More Quick Home Makeovers

(Vocus) March 31, 2009

The birds are following their nesting instincts and we're motivated too--to renew, refresh and redecorate. Need a little inspiration to refresh your nest? Here are ideas from the Calico Corners - Calico Home staff across the country. "Small projects can have a large impact on the look of a room," notes Jan Jessup, director of communications for the 100+ store group. "Remember: great decorating begins with great fabrics, and our fabrics have never been fresher, with new graphic prints, dramatic ikat designs, an amazing collection of African-inspired animal skin patterns, Kashmiri crewels and our Annie Selke Home collection, exclusive to Calico. Walking into the store is like a little trip around the world!"

For many more ideas, click here for part one of Quick Home Makeovers: PR Web - Quick Home Makeovers - Ideas To Add A Fresh Touch.htm

DINING ROOM

????Redo dining room slip seats in a current fabric. Or have slipcovers made for the seats, perhaps with a pleated skirt that ties on. They'll hide stains and add a fresh look.

????Lighten your table for spring. Use a length of embroidered sheer fabric or handkerchief linen, hemmed, gathered or puddled at the ends to create a runner or table cover.

????Add two upholstered host and hostess chairs to your dining room table. These should be in a contrasting fabric that coordinates with the other chairs at the table. (Be sure the new chairs are the right height and pitch for dining; adding a decorative lumbar pillow will provide more support.)

FAMILY ROOM

????Create a junior ottoman for your family room by stacking three 26-inch boxed pillows that can be thrown on the floor for television viewing.

????An ottoman--tufted or not--makes a great coffee table and does double duty as seating. Because an ottoman is often a centerpiece, a new one can have a big impact.

BEDROOMS & BEDDING

????Hang bed drapery panels on swing arm rods at each side of your bed to help create your own private space. This works well to dress up a guest room bed. If you have a canopy bed, hang fabric panels--two for minimal effect, four for maximum impact.

????Add an upholstered headboard to an existing bed--they attach right to the metal bed frame. This makes the whole room seem more finished. Select a fabric that works with bedding in all seasons. Upholstered headboards are very comfortable if you read, work or watch television in bed.

????Hang a shirred rod pocket panel as high as you can on the wall behind your bed. This can even go behind a headboard. Make it reversible for a seasonal change of d?cor. Or use a heavy jacquard fabric as a wall tapestry behind the bed and hang it from a decorative rod.

????Reupholster a "found" bench for the end of your bed--look in antique stores, auction sites and thrift stores for bargains. It's a handy place for bedding and pillows at night, for putting on shoes, or to use as a luggage stand when packing for a trip.

????Create a light coverlet for summer use to complement a reversible duvet cover for winter use. Switch their placement as the seasons change.

????Jazz up an existing bed with new Euro shams (26-inches square) or one large rectangular bed pillow.

????Add a shorter dust ruffle in a sheer or lace to add a romantic touch and perk up an existing dust ruffle on the bed. This can go right over the top of the current bed skirt.

BATHROOMS

????A small investment makes a big impact in a bathroom. Consider a new shower curtain in a fresh colorful print, a pretty sink skirt (it can go on with Velcro) and new monogrammed towels.

LAMPS & LIGHTING

????Glue tassel trim to a lampshade for a touch of glamour or whimsy.

????Cover unsightly cords or chandelier chains with a fabric scrunchy to go with your decor.

????Replace yellowed or aged lampshades with new textured, colored or shaped styles to update the look of your lighting.

BOOKSHELVES

????Give your bookshelf a makeover. Display treasures appropriate for the season--bowls filled with pinecones or feather-covered balls for fall, a glass vase filled with sand and seashells for summer. For color, line the back of the cabinet with fabric-wrapped inserts.

WINDOW SEATS

????Add a window seat cushion with throw pillows for a new reading area.

WALLS

????Graphic printed fabrics are "art by the yard." Staple to a stretcher frame and mount as is, or frame up and place on the wall. Group three or four together for maximum impact.

Calico Corners - Calico Home stores provide expert decorating advice and free in-home design consultation in more than 100 stores across the country. Consumers will find thousands of designer fabrics for the home at value prices; custom window treatments, blinds and shades; custom upholstered furniture, plus decorative accessories and more. Thousands of fabrics are available online. For more information or to find the nearest store, visit http://www.CalicoCorners.com or call (800) 213-6366.

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The Better Dressed American Man; Faster Promotion, More Money, Thinner Girlfriends

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 29, 2010

San Francisco based retailer Cheap-Neckties.com gives poor men the opportunity to fool gold-diggers by wearing $ 5 neckties. Besides offering affordable designer fashion Cheap-Neckties.com now offers an style section that teaches men how to "Dress to Impress".

Started in September 2008 founder Hendrik Pohl wanted to create a website offering fashionable neck-wear to those on a budget. According to Pohl, "It is not the price of your clothes that matter, but rather proper fit and well-balanced color choices that will make one ensemble better than another." He continues by saying that, "it is our mission to not only offer quality ties to discounted prices, but we also like to see the average American man dress better." According to Pohl, It is not just the tie that lifts an ensemble into higher social ranks, but even more important is knowing how to properly wear a tie. For that reason Cheap-Neckties.com recently added a wide range of informational content, such as information on: Matching Ties, a tutorial on How to Tie a Tie, a weekly updated Fashion Blog with current trends and style tips, a guide on Dress Codes, and much more.

Pohl first experienced the power of ties when he was working in sales right out of college. He noticed that wearing a tie creates a professional image that gets you further in life. While he thinks that it is a little sad that most people form judgments from first impressions, he also thinks that this is something anyone can benefit from. He himself wears ties almost daily and according to him wearing a necktie has helped him numerous times get free business-class upgrades, get a better loan on a car, be treated better in restaurants, and even have more success with the ladies. He is confident that his ties and the newly added fashion and style advice on his site will help men dress better and be treated better because of it.

To the visitor it may seem impossible to offer quality neckties as low as $ 5, but the percentage of repeat business the site gets will prove you otherwise. Pohl himself has always had a passion for ties but never understood why certain brands would cost so much money. "The designer label lies hidden behind the tie anyway, so what is the point," says Pohl. Cheap-neckties.com hires their own fashion designers in Europe and instead of wasting money on fashion shows and creating brand awareness these savings are passed on to the end-consumer. "There are no middlemen, and the design swatches go directly from our fashion designers to our manufacturers," explains Pohl. When we ask Pohl about quality he smiled and said that the quality of his ties compares to the designer labels he used to buy at a 20-fold price. He adds that: "If customers are not 100% satisfied then we are not happy either. After all, it is the repeat business that drives the success of our company."

For additional information on The Better Dressed American Man; Faster Promotion, More Money, Thinner Girlfriends, contact "Hendrik Pohl" or visit http://www.cheap-neckties.com/

About Cheap-Neckties.com

Cheap-Neckties.com is a San Francisco based retailer offering mens neckties, bow ties, cufflinks and handkerchiefs to discount prices. Cheap-Neckities.com is a wholly owned subsidiary of United E-Commerce, LLC.

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Related Handkerchief Press Releases

Red Robin Selects Transaction Wireless to Make Holiday Family Meals More Merry With Customized and Personalized Gift Cards

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) December 13, 2011

Transaction Wireless, the leading provider of digital gift card solutions, today announces that Red Robin International, Inc., a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, has selected Transaction Wireless to power its B2C and B2B gift card program and promotional activities around the holiday season.

With Transaction Wireless, Red Robin will be able to offer its customers last minute e-Gift Cards that can be purchased on the Red Robin website or on its mobile gift card storefront and personalized with text, images and voice message and sent at a click of a button over email and mobile. Customers will also be able to purchase and send traditional plastic gift cards on the Red Robin website to share with family and friends or use them as stocking stuffers. Senders of both e-Gift Cards and traditional plastic gift cards can notify their recipients of their gift with a personalized text, image and voice message via mobile, email and Facebook.

This holiday season, Transaction Wireless will help support the following promotions around Red Robin gift cards:

????Now through Saturday, Dec. 31st, Red Robin Guests receive a FREE $ 5 Bonus Buck when they purchase a $ 25 - $ 45 gift card. The Bonus Buck can be used at Red Robin after the holidays, from Sunday, Jan. 1 ? Wed., Feb. 29, 2012

????20% off any gift card purchase of $ 500 or more ? Now through Saturday, Dec. 31

Additionally, Red Robin will leverage Transaction Wireless? gift card platform to grow its B2B business. Red Robin will be using Transaction Wireless? wCentive, a comprehensive B2B solution that enables the management and support of multiple B2B accounts, suppliers and guest relations, including hosted online store fronts for bulk digital gift card ordering. As a result, Red Robin can more easily extend its commercial gift card reach and deliver through any medium while dramatically reducing operating costs and significantly improving resale and co-branding opportunities.

?We?re pleased to be working with Red Robin to offer its customers digital and plastic gift cards that can be customized and personalized in a fun and easy way just in time for the holidays,? said Doug Schneider, CEO of Transaction Wireless. ?Transaction Wireless offers a unified, seamless gift card solution that makes purchasing and using gift cards an easy, personal and memorable last-minute gift. With Red Robin?s upcoming promotions, we?re excited to help make dinner fun and bring families together for the holidays.?

About Transaction Wireless

Since 2006, Transaction Wireless has been dedicated to helping retailers and partners transform their traditional gift card business to meet the ever-changing demands of today?s digital consumer. Transaction Wireless offers the most innovative, versatile PCI Level 1 compliant B2C and B2B gift card and integrated marketing capabilities in the industry, allowing clients to quickly deploy, acquire customers, build loyalty, and grow their bottom line. Transaction Wireless? patented platform enables retailers to easily connect and intelligently engage with consumers through multiple channels, such as online, mobile, social, and more, all while providing the best in security, privacy, and customer support. Transaction Wireless is trusted by some of the biggest brands in retail such as AMC Entertainment, American Eagle Outfitters, Applebee?s, Bass Pro Shops, California Pizza Kitchen, Cracker Barrel, O.co, SpaFinder and more. For more information visit: http://www.transactionwireless.com.

? 2011 Transaction Wireless. All rights reserved. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

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