Articles by Aja Klena on ArticleSnatch.com

Bring a Cheerful Tropical Theme to a Utility Room

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:16:14 -0500

The drudgery of a utility room typically centers on laundry duty, bathing the family pet, and scouring or mopping chores that require the use of the utility room sink. But introducing a tropical theme to the utility/laundry room introduces cheer, color and fun, making everyday tasks a little more pleasant. Start with Delicious Color Think tropical and you can't help but think of delicious shades of mango, papaya, pineapple yellow and aqua. Choose a subdued shade of one of these colors to keep the room from appearing dark and cloying. If you have a lot of natural light in the room that might wash out the wall color, try sponging or ragging on a slightly deeper shade over the light one. Consider white washing cabinets, doors, and wood work or painting it in a creamy shade of off-white for a spacious look. Easy Floor and Window Treatments A neutral floor can gain color and texture with sisal area rugs, bamboo mats or plush area rugs that provide cushioning while you're working. If you are replacing the floor, vinyl is easy to keep clean and stands up well to moisture. In recent years vinyl flooring graphics have been greatly improved; **End Summary** Topics: iron wall art]]> music wall hangings]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Decorating specialist Aja Klena offers many more free and easy decorating ideas at http://www.metal-wall-art.com the place to go for unique iron wall art and music wall hangings .

Bring a Wild Bird Theme to Life in a Breezeway

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:24:29 -0500

A breezeway that connects the main house to the garage is a perfect place to showcase an outdoor theme and blur the demarcation between inside and outside. And what better way to soften that line than with a wild bird theme that makes the transition nearly seamless? There are a couple of ways to go with a wild bird theme depending on where you live. In the south, tropical birds and palm trees may be the most appropriate way to go, whereas gulls, terns and pelicans may be a great choice for a seaside cottage. In this article we will focus on a native birds typical to northern climes, where species like finches, robins, bluebirds, jays, sparrows and cardinals abound. Create a backdrop for a Northern Wild Bird Theme Start by making your walls a seamless backdrop to the great outdoors. If you have the wall space and are artistically inclined, you can paint a freehand mural of trees, leaves and birds on the main walls and around windows and door frames. If you are less artistically inclined, search online or in craft stores for a paint-by-number mural that anyone can do. **End Summary** Topics: wall decorating art]]> leaf wall art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Aja Klena is a prominent online author and the senior staff writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com a distinctive wall art store specializing in wall decorating art and leaf wall art .

Style Tips for Decorating a Bedroom on a Budget

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:25:39 -0500

Everyone deserves a calm, soothing bedroom retreat that helps you rest, relax and recharge after a long and demanding day. While it is easy to create a stylish bedroom when money is no object, it can be much more difficult to achieve these goals on a limited budget. However, if you are creative and resourceful, you can have a beautiful bedroom and not lay awake at night worrying over how you are going to pay for it. First, Think Outside the Box Before you can tap into your creativity, you need to leave some preconceived notions behind. Realize that you do not have to buy new or expensive furniture to get a great looking bedroom. Resale shops, antique stores, flea markets and even garage sales are great sources for furniture and accessories that you can refinish, paint or repurpose to suit your style. Also, do not get tricked into thinking that you have to buy a matched suite of bedroom furniture where the dresser matches the headboard which matches the bedside tables, etc. Mixing and matching gives you a more eclectic result with personality and distinctive style. **End Summary** Topics: wall art sculptures]]> fleur de lis wall art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Article author Aja Klena is the design consultant and senior staff writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com. Visit the store for a distinctive wall art sculptures and fleur de lis wall art .

Refresh the Kitchen with Practical and Budget Friendly Decorating Ideas

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:41:51 -0500

Home decor magazines and home improvement TV shows are big on kitchen makeovers. Typically, makeovers focus on extravagant new cabinets, state-of-the-art appliances and granite counter-tops with pricey light fixtures and over-the-top wall art. But if you are an average homeowner, you are more likely looking for ways to make your adequate kitchen more attractive, warm and welcoming without breaking the bank. Here is a three-pronged approach that can help. First, Add Color and Style to the Walls An inexpensive can of paint in a cozy friendly color can take your kitchen from ho-hum to wow! Choose from deep colors in warm shades like poppy, sunflower or terracotta that will complement the color of your cabinets, floor, counter-tops and appliances. Faux painting techniques like rag rolling or sponge painting will add texture and the illusion of depth. Then add wall art that defines your style while being compatible with the high humidity, spills and splatter that happen in the kitchen. Wrought iron, framed ceramic or tile, metal art, baskets, dishes and framed photographs behind glass are easy to wipe clean. Stay within your budget by creating your own wall art; **End Summary** Topics: decorative wall art]]> musical notes wall decor]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Home decor specialist Aja Klena is the top writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a wall decorating store offering unique decorative wall art and musical notes wall decor .

Do-It-Yourself Fixes to Restore Chipped Wooden Furniture

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:20:29 -0500

Wood furniture takes its share of hard knocks over time and chips and dings are not uncommon on well-used pieces. Bargain furniture that you pick up at an estate or garage sale may be in need of a little TLC to restore the surface and finish. But before you roll up your sleeves, keep in mind a valuable antique should be evaluated by a qualified appraiser before any restoration is attempted, as refinishing an antique can diminish its value. If you decide to have an antique or valuable piece of furniture restored, you would be better off leaving that to a restoration professional as well. However, for ordinary furniture, there are a number of fixes that you can employ to improve its appearance. Clear Nail Polish Sometimes there is only damage to the clear finish on a piece of furniture and you can fill in the crack or crevice with clear nail polish. Let a few drops level the crack and allow it to dry; sand the surface lightly then restore the glossy finish on the entire piece by rubbing it down with auto polishing compound on a clean rag. **End Summary** Topics: wall art hangings]]> fleur de lis artwork]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> In need of additional decorating ideas that include wall art hangings or fleur de lis artwork ? Article author and senior staff writer Aja Klena provides many more free and unique ideas at http://www.metal-wall-art.com.

Decorating a Guest Room with Distinction

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:30:19 -0500

You will create a warm and welcoming guest room if you think like a guest before you begin decorating. What would like in a guest room if you were visiting a friend or family member? Of course, you would like the room to be clean and comfortable. You also would want to feel like you were not imposing, so what amenities and consideration would make you feel most welcome? Jot down your ideas and refer to our suggestions for creating a guest room that is overflowing with hospitality. Ideas for Style and Comfort Keep the room as stylish as the rest of your home and let it reflect your general style, such as traditional or modern. Choose relaxing colors like pale green or blue or a subdued muted pastel. It is fine to express your personal style but do not make the room too dramatic, frilly or overly masculine. For example, a vegan friend probably would not feel comfortable in a room full of stuffed mounted animal trophies. Choose good quality bed linens, comforter and pillows to make your guest feel pampered and coordinate the colors of bedding and accessories. **End Summary** Topics: tree metal wall sculpture]]> jazz metal wall art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Home decor specialist Aja Klena is the top writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a wall decorating store offering unique tree metal wall sculpture and jazz metal wall art .

How to Create Conversation Areas in a Great Room

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:24:49 -0500

An expansive great room gives you lots of room for entertaining and enjoying family activities, but when the room is large, it can feel cold and impersonal, especially when there are only a few people in the room. And while it may help to break a room into zones for movie viewing, reading or other activities, you do not want the room to feel like a furniture showroom where you have to walk through a series of awkward zones to get to the couch. The first step to creating a stylish space is to identify traffic paths in the room. Do this by drawing an imaginary line from each opening in the room. The paths can be somewhat altered with furniture, but main pass-throughs to popular destinations like the kitchen, are primary traffic paths and you want to locate your conversation area away from these heavily used paths. The next step is to create a seating design that fosters conversation at a comfortable speaking level. A corner shape is ideal and can be created with furniture layout even when walls do not provide a tangible corner. **End Summary** Topics: metal wall sculptures]]> tree metal wall sculpture]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> This article was written by Aja Klena and provided by http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a site featuring unique metal wall sculptures and tree metal wall sculpture .

Transform your Interiors with Decorative Painting Techniques

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:25:39 -0500

Decorative painting techniques allow you to add textural dimension to your walls, giving them a unique appeal that may complement your decorative style. Your local home improvement stores carries everything you need, from paint to glazes, brushes and supplies. The personnel in the paint department can also answer many of your questions about techniques and how to achieve desired results. Here is a primer on six decorative painting techniques to get you started. 1. Color Washing Color washing produces a dreamy, cloud-like effect that is perfect for a bedroom or bath, or wherever you want a relaxed ambiance. The effect is produced by applying the base color to the walls followed by a glaze that is applied with a sponge or rag using a swirling motion. 2. Rag Rolling Rag rolling involves one of two techniques: Ragging On or Ragging Off. With either technique a base coat is applied and allowed to dry, then a darker or lighter secondary color is ragged on with a dabbing motion that produces a crinkle effect on the walls. With ragging off, the second coat is dabbed on, then wiped away with another rag to create a softer, random effect. 3. **End Summary** Topics: music notes wall hanging]]> wall decor art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Decorating specialist Aja Klena offers many more free and easy decorating ideas at http://www.metal-wall-art.com the place to go for unique music notes wall hanging and wall decor art .

The Media Room is the New Family Room

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:33:53 -0500

When you think about the differences between a media room and a family room, they are really pretty subtle. Actually a media room may just be where the family room meets technology. So if you are thinking about turning your family room into a media room, it may not be as big of a change as you think. Design for your Media Since you are designing the room around media, it is probably a good idea to first decide exactly what media you want to include in the room. You will also want to decide how open you want to leave your design so that you can add new media elements in the future. For example, if you will be upgrading your TV or adding a new speaker system, you want to consider that as you are designing your room. When you are selecting furniture for your new media room, try to design it for the future as much as it makes sense to do so. **End Summary** Topics: wall art tree]]> contemporary metal artwork]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> In need of additional decorating ideas that include wall art tree or contemporary metal artwork ? Article author and senior staff writer Aja Klena provides many more free and unique ideas at http://www.metal-wall-art.com.

Organize with Shelving: Great Looking Fixes for a Utility Room

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:21:49 -0500

Utility rooms vary from small spaces housing a stackable washer/dryer unit to large mudroom/laundry room combinations that allow you to nurture a gardening hobby while you do a load of wash. But nearly any size utility room can gain extra storage and efficiency through the use of shelving to organize and neatly store essentials. Here are some tips on how to customize a shelving system that is as good looking as it is hard working. Shelving does not have to be ugly. Let us face it, metal utility-shelving units are ugly, and plastic units are not much more attractive. Plus the plastic units tend to sag over time and neither system makes the best use of available space; the height between shelves may not work with what you need to store. Typically, there is too much head room above each shelf and space is wasted. But if you already own a set of ugly shelves, take heart! You can customize them: Buy another matching set so you steal parts from the new set to add extra shelves and change the configuration to fit your needs. **End Summary** Topics: jazz metal wall art]]> modern metal art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Additional free ideas are offered by senior staff writer and home decor specialist Aja Klena http://www.metal-wall-art.com. The store also specializes in distinctive jazz metal wall art and modern metal art .

Budget Makeover Tips for the Great Room

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:24:02 -0500

If you had the funds to simply walk into a furniture showroom and hire a decorator to do a complete makeover of your great room, you would be free of the challenge of having to do it yourself. However, you would miss out on an opportunity to make your great room a stylish reflection of your personality and design sense. Instant gratification may be easy to achieve on a home decor TV show, but it is not reality and is too expensive for most people. Instead, focus on these decorative tips that will help you create the style you want at a price you can afford. A little attitude adjustment may be necessary before you start: You are not settling for a budget makeover, you are embarking on an adventure. Be patient and savor the fun of hunting down just the right piece to pull your room together. The search is nearly as much fun as living with the finished result. Start with a floor plan. Make a plan before you start buying. Create a 1/4 scale drawing of your great room that indicates where permanent fixtures like windows, doors and the fireplace are located. **End Summary** Topics: music notes wall decor]]> wall art tree]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Aja Klena is a prominent online author and the senior staff writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com a distinctive wall art store specializing in music notes wall decor and wall art tree .

How to Spray Paint with Smooth Success

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:53 -0500

Spray paint is an easier way to get great results on small items that have nooks and crannies or uneven surfaces. Use it to turn an old piece of furniture into a decorative accent that perfectly matches other colors in your room; or unify a group of disparate frames with one can of spray paint. How about turning plain clay pots into colorful containers for your favorite flowers? Spray paint comes in a rainbow of colors and types so you can find spray paint that will work on wood, plastic and metal and even cover up rust. Because spray paint doesn't leave brush stroke marks behind, it's not only quick and easy to use, it gives you a more uniform, professional finish. If you have never tried spray painting before, realize that it takes a little time and practice to become skilled and precise, so you may want to try your hand first on objects that don't mean the world to you. We can get you off on the right foot with these helpful tips and before you know it, you will be painting everything in sight! **End Summary** Topics: tree wall decor]]> metal wall sculptures.]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Article author Aja Klena is the design consultant and senior staff writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com. Visit the store for a distinctive tree wall decor and metal wall sculptures .

The Media Room is the New Family Room

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:28:47 -0500

Add Stylish Storage Space to a Laundry Room

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:23:00 -0500

Laundry rooms are one of those utilitarian spaces often associated with drudgery and everyday chores. Your laundry room may double as a utility room and/or mudroom and chances are you would be happier if you could gain more storage and style in this functional space. Incorporate and customize these solutions to make your laundry/utility/mudroom a space that fits your needs while looking just as stylish as the rest of the house. Functionality Issues A laundry room needs to work with you, not against you. Reducing all clutter will make the room more efficient, and your first order of business is to free up as much floor space as possible. A long countertop is an ideal solution because it offers a place to fold clothes. If your countertop does not have cabinets or drawer bases underneath, purchase a few canvas laundry hampers on wheels. Use them to sort laundry then slide them under the counter when not in use. This will allow you to do away with freestanding laundry hampers and you will gain more floor space. **End Summary** Topics: metal wall plaque]]> decorative iron wall art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> In need of additional decorating ideas that include metal wall plaque or decorative iron wall art ? Article author and senior staff writer Aja Klena provides many more free and unique ideas at http://www.metal-wall-art.com.

Great Room Decor: How to Create Warm Mediterranean Style

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:31:22 -0500

It seems that we are in love with Mediterranean and Tuscan style. We outfit our kitchens with tiled murals and brick ovens and let the sunny beauty of the welcoming decorative style spill out onto patios and outdoor kitchens. No wonder! Mediterranean style is full of color, warmth and an earthiness that feels natural and lush. Why not give your great room the same treatment? Warm up the Walls Warm colors like sienna and ochre are just one element of creating a warm backdrop for Mediterranean style. The other element is texture: Stucco techniques and textured granules that are added to paint will let you achieve this effect. If you would rather not add real texture to your walls, go faux. Choose rag or sponge painting to create a color washing effect that feels as authentic as the sun-drenched terra cotta of Positano. You local paint store or home improvement store can advise you on products, techniques, prep and supplies. Flooring: Authenticity is Afoot Brick, marble, porcelain or terra cotta tile are authentic flooring choices. However, wood floors can easily accent a rustic Mediterranean decor. Bring in your color choices through colorful Tuscan or Spanish style area rugs. **End Summary** Topics: metal wall grilles]]> wall art and decor]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Home decor specialist Aja Klena is the top writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a wall decorating store offering unique metal wall grilles and wall art and decor .

Updating Your Kitchen on a Tight Budget

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:52:33 -0400

Full blown kitchen remodels can cost thousands of dollars, and you may feel you are going to be stuck with an ugly kitchen for years. But simple changes can make a powerful impact and go a long way towards bringing new life to a run-down look, while remaining budget friendly. Renovate Outdated Surfaces Due to the upgrades the design world has made to paint and painting effects, it is now possible to use faux-painting techniques to clean up and mirror higher end counter top surfaces. Your local home decor or arts and crafts store has books and videos and even live classes on different painting techniques that will create the layered look you need, so take advantage of this expertise and get a whole new look. Out With the Old, In with the New: Window Treatments If you have become numb to the out of date, tea pot print fabric you have adorning your kitchen window, wake up and take them down so you can replace them with a new window treatment that is more in tune with your new style. A general rule is to keep it simple. **End Summary** Topics: contemporary wall art]]> wall art metal]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Aja Klena is a prominent online author and the senior staff writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com - a distinctive wall art store specializing in contemporary wall art and wall art metal .

4 Decorating Solutions for Your Bathroom's Brown and Turquoise Tile Floor

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:10:03 -0400

While colors can date a room, they can also make it look very contemporary. One color combination that has gained tremendously popularity is brown and turquoise. While the color palette may sound modern and bold, it can also be muted and organic depending on how you accent the space. So, consider a bathroom with brown and turquoise floor tile and all of the possibilities that it offers. There is Brown and then There is Brown A wonderfully neutral and organic color, brown can be a perfect wall color to showcase this beautiful color combination in the tile. For a larger bathroom you can go with a rich, chocolate brown and accessorize in a lighter brown. Chrome fixtures will repeat the silver in the mirror, or porcelain fixtures could be used to echo the color of the tub. If your bathroom is smaller you may opt for a lighter tone in your brown wall color with a single accent wall in chocolate brown. To pull the turquoise into the room you have the option of picking up the color in your towels and shower curtain, or you can add a fun cabinet or stool to the room and paint it turquoise. **End Summary** Topics: contemporary wall sculptures]]> metal wall plaque]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Home decor specialist Aja Klena is the top writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a wall decorating store offering unique contemporary wall sculptures and metal wall plaque .

Make a Great Room Cozier

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:11:18 -0400

Extra large great rooms with soaring cathedral ceilings are popular features in modern homes and while they provide a feeling of spacious, limitless drama, they can present decorating challenges. Because cathedral ceilings can feel like they are beyond human scale, they tend to feel cold and unfriendly. Here are some solutions to make an oversized great room feel a little more personal, warm and welcoming. Unify with Design Elements Any room can benefit from unifying elements like repeated colors and designs that pull various elements of the room together. But in an oversized great room with cathedral ceilings you can make the space feel warmer and cozier by unifying design elements. Choose deep dramatic colors that shrink space, like olive green or burgundy. Choose a design, such as the classic fleur-de-lis, to pull a room together. Repeat it in wallpaper and borders, wall art, pillows, and curtain fabrics. Any repeated design has the ability to unify a space because it connects various elements within the room. Keep in mind that wall art can appear dwarfed by cathedral ceilings so choose oversize canvas or metal art to fill large spaces. **End Summary** Topics: tree wall decor]]> home decor]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> This article was written by Aja Klena and provided by http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a site featuring unique tree wall decor . Please check for more unique articles about home decor and interior design.

How to Make a Small Utility Room More Efficient

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:02:09 -0400

Even though a utility room may be more about function than style, a few thoughtful changes and a bit of re-organizing can make the room feel larger while being more useful and easier to maintain. Reorganize and Reduce Clutter Clutter is the biggest culprit when it comes to making a space feel cluttered and inefficient. When de-cluttering any space, your first priority should be to keep items off the floor; this will not only make the space look larger, it will make it easier to function in the room. Wall cabinets and wall shelves make the best use of unused vertical space. After getting rid of anything that does not belong in the room, is broken or is no longer needed, organize what is left and design a storage solution. Wood, metal or plastic boxes are great for organizing smaller items; for instance, you may want to put all your hammers, screwdrivers and other tools in a tool box and use another box to hold pet leashes and supplies, and another for gardening pruners and outdoor tools. But before you buy a bunch of storage boxes, think about how you use your utility room and the items stored there. **End Summary** Topics: wall decor metal]]> home decor]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> This Article was provided by Aja Klenna who writes for http://www.metal-wall-art.com that features wall decor metal . Please check for more unique articles about home decor and interior design.

Create a Music Lovers Media Room

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:51:47 -0400

What better place to display your love of music than a media room? The focus is already on music, movies and electronic equipment. Instead of hiding CDs, DVDs, sound system, speakers and the flat screen TV, as you would in a living room, you can let these necessary items contribute to the atmosphere of the room by displaying CDs in open racks, hanging speakers on the wall and housing all electrical component in an open console under the flat screen. Use a musical theme to pull it all together: For some people, country music might be the theme within the theme, for someone else it could be the Beatles, Elvis or the smooth sounds of jazz or the Big Band Era. Wall Decor that Sets the Stage Deep wall colors like chocolate or gray are excellent choices for a media room because deep colors will provide optimum viewing conditions for the flat screen. But go right ahead and embellish the walls to suit your musical preferences. Music note wall art in black metal is a great accent that will work with nearly any music theme and it looks especially crisp and apropos with classic, jazz or big band accents. **End Summary** Topics: wall decor metal]]> unique articles]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> In need of additional decorating ideas that include wall decor metal ? Article author and senior staff writer Aja Klena provides many more free and unique ideas at http://www.metal-wall-art.com. Please check for more unique articles about home decor and interior design.

Accent Your Media Room with a Movie Theme

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:39:44 -0400

Since your media room is all about entertainment, decorating with a movie theme seems like a natural extension of the function of the room. There are so many directions that you can take with this theme that it is wise to spend a little time first deciding on what direction you want to go: A few possibilities include classic and vintage flicks or Hollywood glam. You could also choose to highlight a particular genre, like Westerns or Hitchcock thrillers, or build your room around a favorite group of movie sequels like Pirates of the Caribbean. Or, maybe you love a legendary movie star, like Paul Newman and you want to create a theme around his career. Building on Your Theme Let your decorative choices be guided by your theme. Movie posters are a great place to start and the colors in the posters can be repeated throughout the room in toss pillows, lamps and wall art. While you will want to keep the walls of your media room in deep subdued tones like taupe or grey, there is no reason you can not add punch and vibrancy in accents and accessories. Take your style cues from the movies as well. **End Summary** Topics: contemporary metal art]]> unique articles]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Home decor specialist Aja Klena is the top writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a wall decorating store offering unique contemporary metal art . Please check for more unique articles about home decor and interior design.

Brighten a Dark Room through Decorative Changes

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:36:21 -0400

Of course windows go a long way towards bringing light into a room, but when your natural light is limited you can brighten up a room in so many other ways as well. Wall color and accent colors can add to the illusion of a lighter, brighter space, and well-placed lighting fixtures can really increase the brightness factor in any room. Helping Mother Nature Start with your natural lighting. Make sure that your windows are clean and dress them with fabrics that do not obstruct the light. Light colored fabrics and sheers work well. Hanging mirrors on the wall opposite a window helps amplify the natural light that is already coming into the room. To light the entire room, track lighting and recessed lighting are sensible options. Track lighting can light an entire space or be directed at a specific area of the room, whereas recessed lighting is installed flush on the ceiling, providing an even layer of light throughout the room. For the most natural light effect choose soft, white incandescent light bulbs in your fixtures. An effective way to brighten a room either subtly or dramatically is to bounce light off of the ceiling. **End Summary** Topics: contemporary metal art]]> abstract metal art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Decorating specialist Aja Klena offers many more free and easy decorating ideas at http://www.metal-wall-art.com, the place to go for unique contemporary metal art and abstract metal art .

3 Great Ideas For Making a Den from Your Formal Dining Room

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:15:43 -0400

Modern families are frequently so busy that not only does the family not gather around the dinner table for their evening meal, they do not gather around any table at all. Grabbing meals on the go has made the formal dining room almost redundant. Since the space is rarely used and may even be acting as a catch all for mismatched furniture from the rest of the house, you may want to reclaim this space and turn it into a den. A den is a wonderful sort of room that absolutely suits a family needs. For one family it may be a game room, while for another family it may be a reading room or media center. For all families it can be a great space for entertaining. How you furnish the room completely depends on how you plan to use it. Media Center One way to be sure to get some use out of the room is to make it into an entertainment room. In this case your will want to have your media center be the focal point in the room with comfortable seating strategically placed for movie viewing, game playing or conversation. **End Summary** Topics: wall art metal]]> contemporary metal art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Article author Aja Klena is the design consultant and senior staff writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com. Visit the store for a distinctive wall art metal and contemporary metal art .

8 Ways to Spruce up Your Entryway

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:20:38 -0400

Probably all of your really good friends and neighbors always knock on the back door, but when strangers approach your house they go to the front door. So your front door is really where you make your first impression on anyone new visiting your house. Take a stroll up your front walkway to your front door. You may be surprised what you find. Clean - Clean your doorway. Cobwebs never make a good first impression, unless you are a vampire and it is Halloween! Too often when we enter our home through a garage or back door, the front doorway is forgotten. If you never use it, make a point to enter your house through it occasionally just for a spot check. Fresh Paint - Make sure that the paint on your door is fresh and not peeling or chipping. When you are repainting your front door consider giving it a bold, new color like black or red for a little extra drama in your curb appeal. New Hardware - If you have had the same doorknob and doorknocker for twenty years; maybe it is time for a change. **End Summary** Topics: tree branch wall art]]> wall art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> This article was written by Aja Klena and provided by http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a site featuring unique tree branch wall art and wall art .

Spruce up Your Utility Room in Nautical Style

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:10:48 -0400

A utility room can be more than a no-frills space that houses the hot water heater, furnace and everyday supplies. If your utility room doubles as a mudroom or laundry room, a few decorative touches can make the time spent there more pleasant and comfortable. Make your utility room more user-friendly with these easy style and shipshape storage solutions. A Seaside-Inspired Palette Nearly any shade of blue is a natural for a nautical theme, but there are other options to consider: Pale khaki, sea foam green, pale shell pink or sand dollar beige. Or choose a wall paper in blue and white or red and white ticking stripes for a very orderly presentation. Any wall paper design with nautical elements like lighthouses, dunes or sailboats can set the backdrop for your particular brand of seafaring style. No matter what color you choose, the space will look clean, bright and spacious if you paint all woodwork and cabinet doors in off-white. Upgrade the lighting from functional fluorescent fixtures to ship helm lighting fixtures that can be flush mounted on the walls or ceiling, used as hanging swags or as wall sconces. **End Summary** Topics: metal tree wall decor]]> wall decor metal]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> This article was written by Aja Klenna and provided by http://www.metal-wall-art.com, a site featuring unique tree wall decor and wall decor metal .