A State of the {Dis}Union: Part 2

Judging by your responses to Friday's post, my half empty, half unpacked home really resonated with y'all. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though, after all, is one's home ever really complete? Decorating, at its best, is a long term process, and as Rome wasn't built in a day, neither should our homes be fully furnished in one. That said though, I'm truly touched by your votes of confidence.

Choosing Colours For Your Interiors!

One of the greatest things about interior design is that you can opt for any style you like, it's your home and you should feel comfortable in it! You do not have to keep up with the very latest design trends to have an interior which is stunning.

If you can't decide on which colour you like best or simply have to have them all then simple aspects such as painting your cupboard doors all a different colour can look striking and very stylish! In order that the look is not overwhelmed opt for plain white blinds which enable you to control how much light and privacy you want or need.

Using Venetian styled blinds in a kitchen is ideal, particularly if they are made from metal which has been coated to help reduce dust build up as well as being very easy to keep clean, as they allow plenty of natural light to flood into the room creating a homely, bright and airy space when stacked at the top of the window or when the louvres are tilted open. If you have small windows you can further maximise the use of natural light up slightly tilting the louvres upwards which enables the light to bounce off a white ceiling.

Keep things natural in the kitchen by having easy to clean flooring around the working areas. If you have a table in your kitchen you can opt for a rug made from natural materials to keep the theme coordinated and bring a sense of homeliness as well as cohesion to the room.

Image: Avant-garde Design

Protect Your Flooring From Fading With Venetian or Vertical Blinds

Wooden flooring has been popular for many years, either original stripped floor boards in older styles of homes, parquet flooring in the 1960s along with the influx of laminate style flooring which is being used throughout modern homes.

Interior designers have created beautiful wooden floors which have patterns set within them providing the best of both worlds in terms of both innovation and chic style! The patterns are made from using different coloured wood in the same way as marquetry is used on furniture. Wood inlay coloured patterns can be selected to blend effortlessly with your interior design colour scheme, offering a truly remarkable floor with maximum effect.

However, anyone with a natural floor needs to take care and reduce the risk of staining by mopping up spills as quickly as possible before it has time to penetrate into the wood and also by ensuring the window dressing they choose offers flexibility and practicality in helping to reduce the floor from fading in harsh sunlight. This is of particular importance if you have south facing windows as even in the UK where people may not think there is sufficient or intense sunlight which will damage floors will be astounded to know that the UV rays can cause as much harm to your floor as they can to your skin even on the dullest of days!

Venetain or vertical blinds are the ideal solution as they can look stunning when used as the sole window treatment and equally as striking when teamed with curtains. The great advantage over having either of these styles of blinds is the amount of control you have in diffusing the light or blocking it out completely. Adjusting the louvres correctly will also help furniture and soft furnishings from fading, as well as providing privacy when needed.

Image: Freshome

A State of the {Dis}Union: Part 1

I've been debating internally on whether or not to post pictures of the new house as it stands now, but I've decided that -- at the very least -- posting pictures will help provide a benchmark for future progress...and hopefully act as an incentive for me to get moving and finish unpacking already. And, on the off chance that any of you are currently in the midst of moving, you can at least take

Break The 'Rules' With Bold Curtains And Fabrics

Finding new and innovative ways to dress your windows has never been easier with the vast range of colours and styles of fabric which are widely available both on the high street and online.

Go for something daring and bold which brings nature into your home by selecting fabric which has a bold floral print in this season's in-trend colour of gorgeous lime green and white. To add further individuality and chic style to your home rather then opt for a classical curtain at each side of the window, use one wide curtain or length of fabric and sweep it from the top of the window to one side and hold in place with a tie back.

This enables the beauty of the pattern and the fabric to be seen at all times not just when the curtains are drawn together in the evenings. If floral patterns are not to your taste this style of window dressing works equally as effectively with any bold print as well as plain fabric. Keep the weight of the fabric in mind when making your choice as the lighter the weight the more fluidity it will provide.

Coordinate the colour with the rest of your interior design colour scheme or alternatively opt for a deliberate clash of colours to inject vibrancy and a sense of fun into a room. The latest colour clashing is in-vogue in a big way at present which enables you to opt for your favourite colours and do away with the usual 'rules' of interior design, which is an absolute joy for those who can never seem to get their colours coordinated correctly!

However, although colour clashing is in-vogue you do need to be a little careful otherwise you can end up with a miss-mash of colours which look more like an interior design nightmare than chic style!

Image: Avant-Garde