Living Room Design

by D. Som Ladina on December 6, 2012

I found this blog with a pretty good post about designing your living room, and I thought you might find it a worthwhile read. I like how it starts with the line Your home can be your canvas. It’s so true.  What you create in your own home is an artistic expression of you. The interior design of one’s home can give you a lot of insight into them as a person.

This article is obviously only a primer, but one thing I agree with that it emphasizes is that your living room often will start with the couch you select. From there, everything else can kind of fall into place.

Modern Bedroom Furniture and Accessories

by D. Som Ladina on November 1, 2012

Modern bedroom furniture is sleek compact and practical. While conveying a minimalist ethic it also enables a consumer to create a sanctuary where all of the business of life is absent. There is very little fluff and no nonsense to distract from the peace of escape.

This goes for everything from the bed to the drawers. Handles are simple and functional sometimes absent in preference to barely noticeable grooves. Elegance comes from the smooth lines not rounded and ornate corners and embellishments. The platform bed is highly popular right now. Less bulky looking than the typical box spring/mattress combination a platform bed is like a sleeping raft. While sleigh beds were popular a few years ago consumers now prefer to save space in their bedrooms for other things and to open their furnishings up. Too much bulk is claustrophobic in a crowded overly stimulating world.

A platform bed frequently comes with shelving underneath or space for storing items. If you already have plenty of thin plastic totes which sit under your bed continue to slide these beneath and buy a simple bed without drawers. If you need more space matching dressers are available in all sizes. Metal wood and wood-effect materials continue to be popular choices as they can be accented with any color of cushions blankets and sheets. Layers of brown grey and black are sophisticated choices.

You will notice a distinct lack of flowery patterns among products. The mattress pillow cases and sheets are often a plain color or the pattern is linear. Frilly valances are gone from modern adult and teen bedroom furniture. This does not mean designs are subdued: just that the public is not currently into roses and daisies. You can still find these at traditional retailers. Modern stores eschew tradition. There is geometric symmetry to the layout of a room where everything is a square or a rectangle. When you look at a birds-eye view the scene is reminiscent of math class and equally lacking in bright hues. From the front and down right-angled bed and dresser legs are suggestive of insect legs neatly lined up.

The slightest of nods is given to ornamentation and rounded shapes in some designs. For instance particular platform beds which come with attached headboards provide these in a curved formation so that the mattress head also curves slightly underneath. Many platform beds come with a detached headboard which is mounted to the wall. Another trend is to buy a large board which is wide enough to sit behind the bed and side dresser.

Creating a Grapevine Wreath

by D. Som Ladina on October 1, 2012

As Fall hits us, some harder than others, one of my favorite decorations to create this time of year are grapevine wreaths. They are typically made from pliable grape vines. Sometimes Virginia creepers or other materials are used. You can leave them fairly plain or some people like to decorate them with flowers, fabric, or any other objects they can find that match the décor.

Here are some simple steps for making your own grapevine wreath to decorate your home.

You need to time the gathering of the vines correctly. You want to gather them in the late summer or early fall. You should gather them no later than 2 weeks after the leaves have fallen for the season. This timing is crucial as it is at this time that the vines are flexible and can be easily woven without them breaking.

I like to gather both short and long vines to mix in together and usually do not want them to be more than 1/4” in diameter. Thicker than that and you will usually find the vines are not flexible enough to work with.

Once your vines are gathered, you will want to start with a framework. Use three to four of your thickest vines and shape them into a circle. This circle is going to be the size of your wreath, so make sure you are starting with the size you want to finish with and large enough to hold any decorations you are planning to add.

Now let the weaving begin. You want to hold one end of a vine on the framework you created. With you other hand, wrap it around the framework repeatedly. When you get to the end of the vine, tuck it securely under one of your framework vines. Keep doing this with additional vines until your wreath is at the thickness you desire.

I prefer adding a wire to the back of the wreath at this point. The wire will make it easy to hang and will be easily hidden by the decorations that you add. After that, decorate as you wish. Some people like to wrap some fabric around the wreath. Others will glue dried flowers or leaves to it.

Once the decorations are attached, give the wreath about 3-4 weeks to completely dry out. At that point, it will have its permanent shape.

Good luck!

Choosing A New Couch For Your Home

by D. Som Ladina on February 17, 2012

Choosing a new couch for your home is an investment. Take your time to think out exactly what you are wanting before you start couch shopping.

As with any important purchase, set your budget before you head out to the furniture stores. A decent couch could cost anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Usually, you get what you pay for. But do not let a high price necessarily dictate if you will make a purchase or not. Letting your sales associate know what your price range is will automatically help narrow down your decision-making process.

What kind of use will your couch get? Are you just a couple or do you have a large family? Do you have company frequently or any indoor pets? As your couch is the main piece of furniture in a room, it will get the most use. Determining who will use it will help you decide what quality and type of make and material to choose for your couch.

Next, you will need to decide where your couch will be. Measure the area and take the measurements with you when you go shopping. It will not work to fall in love with a chunky couch if you only have a small area to place it in.

There are numerous types of couches to pick from. You can choose from couches with recliners and cup holders. With a sleeper. A corner or sectional couch. A five-seater or a loveseat. If you are getting a recliner couch, make sure the spot you picked to set it will have room for you to lean the seat back. A sleeper will be more pricey, but if you frequently have guests staying overnight, this is the perfect solution. A loveseat, corner couch, or sectional couch are ideal for smaller rooms.

Next you will need to choose the fabric and color you would like. Natural leathers or cottons are harder to clean and more delicate. If your couch will be getting heavy use, opt instead for a micro fiber blend. These are durable and easy to clean. As a couch is a larger piece of furniture, choose a color and texture which will best suit your room décor and paint colors.

Choose a couch made with firm, quality material. Check to see how the cushions are supported. Mesh will lead to fast sagging, while springs create a resilient base. How is the couch put together? Steer away from ones with glue or staples and instead choose couches with wood screw work. Hardwoods are the best frame material for the couch.

Take time at the furniture store in York PA to sit on various couches. See if you like the feel of the upholstery, the thickness of the cushioning, and the depth and height of the couch. Will it need extra pillows or an ottoman to make sitting comfortable? If you are not initially comfortable sitting on it, you probably will not get accustomed to it at home, either.

Finally, ask for warranty coverage options. Most furniture stores offer quality warranties to back their products. Be sure to read the terms of the warranty before settling on a couch.