An interior design blog with furniture reviews, interior decorating tips, DIY projects, and home furniture guides.

From the Design Files of Heather B. – Living Room Wall Color Question

February 8th, 2010

Design Question

I have light oak wood floors in my new home, light golden oak trim, and currently the walls are beige. My couch, loveseat and recliner are mahogany brown leather. The house is a somewhat contemporary feeling home on the inside, but looks like a cedar cabin from the outside. We sit on 1-acre of wooded land near a river. We love the river and also love the ocean, so we thought we might want to give the room a beach theme using some of our river and ocean cruise photos.

However, I am really stuck as to what color to paint the walls as the living room is very small with only 7 ft. ceilings, but it does have four good sized windows facing east, south and west. We’d like to carry colors/theme from living room throughout the home. Any advice you can offer would be fabulous. Thank you!

Design Answer

I remember when I was choosing a paint color for my apartment living room and hallway, I just couldn’t decide – I knew I wanted yellow, lemon rather than gold toned, but other than that I was at a loss. I admit, I was obsessing about it, and finally, a friend, trying to be helpful, said that if I really hated it I could just repaint over it. But that was the whole point – I don’t want to have to do that; I wanted to get it right the first time (and not have to do it again for at least a decade!) especially since it I knew that it is the wall color that sets the mood of the room.

blue water green H20

Like me when I was choosing a color for my living room, you have a starting color place in mind – water, translation blues or greens (colors from Benjamin Moore). Once you have a color family in mind, you can begin narrowing down your choices by focusing on the colors that are already in the room, such as the rug, window treatments and fabrics including accent pillows and the sofa, in this case dark brown leather. Also include any new elements you might be adding to the living room like wallpaper, paneling or an upholstered accent chair.

Take as many fabric and material samples with you as possible when you go paint shopping. If you don’t have any samples, take pictures and bring those along with you. They will at least give you an idea of how the color you are considering will work with the other elements in the living room. You mentioned that the trim was a light, golden oak, but not the windows or doors (if there are any in the room). When painting a living room, white, off-white or a pale shade of the main wall color is typically used to paint the moldings, doors and windows.

Especially since your living room has four windows, you will want to test the color you have chosen to see how it will look during different times of the day, including how it will appear at night with artificial lighting. Also consider the paint finish and how it will look in the room. For example, a matte finish will reflect less light than a high glossy finish.

After selecting a paint color, take it for a test drive. Paint dealers usually will sell sample amounts of a color that you can apply to a wall to see how it will look. Once it dries, put different pieces of furniture against it to see how they will look. A paint color can look different in the can than it does once it is on the wall and has dried.

Thanks for writing in. Stay tuned next Monday when we tackle another interior design question. Keep sending me those emails and don’t forget to include pictures if you can.

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Making a Royal Statement – Traditional Style with a Twist for the Bedroom

February 5th, 2010

 

Your home is your castle, no matter if it is a cozy cottage size or a many-room mansion. But you can give the rooms of your home a traditional style with a twist. While traditional style might look all the same, there can be some subtle and not so subtle differences between one traditional sub style and another. Queen Anne, for example, typically stands closer to the floor and has an overall delicate, feminine appearance with its curvilinear forms, of which the most recognizable is the cabriole leg.

 

While Louis Philippe is another traditional sub style, it is diametrically opposite to Queen Anne style. Lines are rounded rather curved and furnishings tend to have a squared-off look. Victorian style is actually quite eclectic, due to the extent of the British Empire and the ensuing influences it had on social trends and interior design. Today, we will be discussing how to design a bedroom fit for royalty. It’s not just about selecting furniture styles with royal names; it’s also about creating a richly textured environment with the right colors, a mixture of luxurious fabrics and regal accessorizing.

 

Queen Anne

 

Woods commonly used to make Queen Anne bedroom furniture were walnut, maple and cherry. The rich glowing cherry finish of the American Drew Cherry Grove Low Poster Bed is in keeping with the spirit of this style as is the decorative detailing that includes a broken pediment headboard, carved accents and reeded posts.

 

For a traditional style bedroom to have a royal feel, bedroom furniture should be formal and imposing. With its delicate fluted pilasters, regal height and liberal use of decorative molding, the American Drew Cherry Grove TV/Wardrobe Armoire will be an ideal choice for preserving the mood of the room while indulging in modern conveniences.

 

The American Drew Cherry Grove Highboy Complete Chest is perfectly demonstrates the grace and elegance of Queen Anne furniture.

 

Another aspect of making a royal statement in the bedroom is indulgence. Adding the Skyline Queen Anne Tufted Storage Bench or the Powell Jamestown Landing Wood Makeup Vanity Table with Mirror will give you someplace to pamper yourself in style.

 

Victorian

 

Victorian style can refer generally to furniture made in the second half of the nineteenth century including the beginning of the twentieth. More specifically it refers to furniture produced during Queen Victoria’s reign, from 1887 to 1901. For the first time, furniture was mass-produced, so it became relatively easy to craft pieces with elaborate and lavish embellishments and decorative detail. Since the British Empire during Queen Victoria’s lifetime spanned several continents, furniture designs were greatly influenced by a variety of Middle Eastern and Asian cross-cultural currents, making Victorian style an amalgamation of many styles.

 

The Lexington Barclay Square Blakeney Poster Bed with Optional Canopy will definitely make you feel like royalty. The finish is luxurious, adding definition to the profiles of the bed and enhancing the “formal” yet elegant appearance of the posts.

 

Victorian style is also characterized by heavy furniture pieces with unusual details. Even a royal bedroom needs to be functional. While the Lexington Barclay Square Winslow Nightstand is an ideal place to keep useful items like a bedside lamp by the bed, the “flattened ball” shape of the turned legs combined with blunt arrow feet gives this night table a unique profile.

 

An accent chair, especially in a traditional style master bedroom, gives the room that special stately finishing touch. The remarkable pattern of the Ultimate Accents “Paul” Python Chair is distinction enough, and then the brass accents and shell motif make it truly Victorian.

 

Louis Philippe

 

For those with more “modern” sensibilities but still would like to make a royal statement when decorating the bedroom, Louis Philippe, while still traditional is markedly different from both Queen Anne and Victorian. This style typically possesses much less ornamentation than many other traditional styles. The Stanley Furniture Translation Cherry Low Profile Sleigh Bed incorporates traditional Louis Philippe elements like bracket feet and shaped moldings.

 

 

Both the Stanley Furniture Translation Cherry Door Chest and the Stanley Furniture Translation Cherry TV/Wardrobe Armoire display other common traits of Louis Philippe style and that are paneled doors and the artistic use of veneers.

 

Protect your jewelry in royal style with the Powell Louis Philippe Marquis Cherry Jewelry Armoire. The lines of this jewelry armoire are strictly Louis Philippe while the distinctive antiqued drawer pulls add visual interest.

 

For the ultimate in luxury why not have both a mirror and a jewelry armoire? The Powell Louis Philippe Cheval Jewelry Wardrobe is very multifunctional, which is important for a bedroom environment.

 

Nothing says luxury like including an electric fireplace into a regal bedroom interior design. The Classic Flame Scottsdale Antique Mahogany Electric Fireplace with Black Granite Top displays another characteristic Louis Philippe design element. Like using veneers for decorative detail, stone, especially marble, was used to give texture to a furniture piece.

 

No matter what style you choose for the master bedroom in your castle, the bedroom furnishings should be grand in scale, with a stately or regal presence. Bedroom furniture like a four poster bed or a canopy bed will make you feel like royalty.

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Decorating with Red

February 4th, 2010

Red is a bold color that is rich and warm. Decorating with red takes a sure hand and a good eye. When using red as part of an interior decorating design, you will want it to be balanced – not too much and not too little. If there is too much red in the room, either on the walls or on the furniture or accessories, it can make the décor feel that it is shouting” at you, while having not enough red in the room or not incorporating it effectively will make it appear overpowered by the other elements in the room. When it works, red really makes a room stand out.

RedPalette

When a room is predominately neutral, with earth toned walls and furnishings, choosing one or two pieces of furniture that are red will automatically create a focal point in the room. Made of leather, the Kathy Ireland Home by Omnia Furniture Leather Lyon Club Three Seat Sofa and the Kathy Ireland Home by Omnia Furniture Leather Lyon Club Chair placed together in a living room or family room will definitely create a welcoming ambiance. The red tone of the sofa and club chair is deeper or darker in tone, which while drawing the eye into the room (focal point) they also are richer rather than bolder.

When using red as a wall color (from Benjamin Moore), you have two basic options: the first is to paint the entire room red; the second is to choose one wall and use red on that wall as an accent color. If painting the whole room red, plan on some “white space”; for example, paint the ceiling, baseboards, doors and/or windows white. Another variation on this theme would be to select a brighter red tone for all of the walls and pair it with white wainscoting or beadboard. This would be a great choice for a country, Mission or Shaker style kitchen or dining room.

If the second option appeals to you, before choosing red as an accent color, decide which wall would be best and what you would like to feature in that part of the room. Don’t forget that whatever you place near or against the red accent wall will be “spotlighted.” This may be the perfect opportunity to add an electric fireplace like the Electrolog by Dimplex Mozart Electric Fireplace in Gloss Black or the Riverside Furniture Delcastle 63 Inch TV Entertainment Wall System.

Instead of showcasing a fireplace or a specific piece of furniture, another alternative to the accent wall option is to use the space to display art work, a painting or a distinctive mirror like the American Drew Bob Mackie Signature Accent Round Mirror. This idea would work well in a dining room as wall as a den, family room, living room or hallway.

When you don’t’ want to repaint the room, you can still decorate with red by bringing the color into the room in a number of ways, specifically through judicious accessorizing. For it to have impact, choose a minimum of three items, such as red accent pillows, a red ottoman and an area rug like the L.A. Rugs Euphoria Style Crimson Frame Rug.

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Seeing More Red

February 3rd, 2010

It is the color of roses; the color ascribed to the heart; and of course it is the predominate color associated with Valentine’s Day. Since it is such a rich and vibrant color, it is the ideal choice for spicing up the rooms of our homes. A red club chair in a corner of the living room will brighten up the space. A red storage bench, like the Modus Upholstered Milano Storage Bench in Red Leatherette in a bedroom or hallway will add a punch of color as well as functionality. While a little red might go a long way, red is truly a passionate color and when cleverly integrated into a room, it can make the space bold yet warm.

Adding a splash of red to a den, living room or family room may be as simple as draping the Daniadown Arizona Red Throw over the arm of the sofa. It will also make the sofa a cozy place to snuggle when watching TV or a favorite movie.

And speaking of staying at home with that special someone isn’t this just the coolest loveseat you’ve ever seen? The Elite Home Theater Seating Curved Loveseat Cuddle Couch is designed especially for two and offers optional cozy features like a swivel tray, cup holder and matching ottoman that allow you to customize it to your movie watching specifications. And the best part is that this home theater loveseat comes in red.

Or if a standard loveseat appeals to you more, how about the Global Furniture USA Edwards Red Leather Loveseat? It displays a modern or contemporary style that has a chic and trendy, yet comfortable appearance.

The combination of style and color will make this loveseat the natural focal point of any room it’s in.

Turn a monochromatic or earth-toned sofa into a conversation piece by pairing it with the Powell Color Story Crimson Red End Table. Placing an red end table, sofa table or accent chest in a neutral-tone furnished room not only brings color into the space but also adds texture to the décor.

Because Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, adding a red fireplace to a living room or family room wouldn’t be a bad idea. While the Southern Enterprises Tennyson Mahogany Fireplace with Bookcases isn’t strictly red, mahogany wood is known for its rich red hues. The same goes for mahogany wood finishes. Even though it doesn’t shout red, this fireplace will warm up a room, both literally and visually.

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DIY Headboard and Other Options

February 2nd, 2010

Headboard1

“Make Upholstered Headboard” was first posted by my predecessor, Nicolette the Design Diva, on July 7th, 2009. After reading the blog entry, Sandra Barton made her own headboard and she recently sent me the pictures to show other Furniture and Design Ideas readers that it’s not too difficult.

Sandra writes:

Hi Heather,

Headboard2

Here are some pictures of the headboard. The instructions were great. I did add some coordinating upholstered buttons to give it a more tailored look – I measured and drilled holes in the back of the plywood and then used quadrupled button thread to pull it tight. All in all, this cost me about $100 to make.  The most expensive supply was the foam.

Thanks so much … Love your blog!

Sandra Barton

Thanks for the kind words, and thank you for sharing this with us Sandra – your upholstered headboard turned out great. It’s always good to hear from readers and even better when they send pics!

If you’re DIY-ing your headboard, then like Sandra, you already know how you want it to look. But what if you’re not DIY inclined? Here are some tips on how to get the headboard you really want.

The bed or headboard, like the Fashion Bed Group Dunhill Wood Headboard, is the automatic focal point of the room. Consider what kind of “statement” you would like the headboard to make. After all, when you (or someone else) enter the room, it will be the first thing you see. Do you want it to be imposing? The old headboard was made of wood: do you want your new headboard to be upholstered or to be made of metal? Would you like the look of a traditional poster bed but don’t want a footboard?

When purchasing a headboard for a room that has already been furnished, you will want to match the headboard to the bedroom’s existing décor. This means it should be the same color and/or style as your bedroom furniture and should blend with the other color elements in the room such the walls or the curtains.

The most obvious requirement when selecting a headboard for your bedroom is that, if you already have a bed frame and don’t intend on replacing the mattress/foundation (box spring), then the headboard size will have to match the mattress size.

But there are other things to consider as well. If you are in the habit of reading in bed, you may want the added comfort an upholstered headboard will provide or the convenience of additional storage a bookcase headboard offers.

Don’t forget height. Especially if you are selecting a headboard for a bed that has a plush or thick mattress, you will want the headboard to be tall enough to be seen. Buying high or tall headboards or pairing one with a low-profile type of bed can be useful when you want to showcase a specific type of material, such as a leather headboard, or a modern metal headboard like the Fashion Bed Group Brooklyn Metal Headboard with a unique design. As you can see in Sandra’s second picture, the height of her upholstered headboard really makes the bed “pop,” a combination of how tall the headboard is and the fabric she chose.

When buying a headboard, also give some thought to how it will work with your current bed or bed frame. Some bed frames are independently freestanding, but most are designed to be mounted on a wall, like an upholstered headboard. Don’t panic! If you have purchased a headboard that ends up not playing nice with the bed frame you already own or just bought, you can always secure it to the wall and place the bed in front of it.

Thanks again Sandra for sharing your DIY upholstered headboard with us. For those of us who can’t find the time to DIY, Cymax Stores is offering 10% off Skyline Furniture headboards, including upholstered headboards. Should you like to take advantage of these savings, use the coupon code SKY10 at checkout.

To view other entries in the “Design Files Of Heather B.” series, click here.

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From the Design Files of Heather B. – New Home Décor Dilemma

February 1st, 2010

Design Question
Room1Room2
My husband and I just purchased our first home and we would like to change the color of the walls to match our floors and furniture. Right now the colors of the walls are white. We like earth colors but we can’t decide what colors to choose.
Room3Room4
The first floor has three areas. First the den; we will convert it into an office and are going to close the den with glass doors. The furniture that I have for the office is a black leather chair and a glass and black desk. I would like to keep the vertical blinds.
Room5Room6
The second area is the living room, is a big rectangular space and I would like to have suggestions of how to set the furniture. Right now as you can see on the pictures there is a big empty space between the TV and the couches. That’s why I placed a rug in the place so it doesn’t look so empty. I’m also planning to hire an electrician to change the lighting in the living room. I want to install two chandeliers in the living room; one by where the TV is and the other one in the center of the furniture area. So I need suggestions for the lamps too.

And the third and last area is the dining room. Here I only want to change the lamp and color of the walls.

We would like to keep the same furniture but within a few months we are going to buy a new dining room set, which I also would like to get your opinion about what kind of furniture I should buy. Please give me your ideas about the colors and some decoration items. We want to buy plants or pictures to decorate it. Thank you

Design Answer

Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! This must me an exciting time for you.

PaletteRoom1
PaletteRoom2

Since the space is open – you enter through the door and are immediately in the living room – you will want to choose a color that is warm and inviting. Earth tones, depending on the color family they are from, can be “cool.” I would definitely choose warm earth tones for this space. The floors are beautiful and deserve to be shown off. I would also take this opportunity to bring color into the room; not too much but just enough to give your living space some punch. Because you intend on enclosing the den/office area, you could choose two colors, one for the office and another for the living room/dining room. However, since the furniture you have selected is neutral (black leather office chair and black desk), you could very easily use one color for all three areas of the first floor. Just to give you some idea of your color choices, these shades are from Benjamin Moore.

The problem with the second area of your living space, the living room, is that currently it has no real focal point. The eye wanders around the room. I can see why you have arranged the furniture the way you have, because the shape of the room doesn’t give you many options. You will have to take measurements to see if this will since it is hard to judge distances from a picture.
Room7Room8
If it will fit while still allowing you access to the home office, I would place the sofa in front of the glass doors and toward the center of the living room. Then I would move the loveseat to the wall where the sofa is now. This will make the television a focal point. Having the shorter sofa against the wall will allow you to add an end table or a floor lamp. I would select lamps that match or complement the chandeliers that you plan on adding to the living room. The shades of the lamps should reflect the color palette you have chosen for the walls.
Room9Room10
You mentioned that you will be purchasing a new dining set in the next couple of months. Since you didn’t specify, I am assuming that you are not replacing the china cabinet. If this is the case, then I would select a dining set that either matches the china cabinet in style or in color.

Since the china cabinet is predominately traditional, I would suggest either a traditional or transitional dining table and dining chairs. Something like the Tradewins French Classics Dining Table with Two 18″ Leaves, which is transitional, would work with your china cabinet.

Plants are always a great choice when accessorizing a room. House plants typically improve air quality and they also add “life” and color, especially they are flowering plants. Pictures should have some meaning for you personally and be in keeping with the spirit of the room. For example, abstract artwork in this particular living space would not be as effective as a landscape picture or painting.

Thanks for writing in. Stay tuned next Monday when we tackle another interior design question. Keep sending me those emails and don’t forget to include pictures if you can.

To view other entries in the “Design Files Of Heather B.” series, click here.

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Amish Interior Decorating – The Dining Room

January 29th, 2010

Amish dining room furniture encompasses many styles, including Shaker, Mission and various sub styles of country. Typically, each Amish community focuses on a specific type of furniture or a craft such as quilts or baskets. Every piece of furniture produced by the Amish is unique, even when it is made within the same community, because, while some modern woodworking techniques are allowed in some communities, it is mostly made by hand. Since “Amish” is not necessarily a definitive or particular style, when creating an Amish dining room, there are some key principles that need to be incorporated to accomplish this type of interior design.

Design Principle #1

Amish Palette 2

Use heritage colors, paints that have been created with natural pigments. Hues and tints are generally less “intense” than other types of commercially produced paints, but that doesn’t mean “bland” or “colorless.” Most manufacturers, like Sherwin-Williams, make paint colors that resemble heritage colors. The typical Amish color palette reflects the fields they work, the crops they grow including the earth and sky.

Design Principle #2

If purchasing furniture from an Amish community is not an option, select furniture that is made of wood such as oak, walnut or cherry. Dining room furniture such as a sideboard, dining table or china cabinet, should have simple lines, wood finishes that have been distressed or have a low to medium shine and be oversized, solid or “boxy” in appearance.

The Home Styles Ponderosa Solid Wood Dining Table, while it does have arrow feet and decorative detail, they are features common to traditional woodworking methods. Its rich pine finish gives the table a rustic yet refined handcrafted appearance.

The Stanley Furniture American Perspective Beeswax Cherry Windsor Side Chair also has arrow feet and turned legs. But again, this dining chair, with its Windsor back, shouts attention to detail.

While Amish furniture profiles are simpler, they can be dramatic. Backs of dining chairs are taller; tables are longer, emphasizing the “slab” appearance of the tabletop; china cabinets and sideboards are “chunkier.” The Tradewins Cherry Expressions Buffet with Hutch is impressive in stature, but decorative detail, such as the crown molding and the gently arched apron, is uncomplicated.

Design Principle #3

The emphasis of Amish interior design is on the combined impact of form and function. Put simply, it means that all of the furniture pieces in the dining room should be functional and practical, but they should look beautiful as well. For example, the Home Styles Ponderosa Solid Wood Dining Table includes a leaf, which allows the table to expand (from round to oval shaped), making it very practical when entertaining or hosting a family holiday feast.

Accessorize the same way. Select window treatments that are not “fussy” and made of natural materials like cotton for curtains and wood for blinds. Pick an area rug like the Calvin Klein Home by Nourison Loom Select Midnight Thread Area Rug Collection in Multicolor that has a natural, organic woven look. Don’t forget candlesticks and lamps made of materials like wrought iron or stone.

Come back next week when I will be starting a new series on traditional style with a twist.

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Modern Dining Room Chic

January 28th, 2010

Modern style dining room furniture is distinguished by polished surfaces and angular forms. Features of the modern dining tables and dining chairs are angular lines, sweeping stark surfaces and sharp crisp profiles. Decorative detail is non-existent, putting the focus on form and function. Dining tables made from gleaming metal and glass paired with dining chairs featuring sleek materials like leather, leatherette and space-age plastics can be used to create a dramatic and compelling dining environment. But modern style dining tables and chairs can hold their own, with high gloss finishes and striking profiles.

Metal and Glass

The focus of the TransDeco Glass Dining Table is its unique pedestal base.

Choose chairs like the Eurostyle Sabrina Leather Seat Dining Chair in Black/Chrome that will complement the table’s distinctive design. It has an angular shape softened by subtle curved lines while the base of the chair gives the chair a floating appearance that echoes the dining table.

The Abbyson Fusion Reflecting Silver Rectangle Glass Table is a celebration of reflective surfaces. By selecting dining chairs like the Grand Rapids Chair Baby Dome Squiggle Back Side Dining Chair, the color of the upholstered seat will add another dimension to the base of the dining table.

The Euro Style Trave 48″ Table has an industrial feel that is both futuristic and high-tech. It is minimalist in design but packs a visual punch. Select chairs like the Grand Rapids Chair Jill Ladder Back Side Dining Chair that have a sleek, industrial vibe and are predominately constructed of metal.

Wood and Glass

The Global Furniture USA 798 5 Piece Dining Set is definitely modern in design. The asymmetrical shape of the dining table’s base lends this dining set a trendy air that won’t soon go out of style. The curved stem of the chair gives it a suspended appearance, creating visual interest.

The Modloft Varick Modern Art Square Dining Table and the Modloft Varick Modern Art Dining Chair display clean and rectilinear lines. The result is spare yet rich looking, largely due to the combination of wood, metal and glass. The dining chairs complete the look by being upholstered in leatherette.

Nothing is more modern than the classic black and white combo. The Global Furniture USA Black and White 5 Pc Dining Table Set pairs white wood with black glass and black leather-look upholstery. The Global Furniture USA Black and White Dining Chair has a modified split back that makes this dining set really stand out.

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One Bed, Three Looks – Product Spotlight

January 27th, 2010

Modern style bedroom furniture is often instantly associated with metal, high tech plastics and glass. When wood is used as a construction material, it is typically bleached and lighter in color. But the Global Furniture USA Soho Bed, even with its lightly distressed dark wood finish, is definitely modern in style and design. The headboard panels that extend out over the built-in nightstands actually flip up and include night lights. Talk about form is function!

Décor Option #1 – Neutrals

Neutral Palette

With the Global Furniture USA Soho Bed as the bedroom’s focal point, choose an earth toned color palette (all colors are by Behr) for the wall color.

Once the walls have been painted with any one of these shades, dress the bed with bedding to match. The Nygard Home Soho 10 Piece Bed In A Bag Set includes a comforter with a quilt weave that is beautifully textured.

The Brink & Campman Area Rugs- Luna Collection Fields 91801 brings each one of the neutral/earth tones in the bedroom together. In keeping with modern style design attributes, the pattern of the area rug is geometric but not uniform.

Décor Option #2 – Neutrals with an Accent Color

Neutral Palette2Neutral Palette3

The Global Furniture USA Soho Bed is very versatile. The textured veneer end panels of the headboard created visual interest. Placing the platform bed in a neutral toned room against an accent wall will really draw the eye naturally toward the bed.

The neutral shades chosen for this palette are cool or blue toned neutrals. Use the lighter color on three of the bedroom’s walls; the darker one as the accent color.

The Manor Hill Plaza Mini Duvet Cover Set can be matched to any of the above color combinations.

The Brink & Campman Area Rugs- Himali Collection Shade 94508 definitely complements the bedding, adding yet another dimension to the room.

Décor Option #3 – Neutrals with Bold Accessories

Neutral Palette4

Using whites as the predominate neutral shade, color is brought into the room by selecting bedding and other accessories, such as an area rug, that are bright and bold.

The Mystic Valley Traders Profiles Plum Bedding Set has tones that appear in the area rug.

The asymmetrical pattern of the Brink & Campman Area Rugs- Icon Collection Confetti 772501 is totally in accordance with modern interior décor.

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Country Dining Room Decorating Ideas

January 26th, 2010

Country style is an ideal choice for a dining room or kitchen eating area because it is laid-back, inviting and comfortable. It creates the feeling of welcome; of having been here before, even though this might be the first time guests have visited your home. While they all share these relaxed and welcoming design elements, country style has many faces, from rustic and cottage to Colonial and Americana to English country and Italian country.

Casual Country Dining Room Furniture

A casual country dining set will have a “lived in” appearance. Casual country style dining room furniture typically is made of wood with a milk wash, distressed or matte finish. Furnishings possess a folksy warmth that inspire people to hang out, take their time and catch up on all the news. Dining chairs might have turned legs, spindles and sheaf backs.

The International Concepts Dual Drop Leaf Table & Windsor Chair Set displays several casual country features. The dining table and dining chairs have both a natural and a white-painted finish. The table has a turned pedestal base that gives it a simply enchanting appearance, while the chairs have Windsor backs, resulting in a relaxed, homey feel.

If casual country appeals to you but you prefer medium to dark finishes, the Lifestyle California Jamestown Windsor Dining Set with Trestle Table has a relaxed charm. With its trestle base table and two-toned finish and matching chairs, this dining set is as inviting as it is functional.

The Klaussner Furniture Urban Craftsman 7 Piece Rectangular Dining Table Set is truly rustic in nature. The farmhouse kitchen style table has angled legs and a rough-hewn appearance that has a real “at home” feel. The spirit of country style dining furniture, whether casual or more formal, is simplicity and this dining set certainly qualifies.

Formal Country Dining Room Furniture

Still maintaining its philosophy of simplicity and its inherent hominess, formal country dining room furniture might mimic many decorative details of traditional style but with underlying differences, such as utilizing other natural materials like cane, wicker and wrought iron. The result is functional furniture that is well-made and possesses a timeless elegance in its own right.

The Home Styles Homestead 7 Piece Dining Set in Warm Oak is distinctly Colonial Revival. Like the dining table and dining chairs, the Home Styles Homestead Side Board Server has a utilitarian design but incorporates and adapts Jacobean, Queen Anne and Chippendale influences. While still retaining its traditional roots, it has a country style that graceful and elegant.

While the Lifestyle California Fallbrook Oval Pedestal Dining Set displays strictly formal country style, the sage tones paired with a sunburst oak finish will make the dining room appear brighter and warmer at the same time.

For a really formal country feel select the Hillsdale Wilshire 7 Piece Round Dining Table Set in Pine and Rubbed Black Finish. The chairs have a classic wheat sheaf back and turned legs. The two-tone finish emphasizes the dining table’s elegantly designed pedestal base.

Country style isn’t just one definitive style. It can have many looks from casual to formal. It can display the practicality of a farmhouse kitchen table or showoff its more sophisticated elegance with an understated élan. Whatever look you would like to achieve, there is a country style to accommodate the dining room of your dreams.

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