Modern Home Decorating

Have you ever wondered why colors look different in your home? Simple.

Lighting in the paint store is not the same as in your home. Your windows bring in light and your light bulbs are different. Even against other colors; color can change. Take a paint sample home and see the difference.

Lighting effects colors in the way that they absorb; or reflect light. Some colors will appear warmer in natural light, brighter in florescent light and toned down in incandescent lighting.

Light colors reflect; while dark colors absorb the lighting. Of course, everyone has a different opinion on whether light or dark colors make a room look smaller or larger. What’s your thought? Think about this. If you look at a black ceiling can you really tell where it ends?

Keep this in mind when planning the lighting in your home. Yeah; another thing to think about.

* Incandescent (bulbs) – This light enhances yellow and orange. While it dulls blue and violets. Red takes on an orange tint.

* Florescent (tube) – Invigorates green, blue and violet hues; but it washes out red, yellow and orange shades.

* Natural (outside or man-made lights) – This is the best, but not always practical light for the home. Reds warm and yellows tone down; while blues brighten and greens darken.

Lighting is not the only thing affecting colors. Ever wonder why colors look different when placed next to each other? It has to do with light wavelengths, but that is more scientific so, we will stay clear of that and make it easier to understand.

In plain language, colors can change radically when they are viewed next to another color. Try it at home to see the effect. Or try it with some paint swatches by putting them together.

Red next to blue – Red takes on a yellowish tint.
Red next to green – Red appears brighter and stronger.
Red next to yellow – Red seems bluer.
Red next to black – Red appears duller.
Red next to white – Red seems brighter and lighter.

Also, opposite (on the color chart/wheel) colors attract such as:

Red is redder when it’s with green.
Yellow is sharper when it’s with purple.
Blues becomes bluer when it’s with orange.

Keep this in mind if you have two or more colors that will be next to
each other. Always put the two colors together and view in the lighting
that you have in your home – during the day and at night.

Here is a list of the warm and cool colors:

* Warm Colors – Red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange and yellow-greens.

* Cool Colors – Green, blue-green, blue, blue-purple and red-purples.

Always remember…view the color samples at home in the room they will be used. You will be surprised. View during the day and evening. Leave the swatches on the walls for a few days or longer if you are not sure. Oh, yes…use removable tape (blue or purple) if you are leaving them on for some time. You don’t want to mar the wall when removing the tape.

Then, before buying gallons of paint; purchase a quart or if they sell the small paint samples and paint a 6′ x 6′ square are and feather out the edges so you don’t have a hard line. Why? Because those small swatches don’t give a wide viewing area and to be absolutely sure you love the color before spending lots of money on gallons of paint.

H John Johnsen

Thanksgiving can be a great time of year. It’s the start of the holiday season, a time for family and close friends to get together to appreciate each other and eat great food. Everyone has a great time enjoying each other’s company. However, if you are the host or hostess for the event, Thanksgiving can be a great deal more stressful. You have a lot more work to do then just showing up ready to socialize. Of course you have to put together the dinner, but besides that you are responsible for cleaning up your home and decorating it appropriately for the season. This can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ll share some tips to create a fun and seasonally appropriate atmosphere in your home, through the use of stuffed animals. Using these plush toys as an extra decorating tip can do a lot for creating the right look for Thanksgiving.

The first thing you should consider is color. Thanksgiving decorating revolves around fall colors. These include browns, oranges, rusty reds, and golden colors. Colors that you can see in all the beautiful fall foliage. First, pick out some animals that are naturally within this color rage, and get a few plush toys of those varieties. Look for things like stuffed foxes, stuffed bunnies, plush chipmunks, stuffed moose, and stuffed squirrels. Before you know it you’ll have the perfect home decorations.

<b>Overall Decorations for the Home</b>

Here are a couple examples for you. You could get a stuffed fox of a rusty-red color and put it on your couch. This will certainly brighten up your room. Or, on the coffee table surrounding the lamp, you could place some fall-appropriate acorns and a plush squirrel or chipmunk. You should use toys that are more natural in color and appearance in order to get the best, most authentic result. You could also create a “salad bowl” to house a stuffed animal filled with leaves and pinecones from the great outdoors, and put this anywhere you need an extra decoration.

<b>Dinner Table Decorations</b>

You probably already have some typical dinner table decorations, such as turkeys and pumpkins. But you can add even more fall cheer by including some stuffed animals with these arrangements. For example, get a little stuffed beaver to hold one or more of the pumpkins. If you are using fall colors for everything to as recommended, then these should complement your dinnerware. You could also create a unique Thanksgiving centerpiece. You could get some nice fall flowers and add a stuffed animal. Also you could get some fall leaf vines, and attach them to some natural-looking brown teddy bears. Then, just wrap them with the vines around your guest chairs for festive holiday seating.

<b>Extra Decorating Tips</b>

Maybe you want to decorate your entrance on the outside so your guests know they have the right house. Just take a run of the mill autumn wreath and pair it with a stuffed bunny, so it looks like the bunny is on a swing. Or have the animal hold a welcome sign. Of course, this animal doesn’t have to be a bunny. Use whatever type of plush toy you think would work best for you and your guests.

Remember, stuffed animals can be used in many ways to make your Thanksgiving truly special. Not only can they be used for decorations, but if you have any children coming for the holiday, they can play with them once dinner is over, and even take them home if you don’t feel like storing them and using them next year in another new arrangement. Be creative, with fall colors and natural appearing plush toys, and you will have a beautifully decorated home for Thanksgiving.

Corina Volegna

Putting your personality into your house is the best way to make it a home. Whether you’re using your own muse or someone else’s put yourself into everything you create at home for a relaxing life experience.

One of the first things I realized about home decorating-after my three thousand or so attempts at making my place look like all the pictures from the magazines-is that home decorating should reflect your personal style. Your home should reflect who you are and what you love.

Of course, I’m not saying that this revelation made me prance around my house with two cans of pink and yellow paint or that I plastered bunnies and butterflies everywhere-and yes, I do actually love pink, yellow, bunnies and butterflies-but I did put a little bit of myself into every room.

I got a certain sense of personal satisfaction from painting my ugly orange countertops a vibrant country red that matched my lust for life and the décor I actually wanted to toss around my kitchen. And my own personal works of art-paintings, photographs, sculptures-are set up around my place as well, giving it just that look of being lived in by somebody who loves and experiences life.

Of course, I recognize that we can’t all spend our evenings splashing around in water colors, or spend our weekends chasing a gaggle of baby quails about the yard trying to take their pictures.

That’s why there are professional designers out there who dedicate their lives to creating home décor that other people can use to express themselves and their individuality. And it’s okay to buy your curtains and blankets if you don’t know how to sew-crafty as I am, I still bought all my curtains and most of my blankets.

Of the things I love most in my home, my furniture doesn’t even come close to counting. It’s the accessories in my home that make it look like I personally live there and that no one else can shake my individuality.

One of my favorite items is a cotton area rug I recently purchased on a trip to the Deep South. This area rug was handmade in mills in the Deep South, where the cotton was picked fresh, milled in a southern mill, cleaned, spun and woven all by the same family of rug makers. When the bed is too hot at night, I frequently sleep on this rug and it makes me feel like I’m back in the Deep South all over again.

I realize that area rugs are not for everyone, but it can be an excellent place to start in learning to develop a personality for your home that meshes with your own personality rather than clashing and making you feel uncomfortable in your own home.

Different types of accessories are truly the way to bring out your personality in your home. Whether it is an area rug, artwork, photographs, drapery, throw pillows or knick knacks that represent different moments in your life, you can always find a way to make yourself feel at home if you just put a little bit of yourself into your own home.

Sarah Crosset

Decorative molding includes all of the kinds of trim used in a home. It can serve a purely decorative function, or it can also be used to hide any unfinished edges of a wall. Moldings can be made of wood-most usually of pine or oak-or, as is used frequently today, polyurethane. Polyurethane is a lightweight, long-lasting, durable alternative to wood. Molding can also be painted or stained.

This article provides a brief description of the types of decorative trim available as well as information available to guide you in your use of decorative molding in your home.

5 types of molding

There are five types of decorative molding commonly used. These include: baseboard, cornice, crown, wall moldings, and panel moldings. Let’s take a look at each one separately.

Base. Base molding is the trim used to finish the wall along the floor. Also called a mopboard, the baseboard protects the wall. Ideally, your baseboard complements the casings around your doors and windows. A baseboard is commonly found throughout every room in most homes.

Cornice. The cornice is the decorative molding placed along the top of the wall. Cornice can be built up using many pieces of trim. Cornice is a more ornate version of crown molding. Ornamentation includes acanthus leaf, egg and dart, modillions, or dentil among many others.

Crown. Crown molding is also used along the top of the wall. Also called bed moldings, they are installed at an angle to adjunct surfaces. Crown molding is also used to finish cabinets, built-ins, and fireplaces. Cove molding, a rounded piece of trim at the juncture of the wall with the ceiling, provides yet another means of transition from the wall to the ceiling.

Both crown and cornice moldings have been around as long as the use of plastered ceilings has been. Cornice and crown moldings usually reflected the type or intended use of the room. For example, reception rooms were often decorated with more ornate cornice moldings, while plainer crown molding was often installed in the more functional areas of the home, such as the kitchen.

Wall moldings. This group includes the chair rails, and the less common picture rails and friezes. Chair rails are popular features and so can be found throughout many homes. It is the molding that sits approximately 30″-36″ above the floor, right at about the height of a chairback. If you choose to panel the wall below, this trim is known as a dado cap.

Picture rails and friezes are often confused, while in actuality they are two separate entities, although the difference is slight. A picture rail has a rounded top edge protruding out from the wall, where hooks are often placed. Its main purpose is for hanging pictures. A frieze, on the other hand, is a flat molding, frequently decorated with relief carving or classical profile.

The picture rail or frieze and the chair rail form what is known in the Victorian architectural style as a tripartite. The wall is effectively broken up into three separate areas. This type of wall treatment extends your options for decorating considerably.

Panel molding. Panel molding is used to break large surfaces up into panels. Panel molding is normally found on doors, but can also be used to decorate walls and ceilings. Fairly easy to install for the average do-it-yourself homeowner, panel molding can be used to create a custom look. Panels can be used in creative ways utilizing such features as size, curves, and decorative corners. Little details may be slipped inside to create an even more elegant look.

Tips to Guide the Use of Decorative Moldings

Your use may be determined by a number of factors including the architectural style of your home, as well as your personal taste in design styles. Be sure that the size and scale of the trim is appropriate for the room to which you will be adding this type of ornamentation. If you choose to paint your moldings, keep in mind that contrasting colors can add a more “dynamic” element to your room. You may consider coordinating moldings with each other as well as with other design elements present in the room.

Synthetic polymer, or polyurethane, is a natural choice for molding today. As it is lightweight, it is easy to cut and install. Polymer is a more economically feasible choice if you opt for more elaborate decorative moldings. Moldings are also flexible, allowing the homeowner to trim curves and rounded areas of the home. When utilizing cornice and crown moldings, you can combine various types to create a more personal statement. However, this can be more challenging to install for the individual. Corner blocks are available as well in polymer. These can be useful in eliminating difficult corner cuts.

Now you are aware of many further options. Don’t be intimidated. Installation instructions and informative articles like this one abound on the internet. Do your homework and investigate all of your available options. This is something that you will have to live with, so it should reflect your tastes. They will certainly set the decorative tone of any home. Good luck to you as you begin to use decorative moldings to create your wonderful space.

Patricia Tomaskovic
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/an-introduction-to-decorative-molding-in-your-home-77506.html

Once the seat of early American government, Williamsburg, Virginia is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and larger cities like Washington, DC and Virginia Beach also attracts many people seeking a new home for raising a family, or for retirement. In the summer months, however, the town provides ample opportunity for families to explore the roots of our nation’s history and culture, as well as have some fun.

Situated on the tip of the booming Hampton Roads metropolitan area, Williamsburg forms one point of the historical triangle of sites (the others being Yorktown and the Jamestown colony) that attracts thousands of tourists annually. It is easy to find, being a short trip off I-64 and accessible through the local AmTrak station. At most, Williamsburg is an hour’s drive from three airports: Richmond International, Williamsburg/Newport News, and Norfolk International.

In Williamsburg, visitors may experience the life of our forefathers with a stroll through the streets of the colonial district. Stepping into the cobblestone streets sends one back in time as costumed folk demonstrate traditions and vocations of the time period. Gardens are cultivated for the beautiful floral arrangements decorating each door, the town blacksmith toils to forge ironworks, and the many shopkeepers bustle to serve their customers with handmade soaps, candles and linens.

While many of the buildings situated along Duke of Gloucester street charge no admission, some sites in the preserved colonial area are part of a larger tour requiring passes which may be purchased from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Among the buildings people may explore at no charge are Bruton Parish, one of the oldest Anglican congregations in the country, and the Wren Building, the oldest academic structure in the United States. The Wren Building is part of the College of William and Mary, which abuts the colonial district.

History lovers will be interested in Williamsburg’s latest attraction, President’s Park. Located just on the outskirts of town, President’s Park is a large outdoor museum featuring gigantic busts of every US President. From George Washington to George W. Bush, visitors may learn about each presidency as they gaze at larger than life replicas of our nation’s leaders.

Visitors seeking a bit of excitement will want to stop at nearby Busch Gardens Europe, a seasonal amusement park sectioned to celebrate the different cultures that shape our nation. Spine-twisting roller coasters, three-dimensional rides and top entertainment delight thousands of visitors each year. When the sun is especially brutal, companion park Water Country USA offers a respite in the form of water slides and a giant wave pool.

For lovers of culinary delights, Williamsburg is home to some of the finest restaurants in the state. Virginia ham, Chesapeake crabs, and colonial classic cream of peanut soup are just a few of the items one might find in the taverns and eateries around town. Williamsburg is home to The Trellis, made famous by the decadent Death by Chocolate dessert that is so big, it has to be shared!

For visitors interested in less touristy things, Williamsburg offers opportunities for relaxation as well. Nestled the looming pines on the northern edge of town is Waller Mill Park, favored by locals and tourist for its many hiking and biking trails. Cyclists especially enjoy riding the Colonial Parkway for breathtaking views of the marsh and Chesapeake Bay. For golfers, there are three PGA-rated courses within the town borders.

Williamsburg is a haven for golfers, history buffs, and anyone desiring a reprieve from the bustle and traffic often found in DC and Northern Virginia. Because the attraction to Williamsburg is seasonal and spread out, the area also allows for a sense of isolation and peace without being inaccessible. So if you’re thinking of Virginia for your next vacation, be sure to reserve a few days for Williamsburg. You won’t be disappointed.

Kathryn Lively
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/history-and-fun-come-alive-in-williamsburg-82992.html

I’m not really sure how to word this so I’ll just include as much detail as possible. We have not put up our Christmas tree in about 3 years and we have tons of moving ornaments that plug into the lights, and light up ornaments too. I went ahead and bought new christmas lights and they look just like the old ones but the moving ornaments won’t plug into them..? Are there specific lights you have to have to use these?

You consult an electrician

There are many benefits to having a home business. One of the great things is that you can be doing what you love to be doing and you can be doing this at home, surrounded by your family and able to stop work at any time to take care of things. However, being at home also means that you need keep your home office from simply being a part of your life.

Meanwhile, not everyone can afford to have a different room that is only for their home business, so many people decide to make an office for themselves somewhere in their homes. Whether it is a corner of the basement or living room or a smaller and unused room. No matter where you decide to be, you have to make sure that your office is somewhere you are going to be able to work without having a lot of hassle.

There are going to be many things that you can do to make this a reality, so remember it all starts with you. First of all, be sure that you are giving yourself plenty of space that is just for your office. Be sure that you have something that separates the room your office is in from your actual office so that you do not feel as if you are in the middle of your regular life.

Then, it is time to furnish your office. Try to do whatever you can to make sure you are giving yourself plenty of chances to have the office of your dreams but remember that you are going to be working form home and therefore you do not need a lot of expensive equipment or decorations. Put up posters and other things that make you feel as if you are at work and encourage you. Also, check your department stores and other retailers, because often you can find very cheap office supplies.

If you are going to be having customers come into your home office, you need to have a place where they can be and actually feel like they are in a business. It is very important in this case that you go to the trouble of creating a real office, because if you do not have one you are not going to look professional and this could hurt your business.

Remember that this is always something you should be aware of. You must always portray what you are trying to get across when it comes to your home office and how you run things. Remember that you are in charge of your office and your business and you are in charge of how you come off to customers at all times. This is something that is completely in your control.

Obinna Heche
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/decorating-your-home-business-office-140518.html