Traditional Interior Design

In the interior design world we refer to “styles" often to dictate the look and feel of particular rooms. The most used style of decorating is the use of the “classics" and we refer to this style as traditional.



Traditional is derived from the word “tradition", meaning that this style of decorating has been passed on through generations. Classic decorating includes timeless purchases of furniture pieces, accessories, flooring and fixtures. Most of us make purchases without the thought of it being in style ten years from now. Most of our purchases are often “trendy" and in the next several years will be out of style and so we are faced with the necessity of replacing our furnishings as well as our flooring, fixtures and etc.



“Timeless Elegance, traditional and classic"


beautiful yet approachable,


filled with class, yet comfortable.



Our homes are our sanctuaries where we are filled with the people and environment that we love.


Adding to our rooms the simple luxuries that fill us with joy and bring beauty to our eye is undeniably perfection.


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Interior Design in Kids Rooms

So you are planning to decorate your kid’s room. Where do you start? If you are decorating the room for your baby or very young toddler, the initial planning decisions will be yours (you may of course consult professional interior designers if your budget stretches that far) and the project will be designed and carried out by you.



However, if your young child has reached an age where they have started to develop their own personality and tastes, it’s a good idea to have your child involved in the process from the beginning. After all he or she will be the one using the room and obviously a child’s needs are very different to those of an adult. Children use their rooms for a number of reasons apart from sleeping. They will want to use it for playing alone or with their friends, reading and a host of other activities. Their room will also store their clothes, toys and belongings.



It is useful at this stage, before you give free rein to your child’s imagination and tastes, to bear in mind safety and the practical issues of maintenance. Children will want to play as freely as possible without you having to worry about the decor therefore hardwood floors and vinyls are useful. Wallpaper that can be wiped clean may also be a consideration. Wall-to-wall carpeting may be a problem for children with allergies and also difficult to clean. Curtains, rugs, pillows and bedding should be easily removable and machine washable. Some safety considerations both in terms of kids room decor and room accessories might be finding furniture with curves instead of sharp corners or making use of recesses in walls to build in furniture and storage areas.



Practical issues now dealt with, how can you help your child create an environment that reflects their personality, keeps their interest and uses their imagination?


Start by sitting on the floor with your child and ask questions about their favourite colours, themes or activities. Involve your child as much as you can in the initial planning process and their ideas in the final design. Try to find balance between what you know is possible and practical against what is in your child’s taste.



In terms of colours, use pastels to create cosy and inviting spaces. Neutral colours soothe and relax your child. If your child likes vivid colours you could create wall murals or ceiling pictures bringing their favourite toy figures or favourite images and themes to life. Remember children lose interest easily and change their tastes and `favourites` quickly. Unless you want to change your kid’s room decor frequently, steer your discussions in favour of neutral colours on walls and furniture and be more creative with room accessories.



There are numerous children’s room accessories that add colour, creativity and individuality to your child’s room. Clocks, height charts, name plaques, wall hooks, bookends and door knobs all help to personalize your child’s space. Many of these products are decorated with your child’s favourite theme.


You may wish to spend time with your child browsing for ideas for kid’s room decor. When you have found your products ensure they are supplied by companies that guarantee safety, quality and child-friendliness.

Interior Design Ideas for Fall Decorating

We put away our pool accessories and all related items we so used and needed for the summer and search out our flannel sheets, crockpots and winter sweaters to clean for the months ahead.



Making the transition from summer to fall can be quite easy when you prepare in advance. Just as you store away your summertime luxuries for a cold winter season you can store away some fall decor items to bring out on a whim. Make a list of items that you may need to cozy up your rooms. The key is to purchase items that will make the most contribution without breaking the bank. Warm comforter sets, seasonal dinnerware, earthenware, table lenins and baskets. Think essentials that you will use everyday. New throw pillows for the sofa and chairs in nice earth tones. Pottery to hold this seasons bounty of fruits and vegetables. Baskets for kindling and pinecones. Candles and wool throws. All of these items can easily be stored when spring rolls around. By nature we need these comforts and they truely make a difference in how we feel in our rooms during the cold blustery beautiful season of fall.



An instant make-over is to purchase a sofa cover in a soft color for fall. This will change the entire ambience of your space. You may wish to purchase a set of new drapes or valances just for the fall/winter months that can be easily removed for spring/summer.



Make a list. Bring out what you have had stored and spruce up your interiors for this glorious season. You will surely find that the transition is much smoother and you will actually look forward to the change.



Happy Fall everyone and if you are looking for interior design related ebooks or home staging see us at our website at www.Homestages.com

What Do I Like About Being An Interior Designer?

The best part of my job is the end result...seeing my client's reactions to their home. I truly believe that our surroundings impact our lives. Our surroundings ground us. Our surroundings can make us happy. Our surroundings can give us a place to relate well with others. Some ten thousand years ago cavemen drew pictures inside their cave dwellings. Since the beginning of time, decoration of our homes has been important to people.
I hear people say, "If I could only get my house decorated the way I want, I would be so much happier, and I would feel complete." There is a lot of truth to that statement. Coco Channel said "Our homes are reflections of our hearts."
There is no greater satisfaction than seeing families sit down together for a meal in a dining room they previously never used or hearing that a couple now sits by the fire each night with a glass of wine discussing activities of the day, where there once was no comfortable place in which to settle. I feel called to be an interior designer because I know that it changes the way people live and adds quality to their lives. It is not just a pretty room ...a home is where life happens. When you are designing your home keep these design principals in mind.

Rhythm: The repetition of elements. Rhythm can create movement. Example: In this rectangular room, the repetition of circular elements such as a round dining table, round saucer light fixture and round platters displayed on the shelves gives rhythm to the dining room and softens the hard rectangular angles and cabinetry.

Balance: The arrangement of the objects in a given design as it relates to their visual weight within a composition. For example, this is what I mean by visual weight: Don't put all of your tall and/or heavy furniture pieces on one side of the room; this will visually weigh it down. Evenly distribute visual weight.

Proportion/Scale: The comparison of dimensions or distribution of forms. This is the relationship in scale between one element and another, or between a whole object and one of its parts. Balance and proportion seem to be stumbling blocks for most people. Try to use pieces that are in good relationship to the size of your room and ceiling height.

 Happy decorating!

Kitchen Interior Design-how To Choose A New Kitchen Sink On A Budget

Your kitchen sink is crucial to the overall layout of your kitchen.  The rest of your kitchen can be designed exactly the way you want it, but if your sink doesn't match the overall theme, it just won't fly.  Should you decide to purchase a new sink, here are some tips on how to pick out the right one.

First of all, before you even begin redesigning your kitchen, set a budget and stick with it.  There is nothing worse than getting to the middle of your kitchen redesign project and realizing you won't have the funds to complete the job.

You need to shop around at all your local home improvement stores to find the right sink at an affordable price.  Be careful during this process-even thought you may find the perfect kitchen sink right off the bat, if it is out of your price range, don't even consider it. 

Also, another great source for finding the perfect kitchen sink is the internet.  Quite simply, you can find a lot of great deals on the internet that you simply won't find offline.  Be patient as you shop around, compare prices, and wait until you find the right sink within your budget.

Another very important consideration before you begin shopping around is the size of the sink you need.  Attempting to install a sink that is too large for your kitchen can be disastrous.  Again, it is extremely important that you determine this before you begin shopping.

You will also need to determine the style of sink you want.  The two popular options are one and two basin sinks.  The majority of sinks come with two basins, but there are some available with only one.  If you do not have a dishwasher, for instance, it is crucial that you get a two basin sink for doing your dishes by hand. 

However, if you do have a dishwasher, you may find that one basin sinks are more stylish and trendy.  Therefore, this decision is based on largely on your kitchen's overall design and needs. 

Another very important consideration is the color of your sink.  You absolutely need to make sure that this matches the rest of your kitchens interior, or else you won't get the affect you are looking for. 

While the kitchen sink may seem like a minor consideration compared to the cabinets, counter tops, or the walls, it still is a big contributor to the overall atmosphere of the kitchen.  Don't take this decision lightly-it could determine the overall success of your kitchen redesigning process.

These are just a few simple yet very effective tips to help you choose the right kitchen sink at an affordable price.  Remember, there are always going to be more sinks to choose from. Don't fall in love with the first one you see.  You may find, after just a little time spent searching, that you can find a very similar sink at a much better price. 

Again, determine the type of kitchen interior design you want, find the sink that will match that, and then make sure the price is right.  Follow these guidelines, and watch your kitchen blossom before your eyes.

Endless Interior Design Ideas

It is said that a change is as good as a holiday and you wouldn't go away on vacation without planning so when it comes to changing the look of your room or the entire interior of your home, it is imperative that you get some interior design ideas before starting.


How much planning is of course going to depend on the extent of the changes you have in mind. Are they going to be structural and see you knocking out walls, kitchen or bathroom renovations? Or more like a spruce up with a change of color for the walls, new window dressings and perhaps new floor coverings and furniture. Planning is important as is getting new ideas.


Naturally, if the changes you have in mind are structural, consulting a builder, kitchen or bathroom renovator is imperative. Apart from the building aspect you would have to think about things such as space to move in the kitchen, distance from stove top to work bench, cupboard space, bench space and ventilation, type of surface on bench tops and cupboard finishes. In the bathroom, where the pipes are, types of glass for shower screens and how easily can it be cleaned, tile colors and surfaces.


For other more cosmetic changes, scouring through home magazines may give you plenty of ideas. A browse through furniture stores and display homes also offer limitless ideas. Talking to curtain and blind manufactures as well as floor covering manufacturers will help clarify any questions you may have. Sometimes just changing the color of cushions, ornaments or floor rugs can give you a different look.


When thinking about floor coverings there are several things to weigh up such as does anyone in the house have allergies, do you have indoor pets. Carpet can often trap pet hair and other household dust and even when vacuumed regularly, can affect allergy sufferers yet give and warm feel. Tiled floors are easily to sweep or vacuum but can become very slippery, wooden floors are very much the same but both can look great with mats which can be rolled up and aired outside.


Window coverings can also change the look of a room. Think about how much natural light you want in the room, how much privacy you need from the coverings. Will the sun fade or damage the coverings? Finding the right window covering to suit you purpose whilst blending in with the colorings and theme of the room.


Painting or wall papering the walls will change the look instantly. Plan what the room is going to be used for. Your choice of paint finish should depend on several factors: Do you have young children? Is it a high use area? color is also a factor remembering that light colors will always make the room look bigger and brighter.


Unless you are very adventurous, think about how that colored wall you want is going to look with your expensive lounge. Are you going to tire of that color quickly? How hard is it going to be to match window coverings, furniture etc. Buying new furniture is the same, think about color matching and also the fabric, will it be serviceable for my needs.


Interior design ideas endless and can be ever changing with new ideas and trends.

Tips For Sucessful Bedroom Interior Design Projects

Did you know that bedroom home improvement projects are the most frequently attempted projects for homeowners? As this is the room you spend almost half your life in, this is understandable - even if the majority of the time you spend there will be with your eyes closed!


You may wake up and decide you don't like the color, or you don't like the furnishings, or that you want things situated in a different way. No matter what you pick, you need to figure out what you want to change and take it from there.


Now you might want to work on a budget. It doesn't have to be excessive, you can simply paint and rearrange furniture for a new look. One big complaint in the bedroom is the lack of storage space. Several innovative solutions - such as cabinets that can hang in a closet, stackable wooden storage crates with doors that face out, and shelving units can help with that, as can simply arranging the furniture to clear more floor space in the walk way areas - it doesn't matter how much space is in your closet if it's inconvenient to get to.


Take the time to plan out a layout for furniture and other elements in your bedroom interior design plan. Think about where things go, and what has to go next to what for usability - then look at sightlines and the visual focus of the room. You don't have to decorate your bedroom in keeping with the rest of your home - this is your private space and you can give it the charming theme that suits you.


Next, pick out color schemes and patterns. Lighter colors will make the room seem more spacious and airy, but darker colors can be nice and even in small rooms will make the walls recede giving it the allusion of space! Your lighting fixture are important and you want to be sure there is enought light for reading or what have you. You want to be sure you have matching colors in the carpet, bedding and window treatments to pull the room together.


Decide which pieces of furniture and accessories you want to replace - in particular, think about artwork, floor lamps and reading lights. Consider colors and themes that go with the rooms overall design, try to buy pieces that are practical, such as a cedar chest for the foot of the bed, or headboards with shelves on them for lamps, alarm clocks or books. If you want a TV in the room, you will have to plan it so that it is situated in an area that is comfortable for viewing from the bed - putting the TV remote on a tether tied to the head board can also be useful.


Planning out your bedroom interior design beforehand is a great way to ensure you accomplish a room that is perfect for you as well as make your project go smoothly!