Have you seen wallpaper lately? Not the one on your smartphone, actual wall coverings for your walls.
According to Better Homes & Gardens, it’s a trend that’s back in a big way. But forget what you remember about your great grandmother’s dining room. It’s time to reconsider wallpaper and wall coverings. Today’s wallpaper styles are fantastically fresh, so you’re sure to find a pattern that appeals to your particular design aesthetic. There are even companies that allow you to create your own wallpaper design, send the file electronically and have it printed on different types of media for a custom, one-of-a-kind product.
Wallpaper prices vary greatly from $150 to $500 per square foot. You can purchase it at a big box home improvement store, but your choices may be limited. Interior decorators have access to hundreds of books filled with patterns and you can take them home and see what they look like in your home before committing.
Cutting, pasting, trimming and hanging wallpaper can be a challenge, especially if you’ve never done it before. Consider enlisting a friend or family member if you go this route, as an extra set of hands comes in, well, handy. Read this guide for some good tips on how to do the job right.
Most designers recommend not wallpapering whole rooms from floor to ceiling. Instead, consider these unique, eye-catching options:
- A bookcase backing
- An accent wall – particularly striking on an unconventionally-shaped wall in the room
- Highlight a piece of furniture like a coffee table or desk top
- A small space, such as an entryway or powder room
If you want to avoid some of the hassles of hanging wallpaper, consider wall panels. Fasade wall panels come in 4’x8’ sheets in traditional, modern and contemporary patterns. They install easily with construction-grade adhesive and are offered in a variety of colors, including a white you can paint to custom match your decor.
What do you think about wallpaper? Love it or hate, let us know in the comments!
While there are countless ways to beautify a kitchen, good design, functionality and layout are just as important as cosmetic fixes. There are a number of considerations for great kitchen design.
What you want to accomplish will help determine your budget. Most experts agree that the kitchen should account for 10-20 percent of the fair market value of your home. But if your goal is to simply spruce up before putting your home on the market, you can spend less.
Lifestyle is another important factor in kitchen design. Do you need something family friendly or a larger space that works better for entertaining? Would you rather have an upscale showpiece with the latest technology and gadgets, or something with a simpler aesthetic because you eat out more than in?
Layout is another factor to consider. Consider the “work triangle.” The work triangle is defined by the National Kitchen and Bath Association as an imaginary straight line drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the cook top, to the center of the refrigerator and finally back to the sink. The triangle minimizes traffic and interruptions to the cook. This is especially useful in a small kitchen.
Other factors to consider in kitchen design include: appliances, flooring and surface materials, and lighting options.
Finally, don’t overlook the ceiling. You can add interest, variety and style to any room with paint treatments, different textures and shapes.
Ceiling options:
- Modular wood ceiling systems, including lay-in wood ceiling coffer panels, provide a custom-crafted look at a low cost and are easy to install.
- Decorative thermoplastic panels are an elegant, yet cost-effective way to revitalize any interior, and with countless style and finish combinations available, including faux metal and faux wood, the possibilities for expressing your own unique style are endless.
- Change the look of any suspended ceiling with lay-in ceiling tiles, which range from simple to elaborate. Or, choose glue-up ceiling tiles, which make changing the look of your room easy without the hassle of a suspended ceiling system.
What do you think are considerations for great kitchen design? Let us know in the comments!
Do you have a pet-friendly home? You’re not alone. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans will spend an estimated $58.51 billion in 2014 on their furry friends. Those figures include expenditures on food, supplies and medicine, vet care, boarding, grooming and the like. But increasingly, we are also making space for, or modifying, our homes to accommodate our pets and, in particular, our dogs. Home builders are seeing a marked increase in requests to design spaces around pets, and a few entrepreneurial types have decided to specialize in this lucrative and growing niche market.
If you’re considering remodeling or building a new home, here are a few pet-friendly home additions that could make life easier for you and your pet:
Hardwood or laminate floors
You’ll always have pet hair with certain breeds, but constantly vacuuming can be exhausting and you’ll never get it all. Smooth surfaces make picking up pet hair a breeze.
Pet doors
If you’re constantly going to the door to let your dog out to do his business, a pet door can make life a little easier. The important thing to remember when purchasing a door is that it’s the appropriate size for your pet so make sure to measure Fluffy or Fido beforehand. To see how easy it is to install a pet door, watch this video.
Crates & gates
If you crate your pet when you’re not home, chances are you’re using the standard, utilitarian plastic version sold at most pet stores. While they work just fine, they’re not exactly stylish. Consider some of these upscale designs if you’re looking to upgrade. Or have one built into the design of your home.
The same goes for gates to keep pets (or small children) confined to one area of the home or to prevent them from using stairs. Many people use the gates found at children’s or pet supply stores, but you can get crafty and make a stylish one of your own. Here are some examples.
Finally, if it’s in your budget, considering installing a dog shower if your pet loves to go outside and get dirty. Best located in or near a mud room, it can also be used for cleaning tasks of a human nature.
Have you ever made any modifications to your home to accommodate your pets? Let us know what you think in the comments!
