House Designs School

White Kitchens Never Goes Out of Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:02:00 +0000

White kitchens are always liked by most of us, and I am also a great admirer of this color white. Some of us think that it will be very simple and not that attractive, but to be frank if you use the color white wisely with other deeper colors it can do wonders. In modern days with many contemporary style houses, a kitchen with clean lines and use of white is very much preferred. You can go with minimalistic style, scandinavian style with modern touch or you can also opt for rustic theme kitchens. It all depends on your taste. Let us go through some amazing kitchen designs in white.

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (1-20)

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:56:00 +0000

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (1-20)

Although authorities say that interior design started with the birth of art itself—and that is, a long, long time ago—interior design as a formal study didn’t come until roughly 50 years ago. Thanks to popular British daytime shows like the 60 Minute Makeover and Changing Rooms—which spawned in the United States an hour-long television reality program Trading Spaces—interior design as a profession was born sometime in the 1970s.

The last 20 decades saw almost all major cities around the world opening schools or programs that cater to interior design as a profession. In 2011, there are at least a thousand schools that offer interior design worldwide, and choosing the best one can be hard.

In celebration of our third year since launching, we are proud to announce our very own list of the world’s best schools of interior design.

So here’s our list of the best 100 interior design schools, in no particular order:

Lorenzo de' Medici School

Scuola Lorenzo de' Medici, or Lorenzo de' Medici School in English, is a private institution of higher education based in Florence but has satellite campuses in Tuscania, Rome, and Venice. LdM began primarily as an Italian language institute in 1973 and later on expanded education to arts and design sciences.

For over 30 years, LdM has been a primary study abroad provider to art students from all over the world, with all three LdM campuses hosting a variety of study-abroad students from more than 30 colleges and universities across North America and all over the world, which includes Clemson University, Illinois State University, Iowa State University, Marist College, Marymount University, New England School of Art and Design, North Carolina State University, Suffolk University, The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Catholic University of Daegu, Sookmyung University, Toyo Eiwa University, and Universidad Mayor.

LdM boasts its unique learning environment as “a school immersed in the city” and its Florence campus as a “classroom without walls”.

Florence Design Academy

Florence Design Academy is one of the specialist schools in Italy that teaches in English, out of the factor that many of its students come from abroad. Florence Design Academy offers both academic and master courses in Interior Design, Graphic Design and Industrial Design.

Like Lorenzo de' Medici School, Florence Design Academy enjoys being situated at the heart of the embodiment of art itself: Florence. According to a 2010 study, Florence has been nominated as the most desirable destination for tourists in the world and, it seems, also for art and design students as well.

The Interior Design School

What turned out to be The Interior Design School was originally fast-track diploma course for people needing a career change in commercial and residential design, meeting the new demand that was brought about by paradigm shift towards Architecture, Interior Architecture, Interior Design and Interior Decoration. Over time, The School began offering additional short courses, evening classes, then Interior Design degree courses.

Learning at The Interior Design School is based around a programme of live projects to emulate as much as possible a practicing design studio, with each project presented to and assessed by a practicing interior designer. Every year, the Diploma curriculum is re-assessed to maintain standards in keeping with the industry. The faculty encompasses expertise in all the various subjects.

Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design

Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design, or IAAD, is an applied arts institution founded in 1978 in Torino. For thirty years, IAAD has been widening its scope, and in 2005 following its accreditation by European Accreditation Board of Higher Education Schools (EABHES)—which allows the obtainment of European Bachelor and Master of Science in Design—IAAD introduced the Interior and Furniture Design Major.

Visual College of Art and Design of Vancouver

Formerly the Vancouver College of Art and Design, Visual College of Art and Design of Vancouver is a college of creative applied arts that offers several diploma programs including Interior Design.

Visual College of Art and Design started as a branch of the Victoria College of Art and Design, and for over 35 years operated in Victoria, BC. Facing rapid growth due to increasing number of students, the development of new programs and modernizing equipment allowed them to move in downtown Vancouver in 2009.

Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is a prestigious college for design, fashion, art, communications, and business located at the heart of the fashion capital of the world itself, in New York City. It consistently ranks among the top five fashion schools in the world, and it is the ninth largest school in upscale Manhattan, with a student body of more than 10,000 students.

FIT offers seventeen majors through the School of Art and Design. It is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research.

Académie Grandes Terres

Founded in 1964, Académie Grandes Terres is an art and design school that provides two-year training in interior architecture, graphic design or advertising stylist for work opportunities in interior design, graphic design, illustration, fashion design and art design.

The program's learning approach involves less on theory and more on practical exercises performed by small groups to attain the best "real-world" learning as possible.

New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury

New York Institute of Technology, also known as New York Tech (or NYIT) is a private research university in New York City. Its Old Westbury campus, the largest in the area, offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design program which has been accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) since March 1984.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design offered by the college is a 4-year program and involves studio design projects, profession-specific coursework, community oriented projects, and externships in the field. During the junior or senior year, every students are required to complete a 256-hour externship in a professional design studio.

Crèapole Ecole de Creation Management

Founded in 1981, Crèapole Ecole de Creation Management is an applied arts school located in the very heart of Paris, between Louvre and Beaubourg. The school provides training in interior design, as well as fashion, visual communication, product design, transportation design, art design and animation.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Architecture

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public research university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, just 1.5 miles east of the Las Vegas Strip. Its School of Architecture (SOA), which is part of the College of Fine Arts at UNLV, is the only program accredited for architecture in the state of Nevada.

The Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture and Design degree is a four-year undergraduate program that provides for the interior design profession. The professional development of the students is further enhanced by the program's unique relationship to the extraordinary industrial and artistic development of the City of Las Vegas, which provides opportunities to engage in innovative and creative design projects. UNLV also offers Distance Education program which extends educational outreach and access of University courses, degree programs, and research opportunities to the local and global communities.

Escuela de Artes Decorativas Madrid

Located at the very heart of Spain, Escuela de Artes Decorativas Madrid is a specialist arts and design school founded in 1963 and the only learning center recognized by the International Federation of Interior Architects (IFI). It is also accredited by the International Council of Design Schools (ICDS), Organization International Education Through The Arts (INSEA), Madrid Design Association, and the Spanish Association of Independent Schools of Education (DPA).

Escuela de Artes Decorativas Madrid offers two programs: Interior Design and Interior Architecture, both of which are three-year study.

University of California, Berkeley Extension

The University of California, Berkeley, also referred to as Cal, California, Berkeley or UC Berkeley, is a public research university located in Berkeley, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, and part of the public university system in the state of California, collectively named as University of California.

The University of California is widely regarded as one of the top public university systems in the world, with UC Berkeley ranking 22nd overall of top 100 universities according to the U.S. News and World Report. Also UC Berkeley ranks 2nd in Academic Ranking of World Universities, 28th in the QS World University Rankings, 8th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 1st in the Washington Monthly National University Rankings.

UC Berkeley’s Certificate Program in Interior Design and Interior Architecture provides students with a comprehensive interior design education that is of professional quality, affordable, and available to working individuals on a part-time basis. This program prepares students for the California IDEX exam, sponsored by the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC), and the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. The Certificate Program has 1,140 hours of instruction divide in a total of 77 semester units.

Whitehouse Institute of Design

Founded in 1988, the Whitehouse Institute of Design is one of the specialists schools in Australia devoted solely to art, design and media. The Institute offers Bachelor Degrees of Design with specializations in Interior Design, Fashion Design and Styling & Creative Direction.

The Bachelor of Design in Interior Design is a 3-year program, consisting of studies in Design Context, Design Communication, Design Methods and Design Synthesis.

Florida International University

Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university in Miami, Florida and the 15th-largest university in the United States. FIU is Florida’s primary graduate research universities, with awards close to 3,000 graduate and professional degrees annually. With freshmen acceptance rates dropping from 43% in 2006 to 34% in 2009, U.S. News and World Report cites FIU as the most selective university in 2010, and the most selective public university in Florida since the early-2000s.

FIU offers the Master of Interior Design curriculum that is composed of two years foundational undergraduate course work followed by three years of graduate course work.

Akademie der Bildend Künste München

Akademie der Bildend Künste München, or the Academy of Fine Arts of Munich in English, is one of the oldest and most significant art and design academies in Germany, having been founded in 1808. In 1946, the Academy was merged with the schools for arts-and-crafts and applied arts, respectively. In 1953, the name changed to its current form.

Akademie der Bildend Künste München offers several courses, including Interior Design.

University of California, Los Angeles

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It is also part of the public university system in the state of California, well as the second oldest of the ten campuses of the University of California.

Like UC Berkeley, UCLA is highly regarded. It consistently ranks within the top 20 in college and university rankings annually, and in 2011 ranks 25th in the U.S. News & World Report College and University rankings.

UCLA’s Interior Design program is offered in UCLA’s School of the Arts and Architecture Department.

Accademia di Belle Arti di Verona

Accademia di Belle Arti di Verona, or the Academy of Fine Arts of Verona in English, is a post-secondary school for studies in the visual arts, founded in 1764. The Academy is part of the University of Verona and represents its Faculty of Art. One of the oldest art academy in the world, Accademia di Belle Arti di Verona is listed as one of the five premier Accademie Storiche d'Italia, or Italian Historic Academies.

The Academic Diploma of 1st Level for Interior Design is offered by the Department of Design and Applied Arts and made up of 180 credits, or three academic years.

Interior Designers Institute

Interior Designers Institute is a private interior design college, which was founded in 1984 in Corona del Mar, California. As a small, progressive college, the Institute maintains high educational standards by practicing in an atmosphere where personal attention on each of the students is given high priority.

In 1990, the Institute moved to larger facilities in Newport Beach, California, offering additional classrooms and expanded student areas. Interior Designers Institute offers Certification program in Interior Design, Associate of Arts Degree in Interior Design and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design.

Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti

The Interior Design Program at the Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti (Turin, Italy) is a 3-year program. Registrations for international students occur during the first two weeks of September. A high school diploma is needed to become eligible to take the Interior Design Program.

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (AiFL) is a private, applied-arts college located in southeast urban Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was founded in 1968 by the late Mark K. Wheeler and initially only offering diplomas in Commercial Art, Interior Design, and Fashion Illustration.

Facing rapid growth, the college was granted accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Trade and Technical Schools of the Career College Association in 1971 and in 1987 authorization to award Bachelor degrees.

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (21-40)

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (21-40)

To continue with our list, here’s 21-40 of our best 100 interior design schools, still in no particular order:

Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano

Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano, or The New Academy of Fine Arts of Milan in English, is a prestigious art school founded in Milan in 1980. The academy offers Painting, Sculpture and Theatre Design classes and in 1988 expanded with Fashion Design programs. In 1997, the academy experienced growth and started offering bachelor degree in various disciplines in Design.

Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano offers Bachelor of Arts in Design wherein students can choose between two specialization paths in their third year, product design and interior design.

West Valley College

West Valley College is a community college located in Saratoga, California. It was founded in 1963, and for 40 years has offered dynamic career programs, professional certificates, and degree programs. As of 2005, the college offers 61 associate’s degree programs and 94 certificate programs.

West Valley College offers Associate Degree in Interior Design, as well as 2-year or 3-year certification programs.

Florence Institute of Design International

Another of the private and prestigious Italian art schools located at the very Jewel of the Renaissance, the Florence Institute of Design International is an applied arts school located in Florence, Italy that offers both Masters and Undergraduate studies in Interior Design, Furniture, Architecture and Graphic Design.

International Academy of Design & Technology

The International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) is an applied arts college with a network of campuses all over the United States and also a virtual campus that’s accessible from anywhere anytime. IADT is accredited by a national agency, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

IADT offers Associate and Bachelor programs in Design, Fashion, Media Arts & Technology. Its Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

Marbella Design Academy

Marbella Design Academy is an international design academy situated in deep in the heart of Monda, an idyllic and picturesque town of Malaga, Spain. Operating since 1995, Marbella Design Academy offers three-year diploma course on Interior Design, Graphic Design and Fashion Design, as well as a two-year diploma course on Web Design.

The Marbella Design Academy is a member of the International Interior Design Associations (IIDA): the The Institute of Business Designers, The International Society of Interior Designers and The Council of Federal Interior Designers.

The Academy of Design, Toronto

The Academy of Design, Toronto, formerly the International Academy of Design and Technology, was founded in 1983, initially as the Academy of Merchandising and Design, with a focus on fashion related programs.

The Academy has two campuses, in 2000 Steeles Avenue West (Interior Design, Graphic Design for Print and Web and Video Game Design and Development programs) and 1835 Yonge St at Davisville Subway (Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing and Merchandising Programs).

Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart

Hochschule für Technik, HFT Stuttgart, or The University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart in English, is originally a technical school for construction craftsmen founded in 1832. Over time, the school grew to become one of the largest and most prestigious technical schools in Germany, catering to students of various fields of discipline.

The University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart offers three-year Bachelor Degree in Interior Design, which is accredited by ASIIN (German Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics).

The Art Institute Of Vancouver

The Art Institute of Vancouver is an applied arts school that started in 2002 with the merger of The Center for Digital Imaging and Sound in Burnaby, B.C., and The Institute of Digital Arts in Richmond, B.C, and later the Dubrulle International Culinary & Hotel Institute of Canada.

Since opening in 2002, The Art Institute of Vancouver has been offering courses in Animation, Culinary Arts, Digital Film and Video, Event Management, Game Art and Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Professional Recording Arts, VFX for Film and Television, Video Game Programming and Web Design.

The institute is one of The Art Institutes, a system of over 45 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing education in design, media arts, event management, fashion and culinary arts.

Hochschule Coburg

Hochschule Coburg, or Coburg University of Applied Sciences in English, is a state university of applied sciences in Bavaria, Germany. The Coburg University currently offers 12 Bachelor, 2 Associate and 12 Master Programs in various fields of study.

Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University (WMU) is a public research university established in 1903 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and the state’s fourth public university since 1957.

U.S. News & World Report ranks WMU consistently as one of the nation’s top 100 public universities in its annual ranking of the nation’s 4,000 colleges and universities. Princeton Review included Western Michigan on its 'best Midwestern colleges' list for two years in a row. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching places WMU among the 76 public institutions in the nation designated as research universities with high research activity.

University of Technology, Sydney

The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Australian Technology Network of universities and has the fifth largest enrolment in Sydney.

UTS has been ranked 234th in the World's Top 500 universities by the Times HES in 2008 and was one of two Australian Universities given A1 ratings across all major disciplines in 2007 and 2008 by the Federal Government Education Department.

New York School of Interior Design

New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) is the only institution of higher learning in New York devoted exclusively to the design of the interior environment. In its early days, the school was located in various buildings on Madison Avenue and in Midtown, eventually settling down to its current location on East 70th Street.

Tokyo Zokei University

Zokei University is a private applied arts university in Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan, established in 1966. The university offers Bachelor and Masters Program in two areas of discipline: Design and Fine Arts.

The university has international exchange programs with prestigious academic institutions abroad: Accademia di Bella Arti di Carrara, Konstfack University College of Arts Crafts and Design, School of Photography, Goteborg University, The Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, The Hague, Willem de Kooning Academy of Hogeschool Rotterdam, UWE Bristol,School of Art,Media and Design and Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton.

American InterContinental University

American InterContinental University (AIU) is an international open admissions university founded in 1970, and currently owned by Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO). AIU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association to award Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees.

American InterContinental University is a popular choice for students who prefer to attend classes online, or in an internet-based online campus that delivers degree programs 100% online.

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (BUW) is a university for creative studies in Weimar, Germany. The university is historically focused on architectural studies, art and civil engineering, and is known internationally for its Deiter BlackHeart School of Performance Art and Choreography.

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has become well-known for its wide range of teaching and research activities today offers an extensive spectrum of instruction with over 30 courses of study, including free art, design, web design, visual communication, media design, media culture, architecture, civil engineering, materials science, processing technology, environment and management.

Design Institute of San Diego

Design Institute of San Diego is an applied arts school founded in 1977 in San Diego, California. The school offers Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design as a four-year, 132 semester-credit-unit curriculum.

Istituto Quasar

Istituto Quasar started in 1987 as a design school that caters to technical subjects that aren’t normally taught in conventional colleges. The Interior Design program at the Istituto Quasar is a 2-year program.

Florida State University

The Florida State University (FSU), also referred to as Florida State, is a public research university located in Tallahassee, Florida. The university was officially established in 1851 and is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the state of Florida.

FSU is widely regarded as one of the best value colleges. In 2010, FSU was declared in 2010 to be a “Budget Ivy” university by the Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College. Additionally, USA Today and The Princeton Review rated Florida State University as fourth in its 2010 List of Public Best Value Colleges.

FSU is currently ranked 47th among public universities and 102nd overall for National Universities by U.S. News and World Report. In addition U.S. News in 2009 ranked Florida State as 32nd overall amongst the most popular colleges in the United States.

Istituto per l'Arte e il Restauro 'Palazzo Spinelli'

Founded in 1978, Istituto per l'Arte e il Restauro 'Palazzo Spinelli' been active in the restoration sector since 1978 both as a centre for the education, specialization and professional up-dating, as well as a restoration and consulting centre for public and private entities. For over thirty years, the Institute has earned national and international recognition for “excellence in the field”, able to offer its students a professionalism that satisfies the demands of a working environment as well as a continuous up to date service on the latest modern technologies and treatment philosophies.

The University of Georgia

The University of Georgia (UGA) is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States.

In its 2011 edition, U.S. News & World Report ranked the university's undergraduate program 56th among national universities. Besides academics, research, and athletics, UGA is also well known for its campus in the acclaimed college town of Athens, with dominant architectural themes of Federal—the older buildings—and Classical and Antebellum style.

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (41-60)

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:51:00 +0000

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (41-60)

So, we are now halfway with our extensive list of the best 100 interior design schools. We have covered schools from practically all the four corners of the world, and yet we still have more than 50 schools to show you.

To continue with our list, here’s 41-60 of our best 100 interior design schools, still in no particular order:

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, also known as PolyU, is a public university in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is the only university in the country to offer full-time degree or higher diploma programs in several disciplines, including Interior Design.

According to the 2006 and 2007 Surveys by BusinessWeek, PolyU’s School of Design ranked among the Top 60 in the world and one of the Top 10 in Asia. In BusinessWeek’s 2009 Survey, the university’s Master of Design program was further rated as among the World's 30 Best Design Thinking programs.

The Bachelor of Arts in Design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University is a 3-year, full-time program, and graduates of the course are eligible for Diploma Membership of the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) in the UK.

University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky (UK) is a public research university in Lexington, Kentucky and one of the state’s two land-grant universities as well as the largest university in the Commonwealth states with 27,171 students.

According to the U.S. News and World Report, the university’s undergraduate program is ranked 128th in the nation. Its College of Design programs, including the School of Interior Design, is included in the top ranked academic programs in the United States.

Edinburgh College of Art

Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) is an arts and design school in Edinburgh, Scotland established since 1760. The College has always been an independent institution, and is now officially recognized by the Scottish Government as a small specialist institution for the teaching of art, design and architecture.

Presently, the college is associated with the University of Edinburgh, and graduates of the college will have their degrees awarded by the University of Edinburgh.

University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba is the largest university in Winnipeg, in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. According to U.S. News & World Report, the University of Manitoba is among the Top 20 Canadian Universities and among the Top 400 Academic Ranking of World Universities as of 2009.

University of Gothenburg

The University of Gothenburg is a public university located in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is the third-oldest university in Sweden—established in 1891—and, with 24,900 full-time students, among the largest universities in the Nordic countries. The university also has the highest number of applicants per study place in many of its subjects and courses, and is therefore the most popular university in Sweden.

The University of Gothenburg is a major university in Europe. According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, it is ranked in the 201-302 range when compared to the top 500 universities worldwide. In the 2010 QS World University Rankings, the university ranked 183rd in the world.

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute is a private arts and design college located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. The art school is renowned as one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States. Pratt Institute is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), a consortium of 36 private art schools in the United States.

Pratt Institute offers both graduate and undergraduate study in interior design.

Glasgow School of Art

Glasgow School of Art (GSA), located in Garnethill, Glasgow, is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland. It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design and is renowned in the nation for producing Scotland’s leading contemporary artists including, since 2005, 30% of Turner Prize nominees and two of the last five Turner Prize winners: Simon Starling in 2005 and Richard Wright in 2009.

Of its 1,900 students, almost 20 per cent are from outside the UK and approximately 20% are postgraduate. HESA statistics show Glasgow School of Art to have one of the lowest student drop-out rates in the UK. The school has been ranked eleventh of 32 specialist educational institutions in terms of teaching quality. In the UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise 2008, the GSA was ranked as the second largest art and design research community in the UK, with 25% of our research considered to be world leading and a further 25% internationally recognised.

Columbus College Art & Design

Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) is a private art and design college located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1879 as The Columbus Art School, CCAD is one of the oldest art schools in the United States.

CCAD is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Higher Learning Commission, Member of the North Central Association, and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA—formerly FIDER).

Vakalo School of Art and Design

Vakalo School of Art and Design was established in 1957 by a team of artists, designers and theorists headed by George Vakalo, during a time when applied arts wasn’t covered by the Greek education.

Vakalo School of Art and Design’s programs are internationally acknowledged by the Offices of Higher Education. Its undergraduate programs were validated as Honors program since 1998, and the Master’s programs since 2000. It has existing partnership with the University of Derby in Derby, England to provide further and higher education in partnership with institutions.

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri (MU), also known as University of Missouri–Columbia, Mizzou, or simply Missouri, is a public research university located in Columbia, Missouri. The university was founded in 1839 as the first public institution of higher education west of the Mississippi River.

Missouri is the largest university in the state, enrolling over 32,000 students in 20 academic colleges. It is recognized nationally and perennially receives top rankings—94th among the national universities in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report—for its programs in many areas, including interior design.

Istituto Marangoni

Istituto Marangoni, also known as La Maranga, is a private fashion and design school located at the very heart of the fashion and design capital of the world—Milan, Italy but has since opened campuses in London and Paris. It is one of the most prestigious and highly acclaimed art and design schools worldwide.

Since it’s founding in 1935, Istituto Marangoni has been supplying the world with world-renowned creative talents such as the likes of Domenico Dolce (Dolce & Gabbana), Alberto Cantù (Giorgio Armani), Eva Sala (Diesel), Alessandra Facchinetti (Valentino), Antonio Fontana (Prada), Nino Corito (Trussardi), Roberta Raeli (Benetton), Tatiana Golubeva (Replay), Alessandra Plano (Bottega Veneta), and several more. The value of its diploma courses and certificates chiefly lies on the strength of the reputation established in over seventy years of teaching such world-class talents.

Instituto Marangoni offers three-year diploma course (Italian) and one year diploma course (Italian or English) in Interior Design.

KLC School of Design

KLC School of Design is an applied arts school located in Chelsea Harbour, London. It is the only design school in the U.K. to be accredited by both The British Accreditation Council for Further and Higher Education (BAC) and The Open & Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC).

The school offers full-time, part-time, short and open learning courses in both interior design and garden design.

Scuola Politecnica di Design

Scuola Politecnica di Design is an art and design school located in Milan, Italy. It was established in 1954 and was one of the very first learning institutions in the country dedicated to design and communication.

Scuola Politecnica di Design offers only 1-year Master’s Degree in Interior Design.

Kwantlen University College

Kwantlen Polytechnic University, also known as simply Kwantlen, previously as Kwantlen University College, is a public polytechnic university with four campuses located in Surrey, Richmond and Langley in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia.

Kwantlen offers the only graphic design for marketing program in Canada, as well as one of the only two to offer Fashion Design Degree in Canada.

Accademia Italiana

Accademia Italiana is an arts and design school established in 1984 in Florence, Italy and has since expanded with a campus in Rome. For over twenty-five years, it has been among the leading arts and design schools in Italy and Europe for artistic, professional and linguistic training at post-secondary and university level.

Both Florence and Rome campuses the offer 3-year Bachelor of Arts in Interior and Product Design program, as well as the year long Master’s Degree in Interior Design.

The New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University

The New England School of Art & Design is an arts and design school located in Boston, Massachusetts and is an extension of Suffolk University since 1996.

The New England School of Art Design at Suffolk University has recently received recognition by being ranked as one of the Top 10 Best Interior Design programs in the United States by DesignIntelligence Magazine. Additionally, the school was among the few leading design schools nationwide and distinctly displayed on the 2011 List of America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools, November - December 2011 issue of DesignIntelligence Magazine.

Domus Academy

Domus Academy is a private postgraduate design school located in Milan, Italy. It was established in 1982 as an open project around the Italian design and fashion experience.

With over 20 years of quality teaching experience, Domus Academy is regularly ranked among the top arts and design schools worldwide. In 2009, the school was merited with the Compasso d'Oro award for a career of quality teaching and publishing. In 2009, for the third time Domus Academy has been nominated by Business Week as one of the 30 Best Schools of Design in the world.

The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago

The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago is a private arts and design school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It is part of The Art Institutes, a collection of private education institutions for career preparation in the visual, creative, and applied arts, including interior design across the United States.

The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago was founded in 1916 as The Commercial Art School, which was one of the first applied art and design colleges in the United States. Since then, the school has grown by programs and floor space for its growing student body.

The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Interior Design program which is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

Institut de Formation Artistique et Technique

Institut de Formation Artistique et Technique (IFAT) is a private applied arts school of higher education located in Vannes, Morbihan, France.

University of Florida

The University of Florida (UF), also known as U of F or simply Florida, is an public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located Gainesville, Florida. Established in 1853, the University of Florida is a perennial top ranking university as measured by national and international rankings of American colleges and universities.

According to the 2011 U.S. News & World Report Rankings, the University of Florida ranks 53rd overall among all national public and private universities. In the 2007 Academic Ranking of World Universities List, the university is 51st among the world universities and 38th in the United States based on overall research output and faculty awards. In the 2009 Washington Monthly Rankings, it placed 26th overall. Its continued success in world rankings named the University of Florida as one of the so-called “Public Ivy” universities—paralleling the top “Ivy League” universities in the United States.

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (61-80)

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:50:00 +0000

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (61-80)

To continue with our list, here’s 61-80 of our best 100 interior design schools, still in no particular order:

Chung Yuan Christian University

Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) is a private university located in Jhongli City, Taoyuan County, Taiwan. It was established in 1955 as Chung Yuan Christian College of Science and Engineering by a group of Taiwanese and American Christian educators to provide technical education in the country.

The College of Design, Department of Interior Design offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for interior design.

Harrington College of Design

Harrington College of Design is a private applied arts design school located in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. It was established in 1931 by Frances Harrington, a practicing interior designer, and by the time she retired in 1959, the school has grown to include digital photography and communication design to its curriculum of interior design.

Harrington’s Interior Design Program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER). The school is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, and authorized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to award Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees.

Fachhochschule Hannover

Fachhochschule Hannover is a university of applied sciences and arts located in Hanover, the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the second largest university in Hanover, with over 7,000 enrollees in a given academic year.

Columbia College Chicago

Columbia College Chicago, founded in 1890 as the Columbia School of Oratory, is a private arts and media institution located in the South Loop of Chicago. With nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs, it is also among the largest private colleges in the United States.

In 2010 Forbes Magazine listed Columbia College Chicago within their list of 600 of America's Best Colleges. In 2009, Columbia College Chicago was ranked 252nd in the same list.

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. The school was founded philanthropist Francis Ormond in 1887 as the third-oldest higher education provider in the state of Victoria and the seventh-oldest in Australia.

RMIT has international reputation for excellence in art, design, engineering and technology. According to the THES - QS World University Rankings in 2009, RMIT is ranked in the Top 10 Universities in Australia. It is included in the Top 100 Universities in the World for producing work-ready graduates, and is one of the 20 technical schools featured in the listing.

California College of the Arts

California College of the Arts (CCA) is an arts and design school with campuses located in Oakland and San Francisco, California. The school was founded in 1907 as the School of the California Guild of Arts and Crafts during the height of the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States.

CCA is widely regarded as one of the leading art and design institutions in the world. It is one of the premier fine arts and design institutions in the United States and a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), a consortium of thirty-six leading art schools in the United States and Canada.

Escola da Arte e Design

Escola da Arte e Design is a private arts and design school located in Campinas, Brazil. The school offers interior design, interior decoration, photography, graphic design, landscaping, painting, drawing and computer graphics.

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas (UA), also known as U of A or UARK, is a public research university located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was established in 1871.

The university and several of its programs have been recognized as one of the best in the nation. In recent years, the University of Arkansas has been ranked among the top-tier national universities by the U.S. News & World Report Rankings, among the 371 best colleges and the best southeastern college according to Princeton Review, and its Fay Jones School of Architecture as the 20th top undergraduate architecture program, and ranked with "notable distinction" into the list of America's World Class Schools of Architecture.

Accademia Cappiello

Accademia Cappiello is a private arts and design school located in Florence, Italy. Established in 1956, Accademia Cappiello has more than fifty years of experience in teaching students into qualified professionals in the fields of graphics, interior design and decoration, advertising and editorial illustration.

Woodbury University

Woodbury University is a private university located in Burbank, California. It was established in 1884 as Woodbury's Business College by its namesake, Francis Chute Woodbury while working with Heald’s Business College in San Francisco, a historic link that has been maintained throughout the years.

Woodbury University is unique among private institutions with regard to its diversity; enrolling approximately 39% white, 36% Hispanic students, 12% Asian students, 7% international students, and 6% African-American students.

Studio Art Centers International

Studio Art Centers International (SACI) is an American private arts and design school located in Florence, Italy. It was founded by artist and director emeritus Jules Maidoff in Tuscany in 1975 and incorporated in 1976 as a U.S. non-profit educational institution for undergraduate and graduate university-level students seeking fully accredited studio art, design, and liberal arts instruction.

Ringling College of Art and Design

Ringling College of Art and Design is a private arts and design school located Sarasota, Florida. The school was established in 1931 as the School of Fine and Applied Art of the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, which then became Ringling School of Art in 1933 and finally to Ringling College of Art and Design in 2007.

The college offers accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in several disciplines, including interior design. During the last decade, the school became famous as a starting point for graduates pursuing careers in the Walt Disney Company. Notable alumni include David Bromstad, Bret Iwan, Jim Moore, Andrew Jones and several more.

Istituto Superiore di Architettura e Design

Istituto Superiore di Architettura e Design is a private arts and design school located in Milan, Italy. Established in 1980, the school has over 20 years of experience teaching in the field of Architecture and Interior Design.

Maryville University, St. Louis

Maryville University of St. Louis is a private university situated in Town and Country, Missouri. Founded in 1872 as one of the oldest private institutions in Greater St. Louis, Maryville University was originally an academy for young women, before becoming a four-year college in 1923 and a university by 1991.

Lisaa L'Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués

Lisaa L'Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués is an exclusive applied arts college with campuses in Paris, Rennes, Nantes and Strasbourg. It is one of europe’s finest art school where fluency of the native language is required—French is mandatory to study at Lisaa. Both Paris and Rennes campuses offer 2-year diploma courses in interior design.

Mount Royal University

Mount Royal University (MRU) is a public university located in in south-west Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1910 as Mount Royal College (MRC) for primary and secondary education, it became a post-secondary institution in 1931.

The Bachelor of Applied Interior Design offered by Mount Royal is a 4-year program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation or CIDA.

Robert Gordon University

Robert Gordon University (RGU) is a public research university located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Founded in 1903 as Robert Gordon's Technical College, it was established as a university in 1992.

According to the 2011 Good University Guide by The Times and The Guardian, Robert Gordon University is the country’s 2nd top university for graduate-level jobs. It was also named the Best Modern University in the UK by the same publications. The Sunday Times University Guide 2011 named Robert Gordon University as having the lowest graduate unemployment rate in Scotland at 3.6% and the Guardian University League Tables 2010 called it the best Scottish university for job prospects.

Wentworth Institute of Technology/

The Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) is a private technical design and engineering college located in Boston, Massachusetts. Wentworth was established in 1904 and offers career-focused education through its fifteen bachelor's degree programs in areas such as architecture, computer science, design, engineering, engineering technology, and management, as well as Masters degrees in architecture and construction management.

Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences

Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences is a public research university with campuses in Lemgo, Detmold, Höxter and Warburg, Germany. It was founded as was founded as Fachhochschule Lippe in 1971 and was awarded the university status in 2007.

Sheffield School

Sheffield School began as an exclusive interior design school in 1985, and then expanded its course offerings in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning and Jewelry Design.

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (81-100)

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:48:00 +0000

Top 100 Interior Design Schools (81-100)

Finally, we arrive at the very last segment of our extensive list. We already have covered schools from all the four corners of the world, and yet we still have 20 left to show you.

So without further ado, here’s the last 20 of the world’s best schools in interior design, still in no particular order:

Southern Institute School of Interior Design, Virginia College

Virginia College is private college with several campuses all over the United States. It is a proprietary college which, in comparison to traditional colleges or universities, offers curriculum that is related only to specific professions.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree is offered at Virginia College’s Southern Institute School of Interior Design located in Birmingham, Alabama. It is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER).

Kunsthochschule Kassel

Kunsthochschule Kassel, or Art University Kassel in English, is public art college located in Kassel, Germany. It was established in 1777 and is affiliated as a semi-autonomous department of the University of Kassel.

Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It is part of the public multi-campus University in North Carolina, which comprises of 17 campuses all over the state.

WCU offers a Bachelor Degree in Interior Design accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER).

Universidad de Palermo

Universidad de Palermo (UP), or The University of Palermo in English, is a private university located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Meredith College

Meredith College is an exclusive women only liberal arts college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1891 as the Baptist Female University, and became its present name in 1909.

In the 2006 and 2007 U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of America's Best Colleges, Meredith College ranked 15th over 64 Southern Master's-level universities, tying it with Spring Hill College and Murray State University. The Princeton Review lists Meredith College as one of its 146 Best Southeastern Colleges.

Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo

Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo is an educational institution located in São Paulo, Brazil. It was founded in 1925 originally as a fine arts school for painting, sculpture and printing courses, but over the years has developed several programs in the applied arts area such as architecture and interior design.

Mount Ida College

Mount Ida College is a private independent college in Newton, Massachusetts. It was founded originally as a private high school on Mount Ida Hill in 1899. In 1939, it moved to its present campus in Newton.

Mount Ida College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). In addition, the fashion design, graphic design and interior design programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the primary professional organization for design schools.

Musashino Art University

Musashino Art University is a university located in Kodaira, western Tokyo. It was founded in 1962 as the Teikoku Art School, which became Musashino Art School in 1948, then finally to Musashino Art University 1962 as it became one of the leading art universities in Japan.

The Department of Industrial, Interior and Craft Design at Musashino offers a 4-year Bachelor Degree with principal focus on Craft, Industrial or Interior Design taking place in the third and fourth year of the program.

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville, also known as U of L, is a public research university located in Louisville, Kentucky. The school was founded in 1798 as the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains.

The University of Louisville is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the top tier universities in the nation. The school's admission standards are also considered highly selective by the same publication.

Universidad de Monterrey

Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM), or The University of Monterrey in English, is a private institution of higher learning located in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. It was established in 1969 by several religious groups in Monterrey, namely the Daughters of Immaculate Mary of Guadalupe, Sacred Heart, the Marist Brothers and the La Salle Brothers.

Boston Architectural College

Boston Architectural College, also known as The BAC, is a private college of spatial design located in Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts. It was established as the Boston Architectural Club in 1889, which then became Boston Architectural Center in 1944 when it began developing a continuing education program, and finally to Boston Architectural College in an effort to more readily identify as a college of higher education awarding accredited professional degrees in design.

The BAC is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). The BAC is a member of the ProArts Consortium.

Centro de Estudios Superiores de Diseño de Monterrey

Centro de Estudios Superiores de Diseño de Monterrey (CEDIM), or The Monterrey Center for Higher Learning of Design in English, is a university dedicated to design, innovation, and business located in Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, Mexico. It was founded in 1978 by Alejandro García as Centro de Estudios de Diseño de Monterrey, or the Monterrey Center for the Study of Design in English.

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama (UA), also known as Alabama, is a public research university established in 1831 and located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The university is consistently ranked among the top 50 public universities in the nation. According to the 2011 U.S. News & World Report, Alabama ranks 79th among all the colleges in the United States. Among public universities in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars in 2007, the University ranked 12th in the nation. In 2008, Forbes ranks the University of Alabama seventh in the nation among public universities, and 42nd among both public and private national universities.

Alabama offers a 4-year Interior Design Major accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Art and Design (NASAD).

Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen

Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen, or Bergen National Academy of the Arts in English, is a private art school located in Bergen, Norway. It was established in 1988 is currently spread across several buildings at two different campuses.

Syracuse University

Syracuse University (SU) is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York.

It was established in 1870 and although the school maintains affiliation with the United Methodist Church, it is nonsectarian.

Many of Syracuse’s programs have been nationally recognized for excellence. In the 2010, U.S. News & World Report, Syracuse ranked 55th among undergraduate national universities. The school’s Industrial Design program is ranked 13th nationally by the 2009 issue of DesignIntelligence and in 2010 the School of Architecture’s Bachelor of Architecture program was ranked second nationally by the same publication in its annual edition of “America's Best Architecture & Design Schools”.

Bauhaus-University Weimar

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (BUW) is a university for creative studies in Weimar. It has become well-known in the region for its wide range of teaching and research activities based on architecture and civil engineering-oriented disciplines.

Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Iowa State University of Science and Technology, also known as Iowa State University (ISU), is a public research university located in Ames, Iowa. ISU has the distinction of having a very high research activity (RU/VH) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of other notable individuals in their respective fields. Overall, ISU ranks 94th in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of national universities and 21st in the Washington Monthly Rankings.

ISU’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design degree is four-year degree accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a pubic research university located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Established only in 1989, QUT has roots dating back to 1849 (Brisbane School of Arts) which would later form a conglomerate with more than ten other schools.

QUT offers the Bachelor of Design Major in Interior Design as a 4-year degree.

Loiusiana State University

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, also known as Louisiana State University (LSU), is a public research university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 as the Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana near Pineville and in 1870, the name of the institution was officially changed to Louisiana State University.

According to the 2011 U.S. News & World Report Ranking of U.S. Colleges, LSU is ranked 124th in the national universities category and 60th among public universities.

In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranked LSU as the 16th most popular university in the nation, and among the programs receiving recognition is the architecture and design program, with DesignIntelligence in its 2009 edition of “America's Best Architecture & Design Schools” ranking LSU within the top five since 2004.

Universidade de Aveiro

Universidade de Aveiro, or the University of Aveiro in English, is public research university located in Aveiro, Portugal. Since being founded in 1973, University of Aveiro has become one of Portugal’s internationally recognized educational systems. In 2009, University of Aveiro was ranked 38th best school in Europe and 137th in the world in terms of undergraduate programs.

The Blue Velvet Chair - DIY Mosaic Planter

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Michael from

re-purposed/re-used a toilet tank (the upper part) that had been left in a junk pile by the side of the road as well as the bottom of a plastic coke bottle and created a beautiful sun and moon mosaic tile planter that's gorgeous!

How creative is using a toilet tank (already waterproof) as a planter?

She posted a full DIY tutorial with great tiling and grouting tips at

How to Make a Mosaic Planter and Save the World (DIY).

The sunny side welcomes guests and the moon side shows as guests head home. Recycled and beautiful!

Michael at Blue Velvet Chair celebrates everything from life stories to DIY to upcycle chic, arts and crafts and stumblings across creative genius in all of its many forms. Pop over and say "hi" and check out more great DIY projects!

Reminder: HGTV's Design Star Premiere's Tonight!

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Are you as super excited as I am for this HGTV's Design Star this year? I really get in to it and feel like I "know" the designers after a fun season, don't you? I love watching the challenges. I imagine being on the show is a dream come true for the designers, getting to meet extremely talented famous designers and having the opportunity to be the next DESIGN STAR! Imagine overcoming nerves, stage fright and being judged by the best. I'd be a wreck!

This season DESIGN STAR heads to NYC, where 12 talented designers compete to host their own show and where readers can vote daily for their favorite contestant. All will be mentored by season one DESIGN STAR winner, David Bromstad and will be faced with an all-star judging panel of acclaimed HGTV interior designers, Genevieve Gorder, Candice Olson and Vern Yip. It will also include a few celebrity guests! I don't often watch tv but this is one show I'm going to add to my summer routine. Popcorn and all!

Here are a couple of sneak peeks to give you an idea of what to expect this season:

Premiere is TONIGHT, 7/11/11 at 9/8 C on HGTV! Are you watching too?

Meet the designers and cast your vote at: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-design-star/show/index.html?nl=HGIdeas_v450_P1_DStar&sni_mid=11800&sni_rid=11800.324.945114. I can't wait to get to "know" them and see some amazing designs! I'd love to discuss your thoughts - they all have such a diverse background. It's bound to be interesting season!

As a decorating blogger you’re probably very familiar with One Kings Lane and if not - One Kings Lane partners with top brands and designers to give their members insider access to designer decor, entertaining, fantastic gift selections and exclusive tag sales curated by today's top tastemakers - at up to 70% off retail!

I thought you would be thrilled to know that HGTV has partnered with One Kings Lane on a massive beach themed sale in anticipation for tonight’s season premiere of DESIGN STAR! It’s the first time HGTV has partnered with One Kings Lane for an online sale and I'm thrilled to provide you with all the juicy details.

In today’s “HGTV Bring in the Beach Sale”, HGTV design star bloggers picked a handful of their favorite beach-inspired décor to sell on the site. You can view the inventory and purchase their favorites online beginning at 11am ET/8am PT TODAY! Any product with the ‘HGTV Pick’ icon was hand-selected by HGTV design bloggers. Inventory is extremely limited and once an item is sold out it is gone forever! The sale can be found at the URL below and goes live at 11:00AM ET on the dot:

http://housedesignsschool.blogspot.com/

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The DIY Project Parade is going on! Link up your latest DIY project or browse the amazing links for ideas!

I'll be out of town for a couple of days. I can't wait to share with you where I'm headed and what I'm doing but I'll still be available off and on throughout the week and still posting.

True Value's DIY True Stories Contest - Dish Out Your Worst and Become a DIY Star!

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

STORIES

I'd love a chance to become famous! How about you? Well, let me share some exciting news with you about True Value! They recently launched the "DIY True Stories" Contest<http://www.facebook.com/TrueValue?sk=app_240597572632386> on their Facebook page! This contest gives determined DIYers the chance to tackle a home improvement project that they did not have the money or tools to do so. From now until August 22, people will be able to dish out their DIY dilemmas and the three who plead the best case will win staring rolls in their own DIY web series and $2,500 towards product at True Value.

Contestants will be able to enter by first "liking" True Value's Facebook page and then sharing a project idea via photos or a video submission. The three winners will then start recording their project's progress from start to finish in a five-part web series that will be featured on True Value's Facebook page. They will also receive $2,500 to put towards their project, along with in-person consultation with a "Master of All Things Hardwarian" at their local True Value store.

Do you have an outrageous, shocking or just plain overdue home improvement project on hand? Don't be shy. Remember my embarrassing bathroom makeover when I entered a True Value DIY Dilemma a few years ago? I needed a little extra cash or help getting it done. I didn't win but you don't have a chance if you don't enter! True Value is asking ambitious DIYers to tell all for a chance to win $2,500 to complete their project, receive expert advice to help them get the job done right and the opportunity to star in their very own DIY web series on Facebook! I know if I had the opportunity to give that a shot, I would reveal my worst DIY nightmare again!

From July 7 to August 15, DIYers looking to get their hands dirty will have the chance to submit their wildest home improvement nightmare. To enter, you'll have to first "like" True Value's Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/TrueValue> page, then share your project idea, what you need to get the job done and what you would do if you won. It's as easy that that! "DIY True Stories" can be submitted by crafting a brief project description and uploading photos or submitting a video featuring the DIYer and the potential DIY project.

Then on August 29 when True Value will announce three winners! Each winner will receive an in-person consultation with a "Master of All Things Hardwarian," or True Value employee, at their local True Value store and $2,500 to help them get the job done. They'll then chronicle their project's progress in a five part web series that will be featured on True Value's Facebook page and savor the spotlight as DIY reality stars.Enter for a chance at DIY stardom by visiting www.facebook.com/TrueValue<http://www.facebook.com/TrueValue and clicking on the "DIY True Stories Contest" tab. Don't wait! Share your wild DIY secrets today! Let me know if you do it - I'd love to pop over and see DIY Show Off readers participating in this fun event and even win!

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I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

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Hi SugarPlum - Girls' Room Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0000

In the event you haven't seen this yet (WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!), I have to give a shout out to my sweet blog friend, Cassie. Her daughter's room is beautifully done and it's pretty much DIY city! A beautiful room full of French details and so much charm. Seriously, it doesn't look like it from the picture below but this tastefully done with just the right amount of Paris themed room is practically all DIY!

Visit Cassie at Hi SugarPlum to get all of the DIY and thrifty details that went into this fun girly room:

Choosing a color scheme
Painting a headboard a pretty pop of radish

No sew pillows
Thrifty old sunburst mirror
Borrowed table
DIY Eiffel tower jewelry stand
ModPodge step stool
Monogrammed window pelmet

Breakfast tray to lap desk
Monogrammed tins for storage
Pom Pom lantern
Closet makeover
Handmade fabric banner
DIY Paris prints
Beautifully painted highboy dresser
Fun DIY art and gallery wall

Doesn't this sweet room look like it's straight out of a pricey boutique catalog? I think so! Cassie, it's gorgeous. I'd love to follow your example and create a beautiful room completely designed with thrifty treasures and crafty DIY. Great job, girl!

If you're not familiar with Hi SugarPlum, pop over to see the rest of her lovely home and awesome DIY skills.

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I'll be out of town most of next week. If you'd like to show off your DIY projects in a guest post, send me an email and we'll discuss the details. :) TGIF!

Enjoying the Simple Things - A DIY Paint Stick Pendant Light

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Meet: Laura from

Laura has a lot of interests but not a lot of time. She's mom to 5 kids! However she squeezes in a little time for DIY and flea markets. Check out this awesome project!

What you'll need:

Lamp shade from the thrift store.

Paint stir sticks (purchase or ask at a local hardware store).

Go here for the HOW TO.

Beautiful result:

Rustic charm after little wood stain...

Gorgeous! See more DIY from Laura at

Thanks for sharing your creativity, Laura! I love it!

DIY at His & Hers

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Meet and give a warm DIY happy welcome to Erin & Rick from

I love Erin's creativity and DIY. Check out her awesome pegboard art, inspired by a trip to the basement...

Get the peg board art how-to here.

See the awesome desk below? It's made from mostly wood found around their house! There's an awesome tutorial for it too! His & Hers DIY Desk Tutorial

It's all awesome! Love those chairs and art against the dark wall too!

They've also made a custom ottoman as shown below in the living room before/after shots:

There's lots more to see!

See their HOME, their PROJECTS and their next DIY project along with her cute and funny writing style.

A few of my favorites:

Thanks for sharing your beautiful transformations and DIY, Erin!

DIY at The Pear Tree Cottage

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Meet: Becky from

Becky and her husband are DIYers who are on a mission to change their 1990s home into something they can be proud of.

Beautiful Dining Room Transformation

This is what their house looked at the first time they saw it with the realtor:

Here is the amazing transformation...

Yes, the open doorway has been changed! See all of the details here. Walls were knocked down, doorways were patched, new flooring and beautiful cottage decor. Great job, Becky!

The boy's room got an awesome makeover too!

Before (previous owner's things)

After (chalkboard tutorial here) with more to come!

That chalkboard says it all! F~U~N!

And one last thing then you'll have to visit The Pear Tree Cottage to see more!

Fireplace Before and After

Before...

Gorgeous after...

Wait! That can't be the same room, can it? It's magazine-worthy beautiful! See the fireplace how-to for more details.

Hurray, Becky! You're doing an amazing job and creating a lovely home!

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Just a reminder about I <3 thrifting day. Get the details here!

Delta Blogger Event 2011

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:57:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Delta Faucet 2011 Blogger Event (all expense paid). Exciting, yes! Did I hesitate to accept? No way! A get away and DIY/home improvement related? A DIYer's dream trip! Thank you so much to Delta for an interesting, fun filled couple of days. I have a new appreciation as a consumer to all of the hard work, innovation and creativity that goes into manufacturing quality products. Here's a recap of my experience:

We started off with a reception to get acquainted with each other. Good food and drinks and a homework assignment by Paul: Take our shower backwards, starting with what we normally do last and finish with usual first shower maneuver. Sounds like no big deal, right? Give it a try. It really threw me off balance waiting until the end of my shower to wash off make up. Who knew something so routine meant so much?

My room at the Renaissance Indianopolis North. Modern, clean and comfy.

We were given a warm welcome at the Delta headquarters (and even applauded!) and an introduction by sweet Paula.

Brizo is Delta's luxury line...offering distinctive design aesthetics (BEAUTY) and performance, creating a fashion statement for the home. Lovely! Fascinating: Brizo is the primary sponsor for fashion designer, Jason Wu and the first national sponsor of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.

I fell in love with this girls' curves. (x) Add to the dream DIY bathroom makeover one of these days. I love the Delta Brizo Swarovski crystal finial...

Quality, green, efficient, sustainable luxury.

Inventive technology: Smart Solutions - Touch or hands-free, multi-flow (extra volume), Diamond Seal. Style, practicality, quality and smart innovation. Forward thinking!

Intuition shower head is standard and hand held with a pause button!

Some interesting and awesome Delta features:

H2O Kinetic Technology - uses less water without sacrificing pressure and comfort. Water conservation and performance.
Touch2O and Touch 2Oxt Technology - start and stop the flow of water with a touch to the faucet - use wrist, elbow, forearm. Messy hands, clean faucets (need this!).
Diamond Seal Technology - a tough diamond-coated valve to prevent leaks
MagnaTite Docking - powerful magnet on the pull down/spray hose to keep it in place when not in use.

Getting to know the products and features of Delta's collections and some hands on interaction:

Holly, Maggie and I made a great team...installing a kitchen faucet and a Touch2O bathroom faucet (auto shut off). We gave some feedback on the instructions. Simple installation. Even I could swap out a Delta faucet without Mr. DIY's assistance.

We were also split up into two teams and given direction by Tom Foust on an exercise in brainstorming. So much fun to work through a creative/troubleshooting process. You had to be there, but let me just say "Da Smootha rocks"!

Dinner on our last evening was at the wonderful Recess in Indianapolis. Delicious food (menu changes daily) and a beautiful industrial decorated atmosphere.

The Bloggers:

Dan - SavingsGrid

Holly - 504Main

Joey & Lana

Making a House a Home

Me & Mike - correspondent for HandyGuys Podcast
and new blog author at http://thediygeek.com/

Emily - MerryPad

Stephanie, marketing

Paula, Delta

Jai, Delta

Lisa - Condo Blues

Lindsay, marketing

Me & Maggie - Holyoke Home

The blog crew...

I invite you to check out each blog listed above. Tell them I said "hi".

This was one group of talented DIYers and super friendly bloggers. I really enjoyed meeting and getting acquainted with everyone in real life.

~*~*~*~
Delta's lobby...dreamy. I'll take one of each, please.

I loved meeting Holly from 504Main. We've e-known each other for nearly 2 years, the past year as a part of the DIY Club and finally had the opportunity to meet face-to-face. Thanks, Delta!

So, overall...I have a new respect for Delta's eco-friendly, family friendly, DIY-friendly, creative, innovative, beautiful products. I love that they provide an amazing work environment for their employees with a superb atmosphere. Everyone seemed to love their job and were excited and proud to be a Delta team member. A peek behind the scenes and seeing things first hand was awesome!

Just some more Delta & Brizo faucet eye candy for future reference...

How To Stain Butcher Block

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:08:00 +0000

Meet: Erin from Still Water Story, where she shares her home projects big and small. Erin and her husband have been making over their kitchen too.

Before:

Now...wow!

They chose a budget friendly butcher block option for their counter tops and have written up a very thorough and informative tutorial with tips from start to finish! So helpful if this is something you have in mind for your kitchen!

Before

Gorgeous After! Look at that beautiful tone and grain!

For the full how-to, visit Still Water Story at

How to Stain Butcher Block Countertops

Beautiful job, Erin! I love the new dark rich color! You've done an amazing job on your entire kitchen! Your hard work is reflected in it's new beautiful transformation! How does it feel to be done? I can't wait until we reach that point! I bet it's a big relief!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope you're having a lovely 4th of July! In case you missed it over the weekend, I've posted some updates to our kitchen (here). Happy Birthday America and Happy 1st birthday our little (ragdoll) girl too...

She celebrated with a tasty salmon dinner with plans for a casual evening of napping.

Bamboo Floors and DIY Project Parade

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 04:01:00 +0000

I always tell myself that I'm going to hold off and just wait until the reveal to show you more progress in the kitchen but then I get so excited, I can't resist sharing some progress pictures. I'm too excited to wait! We still have baseboards, trim, built-in open shelving, decorating and our kitchen island to do but the floors are done! The new bamboo flooring is gorgeous!

And then (while writing this post) we discovered that Cali Bamboo entered our floor into the Project of the month contest. We'd REALLY appreciate your vote (Please, please! You know I can't resist a contest. Those dreams of winning get me every time.) Winner gets a gift card for MORE flooring! We'd like to eventually continue the bamboo throughout the rest of the main floor. Guest bedroom is next on the renovation list and currently has yucky plywood! Winning would be extremely helpful for our budget!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE

for #11!

Thanks in advance for your vote!

No signing up, logging in or giving email address...just 1 click vote once.

Kitchen when we bought our house...some potential, right? It's big and open.

Kitchen now: still in progress but getting there!

stove area back splash still on the to-do list
(that's Mr. DIY's mango salsa on the counter...if I would have known this was the picture they'd use for the contest, I'd have hung a fresher towel and cleared away the clutter!)

looking into the dining room before

See installation and reasons for our choice at GOOD BYE OLD FLOORS!

looking into the dining room now

Calibamboo.com

Antique Java

{distressed fossilized/wide plank}

strand bamboo = durable green product

This area (below) is getting DIY built-in open shelving.

The cart/etc. is temporary but functional for now.

Lalka loves new floors.

The view looking in (Lalka is sitting where the island is planned):

The view looking out (love seeing our grape arbor).

The patio off the kitchen is convenient for outdoor entertaining and dining too.

Dining room when we bought the house...

Dining room before floors:

(Fuzzy) after of floors. Looking for new rug and working on some DIY decorative accents. And better quality pictures. I promise.

Okay, next time I'll hold off and wait until the reveal before showing you more. Nothing like 100s of posts on a kitchen remodel to make you sick and tired of hearing about it, right? I promise I'm not the type to insist you open your birthday present weeks ahead of time. I love surprises! I do have patience in some areas. Just not when it comes to showing off! ;)

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE

for #11!

Thanks in advance for your vote!
http://www.calibamboo.com/
(Project of the Month button on the left. Then vote for #11.)

No signing up, logging in or giving email address...just 1 click vote once.
Then come back and link up!

Note: We were not given free product or compensation. The bamboo was purchased by us after our own research and opinion is our own based on our experience. :)

What are you up to this weekend?

If you'd like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:

1.You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone's links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also - this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

5. NOW you can "like" the links! Most liked link moves to the top of the list! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week! :)

Have a Happy 4th of July, friends
!
Your kindness is making me smile today!
See the milestone on the right side bar? You're awesome!

Don't forget about I <3 Thrift Day coming up! See the button on the side bar for more details!

Celebrating July 4th

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

We're not hosting a picnic for the 4th this year since the house is in a state of chaos with remodels going on but here are a few of my favorite patriotic links for some great ideas this weekend.

(free printables at The Crafting Chicks)

(martha stewart)

(free printable Landee See, Landee Do)

(DIY firecrackers - Oopsey Daisey)

(grin and bake it)

(BHG)

(martha stewart)

(via)

(BHG)

(downloadable subway art at eighteen 25)

via the DIY Project Parade

USA banner

{504 main}

Push Pops!

{the joys of home educating}

O is for "Old Glory"

{that's my letter}

Festive Food Flags

{the seven year cottage}

Patriotic Star Art

{organize & decorate everything}

PB inspired flag pillow

{my life on cedar street}

DIY Cupcake Liner Wreath

{a mommy's life...with a touch of yellow}

Patriotic Food

{cant' stop making things}

Red, White & Blue Flip Flops

{thrifty decorating}

Patriotic Sign Tutorial

{thrifty decorating}

Hanging Stars

{makoodle.com}

Patriotic Pinwheel Tutorial

{poppies & pinwheels}

Yummy Patriotic Cake Pops

{simply designing}

I took these pictures last year. I LOVE fireworks!

Are you taking a little time off to enjoy a long holiday weekend (if you celebrate this US holiday) or do you have something DIY planned?

The patio...

Have a Happy 4th of July!

See more at the DIY Project Parade!

DIY Bathroom to Beautiful Laundry Room

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Meet: Danielle from

Danielle's little bathroom was located across the hall from a full bathroom. It needed a makeover. Desiring a laundry room on the main floor, Danielle gave up this little space...

for this...

Hello happy sunny yellow! Pretty hoop art! Love the vintage crate too!

I've never seen such a cheerful laundry space, have you?

Pretty DIY Summer Time Vase

More embroidery DIY hoop art (I <3 Thrifting Day coming up - get some!)

Cute photo display!

What a happy place to do laundry, Danielle! Beautiful transformation! Great DIY accents too! Thank you so much for sharing!

See more at

How To Choose A Tiled Kitchen Backsplash

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:05:00 +0000

How To Choose A Tiled Kitchen Backsplash

The kitchen is more than likely the main part of the house that we spend our time in these days, and thats more than likely not just for cooking and cleaning. It is no longer a place where we just cook and go. The kitchen is seen and a premium area of the house nowadays, so its has become more important that it looks rather stylish as people dont just want to feel good about their food they want to feel good about where they are preparing it. Thats why many are opting to modernise their kitchen by having a nice shiny kitchen backsplash installed or fitting one themselves.

Maybe you already have a pretty good looking kitchen but you are getting tired of your current design. Your kitchen might be missing something so maybe is it time to really change how the kitchen looks. Backsplashes can really complement the kitchen, so maybe you need to consider some of the following simple backsplashes ideas for the kitchen that can help lighten and brighten your kitchen.

There are some definite ideas that you need to consider in creating your backsplash designs. Start with a strong theme and move forward from there. Decide on a color scheme to be used and then move on to the other elements planned. Your choice of materials and texture is really important, with use of imagination being the secret to success in choice of the perfect design.

When choosing or designing your new backsplash you have the choice of so many differing styles colours and materials. You can consider a mural on your backsplash tiles. For example you could get an artist to create your own kitchen backsplash design by custom hand painting you a mural on ceramic tiles by hand to order. They will usually be able to do this in any pattern, style, theme or colour. Or maybe you can get a picture printed onto individual tiles that then make one glorious picture when the tiles are stuck up on the wall.

You should also study the colors of your current kitchen accessories or consider the purchase of new items in the kitchen before you make your choice, otherwise it might not work. Backsplashes can be very bold if thats your style or they can be extremely plain and simple.

The backsplash area is possible the busiest and hardest working place in your kitchen, that is likely to acquire food stains from all the various kitchen activities. So its definitely a place that could do with sprucing up and making less functional. So redesign your kitchen backsplash to bring together the entire kitchens kitchens design. Add a new sense of character and flair to bring your old drab kitchen space into the trends of today and turn that very standard and function area into the main centre stage for your kitchen. You may just want to update your kitchen backsplash to make your kitchen look shiny bright and new.

Take the time and effort create a beautiful kitchen backsplash for your kitchen and you will be well rewarded. Your imagination is your first tool for designing an new lok for you kitchen so make the most of it. With so many choices of designs its amazing what you will be able to think of for your backsplash.

Materials to choose from for your modern design for your backsplash range from glass, ceramics, metal, steel, tin or other such materials. Sometimes people choose themes when embarking on a design for a backsplash and when bouncing around ideas, choosing colors and looks. Accompany these with some clever designs and you can create a backsplash that really stands out.

Traditional backsplashes can be made from marble, or unusual materials for today such as earth colored chipped tiles which would give a more traditional look in the kitchen. These are the little touches that make all the difference.

Remodel Kitchens

Glass Tile Backsplash Ideas

How To Choose A Tiled Kitchen Backsplash

Simply Klassic Little Girl's Room Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Meet: Kristin from

Kristin's header tells you that she's learning to define her style on a budget and her latest project is the amazing result of her creativity and $200.

Beautiful dresser makeover!

before

After some sanding, paint, distressing and beautiful raggy fabric handles....

Finishing touches include a lovely print from her etsy shop and a little lamp dressing up in same pretty fabric as the handles...

Night stand before

Now...

See all of the details in her original posts below including before/after and cost breakdown:

Wow, Kristin! You're the queen of budget makeovers! Her entire room and all of the details are just so adorable! Great job!

You can see more beautiful DIY + decorating at

Here's a sneak peek at a few of my favorite posts:

Summer Mantel

Master Bedroom

How To Print on Fabric

My Latest Thrifty Finds

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:16:00 +0000

I hit the thrift store at least once a week and need to catch up sharing my finds (maybe include a fashion label too since a lot of my clothes seem to come from there lately too). Here are a few of the treasures I found with more to be posted in the near future.

I couldn't pass up these chairs. They're going in a guest bedroom once we start the makeover there but since that room is currently my craft room/office, they're sitting in this space for now. I had to make it look nice in the meantime. (And I'm collecting plates to fill in and add color to the plate wall.)

chairs $25 each

The chairs will get a DIY makeover in the near future.

Lamp is also a thrift store score...

lamp $2.99

This tiny wall in the kitchen is the perfect spot for this mirror. Ggreat to catch a quick look before heading out the door...picture is taken at an angle so my reflection isn't in there. I wasn't dressed to share.

mirror 6.99

I love this Pennsylvania card from a box of US State cards. Looks so cute in my reclaimed frame.

box of state cards .59

The bird statue on the left is for the guest room makeover too...

peacock .99

Have you shared thrifty treasures lately? Link up your post below! Show and tell! (Thrifty Finds Only Please.)

DIY Glory Story

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Blog: The Glorious Pile.

GLORYSTORY: I’m a graphic designer, instructor and a packrat, just like my grandma. I have hoarding tendencies but I love pretty things, good design and the simple life. This blog is a journal of the everyday things that inspire me and the 80 year old pile of bricks I call home. While you're dreaming, take time to appreciate what's around you.
Glorious Reminder: While your dreaming, take time to appreciate what's around you.; Bathroom Makeover; Yikes! to Wow!; Collecting pieces and accents for 7 years is dedication but the beautiful result is well worth the wait.; The details, colors and vintage vibe make me sigh. LOVE!; See the before, the demo, the progress, beautiful details and inspiration at DONE!; There's lots more DIY where that came from. Here are a few more amazing projects...; Ugly Duckling to Swan Chairs; Lovely designer looking room too!; Garage Door Makeover; before; after - beautiful! (I'd give anything for a garage. Period. The doors? Icing!); Pop over, say hello! I KNOW she'd love to hear from you! Blog buddy support and encouragement means so much! Making new blog friends is so much fun!

HomeRoad

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Meet: Susan from HomeRoad. She has a passion for decorating and re-decorating (me too!). I love her style and creativity.

Here are a few of her awesome DIY projects:

Ikea Cart Makeover

Before

Gorgeous after - not "Ikea" looking anymore!

Love the new design, see that beautiful stamped top? So pretty!

FirePit Tutorial...great tips!

Susan's Decorating Label and junk creations (other fabulous labels to browse too) have so many pretty decorating and DIY ideas. Her style is so much like my own that I couldn't stop looking through every single post! A few (or more...I can't help it!) of my favorite HomeRoad projects:

I'd re-post her whole blog if I keep it up! Check out

for yourself to see some amazing DIY and decorating eye candy.

Thanks so much for sharing your inspiring creativity, Susan!

Brooch Wreath Tutorial/DIY Project Parade

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0000

I shared this two weeks ago at the DIY Club but wanted to post the tutorial here too. :)

It's the time of year for shopping flea markets and estate sales this summer and you'll likely see lots of costume jewelry, brooches, charms, earrings, etc. - CHEAP! Vintage brooches are so pretty but they're not something I'd wear on a regular basis. Although if you do this project, you'll be tempted. and develop a new appreciation for these beautiful pins. Inspired by the recent trend of brooch bouquets, I loved the look of clustered jewelry.

I have no need for a bridal bouquet, but a wreath - now that would add a pretty touch to home decor. I could see this in my future vintage inspired dressing room:

Miranda

My wreath has a 10" diameter and took over 100 pieces to get to the point pictured. Keep your eyes open at your thrift-hunting adventures and start collecting brooches, earrings, charms, costume jewelry, buttons, any small ornament. You might even have a few pieces lying around that you'd like to include for display rather than hiding away in a jewelry box. Brooches can get expensive. We set a limit of $1. Sometimes we'd go just a bit higher (no more than $3) if there was a pretty one we just had to have but for the most part, yard and estate sales proved to be .25 or 3 for $1. We also scoured the craft section in the thrift stores, scoring large baggies full of jewelry surprises. The local pawn shop/jewelry store gave us a good deal on costume jewelry too.

My daughter, Bri, and I both made wreaths. Mine is done in golds, silvers with a touch of white/blue/green. (Note: Choosing certain colors makes finding pieces a little more difficult.) Bri wanted lots of color and created a beautiful wreath using a variety of pretty mix of costume jewelry baubles.

Materials:

Assortment of brooches, earrings, charms, buttons, decorative pieces, etc.

Straight pins

Hot glue

Styrofoam wreath

Deco Art MagiKote - a mandatory step (see reasons below)

Krylon spray paint or Deco Art craft paints

Brooch Wreath Tutorial:

Apply Deco Art MagiKote to the Styrofoam wreath.

MagiKote has the texture of white paint. I love using foam brushes for craft projects.

Have a larger assortment on hand for crafts like the ones sold in bulk by Rockler.

MagiKote aids in making Styrofoam a paintable surface by sealing the texture, otherwise paint hits the top edges but not the Styrofoam craters. MagiKote also makes for a better pin-able and glue-able surface. Brooches etc. get moved around a lot during placement. If it wasn't for the MagiKote, there'd be a lot of Styrofoam crumbs and chunks falling out.

Let dry.

2. Paint the Styrofoam wreath form (a Styrofoam square would be cute too!). I used Krylon's Brushed Metallic. Color: Champagne Nouveau. The MagiKote also creates a protective barrier so that my spray paint didn't 'melt' the Styrofoam form.

I like that Krylon is quick, easy and fast drying. This sets a background for the pins. I painted my to blend...

Bri painted hers using Deco Art Gloss Enamels (Citron Green) to pop and coordinate with other colors in her room...

3. Layout a template to get an idea for placement, favorite pieces front and center. Side pieces can be smaller and aren't viewed from every angle.

4. Start placement of biggest brooches and pieces including favorites.

5. Once you have the big pieces in place, fill in with smaller pieces. Open pins stick into the Styrofoam.

Earring posts make placement easy.Clip-ons are just as easy but use wire cutters if necessary to cut backings for easier "pinning".

Use wire cutters to help when needed. Barrets, pins, earrings all have backing that can be used to secure to the styrofoam. Hot glue and straight pins will help too.

My wreath doesn't use glue but occasionally I used colorful pins, so it can be disassembled if needed...a fun way to display jewelry that is worn or prevent keepsakes from being ruined.

6. Optional: Use a ribbon for hanging.

Here is my finished (almost - a few more brooches needed for the inside of the wreath)...

Bri's wreath:

All finished! Well, almost. We still have some extra spaces to fill in as summer progresses and I'd like to fill in the inside as well...it'll take some time. Fun for a game of "I Spy" too! What do you think?

What have you been doing this weekend?

If you'd like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:

1.You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

See my project linked and more DIY tutorials at

Persia Lou

Kitchen Granite Countertop Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (bloggermaniac) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 06:54:00 +0000

Kitchen Granite Countertop Pictures

Kitchen Counter

Kitchen Granite Countertop Pictures