http://www.interiordecoratingshop.net Interior Decorating, Home Decor, Artwork, Artist en-us Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:39:05 GMT Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:14:15 GMT CF Blogger by DayDream Inc http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss nospam@forget.com nospam@forget.com http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=D7C5E2B2-E3D2-5A25-242979C5FC98D984 Choosing a countertop for your kitchen cabinets can be overwhelming. Depending on your taste and budget, kitchen countertops can be a very expensive investment. Laminate countertops that have been the industry kitchen cabinets standard for decades, but now there are a wide variety of solid core, stone and butcher block countertops to choose from.Lets talk about Laminate Countertops. This is by far your least expensive option. The typical laminate countertops for kitchen cabinets now are up to 400% more durable than they were just ten years ago. They are more resistant to scratching scuffing and burning. They also come in a huge variety of colors, textures and patterns and finishes. The drawback to laminate is that they CAN be affected by excess heat, say from a pot, and the edges will be exposed. If you are looking for a clean look and durability, laminate countertops will not be your best choice.Lets talk about finishes. There are three main types of finishes. Gloss, semi-gloss or satin and textured.To read the rest of the article at dr30.com Kitchen Ideas Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:14:15 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=D7C5E2B2-E3D2-5A25-242979C5FC98D984 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=70AB5DF7-0B9B-C4E2-DECB6FA4D5C26207 The light bulb goes digitalPosted by Michael V. Copeland, Senior WriterJanuary 26, 2010 8:30 AMCompanies for years have toyed with light-emitting diodes, which use the same technology as computer chips. Now LEDs are having their day in the sun.The $100 billion global lighting industry is undergoing radical change: New office buildings and retail outlets are abandoning fluorescent lighting in favor of LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, those tiny, energy-efficient, long-lasting, and blindingly bright points of light. Giants such as GE (GE) and Philips are shifting production from incandescent bulbs to LEDs. Even the local Home Depot (HD)  which today probably stocks only a couple of LED lighting products  will soon carry a bouquet of LED bulbs, ultimately edging out fluorescents and halogen lamps. By the end of the decade, analysts predict, LEDs will be the dominant source for commercial and residential lighting.LEDs, which are based on a technology similar to that of computer chips, have more in common in their design and manufacture with your laptop than with the incandescent bulb that Thomas Edison patented almost 130 years ago. As lighting goes digital, the industry is likely to encounter some of the same upheaval that took place when television, music, and other businesses shifted away from analog technologies.To read the rest of the story at BrainStormTech Lighting Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:44:23 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=70AB5DF7-0B9B-C4E2-DECB6FA4D5C26207 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=70A8F937-A1EA-9C3E-F7CF5B6483F688F5 One of the best ways to update your bathroom is by changing the bathroom cabinets. Faux finishing techniques can transform a cabinet without requiring the removal of the cabinet itself. Faux finishing is creating a type of surface that resembles the real thing like wood, denim or suede. You can create most finishes with simple household items and paint. The items used to create the finishes could include combs, feathers and sponges. Here are some easy steps to help create interesting and beautiful faux finished cabinets:Materials needed:Sandpaper Latex semi-gloss paint in your choice of color Paint brushes Sponges Paint tray Paint roller Top coat or glaze Drop cloths or old newspapers Old clothing Old rags Tools for making textures: combs, dusters, scrub brush, string, linen, old fabric swatches, forks, spoons, gauze strips; or any typical household items. Step #1: PreppingBegin by sanding down old paint on the cabinets. Clean them off after the removal process and fill any chips or cracks with wall plaster. Be sure to use the appropriate type of plaster for your type of material.Prepare and mix paint in the paint tray and put down drop cloths or newspapers to protect flooring. Also, put on old clothing to protect yourself.To read the rest of the story at Doityourself.com Bathroom Ideas Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:41:47 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=70A8F937-A1EA-9C3E-F7CF5B6483F688F5 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=70A4D6A6-F459-B988-01977BFA0E2DDB41 Brayden's Rainforest3-D elements propel mural walls over the topAlma GaulHe may not fully appreciate it yet, but young Brayden Schaeffer has an amazing mural on his bedroom walls.His dad, Dave, an art teacher at Davenport North High School, not only painted every square inch in a brilliant rainforest theme, but he also built several three-dimensional, tactile elements that send it over the top.The piece de resistance is a tree made out of 2-by-4 pieces of lumber and metal heat duct flex line that he covered with chicken wire mesh and five buckets of drywall compound before finger-finishing it to resemble tree bark.The tree is secured into the wall and ceiling so that when Brayden gets a little older  he turned 1 this month  he will be able to climb it, perhaps reaching some of the stuffed animals stored in the branches.Another special effect is the faux fur glued atop a gorilla arm.The Schaeffers, who live in a rural subdivision south of Blue Grass, Iowa, are home improvement pros. With the help of family and friends, they built their entire house five years ago.Were project people, Dave, 30, says.The idea for the rainforest theme came from Braydens mother, Bonnie, a teacher at Wilson Elementary School in Davenport.More than a dozen animals are featured in the 12-by-9-foot room and hidden in the design  a la Wheres Waldo?  are the names of 36 family members, an addition Dave thought would add interactive interest to the room. (The couple has developed a key to help visitors find their names.)Other custom touches were the construction of a window storage bench and, atop the window, a cornice board treatment that doubles as a display shelf.To read the rest of the story at QuadCity Times Decorative Painting Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:37:16 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=70A4D6A6-F459-B988-01977BFA0E2DDB41 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=709AD306-D14D-6553-AC13E06015DC783C January 25, 2010by Richard M.Your choice of window treatment can greatly affect the energy efficiency of your home. Here are some tips on choosing the most energy efficient treatments.So, its time to re-decorate and you want to do it in the most eco-friendly way possible. Luckily, many manufacturers of interior decorating products have realized that there are lots of people who want their homes to be as green as possible, especially when it comes to window treatments. There are a few things you can look for when selecting window treatments that will help you choose the most eco-friendly option possible.First, you want a treatment that will maximize your energy efficiency. This will not only be good for the environment, it will also save you money by reducing your energy bills. Which treatment is best depends mainly on your insulation needs. If you live in a warmer climate and your primary concern is heat gain, reflective blinds may be the best way to go as they can reduce heat gain by 45%. For preventing heat loss, window shades that are installed as close to the glass as possible with the sides of the shade close to the walls are best. This creates a sealed air space and makes it difficult for the heat to escape. And of course, buying locally maximizes your window treatments energy efficiency by cutting the amount of energy it takes to get them to you.To read the rest of the story at Sustain Lane Window Coverings Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:26:19 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=709AD306-D14D-6553-AC13E06015DC783C http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=41B76258-AF95-E79E-5E4911D41BFCBAB0 FB.init("6fb83b753d0bff73d6d0e0d38b13e133");A Personal Touch by Interior Decor on Facebook Decorating Tips Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:55:22 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=41B76258-AF95-E79E-5E4911D41BFCBAB0 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=3D1FD067-A648-CC55-E8BB77E230EE1395 BY CHARLYNE VARKONYI SCHAUBSpecial to The Miami HeraldThe Design Center of the Americas' first DesignHouse is everything a show house should be -- innovative, inspiring and as indicative of trends as a New York fashion runway in Bryant Park.South Florida designers are right in step with the national trends -- plucking bright accent colors like purple and red from fashion and using metallics in furniture and accessories. They are going back to wallpaper, but their choices are more opulent -- studded with glass beads or flecked with metal. And they are simplifying looks with a contemporary, clean style.``I am finding that more of my clients want an uncluttered, clean look,' says Joseph Fava of Fava Design Group in Fort Lauderdale. ``Most of my clients are in their 40s. They may have one antique piece that is surrounded by cleaner-lined, more contemporary furniture.' More people, especially those with children, are looking for fabrics that withstand a dog's dirty paws or spilled ice cream, so Fava is favoring hardy fabrics like Sunbrella.And Jack Fhillips of Jack Fhillips Design in West Palm Beach says clients are looking for enduring design rather than short-lived trendy. The DesignHouse, which features the work of 14 designers in 9,000 square feet of DCOTA's converted showroom space, opened Wednesday and will run through June 11. Proceeds of the unprecedented five-month run will benefit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami-Dade, the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale and the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach.Show houses typically are run by the Red Cross or the Junior League, so why did DCOTA decide to sponsor one?``We have been strategizing and looking for ways to evolve ourselves and bring designers back to the center,' says Ashlee Harrison, director of marketing. ``We thought it was a good time to marry design and philanthropy.'It was also a good time to show the public the hottest trends by designers in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Designers love show houses because they can be far more innovative than most clients would ever approve. Here are the latest trends:Wallpaper murals: These murals, which can be printed on wallpaper from your own design or selected from images at Patou Fine Art & Design in DCOTA, are an innovative way to create a focal point without hiring a muralist. In the dining room, Osirys Mendez and Sabrina Vela of Mendez International & Associates in Miami used a mural of sultry female eyes to add drama. Alfredo Brito of Brito Interiors in Miami created a focal point with a wallpaper mural featuring fluted columns in the study. And Alfred Karram Jr. of AKJ Design Concepts in Miami filled the dead space over the windows with a mural of bare trees to reinforce his winter theme in the family room.Circular motif: Fava went wild in the cigar room with the ``circle trend' -- from the Stark carpet with circular motif to Fine Art Lamps' 48-inch diameter chandelier. Karram also embraced the circular trend with large glass balls used as floor sculpture.Punch of bright color: This trend, which fits with clients' desires to get away from 100 percent neutral colors in a room, allows the designer to make a statement.Brito echoed his use of red in the study, picking it up in the area rug, oversize Moroccan chandelier and chinoiserie secretary.The Mendez dining room plucked purple from the fashion runways for use in an amethyst area rug with a hot pink border design. ``For most of my Boca life, I have been doing `Boca Beige,' ' says Cecil Hayes of Cecil's Designers Unlimited in Coconut Creek. ``I love to have a splash of color.' Hayes pumped up the volume of her neutral master suite with red wallcovering.Innovative wallpaper: The Maya Romanoff wallpaper that Hayes used is made of flexible glass beads that are attached to wallpaper backing. (Designers aren't the only creative folks who like the product. The Beadazzled wallcovering earned a permanent place in the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York.)Another Maya Romanoff wallcovering made of natural silica mica chips on paper backing showed up on another wall of Hayes' room and in Karram's family room. Karram, who says he prefers long-lasting designs rather than trends, is a convert to using wallpaper again. Although he has been using Venetian plaster for 15 years, he says, ``It's over.' (Other designers in the show house, however, are still using Venetian plaster and consider it a more lasting trend.)Metallic finishes: ``The biggest trend right now is metallic,' says A. Keith Powell of A. Keith Powell Interior in Miami, who decorated the formal sitting room.The room is all gray, highlighted by the dramatic Zinc Gator by Arte for Koroseal, a wallpaper embossed with an alligator design and made with metal thread. It's a beauty, but the price tag is steep -- $8,000 for a small room. The metal theme is also carried out in the stainless grout between the porcelain floor tiles, in the mid-century modern chrome arc lamp (originally designed by George Kovacs) and Thayer Coggin classic chairs with chrome arms and base. The clear look: One of the best examples of this trend is in the dining room, where Mendez and Vela used a glass table with a Lucite base and an elegant crystal chandelier. Hayes brought light into the master suite with two mirrored console tables, a touch of Hollywood glam.Mixing textures and styles: Aldo Puschendorf of Puschendorf Interiors in Miami is a master of mixing textures in the powder room with oversize floral flocked wallpaper on one wall, mosaic glass tiles and horizontal glass tiles on other walls. The focal point is the vanity topped with one of the simpler Venetian mirrors and flanked with elegant crystal sconces.To access article Decorating Trends Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:31:20 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=3D1FD067-A648-CC55-E8BB77E230EE1395 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=3D1BBAC8-F5FB-D3B5-DE4FE65121E1B576 Some innovative and easy house interior design tips can help you create more space and make your small living area look gorgeous. Dont be disheartened if you have a small living space. They too have great potential in home decorating ideas.Lets start with the windows of your small room. This is one thing that should hold prime importance in home interior design. They allow light and air to your small space so use minimum accessories to make the window look big. Heavy accessories will only block light and make your room look even more dingy. You get some very sophisticated options of window accessories in the market. You can also custom make it to match your home décor by using matching shades and fabric.Next comes the floor space. De-clutter your floor from unnecessary bulky items. Keep smaller items on shelves or window panes if possible. You will be surprised to see how much space you can create by just shifting few things off the floor. This is one of the greatest house interior design tips for cramped up spaces.Color plays a very important role in home interior design. Though use of more than two or three color can give new dimensions to your room, but this particular home design tip is unfit for small spaces. Use a single color to paint all the walls of the room. Use similar shades for other rooms in the house.House interior design tips rely heavily on fabrics. So when it comes to small spaces, avoid using flashy fabrics with large prints. If you do have some furniture with larger prints, tone it down with plain fabrics. Every house has a corner for emotional sentiments. Use fabrics to create depth in such areas. This will give a great visual impact.Small spaces usually face the problem of limited lighting. Do not go for artificial lighting. This is not a very helpful home interior design tip. Instead see to pull maximum natural lighting into the room but positioning mirrors directly opposite the window or by using glossy wall paints that will reflect natural light. Try and keep furniture and appliances dust-free to give a better lighting effect.Plants accessorize any living space in a natural way. House interior design tips for small spaces suggest small indoor plants around the room. You can also have fresh flower bouquets on the room center or corner. But they need to be regularly changed to give the room a fresh look.Flooring plays an integral part in home interior design. But unfortunately many apartment spaces do not allow change in flooring. But you can always cover it up with better options. A lighter area rug or a light bare wood floor carpet always makes the room look bigger.Hoping these tips help you make a move with interior designing. And should you have any questions on the way, an expert is just a call away!From ArticlesBase a Free Online Articles DirectoryTo access article Decorating Tips Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:26:52 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=3D1BBAC8-F5FB-D3B5-DE4FE65121E1B576 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D926059-AA06-9554-5E3695F6D7B411C7 CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Americhem Inc., a global provider of custom color and additive solutions for polymeric products, has unveiled its color trends for the Health & Beauty packaging industry for 2010 and 2011.The company first released its color trends at the 2009 HBA Expo in New York City. Americhem is now inviting packaging professionals, brand companies and packaging designers to opt-in to receive physical samples of the color trends as a tool to promote new product development.This series of 48 colors was determined by customer demand across a number of industries that Americhem serves. The color trends are available as a set of silver-dollar sized discs. These discs feature an accurate representation of Americhem color concentrates in an injection molded disc, including a gloss finish on one side and a matte finish on the other."Particularly in the health, beauty and personal care industries, designers need visual tools to help them identify the popular colors consumers are demanding," said Rod Manfull, Americhem's general manager for its molding business unit. "Custom colors and effects are the lifeblood of our business and we recognize that these trends help give designers a starting point for their new product packaging."Due to the positive feedback received, Americhem has introduced a theme-based monthly set of color trends focused on a single color. In November 2009, Americhem featured a range of 12 different shades of orange representing the fall color spectrum. These trends feature different shades, opacity levels and special effects to give designers ideas for their next new products, as well as differentiating existing offerings.To read the rest of the story at PR Newswire.com Decorating Trends Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:02:32 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D926059-AA06-9554-5E3695F6D7B411C7 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D809075-CF0B-9E13-4DE7592144587850 Persons hunting for arched window treatments may discover themselves easily pissed off. While arched windows can be beautiful to take a look at they can be a real challenge to get attractive window treatments for. This article contains useful hits possibly making finding the ideal arched window treatments much simpler.One of the most vital things to remember when buying window treatments for your arched windows is to keep it simple. These windows have an easy class all their own and you do not want to cover it behind anything too busy. Window treatments which are too baroque or advanced can basically take away from the beauty of the window. It is better if you utilize the lines of the window as your guide for choosing window treatments. This may necessitate that you buy special hardware which is meant to be positioned along the curves of the window. With the appropriate hardware in position it is much easier to make the window treatments look great.A lot of times your best option for arched windows is to get your window treatments custom made. If you find that you are spending a large amount of time hunting for window treatments and cant find anything that works excellent then it may be time to speak to a professional concerning custom window treatments.To read the rest of the story at 7adaara.com Window Coverings Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:43:05 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D809075-CF0B-9E13-4DE7592144587850 http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D651F67-CF46-C224-6A37FE065DD9A6CD You do not have to spend a fortune to get stylish dining room furniture. Many of us believe that we need to spend a lot of money just to be able to get the perfect dining room furniture. Contrary to this popular belief, spending a lot of money on expensive dining room furniture is not always the answer to creating a stylish look for the dining room. In fact, you can make your dining room appear elegant and charming without incurring a huge furniture bill.How can you get a beautiful dining room for only a fraction of the cost? The answer to this question is simply to be on the lookout for cheap furniture. If you keep your eyes open and your nose keen for sniffing great deals, you will easily find cheap furniture to use in your dining room. All it takes is a little creativity and a lot of perseverance on your end.Among the great sources of cheap furniture for the dining room are garage sales and auctions. There is no doubt that some of the items you will find in these venues are rubbish, but there is also no doubt that you will find something great in there as well. As the sages say, one man's trash can be another man's treasure.The furniture you may find in these garage sales and auctions may look a bit worn down at first glance. However, as long as the construction of the piece is sturdy and sound and you are willing to work on it a bit, you can transform that piece of worn-out furniture into something new. This is what some interior designers call shabby chic and you can build up a gorgeous set of dining room furniture in this manner. To read the rest of the story at PRMinds Decorating Trends Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:13:06 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D651F67-CF46-C224-6A37FE065DD9A6CD http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D61B412-92AF-5A19-E2DFE0BC36F0288F Susan Adams On CollectingArt will sell online, prices will level thanks to foreign buyers, and Iraqi-born artist Ahmed Alsoudani will emerge a star.The Big TrendAfter a major contraction following the September 2008 market crash, art prices in most categories have found their level. The bellwether fall auctions in New York did decently, with some record prices set, like the $43.7 million (including fees) paid for Andy Warhol's "200 One Dollar Bills" (1962) at Sotheby's. that's not as much as the $71.7 million Warhol's "Green Car Crash" brought at Christie's in 2007, but a strong price. This year, the art market will be driven by non-American buyers.The Unconventional WisdomPrices for blue-chip post-war and contemporary art will rise. In a down market, sellers are reluctant to part with material, which has the effect of boosting prices for the great works that do come up for sale. Older paintings, like Warhol and Francis Bacon, will do especially well, but don't look for stratospheric prices for the art darlings of the past eight years: the jury, and buyers, remain out. Museum acquisitions from far-flung players will contribute to the trend, notably new venues in the Persian Gulf, some of which have formed partnerships with Western institutions like the Guggenheim and the Louvre.To read the rest of the story at Forbes.com Art Trends Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:09:22 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D61B412-92AF-5A19-E2DFE0BC36F0288F http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D551746-082B-E298-6E6E5C104BD2880D Wood furniture can add a touch of stateliness to your living room. While you should be concerned with the interior design of your entire house, you need to pay more attention to the way your living room is decorated. That is because your living room is the central part of your home. It is where you and your family spend most of your time together as well as the place where you entertain your guests. Every piece of furniture in your living room should work to make it the most attractive room in the house, from the living room sofas to the smallest bauble decorating the room.One of the ways to make your living room a truly beautiful room is to use choice wood furniture. Now, why wood furniture, you may ask. The reason for this is that high-quality furniture pieces that are made of wood make your living room warm and cozy, and at the same time very stately in appearance.Wood is a naturally beautiful material for furniture. Different kinds of natural wood have different grains and colors that make them look distinct. When stained properly and coated with the right amount of polish, wood can have a lovely glow and a deep character. The warmth and depth of the wood furniture in your living room can make the space truly magnificent. The appeal of furniture made from wood simply cannot be outdone. To read the rest of the story Decorating Trends Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:55:36 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=2D551746-082B-E298-6E6E5C104BD2880D http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=284649D1-EDB4-38B5-2B46B68D5879A30A Smaller, modular, energy-efficient homes are being showcased at this year's International Builders' Show, reflecting a new direction in the housing market.The four demonstration homes, which will be on display in the parking lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center beginning Jan. 19, will all be certified green by the National Association of Home Builders once they are located on permanent sites after the show.Why green this year? Consumers increasingly demand homes that use less water and energy and have clean indoor air, says Kevin Morrow, NAHB's senior program manager of green building standards. To read the rest of the story Decorating Trends Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:21:20 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=284649D1-EDB4-38B5-2B46B68D5879A30A http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=283A4DD8-F8B3-E208-3E563A3697453F61 Understated luxury is on the list for styles we'll see in 2010Tanya Linton, National Post Published: Saturday, January 09, 2010 With the holidays over and Visa bills bulging, it's hard to think of buying anything for yourself let alone accessories for the home, but it's that "what's hot, what's not" time again. January brings blogs and magazines full of the year's top decorating trends. Flip through the pages and you'll see traditional has had a relaxed makeover; modern decor has become softer and more earthy; industrial has moved from the loft to the farmhouse, and black is back in a big way. And they all have one thing in common -- none of the 2010 decor trends are in your home-- yet. Last year, we embraced safari style in our living rooms, Hollywood regency mirrors in every bathroom of the house and groovy fabrics on granny furniture. This year, it's all about downplayed luxury: velvet-clad pillows and couches; unexpected wallpaper on places like the ceiling; upholstered walls with funky fabric and making sure that one room has a spotlight piece -- like a self-standing tub in the bathroom. When it comes to design styles, understanding how to create "the mix" --blending old with new -- is still all the rage. Traditional interiors don't work unless they are relaxed with leather and chintz sitting side by side; girly glam has gone downtown and found its way into warehouse spaces where chandeliers and concrete are becoming friends, and farmhouses have turned industrial with marble counters and exposed bulb lighting. It's confusing, but it works. "Trends are about modernizing older styles. A year ago, the industrial chic was all the rage," says Margot Austin, the senior design editor at Style at Home magazine. "You know, lofts with exposed beams and lots of stainless steel. This year it has given way to a touch of country with soft shapes, white painted walls, apron sinks. All of that, mixing with stainless appliances and concrete floors." Part of a team that determines the Top 10 list for Style at Home, Ms. Austin weeds through many hot looks for interiors and pares them down to a simple list that readers can translate into their homes. She doesn't expect a whole room makeover, rather, she suggests figuring out which looks are for you and which ones you should ignore. "Lighting is still factory-like and industrial," she says, as an example. "But that doesn't mean you need to have exposed light bulbs dangling from every ceiling. One fixture in a statement room like a dining room or a kitchen would look great." In addition, she says neutral colours are still here but they are richer and warmer. Citrus as an accent is passe, but green is still good this year, so go for an emerald or a malachite shade for pillows, feature walls and throw blankets. Purples are here to stay and always look great with grey. Furniture remains traditional with a twist, with camelback shapes, button tufting, nail head details and modern fabrics. Yanic Simard of the Toronto Interior Design Group says home trends emerge from what is going on globally. "We've seen glitter, bold colours and modern neutrals. Next, I think we are going to see vibrant colours and accessories that are really unique and reflect the styles of the Middle East." To read the rest of the story Decorating Trends Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:08:14 GMT http://www.interiordecoratingshop.netdisplay_blog.cfm?bid=283A4DD8-F8B3-E208-3E563A3697453F61