Usually when someone mentions onion lighting people will think of a much earlier time as lights such as these have been around for what seems like forever. Traditionally, they are globes for lighting that are blown into the shape of a ball, hence the name "onion." Today, these lights are still popular and are available for lighting both inside and outside of your home.
These lights definitely have more of a colonial look to them and are sure to remind you of a Boston or Paul Revere style. These are definitely not for the contemporary looking home. Although they are very unique, they were initially designed as a light to burn whale oil around the 19th century and were used by railroads and shipping companies.
For Outdoor Use
For exterior purposes the onion glass post lantern is available. These are used both residentially and commercially. These glass casings are very delicate and are housed in a bronze or copper cage for protection. Outside they are often mounted against the house and used as a porch light or one on either side of the door. The cage that the glass is housed in prevents the glass from being broken, and back in the time when they counted on a flame rather than a bulb, the cage also offered protection from the weather elements from blowing the flame out.
And Indoors Too
Onion lighting or lamps are found now in the forms of outdoor lanterns, light posts, porch lights, and garden accessories. Inside of the home they are used for more of an old fashioned design and can be wall mounted, used as indoor lanterns, sconces and candle holders. There are several finishes available as well.
A Modern Touch To The Onion
In an attempt to add a contemporary touch to an old fashioned design, manufacturers have come up with various lighting that is still affiliated with the onion lighting in the sense that it still resembles the onion. The onion grass lamps are available which is a glass blown, onion shaped vase that has colored paper inside of them that come out of the top and actually resemble grass. They are definitely more on the contemporary side but have an outdoor patio look to them as well.
Three Types Of Glass
Onion lighting really resembles something that would be typical in the New England states as you could just imagine someone wrapped in a comforter on a cold winter day, using their onion lamp for reading light. There are generally three different types of the glass for the onion lighting itself: clear, optic and seedy. Sometimes there are ridges in the glass that resemble the lines in a pumpkin - do not expect perfection in the glass itself because you will not find it. It is meant to be that way for its authentic look.
When used with the right décor, these onions lights can really be used for any purpose in any room of the house. Onion lighting is supposed to look weathered as if it were splashed by the sea water and aged, that is part of the beauty of the history of onion lighting.
Ernest Jarquio is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Lighting-Central.com. He provides more resources on topics such as onion lighting, outdoor LED lighting and flex track lighting that you can research on his website even while lounging in your living room.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ernest_Jarquio
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Creative Storage Ideas
If you are thinking about creative storage ideas it is best to think outside the box (excuse the pun). There are plenty of artistic ways to store items such as candles, shoes and magazines. All you need is a little know how, paint and some bits and pieces. So use those left over screws and paint from your last renovation and put them to some use.
A good place to start is with hanging objects. Whether it's your little daughter with too many handbags or you with too many coats, hanging objects up is a great idea to empty some floor space. A great idea is take a garden trellis and paint it. If your room has a theme colour, use that to paint the wood. Screw in hangers where the trellis wood crosses over each other. Once the paint is dry and the hangers are secure, mount it on the wall.
Another fantastic way to make use of wall rather than floor space, is to collect old fruit or soda wooden crates. You can paint them to look more formal, or leave them in their rustic wooden state for a more natural look. Mount them onto the wall in groups. You can store books, photographs, vases or any other display items in the crates.
Students living in a residence or large families that have to share one bathroom are always looking for innovative ways to hang their towels. Most standard bathrooms come with only one or two towel hangers, which is not enough if there are four or five of you. One idea is to use short wooden curtain rails and mount them for more space.
Another idea for those with a bit more time and creativity is to use an old ladder as a storage unit. You can paint or spray paint the ladder and use the rungs to hang your towels from. Just prop the ladder up against the wall or if the towels are wet, open the ladder so the towels hang away from each other.
Children have more stuff than most adults with all their toys and crafts. Use a toy box to keep the toys all together. If your child is old enough, think about raising their bed. Loft beds are wonderful as they are high up, allowing plenty of room underneath for extra small cabinets, and even a table. This will free up some floor space for them to play in.
If you want to store your items for long periods, remember to pack them correctly. Instead of packing your clothes in one box and your glasses in another, use your clothes to wrap your glasses in. They will help against breakages and keep your glass protected.
There are plenty of ways of storing items. If you are someone who keeps everything chances are you already have all the materials to create great storage units. Have a look in the shops for storage ideas and inspiration. Get your friends and family involved with the painting and creating. DIY can be great fun so go wild.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Celeste_Yates
A good place to start is with hanging objects. Whether it's your little daughter with too many handbags or you with too many coats, hanging objects up is a great idea to empty some floor space. A great idea is take a garden trellis and paint it. If your room has a theme colour, use that to paint the wood. Screw in hangers where the trellis wood crosses over each other. Once the paint is dry and the hangers are secure, mount it on the wall.
Another fantastic way to make use of wall rather than floor space, is to collect old fruit or soda wooden crates. You can paint them to look more formal, or leave them in their rustic wooden state for a more natural look. Mount them onto the wall in groups. You can store books, photographs, vases or any other display items in the crates.
Students living in a residence or large families that have to share one bathroom are always looking for innovative ways to hang their towels. Most standard bathrooms come with only one or two towel hangers, which is not enough if there are four or five of you. One idea is to use short wooden curtain rails and mount them for more space.
Another idea for those with a bit more time and creativity is to use an old ladder as a storage unit. You can paint or spray paint the ladder and use the rungs to hang your towels from. Just prop the ladder up against the wall or if the towels are wet, open the ladder so the towels hang away from each other.
Children have more stuff than most adults with all their toys and crafts. Use a toy box to keep the toys all together. If your child is old enough, think about raising their bed. Loft beds are wonderful as they are high up, allowing plenty of room underneath for extra small cabinets, and even a table. This will free up some floor space for them to play in.
If you want to store your items for long periods, remember to pack them correctly. Instead of packing your clothes in one box and your glasses in another, use your clothes to wrap your glasses in. They will help against breakages and keep your glass protected.
There are plenty of ways of storing items. If you are someone who keeps everything chances are you already have all the materials to create great storage units. Have a look in the shops for storage ideas and inspiration. Get your friends and family involved with the painting and creating. DIY can be great fun so go wild.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Celeste_Yates
The Many Uses Of A Better Living Sunroom
There are several reasons to put up a sunroom structure. A neatly constructed sunroom expands the existing room spatially and lets in more amount of natural light into the enclosed place. You will be spared from the unbearable agony of sitting at home and exempt from enjoying the exciting view outside during a thrilling thunderstorm. With a sunroom added to your other room you can forever watch and participate in natures beauty the whole year round. Sitting inside the comfort of your home you can enjoy outdoor pleasures.
Furthermore, with sunroom enclosures you can stop being upset about scorching heat, rain or snow of the vagaries of seasonal change. The glasses of the sunroom come with double panes and are full of inert gas that not only increases energy efficiency but also visibility. They are constructed in such a manner that they keep the area enclosed within the glass cool and airy during the hot summer times and warm and cozy during the cold winter months. This enhanced space that becomes a an extension of your existing room because of installing the sunroom enclosure is absolutely the best reason for family members to come together when its early morning and in the evenings for cups of steaming tea and pleasant conversations.
Likewise, the patio enclosure provides the perfect address for organizing parties and having fun with your close ones. When the floor plan of your house is enhanced in a systematic and beautiful manner the sunroom only adds more elegance and charm to your rooms making it very inviting to all your visitors. One of the key reasons that led to building of sunrooms on demand is the fact that they can be installed very easily. Unlike the conventional houses that must be built with bricks and mortar, the sunrooms take lesser amount of time to be erected; generally a few weeks or less. Then again is the cost issue. Building traditional home structures can be quite heavy on your pockets, whereas sunrooms can be easily installed at half the price or less. The best thing about building a sunroom enclosure is that it can be used in whichever way you want; spa, attic, kitchen, bedroom, family room, office room, den, study, or simply for recreation.
Indoor Sunroom Furniture
You should decorate your sunroom with the right kinds of sunroom furniture after you are done deciding what purpose you will be using the area for. If you are planning to turn your sunroom into an attic, then throw in a couple of soft cushions, exercise machinery, a music system, and bright rugs and strew the room with flowers.
If the sunroom would be your bathroom then install a tub inside the glass and put scented candles, warm towels, soft carpets, shelves for storing bath paraphernalia, and plants all around the bathtub to transform your sunroom into a spa. In case you want your sunroom to be your bedroom, you can put a master bed with rugs, wall hangings, heating and cooling system, hidden shelves and plants. The study room or the den can e stuffed with books and more books on open or closed shelves. Rocking chairs, bean bags, Soft cushions, a table and lamp stands complete the look. A soft light will create a soft and relaxed atmosphere good for relaxing with a nice read. If you want to make your sunroom into a dining room then you will not have to think about keeping the centre table as the glass bound area will provide equal amount of light from every corner. When you surround the table with complementary chairs and fit it up with chandeliers and flower vases you get the ideal place for hanging out with your near and dear ones.
If you want your sunroom to be a kitchen, you can install a wood table by the glass side for the purpose of chopping and cooking. Put rows of shelves and cupboards on the wall where you can keep your cutlery and oven. A small table and chairs will make up for a nice hanging out zone for sharing coffee with friends and family in the kitchen. There are any number of online websites and online manufacturers of sunrooms who can install your sunroom for you easily. Are you looking for the Jacksonville sunroom? Then you can go for several construction companies like Island Sunrooms, Backyard Creations, and many more besides. But whatever manufacturer you chose, ensure that they give you the best quality materials. Note the warranty period. Check that that the glass used comes with tow panels with foams and inert gas. Select from a variety of double hung, cascading and sliding windows. There are French doors and sliding doors to opt for.
DIY Sunroom Kits
With equal attention to your budget as well as the quality of the materials that you want to use, you can go ahead and buy your own sunroom kit. In this case you need to consider things intelligently and get what you need with reasonable pricing. One way you can avoid spending too much on construction and material is to buy the do-it-yourself sunroom kits. With the DIY kit, you will have all the freedom to indulge in the design and style that you like to see for your sunroom. The best thing is that when you have built the sunroom yourself you will feel a special bonding with your creation. The sunroom will add elegance, charm and beauty to your house and lifestyle. It becomes the ideal niche for enjoying the seasonal beauties of nature.
Andrew Caxton is a syndicated editor of http://www.allsunrooms.com . For additional information on DIY or patio rooms subjects have a look at his web.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton
Furthermore, with sunroom enclosures you can stop being upset about scorching heat, rain or snow of the vagaries of seasonal change. The glasses of the sunroom come with double panes and are full of inert gas that not only increases energy efficiency but also visibility. They are constructed in such a manner that they keep the area enclosed within the glass cool and airy during the hot summer times and warm and cozy during the cold winter months. This enhanced space that becomes a an extension of your existing room because of installing the sunroom enclosure is absolutely the best reason for family members to come together when its early morning and in the evenings for cups of steaming tea and pleasant conversations.
Likewise, the patio enclosure provides the perfect address for organizing parties and having fun with your close ones. When the floor plan of your house is enhanced in a systematic and beautiful manner the sunroom only adds more elegance and charm to your rooms making it very inviting to all your visitors. One of the key reasons that led to building of sunrooms on demand is the fact that they can be installed very easily. Unlike the conventional houses that must be built with bricks and mortar, the sunrooms take lesser amount of time to be erected; generally a few weeks or less. Then again is the cost issue. Building traditional home structures can be quite heavy on your pockets, whereas sunrooms can be easily installed at half the price or less. The best thing about building a sunroom enclosure is that it can be used in whichever way you want; spa, attic, kitchen, bedroom, family room, office room, den, study, or simply for recreation.
Indoor Sunroom Furniture
You should decorate your sunroom with the right kinds of sunroom furniture after you are done deciding what purpose you will be using the area for. If you are planning to turn your sunroom into an attic, then throw in a couple of soft cushions, exercise machinery, a music system, and bright rugs and strew the room with flowers.
If the sunroom would be your bathroom then install a tub inside the glass and put scented candles, warm towels, soft carpets, shelves for storing bath paraphernalia, and plants all around the bathtub to transform your sunroom into a spa. In case you want your sunroom to be your bedroom, you can put a master bed with rugs, wall hangings, heating and cooling system, hidden shelves and plants. The study room or the den can e stuffed with books and more books on open or closed shelves. Rocking chairs, bean bags, Soft cushions, a table and lamp stands complete the look. A soft light will create a soft and relaxed atmosphere good for relaxing with a nice read. If you want to make your sunroom into a dining room then you will not have to think about keeping the centre table as the glass bound area will provide equal amount of light from every corner. When you surround the table with complementary chairs and fit it up with chandeliers and flower vases you get the ideal place for hanging out with your near and dear ones.
If you want your sunroom to be a kitchen, you can install a wood table by the glass side for the purpose of chopping and cooking. Put rows of shelves and cupboards on the wall where you can keep your cutlery and oven. A small table and chairs will make up for a nice hanging out zone for sharing coffee with friends and family in the kitchen. There are any number of online websites and online manufacturers of sunrooms who can install your sunroom for you easily. Are you looking for the Jacksonville sunroom? Then you can go for several construction companies like Island Sunrooms, Backyard Creations, and many more besides. But whatever manufacturer you chose, ensure that they give you the best quality materials. Note the warranty period. Check that that the glass used comes with tow panels with foams and inert gas. Select from a variety of double hung, cascading and sliding windows. There are French doors and sliding doors to opt for.
DIY Sunroom Kits
With equal attention to your budget as well as the quality of the materials that you want to use, you can go ahead and buy your own sunroom kit. In this case you need to consider things intelligently and get what you need with reasonable pricing. One way you can avoid spending too much on construction and material is to buy the do-it-yourself sunroom kits. With the DIY kit, you will have all the freedom to indulge in the design and style that you like to see for your sunroom. The best thing is that when you have built the sunroom yourself you will feel a special bonding with your creation. The sunroom will add elegance, charm and beauty to your house and lifestyle. It becomes the ideal niche for enjoying the seasonal beauties of nature.
Andrew Caxton is a syndicated editor of http://www.allsunrooms.com . For additional information on DIY or patio rooms subjects have a look at his web.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton
10 New Uses for Old Items - Decorating with Finds from the Past
Creativity reigns in budget decorating, and there is no better place to showcase your creativity then repurposing old things. Just a couple of great ideas can make a room scream with style, and add loads of personality.
1. Crate It!
Use an old wooden crate once used for pop bottles or wine as a shelving or wall display unit. Be sure to attach it to the wall studs with heavy duty hardware. Display pretty knick knacks, books or use it as storage in the kitchen or bath.
2. Bring in the Birds
Pick up an old concrete birdbath at a thrift shop or yard sale for a song. Top it with a round of glass for a one of a kind end table.
3. Open Doors for Your Dining Room
Another creative table idea is to use an old door as a dining table. Have glass cut to top the table, and add legs from a home improvement store. The shabbier the door, the better! Peeling paint and rusting hardware adds character to the piece, and the glass adds elegance.
4. Mirror, Mirror
Pick up small wall mirrors on clearance from your local discount store and use as candle trays. Place pillar candles on the trays in groups of three to five. The mirror will reflect the candle light, doubling the sparkle!
5. Fence in Your Pots
Find an attractive piece of iron fencing at the salvage yard and use as a pot rack in the kitchen. Hang from the ceilling with chain. Be sure to secure the hanging hooks into studs for safety. Use metal s-hooks to hang pots, pans and utensils.
6. Serve Coffee on a Bench
Yard sales are full of old wooden garden benches with lots of character. Use them in a casual home as creative coffee tables in the living or family room. They can also serve as entry tables.
7. Make Candlesticks
Old turned table legs or stair balusters make wonderful candlesticks. Use a paddle drill bit to create a seat for the candle just and inch or two deep. You can both sand and paint the candlesticks to match your decor, or enjoy their weathered appearance.
8. Use Old Fabric
Old tablecloths can be sewn into wonderful curtains, and pretty quilts can make wonderful table covers! Cut up stained pieces to create chair covers or placemats. Evan a worn floral gown can be salvaged and made into pillows.
9. Plates and Cups
Glass, stoneware and china plates and cups can be re used as wall art, flower vases, planters and candle holders. Check out thrift shops for a great selection for only pennies per piece!
10.Picture Frame Panels
Dollar shop picture frames can be used to add traditional wall panels at a budget price! Remove the glass and backing from the frames, and hang in square or rectangular groupings beneath the chair rail. This will mimic the wood molding panels in expensive homes.
Kathy Wilson is an author, home decorating columnist for LifetimeTv.com, and editor of several popular home and garden websites. For hundreds of free do ityourself home and garden ideas, please visit her websitesnow at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com, andhttp://www.TheGardenGlove.com
Also visit her work at home site athttp://www.Women-on-the-Net.com, where ANY woman can learn to make money on the internet!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathleen_Wilson
1. Crate It!
Use an old wooden crate once used for pop bottles or wine as a shelving or wall display unit. Be sure to attach it to the wall studs with heavy duty hardware. Display pretty knick knacks, books or use it as storage in the kitchen or bath.
2. Bring in the Birds
Pick up an old concrete birdbath at a thrift shop or yard sale for a song. Top it with a round of glass for a one of a kind end table.
3. Open Doors for Your Dining Room
Another creative table idea is to use an old door as a dining table. Have glass cut to top the table, and add legs from a home improvement store. The shabbier the door, the better! Peeling paint and rusting hardware adds character to the piece, and the glass adds elegance.
4. Mirror, Mirror
Pick up small wall mirrors on clearance from your local discount store and use as candle trays. Place pillar candles on the trays in groups of three to five. The mirror will reflect the candle light, doubling the sparkle!
5. Fence in Your Pots
Find an attractive piece of iron fencing at the salvage yard and use as a pot rack in the kitchen. Hang from the ceilling with chain. Be sure to secure the hanging hooks into studs for safety. Use metal s-hooks to hang pots, pans and utensils.
6. Serve Coffee on a Bench
Yard sales are full of old wooden garden benches with lots of character. Use them in a casual home as creative coffee tables in the living or family room. They can also serve as entry tables.
7. Make Candlesticks
Old turned table legs or stair balusters make wonderful candlesticks. Use a paddle drill bit to create a seat for the candle just and inch or two deep. You can both sand and paint the candlesticks to match your decor, or enjoy their weathered appearance.
8. Use Old Fabric
Old tablecloths can be sewn into wonderful curtains, and pretty quilts can make wonderful table covers! Cut up stained pieces to create chair covers or placemats. Evan a worn floral gown can be salvaged and made into pillows.
9. Plates and Cups
Glass, stoneware and china plates and cups can be re used as wall art, flower vases, planters and candle holders. Check out thrift shops for a great selection for only pennies per piece!
10.Picture Frame Panels
Dollar shop picture frames can be used to add traditional wall panels at a budget price! Remove the glass and backing from the frames, and hang in square or rectangular groupings beneath the chair rail. This will mimic the wood molding panels in expensive homes.
Kathy Wilson is an author, home decorating columnist for LifetimeTv.com, and editor of several popular home and garden websites. For hundreds of free do ityourself home and garden ideas, please visit her websitesnow at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com, andhttp://www.TheGardenGlove.com
Also visit her work at home site athttp://www.Women-on-the-Net.com, where ANY woman can learn to make money on the internet!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathleen_Wilson
30 Ways to Display Art and Photos
It’s so easy these days to simply grab a camera or cell phone and snap a picture of whatever catches your eye. You may have thousands of photos just lying around. And that doesn’t count all of your other artwork like paintings and prints. So what is a person to do with all of these treasures that could never be parted with? There are many creative ways to hang and display art, and this article is full of such ideas. It will be hard to pick just a few!
The general rule of thumb for hanging objects on the wall is to hang them at eye level. They will simply be more pleasing to look at if you don’t have to look way up or down to see them. If you are hanging pieces in a group, think of all of them as one big picture. In these cases it may be easier to cut out scraps of paper the same size as your art and position them on the floor before actually going for the hammer. (Incidentally, odd numbered groupings always look the best.) Another important consideration is size – make sure the scale of your art matches the size of the wall and furniture. Lastly you will want to consider lighting. While objects and pictures do not need to be spotlighted, often times the art will be even more appealing if you focus a beam of light on it. Now that we have the basics of hanging art pieces we can talk about ways to arrange them. Here are some ideas:
Ways to Arrange Your Art on the Wall:
1. Hang several pictures in a row, either horizontally or vertically. You could have just three or as many as you need to fill up your wall. It’s a good way to keep your eyes moving around the room, too.
2. You can also offset them. Take two or more pictures and hang one. Then step the other one down by a few inches. It is sort of like hanging them on a diagonal.
3. Place four similarly shaped objects in a square to create a box shape. If you have six or more you could always do a rectangle.
4. Try placing art in a collage on your wall. Find several different objects such as paintings, photos, and architectural art and mix them up in a pleasing way. Keep them fairly close together and remember the rule of three.
5. Hang photos above a staircase. Echo the shape of your stairs by staggering the items up the wall like a set of steps.
6. Arrange your art in themes. If you have a bunch of botanicals, group them all together instead of placing them separately in different parts of your home.
Ways to Hang and Frame Your Art:
7. Frame your ordinary pictures in a unique way. For example, you could use silk flowers or evergreen garland to surround the piece. Simply glue them to the existing frame and hang.
8. Hang photos or pictures from ribbon or wire. You could even hang multiples together the same way by hanging a rod on the wall and stringing the photos from it on ribbon.
9. Arrange art around a doorway or window. Start at the bottom and go up one side, over the top, and down the other. The pieces should be small and not too busy if you do this.
10. Group pictures together in a collage or one of the other suggested shapes. Then take a piece of molding and build a frame big enough to surround the whole group and hang it on the wall around the pieces. Or you could just use paint and create a faux frame on the wall.
11. Do you have a landscape picture of the beach or countryside? Consider buying some inexpensive plastic shutters and putting them on either side of the item for a window effect.
Ways to Arrange Artwork on Furniture:
12. Look through every room in your house and see where you might be able to sit some pictures. Tops of cabinets and dressers work well, as do desks, the top of your TV, or even near the jacuzzi in the master bathroom.
13. Do you have a space between your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling? This is a perfect spot to display some small art.
14. Got a fireplace? Try putting some photos or paintings on the mantle – don’t hang them above, just sit them on top. Enhance the photo with a couple of well-chosen accessories.
15. If you have a curio cabinet that is not really being used for curios, you can always put art inside instead.
16. Do you own a piano? The top of an upright, or even a grand piano, is a great place for art items.
17. If your piece of art is relatively large, try sitting it on the floor. Lean it against a wall out of the way of kids, pets, and heavy traffic and watch the smiles you are sure to get.
18. Hang up a shelf, set your pictures on top and lean them against the wall. It is a nice change from hanging them by a nail.
19. If your décor will allow, put up some chair rail picture molding. Like regular chair rails, this is installed at around three feet from the ground and is basically a very small shelf that circles your room. Lean art and photos up against the wall and let your treasures surround you.
20. If you are simply looking for a unique way to display your photos on a table, try a vignette. For example, gather three portrait photos, a couple of your favorite landscape paintings, a tall candlestick and some greenery and arrange them on the tabletop. It will make them seem more important if you group the items together.
Unique Places to Display Art:
21. Hang three or four large pictures in a square or rectangle above your bed for an instant and unique headboard.
22. If the artwork is weather-resistant or can be made to withstand the elements, try hanging a piece or two outside. The front door makes a bold statement when adorned with a favorite piece of art.
23. Do you have one of those bath and shower combos that don’t quite reach to the ceiling? If you have a picture that can withstand the steam and heat of the shower (behind glass or enclosed in a metal frame for example), hang it in this blank area to add interest.
24. Another idea for those heat and steam resistant pieces is to hang them above the stove as a backsplash. Just be sure you can wipe them clean.
25. If you have one of those big sterile bathroom mirrors you can always hang a photo in front of it to make it more appealing. Take a piece that will match the décor in your bath, find a complementary ribbon, and hang it in the center of the mirror (from the wall above). This will add interest while still leaving plenty of mirror to use.
Things to Make That Will Display Your Photos:
26. Take three large pieces of wood, hinge them together accordion style, cover them with fabric, and use them as a room divider screen. Hang photos, pictures and all kinds of other art on your “new wall”.
27. Using the same idea, construct a small screen for in front of your fireplace. It is a great spot to hang seasonal art for the summer when the fireplace is not in use. Just be careful to use flame retardant materials near working fireplaces.
28. Create a coffee table to display your photos. Purchase a table that fits with your décor, or use the one you already have, and get a piece of glass cut to the size of the table top. Arrange your photos on the table, then lay the glass on top for a unique, useful and waterproof art gallery.
29. If you have a picture or painting that is around 16 by 20 inches, make it into a side table. Attach the art to a piece of wood cut to the same size, then add legs you can buy at any home improvement store. Paint if you wish. Make sure you have the top covered in glass or Plexiglas, and you have an instant side table.
30. Create a shelf out of art. Take a piece of art or a special photo and get a flat frame to put it in. Nail a small piece of wood that is the same width as the frame and a couple of inches deep to the bottom. Paint it the same color as the frame, hang the photo on your wall, and you are ready to accessorize with a small bud vase, miniature collectables, or even spices in the kitchen.
Jen Lange is a pencil portrait artist and creator of http://www.inspirationearth.com where she sells her work. She has a B.A. from a top Southern college and commissions drawings of people, pets, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Lange
The general rule of thumb for hanging objects on the wall is to hang them at eye level. They will simply be more pleasing to look at if you don’t have to look way up or down to see them. If you are hanging pieces in a group, think of all of them as one big picture. In these cases it may be easier to cut out scraps of paper the same size as your art and position them on the floor before actually going for the hammer. (Incidentally, odd numbered groupings always look the best.) Another important consideration is size – make sure the scale of your art matches the size of the wall and furniture. Lastly you will want to consider lighting. While objects and pictures do not need to be spotlighted, often times the art will be even more appealing if you focus a beam of light on it. Now that we have the basics of hanging art pieces we can talk about ways to arrange them. Here are some ideas:
Ways to Arrange Your Art on the Wall:
1. Hang several pictures in a row, either horizontally or vertically. You could have just three or as many as you need to fill up your wall. It’s a good way to keep your eyes moving around the room, too.
2. You can also offset them. Take two or more pictures and hang one. Then step the other one down by a few inches. It is sort of like hanging them on a diagonal.
3. Place four similarly shaped objects in a square to create a box shape. If you have six or more you could always do a rectangle.
4. Try placing art in a collage on your wall. Find several different objects such as paintings, photos, and architectural art and mix them up in a pleasing way. Keep them fairly close together and remember the rule of three.
5. Hang photos above a staircase. Echo the shape of your stairs by staggering the items up the wall like a set of steps.
6. Arrange your art in themes. If you have a bunch of botanicals, group them all together instead of placing them separately in different parts of your home.
Ways to Hang and Frame Your Art:
7. Frame your ordinary pictures in a unique way. For example, you could use silk flowers or evergreen garland to surround the piece. Simply glue them to the existing frame and hang.
8. Hang photos or pictures from ribbon or wire. You could even hang multiples together the same way by hanging a rod on the wall and stringing the photos from it on ribbon.
9. Arrange art around a doorway or window. Start at the bottom and go up one side, over the top, and down the other. The pieces should be small and not too busy if you do this.
10. Group pictures together in a collage or one of the other suggested shapes. Then take a piece of molding and build a frame big enough to surround the whole group and hang it on the wall around the pieces. Or you could just use paint and create a faux frame on the wall.
11. Do you have a landscape picture of the beach or countryside? Consider buying some inexpensive plastic shutters and putting them on either side of the item for a window effect.
Ways to Arrange Artwork on Furniture:
12. Look through every room in your house and see where you might be able to sit some pictures. Tops of cabinets and dressers work well, as do desks, the top of your TV, or even near the jacuzzi in the master bathroom.
13. Do you have a space between your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling? This is a perfect spot to display some small art.
14. Got a fireplace? Try putting some photos or paintings on the mantle – don’t hang them above, just sit them on top. Enhance the photo with a couple of well-chosen accessories.
15. If you have a curio cabinet that is not really being used for curios, you can always put art inside instead.
16. Do you own a piano? The top of an upright, or even a grand piano, is a great place for art items.
17. If your piece of art is relatively large, try sitting it on the floor. Lean it against a wall out of the way of kids, pets, and heavy traffic and watch the smiles you are sure to get.
18. Hang up a shelf, set your pictures on top and lean them against the wall. It is a nice change from hanging them by a nail.
19. If your décor will allow, put up some chair rail picture molding. Like regular chair rails, this is installed at around three feet from the ground and is basically a very small shelf that circles your room. Lean art and photos up against the wall and let your treasures surround you.
20. If you are simply looking for a unique way to display your photos on a table, try a vignette. For example, gather three portrait photos, a couple of your favorite landscape paintings, a tall candlestick and some greenery and arrange them on the tabletop. It will make them seem more important if you group the items together.
Unique Places to Display Art:
21. Hang three or four large pictures in a square or rectangle above your bed for an instant and unique headboard.
22. If the artwork is weather-resistant or can be made to withstand the elements, try hanging a piece or two outside. The front door makes a bold statement when adorned with a favorite piece of art.
23. Do you have one of those bath and shower combos that don’t quite reach to the ceiling? If you have a picture that can withstand the steam and heat of the shower (behind glass or enclosed in a metal frame for example), hang it in this blank area to add interest.
24. Another idea for those heat and steam resistant pieces is to hang them above the stove as a backsplash. Just be sure you can wipe them clean.
25. If you have one of those big sterile bathroom mirrors you can always hang a photo in front of it to make it more appealing. Take a piece that will match the décor in your bath, find a complementary ribbon, and hang it in the center of the mirror (from the wall above). This will add interest while still leaving plenty of mirror to use.
Things to Make That Will Display Your Photos:
26. Take three large pieces of wood, hinge them together accordion style, cover them with fabric, and use them as a room divider screen. Hang photos, pictures and all kinds of other art on your “new wall”.
27. Using the same idea, construct a small screen for in front of your fireplace. It is a great spot to hang seasonal art for the summer when the fireplace is not in use. Just be careful to use flame retardant materials near working fireplaces.
28. Create a coffee table to display your photos. Purchase a table that fits with your décor, or use the one you already have, and get a piece of glass cut to the size of the table top. Arrange your photos on the table, then lay the glass on top for a unique, useful and waterproof art gallery.
29. If you have a picture or painting that is around 16 by 20 inches, make it into a side table. Attach the art to a piece of wood cut to the same size, then add legs you can buy at any home improvement store. Paint if you wish. Make sure you have the top covered in glass or Plexiglas, and you have an instant side table.
30. Create a shelf out of art. Take a piece of art or a special photo and get a flat frame to put it in. Nail a small piece of wood that is the same width as the frame and a couple of inches deep to the bottom. Paint it the same color as the frame, hang the photo on your wall, and you are ready to accessorize with a small bud vase, miniature collectables, or even spices in the kitchen.
Jen Lange is a pencil portrait artist and creator of http://www.inspirationearth.com where she sells her work. She has a B.A. from a top Southern college and commissions drawings of people, pets, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Lange
Glass Curio Cabinets Designs
Glass curio cabinets are a nice way to display those little odds and ends that every good collector picks up. While there are dedicated collectors out there that specialize in one or maybe two types of collections, the vast majority of people tend to collect odds and ends from their daily lives. Dedicated collectors often have specialized methods of preserving and displaying their collections, but for those of us who almost randomly and haphazardly pick up anything for display and collection, glass curio cabinets are one of the most attractive ways to organize our assorted memorabilia.
The Four Types Of Glass Curio Designs
There are a lot of different designs for curio cabinets, and you should pick ones that will best display your little toys. One of the first considerations you should choose is the general type of cabinet you want. There are four major types of glass curio cabinets, namely: wall mount type cabinets, shelf type cabinets, corner display cabinets, and centerpiece cabinets.
Wall Mount
Wall mount cabinets are handy and usually don't take up too much space, and can be used for displaying almost anything. Favorite uses for wall mounted glass curio cabinets are as racks for long items like fishing rods and rifles, or for displaying rows of a certain item like vases, books, rocks, and other similar-sized items.
Shelf Design
Shelf type glass curio cabinets are usually not made entirely of glass, with heavy frames made from a sturdier material and only the actual shelf space made from glass. They are similar in use to wall mount glass cabinets, but are larger and thus able to take heavier items but consequently being bulkier. One thing about shelf type glass curio cabinets that sets them apart from wall mounted ones is that they often come with a pair of sliding glass panels on the front that can be locked to keep your little toys secure. Realistically speaking, this won't deter a determined burglar, who can simply smash in the glass, but these sliding panels go a long way towards keeping your kids and snoopy relatives from casually pawing your collection.
Corner Curio
Corner type glass panels are one of my favorites: these are designed to fit securely in a corner, making them unobtrusive and taking up relatively little space in a room. Their biggest drawback is that they don't have much room for bulky items, but they are perfect for displaying small curiosities. Their shapes are rarely just a square. More often, they will have two sides made to fit snugly into a room corner, and the exposed side can be anything from another flat angle (making the cabinet a triangle) or rounded off to maximize room for your displays.
Centerpiece
Lastly, there are centerpiece glass curio cabinets. These are one of the most beautiful applications of glass for cabinets. More often than not these are made entirely of glass, or at the very least will be composed of a central wood or metal shaft around which the glass cabinet layers are mounted. As the name implies, these are designed to be placed standing alone in the center of a room, displaying your collection from every angle. The shape of the glass panels determines the shape of the cabinet, and these are rarely just simple squares. The designs often come in perfect circles or hexagon panels.
Using Your Imagination
Given the four major types of glass curio cabinets, it just takes a bit of imagination to show your collection off to best advantage. Using different shaped panels for each layer of your cabinet is one option that appeals to some people. While this may just wind up making it looking cluttered and disorganized, if you do it right it can come across beautifully. For example, a glass shelf-type cabinet can have its lowest layer be a solid rectangular piece, then the upper layers are roughly U-shaped and progressively have larger cut-outs, so that the cabinet ends up looking like an amphitheater.
Changing sizes between panels to alter the overall shape of the cabinet is another idea. For example, with a centerpiece glass curio cabinet you can use progressively smaller sizes of circular panels the higher up you go to make it look like an archetypical christmas tree, for example, or progressively smaller perfect square layers to make it look like a pyramid.
Lastly using stained, etched, or frosted glass panels are just some of the other ideas you can apply. Why limit yourself to regular glass, after all? You can increase the artistic visual appeal of your curio cabinet by using different types of glass. All you need to do is find a local glass worker who you can hire to make specialized panels for your cabinet, and you're good to go.
Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Curio-Cabinets-Corner.com. She provides more information on topics such as oak corner curio cabinets and wall hanging glass curio cabinets and Pulaski corner curio cabinet, which you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Flor_Serquina
The Four Types Of Glass Curio Designs
There are a lot of different designs for curio cabinets, and you should pick ones that will best display your little toys. One of the first considerations you should choose is the general type of cabinet you want. There are four major types of glass curio cabinets, namely: wall mount type cabinets, shelf type cabinets, corner display cabinets, and centerpiece cabinets.
Wall Mount
Wall mount cabinets are handy and usually don't take up too much space, and can be used for displaying almost anything. Favorite uses for wall mounted glass curio cabinets are as racks for long items like fishing rods and rifles, or for displaying rows of a certain item like vases, books, rocks, and other similar-sized items.
Shelf Design
Shelf type glass curio cabinets are usually not made entirely of glass, with heavy frames made from a sturdier material and only the actual shelf space made from glass. They are similar in use to wall mount glass cabinets, but are larger and thus able to take heavier items but consequently being bulkier. One thing about shelf type glass curio cabinets that sets them apart from wall mounted ones is that they often come with a pair of sliding glass panels on the front that can be locked to keep your little toys secure. Realistically speaking, this won't deter a determined burglar, who can simply smash in the glass, but these sliding panels go a long way towards keeping your kids and snoopy relatives from casually pawing your collection.
Corner Curio
Corner type glass panels are one of my favorites: these are designed to fit securely in a corner, making them unobtrusive and taking up relatively little space in a room. Their biggest drawback is that they don't have much room for bulky items, but they are perfect for displaying small curiosities. Their shapes are rarely just a square. More often, they will have two sides made to fit snugly into a room corner, and the exposed side can be anything from another flat angle (making the cabinet a triangle) or rounded off to maximize room for your displays.
Centerpiece
Lastly, there are centerpiece glass curio cabinets. These are one of the most beautiful applications of glass for cabinets. More often than not these are made entirely of glass, or at the very least will be composed of a central wood or metal shaft around which the glass cabinet layers are mounted. As the name implies, these are designed to be placed standing alone in the center of a room, displaying your collection from every angle. The shape of the glass panels determines the shape of the cabinet, and these are rarely just simple squares. The designs often come in perfect circles or hexagon panels.
Using Your Imagination
Given the four major types of glass curio cabinets, it just takes a bit of imagination to show your collection off to best advantage. Using different shaped panels for each layer of your cabinet is one option that appeals to some people. While this may just wind up making it looking cluttered and disorganized, if you do it right it can come across beautifully. For example, a glass shelf-type cabinet can have its lowest layer be a solid rectangular piece, then the upper layers are roughly U-shaped and progressively have larger cut-outs, so that the cabinet ends up looking like an amphitheater.
Changing sizes between panels to alter the overall shape of the cabinet is another idea. For example, with a centerpiece glass curio cabinet you can use progressively smaller sizes of circular panels the higher up you go to make it look like an archetypical christmas tree, for example, or progressively smaller perfect square layers to make it look like a pyramid.
Lastly using stained, etched, or frosted glass panels are just some of the other ideas you can apply. Why limit yourself to regular glass, after all? You can increase the artistic visual appeal of your curio cabinet by using different types of glass. All you need to do is find a local glass worker who you can hire to make specialized panels for your cabinet, and you're good to go.
Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Curio-Cabinets-Corner.com. She provides more information on topics such as oak corner curio cabinets and wall hanging glass curio cabinets and Pulaski corner curio cabinet, which you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Flor_Serquina
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