Make your dining room a comfortable and elegant place to dine.
(photo: Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images)

Before the table can be set, the cuisine savored, and the conversation relished, a host must create a dining room conducive for such appetites. The quintessential dining space provides a comfortable yet accessible environment according to Cindy Young, owner of Decorating Den Interiors in San Francisco. With a few key additions, any formal dining room can become a great dining room.

Light, Color and Practicality Must Be Served in a Dining Room Plan

Lighting

Soft, warm lighting begins with a semi-transparent valence.
(photo: Getty Images)

Dining rooms should be comfortable spaces, and lighting is an important element to consider.

“Lighting is really key for creating an intimate dining setting,” Young said. “You want to incorporate soft, warm light.”

If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, Young said it should be lit for the party. If you don't have a fireplace, put floor lamps around the dining space. Some buffet lights and candles for the tabletop may also give the area some mood lighting.

“You want to establish light around the room for levels and layers of light,” Young said.

Two chandeliers, particularly those that can provide incandescent illumination, are superior choices for overhead lighting, said Ivette Arango, owner of Ivette Arango Design Inc. in Miami.

Arango strongly suggests overhead lighting with a dimming option. That option can create the perfect lighting at any time of day.

Deep Colors

Striped upholstery on chairs adds luxury and
style to a dining space.(photo: Getty Images)

You want to give your guests the sensation of dining in a rich environment. Arango said striped fabrics and luxurious brocades create a sense of opulence. She recommends maintaining a color scheme and aesthetic consistent with the rest of your home, but leaning toward warm, dark colors in the dining room.

Young agrees. She advises people to avoid cooler shades.

“Stay away from blues, because psychologically people associate them with mold,” she said. “Stay away from deep, cool colors and stick to your reds and your yellows.”

She suggests that those with bold tastes fuse metallic accents into the color scheme.

“Add fabrics or window treatments that have sheen or shimmer," she said. "One-hundred percent silk is good for that.”

If you utterly love cool colors and plan to use them no matter what, Young recommends gray and silver. They can form an “elegant and classic” color palette.

“The main thing is you want a dining space to feel relaxed and enjoyable … so you don’t want anything overwhelming to the eye,” she said. “Avoid a lot of contrasting colors.”

Table and Chairs

Mixing the style aesthetic of your chairs and table
make for a modern look. (photo: Getty Images)

Experts have a hard time advising people on dining room furniture because the size of the area is a major factor in which table shape is best for the room.

"It really depends on the size of the room and your goals for entertaining,” Young said.

Both designers said round tables are generally better for small dining rooms. Additionally, a round table creates a greater sense of openness, whereas a rectangular table lends a more formal air.

“Round tables are more inviting to talking; people are more on the same level,” Arango said. “Usually, with a round table you see faces better, you talk better.”

Ideally, there should be 2 feet of space for each of your diners. For a round table, that space should be at least 8 feet wide.

The designers recommend incorporating some sort of furniture that complements the table and chairs. Some options include a credenza, china cabinet or serving board.

“That way, you can have the coffee or dessert at hand but not have everything on top of the table. It makes serving easier,” Arango said.

At all costs, avoid creating a cluttered space that is cumbersome to guests sitting down or getting up from the table.

Accents

Arango and Young say unequivocally that a few extras can help make a dining room perfect. A well-placed mirror will open up a small dining space and accentuate the lighting. If mirrors are not your thing, Young suggests adding tasteful yet unique artwork to provide the space character.

“You need something special for any room,” she said. “Add photographs or art that is special to you and your family and that can be a conversation starter.”

Another smart choice is hardwood, tile or marble flooring with an area rug. A hard-surface floor is easier to clean, and the rug gives the room an extra bit of charm.

“Plus, (the rug) gives you more flexibility in redesigning the space,” Young said.

She suggests a square area rug under a round dining table “to give some shape variability differential to the eye.”

Young said there should be 30 inches of space behind each chair. That should give the chair enough sliding room so it does not come off the carpet.


Source: eHow
Author:Jaime Guillet

Detoxifying your body rids it of harmful substances that accumulate within the body over time. Once you decide to remove fast foods, sugar, pork, red meats and junk foods from your diet, there are other beneficial foods that will aid your body's detoxification process.
Detoxification involves increasing your fluid intake, cleaning out your gastrointestinal tract and eating foods that will stimulate your liver's functions to further detoxify your body.



Hydrate Your Body

Drink plenty of water and other fluids. The water will oxygenate your body down to the cellular level, forcing cellular debris out and into the bloodstream, for excretion.

With the exception of caffeine and sugar drinks, you can choose from fresh fruit and vegetable juices, as well as store-bought drinks. If plain water is not appealing, try drinking it as an herbal tea. Many herbal teas have detoxifying properties. Green tea is an excellent choice for detoxification because it stimulates the liver's cleansing processes.

Fruits and Leafy Vegetables

Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits. Chlorophyll naturally breaks down toxins. Both fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that aid the body's detoxification.


Lemons

Lemons are a natural cleanser, both within the body and for the environment. Lemons contain vitamin C, which is a detoxifying vitamin. It helps to dissolve harmful substances, making it easier for the body to expel them from the body.

Watercress

Watercress leaves and bulbs are a natural diuretic. As you consume more fluids during the detoxification, this diuretic will help to move the harmful toxins through and out of our system.

Liver Stimulators

Garlic, sesame seeds and cabbage all stimulate the liver's detoxification functions. Garlic and cabbage both activate the enzymes produced by the liver, to stimulate the detoxification process. Sesame seeds act as a liver-cell protectant to prevent damage to the liver cells, so that it can continue to function as the body's detoxification center.

Psyllium

For many centuries, psyllium has been used in natural detoxification. It produces a highly-soluble fiber that swells up within the gastrointestinal tract when it is consumed with fluids. It then scrubs the internal walls of the stomach, small intestine and colon, acting as a trapping agent for debris along the way. Its action also opens up the pores within the large intestinal walls, stimulating the liver's activities to detoxify the body further.

Warning

Consult your doctor or health care professional before embarking upon a detoxification process. Discuss the food options and the best methods of approaching how to clean out your body's systems. Make sure that your liver, GI tract, heart and other organs are healthy enough to undergo detoxification.

Source: eHow
Author:Naima Manal

How to Dress for a Cocktail Reception

A cocktail reception is a party where the host provides hors d'oeuvres instead of a sit-down dinner, and guests mingle and drink. Cocktail wedding receptions are popular for less formal weddings and are less expensive than traditional receptions. Businesses also hold cocktail receptions for corporate events. Additionally, cocktail receptions may be part of a book launch, an art gallery opening or museum event. While cocktail receptions are not as formal as black tie or green tie in terms of dress, they are not casual dress events.

Instructions

1. Put on cocktail attire. For women, cocktail attire means a cocktail-length dress. This is a mid-length dress that can be anywhere from a few inches above the ankles to above the knees. Dresses for cocktail receptions should be “elegant and chic,” according to the Wedding Channel. For men, cocktail attire translates to a suit. Tuxedos are not appropriate, but a fashionable suit is preferred to a traditional business suit.
2. Accessorize for a cocktail reception. Women should wear jewelry that flatters their dress. Do not go overboard with accessories; choose one or two items that work well. A good purse that women can carry while they hold a drink is essential. Men should wear a tie that suits a celebration. Consider purchasing a tie especially for the occasion.
3. Wear the right shoes. Dress shoes are the only appropriate shoes for either gender. Women may wear dress flats or heels. Because you will spend a great deal of time at the cocktail party on your feet, you should consider comfort when selecting your shoes. Men should coordinate their dress shoes with their suits. For example, black suit and brown shoes do not coordinate.
4. Style yourself appropriately. Cocktail receptions are events where everyone should look polished. Men and women should style their hair with care. If you normally have a messy or relaxed look for your hair, this is the occasion for you to spend a little extra time. Likewise, women can go for a more colorful, festive look for their makeup when attending a cocktail reception.

Source: eHow
Author:K.C. Winslow