Spring Cleaning to Spring Decorating | Changing Your Energy

I started this post before Spring was officially upon us. Now that Spring is here, it's all the more relevant. Enjoy! I've been feeling the pull of spring... and of spring cleaning. I've recently cleaned out my closet and the basement. I've started a new to do list with the many areas I'd like to tackle around the new home.
 
This all got me thinking. What is it about spring that sparks this in us? Why do we feel called to "spring clean"? It's all about changing our energy. Decluttering, cleaning, organizing, refreshing; it all breathes new energy into our homes and we feel better for it. So dive into your spring cleaning and boost the energy level around your home. You may even be inspired to take your spring cleaning a step further with some spring decorating. Here are quick and easy ways to add spring to your decorating and change your home's energy.

Add a New Color of Accessories

The two bedrooms below would've looked fine before, but the addition of a pillow in a bright complimentary color (yellow and orange respectively) works to change the energy of the spaces.
 

via

via

In living rooms designs , you can make a new color work by adding it in at least 3 places. In the room below, we see emerald green evenly added throughout the room. To make your space look really polished, find a coordinating item the pulls in the old color and new color.

Transitional Living Room by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Martha O'Hara Interiors

Move Things Around

Try a piece that you bought for the bedroom in the dining room or living room. Sometimes we are too stuck in a rut. Just moving things around can spruce up a space. If that item  doesn't work in a different room, the change should at least get your creative juice flowing; changing your energy.

Try a New Lamp Shade

And if you really want to boost the energy, paint the lamp a new color inspired by bright spring tones.

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Those are easy an inexpensive tips to help add a Spring Time Energy to your home this month. If you are ready to change the energy more permanently, Beautiful Habitat can help you create a design plan. Contact Us today.

For more Spring Design and Decorating inspiration, check out the following posts:

• Happy Colors
• Spring is in This Home
• Spring Inspired Rooms
• Fashion & Interiors Look-a-Likes
• Mary's Fresh Bedroom Makeover

Happy Spring!!!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Linoleum's Bad Rap

Poor Linoleum. It's name has been misused and it's been incorrectly categorized for so long. Very often people say "linoleum" when really they are referring to "vinyl". Today I'd like to talk about the differences and show you that proper linoleum is actually a very cool product.

 “Linoleum flooring is made from natural materials like linseed oil, recycled wood flour, cork dust and limestone. Linoleum is naturally anti-bacterial and biodegradable. It is a perfect choice for a “green” floor in one’s home.” (Armstrong)

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is the sheet material that is often imprinted with a pattern to mimic tile. It comes in 6' and 12' widths on a roll. It is the most economical flooring available and therefore is often viewed as a negative. I don't know why, but every time someone refers to linoleum in a negative, they are actually visualizing or referring to vinyl. So let's talk about the positives of linoleum.

Linoleum

Quick Facts About Linoleum

• Linoleum is one of the oldest ‘natural’ floor types still in use which dates back one and a half centuries to its creation in England.
• Linoleum floors were very popular until just after World War II when the cheaper priced synthetic, flexible vinyl was the new thing
• Today, with the emphasis on eco–friendly, green flooring products, linoleum is staging a comeback.
• Linoleum is made entirely from natural raw materials and is comprised of things like linseed oil, rosin, and wood with jute backing.
• Linoleum is available in a rainbow of colors, patterns and beautiful designs and is even available as a “do it yourself” installation project.
• As flooring, linoleum is durable with an expected lifespan of 40 years.
• Since it is made of natural and renewable materials, it is entirely biodegradable when discarded.

In addition to the above list, linoleum is a fully customizable product. There is no end to the creative designs that can be achieved through linoleum.
 

Elle Decor

Armstrong Flooring

House Beautiful

 

 

Armstrong Flooring

Linoleum (lĬnō´lēəm), resilient floor or wall covering made of burlap, canvas, or felt, surfaced with a composition of wood flour, oxidized linseed oil, gums or other ingredients, and coloring matter. In the manufacture of linoleum, linseed oil is exposed to the air in a succession of thin films until it is of a rubbery consistency, or it is thickened by heating until it becomes a spongy mass, after which it is ground, mixed with pulverized wood and other ingredients, and then applied to the foundation and rolled smooth. The final process is a thorough seasoning in drying rooms. In inlaid linoleum the pattern is built up from the base in the colors of the design and is therefore permanent. Linoleum is made in several thicknesses and in the form of tiles. It is sometimes surfaced with a durable pyroxylin lacquer. Although large amounts of linoleum are still produced, other materials such as vinyl are now more widely used as floor coverings (Linoleum, 2012) "linoleum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2012. Encyclopedia.com. 2 May. 2013<http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things | Rubber Vase

I recently came across this great product for homes with smaller children - the rubber vase. Created by designer Henriette Melchiorsen, these family-friendly vases are available through Emmohome.com. They prove that kids and beautiful interior design can and should live harmoniously together.


From Emmo Home: "The rubber vase is both fun and unusual: in the right setting it is amazingly stylish – with its black, red and brown colors, close up the material can give the impression of fragile ceramics. But the dazzling lime and pink colors leave no doubt that this is a funky product made from a unique material – cutting-edge design for those seeking something completely different and modern, or just an extremely practical vase to have where there are small children around."


The rubber vase is available in two sizes. The small vase is quite small, with a 4.33" diameter and height of 5.12".


The large vase has a diameter of 7" and is 8" high.





The rubber vase comes in several colors to match both modern and more traditional or transitional interior decorating schemes.


A great option to decorate lower surfaces, including coffee and end tables in your home without fear that it will be broken by rambunctious or curious kids.

Have you seen other family-friendly, yet attractive products for the home? Share with us.
Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Happy Colors | Lime and Apple Green

A few weeks ago I asked on Facebook and Twitter "What color makes you happiest?". It was meant to be just some fun on a Friday afternoon. However, the responses inspired me to write a series of posts featuring these happy colors in beautifully designed rooms. My interior design philosophy has always been to live with the things and colors that you love. Afterall, your home should make you happy and feel good. My hope is that these post will inspire you to incorporate your own happy colors more into your design and decorating plans.

Our happy colors series has already featured Purple and Orange. Today we are going to focus on lime and apple greens. Much like with our previous colors, there are so many ways to incorporate greens into your home. You can use small splashes to large doses and in hues ranging from light and sweet to super bold and intense.

Let's start with large doses of green in different intensities.

This green-on-green wallpaper makes a bold statement in this kitchen nook decor. It works so well on the tall wall and is a piece or artwork in itself.

via HGTV

This apple green kitchen is adorable. The custom painted cabinets are not overwhelming because of the frosted glass panels, which helps to break up and soften the green. I love the use of different cabinet sizes taken all the way to the ceiling - it's smart kitchen design and use of space.

via My Home Ideas

Below is another kitchen that uses large doses of green without overwhelming. The green here is more of a lime green. This bold color is well balanced in this kitchen because it is only on the walls and softened by (and warms up) the stainless steel appliances and industrial cabinets.

via Design Sponge

And now, for the super bold in lime green walls... These rooms take lime walls to the extreme. If you'd like this look in your home, choosing the correct shade of green will take some time. Find tips here: Choosing Paint Colors or hire an expert to save you time and money.

A very bold and bright nursery. This super bright and intense shade of lime is balanced with white and an equally bold turquoise. It's certainly not shy, but in my opinion, it works.

via Ohdeedoh

This bathroom also has a very bold and intense shade of lime green. Powder rooms are a great place to go really bold (also dining rooms and foyers). You don't spend a lot of time in these spaces, so won't become overwhelmed or tired of the color as quickly, Yet your guests will visit these 3 spaces, so you can really make a statement.

via Country Living

Green does not have to be applied is such large doses to create an impact and make you happy. Here are some more subtle and suggestive ways to use green in your interiors.

This bedroom balances lime green, chocolate brown and white for a beautiful and restful retreat.

via Better Homes and Gardens

This Dining Room by Jonathan Adler is another wonderful balance of lime and chocolate. The lime brightens the room and definitely adds the "happy".

An accent piece of furniture is a great way to add color to you home. Below is a beautiful painted chest - great DIY project. Also below is the Forest chair, which adds interest with it's green color and unique shape.

via Interior Stylist

via Burostoel

How about a lime green vintage bathtub? It's the perfect statement piece is an otherwise white bathroom. If you're not feeling so bold, you could just opt for the lime and white towels in your bath.

via Feedly

For a perfectly balanced living room that incorporates green, use it on curtains, a small stool or chair, and other accessories.

via Decor Pad

Have you used lime or apple green in your home? Share with us here or on Facebook.

Have I featured your happy color, yet? If not, tell me about your color and I'll be happy to add it to the series.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Paint Your Ceiling

The ceiling is the most neglected surface in any room. The ceiling is rarely thought about and even more rarely changed from the standard white paint. Yet changing the ceiling color, even very subtly has a more dramatic impact than any changes to the walls or flooring.  Afraid of ceiling color? You certainly aren’t alone. This post is full of inspiration to get you thinking about your ceiling with options ranging from subtle to extremely bold.
Starting with the subtle…
In previous posts, I shared my favorite ceiling tip: use the wall color at 50% strength on the ceiling. I use this particularly with bold wall colors and stained-wood built-ins as the bold colors and white ceiling usually clash and draw more attention to the ceiling. The result is subtle and adds a sophistication to rooms. For more on that tip read: To Paint or Not To Paint…The Ceiling.
A subtle option from House Beautiful, This ceiling is such an interesting feature that it absolutely deserves to be highlighted as a focal point. This room would lose so much character if the ceiling were white.

Yes, the room above is obvious because of the interesting architecture of the ceiling, a feature that most of use do not have in our own homes. A paint, wallpaper or other treatment can still have a significant impact in rooms with “plain” ceilings. The bedroom below features a serene blue paint on a plain ceiling, from Apartment Therapy. This small color change adds a lot of interest to the bedroom and could remain if the orange accessories were changed out for another color.

Now let’s step it up a notch with bolder colors featured on the ceilings and rooms where the major color impact is found on the ceiling.
From Apartment Therapy, this work space received a dramatic and uplifting ceiling color. The white walls keep the room feeling light, but the ceiling adds energy and interest to the space.

 

Another from Apartment Therapy, a bold orange ceiling color to enliven an otherwise traditional and formal living room. Again, the ceiling is the primary color source in the room.

Now let’s go extremely bold with ceiling paint! The next two rooms use the ceiling color and design to literally take the spaces to a whole new level.
From House Beautiful, this pea-green gingham painted ceiling makes a huge statement when coupled with the green kitchen island. The two sources of green create a wonderful balance in the room. The ceilings are also quite high in this kitchen. The paint brings them down, again adding to the sense of balance. What a fun place to be everyday!

From Interior Designer Albert Hadley, featured in House Beautiful, an iridescent ceiling in his personal study. A very bold choice, but it works well in this small space.

 

I hope these have inspired you to think out-of-the box when it comes to the most neglected surface in a room. Have you painted a ceiling? Have you seen other painted ceilings? Share your photos with us here or on Facebook!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Coco Tiles

I recently came across this very cool environmentally friendly product for numerous interior design and furniture applications: Coco Tiles.  These tiles are from Kirei, a company specializing in environmentally friendly and green building materials.

The Coco Tiles are made from reclaimed coconut shells, low-VOC resins, and sustainably harvested wood backer. And they are simply beautiful; creating texture and movement in a room! They can be used as decorative 12″x12″ tiles or 48″ x48″ panels and both vertically and horizontally.

Although they look very textural, they can be smooth to the touch. The tiles can be ordered as unfilled or filled in with a lacquer to make a polished surface, suitable for wet areas.

About Kirei: “Pronounced ‘Key-ray’, Kirei is the Japanese character signifying ‘beautiful’ or ‘clean’. We have chosen Kirei as the name for our company to reflect our dedication to the principals of
elegant, sustainable design”.
“Our goal is continual introduction of new materials while improving our production and business practices to be as low-impact and sustainable as possible.”

Want to see them locally? Visit Ellie’s Eco Home Store in Boulder, CO.


Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Easy Holiday Decor - Ribbons

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to spruce up standard Christmas decorating is with ribbon or tulle. Both can add texture, shimmer and color to your holiday scheme.

Use it on the tree.

Use it on the mantel.

Use it with the nativity.

Add it to any greenery, wreaths or garland.

And to take it up another notch - use the same ribbon or tulle throughout your home, then use it in your gift wrapping.

It makes a beautiful statement and takes your Christmas decor to a new level. The best part is you can reuse the ribbon for many years before it wears out! The amount of average household trash increase by 25% during the holidays. You'll be doing your part to reduce that, while making your holidays beautiful.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Favorite Things - Traffic Light Pendant

 Napa Style is one of my favorite Eco Home companies. They frequently reuse and refurbish items into fabulous, fun new products.  Here, modern, colorful and fun pendant lights have been created from old traffic lights.

The glass insulators, once a common sight on telegraph and telephone lines, make perfect sleeves for incandescent bulbs. And the old traffic lights and lenses—now being replaced by modern LEDs—are rescued, cleaned and cut as perfect shades.
These would be a great addition to a kitchen, or rec room or grouped over a dining table as a wonderful conversation starter.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com