French Country - A Classic Warm and Sunny Style

French country has got to be the grandmother of all of today's Cottage style variations. Its sunny disposition, filled with rich colors and fun motifs speaks of hearty, robust people who love the land and delight in its bounty.

This style has the most potential to transport a room to another time and place. It's casual, true, but it's also sophisticated. While the look is especially fabulous for kitchens, French Country can put continental charm into any room of the house.

French Country colors feature bold, rich shades of red, blue, yellow, and green, often accented with black. Yellow sometimes serves as the pivotal color, paired alternately with blue or red.

These colors look terrific on French Country walls, which typically have a stucco finish. Interior walls can achieve a stucco look with the application of some plaster. There are also many faux wall treatments that will resemble the appearance of stucco. A faux finish would be a wise choice for those who'd like a less permanent wall treatment than stucco. It can change the appearance of texture without the fuss. This is a great option if you don't want to change the texture of your wall, and desire a less permanent option. Craft, hardware and home improvement stores all carry faux wall treatment kits, books and other supplies.

Bricks are another wall texture found in this decor. While real brick walls can be expensive to add, faux painting styles again can come to the rescue. Brick wallpaper would be another option. Wallpaper in toile patterns also fits the decorating style.

Toile, along with chintz and calico, is the distinctive fabric for French Country decorating. Toile fabrics are prints that typically have a white or cream background and a repeated pattern of countryside scenes, usually in red, blue or black. Toile has a distinctly old-fashioned look.

The fabric that American most likely would call calico is known as Provincial fabric on the continent. They have small repeated patterns, unlike toile fabrics whose patterns are bigger. Provincials, or calicos, also have intense colors. These materials are carried in fabric stores and sewing centers.

French Country style is some popular, in fact, that there are varieties of pre-made textiles in everything from table linens to bedding and draperies. These patterned materials often are accented with accessories done up in stripes or checks. Such mixtures are a hallmark of Cottage Style.

Like many Cottage styles, the furniture typically is wood, either dark or natural, but also painted. The furniture sits on natural flooring of wood, stone or tile, sometimes decorated with stencils of flowers, vines or even roosters. These floors are covered with braided area rugs or kitchen rugs with farm animals or fruit on them.

French pottery, terracotta pots, copper pots, kettles and gelatin molds are all ideal accessories for this style. There are even china plates printed in toile style that make excellent wall hangings. Add a weather vane to the roof, and neighbors might think they've been transported to the countryside of Provence, thanks to your French Country decor.

Sarah is an expert contributing author happy sharing her ideas about French Country interior design. She just adores using seagrass rugs and sisal rugs on floors to bring a dash of panache to the room.

5 Quick Home Makeover Tips You Can Do Now!

You don't have to sink a lot of time or money into updating the decor of your home. Particularly when it's the mood and ambiance you're looking for. Use the following quick makeover tips to express changes in your style whenever you feel the need.

1. Make Use of Rugs - These can be large, medium, round or square rugs depending on your style. Area rugs can change the feel in a room and also protect your flooring. Area rugs work well on hardwood floors to define spaces. They're perfect for dining rooms, living rooms, family rooms and foyers, and create an instant personality within each space.

2. Incorporate Mirrors - Mirrors in entrances and hallways instantly add depth to your home. Use mirrors across from windows and doorways. Save space by hanging full-length mirrors on doors and walls. Turn cocktail tables and chests into mirrored surfaces to create some sparkle and reflect the ceiling above.

3. Introduce New Fixtures into Your Home - This is one of the simplest changes you can make to define your home. Use the color scheme in each room as a guide. Polished silver or bronze fixtures work well with dark colors. Change cabinet handles and faucet fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens. High pouring faucets allow you more room in the sink especially when cleaning large pots and pans.

4. Add Molding and Paint - Adding molding, wainscoting and beefy trims create instant detail and architecture to an otherwise bland space. You can save on the cost by enlisting the help of knowledgeable friends or a handyman. Use chair rails to divide walls in your dining room or down the hallway. Crown molding also adds height to ceilings. Then grab some of your favorite paint colors and get creative.

5. Change the Flooring - While this makeover tip is quick, it can also be costly. Many flooring companies can change a carpeted floor to a hardwood surface in as little as six hours. To prep the area its as simple as moving out your furniture,. Get a free estimate for supply and installation of your favorite flooring from several companies before going ahead with the project.

It is the little things that mean a lot. And when it comes to your home - that adds up to a big change in how you feel and function in your environment. Use these simple quick tips to rejuvenate your spirit and redefine any space in your home to best suit your family's personality. Quick changes can be made at any time and most can be redone again and again as the mood strikes.

Lori Gilder, is an Award winning Interior Designer specializing in high-end residential renovations and additions. Lori is the CEO and Founder of Interior Makeovers Inc. and LoriGilder.com. She is dedicated to providing accessible design expertise and guidance, tailored to fit each individual homeowners lifestyle. Sign Up Now to receive your FREE copy of "How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes" http://www.lorigilder.com

Global Dining Rooms, Part 1

Dining room decor should lift the spirits to complement the food you are serving. Global styling is ideal for creating an exciting sense of theater that livens up the experience of eating at home.

Hospitable and comfortable, the global style combines informality with strong handling of the decorating basics - confident color, characterful texture, and lively pattern. The look is simple and natural yet exuberant, with the emphasis on straightforward materials and unfussy detail. Rugged, natural surfaces and finishes marry with cheerful handmade accessories to create dining rooms which are practical as well as enjoyable. The informal approach goes well with today's casual lifestyles and the latest trends in decorating.

Global styling is also economical and easy to assemble. You needn't travel far to find most of the ingredients for the look - homespun furnishings, handprinted textiles, handcrafted baskets, bowls, and tableware are as accessible as they are affordable. It's always worth keeping your eyes open for ethnic craft items with bold profiles or striking designs, such as pottery jugs or metal candelabra, that look good on the dining table.

Unless you want to achieve a particular regional look - a minimalist oriental scene or a sumptuous Indian setting, for example - you can mix and match artifacts from different countries of the world and combine colors, patterns, and textures with abandon. In this relaxed styling, there's no need to agonize over what goes with what, since most elements blend well together whatever their country of origin. If you like to travel, global style provides the perfect excuse to display your treasured souvenirs.

Creating the Look

Walls: The look is fundamentally bold, rather than pristine, warm rather than cool. Rich earthy tones, from ocher to brick red, epitomize the look. If you prefer a more reticent background, chalky white makes a good foil for dark wood and lively patterns.

For once, less than perfect wall surfaces actually suit the look. Paint loosely washed over rough plasterwork provides a wonderful textural dimension while layers of glazes or washes add luminous depth to the finish. You can accent the main divisions of the wall, at the top, bottom, or wainscoting level, with a handpainted trim.

Floors: Dining room flooring should be easy to maintain. With its bias toward natural materials, the global style is best expressed in plain sanded or stained floorboards, natural stone or brick flooring, plain terra-cotta quarry tiles or natural fiber coverings such as seagrass, coir, or sisal.

As an extra layer of comfort, you can partner basic no-nonsense flooring with bright scatter rugs or runners.

Indian dhurries, kelims, and Mexican scrapes come in a wide range of colors, patterns, and price ranges. Natural fiber floor coverings can be made up in room-sized mats or runners, loosely laid over a non-slip backing.

Windows: Window treatments are best kept simple and uncluttered. Slatted wooden louver shutters, natural split-cane blinds, or wooden Venetian blinds filter the light interestingly. If you prefer fabric at the window, choose a homespun or handprinted textile, such as batik or tie-dyed designs. You can catch up a length of ethnic fabric, including saris, in front of the window with clips or drape it over a wooden, bamboo, or metal rail for an instant, no-sew window treatment.

Lighting: For atmospheric dining, combine a chandelier over the table with soft wall lights, table lamps, or discreet torcheres. Plain modern fittings are best, while lamp bases in polished metal or glazed ceramics fit in well. Metal candleholders with tiered branches look right on the table.

Home Decorating Tip: Find some pictures and in depth home decorating ideas which will help you make your home so beautiful it's the envy of all your friends and family! Visit HouseDesignIdeas.com right now to find photos, home decor, decorating ideas, and much much more. ©2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard.

Secrets of Using Decorative Objects When Staging Or Decorating a Home

Decorative objects are the finishing touches that you put on a room. Think of them as the jewelry after you've dressed the room with furniture and rugs. They can add WOW factor to a room.

They include the following:

- Candles
- Candleholders and candlesticks
- Small boxes made of wood or other materials
- Vases
- Balls made of porcelain, twigs, moss and other materials
- Bowls
- Plates on a stand
- Small sculptures
- Seashells
- Pieces of coral

The above is by no means an exhaustive list but are just some examples.

When using decorative objects, it's important that they are not placed randomly and haphazardly. There are certain guidelines you should follow.

DO group them:

- in odd numbers such as 3s and 5s
- in varying heights
- in like types and colors

DON'T:

- Place objects in a straight line
- Place objects in the corner of the table
- Place objects so that they block the view of a seated guest
- Crowd the surface with too many objects

My favorite places to shop for great-looking but inexpensive decorative accessories (which includes objects) are:

- Target for lamps, bedding, bathroom items and throw pillows
- Pier One for throw pillows, candles, placemats, napkins and stemware
- Home Goods for decorative objects, lamps, bedding, throw pillows, bathroom items, kitchen items, glassware and artwork
- West Elm and CB2 for urban modern decorative objects and accessories
- Christmas Tree Shops (no, they just don't sell Christmas items) for beach house accessories in summer
- Bed Bath and Beyond for its great selection of bathroom accessories

What are your favorite decorative objects?

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Copyright © 2009 Designed to Appeal, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Donna Dazzo is a home stager and interior redesigner serving New York City and the Hamptons. She founded Designed to Appeal ( http://designedtoappeal.com ) in 2007 after a successful career in the financial services industry. Her experience in project management and marketing, combined with her lifelong passion for interior decorating and design, makes her a unique professional to help both realtors and home sellers sell homes faster and for top dollar.

Eco Friendly Interiors For Your Home in 6 Easy Steps

Much has been written about eco-homes and making your home environmentally friendly, but mostly from the architectural perspective. Unfortunately little has been said about the relationship between interior design and sustainability.

According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, green or sustainable development is 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.

In some respects interior design is an emblem of consumer culture and at its worst is a contributor to the throw-away society found in many developed societies in the late 20th century. But 2008 was the year that people generally started to consider the impact of their carbon footprint on the environment.

So how can we as consumers of interior design square the circle?

1) Think of the whole life-cycle

When you purchase furniture, soft furnishings, flooring and so on for your home think carefully about:

Where it comes from (wood from sustainable forests or plastic from fossil fuels?).
Where it will go when you are finished with it (can it be refurbished & re-used or recycled rather than dumped in land-fill)
Can you have existing furniture recovered in new stylish fabric instead of buying new?
Can you purchase decorative items explicitly made from recycled glass or metal?
Furnish your home with antique furniture (the stylish name for re-using/recycling).


2) Think of pollution

Over the last 50 years paint has change considerably in its concoction, with the elimination of poisonous lead and recent reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When you choose paint pick those which are water based with natural pigments as these virtually eliminate potentially harmful solvents from the manufacturing process and from the internal atmosphere in your home.

3) What about energy?

The energy consumption of a building is often 'frozen' in by the architect and the builder, but a few things at the interior design level can help minimise energy waste and the consequent utility bills.

Use low energy lamps and lighting; this can save up to 80% of power Reduce the temperature in the home by a couple of degrees.
Use interlined curtains to reduce heat loss from draughty older single glazed windows.
Opt for carpeting and high quality underlay to reduce heat loss from floors using draughty floor boards in older properties.

4) Can colour help?

If you design room schemes based upon light colours and use reflective surfaces then the room will generally need less artificial lighting. Similarly if you design window dressings to make the most of available sunshine particularly in winter in temperate climates.

5) Use natural materials

If you use rugs and carpets made from wool you are clearly using a sustainable product and you avoid the outgassing of vapours from synthetic fibres into the air in the home. Another chemical worth avoiding is formaldehyde, used in many man made materials such as medium density fibre board (MDF).

The key materials to concentrate on using are wood, plant fibres, (wool, cotton, jute, seagrass straw, rattan, paper, sisal, and coir (derived from coconuts) and linen), metal, glass and stone. If possible avoid plastics and cement both of which require high energy inputs in production and transportation. Also where possible opt for organic cotton. Fortunately natural fibres are widely employed in curtain and furnishing fabric and in floors and rugs.

6) Consider the source

From where did the raw materials originate? If you can buy items for your home made locally then you will reduce the environmental impact of transportation. For example in the UK consider using local slate or granite rather than imported marble or travertine.

For timber a good tip is to check that the wood and its sources are accredited by the the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).

Also steer clear of anything that could threaten the environment or endangered animals (e.g. items made of coral, tortoiseshell, ivory)

Finally

These are just some of the pointers to consider when remodelling or renewing the interiors of your home. Though the impact on the environment of domestic interiors may be dwarfed by other factors (such as carbon dioxide emissions by motorists and electric power generation) it is still important to move towards a much more sustainable future.

Bronia Suszczenia is co-founder and Creative Director of Art from the Start Ltd a firm of interior designers in Yorkshire England. She has also recently established Fabric Gallery and Interiors a retailer of quality wallpaper and curtain fabrics in York England.

Oriental Area Rugs - An Introduction to Quality and Manufacturing History

An easy way to alter the look and feel of your home or office is to purchase oriental area rugs. These classic floor coverings come in many intricate patterns and a wide range of colors. These handmade beauties have been adding style and class to rooms for centuries. Many of these types of floor coverings are constructed from natural materials. Silk, seagrass, wool, jute and sisal are all popular material choices. Using handmade coverings containing these materials will give you a quality rug that will last for years. Mass-market rugs made by machines tend to be made from synthetic materials and often are not as durable and will show wear quicker than those containing natural materials.

These rugs have historically been associated with only a handful of companies and a few countries of origin. When people find oriental area rugs being offered by a machine made company, they often think that these shags are not authentic. While this is usually false, the confusion remains. Most people think of Persian rugs when they want matting of high quality. Persia is now the country of Iran, but the term "Persian rugs" is still commonly used. This region has earned its reputation for making quality rugs while still creating unique and distinctive rugs. Often Persian rugs are named after the region in which they were crafted such as Sarouk, Kerman, Tabriz and many others.

The rug industry in India is quite large. Employing more workers in rural India than any other industry, they produce more rugs than any other country. They are skilled at duplicating designs so it is possible to purchase a finely crafted Indian rug that appears to have been made in a different region. The dhurrie rug is a traditional rug made there, so it is possible to purchase a rug that is distinctively Indian.

If you are interested to find out more about Oriental Area Rugs, feel free to look at the information available on http://www.orientalarearugs.org.

Western Decor - A Feeling of the Wild West Wherever You Live

Western decor is the perfect choice for anyone who loves the outdoors, riding horses, and gazing at a beautiful sunset on the horizon. Even if you don't live on a ranch, you can still enjoy the feeling of wide open spaces and fresh air by decorating your home is this inviting style.

Many of us enjoy the old movies with stories revolving around cowboys and their horses. The feeling is nostalgic, and brings to mind a time when life was enjoyable and more relaxed. Men worked on the farm or ranch, baling hay, fixing fences and feeding the cows and horses, while women worked in the garden or enjoyed cooking a big meal.

These days, life is much more hectic. Accessorizing your home in western decor can help bring back that feeling of long, lazy days when life was full of simple pleasures. When you return from a hard days work, you can feel the stress flow from your body when you return home to a look that is comfortable, relaxed and inviting.

Leather and wood furniture are the perfect background when you choose western decor to accent your home. Using wall mirrors, horse figurines, clocks and candle holders in this theme will add rustic color and charm. Imagine a figurine of a cowboy sitting around the campfire - doesn't that bring back the good old days?

Add a few throws and rugs that are boldly colored in stripe or southwest patterns, and your room is complete. If you have ceilings with exposed wooden beams, this adds even more to the look. Whether you are a cowboy or an accountant, this look will make your home the place where you long to relax and spend time with your family at the end of the day.

Are you ready to decorate your home in a unique style that will take you back in time, when things were much simpler? A house is just a house, but you can make yours a home you will love by adding a touch of western decor.

Bring an enjoyable atmosphere of days gone by to your home with western decor!

Tess Tackett
All About Home Decor - Home Decor that is beautiful AND affordable