Storage stairs via LivingEtc

Storage stairs via LivingEtc, originally uploaded by Lyndar T. Merciless.

Storage stairs via LivingEtc

Using Contrast Color in Decoration

hus & hem, originally uploaded by frillie designs.

Whilst having my daily read of the decor8 blog decor8blog.com/ I came across this fantastic home featured on hus & hem. THIS is my DREAM home! www.husohem.se/Inne/Hem/Fritidshus/Farg--och-monsterexplo...

loft bedroom

loft bedroom, originally uploaded by champagne.chic.

good idea for wall decoration.

I used Ikea self-adhesive mirrors to create a little random wall art in the bedroom area...

-Design by Champagne Chic Interiors

Walk-In Closets Basics For Every Home

Walk-in closet, originally uploaded by JILLs DEsigner.

Walk-In Closets Basics For Every Home
Author: Bruce Lipski

Most new homes now come with walk in closets and the bigger the closet the bigger the "Wow" factor. Women seem to love a big walk in closet while men don't seem to care that much. If your home doesn't have a walk in closet, it might be time to start thinking of getting one.

All the expensive houses now come with master bedroom walk-in closet designs that are creative and big. Some of these closets are as big as a room used to be. If you choose to put a walk in closet in your old home, it may be a bit expensive because you will probably have to tear down a wall or too. There will be a monitary benefit when you sell your house, however, as your new walk-in closet should increase the value of your home.

When you have a master walk-in closet that two people use, it is important to try to have the best his and her closet organization as possible. As long as you can come up with his and her closet ideas that will satisfy both parties, there will be no hard feelings or animosity.

If you have a big walk-in closet then you definitely need good lighting. And if you have one of those really big walk in closets with maybe an island or a chest of drawers or something similar, you need to find some neat closet lighting ideas.

Track lighting is always cool looking and you might be able to put it in your large wak in closet. You can find some good deals on track lighting at Ikea and other places and if you set it up properly, your closet will be stunning.

Florescent lights are most often used in closets because they are cool (not hot). Electrical codes have distance requirements for all light sources (except LEDs that also run very cool). Closets usually have a lot of things in them with low ventilation that could easily catch on fire from an incandescent or halogen bulb. Luckily, we are talking about a large walk in closet so you will be able to use something other than florescent lights or the usual ugly light that all closets seem to come with. Just make sure you don't have any of your clothes near the lighting.


Walk-in closets are also great because they give you so many more closet storage options. If you have a problem with your junk piling up in your room, you can have it pile up in your closet instead which is better for appearances sake.

Depending on the size of your walk in closet, you can have many things in there in addition to all your clothes and shoes. Some walk in closet ideas have full length mirrors in them and even a small bench or island to make them feel like dressing rooms.

About the Author:

Are you looking for more walk in closet lighting ideas? Maybe you are just looking for some great closet design ideas. If so please visit my site Closet Ideas for some great closet design tips.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/walkin-closets-basics-for-every-home-584356.html

Downsizing Without Losing Space

Image by flowers & machinery via Flickr

Downsizing Without Losing Space

Author: Terry Henman

Initially when moving home down sizing can feel like a step backwards. Space- or the impending lack of it- is obviously a common concern. However with careful planning during the design or decoration period, a more compact space can actually improve the quality of our lives through giving us back the most valuable commodity- time. Less space means less cupboards, drawers, shelves, floor space, pots, pans etc. This in turn means less clutter which in turn means less time cleaning. The key word here is efficiency. You must be streamlined if not cut-throat in your decision making! Only take with you what you really need- now is not a time for knick-knacks. A more minimal and open plan design will create the illusion of more space. That is not to say you cannot add colour or interest to a room. A brightly coloured settee or kitchen work surface not only provides visual stimulation, but also helps define areas as separate spaces- thereby further increasing the feeling of space. A change in flooring will also help indicate spatial perimeters (i.e. tiles in the kitchen and carpet in the sitting room).

Physical barriers between areas are allowed but try to squeeze as much use out of them as possible. A particularly effective way to separate the kitchen and living room is with a breakfast bar in place of a wall, you could also incorporate much needed storage underneath. Now you have a room divider, storage and a sociable dining area where you can keep an eye on the chef and your favourite T.V. show at the same time. You have also cut out the need for a wall and for a bulky dining table thereby increasing the active space of your home and decreasing wasted space. The settee can also be used to create a physical barrier between two spaces and prevent the living room from becoming a corridor-like access route to the kitchen. Rather than a conventional three piece suite which can waste an awful lot of space, investing in a modular corner couch system can be a much shrewder move. Instead of fitting the couch into a corner of a room, turn it the opposite way to define the perimeter of your living space. The modular system means that the couch is able to separate into smaller sections thereby allowing you to fit it to the shape of any room which again meaning less space wasted. A room can effectively be cut in half using this method, meaning a study or games area can be created in one half whilst still allowing people to relax in the other.

Try to keep harmony between soft furnishings and fabric covered items for a more cohesive feel to your scheme- a patchwork of patterns or materials will only obstruct the flow of a layout resulting in a disjointed effect, whereas similarly patterned cushions, curtains and rugs will combine to create a soothing ambience. With a little imagination down sizing can be seen as a positive way to organise your home and its contents effectively.

About the Author:
Terrys Fabrics retail in curtains and fabrics.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/downsizing-without-losing-space-784660.html

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How can foreigner purchase land and property in Thailand?

Image via Wikipedia

Have you ever wondered about living in a place that's always warm and the people friendly?

Welcome to Thailand, the land of peace and smiles. Land and Houses is proud to invite you to live in this wonderful country. Because we know there are many foreigners who are finding for a house in Thailand, so we are glad to provide this useful information for you to help you move and successfully live in Thailand.

How can foreigner purchase land and property in Thailand?

Following to Thai legal statements, only Thai person and Thai legal entity are allowed to own a freehold title of land. Therefore, foreigners are not able to have a freehold ownership of land in Thailand. However, there are two options for foreigners to purchase land in Thailand. First, foreigners are able to purchase properties with the name of Thais whom they trust. Every Thais who married to foreigners are legally still Thais and can own properties in Thailand with their names although their last names are changed. Second, this is usually recommended,foreigners can form a Thai registered company limited to own parcels of land and properties. There are many professional law offices in Thailand, which help foreigners meet their requirements easily with reasonable cost.(around 70,000 - 100,000 Baht per case)

How can foreigners receive mortgages or financing packages?

Foreigners are able to apply for any loan packages from banks in Thailand if they have any businesses in Thailand or they have a Thai partner who will sign any loan contracts with them. They can purchase their properties in the name of Thai registered companies or the name of Thais.



Foreigners can lease out their homes to other people.



In Thailand, There are no restrictions for the owners to use their properties as an entirely commercial venture, for example, to rent out their homes.


What are other relevant costs to purchase land and houses?

There are five more items, which have to be paid in addition to the prices of properties.

1.Government charge for the guarantee of water - meter. (428 Baht at present)


2.Government charge for the guarantee of electrical - meter.(2,000 Baht at present)


3.Government charge for Registration fee. (2% of government appraised value of this properties)


4.Extra charges for upgrading the standard matters of the buildings, for example, structures, materials, etc. On the other hand, standard matters will be refunded to clients if the upgrades of these matters are required. (Our clients will be informed usually about standard matters of their purchased houses before they signed the contract.)

5.Charges for public - service fees. (300 Baht per 4 square meters of purchased land for land and houses buyers and 200 Baht per 4 square meters of purchased land for only - land buyers) For example, if a client purchases a house on a parcel of land of 400 square meters, this fee will cost him 30,000 Baht. However, it will cost him 20,000 Baht only if he purchases only a parcel of land of 400 square meters. This fee covers the services of garbage clearness, lights of common area, 24 - hour securities, clearness of common area, clearness of sewage pipes. Each payment will be submitted as a community fund to the management team of the community, which will be chosen formally by the clients. This fund can be used approximately for 2.5 - 3 years. It means that our clients have not to pay any fees until this fund is entirely used. This fee, however, will cost our clients around 1,000 - 1,500 Baht per month per unit thereafter.



All of above is the information in brief that you should know when you desire to buy a house in Thailand. Anyway buying and selling property in Thailand can be a complex matter, and you should ask a lawyer to complete advice.

The article is from LH

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Little Living Room Decorating

Image via Wikipedia

Little Living Room Decorating

Author: Chris Jensen

Rooms are easy to furnish, but are they welcoming? Have you ever stepped into a dimly lit room with a large gray couch and a dark table? Surely it seems there's enough room for everything, but they won't be fitting for a large group to stay in. Here's some helpful hints.



Light and Soft Hues A room looking hip is typically a matter of the walls. In a small living room you can try painting it with 'cool' colors like blue or green. Make sure the shades in the room are of darker color, to compliment the entire room. If you follow those rules, you can actually give the appearance of a higher ceiling.



Tips with Window Treatments If you have window treatments, you can use them to give the appearance of height. To accomplish this feat, just have them move up towards the ceiling. Definitely worth a try. Oversized Objects Oversized or over-scaled pictures can be paintings, picture frames and patterns. With this visual trick you can make your living room appear bigger than it is.

Hold on to the Necessities It's important you leave space in your living room. Sometimes the best thing you can put in a room is space. The more space in your rooms, the more free and clear it will feel. Now don't take this the wrong way and empty out the room, but skinny furniture can not only give a hip look, but help free up some room.



Flowing Curtains When picking a curtain, you need to think length, and you need to think light colors. White curtains are extremely charming, but are kind of tricky maintaining. A bonus though for those willing to maintain it, is the benefit of natural cool light entering your room. Did you know the more natural air and light you have flowing in your room, the less sweaty and musty your room will smell. Heavy drapes hold in all kinds of scents for indeterminate amounts of time, they are definitely something to avoid.



Coordinating Colors One of the most key things to remember when decorating your living room is to coordinate all the wall colors with the furniture colors. You're going to have to do a little research and look into what combinations are best. For example, light green goes well with white, it's bright and soothing. All kinds of combinations suit a variety of personalities.



Amazing Reflective Surfaces You can pull off some stunning visual effects just with some mirrors. A small living room can suddenly look twice as large. If you have a big plain wall at your disposal, you should add a huge mirror with some artificial lighting. What this does is create a very rich and large living room layout.



Light makes Space Strangely enough, light fabrics make the room appear larger. In the past, lighter fabrics were only for the wealthy, but now anyone can have light sheets. This is a great technique because it just looks clean in the end, and who wouldn't want that

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/little-living-room-decorating-519011.html

About the Author:

Chris Jensen is a contributing author of Jetfly Shop. For more related articles and views visit Jetfly Home & Garden Blog now. Also, for the best up-to-date related online products, check out Jetfly Home Decor & Accents Shop for todays current online deals.

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Small Room Decorating

The Basic Rules of Small Room Decorating

Author: Jude Wright

Living in a small space is definitely challenging. And, small room decorating is a challenge in itself. People live in small homes for a variety of reasons. It may be that they can't afford a larger home or perhaps they just want to live a less complicated lifestyle. Whatever the reason, there are certain rules that should be followed in decorating small rooms. Here is a list of the most important ones:

1. Plan, plan, plan. Go through your home and note down how you actually use the space that you have. Then, look at it with an eye toward how you can better utilize that space. You'll need areas for cooking, entertaining, relaxing, sleeping and possibly a home office. Write it down and then decide on the best places to fit those uses. Don't need a formal dining room? Make it an office instead. A room doesn't always have to be used the way the architect intended.

2. Get rid of the clutter. When you have a lot of "stuff" and very little space, the clutter-filled space that you do have can look a lot smaller than it actually is. So the first task is to clean out what you don't really need. Have a garage sale, give to a charity and throw the worn out items into the dumpster.

3. Use color to visually enlarge the space. Choose lighter colors to give the room a more open look. Also, try to go monochromatic. Choosing tones that are in the same color family fools the eye to make spaces seem larger. Your furniture colors should blend in with your wall and carpet colors so that they don't break up the visual flow.

4. Paint the ceiling a lighter color than the walls. Avoid using a heavy patterned wallcovering in a tiny room.

5. Select furniture carefully. Choose styles that are multipurpose. Furniture like ottomans that have removable tops and tables that have drawers for storage are ideal for a small room. Trundle or bunk beds or even loft beds are just the ticket for kids rooms or a den. Taller end tables with curved, narrow legs draw the eye under the piece, thus making the space feel larger. Dining and coffee tables that are made of glass provide a place for accessories without blocking the room's view.

6. Use lighting to make a room look larger. Add lighting such as track or recessed lights. Also, eliminate heavy draperies. Use light sheers that will allow the sunlight to show through, or use no window coverings at all if privacy isn't an issue. With the right kind of lighting, you can use darker colors in paint and furnishings. In fact, the result can be quite dramatic with the correct lighting effects.

7. Use a mirror to visually enlarge the space of a room. Not only will its reflection make the room feel twice as large, but it will reflect light around the room further increasing the visual space. Visualizing the ways your rooms should work for you is a good first step to take when decorating a small space. Small rooms do not have to feel cramped and unusable. They can be beautiful and cozy with a little planning and creativity.

About the Author:

Jude Wright is the owner of DecoratingSimple.com where you can find great decorating ideas for those on a budget.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/the-basic-rules-of-small-room-decorating-130558.html

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How to Make your Dining Room Comfortable

You want to have a dining room that is as comfortable as it is beautiful. You want your guests to be able to enjoy their food while complimenting you on your lovely dining room furniture. You want your family to jump at the thought of the next meal time in the dining room. But achieving this will require considerable planning and some honesty. You must be able to decide whether you want a formal and stately dining room set or a simple and casual environment.

In most homes, dining rooms are placed as a separated area marked for dining, while in many others, they are out in the open. They may be attached to different rooms like the living room, the family room or the kitchen. Hence, you will have to keep your dining room arrangements in accordance with the area it occupies and the decor you prefer. So, if you are looking for a more formal set up, make sure you choose wall colors that are more somber. Also the dining room tables and the chairs need to be of a more expensive variety.

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Of course, you may be one of those people who use their dining rooms very infrequently. You may have marked certain special occasions to take out your beautiful dining sets. You want the room to look spotless and elegant for your guests and so want to make the room as formal as possible. If indeed, you want to lay down your dining table pads for just a special get together, you can make the room look very sophisticated by using costly and unique items. You could use chandeliers to add to the glamour of the room and flower vases to make the room look pretty. So now it is entirely up to your imagination to make the room look as exclusive as possible.

Make sure you have a bright wall color to make the room look gorgeous. With these tips you can make your dining room your guest's favorite hang out. It will become an excellent place to entertain and show off your best furniture and decorative pieces. With a little refinement, the dining room will make every get-together interesting.

However, if you want your dining room to be an informal place to be used very frequently, keep the decor to a minimum. The colors too should be neutral in order to provide a soothing environment. This room will be most likely an extension of other rooms and so the decoration theme should also be in keeping with those rooms. You do not want one area of your extended room to stand out too completely. For example if your whole house has an ultra modern decor, trying to make your dining area more ethnic, will spoil the show. So make sure you keep the surrounding areas in mind while placing your dining room furniture.

No matter how you plan to use your dining room, you should always make sure that it is a warm and comfortable place. Everyone wants to feel his best while gorging on food. So make sure that your decor does not take away from the comfort quotient of your lovely room.

Author: Sarika Kabra

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-make-your-dining-room-comfortable-290520.html

Image Source: by ~Aj http://www.flickr.com/photos/jany/198382302/

10 Bedroom Decorating Tips You Need

1. Choosing the right bedding for your style is very important because it partly portrays your own individuality. Luxury bedding personifies a successful and confident individual whereas Asian bedding will highlight a gentle or subtle personality!

2. Complementing the bed with a canopy will wonder! But make sure you select the right one. For that you need to prioritize your needs e.g. if you are looking for romance in your bed, a semi-transparent canopy will give you privacy without making you feel constricted.

3. Size of the bed is equally important. If you have a large bed room you can put in some luxury bedding along with embellishments and fixtures. But if you are a little down on space, you can still make your bed room look gorgeous by going for simple vintage style bedding, Asian bedding etc.

4. Creativity can take you a long way when it comes to decorating your bed room. Look for discarded things like glassware or metalwork can be very handy when it comes to adding a personal touch to your décor.

5. Paintings, framed family portraits, wall hangings etc. can add a new dimension to bed room and make the, seemingly inanimate, walls come to life. You could also use souvenirs from your travels to decorate the walls. I've even seen bed rooms decorated with turtle shells and believe me, they look good!

6. Don't let the prospects of creating a larger-than-life bed room distract you from the primary aim. The bed room is a place for you to chill out. So make the atmosphere calm and serene. Use smooth textures and cool colours to help you do that.

7. Storage space is as important as anything else that you can think of! So use a dresser or armoire to help you organize. But make sure that this piece of furniture gels in well with the rest of the furniture and the general scheme of the bed room décor.

8. Did you know that you could actually make your bedroom look bigger! Well, it's possible to give an illusion of depth to your room by using white or blue lights. These lights also have a smoothening effect. So it's a must have if you want your room to be a real stress buster!

9. A full mirror placed directly opposite a light source can reflect the lights back to give a very vibrant illumination. The best layout would be to have the window directly opposite to the door and a light source on one the adjacent walls and a mirror on the other. You could place the bed against the wall having the light source and you dresser along side the full mirror. Use the rest of the space available on the wall having the door and window to mount your embellishments!

10. Accents - they are the best way to customize your personal space. Pick out drapes, pillow covers, bed sheets, carpets etc that supplement you attitude and use them to add the finer touches to you bed room. Even architectural accents like wall cabinets or fire place mantel can help you get that elegant look.

Author: Mark Gesture

About the Author:Mark Gesture is a top designer living in New York City who enjoys writing design tips that anyone can follow. Make sure to pick out the best luxury bedding or Asian bedding for your next bedroom makeover.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/10-bedroom-decorating-tips-you-need-293092.html

Image Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/151349

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