Move over "man cave" -- and make room for momma! The "mom cave" is catching on as the place in the home for the lady of the house. This space is one where a woman can put her feet up, or work on projects in solitude, surrounded by her own sense of style, says Kristie Barnett, a Nashville-based interior designer and blogger known as The Decorologist.

"A mom cave is meant to be a restorative place, not like the man cave, which is usually a social center that is tricked out with a big screen TV and electronics," Barnett says. "A mom cave can be a sewing center, a wrapping station, a place to write, scrapbook, craft, host a book club or just sit and read. Or all of the above."

Women can spelunk through their light and airy mom cave into self-exploration and creativity, says Barnett. "The man cave generally embodies all things we think of as masculine with dark, rugged decor and overstuffed leather furniture, gaming table, bar and media center," she says. "The mom cave, on the other hand, is filled with light and things that make her happy. It is meant to be a place of peace and privacy."

Before caving in to create a mom cave, you must first have a plan in place, otherwise there is the potential for the space to become a catch-all, says Barnett. A mom cave doesn't have to be large to be functional, but you need to find a space -- preferably a room with a door -- to claim as your own.

The space for a mom cave can range from a walk-in closet to a spare bedroom. You can also claim a space in the attic or basement, but it should feel light and bright. "If you don't have access to a window or natural light, have light fixtures -- such as a chandelier -- that sparkle and illuminate the space," Barnett says. "Also, mirrors reflect existing light and make a space feel larger."

A shared space -- such as a master bedroom -- can also be the place to fulfill your mom cave dreams. Partition off privacy by using a room screen or a two-sided bookshelf, which can also double as decorative storage.

A psychologist by training, Barnett believes the color of a room not only sets the mood in a space, but is also meant to resonate with its inhabitants. "The colors used in a mom cave are very personal, and don't have to match the decor of the rest of the home," she says. "It's OK to use pinks and purples in the female's quarters: Prettify the space, so it actually becomes a respite."

Barnett's personal mom cave is an extra bedroom with white walls featuring light green and pink accents throughout. "Choose a piece that serves as inspiration for the entire space," she says. "It can be a rug, artwork or object that speaks to you, then take color cues from that item to pull the room together."

After deciding upon a color palette, the mom cave dweller must then determine how the room will be used. Every mom should make a list of activities and interests to pursue and map out where furniture items will go.

"No two mom caves are the same because they are so personal. Ideally, you want at least one comfy chair to sit and read, with a table or desk on which to do paperwork," Barnett says. "If a mom cave is going to be used for sewing, you need to find a place to put the machine. If it's going to be used as a wrapping station or scrapbooking place, you need to have a work surface and place to store the supplies."

Channeling the inner artist in your mom cave's inner sanctum means having the proper work surfaces to maximize productivity. But that doesn't necessarily mean buying brand new furniture.

Instead, scour flea markets, garage sales or your own home to find solidly constructed pieces that can be repainted and repurposed. Usually, the smaller scale of older furniture works better in a modest mom cave.

"You can add shelving to an old television armoire, repaint it and have a great storage piece for not a lot of money," Barnett says. "Also, have a place for everything, so that everything can go back in its place when you're finished with it. You want your mom cave to remain a productive place, not become cluttered chaos."

Barnett likes to store items in pretty containers that have been labeled with their specific contents. She also likes to be able to move furniture around to keep the space fresh to create a Zen-like zone in which she can retreat.

"A mom cave is much more than a multipurpose room: It's a space that is meant to feed the very soul of the one person who is often the heart of a family," Barnett says. "But maybe the most important part of a mom cave -- whether it's real or implied -- is the 'Do Not Disturb' sign posted outside the door."

Mom-tastic cave dwelling:

TheDecorologist.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Your home design can take a turn for the better when you get a grip on the door's hardware. See how decorative knobs or levers -- made of metal or glass -- are opening doors to home design.

"An entrance door handle is really the first point of contact a person has with a home," says Fredy Orellana, global senior project manager for Baldwin Hardware, a doorknob design company since 1946, based in Lake Forest, Calif. "And the kind of knob or lever that's on a door can help make for a grand entrance."

Orellana says a doorknob can, in turn, be both functional and ornamental, like "jewelry" on the blank canvas of an interior or exterior door. "The doorknob becomes a focal point as you use it to open the door to enter a room," he says. "But form should never compromise functionality."

A working doorknob's components include a latch and spindle. The latch is the mechanism that stays in the opening of the strike plate on the doorjamb, which keeps a door closed. However, when you turn a doorknob -- which is attached to a long metal spindle -- the latch then retracts into the side of the door, allowing the door to be opened.

Many doorknobs are manufactured to fit the American standard door with a 2 1/2-inch pre-cut hole. Shiny brass doorknobs, found in hardware and home improvement stores, are ubiquitous standard builders' grade that are installed by people who, perhaps, don't even consider the other opening (and closing) options.

But Orellana says a home that is well-designed pays attention to the smallest details, such as the doorknob hardware. "When it comes to doorknobs, we are finding that what was old is new again, as people are restoring old homes or just want a quality product that focuses on design and craftsmanship," he says. "The 'less is more' principle also applies to doorknobs, as people are opting for smaller, Euro-inspired sets with decorative flourishes."

The doorknobs used within a home must complement a house's architecture. A scrolled, ornate doorknob wouldn't open new doors in a modern, minimalist design, and a bright shiny doorknob would look out of place in the renovation of an older home.

Renovating homes with older appeal can include adding doorknobs that are oval-shaped with decorative designs. Brass remains a popular doorknob metal, but for a one-of-a-kind look, shiny finishes are out, while oil-rubbed and matte finishes are in.

When it comes to transitional spaces that blend both a traditional and modern aesthetic, there is a strong resurgence in crystal doorknobs. With a timeless quality that appeals to young and old alike, crystal doorknobs feel luxurious in the hand, says Orellana. While crystal doorknobs' popularity is rising, the price is also a luxury that can also soar up to $500.

Contemporary spaces look cool and polished with shiny nickel knobs and barlike levers. "A lever works the same way as a doorknob, except that it is much easier for both adults and children to open," Orellana says. "There is strong demand for levers in contemporary design, as many no longer have that 'institutional' look."

Levers are popular in homes that employ the concept of "universal design," so retirees can age in place. The addition of well-designed levers, instead of the sometimes more difficult to turn doorknobs, is key is to making accommodations in a home, without making it look too institutional.

A well-designed doorknob on an exterior door has to pull double-duty: It not only has to look stylish, it also has to help provide a level of security. "It used to be that double doors on the front of homes were popular," Orellana says. "But now, more people want larger single front doors that lock into the doorjamb."

An exterior doorknob, lever or latch system with a deadbolt lock should meet the highest American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rating. A Grade-One deadbolt is best, which meets impact standards and is pick-resistant.

Original, antique doorknobs are prized among those who are renovating their homes, but make sure the handle sets are in good working order before purchasing. Swapping out a builders' grade variety for knobs that blow the doors off design can be a do-it-yourself project that is achieved by using a simple screwdriver, says Orellana.

"A simple doorknob can reflect great design," Orellana says. "By turning your attention to the small details, a doorknob becomes something more than a way to open a door; it becomes a small delight in design that you hold in your hand."

Opening Doors

Baldwin Hardware: (800) 566-1986, www.BaldwinHardware.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Home design is looking up as companies manufacture products that make an impact on a room's sixth wall: the ceiling.

From bright copper coffered to warm wooden timbers, ceilings should emulate and complement the design elements in a home, says Lori Rowley, marketing manager of Armstrong Residential Ceilings, based in Lancaster, Pa. "People spend so much time in a house sitting and lying down that homeowners are realizing they don't have to stop decorating with just the walls and flooring," she says. "A top-notch ceiling design can bring drama or help create a light mood in a room."

Usually, ceiling standards are at least 8 feet in height, but can have vaulted details that reach up to 12 feet tall. In general, the lighter in color a ceiling is, the more open and airy a room will feel. By contrast, dark colored ceilings can make a room feel smaller and cozier.

In many homes, ceilings are blank canvases that can be decoratively painted or paneled, with a unified design aesthetic that is pleasing to the eye from top to bottom. Ceiling design is first dictated by the existing architecture, which can include a curved cove, vaulted cathedral or a recessed tray ceiling, which breaks up a flat ceiling with an inverted or recessed rectangle as a focal point.

For some, transforming an unappealing ceiling is as easy as choosing a complementary paint color to the walls, papering the ceiling with wallcovering or adding fine details, such as stenciling and crown moldings. But for other homeowners, dressing up a textured topper is a ceiling challenge.

"People want to get rid of their 1970s textured ceilings that were sprayed with particles, which resemble popcorn," Rowley says. "You don't have to scrape and paint a ceiling, when you can cover it with decorative tiles."

Armstrong has patented an "Easy Up" ceiling system, which is a suspension system for ceiling tiles that uses metal tracks secured into a home's joists. Tiles or planks are then clipped onto these metal tracks and interlocked together, which are floated right beneath the existing ceiling.

But Rowley cautions that a ceiling should be structurally sound before installing decorative tiles over it. "Ceiling tiles shouldn't be used as a 'Band-Aid' for ongoing water damage or falling plaster," she says. "You can't cover up a ceiling that's coming down."

The use of ceiling tiles is nothing new in America, when tin varieties rose to popularity around the turn of the 20th century. Today's use of ceiling tiles is topping out in below-grade applications as more homeowners use basements for media rooms, bars and "man caves."

Here are some options that will decoratively put your ceiling over the top:

-- Tin Ceiling. Traditionally, uniform shapes of thin tin were stamped with a design and snugly meshed together. For those who want their home to emulate Craftsman- or Tudor-style houses, Armstrong has the Metallaire decorative tile collection that features white, brass, warm copper-plated or reflective chrome-plated finishes. Up to $9.50 per square foot, these ceiling tiles can be used above a bar or kitchen island to create a "wow" effect.

-- Coffered Ceiling. This architectural finish is found in the stone coffers of ancient Greece. Characterized most often in square sunken panels, these ceiling tiles have a modern look that adds a sense of height to a room, says Rowley. Armstrong's decorative "mineral fiber" tiles top out at $3 per square foot and can be painted.

-- Wood Panel Ceiling. Wooden planks are precisely cut and installed side-by-side to adorn high flat or vaulted ceilings. Creating an elegant or cozy cottage feel, Armstrong's engineered pre-stained wood planks have tongue-and-groove construction and cost around $3.30 per square foot.

When choosing a decorative effect for the ceiling, also take into account the style and placement of light fixtures. From recessed cans to grand chandeliers, you can illuminate the ceiling's design by getting the light right. As a rule, the darker the ceiling, the more light you will need in the space.

In a home's great room, where the kitchen, dining room and family room share a continuous ceiling, it may be overkill to tile or panel the entire space. Instead, Rowley suggests using decorative techniques above the table or kitchen island, set off by crown molding, to create a focal point that tops it all.

"Homeowners are becoming more aware of the design possibilities of ceilings, because they are looking up," Rowley says. "People want their personal style reflected on the sixth wall of a room, because they want to live within a space, not in a box."

SOURCE

Looking up: www.armstrong.com/residential-ceilings

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)