Childproofing Your Kitchen

If you have an active toddler at home, you would know that child-proofing is a must. Toddlers are in that stage wherein they are constantly trying to assert their independence and that means trying anything and everything, which can potentially be dangerous. 

If you want to keep your sanity as a parent and to keep your toddler safe and healthy, you have no choice but to childproof potentially hazardous places in your home, such as your kitchen.

Childproofing need not be complicated nor expensive. The key is to never underestimate your child’s resourcefulness, strength and skill. Here are some easy ways to make sure your kitchen is safe for your child.

• Make sure items that are off-limits such as glass and china, sharp knives, utensils that can poke an eye such as skewers, graters, peelers, as well as potentially poisonous substances like medicines, cleaning products, alcoholic beverages and the like, are secured in storage areas away from your child’s reach.
• Install child-guard latches on drawers and cabinets and appliances such as the refrigerator.
• Keep chairs, stepladders and stools away to discourage climbing.
• Install a gate to keep your child away from the kitchen whenever you can’t closely supervise.
• Use the back burners of the range when cooking.
• Keep the dishwasher locked at all times.
• Keep sponges out of reach.
• Make sure that your garbage and recycling are in tightly covered containers.
• Clean up spills immediately to avoid your child from slipping.
• Do not leave cleaning or utility buckets lying around.

It is possible to keep your kitchen both a happy and safe place for your family. You can get some peace of mind by employing some of these tips to childproof your kitchen.

Using Throw Pillows To Enhance Your Home

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Are you looking for ways to liven up your home? One simple and inexpensive way to do so is to use throw pillows. Here are some ways on how to use throw pillows to enhance your living space. 

• Brighten dull spaces, such as a neutral sofa, by using bold, bright-colored throw pillows. Try a splash of red or orange. 
•  Experiment with throw pillows that have different textures. This will not only cater to your sense of sight but to your sense of touch as well. 
• Instead of just using color, you can also add graphic details to a simple sofa or chair as well. Patterns create visual interest to an all-neutral room. Use throw pillows as accent pieces not only on your sofa but on your bed too. 
• Try using pillows with different sizes and shapes. In order to achieve a natural, casual ambiance, add pillows to your overstuffed or upholstered furniture. 
• If you have a lot of wood furniture in your living room, you can balance all that wood by using soft cushions to make comfortable sitting areas. 
• Scatter cushions to create a comfortable, relaxing ambiance in your garden. Since kids love plopping down on the floor, give them a fun play area by placing comfortable pillows to sit on. 

Enhancing your home need not be challenging or expensive. Pillows are very easy to update, so you can very well use any of the tips above to add new life to your home. Just remember to be open to experiment, and most of all, have fun.

How to create a garden in your condo balcony

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 Not every one of us is gifted with ample space to work with in our living areas. In fact, with the ongoing rate of population growth in the country, building vertically is the trend in the construction industry. Living in a condominium is now very popular in that, with just a small space, you get to house plenty of households.

Of course, this does not come without its disadvantages. One of this is making do with sharing a common space with complete strangers. Fortunately, some units come equipped with a balcony that serves as a unit owner’s individual private space.

• Start with your flooring. Choose a non-permanent paving solution that can be easily removed should you decide to change it or if your building administrator does not allow permanent installation in your balcony. This can be in the form of loose pebbles, loose concrete tiles, or loose wooden decking. 
• You may also explore other choices for this. Put plants to serve as noise buffer and natural air filter. Unknown to many, thick planting materials can protect your house from the noise outside. It reduces the amount of sound waves that can get through the unit. 
• Aside from that, it is also a good air filter and cooler, and, if chosen wisely, can make a place more aesthetically pleasing. To make it more functional, you may even plant herbs that you can serve in your kitchen. 
• Place vertical elements to make the space more interesting. It can be in the form of tall plants, hanging pots, or sculpture.  
• Make the space interactive by providing a seating area. The balcony can serve as your escape from the noisy life downstairs through this. You can also enjoy your place more if you get to sit on this space every once in a while. 
• Lastly, decide on a conversation piece. It can be a water feature, a rock sculpture, or a painting. Just make sure that the whole family (or household) will be involved in choosing your piece. 

Living in a condo unit need not be limiting. You just have to be open-minded and use the resources you have. This way, you will love every minute you spend in your space.

Urban Scope Design Tip: Create a Custom-Made Furniture Piece

Courtesy of urbanscopedesigns.com

Our custom furniture design services are top-notch and guaranteed to satisfy our discriminating customers. This custom-made foyer table lends a Zen-like vibe to this modern home. We used accents of river stones and horsetail plants to emphasize the relaxing, modern tones of this furniture piece. For inquiries on how you can have your own custom-built furniture, please visit www.urbanscopdesigns.com and make an inquiry.

Decorating 101: Quick style tips to revamp your kitchen

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Your kitchen can easily become your family room. Aside from it being the workstation in the house, you congregate there when you eat your breakfast as you start your day. Your kids even do their homework there. And you get together as a family to talk about the day that passed (which is why this is the most battered and used home in the house). What better way to reward this area than to give it a makeover?

But this being one of the most important spaces in the house, you cannot afford to make a major one lest you want to live without a kitchen for a long time. How do you revamp this space in the quickest and easiest way?

1. If you are used to having closed overhead cabinets, why don’t you change the look of your kitchen by trying open shelving. Make sure, though, that you only put dinnerware that you use on a daily basis as you get to clean them more often from dust. Leave those that you use occasionally inside closed cabinets. 
2.  Try changing the look of your kitchen by updating your knobs and door handles. You just have to scour through hardware stores and you will be wowed by many choices that you have. 
3. Painting is the cheapest way (that has the greatest impact) of updating the look of your kitchen. You may paint your cabinets or the walls. Keep in mind that this is a work area. The paint color will affect the amount of effective lighting for the space. Change the table and chair. Or if you want, you may also paint the existing furniture with fun, quirky colors to modernize the look of your kitchen. 
4.  Add rugs to make your kitchen cozier. Buy ones that are easy to wipe and clean up. 

After doing all these little changes, take an overall look of the space. Only you will know if you have achieved your desired look for your kitchen.

Decorating 101: Easy, chic ways to revamp your bathroom

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Although it can be considered as one of the areas of the house that is most taken for granted, the bathroom is an important part of a person’s life. More often than not, the smallest space is almost always allotted for this area.

But the irony is, we need to go to this room a number of times a day. A clean bathroom is a reflection of a clean personality. However, does it follow that an outdated bathroom is a reflection of an outdated personality? What are the things that can be done to update the look and revamp your bathroom?

1. Be adventurous and put a nice painting on the wall. It can be something calm and serene. Or you can put one that is witty and fun. You may even create your own painting. What a nice place to display your first work of art, right? 
2. Change the accessories. Put on matching shower curtains, rugs, and towels. You can even do this change on a weekly or a monthly basis. Easiest way to update the look of the bathroom! 
3. Put stylish fixtures. Classic mirrors and overhead lighting creates a cozy ambiance. Do this if you want to achieve a calm, peaceful, and serene impression. 
4.  Re-grout your tiles. Not only are you changing the look, you are also making your bathroom cleaner. To do this, make sure that the tiles are cleaned and dried. Apply grout as indicated on its packaging. Leave overnight and be surprised with the new look of your space. 
5. Nothing beats the effect of good old paint when you're renovating a space. Choose a color that you think will suit the feel of the space best. 

After spending some time redecorating your bathroom, why don’t you relax and take advantage of your own private space? If you are able to enjoy the experience, you know that you have succeeded in your task.

How to Create an Office at Home

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Gone are the days when, if you need to work on a computer, you have to go to a computer shop. Nowadays, owning a laptop has become a one-is-to-one thing and almost everybody owns one. It was some time in 2007 when affordable laptops were made available. Even before that, working from home has also been made possible because everybody is wired to each other through the internet. Along with these developments, it has become a necessity to setup your own home office. It takes just one corner of your house for you to have one. But the question is, what are the requirements to having your own efficient, home office?

• Size matters. The wider your desk is, the better. This depends on your comfort and space requirements. You don’t want to be stuck in a space so cramped you can’t even move your mouse (if ever you decide to have one) or even place a pad on the desk where you can take down notes.

• Declutter, declutter, declutter. The key to a clear mind is a clear desk. Especially if you have limited space, this principle is very important. Which is why you have to…

• …set aside storage space. Install drawers and cabinets. Make use of your shelves. And keep all the things that you are not using in their storage spaces.

• Make sure light is sufficient for you to work comfortably. Take advantage of natural lighting. Or if it is not possible, you can install lamps or other artificial lighting. Try different places and different intensities before you settle on a permanent space and specifications for your lamp. This depends on the person who is going to use the space. The standard is to have it above you (so you can install an overhead light) or behind you.

• Aside from lighting, ventilation is also important. Make use of natural ventilation through windows and install fans or air conditioner.

• Hide all the wires. Don’t you just hate it when tangled wires are visible, you can’t even concentrate on your work? Plan the layout of your gadgets and electrical appliances.

• Lastly, personalize your space. It doesn’t matter what it looks like. It all depends on your personality.

The things listed above are just suggestions. Having an efficient home office is all about the user’s preference. As long as the person who will be using the space is comfortable, you are sure that the area you have created is effective.

Ten Do's and Don'ts of Picture Hanging

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To help you get the “hang” of artful arranging, the following are some positive pointers on picture grouping. REMEMBER! Your front door talks about you to everyone who passes by... your walls gossip about you to all your friends. Walls are the largest single feature in any room! Be sure yours make a positive statement by careful selection of your artwork, framing and hanging!

1. COMPOSITION is the key. Consider your grouping as a single unit. LINE, BALANCE, RHYTHM and SCALE. 
2. First, work out an attractive arrangement on the floor. Remembering to measure out the entire amount of wall space you have to work in. Trace an outline of each picture on paper and use these as guides for placement on the walls. This will eliminate unnecessary nailholes. (Newspaper, freezer paper, brown craft paper). 
3. The eye craves order, so remember your practical geometry. Hang pictures so that they form at least one horizontal, and one vertical line. (With the exception of a round grouping.) 
4. Your arrangement should hang-together, literally. Too much space between pictures disrupts the graphic effect. (Use your hand width as a good spacing between pieces.) 
5.  Remember, not only size, but color and textures will affect the balance. Always integrate groupings for balance by keeping the weight of your composition well distributed. 
6. Add Rhythm by combining large and small squares, rectangles and circles, but mingle the various shapes and sizes throughout to add visual interest. 
7. Permanent accessories such as lamps, are important to remember, so include them into your plan.  
8. Correct scale is such a common factor in decorating that we are not aware of it until it is absent. Sizes of objects used together. Standing a pony beside an elephant will make the pony look smaller or the elephant look larger… tiny pictures over a large overstuffed sofa or vice versa is incorrect. 
9. Stair-stepping pictures is a no-no unless hanging them on a stairway wall. How HIGH or How LOW???? Remember, everyone’s “eye-level” is different. 
10. The Rule to remember is: No more than 6 to 8 inches above a piece of furniture or at average eye level if not above furniture. 

You can view other free framing articles and tips for arranging artwork at the photograph's website. The artist offers free screensavers along with affordable prices for beautiful pictures. Mr. McNulty’s web site www.premierphotographer.com offers some of the finest fine art photography available online. You can reach Pat McNulty at 610-395-1834 or via e-mail at webmaster@premierphotographer.com Take a look at www.premierphotographer.com for several other free articles on framing and arranging artwork, along with free decorating articles. “ Happy Hanging”

Why Custom Furniture May Be Better for Your Budget

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When we hear the phrase “custom built,” the thought that often automatically follows is “expensive” – and with good reason. Since custom-built furniture is takes up more time and effort and expert know-how to make than mass produced items, there is naturally more cost involved.

But do you know that there are actually times when custom furniture can be less expensive in the long run? Here are three reasons why:

1. Custom furniture stays in good shape longer. Generally speaking, custom-built furniture will keep in good shape long after that store-bought cabinet’s doors have gone askew. One reason for this is that you could specify the materials you wish to be used, and how you want it to be treated, so that it does not rot or mold or break easily.

This means you’ll only need to buy that piece of furniture once. It will not be an expense that recurs every other year.

2. Custom furniture retains its value. When custom furniture is properly built, its value appreciates over time, unlike mass-produced furniture, which begin to depreciate the moment they are loaded onto the delivery van. It is, when well made, a work of art. If, someday, you decide to sell it off, you may even make some profit from the deal.

3. You can make one piece of furniture do the work of two. For instance, it’s not every day that you can find office tables that can also be used as a reliable safety deposit box in your neighborhood furniture store. Getting one custom built will spare you from having to buy an office table and a separate safety deposit box – which, by the way, will eat up extra space you may wish to use for something else.

It will also be a good way of hiding your valuables. Who would have thought that table had a secret compartment? Only you and your furniture builder would know.

The Importance of Accessories in Decorating

 

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For many of us, accessories are the last things we consider when we design our homes and offices. Often, we plan the materials for the floors, the color of the wall, maybe even the finish for the ceiling, and the type of furniture we will put in. But seldom do we think about the accessories that will finish it all off.

In the end, we come up with a room that feels comfortable, looks decent, but somehow feels incomplete – like a salad without dressing, or an iced cake without flowerettes, or a low-cut dress without a necklace to match.

Now if you’re still wondering why the room feels incomplete, let me spell it out for you: it is incomplete. You haven’t put in the accessories yet!

Paint and floors and ceiling and furniture make a room – but it is the accessories that make it your room. In exactly the same way, offices have hundreds of identical cubicles. Only when you’ve put in your family pictures and potted plants does it become your cubicle.

Without the accessories that mark a territory as your territory, that piece of space will never completely feel like home. It will feel like a nice hotel room – shiny, anonymous, impersonal.

So when you design your room or office, remember not to stop halfway. Put some pictures or other interesting items on the walls, tables, or shelves. Put in your favorite books or magazines, and let the world know what you feed your mind with. Let your choice of blinds or curtains reflect who you are: bamboo, lace, or beads, perhaps?

Of course, make sure that all these things combine harmoniously with each other. You don’t want your picture frames or curtains to clash with your furniture or walls. And this is why you need to plan your accessories along with everything else; they should not be an afterthought, because really, your room will never be truly finished without them.

(Can you imagine how annoying it would be if, after all the time you’ve spent cutting and washing up veggies for your salad, anticipating how heavenly it would taste after you’ve tossed it in with your favorite dressing, you discover that there’s nothing but chocolate syrup in the house?)

Decorating with Plants: Tips and Tricks

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Plants are a great way to add color, life, and a refreshing dose of nature and oxygen into a room. They can be intimidating to some of us, though, because they are living things and need a little more care than picture frames and figurines.

You don’t need to be daunted by the prospect of decorating with plants, though. All you need to do is remember a few simple things.

1. Choose a sunny spot for your plant. As you know, plants get their food from the sun. Without sunlight, your plant will die, and instead of adding oxygen into your room, it will add carbon dioxide instead.

2. Choose plants that thrive indoors. Some plants survive indoor conditions better than others. Cacti, bamboo palms, ivies, and philodendrons are some. Herbs such as basil and thyme generally survive pretty well on a kitchen window sill – and they are often useful for more than decoration there too.

3. Make your pots match your décor. Terra cotta pots are popular, but they aren’t your only option, and they certainly won’t work well for all kinds of decors. If your home has a sleek, modern look, you want sleek, modern pots. If you have bamboo furniture, you can put your terra cotta pots inside wicker baskets. If you have an all white motif, with white sofa covers and white frames hanging on the wall, you may need white pots as well.

4. Choose different sizes of plants. Big plants, small plants, plants with different shapes of leaves – these are more interesting to look at than several tiny pots of barrel cacti scattered all over your living room.

5. Match the size of the plant with the space. If you have a large empty space, you don’t want to hang a tiny little plant there. You need something that will match the space. Likewise, a large potted plant should not be placed on top of a small corner table. Your plants should nicely fill out the space available for them.

Urban Scope Design Tip: Use Mirrors to Enlarge a Room

Here's an actual Urban Scope Designs' client's home. We furnished the room in neutrals and creams, accenting the appointments with a few accessories that gave the space a Zen-like quality. Since this home was particularly narrow, too, we opted to use panel mirrors on one side of the condominium unit. This gave the illusion that the space was actually bigger and wider. It's a less expensive alternative to extending the unit with an annex.

How to Achieve an Uncluttered Children’s Playroom

Photo credit: Christaface

 An “uncluttered playroom” almost sounds oxymoronic, a contradiction of terms, like “open secret,” “serious comedy,” and “airline food.”

But believe it or not, it is possible to achieve an uncluttered playroom for your kids – at least for those times when they are not playing in it. Here are two easy steps for doing just that:

1. Ditch the shelves. Use boxes instead. All those toys, in plain sight and easy access – it’s just too tempting for your children to pull them all down onto the floor, whether or not they wish to play with them.

It will help minimize your clutter if, instead of open shelves, you have large chest boxes instead. It is far quicker and easier for your kids to dump everything into a box than to pile items one by one back into a shelf.

To keep little ones from getting their fingers caught in a hinged lid, choose a box with a light unhinged lid instead. (You want it to be light so that it won’t slip out of their hands and fall onto their little feet – and even if it does, it won’t cause injury because it’s light.)

Of course, you’ve got to manage your expectations. If you’ve got multiple boxes – one for wood toys, another for plush toys, and another for plastic toys, perhaps – expect that you’ll find wood, plastic, and plush all mixed together in each box every time you check, unless you had taken the time to rigorously train your child to categorize according to your standards.

Well, at least they’re not cluttered up on the floor.

2. Keep the “one in, one out” rule. Toys have a way of accumulating, especially during birthdays and Christmas. At some point, you simply run out of places to put them in.

If your current storage is no longer sufficient for the amount of toys your kids have, don’t add more storage! Send out some of the toys. Do an inventory and simply throw away the broken ones. Ask your kids, too, which toys they no longer want.

Toys that are still nice but are no longer attractive to your children could be stored in some inaccessible shelf, out of the playroom and out of the way. Better yet, give them away to other children who may get more enjoyment from them. This way, those other kids get new playthings, you have less clutter in the house, and your own kids have more space for new toys – so everybody’s happy!

Frugal Ways to Decorate with Jars

Photo credit: ]babi]

Jars make interesting and versatile decorative items, since they come in a variety of attractive shapes and different sizes. And since you’ve already paid for them when you bought the foodstuff they contained, your jars are now practically free! What more could a frugal decorator ask for?

Here are some ways you can decorate with jars:

1. Use them as vases. Jars can make good flower vases. Just make sure you regularly change the water to keep it clean and clear and nice to look at. A row of these jars, each filled with colorful flowers, can make an eye-catching décor.

Or try using gel beads – brightly colored, translucent, water-soaked beads that your plants can get hydration from. Choose a color that will match or complement your room décor, then skip the flowers altogether and stick in something more subtle, like the lucky bamboo plant. Even just one of these jars in a room can be a very effective conversation piece.

2. Make a kitchen herbarium. Grow your own cooking herbs right in your kitchen, and infuse some green freshness into the area. And to highlight the kitchen motif, use your food jars to grow the herbs in.

Just fill the jars with soil and compost, plant a few herb seedlings, then line the jars up near the windowsill. Snip a few leaves when you need them for your dishes.

Some good herbs for an indoor garden are thyme, rosemary, mint, parsley, and basil, because they don’t grow too big.

3. Turn them in candle holders. Small wide-bottomed jars make good tea candle holders. Five or more identical jars such as these, lighted at the same time, can give any room a relaxing atmosphere and a romantic ambience.

4. Fill them with colorful trinkets and other stuff. A row of jars filled with different things often make very interesting décors. In the kitchen, you can fill your jars with cereal, cookies, candies, or uncooked pasta. In the bathroom, try small colored hand soaps, cotton balls, bath salts, or rolled wash cloths. In the living room, you can fill your jars with potpourri, pine cones, sea shells, glass pebbles, Christmas balls, spools of thread, balls of yarn, candy hearts, etc. Or you could put a photograph in each jar and turn them into picture “frames.”

Choosing the Right Painting for Your Living Room

Image by MatthewHamblen.com 

Since the living room is where we receive guests in our house, there is no better room that this one for showcasing our personality. And as far as expressions of personality are concerned, few things are as strikingly effective as putting a painting or two on the wall.

So how do you choose the right paintings for your living room?

Style/genre
For a painting to be effective, it should support by the general theme of your living room.

For rooms that wish to exude quiet elegance, landscapes and floral still-life paintings are often the best choice. Realist or impressionist paintings of people at work, at play, or at rest are likewise elegant but tend to be less quiet. Paintings of animals tend to create a more casual atmosphere.

If your living room has a modern theme, an abstract painting may be more suitable.
Asian-themed living rooms are well advised to hang Asian-themed paintings as well, such as the black and white paintings and calligraphy created with Chinese or Japanese ink and brush.

Size and number
Note that your living room is not a museum. Do not put too many paintings in it, or it will look more like a gallery than a living space. Often, one painting is enough. Three is a safe maximum.

Remember that paintings are not photographs. Paintings tend to demand a place of honor, and extra space; photographs are less imperious.

If the space looks too much for a single photograph, it is probably just enough for a same-sized painting. On the other hand, if the space seems just right for a same-sized photograph, it is probably not enough space for a painting.

Before and After: Urban Scope Transformations in Real Homes

We here at Urban Scope Designs take pride in our ability to transform blank rooms into well-appointed and unique living spaces. We take a customized approach to home decorating, and consider several aspects in terms of making your home reflect your personality. Visit our website to see our full range of services, as well as to view some of the spaces we've transformed. 

Decorating Your Kitchen on a Budget

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Among all the rooms in our home, the kitchen is the most used, abused, and loved. Inevitably, we spend a lot of time in this part of our house, preparing meals for ourselves and our loved ones. So certainly, it’s worth spending a little time trying to make this room look pleasant and nice.
But how do you do it if your budget is limited?

1. Warm up the walls with paint. A can of paint doesn’t cost much. So choose a nice warm color – orange, brown, tan – and bathe your kitchen walls in it. Save the whites for places like the living room or your bedroom, where peace and quiet belong. A good kitchen is active, and your colors should reflect that activity. Besides, with all the spills and splatters a kitchen is subject to, white walls would simply stain and age too fast.

2. Get matching utensils and linen. Kitchen utensils do not need to be very expensive, and when they match, they tend to give your kitchen a unifying theme, a classy touch.

Now if you’re on a really tight budget, you could get matching tea towels, potholders, and tablecloth instead.

3. Add a lamp. As we’ve said, kitchens are busy places – but not always. Sometimes, we like to go to the kitchen in the middle of the night for a quiet snack. At times like these, we don’t want the glaring brightness of the bright kitchen lights; we want something softer, quieter – like a lamp. Is this a decorating tip? Why, yes. Try lighting your kitchen with a lamp and see how much nicer it instantly looks when some of its imperfections are hidden by the shadows.

4. Put a fruit basket on the counter. This adds charm, color, and a breath of freshness to your kitchen. It also encourages kitchen visitors to take a bite out of something healthy and immediately accessible rather than rummage through the fridge for some sugary cake or a glass of soda.

How to Create a Picture Frame Display

Photo by Martine de Luna

Our pictures tell the stories of our lives, and so we like to look at them and show them to others as well. The best way to do this, of course, is by putting our pictures in frames and displaying them to the world.
Sounds simple enough, right? But there is an art to displaying our pictures so that they gain their rightful attention without detracting from the attractiveness of the room we put them in.

1. Choose your pictures carefully. We cannot display everything we print out. We need to choose pictures with poignant or striking images. We want pictures that draw people in, tell a story, and give an insight into the life and thoughts of the people who live in our home.

We don’t want studio pictures of people with so much make-up and hairspray, we could hardly recognize the person at all. Posed group pictures in front of some landmark are often boring. Pictures with celebrities are simply not classy, period.

Candid pictures, on the other hand, are often interesting. Images of people at work or at play are good. Close-ups of people displaying real emotion are nice.

Incidentally, for framing, choose pictures that capture as much of the subject as possible. This is what makes close-ups exceptionally good framing candidates. On the other hand, pictures with huge backgrounds and tiny subjects are generally not good for framing.

2. Get frames that blend with your furniture. Your frames should blend with your home’s design. If you’ve got vintage furniture, stainless steel frames will simply look out of place. Of course, if your home motif is brown, that does not mean you cannot have red frames – but you probably will have a hard time with blue frames.

It is safest to stick to frames in one color only. Not to say that different frames with different colors can’t work – but it will certainly take a whole lot more effort to make them look good together.

3. Choose different frame sizes. It’s safe and classic to have three identical frames all lined up on a wall. But for picture ledges and picture walls with more than three images, it’s more interesting if you have a combination of big frames and small frames, placed high and low, but arranged in perfect balance.

Some people like to take their different sized frames and arrange them like a puzzle on the wall so that their outer borders form a clean rectangle. A row of four or more identically sized frames is simply too boring.

Making Room for House Guests

If we accept a guest in our house, we owe them at least the most basic levels of hospitality – a comfortable place to sleep at night.

So how do you make your home guest-friendly?

A place to sleepIf you have a guest room, this is easy. Just clean up the room, make sure the mattress is firm and aired and in general good condition, beat the pillows, and replace all the sheets and pillowcases with fresh ones.
Now if you don’t have a guest room, your guest may need to stay at the sofa or a portable mattress. Whichever one you provide, make sure it is comfortable to lie on (lie on it yourself to check). If you have an inflatable mattress, make sure it has no leaks that will lead to its deflating through the night. Provide fresh sheets and pillows.

If you can afford to get a divider, it’s nice to get one for your guest, to provide a small amount of privacy. If you can’t afford a divider, you can improvise by hammering a two nails into opposite walls, attaching a clothesline to the nails, and hanging up a curtain that your guest can draw at night.

The bathroom
Make sure your guest knows the way to the bathroom and where the light switch is. If possible, put a night light near the bathroom so it’s easier to find.
Provide soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, disposable cups, towels, and hand towels for your guest. Make sure your guest knows these things are for use and not for display only.

Small stuffGive your guest a drawer or small cabinet to keep things in. Provide a small bench or table for resting the suitcase on. You may also want to provide a bag for used clothes, in case your guest forgot to bring one.
A night light, an alarm clock, a music player, slippers, and a trash can are nice, thoughtful touches. You may also want to leave a carafe and water glass, and maybe even some packed snacks that won’t attract ants, for your guest.

Teach your guest how to operate the temperature controls for the room he or she is staying in. Provide extra blankets, in case your guest gets cold in the middle of the night.
Teach your guest how to access your broadband Internet connection, in case he or she wants to surf online rather than read before going to bed.

All these little things can go a long way towards making a guest feel truly welcome in our home. Then, perhaps, this will also show them the right way to treat guests when it is our turn to stay overnight at their house.

Multifunctional Rooms and Furniture

It’s a reality: living spaces are constantly getting smaller. The 20-square-meter rooms that some of us like to call “studio” nowadays were mere closets in our grandparents’ time.
And yet, we need to live in them. How can we make the most of our tiny rooms and the limited amount of furniture we can put in them? We can do that by making our rooms and furniture multifunctional!

Combine your bed and sofa. Not all homes are big enough for both a sofa and a bed, two of most space-consuming pieces of furniture in a house. So how about getting a sofa bed, so that your sofa can be your bed?

Or here’s a more novel idea: make your bed your sofa. A standard twin bed with a low headrest and the right cover, pushed against the wall, with a few large, thick throw pillows serving as a backrest – it can be a pretty good sofa, an interesting conversation piece, and it also means you won’t have to sleep on a too-narrow sofa-width bed.

Make your furniture your storage bins. Coffee tables, side tables, armchairs, beds – all of these could hold compartments underneath them. So choose the ones that do.

Make your storage bins your furniture. Your armoire can also be your computer table. Or find those foldable cloth-covered boxes that could be used as stools. Have a nice island with cabinets under it in your kitchen? Clear the top, throw on a tablecloth if you wish, add chairs around, and use it as your dining table.

Use your vertical space. The person who invented the double-deck bed had the right idea: use the top space. Now, if you have a roommate, you may still want two beds – but why not have both beds high up, leaving the bottom space for other furniture such as, perhaps, study desks or closets for hanging clothes? In fact, if you keep a breakfast tray in bed with you, that tray could very well function as your study desk. You could also nail some horizontal boards onto or beside your headboard, forming a convenient shelf for your books, night lamp, alarm clock, and other things you would normally put on a bedside table instead.

5 Tips for achieving a better-looking bedroom

Bedrooms aren't just for sleeping. In your home, your bedroom is a haven of relaxation, a place that you can decorate to your preferences and truly call your own. Here are some tips for achieving a more beautiful, better-looking bedroom so that you won't just enjoy sleeping in it, but simply being in it.




1. Create a central point -- or focal point -- in your bedroom. Your bed, naturally, serves as the main feature of the bedroom, so place it where it will give off the most pleasing effect. Select the wall wherein the bed will be placed, then arrange your other furniture pieces according to the focal point. You can even try placing your bed at an angle in the corner of your room for more dimension.




2. Make use of side tables and lamps. These add symmetry and a sense of order to your bedroom. Side tables and lamps balance the layout of your bedroom while also serving an important function, as they provide a place for you to set a glass of water, books or your alarm clock.




3. Utilize benches and other seating. Go for multipurpose pieces, such as a trunk at the foot of your bed or a chaise recliner with storage. These are great for storing for blankets while providing you with a place to site while you get dressed. Also, create a relaxing seating area within your bedroom to make it look more inviting and warm.




4. Have a well-appointed mirror. Mirrors can add a feeling of depth and space, especially in a small room. Opt for a mirror with a dresser, or maybe a full-length mirror. These can help add character to your room.




5. "Hide" electronics and functional items in furniture. Or rather, select beautiful furniture that can help keep your television and audio equipment hidden from view, so that you maintain a peaceful aesthetic in your room. Try to look for an armoire or entertainment cabinet that's also a unique accent piece, but also serves a storage purpose. Make sure the finish, color and size fit your bedroom's overall mood and feel.

Design, decorate and de-stress

Design, decorate and de-stress

By Diana Fox at Premiere Photography

Imagine how it would feel if every time you walked through your front door it said, “Welcome.” That your home’s interior reflected your lifestyle — that the furniture, accessories and colors created a soothing balance of style and beauty – that the room’s ambience extended an invitation to sit, relax and linger…

When the outside world feels harsh and your life is cluttered with stress and chaos, coming home to a relaxed atmosphere is a feeling of absolute comfort. It’s a gift you give yourself and an expression of warmth you extend to family and friends.

Design your home as a reflection of your personal style and taste. Feel yourself absorbed in the comfort and luxury of a room decorated and inspired by your indulgences.

Designing impressive rooms has little to do with money and everything to do with style, placement and balance. Play with different furniture arrangements until you find one that suits the shape and function of the room. Important questions should include how you want the room to feel and what mood you are trying to capture, as well as practical aspects of traffic flow and how the room will be utilized.

Once you’ve established a good design, layer in accessories and decorations. These details tell others who you are, offering them a glimpse of your lifestyle and personal taste. Often they are the unexpected and memorable part of a vacation or a delightful afternoon outing. A signed print bought from a street vendor in New Orleans, an exquisite lamp acquired at an estate auction, an area rug handed down from your grandmother, seashells collected from a romantic beach walk or a stack of handsome, leather-bound books all make terrific accessories. Each item reveals a story or special memory and, when blended together, collectively set the mood and atmosphere for a relaxed setting.

Placement is a key factor. Create impact by grouping accessory items together that relate by mood or color, or gather several smaller pieces together for a bold statement. Think in odd numbers when designing an arrangement. A variety of candlesticks on a silver tray, a collection of small, stacked wooden boxes or an assortment of antique doorknobs casually placed together all capture your interest and attention and create drama.

Finding the time and place to relax can sometimes feel like work, so create spaces in your own home to give you the feeling you’re always on summer vacation. A relaxing spot can be anywhere that helps you reconnect and unwind — a window seat piled high with pillows, a reading chair and ottoman placed in a favorite view window or a chaise lounge on the outdoor patio. A perfect escape with a cup of tea, an afternoon nap or for doing absolutely nothing!

Make your home your refuge. Create beautiful rooms that nurture and inspire your well-being. When the simplest human needs are met with gentle grace, comfort becomes the greatest luxury of all. Relax, put your feet up — you’re home…

Diana specializes in interior arrangement, room design makeover, color consultation and relocating services. She ahs been assisting client since 1986 and can be reached by phone at (951) 202-7859, e-mail at diana@foxinteriors.biz or on the Web at www.foxinteriors.biz.

Urban Scope Designs: You partner in building a home of your own

Urban Scope Designs is a one-stop shop for building your own, dream home. We're a committed team of talented architectural and interior design specialists. We can take care of everything from conceptualizing your home, to construction and finishing, all the way to interior design and styling. We've got a wide range of services that will suit your needs.

Architectural services. UrbanScope's architectural projects include medium to high-end residential, office and commercial projects, as well as retail shops and restaurants. Services offered range from Architectural Design, Documentation and Work Planning, to Construction. Architect Berdin acts as Principal Architect, providing efficient coordination systems throughout the entire construction process.

Interior design. Tasteful, modern interior design that marries your personal style with our brand of unique execution. UrbanScope Designs offers a wide range of interior design services; our goal is to create an environment expressive of your personal tastes, changing needs and unique requirements. We pride ourselves in assuring you of total continuity throughout your residential or commercial projects.

Furniture design. Custom furniture designs by UrbanScope Designs are imaginative and individual. We understand that details matter when you want to demonstrate a space's full potential. We know how to create the best furnishings for your unique space; we're trained for that. Simply choose a design that suits your needs, and we'll take care of the rest.

We invite you to take a look at some of our Before and After projects, wherein we take an existing space and innovate it to fit your personal style and needs. For more on our range of services, send us a no-obligation inquiry, and we'd be happy to answer your inquiries.

Top Ten Favorite Decorating Things

Top Ten Favorite Decorating Things
by Charlotte Siems



Décor in our first home: a plaid couch, a lone poster tacked to the wall (really) and an aquarium with a green grass snake. Not to mention dirty clothes and papers strewn about, but we won’t go there.

It took me a few years to find my decorating style, let alone figure out how to clean the place.

In some ways, learning about my taste in decorating was a process of self-discovery. I finally realized that it was okay to like lace and roses in my bedroom, even if someone else didn’t (unless that person was my husband, and fortunately, he didn’t mind).

A feminine bedroom is a nice contrast to masculinity, and can even create an atmosphere of feeling pampered, but I digress.

After many years of decorating on a slim budget, here are my Top Ten favorite decorating things at This Lovely Place:


1. Plates – There are plates on the wall and on plate holders in my bedroom, my office corner, kitchen, bathroom and living room. Mostly antique, but not all.

2. Clocks – Big ones, small ones. Some that don’t work but look cool.

3. Books – Not only do we have numerous bookshelves throughout the house, but books come in handy for tabletop arrangements and making lamps taller. Double points for using titles that fit the season.

4. Fabric – Curtains, pillow covers, table runners, tablecloths and more. New pillow covers can change the look of the couch!

5. Garland – Not just for Christmas, seasonal garlands add a nice touch for holidays. Hearts for Valentine’s, clover for St. Patrick’s Day, eggs for Easter. Use on the kitchen chandelier, fireplace mantel and surface displays, like the top of the TV armoire.

6. Plants – Okay, I don’t have a green thumb, but I like a pretty geranium in the kitchen window, especially in the winter.




7. Glass Jars – Especially large, decorative ones with lids. Fill with fake fruit or berries in the summer, cotton and a snowman in the winter, speckled bird eggs and a nest in the spring, and leaves and acorns in the fall.

8. Candles – Great for bringing in the comforting sense of smell. Match the scents (and colors) to the season.

9. Closed Storage – This isn’t exactly a decorating item, it’s more of a way to keep clutter at bay so the decorating shows up.


10. Dishes – Platters, cups and saucers, bowls, teapots, pitchers and more become part of a shelf or table arrangement.


These everyday items are handy for use-what-you-have decorating. Most can be found at discount stores like Ross or TJ Maxx, garage sales or thrift stores. Look at your stuff with new eyes: could you repurpose something or move it to a new room?

Whatever you do, make sure you use Your Favorite Things in your decorating. Let your home be an expression of your personality and what you like!


Do you have a favorite thing to decorate with? Leave a comment below!

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Charlotte Siems is a home-maker, home manager, T-Tapp Trainer, teacher, speaker and author. Her story of losing over 100 pounds with T-Tapp has encouraged thousands of people all over the world. She specializes in making home management and T-Tapp "doable" for real people and real life. She is happy to be a wife and mother of twelve children whom she has successfully taught at home for 25 years.

This article was first published by This Lovely Place with Charlotte Siems. To receive Charlotte's free guide "Secrets for Keeping Your Home Together When You Feel Like Your Life is Falling Apart," go to ThisLovelyPlace.com.

Small Space Tip: Store vertically

Small space living, such as in a condo or apartment, requires a wise use of space. You don't have much square footage for free standing shelves and cupboards, but what you do have is a lot of wall space. The key is to make use of this wall space by utilizing it with storage facilities. Installing a floating shelf is a good way to maximize your wall space while solving your storage dilemma. You can install floating shelves to keep books, store boxes, and even as a decorating aid. Here are some wise yet design-savvy uses of shelving and other vertical storage, all of which maximize ample wall space.

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5 easy ways to add character to your home

5 easy ways to add character to your home

From Diana Fox and Pat McNulty at Premiere Photographer's Decorating Articles

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We greet the New Year with anticipation, promise and excitement. Our hopes and wishes often center on change. A better job, weight loss, quitting smoking. In the next 365 days you’ll have numerous possibilities to explore, fresh ideas to consider and personal resolutions to keep!

The New Year’s celebration is symbolized with the familiar slogan “Out with the old, in with the new.” If updating your home’s appearance is on this year’s wish list, create instant change by implementing a few of the following ideas. Mix imagination with inspiration to results by designing stylish rooms that are comfortable, attractive and welcoming.

Add color. Color determines the mood of any room. Go beyond the typical neutral tones and develop a color palette that makes you feel good. Designers often select three to four colors and mix, match and coordinate between rooms. Paint is one of the easiest ways to change the look and feel of a space, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Introducing color quickly achieves a dramatic new look while adding warmth and dimension.

Attention to detail. Accessories give a home personality, reflecting the tastes and interests of its occupants, but unless they are chosen and displayed properly they can make an attractive room uninteresting, awkward or cluttered. Your home is a personal reflection, so select items with character and mirror your tastes. Cluster accessories in odd numbers and try to arrange objects in a pyramid fashion, so the eye is led from a high to low point, creating a natural flow from one object to the next.

Update cabinets. A simple method of updating is to highlight your kitchen or bathroom cabinets with new hardware. Replace shiny brass or chrome knobs, pulls and hinges with the refined look of brushed metal, hammered copper or antique brass. Resurfacing or refinishing cabinets is another popular option and provides an inspiring facelift for a fraction of the cost. This is less expensive than new cabinets and offers the same great impact, significantly improving the presentation and value of your home.

Rearrange furniture. The key to any room is placement. The positioning of furniture and accessories set the room’s mood and function. Break away from setting everything against the walls. Try floating a sofa in the middle of the room, 2 loveseats facing each other or angle a couple of upholstery pieces in a V, on either side of an end table. Adding an area rug not only anchors a room group, but also complements any decorating scheme and creates a cozy setting for conversation.

Frame your walls. Applying crown molding adds a decorative, classic detail and enhances the architectural features of your home. It’s a finishing touch that defines the beauty of your rooms with style and elegance. For exceptional visual appeal, consider a chair rail or wainscot. Plain walls become spectacular as they soon reflect an appealing warmth, character and balance. It adds a rich feeling and is a perfect selection for an office, game room or any area you’d like to define.

These easy updates are perfect for any budget and will brighten your home for the New Year. Change your home by designing spaces with charm, character and comfort. Get inspired, get started and get ready for the compliments.

5 Home Improvement Resolutions You Should Make in the New Year

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A new year means new things for both you and your home this 2012. If you've not thought about improving your home the past year, this year, you should. From making sure your home is well-protected to improving the decorations in certain areas, your new year home resolutions should focus on making your home a better place to live in. Make time this year for these five important home-improvement resolutions:

1. Make sure your home has improved security. Do everything you can to keep trespassers and intruders from your home. You can begin by first trimming the bushes and hedges around your property so that thieves and intruders have no place to hide. Make sure to replace your door locks with new ones, and consider investing in better outdoor lighting so you have lights on overnight. You can go further by installing locks on your gates and window grills, and installing a fire-proof safe in your storage area for keeping your important documents. If you can afford it, install a security alarm or exterior and interior closed-circuit cameras in your home.

2. Reduce, reuse and recycle. When making home improvements, consider using salvaged building materials. These second-hand materials cost far less, and if they are in excellent condition, you can save on your home improvements. Reuse leftover lumber, metal windows, wooden doors, scrap metal, decorative hardware, floorboards, and even masonry materials and plumbing fixtures.

3. Install home efficiency aids. Perhaps you can install a water heater in your bathroom or a filtration system in your kitchen. Things like these can help make your household more efficient.

4. Add rain-proof features. Weather experts predict Philippine rains to run into the summer of 2012, so take some precautions to make sure your home stays dry during the stormy monsoon season. Start by inspecting your roof and ceilings for leaks in the roof; plug them up right away. Also, begin trimming branches that are too close to your windows. Check your gutters to make sure they're free from debris, and have a plumber clean out your outdoor drain.

5. Redecorate a room. A full home interior decorating project may be too heavy for you to handle, but making small improvements to a room can help improve your home and give it new life. It can be as simple as getting new, coordinated beddings for your room, painting an accent wall in your living area, or buying new covers for your throw pillows.