On the Wire - 2008 Design Trends
Not sure where to go with a new color palette for your room? Wondering if that new furniture design is too trendy, or a new classic? We’ve got your 2008 design trends right here! The big theme this year is the return of glamour, according to Davis Remignanti, Lead Design Consultant at www.Furniture.com. Here are some of Remignanti’s trend forecasts for the year.
A renewed appreciation for post-Deco glamour brings refined silhouettes and finishes to the fore. The look of "Luxe Redux" features gently swept lines, strong geometric forms, and finishes that emphasize exotic veneers. Exaggeratedly oversized furniture is on the way out. Manufacturers are returning to smaller scale pieces more in proportion with normal human scale. But you will see large scale patterns used in fabrics and floor and wall coverings. If you're choosing a pattern over solid colors, make it big and bold. Stylish interiors are using black and white as the main color scheme. Using black as the dominant color in a room can yield classic and refreshingly chic results. And accent colors pop strongly against a black and white backdrop. A "spice-inflected" palette will be the hottest look in accent colors for the coming year. Carnelian, flax, russet and acid green
are the hottest hues. A still-strong trend of "a la carte," mix-and-match interiors has people combining old and new pieces in interesting ways. Vintage pieces bring a unique energy to a room's décor. Sometimes it can be hard to tell which pieces are old and which are new.
back to the top
Ask Tom & Leslie - Home Warranty Woes
“I bought my first house a little over two months ago. During the home inspection the heat pump was old but operational. We had the seller purchase a home warranty. Our heat pump ran for a half a month as an air conditioner and worked for about a month and a half as a heater but just recently conked out. We had the home warranty people send out a repair man and he said the unit is completely dead, however that the home warranty company might try to say that it was a preexisting condition. What should I do? We just covered a down payment and do not have the cash to pay for a whole new heating unit.”
As a home inspector, Tom has had much experience with so-called home warranty companies. The first inclination is generally to try and find a way to weasel out of the coverage they sold you. Fortunately in this case you have absolute proof the unit was not defective in the form of your home inspection report. Unless the warranty excludes heat pumps over a certain age, the fact that yours was old is not relevant. If the home inspection report indicated it was functional at the time of inspection – then they have to cover it. File the claim for a new heat pump and don’t take no for an answer. Don’t hesitate to use your inspection report for leverage.
back to the top
Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
You can do-it-yourself but you don't have to do-it-alone. Getting in touch with us is as easy as 1 - 2 or 3!
- The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
- Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
- Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.
back to the top
On the Air - Dangerous Wiring
Coming up on the next Money Pit radio show: is your home at risk for an electrical fire? During a certain era of home construction in this country, a specific material was used for wiring that is now considered extremely dangerous. Find out what it is, and if your house is at risk, right on the Money Pit radio show. To find out where we broadcast in your area, or download our podcast, click here.
back to the top
Dot Common Sense - Keeping Up Appearances
Do you want to make a small room seem bigger? Or bring a cavernous room down to size? Paint color and sheen can influence your perception on size and width of a room, so it’s time to dress your walls like you do yourself! Vertical stripes can make a ceiling seem higher. Bright colors can open up a space. Here are some more paint tips from the folks at the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute.
To “Raise” or “Lower” the Ceiling: If a ceiling feels too low, bright white can "raise" your perception of its height. By taking a cue from clothing designers, adventuresome homeowners can paint their walls with vertical stripes to enhance the sense of height. On the other hand, dramatic high ceilings may cause a living space to feel cavernous. To visually lower ceiling height, add a mid to deep hue on the ceiling. Another alternative is to paint horizontal stripes on the walls.
To “Shrink” or “Expand” Rooms: Just as a dark monochromatic outfit can visually "slim" an appearance, a monochromatic paint scheme can do the same in a large space. Choosing darker shade for the walls will reign in a large room and create a cozy and intimate space. Is your room too narrow and long? Just widen it by painting the shorter walls a deeper color than the longer walls. If color alone is not enough to change the perceived dimensions, use color combinations to create visual breaks. Divide your wall space horizontally with a chair rail and paint the upper and lower portions different hues.
Visit www.PaintQuality.com for more ideas.
back to the top
Fun Fact - Sticky Stairs
Stairs can be tricky to navigate anytime – but when they don’t have the right hardware, they can be very dangerous. Stairs with more than two steps should have a hand rail securely mounted to the wall. For open staircases, spindles should be installed no more than 6-inches apart to prevent a small child from squeezing through. Lastly, be especially careful when steps are of an uneven height. While you may get used to them, but your guests might not and could be seriously hurt.
back to the top
Short Cuts - Low Cost Stone Counters
Do you love the LOOK of natural stone countertops, but not the PRICE? You don’t have to spend a fortune for real stone counters. For more affordable natural stone countertops, use smaller sections of stone, which are sold as large squares. The squares can be placed side-by-side with the joints filled with grout. These smaller stone squares are less expensive, easier to install and provide an equally attractive look at a fraction of the price of solid stone tops.
back to the top
Share This Information With A Friend!
Simply forward this Email. And invite friends to register to receive this E-newsletter each week.If you would like to unsubscribe from our weekly newsletter, please refer to the unsubscribe directions at the bottom of this newsletter.
back to the top
Copyright 2008 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
|
