The Oriental Vs. Contemporary Bedroom Design Theory

 

by: Shrinivas Vaidya

Dear friends,
If you have read any interior design books/articles, visited
a few websites on the internet, you will find the word theme used
quite often.

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What exactly is a theme-based design?
A theme according to me is a collection of various parameters of
design of an interior space. So a theme may include a certain set
colors, materials, repetition of a certain element, such as
a decorative item, etc...
Primarily there are two basic themes under which a design can
be categorized, 1)Oriental 2)Contemporary.
Oriental Bedroom Design Theme:
These kind of themes have a still drilled down niche design
themes, such as country, rustic, vintage, elegant, etc...
One of the major thing about these kind of themes is that much
emphasis is given on the natural beauty of any material.
These designs are close to nature or are shown to be close to
nature.
These kind of design styles are very rarely found in the urban
city interiors. Mostly the countryside homes adopt these kind if
themes, to replicate the flora and fauna of the outside environment.

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The designer tries to include the patters seen in nature, such as
leaves, flowers, plants. All these natural patterns are seen on
wallpaper patterns, decorative lamps, curtains, furniture
upholstery, wall paintings, etc...
Homes which are build on country side such as farm houses, the scarcity
of space is not an issue, but this creates another problem as far as
designing interiors is concerned.
A bedroom, no matter of what size it is, requires some basic
furniture elements as functional needs, such as a double bed,
dressing table, wardrobes, study tables, a book shelf etc..
It is sometimes possible that because of the large spaces, the
bedroom looks empty after the furniture is arranged. At such
times "decoration" plays a major role. During ancient years
the palaces and castles had such large built spaces, where
extensive use of decoration was used in the form of paintings,
heavy decorative flooring patterns, carvings, moldings as a
decorative architectural elements.
So in this oriental design trend, decoration of the space using
various accessories plays a major role.

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Contemporary design Theme:
These kind of design themes are very new as compared to the
previously mentioned oriental design theme. But how did the
designers came along using these kind of designs?
During the starting years of the 20th century, the "Industrial
Revolution" in Europe changed the face of our planet. It
was easy to design and manufacture goods on a mass scale
with amazing speed and efficiency.
This created a flood of industries in and around the cities.
These cities attracted large amount of people to migrate from
rural areas to city centers in search of a living.
Because of this migratory effect there was a sudden need of
housing requirement for the workers. This is where the concept of
an "apartment" was introduced. Because of the pressure of demand,
a school of thoughts emerged within the architects, who
believed that "simplicity" is the need of today's era.
They thought that, the design of the building has to be simple
and easy to build, then only we can compete with the growing
demand of housing needs in cities. That's why simple designs with mostly plane and square faces with square or rectangular openings
were used. These forms and masses were easy to build and still
beautiful. If everything from "safety pins" to "space ships"
could be built on a mass scale, why not "buildings".
The school of thought believed that a plane rectangular form
is in itself beautiful and they proved this using infinite
permutations and combinations of the basic square form. That's
why decoration was given a second preference. Today we call this
school of thought as "contemporary". In contemporary design
every element has an order.

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That's why in today's modern interior design, simplicity is the
key to an efficient design. Unlike the previous oriental design
theme, the contemporary design theme states that any kind of
architectural decoration is always dependent on the basic form
of the building. The form itself is so beautiful, that the need
to further decorate it is not required. Today's modern interiors
spaces are simple to understand, simple to construct, and
project a kind of simplicity.
By reading the above paragraphs some of you might say that,
decoration is no more needed. But this is not true. I am not trying
to force some ideas here. But most people confuse the whole
concept of "Interior Design" and "Interior Decoration". Both
are quite different and both have a unique value in today's
complex society.

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Decoration was something the primitive man learned, looking at
the nature around him. He saw plants, flowers, birds, animals
and tried to copy these elements. We still use "embroidery" on
our dresses. But the modern design theory says that any sort
of decoration can only "enhance" the existing form, but can not
be an element of design.
What does this mean?
In the above said example the "embroidery" pattern can certainly
add to the beauty of the cloth, but the modern theory denies to
accept the cloth to be of a cheap quality. It states that every form, texture, material, shape is in itself beautiful and must be
accepted as it is. Because of this the need to further decorate it
does not arise.

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Thus decoration whether used in architecture or elsewhere is always
dependant on the form on which it is used, but design is
an independent entity which does not need any justification from the
external factors.
The two design themes mentioned above are still widely used today.
The user must look upon them from a point of view of what best suits
his/her likes and dislikes. Only then can you give yourself and
your family the best quality of living.

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Bedroom Closet Clean-Out

Beds In A Bag Make You An Instant Designing Pro!

by: Patricia Bowlin

If you feel bedroom-designing challenged like I am, then bed in a bag sets may just be perfect for you! Everything you need comes in one complete set, and is designed to match or coordinate perfectly.

With no guess work, your bedroom will come out looking just like those in the finest home design magazines and at a price you can afford.

If you stick with the better designer brands names like Lawrence, Burlington House, Dan River, and Croscill you'll find the attention to detail, fabrics and quality to be superior.

They'll typically feature higher thread counts of 200 or more, which will provide the best combination of luxury and durability.

Another example would be a simple matter of the elastic that comes on fitted sheets. The better ones will have elastic all the way around the edges, not just on two sides. This insures that your sheet won't pop off the corner of the bed while you're sleeping. I personally hate waking up tangled-up like that! lol

To be sure what's included in your bed bag, check your descriptive list carefully.
Most of the basics in bed bag sets will include:
comforter, flat and fitted sheets, bed skirt, pillowcase (s)

Many of the better sets will also offer optional matching drapes, area rugs, accent tables, lamps and other important accessories like accent pillows. You'll be amazed at how much detail and flair a few of these lush little decorative pillows can add to your bedroom!

You'll be able to select a complete ensemble that will deck out your entire bedroom from floor to ceiling with matching accessories.

You'll know these sets will match your taste to a Capital-"T", whether that means Traditional, Tasteful or Trendy!

Bedding in a bag sets are affordable and often cost much less than purchasing the items ala carte. The best part is you know that even the wildest, boldest colors, prints, patterns and fabrics for your bedding and accessories, will be designed to match and coordinate just perfectly. Get that home design magazine look the easy way!

If you're like many and simply insist on 5 or 6 pillow cases, you won't find that many in most bed bags. Don't worry. You can add coordinating solid pillow cases easily enough. Maybe with piping and extra detailing that matches the overall color scheme. Some of the best bed bag sets will actually have optional matching pillow cases available.

Let's look at just two popular, quality bedding sets. There are hundreds of bed bag sets to select from, so let your creative juices flow!

Dan River always designs quality bedding whether you choose separate items or bed in a bags. The Monument Springs set is one example. Using earth tones to create a natural look, this set features a faux suede comforter in tan, brown, beige and chocolate with a large patchwork look.

Nothing's quilt-like about these large patches of near-suede material, they look and feel like the real thing...but without the problems of cowhide which feels so heavy and will become shiny with use. This suede-like fabric will last for years and has a light-weight feel and soft, cuddly texture.
Solid light neutral tone sheets and pillow shams in 210 thread count provide lasting night time comfort. A 100% polyester bed skirt in a solid brown earth tone completes this set to perfection. Of course, you'll want to dry clean the comforter and bed skirt.
The sheets and pillow shams are machine washable. Beautiful enough for the most elegant bedroom, this easy to love bag bed set is just unique and easy to live in.

Burlington House Luxury Bed in a Bag Set in their Tuscany design is a fabulous set in shades of greens and ivory. The set includes 220 thread count cotton sheets and pillowcases.

The top sheet is edged in a beautiful, small floral pattern which creates the perfect accent. It's got a center of ivory highlighted with the small floral pattern around the edges which matches the flat sheet perfectly.
The drop section of the comforter is olive green and the color scheme is perfect for blending into a room featuring natural, earth colors. The comforter needs to be dry cleaned along with the bed skirt. The sheets and pillow cases are machine washable.

Complete your look with the matching drapes, area rugs, tables, lamps and various shaped decorative accent pillows, and you'll be proud and amazed at how easy it was to pull your bedroom decor together!

You'll love having fun selecting the different bedroom looks you can create from bedding in a bag sets like this. You could even switch themes from bright, cheery florals for spring and summer, to more traditional tones for fall and winter- why keep the same look all year round..?

No one but you will know that you didn't call in a professional home designer to help you decorate the perfect bedroom. You'll love the selection of fabrics, the textures, colors and patterns- and the coordinated look you'll get when you choose top quality bedding that comes in sets like this. Simply smile when your friends compliment you on your home decorating skills!

Fast Solutions with Feng Shui

by: Batsheva Vaknin

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art used in the home to create balance and harmony. Feng Shui Practitioners have many tricks of the trade used to get rid of negative energy and promote happiness, stability, affluence, tranquility and peace. With the help of this guide, now you, too, can use Feng Shui to enhance your surroundings.


Here are some Feng Shui fast solutions to allow you to experience maximum fulfillment in your current home:

Color. Color can lift you up or bring you down, so pay attention to the colors you choose for your furniture and to decorate your house. Decide on which color best suits your living room, bedrooms, dining room and furniture by figuring out the energy you would like for that particular room or area.
Red: Great for energy and excitement. Works perfectly in a dining room to keep folks awake at the dinner table. Not so good for bedrooms and studies, as its properties can make it hard to relax and unwind.
Orange: Stimulates hunger. Softer, lighter shades work great for living rooms, playrooms, and even bedrooms.
Yellow: Inspires happiness and creativity. Use in any room to add brightness and vitality.
Green: A healing and soothing color. A perfect choice for a living room or any room where you want to enhance the energy of balance.
Blue: A healing and soothing color. A perfect choice for a living room or any room where you want to enhance the energy of balance.
Indigo: Yet another color that heals and soothes. Good for a child�s room to promote healthy sleep habits.
Purple: A highly spiritual color that promotes richness and transformation. Can be too high of a frequency for a large room, so consider using accents of purple as an alternative to painting an entire room.
Light. Light exerts a strong influence over how we feel. Take care to light each room so that you achieve the appropriate calming or energizing effect.
Sunlight: Natural lighting is the very best way to brighten a room.
Good Quality Lighting: Second best to natural lighting. If possible, don�t skimp when it comes to buying lamps, track lighting, or fixtures for your home.
Bright Lighting: Promotes energy and activity (for a playroom, for example).
Low Lighting: Promotes calmness and relaxation (for a bedroom or study, for example).
Dimmers: Can be purchased at a local hardware store. Dimmer switches give you the flexibility to alternate between bright and low lighting in the same room. With a dimmer, bedrooms can be used to play, study, or sleep, your dining room can accommodate a lively brunch or a romantic supper, and the living room can foster animated conversation or some quiet family reading.
Touch. Designers often overlook the power of texture and how it influences the energy of your home and surroundings. Play with accessories and furniture of different materials to achieve surprising results.
Rugs: A shag rug emits a playful energy, while a tightly coiled country rug adds a homey, nurturing touch to a living room. Decide whether you would prefer to tread barefoot upon a soft carpet or a cool shiny wood floor. One draws the energy of comfort, the other professionalism. Choose the materials best suited for the energy you would like each room of your home to radiate.
Pillows: Silk pillows add richness and sensuality. Cotton is good for kids or casual relaxation, and fun, fluffy pillows can be employed for a lighter, playful effect in a living room or playroom.
Furniture: Sleek wood furniture conveys a sturdy and reassuring energy, while soft leather couches and armchairs add a luxurious energy to a living room or study.
Smell. Aromas are an easy and inexpensive solution to help you achieve a harmonious home environment. Play with different scents in each room, changing them occasionally to see how the smells aid in energizing or relaxing you.
Flowers: Flowers can be a terrific addition to any household because of their color and innate positive energy. Easy to forget, however, is how wonderful a room smells when fresh flowers are added.
Candles: Candles look beautiful and have an immediate calming effect on a room. Use different scents for each room, or place various candles with unique smells together in one collection.
Cooking: Cooking provides nourishment and comfort. An added benefit is the wonderful smells of cooking, which contribute to a balanced atmosphere in your home.
Incense or alternatively, Sage: Incense is a fantastic cleansing agent. Use it to erase negative energies, such as after an argument. The scent will permeate all corners of the room, and either relax or invigorate the inhabitants, depending on what type of incense you use.
You! Don�t forget the most important element of your home: you and your family. Even plants and flowers play a vital role in livening up an environment. Pets and children are great for adding movement in each room, which, in turn, keeps the energy of your house circulating. Play with these and other Feng Shui solutions, to maintain balance and perfect harmony in your home. 

Home Improvement

by: Michael Sanford

is an art that most women have imbibed in them. Home Improvement increases the worth of the family residing in it. Also By maintaining it and improving it, you�ll ensure it continues to increase in value.
Maintaining Your Home
Taking regular care of your appliances and checking plumbing and heating/cooling systems regularly can save on costly repairs or even more costly replacements. Review your home inspector�s report to help you prioritize tasks. It is worthwhile to consult a professional for anything you have a hard time fixing or inspecting. Some professionals may charge a fee.
Cosmetic Changes vs. remodeling
you have visions of color and comfort. The back porch could use a fresh coat of paint. The kitchen cabinets need to be updated. When do cosmetic changes (paint, window treatments) turn into major remodeling and renovation projects?
To keep the cost of remodeling from increasing dramatically it�s best to set a budget first and work to maximize the features you want within that budget. This may also help set the limit between cosmetic and major improvements
Many homeowners believe that any improvement will automatically increase the value of their property. Appraisers offer a more cautious perspective.. In other words, if you live on a street of modest two- and three-bedroom bungalows, don�t turn your home into a six-bedroom mansion.
Cosmetic changes such as new paint, flooring and window treatments are considered matters of personal style and therefore, add the least amount of value to a home.
Your home is your greatest financial asset. Take proper care of it and most likely, it will do the same for you.
Planning takes time and includes lots of mundane tasks such as getting permits and financing. But the benefits are immeasurable both in time and money saved.
Individual plans will vary depending on the scope of the project. Steps overlap and sometimes changing in one aspect of your plan forces changes in others. But almost every plan will include at least these five steps.

1. Dream It
Make sure your concept for the addition blends with the existing houses materials and design. For example: Adding on a Cape Cod family room to a 50s ranch style home would look silly at best.
Do a quick sketch of the addition you're planning even before consulting with a builder or designer.
2. Design It
If your plans require the removal or alteration of a supporting wall, contact a building engineer or architect to learn if your idea will affect the strength of the existing structure. Major structural changes may increase the time and cost of your project. A consultation may provide you with alternatives.
3. Paying for It
Establish a budget for this project and determine where the money is coming from. The money available will impact the scope of the project.
Remember that anything not included in the original contract will cost extra. It's tempting to start making changes and expanding the original plan. Try to control yourself or you might be adding hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars that will shatter your budget and your time line.
4. Permits and Codes
If you've hired a local contractor or architect, he should be able to tell you if your idea will pass the building inspection. A professional should be able to handle the entire permit process, from drawing up plans, applying for the permit and scheduling inspections.
If you're doing it yourself, visit your planning department and research the codes that pertain to your project. If the agency requires certified plans, you may still have to consult with an architect or engineer who can provide them.
5. Timing
Establish a time frame for the project. Much of an addition is exterior work and will need to be accomplished according to the seasons. Your start date should be the date you actually beginning construction, so make sure your financing is in place before this date.
Your time frame needs to take into account who is doing the work. If this is a do-it-yourself project, your time will probably be more limited because of job and family. If the job takes eight full days to complete, and you can only work weekends, it will take you four weeks. Consider if the money saved by doing it yourself is worth the extra time.

Home Improvement Ideas

by: Dan Noyes


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There are many home improvement projects that you can carry out to make your home a more comfortable space and to add to its value as property. These home improvement projects include remodeling the basement, kitchen, and bathrooms, and painting both the exteriors and interiors regularly.

Whenever most people think of home improvement projects, they think in terms of doing up the living areas, such as the bedrooms, drawing room, and dining room. However, there is just so much that you can do in a bedroom�maybe add a comfortable bed, a reading lamp, a table or ceiling fan, a bookshelf, and a study table. Most people seldom entertain formally, so areas such as the drawing room and dining room seldom get used. You can, however, put in some comfortable sofas, chairs, end tables, and coffee tables, and put in an expandable dining table, chairs, and breakfront in the dining room. You are most likely to use your kitchen as an area to not only prepare and cook food, and wash utensils and laundry, but also to serve family meals and entertain informally.

You can add electric floor warming systems for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements to make these areas of your home more comfortable. If you waterproof and ventilate your basement and use glass blocks to let in natural light, you can use it as a gym, study, home office, or home entertainment room. You will need to put in an intercom system so that you can not only make and receive calls in the basement, but also keep in touch with other family members.

To make your kitchen a visually appealing space, you can add countertops that complement or match the cabinetry, floor, or walls. Your countertops could be of granite, marble, wood, or stainless steel. To bring in more light into the kitchen, you can place a large ceiling fixture in the center of the kitchen, with track lights near the sink, range, and countertops. You can also use warm colors for the kitchen walls and floor, add recessed lights and dimmers, and highlight your cabinets. You can use tiles, laminates, and hardwoods as flooring. Your cabinets can complement or match the colors used in the walls and flooring. You can even use stained glass panels for kitchen cabinets.

To make your bathroom a truly relaxing space, you can always add a steam shower, a body spa, or a comfortable bathtub where you can soak for hours and allow the tensions of the day to flow away from you. See that your bathroom is well-lit. If you are interested in chromatherapy, you will find several products, such as bathtubs, shower systems, and sinks, which feature chromatherapy options. You can also install multiple showerheads and a waterfall in the bathroom to get a spa-like experience. You can also include a large bathtub, fog-free mirrors, and a towel warmer for more comfort. The tiles and walls in your bathroom should be in warm colors. You can also put plants and pictures in the bathroom to give a lived-in feel, and replace the sink sunk in a counter top with a pedestal sink. Nowadays, sinks come in a variety of materials, such as glass, stainless steel, stone, and copper�you can select a material that suits you. Your vanity cabinet could be of stone, wood, or glass. You can select from a wide variety of faucets, including single-hole and single-lever, widespread, centerset, and wall-mounted faucets.

At Total Remodeling, we can help you with home improvement ideas and projects. We can improve your home in line with modern trends, thus adding to its comfort and value.

About the author:
Dan Noyes
http://www.totalremodeling.com


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