Staying In Tune With The Change Of Season

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(ARA) - Now the summer is winding down, leaves will soon start turning color and falling from the trees, signaling the change of season. We'll enjoy brilliant colors for a short time, then there will be no color at all.

Outside anyway, says Terri Mattson, an interior designer who works for Fifth Avenue Design in Minneapolis, Minn. This time of year, her company is overrun with phone calls from people looking for ways to bring color inside.

Color plays such an important role in our lives, says Mattson. It helps boost our spirits and keeps us going through good times and bad. I'm not sure if it's related to the economy or something else, but a lot of people are coming to us asking for ways to brighten up homes.

Mattson says the one of the best places to start is in the bathroom. Earth tones are big this year. We've painted a lot of bathrooms that used to be white either cinnamon, ginger or terra cotta with blue and red or green and gold accents, says Mattson. The transformation is amazing.

Painting the walls isn't the only update you can do in the bathroom. Some people also change ...
... out fixtures or re-tile. Both expensive propositions, says Sue Kelley of Environmental Graphics, a Minnesota based company specializing in decorative products for the home. There's a much easier, less expensive and less permanent way to get a new look.

Kelley's company manufactures a relatively new home decorating tool called Stick ‘n Stile design appliqués. They are raised stickers that can be attached to your existing tile in just seconds.

To apply, all you have to do is clean the surface of your tile, remove the liner and press the appliqué into place. Just like the rest of your tile, they can be cleaned with a damp cloth or mild domestic cleaner . Removal is just as easy. Simply heat the appliqués with a hair dryer for a few minutes and peel off.

One of the great things about this product is it gives you the ability to restyle without replacing your tile, says Kelley. They are easy to work with, which makes them perfect for the do-it-yourselfer.

Stick ‘n Stile design appliqués come in six different designs: Water World, which features tropical fish; Summertime, featuring dragonflies and flowers; Orchid Narcissus, Botanica, and Fiji Palms, featuring flowers and leaves; and Geo Squares, which transform that geometrical shape into a work of art.

Once you have your new paint on the walls and design appliqués on your tile, you can add a little more color to the room by spray painting your wall plates and toilet paper holders, and getting accessories to match.

When the next change of season comes, you can switch out those accessories, and maybe add a basket filled with pinecones to achieve a more wintry feel, suggests Mattson.

For more information about Stick ‘n Stile design appliqués, log onto www.sticknstile.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content


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Courtesy of ARA Content