This is a round table similar in concept to the rectangular table in the previous post. This is one however I have just completed for my own home. I guess I should post pictures. I painted the base (blue) and glazed it before spaying a clear sealer. The top, however, is red oak – stained and glazed.
These alder kitchen island legs are 5 1/2″ wide X 36″ long. The particular twist on these island legs is called a barley twist. I suppose it simulates barley grain or a stalk of barley??? I’ve never grown barley (seen it in pictures only) but this is what it is called. You will have to make your own judgment about whether the name is justified or not.
The alder, for some, has become a substitute for cherry. You’ll have to use your judgment on this as well as to whether alder resembles cherry. But alder it is. Alder is more plentiful in the West and not so common here in the Deep South but it is, in fact, shipped here. The alder I purchase is knot plentiful except for the select grades (which is what is pictured below). Even the select has occasional small tight knots. You can see a few on these legs.
This set of Sapele exterior balusters went to a custom in Colorado Springs, CO. I thought they were somewhat unique. The original balusters were turned probably in the 20′s and these were designed to match the existing balusters (the white one). Ultimately they wound up on an exterior balcony in downtown Colorado Springs. They are only about 20 inches high by 3 1/2″ in diameter.
Sapele, by the way, is a import form Africa that looks much like mahogany but not as expensive. I weathers well out side. That is, it is rot resistant.
Sapele exterior Balusters
In decorating your home, you want things to be stylish and show some character, but you also want it to be functional. In every room in your home, whether it’s wood bedroom furniture or the living room furniture, the furniture tends to take up the bulk of the space. This is why arranging your furniture is such an important part of the process when you are decorating your home.
Typically, the way you arrange your furniture depends on several different factors. The type of room you are decorating will be a factor, as well as what furniture you have and the style you’ve decided upon. Each room is going to be different when it comes to arranging furniture. However, here are some basic tips to follow when decorating your home.
Choose the Focal Point of the Room
Until you have decided on what the focal point of the room is going to be you can’t really arrange your furniture. You might go with a natural focal point like a fireplace or bay window, or you might choose one of the pieces of furniture you have.
To choose your focal point, pay attention to where your eyes are drawn when you first walk into the room. This is the part of the room you want to focus on. Once the focal point is decided upon, you can now plan accordingly where you want the furniture to go in order to emphasize that place in the room.
Plan Your Design
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to play around with a room’s design before they get it the way they like. Start by arranging the largest pieces of furniture first.
If you’ve already chosen one of your larger pieces of furniture to be the focal point, then that will be easy to place. When arranging furniture, you always want to arrange the largest pieces first, since they are going to take up the most space and dominant the room. So you need to plan first where your bed goes in a bedroom or where the sofa goes in the family room or living room.
Your furniture should be placed in relation to the focal point you’ve chosen. Not everything needs to be facing the focal point, but the furnishings should be arranged so that they show off the importance of the focal point. You need to also be sure that you are not putting all the larger pieces together, as it will throw off the balance of the room. Once the larger pieces have been placed, then you can move on to the smaller pieces like side tables and chairs.
Consider the Purpose of the Room
When arranging the furniture, it’s important to keep in mind the purpose of the room. In your dining room, for example, you need to pay attention as to whether there’s enough space for people to comfortably pass by the wood dining table when others are seated there. In your living room, on the other hand, you want to be sure the seating is close enough together so that people aren’t shouting in order to hear one another. When arranging the furniture in any room, functionality and purpose are key things to keep in mind.
Realize that when you arrange the furniture in your home, it’s never set in stone. Once in place, you can take a few weeks to see how the furniture arrangement is going to work out. If it doesn’t seem to be working, you can always start over and design a different layout for the room.
Trying to sell your home these days is no easy task. Currently there are many more homes for sale than there are buyers, which makes it a buyer’s market. Particularly in a buyer’s market, you’re going to want to make sure that your house is dressed to impress.
What this means is that in order to get your house to sell a little faster, you might have to do some quick and simple decorating. If you are trying to sell your home, here are some decorating tips for you to consider.
Paint the Walls
If your walls are painted in loud or vibrant colors, you might want to think about painting them a more neutral or softer color. Although the new homeowners could come in and do this for themselves, sometimes the color of the walls can be distracting and you run the risk that this might take away from the appeal of the home for certain potential buyers. The other great thing about painting the walls is that it gives the home a fresh, clean look.
Keep the Décor Simple
When potential homebuyers look at a house, they want to envision what it might look like if it was their home. They’re not interested in what it looks like with 20 pictures of your family hanging on the wall. Thus, when listing your home for sale, it’s always a good idea to go around from room to room and take down some décor items.
Especially when it comes to your family pictures and other personal items of that nature, you want to keep things simple and neutral. Rather than having five pictures on the wall, cut it down to one. Or you might even want to hang something like a mirror or a clock instead. Keeping the décor simple allows potential homeowners to be able to look around and imagine what the house will look like with their possessions in it.
Replace Anything That’s Broken
Whether it’s a door that’s broken or a burnt-out light bulb, take the time to fix items around your house before you have people come look at it. You might want to take a thorough look around your house and check out the small things, such as light fixtures, doors, trim, cabinets, and appliances. Chances are, the repairs will be simple and inexpensive. It might just take a bottle of caulk to fix up the bathroom sink. Or perhaps you kitchen cabinet might need a new pull handle. These small fixes will help make your home seem well-maintained, which will make it more appealing for potential homebuyers.
Keep It Clean and Organized
When it comes time to put your house up for sale, you’re going to need to make sure that it’s always ready to be shown. The first thing to do when you list your home for sale is to give it a good cleaning from top to bottom. Then you’ll need to maintain that cleanliness on a daily basis. On any given day, when someone comes to look at the house, there shouldn’t be any dishes in the sink, dirty towels on the floor, or toys all over.
While you’re trying to sell, organize your home so that everything has a place where it can be put away. Put things you’re not using at the moment (such as seasonal items) in a separate storage facility. By opening up the storage areas in your home, you can be sure that you’ll have plenty of space in which to organize all your stuff. Some potential buyers will see a messy and crowded home and walk right out, without even looking at it.
If you want to sell your home fast, you’ll want to consider making some of these simple and quick decorating changes in order to make you home more appealing to potential buyers.
About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has 40 years of experience in the home furnishings and interior design industry. He owns and manages his family owned furniture store. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, home office and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Whether you’re looking for a mission chest for your master bedroom or a oak end table for your living room then they carry everything you need.
What homeowner wouldn’t love a spa bathroom right in their very own home? While a spa bathroom can be a great addition to a home, it can also cost a lot of money. Completely renovating your bathroom to resemble the local spa is going to cost you. Fortunately, there are some affordable tricks you can do to create a spa-like bathroom on a budget.
Install the Right Lighting
Lighting plays a major role when it comes to the bathroom’s décor. You need adequate lighting to perform such tasks as putting on makeup or brushing and flossing your teeth. But you want to take care to not make the lighting too bright, especially if you’re trying to create a spa. A dimmer switch is the best way to fix this. This way, you can have full light for everyday tasks but also dimmed lighting to set the mood when you are relaxing in the tub.
Keep Things Clean and Organized
It’s going to be very difficult to relax in your spa bathroom if the place is a mess and nothing is organized. First, be sure that you have a spot for everything in the bathroom. Baskets and bins added to the shelves and cabinets will help keep things organized. If you’re looking to dress up the place a bit, then add wicker baskets and painted shelves.
Add the Right Accessories
Accessories don’t have to cost a lot, and they can make all the difference in a décor.
· An easy way to create a spa ambiance is by adding candles around the bathtub and the rest of the bathroom.
· Other things such as flower arrangements and air fresheners are also great additions.
· By installing a radio or CD/MP3 player either in the bathtub or on a shelf nearby, you can add some soothing and relaxing music to the room.
· Keep your feet off the cold tile by adding a luxurious bath mat for when you get out of the tub.
· You can set a relaxing mood in your spa bathroom with a water feature, such as a small fountain.
· Create your very own oasis in the bathroom by surrounding that small fountain with a few small plants.
Choose Peaceful Colors for the Room
When creating a spa bathroom, your best options for colors, especially the main wall colors, are neutrals or soft pastels. Don’t pick anything too loud or vibrant, such as red or bright yellow, for the walls and décor. Remember, you’re trying to create a peaceful feeling that will best come from lighter colors and neutrals.
Your décor doesn’t have to be boring, however. Add splashes of color with your towels, candles, flowers, and other décor items. Paint is very inexpensive. By simply painting over a dark or vibrant color with a neutral or pastel, you can easily change the entire look and feel of the room.
You don’t have to spend as much money as you think in order to create a spa bathroom in your home. When you apply a little creativity and work with what you already have in the room, you’ll find that there are plenty of ways that you can create a spa feeling in your bathroom without breaking your budget.
About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been in the home furnishings and interior design industry for four decades. He is the owner and manager of popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a huge inventory of handcrafted Amish built solid wood furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. Are you looking for a arts & crafts coffee table for your living room or a wooden nightstand for your master bedroom then they probably have everything you need.
Can you just not decide on a color scheme for your room? Have you always loved the contrast of a black-and-white style? You might want to consider a black-and-white room for your home. A black-and-white theme can fit a variety of styles, from contemporary to French country. The colors black and white are considered limiting by many when it comes to décor, but there are actually a variety of ideas you can implement with a black-and-white-themed room.
Keep the Walls Light
Black walls are usually not the best choice for a black-and-white style. You want to keep the walls light, perhaps with a white or soft ivory color. With light walls, you then provide the perfect backdrop for black shelves or hanging pieces of art on the walls. If you want your walls to have a little more contrast, then perhaps trying painting your crown molding and trim black instead.
Add Patterns to the Black-and-White Room
You want to be sure your black-and-white décor doesn’t end up looking boring. A good way to avoid this is to add patterns to the room. Any type of pattern will work. You might choose stripes, checks, paisleys or toiles. If you are really daring, you might want to consider including animal prints, such as a zebra, into the décor.
· A couch or chair with a b lack-and-white pattern goes great in a living room or family room.
· A black-and-white-patterned comforter is a great way to add interest to the bedroom.
· In a kitchen or dining room with a black-and-white theme, consider patterned window treatments or fabric on the chairs.
· Other accessories such as black-and-white-patterned blankets, towels, pillows, and wallpaper borders will also make an interesting addition to the room.
· You can also add interest to a room with black-and-white-patterned towels, pillows, blankets, and wallpaper borders.
Change It Up with the Seasons
If you love to vary your décor according to the different seasons, a black-and-white theme can provide a great background for all types of seasonal decorating. There are so many different seasonal accessories you can add. You might add smaller pieces such as knickknacks, candles, and vases. Or you might choose to go with larger items: artwork hung on the walls, an area rug added to the floor, or a blanket thrown on the back of a couch.
· At Christmastime, red decorations always go great with a black-and-white scheme.
· In the fall, you can add orange elements to the room to give things an autumnal feel.
· Turquoise or yellow accents might be just the thing to lighten things up in spring and summer.
It doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive to decorate a room in a black-and-white style. Once you decide on the specific style you are going for, you simply need to shop around for pieces that fit into the black-and-white color scheme. You don’t have to stick strictly to a black-and-white theme. With a hint of color strategically placed here and there, you can quickly add some personality to the room. By adding your own style and flair to your black-and-white décor, you can create a room that feels like your own.
About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been in the furniture and interior design industry for 4 decades. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Are you looking for a oak desk for your home office or a mission dresser for your master bedroom then they probably have everything you need.
Some rooms naturally have a focal point, whereas other rooms might require you to add something to create that focal point. It’s important that before you add anything you make sure you look at the room closely to see what it has to offer. For instance, you might already have something like a fireplace that is a natural focal point that just needs to be played up when decorating.
When examining a room for focal points, look at the large pieces you have in there such as a wood bookcase, an entertainment center, wooden dressers, or even a couch. You may only have to rearrange some furniture to create a focal point if you already have something in the room you can use. Or you might have to start from scratch in choosing the proper focal point for a room.
The Fireplace as a Focal Point
One of the best natural focal points in any room is a fireplace. If there’s already one in a room, then there are plenty of ways you can draw attention to that fireplace.
By arranging the furniture around the fireplace, you can create an instant focal point, but there are also other avenues you can take. You might create an accent wall by painting the wall the fireplace is on a different color than the rest of the room. By changing the style of the fireplace or even adding a new mantle to it, you can draw more attention to that area of the room. Then top the mantle with eye-catching décor items, or hang a large piece of art over it.
The Couch as a Focal Point
Do you have a favorite couch that would make a great focal point? You can create this with some rearranging of the room. Do make sure the couch is in great condition, though. If not, then you might consider adding a slipcover.
You can add colorful or patterned pillows or throws to the couch to draw attention there. The rest of the furniture should be arranged so it’s facing the couch. The best place for a large couch is in the middle of the longest wall in the room. Side tables can be added to the couch as well.
The Armoire or Entertainment Center as a Focal Point
If you have a media room or family room and want an armoire or entertainment center to be its focus, be sure to concentrate on that piece’s quality. You probably don’t want a cheap-looking entertainment center to be the main focus of the room, after all. So be sure to invest in a quality piece of furniture that’s also attractive.
It’s also advisable to find a piece with doors so that you can hide the electronics. You can also add flower arrangements, candles, and frames to the furnishing for some additional style.
You can come up with many other ways to create a focal point in a room. Different rooms are going to contain different pieces that you might want to show off. In a bedroom, for instance, most people want their bed to be the focal point. With a little creativity, you’ll be able to show off and highlight your focal point in any room.
Decorating your oak dining table doesn’t have to be a difficult or expensive process. Some people do spend thousands of dollars just on decorating the dining room table. But it may not even take a hundred dollars to get that beautifully decorated dining room table you’ve always dreamed of. By making careful use of things you already have and throwing a little creativity into the mix, you can create a great-looking dining room table that fits within your budget.
Keep Placemats or a Tablecloth on the Table
Adding placemats or a tablecloth is one of the easiest ways to add instant style to your oak dining sets. Although some tablecloths and placemats can end up being quite expensive, you should be able to find inexpensive pieces in whatever style you’re looking for at a department store or discount store. If you’re really looking to save money, you might want to consider making your own out of inexpensive fabric, using your sewing machine.
Remember, the fabric you choose is going to set the style for the table. For a clean and simple look, choose a plan-colored fabric. But if you plan on only having placemats or the tablecloth on the table, then you might want to go with something with patterns or designs.
Utilize the China You Already Have
Displaying your good china on your dining room table will bring style to the table and is better than just storing it away in a kitchen cabinet or hutch. By laying out the china settings, you can add some interest to the table. It doesn’t matter if you don’t plan on using those china settings any time soon, as you are only displaying them for décor purposes, not for use. For those of you who already have a good set of china, you don’t have to pay any money for a new setting to put on display.
Look to Nature for Décor Pieces
What’s great about nature is that it provides us with so many different decorating options that are free. What better place to find inspiration for a beautiful and unique dining room table centerpiece than outdoors in nature?
· Creating a pretty centerpiece can be as simple as a vase of freshly picked flowers—and they smell nice too.
· For an autumnal touch, try a bowl filled with pinecones and dried flowers.
· If you have an apple tree or know someone who does, you can place some apples in a bowl for a centerpiece.
· Other fruits that work great are lemons and limes.
· If you’re looking for a clean look, try a simple potted plant.
Use Candles to Decorate Your Dining Room Table
Not only do candles on your dining room table add a romantic ambience to the room, but they will also add some great interest and style to the table. You can create an instant centerpiece by placing some inexpensive candles in a row or a circle in the center of the table. You might also consider a candelabra for the centerpiece. Floating candles in a glass bowl filled with water is another creative candle idea. Whatever your decorating style, you will be able to find candle options to fit your décor.
There’s no need to spend a lot of time or expense decorating your dining room table. Follow any of these great dining room table decorating ideas for a stylish and unique table that fits in your budget.
Sometimes the latest styles and trends featured in design magazines are so compelling that you forget to add some of your own personality when decorating your home. You should be able to step into any room in your home and know that it reflects your unique personality and style. Here are some tips on ways you can infuse your own personality into your home.
Focus on a Hobby or Collection of Yours
If you have a favorite hobby or perhaps a special collection, considering incorporating that into your décor. You can incorporate collections of such things as dolls, airplanes, specific figurines, and hats into your décor. You might even create a focal point in the room by arranging these collections on a fireplace mantel or a wood bookshelf. For those of you who like to knit or sew, you might display some of your favorite creations in the room: a quilt thrown on the back of the couch or an embroidered picture hung on the wall.
Use Family Photographs to Decorate
Family photographs are a great way to add that personal touch to any room. You don’t necessarily need to use current ones; consider displaying old black-and-white photos of late members of your family. Or if you want to stay current, choose a few of your favorite photos of your family and friends, and arrange them in frames on the wall. This helps establish your presence in the room, as well as adding interest to a bare wall.
Use Your Favorite Colors to Decorate
When decorating a room, you first want to choose what colors you want to use and then go from there. Rather than picking out a fabric or accessory first, look for them in the color you’ve selected.
Just be sure that the color you pick is practical and not one you’ll tire of in a few months. You’ll need to decide on colors for the walls, trim, and furniture like your oak bedroom furniture or your dining room set. You might want to go with different shades of your favorite color or pick out two or three favorites that are complementary.
Create Your Own Art for the Room
No matter how creative you are, you can create a piece of art to include in your décor. This might be a painting or photograph you take, or you might choose to display a collection of items. It can be any artistic outlet you choose. By adding this artwork to the room, you are making a statement about your style and personality. It’s best if you create using a medium you like and are interested in, rather than just trying to create something to match the existing décor.
By adding your personality into the décor of your home, you will end up with a home that truly feels like your own.
