The reality show that follows the work and lives of professional interior designers Top Design shall return on Wednesday, September 3 with 13 brand new contestants and a new host, top model and design aficionado India Hicks.

The second season is said to be more intense and the stakes are higher! The contestants shall be critiqued by some of the most influential names in the interior design industry. Inside scoop tells us that the challenges will range from redesigning a fall out shelter to competing in a full design triathlon. Different personalities with creative egos shall add spice to the show.

Todd Oldham shall be mentoring the contestants the second time around. While head Jonathan Adler shall head the judging team along with other judges such as Margaret Russel and Kelly Wearstler. Those three shall decide the deserving winner of the $100,000 cash prize plus a four page editorial showcase in Elle Decor magazine.

Contemporary designer firm Funky Lighting is back with a revamp. Its new website offers the UK’s largest collection of modern, contemporary and designer lighting that’s sure to give pleasant life to any room in your home.

Funky Lighting is first and foremost about superb contemporary design. Visitors can choose a wide range of looks from stylish modern chandeliers to pendant lights in magical organic shapes that look like living sculptures. There are space-age designs that resemble satellites and romantic cascades of light in chrome and cut glass.

The retail store currently gives out 10% discount for all online orders until the end of this year. Funky-Lighting guarantees the cheapest prices for such quality and genuine products.

Should you wish to go non-traditional with the rooms in your home, the Funky-Lighting website has been redesigned with a complete line of catalog that is regularly updated by their competitive team of designers every week.

J. Design Group, an interior design firm located in Florida offers a complete range of outstanding design services in different communities throughout Florida. Though all their works are real stunning, their Living Room designs are nothing but outstanding. Here are some of their sample design.

The interior design of this living room incorporates hidden pot lights to create a romantic atmosphere. Again, our designers flowed the colors of the couch and the dining room chairs to ensure that both rooms flow into each other naturally.

Large rooms for entertaining have many windows and it is important to dress them up and create conversation pieces. The window coverings, hanging wall lamps and the addition of a flower holder accentuate this living room.

Open space, lots of windows ensure that this living room will be an excellent room to entertain your friends and acquaintances. The window coverings and lamp shades accentuate the room. The classic touch of a rose under each lamp provides the finishing touch.

See more of J. Design Group’s Living Room designs at their website.

Feng Shui, pronounced as Fung-Shway or Fung Shwee is a Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it. It is an ancient practice believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi. see Wikipedia.

Feng shui’s history starts way back the B.C. era where Zhou Dynasty leaders used the certain practice including indicating an appropriate time to build a capital city.

In modern times, architectures and interior designers in Asia are very much influenced by this. They design, orient, create placements or arrangements in accordance to the percepts of feng shui. It is said that a good environment brings in positive forces that enhances our well being while a bad environment causes illness. One belief is that a landscape and water flowing (perhaps a fish pond or a river flow at the back of your house) affect the flow of a healthy or a bad life force (chi or energy). However, if a ‘good’ environment or a home’ structure and/or design is not in alignment with with the principles of feng shui, then it would still cause bad luck, one way or another. May it be health, family, or financial problems, designs that do not correspond may cause any of that.

You can now take a look at your surroundings at home, perhaps the position of your bed brings in negative forces that causes your frequent depression. Meanwhile, office spaces situated at the basement of buildings are believed to bring in bad luck to the firm.

If you want to be successful in business, everything in your house, from the location to the direction it faces must comply to the rules of feng shui.

A highly successful entertainment figure in Asia is claiming that her prosperity was brought in by her obedient correspondence to feng shui. Every corner, furniture, piece you’ll see in her house has a meaning to it.

Would you believe it or leave it?

There are hundreds of information websites about feng shui. Anyone intrigued can research more about this said belief.

Linly Designs, a Chicago-area interior design and luxury home products company, is launching a new online storefront this week showcasing fine furniture and home accessories. Despite rumblings of a weakening US economy, the company expects to see increased sales and says an active online presence may be the solution for other luxury retailers.

Fine Furniture Sales Expected to Increase Through Online Presence for Linly Designs Logic may tell us that when the economy is slowing, consumers are less likely to spend money on luxury products. Yet the Illinois-based interior design specialists at Linly Designs expect to see increased sales of their fine furniture and home accessory offerings through the opening of a new online storefront launching this week.

“We’ve enjoyed a successful run in our Westmont store, and decided that it was time for Linly Designs to expand,” says Janet Linly, the company’s President and namesake. “Opening an online storefront was a natural move to make. It will give us reach beyond the Chicago area, while also giving our customers a better and more interactive shopping experience, letting us increase business without having to build more brick and mortar showrooms.”

Customers in the Chicago area have an added benefit – they can order their fine furniture or upscale items for their home online, and then pick them up at the Westmont store to avoid waiting for (and paying for) shipping.

“The added reach isn’t the only reason we expect our product sales to increase,” says Linly. “When consumers start to worry about the economy and costs, they also often gain a greater appreciation for quality that can come with luxury products like our fine furniture lines. They understand that ‘cheap’ home products may end up costing them more in the long run through replacements, and when they start looking for value, they don’t want to purchase things like furniture that will have to be replaced every few months to every few years. That means finding high-quality merchandise at reasonable prices becomes a priority, and that’s what we aim to give our customers both online and in our showroom.”

Linly isn’t alone in feeling the growth potential for luxury markets on the Web. Nielsen research reported that, around this time last year, less than 10% of consumers were using online shopping as a way to counter rising costs. This year, that number is closer to 20%.

The new online showroom is expected to be a hit not only with homeowners, but also other interior designers. While Linly Designs offers interior design services locally, their new Web presence will allow designers/decorators from all across the country to obtain access to their unique merchandise and one-of-a-kind pieces for their own clients. By viewing items online, the designers and customers can get a feel for what specific pieces will look like within their design concepts without the cost of added face-to-face meetings to review each product or gas costs of trips to showrooms. The product pages and details can be sent to design clients, who can then review each item 24-7 from the comfort of their own home.

Linly Designs is a Chicago-area interior design firm launched in 2002 by Janet Linly. The company opened its first showroom in Westmont, IL in the fall of 2007, and an online showroom in the summer of 2008. Linly Designs offers interior design services, fine furniture home accessories and lighting, faux finishes and murals, custom bedding, floral arrangements and specializes is Window Treatments and Real estate staging.The new Linly Designs online storefront for fine furniture and luxury home accessories will be located at www.LinlyDesignsOnline.com

Bath Kitchen and Beyond is a company that specializes in selling bathroom vanities, steam showers, Jacuzzis, shower enclosures and panels, and other various bathroom products to suit any kind of home décor. Ardi Intertrade is always updating the site with the newest and the best quality products. The latest news in the company is the new updated Website. It is fresh and clean, very easy to navigate. The new Website makes it easier for the potential customers to find exactly what they are looking for. In addition, now it features many more digital high-resolution pictures of the products with full descriptions.

All of these improvements make online shopping for bathroom vanities, steam showers, and other necessary bathroom fixtures pleasant and quick. With a couple of clicks, a customer can choose the model that best suits his or her needs, choose the appropriate color, if more than one option is available. If for any reason, customers have any difficulty in choosing a product, or are unsure what choice they should make, knowledgeable customer service and support team is just a phone call or email away. They will explain why a certain model would suit your bathroom better and help find matching fixtures. In the case that additional pictures might be required to make the right choice, most of the time a customer representative is able to provide those to the customer.

Along with updating the website, Bath Kitchen and Beyond is also working on improving the showroom. The 6000 square feet showroom features most of the best selling products including bathroom vanities, steam showers, kitchens, toilets, and various bathroom fixtures. Bath Kitchen and Beyond is constantly searching for new designs and different styles to match the needs of any customer. Bath Kitchen and Beyond showroom is conveniently located in the heart of Northridge, which is just minutes away from Los Angeles. The website as well as showroom features a wide range of contemporary, modern and traditional bathroom vanities that are made with glass or natural stone counter tops.

Bath Kitchen and Beyond and Ardi Intertrade have good reputation and many satisfied customers. However, they always leave room for more improvement and are happy to hear suggestions and comments. Another new feature on the website lets people do just that. The company owners are looking for all possible ways to make the shopping experience as easy and pleasant as it could be.

Visit www.bathkitchenandbeyond.com for more product details.

Source: PR.com

David Chase Rugs & Furniture, formerly Chase Oriental Rug Co., is the only showroom of its size in Colorado featuring hand-woven area rugs, textiles and furniture. The 12,000 square foot showroom, located in Steamboat Springs, Colo., offers pieces reflective of western-transitional and mountain-contemporary styles.

“Changing the name of the business best represents what customers will find in our showroom,” said David Chase Scully, founder and owner. “In addition to fine rugs, we offer distinctive furniture, unique tribal art and architectural pieces. Our rugs are only the beginning, the expansive showroom elevates the presentation of the design elements we offer.”

David Chase Scully has held a prominent position in Steamboat’s home-furnishing business for more than 14 years. In 1994, he started Nandu Imports, specializing in ethno graphic art and central Asian tribal rugs. Five years later Scully focused exclusively on area rugs opening Chase Oriental Rug Company. In late fall 2006, Chase Oriental Rug Company moved to downtown Steamboat Springs, where David Chase Rugs & Furniture is located today.

David travels extensively to hand select extraordinary rugs from around the globe, working with established importers such as Woven Legends, Michaelian & Kohlberg, and Odegard. Notably, a Kilim rug of Romanian origin was recently featured anchoring the great room of Steamboat home profiled in LUXE Magazine. Additional design projects have appeared in Architectural Digest (twice), SKI Magazine and Steamboat Magazine.

David Chase Rugs & Furniture is the only dealer in the region to offer furniture pieces from both American Leather and Environment Furniture. Both company’s designs provide elegance through simplicity and are well known for their environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices.

David Chase Scully has established an experienced and knowledgeable sales team who are available to provide inspiration, helping fulfill client’s interior design visions. In addition to personalized service, David Chase Rugs & Furniture offers: in-home design consultation; special orders, delivery and instillation; custom rug pad fitting; rug cleaning, repairs, restoration, appraisals; and global shipping. To preview the extensive rug collection, visit www.davidchaserugsandfurniture.com.

Source: PR.com

Photos: www.davidchaserugsandfurniture.com

There are things that you should consider in buying a dining table.

Photo Credit: Average Jane

First consider your budget - that is how much you are willing to spend for a dining table.

Second is the space of your dining area, if your dining area is in the kitchen which is limited in space, go for a small dinning table.

Third, is the shape of your dining table. You can go with the traditional rectangular shape, rectangular maintain the customary dining table look., while there are also square dining table which ideal for 2 persons(like couples).Or perhaps a circular table would more suit your needs. A circular table, although not able to seat as many people as a rectangular table, can give the diners a more relaxed, conversational feel.

Photo Credit: shortfatkid

Finally, what type of dinning table, do you prefer dining table that is made up of wood or glass, modern or antique dining table? If you are looking to transform your dining room from a boring, typical space to a gorgeous, attractive oasis, consider going with a table top that will suit the pattern of your dining room.

Elements of Design, a luxury residential and commercial interior design firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona, announced the acquisition of the branded domain name ElementsofDesign.com.

Owner and Lead Interior Designer, Lina Quintero, explains, “As a luxury interior design firm with a nationally recognized brand, it is significant for us to be able to assume the responsibility of brand management for ElementsofDesign.com and apply the standard of excellence that our clients have come to expect. The acquisition also allows us to leverage the reputation of our offline brand by capturing the type-in Internet traffic associated with Elements of Design.”

Quintero plans to expand the web presence of ElementsofDesign.com through a variety of strategic partnerships, web development projects, and Internet marketing pursuits.

Founded in 1992, Elements of Design is a full-service, interior design firm located in Scottsdale, Ariz. The studio, which caters to commercial interiors and high-end residential properties nationwide, features one of the largest showrooms in Arizona with an impressive inventory ranging from upholstered goods to accessories. It also provides an extensive line of environmentally friendly, eco-chic products and materials.

For more information, visit www.elementsofdesign.com.

Source: PR.com