Jumat, 10 Desember 2010

kitchen wallpaper borders

Decorating Kitchen Walls With Visual Allure


There is a room in every home that becomes the heart and center of one's surroundings. For some this room might be the family room, library or home office. In the majority of households today the room that seems to have the most congestion and activities that take place is the kitchen. We seem to gather in the kitchen with laughter and tales of the day. This place does much more for the human sole than just provide a place to fill one's stomach.

In most home designs the kitchen is the focal point. From most other rooms of the home you are able to see right into the kitchen. Because of this feature the kitchen becomes an important feature of your home decor.

Kitchen wall treatments are the key to decorating this busy room. Different wall treatments can be used to define a space by changing the texture, material or color. Kitchen wall treatments can create a space within a space.

It is best to decide which wall in the kitchen will be the focal point and then treat that space differently from those spaces around it. Experiment with different tones and shades and try varying the depth and texture for a truly unique concept.

A distinctive tile backsplash has the ability to create s focal point in the room. It is usually small and inexpensive. The visual impact you will achieve is hard to compare to other decorating techniques. This area gets so many splatters, so the backsplash is both decorative and functional. You can use ceramic, mosaic glass or stainless steel for easy clean up.

The colors you use in the kitchen can have a profound effect on the mood or ambience of the room. It is important to maintain balance with your own tastes in order to create perfect harmony. Using dark colors as accents gives a feeling of warmth and comfort. Colors such as red and orange can speed up your metabolism and make you hungry. Use these colors sparingly since they tend to also cause aggression.

Paint is the kitchen wall treatment that is the easiest to change, clean and least expensive of all. In most homes there are walls that are in less than perfect condition and it is hard to hide defects with paint alone. There are wall coverings that offer dimensions, warmth and eye appeal with surprisingly easy care.

There are many wallpaper options that run the gamut from contemporary to traditional. There are also tiles that were once strictly used for floors that are now being applied to walls for texture and visual allure.

Wallpaper can drastically change the look of your kitchen. There is self adhesive wallpaper available which is easy to install. Vinyl material is best suited for kitchens since it is easy to clean and very durable. It comes in a vast array of colors and patterns. Tiles can be more creative and will let you experiment with different tones. Tiles come in many different materials, shapes and styles.

Wallpaper borders can also be used to bring depth to your kitchen. If you do not like borders where the patterns keep repeating try a border that tells you a story. You can use wallpaper cut-outs and hand painted words that will make your family and friends feel comfortable. This will also be a conversation starter when neighbors arrive for a visit. Wallpaper borders are also not expensive and you do not need any special skills to apply wallpaper borders.

Another idea for the not so perfect wall is wood wall paneling. This decor gives your wall visual interest and one of its advantages is it is easy to maintain. Smudges and fingerprints do not show up easily, so you do not have to worry if somebody drops by unexpectedly.

For a bit of comfort and attractive appeal try wall plaques. This is a simple way to increase relaxation and beauty. If you have an unused wall or nook, make this space into a functional decorative storage space. Try hanging shelves for stylish organization. You might also try a fancy wrought iron hanger so that you can place your decorative plates along the wall. If your kitchen has a certain theme, you can purchase plates that match or compliment the theme. Framed family photos or cooking utensils placed just right can give you that pizzazz that you are looking for.

To give you that outdoor feeling indoors, a great idea is to hang metal wall planters. They are a versatile form of art that can transform you kitchen into a room with designer appeal. The metal wall planters can be modified with different flowers and foliage. They never look tired or outdated.

Now all you need to do is grab a pen and paper, make yourself a cup of coffee and sit at your kitchen table. Gaze out at your kitchen walls and let the creative side of you come alive. Let your imagination run wild and in no time you will create the kitchen of your dreams that will fit your personality and charm.

floral wallpaper border

Making Your Home Cozier With a Country Style Bathroom

Are you thinking about decorating

new bathroom in a country style theme, but have no idea where to begin? Maybe you are just tired of the way your bathroom looks now. Either way, everyone just needs to change an area in their home sometimes, perhaps to make it feel cozier and more welcoming. Converting your modern bathroom to country style may be just what the doctor ordered. Remodeling can get expensive, but this style of decorating is easily accomplished using things you may already have and a little paint.

Cozy country colors

Brown is a color that many people associate with country decor, but it can be a bit dull if overdone. Vibrant yellows, burnt orange and rusty reds bring a bath to life, while making it feel cozy. If you would like to create a calming atmosphere, then choose cool colors such as pastel blues, greens, pinks and even purples. Around the top of the walls, try putting up a floral wallpaper border; you might even consider an oak or pine chair rail around the room to add that country flair that only wood can offer.

Fixtures

When it comes to fixtures in a bathroom, most people don't think about changing the faucets and bathtubs in their home. A country themed bath with modern fixtures looks somehow incomplete; the two styles just don't work well together. A claw foot tub is a stunning and charming touch to a country bath, and a great place to unwind at the end of the day.

Brass faucets and wrought iron accents add further to the romantic, warm appeal. A pull-chain toilet will bring back memories of years ago, when life was lived at a much more relaxed, carefree pace. Many people cannot afford all of these changes, but incorporating just one will transform the mood of the room.

Storage ideas

To pull together a country themed bath, clutter should be removed from vanity tops. Hairbrushes, hair products, toothpaste, deodorant and other grooming items can be stored away in the cabinet under the sink, or you can convert an old table into a vanity that has an authentic antique appearance. Wicker baskets add to the charm, and are great for storing towels, toilet paper, and magazines. Set your wicker baskets on shelves or wherever you have floor space.

A lace shower curtain and braided rug made in warm colors add the finishing touches. Add a few dried floral arrangements in a vase for the vanity or hang them from the walls for additional interest. Lace and flowers soften the room, while wrought and cast iron provides the feeling of the old west; the combination of the two creates comfortable, cozy surroundings.

Whether your bathroom is old or new, modern or basic, make it a room that offers serenity and relaxation along with a soothing beauty that brings to mind days long gone by. Country decor is perfect for the bath!

Rabu, 08 Desember 2010

country wallpaper borders

Give Your Home a Fresh Look With Country Cottage Style Decor

Country Cottage decor offers a fresh approach to the pink-mauve-blue Country decorating that ran its course years ago. The secret to the new version of this decor lies in combining new and vintage elements in unusual ways.

This style starts with color, namely the classic primary colors of red, blue and yellow, plus a hefty helping of green. Add whites and creams as accents, and there are nearly infinite combinations for a Country Cottage home. That's a far cry from the restricted pastel palette of previous Country schemes.

Walls in this decor style can be painted in any combination of these basic colors. The style also welcomes wallpaper in charming country patterns and motifs. If an entire wall of wallpaper seems too daunting, wallpaper borders are an inexpensive and fairly easy way to incorporate some Country Cottage appeal into a room.

One of the most popular wall treatments in this style is an ample use of bead board. This type of wood can be found in natural shades, or already primed for paint. It's available at any hardware or home improvement store that carries wall paneling. One of the common ways to use bead board in Country Cottage style is to attach it to a wall up to the height of a chair rail, and top with molding. Bead board also is used to create shelves, headboards and cabinets as well.

When it comes to choose fabrics for this decorating style, think in terms of florals, checks and stripes, mixed together in complement colors. Checks, as in checked tablecloths and curtains, have long been a part of Country decor, but here they get a contemporary update partnered with florals and stripes. Keep in mind the harmony rule of decorating if using these patterns together; one pattern should dominate, while the others are used as accents.

Country Cottage Floors typically feature tile or natural wood flooring, topped with a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors of area rugs. Think in terms of floral rugs in living rooms and bedrooms, while braided area rugs or red rugs with an apple motif are perfect for the kitchen.

Keep in mind that the flooring itself can be painted with a pattern of stencils for greater appeal. If you choose to decorate a floor with painted stencils, then select solid color rugs so as not to clash with your beautiful floor. Don't forget to put a good coat of varnish on top of your floor decorations. Also don't be afraid to let the floor develop a distressed appearance. That timeworn look only adds to the country appeal.

Country Cottage Furniture tends to be simple and less ornate than other styles. It's often made of natural woods such as pine and oak. There are also lots of painted furniture pieces. Antique pieces or antique reproductions provide ideal accents to finish out this theme. Old pie safes, jelly cupboards, and other pieces make great additions to your country kitchen.

One of the advantages of the Cottage style is the freedom to mix up the furniture, as if it's been handed down through generations. Thus you can easily add some painted pieces in with the natural wood finishes, along with some weathered metal and other rustic touches. Simply think in terms of what will give your rooms the most welcoming, homey feel, and you'll be right in the Country Cottage style.

remove wallpaper border

How To Remove Wallpaper Borders

So you bought a new house. You love everything about it except for the ugly wallpaper borders in almost every room. Time to get them off the wall. Removing wallpaper borders is not an easy task, but with a few good tips and some elbow grease, you can get the job done.

The best way to remove the wallpaper border depends on what type of wallpaper was used, what type of surface it was glued on and what type of adhesive was used. One of the easiest things you can try is to use a hair dryer to heat the wallpaper border which may loosen the adhesive enough to let you peel it off.

Usually if the border has been glued to wallpaper, it will come off fairly easy. Slightly mist it down and use a plastic scraper to remove it from the wall. If the wallpaper border has a vinyl covering that won’t let the water or any commercial wallpaper remover soak through, use a perforation tool over the entire surface of the border to allow it to soak in.

If the wallpaper border has been glued directly onto a painted wall, use warm water and some commercially available wallpaper remover and give it plenty of time to soak in before you try to scrap it off.

Steaming also works well for removing wallpaper borders. Steam the entire surface of the wallpaper border. Start from the bottom to the topmost part in sections. If the adhesive is very strong, steam the boarder twice or more until the wallpaper boarder starts to loosen from the wall. Use a plastic or soft metal scraper to avoid damaging the wall. Scrape the border off the wall working from the bottom up. Use warm water and a clean sponge to remove any remaining adhesive from the wall.

Instead of using a commercially available wallpaper stripper, you can also use a mixture of fabric softener and water. Mix 1 capful of fabric softener with 1 quart of water. Pour it in a spray bottle and spray it right on the wallpaper border. For very strong adhesives, you can also use a sponge and soak the boarder with pure fabric softener.

Another “homemade” option is vinegar. Mix water and vinegar and pray it on, or use an old paint roller and roll it right on the wallpaper boarder. The stronger the wallpaper adhesive seems to be, the more vinegar you should use. Use the vinegar option as a last resort, since it will smell pretty strongly for a few days. Wipe the walls down with a damp rag after you removed the wallpaper boarder to get as much of the vinegar as possible off your wall.

jungle wallpaper border

Decorating With Jungle Wallpaper Border and Accessories

One of the things I love most about owning a home is being able to decorate it any way I see fit. I've rented for most of my adult life, and always hated the way I wasn't allowed to paint, hang pictures, or install different carpeting. I needed my security deposit back, so I couldn't afford to risk losing the money by doing something the landlord wouldn't approve of.

sports wallpaper border

Different Styles of Wallpaper Borders

When you are decorating a room in your home or office, you will want to make it look as good as you can. There are many ways that you can come up with your own unique style and design. One of those ways is to use a wallpaper border on your walls. This will add some flair and some design to any room.

There are so many different patterns of wallpaper borders that you can choose from. You will have the option of using anything that you like in your room. If you are trying to match a color or pattern that already exists in your room, you can do that easily. All you have to do is take a sample of your room color with your when you are ready to decide. That will allow you to get the best match that you possibly can.

Deciding on a wallpaper border can be a lot of fun. It can also be frustrating trying to decide on what patterns and style you want to achieve. If you are unsure of what would look best in your room, you may want to ask the advice of your friends or maybe even a professional. Either way, you will get different opinions for what you want for your design.

You can go with a theme for your room with wallpaper border. This is a fresh and creative way to make a statement in any room. You can find just about any pattern or design that you want in most stores. There is everything from stripes and flowers to seashells and wine bottles. You will be able to find the perfect one no matter what room you are trying to decorate.

You can use wallpaper borders for bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and even living rooms. The borders are not only for the top of the wall, but you can also place them in the middle of the wall or around doorways. This will add a special and unique style to any room in your home.

Children's rooms are another great place to decorate with a wallpaper border. You will be able to find sports designs, flowers, and even certain cartoon characters for the borders. Some of these creative designs can even be found to glow in the dark. You will add some special flair to any child's room when you install a wallpaper border for them.

There are two different kinds of wallpaper borders to choose from. You may want to have the kind that has adhesive on the back and is activated by water or you can purchase the type that requires paste for the back. Either way, you will be able to do the job yourself. They are both easy and will give a professional look in the end.

Kids Wallpaper Borders

Decorating A Kids Room In A Theme With Self Adhesive Wall Paper Borders

Self adhesive wall paper borders are great for decorating a kids room in a theme but applied in the wrong way and you could be calling in DIY SOS!!!

This article will take you through the steps of how to apply self adhesive wall paper borders for kids to your childs bedroom without tears before bedtime.......

The first thing you should always do when applying self adhesive wall paper borders to your kids bedroom wall is give it a good old clean. You should concentrate on cleaning the areas of your child's wall where the border is to be placed and make sure it free of any dust and grease.

If you have just painted your child's bedroom wall it may feel dry but leave it a couple of days to make sure it is dry.

When the bedroom wall is dry (and only when it is dry!), measure up the wall and roughly mark out where the border is to go. This is only a guide so don't take too much time drawing exact lines all the way along the wallpaper, little dashes along the bedroom wall will suffice.

Right, now the boring preparation work is out of the way let the fun begin! Take your chosen self adhesive wall paper border and peel about 20cm off the roll and place it horizontally straight on the wall.

Use the markings that you made earlier on your kids bedroom wall to unroll the self adhesive wall paper border keeping it straight. Whilst applying your self adhesive wall paper border use your hand to smooth out any bubbles or creases.

Congratulations you have just livened up your child's bedroom and put yourself in contention for parent of the year!