Home Design Informations

Perfect Ways to Use Exclusive Plum, Sherwin-Williams ' Color of 2014

Described as spiritual, mystical, romantic, and dramatic, Exclusive Plum is Sherwin-Williams 2014 Color of the Year! Unlike the newly declared Pantone color of the year, Radiant Orchid, Exclusive Plum is a color that a majority of us will look at and seriously consider its applicable use in our homes. Jackie Jordan, Sherwin-Williams’ director of color marketing, describes the color beautifully: “This dusky, filtered violet is refined without being stuffy, elegant yet easy, and layered with romantic potential.”

While the previous example was decidedly modern, this space shows how a similar dusty purple can work in a room that is more traditional or transitional. The hue is superelegant paired with rich tobacco browns.

If you like purple-gray but are wary of using a large dose of it, consider employing it as a small accent color. Just keep in mind that if this is the only strong hue in the room, the eye will be drawn to whatever is clad in it. Make sure you are calling attention to something you want to stand out.

To keep the hue from feeling too heavy and somber, try pairing it with plenty of warm whites or creams. A wood floor also adds warmth and contrast.

This example shows how Exclusive Plum can work as a neutral base. It pairs well with shocking greens, bold oranges, bright reds and, yes, even Radiant Orchid. Just use the vibrant hues sparingly and mix in some light neutrals shades of white, gray or tan to keep the space feeling light and open.

I think this color works best in bedrooms. It’s a rather heavy hue, which is good for a room in which you want to relax and rest.

Here’s another nice example of how to work with Exclusive Plum or a similar purple-gray. It’s striking in this room against the warm gray and taupe as well as the bits of greenish gold.

Rugs are another way to bring fun new colors into a room. This beauty would look fantastic in a bedroom or living room.

If you like Exclusive Plum, but perhaps not on your bedroom walls, look for bedding in it. Cool purples are thought to reduce stress, so they are perfect for bedroom textiles.

Here’s another nice set of cool grayish-purple bed linens. This hue works well as a base color to which you can add accents of almost any other color. I can visualize splashes of blue, gold, chartreuse, pink or red added here.

HGTV Dream Home 2014 : Laundry Room Pictures

About the Laundry Room :

This laundry room is as stylish as it is functional, featuring bold stripes, industrial details and lots of hidden storage space. Combined with the tiled mudroom nook just outside, this central area provides easy access to cleaning essentials.

The stylish laundry room's central location just off the garage and tiled foyer makes it simple to drop off messy items to keep the home sparkling clean.

Just outside the laundry space, a traditional display cabinet gets some industrial edge with bolted door latches. Illuminated shelves with mullioned doors create a striking display space, with additional closed storage on the bottom for linens or other supplies.

A pair of modern upholstered ottomans tucked under a traditional wood desk provides a spot to remove shoes or do one final mirror-check before heading out for the day.

The same slate tile runs from the front porch through the foyer and into the laundry and mudroom spaces, connecting them visually.

Guest Bathroom Pictures : HGTV Dream Home 2013

Crisp white porcelain tile and dark walnut stained furnishings define this spa-like bathroom space.

About the Guest Suite Bathroom

Tranquil design is most effectively expressed in the guest bathroom, where porcelain tile floors and matte lacquer cabinetry pair with wood furnishings in a dark walnut finish. Everything is clean and Zen," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "That bathroom feels so pure to me."

2014 Thanksgiving Table Setting and Centerpiece Ideas

Designer Erinn Valencich shares tips for setting a Thanksgiving table that balances natural elements with the gleam of metallics.

By H. Camille Smith

Add a Touch of Glitz

For a sophisticated but not over-the-top look, balance the sparkle of metallics with natural elements, like fall branches or fresh fruit.

Erinn's Tip: Metallics add a great modern touch to a fall tablescape. Deep copper and bright bronze are a lovely additional to a traditional table. I prefer to bring in natural, textured elements like these seed-beaded placemats so the table doesn't get too glitzy.

Play With Scale

Diminutive pears contrast with elongated stemware for a look that is elegant and playful.

Erinn's Tip: Slender amber stemware adds height and drama to a simple table while gold pillar candles and votives sparkle as the centerpiece.

Opt for an Aromatic Centerpiece

Who said a centerpiece needed to time-consuming, expensive or even floral? Erinn created this arrangement by grouping scented candles with an earthy potpourri.

Erinn's Tip: During the fall, natural elements are the best decorations. This potpourri creates a lovely centerpiece and its subtle fragrance is a great addition to the table. Look for large, chunky potpourris and add elements from your own backyard, like pinecones and seed pods, to the mix.

Gleaming Glass Accents

Golds and ambers pair beautifully with the traditional browns and oranges of fall.

Erinn's Tip: Glass vases can be found very inexpensively in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes at your local housewares store. They're fantastic for adding a splash of luminescent color to the room. So go wild! Bring a bunch home, try them out and return what you don't use.

Simple Sophistication

This place setting layers basic elements to achieve an extraordinary effect.

Erinn's Tip: A set of white plates is a great standard to have for your year round table. You don't have to get something special out just for the season. It's all in the presentation a crisp linen napkin folded into thirds and laid under a bronze glass plate topped with a miniature pear sets each guests' plate off with style for very little money, time or fuss.

Bountiful Centerpiece

Set the stage for an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast with a centerpiece that exemplifies bounty. A ghost white pumpkin, chunky pillar candles and metallic painted gourds add sparkle.

Erinn's Tip: Create a table that's casual and warm with a modern twist. Play with colors of chocolate, taupe and birch contrasted with crisp white.

Contrast Materials

A humble pinecone adds an organic touch to each place setting.

Erinn's Tip: Have fun with materials; contrast ceramic with glass, wood and gleaming metal. Forgo the old standby tablecloth and opt for glamorous, polished silver chargers and chocolate-brown linen napkins.

Decorate the Whole Room

This buffet sparkles with candles and glassware in shades of amber and gold. Natural elements like wood grain candles and a rustic, hand-carved bowl filled with fall apples complete the look. Erinn's Tip: "When decorating for Thanksgiving guests, don't stop at setting the table. The buffet, side tables and coffee table will benefit from a few fall touches as well. Bring in large branches of fall foliage and place in a tall vase for a seasonal decoration that is chic and free the best of both worlds.

Loft Pictures : HGTV Dream Home 2013

The casual family gathering space enjoys both marsh and great room views and takes advantage of the home's soaring vaulted ceiling.

About the Loft

"The downstairs is very subdued, sophisticated and controlled," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "And I wanted the upstairs loft to feel more island-like." The relaxed, whimsical gathering space draws its palette from dramatic sky views; the selection of furnishings invites one to grab a seat, kick up one's heels and enjoy the evening's show.

2014 White Kitchen Cabinets Ideas

White cabinetry is a classic choice for a kitchen. Providing a neutral backdrop, white cabinets can be left alone or dressed up with colorful art and accessories.

White cabinets are a versatile choice for a kitchen. Though usually available in laminate or thermofoil (which can be difficult to paint over), more expensive custom wood cabinets can be ordered in a painted white or cream finish with distressed or glazed details.

With plenty of options, white cabinets don't have to be basic. If you want a warmer look, shift direction and use wood cabinetry for your island. Use the same hardware on both the white peimeter cabinets and the island, or the same countertop on both to tie the look together.

Like a little black dress, white cabinets are appropriate almost anywhere, whether your kitchen is sleek and modern or warm and traditional. Full-overlay cabinetry with doors that cover the entire cabinet frame present a minimalist profile, which works well in a modern kitchen. Pair the streamlined cabinetry with similarly styled hardware for the ultimate modern look.

An off white tone, glazing, and distressing techniques will give white cabinets traditional flair. Detailed door fronts and classic hardware will help solidify cabinetry as truly timeless.

White is a quintenssential cottage hue, which is why white cabinets work so well for the style. Pair the cabinets with vintage-inspired hardware, sweet pastels, and materials such as beaded board and wood surfaces for the ultimate in cottage style.

Even though white is simple, it fits well in elegant, showstopping kitchens. When used in tandem with detailed moldings and trimwork, glass door insets, and rich materials such as marble and stained cherrywood, white cabinets convey formality and grace.

Glaze applied to the edges, carved details, and reliefs gives white cabinets instant patina. Paneled cabinet doors, antique-inspired hardware, and details such as carved corbels, brackets, and turned legs will also turn white cabinets into old-world charmers.

Glazing and distressing say "traditional," while a high-gloss finish says "modern." The reflective surface of glossy cabinets will bounce light around the room and make the space feel bigger and lighter.

If you're concerned that white cabinet after white cabinet will turn your kitchen dull, shake it up with a bit of variety. Use glass doors in select upper cabinets, or include open shelves in your plan.

Add a little color to white cabinets with contrasting frames. To DIY this look, remove cabinet doors and paint them white. Once dry, mask off the door panels and paint the frames in your chosen color. Lighter colors work well for the frame. Once you've selected your accent color, pick a white with similar undertones for a look that will be well-blended, not jarring.

A black and white color combination is dramatic. When using the duo in a kitchen with white cabinets, keep the look from becoming theatrical by practicing restraint. Opt for black and white patterns with an organic or curvy aesthetic, rather than sharp and geometric, and use the black in small doses.

Bring a little pep to white cabinets with a colorful backsplash. White goes with almost anything, so backsplash options are wide open. Think about the look you want to create and the other elements in your kitchen, such as the floor and countertops, when selecting a backsplash color and material. With these parameters in mind, it will be easy to find something you love.

If you crave an all white look, use texture to your advantage. Subway tiles laid in a herringbone pattern or white stone with a mottled texture will add visual interest to your kitchen without breaking away from a sophisticated white scheme.

To create a new look without extensive remodeling, simply remove the doors from a few upper cabinets. Paint the interior of the cabinet boxes white, and show off eye catching dishes and accessories in your new display space.