decorating home interior

While having traditional cornice boards topping your windows can be nice elegant touch, they can also be boring and expected. Here are some modern and vibrant ideas for you to try that will give your room an extra “wow” effect.

Interesting shapes: Instead of the simple box shaped cornice board, try cutting the face of the board into an interesting shape. This would work especially well for a child’s room where you can make the cornice into the shape of a car or a bunch of balloons. You can also create a crown shaped cornice on which you would add jewels. You can also cut the cornice board into an abstract shape to match artwork in the room. Alternatively, you can take a simple cornice board and carve a logo or initials into the center. If you still prefer a simple, classic style in your window topper, you can make a single continuous cornice board that goes all the way around the room.

A work of art: You can take a traditional, or theme shaped cornice made out of MDF and paint it just as you would paint on a canvass. You can do a random design with a splatter paint technique using the colors in the room. You can paint details onto the theme shaped cornice such as painting the balloons on your balloon-shaped cornice in different colors and adding brightly colored ribbons that hang from the design to mimic strings. You can even paint a landscape scene on your cornice board complete with a snow covered lake and deer.

Give it a theme: In a theme-designed room, you should design the cornice board to coordinate with the. You can install an ornamental carved arch in an East Indian theme room or add brightly colored masks to them in an African themed room. You can even use a miniature picket fence as the cornice board in a garden themed room.

Cover it: You can use fabric to add color and interest to your cornice boards. In addition to using bold patterns and colors on your cornice board, you can make it more interesting with unexpected materials. You can sew odd shaped, brightly colored fabric together the same way you would sew a quilt face. You can glue on belts or rope on to completely cover the cornice. You also create a basket weave design with ribbon or strips of fabric.

Make it work: You can make your cornice boards beautiful and functional by adding brightly painted drawer knobs to the front of the cornice and hanging tab top or ribbon top curtains
from them. You can also have the cornice double as a shelf above the window and display interesting collections there. You can cover or paint the cornice in a design to coordinate the collection. For example, a ceramic cat collection could sit on top of a cornice covered in a cat print fabric.

So pick your favorite colors, fabrics, and found objects and make your cornice board unique. Here are some other ideas you can try:

• Paint a simple wooden cornice any solid color then add a decorative metal grate painted in a contrasted color to the front.

• Stencil your cornice board in a bold geometric print

• Add mirrors to the front of your cornice board to magnify the light and colors in the room.

• Install tiles on the front on your cornice board. You can do a classic pattern or a mosaic.

Whether you are in need of extra sleeping space on a regular basis, or just need to economize by using what you have for furniture, you should try putting a bed in the living room. Here are some ideas for transforming a bed into living room furniture.

Option 1: You can turn two beds (without headboards) into a sectional sofa by placing them in the corner of a room in an “L” position. Make fitted slipcovers to go over the beds and down to the floor. Use a sturdy fabric like corduroy, tweed, or denim. Add large square pillows to line the walls creating the back of your “sectional sofa”. Add bolster pillows for extra support and decorate it with smaller accent pillows.

Option 2: Turn a twin sized bed with a simple brass or wooden headboard into a chaise lounge. Use a slipcover on the piece that sweeps the floor. You can use a regular queen-sized bedspread on the single bed and attach ribbons at the corners that you can tie to get a keep it in place. Place a large pillow against the headboard and add a long bolster pillow. Pile it high with decorator pillows to create drama.

Option 3: Create an India inspired living with as little as a mattress. With the addition of jewel toned fabric, pillows, and a low table, you can have a beautiful room. Hang sheer fabric all around the room and cover the walls in the same way you would cover the windows. You can use simple curtain rods, purchase rebar poles from the hardware store, or install the fabric with thumbtacks. You should consider draping the ceiling with fabric as well. Make a fitted satin cover for the mattress by adding elastic to the corners. It should resemble a fitted sheet, only more beautiful. Add accent pillows and throw blankets made of chenille and fur. Cover floor pillows in the same decorative jewel-toned fabric. Scatter a few matching throw rugs on the floor and arrange the pillows around the low table. Cover the table with fabric and add a couple of standing floor lamps and candles. (Be careful to keep the fabric away from the candles.) You will be able to eat, sleep and play in this room. It would be perfect for a studio or starter apartment.

Option 4: Turn a regular bed into a daybed. By mounting a piece of cushioned, fabric-covered plywood to the wall behind the bed, you can mimic a daybed. This wall cushion will run along the side of your bed instead of heading the bed. You can cut the plywood into a number of shapes from a simple rectangle to a graceful arch. The same is true with the fabric. Your fabric choice will dictate how casual or formal your furniture will be. Cover the bed in the same fabric as the back cushion, and top your new sofa with lots of pillows.

By using one or a combination of these ideas, you will be able to create a bed you will be proud to call your living room furniture.

Humidifiers can come in all shapes and sizes, bread box sized to furniture sized consoles. But they all do the same thing and that’s put moisture into the air, which a water fountain does naturally as it recycles the water.

Just like a humidifier, a fountain adds moisture to a dry room, while it pulls dust particles out of the air. Also just like humidifiers, fountains help revitalize your indoor plants and reduce static electricity buildup. And just a small amount of moisture in the air will alleviate dry skin and reduce allergies caused by dry air. But unlike any humidifier I’ve ever seen, water fountains are a lot nicer to look at and listen to.

You may have to add or change the water to your fountain (just like a humidifier), but unlike a humidifier you don’t have to change any filters. Some people recommend putting bleach into the water for a water fountain, which I think is a nice cheep idea. But if you have an animal in the house you might not want to do that, because if their water bowl runs dry they might use the fountain for water. Which leads me to another benefit for a water fountain (Our lil’ friends can’t get water from a humidifier!).

It just seems logical with all the things I have to do in my life and I’m going to spend about the same amount of money on something, I would rather enjoy my extra time than make it more difficult.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paula_Tadlock

Your house is something special. It’s the place where you live, where you find warmth and safety, shelter and so much more.

It’s a sentimental place that is part of your life. So that place must be well decorated for you to have a good time and feel comfortable in it. Because it is so important, you can’t let this decorating job in the hands of anyone. There may be sites that tell you what is better and what’s not for the home design, but it’s actually down to you. It is your house and your life; no one can really decide in your place and influence you.

Depending on what style you chose your home to be, on what theme, age or background it has to represent you in a way or another. Trying to shock is also an interesting theme because trying to shock others may have unwanted effects if the way you are trying to impress is not personal.

Some things are imperative in choosing how to decorate your home:

* Functionality ? Your home needs to be functional in order to provide you with better access to different objects and it defiantly shouldn’t be like a maze. Keeping it simple it’s all that matters in the layout structure of the home.

* Originality ? Your guests will be impressed if your “crib” looks like nothing seen before. It gives a good impression and denotes the fact that you are creative concerning serious aspects.

* Personal Touch ? Make the home look like you; don’t adapt it to something that isn’t representing you. Try to give that special something to your house that can’t be found anywhere else, that thing that is interesting you, that thing that you are passionate about. That is the true soul of your home. “A house is made of wood and stone, but only love can make a home.”

* Safety ? Last but definitely not least is the safety. The single thing that makes your house to be heaven and not to turn into a burning hell into one day is how you make your home to be safe. Dangers exist everywhere, and your house is and probably will be exposed to earthquakes, fires, landslides, severe weather, burglars, etc. To make that home be you little corner of personal comfort always be sure not to overlook the safety.

You see, a home can represent a landmark in ones eyes, and if that person is you, stick around for some advice & info on how to decorate you home.

When a person cooks, or works on anything on the kitchen, his task would most probable begin and end with the use of the sink. This makes the sink as one of the most used area in the kitchen. Thus, you should be able to carefully choose the right type of sink before actually purchasing it.

When you are planning the design and the materials that will be used in your kitchen, you should remember to consider using stainless steel sink. If you are looking for a type of sink that is able to meet the look that you desire and the functionality that you need, then this kind of sink will be able to meet both of the needs mentioned. Also with the use of the stainless steel sink, you will not have a hard time cleaning your sink since it can be designed in a way that it is easier and faster to clean and maintain.

There are many kinds of materials that can be used in the sink. Samples of the materials are the enamel, porcelain, stainless steel, copper or brass. These are the most popular materials and this can also be the one that you can use but you would also have to make sure that you are able to check your needs and the things that the material can provide for you. One material would be more advantageous over the other. However, you should also remember that the material that would suit you would depend in the functionality of the material in relation to the needs of the person.

The use of the stainless steel sink is better especially because you would not need too much effort in maintaining it clean. Also, you would have different designs to choose from so you can adjust the purchase that you will do depending on the things that you need. The theme of the kitchen can also be matched with the choice of stainless steel sink and there are many colors to choose from.

When it comes to caring for the stainless steel sink, this would no longer be a problem. You just have to be knowledgeable on your choices since there are different types of sinks and the steel quality would depend on the gauge number. The thicker the steel, the better it would be since it would be able to avoid dents and damage. Although this can be prone to scratch, it can be avoided once you have made sure that it is kept clean.

To make your choice better, you should also check the other materials on the market and you can choose the one that has the needed things. You will also be able to check on the other advantages and make the best purchase that you can have.

source: http://www.amazines.com/Home_Improvement/article_detail.cfm/689426?articleid=689426

Lighting floor plans take many shapes and come in all sizes.

Some are more formal and organized, while others are more freeform and pose unique lighting challenges. Variations in ceiling height, daylight and construction materials form a three-dimensional framework around the floor plan. Custom home lighting fixtures must be chosen based on their ability to harmoniously compliment interior surfaces and architectural elements. Otherwise, fixtures will appear too obtrusive and diminish the room’s aesthetic. The best way to design a superior lighting floor plan is to install low-profile functional lights and decorative accent lights at unique angles of incidence. Creating a multi-layered interior lighting design in this fashion will ensure decorative appeal and satisfactory lighting levels at once.

One of the most common questions we get about lighting floor plans deals with the actual number of lighting fixtures that a particular room will need.

The answer to this question is highly subjective, and requires a case-by-case analysis of each interior element to determine. Room sizes dictate the number of lighting fixtures and the wattages that must be used to provide general lighting. Factors such as ceiling height, the presence of natural light coming in through windows, and floor space itself play major roles in determining wattage and lumens levels. Hallways, for example, with tall ceiling eliminate the opportunity to plan recessed lighting because the angles are too steep creating objectionable shadows on objects of art. To overcome the effects of tall ceilings, homeowners are sometimes inclined to use the brightest lights to make sure that everything can be clearly seen. This type of lighting floor plan can cause more problems than it solves, however. Too much light creates either indirect glare or glare reflecting off glass and metal surfaces. It also creates a “flattened” look where everything looks two-dimensional. This works against interior decorating and is best avoided through a more strategic and selective blending of general and accent lighting. Floor plans can be illuminated in this fashion with multiple layers of house lighting that magnify important design elements reflective of personal taste and lifestyle.

Decorative lighting and use of chandeliers depends on the interior designer’s look and feel of the home.

Most floor plans are traditional or contemporary, and decorative lighting fixtures come in both types of styles to provide a visual compliment to their surroundings. Chandelier lifts, a real luxury are becoming more prevalent in today’s modern new home wiring plans due to taller ceiling heights and more elaborate fixture designs. They are useful during the installation of the fixture, for lamp changing and for cleaning purposes. If you are planning to have a chandelier as part of your lighting floor plan, it really should be done by a professional who can install it with a lift. This will allow you to do simple indoor lighting maintenance on your own and avoid the expense of service calls in the future.

Accent lighting is determined by the number of targets to illuminate such as art, sculpture or furnishings.

Recessed low voltage accent ccent lights add great value to any project, and magnify the elements of both contemporary and traditional-style interior décor superbly. Accent lights create focal points and are used to illuminate fine art, antique furniture, dining tables and plants. Accent lighting fixtures typically have small apertures which tend to hide the light source and minimize visual glare. They can also be used as an effective general lighting source in some contemporary lighting floor plans when planning your house lighting.

Although the lighting concepts are repetitive, every home takes on a new design depending on the floor plan.

It pays off in the long run to have your lighting floor plan developed by a professional lighting designer with extensive knowledge of interior decorating and architectural theory. Professionals like the consultants at Illuminations Lighting and Design know how to isolate key features that need enhancement through lighting, and they know where best to install lighting fixtures for functional and aesthetic effect.

Our areas of lighting expertise include residential, commercial, landscape, liturgical, building facades, and hospitality. We are fully equipped to produce CAD drawings, full specifications, custom lighting details, photometrics, energy code documentation, hand renderings, lighting control system layout and programming, and construction administration.

Everyone dreams of having the perfect and sophisticated bathroom that everybody cannot stop praising. Though, making it just like that can be a very tedious and difficult job but with proper planning and tips one can makeover your bathroom look which makes it the best place in your house. Following are a few tips that are sure to give your bathroom – the much fancied remodelled pep look.

First of all conjure your ideas and pen them down. Make sure that you have a clear idea of what you are going to do, otherwise things can get messy. Choose the right colours and tones. Choosing the perfect bathroom accessories is also important. For this purpose visiting the library and picking up some good book on home tips can be helpful.

Budget also plays a very important role in determining the kind of face lift that you want to give your bathroom. This problem can be sorted without much fuss as today the bathroom hardware industry have given the consumers a lot many options at an economical rate.

You might plan to change the bathroom hardware accessories like towel racks, towel bars, bathroom shelf and the bath faucets. In this case take proper measurements and make a rudimentary floor plan. This will help you in purchasing the right size of the bathtub and Jaccuzi (be the case).

Wall measurements are important if you are planning to buy a new mirror.

Bathroom lighting is an important step in making your bath hardware look great and glossy. Use low incandescent light which will help you relax and allow you to do your make up as well.

In the list of important bathroom accessories do not miss buying the rug of the right colour. It should be soft so that it does not hurt when you stand on it, barefoot.

Do not miss installing a handrail next to the toilet seat. This is extremely crucial if there is a senior member in your house.

Check many bathroom hardware shops to know the products trend before you actually purchase the bathroom cabinet hardware.

The bathroom faucets and bathrooms shower should be easy to handle so that when you recline in the bathtub, the experience is hassle free.

Last but not the least do not miss taking the opinion of family and friends. Magazines too are an important source of choosing the right color scheme for the bathroom.

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

In order to help give a room a classier touch, interior decorators have used sculptures to bring in a mansion or even museum-like feel to a home. This is particularly true for the interior decorating of living rooms, dens, home offices and hallways. When many people consider sculptures as home decor, the thought comes to ancient Roman or Greek mythological characters like Apollo, Venus or Zeus. Others think about abstract contemporary fine art sculptures that are sometimes difficult to interpret. Since there has been a trend in recent years towards a more natural look with more earthy color tones for interior decorating, Inuit art from the Canadian Arctic north can fit in nicely as part of home decor.

Most subjects used in Inuit art tend to be focused on the observations that the Inuit people (formerly referred to as Eskimos in Canada) make of their Arctic surroundings whether the pieces are soapstone sculptures or prints of drawings. We often see Inuit art depicting Arctic wildlife including polar bears, seals, whales and walruses as well as lifestyle scenes involving family or hunting. The Inuit have been carving stone sculptures for thousands of years but it was only introduced as fine art to the modern world on a significant scale during the 1950s. Today, Inuit art has gained international recognition as a valid form of contemporary fine art.

Colors of Inuit sculptures tend to be polished shades of blacks, grays, browns, greens and whites. Inuit artists also tend to utilize relatively neutral colors for their art prints which work well with all color ranges of today’s more natural styles of interior decorating. Adding an Inuit sculpture on an end table, mantle or shelf gives a living room or office that gallery touch. An Inuit art print on the wall of a hallway or corridor also works the same way. Since the majority of people especially outside Canada have never seen Inuit art before, such artwork in a home will often end up as conversational pieces with guests.

There are Inuit stone sculptures to suit almost every price range and budget at about $100 to several thousand dollars for large, intricate pieces. Most can be purchased at galleries located in major Canadian cities but there are now a few galleries located in the USA and Europe that specialize in this form of art. Not surprisingly, the latest retail source of Inuit art is on the internet. This development is especially useful for those who are not located near an Inuit art gallery. Check out some examples of Inuit art either in a gallery or online and imagine how a piece or two can be part of your home’s interior decorating.

built-into-the-wall beds with a cupboard between them (Curtains hide the beds during the day time.)

• painted free-standing cupboards

• light-colored furnishings (used to offset the dark months in Sweden)

• neoclassical painted wooden furniture (The designs were inspired from the drama of the outdoors with flowers, animals and fruits.)

• the kõksoffa or Swedish-kitchen sofa ( This was used as a sofa by day and a bed at night. Today, these pieces are used in guest bedrooms or to store linens. The back frame has an ornate top.)

• the Gungstol or Swedish rocking chair (These were originally painted black with gold trim. Nature or angelic scenes were painted on the head and seat areas. The Gungstol originally had six legs; two smaller ones rested on the back part of the rocker curves.)

• wrought-iron chandelier

• ceramic-tiled stove

• sometimes floors were bleached or pickled pine, and sometimes they were painted a cream-color

• sisal matting covered the floors inexpensively

• classic Swedish ticking colors for side chairs included: blue/white, grey/white or red/white

• windows might have no curtains or only sheer curtains.

Crafts

• carved spoons, trays and oblong bowls

• wooden folk-painted horses

• colorful quilts

• rag rugs

• Swedish porcelain (Pieces were glazed in blue and white with floral designs painted inside and out.)

• hand-woven white bed-linens used to be part of every bride’s trousseau

• linens would have cross-stitching and embroidery

• the wreath that the bride wore on her wedding day was hung on the bedpost for decoration

• candles (Candles were lit in December when most of the day is dark. Outdoors, ice candles were set in snow to brighten walkways. Ice candles can be made by partially freezing five gallon buckets of water and turning them into the snow when almost solid. A hole occurs and is used to insert the candle.)

The American-country style began with the settlers who brought their traditions with them. They adapted their craftsmanship to the materials they had on hand. The Dutch and the Germans settled in Pennsylvania and created iron-forged latches and punched-tin cupboard doors with folk-art designs. They imitated the interiors of wealthy homes by stenciling walls, chairs and chests. New Englanders marked out their small territories with white-picket fences. They painted their homes with milk-based paints and designed simple furniture, such as bow-backed Windsor chairs or huge wardrobes. Southerners tried to keep cool on languorous porches, in open rooms with sleek floors and cooly-colored walls. Their furnishings included rattan chairs and simple rocking chairs.

Shaker home interiors had to be as uncluttered as possible, so that they could double as meeting places. Their small items were packed out of sight in round, wooden boxes that were color-coded to identify the contents. Their ladder-back chairs provided sturdy support and were light enough to hang up, out of the way, on pegs.

Rustic American-country furnishings (the Adirondack style) featured applied-bark headboards, deer-hoof footstools and twig rocking chairs. Wall decorations included mounted deer heads and woven snow shoes. Accessories included crazy-patch quilts, rag rugs, brass kerosene lamps and the necessary ewer and basin.

American-country decor may include:

Entry

• a milk painted bench with two wooden houses on it to give a country welcome

• wooden pegs to hold guests’ coats, ladder-back chairs or dried flower bunches

Living-room

• display a decoy collection (include “flatties” and shorebirds)

• alternate stoneware jugs and baskets on a shelf for a balanced collection

• miniature wooden houses displayed across the hearth mantel as a town

• stenciled staircase (Stencil the alphabet on the risers, two or three letters to a step.)

• framed antique game boards, alphabet cross stitching, antique photos

• a school-house-quilt-block pillow

• a red, wing-back chair with a red and black buffalo-plaid throw on it

• a small, wooden stepladder, painted or left weatherworn to hold plants

• a couch or chair covered in homespun fabric (Homespun fabric was of linen, cotton or wool in check, plaid and striped patterns. Indigo blue was the favored color, as it resisted fading.)

• a tromp l’oeil depiction of a cylindrical wood stove

• hooked rugs

Kitchen/Dining Room

• homespun checkered curtains

• wooden knife caddies, mortars and pestles, spoons

• clusters of cinnamon sticks tied with gingham in a bowl

• knotty-pine cabinets

• wagon-wheel chandelier

• baskets hanging from the ceiling rafters

• copper kettle on the stove

• ladder-back chairs with woven seats and homespun chair pads

• primitive, wide-plank farm table

• Queen Anne’s lace in a pitcher

• antique high chair

• rag rugs

• pie safe with punched, tin doors (Store antique linens or pretty jars of jam here.)

Bedroom

• lace-trimmed pillow cases, sheets and duvet covers

• linens stored in an antique wicker sewing basket

• a chair with peeling paint used as a night table

• a rustic window frame turned into a mirror

• quilts on the bed (one to cover the bed, another folded at the end)

Putting It All Together

The one key element that expresses the country-style is a quilt. Try to have at least one quilt in each room. If you can’t find antique ones in good condition, quality department stores sell hand-quilted, mass-produced quilts that are quite lovely. If you decide to make your own quilt, start with a wall hanging first. You are more likely to finish that piece and then you’ll know how to proceed to the bigger project.

You may decide to borrow from several styles while creating your own. The English-country style could inspire what is needed to cozy up a large, empty room. A love seat and some wing-back chairs, covered in a variety of prints and different materials could be just what the room needs. For fun, you could add an oversized oil portrait of your pet in an ornate, golden frame. Contract an artist to make the piece for you.

On the other hand, you may have an awfully small space for your dining area. Here you may decide to use the French-country look with a beautiful, long, wooden table in the middle of the room surrounded by some rush-seated chairs. A wooden bowl, filled with lemons, adds some brightness. Stenciled floor boards add some color.

For your den/guest bedroom, you may decide to go with the nautical look. A trip to the souvenir shops of a little seaside town will offer you all the nautical accessories you could desire. However, keep the guest room as practical and uncluttered as possible. Provide wall pegs for hanging up clothes and limit the number of knickknacks, so that guests have a place to put personal items.

The Swedish influence would be charming in a child’s room. What child could resist a cozy bed built into an alcove? Light-colored furniture with painted designs would be very cheery.

Interspersed in these and other rooms could be influences from the American-country style. Soon, your decorating savvy will create the country-style home you’ve always dreamed of.

The country style of home decorating remains popular because the suggestion of rural life can seem to offer simplicity and a refuge from urban pressures. Country-style decorating can draw its inspiration from French, English, Swedish, American, and other cultural influences. However, pieces from different periods and traditions can be blended in one home as long as comfort is the principle ingredient. No country-style room should be too studied, for it is meant to be lived in. The beauty of country-style decorating is that you may have inherited some great heirlooms that can give you the impetus to start a collection of appropriate pieces. You may have a flair for picking up great flea-market bargains or for crafting quality items that can be incorporated into your scheme.

Start a notebook or file to help organize your search. Remember that the journey is often the best part. Where is all the fun when you completely finish decorating your home’s interior? Be patient and let the furnishings, and decorative objects accumulate over time. Be prepared to make some structural changes, paint some walls and prep some floors. You do not need a country-style exterior to create an authentic interior. An apartment in the city can be transformed into a rural oasis.

In your notebook or file, list the items you already have that you know you want to keep. Collect magazine pictures of room interiors that you love. Determine color schemes. Collect paint chips and fabric swatches. Place these items and a tape-measure in a zippered notebook-pencil-pouch, so that you can remove them when you head out on shopping excursions. If necessary, develop a budget and stick to it. If you are saving for a large, wonderful armoire, don’t fritter your money away on so-called bargains that you don’t really love.

Cultural Influences

It may be surprising, but you could find country-style decorating inspiration from every country in the world that has a rural population. This article was inspired by the traditions of France, England, Sweden and America.

The French-country style is casual with the occasional tilted shutter and items that aren’t freshly painted. If you think of cracked flower pots, peeling paint on the window trim and faded slipcovers as adding a certain, casual charm, then you won’t exhaust yourself trying to make everything perfect. So, keep your shabby, comfortable sofa, but drape a beautiful antique quilt over the back of it and relax.

Much of the French-country influence comes from the southern region, known as Provence. The Provencal farmhouses are made of stone or red clay, with red-clay tile roofs. The interiors are filled with charm, but not clutter. Provencal decor may include:

• bright turquoise shutters

• bent-wood chairs

• an apricot-colored settee

• walnut buffet

• rush-seated chairs

• a giant stove set into an old stone fireplace

• hanging copper pots, copper jelly moulds and bunches of thyme

• a long table in the middle of the room

• box-framed beds with lace-trimmed linens

• a Gallé faience cat on the mantel

Another decidedly French influence is scenting your home with lavender. Small bowls or sachets of lavender in the closets or drawers will help deter mildew and add a fresh scent that isn’t as overbearing as commercial potpourri can be. You can add a few drops of lavender oil to perk up the dried lavender after the scent has faded. Also, add a few drops of lavender oil in the rinse cycle of your bed linens to induce a restful night’s sleep.

You can add old, wooden beams to the ceiling of a newer building to suggest the look of antiquity. Then hang straw hats from the beams. Stenciled floors can appear aged if you are willing to do some distressing before you stencil. Bruise new floorboards with a screwdriver and hammer, then use a medium stain that is lighter than the value (darkness) of the paint you will be using. Mix powdered paint with varnish until it reaches a thick consistency. Lay the stencil on the floor and paint with a stencil brush. Apply several coats of clear varnish when the paint has dried.

For a maritime-French look, (think seaside-fisherman’s cottage) for your den or guest house, you can use:

• dark-stained wooden wall units built into alcoves (These units are reminiscent of the panelling in old-time sailing ships.)

• models of masted schooners that sit on the fireplace mantel

• a 19th century mahogany desk and chair or a slant-top desk and wooden-slat folding chairs

• blue and white couch fabric and rag rugs

• framed nautical maps and fish prints

• a porthole-shaped mirror

• scrimshaw

• a brass telescope

The English-country style is quite different from the French style in that the charming look is created with cosy clutter. The rooms often look like they are filled with furniture that came from a much bigger house. Fabric patterns are mixed and busy, though the colors are coordinated. The English also enjoy a sense of humor. They like to take very formal pieces, such as a classical marble bust, and add clothing items to it to avoid too much classical allusion. The bust could be in a niche in the entrance hallway and have hats stacked upon it. Hats are hard to store, but in their unique location, they remain uncrushed and handy to grab before dashing out the door.

The Cotswald English-cottage look is made idyllic with stone walls that are covered in climbing roses. The roofs are red-tiled or thatched.

English-country decor may include:

Entrance

• an umbrella stand in the front entranceway with riding crops, walking sticks, umbrellas, canes and shooting sticks

• a pair of wellington boots by the front door

• a wooden curtain rod over the front door that holds a velvet curtain (This is pulled at night to thwart drafts.)

Living-room and Dining Area

• a rush basket holding logs near the fireplace

• roses stenciled around the fireplace

• an elaborately-framed family portrait that dwarfs all other objects in the room

• deep-cushioned armchairs, covered in mixed patterns of faded English chintz, damasks, silks

• the walls may be plastered, then lime-washed in a soft pastel shade

• the walls are busy with paintings, brass candle sconces, collections of pewter plates and photograph clusters

• the floors have busy-patterned rugs from Persia, rag rugs or simple sisal matting

• a green 18th century grandfather’s clock

• a patchwork quilt as a table cloth for a round table

• latch-hook rugs

• sycamore dining table

• old pine dresser (hutch) with porcelain knobs

• 19th century pine sideboard

• inglenook brick fireplace

• window seats covered in rose-chintz with storage space underneath

• tasseled cord drapery tiebacks

• a library of books in built-in bookcases

• more library shelves on stair landings

• decoratively-painted, child-sized furniture mixed with adult furniture

Kitchen

• coal-fired range

• brick or flagstone kitchen floor

• wall-mounted wooden plate racks (serve as storage and drying)

• delft tiles

• oil or gas-fired Aga stove with four ovens

• baskets of fruit on a marble-topped table, in front of lace curtains

Bedroom and Bath

• ornate beds with hanging draperies (18th century beds used to double as receiving rooms, so the drapes were needed for privacy, as well as prevention of drafts.)

• a chaise at the foot of the bed

• child’s bedroom with an animal collection on a white-laced table

• a ewer and basin upon a washstand with matching seat

• the toilet and sink plumbing can be hidden by white-painted, tongue-and-groove boards

• mahogany-throne commode, complete with arms and a rattan lid

• claw-foot tub

Side Door to Garden

• ornate 18th century Chinese urns sit on either side of the French doors

• the conservatory provides a natural setting for parties (Mix a crystal candelabra with hothouse plants and a green table and chairs.)

The Swedish-country style evolved in a land with cold, dark winters. This gave the Swedes time to work on handicrafts. While the aristocracy imported marble, the rural population applied folk-art talents to their crafts. Their home interiors were designed to capitalize on the available light. Mirrors were placed so as to reflect that light. The rooms were open and uncluttered. Swedish craftsmen preferred light-colored woods: pine and beech for country cabinets, and birch and alder-wood for formal designs. The multi-purpose kitchen might contain the spare bed. The living room might have bed cubbies recessed into the walls.