From medieval tapestry weavers to the artisans of the 20th century Arts and Crafts movement, interior designers have often tried to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside. But rarely has there been such a varied array of options to choose from as now. From the realistic re-creations of shells, branches, antlers and fossils in objects to the fanciful riffs on woodland motifs that reimagine seat cushions as boulders and coffee tables as tree trunks, designers are taking the “going green” ethos to a whole new aesthetic level. And consumers are happily going along.

“The look and feel of natural products really resonates with customers,” says Alex Bates, senior vice president of product development for West Elm, the home-furnishings retailer whose current catalog is filled with animal-patterned fabrics, tree-stump tables, wood-imprinted carpets and an antler-inspired lamp that has become a runaway big seller. “It’s a lot of borrowing of and being inspired by natural patterns and textures,” she says. “There’s definitely a connection between the growing popularity and concern with environmental issues and respect for the natural world.” Read more…

Pay attention to personality. Most people hire an architect only once in their lives. Searching for one is akin to finding a financial planner, architects say. Look for an architect who has designed projects that are similar in style and scope to yours. “There’s no substitute for experience,” says Todd Strickland, a partner with Historical Concepts, an Atlanta architectural firm. Because designing a home is such a personal project, it’s important that you feel able to communicate with your architect.

Liza Nugent, 41 years old, and her husband needed an architect to combine their apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side with a neighboring unit; they got referrals from friends. The first person they called made a snippy remark about how “unsophisticated” co-op boards in buildings on side streets such as theirs make renovations difficult. “I thought, with that kind of attitude, we definitely wouldn’t get along,” Mrs. Nugent says. After calling two more architects and interviewing three others, the Nugents picked a longtime acquaintance who had creative design solutions for their project. Read more…

Masters Touch, a one stop interior design and home improvement shop based in Medfield, recently announced a new Building and Construction Division to better serve a fast growing clientele who desire larger scale building and renovations.

From high-end design and build projects; exterior painting, roofing and siding projects to flooring, interior painting and decorating projects, Masters Touch has been catering to homeowners throughout the Metrowest area for a decade.
Masters Touch has a design, construction and installation team of more than 50 in their Building and Construction Division. They can easily handle the “big jobs” including new home construction, additions, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, custom built-ins, crown molding, custom stairs, decks, roofs, dormers, farmers porches, finished attics, finished basements, home theaters, kitchens, porticos, siding (cement board, vinyl, wood), trim repair and replacement, wine cellars and new and replacement windows and doors. Read more…

MyHome, the leading New York Contractor and provider of one-stop-shop remodeling services, have revealed that they are offering Feng Shui design options for home remodeling projects in New York City.

Remodeling a New York City Apartment can be an onerous task with a multitude of things to consider to achieve maximum space enhancement without blowing the budget. Although there are a lot options which can potentially reduce the cost of your remodeling project, MyHome have now introduced Feng Shui to their already comprehensive list of services they will provide to the customer. Read more…

For innovative minds, furniture market is the next stop. With the Indian consumer willing to splurge on interior decorations, top lifestyle furniture and home accessory stores across the country are introducing lifestyle furniture made out of different natural materials like grass or tree bark and even paper!

The Indian furniture industry, estimated to be worth Rs 35,000 crore ($8.80 billion), is growing at 20% annually, offering immense scope for trendy innovations. Brands like Home Town and Good Earth have come up with natural craft-based line of furniture which would render a refreshing look to your sofa, dining sets and beds. Read more…

Georgie Fordham is one of a growing number of people who believe that good lighting is as important as a colour scheme or upholstery for your home. “We had two London houses professionally lit, and when we moved to the country I was determined to have proper lighting here too, even though the house is very old and I didn’t want to start gouging holes in the walls,” she says. “I’m a real lighting convert and I would urge people, even if they have a small budget for their home, to think about lighting it properly; good lighting can change completely the way you feel about your home.”
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Perfectly manicured, emerald green lawns flanked by floral beds. Acres of granite counter top and gleaming stainless steel appliances. And everywhere you look are surfaces clean enough to eat off — that’s the appeal of the model home.
There’s a reason why model homes look the way they do. Builders know that everything they do to make a house look visually appealing amounts to actual dollars, and often thousands of dollars, added to the sale price. The same principal applies to your home.

Whether you’re planning on selling, or just sprucing up your house to make it more enjoyable to live in, mimicking the ideal appearance of a model home can yield impressive results. Here are some tips and trends to help make your house a showplace: Read more…