Interior Decorating Ideas

There are many different styles and fabric types that can be used when deciding on the perfect set of curtains for the rooms you are decorating in the home. Silk is a particularly popular fabric for a variety of reasons and embroidered silk curtains gives the room an added boost of color and appeal.

Silk is a beautiful fabric that looks superb when allowed to flow in long waves such as you would see with a decorative curtain. Although silk curtains look luxurious simply as plain fabric, they come to life even more fully when they have been embroidered. There is no limit to the kinds of patterns that can be stitched into silk curtains to create the kind of curtains that will make a simple and subtle difference to a room.

It’s possible to buy plain silk curtains and do the embroidery yourself if you are equipped with the creative abilities necessary to do the job justice. But the simplest way to get the perfect embroidered silk curtains is to buy them already made.

They can be bought as light, sheer curtains to give a breezy feel to the room or they may be lined to make them more substantial affording greater privacy from the outside.

The wonderful thing about embroidered silk curtains is that there is a restrained elegance about the embroidery on them. Rather than going overboard and ending up with a set of curtains that look too busy, you may choose a set of curtains you come across rely on the beauty of the silk itself to make a stunning impression with the embroidery confined to either the top or the bottom of the curtains or perhaps both.

Alternately the curtains could be decorated with a simple floral design that is repeated over the curtains to give them an understated elegance. Part of the appeal of silk curtains is the subtle shimmer they give off and when this is combined with an Eastern influenced embroidered design they simply exude a sophistication that takes them beyond.

The designer of a particularly distinctive coffee table was Isamu Noguchi, a sculptor who also designed some home and office furnishings of renown. The Noguchi coffee table is a glass-topped coffee table that is supported by an imaginatively balanced pair of wood supports that make it appear impossible to support the table top.

The Noguchi coffee table was first brought into production in the 1940s when it was manufactured by the Hermann Miller Company. This puts the table style firmly in the retro era and is very representative of the progressive nature of the designers that were creating furniture at the time.

The glass table top is a rounded triangular shape that is almost delicately rested on top of the wood supports. It is an example of effective minimalism that works amazingly well due to the elegance of the lines that are created. Variations of the coffee table come down to the different types of wood finish for the table base with walnut, cherry and a matte black finish that sets off the rest of the table incredibly effectively.

The abilities of the sculptor are firmly exhibited in the design of the Noguchi coffee table with a restrained elegance demonstrating that a piece of furniture does not have to be overly decorated with additional features for it to be an attractive piece.

The Noguchi coffee table has become a cultural icon and a piece of furniture that has become a popularly sought after collectors piece. It is a functional table that is also an exceptional work of art.

One of the great things about fashion and interior design trends is that the old fashions always come back into style. The retro era was a particularly distinctive fashion era and was shunned in the 1980s as the epitome of bad taste. These days retro is coming back and rooms are being designed around the retro fashion designs. To finish off a retro room you should complete the look by hanging retro curtains on the windows.

Here are some great retro curtains available for sale. Click on a link to get more information.

RETRO WHIMSICAL TEA POTS TEAPOT CUPS VALANCE CURTAINS    US $25.00

RETRO STRIPED BASEBALL GLOVE BAT BALLS VALANCE CURTAINS    US $18.50

4 curtains, chocolate brown and lime green - cool retro    US $8.06

Handmade Retro Atomic Kitchen Curtains Never Used, FABULOUS!    US $159.99

VINTAGE RETRO DUPONT ALATHON PLASTIC SANITIZED DRAPES-CURTAINS NOS    US $9.99

RARE FIND RETRO PEPSI SODA CAPS LOGO VALANCE CURTAINS    US $49.99

Paisley Drapes Curtains Retro 70's Design Modern Green Pink Funky Pom Pom Trim    US $25.99

FLOWER POWER Retro BL Home CURTAINS 84x84 (2 Panels) BEDROOM Teen Black Pink NEW    US $21.61

Retro Watermelon Rainbow Tie Dye Sheer Fashion Fabric 60"w BTY Curtains Clothing    US $6.95

RETRO 50S KITCHY CHERRY CHERRIES WHITE VALANCE CURTAINS    US $37.99

RETRO BUFF MUSCLE CAR CARS VALANCE CURTAINS MUSTANG GTO    US $38.00

PAIR 1960's RETRO MOD HIPPIE FLOWER CURTAINS WHITE SHEER    US $14.99

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Retro curtains have a distinctive pattern style about them with specific types of colors dominating the overall theme. Large, bold prints particularly with floral overtones were very popular in the retro period with no fear that the curtains might overpower the rest of the room.

In fact one of the biggest factors to come out of the late 1960s and early 1970s was the use of the floral print in all kinds of situations. The floral curtains were definitely a part of this and if you were trying to replicate this look you would have to go after some of the more funky types of curtains out there.

Take a look at the loud retro floral curtains for sale.

NEW RETRO Floral FABRIC BATHROOM BATH SHOWER CURTAIN    US $11.99

Retro Flower Floral Fabric Bathroom Bath Shower Curtain    US $26.95

Curtain VALANCE Retro Floral Sunburst in Shades of Teal Turquoise with Brown    US $14.50

Curtain VALANCE Retro Floral Leaf Mushroom in BOLD colors on Tan Background    US $17.50

Curtain VALANCE-RETRO BLUE FLORAL daisy white brown    US $16.50

Vintage Retro 1960's Floral 100% Cotton Curtain: Fabric Made In Sweden    US $55.30

Linen Cotton Curtain Fabric Retro Floral White Oatmeal    US $10.98

Cotton Curtain Fabric Homespun Retro Floral Rose Green    US $7.98

Bloomcraft Hvy Linen MOD Retro Vintage Shower Curtain Florals Oranges Nice    US $11.49

New Retro Spirograph Floral Fabric Shower Curtain Purple Pop Mod Modern    US $21.99

FLORAL Vinyl Shower Curtain HOT PINK GREEN ORANGE MULTI-COLORED RETRO    US $10.99

SCRUMMY PAIR VINTAGE RETRO 40s 50s FLORAL SPRAY BARKCLOTH CURTAINS SHABBY CHIC    US $15.78

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There is actually a great deal more range of choice when it comes to types of retro curtains than with a lot of other fashion periods with virtually an “anything goes” policy. Paisley was a popular choice as we moved from the 1960s to the 1960s and it didn’t matter if the colors were burnt orange or mauve the retro curtains were still considered suitable for most rooms.

A big influence during this period was man’s adventure into outer space with the Space Age glaringly apparent in many of the designs to come out of the period. The curtains were not immune to the touches from the modern technology that came out of the space program.

The retro style is all about the era in which the curtains were designed and made. The 1950s, 60s and 70s are classed as the retro era and reflected the mood of the populace, the exuberance of post-war life and the experimentation with the many technological breakthroughs that were taking place.

You can really make a distinction between the early and late retro period curtains with a definite difference found between the curtains that came out of both ends of the era. The early retro era was distinguished by more solemn curtains that often featured pinch-pleat valances. The later retro curtains were more bold and explored color a lot more fully.

Although the retro period has long since passed, it is being revived through the love of progressive furnishings. Due to the comeback of the retro era it should not be too difficult to pick out suitable retro curtains that twill do justice to the retro room in which it will sit.

If you already have a kitchen island but are still running out of bench space you may be at a loss as to what to do to solve your problem. The answer may be as simple as expanding the kitchen island to meet your needs. This may require some work if you are going to get it done yourself but it will save you the expense of having to buy a larger kitchen island.

Expanding the kitchen island will involve careful consideration of how much floor space you can afford to lose and then, so you won’t have to go through the process again, how big you will need the island expanded to. The first thing you are going to have to ensure is that there is enough room in the kitchen to handle the expansion. If there is already barely enough room in the kitchen you are going to have to consider removing something such as existing cabinetry or relocating the island to a more suitable spot. A quick way to test whether the expanded kitchen island is going to fit is to mark out the boundaries of the proposed island with masking tape. As you move through the kitchen it will help you determine whether it will allow the traffic to flow unimpeded.

With any luck the expansion will only need to occur on one end of the island, although the chances are to make it look symmetrical, it will have to be expanded at either end.

Depending on the flooring that you have you may need to remove some of the floor covering so the larger island will fit and look like it has always been there. You will then have to begin the construction of the framework of the new cabinet. With any luck you can use a portion of the existing cabinetry.

A new countertop to fit the larger island will have to be installed and then the finishing touches may be added such as the kick plate etc. The color and finish of the expanded kitchen island will be determined by the rest of the room, hopefully it will blend in with the rest of the kitchen décor.

Rather than go through a permanent kitchen island expansion there is also an option that will allow the kitchen island to expand on an as-needed basis.

When you are not blessed with a great deal of available space in the kitchen / breakfast room area but you would like a kitchen island and possibly a breakfast table or some kind of dining area you will be fairly limited in your options. Ina great space saving solution there are reasonably sized kitchen islands that expand out into dining table by simply sliding the top out when it is needed.

The ideal version of these expanding kitchen island / dining table combinations will provide you with a food preparation area that is high enough to work comfortably at, and then, when it expands into the dining table configuration the table top height will lower itself to a normal dining table height.

Interior design isn’t only about finding solutions for the home that is visible to the eye. It is also about coming up with ideas that are innovative and useful too. Finding storage solutions that aren’t immediately apparent is something of an art and is applauded when done right.

In order to increase the storage capacity in your home the greatest source of unused space is under the roof in the attic. There are many ways to access the attic from a permanent set of stairs to a ladder that you might bring in from outside. But the easiest and most convenient is the attic ladder that can be stored by retracting into the ceiling behind a trapdoor. A well known and reliable company that produces a wide range of attic ladders is Werner. We’ll take a brief look at some of the different types of Werner attic ladders available and the situations in which you might want to choose them.

Folding Aluminum Access Ladder – this is a Werner attic ladder that has a 300lb load capacity. Made from aluminum it is lightweight and can be pulled down easily yet it’s sturdy and durable. There are 5 different models of this particular attic ladder, each of them use an opening size of 22-1/2” x 54”. The difference comes in the lengths of the ladder or the width which is either 14-5/8” or 17-5/8”. These ladders are available in minimum heights ranging from 7’ to 10.5’. The aluminum ladder can be found for around $200.00.

Folding Wood Access Ladder – the wood folding access ladder is very similar to the aluminum version except that it has a lower load capacity of 250lbs. The stairs on the wooden attic ladder are rodded to give them extra strength and the installation is a simple process because the entire unit comes fully assembled. This attic ladder can be bought for around $180.00.

Telescoping Attic Ladder – known as the Televator, this telescoping attic ladder allows access to the attic while using an access hole that is smaller in dimensions to the other attic ladders. The ladder itself is more like a traditional ladder and can be pulled straight down from the ceiling. Once you open the hatch you can easily pull down the ladder until it locks into place with a minimum of fuss. This aluminum ladder is available in two sizes, either a maximum of 8’4” or 10’3”. You can pick up a Werner Telescoping attic ladder for around $220.00.

Folding Heavy Duty Attic Ladder – the heavy duty Werner attic ladder comes in three widths rather than just two and has a maximum load capacity of up to 350lbs. This is a wood ladder and it is heavier than the other units but the ladder and the treads are sturdier than the others. The opening in the ceiling may have to larger to cater for the wider ladder. This is the ladder you want to get if you feel you will be visiting the attic on a regular basis, particularly if you think you’re going to be carrying some large items up and down the steps. You can buy a heavy duty attic ladder starting from around $160.00 but price will depend on the size of the ladder you buy.

There are a number of factors you’re going to have to consider before you buy a new attic ladder. The frequency with which you plan to use it, the things you will be likely to be carrying and whether you prefer a wood ladder to an aluminum one. With Werner you will be dealing with one of the premier ladder companies in the business so you can rely on the fact that you will be buying a quality product.