The Huron Expositor, 1994-04-13, Page 41E.3: hal sigr
Neutral color schemes are back in style again
It's back to basics for today's
homeowner and decorator.
Neutral color schemes and
natural wood finishes are all the
rage.
So if you want to bring
warmth and charm to your
home, invest in hardwood floors.
Installing or refinishing
hardwood floors is not as difficult
as you may think. Here are
some insights to help the job run
smoothly:
• The wood style you choose for
your floor can enhance the
overall decor of the room.
• Talk to your contractor about
plank, parquet or strip wood.
For a warm colonial look use
plank wood.
• To create a highly stylized
floor, choose parquet.
• Tongue -and groove wood strips
are also a popular choice that
suit every decor.
• Ask your contractor to see
samples of stains that provide
deep color and have exceptional
sealing properties. These stains
are available in a wide range of
wood -tone colors.
• Choose a finish that will meet
your needs. For a very durable
finish and an amber glow, ask
your contractor to use an oil-
based urethane finish.
A wax -finished floor, if
properly maintained, will grow
more beautiful over time.
Today's finishes have
minimized upkeep headaches
and reduced floor care. Ask your
hardwood floor contractor for
cleaning instructions for the type
of finish on your floor.
Whatever finish you may have,
always sweep, vacuum or dust
mop regularly to prevent
scratching.
Casual covers - a new twist on an old tradition
Now you can get in on the
newest home furnishings fashion
rage!
Treat yourself to a new home
at the old address with the help
of a new twist on the traditional
notion of slipcovers.
It's easy and inexpensive. For
under $200 you can restyle a
room full of furniture. Casual
Slipcovers come ready-made, so
there's no complicated
measuring. You just toss the
cover you've chosen over the
sofa or chair, tuck it in and
attach the elasticized skirt.
You can make it tight for a
tailored effect, bloused for a
more romantic room or invert
the pleats for a minimalist decor.
The matching valance can
hang straight or be filled with
tissue paper for a puffy, blouson
look. Matching and contrasting
throw pillows bring out the
beauty of Casual Slipcovers.
Try repainting the walls in the
darker colors of an earlier era
that are increasingly popular
today. Add a few fresh and
artificial flowers for color and
texture. Top your tables with
family photos, new and old, in
old fashioned frames.
Now you've created a
classically beautiful new room —
and you don't even have to
come from old money!
HOME & GARDEN GUIDE '94 -PAGE 23
Now to get high-quality results
From pass 22
looks.
The following tips may point
you in the right direction:
• Start with quality furniture that
can be easily accessorized.
• Select a brand that you're
familiar with and pay attention
to the warranty. Choose pieces
that contain neutral colors,
patterns and simple lines.
riAbove all, look for furniture
That you will feel comfortable
using for seven to eight years —
the average life of a piece.
• Be creative with furniture
finishes. Metal furniture always
mixes with wood furniture, and
using a variety of finishes gives
the home a rich look.
• Rearrange — or exchange —
furniture for new looks. For
example, replace a wood coffee
table with a glass -top table, or
pull a sectional group towards
the middle of the room to add a
new point of interest.
• Enhance the space in smaller
rooms. Decorate in Tight colors
and use simple window
treatments — or no window
treatments at all — to create the
perception of a larger room.
• Have fun with your window
treatments. Try a length of fabric
swagged over a window or
distinctive cloth napkins on a
brass curtain rod to finish the
room's mood.
■ Substitute accessories for a
quick change. Choose
accessories that reflect the mood
you're creating — brass
candlesticks and plant holders
for an elegant look or wicker
baskets and fun artwork for a
more comfortable atmosphere.
• Paint your exterior door.
Choose a color that reflects your
style and personality and works
well with your home's color
scheme.
A tool box in (almost) every home
An essential component in
most homes used to be a well -
stocked party. Today it's a well -
outfitted tool kit.
With doing -it -yourself a
growing pastime, studies show,
the overwhelming majority of
households own a tool box. Half
of those own more than one.
And half the do-it-yourselfers
in the country are women."
Sales of do-it-yourself products
have risen annually at a rate of
8.6 per cent since 1980. The
high cost of new housing and
raising children are major
reasons for the emphasis on
fixing up and renovating.
Your
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224 Suncoast Drive,
GODERICH -
GLASS & MIRROR LIMITED 524_7312