Design Tip- 08

The 8' Rule:

Contrary to what you may have heard, white can actually make ceilings appear lower in rooms with low ceilings, and make them seem even more distant in rooms with high, lofty ceilings.Based on this, there are some good general rules to follow when selecting paint colors for your ceiling area:

If your room has ceilings that are 8' high or under, paint the ceiling a shade or two lighter than the color of your walls.

If your ceilings are higher than 8', paint them a shade or two darker than your wall color. Following this advice will help give an illusion of space to a low-ceilinged room, or add a feeling of coziness to rooms with higher ceilings.Leaving the ceiling white, while painting the walls with color, can occasionally make a room seem unfinished. Adding just a touch of color to a ceiling can bring a certain intimacy, as well as give the space a much more finished and refined look.

Design Tip- 07

Ceiling Fans and Energy Efficiency

Ceiling fans don't actually lower the temperature of a room like an air conditioner. But by spinning the air, they do make the room feel cooler.

Best of all, ceiling fans use only about as much energy as a 100-watt light bulb. Studies show that by setting ceiling fans to spin in a counter-clockwise pattern, you can save as much as 40% off summer cooling bills -- without sweltering. Simply set the thermostat a few degrees higher and flip on the fan.

In the winter, ceiling fans move warm air back to the center of the room, pushing it down from the ceiling.

It can be 10-15 degrees hotter with tall ceilings than on the floor.

Studies also reveal that ceiling fans can help homeowners save as much as 10% on their heating bills. Switch the direction of the blades to spin clockwise and turn on the fan.

Design Tip- 06

Try a New Hue
Ready to take the plunge and saturate a room in an exciting new hue? Before committing to expensive upholstery or fixtures, try living with it in small doses first. Decorative pillows and throws can provide good clues in the living room while a new tablecloth can serve the same purpose in a dining room or an eat-in-kitchen. In a bedroom, the same can be accomplished with a new set of sheets. The bottom line: Start slowly and work up to the level of color that you're comfortable with.

Design Tip- 05

Cooling Off
Just as warm colors can raise the temperature of a room, cool hues can drop it by a few degrees. Think of solarium, surrounded with windows, that's almost too warm to appreciate. Or maybe a second floor office or attic-bedroom where the heat consistently rises. In these cases and others like it, cool colors can come to the rescue, especially those on the lighter side. In the blue family, consider the color of the sky. Or look toward the colors of the Caribbean-in their palest from at the water's edge and gradually getting darker as you move farther out. To take another cue from Mother Nature, consider assorted greens, as well. Leafy greens have springtime-fresh appeal, while celery shades are more subtle. In all cases, through, couple the cool colors with at least a touch of icy white; it not only will give you a crisp finish but will also provide more chill to the space.

Design Tip-04

Turn up the temperature
Do you have a north-facing room that seems to have a chill even during summer? Or one with minimal windows, restricting the amount of sunlight that it gets? Without touching the thermometer, you can raise the temperature of a room with color. Just look at the warm side of the color palette and use it to your advantage. Consider yellow, for instance. In its most vibrant form, it can add visual warmth to even the coolest space. To take the concept a step further, consider red. Not only does this hue have the ability to add heat but it provides plenty of drama, too. Likewise, the orange hue that you associate with the fruit is only one of the tints and shades you can use in a room. In pale cantaloupe colors and cinnamon shades, it adds an element of excitement. And in the form of peach or apricot, this color is perfectly suited for a living area. The latter two hues, "cosmetic colors" naturally complement skin tones, adding a warm glow to everyone in the room.

Design Tip- 03

Strokes of Genius
TOO OFTEN, A ROOM'S PAINT COLOR IS CHOSEN from a 1-in. –wide paint chip and the results are disappointing. There is a solution, though. Once you've narrowed your choices to two or three, buy a small amount of color. Then, go to your local do-it-yourself center and purchase pieces of foam core approximately 2 ft. square for each one. Paint each piece of foam core one of the colors, then prop them all against one wall of the room and study them at different times of the day. Move the pieces from wall to wall, as light can affect each one differently.

Design Tip- 02

Tablescaping
The first rule of any successful tablescape (an arrangement on top of any flat surface) is that the number of items doesn’t overwhelm the available space. A large collection of family photos works fine atop a grand piano but will likely crowd an end table.
Once you have determined the amount have space available, pare down items to an odd number. This will make the arrangement less static, encouraging eye to move from one place to another. Then play with the arrangement itself. No matter what kind of accessories you are working with, an informal approach works the best. Start by placing tallest item in the back. Then work your way forward gradually, ending with the smallest piece in the front of the area you are working with. For a well balanced look, make sure that heights go up and down from side to side and from front to back. If too many objects are of the same height use some antique books to life them up.
Finally don’t cluster things too closely; little breathing room will let you appreciate the accessories better.
Once you have created the perfect tablescape make sure to take a picture of your tablescape and keep it handy. When cleaning day rolls around you or whoever is doing the cleaning can achieve the same perfect design!

Design Tip - 01

Painting wood floors

May be you have less-than-perfect hardwood floor. Or you just want to express your creativity. Painted floors can be the solution to both situations, invariably giving you handsome results. Design options run anywhere from simple checker board patterns to stenciled images to elaborate Trompe l’Oeil effects. Be sure that you use paint specially formulated for floor use. You can also use latex paint, as long as it’s of a high quality. Just be sure, when finished, to protect your design with a coat of polyurethane.