Infloormation

Question: Our baby is due in a few months, and I want wood floors throughout the house. Is wood a good choice for a nursery?

Answer: Wood works very well in a nursery. From a design perspective it is a nice counterpoint to the pastels or bright colors generally found in a nursery, and it is a workhorse when it comes to playing.

Babies learn to walk with lots of falls, but wood is considered a soft flooring option, with much more natural cushioning than something like tile or stone. It is also smooth, making walking easier. There is even evidence that giving a baby “tummy time” on a hard surface helps develop cognitive abilities.

If you want to create a soft spot for playing consider a nice area rug such as the one shown in the photo. Add a well-cushioned pad underneath and you have created the perfect space for spending time on the floor. There are rugs made for nurseries, but you may want to select one like this that will last long after the changing table is gone. If you match colors you can be pretty flexible on style.

Another short-term option is to select carpeting that would work well with your decorating plans, and have a piece bound for your nursery. You want to size it so that there is at least a six to eight inch edge of wood floor showing at the borders. This enlarges your selection for both color and pattern. Ask about any remnants available and you may get a good deal. Binding is also generally pretty reasonable.

Think versatility as you select your nursery flooring. After all, the flooring will still be there long after your baby is old enough to ask for the car keys and gas money!

Some shows on television today help people auction off family heirlooms to generate money used to buy a flat-screen TV or other modern luxury. Would you be willing to give up part of your heritage to buy something that will only last for a few years?

If you inherited items from your family, are they on display or packed away? How about bringing some of them out into your home? Think about creating a vignette that tells a story of one or more of your ancestors.

This table has been set to display a collection of pieces inherited from a great grandfather who studied butterflies. His reference books and personal notebooks are stacked toward the back, with his magnifying glass sitting on top. One of his displays of butterfly specimens leans against a panel while his classic brass microscope has a privileged position toward the front of the table. If you added in a few photos of him – preferably out in the field – the whole story is there to see and enjoy.

What would you like to share from your heritage? It might be grandma’s recipe box – made by grandpa – with her recipes spilling out. Some photos of her at the family table or in her kitchen could join some of her favorite bowls or wooden spoons. Or maybe you have family who came over from another country. This would be a good opportunity to share photos of their lives before coming to the U.S. and display treasures brought from their homes.

Bring your heritage into the forefront of your décor and celebrate your family’s history.

Personalizing a space that isn’t technically yours can be a tough, but achievable, task through the application of ingenuity and a few interior design basics. Just because you’re renting doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a beautifully decorated home.

Consult Your Landlord. Find out what you are allowed to change about your rental. At times, property owners will agree to replace or upgrade certain features at no charge to you such as: interior paint, hardware and flooring. Consider making a deal with your landlord to do the work if he provides the supplies.

Use a Found Object. Do you have a favorite piece of art or a rug that you absolutely love? Rooms and even complete interiors can be decorated around one found object or group of objects which provides a flow of inspiration for you to pull from. For example, you might have a beautiful antique blue vase given to you by your grandmother. You can take the color, style and shape of the vase to create a theme carried through your living and dining rooms.

Add Color with Paint Alternatives. If your landlord does not want the paint changed to suit you, then use art, accessories, pillows and throws to add color. Hopefully, your rental’s interior is painted in a neutral color which allows you to choose your favorite colors to decorate with. If the interior color is more pronounced, opt for complimentary or neutral color additions.

Hang Window Treatments and Roll Out Area Rugs. Adding stylish window treatments and rugs can give warmth and personalization to any rental, whether it is a small apartment or larger house. Place area rugs over existing carpet to define areas or add color and texture. Window treatments can be premade or custom designed depending on your budget. Pick beautiful textures, colors and prints for a big impact.

Just because your home is temporary, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest a little time and money in making it will make it feel more like your own.

Sometimes, the smallest of things enhance beauty in the best way. We shared some small tricks with you in our last post on how you can improve your home décor. Here are a few more of them:

Do you have plants in your room? Get a few. No matter how dull or how bright your décor, no matter what style of decorating you’ve adopted, potted plants are sure to bring in elements that define vitality and freshness.

Does your house sport a ceiling fan? Ceiling fans are another “small thing, big improvement” addition to your décor. They come in all shapes and sizes, colors and shades and can therefore be used to complement your color scheme.

Lighting is no longer used only functionally. Exploit its aesthetic value by opting for lighting fixtures in a color that’s smartly thought out. Lamps, lamp shades, chandeliers, light bulbs in different colors, adorned in different ways can add immense beauty to your rooms.

The last trick is one that we hold very dear, for it can be used in any and every situation and costs next to nothing. Paint. Yes, painting your walls is the easiest way to bring just about anything you want into your rooms; chutzpah, intimacy, largeness, brightness or any other factor just by choosing the right color.

Go on and try all or some of these and let us know what difference they make to your house’s décor.

This room is well proportioned with a powerful focal point in the floor-to-ceiling fireplace and surround. The window to the right with its dramatic fabric treatment also carries the space well, and the taller tree connects the ceiling with the rest of the room.

Is this enough to link that high vault to the rest of the room? It seems that although the room is beautifully decorated, there is a sense of unevenness created by the strong emphasis on the lower part of the space. The large expanses of white wall to either side of the fireplace diminish the power of the ceiling’s reach.

What changes could the homeowner make to help link the ceiling more effectively with the rest of the room? One option involves bringing those lower colors up by painting the back wall in a mid-range tone captured from the furniture such as a dusty rose or soft green. Adding artwork further up the walls could also strengthen the connection of all the elements in the room.

A vaulted ceiling offers a design opportunity as well as its own design challenges for a homeowner, from selecting just the right window treatments to addressing how to make the whole space work together. But many people feel that the added advantages of elegance and spaciousness offered with a raised ceiling is worth the extra effort.

Do you wish you had a haven to come home to after a long days work? Is your home just a house? Read along for tips into converting your home into a haven.

Does your home house clutter? It is understandable that every house has some amount of clutter. However, it is recommended that you keep the clutter within the confines of your home to a minimum. Clutter creates stress in several ways. Just looking at clutter causes stress and a feeling of uneasiness. If you are constantly looking for what you need in piles of clutter, you are most likely becoming more and more stressed. If you haven’t used an item in over a year, throw it out! You are unlikely to use that item anytime soon. Free up space so you can start organizing items you actually use.

Think practically when you are decorating different rooms in your house. Decorate each room for its purpose. For instance, decorate your bedroom with soothing colors to promote rest and relaxation.  A nice neutral colored carpet with a dark red or purple wall creates a warm atmosphere.

You’ll always love things that you think of as yours. Make your house yours by decorating it with things that give it your personality. Keep in mind the interests of others that live in your home!

These are ways to ensure that your house becomes a home.

The front door on your home is the first thing visitors see. There are some things you can do to make a welcoming first impression.

Color: Your front door has the ability to convey the personality of your home. Choose a bold color, like red, if you want to make a bold statement. If you prefer a classic look paint your door black or stain it in a dark espresso finish. The important thing to remember is that the color of your door should contrast it’s surrounding. It is also important that the color you choose compliments the rest of the exterior.

Lighting: Highlight your front door with outdoor lighting. Wall mounted sconces look great when there is a pair on either side of the door, or simply one sconce on the side of the door that opens. If you don’t have room for sconces, consider installing an outdoor pendant that illuminates the front door. No matter the type of lighting, exteriors always look handsome when accompanied by outdoor lighting.

Knobs & Hardware: Attractive handles and knobs are available in a variety of styles. However, study your exterior décor before you go shopping. It is helpful to take a picture with you shopping. This helps you picture what the hardware will look like, instead of trying to guess from memory.

These are a few of the many ways in which you can add style and personality to the entrance of your home!

The Billings Chamber of Commerce is officially in a national competition with 300 others in effort to compete for a $250,000 grant to restore Swords Park!  Swords Park is a local park in Billings for kids!  If Billings wins this grant, we will create a trail system that will allow for all community members to walk, bike, hike, and all in all, enjoy the trail!  You can check out the website at www.swordsforkids.com and see a video at www.RefreshEverything.com/swordsforkids.com.

The way you win is by community VOTE. The way you vote is by texting or by going online. Every person can vote once a day using each method.  This means you can vote twice a day; once online and once via text.  To vote via text, please send a TEXT “to” 105554 and you enter 73774 in the message window to vote.  We would like to support this effort by getting the viral word out to as many people as possible. Anyone in the United States can vote for THIS project in Billings.  The community with the most VOTES wins the $250,000.

At first glance this room looks good. Having a baby grand piano really adds to the look of a space. If you’re a piano player, however, you will be less impressed. It’s immediately obvious that no one in the home plays.

To play piano, you need good light. This instrument is set so that the player will have shadows on the music from outside. The keys should be turned toward the window. Also, there are no lights near the piano to make playing in the evening feasible. In this room, the piano is an accessory rather than a musical instrument.

The other problem with this room hangs over the window. The middle bunting on the valance and rosettes damage the classic grace of the rest of the room. It seems as if the circus came into town and left its window treatments behind. The situation isn’t helped by the fluffy throw pillow on the sofa to the left. The rug is also borderline, but we’ll let that go for now.

This room is so close to right. Simpler window treatments and some consideration for any potential piano player and they will have it. Well, OK, let’s lose the rug too and replace it with one that connects the seating arrangement with the coffee table. Now we’re in good shape.

On the surface, this room breaks many of the basic rules of combining colors. Although the room is small, the tones are dark upon dark upon dark, with maroons and browns predominating. But when you put it all together, the room invites a cozy grouping for dinner parties that last well into the evening.

A strong emphasis on dark colors can lend an intimacy to a room, particularly a small room. The secret is to balance with some light tones, and to keep the furniture and accessories in proportion with the space. This room brings in light tones with the ceiling and window trim. At the same time, the brown beams and roman shades keep everything connected.

This is not a large room, but the table, benches and chairs are a perfect fit. There is no carpet on the dark wood floors, which works well because a rug would add another line to the space. Using benches also keeps the line breaks to a minimum. The strong lines of the table combined with the benches make the room feel more spacious.

The color scheme is also simple. The pattern on the benches is the only pattern in the room, but it is strong enough to carry the space with the solids. Altogether, the room makes one statement – dark and intimate – and that’s all it needs to say.