Floral Compliments

Wedding invitations in 3 dimension, a friend of mine, Michele Eddins is expanding her designs into these lovely invitations. More exquisite photos below, reveals her lovely accessories, if you are planning a wedding or know someone who is, you owe it to yourself to visit her site. Click on the title of this post to go directly to her site.

This tassel can be used as a drapery tie back or an accent on a lamp switch. I feel it would be fun to add it to each plate if you are having a rehearsal dinner, as a gift for bridesmaids, etc.



Michele makes lovely chokers and will customize them in your colors.



The clutches and purses are a vintage one of kind for a fun yet glamorous touch!!!



This lovely decanteur is one of my favorites for your bedroom or bathroom!!!

This gorgeous mirror can be custom made especially for you, the perfect keepsake.

Michele also makes hair bands and barretes, again, just tell her your colors and she works her majic.

No job is too large or too small for Michele, she takes pride in her vintage pieces, the detail feflects the whole story!!! 

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DIY Projects You Will Love (Part 3)

Make glowing goblets

Turn old goblets and trophies into sparkling candle holders. First, clean them well with with metal polish and a clean cloth. Fill with Microwaveable Soy Wax for Containers (by Yaley; $6.99 for 1 lb.; from joann.com).

Add a Pre-Waxed Medium Bleached Wick with Wick Clip (by Yaley; $2.99 for six; from joann.com) to make elegant, long-burning votives.


More:  Get our step-by-step instructions

Hand-printed gift wrap

With simple cookie cutters and paint, you can make your own distinctive wrapping paper.

Just dip the cutting edge of a cookie cutter (we used snowflakes and scalloped circles) into white heavy body acrylic paint (sold at art stores in 4-oz. tubs).

Stamp the cookie cutter onto a sheet of colorful paper, starting at a top corner. Create your own patterns by either joining or overlapping the shapes.

If the paint is too thick or lumpy, add a few drops of water and stir gently until thinned and smooth.

Easy fall decorating: DIY art from autumn leaves

Instant leaf prints

Bring nature's magic indoors with this simple project: Just gather a few of your favorite leaves or flowers, flatten them under a book, then copy them with a color photocopier.

Glue prints to canvas-covered boards (about $2 in art supply stores). Glue a small inexpensive wood frame to the back to act as hanger; it also sets off your print from the wall.

More:  How to make a leaf print

Transform a chair

Turn a drab thrift-store chair into a stylish accent for any room in your home. All it takes is some paint, fabric, basic supplies, and a free weekend. Take advantage of your resale shops, you will
find styles you like even in accessories, paint is not expensive!!

To start, choose a chair with no missing screws or loose legs; it should have interesting features or frame detail.

Or turn 2 or more chairs into an eclectic set. Look for designs that have a wooden frame and an upholstered seat and unify them with the same color and fabric.

More:  How to transform a chair

Etch glass

There is something magical about etching glass ― the process turns plain glass pieces into decorative objects in minutes.

The secret is etching cream. You simply apply it to the glass, and the surface turns into a translucent white. The results are beautiful, subtle, and lasting.

More: How to etch glass

Reinvent thrift store candlesticks

Turn mismatched candlesticks into a fresh new set by painting them an unexpected color (in this case, high-gloss indigo).

1. Remove any wax residue with paint thinner and a clean cloth.

2. Mist one coat of spray paint primer for metal onto the candlesticks, holding the can 10 to 12 inches away. Cover evenly with paint.

3. Once dry, spray two light coats of spray paint for metal. Hold the can at a distance to avoid drips. Cover the detail grooves evenly.

We used: Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch sandable spray primer in white and Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch gloss spray paint in navy blue.

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DIY Projects You Will Love (Part 2)

Nature's stained glass

Chinese pistache leaves are translucent enough to glow like stained glass when lit from behind. To celebrate their vivid fall beauty indoors, display them on simple glass hurricane candle holders.

Gather leaf cuttings from your garden (ginkgo and Japanese maple are other good choices).

Press them in a book overnight to keep them from crinkling, then use one or two Glue Dots on the back of each stem, affixing each leaflet to the outside surface of the glass.

Turn CD cases into frames

Castoff CD cases are the perfect size for creating a quilt-like grid collection of landscape photos.

From the book Photocraft: Cool Things to Do with the Pictures You Love: Scan or crop your images to the size of a CD case (5 3/8 in. wide by 4 5/8 in. high) then print on good photopaper and trim. We recommend using standard (not slim) cases. Discard plastic inserts.

Back each photo with cardboard or foam board and snap the cases shut. Attach them to the wall with 3-inch strips of sticky-back hood-and-loop fasteners (such as Velcro).

DIY decorating projects

Make a memory box table

Turn a deep photo frame and similar-sized side table into a venue for celebrating treasured keepsakes.

More: How to make this memory box table

Make your own designer bouquet

Treat yourself to colorful bouquets and arrangements from a mini flower studio you can create at home.

All you need is a sink, a little counter space, and a few essential tools. See what you can do with a single bloom, and how to turn just about any vintage vessel into a vase. (Tip #1: Start with the freshest flowers you can find.)

More: Flower shop secrets

Turn a drawer organizer into a bento-box guest tray  

Tuck a drawer organizer into a storage tote with some thoughtful amenities to make your houseguests feel like royalty. (Be forewarned: They’ll be eager for a return invite.)

How-to: Slip a drawer organizer into a fabric-covered box or other storage tote and stock it with a few travel-size essentials in coordinating materials and hues. Tie a washcloth with colorful string; wrap a bar of soap with wide ribbon; use letter stamps and a label sticker to personalize a scented candle.

DIY workspace

To create your own instant workspace anywhere, put a flat birch hollow-core door atop two adjustable sawhorses.

Cover the door with self-healing vinyl board cover (available from art and drafting supply stores). The closer you can get the board cover to the exact size of your door, the better.

Stencil a basic measuring system onto the board cover, and you'll never need to hunt down a measuring stick.

Time: Four hours plus drying time

Cost: About $175

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Living Room Feng Shui

How to Activate Your Entire House from the Living Room

No other room in the house offers the feng shui potential that the living room does. This room is central to family life and to feng shui. When it comes to feng shui, no other room can compare to this particular room. That's because the living room is the ONE room in the house that can be activated according to all nine sectors of the bagua or lo shu square -- making this a very important room, indeed.

When you want to affect the feng shui of the entire house, you should begin by applying feng shui enhancements or remedies to the living room. The benefit is that the living room can boost the feng shui of other parts of the house that may have afflictions or are missing or shouldn't have a particular enhancement.

For instance, if the bedroom is in the north sector, a water fountain would be a great feature for enhacing career feng shui. However, water in the bedroom is not recommended. But, water in the north corner of the living room will help boost that sector's feng shui with beneficial water energy in the corresponding corner.

How is this possible? Think of the yin-yang symbol in the center of the bagua. This symbol is called the "tai chi" --- yes, just like the martial art exercise. This tai chi can be applied to any size space and is referred to as the large tai chi or small tai chi.

As an example, you can apply the bagua to your lot that your house sits on. This is called the large tai chi. The small tai chi would be to apply the bagua to an individual room -- such as the living room -- or to an area such as a desk. In applying feng shui to the living room, you are activating the small tai chi.

Be aware, though, that depending upon the sector, you may not want to apply all enhancements. For instance, if your living room is in the northwest corner of the house, then it would not be advisable to add candles to the south corner of the living room because an open flame in the NW sector of the home is very dangerous.

I actually know of someone whose house began to burn down from candles that were placed in this sector. More importantly, is that the NW is the sector of "heaven" or the patriarch or breadwinner of the family (if the breadwinner is a man). With that caveat in mind, do proceed with making changes to your living room. By doing so, you will instantly improve your feng shui for your whole home!

1. Arrangement, arrangement.

The whole point of a living room is to create a room where the family comes together or where guests can be seated and all can enjoy conversation and each other's company. Living rooms are the place of celebrations and good times, so they truly benefit from proper arrangement.

Many times, living rooms suffer from a L-shaped configuration caused by L-shaped sofas or by position a sofa and loveseat at a 45 degree angle to one another. This creates conflict and a feeling of being unexplainably uncomfortable in the room. Remember, televisions and fireplaces aren't the focal point of a living room -- people are.

Instead, arrange the room so that sofa and seat FACE one another... Don't worry: you'll still be able to view the fireplace and TV, but you will instantly and dramatically improve your desire to be in the room and you will cultivate more loving and harmonious relationships. Better still, you will improve the flow of energy in the room. So, get to moving those sofas!

2. Add some red and gold.

To make certain that families are harmonious and enjoying good relationships with each other, be sure to add some elements of red and gold together. This could be a vase of red carnations and gold daisies, or it could be a pillow with gold and red colors. Red and gold together help calm conflict and create good feelings. Be sure to add these two colors together wherever there are conflicts or angry feelings.

3. The picture of happiness.

Be sure to hang a picture of a happy family or occupants in the living room. This picture can influence the entire family. Hang the pictures on an East wall to benefit family relationships. You may also wish to add pictures according to their direction in the living room to boost a particular area. For instance, a picture of a beautiful lake or waterfall would be wonderful on the north wall (career/opportunities) and a large, beautiful tree would be excellent for the east wall (health/family relationships).

4. Add some "yang" to your living room.

The living room should be a good balance of yin and yang. However, a little extra "yang" or positive energy is especially beneficial. This can come from the addition of a red accent wall, a bright chandelier, or a moving object.

5. Boost the lucky corner in the living room.

Where is the lucky corner? This is the corner of the room that is opposite and diagonal to the main entry to the room. If this corner is in the SW, W, NW, or NE, then boost this corner with a beautiful geode, bowl of semiprecious stones, beautiful vase, globe or other earth feature. If the lucky corner is the south or southwest, then boost the chi here with a nice tall bright lamp. If the corner is in the north, add a fountain here. If it is in the east or southeast, you can have a fountain here or add a grouping of beautiful lush plants or pretty flowers.

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter Feng Shui E-zine and certified feng shui consultant in classical Chinese feng shui. Kathryn helps her readers improve their lives and generate more wealth with feng shui. For more information visit http://www.redlotusletter.com and learn the fast and fun way how feng shui can make your life more prosperous and abundant! To subscribe and receive the FREE Ebook, "Easy Money - 3 Steps to Building Massive Wealth with Feng Shui,"logon to http://www.redlotusletter.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Weber See another post

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Design The Perfect Living Room

Millions of people are intrigued with learning how best to decorate their individual homes all around the world.

The fundamental aesthetic of your home will be created thanks to the colors you choose for the walls, floor and furnishings.

If you pick the wrong furnishings it will not compliment the rest of the room, as well as the entire house. The truth is the furniture you pick is vital for the function of the house. From your bedroom furniture to the coffee table in your living room, you need furniture in order to properly use your home, the way it looks is also very important.

With the right furniture you can give your living room and home the feel you wish, you can turn it from boring into eloquent with the right choices. It is your chance to show your creative side and your personal style. Therefore you need to pick the right furnishings in order to give your home the feel and style you want.

Picking The Right Pieces

There are several things you need to think about when deciding which furniture pieces to purchase, such as the size of space you are working with, what kind of furniture you hope to buy, where you intend to position it and of course the decor and color of walls. When you consider all of these things you can more effectively purchase furniture for your living room that fits in as you wish and gives the right aesthetic.

These days it isn't hard to find contemporary pieces of furniture that fit right into your desired style, no matter what your tastes you will surely be able to find prefabricated furniture or have individual pieces made especially to adhere to your taste. No matter your personal taste, be it for a more modern decor, or perhaps even an ethnic look, you will be able to find furniture that will play off the overall style of your home. With a modern theme you are able to create clean lines and eloquent interiors with the right style of contemporary furnishings. For some ideas and examples of wonderful furniture that will fit snugly into any stylish and modern themes check out click4interiors. You can really put your stamp on your living space with the appropriate furniture.

Have A Stylish Looking Living Room

Do not forget that whenever you have guests around they will likely spend their time in your living room, the same goes for you even when you are not entertaining. With this in mind you want to create a relaxing space for yourself but also somewhere that gives the right impression to any guests.

You can accomplish this with some simple furniture that is both comfortable but stylish. You have a wide range of options to choose from in this regards and can easily create a modern living room with very little hassle. Create the perfect ambiance with the right furniture in a simple yet comfortable way. A quick search on the web for shops that sell furniture will educate you as to how affordable many of these options are. You can even have furniture created to your personal style and specs for a fair price.

Have the perfect living room thanks to selecting the right furnishings. Check out click4interiors.co.uk to have a look at the wide range of furniture just waiting to placed in your new modern living room.

Like funky furniture? For super awesome ideas -- including wicker chair cushions reviews, moon chairs and retro designs please visit our site. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_McNeil See another post

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Contemporary Living Room Furniture

The living room is one of the most important rooms in the entire house. It not only welcomes guests and visitors, it also serves as the focal point and acts as a showcase for the entire house. In simple terms, the living room is the focal point of a home.

Contemporary living room furniture is generally preferred by people who enjoy modern styles of living. Contemporary furniture can be chosen to fit any house, and offers a wide variety of choices that are almost guaranteed to suit any taste, comfort and style. Moreover, it adds a contemporary flair to the living room.

Typical characteristics of contemporary living room furniture include modular sofas, abstract lighting sources, pedestal tables, sleek sideboards, etc. Some of the hallmarks of contemporary living room designs include monochromatic color schemes that are deliberately understated, modular elements that are integrated so as to have multiple uses and curvilinear shapes.

Contemporary living room furniture often uses deliberate monochromes such as gray and black. However, to add a dash of color and luster, certain contemporary living room furniture designs make use of colorful cushions or leather covered stools of various shapes, like cubes. Other accessories commonly used to fill up bare spots include accent chairs, end tables and wicker coffee tables.

No living room is considered complete without the presence on an entertainment center. TV stands, speaker cubicles and racks to store CDs or DVDs come in a variety of models, some that incorporate futuristic designs and lighting styles to fit the décor of any living room. They come in a variety of finishes with clear or frosted glass doors. Most of these systems use innovative wire management systems to mask the jumble of wires that normally accompany any home entertainment system.

All said and done, contemporary living room furniture may be just what is needed to add that touch of elegance and sophistication to any living room. The décor and styling can be chosen to suit any budget.

Contemporary Furniture provides detailed information on Contemporary Furniture, Contemporary Bedroom Furniture, Contemporary Office Furniture, Contemporary Dining Room Furniture and more. Contemporary Furniture is affiliated with Modern Bedroom Furniture. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton See another post

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Cheap Living Room Furniture

The word cheap is a rather subjective word, because living room furniture that seems cheap to one person may be considered expensive to another. On the whole, the main reason one opts for cheap living room furniture is because one is on a tight budget, and cannot spend too much on living room furniture.

When buying cheap living room furniture, it will usually be secondhand furniture. It will be the furniture one person is selling to buy new living room furniture. So logically, the best place to look for cheap living room furniture will be secondhand shops. It is college students and the first-time buyers who usually buy cheap living room furniture for their home, to make their living room comfortable.

Another good place to look for cheap living room furniture is in consignment shops. This is the place where private owners sell their used furniture. These shops have become more and more popular, with the increase in the demand for cheap living room furniture. The inventory here will be unique, with only single pieces of furniture being sold, so there is no chance of someone else buying the same piece. It is always better to get to know the manager of a consignment shop, as he will then tell you when the sort of cheap living furniture that you are looking for comes in. Sometimes the cheap living room furniture may not look good or attractive at first. However, a little refurbishing will make it look more appealing. There are also some people who enjoy painting old furniture. After painting, this cheap living room furniture then becomes attractive and beautiful, to brighten up the living room.

Living Room Furniture [http://www.e-LivingRoomFurniture.com] provides detailed information on Living Room Furniture, Cheap Living Room Furniture, Discount Living Room Furniture, Contemporary Living Room Furniture and more. Living Room Furniture is affiliated with Upholstered Ottomans [http://www.e-Ottomans.com]. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Tobey See another post

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Creating Amazing Effects With Living Room Lighting

Having the right types of living room lighting can help you to achieve some pretty amazing effects in your home. Whether your goal is to make the area seem larger or more defined, you can do that by putting in the right types of fixtures and using the right types of bulbs. One great thing about this is that not only will you be transforming the ambience of the room, you will also be spicing it up with new and interesting fixtures. The best part though, is the fact that it is extremely inexpensive to do this.

Are you aware of all the different types of living room lighting styles that are available for very cheap? You could be after a fancy standalone lamp or something that will sit neatly on a console table, or you might be interested in modern sconces adorning your walls. Either way, you can do quite a bit without spending much more than $100, and doing so will make even the rattiest looking sofas look like brand new pieces of furniture. Ultimately, the right lighting will be able to make everything you own look better than ever.

If you are trying to make the living room look bigger than it actually is, then you'll want to arrange the lights in such a way that promote movement. In other words, you need to think about putting them in places that will permeate the rest of the home. This has a very nice effect and can make even the tiniest rooms seem bigger than they are. On the other hand, if you have a very open floor plan and want to make each area seem more like a defined room, then you should select more bold lighting options.

By placing sharply contrasting lights in the different sections of your home, you will give off the illusion that the areas are separate. This technique is even more effective than painting the walls different colors, surprisingly. This works wonders when the living room is right next to the dining room or the kitchen. Either way, you should never have to spend much money to get the effect that you are after, and it's a lot less expensive than anything else you could do for similar results.

Click here if you want to learn how to achieve amazing effects with living room lighting for very cheap. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_J_Sinclair See another post WA8QF3347R5T

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2011 Home Design Color Trends

As a Designer it's so important to be well versed on all upcoming home design and renovation trends - from building trends to paint colors and everything in between. Benjamin Moore's 2011 Color Forecast was released to Architects and Designers last month - and I wanted to share their findings with you.
Each year the color expert team at Benjamin Moore declares their predictions for the upcoming year by tracking the more recent social, cultural and political conditions and how they directly impact fashion and design trends. What they discovered was an overwhelming desire for a sense of balance coupled with four underlying themes: The Farm, Order, Escape and Tribe.

1. The Farm
There is a major focus on hearth and home for obvious reasons and most are anchoring themselves within a new reality. Earthy colors straight from the farm will be dominating interiors this year. Just take a look at your local Farmers Market for inspiration. From earthy browns, buttery yellows and milky whites - to tomatoes, pumpkins and greens.
Also look for handcrafted fabrics, burlaps, tea-stained materials, and all types of petrified, bleached and natural woods - which suggests a return to life's simpler things.
2. Order
We are craving a sense of balance and order from the chaos of the past couple of years. This is interpreted by infusing red, blues, yellows and greens to juxtapose with more monochromatic variations of black, white and gray. Geometric patterns with crisp stripes, dots and spirals uplift our spirit and improve our mood. These days it's all about making ourselves feel happy.
3. Escape
The world has been a little harsh lately so escaping into a dream world full of hope and optimism for the future- is extremely appealing at the moment. The dreamy glamour of sheer draped fabrics, metallic finishes and softened textures coupled with a more pale, frosted and opalescent color palette can be just the remedy for overcoming adversity.
4. Tribe
A focus back to our ethnic communities and much like the farm, we are aching to return to the simpler things in life yet in a more soulful way. The spicy color palette of the land such as rich berry, cinnamon, saffron and fire orange are anchored with bronzes and charcoals. There is a huge focus on patterns, stencils, hand embroidery and beading,
So how will you seek that order and balance in your life? Will you be returning to the hearth, escaping into your dreams or focusing on your community when gathering your home design inspiration for this year?

Lori Gilder is CEO and Founder of Interior Makeovers Inc. She is an award winning Interior Designer to Hollywood's elite and is dedicated to providing her clients with a unique set of design standards and expert guidance throughout the home renovation process. Lori is known for her expertise in designing and creating luxury home environments that are more comfortable, more satisfying and more rewarding.
Please visit http://www.LoriGilder.com or http://www.diaryofarenovation.com and sign up to receive your complimentary ebook "15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation".
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Exposing The Brilliantly Interesting Home Design For Today

It is true that everyone wants to learn about the most interesting home design for today. To be precise, a comfortable relaxing place to call home is definitely our desire especially when we are entertaining visitors or family from afar. It is important to know the environment as well as the mood that you are trying to capture. This knowledge is important to help you make your final choices. Besides that, you need to know that it is at your fingertips to make full use of colors to create the dream palace of your choice. After that, you just need to make it happen. Gather paint chips, fabric swatches and the world is your oyster.

Truth to be told, talent and creativity can play a big part in overall decorative schemes. Skillfully planning the structure of design will rely on the information and the ground work of colors as well as the overall design. Anyway, when you are planning the theme and design, always remember to take into account what each room will be used for. This is definitely important so that you can make the right choice at the end of the day.
Besides that, there is no denying of the fact that we live in a world of colors. The hues and depth of colors we use in our home does make a difference. While the room size is something to take into consideration, be informed that color can increase size or decrease size depending on the color trend. With that in mind, you need to \decide what is complimentary to that space. If anything is to be the proof, places of business have done this for years. Color can make you want to stay or it can make you restless. Colors can have a calming effect, as well.
Besides that, the latest trends are another field that is worth looking into to. A good accessory is always welcomed. Staying with the basics and using complimentary accents in the latest trend is wise. Some of these can be seasonal with beading, shading or even stenciling. Fabrics and throw pillows can add dimension to any room. Drapes and even wall coverings are some of the choices used in the past.
With the stress levels of today, it is important to create a space that is not only relaxing but also will be able to improve your mood. It is up to you to decide what your creation idea will be for this year. All in all, no matter what you choose, it should be something uplifting and optimistic, as well as something that can fulfill your dreams. You really should reward yourself with a great home design.

The author has been writing articles online for a couple of years now. Recently, he has embraced new interest and you can check out his latest website on large jewelry boxes. Apart from that, it has the best information on custom jewelry boxes too.
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Home Design - Three Types on Two Story Homes

It is an over simplification to say that there are only three types of two story homes but the vast majority of the mid priced homes follow simple logical patterns that divide homes into three basic types. By asking questions of your customers it is likely that you can guide them to one of these three types making design easier for you and still letting them believe the home has been customer designed just for them.
A typical home has either five or six rooms on the first floor; kitchen, breakfast, family room, living room, dining room and sometimes a den. The kitchen and breakfast area are next to each other for obvious reasons and in nearly every case adjacent to the family room. Because kitchen is more enclosed due to cabinets and cooking areas the breakfast area is almost always between the kitchen and family room.

While I have done the opposite - kitchen separating the family room and breakfast - it has not worked as successfully. Even the home owner for whom I built it regretted the decision after the fact.
The kitchen-breakfast-family room area makes up the primary family living area. The family will spend most of its' waking time in these three rooms and even when entertaining this is the area most often used. For privacy these three rooms are nearly always at the back of the house away from the street.
The dining room will logically be next to the kitchen.
The resulting layout has the family room, breakfast and kitchen along the back of the house with the dining room in front of the house next to the kitchen and the living room the other side of the front door in the front of the house. This is a very functional and therefore popular plan. Nearly every builder has a version of this plan in their portfolio and it is usually their most popular five room plan.
This layout also places the family room adjacent to the living room. If the client likes having additional entertaining area you can open the living room to the dining room. If the family likes separate spaces so one member of the family can escape to read in the living room while the rest of the family watch action movies the family may want to close off the opening and create separate use areas.
If the family wants a "den" you need to determine why they need it. If it is to be an office work area with possible client visits the buyer will likely want the office den at the front of the house. If this is the case you put the family room behind the garage with the breakfast and kitchen along the back. To create more room at the front of the house the den is placed next to the kitchen but at the back of the house. The den office and the dining room are then placed either side of the front entry. If the dining room is placed next to the living room so that a single large room the dining room table can be expanded into the living room to accommodate large gatherings.
If the den is really a guest bedroom then the room can be created by sliding the garage forward and placing the family room behind the garage.
There are any numbers of variations most significantly the location of the powder room and first floor laundry, if desired, but the vast majority of two story homes will fit into one of these three templates. When we designed a custom or semi-custom home before we started the plans would ask the family a couple of questions:
If the family is usually together we would open up the family room to living room. If the family wanted two separate areas we would either close off the family room or put it on the opposite side of the house.
Select the first floor plan that meets their need and you have a semi-custom template from which to work.
Original content copyright 2011 Thomas Robinson

About the Author: Thomas Robinson has over thirty years of entrepreneurial business experience from managing a specialty retail store to running a successful land development and home building business. For more Small Business Tips visit http://smallbusinessmanagementtips.blogspot.com/
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Sustainable Design in New Home Plans

The purpose of sustainable design is to eliminate negative impact on the environment through sensitive, skillful design. Sustainable design has minimal impact on the environment, requires no non-renewable resources, and relates people with nature. Sustainable design requires forethought in site selection, home building plans, material selection, and project implementation. Some of the considerations to be taken into account include choosing non-toxic materials which are sustainably produced or recycled, and require minimal energy to process; using materials which are longer lasting and of higher durability, to reduce the impact of producing replacements; designing for reuse and recycling; and designing systems on biological lines, to enable the reuse of materials in continuous closed cycles. The basic idea is to create healthy homes, which are not harmful to the occupants or the larger environment.

Sustainable standards of new home plans design are being developed by a large number of private and governmental organizations, and there is a growing body of new methods emerging from the rapid rise of sustainability science. Sustainable technology means using less energy and fewer limited resources, not depleting natural resources, not polluting the environment either directly or indirectly, and designing for reuse and recycling at the end of useful life. Sustainable architecture tries to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and transporting building components both during the process of construction and also during the life of the building. Sustainable design aims for efficiency in heating and cooling such as ground source heat pumps; using alternative energy sources such as appropriate home siting and solar technology to heat water and generate electricity; recycling building materials and using local materials where possible; harvesting rainwater for washing and gardening; and on-site waste management. Waste management is as much a matter of prevention as elimination, and sustainable waste management involves using products which are non-toxic and minimize waste to begin with; can be composted or digested anaerobically; can be reused on site, or recycled off site.
Sustainable new house plans design technology is based upon using renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy, solar, hydro, wind and bioenergy. Wind energy, captured through wind turbines, is the fastest growing energy source in the world: used for centuries in Europe, it is now gaining popularity in America. Solar energy can be harnessed through the use of photovoltaics to generate electricity, and by using passive solar hot water heaters to bathe and to heat homes. The basic test for sustainable design is whether it can function unplugged - without using fossil fuel. This means eliminating pollution altogether rather than just reducing it. These goals are being realized already: in 2004 a 59-home housing community was unveiled in Freiburg, Germany which is the first community in the world in which every home produces a positive energy balance. Sustainable design also means constructing furniture and appliances of renewable and recyclable materials such as glass, steel, and aluminum; and designing them for repair and recycling.

Sustainable design in new home plans involves all phases of home building plans, from site selection and orientation to choice of scheme and building materials. Sustainable new house plans make good economic and environmental sense, and insure prosperity for future generations.
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Individual Home Design

There are very few things that are closer to our hearts than the houses that we live in. And there are even fewer things that we take a greater interest in than the homes which we personally own. The actual size of the house does not matter really. It is our personal little castle on this earth.
It is really hard for us to create a house which mirrors or reflects the personality and traits of its owner where it is consistent to all of its parts and faithful to its chosen style or character and also containing over all the elements of a good design. It is no wonder that in these fast paced days, when our time is filled with so many interests, we sometimes feel like strangers in our own homes.

In a larger home we are more likely to draw our inspiration for its design from widely separate fields and we bring into them the accumulated art forms of the distant past to finally create a grand home rich in history and culture. Also, a spirit of pride and emulation is often designed into the building of a larger home.
Quite too often though, this motive to build the super ornate home demonstrates its self like the construction of a fort that separates us from our ideals and the things which we actually wanted to accomplish. Our motives were to build something beautiful and ornate but we wind up creating something large and gaudy. If the designer is not careful in his or her blending of treatments and trims, we wind up designing something that was not really a reflection of ourselves, but of something that is from someone else's past ideas and not really what we had in mind at all.
The same can be said about the motives that influence us who are trying to design a smaller house. Fortunately, it is not true to the same extent. Firstly, more often than not, we lack the money for the super elaborate. The materials we build our home from need to be found close at hand, and for the sake of economy, they must be inexpensive. This particular influence together with a bunch of others of a similar nature force us towards the design of the smaller house which actually can be more intimate.
In American homes, especially the smaller ones, we have learned to be inventive in order to make the home more personal in nature. Sixty percent of the homes built in the United States follow the simple Ranch or Rancher design which has a very straightforward layout and can be built with economy in mind. The Rancher can also be adaptive in that it does not have to follow conventional rules. For instance, a room or two can be added outside of the rectangle which is the basic design of the building and then treatments like ornate columns, shutters, gable vents, modified roofs, etc., can be added to make the house more individual.

Tim Davis is a fully trained home designer with around thirty years experience as a designer and drafter. His website is at http://customhouseplans.8m.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_J._Davis

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DIY Projects You Will Love

DIY: Fun weekend crafts and home projects

Shadowbox wall vase

Turn a shadow-box frame into a vessel for your favorite things from the garden or flower shop.

Flowers or cuttings ― such as these leucadendron blooms ― extend through the opening of a picture mat to create an organic work of 3-dimensional art.

Group two or three frames on the wall or use one for a tabletop display. Change the background and cuttings for a new look any time you like.

More:  How to make a shadowbox vase

Tabletop twigscape

Create a mini forest for your table from elegant branches and twigs.

Here, tree-like twigs edge a stream bed of green pebbles running down the center of a sealed 30-inch piece of redwood.

More:  Make tabletop forests

Painted party glassware

Perk up your table by turning ordinary wine goblets into stylish geometric art glass. It just takes a little glass paint and a stencil or template.

Designer Sarah Caska used a fine-tip black permanent marker and enamel paint formulated for glass to create these Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired designs. The cost was about $36 for 8 decorated glasses, including stemware.

More: How to paint glassware

Fake a Roman shade

In rooms where privacy isn't important, you can give windows all the dressing they need with shorter faux Roman shades. This is a budget friendly project from DIY.

They aren't full-length, so these tricksters require far less fabric than the real McCoy and can often be made from inexpensive remnants.

More: How to fake a Roman shade

Make a personalized paperweight

Turn smooth river rocks into a stylish paperweight with white rub-on transfers. Or turn it into refrigerator art by adding a small magnet to the back.

More:  DIY monogrammed paperweight

Artful lampshade

A plain lampshade becomes instant art when you add a paper design to the inside lining. I LOVE
this affect!!!! What a break from the boring plain shade!!

The design remains invisible until you turn on the light. Click here for our template.

More:  Make an artful lampshade

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Sofa Styles

Sofa Style

The style of a sofa is generally determined by three things: the arms, the back, and the legs or skirt. Certain arms and backs connote modern or traditional styles, but the way a sofa is upholstered and trimmed can also great influence its appeal. In addition to a glossary of terms describing backs, arms, seats, and legs, we’ve compiled some of the most classic and well-known styles.

English or Club

This sofa has a slightly rounded arm set back from the front of the seat, often with a tight seat and slightly rolled back, no skirt, and low, turned legs on castors.

Tuxedo

In the tuxedo sofa, the arms are as high as the back. It usually has fairly clean lines with straight or slightly flared arms. Some people find a lower arm more comfortable for resting, but with the right pillows, the tuxedo can be very cozy.

Camelback

A more traditional, formal style made by Thomas Chippendale in the 18th century, the camelback sofa has a tight, serpentine back, high rolled arms, often a tight seat, and sometimes exposed legs and stretchers.

Knole

Based on an early to mid-17th-century sofa made for Knole, a house in Kent, England, and a classic of English country houses, this sofa has a straight, high back and angled arms that can be adjusted to open out or stand up straight (once useful for keeping out drafts). The back and arms traditionally connect with finials wrapped in cords.

Cabriole

The back of this 18th-century Louis XV–style sofa curves into the arms in a continuous line. It usually has wood trim and carved wood legs that may be curved. This example is a more clean-lined take on the classic form, which would have more downswept, curvy arms.

Lawson

The Lawson has a low, squarish back, with arms that are lower than the back. The form can have square or rolled arms.

Chesterfield

The Chesterfield conjures visions of English libraries or men’s clubs, with its tufted back, high rolled arms, and sometimes tufted seat. It is often upholstered in leather.

Midcentury Modern

These sofas have straight, squared lines and a very streamlined form, with low, often squared legs.

Sectional

This modular seating is configured from components that include armless sofas, as well as end and corner units, ottomans, and sometimes even recliners, sleep sofas, or chaises. Its style is usually clean-lined and modern.

Bridgewater

A Bridgewater sofa has low, set-back arms and an elegant profile. It is usually skirted and sometimes has a softly rolled back.

Watch the video for how to shop for a sofa:

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