When the summer's heat has you trapped indoors, you may be looking around the house wondering if your home is party-ready. For a little design inspiration, look no further than EYA's award-winning model homes to discover your next great decorating project.
Start by exploring countless photos of model homes at EYA's Flickr site and view a variety of styles to get your creative juices flowing. You'll find ideas on unique color combinations, accessories, artsy ways to display your favorite framed photos and furniture arrangements that make the most of urban spaces.
If painting is in your future, perhaps the best tool on the web is Sherwin Williams' Color Visualizer, which allows you to upload photos of your home and apply a variety of color palettes. As always, though, don't simply rely on the images you see online. Pick up some sample paints at a local store and test them on your walls at home to see how the light reflects. It'll help you pick the shade that's just right.
Another great resource is this blog, which features a photo-rich collection of design ideas for every room, occassion and budget. The author also provides a pretty robust list of other design resources and websites.
Certainly the most exciting part of owning a new home is decorating it! We hope you find these tools helpful. Happy designing!