Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

---

• Achieving the Sought After French Country Styled Kitchen
• Freshome Reader Help: Wants to Make Flat a Wonderful Space
• Exclusive Bathtub Design from Condor-Paris
• Incredible Space Maximization in a Small Studio Apartment
• How to Decide If You’re Ready to Sell Your Home

Achieving the Sought After French Country Styled Kitchen Posted: 02 Aug 2010 10:56 AM PDT The French Country kitchen style is everywhere, from celebrities homes to home improvement television shows, they are currently the 'it' kitchen style.   There is no wonder they are popular, the mixtures of relaxed, and worn finishes along with lighter tones of colors is appealing to anyone who enjoys spending time in their kitchen.  This style is reminiscent of a simpler country life, where artisans and laborers enjoyed their homes and the craftsmanship of exposed wood beams was common place.  Looking to achieve this look in your home? Here's how to achieve the French Country kitchen style in your home. CABINETRY: Worn surfaces with muted color themes are typical of the French Country kitchen.  Slight ornamentation and crown molding often adorns upper cabinets. Knotted pine and walnut wood cabinets are rich in textures but light in appearance. Darker woods and painted cabinetry can be combined with the lighter cabinets to give French Country style a modern edge. ISLANDS/COUNTERTOPS: Family, large meals, and celebrating life's accomplishments is historically how families and neighbors gathered around the kitchen.  The French Country kitchen combines that feeling in the architecture and design of the kitchen. Granite, marble, and wood islands with additional seating brings guests and host together, this is the true tradition of French Country styling. Countertops adorned with farmer's house sinks, and pot filler faucets adjacent to the stove, are bonus touches that makes a French Country kitchen desirable. Remember the old world styling of metal candelabras made from forged iron? Iron, brushed oil copper and metal with aged patinas are gorgeous when combined with copper hanging pots above a counter or sink.  Iron scroll imitation candelabras are popular in today's high end furniture store catalogs.  To create centerpieces for the dining room table – use vintage wine bottles in various sizes and colors, coupled with fresh flowers to mimic the French Country way of entertaining and bringing people together. FIREPLACES/HEARTHS: Who doesn't love gathering around a roaring fire, or baking a pizza in an authentic brick oven?  Common in luxury French Country kitchens are fireplaces that can be used for ambiance, or to cook.  Many kitchens copy this styling by adding fume hoods and decorative brick/stone arches throughout the kitchen to give the feeling of the hearth around the space.  Mosaic tiles, and backsplashes behind the stove sometimes takes the same warmth cue – with having fireplace images hand painted on the tiles. Remember French Country, like other décor styles it is about evoking a familiar feeling of the traditional, simpler life and all the amenities that it offers. Freshome Reader's, do you remember the Cottage Style décor featured last week? The French Country has similar qualities that make both styles so inviting.  Do you have either of these décor styles in your home?  What's your favorite way to bring the feeling of relaxed living into your home? Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Freshome Reader Help: Wants to Make Flat a Wonderful Space Posted: 02 Aug 2010 10:51 AM PDT JAKUB: Me and my fiancée have just bought a small flat in Warsaw, Poland. There is nothing in there as it is a new building. We both have no previous experience in designing and decorating. We will appreciate any help, ideas and suggestions.Please help us design our first flat so we can be happy living in there EDITOR: Freshome Reader’s help Jakub and his fiancee plan their first flat together! Leave your comments below. If you would like to enter Help My Space Freshome! Click here for all the details. Freshome reader’s will comment on your space and help you solve your design dilemma. Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Exclusive Bathtub Design from Condor-Paris Posted: 02 Aug 2010 10:02 AM PDT “L’invitation au voyage” is the message that this Haute Coutoure bathtub from Condor-Paris is trying to transmit. Resembling a giant but very classy suitcase, this appealing bathroom product could be a real collection piece for those interesting in traveling. The “voyageurs”  probably get a kick of this tub’s side belts and unusual leather cushion which one can rest his or her head on in a relaxing and mending environment. The Condor logo looks very stylish and is in tune with the overall suitcase design. The tub was created while respecting all the rules of ergonomics and the head rest is removable. The interior features golden brass jets which add up to the opulent style of this item, without affecting its overall elegance. Bon voyage, Paris lovers ! Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Incredible Space Maximization in a Small Studio Apartment Posted: 02 Aug 2010 07:33 AM PDT You’ve seen a lot of ingenious ideas on how to decorate small apartments on Freshome. Here is another tiny crib that manages to maximize space and create a cozy living environment as well. The East Village Studio comes from JPDA Architects, stretches over an area of 152 square meters (500 feet) and was built as a little “nest” for the owners who also work here. It has all the utilities a common looking contemporary home has and dare we say a lot more. This original crib has storage space and shelves in the most unusual and unexpected places, reducing clutter and contributing to a clean and fresh interior design. The wood gives this home its warmth which is “intensified” by the friendly vegetation pots spread around the open studio. Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

How to Decide If You’re Ready to Sell Your Home Posted: 02 Aug 2010 02:52 AM PDT Selling your home is a big decision.  The unstable housing market has made home sellers apprehensive about putting their home on the market. Rightfully so, selling your house involves research, preparation, and especially patience.  On the bright side, this is the best time to buy a home.  Houses are at historical lows and now could be the perfect time to sell your home.  Let's decide if you're ready to enter the housing market. DO YOUR HOMEWORK: If you are thinking about putting your home on the market, research what home's are for sale, and have sold within a set radius distance from your home. The radius from your home is based on if you live in an urban or rural area. In urban areas, there are more comparable homes in a smaller distance and conversely in rural areas. Research homes which are similar in size, age, and amenities as your own home. This step will help you get realistic about your decision in selling your home. HIRE AN APPRAISER: The purpose of an appraiser is to professionally analyze your home, and compare it to the recent sales and the current competition.  This step is important in deciding if you're ready to sell your home.  The price figure that the appraiser assesses your home at should be the amount that you now use for your planning.  Although appraising can be subjective to the professional, banks will use this to determine financing limits.  Therefore, the appraiser's report should be considered heavily. WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS: Selling your home is a personal decision.  After you have the professional appraiser's price, determine if this is realistic for your situation. Is the time and money that you spent in your home worth the amount that you may lose or gain in selling it? Remember, your asking price should be thought through carefully.  Ultimately, the home buyer can still offer a different amount, and you will need to decide if you're ready for the give and take of home selling. PATIENCE: Home selling requires the endurance and patience to go through the process. Several offers could be made on your home; this doesn't always mean they are reasonable for your situation.  There isn't any guarantee that you will sell your home for what you ask for it. Conversely, if you live in a highly sought after neighborhood, or area of town, you may receive more than your asking price! Be patient, the market has quite a few properties. This means the offers you receive may 'lowball' you – meaning, offering much less than your asking price. Consider all offers carefully, if you are in a desperate situation the low offers may be your only way out.  If you don't have a strict timeline, be patient and the right offer for your home will eventually come. Your home may be the most expensive possession you'll ever own.  Your family and where you live can also be the most important decision for the happiness of your family.  Determine if you are ready to sell your home now, or if you need to wait. Whichever you decide, arm yourself with information and if it feels overwhelming, seek guidance from a Realtor.  Their job is to help you through the home selling process from beginning to end. Freshome reader's do you have any suggestions for determining the right time to sell your home in today's real estate market? We would love to hear your comments Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

You are subscribed to email updates from Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Newsletter To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610