| Decorating your home based on it's | | | | out is definitely a Cape Cod tradition. Paint |
| architectural style is the first step in | | | | your outside trim, your porch, and perhaps |
| creating balance and harmony. Learn how to | | | | even the shutters white. Paint your inside |
| use color and fabric to compliment your Cape | | | | trim, your mantel, and perhaps even the doors |
| Cod home. | | | | and cabinets white. This creates a clean, |
| | | | crisp look that will compliment most any |
| The Cape Cod style home is known for it's | | | | color of walls and floors. Use a good quality |
| simple design, and architecture. Originating | | | | gloss, or semi-gloss paint, to make cleaning |
| in the late 17th century in New England, and | | | | your trim a breeze. If you want to go even |
| becoming very popular between the 1930's - | | | | further with your Cape Cod decor, then wood |
| 1950's the Cape Cod style home represents | | | | flooring is also a traditional Cape Cod |
| America in it's simpler times. It is usually | | | | feature. Wood flooring anchors a home by |
| a one to one-and-a-half story home with a | | | | adding warmth and natural beauty, and modern |
| chimney in the center, steep roof, | | | | technology, gives you many pricing and design |
| symmetrical appearance with the door in the | | | | options. |
| center, and multi-paned windows with | | | | |
| shutters. When designing for a Cape Cod home, | | | | When it comes to furniture and accessories |
| or giving your present home a Cape Cod feel | | | | for your home, keep the more expensive |
| just keep in mind where and when the design | | | | furnishings, such as couches and other big |
| originated and this will make it simpler to | | | | ticket items neutral and accessorize with |
| design a theme for your home. | | | | color. One of the simplest, ways to add |
| | | | color, balance and texture to your home is to |
| You have a lot of freedom with a Cape Cod | | | | experiment with different colored accent |
| home; it can be casual or elegant, and does | | | | fabrics, in your curtains, decorative |
| not necessarily need to be nautical. You can | | | | pillows, throws, runners, and rugs. Try to |
| use the periods from the 17th century all the | | | | mix solids, prints, stripes, paisleys, |
| way through to the 1950's, and decorate | | | | checks, and floral fabrics throughout your |
| according to the styles used for those | | | | home. This adds balance, and draws the eye |
| periods. From a casual rustic decor, from | | | | around the room. Don't get carried away with |
| vintage 1920's with all it's elegance and | | | | this, or it could cause a chaotic feel. When |
| style, to the primary colors used in the | | | | deciding how to mix and match your decorative |
| 1950's. You can also, think of the natural | | | | pillows and other accent fabrics, get ideas |
| surroundings of the home's area. Imagine all | | | | from manufactures at fabric stores. See how |
| the colors of the seaside, with it's peaceful | | | | they incorporate large prints with small |
| blue water and sky, the subtle shades of the | | | | patterns, and geometrics with solids and do |
| sand, the shells on the beach, seagulls in | | | | the same with your throw pillows, and other |
| the air, watching the sunset at the end of a | | | | accent pieces. You can change the entire |
| peaceful day. Carry this image with you, and | | | | look of a room by simply changing the |
| pick five to seven colors with inspirations | | | | decorative pillows, runners, throws, |
| from these natural surroundings and your on | | | | curtains, or rugs. |
| your way to a balanced, peaceful, harmonious | | | | |
| theme for your home. Perhaps robin egg blue, | | | | Be proud of your Cape Cod style home; be |
| sunrise yellow, sunset red, cobalt grey, and | | | | creative and experiment with different |
| creamy sand. Add splashes of these colors | | | | colors, fabrics and styles. Take inspiration |
| throughout your home with paint, accessories, | | | | from your home's design and natural |
| and accent fabrics. The eye is drawn to color | | | | surroundings and you will be well on your way |
| and texture. Adding splashes of color, and | | | | to creating an inviting, comfortable |
| texture throughout a room creates balance and | | | | atmosphere throughout your entire home. |
| draws your eye around the room. | | | | |
| | | | Copyright © Valorie Mendiola, 2006. All |
| The key to creating a Cape Cod feel is in the | | | | Rights Reserved. |
| color of the trim. White trim both inside and | | | | |