1. Apartment Therapy – Helping people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online.
2. Ikea Hacker – A blog dedicated to clever builders who repurpose Ikea products for use in their home.
3. The Style Files – Observations and ideas related to design, interiors, art and other life enhancing subjects are posted daily.
4. Grassroots Modern – Started to help those who are looking for a modern contemporary style at an affordable price.
5. 2Modern – A wide-range of views and commentary focused on contemporary design.
6. Home Design Find – Our team scours the globe to bring you the best items for your home.
7. decor8– “As a writer and interior design consultant, I created decor8 to catalog beautiful finds and to inspire others.”
8. FURNISHism – The independent source of products, materials and inspirations for interior design.
9. Home-Designing – Provides ideas and inspiration for making your dream home.
10. zaINTERIORA – New trends, modern styles, evergreens, unusual approaches, or just successful combinations.
11. Best House Interior– Interior design, styles and decorating ideas.
12. H is for Home – Specializes in the unusual, the quirky, one off, handmade and vintage.
13. Homebug – Run by freelance interior design journalist and house-proud design nut, Zita Spring.
14. Shannon Fricke – “I created this blog as a kind of first step – an inspiration board for those of you who want to create a beautiful home but are not sure where to begin.
15. Capitvatist– A collection of desirable objects and designs that are not art nor concept neither theory nor dreams but real, practical, useful, buildable, livable and obtainable (ok-ok, obtainable is a “maybe”).
16. Desire to Inspire – A Canadian and an Australian trying to inspire the world one room at a time.
17. Decorology – “I’m a web designer by day, but I also love interior design, home decorating, and all manners of design in general!”
18. Willow Decor – Décor inspired by a love of European country and classic design influenced by Swedish, Belgian and Gustavian styles.
19. luxxury livving – Discovers new designs, designers, products and beautiful photos detailing a designer’s take on home décor, from the novice to the pro.
20. JuBella– Works to inspire sparks of ideas that will develop a need to create and/or share creative finds, ideas, and tips.
21. On Interior Design– Boston-based interior designer Abbey Koplovitz showcases ongoing projects, shares insider tips, and talks about what it’s really like to be an interior designer.
22. The Inspired Room – A happy mix of realistic interior decorating, simple homemaking, and inspiration for authentic living.
23. Rang-Decor– Exclusively for archiving and sharing interior design ideas from India.
24. Alkemie – Provides tours of various houses and locations with excellent interior designs.
25. Addicted 2 Decorating – An interior decorator in Texas shares her trials and triumphs with her own decorating projects, projects for clients, and other inspiring things found on the Internet.
26. The World According to Jessica Claire – Musings, favorites and more from a creative Canadian.
27. DesignTies – Two Canadian chicks making the world a prettier place one room at a time.
28. The Steampunk Home – Finding a way to combine the past and the future in an aesthetically pleasing yet still punkish way.
29. Room Remix– Provides you with decorating inspiration, practical decorating advice, creative ideas and resources, DIY ideas, before and afters, and helps you think outside of your current decorating box.
30. Stylish, Safe and Green – Shares some of the wonderful ways that the universal design community is improving the places that we live work and play in.
31. Dress Your Nest – Simple and straight-forward, affordable modern design advice.
32. The Peak of Chic – Musings on stylish living.
33. Beautiful Bones Design – A girl and her dog’s guide to livable, lasting luxury interiors.
34. Creative Home Expressions – A certified interior decorator shares tips, tricks, trends and whatever catches her eye.
35. Harmony and Home – Where balance, serenity and living come together.

image by Nanimo

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…

Another friend had an antique washstand in her bathroom, and had spent years searching for the right basin to use for a sink.  One night, while making dinner, an old wooden fruit bowl on her kitchen table suddenly caught her attention.   Inspired, she dumped out the fruit, drilled a hole in the bottom, placed the fittings, and with a bit of help from a plumber, the perfect sink was born.

Decorating doesn’t have to be a full-time project. It doesn’t have to be a sprint – or a marathon. And it certainly doesn’t have to involve a lot of expensive shopping, mixing, matching, comparing, and angst. Let it be fun. Be creative. Use things in a way that they were never intended to be used. When I was growing up, a friend’s parents owned an heirloom Turkish carpet way too large to fit any of the rooms of their apartment – so they hung it from the top of one wall and let it flow down to  cover the entire floor of their dining room.   The effect was breathtaking.

Let your imagination move you. Make it a part of your life.

• 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

Chair Rail: One of the things you can do is to use it as a cute little chair rail that follows the circumference of the room and breaks the wall up between an upper and lower quadrant to decorate and fill in.  You can use a staple gun, or a hot glue gun to fasten it to the wall.

Frame: Another way to introduce a feather boa is to use it as a picture, poster or pillow frame.  This takes the place of a traditional frame for a large savings and adds that extra little splash of color and texture that increases the visual interest of the pieces you are displaying.

Letter Art: A new trend for girl’s rooms is to decorate and use large block letters to spell out either a name, or a cool word that applies to the hip new world your child is becoming a part of.  Think how much more distinct the word DIVA would be on a wall surrounded with a bright, pink, feather boa to top it all off!

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.

• Switch your photos out periodically.  You can replace your everyday family photos with pictures representing the season or holiday.  For example, choose photos of family vacations and place them in lighthearted frames to display during the summer season.  During the holiday you can use photos of the kids visiting Santa throughout the years. And don’t stop displaying these just because your kids are grown!  The fall season is the perfect time to show photos of Halloween costumes, apple picking, sporting events etc.  And, of course, winter ski pictures will remind you of great times with your family.
• Group a collection of black and white photos on the wall.  Framed in matte black frames, this creates an interesting gallery for a hallway or stairwell.
• Have throw pillows made depicting each family member.  This will eliminate arguments during TV time as to who gets what pillow.  And what a unique way to decorate a family room.  You can include the family pet or grandparents who live out of town.  And if there is a member of the family who is away, such as a serviceman or woman or a parent who travels frequently, these pillows are a nice way to “stay connected” during their absence.
• Have a piece of pop-art made using your favorite photograph.  You can choose an Andy Warhol look, a collage of photos or a picture enhanced to look like an oil painting.  This is an affordable and personal way to add custom artwork to your home.

Unlike paint colors or furniture styles, family is not trendy.  It will never go out of style and is always in fashion.  So be creative and display your family photos with pride.

Image by Dennis Wong

Pani, who some call the “high priest” of Acapulco Design of the ‘50s, is best known for the furniture he designed for the chic Hotel Reforma in Mexico City, created (not coincidentally) by his architect brother, Mario.  Refined but incredibly ornate, Pani’s furniture seems to share little in common with the designs of Barragan, an architect who also created furniture for several of his clients’ homes (and his own); profoundly influenced by LeCorbusier. Barragan is the quintessential minimalist.

Juan O’Gorman (yes, he really was Mexican; his father was Irish-born) created spectacular tile murals, but his early, functionalist architectural design got a jump-start when he designed the home of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in the early 1930s.

And then there is Pedro Friedeberg, the wacky, surrealist designer whose crazy “hand chairs” (shaped like a cupped hand) and wildly colorful clocks he described as “criticizing the absurdity of things.”

Some of the hottest design dealers in New York are also currently planning exhibitions focused, too, on sustainability in contemporary Mexican design – a trend other designers around the world are also picking up, but which integrates particularly well with Mexican design tradition.  Maybe that explains the growing popularity of Mexican design right now – at least in part; or maybe it’s the fun colors and happy warmth, especially welcome in grim economic times.  But from the look of things, Mexican style is definitely the place to be looking now for new ideas and inspiration.

Other hot trends to watch for now:

Anti-WiFi paint: created by a lab in Tokyo, this paint, made with aluminum-iron oxide, can absorb high-frequency radio waves, like the ones used for WiFi.

Sustainability, of course: look for furnishings and floors made of cork, bamboo, and even paper.

So-called “hybrid furniture,” like a carpet-covered sideboard recently featured at the London Design Festival.

Then again, that’s not unlike what Pedro Friedeberg’s been doing all along…which brings us back again to Mexico – obviously what design is about right now.

A New Use for the Monthly Calendar: There is a calendar out on the market today that has  pictures of just about every single subject matter available.  This makes it incredibly easy to find and match the subject you need to the style you are trying to achieve and end up with twelve smaller pictures that can help to fill a wall with some minor adjustments.  Simply find the picture you wish to display, and cut the edges so that the focal point of the picture is centered in the middle.  Then, get some poster board and  construct a mock boarder for your picture to give it a more polished look, or leave it as it is and place it in a standard picture frame.  This will give you versatile wall art for about 50% less than it would cost pre-framed.

Hint: This is a fantastic option for decorating a child’s room with Disney pictures that can cost a fortune if purchased the traditional way!

Using a Decorative Throw as Wall Art: Sometimes you can have a large wall that requires an equally large painting to balance out the room. This concept is easy enough unless you don’t have the $200 to $300 dollars necessary to turn that wish into a reality. Well, one way to achieve a similar look is to find a throw that you like, back it with and attach it to pressboard to give it form, and purchase decorative molding to surround the art and complete the look.   You do not have to be proficient in construction and your local DIY store has everything necessary to accomplish this design goal.

Hint: For an old world or country feel use a quilt, for a child’s room use a throw that depicts a favorite character such as Tinker Bell or an action hero, and for an eclectic look, pick a nondescript piece that has an interesting pattern or texture.

Faming Posters for a Child’s Room: If you have ever tried to purchase a frame large enough to fit a poster in you already know how much money you will spend for a plastic frame that doesn’t even look that nice.  Instead, simply go to the fabric store and pick out some ribbon that will be long enough to frame your poster and play off of one or all of the colors in the picture you have chosen.  Use a hot glue gun to tack the corners, and find a bit of bling to put on each corner.  This will give your poster a homey feel without having a homemade look.

Hint: For a girl’s room, use fake jewels at each of the corners, or if you have a beach theme use sea shells or tiny flip flops at each end to give it a touch of whimsy.