Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Interior design trends

Concrete is no longer just for sidewalks. New surface treatment techniques have caused concrete designs to become one of the most sought after materials for concrete patios, floors, entryways, countertops, pool decks and more.

Because of concrete's porous qualities and neutral tone, it is the perfect blank canvas for topically applied color. Using acid-based chemical stains, decorative concrete contractors have been able to achieve rich, earth-toned color schemes resembling natural stone, marble, wood, or even leather, giving a completely custom look to cement floors, concrete driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks, concrete walls and more.

Most acid stains are a mixture of water, hydrochloric acid, and acid-soluble metallic salts. They work by penetrating the surface and reacting chemically with the hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) in the concrete. The acid in the stain lightly etches the surface, allowing the metallic salts to penetrate more easily. Once the stain reacts, it becomes a permanent part of the concrete and won't fade, chip off, or peel away. Newer, water based staining techniques offer a broad array of vivid colors.

There are endless options for applying unique concrete shapes in your home. This wonderful, natural and versatile material can enhance and beautify your surroundings. You are only limited by your imagination. Choose a concrete interior design and show your creativity rather than falling back on the old conventions of marble or slate.

Faux Finishing

Faux finishing can be a great way to add some unique flavor to a wall, ceiling, or floor. The process involves dabbing paint on a wall in various types of mottled textures to create a wide variety of looks. Special sponges used to dab certain glazes on a prepared surface can give the appearance of marble, while other techniques – such as using plastic tarps to wrinkle paint – can create an aged leather appearance of texture. The process and techniques behind the art of faux finishing is so varied and complex, it has recently hatched faux finishing schools . Despite its dubious name, faux finishing done well can have stunning results.

Organic Interiors

Interior walls that are made of grass ? A decorating trend that started in a few swanky restaurants in New York is beginning to spread to private homes in urban areas. A few companies, such as Argentinean company, Ustatic, are marketing a system of low maintenance grass wall panels. The organic design technique goes well beyond simply featuring grass as a potted plant. The “Wall Grass” is a system of rectangular grass panels, which function with a structural substrate which, combined with the grass roots, form a wall of considerable structural integrity. The grass can be used for decoration or as an alternative for small spaces without a backyard. This organic design trend might have a long life, as the grass wall purifies the air and offers a high degree of energy saving insultation. You can even use different, edible types of grass such as wheat grass that grow fairly quickly. Imagine waking up in the morning, going downstairs and pulling up a few sprigs of wheat grass for the juicer ! Catnip is another grass option that your cat will thank you for.

Decorating ideas

Country decorating ideas can help you create a home that is warm, inviting and the perfect home to live in. Country style decorating ideas can help you capture the spirit of country living during modern times. If you are restoring a country home, try to keep the original woodwork, windows, floors, fixtures and cabinetry unless they are beyond salvaging. For decorating a new or existing home, there are choices you can make that will provide you with the charm and comfort of life in the countryside.

Consider these country decorating ideas and country style decorating ideas:

1. Country Dining Rooms - use a large rectangular table made of pine, oak, walnut or mahogany with wooden chairs or old benches that are similar in style and material. A corner cupboard, plate racks, dresser or sideboard will provide perfect storage and serving area for the dining room as long as they match the style and the materials of the table and chairs.

2. Country Bathroom Decorating - country bathroom floors are made of wood, ceramic tile, linoleum, vinyl or natural cork. Carpeting used in the country bathroom is not appropriate. Wood and brass accessories are perfect materials to use in a country bathroom. Plain white towels instead of patterned or bright modern patterns are better. Wicker or wire baskets keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower besides looking great.

3. Country Kitchen Decorating Ideas - use country decorating ideas in your kitchen. Give your kitchen a calm, elegant country atmosphere with soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting (chandeliers with wrought iron arms), wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets, plate racks and stone or wood fireplaces. Kitchen cabinets made of wood, aged surfaces, natural materials, rough finishes and round knobs provide a country style. Cabinets or kitchen furniture made of pine, even painted, can be beautiful key elements in the country kitchen. Country kitchen countertops use ceramic tiles or even hand painted tiles, slate or marble. If you want to use laminate materials, go for plain colors for coverings. Terracotta tiles, brick, stone and wood are very popular materials for country kitchen floors.

4. Kids Rooms - use wicker baskets, wooden chests and wooden bookshelves for storing books, toys and stuffed animals. When using tall bookshelves in your kids rooms, anchor them to the ceiling or walls so they cannot tip over. Bright colored plastic boxes are not good country style decorating ideas.

5. Furniture - furniture with simple lines, perhaps made of lacquered pine wood works great. Give furniture a rustic look by finishing it in a distressed, aged way. For example, brush on a coat of paint, then rub most of the paint off with a sponge or cloth. When dried, apply wood stain sealer unevenly. It will be perfect! Or use two paint colors and sandpaper to create a distressed look for unpainted or previously painted surfaces. Get free country decorating ideas by visiting your local home decorating or paint store for help with materials and techniques. Have fun looking for antiques, reproductions and handmade products when buying furniture for your country home.

6. Sofas or Love Seats - country decorating ideas can transform your love seat or sofa. Add a beautiful loose floral print slipcover for a romantic country look. Include padded stools and ottomen for comfort and as a place to set your drinks or newspaper. Add one or more rocking chairs. Traditional country chairs and sofas have high backs. And if the living room has a bay window, consider building a window seat with several cushions, a perfect place for reading and relaxing. High tripod side tables are appropriate next to the sofa or love seat for country home decor.

7. Antique Cupboards or White Cabinets - use a white cabinet or antique cupboard to show your ceramics, pottery, yellowware bowls, glass jars, or a collection of enamelware from 75 years ago to give your home a beautiful country style. Open shelving not only provides storage, it gives the room a country look, especially when earthware, stoneware and rustic items are displayed.

Restaurant interior design

One of the things that we really enjoy when we get to eat outside of our homes and eat in a restaurant is the ambiance, besides the food that they are offering. Ambiance really plays a big part when it comes to making you enjoy your dining experience and for some, it determines if they will be returning to the restaurant or not.

Here are some great tips that you can take note of for a great design if you are one of those people who are thinking of opening up a restaurant. These tips play a big part in design and are proven to be very effective when it comes to creating a great ambiance where people will keep coming back for more of what your restaurant can offer.

Know This

One of the best restaurants interior design tips that you should first take note of is knowing and understanding your target market. Just by determining what your customers are demanding, you can instantly create a design in your mind that will suit best suit their lifestyle. Are you going for the young urban professionals who wear a coat and tie most of the time that will require your restaurant interior design to be more flashy and elegant? Or are you going for the market of kids who enjoy having quick fixes for their tummies but will like play rooms or arcades at the same time?

Getting a feedback from your target customers will clearly help you in formulating the best design in your mind. Chances are, once that you have finally determined what they want and once you have implemented all those elements in your restaurant, the higher the chances that they will, time and time again, visit your place and spread the word that yours is one of the greatest restaurants that they have been in.

Ask Help From The Experts

It is also important to recognize that you cannot do all the restaurant interior design by yourself and sometimes it will be best to get help from the experts. Vision Design is one of the most reputable interior design companies in the industry and they are specializing in designing restaurants, spas, homes, and others and have already received numerous awards for their outstanding designs and service

Kitchen interior design

Be your own designer with the help of a kitchen design tool. A kitchen design tool can be downloaded at a small price or free, is a time saver and also saves you from that trip to a designer’s office.

Before I give you the advantages and benefits of a kitchen design tool, you need some quick instructions on how to establish your desired kitchen design before staring. First of all, set up a budget for how much you can afford to spend for your new kitchen. Don’t ever break the bank during this process.

If you find your desired kitchen design costs more than you can handle tat the moment, then you might consider doing part of it now and holding off on the rest until you can more readily afford it.

Once you’ve accomplished this process, finding the right kitchen design is relatively easy. Start off by researching on the internet.

You can quickly and easily find many different kitchen design options on the web, much quicker than you could at your local store. Once you’ve chosen the right design, now it’s time to start using a kitchen design tool.

Each kitchen design tool includes clear instructions. All you need to do is follow it patiently and you will have your designer kitchen ready in no time.

You will have to work with different buttons like manual or auto-design. You can add or delete any cabinet you would like.

There will be a view button to have a 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional view of your kitchen walls. It has been made user friendly and is just like working with your power point.

All you need to do is know your kitchen measurements and shape and the kitchen designer tool will give you a dream kitchen. While measuring your kitchen you must write down few details or you would forget.

Measure the walls where you would want your cabinets to be installed. You need to know the size of your kitchen windows and doors, and the shape of your kitchen. These are the details you ought to provide the kitchen design tool in order for it to work.

This kitchen design tool has a planner that will choose the type of cabinet that will fit and suit your kitchen best. Select what corner and wall you would like to have the cabinets. It will also ask you to mention the appliances you want to have in your kitchen.

Office interior design

With the internet becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society, it comes as no surprise that many people now have the ability to work form home. You are one of those people, and have allotted a room in your house as your office space. However, the room is rather bare at the moment, and you want to liven up your work space.

The first thing that you need to think about is the primary use of your home office. For example, will it be the kind of place that you have clients come in to visit? Or, will it be the kind of place that you use just for yourself? This will make a difference in the overall theme.

If you are going to have clients in it, you will, of course, need to choose a design that is professional. Thus, you should allot a certain area of your area to a couch or a couple of plush chairs, along with a coffee table and reading materials. Ideally, leather is the most professional look for this area.

Regardless of whether or not you will be having clients , you should make the atmosphere as comfortable as possible. For example, what is one thing that you notice? If you answered fish tanks, then you have the right answer! Why are there fish tanks in so many offices? The answer is that it is relaxing to watch the fish, and it is also a stylish addition.

Thus, you should consider having a fish tank as well. If, however, you do not want to deal with the upkeep of having one, you can also consider something in the same area, such as a waterfall. However, while this office interior design is a great way to make your home office more interesting, make sure the sounds are not distracting you from your work!

The most important section of any home office is the workstation itself. You will need a desk that can comfortably accommodate your PC as well as files and other important supplies. However, make sure that the desk is not so large that it takes up the majority of the room. You can find office workstations at your local furniture store.

For more information on office interior design ideas, be sure to check out various business magazines. In those magazines are often pictures, and those pictures can give you ideas.

Living room interior

There are numerous reasons why someone wants to have a living room makeover. You might be expecting important guests coming for the holidays or there might be an important occasion you want to celebrate in your home. Or you are just simply ready for a change or a new look for your living room. Whatever reason you may have, you must consider that a living room make over is a demanding task. You have to have the basic planning skill and be creative enough to come up with ideas that are both economical and stylish. Here are a few tips you can consider so you can begin with your decorating task right away.

Determine the damages in your living room. This is the first step to change the whole outlook of the room. Hide worn out upholstered furniture by using slip covers. If the furniture still looks that it is sagging even after the slip covers were put on, try putting a board under the pillows and place padding on the much needed areas so it will not appear worn out. If other furniture like a side table is broken, then have it fixed. If there are some pieces which cannot be repaired anymore, you should just probably replace them. Another way of fixing the other pieces of furniture is to paint or add tiles on the flat surfaces.

If you are lucky enough to have a high ceiling, invest in large wall hangings. Place these above a bed or sofa to achieve its maximum effect. This is a great way to fill up a plain, flat wall space and create a touch of creativity in the whole area. These iron pieces will add dimension, depth and interesting detail to any room.

Create a mood or certain atmosphere for your room to instantly change its feel. This can be achieved by softening light features or installing light dimmers. Paintings and art pieces can also enhance the mood you want to produce. The larger the piece of art you incorporate into the room, the bigger impact it will have on its unique presentation. A candle is a delicate way of changing the smell and feel of any room. Buy candles that have relaxing scents.

A color scheme for your living room can radically liven up a boring room. Pick out a specific color you like and purchase ornaments and accents that coordinates with the whole look of your living room. This can be done by purchasing throw pillows or new curtain panels with similar hues to the basic color scheme.

You can also harmonize the different pieces in your living room by decorating according to the season. During the Christmas holidays, red and green can be your primary colors while you can enhance fall colors by using ornaments in hues of yellow or gold.

You need not make drastic changes in order to change the look of your living room. Adding color and a little bit of imagination is all it takes to make it cozier or sophisticated for your taste. Choose colors that suit your personality and lifestyle. Be bold and add art pieces like large wall hangings to create personality to your living room. Incorporating these ideas will definitely make you living room looking brand new.

French interior design

If you are redecorating your residence, embellishing a new apartment, or are just stuck straining to discover that right “piece” to deal with that pesky void area on your walls-judge our imported wall tapestries as a answer to your interior Design quandary. Hangings impart astuteness and radiance to your wall decor, and will be cherished by your kin for decades to come.

Worried that you won’t be able to obtain a tapestry wall hanging to fit your wall Decor? Never fear! Check out our expert decorator's design style formulas to discover the right wall hanging.

Latest/Contemporary: This is the precise surrounding for Modern art tapestries. Your favourite images from artists like Monet, Waterhouse, Atria, and Mucha tapestries are stunning already, but just conceive how they might look when woven into a artistic tapestry hanging! These are our more celebrated tapestries and wall decor-art made textured and natural.

Victorian: Victorian manors and homes are stunning in their design. Most Victorian homes lend themselves to to lavish decor. Not vulgar, (the Victorian era was too cultivated for that), but the mode was controlled bedlam. There are a good deal of floral wall tapestry designs, gorgeous landscapes, still life vegetable tapestry wall hangings, and fillagree ornamentations. The Victorian Society was an meaningful time period for French weaving production mills. French wall hangings famed for sophisticated and involved floral tapestries burst onto the Victorian decor scene.

Renaissance: If your interior is constructed in a Renaissance design, you are astonishingly blessed. Some of the more notable Renaissance tapestries manufactured in Italy and France epitomize the Renaissance design. The Renaissance Period was the time period of coming alive in the artistic crafts and philosophy-a time period of immortalising effulgence and design. A large number of popular artists and paintings were made well-known during this time: Portiere produced awe-inspiring landscape wall tapestries for Princesse De Polignac's Castle and Francois Boucher produced impacting romance wall tapestry settings that are still notable today.

Medieval: If you would like a gothic medieval feel to your home décor, look at the actuality that tapestry weaving was at its peak in the period of the Dark Ages. The patterns are endless and so are the possibilities for your home décor. One of the most famous wall tapestries from this period of time is William Morris Tree of Life