"Launched in 2005, Home-Dzine was created to realise a dream; to express my love of home DIY and decor and share with other South Africans. As a non-commercial website I am free to express my own opinions and pass on valuable information to readers.
I feel that more people can benefit by being able to DIY home improvement and home repairs. And we're not talking about major DIY home repairs, but those that anyone with a bit of DIY savvy can do themselves."
Modern take on country decor
Country decorating has evolved over the years to keep up with ever-changing trends in home decor.
Memory lane
Echoing an earlier time, this romance in this room comes from colours of the palest lilac and vintage creams, soft fabrics, and new furnishings inspired by old.
Elegant and simple, a linen-upholstered bed features traditional carved details and a painted finish; layers of neutral quilts and pillows create a soft spot for reading.
Furniture in creamy colours - such as a chest of drawers and dressing table - dresses up the otherwise plain architectural features fn this home, and the clean lines and pewter hardware complement the room's old-fashioned quality.
Get the look
To enhance a country theme for a bedroom use traditional-style lighting.
This type can be one that mimics a kerosene lamp, or a lamp that has a base that's simple wrought-iron, antique brass or copper.
Keep window dressings simple. Shutters or shades are great for windows, while giving you extra privacy.
However, if you are fortunate enough to live in the country or have a private setting in which you feel secure, make use of a beautiful natural framed window to enjoy the sunlight and moonlight.
Straight and narrow
Still with the style of a country home, and familiar yet distinctly different, this tailored room in a pared-down Shaker style offers spaces for sleeping, working, and reading.
Rich fabrics of varying textures give the neutral creams and greys of the room extra depth.
The traditional wing chair is newly interpreted in beige twill, lightening up the reading corner of the room.
The clean lines of this four-poster are indisputably traditional; the black finish brings it into the 21st century.
Incorporating graduating shades of white, grey, and black in the room adds depth, as does using wood in lights and darks, from teak to mahogany.
Get the look
The theme needs to be carried throughout the entire room and include accent pieces and wall decorations. There are numerous home décor stores that offer everything from throw pillows to handmade furniture with which to decorate essentially every room in the home.
Shop around, or browse through home decor magazines to find that special look that appeals to you.
When it comes to country home decorating, plenty of white space is more desirable than trying to fill every gap and small space with accents in a country motif - ending with a cluttered room. The adage "Less is best" was never more appropriate that in decorating for a country home look!