PLAYGROUND COTTAGES HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.

Country N ModernPosted by admin on July 28th, 2011

I found this quiz along Alpha’s blog!

COUNTRY ‘N’ MODERN
It sounds unlikely, but rural properties are amazingly adaptable to a modern style – as your home proves. The country-meets-modern look relies on natural materials and, very often, the immediate landscape for inspiration. The result perfectly combines the simplicity of colour and form without overlooking basic comfort and, indeed, the practicalities of raising a family.

Living Room
You have a comfortably contemporary living room. The danger with the ‘modern look’ is that it too easily falls into the realm of the bland and insipid; ‘easy’ gets confused with ‘careless’ and the result is just downright dull! Perhaps of all the rooms in our homes, the living room can be the one that most expresses your sense of style and your interests. Think, too, about how and when you will most use the room. For example, do you want it light and airy or warm and cosy? Classic accessories — a chandelier, say, or a ‘Louis XV’ chair — can really help to lift an otherwise modern room and to mark it with your individual style. Neutral wall colours provide a calm, easy background, while eclectic black and white make for a bold, yet chic statement. Curled up on the sofa with a good book, your living room’s the perfect place for some “me-time”.

Bedroom
It’s a man’s world in the master bedroom. Sleep is fundamentally important to our well being. Clean, fresh air can truly aid sleep, but so, too, does a well-made bed and the best mattress you can afford. Touch is an important issue in the bedroom, from crisp, Luxury Bed Linen to wool or even sheepskin underfoot. You have quite a masculine – some might say hard – style in your bedroom, using classic, neutral colours and textures to create an oasis of calm.
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Some Ideas How to Display Kid’s ArtworkPosted by admin on July 14th, 2011

I never can run out of suggestions on how to display kids’ artwork. I only have two kids but my baskets and boxes are overflowing with their artwork from school and those they do at home. I wish I can find an effective way of storing, organizing and displaying them.

These giant laundry pins make great display for on-the-spot projects. They also make for great pins for to-do lists, bills and social security disability notices.

This is so cute!

Rooms That Work With No ColorPosted by admin on July 14th, 2011

I love how these rooms make the no-color scheme work and yet they do not end up being cold, too modern and uninviting.

Shades of white, black and grey, these rooms still manage to be interestingly layered, even cozy.

I wonder how these can be. I have always been vocal about my love for white things, and white sheets; and if I didn’t have any kids I would love a white bed and white room. Heck, I’d even want white shelves and a white tv stand! I particularly love this room, as it has all the elements you need in a gorgeous room without ever betraying the no-color scheme and still end up looking rich, cozy and inviting. I think the frames and art work did it, don’t you think so?

Picture Source.

Feature Home: Scandinavian DuplexPosted by admin on July 14th, 2011

I think I am falling in love more and more with Danish/Scandinavian homes. I have been finding myself lured into looking at them without even finding out at the end of a post that it is a home in Denmark/Norway/Scotland.

What has lured me into them?

1. The use of natural light in a home. Every home I have seen use lots of natural light – big windows, light colored-walls, etc.
2. So much space! I do not know if this is a camera trick but I love how a house isn’t divided by walls but is this huge space.
3. So homey yet so classy and modern at the same time. All decorations, even plaques, are effectively used and presented.

Here is an example:

This just got bumped into my most favorite home just yet!

Source of Pictures

Attic RoomsPosted by admin on June 16th, 2011

I have been vocal about my love for attic rooms as much as being vocal about my choice not to use any diet pills to lose weight, even if it comes from trusted sites like buyapidexin.com. It has always ben a childhood dream when I was a kid to be able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the house and retreat to my own castle

Here are some tips on placing furniture in an attic room where the ceiling is uneven: Place the bed below a window for symmetry and built in headboard. Take the traditional route by keeping wall colors and bedding neutral; let the architecture speak for itself.

How to Effectively Use Lighting in Your Kitchen (Using Kitchen Pendant Lighting Fixtures)Posted by admin on June 1st, 2011

Lighting plays a very important role in setting the ambiance of a room. This why there are different kinds of lighting technique employed in specific rooms. Interior designers employ the use of pendant lights and mini pendant lights

When used in the kitchen, these kitchen pendant lighting fixtures can set the mood especially at night when left lit by themselves. These types of fixtures are perfect for your kitchen island.

Basically you would need four types of lighting:
1. Task Lighting. This is the workhouse element of kitchen lighting and will provide adequate light . The optimum place for such lighting is between a person’s head and the actual work surface (and that is why lighting located below cabinets on the walls are very effective).

2. Ambient Lighting. This will create a warm glow to your kitchen and will fill the room as well as soften shadows and makes those entering the kitchen feeling instantly welcome

3. Accent Lighting. This will give depth and dimension to any kitchen and accent lighting is those fixtures which are placed inside a glassed front cabinet in order to illuminate the china, glassware or collectibles that are contained within it

4. Decorative Lighting. This type of lighting will add a sparkle to any space.

Inspiring Work from Life StationsPosted by admin on May 25th, 2011

I would not buy hemogex or even my dream designer handbag if only I can have any of these rooms as my work corner – lighting and all. I love working during early mornings when the sun’s rays are really rays of sunshine than rays of death by harmful UV rays.

I have a lot of pegs for my future work corners. It ranges from full rooms to hallyways to nooks. Right now, a corner of a room would be fine for me.

This one is something I can do with my current space:

Incorporating Art Details in the KitchenPosted by admin on May 25th, 2011

I have been debating with myself whether I can truly benefit from OxyElite Pro when I chanced upon these small but beautiful details in incorporating art pieces in the kitchen.

Look at the stamp of royalty in the basement kitchen. Love the combination of steel + wood:

Notice the stencil of a pink bird against the aqua-teal-bluish tint of the walls? Love it.

House Inspiration: Lived InPosted by admin on February 20th, 2011

Whenever I would describe my dream house, I go from modern to asian zen to minimalist and to shabby chic. One criteria doesn’t change though – I want it to feel and look lived in. Lived in means people actually like living there and staying there. I am sure pet beds will be a given in our house too, since my kids would want a pet.

I love this house, it just speaks like it is lived in for me. (House featured from Apartment Therapy)

Retro House InspirationPosted by admin on February 20th, 2011

For retro chic lovers, the pictures above would be perfect inspiration for you – - lots of pretty vintage items, a bit of fifties and sixties kitsch, candy-like colors, and cute feminine touches! I love seeing them and really find it cute but I know I would be able to maintain its cute-ness and would need the best wrinkle ream to be able to keep me from getting stressed over not being able to maintain it. If I were a single girl with no kids, I’d have one wall retro chic though. This is inspiring.