- Consider sturdy materials such as solid-surface countertops made of granite, wood tables (not glass-top), fabrics treated for stain resistance.
- If possible, make your entryway a “mud room” with tiles that are slip resistant, strong and durable. Have an area with plenty of coat hooks. Get boot trays for muddy shoes.
- Have stain-resistant carpeting that is easy to clean.
- Consider simplicity in window fashions such as honeycomb window shades with the design options of top-down/bottom-up and two-on-one head rails. These blinds are designed to allow light in and, more importantly, keep the heat in. This is very important during the cold winter months.
- Make sure all windows are double- or triple-pane windows for energy savings.
- Note: If you are replacing single-pane with double-pane windows, purchase the windows at a store in Grand County. Windows purchased at local stores are manufactured for use at a higher altitude. Windows purchased at lower altitudes may fog up when transported to this altitude.
Since they don’t make closets or storage spaces like they used to, most of us are left to our own devices when it comes to storage solutions.
Think High. Think Low.
Think from floor to ceiling and use all the wall space you can with bookshelves or cabinetry. This idea is as much about design as about storage, and these units can hold decorative items like vases.
Think “Inside” the Box
A sofa can also be a pullout bed. A couch with hinged covers can act as a storage bench.
Under the bed is a long-time favorite place to hide storage boxes. Build drawers into your staircases.
And “Outside” the Box
Use only metal, concrete, clay tile, or fiber-cement shake roofing that is low maintenance and weather- and fire-resistant.
Have an attic? Box in the eaves and cover attic vents with wire mesh that has holes no larger than ¼ inch wide to keep out critters.
A predominant theme that is influencing interior design is the use of earth tones with touches of bolder colors for accent. Color combinations set the stage: chocolate with ice blue for a contemporary look, rich gold with moss green for a traditional look. Warm colors derived from the land and the environment such as brown, green and dark red and textures such as wood grain and rock are the essence of western design.
Carry your color scheme throughout the home, letting one color dominate in each room. Most people feel comfortable with one dominant color and two or three accent colors in a room.
Consider Hiring a Professional Interior Designer
Whether designing a new home, remodeling several rooms or just reupholstering the living room furniture, an interior designer can be of enormous help by providing critical information and creative ideas, saving you time and money.
A professional interior designer brings a level of expertise that most of us don’t have. Unless you understand how to choose appropriate wood species for doors and trim, how much and what type of material should go on your floors, what textures and colors you should use on your walls or how to correctly measure your windows for new blinds and properly install them, an experienced interior designer can help you avoid costly mistakes.
An interior designer’s job is to keep abreast of the latest products for the entire home, such as weather- and fire-resistant cement products or low-maintenance siding that looks like wood. It is difficult for someone not in the profession to know about all the plumbing fixtures, window and door styles and materials, flooring treatments, lighting fixtures, furniture and fabrics available in the marketplace.
