However, if you don’t ask too much of the space, it can be a charming addition just because of its small size and off-beat style.

The homeowners chose an inviting dark wood flooring to emphasize the old attic feel. Older and antique furniture in a variety of colors contribute to a modified shabby chic style. The one surprise comes from the plush cream-toned rugs. Their off-beat shapes and rich texture makes them feel more like animal skins than rugs.

Choosing to place the furniture as though the room is normally shaped but much smaller allows the sharply slanting ceiling/wall style to seem normal. Instead of hanging pictures – almost impossible on these walls, the containers of silk flowers add warmth and also help define the pretend walls in this room.

If you have an upper room with sloping ceilings and walls, there are a number of design choices that help compensate for the situation. Some people choose to put cupboards or bookshelves covering the sharpest edges of the room. Others will put chairs, sofas or beds along the low walls, allowing people to use the space in a sitting or lying position.

This homeowner is not afraid of letting the room stand as it is. The glass-paned French doors at the opening help create the impression of a secret room, providing a special space to practice music, write notes and sit in the comfy chair and read.

Take a look at the cake in the photo. It’s a simple white-frosted cake – either homemade or from the store. But adding a few decorations such as the two tiny stand-up trees, the silver star twisted wrap and a few cookies makes a cake into a holiday event.

There are other ways to dress up desserts to make them part of the holiday season. Take a look at the plate of cookies here.

By adding a sprig of holly, these plain white cookies suddenly look ready for holiday munching. A bit of pine would work too. Even easier, add some holiday chocolates or other candies to the plate for an edible decoration.

Here’s a good example of using plate decorations to turn a simple treat into a holiday event. By adding fresh raspberries and mint around this chocolate cake, it becomes suitably dressed for the holidays. Another bonus on this choice is that raspberries and mint taste great with chocolate, so you have decorated the cake and added flavor too.

Notice that this plate has a gold rim. Even though this cake plate would work year round, the gold adds to the total look of the cake, making it even more inviting.You can use special dishes like this one or find some holiday dishes to add personality. Finish up with some candles and flowers and you’re ready to entertain.

Keep in mind that each window covering is going to require different measurements.

Each window covering has its own installation process. If you don’t measure exactly, your covering may not function properly.

Each and every window must be measured. Don’t take shortcuts!

This seems like a no brainer but here it is anyway: An inside mounted window-covering houses the window covering inside the window casing.  An outside mounted window-covering fits around or outside the window casing.

Window sheers can be installed with an inside or outside mount depending on the window molding and sill construction. It’s the depth of a window casing that determines whether or not a window covering can be installed with an inside mount. It’s important to know if your window casings are level. If not this can be corrected by installing shims – thin wedge shaped pieces of material.

Normally sheers are mounted inside the window casing. Curtains are mounted outside and the last part to be installed over the curtains is the valance.

Then of course there are variations such as an inside/outside mount. In this case the mounting bracket and head rail are installed inside the window casing, but they are not fully recessed, meaning a portion of the head rail will not be completely flush with the face of the window.

So get out your tape measure and be as exact as possible!

Mannington Mills is a fourth generation, family owned company that manufactures residential and commercial flooring in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas. The company is deeply committed to its communities, and to domestic manufacturing – keeping people employed and creating quality American-made products.

Click here to see the short video and make some noise for Mannington Mills. It will give you goosebumps and make you proud for those manufacturers that fight to keep producing in the US. (Favorite part: seeing Made in the USA Salem, NJ printed on the side of the boxes!)

If you love this video – spread the word!

Mannington Mills is a fourth generation, family owned company that manufactures residential and commercial flooring in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas. The company is deeply committed to its communities, and to domestic manufacturing – keeping people employed and creating quality American-made products.

Click here to see the short video and make some noise for Mannington Mills. It will give you goosebumps and make you proud for those manufacturers that fight to keep producing in the US. (Favorite part: seeing Made in the USA Salem, NJ printed on the side of the boxes!)

If you love this video – spread the word!

The 2010 Bathroom Blogfest, now in its fifth year, brings together 33 bloggers from the U.S., Canada, the UK and India to address the 2010 Mad Men inspired theme “Stuck in the 60s?” A blogfest brings together writers who direct their blog posts around a single subject while making the subject relevant to their readers during a specific timeframe. Between October 25 and 29, these experts in marketing, customer experience and service, public relations, library sciences, museums, home & interior design, life, retail, flooring and healthcare IT/RTLS will call attention to improving the overall bathroom experience for end users via their 40 blogs during Bathroom Blogfest 2010.

Fresh flowers provide an easy and effective first step. Placed strategically around your home, flowers create a mood and a design theme.

These days adding fresh flowers cost less than the appetizers. Your local grocery or warehouse store offers a great selection at reasonable prices. Pick up one or two bouquets with the same flowers and colors – or even the same type of flower for a consistent look.

Many people get nervous about arranging flowers, but if you stay simple you can create a design-rich arrangement with nice lines in a few minutes. Let the flowers help you decide on your approach. Try different vase shapes and sizes and don’t be afraid to trim stems if you need to. This arrangement is both simple and cost effective. A couple of long stems added to a vase with oranges to hold them in place and you’re done.

Place flowers on the main table, a few side tables, and in the guest bathroom to create a sense of welcome for your guests and help turn your party into a well-designed event.

Reader Question:

I was with a friend last night walking through their new house. They are getting ready to install the marble and stone in the bathrooms. They are doing stone wainscot on all walls and then on the floors. She asked me if she should use her baseboard at the bottom of the wall. Hmm. I thought. In doing a little research this morning I see in most bathrooms where there is wall tile and floor tile that no baseboard is used. Is there a right or wrong way?

Imogene – Denver, CO

Answer:

Great question! There is no right or wrong way, only personal preference and what’s needed for your particular situation. My advice would be to let stone floors meet stone walls and don’t introduce wood into an area that you could keep completely protected from water. If your friend wanted the look, she could do marble base and it would be a win win, but not necessary. Also, it would only slow down the  installation process by adding a trim contractor and a painter into the mix. Note how the picture here shows a clean and smooth transition from the stone wall to the stone floor. Adding base here would only be distracting.

Hope this helps! – Shannon

Reader Question:

I was with a friend last night walking through their new house. They are getting ready to install the marble and stone in the bathrooms. They are doing stone wainscot on all walls and then on the floors. She asked me if she should use her baseboard at the bottom of the wall. Hmm. I thought. In doing a little research this morning I see in most bathrooms where there is wall tile and floor tile that no baseboard is used. Is there a right or wrong way?

Imogene – Denver, CO

Answer:

Great question! There is no right or wrong way, only personal preference and what’s needed for your particular situation. My advice would be to let stone floors meet stone walls and don’t introduce wood into an area that you could keep completely protected from water. If your friend wanted the look, she could do marble base and it would be a win win, but not necessary. Also, it would only slow down the  installation process by adding a trim contractor and a painter into the mix. Note how the picture here shows a clean and smooth transition from the stone wall to the stone floor. Adding base here would only be distracting.

Hope this helps! – Shannon