Archive for the ‘Arts and Crafts’ Category

Mistakes to avoid with the wood in decoration

February 13th, 2012 by admin 1

woodwork in roof

If the wood is back in force in the house after being left aside in favor of more materials design, the ideas still abound. To help bring the wood in your home for a warm & elegant impression, here are some mistakes to avoid.

Wood does not necessarily give a rustic.
If before the wooden furniture was solid oak in a very dark color giving a rustic appearance to the kitchen or dining room, now there are other alternatives! There are many wood species to match each style. For example, to create a trendy scandinavian atmosphere, You can build on a very light wood and a very natural style, You will focus instead on the bamboo.

Wood is not only intended to exotic atmospheres
wood decoration.
If you also believe that wood is only suitable for exotic atmospheres, it is a mistake. Moreover, if the exotic wood such as wenge is still used nowadays prefers species much clearer. But know that the wenge and ipe also work very well in a contemporary interior design or, if they combine sleek furniture. Indeed, the exotic atmosphere comes not only gasoline but also the type of furniture you choose.

Avoid the total wood look
While the wood immediately warms the atmosphere of a house, do not mean to abuse it. Avoid then the total look floors, walls and wooden furniture unless you want to bring a warm cottage or log cabin to your home. Some furniture and a nice floor are enough to make the room nice and warm without loading it. Note that more wood will be darker and it will be present in your home.

Do not mix wood species
To create harmony within your home, you should choose wood species in line with each other. Then make sure to give some unity and do not choose the colors are too different for each piece of furniture or the floor. We will not mix eg solid oak furniture to other exotic wood with a light wood floor.

The wood is not only in furniture
Finally, know that to bring the wood in your home, there is not that the floor and furniture. You can also use decorative objects made of wood that are very trendy right now. The wooden cutting boards are displayed, the clocks are dressed as wood and wooden fruit baskets reminiscent of nature for a cozy interior that goes back to basics.

A chewable Deco

December 6th, 2011 by admin 0

apple sticker

Bring a touch of good humor to your home with the fruits. On pillows, linens, dishes, tables and many decorative accessories, there are apples, pears, peaches, apricots! Follow the guide and discover our selection Deco supercharged!

With curves and colors, apple cracked our decor! It can be found on our tables, including a tablecloth, a mug and paper towels on the shopper shop Flowers. Also with plates and napkins. There are also accessories inspired by the pineapple, including Fruit Sugar Bowl.

Creating a Tranquil Room With Japanese Screen

September 26th, 2011 by admin 2

Tranquil Room

A quiet comer in a busy home can become a tranquil personal space with the strategic arrangement of one or more Japanese screens. A key element of Japanese rituals, festivals and interior decor, standing screens establish a boundary between ordinary life and ceremonial or private space. Byobu screens consist of a set of hinged wooden panels encasing rice paper panels in a latticed wooden framework. Ifyou don’t have enough square footage in your apartment or house for a room of your own, create your own miniature refuge with a room divider inspired by traditional Japanese screens.

History
Heavy, ornately painted standing screens originated centuries ago in China, but the Japanese developed the lighter, portable versions most often used in contemporary interior decorating. In Japanese home decor, the single-panel shoji screen traditionally functions as a door or window, while the multi-panel folding byobu – which translates into “protection from the wind” – often serves as a room divider.

Japanese Screens

Traditionally, the wooden framework was finished with black lacquer, which created a striking, characteristically Asian contrast with the semi-translucent white rice paper. Screens were prized as valuable pieces of artwork, and many were painted and displayed in homes or public buildings. Portable screens have been used as backdrops in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, processions and Buddhist rituals. Space

The panels of a shoji screen can be arranged to section off an area in a bedroom, living room or one-room studio apartment. The multi-panel construction allows you to create a miniature room in a crowded dwelling by angling the screen’s panels to conceal a bed, chair or meditation corner. Use a single shoji screen as a single, understated partition, or place two shoji screens at complementary angles to define your space.

Colour blocking In your home

September 15th, 2011 by admin 0

white interior decor

Colour blocking is the use of solid colours in random or geometric patterns to create visual interest. It is used successfully in fashion design, interior design and home accessories. Interior designers have experienced a volume of clients who have chosen colour blocking to bring life and energy into their homes.

Do-it-yourself-ers are finding that they can colour block in their own homes with a little information on how to do the job. Though many people think that colour blocking should only be used in a modern setting, the technique can also be used to bring energy into a traditional home as well.

Colour blocking can be achieved by using solid blocks of complimentary, or contrasting and sometimes even clashing colours. Painting the walls in blocks of colour is one way of colour blocking. But a do-it- yourself homeowner can start a project simply by laying down throw rugs of a solid colour, or of geometric shapes of bright colours. Fabrics, upholstery and art are other choices of colour blocking.

Paint

Neutral colours may be used as background for squares, rectangles or circles of colour. Or a coloured wall with shapes of a complimentary or contrasting colour might be desired. Lines of colour can be placed side by side and follow a horizontal or vertical direction. Horizontal lines of colour tend to visually lengthen a wall and vertical lines make the walls appear taller.

Shapes of colour can be solitary and used as a backdrop for art, or shapes of contrasting colour, grouped together, can stand alone to draw attention. Shapes of clashing colours should be applied to walls of a neutral colour. For a more finished look, large shapes of colour can be outlined in neutral or contrasting shades. Imagination and creativity are helpful, but not absolutely necessary, if care is taken not to overdo the project.

Painting the inside of open shelves in a variety of contrasting shades is a simple and easy method of applying colour blocking. A kitchen backsplash is another option for an easy way to incorporate colour blocking into the home’s design.

Fabrics And Upholstery

Fabrics are used throughout a home in the form of window coverings, furniture upholstery, towels and washcloths,orange & gray room decoration wall hangings, throws and decorative pillows. A choice of window coverings may be roller blinds or roller shades that are not only manufactured in a variety of brightly collared fabrics but also in natural grasses and reeds for a lush textured look. These blinds are durable and may be sheer, to allow light to enter the room, or more densely woven to keep sunlight outside.

An upholstered headboard can bring a splash of colour into the bedroom. Add the same or complimentary colour to the windows and toss some colourful pillows onto the bed, and watch the room come to life. A few bright accessories such as a fabric lampshade can add to the fun of energizing the room. Follow through by using the same colour of towels and washcloths in the adjacent bathroom.

Art

Identical frames surrounding mats of different but contrasting colors can be hung on the same wall to create an eye catching display. Abstract art in a frame that has been painted to match a favourite colour in the piece may be hung on a contrasting coloured wall.

Whether decorating a child’s bedroom or the entire house, colour blocking is a technique that will enliven any living space.

Lining ready made curtains

September 9th, 2011 by admin 0

Ready made drapes are a quick and lovely way to create a look in any room. Besides their aesthetic value, they also provide privacy and help maintain comfortable temperatures in the winter. Lining ready made curtains will add to their ability to cushion in the heat and save energy. Rather than changing out your favorite drapes for a thicker set during the cold months, add a thick lining yourself and keep the look you love throughout the year.

Ready Made Curtains

For this project, you will need the following things:

-Tape measure
-Your favourite drape
-Lining fabric
-Matching thread
-Sewing machine
-Fabric pen
-Fabric scissors
-Pins
-Straight edge

The first step will be to measure the length and width of the curtains and add one inch to each measurement. This will define what size lining you will need. The lining material must lay flat on either a smooth floor or any surface large and flat enough to ensure that the material will lay properly. Then the measuring tape and straight edge must be used to mark the outside borders of the liner. It is important to create thick, dark marks for mistake-free cutting and to use a very sharp pair of scissors.

Once the material has been trimmed down to the exact needed size, it must be placed face down on the working surface. The top half inch of material must be folded down and secured with pins, which should be inserted about every 3 inches or so. The same must be done for the bottom, left and right side.

Now with everything pinned, it is time to sew the edges down and remove the pins when done. When this is all done, it is finally time to attach the liner to the drape. Laying it face down with the lining over it, their edges must be pinned together at 2 inch intervals. Another set of pins at half inch intervals must be inserted afterwards, to ensure stability during the sewing process.

Using a thread that is similar to the front curtain, the two fabrics are now ready to be sewn together. It is highly recommended to double stitch for durability. After the pins are removed, the lined drape is ready to be put up and enjoyed. It is important to remember that all projects have their ups and downs and may be frustrating during the first attempt. It is however a great opportunity to be creative, play with colours and liven up decor in the home.

Guests will be impressed with the ingenuity and fortitude that these projects often underline, creating a set of drapes that not only decorate and insulate, but also start conversations. With nothing more than simple materials, a bit of fabric and a sewing machine, a project this rewarding can be completed in under an hour. The most important tip is not to skimp on a good pair of fabric scissors; the degree of sharpness can make the difference between ruining a perfectly good material and creating a fabric masterpiece.

Picking your perfect Roman Blinds

August 25th, 2011 by admin 0

roman blind

When it comes to pure convenience and simplicity, there isn’t a better addition to your home than a set of Roman Blinds. If you’re redecorating a room from top to bottom, or simply just fancy a subtle change, Roman Blinds are an ideal solution.

You could say that they provide a perfect hybrid between curtains and normal wooden blinds. Whilst the Roman Blinds give the homeowner the aesthetically pleasing features that curtains do, they also provide the operational ease that blinds do.

It may come as a surprise, but for such a useful product, they are actually startlingly cheap in comparison to thebeautiful roman blind competitors. As the blinds are in essence, simply flat panels of material, the cost is very low. In turn this means that even the top of the range products tend to be within the budget of the majority of homeowners.

The two main varieties from which to choose are categorised by the shape or fold they take when raised. The popular choices tend to be the horizontal draw and the teardrop style. The former is the style most people associated with blinds, and it simply folds neatly into itself. Teardrop blinds tend not to lie flat when raised, but in a more curved, teardrop-style shape (hence the name).

Which blind you choose is totally up to you, and different blinds suit different windows. The general assumption is that windows in rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens may well go hand-in-hand with the horizontal blinds to represent the simplicity of the room. On the other hand, rooms with picturesque views may reap the benefits of their settings when fitted with teardrop blinds. Teardrop blinds can combine with scenery to create a picture-perfect view on the right day, so it totally depends on what you want to get out of your blinds.

Another important factor to consider is how well the blinds will match the existing furnishings in the room, especially if you aren’t carrying out a full makeover. No matter how complex your current decoration is, a simple solution is always around the corner. Whilst a custom-made product will cost more than the average set of Roman Blinds, the price would still be extremely competitive when compared to alternative solutions.

Whatever you need – be it a simple blind that stops the neighbours watching you slave over a hot stove, or a quirky teardrop blind that makes a statement and adds a dash of character to your existing view, the solution can be found with a set of Roman Blinds.