Decorating Coffee Tables and Ottomans

By Coral Nafie
About Decorating
Here are some of our suggestions for a piece of furniture to place in front of the sofa.

A coffee table should be chosen in a proper proportion for the size of the room and the sofa in front of which it stands. A large square room would look strange with a small, delicate oval glass-topped coffee table, just as a small room would be cramped with a large, heavy, dark-painted square coffee table.

Before buying a coffee table, place a large piece of newsprint or brown on the floor in front of the sofa to help determine an appropriate size and shape. You can cut down the paper or add to it until you get the right proportion for the rest of the furniture and the room.

When shopping for a coffee table, take the measurements of the sofa with you, in addition to a floor plan of the room and the measurements you've determined will be best. You may have difficulty finding just the right size, but this will help.


A Coffee Table Ottoman
By combining the top of a table with cushions of an ottoman, you'll get the comfort for resting your feet and the convenience of space to place items. Usually with this type of design, the ottoman cushions pull out from below the table top, meaning you can use both the top and the cushions at the same time.

A Large Ottoman
As homeowners are gearing furniture selections to comfort, the ottoman has taken center stage in front of many sofas. Really, an ottoman is just a large padded or upholstered stool or bench. It's a perfect piece to use in front of a sofa, as its soft top offers comfort for legs, the upholstery fabric contributes color and texture to the room, and the large flat to is ideal for placing a tray or books.

A Pair of Small Tables
Two small square tables, placed side by side, give a slightly more formal look than the more modern large coffee table. A matched pair looks best, but a mismatched set of small tables, of exactly the same height, can be used together with matching tops. If you have a pair of small antique tables, this may be the perfect place to use them.

A Picnic BenchFor a very rustic or Cottage Style home, a long, low, wooden bench is a perfect touch. The long flat top works well for placing books and beverages without adding too much formality.

A Piece of Glass on a Base
A large built frame, a pair of cement columns, interesting sculptures, or large pots can serve as a stable base for a piece of 1/2 inch thick beveled-edge plate glass, cut to the perfect size. This is a good option for a very small space, as you can place the bases as close together or as far apart as you wish and have the glass cut to fit your space. Keep in mind that the larger the glass, the heavier it will be. So the bases need to be sturdy enough to support the weight.

An Old Dining Table
This is the perfect place to put a dining table. Of course, you'll need to cut the legs down to the proper height (between 15" and 22") for your seating space, but the large surface will be convenient for many purposes, including playing games, doing homework, and entertaining.

A Piece of Wrought Iron Fencing
Find an ornamental piece of wrought iron fence or a gate and have a wooden frame for it. Place a piece of 1/2 inch thick beveled-edge plate glass on top of the iron for a smooth surface.
You can see that you can use almost anything for a coffee table. Keep in mind that the piece should be sturdy, properly proportioned, and durable, and it will give you great wear and convenience in any room.

Laminate Surfaces in the Home

By
Jolene Gragert

Laminates are extremely popular for kitchen floors, bathrooms, and entry ways. Laminate surfaces are durable and easy to clean. You can select a wood look or a tile look for your floor.

Wood Floors and Area Rugs

By
Jolene Gragert

Area rugs are all the rage now with so many home having wood floors. Select one that is proportioned for the area, is proper size, and color coordination. Rugs are usually imported, hand loomed, power loomed, or hand tuffed. They can be man made or synthetic. Pet spots can be neutralized with mild dish soap, water, and vinegar.

Paint Tips and Trends

By
Jolene Gragert

Paint is the cheapest way to dramatically change the look of a room. Painting techniques such as: ragging, sponging, and decorative roller cover can give the illusion of wallpaper with less maintenance.

Deep warm natural colors are popular with white wood work. White wood work also compliments colored accessories.

When selecting prints, keep in mind the style, colors, and personal style. What are the key elements you want to focus on or bring as a highlight to your room. Then you can begin to work around the main focal points.

Make sure to hang nails and screws eye level a few inches above a sofa or high table. Insert nails and screws at a slant, Plastic anchors also work well for heavy pieces.

Window Treatments: A Few Quick Ideas

By Jolene Gragert

Select window treatments to fix the style, color, and scale of the room.

Wood Blinds add a warm and casual feel.

Cellular Shades are great for a softer more formal look.

Contemparary Rollerblades are light and roll up for easy clearance.

Side Panel Draperies are hot right now. Most hang 1/2" off the floor or puddle a few inches on the the floor. Decorative rods give a sophisticated look.

Tips for Kitchen Remodeling

Tips for Kitchen Remodeling
(ARA)Photo
An effective design is crucial when planning a kitchen remodel. Even the most beautiful kitchen will cause stress if it isn't designed properly. Today's kitchens are used for a multitude of activities, including cooking, eating, arts and crafts, entertaining, and gathering friends and family. Several techniques are used in creating a user-friendly kitchen design. Some involve improving the kitchen work triangle and others involve proper organization and storage.

Remodeling the Work Triangle

Designers use the kitchen work triangle to create efficient use of the kitchen. The concept focuses on the arrangement of the three basic work stations: the refrigerator, sink and stove. The idea is to make the distance from each of these areas far enough to not feel cramped and close enough to carry food and dishes without strain.

Organize and Consolidate Kitchen Contents

It is very easy to become disorganized and cluttered in the kitchen. This is especially true when several people are in the kitchen at the same time. One way to organize and consolidate the items you have stored in the kitchen is to install a walk-in pantry.

This popular modification allows a homeowner to quickly take in the kitchen's contents without having to search through cabinets and drawers. Pull-out pantries can also be used for kitchens that are tight on space. Kitchen pantries localize the kitchen traffic, providing more open space in the work triangle.

Use All your Kitchen Space

Every inch of space in your kitchen can be used to store the many items that clutter this room. Consider installing tall cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling. Also, add baskets and shelving inside to maximize storage space. For larger items such as pots and pans, consider adding a hanging rack to free up some space in your cupboards.

Extra Convenient Appliances

Think about how your appliances can simplify your daily routines. For example, a third rack on a dishwasher can cut down on the number of times you have to load your dishes. You could also invest in self-cleaning ovens. Furthermore, energy efficient appliances can save money on your monthly energy bills. Consider a dishwasher or even a refrigerator with the Energy Star rating.

Designated Areas

Remodeling your kitchen is the perfect time to sit down and think about who uses the room and in what ways. You then have the opportunity to create specially designed areas to suit those needs. For example, many children do homework or other activities in the kitchen while mom cooks dinner. Consider adding a couple of stools at the kitchen counter to create an easy, informal place for kids.

When remodeling your kitchen, remember that beauty isn't everything. Of course everyone likes to have a glamorous kitchen with granite countertops and solid wood cabinets, but beauty only goes so far. Your kitchen design still needs to accommodate how your family lives and the traffic flow, and should be energy efficient. These important aspects should not be overlooked during your next kitchen remodel.

Home Improvements to Your New Home

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What to Do Before the Moving Truck Arrives
By Coral Nafie

When you arrive in your new home, you're faced with even more challenges. It may seem a small thing to decide where to put the best china or everyday dishes, but after all the work moving out of the old home, the last thing you need is another big decision or another major project.

But doing some work to your new home right away will make moving in feel great.


Replacing flooring is a major project, and if you have the money and you can make just this one decision at moving time, you'll really be doing yourself a favor. If you put it off, you'll be faced with moving all your furniture out of the rooms. What a bother! Not just for you, but for the flooring istallers as well! There will be furniture all around the place, and you'll have to move it back into the room when they're done. If you can do it when you move, be sure to order the flooring well in advance of your move. Make arrangements to have new flooring installed a day or two before you move in. Cover the new flooring with mats, tarps, or area rugs so the movers don't track in dirt or scratch the wood. Then, when they set your sofa and coffee table in place -- you'll be home.

Below are some other pre-move-in projects that can save you time and trouble.

Choose the projects that are the most pressing. If your budget won't allow re-carpeting the entire house, just do one floor. If you can't face paint decisions for every single room, then just do the rooms where the decisions are easy.

Painting - Whether you do the work yourself or hire someone to do it, it's a lot easier to paint an empty room. There will be no need to move furniture, take down draperies, clear out the closets, or take every picture or mirror off the walls. Allow several days to repaint before the movers show up, especially if you'll be doing the work yourself. This type of work always takes longer than you think. Or, hire a crew (professional painters or friends) to come in and get it over with in a day or two. Painting even part of the house before you move in can be a terrific time saver. If you can't decide on colors, then just have everything painted a clean white, a pretty light beige, or other background color you love -- depending on what works best with your furniture and color schemes. Once the major patching, priming, trim work, and base coats are in, adding another wall color at a later date can be a snap.

Crown Molding - Does anyone not love the look of crown molding? It's a wonderful luxury to be able to install molding around the whole house all at once, before you move into your new home. Be sure to prime and pre-paint the strips of molding before installation, just before painting the interior walls. You may need to do some touch up at the joints and nail holes, but that's a lot easier than standing on a ladder for days trying to paint three coats fo paint on the molding near the ceiling!

Re-Key - You'll never know how many keys are floating around for your new home unless you get new locks or re-key the existing locks. The previous owners may have given a key to neighbors, workmen, relatives, or cleaning services, and you'll get some peace of mind if you get new ones. This is a project to do just before or soon after you move in.

Closet Systems - Having things organized, fitting into your new home, will really make you feel great. You'll love wonderful closet systems with double hanging poles, drawers, and shelves up to the ceiling. If you wait til later, you'll have to take everything out, pile your clothes in stacks on your bed or floor (can you visualize your clothes wrinkling in giant stacks), and live out of suitcases for a day or two until the closet fittings can be installed.