ArtaBerryHome Improvement Blog..

This is for all the fans of  IKEA brand from all around the globe, I believe most of you folks like it, Well! I have a an update about  their famous furniture, accessories & interior designing catalog of this world largest furniture & home accessories retailer. The IKEA catalogue  for 2012 is already released. Ikea was founded 68 years back (in 1943)  by a Swedish boy Ingvar Kamprad. Their annual catalog was published for the first time in 1951, Soon after their first publication the vendor got high fame & now it turns into worlds biggest home furniture & accessories company. IKEA catalog is now published in 27 languages in different countries across the world making it the first choice of interior designers, architects & home owners in the list of furniture & interior design magazines

Yeah if you are among those who always waits for the new version of  Ikea catalog? i am glad to reveal that you can get the 2012 version now. If you want to know where and how to order, here it is.

Availability of the Ikea catalog
- Distributed to mailboxes on August 25
- Diponible in stores from September 8.

Yeah it is also possible to order the Ikea catalog 2012 on the site of Ikea or by calling their customer services from September.

Just as clothing fashion reflects the tastes as those who wear it, indoor furnishings, including window treatments, mirror the style and sensibility of homeowners. In fashion, it is fairly easy to spot those who prefer to follow clothing trends over those who favour classic designs. In interior design, where change comes less frequently and perhaps at a higher expense, tastes may not be as evident. But even when a budget is a barrier to decorating, hints of the homeowner’s style can be detected.

Making a purposeful statement is the best way to ensure that a home’s window treatments send the desired message. Accomplishing this may require a bit of introspection to determine style preferences – a personal wardrobe can offer clues. Those who enjoy the latest clothing trends will most likely appreciate sleek and modern designs. Those whose tastes run to classic designs in fashion may prefer more traditional window curtains.

Naturally, just as tastes in clothing fashion change according to the occasion, window fashions change according to the room in which they are displayed. Keeping in mind the overall function and mood of a room helps to accommodate personal style to each room in the house. Sheer, white organza curtains add an air of femininity to a romantic bedroom, softening the environment with diffused light. The same material, when flanked by rich, brocade draperies, offer a feeling of romance in a living room as well, but with a more formal feeling.

Sometimes romantic taste leans toward simple, country charm, rather than the high-brow romance of a Victorian novel. The rustic romantic look features more upbeat colours and patterns, as well as fabrics with a crisper, fresher look. Window treatments in the country style include café curtains. Hung midway between the top and bottom of the window, café window treatments offer a measure of privacy, while allowing light to enter the room. This style of curtains is best suited to kitchens and dining areas.

Tab-top curtains, curtains that hang from cloth tabs sewn to the drapes, rather than from hooked pleats and curtain rungs, are popular choices, both for their simplicity and affordability. They are also well-suited to a variety of decorating styles. Paired with an under layer of sheer or light fabric, tab-tops make a formal statement. On their own – perhaps with tabs in a contrasting colour than the draperies – tab-tops look contemporary and sleek.

Just as there are fashion designers who specialise in couture designs, there are designers who specialise in high-end window treatments. Most of the clientele for these designers prefer traditional designs, the more richly-appointed, the better. Valances, tie-backs, jabots and swags abound. When a rich, sumptuous look is the goal, the quality of the fabric is key. Damasks, velvets and silk brocades are favoured materials.

Whatever the preferred style, when it comes to selecting window treatments for the home, reflecting personal tastes will ensure that rooms will please those who inhabit them, and will offer visitors an invitation to share that personal experience.

Space is at a premium and utilising the home you have is often more economical then moving into a larger home.  Many think of increasing their homes size by building extensions and venturing into the loft space, but there is an alternative, either converting an existing cellar or excavating a basement.  Creating this extra space gives a flexible approach to living, with extra bedroom space or home office space.

Many homes are suitable for conversions; even those who live in ground floor flats may have the opportunity to explore this avenue of increasing living space.  It can take about 6 weeks to complete if a cellar is already in existence, but it is a major project.  If the basement has to be retrofitted (excavated) it can take up to 24 weeks.  However, the disruption is not as bad as you may think as the access to your home is normally via the garden.

Planning permission is probably unlikely if you are thinking of converting an existing cellar into a spare bedroom but if your homes external appearance changes because of light wells then this requires consent, also if it is to be a bedroom you will need to have egress windows fitted, as these are large enough to escape through if there is a crisis. The ceiling height is important and it needs to be a minimum of 2.4 metres, if your current cellar is less, then excavation can be undertaken to increase this, otherwise bulky items such as bedroom furniture or bookcases will be impossible to fit.   Retrofit basements always require planning permission.

Getting the right people in to do the work is essential, never just go for the lowest quote, you need to make sure they specialise in cellar conversions and retrofits.  If corners are cut, the costs could mount up in the end, as an inferior basement could cost you more in the long run than hiring experts within their field.  Problems could include your basement becoming an indoor swimming pool every time there is a downpour.

To ensure your conversion is successful, try and have a shower room or cloakroom installed, it makes the space more versatile when you decide to sell your property or if your needs change.  Make sure you let your neighbours know that there might be some disruption and also if you do not own the freehold on your home you will need to get the consent of the freeholder before any conversion takes place.

Choosing an aesthetically pleasing window treatment can be a difficult and often expensive task. One is left wondering whether they should match the curtains with the sofa, the wall colour or the carpet, how much they are going to have to spend to get curtains with a quality lining, and how much larger than the window the curtains should be to get the best appearance. After considering all of this, it is clear to see that wooden blinds would be a far easier and more practical choice.

The greatest fact about wooden blinds is that they are suitable for almost all homes. Blinds can be sized to fit most windows, and they are practical for every room in the house. Wooden blinds will provide the privacy needed, without the arduous task of matching multiple fabrics in each room. Although one can opt to match their blinds with certain wood furniture in the room, they can also match the blinds with wooden floors, or the window frame, which often gives the most cohesive look throughout the home.

There are several styles of blinds, and the type of wood used should be considered to some extent. Different woods have different shaping limitations; similarly, some styles are better for keeping out unwanted light than others. For a patio door or very large window, one may want to consider vertical blinds, as they can be moved apart for ease of access to a door or window. For other windows, a popular style is Venetian blinds, as they can be raised and lowered, and the slats can be easily adjusted for varying degrees of sunlight exposure.

Many companies offer a made-to-measure service, where a trained professional will come to the home, measure the window and door openings required, and take the appropriate measurements to the manufacturer so that the customer receives the precise sized blinds that are needed. These companies will often provide a fitting service, also; this means the customer will not need to tackle the task of hanging the blinds themselves. Therefore, the only task the customer needs to worry about is choosing the style and colour, in this instance.

Another pleasing feature of wooden blinds is that they can be combined with curtains or decorative drapes, if desired. The task of keeping out light and providing privacy can be left to the blinds, while curtains can be hung over the blinds for added texture and colour. The choice to add a decorative window dressing is purely an aesthetic one, and is not a necessity for privacy. One would not need to be concerned with a thick curtain lining, in this instance, as the blinds provide the adequate protection.

It is clear to see why wooden blinds are becoming a popular choice in many homes. They have versatility, offer an array of functions to suit a variety of windows and doors, and they are clearly a very practical option

When it comes to decorating tall windows and sliding doors – you need not look further than vertical blinds.

The way the strips hang from the blind rail means that they can be adjusted to provide complete light blockage, or simply gathered to the side to allow light and air to enter the room. There are a number of things essential for getting the right blinds for your home, none more so than the length of the rail. The functionality of the blinds means that the rail has to be the correct length to be effective in your home.

Once the boring, routine job of finding the correct rail is out of the way, it’s time to get creative with your blinds. Whilst extremely functional, they can sometimes be a bit dull on the eyes. Some people may look at them and instantly be reminded of a school classroom, or perhaps a waiting room in a doctor’s surgery. With that in mind, here are a few quick tips on how to customise your vertical blinds.

Colour

It goes without saying that you don’t want to plan your entire room around a window treatment, so why not do the opposite? If there’s a certain theme or colour scheme in your room, maybe with the walls, rug or furniture, then you can match your vertical blinds with this. If you can get a colour sample then you can match this up fairly easily, and if you’re more patient you could even shop around to find a retailer who will design your blinds to your exact colour specification.

If you’re feeling a little more experimental then why not go for something completely different and contrasting with your current colour scheme? Just because the colours don’t match doesn’t mean they won’t complement each other, so it’s definitely something to bear in mind.

Pattern

If you don’t fancy being too radical with the contrasting colour scheme, then it might be an idea to add a pattern to your vertical blinds. Whilst these don’t stand out quite as much as a colour change, they add a subtle bit of character to the room without looking out of place. A lot of blinds retailers offer standard generic patterns that can easily be transferred onto your window furnishings. However, if this doesn’t suit your needs, then some vendors will offer a custom-pattern service, where they can work from a drawing or photograph to produce the ideal blinds for your home.

We spend over a third of our lives in bed. As a matter of fact, I must say that having quality bedding should not be a luxury. For ultimate bedding relaxation technology is continuously at the service of mankind. Modern bedding is designed in accordance to the body movement to provide maximum relaxation.

Yeah, there is a popular belief that hospital beds are better in comfort as compare to other conventional beds. This might be true in most of the cases as it lets you choose the ideal position to sleep, read, and watch television. So I must say that, always choose your bed in such a way that it is capable of providing maximum comfort according to your sleeping habits.

What exactly is a bed of relaxation?
This is a bed that can stand up to the head and feet, but also in other parts. With a number of adjustable sections, Bedding supports full relaxation without breaking the body, allowing a gradual and welcomes a better distribution of pressure points.

Why do we sleep better in a bed of relaxation?
Because the bed is perfectly adapted to the morphology. The body does not undergo any trauma, it is faster and relaxes more. And the blood flows better for legs lighter in the morning.

To all those who enjoy spending time in beds, regardless of their age. For it is better to read, watch TV, surf the Internet, have breakfast in bed. The bed of relaxation is also for people sensitive back, and those who have difficulty to move: people with disabilities, pregnant women, elderly. Indeed, it is better to have a mattress of the same brand as the bed so that it is suitable. In addition, a mattress should be renewed often, say every ten years. Finally, usually there is no mattress on a bed of relaxation. It takes a special mattress, with nozzles placed outside differently so that it can bend.

Yes. Increasingly, manufacturers of bedding models offer according to the decor of your room. Choices are becoming increasingly large with fabric beds, wooden beds, and metal beds. You will found each model really relaxing as well as decorative.

Choosing a leather sofa for your living room or drawing room is not easy if you want perfection in your interior design & decoration theme. Here are some tips for buying a leather sofa or fabric by analyzing different trends of modern, rustic style, convertible sofa designs. Among the models and material used. The sofa has always been the star of the furniture in any living space. In its natural nobility, comfort & durability, I believe leather sofa is a joy that is rarely matched by tissue or synthetic materials. This explains its success among all generations. However, it also requires the manufacturers and distributors constantly to renew their range of sofas and furniture to adapt to modern demands with the changing lifestyles…

Before choosing the design, you need to answers these questions.

Size: Do you have enough space in your living room? Raise your exact measurements and make sure that the sofa you are looking to match the available space in your living room.

Ease of use? You must note that furniture wears out faster if you have kids.

Price and quality: The couches usually found in most of the physical store at prices around more than two to three percent. You must strive to find attractive & durable design at competitive prices.

What type of leather to choose?

The cow, born of different cattle like ox, bull, etc… Is the one that is most commonly used, it has a relatively strong grain and excellent resistance to wear. On the other hand the calf, a finer grain than the cow or bull, owes its exceptional softness and smoothness to its youthful skin. The buffalo leather on the other hand is leather whose relief is more important; its texture is both natural and irregular. So choose the type of leather according to your requirements, however a premium leather sofa lasts twice as long as a mid-range sofa like 20 years vs 10 years. Understand the price difference afte checking the material used in the sofa.  Choose according to your future plans & budget.

If you are looking to bring a pleasant change in your room. The non-woven wallpaper is a delight for you. Using wallpaper for walls is a quick makeover for any room & this is famous trend for room makeover these days, this is both durable, easy to apply & maintain. with non woven wallpaper three short hours are enough to line a room of 20 m². The non-woven wallpaper is obtained by assembling a paper textile compressed fibers. Its weight makes it an ideal camouflage for damaged or uneven walls. The higher the weight is heavy, the more imperfections will be hidden.

The advantages of this wallpaper is a quick and easy installation, The major reason that makes non-woven wallpaper much acclaimed by interior designer is primarily for its ease of installation. Unlike conventional wallpaper, no need to go through the lengthy procedures to apply it & yes! i gives better result as compare to conventional wallpapers. There is also no longer necessary to prepare the strips. cut the strips takes the cutter directly on the walls. Time savings estimated by the professionals is 30% versus installing a conventional wallpaper. Thus, three hours is enough to line a room of 20 m2.

This wallpaper is more suitable for wet rooms and easier to remove after another advantage of this wallpaper here: its impermeability which also allows it to be laid in damp rooms. Finally, the uprooting is as easy as the installation if one has bothered to paint the media before and if the glue was used for non-woven. The equipment required for the installation of this wallpaper includes..

-Sponge
-A roller or brush to glue
-A cutter
-A roller joint
-A brush with squeegee

For already lined walls, the first task will be to take off the old paper. A laborious task that is likely to leave you the envy of the rest wallpaper classic when you taste the happiness of the withdrawal of non-woven ultra simple bare hands! But before that, you’ll have to bring a steam stripper to get rid of this wallpaper that you can not see painting. You can now begin the installation of non-woven …

Step 1: Spread the glue directly on the wall with a glue brush.
Step 2: Apply the non-woven wall down the roll up and down without having previously cut.
Step 3: Flatten it with a brush chasing bubbles.
Step 4: Cut it down the wall with a knife.
Step 5: Now that you have the knack, it’ll just repeat the process until the room is fully carpeted.

We all have different bodies, tastes and circumstances so divans, mattresses and beds are something that needs to be chosen to match our personal needs. As we spend a third of our time in bed, it is important to make the right choices and ensure a relaxing and comfortable bed. With so many choices however, sometimes it can be difficult to choose. With this in mind here are a few pointers for consideration.

Whatever kind of person you are the two key factors for choosing a bed are usually down to size and physical comfort. As comfort is often down to each individuals personal taste it is a good idea to actually try different beds in the show room to try help inform your decisions. Sizes are available in a standard range and you should be able to fit comfortably on mattresses with the ability to stretch and move a little as well. Generally larger beds can be more comfortable as there is greater freedom of movement and more space to stretch out in.

For couples, it is generally the larger person who needs particular consideration and both of you need room to lie and move around comfortably. If you are single then a single bed is not your only option as double beds can potentially provide you more freedom and comfort. Divans that are higher off the ground can often be of benefit to people of greater age as these types of beds can assist mobility as getting in and out of lower beds may be an issue.

The quality of a bed normally increases with the price. Better quality materials and construction methods usually boost comfort levels as well as costs. Out of beds, divans and mattresses it is the mattresses that have the greatest impact on comfort and it is here that spending more can bring rewards in terms of comfort. Some mattresses now a days can even help with back pains.

The style of a bed is another important consideration and there are numerous possible styles to choose from. Like our clothing, beds need to be both comfortable and in a style that you can feel really good about. Unlike clothing however, beds are there every day, so you choose one that you think you’ll like today and for the future. If you’re with a partner be sure to find a style that you’ll both like. Other options such as transportability and storage can also be considered to match our personal preferences. Divans have storage compartments that can be a great feature when space and furniture in a room may be limited. As a good nights’ sleep is important to one and all it’s worthwhile to take the time to choose the right combination of beds, divans and mattresses that suit personal needs and requirements. Try before you buy if you can that way you will know that the bed, divan or mattress will be the best for you.

Home decor is all about personal taste & inspiration. most of the interior designers agreed with the fact that majority of the home owner get bored with the fresh interior decor job even after a couple of years. every time they aimed for something unique & simple.  so keeping in mind with that particular preferences of the clients. today i want to explore some facts about Japanese way of interior decoration & home remodeling. Japanese decor showcase simplicity with convenient. their method of renovation is of great importance due to environment friendly & the use of natural materials. like wood, paper, bamboo etc.

The element of traditional Japanese decor are shoji. it represents a door, window or room wall made of wood and washi paper that is handmade in Japan. The shoji divide rooms into zones. With Washi, the shoji becomes opaque and softens the light of day by invading part of gentleness, tranquility and comfort. it gives a natural & soft impression to the room.

Lanterns on the other hand is the Japanese traditional art. you can  find it everywhere in late August in Japan to celebrate the Lantern Festival. For the Japanese it is the symbol of the light of home and the family home. This symbol of washi or silk, round or square, is also used to decorate the house. Similarly you can surprise your guests with the tea ceremony. this represents harmony, respect & purity. Japanese utensils can both serves as a decoration tools at every part of the world. furniture made of wood or bamboo also represents classical deco. today we put the roller in the dining room to create a solemn atmosphere of celebration and to decorate the room this is all Japaneses way of decor.Today Ikebana, a traditional Japanese art embodies is not only the Japanese aesthetics and philosophy, but serves as a backdrop to housing.