Creative Designs

Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood.

Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature.

Rustic cottage furniture is commonly made with pine and perhaps painted with hand-painted Designs such as flowers, birds, animals, country scenery or leaves. Use ladderback chairs, rocking chairs, benches, wicker furniture and Windsor chairs. A large rectangular table made of pine is a good option for your kitchen or dining room table. To give your furniture a rustic look, brush a coat of paint on the furniture piece, then rub most of the paint off. After it dries, apply wood stain unevenly for an older weathered appearance. It will be perfect and rustic looking!

Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens.

For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron -- cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting.

Whether in a seaside setting, an urban environment, a countryside location or a wooded mountain retreat, cottage style homes are cozy and unassuming, combining the past with the present. Read all you can find and learn what creating the rustic country cottage means to you no matter where it's located. Enjoy expressing your personality and showing what the definition of home means to you.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - visit the website and learn more about rustic country home decor and Design, rustic kitchens and bathrooms, log cabins, fireplaces and firewood and much more.

posted by lks  # 3:54 PM 0 comments

The normal everyday swinging closet doors has advantages and disadvantages. The good thing about a hinged closet door is that it gives you a good solid surface for you to add closet decorations or a full-length mirror on the door to enhance your room. The bad thing about this type of door is that the immediate area within the swinging arc of the closet doors must be clear of any items for you to comfortably have full access to the closet space within.

Even sliding closet doors come with some disadvantages. When you slide open the closet doors, there will always be one side that remains closed. If your closet has dual sliding doors, then you can only access one area of your closet at a time. Even with three sliding closet doors, there will still be one section of the closet that is blocked. Sliding doors will work really if you can slide them into the walls, but not many people have that luxury.

When you dont have a lot of space to spare for swinging open closet doors and you really need to access everything at once, then a bifold closet door is the answer. For small closets, one set one bifold doors is enough to comfortably operate. If your closet is wide enough, two bifold closet doors coming from opposite ends would be the solution of choice. The folds of the doors are usually too small to hang a full-length mirror on but creative decorating will make the closet blend into the architectural effects of your room.

Bifold closet doors will work with any kind of closet, be it reach-in or walk-in. The most important feature for a bifold closet door is the rails on which it rests on. The performance of the bifold closet door depends heavily on how well it glides on its rails. Due to this fact, it is advisable to have a professional install the bifold closet door for you. Once proper installation is done, all it takes is some grease on the rails to keep the doors operating smoothly.

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posted by lks  # 7:38 AM 0 comments