1. Dezeen – Our mission is simple: to bring you the best architecture, design and interiors projects from around the world before anyone else.
2. freshome – Our main mission is to inspire you, to give you ideas and make your home a better place to live.
3. Sub-Studio Design – A compilation of products, furniture, jewelry, architecture and artists that float our boat.
4. Contemporist – A daily source for architects and interior designers to discover new products and projects in the world of contemporary design.
5. dornob – Features creative contemporary designs and inspiration through images and ideas for modern design firms, professional and do-it-yourself designers.
6. BLDG BLOG – Provides intriguing details from the fringes of contemporary architectural practice in an accessible, thought-provoking, and highly entertaining manner.
7. archiCentral – Features interesting architectural projects from around the globe.
8. architechnophilia – Architecture is a beautiful thing to love and an even better thing to share.
9. CoolBoom – All the things you find in CoolBoom have gone through a selection to create a nice, clean and functional blog with a touch of distinction.
10. dsgnWrld – Math is easy, design is hard.
11. Homedit – Our mission is to inspire you, to give you ideas and make your home a luxury place to live.
12. Home Vaganza – Extravaganza of architecture design.
13. Home Design Find – Daily guide to products, trends, and ideas for your home.
14. +MOOD – An online design resource dedicated to everything relating to contemporary architecture, innovative interior design, creative products and all other aspects of design topics.
15. House Home Design – House and home design ideas.
16. Architectures Design – Explores emerging practices within architecture that aim to merge digital technologies & virtual spaces with tangible and physical spatial experiences.
17. Best House Design – Showcases some of the finest luxury homes in the world.
18. equipegregoire – Provides new and fresh home design ideas, home decorating ideas, and interior design with minimalist, modern, contemporary and luxury home / house and office design photos.
19. Zeospot – Home and interior design pictures.
20. House Design News – Collection of house design projects designed by architects all over the world.
21. The House Vote – A daily site where design items are presented to be voted on by you.
22. A Daily Dose of Architecture – (Almost) daily architectural musings and imagery from New York City.
23. Architecture (My Ninja Please) – One bloggers subversive take on the world of architecture.
24. anArchitecture – Aims to broaden the horizon of architectural design – pushing the boundaries of what architecture can be.
25. Archi-Ninja – The latest in architecture, design + technology, urban culture and music.
26. tropicalismo360 – Covers architecture and the full spectrum of strategies that influence and inspire me.
27. archiDE – Features cutting-edge architecture from various sites around the world.
28. Archimafia – Architecture is about man and environment, and the challenge of ideas beyond rules and boundaries.
29. [the belly of an architect] – Mainly focused on contemporary architecture and urban design, covering recent works from Portuguese architects as well as projects of international significance.
30. City of Sound – Dan Hill is a design and urbanist working at the forefront of innovative information and communication technologies since the early ‘90s.
31. DesignDuct – DesignDuct’s goal is very simple: to source for our readers the best of design from around the globe.
32. Karrie Jacobs – A blog about cities, buildings, and the spaces in-between.
33. The Straight Torquer – Modern architecture in Washington D.C.
34. Stair Porn – Showcases cool stairs from around the world.
35. Blue Ant Studio – An international collection of architecture and other interesting designs.
36. architectureyp – Architecture, urban planning, 3D rendering, design ideas, theories and style.
37. ArkitecTrue – A platform for all design enthusiasts to find a variety of items, from architecture to interior design to urban planning.
38. Marvelous Architectures – Every day some pictures and news of marvelous architecture around the world.
39. Stories of Houses – Features examples of dwellings from which we can all learn – both the clients during their contemplation about building a house, and the architects to understand and evaluate the life of the clients.
40. atelier a+d – Modern architecture and design.

The thing about a custom look is that it can be achieved with a little bit of work and an even smaller budget depending upon the fabric or, type of material you work with.  The only tool you need to invest in to get you started on this project is a staple gun, and either the electric or manual one will work just fine so use what feels best for you.

Creating a Headboard Using Small Square Pre Made Canvases:  If you go to a craft store you will find different sized pre made canvases that can be covered in a layer of batting and the   material of your choice, and then hung against the wall next to one another to form a one of a kind headboard.  You can use two rows that are as wide as the bed itself and just as high, or add a third or fourth row to create visual interest and complete the look. Here are the steps to follow if you would like to try this yourself.

Step One: Measure the horizontal width of the bed, and vertical height you desire to determine how many pre made canvases you will need to cover the area.  Then, take measurements with you and go purchase your canvases.

Step Two: Go to a fabric store and pick out the batting and material you would like to work with.  Use the measurements you came up with for your canvases to estimate the total amount of material needed and add on at least 2 to 4 inches on all sides to account for the extra you will need to wrap around the frames.  You may look at suede or leather, or go with a fabric that has an interesting pattern or texture to compliment your design.

Step Three: Take and cut your batting and material to fit the size of each canvas, and be sure to leave two to four inches extra to accommodate wrapping around the edges.  Take one side, wrap it, and anchor it with a staple or two.  Then go to the opposite side and pull it as tight as you can and staple, and continue until you have all four sides tagged. You can add as many staples as needed to hold material in place and tuck the corner edges at an angle for a clean look. Repeat process till all canvases are covered.

Step Four: Once you have all canvases successfully covered, lay them out on the floor to get the best pattern or design, and then decide if you would like to hook them together to hang as one larger piece, or hang them up separately against each other.  To hang as one unit,  purchase small flat metal connectors and fasten to the backs of your canvases to connect to one another.  Then mark on your wall the level you wish to hang your new headboard at, and stand back and enjoy.  If you choose to hang each one independently you may use a nail or a screw, and place them to your specifications. When you have completed this step you are ready to see the finished product, a nice high end custom headboard for a fraction of the cost.

How do they do it? Can you do it for your home? Absolutely! We’re here to help you do it, and here are some tips to get you started…

Getting Started with Size

Before you begin your search for the perfect area rug, determine the size you need, it keeps the shopping process more manageable. Get your measuring tape ready, and keep these area rug size tips in mind:

General Tips

For any room of the house, a good rule of thumb is to measure your room and choose an area rug that is approximately 24 inches shorter that the shortest wall of the room. For instance, if you have a 12 x 15 foot bedroom – consider an area rug that is 10 x 12 feet.

Each room of the house can benefit from an area rug, and yes, area rugs CAN be placed over wall-to-wall carpeting!

Living Rooms

Living room area rugs can help create conversation groupings, pull together a color scheme or just protect carpet or hardwood floors. Choose an area rug that goes with your furniture layout. If you have a smaller living room with one conversation area, then choose a larger area rug. If you have two or more seating areas in a larger living room or great room, use at least two area rugs to create a cozier room and define areas.

• To use an area rug to define a conversational grouping, there should be no more than two feet of empty rug extending out from behind the furniture.
• All furniture should have at least its front feet on the area rug.
• 8 x 10 foot area rugs tend to work for most living rooms.

Bedrooms

Area rugs are perfect for keeping feet from cold wood floors and makes bedrooms feel cozier. They also help define the focal point of the bedroom, which is almost always the bed. Some considerations for choosing area rugs for a bedroom:

• The rug should be under at least one third of the bed;
• Bedroom area rugs should extend at least 30 – 36 inches on the side of the bed;
• Runners on either side, even the end of the bed are an option as well.

Hallways

Runners over wall-to-wall carpet in hallways, and even on stairs, are perfect for keeping high traffic areas looking fresh. They also bring interest to ho-hum hallways. To choose hallway runners and rugs, a good rule of thumb is to choose a rug that allows about six inches of flooring to show on all four sides.

Dining Rooms

Dining room area rugs are perfect for creating an intimate dining area in even the starkest, unused dining area.

• Choose an area rug that all pieces of the table and chairs will fit on.
• Make sure to have plenty of rug around the table so chairs do not fall off the rug when pushed back.
• Measure your dining room table and add at least 40 to 48 inches to the measurement. Most dining rooms will need at least an eight foot wide area rug.

Step Two – Choosing the Right Type

Now that you have a size in mind, pare down your choices even further by choosing the right type of rug for your use. Quality area rugs are not only made in all shapes and sizes, but with different materials, and choosing the right material for the room will make your investment in your area rug pay off.

Natural Materials

Natural materials in rugs look lovely and tend to cost a little more. Choices in natural fibers include:

Wool: The highest quality natural fiber for rugs, wool is durable, crush resistant, soft and cleans well. Wool area rugs tend to be more expensive, but if you’re watching your budget, consider a wool blend as a budget alternative.

Cotton: Cotton area rugs are not as durable as wool, they tend to be better choices for smaller sizes and throw rugs.

Grass Rugs: If you’re looking for a simple, natural look for a room, jute, sisal, seagrass and bamboo rugs are perfect. They tend to come in more limited colors and patterns, but to spice up the look, most have great borders to add interest and color to the rug. Grass rugs offer a more casual look for rooms, but don’t add the warmth of wool area rugs and aren’t as stain resistant.

Synthetic Materials

Synthetics have come a long way in area rugs, and can offer the perfect budget flooring solution. Choices in synthetics include:

Nylon: The most popular in synthetic fibers, nylon is durable and virtually crushproof. It holds color well, and is non-allergenic and mildew and insect resistant. With easy maintenance and stain resistance, nylon rugs can look new for years.

Polypropylene/Olefin: Polypropylene, also known by a brand name of Olefin, is lightweight, durable, strong and inexpensive. Olefin rugs are the least expensive fiber for rugs, and it is not only used for interior floors, but outdoor area rugs as well. Olefin tends to ‘flatten’ more than a nylon or wool rug, and while it’s durable, it’s not as stain-resistant and long lasting as wool or nylon rugs.

Last but Not Least – Colors and Patterns

Now that you have a general idea as to size and fiber, you can get down to the fun of choosing an area rug. Some tips to get you started on your purchase:

• Darker area rugs tend to add warmth and intimacy to larger spaces.
• Lighter colored area rugs can help open up space in smaller rooms.
• Rugs with heavy patterns can help hide dirt and pet hair and do well in high traffic areas, such as hallways, living rooms and staircases.
• Braided area rugs are excellent choices for country and primitive décor.
• Oriental rugs and patterns look lovely in more traditionally decorated rooms.
• Area rugs with bold and geometric patterns do well in modern rooms.

Now, let’s get started in opening up an endless array of affordable and stylish decorating options for your home…

• Fabrics: Pattern is back with a bang.  Paisley, patchwork, plaid, animal prints, and birds are all very popular.  These fabrics can be found in traditional colorways or in very modern interpretations such as brown and teal paisley or an animal print with a fuchsia background.
• Color: Earth colors remain very popular.  While these colors include brown, tan and green they also include colors from the farm such as eggplant purple, red that mimics a bright radish or a dark cranberry, orange that can be soft and muted like a peach or vibrant like a fresh orange and greens that range from dusty sage to vibrant lime.
• Design Style: Contemporary style is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.  The clean lines and minimalist feel offer an escape from today’s hectic and volatile world.
• Eco-friendly: Being “green” continues to be important to home owners.  Consumers are looking for wood furniture made from a renewable source such as bamboo or that has been responsibly harvested.  Organic fabrics are now available as upholstery and drapery fabric.

Keep in mind that these are just trends.  While you may not want a bright orange couch, adding a lamp with an orange base will add some punch to a neutral room; paisley pillows will bring a retro feel to a family room and a plaid wing chair in a den can be very inviting.  How you introduce trends into your room is, of course, your cho

Sustainable Materials

If you want a soft, luxuriously cushioned feel, wool may be your best option. This material stands up well to abrasion and compression. It also features natural stain resistant properties that make it easy to keep clean. Undyed wool carpeting is available in creamy and smoky earth hues that are soothing to the eye. If you want to update the color after a few years, have your wool carpet dyed in place.

Sisal carpet is generally made from agave fibers. The term “sisal” is also used to refer to other plant materials such as hemp, jute, and seagrass. These natural fibers are often woven in complex, raised patterns. If you enjoy the bumpy look and feel of Berber, consider trying sisal. This is a nice carpet to walk on but isn’t as comfy as wool if you like sitting or reclining on the floor.

Coir carpet is made from coconut husks. It has a coarse, invigorating texture. If the soles of your feet are ticklish, you may want to reserve this material for areas in your home where you generally wear socks or shoes. Natural materials such as coir and sisal can be vacuumed, but shouldn’t be steam cleaned.

Health Benefits

Unlike synthetic carpet, natural fibers do not emit volatile organic compounds after installation. VOCs (highly reactive substances such as acetone and styrene) can cause respiratory distress, eye irritation, nausea and other symptoms. These chemicals are found in carpet, backing, padding, and adhesive materials. Choosing all natural substitutes and those labeled as low in VOC emissions is a good idea if you are particularly sensitive to airborne pollutants.