| The luxury lifestyle does not require a
| |
| | is the focus in the room?How can I
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| mansion. You don't have to wait until
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| | establish the axis of the room?The
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| you can afford a huge house on the beach
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| | balance lines are easy to determine.
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| to live in a beautiful home. Remember
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| | Draw 2 faint lines accross your floorplan
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| the luxury lifestyle is about quality
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| | dividing the room in half length wise and
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| things and people. Small cosy houses can
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| | breadth wise. This will divide your room
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| be made luxurious for a small amount of
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| | into 4 quadrants. This is important
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| money through clever interior design.
| |
| | because you need to have an equal
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| Remember the self made wealthy don't
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| | "weight" of furniture in each quadrant in
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| spend money when they don't have to.
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| | order for the room to be balanced.Traffic
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| Living a luxury lifestyle is not about
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| | patterns are also easy. Leave 36 inches
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| throwing money away to look cool, it is
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| | clear in front of each door opening to
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| simply about raising your standard of
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| | allow space for the swing of the door.
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| living. If you can do that
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| | Also keep 12 inches clear in front of the
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| inexpensively, so much the better.In this
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| | windows for access. Traffic patterns
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| article I will introduce you to the
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| | tell you where not to put furniture, mark
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| basics of interior design which I studied
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| | these on your floor plan.Now, what about
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| when I was renovating houses. The key to
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| | the focus of the room? Is it a
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| a successful renovation is to make
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| | fireplace? Bay window? Blank wall where
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| cosmetic improvements, not structural
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| | the home theater screen or an artwork
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| improvements, to a house. Building new
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| | will go? Plan your furniture layout to
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| rooms, adding another level to a
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| | take advantage of this focus.Establish an
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| structure or moving walls around is very
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| | axis for the room. You now want to draw
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| expensive and moving walls especially can
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| | an imaginery line up the middle of the
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| weaken the structure. You want to
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| | wall from floor to ceiling through your
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| improve a houses WOW factor to make an
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| | focus. Continue this line across the
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| impression. Here are some
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| | ceiling and down the opposite wall to the
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| tips...Painting - A new paint job will do
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| | floor. The idea is this, you want the
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| more to improve the look of your home
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| | focus balanced from floor to ceiling. If
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| than anything. It is a relatively simple
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| | your focus is a fireplace this would mean
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| job too, so you can save yourself a
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| | putting a picture or something above it
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| fortune by doing it yourself. Give the
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| | to fill the space. You also need to
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| surfaces to be painted a good clean up
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| | balance both sides of the room. So you
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| with sugar soap and scrape of any loose
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| | would have to put something on the other
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| stuff. Bog up any cracks or any
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| | wall of equal visual "weight" along the
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| depressions to make the surface smooth,
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| | axis line. Everything is about
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| then paint. Whether you use an undercoat
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| | balance.You are now ready to start
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| or not depends on what paint you use.
| |
| | planning where your furniture will go in
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| Get advice from a interiors shop. The
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| | the room. You need to place the
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| underlying principle for all renovations
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| | furniture in the room so it takes
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| including painting is KISS, Keep It
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| | advantage of the focus and so it serves
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| Simple Stupid. Keep your color schemes
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| | the function of the room. Arrange your
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| simple, use neutral colors, they reflect
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| | furniture so that all 4 quadrants have
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| light better making rooms look bigger and
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| | equal visual "weight". This does not
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| they look cleaner. Be consistent
| |
| | mean you need to have a mirror image of
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| throughout the house.Kitchens - Don't go
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| | furniture in the quadrants, but it simply
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| crazy, these can eat heaps of cash if you
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| | means you don't want every piece of
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| are not careful. If your kitchen is
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| | furniture in one quadrant or one half.
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| falling apart then you have no choice but
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| | Visually on your floor plan the room
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| to get a new one. If you can avoid it
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| | should look balanced. Draw
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| though, don't get a new one just
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| | representitives of your furniture on your
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| cosmetically touch up the one you have.
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| | floorplan to scale. Try various ideas.
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| New benchtops, tile splashbacks, door
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| | Decide which one you find most
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| handles, cupboard handles, tap handles, a
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| | appealing.Lighting plan - Do not try to
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| paint job and floor job will make a huge
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| | light the room. Light objects in the
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| difference and won't cost the
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| | room. Firstly your lighting must permit
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| earth.Bathrooms - Another money pit.
| |
| | people to perform the specific tasks of
|
| Light and bright is the secret here.
| |
| | the room. For example using lamps for
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| Just like the kitchen if it's falling
| |
| | reading, playing cards etc. This is
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| apart, you have no choice but to spent
| |
| | called task lighting. You also need
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| the big bucks and replace things. If you
| |
| | sufficient lighting so people don't bump
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| can get away with it though, change your
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| | into things. This is called ambient
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| benchtops, door handles, cupboard
| |
| | lighting. You can use lighting to
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| handles, tap handles and floor tiles
| |
| | influence the mood. Bright lights for an
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| (wall tiles can be a huge expensive job,
| |
| | upbeat mood, low lighting for a more
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| avoid changing if possible) Get a new
| |
| | intimate and romantic mood. As with
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| paint job, a new toilet seat, toilet roll
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| | everything else the different elements
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| holder and towel racks. This will
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| | (elements, pardon the pun, I'm so clever)
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| transform the room and won't cost
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| | of your lighting plan must be harmonious
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| much.Flooring - Makes a huge difference.
| |
| | with each other. Lighting decorative
|
| New carpet, tiles or linoleum will
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| | objects with spot lighting is also a nice
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| transform a room. Also consider, if you
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| | touch. Don't forget to take into account
|
| have a timber floor of good enough
| |
| | where the electrical outlets are. You
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| quality, ripping up the carpet and
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| | want to keep unsightly electrical cords
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| polishing the floorboards. This looks
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| | as short as possible and hidden if you
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| fantastic and is inexpensive.Doors -
| |
| | can.2. FurnitureWhen it comes to choosing
|
| Change the door knobs throughout the home
| |
| | furniture there are a few points to
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| for a classier style and make sure you
| |
| | consider.Is the piece suitable in
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| stay consistent throughout.Window
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| | function and cost?Is it suitable in mood
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| treatments - These also transform a room.
| |
| | and style? Does it have the right
|
| Make sure they fit in with the rest of
| |
| | look?Is it suitable in quality? Is it
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| the room.Landscaping - Can cost you a
| |
| | similar quality to the other furniture
|
| fortune. All you really need to do
| |
| | pieces?Does the piece have suitable
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| (unless your yard is a write off) is rip
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| | proportions? Are the different parts in
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| out all the plants except for the larger
| |
| | pleasing harmony with each other?Is the
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| established ones. Install some edging,
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| | piece the right scale? Is it harmonious
|
| re lay some turf where necessary (if you
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| | with the size of the objects and space
|
| have dead spots where grass won't grow,
| |
| | around it?Are the fabrics appropriate?
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| you can pave that area which is expensive
| |
| | Bright, intense colors and bold patterns
|
| or extend the garden over this area and
| |
| | increase visual "weight". Muted, neutral
|
| plant shade resistant plants), replant
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| | tones and solid colors reduce visual
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| the garden with colorful plants and add
| |
| | "weight".When it comes to arranging
|
| mulch to your garden beds. Plant tall
| |
| | furniture follow these guidelines:The
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| plants at the back of perimeter gardens
| |
| | shape of the sides of the piece of
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| or the middle of central gardens and have
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| | furniture should match the shape of the
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| smaller plants in front. Try to get a
| |
| | wall. Don't put round tables in the
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| few different shades of green in the
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| | corner of rooms.Avoid placing rectangular
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| leaves of different plants. Try to plant
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| | furniture at an angle to straight
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| a range of flowers so you have something
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| | walls.If the space on the wall is
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| blooming at most times of the year.
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| | horizontal, a horizontally shaped piece
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| Flowers can give your garden a pleasant
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| | of furniture will look best there.If the
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| smell as well and attract birds. River
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| | space on the wall is square, a square
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| pebbles or conrete treads are also an
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| | shaped piece of furniture will look best
|
| inexpensive alternative to paths.Painting
| |
| | there.
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| of the exterior - Makes a huge
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| | Vary the heights of the major pieces in
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| difference to the WOW factor. Probably
| |
| | the room.Spread your colors throughout
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| best to get a professional to do it
| |
| | the room.Here are a selection of some of
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| though, they own scaffolding, let them
| |
| | the major furniture styles from
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| risk their necks.Decking and verandahs -
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| | throughout history and how to spot
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| Cheaper than adding rooms to your house
| |
| | them.Early American styles - The lines of
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| but adds square footage to your living
| |
| | this furniture is very simple. The
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| space. If you live above the snow line
| |
| | workmanship is unrefined and rustic. It
|
| this may not appeal, but for warmer
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| | is small in size, has a square frame
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| climates outdoor living spaces are
| |
| | structure, is usually painted and has
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| wonderful for entertaining. Tile over
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| | square shaped legs with simple decorative
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| concrete porches.Fences - If you have an
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| | turnings.Mediterranean styles - This is
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| existing fence, give it a new paint job.
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| | heavy furniture. There is nothing
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| If you don't have a front fence put in a
| |
| | delicate about it. It is solid, squarish
|
| white picket fence. Add an attractive
| |
| | and built to last. It is usually made of
|
| letterbox.Get a new front door - These
| |
| | ornately carved wood. The Spanish
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| really add or detract from the look of
| |
| | Mediterranean furniture often featured
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| your home.The bottom line is, you don't
| |
| | leather that was decorated with metal
|
| need to change where you live necesarily,
| |
| | nailheads.French styles - Louis XIV style
|
| just how it looks. Spend your money on
| |
| | (1643 - 1715) has massive scale, X shaped
|
| luxurious homewares not on expensive
| |
| | stretchers that support the legs, a
|
| structural changes. Read on now to learn
| |
| | bacically square form and the seat & back
|
| about how to layout your home and how to
| |
| | were upholstered. This style had
|
| decorate it to raise your standard of
| |
| | detailed ornamentation.- Regence style
|
| living and to add to your luxury
| |
| | (1700 - 1730) was a transition between
|
| lifestyle.1. The Basics of Interior
| |
| | Louis XIV and Louis XV. It had cabriole
|
| DesignThere are 3 basic guidelines for
| |
| | legs (curved legs) and a curvature on the
|
| successful interior design.A successful
| |
| | top edge of the seat back.- Louis XV
|
| room is functional.A successful room
| |
| | style (1730 - 1775) had curved shapes and
|
| expresses a mood.A successful room
| |
| | forms, extensive rococo decoration
|
| exhibits a sense of harmony.Function -
| |
| | (elaborate decoration incorporating a
|
| Ask yourself, what are the intended
| |
| | shell mofif), romantic imagery, delicate
|
| functions of this room? A room must
| |
| | shape & design and no leg stretchers.-
|
| serve it's intended function. No matter
| |
| | Louis XVI (1775 - 1789) had straight slim
|
| how beautifully you decorate a room, if
| |
| | legs (usually fluted and topped with a
|
| your scheme can't fulfill all the
| |
| | box shape containing a carved rosette),
|
| functions you require the room to
| |
| | rectangular shapes or mechanically
|
| perform, then the room has failed. If a
| |
| | produced curves, classical motifs (such
|
| dining room is not convenient to eat in,
| |
| | as columns, urns and lyres) and delicate
|
| then it fails. If a bedroom is not
| |
| | construction.- Directoire style (1790 -
|
| convenient to sleep in, then it fails.
| |
| | 1804) had simple elegant lines, patriotic
|
| Does your living room have appropriate
| |
| | motifs (including military motifs,
|
| lighting for reading, if that is one of
| |
| | agricultural motifs and crossed flags),
|
| the functions of the room? Are there
| |
| | classical motifs (inspired by ancient
|
| tables in easy reach of the seating to
| |
| | Egypt, Rome and Greece), curled chair
|
| put your drink on? You get the idea.Mood
| |
| | backs and scrolled sofa arms, outward
|
| - What is the mood you want this room to
| |
| | curving legs or classic fat straight
|
| express? Are you after a sleek, modern,
| |
| | legs.- Empire style (1804 - 1831) had a
|
| sophisticated look, or a rustic, casual,
| |
| | heavy masculine look, polished veneers
|
| warm mood etc? Every aspect of the room
| |
| | more often than carved wood surfaces,
|
| you create must maintain the same mood.
| |
| | excessive use of ormolu mounts (often
|
| Mood refers to the general look or
| |
| | large and badly cast), chairs with wooden
|
| feeling you want the room to express.
| |
| | backs and upholstered seats, inspired by
|
| The color schemes, furniture, window
| |
| | classical Greece (including the boat bed,
|
| treatments, floor treatments and lighting
| |
| | recamiore day bed and tripod stand),
|
| styles etc. must all be consistent with
| |
| | mirror back console table, motifs
|
| this look and feeling.Harmony - All the
| |
| | inspired by ancient Egypt, Rome and
|
| separate elements in a room must work
| |
| | Greece as well as patriotic and military
|
| together in harmony. All elements should
| |
| | motifs.English styles - William & Mary
|
| feel appropriate and nothing should feel
| |
| | style (1689 - 1702) had hooded tops (tops
|
| out of place. Every element should be
| |
| | in the shape of single or double round
|
| harmonious in mood, scale, quality and
| |
| | arches that look like dutch roofs),
|
| color. We have already discussed mood.
| |
| | curved X shaped stretchers, inverted cup
|
| The scale must also be harmonious, this
| |
| | on straight turned legs, besides these
|
| means all elements should be the same
| |
| | features they had basically straight
|
| scale as each other and the same scale of
| |
| | lines.Queen Anne style (1702 - 1714) had
|
| the room itself. No huge chairs in small
| |
| | cabriole legs often with shell motif on
|
| rooms or small chairs in huge rooms. No
| |
| | the knee, fiddle back splats and
|
| huge chairs with small chairs etc. The
| |
| | basically curved lines.Early Georgian
|
| quality also needs to be harmonious. If
| |
| | style (1714 - 1760) was the same as the
|
| you are using expensive high quality
| |
| | Queen Anne style but with extensive
|
| furniture then don't use them with cheap
| |
| | addition of carving, particularly eagles,
|
| looking curtains etc. And lastly the
| |
| | lions, satyrs and cabochons. This
|
| color schemes must be harmonious. The
| |
| | carving was made possible by the
|
| color schemes in your furniture must not
| |
| | introduction of mahogany.Late Georgian
|
| clash with the color schemes in your rug
| |
| | styles (1760 - 1811) was a collection of
|
| etc.In every room you design for yourself
| |
| | styles. In this era individual
|
| you must follow these 3 guidelines.Now
| |
| | cabinetmakers developed their own styles.
|
| let's discuss the 4 steps for designing a
| |
| | Some of these were:Chippendale - He
|
| room.Sketching a room.Drawing a floor
| |
| | tried many different things so it is hard
|
| plan.Furniture layout.Lighting
| |
| | to pin down his "style", but look for
|
| plan.Sketching a room - At this stage you
| |
| | rococo motifs with open carved backs,
|
| just need to do a rough sketch of your
| |
| | Chinese motifs, Gothic motifs and curved
|
| room and write down accurate measurements
| |
| | open pediment tops.Adam Brothers - Had
|
| for length of the room, breadth of the
| |
| | straight legs that were often fluted but
|
| room and ceiling height. Height of
| |
| | with no boxed rosette like you would find
|
| mouldings (the boards along the floor and
| |
| | with the Louis XVI style. Also look for
|
| between the walls and ceiling and the
| |
| | oval shaped chair backs with spokes,
|
| boards around doors and windows etc.),
| |
| | lyres or other classical motifs like
|
| and the dimensions of your doors and
| |
| | vases and urns.Hepplewhite - Had curved
|
| windows need to be measured and noted.
| |
| | chair backs (featuring shield,
|
| Measure how far windows and doors are
| |
| | interlacing heart and oval), straight
|
| from the corners of the room and from the
| |
| | legs (but with no fluting like in the
|
| ceilings and floor. Are there any
| |
| | Adam style), spade foot and serpentine
|
| features in the room (air conditioner
| |
| | front on casepieces.Sheraton - The
|
| units, fireplaces etc.)? Measure these
| |
| | apostle of the straight line. Straight
|
| and write it down. Note where the
| |
| | legs (no fluting but frequently reeded),
|
| electrical outlets and switches are.
| |
| | lightness and eegance.Regency style (1810
|
| Note where any lighting fixtures
| |
| | - 1837) was similar to French Empire
|
| are.Conduct a room condition checklist.
| |
| | style but used different
|
| Write down what everything is made out of
| |
| | symbols.Victorian style (1837 - 1901) was
|
| and what condition it is in. Everything
| |
| | an attempt by the nouveau rich to emulate
|
| except the furniture I mean. Does
| |
| | the luxury of an earlier time. It was
|
| anything need to be repaired? Note down
| |
| | materialistic and ostentatious. It
|
| what the window types are. Are they
| |
| | ultimately became a caricature of itself.
|
| aluminium sliding windows, wooden
| |
| | Don't let this happen to you.20th
|
| casement windows etc? Now take
| |
| | Century styles - are often produced out
|
| photographs of every angle of the room
| |
| | of formed wood, metal and plastics. We
|
| for reference.Drawing a floorplan - Buy
| |
| | see these styles all around us. Four
|
| some graph paper from a stationery supply
| |
| | major styles were and are:Art Nouveau -
|
| shop. Re draw your rough sketch to scale
| |
| | attempted to reject the machine age with
|
| on the graph paper. A good scale to use
| |
| | carved wood and lines imitating nature
|
| for most rooms is 1/4 inch = 1 foot. You
| |
| | with convoluted curves and shapes. An
|
| need an accurate floorplan so you can do
| |
| | example of this is Tiffany lamps.Art Deco
|
| a furniture plan later. Show on your
| |
| | - glorified ornamentation. Heavily
|
| floorplan where the doors and windows
| |
| | influenced by the cubist movement of the
|
| are, also to scale. Don't show your
| |
| | day. It had geometric forms and
|
| measurements on the floorplan it will
| |
| | shapes.Bauhaus - embraced the machine
|
| clutter it too much, keep all your
| |
| | age. It rejected all ornamentation and
|
| measurements on your rough sketch.
| |
| | elevated function as it's ideal. A very
|
| Indicate on your floorplan which way is
| |
| | minimalist style.Post Modernism - is more
|
| North. This is important as it tells you
| |
| | of an architectural style really but
|
| where the sun will rise and set in
| |
| | makes it's presence felt in furniture
|
| relation to your rooms windows. How will
| |
| | design as well. Basically this is what
|
| the sun light your room? Will the
| |
| | is being produced today and it takes many
|
| setting sun need to be blocked by heavy
| |
| | different forms being explored by many
|
| drapes? Will you use the morning sun to
| |
| | different designers.Dr Gregory Lipke is
|
| your advantage to warm the room after a
| |
| | the CEO of Cyber Publishing Ltd. He has
|
| cool night?Furniture layout - There are 4
| |
| | a Doctorate of Business Administration &
|
| questions you need to ask yourself when
| |
| | a Bachelor of Science as well as years of
|
| deciding where to put your furniture.What
| |
| | experience in Private Investigation,
|
| are the balance lines of the room?Where
| |
| | Personal Protection & Security. He is
|
| are the traffic patterns in the room?What
| |
| | the author of Your Luxury Guide .
|
