Summer house DIY

As I sit here in the middle of a raging snowstorm, I'm thinking about my summer house which I want to open next month. Maybe optimism will pay off!  This is the time of year I run through my "to do" list of what I want to accomplish in the coming season.  Most summer home/cottage owners want an inviting, homey atmosphere that can be accomplished on a budget.  I'm no different. Our place is small and quite ordinary looking from the outside, but  we have a million dollar view. We are perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean on the Bonavista Peninsula in Newfoundland and...

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Where to put your TV

Where should I put my new TV?This is  my most dreaded decorating question because my answer never seems to please people.There is nothing subtle or appealing about a big black rectangle dominating a room, and that is what happens as TVs become larger. My first instinct is to come up with ways to hide the TV except when it is in use.   Mahoney Architects and Interiors  new york James Wagman Architect, LLC   Powell/Kleinschmidt, Inc.These are  perfect solutions as far as I'm concerned.  Close the doors and the TV disappears and the room becomes more about...

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10 Design Solutions for Small Bedrooms

Are you wondering how to make the most of those small bedrooms you have? Sometimes it's as simple as re-arranging furniture, changing  colours or adding built- ins.  Here are 10  suggestions to make the best use of a small bedroom space, but don't stop there.   Many of these ideas can be used in other rooms too. Build in around the window miami interior designer Linda FisherUsing a window to centralize the layout  of the room and building in around it is an efficient use of space.  It is also very visually appealing because it produces a symmetrical layout. ...

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Think spring green

There's nothing like the time changing to give you the feeling that spring is around the corner.  I try to have  positive thoughts this time of year, but today I'm writing with a snow storm looming in the background and announcements of St. Patrick's Day celebrations that will dwindle through the week.  What better time to explore green as a fantastic choice in home decor?  In every home I have ever lived  there has been some version of green.  We've had our decorating go tos over the years - avocado, mint, jade, olive, silver greens, and now spring green with lots...

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Look for the bones of a room

There is nothing more boring in decor than an overly matched room!  I work in a home decor retail setting part time  and this gives me a good sense of what the "general public" is interested in or believes about home decor.  I've noticed two constant trends.  First is the belief that everything must match perfectly, and the other based on the first, is the practice of making  design decisions 12 inches from your eyes.  Both will lead you astray and create very boring rooms. The thing that really makes a difference never gets talked about.  This room could definitely...

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