifieds

The classifieds are a great place to find well made furniture for a really good price. The problem here is that of course most of it is probably used, but don’t let this stop you. Good quality furniture can be quite rugged and even if it has been used it can still look and feel good.

Keep an Eye Out for Estate Sales and Similar Events

An estate sale is when the entirety of an estate is put up for sale. While there are professionals that will show up looking to get the best price they can on furniture, you can walk away with some very nice stuff for a really good price if you play your cards right. Along with estate sales, storage units can also be a good place to find furniture.

Buy Handmade Furniture

A lot of people have the idea that handmade furniture is the most expensive, but there is a little known secret people can take advantage of. When someone orders handmade furniture but never pays for it, the business that made it is often willing to let it go for a fraction of the price.

Because a lot of handmade furniture is custom made, they know that they can’t ask full price for it. Keep your eyes out for this and you will find some really good furniture for a fraction of what it would normally cost.

Look for Going Out of Business Sales

Getting into the furniture business is expensive and a lot of times furniture stores wind up not being able to make it. When they are closing their doors they need to get rid of as much of their inventory as possible and this means they slash prices.

Find the right going out of business sale and you can potentially furnish your entire home for only a few hundred bucks.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/830471

Warren Stevens enjoys writing and sharing his articles on a broad range of topics, from furniture, to luggage, even to tech news.

Decorating Trends For 2013 Focus On The Male Influence

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2013 decor

These days, more men are staying home, as women become the breadwinners. This is bringing change to home décor with a focus on comfort.  Comfort is the key. Designs are both cozy and comforting on all levels.

Decorating for Men

Men’s taste is having a strong voice in décor in new and revolutionary ways. Kitchen designs are more rustic, homey imperfect and textured. Inversely, technology is no longer hidden in the living room. Large screen TVs are now central and proudly displayed. Computers and electronic gadgets are everywhere, haphazardly mixed with the Victorian and art deco accent pieces. Overstated dark, dusky and vibrant colors are coming in.

Speaking of Colors…

Men are even influencing the types of colors we choose in our homes. Powerful and vibrant color pallets are replacing understated sleek and basic neutrals. Colors like yellow and blue are being used as neutrals instead. Black, white and beige are still around, but now used as accents instead of anchors. Here is a sampling of colors staking claim in 2013:

  • Dusky blue – a new neutral
  • African violet – excitingly powerful new accent color
  • Sea Green – soft and gentle background color
  • Shades of Turquoise – blues, greens and turquoise are all popular room colors
  • Pale lemon yellow – popular as a background neutral
  • Poppy red accents – used sparingly as an accent

A Flashback with a Twist

Today’s decor pulls heavily on the past two major economic recovery periods. We are seeing a strong revisiting of the1880s and 1890’s with strong hints of both art deco and the Victorian influence. The furniture and overall feel or our new decor era also seems borrowed from the late 1940s and very early 1950’s. In fact, we see a powerful correlation between the decor of the three great economic recovery periods. Modern history has gone through this cycle three times and an obvious pattern is emerging.

Metals

One good outcome of the new trend is a move away from Chrome as a primary metal color. Chrome and silver are out! In are warm metallics. Texture is also back. The new metal can be intricately sculpted or roughly hammered, but not polished and sleek. Look for these trends in metals:

  • Textured metal
  • Brass
  • Copper
  • Gold tones and gold leaf
  • Rose gold
  • Gunmetal

Vintage and Antique Furniture

Partially because of the historic echo, but more likely because we are longing for real furniture at an affordable price, we are abandoning the cheap sleek foreign furniture in favor of antiques and replicas. Today, America is reclaiming quality by choosing used furnishing with curves and fine lines.

Print Fabrics

Fabric prints are very reminiscent of bygone days, but with a boldness unseen in the past. We are seeing photo realistic CG, detailed animal and floral prints with painting quality detail. Look for these types of prints in 2013:

  • Bold graphic prints
  • Animals, particularly dogs and elephants
  • Big floral prints with a historic feel
  • Photo realistic CG prints
  • Menswear prints
  • Tribal prints

Home is where the heart is and today’s new interior designs definitely have heart. They are warm, inviting, friendly and soft. They speak to the need for a place where comfort is king, where sharp, stark spaces are banished to where they belong: the office.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/181189

Jessica Bosari writes about home improvement and décor for online roll up blinds seller Super Blind Smart. 

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