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“The addition of two or three pattern fabrics in the
same color story, along with different textiles (throws) in great textures adds
visual excitement to a room,” says Ludwig. “It also softens the edges of the
corners and hard lines, and warms up a room to make it more livable.”
An additional fabric element that many people forget is adding small upholstered
or slip-covered ottomans for additional seating or as decorative items to fill
up a room. Ludwig also suggests a skirted table with an under skirt of a plain
fabric (great solid color with no pattern) with an additional patterned fabric
draped on top.
 Decorative wallpaper murals can add pizzazz and personalization to any room.
“Adding a wall mural can transform a room from ‘fine’ to ‘fabulous,’ ” says Todd
Imholte, president of Murals Your Way by Environmental Graphics. The company
produces a line of custom wallpaper murals (www.muralsyourway.com). “The variety
of styles lets you reflect your unique tastes and memories, whether it’s with a
sports motif in your son’s room, a custom mural made from a family photo in your
family room, or a wine theme in your kitchen. The possibilities are truly
endless.”
Steven Southgate couldn’t agree more. As design supervisor for “Divine Design
with Candice Olson,” he has used wall murals several times on the show’s room
makeovers. According to Southgate, “the Birch Trees and Pebbles murals give a
high impact graphic feel, while the Sequoia mural offers outstanding graphics
and superb color.”
Updating your window treatments can quickly change the look and feel of any
room. Ian Gibbs, window treatment design expert and founder of TheShadeStore.com,
recommends that your window treatment rod be hung a few inches above the window
molding to visually extend the window’s height and make the ceiling appear
taller. To make windows look bigger and brighten a room, drapes should be hung
“wide,” outside of the actual window frame, so that when drapes are pushed back,
the entire window is visible to maximize the amount of light let in.
Adding greenery is also a nice way to bring the outdoors in and give a feeling
of life in a room. Melissa Galt -- interior designer, author, speaker and owner
of Melissa Galt Interiors -- suggests you keep it simple by limiting silk
florals to no more than one per room. Be more generous with greenery, placing
fresh plants on every third shelf of a bookcase, on top of an armoire, or near a
hearth or fireplace. Containers can range from bright brass, silvery aluminum
and sparkling glass to more casual ceramic or terracotta.
Think ceiling fans are just for summer? Think again. Switch the blade to
reverse, and you can pull the hot air down from the ceiling and dramatically
reduce your heating bills during the cooler months. Emerson Ceiling Fans product
manager Zeynep McLeane sees dark colors and natural finishes as particularly
popular this season, with dark finishes such as Oil Rubbed Bronze, Aged Walnut
and Bronze Heritage nicely complementing existing dark touches throughout the
home in furniture, hardware, plumbing and lighting fixtures.
Speaking of lighting, “jewelry” will be displayed on more than the human body
this season. Kichler Lighting’s new Light Accents come in 70 different designs,
shapes and sizes -- including classic teardrops, organic leaf-forms, grape
clusters, beaded crystal strands and Swarovski crystal pendalogues. Attach them
to your chandeliers, pendants, wall sconces, lamps, lamp shades -- even curtain
rods and candle holders -- to add extra sparkle and let your room glow.
And no interior designer would dispute the value of a simple coat of paint to
kick an already nicely designed room up a notch or two. Davis Remignanti of
Furniture.com suggests selecting one wall of your room for a quick, total
makeover using color and accent pieces.
“Paint the wall with a hue from today’s trendy color palette, such as a deep,
rich chocolate brown that will pick up the color from your furniture,” suggests
Remignanti. “Don’t be afraid of dark colors for accent walls, especially in
rooms with a lot of natural light. Then replace the existing artwork on the wall
with a bold, grand scale piece such as the retro prints that are so popular
these days, and swap your area rug for one that better picks up the tones in
your upholstery.
“These small changes can take your room from already-beautiful to drop-dead
gorgeous,” he says.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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