COLORS ARE FUN – what better way is there to make a statement than with an accent painted door? It is not the usual thing to do, but painting your bedroom door can make everything a bit more interesting. Paint over those plain white doors with a bright hue, and bring a little life back into the room. A solid color can be exciting, but think out of the box! Stripes, checkered designs, or even hand painted designs are some ways to be creative with any doors inside your home.

LYING IN A HAMMOCK may be one of the most relaxing ways to spend a couple of hours. You no longer have to wait for your beach vacation to actually get a chance to snooze in one! A hammock can be installed inside the comfort of your very own home. There are so many different styles, colors, and sizes; it’s a sure way to set your room apart from the norm. Outdoor hammocks are are more common. It’s a nice place to sit and watch for shooting stars. Hammocks range in prices, but are generally very affordable. Set up a hammock, grab a book, and lounge until the kids get home – you deserve it.

CHALKBOARD PAINT IS ONE OF THE MOST creative ways of “recreating” furniture, or a bedroom wall. Let’s all admit, drawing on sidewalks with chalk might have been one of the coolest things we did as children. Now, you don’t have to reminisce about the good old days. Imagine beyond painting just a wall; you can paint a dresser, a refrigerator door, or even the inside of your cabinets. It’s useful, fun, and definitely an interesting choice of decor in your home. There are several ways of applying this paint, and you may need to sand down the surface before painting for the best results. Have fun with old furniture, and change it up a bit.

CLAWFOOT TUBS ARE GROWING INTO one the most common remodeling necessities. A stand-alone tub can transform an entire bathroom. Accent colored tubs can also liven up your three year old paint job. Legged tubs are easy to install, because they do not require any major construction. You can’t go wrong with replacing your shower with a Clawfoot tub; in exchange you’ll receive more comfort, better durability and many more compliments.

via Dezeen

via Recycle Art

ARE YOUR TIRED OF TRADITIONAL SHELVES in your home? Do you have a spare luxury car sitting in your garage? Home owners have managed to top conventional shelves; installing an uncommon possession to your wall may be an interesting way to spice up a room. This is a good idea for odd pieces of furniture or belongings that you can’t seem to get rid of just yet. Installing a piano, or a car to your bedroom wall may prove to be a hassle – but the after product will win you some cool points in any interior design conversations you might run into at a dinner party.

Looking to make a change in 2013? Winning this giveaway, courtesy of Total Wallcovering, will help you move a step further in accomplishing that goal. Total Wallcovering is offering one winner $100 worth of free wallpaper of his or her choosing. Total Wallcovering has nearly every kind of wallpaper and borders imaginable from all the major brands. Don’t be fooled by reports of the demise of wallpaper. Although the industry took a bit of a dive in the 90s and early 2000s, like all other trends, it is finally back in vogue.

There are literally thousands of choices for you to choose from. Here are some of my favorites:

If you like the “brick and mortar” look you might want to try this ledgestone pattern.

Vibrant colored stripes are definitely in style right now like this one:

Or you might want to try damask:

 Looking to spruce up your kitchen?  Try this chef border:

If you are a fan of the preppy look you will like this dots sidewall paper:

And there is this floral harlequin wallpaper from our green enthusiasts:

This giveaway is open to all USA and Canadian residents and will remain live for two weeks. It will end at 11:59 EST on 2/23/2013.

Entering to win is easy. All you have to do is leave a comment stating which paper you like best and which room you would put it in.

To stay current with the prints that Total Wallcovering offers you can like them on Facebook, Twitter or their Google+ page.

OVER 100 FASHION AND STYLE BLOGS were considered for inclusion in the Top 25 list. Below are the ones that made the cut. Let us know in the comments section which ones you love, which you hate, and which were overlooked.

1. LOOKBOOK

Self-described as “fashion inspiration from real people around the world,” Lookbook is more than a blog, it’s a social network of Fashionistas who regularly submit images of everyday people (often themselves) in fashionable outfits. With more than 725,000 registered members, Lookbook utilizes a voting system to rank user-submitted looks via a “Hype” button (similar to Facebook’s “Like”), allowing popular looks to be featured more prominently. With an emphasis on “Street Style,” Lookbook’s audience is predominantly female (80%) and influential, with 50% of members running their own blog or website. Top Contributors Include:

• Flávia Desgranges van der Linden
• Ebba Zingmark
• Juliett Kuczynska

2. The Sartorialist

The Sartorialist is the blog of Scott Schuman, former writer for GQ, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, and Interview. A photographer as well as a writer, The Sartorialist features daily images of fashion on the streets and runways of the world’s fashion capitals: Milan, Florence, New York, London, among others. Itself an example of a simple aesthetic meant to highlight the content, The Sartorialist focuses more on the beautiful imagery and less on the words. After all, a picture does speak for itself. Popular Posts Include:

• On the Street….One More Time, Milano
• On the Street…..Young Milano
• On the Street….Unbuttoned Elegance, Milano

3. hypebeast

Were you to miss the last several eons of human history and read its “About” page, you’d think Hypebeast was singlehandedly responsible for getting humans out of animal skins. Phrases like “The impact of Hypebeast has been paramount in constructing today’s outlook on lifestyle” notwithstanding, Hypebeast is a premier Culture blog with a focus on all things Fashion, Arts, Design and Music. Decidedly male in perspective, Hypebeast’s audience varies from sneakerheads, to gamers and techies, among others. Popular Posts Include:

• Nike 2011 Holiday Air Pegasus 92
• The Glitch Mob – More Voltage (Exclusive Mixtape Stream)
• Spike Jonze & Olympia Le-Tan “Mourir Aupres de Toi” Short Film

4. Honestly, WTF?

Owned by Erica & Lauren, a stylist and a designer, respectively, “Honestly WTF?” is all about the extraordinary things that blow their mind or make them say, “Honestly. WTF?” The site offers daily musings on style and fashion and features posts on various subjects, including do-it-yourself projects, art, and travel. Popular Posts Include:

• DIY Wrap Bracelet
• DIY Friendship Bracelet
• DIY Braided Hex Nut Bracelet

5. Atlantic – Pacific

The blog of Blair Eadie, a self-described “east coast girl currently loving California life,” Atlantic – Pacific could best be described as the style musings of an East Coast transplant, in pictorial format, that is. By day a merchant for a major specialty retailer, Blair credits her day job for her daily inspiration. Popular Posts Include:

• lemon
• fling
• signs

6. Oh, Joy!

Founded by Joy Deangdeelert Cho, a graphic designer, Oh Joy! primarily focuses on visual collections of things Joy enjoys most. A published author of Creative, Inc. and, most recently, Blog, Inc., Joy launched Oh Joy! in 2005 to write about her three favorite pastimes (besides being a mommy): design, fashion and food. Unlike many of the blogs on this list, Joy does a fair amount of writing about the beautiful images she posts. Readers rejoice! Popular Posts Include:

• feeling hot pink
• enjoy cupcake shop + a sweet giveaway
• new graham and brown

7. Cupcakes & Cashmere

Two guesses as to the focus of this blog. Although you’d be forgiven for answering “cupcakes and cashmere,” the answer is actually fashion and food. Founded by Emily Schuman in 2008, the blog documents the things that Emily finds inspiring. Popular in large part for her simple but effective tutorials ranging from how to make a braided bun to how to apply dewy makeup, Cupcakes and Cashmere is at once accessible and insightful. Popular Posts Include:

• how to: beachy waves
• how to: braided updo
• how to: dewy make up

8. Japanese Streets

Not to be outdone by Cupcakes and Cashmere, Japanese Streets takes the prize for most explanatory blog name. Focused on the street fashion of Tokyo and Osaka, Japanese Streets was started in 2002 by photo-journalist Kjeld Duits. With over 30,000 photos, readers will be hard-pressed to run out of content on this blog. For those seeking to replicate the looks without copying them exactly, Japanese Streets offers a color palette associated with each outfit — a handy little tool indeed. Popular Posts Include:

• traditional japanese colors: yellow and browns
• traditional japanese colors: blues
• traditional japanese colors: pinks and reds

9. Chictopia

Similar in scope to Lookbook.nu, Chictopia is an online community of fashion lovers. Boasting a membership of over 250,000, Chictopia plays host to daily street-style postings from its thousands of members. Featuring a voting system that allows members to upvote looks they like, Chictopia is best described as the Facebook of fashion. Founded by Berkeley grads Helen Zhu and Corinne Chan in 2008, Chictopia has quickly become the premier online fashion communitiy. Popular Posts Include:

• Do It Yourself: T-Shirt Weaving
• diy: how to make a custom cut out tee
• Influential Blogger of the Year Award

10. Hel Looks

Created by Liisa Jokinen and Sampo Karjalainen, Hel Looks is a street style blog from Helsinki, Finland. Started in 2005, each post features a photo of a single model alongside his or her name and age as well as a brief description of the outfit. More so an impartial chronicle of Helsinki street style than an opinionated blog on what to wear, Hel Looks’ simple layout and format is reflected in the styles it reflects. Popular Posts Include:

• Timo
• Reko and Jere
• Sara

11. Nerd Boyfriend

Roxana Altamirano loves nerds. And not just any nerds. She loves nerdy male celebrities. From Richard Dreyfuss, to Andy Griffith, to Michael Douglas and countless others, Ms. Altamirano posts a still of the actor in a movie scene or on the set of a movie and then features a list of the items one would need to recreate the look. If you’ve always wanted to dress up like Samuel L. Jackson in Do The Right Thing but could never quite find the right Hawaiian shirt, then this is the blog for you. Popular Posts Include:

• Carl Sagan
• The Beatles
• James Stewart

12. Advanced Style

Let there be no confusion. The “Advanced” in “Advanced Style” does not reference one’s position on the style totem pole. “Advanced Style’s” euphemistic title is actually meant to refer to the style of people of advanced age (i.e. the elderly). Rather lovingly photographed and described by Ari Seth Cohen, Advanced Style captures both the styles and perspectives of our elders, providing further proof that there’s always something we could learn from our elders. Popular Posts Include:

• The Top Ten Ways to Stay Stylish and Look Great at 98
• Stylish Sapeur: A Return to Elegance
• Advanced Style Videos

13. She Finds

Is work getting in the way of your shopping habit? Think of SheFinds as the personal shopping concierge for the busy professional woman. SheFinds researches new trends and presents them in shopping guides so the time-starved can focus on what’s important, but look good doing it. Not only does SheFinds tell you what to wear, they tell you where to get it. Just don’t forget to put it on one leg at a time. A blog can’t help you with that. Popular Posts Include:

• Online Sample Sales
• Meet the Wine Rack: Bust Enhancer, Secret Booze Container
• Top 5 Fashion iPhone Apps–And Get SheFinds On Your Kindle

14. Ann Street Studio

Although now going by a much less emotive name, Ann Street Studio began in 2009 as “From Me To You.” The blog of Jamie Beck and husband and partner Kevin Burg, From Me To You combines it’s authors’ childhood interests of photography and playing dress up. What separates this blog from others, besides the amazing still photography, are the photos that are not so still. Named “Cinemagraphs” by its originators, it was best described by supermodel Coco Rocha as “More than a photo but not quite a video.” Popular Posts Include:

• Catbird
• Kiss Me In Paris
• Donna Karan

15. P.S. I Made This

Inspired by the author’s motto (“I see it. I like it. I made it.”), P.S.- I made this… is part do it yourself blog, part fashion blog. Written by Erica Domesek, a New York City style expert, the blog features a “Designer DIY” section that encourages readers to follow in the author’s footsteps and make the things they see and like. The DYI projects range from how-tos on ruffled shirts, knit scarfs, gold necklaces and gemstone earings. The easy step-by-step instructions are likely to turn even the most craft-challenged into top Etsy retailers in little time. Popular Posts Include:

• porcelain pottery
• pom pom necklace
• satin cord bracelet

16. Fashion Toast

Fashion Toast was started in 2008 after Rumi Neely realized that her passion for reading fashion blogs could easily be channeled to writing. Initially meant to capture fashion trends, Fashion Toast soon became a personal style archive. Influenced by California’s beachy, casual style, Rumi’s style is best described as pawnshop meets Madison Avenue. At once bohemian, grunge and feminine, Rumi is a master of mixing high end and low end pieces to create a look that is unique her own. Popular Looks Include:

• for japan
• nyfw photo diary fw11
• vivi october

17. Fab Sugar

Started in 2005 by Lisa and husband Brian Sugar as a hobby, Sugar Inc., Fab Sugar’s parent company, is now a venture capital-backed new media company and blog network with a 190-person staff and over 20 million visitors a month. Initially focused on celebrity fashion, Fab Sugar differed from it’s celebrity-driven competitors by putting a fun, positive spin on a well-tread subject. Having since expanded to include general fashion and shopping tips, Fab Sugar is a fashionista’s guide to all things trendy. Popular Posts Include:

• How to make your own Hoodie tutorial
• Look of the day: A Cable-Knit Thanksgiving
• FAB DIY: Two Scarves, 50 Ways

18. Another Mag

AnOther Mag was launched in 2009 as a companion to print publications AnOther Magazine and Another Man. Featuring all things fashion, art and culture (for both men and women), Another Mag is split into 4 sections: Loves (Beautiful things to love and love to share); Current (Columns on fashion, culture and ideas); Reader (A daily edit of favorite blogs); and Exclusive (Monthly online exclusive fashion films and features). Staffed by a team of international contributors, AnOther Mag echoes some of its print characteristics with its beautiful photography and feature-length pieces. Popular Posts Include:

• An Intellectual Fashion | Nicola Formichetti
• Making Waves
• AnOther Magazine A/W12 x rag & bone Party

19. Facehunter

Facehunter is an internationally acclaimed street fashion blog written by Yvan Rodic. A writer with a natural eye for photography, Rodic began posting his street style pictorials online in 2006. Featuring the tag line “eye candy for the style hungry,” Rodic’s subjects are often a combination of personality, charisma, madness and creativity. Less about fashion and more about style, Rodic attempts to showcase the amazing personalities he photographs in every post. Popular Posts Include:

• MOSCOW – mercedes-benz fashion week russia, 10/21-22/12
• PARIS – fashion week ss 13, day 7, 10/01/12
• LONDON – fashion week ss 13, day 2, 09/15/12

20. Street Etiquette

Not many fashion blogs have a male perspective. Fewer still have an urban male perspective. Founded in 2008 by Mount Vernon, NY natives Travis Gumbs and Joshua Kissi, Street Etiquette provides an alternative to the baggy pants, jerseys and white tees aesthetic prevalent in urban style. Measured on its aesthetic alone, Street Etiquette has a unique and bold voice. Viewed from the perspective of the often monolithic urban style culture, it is even more impressive for pushing the boundaries of urban male style. Popular Posts Include:

• Luanda, Angola Preview
• Black Ivy Docs – Ali of a Noble Savage: 02
• Street Etiquette for Del Toro – Portofino Slippers

21. Temptalia

Based on it’s mission statement that “Every person deserves to feel beautiful,” Temptalia is a makeup and cosmetics blog that believes that with the proper foundation, anyone can. Founded in 2006 by Christine Mielke, it features makeup recommendations, how-to tutorials and product reviews meant to help the average woman make sense of the limitless shades of bronzer. Popular Posts Include:

• MAC & Marilyn Monroe Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
• Urban Decay Vice Eyeshadow Palette Photos & Swatches
• Bobbi Brown Cement Sparkle Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches

22. Nice Kicks

In a class all its own, Nice Kicks is the premier sneakerhead blog. Founded by Matt Halfhill in 2006 to serve as the go to resource for the latest and greatest news on kicks (i.e. sneakers), Nice Kicks features daily postings on the newest kicks as well as information on who’s rocking (i.e. wearing) them. Nuff said. Popular Posts Include:

• Great Scott! “Marty McFly” Nike Air Mag Release?
• Pee Wee Herman Dunks SB
• Nike Mag Officially Unveiled

23. This Is Glamorous

Founded by Roseline Lohr, This Is Glamorous is a blog about inspirational design in all its forms, including fashion, interiors, photography and art. Self-described as “adventures in love and the daily search of beautiful things,” This Is Glamorous is life as seen through the perspective of an incurable romantic with impeccable style.  With it’s How To’s and inspiration boards, This Is Glamorous is a daily place of inspiration for thousands of visitors across the world. Popular Posts Include:

• website news | take me away : a one year anniversary
• take me away ? 39 | the magnificent castles of germany
• style inspiration : denim when the leaves are falling

24. The Impossible Cool

The Impossible Cool is an archive of all of the impossibly cool style mavens that have come and gone. Featuring such icons as Katherine Hepburn, Jon Hamm, Christopher Walken and even Martin Luther King, Jr., The Impossible Cool is short on words and long on classic photography. Cool really can’t be described, so why try? Popular Posts Include:

• hepburn
• hamm
• walken

25. the style rookie

Although numerically last on the list of Top 25, this one, a style blog for teenage girls, takes the cake. Written by 16-year old Tavi Gevinson, The Style Rookie was started in 2008 (when Gevinson was 11!) as a creative outlet. An archive of the “things I like,” this blog is likely the most prosaic of any on the list. Originally featuring outfits sourced from local thrift stores, The Style Rookie has attained such a large following that fashion brands ensure Gevinson no longer has to to dig through unorganized thrift store racks (but she still does!). Popular Posts Include:

• she had to get out
• my united states of whatever
• hey hey guys look at all my stuff

honorable mentions

26. Show Studio

27. Man Repeller

28. Refinery 29

29. The Cherry Blossom Girl

30. Copenhagen Cycle Chic

NO, THIS IS NOT THE WORLD’S EASIEST RUBIK’S CUBE. Designed by Luca Capuozzo, this lighted coffee table opens to display storage compartments for television remotes, eyeglasses, bottles, books and so on.  Constructed out of two planes of plexiglass, this coffee table was painstakingly designed so that every piece slides and locks exactly into each other piece, making the use of glue unnecessary.
lucequadra.it

A small bedroom can easily become cramped and untidy, making it impossible to relax. Ideally, your bedroom should be a calm, personal space to escape to, so we’ve put together some of our top tips for bringing it back to life, giving you somewhere to unwind and enjoy!

Reclaim floor space. Decide what the largest things in your room are – for most of us, the wardrobe and the bed take up the most space. Combine these two with a storage bed, which can hold your clothes and linen underneath, and ditch the bulky wardrobe to open the room out more. If you have the budget, consider investing in a memory-foam mattress – they’re incredibly comfortable and will ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Replace bedside cabinets with wall-mounted shelving, and keep other items on high-up shelves so that you still have room to move around.

Decorate. Brighter colours will instantly make your room appear airier and more inviting. You can contrast this with deeply coloured fabrics for curtains and bedding, to create a touch of luxury and an element of texture to the room. If the room is particularly plain, take a look at some wall decals - these give you the opportunity to personalise without sticking pins into the wall or making any permanent changes. For a real sanctuary-like feel, add some fairy lights to make the room seem warm and cosy in the evening.

Get comfy. Make your room more cosy and pleasant to spend time in by loading up on soft, comfortable bedding and furnishings. Throws and fleece blankets will make your bed nicer to relax on for reading and watching TV, while if you have the floor space a dedicated reading nook can be thrown together in no time with just a soft chair, a lamp and a small area to keep a pile of books!

Kitchens have taken on a whole new social life recently, changing from a designated “behind the scenes” work area to a room often more lived in than our lounges or dining rooms. Modern styles have come to reflect that, using contemporary designs and appliance integration to create a clutter-free living space that’s suitable for dining and entertaining as well as cooking. While there are a number of practical ways in which we can achieve this new trend, we’re going to focus on some of the easier design aspects, giving you the opportunity to give your kitchen a refresher without having to spend a fortune.

Changing the colour scheme of the walls and floor is one of the fastest and most effective ways to update your kitchen. Modern designs tend to go for minimalist look, so pale hues with bold contrasting features are definitely the way forward. White or off-white with a border of black tiles definitely gives this effect, creating a bright yet stylised design.

Backsplashes over the counters are traditionally created with tiles, but the grouting can sometimes be difficult to keep clean. Glass backsplashes are the latest trend, reducing workload by only requiring a quick wipe-down once in a while. The extra bonus is that you can place an intricate design or tile pattern behind the glass front, keeping your creation clean and beautiful!

Updating the flooring in your kitchen can take a little more work, but makes a huge difference to the look and feel of the room. Your choices are almost endless, but make sure you go for something that matches the rest of the room. Wood or bamboo looks impressive and is bang on trend right now, but if the rest of your kitchen is already very bright or is particularly large, it can give it a washed-out look. If this is the case, large dark tiles create a heavier base to the room, and as a bonus they’re also incredibly durable.