Wednesday, September 15, 2010

First Impressions - How to Decorate the Foyer

CREATING FIRST IMPRESSIONS
There are key considerations when deciding how to decorate a foyer. Create a lasting first impression by giving your foyer full attention. The foyer is the introduction to your home. Wall decor, wall color and furniture selection are key elements to fashionable foyer decorating.

OLD WORLD STYLE FOYERS
The foyer in the picture left has dramatic Mediterranean style architecture with heavy wood beams in the high ceiling, tall arches along the foyer walkway mirrored by tall arched windows. The lighting is reminiscent of lanterns that lined foyers in ancient Spanish haciendas and grand Italian villas of the past. Dark wood floors and doors are complimentary to the beams in the ceiling and the dark iron in the lighting.

To maintian the romantic Mediterranean feel of the architecture, the interior design includes dark wood furniture and dark iron wall art. The dark antiqued arch mirror is complimentary to the architectural arches and windows and reflects views of rooms to come.

The red theme wall tapestry in the entry foyer adds color and the woven texture softens hard surfaces. It's all about, texture, color and theme when you update your decor. Softening a room, with the rich warmth of tapestry, can make the space feel more inviting and wall hangings are an excellent opportunity to enhance your room color theme.  Green topiaries on the foyer table as well as the woven basket of  filled with red floral below the mirror are equally important to color and soft texture. Copper bowls atop the foyer table enhance the red tones in the floor, doors, iron work, wall accessories and furniture.

DECORATING WITH MIRRORS
Mirrors are not only practical in the foyer, but are works of art, enhancing your home's first impression in many ways. Decorating the foyer wall with a stylish mirror enhances the size and scope of the foyer. A foyer mirror reflects natural light from glass entry doors and distributes light around the room. A well-placed mirror opens up the foyer, creates a new view and reflects homeowner personality as well as the home's architectural assets.

If you're looking for a transformational decorating idea, invest in a stylish mirror to transform your space. Mirrors make a room feel larger. Tight spaces expand and rooms seem roomier when you you hang a large mirror.  It’s a classic interior decorator’s trick to create instant, if not real, square footage.

Mirrors give the illusion of depth to a flat wall and make the wall seem to disappear. Mirrors are a favorite decorating tool because the mirror frame can enhance a decorating style or can be neutral wall decor, neither traditional nor contemporary. In the image right, our Celice oval mirror compiments the old world foyer style and showcases the room's elegant staircase. The dark metal frame reinforces the dark woods of the chair and foyer chest. Placing the round backed chair beside the mirror presents a harmonious setting by complimenting the mirror's oval shape.

When trying to decide whether to hang a mirror or a piece of art, the decision often comes down to the one that is most aesthetically appealing. With all advantages considered,  many times a mirror just works better.

Read more ideas about how to decorate the foyer.   See ideas on how to do a foyer makeover.

Read more ideas about how to decorate with mirrors.

See these great foyer decorating products:





FOYER FLORAL AND TOPIARIES



Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Cooler Days Ahead

With the passing of Labor Day there is certainty that cooler days are ahead. As we relish this welcomed relief from summer temperatures we seem to find ourselves spending more time outdoors.  Autumn is the perfect time of year to enjoy outdoor rooms, decks and patios.

OUTDOOR ROOMS have become an exciting way for homeowners to incorporate the pleasures of nature with family designed living areas. The concept for the outdoor room may have originated in temperate Mediterranean climates where al fresco living has remained the same for centuries. New advances in architecture, lighting, and furniture have dramatically increased interest in outdoor room functionality in the modern Mediterranean style home.

Mediterranean outdoor rooms and gardens are sheltered, intimate spaces for relaxing and entertaining. Garden fountains cool the terrace in warmer months and outdoor fireplaces keep outdoor living spaces cozy on cool evenings. Containers filled with lavender and rosemary offer an abundance of fragrances. Large earthenware garden pots, iron hanging baskets and iron window baskets are commonly filled with Mediterranean herbs, grasses and flowering annuals. A patio garden is an ideal location for growing cooking herbs as well as flowering plants for seasonal color.

Outdoor rooms are used for relaxing, lounging, entertaining and recreation. Exterior rooms integrate multi-level decks, charming patios and elegant terraces into the home landscape design.

Outdoor areas designated for recreation depend on family interests. Swimming pools, outdoor spas, workshops, hot houses and sports areas are all possibilities and can be tastefully integrated into a backyard landscape design.

Outdoor rooms designed  for sitting, lounging, or simply enjoying the beauty of the garden are often centered around a focal point in the surrounding landscape, like a fountain,  garden sculpture or distant scenic view. Outdoor rooms include comfortable seating, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor dining areas and outdoor kitchens.

Decorate your outside room to reflect your tastes and comfort. Modern outdoor rooms are decorated with the same degree of thought and planning by using the same basic rules of thumb when creating any great room design.  Accents of Salado can help.




Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Are Your Windows Covered?

Nothing affects the mood of a room more than color. Even the absence of color says volumes about your home and your lifestyle.

The color of your window coverings is important.  Window coverings add to the overall mood of the room. Dark colors tend to anchor larger spaces and create a cozier environment. Neutral window coverings allow furniture and wall decor to take centerstage.

If you are having trouble deciding what color to paint your walls, stick with neutral tones and bring color into the room via the window coverings. This allows you to change the colors in your room as your tastes change without having to repaint your walls.

What is great about window coverings is that most products and styles are versatile, requiring little customization on your part to fit your décor. Wood blinds, for example, in an antique white finish will look great in cottage-style décor. Take that same wood blind and finish it with a rich, black stain, and the blinds  easily find a home in a modern, loft-style décor.