Guest Room A Little Blah?

Take your guest room to the next level with these simple design tricks.

2017 Color of the Year

Shaw Floors has announced its 2017 Color of the Year. “Lush” is neither feminine, nor masculine. How will you incorporate the color into your home?

Insulate Your Home With Window Treatments

Without energy-efficient window treatments, as much as 40 percent of the heat inside a home can escape through its windows. Hunter Douglas is committed to creating energy-efficient products. The latest honeycomb innovation, Duette® Architella™, provides excellent energy-efficiency. Its patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb construction traps air, insulating rooms against extreme temperatures. Learn more in this brief video.

White: Not Just a Trim Color

We’ve watched the runways, interior design trends, accessories and lighting for the coming year, and it all points to one look: White Hot.

“It’s clean; it’s pure,” says Shaw color expert Jada McCamy. “It creates a simply refreshing home design that balances our busy lives.”

It’s stunning when paired with black. It makes a classic statement when paired with blue. And new for 2016, whites are showing up as a counterbalance to rich, saturated colors. We’re also seeing entirely white rooms where it’s not just a trim color but the focal point. White Hot is the perfect canvas for almost any color.

Will you be using White Hot in your home next year? In which room?

Source: Shaw Floors

 

Home Tours Stimulate Creativity

Photo: NARI Atlanta Tour of Remodeled Homes

Whether you’re planning a major remodel or just want a few ideas to freshen a space, attending a home tour this fall will help get your creative juices flowing. Here are four places to start.

Historic Brookhaven Candlelight Tour of Homes and Gardens

Thursday, Oct. 1 (5:30-8:30 p.m.)

This tour will offer an intimate look into older homes in sought-after Brookhaven, a community located just inside the perimeter.

Cost: $50-$70 (armhc.org/BrookhavenTour)

 

Roswell Woman’s Club home of distinction

Oct. 2-11 (10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. on Sundays)

This new home is a 6,700-square-foot structure with seven bedrooms and nine baths. It was inspired by Old World architecture and materials, including General Shale brick and James Hardie shake siding and cornices.

Cost: $20 (homeofdistinction.com/15Atlanta/index.php)

 

Candler Park Fall Fest Tour of Homes

Sunday, Oct. 4 (Noon-6 p.m.)

You will find an eclectic mix of homes and outdoor spaces, including treehouses and gardens.

Cost: $20 (advance) or $25 (tour day) (fallfest.candlerpark.org/tour-of-homes)

 

NARI Atlanta Tour of Remodeled Homes

Saturday, Oct. 24 (10 a.m-4 p.m.)

Eight private homes transformed throughout Atlanta’s northern suburbs by members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Atlanta Chapter will be open to the public. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit CURE Childhood Cancer.

Cost: $20 (advance) or $25 (tour day) (atlantaremodelingtour.com)

What other tours would you add to this list? What’s the best idea you have picked up on a home tour?

Home Tours: Get Inspired!

2015 Decorators’ Show House

“Fashion fades; only style remains the same.” – Coco Chanel 

Home and garden tours are one of the best ways to get design ideas for your home. Shopping for new flooring, window treatments or appliances? Searching for striking paint colors, new wallpaper designs or beautiful tile patterns? You are sure to pick up at least one idea from these metro Atlanta events.

Decorators’ Show House & Gardens (April 18-May 10)

• Chateau Soleil, a French-style estate (4701 Northside Drive)
• Proceeds benefit the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its education and community outreach initiatives
• Tickets: $30
• Info: www.DecoratorsShowHouse.org

Inman Park Tour of Homes (April 24-26)

• 12 homes and points of interest in the community, including Victorians, Craftsman-style, Arts & Crafts, condos, Inman Park United Methodist Church and the historic Trolley Barn
• Tickets: $15 (advance) or $20 (on-site)
• Info: www.Inman ParkFestival.org

Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens (May 1-3)

• Five homes, a garden and a plant sale
• Proceeds benefit the Druid Hills neighborhood
• Info: www.DruidHillsTour.org

What other springtime events should we add to this list? What inspires you when decorating?

 

 

 

Design: Mix “Hot” Colors With Neutrals

English royal navy, British racing green and coral are some of the hot colors for 2015. Here is a brief video from Shaw Floors on how you can mix these colors in with the neutrals you may already have in your home.

How do you use your favorite colors to design a room that is truly unique?

Need a Window Treatment for Your Home?

Photo: Graber

• How will the space be used? For working, relaxation, or entertaining? Formal or informal activities? This will help define the ideal design style for your window treatments.
• Will you be working with electronic screens in the room, including televisions, computer monitors, or other devices that are sensitive to glare?
• Are there children or pets in your home? If so, look for window coverings with safety features (such as motorized lift and cordless lift), in materials that are easy to clean and maintain.
• Is privacy a primary concern? This is a key consideration for bedrooms and bathrooms.
• What is the window’s exposure? If your windows have a southern or western exposure, the room could fluctuate greatly in temperature. Direct sunlight can also bleach textiles unevenly.
• How much light control do you need? For maximum shading at your fingertips, consider horizontal or vertical blinds. You can easily redirect the light or change the complexion of a room by rotating or tilting the slats or louvers.
• Do you want to maintain a view? Consider the bottom up/top down option, available on cellular, Roman, pleated, and natural shades. This allows you to lower the shade from the top to let in natural light while retaining the desired view.
• Do you open the windows frequently? Do you need easy access for cleaning? Before choosing a product, always consider the function of the window as well as the design. If you are opening and closing the window often, you may wish to consider a lighter blind or shade.
• Are there unique architectural elements in the room? Consider window cranks, window air conditioners, baseboard heaters, light switches, wall sockets, crown moldings, beams, and chair rails, as you plan the size and scale of your window treatments.

Source: Graber

Basic Window Cord Safety

Children and window cords don’t mix. When window cords are accessible to small children, these seemingly harmless products may become strangulation hazards.

This is especially important with older window coverings that may not meet the latest national standard for window cord safety. If at all possible, use only non-corded window coverings in homes where infants and young children are present.

If you have corded window coverings and can’t replace them with today’s safer products, check them for the following hazards and order our free retrofit kits as needed.

• Keep all window cords well out of the reach of children. Eliminate any dangling cords.
• Make sure that tasseled pull cords are as short as possible.
• Check that cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit the movement of inner lift cords.
• Continuous-loop cords on draperies and vertical blinds should be permanently anchored to the floor or wall.
• Better Yet… replace older corded window blinds, shades and draperies with today’s safer products. And use only non-corded window coverings in homes with infants and young children.

Source: Window Covering Safety Council

 

 

How to Select Window Treatments

Janice Howell of MODA Floors & Interiors helps answer some questions about selecting the proper window treatments for your home. Is privacy an issue? Is light control important? Click on this link to learn more.