Dream Home Decorating Blog

Bedroom Color Ideas

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:42:00 GMT

What color goes with ....? Bedroom color ideas that work (Reader Questions)

Neutral Colors For A Living Room - How Many Is Too Many?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:37:31 GMT

Cherry, Oak, Porcini & Chocolate ... how do I get all these to work together?

Color Decorating Ideas For A French Cheese Shop

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:23:44 GMT

What color decorating ideas would work for a French cheese shop in an indoor market? (Reader Question).

Exterior Paint Color Ideas For An Entrance

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:34:39 GMT

I have an orangish color brick house - do you have exterior paint color ideas that would make my front door 'pop'? (Reader Question)

A Tuscan Color Palette For Our House

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:29:09 GMT

Would you suggest a Tuscan color palette for our house? (Reader Question).

Hair Salon Color

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:17:19 GMT

What colors would work for a hair salon? (Reader Question)

Bathroom Color Ideas With Blue: Readers' Questions

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:40:17 GMT

Bathroom color ideas around the 'blue' theme: Questions/Answers

Pastel Color Schemes - "Old Lady" Colors?

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:02:05 GMT

Are pastel color schemes out of date?

Colors To Paint A Room - Your Most Important Color Question

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:02:04 GMT

Stumped for color decorating ideas? Ask your most burning question about colors to paint a room.

Paint Colors For A Living Room With Natural Wood

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:02:04 GMT

How to match paint colors for a living room with natural pine walls, and add the right curtain color.

Colors For A Living Room Floor

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:02:03 GMT

How to get the colors for your living room floor exactly right.

Wall Color Ideas

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:40:05 GMT

How to avoid the crayon box explosion: Wall color ideas for a 'natural' look.

Room Color Schemes

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:02:58 GMT

Great room color schemes create instant flair. For inspired, feel-good rooms, check out these ideas for home decorating with color!

Interior Paint Color Ideas

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:34:19 GMT

How to turn paint color ideas into room color schemes that work. With photos and full-color illustrations.

Warm And Cool Colors

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:44:35 GMT

How to combine warm and cool colors and create stunning color schemes. (There is more to this than most people think!)

Monochromatic Color Scheme: Tips & Tricks

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:48:16 GMT

How to create a monochromatic color scheme: Ideas for a monochromatic room.

A Primary Color Wheel

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:17:02 GMT

Learn how the primary color wheel works: Mix 3 primary colors (or four) into 'eye-candy' color schemes.

Dream Home News 2010

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:41:47 GMT

Happy New Year!

Check your inbox for the latest edition of Dream Home News:

Learn 7 Ways To Freshen Up Your Home on a shoestring -
Read up on the interior design Style Of The Moment -
Study Hip Hotel Color Schemes from Europe.

Enjoy!

Dream Home News, November Edition

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:39:37 GMT

What Color Goes With ...?

Check your inbox for the latest edition of Dream Home Decorating News!
It contains ...

a) Part 2 of the Color Course sneak preview
b) an inspiring list of color groups that go beautifully together
c) a rather cool Reader's Question, and
d) a bit of chatty site news!

Enjoy!

Interior Decorating Seminar in Hobart, Tasmania!

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:38:01 GMT

Just thought I'd let you know:

If you're in or near Hobart on Saturday, September 5, 2009, I'll be teaching a seminar about Decorating With Neutral Colours at the Home Ideas Centre, 309 Liverpool Street, 12.30-3.30pm. Cost is 45AUD and includes most materials, tea/coffee, sweets.

Expect loads of fun, inspiration, creativity and useful results you can take home with you!

To register, call Wanasai Hunn on +61 (0) 41739 1114, or e-mail her at wanasai@bigpond.com.

Sneak Preview Now in Your Inbox!

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:57:52 GMT

The latest edition of Dream Home News has just gone out - so have a look at your first sneak preview of The Color Course. Enjoy!

Color Course Sneak Preview!

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:03:39 GMT

Remember to check your inbox on September 1 for the new issue of Dream Home News, and download a sneak preview of The Color Course!

Free Decorating Ideas & Free Home Decorating Books

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:09:35 GMT

FREE decorating ideas and free home decorating books: Download your free e-book and learn how to use simple color tricks to create great rooms.

Download your free e-book: Stylish Neutrals

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:38:45 GMT

Check your inbox for the July issue of Dream Home News, and download a special gift.

Free E-Book on July 1

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:41:48 GMT

The next Dream Home News (due out July 1, 2009) will come with a link to download a free, information-packed, plentifully illustrated e-book about creating stylish neutral color schemes (Know The Rules, And Use Them With Gusto!)

The download link will be active for a short time only, and the book will only ever be available to my e-zine subscribers.

So if you're on my subscriber list, do make sure you download your copy on, or shortly after, July 1!

If you would like to receive the e-book but are not on my subscriber list, you can subscribe here.

Ask a color question!

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:31:17 GMT

Ask your most burning question(s) about color schemes for your home!

Choosing Paint Color

Wed, 13 May 2009 12:23:33 GMT

An illustrated guide to choosing paint color: How to make sure you get it right the first time!

Decorating With Toile

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:51:23 GMT

Decorating with Toile de Jouy: 40+ French country decorating ideas with a touch of luxury.

Exterior Window Treatments: Ideas from Tuscany and Northern Italy

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:24:11 GMT

Pictures of exterior window treatments from Italy, to inspire you with easy-to-copy ideas for a rich, warm Mediterranean look.

Tuscan Window Treatments

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:46:47 GMT

Pictures of window treatments from Tuscany: Easy-to-copy, inexpensive, original Tuscan window treatments for your Mediterranean style home.

Tuscan Dinnerware

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:47:06 GMT

Original Tuscan dinnerware comes in a variety of styles and colors. Choose between rustic Italian earthenware crockery, colorful handpainted majolica tableware and elegant bone china.

Free Homemade Gift Ideas

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:33:18 GMT

A collection of free homemade gift ideas for easy-to-make, inexpensive, homemade holiday gifts. Because it's the you-niqueness that counts.

Monogram Gift Ideas

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:54:11 GMT

Unique monogram gift ideas that you won't find in the shops!

Hardly An Interior Decorating Book ...

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:08:19 GMT

Steve Pavlina's Personal Development For Smart People is no interior decorating book, but it offers an interesting approach that will impact your home for sure. Here's how it works.

New Book Review

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:11:50 GMT

A new review has just been added to the interior decorating book report: Dylan Landis, Elegant and Easy Rooms.

Interior Decorating Book Report

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:07:55 GMT

I want to share a few favorites from my interior decorating book collection with you; some skinny paperbacks and some fat tomes that I open again and again for inspiration, advice and ideas.

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Inspiration and Unique Christmas Presents

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:42:47 GMT

ORIGIN (it used to be the Chelsea Crafts Fair until two years ago) is the one contemporary craft event in London that I never, ever miss. And just in case you happen to be in or near London between October 7 and 19, I very much recommend you go, too.

The 300 designer craftspeople who exhibit their most recent work here have been handpicked from among many hundreds of applicants. Without exception, the work shown is of extremely high quality fresh, original, sometimes quirky, and always beautifully executed. Prices are moderate, considering that you can get original, one-of-a-kind pieces that will never see the inside of a high street shop unless you take them in there.

You can find ceramics, jewelry, fashion/textiles and knitwear, silver and fine metals, glass, paper and books, interior accessories and textiles, wood, furniture, and toys. I remember overhearing a visitor from the USA last year, carrying several bags and telling someone on her cellphone that she'd just done all her Christmas shopping in one go "and I didn't even know this show existed I just stumbled into it between museum visits!"

Well, now you know about it, too. Who knows, maybe we'll meet there!

ORIGIN, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA.

Week 1: 7-12 October 2008.
Week 2: 14-19 October 2008
Closed Monday, 13 October for exhibition changeover.

Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Friday 11am-7pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm

Ticket prices:
Single ticket 8 (6 concessions); One visit each week 12 (10 concessions); Unlimited entry 15. Illustrated catalog included in the price of admission.
(Some makers are unable to take credit card payments, so do remember to bring your checkbook)

For more information, go to www.craftscouncil.org.uk.

Oh, and my friend Sonia Guzzo, who provided the checklist for Italian Country Decorating, is exhibiting at ORIGIN, too. Week One. Stand M8. Just thought I'd let you know!

If you like 20th century and contemporary interiors, check this out!

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:04:15 GMT

TENT London, Sept 18-21, might be an interesting event for you even if you're not going to be anywhere near London on these dates. For example, if you're looking for information on what's available in modernist and contemporary interiors, who's in the market selling it, and where to contact these people, check the show's online directory for dealer information.

TENT is composed of several shows under one roof:

CIRCA has antique and specialist dealers (mainly from the UK, a few from mainland Europe) selling all manner of furniture, lighting, wall art, textiles, and interior objects from the following periods:

arts & crafts
art deco
modernist
post-war
mid-century
1960s/70s, retro and vintage

From reading the dealer information, it seems to me that the emphasis is on modernist and mid-century architect-designed furniture. So you will be able to pick up Scandinavian classics (e.g. Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Verner Panton, Alvar Aalto), or furniture by Charles & Ray Eames, Joe Colombo, and John & Sylvia Reid, but also rare vintage posters, Lucienne Day textiles, or Midwinter ceramics, to name but a few.

CONTENT promises cutting-edge furniture, lighting, digital media, ceramics and textiles, materials and accessories.

TALENT ZONE focuses on a small number of handpicked recent design graduates showing furniture and interior design objects.

YOUR SPACE is very small and contains a few installations and 'micro-shows' by different businesses.

I have not seen this show before, so I cannot actually recommend it. I just wanted to make sure you know about it, in case you're interested in 20th century and contemporary interiors. Click here for more information.

For some ideas on how to put contemporary interiors together, please click on the 'permalink' below:

Dream Home News in Your Inbox

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:04:46 GMT

The September edition of Dream Home News (the Summer Holidays Hangover Issue) will arrive in your inbox tomorrow, 1st September 2008. Enjoy!

Top 10 Interior Decorating Tips

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:17:17 GMT

Each one of these interior decorating tips will make a tangible difference to your space. Use them all and your home may well change your life!

Tuscan Style Decorating for Bedrooms (Part II: Create the Look)

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:39:53 GMT

Tuscan style decorating made easy: photos of bedrooms in original Tuscan interiors, ideas and accessories that will help you create a Tuscan look for your home.

Tuscan Decorating Style for Bedrooms (Part I: Traditional/Rustic)

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:36:51 GMT

Pictures of authentic Italian farmhouse bedrooms in traditional Tuscan decorating style, to inspire you with ideas for creating your own version of Tuscan interiors.

Tuscan Decorating Style Secrets

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:18:36 GMT

Get inspired by these authentic Tuscan interiors, and learn how to create your own Tuscan decorating style.

Tuscan Colors, Inside & Out

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:14:05 GMT

Authentic examples of Tuscan colors: How to create a color scheme that reflects the warmth, ease and welcome of Tuscan interiors.

Window Treatment Ideas

Tue, 27 May 2008 15:39:34 GMT

Browse through these window treatment ideas and find the inspiration your home is looking for.

French Country Curtains

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:53:51 GMT

French country curtains are pieces of fabric with attitude ... learn how to create windows with a French accent!

French Country Decor on a Shoestring

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:01:24 GMT

9 ways to create a home with a French accent, on a budget: French country decor that wont break the bank.

French Country Decorating in Color

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:00:04 GMT

Here is a selection of color scheme ideas for French Country Decorating. Full-on or subtle, you choose!

French Country Kitchens

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:25:28 GMT

French country kitchens are more about the cook than about the look. But you can have it all: here are a few simple tricks to get the look right, too.

Swiss Country Decorating

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:33:54 GMT

Swiss country decorating is understated and quietly beautiful. Here's an original Swiss checklist for country interiors.