Tag Archives: fulton decor tips

Make your Bathroom Standout

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New construction is a wonderful opportunity to customize a home to suit your needs. Upgrades can add up and you might not get every upgrade you want due to your budget. Often the second or third bathroom in a home is lower on the list of builder upgrades than the kitchen or master bathroom. If this is the case and you have a builder basic bathroom, there are simple tricks you can do to give it the look and feel of an expensive upgrade.

 

Wall color is the first place to start. Choose a paint color that works with your cabinetry, floors and tile colors since those are more expensive to change. If you have builder’s beige bathroom, change the wall color. It doesn’t have to be a major change from beige to bold color. Even a deeper neutral like warm grey can make a big impact. If your vanity or other bathroom storage is off white or cream, you might want to avoid crisp white. If you have wood cabinetry, the white will highlight the natural beauty of the wood.

 

The large plate of mirror that is standard in a newer construction bathroom is another builder grade staple that can be change. You can put a frame around the large mirror to give it a more finished look. You could add a cabinet in between two sinks to divide the mirror in two. There are many fantastic tricks and ideas on dealing with large bathroom mirrors on design blogs.

Beautiful Browns in the Bedroom

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You might shy away from browns in the bedroom thinking they are too dark or dramatic. Layering shades of brown can create a warm, soothing bedroom that feels like a sanctuary.  This bedroom demonstrates that you can layer several shades of brown in the bedroom and create a beautiful room.

 

The carved wood furniture sets the tone for this bedroom. The tall headboard set into a nook is the focal point of the room. The heavy wood furniture has a beautiful rich wood tone.  Working from this warm wood, the table lamps are done in shades of brown that play off the furniture. Keeping the walls a light color keeps the room from feeling too dark. You could also play off the richness of the furniture’s wood and go darker on the walls for a much more masculine look to the room. Deeper wall colors would create a cozy feeling in the space.

 

Light walls lead your eye up to the tray ceiling where the center is painted a warm taupe. Bringing a darker color onto the tray draws your eye up to the architectural detail. The warm taupe color also ties in with the wood floor as it is a similar shade.

 

It would be nice to see more accessories in this room. Framed artwork on the wall above the nightstands would help balance out the large headboard. Window treatments that tied in with the wood of the bed or the colors of the bed linens would give a finished look to the room.

Boldly Colored Home Décor

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Sometimes design rules should be broken. Today’s design trends are turning traditional design rules on their sides. One of the most followed design rules is to purchase large investment pieces in neutral colors of grey, white, tans, browns and blacks. Breaking this rule and purchasing seating in bright, bold colors can be the perfect decision for some decors.

 

In a neutral decor, a red sofa, like the one pictured here, will be the star of the space.  Any brightly colored piece of furniture will be a focal point in a room with a neutral color palette.  Aqua, green, yellow, purple or red are bold colors that can work well with neutral colors and not feel too feminine or masculine.  A pink or fuchsia sofa will feel more feminine while a navy or royal blue might work better in a more masculine space. A boldly colored headboard is a great way to highlight the bed in a bedroom.

 

Boldly colored furniture in a colorful room that features bright colors on the walls and floors should either contrast with the wall or floor color or blend in with the other dominate colors of the room. Having more than three colors in a room can make the energy in the room feel too intense. White rooms with a boldly colored sofa or chair is a nice way to add pops of color.

 

With a custom made slip cover in a white or other neutral color, the boldly colored chair or sofa can be covered up should you tire of the bright color.

Décor – Celebrating Dog Lovers!

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Dogs have been appearing in art and design for centuries. These beloved pets appear on decorative accessories from china to pillows and everything in between. Painting of and about dogs can decorate the walls of a traditional or contemporary home. Dogs are not only some of our best friends; they make for handsome decorative elements in interior design and decorating.

 

Dogs in art became popular with Sporting Art that originated in England in the 18th century. Dogs were also popular subjects in Impressionist and Modern art. Contemporary art today often features dogs like the famous Blue Dog series. There are numerous businesses that provide custom artwork and photographs of the beloved family pet. Custom portraits are even available for any kind of pet.

 

Artwork is not the only area of decorating where dogs are used as decorative elements. English Staffordshire figurines of dogs, as pictured here, are highly collected. Dog figurines and sculptures decorate shelves and table tops. Popular dog breeds for these small decorative items are Scotties, Greyhounds, English Bulldogs, Poodles and Setters.

 

Soft goods like rugs and pillows can feature dog silhouettes and patterns.  Needlepoint rugs might feature a classic hunting scene or fox hunt. Needlepoint pillows with every breed from pugs to poodles can offer a charming accent for sofas and chairs.

 

Hang a portrait of a beloved family pet or decorate with your favorite breed, letting the house go to the dogs can be a fun way to add a personal touch to your décor.

Modern Design for Today’s Living

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Although mid-century design is now over sixty years old, it still feels fresh and modern in today’s interiors. Modern style can often be confused with contemporary style. Modern refers to modern mid-century design and style while contemporary is current to today’s time period. Both styles prefer clean lines and simple forms.  The icons of mid-century design that were popular sixty years ago are even more popular today.

 

Some of the mid-century design icons include pieces by both American and European designers. America and Scandinavia were the capitols of mid-century modern design movements. Vintage pieces from American and Scandinavian mid-century designers are highly collectible, and the master works can often fetch tens of thousands of dollars at antique shows and design shops.

 

Among the most iconic and popular mid-century designs is the Tulip table designed by Saarinen, a Finnish designer. The streamlined design works with both mid-century modern style chairs as well as more traditional chair forms for an eclectic look.

 

Other design icons include a coffee table and rice paper lanterns designed by Noguchi; bentwood chairs design by husband and wife team Charles and Ray Eames; and starburst clock by George Nelson. These are but a few of the designs from the mid-century that are popular today. Textiles, shag rugs, china, pottery and glassware as well as furniture from this era are popular for today’s interiors.   Color palettes from the mid-century are also being reinterpreted for today’s homes.  These designs are so popular that many of them have been released in new editions or copied.

DIY – Brighten the Room with Flowers

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There’s nothing more appealing and inviting than a bouquet of fresh flowers. Be inspired and create your own flower arrangement!

Start with the container. Do you have a favorite vase or pitcher that you think would look especially appealing filled with flowers? Take a good look at its shape and measure its height. You will want your flowers to reach about 1 ½ times higher than the size of the vase. So if your vase is six inches high, you’ll want your flowers to run at least 6-9 inches higher than the top of your vase.

If you have a reliable grocery, discount or warehouse store that sells flowers, you will find the best values there. If you really want to indulge yourself, visit a florist and pick out each flower individually. You will pay more but chances are you will find more variety and choice. At a florist, you could even bring your vase and ask for help in choosing the best flowers for it.

Bring your flowers home and take your time arranging them. If you plan them for a coffee table, look at the arrangement from all sides. If it will be against a wall, make sure you showcase the best side.

Spring is here so bring an extra bit of fresh-flower brightness into your home for everyone to enjoy.

Citrus Inspired Kid’s Room

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Does this citrus inspired kids room inspire you?

Once the Move is Over

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Moving into a newly purchased or built home is an exciting and overwhelming event. Once the moving truck has pulled away, the real task of turning a house into a home begins. You may be left with a pile of boxes surrounding your furniture and area rugs. Unpacking and decorating will take weeks, sometimes even months or years to complete.

 

Because you will be overwhelmed it is best to label boxes with the room name where they belong. Keeping the kitchen stuff in the kitchen and the master bedroom boxes in the master bedroom will help manage the chaos.  You can set aside a space for the miscellaneous boxes in a spare bedroom or basement, but be careful not to let them sit unopened for months or years.

 

When decorating a new home, try to get the floors and walls finished before you move in to the house. This is one of the great things about a new builder home; all the painting and flooring can be done by the builder before you move in.

 

Unpack the essentials like bedding, bathroom essentials and kitchen stuff first. Set a goal of unpacking a certain number of boxes each day until your new house feels like home.

Comfortable Interiors: Comfort Food for the Home

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Some rooms feel like the interior design equivalent of chicken soup or a casserole—in other words, comfort food for the home. Creating a room that envelopes us in comfort is more than just having comfortable seating. Rooms that succeed at making people feel instantly at home and comfortable are designed that way.

 

Comfortable interiors are all about inviting someone to sit, relax and enjoy the space. They can envelope people like a big blanket. Furniture and lighting play a big role in establishing a comfortable design.  Lighting should come from multiple sources and preferably not be overhead light but floor and table level. Overhead light can be too harsh and tends to wash out the room if it is too bright. An overhead light like a chandelier that can be dimmed is a good idea if overhead lighting is a must.

 

Comfortable furniture can take many forms. Straight back chairs and stiff sofas do not lend themselves to comfort as easily as a club chair or overstuffed down sofa. Materials for the filling of furniture should be soft and pliable, molding to the body rather than stiff and unforgiving. A mix of down and foam is a good choice for pliable cushions that also hold their form.

 

Flooring is another area where comfort can be incorporated into the design. Soft carpets and thick pile area rugs invite bare feet and lounging on the floor.  Accessories like pillows and throws can make a warm, inviting place to snuggle on the sofa for a nap or watching a favorite movie. Relax and Enjoy!

Design Inspiration: Mid Century Glass

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Mid century glass is a beautiful collectible that can inspire an entire room.  Mid century glass refers to glass created between the 1940s and 1970s. This renaissance of glass making, often done by hand-blowing the pieces, took place all over Europe and America.

 

Some of the most famous mid century glass comes from Murano, Italy, which is an island off of Venice. Murano has been known for centuries as a glass century. In the 1950s and 60s their iconic swirled glass, often flecked with silver and gold, was brought back to the States by post-war American tourists.  Ashtrays, bowls, and vases, easily imported in a suitcase decorated shelves and coffee tables in chic American homes in the mid 20th century.

 

Other mid century glass centers included the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Scandinavian glass is known for its more simple shape and translucent colors and was both hand-blown and molded.

 

Because of the beautiful colors, patterns and shapes of mid-century glass is great inspiration for a color palette and décor. Rugs, carpeting and pillows can make colorful accents based on mid-century glass. A collection of mid-century glass on a table, shelf or console can be grouped together by color for a strong pop of color in a living room or dining room. Shelves lined with pieces or a single piece on a coffee table, mid-century glass is a beautiful addition to modern, contemporary or transitional space. The popularity of mid-century glass means that copies can be found new at national home décor stores and major retailers.