Decorating a Nusery

Child-Safe Window Treatment Solutions

Safety features are very important considerations for nurseries and children's rooms. 

Your window treatments should have no looped or loose pull cords, and wands should be 

out of your child's reach. 

Interior Motives and More ... in Huntley, IL carries a wide selection of Hunter Douglas window

treatments that can be equipped with child-safe operating systems. 

Options include the LiteRise® operating system, a cordless system that holds blinds and 

shades securely in any position: Simply push up to  raise and pull down to lower. 

The elimination of lift cords means increased safety for children and pets. 

Another cordless operating system is SimpleLift™ for Applause® honeycomb shades. 

The contoured bottom rail makes raising and lowering simple—no handle is necessary.

The revolutionary Hunter Douglas UltraGlide® operating system uses a retractable

 cord mechanism to raise and lower the window shade or shading. A constant cord 

length means there are never any long, dangling cords, making this an ideal solution for a 

nursery or children’s room. 

Shutters are another child-safe window treatment to consider. 

Too many choices? The experienced staff at Interior Motives and More ... in Huntley, IL 

can help you select the best solution for your home. Please contact us to get started with 

your project.

Interior Motives and more...

11179 Dundee Road

Huntley, Illinois 60156

(847) 669-3941

www.interiormotiveshuntley.com 

Decorate with Rustic Wood!

Rustic Wood - A Natural and Beautiful Design Element

Many people opt for smooth and refined wood when decorating their homes, and that’s a good choice. But consider adding rustic wood for an even more natural and woodsy feel that’s comforting, because it reminds us of the past. 

Rustic wood comes in many varieties, including maple, oak, aspen, pine and walnut. And it comes in many looks, such as boards recycled from American barns to logs, driftwood and tree stumps. 

Since rustic wood is all about the rough look, keep texture in mind when you select your other home furnishings. A rough texture like linen complements rustic wood, or use a smooth texture like silk as a contrast. Other home fashions that go well with rustic wood include textured flooring and items made from leather or silk.

Rustic wood looks fabulous with white or light beige as a neutral because the light, clean color brings out the beauty and grain of the wood. Effective accent colors include sage green and rusty red. 

Consider the following elements for adding rustic wood to your home: 
- Coffee tables, end tables, and dining tables
- Flooring
- Shutters
- A wall or sliding door taken from an old barn


More ideas for rustic wood elements are: 
- Fireplace mantels or surrounds
- Bookshelves
- Kitchen or bathroom cabinets
- Bed frames

If you like texture, nature and a warm, earthy look, decorating with rustic wood may be just the style for you! 

Please contact us for more ideas or for help with your next design project.

Wreaths all year long

Wreaths Can Last All Year Long

Many of us think of wreaths as decorative elements only for the December holidays or for Thanksgiving, but the fact is that a decorative wreath – depending on its style – can add a beautiful touch to your home all year long. 

Wreaths that incorporate non-holiday elements, such as nuts, seeds, seashells, pine cones, citrus leaves, flowers and fruit can be displayed any time of the year. 

Wreaths are not just a visual design element. They can add a scrumptious aroma to your home too! For the holidays consider traditional fir and pine. For all year long, think bay leaves, sage, cinnamon, rosemary and chili peppers. 

Do you have an unusual space where you want to hang a wreath? Wreaths don’t have to be perfectly round. Sometimes they’re oval, square or rectangular, and that shape can add a unique decorative element to your home.

And wreaths can be hung just about everywhere, not just on a front door! This includes walls, windows, above fireplaces, even on a mirror in your powder room! Of course, hanging a wreath on the front door during the holidays is the perfect way to get your guests into the holiday spirit before they even come into your house! 

Add a beautiful wreath to your home this season – for now and into the coming year. Please contact us for more ideas or for help with your next design project. 

Accents of Black

Black Never Goes Out of Style

There’s something about adding one or two elements of black to a room that anchors the room and enhances the other colors. You and your guests may not even notice the touch of black, but it does make a difference. 

Black is a powerful color, so a little goes a long way in adding drama, sophistication, seriousness or masculinity. And one of the best things about black is that it never goes out of style, even as other colors rise and fall in popularity, so your black accents will probably outlast all your other design elements! 

Black goes well with so many colors: It looks beautiful with cream and white, but also with bold jewel tones and soft pastels.

Today, some people are even decorating with black as the primary color in their design scheme – but be cautious about using too much black, it can be overpowering. 

Ideas for a touch of black include:
- Window treatments, valances or drapery rods
- Area rugs or flooring
- Frames for paintings, photographs or mirrors
- Side tables
- Lamps or lampshades

More ideas are:
- Upholstery fabric
- Accent wall
- Pillows and throws
- Wrought iron fireplace accessories
- Lacquer moldings around windows and doors

Anchor your home decor by adding a splash of black in every room. Please contact us for more ideas or for help with your next design project. 

Decorating with Photography

Photography: A Tried and True Design Element

In the early days of photography, art aficionados didn’t consider photographs a “real” form of art. Today, we know that isn’t true. You can purchase a vast variety of photographic art or create your own - and it’s just as beautiful and engaging as any other form of art you can display in your home. 

Faming is half the fun. Often the frames are just as interesting – or even more interesting – than the photos themselves! You can go shabby-chic vintage or bold and ornate. Or opt for simple black rectangular frames to keep the emphasis on the photos themselves. 

It’s typical to display photographs in a collection, from small groups with just two photos to large displays with as many photos as you can fit across your wall or display shelves. Photos can be all the same size and orientation or can vary in size and shape.


Display photos can range from super-size portraits or landscape shots to collections of miniature-sized photos of almost any item.


With photos, you can:
- Tell your family’s story
- Focus on your kids or grandkids
- Pay homage to your pets
- Feature the places you’ve visited

Or you can highlight specific things you like, such as elephants, dogs, Victorian houses or oak trees.

Arrange collections in consistent horizontal vertical columns or horizontal rows, or go wild with a random arrangement. You can even angle photos up a stairwell. Equally pleasing are photos arranged on a shelf or mantel, often mixed with other pieces such as mirrors, vases and plants.

Picture your home with a photography display. It’s a decorating concept that personalizes your living space beautifully. Please contact us for more ideas or for help with your next design project. 

Decorating with Royal Blue

Royal blue décor creates a feeling of safety and calm.

Royal blue is a beautiful shade of blue, just a touch lighter than navy or midnight blue, and a tad darker than steel blue or French blue. Royal blue is often called Mediterranean Blue. Cobalt, lapis and Greek blue are similar to royal blue and can be substituted. 

Psychologically, blue is a calming, fresh and harmonious color, so it’s perfect for a home environment. The darker shades of blue, like royal blue, remind us of the sea or the dark evening sky. 

Royal blue can complement almost any design style, and is especially effective with Asian, modern, traditional and Victorian decorating plans. 

Royal blue helps bring a room to life and brings other colors in the room into focus. 

It is a bold color, but it tones down well, working as a striking accent when used with lots of neutrals, such as grey, ivory, white and beige or with lighter shades of blue. 

You can also add a splash of complementary tangerine or other hues of orange and yellow; the warmer colors create a beautiful balance. 

Periwinkle and lavender are also nice touches, paired with royal blue.

Also think of using royal blue in these ways:
-- Paired with soft and filmy white fabrics for a summery, cool décor
-- With nautical and ocean themes
-- For a dramatic powder room or foyer accent wall
-- With ceramic stools, lamps and urns, to create an Asian look
-- With patterned tile, fabrics and rugs to build a Moroccan style
-- With Delft patterns to create a traditional Dutch look

Add a sense of calmness and peace to your interior plan this year by adding royal blue. For more ideas or for help with your next design project, please contact us here at Interior Motives and More .... 

Create an inviting dining room

An inviting dining room makes your guests feel welcome.

For a while, many people weren’t interested in a formal dining room and even converted their dining rooms into libraries, billiard rooms or offices. Today the dining room is back! Many homeowners want to create a beautiful setting for dining with their family and friends. 

A dining room’s function is key, of course, but the dining room is about so much more than just eating a meal. It’s about the experience and the ambiance people feel when they dine in your home. 


Your table is the anchor of your room, and the chairs are key. These are long-term investments that you’ll have forever, if you purchase high quality. And don’t forget a sideboard or china cabinet to store dishes, silverware and linens close at hand. 

Here are some tips to optimize your dining room: 

-- Think about whether you need a table with leaves, if you plan to entertain a crowd. 

-- Make sure the chairs are comfortable and the right height for the table. 

-- Use mirrors to make the room seem larger. 

-- Change the look of your table with linens and table settings, and the look of your chairs with slipcovers.


-- Add interest to your walls with wallpaper, an accent painted wall or wainscoting. 

-- Plan for beautiful lighting, including a chandelier, and even wall sconces or buffet lamps. 

-- Add window coverings that provide both beauty and function, especially when the late afternoon sun is streaming in. 

-- And, of course, decorate your dining room for the holidays for added cheer. 

Update your dining room this season to get ready for the holidays and create a look that lasts all year long! For more ideas or for help with your next design project, please contact us here at Interior Motives and More .... 

YELLOW!

Yellow adds sunshine and brightness to a room.

It's a positive and enthusiastic color! Each yellow hue is more luscious and vibrant than the next, including: - Lemon yellow - Marigold - Canary - Mustard - Flax - Banana - Goldenrod - Butter yellow - Saffron Think yellow tones for so many of your interior design elements: - Upholstery and drapery fabrics - Paint - Tile accents - Bedding and bath linens - Painted furniture - Wallpaper - Tableware - Even a bowl of tangy lemons or a vase of perky sunflowers Yellow goes with almost any style of décor and plays well with a variety of colors. Think of pairing yellow with a black and white decorating plan, with brown and cream, or with a soft gray palette. Yellow also looks beautiful with most any shade of green, and with reds and blues too! Want to make your rooms more energetic and joyful? Add yellow to your home environment!

STORE HOURS

Monday through Friday 

10am-4pm

We are happy to assist you at any other time,

including evenings and weekends...

Simply call to schedule an appointment

Interior Motives and more...

11179 Dundee Road

Huntley, Illinois 60142

847-669-3941

www.interiormotiveshuntley.com

After-Hours and In-Home Design Consultations

We offer after-hours design consultations and in-home visits, just give us a call.
  

Do you need to make your purchasing decisions at a time stores aren’t open?  Or do you want us to meet you in the privacy of your own home to make your decorating choices? 
 
Call us and we can help you move forward with your decorating project. 

We're Open

Monday through Friday 

10am-4pm

We are happy to assist you at any other time,

including evenings and weekends...

  Simply call to schedule an appointment

Interior Motives and more...

11179 Dundee Road

Huntley, Illinois 60142

847-669-3941

Window Treatments for French Doors

What to Consider When Selecting Window Treatments for Your French Doors or Patio Doors

We offer a large variety of window treatment options for French doors and patio doors, including Hunter Douglas blinds, shades and shutters. 

Virtually any Hunter Douglas window treatment can be ordered to cover a French door, but it's best to select a window covering that has a low-profile headrail and can be attached on the bottom of the window portion of the door.

Products that allow the vanes or shade material to stay close to the door itself are ideal. Many Hunter Douglas window products can be ordered with special cut-outs for pull-down lever door handles.  

Customer favorites include Heritance® Hardwood shutters. These shutters always elicit a chorus of "oohs" and "ahhs" from guests - they're so dramatic and beautiful!

We will help you choose the right solution.

Whether your style is classic and elegant, funky and modern, rustic and country or sleek and contemporary, our experienced design professionals will work with you to find the best window treatment solution for your French doors, all within your budget.

STORE HOURS

Monday through Friday 

10am-4pm

We are happy to assist you at any other time,

including evenings and weekends...

Simply call to schedule an appointment

Interior Motives and more...

11179 Dundee Road

Huntley, Illinois 60142

847-669-3941

www.interiormotiveshuntley.com