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May 30, 2007
Large Floor Vases
- For more details on where to buy any of these large floor vases and a selection of glass or stone vases go here.
The green with mocha ribbing finish on the first large vase will complement any table color creating the perfect combination for your home. For a nice decorative vase to place on a coffee table or end table this piece would make a great addition.
The middle vases are made of natural woven seagrass and are finished in a dark coffee stain. The glossy black accents add a beautiful color contrast. Both of these vases have removable lids.
The third pictured group of large floor vase is made of wood and finished in a bold, red/orange rust with outstanding olive bronze details. It would go well with any color of flooring you had in your home. It comes in a set of three.
Posted 12:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)May 29, 2007
Floor screens and room dividers
Do you have a living room and a dining area all in one big room and want to section the dining room part off. Room dividing screens are made just for this purpose.
Most floor screens are metal framed with fabric panels, you can buy some panels that are wood framed. For separating the two rooms the best way is to buy a pair of 2 panel screens and place each one at both ends of the dining table with enough room to walk in-between them.
This will create a certain amount of privacy for the eating area making it look like you have two rooms, without making it look cluttered. Room dividers and screens are available in many decor styles like folding canvas room dividers, portable room dividers, wrought iron and contemporary styles.
Compare all floor screens by clicking here
This would be an ideal addition as apartment furniture, to section of the kitchen from the living room.
Home decorating idea from decormotif - room dividers - living room furniture
May 25, 2007
Buy a coffee table set
Are you still thinking about buying an area rug for the living room or family room and are now wondering whether you should change the coffee and end tables first.
This is a common decorating problem that many people face. What happens is we are now looking at the room in general and not just one specific issue. Because everything ties into each other these kinds of problems always turn up. What you need to do is pause, stand back and look at the entire room as if you had all the decorating money in the world and could add anything you want. This of course is not realistic or normally possible for most of us humans. But it will tell you what direction you should go.
There are three basic furnishings that one would normally want to change. The furniture meaning the couch and chairs, nicer looking floors and the coffee and end tables.
The floors are the easiest and cheapest, you can just add an area rug. The couch and chair is more expensive and requires more thought. The first piece of furniture that you really should change, and it will make the biggest difference in the room, is the coffee table and any side tables. These are the next cheapest furniture items that you can buy for your home after area rugs.
The best way to buy a coffee table is in a set. The reason for this is that if you buy your coffee table and side seprately and then order one later on the colors or grain of wood may not match. Plus evry so often manufacturers change up their designs a little and the one you have is not available anymore.
Personally I am a big fan of buying things in sets when I am furnishing a room or redecorating. It just makes things simpler and it's one less decision I have to make, I'am also finding it cheaper in the long run. More about square coffee tables on our main site. If you still want an area rug to place underneath them go here to living Room rugs.
Here are pictures of the three basic table designs you will want.
View details and where to buy here
View details and where to buy here
View details and where to buy here
May 23, 2007
Rugs for outside
Beautify your patio area with an outdoor rug for under the dining table or outdoor coffee table.
Concrete patio's are cold looking and not all that attractive. If you have purchased a nice patio dining set or coffee table for you deck or patio, you owe it to yourself to make this area as attractive as you can. This is where outdoor area rugs really can make a difference in the way your outdoor living area looks.
Bamboo has always been a favorite outdoors but not quite as durable as some poeple would like. Especally in the colder wetter climates. We would like to introduce your new favorite outdoor rug. Vinyl weather resistant outdoor rugs are one of the best ways to make your patio look great and stay that way even on rainy days.
The rug below is an indoor/outdoor rug. You can use it outdoors, but it would be better if you didn't leave this type out to get wet. They are better suited for covered decks or on a porch.
This one is a unique braided-textured rug design that can be used in the home as well as on outdoor porches and patios. It is made of 100% polypropylene cablelock braid with geometric features the rug is stain resistant and reversible. Sizes are : 22" x 34", 27" x 46", 42" x 66", 5' x 7', 6' x 9', 8' x 10' in patterns of Hopscotch, Frame It, Center Field, Boardwalk, or Borderline.
For other interesting designs that can be used either outside or inside gor to outdoorrugs.com
These are just samples of some of the more interesting designs that you could use outside to decorate your patio or porch area.
May 22, 2007
1950's table and chair set
Very nice chrome table and chair set that would look great in your games room or to decorate a retro 1950's kitchen. It is bery modern furniture that could also be used in a games room or small kitchen.
The three piece barstool and table set with it's chrome lefs is a very retro looking 1950's design. The black laminate table top is stain resistant and the black vinyl, padded seat cushions. Stool: 29"H (seat height) Table: 31" Diameter x 41"High. The table is normal dining height and the stools are made to fit this size. It is light enough so that if you wanted to you could carry it out to the patio for extra seating. But don't leave them outside to get wet.
This 1950's replica table and chair set can be purchased here
Or if you already have a table you can purchase the chrome barstools separately, they come in a pair. You can save 31% because they are on sale. These stools would be ideal in a kitchen that had stainless steel appliances. The stools have a nice foot ring just at the perfect height for comfortable sitting.
Buy Chrome Stools Set with Black Vinyl Seat
Buy the chrome barstool with red padded seat
Buy the Chrome Bar Stool Set with Blue padded seat
May 21, 2007
Candle lanterns for the patio
For the back patio or front deck, candle lanters in a pagoda style or one of the popular table models are one of the nicer outdoor accessories you can buy this year. Made of glass or metal these lanterns always add charm to the outdoors.
With enclosed centers to hold the candles, they are safe and you don't have to worry about accidents. For a contemporary look a simple black finish, with glass is nice. For old charm choose one of the many pressed glass lanterns that you can either hang on a post or have it sit on a railing or table.
As you can see the selection of candle lantern designs is pretty varied. The lanterns shown here are the four basic shapes. All are designed as an outdoor decor accessory that can be used anywhere in the yard.
Posted 07:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)Solar lights for gardens
Path and walkway lighting is important for security but most of us like to buy it for it's decorative value. The selection in solar lights has been rather slim in the past. I came across this design when looking for new garden lights for along my patio.
I liked the interesting dragonfly and butterfly design becasue it is so different from any of the other solar powered lights that I have seen. They add a bit more fun to my patio area and the kids really get a charge out of them at night.
This is one of the more interesting designs in outdoor lighting that we have come across. You can illuminate your garden, walkway or lawn with these enchanting butterfly and dragonfly solar powered lights. Sold as a set of two lights: one butterfly and one dragonfly. High efficiency built-in solar panel automatically charges the batteries during day light.
Each charge provides illumination for up to at least 8 hours. Low power consumption, long life LED tested to last over 10,000 hours. Also features manual on/off switch for overriding automatic functions.
Buy this set of 2 butterfly and dragonfly solar lights here
May 17, 2007
Tables for small apartments
Small dining tables for the kitchen area of your apartment
Living in a small apartment and trying to fit decorative furniture that is functional can be a frustrating experience. With so many great ideas it is hard to pick which area to buy furniture for.
Always start in the kitchen or dining area because this area is normally used and seen the most. Because your living area is quite small it must form part of your seating desing. This is where bistro tables or small counter height kitchen talbles are so useful. If you buy a set that has 4 stools you can use the extra ones as extra seating for when you have company over. Just in case you are wondering, glass top tables are the new design for this year. They match all types of decor even modern living areas.
Here are a few of the better designs. We show the dining tables and chair sets with padded chairs because they are the most comfortable for your guests. You may see that these counter height tables are referred to as tavern styled tables. This is because these tables where fashioned after these popular designs you are used to seeing in pubs.
These table and chair sets are dining height and on sale
Buy the hillsdale with padded chairs., This is a very nice table and chair set for your apartment. It has a glass top and wrought iron legs. It is a sale item and the price is reduced to $397.00 dollars from $555.dollars depending on how many chairs you buy with it.
This wooden table and stool set is priced at $295.00 dollars. It is ideal for studio apartments, that have a limited space. It is also ideal for college dorm room furniture.
More details on this wooded breakfast table This is one of the better deals if you are looking for cheap furniture, price is only $160.00. If you are looking for a table and chairs for a studio apartment this is the one to purchase online.
May 13, 2007
How to start landscaping
Always, always right down your ideas, no matter how elaborate they are. You then go and talk the people at your local garden center. Most if not all of the larger nurseries have a landscape section with qualified people working there that can tell you how to cut corners and save a few bucks.
Walk around inside your home and look at your wall colors, style of furniture and the architecture of entryways. What you are doing is looking for a common theme that blends with how your home looks from the outside. Now go to the biggest window that overlooks your backyard and try to visualize how you would like this to look. You want to view this area through a window, like you are viewing art or a landscape painting. As you where walking through your home you got a sense of what style you like and now you want this style to be projected outdoors so that your decorating theme extends to the outdoors as a smooth transition.
You would repeat this for the front yard by looking out your front picture window. The difference here is you need to look at your neighbor's home in front of you so that your front yard landscaping also compliments your surroundings.
Read the rest of the article here on our main site about http://www.decormotif.com/GardenDecor/landscape_design.html">How to get started landscaping your yard
This is a must read if you are landscaping for the first time or you have just moved into a new home.
landscaping
May 11, 2007
Candeloo lamp
What do you use as a portable light, when the lights go out
In the past I have hunted all over my home for a flashlight with batteries that worked. Normally when I did find my flashlight, I usually discovered that the kids had killed the batteries and never told anyone. My solution finally came when I was on a website called decormotif.com, looking for light for above my kitchen table, it was purely by accident but it certainly has solved my problem.
The light I found was a candela lamp, it came in 2 or 4 lamp style. How these work is when you plug them in they are continously being recharged, when the lights go out they come on automatically. Needless to say my younger children were quite happy about this when we did have a power outage, because of the last wind storm. They always seem to be surprised more than scared when the lights go out suddenly and it always panics there mother when they start to scream.
I was surprised to see just how much light these actually recahargeable lamps gave off when it was really dark. I had no need to go looking for my flashlight. Here is the real bonus that these rechargeable lamps give you. They are detachable from the charger which means you can take them anywhere you want.
There are all kinds of places you could use one of these lamps. The patio seating area is a good choice. When it starts to get a little darker outside, just pick a couple of these table lamps up and place them around where you are seated.
There are a couple of names these go by one is candela and then other is candeloo there kind of the lamp style names that most people are familiar with. The candela we already talked about which you can review here ( candela lamp ).
The one I purchased was the blue/green cadeloo lamp by vessel the other color that it comes in is orange/magenta both have an interesting design for a rechargeable lamp. They give off a really warm candle light glow, that can be quite romantic if you prefer not to use candles.
Candeloo-Orange/Magenta by Vessel
Both of these portable lights are award winning designs by Sufane Barbeau and Duane Smith.
Posted 11:13 PM | Permalink
candeloo lampsMay 10, 2007
Rechargeable lamps (candela)
Ever wondered how you can get more decorative lighting on the patio without having to plug in a light or buy a solar light. Or your tired of searching for a light when the power goes out.
Here comes rechargeable lamps to the rescue
The vessel company has developed the most decorative lamps for you to use. theses are the candeloo and candela rechargeable lamp. You can have these anywhere in your home and then when you need extra lighting out on the patio table or any room in your home for that matter, you just simply pick them up and move to anywhere you want.
These environmentaly friendly lights create fun and are built-to-last home decor accessories that are multi functional.
More about this rechargeable lamp by Vessel
More details on the Candela 4 Rechargeable Lamps by Vessel
Candela rechargeable lamps are an award-winning concept for portable lighting. Each light provides a warm, candlelight glow for on the table or on the run. Lamps illuminate when lifted from the charging platter, and turn on automatically during a power failure, providing an emergency light source within easy reach. The Candela lamp white tops can be swapped with other colors for a change of season, mood or just for fun they are sold separately. This item usually ships within 24 hours. Dimensions: Diameter 2.3 in., Height 6 in. Lamps + Base / Charger: Overall Width 6.8 in., Overall Height 6.8 in.
Posted 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
rechargeable lampsPlastic Adirondack Chairs
I have always had trouble sitting for long periods of time because of my bad back. Sitting on patio furniture was especially tough because the backs were never firm enough for me and the seat normally are cushioned. I sat in my neighbors plastic adirondack chair and I have to say I was impressed.
It had a contoured back and seat that was very comfortable. I had no trouble after an hour getting up out of it, which was a surprise because this is when my back would stiffen up the most.
I bought the plastic adirondack chair for myself and then purchased a wooden chair set for the patio. I didn't notice any difference in comfort between the plastic model and the wooden chairs.
Cleaning tip: If you are cleaning plastic adirondack chairs or any vinyl patio furniture -DO NOT- use a power washer. The spray will take off the smooth finish and it will feel rough when you are sitting in it. Just use soap and water and a rag or soft brush. You can also get more information from our main site decormotif in our outdoor furniture section on adirondack chairs
Posted 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
adirondack chairsMay 06, 2007
Cheap kitchen remodeling
Quick and simple kitchen remodeling that you can do yourself
Let's just start by saying remodeling is different from a renovation. A kitchen renovation can cost anywhere up to 100,000 dollars, depending on how elaborate your go. A simple and cheaper kitchen remodeling project should only cost you anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to maybe a 1500 dollars. This really is a cheaper way to up-date your kitchen because you can do-it-yourself in little bits at a time, so you don't need to spend the money all at once.
So where can you start that will be the cheapest and make the biggest difference in how your kitchen looks. Replace your kitchen cupboard drawer and door handles. A brushed nickel or black finish is the most popular, if you want to have something that looks contemporary and matches well with all colors including solid wood finishes.
Next change the kitchen sink faucet, this easy pretty easy for anyone one to do, just put the new one on the same way you took the old one off.
Kitchen rugs and mats can add more appeal to your flooring and make an otherwise dull and boring design, come alive with color and shapes. More about Kitchen mats and area rugs for by the sink area or under kitchen tables.
The other area that makes a big difference in how you kitchen looks is the dining area, right above the kitchen table. For this area, get rid of your old ugly hanging light and replace it with a two or three light hanging pendant light. These come in modern and traditional styles many different shapes and colors. Get more details
hanging pendant lights here.
Last but not least is the glass doors leading from the kitchen to outside. If you have a large patio door in the kitchen area, buy a new full length patio door vertical blind.
There is far too much information to cover just about remodeling and decorating a kitchen. So you are able to take your time and come back for information and ideas if you need it, we have placed links to other areas on our main home decor site decormotif that you should read.
- If you are thinking about renovating your home but can't make up your mind because of the cost involved, read this article here about the added value of a home renovation and how to get started.
- About theplanning stage of bathroom renovations.
- How to choose replacement windows for your home.
- Here you can find information onwhat type of flooring to choose, laminate wood, hardwood, ceramic tile, cork flooring or bamboo. Installation tips and what type of tools you will need.
May 05, 2007
Cleaning window blinds
How I Clean my blinds faster and easier
Mini blinds can be a pain to clean on a regular basis but there are ways to make it an easier job for you.
I have several windows that have blinds on them and the problem ones are always the mini blinds. For cleaning every couple of days what I do is when vacuuming I change over to the soft brush. I close the blinds and then give them a quick once over to get any dust that has collected there.
Ok stop laughing I don't really clean my blinds that often. I mean come on who has time. I only do this once a month in the summer and less in the winter.
Cleaning in the summer:
I take them down and place them outside. I make sure they are in the closed position before you lay them flat on the ground. I usually place a tarp on the grass if that is where I am going to clean them. A wood deck or patio is better because you don't have to rinse off the grass clippings.
I then take a bucket with soap and water and wipe them down with a large sponge. I use a sponge because the edges are sharp and a cloth sometimes doesn't protect my hands from getting nicked. After one side is cleaned I flip them over and then do the same thing. They usually need to be draped over something and then hosed off. I then hang them to dry in the sun.
Winter Cleaning:
This is done pretty much the same way, except I clean my blinds in the bath tub. Too cold and wet outside for me. I do spread a towel down in the tub so that I don't scratch it. This is also an easier way to clean wood, faux wood blinds, vinyl and aluminum blinds.
May 04, 2007
Garden decor
Your not just adding things in the the backyard your decorating the the lawn and garden area
If you view your garden area and your patio as an extension of your home it is easier to come up with an idea on what to add. Wooden garden benches are always a good purchase to make. Many times we want to sit out further in the yard than the patio but moving chairs around is just inconvenient. Garden benches are especially the wooden ones are an ideal solution. Add a wooden planter for a flower garden and you have made a very nice sitting area. Birdhouses and birdfeeders are also a very useful decoration to use in your yard.
Look at your front or backyard as a very large room. Now think about this area as you would decorating any room in your home! Ask yourself what type of outdoor decor would look good and possibly where you would like to sit besides the patio. Then consider what it's main purpose or function is and who will be seeing it most of the time? Do you want a decoration that serves a purpose or something that is just whimsical and fun?
Solar gazing balls glow at night, which is kind of cool for parties! With glass gazing balls the color is on the inside, creating a luminous quality not possible with other materials. Stainless steel won’t break or rust. You can float the globes on water or display on a pedestal. These gazing ball and pedestal sets are a fantastic focal point for your garden.
Landscape water features will increase the value of your property, patio water fountains or a garden waterfall may just entice a potential home buyer into making an offer. This is a good spot for an outdoor bench and wooden planter.
Garden decor and accessories for the backyard
Garden balls, gazing balls and sundials are one of the easiest ways to make your garden unique. Signs and markers can also add a personal touch that makes it easy to find what you need or to keep people on the right path. Outdoor wooden planters and arbors match up really well with outdoor water fountains and flower gardens near a patio.
Each wind sculpture has it's own unique characteristic and sound that will sooth the mind and body. Create your own music by adding different sounding tones together to make a unique display that is very attractive.
A shift in the wind was one of the earliest indicators of a change in weather. Garden vanes add a certain charm to any home or rooftop and is becoming very popular as a home and garden decoration.
One of the cutest garden decorations are small garden gnome statues hanging on a tree. A wonderfully colored statue that will be sure to bring smile to all your visitors.
If you enjoy your backyard but have to come in when it starts to cool down a patio heater is a great addition to the backyard. Fire pits can be used for extra warmth or for cooking outside with the kids. What I like most about these is they are very decorative and can fit in more as an outdoor decoration. Information on comfortable and affordable is on this page about outdoor patio furniture.
How often have you looked at your down spouts on the edges of your roof and said (these are kind of ugly). Some people call these decorative chains as Japanese rain chains. They come in different shapes from funnel cups to looped chains. They are all made of copper except for the brass rain chain and the funnel cups. Find all these garden decorations in our garden decor section.
May 02, 2007
Scented pillar candles
Illuminate your home with this fragranced pillar candle
Candles have alway been one of the nicest accessories that you can use to decorate your home. The bonus is that the scented candles have great stress relieving properties. Fragances have been use for hundreds of years in aromatherapy to help people feel more relaxed and stress free.
If you want to use a scented candle like the vanilla scented one featured here, be sure that the fragrance doesn't clash with other scents in the room. The aroma from Potpourris sometimes don't mix well with the scent that you have chosen. Cinnamon scented candles go well in a kitchen.
Illiminations - Vanilla Bourbon Scented Candles
Floating candles are the best choice to use in a glass bowl as a centerpiece for a dining or coffee.
For more on scented candles you can visit our main page on jar candles, pillar, scented and floating candles.
Posted 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)