<![CDATA[Murals by Jo Hanks<br /> - Decorating Blog]]>Fri, 11 May 2012 20:16:35 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Discover the 10 essential Living room accessories]]>Sun, 24 Jul 2011 11:59:02 -0700http://www.johanks.com/2/post/2011/07/discover-the-10-essential-living-room-accessories.html1- Floor Lamp:  Whether with a shade or a "torchiere" (indirect light upward) a floor lamp is essential to create mood lighting and accentuate a corner of your room.  Don't rely on just a central overhead light fixture.

2- Table Lamp:  A beautiful table lamp is like a small sculpture that adds an artistic accent as well as reading light.   Every table needs a lamp to create interest and warm a large living room space.

3- Books:  Collections of books are not only for reading but can be arranged on shelves to add baance and texture to a wall arrangement.

4- Artwork:  Large art pieces are essential to making a room look furnished.  Too many small collections are out of balance without a nice painting to add to a room's overall design.   A large painting can create a focal point in a plain room.

5- Area Rug:  Whether you have wall-to-wall carpeting, tile or wood flooring, every furniture arrangement needs an area rug to pull it all together.  Sofas and chairs need to be arranged around an area rug usually in the center of your living room. Don't line the furniture against the wall around the perimeter of the room.

6- Magazine Rack:  What would we do without our magazines and catalogs!  Choose a rack that doubles as an end table or choose just a beautiful basket or box, but always create space for your decorating magazines.

7- Food Serving Tray:  Serving snacks can be easy and elegant with a free-standing tray table or a beautiful artistic accent tray.

8- Throw Blanket:  Nothing could be more elegant and comforting than a luxurious throw draped over your sofa or chair.  This accessory adds instant style.

9- Flowers:  A punch of bright red or yellow can make a room come alive.  Treat yourself and your guests to a flower arrangement in a gorgeous vase.

10- Candles:  Scented candles for melting pots, or candles to light up give a room so much ambiance and romance.  Especially important if you do not have a fireplace.

Make a point to add all 10 of these essential accessories to your living room.  Pottery Barn always has beautiful and creative accessories to choose from.   There are also many boutique shops where you will find just the right accessory that you must have for your home.   If you collect too many for one room, then save some for a different season and switch them out.  You'll be pleased at the difference accessories make.
]]><![CDATA[Quiz: Test your drapery smarts]]>Sun, 24 Jul 2011 11:57:40 -0700http://www.johanks.com/2/post/2011/07/quiz-test-your-drapery-smarts.htmlHow much do you know about window coverings?  Take this quiz and see what you can do to improve your drapery smarts.

1- What is "puddling"?

2- How can you make a window appear larger?

3- What are the benefits of any window covering?

4- If your walls are white, what color should your draperies be?

5- Do you need both blinds and drapes?

6- Where else can you use draperies other than covering a window?

* Remember, there is an exception to every rule so don't worry too much whether you are doing it right.  But, don't cheat yourself out of a fully furnished room by skipping the all-important draperies!

ANSWERS:

1- "Puddling" is a term used to describe draperies that are several inches longer than necessary to reach the floor.  This extra length is pooled around the bottom and creates a puddle of fabric on the floor.

2- A window can be made to appear larger by adding a valance across the top.  Hang the rod high enough above the top of the window trim so that the bottom of the valance fabric just covers the trim.  That will add extra height to the window size.  Also, installing the rod several inches wider than the side trim of a window will allow the draperies to pull back far enough as to not cover the window and allow the full width of the window to be exposed.

3- Any window treatment has many great benefits.  Draperies allow you to control the amount of light entering the room. They allow privacy for rooms that could be viewed from outside.  Draperies soften the feel of a room and even cut down on noise.  Adding color and texture are important reasons to use draperies.  Also, a beautiful view looks even better when framed by appropriate draperies.

4- This is a trick question.  There are no definite rules.  Choosing draperies that contrast your wall color will create emphasis and draw your attention to the drapery treatment.  Matching the wall and drapery color will blend the wall with the window and visually expand the space.  I recommend bringing color into the room with draperies.

5- Having blinds as well as drapes as a window treatment is very convenient.  You can control the light and privacy with blinds and then create a tied-back treatment with the draperies.  You don't want to be constantly rearranging your drapes every day so leave them tied back.

6- Drapery panels are quite versatile.  You can create a headboard for your bed by hanging drapes on the wall behind.  A canopy for a bed can be created by hanging drapery panels from the ceiling around all four corners of the bed.

A large television can be made to look like a theatre by hanging draperies from the ceiling on each side of the TV as well as a valance above.

A wide doorway from one room to another can be enhanced by adding drapery panels that will frame the opening.  

Be creative and see how many places you can use draperies to enhance your decor.

SCORING:  If you answered correctly on all six questions, Congratulations, you must have beautiful window treatments.  If you didn't know some of the answers, good for you.  Now you'll be able to have a great time shopping and decorating with draperies!

Click on photo for larger view

]]><![CDATA[Is your floor naked?]]>Sun, 24 Jul 2011 11:54:21 -0700http://www.johanks.com/2/post/2011/07/first-post.htmlPractically every room in your home can benefit from an area rug.  This accessory is so central to making a room look fully furnished.  An area rug breaks up that long expanse of bare floor that seems so hard to fill.

Wall-to-wall carpeting, tile or wood flooring may be covered with an area rug.  Be sure to get a rug pad to keep your area rug trom traveling across the floor.

In the living room an area rug should be used to arrange your furniture around as a conversation grouping. Center the rug, put a center table or large ottoman in the middle, and then arrange your sofa, chairs and end tables around the edge of the rug.  Usually at least a 5 ft. by 7 ft. size or larger is best for a living room.

I always suggest centering a dining table over an area rug.  Not only does it protect the usually light-colored carpeting underneath, but it "anchors" the table and chairs giving the dining room a furnished look.  It's also more quiet on wood or tile for those clattering chair legs as everyone gets up and down.

A long runner rug is so elegant in the kitchen compared to a tiny sink-sized floor mat.

Any bedroom looks wonderful with a large area rug positioned under the bed and out into the room.

A reading corner can be easily arranged with a medium-sized area rug, a large comfortable chair, a classic accent table and a beautiful lamp.

Area rugs delineate the space for you so that the flow of the furniture arrangement looks and feels proper.  There are so many colors, styles and patterns to choose from that selecting an area rug may seem daunting.  However, focus on a rug that has colors that coordinate with your wall color, floor color, large furniture and drapes.

Area rugs are a great investment as they can be switched around the house and always go with you when you move, so cover up that naked floor space with a beautiful area rug.

Click on photo for larger view

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