House ideas that express the personalities and proclivities of the residents make for cool homes. Create a cool house by focusing on a particular aspect of your reason for living---art, the outdoors, travel, sports or entertaining. Use these hobbies and pastimes as the theme on which the cool house spins. Use color palettes that feed the hobby---neutrals and off-whites for viewing art; greens, browns and pops of floral colors to express the outdoors; color palettes that fit favorite travel locations and cultures.
Incorporate Art
Become an art collector and incorporate large pieces into a decor. Use long wall expanses to hold murals in tile, ceramics or found objects. Collect from local artists, purchase at student sales and visit local college art galleries and shows to view and buy graduate student work. Choose a topic or subject matter for the living room, the dining room and the entertainment room and collect work that fits the topic. Don't forget about sculpture, glass work and art furniture. Hold an opening for a local artist and display his work in a cool home setting.
Create a Lounge
Remodel the entertainment room and make it a lounge. Include a bar with a sink, small refrigerator and a seating area. Make this room the favored party area and include a video screen that connects to the Internet and television for complete movie watching, dancing or music opportunities. Finish off with easily moved furniture so that rearranging for larger groups or film watching is easily accomplished.
Include the Outdoors
Beautiful backyard landscapes or entry gardens can become part of the everyday view at home. Bring the outdoors in by replacing traditional doors with glass doors, French doors, sliding doors or shoji screen-style doors to allow for maximum use of light and view. Replace small or paned windows with picture windows. Build on the outdoor view by replacing floors with stone, rock, brick or faux ceramic tiles. Use wood plank flooring in a worn or aged finish to add a cabin or outdoor feel. Research this idea by looking at not only interior design magazines and books but also deck, garden and landscaping journals and books.
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