It is still a good idea to keep an eye on these trends; no one wants to have their living room stuck in the nineties or a bath suite that would only look right in the eighties.
These are the looks that are hot for 2011.

Color wise – this year is about the color pink, a shade called ‘Honeysuckle’ in particular. This is a vibrant color that should be used in small doses so as not to appear to sickly. Work it sparingly into your décor through bedding, pillows or, on a larger scale, create a feature wall with it.

A mixture of antique and modern appliances and accessories will be key in adding a bit of wow factor to your home this year. Be careful not to let your home become too cluttered but group together contrasting items in small clusters of three or five. Odd numbers just seem to work a little better when it comes to arranging items to look attractive.

Get personal – feature walls have become very popular but people tend to opt for a strong color or bold wallpaper print, try something different and create a wall cluttered with an assortment of photo frames. Make your home look lived in and have your favorite memories on display for all to see.

Finally; go gold. Gold furnishings are fabrics are very popular at the moment and a lot of brass is being seen alongside gold cushions and throws. This might be a look you consider trying in a lounge or bedroom. For real extravagance go for gold leaf wherever you can. Use it sparingly but choose the right places and it will be extremely effective.
Decoration is about your own taste, so take these trends and make them your own to really get the best for your home. Check out K&Co at www.kandco.com to find out more.

Choosing Bedroom Colors

Choosing a color for your bedroom can do wonders for your mood by either perking you up in the morning or helping you fall asleep at night.  So when choosing a color, choose wisely and to your advantage.

Here are some basic coloring ideas for your bedroom walls to get you started:

1. Wall Colors – A bright yellow can seem like a “happy” choice but seeing it every day may not help you relax.  Instead try a golden yellow or even a green for a calming effect.  Peach and pink can do well for your moods if you don’t find them to be too girly.
2. Wardrobe Colors – Cabinets take up quite a bit of space in a room so you should only choose dark colored woods for a well lit room.  If the room is too dark, it may give a feeling of gloominess.
3. Bedsheet Colors – Bedsheets serve a focal point in your bedroom.  It’s quite important to choose a color scheme before coloring your bedroom and use the comforter of the bed as your focal point.  If the bed is big enough, you can add additional small pillows to coordinate different shades of colors.

It is also quite important to include enough lighting in the room or open up the windows to allow light inside.   If you are going for a romantic look, try replacing your bulbs for a lower wattage to emit warm yellow light to gain a soothing look.

Care and Clean Marble Furniture

Marble is beautiful to use, but it’s porous and can stain easily.  If something spills, you’ll need to wipe it off immediately and will need to use beverage glases to avoid moisture rings.

To regularly clean any marble surface, you will need luke warm water and dry wipe with a clean cloth.  About once or twice a year, use a mild detergent solution to wash, rinse and dry.  Using a light coat of wax can help protect the marble surface but isn’t considered essential.  Although a marble sealer could help protect from staining and allow the soil to be wiped off with a damp cotton cloth.

There is also a putty powder (made from tin oxide) used to polish dulled or etched surfaces.  Rub a damp wet cloth or an electric polisher for buffing.

You can add big value to your home by enhancing your countertops, flooring and bathroom tile.  If you are able to save on labor costs, the installation could sometimes cost just 50% of the total cost if you had a professional installer do it.

Your custom look can be done at a fraction of the cost, but won’t exactly be 100% easy as the process can be time-consuming, labor intensive and messy.  It’s not a job to rush into and preparation is important to setting the tile correctly.

Before starting a tile project, you’ll need a few tools: a sponge, a notched trowel, several large buckets, level and rubber grout float, tile cutter and nippers.  If you plan on doing many tile projects, owning an electric tile can be a great investment.

When tiling a floor, make sure to use thicker tiles that are textured to make them safer to walk on.  You will also need to make sure the tiles are level which can be double-checked by using a long 2 by 4 board to check uniformity.

Working in batches is quite helpful and will save wear and tear on your knees.  Using knee pads while installing the floor will help, and having a partner to mix mortar or grout or even cut the tiles can cut installation time.

If you are using a natural slate, make sure to seal the tiles before grouting so that the grout does not stick to the stone.  After any grouting, clean the tiles to remove any residue and allow drying time.  Afterwards apply a product to seal the grout.

Woods floors can usually make a home a home sell much quicker as polled by many real estate agents.  An appraiser may point out that there are many things to take a look at when evaluating the worth of a home with hardwood flooring, such as their condition, color and quality.  Hardwood floors do not directly increase the appraised value of the home – but really any nice new surface could add value to a home.

It’s best to check out the local neighborhood and see if you are the only home without hardwood in an entryway – as that may cost you.  Not having hardwood floors can take away value IF the buyers are expecting the house to have them.  It an important difference, but something to think about.  This can be carried over into other features of the home, such as landscaping, backyard size and more.

Well, you may be able to fix it on your own.  If it curling right at the door, you can purchase a small transition strip at your local hardware and flooring store.  The transition strip is used when two separate flooring come together and are usually made of brass or aluminum-colored metal or wood.  They may be flat or have one side slightly raised.

Glue down the edge of the vinyl floor tiles before installing the transition strip (try doing this in warmer temperatures as it will work better).  You can use flooring glue or something called Liquid Nails to apply under the area where the tiles are curling.  Then use something with a straight edge to keep the edge of the tile down and put weight on it till it sets overnight.

If the tile continues to want to curl up even after removing the weight, try putting weight back on it for another 24 hours.  As a last resort, you may consider cutting the curl off but only if the transition strip you’ve purchased can cover the area you’ve cut out.  Once the tiles are staying down, install the transition strip.

1) Decide if the project can be done by yourself or with friends and family (your volunteers!).

2) Establish a budget with a 10 to 20% buffer for last minute decisions and surprises.

3) Keep all your contracts, receipts, canceled checks, etc. in case of desputes.

4) Keep checking up on your contractors progression and continue asking questions as it is your money.

5) Make sure an adult is at home to supervise and watch out for how long lunch hours are usually taking.

6) Follow your instinct when interviewed contractors.  Ask multiple questions and get references.

7) Contact all the references given to get the truth.

Give the contractor only a small down payment with a pre-established pay schedule to motivate the completion of the job..and for it to be done on time.

9) Inspect the work as it is being done to make sure it is up to par to your needs.