In decorating your porch, you have to bear in mind that it should look and feel like an extension of the overall interior of your home. You can opt for hammocks, porch swings or daybeds instead of the usual chairs and tables. When choosing furniture and furnishings, also make sure that since a porch is part of your outdoor space, materials like metals and fabrics can rust and absorb moisture. You can use these materials during summer but not on cold and wet weather. Thus, it is more practical to go for more versatile weather-proof furniture that can be moved and stored in a garage throughout this season. Consider adding hanging basket plants, urns filled with flowers, and potted plants you can easily update for the season.

For inspiration, we bring together a number of front porch designs that you will surely love. Be inspired with these front porch designs in creating your own porch that you and your family will enjoy especially this time of the year– Summer!

Front Porch Designs 01- This porch reminds me of a house in the middle of the forest. If you are not living in the forest, you can always design a porch in the middle of a garden. This is perfect for entertaining guests for for relaxing in the afternoon or early evening.

[ via interiorholic ]

Front Porch Designs 02- Porches as outdoor areas require durable furniture. It can be woven or steel but it of course should match the exterior of your house as should the paint of the porch. If you are lucky to have a garden around your porch you are already provided with privacy and beautiful environment such as this second floor porch.

[ via interiorholic ]

Front Porch Designs 03- This is a front porch design for a modern tropical home. By having an outdoor porch, you are able to add space to your living room. This is ideal if you frequently hold parties and family gatherings in your home.

[ via alohomorra ]

Front Porch Designs 04- Beautiful Porch Design by Poteet Architects
This porch design has gone completely natural on full scale using natural materials and situated in a garden setting. The use of metals was minimized. Instead natural material, mostly wood, was used to assemble this front porch.

[ via designshoot ]

Front Porch Designs 05- The classic design of this loggia perfectly complements the historical home’s Italianate style. Rounded openings with detailed columns and a tile floor create an elegant setting. These fancy details can apply to even a 1970s-era suburban home.

[ via bhg ]

Front Porch Designs 06- The cobbled pattern of the bricks in this patio adds texture to the floor, and the columns add architectural interest. A high ceiling makes the space open and airy, while a ceiling fan keeps things cool.

[ via bhg ]

Front Porch Designs 07- Make your porch feel like a day at the beach with wicker furniture; plush cushions covered in blues, whites, and yellows; and outdoor ceiling fans.

[ via bhg ]

Front Porch Designs 08- Relaxing Porch Swing
There’s nothing quite like sitting — or sleeping — on a porch swing during the warm summer months.

[ via hgtv ]

Front Porch Designs 09-Extended off the enclosed back porch, the brick deck features a stone surround that forms the large fireplace in the corner. A small dining set nearby makes it easy to enjoy the outdoor amenities when the weather gets cooler.

[ via hgtv ]

Front Porch Designs 10- Fabulous and Affordable
All-weather fabrics and furnishings fill the rooms of this lavish addition. A ceiling fan moves the air in the main sitting area, keeping guests cool. The stamped-and-tinted flooring resembles natural stone — but at a fraction of the cost and maintenance.

[ via bhg ]

8 MORE FRONT PORCH DESIGNS:

So if you are a practical type of person, I suggest you should not bother with black. This is the type of interior setup that only looks good at designer shows. Most people who have seen an all-black bathroom in action attest that it is high-maintenance and not attractive in the long run. Soap scum, for example, is magnified against a black tiles and splash and it therefore shows up everywhere. And if your water has lime, rust or calcium, you will be fighting it constantly. In addition, black and dark fixtures usually look worn after just a few years.

However, after all that’s been said about all-black bathrooms and yet you are still raving about an all-black bathroom, then let us not spoil your enthusiasm. In this post, you will find some inspiration for an all-black bathroom. Perhaps, with smart interiors and design, your all-black bathroom will look interesting. In this set, you will notice that bathroom furniture comes in black, making these rooms look very stylish and polished. The sense of glittering furniture, bathtub, wash basin, faucet make these all-black bathrooms very luxurious.

If you are also looking for solution to organize your growing shoe collection, then checkout our previous post on creative shoe storage ideas.

01-The Over The Door Hanging Jewelry Organizer
An over the door jewelry organizer is great for anyone who has unruly jewelry coupled with a lack of space. You can organize your jewelry from earrings to bracelets down to necklaces.

[ HANGING JEWELRY ORGANIZERS ]

02-Over Door Mirror Armoire
Keep your jewelry organized and conserve space with this full length mirror cabinet from Jewelry Armoire. Hang over the door or mount on the wall, this cabinet features a black frame and a shatterproof mirror. This would also look good inside the bathroom.

[ HANGING JEWELRY ORGANIZERS ]

03-Hanging Jewelry Keeper
This jewelry organizes comes with free jewelry polishing cloth and features a special anti-tarnish material to keep jewelry organized and tarnish-free. So this a good option instead of leaving your jewelry out in the open to collect dust. This hanging organizer is detachable from its rotating hanger, so you can fold it up and pack it for travel if you want – the jewelry stays organized and safe.

[ HANGING JEWELRY ORGANIZERS ]

04-Hanging Jewelry Organizer – Little Black Dress by Umbra
Made of cotton canvas, this jewelry organizer features a double-sided pockets for maximum storage space. It also has swivel hook to easily view both sides and includes 37 Clear Vinyl pockets perfect for storing earrings, rings and bracelets 24 Loops perfect for hanging necklaces and keeping them tangle-free.

[ HANGING JEWELRY ORGANIZERS ]

05-Canvas 80-Pocket Hanging Jewelry Organizer
This space-saving jewelry organizer features 80 PVC transparent pockets (40 on each side). Made of cotton and natural canvas construction, it is equipped with aluminum hanger for easy storage on closet rods or anywhere else.

[ HANGING JEWELRY ORGANIZERS ]

To know more about each product or storage idea, simply follow the link provided below the preview image. Please note that we do not sell these products here nor we designed these shoe organizers. Information about their availability and where you can find them are available from the source page. Enjoy!

01-Shoe Wheel from Rakku Designs
Spinning free from all traditional storage systems, the Shoe Wheel is an ingeniously designed mobile storage unit with 20 expandable pockets that can hold up to 30 pairs of shoes depending on the type. The Shoe Wheel is simple to use. Shoes are inserted into the pockets through elastic bands, which secure them snugly into place. The pockets are easily adjustable to fit a variety of shoes; sneakers, high heels and flats. Just rotate the Shoe Wheel to make a selection.

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

02-Horizontal shoe rack from j-me
Tired of shoes being left around on the floor? This shoe racks allow shoes to “float” with quick and easy access. Made from stainless steel, it comes two sizes: the 700mm, which can hold up to 4 pairs of shoes and the 1200mm, which can hold 7 pairs of shoes.

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

03- Nest wall shoe rack by jme designs
Here is another shoe rack design from j-me Designs. This shoe rack provides space-saving storage by elegantly stacking footwear within a free flowing form. It can hold a wide range of shoes and available in floor and wall mounted versions.

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

04-Footprint by Charlotte Tangye Design
Made in England, this wall mounted wire shoe rack comes made from powder coated steel.  They are designed to save you space and to also celebrate your shoe collection.  Footprint comes in the four colours of black, white, red and blue.

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

05-Shoe Tree Z Black Shoe Rack
This stylish and innovative storage solution for shoes and more is both eye catching and practical. The shoe tree range also includes matching shoe boxes. It employs a clever branching system to hold them for you. A maximum of 12 decorative shoe boxes (5″ high) can be stored with ease. No need to keep only shoes in the boxes either, the system is also suitable for many other things such as clothes, jewelry, postcards, socks, pens and more.

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

06-The Lazy Shoe Zen
This rotating shoe storage unit can hold over 36 pairs of shoes. Easily assembles with no fasteners.
This shoe rack is approximately 30 inches wide and 36 inches tall. It is made with MDF, and you can build one according to any specific dimensions, and then paint it however you like.

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

07-Storage ideas supplied by MKN

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

08-The Strap by Droog
This is a long strip of silicone, which can be wall-mounted vertically or horizontally, and is taut enough to hold whatever you got to hold. We’ve seen it clasp onto shoes, plates, magazines, and lots and lots of toys.

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

09-Transform a simple drawer into a fancy shoe showcase by Dailybitsofbeauty.com

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

10-Shoe Rack made from Pipes by Jost Litzen
Here is something that you can also do yourself: A shoe rack designed using simple drain pipes purchased at a hardware store.The pipes are held together using a tension belt.

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

11-Functional and Decorative Shoe Storage by Apartment Theraphy

[ SHOE STORAGE IDEAS ]

For a soft and calming effect, try combining light brown with sky blue. For example, you can color your walls with light browns and accessories your room with sky blue. You can use both brown and blue for decorative throw pillows. To avoid using too much of either color, use white as a detail color. White shelves, pillow cases and curtains stand out against the brown and blue decorations in your bedroom.

For a dark and outdoorsy effect, try combining a darker shade of brown such as chocolate brown with hunter green. However, if you feel that this color combination create too much dark hues, then use a lighter brown for the walls. Dark green curtains and rugs coordinate well with a chocolate brown bedspread and furniture.

Brown also look good when combined with prints and patterns. For a wild, safari-inspired look, mix and match different brown colored animal prints throughout your bedroom. Ivory is used as an accent color as it blends against the different shades of brown without appearing too light.

01-This contemporary bedroom was designed for homeless woman and children at the Good Shepherd Center. Keeping the top half of the wall light makes the small space feel more open. A burlap headboard and roller black out shades bring texture to the space, and a kilim rug adds warmth and whimsy. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

02-This transitional bedroom is the perfect blend of color, pattern and texture. The custom headboard from floor to ceiling creates height with tufting to match the beveled mirror across the room. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

03-Transitional Master Bedroom by Debbie Talianko
An ocean inspired, upscale hotel feel. The soft blues, creams and dark woods give the impression of luxury and calm. via houzz.com.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

04-A rich brown bedroom featuring a gilt wall light from Porta Romana that looks stunning against the rich chocolate in this bedroom. Lighten the mood with a neutral Dormy House headboard and crisp, white linen from The White Company. via House to Home.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

05- Brown bedroom from Bedroom Nicole Hogarty Designs. via Home Portfolio.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

06-This eclectic bedroom is a wonderful mix of worldly furniture and accessories. The enormous custom-designed headboard creates a romantic setting. African rain drum and inlaid bone chairs occupy the sitting area, and a long console table is used as a his-and-hers waiting desk/morning table. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

07- This master bedroom has a focal wallcovering and patio doors leading onto the 48-foot covered lakeside porch. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

08- Bold colors, like turquoise and orange, pop against more subdued woods in this meditative spa-like room. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

09-A classic color combination — brown and light blue — make this master bedroom a restful haven. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

10-A dark, rich, chocolate-brown accent wall sets the tone for this modern yet romantic master bedroom. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

11- Purple, lavender and lilac are hard colors to work with. When these shades are combined with a chocolate brown window treatment and espresso-colored wood they can add a surprising touch.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

12-The brown wenge wood king-size bed and pillows are combined with orange bedding and artwork to contrast with the all-white floors, walls, curtains and furniture in this South Beach flat blasted in natural light, facing the Miami skyline beyond. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

13-The mix of luscious colors–warm browns and taupes with powder blue and ivory–is designed to create a serene escape. Blending luxurious materials with unexpected styles keeps the design interesting. Photo by Matthew Carden. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

14-Modern Brown Bedroom

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

15-This guest bedroom features a modern, formal headboard and neutral wall covering. The abstract organic arrangement complements the throw pillows and serves as an accent beyond the bed. via HGTV.

[ BROWN BEDROOM IDEAS ]

Thus, when we say Victorian living room, it essentially refers to something that is taken from this era. A Victorian living room is a formal yet busy room. During the early times, this kind of living room setup was used to show off a family’s finest pieces and collection.

Below are some tips on how to create a Victorian living room from ehow.com.

1) Do not be afraid to use bright colors for your Victorian living room. Colors such as purple, mauve, bottle-green and red are just some of the favorites for Victorian designs.

2) For furniture, opt for pieces that are upholstered in velvet, brocade, needlepoint and/or crewel-embroidered fabrics, and add toss pillows. Exposed wood is typical on the upholstered furnishings; examples would be carved feet and legs, arm rests, and wood trim along the upper backs of chairs and sofas.

3) Use a variety of occasional tables – carved, bamboo, faux bamboo, marble-topped, spindled – near the seating. Set traditional-style lamps, especially porcelain ginger-jar types, atop the tables, with crocheted doilies underneath.

4)  Drape the windows with elaborate treatments including swags, valances and tiebacks. Trim the draperies (as well as pillows and upholstery in the room) with fringes, tassels, cords and braid.

5)  Hang ancestral portraits, botanical pictures and mirrors on the walls. You may also hang Victorian-style plates or platters (such as Blue Willow and other transfer designs), candle sconces, old family photos (possibly in oval frames) and mirrors in elaborate gold or carved-wood frames.

6) Embellish the room with tall baseboard moldings and stacked crown moldings. Place a wallpaper border with a scroll, shell or faux-relief motif near the crown molding.

7) Accessorize the room with a wood-case grandfather clock, a tiered “whatnot” shelf and a fern stand. On tabletops, set out period-style collectibles (silver or brass candleholders, china dishes and glass paperweights).

8)  Place a patterned area rug, with a leaf or scroll design or an Oriental pattern, over the wall-to-wall carpet or hard-surface flooring in the room.

10 BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES OF VICTORIAN LIVING ROOM
Below, you can find 10 examples of Victorian-inspired living room that you can use as inspiration if you intend to get the same look for your living room. ]Most of these rooms are not strictly Victorian style but are rather modern with some hints of Victorian style on them.

In case you are looking for some inspiration, we decided top put together a total of 20 home library ideas for big and large spaces. Most of these ideas are realistic and executable.

However, if you need are just some creative bookcases, then we recommend that you check our previous post on living room shelving solutions.

20 HOME LIBRARY IDEAS

If you want more inspiration in creating your home library, then here is a Youtube video showing 25 more design ideas. Enjoy!

01-Black and White Living Room
The zebra print rug makes this rather bland black and white room pop! Zebra print really looks good when used with light-colored furniture and white walls. Note that accents are in plain black. This room looks really classy and elegant.

[ ZEBRA PRINT RUGS PHOTO via A TOUCH OF LUXE ]

02-Zebra Print Rugs Combined With Yellow
Okay. So I’m not really serious when I said you cannot mix zebra prints with colorful hues. In the example below, the zebra print rug still looks amazing combined with yellow furniture. The key here is to use only one strong color. BUt, maybe you will agree with me that the one on the left looks more elegant.

[ ZEBRA PRINT RUGS PHOTO via 2MODERN BLOG ]

03-Zebra Print Rug for Baby Room and Dining Room
The example below shows how you can use the zebra print rug even for baby room (yes, a nursery room) and a dining room. Note again that the room utilizes muted colors–only black and white to neutralize the bold zebra prints.

[ ZEBRA PRINT RUGS PHOTO via 2 MODERN BLOG ]

04-Zebra in Your Bedroom
Here is another set of examples on how to incorporate the zebra print rug in your interior. The photo on the left shows a bedroom with a zebra print rug. Note that the bedroom also sports a black and white color scheme. The living room is also mostly black and white with one eye popping yellow color.

[ ZEBRA PRINT RUGS PHOTO via A TOUCH OF LUXE ]

05-Stylish Baby Room
A very stylish baby room that features a zebra print rug, a sofa bed in mocha brown and wooden floors.  An inspiring and imaginative space to sleep and play for your little ones, indeed!

[ ZEBRA PRINT RUGS PHOTO via jlovesinteriors ]

Now, how high to hang it is a common question when installing a dining room chandelier. According to Designer Karl Lohnes (via HGTV), you should try leaving around 30 inches between the table and the bottom of the chandelier. This is to ensure that the chandelier does not block your view of other people sitting on the table and at the same time leaves space to fit a vase of flowers or another tall centerpiece.

Another important aspect to consider when buying a dining room chandelier is the size. A good rule of the thumb for determining the correct size of your dining room chandelier is to choose something that has a diameter that is about half the diameter (or width) of the tabletop. If you have the luxury of gorgeous high ceilings and an open-concept room, your fixture can be quite a bit larger.

Next thing to consider is the amount of light you need in the dining area. One must remember that the chandelier is only one part of the lighting plan. Recessed lights can add extra lighting  if you use the space for projects and homework as well as candlelit dinners. Perimeter lighting, such as sconces or buffet lamps, can add even more lighting.

Make the chandelier the center of attention. Place the chandelier at the center of  the table and not in the middle of the room. If you have a hutch or sideboard against one wall, as most people do, your table will likely be placed slightly off center in the room, and everything will look off-kilter if the chandelier hangs exactly dead center.

Below, are photos we gathered from around the web to inspire you in designing a dining room with chandelier.

[ DINING ROOM CHANDELIER ]

[ DINING ROOM CHANDELIER ]

[ DINING ROOM CHANDELIER ]

[ DINING ROOM CHANDELIER ]

[ DINING ROOM CHANDELIER ]

[ DINING ROOM CHANDELIER ]

[ DINING ROOM CHANDELIER ]

[ DINING ROOM CHANDELIER ]

You can, for example, use blue kitchen cabinets to make your kitchen modern. An ice blue in a high gloss finish can make your cabinets or doors look like they are made of glass.Using turquoise in your kitchen can make the room a lively space instead of cool and calming. If you want blue but you still want your kitchen to look neutral, then go with a slate blue. This color has a lot of gray in it, so it won’t be jarring. Below are 14 examples of how to use the color blue to make your kitchen look interesting.

01-This dynamic kitchen has painted blue cabinets, Azul Macubas extra granite and state of the art appliances.

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

02-In this kitchen, European cabinets, CaesarStone and Hakatai tiles were used for a clean, energetic look. Using open shelves on walls instead of box cabinets makes this kitchen feel much bigger. By Lori Dennis.

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

03-This kitchen incorporates a vintage style and made use of very environment friendly materials so all the cabinetry, counters and fixtures are locally made and recycled or reclaimed with no added formaldehyde. Designer: Jessica Williamson

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

04-This kitchen blends old with new and adds a burst of color and artistic creativity to the space. The tile floor complements the hand-painted peacock feathers on the ceiling. Customizable specialty lighting captures the mood and matches the desired setting. Designer: Ken Kelly.

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

05-This sleek, modern kitchen combines navy walls and ebony-stained hardwood floors with stainless steel accents. White Carerra Marble counter tops and a silver sunburst mirror add light to this dramatic space. Designer: Erica Islas.

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

06-This European-inspired kitchen features the latest in appliances. The Miele coffee center and wine refrigerator are the focal points and flank the Poggenpohl cabinetry. The Swarovski crystal chandelier brings shine to the space, while the wood stools and wood-like porcelain tile flooring accents bring visual warmth. The LED lighting underneath the kitchen island highlights the quartz waterfall countertop. Designer: Christine Jones.

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

07-A built-in fireplace from Planika Fires is featured above the bar. Particular lighting fixtures from Nuevo Living and an accent wall with textured tile from Artistic Tile as a background of the piano complete this stylish modern kitchen. Stainless steel and dark brown cabinets with white accents give the kitchen area its modern look. Designer: Vanessa De Leon

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

08-The striking glass backsplash is the room’s dramatic focal point. Around the corner of the main kitchen is a convenient space for serving drinks. Repeating the blue tile helps to join the two areas. Designer: Dave Stimmel

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

09-This custom-built desk is actually two-sided; the side you see is for mom and the other side is for kids with storage in the middle. Previously the stairwell, it was removed to open the space and create an eat-in kitchen. The kitchen table is behind the desk space, which used to be a den. Designer: Rebekah Zaveloff

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

10-Eclectic Kitchen by Adrienne Dorig Leland, CKD

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

11-Contemporary Kitchen by Yvonne Landivar

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

12-In this kitchen, European cabinets, CaesarStone and Hakatai tiles were used for a clean, energetic look. Using open shelves on walls instead of box cabinets makes this kitchen feel much bigger. Designer: Lori Dennis

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

13-The kitchen is attached to the outdoor deck which provides for the ultimate setup for entertaining. Designer: Ilija Karlusic

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]

14-Journalist’s Kitchen
Walls and ceiling are covered in a warm, weathered blue.

[ BLUE KITCHENS ]