Smart Tips on Redecorating

There are many ways to redecorate your home, some simple and inexpensive to more elaborate and costly. Here are some key steps in the redecorating process.

1. Make time: You must allow plenty of time. Assume that everything will take longer than expected. For example, if you are planning a large family get-together for the Christmas holidays, begin your research in the spring. If you plan to order furniture, it can take 6-12 weeks to receive from the time you actually decide to order. And, most of you won't be able to find much southwest furniture in your local furniture store.

2. List Favorites: Many of the pieces you have in your home can be quite functional in your new design. Make a list of "must keep" pieces. Many of those prized paintings or family heirlooms will fit nicely in the finished design. You will be looking for new items that will change the look to southwest without having to throw everything out and start over.

3. Clip Pictures: Start an "I Like" file. Clip pictures from magazines that appeal to you. Order fabric samples to help with color choices. It's much easier to match wall and room accent colors to a fabric you plan to use on a re-upholster job of your existing sofa and chairs.

Here are a couple of great magazines to order for sparking your creativity:
New Mexico Magazine, http://www.nmmagazine.com/
SuCasa Magazine, http://www.sucasamagazine.com/

4. Consider the Function: Design follows function. What do you want your rooms to provide for you? What do you want it to reflect about you? Will your grand room be "entertainment central?" Easy-to-clean upholstery and spill-on-me tile floors may be your best bet. Or do you desire a quiet, cozy nest for just you and your spouse? For example, you could install an Italian marble floor from entryway to dining room that announces the old world European charm found in many old haciendas throughout the southwest.

5. Choose what you love: Leave the approval committee way in the background when you start shopping on the Internet and your local store for what you want. It's fine to solicit input from household members and people with compatible taste, but it doesn't matter if Aunt Maria and your friend Sally like the dining room set you've fallen in love with. Comments from the peanut gallery while you are browsing is distracting at best, dream-dashing at worst.

6. Plan for Accessories: Don't forget the extras. Budget some time to choose all the little extras that personalize a room, and don’t forget to budget the funds to cover the cost of those little extras. That perfect wrought iron mirror for the entryway, bathroom accessories for your counters, a beautiful new comforter ensemble for the bed you have always loved can provide the change of style without breaking the bank.

7. Be flexible: Be open to suggestion from a local decorator. Or, find someone whose decor is always just perfect when you walk into her home. Solicit suggestions about form and colors and lighting to make your design perfect. Even if they don't decorate in southwest, the principles are the same. Then you can choose the designs and patterns that are southwest to you.

8. Be patient: Keep the finished look in mind. You don't have to change the whole house at once. Start with just one room. Try the living/family room or dining room to start. Then proceed to bathrooms or kitchens. Bedrooms are great focal points also and you get to enjoy it even more. Don't hesitate to speak your mind when you are working with a designer. Help them understand your likes and dislikes. Sometimes this takes several times of explaining to them that the idea they just had doesn't work for you. They are trained to take notice and modify until they find the kinds of things and styles you like. This is going to be your new design to live with not theirs.

Whether you know exactly what you want before you start or don't have a clue; whether you are redecorating your home from floor to ceiling or simply refreshing your existing decor, with proper planning and guidance the results can be breathtaking.

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Refinishing and Restoring Your Hardwood Floors

A hardwood floor is a beautiful, natural element that can elevate the look and feel of any space. However if the floor is scratched and faded, they can actually be a terrible eyesore, and foot sore, if they start to splinter. Luckily the process of refinishing your floors is one that can be undertaken by yourself, without the need to shell out big bucks to some professional.

The first step towards refinishing your floors will be to thoroughly sand them down. No don’t get down on your hands and knees with a strip of sandpaper. This is the modern age, and professional grade automatic floor sanders can be rented from most equipment or hardware stores.

Even using a commercial sander the process will still be fairly labor intensive. The sander is apt to be large, heavy, and difficult to get around, and you will have to cover a lot of surface area if you want to do an entire floor of your house. While sanding, be very certain to move slowly and evenly across the wood. You don’t want to end up with dips or holes.

Once the floor has been completely sanded down, you should thoroughly cleanse it using a damp cloth. You have to be careful to remove all of the sawdust, dirt, and other particles from the floor before actually applying a finishing agent; otherwise the surface will end up being bumpy and ugly.

Choosing a good floor finish can be a bit of a problem. The most powerful commercial grade finishes aren’t sold to private individuals, because they are dangerous to use, and complicated to mix properly. However you will be able to find a variety of water and polyurethane based finishes that should suit your needs. You should specifically look for a kind that is advertised as “low odor”, and which can be re-applied as soon as it dries. If you can apply a second coat of the finish within 24 hours of the first you will save yourself the hassle of having to re-sand the floor in between the two applications.

Make certain that the floor is completely dry and clean before applying the stain. To apply the finish, you should use a good strong, and clean hard bristle brush. Make sure to wipe excess off of the brush to prevent drips, and then apply the stain in very light, even lines, across the floor. Stop often to check the absorption rate of the stain, and use a dry rag to wipe off excess.
Once the floor is refinished and looking like new, you will want to do your best to maintain that appearance. One major way to do this is to avoid harsh chemical cleaning agents. These acidic chemicals can break up the finish of the floor, and eat into the wood.

Instead clean the floor using a clean damp rag or mop. Then afterwards apply a thin coat of scented oil to the floor, to protect its surface, give it a nice clean shine, and fill the room with the aroma of your choice. Just be sure to wipe off excess oil so that the floor does not become too slippery.

Refinishing your floors doesn’t have to be an impossibly difficult or expensive task. Using modern equipment, it is a task that can be undertaken by one or two people, over the course of a weekend. The final result will be a major improvement to the look and feel of your home.

This article was written on behalf of PebbleZ’s rustic natural decorating accessories. The article itself was written and researched by interior expert Joey Pebble.

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Does Lighting Really Matter? Give Your Kitchen a New Look

If you’re ready to remodel the kitchen, you’ve probably put a lot of time, money, and energy into selecting kitchen cabinets and flooring. Maybe you’ve gone all-out and ordered upscale countertops that resist stains, damage, and are easy to clean. Changing the lighting fixtures may seem like a very simple step in contrast; after all, how much can lighting really affect the appearance of a room.

In reality, the lighting you choose can make – or break – the atmosphere of the entire room. Want to ruin all of your efforts to create a warm, cozy space that seems comfortable and livable? Add a brightly glaring spotlight that blazes from the center of your room – directly over the spot where you’ve chosen to locate the table.

True, your kitchen is a workroom, and you want to be able to have a brightly lit workspace. Also, you don’t want to hide the room in shadows, a potential result of poorly placed recessed lighting fixtures. So what’s the workable alternative? A little bit of both!

The most innovative concept in lighting design today is called the “layered look.” The first, and brightest, layer of lighting is sometimes referred to as task lighting. Achieve this effect by installing lights that can be turned up when you’re chopping vegetables or baking cookies. Ideally, these lights are located between under wall cabinets, or at another point between your head and your work space.

The second layer of lighting is the one that most people forgo in an effort to save money. Ambient lighting can be located in the recesses of the room, or between the cabinets and the ceiling, and creates that soft glow that gives the room a cozy and conversational feel. If installing a separate lighting source isn’t a practical alternative, consider a dimmer switch instead. Turn up the lights when you’re working, and turn them down for an intimate dinner or quiet coffee conversation.

Accent china cabinets or special artwork with lower-voltage spotlights that draw attention to family heirlooms or treasured glassware are another option. These dimmer lights can also serve to illuminate the room without guzzling power in the evenings when you’re not quite ready yet to turn off all the lights in the kitchen.

Depending on the size and shape of your kitchen, you may have different needs. For example, perhaps you have a center island for a workspace, or want to be sure the children have good lighting at the bar to finish their school work.

Many people often make the mistake of deciding to try to install the lighting themselves, rather than hiring an expert. Lighting can be very complicated and even people with an eye for taste and color often find their decorating schemes undone by poorly chosen lighting.

Adding the proper lighting to your kitchen is definitely one area where an expert in lighting can actually save you money. After all, doing it right the first time is almost always much less expensive than trying to fix the mistakes you didn’t realize you were making.

This article brought to you by PebbleZ’s natural stone beverage coasters. The writing and research for the article was done by Joey Pebble; one of the designers that has worked extensively with the PebbleZ team.

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A Wedding Vase Tradition Story

Macawi stood inside the door, stealing a quick backwards glance, making sure her family was still asleep. Quietly slipping out the round door of her family teepee, Macawi could clearly see the bright shining stars above. Looking eastward, she could see the eastern sky giving way to the soft golden glow of early morning. She quietly walked to her “secret” place to dream and pray.

Macawi was of age to be married and had secretly picked out her mate. As the night sky gave way to the overwhelming golden light of sunrise, she closed her eyes and pictured in her mind’s eye what the day – HER marriage day would be. Macawi’s thoughts drifted to Hania…tall, handsome, and strong…her Hania. He would make the perfect mate! Macawi pictured him now. She thought, “I’ve loved him forever!” Macawi silently whispered, “Great Spirit, help me find favor in Hania’s eyes and his heart. To you, Great Spirit, I will eternally be grateful!”

Slipping through the last thicket before reaching home, Macawi was startled by a large, loud crowd around her teepee. “What has happened”, she thought as she quickened her pace. Opening the teepee’s round door, Macawi stood face to face with Hania! She quickly glanced around the room and could see all of her family and ALL of Hania’s family. “What could this mean?” Macawi secretly hoped THIS was the day!

Hania’s mother and father were sitting with her mother and father with THE Wedding Vase. Macawi’s mother arose and approached with a proud smile. She said to Macawi, “It is time to bring out your wedding preparations”. Macawi stood as if in a dream – yes – a dream she had played over and over in her mind. Macawi went and brought out what she had prepared for her wedding; clothing, utensils, a mattress, moccasins, corn and a few other “homemaking” utensils she had prepared before hand. Lastly she got out her white Mata wedding dress.

Everyone was ushered out of the teepee except for Hania and his mother and father and Macawi and her mother and father. Both parents carefully explained Hania’s and Macawi’s new life together – sharing all the wisdom they had to give this new husband and wife the best start on life together.

Hania’s mother and father filled the Wedding Vase with holy water, sat it down and turned it around facing Macawi. Macawi picked it up and drank from one side of the Wedding Vase. After drinking, Macawi sat the Wedding Vase down, turned it around to face Hania, while quickly glancing to Hania seeing joy and love in his eyes. Hania then picked up the Wedding Vase and drank from the other side. Macawi’s heart lept with joy – she was now Hania’s bride! She silently thanked the Great Spirit for showing favor on her and granting her heart’s desire.

Hania’s and Macawi’s parents stood and said together, “This Wedding Vase was to be treasured and protected as a symbol of your union and love. It was never to be broken! If one of you should pass before the other, the remaining mate must find a couple that was happy together and give your Wedding Vase to this happily married couple”.

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How Healthy is your Living Space?

Keeping your home healthy is about much more than dusting and sweeping once a week, or taking out the trash regularly. Here’s a quick checklist that you can use to scan your home and decide where improvements might be necessary. From dust-free floors to plant safety, follow these rules for keeping your home healthy – and safe for everyone who lives or visits.

Even if you aren’t allergic to dust, breathing it in regularly isn’t good for your health. How can you avoid, it though? It’s everywhere! If possible, opt for hardwood floors with area rugs. This will help to keep dust to a minimum. If this isn’t an option, vacuum regularly and avoid shag carpet.

Dust regularly, with a damp cloth, and avoid furniture polish. The chemical additives aren’t healthy. If you want to add a shine to wood furniture, choose lemon oil or an eco-friendly wood wax.

When using cleaning chemicals around your home, keep pets and small children in mind. Store these potentially dangerous items well out of reach, and use safety caps wherever possible to protect children from their own curiosity. Do the same with chlorine bleach and other detergents.

Unfortunately, the bathroom can often be a source of great interest – and great harm – for children and pets. Whenever possible, keep the bathroom door closed. Don’t store anything potentially dangerous under the sink.

Always keep the lid to the commode closed. Pets often view this necessary household location as a drinking fountain, and may get upset stomachs or intestinal infections in this manner. Small children who enjoy playing in bath water may not recognize the potentially dangerous attraction of this location as well.

If you aren’t able to keep the bathroom door closed, consider installing a safety closure device if young children or pets live at or frequently visit your home. Also use safety closure devices for cabinets that store potentially toxic chemicals. Electrical outlet covers are another inexpensive, easy to install device that can protect these visitors or residents.

Check outlet cords regularly, especially on small appliances, televisions, and lamps. Cords that become frayed can short and cause damage to these appliances, or even start a fire. Using electrical items with frayed cords can result in a nasty shock. Sometimes this shock is a painful reminder, or it can be potentially fatal. Replace damaged cords as soon as possible.

If you do have baseboard heat or use space heaters, be sure to keep clothing and other items away from the heater’s surface. Ceramic heaters are safest, but use these with caution, and never leave space heaters turned on when you are not in the room. Do not use kerosene heaters inside your home, garage, or any other building.

Everyone desires to be safe and comfortable in their own homes. Is your home safe for yourself and your family? Take these extra steps to ensure that your safe haven is safe for everyone who visits, as well. This small investment of time and energy can pay big dividends.

This article provided courtesy of PebbleZ – innovative designers of unique stone home décor products. The article was written by Joey Pebble, one of the key artists working with the PebbleZ team.


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NEW - Exciting Southwest Bedding Design - Cheyenne Turquoise

SantaFeDecor.com is always on the look out for new and authentic southwestern home decor designs. We just recently had the pleasure of adding a new southwest style bedding design to our santa fe style decor.

The new design is Cheyenne Turquoise!

In todays home decor climate it is important for you to be on the cutting edge of newly released designs.

This new design, Cheyenne Turquoise is brand new! Be the first in your area to add the new design to your bedroom! You can become THE design expert...and you can claim ALL the credit.

Cheyenne Turquoise is a new, modern expression of southwestern bedding decor. Combines the looks of dark brown faux leather, silver conchos and grommets with the awesome coloring turquoise.

Get your set of Cheyenne Turquoise Southwest Bedding NOW!

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Closet Organizing the Easy Way

If your closet is a chaotic mess of random junk then it’s practically useless. Anytime you need something you will end up spending more time on the search, than actually using it, and half the time the search itself will be a failure. That’s no way to live, and you don’t have to. Using the following quick and easy organizing tips, you will get your closet in order in no time, and save yourself the constant hassle of having to deal with the mess.

First you have to make a decision about which objects are important to your life, and which ones are just cluttering up the space. A good rule of thumb is that if something was placed in your closet more than six months ago, and hasn’t seen the light of day since, it is time to trash it, or at least donate it to a reputable charity. If you can’t remember how long it’s been since you last used something that is another indication that it is time for it to go, although if you’re really uncertain you can put it in a trash “staging” box, and give it another month’s reprieve before the final verdict.

Whatever remains constitutes the content of your closet. Now it is time to take that content, and divide it up into manageable portions. The use of clear plastic bins is one way to divide up stackable items such as shoes, and personal effects. Extra shelves are another great storage item. Clothes, ties, and other delicate cloth items will need to be hung, either from hangers, hooks, or tie racks. There are also a variety of multi-layered hangers on the market, which allow you to hang multiple instances of pants, shirts, or whatever from the same hook in a space saving, organized manner.

You should try and develop an overall strategy for your closet, dividing like items into different sectors of the space. One way to sort items is based on function, putting formal wear in one section of the space, and dividing work clothes and sports wear into another. This method is useful when you want to create coordinated “outfits” that will match perfectly. An alternative method involves dividing items based on similar characteristics. In this way all earrings go in one section, all hats go in another etc. etc. In this method everything is easy to find and grab at an instants notice, allowing you more flexibility when you go to build an outfit for yourself.

The more containers, hooks, and dividers that you have in a closet, the more organized it will be, but the harder it will be to maintain. That is because if you have seven bins for each particular type of earring you own, when it comes time to put those earrings away, you will have to find the exact, specific box that it goes in. However, when it is time to find that specific pair, you will know just where to look. This is a balance between ease and organization that each individual will have to make based on their personal preferences.

Closet organization can be greatly complicated if the closet you are working on is shared by multiple people. The only way to maintain such a space is to enlist the help of everyone involved. Make everyone aware of the organizational strategy you are following, and try and get them to actually help with the initial set up of the space. You can also make it easier by having clearly marked containers and dividers, which are easy to use, making the whole space as easy to maintain as possible.

Closet organization really isn’t that difficult. It is just a matter of dividing things up in a logical way that suits your own personality and habits. The real problem is in maintaining the space over time. This can be accomplished by developing a strategy, making certain that it is not too difficult to follow, and then forming a habit of organization that works with your everyday routine.

This article provided by PebbleZ’s line of elegant, upscale, marble drink coasters, and was written by Joey Pebble, a design and decorating expert that works with the company.

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