Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

---

• 40 Best Money Saving Decorating Ideas for Your Home
• Aristocratic Seating: Bohemian Sofa, Chair and Otoman from Busnelli
• Impressive Contemporary Extension to Old Farmhouse in Austria
• 7 Essential Tips for Hiring a Home General Contractor
• Stylish Frame Chairs to be Showcased at London Design Festival

40 Best Money Saving Decorating Ideas for Your Home Posted: 27 Aug 2010 08:37 AM PDT One of the hardest facts about owning a home is that you can't always afford how expensive your décor taste is! There are ways to cut corners, and still get fantastic ideas for your home.  Wouldn't you love to find ways in your everyday life to save money and get wonderful décor ideas? Here are 40 of the best money saving décor ideas for your home. Best in this article means – everyday resources that are available to you – and easy for you to execute. 1.) Use free sources around you: From magazines, the internet, to satellite home & garden programs the world is at your fingertips for décor ideas.  Peruse through magazines, and home décor books to get a sense of what your taste is.  Visit home improvement stores and collect paint and material samples to start making an "idea" folder of what inspires you. Determine what your personal style is. Is it: Vintage, Modern, Bohemian, French Country, choose your style and start planning! 2.) Determine your budget BEFORE you begin: Let's face it, if you didn't have a budget your home would be already complete, and you wouldn't need these money saving tips.  Everyone needs to set a budget to have boundaries on your wallet and your home! Once you've set one, buy a few major pivotal pieces to center the theme of your room around.  Then use thrift shops and department store clearance areas to fill in with gorgeous accessories. 3.) Start at the front door/entry: When guests walk in your home they should get a sense of your style instantly. Maximize a foyer space without over cluttering. Try using a chest or decorative baskets to house keys or mail. Add a decorative touch by adding a mirror and foyer sized table for resting flowers, and accessories to pull your guests into your home. The mirror will open up your foyer and reflect the gorgeous décor of the space. Save money by using vases and decorative urns from other areas of your home that already exist. 4.) Maximize your existing furniture: Consider re-upholstering furniture with updated colored and styled materials. Slip covers offer a quick and easy solution for changing out furniture for different seasons and or occasions. Re-finish wood furniture or use a fresh coat of paint on headboards and mirror frames.  Try using online planning tools to play around with different colors and options before you take the plunge! 5.) Redesign your furniture layout: Believe it or not, your space can look dramatically different just by moving the furniture! Find a new focal point – like a fireplace, an outdoor view, an accent wall with a television, and move your furniture to compliment it.  Consider bringing pieces from other rooms of your home. By removing some furniture you can get a more open space, and the room may function better. Professional re-designers do this every day, why don't you try, it's totally FREE! 6.) Paint a room or accent wall with a bold color: Paint is the most affordable decorating tool you have, so go for it! Paint an accent wall in a contrasting or complementing color to your furniture.  Don't know how to decide on colors? Ask your home improvement store to mix quart or sample sizes for you.  This way you can try it before you take the plunge. 7.) Use accessories to bring a new look to furniture: Use throw pillows, throw blankets, and area rugs to give your 'old' room a new look and feel.  Instead of buying a new piece of furniture, look at what colors you haven't tried before.  Try a new color palette and mix and match patterns and solids.  These accessories are inexpensive and can be changed on a whim.  Have a worn area on the floor? Cover it with a funky new area rug – instantly and cheaply you solved a décor dilemma. 8.) Use accent lighting to highlight décor and interiors: Wall sconces with directional lighting can add drama to a once boring hallway or foyer.  Install accent lighting to shine on artwork to add drama and a focal point to a fireplace or over a couch. Use simple up-lighting to give visual interest to house plants and atrium areas in your home. 9.) Make wall treatments from everyday materials: Windows can get an added decorative touch with wall treatments.  Inexpensive ones can be made with do it yourself home kits, and a sewing machine.  Everyday materials such as sheets, linen, and many man-made fibers that resemble expensive silks and organza are also available.  No one will know that you cut corners to adorn your windows with beautiful drapery, curtains or valances. 10.) Accessorize your bathroom with affordable décor: Towels, shower curtains/rods, and bath mats are easy and inexpensive ways to bring color and a theme to a boring bathroom.  Consider changing the theme of the bathroom with paint and add a new color palette for your new bath linen to match. 11.) Search online classifieds and garage sales for cheap finds: Craigslist, Backpages and other online classifieds can be a great treasure chest for some.  Also check college newspapers and apartment bulletin boards. Areas where there's a high turnover of people moving in and out are great finds for furniture, décor, and small appliances. 12.) Do your homework when shopping: Often home décor items are bought on a whim which is alright for the occasional item. For furniture and long time investment pieces you will save more money buying quality once that lasts, rather than junk that you have to replace 10 times! Compare prices, shop online deals, and don't forget to shop department store clearance areas. 13.) Use natural ingredients for an eye catching centerpiece: The next time you are in the grocery store; don't overlook the produce section to add color to your home. Lemons, limes, apples, oranges make great centerpieces in a beautiful vase or aligned in a modern horizontal platter. Add these with glass marbles and tall greenery to make a statement on a foyer table. 14.) Splurge on big impact décor: When buying decorative pieces for your home, use the majority of your money on items that will make a huge statement.  A full length framed mirror that rests against the wall will have a wow factor right away. While spending that same amount on a few décor items that go on a bookshelf may get lost in the context of books, and your money is essentially "wasted". 15.) Create table scapes to match the season: Create mini collages of decorative items on your buffet, dining room, and sofa tables to bring the outdoors in.  Whether it is decorative seashells and rocks displayed in glass jars, or pine cones and evergreen in bountiful baskets, table scapes are fun and cost pennies to make. 16.) Update the plumbing fixtures: Your bathroom and kitchen plumbing fixtures are décor "accessories" of your sinks and showers! Instead of replacing an entire countertop, try changing out the fixtures for more modern or more ornate ones. By changing the metal finish you can introduce a new wow factor. Copper, brushed chrome, and brushed bronze all have beautiful patinas. 17.) Faux painting wall techniques deliver a wow factor: Painting has come a long way over the years. Faux painting techniques can make your walls look like suede, leather, stucco, or even denim! An inexpensive way to bring ambiance to your space is by using a faux wall technique.  Visit your painting store, to see what new textures and varieties you have to choose from. 18.) Door pulls and handles can change your cabinets: Don't have money to get all new cabinetry in your kitchen or bathroom? Install new door pulls and handles to give a new look to a previously boring or out-of-date door pull.  Want a pulled together look? Match your plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures and door pulls with the same metal. This ties all the elements together beautifully! 19.) Do it yourself and save: Long gone are the days when do-it-yourself projects were only for crafts people and those handy with power tools! Online tutorials, You Tube, satellite television DIY networks and the internet – the world of home improvement is at your fingertips. Pick a project and get started! Save money and design/build it yourself. 20.) Don't forget your local home improvement store: You can learn a lot from the home improvement store around the corner.  Most stores have hands-on learning workshops that provide free lessons on home décor projects.  From tiling your backsplash in your kitchen to installing crown molding, these workshops can make your home look like professionals did your home improvements projects. 21.) Can't afford wallpaper? How about these ideas: Use your creativity and add an heirloom quilt or other everyday items such as decorative dishes on your wall.  Use wall stickers and decals to give a decorative touch without the fuss of hanging wallpaper. Wall murals that use up an entire wall can transform your space into nature, space, or city scapes with a few easy steps. 22.) Save money and plan ahead with the proper tools when shopping: Trying to find a new couch or table? When purchasing large pieces of furniture, measure out the space in your home first.  Don't eyeball it, and hope it fits when you see that perfect piece in the store. You will save time and money in the long run. Carry a tape measure with you to measure the piece in the store too! 23.) Use your family's artwork/collectibles as art: Shadow boxes are a wonderful way to display your kid's artwork, camp projects, and sports medals/awards around your home.  Instead of throwing them in a drawer, choose ones that have lots of color and display them on a contrasting color wall. Frame milestone memorabilia and see the pride your kids will take in having their work displayed. Cheap for you, priceless for the family. 24.) Don't underestimate using mirrors in your décor: Mirrors have reinvented themselves in the last few years in the design world, and they are bigger than ever in home décor. For cheap décor ideas visit your local craft store and buy inexpensive mirrors to use as mosaic pieces on furniture, or picture frames. Make your own frames for larger mirrors and customize the look to hang in kid's rooms or in your bathroom. 25.) Reface kitchen and bathroom cabinets: Replacing cabinetry can be expensive. To get a whole new look by spending half of the money, consider refacing. Refacing will apply a veneer to the exterior of the cabinetry boxes.  New doors will be applied to give your kitchen or bathroom an updated look and it saved you money in the process. 26.) Use decorative furniture to hide clutter: Furniture that has removable tops, like ottomans and movable sofa cubes are a great way to hide CD's, gaming supplies, and kid's toys.  Decorative baskets and storage furniture are a nice way to collect your necessary items, and still keep the integrity of the space. 27.) New ways to refinish hardwood floors: For a new look paint or use a different color stain on your floor. Visit your home improvement store to see what products are made for pre-finished floors.  This cost saving tip will give your hard wood floors new life, and change the entire décor of your home. 28.) Add visual interest to kid's room: Children's rooms can be expensive to decorate.  For creative and cheap wall ideas consider using chalkboard paint and stencils.  Chalkboard paint can be mixed into any color and when used with stencils can give a custom look for your kids! Paint a whole wall, or paint their favorite animals and sporting goods for hours of fun later. 29.) Bring the outdoors inside: Use natural products like wood, seagrass, jute, hemp and greenery to make your indoors alive with color, texture and richness. Inspiration can come from magazines, online sites or your own backyard! Collect rocks and arrange in a decorative vase with fresh flowers and greenery. Seagrass furniture is eco-friendly and very durable. Running water fountains can bring serenity to your space as well. 30.) Opt for laminates instead of the real thing: Laminate wood flooring has been manufactured and delivered in a more believable look and feel in today's home décor. If hardwood is pricey for your wallet consider using laminate. Visit a flooring or home improvement store to get educated on the pros and cons of laminate flooring. Get the expensive look for a fraction of hardwood prices. 31.) Dress up your fireplace: The fireplace in a room is naturally the focal point of a space.  To inexpensively decorate your fireplace take cues from your existing furnishings and style. For a rustic fireplace with stones and bricks, consider natural fibers and wood derived décor on the mantle. For sleek and contemporary fireplaces that don't have a mantle sit an urn filled with bamboo or reeds to the side of the fireplace for an asymmetrical composition. 32.) Thrift stores can help you adopt a Bohemian décor style: Do you love mixing and matching different colors, patterns, and styles? Eclectic styles are wonderful because they have no boundaries. Thrift stores can help you find inexpensive treasures to decorate with. Try mixing different colored dinnerware for an original twist to a dinner table setting. Find similar color families, or go bold. Either way, it's all about embracing your décor style and saving money! 33.) Give your lighting a makeover: Lamps and lighting can make or break a space.  By buying new lampshades you can give an old boring lamp new life.  If you have a custom color palette in your home, make your own lampshade! They have kits that you can pick your coordinating fabric and embellish it with ornamentation, ribbon, etc… Visit your local craft and hobby store and see how many choices you have to choose from, or be adventurous and create one from scratch. 34.) Decorate with artifacts from past vacations and travels: If you are a lover of travel and bringing back home décor items, use those items proudly around your home. An empty corner could house an expensive piece of furniture, or tucked in a closet may be an artisan artifact from your trip to Tahiti that you didn't know where to put it! Jewelry put in shadow boxes or used as framed art is beautiful for display. 35.) Decorate your bathroom with outdoor inspiration: The spa inspired bathroom is a sought after feel that can be achieved inexpensively with natural woods, subtle colors, fluffy towels, and river rock. Arrange a basket of river rock on the bottom of a beautiful basket with pampering bath gels, soaps and sponges to give the look of a luxury day spa without hurting your wallet. 36.) Dress up your bed inexpensively: Do you like the look of a streamlined box spring cover without using fussy dust ruffles? Try this do it yourself trick: Take a fitted sheet in a matching or coordinating color and use it instead of a dust ruffle. Buy a duvet cover to put your warn out comforter inside. This will make your bed look new without spending a lot for the look. 37.) Have a decorating party: When moving into a new home the first instinct is to invite all your family and friends over to celebrate, right? Why not host a decorating party instead of a housewarming party?  Choose what your color and style is and head to your favorite décor store.  Similar to wedding registries, many stores have a wish list registry. This way when you send out invitations, your guest can pick something to buy for your new place. At your party you can have them help decorate and you just saved money in the process. 38.) Prioritize your wants over your needs when it comes to décor: When you are saving money, the idea of decorating your home can be overwhelming and every room seems like it needs something.  Determine what rooms need the most focus first. If you entertain or spend most of your time in the kitchen and dining area – this becomes your focus. Instead of decorating all the bedrooms and it's only two of you living at your home. 39.) Prioritize your wants over your needs when it comes to décor: When you are saving money, the idea of decorating your home can be overwhelming and every room seems like it needs something.  Determine what rooms need the most focus first. If you entertain or spend most of your time in the kitchen and dining area – this becomes your focus. Instead of decorating all the bedrooms and it's only two of you living at your home. 40.) Bring the indoors out to your porch: Décor is finding a larger presence outdoors as inside the home. Outdoor furniture now resembles furniture you would have in your living room. For cheap décor outdoors buy weatherproof area rugs and seat cushions to spruce up the porch. Rattan, wicker, and seagrass work wonderfully outdoors. There are also wicker resin material furniture that resembles the real thing, but stands up to the elements better and is cheaper than traditional wicker. You love your home and what better way to show it then to decorate with your own personal style? Use these 40 tips to help you save money and make your home the palace that you dream of in your head. Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Aristocratic Seating: Bohemian Sofa, Chair and Otoman from Busnelli Posted: 27 Aug 2010 06:51 AM PDT From Italian company Busnelli, the Bohemian Sofa is a display of elegance and classic design reinvented. With an aristocratic appearance, the product looks very inviting and fits well in a minimalist design meant to impress. The interesting aspect of this item and the one that makes the Bohemian sofa stand out is its upholstery. Even though the backrest comes in a traditional model with buttons, the rest of the couch is different, as the material flows elegantly, creating an almost ethereal feel. This combination of styles is very original and chic. The sofa comes in a variety of colors, it is all up to the customer to choose the right model for his or her interior. A similar chair and an otoman are available, check out how stylish they look in the photos below!-via Trendir Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Impressive Contemporary Extension to Old Farmhouse in Austria Posted: 27 Aug 2010 05:03 AM PDT Even though we consider combining modern architecture with that of old constructions can be very tricky and sometimes unsuccessful, the Flag Residence, a 200 year old farmhouse, looks incredible with this new contemporary addition from Propeller Z. The home is located in Fahndorf, Austria within a beautiful and friendly natural landscape so the project had to be in consonance with the environmental factor. While the rest of the home seems to be buried in the ground, the new construction is elevated, which is said to create a connection with the other homes nearby. We particularly like the wood stack, as it gives this extension a warm and rustic feel. The addition houses a kitchen and a living room and features large floor to ceiling windows for a good indoor/outdoor communication. Have a look and give us your honest opinion on this project.-via Arch Tracker Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

7 Essential Tips for Hiring a Home General Contractor Posted: 27 Aug 2010 03:27 AM PDT Are you thinking of renovating a bathroom, or knocking out walls to make your kitchen larger?  If you aren't experienced yourself, most likely you will be hiring a general contractor.  Do you know how to weed out the bad ones from the good ones?  There are several television do it yourself programs out there that showcase bad contractors and good contractors having to "clean up their mess". Before you are dreaming of what your remodeled bathroom will look like, you will need some tips. In an effort to ensure you hire a reputable general contractor, follow these 7 tips to help you with the process. 1.) Determine if you need a handy person or a contractor: Depending on your home project you first need to differentiate between a handy person and a contractor. If you want home repairs that don't require permitting and aren't more than $500.00 US dollars, you can use a handy person.  While if you need major plumbing, electrical, mechanical or plumbing needs that will require permits to be pulled, then you are seeking a general contractor.  Additionally, most handy personnel are not licensed but may still have the skill sets to perform the duty. 2.) Ask for referrals when searching for a reputable contractor: If you live in an area that has plenty of resources, ask around at your local home improvement store or lumber yard for contractors they have seen buying quality products. Be mindful of contractors that few people have heard of, or haven't seen where they purchase their building materials. Poor quality building materials can be the beginning of an awful renovation. 3.) Ask a home inspector: When a home inspector conducts an inspection on a home seller's home with major problems, they usually will try and refer general contractors that may help the home owner get the problem solved.  Consider calling home inspectors in your area and asking for general contractor referrals.  This way you will weed out going through a phone book and looking through hundreds of contractors. 4.) Ask questions over the phone first: Before having a contractor come out to your home, ask them interview questions by phone. Questions should include:  *What other projects have they done that are similar in size and complexity as your project? *What are their payment requirements? (Avoid contractors who only accept cash, or require you to write a check directly to them instead of the business) *Ask if their license is current and when it expires *Where is their office located.  (Be careful of contractors who only have a P.O. box and don't have a physical company location) *Make sure they carry necessary insurances – Surety bond, Workman’s compensation if they have employees and General liability insurance. 5.) Meet the general contractor in person: Once you feel comfortable over the phone, it is time to meet the general contractor at your home.  Don't ignore your gut feeling when talking with a general contractor.  When you ask them questions, the contractor should be able to answer concisely and not seem hesitant.  Ask them in person again for projects that you can go see, or ask for contact information of previous clients and projects. 6.) Get at least 3-4 bids on your project: Each general contractor should ask for floor plans of your home, and get a list of your wants and needs from you.  Have the contractor explain how they will begin, execute and finish the project from beginning to end.  Ask each contractor to divide their bids into categories for easy determination of what you are really paying for. Categories should include: labor, materials, profit and miscellaneous expenses. 7.) Don't choose the contractor with the cheapest price: Although tempting, don't go with the lowest price contractor.  They could be the lowest because of low quality materials, or they are desperate and haven't worked recently.  Choose one that you feel comfortable with their personality, price, background, and methods. Put everything in writing and make a schedule of milestones in which to pay the contractor. Assure that your contractor gets a lien release which will protect you if they don't pay their subcontractors and bills. Remember a quality contractor will not give you a “low ball” offer. Home renovation can be fun and exciting.  When hiring a general contractor don't be afraid of doing your research and hiring a reputable one.  Use these 7 tips when considering hiring and being mindful of the contractor and their reputation.  You can tell a lot by the history a general contractor carries. Research and feel confident that you will find the best contractor to suit your needs. Freshome reader's what advice do you have from experience in hiring general contractors? Tell us your lessons learned. Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Stylish Frame Chairs to be Showcased at London Design Festival Posted: 27 Aug 2010 12:04 AM PDT Soon to be revealed at the London Design Festival this September, these unusual but stylish chairs were created by designer Jaime Hayon for the English company Sé. Described as “delicately proportioned but with a wit and presence that sets them apart from any other”, these catchy designs will certainly be one of the main attractions of the upcoming event. The exquisite frame of these seating items has a particular charm while in the same time preserving the overall comfort of the design. These products go great in a wooden decor, a rustic living room or an elegant terrace. However, the space around them shouldn’t be too crowded, in order to emphasize on their unique features. For those of you participating at the London Design Festival this year, have fun and let us know what you’ve discovered!- via Mocoloco 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