Archive for September, 2008
Fireplaces and fireplace accessories that you will love
I happened to decide on finding this information on the web because I had received a big mail into my mail box, thus aroused I ventured into to explore the contents of the mail. The most important thing about the information and content was that it wasn’t the usual kind of things, not clothes or jewelry and not even electronic goods, but it was about fireplaces and fireplace accessories.
I am not much into finding this information but took the cake as I had never imagined the information that I would come across on the latest designs in fireplaces and not to forget the various fireplace accessories. What actually made me go out there was that in today’s times of centralized heaters and various heating systems, I was wondering how a fireplace would fit in if it did. The outcome of my visit was very enlightening and I came out a converted to buying a fireplace, anytime I built my own place.
Mention of a fireplace, visualizes romantic getaways, the cold climate somewhere up in the mountains, heavy snowfall and blowing winds, a cocktail to keep all indoors with a cup of coffee with the feet on a rug sitting on a comfortable chair close to a fireplace. Well movies normally show the ones which are wood burning, adding to the experience, but in the present where both the wood and pollution are a concern, it is time for change.
Over the past half a decade, many of our appliance in the kitchen run on electricity, then why not a fireplace. In the olden days a fireplace was part of any structure, mostly in the interiors of a house or place, usually located in the living room. The fuel burned in the fireplaces was wood, coal or peat. The fumes and the ash were left to climb the chimney so that it could mingle with the air outside the house. The fireplace accessories were very few, usually the poker made out of iron, a basket or holder for logs, screens to keep the smoke or ash from traveling too far, firewood grates, chimney caps and fire backs made out of iron. In some homes a fireplace was also used to warm coffee or tea, grill food, in bigger homes there was also fire mantles which made its on comment on the entire room. All these fireplace accessories though quite a few in no were very much unseen, unless called for into use.
The current breed of fireplaces and fireplace accessories not only add value addition to your home but also add a great value to your home decor. They come in the every design to suit your taste and design. And they are available at the click of your mouse button.
The ever increasing importance of your home being lit properly
Lights are one of the most essential components of your home decor. Without proper lights we will always be denied an experience that only a well lit environment can provide. You will never hear someone say what a great view, in the dark. As much as light is important, the means thru which light comes to us becomes important.
Light fixtures in the days of Edison, might have been a simple contraption with the only importance that one should have something that is in the dark. That was in the past, but now things are different, light fixtures are not only very important, but they can also take the centre stage. As we know lights in general and any sort of lamp will have bulbs which come in pretty much standard designs. It is the lighting fixtures and the designs of the lamps, more than the source from which light comes which has taken center stage.
Light fixtures are not that new to society, if you considered the traditional light fixtures manufactured in history, since the advent of using lamps that used some oils, or candles etc. Then too if you have seen paintings, of visited old homes or structures, you will get to see an assortment of light fixtures in various styles and design. A lot of that tradition has got a new following, once what was only available for the rich has become common and easily available.
In the modern times, lighting a house or any structure is taken very seriously, thus light fixtures for all occasions, moods, looks and cost are available. All you have to do is find out the best designs on the web from stores that specialize in producing or marketing and displaying light fixtures and lamps. A considerable amount of liquid cash and trend conscious public haven take it in a big way to meticulously plan any structure to have the kind of lighting that symbolizes their taste, style and comfort. Also the stylish light fixtures adds it own aura to the entire look of any house or office, and has become more than just a light fixture.
Women have a very good sense of lights and at the same time being the home builder give them the edge in deciding what kind of lighting and light fixtures to be installed in their home. A man will not be that conscious, but women they want the style and follow the latest trends.
Harmony of space in your home IV – Windows & Doors and Furniture
When your windows and doors are planned by the engineer, make sure you opt for bay window, which offer seating inside and extend out into the outdoors. Plan your doorways similarly, though look at the safety angle before using either doors, sliding or otherwise, between the outdoors and the indoors.
Furniture
Place a few furniture pieces, say a bark of wood that is polished and buffed, inside your living room, close to an open window, or keeping a coffee table that is embedded with elements like stone pebbles, colored or neutral mosaic pieces etc. This will create a synergy between the outdoors and the indoors. Planning garden furniture that fits in with the rest of your interior décor including furniture pieces would also help in creating this compact picture.
If you discuss this concept prior to construction and also with your interior designer, many niches in the walls as well as partitions can be planned to create this seamless interaction between the two. You can add to this ambience with the use of carefully selected home décor items.
Harmony of space in your home III – The green walls
Another technique is to have a small atrium created inside your home over which you fix a skylight, allowing that place to be well lit during the day. In the atrium, you can have a bunch of potted plants that you like a small rock garden, and if it’s a slightly larger space, even a bench where you can sit for sometime. One or more of the sides of the atrium can be covered with green partition screens, made of net or even transparent glass which still offers privacy to the one sitting inside. Green painted garden nets can be placed just below the skylight to cut direct light entering inside, or can be kept on one side of your entrance to your main door, allowing the garden creeper to hang on it along with other flowering trees planted close by.
Harmony of space in your home II – Creating niches and tips on décor items
Creating niches
Another way of bringing about a harmony between the two is when you partially cover the outdoors with long leafed trees, high hedges, or bring a few of these inside the living area in the form of large potted plants. Use a large open niche window, without the grills that faces the outdoors, while you set about a table and an option to dine indoors. You can also cover the niche with shield glass or have a green partition screen whenever it gets too sunny for comfort but during some seasons it might be a good way to spend the afternoon here. Plan to have a picket fence around your house and garden instead of a wall because a picket fence allows you to experience the outdoors.
Décor Items
Potted plants kept in the balcony and a few inside your living room is another way to bring nature indoors. For instance, hanging home accessories like large prints of different element of nature – leaves, flowers, twigs etc bring the idea home. Your kitchen window can still be done to hold a box of potted herbs that hang outside to get the sun, but are also accessible to you when cooking.
Harmony of space in your home I – Plan the space in your home
When you are planning the way your house would look, you rarely pay attention to the way the extremities of you house would end – an open balcony, a terraced garden, a raised portico, a landscape view, an atrium inside, large open niches close to the outdoors, and so on. Merging the outdoors with some areas of your interiors makes the experience fulfilling, filled with natural light, and a sort of comfort that you find in hugely sprawling mansions set on a farmhouse.
But the technique of merging the two ever so slightly with the use of décor, home accessories, and a little planning in the construction stage can make all the difference. The leitmotif to merging the two is Nature and its elements. Starting tomorrow we will in a series on articles we will see how we can create a harmony of spaces in our homes.
Simple ways of refreshing home décor III (Bedroom, Kitchen and Bathroom)
Bedroom
As far as possible, try to achieve symmetry in this room. Have two matching nightstands and table lamps for this area. Again, invest in coordinated bed linen and change it often. Mount a mirror or a collection of family photos on the wall over the headboard. Or have a simple wall shelf on this wall and keep ornament, photographs and books. Create a seating area here. It can be a rocking chair or a floor cushion by the window. Display fancy perfume bottles on the dresser. In case of children’s room, devote one part of the room for play area or study. And to free the room of clutter, assign one cupboard only for toys and books. Colorful rubber mats in the play area will look good.
Kitchen
Have some wall mounted corner shelves to keep ornaments. Free the counter of clutter. Have a table with tiled tabletop in one corner to keep items that usually go on the counter like prepared food dishes and appliances. Display colorful ceramic jars on open shelves. Paint the shutters with a bright color although white is the perennial favorite.
Bathroom
Have a big frameless mirror over the sink to create interest. Place a potted plant on the vanity counter or fresh flowers in a glass pitcher. Store colorful bars of soap in glass jars. Brighten the wall tiles with special stickers or painted stencil motifs. Display a few wall hangings. Or, have a wall shelf to store things and display ornaments.
Simple ways of refreshing home décor II (Living Room and Dining Room)
Living Room
Changing the décor of this room often adds the much required freshness. One way to do this is with slipcovers and cushion covers. Invest in a good variety and change them frequently. Assign one corner or a niche as a rotating display corner. Change the accessory on display often. For this purpose, keep two-three choices like a big sculpture, figurine and an installation of earthen pots.
Another way to change the décor is to rearrange furniture. Try and have at least two seating areas each time and make these cosy and exclusive. Rugs and table lamps can achieve this. Even a simple arm chair with a floor lamp will make the area look exclusive. Dot the room with potted plants on floor or on tables. Conceal the unsightly wires with beading. This is a small step that makes a significant change. Use inexpensive wooden beading to make elegant chair rails or moldings. Have small accessories on the centre table and change the display often.
Dining Room
Again, have colorful slipcovers for the chairs to create different looks. Here the table is the focus. Place a stunning centerpiece on the table and change it as often as you can. The centerpiece can be candelabrum with colored candles, an arrangement of fresh flowers or fruits. If there is no sideboard, then have a set of nested tables that can be used to display as well as hold essentials. Invest in a good pendant lamp. A big mirror is perfect for the wall. But so is a collage of favorite photographs.
Simple ways of refreshing décor I
You can enhance the décor of your living spaces with some simple elements that don’t entail a huge cost. Many houses have tired looking porticos and cemented driveways. Hang some wind chimes and pots with trailing ferns from a semi covered portico. A driveway can made interesting by having a tiered arrangement of pots or a wooden or stone sculpture. A stone bench too can create nice ambience. A polished or a painted door with an interesting knocker will be nice. Wall mounted pots along the door or terracotta wall plaques and accessories make for a bright change. Apartments can follow on similar lines with maybe grander choice of wall hangings and sculptures. For the lobby, first clear up all the clutter that usually dots the space. For wide lobby, a few chairs and a table is enough. Throw in a smart looking cotton dhurri and maybe one big accessory for the table. A table lamp will make the space look inviting. Store the mails and newspapers in a stylish magazine stand or a cane basket. Have a big mirror or a bright painting on the lobby wall. One big painting or a series of smaller thematic painting will do.
Going ahead we will look at the simple ways of improving the décor of your living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom
Home Décor craftwork III
In this last write up in a series of home décor hobbies we will look at a few more simple ways of improving the ambience and looks of your house.
Flower Arrangements
There are several styles in flower arrangements. Certain styles like ikebana are famous and attractive. Learning flower arrangement as a hobby is a good idea since you can create different displays for the house. Complement this hobby with other skills like the art of drying flowers, making silk flowers to make beautiful creations for the house. Framing dried flowers ad attractive leaves against suitable backdrops will make for attractive wall hangings.
Needlework
Needlework can turn out a range of elegant decor objects. Crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, and tapestry are some way to create home décor accessories. Needlework can accentuate cushion covers, table cloths, pillow and bed covers, curtains, wall hangings etc to great effect.
Carpentry
This home craft needs a fair amount of expertise before you can charming items. However, you can try simple ideas in the beginning like a stand for an attractive plate before venturing to create larger furniture pieces.
Glass Mosaic Art
A hobby that is versatile enough to create miniscule wall hangings as well as large wall murals. Glass mosaic art requires a ser of dedicated tools and workspace. You can embellish photo frames, mirrors and other such accessories with this art. Slowly, you can graduate to making backsplashes and tabletops.
Other hobbies like photography, bead work and paper Mache will also help you create stylish home décor and accessories.