EverydayHome: A Home Decor Blogzine

Personalizing the Bedroom

2006-08-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

The bedroom is a personal haven and when decorating, take cues from your personality, your preferences and everyday life to make it a space that's entirely your own. Whether it's that teddy bear from your childhood or the bedding set you have got from a flea market in Chinatown, it's all these little things that tell stories about who you are. So use them as decorating accents in your bedroom.

Mixing and Matching Countertops

2006-08-07T03:44:00.000-07:00

Why limit your kitchen worktops to just one type of surface when it's visually pleasing to combine different types of materials?

It is highly recommended to have a mixture of the various countertop surfaces instead of just having one type throughout the kitchen. Although installing a single type of surface may be more cost-efficient, the kitchen would be more work-efficient with different types of surfaces for different activity.

However, if you have a limited budget constraints, all is not lost. use the highest quality material for the counter areas that will sustain the greatest amount of use, specifying other materials to less often used areas.Here are some ideas:

For areas near the cooker range, install Some form of stone material like granite for placement of hot pots and pans.
Plastic laminate and solid surfaces are ideal around the sink and in the remaining areas for easy cleaning and good looks.
To distinguish your island from the rest of the kitchen try combining a rich walnut butcher block and stone surface like granite.
Use a laminate countertop in a stone-like pattern on the perimeter cabinets, but splurge on granite, quartz or solid surface material on the island.
An easier technique is to use the same material throughout the kitchen, but alter the colour or pattern on the island. For example, when using ceramic tiles, go for a darker colour on the perimeter cabinets, then on the island, use a white or cream shade instead.

The 6 Best Kitchen Countertop Surfaces

2006-08-07T03:22:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the kitchen worktop, it has to be something that looks good, works hard and last long.

Your kitchen worktop or countertop is one of the elements that will be subjected to consistent wear and tear depending on the type and style of cooking that goes on in your kitchen. It’s therefore a good idea to always select the best worktop surface your budget can afford in order to have a worktop that will last, be hygienic and look good.

1 PLASTIC LAMINATES
The versatile material is probably the most widely used countertop material.

Pros:
Inexpensive
Wide range of colours, patterns and textures
Easy maintenance and resists stains
Choice of round or right-angled edging
Conceal scratches well

Cons
Susceptible to damage from sharp knives and hot pans
Dark lines (the laminate’s under-layer) may show around its edges
Damaged areas are difficult to fix

2 CERAMIC TILE
Ceramic is a pretty good choice, particularly if you are going for the country-style kitchen look. Made from natural clay, these tiles come in an almost endless range of decorative patters and designs.

Pros
Inexpensive
Heat, stain and scratch-proof
Damaged tiles easy and affordable to repair
Available in many colours, patterns, shapes and sizes

Cons
Grout between tiles is difficult to keep clean
Tiles can crack or chip
Can dull knife blades
Abrasion more noticeable on high-gloss finishes

3 GRANITE
A high-end choice for serious cooks, granite gives a stylish finish and is a popular choice in many kitchens

Pros
Scratch-proof
Won’t crack
Resistant to hot pots and pans
Cleans easily with warm water
Elegant and durable
Well-suited to baking centres for rolling out dough
Impervious to stains (when sealed), and knife cuts

Cons
Expensive, heavy and often difficult to cut
Brittle, so thick slabs are often required
Expensive to repair
Demands regular waxing and polishing to maintain sheen

4 SOLID SURFACE
Solid surface materials are typically comprised of acrylic or acrylic blended with other materials.

Pros
Available in a huge variety of colours, patterns and textures including simulated stone
Easy to clean
Non-toxic
Can be formed to have round or right-angled edges
Certain substances will stain it but this can be repaired
Durable and forgiving of scratches and blemishes (which can be sanded out because the colour is solid throughout)
Self-supporting – needs no underlay
Non-porous – resists mildew and stains
Can be ordered custom-formed to hide seams; custom designs possible with contrasting inlays

Cons
No match for sharp knives
Can discolour if hot pots and pans are left in place

5 STAINLESS STEEL
Perfect for a high-tech look, stainless steel tends to be a specialty kitchen worktop surface that works well near ovens and ranges or where a lot of water is used.

Pros
Tough: impervious to stains and high temperatures
Contemporary high-tech appearance

Cons
Shows nicks and scratches easily – avoid scouring powders
Needs a solid firm underlay or will dent

6 BUTCHER BLOCK
Usually made from maple or beech wood, butcher blocks are made of hardwood strips, glued together. If you do plenty of slicing and dicing, it is the ideal kitchen countertop to go for.

Pros
One of the most sanitary surfaces available
Nicks, cuts and scratches give it character instead of wearing it out
Can be sanded down to remove blemishes and bacteria
Relatively simple to install and repair

Cons
Does not take well to prolonged exposure to water
Requires periodic treatment with mineral oil if its unsealed
Demands thorough prompt cleaning after food preparation and exposure to moisture
Humidity sensitive (so place is away from sinks or over the dishwasher)

Torn between two surfaces? Here's how to have both in the kitchen >> MIXING AND MATCHING COUNTERTOPS

Quick Tips #2

2006-08-03T05:11:00.000-07:00

Shopping For Furniture

When it comes to furniture shopping, buy a few high-quality pieces that you really love, instead of filling your home with pieces that are less expensive but don't really do much for you. Think long term because that sofa or dining set is going to last you for many years.

Orange A-'peel'

2006-08-03T04:34:00.000-07:00

Think orange is only fitting as the colour for your Jack-O-Lantern during Halloween? Think again. Orange hues are making a fast comeback for decorating. Whether you are going for a fresh retro look or a spanking new decor, orange jazzes up spaces faster than you can say "juice". Citrus, tangerine, or shades from the orange family convey a touch of warm and optimistic feeling into spaces, giving them the extra oomph.

HERE'S HOW TO USE ORANGE

You want an orange room, but you have been warned of post-painting qualms and possibly a heart attack if you overdid it. Yes, orange can be a scary colour to paint an entire room with. But it's still possible to make it work.

Use orange in rooms where the walls are broken up with oversized windows. These windows are able to bring in not only light, but also colours from the exterior (ie. green of the leaves outside and the white of the building next door, etc); hence balancing out the powerful colour.

Also, have lots of accent pieces of another colour (especially white) in the room. For instance paint the trim at the top of the walls a pristine white to make a nice counterpoint for your orange walls.

White ceiling also provides a neutral balance.

Second thoughts about painting all four walls orange?

Then just paint one and make that your feature wall. Pick a wall with a focal point (ie. an unusually shaped wall, walls holding dramatic artwork, or the wall behind a bed's headboard) as this is where your eye goes first.

An orange feature wall with an interesting artwork on it will also provide a sense of liveliness in rooms, adding visual excitement to your space.

If you are still sticking to your 'better safe than sorry' decorating principle, all is not lost and you don't have to give up using orange altogether. It's as simple finding accent pieces in that colour to go with your decor. Rest assured, you'll have no trouble finding the many shades of orange from lively mango to watered-down peach at any price.

Just use the colour in smaller doses - in a small stool or table, fabrics, pillows and throws, bedding, tableware or accessories such as frames and boxes.

The Colour-Chic Interior

2006-06-27T22:41:00.000-07:00

A new trend is emerging in urban interiors, utilizing an explosion of colours, dramatic details, richly textured materials and sometimes a composition of multicultural elements. Playful, yet sophisticated, it is about modern contemporary interiors with a highly individualized style. This type of interior style works around the idea of being playful, yet maintaining a dose of sensibility. However, when it comes down to really defining it, it's not as easily recognizable as styles like tropical or Zen, as in the end this trend is about personalizing spaces.

While the term 'chic' here is largely our opinionated view on this interior's style, a few elements like details and an inspiring use of colours are crucial to achieve this up and coming trend. Re-painting your spaces and replacing all your furniture to achieve that ‘colour-chic’ look may be an effective way to go about it, but there are also smaller ways to do it:

Make a statement with bold wall features that also function as a display area to highlight your favourite pieces. Size matters when it comes to furniture. For visual interest, get sofas which leave enough space in the living room to fit in another sitting piece like a distinctive armchair.
Contrast is the key to highlight different spaces in this interior. For example, pair up a down-to-earth dining area with a bright and bold kitchen to bring out the funkiness of the kitchen area.
Go for eye catching wall features to anchor visual focus towards the centre point of living spaces. Choose wall features which connect to the rest of the decor through the use of colours, form and strategic placement.

You don't have to change your serious-looking sofa, just add on colourful cushions.These colourful striped throw pillows can spruce up your neutral sofa right away.

Another way to accentuate spaces is through the use of lamps. Place shades of different styles all around the interior.

Zoning Your Kitchen

2006-06-27T01:55:00.000-07:00

If you have a large enough kitchen, you should consider "zoning" it. Partially divide off your kitchen space into separate areas for working, eating and utility:

The working zone includes work surfaces for the preparation of food; a storage area for dry, canned and perishable goods; the stove (ovens and burners) and refrigerator; storage for cooking pots and pans; a serving area; and a place to wash the dishes. This zone will contain the work triangle.

An eating area will depend on the amount of space available - in a large, streamlined kitchen, the dining section might be separate, possibly divided from the working area by units incorporating a worktop for serving food. In a more informal and possibly unfitted kitchen, a large table with a durable countertop could serve for both preparation and eating. A breakfast bar with stools is an alternative, or a small, circular space-saving table with folding chairs; the table itself could even fold down or might be hung on a wall when not in used.

A utility area should include the washing machine and dryer, ironing equipment and storage for cleaning materials, If there is plenty of space, it might also house and extra sink, drainer, long-term storage of dry good and freezer.

Quick Tips #1

2006-06-26T23:42:00.000-07:00

Greening Interior Spaces
Use innovative containers like artistic mugs, glasses, carafes and small terracotta pots amd fill them with a few small plants. Place them on the windowsill, washbasin or on the cistern to spruce your living spaces.

Cabinet Hardware

2006-06-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

Cabinet hardware like hinges and pulls are more than just an add-on to your kitchen cabinets. Here is a brief list of what you should look out for when you go cabinet hardware shopping:

Customize cabinet hardware to your specifications. Since most cabinets are custom or semi-custom, picking the right fixtures should be the customer’s choice not the factory's.

When you get a look at the sample board of knobs, pulls, and hinges, catches and fasteners don't get dazzled by the fashion statement. The main purpose here is to find pieces that blend into the overall design of your kitchen, not overwhelm it.

Height and weight of cabinet doors determine how many hinges you need. If too few hinges are installed onto heavy doors, too much stress is put on the hinges under repetitive use and the hinge and door will either break or pull out. Here’s a rough guide:

2 hinges – Cabinet doors that are 40 inches high and less then 11 pounds
3 hinges – 40 - 60 inches high and 13 - 20 pounds
4 hinges – 60 - 80 inches high and 29 - 33 pounds
5 hinges – 80 - 85 inches high and 40 - 48 pounds

Pulls are similar to knobs but take up more space on the drawer front and are usually a bolder, more noticeable statement than knobs. Bring along an old pull to compare the size at the retailer. One possibility, if the pulls are a must have, but they don't fit into the pre-existing holes of the drawer front, use a back plate along with the pull to cover the old markings.

Cabinet hardware installation must be done properly or the kitchen won't function optimally. For best results have the contractor or the master carpenter at least oversee the job. Don't leave this one to the day labourers. As you consider which hardware finish to buy, look to your kitchen faucet for clues. If your kitchen faucet has an aged brass finish, use the same finish on your hardware and any interior door hardware and window locks.

Choosing Cushions

2006-06-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

Small cushions, pillows or throw pillows are attractive home accessories which complement your overall home furnishing. Before you buy them, determine where you are going to use them because different kinds of fillings serve different purposes. The most popular types of pillows/cushions are these five:

Feather and down: Ideal for scatter cushions as well as for loose cushions for the seats of sofas and chairs. It’s soft, resilient and wears well.
Sythetic wadding: Light in weight and the filling is washable. Some are allergy-free which makes them ideal for anyone allergic to feathers or down.
Kapok: This is a lightweight, inexpensive filling suitable for cushions both indoors and out. It’s non-absorbent but not as longlasting as some other fillings, as it tends to go lumpy with wear.
Plastic foam chips: Foam chips do not have the smooth appearance of the latex and plastic foams. This type of pillow/cushion is economical and are suitable as garden cushions because the chips do not absorb moisture.
Latex and plastic foam: Made in various shapes and sizes and in different qualities, this type of cushion wears well.