You love your home, it is comfortable, nice, and spacious, but somehow you think something is missing...? Whenever you visit your friend’s houses, you sometimes feel envy because you think their homes are better in certain ways. What is their secret? Luckily, it doesn’t have to break the bank or take months / years to make a big difference to your home, these ten ways to improve your home are just some ideas to explore to ensure that the next time your friends visit, they will be the ones to be overcome with envy.

If you’re feeling that your housekeeping has turned lackluster, the solution to your problem may be literally at your fingertips. Simply type “pinterest.com” into your web browser and let the magic begin. Creative minds from all over the world share their inspiration for better, faster, prettier, and more organized approaches to housekeeping and home decor. Check out these most popular Pinterest boards, and consider following them yourself.

We do not stay eighteen years old forever. Our tastes in home decor also evolve as we become more particular, more settled and our expectations become higher. The flimsy particle wood furniture of our college dormitory days no longer cuts it. Eventually, whether we have bought our own home or not, we tend to demand that our furniture both lasts and truly performs. When shopping for high end furniture, consider the quality of its building materials, structural soundness and style.

Kelley & Company Home

The right sofa can really complement the interior design of a room and pull the whole look together. It’s important that you get it right when choosing a sofa though, as you want an item of furniture that not only looks great but is also usable and offers comfort. There are some key features to look out for in a sofa that can help you make the right decision for your home.

Measure up

Naturally, the first decision you need to make is how big you want your sofa to be.

We've all seen Gone with the Wind and dreamed of living in a giant Southern mansion. There's something about the charm of the antique South. Even as the height of Southern decadence came to its end, the bold styles and gentle colors of the antebellum world have certain elegance to them – an elegance that many of us want to cultivate still today. Of course, whichever side of the Mason Dixon Line you live on, most houses nowadays don't come with the same kind of hand-made touches that define the downtowns of Vicksburg or Charleston. So how can you add Southern charm to your own home – without going over budget? Here are three simple ways:

Lumberjacks and Welders

One way to do this is to mix traditional materials with modern design.  Not only will this give you the best of both worlds, it will create a unique style for your home.  This look is easy to achieve with wood, through using wooden furniture cut into modern lines, or painting existing pieces and giving them an update.  If you would like something a little more unique, then wooden floor lamps are an option, giving a modern twist to a classic material.  Not having a huge budget to work with is not a hindrance; in fact updating a room with small items such as wall clocks can have as profound an effect as an expensive table.  If you are feeling adventurous, mixing types and styles of metal gives a room an entirely individual look.  Throwing together copper lamps, golden vases and steel chairs shows that you are innovative, as well as providing ample dinner conversation.  Before you know it, you will be home staging for your day job. Click the article name to read more.

In our throwaway culture, cheaply made and quickly assembled furniture is favoured over craftsmanship and quality materials. Going cheap isn’t always the most sensible idea, though; if you’re looking to buy new furniture for your home, you’ll find almost unlimited choices. As far as hardwoods go, oak is middle-of-the-road; it’s cheaper than mahogany but more pricey than pine. Oak is very durable, and can stand up to years of heavy use. A solid oak piece of furniture will last much longer than a comparable piece made of pressboard—here are some other factors to consider when buying oak. Click the title of the article to read more.

Advantages of Choosing Oak

photo from Blood & Champagne

Hi Dina,

Just a quick note to let you know that I received the hutch today and it is beautiful!  I absolutely love it!  The delivery guys did a really nice job as well.  I'm so pleased - thank you for such great service.  I have to admit I was nervous ordering a custom furniture piece over the phone / online, but it was a great experience.  Kudos to you!

Thanks!

Mary