ArtaBerryHome Improvement Blog..

Why is the reading area should have a boring look at most of the houses? If same is true for your home, it’s time to infuse this space with a little imagination and creativity. A Spotlight on a library steeped in fantasy comics.

Arranging the space
Aligning uninteresting books on shelves identical and classic is over. It replaces the old wooden library shelves to a dusty trendy library, suggestive of a new storage & deco shelf. With disproportionate shelves and geometric, Manga, comics and novels seem to be moving to captivate your attention.

Create an atmosphere full of fantasy
Within the library, the watchword is to alternate. Some boxes or shelves are for books and albums, while on others, there must be some space for accessories. The wall is also not immune to this bias Deco. Tables comics pop art comic posters or Magnetic stickers as bubbles to write in chalk on a board, cheer up the wall. The final touch? An armchair, a carpet and some cushions decorated with designs of comics reading and invite you to relax, & you are done.

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.

Start in an area away from the most obstacles if there are any, this will give you the chance to practice on the easier tiles first.  Don’t start with a corner tile if you don’t have all of the tiles around it still in place, the surrounding tiles need to be in place to help keep the grid square.

• Remove the first old tile gently since you may not be able to see obstacles that could be damaged or cause personal injury.  Use a mask if the ceiling is old, because a high level of dust can often accrue over the ceiling and the dust can easily get in your eyes.

• Always use an adequately sharp cutting tool, a fresh knife blade always cuts and trim tiles neater than an old one.  When cutting a tile, securely site it on an old surface or workstation so that any knife damage from the cutting doesn’t hard a new surface.  Mark the tile size using a tape and a pencil and then cut the tile down using a straight edge and sharp knife.  Gloves are also a good idea when using a sharp knife.

• When facing clearance problems it is sometimes possible to remove a few cross-tee’s place the tiles above the grid, re-insert the cross-tee’s and then drop the tiles in to place.  Where this isn’t possible it may be necessary to cut a tile in half, place it through the grid and then either butt the two pieces together or place a new cross-tee in between them – whichever looks neater.

• Few tile suppliers will supply single tiles, due to the difficulty in posting such an item in single form without it getting damaged as such you will have to buy them by the box, which can mean you have a few more than you need.  If you’re a DIY’er and looking to change your own tiles, these few extra tiles can be a life line!  There’s nothing worse than breaking a tile, or two, and then being “just” one tile short.

Suspended ceilings incorporate a grid consisting of metal components that support the ceiling tiles. The grid consists of; L-shaped metal strips called wall trim, interconnecting the wall trim are the main support sections, called Main Tees that are an inverted T-shape and come in 3.6 metre lengths.  Main tees hang by wire attached to joists or an existing support above the ceiling and sit on the wall trim.  Cross Tees also sit on the wall trim and provide support to allow the individual tiles to sit in place. There are both 600mm and 1200mm cross tees, giving you the option of either a 1200×600 or 600×600 grid patterns (with 600×600 being slightly more common).

Since the tile is wider than the grid opening, due to it needing to sit on the grid, you must tilt the ceiling tiles at an up-angle to get it through and above the grid opening and allow it to drop onto the grid.  For that reason suspended ceilings require a clearance of between 17.5cm and 20cm, between the grid and the lowest hanging obstacle.

Bathroom is surely the most important part of the house, it is used quite frequently & we can say that it the place where we spent a part of our day. As a matter of fact, interior designers & home owners are always keen to introduce designs driven by technological advances & manufacture materials that can give utmost level of standard in terms of comfort, convenience & reliability. The latest trends in bathroom construction & renovation is not all about investing in expensive showers, adding a steam bath or implementing a rainy sky theme of titles at walls & floor but it is meeting with the objective that both satisfy the luxury & convenience matter.

Modern bathrooms can be termed as the enjoyable place in the house that represents a special relaxation of choice in the home. Designers want to make the bathroom that consumes the least possible energy & water, so we see that, the latest bathrooms are equipped with sanitary products like Faucets, showers, flush toilets that have the capacity to integrate flow controls of water for reduced water consumption. There are water & energy shortage problems in most of the places & I believe implementing these types of practices can give positive results to curb the problem of water shortage & huge drainage.

I you are thinking to upgrade your bathroom, avoid mistakes! I must say that think about tomorrow and make the bathroom more accessible. You can get the example of bathroom suites. Remember that in most of the places the deep tubs and sinks to the columns are outdated and not a matter of style. Give the priority to a new pool which allows you to sit outside showers or flat which is easy to enter, also a steam bath at the corner. Do small changes for maximum deco & try to make the bathroom look more spacious. A decent color polished concrete or ceramic tiles on the wall & floor. Soft towels & floor mats & you are done.

With the summer season, you want a fresh and healthy air to breathe and a patch of grass where you lie lazily. It begins with dream of a small house in the countryside and the charm of staying on the farm. To imagine an authentic home decor to feel closer to nature, to feel the benefits of the good country air! Who says country style do not necessarily mean rustic and outdated. You can get quite a sober, contemporary living room while giving it a more rustic spirit, more pleasant, more authentic, in a room warm and friendly.

For a country style lounge, you will need fabrics in natural and noble materials such as cotton, linen, leather. Unhesitatingly opt for the heavy and comfortable sofas and leather club chairs or imitation leather with antique effect. Decorate them with cushions in cotton or linen, with large squares for a rustic style or small flowers for a more rustic.

You would more imposing furniture solid oak, antique wooden or limed for an antique effect. If you want to stay in a fairly modern style, take a dresser with moldings straight enough sober. The same goes for the coffee table you choose, preferably with feet thick and solid. Prefer terracotta and stone for dressing your walls and your floor.

Nothing better than to accessorize your living room with themes like the chicken and the rooster. You can obviously find nice round ceramic statuettes have here and there but even better, you play on decorative objects made from chicken wire.

A functional kitchen is a kitchen where everything is ergonomic in its place and easily accessible, where space is optimized and where travel between the various elements have been minimized to a significant time savings. In short, a functional kitchen is an organization of space at the top as well as useful and nifty storage to cook quickly and well!

Organize your space
You must arrange your space according to the triangle of activity represented stove, sink and refrigerator. When you prepare meals, you will spend your time surfing from one to the other, so as to position them strategically in order to walk as little as possible and uncluttered.

For a functional kitchens, it will have all your utensils are stored in a logical way so that you have quick and easy access to them. To do this, it is better to spread your material by business areas: maintenance, food preparation, food storage, cooking and service. Once the sorting is done, it only remains to provide a sufficient storage capacity and storage space for your convenience intelligent life in the kitchen!

A functional kitchen storage
Storage systems have evolved in recent years to adapt to our way of life more and more urgent. To save time and increase efficiency, you can not do without powerful and clever storage.

• The drawers with brake system at the close will be welcome in the pieces down to easier access to the entire content.
• The upper cabinets has a large opening angle and can benefit from a system of LED light automatically.
• Many accessories can make your life easier: think of storage for towels, spice or bottles for example.

Allow enough length to work plan to cook slowly without looking up to ask the dishes. For this, consider placing a work surface next to each of your devices. Place bars credenza along the wall above your work plans for quick access to utensils you use every day. You can even bring a bar magnet to store your knives. Useful storage space can be fully integrated into your work surface as recessed bins for sorting for example! For greater working comfort, choose the spotlights at various locations over your work.

When I was looking for beautiful pieces to but in my kitchen such as colorful cabinets, stylish shelves and awesome wicker drawers, I decided to browse through the local classifieds to find these unique items at a fair price.  For work such as tile and wallpaper installation, I turned to my trusted contractor who got the work done in 2 days!