Joy to the Home

Stuck in your home?

2008-01-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

It's an open secret. The American economy is in trouble, and President Bush acknowledged that fact by unveiling a $150 billion economic stimulus package recently. However, that package contains no provisions for raising the $417,000 conforming loan limit to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin purchasing so-called jumbo loans.

The main thrust of the president's plan is to try to stimulate economic growth through about $100 billion in relief tax cuts and incentives for individuals, families, and businesses. No specific mention was made about trying to revive the country’s sagging real markets or the intensely troubled mortgage lending industry. Disagreements within Congress have continued to hinder the progress of legislation that would allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to be able to purchase larger loans, as well.

As far as trying to bolster the housing market, the Bush administration has concentrated its efforts on FHASecure, which a new FHA loan guarantee program that would allow some delinquent borrowers who have adjustable-rate mortgages to refinance using fixed-rate loans, and a voluntary program they can Hope Now, which encourages lenders to work with borrowers in creative ways to refinance or restructure their loans rather than moving forward with the foreclosure process. However, some critics of the plan contend that neither one of those programs will provide any real help to the nearly two million American homeowners who are facing foreclosure, especially in light of the fact that home prices are declining in many areas of the country.

The Mortgage Bankers Association recently estimated that some 384,000 loans are currently in some stage of foreclosure, although many of those loans don’t cover owner occupied real estate. There is some good news, though. The MBA also reported that some 54,000 loans were restructured during the third quarter of 2007 and another 183,000 were modified to establish repayment plans that would allow homeowners to stay in their houses.

The real estate crunch is far from over, however. The National Association of Realtors recently suggested that any stimulus package passed by Congress needs to include an increase in the conforming loan limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac if the country’s housing market is to recover any time soon. According to the NAR, simply raising the conforming loan limit to $625,000 would reduce the supply of homes on the market within a couple months, would strengthen home prices by at least two percentage points, and could increase real estate activity by more than $40 billion. The NAR also stated that raising those conforming loan limits could reduce foreclosures by as many as 210,000 in a relatively short time.

It’s yet to be determined if the Bush package will be amended to reflect those suggestions. As of this moment, there is no such wording in the plan.

Fix up the home you're living in with Seven Secrets to Glorious Home Design at Residential Design Guide

Question about boring walls

2007-11-13T11:49:00.002-08:00

Jeanie asked me what to do with her boring two story living room walls. Some many newer homes have gigantic living room height with a small footprint. It seems the developers wanted the rooms to feel spacious when in reality the rooms don't use up a lot of precious land.

It's good to keep housing cost down and to give a room that feel large. However, so many of these spaces feel just plain boring and even too cold.

One solution, paint, offers color to compensate for architectural detail. It's just so hard to paint these spaces! You must get over any fear of heights and be able to stand on a ladder for hours or have enough money to pay a professional. Unfortunately, too many homeowners bought these houses and got in over their heads with the mortgages. This leaves little left for making the home feel emotionally warm, especially in the coming cold weather.

Another solution is faux wood beams. You can get lightweight imitation beams and attach them to your walls with a little help. This doesn't take as long as painting and cutting in and can cost about the same. You can faux finish the beams before you hang them.

Many faux art and decorative paint finishes can also help you transform your blah rooms. See Flip That House with FAUX for great home improvement on a budget ideas.

Joy,

Jeanette

P. S. My new book compares Aimee's Castle and Scotty's Castle to ancient art. See Residential Design Guide.

Comparing Castles

2007-11-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

Does Aimee Semple McPherson's getawayhome in Lake Elsinore remind you of millionaire Johnson's desert retreat, better known as Scotty's Castle?

Both homes were built by eccentrics who didn't care what other people thought. I added at least 20 pages of color photographs of the extraordinary interior design found in Aimee's Castle and in Scotty's Castle to Seven Secrets to Glorious Home Design. You can get the ebook for a fraction of the cost of the print book at Residential Design Guide. The copy editor just sent a few typos back to me and the book goes to print Monday.

Dream a little about your castle design.

Jeanette

Home Tours

2007-10-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

I loved seeing the changes made to Aimee's Castle in Lake Elsinore.

Today, The City of Orange hosts a walking tour of historic homes.

Enjoy!

Jeanette

What do you think is the most important design element?

2007-10-26T08:52:00.001-07:00

After finishing my last book about our Flip That House project benefitting Habitat for Humanity, I got inspired by faux art in Aimee Semple McPherson's and Albert Johson's castles.

Adding faux art to interior design psychology brings a new dimension to home design. I asked my friends and collegues the question, "What do you think is the most important design element?" They all got it wrong. You can see a couple of answers on my Facebook page. Add yourself as a friend and answer my question. Jeanette's question.

This book, started on Monday with shower musings, is 105 pages so far with all color pictures.

Joy!

Jeanette

Faux Art Extremes

2007-10-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

It seems that faux art is not limited to interior design.

We're building a new website for art cars. If you have an art car to share, please email me a photo and I'll post your information free on Art Car Show.

Joy of Art in Flip

2007-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Photographer Ed Crisostomo captured the joy essence of mural artist Kim Schaffer in this photo.

See more about the story:

Video:
http://www.pe.com/video/southwest-index.html?nvid=179302

Podcast and story:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mural29.3d55bdb.html#

More about Flip That House with Fishers

(I was told the show will be on at 9:30 tonight.- Jeanette)

It's Time to Get the Fireplace Ready

2007-09-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Turn your ordinary fireplace into an outstanding home feature in time for the holidays.

Evan Dahlke, professional faux finisher and fine carpenter, resurfaced the fireplace in our Faux Flip as seen on Flip That House.

Former Fisher home in Florida

Kim Schaffer, expert decorative mural artist, also knows faux finishes for fireplaces.

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-09-21T10:17:00.001-07:00

Update Your Walls with Ragging

2007-09-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

Adding a faux finish can add drama and interest to any wall in any room, and ragging is a technique you can easily use to transform the look of a room. Ragging lends a textured effect to a wall while still allowing your chosen background color to show through.

First you'll want to choose your colors. There are no hard-and-fast rules here. You can choose colors that are relatively close on the color wheel or you can choose any combination of colors that you think will be pleasing to you and will create the effect you're hoping to achieve. The more radical the color difference, the more bold your ragging statement will be.

Once you've finishing painting your wall with your base coat, let it dry completely. This will generally take about twenty-four hours, but once it's dry, you're ready to begin ragging the top coat.

Wearing a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands from getting coated, start by dipping your lint-free rag into your top coat, which will be composed of a four-to-one mixture of glaze and the color of your choice. As you work, don't forget to stir the glaze/paint mixture occasionally, because it will have a tendency to separate as time goes by.

Squeeze out the excess paint and then open your rag completely to evenly distribute the mixture before loosely crumpling it again. Start at the top corner of the wall and press your rag down gently. Work in an area of about one square yard before moving on. As you move along, uncrumple your rag from time to time to vary the pattern. Remember, this is a unique work of art you're creating. You don't want it to look like wallpaper.

After you've recrumpled the rag several times, repeat the process of dipping, opening and recrumpling your rag, and dabbing paint onto the wall until you've finished the entire surface. If you're doing several walls, you'll get the best results if you work on opposite walls first. Take a few steps back from time to time to check the uniformity of your ragging texture.

For a crisper texture, you can use a polyester rag instead of a cotton one. Plastic grocery bags also give a rougher texture. Regardless of which type of rag you choose, the key to a great-looking wall is to take your time and strive to achieve a random, yet uniform texture across the entire surface. It's not an expensive remodeling technique and it will take time to do, but with patience, you can dramatically change the look of a room by giving it a unique texture--one that you can proudly tell your guests you created yourself!

For professional decorative wall finishes, take a look at the Faux Artists who worked on the Habitat for Humanity project on Flip That House

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette Fisher

FENG SHUI & GREEN DESIGN

2007-09-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

Best Show of the Year

International Conscious Design Conference & Expo
September 27 -28-29-30 2007 -Sheraton Hotel - Parsippany New Jersey

Join us to learn about creating beautiful, empowering and healthy space!
This event will feature the latest in : Green Design, Feng Shui, Architecture, Interior Design, Sustainable Living, Garden & Landscape, City *& Neighborhood Planning, Healthy Homes-Schools-Medical facilities and Commercial Space, Real Estate, and lots more ! Our vision is to connect with people from around the world that are interested in creating beautiful, healthy, empowering homes, schools and offices.

The 2007 International Conscious Design Conference & Expo will be held from September 28 - 30th at the beautiful Parsippany Sheraton, 199 Smith Road, Parsippany, NJ. The Sheraton offers discounted conference rates, beautiful ambiance, delicious food, and we are very proud to say that the Sheraton has been a leader in incorporating green renovations and energy efficiency. The hotel features a fuel cell, full recycling program, and incorporates energy strategies at every opportunity, rated in the top ten by Energuard.

Celebrity Spotlight : Meet Dan Schachner, host of the hit show Curb Appeal broadcast on the Home and Garden Television (HGTV) network. On Saturday, September 29, 2007, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Dan will be on hand to sign autographs, answer questions and say hello.

Learn Clay Wall Techniques from Anita Turner of New Mexico. Anita uses American Clay, a natural green clay to create beautiful walls: Clay walls have been called “living walls”.

Curious about a Straw Bale House? Come and see for yourself, as expert Ron Horning has
created a special exhibit for you, and will explain the fantastic benefits to building with strawbale.

The fantastic Labyrinth Walk will take place on Saturday evening for conference attendees.
Joachim Becker of the NJ Labyrinth project will guide you through this ancient walk.

Learn how the American Institute of Architects and the ASID are bringing green and healing design into mainstream America. Mark Biedron, Founder of the Willow School in Bedminster will discuss the benefits of building healthy schools. Alex Stark, renowned fengshui designer will talk about healthy design for the health care industry.

Learn about Real estate from the Real Estate Queen: Holly Ziegler Holly has written top selling books on the feng shui secrets to successful real estate sales. If you love real estate and HGTV home and garden shows, remember to stop by and meet Dan Schachner of Curb Appeal on Satuday.

And so much more: World experts, fantastic exhibitors, an unforgettable experience.

Special Focus Day – Thursday Sept 27 1:30-4:30 -Focus day features 6 fabulous teachers in a pre-conference workshop intensive format. These classes cost $99.00 : Color Alchemy, Empowerment in the Office, Sacred Architecture, Sound Healing, Feng Shui Basics, and the Healthy House.

Conference Highlights -World Renowned Speakers

* Trade Show - Over 100 Vendors
* Lectures- Workshops- Classes
* Book signings
* Meet the Manufacturers – Forum Presentation Room
* Green/Fengshui Designers and Architects
* Healing Garden - Massage & Stress Relief
* Professional Organizations making a difference
* Door Prizes and Gifts
* Labyrinth
* Delicious Medieval Benefit Dinner at the Castle - for Habitat for Humanity
* Hands on Exhibits – Art – Furniture Arrangement – Interactive Displays

Organizations and Partners
AIA – American Institute of Architects NS - Conscious Design Magazine - IFSG- International Feng Shui Guild - Morris Habitat for Humanity -ASID – Interior Design -IBE- International Institute of Bau-Biologie & Ecology -Community Green -Holistic Moms Network -Emy Louie Radio Show - Ridge & Valley Alliance –Institute for Sustainable Enterprise –Fairleigh Dickinson, and more.

Scheduled topics include Green Design guidelines and case studies, Bau-Biologie, City Planning, Feng Shui from beginning through advanced, Real Estate Tips, Color, Shape & Sound, Sacred Geometry, Clutter Clearing, Healthy Schools, Health Facility Design, Interior Design for both professionals and the public, Sustainable Building and Architecture.

Registration is easy : Call us, Fax in a registration form or Register online at www.ConsciousDesignExpo.com

Phone 888-459-1020
Thank you for joining us in this healthy home event.

Mural Artist Inspired by Bamboo Women

2007-08-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

Mural in Main Bedroom of the Faux Flip

Mural artist Kim Schaffer, inspired by the Bamboo Women community, created a Bamboo Woman Tea Room and added a bamboo mural to the main bedroom in the Habitat for Humanity project house featured on Flip That House.

Bamboo Women learn how to soar like the hardy bamboo plant. Many bamboos percolate under the soil for years. With nourishment or protection, bamboo breaks through hard-packed earth and sprouts to six feet or more in sixty days. Women who need business plans or simply plans of action to achieve a goal come together to support each other. For more information about the new community, please see BambooWomen.com.

Kim's incredible artistic talent is showcased in most rooms at the Faux Flip. Before becoming a stay at home mom and a part-time faux artist, Kim taught school. There isn’t a room in the house that Kim didn’t help work on. She even hand painted a design on the pool deck to mimic the intricate Modello Designs (Custom Stencil Pattern for Faux Finishing) applied to the pool floor!

Visit Kim's website and see her incredible custom decorative murals and then check out the other faux artists who helped a home come alive with love.

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette J. Fisher

Home & Garden Tour

2007-05-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

Old Town Tustin's
Annual Promenade
Home & Garden Tour
Saturday, May 19th from 9 am to 4 pm.

Tickets and information: Tustin History

Send your home and garden tour announcements to Jeanette:
Home Decorating Interior Design Ideas

Joy to the Home Journal, April | Why Faux?

2007-04-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I hope you are enjoying spring.

We're feeling refreshed this spring with a sense of renewal. Faux artist and author Adrienne van Dooren has given me fresh inspiration to complete our Habitat for Humanity project for the TV show Flip That House.

After my husband Brian passed on, I was painting the bedrooms in the fixer by myself and feeling miserable. Today, I'm receiving love and support from volunteer artists and local businesses. Adrienne, who just happened to also support Habitat for Humanity with a book, gathered faux artists to help me take our project to a new level.

New York artist Arlene Mcloughlin is painting a ceiling mural for our faux flip. (In the picture, she's painting a different ceiling.)

Why Faux?
You've heard of wi-fi? Well, in this article, we're going to talk about why Faux is becoming a hot trend in home remodeling. Faux finishes can make a dramatic change in the look and feel of a house, and the possibilities for using faux techniques are virtually endless. Read about Faux Art.

Past articles from Joy to the Home Journal posted on the main website:
Do You Want to Become an Interior Designer?

Why You Might Want to Decorate Yourself/What is an interior decorator?

Interior Designers' Ideas Help You with Home Decorating Gain Inspiration from the Great Interior Designers
Elsie de Wolfe's Interior Design Philosophy and Style

Dorothy Draper, the Martha Stewart of her day

Mario Buatta: Five Interior Design Philosophies Help Homemakers

Residential Design Guide Features articles on Ranch, Tudor, and Green Styles

Joy to your home,

Jeanette Fisher
America's "Dream Home" Maker
Joy to the Home, Design Psychology
Homes for glorious living and top-dollar sales

Flip That House with FAUX for Habitat for Humanity Project

Faux Art for you:
Book by Adrienne van Dooren: Faux House gives you inspiration to redesign one corner, a room, or an entire house. Plus, you get to help Katrina victims. Enjoy!

Faux classes and supplies in Southern California: FauxMasters

Faux Contractor in Temecula Valley: Mark Mason can take out walls, build an arch, and then faux it.

Arlene Mcloughlin Murals

Healing Homes

2007-01-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

I was interviewed weeks ago by Anndee Hochman for an article that appeared today in the Philadelphia Inquirer. I had forgotten about the interview. What surprised me is the topic of healing. After the interview, my husband died suddenly and I now have a deeper understanding for the healing power of home. I'm adding a chapter to the upcoming book Joy to the Home®.

"Designers are learning that the way you decorate and furnish your home reflects who you are inside - and can change you." - Anndee Hochman

* Soothing touches for your home Philadelphia Inquirer

Jeanette Fisher
Joy to the Home®

Gain Inspiration from the Great Interior Designers

2006-11-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

Elsie de Wolfe's Interior Design Philosophy and Style
Elsie de Wolfe invented the interior design profession and wrote the first great decorating book. Take the interior design philosophy of de Wolfe who said, "I opened the doors and windows of America and let the air and sunshine in." Some of her home decorating touches include: Elsie de Wolfe Interior Design Ideas

Dorothy Draper, the Martha Stewart of her day, offered home decorating tips on a wide variety of issues to her eager readers. Founder of the oldest established interior design firm, Draper's interior design ideas favored exuberant and bold colors and patterns. Dorothy Draper Interior Design Ideas

Mario Buatta: Five Interior Design Philosophies Help Homemakers
Mario developed his own unique design philosophy, and has become most famous for a style he calls "the undecorated look," in which he tries to provide a comfortable atmosphere within a carefully blended combination of contemporary and antique furnishings. Mario Buatta Interior Design Ideas

Do YOU want to Become an Interior Designer?

Green Building Demand for Homes

2006-10-31T13:27:00.000-08:00

Green building continues to gain momentum every year as demand grows and builders begin to focus on filling that demand. Going green no longer means geodesic domes or strange-looking houses, owned by staunch environmentalists. Green has become more and more mainstream over the past several decades, until a sizable number of new homes contain at least some green features. Green Building Demands

Americans will spend close to two billion dollars on home remodeling projects this year. Few home owners will consider preservation of natural resources when they choose building materials for their home makeovers. Green Remodeling

If you're old enough, you can remember when the concept of green building was considered to be just a strange notion held only by tree huggers and other members of the environmental lunatics. However, that's no longer the case, and green building is one of the hottest trends in America today, so much so that it's considered unusual NOT to have at least some environmentally friendly and energy efficient components in new construction. Residential Design Guide - Green Building

Spec builders focus more on filling new home buyer's demand for green building features. Spec Builder Green Building Tips

Halloween FUN!

2006-10-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

Decorate your home with something different! ANd FUN! A roll-up carnival mirror for only $27. Order today for your Halloween party: Fun House Mirrors.

Halloween can be a wonderful time for decorating, since it's so different from any other holiday, and it has really taken off as a chance to let people's imaginations run wild over the past few years. Here are a few ideas for adding some spooky Halloween spirit to your home:

FUN Halloween Decorating Ideas

Halloween Decorating Ideas

2006-10-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Halloween is a uniquely special time of year, regardless of whether you're a kid or just a kid at heart. It's a holiday time that offers lots of wonderful opportunities to decorate your home creatively, since the subject matter is different from any other holiday. If you're thinking about decorating your porch and yard for the spookiest night of the year, you can do it without having to spend a lot of money. Here are a few low-cost ideas for showing your Halloween spirit to the world:

Low-Cost Halloween Decorating Ideas

Pumpkin Dream Home

2006-10-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

What's your dream home look like?

Learn how to decorate for fall and winter. Turn your current home into your fantasy dream home! Free home interior design teleseminars and decorating tips.

Home Decorating Interior Design Ideas

Redecorating Your Guest Bathroom

2006-09-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Remodeling Powder Rooms for Maximum Effect on Visitors

Remodeling or redecorating your powder room, which is the bathroom your guests will most often see (as opposed to your master bathroom, which is strictly for you) takes some thought and careful planning in order to create a strong positive impression on visitors to your home. Here are a few tips to bear in mind as you go about creating an impressive powder room. Remodeling Powder Rooms

Master Bedroom Makeover Teleseminar

2006-09-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 10 at 6 PM Pacific 9 PM Eastern

How does you bedroom make you feel?

Have you redone your bedroom but still feel that its missing something?

Do you stay up too late because you don't want to go to bed?

What difference would a bedroom designed for happiness make in your life?

Learn why the bedroom, which is the last room on most home decorators list, may be the most important room in your home!

What is the purpose of your bedroom?

* Romantic Getaway?

* Reading Hideaway?

* Sleeping Sanctuary?

Send me your home decorating questions about making your bedroom support your emotional needs.

I'll share pictures of a romantic getaway bedroom created for under $500.

Get Maria's conference call details.

Jeanette Fisher, America's "Dream Home" Maker

Remodeling a Powder Room Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

2006-08-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

by Jeanette Fisher

The typical powder room, that half bath in your home with just a sink, toilet, and mirror, only averages about four-by-five feet, yet even though it's generally the smallest room in the home, your powder room can create a powerful impression on guests. In fact, given its small size and the amount of use it gets, especially when you're entertaining, your powder room may actually be the most valuable square footage in your home.

The nice thing about having your powder room small is that it can be the least expensive room in your house to dramatically make over. There just isn't that much to change, but upgrading can make a huge difference in the impact your powder room can have on visitors. Here are a few suggestions for remodeling your powder room.

One of the least expensive and quickest things you can do is to change the color of the walls. Deep, lush colors can make a more impressive impact than gentle pastels. Earth tones have also been showing a strong trend recently. The idea is to create a strong impression, and nothing can do that better than bold colors.

Another hot trend has been to add vessel-style sinks to the powder room. They come in an incredible variety of styles, and you're bound to find one that suits your taste and budget. You'll be able to choose among a number of materials and textures, as well, including porcelain, glass, bronze, ceramic, and stainless steel.

If you're looking at a new sink, don't forget to pay special attention to the faucet that will be attached to it. The right faucet can make a huge difference in the overall impact of a powder room. Like sinks, you'll find a wide variety of faucets to choose from, and tying the faucet and sink together is an important part establishing a decorating theme for your powder room.

When it comes to choosing a toilet, give careful consideration to a one-piece style. A stylist one-piece toilet can lend your powder room a furnished feel, rather than simply being a necessary piece of plumbing. Your local home improvement center will offer lots of different colors and designs, so you're bound to find one that will help create the overall impression you're trying to make in your powder room. One-piece toilets have the added benefit of using considerably less water, as well, and they're quieter when flushed, which most of your guests will appreciate.

When addressing the splash section behind the sink, you'll find that slate gives a warmer impression than ceramic tile. Slate can also be integrated with granite or quartz countertops to create a lush feeling without giving the impression of being too showy.

The floor is always a remodeling consideration, too, and the recent trend has been to employ hardwood or shiny surfaces like granite or marble to give the powder room a bit more of a plush, luxurious feel. You can also use radiant heat beneath a ceramic tile or slate floor to eliminate the need for a secondary heat source.

The easiest way to add the illusion of space is with a new mirror, especially if you have an old small medicine chest above the sink -- the type with a stainless steal frame. These old-fashioned medicine cabinets really date a home. Replace with a mirror spanning the wall all the way up to the ceiling. Or, look for an extra large framed mirror and paint the frame to match your décor.

Remodeling a powder room doesn't have to be expensive, but since it's such a small room, you can often incorporate more expensive materials and features than you'd be able to do in one of the larger rooms in your home. This will allow you to impress your guests with your taste and your willingness to be a gracious host.

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Free Home Decorating Interior Design Ideas

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Bathroom Remodeling Designs

2006-06-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

It seems as if bathrooms have undergone more radical changes than any other room in the modern home over the past few years. In fact, it's been less than a century since bathrooms were first brought inside of the home, and since that time, their evolution has been ongoing. Modern bathrooms bear little resemblance to their utilitarian counterparts of bygone days.

Modern bathrooms mix elegant, romantic, and dramatic elements that combine to create a relaxing, inviting, and comfortable atmosphere. For instance, you can add soft enchantment to your lighting scheme through the use of chandeliers or lights with dimmer switches to create the exact atmosphere that fits your mood.

Sinks have also become more elegant, and come in an infinite variety of styles and shapes. Whether you hang them from a wall, mount them in a countertop, or allow them to be freestanding on top of a pedestal, your bathroom sink can be both a work of art and a reflection of your lifestyle and taste, setting the mood for your temporary getaway from the cares of the world.

There's even a trend in today's decorating schemes to bring outdoor elements into the bathroom. For instance, bathrooms are enhanced with something as simple as the soothing sounds of a gurgling water fountain or something as elaborate as an atrium garden or even a small stream. At the very least, large windows can allow expansive views of the outdoors, whether it's a panoramic view or a private garden. Adding such elements can blur the line between "indoors" and "outdoors" and can provide a wonderful sense of peace and tranquility.

Tubs and showers have also gone through a considerable evolution. There's an increasing trend toward oversized tubs equipped with spa jets to add a greater sense of relaxation and enjoyment. For taller folks, tubs are also getting longer--some of them are up to 75 inches long! You also have a much wider variety of showers to choose from, including some that combine standard shower heads with pulsating heads, hand showers, and body sprays. Just as with sinks and tubs, your choices are endless, depending upon your taste.

A number of relatively new innovations are also becoming more popular in today's bathrooms, such as towel drawers that can be heated, so you can reach for a warm towel when you step out of the shower on a frosty winter night. Although television has been available in many bathrooms for some time, you can now install a TV behind a special wall-mounted mirror. The mirror looks like any ordinary mirror until the bathroom lights are dimmed and the TV is turned on. Only then can the television be seen--a great way to hide modern technology when it's not in use.

Bathrooms have come an incredibly long way since their introduction into the home, and that trend shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. You're limited only by your imagination and budget.

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Information

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Extreme Gardens for Family Fun

2006-05-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

Today's families love to spend time at home--in their gardens. Outdoor kitchens and extreme amenities like person-sized chessboards, tropical waterfalls, and entertainment stages compete with weekend getaways.

Some times it's just more fun to stay home!

Extreme Gardens

Enjoy!

Jeanette Fisher

America's "Dream Home" Maker
Joy to the Home, Design Psychology
Homes for glorious living and top-dollar sales

Interior Designers - Who was America's First?

2006-05-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Who is your favorite interior designer?

Two ladies of interest who influenced interior design, Elsie de Wolfe and Dorothy Draper, vie for the title "America's First Interior Designer."

Elsie de Wolfe, First Professional Interior Designer? Elsie wrote what may have been the one of the first great books on interior design. I love her motto: "Never complain, never explain." Elsie de Wolfe

Even though renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright called her an "inferior desecrator," Dorothy Draper had decorated scores of offices, restaurants, hospitals, and even a car for Packard (in 1952) and an airplane interior for Convair (the 880) before she died in 1969. Dorothy Draper

Enjoy!

Jeanette Fisher
America's "Dream Home" Maker
Joy to the Home, Design Psychology
Homes for glorious living and top-dollar sales

Joy to the Home Journal Posted

2006-04-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

In this interior design newsletter issue:

Garden Tour Pictures

Which Interior Design Method Would Best Help You?

* Vaastu - Vastu Shastra
* Feng Shui
* Wabi Sabi
* Shabby Chic
* Environmental or 'Green Design'
* Design Psychology

Interior Design Newsletter

Enjoy!

Jeanette Fisher

Earth Day 2006 - Good News for the Environment

2006-04-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

Even though American rivers don't catch fire anymore and the smog levels have decreased in most major cities, there's still a long way to go. Urban sprawl is still endangering woodlands, prairies, and farmland, and global warming is still on the rise. Even so, the overall trend is positive. But we must all work to continue the momentum set in motion by the first Earth Day in 1970.

http://environmentpsychology.com/earth_day.htm

Explore Environmental Psychology and consider environmental design for your home.

Joy,

Jeanette Fisher

Kitchen Makeover

2006-04-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

We're finally remodeling our kitchen. The first step, taking down the wall that blocks the view from the living room. You can see the demolition pictures and watch the progress Kitchen Remodeling Pictures

I checked into all types of countertops--concrete, paper (stronger than any other material!), copper, tile, granite, limestone, marble, wood, glass... the list goes on. I really loved the way the paper countertops feels. Turns out, paper countertops really aren't made from recycled paper but from cut trees!

Joy!

Jeanette Fisher
Interior Design Psychology Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

###

Plan an Extraordinary Spring Garden

2006-03-26T11:58:00.000-08:00

Now that spring is officially (on the calendar, at least), it's time to think about how to turn your garden from ordinary to extraordinary.

Waterwise Xeriscaping

Joy to the Home Journal

2006-03-17T21:39:00.000-08:00

Discover how Mother Nature guides your home interior design to create an environment that supports your emotional needs.

March 2006
Joy to you in Spring!

In this Issue
Don't Be Afraid of Color!
Color Warning
Gift: Interior Design Psychology Teleseminar - Color Power
Updates from Jeanette
Read the latest issue online. Please note: You must be a subsciber to download the free ebook.

interior design newsletter

Wind Power

2006-03-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

Spirit Lake Wind Project

Iowa is a national leader in wind power energy production, and much
of what is taking place is at the grassroots level. Just ask the
folks who live, work, and go to school in the Spirit Lake School District.

Wind Energy Information: Spirit Lake Wind Project

Enjoy,

Jeanette Fisher
Joy to the Home
Homes for glorious living
http://www.joytothehome.com

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Interior Design Psychology for Home Makeovers College Course

2006-02-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

February 11, 2006 9 AM - 1 PM Mt. San Jacinto College

Menifee Valley Campus

Create a home for happy living. Explore new interior design ideas based on how psychology helps you choose interior design details. Avoid costly mistakes in room makeovers. Learn how to use color psychology and the four other design elements that compose a home for happiness. Discover how to get the designer look on a budget. You'll be on your way to a complete change of thought about your home environment and how to makeover your home!

"I wish I learned all this before we bought our first house 25 years ago and before we had our children. Not only would our homes be more harmonious, but so would our lives together. It's amazing to learn how colors, lighting, sounds, and patterns affect us so deeply." -Angela Pederson, Palm Desert. California

* Discover how your home's design details influence your emotions.
* Learn the basics of interior design elements and how your choice of color and patterns affects your feelings.
* Topics covered include the applications of lighting, colors, patterns, furnishings, textures, and finishes along with the underlying psychological consequences.
* Become skilled at making the right choices to achieve your ultimate dream home without spending a fortune.

Jeanette Fisher, author of Home Staging for Top-Dollar Sales, Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars: Using Design Psychology to Increase Real Estate Profits, Joy to the Home: Residential Design Psychology for Happiness and Well-Being, and other books, has researched the effects of environment on emotions for over 15 years. Jeanette teaches Design Psychology and real estate investing.

Call Mt Jacinto College to register 951-487-6752 ext. 1700, 1701 or 1702
or go to the classroom Room 1013B a few minutes early.

Section # 9057

For more information, go to Joy to the Home

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Thinking about a Home Makeover for Your New Year's Resolution?

2005-12-30T09:57:00.000-08:00

If you're thinking about major home makover projects, you won't want to pay for expensive upgrades using your credit cards. Credit card debt can ruin your happiness, even in a perfect home!

We're offering a free credit help Teleseminar January 7, 2006. Although the Teleseminar will help people with credit problems, the main focus is on how to build credit for home financing. This will help you if you want to refinance your home to pay for your home makeover.

Also, get home makeover tips and spend less money for the designer's look:

FREE Interior Design Teleseminar: Home Makeover Help!

Joy to you in 2006!

Jeanette Fisher

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Dramatic Powder Room Makeovers

2005-12-28T09:17:00.000-08:00

Develop you personal home interior design skills without committing to a huge project. Your guest bathroom, or powder room, presents a great place to start with your home makeover. This small room takes less money and effort to decorate than your larger rooms.

Because guests view this little space privately, visitors take more time to notice the interior design details. For this reason, you want to showcase great design to make a good impression. Also, hospitality shines in a well-appointed guest bath where it takes just a couple of splurges on extravagant fixtures to make a huge impact that your guests will remember. Company may not remember your living room walls because they're focusing on the people in the space, but they will remember your powder room.

What if you don't have a powder room and guests use your children's bathroom?

Children appreciate being treated as adults and don't need a childish bathroom. Don't use juvenile-patterned wallpaper or accessories.

Keep bathtub toys in the bathtub (in one of those plastic-coated wire baskets) and hang a ceiling to floor curtain in front of the bathtub. This curtain can be hung in front of the normal plastic liner from the ceiling. For small bathrooms, where the daylight comes in over the bathtub, use white or another light-emitting fabric. A curtain made of soft gauze or cotton does double duty: it softens the space with fabric while masking the bathtub, which is not a guest-bath feature.

Powder Room Basics

To finish any proper powder room, you need a great sink, faucet, and cabinet with a large mirror, plus the toilet. If you're working on a budget, look for sinks on sale at a warehouse store or at Habitat for Humanity’s thrift store, ReStore. Don't buy a poorly constructed cabinet; look for an antique dresser or buffet that spans the wall space.

Dramatic powder rooms emphasize remarkable mirrors. You may be tempted to keep the ugly wall-mounted medicine cabinet, but if you truly want an impressive guest bath, hang a spectacular mirror instead.

Store toothbrushes and other necessities in the cabinet below and move medicines to the kitchen, out or reach of children.

If you need to replace the toilet, which only needs to be functional because the other details will outshine it, look for a toilet which blends in with your home's style.

Powder Room Makeover Tips

Besides the bathroom fixtures, your flooring, walls, and ceiling offer the most economical home makeover opportunities. Because of the small area, you can use large ceramic tiles that mimic stone, marble, or even wood. Also, linoleum comes in a multitude of interesting patterns and has the benefit of being warmer to bare feet than tile.

The area that makes the greatest interior design impact, the walls and ceiling, give the best place to have fun with your home makeover. Decorative paint finishes, like subtle layering of glazes, add the designer’s touch without the expense. Choose colors that harmonize with the rest of your home to reinforce your color theme. Use color psychology to make your powder room present a cooling oasis or a warming shelter.

Use an essential oil diffuser to help your powder room smell as good as it looks. Avoid unnatural sprays that cause irritation to those with sensitivities.

The final interior design detail, exquisite lighting, doesn't need to kill your budget. Perhaps your dining chandelier would make a better statement in your bathroom than it does in your dining room. If you life in a climate with high humidity and hot summers, a ceiling fan helps keep the room cool. Look for a fan with lights that point upward. Lights shining down on you in a small space feel over-powering. Also, use wall sconces on either side of the vanity mirror instead of the usual builder’s light fixture above the mirror.

Finishing touches, guest towels, hard soaps, and lotions make your guests and yourself feel pampered. Choose generous, thick, and soft hand towels to add softness to an otherwise hard surface space.

Because people feel more comfortable in smaller bathrooms which offer privacy, a guest bathroom offers the perfect place to practice your design skills. Splurge a little on lavish wall finishes and guest towels to showcase your home's interior design.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author's information with live links only.)

Free Interior Design Teleseminar: Home Makeover Help! Jeanette Fisher helps homemakers transform their homes with five easy steps. Free Design Psychology ebook and information at http://www.joytothehome.com/

Ornate Tin Ceilings

2005-12-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

(The author of the article below has beautiful examples of her family's work on her website, Heritage Ceilings.)

Thinking About Buying Ornate Tin Ceiling Tiles?
By Jean Morrison

Use Aluminium Instead Of Tin

An aluminum alloy has now been created to especially suit these beautiful art metal ceilings. Aluminum is a corrosion resistant, durable product which doesn't rust, unlike steel which is used by some manufactures of pressed tin. The panels are still widely known as pressed tin even though they are not made from tin.

Think About The Design In Your Ceiling Panels And whether They Will Suit The Measurements Of your Room

With a little forethought you can create a "tin" ceiling that exudes the "Wow Factor". The "Wow Factor" is the reaction you will receive when your visitors look at your new ceiling for the first time. To get that factor you need to spend a little time thinking about how the ceiling panels will fit your particular room. If the repeat pattern you have chosen measures two feet by two feet, will you need to trim all the outside panels in order for them to fit the dimensions of your room? If this would be the case then you need to re-think your plans.

You have two choices: choose a small all-over style which will look perfectly fine if trimmed to fit the room or you can use a border panel around the outside of your room and have the larger designs in the centre of the ceiling. Most of the larger designs require a border or filler strip around the edge, otherwise they don't look so elegant when installed. Border or filler panels most usually have a small pattern on them which complements the larger main panels in the centre of the ceiling. If you require a border around your main panels then it will be worth consulting an expert to find out how wide the border should be. It is easy to upset the balance of your ceiling by having a border that is too wide or conversely too narrow. Ask your supplier for help on this topic.

Is Crown Cornice Needed?

There is now a delightful range of crown cornice moldings made from aluminum. These come in a variety of sizes to suit various ceiling heights. Crown cornices need to be mitred in the corners of the room and there are now various accessories to suit the individual cornices. These accessories are very handy as they hide the mitred cut edges which can sometimes be a little rough for those home handymen who have little experience in mitring. An alternative to metal crown cornices are timber moldings. Plaster cornices should not be used with metal ceilings.

Can You Install Your Tin Ceilings Yourself?

The easiest way to install pressed tin is to firstly fix building ply to the old ceiling or walls and then nail the tin to the ply. Timber battens can be used but building ply makes the job much easier. It is best to remove existing cornice before the ply is fixed to the ceiling.
Most reputable ceiling suppliers will offer detailed fitting instructions. If you lack experience in this area, you may prefer to employ someone with building experience. However, most metal ceilings are fitted by their owners. Tacking nails should be used initially until you are satisfied you have everything in its final position. Tacking nails are quite long and must only be partly nailed in so that they can be removed easily with pliers. When you are satisfied that everything is in the right spot then you can remove the tacking nails and finish the job off with small nails. Details of which nails to use should be in the manufacturers fitting instructions.

Painting your Metal Panels

Painting an ornate, aluminum ceiling in fine detail is easy because it is painted before it gets fixed to the ceiling. Most aluminum paneling is sold with etch primer already on it so it is immediately ready to paint. You can use one colour over the whole ceiling, you can add just a touch of colour on the moldings or you can can paint every detail in various shades of paint. The patterns in aluminum ceilings are more deeply pressed than other types of ceilings so they create lovely shadows themselves just from electric light or from natural daylight. Accordingly most people use one colour of paint over the whole ceiling. It is strongly recommended that pale shades of paint be used. Darker colours can be appealing in theory but in practice they can often give a heavy oppressive feel to a room. Oil based paints are recommended. If the nails are still visible you can dob each one with a little paint.

About The Author

Jean Morrison is owner of Heritage Ceilings, a unique ceiling decoration business dedicated to bringing beautiful ceilings back into our public buildings and homes.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/Expert Jean Morrison

Free Interior Design Teleseminar: Home Makeover Help!

2005-12-23T14:12:00.000-08:00

You asked and we listened. Tell us what you want to know about Design Psychology.

Happy New Year!

Spring Cleaning for Your New Year Already? Time to take down that ugly wallpaper!

2005-12-07T17:59:00.000-08:00

Tips for Stripping Wallpaper: How to Get Rid of Ugly Wallpaper!

I broke my promise to myself and stripped wallpaper again. While stripping the wallpaper, I realized that many homemakers get wrong advice for this horrendous task. After years of experience on over 30 houses (including one 6,000 square foot Victorian with layers of painted-over wallpaper!), I offer my tried and best tips to strip wallpaper:

1. Use a clothes steamer or rent a professional steamer.

2. Soak a large section of the wall.

3. Run a "Paper Tiger" scoring tool across the damp section.

4. Steam the section again.

5. Spray the section with fabric softener and hot water.

6. Score the section with the paper tiger again.

7. Steam again.

8. Remove any curling edges (sometimes large areas peel off).

9. Scrape with a six inch sheetrock blade or a plastic scrapper if you have a heavy hand. Take care not to scratch the walls.

10. Repeat the above steps on the section until most of the wallpaper and sticky glue scrapes off easily.

11. Scrub with hot water, TSP, and a sponge with a scratchy surface.

Cautions: Use the Paper Tiger gingerly so you don't scratch or gouge the walls. Use gloves with the harsh chemical TSP.

Don't live with ugly wallpaper any longer!

P. S. Please email me if you have any additional tips on stripping wallpaper that would help others!

Copyright © Jeanette J. Fisher.

Jeanette Fisher loves to help home makers create homes for glorious living. She teaches five easy steps to makeover your home for happiness. For free ebook on Design Psychology go to http://www.joytothehome.com

Holiday Decorating Ideas

2005-11-30T10:20:00.000-08:00

Party Planning

Make decorating your home for holiday parties a pleasure instead of a stressful nightmare. Organization and planning helps you keep on top of your holiday parties.

Create a gorgeous party planning notebook with an inexpensive plastic three-ring binder that has a space to insert an inspirational picture. Keep cutouts from magazines of ideas you love about decorating, themes, menus, and recipes. Keep notes about your party afterwards so you remember what worked well and what to do differently next year. Your personal party journal will be an invaluable assistant to help you avoid holiday stress.

Holiday Decorating

Enjoy your home decorating for the holidays. Don't try to do too much. Keep in mind that people love to come to homes decked out in festive array but that it doesn't take a lot of cluttering ornamentation to create a holiday statement. Just a few large decorations can add the desired impact without taking a lot of time to set out. Plus, too many little decorations get lost when you have many people standing around.

Where to decorate for impact:

1. Your front walkway: Greet guests at the entrance with lights surrounding your front door and two large poinsettias or evergreen trees.

2. Your front door: A large swag of evergreen decorated with nuts, apples, raffia, and ribbon spiced up with cinnamon sticks and cloves makes a different statement than the usual wreath.

3. Your dining table: If you plan a sit-down dinner, avoid tall centerpieces that interfere with guests seeing across the table. White table cloths reflect the light, add a feeling of elegance, and don't interfere with colored china. Bold colors add drama. Have fun with your table decorations.

4. Look up: Because table decorations get in the way, add garlands above archways and doors.

5. Your powder room: Because guests use this room privately, they take the time to look around and notice decorations.

If your TV looks like a black hole in your room when it's off, play an old black and white classic movie with the sound turned off.

Enjoy your holiday decorating this year. Try some new ideas and keep a party planner for next year. You'll be ready for new holiday decorating ideas!

Copyright © Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher teaches homemakers how to makeover their homes for joyful living. For holiday interior design tips see http://JoyHolidays.com. For FREE Design Psychology ebooks, see Joy to the Home Interior Design Psychology Ideas

Create Your Dream Home

2005-11-22T17:23:00.000-08:00

Is money holding you back from creating your dream home?

Join our FREE Teleseminar on Saturday Nov. 26 to find out what it takes to improve your credit so you can have your dream home.

Learn what it takes to get home improvement loans to build your fantasy, without paying too much!

"Don't Shop 'til You Drop on the Saturday After Thanksgiving!"
Saturday, Nov. 26 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Watch as I Guide You Through the Entire Process...

If you can talk on the phone at the same time you go online, you will be able to watch my PowerPoint presentation used in my college seminars.

This class doesn't give you the same information as "credit repair clinics" who can damage your credit. Because so many of my students needed credit improvement to finance property, I researched the best way to strengthen credit specifically for mortgage loans.

Send me an email to join the Teleseminar. Email Jeanette or read more about it:
Free Credit Help Teleseminar

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jeanette
Joy To the Home

Jeanette

Interior Design Secrets to Glorious Holiday Decorating

2005-11-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Seminar at Mt San Jacinto this Saturday morning 9:00 A M to noon.

Menifee Campus
Call to Register: (951) 487-6752 ext. 1700, 1701 or 1702

Decorate differently this holiday season.
Plan a loving family festivity or a grand event.
Apply the secrets of Design Psychology, "American Feng Shui."
Bring joy to your home this season with innovative interior design ideas.
Discover fresh strategies to decorate your home to support your emotions.
Participants invited to bring their list of rooms and desires so they
leave with a design plan or to just sit back and enjoy...

Joy to the Home's Interior Design Styles

2005-10-31T12:42:00.000-08:00

By Jeanette Fisher

Wabi Sabi, an ancient Chinese philosophy adapted by the Japanese and practiced by many Westerners today, presents an alternative way of living more than a way of decorating your home. However, you can adapt your interior and landscape design using Wabi Sabi principles for happiness.

"Wabi Sabi" (pronounced "wah-bee sah-bee") was formalized as the Zen Buddhism tea ceremony evolved. Zen Buddhism originated in India, traveled through China in the 6th Century, and to Japan in the 12th century. The ancient wisdom of Wabi Sabi practitioners helps today's busy home makers with interesting interior design ideas. Wabi Sabi interior design followers learn to relax, take time appreciate the beauty and simplicity of natural design, and to know that their home doesn't need perfection to bring joy, which compares to our research findings in residential Design Psychology.

Before you relate Wabi Sabi to Shabby Chic style, understand that the Wabi Sabi way of life starts with simplicity, whereas Shabby Chic interiors often fill spaces with a lot of interesting finds, which can end up with too much to care for and eye clutter, according to Design Psychology principles. This lesson of too much design detail, which stops the eye and makes you feel overwhelmed, became apparent to us when we moved from our expansive Victorian home into a smaller house and had to choose the more important furnishings from the treasures discovered over ten years of collecting, both in antique and thrift stores.

If you want to makeover your home for joyous living, consider Wabi Sabi restraints along with Design Psychology principles:

Simplify your life and home design.
When you choose the best from your treasures, keep those accessories that support positive memories, regardless of monetary value.

Take pleasure from natural beauty.
Choose design details with colors, patterns, and textures similar to those found in nature, which feel harmonious to people because they connect us to the earth.

Appreciate your home and furnishings, no matter how imperfect.
When you love your home, this love shines throughout and makes it easier for you to clean and maintain. Your positive attitude brings you encouragement to find beauty all around, inspiring fresh ideas for home makeover projects.

Wabi Sabi beliefs include the principles of incomplete and impermanent designs, which parallel the Design Psychology principle that your home needs to grow and change, to support your changing lifestyle and emotional needs.

In contrast to Wabi Sabi's use of modest and humble furnishings, Design Psychology appreciates the inherent beauty in all things. Enjoy the fruits of your hard work and don't feel guilty when mixing the humble with quality showpieces. I love my Italian Millifiore glass lamps sitting next to my Mexican Rose rock.

Like any good design theory, Wabi Sabi finds beauty in the unconventional. Your originality in design makes your home unique. Design Psychology practice avoids the use of furniture "groups" and prefers unique, individual pieces offering comfort. If you were tempted by a furniture set, such as matching sofa, love seat, and the three matching tables, don't worry; just know that additional pieces don't need to match perfectly and that blending styles and finishes makes unconventional, unique spaces.

Design Psychology supports fearless home makeovers, bold with colors to lend emotional support yet restrained, without overly-filled rooms, to provide backgrounds for people and harmonious living.

Similar to the Wabi Sabi tea ceremony, practice daily rituals in your home. Create a home to celebrate life, one full of tranquility and beauty. Choose your home interior design style to best support your happiness.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.
Jeanette Fisher, author of Joy to the Home Journal, interior design and real estate books, has researched the effects of environment on emotions for over 15 years. Jeanette teaches college courses on Design Psychology and professional real estate investing seminars. For free Design Psychology reports, visit Joy to the Home.com

Vintage Stoves – Classic Designs to Warm Your Heart

2005-10-16T21:59:00.000-07:00

(Note from Jeanette: This article covers most types of wood burning stoves except my favorite-- the Swedish ceramic stove.)

Vintage Stoves – Classic Designs to Warm Your Heart
By Kim Filler

Have you ever been to the antique market, or watching the "Antiques Roadshow", and seen those wonderful woodstoves for days passed? They are absolutely amazing, especially if you can find one in good shape. A friend of mine recently installed a "4 O’clock" stove dating back to the early 1900’s, and it looks marvelous! It got me thinking about woodstoves, in general, and I started to research many of the vintage stoves. I have listed the most popular models below. Get yourself a cup of tea, put your feet up, and read on!

Victorian Stoves – These stoves date back to the late 1800’s. They are generally made from cast iron, and adorned with nickel. This early kitchen stove will meet all of your cooking needs.

Country Stoves – These stoves generally date to around the early 1900’s. It is very similar to the Victorian stove, but more effort has been out into the nickel highlights and the clean, crisp casting.

Retro Stoves – These particular stoves are simply updated versions of the above. In the 1930’s, when these stoves were immensely popular, the kitchen seemed to be the central point in one’s home. These stoves were integral to the "modern" kitchen.

Cylinder Stoves – These stoves are likely the most easily recognizable of the antique stoves. They were renowned for their extraordinary ability to heat a home, while taking up very little floor space.

Potbelly Stoves – Early American photographs abound with images of the potbelly stove. These stoves were found in railway stations, saloons, brothels, and many other historic settings on the western frontier.

Parlour Stoves – Back in the Victorian era, these beautiful stoves were a focal point in traditional parlour rooms. At the height of their popularity, artisans adorned them with various designs such as cherubs, mythological figures, and floral designs.

Franklin Fireplaces – This stove is pure Americana. It was designed by Benjamin Franklin, and early American inventor, craftsman, and President. All wood stoves used for heating owe their heritage to Benjamin Franklin, and his efficient design.

These are but a few of the stove types I came across in my research. These stoves are all wonderful examples of design and function. If you happen to see any of these stoves while shopping for antiques, do let me know. Or buy one for yourself! You won’t regret it!

Kim Filler loves shopping for antiques in obscure, out-of-the-way markets. She is currently obsessing about the Franklin Fireplace. When she is free from her daily pursuits, she writes for fireplacesandwoodstoves.com – a website of interest to those who enjoy fireplaces and woodstoves featuring information on wood burning stoves, old antique wood stoves, fireplace mantel information and more. wood burning stoves
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Tips on Budget Decorating

2005-10-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

By Maria Palma

Home decorating on a budget is the ultimate adventure in decorating. It requires a little bit of planning, creativity, and patience. If you are like me, sometimes you wish you could be a genie and wiggle your nose and **poof** it's done. However, that takes away from all the fun! Follow these tips and you'll have a home that looks like a page out of your favorite magazine!

*Visit Furniture Showrooms

Make notes of styles of furniture you like. Also, take note of colors and fabrics that create a "warm" feeling inside of you. By visiting showrooms you can get an idea of the new trends and styles.

*Browse Through Decorating Magazines

Magazines are a source of inspirational ideas. Create a scrapbook of magazine clippings and refer to your book when shopping for your home.

*Shop Second-Hand Stores

One person's trash is another person's treasure can never be so true. One place to look is the classifieds in your local newspaper. I have found great deals on furniture in thrift stores and auctions. Don't worry if an item is not in the best of shape. A coat of paint will work wonders for some furniture. Slipcovers can update an old couch or chair.

*Color! Color! Color!

To create a dramatic, inexpensive change to your home, paint the walls a new color or buy new curtains. Keep in mind the moods that colors can create.

*Create Your Own Art

For me, one of the best parts of decorating is creating my own original works of art to hang on the walls. It could be as simple as collecting leaves when they have turned colors and creating a picture collage. A nice frame makes any work of art look classy. Take a drawing, photography or painting class at your local community college. Gain inspiration by browsing through art books at your local library or bookstore. If you're into black and white photos, but do not want to pay the high price for this type of art, buy a book or calendar of your favorite photographer and frame the pictures.

*Shop Discount Stores

Thank God for discount stores! This place will save you a ton of money on accessories. You will find little treasures such as candle holders, candles, potpourri, and knick knacks for very little money. Who will ever know?

*Be Patient!

Take your time and shop during sales. Decorating should be fun. Remember, Rome was not built in a day!

About The Author

Maria Palma is a writer, painter, jewelry designer, interior decorator, and real estate consultant based in San Diego, California. She received her degree in Psychology from California State University, Chico, but realized that she wanted to pursue her artistic passions. She has two websites: Salon de Maria (http://www.salondemaria.info), which showcases her art, and Home Solutions (http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com), a resource for real estate and home decorating in the San Diego area.

Marble And Granite – What Produces The Shine?

2005-09-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

By David Andrew Smith

Many people make the assumption that marble, granite and other finely polished natural stones shine because a "polish" has been added to them. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Natural stones are made of crystals. The crystals are made up of different minerals. Each mineral forms a different crystal shape. These different crystals interlock together to make up the stone. When stone is first quarried it has a very rough
texture to its surface as it breaks along the crystal joints. By using a series of graduated grinders the stone is ground down. The grinders are normally made from industrial diamonds and to start the process a very rough one is used. It is the
same principle as sanding down wood. You start with glass paper that is very coarse and gradually use finer and finer glass paper until you have a fine, smooth finish to the wood. With stone the glass paper is replaced with diamond studded pads and
these get finer and finer.

What the grinding is doing is cutting the rough edges off the stone by scratching it and as the diamonds become smaller and smaller the scratches become finer and ultimately microscopic. What you end up with is a very smooth surface to the stone. The crystals have by a slow process of finer and finer grinding been worn down until on the surface they are all perfectly flat and smooth with each other. A perfectly flat surface will reflect the light uniformly and will look like glass.

Consider a mirror that reflects light uniformly giving you a clear sharp image. Make the glass curved or rippled and you get a less clear, less sharp image reflected back. The same applies to stone. If the crystals are flat then you get a perfect image reflected back and the stone looks incredibly shiny. Roughen the surface slightly and the reflected light ceases to give you a perfect reflection and the stone begins to dull. Any interference with the stones surface can cause this dulling to appear. It could be a series of minute scratches made by dirt or it could be caused by acid materials etching into the stone destroying its shine in that region.

To get the shine back the stone must be ground down again. Consequently the shine on a stone is not the product of adding some chemical to the stone but is a property of the stone itself.. The harder the stone the more difficult it is to grind but the greater degree of shine that can be achieved, which is why polished granite has the greatest degree of shine, followed by marble then limestone.

About the Author: David Andrew Smith runs http://www.wesparkle.co.uk/ a contract cleaning company which specialises in cleaning and polishing natural stone as well as
providing cleaning services throughout the UK

Source: http://www.isnare.com

What Is A Reverse Painting?

2005-09-15T20:19:00.001-07:00

By Mayanne Mackay

Welcome to the world of Reverse Painting on Glass.
Reverse painting on glass has been considered a popular 'art of the people' for many centuries. The use of glass as a support for this intricate painting technique has not hindered its continuing popularity.

A reverse painting is created by painting a subject onto one side of a sheet of glass (or plexiglass) after which it is viewed from the other side of the glass, or through the glass.

Contrary to painting on a canvas or similar support this technique requires an artist to paint in reverse, or 'back to front.'

When an artwork is created on a support such as canvas or wood panel, it is painted from the same angle and direction that it will ultimately be viewed from on completion. However, in the case of a reverse painting the painting side and the viewing side of the artwork are opposed to one another.

Similarly, an artwork that is created on a canvas usually begins with a rough outline and gradually builds towards its completion and finishing touches. In a reverse painting this procedure begins where it would normally end and finishing touches such as finer details and the artist's signature are usually applied first and the background applications of colour are added later, hence the use of the term 'reverse painting'.

The effect that glass can give to a reverse painting can make it a very beautiful object. Some artists use thick glass in order to give more depth to their work.

For those who see a reverse painting on glass for the very first time it can take a little while to realise that the subject has been painted on the surface of the glass itself.

Extract from website "A guide to reverse painting on glass" at http://www.reversepaintings.com
See reverse painting artworks at http://www.mayannemackay.com

Copyright Mayanne Mackay 2005

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Because these articles are Mayanne's website content, I'll post the nexr article on the Wabi Sabi Homes blog.

Reverse Glass Painting

2005-09-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite family heirlooms, a painting by my husband's grandmother, is a little lake and sunset scene painted on glass with tin foil behind it.

The painting was done in the fifties and still looks like it did 50 years ago.

I'll take a picture and post it when my son comes home from college with my camera.

Anyway, I found a series of articles by an amazing artist that I'm going to post. Check out Mayanne Mackay's website and her fabulous art.

Enjoy!

Jeanette

Interior Design for Lower Heating Costs

2005-09-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

It's still hot during the days here is sunny California, but it got downright cold last night. CNN reported this evening that the cost to heat our homes can be 30-50% more this winter.

Think about using warm colors for decorating now. With the rising natural gas costs, consider using effective heat. This means that you home's design influences the way you feel warmth. Warm colors and textures can make you rooms seem warmer, which means that you can keep the thermostat lower.

Joy to the Home Journal

Makeover Your Home and Help the Hurricane Homeless

2005-09-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

Now would be a great time to give away your home furnishings and building supplies that you need to upgrade. Check to see if you have Habitat for Humanity near you.

This would help you makeover your home and help those who lost their home. While you're at Habitat for Humanity's thrift store (ReStore), you'll find home building supplies for your home makeover. Look for a ReStore near you.

You could also give Habitat for Humanity money. They like that!

Go to http://www.habitat.org

Joy to the Home blog

2005-09-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

Subscribe to "Joy to the Home blog" and receive new posts in your email. Just enter your email address in box on the top right. Don't worry about getting to many emails, I don't post as often as I should. Also, I don't collect these email addresses.

Joy to Your Home with Gardenias

2005-09-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

Perfume Your Garden and Home with Gardenias
By Jeanette Joy Fisher

One of my favorite plants is the large white-flowered Mystery Gardenia (gardenia jasminoides) that grows to about 5' tall and wide. The perfume-like scent adds an exotic feeling to gardens. Plus, the large white flowers show up well in moonlight when many people more likely get a chance to take pleasure in their garden.

If you want to enjoy gardenias, plant them where they get sun. Most people plant gardenias in the shade because these plants love the same soil as shade-loving camellias and azaleas. However, gardenias can take full sun and prefer at least half a day of sunlight. Gardenias will not bloom well in the shade.

Don't over water your gardenias. Keep the soil surface moist, but not soggy. Don't let them dry out too much during flowering or they will drop their buds. To keep your plants from drying out, mulch well.

Gardenias also like rich organic soil, azalea/camellia fertilizer, and iron. If your gardenias get yellow leaves, they most likely need more iron. During the growing season, feed your gardenias every three weeks.

Don't get harsh when pruning gardenias. They need some leaves left on the stock so they can get nutrition. Prune after blooming but before fall so the plant gets a chance to grow and form new flowers for the next spring bloom.

Gardenias bloom from late spring well into summer. Besides the glorious creamy-white blooms, they give your garden a gorgeous deep green backdrop all year long.

Plant gardenias near your entry door to welcome guests and yourself with the invigorating perfume-like scent. Just one or two flowers floating in a bowl of water fills your home with natural fragrance. With over 200 species of gardenias, you're sure to find just the perfect variety at your local nursery for your garden.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Jeanette Fisher, author of Joy to the Home Journal newsletter and other books, teaches interior Design Psychology. Free "What Is Design Psychology" Report (a 3--page eBook in PDF) with subscription to Joy to the Home Journal.

Introduction To The Sauna

2005-08-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

By Simon Harris

History and Use

The origins of the sauna have been lost in the mists of time
(so to speak), but it is safe to say its history goes back at
least 1000 years. We know that the nomadic peoples of Finland
had a primitive type of sauna that was made by building a fire
inside a tentlike structure. When the heat had built up and the
fire had gone out, the people would enter the sauna to bathe.
This was very similar to the American Indian sweat lodge.

This type of sauna evolved into a smoke sauna -- a small
building with a stone fireplace inside. There was a small hole
in the roof where the smoke could escape but the fire had to
die down before the building could be entered. This type of
sauna was commonly used up until the 1920s when it started to
be replaced by modern saunas as we know them today. The smoke
sauna, however, has enjoyed a recent revival in Finland. Many
people consider them to be the finest type of sauna.

By the 1930s, a new type of sauna stove was introduced. This
sauna stove allowed the rocks to be heated without being placed
directly over the flames of the fire. This meant that the fire
could burn while the sauna was being used. The earliest stoves
of this type used wood as a fuel but later models used
electricity.

Types of Saunas

Saunas can be built in many shapes and styles. They can be
separate buildings or they can be installed in a house or
apartment. Traditional saunas are wooden structures and are as
beautiful as they are functional.

The worldwide popularity of saunas has spurred innovative new
designs. One of the most unusual of these is the portable sauna
-- folding saunas that can be used almost anywhere. They are
just big enough for one person to sit in. There is a hole for
your head and slits for your hands if you wish to read or talk
on the phone while you are sitting in this sauna.

Another unusual design is the barrel sauna. This is a small
cabin constructed using barrel making techniques and can hold
six to eight people. Barrel saunas can be installed either
inside or outside the house and can be heated with a wood or
electric stove.

Infrared saunas have been used since the 1960s. The heating
source in this type of sauna is an infrared heater. Unlike
traditional heaters that heat the air of the sauna, infrared
heaters heat objects and people but not the air. Infrared is a
type of light and proponents of infrared saunas say that they
have superior health benefits to traditional saunas.

Sauna Construction

Almost every type of sauna is made of wood. The walls,
ceilings, and floors and benches are all made from a wood such
as cedar or hemlock. The only non-wood materials are the stove
and the rocks that are heated on the stove.

The sauna provides a dry heat -- usually between 70°C and
100°C. From time to time water can be thrown on the rocks on
the stove. This creates a cloud of steam which has the effect
of immediately raising the temperature.

The sauna can be heated with an electric or wood stove. Wood
stoves are traditional in the countryside, but most urban
saunas use an electric heater.

About the Author: This article provided courtesy of http://www.whirlpool-tubs-shopper.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Article Posting

2005-08-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

I received a few emails asking me why I'm posting other people's articles instead of writing my own.

Besides getting ready to teach, I'm finishing a book:
Home Staging for Top Dollar Sales
A Workbook for Applying Design & Marketing Psychology Strategies
(See http://homestaging.us)

Also, we're researching the latest design and psychology for the upcoming Joy to the Home series.

If other writers get posted here, it's because I like what they have to say and hope you do, too!

The Benefits Of A Memory Foam Mattress

2005-08-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

By Thomas J. Wacker

On the quest for a more productive day, research has shown that
a more productive sleep at night can be one of the healthiest
solutions. A Memory Foam Mattress could be just what
researchers have been looking for. Concentration, Observation
and even Creativity, are all qualities that can help us on our
everyday journey through work, and life. The key is relaxation.

Any quality that enhances our daily productivity is welcome,
but with a calm mind and rested body, do we find the most
precious resources, that is, through our sleep. Sleep provides
us with an infinite number of possibilities. Possibilities,
which are most efficiently cultivated, while having deep
restful dreams in a peaceful bed. And mattresses made from
memory foam are ideal in this respect.

Ever since the invention of the first electroencephalogram, the
machine that registers brain waves, back in the first part of
the 20th century, scientists have known that sleep is not just
an unproductive time in which we are forced to stop working.
Wonderful things occur at night while we sleep.

During an average night of sleep of eight hours, our bodies
move in and out of consciousness through cycles, determined by
brain wave activity. If these cycles are disrupted by stressing
muscles in certain points, the sleeper, could actually wake up
without fulfilling the full sleep cycle. This means time and
relaxation, are needed to achieve the proper depths of a good
nights rest.

Suppose an average sleeper, gets eight hours of sleep, on a
good mattress. Then she or he, would plunge into the realm of
sleep for about 90min. then slowly come back out, and on return
to the waking world, would have about 10 min. of dreams, almost
wake up, roll over, and plunge back into another 90min. cycle.
If the conditions are good, such as in using the proper kind of
bed, the second sleep cycle will have something like 20-30min.
of dreams, followed by 45-60min. in the third cycle. The longer
we sleep, the more dreams we have.

Maybe, not everyone remembers what they dream, all the time,
everyday, but that doesn’t matter, as much as the fact that
dreaming is, in and of itself the place where we let our worry
and stress of the day to day go free, preparing, for the day to
come. If we don’t value our sleep enough, we carry all that
stress and anxiety from the day before, into our morning, and
consecutively throughout the day, until we finally sleep again,
to give our dreams another chance at freeing themselves.

In a stressful modern day to day, race for time and money like
ours, it’s a wonder why we don’t value our sleep more. Sleep
requires relaxation, and that means sleeping a good night's
sleep. Pressure on muscles must be evenly distributed
throughout the body in a way that keeps our bodies fully
relaxed.

That means keeping the joints well accommodated. Memory foam
does this in a very natural and relaxing way. When the body
heat hits the mattress, it allows the foam to conform to the
body reducing all that tension on the pressure points. No
pressure points, no stress, no stress, means getting that good
night’s sleep that we need so badly to be more productive and
happy individuals. Mattresses made from memory foam keep the
load properly supported, so that no one point is favored over
any other. Relaxation is the road to a good nights sleep. And
memory foam can help the sleeper achieve the ideal nights rest.
While getting tensionless, deep and well relaxed sleep, the
individual can produce more and feel great doing it.

About the Author: Thomas Jay Wacker is the General Manager and
V.P. of http://www.simplepedic.com/. Wacker has over 20 years
experience in the home furnishing industry and leads the Wacker
Management Team in Denver Colorado.

Kitchen Island Design Ideas - The Look, Size, And Features

2005-07-31T01:55:00.000-07:00

By Steve Ecclestone

Kitchen island design ideas not only include choosing the right look for your kitchen but choosing the correct size for your floor plan and the correct features to satisfy your needs.

Fortunately, because 80% of all home buyers consider kitchen islands to be essential, manufacturers offer islands in a design and style to suit nearly every taste.

You don't have to be a new home buyer to consider a kitchen island, though.

Older homes with awkward kitchen floor plans or oversized kitchens, apartments with limited or open-space design, or renovated kitchens with odd dimensions may all inspire a kitchen island design idea that will benefit the overall design.

A Style For Every Size

The dimensions of a kitchen are an overriding concern in choosing a kitchen island. Large islands are very helpful in creating a cooking 'room' within the room that separates the cooking area from the eating area.

Additional options like breakfast bars and installed appliances can help achieve the 'triangle' design of sink-stove-refrigerator that is considered one of the top kitchen design ideas.

Apartments and condominiums with open-space design can use a larger kitchen island to divide the kitchen area from other living areas.

Some kitchen islands are wheeled and can be moved between meals to convert needed space into multi-use areas.

Smaller islands are very versatile, particularly if wheeled, and can be used where large islands won't fit; often two small islands work better than one large island.

Islands are available in many styles and designs that are sure to complement your own design ideas.

Contemporary, Traditional, American Folk and French Country, Avant Garde or Hip, and others are all popular styles.

Many kitchen islands are wooden and use Northern Maple, Red Oak, Poplar, Birch, and plantation-grown exotic woods, but others are constructed of stainless steel, some combining wood with stainless steel.

Island tops are usually hard wood, granite or marble, stainless steel, or butcher block, which is usually Hardrock Maple fastened end or edge grain to prevent cracking and warping.

Steve Ecclestone is webmaster at Kitchen Island Ideas

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

7 Sure-fire Ways Of Reducing Your Home Insurance Premium

2005-07-27T00:55:00.000-07:00

(I know this article doesn't have anything to do with home make overs, but you can use the savings for new furnishings!- Jeanette)

7 Sure-fire Ways Of Reducing Your Home Insurance Premium
By Bill Smith

Home security improvement:

All insurance companies will happily offer you a discount for
burglar alarms and smoke detectors. Homes with fire and burglar
alarms that communicate with a third party monitoring company
receive a higher discount on their insurance premiums.

When possible, choose a higher deductible:

To reduce your premium, it is best advised to increase the
deductible to the extent you can afford. Your home insurance
premium will fall by as much as 20% if you increase the
deductible from $200 to $1000.

Multiple insurance – Same provider:

If you consolidate your home insurance and auto insurance with
one insurance company, expect a premium reduction between 10 –
15%. This also means you are making one payment for all your
insurance needs. Consolidate and win.

Discount for non-smokers:

Some home insurance companies will offer a non-smoker discount
to the tune of 15%. Check with your insurance company if they
offer a non-smokers discount.

How far is the fire station?

If you live more than 5 miles from the nearest fire station and
more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant, you can expect a
higher premium. Also if you live in the country, you will
probably pay higher insurance rate than if you were living in
the city.

Type of construction:

The construction type of your home also plays an important role
in determining your insurance premium. A wood frame home will
cost more to insure than the one built mostly of concrete.

Claims free record and renewal discounts:

If you have not had a claim under your current home owners
policy for the past 3-5 years, you will get a 15% discount on
your premium. Expect additional discount if your policy has
been in force with the same insurance company for 3 years or
more.

Conclusion:

I am hopeful you have gained preliminary knowledge on the
subject of home insurance premiums. With these helpful tips you
will be able to understand and demand discounts on your home
insurance premiums. Good Luck!

About the Author: "@Copyrights 2005" - Bill A Smith is an
insurance agent and insurance advisor for Sunshine home and
auto insurance services. Bill has over 10 years of experience
in providing insurance services to clients. Sunshine Insurance
Services provides auto, home, health and life insurance to
businesses and individuals. Visit us at http://www.sunshineinsuranceservices.com/

What is the secret to good interior design?

2005-07-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

The secret to your home's interior design is Love.

If you love yourself, you create a home for your happiness.

If you love your family and friends, you create a home for their happiness.

The next step of love is to be grateful for your home. Gratitude lays the foundation for creating glorious spaces to share your love.

The final aspect of love is joy. Homes designed for joyful living are not decorated for prestige and show; homes designed for gracious living are decorated for happiness and the joy of life!

Interior Design Psychology Tips for Decorating Your Home with Love

1. Don't clutter your home with too much decorating. The important accessory in your home is you and your family or friends. Select quality furnishings for comfort, beauty, function, and emotional support.

2. Create spaces that support your emotional well-being and productivity. Determine the activity of a space and choose design details that support this use. For instance, soft gray walls in home offices give support for creative writing while slate blue striped walls offer organized tranquility.

3. Give tribute to your family heritage. Honor your ancestors by using design details that tie to your sense of tradition.

4. Bring Mother Nature indoors. Green foliage represents life and growth. People have an innate sense of feeling connected to the earth. As a bonus, houseplants help keep the air fresh.

5. Add your personal touch and creativity. Design a stencil from a loved object or make a stained glass window. Feel connected to your home through physical work and your daydreams of the next improvement.

Celebrate life; love your home.

Joy to you!

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Joy to the Home.com

Summer Cooling Tips

2005-07-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

We just returned from Las Vegas where the temperature soared to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. There's nothing like 120 days and 100 degree nights to make home seem cool.

However, our days of 106 still feel HOT. Besides air conditioning, there are some interior design tricks that make your apparent room temperature feel cooler. Apparent room temperature means the way you perceive what you senses tell you, not the actual air temperature.

Make your eyes tell your brain that you feel cool in your rooms. Lighten up your accessories. Store extras that you don't need; uncluttered space feels lighter. Also, store dark colored accessories. Add refreshing green ferns and tropical plants.

Next, think about what your sense of touch tells you. Change out heavy fabrics until the weather changes.

Your sense of smell also influences the coolness. Use essential oils that remind you of the seaside or forest.

Your sense of hearing can play a role in coolness, too. Besides a water fountain, aquarium bubbles and soft tropical music also help refresh.

Don't forget your sense of taste. A tall glass of fresh lemonade or cold sherbert in a chilled sundae dish makes you feel pampered, which goes a long way towards making you feel comfortable during these hot days.

Enjoy summer!

Copyright (c) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher
Joy to the Home
Design Psychology for Glorious Living and Top-Dollar Sales

Wabi Sabi and Design Psychology

2005-07-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

Create a joyous home celebrating life combining Wabi Sabi and Design Psychology principles. Read about Wabi Sabi and its differences to Design Psychology.

Joy to the Home Journal and Free Reports

2005-07-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. The promised report "What is Design Psychology" will be made available next week.

We didn't expect so many subscribers. It's impossible to send each of you the report individually by email.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Jeanette

Stunning Powder Room Makeovers

2005-06-26T00:36:00.000-07:00

Your guest bathroom, or powder room, offers a great place to start with a home makeover. This small room takes less money and effort to redecorate than your larger rooms. You get a chance to develop you personal home interior design skills without committing to a huge project.

Because guests view this little space privately, they take more time to notice the interior design details. For this reason, you want to showcase great design to make a good impression. Also, hospitality shines in a well-appointed guest bath where it takes just a couple of splurges on extravagant fixtures to make a huge impact that your guests will remember. Guests may not remember your living room walls because they're focusing on the people in the space, but they will remember your powder room.

What if you don't have a powder room and guests use your children's bathroom?

Don't use juvenile-patterned wallpaper or accessories. Children appreciate being treated as adults and don't need a kiddy bathroom. Keep bathtub toys in the bathtub (in one of those plastic-coated wire baskets) and hang a ceiling to floor curtain in front of the bathtub. This curtain can be hung in front of the normal plastic liner from the ceiling. For small bathrooms, where the daylight comes in over the bathtub, use white or another light-emitting fabric. A curtain made of soft gauze or cotton does double duty; it softens the space with fabric while masking the bathtub, which is not a guest bath feature.

To finish any proper powder room, you need a great sink, faucet, and cabinet with a large mirror, plus the toilet.

* If you're working on a budget, look for sinks on sale at a warehouse store or at Habitat for Humanity's thrift store, ReStore.

* Don't buy a cheap cabinet, look for an antique dresser or buffet that spans the wall nicely.

* Stunning powder rooms highlight unusual mirrors; you may be tempted to keep the ugly wall mounted medicine cabinet, but if you truly want an impressive guest bath, try to store toothbrushes and other necessities in the cabinet below and move medicines to the kitchen, out of children's reach.

* For stubborn-stained toilets, you can use the swimming pool chemical muractic acid, with a lot of ventilation. If you need to replace the toilet, which only needs to be functional because the other details will outshine it, look for a toilet which blends in with your home's style.

Besides the fixtures, your flooring, walls, and ceiling offer the most economical home makeover opportunities.

* Because of the small area, you can use large ceramic tiles that mimic stone, marble, or even wood. Also, linoleum comes in a multitude of interesting patterns and has the benefit of being warmer to bare feet than tile.

The area that makes the greatest impact, the walls and ceiling, gives the best place to have fun with your home makeover.

* Decorative paint finishes, like subtle layering of glazes, add the designer's touch without the expense. Choose colors that harmonize with the rest of your home to reinforce your color theme. Use color psychology to make your powder room present a cooling oasis or a warming shelter.

Because people fee more comfortable in smaller bathrooms which offer privacy, a small bathroom offers the perfect place to practice your design skills.

Copyright (c) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher
For more information on feelings in home makeovers, see http://designpsych.com/ Jeanette's business website: Joy to the Home

How does "Joy to the Home" relate to "Design Psychology?"

2005-06-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

Since I uploaded the new Design Psychology website one day ago, I've had a few emails asking me: "How does "Joy to the Home" relate to "Design Psychology?" Also, questions why I didn't just expand Joy to the Home.com.

The Design Psychology website encompasses Design Psychology for home owners, home sellers, and real estate investors. Plus there is a section on office design and even an article for clinical psychologist offices ideas. (I get ten times the calls from psychologists than interior designers!)

Joy to the Home is the name of our business. It is also the name of the book I wrote years ago, which is at the editor's. The Joy to the Home website mainly will be for the book after publication. You can also look at our homes for sale on the properties page.

Now for the difference in the blogs. Joy to the Home blog is for homemakers. Design Psychology blog covers all areas of design for all your spaces--home and work.

I hope you enjoy all of our websites and blogs.

Jeanette

Copyright Jeanette J. Fisher
Why does this need a copyright? I have found tidbits of my writing in the strangest places. A Google search of my name in quotes brought up a bad credit mortgage company using my name and my Credit Help book as leads to them without any of my articles and website links! They have no reason to use my name except to steal my credit search clients. Also, since a blog is a place for rants, another person used my article for beginning real estate investors with his name as the author!

Colour Your World With Art

2005-06-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

By Gail Miller

When you buy art, you may think you not consciously choosing a colour scheme so much as buying something which appeals to your eye. You may prefer certain subjects for your pictures, such as land or seascapes, but certain colours, which do appear in these types of painting do evoke inner feelings and emotions. We know that some colours are calm and restful, some are hot, fiery and emotive.

Apart from colours used in actual artworks, it is easy to change the look of a picture with the window mount or frame used for it's display. Certain colours which may be used to mat a picture with can appear to alter colours used in the execution of a painting. You will not see this unless you actually place different coloured mountboards around a painting. Then you will see how different a painting can look. By selecting the correct colour mount, you can make a good painting look fantastic!

Next time you go out to buy artwork, instead of letting the subject dominate your choice, why not work out what feeling you would like the painting to add to your room. Do you want something to liven you up when you look at it; get the blood pumping, or do you want a picture that brings a sense of calm peace to a room? You can easily use colour to serve these purposes. So, how does different colour affect the senses?

Red - An intense colour, it stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It wakes you up, even agitates you....... It is also the color of love.

Pink - Is more tranquilizing. Research has suggested that this colour makes people calmer. One prison painted their cells pink and it reduced aggressive behaviour among the inmates.

Orange - The bright, happy, stimulating colour. Also associated with learning, which makes it great for a children's room.

Yellow - The colour associated with brightness and fun, although it is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering. When used in small amounts however, it produces a warm sensation.

Green - The colour which symbolizes nature. Very easy on the eye, green is used in hospitals a lot because it is believed to relax patients.

Blue - The colour of the sky and the ocean; on of the most popular colours. It is thought to cause the opposite reaction to red. Evoking tranquillity blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals. However, too much blue can be cold or depressing.

Purple - A luxurious colour, associated with royalty. Although feminine and romantic, it is a colour rarely seen in nature so can appear artificial.

Brown - The most reliable colour; the colour of earth and which is abundant in nature. The favourite colour of many men, it implies genuineness although this colour can also be sad and wistful.

Black / white - Sleek, stark black and white have to be used with care in order not to look sterile and artificial. Great for bold abstract artworks though.

So, next time you decide to buy artwork for your home or business space, have a think about what feelings or emotions you want to evoke beforehand. Don't simply pick a subject that you are 'comfortable' with such as animals, landscape or florals. Be adventurous; chose a different subject or go for evocative abstracts in colours that appeal to your senses.

Gail Miller is a professional artist whose artwork is a visual feast of colour and fun. Her fascination with bold colours and fluid, expressive shapes and line are evident in funky abstracts, sinuous nudes, vibrant still
life paintings and lively townscapes. http://www.gailmiller.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Creating Your Joyful Home: Dawning of Your Emotions

2005-05-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

"I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a full and clear light."
-Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)

Creating a joyful home requires careful planning in order to choose the perfect interior design details. When you understand the underlying psychology of colors, patterns, textures, and finishes, you avoid costly mistakes in decorating your home.

In planning your home makeover, start with the feelings you want to bring about in each space. Consider your personal emotional needs. Think about the way you currently feel in your home and the way you want to feel.

Not all of your desired feelings need stimulation in every space. For instance, you may want your child’s bedroom to inspire creativity and your main bedroom to inspire intimacy, while your whole home inspires comfort, peace, and joy.

Choose from the following emotional groups you desire to inspire in your home:

1. Happiness, Joyfulness, Cheerfulness

2. Peace, Serenity, Tranquility

3. Elation, Excitement, Enthusiasm

4. Humor, Congeniality, Playfulness

5. Fantasy, Inspiration

What are your preferences? Did you choose a particular group, or a mixture? Defining your desired emotional support first, before you start your home improvement projects, helps you get your home decorating right -- the first time!

Copyright (c) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Creating Your Joyful Home: Inspiration to Make a Home Planning Journal

2005-05-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Inspiration to make a home planning journal from Joy to the Home Planner

If you are planning a home makeover or remodeling project, here are some ideas to help you.

"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context--a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan."
- Eliel Saarinen (Finnish Architect)

Consider your home design from the smaller details and expand from there. Begin with how you want to feel in your space. Begin with the activity you want to enjoy; think about your desired emotional support and then choose your home furnishings accordingly.

Create Your Personal Declaration of Intent

Form your unique design plan encompassing your entire home, from the first glimpse, all the way throughout your home, and to the far reaches of the back patio, garden, or yard.

Think about the feelings you want to bring about: joy, peace, comfort, and contentment. Add in ease, simplicity, and economy. Start with your feelings and the emotions you want to bring about for yourself and those you share your home with.

Write down your ideas. Start with your desired emotion and expand until you create your personal design goal. Something like this:

"I desire peace. I want my home to sing in perfect harmony with the universe. I need to encourage nature's music of bird songs and plan a birdbath."

"I want natural warmth. I want the sun to shine in! No heavy window coverings will block out natural daylight. Ethereal light will be encouraged with soft, sheer window dressings for privacy."

"I feel like relaxing. I desire a padded rocking chair on my back porch with a table nearby for iced tea."

"We want joyful rooms to play together in. Only necessary furnishings will take up valuable play space."

When you first think of how you want to feel in a space, then you can choose the decorating details that will bring about your emotional well-being. I want everyone to feel welcome to my home, so I planted yellow and white flowers. I want my friends to feel refreshed when they park their car, so I planted shade trees. I want all who come to the front door to feel happy, so I painted my door a joyful shade of red.

Enjoy writing your desired feelings and playing with this concept!

Joy to you!

Copyright (c) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Subscribe to Jeanette's Joy to the Home Journal. http://www.joytothehome.com/

Decorate Your Home for Joy Using Design Psychology

2005-05-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

by Jeanette Joy Fisher

What Is Design Psychology?

Design Psychology exceeds "traditional" interior design practice by considering the effects of design elements on our five senses, as well as our emotions. Rather than decorating to impress or to follow a certain style, you can choose specific lighting, color, patterns, and other design elements to support your happiness and well-being.

Design Psychology includes an understanding of both physiological and psychological effects of design elements. For instance, our pituitary gland releases tranquilizing hormones when we view sky blue. Knowledge of physiological effects of color can be applied to home decorating to make sure a room uplifts, calms, or energizes.

Our physiological reaction to aspects of design leads to our psychological response. We all know that a trickling waterfall not only looks pretty, but relaxes those nearby. But do you know that certain textures make you feel irritable, while others comfort? Or that undulating patterns uplift the spirit, while geometric patterns cause anxiety?

With an understanding of design psychology you can choose elements of vision, hearing, touch, smell, and even taste which bolster positive feelings and contribute to happy living.

How Do You Get Your Home Decorated and Furnished Right the First Time?

Using design details chosen to encourage joyful living is easy. First, learn about lighting -- the most important factor in residential design. Next, use colors appropriate to the natural setting, lighting, and desired emotional response. Then think about reactions to patterns already in the space and add harmonious patterns based on nature; patterns proven to make people happy. Other design details in your home also come into play -- sounds, accessories, furnishings and arrangements for comfort.

Once you understand the science of Design Psychology, you can follow your own inspiration and creatively employ design elements.

Just as master artists study the physical body and anatomy, your background knowledge in Design Psychology prepares you with underlying theory. The practice or application of design details in Design Psychology is the ART of Residential Design.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Joy to the Home and other books teaches real estate investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, and newsletters, see http://www.joytothehome.com/

Color Help: Color Theory and Psychology

2005-05-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Color theory is an entire science unto itself, and to get a full picture of how it all works, I'd suggest picking up a few art books. In this article, however, we're going to take a brief look at the essentials of color theory, in light of the concepts of Design Psychology. we'll first list a term, and then offer a short summary of how the term relates to Design Psychology.

Hue

The base name of a color without any white, gray, or black added. The terms hue and color are interchangeable.

Color wheel

A color wheel contains twelve colors, based on primitive pigments. The three primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. Three secondary colors (composed of combinations of the three primary colors) follow: red and blue make purple; red and yellow make orange; yellow and blue make green. Six tertiary colors (comprised of combinations of primary and secondary colors) form the remainder of the color wheel: yellow-orange, red-orange, violet, blue-green, and yellow-green. Black is the total absence of color and white is the reflection of all colors.

Value or Lightness

This denotes the degree of lightness or darkness of a hue, in relation to pure white or black.

Intensity, Saturation, or Croma:

This term describes the degree of purity of a hue as compared to neutral gray of the same value. This is the freedom from added white or gray; how bright or dull a color appears in relation to the basic hue.

Shades

These are deep tones, in which black is added to a color.

Tints

These are pastels, in which white is added to a color.

Tone

Adding gray of the same value to a hue or adding its complement creates a tone.

Saturation

The intensity or depth of color, such as dark or light.

Monochromatic Color Schemes

This term is used to describe rooms with only tints and shades of the same color. Neutral color schemes are usually monochromatic.

Analogous, Side-by-Side, or Related Color Schemes

These rooms use adjacent colors to the principal color on the color wheel. This is considered a friendly scheme, because the colors blend well and create a soft effect.

Complementary or Opposite Color Schemes

Rooms that use colors from opposite sides of the color wheel. This is considered to be a power and action scheme.

Triad

Consists of three colors, spaced an equal distance apart on the color wheel. Triad color schemes can potentially cause glaring and confusing feelings when all the colors are intense.

Tetrad

Consists of four colors, spaced an equal distance apart on the color wheel. Tetrad color schemes create interesting effects because of the potential variety available. They are best when two colors dominate.

Topographical Color Schemes

These schemes contain colors from nature, such as rocks, earth, sky, sea, and plants.

Floral Color Schemes

These schemes use brilliant or pastel colors found in plants and flowers.

Colorways

Fabrics and wallpapers come in different combinations of colors, or colorways. A fabric pattern will have several selections of colorways to choose from. A pattern may be available in colorways of: yellow, blue and green, red, blue and green; or purple, burgundy and blue.

Visual Vibration

This occurs when neighboring colors appear to clash and vibrate in our vision, creating a dizzying effect that adds to nervousness and tiredness.

Cusp Colors

These are colors on the edge of two colors that take on different values under different lighting situations, such as, dark blue/purple (periwinkle), orange/red (terra-cotta reds), and blue/greens (teal). Periwinkle may appear more purple than dark blue at night or under different lighting systems.

Simple Color

This is a true color, without additive colors, such as sky blue, grass green, or apple red. A simple color is a pure color.

Complex Color

This is a combination of colors, such as silvery blue, or lichen (grayish green-brown). A complex color is a color that requires a long description, such as “sort of a grayish-blue with a hint of pink.”

Palette

The entire range of colors used in a design project.

These are the basic terms used to describe color schemes within the concepts of Design Psychology. Learning them is the first step toward creating dynamic spaces for both the interior and exterior of your home.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

For more articles, tips, reports, and newsletters, see http://www.joytothehome.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Cookware -- What's In It?

2005-05-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

by Debbie Overstreet and Susan Daniel

Have you ever wanted to buy new cookware but didn't know what
kind to buy? There are many types of cookware from which to
choose. The following is a summary of the different materials
that are used in cookware.

Cast Iron -- Your grandmother probably had a cast iron skillet.
It is heavy an inexpensive. It also conducts heat slowly and
evenly and can be used in the oven or on the stove.

Copper -- Copper is popular because it conducts heat evenly and
quickly. It is a very good choice for frying and sautéing. It is
also very pretty.

Aluminum -- This is inexpensive, lightweight, and responsive to
heat. However, it can affect the taste of the food you eat.

Stainless Steel -- It is moderately priced and is very strong. It
usually is mixed with an aluminum or copper core to help conduct
heat. And it too is very pretty.

Non-Stick -- With a non-stick surface, food does not stick to the
pan and cleanup is easier. If also cuts down on the amount of fat
that is needed for cooking. When cleaning up, you will want to
stay away from abrasive cleaners.

Finding the right cookware for your cooking style is very
important. If ease is on your mind, then non-stick is the way to
go. However, you may be more interested in the beauty of copper.
But no matter what your choice, there are many options in the
market place to find your new cookware.

Copyright © 2005 Susan Daniel and Debbie Overstreet

About Susan and Debbie: Susan and Debbie are internet marketers.
You can review more articles and Web sites on cookware and
recipes by visiting http://www.thecookwaresite.com

Creating a Faux Stone Finish for your Walls Using Old Newspapers

2005-05-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2005 Pamela Cole Harris
Home and Garden Makeover
http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com

Love the look of stone but you can't even afford the rocks in
your head? (That's a joke, son!) If you have old newspaper lying
around, you can have the look of stone you love -- inexpensively!
Here's how:

1. Paint the wall with a cote of white latex enamel. It is best
to use low-luster enamel with a sponge brush applicator
(available at most discount stores for around $1). Let the
paint dry to the touch.

2. Choose a flat earth-tone or neutral glaze using a clean
sponge brush. Apply the glaze in random strokes over
one-half the surface.

3. Repeat this step with a darker glaze, but leaving small
random areas unglazed.

4. Next we wash! Apply a white wash in some areas and a
earth-tone wash in others. Again, the more random the
better!

5. Fold an old newspaper in half and then in half again. Place
it flat against a small part of the wall and press. Lift and
repeat in another area. Each time you lift, more glaze will
be removed.

6. Turn the paper in different directions to help blend the
colors into random patterns. Fun, huh?

7. If you feel that one area needs more color, spread glaze on
the newspaper and press it flat to the desired area.

8. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the look.
Leave some light and dark spots in the pattern.

9. Let the paint dry. (Don't watch it - it's deadly dull!)

10. Finally apply more white wash to the entire surface. Soften
the colors by dabbing with a clean cotton cloth.

11. Allow the paint to dry once more. (I didn't say this process
would be exciting, did I?)

The look you will achieve with this technique will mimic the
depth, color variations and rough look of more expensive stone
tiles. Not bad for a little paint and some old newspaper, right?
Now go out there and dab!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pamela Cole Harris has been a writer and designer for 35 years
(Yikes, has it been that long?) Enjoy her tongue-in-cheek
approach to inexpensive interior design at:
http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com
and http://www.diy-homedecor.com

Your Home is Your Symphony

2005-05-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

"Dr. Carl Sagan once wrote, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Although Dr. Sagan was commenting on the wonders to be found in the vastness of outer space, there are also incredible design possibilities just waiting to be discovered right in your own home. In fact, your home’s overall design represents a symphony, and the individual design details are the musical notes you use to compose the melody and harmony for the symphony of your living space.

Your home should always bolster feelings of happiness, serenity, and comfort, and once you're aware of a few simple rules, composing a home symphony that supports positive emotions and encourages joyful living is easy.

Begin composing your symphony by choosing the color of your walls. All of your home’s colors should harmonize, both inside and out. Once you've chosen your exterior colors, bring subtle shades of those same colors inside, using them as accents throughout your home. Harmonize your colors with ones you see in the natural world surrounding your house. Use colors that blend with the lighting from the natural environment and support a feeling of serenity and cheerfulness.

Next, add carefully-crafted lighting, which is an important factor in all residential design. Well-designed lighting is both a science and an art, and when used in conjunction with color, sets the emotional atmosphere for the home. Too little light in a room can cause people to feel depressed, while rooms that are too bright can cause uneasy feelings.

Like the color of your walls, your lighting choices should also harmonize with the natural light that surrounds your home. The amount of light should vary, just as it does in nature, to give rooms a more natural feel and to evoke a note of harmony and peace.

The next movement in your symphony involves the textures you choose to employ throughout your home. Studies have shown that emotionally pleasing patterns based on nature encourage feelings of happiness and contentment. Undulating patterns, combined with gentle swags, lend an upbeat, natural feeling to a room, while rooms with no patterns feel boring because people are accustomed to the multitude of patterns displayed by Mother Nature.

Many other design details in your home also come into play when creating your home symphony, such as sounds, furnishings, and furniture arrangement. But regardless of which movement of your symphony you're working on, always keep in mind that balance is the key. And just like the combined elements of a symphony, your home must have some sections that promote quiet and rest--remember, it’s the vacant spaces between the notes that make the music.

If you look at decorating your home as if you were creating a symphony, in all of its complexity and harmony, you'll be able to make design decisions that are always in concert with your overall concept. If you continue to bear the complete work in mind, you'll choose design elements that resonate in harmony with each other, and your home will make joyful music for all who enter.

(c) Copyright 2005, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

For more information about Jeanette's "Joy to the Home" eNewsletter, see http://www.joytothehome.com/
For information on Design Psychology, visit http://www.designpsych.com/

How Does Your Home Make You Feel?

2005-04-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

Does your home make you feel happy, energized, and peaceful? Or do you feel unhappy, depressed, or distressed in your home and you don’t know why?

Many people design and decorate their home following traditional interior design methods only to feel unsatisfied with the results. Perhaps you’ve repainted, reduced clutter, and updated your kitchen, but you still feel something is missing. It’s time you learn the principles of Design Psychology so you can purposefully choose design elements that promote positive emotions and well-being.

Imagine revisiting the most memorable, joy-filled home you’ve visited. What made this home special to you? The people who lived there? Were they happy, enthusiastic, and enjoying life? What features in the home and furnishings instill joyful memories in you?

Envision your own joy-filled home. What feelings does this home conjure in your imagination? We want our homes to provide and promote comfort, relaxation, inspiration, refreshment, laughter, and happy moments. You can intentionally design your home to foster joyful feelings when you apply the principles of Design Psychology.

Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher

Are Biweekly Mortgages Really Worthwhile?

2005-03-27T18:08:00.000-08:00

You may ask what biweekly mortgages have to do with designing a joyous home. Here's why financial concerns make a difference to a happy home:

1. People who enjoy financial freedom feel less stress.
2. Charging home decorating materials costs too much in interest if not paid off quickly.
3. Homemakers who go heavily into debt for remodeling costs jeopardize their home.
4. Smart planning makes you feel good about yourself and your home.

Here is one home finance idea to help you...

You may have heard people, especially mortgage lenders, extolling the virtues of biweekly payments, saying that you can save thousands of dollars and take 5-7 years off your mortgage--and then offering to set up a biweekly plan for you for as little as $400. But you don't have to spend $400 to begin saving money and time on your mortgage. In fact, you don't have to spend anything at all! You can set up a money-saving mortgage payment plan yourself--easily and at no extra cost.

The key is to look carefully at the fine print in many biweekly plans. You find that even though you'd be making biweekly payments, the lender may only post them to your account on a monthly basis, which means that you wouldn't be saving anything on interest, because mortgage interest is paid in arrears (as opposed to rent payments, which are paid in advance). Your only real savings would be in the fact that you'd be making the equivalent of one extra payment a year. That’s a good thing, of course, but you don't need to pay someone $400-500, possible monthly maintenance fees, to be able to accomplish the same results.

Here’s how biweekly payments save time and money: By making biweekly payments, you actually end up making an extra monthly payment each year. Over the course of a year, you'd make 26 payments (one every other week for 52 weeks), which is the same as making 13 monthly payments. Making one extra payment per year will shorten the life of your loan and save you thousands of dollars.

But you don't have to make biweekly payments to obtain those savings. Here are a couple examples of how you can save big money, using the same basic idea:

If you get paid every two weeks, divide your monthly principal and interest payment in half and then send your lender a check for that amount during those months in which you receive three paychecks. Just sending in those two extra checks will be the equivalent of one extra payment a year.

If you don't want to send lump checks, you can get the same results by dividing your monthly principal and interest payment by twelve and then adding that extra amount to your payment every month. Normally, that figure won't put too much extra strain on your budget, and it will add an extra mortgage payment to your loan every year.

You really can save significant amounts of money and shorten the life of your loan by making extra payments, but you definitely don't have to pay a lender $400-500 to do it. Making those extra payments is easy to do yourself, and at no extra charge--which is always a good thing.

When you set up your budget, you'll feel responsible and not guilty about spending money for your next room makeover.

© Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher is the author of "Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars," "Credit Help! Get the Credit You Need to Buy Real Estate," and other books. Real estate financing questions? Visit the new Real Estate Credit Help Center for articles, Credit Tips ezine, and blog: http://www.recredithelp.com

California's Swan Lake

2005-03-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

This is the view of some of the white pelicans on Lake Elsinore.

Secrets of Master Home Designers

2005-03-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

By Lorraine Lawson

Many people feel they are destined to live in a home that is plain and lacks their unique personality because they aren't a designer. Nothing could be further from the truth. Fact is, with a little guidance, you can spruce up your home to make it inviting, warm and uniquely your own.

STYLE
One of the first steps is to decide what style you enjoy. Take time to look through design magazines, visit furniture stores, and take an afternoon or two to stop into model homes. You will be amazed at how many great ideas you will get by viewing something already in existence. Once you find some styles that suit you, allow those styles to be a manifestation of your personality.

PERSONALITY
Since your home is something that should be an expression of who you are, let your personality shine through. Be willing to allow your adventurous side to come out as you are exploring options for decorating your home. Far too often people carry on the tradition of the environment they grew up in even if that is not a true epresentation of their personality. Be willing to be yourself.

SIMPLICITY
We've all heard the expression, "Less is more." This may be very appropriate for the choices you make in decorating your home. Start with something simple. You can always add to your environment as you find unique pieces that fit your personality. Rather than rushing into a specific look, be willing to let the look evolve over time.

FLOW
The flow of your room is essential to the level of comfort you will experience. If there are numerous items blocking the flow of movement you may find you are actually feeling blocked. Be willing to experiment with the location of various pieces to get a sense of what works best for you. Make movement in the room easy and inviting.

ART
One of the most enriching aspects of a home is the artwork you choose. Not only is the artwork itself key to the overall feeling in a room, how a piece of art is framed can make all the difference in the beauty of the piece. You will be well served to invest in one or two pieces at a time and as your budget allows rather than rushing to fill the walls simply to add something. Art should speak to you. It should call to you. It is yet another expression of your personality and uniqueness. Choose with care and love as you would choose anything that brings beauty into your life.

Your home is your retreat from the world. Take time to create a space that is inviting and you enjoy being in. The more pleasure you derive from your home, the more balance you will experience while outside the home.

Lorraine Lawson is a fine artist based out of Campbell, California. She was born in Liege, Belgium home of her great-grandfather, Gustave Flasschoen, a renowned European artist. Although unique in her style, much of Lorraine's art has been influenced as a result of being surrounded by her great-grandfather's spirit. To view Lorraine's work visit www.onefineartist.com

Design on a Dime

2005-03-12T13:27:00.000-08:00

Fixing up your home shouldn't mean going into debt. In fact, we at Joy to the Home advocate ways to makeover rooms with little costs.

Because our research on happiness supported that high debt makes people miserable, here's something to think about.

Save money on your mortgage costs and pay off your home early.

If you make an additional $100 per month payment towards your house payment, you can save thousands of dollars. And possibly retire younger!

This is a typical example in the US:

Remaining mortgage balance: $270,508.68
Current interest rate: 5.700 %
Current monthly payment: $1,625.12
Extra amount paid: $100.00

This scenario pays off your remaining loan balance 3 years and 4 months earlier. Because you'll pay off your loan sooner, you'll pay less interest over the life of the loan. And save $39,071.01.

Let's take this one step further:
Extra amount paid: $200.00

This scenario pays off your remaining loan balance 6 years earlier. Because you'll pay off your loan sooner, you'll pay less interest over the life of the loan. And save $67,389.56.

Think about your home remodeling costs. Decide your long term goals first. Then explore ways to makeover your home on a budget that makes the most sense for your needs. Creating a joyful home shouldn't put you into debt.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher

Decorate Yourself Happy: How to Decorate For Everyday Pleasure/Joy

2005-03-11T18:49:00.000-08:00

Because psychologists relate true happiness to joyous occurrences happening frequently, decorating your home to promote everyday pleasure makes sense. If you're planning a home makeover, provide for the cumulative total of all the little pleasure moments.

When people rate their happiness, it is the ratio of pleasant to unpleasant emotions and experiences that count. These happy experiences may be simple pleasurable, everyday happenings, not always grand events.

Design Psychology, a new method for residential interior and exterior design starts with planning spaces to support emotional well-being. Homes decorated to support desired emotions create happy spaces for joyful living.

Design Psychology Ideas for Pleasure

1. A tea table in the Main Bedroom provides an intimate space for conversation or individual reflection.

2. A reading nook provides a quiet space for escape.

3. A game table provides a place for playing together.

4. A meandering pathway in the garden provides an enticement to stroll.

5. A garden bed provides the perfect place for relaxing and leisurely afternoon naps.

I mean a real bed, not a flower bed, although you need flowers too!

Let your imagination flow freely, enjoy the process, and focus on your goal of providing pleasurable daily moments at your home.

Joy to you!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Jeanette Fisher, Design Psychology Professor, is the author of Joy to the Home Journal. Discover innovative Interior Design Psychology and makeover your home to support happiness, productivity, and well-being. For Design Psychology information, see http://www.designpsych.com/ For more information about “Joy to the Home,” see http://www.joytothehome.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Does your home make you happy?

2005-03-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

Do all the home makeover shows on television inspire you to tackle a room makeover or make you want to move to your dream home? You’re not alone. The home remodeling boom shows no signs of slowing down. And more home sellers report they want to buy a larger home with more amenities.

However, you don’t need to rip your home apart or move on to create a home that makes you happy. You can start today with simple steps to shape a home that makes you smile. This doesn’t mean that you need to completely redo your home. Simple changes which cause happiness include decluttering, reorganizing, and gardening. A clutter-free home helps you avoid frustration. An organized home keeps your days focused on more important issues than finding lost articles. Spending time outdoors with nature keeps your body in harmony with the universe. Plus, you get to enjoy your garden every time you glance outside.

(This is from an article I'm working on. Check back to see more.)

c. Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher

Find Happiness in a Simple Home

2005-03-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

You don't need a mansion to live in a home that brings you joy. In fact, people rate their happiness by the number of pleasurable moments. Therefore, create a joyful home by making spaces that induce simple pleasures.

What's on your list of simple pleasures?

What's So Special About My Front Door?

2005-03-04T16:39:00.000-08:00

"The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live."

- Flora Whittemore

Your front door welcomes all to your home. This declarative statement of your house -- the exclamation point of your home -- needs to sing out your welcoming note.

First impressions are not just for guests. Generally, we do not receive as much company as we think we do. We lead such busy lives and simply do not entertain or visit friends often enough.

Decorating your home to impress others is not as important as decorating your home for your own pleasure. Create a welcoming and warm retreat in which you feel great joy just to arrive. Do you feel happy when you see your home in the distance? Does your first glimpse of home bring a smile to your face?

A problem with many new homes is that developers do not provide a separate walkway to your front door. To make yourself and your guests feel more welcome than a car, provide a separate front walkway from the street to the front door. Don't make guests walk around cars and trip on driveway edges to navigate to the entrance.

Feeling Welcome

Flowers lining the walkway provide a warm reception. Cheerful flowers in loud colors near the entry tell the world that you care about your home. Extras like water fountains, fishponds, cooing peace doves, and scented vegetation make all feel gladly received.

Sing Out the Address

Proud address numbers are bold and beautiful. Avoid tacky peel and stick numbers. Brass numbers need to have screw holes in them, not pronged ends that eventually work loose. As in the past, gold-gilded numbers look elegant on glass doors. Gold-gilded vinyl transfer numbers look especially exquisite in transom windows.

Welcoming Accessories:

Wind chimes add pleasure to our sense of hearing.

Potted plants such as soft ferns (shun unfriendly spiked plants and thorns near the doorway).

Floral baskets with bright yellow and white flowers show up better at night.

A pair of rocking chairs, a double glider, or a porch swing invites neighbors to stop and chat.

A doormat that not only saves your floors but also looks welcoming!

What Color Should I Paint My Front Door?

Unless your front door is a beautiful wood, paint it a joyful color. Your entry door should be a different color than the rest of your house. Warm happy colors include the shades of red and yellow: burgundy, claret, rust, terra cotta, deep amber, and sunny yellow. Cool happy colors of green include apple, sage, and forest green.

After spending time and effort creating a wonderful entryway into your home, use it! Why enter from the garage or back door? Treat yourself as well as you treat your guests. Come home through your welcoming front door!

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

What is the most important design detail for happiness?

2005-03-02T12:03:00.000-08:00

Lighting helps change a room for different uses more easily than any other design detail. We can light a room for the occasion or the activity of the moment. The change and variation provided by lighting enhances the rhythms of our daily lives.

From flickering candles and twinkling party lights to advanced micro-lighting systems, lighting gives us either a comfortable or a miserable emotional atmosphere. Understanding the effects of different lighting helps you select the exact fixture and light source to create the desired emotional setting.

EIGHT PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO LIGHT
1. Poor lighting causes eye fatigue and headaches.
2. Absence of natural daylight triggers depression and poor immune defenses.
3. Bright light stimulates us, while low levels of illumination quiet our senses.
4. Dim lighting or harsh contrasts produce eyestrain.
5. Too much artificial light and overly-bright rooms hurt our eyes and make us feel jittery.
6. Insufficient lighting is linked to emotional stress and to physical ailments.
7. An excess of unnatural light does not replace the calming effects of natural daylight.
8. Uncovered light bulbs cause irritation and disturb tranquility.

Notice how too much artificial lighting or too little supplementary light bring about the same harmful side-effects. Choose your lighting design carefully to assure emotional and physical comfort. Look for types of light fixtures with covered light bulbs. Use daylight-like light bulbs in combination with colored light to set the mood.

Consider another fact: people feel more comfortable with lighting from many sources. Combinations of lighting add variety and vivacity to our lives. Contrasting mixtures of brightness and darkness cause dramatic and lively changes in our home ambiance. Uniform lighting is good for working, but it is boring. Blending light sources halts insipid monotony in our rooms and in our lives. Selecting from a gentle radiance, a warm glow, to a bright, intense light involves understanding the effects of lighting on our emotions.

For these reasons, take care when selecting your lighting. Choose varying lighting effects to bring about your changing harmonious space.

(c) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

Color Help: Color Imagery for Happy Homes

2005-02-28T18:06:00.000-08:00

by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Color researchers have estimated that up to 70% of our subconscious reactions to people and environments are based solely on our reactions to color. With that in mind, it’s important that you give special attention to the effects you want to create when choosing the color schemes for the interior spaces in your home.

Color is a visual experience that influences our psychological reality. The way the mind perceives the colors our eyes see is called color imagery, and that mental image profoundly affects our emotions and physical comfort. Colors call out to our feelings and create the emotional atmosphere within a room.

So always begin your color deliberations by asking yourself what feelings you want to evoke in a particular room. Give thought to the purpose of the room. For instance, bathrooms should be retreats for cleansing rituals. In that light, what colors come to mind? Refreshing, blues, greens, creamy white, or your childhood bathroom color? Envision a Florida spring, tropical lagoon, or mountain waterfall. Expand on your joyful memories by adding colors that work for you.

In contrast to bathrooms, a dining room’s purpose is to gather the family together to share meals. Psychologists have proven that food actually tastes better when served in rooms decorated in “food” colors, such as reds, greens, browns, yellows, and pinks.

In our 1878 Victorian dining room, we painted the walls hot pink and then created a transparent overcoat glaze, using an amber tint and polyurethane. The result is a soft peach color. (The amber tint was the paint color from a neighboring room.) After finishing the dining room, we wallpapered the ceiling and painted it dark green with a rouge red border.

Each room in your home serves a different purpose and will require some thought as to which color you will need to add to the walls in order to elicit a particular emotional and physiological response from the people who will be using that room for a specific activity. If 70% of our subconscious reactions to people and situations have to do with color response, that means creating meaningful backdrops for every room in the house isn't something that should be approached lightly.

(c) Copyright 2005, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and a red main bedroom, see JoytotheHome.com

Soy Candles? What Will They Think of Next?

2005-02-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

by M J Plaster

Quick: What comes to mind when you think of soy candles? Before my formal introduction to soy candles, I thought organic (read expensive) and BEIGE! And not just the color beige, but beige as an overall description for soy candles—blah like baby food, ground chick peas, and a pale winter pallor. I had no idea why it would even occur to anyone to purchase a soy candle.

I couldn't have been more wrong in my assessment! After gaining a working knowledge of candles, soy candles reside front and center in my growing candle collection. When you learn the facts, you will probably replace your paraffin candles with the soy version, at least on an attrition basis. If you're still at the beige stage, read on while we shed a little light on the subject.

Paraffin vs. Soy

First, clear your mind of all preconceived notions that you've conjured up about soy candles. Replace those thoughts with just two thoughts for now: clean and fresh. Traditional candles made of paraffin are actually petroleum-based products.

Oil is not only a finite resource, primarily imported from the Middle East, it recently made a new all-time high. You see it reflected at the gas pump, and you'll see it reflected in candle prices, if you haven't already. You pay no premium to reap the benefits of soy candles, because soy candles are priced competitively with their paraffin counterparts, and soy candles last up to 50% longer than paraffin candles.

Petroleum products do not burn cleanly. If you wouldn't voluntarily walk into a burning petroleum field, then why would you burn paraffin in your home? If you burn candles regularly, try this experiment. Move a picture on your wall. If you see an outline on the wall at the edge of the picture, soot from burning candles is the culprit. That same burning petroleum deposits itself in your lungs, and it's a known carcinogen. Soy candles are non-toxic, burn cleanly without smoking, burn cooler than paraffin candles, and use all-natural cotton wicks.

If you've ever spent hours cleaning spilled wax on your floor or carpet, you know what an exercise in futility it can be. Sometimes there is simply no removing it. Spilled melted soy wax cleans up with soap and water, and it does come out, unlike some paraffin spills. Biodegradable soy has its practical advantages as well as its health advantages.

Made in the USA! Soy is a renewable resource, made right here in the United States, and you don't see much of that these days. You're helping the economy by using soy-based products, and charity begins at home.

Scented Soy Candle

With all these good-for-you attributes, you may wonder if you'll have to settle for the aroma of melting soybeans. Not only are scented soy candles available, but they are typically scented with a natural essence rather than a synthetic fragrance. With "flavors" such as Crème Brûlée, Gingerbread, Jeweled Citrus and Banana Nut Bread, you can easily tease your appetite with soy candles. In fact, soy candles burn more evenly than paraffin candles, and the fragrance lasts through the entire candle, rather than burning off in the top half of the candle.

Aromatherapy Soy Candles

It would seem a contradiction of terms to use a pure essential oil in a candle of paraffin, but it's a common practice. The highest-quality aromatherapy candles use pure essential oils, soy wax, and cotton wicks. If you're going to pay a premium for aromatherapy candles, and there are numerous benefits in doing so, make sure that the candle is comprised of 100% unadulterated, natural products. Otherwise, why bother?

As an educated consumer, you have the power to further the advancement of superior products through your purchases. Every industry requires research and development to make advancements, and the natural candle industry will evolve at a rate that makes economic sense. Through your support of natural candle products, you can effect a healthy change while enjoying the benefits and the pleasures of burning soy candles.

M J Plaster is a successful author who provides information on shopping online for soy candles and candles in general. M J Plaster has been a commercial freelance writer for almost two decades, most recently specializing in home and garden, the low-carb lifestyle, investing, and anything that defines la dolce vita.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Create a Joyful Home with Living Accessories: Houseplants

2005-02-14T01:48:00.000-08:00

Houseplants can be soothing because of their visual impact. Besides being naturally appealing, interior plants can make you feel cooler on hot days, especially when they move softly in the breeze from a ceiling fan.

Houseplants are natural air filters, and can remove up to 70 percent of indoor air pollutants. Plants such as English Ivy, scheffleras, spider plants, and philodendrons absorb large also quantities of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and benzene. The most effective plants at removing air pollution are spider plants, pot mums, snake plants, and aloe vera. They're so effective, in fact, that environmental scientists recommend one plant per 100 square feet in your home and office.

Plant lights, in canister fixtures placed on the floor, can highlight a houseplant while casting dramatic shadows on walls and ceilings. Uplights, placed under palm trees cast magnificent line-type shadows, while plants with holes in their leaves, such as Swiss Cheese Philodendron, will cast lace-like shadows.

You can use houseplants to make a uniquely individual statement. For instance, one of my friends has only spiked-leafed plants in her home -- spider plants, snake plants, corn plants, cast iron, and bromeliads. My cousin could only seem to get pothos to grow in her home, so she filled her entire house with them.

Delicate houseplants soften your space, while spiky plants add interesting texture. Collections of African violets, ferns, or trees of all sizes can look fantastic, too. Topiaries, shaped like globes or animals, can add a feeling of luxury and amusement, while Bonsai plants will add a sense of richness to your home.

Keeping Plants Healthy

Because some houses don't have adequate daylight for houseplants, the best method for keeping your houseplants healthy is to have two plants for each desired space. Keep one plant in a sheltered outside area and one in its decorative site, and switch the plants at least once a week. Special plant light bulbs can also help.

Low light plants include the cast iron plant, philodendrons, pothos, Chinese evergreen, English Ivy, and Satin. Flowering plants, like begonias, impatiens, and fuchsias, require more light. Plants requiring considerable amounts of water generally have hair-like roots, such as ferns and coleus, while plants requiring less water have thicker roots, like spider plants and cactuses.

You can remember to fertilize your plants by doing it on the first of every month, except in cold winter. Adding fish emulsion in the middle of the month during spring will help feed hungry plants like ferns. My staghorn fern has thrived for 15 years on banana skins and an occasional misting of orchid food.

Flowering plants, like white flag or peace lilies, need water-soluble fertilizer with a 20-20 concentration. Applying Plant Shine, a spray available in garden centers, once a month will clean and beautify leaves.

They may take some effort to help them continue to thrive, but the benefits you'll derive from keeping houseplants in your home will be well worth any inconvenience, and you'll be healthier and happier as a result.

Joy to you and your healthy, happy home!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Creating Your Joyful Home: Inspiration to Make a Home Planning Journal

2005-01-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

If you are planning a home makeover or remodeling project, here are some ideas to help you.

Inspiration to make a home planning journal from "Joy to the Home Planner:"

"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context -- a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan."
- Eliel Saarinen (Finnish Architect)

Declaration of Intent

Form your unique design plan encompassing your entire home, from the first glimpse, all the way throughout your home, and to the far reaches of the back patio, garden, or yard.

Think about the feelings you want to bring about: joy, peace, comfort, and contentment. Add in ease, simplicity, and economy. Start with your feelings and the emotions you want to bring about for yourself and those you share your home with.

Write down your ideas. Start with your desired emotion and expand until you create your personal design goal. Something like this:

"I desire peace. I want my home to sing in perfect harmony with the universe. I need to encourage nature’s music of bird songs and plan a birdbath."

"I want natural warmth. I want the sun to shine in! No heavy window coverings will block out natural daylight. Ethereal light will be encouraged with soft, sheer window dressings for privacy."

"I feel like relaxing. I desire a padded rocking chair on my back porch with a table nearby for iced tea."

"We want joyful rooms to play together in. Only necessary furnishings will take up valuable play space."

When you first think of how you want to feel in a space, then you can choose the decorating details that will bring about your emotional well-being. I want everyone to feel welcome to my home, so I planted yellow and white flowers. I want my friends to feel refreshed when they park their car, so I planted shade trees. I want all who come to the front door to feel happy, so I painted my door a joyful shade of red.

Enjoy writing your desired feelings and playing with this concept!

Joy to you!

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Decorate Like You See in Magazines & Books?

2004-11-20T13:16:00.000-08:00

by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Have you ever wondered why interior designers place slippers on the ottoman in magazine photos? They do it to make the staged setting look as if it’s a lived-in room. Pictures and illustrations in decorating books, magazines, and other advertisements are designed to sell a product or an idea.

But what’s missing in the staged rooms of most interior design books and magazines? People.

When it comes to decorating your own your home, forget the empty rooms you see in the magazines and books. You should design your rooms as backdrops for the people who use and live in those spaces. In order to best utilize the spaces in your home, try these simple techniques:

Leave empty space. Empty space gives you breathing room and allows the most important items in the room to shine, which are the people!

Use small patterns on walls and furniture. Avoid large-patterned fabrics and wallpapers with designs larger than your head. Huge florals will interfere with the appearance of the people in the room. You don’t want to have to compete with bold patterns behind your face. Patterns on sofas and chairs that clash with clothing will also make you and your guests feel uncomfortable.

Use colors that complement people. Finding the right colors to complement your skin and eyes deserves planning. Most people look great when surrounded by color. For light skin colors, use yellows, pinks, and beiges. For darker complexions, yellows, olives, and tans can make people stand out. Since most people no longer have bright white in their eyes, avoid pastels that are whiter than the white in your eyes.

Add textures that feel good to the touch. Support your sense of touch by adding textures that are nice to caress. You don’t have to touch velvet to sense its softness, and soft textures like chenille and satins will visually support your feeling of being pampered, as well.

Arrange accessories to shore up emotions. In one of my rooms, I arranged my mantle accessories to make a statement, and it looked great in photographs, but after analyzing why the mantle didn’t seem to smile, I realized that it wasn’t personal. When I filled it with Mili fiori lamps, crystal candlesticks, and antique vases, the space looked great, but it really began to smile when I added a Mexican Rose rock under the painting.

Think comfort before pretense. Just because a sofa or chair looks fabulous doesn’t mean the piece is comfortable. Remember, when you walk around a showroom, sitting down on any piece feels good, but in order to truly test a piece of furniture, you need to sit on it for a long time, until you feel totally rested. Only then will you be able to feel the real support and comfort level of that piece.

Remember, your home is a place for people, and when you and your guests look and feel great in your home, you can be sure that you’ve designed a great setting; one that far outshines the staged sets you’ll see in magazines and books.

Joy to you!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Color Help: Choosing Color Combinations

2004-11-20T13:06:00.000-08:00

by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Choosing a color scheme can be a nerve-wracking business. For instance, I anguished over the colors to paint the exterior of my Victorian house, I ordered every book on old house painting that I could find, and I discovered that they all contradicted each other on the basic “rules.”

Finally, the color scheme came to me. I would paint the house with my favorite colors! I love amber and red, so, fair gold and burnt red it became, along with temple green, dark-shutter green, dark amber, white, and black outlined windows.

Temple green paint for porch ceilings, believed to keep out evil spirits, is a historic Southern superstition and tradition. Even our local historic art museum had the electrical junction boxes painted in this color. Black outlining of the muttons and mullions (the wood window dividers) highlighted antique glass and added depth to the windows. This type of paint outlining is like eyeliner -- a makeup enhancement. The flat front edge of the window trim is painted in the sash trim color.

Traditionally, Southern porches were painted gray, but I like to feel grounded, so we painted our porches a deep green. This color anchors the porch floor to the green lawn, and during hot summer days, dark green is cooling. When the grass is brown during winter, green porches offer the promise of a green spring and relieve our gray days. Dark green paint with some black pigment mixed in gives a richer appearance than common green.

Grouping Colors for Harmony

Monochromatic color schemes, using varying shades, tones, and tints of the same color, give the impression of different colors and provide variety and interest. A single color scheme gives a unified, peaceful, and harmonious response. Monochromatic colors effectively establish an overall calming presence while tying things together, but can become boring or dull because of the lack of color contrast and liveliness.

The analogous, or side-by-side, color scheme adds depth, energy, and visual appeal. Using two or three related colors next to each other on the color wheel, analogous combinations are both flexible and attention-grabbing. The relationship of the related colors brings harmony to the setting. One problem with this type of color scheme is that inadvertently adding a fourth color spoils the effect. Analogous color combinations of yellow, red, and orange, although full of life, constantly heat up the space whereas, blue, teal, and green always visually cool a space.

Complimentary, opposite, or contrasting color combinations come from opposite sides of the color spectrum. A warm color, combined with a cool color, creates an interesting combination, such as yellow and purple, red and green, or blue and orange. They are also visually pleasing to most people. Because the two colors contain all three primary colors, the color scheme is complete and well-balanced.

There is a great body of literature devoted to color schemes, but if you're like me, the more you read, the more confused you can become. In the end, it’s sometimes best just to do like I did with my beloved Victorian home, and begin your deliberations by thinking about the colors you personally like best.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.