A Master Of Hardwood Floors

Floors are the often overlooked "6th Wall" of interior design and remodeling projects.

Hire Charles Peterson to work on your wood floors and you'll never look at them the same way again. The 48-year-old owner of Connecticut-based CP Wood Floors has gained national attention for his ability to transform plain-Jane floors into works of art using little more than pieces of wood cut and precisely fitted into colorful medallions, sinuous borders, and geometric parquet.

Peterson's love for wood began when he was a kid building furniture alongside his grandfather. In college he worked for a curmudgeonly flooring installer whose only advice was "Shut up and keep working!" Nevertheless, when Peterson quit his career as a nuclear engineer, he decided he'd rather deal with floors than repair power plants.

Charles Peterson dedicated his life to learning the trade. "I read every book I could find on the subject, traveled all over the world, and studied with people whose families have been doing floors for five generations," he says. [read more on a master of hardwood floors]

American Craftsman: Charles Peterson by Keith Pandolfi, This Old House magazine

The Colors Of Technology - Modern, Vibrant And Youthful

The second of four color themes in Sherwin Williams’ Colormix 2011 forecast is called “Bold Invention.” 

We’re surrounded by technology at work, play and in our homes.   These are the colors of technology–thoroughly modern, vibrant and youthful.   Perfect for the pre-teen and teen room or the urban loft.  These are great colors to pair with the modern, clean stainless steel and nickel finishes found throughout the home in appliances, electronics, light fixtures and hardware. (read more)

The Inside Story Design: San Antonio interior design and remodeling

Cork: the Ultimate in Eco-Chic Flooring

Cork flooring is an increasingly popular choice in interior design and remodeling projects.

In a modern day home, it isn't unusual to see a family that spends a lot of time 'living' on the floor. Small children play on the floor, teens will sprawl out with friends to do homework or play video games on the floor and homeowners often use the floor as extra seating for casual eating when couches and chairs run out during a 'girls night in' or an impromptu family get-together. The floor is also used to set up intimate, romantic champagne evenings by the fireplace or as a place to exercise, stretch or do yoga.

With the amount of time that today's families are spending on the floor, it is even more important that flooring should be comfortable, durable, hypoallergenic, healthy, stylish and highly functional. Cork flooring, one of the hottest trends in design and décor today, fulfills all of these requirements, and offers much more.

Cork is a very comfortable hard surface floor. It is softer to walk on and easier on the feet then ceramic tile, hardwood or laminate. Cork is more than 50 percent air, which makes it lightweight, a natural sound absorber and highly resilient. Consequently, cork often doesn't show dents or grooves the same way wood flooring can. It is also allergy free and easy to maintain – great for a healthy, safe home. Cork is a unique product that is completely renewable, 100 per cent natural and recyclable. Incredible inherent properties, including sound and temperature insulation, cushioning and water resistance provide a dazzling array of uses for cork.

Style Meets Sustainability; Cork Flooring is the Ultimate in Eco-Chic from MarketWire

Exclusive Interior Design and Remodeling Resources

Where can I go if I want to decorate my home with one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories? How can I find the best tradesmen for the remodeling work that I need?

As an Interior Decorator, I have relationships with artisans and craftsmen who can design and produce truly unique creations that will perfectly enhance your new decor.  I have access to to-the-trade dealers, manufacturers and distributors who offer:

• Exclusive accessories
• Original artwork
• Exotic fabrics
• Custom-fabricated furniture
• One-of-a-kind lighting
• Luxurious rugs, hardwoods, and other flooring
• Unique bathroom tiles and fixtures

 (more interior design and remodeling tips)

How To Design Your Own Oriental Rug

Interior design and remodeling projects are much easier when you can see what the end result will look like before starting work.

High Country Rugs offers a tool where users can quickly and easily design an oriental-style rug. As they say, it's "a revolutionary new concept for an ancient trade."

Oriental rugs often have complex patters with many different colors in them - it can be tricky to know what will work in your space. This tool makes it easier because you can play around with different colors and styles, and ultimately create the one that's just right for you. It's completely free with no download or sign in necessary.

Design Your Own Oriental Rug by Lauren Flanagan

Updated Vintage: Hard Times Call For Soft Colors

The first of four color themes in Sherwin Williams’ Colormix 2011 forecast is called “Gentle Medley.” 

These colors have a vintage feel without a pastel sweet “shabby chic” look:  they evoke more of an updated vintage feel.  I seem to be finding these colors in accessories, art, fabrics and fashion everywhere I look. (read more)

The Inside Story Design: San Antonio interior design and remodeling

How to Read a Review of an Interior Design Software Package

Interior design and remodeling projects are much easier when you can see what the end result will look like before starting work.

There are many things that you need to look for when you are reading an interior design software review. It is important that you can pick up key signals as to whether the interior design software review is quality or not. By looking for these keys you will be able to better determine whether the interior design software review is of value or not.

The first thing I always look for in my interior design software review is who is writing it and what are they doing with it. While experts can be a useful resource, I actually prefer everyday typical people when reading my interior design software reviews.

I also try to avoid any reviews that are placed on web sites with revenue streams dedicated to the products. I find these reviews almost certainly to be biased towards what they sell, and generally are not all encompassing. They have a tendency to overly focus on the products they carry but stay away from ones they do not, except possibly to talk about them in a negative way.

The other thing that always sets off red flags in my mind is when you read a review that is all one way or the other. There is always something good you can find about a program, and by the same token nothing is ever perfect.

Things To Look For In An Interior Design Software Review by HelpNets.com

The Coming Recovery In Residential Remodeling

The outlook for interior design and remodeling holds promise after almost 3 years of declines.

A recovery in home improvement spending will soon be underway, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, a measurement of homeowner spending released last month by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Remodeling spending is expected to increase on an annual basis by the end of the year, and the LIRA points to growth accelerating to the double-digit range in the first quarter of 2011.

Market Gains Foreseen, Though Caution Rules - Kitchen & Bath Design News

How Green Remodeling Benefits You (tag: interior design, interior decorating, remodeling, green remodeling)

When it comes to interior design and remodeling, "thinking green" is good for the planet - and your wallet.

Eco-friendly remodeling has numerous benefits for homeowners. With green home improvements you can slash your energy cost, increase the value of your home, and reduce your carbon footprint. Statistics show that home buyers actually seek out green homes. Home buyers are also willing to pay more money for Eco-friendly and energy efficient homes.

One easy way to start greening your home is to invest in energy efficient appliances. Energy star appliances are great because they have been tested and proven to have high recoup values. With energy efficient appliances you can greatly reduce your energy cost.

 

Green remodeling also includes the materials that you choose to build with. Locally available products require less energy to ship and produce. This makes them a great green choice for your home. When it comes to flooring many homeowners are now using cork and bamboo flooring. Both are terrific, Eco-friendly materials.

Green Home Remodeling: How Greening Your Home Can Benefit You by Susan S Cruise

How to Build a Dirt House

If you think that your interior design and remodeling project is messy, trying building a house with dirt.

My cousin and his family are in the process of building a house from home-made earthen bricks. Really. This is a seriously old-school - building technique that has been around for thousands of years. In addition to "dirt cheap" building materials (I tried, but couldn't resist...), these homes are incredibly well insulated: cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.

To practice our earthen brick-laying and plastering techniques, we built a well-house. Our rock foundation, about 5 x 7 feet on the inside, rests on top of a concrete foundation that we dug by hand. The first layer of earthen block is always the hardest to lay, because you have to line up and level each block. It’s not so easy to do when your foundation was made by amateur stone masons.

We prevailed in the end, and built the walls up to the point where we wanted an arch-shaped opening. Shaping and then laying blocks around the arch was a challenge. But again we prevailed. We put up the first of several plaster layers. Next week my cousin Jerry will pour a bond-beam (reinforced concrete) on top of the walls, and then he’ll build the well-house a roof.

You can follow the progress of building an earthen home here.

3D interior design and layout programs - all free!

Interior design and remodeling projects are much easier when you can see what the end result will look like before starting work.

There are plenty of free online 3D virtual programs that will allow you to plan, design, draw and view your space.  Depending on your skill level, what your objective is, and how you want to present your final drawings, there is a program perfect for you.  The next time you want to play around and daydream or you have a home that you want to build to your personal specifications, review this list of top 10 best free online virtual programs and tools.

10 Best Free Online Virtual Room Programs and Tools by Ronique Gibson

Top 5 Interior Design and Remodeling Investments

Any interior design and remodeling project is an investment in your home. Which ones have the best return?

The bursting of the housing bubble has depressed real estate values, and made it much harder for homeowners to sell and move up to a larger house with more amenities. This has made renovating a popular option, because the odds are good that it will increase the value and marketability of the home in the long run.

But some renovations have a better payback than others, and the amount will depend on your specific location. So which home renovations are worth your time and money?

 

Siding ($4-$21 per square foot) - Recoup: 87%: The return on siding is high because of its relative cost to the value of your home and its ability to make your home look new again. Another attractive feature is that there are sidings available that are zero maintenance.

Windows ($25-$60 per square foot) - Recoup: 85%: In addition to sprucing up your home's exterior, new windows can substantially improve the energy efficiency. This is a big selling point, as the cost of heating and air conditioning has continued to soar.

Bathroom Remodel ($5,000+) - Recoup: 70-85%: While a coat of fresh paint will do wonders for the interior of a house, there's no way to cover up old sinks, bathtubs and fixtures. Today's buyer is looking for molded sinks, marble vanities, ceramic tile, whirlpool baths, unique lighting and modern fixtures.

Kitchen Remodel ($7,500+) - Recoup: 75-80%: If you're on a limited budget, the choice between remodeling a bathroom or kitchen should probably be based on which one will give you the most pleasure and satisfaction. You will recoup roughly the same percentage of your cost on either one.

Master Bedroom Suite ($115 - $200 per square foot) - Recoup: 75%: Older homes benefit the most from this addition, whether you are remodeling an existing bedroom or adding a new one. In many cases, a master bathroom will be added at the same time because of the cost efficiencies that result.

"Top 5 Home Renos For Your Money" by Michael Sanibel

A “Primer” on Colors

Seems that one of the things that every one of my interior design and remodeling clients ask me about is “what designer colors are ‘in’ right now?” 

I must admit that I do have my favorite “go to” colors, but there are so many factors involved in color decisions:  the lighting of a space, the colors already in the room that can’t be changed, the homeowner’s favorite colors (often the colors found in their wardrobes), and many other factors influence which colors work and which ones don’t.

Sherwin-Williams regularly publishes a list of their most popular colors, which is an interesting way of learning what colors other people are using.  The most popular SW colors of 2009 were:

Dover White	Kilim Beige	Antique White	Navajo White	Softer Tan
Alabaster	Pure White	Latte	Nomadic Desert	Divine White
Macadamia	Interactive Cream	Moderate White	Believable Buff	Biscuit
Creamy	Ivoire	Blonde	Sand Dollar	Snowbound
Accessible Beige	Whole Wheat	Bagel	Camelback	Basket Beige

Lots of beige and cream – all good colors.  And, of course, we are now enjoying a resurgence of all things gray – it’s the “new black,” so to speak.

"A 'Primer' on Colors" by Julie Risman

2011 Color Forecast: Hard Times Call For Soft Colors

Want to know what colors will be "in" next year? Check out Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 before beginning any interior design and remodeling project.

Gentle Medley: Fresh. Airy. Innocent.

Hard times call for soft colors: the hint of green in a spring leaf bud; the chalky blush of a seashell; the time-etched beauty of a vintage fabric or photograph. Fashion has turned a romantic, nostalgic corner, bringing pastels and parchment-pale neutrals back into the palette. The hues are innocent without being sweet — flirty, yet not feminine. They reflect not just a yearning for youthful innocence and gentler times, but also a refreshing honesty and lack of pretension that are thoroughly modern.

Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 - Gentle Medley

2011 Color Forecast: The City Never Sleeps. Neither Do Its Colors.

Want to know what colors will be "in" next year? Check out Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 before beginning any interior design and remodeling project.

Bold Invention: Experimental. Artsy. Expressive.

The city never sleeps. Neither do its colors. These high-energy hues vibrate with spontaneity and rebellion. Neon bright, graffiti bold and digitally enhanced to 3-D luminosity, they’re the colors of technology, of avant-garde art and of the entrepreneurial spirit that celebrates shaking off dull routine to do what you love. The eclectic global influences range from the Cynical Realism art movement of urban China to the carnaval spirit of Rio de Janeiro, host of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Anything goes, and self-expression is the new metropolitan mantra.

Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 - Bold Invention

2011 Color Forecast: An Eclectic Global Design Stew

Want to know what colors will be "in" next year? Check out Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 before beginning any interior design and remodeling project.

Restless Nomad: Sultry. Exotic. Primal.

Thanks to the Internet, everyone now has a passport to wander the world, soaking up its flavors, images and colors, and stirring them into an eclectic global design stew. Morocco and Turkey are making their presence felt, but there’s no need to stop there. Today’s adventurers feel free to sample from anywhere and everywhere, pairing Persian paisleys with exotic animal skins and Indonesian batiks. Colors, too, wander all over the palette: from dusky darks, to hot vibrant pinks and reds, to earthy food-influenced hues that evoke eggplants and cabbages.

Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 - Restless Nomad

Terrible blogging experience with Tumblr #tumblrsucks

Awful customer service. Avoid like the plague.

2011 Color Forecast: Pared Down is the New Upscale

Want to know what colors will be "in" next year? Check out Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 before beginning any interior design and remodeling project.

Purely Refined: Elegant. Tailored. Understated.

True luxury doesn’t shout its presence with glitz, glamor and bling. It whispers, revealing its pedigree through clean, classic lines, exquisite tailoring and handcrafted heirloom quality. Pared down is the new upscale, and its color palette demonstrates similar restraint, filled with understated neutrals, yet with nuances and undertones that interact in intriguing ways. Layering, organic textures and subtle detailing add to the natural elegance of this timeless look.

Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2011 - Purely Refined

6 Great Reasons Why Your Kitchen Needs An Island

Islands really are an essential aspect of any kitchen interior design and remodeling project.

In every kitchen there is the potential for great storage, display, and functionality. The sad fact is all kitchens don’t have enough of any of these. A kitchen island solves these problems and looks beautiful doing it. If you think a kitchen island is just for show, you now have legitimate reasons why your kitchen can benefit from one.  From storage to additional seating, any sized home will love the versatility a kitchen island offers.

6 Benefits of Having a Great Kitchen Island by Ronique Gibson