Pages

7 Color Schemes to Shape the Mood of Your Room


Hunter Douglas Pirouette®
By

Whether deciding on a color scheme for a brand new home or redecorating for a fresh look, your choices can shape your mood and must be chosen with care. Consider how each room will be used, and how you want to feel when you step inside. Then select the shades that will best encourage your senses in that direction.

1. Powerful & Wealthy
For invincibility, nothing beats the combination of black, silver, and gold. The colors of the precious metals bring affluence to mind, and black implies strength, decisiveness, and authority. As it is always in fashion, there is no chance that this choice will ever go out of style. Want a softer look? Dark green is also associated with money, and can add to the prosperous feel of a room with more subtlety.

2. Bright & Clean
White has always been a symbol of purity, as dirt shows up so easily. It is no coincidence that it is the uniform color of choice for doctors and nurses, as symbolic confirmation of their sterility. Because it reflects light, rooms brighten when the interior is primarily white. As a bonus, this neutral shade matches every other color, leading to endless possibility.

3. Dramatic & Bold
It is no mystery why red is the color of love - a few moments of exposure makes the heart beat faster and the body breathe harder. Red stimulates the appetite and increases tension, so be sure to use it cautiously. For a nice balance, red accents throughout a calmer room can bring all of the benefits without overpowering.

4. Feminine & Sweet
Tranquil pink lends an atmosphere of more gentle moods, inspiring relaxation, tenderness, innocence, and romance. Soft shades reflect light well, giving the sense of cheerful well-being.

5. Peaceful & Tranquil
Known for its effect on the body's production of natural calming chemicals, blue is a frequent choice for bedrooms to soothe the weary to sleep. High stress settings select blue décor to reduce anxiety and promote serenity. Blue has been shown to increase productivity, as it cuts down on racing thoughts and stimulates focus. It is interesting to note that the same sedative effect also reduces appetite.

6. Cheerful & Inviting
For a smile, pick yellow - it grabs attention and gives a perky, upbeat lift to a room. It is known to speed metabolism and increase concentration, making it a good choice for areas with lots of activity. Promote optimism and joy with this sunny shade, though keep moderation in mind. Yellow is the hardest on the eyes, and too much can have the opposite effect.

7. Balanced & Composed
Yellow mixed with blue makes green, a color that encourages the best of both. Easiest on the eye, green is calm and refreshing - a mid-point between high-energy and complete sedation.

Thoughtful color choices are key to ensuring that rooms will be comfortable, lived in, and enjoyed. Reflect on the tone of the environment you want to create, and opt for color selections that will reinforce your intentions.


Paula Morris-Dungan attended Art Institute of Pittsburg for Residential Space Planning and Interior Design. She spends her spare time remodeling and designing the interior of her 80+ year old house. She is a full-time freelance writer who writes for blogs and a discount fabric store about various topics including paint, and interior design in general.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paula_M_Dungan


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6801614

Mattresses 101---HGTV

Everything you need to know about innerspring, foam, air and water mattresses.

click pic for article


Renovating With A Sale In Mind

by CPS

When beginning renovation projects people are especially interested in the net amount of the project. With each project real estate professionals have narrowed down a formula that allows them to estimate the increase value the final renovation will bring to the house. Not all renovations or upgrades bring the type of value homeowners expect. Actually some may put the home at a disadvantage in the market place. An example of this might be a pool in a state such as Michigan where it is only hot enough to use it three months of the year and the rest of the time it is wasted yard space.

When upgrading it is important to think about factors such as the length of time you will continue to live in this home. Some larger renovations will pay off more over time while other less expensive renovations will work to get a house sold if the time frame is narrower. Some of the best upgrades and renovations are ones that can be completed by the average homeowner and do it yourselfer.

The first which is curb appeal renovations. This can be something minor like power washing the siding, trimming bushes and trees and adding mulch. If the house looks like it has been well cared for and the initial reaction to the home is positive buyers will have a more favorable impression overall. The first place to do this is by adding details that will add curb appeal to the home.

Along those same lines comes renovating the siding and roof. A home with fresh paint and awesome windows and door walls featuring blinds between the glass are not going to sell a home with a leaky roof or roughed up siding. The renovation of siding and roofing is not inexpensive however the renovations can almost pay for themselves with the added value they bring to the home.

Extra space is always a winning idea with home buyers today. As a society we tend to hold onto a lot of stuff. That stuff needs to be stored somewhere. Extra storage space is a high commodity in looking for a new home. Whether it a closet that is enlarged or added or an attic that is turned into a convenient storage area by using a pull down stairway, storage increases a home's desirability almost as much as an extra bedroom.
Partial renovations to a bathroom can increase the sale price of a home also.

 Outdated bathrooms show a glimpse into the homes past. What buyers are looking for is the here and now when they will be using the space. This can be achieved with some simple tile updates, a coat of paint, some fresh caulk and a thorough cleaning. Pay special attention when designing a new bathroom space to hide things such a toilet brushes and other must haves that are unsightly.


 Kitchens are of course one of the upgrades that real estate professionals say brings in the most bang for the bucks. However, it is also the renovations with the most headaches associated with it. Partial upgrades in a kitchen can consist of new counter tops and fresh appliances. These things will take the draw away from the sink that is a bit older.

An overhaul of a home you are trying to sell doesn't make any sense. It is important to think about the home and what people value in the area in which the home is located and start there. As mentioned before it does not make sense to improve the windows and door walls featuring blinds between the glass if the roof is full of leaks and the furnace does not work. Using common sense in home renovations will yield the biggest return on investment.

Curbed.com:: Lakefront Mansion


An Immaculate Côte d'Azur-Inspired Lakefront Mansion




Location: Palm Beach, Fla.
Price: $14,250,000
The Skinny: Palm Beach, that famed rich man's winter haven, has its fair share of opulent mansion, so many that this one, recently listed for $14.25M, is somewhat run of the mill. Even that high price tag isn't going to break any records on this slender Florida island and (heaven forbid!) it fronts on the lake rather than the ocean. Still, the house and 0.83-acre grounds appear immaculately maintained and any sort of waterfront is something to brag about in these parts. With four bedrooms for the owner and guests, two staff bedrooms, and five baths, this inspired estate could use an updated interior, but the current owners should be forgiven for the dated decor: they've owned the house for 24 years.