Both the 60’s and 70’s have gone down in history as the purveyors of outrageous, colourful, bold and beautiful interior designs. From funky rugs to eye-popping furniture, these two decades informed us in a way that we still see today in fashion, design, architecture and lifestyle. There are a few key features that are essential to the look of the period when it comes to interior design, and with today’s obsession with vintage items and looking to the past for inspiration, achieving a successful vintage look couldn’t be easier.
Colour
The colour scheme is of the utmost importance when designing a room with a look back at these decades. The 70’s were famed for their love of brown, but they were so much more than that. Striking oranges and yellows, a real celebration of colour, are essential for a successful look. The colour of rugs, furniture and wallpaper don’t necessarily have to correspond, but there’s a subtle flowing to room designs of the period and the dissonance between the colours that becomes apparent in certain pictures. If you favour to 60’s, green carpet or wallpaper would be a good shout, as would red or brown furniture or, if you would prefer something more experimental, a wood effect, or real wood feature wall would look amazing if you had the time to install it. For a 70’s room, go a bit more colourful and bright. Brown, orange and yellow against white is a good foundation in terms of colour and the furniture should also reflect that.
Furniture
You won’t forget the furniture of this period in a hurry. Amazing, innovative designs characterise the furniture of the period and particularly favourable were clear, acrylic pieces of furniture accessorised with red, fluffy cushions. On top of that, leather sofas are preferable for both decades, in bright colours such as white, red or yellow. Scandinavian design had a huge impact on the style of these decades and the fundamental design elements of that furniture are still easily available in, for example, IKEA. If you haven’t got the money to invest in expensive vintage furniture, try IKEA for great new designs; modern twists on the old classics that would have adorned the living rooms of your parents or grand-parents.
Accessories
Around this time, the fondness of the household accessory boomed. Traditional accessories of the decade include a lot of orange lamps and light fittings, colourful cushions, furry white rugs and plastic plants. Of course you might want to ditch the plant, but the other options are very much available on the high street or online. Anything funky or cool you can find that is either orange or brown will fit perfectly, but as with everything, it’s all personal preference so if you’re just taking inspiration rather than creating a carbon copy, just get what you like!
Decoration
As I mentioned above when discussing the subject of colour, greens, browns, reds, oranges and yellows (preferably all at the same time!) are essential for a room taking inspiration from this period. Patterned wallpaper is available in most places with a selection of over the top, magnificently grandiose lined and circularly patterned designs. The wallpaper with really make or break the look of the room and your decision as to whether you want to copy of room of the era or just take inspiration from it hinges on your wallpaper.
From funky rugs to retro furniture, there’s a lot of room to experiment in designing a room using inspiration from different decades for you design. Be economical, exciting, different but most importantly – have fun with it!
Greg O’Hara is a freelance writer and professional blogger based in the south west of England. His work is published on a number of websites and covers a variety of topics from lifestyle and home to family and fashion.
keep looking »
Having lots and lots of money is probably a good thing, but at times, opulence can make us take some horrendous purchase or investment decisions. On the other hand, when we are a little tight fisted, having less than sufficient funds to do what we are intending to do, it might result in better decisions as compared to the time when you can afford to go on a wastrel. When the money is in abundance, we stop doing the due diligence when making an investment and ends up making hasty decisions. It’s only when our own financial position is not so strong, then we realize the importance of money and try to make every penny count.
Now, I am not suggesting that we should start earning less in order to be able to make better decisions, the point of the matter is that you must always chew over your decisions, especially when large amount of money is involved, and moving out from your home to another one is one such decision. Following are some reasons why you must consider renovating your home instead of going straight for a shift, especially if you are doing it for the lack of space.
Costs & Hassle:
Moving to another home will require you to sell your existing property and buy a new one, but this simple job of buying and selling involves so much hassle and costs that you should think twice before even taking it into consideration. There will be lots and lots of documentation involved, you will have to pay the agent’s fee, go through the assessments, visit homes for rent or sale in your neighborhood, let the prospective clients visit your property, do the negotiating, and so on. And because you will be looking to move in a better and bigger property, you will have to spend a lot more than what you will be getting from selling your property, then there will be added costs like broker’s fee and the cost of moving, in short there’s quite some hassle and cost involved. It’s not that home renovation is cheaper or hassle free, but it is certainly not as complicated or costly as moving. For example, if you are looking for an extra room, a simple loft conversion will give you that extra room in 5 – 6 weeks at a very reasonable price.
Peace of Mind:
If you have been living in rental homes and you are accustomed to change your residence every once in a while then good for you, but for most families who have spent a good twenty or thirty years at a place, it’s quite difficult to leave and adjust in a totally new neighborhood. Not to forget, that you will have to find a property which is near to your workplace, and your children’s school/college, getting a simple renovation or home extension job like loft conversion can save you from all this trouble.
Property Value:
The best part about renovating your home, especially when you are adding new living space or rooms via loft conversion is that, it is a very good long term investment. Not only you will get some extra space to live or work, but it will also add to your property value. In other words, this is not a wasteful expense like paying agent’s commission or the cost of moving.
Misheal writes for Abbey Lofts South London, a company that offers loft conversion services in London and its adjoining areas.
keep looking »
The layout of your house is one of the most important factors you need to consider when building a new home. Whether you live in an apartment, condominium unit, or a residential house, the layout you choose for each room and how they easily flow will depend on your own preferences and requirements. Choosing the right floor plan can be very stressful. Thankfully, there are different types of floor plans you can consider. But before that, you must first understand what a floor plan is and learn the advantages of each type of floor plan offered by various home builders.
The Different Types Of Floor Plans
Basically, a floor plan is a simple line drawing of the rooms in the home. The walls, rooms, doorways, and windows are drawn at a particular scale. This plan shows the size and perimeter of the residential home and the interior living spaces. If you want to know which floor plan is best for you and your family, you first have to evaluate the different types of layout.
One-story Floor Plan: This type of plan is very common since plenty of homebuyers prefer to buy houses with a single floor. This plan puts all the living and sleeping places in one level. This is best for people who don’t want to have any stairs or other elaborate structures. Despite having a single-level room, they are considered more expensive than the typical two-story home with the same square footage. The reason behind this is the fact that a one-story floor plan need more land. In addition, it also needs larger roof and foundation. When considering a single story house, you have to understand that this layout costs more to heat and cool because it has wider exterior surfaces.
Two-story Floor Plan: This type of floor plan is advisable for those with smaller land. Houses with two-story floor plans are also easier to build, and it doesn’t need a lot to heat and cool the area. In addition, this also allows more privacy, especially when homeowners, like you, decide to put the bedrooms at the second-level; thus avoiding sleep disturbances. This floor plan also helps in opening new interior design possibilities such as adding extravagant staircases, larger walls and windows, and so on.
Three-story Floor Plan: This layout is quite similar to the two-story floor plan. You can easily make your two-story layout into a three-story by simply adding a high-pitched roof, and refurnishing the attic space or the basement area.
Multi-family Floor Plan: This layout is used when two or more families share a single house. This type of floor plan is usually more cost-efficient since it costs less per square foot than a one-story layout because the houses share the land and wall. If you are thinking of using this layout, you need to consider adding a good soundproofing system when building your home. Multi-family floor plans are usually used in duplexes, townhouses, duplexes, and apartments.
Do You Want A Single Story Or Multi-Story Plan?
If you are stuck in a conundrum between a single story and a multi-story floor plan, you have to first determine the criteria you need in a home. There are certain families who enjoy single story properties because they don’t have to worry about the noise that might come from upstairs, such as foot traffic noises. However, some families prefer having a second level since it allows for more privacy, especially if the bedrooms are located at that level. Additionally, homes with two or more levels allow residents to enjoy different outdoor views instead of directly looking into the neighbor’s window.
Citations:
Attached Images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Construction_g265-Project_House_p12308.html
The author, Kris Lim, is an architect who offers basic information regarding the common types of floor plans that homebuyers can choose from. She also regularly contributes to real estate websites and home builder companies that build high quality new homes Umatilla Oregon.
keep looking »
When it comes to finding design inspiration for our homes, ideas can spark from anywhere. We can see a color we love on a car, a light fixture in a random bathroom or a layout on a television show.
Another great place to find some great design inspiration is at a hotel. Most hotels have hired a design team to give them some unique and functional styles, and you can easily be completely inspired simply by walking into the following five hotels.
Ice Hotel, Jukkasjarvi, Sweden
Talk about inspiring. The Ice Hotel in Sweden is truly unique, and its simple yet beautiful design can easily give you inspiration. The hotel is designed with real ice and snow and provides its guests with the chance to sleep in an igloo. Though the pillars, walls and décor are simply made up of ice, the idea and uniqueness of this hotel can easily spawn some great ideas.
Hotel Fox, Copenhagen, Denmark
If you truly want to be inspired, the eclectic design of Hotel Fox in Denmark can easily be the place to do it. This hotel was designed by 21 different artists, each one given the task to design a few rooms to their own tastes and liking. This means that not one of the 61 rooms in this hotel was designed the same way, so you can stay here 61 times and receive different inspiration with each visit.
Poseidon Undersea Resort, Fiji
Instead of looking for design ideas in front of you, why not travel 40 feet underwater and take some inspiration from sea creatures? The Poseidon Undersea Resort in Fiji is located in the Fiji lagoon and can only be accessed by elevator. The ceiling of each suite is made of glass so that guests can be surrounded by sea life and sea creatures. Talk about inspiring.
Dasparkhotel, Linz, Austria
Sometimes it’s the simple design that generate the most inspiration, and you can gain some great ideas at dasparkhotel in Austria. This hotel was literally created from old (and cleaned) drain pipes. Guests have their own pipe equipped with nothing more than a bed and side table, but the unique experience can be all you need to cultivate some great ideas.
Quinta Real Zacatecas, Mexico
The Quinta Real Zacatecas hotel in Mexico offers some history along with its beautifully designed facility. Built in the 19th century, this hotel was once used as a bullfighting ring. The hotel was transformed from bullring to hotel in 1975, and the bullring is still visible today and used as a lovely patio area for guests.
If you truly want to be inspired, you should try and visit one (if not all) of these five hotels. Each one offers their own unique designs and can easily help you spawn some ideas of your own. Not only will you be surrounded by different designs and ideas, but you’ll also have a very unique experience at each one that can help you become even more inspired for your own designs.
Prepared by Lizel S. Lizel loves interior design and global trends. For additional smart decorating ideas view CHS’s site.
keep looking »
If you want to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom for summer with a fresh coat of paint, you might want to take certain factors into consideration before you go to the hardware store. Some paints can be hazardous to the environment and more importantly, to your health, and it’s important to know how to use them or avoid them if you want your home to remain free of harmful chemicals.
Harmful chemicals
Traditional paints contain certain chemicals known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs. The “volatile” categorizing these chemicals means that they are released in the air in the form of a gas. If you look at the back of the paint can you’ll be using to paint your kitchen or your bathroom and spot words like:
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Toluene
It will be a good idea to keep the room ventilated during the painting process because these chemicals are VOCs that have been known to cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. They are also suspected of causing headaches, nausea and even cancer. The sneakiest thing about VOCs is that they don’t fully disappear once the painting job is done. In fact, they can linger in the air you breathe for quite some time. Since these chemicals are released in the form of a gas, they can continue to pollute the air of your home and that can lead to more headaches and sickness further down the road.
Green alternatives
While it is impossible to avoid certain paints that contain VOCs, there are several ways to redecorate your home using paints that are either low in VOCs or completely VOC free.
- Latex or water based paints have less VOCs since most of them are virtually formaldehyde free
- Flat finish paints are lower in VOCs compared to their glossy counterparts
- If you’re a fan of pale colors, you’re in luck because pale paints are also lower in VOCs compared to darker paints
Some paints have indications that let you know if they are free or low in VOCs. While shopping, be on the lookout for appellations like:
These paints have less than five grams of VOC per liter, so they are much safer to use than VOC paints. Natural paints are also a nice alternative, but they may still contain a small amount of VOCs. Also, some paints, like milk-based paints, cannot be used everywhere in your home since they cannot be applied in rooms that have a damp climate like the kitchen or the bathroom.
keep looking »
Bedroom Objectives
Your bedroom should be your solace from the stressful and turbulent events that seem inherent in daily life. Escaping to this haven should calm your soul and strengthen your spirit. Everything in your bedroom needs to pertain to the reasons you have a bedroom: romance, sleeping and rejuvenation. To that end, your bedroom probably needs some renovation. Not structural renovation, but spiritual renovation. Bedrooms are for sleeping and close physical contact with your partner. Why is it, then, that our bedrooms often become the repository for other people’s clutter as well as our own?
Bedroom Renovation
Renovating your bedroom begins with clearing it of everything that belongs to someone other than you or your partner, including friends, children, grandchildren, other family members, and any pictures of them. Nothing should be in your bedroom that does not directly relate to your and your partner. This is not to say that pictures, candles and flowers are verboten. On the contrary, these items promote the spiritual healing that should be taking place in your bedroom. However, the pictures should be of a happy and uplifting nature and should nourish your soul; flowers, candles and the like, should not be so abundant that they clutter the room. The principles of feng shui tell us that energy needs room to flow freely, and extreme clutter inhibits the flow of energy. Likewise, sharp corners inhibit the free flow of energy, so aim instead for rounded corners. Avoid pictures of water, such as a lake, waterfall or river, because feng shui principles state that when used in the bedroom, these may promote financial adversity. Open the windows regularly and let fresh air flow through the room so that energy does not stagnate. Strive for the balance of pairs throughout the room. In other words, have two night stands, pairs of candlesticks, two roses in a vase, and so forth. Paired items promote the relationship between the two of you, whereas a single item promotes singleness. Tidy up! Drawers and closets should not be crammed so full that they cannot be closed at night. Another item that should not be in your bedroom is an abundance of vibrant color. Although a few accents of vivid red, purple or other intense color, can be beneficial, too many vibrant colors in the bedroom will result in restless sleep. Shades of lavender, blue, green and white are calming colors that promote restful sleep, although they should be offset with accent colors, in order to balance the effect of the cool colors. Neither exercise equipment nor office equipment should be part of anyone’s bedroom. Again, your bedroom should be for romance, sleep and personal rejuvenation. In the same vein, electronics such as a television or recorder, electronic device chargers, telephones and all such equipment, should be in another room. They are distractions from the primary functions of the bedroom and disrupt the quiet time spent there. Also, studies have proven that the electrical signals emitted from these devices disrupt sleep, even when they are turned off. If an alarm clock is essential, position it as far from the bed as feasible. Achieving better sleep may mean you won’t require the snooze button, and the electrical signals will be less disruptive to your sleep.
Bedroom Results
Removing the clutter in your bedroom and using the principles of feng shui to revamp it, will result in more peaceful sleep and a more harmonious relationship with your partner. If you haven’t a partner, using the principle of pairs can help bring a relationship into your life. Envision, and then transform your bedroom into the area that projects the life you want to have, and see what changes transpire! Jeff has been blogging since 2007 & contributing on many websites since that time.In his spare time he guest lectures for business and marketing students at various colleges in New York. Currently, he is contributing to advanced marketing strategy for arvernebythesea.com web.
keep looking »
Redesigning and organizing a bedroom can be fun and change the whole look of the house. The bedroom is the place for you and your family. The kitchen is the heart of the home and the bedroom is where most people retire at the end of the day. Designing a bedroom around the way a family uses it can be a fun thing to do over a weekend. Redecorating and redesigning any room of the house can help the overall houses worth. There are three things to remember when redecorating or designing a bedroom, so without further ado let’s jump in:
First Tip: If people are redesigning any room of a house they need to make sure to leave clear traffic areas. Sometimes people like to over crowd a room with collectibles or furniture. A bedroom with too much furniture will appear as clutter and unclean. No matter how much the family room is cleaned or picked up, the room will continue to appear as clutter. When redesigning a bedroom, make sure to select furniture that fits nicely. The family must be able to get out of the room without running into other furniture. When adding lamps, pillows, decorations, and pictures always remember, less is more.
Second Tip: In redecorating or redesigning bedrooms, make sure to coordinate furniture to the dcor. Some people like mixing stripes with polka dots but this does not always look good. Individuals with modern taste will throw different colors and designs together and toss in some solids to make the bedroom contemporary. Carpets add warmth to the floor but hard wood is more desirable to carpet that continues to trap dirt and wear out. Fireplaces with stone or tile are the trend of today. Remodeling a fireplace is easy if the fireplace has a solid flat surface. Tiles and stone are easy to lie on top of the flat surfaces of most fireplaces. Adding gas logs and mantles can change the whole look of the fireplace.
Third Tip: Designing a bedroom that is functional is not difficult if you know what your taste is and how the room is used. With most bedrooms, the television is the center of the attention. Televisions bring families together at the end of the day but can also get in the way. Make sure the bed is the center of your bedroom experience. Adding coffee tables or footstools will give anyone the comfort of putting their feet up at any time. Discount furniture stores carry nice looking stools and furniture that look like something you could see in a showroom. It is not important to pay the most as long as you get good value for your money. No matter how you design your bedroom, make sure it is functional and easy to use. Traffic areas are very important. No one should have to run into furniture. Make a direct path to the kitchen and bathroom. Take time to enjoy sitting in the bedroom with your family and enjoy your new design.
Alexander is a professional interior designer and loves writing about his work. For more home decor tips check out premiervanities.com.
keep looking »
If you want your home to look like it just came out of a design magazine, you’d better be prepared to spend a lot. Home décor elements can be expensive, but they don’t have to be – you just have to know where to look. Here are the best websites where you can find amazing home décor elements at deep discounts.
Gilt.com
Gilt is a members-only flash sale website that sells designer brand items at a discount of up to 60 percent off. When you join Gilt, you’ll have access to more than 20 different flash sales every day. Gilt sells some amazing home décor elements, from furniture to bedding to cookware and everything in between. It also sells adult and kid’s clothing, accessories, designer food and wines, and more.
MyHabit.com
My Habit is another members-only flash sale website that is very similar to Gilt. It is run by Amazon, and it also sells all kinds of designer items for up to 60 percent off. There are lots of home décor elements to choose from, and you can find just about everything you’d need or want for your home. Some recent flash sales included Rachel Ray cookware, Thom Filicia outdoor rugs, and jewelry boxes by Purva Designs.
OneKingsLane.com
One Kings Lane is a flash sale website that specializes in selling everything home and home décor. You can purchase paintings, furniture, lamps, rug, accents for every room in your home, and much more, all for up to 70 percent off retail price. You’ll receive a $15 credit just for signing up, and you’ll get another $15 credit for every friend you refer. It also has a large collection of individual, rare and vintage home items that you simply can’t find anywhere else.
Shop.TheFoundary.com
The Foundary is another great flash sale website that also specializes in home and home décor sales. One of the great things about The Foundary is that it opens a few “specialty shops” at one time, and you’re able to purchase lots of great items from a particular theme. For example, recent specialty shops included Outdoor Retreats, which sold all types of outdoor furniture and décor, and Abstract Art.
Fab.com
Fab’s flash sales are always interesting and unique. Fab specializes in designer décor, and the home accents and items it sells are often functional works of art in their own right. Everything you find here is unique and interesting, and you can purchase everything from kitchen gadgets to quilts to artwork and much, much more. If you’re looking for trendy home décor, this is the place to shop.
Overstock.com
Overstock sells exactly what it sounds like – store overstock. The items it sells may be limited and always changing, but they’re greatly discounted. Whatever it is that you need for decorating your home, you can find it here. You can also purchase many other discounted items, from clothing and electronics to cars and vacations. Check out the clearance bin for even greater savings. Best of all, shipping is always just $2.95 no matter what you order.
Jessica Vance is a freelance writer and home decoration expert who works for an Arizona tile store. She loves to give tips on how to get the best home decor around for cheap.
Photo Credit: Floating Pyramids
keep looking »
