Decorating and Design - Decor Help...PLEASE!!!
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Baybun
08-26-05, 01:02 PM
Hi all! I live in a 14x70 Manafactured Home. Most of the walls are white, I have brown carpet thru out. I need help on making this "trailer" feel and look more like a house. Any ideas would be appreciated! :alarm:
Kobuchi
08-27-05, 06:31 PM
I guess you want it to feel more solid, dependable. Natural materials that age gracefully (e.g. varnished wood) suggest that.
I'd start with the floors. Plan to raise every room about 1", and look into doing some structural work to get all the bounce out. Any rattling and creaking when you walk whispers, "Trailer, trailer" no matter how your home looks. Put down real tile on cement subfloor, bathroom, entry, maybe kitchen. Use solid wood for the other floors, recycled fir planks sanded with a vengeance if you're on a budget and like the rustic look.
Now, when you gaze out the window, some vines encroaching around it will really connect the view and remind us that this home is rooted.
As for the walls, I know plenty of good advice will be posted shortly...
I'd start with the floors. Plan to raise every room about 1", and look into doing some structural work to get all the bounce out. Any rattling and creaking when you walk whispers, "Trailer, trailer" no matter how your home looks. Put down real tile on cement subfloor, bathroom, entry, maybe kitchen. Use solid wood for the other floors, recycled fir planks sanded with a vengeance if you're on a budget and like the rustic look.
Now, when you gaze out the window, some vines encroaching around it will really connect the view and remind us that this home is rooted.
As for the walls, I know plenty of good advice will be posted shortly...
Annette
08-29-05, 09:39 AM
i'd love to give some good advice, but i don't understand the question! :confused:
what exactly are you wanting to change? what doesn't look like a home now? does it have the higher slated ceilings or just the 8' flat ones? are the bedrooms on the ends so that the middle is nice & open? or is it really compartmentalized and claustrophobic feeling?
please be a little more specific......
what exactly are you wanting to change? what doesn't look like a home now? does it have the higher slated ceilings or just the 8' flat ones? are the bedrooms on the ends so that the middle is nice & open? or is it really compartmentalized and claustrophobic feeling?
please be a little more specific......
CarlyFC
08-29-05, 01:37 PM
Hello Baybun,
I have family members who live in trailors, and I think the problems I observe most frequently are two-fold:
1. The "fixtures" used in the trailors are often stock stuff, and for some reason the manufacturers seem to favor stuff that looks like it's from the 1970s! The cabinets are rather cheap-looking oak or dark wood. The floors are inexpensive commercial-grade rugs and sheet linoleum (not typically in the nicest patterns available).
2. Because the living space is small/tight, it's easy for clutter to overtake, and for the home to perpetually look/seem overcrowded and dirty.
So without knowing much about your place specifically, I have some general suggestions!
1. Consider painting the cabinets (kitchen, bathroom) a light color, such as white.
2. Consider replacing light fixtures (if they're cheap-looking). Light fixtures can be easily replaced, and quite inexpensively. Any store like Home Depot or Lowes has a LARGE lighting department, and many styles to choose from.
3. Consider covering linoleum that LOOKS like cheap linoleum (if this even exists in your home!) with a different linoleum/vinyl that looks more like tile or stone (ie: slate).
4. Keep it simple! Keep your furnishings to a minimum, and carefully consider the function of each item that goes into the space. (IE: Use wicker trunks with glass tops as side tables, or coffee tables, so that you can also store items inside of them.)
5. Keep accessories to a minimum!
6. Since the space is small, be wary of patterns (on furniture, curtains, etc) that might become busy-looking. If you can, stick to solid colored furniture...and you can let textures work instead of patterns. (IE: Velvet curtains/valances, wood blinds, a leather chair, etc)
Best wishes! Hope this was helpful?!
-Carly
I have family members who live in trailors, and I think the problems I observe most frequently are two-fold:
1. The "fixtures" used in the trailors are often stock stuff, and for some reason the manufacturers seem to favor stuff that looks like it's from the 1970s! The cabinets are rather cheap-looking oak or dark wood. The floors are inexpensive commercial-grade rugs and sheet linoleum (not typically in the nicest patterns available).
2. Because the living space is small/tight, it's easy for clutter to overtake, and for the home to perpetually look/seem overcrowded and dirty.
So without knowing much about your place specifically, I have some general suggestions!
1. Consider painting the cabinets (kitchen, bathroom) a light color, such as white.
2. Consider replacing light fixtures (if they're cheap-looking). Light fixtures can be easily replaced, and quite inexpensively. Any store like Home Depot or Lowes has a LARGE lighting department, and many styles to choose from.
3. Consider covering linoleum that LOOKS like cheap linoleum (if this even exists in your home!) with a different linoleum/vinyl that looks more like tile or stone (ie: slate).
4. Keep it simple! Keep your furnishings to a minimum, and carefully consider the function of each item that goes into the space. (IE: Use wicker trunks with glass tops as side tables, or coffee tables, so that you can also store items inside of them.)
5. Keep accessories to a minimum!
6. Since the space is small, be wary of patterns (on furniture, curtains, etc) that might become busy-looking. If you can, stick to solid colored furniture...and you can let textures work instead of patterns. (IE: Velvet curtains/valances, wood blinds, a leather chair, etc)
Best wishes! Hope this was helpful?!
-Carly