• What home improvement store or flooring supply is the most affordable for hardwood floors in Chicago?

    I want hardwood floors, so I went to the 2 popular home improvement stores in Chicago (H.D and Lws). One had a very limited selection of hardwood floors and both were outrageous when it came to price. Is there any place in Chicago that is cheaper?

     February 27th, 2010  admin   1 comment

  • tips on decorating my house?

    I just want to be comfortable, and enjoy it- I am not looking for anything fancy or expensive. Quick simple tips will be appreciated.

     February 25th, 2010  admin   5 comments

  • Can you do interior design in Virginia without a certification?

    I designed a room for a friend, and they ended up loving it, showing it to their friends, and now I have two more potential clients who want me to design rooms for them. I don’t want to continue with this hobby until I know for sure if I legally can. I live in Virginia, so can I legally do interior design without a certification? Thanks! I’ll choose a best answer!

     February 24th, 2010  admin   1 comment

  • Interior design ideas? Working with modern furniture in small condo?

    I’m moving into a new condo. Long story short, it’s owned by my boyfriend’s uncle…. so he’s giving me all of the furniture that’s in there. It’s a very small one-bedroom.

    I wish I had a picture, but I don’t. It’s got white walls, white carpet, white ceilings, and black furniture. Black leather sofa, black tv stand, black dining room chairs, black stools, black oriental-inspired dresser, and a black bedframe with a semi-circle headboard. The coffee table is a rectangular piece of glass over a really awesome panther-sculpture. The panther’s shoulders and hips hold up the table.

    The only splash of color is the cabinets in the kitchen that have been painted a bright turquoise. The condo is much more modern than my tastes, but I’m willing to work with it. The only problem is…. I’m not completely satisfied with the way it looks just yet. I hate having so much white and black in a small space. I like the contrast, but it’s too overwhelming. Another issue is my furniture I’m bringing with me is mostly earth colors like brown and beige.

    Any ideas how I could make this work? Suggestions for painting the wall another color? Or possibly the cabinets? I’m fine with turquoise but if there’s another color that works better I’m willing to give it a try.

    Thanks!

     February 22nd, 2010  admin   2 comments

  • Are there any good websites for interior design inspiration and ideas?

    nothing too fancy i cant paint or wallpaper im more looking for colours and different things like soft furnishings. and cheap :)

     February 21st, 2010  admin   2 comments

  • Can I cancel a contract to have a home improvement company install cabinet door?

    I have signed a contract to have a home improvement company install cabinet doors, they gave me 3 days to break the contract which I did not do. Now my finances have been destroyed, and I cannot proceed with the project. I cancelled the project before they gave me an installation date. They say that I HAVE TO proceed. Do I have to? I can’t. I have paid no money so far.

     February 19th, 2010  admin   4 comments

  • Decorating Your Country Home

    When choosing a theme for decorating your home, there are many you could choose. One of the most popular decorating themes today is country home decorating. Perhaps because it provides a warm, inviting atmosphere and overall friendly feeling.

    As with any home decorating project, a homeowner must first decide where they want to use country home decorating. Some people choose to use this theme throughout their entire home while other decide to use country home decorating focusing on just one or two rooms, for example the kitchen and the living room. Because this style is meant for people who enjoy simplicity and the nature, some homeowners may decide to carry the country decorating theme through the entire living space.

    Country home decorating combines colors which are clean and bright with country furniture and accessories. When choosing colors for country home decorating, light to medium shades of white, yellow, pink, green or brown are good choices. Colors should reflect a rustic feeling. To add to the painted walls, a homeowner or decorator may decide to use stencils with country character such as flowers or plants, fruits or vegetables. Wallpaper boarders are also often used in country home decorating. It is fine to use these additions but the rule of thumb is to make certain the patterns do not clash.

    In keeping with a rustic and simple theme, country home decorating uses wood, natural wood. When deciding on a material for a country floor, natural wood is a nice choice. Of course using natural wood throughout a large area can be costly, but scattered subtly throught the home, it can have a lovely effect. The exterior is also important, so you may consider buying wooden garage doors too.

    If you’re looking for a less-expensive way to give floors a country look, a light shade of carpet might be considered or laminate flooring. These options would also work well with the country home decorating theme. Other suggestions for country floors are flagstone or tile. Some homeowners, if they are really creative, decorate their floors with stencils and create patterns. Another great way to jazz up a space is to use area rugs. In keeping with the country home decorating theme, those with an authentic look create a warm and cosy feeling. Hooked, quilted and braided rugs make beautiful additions to a country floor.

    In addition when choosing furniture to compliment country home decorating, light wood or wicker is suggested. Again, these materials reflect the beauty of nature. If a homeowner or decorator decides fabric would accent their furniture, such as cushions or slip covers, floral patterns or checkered fabrics add to the authentic look.

    After all, accessorizing a room always adds to its beauty. When buying accessories to fit in with a country home decorating theme, it is good to keep in mind the type of atmosphere you are trying to create, a warm and inviting space. Don’t forget wood burning stoves – a must in any country home!

    Simplicity goes a long way in country home decorating. It is recommended to never use too many decorations and choose accessories that family and friends will enjoy. Photos in simple wooden frames, plain mirrors, plants and fragrant candles dress up country home decorating. Window treatments should also be simple. Lace or shutters give a cosy country feel. Country home decorating can be interesting and fun. Perhaps the main detail to keep in mind is simplicity. Try not to over-decorate, remember too many patterns will clash. Too many decorations will eliminate the amount of space in a room. Country home decorating creates a relaxing and friendly environment, meant to be warm and cosy.

     February 19th, 2010  admin   No comments

  • How do I get a home improvement show to pick my house?

    my fiance and i recently purchased a house that needs some renovation. We love watching home improvement shows on channels such as HGTV and wanted to know how they pick their project houses. We need to renovate our dining room and kitchen and would love our renovations to be one of their projects.

    Does anyone know if you can contact them and submit your project or if they just rely on location scouts?

    thanks!

     February 17th, 2010  admin   1 comment

  • What degree do I need for a good interior design job?

    I am trying to decide between and associate of arts degree at a local community college or a bachelor’s from the state college, but my husband would prefer not to move 6 hours away to the state college. Are there any interior designers who could give me info about the type of jobs I could get with an AA in interior design?

     February 16th, 2010  admin   2 comments

  • Online interior design gallery?

    Do you know of any good web sites that offer a large and varied collection of interior design ideas? We’re getting ready to buy a new house and need all the help we can get! Thanks…

     February 12th, 2010  admin   3 comments