(ARA) – The roar of the crowd, the thrill of a last-second victory – few things in life can evoke the excitement of a good sports competition. Passionately supporting the hometown team or proclaiming love for a favorite sport is an increasingly important activity in American culture.

Sports fans have grown to represent roughly 219 million Americans aged 12 and older, according to a recent ESPN research and analytics study. For these sports enthusiasts, the home is an ideal place to display their spirit and team pride.

“Whether sports are a time-honored tradition or a new family passion, there are always moments to remember and stories waiting to be told,” says Erinn Valencich, a nationally recognized celebrity interior designer who has been featured on HGTV and in several publications, such as “Good Housekeeping” and “House Beautiful.” “Sports-themed wall decor is a great way to showcase team spirit and can serve as a fascinating conversation starter for guests.”

Valencich says the first step to showcasing sports and school memorabilia in the home is to choose items that have personal meaning. “When deciding what to display, remember that the items should tell a story about your personal interests or experiences, such as a game you attended or a moment you’ll always remember,” she says.

Valencich offers these additional tips for creating eye-catching and meaningful sports-themed wall displays.

Get creative with color
“First, work with your local custom framer, who will ensure pieces are framed to the highest quality,” Valencich suggests. “Request matboard that matches the team’s colors to immediately call the team to mind. The Crescent Select Impact Colors matboard line is ideal for this, as it features exact color matches for every college and professional sports team.”

Mix sizes, shapes and materials
“When framing sports pictures, choose different shapes, textures and auxiliary elements in order to create a memorable gallery wall that can become a tribute to a favorite team,” says Valencich. “I recommend choosing two to three primary pieces to be the focal point of the wall grouping and supplement them by also framing pennants, jerseys, trading cards, game programs and other meaningful memorabilia for a unique design. It’s the mix of sizes, shapes and pieces that really make a collection sing!”

Capture a personal sports experience
Valencich also suggests turning a picture of a sports fan’s favorite player, team or stadium into a unique gift. She recommends incorporating several memorable pieces into a single custom-framed piece, such as a photo of the family from a game combined with a ticket stub or program. “By personalizing with a photo, framed sports memorabilia can become a conversation piece that chronicles a special sporting event your family attended,” she adds. Professional custom framers can bring individual pieces of memorabilia together in a high-quality, cohesive piece.

Find the perfect place for a sports display
Valencich believes that sports memorabilia makes a much bigger statement when grouped together in one area. “When displaying sports pictures and memorabilia, choose a room that is the most personal to the family’s sports enthusiast, such as a children’s bedroom, an office, den or entertainment room,” suggests Valencich.

(ARA) – Who doesn’t need a break from the hectic day-to-day routine once in awhile? A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that we are more stressed than ever, with nearly 75 percent of Americans experiencing moderate to high stress levels. With time and money as major obstacles, it’s difficult for many people to take regular vacations to escape their busy, everyday lives. But with a little time, budget and creativity, an ordinary bathroom can be transformed into a luxurious, relaxing escape for an everyday getaway.

Spacious showers
The central feature of any bathroom is the shower or bath. Enlarging a cramped shower space does not have to entail an expensive overhaul. By installing a curved shower rod, you will add up to 7 1/2 inches of elbow room to your space and feel like you have an oversized, lavish shower without adding any square footage. Moen offers both fixed- and adjustable-length curved shower rods with pivoting flange to make installation a breeze.

Make the most of a mirror
Almost every bathroom has at least one, but a simple addition to your mirror can take the room from ordinary to extraordinary. Framing a mirror is a quick and easy way to draw attention and give any room a luxurious, hotel-like feel. Moen offers a variety of frame styles with its easy-to-install Mirrorscapes Mirror Frames line, allowing any DIYer to customize and create a new look. With Mirrorscapes’ unique installation system, even the most inexperienced homeowner can recreate a room in less than 30 minutes.

Storing in style
Storage space might not seem like the most glamorous part of a room, but choosing unique organization accessories can make all the difference in your bathroom’s makeover. The Banbury bathroom collection (available at The Home Depot) offers functional accessories such as bathrobe hooks, soap dispensers, towel bars and rings, and paper holders in a wide variety of finishes and styles to coordinate with the other items in your bath. Decorative Hotel Shelves, also from Moen, are another option available in today’s popular finishes and unique designs to add a hint of luxury to the bathroom while providing maximum storage for linens and towels. These small details are a quick and easy way to give your bath a high-end look while maintaining functionality.

Soothe your senses
It’s the little things that make the biggest difference, and there are many ways to enjoy the indulgent atmosphere of a hotel spa at a fraction of the cost. Pamper all of your senses with bathroom extras such as scented shower gels and lotions, oversized cotton towels and aromatherapy candles. Even a simple coat of paint in a relaxing shade like “Soul-Quenching” by Dutch Boy can make a dramatic difference and help create a calming, stress-relieving ambience. Pop a soothing CD into your Sony ICF-CD73V Shower CD Player/Clock Radio and your haven of relaxation is complete.

Everyone deserves time away from the stress of today’s world, and with a few simple changes you can transform your everyday bathroom into an organized, relaxing daily escape. For more information on how Moen bath accessories can help you create your own room of relaxation, visit www.csi.moen.com.

(ARA) – Going glam and being green don’t need to be mutually exclusive, especially when it comes to decorating your home. Makers of furniture and home decor items have started incorporating environmentally friendly practices and materials into their products, allowing consumers to have greener households without compromising their personal style.

It’s possible to incorporate greener choices in almost all home decor projects. Because so many companies are recognizing that their customers want eco-friendly products, it’s possible to find green products at all price ranges. Even the highest-end design firms now source items like couches made from sustainable wood and organic fabrics – but you can also find them at retail stores, too.

Home accessories are a quick and easy place to start if you’re just looking to add some small revitalizing touches to your rooms. Pillows made from antique linen grain sacks that were once common in Europe add rustic-chic texture without being uncomfortable. To add a pop of color to your couch, drape it with a throw made from a natural material and eco-friendly dyes. To add a touch of social consciousness, choose from a multitude of throws made by indigenous communities in developing countries, like luxurious alpaca blankets from Peru or mohair from Swaziland.

Decorative bowls made from reclaimed wood add a touch of natural beauty, as do driftwood or Manzanita branches. Be cautious about adding some natural touches, though – coral, for instance, is often harvested in ways that are unsustainable and threatening to natural environments.

Don’t count out wall decor as a way to express your eco savvy, either. More and more paint companies are trotting out low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints that are safer to breathe. But if you want to add extra dimension to your walls and make a bolder statement, add wall murals printed on earth-friendly canvas. Sites like MuralsYourWay.com bring beautiful nature scenes right into your home. Not only are their canvas murals made of an ecologically friendly fabric material, there are over 5,000 options to choose from. You can choose everything from a jungle scene to the Mona Lisa or you can print a photo of your own on their fabric wallpaper.

Greening your furniture can be done in multiple ways. If you’re ready to buy new pieces, consult an interior designer, who can weed out items that don’t match your standards. But you can re-use and recycle when it comes to furniture, too – just make sure you revitalize first. Consider re-upholstering items like dining chairs with exotic fabrics that are hand-made or antique. Suzanis, brightly-colored Central Asian textiles in graphic patterns make a great statement fabric, as do boldly embroidered Otomi textiles from Mexico. Ask a designer to help seek them out, or check out exotic import shops – sometimes you can find large examples of these textiles that can be repurposed on your furniture.

You can also add new life to pieces already in your home by painting them in one, or a coordinated couple, of the year’s color trends. For 2010, turquoise promises to be big, as do coral, cobalt blue and eucalyptus green – all colors inspired by natural materials.

(ARA) – Does your kitchen or bathroom look like it’s stuck in a time warp? Then it might be time to update the most-used rooms in your home. For inspiration, look no further than the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), which recently shared its top 2010 kitchen and bath trends.

To compile the findings and determine the latest kitchen and bath trends, the organization surveyed those members who designed a kitchen or bathroom during the last quarter of 2009. According to NKBA, the top 10 trends for 2010 are:

1. Shaker style kitchen design
2. Maple and alder cabinetry finishes
3. Quartz countertops
4. Pull-down/pull-out kitchen faucets
5. Polished chrome finishes
6. Under-counter refrigerator drawers
7. Dishwasher drawers for small loads
8. Marble vanity tops
9. Integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks and pedestal sinks
10. Bronze and stainless steel finishes

In the kitchen
Making a big statement throughout the kitchen in 2010 is the addition of functional drawer appliances. One such example, which has been specified by nearly a third of NKBA’s kitchen designers, is modern refrigeration technology. Turning convenience into a luxury, under-counter refrigerated drawers feature adjustable horizontal and vertical dividers to keep frequently used items close at hand. Perfect for the ultimate entertainer, refrigerated drawers are quite roomy, typically tall enough to store a 2-liter bottle and wide enough to hold items such as serving trays and pizza boxes.

If you’re tired of running the dishwasher when it’s only half-full, consider installing a dishwasher drawer. Because it’s independently operated, you can wash small loads as economically as large ones. Plus, the extra flexibility to run cycles simultaneously with your traditional dishwasher makes clean-up quicker and easier, explaining why nearly a third of designers are incorporating this new trend into kitchens, as well.

Another popular element to include in the kitchen in 2010 is a pull-down or pull-out faucet. Utilized by 85 percent of kitchen designers, it’s an easy way to make a design statement at the kitchen sink while increasing functionality. The new Arbor pull-down kitchen faucet from Moen seamlessly brings simple sophistication to the kitchen with its transitional styling that complements virtually any decor. It’s available in a chrome finish, which is another 2010 trend to look for in appliances, accents and hardware throughout the entire kitchen. For more information about the Arbor pull-down kitchen faucet from Moen, visit moen.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636).

In the bath
Granite is the dominant material chosen for vanities in current remodels – used by seven of every eight designers – however, in 2010 alternative natural materials, like marble, will continue to grow in popularity.

According to NKBA, just under half of bathroom designers utilize marble, as it provides a sophisticated look that’s reminiscent of Roman baths with its regal, refined detail that exudes a sense of luxury. Plus, marble countertops provide a stain-resistant, water-resistant, rugged and durable surface – ideal for child-friendly bathrooms or homes with just one bathroom that see a lot of traffic throughout the day.

NKBA also forecasts that integrated sink tops will be a popular choice this year, as you can easily use existing items to achieve this look. By adding a sink into an antique dresser or chest, designers are creating one-of-a-kind vanities for nearly 30 percent of all clients.

Polished chrome finishes are another bathroom design trend for 2010. Look to incorporate this chic metal accent into all your hardware by updating the accessories in your bath, as well. You’ll be able to make a big impact with small updates like new towel bars and robe hooks, for a completely coordinated look.

(ARA) – Most parents can relate: Redecorating your child’s room often turns out to be far more challenging than freshening up the decor in other areas of your home. After all, kids have their own personalities and tastes – and what you like might not mesh with their ideas of the world’s coolest bedrooms.

Obviously, as parents, we want the best for our kids but we also need to be budget-conscious these days. And, redecorating projects often spiral into endeavors that gobble up not only your budget but also your sanity. Often, what started out as a fun redecorating project can quickly turn into an overwhelming task that everyone in the family dreads finishing.

But, if you do it right and with some thoughtful pre-planning, redecorating kid spaces doesn’t have to be draining to your bank account or your patience, notes Donna Schroeder, Dutch Boy color marketing and design manager.

“There are a few basic decorating foundations that can have a huge impact on a child’s room, with color being at the forefront,” Schroeder says. “Aside from floors and window treatments, the largest area where color is used is on the walls. Luckily for parents, painting their child’s room is a fun, easy and very inexpensive way to update a living space. It’s also a great way to involve your child in the decision process so they can help create a memorable space to call their own.”

When choosing paint, a little forethought and some fundamental knowledge on color selection are all that’s needed. Don’t make the mistake of thinking there are “right or wrong colors.” Let creativity — and your child’s tastes — be your guide.

To lend a helping hand, Crayola and Dutch Boy offer a complete, 96-color palette of Crayola colors tinted in Dutch Boy Paint. It features fun, unique color chips sure to generate some enthusiasm from any child for a room makeover, as well as 16 inspiration cards featuring exciting room themes and designs that can help jump-start the creative process. With so many choices, chances are your child’s “favoritest” color will be among the mix.

Redecorating a fresh, new space for children goes beyond selecting paint colors and decorating themes. If you’re planning a significant revamping of a room, or are perhaps welcoming a new baby, look into double-duty furniture, such as changing tables that convert easily into a bureau, so once a baby is out of diapers, the table can still serve a purpose in the room.

If your children are older, there’s nothing wrong with refurbishing hand-me-down furniture to give their rooms a new look — and save some money. A little ingenuity, paint and some old-fashioned elbow grease can turn a beat-up, dated old armoire, bookshelf or desk into a whimsical piece of expression in any room, not to mention handy storage for toys, clothing, books and more.

Speaking of storage, more is always better – over-plan rather than installing just enough for current belongings. Let’s face it: kids come with lots of stuff that seems to multiply nightly. The cabinet that can hold a few blankets and books today likely will end up stuffed with clothes, toys and collectibles even a year or two down the road. There are plenty of cost-effective and colorful storage and closet units available at a variety of home improvement retailers.

And don’t forget extending creativity to the finishing touches — accessories like window treatments and novelty throw rugs. Create fanciful designs on plain, inexpensive roman shades or room-darkening blinds by decorating them with patterns from fun stencils or stamps, using paints that coordinate with the wall and trim palette. From flowers or cars to trains or fairies, the possibilities for livening up plain window treatments are endless — and far from costly. Area rugs add another bit of special personalization to a child’s bedroom. A lively, patterned rug can add a lighthearted feel to any space.

“With a little planning and a lot of imagination, it’s easy to create a playful space for kids that pops with color and some personalized magic, even on the tightest budget,” Schroeder says. “In fact, they might like it so much when you send them to their room; they might not want to leave.”

(ARA) – Indicators are implying that the U.S. economy is finally showing some signs of improvement. The markets are rising, and overall consumer confidence goes up every day. To the relief of people across the country, one area that is at last seeing some light at the end of the tunnel is the housing market.

As the economy stabilizes, homeowners are expected to begin investing more money into their homes, particularly the aesthetics of their homes. But the recession did have a profound impact on the manner in which people approach design and decor.

In economically prosperous times, design and color trends tend to be heavily influenced by tangible, worldly items that are created or manufactured by people and businesses. These items represent the more affluent lifestyles we enjoy during those times.

Correspondingly, during more difficult time periods, design influence returns to holistic, spiritual and simplistic elements that represent the richness of life that abounds in nature, relationships and spirituality.

This year’s color trends are rooted in that richness, says Dutch Boy Color Marketing and Design Manager Donna Schroeder.

“Colors that provide hope and affirmation that the greater economic market will continue to improve are at the forefront of decor for 2010,” Schroeder says. “People are much more introspective about color this year and will be painting in a way that not only is aesthetically pleasing, but also ’saturates the senses’ and is reflective of a society eager to reconnect with education, nature, spirituality and world culture.”

According to Schroeder, Dutch Boy’s 2010 design trends have been categorized into four different “personalities.” These “personality” palettes are composed of colors that embody a homeowner’s personal style and taste. Each of the trend personalities, along with images of the paint colors, can be found at www.DutchBoy.com.

Purist
This trend reflects the elements of nature: colors of branches, grasses and dark earth underneath the feet. It’s a soothing relief. A retreat from the hectic. It’s terra firma … brought indoors. Purists are concerned about their impact on the world and care deeply about finding balance. Purist colors are natural shades of herbal teas, the stones in the river as the water rushes over them, and the yellow-green of buds as they push up through the springtime earth.

Colors in the Purist palette include: Urban Nature, Naturalist Stone, Lemon Balm, Gingered Root, Catalyst Steel, Natural Canvas, Repurposed and Budding Fern.

Seeker
Seeker goes beyond the ordinary to showcase shades brought forth by history and architecture. Rich, complex hues give this color personality rooms that have a carefully curated, beautifully symbolic touch. What matters to a Seeker is creating meaning, spirituality and beauty in life. Colorful objects made of precise, hexagonal tiles to stylized, architectural furniture are quintessential to the Seeker.

Colors in the Seeker palette include: Antique Rosewood, Medieval Cloverleaf, Olde Stone, Soul-Quenching, Alabaster Frame, Kimono Red, Crossing Midnight and Cathedral Gray.

Muse
Muse is a palette that’s all about feeling and experiencing. These are colors that swaddle and soothe the soul. It’s a color style that reflects the need for sanctuary. Attention to design detail and just the right sensory colors bring Muse to life. This palette is infused with, and inspires, rich details, fine fabrics and soft twilight shades of blush pinks, rosy peach and lilac.

Colors in the Muse palette include: Quiet Drizzle, Aroma Garden, Melodious Peach, Silken Raspberry, Blossomed Lilac, Composed Bloom, Nightingale’s Song and Meadow Pear.

Storyteller
The Storyteller collection shows off color that reflects a life well-lived through traveling and varied interests. Furniture and colors from afar add a vibrant touch to the home and bring life to tales from foreign lands. Everything a Storyteller sees in her travels inspires her home design and color choices. The Storyteller is an experiential explorer.

Colors in the Storyteller palette include: Grecian Sea, Edge of Time, Narrative Cream, Clementine Tart, Journey’s End, Treaded Grapes, Wide Open Sky and Spanish Door.

Though these four trend personalities will certainly be prolific this year, many people will combine the four palettes and blend them all into distinctive personalities. Recognizing this, Dutch Boy has collected a “Blend” palette. What colors are in this palette? All of them.

Blend is exciting, eclectic and adventurous. Blend is, appropriately, a blending combination of two or more of the previous four trends. A person with a Blend personality has a home that is a reflection of the owner’s many moods and styles. An airy, light-filled room might be held to earth by chunky furniture or given flight with watercolor prints. Blend personalities could have a Muse kitchen, Storyteller family room, and a combined Purist and Seeker dining room. Coexistence is at the heart of the Blend personality.

For more information about these color trends and how to choose the perfect paint color, visit www.dutchboy.com, or call (800) 828-5669.

(ARA) – When it comes to creating ambiance and warmth in a home, nothing can beat a fireplace, especially during this time of year. But are you aware that the right fireplace or stove can also help reduce your heating costs? Or that your existing fireplace’s efficiency can be boosted significantly by installing an insert, and for less money than you might think?

Here are five facts about fireplaces and stoves that may surprise you.

1. You can conserve energy, live a greener lifestyle and combat volatile heating costs with a high efficiency fireplace or stove.

Do you use every room in your house every day? If not, try zone heating the areas where you spend the most time with an efficient fireplace or stove. It will cut down on the amount of fuel consumed by your furnace and can reduce home heating bills by 20 to 40 percent, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. Simply turn down the central thermostat and let the fireplace heat where you live. This works whether your fireplace is fueled by natural gas, liquid propane, wood, pellets or other materials.

Renewable fuels like cord wood, pellets and other plant-derived materials are excellent sources of heat. The key is burning them in a high efficiency fireplace or stove, which makes the process much easier than it was for our grandparents. For example, a load of quality wood in a standard Quadra-Fire EPA-certified wood stove can produce heat for up to 15 hours, and in pellet stoves a single 40-pound bag of pellets can produce heat for up to 24 hours. In both cases, the amount of emissions and ash generated by these units has been dramatically reduced. There is also a U.S. tax credit in 2010 of up to $1,500 for the purchase of qualifying wood and pellet stoves.

2. A fireplace can be installed in your existing home without the hassles of adding a traditional chimney.

Don’t have a fireplace? In most homes, a beautiful and efficient gas fireplace can be added for as little as $3,500, including installation. Made possible by direct vent gas technology, the fireplace is vented to the outdoors via a single pipe that runs through the side of the house to the outdoors, drawing air needed for the fire and expelling its byproducts. Direct vent gas technology has brought warmth and ambience to millions of homes.

3. Your inefficient wood burning fireplace can be transformed into a powerful and beautiful heat producer.

If you have a masonry-built wood burning fireplace that is drafty and inefficient, consider updating it with an energy efficient fireplace insert. “It is a fairly simple process to transform these fireplaces into energy efficient powerhouses,” says Jeni Forman of Quadra-Fire. “Professional installation can be completed within four to six hours, and it could make your fireplace up to 85 percent more efficient.” The cost of adding an insert, including installation, can be as low as $2,900 for gas and wood-burning units, and $3,200 for pellet-burning inserts.

4. You can control the heat produced by today’s fireplaces.

Many fireplaces and stoves can be thermostatically controlled – you decide how much heat you want and change it as desired. Some models also allow you to control the height of the flames and have LED lighting in the embers, which can be turned on or off. Controls are accessed either via remote control, on the unit, or they are wall-mounted.

5. Modern fireplace design is pushing traditional boundaries.

If you prefer a traditional fireplace that burns real wood, or simulates it with gas, manufactured logs and burning embers, there are literally hundreds of models from which to choose. However, if your design style leans toward contemporary and you want some new options, today’s modern style fireplaces offer simplistic beauty and elegance. Inspired by European design, many modern style fireplaces are linear in shape, showcasing a panoramic view of the flames that dance in unison with colored glass, shiny metal or other innovative materials like black onyx. Placement is also being redefined, as modern style fireplaces are often positioned at eye level, evoking a living piece of fine art.

It’s winter and there’s nothing better than cozying up to a warm fireplace. Investigate the possibilities at fireplaces.com. The site includes an online program that walks you through the process of designing your fireplace, mixing and matching options with rooms, flooring and wall colors.

(ARA) – We turn to technology to make many aspects of our lives easier – from traveling with a GPS to staying connected with loved ones via social networking Web sites. It’s no surprise, then, that our kitchens, the most-used room in the home, are becoming increasingly high tech.

A study commissioned by a leading kitchen appliance manufacturer showed that a third of respondents spend three to four hours in the kitchen each day, and 20 percent spend five or more hours. The survey also showed that Americans are embracing technologies in this room, with nearly half of the respondents reporting they want a state-of-the-art kitchen.

Responding to the demand for technology, manufacturers are offering new gadgets and products designed to make kitchen tasks easier, faster and more energy-efficient:

* Touchscreen technology centers stationed in the kitchen allow users to access stored or online recipes and cooking tips.

* Energy-efficient pots shorten cooking time and reduce energy usage by as much as 50 percent.

* Water-powered garbage disposal units are operated by the water pressure in the kitchen and require zero electricity.

* Automated pantry systems catalog contents and keep track of what ingredients are running low or need to be replenished.

“The kitchen is the hub of the home, where we spend significant chunks of time preparing meals and participating in a host of other activities,” says Bob Rodenbeck, senior research and development director at Delta Faucet Company. “An often-overlooked opportunity to incorporate technology lies in the faucet. On average, a family of four touches it 150 times a day – when cooking, cleaning the home, washing our hands or just getting a drink of water.”

Delta’s intuitive, touch-activated kitchen faucet offers increased efficiency and helps save water. The Pilar pull-down kitchen faucet with Touch2O Technology can be turned on or off with a simple touch to the spout or handle. With this technology, you’ll no longer have to use messy hands to operate the faucet, and if your hands are full it’s easier to stop the flow of water in between tasks when it’s not needed.

Another innovation that makes Delta pull-down kitchen faucets more convenient and user-friendly is MagnaTite docking, which uses a powerful magnet to keep the pull-down spray wand firmly in place for a cleaner look. Similar in functionality to magnetic closures found on totes and personal electronic cases, the spray head engages with little effort.

So what’s next?

Rodenbeck said his team is always looking for opportunities to enhance the user experience. Delta recently launched two commercial faucets that use the body’s electrical charge to activate the flow of water. “We’re considering ways to apply this technology to residential fixtures in the kitchen and the bath.”