Living Beautifully

Feeling inspired to have a beautiful weekend after looking at these images from Ashley Whittaker Designs! Hope they inspire you too!

Love the Chinese drum stools with that amazing wallpaper in the background!

The perfect place to relax!

Love all the colours together here...the fabric on the ottomans is a favourite!

Loving the potted Hydrangeas!

I would so love this wallpaper in my entry!
Happy weekend all!

Heading Home on Australia Day!

Well we have just had the most wonderful week in Paris! The beauty of this city is simply overwhelming. There is just so much to experience and do, my feet will take a month to recover from all the walking! We are about to start our long journey home...on Australia Day! We will show some of our lovely discoveries when we return, until then I will leave you with this gorgeous pic from Luxemburg gardens...so pretty even in Winter!

Home Interior Design

Do you want to give your home a fresh new look, maybe your circumstances have changed and you need to create a different room, or just want to update your décor but don’t know where to start? Home Styling makes the most of what you already have and creates an exciting new stylish look. It’s the low cost solution to interior design.

Wall Paint Colors For 2010

New Trends in Paint Colors For 2009

By Penny Day

Tired of the same old colour schemes? These three fresh new colour combinations are the perfect way to give your home a contemporary new look.

Heather and Chalk

Purple is a big trend for 2009, but deep tones can be overwhelming, so follow our tips to help you get it right

Go for soft heather purples balanced with creamy off-whites. These soothing colours are easy to live with and cobined with light wood, work well to create the perfect country scheme.

Use your curtain fabric as a starting point for your colour scheme. Choose a floral-print fabric with vintage-style purple blooms and then co-ordinate this with your wall paint.

Choose chunky, waxed oak furniture and an aged leather armchair to achieve a timeless look. Then add a big sofa piled with cushions that you can really sink into.

Pick out the heather tones with purple accessories and use wool and cashmere cushions and throws to add a luxurious feel.

Slate and Coral

Be bold with fiery coral, cooled by slate grey and arctic white; this scheme is as modern as they come

Grey is a soft and calming colour, perfect for creating a relaxing living room. It's a practical choice for a modern interior and it can be easily livened up with bright coral and accents of white.

Layer tones of grey in the furniture, carpet and some accessories, then pick a punchy statement shade of coral for the walls.

Keep shapes and patterns simple and pick up on the coral from the walls with the cushions, accessories and curtains. Compliment the colour scheme with a fabric which mixes in a touch of grey, too.

A few quirky items in pure white, such as a clock and table, will stand out and lift the scheme.

Duck egg blue and Rose

Duck-egg blue is a classic choice and combined with pink it creates a contemporary, elegant look.

Cool duck-egg blue and warm rose pink make a perfect colour combination for an elegant living room. Keep this mix fresh by adding an Oriental twist.

Paint the walls in this soft blue shade then choose flooring and upholstery in warm neutral tones, before adding the vibrant shade of pink.

Follow the Eastern theme by combining chinoiserie-print curtains with embroidered cushions and dark wood furniture and flooring. Ornamental bridcages and orchids complete the look.

Give the rose accent more impact by keeping accessories, such as picture frames and ceramics, neutral.

You can find more information on interior design and interior design ideas at house to home, helping you create a look you'll love

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

House Design Software

Create Your Dream House With A House Design Software

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Louis_Zhang]Louis Zhang

Have you ever thought of creating your own house but lacked the knowledge and/or the resources to do it? It may seem hard at first but designing your dream house today can be as simple as drawing thanks to a house design software. You'll be amazed at what you can gain from designing your own house with the help of your computer. With easy to use and convenient features learn why there is no need for you to be architect savvy and best of all you can design more than just her house so having the right tab of software will help. You'll see why this is a great affordable solution for those who have a great imagination.

Among all benefits, a house design software will save you a lot of time. Imagining having the possibility to create your own house without having to meet up with the architects to discuss your ideas every time. Being able to design your own house with a mouse and a computer saves you a lot of time going back and forth but time is not the only factor that will benefit you. Remember, your house your needs so by using a design software your new house will be perfect for you and your family. And since most of us are not architects we need some easy method in order to be able to create our own dream house

Easy to use, you won't be needing an architect anymore. House design softwares were designed for people like you and me so we can create our own dream house like we wish without necessarily have a Masters in an architect course. It's also easier because sometimes it's hard to communicate your ideas with the architect so by using a house design software just like if it was a Photoshop or Paint shop program it's easy to get an idea of the architect of what you want and how to make it happen. The only difference is you have access to many icons that will appear in the house.

Most house design softwares will have the basic features which will allow you to design your rooms, your floors, wall color and even furniture with some of the softwares. In case you haven't noticed, all this will be possible with a simple click of a mouse and your imagination so it is easier for the architect to know what you want exactly. One feature that you may want to look at is the rendering which will make a preview of your house in real time because looking at sketches may sometimes be confusing. Now depending on what you want to design, there are several different types of software.

you will find general softwares related to house design or you will find more specific house design softwares such as for designing your garden, the interior, exterior and in some cases the color on your wall. If you do not need to redesign our design the whole house then choosing a more specific software may be cheaper and it will probably prove to be easier to use since there won't be as many features.

If you hire an architect, he or she will still use a house design software in order to be able to create your house. So why take the chance of outsourcing your ideas when you could be doing them yourself? If you have a specific idea of what you want or how your new house should look like then using a house design software will definitely prove to be useful.

For more on how to choose house design software go to http://www.homedesignsoftwareinc.com for product reviews.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Create-Your-Dream-House-With-A-House-Design-Software&id=647254] Create Your Dream House With A House Design Software

the long timber table

Just been looking on the Cool Hunter website which I love to look through now and then for some out there ideas and was really drawn to this Amsterdam architect Uxus Design who was the designer behind this amazing winery Merus Winery in the Napa Valley in California.

I love the use of odd chairs giving it a quirky feel. Very simple and stunning!

This tasting room is amazing with the wired pendant lights grouped into three and the Tolix chairs assembled neatly in the centre of the room

It's like being in a cave.

I really loved these glass pendant lights above the long timber table and a few odd Chippendale chairs

Stay Line From Pink Flamingos

Stay Away From Pink Flamingos: Decorate Your Bathroom With Class

By Gregg Hall

Your bathroom, more than any other room in the house, demonstrates how much you really care about your home. Consider this: people walk into your house everyday and get glimpses of your kitchen and living room, so surely you will spend time decorating those. But the people who ask to use your restroom will really know how much you care because now they're getting into the real guts of your house. So at this point, it's important to make sure that even this room makes your guests feel comfortable and at home while reflecting your personal tastes. In a nutshell, take time to decorate your bathroom.

Your bathroom should aim to do two things: soothe whoever is using it, and reflect your personal tastes as a homeowner and homemaker. So how do you soothe your guest? The same way that you soothe them in the rest of your home: you keep the same palette going. No one should walk into your bathroom and feel startled by the design of it. Your designs instead should move seamlessly from the rooms outside the bathroom to the inside of the bathroom.

Consider tasteful decorations. Do not, for example, pick pictures of children chasing a bird in the country side. Instead, in my opinion, a great bathroom needs great artwork, like abstract art with bold colors that require concentration to understand the artist's feelings and desires. Pencil drawings work well also. Your pictures should reflect a thoughtful attitude towards the one viewing them, so give them something to consider instead of a blatant and simple picture.

While you are trying to make your bathroom sophisticated and classy, consider how you can make it reflect you as well, just like the rest of your home does. When a person walks into your home, based on the items that he immediately sees, that person should be able to distinguish within a few moments what matters most to you. Do the same thing in your bathroom. Seamlessly carry the same ideas and themes into the bathroom that you have outside the bathroom. Most interior designers attempt to create only a subtle change from the rooms outside the bathroom, because, again, no one wants to be startled by what he sees when he opens the bathroom door.

Creating a classy bathroom shouldn't break the bank. While you should expect to spend big bucks on expensive fixtures, you don't have to empty your wallet for the right decorations and accessories. Look for classy pictures at discount stores or in clearance bins. You might find exactly what you need there more so than at an expensive art store. After all, you are decorating the bathroom. You shouldn't put a real Monet in a place where the humidity would literally ruin it.

The next time it's time to give your home a face lift, consider the bathroom. It can top off your home decor more than you know.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as bathroom decorating at http://www.exclusivebathroomaccessories.com.

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

Beach House Decor Ideas

Modern Ideas For Beach House Decor

By Rebecca McKeich

The stores these days have so many ideas for beach house decorating in them that you don't know where to start. Make your design your own and these guidelines will help you on your journey to a one of a kind perfect style made just for you.

Decorating in modern beach house themes you will need to keep the space free from clutter, comfortable, inviting and a place you and your family feel at home in.

Look around you at all of nature's beauty and you will find all the inspiration you need for the greatest of decorating themes. From seashells, seahorses and starfish to woven baskets filled with nautical memorabilia, just imagine how beach worthy it will feel.

Paint walls sea colors such as light corals, ocean greens, sky blues and natural colored palettes. In a bathroom you could really go for more of a deeper coral or pink to make it look amazing.

You should shy away from using window treatments if at all possible as it detracts from the light outside coming in. If you must have some coverage, go with sheer fabrics or blinds that have a coastal feel to them.

Inside, casual and easy to clean furniture should be purchased in neutral tones if the paint is heavier or darker ones if it is lighter. Add some nautical or seashell themed throw pillows and sit and enjoy the outcome of your hard work.

When shopping go to specialty stores such as antique or close outs. In these places you can find delightful additions to your design scheme at a fraction of what you would pay at the larger well known stores in your area. No beach theme would be perfect without lots of candles, pillar, votive, floating and even specialty designed or shaped ones to make the whole room glow.

Using some palm fronds or sea glass, pebbles or bamboo baskets to make arrangements out of is a simple way to complete the ensemble. You never know where the right thing for a room will show up, so keep an eye out wherever you go.

Ideas for beach house decorating should not be confined just to the indoor areas, the outside needs to have that beach feel as well. Place nautical or beach inspired wreaths on the doors, have palm trees in planters on the porches and just do what you think says "beach" to you.

Making your own items to decorate with is a cost friendly way of doing things and think of how much pride you will have once they are completed and adding to the ambiance of your home. Get creative with flowers, paintings, even mosaics.

Ideas for beach decor are all around you. Make it personal by picking pieces and items you love and that you feel represent your vision of the perfect coastal decor. These guidelines have started you on the road to enjoying a lovely beach house with friends and family and the rest is up to you. When you're done, have a beach party to celebrate all your hard work and attention to detail.

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

New house inspiration

As Tracey has already told you, I am building my first new home this year. I have renovated many homes but this will be my first new build. I am very excited and nervous at the same time. Having just come back from Paris and London with some new inspiration on colours and finishes, etc. I thought I wold share some ideas for things I would like to incorporate into my new haven.

The Regency Furniture via Harmony and Home

Beautiful bathtub and Versaille style floors

The last 6 images are via Four Walls and a roof

Christmas Home Decorations

The When, the Why and the How!

There's no better way to get excited about Christmas than starting the time-honoured tradition of decorating your home and once you've decorated your house it's officially Christmas... but many people never really know when to start these festive preparations.

People used to decorate their homes on Christmas Eve, believing it unlucky to bring an evergreen into the house any earlier - but of course the tradition of 12 days before and 12 days after for taking them down, is still popular with many. However, for people who feel that decorating the house seems pointless, lets remember why it is so popular (and enjoyable!) The tradition goes back to a pre-Christian custom of bringing in evergreen branches for the spirits and putting them out again in Spring when buds began to appear on the tree, but eventually people decorated to celebrate the Birthday of the Son of God.

There are many superstitions around the background of Christmas Decorations and some superstitions have been retained, indeed hanging mistletoe is still popular. Although there are different interpretations for its use people still believe that luck favours those who kiss under it and goes against those who avoid it. However, apart from the fact that Christmas decorating is an inherited activity, it basically makes people feel excited about forthcoming festivities... even for those who make a fuss about it (but still do it!)

Perhaps especially for those people these time saving tips on how to decorate your home will be of use (and you may still have time to get a bit of gift-wrapping done too!) Decorating the tree is the obvious decoration to start with - but the way you put away your tree decorations is an important part to making this easy. Don't just throw your lights and baubles into a carrier bag when taking them down (you know who you are!) - make life easier by untangling lights and boxing your tinsel and baubles separately. Top tips for decorating include the following:

Have a theme, for example stick to one colour

Think about proportion - put larger decorations at the bottom and smaller ones at the top of the tree. The same applies to your other decorations too

Hang Christmas cards down door and window frames for a quick and easy way to add some colour - not only is this a cheap way to decorate rooms but adds a personal element to your decorations. Make this even easier with Christmas Card Hangers such as Velcro Hanging Card Kit

Tinsel and beads don't need to be kept to the tree - attach them to banisters and picture frames with Decoration Clips

Liz Hargreaves
For more great homecare tips visit: Caraselle Direct and sign up to the newsletter for great advice and discounts:Caraselle Direct Newsletter

Caraselle Direct is an online shopping website full of great homecare solutions. Make your Christmas decorating even easier by checking out their range of new Velcro products.

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

Great Style Office Interior

With the internet becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society, it comes as no surprise that many people now have the ability to work form home. You are one of those people, and have allotted a room in your house as your office space. However, the room is rather bare at the moment, and you want to liven up your work space.

The first thing that you need to think about is the primary use of your home office. For example, will it be the kind of place that you have clients come in to visit? Or, will it be the kind of place that you use just for yourself? This will make a difference in the overall theme.

If you are going to have clients in it, you will, of course, need to choose a design that is professional. Thus, you should allot a certain area of your area to a couch or a couple of plush chairs, along with a coffee table and reading materials. Ideally, leather is the most professional look for this area.

Regardless of whether or not you will be having clients , you should make the atmosphere as comfortable as possible. For example, what is one thing that you notice? If you answered fish tanks, then you have the right answer! Why are there fish tanks in so many offices? The answer is that it is relaxing to watch the fish, and it is also a stylish addition.

Thus, you should consider having a fish tank as well. If, however, you do not want to deal with the upkeep of having one, you can also consider something in the same area, such as a waterfall. However, while this office interior design is a great way to make your home office more interesting, make sure the sounds are not distracting you from your work!

The most important section of any home office is the workstation itself. You will need a desk that can comfortably accommodate your PC as well as files and other important supplies. However, make sure that the desk is not so large that it takes up the majority of the room. You can find office workstations at your local furniture store.

Minimalist Home Designs

home designs, minimalist home designs, modern minimalist home designs, minimalist designs, home minimalist, modern designs

Wood Living Room Furniture

Things You Need to Know Before You Buy

Where do friends and family spend the most of their time at your house? In the living room, of course! That is why you need to pick out living room furniture that helps create an atmosphere with purpose, comfort and convenience. So before you go buy that gorgeous sofa that fits perfectly into a corner of the room, make sure it is compatible with your vision.

When you've decided it is time to redecorate your living room, pause for a second. Do not pick up a living room furniture catalogue or head to the store to weigh up your options. This is a frequent mistake. Your first task needs to be establishing the dimensions and getting a feel for the room itself. How big is it? How much furniture can you fit into it without crowding the place?

Secondly, decide what you want the focal point to be. In other words, you will eventually need to set up your living room furniture in such a way that it focuses on something specific. This could be the television, the fireplace, the coffee table or anything else you would rather have your guests examining. All your living room furniture should benefit and support this plan. So don't go adding a random antique rocking chair to the room if it ignores the focal point. It will likely detract from the environment.

Pay attention to the traffic scheme as well. You do not want to place a reclining chair right in the walking lane that goes between the front door and the dining room. Then it becomes an obstacle rather than a well-placed piece of living room furniture. It must serve the intended purpose without becoming an inconvenience to those moving in and out. Also on the topic of intended purpose, think of what you will be using your living room for. It can be a space to unwind and watch television but it can also be employed as work or play space. Those details may affect your plan.

The colour of the walls is another important factor in your living room decorating decisions. If they are white or another neutral colour you will have a lot of freedom to choose the colour of all the living room furniture. On the other hand, if the walls are dark green you will be much more limited in what you can pick out that goes with that colour and shade. Consider repainting the room if it is really unmanageable. You will be glad you did.

The next thing to do is decide what your style is. Leather and fabric are popular when it comes to chairs and sofas, but you probably won't want to use both in the room. Your living room furniture needs to be compatible with your focal point, yes, but it also needs to be compatible with itself. Of that furniture, you may want to think about the sofa first. It is often the largest and most influential piece in the room. Once you decide on a sofa picking out chairs, loveseats and stools becomes much less of a hassle.

If you can accommodate it, aim to have enough living room furniture to seat six people comfortably. Now that you have an idea of where to start, go and create your vision!

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com

Roomy Living Room Design

Roomy Living Room Design

Here is the contemporary Residence in the hills above West Hollywood in Los Angeles, California which was designed by Nationally awarded architect Trevor Abramson of Abramson Teiger Architects. This Stunning Porter Residence rests on one of LA’s most breathtaking view lots with 270 degree unobstructed views and offering complette privacy, lawn, infinity edge pool with imported glass tile and spa. The home features 6 bedrooms 6.5 baths, a playroom, and two family rooms, and a gracious open living room. This is a true indoor-outdoor lifestyle and a unique opportunity. Please take a look for the luxury interior design such as the contemporary living room, large bedroom, entertaining room, private mini bar, dining room, large kitchen and also the oriental-style bathroom design from some inspirational photos below.

Elegant Style Modern Grey Living Room

Elegant Style Modern Grey Living Room

Interior in Rio by Andre Piva

The interior design of brazilian architect Andre Piva's house have been predetermined by the wonderful surroundings. Huge windows along the perimeter of the house open onto a magnificent view of Rio de Janeiro, a wide bay and the Corcovado Mountain. Inside, stone, glass and iron have mainly been used. Leather and wood add coziness to the interior. Andre's passion for chairs is obvious: there are plenty of them in the house. The prevailing tone of black and white range is enhanced by contrast colored spots. Artistic atmosphere is reinforced by the many paintings in modern style.

Photography by Agi Samoes

Chateau-Couronne

This amazing hotel is situated in an ancient castle in one of the most picturesque and historical regions of France. The name of the castle literally means “castle - crown”. The present-day owners turned this antique mansion in a cozy and stylish hotel
which gained recognition and attention of celebrities.