klimt2012

The trick to decorating for the seasons is to try to match the mood of the season through color and style. Spring is considered a fresh and alive season that does well with pastels and symbols of new birth. Summer is considered the height of abundance and you can decorate with lots of colors while keeping thinks airy for those hot, sweltering days. Fall demands the leaf colors like orange, red, and brown. It?s a time to get ready for the coming of winter. Winter is obviously more drab and somber with grays, dark shades of blues and reds being favored. It also is about nesting to make things feel warm and cozy too.

Spring

Everyone does a little spring-cleaning when the mood hits us. We know it by the birds chirping and the daffodils flowering. The thick furnishings of winter are replaced by lighter versions and pastel colors. This includes the covers on your bed, curtains, and the towels in the bathroom and kitchen. The windows that stayed shut all winter long might be pried open with herbs being placed along the sill in preparation for summer.

Summer

Summer has some great holidays and activities. Fourth of July and Labor Day are great decorating favorites. They use strong colors and vivid shades. Candles might be changed out to thin tapers from large candlesticks. Flowers are brought into the home as natural decorating elements. Area rugs might be picked up to let the wood floors have their day. Fans are moved in place and glassware becomes more visible, not just for flower vases, but for that cool drink with ice.

Fall

Fall has tons of decorating potential from all the natural materials available. One can use the squashes, dried corn on the cob, and fallen pinecones to make centerpieces or hanging accents or wreaths. Colors turn to shades of orange, red, and brown. Pumpkins appear at this time of year too. The bed coverings are changed out and coat or umbrella stands might reappear.

Winter

Winter means clearing out all the summer and fall clutter for a more serene winter landscape. The fireplace can become a big focal point in winter and changing out the mantle place decorations is very appropriate. Add lamps to your rooms if the winter sun isn?t enough to read by. Rearrange the furniture to make it cozy and inviting. Add books to your rooms. Paint a wall a darker color. Change the slipcover on your sofa to something more durable and softer. Add some throw blankets and pillows.

If you are following a seasonal palette and decorating scheme, you can still mix in out-of-season items with in-season items to add a quirky touch of fun. Adding an indoor herb garden or bringing your garden statues inside in the winter is one way to lighten the winter mood. Adding a shot of black to your spring colors might be considered interesting. Just remember that decorating is all about fun and your own personality. Any framework, whether it is seasonal or holiday decorating just helps to guide you to find your own unique expression in decorating.

Obviously, if you have a good sized kitchen with plenty of cupboard space then you are one of the lucky ones. Many of us, however, live in tiny properties with kitchens that really are too small to work comfortably in and which feature far too few storage places for your kitchen appliances. This would be less of a problem is people spent a little time completely reorganizing their kitchen so that it worked more efficiently and more effectively. Unfortunately, in this fast-paced life most of us live, there is far too little time to properly organize this household hub into the truly space saving kitchen that it should be. If you can set aside a day in which you truly think about the layout of your kitchen, how many cupboards you have and the jobs you do in your kitchen, then you are going to come up with a far better plan on where to keep each of your appliances so that, when you want to use them, they can be quickly and easily located.

The ideal space saving kitchen has sufficient counter space and storage area, set out within the ideal ‘working triangle’ of cooker, sink and work space. Cutting down on the distance you have to walk to get anything is the idea behind the most effective kitchen layouts. Obviously, for some of us, the shape of our kitchens precludes this. If you think about it, however, a large square kitchen is not always the best option: just think of the amount of wasted floor-space that you have to walk across on a regular basis. Often, smaller kitchens can work far better. The secret is organization – and not letting dirty dishes get out of hand! This brings me to the appliances necessary to make a space saving kitchen a reality.

Even in the tiniest of kitchens it is possible to fit in a dishwasher. It doesn’t have to be a full-size model: there are plenty of table-top and slimline models available nowadays. Haier, for instance, produces two different models of smaller-than-average dishwashers. The first model is a four-setting table-top model and, at just 40lbs, can be stored away when not in use. This model has a plastic interior and hooks up to the kitchen tap with a tap adapter and measures 21.25 inches x 19.5 inches x 17.37 inches. They also make a six-place model which weighs 77lb and which offer a couple of benefits not found in the smaller model. There is a choice of wash cycles with this model and a delayed start option. The base is fitted with casters to make moving it around a bit easier when not being used.

Another option for the space saving kitchen is for your dishwasher to be fitted into a drawer, with models which have the option of fitting single drawers or double drawers. Each of these Kitchen Aid dishwashers features a selection of five cycles and are certified by Energy Star. Kitchen Aid also makes an in-sink option for particularly small dish loads. This model is quite deep and can double up as an extra sink and comes with an integral cutting board and hot-pots’ resting placement. The in-sink model can run four cycles for up to five place settings. This model has to be the ultimate in space saving options and perfect for the space saving kitchen.

Whether you are conscious of it or not, you already have perceptions of the businesses and brands you come across every day. Take computers, for instance. You probably think of innovation for Apple, customization for Dell and economy for eMachines.

Companies in each industry do their best to influence customers? perceptions through branding. Branding involves everything from logos and marketing campaigns to employees? attitudes. Apple?s store layout, advertisements and product design, for example, are all designed to convince consumers that the company?s products are innovative.

In today?s competitive marketplace, it is vital that you create a brand for your product that communicates what you are all about. The following are a few items to consider while creating a brand identity:

Research
When building a brand identity, research is your foundation. Take your research seriously, because if you build your brand on the wrong assumptions, it could fall apart.

Learn more about your customer base. Who are you targeting and what are their needs? What are they looking for from your company? After you find out exactly what your customers are expecting, look at your competitors to see what they are delivering. Your brand should be something unique. Finally, look at what you can offer your audience, and base your brand identity around one of your strengths.

Strategy
A successful branding strategy is built directly on your research. Don?t try to create a brand that you can?t deliver or doesn?t speak to your customer?s needs. If you?re not the fastest in the industry, then don?t say that you are. If your customers don?t need the highest quality, then don?t build your brand around quality. Trust your research, and don?t be afraid to eliminate potential customers by building a brand that is too broad.

Also, you need to create a strategy that is unique and relevant. For example, a brand that says your product is ?excellent? doesn?t really say anything and won?t stand out in the marketplace. However, if your brand says that your product is ?built to last,? your customers know what to expect.

Execution
It has been said that your brand is the sum of all your parts, both the good and the bad. Therefore, a brand identity campaign is not just creating a cool logo or coming up with a catchy slogan. It?s making sure all your employees are on board with the values you are trying to communicate. It?s providing extra training for your customer service representatives or budgeting extra for customer perks.

Once you take the time to implement your brand identity, stick with it. Most successful corporations keep the same logo and slogan for decades. Don?t confuse your audience by changing your whole identity at the first sign of trouble. Trust your strategy, weather the storms, and establish an identity that will remain strong for years to come.

We all have it. That bare spot. It feels naked, almost vulnerable. It simply must be covered to make a room complete, but with what?

You?ve picked the furniture, the carpets, even the window treatments ? but what to do with that glaring, empty wall space?

Here?s my list of the Top Ten decorative accents for your walls:

1. Hand-touched Giclee Print on Canvas ? OK, it?s not an original artwork, but it looks pretty darn close and is much more affordable. With the quality of giclee reproduction coupled with the texture of canvas and the added texture provided by hand-embellished oil paint, only you and your wallet will know the difference. With gallery-wrapped options, no frame is needed, and say goodbye to the glare you get from glass-encased prints.
2. Memo or Chalkboard ? Make that accent functional as well as decorative. For busy families on the go, a message board is an indispensable way to remember those little errands. Choices include magnetic chalkboards with unique magnets, ornate wood or decorative metal framed corkboards with funky pushpins, or memo boards coupled with art prints.
3. Decorative Ironwork ? A unique wall hanging, it will not compete with colors, patterns and textures in the room like a painting might. Iron finishes can range from rustic and antique to shiny and new, depending on how you want to complement the rest of the elements in the room.
4. Uniquely framed antique glass mirror ? I love the look of smoky antiqued styles, they are mirrors without being mirrors, if you know what I mean. They add reflected light and help to visually enlarge a room.
5. Candle Sconce ? Add a little romantic light and instant ambiance without paying an electrician to rewire. Wrap cascading bead garland around the base of your candle to really dress it up.
6. Wall Planter ? You don?t need a green thumb to bring a ?natural? feel to a room. Some realistic faux trailing ivy or a bunch of artificial hydrangea flowers will do wonders, and only you will know the truth.
7. Shadow Box Displays ? Show off a few prized possessions or treasured mementos to personalize your d?cor. Use your imagination, and the possibilities are endless. And you can?t be any more unique ? your art will be one of a kind.
8. Reproduction Antique Clock ? Make a timely statement with an interesting and functional wall clock. Styles reminiscent of vintage establishments and cities around the world suggest they were plucked off the wall of a century-old caf?.
9. Coat & Hat Hooks ? Face it, coats never make it into the closet when you first get home, so cut to the chase and hang some great hooks so you can at least get them off the backs of your chairs.
10. Photograph Collection ? My personal favorite, and a guaranteed show stopper. Who can resist stopping to gaze at your best shots? For a really impactful display, unify the group with one consistent element, such as similar frames, the same color mats, the same size or all black and white images.

Each situation is different, so take note of what you already have and how big an area you have to work with while you consider the suggestions above. Although some options are obviously not suited to some rooms, try to visualize the space with one or more accents and run with your favorite choice.

Don?t just leave that empty wall hanging! Dress it stylishly and you will give your room the finished look it deserves, and yourself an elegantly decorated room you can be proud of.

Going back thousands of years ago in the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations, patchwork fabrics have developed into more than an art today. Patchwork simply means patching or piecing together bits and pieces of cloths to come up with a large material good enough for bedspreads or curtains. Others also use it as the accent of the room by simply hanging it on the wall.

Patchwork and quilting have a converging history but are very distinct from each other. It was used for added protection and comfort under the metal armor in the earlier days. In the 14th century, records show that patchwork fabrics have been used for beddings and clothing. In the 18th century, quilting has been applied to coats and bonnets. Patchworks, on the other hand, can be said to be products of necessity. They say necessity is the mother of invention and patchwork is the product of trying times since it simply means piecing together of smaller scraps of cloth to make a larger material good enough for practical needs. You can make use of smaller scraps of fabrics as well as cut up those which are damaged or torn beyond their original use.

However, it was not until the twentieth century that patchwork and quilting become a hobby and a form of art in America. The techniques have also evolved using more modern methods and a more extensive selection of prints and colors to choose from.

The main category one chooses is the color and everything else follows, like the prints and the shape of the cut outs. Moreover, you are in for some tough time since there are so many colors and prints to choose from. Hence, coming up with the final decision will be very hard indeed. You can choose from floral, batik, Christmas or a classic theme.

But then again, if you have leftover linen or any other fabric form the last pattern you made, you can certainly make use of those odds and bits. You can then make use of your creativity and come up with a design that is so uniquely you. And you?re going to be practical too. By using leftover materials, you won?t need to buy a new kit for your patchwork fabric.

As for the pattern, let your imagination and creativity flow freely. There are so many patterns you can do, such as chessboard, diamond, triangles, and squares of different sizes, the choice is yours. Anything is possible, if you can imagine it then all you have to do is put that abstract idea into something more tangible. Make something that you would like to see and a project you would like to start and, more importantly, complete.

Patchwork and quilting are activities you can do on your own, or if would like to spend time with others with the same interests. There are even clubs and groups solely for people who love quilting. With the power of the internet, individuals who love making patchwork fabrics can get together and enjoy making a quilt as a group or doing each separately.

Patchworking and quilting have gone a long way from what it was centuries ago. It has become one of the most popular past times because it brings together practicality and creativity, one combination which works for a lot of people.

It has been an exciting time for growth and development in patchwork which has now captivated the interest and imaginations of many. They range from hobbyist who loves creativity for its own sake to the artists who make use of all the artistic potentials of patchwork and quilting in creating masterpiece of art.

Tackling a home remodeling job without professional help is not always a good idea, especially if you have limited knowledge in the field. Many people have an issue of pride that they cannot overcome, and this leads them to bite off more than they can chew. In particular, when you want to perform an addition such as closet shelving to your existing closet, you will likely want to hire someone to do it for you. Money paid to a contractor may seem wasteful, but it can save you from a potential nightmare. It really is common sense. If you don’t have the necessary skills, hire someone that does. Wasting time and money on poorly designed, constructed and installed closet shelving is just not worth the hassle. Paying a professional to do all the above will make sure your money is being well spent. When done correctly, home renovations can add value to your house and can make it more marketable to potential buyers (if you ever decide to sell). On the other hand, a faulty job will essentially do the exact opposite. Here are some other reasons why you should not try building your own closet shelving. Why hiring a professional to build closet shelving is a good idea A professional will be able to recommend various options to best meet your needsCloset shelving installation entails more than you might thinkYou will have the peace of mind that your shelves have been constructed and installed the right wayClosets are major selling features, so why not hire an expert? One of the best advantages to having a professional contractor install your closet shelving is that they will be able to offer you a wealth of design ideas. These people work on closets every day as a part of their job, and as such have seen it all. Chances are the ideas floating around in your head are probably from a DIY show or magazine. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, there might be better options out there that can accommodate your budget and personal needs. Building closet shelving means more than just cutting some boards and hanging them up. In addition to the shelves themselves, your closet will likely need electrical and lighting installed. Depending on the design style you are looking for, you may be in for a considerable amount of work. A contractor will have the skills needed to complete the job. In addition, paying an expert will give you added assurance that your shelves are not going to topple over or buckle under pressure. Proper material and support is vital when building custom closet shelving; an improper build can present many safety hazards. Lastly, given that closets rank high on most buyers’ must-have lists, it makes sense to pay someone to do it right. Why risk such an important investment for the sake of a few dollars?

Everyone plans to go for home improvement so that they may be able to beautify their homes. This way, they are putting value in ensuring that their homes become a warm, pleasant and comfortable place to stay in.

However, we understand for a fact that home improvement translates to costs. With this, we also know that it may require quite an amount of money for us to be able to carry out our plans. However, we say that there many ways in which home improvement can be achieved. Remodeling may not necessarily be needed as there is another inexpensive means of achieving beautification of the home which need not be too costly. This is by investing in Modern Furniture.

Truly, a lot of designers have been suggesting that modern furniture is the way to go. It will do wonders to your home and will help you make that home improvement plans a reality.

There are a few steps that you can observe as you go through this endeavor of home improvement. You can follow this so that you may quickly achieve your home improvement goals.

The first thing that you need to do is to select a theme which you will go with. These sets the mood and feel to your home. This will help you identify which modern furniture to buy and will minimize the wastage and difficulty of having a scattered approach when it comes to the look you are trying to achieve. What this means is that just buying furniture is not good. Instead, your purchase should be anchored to the theme which you have selected. The theme can be identified by taking a closer look at the interiors of your house which includes the materials used in building it and all other details. From here, you may identify what theme to go for and if in doubt, you can always ask help from an experienced designer.

The next thing to do upon identification of the theme is to purchase the modern furniture which you will be putting in your home. Before you go about buying, it will be important first to take measurements. This allows you to estimate and take a good look at the spaces available for you to identify how big of furniture you will be requiring for each space.

Once you have done this, then it makes it easier now to purchase the furniture. There are a number of ways to go about this. You may go shopping and visit home furniture stores or you may simply browse over the web where they can be found likewise.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson

Concrete is nothing new in home design. It’s been serving as driveways, patios and pool surrounds for decades. But today concrete countertops are debuting on the inside of many homes with creative, elegant and whimsical new designs not possible with any other surface.

Concrete countertops are gracing the pages of magazines and starring in home improvement shows following and fueling a rise in popularity of this versatile surface. Cement has one unique advantage over other kitchen countertop materials in that it can be custom molded into virtually any shape, size or design you want.

It can be stained in a rainbow of colors. It can also be dyed, tinted, stamped and have unique designs acid-etched into its surface. Also, you can embed fun objects, momentos or even lights to make a personalized piece of functional art! Imagination seems to be the only limitation. Some even looks like wood. By sawing lines in the concrete, you can make it look like tile. And you can incorporate a sink of any size with a custom drain board or any other design feature you care to create.

Just like tile and all other countertop surfaces, concrete countertops do need some maintenance. Although a durable countertop, concrete needs to be sealed initially and waxed periodically to resist staining and moisture. It can be washed, polished and buffed to maintain its shine and it cleans up easily with soap and water or mild cleaners.

Cutting is not recommended or it will scratch, but you should use a cutting board with any surface. Concrete is heat resistant and stains aren’t much a problem if you seal and wax as recommended by your installer.

Designers consider cement countertops to be kind of a specialty item with a very contemporary look… that is one of the drawbacks with many homeowners. True, it is very distinctive, yet it can be made to blend well with a variety of designs and decoration themes.

Another possible criticism is that colors cannot be exactly matched to say… a paint color. You can get close, but the finished color may be slightly different. Also, concrete countertop colors will get lighter a few weeks after installation and tend to yellow over time.

Concrete counter tops need to be installed by someone who knows what they are doing. In fact, the majority of the cost of concrete countertops comes from the skill and labor required to install. Expect to pay about as much as granite and possibly more depending on how complex your design is. (see )

Other countertops may be better all-around surfaces, but concrete counter tops are still durable and no other surface can offer the creative freedom available with concrete. So, if you really want to do something different with your design, explore the unique qualities of concrete.

People that enjoy viewing wallpaper and also carpets and who feel that they have a special knack for dealing with designs and colors are the ones that need to begin studying interior design. In fact, they can go a step further and take interior design correspondence courses that will help them design homes and make a decent living out of doing so.

A Complete Package
The ideal interior design correspondence course should be one that is a complete package that provides everything from start-up to tips and exercises that will help ensure that you become a complete interior designer. What’s more, it would pay to find a interior design correspondence course that has been designed by expert interior designers who have years of experience in designing and who can cover the designs of every different kind of interiors and homes.

Another aspect to picking the right interior design correspondence course is that it should help you learn your subject faster than traditional courses and this can in fact be achieved by finding a course that does in fact cut out the waffle and instead provides students with precise as well as helpful facts, tips and information related to proper interior designing.
At the end of your interior design correspondence course you should be able to transform any interior or home into a place that sports a distinctive designer look and feel. You should have learned how to take care of the minutest details including selecting appropriate fabrics and learning how to completely transform a room so that the results will never cease to amaze your clients.

An ideal interior design correspondence course is certainly one that is being offered by the Institute of Interior Design and even though this is a British based school the contents are equally applicable in Britain as they are in the rest of the world.

Some of the topics covered in their interior design correspondence course include learning to add more space, dressing the windows, creating outstanding displays, putting everything in place and even doing up a home office. In fact, there is a whole lot more that will keep you occupied and at the end of it all you can rightly claim to having studied one of the best interior design correspondence courses.

For a top class education in interior design why not checks out Limperts Academy of Design that provides excellent interior design home study courses. Their courses are ideal for anyone that plans on studying from home and who need to obtain a qualification that will help them embark with confidence in a career as an accomplished interior designer.