DekoBug

Whether you’re remodeling a kitchen or bathroom or adding a bedroom, one of the most important decorating steps is choosing windows to match the architectural style of your home.

For example, you wouldn’t use a zebra print shower curtain to complement a nautically themed bathroom. Likewise, a contemporary casement window may not harmonize with the decor in your vintage-themed kitchen. The wrong window option can detract from your home’s style.

“Window styles can dramatically change the way you interact and feel in a room,” says Elaine Sagers, Pella Corporation’s vice president for marketing and customer support. “For instance, installing a wall of fixed windows that showcases a beautiful garden or scenic landscape can instill feelings of tranquility and peace. The right window style can enhance the mood in a room and the overall appearance of your home.”

Pella Windows and Doors make it easy to determine what window style suits your remodeling or replacement project. The company’s website offers step-by-step instructions on how to choose a window based on your style, energy performance needs and budget.

Style matters
First, consider the style of your home. For 2010, traditional is the most popular kitchen and bath design style, followed closely by contemporary, according to a National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) survey.

Windows don’t have to be boring. “Think outside the box and choose something that shows off your style and personality,” Sagers says. “Pay attention to functionality as well. Plus, when you choose qualifying energy-efficient replacement windows and doors, you can earn a 2010 energy tax credit and help save on your utilities in the long-term.”

Window types
Casement windows – Often called crank-out windows, these open and close outward with the turn of a handle. The single sash creates a clear view to the outdoors, popular in contemporary homes and hard-to-reach places, like over a bathtub or kitchen sink.

Awning windows – Hinged at the top, these windows open out like an awning, ideal for rainy climates to enjoy fresh air during a gentle rain. They’re often used above or below other windows and doors, in bedrooms and in hard-to-reach places.

Double-hung windows – These windows offer flexibility to raise or lower each sash for ventilation, traditional style.

Single-hung windows – A traditional style opened by raising the bottom sash, use in easy-to-reach places like bedrooms.

Sliding windows – A contemporary-style sliding sash moves horizontally to help reduce reaching when opening or closing this window.

Bay and bow windows – When wall space is limited or additional accent is desired, a traditional-style bay or bow window features more windows to capture a beautiful view outside.

Fixed windows – Since they do not open, energy-efficient fixed windows let in light and provide a focal point.

Special shape windows – Achieve architectural interest with styles ranging from circles and half-circles to trapezoids, pentagons and more.

Color adds punch
Next, determine your room’s color palette. Match your window trim to the woodwork for a contemporary, finished look, or experiment with a complementing woodwork or finish color for a fun, less formal style.

Many windows offer hardware options. Color-matched hardware for sash locks or cranks provides a seamless look, while metal finishes, like oil rubbed bronze or satin nickel, make a bold, artistic statement. NKBA named brushed nickel, polished chrome, satin nickel, bronze and stainless steel as the most popular finishes for 2010.

Finish with a window fashion
Window fashions are functional – blocking bright sunlight and providing privacy – and they also provide pizzazz. Pella’s Designer Series windows offer custom-made built-in window fashions (blinds, fabric shades, decorative panels and grilles) that are tucked between panes of glass so they’re protected from dust, damage and little hands.

The textured, colored interlayers of between-the-glass decorative panels create a one-of-a-kind design accent that allows light to shine through the window but obscures the view – great for creating privacy.

No matter what your style or needs, choosing the right window for your remodeling or replacement project will be a decision that you’re happy to live with for years. To learn more about Pella’s window styles or to contact a sales representative, visit www.pella.com or call (888) 847-3552. Follow Pella on Twitter.com@Pella_News.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: Awning windows, Bay and bow windows, Casement windows, Double-hung windows, Fixed windows, Single-hung windows, Sliding windows, Special shape windows, window fashion, Window types

Kitchens and baths get all the buzz as the best rooms to renovate, whether you’re selling your house or planning to stay in it. But don’t overlook the power of a great master bedroom – after all, it’s among the most frequently used rooms in your home.

Whether you’re renovating to attract potential buyers, or to improve your enjoyment of your house, sprucing up the master bedroom has multiple benefits. Buyers will likely pass through your bedroom to reach the master bath, so a great master bedroom helps set the tone for your master bath. And since most of us spend about eight hours a day (or night) in the bedroom, refurbishing the room can help us get better rest and feel better about our home.

Investing just a few extra dollars to install luxury designer touches like good linens or an eye-catching wallpaper mural can ensure you get the most bang for your renovation buck in the bedroom. Whether you have a few hundred dollars or a few thousand to spend, you can make the most of your money by adding high-quality, high-impact touches like these:

Designer (or at least designer-look) linens

The bed should be a focal point for a well-designed bedroom. The easiest way to make yours look fresh and powerful, even if it’s the same frame you’ve had for 10 years, is to dress it up with great linens. Go for the whole enchilada here – skirt, accent pillows, duvet and shams. Linen designers have made it very easy to create a pulled-together, luxury look by providing ensembles that work together.

Since you’ll spend several hours a day in contact with your linens, it’s probably worth spending a bit more for comfort as well as great looks. Look for all-cotton sheets that have a high thread count. Generally, the higher the thread count the softer and more comfortable they’ll feel. Thanks to designers’ partnerships with popular retail chains, it’s possible to score a good-looking, good-quality ensemble for a couple hundred dollars. Throw in a few hundred more and you can buy name brand linens in a top-of-the-line department store.

Wallpaper murals

Designers have been using murals to make a major impact for centuries. You can achieve the power and appeal of a hand-painted mural for a lot less money and work when you opt for a wallpaper mural like those found online at www.muralsyourway.com. In a bedroom, a mural can be used as a subtle backdrop for grand or posh bed and furnishings, or as a focal point to make a dramatic statement. You can create a soothing effect with a pastoral or floral scene or rev up your design with a modern, edgy black and white graphic. Or, personalize your mural by submitting your favorite photo to muralsyourway.com; they’ll turn it into a custom mural to fit your size specifications.

Vinyl wallpaper murals are easy to install – well within the abilities of most do-it-yourselfers. And now, you can really make a luxury touch by opting for a canvas wallpaper mural.

Hide the high-def

When that massive flat screen TV is in your living room, you want it out there for everyone to see and admire. In your bedroom, however, you might want it to look less intrusive. A TV has become a staple of bedroom furnishings, and more people are making the move to high-definition, flat-screen TVs. You could mount yours on the bedroom wall, but then it might draw attention away from other elements of the room that you want to emphasize.

Consider installing a cabinet that allows you to lower the TV inside it – and hide the high-def – when you’re not using it. Cabinets are available that look like high-end pieces of furniture, or even fireplaces. Another option is to purchase a movable mirror or piece of art. These items are specially designed to hang in front of the TV when it’s not in use and move easily out of the way when you want to view it.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: decorating bedrooms, renovating bedrooms

The perfect remodeling project is one that includes items that you see and touch multiple times every day, such as a kitchen faucet. When selecting a new faucet, look for a high-arc style with pulldown functionality. Models, such as the Moen Anabelle Eco-Performance faucet, feature this unique design – with the added benefit of up to 32 percent water savings.

In today’s challenging economy, you’re taking a look at how you spend your hard-earned dollars. And while you may not have the necessary budget to tackle a major home improvement project, there are many homeowners who are choosing a more strategic approach to remodeling – by refreshing rooms and undertaking small projects one at a time.
This new methodology toward the do-it-yourself (DIY) movement is something that is quickly growing, goes beyond quick fixes and simple decor updates and actually involves a completely new mindset. This concept is so relevant, in fact, that the researchers at Moen, the No. 1 faucet brand in North America, have identified it as a home improvement trend: “remodel-lite.”

“In essence, the remodel-lite consumer is one who wishes to refresh a room with only a few items – and with a minimal investment,” says Jack Suvak, director of market research and insights, Moen. “But at the same time, they still have the mindset of a remodeler – they want their home improvement project to make a significant impact on their home, in terms of both style and functionality. And now, more than ever before, trusted brands are of the utmost importance to homeowners.”

Who is a remodel-lite consumer?
According to Moen, the general demographic profile of a remodel-lite consumer is an individual with an average household income of less than $100,000, and an average home value of more than $230,000. More than 40 percent of remodel-lite consumers are Baby Boomers and 55 percent are married. Nearly 70 percent have lived in their homes for less than 10 years and almost 80 percent will complete the home improvement project themselves.

“In conducting our research, the characteristic comments we heard from remodel-lite consumers included phrases such as, ‘I just retouched the paint to make the house look newer and fresher,’ and ‘I bought paint, hardware, a new faucet and towels. This time it will be more cosmetic. Reduce-reuse-recycle is my new mantra,’ says Suvak. ”

Taking the remodel-lite approach
For homeowners seeking to incorporate the remodel-lite approach into their next home improvement project, Suvak offers the following tips:

* The everyday touch
Rather than spend your hard-earned dollars on a vase or piece of artwork that you only use at the holidays; invest in items that you see and touch on a daily basis. The perfect example is a kitchen faucet – it’s something you use multiple times every day, and can truly be the ideal finishing touch to a remodel-lite kitchen project.

Most kitchens have a basic faucet – but as the focal point and most-used item in the kitchen, updating this mainstay can create a functional and fashionable change that everyone will notice. When selecting a new kitchen faucet, look for a high-arc style with pull-down functionality. Models, such as the Moen Anabelle Eco-Performance faucet, feature this unique design – with the added benefit of up to 32 percent water savings. The multi-function wand offers both a fast-fill stream for filling pots, as well as two Eco-Performance sprays that reduce the water stream to 1.5 gallons per minute for tasks that require a constant yet low water flow, such as washing dishes or preparing foods.

* Accessorize
Take a page from the fashion industry and realize the power of accessorizing. You can easily transform the look of any room with a few key pieces. But in this economy, choose items that can multitask to make the most of your investment. Examples include an ottoman that doubles as storage and/or seating, or a flip-top sofa table that can open up to be used as a buffet or desk.

* Day-by-day, one step at a time
Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to tackle a number of complicated projects all at once. Rather, select one primary project – even if it’s complex – and divide it into smaller jobs. Start by looking at the rooms you use the most – typically the kitchen, master bathroom and master bedroom. In the bedroom, the perfect remodel-lite project, which you’ll be able to enjoy every day, is a do-it-yourself closet organization system. A system composed of wire rack shelving is available in a variety of sizes and depths, and can be arranged to incorporate a number of accessories – from tie racks to shoe trees.

* Begin to dream again
Just because you might be short on funds doesn’t mean you have to be short on inspiration. In these trying times, it’s OK to continue to have pie-in-the-sky home improvement dreams … but also understand that even small projects and purchases can help you slowly inch toward your goals. With just a few updates around the house, you can quickly move from survival to revival. And if you simply don’t have the budget to begin even a small project, surround yourself with things that reflect your personality or people close to you – photographs of family trips, family heirlooms and souvenirs can help you reminisce about special days – and realize that they could be just around the corner.

* Style statement
Finally, don’t neglect your sense of style while you’re watching your budget. You can simply dress up the basics with your personal flair by adding a stunning statement piece. And many times, you don’t even need a tool box – try a new area rug, a piece of inexpensive artwork or a collage of family portraits.

“Whereas some home improvement trends come and go quickly, we feel the remodel-lite trend has staying power – especially while we ride out this time of economic uncertainty,” said Suvak. “And when the recession is over, the lessons learned while incorporating a remodel-lite concept into your everyday life will still have a great deal of value.”

For more information about Moen, call (800) BUY-MOEN or visit www.moen.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: faucets, kitchen faucets, refreshing rooms with small projects, small projects, small remodeling projects

Every few years we paint them, and they sure do make a convenient spot on which to hang our flat panel TVs. But how much do we really think about our walls?

Walls are, arguably, the largest decorator element in your home. Many of us, however, rarely venture beyond using them as background for our furniture and accessories. With a little courage and creativity, walls can be turned into a bold design statement in your home. And you don’t need the advice of a designer or the budget of a home-improvement show to look at your walls in a whole new light.

Here are some hot trends and ideas to consider if you’re thinking of redesigning your walls:

* More than ever, Americans are aware we’re all part of a global community and our pride in that fact can be seen in the trend toward using large-scale maps as wall art. Maps can reflect our heritage or interests and are appropriate in virtually any room of the house. Love Italian cuisine? Consider placing a map of Tuscany in your breakfast nook. Proud of your African heritage? Grace a family room wall with a floor-to-ceiling map of the continent. It’s easier than ever to find and install maps, too, thanks to wallpaper murals like those found at MuralsYourWay.com.

* Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but one hot trend turns words into graphic art to grace your walls. A simple phrase or quote dear to your heart can be turned into a graphic element in your room if you render it in decorative script and colors that enhance your overall theme. The quote not only makes a visually appealing focal point for the room, it tells visitors something about who you are as well.

* When you think about the importance of fabric in a room, are you just thinking furniture and window treatments? Walls can benefit from a fabric treatment as well. Fabric can be an exciting substitute for wallpaper. Or, it can add punch to decor as a piece of textile art, like a tapestry.

* Wall murals continue to be a favorite decorating tool of interior designers and homeowners alike, and it’s easy to see why. Few wall treatments make as definitive a statement as a mural, and thanks to modern technology wallpaper murals are easier than ever to install and maintain. They fit in virtually every room setting and you’ll find thousands of designs on Web sites like www.MuralsYourWay.com. For a few hundred dollars you can choose from an array of themes – travel, sports, nature and more – or have your own custom mural created from a favorite photograph.

* Wall color will always be important. Fortunately, some trends also show signs of design longevity, like using interesting neutrals on walls to create a pleasing, complementary background for your decor. Designers agree that gray is the new beige, and the most interesting color is one that mixes the tones gray and beige to create the ultimate blend of warm and cool for a neutral.

* Across our culture, the recession has Americans doing less with more. An emerging design trend incorporates a few big, bold pieces of wall decor in an otherwise minimalist setting to create maximum impact with a minimum number of pieces.

* Our penchant for all things “green” is showing up in designs that evoke the natural world and bring nature inside our homes. You can achieve this with a simple print of a forest, some artfully framed bamboo shoots or an eco-friendly art piece made from recycled glass bottles and reclaimed wood.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: murals, wall colors, wall fabric treatment, wall murals, wallpaper, wallpaper murals

FiberFloor’s Easy Living Fun Collection comes in an array of unique designs.

Nothing better sums up kids’ personalities than their favorite spaces: their bedrooms or playrooms. And in today’s design-conscious society, there’s no limiting the ways you can create inviting, kid-friendly spaces that reflect your children’s personal tastes while encouraging imaginative play and creativity.

With so many options, many times the real challenge in designing a fun, creative space for your child is setting a budget and sticking to it. If you don’t create a reasonable budget plan beforehand, decorating projects can spiral into out-of-control money vacuums and turn a fun idea into a big expense.

To accommodate the creative family on a budget, home decor product manufacturers have designed many affordable wares with kids’ rooms in mind. They know families want products that stand up to day-to-day living and deliver top performance at a reasonable price.

Flooring that’s not boring
Working from the ground up, affordable flooring that’s not only easy to clean but also resists stains, scuffs, scratches, rips and indentations is a must for kids’ spaces. So why not skip the carpet and consider something a little more durable, easier to maintain and equally – if not more – stylish?

Fiber-backed resilient flooring takes the boredom out of an ordinary bedroom – and at a great value.

Dubbed a “best buy” by “Consumers Digest,” the Tarkett FiberFloor Easy Living Fun Collection offers fanciful “Funtastic Island” maps to whimsical “Bubble Fun” dots to wall-to-wall camouflage designs. The Fun Collection proivides bright colors like turquoise, pink, orange and blue. It also delivers true hard-wearing practicality that a kid-friendly space demands.

“You want to install a floor that can easily be updated with a child’s changing tastes,” says Lise LeBreton, creative director at Tarkett Residential. “Because FiberFloor is a ‘floating’ floor that requires no adhesives or nails, the floor can be effortlessly removed without being damaged and reinstalled elsewhere. It’s that adaptable and that durable.”

More products, more fun
The magic blend of fun and flexibility also can be found in paint – a key ingredient in any eye-catching kid zone. It all comes down to color, and there’s nothing more versatile or cost-effective than paint to add pizzazz to plain walls – and you can change it as often as your child’s tastes do.

As your child probably already knows, there’s no such thing as “right” or “wrong” colors, so let your child’s tastes be the guide and rely on palettes designed expressly for kids to jump-start creativity.

A great palette from Dutch Boy features 96 favorite Crayola colors tinted in Dutch Boy paint. With so many choices, chances are your child’s favorite color will be among the mix. This collection also features 16 inspiration cards depicting exciting room themes and designs to get you and your child thinking and painting.

Diverse color palettes also can apply to your child’s furniture. You can quickly spruce up a dresser or desk with a few cans of Krylon’s Indoor/Outdoor aerosol spray paint. For example, start by painting the dresser frame and knobs a bright white and the drawer fronts a medium blue. Add some shimmering silver glitter spray to wooden star cutouts and affix them to the drawers for a “falling star dresser” for the little dreamer in your life.

Decorating fun doesn’t have to be limited to bedrooms and playrooms. Extend fun floors and colors into children’s bathrooms as well to create a cohesive children’s suite and give your kids full reign over their space.

Because bathrooms can be wet, slippery places, safety is also important to consider when creating the perfect space for bubble bath fun. This is especially necessary in kid-specific bathrooms (such as Jack and Jill baths). ADA-compliant lever handles that are easier for little hands to grip and high-arc faucets like those in Moen’s versatile portfolio make it simple and safe for kids to wash their hands all by themselves.

Other features to consider adding in a child’s bath are handheld showerheads and grab bars. Handheld showerheads make it easier for parents to better keep soap and water out of children’s eyes during shampoos, while grab bars and hand grips make it easier – and safer – for kids to get in and out of the tub.

Designing a fun, safe and durable kid space on a budget is possible. Choosing the right products can help you create a unique setting your child can enjoy for years to come.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

More on decorating children’s rooms:

• The land of make-believe: Creating playful kids’ rooms on a budget
• Feng Shui for Kids Rooms
• Remodeling Ideas for a Child’s Room

Tags: childrens rooms, Dutch Boy paint, FiberFloor, FiberFloor Easy Living Fun Collection, kid-friendly spaces, kids rooms, paint

“A kitchen is important to homeowners because it is central to all types of social interaction”

Spring – the time of renewal – is a time to freshen up your home. Many Canadian homeowners may be inspired to tackle a renovation project, such as a kitchen upgrade. The focal point of your home, the kitchen is where we have family dinners or drinks with friends, or catch up with our loved ones over a morning coffee. There are simple ways to make your kitchen more comfortable and inviting for all.

“A kitchen is important to homeowners because it is central to all types of social interaction,” says Cheryl West, insulation expert at Owens Corning. “Homeowners want this reflected in the comfort and overall ambiance of this often neglected living space.”

When renovating your kitchen, keep in mind these tips. Stick to basics. Keep minimal appliances. Clear clutter, and think twice before you add another decorative detail. Make sure there is quality living space in your kitchen that you can enjoy with your family and friends. And while you’re at it, don’t forget about upgrading insulation. There is nothing more inviting than a warm, quiet and comfortable kitchen, and that’s what you can achieve by upgrading your insulation.

Owens Corning QuietZone® acoustic batts will help minimize noise and prevent sounds from the dishwasher drifting up to the bedrooms. But that’s not all. With PINK™ FIBERGLAS® insulation products, made from over 70* per cent recycled content, you will help turn waste into useable products and protect the environment.

And it only gets better. Government grants and incentives available to homeowners for energy-efficient renovations can help you save even more. Federal and provincial governments as well as some energy utilities offer funding for energy-efficient renovations.

With all these reasons to update your kitchen, stop waiting and start renovating. More information on grants and incentives can be found online at www.showmethegreen.ca.

More information about how to insulate is available at www.owenscorning.ca.

www.newscanada.com

* Over 70%* recycled content, based on the average recycled glass content in all Owens Corning fiberglass batts, rolls and unbonded loosefill insulation manufactured in Canada. The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning ©2010 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved.

Tags: kitchen renovation, Owens Corning QuietZone®, PINK™ FIBERGLAS® insulation products

Colors in the Seeker palette include: Antique Rosewood, Medieval Cloverleaf, Olde Stone, Soul-Quenching, Alabaster Frame, Kimono Red, Crossing Midnight and Cathedral Gray.

Indicators are implying that the U.S. economy is finally showing some signs of improvement. The markets are rising, and overall consumer confidence goes up every day. To the relief of people across the country, one area that is at last seeing some light at the end of the tunnel is the housing market.

As the economy stabilizes, homeowners are expected to begin investing more money into their homes, particularly the aesthetics of their homes. But the recession did have a profound impact on the manner in which people approach design and decor.

In economically prosperous times, design and color trends tend to be heavily influenced by tangible, worldly items that are created or manufactured by people and businesses. These items represent the more affluent lifestyles we enjoy during those times.

Correspondingly, during more difficult time periods, design influence returns to holistic, spiritual and simplistic elements that represent the richness of life that abounds in nature, relationships and spirituality.

This year’s color trends are rooted in that richness, says Dutch Boy Color Marketing and Design Manager Donna Schroeder.

“Colors that provide hope and affirmation that the greater economic market will continue to improve are at the forefront of decor for 2010,” Schroeder says. “People are much more introspective about color this year and will be painting in a way that not only is aesthetically pleasing, but also ‘saturates the senses’ and is reflective of a society eager to reconnect with education, nature, spirituality and world culture.”

According to Schroeder, Dutch Boy’s 2010 design trends have been categorized into four different “personalities.” These “personality” palettes are composed of colors that embody a homeowner’s personal style and taste. Each of the trend personalities, along with images of the paint colors, can be found at www.DutchBoy.com.

Purist
This trend reflects the elements of nature: colors of branches, grasses and dark earth underneath the feet. It’s a soothing relief. A retreat from the hectic. It’s terra firma … brought indoors. Purists are concerned about their impact on the world and care deeply about finding balance. Purist colors are natural shades of herbal teas, the stones in the river as the water rushes over them, and the yellow-green of buds as they push up through the springtime earth.

Colors in the Purist palette include: Urban Nature, Naturalist Stone, Lemon Balm, Gingered Root, Catalyst Steel, Natural Canvas, Repurposed and Budding Fern.

Colors in the Purist palette include: Urban Nature, Naturalist Stone, Lemon Balm, Gingered Root, Catalyst Steel, Natural Canvas, Repurposed and Budding Fern.

Seeker
Seeker goes beyond the ordinary to showcase shades brought forth by history and architecture. Rich, complex hues give this color personality rooms that have a carefully curated, beautifully symbolic touch. What matters to a Seeker is creating meaning, spirituality and beauty in life. Colorful objects made of precise, hexagonal tiles to stylized, architectural furniture are quintessential to the Seeker.

Colors in the Seeker palette include: Antique Rosewood, Medieval Cloverleaf, Olde Stone, Soul-Quenching, Alabaster Frame, Kimono Red, Crossing Midnight and Cathedral Gray.

Muse
Muse is a palette that’s all about feeling and experiencing. These are colors that swaddle and soothe the soul. It’s a color style that reflects the need for sanctuary. Attention to design detail and just the right sensory colors bring Muse to life. This palette is infused with, and inspires, rich details, fine fabrics and soft twilight shades of blush pinks, rosy peach and lilac.

Colors in the Muse palette include: Quiet Drizzle, Aroma Garden, Melodious Peach, Silken Raspberry, Blossomed Lilac, Composed Bloom, Nightingale’s Song and Meadow Pear.

Storyteller
The Storyteller collection shows off color that reflects a life well-lived through traveling and varied interests. Furniture and colors from afar add a vibrant touch to the home and bring life to tales from foreign lands. Everything a Storyteller sees in her travels inspires her home design and color choices. The Storyteller is an experiential explorer.

Colors in the Storyteller palette include: Grecian Sea, Edge of Time, Narrative Cream, Clementine Tart, Journey’s End, Treaded Grapes, Wide Open Sky and Spanish Door.

Though these four trend personalities will certainly be prolific this year, many people will combine the four palettes and blend them all into distinctive personalities. Recognizing this, Dutch Boy has collected a “Blend” palette. What colors are in this palette? All of them.

Blend is exciting, eclectic and adventurous. Blend is, appropriately, a blending combination of two or more of the previous four trends. A person with a Blend personality has a home that is a reflection of the owner’s many moods and styles. An airy, light-filled room might be held to earth by chunky furniture or given flight with watercolor prints. Blend personalities could have a Muse kitchen, Storyteller family room, and a combined Purist and Seeker dining room. Coexistence is at the heart of the Blend personality.

For more information about these color trends and how to choose the perfect paint color, visit www.dutchboy.com, or call (800) 828-5669.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: 2010 color trends, choose the perfect paint color, color trends, Dutch Boy, paint, paint color ideas, paint colors, painting, painting a room, room painting

Beer bottle countertops now in vogue?

Eco-friendly kitchen

(NC)—Making a home more “green” or environmentally-friendly has taken on a whole new meaning over the last few years. It’s evolved from changing a few light bulbs and thermostats to choosing energy-efficient appliances, recycled material floors, carpets and even furniture.

In fact, there are even home and garden TV episodes dedicated to eco-conscious homeowners who strive to create entire recycled home decors using only renewable materials as alternatives to traditional interior design options.

This growing recycled décor craze has led manufacturers to develop some of the most unique and high performing environmentally-friendly home décor alternatives available today.

One such product that’s already made a huge impact with eco-conscious home owners and designers alike is Elements by Durcon, an extremely durable, silky smooth countertop surface made with, among other things, recycled beer bottles.

“Designers and architects agree that the product’s unique qualities and highly durable characteristics set it apart from the first generation eco-friendly surfaces currently available,” said Mark Hanna, President of Leeza Distribution Inc., one of North America’s leading distributors of premium countertops such as Elements by Durcon.

Eco-friendly kitchen

Molded from a blend of fine quartz, epoxy resin, and recycled glass (clear beer bottles), the material is solid, non-porous, never requires sealing, and is homogenous in consistency. Its unique manufacturing process produces an incredibly silky smooth and durable countertop surface.

It’s this distinct “hot silk” finish that makes these countertops so unique according to Hanna. “You just can’t help to touch and feel these countertops, they’re remarkably smooth.”

Designers are also impressed with Elements’ versatility. “Who knew beer bottle countertops could be so stylish and sleek,” said Nancy Soccio, designer of Dolce Design in Montreal. “They come in the latest pure solid colours or you can have them with trendy metallic flecks. They work beautifully in home designs from rustic to contemporary, with intriguing applications in virtually every room of the house.”

Unlike other eco-friendly countertop options, Soccio said Elements is an incredibly safe and durable countertop surface ideal for kitchens as it is certified by NSF, is a very low VOC emitting material and boasts the highest heat resistance rating of any countertop surface available. More information on eco-friendly countertops is available at leezadistribution.com and elementsbydurcon.com.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: eco-conscious home owners, Elements, Elements by Durcon, environmentally-friendly, recycled beer bottles, recycled décor, recycled décors, recycled glass

Instead of making major renovations, transform your home by simply rejuvenating and modernizing. Hilary Farr, designer and host of W Network’s Love It or List It, offers six simple tips for upgrading your living space without breaking the budget.

Update Your Furniture

Give a favourite old couch a new look. Add some throw pillows in all sorts of colours and textures. Why not give your old chairs a new look too? Reupholster them in a rich-looking new fabric.

Declutter and Organize

You’d be amazed by how great a space can look once it’s cleared of knick-knacks, paperwork and random items. Why not plan a thorough spring-cleaning and, while you’re at it, be ruthless and toss or give away what’s no longer needed. Organize what’s left by investing in storage such as decorative baskets and boxes. This will help you show off those special pieces such as coffee tables, bookshelves and cabinets. Then rearrange books, picture frames and vases where they can now be seen and enjoyed.

Paint

Fresh paint on the walls can instantly open up and appear to enlarge a room while also creating a dramatic or even subtle change in décor. Be adventurous, but choose colours that will enhance your furniture and floors or carpets. For that finishing touch, paint your old furniture and picture frames a bold new colour that complements the room.

Rejuvenate Baseboards and Walls

Baseboards frame the entire space of your home, so keep them looking fresh and bright by vacuuming and cleaning. Keep walls looking their best with Vim Cream, which is specially formulated to remove scuff marks, dirt and stains.

Special Treatment for Windows

Plastic blinds and paper shades can do the job but won’t make the most of your windows or décor. Use options which will not only do the job but also look gorgeous. Choose roman blinds in a beautiful fabric, wooden plantation shutters or luxurious looking curtains. Any of these affordable options gives long-term value—whether you plan to stay or sell.

Restore Floors

If your home is older, try lifting a small piece of carpeting. You might find gorgeous hardwood floors beneath. It will be worth the work to remove any carpet adhesives to be ready to finally sand and finish. Rejuvenate and add a shine to existing hardwood, laminate or linoleum flooring by using Vim Oxy-Gel all-purpose cleaner, which leaves a fresh scent.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: decorating tips, home decorating tips, home makeover, Love It or List It