You may not believe this, but the air quality inside your home may be poorer than the one outside, causing irritation, allergies, and putting in danger the lives of those who suffer from a chronic respiratory disease like asthma, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

You should know though, that there are 4 easy ways to make the quality of the air at home better:

1.    Get rid of allergens and irritants as much as possible
We are talking about smoke, pet dander, and dust accumulation. Be honest. Do you dust the top of your furniture pieces and concealed corners regularly?

There is also something known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are released by some paints and carpets. So if you are going to paint your home soon, make sure you ask the contractor to use low VOC options.

2.    Put in detectors
You probably have a smoke detector in place, but how about a carbon monoxide one?  Harmful emissions of this gas can come from defective heating systems or broken clothes’ dryers and gas stoves. It is very toxic even in low concentrations.

In the same dangerous way, carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless in low concentrations; however, it is a hazard that may even cause death.

Another important precaution you must take, besides installing detectors, is to hire an HVAC professional to check your heating system regularly and make certain every appliance is correctly vented.

3.    Think about installing hardwood floors
If you are sick of carpets and dream of hardwood floors but until now were unable to think of a meaningful reason to make the investment other than for visual appeal, now we offer you a compelling reason to change: your family’s health.

Besides being easier to keep allergen and irritant free, hardwood floors do not release any of the toxic chemicals carpets produce.

4.    Research air filtration systems
A central filtration system will filter the air that comes into your home, and it is the most efficient and helpful way of to make the air inside your home healthier.

There are many air filtration system options, even single room ones; however, these only work for one room.  Since air moves around, all the dust particles and other spiteful miniature bugs it contains fly freely around your home, causing the polluted air from a room without proper filtration to move into other filtered living spaces, thus defeating the purpose of the filtration system.

Talk to your interior designers in Seattle or to your local HVAC contractor to learn what will work best for your home and how you can save money while installing a reliable central air filtration system.

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There is always a good reason to want more space at home, and during hard economic times, it may be easier and more budget-friendly to add to your current home than to sell and find a bigger place.

However, how do you decide what to do?  Should you finish the attic?  Turn the basement into an apartment?  Build a completely new addition to your home?

The best option will depend on your home, your needs, and the budget you have to work with.  Here we give you a list of the advantages and the disadvantages for the three options mentioned above:

Option one- Basement remodeling
The basement is a very large open space that offers tons of different and interesting opportunities.  Your basement could become a full apartment, a playroom, a guest room, an office, an entertainment center, or a gym, among a variety of options.  The amount of money you have to spend is the decisive factor.

Basements have an important inconvenience: moisture.  Before beginning any basement remodeling, you have to make sure the space is protected against moisture; otherwise, you will have wasted your money and time.  A good interior designer will help you find the best solution for any moisture condition you may have to solve.

Option two- Attic remodeling
Remodeling the attic may be more difficult than remodeling the basement because of the low ceilings.  A very good design is needed to ensure the space is taken full advantage of while making it look beautiful and ensuring it is safe.

Attic floors may require reinforcing or replacing to support the weight of new furniture and regular traffic, and stairs may be needed to make the attic easily accessible.  These are all aspects that may discourage you to pursue an attic remodeling project; however, when they are done, attics turn out to be one of the favorite places for family members to hang around, because they become cozy and beautiful spaces.

Option three- Room building
To add an entirely new area to your house may be, by far, the most expensive option; nevertheless, it is the one that will add more value to your house if it is done right.

One of the preferred ways to add more space to a home when building a new room is by building a sunroom or enclosed patio, which offers a different and pleasing option of family room or place to throw parties.

If you decide to build a new room, you will most definitely need the help of a professional interior designer, because no matter where you live, there will always be permit issues and construction standards that you will have to meet.  Interior designers in Seattle take care of everything for you; they ensure your project runs smoothly in the practical, technical, and creative sides.

The most important thing after making the decision is doing it right, thus, find the right help, and make your home a better place to live.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.amelydesigns.com as the original source).

It is as much a tradition as setting your goals for the New Year.  Every year, the color authority ‘Pantone’ picks the color for the year, amid a lot of excitement and speculation in the interior design industry as to which will be the next year’s color inspiration.

The color chosen for 2010 is turquoise, a color that, according to ‘Pantone’, reflects “thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing”.

It is certainly a very valid and important reason to choose such an important color, one that may bring calm and happiness in such turbulent times we are living in today, but also one that has to be considered carefully in order to use it in the right way.

Turquoise is a very strong color that must be used as a complement with lighter tones so as to not overwhelm the space and to make it look classy and fun.  It can look great in bathrooms, as it reminds us of the beautiful tones of seawater, and it can also be an amazing accent color for living rooms or bedrooms.

We always want to follow the trends in design and fashion, even more so when we start seeing the beautiful décor in magazines and TV shows; however, it is important that you also consider if the trends fit your life and home, because even if it looks great in a magazine, it may not be the right choice for your surroundings.

The best way to go when you want to make a bold change in your home’s décor is to ask for professional advice.  An interior design specialist will help you find the right way to use turquoise in your living space, or any other color for that matter, and she will explain what truly works for you, your family and your lifestyle.

If you live in the area, the Seattle interior design industry is booming with expertise, and is ready to start the New Year with you the right way and with the right colors.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.amelydesigns.com as the original source).

Any remodeling project causes interference in a household’s daily routine, but a major one can result in total chaos and even threaten your sanity.  Once cabinets are ripped out, walls come down, and wiring is exposed, suddenly you are wondering why you decided to go through such hell, since you cannot even imagine how the place will look in the end.  You basically trust your interior designer and her experience to get you through the project without going nuts and in one piece.

There is no question about it, a home remodeling project can be stressful; however, the right guidance and the following advice can make the process easier on you and your whole family:

-    Design a plan to keep your daily routine working
Even though you are living in a chaotic environment, you still have to cook, wash clothes, and take a shower.  If staying at a hotel or with a relative is not an option, you have to design a practical plan to live at home while the work is being done, and you have to do this before the interior designer and her crew start tearing down walls.  You could adapt a new temporary kitchen in another room while remodeling is taking place there, or ask a friend or neighbor to allow you to shower at their house if water has to be turned off for several days.  Knowing what you will do when your home is not livable will give you peace of mind.

-    Keep an eye on the clutter
Of course there will be a mess while the project is underway; however, the loads of trash and dust that come out daily should be taken care of immediately.  Before remodeling begins, talk to your interior designer about this, and make sure you have clarity, and that everyone knows, how trash should be handled.

-    Protect your valuables
Even if your interior designer is the best and most careful one out there, dust will surely spread all over your house.  Ensure all your furniture and electronics are well protected against dust, or remove them if necessary.  You can choose a room away from the chaos to put everything for the duration of the project, lock it up and make sure everyone understands that that area is out of bounds.  In this way, you will feel comfort in knowing that your things are safe.

-    Keep an eye on things
Whether you are living elsewhere or at home during the remodeling project, you have to talk to your interior designer every day, and even several times a day, to make sure everything is going smoothly.  This will help you feel in control of what is happening right now and know what’s coming next.

If you live in the Seattle area, contact experienced interior designers in Seattle. You can rest assured you will remain sane no matter how huge your remodeling project is.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.amelydesigns.com as the original source).

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Green interior design takes advantage of recyclable materials, furnishings, and leftovers, to create a one in a million space.  This style uses long-lasting and non-toxic materials, as well as renewable energy sources.  When you redecorate your home with new materials every five years that is the opposite from green interior design.

The heart of green interior design is to restore and reuse everything that’s possible.  Today, there is a great variety of green floor options that allow you to refinish, sand, or paint without employing toxic materials.  The main materials employed in green interior design are cork, bamboo, and eucalyptus, because no destruction occurs when taking them from nature.  In the same way, there are woods that have been approved and certified by environmental groups as appropriate for construction and decoration because they do not carry the devastation of millenary forests.

Green interior design cares to the core.  It even pays attention to what glues and finishes are eco-friendly, since these commonly contain toxic synthetic resins that are extremely harmful.  Green design is all about non-toxic cleaners, polishes, finishes, refinishing, and adhesive products, resulting in better air quality and a healthier environment at home.

The idea behind going green is to use as few chemicals as possible in everything we use and in our surroundings, while living in harmony and taking advantage of the green exterior.  So it is important to use a lot of glass windows, doors, and skylights to let in natural light, helping to lower energy consumption and to avoid moisture accumulation.

Nothing is more in today than concrete floors.  They are used in different colors, textures, polishes, and patterns, and are not harmful to your health because they are free from glues and finishes with chemicals.  Green kitchens, bathrooms and fireplaces also showcase concrete counter tops that give a natural look and appear thoroughly modern.

Now there’s the option of recycled glass.  It is very beautiful and can be found in many colors and forms to match your space and necessities.

Another important aspect of selecting a green design is in the appliances you choose.  Besides budget, it is necessary to think about their functionality, style and energy efficiency.  Select the ones that use less water, and recycle all your old appliances correctly.  Ask for advice if necessary.

Green home designs provide for lots of ceiling and wall eco-friendly insulation throughout the entire house, turning your home into an energy-efficient one.  Look for high performance windows and doors that help preserve energy very effectively.

The current global condition begs for smart choices in home interior design.  Green design is such a choice, resulting in an economic and environmental advantage.  Green enthusiasts think of future money savings, reduced exposure to toxic materials, and living in harmony with the environment, however, living green is not easy. It is a lifestyle that demands deep changes in your life philosophy and priorities, but it is worth it!

If you’re interested in this kind of interior design, research, ask, and learn all you can about it before deciding to implement it. Interior designers in Seattle are a great source of information and guidance, one that you should consider in order to go green all the way and in the right way.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.amelydesigns.com as the original source).

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Have you ever had the feeling that one, or several, of the rooms in your house does not feel quite right, but you have no idea why?  It may be because the room is out of balance.

Maybe you feel the room is tipping to the side because there are many heavy pieces of furniture on that side, or it could be that the artwork or accessories are imbalanced.

If you are experiencing this very common situation and a Seattle interior designer is out of your budget, follow these simple tips to get your room to the right balance equation:

1.Large vs. large.  If you place a heavy piece of furniture on one side of the room, maybe a bookcase for your big collection of books, place something large on the other side too; it could be a cozy sofa with a big art piece on top.  This will balance the room by adding height and visual weight to both sides.

2. Separate.  Split bookcases and entertainment centers to achieve balance.  Place one of the sections in a different place inside the room, next to the sofa or fireplace, to make them look less heavy around the space.  Sectional sofas can be too large for a certain room, making it feel too heavy or cramped, thus, place the sections one in front of the other, as you do with sofas and love seats.

3. Symmetry.  This means both sides of the room are identical.  The symmetry, matching furniture, gives a very formal visual effect and is easy to create.  Two matching chairs on either side of the sofa or matching candlesticks on each side table; may do the trick.

4. Asymmetry.  Yes, opposite to the above one, but incredibly interesting.  The trick here is to put together comparable, but not matching, pieces.  Look for pieces in different sizes, shapes and colors, and work a gorgeous asymmetrical arrangement, like for example, a huge vase on one side in contrast to three smaller candlesticks or an interesting lamp on the other.  These arrangements may need a little more knowledge or feeling to create, because you have to perceive the visual weight of each piece, and they create informal settings, alias, more cozy ones.

5.Think lamps.  These are great balancing pieces.  Place a floor lamp on one side of the sofa and a table lamp on the other; you can even put books under the table lamp to make it look a little higher.  You can also put two different table lamps on each side of the sofa; or even think of placing two different side tables on each side.

6.  Plants.  Place a tall potted tree across from a big bookcase to balance its height; vertical mirrors also work.  To balance both sides of a sofa, place a potted plant on one side and a table lamp on the other.

7.  An eye on art.  To complete furniture that is too short or too narrow for the space, hang one or more art pieces on the wall above it.  Color is a great balancing tool too.  Darker and stronger colors are heavier than lighter ones, so think about this when you are placing art in front of a big piece of furniture like an armoire, bookcase or entertainment center.

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. Have a great day!

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