Wallpaper should be grasscloth or a vinyl texture, murals would depict outdoor scenes of beaches, palm trees, tropical plants and animals, or rainforest. Furniture of rattan, wicker, bamboo, or driftwood, with large animal prints, or island scenes for upholstery.  Fabrics should be loose textured…burlap or chenille are good examples. Hardwood or bamboo floors are the best, but simple, neutral ceramic tile works, too.

 Colors will range from the lightest of beige to the darkest browns, including pale yellow and mellow golds.  Any blue or green found in nature can be used, but limit your reds to a muted color or the bluish fushias of tropical flowers.

 Lighting can be driftwood lamps, tiki torches, or swag fixtures made up of colored balls.  An indoor fountain can be nestled into a grouping of silk palms and banana plants.  Monkeys and exotic birds can be perched on curtain rods or plants. A tall elephant with raised trunk can be a floor lamp or a coat tree.

 Windows can be anything from plantation shutters to lightweight sheers to simple bamboo shades with draped mosquito netting.  Accessorize with wicker or iron trunks, for end tables, coffee table or storage. Lightweight screens can be used to divide rooms, provide window cover, or just for show. Vases of colorful exotic flowers should be everywhere.  Tropical fish would be a plus.

 Don’t limit this look to your public rooms.  Follow through to the master bedroom, by hanging mosquito netting from your bed. Make the master bath feel tropical and luxurious with white painted wicker, lots of plants, and colorful, flowery towels and throw rugs. A wicker trunk next to the tub can store convenience items or be used as a table top or seating.  The same holds true if you place one or two at the foot of the bed.

 Some bamboo or jute rugs and mats, and a few ceiling fans of natural wood or rattan will complete your picture. Don’t overdo it, and avoid lots of small knicknacks.  Hang a few animal prints on the walls, put on the island music, light a few candles, and enjoy!

Western design should not be confused with Southwestern design or native American design, which we will cover at another time. Rather, you should be picturing the old cowboy westerns, complete with spurs, spats, boots, and stetsons.

Western is less casual than the other two designs. Furniture is heavy, overstuffed and well made, using leathers and polished woods. While walls, floors, and windows will be somewhat drab in color, going from light tans to dark rich browns, you will see splashes of bold and vibrant color, in the area rugs, throw rugs, casual throws, decorative pillows and wall hangings.

You might find a lamp, either table or floor type, with a base made from a rifle, a pistol, a bronze or wooden carved horse, or a pair of antlers. Silver spurs might hang from a peg on the wall. Family portraits painted in oils might be hung over the large fireplace. Animal skims might be used as rugs or wall hangings.

It is a very eclectic look at times, so don’t be surprised if there is a crystal chandelier found hanging over a large polished plank table. Anything from velvet to lace and silk may be found hanging form windows or in doorways. Some wrought iron might be visible, and there will certainly be some silver…maybe even a silver tea service sitting on a rough hewn credenza!

A silver studded leather footstool, a collection of cowboy hats well placed on a wall, a pair of saloon doors either separating two rooms or simply mounted on the wall with a cut sign painted on the wall above, old signs for the home remedies of the 1800s will all add to the feel of the old west.

The best part of all this is that all of it can be found quite easily at yard sales, garage sales, and flea markets, for moderate sums and a bit of perseverance. Shopping for, and finding your treasures will be as rewarding as filling your house with them!

 Before you rush to make any changes, stop to figure out exactly what you don’t like about it. If you are simply tired of the color, feel it looks drab, worn, and old, the fix will be easy to take care of, and shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, either.

 A fresh coat of paint, new café curtains, recovering your kitchen chairs, a perky centerpiece on the table and some new throw rugs and dish towels should have you smiling in no time. If you wooden table is scratched and dull, try spray painting it, add some fun placemats and a table runner, and you will have a nice brand new look!

However, if the quick fix won’t do it for you, it is time to seriously analyze the problem. Ask yourself some pertinent questions:

1. How many people use the kitchen at the same time?

2. Does your family all sit down to dinner at the same time or is it catch as catch can?

3. Is the traffic pattern convenient?

4. Do you have enough counter space?

5. Do the kids do their homework in the kitchen?

6. Do you entertain a lot?

A lot of newer homes have center butcher block or appliance islands…even when the kitchen is really too small to sustain it. Why? Because it is the trendy thing to do. If you hate walking around that island to get from the sink to the refrigerator, and it is more of a mess collector than an asset, remove it! There are mobile kitchen islands that can be pushed against a wall or moved to the area you are working in, as you need it.

If you want the kids to do their homework in the kitchen while you are preparing dinner, and if you would like to observe their computer habits without appearing to be spying, tuck a small desk into the kitchen, making sure there is computer access, a few drawers for storing, and a shelf above to place their books on. A stool that pushes under the desk to clear floor space if necessary, and some task lighting under the upper cabinet, and you have a perfect set-up!