Thursday, June 30, 2011

Design On A Dime Ideas

Okay....Did you take the quiz, "Define Your Style?" How can I give you "design on a dime ideas if you don't know your style?"  Whether you live in a house or apartment, you have a lot of money or on a tight budget, I have some ideas that will help you design on a dime. Let's give your blah....blah bathroom a facelift.

If your style is modern, your bathroom should have few colors (usually neutral/soft colors), sleek rectangular shapes; can feel cold and harsh; usually smooth textures like glass, metal, and leather; and wide open spaces.  To get an instant facelift that will wow everyone, is a fresh coat of paint. If your bathroom is very small, you want to turn it into a beautiful calming space with elements that enhance and make the bathroom seem larger, such as glass shower enclosures and a statement mirror.  The glass shower enclosures give the illusion of space by allowing you to see from one end of the room to the other. Wherein, if you have an outdated medicine cabinet, an elegant mirror can be a showstopping feature for any bathroom. Check out Celebrating Home mirrors to take that room from ordinary to extraordinary.

Another wall accessory is personalized artwork. A simple picture in a plain frame from the Dollar Store (spray paint your accent color), adds the perfect bit of color to the otherwise plain wall. This tip on decorating your home is certainly a money-saver.


Quality Bath will provide the right lighting that will make all the difference in the bathroom.  You'll see yourself at your best with the right combination of light sources in the right location. If lighting is a problem, add another fixture or two; the best light for grooming is achieved via light from above the mirror as well as from both sides. Replace heavy window treatments with sheers that ensure privacy but admit light.

A new shower curtain is another fast way to freshen a blah bath. And a colorful curtain can be perfect for the modern bathroom. Change your shower curtain tomorrow and the bath has a new personality. For your next refresh step, consider purchasing matching towels from Lakeside Collections online catalog. Matching towels are a great way to repurpose drapery tiebacks as a decorative element.  To make the towels look expensive, triple fold them lengthwise and they will appear thicker as well.  In addition, layer the drapery tiebacks with ribbon around the towel to create a regal sophisticated look.

If you need additional storage space,  a narrow bookcase is ideal for organizing bathroom necessities. Add a basket to keep bottles upright or a round bucket to hold magazines or toys. I really don't see anything wrong with a small bathroom. If you follow these "tips on decorating your home", your bathroom will not seem as small.  You just have to accept what you have and make the best of it. 
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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Bracies Tips On Decorating

The Bracies blog is designed to provide tips on decorating, career opportunities, recruiting, booking shows, networking, and many more topics. Each posting will be fun, interesting, motivational, as well as educational. Our first blog is on decorating. Before you can decorate, you must know your style. Below is a questionaire to determine your decorating personality.


Define Your Decorating Style

What's your true decorating personality?

The best decorating is a reflection of your own unique style.
These fun questions are designed to help you uncover your own decorating style.
There ae no right or wrong answers – only what you personally prefer!
Just circle A, B, C, or D to answer each of these questions:

  1. After a hard day, you would love to come home to:
          A. Elegant lamps, venerable Queen Anne funiture,
               and mellow old Oriental rugs.
          B. Soft, comfortable seating and a fire in the fireplace,
               and lots of family pictures and personal mementos.
          C. Chenille throws on the furniture, greenery
               and flowers filling every corner, and your favorite books
               and magazines within reach.
          D. Large areas of glass, a few pieces of classic furniture,
               and a collection of contemporary art and sculpture.

  1. The colors you find relaxing are:
          A. Hunter green, cranberry red, ivory
          B. Colonial blue, barn red, pale yellow
          C. Lavender, white, pink
          D. Off white, black, sienna brown

  1. If you were to reupholster your sofa, you would use:
         A. Plush, smooth silk
         B. Soft-to-the-touch brushed cotton
         C. Floral mini-prints
         D. Woven natural fibers, ethnic textiles

  1. You would most likely bring home from an auction:
          A. Antique wodden bookcase
          B. Ceramic pottery
          C. White wicker peacock chair
          D. Chinese screen

    5.  Wood finishes you would prefer to have in your home:
          
          A. Cherry wood
          B. Distressed or painted finishes
          C. Mohogany
          D. Clear-coated, natural finishes

  1. You love window treatments with:
          A. Velvet draperies wth deep swags
          B. Painted shutters
          C. Sheer panels to catch the breeze
          D. Roman shades

  1. A prized accessory in your dining room would be:
          A. Mahogany sideboard
          B. Pine hutch
          C. Silver candelabra
          D. Marble-topped table with sculpted base

  1. Your dream master bedroom would have:
          A. Traditional four-poster bed
          B. Recycled doors/old gate for headboard
          C. Upholstered headboard
          D. Sleek, metal headboard

  1. Your bedroom is not complete without:
          A. English writing desk
          B. Quilt rack
          C. Antique basket for your knitting
          D. Computer

  1. The most flattering compliment you could receive about your home would be that it is:
          A. Classic
          B. Charming
          C. Pretty
          D. Chic


Add up the numbers to determine your favorite style. The highest number is your style.

A's ___________   B's ___________   C's ______________   and D's ___________________
         (Formal)               (Casual)              (Contemporary)                (Traditional)