<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">How to Integrate Personal Style into Your<span> </span>Kitchen and Bath</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – Most of us have developed a unique personal style and we know what fashions work for us. But when it comes to decorating or remodeling our homes, particularly our kitchens and bathrooms, style preferences can be harder to pin down.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"Consumers are spending more time — and money — to customize kitchens and bathrooms," says Ginny Long, director of online and direct marketing for Moen. So how can you identify your personal decorating style to incorporate it into these rooms? </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"Consumers tend to decorate their home in one of the following popular style categories: casual, contemporary, traditional and eclectic," Long says.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>How Do I Determine My Style?</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Which style do you favor? Before decorating your kitchen or bath, the following quiz will help identify the style that suits your personality:</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Designs you prefer are:</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">A. Shabby chic, comfortable looks</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">B. Simple, clean lines and geometric shapes</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">C. Ornate designs</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">D. Exotic and unexpected combinations</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">When choosing furniture, you gravitate toward:</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">A. Overstuffed pieces with distressed and crackle finishes</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">B. Light woods, like natural maple</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">C. Leather, cherry wood and dark stains</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">D. Organic pieces, in different prints and colors, from unique locales around the world</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">When you accessorize a room, you most likely choose:</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">A. Items that are old, rustic or have a touch of whimsy that makes a room cozy and inviting</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">B. New accessories that are placed sparsely and carefully throughout the room</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">C. Family heirlooms, accented with items you’ve found at estate sales</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">D. Funky, fun accessories you found everywhere from thrift stores to high-end boutiques</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">You do most of your home shopping at:</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">A. Arts and crafts fairs</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">B. A chic, modern home store or trendy mail-order catalog</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">C. Estate sales, auctions and antique shops</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">D. All of the above</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">If you consistently chose A’s, you gravitate toward a casual style, if you chose mostly B’s, you prefer a contemporary style. Mostly C’s? You’re probably more traditional, and D’s indicate a taste for eclectic. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Pump Up Your Style</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Now that you’ve identified the style that suits your personality, how will you decorate your kitchen or bath? Need some suggestions? Here are a few to help get you started:</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* <strong>Magazines</strong> — Flip through the top remodeling, home and fashion publications to find the latest kitchen and bath design trends and styles such as the most recent countertop finishes, hardware and lighting from interior decor experts.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* <strong>Shopping</strong> — Get inspired by visits to your local home improvement store, furniture store or even a wholesale showroom. One advantage of wholesale showroom shopping is seeing the most innovative and stylish products from today’s top designers and manufacturers. For example, when looking to purchase a new kitchen or bath faucet, wholesale showrooms display many of the latest products with innovative features such as pulldown and pull-out spouts, as well as popular new finishes including oil rubbed bronze, antique bronze and matte black. Showroom consultants can be another great resource and advantage. Also versed in the latest trends, they can be helpful in recommending products to suit your lifestyle.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* <strong>Online</strong> — Search through online magazines, home sites or manufacturers’ Web sites such as www.showusyourstyle.com for the latest products and to help spark decor ideas. This popular site features the latest trend information as well as a place to share kitchen and bathroom remodeling stories, tips, videos and photos. You can narrow your search by room, style, budget, etc. to get some creative ideas.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">And, if you’re feeling adventurous with your newly defined style, you can submit your own remodeling story for this year’s "Show Us Your Style" contest sponsored by Moen Inc. (beginning Aug. 1, 2008 and ending Oct. 19, 2008) for a grand-prize package worth $10,000; or cast your vote for your fa
vorite finalist. Visit www.showusyourstyle.com for a complete list of rules and regulations.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/3c.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/3c.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"Remember, just because you prefer a certain style, you can still mix and match and have fun. The point is to get personal and create a kitchen or bath that says you," adds Long.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For more information on the fifth annual "Show Us Your Style" contest, visit www.showusyourstyle.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636). </p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>
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