Antique Chic

(Image courtesy of Restoration Hardware)

Have you checked an interior home decorating catalog lately? If you have, you probably have noticed that there are plenty of stage houses that include a very modern yet natural look to them. There is a heavy use of wooden furniture that hints to a natural look while combining that with accessories made out of glass, steel and fabrics such as lamps, sinks, tables and stainless steel appliances.

This is definitely a growing trend and it is more easy to accomplish than people think, especially because a lot of original pieces can be created by you with a little bit of work and shopping around at antique shops or thrift stores. New Earth really enjoys repurposing found things and give them new life.

(Image courtesy of Restoration Hardware)

Take for example the table pictured above, this is a table that is sold at restoration hardware. It is a beautiful table made out of wood finished to have a "brushed" look to it. Finding an old table in this style shouldn't be too hard to find if you know where to look, a quick search online will point out your local thrift stores and antique shops. To achieve the "brushed" look, you have to be sand down the table and add the right type of varnish by hand. Asking the right questions to your preferred home improvement store's representative will get you the right varnish, you can probably even take a picture of what you want to achieve and they'll help you find it. 

When you pay attention to the chairs that accompany this table, you'll see that they don't match the table. They are modern pieces of furniture that can be found at assorted stores. It's the combination of wooden materials and modern pieces that gives this room a special kind of flare. 

Don't be afraid to mix and match materials, we especially like the metal lamps that are hanging from the ceiling. They have a metal frame and glass panels to form a sort of hexagon shape. These kinds of lamps do exist at thrift shops and antique shops. They are usually pretty heavy duty also so you know they'll last for a very long time, in some cases you may have to modernize them by adding the right electrical cord which should not be too hard if you do a quick google search for instructions.

(Image courtesy of Restoration Hardware)

Check out this awesome bar made from an old cabinet painted in white. Old cabinets are a dime a dozen, finishing a cabinet with black paint and shiny gold paint at the top should not be a challenge for most people. We especially like how expensive and high end this room looks with vintage looking chairs and old school bar set. A lot of these ideas can be done on a budget and if you're not on a budget you can always visit www.restorationhardware.com to buy some of these great pieces. 

New Earth can make most of this style of furniture and help you finish pieces that you have found on your own to make them look like a lot of these pieces. New Earth has a sawmill that we work out of so we have all the tools to create rooms that have this type of look. 

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Eco Friendly Homes

(Image Courtesy ChicagoMag.com)

There has been an increasing amount of homeowners that are considering building green, not only because it is better for the environment but because it can be better for homes in the long run. These options can also end up saving some money on utility and repair bills. 

Insulation

You can get different type of materials, both synthetic and natural for insulation, but did you know you could use things like old carpets and curtains as insulation? These materials may already be readily available to you in your home or you may know of someone who has an excess amount of these supplies laying around the house. These items can easily be found in thrift stores or discount stores. 

Geothermal Heating

This isn't an option that a lot of people know about, this option is something that harvests the heat from the soil beneath us. It is expensive to install at first but can save you a lot of money over time. It uses minimal electricity and no gas. It can be incorporated into the whole HVAC system and is regulated in a traditional way, with a thermostat. 

Water Based Paints

Most paints have a chemical element to them, water based paints don't. These are better for your overall health and the environment will help you since they are biodegradable. An added bonus to using this type of paint is the more natural look that you'll get. Chemical paints to have a much harsher tone to them. 

Furniture & Material Repurposing

One of our favorite past times is to find old furniture or using found pieces of wood and giving them new life. You can find many amazing pieces of furniture at places like antique shops or thrift stores, a fresh coat of paint and some adjustments and you can have a piece of furniture that is unique and has character. Turning a piece of found wood into something completely different like a coffee table is another great way to make a statement piece. If you haven't done so already, visit our website at www.newearthva.com to find some examples of how this can be accomplished. 

For more tips and tricks for all your home needs visit:
NewEarthVA.com

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12 Clever Uses for Old Furniture

Need some inexpensive home decorating ideas? HGTV.com shares some really cool ideas that you can do with items that can be easily be found around your home or through a quick trip to your local thrift store. New Earth VA will always be on board with concepts that are friendly to the environment and that give new life to an item that has been discarded, which in addition also adds character to your home.

Old Mattress Turned Into Multipurpose Message Board

(Via HGTV.com)

Home Office Made from Different Salvaged Materials

(via HGTV.com)

Repurposed Table with Wallpaper

(via HGTV.com)