Archive for July, 2010
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Whether it was a family trip up north to the country, or a holiday spent at grandma’s house, many of us have stayed at a country or cottage-styled home at one time in our very busy lives. Country and cottage-styled homes are a staple of American design and can be a peaceful place to live or visit, and are a place where your problems seem to fade away.
But what exactly is a country or cottage-styled home?
Continuing with our design style theme, we will explore the different types of country and cottage designs, and how these styles are represented in homes across the U.S.
Emphasized by natural woods with deep finishes, Americana style homes are very simple when it comes to ornamentation but tend to have a very patriotic feel. Fabrics are muted colors and are adorned with starts and stripes. This style of home can be a perfect place to spend a Fourth of July or other patriotic holiday.
On the other hand, a Cottage-styled home typically has lots of wicker or iron pieces of furniture and gets its style from the natural surroundings that encompasses it. Cotton and linen fabrics found in the home will have a floral or checkered pattern giving the home an almost country like feel.
If you have ever visited a home on the Great Lakes, then you probably know what a Classic Costal design is. Designed to look like a beach house, homes that are designed with a Costal look will embrace a relaxed approach and display nautical themes.
However, there are different variations to a Costal theme. Gulf Coast styles bring together Art Deco and vibrant colors, with wicker and rattan, sending you back in time to the ‘50s. Done correctly, Gulf Coast styled homes can be a very cool place to live or visit. Pacific Coast designed homes tend to be influenced heavily by Asian influence, and will be decorated in deep finishes with very comfortable fabrics. Similar to the Classic Costal look, Atlantic Seaboard designed homes have louvers and shutters with a color palette similar to that of lighthouses.
Finally, Rustic and Lodge styled homes are designed with a rugged approach but still offer the bonus of relaxation. Earth tones are prevalent here, while exposed wood in very light finishes are adorned with Native American artwork, wood carvings and natured inspired accessories. Fabrics that line the beds and couches will usually have a hand-woven feel.
Whether its Rustic, Classic Coastal, or Country styled homes, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their immense selection of cottage styled furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the vacation style feel you have been looking for!
Tags: art deco, chairs, costal, cottage, country, Decorations, design, Dining Room, furniture, gulf coast design, living room, lodge, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, rustic, sofas, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, Kitchen, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Are you “in style”? Does your home have a look that would be considered cool by today’s standards? If so, then your home probably has been designed and decorated with a contemporary look. But what does “contemporary” really mean?
Many times contemporary style is classified as a distinct style and doesn’t encompass other design styles. Commonly, and un-knowingly, people think furniture considered contemporary is something they are most likely to find in an upscale art gallery in New York city. What they fail to realize is that the word contemporary simply means “of the present time,” and this can encompass a broad range of designs.
If you are looking for a more straight line look and want to stay within the contemporary design, then look for pieces that are of Danish or Scandinavian design. Contemporary Scandinavian designers often use straight lines in their designs and leave their pieces unadorned and crafted of walnut and teak. Sometimes their pieces will have gentle curves, but these will not be at a premium.
The most common label for contemporary furniture is “Artsy” and is likely to be found in urban locations and lofts. This furniture often has flare and is extremely simple. Furniture pieces in this category are not always adorned with straight lines, but typically showcase curved lines to give them a unique look and shape. Leather and microfibers are usually the upholstery of choice in this case.
Finally, minimalist styled furniture takes the contemporary look to the extreme and is known for its use of straight lines. The Minimalist approach was inspired by Bauhaus design and puts emphasis on free space, functionality, and economical design. You won’t find a lot of furniture in a minimalistic room. Instead, you will find one of two pieces accompanied by a lot of space.
Whether its curvy lines or straight lined, urban or minimalistic, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their immense selection of contemporary furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the fresh style you are looking for!
Tags: Contemporary, Decorations, design, Dining Room, Leather Furniture, living room, loft, minimalist, modern, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sofas, style, stylish, urban
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Contemporary, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertaining, Home Office, Kitchen, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Protecting Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom, living room | 1 Comment
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
“What color do I need?…..should I go with fabric?…..what style do I need?……will this even fit?….do I have enough money?!!”………
We have all been there before. Picking out a new piece of furniture can be a very stressful time, especially when there are so many factors to take into consideration. Take your time and don’t make a hasty decision, this will save you from hating your furniture for years to come. In order to help you find the right piece of furniture, we have compiled a list of factors you need to think about before you go shopping. Each recommendation will help you find that perfect item you will treasure for years.
- Space is key: How much space do you have to work with? This is the first question you need to ask yourself. It’s simple…regardless of what you want, if you don’t have the space, then don’t even consider it! The shape and size of your room will help you determine what to look for. For instance, if you’re looking for a living room sectional and don’t have a lot of room to work with, consider a loveseat over a sofa.
- Measurements: You want to bring your furniture in your house, right?. Many people find the perfect piece, buy it, get it home and oops it doesn’t fit through the door. Keep in mind that some sofas are simply too big to bring into your home. In order to get the piece into the room, it has to first fit through the door. Measure all your furniture pieces already in the home. This will give you a solid base of measurements to look for in a piece of furniture. This will save you the stress on the way home about whether it will fit through the door.
- What’s your lifestyle: What is your life like? Is it just you or are you a part of a large family? Will the piece you buy often have smaller children on it? Your lifestyle determines what type of piece you should buy. If you entertain guests regularly, consider a sturdy, comfortable couch. Buy pieces of furniture that will flow with your lifestyle and won’t leave you pulling your hair out every time you have guests over.
- Budget: It’s simple. Don’t buy what you can’t afford. Always plan around your budget. You shouldn’t burden yourself with the added stress that accompanies paying off home décor you can’t afford. Quality furniture costs more, but will last longer. Cheap furniture, while easy on the budget, doesn’t last long and you may find yourself buying furniture again in several years. Determine how long you want your home décor to last and shop for items that fit that time range, and most importantly your budget.
When following these steps for buying a piece of furniture, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of high quality furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and leave in peace, knowing you got that perfect piece!
Tags: Decorations, design, Dining Room, furniture, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection
Posted in Accessories, Contemporary, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertaining, Home Office, Kitchen, Leather Furniture, Living Room Furniture, Mattresses, Nursery, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom, living room | No Comments
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Preparing a nursery for your soon-to-be-newborn is a very special time for parents. You want the room to be completely safe; a beautiful living space for your new special treasure but free from any hazards. But how do you protect them from the hazards you can’t see? Here are some safe and healthy ways to create a living space for your little one.
Avoid hazards you can’t see
Keeping the room safe doesn’t just mean ensuring the edges of furniture pieces are rounded and protectors are in the plugs. You have to protect your little one from things that cannot be seen. This means staying away from synthetic materials that give off formaldehyde gas. Items like press board and plastics are the culprits in this case. Instead, choose furniture made out of natural wood that is not finished. It’s pretty much guaranteed that during your baby’s gumming stage, s/he will come in contact with the crib or other pieces of furniture. Be sure to stay away from painted or stained materials for their safety as well.
Keep it simple and clean
Today’s current fashion is a contemporary style. The modern-and-chic look is one of simplicity, where only a few items are used to bring life to the room. Use colors sparingly is the key here, and stay away from over-using pastels. Go with a calm color for the walls. This will allow for wall murals or cozy rugs to stand out more, adding style to the room.
Safe walls for little hands
On the theme of non-toxic products, it’s important that the walls of the room are safe from any artificial materials. If you’re choosing wallpaper for the room, look to have it professionally installed with non-toxic wallpaper paste. If you choose to paint, zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) is your best bet here and can be customized to match almost any color you need.
Natural Baby Bedding
Toxins can also be found in bedding. Your baby’s skin will be in contact with nursery bedding for many hours each day. A baby’s skin is very sensitive in the early years, so it’s important to keep their skin safe from substances that cause irritation. Choose natural fabrics like cotton instead of synthetics. This also goes for crib bumpers, pillow inserts, covers and changing pads.
When designing a safe and hazard free nursery for your new baby, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of children furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your baby’s nursery is a safe place to be!
Tags: baby, baby bedding, baby room, crib, Decorations, design, furniture, hazards, infant room, Mattresses, Nursery, pillow protector, play room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, royal heritage mattress protectors, royal heritage pillow protectors, setting up, toxins, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Mattresses, Nursery, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
With styles changing almost daily, it’s hard to keep up with current furniture lingo thrown at you while shopping for furniture. Whether it’s traditional, contemporary, modern, cottage, or chic, these terms can encompass a broad range of styles that might leave you scratching your head. In the next few weeks I will review the most commonly used terms to discuss styles, and what exactly they mean. This week we will look at traditional styles, and what it truly means to be a traditional looking piece of furniture.
Time honored, European, Colonial…these are just a few of the words you might hear when shopping for a traditionally styled piece. The main characteristic all these terms have in common is they have a look dating hundreds of years back. These pieces will be reminiscent of furniture you might find in a royal mansion in Spain, or a President in Colonial times.
If a piece has an European feel, it most likely means the wood will have a curvilinear design and commonly will be constructed our of dark woods. Sofas and chairs will have an arched back giving them a more formal look and feel.
American styled pieces will have a look that was represented in the Colonial times. Painted finishes coupled with spindles – and finial – are very typical in this instance. However, they will be adapted to fit modern day uses.
Tropical looks combined with British styles are what makes up the British Colonial and West Indies fashion. These pieces are most likely constructed with wicker, rattan, and other lighter woods but completed with deep dark finishes. The lines and edges of these items will be much cleaner and simpler when compared to the curvy lines of the European brand of style.
When looking to give your room a traditional look and feel, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so your home can have the class and style it deserves!
Tags: british fashion, colonial, design, Dining Room, European, fashion, furniture, Leather Furniture, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, setting up, time-honored, traditional, traditional furniture, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertaining, Home Office, Kitchen, Leather Furniture, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom, living room | 1 Comment
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
It’s inevitable! Your kids are going to change their minds. Whether it’s within seconds, minutes, hours, or days, it’s a guaranteed fact that your child will at one point or another will change their mind about their likes and interests. Seventeen years of these interest changes can take its toll on any room and most importantly your budget. So how do you prepare for your child’s ever-changing tastes when designing their room?
Stay with the conventional
With the amount of TV and movies your children will watch, it’s hard to say what characters or themes they will like from one day to the next. So when your child decides it’s time for a new style in their room, simply change the wall hangings or the painting scheme. This is something that can be inexpensive and easy to change. Kids outgrow themes on a daily basis, so if you purchase a new bed with every theme, plan for a lot of spending.
Plan for the long haul
Your focus when planning for longevity needs to be solely on the furniture pieces. Kids are very hard on furniture. That’s a fact. Buying quality, well-built pieces is vital. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank and buy the absolute best. But look at the manufacturer’s warranty and take it into consideration the quality of the pieces when deciding what to buy. Also, heavier woods are sturdier and will last longer, but can be more expensive. Woods like pine are not as high quality, but will save you money.
The sooner, the better
When designing for a nursery, stay away from gender specific colors like pink for a girl and blue for a boy. Thinking long term means using neutral shades for paints, and then adding bolder colors to the accent pieces. Accent pieces can be changed down the road and are fairly inexpensive. A very easy and inexpensive way to decorate a room are wall stickers. They peel off easily and can be replaced with the next fad.
Finally, multi-stage pieces will also help when planning for the longevity of the room. For instance, cribs that convert into toddler beds will last for years and serve a multi-purpose. As will a six-drawer dresser with a changer on top instead of just a changing table.
When designing your child’s room with the future in mind, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your child’s furniture will last a lifetime!
Tags: Decorations, design, furniture, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, Sealy, setting up, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Do you love the environment? Do you love spending time in the great outdoors? If yes, you should consider giving your décor an eco-friendly boost. In today’s society, we are constantly made aware of mother earth’s deteriorating condition. Taking care of the environment is essential for all industries and products. For those of you looking to create an environmentally friendly home, here’s a list of home-beautifying trends and products in accordance with the bourgeoning ‘green’ movement.
Wabi-Sabi
Reclaimed wood is one of the most popular trends in green design. The reshaping of recycled wood falls under the Japanese art form, Wabi-Sabi, an art devoted to finding beauty in imperfection. This new spin on an old design philosophy presents both contemporary and traditional items that are sure to brighten any space.
Paint it “Green”
The green movement no longer only applies to the construction of furniture. Now, the green movement extends from your floor to the ceiling, literally. New chemical-free paints – which contain no volatile organic compounds – make spicing up your interior an eco-friendly exercise. Today, chemical-free interior paint has expanded from only a few shades to the entire spectrum of the rainbow and beyond. You can paint your rooms and feel good about your effort to reduce the damage inflicted on mother nature.
LED is a Y-E-S
While compact fluorescent lighting is a better choice for the environment than the old incandescent bulb, it gives off a drab, bluish glow. Fluorescent bulbs used to be the only environmentally sound choice, but now a brighter option is in the making. New LED bulbs, made in the same shape and size as incandescent bulbs, will soon hit the market. They give off a brighter, more natural light than incandescent lights while offering much more durability than the older models.
When giving your room an eco-friendly boost, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those eco-friendly furniture pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can enjoy the environment all the time.
Tags: Dining Room, eco-friendly, environment, environmental, environmentaly friendly, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings
Posted in Accessories, Decorating, Dining Room, Home Office, Kitchen, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, living room | No Comments
