Are you afraid to take a risk in your space? These ideas will help you spice up your space but prevent you from going overboard.

It is the beginning of a new year which sometimes makes us more open to change or inspired to mix things up. Sometimes just adding a new color, fabric, or print to your space can give it some added interest. There are various reasons as to why many of us are afraid to take a little risk with our space, but regardless of what those reasons are, we can all change things up in some way or another.


We have a few different ideas for you to add a splash of color or a fun print to your space without it becoming overwhelming. The first is the easiest and most likely the least expensive route to take. Pick one or a few of your favorite colors whether they are solids or in the form of a print to make throw pillow cases out of. This is a great opportunity to add some texture as well. Cut velvets are big right now and can add a luxurious feeling as well. The image below is a great example of a vibrant print on a pillow from Designer’s Guild along with a beautiful throw blanket.

Designer's Guild

Window treatments are something that may not be inexpensive to change but they are something that is relatively easy to change. They can soften up a room, make it more cozy, and definitely add some color. This is a great way to showcase a print you love. The fabric for the window treatments are from Designer’s Guild.

Designer's Guild

Black is often considered a risky color to use especially in larger amounts. Sheer black window treatments can provide a sleek contrast to a room that is very bright without being too heavy.

Designer's Guild

If you love prints, printed sheers can be a great option as well. This is a beautiful sheer from Designer’s Guild used for a window treatment.

Designer's Guild

Wall coverings are back! There are so many new textures, prints, and colors available to add visual interest to any interior. If you have a smaller space such as a powder room, try adding a wall covering to make the space more unique. If you select a wall covering that is slightly reflective it may make the space feel bigger as well.

Laura Casey Interiors, LLC

Color and style trends change with interiors just like fashion does but that doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of what the current trends have to offer! Hopefully these ideas will help you brighten up your space and bring it to life. Design the life you love!

Could your Kitchen Design be affecting your eating habits in 2012?

 There are many different factors in our environment that affect the way we live. Just like a well-designed office has been proven to increase employee productivity, the design of our kitchen may also affect our behavior when it comes to our eating habits. We have come up with a few strategies in kitchen design that could affect or change these habits.

 

Many contemporary kitchens today reflect more of a “great room” style which combines the living, dining, and kitchen space into one. This serves as the central hub for families and friends. Many other activities often take place here. While many of us enjoy this design, we may not realize that it may actually contribute to more frequent snacking or larger meals being that we never really leave the kitchen.

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Traditional home design incorporated more of a closed off kitchen design that was used primarily for food preparation. Other than food prep and cleaning up after meals, essentially the kitchen was closed down in between or after meals.



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As you can see from this comparison, the square footage devoted to the kitchen has definitely changed over the years as well.



Cabinets with transparent panels may also stimulate your appetite by providing visual access to food in your cabinets.



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Last but not least, color may affect your appetite as well. Have you ever noticed how you often find warmer colors such as reds and oranges in many popular restaurants? They often incorporate these hues into their signage as well because these colors have the ability to stimulate your appetite. If you want a strategy to suppress your appetite at home, paint your kitchen blue or green. Blue is calming and can often suppress your appetite, while green has a healthy connation to it which could support incorporating healthy eating habits into your life.



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