CottonColors in The Design File!

The Design File is a wonderful and informative blog, highlighting unique, contemporary interior design. CottonColors was a featured Etsy pick this week!

Furnishing the Multi-Purpose Room

I've been considering the best way to use an empty bedroom in my house. I would like to make it a multi-use room to serve as guest accomodations as well as a place to watch movies and just relax. I considered a futon for this room, but I think I will go a more traditional route with a daybed. I think a daybed is a little more comfortable to sleep on and I really like the look of one, especially when filled with a big variety of pillows!
We owned a daybed many years ago, a very basic design. I was surprised at how many style options there are to choose from in daybeds.

For a really unique look, check out the Lea iRoom II Daybed from Kids Furniture. I love the design, but it might work best in a child's or teen's room.

This is the Astoria Steel Daybed I found on Overstock.com. It has a great contemporary feel with a champagne finish. It looks super sturdy and modern!

For a more traditional look, I found a couple of very pretty ones at Daybeds.com. This is the Casey Daybed. It has a rubbed black finish, with beadboard panels and round finials. I think it has a French feel, especially with the wonderful bedding shown with it!

This one is the Surrey Daybed. The sleigh bed design is classic, with a warm wood finish. It would work beautifully with traditional furnishings and bedding!

Here is a really simple design from IKEA. It is the Hemnes Daybed. I love the storage underneath. It's a bit plain, but with the right bedding, this could be a nice, neutral backdrop for some bright pillows and accessories. I like to change things up a lot, so a neutral white starting point can be a good thingThe Powell Kawayan Bamboo Daybed from YWD.com is a fun change of pace! It is a simulated bamboo, constructed of steel. It has a tropical flair and the chocolate brown is so warm and inviting!

If price was no object, this John Kelly J1 Daybed from Name Brand Beds would be wonderful to own. It is simple, yet beautiful!

Another favorite from Name Brand Beds is the Miami Daybed. I love the textured bronze design and it definitely has and old Florida feel, one of my favorite styles!

Pottery Barn has some great choices in daybeds like this Seagrass one, made from renewable fiber. With bright, crisp linens and pillows, this organic daybed would look great in a sunroom, too!

The Claudia Daybed has that wonderful old, antique iron bed look. I love the crystal knob finials and Edwardian style! Sweet and comforting, like Grandma's house.

This last one from Pottery Barn is the Caden Daybed. I like the combination of wood and woven jute. It feels casual and comfortable. The jute gives it really nice textural appeal!

A Pretty Place to Call Home!

I have been shopping around for some things for my daughter, who will soon be moving into her first apartment. We have somewhat different tastes in decor, but I am starting to really like some of the styles she favors. She likes ornate details and fairly neutral, understated colors. A little French style, a little shabby chic, and just a touch of Hollywood opulence all seem to be a part of her favorite "look". I think some of these accessories and furnishings would work nicely with the things we have found for her so far!

These suitcases are from Chloes Chic Boutique. Both pretty and functional, they could be used for storage of extra bed linens or out of season clothing!


This mirror has nice detail and is a great size! I found it at Paris Couture Antiques. It looks so pretty with the sconces, hung over this fireplace, but it would work in a bedroom or dining area as well.


No French decor is complete without a depiction of the Eiffel Tower! This poster print from All Posters adds a little romance and a pop of color to an old favorite image.


I love the buttery yellow of this faux bamboo chest from Paris Hotel Boutique! The tall, slim shape makes it perfect for a bedroom with limited floor space. And, the multiple drawers will hold all of a lady's essentials!


And for the "piece de resistance", a lovely crystal chandelier from Home of Decor will add the right touch of elegance and opulence to a dining space!


A first apartment will almost certainly not contain all of one's dream decor right off the bat, but we are searching the antique markets and resale shops for some look-alike styles that will make her new home all her own!

Tuesday Trends: Staging Your Home for Sale!

With all the competition in the real estate market, home owners and real estate agents are looking for any edge they can get that will help make a home more sellable! Enter the professional home stager.

The concept of home staging, on its surface, is a fairly simple one. Show every room to its best advantage. Easier said than done, right? So, hire a pro or DIY? Whichever option you choose, becoming familiar with home staging techniques can definitely help throughout the process of getting a home ready to be put on the market.

• Reduce clutter. Pare down furnishings and belongings to make the space feel larger.


• Keep walls and decor fairly neutral.


• Minimize personal items and family photos. Potential buyers will find it easier to imagine themselves living in the home if the current owners' personalities are not obvious.


• Let in as much natural light as possible.


• Use fragrant candles in main rooms and add fresh flowers when possible, especially for an open house.


• Don't forget curb appeal! Trim shrubs, plant flowers or plants with colorful foliage. Keep grass neat. Garages should be organized and porches and walks should be edged and swept.

There are so many things to think about when showing your house and details are important! Ask a friend or relative to look over the house with the same critical eye that a buyer would use and make suggestions. A first impression may be the only one you get to make, so set the stage for buyers to feel right at home, in your home!

Tuesday Trends: Global Decorating!

I love a room that looks as if the owners have been lovingly collecting its contents over many years. The growing popularity of global decorating is bringing a beautiful "world traveler" appeal to many homes.

This Tibetan Chest from The New East India Company has great storage possibilities along with its exotic good looks.

Moroccan decor from Sweet Smiling Home is inviting with spice-colored tones and warm wood pieces.

An all-weather, Turkish patterned rug from Gaiam can be used indoors or out. It's 100% recycled from soda bottles!

This beanstalk design bed set is from West Elm. It has a clean, uncluttered look that would look great with global or ethnic home decor!

Even if you can't get to Morocco, Turkey or Tibet right now, you can bring home a few bold, colorful accents to make your home feel like part of the global community!

A Colorful Place To Land

I have been painting my bedroom this past week. For the last few years, it has been a bright sort of beachy, coral color. I loved it when I painted it and for a couple of years after, but I have recently wanted a change to something more calm and earthy. I chose a color called spun sugar, which is a sandy-brown sugar color. I like the more neutral tone and I plan to add some color with bedding and pillows, but quiet, nurturing color that I can relax in.
I am always amazed at what a difference a can of paint can make. And, also at how much my mood and outlook is affected by color. I tend to be drawn to vibrant colors like reds, pinks and yellow. But, these colors are stimulating rather than calming. Bright red and yellow can increase blood pressure and muscle tension. Studies have shown that blues are more calming.
I think a combination of woodland colors, browns, greens and sky blue will make it a great place to begin and end the day. I will save the vibrant hues that I still love for the living areas of my home.
What colors make you feel at home?