Design & Décor DIY Guides

How to Care For Your Leather Furniture

AbbysonLiving — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:21:00 GMT

Offering perfect mixes of style and comfort, Abbyson Living presents unique and luxurious products for the bedroom, dining room, living room, home theater and office. These exquisite collections feature versatile pieces that can become the highlight of any home. However, it is important to always remember that when you put fine furniture into your home or office, it should receive the care it deserves. Regular attention and maintenance of fine furniture can ensure its beauty for years to come.

Properly maintaining your fine furniture will ensure its comfort and appearance for many years to come.

Protect Against Spills and Stains

Spills are almost a certainty when it comes to furniture. Spills should be blotted immediately rather than rubbed or wiped. Time is of the essence when dealing with spills and stains on wooden furniture in particular. For food spills, use a cloth or sponge which has been dampened in mild, soapy water (no chemicals).

Leather and Upholstery Care

It is important to remember that due to its genuine features, leather has natural wrinkles as well as color and texture variations. Leather surfaces on beds, sofas or chairs should be dusted regularly with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth ‐ avoid using chemical cleaners. Also, and most importantly, remember to never rub a stain on leather or fabric. Always dab it out with a slightly damp cloth.

Suede surfaces should only be cleaned with a dry, stiff brush. Exposure to liquid spills should be avoided since suede cannot be washed or cleaned as easy as leather. Frequent vacuuming or light brushing is recommended for fabric and upholstery items. Spot clean using a mild water‐free solvent or dry cleaning product. The use of steam or water‐based cleaners may cause excessive shrinking or staining.

Abbyson Living has dedicated itself to creating a new and beautiful lifestyle by providing comfortable and affordable luxurious leather furniture.

Abbyson Living uses three main types of fine, high quality top-grain leather:

Full Aniline: Because it is natural-looking, soft and beautiful, Full Aniline Leather tends to be used very often. It is one of the finest leathers available and is always made from finest quality, full top-grain hides, meaning that nothing has been mechanically altered.
Semi-Aniline: Leather which is high quality and high-value leather that is very durable, soft and beautiful. It is slightly more uniform in color and texture then Full Aniline with fewer noticeable range marks
Pigmented Leather: Pigmented Leather is a high quality leather which is the least likely to stain or fade. It has a faux embossed pattern and a sanded surface giving the leather a uniform and consistent texture. This leather tends to be a popular choice for families with young children or pets as it is of high quality and very durable with minimal maintenance.

Please note that no two pieces of Abbyson Living leather are the same; they all have different textures, heredities and backgrounds.

There are three main textures commonly found in genuine leather furniture: scratches, wrinkles and healed scars.

Scratches

When the texture is smooth to touch with slight variation of color to the surrounding area of the dye.

Wrinkles

When there are natural folds highlighting unique grain patterns and one-of-a-kind upholstered furniture is created.

Healed Scars

These barbed-wire scratches and deeper rubs create an organic surface and a distinctively authentic leather character. They do not affect durability of the hide.

Savvy shoppers know that these natural variations are not blemishes or defects. They contribute to the beauty and uniqueness of your leather furniture, as well as its durability. Look for them when purchasing your next leather sofa set and be proud that you have purchased a genuine, natural product.

How to Design a Home Gym

spublicover — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:30:00 GMT

How to Design a Home Gym

Mirrored walls in a home gym allow you to check yourself during a workout and add the illusion of larger space.

Fitness is playing a more important role in the lives of people of all ages, so many homeowners are investing in home gyms to avoid the hassle of traveling to and from fitness centers. More than just a treadmill or exercise bike in a corner of your bedroom, a home gym creates an atmosphere where you can focus on your fitness regimen, away from distractions that veer you from your goals.

If you’d like to incorporate a gym into your home, the American Council on Exercise suggests you start by considering your fitness goals, the available space and the budget for building and outfitting the gym.

Fit Your Goals to Your Space

Determine the room or area for your home gym. The amount of space will dictate how much equipment you can incorporate. From a stationary bike or stair climber that requires about 10 to 20 square feet to a multi-station workout system that takes up to 200 square feet, a small space can be quickly filled. Allow at least three feet between machines to comfortably navigate among them.

Remember to consider the vertical space as well as horizontal. If your gym is going to be located in the basement, are the ceilings high enough for higher machines, like the multigym?

Think about your fitness goals. Are you planning to improve your cardiovascular health or focus more on strength training? Do you need room to enjoy yoga or to work with a stability ball? Identify these core needs before purchasing equipment that might not fit into your future and your space.

Design the Room

A home gym should be treated like any other room in the home. You don’t simply put in furnishings and call it complete. In addition to the room’s size, there are various considerations for the design of your home gym:

Flooring. For both cushioning your workout and providing sound protection, the choice of flooring is important. Brian Back, owner of Eden Design and Development recommends carpet tiles. These tiles have built-in padding and the peel-and-stick application makes them easy to install and replace. Corrugated rubber mats and cork flooring are also excellent choices for a workout surface.
Lighting. If your home gym has windows, take advantage of the natural light. Position your equipment so you can enjoy the view. However, if your gym is situated in the basement (or any room without natural light), you can create an energetic atmosphere with the right use of lighting. Avoid fluorescents, which are too bright and can lead to headaches (particularly when flickering occurs). Instead, Back suggests ambient lights, like soffits with indirect lighting around the perimeter. “You don’t want recessed lighting directly over your head when you’re working out,” he cautions. Include a dimmer to control the lighting. Soft light will be a welcome change during the cool-down period.
Walls. A mirrored wall enables you to see yourself during a workout. It also adds the illusion of larger space and reflects light that can brighten the room. For the other walls, Back suggests adding sound-proofing by upholstering mdf board with an inexpensive fabric and mounting the boards on the walls. This is also a way to insert your personal style with your fabric choice!
Ceilings. Back says a home gym “is the only time I’d ever recommend using acoustical tiled ceiling.” The sound absorption is a definite benefit in a workout space, particularly if you’ll be enjoying music during your exercise time.

Energize and Accessorize

Once you’ve outfitted the area with the necessary fixtures, incorporate the add-ons that turn your exercise room into your personal health club:

Natural light is a definite plus for a workout area.

Flat-screen TV. Mount the television on a wall where you can view it from everywhere in the room. Be sure that you use a secure mount that won’t give way when your free weights hit the floor.
DVD player. Watch workout videos or just enjoy your favorite movie while exercising.
Game console. If you like to work out with an exercise or dance video game, set up a console in your fitness room to be ready when you are.
Sound system and wireless headphones. Listen to your workout music (or television show) without drowning out everyone else in the house. Just set the headphones to the wireless frequency and crank up the volume.
Small refrigerator. Set up your own hydration station with a bar fridge and stock it with bottled water, juice, and protein shakes.
Towel storage. Keeping towels on hand will save you from making trips to the bathroom or laundry room during your workout. Use laundry hampers to separate clean towels from soiled ones, mount a hanging rack on the wall to save space, or even install kitchen cabinetry.
Shelving. Add storage space for videos, CDs, yoga mats, and other stashable items with wall-mounted shelving or cabinets.

The more enticing the room, the more likely you are to want to spend time in your home gym. Create the environment that will motivate you to reap the healthy rewards of your investment.

Wallpapering Basics

spublicover — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:48:00 GMT

Wallpapering Basics

Paper one wall or an entire room for dramatic effects. Photo courtesy of Uni Royal Collection by Kenneth James.

For adding a new dimension to a room, wallpaper presents the ideal solution. From a broad variety of colors, patterns, and textures, advances with wallpaper material have enhanced the possibilities for sprucing up a room.

“People are papering their walls because this surface is more resistant to abrasions and dirt than paint,” says Duncan Hughes, principal of Duncan Hughes Interiors in Boston, MA. “Technology has turned a corner in terms of what wallpaper companies can produce, like gorgeous non-paper wallpaper that looks exactly like linen or silk. And the water- and stain- resistant wallpapers are very family-friendly choices.”

DeAnna Radaj, of Bante Design LLC in Milwaukee, WI, says that wallpaper offers numerous benefits, including eco-friendly adhesives and recycled papers that contribute to sustainability goals. Radaj, author of “Designing the Life of Your Dreams From the Outside In”, also suggests customizable wallpapers that can be painted with any design, creating removable artwork that truly individualizes a space.

A New Generation of Wallpaper Creativity

The wallpaper industry currently offers a vast array of choices:

Natural fibers include bamboo, silk, linen, sisal, cork, burlap, and seagrass.
Fabric wallpapers have a fabric base that is paper-backed and is sometimes coated with vinyl or acrylic on the front for easy cleaning and durability.
Embossed patterns feature texture and usually have no other color or design.
Vinyl coated paper has a washable surface that’s easy to clean
Paper wallpaper has no protective coating and therefore can be difficult to hang and to maintain.
Flocked wallpaper is imprinted with a velvet-like pattern, a retro look that is showing signs of a comeback.

Hughes prefers textured wallpaper to patterned. “People get nervous at the thought of a patterned paper because they think of their grandmother’s flowered wallpaper,” he explains, “but today we can choose a texture like seagrass that adds dimension and depth to a room, or even a gorgeous vinyl wallpaper that looks exactly like French silk.”

“With the variety of wallpaper styles and colors available now, any architecture, theme, or style can be accommodated,” adds Radaj.

When choosing wallpaper, Hughes recommends getting a sample and looking at it in the room where you’re considering hanging the paper—particularly when ordering online. “You need to see it in person, not just on a computer screen where you can’t tell the difference between a super-glossy and a matte surface. The way that a paper absorbs or reflects light is very important, so you need to see an actual sample before purchasing for an entire room.”

How to Hang Your Wallpaper

Wallpaper technology has also improved adhesives. Those days of steaming and scraping wallpaper are past. If you decide you want to change your paper, removing one and applying another is easy, as long as you follow the basics of wallpaper installation:

Remove all switchplates and outlet covers. Check the surfaces for blemishes, like nicks and paint splatters. Fill in cuts and holes with drywall compound. Sand the walls and wipe with a damp cloth to remove dust.
Apply an oil-based primer to the walls to prevent moisture from the wallpaper adhesive from seeping into the drywall. Let the primer dry overnight.
Paint the top edges and corners that will meet the ceiling the same color as that area. If there are minor gaps here, they won’t show.
Mark the center point of the largest wall in the room to be papered. This is where you will begin and end the papering. Make a plumb line from the top of the wall so you have a straight line to follow when you hang the first sheet of paper.
Measure the paper, making sure to pay attention to where the pattern will appear on the wall. Cut the piece about six inches longer than you need and mark the spot where you want the paper to meet the ceiling. When measuring for an inside corner, add an extra half-inch so you can overlap the paper.
For pre-pasted wallpaper, roll up the cut piece and immerse it in lukewarm water in your wallpaper tray until it is fully soaked (about 15 to 20 seconds). Then remove the wet wallpaper and place it face down on your table.
Wallpaper with bold patterns are a great way to brighten up a bathroom. Photo courtesy of Duncan Hughes Interiors.

If you are applying paste, mix it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then use a wallpaper brush to apply the paste to the back of the wallpaper.
To safely get the wet paper from the table to the wall, protect the front surface of the wallpaper by folding it inwards, with the front (non-pasted) side in. Take one end and gently fold it over, without creasing, toward the center of the paper. Do the same on the opposite end.
Hang the first piece on the center mark you made on the largest wall, carefully aligning the top edge of the paper with the ceiling edge. Slowly unfold the wallpaper, following the plumb line. Lightly smooth the paper with your hands as you go.
Use a dry wallpaper brush to smooth the sheet, working from the center outward, with vertical strokes to avoid stretching the paper. Remove any excess paste with a wallpaper sponge.
With a utility knife, cut away the excess paper before proceeding to the next sheet.
Hang the next sheet in the same way, lining up the edges and matching the pattern as closely as possible.
In the corners, overlap the extra half-inch. Using a utility knife, cut along the vertical line of the corner and remove the top piece.
Wait about 20 minutes after hanging and use a roller to press down the seams.

If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, you can hire a professional paperhanger for about the same price you’d pay a professional painter.

When you think about changing the walls in a room of your home, give consideration to wallpaper. With the vast choices of colors, prints, textures, and materials, and the easy care and removal, you can dramatically change the look and feel of any room.

Designing With Natural Light

kkrueger — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:12:00 GMT

Designing With Natural Light

Transoms allow light to travel further into a room.

Space, form and function are three important aspects of home design. A fourth aspect of design that can be easily overlooked is the use lighting and natural lighting in particular.

Sunlight Does a Body Good

Making use of natural light in creative ways in a building design has many benefits. “[Natural light] has been associated with improved mood, enhanced morale, lower fatigue, and reduced eyestrain,” according to the National Renewal Energy Laboratory’s 2002 Review of the Affects of Natural Lighting on Building Occupants. In other words, natural light just plain makes us feel good!

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is sited in the report as a condition that is commonly found among individuals living in northern climates where daylight hours are very limited during the winter months. One of the easiest and most common treatments for this depressive malady is, of course, spending as much time in natural light as possible. This is one of the reasons the NREL encourages the development of workspaces, which have access to natural light, but that is not the only reason.

Aesthetically Pleasing and Energy Saving

Natural light can also be an energy saver. “By adding small windows, skylights or solar tubes in areas like walk-in closets, pantries and hallways you eliminate the need to reach for the light switch each time you enter them,” comments Leah Johnson, owner and head designer at Cornerstone Custom Design in Centerville, Minnesota.

“I am an avid supporter of self sustainable living and conserving our resources,” Johnson explains.

Using interior windows is another favorite feature that Johnson often adds to her home designs. This allows the natural light from exterior windows to flow through into interior rooms and can also add a whole new dimension to the interior aesthetics, as well.

An open floor plan can also achieve this flow of natural light to the interior of the home, points out Eric Larson, a licensed architect from Crosslake, Minnesota. An open floor plan is a common request in the lake homes he designs for clients at RemWhirl LLC. Although this type of design is known for its functional flow for active living patterns, the design also allows natural light to flood the living area from several different directions at once.

Transom windows and clerestory windows near the roof are also a means of bringing natural light further into the center of a living space. The clerestory windows provide the benefit of bringing in the light without the glare that you might receive from a more direct angle. As the name infers, this series of windows positioned above eye level have often been used in churches to bring in natural light. Homes and commercial buildings also make use of this design feature. It adds interest to the exterior design of the building, while providing a source of natural light that can project far into the interior space. This is just a normal affect of the geometric angle -- the higher up on the wall that windows are placed, the further into the room the light can travel.

Natural light lowers energy costs for this Amsterdam Villa.

Architect Larson also mentioned the dual benefit of designing porches on the south side of a home. When sized correctly, the porch can reduce the glare of direct sunlight, while still allowing daylight to be filtered into the home. During the winter months, when you want some additional heat, the southward exposure will still bring in the warmth from the sun.

The final design element that needs to be considered with regards to the use of natural light is the window treatments. Regardless of the aesthetics of your window treatments, the ability to adjust them for different times of day and seasons of the year, will allow you to gain the most benefit from windows that have been designed into your home.

Multi-purposed Design

Too often we think of windows as simply a means of looking out of or into a home, and that transoms and other forms of glazing that are above our eye-level are purely aesthetic. Obviously, this is not the case. Additional windows, when designed with purpose, can lower energy costs through their provision of natural lighting and savings on heat during the cooler months of the year. The benefits to a healthy state of mind and body create further advantages that cannot be properly measured, but certainly should not be ignored.

Natural lighting will be taken into consideration by any professional designer who understands that its benefits include elements of sustainability, value engineering and healthy living, along with the natural beauty of the bright and glorious sun.

Window Treatments – Tips and Trends

kkrueger — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:50:00 GMT

Window Treatments – Tips and Trends

Window treatments are like the ribbon that wraps around a simple gift -- they add an extra touch that either contrasts or compliments the rest of the wrapping. Although this statement is certainly true, window coverings aren't purely aesthetic in nature. They are also incorporated as a very functional aspect of a room's design. Because of this, it is important to take both areas into consideration when shopping for your window treatments.

An allusion of height is created by installing the valance above the windows upper casing.

Current Trends in Window Treatments

Sheer is in! The elegant movement of sheer fabric is very popular in women's fashion right now. Similarly, Hunter Douglas, one of the top names in the window treatment industry, says that same trend is moving into the window treatment arena.

Warm colors. In step with other areas of interior design, window coverings are moving away from the neutral colors to warmer shades in the terra cotta family, according to both Hunter Douglas and our HGTV sources.

Automation. We have become accustomed to wireless control. We use it to control our televisions, our fireplaces and our garage doors. Adding this convenience to the operation of our window coverings is a natural. A push of the button and blinds or shades can be lowered or closed. This has been a great benefit for controlling the light from clerestory windows that are located just below the roof line.

Going green. HGTV's Caren Baginski listed the use of natural renewable products like bamboo as one aspect of sustainable practices that are trending in the window covering industry. Use of blinds, shades and drapes to assist in the management of natural lighting and other energy conservation measures is the other shade of green that can be found in more forms of window coverings than ever more.

Window Treatment Tips from the Pros

Hunter Douglas' two design pros, Sally Morse and Jennifer Roth, are a mother-daughter duo. They have plenty of tips regarding the selection and care of the window treatments for your home.

Repel dust. A simple trick for reducing static and repelling dust from your blinds and shutter louvers is to wipe them with a dryer sheet, accomplishing both tasks at once.

Moisture resistant. High humidity areas require special care when selecting your window treatments. Natural wood products may not be able to stand up to the moisture levels in a bathroom. Select blinds and shutters that are labeled as moisture resistant and guaranteed not to warp.

French door options. French doors are a great design detail in a home, but they can create an issue when it comes to window treatments. Not only do you have to be concerned about the covering swinging when the doors are opened, but the door handles can also be obtrusive and difficult to accommodate. Sally and Jen recommend shades with narrow headrails for this situation. You will also want to select styles that have brackets that can be installed at the bottom edge of the window to hold the shade in place when the door is swung open.

Select moisture resistant materials for blinds in areas of high humidity

Small windows. Smaller window openings have been designed into some homes to conserve on the initial cost of construction. Windows that are short and narrow can easily be transformed to give the appearance of greater width and height with the proper choice of window treatments. To give a greater appearance of height, install your valance above the window's upper casing height. Then, use floor length vertical products to create a full-length covering. To broaden the width of a narrow window, use horizontal lines in your blinds and position your drapery rods beyond the side casings of the window. Selecting a drapery color that blends with the wall color will further enhance this allusion of width.

Natural light with privacy built in. Pleated shades are a great option for those areas where you want to maintain your privacy without blocking out the natural light available from your windows. Window shadings such as the Hunter Douglas Silhouette line provide another great option. These treatments combine the filtering capabilities of sheer fabric with the adjustable wide vanes of blinds. These treatments have a soft fabric look without losing the total privacy afforded when the vanes are fully closed.

Updates to window treatments can be an inexpensive way to change-up the look in a room. Removing heavy drapes and replacing them with contemporary looking shades can provide the same energy conservation with a much lighter look and feel. Color can be minimized by confining it to a valance that tastefully hides blinds or shades behind it, when you want the benefit of a full open window look. There are many creative ways to combine fabric, blinds and shutters to perfectly compliment the overall feel of a room in a very affordable manner.

How to Design a Living Room Layout

spublicover — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:24:00 GMT

How to Design a Living Room Layout

Rather than investing in area rugs, designer Brian Back installed wall-to-wall carpet in the middle of his living room and surrounded it with hardwood flooring.
Photo courtesy of Eden Development and Design.

In order for your living room to deliver on its name, the space needs to reflect your lifestyle. The furnishing, colors, treatments, and accents communicate a great deal about you, but the layout of the room adds function.

Plan Before You Shop

When you’re laying out your living room space, start by viewing it as a blank canvas. This allows you to clear your mind of where certain pieces have always been located and to look at the area from a different perspective.

Brian Back, owner of Eden Design and Development in Boston, says to take this one step further. “Box up and clear out the room. It’s hard to visually remove things while they’re still physically there. Choose what you really want to keep and decide what you will replace. Get rid of the stuff you don’t want as fast as possible rather than design around it in your head.”

Back says that people often keep pieces together and fail to see the potential for using one of the items elsewhere. Starting with an empty room is the best way to stimulate creative thinking.
“One of the most common missteps I see is that the homeowners pigeonhole their whole design aesthetic on what they have already. You can mix traditional and contemporary, for example, so keep an open mind,” says Back.

Measure carefully and make a sketch of the room or download an online design template, like those available on DIYHomeNetwork.com. Be sure to include placement of the doors, windows, stairs, and fireplace, if you have one. Mark any possible obstructions, like columns, half walls or eaves.
Before you shop for new furnishings, decide how you want the space to function. Rather than invest in a large entertainment center, for example, determine if you even want or need that piece in the room. You might be better served by mounting a flat screen to the wall.

Decide on the desired atmosphere, like relaxed, formal, traditional, country cottage, modern, or eclectic. Living rooms mean different things to different people. Interior designer Blythe Coleman-Simmons of Bella Interiors in Attleboro, MA, says the function of a living room for one person might be a formal space while an active family might have a different idea. “I ask them about the functionality of the room,” says Coleman-Simmons. “Do you sit in here every Friday night? Are there five people on the couch? We need to accommodate everyone without overwhelming the space.”

Map the Traffic Route

What looks great on paper still needs to reflect the ability of people to comfortably move in and out of the living room. On your floor plan, draw a line to map the straightest path through the room, from entrance to exit. Then start placing furniture pieces on your diagram, beginning with your focal point, which is often the sofa. Add in other pieces to create a full picture. Are there obstacles on the travel path? While you certainly don’t have to commit to the shortest route, you also don’t want to create a maze through the various furnishings.

If television viewing is important, can everyone see the screen easily? Is the seating laid out so that conversation can comfortably take place without moving furniture?

Coleman-Simmons says that homeowners fall into old habits with furniture layout. “People tend to push everything up against the walls, but you can create different sitting areas in one room. Divide and conquer the space.”

Come up with several alternative plans so you can find the one that works best for you.

Scale the Furniture

The furnishings in a room need to be proportional to the space. A small loveseat will be dwarfed in a large room, while a sectional will overwhelm a smaller one.

“The scale of the furniture should be scaled to the room,” explains Back. “Don’t use thick-armed furniture in a small room. The legs on the table should be slim and consider using glass-topped tables. Keep the patterns on the furniture small and use nylon shades instead of heavy draperies.”

“Entertainment centers and sectionals are the biggest culprits to space planning,” says Coleman-Simmons. “It’s very hard to change around a room after you’ve committed to buying a sectional or huge entertainment center.”

Explore Color and Light

Lighting is often an afterthought when homeowners are designing a room, but it should be integrated into the planning. “Doing a nice lighting plan can completely change the room. It is probably one of the most important parts of making a room look beautiful,” says Back. “Think about spotting your artwork and putting in dimmers so that the room is not completely lit or totally dark.”

Back also advises homeowners to change recessed lights to spotlights that can be adjusted to direct light to different places. It’s easily accomplished by replacing the housings on the fixture.

When laying out a living room, look at the flow from room to room to ensure harmony.

It’s also important to note the impact of natural light on the room, because it will affect the color and lighting choices, and perhaps the placement of your furnishings. Place your upholstered and wood furniture and artwork away from direct sunlight to avoid damage. If your living room gets ample natural light, you can darken the color on the walls to make the room feel cozier. With limited ambient light, stay away from dark colors because the walls absorb the light.

“A lot of people feel they need to use paint to get color into the room, as opposed to bringing it in with upholstery or artwork. Intense color on the walls makes it difficult to decorate. I encourage people to use more subdued colors and then furnish it with accessories and artwork that’s bold. That’s more sophisticated than just using paint as the color,” suggests Back.

Coleman-Simmons adds that she recommends people to paint their ceilings the same color as the walls to avoid the harsh definition with the white ceiling. Back says that when painting the walls a dark color, use a hue that is about 50 percent of the wall color on the ceiling.

A Room Is Not an Island

Finally, remember that a home is a collection of rooms, not a solitary piece. Your living room design should recognize this connectivity. Create a color palette that flows from room to room. Stand in a doorway and envision how the colors in the living room walls will be seen from other rooms. Choose a color scheme that works throughout the home so you have a comfortable transition from one room to the next.

Together, all of these design elements create the “life” of your living room.

Choosing Living Room Furniture

kspearbecker — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:29:00 GMT

Choosing Living Room Furniture

The right furniture will enhance a living room's design.

With all the styles and colors of furniture available, the task of choosing and buying living room furniture can be daunting. This guide will help you choose the furniture that will be just right for your needs and lifestyle.

While some living rooms are formal, most are fairly casual, multipurpose rooms where we watch television, entertain, read, relax in front of the fireplace or take a nap on a Sunday afternoon. For a versatile room like the living room the furniture in it should be versatile, as well as stylish and functional. It should fit your lifestyle—modern and contemporary or traditional—and above all it should comfortable.

Style

The main styles today are casual, contemporary/modern, traditional, and Old World.

Contemporary or modern furniture has sleek, clean lines, bold colors and prints. Think uncluttered and sophisticated.

Casual furniture looks comfortable, friendly, cozy—checks, plaids, small prints and family-friendly solids. Think pine wood floors and handmade quilts.

Traditional is classic, elegant, refined—white, ivory or rich colors, fabrics can be a bit formal, rolled arms skirted bottoms. Think French doors and tall windows.

Old World combines French, Spanish and Italian styles--heavy, rich earthy colors, leather, nubby textures, and natural but at the same time elegant. This furniture tends to be large so not always appropriate for small spaces. Think rustic, hand-crafted, antique.

The style you choose will depend on the style of your home, the size of your room, your lifestyle, and your budget.

Furniture for the living room is made up of seating, tables and storage. Measure your seating area so you know how much room you have. It’s very hard to guess if a particular sofa or chairs in a showroom will fit in your living room.

Sofas

Many times we learn how to shop for sofas through costly trial and error. Hopefully this will not happen to you.

Don’t be so taken with color, texture and style that you forget construction. When choosing a sofa look for durable fabrics and comfortable cushions that will keep their shape and a strong well-made frame.

Cushions

Some sofas have seats with no cushions at all, but most have two or three. Sectional sofas can have more than that. Seat cushions are generally loose. The back cushions can be loose or they may be attached. Attached cushions stay where they belong and always look uniform. Seat cushions should not be unyielding but they should be firm enough to keep their shape. Zippered cushion covers can be removed and dry cleaned. They also allow you to replace the foam cushions with new ones of the same size and shape.

"Density is used to gauge the durability of foam, and, generally, the higher the density the more durable (and more expensive) the cushion will be," says Jackie Hirschhaut, Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for the American Home Furnishings Alliance. "Better quality upholstered furniture uses foam with a density rating of at least 1.8 to 2.5 pounds per cubic foot."

The cushions should be made from wrapped foam. Sometimes the cushions are filled with down, but be forewarned, down breaks down and does not wear well.

The cushions are supported by springs. Be sure to ask about the spring construction. The best, and most expensive, are 8-way hand tied. Serpentine, sometimes called “sinuous” springs are less expensive, but if well-made are comfortable and durable. Stear clear of mesh support.

Frame Construction

The sofa that will stand the test of time will be made from kiln-dried hardwood—oak or maple. Pine is soft and less durable. Good quality sofas and loveseat frames are joined with screws and will have mortise and tenon joints. Cheaply made furniture is stapled.

According to the experts at Good Housekeeping, test the strength of the fame by lifting one leg 6 inches off the floor, if the other leg hasn’t risen as well, the frame is weak.

Fabric

"The upholstery of a piece of furniture determines a great deal about how it looks and how it feels," explains Mary Elizabeth of the Home Institute. "To a large extent, it determines the cost. It determines whether the furniture feels--firm or soft. The type and quality of the upholstery also determines how it will last."

Look for a tight weave fabric. If you have children and stains are a concern look for microfiber or leather. Leather is not always the best choice if you have pets however. “Cotton and linen can be treated for stain resistance, but even then they aren't as easy to clean, or as durable,” says Kathleen Huddy, textiles, paper, and plastics director for the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. And the most expensive upholstery is not always the best.

Style Considerations

Microfiber is durable, beautiful and easy to clean.

Arms

Sofa arms come in several styles. One is really no better than another; it’s a matter of personal taste. If you are a sofa napper there are some that are more comfortable. It may also depend how you prefer to rest your own arm when seated. The basic arm styles are:

English arm: Narrow, dips slightly in the middle
Roll arm or Traditional: Rounded. Large has a more country look, smaller usually more traditional or formal.
Square arm: More modern or contemporary. Good for small spaces.
Tuxedo arm: Contemporary. Arms are about the same height as the sofa back. Looks very square.

Remember, the width of the arm will affect the actual size of the sofa. A 90” sofa may seem large but if the arms are wide the seating area may be something like 66” wide. On the other hand, if the arms are relatively narrow you would have more seating area. If you have a rather small room, go for the sofas with less arm and more seating.

Base

At the bottom your choices are wood “feet,” a wood base or a skirt. A footed sofa is easier to clean under, but it’s mainly a matter of visual appeal.

Shape: Curved, straight or sectional. Curved sofas are not for nappers. Sectionals come in sections that can be arranged in various ways.

Loveseats

Loveseats are just small sofas. Choose a matching loveseat if you entertain often or have more than a few family members.

Chairs

How many chairs you need depends on the size of your room, the number of people in your family and if you like to entertain. As far as construction, arms and fabric are concerned, they are much the same as sofas. As for style keep to the same general style as your sofa. If your sofa is a large chunky style do not buy small chairs and the reverse is also true. A rocking chair can be soothing for some people and a recliner is a great place to spend a rainy afternoon with a good read and a cup of coffee.

Tables

Speaking of coffee, end tables, coffee tables, sofa tables and television cabinets give you and your guests a place to set a cup, display décor and house your electronics. Some coffee tables have hinged tops with storage space inside keeping clutter to a minimum. Others have baskets underneath for things like magazines, novels or needlework. Traditional styles are wood and are functional. Contemporary styles can be glass, metal, plastic or wood and are not usually very functional.
Don’t forget things like lighting, art, throws, and pillows to make your room warm, inviting and to give it added personality.

Finished Basement Design Ideas

kspearbecker — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:15:00 GMT

Finished Basement Design Ideas

The rec room of the 1960’s is an idea that is still evolving (beautifully) today. Photo courtesy of A & A Design and Build Remodeling, Dedicated to Outstanding Design and Remodeling Washington, DC, 20015

Once upon a time the basement was just a place to house the furnace, hot water heater and dusty boxes of holiday decorations. No one really thought about the basement much until the 1960’s when the basement “rec rooms,” became the icon of that decade. Here we gathered as a family and weathered the Cold War watching episodes of Leave It to Beaver and I Love Lucy. Gone are Ricky, Lucy, Wally and the Beav but the rec room is an idea that is still evolving today. Relatives of the rec room include the home theater and game room.

Today’s underground spaces are being used for so much more. Popular house plans include floor plans for the lower level that rival the floor plans of the upper floors. These spaces are no longer dark cement block tombs with little or no natural light. Lower levels, as they are called now called, are light, bright rooms with all the livability of their upstairs counterparts.

What can a basement be used for? What can’t it be used for? If the basement is large it can be used for more than function. Here are some design ideas.

Family Room

The traditional family room or “man cave” still tops the list. But these are not your parent’s family rooms. The linoleum and wood paneled walls are long gone. These rooms have wood floors, French doors, plush furniture, wet bars, kitchens, and baths, entertainment centers that look built-in and even dining areas. Some have small kitchens. Most have a half bath.

Home Office

More and more people are working at home today and more are expected to join the ranks of home based professionals. “Based on all the research we’ve done, our estimate is that 20 to 30 million people currently work from home at least one day a week. 10 to 15 million are home businesses; 15 to 20 million work at home part time (with about half doing so 1-2 days a week); and about 3 million are based at home full time,” says Kate Lister of the Telework Research Network. With the high cost of gas that number is expected to rise. The finished basement is the perfect place for a home office. Separated from the rest of the house, the basement is private, quiet and it’s easier to focus on the job at hand. The home office can be whatever your work demands and as simple or as pretentious as you desire. A bathroom, wet bar for coffee and an under counter refrigerator for soft drinks or bottled water keep you in the office during work hours.

The game room is a relative of the rec room. Photo courtesy of: A & A Design and Build Remodeling, Dedicated to Outstanding Design and Remodeling Washington, DC, 20015

Guest Suite

A guest suite might include a bedroom or sleeping area, a kitchenette, bath, and possibly a setting room with television. These options depend on how often you have house guests, and how long you want them to stay.

Teen Suite or Studio Apartment

Teens need some privacy. Some college students may not be quite ready to leave home so a studio apartment at home can be a nice option. The apartment can later be turned into a guest suite, in-law suite or other space.

Game Room

Whether pool is your game or video games are your thing a game room the ultimate weekend retreat. These are sometimes part of a man cave and can include a big screen television for watching games; video games, accessories and a place to keep it all. Poker anyone? Include a card table and chairs. A bar for soft drinks or beer, cabinets for glassware and dishes for snacks, an under counter refrigerator, a microwave, a half bath and don’t forget the right kinds of lighting in the right places.

Home Theater

These are very popular basement remodels. A large television, DVD player, some movies and comfortable seating are the bare minimum. But what would a movie be without popcorn and drinks? A bar with microwave, under counter refrigeration, bowls and glasses completes your home theater experience.

Play Room

It would be great if kids could play outside every day, but few locations offer that type of climate. A basement play room offers children a safe place to play, learn, pretend and just be a kid. Keep walls, floor and furniture easy to clean, and provide lots of easy storage for books, games, and toys.

Home School

"There were an estimated 1,700,000 to 2,100,000 children (grades K-12) home educated during 2002-2003 in the United States. Homeschooling appears to still be the fastest-growing form of education," says Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. in Facts on Home-schooling * Homeschooling is the right decision for many families and the proper space, away from distractions, is essential. The basement is a great place to set up school. Computer desk, book shelves, and storage for supplies and educational toys for young children are the most immediate must-haves. But don’t forget to make it a cheerful, fun place to spend a large part of each day. Choose bright colors, fun textures, children’s art, wall coverings and borders for the walls. Plan a comfortable place for reading books and perhaps naptime too.

The home gym is a popular design idea. Photo courtesy of A & A Design and Build Remodeling, Dedicated to Outstanding Design and Remodeling Washington, DC, 20015

Family Studio

The family studio can be many different things to many different people. It’s a laundry room. It can be a place to paint or work on craft projects, write, do woodworking or some other hobby. It can be used for a home based business or just a place to keep the home running smoothly with a computer, desk and file cabinet for personal bookkeeping and bill paying. It’s a place to do homework, pot plants, play games. The basement is the perfect place for it. Include work surfaces, storage, storage, and more storage.

Home Gym/Workout Room

As Americans become more health conscience the home gym is becoming popular. Some are going all out with a spa bath with steam or spa shower or whirlpool tub. Don’t try to cram too much equipment into the space. Keep it simple. Include a small refrigerator for water and sports drinks. Don’t forget music it can keep you from getting bored.
"Paint the walls with an eye appealing color to make the room more inviting," suggests John Phung, certified personal trainer. "Adding pictures and posters in your home gym will not only make the room resemble some of the designs of a health club, but with the right picture, it can act as a motivation tool as well."