Do you have a fruit bowl in your kitchen? If so, what does it say about your contemporary space? It is surprising how many exquisitely decorated, modern kitchens have nothing but a simple bowl that was pulled from the cupboard to hold their fruit on their gorgeous table or counter-top. Think you can’t showcase your delicious vitamins as a stylish centerpiece? Think again!

The Blow Up Citrus Basket by Alessi is a showstopper! This is a piece that could find itself a special place in even the most stylish rooms in any home. The basket is composed with mirror polished, stainless steel, hand-welded pieces so each one is truly unique.

About Alessi

The entire Alessi collection is unbelievably stunning and it should be with the passion and attention that goes into each piece. Humberta and Fernando Campana, brothers and partners, come from law and architectural backgrounds and are hallmarked by the way they use raw materials to create functional pieces of art. They are also well-known for experimenting with recycled matter that most other designers would find no use for.

Every home needs a fruit bowl, why not make it one that will stop guests in their tracks? To view the entire Alessi collection, visit their website.

Quite often, the problem is not planning a remodel or even redecorating, you may even have the funds just burning a hold in your pocket ,waiting to be spent; sometimes, the problem is simply deciding what you want to do! Whether your mind is blank or if you’re over-inspired with so many fantastic ideas that you can’t decide on one, these tips will help get on track.

Finding Inspiration

If you’re having a hard time finding something to inspire you, maybe you’re looking for too much. Instead of trying to vision an entire room, perhaps find a rug, piece of art or a color that just draws you in and then plan your decorating scheme around that. Sometimes just looking through magazines, browsing the internet or going shopping will trigger the design that you’ve been looking for.

Finding Your Style

Don’t be afraid to try something that is totally not you! If you’ve always had neutral rooms, go bold! Been doing the contemporary thing since before it was in style? Why not try Victorian? It’s always a thrill to shop for antiques and vintage items.

Reuse What You Can

On a budget? Quite often, just changing the paint color on your walls, buying a new cover for the couch, moving the furniture around and adding a few new decorative pillows is all that you need to get you out of the boring rut that you’ve found yourself in.

Address Your Lighting

Whether you’re doing an entire remodel or just sprucing things up a bit, don’t overlook your lighting. There is nothing exciting about that same light fixture you’ve been looking at for the past 10 years. Adding pendants, recess lighting, chandeliers, wall scones or an assortment of fun lamps will give your space an instant facelift. You can’t imagine the impact that stylish lighting can have on a room until you see the transformation!

If you really are looking for that one exceptional WOW piece for that wall that is desperately crying for attention in your home, an Inspiration Falls wall water fountain is it! As you may or may not be aware, the key to being successful with contemporary design is providing a focal point in a room. Ideally, this will be a feature that demands attention yet offers comfort, it is essentially a place for tired and busy eyes to relax once they have scanned a room to arrive at their destination.

Your focal point of the room should add to the room’s decor, never become a distraction. Inspiration Falls wall fountains do just that. They are available in an array of stunning surfaces such as black spider marble, rainforest green marble, rainforest brown marble and rajah, green or black slate. You also have the power to choose your frame finish in antique black, rustic copper and stainless steel.

These mesmerizing water features are illuminated with halogen lights and since they are created from natural materials, each gorgeous piece brings its own unique pattern.

An Inspiration Falls wall water fountain will bring tranquility to your home and offer just enough moisture to win that battle with static electricity. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that you will have the most exquisite piece of art in the neighborhood! The Soothing Company is the perfect place to order an Inspiration Falls wall water fountain for your home!

You probably already know that wind chimes are just a special treat to listen to wherever they are hung but do you know why they should be positioned at your front door? This concept is very important in Feng Shui however, you don’t have to practice living harmoniously with your surrounding environment to appreciate this home decorating tip.

Why the Door?

Feng Shui practitioners believe that positive energy in your home is crucial for health and happiness. A door provides such a a large opening that energy can easily escape so wind chimes, especially bamboo, will chase negative energy away while keeping positive energy inside. It is also said that strategically hung wind chimes can help the mind transition from the busy outside world to the inside tranquil environment with ease.

If these reasons aren’t enough for you, some also suggest that bamboo wind chimes hung at your door will attract money and good luck!

Size and Positioning

Bamboo wind chimes should be appropriately scaled to the door size. A small, single doorway should have small chimes but someone with double doors or a large opening will need larger chimes for them to properly do their job. Be sure to position your bamboo wind chimes so the wind won’t blow them against the door and no one will hit their head on them. Never hang them with a plastic hook, only metal as this material is also an important element in the practice of Feng Shui.

While everyone can certainly benefit from the soothing and warming properties that a dancing flame provides, there aren’t many portable gel fireplaces that will fit in every budget. Fortunately, the Oasis Table Top Fireplace does! The design of this piece is like a dream come true, it’s contemporary, elegant and can complement any decor! Not to mention, it is the perfect size to take out on a small balcony, patio or you can simply enjoy it inside of your home. This fireplace is really lightweight so when it says portable, it means portable!

This stylish piece is stainless steel and comes with gorgeous white river stones but if these don’t match your décor, you can replace them if you choose with other colored fire glass, seashells or anything else nonflammable. It uses either pourable gel fuel or gel fuel canisters which are completely environmentally-friendly so you never have to be concerned with polluting the air outside or in your home. Nor do you have to be bothered with cleaning up the mess that burning wood would leave behind.

The Oasis Tabletop Gel Fireplace will provide you with warmth, ambiance and even when it’s not burning, it is still a stunning piece of art. You can find this fireplace at The Soothing Company at a great price!

More and more people are choosing wood, composite, marble, tile, etc., for their homes instead of carpet which means that rugs are becoming more popular than ever. Of course, those who have carpet also enjoy adding rugs to save the carpet from wear and tear, add style and even cover stains. Some individuals have no problem just going into a store and picking up a few rugs but if you’re investing in a large expensive area rug, you may want to put a little thought into your decision.

Play with Your Furniture

Your furniture will play a role in determining not only the size and style of the rug but the placement as well. If you are someone who moves around your furniture from time to time, you will need to imagine all scenarios and if your rug will accommodate your creativity. Don’t be afraid to get out your measuring tape to measure the space, this may also help you determine if you want a square, rectangular or round rug.

Explore Your Options

Rugs should ultimately compliment your decor however, in a simplistic or contemporary room, they can quickly become a focal point if you want to add in a bright color or pattern. If you are looking for a rug to place under your dining room table, be sure that it’s large enough for all chairs to fit on it, there is nothing worse than sitting on an uneven chair that’s half on and half off a rug.

Runners are great for entryways, hallways and stairs while floor mats made from bamboo, rattan, sisal or any other natural material will add just the right amount of texture to your flooring.

Experiment

Don’t be afraid to combine several rugs in one room that don’t necessarily exactly match. This is a good way to break up a large space or studio apartment, giving each area its own identity. You may also want to layer rugs if you start feeling really creative.

Reducing your carbon footprint goes far beyond recycling, solar panels and choosing non-toxic paint and flooring. The decor that you use in your home can also be environmentally-friendly as well. Today, designers are creating stunning pieces that are actually beneficial to your living space.

• Bamboo – This raw material exploded in popularity many years ago and has not lost its novelty. This renewable resource not only makes beautiful products, it grows back fast! Fresh bamboo shoots are always a great idea to bring any room to life as well.

• Recycled Glass – What else is there to do with recycled wine bottles, windshields and dinner plates besides make them into something spectacular. This glass is broken up into tiny pieces and then concrete holds it together. What you get are recycled countertops, tables, vases and more, made from materials that would have otherwise ended up filling landfills.

• Recycled Aluminum – Many manufacturers are recycling industrial scrap metal, soda cans, etc., to use as backsplashes, countertops, accent furniture, art and even sculptures for your garden.

• Cork – This is quickly becoming a preferred choice in flooring and is expected to be a material found in home accents in the near future. It’s durable, comfortable, water-resistant, contains no formaldehyde binders or PVC and is a renewable resource.

Other materials recognized as being environmentally-friendly are concrete, recycled paper and natural plaster. Whether you are building, remodeling or redecorating, there are now an abundance of choices available to make a contemporary home, GREEN!