2013 HOME DECOR TRENDS

FYH Color Pallet

2013 colors are sophisticated options that invite you to embrace a neutral pallet For Your Home.  Pantone predicts that neutrals will make a major comeback during the next design cycle.  The bright, shocking colors of the last couple seasons will give away to a more soothing backdrop for this year’s trendy accessories, lighting and furniture.  Neutrals need not be boring, or colorless.  Focal points are not always based on color.  Folded and sculptural shapes, intriguing textures, luminous finishes and an emphasis on nature inspired motifs such as feathers create opportunities for focal statements that transcend even reliance on color.

Color Movements

• Lighter blues and navy increase in importance.
• Leathery brown becomes more important as a basic.
• Olive becomes stronger.
• Purple is still evident.
• Brights have a singular status for winter.
• Camel evolves into cappuccino and creamy hues.
• Yellows become softer and less sporty.
• Reds are becoming more orange.
• Traditional winter darks and berry colors are more mid-toned and less blackened.

For Your Home Color Pallet

The For Your Home color story includes warm, easy, classic neutral tones that can easily slip into anyone’s design plans.

Pantone Colors

• Burlap 16 0726 TCX
• Butternut #7505 U
• Butter #7402 U
• Crimson #1935 U
• Wisteria #665 U
• Grape #274U
• Blue Bonnet 2756 U
• Iris #287U
• Hyacinth #646U
• Blue Egg #5513U
• Sea #441 U
• Ivy #616U
• Moss #582 U
• Cool Grey 3 U
• Warm Gray 5 U
• Warm Gray 11 U
• Black U
• Black

For Your Home Collections

These 18 colors mix and blend together to create three new neutral color stories.

Easy Living — 2013 interior decorating trends focus on long term value and warmth. Home owners with more disposable income, having learned how to be patient and wait, will want top value for their hard earned money and will be less likely to settle on less than ideal surroundings. Interior decorating is shifting from a “where can I save the most money” attitude into a “what will I love in this area” mentality right now. Increased means makes for increased expectations and real long term value and comfort, 2013 is looking bright.

• 1935U
• 476 U
• 7402 U
• 646 U
• 7505 U
• 287 U

 

Tribeca – Urban flight has become a round trip as millions of Americans return to the urban areas of their cities and towns.  Higher gas prices, longer work hours and the need to feel more locally connected have helped to revitalize many urban areas.  Housing tends to be smaller in size and more industrial in feel and materials.  A softer color pallet laden with texture is a great way to warm up these spaces and turn close quarters into a homey and inviting environment.

• 441 U
• Cool Gray 3 U
• Warm Gray 11 U
• Black
• Warm Gray 5 U
• 582 U
• Black U

 

Soft Contemporary — Opening spaces within a traditional home to create a floor plan that flows is high on the list for homeowners today.  A soft contemporary design is more natural, it’s fluid, it fits into the environment, doesn’t make hard statements. The use of traditional materials and colors provide a softer edge to historic contemporary and gives them that very traditional feel.

• 646 U
• 665 U
• Cool Gray 3 U
• 5513 U
• 616U
• 274 u
• 2756 U
• 287 U

Home Décor Features and Motifs

Highly stylized decor features in a home are sought after in 2013 leading to a greater appreciation of features such as exposed wooden beams, stone flooring, marble tops and textured walls. Creature comforts that make a home unique may also see expanded inclusion of artwork, statues and antique tables.

Down to earth motifs featuring bamboo, shells, stained glass and stone-framed elements are more likely to be trending upwards in terms of use. Conversely plastics and other artificial materials are less likely to be incorporated into home decor designs.

French and renaissance themes are always highly coveted when money is less of an impacting factor on the overall design. French doors to the bedroom or patio are popular 2013 home decor trends, as are prints by great artists such as Rembrandt, Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet. Flowers and floral patterns are popular so long as the design is not heavy or overbearing.

Botanicals and insect prints will continue to flourish in popularity.  It’s an easy way to bring the outside in and to achieve that “in harmony with nature” look.

The Tribal look has evolved into a more relaxed Bohemian style.  It is especially strong  in fashion, drapes and bedding.  Many of these designs incorporate hand printed block designs that are easy to use and can transition into many decorating styles.  2-3 color mixes are the best use of color with these prints.  When playing off a neutral décor this style gives you a great opportunity to splash color into the room.

Wallpaper is making a big comeback.  A busy printed large scale design requires simple bedding and upholstery fabrics.  Great opportunity create shower curtains that have the look of wallpaper with solid accessories and towels.  Bedding that looks like wallpaper is also a good alternative for those a little timid about stepping into the world of actual wallpaper.

Neutrals with a hit of color in the main motif create great impact.  The scroll pattern softens the look of black and cream.  Edging neutrals with bands of color as well as linings in contrasting colors keeps the pallet neutral but adds interest.

Chevrons are everywhere.  This isn’t the old flame stitch but much cleaner and easier to incorporate into fashion and home décor.  Horizontal strips, the wider the better.  Two or three colors can create a clean chevron or stripe pattern that can be repeated over and over again.

Ideas to consider

• Turkish Towels
• Reversible Towels

by Vicki Payne

 

10 Commandments of Carpet Care

1.Vacuum frequently and thoroughly. Most of the wear of carpeting is caused by dirt. Oily soils attract more oily soil and frequent vacuuming will reduce soil buildup.

2. Get at stains quickly, 99% of all stains can be removed by one cleaning agent or another if they are cleaned in the first few days. The longer a stain chemically reacts with the carpet the harder it will be to remove it.

3. Test carpet before scrubbing, extracting or spotting. All carpets are different. Some carpets are very sensitive to acid type cleaners and will lose their color quickly. Other carpet dyes are sensitive to harsh alkalis.

4. Use appropriate spotters starting with the mildest. Do not use harsh spotting agents unless absolutely necessary and always neutralize high alkaline or high acid cleaners after use.

5. Never dig or brush spots. The proper procedure is to scrape the spot towards the middle and then tamp the spot into the white towel or cloth using a brush or other tamping devices. A meat tenderizer makes a great tamping tool.

6. Do not overuse detergents, shampoos or spotters. Too much detergent will result in residual left in the carpet that even thorough vacuuming may not remove.

7. Do not overwet carpet. Our carpet detergents are chemically active enough so they do not need a tremendous amount of wetting. Over-wetting can cause brownout, carpet shrinkage, adhesion problems and all other kinds of nightmares.

8. Extract residual if possible. Rotary scrubbing will clean the carpet fibers the best by encapsulating dirt and detergent residue, which powders off the carpet. Periodic extraction will flush out this dirt and other organisms deep in the carpet.

9. Never “coat” a dirty or spotty carpet. After scrubbing or extracting a dirty carpet, if you are not satisfied with the results, do not apply a coat of carpet protector as this will result in “gluing in the dirt” making it harder to remove it the next time. Either re-scrub or extract the carpet or leave the carpet until the next cleaning cycle before you coat.

10. Vacuum frequently and thoroughly. It is so important it deserves two recommendations. Vacuum frequently and thoroughly.

 

Intimidating Granite Countertops? Think Again!

 

 

Who doesn’t love granite countertops? They’re a really nice touch to make your kitchen look elegant. Although they’re absolutely gorgeous, maintaining that beauty can be quite intimidating. You don’t want to use just any cleaner just in case you accidentally ruin the surface. And those water stains! They can be quite irritating! Keep reading to find out how to properly care for those so-called “intimidating” countertops.

The first thing you want to do is seal your countertop if it isn’t already pre-sealed.  Most importantly, know that sealing your countertop does not make it stain resistant. This process only extends the time you have to clean a spill before it sets into the stone. Where do you start? Well, go to your local hardware store and purchase a solvent-based sealer called an “impregnator.” Apply one coat with a soft cloth and let dry overnight. The next day, repeat this same process. Remember, acidic foods are the worst offenders. Don’t use any acidic cleaning products, either, such as a vinegar-based window cleaner. All you have to do is wipe up the spill with a wet sponge, and your countertops will look great! Need more cleaning action that just water and a sponge? Try a mild dish soap.

Granite holds up extremely well under heat, but thin strips of granite do not have enough surface area to absorb all of the heat from dishes, pots and pans adequately. If you have small strips of granite countertop near other construction materials, use a trivet or hot pad for any hot dishes. This will help to keep heat away from materials that are less durable than your granite countertops.

While granite countertops are very durable, you want to do your best to eliminate any change of damaging them. One of the ways you can prevent damage is to avoid putting any unnecessary weight on the edges of the countertops. This can include grabbing on to the countertops for balance or using the countertops to climb up to reach a high shelf or clean something that has been spattered high up on the wall. This added pressure and weight can cause damage to the edge of your granite countertops, which can take away from the attractiveness of the stone.

Tips and Warnings

Each specimen of granite has a distinctive color and tone. If a sections of your countertop needs to be replace because it has been damaged, it probably will not match the rest of your countertop. Pay special attention to keeping your granite countertops well-sealed so stains don’t discolor its surface.

Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.

Do not mix cleaning products such as ammonia and bleach together – the result is toxic.

Ask a professional to remove or repair a scratch in granite. It’s better to be out a little bit of money than to have to replace your entire countertop.

 

Sluggish Drain

A sluggish drain is more than a nuisance; if it isn’t taken care of it can lead to a total clog and a big mess.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to clean a slow drain is hot water.  Hot water can melt slime and sludge from your pipe walls.  Try it every week to keep your drains cleaner.

If you’re having a little more trouble than water can get rid of on its own try salt water.

Make a solution of fifty percent hot water and fifty percent salt.  Let the salt dissolve and then pour the solution down the drain.

The salt water will dissolve grease and build-up and as a bonus it will eliminate odors.  Allow the solution to sit for fifteen minutes or so and then flush it, with more hot water.

If you don’t have any salt on hand, try a similar solution of baking soda and water, it will both clean and deodorized as well.

Some easy, inexpensive and green ways to clear a sluggish drain, it’s just that simple.

 

Looking for a craft this summer for the kids?

 

 

With a towel and a few trimmings, you and your kids can craft these cool beach and pool cover-ups.

Materials

• Towel (ours was 17 inches long and wide enough to wrap around a child’s waist with 5 inches of overlap)
• Fusible bonding web (we used Stitch Witchery)
• Large yarn needle
• 1 (8-inch) piece of elastic

• 1 large button
• Fabric glue
• Decorations (lace, ribbon, or whatever you choose)

Instructions

1. Measure and cut a towel to fit your child, preserving 2 of the hemmed edges (ours were 17 inches long and wide enough to wrap around the kids’ waists with 5 inches of overlap).
2. Fold over each of the cut edges and seal them with fusible bonding web.
3. For a fastener, use a large yarn needle to make 2 holes (about 1/4 inch apart) near one upper corner. Slip the ends of an 8-inch piece of elastic through the holes, then knot them.
4. Wrap the cover-up around your child’s waist, then sew a large button in place to hold the loop. Finally, use fabric glue to add lace, ribbon, or other decorations.

    

   (from: Disney Family-Fun)

 

August and Late Summer Maintenance Checklist

Well I have some good news & some bad news – the good news is that this is the last full month of summer. The bad news is that it is still summer time & if July was any indication, this might not be pretty. On the home front, vacations are winding down & it is time to start getting the kids ready to go back to school. On the national front, we are looking at a hurricane season that is about ready to ramp up, if history is any indication.

Maintenance Checklist

• Change out your HVAC filter.
• Test your Smoke Detector.
• Doors & Windows
  • Check the operation of all your doors and windows you know the kids have been tough on them (That includes the Garage Doors)
  • Check the weather-stripping around them & replace as necessary
  • Check the frames for evidence of rot – this is a good month for those repairs with either an Epoxy based system, or replacement
  • Check for loose or cracked caulking & replace it – don’t cover over it
  • Cracked windows, or missing glazing should be repaired or replaced
• While you are checking out your windows & doors, now would be a good time to look at your foundation & brick walls – if you notice cracks or missing grout ***except at the very bottom of the wall – that is to allow water out*** get it repaired
• Are your rooms super hot & the AC can’t seem to catch up – either schedule an Energy Audit, check to see if your attic has enough insulation, or check out some DIY articles on this subject.
  
• If you have not checked your gutters in a while, now would be a good time.
• Trash Can’s – now would be a great time to wash them out & disinfect them

Gardening Checklist

Garden

• First, may you enjoy a nice bountiful harvest – just make sure you keep up with it, so you don’t invite insects into your garden & the plants keep producing
• Start planning for a winter cover crop & be ready to plant it as soon as your vegetable crop is finished
• Plant any fall vegetables such as cabbage, collards, broccoli, beans and peas that you would like

Lawns

• Do we really need to mention the ongoing watering, weeding, and grass cutting that needs to be done?
• Later into the month, you should be able to water the lawns just a little more deeply, but cut back on the frequency

Flower Gardens

• Trim perennials that have finished blooming down to 4” in height & divide any groups if they are overcrowded or overgrown
• Divide your Irises & plant new ones
• Some cool season flowers you can plant include; snapdragons, dianthus, pansies, calendulas

 

Good luck and have a great weekend!

 

DIY Summer Lighting Ideas: Summer’s here and this is the season when you’ll grill outdoors and have all your summer outdoor parties. Here are a few diy lighting solutions to serve as décor and to set the mood.

Decorative Paper Lanterns

These decorations really layer on the style. Any pale-colored paper lantern can be covered with tissue circles (buy them precut – no scissors required) for a charming fluttery finish. They may look intricate, but it only takes half an hour to make one. The lanterns appear festive and ethereal by dan and, if you place low-wattage light bulbs inside, softly radiant by night.

Tissue Paper Lantern How To

The lanterns are monochromatic, but you can play with the design by creating an ombre pattern (gradations of the same color) or stripes. You can even use green disks at the tops of the lanterns so that they resemble berries with leafy stems.

Tools and Materials

Tissue paper disks in assorted colors

Double sided tape

14, 16 or 18-inch diameter paper lanterns

Starting at the bottom of the lantern, use small squares of tape to

being attaching tissue paper disks around the hole, overlapping them.

Working toward the top, continue sticking and overlapping disks to cover the lantern.

Simple Yet Elegant Butterfly Lantern

Let a flock of colorful paper butterflies loose and you’ll instantly give party decorations a lift. Trace a butterfly template onto a folder piece of paper, cut out the shape, and unfold the winds. (http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf3/goodthings_butterflywing.pdf) For different sizes, photocopy the template, reducing or enlarging the image. Attach some to paper lanterns with tape or glue dots, then fold the wings upward for true-to-life flutter form.

*Bonus Tip*

For topflight cocktails, make 2 slits in the center of a butterfly cutout, and then slide a straw through.

Bottle Beauty Hurricane

Bars and buffet tables must be adequately lighter, but they’re often located far from electrical outlets. An easy, inexpensive solution is to gather clear apothecary bottles and fill them with lamp oil and wicks. Arrange the bottles under a large hurricane for protection. We set these on a sturdy glass cake stand.

Vellum Shields

Cocktails at sundown are more memorable when you supplement the waning daylight with Asian-inspired lanterns. The tabletop ones consist of colorful sheets of vellum paper sandwiching tall votive candles in glass holders; chopsticks hold the paper in place.

Vellum Shields How To

You’ll need 8 ½ by 11 inch sheets of vellum paper in the color of your choice, chopsticks, and 7-day candles in glass vessels (sold at supermarkets). Sandwich the glass vessels (with candles already placed inside) between 2 sheets of vellum, clipping the sheets together with 2 sets of unseparated wooden chopsticks 1 inch in from edges.

Fire And Water

To create this illuminating centerpiece, place a glass case inside another that is slightly larger (secure them with floral adhesive), and then pour tinted water in between them. Pillar candles are best for this project; not only are they pretty, but their weight will further anchor the interior case. For added light play, make a series of these centerpieces in different shades of the same hue (a few extra drops of food coloring will yield the desired contrast).

 

Tips For Watering Your Lawn In The Summer

When the weather is hot, how can you tell if your lawn and garden are getting enough water?

First, it’s not necessary to water lawns and plants every day. As a general rule, more plants are killed through over-watering than under-watering.

Second, understand the properties of the soil in your area. Water penetrates and behaves differently in differing types of soil — e.g., sandy or loose soil vs. clay. Check with your local nursery for watering tips for your local area. Set up a system that allows effective watering with penetration of 6″ to 8″ below the ground surface.

The basic fact is that you’ll need to find out how deeply the water is penetrating into the soil. To do that, all that’s needed is a shovel. Pick an inconspicuous spot where you’ve been irrigating. About 30 minutes after watering, dig a small hole and use your hand to check how deeply the water has penetrated. In most lawn and garden situations, it’s best if water is penetrating 6″ to 8″ beneath the surface of the soil.

Check several locations to see if irrigation is even throughout the yard. If there are dry spots, you may need to modify your irrigation techniques.

Watering systems are not always uniform in how they disperse water. Even if you water regularly, you may find that there are wet spots and dry spots around your yard. To check whether your watering system is working evenly across your yard, here’s a trick you can use to test it. Take some plastic cups and place them around your yard before you water. You can place a few coins in the bottoms of the cups to prevent them from blowing over.

Once the cups are placed, turn on your sprinkler system. Water will collect in the cups as you water.

After watering for about 30 minutes, compare the level of water in each of the cups. You may discover that there is more water in some of the cups than in others. Frequently, areas within close proximity to the sprinkler receive less water than areas several yards away. You may need to check the directions that come with your sprinkler to make itapply water more uniformly.

For watering shrubs and beds, there are techniques and tools that are more effective than ordinary lawn sprinklers. Dripper systems use a hose attached to a faucet and timer. Small holes are placed at appropriate locations along the length of a polyethylene hose. Tiny adapters are inserted into the holes to allow small 1/4-inch hose branches to be installed along the length of the hose. Water emitters of various types are attached at the ends of the smaller branches.

Water emitters — such as small spray-heads — can be placed strategically beneath individual plants to deliver water exactly where it’s most needed.

Another useful tool is the soaker-hose system. Like the dripper system, the soaker system uses a timer and a main hose to which smaller branches are attached. In this case, the smaller hoses are manufactured with “weeping pores” that allow water to soak out all along their length. Once the porous branches are attached to the main hose, and placed strategically at the bases and root systems of plants, the water is turned on. The soaker hose allows moisture to soak gently into the soil.

 

Why A Brand New Home?

In today’s market a home buyer have so many choices when it comes buying a new home or used. Because there are so many choices,  it sometimes makes it hard to make a decision. Although there are some fantastic deals on foreclosures, they mostly come with baggage. Baggage that you will have to deal with either before or after you moves into the home. That is why I think buying new house is better.

Here is why I think you should buy a brand new house;

First reason is you are not inheriting anybody’s worn out carpet or their personal taste in colors. A brand new home enables you to pick the colors that you like and express your own personality.

The second biggest reason for buying a brand new home is that you know all the materials are new and if something goes wrong, you have a warranty.

The third reason for buying a brand new home is you can customize the floor plan to suit your family needs and wants and not just a generic one size fits all design.

The fourth reason is you will not have to factor any money into your budget for house repairs or replacing of any parts of the home for at least 10 years or more.   It is nice to know that all you have to do is pay your mortgage and utilities for you to have a roof over head.

The fifth reason for buying brand a new house is the fact that new houses will stay in demand longer than  houses that are already 5, 10 or 15 years old.  Homes that are newer tend to bring more money than older homes.

The sixth reason is that homes today are built with will better insulating factors so it will cost you less to heat and cool your brand new home.

I hope this helps you in deciding which home you should buy. Remember, “greatness is in the details’ so pay attention to the details.

 

The Benefits of Installing New Windows

Most people know that installing replacement windows in    their home adds equity and makes the property look much nicer, but the other benefits aren’t talked about as much. By replacing your windows, you can actually save a large amount of money every year on heating and cooling costs as well.

In the winter months, one of the biggest saps on your heating bill is actually the amount of heat that escapes your home through older, drafty windows. Installing modern, energy-efficient replacement windows helps you keep more heat inside of you house, which can dramatically reduce your heating bill every month.

But winter isn’t the only season when you’ll see money-saving benefits from new windows. The same can be said for the hotter summer months, as well, New replacement windows don’t just keep the cooler air inside of your home, but you also have the option of getting slightly tinted glass panes that keep the sunlight from heating up your house in the summer.

Over the course of a few years, your new windows should pay for themselves because of the amount of money you save on heating and cooling costs. Also, the federal government offers tax credits for homeowners who install energy-efficient windows, which will help in financing your home improvement project.

Like any large purchase, new windows can often be financed so that you pay them off with smaller monthly installments instead of a large single payment. For more options and to learn about costs and finance packages, you should contact several local window replacement companies and ask for details.

You can hire a couple of guys to install new windows or get customized,
new windows when you buy a brand new home with us, Mason Vincent Homes.

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