English Cottage Home Decor

If you fancy having a quaint English country home, but do not live in the country, much less in England; well, do not fret. It is possible to create a lovely English country home within your existing living space.

You can create an innovative English country home decor in your own home by applying a blend of formal English style living room furniture, antique accessories and toile. Also key to the English country home style, especially for the living room interior design, would be to use neutral colors.

The simple tips below will help you achieve a regal English country look in your own home!

English Cottage Decor - As Soothing As a Cup of Tea
By Fran Sloan

The English are nothing if not practical and this is aptly reflected in the English Cottage style of decorating. That's not to say that things aren't pretty, even beautiful, in this style. It's just that practicality comes first.

The contemporary English Cottage decorating style offers a casual, eclectic and quite personal home decor. It carries its owner's personal stamp, whether it be old family black and white family photographs, crocheted doilies or a big bunch of garden flowers in a blue ceramic jug.

This decor style harks back a century or more ago, when an English cottage would have been a small dwelling occupied by local craftsmen, farmers, herders and the like. These hardworking people wanted little more than comfort in their homes after days filled with physical labor, and so this decor style combines rustic elements with pure comfort.

To start, the color palette in English Cottage style is governed by the colors of nature, from a variety of shades of green to earth brown and the tones of autumn, rust, yellow and orange. The pinks and pale reds of English roses ease this earthy color scheme, but be sure to keep these accents to muted, antique-looking shades. Otherwise, plenty of fall colors predominate.

Next, pay close attention to finishes in the furnishings you choose. A rustic fireplace and exposed ceiling beams are fine, but highly polished modern-looking surfaces are not. The same goes for furniture. A leather chair can be overstuffed and a bit worn and be perfect for this style of decor. If the upholstery is really too faded or worn for comfort, hide it with colorful floral slipcovers, another element of this style.

The kitchen in this decor is not meant to be a marvel of contemporary culinary arts. More than likely it will be on the small side, but it will be airy and open and above all, eminently practical. Store the utensils in a pottery jug next to the stove, and it will be ideal for the decor. Watch for a drop-leaf wooden table, which will be perfect for any type of kitchen duty, but can be opened up when company comes. And go ahead and leave that copper-bottomed kettle on the stove. Once the water boils, though, transfer it to a pretty china teapot covered in a crocheted cozy to keep the water hot for the tea.

When it comes to accents, every room in an English Cottage decor should nearly burst with antiques, baskets, dried flowers and herbs, a veritable riot of textures and colors that tells guests all about the homeowners. From the whitewashed ceiling to the tile floors covered in colorful, sturdy woolen rugs or wool braided rugs, this is a style built on family and heritage.

Window treatments are functional and simple. Curtains may be cafe style on rings or lacy sheers framing roller shades, but nothing should extend below the window sill.

When finishing off the decorating, don't be afraid to blend old and new. Remember, practicality is the watchword. Storage trunks could be end tables or nightstands, while an old metal inverts to make a terrific coffee table. Free-standing glass-front cabinets are perfect for displaying the family heirlooms, even if you bought them at a garage sale or flea market. Add lots of live plants, especially a couple of hanging ferns, and you'll have an English Cottage home straight out of an Agatha Christie novel.

Senior writer Fran really enjoys writing about English Cottage Decor. And he says that if you want your room to make a statement without spending a fortune then all you need to is place oval rugs or rectangle braided area rugs on your floor.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fran_Sloan

English Cottage Interior Design Pictures

Girls Bedding

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a more traditional or more modern nursery, browse through our collection of baby bedding sets to find one that matches your style, personality, and tastes! Don’t forget to check out the accessories to enhance your boy’s nursery even more!

Toddler Bedding

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Teen Bedding

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Bed-in-a-bag sets make decorating your teens bedroom a snap. A new comforter set can make all the difference and we're here to help. At Totally Girly, we offer hundreds of bed-in-a-bag, duvet sets, sheet sets, teen decor and comforter sets. We carry high-quality fabrics and the best teen bedding products at excellent prices.

Summer Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Summer is a great time for remodeling projects, especially the bathroom. A complete remodeling of the bathroom can take a minimum of 2 weeks to complete. If this is what you plan on doing, summer is a great time to do it! It also helps that the economy is not as robust - you can bargain for a greater deal with your contractor. Definitely shop around, obtain quotes, and look at references before hiring a bathroom remodeling contractor.

Below we have some superb tips on great designs for bathroom remodeling.

4 Great Designs For Bathroom Remodeling Projects
By Patricia Strasser

Some of the great designs named in remodeling bathrooms that will give you an improved and better space are: the tub is the star, the cantilevered double sink, the bathroom wardrobe, and antique and traditional looks.

Remodeling your bathroom brings out the best of your bathroom space. This will benefit not just the resale value of your home but also the experience of the people using the space daily. Remodeling according to how you want your bathroom to look, will give you extra credit. Make use of the following bathroom designs to help keep your bathroom remodeling project moving:

The tub is the star

The "tub is the star" design focuses more on the surroundings of the bathroom space. The bathroom is used as a utensil for sight seeing. This type of design makes use of the double-ended tub. It is a type of bath tub that enables you to lie on both sides. You can have a warm bath laying against or facing the window. It is mostly used in houses with a contemporary architectural design.

The cantilevered double sink

A "cantilevered double sink" design provides you the advantage of bigger bathroom space. It makes use of a deep-basin shaped sink. The double sink is placed on a cantilevered bathroom counter. Having two sinks in the bathroom will provide you and your partner the time to brush your teeth or wash your face together. This will also save you time. A cantilevered double sink is generally used in a modern home.

A bathroom wardrobe

The position of the tub in this design is placed in the center of the room with one end of it positioned on the wall. The bath tub will cover the pipe on the wall. However, the person will be facing the wall when he or she uses the bath tub. Place a mirror on the wall adjacent to the bath tub to fix this problem. Wardrobe storage is one of the main components in a bathroom wardrobe as well. This will save space in the other part of the house. It will also allow you to directly change or store clothes after taking a bath.

Antique and traditional look

Antique and traditional looks use a claw-foot tub that is placed diagonally in the bathroom for a more relaxing feeling and position. Use a wainscot wall treatment made of solid wood to help keep the wall dry and protected from moisture. An antique and traditional design is a common and practical bathroom design that is generally used in most homes today.

Properly choose a fitting wall color that will give your bathroom a refreshing look. Make sure that you arrange the fixtures and furniture in a clear and organized way. This will allow you to enjoy every bath and will make you want to stay in the bath tub longer.

Hire bath remodeling contractors to renovate your bathrooms now by visiting Alcoa Construction for recommendations.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Strasser

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Small Bedroom Interior Design

Small bedrooms can be challenging to decorate. But it is not impossible to have a great small bedroom interior design with a few easy tips to keep in mind. For instance, paint color for the bedroom can have an effect on the overall perception of the room. If you want to create a more spacious feel to your room, then light colored paint would be a good choice. Allow natural light to filter into the room.

Home decor expert discusses several tips to keep in mind while designing and decorating your small bedroom.

Small Bedroom Design - Make Your Bedroom Look Bigger And More Comfortable
By Albert Lee

Having a small bedroom should not be a problem when you know how to design and decorate it. Through the right approach, you are going to easily forget that it is small and instead will let you feel not only like it is bigger but more comfortable and relaxing to stay at. It may seem impossible for you, but you can achieve this effect and stop getting guilty that you have it small.

Start by de-cluttering it with mess, meaning you have to toss off things that are not of much use. Replace them with essentials only. Along with that, consider the following ideas to achieve that bigger look as well as comfortable and cozy feel:

1. Color

Apply the bedroom with brighter paint colors. It is a way to let natural light getting inside the small room reflected in these colors making your room appear bigger.

2. Mirrors

Putting mirrors in some key areas is a great way for adding dimension to the small bedroom. They enhance space of the room because of the doubled-look effect. Just make sure you don't place a mirror that reflects the part where you don't want it exposed.

3. Beds

Use slim-framed furniture and bed to avoid taking up much of the space. Fold-down beds are great for small bedrooms, as well as bedroom closets. The latter is a type that is provided with built-in shelves, typically just underneath it.

Platform beds are also great choice for small bed. These are basically the kind with the low height, usually with only a foot high above the floor level of the room. The effect is that it actually makes volume and the bedroom looks bigger.

If to use conventional beds, you can have the space underneath by placing storage boxes or shelves. At one side of the bed, you can place a table or chair where you can put your reading lamp. Make sure it matches your bed for more stylish effect.

4. Shelves

Floor-to-ceiling book shelves are also great to store your small items and mementos, and of course, your books. This kind of shelve will not necessitate any more kinds of furniture because you can put virtually all the things in there. The result is saved spaces.

5. Furniture

Small furniture will do in small bedrooms, but arranging all pieces is they key to achieving the space-saving intention while keeping them still fashionable. Place these pieces at angles to help distract visual lines off the walls.

6. Wall paper

This is one of the most important items that you can focus on to achieve the illusion of bigger space. Wallpapers with horizontal patterns create effects of horizontal expansions.

When chosen and applied well, these ideas should work well with your small bedroom to turn it into comfortable and relaxing place to stay at. Bedrooms are designed to be somewhere where one would be staying to rest at nights and one that would be his/her private sanctuary; therefore, small bedroom design should be something that meets personal requirement in the most comfortable atmosphere.

For bedroom design ideas, visit http://www.bedroomdecoratingideas101.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Albert_Lee

Small Bedroom Decorating Pictures



Creating storage space for a small bedroom

The Beauty of Sea Cliff!

Something always draws me back to the beautiful coast of Maine. Perhaps it is the spectacular ocean views against the rough and craggy rocks, but I remain quite taken with the Maine coast.

Recently the historic "Summer Cottage", Sea Cliff came on the market. Sea Cliff, built in 1914 is perched high on the rocks with panoramic views and overlooking the Portland Lighthouse. The stone work in the house is amazing. Notice the original fireplace above. With such a striking wall of stone, the owner needs to do very little decorating. The masonry speaks for itself.
Of course the original kitchen from 1914 has been thoughtfully renovated.

The breakfast room has outstanding views. You can see the lighthouse through the main picture window to the left.

The home retains many of its original features, which have been untouched over the years, including the second floor landing. The wainscotting and beamed ceilings are so beautiful. I like how they turned this area into a mini gallery space.

The upper deck also has amazing views. The railings are interesting with clear Plexiglass. I wonder if they get cloudy from the ocean salt spray.
To see more of this wonderful, historic home click here. Are you as in love with this Maine "Summer Cottage" as I am?


(all photos mls)

Another Secret Shopping Spot - DOMUS

This week kicks off the Brimfield Fair; the famous antique show in Massachusetts. I am always excited to head west of Boston, but recently its not because the Brimfield Fair, but because of a secret shopping spot I found along the way.

The store is called DOMUS and is open year round. It is filled with wonderful treasures. Gorgeous antiques, unusual reproductions, fabulous accessories. It is one of my most secret spots for finding wonderful unique items for the homes of my clients (and myself!).

DOMUS formerly known as HOME, located in historic Sturbridge, MA is the brainchild of the famous Alex Pifer of the hugely successful SERAPH store. If you are a fan of the primitive, colonial decorating style you will know that Alex is icon. Over the years she has been featured numerous times in Country Living, Primitive Homes and several other magazines. Her eye and attention to detail has made the most discerning collector come back to the SERAPH again and again. But, Alex is a multi-dimensional and multi-talented designer and buyer. She has ventured into the world of Swedish, French and Belgian decor. And, as you can guess like everything else she does, her new venture is outstanding. Let's have look:

On the property right next to the SERAPH, Alex and her charming husband had a spectacular Post and Beam shop built to house the gorgeous DOMUS inventory. Here a pair of gorgeous armchairs are covered in grainsack slipcovers. Notice the garden table and statuary and how wonderfully it goes together.

Here is a beautiful reproduction chaise covered in linen. The finish on this piece is incredible.

The displays in the store are worth seeing. Alex and her staff, including the talented, Laura, do a fantastic job of putting things together. You can guess how much I fell in love with this vignette.

DOMUS has an incredible selection of antique mercury glass, grainsack covered furniture and Swedish antiques.

But if you like a more refined look, you can find it here as well. Another fabulous vignette; and it has a completely different feel. With such an incredible collection to choose from its easy to find spectacular items for myself and my clients. The store is very large. Here is a more contemporary look. I just adore the linen sofa.

DOMUS is not limited to living room and dining room decor. Above is a beautiful French bedroom set. Notice the lighting as well, Alex has chosen a wonderful mix of lighting options for the most discerning customers.

On my most recent visit I was enamored with this dining room table and chairs. Notice the urns and the birdhouse.

It is a common theme at DOMUS to mix garden items with more formal indoor items.

This mirror stopped me in my tracks. Isn't it stunning? You will rarely see the same thing twice here.

Alex prides herself in obtaining the unique. So if you want to find something extraordinary that no one else has, this is the place. So of course you are thinking that wonderful unique items like this are just too expensive and out of reach - I almost don't want you to know...the prices are very reasonable! So my secret is out - I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!!

DOMUS is a 45 minute drive from downtown Boston. To see more of their ever changing inventory click their Facebook page here. To get directions click here. And when you head out there, do tell Alex and Laura hello from Gina at Willow Decor. I know you will be glad you made the trip. (Out of state customers can call the store directly as they ship anywhere in the US!)

PS. Sturbridge is wonderful town to visit - plan to stay for lunch at one of the many little cafes and inns.