by Ann Nguyen

Image from Decoist.com of Interior Design by Summer Thorton

It started in the eighties and nineties and it’s still going on today – the craze of stripping down old wooden furniture and restoring it to its former glory. This can be a great way to add your personal stamp on a home, and it can be a real source of satisfaction to pick up something cheap and grotty from a second hand sale and transform it into a beautiful piece of furniture.

It needn’t be too much hard work, either. If you enjoy rooting around at car boots and flea markets, you’ll soon find an occasional table or chest of drawers to test out your renovating skills on. You don’t need too much equipment. Pop down to your local DIY merchant for some advice and some product, or you can use store cupboard ingredients. To strip grease and dirt from a piece of wooden furniture, you need a simple mix of olive oil and white vinegar (a cup of the oil and quarter the amount of vinegar). Mix the two together in a spray bottle and apply to the furniture. Then simply work the mixture in with a clean cotton rag. As you work over the surface, the rag will get black with the grease and dirt that the vinegar lifts out. At the same time, the oil will nourish the wood, helping to bring it back to a shine.

As you’ll have to do this a number of times, this kind of project will take you a few days – store the item in the garage so it’s out of the way when you’re not working on it.

You’ll get a lot of satisfaction admiring your handiwork when the restored furniture is in your home – much more than if you’d bought it from the local furniture sale. Of course, it might not be how you’d choose to furnish your whole home, and in fact, it can look even better if you have some new furniture to go alongside the older items. For instance, you might pick up a cheap dining table and chairs made of metal and glass that look great next to an old fashioned sideboard that you’ve restored yourself.

by Nisha Sharma

The iPhone is a revolutionary device that does more than allow people to communicate with each other. One of the popular features of the iPhone is its applications. There is an app for everything from cooking to spiral staircases to learning a new language. For people interested in interior design and remodelling, there are iPhone apps that can help you redesign your home.

Dream Home Free allows users to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in home design. There are many pictures that feature design styles from around the world to help home owners find their inspiration. This app is searchable by seasons, styles, areas of the house and colour. It features a great slide show, offline viewing and the ability to save design styles into folders. There is a limited version of the app available for a free download.

Colour Capture by Benjamin Moore lets people take pictures of any colour scheme and instantly matches it to the 3,300 paint hues. This app has a variety of features that includes custom colour creation and the ability to share colours using Twitter, Facebook and e-mail. The app also uses the phone’s location services to find the closest Benjamin Moore retailer. The app is a free download.

Anyone interested in beginning a home design project should consult Handy Man DIY. This home improvement manager provides information needed to finish a new project. The application helps to create shopping lists, descriptions on how to undertake a task and video tutorials.

Mark on Call is like having an interior designer without the restrictive costs. This app lets people who like to remodel spaces themselves a place to design, preview and realize their home improvement visions. The app includes the ability for users to customize the size of rooms and place of room elements to produce a realistic looking virtual environment. The program allows users to take pictures with their iPhone place them on any surface in the room to help with the visualization of a design. Other unique features include the ability to instantly measure a room with the cross-hair measure tool.

Anyone interested in home design should look no further than their iPhone. The array home improvement and redecorating apps cover everything from paint colours to furniture arrangements. Using these apps can help save time, money and makes redecorating as easy as a push of a button.

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About the Contributor

My name is Nisha Sharma, I am the Editor for LoftCentre.co.uk. I offer parenting advice and tips for designing and decorating the home.

by Guest

Many homeowners look at a kitchen renovation project as an expensive and time-consuming process that requires complete replacement of an existing kitchen. The reason they see renovating in this light is because a complete kitchen renovation can be expensive and take several weeks.

A more affordable option? Make upgrades to your kitchen instead.

Several kitchen upgrade options exist as more affordable kitchen renovations that can provide you with the style of kitchen you want without emptying your pocketbook.

Cabinets

Instead of replacing your cabinets, consider refacing them with natural wood or laminate. Cabinet refacing offers home and business owners who don’t want to change the layout of a kitchen the ability to update its overall appearance with any one of hundreds of exterior style and color options including glass cabinet doors. You can also customize your cabinetry with expensive-looking, low cost decorative molding and hardware.

Countertops

Another affordable renovation that doesn’t require a complete kitchen overhaul is countertop replacement. Replacing an older countertop with a new one is often enough change to enhance the beauty of a kitchen and make it welcoming and functional. Countertop materials favored by many renovators include solid surface Corian, engineered quartz and natural granite in a wide variety of colors. Typically, these materials are scratch and stain resistant making them a great return on investment years after they’re installed. A good remodeling company can also update other areas of your kitchen to inexpensively match your new countertop. For example, consider installing a matching backsplash or island top.

Islands

If you love the size, shape and storage capacity of an existing island, but hate part or all of its appearance, you can inexpensively have the lower cabinetry refaced, the top replaced or do both. Refacing a kitchen island doesn’t take a lot of money or time and tops on most kitchen islands can be effortlessly removed, measured and replaced with a material that is both beautiful and durable. Another option? Consider installing a kitchen island built to your specifications. The addition of an island is one of many simple affordable kitchen renovations that on its own can change the entire appearance of a kitchen while making the area a more efficient space to work in.

All of these affordable kitchen renovations usually take less than a week to complete. Before you know it, you’ll be showing off your new kitchen to family friends during meals paid for with the all money you saved.

by Sarah Oxley

Spring is in full swing, but it’s never too late to use those spring colors to give your home a redesign and really welcome the season into your home. To make this easier for you, I’ve taken a look at this season’s top colors and have come up with some ideas on how to incorporate them into your design.

There are several very popular spring colors to choose from this season. You can choose between two very different, but very charming bright and bold colors, and you can also combine a collection of subtler colors together to create a fresh and light room.

The first spring color will be of no surprise, but its shade may well be. Yellow is notoriously the color of spring due to its association with spring flowers and with new energy. As a recurring spring color, it often appears in different shades for each season and also has different uses. This year instead of it being a supporting color, it is the main color of the room in its bright sunshine yellow shade. A great way of incorporating this bold color in your design is through interior accessories. Consider painting your walls in a crisp white, and having panelled floors in a pale pine. Then add curtains, cushions, wall art, vases, lamp shades, accent rugs, fruit bowls, even water jugs to the room, which are all in sunshine yellow. This creates a stunning design that will truly stand out. To save money, be sure to shop around for your accessories a bit. If you can’t get a good deal in the right color at the flea markets, try searching the web. You can be anything from lamps to curtains online these days.

You can follow the same design idea with this season’s second bold color, which is fuchsia. This will create an equally stunning design, but give you a different tone to your room. If you like mixing colors, then fuchsia can be supported by silver for a very contemporary look. Consider mixing silver and fuchsia cushions to your couch, or fuchsia curtains with a silver stripe running down them.

For a subtler look, you can combine pastel brown with a pale blue green color, which has been defined by Pantone as cockatoo. Although a pale color this shade of blue adds some flair to a room, and the pastel brown grounds the whole color scheme to tie it all together. For this design consider having pastel brown cupboards in your kitchen with cockatoo handles and a cockatoo edge to each panel. Other accessories of your kitchen can also be used to highlight your spring design. For example, a retro metal kettle in cockatoo, cockatoo knife set or chopping board, wooden kitchen chairs painted cockatoo next to a pastel brown table.

These are just some design ideas with which you can use the spring colors of 2012. Remember that as long as you like it, anything goes in interior design. I hope you’ve got some inspiration from this article, so go and get started on your spring redesign.

by MeCC Interiors

David Aguirre Pinterest board

by Sunny Popali

A bed is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make and a good bed can last a lifetime.  You want to pick a bed that suits your personal style but occasionally you may have reason to want a bed that will fit in with any décor.  Perhaps you are buying a bed as a wedding gift for your children, or you think you will be moving in the next few years, or you are buying a bed for your guest bedroom and may change your decorating scheme in the future and you want to make sure that your bed choice will fit with any décor.  Here are five great choices of beds that will fit any décor and will never go out of style.

Wood:

Slats – Sometimes called Missionary or Shaker style, slats are thin, usually square poles, placed about two inches apart along the headboard and footboard.  This is one of the most popular bed choices.  It is an economical choice but never looks cheap.

Plain Panel – This is a solid wood panel, usually square but can have a rounded top.  Sometimes it will have scroll work engraving, or two large squares etched in it.

Metal:

Tiara–Named after the woman’s beauty pageant crown, a tiara bed has a bar on top of the headboard and footboard that curves down in the center and up at the ends forming a semi-circle shaped like a smile.  This simple and elegant bed is good for smaller spaces because it has trim lines.

Circle – These beds have headboards and footboards where the semi-circle curves so the center is higher than the ends (like a frown).

Divan beds:

The word divan came originally from Persian divan, meaning lounging couch.  A divan is usually a simple headboard with no footboard and is often cloth covered.  They come in various shapes, square, slightly rounded top, and scalloped shaped.  While they are not as commonly used as wood or metal they may be a good choice for people who like to change their décor often and want a homey touch.

Make your bedroom a haven:

Try placing your bed in a few different positions in your room to see which you like best and try changing it every few years for a different change of pace if the room set up allows.

Remember to consider buying a mattress when you are buying a bed frame.  If you will be using your previous mattress for a while longer than that must be a consideration with the new frame.  Also it is important to flip the mattress every three to four months.  Even though it is a hassle, it is worth it to save wear and tear on your mattress.

Whatever type of bed you choose remember to think of your bedroom as a sanctuary with your bed as the mainstay to build your refuge around.

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About the Author

Sunny Popali is the Marketing lead at Mattressnextday. Mattressnextday offer the full range of common mattress sizes including: small mattress, single mattress, double mattress, memory foam mattress, king size Mattress, super king Mattresses, and odd size mattresses.

by MeCC Interiors

WAC Lighting: Dorian Pendant

If you’re updating or completely renovating your kitchen, and you would like to incorporate some energy-efficient, LED lighting into the mix, here are some great options to consider.

The organic, jellyfish-inspired Dorian pendant from WAC Lighting features shimmering strands of crystal which play beautifully in the light.  The dichroic glass is available in pink (shown), amber, orange, green, or blue.  At only 12″ tall and 6-1/2″ wide, it is a great size for even the smallest of kitchens!

Maki by Foscarini (at left) and Rainbow Sunrise (top right) and Rain II Bobo (bottom right), both by Bruck

Available in white or gray, Foscarini‘s Maki pendant is made of layers of rolled lacquered aluminum.  The fixture is only 3-1/2″ in diameter and is lit with either one 4W LED GU10 or one 35W halogen lamp.

The Rain collection by Bruck Lighting System feature handblown glass suspended at varying lengths to create a cascade of light from an aluminum canopy.  There are multiple artisan glass options for the 15- or 24-lamp fixtures, including custom designs upon request.  They are lit using 20W halogens or 3W LED bulbs.

If you prefer non-pendant lighting, look towards either the Loox LED system from Häfele America or the LED L-Pad from Hera Lighting.

The Loox system won Best Green Product Award at this year’s KBIS show.  One of the fabulous things about this system, in addition to be both green and fully integrated, is that it is based on a “plug and play” system — it does not require wiring!  Switches, fixtures, and drivers are colour-coded and easily fit together for a quick and seamless self-installation in 12V, 24V, and 350mA options.

The L-pad is also an award winner: it received a reddot award for its design.  Available in both cool and warm LED versions, the low-profile LED spotlights are surface-mounted, are dimmable, and can be operated via an optional touchless IR switch — all the while using only 7.5W.  A smaller, square version, the LED Q-pad, is also available.

Loox lighting (shown in a non-kitchen setting, left) and LED L-pad (at right)

Plumbing tips aren’t hard to come by, but plumbing tips from the experts are. Mr. Rooter^® Plumbing has dedicated the space below to answering your questions with knowledge that comes from years of experience.

WEEKLY TIP: Bath Sinks and Faucets 101: Replacing Faucets Only
If you want a luxury bathroom design but don’t want to do a compete remodel; there are ways to create the perfect modern bathroom or use traditional bathroom design ideas to upgrade one piece at a time. Sometimes you can change the look of a bath sink simply by replacing the faucets, but keeping the sink itself. Sinks and faucets should be matched carefully since they come in a variety of hole drillings and basins. There’s no such thing as a universal fit. There are four basic types of faucets and their respective drillings:

· Wall-mounted – with a long spout to reach from the wall to the basin plus one or two handles

· Single lever – has a spout and a single handle to mix hot and cold

· Widespread – with a spout and two handles, all mounted as individual pieces

· Center set – a spout and two handles mounted in a center plate

Use the configuration of your original faucet as a guide to buying a replacement; bring the original with you when shopping for the replacement to compare if you aren’t sure. When removing the old faucet, be sure to turn off the water and remove the water supply connection from the faucet before dismantling it.

For more information, visit the Mr. Rooter website www.mrrooter.com.

To post your plumbing question visit HomeRenovationGuide.com or comment below.

by MeCC Interiors

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), a non-profit trade association that has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry for more than 45 years, conducts an annual member survey to identify the latest trends in bathroom and kitchen design.  Based on 350 responses throughout Canada and the United States, here are five (5) bathroom trends for 2012.  Note that four (4) of the trends also cross over to Kitchen Design.

Decolav medicine cabinet - 9720 - in black

1. Medicine Cabinets

In recent years past, many decorators and designers have opted for decorative mirrors instead of the more traditional medicine cabinet.  However, with many young people beginning the home buying experience in 500 sq ft condos and many others downsizing as their family needs change, efficient use of space is returning to the forefront on a larger scale.  Since medicine cabinets are multi-functional – providing both hidden storage and a mirror – and have minimal to no impact on the overall footprint, they are a perfect addition to any bathroom, big or small!

Hansgrohe Allegro E faucet

2. The Return of Polished Chrome

Though brushed metal finishes have been dominant the past several years, polished chrome is being increasingly specified in both Bathroom and Kitchen applications.  Consequently, the use of both satin and brushed chrome surfaces is on the wane.  Stainless steel, which has a naturally polished surface, has also exhibited increased use.  Bronze finishes are dipping in popularity.

Cabinetry (and photo) by Braam's Custom Cabinets

3. Gray Love

Gray transitioned to a neutral colour quite some time ago.  It creates a striking and elegant backdrop that does not overpower the rest of the design concept, which explains why it is rising in popularity.  The most popular colour schemes remain whites and off-whites and bones and beiges.  Gray currently sits as third most popular (in bathrooms), followed by browns and blues.

Dinara 72D in Ash finish by Art Bathe

4. Transitional

Transitional styles have overtaken traditional for the first time ever since the NKBA began tracking design trends; the lines and details are less elaborate, resulting in a modern classic look and feel.  Traditional is the second most popular, followed by contemporary, shaker, arts & crafts, and cottage styles, respectively.

Mid City Lofts, Corian

5. Solid Surfaces

The use of solid surfaces has been rising in both the bathroom and kitchen, though granite and quartz remain the first and second most popular selections.  In bathrooms, it is not necessarily used for countertops, but for thresholds, transitions, and/or shower bench seats.

by MeCC Interiors

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), a non-profit trade association that has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry for more than 45 years, conducts an annual member survey to identify the latest trends in bathroom and kitchen design.  Based on 350 responses throughout Canada and the United States, here are five (5) kitchen trends for 2012.

Brizo's Venuto Pull-Down kitchen faucet with Smarttouch technology

1. Pull-Out Faucets

You might shake your head at this as being far too obvious as pull-out kitchen faucets are not new.  Less than two (2) years ago, standard faucets were used just as often as pull-outs in kitchens.  During the last three (3) months of 2011, more than 90% of (surveyed) designers specified pull-out faucets!  In other words, pull-outs have officially become the new norm and, for many people I know, are the expectation.

Natural Wenge finish on kitchen by AYA Kitchens & Bath

2. Changing Woods

Though cherry wood has traditionally been the first or second most popular cabinetry wood – alternating top spot honours with maple – cherry’s use has been in steady decline the past couple years.  Maple, too, is being used less often.  Designers are instead opting for other wood species.  The use of oak, walnut, birch, and bamboo have all at least doubled in specification rates over the past year.

Chocolate Pear finish by Paris Kitchens

3. Darker Finishes, White Paint, & Distress

Continuing on a trend cited in last year’s top trends, darker finishes are increasingly popular.  Medium-toned natural finishes follow in popularity, while light natural finishes are much less prominent.  When a painted finish is preferred, white remains the prevalent choice; only 38% of designers specified a non-white finish.  Distressed finishes, which have been on the wane the past few years, have made a notable comeback in finish options.

LED strip lighting by LumiCrest.com used under cabinets and inside cabinets

4. LED Lighting

Energy efficient LED lighting is the clear number one choice in kitchen lighting despite the initial higher cost.  Close to three (3) out of four (4) kitchens now specify LED lights.  This number will likely only continue to rise as legislation throughout the US and Canada has called for the discontinuation of incandescent bulbs.  The timelines of the bans vary by region, so check locally to see what is and isn’t acceptable before purchasing bulbs.

Inset Glass Countertop and decorative detail by Classic Crystal

5. Glass

Over the past several years, a plethora of new glass products have been introduced to the market.  Glass mosaic backsplash tiles, for example, can now be purchased at your local building centre, though the higher end versions tend to remain exclusively available through tile stores and to the trade.  It is also being used in large sheets to cover the entire backsplash with fewer (if any) seams.  Despite its gains in the area of backsplashes, glass remains more of a niche countertop material.