The Kid`s Rooms Always Come First

Decorating a kid`s bedroom is the perfect excuse to let your imagination run wild. The only problem, however, is keeping it all within budget. It can be all too easy to spend thousands of dollars creating the perfect kid`s play space, leaving very little with which to decorate the other rooms in the house. Don`t worry. There are all sorts of hints and tips you can use to create a magical kids bedroom without it costing a small fortune.(and have money left over to decorate your bedroom too!!)

This guide will help you create your kids dream room on a minimal budget. Get your kids involved.

One of the most important things to remember when you are decorating a kids room is it`s for them, not for you.  If you have always dreamed of creating an underwater world but your child is more into spaceships or jungles, then they are never going to appreciate all the hard work that`s gone into creating their space. Getting your children involved in the design process is the best way to ensure that they are going to love the finished effect. The more they love it the less likely they are to grow out of it in a short space of time. Choose themes that will grow with your child .  Centering your design around a specific theme is a great way to create an imaginative space which your child will want to spend time in.  The only problem with themes is that if your child`s interests change over time, they may consider their room too “babyish” and will want to redecorate again in a shorter space of time.

If you choose bright colors that will compliment a range of different themes then you can easily swap accessories to reinvent the space as your child`s interest`s change. You also don`t need to worry about creating a totally finished room once you are done decorating. By leaving plenty of space for your child to add their own drawings and ideas over time, your child`s bedroom will be a constantly evolving work in progress. This will help them to feel that the space is totally their own. Get Inspired!

You don`t have to spend hours poring over interior design magazines which are full of gorgeous, but expensive, accessories to get your inspiration. Sites such as Pinterest (and HOUZZ) are a great way of getting design ideas for kid`s room on a budget. You can re-pin all your favorite ideas onto your own pin-boards which will provide you with plenty of inspiration for creating that perfect kids bedroom.  It’s not just about pretty pictures either.

Every image on Pinterest links to a website and you will often find some amazing blogs and tutorials to help you recreate these ideas for just a few dollars. Using thrift stores to find interesting and unusual objects is another great way of keeping costs down.  Many things can be re-purposed into new and original ideas and the fact that they cost very little money makes it much easier to try out all those creative ideas that you’ve found on the web.  Choose good quality furniture Without a doubt, the most expensive thing in your child`s bedroom is the furniture. It is the one thing that`s really worth investing in as it will last a number of years. Even after they`ve left for college they`ll still want a decent bed to come home too.

Choosing good quality children’s bedroom furniture in bright colors will make the room fresh and inviting, yet they won`t grow out of it as the years go by. Good quality storage (check IKEA options)  is another essential for any kid`s room. After all if they have got somewhere to put all their toys away, you shouldn’t find them cluttering up the rest of your house.

How to Keep your Bathroom Eco-Friendly

If living in an eco-friendly world is important to you, then it’s time to start with your own home. Which room do you utilize the most? Other than the kitchen, the bathroom comes in at a close second.  This is a great place to start, though you may not consider it at first.

TheEnvironmentSite.org suggests, “… You will be amazed how much you could do to make your bathroom more environmentally friendly.  This can start with the cleaning products you use end with how much water you use for flushing your toilet.” From cleaning supplies, to your basic bathroom items, you can go green from every angle.

DIY Cleaning Ideas

 Photo Credit: onyxdistribution.com

If you feel ready to take this project into your own hands, get ready to make your own cleaners. Utilizing many products that you may already have in your house, this is an easy task that’s worth taking on. Not convinced? Care2.com says, “Ounce for ounce homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth the price of their commercial counterpart.”  Time to get started; here are your basic formulas.

• Shower: Baking soda and water or lemon juice and vinegar.
• Mirror: Mix vinegar and water – 2 tablespoons of vinegar to a whole gallon of water.
• Clogged drain: Put half cup of baking soda into your drain and wash it down with 2 cups of boiling water.
• Toilet cleaner: Baking soda, washing soda, distilled vinegar, liquid soap and tree oil

Buying the Right Cleaners

If DIY cleaning isn’t your thing, you can head to your local grocery store to find some eco-friendly products. Because environmental awareness is on the rise, almost every bathroom cleaning company offers recycled or earth friendly options. Before making your purchase however, look for these key ingredients.  Greenhome.com suggests looking for:

• Avoid any cleaner with phosphates or chlorine, which are harmful to people.
• Look for plant born ingredients such as d-limonene or lauramine oxide.

Eco-Friendly Bathroom Items

 Photo Credit: theuptown.net

While you may consider keeping your cleaning supplies eco-friendly, it’s important that your bathroom is green all over. That means you want to be stocked with all the right products. You can find all your basic bathroom necessities in organic, recycled or bamboo materials which are better for your bathroom, your family and the environment.

• Natural fabric shower curtain: The plastic curtains that eek that ever-recognizable “plastic smell” are made with PVC and should be avoided. Find naturally made curtains in your local home goods store.
• Recycled toilet paper: Many mainstream companies now offer recycled version of their traditional product, such as Seventh Generation.
• Towels: Find bamboo and organic materials. According to Bliss.com, “Both are better for you and the environment because they aren’t made from plants sprayed with insecticides and pesticides and often use low-impact dyes.”

If you’re serious about going eco-friendly in the bathroom, there are a number of ways to incorporate bits and pieces or go the whole way. From cleaners to your everyday necessities like towels, you can do your part for the world while making a healthier environment for yourself, your family and visitors.

Sara Fletcher enjoys learning about all aspects of the home ranging from affordable double vanities, interior design, and green furniture. She one day hopes to build her own dream home, complete with luxury bathroom vanities.

Master Bedroom Makeovers by S Interior Design- We all love a movie right? Short and sweet with some nice music to go along

This is teak wood that is recycled from the  beams and posts of historic buildings in India slated for demolition.  All three layers of the IndoTeak engineered wood floors are composed of the reclaimed teak (unlike most engineered floors that use ply wood for the substrate) making it truly eco-friendly.

The options are amazing!  Choose a finish-smooth, wire brushed, a natural patina.  The teak can be stained using a plant based natural oil finish with zero VOCs and no harmful chemicals.  You can choose from seven colors.

See the colorful boards showing pinks, blues and greens?  That is what they call a patchwork of painted and finished teak wood reminiscent of traditional Balinese fishing boats the “jukung”.

So, if you are in the market for a unique, eco-friendly, hard wearing and great looking floor–check out
IndoTeak.  If you are in the Phoenix area, stop by Underfoot to see and touch it!

If you need design ideas of how to incorporate IndoTeak into your home or office, give S Interior Design a call!

Below is a guest post about what I will call ‘the power of art’.

S Interior Design uses a generous definition for the word art.  We believe that art should make you smile   when you look at it. So, that said a nicely framed picture of a vineyard you visited could indeed be great art, as could a child’s drawing.  The key is in the presentation—don’t expect a poster thumb tacked to the wall to be pleasing to the eye.  Invest in the proper mat board and framing and you will be amazed at what can happen to your child’s painting from 5th grade.

Guest Post

Although I’ve always been a big fan of interior design it has only been recently that I’ve truly begun to have a full appreciation for the trans-formative values of art. I must confess, I always thought ill of those overly proud of their new painting, sculpture, or art. I was an avid fan of contemporary styles, with a minimalist approach. I was of the opinion that the sleek look, along with sparse furnishing and sharp lines, gave a real clean, organized, powerful aura.

Recently however, I’ve come to appreciate an appropriately placed piece of art. It can add true depth to a room, granting reflection and meaning where previously there was blank space. Whether you feel the way I once did, or share my current views, here is why I now consider art to be a trans-formative agent in a room.

The greatest way in which a piece of wall art transforms living space is adding a depth of reflection. Artwork inspires reflection for various reasons. Mainly for these three:

The art was made by a human being, and you can’t help but reflect on the thoughts of the human behind the art.

This is one of the most powerful ways art makes one reflect. Art, whether through beauty, abstractness, or sheer uniqueness, makes one wonder. To consider that a human made this piece of wonder causes a further wonder that someone was not only able to, but had deeper motives. Humans, being naturally curious, can’t help but reflect and consider what might have been the motivation and thoughts behind the creation.

The wondrous qualities of the artwork itself.

This is often the initial way that artwork causes us to reflect and wonder. It draws the eye, pulls us in, and suddenly, before we know it, we’re standing and reflecting and staring. Thinking about the amazing, unbelievable qualities of beauty, strength, power, subtlety, or whatever aspect the painting best personifies.

The depths of your own imagination.

A surprisingly large portion of artwork plays off the imagination of the viewer. Almost all abstract art relies on the viewer to draw their own, deep conclusions based upon what can actually be surprisingly simple. This leads the perceiver to wonder and reflect at the depths of their own imagination, and reflect upon not only what lies in the depths of imagination but also what in the artwork causes such a visceral reaction of thought.

To help capture the attention needed for reflection, and further add to the trans-formative value of artwork, one should attempt to subtly orient furniture toward artwork. Many people will throw a painting on a wall and be happy. Or, if someone is over proud of their new painting, they’ll frame it, hang it up, throw a light feature on it, and attempt to force everyone to stare at it. This can, in ways, be worse than hanging art without accentuating it.

Artwork should be subtly brought to attention. To do this, try placing it somewhere where people usually face. For example, place it somewhere it can immediately be seen upon entering the home. Or, if in a bedroom, have it facing the bed. Somewhere where the eye will naturally happen across the artwork.

I still firmly believe in a minimalist approach to interior design. However, I believe with the right piece of art a room gains much-needed depth. Try including a medium-sized piece of art alone in a clean, uncluttered room. Enjoy the reflection, beauty, and depth added. Everyone must follow their own heart’s guidelines when making their own living space, but I hope you have appreciated my own thoughts on the trans-formative properties of art.

Author Bio: Edward Stuart is an interior design aficionado, and follows all things design and fashion. He is an online publisher for the framed art expert www.framedart.com and blogs on the topics of interior design, home decor, and fashion tips.

1- straight shot from my iPhone
2- altered slightly in Adobe Photoshop

Imagine printing this out and surrounding by a colorful mat board and thick frame–You get unique artwork with a very small dollar investment!

These ‘secrets’ or tips, as I prefer to label them are related to the most important and often overlooked design element—LIGHTING–

#60: Lighting is everything.  It creates drama, and intrigue in a room. The easiest way to accomplish this is with  a dimmer switch.  I always use dimmers even in the powder room-Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Absolutely agree with Mr. Bullard on this one.  You can easily add dimmers to your existing lights!

#65: To create flattering light, have your lampshades lined in soft pink or use GE soft pink 100-watt bulbs-David Scott

Definitely a good idea to use in entertaining spaces and dining rooms

#70: We locate light switches about 36″ above the floor.  That way they stay out of the way of the art on your walls.  We put switches about 1 1/2″ to 2″ off the right side of door casing for the same reason-Gil Schafer

#71: Install an outlet 28″ high behind a console tables.  This allows you to add lamps with out an unsightly tangle of cords-Ashley Whittaker

When you are doing a new build or remodel, this is excellent advice !

The May issue of House Beautiful magazine has a 4 page spread of 101 Designer Secrets.  We read them and decided to share along with some commentary.  Not all 101 will be shared, but you can click on the link above to HB, or subscribe to their hard copy magazine to read them all if you wish to.  Here are some related to bathroom design.

#19: Never use a sconce over a mirror in the bathroom–it will cast unflattering shadows across the face.  Sconces that flank the mirror will give  a more realistic and flattering light-Ron Southern

Commentary:

Yes, yes, yes.  I am endlessly trying to eradicate the world of light bars or recessed lights in bathrooms over mirrors for this reason.  While that is true, there are instances where the architecture will not allow for sconces to be placed flanking a mirror.  Here is one example of what S Interior Design did to work around that issue.  The light is a flexible track mounted to the electrical box above the mirror and curved to flank the mirror.

#21: I recommend a height of 36″ for a bathroom vanity instead of the standard 30″.  It’s much more ergonomic and comfortable all around – Jason Bell

Commentary:

This is absolutely the  truth unless of course you are 5’0″ tall.   We always use a 36″ high vanity unless height of the user dictates other wise.  In shared bathrooms with one partner being extra tall, we have even installed 42″ high vanities.

# 22:  Instead of a towel bar, mount 5 robe hooks 68″ high for towels and robes-Robert Stilin

Commentary:

 We very often recommend using hooks instead of towel bars.  Sometimes the functional needs and space dictate that a combination of the two be used.  How annoying is it to have to reach far out of the shower to reach a towel bar mounted 2-3 feet away?  Absolutely add the hooks!  Hooks mounted in a bathroom at child friendly heights are also a good idea to keep towels off the floor in bathrooms kids will be using.

SECRET #4:  

The hang up–where to hang my artwork?  I’ve found that 63″ on center above the floor is a perfect viewing height for most pieces-Hunter Kaiser

Commentary by S Interior Design-

It is definitely one of the most common faux pas —hanging the artwork too high on a wall.  If the person doing the hanging is 6′-3″ their perspective is different from someone who is 5′-5″.  This is a good rule of thumb to begin with, 63″ above the floor.  Variables to consider include whether the art is above a piece of furniture and the height of that furniture.

When the art is not being hung above a piece of furniture, the guideline changes.  I like to ‘own the wall visually’ if that is the only element being placed.  Then lower placement and stacked art work higher on the wall often makes more sense.

This artwork is 78"x78" and the ceiling is 12'-0" high

SECRET #5

When you are hanging a series of pictures together, keep the gap between them 2 to 2 1/2″ to really utilized the wall space, and keep a minimum of 9″ between the art and the tops of sofas and chairs-Milly De Cabrol

Commentary by S Interior Design-

Agree and then a small disagree.  Yes to the gap between pieces of art being hung together, but we generally keep the space between the art and tops of sofas and chairs to 7″.  Again, style of the furniture, height of the ceiling and the composition of the art being hung are variables to be considered.

Summary-

There are good rules of thumb but all situations should be evaluated as unique to determine the best way to hang and display your artwork.

Unfortunately not all of us can be world travelers.  However, you can bring the feel of another country to your home with some well chosen furnishings and accessories.  It can be

An accent piece of furniture,
A new accessory or artwork for your walls,
Even lighting or fabrics can tell a tale of far away places

So travel a bit even if it means never getting on air plane.  Create the feel of the location you wish to visit in your home and you can mentally go there every day.