A Material World

Fabrics are the heart and soul of decorating. Fabric adds important elements of comfort to every room by bringing texture, pattern and color to living spaces. Fabrics come in different colors, patterns, weaves, and textures, which influence the feel and the look that makes them function. The strongest fabrics are tightly woven; these types are perfect for heavily used furniture. It limits the wear and tear of the fabric.

Washed rayon chenille is one of today’s most versatile fabrics. This luxuriously soft and highly durable material looks right at home in spacious, contemporary lofts. Rayon also achieves an abundance of comfort for those who prefer the eminence of traditional, antique filled rooms.

LEATHER

Resists cracking and tearing, and is the longest-wearing upholstered material. Even better, leather ages gracefully, providing wonderful character and depth. It is easy to maintain, just clean with a damp cloth.

WOOL
Fabric brings warmth. Some wool is scratchy and gives some people the idea that they are "allergic" to wool. Wool fiber comes from a variety of animal coats, not all wool is scratchy but rather extremely soft. The wool fiber has crimps or curls which create pockets and gives the wool a spongy feel and creates insulation for the wearer. The outside surface of the fiber consists of serrated scales that overlap each other much like the scales of a fish. Wool is the only fiber with such serration’s which make it possible for the fibers to cling together and produce felt.


SILK

Is the fabric that makes its own statement. Say "silk" to someone and ask them what do they visualize? No other fabric generates quite the same reaction. Silk has had its reputation
as a luxurious and sensuous fabric for centuries. For those associated with
wealth and success, only had the best silk in their possession. Silk is one of
the oldest textile fibers ever known to man. It has been used by the Chinese
since the 27th century BC. Silk is mentioned by Aristotle and became a valuable
commodity both in Greece and Rome. Silk was sold for its weight in gold.

LINEN

Is elegant, beautiful, and durable. Linen is the refined luxury fabric. Linen is the strongest of the vegetable fibers and has two times the strength of cotton. Linen table cloths and napkins
have been handed down from generation to generation. Not only is linen fiber
strong, but it is smooth. With linen the finished product is always lint free.
China, silver and candles are enhanced by the brilliance of linen which only
gets softer and finer the more it is washed.

Have you committed a Decorating Faux Pas?

Has there ever been a time you have felt uncomfortable in your home? You may have committed a decorating faux pas and not even noticed. Here are some decorating mistakes and solutions that can help you with decorating your home.

• Do you have a focal point?
  A Focal Point focuses specifically on a point of interest which makes a room unique. It could be a wall with art, a sofa with art above it, a fireplace, and it could even be a spectacular view of the outdoors. Each of these can provide your room with a visual anchor that can bring it together as a whole.

• Trying to make an old piece of furniture look new?
  We all want a sofa that will not only continue to look good when times and styles change, but we want one that will hold up like new as time goes by. It is worth saving and buying a new sofa. Although, if you desire to keep the one you have, use your creativity and look for slip covers you can use and change out as the seasons change.

• Using the space you have wisely.
  If you have a sofa that is placed right against the wall, leave about 3 feet of walking space behind it. You can also add a nice sofa back as decoration and place plants and accessories to make it feel cozy. If you have a seating area with a sofa, chairs and a coffee table, leave about 18 inches of scotch room between the leg room and the coffee table. This will create a traffic pattern that lets you enter and walk around the room easily.

• Not sure how to hang your photos?
  The height at which art should be hung is according to your eye level. When spacing art that will be hung right next to each other, leave about 3 to 4 inches of space, or four fingers width. When hanging art all of the headers should be at the same height. This keeps the flow of the room feeling nice.

What are Green paints and are they as good as regular paints?

There can be a lot of confusion as to what constitutes a "green" product and paint is no exception. Only paints with low or zero VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) can be truly described as "green". Some paints that claim to be green are in fact loaded with VOC's. VOC's have been connected with health problems and pollution for several years now. Although labeled as "green" or "low VOC" on the shelves, these paints gain VOC's as soon as colorants are added in the store, especially in the darker hues. That is why Benjamin Moore developed waterborne colorants so their Aura (Low VOC) and Natura (zero VOC) paints can truly be "green" in any color and any finish.

Benjamin Moore's proprietary colorant system also addresses another, often overlooked "green" factor: performance. Many Low VOC paints require multiple coats to get good coverage. The new waterborne colorants actually improve the performance of Aura and Natura paints. Fewer coats needed and the finish is more colorfast. They are less likely to fade and are more durable. Meaning you will not have to re-paint as often. They also dry faster and have little to no odor. Meaning you will no longer have to move out of your bedroom for a for a couple of days.

From a green perspective, less product equals less manufacturing and less transport, saving on water, power, and the production of greenhouse gases. Which makes choosing Aura and Natura not only good for the planet but also plain common sense.

Article from Benjamin Moore
www.BenjaminMoore.com

Give your Kitchen A Facelift

Get organized and create more space

When it comes to starting the face lift process for your kitchen, start with De-cluttering those nooks and crannies. It should not stop with the counter tops. The counter tops used for old newspapers and magazines can now be used for a small office area or a small bar. Make sure you give your items breathing room, that way you will more likely to use them. Don’t forget about those drawers that get so jammed you can never open them anymore. Perhaps donate items that you know have not been used in the past year. It is so nice to be able to grab utensils when your unwanted clutter has been cleared away.

A great way to utilize your empty space once it has been cleared is to add a small bookcase in a narrow niche to store place mats or extra lines, or even your cook books. And when you are all done, add a small table and chairs right under a window to enjoy the weather with a cup of coffee.