I was asked if I would guest post this unique article about how to use pallets for home furnishings. Loving an upcycle project as much as anyone, I was happy to do so!
Hand Rail Design- Inside and Outside
The timeliness of this request to share a guest posting on he subject of handrails was very good. S Interior Design is designing a contemporary 8,000 sf home from the ground up and the exterior and interior handrail design is a very important design element to be determined.
Contemporary Handrail Designs
While installing a handrail on a staircase may seem like a minor part of home design, the appearance and functionality of a railing can make a significant difference to the overall mood and style of your home. The following four types of handrails offer contemporary styling and many unique applications.
Wooden Hand Railings
While wood has been used in traditional handrails for years, this traditional material has taken a modern twist with the way it is being used today. Designers coupling natural wood with industrial materials like metal and stainless steel have made wooden railings popular again. Pair your favorite metal with wood for a fresh and contemporary look.
Metal Railings
Metal has become the material of choice for many designers because of its visual and functional appeal. Stainless steel handrails are one of the most alluring material choices for the many benefits they offer. While stainless steel is commonly implemented in public places, many homeowners have turned to this unique metal for its low maintenance and long-lasting durability. Because it is not porous like wood, it can be sanitized and doesn’t hold bacteria as easily. Stainless steel is easy to install and can be customized with paint or designed to create a one-of-a-kind look every time.
Special Materials
Contemporary style is all about being unique and out of the box. To create a truly contemporary staircase, use a unique handrail material for eye-popping color, shape, or function. A designer or do-it-yourselfer should look for special materials that can withstand everyday wear and tear. Some unique materials include LED light tubes, brass, or glass. The possibilities are limitless when you look beyond the expected.
Outdoor Handrails
Contemporary handrails expand past the realm of interior design and are often necessary features to create a beautiful garden or outside area. Using a contemporary handrail design on the exterior of your home can create a lasting impression of your unique style while adding the functionality needed for walking paths, porches, and decks. Stray from the traditional by using metal handrails that go in horizontal patterns. Unlike vertical bars, a horizontal metal baluster can make a home or landscape look larger and more spacious. Play with textures, patterns, and materials to create an eye-catching design that compliments your home’s exterior.
Making your home match your personal style is easier than ever with the many materials and design options available in today’s handrail market. As you look to install a handrail that offers contemporary style, modern functionality, and bright bold appeal, reference these handrail types and materials for a more comprehensive look at today’s railing options.
The Rule of 3- By Fresh Home
Great article about the pleasing use of ‘3′ items, colors, fabrics etc. when decorating and designing.
The rule of three is a guideline that can be bent. Essentially, it was put into place so that people understand that a odd-number of items is more interesting than an even-number of items. So, yes, you can arrange 5 items or 9 items into a grouping and still achieve the same visual interest.
Then again there are people who absolutely love a symmetrical design layout and 2, 4, 6 will work better for their eye.
Budget Is Not A Four Letter Word
We received a guest post entitled “Tricks for Decorating on a Budget”. We suggest that a better title would be “Establishing Your Design Budget”. S Interior Design has prospective clients fill out a Client Profile. One of the questions asked is how much the client is comfortable investing in their project. A list of ranges are shown to chose from. Without knowing the level of investment, we cannot make sound design recommendations. Is it an IKEA level furnishing project or a high end strictly custom project? Something in between?
Before embarking on your design project whether a professional interior designer is involved or not, it is a very good idea to assess what you are ready to spend on the project.
Photo Credit: Homebuyers Centre
As there are two sides to everything, the same goes for decorating. On one hand the prospect of having the home refreshed, bathed in new colors and equipped with several new pieces of furniture is definitely a reason for joy, on the other, the preparations are certainly not.
If you have set yourself with a task of redecorating your home and are not in a situation to spend much money, you should know that it can be accomplished according to your wishes and within budget, all it takes is some research, time and taste.
1. Stay within budget. The first thing that needs to be done is determining the budget. Once we know how much we can spend, it is easy to choose within a specific range of items. Things we will pay more for are those that we do not replace so often, like couches, sofas, dining room tables and larger furniture. These are used the most, so they must be of higher quality. However, you can save even on armchairs, dining room and coffee tables, shelves or night stands if you decide to reupholster them.
If there is nothing you can do with your furniture, before resorting to buying retail, you can visit a garage sale or eBay. You can sometimes get a bargin, especially if you go for second hand items which you can transform on your own. (are you creative and handy?)
2. Accessorizing. Guests should feel the owner’s character the moment they enter the home, which is why special attention should be paid to the entry area or hallway. It is easy to stay within the budget by placing a fruit bowl in the hallway or an interesting key stand. Coat hangers, shoe racks, framed pictures or souvenirs from the travels can tell a life story if they are the right color and placed the right way.
Home accessorizing does not have to be expensive. An affordable way of redecorating is using accessories such as cushions, covers, throw blankets, curtains, glass shelves, vases and picture frames for getting the new look of the house.
What is also gained is a possibility to change the interior seasonally or whenever we feel like it without much effect to the home budget. This is easily done by changing accessories or replacing the smaller decor items with the one of different color, but still according to our mood, season or current trend.
Photo Credit: Flickr
3. Rearrange furniture. When people get bored with the furniture they have, instead of starting with redecorating and spending additional money, redesigning the furniture layout is something to consider.
The sense of novelty can be achieved by making one piece of furniture central and organizing other items around it. Changing placement of the flower pots, decorative baskets or paintings from one room of the house to another will instantly refresh the home and give it a dash of originality.
Whenever there is a wish to change something, we can start by changing the focal point of the room. We can also do this by making some other pieces of the furniture stand out through lighting.
4. Renting appliances. If you need a new appliance and you do not have the money to buy it immediately, you can always rent it. With rent to own stores, you have the option of having an appliance for a weekly or monthly fee. There is also an option of signing a contract which will guarantee owning the appliance after a certain time period, with the amount you paid for renting deducted. On the other hand, if you decide that for some reason you no longer need it, it can always be returned.
The reasons why we redecorate are many, from moving to another home or apartment and having a clean start, to just replacing the old furniture with new. However, there does not have to be a reason for redecorating other than indulging the need for creating our private sanctuaries and expressing our creativity.
Symmetry in Design
I wanted to share a wonderful article published by Fresh Home about why our brains feel innately comfortable with visual symmetry in design plans.
Here is an excerpt from the full article:
“We all know an example of good interior design when we see it. In fact, most of us can make that judgment almost instantly. Have you ever wondered why that ability seems to come to us so instinctually, even though we may not be professional interior designers?
It all has to do with symmetry, or a sense of balance, that has been achieved within a space. Symmetrical design cues effect our subconscious, even when they are too subtle to be consciously acknowledged with our first glance. All of us are drawn to balanced images and tend to think them more aesthetically pleasing than their off-kilter counterparts.
As for why we love symmetrical spaces so much, you’ll have to read on to find out. Plus, you’ll discover how to bring a harmonious feel into your own interiors, regardless of your personal style.
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