Interior Decorating

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Okay, I'm addicted. Sears has created this new decorating tool that lets you create your own room full of accessories, color coordinated walls and linens as well as a bunch of other goodies. Yes, its not really thorough and a lot of colors I'd select are absent, but it's still a great tool and just lots of fun to mess around with.

You can create your own room and then save the results, and can even get prices on what it would cost to decorate your room with the same Sears items.

It's not just limited to bedrooms as there is a virtual decorating tool for the kitchen, laundry room, garage, patio and media room too. My personal favorite though is the dorm room. Decorating a dorm room is a true challenge due to the limited space, but it's such a reward when you're finished becuase it doesn't take long or cost much and you've got a complete transformation. It's a must-play for every college student looking at a new dorm room in the fall.

Happy virtual decorating!

Posted by Kristin Abraham

This year I was a bit late in tuning in to the HGTV reality television series, Design Star. By the time I started watching they were down to their final six and the ousted competitor was crying for his mommy (literally). And suddenly, I was hooked again.

Since I'd missed so many episodes I went to the website and found that I could indeed catch up by watching the full episodes online. In fact, not only can I catch up on season three of Design Star, but I can also watch many of the other shows on this channel. I recommend going through the site and picking a few to zip through. You don't need to watch all of the drama as it's pretty repetitive, but the final projects are always inspiring.

If you do watch the entire show, feel free to get caught up in all the backstabbing, in fighting and drama.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Have I mentioned that I love Domino Magazine? I'm sure I have and I'm sure I've recommended that you sign up for their free weekly newsletter. The magazine comes at a charge, which is pretty nominal, but still, it's not free.

But the newsletter is just chock full of decorating goodness. I especially love the July reader's cheap tricks edition. There are some really great ideas for your home, including tip five, my personal favorite as I have done this in the past with incredible results. Use their reader's tips to revamp your home with little expense and effort, or become inspired to come up with your own decorative creations.

Please, feel free to contact me with your inexpensive decorating projects and we'll see if we can top their readers creativity.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

If you're thinking about adding an international touch to your home decorating then checking out the blogs from interior decorators and designers from other countries might give you just the inspiration and tools you need to do the job correctly.

Domino Magazine has done an excellent job of culling a bunch of these international decorating bloggers together and given you the best of the best to review. Not only will you get some great insights from some very creative decorators, but you'll also get some real authentic tips on what is the current trend in your favorite country at the moment.

Check them out and use their experience to get the most out of your home decorating style.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Every summer at least one decorating magazine features an outdoor room, complete with four-poster bed and expensive linens. It's usually such a beautiful picture, flowered linens with dappled sun streaming through the tree branches overhead. It's also completely ridiculous.

Camping is one thing, but putting a bed with linens outside and sleeping there is totally different. The impracticality of the idea is totally obvioius, besides the bugs, the dust, neighborhood pets and pests, there's also the safety factor and WEATHER! Even people with a three or four season's porch are probalby loathe to sleep there becasue of the lack of privacy, insects and the elements. But aren't those glossy pictures in the magazines inviting?

Rather than spend your sleeping hours outside, how about using your outside space in other ways. With WiFi it's easy to bring your computer outside to set up office space. Try to find a shady spot because computer screens are almost impossible to see in direct sunlight, but wokring outside in the shade is shear bliss.

Outside dining is another great possibility. Add luxury to your at home picnic by using nice and expensive utensils and china. Expand your outdoor culinary traditions from hotdogs and brats to something more exciting.

Enjoy your outside space every chance you get, but be practical and keep the bed in the bedroom.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

With gas prices on the rise, people may not be taking big family vacations, or they may save a little money by staying with friends and family. If this means more house guests for you, then prepare a guest room that is inviting for company and easy for you.

If you're expecting a lot of guests throughout the season, consider just leaving the hide-a-bed out. This will give you a better feel for how the space works as a bedroom and will make it seem less secondary.

Outfit your spare room with nice linens and pillows so your guests feel comfortable and welcome. If you're going to have guests you should have the right accomodations so sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, etc.

Create a kit for guests. A simple basket that can hold small sample sized toiletries is a really nice decorative touch, it doesn't cost much, and prevents guest from digging through your stuff.

During your guest season, treat the guest room with care, consider it part of your decorating scheme, not just a spare room or a converted office. The end result will be happy guests, a good visit and maybe an invitation to their home.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

It's probably because I quit caffeine cold turkey almost two months ago, but I've developed a new found love for coffee colors and I'm inspired to being incorporating them into decorating patterns more and more.

There is just such a rich depth to deep brown, or mocha browns, or even heavily saturated creamy browns. It speaks to the earth and carries a soothing level of comfort that is so important in a home environment. Layering different shades of coffee brown together in a home gives you more warmth and depth and is wonderfully neutral.

But using a very neutral and complementary color like brown, you are giving yourself a whole slew of accessorizing options. A brown background lets bright colors pop and take center stage, even when only a little color is added to the room. Lime greens, bright oranges, toasty reds, cool aquamarines, and clean whites all work beautifully with a neutral brown decor base.

Turn to your favorite flavor of coffee and spend a few minutes staring into its depths to come up with your own decorating inspiration.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

There are those people who just love animal prints and then there are those that abhor them. No matter what side of the fence you're sitting on, a move to the middle can help you create a tasteful decor that feels elegant and comfortable at the same time.

The big thing to remember when incorporating animal prints into your home decorating style is moderation. It's one of those cases where a little is more. Now, not all homes are decorated in a way that easily embraces animal prints but there is usually a way to add a little wild pop that draws the attention of visitors and becomes a great focal point.

There's just something about animal prints that makes a room feel a bit more exciting and lively and adding a large animal print rug or throw blanket can make a huge statement in a large environment. But more subtle touches can add a bit of pizzaz as well. Consider an animal print vase or lamp shade, or seat cover for a stray chair. These animal prints can also come in very unexpected colors which will add even more spice.

But whatever sort of animal print you decide to incorporate, please consider using faux fur or antique furs.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I just purchased some cut to fit blinds and thought I'd share a little of the experience with you. First of all, they store will cut your blinds to fit while you wait, but only horizontally. Apparently, you're on your own when it comes to adjusting the vertical dimensions. The salesman at Menards assured me it was easy but when further asked, he admitted he'd never done that part himself. And at this point neither have I.

I bought blinds for an inside mount window and an outside mount. The outside mount was fairly straight forward. I measured my window and then added a little so I can mount on the wall, slightly above the window. I'm going to need a little help drilling and hanging because they're so heavy and large. The plan is to hang them before I shorten them so I'm sure to get just the right length.

The inside blinds are a bit more tricky. My window is recessed into a window box of sorts so I had to make sure to get exactly the right measurement. Then, the salesman informed me that they usually cut them a half inch smaller so they're sure to fit. He did this, but it still wasn't short enough. There is a little lip inside the mounting brackets so you definitely need that half inch or the blinds will not slide into the bracket. I had to return to the store and have them cut another quarter inch off each side. The good news is you have a little wiggle room here as the bracket gives you about a one inch (total) leeway. So, it's better to be a little cautious rather than overzealous. You can always go back and have more trimmed off.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Partly because my neighbor and his girlfriend are noisy and partly because I want a change of scenery. I've decided to swap my two upstairs bedrooms. The larger one is currently used as a home office and a guest bedroom and the smaller one serves as my bedroom. The bedroom faces a common area parking lot and a shared backyard with my previously mentioned noisy neighbors and the office faces a beautiful courtyard that kids cut through in the school months. But now that its summer and my neighbor will be spending more time in our yard and the kids won't have school soon I think moving into the office might be the best plan.

I'm actually quite excited about the swap, even though it's going to be a great deal of work, and I'm not totally sure my desk will make it through the doors (my dad and brother-in-law broke it to get it in in the first place). But I'm determined to try. In fact, I'm very excited about having the extra bedroom space.

I have recently purchased a comforter for the office pull out bed and I bought it a little large so it will fit my bed, so that will work perfectly. I will probably purchase some matching sheets and maybe a bed skirt but other than that, I shouldn't have to spend any more money.

The hardest part of the move will be actually moving everything but it's a challenge that I'm looking forward to. There's nothing like redecorating and getting a fresh perspective to make your home feel exciting and new. In fact, I'm so inspired I'm thinking about redecorating my eat in kitchen.