Posts filed under 'Master Bedroom'
As much as I talked about loving black in a bedroom, I also think white is a great color for furniture. It sets a completely different feel for your room. It also doesn’t have to be just a kids or babies room color but can work great as a guest room or master room. For me white is simple, classic and always elegant. It works with so many colors and it always brightens the room. Perfect if you don’t get plenty of natural light.
As the Cottage collection shows, I prefer bedding which complements white, shades of white with deeper patterns; natural wood or rattan rugs can give you a great coastal look. I picked this collection because I was looking for a well designed white bedroom set that would be affordable and great in design and quality. I felt it would be a great choice for our buyers. I like the modern etched headboard and footboard. The deep drawers and the matching white hardware I think it is styled and prices perfectly for what you get. The set includes the bed and nightstand. At $1599 it is a great offer and available with Free Shipping at Furnitureopia.com
August 14th, 2009
The “Levanto Bedroom Set” is a great combination of classic and modern. I really like the way this set has been designed. The night dresser has a slim top drawer and deeper lower drawers. I always think plenty of storage space with the nightstand is a good design method and a good buy. It gives you the practicality of a nightstand with the space required to use it for storage. The similar slim drawer design on the dresser and chest works really well. The curved dresser design with two end cupboards is also a perfect piece. I love the style of the poster on the Levanto bed, with matching hardware accents throughout giving it that classic modern look. The high headboard is accented by the posters. The natural finish and sharp finish opens the room with brightness. This set and all the individual pieces are available at Furnitureopia. The set includes the bed, two nightstands and the dresser and mirror for $2899 with $800 in savings I think this is a really good deal for this design. You can also buy individual pieces to suit your room. Take a look today http://www.furnitureopia.com/modern-bed-set-5-piece-a1578.html for this set and further discounts on other products.
August 12th, 2009
Health Hazards with Cheap Blinds
I have nothing against blinds, but the ones I like and suggest to my clients are either way too expensive or require high maintenance – and since our topic is affordable window treatments I am not discussing that option today. On top of that as recently as January of this year (2009) there was a huge recall of blinds sold at Cost Plus because they posed a strangulation risk to the children. Additionally some vinyl blinds are known to possibly cause lead poisoning (To read more go to http://www.state.nj.us/health/iep/lead_miniblind_alert.shtml). If you have toddlers crawling around putting everything possible in their mouths or licking the blinds – you need to be extra careful. With this in mind let us go about draping our windows in chic, yet affordable style!
Different kind of Fabrics
I could write 100 posts just on the fabrics and I am sure I will come back to it a lot in my subsequent posts but for today I will keep it simple. We can go with either organic or non-organic fabrics. So what is the one major difference between these kinds of fabrics – it is the insecticides and pesticides! Cotton growers across the world are using a lot of pesticides and it is believed that 25% of that spraying is actually absorbed by the plant and stays in the fabric. So if safety is your main concerns and you have kids who would play with it or put the curtains in their mouth then organic fabrics is the way to go. For affordability and durability I would stick with cottons, especially in the bedrooms.
2 Simple & Elegant Ideas
(a) Block Prints – There is a lot of variety to be had just within the block print designs and if you’d rather get something readymade without doing customizations then block prints is the way to go. You can pick curtain panels in breezy natural fibers to softly filter the sunlight, creating a relaxed and stylish mood. From the oranges to the greens to the yellows block prints are available in all possible shades and give your room the elegant look you have so desired for. The images below show you a couple of different options.
(b) Patchwork – Patchwork was initially made popular by use in quilts and over time taken the fancy of design connoisseurs like you to be used for other home furnishings including curtains. You can make a patchwork curtain by either using the leftover fabric at home or you can buy one readymade. If you do decide to make it yourself just make sure you are using the same weight fabric and also the materials that require similar care – after all you cannot take it apart every time to clean! What a patchwork end product looks like is shown below.
Both the ideas above are generally very affordable and available in a variety of colors and patterns. They add a lot of color and character to the room and keep some light filtering in at the same time.
Coming Next: Do’s and Don’ts for the Guest Bedroom
August 8th, 2009
Creating the right look for your windows can add a wealth of richness to your home and room. Whether it co-ordinates with other areas or blends with the color theme there are many options that can help revive and refresh your room. I have a few ideas I have put to use to create exciting and expensive looks without breaking the bank.
Creating them yourself with a few simple stitches to finish
If you have some skills in sewing or a machine at home it makes total sense to make window treatments yourself. It allows you to spend more on the fabric or save overall. There a number of great tips for creating and stitching your own pieces and you can decide the best hardware to hold them. Buying fabric can often be cheaper and sometimes you may not need a lot if you as you plan to do different themes around the house. You can buy sale pieces or off cut pieces as they can be tailored to your window needs. Measure and decide how you want to create the effect i.e. whether it needs to be long and draping or shorter. Based on your preference checkout deals on the net or go see if your local textile retailer has fabrics on sale. Sometimes you may also find fabric you have at home. If you have some more embroidered or heavier design material this can work great as a try. You can also find many add-ons such as sequins and small gems to sew into the fabric and add significant wealth and glamour to a plain piece of fabric.
1) Great tips to save money on your window treatments
a. First place to look is around the house, you may be surprised at what you have that can be used for trimming and edges.
b. Add glamour by visiting a local gem store and getting coordinating sequins or gems to sew onto the fabric. You can place these evenly across the entire curtain drape or finish the edges and add wealth to the look. It also really doesn’t take so long once you get going.
c. Consider the theme of your room, sometimes you can find window curtains and valences on sale that may not coordinate in an entire set but in different shade can also work to build a color them around your room.
d. If you decide it is easier to buy, which of course for many it can be, check out our website for offerings alongside coordinating bedding. When purchasing items all together you can receive even further discounts.
You can also buy ready made plain curtains and treatments which sometimes can be cheaper and add more glamour at home with trims or sequins and other decorative add-ons that can spice up your treatments.
2) Creating the right themes and coordinating colors
a. Think about the look of your room and what works with that. Take into consideration the furniture and the wall and floor colors. Sometimes offsetting with contrasting plain colors adds a subtle and elegant look. However if your sofas and walls are plain with no trim on the wall edges it would make sense to add more heavier pattern or embroidered window treatments to offset this.
b. Adding a net overthrown on the top of the window with a lighter look and feel can look classic and modern if done correctly. Make sure you pick good fabric which is slightly stiffer so it can hold in a wrap around format but still soften the overall look.
c. For long French windows using silk or net full flow curtains gives a great look with a sheer and flowing feel. It’s also very affordable as you can buy netted fabric for a lot less then the thicker fabrics for a heavier full look. Using dark colors also gives you the shade needed with the light feel of netting and silks.
3) Alternate ideas from around the house
a. You can always find some great things from around the home that can give you great ideas for you window treatments and use some items that were in storage. If you have clothing that has heavy patterns or embroidery that you no longer wear, this can be used in a think twist edge to line the edge of your curtains. Sequined handbags and gems can provide you with great add-ons also.
b. If you have any lace in the house this is also a great edging for country home treatments.
There are always ways to create great looks at an affordable price. I hope this gives you a few tips for your next window treatment project.
Coming Next: Window Treatments: Part II
August 7th, 2009
Only ONE Focal Point
Let me first address the issue I see in a lot of houses – making every corner of the room stand out. This is the wrong strategy and gives the room either a cluttered or very busy look. There is no hard and fast rule on what should be the focal point in your bedroom, as long as there is only one which attracts the attention.
Different Focal Points
Bed
Usually the bed, being the largest piece in the room tends to be the natural focal point and probably the most messy and ignored. That’s why it is key to create a great theme and the environment you are looking for with the right bedding and pillows. From bright to calming cool colors this can completely change the outlook of the room and focus your attention on what you have worked on the most. If you select plain bold bed spreads or quilts and co-ordinate with differing pillow colors you can create multiple fresh looks throughout the year
Accent Wall
Having an accent wall with a contrasting color is a great way to start. Any wall can be an accent wall, however in my experience I have seen that the wall behind the headboard works the best. It not only gives the room a lot of structure the contrasting color enhances the look of your bed without taking the focus away from the wall. Add a couple of paintings, small mirrors or wall hangings as per your preference to further enhance the look.
Fireplace
If space is not a constraint then my other favorite for creating a focal point in a room is the fireplace. If you live in a cooler climate with lots of snow, then this is the winner hands down. A fireplace need not be very large and can still look very beautiful. Add a decorative door and screen to the fireplace and paint the mantle in a contrasting color to the walls. A great spot in your own bedroom to relax and reinforces the point I made in the previous post about removing clutter and creating a peaceful zone in your bedroom.
Draped Windows
If drapery/curtains is your thing and there is good sunshine filtering into the room then this is not only a good strategy to add color but also to create a focal point away from the bed, if that is what you desire. There is endless variety when it comes to curtains and Furnitureopia.com does not carry them. However sites like http://www.draperyconnection.com provide a lot of choice. Make sure that whatever window treatment you do complements your bedspread. Being the miser I am, I should also point out that expensive drapery is not the only way to decorate your windows and there are many cheaper alternatives you can use to get the look and feel your desire. I will cover cheap alternative window treatments in my next post.
Finally, think in terms of what would add the most comfort for you and use these ideas accordingly. When it comes to your bedroom, it should always be comfort first.
Coming Next: Affordable Window Treatments
August 6th, 2009
