I've spent most of today post processing all of last weeks work which has taken me about 8 hours and I'm still going!. I should be finished within the next hour then I'm going to take a hot bath and have a lovely glass of red wine.

Tomorrow I'm off to Glasgow on the train from Milton Keynes where I've got a shoot at an office building and on Tuesday I'm working in Edinburgh at a hospital. I love getting the train up to Scotland as the journey takes around 5 hours and I get some time to think and relax. For some reason Virgin Trains have stopped the direct service from Milton Keynes to Glasgow so I need to change at Crewe but it's still miles better than flying or driving.

I've attached a picture from the shoot at Land Security HQ in London on Friday. I photographed the room where they keep the models of all their new buildings. Each model is worth a fortune so I was very careful with the tripod!.

After a long day on Wednesday where I photographed the new Manchester hospital building then watched Man Utd beat Man City I then drove home and didn't get back until 3am!. The M6 was packed even at 2am due to miles and miles of roadworks and a diversion off into Wolverhampton where the workman had closed off the entire road. I wouldn't mind but you never seem to see anyone doing anything - just loads of machinery and thousands of traffic cones!!!.

Thursday was spent in the studio and culminated in a shoot with two more of the ladies from the adult TV channel. I think we've nearly photographed all of the girls from the channel now and it's been great fun although the novelty has worn off now to be honest!.

I had a very busy Friday beginning with a shoot in London that came in at short notice for a client that had just supplied some new LED light fittings to a building next to Charing Cross Station. Then I had an afternoon shoot in Milton Keynes at one of my client's offices where I photographed some new products which were too big to take down to the studio.

Today I've spent most of the day post processing all of last weeks work with a break in the middle of the day where I played an indoor cricket match. It will be a late night tonight as I need to catch up because next week is really busy now too.

I've attached a picture from the Arcilor Mittal steelworks in Wolverhampton.

Bon Weekend!

Just thought I would share some snapshots of my favourite moments in Paris!

We stumbled across this fashion show setup while we doing the Paris Markets and I just loved the green pot with flowers centre piece! There are so many green accents around Paris so I was in heaven!
This was the church at the top of Montmarte which was just gorgeous inside and out! While we were up here it started to snow which was so beautiful!

A snapshot of the Paris Markets...so many gorgeous things to see! I had to buy an old copper saucepan which will have pride of place in my new kitchen (only 1 month to wait)!

Here are a few pics from Maison et Objet (this was afterall the reason for our trip to Paris). This was from the Dedar stand - the chair was absolutely stunning!

Of course the Designers Guild stand was beautiful with all of the fresh colours!

How gorgeous is the styling here...cute dogs!

Beautiful details!

And I had to throw in a snapshot of the Laduree counter at Versailles - what's not to love!

Hope you all have a great weekend - I plan on catching up on sleep to recover from jetlag!
xx

I'm writing today's entry from my mate Leigh's house in just outside Knutsford after we spent the day together photographing the new Manchester Joint Hospitals project. The shoot went very well and the staff were brilliant and we even got access to an operating theatre (thankfully no one was in it!) which is very unusual. The pictures will be used in a new brochure for the company that made all the lighting throughout the hospital.
After the shoot we popped in to a great camera dealer called PFD (Pro Film and Digital) owned by a guy called Howard. This is a proper camera shop with loads on new and used stock and fridges full of film in all formats - a real goldmine. I managed to get away without buying anything (Melanie will be pleased!) and popped in to return the scrims I bought for my Redhead lights as they didn't fit properly.
Tonight Leigh is taking me to Old Trafford for the Carling Cup semi final second leg against Manchester City. Being an Arsenal fan I'll feel a bit like a fish out of water but at least I'll remember to support the team in red.
I'm travelling back home tomorrow and I'll be heading straight in to the studio to do some product shots and to prepare for the model shoot I'm doing for the adult TV channel tomorrow night.
I've attached a picture from yesterday's shoot at the guitar shop in Southampton.

Chateau-Couronne

This amazing hotel is situated in an ancient castle in one of the most picturesque and historical regions of France. The name of the castle literally means “castle - crown”. The present-day owners turned this antique mansion in a cozy and stylish hotel
which gained recognition and attention of celebrities.

The job this morning at the Crown Plaza hotel in Crawley (near Gatwick airport) went really well. The brief was to photograph one of the new club bedrooms and I must admit I was very impressed with the design and quality of the room. The main room was big and light and airy and the bathroom was also quite big and there was a TV built into the tiled wall at the end of the bath - perfect.

I then drove round the M25 and up the M40 and stopped at the big hotel in Stokenchurch for a bit of lunch. My day is generally planned around where to eat and also how many cups of tea I can get during any given trip.

I'm now at the steel factory at Wolverhampton waiting for it to get dark!. I got here half an hour early at 2.30pm only to find the highbay lights don't come on until it's dark outside due to the extensive roof skylights!. My brief is to photograph the industrial lighting in context of the factory so the lights do need to be on.

Industrial photography is great fun especially in places like this where there are huge machines rumbling around and big sheets of steel being cut and hammered into shape.

Once I'm finished here I'm off to Manchester ready for tomorrow's shoot at a new hospital up there.

The new blog rating shown on the right looks good and I've been rated at 7.3 out of 10!. If you get a minute please click on the rate this blog button - thanks!.

I've just retouched another shot of Kimberley on the laptop and I've attached it to today's blog.

Heading Home on Australia Day!

Well we have just had the most wonderful week in Paris! The beauty of this city is simply overwhelming. There is just so much to experience and do, my feet will take a month to recover from all the walking! We are about to start our long journey home...on Australia Day! We will show some of our lovely discoveries when we return, until then I will leave you with this gorgeous pic from Luxemburg gardens...so pretty even in Winter!

Today I've been down in Southampton and Portsmouth working for another of my regular clients that manufacture spotlights and track lighting systems. The pictures I'm taking for them are for their new catalogue and website.

The first project was a guitar shop in Southampton and although the interior was quite small the pictures look good because of the colour and shape of the guitars and amps on display. In fact there were two separate shops - one for electric guitars and one for acoustic - next door but one to each other as part of the same company. Every time I go into a shop like this I want an electric guitar but my bass guitar has ended up as a prop in my studio and I'm sure a six string version would go the same way.

The second job was at the County Court in Portsmouth and this was a lot more challenging as is it basically a plain 1980's interior with very sparse finish and I wasn't allowed to get anyone in the pictures.

I'm doing a shoot tomorrow in Crawley so I'm writing this entry in my hotel room at the Premier Travel Inn Crawley (no expense spent!) but I've got a TV and a kettle so I'm happy.

Tomorrow afternoon I've got a shoot at a steel factory in Wolverhampton then I'm away up to Manchester for the shoot on Wednesday.

I've got a moral dilemma to handle on Wednesday night as my client in Manchester (and mate too) is taking me to Old Trafford for the Carling Cup second leg match against Manchester City. As an ardent Arsenal fan I've always wanted United to lose but I'm going to have to do some top level acting as I'll be sitting in the Stretford End and don't want to be mistaken for a City fan!.

I'm in the studio on Thursday and Friday which will be great - especially as I've got some more work on Thursday night for the adult TV channel. If you can't enjoy your work then you shouldn't do it - that's my point of view anyway!.

I've attached a picture I took of Kimberley a couple of weeks ago which I've converted to a Polaroid style direct print colour profile in DXO.

Yesterday was a great fun day (and day off) as our friends Colette and Jeremy came to visit from London (Colette's picture appeared in the blog a few weeks ago following a studio shoot we did for fun). After an evening out we sat down and watched the classic 1960's film Blowup which was loosely based upon the life of David Bailey in his 60's heyday. It's a really cool film and it launched the career of many fashion photographers but it is a very odd plot. If you like arty films that are beautifully directed but don't care too much about the storyline then I'd recommend this highly. I've watched it a few times but I'm still not sure what it's about!. But then the late David Hemmings who starred in the film claimed that he never knew what it was about either so what hope have I got !.

I've worked for most of the day today catching up on the post processing work for the Orchard Theatre and St John's School in Marlborough that I shot last week. My trusty and talented assistant Kirsty took care of a job for me on Thursday night - an event in Covent Garden in London for one of my best clients as I was out in Birmingham with Melanie on a prior engagement. She did a great job but I still needed to post process the RAW pictures so I did that today as well. I guess those three jobs have taken me around 7 hours to process which is about normal. That's why digital photography is far more complicated than people think if you want to do it properly and get the best possible results.

Next week is now officially manic (which is great news as I like to be busy!!). I'm in Southampton and Portsmouth tomorrow, then Crawley on Tuesday morning followed by a shoot in Wolverhampton at a steel factory on Tuesday late afternoon. Then I'm up to Manchester for a two day trip photographing a new hospital.

I've then got Thursday evening and Friday in the studio doing some more shots for the adult TV channel guys and a portrait shoot too.

I've got to give both the cameras a bloody good clean up as there is a lot of dust and crap on the sensors which makes for more post processing work. The new 5D Mk2 is supposed to self clean the sensor but to be honest it doesn't seem to make any difference. It's a tricky job to clean the sensors safely but as work is really flying at the moment I need to make the effort.

I've just registered the blog with a site called Blogged and some time soon there will be an official blog rating in the tool bar on the right hand side. I'm not sure what rating I'll get but it will be interesting to find out. If it's crap I'll delete the entire thing!!.

I've attached an interior shot from the cafe at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford. The client is one of my regulars and they like to see blurred movement in the shots. To say that Dartford is a bit rough would be like saying Piers Morgan is a bit of a twat - a tremendous understatement!.

Had a pretty busy day today starting with a trip to a printer called Captivate for Ever (cheesy name but great printers!) that do canvas prints for me who are based at Silverstone race circuit. The quality of their canvas prints is top notch and I'd highly recommend them.

Then I went over the the studio for an hour or so and did some post processing work before heading down to Dartford to photograph the newly refurbished Orchard Theatre.

It's a rough old town to be honest and there were some pretty scary looking people hovering around in the theatre but the staff were very friendly and the shoot went well.

I took an enquiry from an actress for some PR head shots today via email which was exciting and I hope she comes into the studio for the shoot. Head shots are great fun particularly with someone who can act and put lots of expression into the pictures.

Next week is now fully booked and February is filling up too so things are almost back to normal.

I've attached a picture from the recent studio shoot with Kimberley.

I'm writing this entry on my Blackberry which is pretty tricky as the keys are so tiny - I feel a bit like Gulliver using someones typewriter in Lillput!.
Anyway the shoot went really well in Marlborough today despite some pretty heavy snow on the way there. The job was a new school and I can't help thinking that kids have so much these days. It was a state school but they had recording studios and rooms full of the latest Macs and PC's etc etc.
I like to use two cameras for these big. Interior shoots - one on a tripod with my shift lens and one hand held with a zoom lens for detail shots. Katie my client is great and always pulls my camera trolley along and she also has a great eye for a picture.
I've got another shoot now for the same client tomorrow night in London but my assistant Kirsty is going to shoot that for me as I'm going to be up in Birmingham.
I'm in the studio all day Friday and I've got another shoot on Friday evening with the TV station in Milton Keynes so that will be a busy day.
I'm relived to be well and truly back in the saddle again and things are definitely picking up nicely so here's to a great 2010 and the end of the recession!.

I've attached a picture of Amy from last week.

I missed my blog entry yesterday because I had a pretty busy day then drank a bit too much red wine at a party last night - unlike me to be honest as I don't drink much.

I spent the first half of yesterday in the studio having a good tidy up and sorting out some broken kit - basically doing the odd jobs I've been meaning to do for ages. I then popped out to see Dan at Calumet Milton Keynes where I bought some 6ft x 4ft reflector and diffuser panels suitable for both studio and location work.

In the afternoon I had a concept meeting with one of my clients where we discussed the theme for some upcoming product photography that I'm really excited about doing.

The evening was very pleasant too. I play in a brass band and it was our annual Christmas dinner (OK a bit late but who cares!). We went to a great old pub in Stony Stratford called the Crown and had a full Christmas dinner and a few glasses of red wine!.

After a slow start today I've post processed all the pictures from my shoot with the beautiful Amy last week (I say she's beautiful even though she says I remind her of her uncle who's old too apparently!! - I'm only 39 but she's a mere 21!) and I'm well pleased with the results.

Tonight I've got another shoot for the adult TV channel in Milton Keynes where I'm doing some glamour photography (not nude or rude though!) of another couple of their lady presenters.

Tomorrow I'm working in Wiltshire doing an interiors shoot for a furniture company - another one of my best clients.

Todays picture is from the shoot with Amy from last week.

Free Girl's Bedroom Design

Tips For Stress Free Girl's Bedroom Design

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins]Lee Dobbins

Whenever you make the decision to redecorate a room, it can take days and weeks before you actually decide on the color and a design you're happy with. Decorating a girl's bedroom, however, opens up even more problems, especially if the girl in question is a teenager. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways that you can make the often-thankless task of girls bedroom design easier.

If you're the parent of a young girl, then the first thing you should do is discuss her ideas. Although it's your house, it is her bedroom after all, and she still needs to feel comfortable in what is essentially her haven. So if she likes a lot of cuddly toys, incorporate soft cushions into the final bedroom design. Work the color scheme around her favorite posters, whether it's of bands or celebrities, so that you have an all-encompassing mix of your choice and hers.

It's also a great idea to work with what she already has in her bedroom. Remember, this room is the equivalent of a comfort room for the girl, so any new bedroom design should try having a happy mix of the old and the new. Simply spruce up existing furniture with little touches here and there. If she has a favorite dresser or desk, for instance, use of stencils to transfer various shapes onto the frame can make a huge difference in appearance. A little board for writing notes or simply doodling on can be a good personalized addition.

ONe thing you need to be careful about with girls bedroom design is when the girl is slightly older. Like anyone, a girl will change her mind as to what she likes one moment to the next, especially if she's approaching her teenage years. That fairy-themed design that you initially helped her make may not seem as cute and adorable now that she's turning into a young woman, so make sure that any design you settle on for a girl's bedroom is reasonably future-proof.

A good approach is to make the room fairly neutral, and then changes can be made along the way. Making any design temporary or easily changeable is relatively easy, yet can still add a touch of style to the overall feel. Rugs are a good way of filling a room yet are also easy to remove should they need to be. Drapes and furniture throws are another excellent method of changing the look of a girl's bedroom, but their very design also means they can be changed quickly and effortlessly for a different look altogether.

At the end of the day, as with any room, redecorating a girl's bedroom can be a strenuous and time-consuming project. However, with just a little forward planning and discussion of ideas, girls bedroom design can be a pleasant task for both parent and daughter.

Lee Dobbins writes for [http://www.look4decor.com]Look4Decor - Home Decorating Style where you can learn how to decorate your home and get more [http://www.look4decor.com/category/bedroom/]bedroom decorating tips.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-For-Stress-Free-Girls-Bedroom-Design&id=497122] Tips For Stress Free Girl's Bedroom Design

New Style Office Workstation

Office panel systems are an optimal choice for many offices, small and large alike. Panel systems allow a business to provide their employees with some degree of privacy and quiet without having to pay the significant costs associated with giving people a full office. While many people look at cubicle-type arrangements as drab and distasteful, they don't really have to be. It's possible to design panel-based workstations that are both appealing to the eye and very functional.

One of the nice things about using panel systems in your office is that they can be highly modular. If you purchase the right panel systems, you can customize the look of each workstation based on the architecture of the office and any existing furniture or fixtures you already have. This makes them a great choice for a business that is regularly expanding its own office, or upgrading to bigger offices. They're also designed to be easy to set up and break down, making moving around much easier.

You can often by panel systems as pre-set packages designed for specific purposes (for example, a secretary's station), or you can buy individual panels to assemble a workstation to meet your needs. While the added customizability means a little extra work, it gives a business owner a lot of control over the layout of their office.

While panel systems do resemble standard cubicle arrangements, they are actually a bit different. Another of the advantages offered by panel systems is that they can be set up to handle hanging components. This means that employees can take advantage of overhead shelving and similar storage solutions to help reduce desk clutter and create a roomier workstation. Drawers and cupboards can also be put under the table surface of a panel-style cubicle.

The Great Home Office Design

Working from home is many people's goal. No traffic, no train delays, no office politics. But if you’re going to work from home full or part time, your work area needs to be carefully planned to make it comfortable and functional. By making some simple changes to either an existing office or when planning a new design, your choices of furniture are now possible to create an office space that can blend in to your house, especially when space is limited.

If your office will be in an existing room, such as a living or dining room, the use of a divider of some sorts will allow the room to be used for both purposes at the same time. Modular cube units are idea for this. Mix the cubes so that some face the office and others face the living space. If you prefer something softer, then a screen is a better choice. To save on costs, look for or make a screen using materials that match the decor of the room.

When selecting a desk, look for one that will allow you to close up sections, or the entire desk, with out putting anything away. This will allow you to leave you work undisturbed and be able to pick back up the next day. Also, having a desk that allow you to pull sections out will provide more room to work, when space is tight, and will provide sufficient storage when needed. If adding a desk is not possible and you’re sharing your office in a dinning room, you could use your dinning room table as your daytime desk and add a sideboard or small table with shelves for storing paperwork at the end of the day.

One essential aspect to the work area is lighting. The best light to work with is a directional light that can angle to illuminate your work area. The room should also have good natural light or artificial ambient light during the day or evening, so the contrast between the brightness of the computer screen and the rest of the room is never too great. The use of overhead or wall lights will balance the lighting.

Great Style Office Interior

With the internet becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society, it comes as no surprise that many people now have the ability to work form home. You are one of those people, and have allotted a room in your house as your office space. However, the room is rather bare at the moment, and you want to liven up your work space.

The first thing that you need to think about is the primary use of your home office. For example, will it be the kind of place that you have clients come in to visit? Or, will it be the kind of place that you use just for yourself? This will make a difference in the overall theme.

If you are going to have clients in it, you will, of course, need to choose a design that is professional. Thus, you should allot a certain area of your area to a couch or a couple of plush chairs, along with a coffee table and reading materials. Ideally, leather is the most professional look for this area.

Regardless of whether or not you will be having clients , you should make the atmosphere as comfortable as possible. For example, what is one thing that you notice? If you answered fish tanks, then you have the right answer! Why are there fish tanks in so many offices? The answer is that it is relaxing to watch the fish, and it is also a stylish addition.

Thus, you should consider having a fish tank as well. If, however, you do not want to deal with the upkeep of having one, you can also consider something in the same area, such as a waterfall. However, while this office interior design is a great way to make your home office more interesting, make sure the sounds are not distracting you from your work!

The most important section of any home office is the workstation itself. You will need a desk that can comfortably accommodate your PC as well as files and other important supplies. However, make sure that the desk is not so large that it takes up the majority of the room. You can find office workstations at your local furniture store.

Wall Paint Colors For 2010

New Trends in Paint Colors For 2009

By Penny Day

Tired of the same old colour schemes? These three fresh new colour combinations are the perfect way to give your home a contemporary new look.

Heather and Chalk

Purple is a big trend for 2009, but deep tones can be overwhelming, so follow our tips to help you get it right

Go for soft heather purples balanced with creamy off-whites. These soothing colours are easy to live with and cobined with light wood, work well to create the perfect country scheme.

Use your curtain fabric as a starting point for your colour scheme. Choose a floral-print fabric with vintage-style purple blooms and then co-ordinate this with your wall paint.

Choose chunky, waxed oak furniture and an aged leather armchair to achieve a timeless look. Then add a big sofa piled with cushions that you can really sink into.

Pick out the heather tones with purple accessories and use wool and cashmere cushions and throws to add a luxurious feel.

Slate and Coral

Be bold with fiery coral, cooled by slate grey and arctic white; this scheme is as modern as they come

Grey is a soft and calming colour, perfect for creating a relaxing living room. It's a practical choice for a modern interior and it can be easily livened up with bright coral and accents of white.

Layer tones of grey in the furniture, carpet and some accessories, then pick a punchy statement shade of coral for the walls.

Keep shapes and patterns simple and pick up on the coral from the walls with the cushions, accessories and curtains. Compliment the colour scheme with a fabric which mixes in a touch of grey, too.

A few quirky items in pure white, such as a clock and table, will stand out and lift the scheme.

Duck egg blue and Rose

Duck-egg blue is a classic choice and combined with pink it creates a contemporary, elegant look.

Cool duck-egg blue and warm rose pink make a perfect colour combination for an elegant living room. Keep this mix fresh by adding an Oriental twist.

Paint the walls in this soft blue shade then choose flooring and upholstery in warm neutral tones, before adding the vibrant shade of pink.

Follow the Eastern theme by combining chinoiserie-print curtains with embroidered cushions and dark wood furniture and flooring. Ornamental bridcages and orchids complete the look.

Give the rose accent more impact by keeping accessories, such as picture frames and ceramics, neutral.

You can find more information on interior design and interior design ideas at house to home, helping you create a look you'll love

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penny_Day

Christmas Home Decorations

The When, the Why and the How!

There's no better way to get excited about Christmas than starting the time-honoured tradition of decorating your home and once you've decorated your house it's officially Christmas... but many people never really know when to start these festive preparations.

People used to decorate their homes on Christmas Eve, believing it unlucky to bring an evergreen into the house any earlier - but of course the tradition of 12 days before and 12 days after for taking them down, is still popular with many. However, for people who feel that decorating the house seems pointless, lets remember why it is so popular (and enjoyable!) The tradition goes back to a pre-Christian custom of bringing in evergreen branches for the spirits and putting them out again in Spring when buds began to appear on the tree, but eventually people decorated to celebrate the Birthday of the Son of God.

There are many superstitions around the background of Christmas Decorations and some superstitions have been retained, indeed hanging mistletoe is still popular. Although there are different interpretations for its use people still believe that luck favours those who kiss under it and goes against those who avoid it. However, apart from the fact that Christmas decorating is an inherited activity, it basically makes people feel excited about forthcoming festivities... even for those who make a fuss about it (but still do it!)

Perhaps especially for those people these time saving tips on how to decorate your home will be of use (and you may still have time to get a bit of gift-wrapping done too!) Decorating the tree is the obvious decoration to start with - but the way you put away your tree decorations is an important part to making this easy. Don't just throw your lights and baubles into a carrier bag when taking them down (you know who you are!) - make life easier by untangling lights and boxing your tinsel and baubles separately. Top tips for decorating include the following:

Have a theme, for example stick to one colour

Think about proportion - put larger decorations at the bottom and smaller ones at the top of the tree. The same applies to your other decorations too

Hang Christmas cards down door and window frames for a quick and easy way to add some colour - not only is this a cheap way to decorate rooms but adds a personal element to your decorations. Make this even easier with Christmas Card Hangers such as Velcro Hanging Card Kit

Tinsel and beads don't need to be kept to the tree - attach them to banisters and picture frames with Decoration Clips

Liz Hargreaves
For more great homecare tips visit: Caraselle Direct and sign up to the newsletter for great advice and discounts:Caraselle Direct Newsletter

Caraselle Direct is an online shopping website full of great homecare solutions. Make your Christmas decorating even easier by checking out their range of new Velcro products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liz_Hargreaves

Wood Living Room Furniture

Things You Need to Know Before You Buy

Where do friends and family spend the most of their time at your house? In the living room, of course! That is why you need to pick out living room furniture that helps create an atmosphere with purpose, comfort and convenience. So before you go buy that gorgeous sofa that fits perfectly into a corner of the room, make sure it is compatible with your vision.

When you've decided it is time to redecorate your living room, pause for a second. Do not pick up a living room furniture catalogue or head to the store to weigh up your options. This is a frequent mistake. Your first task needs to be establishing the dimensions and getting a feel for the room itself. How big is it? How much furniture can you fit into it without crowding the place?

Secondly, decide what you want the focal point to be. In other words, you will eventually need to set up your living room furniture in such a way that it focuses on something specific. This could be the television, the fireplace, the coffee table or anything else you would rather have your guests examining. All your living room furniture should benefit and support this plan. So don't go adding a random antique rocking chair to the room if it ignores the focal point. It will likely detract from the environment.

Pay attention to the traffic scheme as well. You do not want to place a reclining chair right in the walking lane that goes between the front door and the dining room. Then it becomes an obstacle rather than a well-placed piece of living room furniture. It must serve the intended purpose without becoming an inconvenience to those moving in and out. Also on the topic of intended purpose, think of what you will be using your living room for. It can be a space to unwind and watch television but it can also be employed as work or play space. Those details may affect your plan.

The colour of the walls is another important factor in your living room decorating decisions. If they are white or another neutral colour you will have a lot of freedom to choose the colour of all the living room furniture. On the other hand, if the walls are dark green you will be much more limited in what you can pick out that goes with that colour and shade. Consider repainting the room if it is really unmanageable. You will be glad you did.

The next thing to do is decide what your style is. Leather and fabric are popular when it comes to chairs and sofas, but you probably won't want to use both in the room. Your living room furniture needs to be compatible with your focal point, yes, but it also needs to be compatible with itself. Of that furniture, you may want to think about the sofa first. It is often the largest and most influential piece in the room. Once you decide on a sofa picking out chairs, loveseats and stools becomes much less of a hassle.

If you can accommodate it, aim to have enough living room furniture to seat six people comfortably. Now that you have an idea of where to start, go and create your vision!

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com

House Design Software

Create Your Dream House With A House Design Software

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Louis_Zhang]Louis Zhang

Have you ever thought of creating your own house but lacked the knowledge and/or the resources to do it? It may seem hard at first but designing your dream house today can be as simple as drawing thanks to a house design software. You'll be amazed at what you can gain from designing your own house with the help of your computer. With easy to use and convenient features learn why there is no need for you to be architect savvy and best of all you can design more than just her house so having the right tab of software will help. You'll see why this is a great affordable solution for those who have a great imagination.

Among all benefits, a house design software will save you a lot of time. Imagining having the possibility to create your own house without having to meet up with the architects to discuss your ideas every time. Being able to design your own house with a mouse and a computer saves you a lot of time going back and forth but time is not the only factor that will benefit you. Remember, your house your needs so by using a design software your new house will be perfect for you and your family. And since most of us are not architects we need some easy method in order to be able to create our own dream house

Easy to use, you won't be needing an architect anymore. House design softwares were designed for people like you and me so we can create our own dream house like we wish without necessarily have a Masters in an architect course. It's also easier because sometimes it's hard to communicate your ideas with the architect so by using a house design software just like if it was a Photoshop or Paint shop program it's easy to get an idea of the architect of what you want and how to make it happen. The only difference is you have access to many icons that will appear in the house.

Most house design softwares will have the basic features which will allow you to design your rooms, your floors, wall color and even furniture with some of the softwares. In case you haven't noticed, all this will be possible with a simple click of a mouse and your imagination so it is easier for the architect to know what you want exactly. One feature that you may want to look at is the rendering which will make a preview of your house in real time because looking at sketches may sometimes be confusing. Now depending on what you want to design, there are several different types of software.

you will find general softwares related to house design or you will find more specific house design softwares such as for designing your garden, the interior, exterior and in some cases the color on your wall. If you do not need to redesign our design the whole house then choosing a more specific software may be cheaper and it will probably prove to be easier to use since there won't be as many features.

If you hire an architect, he or she will still use a house design software in order to be able to create your house. So why take the chance of outsourcing your ideas when you could be doing them yourself? If you have a specific idea of what you want or how your new house should look like then using a house design software will definitely prove to be useful.

For more on how to choose house design software go to http://www.homedesignsoftwareinc.com for product reviews.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Create-Your-Dream-House-With-A-House-Design-Software&id=647254] Create Your Dream House With A House Design Software

New Style Apartment Design Ideas

Stay Line From Pink Flamingos

Stay Away From Pink Flamingos: Decorate Your Bathroom With Class

By Gregg Hall

Your bathroom, more than any other room in the house, demonstrates how much you really care about your home. Consider this: people walk into your house everyday and get glimpses of your kitchen and living room, so surely you will spend time decorating those. But the people who ask to use your restroom will really know how much you care because now they're getting into the real guts of your house. So at this point, it's important to make sure that even this room makes your guests feel comfortable and at home while reflecting your personal tastes. In a nutshell, take time to decorate your bathroom.

Your bathroom should aim to do two things: soothe whoever is using it, and reflect your personal tastes as a homeowner and homemaker. So how do you soothe your guest? The same way that you soothe them in the rest of your home: you keep the same palette going. No one should walk into your bathroom and feel startled by the design of it. Your designs instead should move seamlessly from the rooms outside the bathroom to the inside of the bathroom.

Consider tasteful decorations. Do not, for example, pick pictures of children chasing a bird in the country side. Instead, in my opinion, a great bathroom needs great artwork, like abstract art with bold colors that require concentration to understand the artist's feelings and desires. Pencil drawings work well also. Your pictures should reflect a thoughtful attitude towards the one viewing them, so give them something to consider instead of a blatant and simple picture.

While you are trying to make your bathroom sophisticated and classy, consider how you can make it reflect you as well, just like the rest of your home does. When a person walks into your home, based on the items that he immediately sees, that person should be able to distinguish within a few moments what matters most to you. Do the same thing in your bathroom. Seamlessly carry the same ideas and themes into the bathroom that you have outside the bathroom. Most interior designers attempt to create only a subtle change from the rooms outside the bathroom, because, again, no one wants to be startled by what he sees when he opens the bathroom door.

Creating a classy bathroom shouldn't break the bank. While you should expect to spend big bucks on expensive fixtures, you don't have to empty your wallet for the right decorations and accessories. Look for classy pictures at discount stores or in clearance bins. You might find exactly what you need there more so than at an expensive art store. After all, you are decorating the bathroom. You shouldn't put a real Monet in a place where the humidity would literally ruin it.

The next time it's time to give your home a face lift, consider the bathroom. It can top off your home decor more than you know.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as bathroom decorating at http://www.exclusivebathroomaccessories.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Beach House Decor Ideas

Modern Ideas For Beach House Decor

By Rebecca McKeich

The stores these days have so many ideas for beach house decorating in them that you don't know where to start. Make your design your own and these guidelines will help you on your journey to a one of a kind perfect style made just for you.

Decorating in modern beach house themes you will need to keep the space free from clutter, comfortable, inviting and a place you and your family feel at home in.

Look around you at all of nature's beauty and you will find all the inspiration you need for the greatest of decorating themes. From seashells, seahorses and starfish to woven baskets filled with nautical memorabilia, just imagine how beach worthy it will feel.

Paint walls sea colors such as light corals, ocean greens, sky blues and natural colored palettes. In a bathroom you could really go for more of a deeper coral or pink to make it look amazing.

You should shy away from using window treatments if at all possible as it detracts from the light outside coming in. If you must have some coverage, go with sheer fabrics or blinds that have a coastal feel to them.

Inside, casual and easy to clean furniture should be purchased in neutral tones if the paint is heavier or darker ones if it is lighter. Add some nautical or seashell themed throw pillows and sit and enjoy the outcome of your hard work.

When shopping go to specialty stores such as antique or close outs. In these places you can find delightful additions to your design scheme at a fraction of what you would pay at the larger well known stores in your area. No beach theme would be perfect without lots of candles, pillar, votive, floating and even specialty designed or shaped ones to make the whole room glow.

Using some palm fronds or sea glass, pebbles or bamboo baskets to make arrangements out of is a simple way to complete the ensemble. You never know where the right thing for a room will show up, so keep an eye out wherever you go.

Ideas for beach house decorating should not be confined just to the indoor areas, the outside needs to have that beach feel as well. Place nautical or beach inspired wreaths on the doors, have palm trees in planters on the porches and just do what you think says "beach" to you.

Making your own items to decorate with is a cost friendly way of doing things and think of how much pride you will have once they are completed and adding to the ambiance of your home. Get creative with flowers, paintings, even mosaics.

Ideas for beach decor are all around you. Make it personal by picking pieces and items you love and that you feel represent your vision of the perfect coastal decor. These guidelines have started you on the road to enjoying a lovely beach house with friends and family and the rest is up to you. When you're done, have a beach party to celebrate all your hard work and attention to detail.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_McKeich

It's a case of best laid plans of mice and men again - I didn't get to the studio to start filming my viral ad but will definitely get there on Monday and make a start.

Instead I telephoned some of my clients for a quick catch up and did some research into viral video clips and podcasts on the Internet. Then I popped out to our printer in Milton Keynes with the final artwork on CD for our new flick book that I'm going to use to promote the studio to local companies.

The shoot for the TV company has been postponed until next Tuesday or Wednesday as we can't get all the girls together in one place at the same time until then. So in short I've had a pretty easy day although I'd prefer to be busy and rushing around the place.

I am more determined than ever to shoot more film this year. I've still got some 5x4 sheets of Tungsten balanced slide film ready to go in the studio and I've also got a stash of black and white 120 roll film that I'm going to use with the large format camera via a 120 back. I love my Canon digital kit but I'm being drawn back to film more and more. I think it's the fact that with digital in the studio there's always the temptation to shoot too many frames and go for quantity over quality in terms of posing the model properly and with real consideration.

I need to find a model who's happy to work for 3-4 hours and only shoot 20 odd frames rather than 300 and in these days of instant results that could prove tricky.

Before Christmas I was working a lot with old Tungsten hotlights because I like the old fashioned look I can get with these lights. It reminds me of the old Hollywood stills from films in the 50's and 60's. I did however have a near miss as one of my 800W Redheads blew it's lamp to bits and hot glass spat out all over the studio floor taking the paint off where the chips landed!!!. Luckily I was the only one in the studio at the time. Today I managed to track down some scrims for the Redheads - these are basically metal screens which fit in front of the lamp and catch any glass should the lamps blow up - another good job done.

I'm hoping to get to the studio over the weekend to play around with some still life ideas I've had but the chances of that happening are probably fairly small!.

I've attached another picture of Amy from our shoot on Wednesday.

Great Harmful Living Room Design

No one can be proud of in a house unless you can load the living room in the house to be comfortable. Appropriate placement Sofa and color to suit the color of the walls will add comfort to anyone who comes into your home.

Bright Living Room Design For You Family