As a mother of two I know how important sleep is and as an interior designer I know how to help people create the right environment to achieve it.
1. Go easy on the colour scheme. Avoid dark, heavy colours and bright, stimulating colours, like navy blue, burgundy, red and bright orange. Instead, steer towards the softer more subtle tones of pale green, soft peach, gentle coral, pale blue and soft butter yellow. You can add highlights and accents of bolder colours but keep the bulk of the bedroom in soft neutrals or pale tints of colour to create a restful environment.
2. Avoid filling your bedroom with gym equipment, computers and TV's. Remove all mental and physically stimulating items. The bedroom is where you go to sleep so make sure that the rooms makeup portrays a cosy, comfortable and relaxing feeling.
3. Keep furniture to minimum- bedside tables, the occasional chair, set of drawers. Allow the bed to dominate and keep furniture uncluttered. You want to unclutter your mind before you sleep, so set the scene in your bedroom.
4. Ventilation. We all need fresh air for a good healthy lifestyle, so ensure your bedroom is well ventilated. During the day open windows and in the heat of summer, use a fan or air-conditioning to keep the temperature at a constant, comfortable level. In winter, try adding a few more blankets and keep the heating to a minimum as this can dry your body out and you will wake feeling tired and dehydrated.
5. Darkness. This triggers a reaction in your brain to sleep, so try blackout curtain linings. These are fantastic for places with daylight savings or people with young children. They keep the room dark and are very good if you have streetlights outside that shine through your windows. Wooden shutters can be used in warmer countries that don't require draperies but aren't as good as blackout linings.
6. Sheets. Cotton! 100%- no polycotton. Cotton absorbs moisture better than polycotton and allows you to stay cool and feel fresh whilst sleeping, and they don't pill. Choose high quality cotton sheets with a high thread count- anything over 200 are good quality.
7. Quality duvet- from personal experience 100% goosedown is the best option. It is light yet incredibly warm and they last forever. It absorbs moisture, which then evaporates into the air keeping you warm and dry. Did you know that you lose on average a litre of water every night while you sleep? Thank goodness for goosedown duvets and cotton sheets! Wool is another quality product for duvets. It has similar features to down but is a lot heavier.
8. The perfect bed. This is one thing I can't tell you- which type of bed is best as it really is a personal choice. But I can tell you to spend as much as your budget allows on a good quality mattress. As you have read above, you lose a lot of moisture from your body at night, so the mattress must breathe. It should be firm enough to support your body but not too hard that you ache lying on it. Some mattresses allow for turning, which reduces the eventual role-together syndrome. Slat beds allow you to adjust the slats to make your bed firmer or softer. Some beds come in two parts so each partner can have different spring mattresses. The choices are endless, so definitely lie on as many as possible before you buy!
9. A good quality pillow will ensure your neck is well supported and provide you with the environment for a good nights sleep. Most top class hotels allow you to order the pillow you require, as they know the difference it makes to a guests enjoyment of their stay. Whatever product you select, remember it should breathe and be comfortable fro you. It should be replaced every two years as they get flattened and lose their shape and fail to support you any longer. I have slept at a friend's house on a pillow that had lavender essentials oils built in- wow did I have a good nights sleep! The choice of pillow is extensive- as you can see they even come scented now!
10. Keep the lighting soft- you want to set the mood for sleep. The subtle glow from a side lamp is best. Enough so that you don't crash into anything, but your body has started to count down to a good nights sleep.
Lee Brown is a professional designer with 15 years experience and co founder of interiordezine.com, a website dedicated to providing free interior design and decorating information.
http://www.interiordezine.com
For your free interior decorating course visit
http://www.interiordezine.com/index.cfm/Products/interior_decorating_ecourse
For more information on bedroom design visit bedrooms.interiordezine.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Brown
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Design Your Home Sweet Home by Yourself With Your Design Theme Choice
First, you have to prepare your floor plan of your home. Then, you have to decide which area you want to redesign or remodeling.
There are a few questions must be provided before you start to design your home:
1. What is your home design theme do you want? modern minimalist, art deco, resort, transitional or ethnic contemporary?
2. What is your most favorite color do you like?
3. Any specific needs of your family member for their room? For example, your son has so many toys at his room, so he needs some cabinet or display to keep.
4. And the important thing is, how many budget do you have to redesign your home? This will determine everything.
Modern minimalist is the most favorite design theme that people like. Because it is simple , clean look, easy to maintain and no need a lot of furniture. I think for 3-5 years from now, people still will like it. And because it is simple style, so no need many colors to use. But, the important thing is, you must careful with the size of material will be used ( must be accurate and suitable with the lay out of the room , so will look nice ).
But, for some persons, they prefer like a transitional design. What is transitional design? It is combination of contemporary style and traditional ( ethnic ) style.
Transitional design is a brilliant new take on an old thought. The combination is fast becoming the decorating style of choice for many who are ready for a change. Embracing the comfort of traditional design with the stylish looks of contemporary design, consider pairing traditional-looking furnishing with contemporary fabrics like ultra suede or chenille.
Transitional decorating represents a kind of compromise between contemporary and traditional decor, a halfway point in which the subtle elegance of contemporary styles meets the comfort and familiarity of traditional styles.
Similarly, some of the sleek lines and stark minimalism that define contemporary decor are replaced by the gentle curves, coziness, comfort, and lived in appeal of traditional decor in the transitional interior.
And how about art deco style? Art deco style is almost same with the modern minimalist style but the colors more blowing and appears. Usually colors used are red, orange, yellow, blue and purple. But sometimes black and white color also can be used, depends on the color theme.
Art deco usually come with wall art painting ( with blocks, squares and stripes design ) in variety and mixed colors. For myself, I rather prefer this style. Why? Because, I like the colorful of the art painting and it looks modern and young.
And do you know about the ethnic style? Ethnic style is mixed with javanese and balinese style from Indonesia. Many people from European like this style. Especially with the balinese style. Yes, it is unique, and not everybody can do the design. For the materials also not easy to find. Just in tropical country can provide, such as coco husk for feature wall or the special woods from Bali. And chiefly, the home accessories such as coconut bowl, wood plate, plants for indoor or outdoor and many thing else not easy to provide as well. But, do not worry, nowadays, many stores online can provide these items. You can buy from them by online and they will deliver to you directly.
Home furniture admirably important for home designing decision. If every materials ( carpentry works, home accessories, lighting, tiles, painting colors and others ) used are already suitable with the design theme but if the furniture not appropriate, it will look awful.
So, you have to learn more about the furniture style properly before you start to design your cozy home sweet home.
For further information of home designing, you can visit to my web, http://www.designhomefurniture.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Wang
There are a few questions must be provided before you start to design your home:
1. What is your home design theme do you want? modern minimalist, art deco, resort, transitional or ethnic contemporary?
2. What is your most favorite color do you like?
3. Any specific needs of your family member for their room? For example, your son has so many toys at his room, so he needs some cabinet or display to keep.
4. And the important thing is, how many budget do you have to redesign your home? This will determine everything.
Modern minimalist is the most favorite design theme that people like. Because it is simple , clean look, easy to maintain and no need a lot of furniture. I think for 3-5 years from now, people still will like it. And because it is simple style, so no need many colors to use. But, the important thing is, you must careful with the size of material will be used ( must be accurate and suitable with the lay out of the room , so will look nice ).
But, for some persons, they prefer like a transitional design. What is transitional design? It is combination of contemporary style and traditional ( ethnic ) style.
Transitional design is a brilliant new take on an old thought. The combination is fast becoming the decorating style of choice for many who are ready for a change. Embracing the comfort of traditional design with the stylish looks of contemporary design, consider pairing traditional-looking furnishing with contemporary fabrics like ultra suede or chenille.
Transitional decorating represents a kind of compromise between contemporary and traditional decor, a halfway point in which the subtle elegance of contemporary styles meets the comfort and familiarity of traditional styles.
Similarly, some of the sleek lines and stark minimalism that define contemporary decor are replaced by the gentle curves, coziness, comfort, and lived in appeal of traditional decor in the transitional interior.
And how about art deco style? Art deco style is almost same with the modern minimalist style but the colors more blowing and appears. Usually colors used are red, orange, yellow, blue and purple. But sometimes black and white color also can be used, depends on the color theme.
Art deco usually come with wall art painting ( with blocks, squares and stripes design ) in variety and mixed colors. For myself, I rather prefer this style. Why? Because, I like the colorful of the art painting and it looks modern and young.
And do you know about the ethnic style? Ethnic style is mixed with javanese and balinese style from Indonesia. Many people from European like this style. Especially with the balinese style. Yes, it is unique, and not everybody can do the design. For the materials also not easy to find. Just in tropical country can provide, such as coco husk for feature wall or the special woods from Bali. And chiefly, the home accessories such as coconut bowl, wood plate, plants for indoor or outdoor and many thing else not easy to provide as well. But, do not worry, nowadays, many stores online can provide these items. You can buy from them by online and they will deliver to you directly.
Home furniture admirably important for home designing decision. If every materials ( carpentry works, home accessories, lighting, tiles, painting colors and others ) used are already suitable with the design theme but if the furniture not appropriate, it will look awful.
So, you have to learn more about the furniture style properly before you start to design your cozy home sweet home.
For further information of home designing, you can visit to my web, http://www.designhomefurniture.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Wang
Designer's Guide to Choosing the Right Bed For Your Bedroom
Choosing the right bed is vital for a good nights sleep and a productive day following. I can't tell you which one to buy but I can provide you with some things to look for to help make your own bed buying decision.
Things to look for are:
1. Size. Think about where you are going to put your bed. Does it need to fit through narrow doors or go up narrow stairwells? Measure it to ensure you can get it into your home and then that it will fit in your bedroom. Sounds simple but it can be an expensive mistake if overlooked!
2. Support. Try out the mattress, lie on the bed in the store, take your time and try different positions. Ensure you feel supported, that the bed is not too soft or too hard. You will need to spend quite a bit of time doing this- take a book with you and leave the kids at home!
3. Comfort. Is it warm to lie on? It may have a wool topper that makes it feel soft and cosy. Get someone to lie beside you, ask then to move around and toss and turn to see if it upsets your side of the bed. You want to both be able to have an undisturbed lights sleep.
4. Design. Something that often sways out decision the wrong way is what it looks like! As a designer I know it is important, but not as important as what you lie on! Find the mattress first, then look at the bed head and matching furniture. Don't let design get in the way.
5. Price. Beds vary greatly in price and so does the quality. Most mattresses will last for 10 years but you should start checking for wear and tear after five years. The price does often reflect the quality of the beds structure and the mattress materials. So spend as much as your budget will allow remembering that you do spend a third of your life in bed! I know sometimes it doesn't feel like it but averaged out over your lifetime it is a great deal of lying down, so best be comfortable!
Main Types of Beds
Spring Base or Boxed Base Beds
These have large coil springs in the base and are boxed in. the spring mattress then sits on top. This style of bed has been popular but is losing its status, as it tends to sag in the middle over time and is heavy and cumbersome to move in the bedroom and clean around. It also doesn't allow for any under bed storage- vital in small apartment bedrooms.
Flexi-slat Base
This is becoming a popular choice of bed as it allows for air movement under the mattress, leaves space for under bed storage, has adjustable slats to personalise the support of the bed and is easy to get in and out of small apartments or through narrow stairwells as the base comes apart and can be reassembled. It is easy to clean around and the bed will never sag in the middle due to the style of slat construction- a support strut through the centre of the bed. Ensure you love the design of the bed head, as this is usually part of the bed construction and will be expensive to alter at a later date.
Solid Base
Not recommended as an everyday base as there is no movement, it doesn't breathe and is very hard to lie on it generally used as a spare bed in a guest room as it is usually an economical price for a bed. Solid slats are available and a better option.
Main Types of Mattresses
Spring Mattress
Most mattresses use coil springs. They vary by the spring size and their configuration and packing: the springs are wrapped in cotton and then covered with wool or latex. The amount of padding varies and defines the comfort level.
The topping of the mattress varies and is either wool or latex. You can purchase additional toppings to enhance the comfort level of the mattress. The mattress is covered in a breathable fabric and often has airholes for ventilation.
Latex Mattress
Latex is a natural product but is also produced synthetically. The latex is manufactured with a series of small holes. It feels unusual to lie on if you have come from a spring mattress as it is firmer and has less movement. It is a cost effective mattress as latex is very strong and durable and lasts for a long time.
Memory Foam
I just tried this out last week- it feels really bizarre. It was supportive and had no "sound", no movement and was very solid to touch. The foam was invented by the space programme and is relatively new on the market. It has a high price point but like latex is very durable and has a long life expectancy.
Foam Mattress
A simple, synthetic foam mattress is ideal for a trundler bed, spare bunk bed or as a throw down on the floor mattress for visiting kids. However, it isn't very supportive and doesn't breathe so is not recommended for everyday sleeping.
So now you are armed with basic bed knowledge you can go and quiz the sales people at the bed store to find yourself the perfect bed.
Lee Brown is a professional designer with 15 years experience and co founder of http://www.interiordezine.com - a website dedicated to providing free interior design and decorating information.
For your free interior decorating course visit free interior decorating course Find more information on bedroom design.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Brown
Things to look for are:
1. Size. Think about where you are going to put your bed. Does it need to fit through narrow doors or go up narrow stairwells? Measure it to ensure you can get it into your home and then that it will fit in your bedroom. Sounds simple but it can be an expensive mistake if overlooked!
2. Support. Try out the mattress, lie on the bed in the store, take your time and try different positions. Ensure you feel supported, that the bed is not too soft or too hard. You will need to spend quite a bit of time doing this- take a book with you and leave the kids at home!
3. Comfort. Is it warm to lie on? It may have a wool topper that makes it feel soft and cosy. Get someone to lie beside you, ask then to move around and toss and turn to see if it upsets your side of the bed. You want to both be able to have an undisturbed lights sleep.
4. Design. Something that often sways out decision the wrong way is what it looks like! As a designer I know it is important, but not as important as what you lie on! Find the mattress first, then look at the bed head and matching furniture. Don't let design get in the way.
5. Price. Beds vary greatly in price and so does the quality. Most mattresses will last for 10 years but you should start checking for wear and tear after five years. The price does often reflect the quality of the beds structure and the mattress materials. So spend as much as your budget will allow remembering that you do spend a third of your life in bed! I know sometimes it doesn't feel like it but averaged out over your lifetime it is a great deal of lying down, so best be comfortable!
Main Types of Beds
Spring Base or Boxed Base Beds
These have large coil springs in the base and are boxed in. the spring mattress then sits on top. This style of bed has been popular but is losing its status, as it tends to sag in the middle over time and is heavy and cumbersome to move in the bedroom and clean around. It also doesn't allow for any under bed storage- vital in small apartment bedrooms.
Flexi-slat Base
This is becoming a popular choice of bed as it allows for air movement under the mattress, leaves space for under bed storage, has adjustable slats to personalise the support of the bed and is easy to get in and out of small apartments or through narrow stairwells as the base comes apart and can be reassembled. It is easy to clean around and the bed will never sag in the middle due to the style of slat construction- a support strut through the centre of the bed. Ensure you love the design of the bed head, as this is usually part of the bed construction and will be expensive to alter at a later date.
Solid Base
Not recommended as an everyday base as there is no movement, it doesn't breathe and is very hard to lie on it generally used as a spare bed in a guest room as it is usually an economical price for a bed. Solid slats are available and a better option.
Main Types of Mattresses
Spring Mattress
Most mattresses use coil springs. They vary by the spring size and their configuration and packing: the springs are wrapped in cotton and then covered with wool or latex. The amount of padding varies and defines the comfort level.
The topping of the mattress varies and is either wool or latex. You can purchase additional toppings to enhance the comfort level of the mattress. The mattress is covered in a breathable fabric and often has airholes for ventilation.
Latex Mattress
Latex is a natural product but is also produced synthetically. The latex is manufactured with a series of small holes. It feels unusual to lie on if you have come from a spring mattress as it is firmer and has less movement. It is a cost effective mattress as latex is very strong and durable and lasts for a long time.
Memory Foam
I just tried this out last week- it feels really bizarre. It was supportive and had no "sound", no movement and was very solid to touch. The foam was invented by the space programme and is relatively new on the market. It has a high price point but like latex is very durable and has a long life expectancy.
Foam Mattress
A simple, synthetic foam mattress is ideal for a trundler bed, spare bunk bed or as a throw down on the floor mattress for visiting kids. However, it isn't very supportive and doesn't breathe so is not recommended for everyday sleeping.
So now you are armed with basic bed knowledge you can go and quiz the sales people at the bed store to find yourself the perfect bed.
Lee Brown is a professional designer with 15 years experience and co founder of http://www.interiordezine.com - a website dedicated to providing free interior design and decorating information.
For your free interior decorating course visit free interior decorating course Find more information on bedroom design.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Brown
Where Do Granite Slabs Come From?
Granite, the widely acclaimed material for kitchen, bathroom, vanity, fireplaces, mantles and many other such applications basically is an igneous rock formed by the intense heat and pressure of the volcanoes, over a period of time is transformed to a metamorphic rock. Granite, feldspar and quartz are the main components with some minor quantities of mica and other minerals. The quantity of feldspars presence and the different mountain terrains across the world impart the diverse color to granite.
Granite is quarried across the world with the major part being imported to the United States is from India, Brazil, Italy, China and some parts of Africa. It is from the quarries that the granite is excavated in the form of large blocks. The blocks could be 20 feet in length, 10 feet in height and more than 10 feet wide, blocks do not have to be a standard size, at times blocks could be much larger, up to 50 feet in height.
These granite blocks are then cut using the sophisticated and modern state of the art machinery, making easier the transportation of these blocks to the stockyards. Further, in the stockyard the granite blocks are sawed to get the desired thickness of slabs. These granite slabs are checked for fissures and surface pits by the resin process. Then granite slabs are subjected to polishing with abrasives and diamond wheels which brings out the beauty of texture, pattern and the color in the granite.
The granite slabs are then stacked together into various categories, based on color and thickness, and dispatched to the importers or the local warehouses per their requirements.
Marble City Company is the leading and largest importer of granite slabs in the Bay Area, California.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R_Govindan
Granite is quarried across the world with the major part being imported to the United States is from India, Brazil, Italy, China and some parts of Africa. It is from the quarries that the granite is excavated in the form of large blocks. The blocks could be 20 feet in length, 10 feet in height and more than 10 feet wide, blocks do not have to be a standard size, at times blocks could be much larger, up to 50 feet in height.
These granite blocks are then cut using the sophisticated and modern state of the art machinery, making easier the transportation of these blocks to the stockyards. Further, in the stockyard the granite blocks are sawed to get the desired thickness of slabs. These granite slabs are checked for fissures and surface pits by the resin process. Then granite slabs are subjected to polishing with abrasives and diamond wheels which brings out the beauty of texture, pattern and the color in the granite.
The granite slabs are then stacked together into various categories, based on color and thickness, and dispatched to the importers or the local warehouses per their requirements.
Marble City Company is the leading and largest importer of granite slabs in the Bay Area, California.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R_Govindan
Netsuke Designers - Artistically Expressive
The awe and fascination that Netsuke still continues to bring to us today, from a Japanese culture in a time frame of over 300 years ago, still can stir the emotions of today's various cultural backgrounds of Netsuke makers and Netsuke collectors from all around the world. Just as back then in the socially controlled era of Japan's people, the original highly expressive tiny little detailed one-inch objects would openly say so much through the very detailed and exquisite formations of carvings that only Netsuke was allowed to express under the Japanese dynasty rule.
Starting out so innocently by the means of quintessential needs of the Japanese, the small Netsuke toggles were first made only for holding in the personal belongings around their waists, while going throughout their average day. Since the Japanese traditional dress of Kimonos did not have pockets, there were pouches, or small woven boxes worn around the waists by most of the Japanese culture, so to carry along their coins, medicines, tobaccos and so forth, while going about their daily routines. It was the small 1-inch size toggle that kept the personal items from falling out of the personal carrying device.
In a closed society that was not allowed to be freely expressive, the Netsuke toggle soon became a way of quiet individual expression that could be worn. These Netsuke creations quickly became the ways of expressing all that was seen, desired and experienced during the daily lives of the average Japanese person. Not only were the Japanese Netsuke craftsmen personally being openly expressive and very individual with their highly detailed creations, but so were those that chose to wear the openly expressive Netsuke carvings.
Netsuke carvings would be based upon all of the different types of surroundings and actions of the natural world, such as animals above and below the seas, trees, and humanistic formations with and without animals intertwined, along with the fantasy realm of Japanese culture. Netsuke was and still is made today from some of the most precious natural resources around, such as various legal animal ivories, natural hard woods, hard ocean corrals, along with glass, and ceramic mixtures for making the delicately beautiful Netsuke art forms.
The Netsuke handcrafting designers and the collectors of today have continued to carry the history, tradition, the beauty and the passion for the love of Netsuke today, just as was felt by the original Japanese creators and collectors in the beginnings of Netsuke so many centuries ago within the Japanese culture.
Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Netsuke to Bronze and Silver Art
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Satin_Choudhary
Starting out so innocently by the means of quintessential needs of the Japanese, the small Netsuke toggles were first made only for holding in the personal belongings around their waists, while going throughout their average day. Since the Japanese traditional dress of Kimonos did not have pockets, there were pouches, or small woven boxes worn around the waists by most of the Japanese culture, so to carry along their coins, medicines, tobaccos and so forth, while going about their daily routines. It was the small 1-inch size toggle that kept the personal items from falling out of the personal carrying device.
In a closed society that was not allowed to be freely expressive, the Netsuke toggle soon became a way of quiet individual expression that could be worn. These Netsuke creations quickly became the ways of expressing all that was seen, desired and experienced during the daily lives of the average Japanese person. Not only were the Japanese Netsuke craftsmen personally being openly expressive and very individual with their highly detailed creations, but so were those that chose to wear the openly expressive Netsuke carvings.
Netsuke carvings would be based upon all of the different types of surroundings and actions of the natural world, such as animals above and below the seas, trees, and humanistic formations with and without animals intertwined, along with the fantasy realm of Japanese culture. Netsuke was and still is made today from some of the most precious natural resources around, such as various legal animal ivories, natural hard woods, hard ocean corrals, along with glass, and ceramic mixtures for making the delicately beautiful Netsuke art forms.
The Netsuke handcrafting designers and the collectors of today have continued to carry the history, tradition, the beauty and the passion for the love of Netsuke today, just as was felt by the original Japanese creators and collectors in the beginnings of Netsuke so many centuries ago within the Japanese culture.
Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Netsuke to Bronze and Silver Art
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Satin_Choudhary
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