Interior Decor

CREATING A GOOD ATMOSPHERE IN UR HOME

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:29:00 +0000

Lighting is one of the most important elements of beautifying your home. Effective lighting does not only set the mood but it can usually make people feel and look better too. Unfortunately, this very important design element is sometimes overlooked during the planning phases of decorating your home. Luckily, there are solutions to these problems.

There are several ways you can create an inviting atmosphere in your home using effective lighting techniques such as Tiffany style floor lamps. Here are some of them:
o One popular way is through the use of candles. These ornaments can make a room cozy and romantic at the same time. Candles come in different shapes, sizes and colors. It will all depend on your personal fondness on what design you will choose that will match the room themes. Warm colors are perfect to create an inviting and warm room. Pick shades such as bright yellows and soft greens. If you want your room to be more relaxing, opt for blue hues. On the other hand, if you want to create a romantic feel, pink and red candles are perfect for your bathroom and bedroom.

Although these ornamental pieces are pleasing to the eyes, it is always advised to take the necessary precautions because candles are fire hazards. Be sure to place them in steady candle holders atop fixed furniture in which there will be no possibility of them falling over. Candles are also dangerous when little children are around. Place them on high places where they will not able to reach them. Position them away from newspapers and other combustible materials such as curtains.

o Dimmer switches are also an effective lighting technique. This device will allow you to choose the level of light given out by the light bulb. This is very useful for the living room where other members of the family might want to read and use this light. For the case of creating a more relaxing atmosphere, you can use this switch to dim the light.

o Another alternative is to utilize table lamps, floor lamps and desk lamps. You can purchase these different types of lamp with different heights so you can create an innovative look. These lamps come in different styles, designs and colors in. If you are going for a more sophisticated look, purchase tiffany style floor lamps that match all your other furnishings. These pieces can also be used to spotlight works of art.

o Track lighting is another good method to create a mood. These lamps are positioned along a track on the wall and can be placed above furniture such as a long table or a comfortable sofa. If this set-up does not appeal to you, you can also use table lamps and scatter them on a few tables in a room. Find a style that you like with the lamps and you will surely appreciate the effect it provides.

There are many ways in which you can beautify your home and effective lighting is one of them. You must first determine the mood you want to portray before starting with this venture. Use the various techniques above and you will find yourself enjoying the perfect lighting of your home for a very long time.

COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNS

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:23:00 +0000

Check out these color decorating tips to get started on decorating your home with a variety of colors. Determine which colors will look best in your home and will complement your mood and personality with the color wheel.

Editors' Picks: Hot Summer Colors

from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

The editors who bring you Decorating magazine divulge their favorite color palettes for summer.

what's hot in color

Decorating with Black

Decorating with Green

Decorating with Cool Colors

Experts' No-Fail Color Schemes

from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

Take your home beyond beige with these color tips from a few of our favorite designers.

5 Ways to Connect Rooms with Color

from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

Do the colors in your home play well together? If not, you might have a missing link.

Pops of Color in Kids' Rooms

from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

Just say no to white walls and boring neutrals. Bring on the color for kids!

Color and Wood Tone

from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

Follow these guidelines to select the best colors to complement your wood furniture.

Decorating with Neutrals

from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

Create a soothing environment with a neutral color palette.

Decorating in Pink

from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

Shades of pink like fun bubblegum, bright coral, or traditional rose add a feminine touch to any room. Browse our slide show for some colorful ways to use pink in your decor.

Seven Steps to Perfect Paint Colors

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:38:00 +0000

Step 1: Get to know yourself

Step 2: Get to know your space

Step 3: Find your inspiration

Step 4: Get in the mood

Step 5: Discover your scheme

Step 6: Find your color

Step 7: Get your paint

1. Get to know yourself

When decorating your home, start the same way a designer would by thinking about the colors and styles you and your family like most. In my book there are two quizzes to help readers "Discover a Colorful You" and "Get to Know Your Stylish Self" but there are many ways to figure out what you might like.

One easy way to discover your true color & style preferences is to create your own style file. To do this simply go through your favorite magazines and pull out pages, pictures and magazine covers with colors that appeal to you. Just go with your first impression and make quick decisions. You'll have time to evaluate your choices later.

Once you have a stack of images to go through see if there are similar colors in the pictures. Are there many bright colors? Mostly neutrals? Predominately cool blues and greens? You will probably find that several of your pictures include similar colors and styles.

The images you react positively to can also reveal not just the colors you like but can also give you clues as to the mood that draws you in. More on mood in a moment.

Discovering what it is you like about a variety of images can inspire you to take a great idea right out of the pages of your favorite magazines and into your home.

2. Get to know your space

Whether you are beginning with a home full of possessions or one empty room, you need to look closely at both the permanent features and personal items that will remain in the space.

Think about each of the different elements so that you can incorporate them seamlessly into your overall color scheme.

I usually recommend narrowing down your options to a color family or two. By narrowing your focus you will be able to put your energy into finding just the perfect hue in that color family.

In order to decide you need to take into consideration the elements in the room that aren't going to change. For instance the color will need to work well with the color of the flooring or carpet. It will need to complement any furnishings that are in the room or that you plan to purchase. It will also need to harmonize with the colors in adjoining rooms.

While there are many things to consider the good news is that all of them can help you to hone in on the perfect color by quickly ruling out some color families that you know won't work.

Also keep in mind that the color you paint your wall is a backdrop for the room and does not need to match anything exactly so don't worry about finding the exact yellow of the little square in your upholstery fabric and in fact it is often more appealing if it doesn't match exactly but rather harmonizes with the elements in the room.

3.Find your inspiration

You may already have an idea of the colors you want to include in your scheme. If not, then you can look around for something to inspire a fabulous color combination.

Many people suggest that the way to do this is to find a nature photo or piece of art but there are so many places to look for inspiration. I have listed 26 sources with links to post or articles that show how that source inspired a color scheme.

4.Get in the Mood

Before you decide on the exact color you need to define the type of look you ultimately want to create and the mood you want to set.

Sometimes this is easy. For instance if you're painting your daughter's room and she insist on pink and you insist on her being able to sleep you are well on your way to finding your perfect paint color because you know the color family (pink) and have defined the mood (restful, tranquil, dreamy) you want to create. Jump on the fast track and go right to Step 3!

If however you aren't sure what color you want then start by thinking about the mood or feeling you want to create in the room. Is it a family room that you want to feel warm and welcoming? Is it a kitchen that wakes you up in the morning and energizes you for preparing a meal at the end of long day?

For every room you decorate you are setting the stage for the activities and interactions that make up your life. So if you don't already have a vision of the finished room close your eyes and see yourself or your family in the room, imagine how you want it to feel and and capture that with the colors you select.

5.Discover your scheme

Once you have determined the look and feeling you want to create and understand a bit about how color can help you to create that mood you can start to think about which color families will work in your room.

A color family is the most general term for describing colors. Most people think in terms of Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink, Purple, Brown, Gray, White or Black when it comes to broad definitions of color.

But describing a color exactly requires more than just the general color family. It comes down to identifying three basic characteristics. They are: the color family along with the lightness or darkness, and the brightness or dullness of a color. This may sound difficult but it isn't. If you've ever described something as dark bluish gray or bright tomato red you've hit upon all three without even knowing it. We'll take a quick look at each characteristic so you can recognize what it's all about.

6.Find your color

I recommend three trips to the paint store when selecting your color. One to get all of the swatches that you think might work, the next time to buy some paint to sample and finally a trip to pick up the paint for the project.

I know that for many the only trip to the paint store is to decide on the color and purchase the paint all at one time but considering a rather high percentage of the paint sold is purchased to replace a color that someone didn't like the first time. Add to that all of the people that say they don't really love the color but didn't have the energy, time or money to redo it and I'd say the chances aren't very good your going to be happy with the outcome if this is your approach.

Okay that being said once you've got a color family or two in mind it's time for your first trip to the paint store.

The good news is that rather than feeling overwhelmed with hundreds of choices you have already narrowed your focus to one or maybe two areas.

Take along any reference fabrics or pictures that might help you but this is NOT the place to try to find the exact color. What you want to do is pick up a range of swatches in your color family that are close to what you have in mind to take home.

For example if you have decide on green pick up some swatches that in the paint store look slightly more blue than the color you have in mind and some that are slightly more yellow. Also some that are darker, lighter, brighter or more muted than what you have in mind. You might be amazed at home different the colors will look in your home so don't try to narrow your selection too much while your at the paint store. It is much better to do that at home.

Don't worry about taking too many color swatches. That's what they are there for and better to take a few extra colors than have to make an extra trip back to the store.

TIP: Don't match color in the store even if they have an area with special lighting. The lightening in your home is never the same and you must look at the color in the actual room if you want to get it right.

The painting techniques

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:05:00 +0000

THE PAINT TECHNIQUES

Here are some of the effects of the paints that one can create apart from the flat surface, but one should be aware of the effect, one desire to create.

COLOR WASHING: Color washing is among the group of finishes that have their beginnings in fine are, they are often known as broken-color technique. Specifically, it involves the application of thin washes of glaze in which the brush marks are left apparent to give the finish texture and depth. It provides an interesting alternative to flat color and can be used to decorate period or modern, town or country interiors.

SPONGING: Sponging is a modern broken-color technique. Natural sponge, moistened with water or soaked in glaze and used over the opaque base coat to produce a softly mottled effect-either by removing or adding color. Usage of sea sponge creates more interesting textures that normal household sponge.

STIPLING: Traditionally stippling entails the reworking of newly applied paint to create a finely textured, matt finish. A well prepared surface is essential and a steady hand. An elegant effect which adds subtle ageing to a room, it looks good on wood paneling, furniture and frames.

DRY BRUSHING: In this technique, the brush is kept relatively dry as glaze is applied lightly over a base coat to create a cloudy effect. It can be subtle if applied in soft tones with soft strokes or bold if you use hard bristled brushes and strong colors. An easy way to give texture to modern interiors, it is also used to create an aged finish for period settings. It is ideal for highlighting architectural mouldings and because it is extremely resilient, for furniture.

MEDITERRANEAN LOOK: The word Mediterranean gives us an impact of wonderful chalky colors of sun baked, painted house. It gives a very country look kind of the atmosphere. Random brushing and hard rubbing create the characteristic roughness and depth of tone. It can be used on a variety of surface but is natural suited to uneven plaster and textured surfaces.

TEXTURING: There are many different ways to texture paints. The obvious advantage of texturing is that it is a wonderful disguise for imperfect wall. But it can bring character to any surface, or a tough finish to a garden room or exterior wall.

WOOD FINISHES: Paint finishes on wood can be as authentic and fantastic as you wish. Color is the determining factor but with today's wide choice of colors, the scope for experiment is enormous. Paint effects can also 'age' new wood quickly. This is an important period setting, where new wood is often ill at ease. Stairs, handrails, floors and frames can also be aged to add a period feel to any home.

BORDERS: Borders are nowadays becoming very common and people are having a keen interest in them. Painted borders are a neglected way of bringing additional interest to wall surfaces. Borders painted by hand are essentially individual .One can choose color and patterns one wants and can make them as simple or as complex.

Thus paint effects are a wonderful way to express your character and that of your home and the people who live with you. So go wild with you sponges, spatter, stipple and rub down to your heart's content. And when you will rest from your labors, you will find that you have created something that simply can't be found in a pot or plain emulsion paint.

Carpet Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:52:00 +0000

Carpets or rugs as some people use both the words for a simple thing which refers to covering of floor. Carpets have always been in a trend and today in this globalization era carpet or rugs trend has become more prevalent. It is made up of different natural things and the designs which are available in the market are endless and beautiful.

Carpet trend and core material

Today many people are taking care of each and every corner of their house. They want to install all the stylish and trendy things which reflect their own style statement and personality. The materials used in carpets are

Cotton
Fibre
Jute
Coir
Seagrass
Wool

Synthetic fiber carpets are also made which uses metallic fiber and polymer.

Types of carpets

Carpets are available in various styles and designs which uses different material and follow a typical pattern. We will no discuss the types of carpets. There are several types of carpet which we install at our home:

Woven carpets
Woven carpets are produced on a loom which is similar to woven cloth being cut or pile. Woven carpets use different colour yarns and the whole process produces very intricate patterns of designs with beautiful colours. Woven carpets are most common and highly valued for its durability and quality. They are usually made of natural fibers as jute, coir or coconut fiber sisal and wool.

Tufted carpets
Tufted carpets are created by inserting tufts of yarn through a fabric backing. In the tufts machines either single coloured or non coloured yarn is inserting to make tufted carpets. If the yarn used is non-coloured than it will be dyed or printed with a design as a separate process. Carpets can either be cut pile, loop pile or a combination of both. Axminster is one type of tufted carpet used primarily for patterned carpets in multiple colours.

Hooked rug
Hooked rug is also known as handicraft which is handmade and constructed by pulling strips of cloth like cotton or wool through the meshes of very sturdy fabric.

Needlefelt
This type of carpet is very advanced in scientific way. They are manufactured by electrostatic attraction of individual fibers which forms a unique carpet with extremely high durability. This kind of carpets is usually seen at hotels and restaurants and looks beautiful and quite steady. They are sometimes expensive than others.

Flatweave
Flatweave carpets are made by interlocking warp and weft threads. The types of flatwoven carpet include plain weave and tapestry weave. This type is often used in Japan and other countries rather than North American regions.

Cut and loop piles
Cut and loop pile combines both looped and cut fibers. This kind of carpet is available in different variants and the several colours in this carpet can hide dirt and footprints.

Saxony
Saxony carpet consists of tightly twisted cut piles that are headset straight. It consists of two or more fibers that have been twisted together in a yarn, providing soft texture for formal and informal areas. This will show each and every footprint and even marks from vacuum cleaner.

Textured Saxony
Textured Saxony carpets are beautiful and work best at informal areas, due to its soft feel. They consists of tightly twisted and texture headset for medium durability. They also come in multi coloured patterns which hides tracks and footprints.

Velvet/plush
Velvet and plush are slightly twisted and comes in uniform colours. They are very soft and best suited in formal areas for its luxurious look.

Concept of wall to wall carpet

Wall to wall carpet refers to covering of floor with rugs that extends across an entire room. This will increase the charm and interior décor of your rooms and making it more luxurious. Sometimes purchasing carpets is costly and when you have no idea about the carpet you may end up buying cheap stuff. Here are some tips which will tell you what can you do while purchasing your carpet:

Choose one colour rather than patterned carpeting.
Choose synthetic fiber rather than wool, as synthetic fiber is cost effective and easy to maintain.
You can also consider carpet tiles as they cost less and give your carpet longer life. These tiles are designed to interchange from low to high traffic areas.
More the pile and style, more it costs.

Advantages of carpet

Carpets are excellent insulators during both hot and cold spells. They act as a shield to prevent cold or heat from radiating up to the floor.
Carpets increase your home interior décor as they offer your rooms a luxuriant look. Carpeting makes your home lively and colourful.
Wall to wall carpets are much suitable in colder countries where they provide cosines and warmth which is needed in winters.

Disadvantages of carpet

Carpets are the biggest source which spreads viral and infections among the children. They attract maximum dust and germs causing infections and other severe diseases.
They are hard to keep it clean and are not washable.
It is advisable for those suffering from respiratory disease must not come into the contact with carpets which may prove fatal.
The ugly stains of dirt or footprints can’t be removed from carpets.
Wall to wall carpets are not suitable in India and other moderate climatic countries, as they attract a lot of dust and germs.

Laminated Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:51:00 +0000

Laminated flooring is fast picking up the trend in India. This type of flooring is much cost effective than hardwood flooring. As this flooring type was most preferred in west but today Indian homes are getting much interested in installing laminate flooring to give their homes ascetic look.

Lamination and core material

Layered construction of lamination flooring makes it cheaper as compared with other flooring types. The thin layer of laminated flooring on the sub-floor usually made of aluminum oxide which makes the flooring resistant to dents, scratching, burns and other kind of wear & tear. Laminate flooring is easy and nuisance free.

It can be said that it is a type which resembles real wood. Material used in laminate is a synthetic material mixed with natural elements so as to make it similar to natural substance and feel of real wood.

Almost any kind of flat surface is used to laminate for flooring material. Wood is the main core material used in lamination being organic and porous it is valued for its sheen and coziness. Sometimes it’s difficult to maintain wooden flooring but laminating the wood slacks can keep them intact which make them easier to maintain.

Fiberboard is another popular material, being a synthetic it is less prone to rotting than wood. Fiberboard is porous and scrubbing and mopping may only ruin it. However after laminating its durability increases in some way which makes it better to maintain.

Types of laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is of several types such as high pressure lamination and direct pressure lamination. High pressure lamination involves subjecting the whole core material to heated lamination. This type of lamination results in dent and scratch proof flooring. It makes the floor thinner, however it is quite expensive than direct pressure flooring.

Direct pressure lamination involves subjecting the core material at a time under the lower pressures and temperatures. This type of flooring is comparatively cheaper and prone to scratches and dent.

How to install laminate flooring

Laminate flooring uses unique edge joining systems for installation. Installing laminate flooring is much easier than any other lamination. The tools which are needed for its installation are: a rubber mallet, tape measure, a flooring pull bar, coping saw, utility knife, hammer, nails, laminate flooring, and underlayment pad.
The first thing to do is to prepare the floor which has to be laminate, as pull out the old stack strips around the room’s perimeter. Remove the baseboard and use the coping saw to cut off the bottoms of door jambs.
Now roll out the underlayment pad and connect the pieces together with wide clear plastic tape. Just snap the laminate planks together and stagger the joints. While laminating the floor leave ¼’’ clearance at each wall and on the initial wall where you start, use spacers which you pull out before installing the baseboard.
As you go along you need to use mallet and pull bar to snug things up. You can use your utility knife to trim the snapping connections on the adjoining planks so that they can slide together. Use some glue to fix them together.

Advantages of laminate flooring

Easy installation

Laminate flooring can be easily installed at homes. Earlier in older type of laminate flooring you need to use glue to intact the wooden planks, but now with the coming of newer type of laminate flooring which has click lock design comes with dry glue already on the product. This requires just a swipe of wet sponge to active it.

Durable

Laminate flooring is not prone to dents and scratches making it durable. It has a wear layer underneath which protects it from all the wear and tear.

Used at moist places

Laminate flooring can easily be put into bathrooms, kitchens and other places where moisture remains in intact. But laminate flooring can’t bear standing pool water.

Cleanable

Laminate flooring can be cleaned with a broom or vacuum, you can also mop the floor slightly with easy hand.

Dent resistant

This kind of flooring is easily maintained due to its resistance to stains, dents and scratches.

Disadvantages of laminate flooring

Slippery

Laminate flooring is slightly slippery which makes difficult for a person to move casually on the floor. Manufacturers are trying to develop non-slippery laminate flooring.

Not a real wood

Though laminate flooring resembles like wood which is layered, but frankly it is not wood. Some natural material is used which gives the feel of real wood.

Can’t be refinished

This is the one of the biggest disadvantage of laminate flooring as they can’t be refinished if ever they badly scratched or grooved. It has to be replaced.

Mosaic Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:50:00 +0000

Mosaic flooring is one of the most durable and timeless flooring options which you can install at your homes. Mosaic tiles are beautiful and made up of tiles less than 2 inches. They form a particular design pattern or laid out in single colour. If you want to go for something natural then mosaic tiles would be suitable for you, as they come two different textures mosaic hardwood flooring and mosaic stone flooring both give a natural look to your home or office.

Types of mosaic flooring

There are types of mosaic tiles which are made up of

Glass
Ceramic
Porcelain
Stone

Mosaic effects can change the feel of your home as they are natural and beautiful.Even the shapes of mosaic tiles are different such as square, hexagonal and round.

Porcelain mosaic flooring is commonly used and found to be most durable as they can be glazed or unglazed. They are usually used in bathroom areas.

Stone flooring is also known as pebble flooring which is usually installed in bathrooms and pool areas. It is naturally striking and stands apart from others.

Mosaic hardwood flooring is another option which is cost effective and sets a distinctive tone for any home or office. Hardwood and shimmering glass lend your home or office luxurious look of elegance and style.

Though it may costs you more depending on the quality material used but each one is custom made by artisan and the impact they create is worth the cost.

Installation of mosiac flooring

Mosaic flooring is easy to install, here are few steps through which you can easily make your home beautiful by installing mosaic tiles.

Prepare the floor by cleaning the surface where you need to install your mosaic tiles.
Gently clean the floor with dry cloth to ensure that the floor is free of all dust.
Before using mosaic tiles apply stone sealer to the mosaic so as to protect the stone during installation. This sealer has to be left for 2-3 hours to ensure that sealer is absorbed by the mosaic tile.
Now take the plastic protection off the back of the mosaic leaving only mesh.
Gently buff out the backing of the mosaic to remove some of the excess glue and make sure that the mesh is exposed as much as possible. This buffing can be done with a metal brush and remember not to over buff the surface or you will run the risk of breaking the mesh.
Clean the debris with a vacuum or broom. After that prepare and apply the thinset over the surface.
Apply at least 1/8 of thinset and mark 2mm deep canals across the surface, as recommended by the manufacturer.
Now set the mosaic in place over the thinset slightly giving pressure so that the thinset penetrates deep through the mesh and between some of the tesserae of your mosaic.
Continue and clean the mosaic surface with a wet sponge to make sure that the excess of the thinset doesn’t accumulate over the mosaic.
Leave the mosaic and thinset to dry for about 24 hours.
Prepare a non sand grouting mix and use the minimum grouting thickness which is usually made from grouting less than 1/8.
Grout the surface of the marble mosaic like any other tile. The grouting color should not be dark or light from the mosaic but an average grout can be used.

Advantages of mosaic flooring

High fired and durable
Dense hard and tough
Mosaic tile comes in a wide variety of colours and textures
Easy to customize yourself
Water and bacteria resistant
Great for do it yourself project
Low maintenance

Disadvantages of mosaic flooring

Glazed tiles can be slippery if wet
Cold and hard underfoot
Tiles may damage or crack

Marble Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:48:00 +0000

Marble flooring is the most popular flooring for both interior and exterior application. The ideal places for using marble is bathroom, entrance pathways, fireplaces, dinning rooms,living rooms and other areas of home and offices. Marble flooring materials are available as blocks, slab and tiles with a wide colour range of white, black, blue, brown, green and pink.

Marble tiles are sought for their exceptional beauty and is found in most homes in India. Being soft and porous natural stone marble needs a proper care so as to maintain its softness and luster. Marble is sliced thin and accurately cut into squares for tiling and can be polished easily for lustrous shine. Marble is a natural stone and hence, it is completely bio-degradable which makes it favorite among the homeowners.

Types of marble tiles

There are two types of marble tiles

Glazed
Unglazed

Glazed tiles are hard and their surface is smooth, so it has the ability to resist water stains.

Unglazed tiles are scratch resistant but are prone to stains due to its soft surface unlike glazed tiles.

Installation of marble flooring

Marble is usually used in home application and it can be easily installed at home by owners. So here are few steps which you can follow to get beautiful home marble flooring.

There are some tools which are required in marble flooring- tile nippers, a wet saw with a diamond blade, a notched trowel, squeegee and sponge.
Firstly lay out your tiles to determine the proper fit, and cut any marble tile to fit around the corners.
Using notched trowel, apply a layer of thinset adhesive. Now lay out your tiles again but be careful you set them into place.
Use spacers to ensure proper tile separation and once all your marble flooring tiles are in place allow it to dry for overnight.
In the final step use concrete to fill in the gaps of between tiles. Ensure that you would not get any harm to your skin as cement can burn your skin so wear gloves, long sleeves, dust mask and eye protection glasses while preparing cement.
Apply the cement with a squeegee and wait for 10 minutes before wipe off the excess mortar. Now wash the surface to make it stain proof.

Advantages of marble flooring

Long lasting, durable and hard
Looks attractive
Available in wide range of colours and variety
Extremely versatile
Water and bacteria resistant
Hypoallergenic, allergen resistant
Practical and attractive

Disadvantages of marble flooring

Expensive than other flooring types
Hard and cold underfoot
Needs regular maintenance
Needs to be installed professionally

Types of Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:34:00 +0000

Marble Flooring

Laminate flooring

Mosaic flooring

Carpet flooring

Understanding the Interior LIghtning

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:20:00 +0000

Understanding The Lighting System

Light can define space, substance and style. Lighting is an important part of every home and you should take utmost care for the lights you arrange in room. Rooms must get adequate light so as to brighten the area. Today the lighting system has got modern and cost effective with the coming of power saving lights.

Lighting is as necessary as anything which adds to home decor. But we should be careful while selecting lights in homes as bright bulbs and other unpleasant lights should not be installed in areas of work. Other rooms like living room, dinning room and bedroom should have few dimmer lights and several other common lights and tri-light switches which will allow you to adjust the lighting level to match needs.

The choice of fitting according to the room, gets very difficult, one gets puzzled off as there are so many varieties in lights like the table lamps, spot lights, clamp lights, recessed/surface mounted lights, up lighters, halogens, incandescent bulb, pendants, fluorescent fixtures and lots of others. Once the basic idea of the space, mood,interior design, highlighting, function of work have been specified, one can then consider the basic types of lighting. Initially only the planned positions of lights need to be decided. Later, the selection of bulbs and the exact effect can be created. One should always keep in mind some of the basic rules while designing the light.

Every activity that takes place in the interior must have lights of the right kind, intensity and the right direction.
The eye prefers even lighting with the minimum of contrast between the brightness of the room surfaces and the lighting fixtures.
The eye works best when the work surface is more brightly lit then the surroundings.
The eye is stimulated by the contrast of tone and sparkle.
When room lighting change, color changes or disappear, thus objects become more or less important in the room.
There are three basic types of lighting which are categorized according to the intensity of the light used.

Here are few essential points which can carefully note down when it comes to lighting of your living or office place. The following are the various things which you should always know pertaining to lighting.

Cost saving lighting

The lights you choose must focus on important areas but reduce over lighting. Try to remove extra and irrelevant lights from your home which will also save energy in a great way.
Task lighting is better than any other light and you can save power by concentrating on major lighting areas and reducing background lights.

Power effective

Just switch off ceiling lights and instead use table lamps, track lighting and under counter lights in work and kitchen areas.
CFL lights are common today which consume indeed very less power than any other light. They can be used anywhere in house where bright light is not needed.

Affordability of lights

Try to switch over the standard switches with dimmers or hi-lo switches which can be set to different adjustments as in making them bright, dim or off. To save power consumption use resistors.
Give a look at your place where lights are needed before purchasing new fixtures. Pot lights are less flexible than track lights as they can be moved and their direction is easily adjustable.

Health and environment

Remember the affordability, cost savings, health and environment in consideration with lighting. Buy lighting fixtures which are affordable do not go for trendy lights but buy the ones which are affordable.
Buy those lighting fixtures which save power like track lights rather than those which consume more energy and look unpleasant.
Good lighting system boost up your mood and resulting affects your health.
By using localized and directed lights in combination with day lighting techniques will reduce the energy consumption and over lighting.

Course offer for the interior design stream

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:01:00 +0000

Designing Stream:

Means creativity and to show your talent and hidden art, this is the only field where sky is the limit. There are no limitations of imaginations and hence no limit of designing. You just visualize, conceptualize and draw it & it will become fashion. Whether it is Garment or products or infrastructure or auto-mobile or electronics or houses or shops or showroom, without proper designing we can not attract people and hence designers are the one who helps to sale any concept with their professional skills.
The course covers all the technical aspects of the particular field and trains the students practically as well as theoretically.

Interior Designing:

                    1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERIOR DESIGN (B.SC. I.D.) - 3 YEAR
                    2. ADVANCE DIPLOMA IN INTERIOR DESIGN (I.D.) - 2 YEAR
                    3. DIPLOMA IN INTERIOR DESIGN (I.D.) - 1 YEAR

                    Outline Of Courses:
                    . Drafting
                    . Grafic Presentation
                    . Furniture Design
                    . Basic Building Construction
                    . History Of Architecture
                    . Adv. Furniture Design
                    . Adv. Building Construction
                    . Adv. Grafic Presentation
                    . Interior Design
                    . Display
                    . Costing & Estimation
                    . Portfolio
                    . Projects
                    . Site Visits
                    . Auto-Cad

Residential Doors for your Dream home

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:46:00 +0000

How to Choose a door for your dream home entrance

Every kind of door has a specific name, depending on its purpose.The most common door we all know, is the single door which is higher than it is wide, opens and closes forwards and backwards, but there are many variations on this basic design, and many more different types.

Exterior Doors: This includes any door such as the main doors in the house in the front or the back, the patio, etc. This one usually leads from the outside into your home. Exterior doors are more heavy duty than interior doors, and usually have a sturdy lock system. The exterior door should be weatherproof and painted or stained with a quality product to help it last.

Interior Door: This includes the French doors and any simple room door. They are lighter and usually plainer than an exterior door. The example is the French door, which has a glass middle, usually with ornate decoration.

Utility Door: This includes the group of special purpose doors including the sliding patio door, the patio, and the glass shower door. Another major category of utility doors is the cabinet door. Due to their specific function, these should be inspected with regularity to ensure their workability.

General Interior Desing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:34:00 +0000

If you just bought a new house and will start decorating, keep the walls simple and majority of the walls plain especially if you are the typical Filipino who keeps accumulating things over the years and can't throw away anything because of sentimental reasons. So that when you move in your furniture, wall decors and accessories, the rooms will not look cluttered.

If you are buying new furniture, measure your room and the furniture. Scale the room & furniture on cutout newspaper: 1 feet = 1 inch and see if the furniture are proportionate to the room. Make sure there are ample spaces to walk around your furniture.

Feel free to mix and match different styles of stuff, like contemporary furniture with oriental pieces. Just don't over do it. Make sure they blend together.

One way to beautify a room even if the walls are plain white is by putting moldings or cornice on the ceiling edge and baseboards.

If you want to make a room look bigger, use mirrors. they give you an illusion of more space. Colors too affect the illusion of space. A monochromatic color scheme (one/similar color with different shades) like off whites, cream & beige will give you an appearance of more space while warm colors like red and yellow will give an impression of a smaller space. On the other hand cool colors like blue and green will give an openness appearance.

When choosing a new color for a wall, paint a section of the wall and observe it for a few days at different times. It is a good idea to paint one shade lighter than your sample swatch. Almost always, the color on your sample will look brighter on a big wall than on a small swatch.

Don't use gloss paint on ceilings, they will show imperfections specially at night when you open the lights.

It is advised that you don't use strong colors on areas that you frequently use. But you can be more daring with colors on hallways and staircases where you just pass by and don't really stay as often like your bedroom.

Install your picture frames on eye level, putting them high on the wall makes your ceiling seem lower. Aside from the fact that people will have to gaze up to look at your picture.

If your floor is made of concrete, tiles or any stone material, put area rugs to make your room cozy and rotate your rug /carpet once in a while to even out the wear and tear.

Use inexpensive garden pots as indoor planter by painting and decorating them.

Your garden affects a great deal in beautifying your home but be cautious with big plants, shrubs and trees. They can be hiding places for burglars.

It is also a good idea to put gravel near windows so you (or your dog) can hear if somebody is trying to peek inside.

Lights are deterrent to thieves. Light your house exterior more than the inside of your house when going to bed.

In designing, the overall look of your home is paramount. From your furniture, wall colors, to lighting fixtures, everything should be proportional, balanced and harmonious. A small and delicately carved side table may be beautiful as a piece of furniture but it may not blend well next to a bulky and over-sized living room set. Always consider other elements in a room when choosing your furniture, drapes, etc. Ask yourself it is the right size & scale, color and style. If the answer is yes, go ahead and trust your instincts.

Your home should reflect your personality. You can hire an interior designer or decorator, but in the end it should be you and your family's character that should reflect in your home. Go along only with suggestions that is pleasing to you. Remember that a beautiful home is a home that is beautiful to it's owner.

Tricks for your Interior design

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:29:00 +0000

The Bathroom Mirror Trick

All the bathrooms had the huge, cheap “builder” mirrors above the sinks. You know the type — a big rectangular piece of mirror that covers almost the entire wall. Tear those mirrors out and put in smaller, upscale mirrors that are surrounded by thick frames that match the rest of the decor in house.

How to Create a Focal Point

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:23:00 +0000

Choosing of focal Color :

The easiest way of creating a focal point is by using one bold color within an otherwise fairly neutral room, then by adding small details, such as accessories - cushions, vases, throws - around the room to pull the scheme together. Start off with a paint color chart and/or fabric or wallpaper swatches to work out what you like, what suits the light in your room and what accessories are available within your budget (or already within your home) in toning shades.

Reposition your furniture :

It might be that everything you have at home is enough to create a focal point. You might not even need to redecorate. Instead, it may be that you just need to rearrange your furniture. Start by deciding what the natural focal point in the room is - a great window, a chimney breast or a view, then move your furniture so that all lines point towards it. Here, the effect has been heightened by placing a bright rug between the two sofas, while the coffee table between helps draw the eye to the fireplace, too. Ash Gotland, Country wood flooring

Use Contrast :

Were this room to be painted white, the fireplace - a fabulous feature - would be easy to overlook. However, painting it in a shade that contrasts with the colors in the rest of the room can't help but draw your eye to it. Try this trick with color in any room to direct attention towards the best feature.

Be bold with the window designs :

This bay window is a thing of beauty, so it's a wise move to make it the focal point of the room. How to do this? Sit the most handsome sofa you've got in front of it then dress it to kill in an eye-catching color. Good quality window dressings are a must and Roman blinds are a practical choice if you have a large piece of furniture in front of a window that will stop you pulling curtains back and forth easily.

Use Statement Lightning :

A huge arching floor lamp is always going to dominate a room and if you've got the space, the bigger the better. You needn't spend a fortune - DIY stores sell their own versions, as do high street stores. Place the lamp so that it hangs over the area you want to draw attention to - a great chair, a sofa, even a dining table.

Create interest with the feature wall :

In a boxy room or one with no discernible interest, it's up to you to create some. The cheapest way to do this is with paint. Here, this dining area has been given pride of place with the back door

Be bold with the patterns:

Pattern is always going to make a featureless room more interesting, whether it's great curtains, a fabulous sofa or a wallpaper. Even in a small space, don't be afraid to choose a large scale wallpaper design - just ensure you keep the rest of the room plainly and fairly sparsely decorated. Again, knowing where to put it is all important, so experiment first to see where it works best. Wallpaper by Nono.

use calming colors :

This bedroom is a really busy room. Like most, it has to squeeze in lots of storage, so there's little space to be decorative. If your bedroom has a similar feel, go for a light, neutral scheme and draw attention to the bed with a bright throw or bedlinen set in a calming shade - choose blues and greens for best results.

Interior Special For loving Couples

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:33:00 +0000

Valentine day is specialty day for a couple. For celebrate the event, may be we are doing private party with the couple. This is apartment interior with the valentine themes ideas which support with your plan for celebrate the valentine day. This pink Apartment designed by Betsey Johnson and BNOdesign are proving that taste and well-chosen combination's, can create stylish and modern interior, This Apartment have a 1,600-square-foot of large. The price is $3,6 million and you’ll get two bedroom, one bathroom, open-plan penthouse includes ebonized floors, a view over the rooftops
of Greenwich Village all the way to New Jersey, a floating staircase that leads to a 1,000-square-foot private roof deck.

Ideas for using your space effectively

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:52:00 +0000

INSUFFICIENT OR INEFFECTIVE. Do you have insufficient storage space or ineffective storage space? There's a big different. Insufficient storage space means you don't have enough space for your things. Ineffective space means you have enough space for your things, but you're not making the best use of that space. Most closets and cabinets have the volume to hold twice as much as they are usually constructed for. And you probably have quite a few nooks and crannies for storage that you haven't even thought of. Of course, it's important to make sure you don't have things you don't like, are outdated, etc., but it is also important to have effective storage space for the things you do like and enjoy.

ADD-A-ROD. Looking for extra storage space in your closet. If you have the type of closet with two+ walls for hanging clothes, on one wall hang a rod at head height for long clothing (dresses, pants, etc.). On the other wall, hang two rods--one above the other--for shorter clothing (shirts, skirts, blazers, etc.) In other words, you're not restricted to only one clothing rod.
INSTALL SHELVES. Most shelves can be moved up-a-notch or down-a-notch. If you have three inches of space above your linens, you may consider adjusting the shelf so the shelf below it has more space. Or, perhaps you can add another shelf in between. Plastic, multiple level shelves are wonderful for kitchen cabinets. And corner shelves are great for picture frames, knick knacks and other small treasures.
USE STORAGE UNITS. Storage units, which can be picked up from housewares or hardware stores, are great space savers. Your spices can be removed from drawers and placed on a spice rack. There are racks for canned goods that, when a can is taken from it, the next can in line rolls forward. Some of these hold over 40 cans! Ice cube trays are inexpensive storage containers for smaller items such as earrings. There are coffee tables on the market with storage space hidden inside. Under bed containers are perfect for storing quilts and linens. Be creative and make use of these great tools!
DON'T FORGET ABOUT WALL SPACE. Look around and you're sure to find quite a bit of empty wall space. There are many uses for this new-found space. Pots and pans can be taken out of cabinets and hung on walls. Tools can be placed on pegboards. Shelves can be installed for picture frames and knick knacks. Many stores now carry corner shelves that can be installed in a snap.
PUT FREQUENTLY USED ITEMS WITHIN ARMS REACH. Whenever possible, store regularly used items where you use them most. Recently, my husband created a toilet paper holder on the back of our bathroom cabinet door, with a small dowel, 2 nails and 2 loops of rope. It holds three rolls of toilet paper, and it's right near the area it's needed most. You shouldn't have to walk from one room to another to retrieve items you use every day. Store linens in the bedroom. Store videos near the television. If you use the scissors in the office area and in the sewing room, have two pairs of scissors, one in each room.
ADD-A-DRAWER OR SLIDING SHELF. Many hardware and housewares stores carry drawers that can be installed underneath a cabinet. These are great if you have a home with limited drawer space. In addition, you can also install shelves under cabinets that slide out when you need them, and slide back in when you're finished with them.
KEEP YOUR DESK CLEAR. A clear desk is directly related to your productivity. You will get more done, if you're not constantly under a pile of papers and files. A sturdy, full-suspension filing cabinet is a must for any home or office. Portable file boxes that hold hanging file folders also come in handy. There are plenty of storage choices for CD-roms and diskettes. Desk supplies belong in an on-the-desk caddy or in trays inside your desk.
REARRANGE. Everyone is different, and has different needs. Make your home or office work for you. One woman I know told me she never uses her dining room, not even when she has company over. And she had no intention of ever using it since her kitchen was big and elegant enough. She also said she hated her dark basement office. So, I suggested she rearrange a bit, and turn her dining room into her office. And that is exactly what she did. So think about your surroundings and make them work for you, even if they seem a little out of the ordinary.
ROTATE. You may have many items you love in your home or office, but not enough space. Rotate them. In other words, keep some things in storage for a month or two and display some of your things. Then, once that time is up, make the switch. The items on display go into storage; the items in storage go on display. What a neat idea!

INTERIOR DESIGN

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkle Valli) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:30:00 +0000

INTERIOR DESIGN : is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES : There are a wide range of working conditions and employment opportunities within interior design. Large and tiny corporations often hire interior designers as employees on regular working hours. Designers for smaller firms usually work on a contract or per-job basis. Self-employed designers, which make up 26% of interior designers,usually work the most hours. Interior designers often work under stress to meet deadlines, stay on budget, and meet clients' needs. In some cases, licensed professionals review the work and sign it before submitting the design for approval by clients or construction permitting. The need for licensed review and signature varies by locality and relevant legislation, and scope of work. Their work tends to involve a great deal of traveling to visit different locations, studios, or client's homes and offices. Many interior designers are employed by larger architecture firms. With the aid of recent technology, the process of contacting clients and communicating design alternatives has become easier and requires less travel. Some argue that virtual makeovers have revolutionized interior design from a customer perspective, making the design process more interactive and exciting, in a relatively technological but labor-intensive environment.

EARNINGS : Interior design earnings vary based on employer, number of years with experience, and the reputation of the individual. For residential projects, self-employed interior designers usually earn a per-hour fee plus a percentage of the total cost of furniture, lighting, artwork, and other design elements. For commercial projects, they may charge per-hour fees, or a flat fee for the whole project. The median annual earning for wage and salary interior designers, in the year 2006, was $42,260. The middle 50% earned between $31,830 and $57,230. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,760.

^{INTERIOR STYLES :}A style, or theme, is a consistent idea used throughout a room to create a feeling of completeness. Styles are not to be confused with design concepts, or the higher-level party, which involve a deeper understanding of the architectural context, the socio-cultural and the programmatic requirements of the client. These themes often follow period styles.