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May 31, 2006
About Curtain Fabrics
Curtain fabrics can evoke so many different things, depending upon its type. Certainly, brocades and tapestries are rich; velvets and wools are make a room feel warm, where lace and cottons give a light and airy feel. Whatever the fabric, it should be of good quality so that the curtain will drape smoothly, pleat well, and have more body. Yarn quality depends on how tightly it is spun, how many strands of fiber are used, and the length of the fiber.
The more you know about how a particular is is made, the fiber content of its yarn, how the cloth was dyed, and they it has been treated with a special finish will help you to select the right one for your window treatment.
The weight of a fabric also contributes to overall effect of a window treatment. And that sheers soften the shape of treatment and allow in light, while opaque fabrics give an arrangement form and add warmth to a room? Patterned fabrics do affect the way you see the proportions of a room.
Purchase samples, which will only cost a few dollars or they can be free. After you've checked how the samples look in at what you have had in the past in your home, it will give you a better idea about your choices.
Heavyweight fabrics, such as brocades and velvets whether they are light or dark in color, create feeling and keep out the sun.
More about window treatments can be found on this page.
There is a difference between decorator fabrics and clothing fabrics. Decorator fabrics have a higher thread count and are more tightly woven, so they will hold up better. Most are 54 inches wide, whereas garment fabrics are 45 inches wide. The wider the fabric, the less yardage you'll make your window treatment. But decorator fabrics are more expensive and so you may not notice any savings.
To make fabric, yarns are then woven on a loom. Yarns used lengthwise on the loom are called warp; yarns that run widthwise are called weft. The same type of yarn can be made into a number of different weaves. For example, cotton can be woven into a damask or a canvas. For a plain weave, the yarns are alternated over and under each other, from side to side, and from top to bottom. This is the most common type of weave.
A basket weave uses two yarn for each row in a plain pattern. A twill weave results ringbone pattern. A satin weave has a shiny smooth surface. A pile produces loops that are then ate a soft surface; velvet is a good example of this weave. A Jacquard weave requires a special loom do combinations of weaves, plain, twill, and satin.
Mixing patterns can be intimidating, in part because it's subject to experimentation, judgment, and "eye." responding to this fear, manufacturers provide an abundance of coordinated fabric collections, available through in-store design services.
Such collections selected by professionals, can save you a lot of legwork and still leave scope for your own input. If you prefer to mix your patterns, try to match the scale of the pattern to that area over which it is to be used.
The general rule is to use large prints on the largest parts of a window treatment such as the curtain panel; medium prints on medium pieces, such as a cornice or a valance; and small prints on accent pieces, such as borders.
To experiment with mixing patterns, start simply. Geometric patterns often mix well together, stripes with checks, plaids or dots. It is always easier to mix patterns that contain one or more common colors or have a similar level of intensity between the prints.
A solid-color companion that pulls out a hue shared by two prints provides another connection.
Exact matches are the backbone of manufacturers' coordinated collections. But to arrive at your own personal mix, you can interpret the principle loosely and experiment to see which pattern combinations work for you. Designers develop a knack for picking eye-catching combinations—and through experimentation you will, too. Look through magazines for ideas.
Remember, however, that it is important to give your eyes a place to rest. Be sure to add a solid-color fabric or trimming into the mix, as well.
May 29, 2006
Decorative Area Rugs
People like area rugs because as a floor covering they are so easy to buy. It doesn't matter what style of furniture you have you can always find one to match,. The intricate designs of oriental rugs to the unusual shapes of some modern designs. Hand-woven area rugs for an up-scale look in dining rooms and formal living rooms to fun shapes for family rooms and bedrooms these decorative rugs are pretty useful when you want to change or break up the look in a room.
By placing an area rug on your floors you not only are adding a safety feature but you are saving wood floors and tile floors from damage. People always track in little pebbles from outside on their shoes and if you slip on these you can scratch your floor.
A decorative area rug will catch the dirt before it gets onto your floors. They come in many styles from oriental to western designs. So it will be easy to match up with your furniture and color of floor.
Another purpose of these floor coverings is as a decorative floor design when you are trying to break up the look of too much dark wood. The play rugs serve a useful purpose in childrens bedrooms. They come in many attractive styles that kids love to spend time playing on. They have many unique shapes and styles from roads to educational rugs that help your child learn. It is recommended that you use a rug pad underneath any area rug that is placed over wood floors, whether it is real wood or wood laminate.
May 24, 2006
Painting Myths
Because I am painting my home again these next few entries are going to be about painting your home.
Contrary to popular belief you can paint over oil or alkyd paint with latex paint. All you need to do is clean your walls that are to be painted with a acrylic primer, then the lateex paint can be applied. If you don't know if your walls have an oil base, go to the nearest paint store and see if they have a test kit. Or you can use methyl hydrate (gas line anti freeze for your car) or a non actone based nail polish remover.
Apply a small amountto a cotton ball and rub on the surface of the paint in question. If the surface remains shiny it is oil based if the paint color is stripped away it is latex. I have also heard if you take a small piece of paint that is peeling off and light a match to it, you can see if black smoke comes off it, which would mean a presence of oil base products.
Posted 04:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)May 20, 2006
Arobors, Trellisies and Pergolas
The material that we recommend for building any of these garden accents is cedar. For four reasons: Cedar has a natural preservative oil ehich eliminates the nee for further treatments unless the wood is in direct contact with the ground. (fence posts) It resists cracking, warping, cupping and pulling loose from fasteners. It is very light in weight, cuts cleanly and easily, with a hand saw. The richness of grain, color and texture compliment any style of architecture.
A lath arch rose arbor with its simple frame covered on three sides with a cedar lath makes a strong statement and creates a sense of something happpening further into the yard or garden. A trellis fence can provide privacy from the street and neighbors, define specila areas for outdoor living, and control sun, noise and wind. It is also ideal for growing vines and climbing flowers.
If you are building a rose arbor or gateway to your garden the width will be determines by the width of the walkway. Just be sure to measure your largest piece of patio furniture so you can leave enough room for it to get through your archway.
Cedar can be left unfinished for a rustic look, but looks much better with a clear stain applied to it, it will also last longer. Look for a stain that offers a good fungicide and ultra violet shielding from the sun.
Posted 08:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)May 19, 2006
Ceiling Light Fixtures
Most surface light fixtures come with their own mounting hardware, adaptable to any standard fixture box. Heavier types, such as ceiling fans combinations or large chandeliers may require beefier support, such as a mounting bar or J-hook. Some pendants, wall sconces, and under cabinet lights plug into a nearby receptacle.
Flush mounted fixtures, which mount directly to a housing box, provide general illumination in traffic areas such as landings, entries, and hallways. Kitchens, bathrooms, and workshops often benefit from the added light of surface mounted ceiling light fixtures used in conjunction with task lighting on work surfaces.
Models in this category range from functional frosted glass globes to delicate, decorative wall fixtures. When considering a fixture, look closely at how light bounces off the wall or ceiling to make sure it will be directed where you want it.
Chandeliers and hanging pendants add sparkle in high ceiling entryways and above dining tables and breakfast nooks. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish, these decorative fixtures can give direct or diffused light or a combination of the two. It's always a good idea to wire such fixtures to a dimmer, allowing you to fine-tune their output. Swags—chain-suspended pendants with cords and plugs offer a movable alternative.
The size of a fixture relative to its surroundings is critical. A pendant used over a table should be at least 12 inches narrower than the table to keep diners or passersby from colliding with it. In an entry, be sure to allow enough room below a chandelier to guarantee safe passage for tall people.
May 18, 2006
Fun With Molding
Here are 5 easy do it yourself ideas that will spruce up your home.
1. Make your own picture frame out of scrap molding. Use your old photos or from pictures in a magazine. Measure and cut the molding to the size of what you want frame in. Nail and glue all pieces together. Have a piece of glass cut to size. Paint the frame to match your decor and hang to display.
2. Dress up a plain dresser. If you have a large dresser or cabinet take a couple of pieces of molding and miter the corners at a 45 degree angle to make it look better. Nail the moldings around the edges to make it look like detailing. This works best when you have large doors. It works on kitchen cabinets, bi-fold closet doors and even those plain old ugly bedroom doors.
3. Oversized mirrors are todays most popular home decor item for hallways. Take some very wide baseboards, miter the corners and nail and glue together. From a glass shop, get them to cut you a mirror to size ( this is the most expensive part, but it will save you a couple of hundred dollars) Tell them you are going to glue or fasten it to a piece of 1/4 inch plywood, they will tell you the best glue to use. Attach molding to the mirror as you would a picture frame and stand it up in the hallway. You can anchor it to the wall if you feel someone might knock it over.
4. No closet in the front entrance or hallway, no problem. A 5 pin coat rack with a shelf above it will do quite nicely. Use crown molding and door casings to form a box for the shelf part and find old door knobs with the shaft still attached for the coat rack part.
5. What else can you do with old moldings, well how about using them to build your own drawer organizer. you can custom fit to what ever you think you are going to store in each particular drawer. I did this for a couple of my kitchen drawers because the ones that I bought didn't fit what I wanted to store in them. It worked great.
The point I am really trying to make here is that you can do all kinds of decorating without having to spend too much money, just use your imagination.
Posted 09:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)May 15, 2006
House painting and wallpaper
Color trends in home decorating especially house and wallpaper colors and in blinds and moldings are becoming bolder all the time. Contrast in window fashions is the common trend. This is where you need to concentrate and pick your colors for your walls or wallpaper first and then the blinds and window coverings.
Mixing black with white is a very bold and exciting choice. For the home, we see the black and white in tile, floors and in the foyer or the bathroom. Now you see that color combination in fabrics, wallpaper, and in accessories. Black and white are hot as well as bold black and white graphics. Having a white blind with a contrasted black shade or moldings can be very striking. When you mix touches of black in a colorful room, that black color is what your eyes will glance at. It becomes the transition color.
Red is another bold color when decorating a room. It ranges from a fuchsia to raspberry, from pink to lacquer-red or rose to cherry-red. It's perceived as a warm color. Many fine dining rooms are painted red because it creates warmth and a good feeling effect. Lighten the red to the deep pink and you might also love soft yellow, mixed with that pink and green.
Orange is also a popular color and can be a soft peach, ripe mango, tangerine, salmon or coral. You will find these colors in many prints from traditional to contemporary to tropical. Because orange is such a saturated color, many of you will be more comfortable using it in small doses because our eyes tire of that color first. We tend to balance this color with wood furniture and neutral earth tone colors. Color like terra cotta, sage green and creams are also nice and go well with the orange colors.
Posted 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)May 13, 2006
Wall treatments and wallpaper materials
Wallcoverings that are made of paper coated with a thin layer of vinyl, looks like paper and not vinyl, so it lends an air of sophistication to light-use areas. Even those vinyl-coated papers that are washable can stain and tear more easily than other papers with vinyl content.
Textile wall coverings come in many colors and textures, from very casual to elegantly formal. They're usually made of cotton, linen, other natural plant fibers, or polyester, often bonded to a paper-type backing. Grass cloth is a traditional favorite among textile wall coverings; its threads can be arranged vertically, horizontally, or in a woven pattern.
Hemp, another textile, is similar to grass cloth but has thinner fibers. Wall coverings made of yarn and string (really thin yarn) have been surpassing grass cloth in popularity lately because they're often easier to install. For a rugged appearance, consider burlap, usually bonded to a backing. At the other end of the spectrum are the sophisticated moire silks and wall coverings featuring a flame stitch or a pattern printed over the dyed textile.
Some textiles require liner paper underneath; many should be installed only by a skilled paperhanger. Keep in mind that most textiles fray easily and are not washable, though most will accept a spray-on stain repellent.
More about wallpaper and wall coverings can be found here.
May 11, 2006
Using lamps effectively
How to produce the effect of continuity in any room in your home with lamp sets. By lighting any room in your home using lamp sets you have the advantage of creating a feeling of stylishness and conventional beauty. Lamp that come as sets are available in a variety of models, including floor lamps, desk lamps, and table lamps.
Table lamp sets are available in a wide range of prices and styles. A four piece lamp set in antique gold costs as little as $100 and provides you with a floor lamp, two table lamps, and a desk lamp.
Four lamps will light any room in your home as a matching set, providing a pleasing look for the eye. Consider lamp sets when you needing multiple lights for one room. More light is always better and if you add a dimmer switch to a couple of them you can control the mood.
The idea behind adding more light in a living room or family room is to eliminate shadows or create them depending on the mood you are trying to get. If it is a tv room for instance you don't want bright light it makes it harder to watch tv. Conversation areas should be well lit but not to a point that you create a glare when someone is turned you way. Mos tof this can be controlled by buying different sizes of lamp shades in different colors ( go here for more information on replacement lamp shades)
May 08, 2006
Floor Tile Sizes
If you want to be creative with your floor styles then shaped tiles are for you. Squares and rectangles now join forces with rhomboids, subways, octagons, hexagons and ovals or circles. By mixing it up you create a unique looking floor that shows you creative talents.
The 4x4 inch other standard tiles are still important and should be used with all designs. Overized tiles can be used when you need a pattern for an area that won't quite fit an even number of smaller shapes, these will ellimiate a lot of cutting if you are doing it yourself. The larger tiles are usually around 18 inches square and will make an intersting pattern to mix and match.
Mini tiles like the Ann Sacks penny round Line are the size of coins and mounted on a net of backing for easy installation. Sort of like the older style 1 inch tile sheets. Cut mosiac tiles for borders and corners are even smaller than these, some being less than an inch. Most mosaics come in a wider range of colors and patterns now so if you wanted to install a matching splash guard for the counter top it is fairly easy to match the floor tile patterns and colors.
Metal tiles come in copper, pewter and stainless steel in styles ranging from contemporary to traditional. These are mainly used as accents and not for large surfaces like the floor. If you like the look of these you can cut your costs in half by using metal glazed tiles instead of the real deal. You won't be able to tell the difference once the job is completed.
Posted 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)May 05, 2006
Home Air Cleaners
If you want a portable air cleaner, there are two kinds of cleaners on the market - small tabletop units and larger console units that can be moved from room to room. Small tabletop units will not provide many benefits in a large room but are ideal for small office areas if your work at home. Room sized air cleaners provide better cleaning in any room but not as much as an air cleaner designed for your whole house.
What your need to look for in portable air cleaners include is the clean air delivery rate, which is based on removal of smoke, dust, and pollen particles. The CADR refers to the amount of cubic feet of clean air delivered per minute.
The standard filter you use in your furnace is not designed to remove fine particles or all the dust. Use a replacement filter made of a pleated, paper like material to increase the efficiency or your furnace. They are easily purchased from hardware stores and are inexpensive, and provide modest, but improved filtering capability. These filters will block air flow as they accumulate dust, so they will need to be regularly checked and replaced every few months during operation (they only filter the air while the blower is operating). Some of these filters are made of a charged material (electret) to enhance particle capture.
Using a vacuum cleaner a lot just doesn't cut it. The air that is sucked up by the vacuum is blown back into the room, with a small amount of dust. In most cases it is the smallest of dust particles that are re-circulated into the air, that give allergy and asthma sufferers the most problems.
Posted 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)May 04, 2006
What's Hot This Summer
What's hot for this season, offset patio umbrellas!
How many times have you had to twist and turn to talk to someone on the other side of you patio table, because the umbrella sticking in the middle was getting in your way. Or had to keep adjusting the angle because everytime the sun moved it took away your shading.
Not anymore, off set patio umbrellas are just the accesssroy you need for your patio furniture. They stand off from the table so they don't get in the way. You can easily walk around your table and chairs, plus have a full view of every one seated, they also allow you to have more dining space available.
Off set styles have many benefits that make them unique for your deck or patio. 1) no pole in the way so you can see the person you are talking to. 2) rotate 360 degrees to follow the sun 3)the best as hot tub shades. Can be placed right over top. These are just few benefits and there are more.
Posted 08:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)