by: Jesse Akre
If you are looking for furniture that is looking out for you, you should stick to the category of bedroom furniture.
The key to modern bedroom furniture is function over form. While this may not mean much to you as a saying, when it comes to certain bedroom conditions, the simplicity of modern bedroom furniture offers an ability to get around without too much trouble.
While you know where things are in your bedroom when the lights are on, how well can you negotiate the space when the lights are out? This same space can seem like a totally different location without illumination. When the lights are out all that furniture can become the evil enemy.
Consider this scenario. You have to go to work very early, before the sun comes up, and your spouse is sleeping. While you don’t want to wake them up, you need to get around the room and get yourself ready for work.
While you could do a little pre-planning, and have your clothing set out before you leave, you still have to get around the room to get to the bathroom and make your final arrangements to get out the door.
The furniture you have put into your room and where you have put it will make a major difference in how easy or painful this process can be.
First, let's set this scenario in a room with fancy Victorian furniture. The tables, chairs and other pieces in the room have sweeping cabriolet legs, fancy edges, and are larger than life. From the time you get out of the bed, your mind makes sense of where things should fit in the room but the first thing you notice is that the leg on your nightstand curves outwards, because you have slammed your shin into it. Next, you move towards the dresser. Simultaneously your stomach hits that fancy, outstretched corner of the dresser top, and your toe stumps into that protruding claw foot. While you may not have turned on the lights, you will still likely wake up your spouse when you cry out in pain.
Now, let's offer this same scenario once again, but this time with modern bedroom furniture. When you get out of the bed, your shin will stay intact, as the legs on a modern night table would never stick out. They will be exactly where they belong, under the table, holding it up. Next, move on to the dresser. Your hand will find the top of the dresser before the rest of your body finds the protruding pieces, because there are no protruding pieces.
Modern bedroom furniture pieces were created to be just the right size to do their job, and not to have any excess material that you don't need. When you are negotiating a room in the dark, this means there really is more floor space to make your way around, and less of an opportunity to cause any damage to your body in collisions with any pieces of the furniture.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Custom Rugs and Carpets: 8 Tips Before You Buy
by: Russell Webb
Buying a custom ordered product always has a small amount of risk involved. After all, most custom products require the buyer to take a leap of faith because they are going to buy something sight unseen. This does apply to custom rug making as well. You can minimize the risks by educating yourself and prepare yourself with proper planning.
Here are 8 important tips before you commit to buying:
Tip #1: Research the available custom rug fabricators in your local area or go online. Look for quality and professionalism. Do they have experience? Do they have designs to choose from? Do they have a portfolio that you can look at?
Tip #2: Identify a budget for your rug project. If your budget is tight, then maybe ordering a custom rug isn't realistic at this time. If you can afford to spend extra for something unique and custom then you may be looking at $500-1000 for smaller size rugs, $1000-5,000 for larger sizes - depending on size and complexity, costs can escalate even further as rugs get larger. If you're ordering multiple rugs then politely demand a package price discount!
Tip#3: Get design ideas online by visiting area rug sites. If you find a design that you like, then try and capture the largest image that you can. You can 'right click' the image with your mouse and 'save image as' into a folder on your desktop. Start a collection of inspiring ideas.
Tip#4: Consider how the rug will integrate into your interior. Do you have a fabric or theme that you can play from? Do you have a style that appeals to you; some current styles might be Old World, Modern, Tropical, Southwestern, Abstract, or even Whimsical.
Tip #5: Several rugs can tie-in together from room to room. They don't have to be all the same design. Consider reversing some of the colors or changing the design elements slightly. This is a great method for integrating multiple custom rugs within the home.
Tip #6: Stay clear of overly complex designs. If you want to match that busy Persian rug design in your living room, then you're better off looking for a Persian rug supplier, not a custom rug fabricator.
Tip #7: Share your favorite designs with your rug fabricator. Discuss options for integrating your ideas into your own custom rug. Ask for an estimate in writing on your proposed design. Expect to pay extra for any additional artwork that may be required.
Tip #8: Choose your colors direct from carpet swatches. It's fine to see the final artwork on your screen monitor, however, screen monitors and printouts vary. Your final decision should be based on exact materials that will be used in your rug. Have swatches shipped to you for final approval if you are ordering from a merchant online.
General rug production times should be around 4-6 weeks, depending on complexity and quantities ordered. This is an average turn around time for custom rug fabricators.
As you can see, custom rug fabrication has some interesting benefits to consider. It's not for everybody, yet the creative possibilities are endless and the interest in customizing our home interiors is more popular than ever.
Here's a quick summary of the tips: Determine a budget for your rug purchase. Integrate the designs with your existing interior. Find designs and themes that attract you. Stay clear of overly complex designs. Get an estimate of the proposed design. Choose colors from physical swatch samples.
You can be creative and you can have fun with the whole process. The key is to have a clear picture of the proposed design before buying, which is not that hard to do. The end result should be a beautiful addition to your home interior in the exact size and colors that you need.
Buying a custom ordered product always has a small amount of risk involved. After all, most custom products require the buyer to take a leap of faith because they are going to buy something sight unseen. This does apply to custom rug making as well. You can minimize the risks by educating yourself and prepare yourself with proper planning.
Here are 8 important tips before you commit to buying:
Tip #1: Research the available custom rug fabricators in your local area or go online. Look for quality and professionalism. Do they have experience? Do they have designs to choose from? Do they have a portfolio that you can look at?
Tip #2: Identify a budget for your rug project. If your budget is tight, then maybe ordering a custom rug isn't realistic at this time. If you can afford to spend extra for something unique and custom then you may be looking at $500-1000 for smaller size rugs, $1000-5,000 for larger sizes - depending on size and complexity, costs can escalate even further as rugs get larger. If you're ordering multiple rugs then politely demand a package price discount!
Tip#3: Get design ideas online by visiting area rug sites. If you find a design that you like, then try and capture the largest image that you can. You can 'right click' the image with your mouse and 'save image as' into a folder on your desktop. Start a collection of inspiring ideas.
Tip#4: Consider how the rug will integrate into your interior. Do you have a fabric or theme that you can play from? Do you have a style that appeals to you; some current styles might be Old World, Modern, Tropical, Southwestern, Abstract, or even Whimsical.
Tip #5: Several rugs can tie-in together from room to room. They don't have to be all the same design. Consider reversing some of the colors or changing the design elements slightly. This is a great method for integrating multiple custom rugs within the home.
Tip #6: Stay clear of overly complex designs. If you want to match that busy Persian rug design in your living room, then you're better off looking for a Persian rug supplier, not a custom rug fabricator.
Tip #7: Share your favorite designs with your rug fabricator. Discuss options for integrating your ideas into your own custom rug. Ask for an estimate in writing on your proposed design. Expect to pay extra for any additional artwork that may be required.
Tip #8: Choose your colors direct from carpet swatches. It's fine to see the final artwork on your screen monitor, however, screen monitors and printouts vary. Your final decision should be based on exact materials that will be used in your rug. Have swatches shipped to you for final approval if you are ordering from a merchant online.
General rug production times should be around 4-6 weeks, depending on complexity and quantities ordered. This is an average turn around time for custom rug fabricators.
As you can see, custom rug fabrication has some interesting benefits to consider. It's not for everybody, yet the creative possibilities are endless and the interest in customizing our home interiors is more popular than ever.
Here's a quick summary of the tips: Determine a budget for your rug purchase. Integrate the designs with your existing interior. Find designs and themes that attract you. Stay clear of overly complex designs. Get an estimate of the proposed design. Choose colors from physical swatch samples.
You can be creative and you can have fun with the whole process. The key is to have a clear picture of the proposed design before buying, which is not that hard to do. The end result should be a beautiful addition to your home interior in the exact size and colors that you need.
Decorating your home with Tiffany lamps
by: Des Smalls
Iridescent stained glass…beautiful designs…deep, rich colors…these are some of the ways to describe the ever popular Tiffany lamps that bring unique beauty into our homes. Tiffany lamps have had their very own style through the years. They attractively adorned homes during the seventies and still do the same today. These brightly colored lamps add an unexpected dimension to any décor.
Created and designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, these lamps can be used in any or every room of your home to create a warm and inviting atmosphere to your home. Unlike his father who was in the jewelry business, Louis Comfort Tiffany desired to bring beauty into the home and Tiffany lamps were the stunning result of his creativity. Tiffany loved the rich jewel colors of blood red and blues found in the Byzantium mosaics. He was able to find a way of adding the color to his glass (so it was actually in the glass) instead of having to paint it on at the end. He began by using discarded glass pieces from stained glass panels to create unique designs. The Tiffany lampshades were then created by fitting hand cut glass pieces into copper foil enclosures. Since copper is very strong, Tiffany was able to design unusual and beautiful shades for his lamps.
Tiffany ceiling lights are excellent for lighting up an entire room. Tiffany lamps come in all sizes as well. Lamps for the bedside table, desks, buffets, and even wall sconces are available. There are even styles of Tiffany billiard lights that conveniently hang above your billiard table and look classy at the same time. Tiffany floor lamps are perfect for those spaces that are smaller, but need a good light source. Tiffany chandeliers add instant elegance to any dining area. Wisteria blossoms, lily designs, the sun and moon, dragonflies and peacock feathers are designs often found in Tiffany lamps and can be matched to country décor or a more elegant home design. During the daylight hours, a Tiffany lamp serves as an ornamental piece, but at night it adds warmth and a bit of magic to your home. At night, a Tiffany lamp can reflect diamond shaped or coin shaped designs against your wall, adding a coziness to the room. Reading by a Tiffany lamp is wonderful since they have a bright, yet soft, light. Many Tiffany lamps have stylish lamp bases that are curved like a swan’s neck or remind you of a flower stem. Simpler lamp bases are often made fashioned with a mahogany bronze finish to further compliment the hues of greens, plum violet, merlot, and gold in many of the tiffany lampshades. Wrought iron is another stunning accent to some Tiffany lamps.
Tiffany lamps can be placed in a kitchen, a recreation room, a dining room, a bedroom, a living room or even a bathroom and each area will appear more inviting. Tiffany lamps add a touch of elegance and class to any home’s décor and can match just about any color scheme.
Iridescent stained glass…beautiful designs…deep, rich colors…these are some of the ways to describe the ever popular Tiffany lamps that bring unique beauty into our homes. Tiffany lamps have had their very own style through the years. They attractively adorned homes during the seventies and still do the same today. These brightly colored lamps add an unexpected dimension to any décor.
Created and designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, these lamps can be used in any or every room of your home to create a warm and inviting atmosphere to your home. Unlike his father who was in the jewelry business, Louis Comfort Tiffany desired to bring beauty into the home and Tiffany lamps were the stunning result of his creativity. Tiffany loved the rich jewel colors of blood red and blues found in the Byzantium mosaics. He was able to find a way of adding the color to his glass (so it was actually in the glass) instead of having to paint it on at the end. He began by using discarded glass pieces from stained glass panels to create unique designs. The Tiffany lampshades were then created by fitting hand cut glass pieces into copper foil enclosures. Since copper is very strong, Tiffany was able to design unusual and beautiful shades for his lamps.
Tiffany ceiling lights are excellent for lighting up an entire room. Tiffany lamps come in all sizes as well. Lamps for the bedside table, desks, buffets, and even wall sconces are available. There are even styles of Tiffany billiard lights that conveniently hang above your billiard table and look classy at the same time. Tiffany floor lamps are perfect for those spaces that are smaller, but need a good light source. Tiffany chandeliers add instant elegance to any dining area. Wisteria blossoms, lily designs, the sun and moon, dragonflies and peacock feathers are designs often found in Tiffany lamps and can be matched to country décor or a more elegant home design. During the daylight hours, a Tiffany lamp serves as an ornamental piece, but at night it adds warmth and a bit of magic to your home. At night, a Tiffany lamp can reflect diamond shaped or coin shaped designs against your wall, adding a coziness to the room. Reading by a Tiffany lamp is wonderful since they have a bright, yet soft, light. Many Tiffany lamps have stylish lamp bases that are curved like a swan’s neck or remind you of a flower stem. Simpler lamp bases are often made fashioned with a mahogany bronze finish to further compliment the hues of greens, plum violet, merlot, and gold in many of the tiffany lampshades. Wrought iron is another stunning accent to some Tiffany lamps.
Tiffany lamps can be placed in a kitchen, a recreation room, a dining room, a bedroom, a living room or even a bathroom and each area will appear more inviting. Tiffany lamps add a touch of elegance and class to any home’s décor and can match just about any color scheme.
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