2014 fresh house Designed by Martha O'Hara Interiors

The shared aim for design team on this specification home was to create a space that felt residential, while also encompassing a lakeside living lifestyle. goal, through the planning, building and staging processes, was to make selections that would highlight the home’s incredible lake views, while also focusing on functionality for daily, residential living while appealing to potential home buyers. Interior 

Design by : Martha O'Hara Interiors

Best Fresh Decorating Ideas to Try in 2014

Give your decor a boost with these fresh decorating ideas. You'll love these ideas to try in 2014! I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you ...... Enjoy it !!!!

What's better than one rug? Two! Layer a smaller rug on top of a larger one to add dimension to a room. In this living room, the smaller rug defines the seating group. This trick works well if you have your eye on a rug that's a little pricey. If you start with a simple, solid base rug, you can buy a smaller, less expensive rug to add the pattern you crave.

Bedding sets are easy because everything is already pulled together for you. But the overall look can sometimes lack a little pizzazz. Swap out one or two items in your bedding set for something new, such as bright blue shams that pick up on the stripe in your duvet.

For a less permanent take on a pop of color, look to pillows, which can be purchased (or made) for a song and are easy to switch out. Buy a few basic pillow forms, then buy or make new pillow covers when the itch for a new look strikes.

Bring geology into your decor. Include real geodes and agates in a vignette. Or take the less literal route and use fabric or pillows bearing geode and agate patterns.

Not just for art, this soft and gauzy technique makes a splash on everything from fabric to tableware. Try watercolor patterns that include deep colors for a strong presence.

With a light construction and a reach to lofty heights, an etagere draws a commanding presence without taking up much visual space. These towers of shelves are ideal for living rooms, bathrooms, and dining rooms and provide plenty of storage and display space.

Lauded for its warmth and sheen, gold is a must-have metal in decor. It brings both richness and coziness to a space. Try a burnished finish for a subtle look.

One unique chair paired with a desk or a sofa can make a room sing. Look for a chair that has a standout frame or eye-catching upholstery. Select a chair that will mesh with the scale and style of the rest of the furniture. This wishbone chair is the right fit for the desk but would look diminutive next to a large sofa.

Combine utilitarian and rough-hewn for an of-the-moment look. Both industrial and rustic decor imbue a utilitarian feel. Industrial style takes its inspiration from machinery, and rustic elements are drawn from rural settings. Get the look by using metals and woods with worn finishes, clean-lined furnishings, and plenty of chic gray.

Switch subjects and take a decorating cue from geography. Frame maps for wall art or decoupage pages from old atlases on a variety of surfaces. Globes also make world-class additions to displays and vignettes.

Think of your home as the museum of your life. Instead of stashing mementos in boxes, find ways to use them in your decorating. Frame memorable ephemera, put vacation souvenirs on display, and include favorite family pictures throughout the house.

For chairs that aren't pushed up against a wall or tucked into a corner, consider an unexpected treatment for the chair backs. In instances where the backs of chairs are highly visible, such as dining room chairs or armchairs that "float" in a room, a different fabric or a contrasting color adds flair.

Wallpaper is a decorating tool that is back and better than ever. Fresh colors, patterns, and textures bring wallpaper back into the spotlight as a sophisticated option for walls. For a small change, consider wallpapering just one wall in a room or the back of a bookshelf.

If you're springing for new floors, consider laying the planks on a diagonal for an unexpected twist.

Fresh Your Home With Easy Fabric Projects 2013 Ideas

Give your home decor a fresh look with this quick and easy fabric projects .
Get inspired by this ideas . I hope that you will find it useful for you ... Enjoy it !!

Breathe new life into a boring lampshade or cafe curtain with iron on transfers. Try a collage approach, as shown on the lampshade, or print the same pattern several times to create a repeat, as shown on the cafe curtain.

A collection of comfy pillows creates a tempting curl up-and relax spot. Re-create this ivory pillow by cutting a wool sweater or throw to the desired size and stitching it into a pillow cover. To prevent raveling, use a no-fray product on the edges after cutting the sweater. Insert a pillow form and hand-stitch the cover closed.

This cozy rug made from old T-shirts looks right at home in any room. Cut canvas backing into a circle. Fold edge of canvas circle under 1 inch.

With a heavy-duty needle in sewing machine and settings adjusted for heavyweight fabric, sew folded edge. Cut T-shirts into 2-inch-wide strips that are 6 inches long. Fold T-shirt strips in half lengthwise so each measures 1x6 inches. Place center of a 1x6-inch strip on canvas edge.

Sew across center of strip.

Without removing canvas from sewing machine, abut a second 1x6-inch strip against the first.

Sew across center of second strip. Continue adding and sewing strips to canvas edge until edge is covered. Continue sewing strips in concentric rings until canvas is covered. Shake rug and hand-brush strips outward.

Transport dinner guests to a coastal retreat with a table setting anchored by these pretty napkins. To get the look, combine fabric paint and water until the mixture achieves a watery consistency.

Use the paint mixture and a flat brush to paint stripes across white napkins. The color should bleed slightly to achieve a watercolor-like appearance once the paint mixture dries.

Transform an ordinary canvas slipcover with one (or more!) of these creative ideas. From a yard of colorful patterned fabric, you can fashion a seat cushion, a simple band to embellish the bottom of the slipcover, and a flower where the ties meet in the back of the chair.

To re-create the monogram, print out a letter in the font and size of your choice. Press the slipcover. Place slipcover on a work surface with a piece of cardboard between the layers. Position dressmaker's carbon paper on the slipcover according to manufacturer's instructions. Place the monogram on top of the carbon paper and use a pencil to trace it. Use a paint marker in the color of your choice to paint the monogram. Use the paint marker to embellish the perimeter of the monogram. Let dry.

The pretty petals adorning this lampshade add texture and dimension. To do it yourself, dip-dye bits of unbleached canvas drop cloth in the color(s) of your choice.

Cut 2- to 3-inch-diameter circles from the dyed cloth, fold the circles, and glue the folded circles to a lampshade. Give the shade an ombré effect by placing petals with the most saturated colors on the bottom and working your way up to the top of the shade with ever-lighter hues.

Showcase and store your favorite magazines in fabric pockets. For one fabric pocket, cover a piece of plywood with upholstery-weight linen fabric.

Fold a second piece of the same fabric and use a staple gun to secure it to the fabric-covered plywood for the pocket. Frame the piece with wood trim attached with wood glue and pin nails.

To embellish the piece, tuck ephemera, like this cute owl postcard, under the frame or clip pretty cards to the pocket edge.

Boost the style of plain glass vessels by slipping them into something more comfortable. Stretch a piece of felted sweater around the vessel, right side in. Pin for a snug fit, then remove and sew where pinned. Cut off the excess, then turn it right side out. Add embellishments, such as buttons and fabric florets, to provide texture and dimension.

A few scraps of fabric are all you need to create this three-dimensional effect. The grassy design is a fanciful layering of felt and cotton scraps that were cut into grass-blade shapes.

The first two layers are secured with fabric glue.

A single line of stitching down the middle of the top layer creates blades with a breezy texture.

When used as stamps, veggies such as celery, cabbage, and bok choy produce pretty floral shapes. Two celery stamps gave this once plain-Jane seat cover oodles of style.

To make a celery stamp, cut a celery bunch 2–3 inches from the end, then wrap tape around the end to hold the stalks together. Let the taped celery sit for 20 minutes.

Pour paint onto a paper plate.

Use a small paintbrush to paint the cut ends of the celery. To stamp, firmly press the painted ends onto the fabric seat cover, then remove them without sliding. Rpeat as needed to create your desired motif. Let dry.

Make use of old fabric scraps to create artwork that's reminiscent of a vintage quilt. Cut fabric into varying-size square or rectangular pieces. 

Lay out the pieces on a blank canvas. 

Cut and add additional squares and rectangles until you're happy with the design. 

Starting in a corner, lift a shape and apply decoupage medium to the canvas beneath it. 

Press the fabric firmly onto the canvas. Repeat for the remaining pieces. Let dry for at least 2 hours.

2013 Fresh Kitchen Decorating Update Ideas for Summer

Use these easy kitchen decorating ideas to refresh your kitchen without an extensive remodel.
I hope you’ve been inspired by these kitchen decorating ideas. Most of all, have fun and enjoy with it!

Use windows as a spot for pattern and color in a kitchen where neutrals reign. To create a coordinated look, use a fabric that has a color already found in your kitchen. The fabric on these Roman shades contains a gray similar to the cabinets. Consider using an easy to wash fabric for your treatments so you can wash them from time to time and prevent the retention of cooking odors.

Outfit your banquette or breakfast nook with an ensemble of pillows. These pretty additions will decorate the eating space when it's not in use and provide an extra layer of comfort when you are gathered around the table.

Even though a kitchen is called upon to be highly functional, that doesn't mean it can't be stylish. Display artwork like you would in a living room or bedroom. Consider vintage food or grocer signs to add collected flair, or a pretty painting for a more elegant vibe.

Turn castoff and mismatch plates into a fun display. Cruise clearance racks and thrift stores to find lone plates that share a commonality. The plates in this display all sport red designs, which unifies the display and creates a bond with the nearby red island.

Give old chairs a boost by re-covering the seats or adding new cushions. Choose a fabric that goes with other elements within the kitchen so your new addition blends seamlessly.

Kitchens typically don't have a lot of wall space, thanks to cabinetry, backsplashes, windows, and doorways. Use limited wall space as a chance to display a color you might not otherwise choose for a large wall or whole room. Here, a sable brown colors the space above the windows, which grounds the light kitchen. Also, look to the "fifth wall" of a room  the ceiling  as a place to add color with paint.

Small kitchens, especially those with U- or L-shape layouts, can accommodate an island, if it is the right size. Measure your kitchen and keep in mind that walkways around the islands should be 36 inches wide. Determine what size of island your kitchen could handle and start looking. A rustic worktable suits this kitchen's cottage style. Consider an island on wheels to make it easy to move as necessary, such as when you're serving a buffet.

Paint the insides of your cabinets for an update that will give your kitchen decorating mileage without much cost. Choose your color from an existing element in your kitchen, such as a fleck that appears in your countertops or backsplash, or a color that is featured on window treatments.

Activate the space in front of a window as bonus storage. Mount shelves in front of the window by either anchoring them to the wall or along the sides of upper cabinets. This handy solution can also block a not-so-great outside view while allowing light to come in from the window.

If you have a beloved collection of cookbooks, don't relegate them to a cabinet put them on display. The pretty covers will serve as artwork when arranged and layered facing outward on the shelves within an island. Floating shelves on the walls are also an easy display solution just make sure the shelves aren't too close to the sink or range so there isn't the risk of a book falling into soapy water or onto a hot burner.

Give a narrow galley kitchen a focal point by painting the "end" wall a bright color. A contrasting and vivid hue will draw the eye through the kitchen and make it appear longer. Consider a color that's complementary to a color already found in your kitchen. Here, a coral-orange paint is the complement to the dusty blue cabinets.

If you have a cabinet door that is irreparable, replace it with a curtain. Cut and hem a piece of fabric to size (you'll want the fabric to be wider than the door, so it can appear gathered and pleated) and sew a pocket on the top of the fabric. Place the curtain onto a tension rod and mount inside the cabinet doorway. Keep in mind that this project should not be used on cabinets near an oven or range to avoid creating a fire hazard.

Rather than going to the task of painting all of your cabinets, paint just the island for a quick kitchen pick me up. Try a bright hue or color that contrasts with the perimeter cabinets in your kitchen. Use accessories to introduce the color elsewhere in your kitchen so the island will blend with the rest of the space.

Unite adjacent areas to the kitchen by repeating a color or motif. An L-shape sofa in this sitting nook just off the kitchen picks up the blue from the kitchen's tile backsplash.

Line the back of shelves or a backsplash with beaded board to add cottage style texture to your kitchen. Paint the beaded board a fun color that matches the rest of your kitchen and be sure to finish it with a waterproof sealant if you are installing it behind or around a sink.

Fresh Christmas Colors 2012 Ideas from HGTV

Try something new this season! Decorate your home with haute holiday hues that are anything but conventional.

 By : Brian Patrick Flynn

Kelly Green + Baby Blue + White 

While kelly green is often paired with red for holiday flair, it works surprisingly well in a seasonal sense when paired with baby blue and white. The key to successfully using this color combination is the proper balance of white. With a strong white backdrop, such as a white tree or tablecloth, the color scheme often seen on beach blankets and sailboats can take on a wintry appearance.

Green + Brown 

Colors seen together in nature always work well in decorating, so don't be afraid to take a cue from Mother Nature. This is especially true when pairing brown and green, two of the most-popular earth tones used in home decor. For sophisticated simplicity, try decorating a green tree using only brown ornaments. Consider using several different shades of green for a layered, multi-toned look when decorating walls and hallways.

Violet + Brown + Bronze + White 

Make it masculine! A color combination of violet, brown, bronze and white is a great way to add manly appeal to your home this holiday season. For proper balance, stick with brown and bronze as the dominant colors, with sprinkles of violet for accent, and set it all against a white tree.

White + Brown 

White and brown is simple, elegant and gender neutral. This combination is also incredibly versatile; add a few accents of blue or red to make it masculine, or add pink for a feminine touch.

Hot Pink + Lime Green + White + Red 

During the past few years, hot pink has become a haute hue for modernist holiday decor and is often paired with silver or gold. To add a little more Yuletide pop, pair hot pink with lime green, red and white.

Turquoise + White + Parchment 

Beige as an accent color? Yep! While turquoise is often paired with jewel tones and metallics in holiday decor, pairing the jewel tone with a muted, neutral tone such as parchment is much less expected. 

This is an excellent way for colorphobes to introduce more saturated hues into their holiday decor without being overwhelmed.

White + Gold 

Since the days when frankincense and myrrh were acceptable holiday gifts, gold has been commonly paired with silver and/or violet. To put a contemporary spin on this classic color, consider pairing gold with white. The juxtaposition of gold's warm undertones and white's coolness strikes the perfect balance.

Bubblegum Pink + Purple 

Bubblegum can be used for something other than a dentist's worst nightmare of a stocking stuffer. 

Lovers of retro and kitsch can put a regal spin on the nostalgic 1950s tone by using bubblegum pink as the dominant color toned down with the dark richness of purple.

Robin's-Egg Blue + Red + White 

Midcentury modernists can add vintage flair this holiday season with a color scheme of robin's-egg blue, red and white. In the 1950s, decorators paired robin's-egg blue with olive green and/or red orange. 

By pairing the hue with red and white, the beloved color takes on an entirely new identity as a contemporary holiday classic.

Teal + Red + White 

Thanks in part to candy canes and Kriss Kringle's wardrobe, red and white is one of the most iconic holiday color combinations; depending on how you pair it, though, the classic combo can be totally fresh and fun. Consider using teal as your dominant color this holiday season, with traces of red and white as accents.

Parchment + White 

Neutrals are a safe bet in interior design, and they can work just as well for holiday decorating. 

For understated elegance, consider pairing white with parchment. 

This less is more approach is timeless and easily adaptable.

Parchment + White 

Design tip: For greater dimension, throw a metallic into the mix whether it's silver, gold or bronze. 

The introduction of the metallic will help break up the tone on tone appeal and add layered depth to the overall color scheme.