Old World painting techniques can lead to a stroke of sophistication in modern-day homes.

Jennifer Bertrand, artist and HGTV Design Star season three winner is spreading the ancient ways of plastering and painting walls into 21st-century homes.

"When we talk about painting techniques on walls, many wrongly think of the 1990s, when people were applying paints and glazes using sponges, rags and plastic bags," says the Olathe, Kansas, based designer. "I grew up in Europe, and fine decorative painting techniques that never go out of style can transform two-dimensional walls into three-dimensional surfaces, which bring a room to life."

Gold-leafing and fresco painting (mixing color pigments into wet plaster) are techniques Bertrand used in a new construction home built to bring the Old World feel of a Tuscan villa to the Midwest.

The Tuscan-style farmhouse with a richly layered, casual appeal is especially prevalent in the kitchen. Fine painting techniques radiate from the heart of the home onto plastered walls in saturated earth tones.

Plaster starts as a dry powder and is a mixture of natural ingredients -- most commonly clay, lime or gypsum -- that when mixed with water becomes a paste, which can be applied to an existing wall in layers. Natural pigments can be added into the plaster mixture, which makes the color permanent and part of the wall.

The home's plaster piece de resistance is located on the curvilinear wall in the dining room. Bertrand's hand-painted map of Italy is modeled after painted images in the Gallery of Maps room in the Vatican Museum. While the sandstone-colored plaster was still wet, Bertrand added green and blue pigments to color-block the land and sea. Personal touches were added with acrylic paints and dazzling detailed gold-leaf work.

It is befitting that Venetian plaster covers many of the walls in this Tuscan-inspired home, since it was the Italians -- most notably those from Venice -- who elevated plastering techniques to an art form. Venetian plaster is extremely strong and durable, with added color pigments that become part of the wall as it dries. The wet plaster -- mostly comprised of lime -- reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air, which turns it back to stone as it dries.

The home's music room really sings with inspiration from the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence, Italy, with trompe-l'oeil depictions of lemon trees in each corner. French for "deceive the eye," trompe-l'oeil is a painting technique that seeks to create realistic imagery.

Without painting herself into a corner with wall-to-wall projects, Bertrand and her husband, Chris, also decoratively distressed and painted cabinets for finer touches. A new range hood has Old World appeal in a Mediterranean tile motif with a painted patina.

"While there is an artisan skill set needed to decoratively paint in a home, you don't have to necessarily go big and bold," Bertrand says. "A limewash or whitewash on walls can bring a coastal calm into your home that has an underlying tone of luxe and more contemporary appeal."

As a homeowner, one of the most difficult tasks may be painting a picture of your decorative vision to an artist, says Sheryl Born, spokeswoman for the Society of Decorative Painters, based in Wichita, Kansas. Since the society's inception in the 1970s, it now has 11,000 decoratively painting members all over the world.

Born says one of the first steps can be to find an artist with your same sensibilities at a local chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters. "Ask for references, see examples of an artist's work and -- because every artist works differently -- put together a budget and ask for an estimate in writing," Born says. "Novices can even take decorative painting classes and try their hand at expressing themselves in their home."

Bertrand warns homeowners against painting a rosy picture on how easy decorative painting can be. "I love when homeowners are vested and want to do things themselves, but -- especially if it's a DIY project -- start small with a cabinet or piece of furniture," she says. "Don't be afraid to layer on multiple colors to add texture when painting. There's no depth to a wall that has sponge imprints in a single color, which just leads us back to the forgettable faux of the '90s again."

Strokes of Creativity

-- www.JenniferBertrand.com

-- Society of Decorative Painters, www.DecorativePainters.org, search "Chapters" for a nearby location.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Put to bed any angst you may have surrounding your bedroom by paying attention to your sleeping space.

Homeowners can have a suite setup in the bedroom, regardless of its size, says Rebecca Gray, merchandising vice president of the Omaha-based Hayneedle Inc., a decade-old online home store.

"A bedroom is the place we are supposed to be spending at least one-third of our day -- or eight hours," she says. "The restorative qualities of sleep can be linked to how peaceful and relaxing the bedroom is."

Whether you're outfitting a new bedroom or giving your tired decor a lift, Gray says to start with a clean slate for sleep. "Get rid of the unused exercise equipment in the corner and the leaning tower of magazines on the nightstand," Gray says. "Really look at the room and envision where you see yourself wanting to wake up every morning."

Take dimensions of the room and plot out furniture placement before buying anything. It's better to figuratively sleep on it and take your time before purchasing bedroom furniture, making sure you have a clearance of at least three feet to walk around the bed.

The bed is the obvious centerpiece of every bedroom. But with so many options available, know that after you've made your bed purchase, you'll have to lie in it -- whether or not it really fits the space.

"It's easy to see a bedroom set online or on the showroom floor, and fall in love with the look," Gray says. "Before purchasing the bed, know the dimensions of the room. A California king-sized or canopied bed may not be the best fit for a bedroom in a 1930s bungalow, which has smaller rooms and lower ceilings."

The style of your bedroom furniture can range from cottage to contemporary to traditional to transitional, but its look should complement your entire home's design aesthetic. Gray says platform beds are popular for their modern, clean lines and are also stylish sleepers that age well. "A platform bed has a lower profile because it doesn't require a box spring," she says. "Because you don't have to climb into it, a platform bed may allow people to age-in-place easier."

Gray also says people are refreshing their existing bedroom sets by painting furniture a new color or applying a decorative finish to solid wood pieces. But, in order to fully appreciate a bedroom, you have to invest in a mattress that supports quality sleep. "Finding a mattress that fits you is very personal," she says. "A standard rule of thumb is to replace a good quality mattress every 10 to 15 years."

Before bringing a bed into the room, take the opportunity to refresh the six walls that will surround you. "Painting walls in soft, muted colors sets the stage for relaxation," Gray says. "Wallpaper and wall decals are also popular, and only require being hung on one wall to create interest and a focal point in the room."

Since much of your time in the bedroom is spent lying down and looking up at the ceiling, consider decoratively painting the fifth wall and installing a hanging light fixture that dims to create visual interest. Make your bedroom cozy from the ground up by installing new carpeting or an area rug, which sets the stage for a warm feeling underfoot.

Add nightstands and dressers that complement the design aesthetic of the bed without crowding the bedroom blueprint. "It's also important to make a space to sit down in the bedroom, whether it's a side chair or a bench at the base of the bed," Gray says.

Furniture is often the neutral hardware for the bedroom, so look to linens to showcase a softer side. A colorful comforter, decorative throw pillows and window treatments can enliven a dozy design. Artwork should reflect your personal style, and -- whether it's abstract or a still life -- the colors and subject should be harmonious with the overall bedroom design.

Next to the bed, a nightstand is an essential piece of furniture. Create a clutter-free zone and shed light on the bedroom design having a lamp on the nightstand that makes a stylish statement. The nightstand might also have a great book, a small vase of flowers and a place to house electronics. "People retire to their bedroom and they often bring work into bed with them," Gray says. "The key is to have a place to put those handheld devices away, so they don't over-stimulate you before going to sleep."

While the master bedroom should be calm and sleep inducing, its design shouldn't be a yawner. "How you fall asleep and wake up sets the tone for the day," Gray says. "The bedroom should be a personalized space of beauty, so you can focus on your beauty sleep."

More Information

Bedroom Bliss: Hayneedle.com, search "bedroom" or call 888-880-4884.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Today, creating a dorm-away-from-home requires little more than a simple college try. Many university dormitories are often more akin to collegiate cells, with white walls and institutional furniture design that doesn't always make the grade.

But now, manufacturers, designers and retailers are making it easier to adorn a dorm, despite residential rules that often forbid painting or nailing walls. Students can bring a bit of home into the dorms, says Stephanie Hayman, spokeswoman for Dormify, an online store that offers dorm accessories and design advice with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C.

"College is usually the first time an individual lives away from home, and a person's dorm room should be a personalized place to relax, study and hang out with friends," Hayman says. "A dorm room can really be a person's first home-away-from-home, and its look often gives an initial impression that reflects who you are."

The key to room-and-board bliss starts with communication between roommates before move-in weekend. Even if your roommate's style is a bit country, while you're a little bit rock 'n' roll, Hayman says you should be able to agree on the most elemental level.

"If nothing else, pick a single unifying color for your room, so it can look cohesive and put-together," she says. "On the other end of the spectrum, roommates sometimes purchase decorative items together: two reversible comforters, each bed with a different side showing and coordinated pillows."

Style doesn't have to be costly, but you need to have a plan to make a space come together. Hayman also says to coordinate who will bring the futon, minifridge and television. "Don't bring in large items unless they can be used by roommates and have a place in the space," Hayman says. "Most dorm rooms come with furniture, so you don't need to overthink that. It's what you do with the existing furniture that transforms a room."

When it comes to dorm rooms, bringing in bigger items isn't better. While the floor's square footage doesn't change, you can maximize the space you have by thinking vertically. "Use Dormify's bed risers (set of four, $19.99), to create storage space underneath the bed," Hayman says. "Or, loft your beds to put seating or a storage unit below the beds."

Good dorm design begins from the ground up. "A rug unifies a color theme and sets the stage for what's happening in the room," Hayman says. "It also helps to warm the space underfoot and absorbs sound, which is important when living in the dorms."

Many bath and bedding retailers are offering coordinated collections for the school set with free shipping or delivery directly to a dorm room. Coeds can choose from themed room collections that range from nautical to bohemian with metallic to floral accents. "While most girls are focused on how the room looks, we find that most boys are about comfort first," Hayman says.

Achieve both a good look and a good nook by placing the long side of standard-issue bed against the wall, so it can also be used as seating when piled with pillows. Solve storage problems and gain more living space by stowing the standard stand-alone dresser inside the closet.

While furniture and walls are in neutral tones, the colors of pillows and draperies enliven and soften the space. Use washi tape -- brightly colored paper tape that removes without residue -- to hang posters or artwork. Large graphic decals or temporary peel-and-stick wallpaper that adheres to walls like contact paper can become an instant focal point Also, bring life into the space by having small pots of flowers.

Shed real light on homework by not relying on an overhead fluorescent for reading. Use desk lamps to not only illuminate your work surface, but to also add a personalized, stylish accent that dresses up any dorm room.

Although it may be difficult to initially transform a dorm room into a home for the next school year, this "rented" space also offers a new lease on life. "Moving into a dorm room has never been easier, with the help of online design boards and social media contacts," Hayman says. "But nothing is a substitute for the human experience of leaving home and going to college. The friendships you make during your college years can last a lifetime -- and often those first meetings happen in dorm rooms."

Dormitory Design

-- Dormify.com, Call or Text: 413-DORMIFY (367-6439)

-- DIY Dorm Decor: Pinterest, search "dorm"

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)