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Plum is a vibrant hue that can add a luxurious feel to any space. However, if you enjoy a minimalist design, this color can also add some spice while providing those clean and neat lines that you love. In fact, plum looks great in both traditional and modern designs.

Plum vs. Purple

You may be wondering “how does plum different from purple?” For many, differentiating between the two can be challenging, especially when it is time to implement the color in a design scheme. Plum is a hue of purple that falls right between the magenta and purple spectrum. It is a deep and warm color that is considered classic and regal. On the other hand, depending on what colors you pair this hue with it can come off as super bright and earthy. Luckily, plum is a versatile color that offers homeowners with a little wiggle room during the design process.

Plum as a Wall Color

Since plum is a rich color, it can instantly add depth and weight to the walls. Added depth and weight will visually expand the room. Often, when painted on the walls, plum acts as an accent color. You can trim your neutral walls with plum, or if you are feeling especially bold, you can create an accent wall featuring this rich tone.

In a room with a lot of architectural details such as arches and beams, plum looks great when painted on all the walls and the trim is left white. In fact, white trim makes the plum color pop and prevents the room from looking too dark.

Plum and Bold Colors

When working with plum, you do not always have to pair it with more neutral shades. Plum looks great with other bright colors such as vibrant blues and purples. When you are using this color on your walls, you can opt for other bright colored accessories. Plum and pink is another beautiful combination, especially for a bedroom. It gives you a feminine flair without being too girly. Combining other colors like turquoise and chartreuse will definitely make a room pop. If you are planning on making plum a dominant hue in the room, make sure you use other colors to truly bring out the beauty of this shade of purple.

You have probably heard of the term minimalism, or less is more. This has been a trending style over the last couple of years. While it will never fade because of its functionality and style, it created a new style along with it. With minimalism, the design of maximalism was born. This style took longer to develop correctly, but now is being used in homes and stores today. Maximalism utilizes every inch of square space to be expressive. It does not focus on “less is more” but allows everything to shine. This eclectic design still has strict guidelines to make sure it is executed correctly. Here is everything you need to know about incorporating maximalism into your home:

It Is Okay to Be Busy

Stop saying less is more. Designing a space is your chance to express yourself and make a statement. Be bold and put unexpected patterns and unique combinations together. From high-designed wallpaper to custom area rugs, this style feels busy, yet throughout all the elements, it still feels balanced. Most designs find a focal point to reflect or give homage. In this design style, however, every elegant pattern, unique throw pillow, colorful curtains, and extraordinary piece of wall art can stand alone. The focus of this design is every piece should be focused on individually. Do not match furniture but allow each piece to feel unique and special to the atmosphere. Remember, just because everything can stand alone, it still needs to feel cohesive to the environment.

High Level of Detail

Maximalist Design does not mean a cluttered, eclectic mess. Instead of a single picture, incorporate a gallery wall. In its place of a monotoned carpet, invest in a highly charismatic rug with high, intricate levels of designs. Think abundance of textures in the atmosphere. You can have giant pillows, textured walls, throw blankets and pillows. Allow your décor the opportunity to enhance the space, not be shadowed by the theme.

Very Open Color Palette

Unlike minimalism, maximalism design has a very accepting color palette. You can use warm tones and cool tones. You can use neon or pastel hues. You can also have the occasional black and white in the room to create a hard contrast. Colors are highly influential in the environment. All your colors to create your space!

Maximalist is a highly trending design. It is incredibly expressive and can feel glamorous and classy while incorporating high levels of design. While this design can be challenging to perfect, it is beautiful when done correctly. Let your home be an expressive outlet of your personal styles and taste to best express yourself. For more insight on some of the most trending interior design styles, make sure to subscribe, and let us know below what your favorite interior design style is!

Are you trying to determine which style you want to use for updating your home’s kitchen? If you are leaning towards a specific trend, you will want to make sure that what you choose will be in style for quite some time. We have compiled a few kitchen style trends to help jump-start making that final decision. Let’s take a look!

Farmhouse

Farmhouse style is rustic but also has clean lines. This style has been around for several years, and design experts think it will be around for several more. The farmhouse style takes new and old features and blends them together beautifully. You will see lots of wood in the kitchen from the cabinets, the island, the ceiling, the flooring, exposed beams to the furniture. Often, the color palette is neutral to white with pops of color used in the accessories. If you have a beautiful, darker wood floor, consider choosing a white cabinet color, so the contrast between the two is undeniable! Regarding the texture of choosing your wood floors, we recommend using distressed, reclaimed, wire brushed or hand-scraped floors for that extra rustic charm.

Contemporary

Contemporary style is everywhere in today’s homes and commercial/business interior design. This style is clean and crisp with many ideas focused on today’s open floor plans. We recommend choosing a natural palette with white walls, cabinets, or floors. Bring a pop of color in the kitchen with the use of brightly colored artwork or accessories. Think of bright cobalt blue kitchen canisters with matching dinnerware and drinkware for that extra pop of color.

Coastal

Many of us love the beach and want to bring that look into our homes even if we do not live close to the ocean. Coastal colors are whites, tans, grays, and blues can create this beachy oasis. In today’s market, we also want to bring some green-blue into the color mix. Think about your flooring being a gray distressed or blonde hardwood to replicate the beach’s sand. With the coastal colors and timeless hardwood floors, you can create a vacation-inspired kitchen.

Which kitchen style is your favorite? We would love to hear your thoughts below in the comment section.

Whether you are moving, remodeling, renovating, or installing new light fixtures, it is important to understand all of the different lighting options available to consumers. Today, we are going to focus on kitchen lighting. The lighting inside of kitchens is imperative for a successful meal. You need to be able to see what you are doing whilst in the kitchen. To help you find this perfect balance, we have created a guide of the most popular types of kitchen lighting. Let’s take a look!

Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting is an easy way to add glamour and luxury into a home. If you are not familiar with the term, recessed lighting is hidden in the ceiling in little tins to create a more spacious feeling. Most homeowners install recessed lighting for their beauty as well as their easy to clean nature. The only issue with recessed lighting is that you will need enough space above your ceiling for installation. They help to create a beautiful atmosphere but they are not solely used to light a kitchen. 

Pendant Lights

For a more stylish approach, homeowners have shifted gears towards pendant lights. Not only are they stylish, but they are extremely functional. They help provide a closer light to areas which in essence, provides better visibility while cooking. The only issue homeowners find with pendant lights is that they hang low from the ceiling which could potential get in your way while cooking. 

Surface Lights

Surface lights are referred to as the “mushroom” or “bubble” light fixtures in homes. They are placed directly on the ceiling and provide an ample amount of light. They are in fact, easier to clean than the two previous lights mentioned. The only issue homeowners have with surface lights is that they are very visible. If you do not like the look of them, we would not recommend choosing them. With recessed lighting, you have a hidden light source and with pendant lights, you are provided a stylish approach to lighting. Whereas with surface lights, they are kind of just there.

If you are remodeling your home, be sure to keep us in mind for new flooring. We would love to help you complete your home with beautiful floors, cabinets, windows coverings, and countertops. For more information on our vast selection, please visit our website here.

Interior design is not only about having functionality in a space but creating a visually appealing atmosphere. While aesthetics and beauty are subjective, there are several ways that you can help enhance the design and visual outcome of a room.  One tried-and-true trick that has been commonly used throughout the centuries is allowing pairs to complement each other.  There are several ways you can use the power of pairs to help enrichen your atmosphere and create a harmonized and compelling environment. 

Symmetry Through Seating 

Symmetry influences the space’s flow.  There are many different ways to accomplish this but pairing furniture takes the win.  Create the scene by allowing complementing chairs or couches to mimic each other in the room.  These duos can create balance and make a more coherent and harmonized room.  You can even cattycorner your pairs or use them asymmetrically to add interest.  In these layouts, the pairs will still be noted as one and help enhance the overall space. 

Harmony with Lighting 

Another way to help harmonize the atmosphere through pairings is through the use of lighting.  Duplicate lamps can help give the room a more “even” illumination.  With lights paired correctly in a room, you can create even shadowing and consistent lighting throughout the space.  You will find that lights are a powerful tool in design.  Complement them with pairing two and watch them transform your home. 

Balance with Décor 

Décor is an artistic and creative way to express your design theme.  While contributing to the overall appeal of the room, décor does not need to stand alone.  Using duplicate décor can create symmetry back in the room and make it feel more balanced.  Try doing this with a simple bowl, baskets, books, or other decorative objects in your home. In doing so, you will add interest and aesthetic appeal. 

There are three types of balance: symmetry, asymmetry, and radial.  You can incorporate all in your home to create different feels in your room.  Never neglect the power of pairs though in your space.  While singular chairs or art can be unique, duos work together to complement one another.

The key to Rustic Design is earthy tones and natural elements.  Dark browns and warm woods thrive in this atmosphere, allowing the country-style design to flourish.  Architects use things like exposed wooden beams, copper accents, and oak doors to credit the beauty of natural elements as well. However, there are many “unnatural elements” which have trickled their way into the industry, and we find that they are still considered to be very much natural in appearance:

Brick 

When you think of a countryside’s natural elements, you probably imagine everything you would find out and about on a hike.  Woods, stones, even some metals may come to mind; however, when it comes to brick, you think of it as an artificial building material, and it may not be your first thought.  But in fact, adding bricks to your home can help amplify a traditional Rustic Design while helping to bring in a little color to your room.  Whether you go with the classic red, darker browns, or even white painted options, bricks have proven themselves worthy of amplifying the design in Rustic Style.

Concrete 

A stone fireplace with a wooden mantle is a timeless staple in Rustic Design, whereas, concrete is a man-made element. But recently, designers have shifted gears and begun to incorporate concrete in their designs, and they do not limit themselves solely to concrete flooring.   There is a wide variety of great concrete elements on the market today, such as concrete end tables, concrete walls, and even polished concrete countertops.  With new textured concretes available, adding concrete to your Rustic Design can help spruce up your space as well as keep the room feeling balanced and well grounded. 

Vinyl Planking 

Hardwood floors are a beautiful home remedy; however, not all spaces are tailored for all hardwoods.  Luxury Vinyl Planking has come a long way in engineering and designs.  Luxury Vinyl Planking can mimic many natural kinds of wood while coming with many added benefits. Vinyl Planking can come as a floating floor and be installed over virtually any surface, most on the market today come with a durable surface, and waterproof Luxury Vinyl Planking has overtaken the market.  Investing in Luxury Vinyl Planking in your home is a phenomenal home investment which can look great and hold up to wear and daily traffic. 

Rustic design flourishes off natural elements while also being amplified with some of these “unnatural” tricks.  Have your atmosphere feeling robust and lively by adding some of these man-made elements into your design.  Be creative and find balance when creating your space.

Choosing the right entryway floor pattern will help set the tone for the overall design of your home.  This area of your living space will be the first thing that guests see; therefore, it can be the perfect opportunity to impress them with a unique and eye-catching display.  While there are multiple ways to draw attention to your home’s entrance through patterns and material choices, be sure to keep reading and learn how to ensure this spot in your home does not go unnoticed.

Shapes

If the thought of using multiple materials and tile shapes seems overwhelming to you, consider choosing a uniquely shaped tile or one that can be arranged in a pattern by itself.  A hexagon or fish scale shape will catch the eye by merely being an unexpected choice, or to create a design with an ordinary tile shape, you can use a long, thin rectangular tile and install it in a herringbone or basketweave pattern.

Bordered

A simple idea for adding distinction to your flooring is through the addition of a border.  This can be accomplished with tile or hardwood. Your border can be right around the perimeter of the room, or you can bring it in a few inches to make more of a statement.  For hardwood, simply use a different stain for your border pieces.  For tile, choose a border color that will complement not only the entryway but the rest of your home.  Inside the border itself, you can have the pieces arranged on a diagonal, parallel or perpendicular angle to the direction of your border.  It is your preference!

Sizes

Using different sizes of tile can help bring depth and style to an entryway design.  Using large white square tiles staggered with small black square tiles will keep the design looking symmetrical while preventing it from becoming boring.  You can also use three tile pieces of the same color in different shapes and sizes to create a pattern where each piece is locked into the other without grouping the similar ones too closely together.

Floor Medallion

For a real showstopper of an entrance, if you have a large enough room, consider a floor medallion.  This creates a focal point from which you can expand your floor’s design outward.  Since the attention should stay on this unique piece, you can keep the remainder of your flooring materials relatively simple.

Which floor pattern caught your attention? We would love to hear your thoughts below in the comment section. Thanks for reading!

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese pseudoscience that attempts to bring the energies found in nature into our homes to create a livelier and more energetic living environment.  Doorways are considered the gateways or the “mouths” for chi energy to enter into your home.  Different variables such as the direction of the doors or where they are located in the house all play a role in obtaining the perfect Feng Shui throughout your home.  If you are new to the concept, here are several rules of Feng Shui that you may not know and can integrate into your own home:

Color

Believe it or not, color has an “effect” on the Feng Shui of your home.  The direction your front door is facing has a correlating color assigned to it.  For example, south-facing doors are to be painted red, whereas a north facing door is to be blue or black.  Swapping this can “create” negative energy.  East facing doors are always to be natural wood colors and west facing doors are to be yellow.  The pseudoscience presents a reason for each color and how they can help bring your home prosperity and good fortune.

Front Door

Your front door should also be your most grand entrance.  This is typical in most house designs today but does not always hold true.  Your front door is actually supposed to open in to bring positive energy in and not open out which would essentially be pushing the positive energy back out into the world.  In Feng Shui, it is also believed that a good front door should open into a wide opened space and never be blocked.  You can put plants on either side of the door as well to help bring the outside into the home.

Visibility

Is your front door visible from other rooms in your house?  Walls can block positive energy from flowing freely throughout your space.  A front door should be able to be seen from different rooms in the house and should also be a respectable size to the complement the size of the home.  A door that is too little or too big for a home can prevent “energy” from entering your home.

How does your house does hold up to the rules of Feng Shui? We would love to know below in the comment sections.

Your home’s design should be able to accommodate even your smallest areas, and learning how to maximize your space is key to designing your home.  Remember, functionality is always the first question you need to ask yourself when creating an area.  With this in mind, maybe you have struggled to find a use for a small nook in your home.   These cutouts can be frustrating because they are not big enough to make into a room but still have enough space to be a visual eyesore if left unattended.  Well, you are in luck, because we gather our favorite nook transformation ideas that you can use in your home. Let’s take a look!

Breakfast Nook 

If you have a nook in your dining room or kitchen, it can be the perfect opportunity to transform that area into a breakfast nook.  You can add a bench with cushions to make a relaxing environment in the mornings. You can even build a custom bench to wrap around the nook, which has become more common or just add a small table with chairs.  That being said, we find that bench seating is always a great option to get the most out of your space.  You can even facilitate one of the walls as your bench’s backrest to cut costs.

Coffee Station 

Adding a coffee station can be a fun, robust add-on that is great for the coffee lovers.  Building a coffee station in a nook can not only make the area more functional but allow you to free up some space in your kitchen.  Add a coffee machine, mugs, coffee-themed art decor, and syrups for a fully-functioning station.  Also, you will want to consider if you are going to have to refrigerate any creams or kinds of milk and if you need a water supply nearby.  Evaluate your area and have a general idea before tackling this project.

Reading Nook 

Having a nice place to get away and relax is important in any home.  A reading nook can have a custom lounge area installed wall to wall or just add a chair.  Consider lighting options to keep your nook well lit. Natural light is ideal but not always an option in all homes. You can make the nook as comfy as you like but decide if you need more comfort or functionality.  If you are working from home in your reading nook, make it comfortable enough to get your task done but not too cozy that it becomes a nap station. 

Customizing a nook is a simple but effective way to get the most out of your home’s layout.  You will be surprised how a once useless small cut-out can become a fully functional activity area in your home.

Contrast is a principle in the arts that has become an increasingly popular design style in modern kitchens. When used effectively, contrast can be the key to adding interest and drama to a space. This principle involves using elements that are different in design to add personality and make a striking statement. 

While there are many different ways you can create contrast in the kitchen area, homeowners often mix a variety of styles such as contemporary and country styles to achieve a contrasting look. Also, you can mix up your color scheme, cabinetry, and countertops to create a dynamic look. If you are new to the contrast look, we have listed a few different design ideas you can try implementing: 

Mixing Up Colors

Perhaps the easiest way to create contrast in the kitchen is by mixing up colors, and do not shy away from bold colors. Pairing two bold colors that are different from each other will have a “wowing” effect.  For instance, imagine a bold green color paired with glossy white. These colors will definitely make a striking statement. 

Contrasting Textures

You can further add contrast by using various textures within one space.  You can mix wood colors and throw in colorful fixtures to add an extra pop. The texture-on-texture contrast has also become trendy in the last few years. Instead of mixing and matching textures, you can utilize the same texture in variations around the kitchen. For example, the same natural stone tiles can be used on your flooring and backsplashes. While the final look is subtle, such details will draw attention.

Two Toned Cabinetry

Homeowners can create visual diversity in their cabinetry selection. Here are some ideas:

• Paint the top and bottom cabinet different colors. Using such colors as red or navy blue go well
• You can also try contrasting finishes. If your kitchen has traditional dark brown wood cabinets, you can switch one set out for a stainless steel finish. You can also break up wood finishes with monochromatic materials.

Kitchen Island

If you are looking to make one big statement, you should let your kitchen stand out from the rest of the kitchen. Try painting the bottom of the island a loud color or replace the top surface with a finish that has not been used yet. Do not forget to further add emphasis by adding funky bar stool to add to the overall look.

What do you think of the contrasting look? Would you try it in your own home? Let us know below in the comment section.