Our old blog was with b2Evolution and that was cumbersome and hard for some bloggers to use and navigate. So; we have changed to the latest version of WordPress. You will notice some changes as we try different templates; but the contents will continue to be full of design and decorating information.

Let us know what you think about the change.

Home Design Sense





A complete home staging business kit. Think this is not a good time for home staging? Think again! The homes on the market have to be sold. The ones that are move-in-ready will sell before the others. Get in on it now!

Home Staging Business Kit

This kit contains the how-to stage information (40pgs), forms, ad samples, gift certificate samples, photos for the ads, a FREE Customer Service MP3, Free Feng Shui Ebook, email assistance for the business and more. Sorry – it doesn’t include a car or office.

Check it out at:
Home Staging Complete Business Kit

Home Design Sense



A recent news story revealed that celebrities across the world are now renting out their holiday homes, offering a taste of the celebrity lifestyle. With pads like Mick Jagger’s Mustique holiday hideaway being rented for £9,500 a week and stars such as Bruce Willis raking in an incredible £87,500 through rent from his seaside pied a terre, it’s no surprise we’re all eager to get our own dose of star treatment.

To get the star treatment in your own home, all you need to do is create a luxury living space any celebrity would love to spend time in – and here are a few tips on how to do just that without breaking the bank:

Be bespoke

Many people still believe that bespoke home designs cost a fortune, but that really isn’t the case. Betta Living designer bedrooms have stylish and affordable options, which are ideal for giving your bedroom a luxury finish that doesn’t cost a fortune. Their kitchen and bathroom ranges also offer similar benefits.

When you opt for a bespoke interior design you get class and convenience all in one package. Although most of us would love to have the same free space found in sprawling mansions, huge city apartments and palatial holiday homes, we are usually required to make do with much smaller living areas. Bespoke designs make the most of this space so we are able to enjoy the same freedom of movement as the stars; albeit on a somewhat smaller scale.

Fitted bedrooms

A fitted designer bedroom is the ideal way to get the space you need whilst still creating a chic and stylish bedroom that’s a joy to use. You can find all types of fitted wardrobes that are designed to make life easier; cupboards that include dressing table space or somewhere to store shoes and jewellery are popular options.

What often sets apart a celebrity home from an ordinary one is the careful consideration for aesthetics. This can often be spoiled if clothes, shoes or similar items are left out on display and make storage solutions a vital consideration. A well-made, professionally fitted wardrobe is the best way to use the space you have available to achieve maximum storage; hiding your clutter and creating a seamless and elegant interior design that is fit for the stars.

Choice and convenience

When you opt for a fitted bedroom, you’ll be given a variety of choices for the type of finish you would like. This means you can create the exact atmosphere you want. For sleek, modern designs, choose materials like glass and mirrored wardrobe doors to create a light and airy feel. Or, make your bedroom better than any boutique hotel with sophisticated and luxurious wood in a rich, dark finish.

Whatever style and finish you choose a designer bedroom is the ideal way to inject a little celebrity style into your home without blowing your budget.



MasterBedroomWell I finally have the master bath abd bedroom completed. I had to make some repairs to the crappy work done by my freind contractor. Who would have guessed. Even I preach “Don’t use friends” with work on your home – unless it is for free (as a friend would do). Anyway the master bedroom is also finished. Now to move on to building the pantry from scratch.

Above is a picture of the finished master bedroom. The house is in cottage style. I put up the beadboard (a lot of work) and painted the chest to mathc the comforter.

Let me know what you think.
Till the next posting.

John
Home Design Sense



I have been doing some remodeling in my new house. My biggest mistake was using a “friend” to do the work. I know…I have even promoted NOT using friends for payment on jobs in our website http://www.homedesignsense.com

Anyway. He was doing the master bath and I thought he was a contracotr after all the conversations over the 9+ years I have know him. The tile part was sort of OK and he is licensed to do tile work! Not sheetrock or plumbing. And he is not even a contractor!

I will post some pics when I get a chance; but keep in mind that you need to check references, license and insurance. If you live on the east coast of Florida in Brevard county contact me at this blog and I will give you his name and images.

John
Home Design Sense



At first I thought they were a good idea. But now; it is just an overblown way of remodeling someones home. The worst two are the Yard and Bath Crasher shows. I think most people would not be using so many expensive or bizarre items.

For instance; bath crashers always installs a wall fireplace. Why and would you put one in your own home? Guess you could stand there and dry off from the heat. Of course; it would be great in the winter if you didn’t already heat your home.

Do you  have any plans on putting a wall fireplace in your home?

Home Design Sense



It seems this is the time to remodel…or so I have heard.

People not able to sell their homes are making them more comfortable by changing some simple things. Paint for instance. A new coat of paint can do wonders for old walls and adding some new accessories or throw pillows can make a big difference. And all without spending a lot of money.

These little things can make your home more cozy and save money…that most of us don’t have to spend on elaborate remodeling.

Wish I could run into those guys from the tv shows at a home center. Wow; that would be great! How would you feel about having a tv show remodel some of your home???

Let me know.

John
Home Design Sense



Is your home in dire need of a makeover? Or are you just looking to make a little change here and there just to keep your house looking fresh? Well here is the tips and advice you’ve been looking for:
• A lick of paint goes a long way. It might be a bit messy but re-painting is the easiest way to make any room look like new. It’s quick and it doesn’t take a lot of effort. The most difficult part about it is probably choosing the right colour or colours if you want to make a statement.
• New furniture. This might seem like a no-brainer but it’s often one of the last things people think of. Something as simple as a new dining set can make a big difference to the aspect of your dining room. Whether you get your new pieces from a big store or from a small shabby chic shop make sure they represent who you are and that they’re in line with the rest of the house. You don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard.
• Stock up on curtains. This is one of the least expensive ways of making a room look like new. You’ll have friends over and they won’t know what you’ve done to your room they’ll just know you’ve done something. This is something easy, cheap and low key and a great way to bring out your personality into your home. If you’re fun and quirky go for a crazy print and if you’re a romantic go for classic florals, if you’re more into the clean look then the best choice for you is pretty white curtains. Whichever you choose, the most important thing is to make sure it goes with the rest of the room. If your dining sets are monochrome and plain then a busy print will go well with that if not then I’d say don’t risk it.
Hope this helps you a little big and that it’s given you an idea of what you might want to do with your home. Remember, a little change goes a long way!



Ideally, your bedroom should be one of the calmest and most relaxing rooms in your home. Unfortunately, instead of being a relaxing and comforting retreat, many people’s bedrooms become cluttered, crowded and overused living spaces. If your bedroom isn’t providing you with the serene and peaceful atmosphere that you crave, here are a few tips to simplify and streamline your bedroom area.

Assessing Your Space

Before giving your bedroom an overhaul, take the time to really look at your bedroom. Pay special attention to how you are currently utilizing the space. If you’re like many people, you might find that you’re actually using your bedroom space in a very inefficient fashion. Take careful measurements of all the walls and closet areas, paying special attention to architectural details such as window and door positions. It can be quite helpful to sketch the layout of the room onto graph paper, which will make it easier to plan furniture moves without actually lugging heavy furniture around the room. Once you’ve got a good idea of what you have to work with, you’ll be better prepared to make some enhancements.

Assessing Your Needs

Although you might wish you had a spacious bedroom that you could transform into a serene retreat, it’s important to give some thought as to how you really need to use the space. For example, although experts usually advise against putting desks and computer equipment in the bedroom, sometimes you might not have a different option. Think about how you’re currently using your bedroom space, as well as how you want to use it in the future. If you really don’t have any other office space options in your room, it might be necessary to leave your desk and computer in the bedroom. In order to minimize the disruptive influence of your computer equipment, try separating your work area from your sleeping area with a folding screen or a full height bookcase.

It’s also important to think about other things you’d like to do in the bedroom. For example, you’ll need good lighting if you regularly read in your bedroom. If you enjoy listening to music to relax, you’ll want to make sure to have a good sound system. Although many people find the sound and sight of a television to be jarring and distracting in the bedroom, you might personally enjoy watching an occasional television show while in bed. Making accommodations for the bedroom features you really want and enjoy while eliminating clutter and other distractions are the main keys to creating a relaxing bedroom environment.

Choose the Right Colors

The colors you use in your bedroom are certainly a personal choice. However, some color choices such as vivid red, orange and yellow tend to add too much energy and visual excitement to the bedroom. If you’d like to add a more relaxing look to the room, cool and neutral shades often work best. Once you’ve used relaxing colors for the primary areas of the room such as the walls and floor, you can spice things up a bit visually with a few accessories in bold shades if desired. The end result will be a relaxing bedroom that still has plenty of style.

Home decor specialist, Theresa Hill , is a regular writer for Metal-Wall-Art.com, and she offers many ideas on how to design your favorite rooms with horse metal wall sculptures and metal decor.



I watch the design and decorating shows on TV and find there are many that are the same or spin-offs of the same. There are several garden or kitchen crashing shows. Why not come up with a new show instead of all these spin-offs? No imagination I guess.

The one show I like is Holmes on Homes. He deals with the real projects and problems of the homeowners and actually shows how it get done. And done correctly. You can learn a lot by watching an dit will help when having your own home remodeled.

The only issue I have with the show is that you never find out who the offending contractor is and what if anything happens to them. Too bad. It would be nice to see them and know who they are so no one else gets caught in their web.

John

Home Design Sense



If you have guests coming for Easter, start planning now for decorating the room so that it is both functional and festive.  The ideas below will get you started on creating a space that works for both your office and your guests.

Crisp Colors
The easiest and most effective way to spruce up the room for guests and the Easter holiday is to infuse some fun, spring colors into the mix.  There are the usual pastels that will help to get you in the spirit of things, but there are also brighter colors that you may want to use instead.  A cheerful yellow combined with a brilliant white is a beautiful way to bring out the colors of spring while also maintaining a sense of style and class.  Teal blue paired with a chocolate brown is also another color combination that will work well in both an office and guest room setting.  Remember that the key to decorating for Easter is also to make the space look as natural as possible.  While a pastel can transition into late spring and early summer, a bold, bunny print fabric will go quickly out of season.

Plants
Forget vases of fresh cut flowers when it comes to decorating your home office/guest room.  The flowers will quickly fade, your busy lifestyle will take over, and the vase will never get refilled.  Instead, decorate by adding a potted plant or arrangement to your desk, the bedside table or wherever there is a flat, smooth, wide surface.  You can make the basket or container festive by adding a seasonal bow or floral pick.  A quick trip to the craft store will yield a great many results for such floral decorations.

Curtains
While the majority of the fabric should be a solid or lightly patterned neutral, the curtains are one easy area that you can spruce up with a decorative curtain.  You may opt to keep your heavy, light-blocking curtains, but replace the sheer curtain beneath with a handmade Easter one.  A cute Easter fabric can be cut to length and width, hemmed, and folded down to create a simple pocket curtain.  Slide the curtain rod through the pocket and you will be ready to go.  Change the curtains as the seasons or holidays change, but be sure to store them away so that they can be used the following year.

Finding ways to decorate the multi-use space can be especially challenging when you are in the middle of working or preparing for guests.  If you start thinking ahead about easy ways that you can make a big difference in your room’s decor, you will find that decorating becomes a breeze.  Your room will look festive and you will not have to spend days trying to get it ready for guests.

This article was written by Theresa Hill of Metal-Wall-Art.com who specializes in creating stylish interiors with sea turtle wall decor and metal beach wall art.