ABC’s of Fine Design

If you have a small dorm or apartment you are always looking for ways to keep as much space as possible. With compact refrigerators, dishwashers and microwaves you can keep all of that space and still be able to have good food and a clean area.

One thing you should remember when buying these is that it’s usually best to buy them together, sometimes they work as a set and interlock to save even more space. Most college kids don’t care much about looks but if you are one that does buying them together will help keep the colors matching and your space looking good.

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Today I am at school. I just spend some time going though the fabric in our fabric room. I found a good amount of fabric that I will probably use not just for the design boards I need to redo but for things like pillows and even a blanket for my neice, she’s a baby so she doesn’t need much.

Scrap fabric is a great way to get some new pillows or even a table cloth. Many fabric stores will put there scrap fabric on sale. You just have to go in and ask for it or you can call and ask them to save some for you. It may cost you a little but you can ususally get it at a discount price. Also check to see if they sell there discontinued fabric. Some places will. It doesn’t hurt to try, sometimes you can even get enough fabric to make a curten or a comforter.

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Just because everything you see in a design magazine cost thousands of dollars doesn’t mean that you can’t have that design in your home. Check out some of the discount stores in your area that carry some great products at cheaper prices.

Today I was walking around Target. I don’t get to Target much as it’s a good half hour, 45 minute drive from my home. Today when I was walking around I found some great stuff for a home. I found an ottoman that I had wanted but could not afford at $500 dollars for $79. I still couldn’t buy it as right now I don’t even have the $79 but I also don’t have a place to put it yet, so I will have to wait anyway.

I also found some great picture frames and shelving units. I couldn’t believe how much they have added good design to their store. I know they have been working on this for a long time, but it’s paying off. I’m very impressed. Other stores are following suit including walmart, and kmart. Don’t pass over these stores just because they have cheep merchandise, think of it this way. If you want to change your design at least you didn’t spend $40,000 just to change it 2 years later.

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Design on a budget can be really simple take a look through things that you already own like a lamp that is sitting in the garage or gold cufflinks that can be used to dress up a curtain.

The other day I found an old mirror, it was broken and I had planned on throwing it out, but then I had an idea. I made a picture frame with it. I found a cheep frame that I had bought a few years ago and glued it onto the mirror’s backing. I was lucky that this mirror had a nice frame to it already. I then took the mirror fragments and glued them onto the space between the two frames. I now have a great picture frame that cost me nothing. I already had everything I needed to make it.

The best part is no one has a picture frame like this, even if they do the same thing they will still look different. Uniqueness is always an important part of good design.

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When looking for accessories you don’t always have to go to the most expensive thing, sometimes you just want to have something that if it’s ruined your not out $5000. This is the case with paintings. I personally would buy a painting that is a knock off or reproduction rather then the real painting. Of course there are exceptions but I still would not display them without some sort of protection and a good security system.

For most people though a monet oil reproduction is just as good as the real thing. So what is my advice when looking for paintings. Check some antique stores, the dollar stores are wonderful if you have kids or go ahead and splurge a little.

If price is not an issue, buy something you love, but something that will either go with your decor or stand out in a good way. If you have mostly antique furniture don’t buy a modern painting. The clash. If you have a mix of furnishings a modern painting may work well.

Whatever you do choose something for yourself, not because it’s expensive and it will help you make friends. People who buy things based on the money factor tend to not appreciate it as much. At least that is my experience anyway.

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Now that the big winter storm is over here in the Midwest and east. People are trying to find ways to stay warm. There are many ways that you can help keep your home warm even without electricity. Which many don’t have right now.

If you have a fireplace your pretty well off. You can use that to heat your home and you should be fine. Of course your whole family may be sleeping in one room for a few days, but thats okay. Another way to keep your home warm is to use gas portable heaters. These heaters if you can’t tell by the name run on gas, not electric, that way you can stay warm that way as well.

Of course you can always just pull out the blankets and hope for the best. I am lucky I do have electricity and some heat. I wish all of you out there, on your laptops, hoping the battery stays alive, the best and hopefully soon you’ll have heat and that much needed electricity.

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I have noticed that a huge trend lately is to add something personal to your bathroom. Be it a TV so you can watch your favorite soap in the bathtub or a simple vase of flowers. There are also people who add makeup mirrors or heated towel racks. Just to add that something extra to make there life easier or more enjoyable.

I think this is a great trend. You can buy small inexpensive things to put into your bathroom to make it feel more personal and comfortable. You would actually be surprised at what you can find in the dollar store. There are many things you can get that doesn’t require you be creative. In fact I was looking at some paintings the other day at a dollar store that I will probably go back and get. I’m a student I can’t afford the nice stuff, but who has to know it came from a dollar store?

Of course Dollar stores are great places to find cheep vases and other things that you may want to add to your home. I know a few people who have the money to spend on the expensive stuff but choose the cheep things because they have young children. I really don’t see waisting money on something that will be broken in a few days by your two year old. Of course if you have alot of money it may not be a big deal to you.

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