At Accent Window Fashions every month is window covering safety month, but October presents our industry with the perfect reminder of the importance of this topic of conversation. We care about the safety of our clients, their children, and their pets.

Safety is EVERYTHING
Safety is the most important consideration for homes with young children or pets. The window coverings you select should have no looped or loose pull cords, and wands should be out of your child's reach, so it's best to look for cordless or motorized window treatments.

Cordless Operating Systems
Cordless Operating Systems LiteRise® from Hunter Douglas is a great cordless option because it's easy to operate. Simply push the window covering up to raise and pull down to lower – and your blinds and shades stay right where you put them.

Last month’s article discussed some basics of a well-designed room. This month’s tips will help you put on the finishing touches, letting your personality shine, while have fun making your house a home!

Be Consistent. Every room in your home can and should be different, however, you do need to maintain continuity from room to room. When arranging and decorating your family or living area take a look at everything that “touches” it, all the connected spaces. Think of the way you dress yourself, tying the pieces of your wardrobe together is much the same as tying together the rooms in your home.

Be creative! Furniture does not need to be against the wall or even in a straight line. An intimate, cozy furniture grouping should be the goal of your seating area to promote easy conversation and pull it all together!  Angle or group furniture to fit in with the architecture of the room, always keeping the traffic flow areas clear. 
Accent your Neutrals. Neutral colors will stand the test of time. Unless you can afford to change things often, use neutrals on the walls and for larger, more expensive pieces. Incorporate the latest trends or colors in easily replaced accents such as pillows and throw blankets.

Anchor your Rug. If you are incorporating an area rug in your room, you want it to “belong” there and not look like a bathmat. An equal amount of exposed flooring around your rug (typically 12 – 18”) will frame your rug and help balance the room. In small spaces anchor your furniture with a 4 x 6 or 5 x 8 rug in the center with furniture placed around, not on, it to create a feeling of openness.  For larger spaces, use an 8 x 10 rug, placing the front legs of your furniture pieces on the rug. In an open plan, it may be best to use a 9 x 12 or larger rug that most of your furniture can fit on comfortably, placing all the legs on the rug.

Personal Touches. Use things you love, make your room unique and allow it to reflect your family. A signature piece, such as a family heirloom, your shell collection from a vacation, an antique lamp, or Grandma’s cabinet may become your inspiration for the entire room. Select art you love or frame your children’s artwork to adorn the walls. 
Final Touches. One item often overlooked are window coverings. They are functional, blocking glare on TV screens, protecting flooring and furnishings, reducing heat or keeping the cold out, and adding privacy. They also put the finishing touches on your room’s décor. A local window covering expert will help you consider your options and find the best choice for your budget, décor, and lifestyle. 

Follow these expert tips, add your own style, have fun and before you know it everything will come together in your family room making it feel “just right” to you and your guests! 

Have you ever been in a living or family room that just feels right? Everything comes together creating a space that is comfortable and inviting? Applying these tips from the experts can help you create that same feel in your own home.
Focus. Determine the focal point(s) of your room. A fireplace, TV, window, or built-in shelves are common choices. Your decision may be dependent upon the function of the room. You will want to arrange your furniture in a way that takes full advantage of your focal point and enhances the function of your space.  TIP: If your space doesn’t have a natural focal point, you can create one using artwork, or free-standing furniture.

Purpose and People. How do you use your space? Will you be watching TV, visiting with friends, working, eating, or maybe playing games? How many people would you like to be able to seat comfortably? Would you like a spot to lay or lounge in addition to seating? Who lives in your home? Any pets? Answering these questions will help you decide on the function, size, type, and quantity of furniture and window coverings that will be best for your space. TIP: Narrow down function and allow the room’s real purpose to help with your décor decisions.

Traffic Flow. People need to be able to move freely into and out of the space. If you’re drawing your plan on paper or using software (recommended!) you may want to draw arrows indicating traffic patterns and flow. Be sure to keep these in mind as you lay out and arrange your furnishings.
Define Your Style. Regularly look through magazines or online sites, cut out or print your favorites and compile them in a folder or scrapbook. When it’s time to make decisions, review your compiled favorites to help you identify your personal style and incorporate these ideas into your décor.
Scale and Balance. Furniture pieces should go together in terms of color and size, but more importantly, your selections need to match the scale of your room. A giant sofa in a small room will make your space feel cramped and look out of place. Large rooms with high ceilings allow for larger pieces. Once you’ve found the perfect pieces, maintain balance by evenly distributing your furnishings so the room doesn’t feel too crowded in one area and sparse in another.

Numbers to Know. Paper or computer programs help, but can be a little deceiving when it comes to spaces. Apply these standards to help you make the function and flow work on paper AND in real life:

• Major Traffic Patters – 36”; Minor Walkways – 24”
• Sofa to Coffee Table – about 18” for leg room and comfortable reach
• Side table and sofa height – Table about the same height as arm of chair or sofa
• TV to seating – about 7’, more or less depending on room and TV size

We hope these tips have been helpful. Watch for the finishing touches in part 2 coming soon!

Selecting the perfect kitchen table will help set the scene.

Just like the design of your entire kitchen plan, kitchen tables are available in all colors, sizes, shapes and styles. Selecting the right table will make it the anchor for your most-used room. Consider a table that will meet all your needs, from homework projects to family meals to a food preparation work surface.

The perfect table for you will be different than the ideal table for other people. Think about how you want it to function, as well as the look that appeals to you. You may want a table that you can move, even one with locking wheels, so you can keep it in the center of the space most of the time, but have flexibility to move it against the wall to serve buffet food or drinks.

Also think about how you want people to feel when they spend time in your kitchen. Then think about your style preference – modern or traditional, neutral or full of color, sleek or cozy. Some people prefer a retro look, with vintage chrome or laminate. Others like the feeling of a sidewalk café with a French bistro table with metal chairs. Still others cozy up to a traditional distressed oak table with cushioned wood chairs.

When selecting the perfect kitchen table, also think about maintenance. A durable, low-maintenance surface will probably be high on your priority list, so your kitchen table can accommodate all your needs. Many surfaces are easy to clean and maintain, including butcher block, tile, marble, glass, laminate and some antique woods because they’re already distressed!