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"Look around your home and consider the details, those little things that you can do to really punch up a
room’s warmth and appeal. You’ll be surprised at the projects that come to mind, and many will be things you
can do in a day or less."
At a loss where to begin with your weekend home improvements? Here are three ways to improve your home’s
value, style and warmth:
Punch it up with Paint.
Color has a huge impact on how a room feels and painting is one of the easiest DIY do-it-yourself projects to
accomplish in a weekend.
"Paint’s impact may seem obvious, but it’s surprising how many people overlook its power to make over the
most tired décor," Denny says.
Repainting can allow you to create a whole new look for a room without changing a stick of furniture or a
single piece of artwork. For color ideas, draw inspiration from design elements you already love in your
room’s décor, be it a particular hue of red in the pattern of a throw pillow or a shade of green in your
favorite painting.
If the color is already present in your décor, chances are you can make it work on your walls.
Light the Way
Interior designers agree that lighting has a huge impact on how a room looks.
How light falls on your furnishings will affect how they look in the room. "Plus, drab, out-dated lighting
can also have a big affect on how you feel about your home," Denny says.
If your new home décor still seems tired, it might just be a problem of poor lighting. Consider how your
room is lit at the different times of the day when you use it most. If it seems dim at times when you would
like it to be bright, you may consider replacing existing light fixtures with brighter, more stylish options,
possibly even ones that adjust on a dimmer according to changing illumination needs throughout the day.
Don’t be intimidated by working with electricity when replacing light fixtures. Seek advice online or
from the experts at your local home improvement store.
Always be sure to turn off power at the electrical
box, and tape the breaker off while you’re working so that no one comes along and turns it back on until
you’re ready.
A Room’s Crowning Glory
Few room enhancements speak of elegance and style the way crown molding does, but many do-it-yourselfers may
think the job is beyond their abilities. Yet crown molding can be a weekend project within the abilities of
virtually anyone who can handle a ladder and a caulk tube.
The secret? Products like So-Simple Crown Molding, a light-weight crown molding made from a dense EPS
(Styrofoam) composite. It installs with just caulking and comes with precut corners. No nails required.
In the past, crown molding was made of wood or MDF (particle board), and was the domain of the finish
carpenter or old school do-it-yourselfer who builds their house from scratch. Now anyone can claim
"bragging rights" for installing crown molding with this easy-to-handle material that looks exactly
like real wood crown molding.
There are many beautiful styles of crown to choose from -- decorative, contemporary to classic.
You should choose the style that is right for you. For example, "Dentil Crown" style is a very popular
decorative style and can be found in many Victorian homes.
Dentil Crown is very detailed and is traditionally
constructed of multiple layers of carved wood. However, with SoSimpleCrown Dentil Crown you achieve the same
look at a fraction of the cost. Classic "S" style moldings are simple and can be found in almost any ranch or
Tuscany style home. Classic styles have a universal appeal and come in many sizes. When crown molding is
installed against a wall painted with color your room really comes alive.
Painting is also a breeze. So Simple Crown molding features a white SkinTec surface that is smooth and paint
ready and no primer is needed. Professionals call it the "installer friendly" crown molding you can paint before
you install. They cut the corners for you and it installs with just caulking. The result is a beautiful molding
that even the most discriminating home owner cannot tell from wood products.
"So Simple Crown has literally taken all the confusion and frustration out of the weekend crown molding
project," says Denny.
For more information about crown molding visit, www.SoSimpleCrown.com.
HOME DECORATING, INTERIOR DESIGN, HOME RENOVATION & HOME IMPROVEMENT
From Common to Customized – Add Value With Architectural Details
Architectural Details Increase your Home's 'Wow' Value & Selling Value
Architectural elements are the unique details that form the architectural style of houses and buildings.
Customizing your kitchen, baths, master bedroom or any other room with architectural details is a simple way
set your home apart and increase the "wow factor" of those particular rooms and in turn the selling value of your
home.
Interior Design for the Sports Lover
Interior Home Decorating Trend
With the trend of sports decor becoming a mainstream choice throughout homes, decorating options are endless. Sports themes can range from fun and over-the-top to subtle and tasteful integrations depending on what the homeowner likes. Here are some ideas about where to start.
Planning A Screened-In Porch: What to Consider
Home Renovation Tip & Advice from Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
DEAR TIM: The next project at my home is a screened porch. I have looked at many plans, but none of them really excite me. After looking at some pictures, I have some really good ideas about what I want in my design. What should I take into consideration in this planning phase so that I end up with the perfect screened-in porch?
Two Main Forces Working Against Your Retaining Wall: Gravity and Frost
Home Renovation Tip & Advice from Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
DEAR TIM: Can you tell me how to build a retaining wall? Are retaining wall blocks a good choice? What critical things do I need to know so that I don't have a collapse or other failure in the years to come? I have access to lots of large stones. Can I just stack them to make a retaining wall from stone?
When Installing a Patio, Build It to Last
Home Renovation Tip & Advice from Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
DEAR TIM: I have decided to use patio pavers to build a nice outdoor space. Installing patio pavers seems easy enough. I don't want to make a mistake, so can you tell me how to install patio pavers? What method would you use? What should I be concerned about if I want a patio that looks good and is as maintenance free as possible?
Power-Wash the Deck or Do a Green Clean? The Pros and Cons
Home Care Tip & Advice from Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
DEAR TIM: I am having a spirited debate with my husband about how to clean a deck. The job doesn't seem that hard, but my husband wants to use a pressure washer, as he thinks it will save time. I want to use a green cleaner that is non-toxic and environmentally safe. What is the proper way to clean a deck and keep it looking nice? --Lisa T., Burlington, N.C.
Island Innovations: Make the Most of Your Kitchen Space
Home Innovation Tip & Kitchen Islands
"The kitchen island has become the icon of the modern kitchen – the 21st century equivalent of the old-fashioned hearth," says architect Duo Dickinson for This Old House Magazine. "It's easy to understand why - kitchen islands work."
Green Building Options from the Ground Up
Going Green Environment Friendly Home Renovation Tips
More and more homes are being built and remodeled with the environment in mind. This green building movement is gaining momentum and options for homeowners continue to increase, making creating a green home easier than ever. Here are some tips to make your home greener, from the ground up.
Put the 'Eco' in Decorating
Eco-Friendly Home Decorating Tips & Trends
Just because you're going green doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style. There are many ways to easily incorporate eco-friendly ideas into your home decor without living the stereotypical "granola-and-Birkenstocks" lifestyle.
Add Warmth and Value with Easy Weekend Projects
Easy Home Decorating Tips that can be accomplished over a weekend
You've got a weekend to work with and the inspiration to do something to dress up your home. You don't need to spend like a diva or wield a hammer like a home improvement show host to achieve a high-impact do-it-yourself project. Many value-enhancing, elegance-adding improvements can be accomplished in a weekend with minimal effort and expense.
A Good Excuse to Upgrade Your Home Entertainment System
Home Theater & Home Entertainment Systems
Television has come a long way since its introduction to the world in 1925, when Scottish inventor John Logie Baird successfully transmitted the first recognizable image -- the head of a ventriloquist's dummy.
Hot Home Decorating Tips - Freshen Up Your Home and Brighten Your Mood
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
Could your home be putting you in a bad mood? If so, you're not alone. A recent study shows that having a clean home in the winter makes 92 percent of adults feel happier. You don't have to undertake a major cleaning overhaul; just a little polishing here and there can boost your mood as much as a sunny day.
Hot Home Decorating Tips - Walls Get In Step With Fashion
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
Fashion and home decor trends are so closely aligned now that we can add a favorite new look or color scheme to
both our wardrobes and our homes at the same time. One day you're shopping for handbags in the hottest color
and the next day you find yourself reaching for pillows in a matching shade.
Hot Home Decorating Tips - Copy an Inspiration Room on a Budget
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
With a few easy tips, you can achieve a similar Inspiration Room look without the hefty price tag. The trick,
experts say, is to draw "inspiration" from these examples and emulate the look and style with more affordable
furnishings and decorations.
Hot Home Decorating, Color Trends and Tips - Interior Design and Decorating
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
Are you ready to get a jump start on discovering 2008's hottest decorating and paint color trends?
Winter is an ideal time to start planning your interior decorating spruce ups. And one of the easiest, least
expensive ways to give a room a new look and feel is with paint.
Top 10 Home Decor Trends for 2008 - Interior Design and Architecture
Home Decorating Tips & Trends
Much like we can expect from the American people in next year's election, the votes among the nation's top interior designers and manufacturers are split when it comes to forecasting what will be "hot" in home decor in 2008.
Kitchen Color Trends and Tips - Interior Design and Decorating
Kitchen Decorating Tips & Advice
Every homeowner knows that the kitchen is the perfect place to please the palate. But it can also be the perfect place to add character with the color palette. When remodeling the hub of your home, choosing the right colors is an important part of the decision making process. But how do you choose colors that are compatible with your space and your taste?
The Art of Accent Colors: How to Use Color to Brighten a Room
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
Certain colors innately evoke different memories, thoughts or moods, according to a study conducted by Miami
University. If your home is laced with walls that are too white or overbearingly dark, details in your décor
can change everything. By recognizing this, it is easy to brighten up or give any room a little extra personality
with accent colors.
Architectural Digest's The New AD 100 Top Interior Designers and Architects
Top 100 List from AD (Architectural Digest)
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