Below is a guest post on the subject of using LED lighting options for the interior and exterior of your home (or office for that matter!). S Interior Design specifies LED light options for all of our client projects. Even if it is simply replacing existing recessed can light bulbs with an LED option, the new light output can make a big difference in how the space looks. Continue reading
Okay, raise your hands “How many of you have a television in your master bedroom?” If you do, do you wish it was a little less obvious? There are solutions!
Below is guest post about TV Lift systems. Options for a cabinet at the foot of your bed, drop downs from the ceiling and even in-floor automated systems are available.
On a personal note, I do not have a TV in the master bedroom, however if I did I would surely want the in-floor automated system!
Give Your Master Bedroom a Facelift with a TV Lift
Of all the rooms in your house, the master bedroom is the one space that should be devoted completely to your comfort. This area serves a single purpose: helping you rest and relax. That doesn’t just mean sleeping, listening to music, or reading a book. It can also be very soothing to lounge on a luxurious memory foam mattress and watch a favorite show before it’s time for lights out. For many of us, that’s actually part of the ritual of “winding down” as we prepare for sleep. The biggest problems with putting a TV in the master bedroom have to do with space and aesthetics. Here are three ways you can use an automated TV lift mechanism to keep your master bedroom looking serene and uncluttered.
Foot of the Bed
One favorite master bedroom project is installing a TV lift at the foot of a bed. It can go in a prefabricated TV lift cabinet or in a custom-made piece of furniture to match the headboard. If you pick a screen the correct size (between 42 and 46 inches on the diagonal), the viewing distance is just right. This is the type of setup to choose if:
Ceiling Drop Down
Sometimes, adding another piece of furniture can really throw an entire room off-balance. That’s OK; you don’t need a cabinet to install a TV lift. The lift can be concealed in the ceiling to drop down at the push of a button. This is a much more attractive option than having a wall mount looming over the bed. No one will even know it’s there until the lift is activated. A drop down mechanism is ideal if:
Under Floor Lift
This is one of the least expected places to hide a TV lift, but it can be a great way to keep your bedroom décor looking streamlined. An under floor lift will work with almost any type of floor covering since the lid floats up with the TV. It blends particularly well with hardwood floors since the grooves in the wood flooring hide the outline of the lid easily. This is the style to choose if:
With so many great options for installing a TV tastefully in a master bedroom, we bet you won’t rest until you have a TV lift to call your own!
Here’s EZ Design Change #2 to consider
Paint a ceiling. Yes, that’s right, you read correctly, PAINT A CEILING
The ceiling or 5th wall as it is sometimes referred to, should not be ignored. The entire feeling of a space can be enhanced by painting a ceiling. You can choose a complementary color, or simply a darker or lighter shade of the wall color.
If you are feeling even more inspired, you can add faux beams, ceiling tin tiles, or a custom mural to your ceiling. Even in a standard 8′-0″ high room, color or other design elements on the ceiling will add personality and interest to a room.
S Interior Design always paints the ceilings in powder rooms. No, it will not make it feel smaller, don’t worry 🙂
Yesterday I had the pleasure of having my hair professionally cut and styled. My hairdresser of 12 years recently re-located to a brand new salon space. It is rather petite in size as only 2 stylists work there. I am so enjoying the colors and design elements in the new space, one in particular.
There are 2 of these amazing lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling. I got to ‘study them’ as I lay head tilted back as my hair got washed and conditioned. I couldn’t stop thinking about them and wanted to share.
IKEA Chandelier
If asked, “How many walls do you have in a room?”, most would answer without a second thought “Four”. After reading this article, you might re-think your answer. In fact, the ceiling should be considered the fifth wall in a room, and should always be considered when developing an interior design plan.
Just like the other four walls, the quickest least expensive way to change your ceiling design is by painting it. Even if your walls are white, your ceiling doesn’t have to be. Color on the ceiling will give the room dimension and personality. Soft colors will make the room open up and evoke feelings of the outdoors. Imagine painting your bedroom ceiling a soft blue, sunset peach or mellow yellow. If you have a dark room, you can paint the ceiling in a high-gloss finish that will capitalize on the room’s available light (Caution: high gloss paint will highlight flaws in a surface). If you have high ceilings and you want to ‘bring the ceiling down’, you can paint the ceiling a dark color such as chocolate-brown. If your ceilings are low or average height, consider painting the ceiling a lighter shade of the wall color (mix one part of the wall color with two or three parts of pure white).
Another option when using paint on the ceiling is not to paint the entire ceiling in a color, but to paint large squares, circles or diamond patterns. The paint colors can be monochromatic, or a mix of different complementary colors. This approach is particularly good for modern/contemporary design plans. You can hire a professional artist to paint a mural on your ceiling. It doesn’t need to be a complicated design; it needs to flow with the other design elements in your space.
Of course there are other options for ceiling design besides paint. Wallpaper on the ceiling is another way to complete a room. (Note: Just like when you wallpaper your vertical walls, the ceiling texture needs to be smooth prior to application.) You can use patterned wallpapers, or a textured paper such as grass cloth. You can tile your ceiling in small mosaic glass tiles. This approach is a great option for powder rooms. The sparkle of the tiles will add great color and dimension to a small space. Wood can be used in many ways too. Here in Arizona, a popular way to dress a ceiling is with wood beams. If you have an Old World, Rustic or Southwestern design scheme, this is an excellent way to add dimension to a room. You can take it further by using wood planks on the ceiling. Armstrong Building Products offers Woodhaven Planks that come in ten different pre-finished styles and install with a clip system. Armstrong also offers Tin Look Paintable Ceilings that include shapes such as triangles, squares, circles and even tin tiles. Think of how much fun you can have with the ceilings in a game room or a child’s room! Fabric treatments can also be used on the ceiling. Options here include a padded upholstered look, or a gathered, tent effect.
In summary, ceilings should not be boring or ignored. Use the ceiling to emphasize and enhance the décor of a room. Have fun and make your ceilings something pleasant to look at that will compliment your home and give it unique style.
S Interior Design- Scottsdale, Arizona Blog 
