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Curtains and Blinds - Considerations Within The Home


Expert Author Graeme KnightsThe windows in your home may not be the first thing that you think about when considering furnishings or design, but they are often the first focal point that people will see and of course let in the light that shows off your designs. The way that you present your windows, from the paint decorating the frame to the drapery used around it.

So it is important to get the correct window dressing that not only suits the style that you have chosen for the room but also the purpose that it and the room itself serves. While cost is always something to consider, you can generally find a style fitting your needs across most spectrums of budgets. Here are some thoughts as to how you can use curtains and blinds within your home.

Curtains
As previously mentioned the nature of the room has to be taken into consideration, so it is a case of practicality and also style when making decisions. You should review the rooms for those you know a curtain is the only option, and then the type of impact you are looking to make. Some examples are below:
Lounge - this is where you not only entertain people, but also where you spend much of your own downtime. So you want something that pleases you and also doesn't just fade into the background. Do you want light curtains to let in light or dark ones to give you a black out for those late night movies? Strong colours to add to colour schemes within the room are often favourable. You

Dining Room - this is a room generally reserved for entertaining in most homes, so you can really choose a curtain for that single purpose. Unlike the lounge, it isn't a day to day room, so if you want to give a certain impression to guests, this is the room that can be all about presentation.

Bedrooms - in a bedroom it is a room where taste and practicality comes into account. Most bedrooms will have a colour scheme or theme and it's important that the curtains integrate well. However in a bedroom the main cause for a curtain is to black out the light. Heavy or lined curtains of course perform well here (and are a must if you want a light coloured curtain) or of course the darker coloured curtain can stop light coming through.

Of course it's not just the type of curtain that determines it's look - the curtain rail or pole can certainly add to a room. A rail can be hidden so that only the curtain displays, or you can choose bold curtain poles that will stand out as a feature themselves.

Blinds
Blinds are not only a very necessary option in many rooms; they also often offer convenience and flexibility that curtains are unable. You can easily open and close blinds or have them at any level of opening you wish. But it is true to say that in some rooms a blind cannot add the look a curtain can. For example a large blind in a lounge wouldn't compare with some thick velvety curtains. There are two main rooms for the blind:

Kitchen - Many people choose to have blinds in the kitchen for practical reasons. Curtains could be a fire hazard in a kitchen and you don't ideally want material hanging loosely around in a kitchen. Kitchen also generally face the morning sun and this could easily cause sun bleaching of the curtains over time which will of course effect their look. The kitchen also generates much heat and often steam, so drapery isn't the choice. Blinds that can be wiped and opened fully are the best option.

Bathroom - Another room where there is a lot of moisture due to baths and showers. Condensation on curtains would of course make the curtains ruin. They would start to get damp and then mould and mildew which not only ruins the curtains, but is bad for health. In the bathroom and many people choose a wooden based blind for ease of wiping / cleanliness while also looking good.

You can also have both! In a room it is possible to choose both options or even have the opposite choice to the norm. The main thing is to think of the style you want to promote and the impression you want to inspire.


Graeme is writing on behalf of Glasswells Furniture Bury St Edmunds - ready made curtains
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Graeme_Knights


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Interior Designers Help Make Your House a Home


Expert Author Kay ZeehInterior design is becoming increasingly popular all over the world. There is simply nothing more enjoyable than to relax in your own well-decorated and organized home.

If you have recently purchased a new house, you are probably well aware of the stark walls and the bland carpeting. It may be a good idea for you to hire a professional interior designer to help you make your house feel like a home. Designers will work with you to ensure a gorgeous look that reflects the tastes and the interests of your beloved family members. The benefits of hiring a designer are practically limitless.

There are a few reasons why you would want to hire an interior designer to work on the home's aesthetic appeal for you. Designers have to go to school to learn their trade and profession. They have literally spent years matching colors and palettes to create gorgeous homes in a variety of different areas. These professionals fully understand what looks good in a home and what to avoid.

As a new homeowner, you may not know how to match certain colors and which patterns look right in a particular room. Because of this, your own DIY attempts may come out looking quite ridiculous as far as the home's appeal goes.

Hiring an Interior Designer Makes Decorating Easier
Hiring an interior designer is actually an easy and worthwhile task. The interior design specialist will work with you to get a feel for your interests and your design tastes.
For example, the designer may ask you what colors you like and what type of overall look you are going for when it concerns your home. You may tell the designer that you are going for modern chic or more of a country feel, depending on your interests and the area in which you are living. The professional will then be able to come up with a look that is unique to your tastes so that your home reflects these things.
The interior designer will always shoot ideas and opinions your way before putting any of these things into the finished product. They will show you a room's color scheme and the overall feel of the home before they start painting the walls. This gives you a chance to tell the designer if the outcome is going to be something you will love or if you would like the interior design specialist to come up with another idea that better reflects your tastes.

Save Money on Interior Design
Hiring a professional interior design specialist is often quite affordable. There are a few things that designers can do for you. You can hire an interior designer to come up with a scheme for you and have their own workers get the designing done to save time or you can hire a designer to just create a design scheme. This enables you to do all of the work yourself with your family so that you can save money.
It is important that you speak with your designer to find out what they offer and what their prices are like. Do not be afraid to compare different designers, since all designers charge differently and all of them have their own unique design qualities.

Relax and Enjoy Your Home
After the interior designer finishes the project, you will be left with a home that is gorgeous and well-organized. You will find that it is more enjoyable to come home at night after a long day at work when you actually enjoy the way that your home looks. Entertaining guests can also be quite a thrill when the right type of interior design has been incorporated into the home. There is no reason for you and your loved ones to be stuck in a home that is brand new and stark white. The right colors and the right design theme will make a huge impact on the way every room looks.

Newer homes often have the basic colors added to walls and tan carpeting that does nothing for the home's aesthetic appeal. Hiring a professional interior design specialist will help the entire house to feel more comfortable and for you to actually like the way that each room happens to look. You can not go wrong when hiring this type of professional for your own project needs.

If you need help from an interior designer for your Scottsdale home, look no further than Judy Fox Interiors. Their award-winning design team will help you make your home a warm, comfortable place to live. Visit the site at http://www.judyfoxinteriors.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kay_Zeeh

Check Out The 10 Coolest Celebrity Summer Homes


With summer season heating up (quite literally), we can’t help but be obsessed with where the rich and famous spend their downtime. While they’re not busy working on their bikini bods in Pilates class or starring in the next big movie, celebs just want to find a place to relax and enjoy their success — and we mean really enjoy it.
Celebrities and designers alike both enjoy the finer things in life. A luxe trip to the Bahamas is just not enough for the über rich — they want more, like their own private island more (ahem, Johnny Depp). While some stars resist the urge to purchase their own islands, it doesn’t stop them from going all out with their choice of vacation location.
From Italy to Antigua, we put together the top ten celebrity summer houses that are absolutely jaw-dropping. (A resort in Punta Cana owned by none other than Oscar de la Renta is one of our personal favorites).
These celebs don’t stop with location; amenities galore take precedence on just how awesome they are. Come on — outdoor movie theaters? Skateboard ramps? Private yachts? Where does it end?!
Honestly, we’re majorly jealous of what these celebs consider “vacationing.” Sigh.


Read more: http://news.stylecaster.com/10-coolest-celebrity-summer-homes#ixzz1yMrwyMy1


HOUSE OF THE DAY: This $12.9 Million Oasis In The Florida Keys Is A Fisherman's Paradise

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Blinds Vs Curtains: Which Are Right For Your Home?


Whether decorating or re-decorating your home, there is one debate that surfaces time and time again; curtains or blinds? Whereas curtains were once the staple choice of any home, the versatility and relatively easy maintenance of blinds have seen an increasing number of homeowners adopt them. What the debate really comes down to though is what is right for your home and what you want from your window covering. Here are a couple of things to take into consideration when making your choice.

Size and length
In terms of size, blinds and curtains offer two completely different options, with blinds often perfectly fitted to the size of a window whereas curtains often hang lower for stylistic reasons. Consider your options practically; if your window is directly above a kitchen sink, for example, then curtains have the potential to dangle into the water, damaging them. This makes blinds the better choice.

For longer windows, such as patio doors, then curtains are probably a safer bet as a blind may be too large and heavy to operate. Bedrooms often present somewhat of an issue with sizing, particularly with children; whilst they may want long fairy princess curtains, children have a habit of pulling on curtains and taking down the entire rail with them! If your child is particularly susceptible to this, opt for some cheap Velux blinds!

Design
Elaborate patterns and designs are often associated more with curtains than blinds - think the grandeur of floor length curtains and the wealth of floral patterns available. Blinds, on the other hand, are most commonly associated with Venetian offerings - that is horizontal slats kept together with tape. Classy, but not stand-out.
That's not to say blinds can't be elaborately designed however, especially roller blinds. Roller blinds can be patterned in just about any fashion you can imagine; burberry, plaid or even leopard print! They can also come in a range of odd materials, such as suede and leather. Perhaps best of all, some companies will customise roller blinds with your own pictures and images, offering a one-off, truly unique blind.

Maintenance
It's all well and good picking an elaborately designed curtain or blind that suits your window perfectly, but what about a couple of years down the line. Maintenance issues are often overlooked when making the choice between blinds and curtains, which often leads to regrets later on.

Curtains, on the whole, are quite difficult to keep looking their best. Like carpets, they are subject to the wears and tears of daily living and a spillage can lead permanent stain. Washing curtains involves taking them down and putting them in the washing machine (or hand washing them), which can be a time-consuming process as you unhook the curtain, wait for it to dry and then put it back on again. It also leaves your rooms exposed to the outside world!

Blinds, on the other hand, are relatively easy to maintain. Cleaning a Venetian blind, for example, is as easy as taking a wet cloth and duster to the slats. Roller blinds are slightly trickier to clean, but as they are usually fitted to a window perfectly, the chance of spillage or any such damage is low. Blinds are susceptible to breakages if mistreated, but a well-maintained and looked after blind will last you quite a while!

Christopher Joseph Smith is writing on behalf of Better Blinds, specialists in cheap Velux blinds
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Joseph_Smith


Blinds 4 Less
Quality Blinds, Shutters, & Shades
Proudly Serving Southern California since 1994
Free In-Home Shopping
(951) 924-9435